An essay by Frank Cotolo

It was rare during the decades of my life to imagine I would one day be a land owner. I became used to living in buildings on lands owned by other people and it was good not to have the burdens of owning land upon which included a building I owned.

It is considered part of the American Dream to own the land upon which includes a building one owns. But there is another side to that dream no matter the country in which it comes true (Canadian Dream, French Dream, etc.) Especially if the person has no interest or talent to host the responsibilities of a land owner.

I own the land and the house on it in Shellsville Pennsylvania. I swear the Earth weeps that I am its caretaker. Why? Because I am the worst land owner since Howard Hughes owned most of Las Vegas.

The difference is I am not rich like Howard Hughes. I am a poor land owner with ten thumbs. And lifelong ADD. I face the problems of tending to the land mostly on my own. But land-tending is not for the ten-thumbed. Ask any American Dream recipient.

I think I own a half acre but it might as well be the size of Hershey Park. Or Fenway Park. Perhaps experienced American Dream-come-true-ers will offer advice?

Frank Cotolo is a veteran pop-culture writer and sports journalist. In the broadcasting world he is associated with radio’s Wolfman Jack. Cotolo has written books (available at Amazon, Blurb Books and Lulu) and TV shows and music. He speaks six languages poorly but his English is perfect and he is available to speak at organization and social meetings on any subject (inquire about dates and prices).

Without realizing it, I started down the path toward finding that purpose a little more than 50 years ago, when the editor of my hometown’s weekly newspaper — a family friend — asked me to cover the high school football team.

I was a high school student at the time, and I remember sitting at the dining room table, slowly punching out game reports on a manual typewriter. I’m sure the allure of seeing my name atop a published story began back then.

About 15 years later, my daughter was born three months prematurely in 1991. By the end of that year, I had become a stay-at-home dad. I tried several ways to earn an income while my wife worked as a physical therapist, but nothing clicked.

Then I responded to a help-wanted ad in Harrisburg’s only daily newspaper, The Patriot-News. The newspaper was looking for independent contractors, known as stringers, to cover local government meetings.

An editor sent me to cover a school board meeting, and my report was good enough to land me a beat that eventually grew to include four nearby townships and a borough.

Over the next decade, I became an expert on such things as sewer installation projects, how an unusual pet like a potbellied pig can ignite a neighborhood firestorm and how local government affairs can become every bit as controversial and heated as the stories on the national news.

In 2000, I landed a full-time job as a news aggregator for an online, subscription-based state government news service. On the side, I did some political blogging about state government, and I even became the first blogger to appear on a political talk show produced and televised by Pennsylvania Cable Network that focuses on state government issues and proceedings.

My blogging nearly got me fired in 2006. Several reporters from other news organizations claimed my blogging created a conflict of interest with my paid job and threatened to try to have my employer removed from the state Capitol newsroom.

There’s more to that story, and I might get into it another time. For now, let’s just say I believe I was targeted as a way to create trouble for my employer, even though I wasn’t doing anything wrong.

Needless to say, I shut down my blog, One-Man Think Tank. Losing that outlet sent me into a bit of a funk.

Because I was also highly bored with my job as a news aggregator, I rebounded by launching a hyperlocal blog focused on my township and school district sometime in 2006.

Now, 20 years later and on the fourth iteration of that experiment, I’m still plugging away on the local journalism scene — covering municipal government and community news under the banner of Linglestown Gazette on Facebook and Substack.

You may wonder why I’m not spending my retirement on the golf course or sipping drinks with little umbrellas by the pool. After all, this pursuit has led to three personal burnouts, cost me far too much money and sometimes created problems on the home front.

The answer is threefold.

First, I’m a local government nerd.

Yes, I’m genuinely interested in what many people consider boring township, borough and school board meetings. I know. I’m a bit weird.

Second, I believe strongly in the role of a free press.

The First Amendment protects a free press so journalists can keep watch over elected officials at every level of government — local, county, state and federal. But local journalism has disappeared from many towns and cities across the nation, creating what are commonly called news deserts.

My suburban municipality and school district — both among the largest in Pennsylvania — went without consistent, close coverage by a local journalist for about 13 years.

