The Bison Foundation Announces New Leadership and Ambitious Vision for Carlisle Schools
Carlisle native Rick Galena named President & Chief Executive Officer to lead revitalization of 26-year-old education foundation. Carlisle, PA — The Bison Foundation, an independent charitable organization dedicated to enriching educational opportunities for students and teachers in the Carlisle Area School District, has named Rick Galena as its President & Chief Executive Officer, launching an ambitious new chapter for the 26-year-old nonprofit. Galena, a Carlisle native with more than three decades of
Boyer & Ritter Earns 2026 Best of Accounting 5 Year Gold Award
CAMP HILL, PA (November 5, 2026) – After again receiving high marks for client satisfaction and service, Boyer & Ritter LLC has earned ClearlyRated’s 2026 Best of Accounting 5 Year Gold Award, recognizing the firm for earning Best of Accounting honors for at least five consecutive years.Boyer & Ritter received satisfaction scores of 9 or 10 out of 10 from 92% of its surveyed clients, significantly higher than the accounting industry average of 48%. The firm’s public ClearlyRated profile also carries a 4.9
Happie Soul Wellness Announces Exclusive Wellness Benefits for Carlisle Chamber Members
Happie Soul Wellness Announces Exclusive Wellness Benefits for Carlisle Chamber Members Local Award-Winning Wellness Center Offers Chamber Members 10% Off Personalized Treatments MECHANICSBURG, PA | November 4, 2026 — Happie Soul Wellness, an award-winning wellness center in Mechanicsburg, is pleased to introduce an exclusive benefit for Carlisle Area Chamber of Commerce members: 10% off any treatment, up to $50 in savings per visit, with no limit on the number of visits. Founded by Cristina L. Dunbar,
Upcoming Change to PPL Electric Utilities’ Price to Compare
Pending regulatory approval, the Price to Compare will change Dec. 1 to 14.428 cents/kWh for residential customers and 12.335 cents/kWh for small business customers. This is the default supply rate customers pay if they receive their electricity supply through PPL Electric rather than choosing a competitive supplier. We know every dollar matters. That’s why we’re communicating directly with customers about this change and, importantly, connecting them with tools and resources to help manage their
STAFF UP! | A Tourism Partner Alert
More visitors. More opportunities. Let's be ready! The Cumberland Valley Visitors Bureau (CVVB) is working to grow tourism and bring more visitors—and their spending—to our communities. But attracting visitors is only half the equation. We also want to help our hospitality partners prepare to welcome them. Introducing STAFF UP! To help our hospitality partners capitalize on these opportunities, we're launching STAFF UP!, a periodic alert highlighting upcoming events expected to bring significant visitor
Lighthouse Wealth Management Named to Accounting Today’s 2026 Wealth Magnets List
Leading wealth advisory firm, Lighthouse Wealth Management, is thrilled to announce that it has been ranked #141 among the top 150 wealth advisory firms across the United States on Accounting Today’s 2026 Wealth Magnets list. This marks the first time Lighthouse Wealth Management has received this recognition, reflecting the growth that the firm has had while remaining focused on helping clients make informed financial decisions and navigate their financial futures with confidence. Accounting Today’s
Manufacturers’ Association Releases 2026 Annual Wage & Salary Survey Report
(York, PA) – The Manufacturers’ Association of Central PA has released its 2026 Annual Manufacturing Wage & Salary Survey Report, revealing a notable rebound in hiring optimism even as persistent workforce challenges continue to shape the regional manufacturing landscape. The report, compiled from responses by nearly 70 employers from across the region, serves as a critical benchmarking tool for manufacturing HR professionals and company leadership. The 2026 report marks a meaningful shift in the
Army Heritage Center Foundation Salutes Sen. McCormick, Tunnel to Towers at Evening of Honor
(CAMP HILL, PA) – As a West Point graduate, Gulf War veteran, successful businessman and popular elected official who has already made an outsized impact in the U.S. Senate, U.S. Dave McCormick accepted the 2026 “Living Legend Award,” from the Army Heritage Center Foundation at the Penn Harris Hotel and Convention Center in Camp Hill, PA.The Pittsburgh native has been serving as the junior senator from Pennsylvania since 2025, after rising to the top of his field as a businessman, federal official and
In 16 years, a dilapidated Cumberland County factory site has been transformed
People come from near and far to attend car shows at the 82-acre Carlisle Fairgrounds in Carlisle. And when thousands of people descend on the fairgrounds, there has to be a place for them to park. But when a 90-year-old factory near the fairgrounds closed in 2008, Carlisle Events, the company that hosts the car shows, could’ve lost more than 1,000 parking spaces. Carlisle Events had leased parking on a 20-acre lot on the plant property. “When they closed, we knew that we were at risk of losing the
Barry Lyons, CPA, Joins Boyer & Ritter's Construction and Manufacturing Practices
CAMP HILL, PA (October 27, 2026) – Boyer & Ritter announced that Barry C. Lyons, CPA, has joined the firm as a manager in its Camp Hill office, where he serves clients in the construction, real estate and manufacturing industries.Lyons brings nearly 10 years of public accounting experience serving construction, real estate, manufacturing, commercial and nonprofit organizations. A Pennsylvania-licensed CPA, he has extensive experience leading assurance engagements, evaluating internal controls, managing
