Press And Journal
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014
VOLUME 124 - NO. 53
26 PAGES
75 CENTS
Eight vendors at Saturday’s Market charged with selling counterfeit goods By Dan Miller
Press And Journal Staff
A Middletown man and Steelton man are among eight vendors who were arrested and charged with allegedly selling counterfeit goods at Saturday’s Market in Londonderry Twp. Ibrahim Oumarou, 42, of the 2900 block of Pineford Drive in Middletown, and Lawrence Stringer, 27, of the 300 block of Spruce St. in Steelton, were among those arrested at the market on the morning of Saturday, Dec. 20, by a task force led by detectives with the Criminal Investigation Division of the Dauphin County District Attorney’s office. Six other vendors from Harrisburg, Lancaster and York were also arrested, according to the DA’s office. The charges are
being processed through District Judge David Judy. A preliminary hearing has been set for Feb. 18 before Judy. Oumarou, Stringer and the others are all charged with trademark counterfeiting, a felony. The arrests followed a month-long investigation, according to a news release posted online by the county DA’s office. Authorities confiscated more than $100,000 worth of counterfeit clothing, boots and DVDs from the eight vendors, as well as $8,500 in cash and a .40-caliber handgun, the DA’s office said. Saturday’s Market, which bills itself as Pennsylvania’s largest indoor-outdoor farmers’ market and flea market, opened in 1957 and has grown to include hundreds of vendors selling a variety of goods.
Handley’s seat could be filled by Jan. 20 Press And Journal Staff
Please See HANDLEY, Page A6
Woman dies in Londonderry house fire By Eric Wise
Press And Journal Staff
A house fire on Saturday, Dec. 27 in Londonderry Twp. killed a 78-year-old woman and destroyed her home, state police said. Firefighters found the body of Sara I. Forney after they put out the fire. The Dauphin County coroner’s office confirmed Forney died in the fire and said her death was caused by smoke inhalation. The coroner ruled the death accidental. Londonderry Fire Department and neighboring fire departments responded to the blaze, reported at 4:20 p.m., at Forney’s home in the 2500 block of Colebrook Road near Grace Chapel and the Pennsylvania Turnpike bridge. The fire started accidentally in the home’s living room, according to a state police fire marshal who investigated. Damages to the home is estimated at $150,000, according to a state police report. Forney was a waitress at the former Bill’s Diner on Route 230 in Londonderry Twp. and a former meat cutter for Espenshade’s Meat Market.
Press And Journal Photos by Jim Lewis
This stretch of vacant storefronts at Union and Emaus streets would be demolished as part of Middletown’s revitalization of the downtown business district.
Downtown project could be completed in 2015
M
iddletown is set to move forward on a $2.7 million streetscape improvement project that is to be “substantially completed” by the end of 2015 in the town’s central business district, according to borough officials. The plan focuses on aesthetic improvements in the area of Union Street, from just north of Emaus Street south to Ann Street. A major component is to demolish a commercial building on the northeast corner of North Union and East Emaus streets to create space for a large open area that would be used for a variety of community activities that would promote the downtown. The area would include green space, a pavilion with a roof and a trellis. A smaller trellis is planned for the west side of Emaus Street, across from the Elks Building. The streetscape would also include planting new trees. Middletown Borough Council was briefed on the updated streetscape plans at its meeting on Monday, Dec. 29. The demolition of the property at North Union and East Emaus will not include the house just east of the building, or another small commercial building now occupied by a computer shop, said Matt Tunnell, chairman of the Middletown Borough Industrial and Commercial Development
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The sign is on the door of one vacant storefront, which had housed a coin-operated laundry.
LONDONDERRY TWP.
About one-third of landowners comply with on-lot sewage law Press And Journal Staff
Photo by Noelle Barrett
NEWS Kuppy’s raises money for search of missing teen Kuppy’s Diner of Middletown is collecting donations for River Rescue of New Cumberland, which is leading the search for 17-year-old Cedar Cliff High School student Medard Kowalski, who went missing while canoeing on the Susquehanna River on Dec. 1. Kowalski’s father is a 1983 graduate of Middletown Area High School. Donation buckets will be placed at the restaurant from 6 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31 and 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 1. The diner also will donate a portion of its sales on Thursday to River Rescue. On the menu: pork and sauerkraut – and if you want to order some, the diner asks that you call in advance so it knows how much to prepare. You can call the diner at 717944-5122 or contact it on its Facebook page.
Books and Legos star in reading program
By Eric Wise
Candy is dropped during Highspire’s New Year’s Eve party in 2013.
Quick
Middletown Borough Council agreed by a 7-0 vote on Monday, Dec. 1 to spend $6,085 on upgrades to the borough police station that were recommended by Chief John Bey. Bey requested the upgrades to provide more security for officers and other department personnel who work at the East Emaus Street station. The work includes the installation of bullet-proof glass, hardening the walls and installing a steel security door. Council awarded a contract for all the work to 911 Rapid Response, a company located in Palmyra.
Press And Journal Staff
Please See DOWNTOWN, Page A6
HAPPY NEW YEAR!
Council spends $6,085 to upgrade PD station
By Dan Miller
A sweet New Year’s Eve Looking for a New Year’s Eve party? Highspire will welcome 2015 with a New Year’s bash from 10 p.m. on Wednesday, Dec. 31 to 12:30 a.m. Thursday, Jan. 1 at Memorial Field. Candy will be dropped from a symbolic candy box – the borough once was home to Knight’s Candy Store, a local chocolatier – at midnight. Noisemakers and hats will be available.
Dan Miller: 717-944-4628, or danmiller@pressandjournal.com
COMING DOWN
By Dan Miller
A replacement for recently-resigned Middletown Borough Council member Tom Handley could be seated by Jan. 20 under a plan laid out by council President Chris McNamara on Monday, Dec. 29. Handley, who was elected just last November to represent the First Ward, submitted his resignation for personal reasons effective Monday, Dec. 22. Council by an 8-0 vote accepted Handley’s resignation on Dec. 29. Now the borough will re- Thomas ceive resumes and applications from First Ward resi- Handley dents interested in replacing Handley. The deadline to apply to the borough for the seat was set at the end of Friday, Jan. 9. Applicants can submit their resume and application by sending an e-mail to afriday@ middletownborough.com. Or their resume and application information can be submitted in person or mailed to the borough at 60 W. Emaus St., Middletown, PA, 17057. Council’s administration/personnell committee will meet on Monday, Jan. 12 to review the applications and interview candidates. The committee will make a recommendation to the full council, which could act on Jan. 20. Whomever is chosen to succeed Handley would
District Attorney Ed Marsico noted that the alleged scam sought to take advantage of consumers during “the busiest shopping time of the year.” “Consumers should be aware that there are vendors selling fake or knock-off goods and not fall prey to the lure of a very cheap, but counterfeit gift,” Marsico said. The county CID was assisted in the investigation by deputies from the county sheriff’s office, Pennsylvania State Police, and agents from the U.S. Department of Homeland Security and Postal Inspection Service.
Nearly one-third of property owners in the first districts affected by Londonderry Twp.’s on-lot sewage management ordinance have complied with the ordinance by having their property’s systems pumped and inspected, according to Jeff Burkhart, the township’s code and zoning officer. The ordinance, passed by Londonderry Twp.’s supervisors in December 2013, sets requirements for property owners with septic tanks or cesspools for disposing of sewage, called “on-lot sewage management systems,” by the state Department of Environmental Protection. The township’s ordinance grew from the establishment of a sewage management plan as required under state regulations. The department requires townships to
adopt sewage management plans and ordinances that are consistent with state law and regulations drawn from the laws. Every on-lot system is subject to inspection in Londonderry Twp. by June 2018, with regular inspections at least every four years. “I don’t think this is popular, but it’s going to happen,” said Steve Letavic, township manager. “It’s not unlike car inspections. If it’s not operating properly, it’s polluting groundwater or your well.” Under the terms of the ordinance, the township was divided into five districts. Property owners with on-lot systems must have their systems pumped and inspected in Londonderry’s Sewage Management Districts 1 and 2 from June 1, 2014 to June 30, 2015. District 1 represents the smallest land area of the districts, includ-
Storybooks and Legos? A new program offered by the Middletown Public Library could possibly be heaven for local children. The library will combine reading and Legos for kids ages 4-9 in its new Lego Junior Maker Club from 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. on Thursday, Jan. 22. The program was begun thanks to a donation of Legos by Lego Systems Inc. and the Association for Library Services to Children.