How can that happen in a community of roughly 100,000 people?

It’s disappointing. Outrageous, even.

That situation inspired one of my favorite observations:

How can you have a free press when there is no press?

When journalists aren’t monitoring local government, major decisions can be made without most residents knowing about them in time to become informed, weigh in or get involved.

That’s exactly what happened in my community.

Between the third and current iterations of Linglestown Gazette, township officials approved changing the zoning of a large agricultural tract to allow residential development. All legally required public notices were issued, but without a beat reporter regularly covering the township, most residents didn’t learn about the significant zoning change until several years later, when developers submitted plans for as many as 770 homes.

Based on the strong public reaction to that massive housing proposal, there is a better-than-average chance the outcome might have been different if a news organization had reported on the zoning change while residents still had a meaningful opportunity to respond. The land might have remained farmland and wildlife habitat for the foreseeable future.

Third, I’m committed to finding a low-cost but effective way to distribute reliable local news so major government actions don’t leave concerned citizens in the dark.

And if the model works in my coverage area, there’s a good chance it could work in other communities that no longer have journalists keeping watch.

That has become my cause larger than myself.

From time to time, I will post behind-the-scenes looks at what has worked — and what hasn’t — in the journalism test lab that Linglestown Gazette has become since early 2025.

As always, we encourage your feedback and constructive criticism.

Onward and upward.

Former Lower Paxton officials Tom Vernau and Jeff Klare served as experts for the economic development discussion hosted by Lower Paxton Town Hall. Both are township residents with extensive experience in the field.

Vernau, a former interim Lower Paxton Township manager, helped spearhead the redevelopment of the former Bon-Ton property on the West Shore, which is now home to businesses including Trader Joe’s. Klare, a former Lower Paxton Township economic development director, has spent decades helping communities attract businesses, create jobs and provide needed services.

Cutting to the chase, Vernau and Klare drove home one central message: Lower Paxton lacks a clear vision of what it wants to be.

Specifically, they said the township has not put in place a comprehensive economic development strategy to guide efforts to redevelop struggling commercial properties, recruit new businesses and support those already operating in the township.

The discussion comes as Lower Paxton faces perhaps its most visible economic development challenge: the distressed Colonial Park Mall. But the conversation went beyond the mall to the broader question of how the township should position itself for the future.

Vernau cautioned that meaningful economic development doesn’t happen overnight. It can take years for a municipality’s efforts to produce visible results, he said, making it important for Lower Paxton to begin laying the groundwork sooner rather than later.

More than a dozen residents attended the meeting and peppered Vernau and Klare with questions about the mall, business recruitment, redevelopment and the township’s economic future.

Following the meeting, Linglestown Gazette publisher and editor Bill Bostic, who moderated the discussion, said he plans to use ideas generated during the discussion to develop a proposed plan of action. The goal is to present recommendations to the Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors next month.

The Thursday gathering was the second meeting of Lower Paxton Town Hall, a citizens group created to move beyond simply identifying township problems and toward developing potential solutions.

A video of the full panel discussion, along with highlight reels, will be published next week on Facebook and Substack.

Lower Paxton Township supervisors unanimously approved a major overhaul of the Municipal Center boardroom’s audio and video system Tuesday night, opting to spend more than $119,000 on upgrades aimed in part at improving the experience for residents watching meetings online.

The original upgraded package totaled $106,258, already above the $95,000 budgeted for the project, and supervisors agreed to add another $13,698 to replace the aging projector and pull-down screen with a large video display. The project also includes upgraded audio and video equipment, an additional microphone at the supervisors’ table, another wireless microphone, a 75-inch TV, a public-comment timer and a support agreement.

“The prices aren’t going down, they’re going up, right?” Supervisor George Little said. “And if we want a screen size, we can’t make it bigger later. So, whatever it is we want, we need to go ahead and get it now.”

Carol Ann Carroll, a regular commenter on township business, was the only person to speak against the upgrade. She said last week’s State of the Township report by Manager Michael Gossert showed the township isn’t in a financial position to spend $106,000 upgrading decade-old screens and microphones that still work.

