The Franklin County Visitors Bureau welcomes a special visitor to Festival of Trees—Santa Claus. Santa will be at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center on Saturday, November 26, 11:30 AM-1:30 PM; Sunday, November 27, 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM; and Friday, December 2, 5 PM to 7 PM. Come see Santa and snap holiday pictures. Enjoy cookies and 51 beautifully decorated trees and 18 stunning wreaths. As always, there is no fee for Festival of Trees.
The Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center is helping Santa to collect “Letters to Santa.” Children may bring already-written letters or write a letter to Santa at the 11/30 Visitors Center. The Visitors Center has everything to write that special letter–stationery, stickers, and envelopes. Most importantly, it has Santa’s Mailbox. All letter writers will receive a reply from Santa, so please remember to include a return address on Letters to Santa.The 2022 Franklin County Festival of Trees is the fourth annual event and the largest to date. Be sure to check out all the holiday fun, including:
Holiday train display, courtesy of Cumberland Valley Model Railroad Club
Old-fashioned Christmas programming in the video vault.
Coloring contest for children with a first prize of $50 and three honorable mentions of $20.
Take-away crafts-a new one for each day of Festival of Trees. Make one to take and another to decorate our Sharing the Heart of the Holiday Tree.
Festival of Trees is open Monday through Friday from 8 AM to 4:30 PM, except Thanksgiving Day and November 25. The Festival is open on Small Business Saturday, November 26 from 9 AM to 3 PM. Sunday hours are 11:30 AM to 1:30 PM on November 20 and November 27. There are no admission fees. The final day of Festival of Trees is Candle Night, December 2, in downtown Chambersburg. In addition to the beautifully lit trees of downtown, Main Street is lined with luminaries. Enjoy the sounds and smells of the holiday season, plus a Christmas Market near Brussels Café on North Main Street.
New in 2022, FCVB is joining forces with Homeless Matters and Grocery Outlet to bring another community connection to Festival of Trees by adding a 12-days of Christmas event called Sharing the Heart of the Holiday. Sharing the Heart of the Holiday is a giving and receiving event that features a collection of twelve items to support Franklin County residents that need a little help this holiday season, including coats for all ages, grocery gift cards, blankets, toys, baby items, gas cards, art supplies, and more.
Franklin County Visitors Bureau is getting ready for Festival of Trees 2022, the fourth annual event held at the Franklin County 11/30 Visitors Center. Cumberland Valley Breast Care Alliance is again the benefactor of the funds raised from the event. New in 2022, FCVB is joining forces with Homeless Matters and Grocery Outlet to bring another community connection to Festival of Trees by adding a 12-days of Christmas event called Sharing the Heart of the Holiday. Sharing the Heart of the Holiday is a giving and receiving event that features a collection of twelve items to support Franklin County residents that need a little help this holiday season.
Each of the twelve days has a featured item to correspond with each day of Festival of Trees. Franklin County Visitors Bureau, Homeless Matters, and Grocery Outlet hope to make this an annual part of Festival of Trees. The twelve days and the highlighted collection for each day are:
November 19 – Coats for Kids
November 20 Books of All Kinds
November 21 – Grocery Gift Cards
November 22 – Mittens/Gloves, Scarves, Hats
November 23 – Laundry & Hygiene Items (Collections pause on November 24 and 25.)
November 26 – Gas Gift Cards
November 27 – Coats for Entire Family ALL Sizes
November 28 – Games & Snacks for Family Fun Night
November 29 – Art & School Supplies
November 30 – Baby Clothes, Formula & Baby Items
December 1 – Blankets & Linens
December 2 – Toys
“Homeless Matters strives to ease the burdens that face families and assist in providing an opportunity to be successful, even in the face of such personal hardships. Through this wonderful collaboration we can lessen the burden this holiday season and share the heart of the holidays,” said Jacqui Wolfe, the driving force behind Homeless Matters.