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Obituaries
Asher Halbleib
Asher S. Halbleib, 76, of Middletown, entered into eternal rest on Saturday, December 27, at Hershey Medical Center, Hershey. He was born on August 3, 1938 in Lancaster to the late Helen Snyder. Asher retired as a schoolteacher from the Middletown Area School District, Feaser Middle School and the high school, where he taught math and physics, and he developed and conducted the Performing Arts Program at the school; he was employed 24 years at Hershey Entertainment & Resorts in the Food and Beverage Revenue Department; he was a graduate of Donegal High School and received his bachelor’s degree from Elizabethtown College, and held a master’s in Performing Arts/Drama; he was a lifetime member of the NEA and a member of the Screen Actors Guild; and he loved traveling to Las Vegas, Disneyworld, and enjoyed attending many musical and theatre performances. In addition to his mother, he was preceded in death by his beloved pit bull Shadow. He is survived by his dog Tali; niece Alison R. Halbleib of St. Petersburg, Fla.; nephew Adam Halbleib of Landisville; and countless friends and coworkers. A Celebration of Life for Asher will be held at a later date. Please honor Asher with donations
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Irvie Dellinger
in his memory made to the Humane Society of Harrisburg Area on Grayson Road. The family has entrusted the care of the Matinchek and Daughter Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., to handle the arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.matinchekanddaughterfuneralhome.com.
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Irvie Dellinger, 94, of Middletown, entered into eternal rest on Sunday, December 29 surrounded by her loving and devoted family, at Lancaster General Hospital. She was born on June 14, 1920 in Orkney Springs, Va. to the late William and Fannie Walker Mumaw. Irvie was a homemaker who enjoyed taking care of her loving family; she was a member of Geyers United Methodist Church, Middletown, and a member of the Londonderry Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, Londonderry quilters; and she enjoyed sewing and quilting. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her loving husband Mervin D. Dellinger, son David C. Dellinger, brothers Jessie and Melvin Mumaw, and sisters Josephine Barb, Pearl Fink, and Catherine Sine. She is survived by her daughter Janice L. Hippensteel of Elizabethtown; son Brian C. Dellinger of Middletown; grandchildren Timothy Hippensteel, Cynthia R. Stiemly, Bonnie Miller, Bradley and Bethany Dellinger; six great-grandchildren; two great-greatgrandsons; and several nieces and nephews. Services for Irvie: Friday, January 2, at 11 a.m. at Geyers United Methodist Church, 1605 S. Geyers Church Road, Middletown, with pastor Donald C. Walters, her pastor, officiating. Viewing: 10 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Burial following the service at Hillsdale Cemetery, Middletown. The family has entrusted the care of the Matinchek and Daughter Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., to handle the arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.matinchekanddaughterfuneralhome.com.
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Janet Lerch
Janet L. Lerch, 84, formerly of Royalton, entered into eternal rest on Monday, December 22, at Manor Care Nursing Home, Camp Hill. Janet was born on May 11, 1930 in Royalton to the late Harry Beck and Dora E. Wiedman. She was preceded in death by her sisters Marian Wittle, Laura Good, Betty Lehman, and Anna Parsons, and brothers Spurgeon Landis, Elmer Landis, and Richard Krodel. She is survived by her son Richard J. Lerch and wife Tammy of Kettering, Ohio; daughter Linda S. Lerch of Ithaca, N.Y.; and grandsons Brian Lerch of Dayton, Ohio, and Christopher Strayer of Ithaca, N.Y. Janet loved reading, crossword puzzles, playing bingo, attending horse racing and spending time at the Royalton Senior Center. Memorial service: Saturday, December 27 at 1 p.m. at Matinchek and Daughter Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., 260 E. Main St., Middletown, with Pastor Willie Caraballo officiating. Visitation: Noon until time of service on Saturday at the funeral home. Inurnment will be at the convenience of the family at Mount Rose Cemetery, York. The family has entrusted the care of the Matinchek and Daughter Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc. to handle the arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.matinchekanddaughterfuneralhome.com.
Monica Drayer
Monica C. Drayer, 85, of Middletown, entered into eternal rest on Wednesday, December 25, at Middletown Home. For full obituary, please go to www. matinchekanddaughterfuneralhome. com.
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Nancy Green
Nancy H. Sjostrom Green, 79, of Middletown, went to be with the Lord on Wednesday, December 24, surrounded by her loving daughters, at Hershey Medical Center. She was born in Spokane, Wash. She was a loving mother and will be missed deeply by her family and friends. She loved cooking, baking, reading and spending time with her family. She was preceded in death by her sons William L. Frehse and John M. Sjostrom. She is survived by her loving daughters Katherine Frehse of Miami, Fla., Amy DiCato and husband Richard of Elizabethtown, Patricia Frehse of Middletown, Susan Zimmerman and husband Daniel of Middletown, Mary DiGirolamo of Peabody, Mass., and Barbara Ayers and husband Phillip of Cape Coral, Fla.; 13 grandchildren Michael, Christopher and Michelle Frehse, Richard and Nicole DiCato, Tricia, Matthew and Joshua Frehse, Dayna and Lindsay Zimmerman, Christina, Julie and Joseph DiGirolamo; six great-grandchildren Alex,
Alletta Puskar
Alletta M. Puskar, 89, of Middletown, entered into eternal rest on Friday, December 19, at the Middletown Home, Middletown. She was born in Bayonne, N.J. on November 20, 1925 to the late James Augustus and Alletta Marian Mead Gillis. Alletta was retired from the Borough of Middletown where she worked as a librarian; she had previously worked as a teacher’s aide in the Middletown School District; and she was a member of Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Middletown. In addition to her parents, she was preceded in death by her husband Albert J. Puskar who died in 2012, and her brothers James Augustus Gillis Jr. of Willingboro, N.J. and Charles Augustus Gillis of Pittsboro, N.C. She is survived by her daughters Alletta and husband Harold Bowers of Lancaster, and Marian Roldan of Harrisburg; granddaughter Alletta and husband Martin Emeno III of Havertown, Pa.; great-grandson Martin (Trey) Emeno III of Havertown; and
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Heaven gained an angel, Sara I. Forney, 78, of Elizabethtown, on Saturday, December 27. She was born on November 20, 1936 in Hershey to the late Ruth Parsons Nauss. Sara was a waitress at the former Bill’s Diner (230 Diner) in Middletown, a meat cutter for Espenshade’s Meat Market, an Amway distributor and an employee for Leedpak. She was a homemaker for her loving family and a member of Grace Chapel, Elizabethtown. She enjoyed singing in the choir, was a coordinator for Conewago Meals on Wheels, a member of the Liberty Fire Company Ladies Auxiliary, Middletown, a member of Women’s AGLOW, FGBMF member, a machine operator for Londonderry Township Board of Elections, and a former officer of the Sons of Union Veterans. She enjoyed singing, acting, word searches, and crocheting, where she won first place at the Pennsylvania Farm Show for her beautiful tablecloth and coasters. Sara was a strong woman and continued to be strong in her faith during her declining health. In addition to her mother, she was preceded in death by her loving husband Charles E. Forney, and brothers Orville and Ben Nauss. She is survived by her daughters Darlene Myers (Forney) and husband John, deceased, and Charlene Forney (John Allsup Jr., deceased); brothers Major Samuel Nauss and wife
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sister Sister Mary Laetitia Gillis, religious Sister of Mercy of Kingston, Pa. Mass of Christian Burial: Thursday, January 8, at 11 a.m. at Seven Sorrows of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, 280 Race St., Middletown, with the Rev. Ted Keating, her pastor, officiating. Visitation: 10 a.m. until time of the service in the narthex of the church. Burial will follow at Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville. In lieu of flowers, the family kindly requests contributions be made to the American Cancer Society, 128 Lucy Avenue, Hummelstown, PA 17036. Online condolences can be sent to www.matinchekanddaughterfuneralhome.com.