Meanwhile, public officials focused on whether to add a large video display to the basic proposal, and eventually went that way because the projector and screen are a decade old and are 1980s technology, and upgrading now will be less expensive than doing it later.

In other business, supervisors unanimously accepted the resignation of Vacancy Board Chairman Jay Purdy and will seek applicants to replace him. The board also approved a $68,700 contract with YSM Landscape Architects to begin designing the first phase of upgrading Conway Park in the Hodges Heights development, including basketball courts, parking and a multipurpose lawn.

Supervisors approved six applications for Dauphin County gaming grants, although George Little and Pamela Thompson recused themselves from the Technology 4 Me application because of personal connections to the organization or its presenter.

The board also shuffled its informal department liaison assignments, with Robin Lindsey moving from Public Works to Public Safety and newly appointed Supervisor George Little taking over the Public Works liaison role.

Source: Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors livestream, Aug. 18, 2026

Several days before Independence Day, I stopped by my go-to salon, J C Nail Salon, for a pedicure. The salon is located at 5800 Jonestown Road in Paxtonia Plaza, a multi-tenant shopping center that is home to several retail businesses and a non-denominational ministry.

The plaza is next to The Feed Store in Paxtonia. On the other side of the road are Mione Family Remodeling and the Lower Paxton Post Office, and the plaza is just a short distance from Karns Foods in Paxton Square.

While chatting with Cindi Ho, the owner of J C Nail Salon, she shared a little of her own story. She has spent 35 years in the nail salon industry and moved from Philadelphia to Lower Paxton Township a few decades ago. In 2003, she opened J C Nail Salon. Cindi is also the proud mother of three grown daughters. One graduated from Drexel University, another from Temple University, and the youngest is attending Harrisburg Area Community College.

Before I left the salon, Cindi suggested I visit the newest business in the plaza, Sweet Cordelia’s Cake and Bake Shoppe. Just a few doors away in Suite E, I met owner Erica Breski Smith and her husband, Dan. The bakery is named in honor of Erica’s grandmother, Cordelia, and reflects Erica’s lifelong passion for baking.

A 2016 graduate of Bishop McDevitt High School, Erica earned a degree in Baking and Pastry Arts from Pennsylvania College of Technology. She began her career as a cake decorator at Giant in 2015 before purchasing equipment from the former Crumboat Confections bakery on Jonestown Road after it closed. In 2022, she opened her first bakery across from Paxtonia Elementary School.

In May 2026, Sweet Cordelia’s relocated to its new home in Paxtonia Plaza. Today, the bakery’s Facebook page has nearly 4,000 followers and a perfect 5-star customer rating. During my visit, Erica and Dan were preparing a special order of decorated American flag and Liberty Bell cookies for the Federal Courthouse’s America 250 celebration.

Dan, a graduate of Central Dauphin High School, recently left his supervisory position with Pepsi after more than eight years to join Erica full-time in the family business. The couple, who married in 2019, are raising three children.

The next morning, on my way to upstate New York for the Fourth of July holiday, my sister and I stopped at Sweet Cordelia’s to pick up a pair of treats for the trip. They were every bit as delicious as promised.

Looking back, what started as a simple pedicure became an enjoyable introduction to two local businesses. My pedicure drew compliments throughout my extended holiday.

Sometimes the best community stories aren’t found by searching for them. They’re discovered during an ordinary errand. One stop at Paxtonia Plaza introduced me to two dedicated small-business owners and provided another reminder of the entrepreneurial spirit that thrives in our township.

During an hour-long State of the Township presentation, Gossert said the township’s $5.2 million in federal American Rescue Plan Act (ARPA) money is essentially gone, about 30 miles of township roads are considered to be failing, and retired police officers’ health benefits could cost the township about $1.4 million a year within eight to 10 years.

Public safety is also poised for major growth, with the township looking at hiring four police officers a year for the next four years and 12 additional firefighters in 2027. Gossert said residents will probably hear discussion about increasing the township’s fire tax to help pay for the expanded fire department.

On economic development, Gossert said the township tentatively plans to pursue an economic development committee made up of residents, business owners, and developers rather than hiring an economic development director, and he raised the possibility that such a committee could eventually lead to the creation of an economic development authority.

