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Midstate synagogue finds new home PDF Print
News - Regional & State News
Written by Melanie Herschorn   
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 14:26
Chisuk_Emuna(Harrisburg) -- A midstate synagogue destroyed by fire last spring has found a new home. Chisuk Emuna congregation has been holding services in a rented space at the Jewish Community Center in Harrisburg since its building at Fifth and Division Streets burned down. But this week, the Harrisburg School Board of Control voted to sell the vacant T. Morris Chester Elementary School property to the more than 125-year-old congregation. Once the sale is approved by the Court of Common Pleas, Chisuk Emuna will begin a fundraising campaign to help build its new facility.
 
Election 2010: Rendell says Sestak can't beat Specter PDF Print
News - Regional & State News
Written by Scott Detrow   
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 04:59
rendellpod(Harrisburg) -- Governor Rendell is declaring Congressman Joe Sestak’s primary challenge against Senator Arlen Specter a lost cause. A year ago, Rendell said Sestak would “get killed” if he challenged Republican-turned-Democrat Arlen Specter in Pennsylvania’s primary. During an interview in his Capitol office, Rendell said he’s sticking by that statement. Rendell,  who endorsed Specter immediately after the Senator switched parties last year, says Sestak is a solid congressman, but he can’t match Specter’s decades-long track record. "But he has, in my judgment, no chance to win. In the time that has elapsed he hasn’t done anything to narrow the lead," he says. "In fact, the lead has actually increased. And I just don’t think he has enough money, versus his opponent, to make a dent in a lead that big." Rendell says it's mostly because Specter has steered federal funding and projects to all 67 counties for three decades. Sestak insists most Pennsylvanians haven’t tuned into the race yet and momentum will shift his way when his campaign starts running television ads. Hear the governor's entire interview and check out WITF's Scott Detrow's blog post.
 
Stimulus funds help department expand foot patrols PDF Print
News - Regional & State News
Written by Scott Gilbert   
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 04:55

policeofcr(York) -- The Harrisburg Police Department recently began conducting regular foot patrols of certain parts of the city. But departments that cover more rural areas, including one in York County, have also found success with such efforts. Officers from the York Area Regional Police Department have been regularly walking the streets of Red Lion for a little over a year. Those efforts are now expanding to include York Township and Dallastown due to $16,800 in federal stimulus money. Chief Tom Gross says, as with foot patrols in cities like Harrisburg, officers in smaller towns are able to form important relationships with business owners and residents. "The biggest benefit from the foot patrols [is that] they establish ways of getting information that they didn't have before and address some minor crimes that they wouldn't normally address or that people wouldn't normally call about." Gross expects his department to conduct up to 16 hours of foot patrols per week, which amounts to a slight increase over last year. He notes last year's effort was funded largely by a grant from the Red Lion Area Business Association. York Area Regional covers six boroughs and two townships.

 
Proposed area code changes draw mixed reactions PDF Print
News - Regional & State News
Written by Melanie Herschorn   
Wednesday, 17 March 2010 04:50
mgeorge_phone(Harrisburg) -- With two Central Pennsylvania area codes expected to run out of numbers soon, the state Public Utility Commission is working to gather input from residents about how to proceed. People have mixed reactions about changes being considered for 717 and 570. While PUC public hearings about the 570 area code began last month, the forums about 717 begin tomorrow. Possible solutions are to add another area code to the same geographic region or divide up a location and give one half a different area code. Standing on the street in downtown Harrisburg, Matthew George of Linglestown says he would not want several area codes grouped together. "I guess I'm just coming from the old school where you could tell where somebody was or a business was just by the zip code or area code," he says. Eighteen-year-old Demetria Ayler who's a student at HACC agrees that dividing up a region by area codes is a better idea. Still she doesn't want to give up 717. "I really don't want mine to change because I'm used to it," she says. "And I have a difficulty learning new numbers so it would be confusing." Doug Broughton of Pottsville, who works for the federal government in Harrisburg, has a 570 number. He says having multiple area codes is the solution. "Eventually we're going to have to do something like that anyway," he says. "It's just like zip codes. Zip plus four. You're just going to have to get used to it. There's not much more to it."  Click here for a list of 717 hearings.
 
Preparations underway for Appalachian Trail museum in the midstate PDF Print
News - Regional & State News
Written by Tim Lambert   
Tuesday, 16 March 2010 14:29

appalachiantrailmuseum(New York) -- The midstate will be the home of a museum dedicated to one of the country's best known hiking trails. Renovations are underway on a 200-year-old stone grist mill in Pine Grove Furnace State Park in Cumberland County that will eventually house the Appalachian Trail Museum. Larry Luxenberg, president of the Appalachian Trail Museum Society, says it will be near the midpoint of the nearly 2,200 mile path that stretches through 14 states. He says the facility will feature exhibits on pioneer hikers and its central artifact will be a trail shelter built by one of the most famous hikers -- Earl Shaffer. "He was a native of York County and lived much of his adult life in Adams County. He was the first person to hike the Appalachian Trail," he says. "He was also recently featured in a Smithsonian exhibit last year. He's a very prominent national figure." Shaffer also hiked the entire trail to mark the 50th anniversary of his first journey. Luxenberg says the project's cost will be less than $50,000, thanks to volunteer efforts, donations, state funding and corporate support. A grand opening will be held on June 5th -- National Trails Day.

 
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