Sara Forney
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Aria, Prudence, Jonathan and Marissa DiCato and Jayden Campos; and three sisters Beverly Smallwood, Betty Newton and Karin Garton of Oregon. The Memorial service: Friday, January 2, at Highspire First Church of God, 115 Second St., Highspire at 2 p.m., with inurnment service following at Highspire Cemetery. Arrangements by Cremation Society of Pennsylvania, Inc.
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Kaeko of Virginia, John Nauss and wife Elsie, and Lewis Nauss and wife Sandra of Missouri; sister-in-law Eva Forney; 10 grandchildren; 16 greatgrandchildren; and a host of other family members. Services for our Angel Sara: Saturday, January 3, at 1 p.m. at Grace Chapel, 2535 Colebrook Road, Elizabethtown, with the Rev. Melvin Weaver, her pastor officiating. Visitation: from 11 a.m. until the time of the service at the church. Inurnment will be on Thursday, July 16, at Grace Chapel. Memorial contributions for the Forney Family can be made through Grace Chapel. The family has entrusted the care of the Matinchek and Daughter Funeral Home and Cremation Services, Inc., Middletown, to handle the arrangements. Online condolences can be sent to www.matinchekanddaughterfuneralhome.com. “May the Joy of the Lord be your strength.”
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THE PRESS AND JOURNAL
Wednesday, December 31, 2014 -A-3
News in Your Neighborhood
LaVonne Ackerman • 1438 Old Reliance Road, 939-5584 • LaVonneAck@comcast.net
Press And Journal Photo by Dan Miller
Superintendent Lori Suski, left, congratulates the Middletown Area School District’s first “Teacher Impact Spotlight’’ award winners, Fallon Aurentz, center, and Trevor Davis, right.
Middletown honors two teachers for outstanding effort By Dan Miller
Press And Journal Staff
A new award recognizing teachers who go above and beyond the call has been created by Middletown Area School District Superintendent Lori Suski. Suski presented the first “Teacher Impact Spotlight” awards to Middletown Area Middle School teachers Fallon Aurentz, who teaches Grade 8 math, and Trevor Davis, a gifted program teacher, during an Oct. 27 meeting of the Middletown Area School Board. Both teachers were recognized because of e-mails that Suski received from district parents. One parent told Suski how Aurentz spent “endless hours” with her son so he could pass his Keystone Exam and Algebra 1. The parent’s e-mail said Aurentz “worked every Sunday for most of the year with my son and he ended up getting A’s in the third and fourth quarters as well as on his final exam.’” “I don’t want all of her hard work as a teacher going unnoticed,’’ the parent wrote. “She is an absolutely amazing human being and my son is so grateful and full of confidence as a result of him working with Mrs. Aurentz.” Suski told the board the extra effort is especially noteworthy since the young man was no longer one of Aurentz’s students. He is a 10th-grader at Middletown Area High School. Another parent commended Davis in an e-mail sent to the district. One Sunday night, Davis and his wife ‘took time out of their lives to attend my son’s induction into a chapter of a leadership organization,’’ the parent wrote. “We can’t thank you enough for having such wonderful teachers like Mr. Davis educating and setting
examples for our children.” Aurentz and Davis are “two examples of teachers who are humble, quiet and just go about their work not looking to be in the spotlight, yet have made an incredible impact on students with whom they work,” Suski said. Aurentz has been teaching at the middle school since 2005. She has served in a number of additional roles at the school, including basketball coach, After-School Program supervisor, and student council co-advisor. She is active in the Middletown Area Education Association and has been nominated for the Middletown Area School District Teacher of the Year. Aurentz has received the Capital Area Intermediate Unit Exceptional Co-Teaching Award. Davis has been with the school district since 2012. He has served as Academic Competitions Coordinator for all five Middletown district schools, and as Academic Quiz Bowl Co-Coordinator and Science Olympiad and Future City Mentor/Coach for the middle school. Davis mentored a Future City team that finished first in a regional event and advanced to the national competition in Washington, D.C. He also had two Science Olympiad teams advance to state competitions and led an Academic Quiz Bowl team to win the championship at the Penn State Academic Quiz Bowl. The Teacher Impact Spotlight award will not be given out monthly but when the district learns of teachers “who are making a difference,” said district spokeswoman Jody Zorbaugh. Teachers getting the award will also be recognized on the district Web site.
Hello, people! Greetings to you on this very last day of 2014. I have some random facts about New Year’s Eve: • The top three places to celebrate New Year’s Eve are Las Vegas, Disney World and, of course, New York City. Internationally, one of the biggest celebrations is in Sydney, Australia. More than 80,000 fireworks are set off from Sydney Harbour Bridge. • The Times Square New Year’s Eve Ball was first dropped in 1907 after a fireworks ban. Back then, a 700-pound ball embellished with 25-watt bulbs made of iron and wood was dropped. Now, however, it weighs 11,875 pounds, is 12 feet in diameter and is adorned with 2,668 Waterford crystals. The tradition has continued in Times Square, except for in 1942 and 1943. The ball was not lowered because of wartime restrictions. • The first New Year was celebrated 4,000 years by the ancient Babylonians. • The traditional New Year’s song, “Auld Lang Syne,” means, “times gone by.” • The top 10 resolutions are usually to lose weight, eat more healthily, exercise more, stop smoking, stick to a budget, save money, get more organized, be more patient, find a better job and to just be a better person over all. • Using a baby to signify the New Year began in ancient Greece around 600 B.C. Best wishes to you all for a wonderful rest of the holidays. Have a happy new year – and I will catch you in January 2015! Birthdays Best wishes for a wonderful birthday celebration to Owen Grogan of Lower Swatara Twp. He is 14 on Wednesday, Dec. 31. Liz Friedrichs of Elizabethtown turns 11 on this festive last day of the year, Wednesday, Dec. 31. Enjoy your me-holiday, Liz! Happy first day of 2015 to Ashu Gill, who is Sweet 16 on Thursday, Jan. 1. Have a wonderful beep-honk-honk day, Ashu. Here is a happy birthday shout out to Ethan Harro. He turns 17 on Friday, Jan. 2. Hoping things are well over there in Annville! Rob Shupp celebrates his quarter-ofa-century happy birthday on Friday, Jan. 2. Enjoy this special day, Rob. Birthday greetings are sent to Tirah Elliot of Royalton on Saturday, Jan. 3. Hoping your Sweet 16 cake day is amazing. Happy beep-beep day to you!
2015
Dan Miller: 717-944-4628, or danmiller@pressandjournal.com
Penn State Harrisburg to offer biology degree Penn State Harrisburg will offer a new biology baccalaureate degree beginning in 2015. The program, which will offer degree options in general biology and developmental biology, is currently enrolling students and will begin this spring. A biology degree is one of the top five intended majors of high school students who plan for college, according to the Pennsylvania College-Bound Seniors Report. The degree is in high demand partly because career opportunities in science and health-related fields are plentiful and growing.
Biology is the academic discipline most commonly held by students applying to medical school. “Penn State Harrisburg is pleased and excited to offer this new biology bachelor’s degree program,” said Dr. Ray Bachnak, director of the university’s School of Science, Engineering and Technology. “The program will meet the significant demand for this major in the Harrisburg area and further increase the visibility of our campus as a destination for science students. It will also provide flexibility for current students to meet their academic goals.”