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Partnership for Better Health Seeking Professional Grant Review Services
The Partnership for Better Health is seeking proposals from interested freelancers and consultants to analyze, summarize and record a limited number of small grant applications (Spark Grants) for the Partnership. We seek a seasoned consultant who will provide objective, thoughtful, and well-written grant analyses and funding recommendations that align with the Partnership’s mission, values, and grantmaking priorities. Schedule and Estimated Hours While hours are generally flexible, the Partnership’s
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Community Equity Grants Open Nov. 1 to Support Local Nonprofits
Applications for the 2026 Community Equity Grants open Nov. 1, offering local nonprofits funding to address inequities and strengthen communities across South Central Pennsylvania. "When more people have access to opportunities, our entire community benefits," said Stefani McAuliffe, vice president of community impact at The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC). "These grants help local nonprofits expand their impact and make a lasting difference for the people they serve." Grants generally range
PPL Electric Utilities welcomes focus on protecting customers as large energy demand grows
ALLENTOWN, Pa. (Oct. 16, 2026) - PPL Electric Utilities issued the following statement today in response to Gov. Josh Shapiro's petition to participate in a Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission proceeding involving rates and protections for large energy users, including data centers. The governor's petition seeks additional protections intended to prevent costs associated with data center development from being shifted to other customers. "PPL Electric is committed to protecting customers, maintaining
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Turn Year-End Giving into Local Impact
Year-end giving gives individuals and businesses a chance to support the communities they care about while making thoughtful financial decisions. The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) will host a free virtual webinar, Finish the Year with Impact: Meeting Community Needs and Maximizing Your Impact, on Thursday, Oct. 29, at noon to help attendees better understand local needs and explore practical ways to make a difference. “Giving can look different for every person and every business,” said Kim
New Businesses Can Start Strong with Glo Fiber Business
Starting a new business comes with plenty of decisions—and plenty of unknowns. Glo Fiber Business is making one of those decisions a little easier with a new offer designed specifically for businesses that are just getting started. Through the Glo Fiber Business New Business Offer, qualifying businesses can receive reduced pricing based on a three-year agreement, while also having protection from early termination fees if the business closes before the end of the term. That means new business owners can
Electric Vehicle Grant Funding Opportunity
PennDOT recently announced the opening of the National Electric Vehicle Infrastructure (NEVI) Community Charging Funding Opportunity Round 4 – Eastern Region, which will invest $32 million into electric vehicle charging infrastructure in eastern Pennsylvania, including Cumberland, Dauphin, and Perry counties. Any organization registered to do business in PA, that is not barred from receiving state or federal funds, may apply for NEVI funding. Any interested business or organization should complete the
Champions for Better Health Nominations Are Open!
The Partnership for Better Health's 2027 Champions for Better Health nominations are open! Click here to view our nomination form. We welcome community members, volunteers, business leaders, nonprofit staff and donors to come together to nominate people who have played a vital role in advancing the health and wellness of our region. The 2027 Award Categories are:Advancing Health Equity AwardHeather Swartz Volunteer of the YearNonprofit Professional AwardCommunity Health Champion AwardLived
Bethany House Brings Its Story to Life
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) and Wakeen & Company recently celebrated the completion of the first Stories That Serve, featuring Bethany House of Cumberland County. The program was created to help local nonprofits build their communications capacity through professional storytelling. As the first recipient, Bethany House worked with Wakeen & Company to create a feature video and a shorter version for digital use, giving the organization new tools to share its mission and connect with
Brown Plus Welcomes New Tax and IT Team Members #13 Best Mid-Sized Accounting Firm to Work For Continues to Grow
Leading accounting and advisory firm, Brown Plus, is pleased to announce that it has welcomed Lauren Cregan, CPA, as Tax Manager and Gabriel Simmons as Senior Infrastructure Engineer. Lauren is a Tax Manager at Brown Plus with more than six years of public accounting experience and extensive knowledge of income tax compliance and the tax filing process. Prior to joining Brown Plus, she spent seven years at a Big Four accounting firm. Lauren earned her Bachelor of Business Administration from the
Creating Stronger Futures Through Stable Housing
Across South Central Pennsylvania, new opportunities are emerging to help people find safe, stable housing.Why Housing Matters Housing affects health and daily stability. It also influences whether families and individuals can look ahead with confidence. When housing is out of reach, people often face added pressure in other parts of life, from basic needs to transportation to overall well-being. That strain can make it harder to stay healthy, feel secure and plan for a successful future. “When housing
