November 2009 Archives

I have a bunch of upcoming events that I haven't had the chance to blog about, so here's a roundup:

• Turkey Times at Central Market tomorrow (Nov. 21). 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Activities include turkey bowling, a popcorn relay, pin the feather on the turkey and more. See the flier here.
• Monday night (Nov. 23) is Crispus Attucks Cultural Thanksgiving event. They'll honor unsung heroes and promote diversity. "The History of Step" will also be celebrated with performances by: the SouthSide Steppers, the Commodores and Pasos Caribenos. Event's in the gym at 605 S. Duke St., York.
  
• York County Community Against Racism will hold its monthly meeting at 9 a.m. tomorrow (Nov. 21). If you attend the meeting, bring a non-perishable food item. YCCAR Center is at 116 N. George St., York.
• YMCA's Turkey Trot starts at 9 a.m. Thanksgiving morning. Race begins and ends on Market Street near the YMCA, 90 N. Newberry St. Registration starts at 7:15 that day or you can register in advance at the YMCA or GoraceGo.com.
• Downtown Inc.'s annual Hanging of the Greens is at 3 p.m. Tuesday.
• Holiday Open House weekend is Dec. 4-5.  Light Up Night is Dec. 4.
  

York Mayor John Brenner released his proposed 2010 budget yesterday. Read more here.

Highlights: There's no property tax increase, but there are increases in sewer and refuse fees (50 cents per thousand gallons and 50 cents per unit per month, respectively). The budget also cuts nine vacant positions - six police officers, two firefighters and one public works job. One city employee in public works is also being laid off.

The budget also hikes the street sweeping fine to $50, but it eliminates the practice of towing cars on street sweeping days.

The York City Council now has the budget and will hold a series of hearings.

They are:
6:30 p.m. Monday - elected officials, human relations commission, community development
6:30 p.m. Nov. 30 - public works, economic development, fire department
6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 - business administration, police department

To read the budget, visit the city's Web site. Send your feedback to budget@yorkcity.org.

Anyone else noticed the progress on the front of the Market Street garage lately? They've been bricking up the facade.

Here's something you don't hear often, about any project, anywhere - they're ahead of schedule.

Michael O'Rourke, the city's business administrator, said the garage renovation is a few months ahead of schedule. The crews will keep working throughout the winter and, he hopes, finish in March.

To see a brochure on the renovation project, click here.

The Crispus Attucks Association will hold a community meeting at 6 p.m. Dec. 1 to discuss the results of a survey done in the city's southeast section.

Nearly 300 residents and 100 employees were surveyed, and the meeting will feature highlights from the data gathered. Residents will be able to get involved by joining an advisory committee that will help the association address concerns voiced in the survey.

The meeting will take place at Crispus Attucks gym, 605 S. Duke St.

Citywide street sweeping ends for the season Friday - but year-round sweeping continues on several city streets, according to a news release.

Year-round sweeping takes place on certain streets Friday mornings from 7:15 to 11:45.

Here's the list of streets from the city.

Food donations for York's Helping Hand for the Homeless will be collected on York's Light Up Night, Dec. 4.

The event, which features live entertainment, a free movie, caroling, the lighting of the holiday tree and other activities, starts at 5 p.m in Continental Square in York. Donations will be taken in a tent at the corner of South George and West Market streets.

(File photo at right: Students from the Greater York Center for Dance Education warm up for their Light Up Night performance.)

Tuesday's York City Council meeting has been rescheduled to 7 p.m. Nov. 19.

Public comment will begin at 6:30 p.m.

A public hearing on the 2030 comprehensive plan will still be held at 6 p.m. Tuesday.

The zoning appeal hearing board, originally scheduled to meet in council chambers at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 19, will instead meet in the conference room on the fourth floor at 1 Marketway West.
     
 

If any of you were looking forward to Roger Brooks' return to York, you'll have to wait a little longer.

Brooks was scheduled to come back to York this week and report his findings, but he fell ill, said Sonia Huntzinger, director of Downtown Inc.

So, instead, he'll return to York Dec. 1. He'll be giving a public presentation of his formal findings from 8:30 to 10 a.m. at the Strand-Capitol Performing Arts Center. 

The Southeast Community Alliance's York City Christmas Celebration will be held Dec. 19 at Hannah Penn Middle School.

The event, hosted by the Alliance in partnership with churches, organizations and businesses, includes entertainment, free gifts for children, games, crafts and a dinner. Times for the event are 10 a.m., noon and 2 p.m.

Registration is required. Call 846-1060 for registration dates and locations.  

The school is at 415 E. Boundary Ave., York.

(Photo above is of Eagle Christian Ministries youth group members preparing for the event last year.)

City Controller Robert Lambert will head the team York mayor-elect Kim Bracey has formed to advise her as she moves into her new job in January.

The other members of Bracey's Community Advisory Review Team have not yet been announced. Those names, as well as information about the team's first meeting, will be announced in the future, according to a news release.

The team will be split into three subcommittees focused on public safety, budget and operations, and community revitalization, the release states. The groups will meet in the coming weeks and report back to Bracey.

To send suggestions to the team, visit the city's Web site and click on "community advisory review team." Bracey can also be reached at braceyformayor@gmail.com.

We went to the White Rose for dinner Monday night, and when the host asked if we wanted in the dining room or on the "heated patio," I pointed the patio mainly out of curiosity.

I wondered what it would be like out there now that the temperatures have cooled. I noticed that the restaurant was planning to install a heavy plastic curtain when the item passed through the city's HARB agenda. I wondered how much that would actually help. But on Monday, I have to say, it wasn't too bad on the patio. Granted, it was a warmer day and I suspect the heat wasn't cranked up too much, but I was OK while we ate dinner.

I'm always cold, so I was still a little chilly, but I've been colder inside restaurants.

Anyone else eaten on the patio since they put up the plastic?

What will keep York City Councilwoman Toni Smith away from the polls on election day?

The flu, apparently.

Smith was absent from Wednesday's city council meeting, and Councilman Cameron Texter said she was missing because she had the swine flu.

I talked to Smith Thursday morning, and she said that's what the doctor told her she had, though she didn't get a test for it. She said she fell ill with a fever Saturday.

It was the first time in 25 years she wasn't working the polls on election day, she said.

"I miss the people," she said, adding that she got phone calls all day Wednesday asking where she was. She was feeling better Thursday and said she'll be back to city council next week, when committee meetings are scheduled.

But even though she missed Tuesday's meeting, she still had her say. She watched the meeting on WRCT and called Texter during the meeting to relay a message to council.