York Named One Of “Most Livable” Cities In The Country

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

York City has been named one of the “most livable” cities in the country, one of 12 cities out of 200 applicants to win the honor.

The award recognizes mayoral leadership in developing and implementing programs that improve the quality of life in America’s cities, focusing on the leadership, creativity and innovation demonstrated by the mayors.

The city received the award because of the “Teen’s Fourth Friday” program York City Mayor Kim Bracey began in September 2013.

Read more: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26342639/york-named-one-most-livable-cities-country

York City’s West End Gets New Name

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

There’s a new brand in town.

York City’s west end has been given the nickname “Weco,” which is short for “west of the Codorus.”

Weco includes the four-block area bordered by the Codorus, Penn Street, and West Market and West Philadelphia streets.

It’s the latest marketing effort from Downtown Inc, a York-based nonprofit tasked with supporting downtown businesses.

Read more: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_26146271/york-citys-west-end-gets-new-name

York Police ID Alleged Shooter In Saturday’s Double Homicide

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

York City detectives have obtained an arrest warrant for the man believed to be responsible for Saturday evening’s double homicide, York City Police Chief Wes Kahley said.

Laquan Pierrelouis, 22, whose last-known address was in the 900 block of West King Street, is wanted for the 7 p.m. homicides of Braydon Aldinger, 23, of Danielle Court, and Derek Feree, 26, of Old Mill Inn Road. Both men lived in Manchester Township.

“The two victims intentionally called Pierrelouis and a Hispanic male to the 500 block of West Mason Avenue in order to conduct a drug transaction,” Kahley said.

Read more: http://www.yorkdispatch.com/breaking/ci_24596225/york-police-id-alleged-shooter-saturdays-double-homicide

York Mayoral Candidate Pulled Off The Ballot

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  If you don’t want to live in the City of York, why the heck would you want to be the mayor??????? I would think there should be a residency requirement for the mayor.

A controversial York city mayoral candidate likely won’t appear on the Democratic ballot this spring, after a county judge ruled that he does not meet residency requirements.

President Judge Stephen P. Linebaugh on Wednesday granted a petition to set aside nomination papers for Joe Beltrante, the mayoral hopeful who nonetheless maintained in court that he had “absolutely no desire” to live in the city.

That means Beltrante will not compete against incumbent Mayor Kim Bracey and York City Council President Carol Hill-Evans in the May primary, unless he first chooses to appeal the decision.

Beltrante said Wednesday afternoon that he’s not yet decided whether or not he will appeal.

Read more:  http://www.ydr.com/politics/ci_22883422/york-mayoral-candidate-pulled-off-ballot

Distilling New Life Into Lancaster City Sites

In the window of the Fulton bar there is taped a copy of the judge’s injunction that shuttered the business in October.

But recently, a second sign was added at the dark 637 N. Plum St. bar. The orange notice refers to Monday’s Zoning Hearing Board meeting.

Blocks away, a similar orange notice is posted in the former Señorita Burrita, at 227 N. Prince St.

The applicant in both cases is the same.

Robert McGrath, owner of the four-store Roburrito’s chain in York County, is coming to Lancaster in a big way.

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/625865_Distilling-new-life-into-Lancaster-city-sites.html#ixzz1ryrlpdyv

 

YorKitchen Expanding Business Opportunities

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting York County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  This is an awesome concept!

While running her stand at Central Market recently, Donna Lott dashed into YorKitchen to decorate a cheesecake.

Lott, who owns Hattie’s Gourmet Cheesecakes, outlined the half-chocolate, half-vanilla cake with white frosting. Earlier, she had adorned it with a yellow bunny with a pink belly.

Last year, Lott was an accountant. Now, she owns a baking business. She does all of her baking at YorKitchen, a business incubator run by NutriCore Northeast Inc., an initiative of the York County Economic Alliance.

Lott stores her ingredients and cakes on a shelf, and in a refrigerator and freezer that she rents at the licensed commercial kitchen – 1,200 square feet of stainless-steel ovens, tables, grills, fryers and utensils.

Read more: http://www.ydr.com/ci_20357583/yorkitchen-expanding-business-opportunities

Building York: A Community & Economic Development Summit

A Building York summit was called by York Mayor C. Kim Bracey and her partners to identify economic and community development opportunities and challenges that face the York Metropolitan area.  The summit means to:  identify goals, educate the community, spur redevelopment in the urban core, accelerate investment, formulate new ideas, and create momentum, partnerships and a sense of urgency.

The goal of the two-day summit, which ended Thursday, was to formulate a plan of action from 2011 through 2015.

One of the cool events was the screening of a film called “My Tale of Two Cities” by Carl Kurlander.  The film chronicles where Pittsburgh was, where Pittsburgh is and how Pittsburgh reinvented itself.  Kurlander gave an inspirational talk to the large crowd and said things like:  believe in the possible, what happens in York matters to everyone and do not tear down all the beautiful historic buildings!  It was a message of hope and what can be accomplished if the entire York community pulls together.

Sessions offered to participants were on topics such as:  sustainable infrastructure and Pennsylvania’s green economy, best practices in urban renewal, residential reinvestment and new methods and practices in urban redevelopment and investment.  The sessions were followed by roundtable discussions, led by York civic and community leaders.

Two Roy’s Rants thumbs up to York City and County leadership for working together to improve the entire York Metro area!

York County Group Looking To Advance Economic Development In Downtown York

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YorIT, a York County Community Foundation has a Social Venture Fund with $20,000 and is looking for a person or persons with “new, creative, out-of-the-box ideas that can attract retailers and restaurants to the area as well as get more people to come downtown” to give it to.

I seriously think I should move to York!  I am continually amazed at the level of cooperation between the city, county and private sector.  How refreshing to see that suburbanites get that York City is the heart of York County and are trying to do all in their power to revitalize it! 

Around here, it’s the opposite.  Most suburbanites do not seem to care if places like Philadelphia, Norristown and Pottstown fail.  Many avoid coming into these places at all costs.  Very sad.

Check out their website for more information:

http://www.yorit.org/Challenge/