Happy New Year! Get the latest on school property tax elimination efforts!

In this update:

Get the latest update on school property tax elimination efforts
How does PA grow its agriculture industry in the future? Your answer could be worth $2,500!
Be safe when celebrating the New Year and don’t drive impaired!
Christmas tradition continues in Glen Rock
Last hike of the year at Nixon County Park
Make sure you license your dog in 2020!
Happy New Year to you!
Office hours for next week
Mobile Office in Fawn Grove this upcoming Thursday (Jan. 2)

Get the latest update on school property tax elimination efforts

As part of our ongoing series meeting with different stakeholders on a variety of issues, I sat down with Senator Dave Argall who led the recent state government workgroup on school property tax reform.

If there is any issue that rises to the top for local residents, it is addressing our school property tax crisis. This discussion should give listeners an update on a critical subject. I am hopeful to see action on this issue in the New Year.

You can listen to our discussion and Senator Argall’s update here. Learn more about this episode of my podcast here.

How does PA grow its agriculture industry in the future? Your answer could be worth $2,500!

Calling all middle and high school students!

You can share your ideas about how to support agriculture in Pennsylvania as part of the “Talk to your state Senator” statewide video competition.

This year’s competition challenges students to produce a video that includes ideas about how we ensure the next generation of agriculture leaders have a bright future in Pennsylvania.

Agriculture is not only the state’s number one industry, but also the top industry here in York County. The industry faces a number of challenges and that’s where we want the next generation to step in and give us creative solutions to address this issue through this statewide competition.

The competition has a grand prize of $2,500 for the top video. All of the details for this competition can be found here.

The deadline to submit a video is January 31, 2020. Good luck!

Be safe when celebrating the New Year and don’t drive impaired!

“Operation Safe Holiday” will continue through the New Year as local law enforcement set up sobriety checkpoints across York County. If you are celebrating 2020, please be sure to limit your alcohol consumption, have a designated driver or use a ridesharing app or taxi service.

And remember: Buzzed driving is drunk driving.

You can learn more about “Operation Safe Holiday” here.

Christmas tradition continues in Glen Rock

Our family enjoyed one of York County’s most enduring Christmas traditions, caroling in Glen Rock Borough.

One hundred and seventy two years ago, on Christmas morning in 1848, five men sang Old English carols through the streets of Glen Rock from midnight on Christmas Eve until dawn on Christmas Day. Through the Civil War, World War I, the Great Depression, World War II, Korea, and Vietnam, no matter what challenges our nation has faced the tradition has continued to thrive.

Thank you to Darryl Engler, the Glen Rock Carolers’ music director, for sharing the long, proud history of the carolers with me. There are 50 caped members, 122 registered members, and 11 life members. The youngest member is 11-years-old, the oldest member is 96-years-old and he has been caroling for 78 years.

The carolers sing 12 Old English songs and one Austrian song, “Silent Night,” that was added in the 1930’s because the carolers wanted the community to sing along. Most of the songs were not familiar and included “Christmas Hymn”, “Incarnation of Christ”, “Hosanna”, and “Hark! Hark!”. Darryl explained that most of the carols we recognize and sing today came down from the High English and the carolers’ songs came to Glen Rock from England with the families that worked in the woolen mill.

The carolers performed their repertoire at 10:45 p.m. at Zion Lutheran Church to a packed audience of friends, family, and grateful community members, then donned their capes and top hats to join thousands of York Countians in the square at midnight to carol through the community. At 7:00 a.m. on Christmas Day the carolers were welcomed to the Glen Rock Hose & Ladder Co. for a hearty breakfast until next year when the Glen Rock Carolers take to the streets again to bring tidings of great joy through song to all!

Last hike of the year at Nixon County Park

The York County Department of Parks and Recreation will host The Last Hike of the Year at Nixon County Park this Monday, December 30, from 9:30 a.m. – 11:00 a.m.

Come out for a crisp hike in the winter woods and meadows along the Old Field trail with Naturalist Kelsey Frey.

Take the opportunity to recap your outdoor experiences for the year and look ahead to another year of exploration. Bring your own reusable mug and enjoy a cup of hot chocolate inside the nature center at the viewing windows after the hike. No fee or registration is required.

Make sure you license your dog in 2020!

County Treasurer Barbara Bair is reminding York residents that dogs over the age of three months must be licensed. An annual dog license is $8.50, or $6.50 if the animal is spayed or neutered. Lifetime licenses are available for dogs with permanent identifications.

The cost is $51.50, or $31.50 if the animal is spayed or neutered. Older adults and persons with disabilities may purchase a license at a discounted rate.

More information can be found on the County Treasurer’s website here.

Happy New Year to you!

As we turn the page on another year, I want to thank you for taking the time to reach out to our office. Whether it be a simple PennDOT issue, or a complicated legislative matter, I am very grateful to represent the residents of the 28^th Senatorial District.

Many of us will make New Year’s Resolutions to eat healthier, exercise more, or do random acts of kindness each and every day. I am optimistic that we can continue to work together to improve our community, our county and our Commonwealth in 2020. Thank you and Happy New Year!

Office hours for next week

Due to the New Year next week, I want to inform you of our office hours. We will be open on Monday, December 30. We will be closed on Tuesday, December 31 and Wednesday, January 1. We will resume normal operating hours on Thursday, January 2 at 9 a.m.

Mobile Office in Fawn Grove this upcoming Thursday (Jan. 2)

On Thursday, January 2 from 9 a.m. – 12 p.m., our office will be in Fawn Grove as part of our ongoing commitment to make your state Senate more accessible to you. More details can be found here.

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