Conducting their meeting before a packed room, Monday night, the Manheim Township Commissioners voted 3-2 to approve the High Real Estate Group’s proposal to construct a $100 million shopping complex across from Long’s Park on Harrisburg Pike. There had originally been some confusion as to whether the vote would be held Monday since Commissioner Chairman […]

Franklin & Marshall’s communications and public relations personnel do not serve the college well when they spin and puff up their press releases and public communications. The public appreciates the importance of F&M in our community, both culturally and economically. Also most of us are proud of the college and especially admire the leadership that […]

While other banks reviewed and turned down the opportunity to guarantee Convention Center Project bonds, Wachovia disregarded the grim findings of the PKF Feasibility Study and concerns raised by earlier market studies and took on the risk. This type of ‘gun slinger’ banking has severely impacted Wachovia’s financial strength. According to Bloomberg.com, Wachovia has cut […]

You should change the reference to 1984. The whole book is about the state’s dictating what to think and punishing those unwilling to suspend reason and memory to tow the official line. Editor’s response: But even in George Orwell’s 1984 where the population was barraged by propaganda and falsehoods, the state was monitoring what people […]

Even George Orwell in “1984” only evoked the specter of a police state hounding citizens for what they said. Twenty-three years later we have taken the final step in the progression: crimes against others, non-victim crimes, and the crime of speech which so alarmed Orwell. We now imprison people for what they fantasize! Seldom passing […]

Concerns have been raised recently as to whether Franklin & Marshall College is paying its “fair share” of taxes to the City of Lancaster. Due to the comparatively large amount of tax-exempt property in the City of Lancaster, Mayor Rick Gray has asked city non-profit organizations to donate 25% of what their assessment would be […]

In response to a question from an observer attending the LCCCA Facilities Programming Committee of April 10, Tom Smithgall (High Construction) and Tim Sullivan (Reynolds Construction) reported they expect the scaffolding holding the outer shell of the Watt & Shand building will be removed some time between the end of May and the middle of […]

The Commissioners faced heavy criticism today over the unexpected departure of former County Administrator Mark Esterbrook. Esterbrook was widely regarded as an extraordinarily competent and objective manager. The Commissioners would not comment on his release, which includes three months of severance pay and benefits, and it appears that Esterbrook has been sworn to silence as […]

Jeff Hawkes‘ Intelligencer Journal column of April 8 entitled “Commission’s charter worthy of ‘we the people’” raises concerns rather than abates them about the proposed Home Rule Charter. Hawkes states: “The charter writers anticipated the potential for commissioners meddling in the executive branch. They addressed it by requiring the commissioners to deal ‘exclusively’ with the […]

At their Tuesday workshop, the County Commissioners agreed to pay three months’ salary plus benefits to former county administrator Mark Esterbrook and former deputy administrator Frank Koerber in exchange for their not bringing suit and their agreeing not to “disparage any former or current county employee or official.” To make a financial settlement to avoid […]

For reasons perhaps only comprehensible to Lancaster Rotary Club President Alexandra Weisensale, Rotary has banned media from covering the address today about the Jewish community in Lancaster by Rabbi Jack Paskoff of Shaarai Shomayim Synagogue . According to Weisensale, Rotary forgot to invite the media to cover the State Senate Candidates Forum a week earlier, […]

After months of deliberations, the 11 members of the Lancaster County Government Study Commission have come up with a finalized draft of a Home Rule Charter, which will appear on the ballot in November. The Commission wishes to share with the public what it has come up with and to solicit feedback.Although the public is […]

A delegation from the Government Study Commission appeared before the County Commissioners, this morning, to discuss the anticipated expenditure of $50,000 to educate the public regarding the Home Rule Charter ballot question. The anticipated expenditure has been controversial with those who fear that a line is being crossed between education and advocacy. Government Study Commission […]