Blog

LeTort Regional Authority
The mission of the LeTort Regional Authority is “to protect and preserve the LeTort Spring Run and its watershed by promoting flood control and developing access and recreational opportunities within the watershed.” Goals include the minimizing flooding, improving water quality, restoring the natural conditions of the watershed, and providing opportunities for public involvement and education regarding the use and understanding of the watershed’s resources. The group was established in 1973 by citizens of the area who wanted to preserve the LeTort Spring Run.

LeTort Regional Authority supports the sustainability and livability of the Greater Carlisle Area in the following ways:
- Minimizing storm water flooding and protecting and enhancing water quality.
- Providing public education and involvement opportunities in the use and understanding of the watershed’s resources.
- Engendering a sense of community responsibility for all resources within the watershed.
- Improving short and long-term financial viability of the Authority.
April 1, 2014
South Mountain Partnership

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The South Mountain Partnership is a public-private partnership between the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) landscape conservation program and the Appalachian Trail Conservancy.

The Partnership works to serve as a facilitator, integrator, interpreter, and catalyst in the Greater Carlisle community to facilitate landscape conservation. As a facilitator, they bring people together. One example of this role is their support of large land acquisitions. As integrators, they work across political and sectoral boundaries to be the voice of conservation. They serve as an interpreter which means that they demonstrate and promote the resources that the landscapes provides to support the people. The South Mountain Partnership is a catalyst for conservation action.

Organizations and individuals in the greater Carlisle area can apply for mini grants from the Partnership to support their own landscape conservation projects.

The Partnership offers a variety of educational opportunities for the community including an annual speaker series and a South Mountain PA mobile phone app.

April 1, 2014
American Artisan Gallery

The American Artisan Gallery specializes in offering fine works by America’s Guild Artists. Be sure to stop by this recently opened gallery in downtown Carlisle to see and purchase a unique assortment of arts and crafts fashioned by American artists from throughout the country. You’ll be sure to find the perfect pieces among the ever-changing mix of beautifully crafted items. Most of the works are created by members of a guild who are the best in their respective fields. From leather cases for men and women to hand carved Santas, you’ll find it here.

For every dollar spent at a local business 45 cents is reinvested locally versus for every coperate dollar spent only 15 cents comes back to the community (American Express). We are providing local artisans with the opportunity to share their wares and share the arts with Carlisle. In additions small businesses are what keep the town thriving and vibrant.

This storefront stood empty for 12 years before it was revitalized and turned into the American Artisan Gallery. The store is also a piece of Carlisle’s history as it has been a store since the 1700s.

April 1, 2014
Carlisle Parks and Recreation

The Parks and Recreation Department of the Borough of Carlisle works to provide open spaces and movement based activities for members of the Carlisle community. Parks and Rec created and maintains a bike trail system which provides community members with a safe place to exercise. They have produced a map to make the trails more accessible (see below).

There are 18 parks in Carlisle maintained by the Parks and Rec department which provide open spaces for the community to spend time outside. The department will work with neighborhood association on supplemental maintenance projects. Park revitalization projects generate community investment in these open spaces and facilitates community building. One example of a park revitalization project is the Heberlig Palmer Park.

The Parks and Recreation Department also provides a host of educational programs which enhance community knowledge of and appreciation for green spaces. The department produces a brochure three times a year to disseminate program information to the community. The programs are focused on active programs and healthy family activities.

Bike and Pedestrian Trail Network Map

April 1, 2014
Clean Air Board of Central Pennsylvania

Sparked by a rise in respiratory problems in Carlisle, the Clean Air Board (CAB) was established in 2005 by a group of community members who were interested in monitoring the air quality in the Cumberland Valley and educating the community on the human health impacts of this air quality.

The Clean Air Board has since worked on a series of projects to better the air quality in Carlisle. They began with school bus idling because of its intimate impact on Carlisle children, teachers, and bus drivers.

Next, the CAB worked to pass a state law which regulates truck idling. Prior to the passage of this law, thousands of trucks idled overnight every night in Middlesex County alone. The law states that trucks cannot idle for more than five minutes in any part of Pennsylvania. Although enforcement has proven to be an issue, this law does improve the air quality, and thus the livability, of the greater Carlisle area.

The Clean Air Board works with the Sentinel to release the information collected by their air quality monitor in real time on The Sentinel website.

The CAB runs an education project in conjunction with the EPA called the School Flag Program. Participating schools raise an air quality flag each day when they raise the American flag and the Pennsylvania flag. This serves to alert parents and community members of the air quality every day.

April 1, 2014
Cumberland Valley Visitor’s Bureau

If you are visiting, relocating here or are already in Cumberland Valley, Pennsylvania, a.k.a. Cumberland County, PA, you’ve found the best place to start your journey. Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau highlights all of the best restaurants, events, shops, lodging, meetings spaces, attractions, and outdoor recreation you’ll find in Cumberland Valley. They put the best resources at your fingertips to make planning your trip fun and easy.