He also said the township has launched a new economic development webpage and described Lower Paxton as “open for business.”

There’s a lot more to unpack from this presentation, including roads, the compost facility, future taxes, development, township staffing, and the long-term cost of providing services to a growing community, so the Gazette will be taking a much deeper look at what Gossert had to say.

Full details coming to the Linglestown Gazette on Substack.

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This article was written with the assistance of ChatGPT.

Source: Lower Paxton Township meeting video on YouTube

West Hanover Township supervisors have significantly expanded plans to improve the Manor Drive and Route 22 area, with the project now stretching to West Hanover Elementary School.

Supervisors unanimously approved applying for a $418,564 state grant for the project, up from an earlier estimate of about $178,000. The expanded plan calls for a walkway and curb between Route 22 and the elementary school, upgraded school-zone flashing signals and pedestrian improvements at the Route 22 intersection.

Township officials also want to work with the Central Dauphin School District to address the traffic mess created by parents stacking vehicles along Manor Drive while waiting to pick up students. One possible solution is completing a cul-de-sac on school district property that was included in an earlier development plan but never built

In other business, supervisors approved the Country Gate subdivision and land development plan on Manor Drive, subject to a lengthy list of conditions. The housing project, submitted by Lower Paxton Township-based Triple Crown Corporation, calls for the construction of 29 single-family homes just east of the Central Dauphin High School athletic complex.

The meeting also featured a strong defense of West Hanover’s volunteer firefighters after fire company members were verbally confronted by residents while closing roads because of downed trees and live electrical wires during the July 4 storms.

See the comments for a bullet-point recap of the meeting.

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SOURCE: West Hanover Township Board of Supervisors meeting, July 16, 2026, on YouTube

Publisher’s Note: This article marks the beginning of coverage of West Hanover Township government meetings. The volunteers cranking out local news for communities in Central Dauphin School District are looking forward to keeping you informed about all things local. Welcome aboard!

The Swatara Township Board of Commissioners adopted Ordinance O-2026-5 on Aug. 5, putting new zoning and land-development rules in place for data centers after months of public concern.

The vote was taken by voice vote, and no opposition was recorded in the transcript.

Director of Planning and Zoning Zack Gulden said the ordinance had been reviewed by Tri-County Regional Planning Commission and recommended for approval by the township Planning Commission on a 5-0 vote

Residents thanked commissioners for listening, but they also made it clear they still want more protection in the ordinance, including stronger setbacks, lower building heights, sound walls, baseline well-water testing, air-quality monitoring and a decommissioning bond.

Swatara moved fast because officials believed a data center proposal was coming to Dauphin Highlands Golf Club, and they wanted enforceable protections on the books before the developer walked through the door.

Michelle Godfrey, a resident of the area, raised concerns about future disposal of data center equipment and possible groundwater and air-quality testing, while other residents continued to press for more distance between data centers and nearby homes.

Regarding the call for stronger setbacks between residences and a data center, Swatara Township Commissioner Tom Connolly told the Gazette, “If we had a 1,000- or 2,000-acres zoned for data centers, then a 500-foot buffer could be in play. Swatara Township only zoned about 400 total acres for data centers.”

Commissioners said the ordinance is not perfect, but they argued it gives residents protections now while avoiding restrictions that could trigger a lawsuit or leave the township with no data center rules at all.

One commissioner summed it up as a “first brick” rather than the end of the process, saying future amendments are still possible.

OTHER DATA CENTER NEWS: The proposed data center in nearby South Hanover Township has been paused by the developer. CLICK HERE for the story by PennLive.

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Source: YouTube videos of township Board of Commissioners meeting held on August 5, 23026.

The West Hanover WildCocks advanced to the second round of the East Shore Twilight League playoffs after eliminating longtime rival Linglestown in a dramatic three-game first-round series.

West Hanover entered the postseason riding a five-game winning streak that lifted the club to an 11-9 regular-season record.

In Game 1, Anthony Garcia pitched a complete seven-inning game, throwing 98 pitches while allowing just two earned runs.

With the score tied 3-3 in the bottom of the seventh inning, Tito Figueroa reached second base before Kyle Belmont lined a single to second, driving in Figueroa with the game-winning run and giving the WildCocks a walk-off victory.