Barb Dagenhart of Lower Swatara marks her frosty-filled day on Monday, Jan. 5. Happy 2015 to you, Barb. Best wishes for a terrific birthday to Marcus Hile of Lower Swatara as he observes his 24th cake day on Monday, Jan. 5. More cake at the Hile house: Alexis Hile marks her landmark 18th birthday on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Happy New Year and happy-brand-new-adult day, Alexis! Anniversaries Bill and Fawn Mencer of Lower Swatara mark 36 years together as they celebrate their truly festive day on Wednesday, Dec. 31. I hope all your dreams come true for 2015! Happy New Year and happy anniversary. Happy 28th romantic holiday to Cliff and Jodi Lynn Harro on Saturday, Jan. 3. Best wishes for a year of fun and excitement. Bernie and Judy Sobotka of Lower Swatara observe their romantic holiday on Tuesday, Jan. 6. Best wishes for a sunny anniversary celebration to you both.
“One Nation’’ Here is an excerpt from Dr. Ben Carson’s book, “One Nation”: “If we are to put an end to division, people from all political persuasions will have to stop fighting one another and seek true unity, not just a consensus that benefits one party. Right now, some of the Democrats say, ‘We all want to help people,’ but their next sentence is about how Republicans want people to die. One Democratic representative famously said, ‘The Republican health plan is for people to die quickly.’ Republicans, on the
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Quote of the Week “If I want to live life to its fullest, I must start with the little things first.” – Jennifer Schmidt, author Question of the Week What is your hope, dream, goal or desire for 2015? “Looking forward to the day when we get a new president of the U.S.! We need change, really!” – Robin Wood, New Jersey “I’m looking forward to playing basketball next summer.” –Isabella Watson, 5, Lower Swatara. “I am going to play football and soccer.” – Noah Habecker, 5, Middletown. “I want to sign up for basketball!” – Caleb Einzig, 8, Middletown. “I hope to go to Hawaii.” – Jyllian Garman, 8, Middletown. “I want to go on an airplane.” – Dominic Corrodi, 8, Middletown. Proverb for the Week The horse is made ready for the day of battle, but victory rests with the Lord (21:31).
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morning, but we close it UP at night. We seemed to be pretty mixed UP about UP! To be knowledgeable about the proper uses of UP, look UP the word Up in the dictionary. In a desk-sized dictionary, it takes UP almost one-quarter of the page and can add UP to about 30 definitions. If you are UP to it, you might try building UP a list of the many ways UP is used. It will take UP a lot of your time, but if you don’t give UP, you may wind UP with 100 or more. When it threatens to rain, we say it is clouding UP. When the sun comes out, we say it is clearing UP. When it rains, it soaks Up the earth. When it does not rain for awhile, things dry UP. One could go on and on, but I’ll wrap it UP for now. My time is UP. Now I’ll shut UP!
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ek & Da Matinch ral Home n Fune Middletow
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Up This was submitted by Dorothea Novak, of Middletown, who says she never knew one word in the English language that can be a noun, verb, adjective, adverb and preposition. Thanks for sharing, Dorothea. This two-letter word in English has more meanings than any other two-letter word. “Up’’ is listed in the dictionary as an adverb, preposition, adjective, noun or verb. It’s easy to understand UP, meaning toward the sky or at the top of the list, but when we awaken in the morning, why do we wake UP? At a meeting, why does a topic come UP? Why do we speak UP, why are the officers UP for election and why is it UP to the secretary to write UP a report? We call UP our friends, brighten UP a room, polish UP the silver, warm UP the leftovers and clean UP the kitchen. We lock UP the house and fix UP the old car. At other times, this little word has real special meaning. People stir UP trouble, line UP for tickets, work up an appetite and think UP excuses. To be dressed is one thing, but to be dressed UP is special. And this UP is confusing: A drain must be opened UP because it is stopped UP. We open UP a store in the
December thought “How did it get so late so soon? It’s night before it’s afternoon. December is here before it’s June. My goodness how the time has flewn. How did it get so late so soon?” – Dr. Seuss
ughter
Dear Editor ...
other hand, often talk about how Democrats want to change America into a socialist country. They may not intend to sow seeds of discord but the constant spewing of hatred is having a deleterious effect on the unity of the nation. The American haters and extremists may not be that concerned about the well-being of the country, but reasonable people from both political parties must be able to see the big picture and not fall into the traps set by those who wish to divide and conquer. We must be able to sit down and engage in civil discussion without casting aspersions on others.”
Salon Beauty Burkett67, Middletown Renee -16
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A-4 - THE PRESS AND JOURNAL Wednesday, December 31, 2014
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23 Years Ago
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NOTICE The Londonderry Township Zoning Hearing Board will hold a Public Hearing on Monday January 12, 2015, at the Municipal Building, 783 S. Geyers Church Road, Middletown, PA 17057, beginning at 7:00 p.m. at which time any interested parties may appear. Vladimir & Celina Bertovic request a Zoning Interpretation (Sects 1602.2.A & B Home Occupations) and Variances (Sects 1805.5 - Signs, and Sects 1602.2.C & F – Home Occupations related outside storage of vehicles to be repaired) to allow operation of an auto body shop as a home occupation. Property location is 1309 Schoolhouse Road, Middletown, PA 17057. Jeffrey S. Burkhart Zoning/Code Officer 12/24-2T #218 www.publicnoticepa.com
From The Wednesday, January 1, 1992 Edition Of The Press And Journal Building Addition At E-town College Elizabethtown College will build a threelevel 24,000-square-foot, glass and brick addition to Baugher Student Center by the opening of the 1992-93 college year next September. The addition will be constructed near the center of Elizabethtown’s 170-acre campus between the existing student center, Brinser Residence Hall, and the High Library, according to President Gerhard E. Spiegler. Warfel Construction Company, Lancaster, the general contractor, expects to break ground for the $2.1 million project in January. David Lynch and Associates, Lancaster, are the project’s architects. At ground level, the addition will contain a multipurpose “great hall” for student social and recreational activities. It also will house the student-run Act 31 Night Club, an auxiliary dining room, and a student lounge. The Jay’s Nest snack bar, a kitchen, and a convenience store will also be on the ground level. Surrounding the addition will be a broad apron-patio for informal student and faculty gatherings. On the upper level, a game room, a commuter lounge-meeting rooms, and a student-operated pub serving non-alcoholic beverages are planned. Prices From 23 Years Ago Rise Shave Cream 11 oz.........................92¢ Farley’s Candies 26 oz. cont.............$2.59
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Apples .................. 66¢/lb. Italian Sausage .. $1.98/lb. Sunlight Dish Detergent 64 oz......................$2.59 Planters Mixed Nuts 12 oz. can..............$3.49 Food Club Cheese 16 oz. pkg..............$1.84 Progresso Soup 19 oz. 95¢ Cinnamon Buns 6 pk.......................$1.48 Old Spice Deodorants .. 1.75 oz. size...........$1.99 Riesen Chocolate Caramels 7 oz....... $1.82 Split Chicken Breast..$1.78/lb. Giant Hamburger Rolls 8 pk..........................55¢ Dial Bath Bars 4/5 oz. bars............$1.89 Tight-Fisted Fiscal Times Influence LD’s New Supt. It was a cold December afternoon, the kind of day to enjoy indoors. Inside the Lower Dauphin school District’s administration building, it was warm and inviting complete with a Christmas tree. In a matter of moments, a group of youngsters came marching in single file with smiles that would brighten even Scrooge himself. Soon, secretaries, administrators and visitors were following the students down the hallway toward the office of Dr. Jeffrey A. Miller, superintendent of schools. And the youngsters, first grade students of Sue Decker and Julie Smith, are ready and eager for an audience. Sounds of “Rudolph The Red Nose Reindeer” and “We Wish You A Merry Christmas” fill the building. A tall man, perhaps a stranger to the students, comes out of an office to listen. The children finish to a hardy round of applause. It’s time to head to the library and the students are just as ready to sing. The tall quiet man, who looks younger that his 44 years, returns to his office. He is Dr. Miller, the superintendent of schools. While this is probably the most informal of his entry meetings, the time spent with the first-graders underscores what Miller has been trying to do in the first two weeks on the job.