The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau (CVVB) is the tourism arm of Cumberland Area Economic Development Corporation (CAEDC) a 501(c)3 nonprofit organization. The CVVB is the official Destination Marketing Organization of Cumberland Valley, PA (a.k.a Cumberland County, PA) and is the driving force behind marketing it as a travel destination to leisure and group travelers, meeting planners and media. The CVVB also assists area businesses with tourism development by providing training seminars, cooperative advertising, and grant and loan opportunities. CAEDC also serves as the authorized economic development agency for Cumberland Valley, PA. Together, we work to improve the quality of life and place in Cumberland Valley.

March 30, 2014
Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC)
The Carlisle Arts Learning Center (CALC) serves and enriches the community by encouraging creativity and self-esteem through exploration and appreciation of the visual arts. It does this via classes and workshops, exhibits, and participation in community events. Since its founding in January 1992, CALC has offered a variety of courses for children and adults in a number of settings, including the Carlisle YWCA, Carlisle Community Center, One West Penn, Cumberland Crossings, and Memorial Park Train Station. Disadvantaged children and adults may participate in CALC classes at reduced charges via its scholarship program. In 2001, CALC began offering customized workshops at the request of organizations like the Girl Scouts and the YWCA summer day camp program. Since 1998 CALC has also mounted a variety of arts and craft exhibits that are free to the public.

CALC’s Signature Programs:
- ArtWORKS!: An after-school program for middle school students that promotes self-esteem and giving back to the community through the arts.
- Works in the Windows: A partnership that provides artwork in vacant storefront windows.
- Art Classes, Camps, and Lectures: Educational opportunities for both children and adults in a variety of mediums.
- Hope Station and CONNECT Summer Art Camps: Full scholarship-based camps that provide all children the access to art.
- Empty Bowls: A fundraising event organized by CALC to benefit Project S.H.A.R.E.
- Exhibitions: Opportunities for local and regional artists to exhibit their work in CALC’s gallery, sales gallery, and off-site locations throughout Carlisle.
- Art on the Farm: A partnership with Pennsylvania Association for Sustainable Agriculture to showcase Central Pennsylvania’s unique agricultural resources through art, education, and food.
- Scholarships: CALC provides financial aid to assure all children and adults have access to art classes and camps.
March 30, 2014
Dickinson College Farm
Mission Statement

To inspire responsible land stewardship through study of the earth’s natural processes and demonstrate the science, practice and culture of sustainable food production.

Overview

It is an exciting time to be a part of the student farm movement in the U.S. and the Dickinson College Farm is an established leader in this growing niche of working farms at top liberal arts colleges. The learning that takes place at the farm in a wide array of disciplines signals the future of a liberal arts education that provides a powerful avenue to explore the urgent issues of our time inside and outside of the classroom.

2014 marks the start of the 8th growing season at the Dickinson College Farm. This year, the farm is maintaining 8-10 acres of cultivated land to raise certified organic produce for delivery to Dining Services, in addition to the farm’s Community Supported Agriculture (CSA) program, produce stand at Carlisle’s vibrant farmers’ market and donations to Project S.H.A.R.E.

Student Farmers

In addition to the robust academic opportunities for integrating the College Farm into course work and research, the DC Farm does its best to provide student employees and volunteers with a realistic notion of what it takes to manage a diversified production farm with strong educational roots. Students are integrated into the farm landscape as field workers, equipment maintenance helpers, livestock managers, tour guides, volunteer leaders, special projects point people and farm liaisons at markets and within the community.

The farm also offers an apprenticeship program for recent Dickinson graduates interested in gaining experience in sustainable food production.

Youth Education

The farm supported the development of three formal youth education programs during the 2012-2013 academic year, continuing into the 2013-2014 academic year: Sustainable Earth Education (SEED); Discover, Grow, Inquire (DIG) and Farm Cook Eat. SEED is an on-farm education program for area youth that offers a two-hour monthly class to children 5-12 years old. The DIG camp, a collaboration between the farm, Center for Sustainability Education and Alliance for Aquatic Resource Monitoring, taught youth about local water, renewable energy & sustainable agriculture. Farm Cook Eat is a free afterschool program that offers Bellaire Elementary school students the chance to learn age-appropriate skills for preparing delicious and simple dishes using farm-fresh produce.

