Pennsylvania
Outrage sparks after Hanover Halloween parade float depicts Holocaust symbolism
HANOVER, Pa. (WHTM) — Local communities are voicing their concerns after photos were posted to Facebook of a Hanover Area Jaycees Halloween parade float that depicted Holocaust symbolism in Hanover Thursday night.
The float, entered by St. Joseph’s Catholic School in Hanover and towed by Metcalf Cleaning LLC, depicted a replica of an Auschwitz concentration camp gate with the phrase “Arbeit Macht Frei,” which is translated to “Work sets you free.”
The phrase is a prominent symbol of the Nazi concentration camps that killed over six million Jewish people during the Holocaust, according to the Auschwitz-Birkenau Memorial and Museum.
The Most Reverend Timothy C. Senior, Bishop of Harrisburg, said in a statement, “The inclusion of this image—one that represents the horrific suffering and murder of millions of innocent people, including six million Jews during the Holocaust—is profoundly offensive and unacceptable. While the original, approved design for this float did not contain this imagery, it does not change the fact that this highly recognizable symbol of hate was included.”
The York Jewish Community Center, the Jewish Federation of Greater Philadelphia, and the Jewish Federation of Harrisburg also released a joint statement in response to the incident:
“These acts, intentional or not, cause fear and pain for Jewish individuals and all who understand the weight of these symbols. We appreciate Bishop Senior’s acknowledgment of the harm caused and his apology on behalf of the Diocese. Recognizing the impact of such imagery is a vital step toward understanding, healing, and preventing similar incidents in the future.”
YORK JCC, JEWISH FEDERATION OF GREATER PHILADELPHIA, AND JEWISH FEDERATION OF HARRISBURG
Galen S. Shelly, who identified himself as the creator of the float in the comment section of the original post, wrote a lengthy statement apologizing for the incident, saying, “In that I have erred and will gladly offer this apology for not realizing there were other ways to interpret a part, especially without knowledge of the whole.”
Metcalf Cleaning LLC also apologized for pulling the float that contained the Nazi imagery and slogan, saying, “At the time, we were unaware of its meaning and significance. We recognize that we should have taken a closer look at the float prior to the parade, and we are truly sorry for that oversight.”
PHOENIXVILLE, Pa. (WPVI) — We are heading to Rivertown Taps in historic Phoenixville, Pennsylvania, to make a classic fan favorite, Caesar salad.
And when they say “taps,” they mean it.
There are dozens of drinks, beer and beyond, on tap at Phoenixville’s first self-serve drink tap wall.
“Phoenixville has always been a very beer-centric town, and we’re beer-centric people, so we wanted to have a really curated selection,” says Chef Owner Lewis Leiterman. “We have 36 drinks on tap.”
Just grab a charge card, choose your glassware and choose your own adventure.
“You pay for whatever you pour by the ounce,” says Leiterman. “You can pour as much or as little as you like.”
The building dates back to the 1800s, and Leiterman made sure to preserve pieces of that history, while bringing something super fresh to the strip.
“We make pastas from scratch,” he says. “We extrude all of our own pastas in house. We do all of our fresh-filled pastas all by hand. We make all our own breads. Everything that’s in here is from scratch.”
The mission includes a commitment to locally sourced food.
Today, we’re making a house favorite: the Caesar salad – with a twist.
“I hate chasing croutons around a salad, like, the fork never kind of sticks into it,” says Leiterman. “We still wanted that crunch factor, like the classic crouton, but different. What we did was we took some of our old bread and we kind of toasted it up and made a coarse panko texture.”
It’s becomes a universal crouton that makes its way throughout the salad.
“We like to feature seasonal vegetables in our Caesar salad, just for a little bit more flavor and nutrition,” says Leiterman.
He grills up some nice asparagus, and then adds some protein.
“I love a soft boiled egg on a salad to add more sustenance to a salad and a little bit of heartiness to it,” he says.
The build starts with a mix of greens, like red romaine and red watercress.
The dressing gets a gourmet kick.
“We do a black garlic and truffle Caesar,” he says. “We don’t like to overdress it. My pet peeve is those thick Caesar dressings.”
Add the asparagus to gently warm the salad, shave on some Parmigiano Reggiano cheese, add the soft boiled egg and finally, the breadcrumbs.
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Fewer young adults reach major milestones as finances delay life plans
Fewer young adults in the U.S. are reaching traditional adulthood milestones, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.
Benzinga – News
Pennsylvania’s over-65 population is growing faster than any other age group in the commonwealth, now making up more than one-fifth of the state’s residents, according to new U.S. Census Bureau data.
The federal agency estimates about 2.8 million Keystone State residents are 65 or older, an increase of about 13% since the last nationwide census was published in 2020.
Overall, the state’s population has remained stagnant at about 13 million since the last census. And many age groups — including children and younger adults — have actually declined in number over the past five years, according to the estimates released June 25.
The median age for a Pennsylvanian is now 41.4, compared to 41 in 2020.
How does Pa. compare to the rest of the U.S.?
Pennsylvania’s increase in older adults matches national trends, as the number of people 65 and older grew by about 9 million across the U.S. since 2020, the estimates suggest. As in the Keystone State, the population of people younger than 18 has fallen over the past several years, as did the number of people in midlife.
Overall, the nation’s population has climbed by an estimated 3.1%, or about 10.3 million people, since 2020.
However, Southern states showed more rapid growth that spanned all age categories, according to the U.S. Census Bureau.
“The South stands out because it is seeing population gains in age groups that in other regions saw little change or are declining, reflecting its strong positive migration patterns this decade,” Lauren Bowers, a Census Bureau official, said in a statement.
What does the aging trend mean for Pa.?
Policymakers are working to prepare for Pennsylvania’s continued graying and the needs that will come along with these demographic shifts. By 2030, one in three commonwealth residents are projected to be over age 60, according to state officials.
But advocates stress the need for more resources to support Keystone State residents as they age, pointing to caregiver shortages and barriers to healthcare access in rural areas.
Gov. Josh Shapiro’s administration in 2024 released a 10-year plan for getting the state ready, laying out strategies for supporting people who want to age at home, expanding transportation options and increasing the number of caregivers.
Bethany Rodgers is a USA TODAY Network Pennsylvania investigative journalist focusing on health and education.
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