Are You Using Counterfeit Parking Stickers?

The Gettysburg borough police department suspects that some motorists are using counterfeit parking stickers to keep from paying the $1 per hour parking fee downtown. Rates went up earlier this year amid a firestorm of protest. If you are using one of these counterfeit stickers, be on notice: It’s called theft of services and it is a punishable crime. In some instances, I think, you can go to jail. If they’re easy on you, you’ll just get fined and the fine is likely going to be more than you would have paid by paying for the parking. Why would you risk that?

Calling All Midstate Foodies!

Do you pair your peppercorn encrusted lamb chop with a nice, full bodied Cabernet Sauvignon? I myself prefer a frosty, carmel Yeungling to wash down my secret recipe grilled flank steak — but there is room for both of us at the 2008 Pennsylvania Food and Beverage Show! Hosted by the the Toyota Arena York Expo Center on November 22 and 23, the Show boasts hundreds of different specialty food and beverage exhibitors.

Not only will you be able to sample the best treats the midstate has to offer, but you can even enter to win a slew of fabulous prizes from dining gift certificates to baskets filled with your favorite goodies. You might even rub elbows with some of Pennsylvania’s finest chefs and restauranteers. Also available are live cooking demonstrations; drool over the presentation of The Yorktowne Hotel’s signature Panko-Crusted Jumbo Lump Crab Cakes or sample some festive holiday cookies from Chef Lisa Ridenour’s new cookbook release, “A Cookie in Each Hand.” If adult beverages are more up your alley, listen in on the health benefits of wine or get tips from a beer tasting expert.

Free parking is available at the York Expo Center, but if you plan to enjoy the samples at the Beer and Wine Garden (part of premium admission at $15), you may want to spend the evening in one of York’s swankiest hotels, the Yorktowne.

For ticket information you can contact the York Expo Center office at 717-637-3831.

Raising Parking Rates Didn’t Help Gettysburg’s Pocketbook

Small towns have it tough. Even tourist towns. Earlier in the year, the Gettysburg Borough Council raised the parking meter rates in hopes that it would increase revenues for the borough to use for other things. In part, though, raising rates had something to do with a parking challenge, namely, lots of vehicles and few parking spaces. So a part of the issue was regulatory. Nevertheless, the increase failed to produce a rise in revenues. In fact, the borough saw a decline in revenues.

What can explain that? The economy? Rising fuel prices? Less tourism? Maybe a little of all of the above. Though, truthfully, there aren’t fewer tourists in Gettysburg these days. But tourists are spending less money.

The question to remain is, will the council lower parking meter rates next year and will that encourage more parking meter parking in Gettysburg?

Beware The Blue Meters

Some lessons you have to learn the hard way. Believe me, I did. $50 hard.

That was the fine. Fifty dollars. For parking in front of a blue parking meter without a handicap sticker. You see, those blue meters are for handicapped persons. And if you’re from out of town and not used to seeing blue meters, just know that they are for the handicapped. If you are not handicapped and you park in front of a blue parking meter then you will be ticketed and you’ll spend some money making Gettysburg city administrators happy that you’ve paid for a family meal.

And the $1 an hour fee might seem a bit steep for the parking meters downtown, but they do a lot to regulate parking on the streets. With Gettysburg getting as many visitors as we get, especially during this time of year, if we offered free street parking then everyone would have a tough time maneuvering through the area as traffic would be piled up with automobiles on every street competing for limited parking space. The $1 an hour parking fee at the meters helps keep down congestion. And the bright side is, when you park in Gettysburg you can walk to just about anywhere and enjoy your stay in one of the most historic towns in America.