Linglestown responded with a 15-3 rout in Game 2, leaving West Hanover facing elimination.

In the deciding Game 3, the WildCocks battled back after trailing throughout most of the contest. Figueroa and center fielder Darwin Cruz each blasted solo home runs to pull West Hanover within one run heading into the final inning.

With one out and a runner on third, pinch hitter Tyler Thomas ripped a ground ball down the first-base line, allowing pinch runner Joey Skehan to score the tying run.

As darkness settled over the field and the game moved into extra innings, closer Anthony Garcia retired Linglestown in order. West Hanover then loaded the bases on three consecutive walks. With Cruz on third base, a wild pitch brought home the winning run, giving the WildCocks their second walk-off victory of the series and sending them to the semifinals.

Kyle Belmont delivered a dominant performance on the mound, throwing 119 pitches while striking out nine.

West Hanover then advanced to face New Cumberland in another best-of-three series.

In Saturday’s opener, Carson Beleski allowed just three runs over five innings while throwing 89 pitches. Despite the strong outing, New Cumberland earned a 4-3 walk-off victory on an RBI single in the bottom of the seventh inning.

Facing elimination once again on Sunday, the WildCocks answered with an 8-3 victory. Anthony Garcia tossed a complete game, throwing 114 pitches and striking out five. Designated hitter Jason Abbott and third baseman Miguel Rodriguez each collected two singles and drove in three runs to even the series.

Now, West Hanover heads into another winner-take-all Game 3 tonight against New Cumberland, seeking the first championship series appearance in the franchise’s nine-year history.

First pitch is slated for 5:45 p.m. at Cedar Cliff High School in Lower Allen Township. Admission to the game is free, but the home team most likely will have a player go through the crowd seeking donations.

The Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors meets tonight instead of its usual Tuesday because National Night Out for Public Safety will be held Tuesday evening at George Park.

One of the biggest items on tonight’s agenda is a proposed settlement and release agreement. The agenda doesn’t identify who the agreement involves or what it’s about, making it one of the meeting’s biggest question marks.

Another surprise: The agenda does not include a swearing-in ceremony for George Little, who was recently appointed interim township supervisor. It was unknown whether Little will participate in the meeting tonight, said Lower Paxton Township Manager Michael Gossert. He explained that the swearing-in of an elected official does not need to take place at a public meeting, so it’s possible for Little to privately go to a notary public, magisterial district judge, or a county judge to be sworn in.

Supervisors also will consider changes to the township’s fire lane ordinance and review plans related to the Newside Cemetery site. If you want to know what’s happening before decisions are made, tonight is a good meeting to watch.

The meeting begins Monday, Aug. 3, at 7 p.m. at the Municipal Center, 425 Prince St., Colonial Park. It will be streamed live on the township’s YouTube channel: https://www.youtube.com/@LowerPaxtonTwp/streams

I’ll have the recap tomorrow.

The state meet, held for the fourth straight year at West Virginia University, draws swimmers from roughly 375 YMCA programs across Pennsylvania’s three districts — about 75 teams per district — competing for as few as eight to 16 qualifying spots per event. To even reach the meet, swimmers had to compete in three sanctioned meets, including a 24-meet season that spanned 68 days on the pool deck, and hit qualifying times at a district meet.

Of the roughly 50 ten-and-under swimmers on the Gators’ 180-member roster, eight qualified for states — and together they brought home the top team finish in their age group, both for the girls and the boys. The 10U girls’ squad featured Lily, JoJo, Ava, Reese and Bella, while the 10U boys’ squad featured Dakota, Simon, Jackson and Josiah.

Demanincor, who has coached for decades and has been swimming competitively since age five, credits the results to a training philosophy built around variety and injury prevention rather than year-round single-sport intensity. The 10-and-unders practice three days a week, log roughly 2,500 to 3,000 yards per session, and are encouraged to play other sports. Under her five years as head coach, the program has had zero overuse injuries — a point of pride she attributes to dryland training, technique-first coaching and mandatory rest.