Below is a copy of a photograph from the Press And Journal's archives. We apologize for the quality of the photograph but hope you will enjoy this glimpse from your recent past.
23 YEARS AGO - Pom-Pom Squad Trophy – The Middletown Pony Pom-Pom squad is pictured with a trophy they are quite rightly proud of. The girls placed second in the “Best Dressed” category of the Middletown Halloween Parade and second place in “Best Youth Civic Group” in the Palmyra Halloween Parade. Advisors for the group are: Missie Barilla, Debbie Shannon, Patty Coble and Pam Miller. The girls are: Jamie Sellers, Ruthanne Wellington, Melinda Wooley, Maria Baldi, Mindy Stouffer, Fawn Collins, Heather Smith, April Coble, Crystal Shannon, Jenny Andre, Valerie Barilla, Nicole Womack, Stacy Logan and Ellen Eshleman. “It’s been great, says Miller, who has been meeting staff, the press, community leaders, students and parents “on the hour every hour.” “Hopefully we will have a newsletter ready for January to let the community know our preliminary
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Computer tool tested in elementary classes By Eric Wise Press And Journal Staff Selected classes in Lower Dauphin School District’s elementary schools are the proving grounds for a computer module that tailors learning to each student’s ability. “This tool is really changing our math instruction,” said Douglas Winner, director of elementary education for the district. Winner presented information about iReady, now being tested by
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one math and one English teacher in grades 1 through 5 at each of the elementary schools. The instructional part of the iReady practice allows each student to work at his or her own level, completing tasks in an assigned area. Students have some ability to customize the look and feel of the program as they use it. Winner demonstrated how they choose a picture or “avatar” to represent themselves and a theme that may feature aliens or a team from the NBA that appears on the screen. The teacher can designate various skill areas and receive instant feedback regarding which students have trouble with a skill or concept, he said. “It’s shaping small-group instruction,” Winner said. With iReady, teachers can better tailor instruction to students’ needs in English and language arts instruction by having students progress through areas as they demonstrate mastery. Sherri Smith, the district’s superintendent, said the instructional package costs about $20 per student.
The district uses iReady on a wider basis for evaluating students’ progress through the year. The software evaluates students against standards through a variable test. Winner said the iReady evaluation tool is an “adaptive diagnostic test,” with questions getting harder every time a student answers correctly. When a student provides the wrong answer, the question gets easier. This type of test slowly dials in the student’s level by adjusting the level of difficulty after each question. Smith said the state’s standardized testing will probably move to computerized testing in the future, and using iReady is priming students for that experience. “It’s giving kids the experience and gets them used to [online testing],” she said. Smith said she will continue to gather information from the teachers in the pilot program in the coming months, and students’ progress will be compared to classes that use and do not use the instructional module for the year.
PUBLIC NOTICES
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The meetings for the District Board of Directors, Agricultural Land Preservation Board, and Conservation District Agriculture Committee are held at the Dauphin County Agriculture and Natural Resources Center at 1451 Peters Mountain Road, Dauphin, PA 17018, and are for the purpose of conducting official business. COMMERCIAL ¢heldINDUSTRIAL
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the task at hand. The District is currently involved in an ambitious building renovation program, and about to begin the budget process for next year with a budget reserve that has dropped even though the Board has tried to hold down tax increases.
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goals.” “We’re going to listen. We’re going to let them (the community) know where we stand and what we’re doing. I think that is important. The new superintendent isn’t kidding himself about
July 2, 2015 August 6, 2015 September 3, 2015 October 1, 2015 November 5, 2015 December 3, 2015
7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 7:30 p.m. 11:00 a.m.*
* Note times for January, February, March and December Meetings
2015 AG LAND PRESERVATION BOARD MEETING DATES January 23, 2015 February 20, 2015 March 20, 2015 April 17, 2015 May 15, 2015 June 19, 2015
9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.
July 17, 2015 August 21, 2015 September 18, 2015 October 16, 2015 November 20, 2015 December 18, 2015
9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m. 9:00 a.m.
2015 CONSERVATION DISTRICT AGRICULTURE COMMITTEE MEETING DATES January 26, 2015 February 23, 2015 March 23, 2015 April 27, 2015 May 26, 2015 June 22, 2015
2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. 2:00 p.m. (Tues.) 2:00 p.m.
July 27, 2015 August 24, 2015 September 21, 2015 October 26, 2015 November 23, 2015 December 28, 2015
12/31-1T #220DC www.publicnoticepa.com
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THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - A-5
www.pressandjournal.com; e-mail - info@pressandjournal.com
MIDDLETOWN
GENEALOGY
Pennsylvania Family Roots Sharman Meck Carroll, PO Box 72413, Thorndale, PA 19372 pafamroots@msn.com Column No. 777/December 31, 2014
Rev. Johann Michael Enderlien & Anna Barbara Pfieffer
Johann Michael Enderlien and his wife Anna Barbara Pfieffer (Pfeister) planted their roots in Lykens Valley over 150 years ago. Johann Michael Enderlien was born on September 14, 1726 in Fischbach, near Saarbrucken, Saarland, Germany. He was the son of Michael Anderlien (1697-1730). Johann Michael Enderlien died on March 9, 1800 in Lykens Valley, Pa. He married Anna Barbara Pfieffer on November 10, 1760 in St. Michael’s & Zion Church in Philadelphia, Pa. Anna Barbara was born in 1734 in Bavaria, Germany and died after August 13, 1796 in Lykens Valley, Dauphin Co., Pa. She was the daughter of John Martin Pfeister. John Michael Enderlien (later spelled Enterline) graduated from the University of Leipzig in 1751 and was ordained as a Lutheran minister in Germany the same year. He came to America, arriving in Philadelphia on September 24, 1753. His second daughter, Elizabeth Enterline born November 30, 1771 in Elizabethtown, Dauphin Co., Pa. - died September 6, 1838 in Hickory Corners, Lower Mahanoy Twp., Northumberland Co., Pa., buried at Zion Stone Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery, Hickory Corners, Lower Mahanoy Twp., Northumberland Co., Pa. She married John Henrich Wirth (marriage date unknown). John was born December 22, 1769 near Killinger, Dauphin Co., Pa. - died June 2, 1846. He was the son of Johann Adam Wirth and Eva Elizabeth Schnug. He was also buried at Zion Stone Valley Lutheran Church Cemetery. Henrich and Elizabeth’s daughter Maria Elizabeth Wirth was born September 24, 1788 in Pa. - died April 5, 1857 married Daniel Zerbe born May 10, 1787 in Pa. - died January 1, 1858 in Northumberland Co., Pa., both were buried in Zion Stone Valley Cemetery in Lower Mahanoy Twp., Pa. Their second child George Zerbe was born Pa. - died 1875 in Georgetown, now Dalmatia, Northumberland Co., Pa. He married Phoebe Spangler, both died of the smallpox and were buried at Zion Valley Cemetery. George and Phoebe were my great-great- grandparents through their fourth child, Suzanna Zerbe Meck, born July 26, 1860 in Lower Mahanoy Twp., Northumberland Co., Pa. – died August 9, 1922 in Llewellyn, Schuylkill Co., Pa., buried at Mt. Peace Cemetery in Minersville, Schuylkill Co. She married John Meck on May 26, 1883 at St. Luke’s Evangelical Lutheran Church, Malta, Northumberland Co., Pa. They left Northumberland and came to Williamstown, Dauphin Co. in the mid-1880s; they had four living children and one stillborn baby. (1) Ellen Pauline born 1887- died1961 in Pottsville, Schuylkill Co., married Albert Fishburn; (2) Roy Emerson born1889 – died 1947 in Chester, Delaware Co., Pa., married Charlotte Eva “Lottie” Starr of Llewellyn, Schuylkill Co., Pa.; (my grandparents). They had a set of twins born in 1919, one died and my father, Lee Roy E. Meck the other twin lived until 1983, married Ruth Mills of Pottsville and had two children (living); (3) Olive B. Meck born 1891 - died 1982 in Philadelphia, Pa.; (4) Herman Zerbe Meck born 1893 - died 1926, married Martha Fasig.