Harnessing Generative Artificial Intelligence for Modern Property Marketing and Operations
What Is Adobe Firefly? Adobe Firefly is a suite of generative artificial intelligence tools developed to produce high quality visual and audio assets through simple text descriptions. The system operates inside a secure web framework to build images, vectors, videos, and text enhancements based on natural language input. Every feature that has moved past the testing phase delivers media files that are fully cleared for commercial business applications. For independent business owners operating in the
TFEC Partnership Helps Remove Financial Barriers for Regional Nonprofit Leaders
Five nonprofit leaders from across South Central Pennsylvania have been selected by The High Center for Nonprofits to participate in executive leadership programming through a partnership supported by The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC). Through the partnership, TFEC is helping remove financial barriers to participation by sponsoring nonprofit leaders selected for The High Center’s executive peer groups and leadership development opportunities. The program is designed to strengthen nonprofit
TFEC Earns the 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency
The Foundation for Enhancing Communities (TFEC) has earned a 2026 Candid Platinum Seal of Transparency, reinforcing the trust donors and community partners place in the foundation to steward charitable resources with integrity. The Platinum Seal is Candid’s highest level of transparency. To earn it, nonprofits provide information that helps the public better understand their mission, programs, finances and results. For TFEC, this recognition reflects values that guide its work across South Central
When It's Time to Let Someone Go: A Pennsylvania Employer's Guide
Deciding to end an employment relationship is one of the harder calls a business owner faces — and one of the most consequential if handled poorly. In Harrisburg-Carlisle, where employers range from state government contractors to small logistics firms to independent healthcare practices, no business is too small to face an employment claim. The difference between a clean separation and a costly dispute almost always comes down to preparation and process.Recognizing When It's Time Not every difficult
Brown Plus Expands Advisory Services with Chief Information Officer Outsourcing
Leading accounting and advisory firm, Brown Plus, is excited to announce that it has expanded its Advisory Practice to include outsourced Chief Information Officer (CIO) services. Brown Plus’ outsourced CIO services are designed to help organizations that lack in-house, executive-level IT expertise align their technology strategies with overall business objectives while navigating increasingly complex IT environments. Through this new service offering, Brown Plus can provide strategic IT leadership,
You Are the Marketing Department: A Practical Playbook for Carlisle-Area Business Owners
The majority of small business owners handle marketing without a team — 54%, according to BrightLocal's 2025 SMB Marketing Report. In a market like Harrisburg-Carlisle, where independent businesses compete alongside government contractors, logistics suppliers, and healthcare providers, that's the baseline. This article covers the three decisions that separate effective solo marketers from busy ones: which channel to focus on, what to say there, and how to know if it's working.What Is a Marketing
Brown Plus’ Human Resources Department Named the #1 Best HR Team in America in 2026 by Employee Benefit News and Best Companies Group
Leading accounting and advisory firm, Brown Plus, is thrilled to announce that its Human Resources (HR) Department was recently named the #1 Best HR Team in America in 2026. This prestigious award, created by Employee Benefit News (EBN) and Best Companies Group, identifies, recognizes and honors the top performing HR teams across the United States that demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation and organizational impact, setting the standard for excellence in HR practices and contributing to overall
Beyond the Mailbox: Converting Traditional Marketing Into Clickable Content
Local businesses have long relied on printed brochures, flyers, and postcards to attract customers. Yet, those same materials can power a new kind of reach—one optimized for search, social, and AI visibility. With the right structure and tools, yesterday’s print assets can become today’s digital growth engines.Quick Takeaways Reuse copy and visuals from brochures to build SEO-ready landing pages and social media carousels. Convert postcards into short email sequences or ad creatives. Use online OCR
Brown Plus Promotes Ryan Harshman and Matt Harvey to Principal in 2026
Leading accounting and advisory firm, Brown Plus, is pleased to announce that both Ryan Harshman, CPA, and Matt Harvey, CPA, MSPA, have been promoted to Principal, effective January 1, 2026. “We are incredibly proud to announce the promotion of these two outstanding professionals to Principal,” said Ken Wolfe, CPA, CGMA, President and Managing Principal. “Ryan and Matt are integral members of our audit and tax teams, consistently demonstrating exceptional work ethic, technical expertise and leadership,
Cooking classes
2026: Cooking class 1st and last Wednesday every month at 6:30pm. $31.20/person gets you a seat for the class, mini buffet, and one drink. Classes will only operate with a minimum of 13ppl and maximum of 20 ppl. We will reach out a few days prior to update if a class will be in session. You can call the restaurant to make your reservation.