Beyond the physical demands, Demanincor emphasized the sport’s mental side. Unlike team sports where athletes compete side by side, swimmers face long, solitary stretches staring at a black line on the pool bottom, relying on patience and grit stroke by stroke. She’s watched young swimmers who once balked at longer events — such as 10-year-olds now racing the 500-yard freestyle, 20 lengths of the pool — grow into distance racers, and six of her swimmers recently qualified for USA Swimming’s Eastern Zone long-course championships in Virginia.

The team’s swimmers ultimately feed into five area high schools, including Susquehanna Township, Bishop McDevitt, Central Dauphin and Lower Dauphin.

With the summer season wrapping up, Demanincor is already turning her attention to the fall, with practices set to resume September 14. The Gators’ summer squad recently headed to Palmyra Community Pool for the Mid-Caps meet against West Shore rivals.

Linglestown Gazette correspondent Ken Stambaugh lives in Linglestown, is a longtime friend and supporter of the Gazette, served two terms as commander of Linglestown American Legion Post 272, and recently flew a Huey 823 helicopter over the July 4th festivities at Dauphin County Heroes Grove amphitheater.

Let’s see what we can do.

Lower Paxton Township, like many municipalities, has opportunities to strengthen its economic development efforts. With a struggling mall, dozens of underutilized commercial properties, and a historic village with the potential to become a regional destination, attracting new businesses deserves greater attention. That’s a bigger conversation for another day.

For now, let’s focus on the laundromat issue.

Rather than waiting for someone else to solve the problem, Lower Paxton Town Hall — a community initiative spearheaded by the Linglestown Gazette — is going to explore whether citizens can help spark a solution.

As a demonstration project for what Lower Paxton Town Hall can accomplish, we’ll devote some time and resources to determining whether the Route 22/Linglestown area is underserved by laundromats and whether there’s an opportunity to attract a new operator.

Based on reader comments and preliminary online research, there appears to be a potential need near the former Camelot laundromat site in the Route 22/Linglestown area near McDonald’s. We’ve also identified several companies that operate multiple laundromats throughout the Harrisburg region.

ACTION PLAN: A Linglestown Gazette volunteer will begin researching the market and contacting regional laundromat operators to determine whether they would consider evaluating the area for a future location. We’ll report back on what we learn.

This is exactly the type of community problem-solving Lower Paxton Town Hall hopes to encourage: neighbors helping neighbors and working together to make our community a better place to live, work, and play.

This is a developing story.

LOWER PAXTON TOWNSHIP — Patrolman First Class Douglas Fisher, a veteran Lower Paxton Township police officer and U.S. Army Reserve colonel, died early July 29 while serving on military orders in South Carolina following a medical emergency, the Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police announced.

Fisher joined the Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police in January 2004 and served the department for more than 22 years. During his career, he worked in both Patrol and the Criminal Investigation Section before returning to patrol in 2017. He was promoted to Patrolman First Class in 2018.

In addition to his law enforcement career, Fisher built a distinguished military career that spanned more than two decades. He was serving as commander of the U.S. Army Reserve’s 2nd Brigade, 87th Training Division, at the time of his death, holding the rank of colonel.

A graduate of Shippensburg University, Fisher was commissioned as a second lieutenant in the U.S. Army Infantry in 1999 and later earned a Master of Strategic Studies degree from the U.S. Army War College. He deployed to Afghanistan with the 82nd Airborne Division in 2002, earning the Combat Infantryman Badge.

Throughout his military career, Fisher held numerous leadership positions and received several decorations, including the Bronze Star Medal, the Meritorious Service Medal, the Army Commendation Medal, the Ranger Tab, the Expert Infantry Badge, and the Combat Infantryman Badge.

In announcing his death, the police bureau praised Fisher’s dedication to public service, describing him as a respected leader whose compassion, integrity, and commitment to others left a lasting impact on both the department and the military.

Fisher is survived by his wife, Heather; sons Hunter and Hayden; daughter Scarlett; and extended family, friends, and fellow officers and service members.

“Whether wearing the badge of a police officer or the uniform of a United States Army colonel, he embodied the very highest ideals of service before self,” the department said in a statement.

Funeral arrangements had not been announced.