First Step Digging Out Of The Paper Pile
Keeping It All Together The sheer amount of information required to delve deeply into your family tree (and document you journey well) can produce a lot of piles and files. Here are some tips for taming the “paper tiger.” Get Everything in One Place The easiest way to keep track of your family history is to make sure that it has a designated place; whether that’s a binder or a whole file cabinet, the important thing is that all your papers are together. Start by grouping what information you have by surname, it’s the most basic piece of information you can have about a family member, and provides a natural way to organize. If you’ve already done a bit of research, you may want to start a separate folder or binder for each surname.
Once you’ve got your family names in order, take a look at what kinds of information you have about each surname and how much. You may want to go one level deeper and organize by individual families, or you could choose to separate what you have by the type of information - photos, certificates, and reports could each have a section within that surname. Take a look at the way you research and how you usually try to find specific pieces of information to determine which way is best for you. This is also an excellent time, if you’re using a genealogy software program like Family Tree Maker; to enter the information you have about each of your ancestors and note the source it came from. You may also want to start some kind of numbering system for your documentation to make sourcing easier. Numbering all documents sequentially works well, or you could combine that with a surname - for example, a birth certificate could be labeled “Brittingham -1.” If you are working with delicate or original documents like family letters, make copies for your surname files and label those instead to avoid wear and tear, and keep the originals in a safe, separate location. If you have a lot of material to start with, you may also want to keep a simple log with the label name, a short description, and the location of each source document. Keep up with the Pile So now you’ve got everything arranged in a way that works for you - how do you keep the papers in line after you return from a fact-finding mission at the local genealogy library? Show them who’s boss and get your new information cataloged and filed as soon as possible. If you’ve come home with a folder full of census microfilm photocopies, label them according to the system you’ve set up and put them in the appropriate surname folders. You may want to clip them together and note on a Post-it that they haven’t been looked at yet, so they’re separate from other information you’ve already found. This is especially important if you don’t have time to pore over what you’ve found right away. When you go back to pick up your research later, you’ll know where to start instead of having to dig through the entire folder. It also avoids the problem of just putting the new data in a folder of its own, that can lead to a series of dated “info I need to look at” folders. All of the new information will be with the family it’s about, and can be looked at in smaller chunks as your interest in different branches changes. What Goes Out Must Come In - Dealing with Correspondence More than most pastimes, genealogy is a collaborative effort. Whether you’re writing to a cousin or to a county clerk three states away, tracking all of your pending information requests is crucial. Keep copies of all the letters you send, they act as records of what you requested when, and how much, if anything, you paid for it. You may also want to keep a log as you send out letters. This can help you see at a glance which requests are still outstanding. You can set up a simple table by hand or on the computer. To open and print it, you will need the free Acrobat Reader from Adobe. If you need to follow up on an information request, your log will let you know when and where you sent it. Expand Your Horizons - And Your Filing Cabinet One final thing to keep in mind about your filing system is to stay flexible. The way you research now may not be the way you research six months or a year from now. If your system becomes unwieldy, take a fresh look at the way you deal with the information you find - new methods may call for new strategies. For example, you may have started your research with one or two primary surnames, but are now following up on several dozen. Or, even if you’re only working with one, you may find out enough about your ancestors to warrant separate folders for individuals within a family. As the paper trail through your family tree grows, knowing where to find a particular document can be the difference between fun and frustration. This article was written by Genealogy.com staff - copyright 1996-2006, MyFamily.com, Inc.
Police intercept naked man on Main Street By Dan Miller
Press And Journal Staff
It’s not everyday that you see a man walking naked along Main Street in Middletown. But that’s what happened shortly after 8:30 a.m. on Friday morning, the day after Christmas. Eyewitnesses saw a man, described as in his 40s, walking down the sidewalk around 8:30 a.m. wearing nothing but a pair of sneakers. “He was just standing there and holding a cup over his private area,” said Tom Landis, of Londonderry Twp., who reported seeing the man as Landis was driving into town. “I was kind of in shock. I thought to myself, ‘Am I really seeing this?’” The man’s identity had not been released by Middletown police as of Monday, Dec. 29. He was taken to a hospital, and no drugs were found in his system, said Middletown Police Chief John Bey. The man was just standing on the sidewalk, waiting to cross the street toward Deals on Wheels. Other than having no clothes on, the man appeared and acted just like anyone else, Landis said. He was heading west to east. Landis thought about calling 911, but didn’t. He figured the guy would be long gone by the time police arrived. The man had dark curly hair and a beard. He was at least 6 feet tall and weighed about 220 or so – a bit on the chubby side, Landis said. He wasn’t streaking – at least not when Landis saw him. Someone else either called Middletown police, or the police saw the man. According to eyewitness accounts, two police cruisers and an
ambulance pulled into the parking lot of Grove Motors. The folks who work at Grove looked out the window to see the man lying facedown. Someone had placed a blanket over him, and a police officer was standing over him. Police had cuffed the man. He was loaded onto a gurney and put into an ambulance. He didn’t seem to be hurt, judging by the smile on his face while he was being put into the ambulance, said Kevin, who works at Grove Motors. He asked that his last name not be used. “That’s the first I’ve seen something like that,” Kevin said. A customer who was inside Grove Motors said that his daughter lived across the street and that she had taken a picture of the man with her cell phone camera.
Friday, January 2 • 7:30 pm Saturday, January 3 • 7:30 pm Sunday, January 4 • 5:00 pm
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YOUR PROPERTY TAXES JUST WENT UP. OR HADN’T YOU HEARD? When government wants to do something, it must let citizens know. Now that right is being threatened - by proposals to do away with the requirement to run public notices in your local newspaper. Instead, they would be buried away on some obscure government website. That means you'd never know what your local government was up to. And what you don't know can hurt you. Help stop any legislation that takes public notices out of the newspaper.
Take action NOW at savepublicnotices.org.
A-6 - THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014
DOWNTOWN
Town Topics
Continued From Page One
Authority, charged by council with carrying out the project. The property to be demolished, as well as the house and computer shop, are all owned by the authority. A proposed timetable to complete the streetscape project was presented to council by Tunnell. The first few months of 2015 will be needed to obtain permits from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, as Union Street – Route 441– is state-owned. The authority hopes to put the project out for bid in late spring to early summer, Tunnell said. Union Street must be repaved by mid-October, which Tunnell said is PennDOT’s deadline for repaving roads before the onset of winter. The rest of the project would be “substantially completed” by the end of 2015, with no more than minor touching up such as painting needing to be done when the weather breaks in 2016. Funding for the $2.7 million project is in place, including a $1.5 million Dauphin County Infrastructure Bank loan, a $250,000 Dauphin County gaming grant, nearly $672,000 in state liquid fuels fund money that the borough has pieced together, and a total of $730,000 that the authority itself has committed to the project, according to a budget Tunnell presented to council. The $2.7 million is only an estimate until the project is bid. However, Tunnell is confident that the $2.7 million will cover the actual cost. “We feel pretty comfortable that these numbers have been vetted well and that the project should remain within this budget,” he said. Borough Councilor Ben Kapenstein was skeptical, given that councilors just learned a few weeks ago
News & happenings for Middletown and surrounding areas.
Offices closed
In observance of the New Year’s Day holiday, the Press And Journal office and plant will be closed on Thursday, Dec. 25. We will reopen at 8 a.m. on Friday, Jan. 2. Have a safe and happy holiday. •••••
Baseball and softball signups
Signups for Middletown Amateur Baseball Association youth baseball, girls’ fast-pitch softball and Teener baseball will be held from 9 a.m. to noon on Saturday, Jan. 10; Saturday, Jan. 17; and Saturday, Jan. 24 at Royalton Borough Hall, 101 Northumberland St., Royalton. Contact Brendan McGlone at 717-940-8320 with any questions about registration. •••••
Block Shoot
Sportsmen Limited will hold a Block Shoot at 1 p.m. on Sunday, Jan. 4 at Middletown Anglers & Hunters, 1350 Schoolhouse Road, Middletown.
