Tag: News and Commentary

$5,000 interest free loan for city home buyers

At today’s County Commissioners’ Meeting, the Countywide Redevelopment Authority was authorized to amend its contract with the Lancaster Housing Opportunity Partnership (LHOP), allowing the provision of $300,000 in LHOP assistance funds to City homebuyers.

Under the new arrangement, LHOP funds can now be accessed for homes within the City limits.

Lest we forget. A past cry for criminal investigation

Editor’s note on letter reproduced below: In 2006, the three members of the Convention Center Authority wrote to the district attorney and asked his assistance in obtaining access to information concerning what conmprised over $7 million in invoices from the law firm of Stevens and Lee. Ted Darcus, Chair, gave ongoing litigation as the reason […]

Surplus funds not being used to replace electronic voting machines

At today’s Planning Session, the County Commissioners approved an amendment to Lancaster’s agreement with the PA Bureau of Commissions, Elections and Legislation regarding the disbursement of funds from the existing Help American Vote Act (HAVA). The Federal grants were originally slated to last through 2009; however, with the US Congressional Elections approaching in 2010, the […]

Cork Factory Hotel to open soon downtown

According to magazine web site Small Market Meetings: “The 70-room Cork Factory Hotel is scheduled to open this summer in downtownLancaster in a converted industrial building. The Cork Factory will have4,000 square feet of meeting space, and is part of a resurgenence that includes the new Lancaster County Convention Center and the Marriott Lancaster at […]

Chapter Five: Uncivil War

A constant refrain coming from supporters of the convention center project, including Sen. Armstrong, Rep. Barley, Mayor Smithgall, Commissioner Terry Kauffman — was that the project would especially help the local hospitality industry and needed its support. They were unsuccessful in persuading those said to benefit from the great idea.

Unused school facilities may be taxed next year

At today’s County Commissioners’ Planning Session, the Commissioners granted a $1,800.91 tax exoneration for three properties owned, but not actively used, by Manheim Township School District (MTSD). A tax exoneration is essentially a de-facto exemption that must be specially granted for a property that does not formally qualify for tax-exempt status. As explained by Dee […]

Local news and comment web sites

Courtesy http://lookingatlancaster.blogspot.com/ Since you are reading this, you are already aware that the Internet offers the opportunity for individuals and groups to publish and widely distribute local news and commentary in ways that would have been impossible only a few years ago. LookingAtLancaster.com is only one out of a number of sites that offer alternatives […]

EDITORIAL: TheTruth Is Out!

“We were hoping to get more funding than we did in 2008,” Rosser-Hogben said. “And with the economy doing a downturn, the board felt — and I fully supported — that it just wasn’t the time to continue on with it.” Those are the startling words of retiring Director of the Lancaster Public Library (Duke […]

CC: A $32,000 ‘ounce of precaution’!

At Thursday’s Lancaster County Convention Center Authority (LCCCA) Board Meeting, the Capital Budget was strategically increased by $32,040.00 to obtain a third-party assessment of the Hotel and Convention Center’s critical life safety systems (Fire Protection, Fire Alarm, and Smoke Exhaust among others.)

It’s not just the $200 million

Walking around the block before attending Thursday’s special Convention Center Board meeting, an observer experienced first hand the barrenness of the first block of South Queen Street. Most of the west side of the block is fronted by the unbroken wall and windows of the Lancaster Newspapers building. A few shops make up the rest. […]

Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street) director resigns

NewsLanc has confirmed the resignation of Debra Rosser-Hogben the Executive Director of the Lancaster Public Library (Duke Street), which is not to be confused with the Library System. John McGrann, President of the Board, confirmed that Rosser-Hogben’s last date will be April 3rd. He said that the board is currently in the process of determining […]

Library System Administrator seeks League support

In a letter to The League of Women Voters, Susan Hauer, Administrator Library System of Lancaster County, disclosed: “The 2006 per capita expenditure for library services from County funding is the lowest of the surrounding Counties. Lancaster/$4.89; York/$5.66; Berks/$8.08; Bucks/$8.67; Adams/$10.35; Cumberland/$13.40; Chester/$14.33; Dauphin/$15.72.”She describes how “The media has been filled recently with stories of […]