Brown Plus Receives Best Places to Work in PA and America’s Best Workplaces Awards
Brown Plus Receives Best Places to Work in PA and America’s Best Workplaces AwardsBrown Plus Named the #3 Best Place to Work in PA in 2025 in the Medium-Sized Company Category and America’s #7 Best Medium Workplace in 2026 Camp Hill, Lancaster and Hanover, PA: Leading accounting and advisory firm, Brown Plus, is thrilled to announce that it has been named both the #3 Best Place to Work in PA in 2025 in the medium-sized company category by Central Penn Business Journal (CPBJ), as well as the #7 best
Digital Shortcuts: Time-Saving Tools Every Small Business Owner Should Be Using
A packed calendar, an inbox that never stops pinging, and the feeling that time is slipping through the cracks — these are familiar struggles for entrepreneurs and small business owners alike. Whether building a startup from scratch or running a boutique consultancy, the constant push to wear every hat in the business can lead to burnout fast. But the digital age offers more than just chaos; buried under the flood of apps and platforms are a handful of tools designed to do what employees used to:
Trout Capital Advisors Serves as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Universal Plastics & Engineering Company in Sale to UFP Technologies
Trout Capital Advisors Serves as Exclusive Financial Advisor to Universal Plastics & Engineering Company in Sale to UFP Technologies LANCASTER, Pa., July 29, 2025 -- Trout Capital Advisors, LLC ("TCA"), a leading lower-middle market investment banking firm, is pleased to announce it served as the exclusive financial advisor to Universal Plastics & Engineering Company, Inc. ("UNIPEC") in its sale to UFP Technologies, Inc. (Nasdaq: UFPT), a designer and manufacturer of innovative custom-engineered
How Immigrant Entrepreneurs Can Overcome the Hardest Parts of Building a Business
Stepping into a new country with a business dream in hand takes guts. You’re not just navigating an unfamiliar system — you’re rebuilding your life with risk, ambition, and uncertainty braided into every decision. Immigrant entrepreneurs play a massive role in shaping economies, but too often the barriers they face are brushed aside or bundled into generic “startup advice.” Let’s do better. This piece walks through the real challenges you’ll likely face — and gives grounded strategies you can start acting
Fortify First: How New Businesses Can Build Customer Trust Through Data Protection
Starting a business means juggling a thousand moving parts, but too many entrepreneurs brush off data security until it's too late. Protecting customer information isn't just a legal checkbox — it's a fundamental act of trust-building that separates fly-by-night ventures from companies that last. While splashy marketing campaigns and sleek branding dominate early conversations, the true groundwork of lasting success lies in safeguarding the people who take a chance on a fledgling brand. The smartest
Pictures with Purpose: How Small Business Visuals Win Attention in a Scrolling World
In an era where thumbs rarely rest and attention spans flicker like low batteries, small businesses face a relentless challenge: standing out. Platforms like Instagram, TikTok, and even LinkedIn have shifted from word-driven to image-first ecosystems. And while big brands pour millions into polished campaigns, it’s often the scrappy visuals from smaller players that break through the noise. What separates the effective from the forgettable isn't just aesthetics—it’s intention, consistency, and a feel for
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF MENTORSHIP
BIG BROTHERS BIG SISTERS OF AMERICA LAUNCHES GROUNDBREAKING RESEARCH ON THE LONG-TERM IMPACTS OF MENTORSHIP First-of-its-kind study reveals mentorship as a cost-effective solution to drive socioeconomic mobility for youth in South-Central PA and nationwide.Rooted in 30 years of data, the study provides evidence of greater enrollment in higher education, increased salaries, reduced dependency on social services, and improved behavioral outcomes for mentored youth.Harrisburg, PA (February 25, 2025) – Big
FinCEN Requires Carlisle, PA Businesses to File BOI Reports by 01/01/2025: Avoid $500 Daily Fines
The Corporate Transparency Act (CTA) mandates Carlisle, PA businesses to disclose Beneficial Ownership Information (BOI) to FinCEN, aiming to combat financial crimes like tax evasion and money laundering. As of today, 11-26-2024, Carlisle business owners have 36 calendar days (or 27 business days) left to file their BOI reports with FinCEN—don’t delay to avoid $500 daily penalties! Steps to Ensure Your Business Complies1. Determine If Your Business Must File Deadline: ASAPMost corporations, LLCs,
BBBSCR acquires York/Adams, changing name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PA
Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region acquires York/Adams affiliate, changing name to Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-Central PABBBS of South-Central PA expands services to enhance support and increase mentoring opportunities for youth.Harrisburg, PA (October 24, 2024) – Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Capital Region (BBBSCR) is thrilled to announce a significant expansion of its service area, broadening its reach from 5 to 7 counties through the acquisition of the BBBS York & Adams Counties