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The three storefronts scheduled to be demolished in Middletown’s downtown revitalization project formerly housed a coin-operated laundry, a computer repair business and a tattoo parlor. The house behind it would remain, borough officials said. of a potential shortfall of $1 million in the recently-completed downtown water and sewer line replacement project. “I want to make sure it doesn’t happen again,” Kapenstein said. Tunnell assured Kapenstein it won’t – mostly because the streetscape is chiefly an aboveground project. The water and sewer work was underground, which always carries more unknowns and uncertainties, Tunnell said. “This should absolutely be on budget,’’ Tunnell said. “There is no excuse for a project like this to go over budget, unless you have decided” to make changes to drive up the cost, he said. Tunnell said there are costs related to the streetscape not included in the $2.7 million budget. The $20,000plus needed to demolish the prop-
erty at North Union and East Emaus is not included, nor is the cost to move electric and telecommunications lines in the downtown – a figure that Tunnell estimated could reach $1.5 million. The authority, the borough and three separate telecommunications providers – Verizon, Comcast and XO – must reach agreement on whether the power and phone lines end up being above ground or below ground. Placing the lines below ground may be more aesthetically pleasing but would cost more and could mean that other aspects of the project would have to be scaled back, Tunnell said. The only public comment was from resident Diana McGlone, a former borough council member, who charged that the town’s broader
COMPLY Continued From Page One
ing properties in the northwest region of the township near Derry Twp. District 2 encompasses a larger portion of the northwest region of the township, running from the edge of Royalton, Middletown and Lower Swatara Twp., surrounding District 1 and extending to the end of Landvater Road where Londonderry borders Derry Twp. To the east, District 2 extends to the intersection of Schoolhouse Road and the Harrisburg Pike (Route 230).
As the rotation continues, District 3, in the southeast part of the township, will face pumping and inspection requirements ending June 2016. The region near Derry and Conewago townships in the northeast section of the township – identified as On-lot Management District B in the ordinance – faces a deadline of June 2017. The final district, On-lot Management District A, includes the township’s islands in the Susquehanna River and faces a deadline in June 2018. Some properties in Londonderry
business community had been shut out of the downtown streetscape planning process. “This was a $3 million project put together by a small select group of business owners,” McGlone said. She also objected to tearing down the commercial building and replacing it with green space. McGlone offered to give the borough $20,000 to cover the cost of razing the property. Robin Pellegrini, the owner of Alfred’s Victorian, played a lead role for the authority in organizing business input into the plan. Pellegrini said that she and Dana Ward, another downtown business owner, did as much as they could to involve as many businesses as possible. “We reached out numerous times,” she told the Press And Journal Tuesday. “I held a meeting here at
the restaurant. Maybe three people showed up. There were people that we never heard back from, people who showed up at one or two organization meetings and that was it. This was the first time in a long time that borough council did reach out and let the business community make some decisions about the future of our town.” Tunnell said the plan had “broad business input” and that business owners were given “expansive opportunities” to provide their ideas and thoughts. “It’s been a long process,” he said. “We are really on the eve of construction, I hope it is ultimately a plan that is celebrated as a great new day for the downtown.”
Twp. are served by municipal sanitary sewers pumped to the treatment facility in Derry Twp.; however, the majority of properties in Londonderry are served by septic systems. A property owner may appeal to the township supervisors for a waiver for one inspection, depending on the circumstances. For instance, if a property owner experiences a problem with the on-lot system and invests in a complete replacement immediately before the inspection period begins, the supervisors may choose to exempt
the new system from one inspection because the new system had recently been installed and issued a permit under the ordinance’s requirements. The ordinance sets other requirements for obtaining a permit and installing a new system. Property owners who fail to have their systems pumped and inspected are subject to fines of $300 to $1,000, in addition to the costs of prosecution.
Dan Miller: 717-944-4628, or danmiller@pressandjournal.com
Eric Wise: 717-944-4628, or ericwise@pressandjournal.com
STEELTON-HIGHSPIRE SCHOOLS
Two board hirings required a majority, experts say By Eric Wise
Press And Journal Staff
The Steelton-Highspire School Board may have violated state law when it voted 4-1 to fill two vacant administrative office positions during its final meeting of 2014 on Thursday, Dec. 4, according to authorities familiar with the Pennsylvania School Code. The board hired Colleen Ingersoll as financial service administrator and set her salary at $37,500, and Elizabeth Auker as a secretary with a salary of $30,030. With four members absent,
school board members Rachel Slade, Mary Carricato, Robert Spizzirri and Sarah Metallo voted in favor of hiring two employees and established their salaries. Rosemary Tonkin voted in opposition. Steve Robinson, senior communications director of the Pennsylvania School Boards Association, said he consulted with the association’s experts on the Pennsylvania School Code and found that a majority of all school board members, not just a majority of those present, is required for a school board to vote on matters that include
the hiring of district employees and setting salaries. “There’s not really any difference,” Robinson said, in regard to the type of employees that are hired under the School Code. Robinson cited one section of the association’s legal handbook that was developed to assist school boards in complying with the state’s School Code. The legal reference states the following: “Section 508 of the Public School Code enumerates a number of actions where a majority of all of the board members are required, and where such votes shall be duly recorded. Such things as adoption of budget, levying taxes, setting salaries, purchasing land, dismissing a teacher, entering into most contracts, etc., must be acted upon in this fashion.” Timothy Eller, press secretary of the state Department of Education, said the department’s legal staff confirmed the PSBA’s interpretation of the code.
He said in regard to hiring and setting salaries, “These issues require five affirmative votes for approval.” In fact, Steelton-Highspire’s board policy manual echoes the requirements of the state law and requires a majority of all board members for such actions, including establishing salaries. Eric Wise: 717-944-4628, or ericwise@pressandjournal.com
HANDLEY Continued From Page One serve throughout all of 2015. Voters would decide during the municipal election in 2015 who will serve the remaining two years of Handley’s term, which expires at the end of 2017. Dan Miller: 717-944-4628, or danmiller@pressandjournal.com
ELIZABETHTOWN
Man charged in theft of guns, tools, cash AND YOU THOUGHT SMOKING MADE YOU LOOK COOL! BE REALLY COOL DON'T START
By Jim Lewis
Press And Journal Staff
An Elizabethtown man was charged with felony burglary for allegedly taking more than $3,000 worth of guns, tools and cash from a Hillside Avenue residence on Sept. 11, Elizabethtown police said. Eric C. Flick, 38, was also
Eric Flick
charged with theft by unlawful taking. He was arraigned before District Judge Jayne F. Duncan and held in Lancaster County Prison in lieu of $10,000 bond. Police said they recovered the guns, tools and cash. The burglary happened around 4 p.m. on Sept. 11, police said.
Sports
B-1
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014
MIDDLETOWN AREA BOYS’ BASKETBALL
Raiders wallop Tulpehocken, fall to East Penn By Larry Etter
Press And Journal Staff
All of the hard work and determination finally paid off for the Middletown boys’ basketball team as the Blue Raiders earned their second victory of the season on Monday, Dec. 22. Stepping out of Mid-Penn Conference play against visiting Tulpehocken, the Raiders routed the Berks County team, 53-25 in Middletown to give themselves a much-needed win. Middletown’s only other victory came in the season opener against Northern Lebanon in the Annville-Cleona Tip-Off Tournament. Buoyed by the triumph, the Raiders wanted to carry the momentum into their Capital Division clash at East Pennsboro on Tuesday, Dec. 23, but a cold-shooting night prevented another win and the Middletown squad fell to the host Panthers, 46-34 instead. The Raiders headed into the Christmas break with an overall 2-7 record (0-4 in the division).
