April 9, 2024 - In a bid to shed light on the often overlooked yet crucial functions of the York County Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court, Bryan Tate took center stage at the York East Rotary Club meeting. The event aimed to educate attendees on the office's pivotal role in managing estates and generating essential tax revenues for the community. With years of experience under his belt, Tate, the incumbent Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court, delved into the intricacies of the office's operations. He articulated the various responsibilities it shoulders, including the probate process, issuing marriage licenses, and overseeing adoptions." As custodians of vital records and guardianship proceedings, our office plays a pivotal role in ensuring the orderly transfer of assets and safeguarding the interests of minors and vulnerable individuals," Tate emphasized. One of the focal points of Tate's presentation was the significant contribution of the office to the State’s tax revenue. He elucidated how the efficient management of estates translates into tangible tax revenues that bolster essential public services and infrastructure development. During the interactive session, Tate fielded questions from Rotary Club members, addressing inquiries ranging from the probate process to the role of technology in modernizing the office's operations. He underscored the office's commitment to embracing innovation while upholding its mandate to serve the public with integrity and transparency. The office is continually evolving to meet the evolving needs of our constituents. Whether it's leveraging digital platforms for streamlined document management or enhancing accessibility for citizens. The Rotary Club meeting served as a poignant reminder of the indispensable role played by the Register of Wills and Clerk of Orphans' Court in the fabric of local governance and the broader socioeconomic landscape of York County. Through education and engagement, Bryan Tate continues to champion transparency, efficiency, and public trust in the administration of estates and guardianship proceedings.

 

March 25, 2024 - Locally inspired in our York community by a random act of kindness on Good Friday morning between two strangers, one of whom was Kevin Smith, when his wallet was returned within moments after he discovered it was lost. The spirit of Kindness Week is to promote acts of kindness, encourage good deeds, and pay them forward to improve our communities and spread the joy of kindness to all. What began as a simple attempt to identify the young Good Samaritan woman and acknowledge her in a more meaningful way by “going the extra mile” for her as she did for him subsequently assumed a life of its own.  It became a fascinating adventure of a lifetime and the most meaningful pursuit of my life. The story was initially covered by WGAL 8 and quickly spread nationwide - even attracting attention from “Inside Edition,” television’s longest-running syndicated news program. During Kindness Week schools, service and faith-based organizations, businesses, families and all community constituents are encouraged to mobilize to express, display, and promote kindness in ways limited only by the bounds of imagination and creativity. One of the means all are encouraged to “go the extra mile” for kindness is to donate blood. It costs nothing other than our time, can literally save a life, and is a great example of “paying it forward.” When you show kindness, or are the beneficiary of an act of kindness, you are encouraged to share your kindness stories by reporting them on the website or social pages of the new nonprofit inspired by this random act of kindness, Kindness Worldwide, and use designated hashtags. The vision of Kindness Worldwide is to “create a culture of kindness” in our local communities and beyond through multiple initiatives, including the issuance of Kindness Citations by police departments, mass community distribution of “See the Good” and “Be the Good” cards to remind us of the importance of all the “little things” and make kindness intentional in our daily lives and routines, the development and implementation of kindness curriculums throughout our schools, and official recognition of humanity’s greatest asset, Kindness, by governing bodies. Proclamations and formal recognition of Kindness Week have already been made by the city of York, York and Adams counties, and the state of Pennsylvania thus far. That’s a good start, but not nearly enough!

 

York-East members volunteer to pick up trash and litter along Edgewood Road between Prospect Street and Kingston Road twice a year: once in the spring and once in the fall, generally to coincide with PennDOT's Road Cleanup Day.  The club has been doing it since 1994 and occasionally finds treasures and lots of trash (cans, cups, bags, and tires).  We even found a wallet this year and hope to return it to the owner!

 

The Club has been recognized for 30 years of participation in the road cleanup project.

From left to right:  Nate Tile, Kris Pollick, Greg Kern, Dan Hoff and Tim Koller