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This article was adapted from a Facebook post published by the Lower Paxton Township Bureau of Police and was rewritten into a news article format with the assistance of ChatGPT.

Thankfully, the Linglestown Gazette is beginning to gain traction thanks to the support of a dedicated group of business sponsors, individual donors, and a growing team of volunteers who have generously contributed local news and information.

But – and this is a big “but”– we need many more volunteers if the Gazette is to achieve its goal of expanding coverage to West Hanover, Swatara, and Middle Paxton townships, as well as the boroughs of Penbrook, Paxtang, and Dauphin.

“I’ve developed a strategy to show Gazette followers that they already have what it takes to help,” said Gazette publisher Bill Bostic. “It can be as simple as passing along tidbits of community news – the same way neighbors have always shared what’s happening over coffee, at the grocery store, or across a backyard fence. Throughout August, I’ll be sharing practical tips that will show just how easy it is to become part of the Gazette’s community news network.”

Stay tuned. You may be surprised by just how easy it is to help the Gazette keep our community informed.

Most people have heard the saying, “When the going gets tough, the tough get going.”

Just over a month ago, 24 Lower Paxton Township residents gathered on the patio at St. Thomas Roasters Coffee House in the heart of Linglestown to do exactly that.

The group came together because many believe township leaders have shown little urgency in addressing several long-standing issues affecting the community.

During the discussion, attendees reached broad agreement that Lower Paxton Township should place greater emphasis on economic development, business recruitment, commercial redevelopment, proactive code enforcement, traffic management, and long-term strategic planning. The strongest consensus to emerge from the meeting was the recommendation that the township hire an Economic Development Director to spearhead efforts to strengthen the local economy and revitalize key commercial areas.

Building on that momentum, Linglestown Gazette Publisher Bill Bostic has scheduled a second meeting of what is now known as the Lower Paxton Town Hall group. The goal is to refine the ideas generated during the first meeting and develop a concise list of recommendations to present to the Lower Paxton Township Board of Supervisors.

Please mark your calendar:

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026
Time: 7:00 p.m.
Location: Linglestown Historic Venue
5901 Linglestown Road
School House Room
Linglestown, PA 17112

“Now that the meeting date is set, I’ll be working on an agenda that will hopefully include two or three guest speakers who can help participants better understand the issues identified during our first meeting,” Bostic said.

“I’ve reserved seating for 50 people,” he added. “My hope is that every chair is filled—and that we’ll even need a standing-room-only section. The more residents who participate, the stronger our community’s voice will be.”
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Final Note: The owner of Linglestown Historic Venue has graciously made some accommodations to allow this meeting to take place.

By Frank Cotolo

I live in Shellsville Pennsylvania for going on 34 years. It does not seem like

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only yesterday; it seems like always. And during the winter it always seems like

Thursday.

I am not a country boy though I was born in this country. In Brooklyn New

York. But Shellsville sometimes reminds me of my home town. Especially when I

see a tree.

You all must know Shellsville is a part of Grantville and Grantville is named

after Ulysses S. Grant, General. When I moved to Pennsylvania I thought

Shellsville was named after another Civil War general. But an A.I. search

dismissed that and added there was another Civil War military leader connected to

Grantville. His name was Ornary Dollar and was known as Dollar General.

Shellville is quaint and quiet and small. I did not realize how small until a

veteran resident told me there once was a Shellsville Library. But not for long. It

shut down after someone took the book out.

Pennsylvania is filled with small places like Shellsville. Once I sat on my

porch with a detailed map of Pennsylvania and memorized the names of every

small place like Shellsville in the Keystone State where someone could live. To

make it more interesting I memorized them in alphabetical order.

Over the decades I was involved in many adventures on my green acre

property. I will share some of them with you now and then through the Linglestown

Gazette. Please support this local-news outlet and contribute to it however

possible.

Frank Cotolo is a veteran pop-culture writer and sports journalist. In the

broadcasting world he is associated with radio’s Wolfman Jack. Cotolo has written

books (available at Amazon, Blurb Books and Lulu) and TV shows and music

(https://frankcotolo.bandcamp.com/). He speaks six languages poorly but his

English is perfect and he is available to speak at organization and social meetings

on any subject (inquire about dates and prices).

