From my office on North Third Street in Harrisburg, I have a great view of the Capitol Dome. Today, the picture framed in my window resembles a page torn from a glossy calendar. The sky is a brilliant blue, the flags are waving in the breeze and the white stone of the building is gleaming in the sun. It’s an impressive site and as many of you know, the interior of the Capitol building is equally beautiful.   This suitable-for-framing site inspired me to daydream about taking a vacation; but the thought of spending $4.00 a gallon on gas for a long trip out of state quickly dimmed the picture. Perhaps for you, too, the sputtering economy is changing your vacation plans.  

 

If you haven’t toured the Capitol since third grade or your children have never seen Lake Erie, this is the summer to stay closer to home and rediscover the character and flavor of Pennsylvania. I encourage you to visit a special place in the commonwealth, even if it’s no further than your county seat. I predict you will be pleasantly surprised.  

 

Some folks have made this a tradition. Jim Scahill, Armstrong County Commissioner visited every courthouse in Pennsylvania when he assumed the role of President for the County Commissioners Association of PA (CCAP). Bill Hawk, chair of the Supervisors for Lower Paxton Township, Dauphin County, and Executive Board member of the PA State Association of Township Supervisors (PSATS) plans on visiting five townships this summer throughout the state as on-the-job training.  

 

Our mission at 10,000 Friends of Pennsylvania is all about making sure that Pennsylvania’s special places -- our cities, towns, suburbs and rural lands -- exist for many generations to come. Those places comprise the very essence of what makes Pennsylvania a unique and inviting place to live, work and play. This is why our advocacy work on historic preservation and the revitalization of communities is so important.  

 

If an expensive trip is not in the works this summer, use this as an opportunity to reconnect with places close to home or learn more about less-familiar locations in Pennsylvania. There is something new and important to see very close to home.