Rachel Fulton, co-owner of Grocery Outlet, added, “Grocery Outlet is honored to work with such amazing organizations. We are excited to be a donation location!”
More donation locations include: Franklin County Visitors Bureau, Greater Waynesboro Chamber of Commerce, Greencastle Chamber of Commerce, Shippensburg Chamber of Commerce, Franklin County Area Development, Waynesboro YMCA, Chambersburg YMCA, Coyle Free Library, Grove Family Library, Elks Lodge of Chambersburg, Penn National Golf Course Community, Sweet Dandelion and One North Main & Bakery Shop in Mercersburg and Cornerstone Financial.
“Bring any of the twelve donation items on any day and add to the collection containers at locations throughout Franklin County. Your gift to Sharing the Heart of the Holiday makes a difference in Franklin County,” said Janet Pollard of the Franklin County Visitors Bureau.
The Franklin County Visitors Bureau, Homeless Matters, and Grocery Outlet invite the public to join the cause by visiting one of the drop-off locations, beginning November 17. Items will be collected through December 5, 2022.
TheInstitute has purchased a 40-acre rural property in Washington Township, Pa., a few minutes drive from downtown Waynesboro.
Formerly based at Renfrew Museum and Park, an unexpected disruption compelled TheInstitute to leave that property—its home for 30 years—in 2020.
“Since 1990, TheInstitute has engaged learners of all ages,” said Tracy Holliday, Institute executive director. “We are thrilled to announce the purchase of this extraordinary property, and can’t wait to welcome everyone to our new educational center with continued and expanded programming in nature-based experiences, cultural history and the arts.”
The nonprofit organization is launching the public phase of a $3 million capital campaign to transform the new property into an independent nature education center and living classroom, providing a hub from which it will serve the community.
TheInstitute has already raised nearly $2.4 million toward their goal. A cornerstone gift of $500,000 from the Nora Roberts Foundation (NRF) allowed TheInstitute to acquire the property.
“We believe an important part of our mission means supporting organizations that help create a beautiful, equitable, and safe world,” said NRF executive director and treasurer, Jason Aufdem-Brinke. “TheInstitute offers programs meeting this high standard by encouraging children and adults to co-exist and connect with nature. The Nora Roberts Foundation believes in TheInstitute’s goals, and we’re proud to support them.”
TheInstitute’s own staff, board, and campaign committee members have invested in the project with gifts totaling more than $500,000. Other leadership gifts were received from Tom Beck; George Buckey, in memory of Martha Buckey; Marge Kiersz; the Mummert Family Foundation; the Paul K. and Anna E. Shockey Family Foundation; and the Waynesboro Beneficial Fund.
“We are grateful for our leadership gifts, which have been crucial in building the foundation of the campaign,” Holliday said. “We’re fortunate to have a broad base of support, with nearly 100 gifts in place. About $625,000 remains to be raised. We know the community will want to help us reach and exceed our goal of $3 million.”
“We have worked to develop a vision of our new organizational headquarters and funds raised in the capital campaign will help to make the vision a reality,” said Jim Fleagle, Institute board president. “Our campaign co-chairs, Jeremy Bowersox and Bob Zimmerman have led the way, supported by a fundraising committee comprised of several community leaders.”
The property features a large pond, rolling meadows, a farm with a century-old barn, shaded creeks and wetlands, and woodland trails. The park-like setting will become a community resource—a place to enjoy outdoor recreation, nature, and the arts.
Work will be done in three phases. The first phase is to establish an administrative headquarters that will also function as a welcome center for the public. At the same time, a new bridge will be built for buses and other large vehicles, along with grounds and infrastructure improvements. Plans also call for renovation of the vintage barn into an adaptable education and visitors center boasting a contemporary, environmentally-sensitive design while preserving original features.
Additional projects include construction of an outdoor pavilion for gatherings; enhancement and expansion of nature trails throughout the property; and various infrastructure improvements, including outdoor lighting, parking, and accessible outdoor restroom facilities, all incorporating environmental sustainability features.