(COLONIAL PARK, July 22) — After conducting interviews Tuesday afternoon with four applicants for the Lower Paxton Township supervisor seat recently vacated by Dr. Charles Stuart, the Board of Supervisors voted 3-1 to appoint George Little, a six-year resident of Lower Paxton’s southeastern section of the township, as interim supervisor.

Little told the Board members that his decades-long career in public service has prepared him to help guide one of Dauphin County’s fastest-growing municipalities.

A Harrisburg High School graduate, Little spent most of his professional career in Tennessee, where he served in a variety of executive leadership positions. He began in the governor’s office before helping lead reforms at the Tennessee Department of Correction. He later became chief administrative officer for the City of Memphis, overseeing municipal operations ranging from police and fire services to planning and housing. After returning to Pennsylvania, Little served in the Pennsylvania Department of Corrections, retiring about three years ago as acting secretary before continuing as a consultant.

Little said he sought appointment to the Board because he wants to use that experience to give back to the community where he plans to remain. He said Lower Paxton has experienced impressive growth but faces challenges related to affordability, public safety, quality of life and long-term planning.

Throughout his interview, he emphasized consensus-building, active listening and efficient government, citing innovations such as a 311 customer service system used in Memphis to improve accountability and responsiveness. “I believe in making the places where I live, where I work, and where I play better,” Little said, explaining that the philosophy has guided his public service career and motivates his desire to serve Lower Paxton Township.

Supervisor Kate Scheib made several strong, specific comments in support of Little before voting to appoint him. She highlighted Little’s experience working with “a contentious consortium of individuals,” saying that ability was important because township leadership can sometimes involve difficult or contentious situations.

She also appreciated that Little lives in the Hodges Heights area, which she believed had not been represented on the board in recent years.

Supervisor Robin Lindsey cast the lone no vote for Little. Prior to the vote, she favored an applicant who was a longtime resident of the township.

Little’s interim term of office will run through 2027. He will need to seek a six-year term of office next year that would start in 2028 to continue serving as a supervisor.

Majid Ali, Timothy Pramik, and Jay Purdy also were interviewed by the Board. Ali was not nominated by the Board, and Pramik and Purdy didn’t come up for consideration because Little was appointed before their names were considered.

Little will be sworn into office at the August 3rd Board of Supervisors meeting.

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Hi, I’m Bill Bostic.

If we’ve never met, I’ve been a journalist for more than 30 years, covering local government and public affairs in the Harrisburg area. Along the way, I learned something that’s become even more apparent in recent years:

When local news disappears, communities lose more than a newspaper. They lose a shared understanding of what’s happening in their own backyards.

That’s why I created the Linglestown Gazette.

The Gazette is a nonprofit, hyperlocal news service dedicated to covering the Central Dauphin School District and the seven municipalities it serves – Lower Paxton, Middle Paxton, West Hanover and Swatara townships, along with the boroughs of Dauphin, Penbrook, and Paxtang.

Our mission is simple:

Your Community. Your News.

You’ll find coverage of township supervisors, school board meetings, development proposals, community events, local businesses, high school sports, and the people who make our communities special. Just as importantly, you’ll find context – why decisions matter, how they’ll affect residents, and what’s coming next.

So why launch this publication now?

Because local journalism is at a crossroads.

Across America, newspapers have closed or dramatically reduced their coverage, leaving many communities without anyone regularly attending government meetings or reporting on the decisions that affect taxpayers every day.

I don’t believe that’s acceptable.

I also don’t believe the old business model is coming back.

Rather than complain about the problem, I’ve decided to try to build a solution.

The Linglestown Gazette isn’t just a news publication. It’s an experiment in creating a community-supported, volunteer-driven model that can provide reliable local news without the enormous costs that forced so many newspapers to disappear.

Some ideas will work.

Others won’t.

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As this publication grows, you’ll not only see the news of our communities, but also get an inside look at how we’re trying to build a sustainable model for local journalism – one that, if successful, could be replicated by communities across Pennsylvania and beyond.

Whether you’ve lived here your entire life or just moved into the area, I hope the Linglestown Gazette helps you become more informed, more connected, and more engaged in the place you call home.

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