Events

The farm helped plan, implement and host three major annual events from Fall 2012-Fall 2013. They are:
- Local Food Dinner: The tenth annual Local Food Dinner on March 23rd, 2013 marked another sold-out crowd: 250 students, faculty, farmers and community members came together to celebrate local agriculture.
- Harvest Fest: The 10th annual event took place on October 4th, 2013! This event is organized by student organization “Students Interested in Sustainable Agriculture” (SISA) with strong support from Farm staff.
- Art on the Farm: On September 22nd, 2013 the farm hosted the third annual award-winning “Art on the Farm”. Featuring educational programs, performance art, live painting, 3D art, a locally-sourced dinner menu, and an art auction, this event raises funds for two organizations that are dedicated to preserving farm land and sustainable food systems and strengthening the community: Carlisle Arts Learning Center and Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture.
Workshops and Community Outreach

Starting in summer 2012, the farm has partnered with the Pennsylvania Association of Sustainable Agriculture’s Good Food Neighborhood project to offer monthly workshops. Now in its third year, the program gives community members the opportunity to learn homesteading skills from local experts. Course topics include pasta making, beekeeping, backyard chicken care, gluten free baking, and food preservation.

Additionally, the student farmers lead in-depth educational programs for local youth organizations including Leadership, Education And Farming Project (L.E.A.F Project PA); the Coalition of Neighborhood Networks for the Enhancement of Carlisle Teens (CONNECT); Franklin County Migrant Education Program; and the Central PA Conservancy Goddard Leadership Legacy Institute. The farm continues to host a wide variety of school groups, clubs and area colleges for tours and unique educational opportunities. It has also partnered with the South Mountain Outdoors Festival and Cumberland County Farm Tours to offer farm tours to an even larger slice of the community.

Renewable Energy

The farm seeks to use, develop, and demonstrate sustainable energy technologies wherever possible. They consider it their responsibility both to reduce the environmental footprint of the food that they produce and to educate their students and community on the possibilities for decreased consumption of non-renewable energy.

For electricity, they have turned to solar energy for many applications, with their goal being both to reduce consumption of purchased energy from the region’s coal and nuclear plants, and to set up they farm as a demonstration site for several different solar technologies. The barn and farmhouse glean a portion of their electricity from two separate grid-tied photovoltaic systems. Seasonal apprentices who work and live at the farm are able to do so off the grid, experiencing a new dimension of sustainable living in their yurts. The largest greenhouse on the farm uses a solar water heating system for supplemental heat during the colder months of the year and farm staff members make good use of the Solar Wheeler golf cart that transports workers and produce around the farm using the sun’s energy.

Photovoltaic (solar electric, PV) systems are reliable, effective, and probably the easiest renewable energy technology to work with. They PV systems produce clean, quiet, high quality power reliably, and are expected them to continue doing so with minimal maintenance for decades.
February 18, 2014
Secco Inc.

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Secco Inc. is dedicated to providing fast, reliable, and professional Commercial Electrical, HVAC, and Refrigeration service to the Greater Harrisburg Area including businesses in the Dillsburg, Mechanicsburg, Carlisle, York, Harrisburg, and Hershey areas.

All of their employees have access to the latest training and tools which allows them to take great pride in the quality of their work and craftsmanship. The whole team at SECCO, Inc.strives to provide customers with the best service possible.

They have been working in Central Pennsylvania since 1969 on local projects big and small so that the customers may drive by every day! Check out their project portfolios from their Electrical Construction portfolio, Commercial HVAC & Refrigeration portfolio, and their Solar Energy Systems Portfolio.

February 11, 2014
Cumberland County Historical Society

The Cumberland County Historical Society (CCHS), founded in 1874, is dedicated to collecting, preserving, interpreting, and promoting the rich history of Cumberland County, PA. In order to carry out its mission, the Society maintains a library, archives, museum, and lecture hall on North Pitt Street, a museum shop in the recently renovated High Street building in downtown Carlisle and the Two Mile House in South Middleton Township.

HISTORY ON HIGH SHOP

Located inside the unique History on High Shop in downtown Carlisle, the Cumberland Valley Visitors Center has everything you need to plan your trip to Cumberland Valley, PA. Stop by for valuable visitor information including directions, suggestions and recommendations from trained and friendly staff. We can provide brochures on arts and entertainment, area attractions, dining and lodging, outdoor recreation, and shopping. Open Tuesday through Friday from 10 a.m. until 6 p.m. and Saturday from 10 a.m. until 5 p.m. (33 West High Street, Carlisle, PA).

THE TWO MILE HOUSE

This magnificent Federal limestone residence was built in 1820 whenWalnut Bottom Road served as a busy thoroughfare for travelers, farmers, and merchants plying their trade. From 1826 to 1857 it served as The James Given Tavern where many a weary traveler stopped to quench their thirst, spend the night and enjoy the tavern’s simple fare. CCHS was bequeathed the property by Mrs. Mary Wheeler King in 1992 and has been the proud steward of the mansion, preserving and maintaining it ever since.

Two Mile House, so-named because of its distance from Carlisle’s town square, contains 12 rooms, 10 with fireplaces featuring Doric-style pilasters and a central panel with oval medallion. The first floor’s central passage, dominated by an open staircase, is flanked by double parlors and the kitchen boasts an enormous cooking fireplace.

The mansion including its five acres of landscaped property is on the National Register of Historic Places.

February 11, 2014