Melissa Brosey

Searching for Open Houses the old fashioned way could be a frustrating experience. First, you had to wait until the Sunday paper was delivered or worse, run out to get one. Then you spent time searching through the small type to try and figure out which properties were worth seeing. Once you located the homes you wanted to see, you'd spend additional time on Mapquest.com plotting your course from house to house. Well, my friends, these days are done!

Lancaster County Association of Realtors is proud to present LancasterOpenHouses.com! This website allows prospective purchasers to search Open Houses in real time, ANYTIME! You can search based on price, school district, MLS number or even street name. You can then review details on the homes as well as pictures and virtual tours (if available)! Print your list and use the Google maps for directions and you're out the door!

Lancaster City has been working relentlessly to improve quality of life issues for it's residents.

Recently, the city announced a proposed ordinance that addresses problem tenants and landlords. The ordinance proposes that landlords address the issue of disruptive tenants by mandating eviction following 3 disruptions in a year. Failure to do so could result in fines and or jail time. The ordinance also proposes the creation of a problem tenant list that landlords could check prior to renting to prospective tenants. The ordinance will be voted on this month. For more information please visit the James Street Improvment District's website by clicking here: http://jsidlancaster.org/index.cfm?newsID=181.

Another quality of life concern for city resident's has been property upkeep. As a result, the city has created and passed an ordinance which allows the city to ticket property owners who do not address these issues. You may read the ordinance on the Lancaster City's website by clicking here: http://www.co.lancaster.pa.us/lancastercity/cwp/view.asp?A=954&Q=611502.

What: L.I.V.E. Green Presents Energy Solutions for City Homes

When: October 28, 2008 from 6 - 8 pm

Where: Southern Market, 100 S. Queen Street

This workshop was created to help urban homeowners create an action plan to use energy more efficiently and cut costs. Bring your energy costs for at least 12 months. A $5 donation is requested.

Click here for a flyer: http://jsidlancaster.org/images/news/Energy_Solutions_for_City_Homes_6-1.pdf.

Mission Statement of the CCC:

"The Campus Community Coalition identifies opportunities and promotes activities to strengthen relationships and foster communications between F&M College, its students, and the neighboring community."

I've served as a neighbor on the F&M Campus Community Coalition (CCC) for about 2 years now. The CCC is made up of neighbors, F&M adminstrators, representatives from the James Street Improvement District, F&M students as well as representatives from the Lancaster police and fire department.

Community members will know of our organization through the College Neighbor newsletter as well as through various "town & gown" activities (most notably, our annual holiday celebration). You can read the College Neighbor online by clicking on this link: http://www.fandm.edu/collegeneighbor.xml.

We welcome your feedback...email us at collegeneighbor@fandm.edu.

Come one, come all to Lancaster's Fall ArtWalk this weekend (10/18 & 19). This fabulous and FREE event is held annually in Lancaster City. Come feast your eyes and stomach on visual, performance and culinary arts! Core hours are 10 - 5 on Saturday and 12 - 5 on Sunday (hours may vary).

Follow this link http://www.lancasterarts.com/index.php?pID=113 to the Lancaster Arts website for your map and program. I hope to see you there!