Friday, April 19, 2013

10th annual Arts in the Park scheduled



Elizabethtown will host the 10th annual Arts in the Park from 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. Saturday, May 11, in Community Park.

Admission is free and parking available, as well as juried arts, live music, kids’ art activities, face painting, free entertainment and delicious food.

Original art work from regional artists will be available for purchase. Artwork will include painting, pottery, jewelry, photography, stained glass, clothing, multimedia art, printmaking, homemade purses and much more.

Debbie Dupler, chairperson of the Arts in the Park Committee, said, “Arts in the Park will give the public a chance to enjoy superb craftwork from talented artists and experience stellar entertainment. A number of the vendors will provide demonstrations of their work to the public. Event goers will take pleasure in the various food options at this year’s event. We will small town hospitality with big city flair.”

For more information, please visit www.etownartsinthepark.com. You can also contact the Borough Office at 717-367-1700 or boro@etownonline.com.

Thursday, April 11, 2013

Work to begin on train station overflow parking Friday

Construction on the train station overflow parking lot and other improvements at the Elizabethtown Amtrak train station site is expected to begin Friday with preliminary site preparation. 

The borough office issued a notice that parking will be prohibited in the stone lot at the end of Wilson Avenue during construction activities. In addition, parking restrictions may be necessary for sections of Wilson Avenue and in the existing train station parking lot at certain times during the project to provide access to install sidewalks, curbing, an ADA ramp, crosswalks, motorcycle parking pads and other improvements.

The construction project will be addressed in two phases. Phase one includes construction of the overflow parking lot, lighting, crosswalks and sidewalks on Wilson Avenue, a shelter for the existing bicycle rack, additional sidewalks in the existing parking lot, retaining walls along the banks of the platforms, security cameras, and the paving of Wilson Avenue. This work is expected to take approximately 4 to 5 months. 

Phase two of the project includes the construction of stormwater management facilities and a pedestrian and bicycle pathway, including a bridge over Conoy Creek, that connects the train station with downtown Elizabethtown. This work is expected to begin in mid-summer. 

The $2.5 million construction project is fully funded with federal and state funds. The contractor has committed to minimizing the impact of construction on passengers and their train travel experience as much as possible, and we greatly appreciate your patience during construction.  

Please contact the Borough Office at 367-1700 if you have any questions or concerns.

Tuesday, April 9, 2013

Police arrest man after standoff downtown

Police arrested an Elizabethtown man Sunday night after responding to a report of a gunshot in a second-floor apartment in the first block of South Market Street.

Kirk J. Goldinger, 53, was arrested and charged with making terroristic threats. He was arrested after a standoff in which borough police called for assistance from the Lancaster County Special Emergency Response Team.

Police were dispatched after a neighbor reported hearing the gun shot from inside an adjacent apartment, according to a borough police news release. Officers made telephone contact with the occupant of the apartment where the shot was heard. An officer had a brief conversation with Goldinger, who then disconnected. Police said they attempted numerous other times to contact Goldinger by telephone and text, but he refused to communicate.

After calling in the county SERT team, all neighbors were evacuated from the surrounding buildings. The SERT team moved in and took Goldinger into custody without incident at approximately 11:12 p.m. There were no injuries.

This report followed earlier reports of unusual behavior and verbal threats made by the suspect to other neighbors in the same apartment complex, according to police. Officers were investigating that incident, interviewing the neighbors and working with crisis intervention when the shot fired call was received.

Goldinger was turned over to borough police and transported to Lancaster General Hospital for a mental health evaluation, according to police. He was released from the hospital and transferred back into police custody, arraigned before District Judge Jayne Duncan and released on his own recognizance but will with a $25,000 bond if he doesn't appear in court. 

In the morning hours of Monday police said they executed a search warrant on Goldinger's residence and seized several firearms, along with ammunition.

Wednesday, April 3, 2013

Center Square Bakery offers Community Soup Night every Tuesday

I have one thing to say: Thank you to Natalie Dixon for doing what she is doing by giving back to the Elizabethtown community.

Monday, April 1, 2013

Whiten your smile and help a child


This spring, Elizabethtown Dental Associates is donating 100 percent of its proceeds to programs that help children -- and 50 percent of the money is going directly to programs for kids in Elizabethtown.

The dental practice has selected Elizabethtown Area Communities That Care (EACTC) as the recipient of half its annual Smiles for Life fundraiser. The other half will be donated to the Smiles For Life Foundation to be distributed to worthy and approved children’s charities across the U.S., Canada and worldwide. Participating children’s charities include Children’s Miracle Network, Children of Romania, St. Jude Children’s Hospital, CURE (in Cambodia), Smiles For Hope, and the Kids Cancer Care Foundation.

From March to June, anyone who has his or her teeth professionally whitened at Elizabethtown Dental will donate directly to this program.


EACTC is a community-based, private, non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of children, youth and families in the Elizabethtown Pennsylvania area. Our research-based programs and services are designed to nurture the physical and emotional well-being of youth and families and promote the prevention of drug, alcohol and substance abuse, bullying, truancy, school drop-out, violence, teen pregnancy and other at-risk behaviors in a manner that is collaborative, evidence-based, ethical, innovative and tailored to meet the community's needs.

(Full disclosure: I am a patient at Elizabethtown Dental, and my wife is a board member of EACTC.)

According to the dental practice's website, here's how the fundraiser works:

Our practice is proud to be part of the Smiles For Life campaign which raises funds through teeth whitening for seriously ill, disabled, and underprivileged children—both locally and around the world. Here’s how it works:
  1. Our practice donates our time.
  2. Philips Oral Health Care donates the materials.
  3. Your smile gets professionally whitened.
  4. 100% of your contribution goes directly to kids in need.

Here's the price list:

  • Zoom Take Home -- $225 (normally $350) 
  • Zoom In Office -- $350 (normally $550)
     
  • Already have whitening trays? Buy the kit only (4 tubes, tray case and shade guide) for $40! (normally $60) 

Call Elizabethtown Dental Associates for more information and to schedule an appointment! 717-367-1336