Small-scale activities are already underway at the property, and it will be fully open to the public upon completion of the bridge.
“TheInstitute exists to educate, inspire and unite people around shared interests,” Holliday said. “We made a commitment to establish an independent nature center that will serve as an organizational headquarters and community hub for the next 30 years and beyond.”
“With support from our community, we have navigated the past couple of years with great success,” she added. “Instead of slowing down, we ramped up our activities, expanding programming and events for students from public, private, and faith-based schools, the home educator community, and the general public. With our new home on this special property, our activities and community outreach will only increase. With continued community support, we can bring this fabulous amenity to life.”
TheInstitute is seeking contributions from the community. Donations may be made by check, payable to TheInstitute and mailed to: P.O. Box 971, Waynesboro, PA 17268.
Multi-year pledges are welcome, as are gifts of stock and IRA required minimum distributions. Payments may be made by check, securities, or credit card. For more information—or to arrange a private guided tour of the property—contact TheInstitute at 717-762-0373 or via email: info@natureandcultureinstitute.org.
The Chambersburg Area School District (CASD) Foundation recently received $1,400 raised from the 18th Annual Tim and Susan Cook Memorial One-Mile Race hosted by the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce on July 9.
Nearly 100 runners participated in the race, which paid tribute to the memories of Tim and Susan Cook, who died tragically in a car accident in 2002. Tim and Susan Cook were dedicated to education; Tim taught at Chambersburg Area Senior High School and Susan worked at Shippensburg University. The race is well-attended by runners in the area with Coach Chris Monheim assisting with promotions and coordinating the race logistics. Funds raised for the Cook Race are donated to the Tim & Susan Cook Memorial Scholarship Fund, which awards scholarships to Chambersburg Area Senior High School students who model the characteristics exemplified by the Cooks.
“It is an honor for us to uphold the legacy of Tim and Susan Cook by hosting this community race; we were happy to see runners of all ages participate during the week of ChambersFest,” said Angela Schaeffer, director of operations of the Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce. The CASD Foundation receives donations for the Tim and Susan Cook Scholarship Fund throughout the year from individuals, alumni, CASHS faculty committees, booster clubs and various community organizations. If you would like more information about donating to this scholarship, please contact Angela Lynch at angela.lynch@casdonline.org. T
he Greater Chambersburg Chamber of Commerce works with the Chambersburg Road Runners Club topresent the Tim & Susan Cook Memorial One-Mile Race every year as part of ChambersFest. The Chamber would like to thank the participants and sponsors for their continued support and ensuring this fundraiser was a great success. For more information, visit Chambersburg.org/ChambersFest.
Allison-Antrim Museum invites the public to enjoy another installment of the Speaker Series on November 10 at 7 PM. John Miller, Executive Director of the Shippensburg Historical Society, will give a presentation on the defense of Pennsylvania during the first two weeks of the Confederate Invasion of Pennsylvania in 1863. The event will be held in the Barn.
Miller will discuss the New York State National Guard joining forces with the Pennsylvania Militia to fortify Harrisburg against a possible attack and stalling the Confederate advance toward Harrisburg. He will also share stories of the men defending the Commonwealth before and after the Battle of Gettysburg.
The event has no admission fee, but donations are welcomed.
Michaux State Forest is looking for an educational specialist to support the work our service foresters do in technical service provision with educational curriculum and program development, implementation, and evaluation. We are also hoping this person can take a lead role in helping us create several demonstration areas on the Michaux that can “model” creative forest tending practices appropriate for smaller woodlots and/or “backyard forests” to incidental forest visitors and for planned educational programming for critical private lands audiences and groups.
This person will also be working with our current EES and our recreation management staff to broadly use our state forest infrastructure and operational communication efforts to ensure Michaux forest stakeholders generally recognize that most forest land in PA is privately owned; and therefore, many of the regional quality of life and public ecosystem benefits that accrue from forested landscapes depend on the decisions made in the private lands context.
For complete details of the position, please visit here.