Middletown 53, Tulpehocken 25
Using solid defensive pressure all night against the cool-shooting Tro-
jans and a near-precision performance on offense, the Raiders dominated the game on both ends of the court in posting the easy victory on Monday. After spotting their guests a 3-0 lead 1:10 into the game, the Raiders took charge by posting a 9-0 run to close out the first quarter with a 15-5 lead. Caleb Leggore and Brady Fox went back-to-back to erase the early Tulpehocken lead, though the Trojans (4-4) slipped back in front, 5-4, with a pair of foul shots at the 4:21 mark. That, however, turned out to be the Trojans’ last lead of the game. Ryan Hughes, Tre Leach and Dagen Hughes teamed for Middletown’s 9-0 run in the final 3:02 of the opening quarter. Leach’s 3-point play off a Harry Kapenstein steal pushed the home team to a 10-point lead. While holding the Trojans to just 5 points in the second stanza, the Raiders climbed to a 24-10 lead at the halftime break. Dagen Hughes popped in his second trey of the game and Fox added a pair of successful free throws to close out the half with five straight Middletown points. Ryan Hughes drained another triple, this one from the right corner off a Kapenstein assist, to start off the second half. Led by Robert Ekvall’s 5 points, the Trojans managed to collect 10 points in the third quarter. But the Raiders registered 13 in the same time span to stay safely ahead. Ryan Hughes scored six of his points in the period, including a bucket off his own steal with 2 seconds left. The Middletown squad led by a 37-20 count heading into the final frame. Any thoughts of a letdown at that point were quickly pushed aside as the Raiders opened up the fourth quarter with a 7-0 run to put the game away early. Fox scored twice and Dagen Hughes nailed his fourth triple of the game to complete the run that pushed the Middletown advantage to 44-20 with 5:52 left. The Trojans scored the next five points of the game to cut into the lead, but those points were all the guests would get the rest of the way. Christian Plummer’s layup off a steal and two foul shots by the freshman with 1:57 left closed out the scoring and the victory for the Middletown side. Dagen Hughes scored a game-high 14 points, Ryan Hughes added 12 and Leach and Fox each chipped in 10 points in the balanced Raider attack.
East Pennsboro 46, Middletown 34
Shooting just 27 percent from the floor will not win a team many games. Such was the case for the Raiders on Tuesday at East Pennsboro. With shot after shot missing the mark, along with almost no second chances due to the Panthers dominating the boards, the Middletown squad simply could not find a scoring rhythm on offense in the loss. Ryan Hughes did record a game-high 17 points, slightly overshadowing East Pennsboro ace Sam Powery’s 16, but no other Middletown player reached double figures in the scorebook. That statistic, along with a gameopening 8-0 run by the host team, proved to be the difference in the Capital Division clash. As the Raiders stumbled from the opening tip-off with a series of missed shots and turnovers, the Panthers’ Mitch Henry and Powery converted the miscues into the early 8-0 lead and forced the Middletown team into
Middletown’s Tre Leach shoots a foul shot against Tulpehocken – and sinks it.
Please See RAIDERS, Page B3
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Middletown’s Chris Plummer, in white, makes a twisting layup against Tulpehocken.
MIDDLETOWN AREA GIRLS’ BASKETBALL
East Pennsboro unfazed, stops Blue Raiders, 45-37 When you win a division title, you’ve arrived – you can’t sneak up on the competition. The Middletown girls’ basketball team stormed to the Mid-Penn Conference Capital Division title last season, winning 13 of 14 division games to claim the championship. This season, the Blue Raiders have found their division rivals to be ready to challenge them. East Pennsboro beat the Raiders, 45-37, on Tuesday, Dec. 23 in Middletown, pushing the Panthers past Middletown into fourth place in the division. The Raiders fell to 1-3 in the division – 6-3 overall. East Pennsboro improved to 2-2 in the division and
5-4 overall. Unbeaten West Perry leads the division with a 4-0 league record and 8-0 overall record. Camp Hill (7-1, 4-1 in the division) and Trinity (4-5, 3-1) aren’t far behind. Led by Taylor Fries, who scored 16 points, East Pennsboro built a 30-22 halftime lead. Amber Grab scored 12 for the Panthers and Danielle Kreiger added 8. Jalynn Burton-Jones led the Raiders with 16 points, while Jey Rivera scored 10, Bianca Jasper scored 8 and Madison Ruby scored 3. It was Middletown’s only game last week during a truncated Christmas schedule.
For more game photos please see Girls on page B2
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Middletown’s Madison Ruby (in white) puts back an offensive rebound for a basket against the Panthers.
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B-2 - THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014
www.pressandjournal.com; e-mail - sports@pressandjournal.com
A rainy day at the deer camp? No big deal. Until ... R
ecently I was fortunate to go along with some friends to the Lick Run Lodge located in northern Lycoming
County. The camp is owned by Fred Espenshade of Mechanicsburg and Gerald Staub of Middletown. Both are good friends, for many years. Samuel Turns, also of Middletown, rounded out our camp group for a weekend during the 2014 deer season. Weather is always unpredictable in northcentral Pennsylvania during the winter and our three days were no exception. We knew it was to be rainy, but what is a little rain to diehard deer hunters? No big deal. For me, the trip was to kick back, enjoy the cabin and relax. I would keep the fire in the wood burner stove going and use the time to read and write. The cabin is a classic upstate deer camp. A rustic wood exterior with a metal roof nestled down a lane that is shielded by overhanging pines and large oaks. A full length porch with a roof highlights the outside. The inside had that cabin smell of burnt wood. A metal wood-burning stove with a screened front provided most of the heat. One entire wall was a deer picture that showed a large antlered buck and two doe. Several deer racks hung on the walls along with a stand-up gun rack in the corner.
This cabin was no different than my own camp. You open the door and you find yourself colder inside the cabin than outside. A quick fire in the stove and the chill was quickly gone. After unpacking, Fred, Gerald and Sam got into their hunting gear and went promptly to State Game Lands No. 75 to hunt for the afternoon. I was alone with just the crackling of the fire and the peacefulness of alone time. In years past, I would have never remained back in camp and not hunt, but times have changed – and considering I spent five weeks hunting and guiding in North Carolina, I was a little exhausted. I just wanted to enjoy and hang out at camp. They arrived back in camp and were excited that Sam saw several deer, but none supported any antlers. All three had antlerless tags for the opening day of WMU 2G that would allow them to harvest a doe the following day. Supper at deer camp is always a special time. Food just tastes better while at camp – and that evening was no exception. The spaghetti was delicious. The hunting stories of past and present made the evening go fast, along with a friendly game of cards. That evening it rained, and continued well into the morning. The raindrops striking the metal roof made a sound better than any
sleeping pill, and it wasn’t long before all were quiet. An occasional snore was heard from the adjacent bedroom – even from those who say they don’t snore. The morning came quickly. No alarm was needed. Lunches were made and backpacks were stuffed. These guys weren’t going to let the rain hamper their hunt, and out they went. I just put some wood on the fire and got comfortable when suddenly I heard talking and footsteps on the porch. My hunters were back within one hour and they were walking. They never got far. The road overnight became a sheet of ice. It was a skating rink, and they were lucky that the truck didn’t slip over the embankment. After considerable sliding and cautious driving the truck was parked on a hill. It wasn’t going anywhere and all of us were iced in. But for how long? Hunting was not a priority now – it was Gerald’s truck that was the priority. The forecast wasn’t good either. Colder temperatures overnight would only make the predicament worse. We needed to get the truck off the road and back to camp. We just couldn’t sit and do nothing. Gerald was the first to grab a pick and head toward his truck. It wasn’t long before the
rest of us did the same, thinking it couldn’t be that bad. But as I slid down the road, almost falling several times, I quickly came to the realization this was as icy as any road I have ever been on. Gerald was hard at work chopping the ice on the road for a path up the hill. His efforts looked fruitless but his idea of chopping did not. A joint decision was made to diagonally chop across the road leading to his camp’s driveway and throw dirt and debris from the berm on the road to gain traction. If this worked, it would at least get the truck safely off the mountain road and back to camp. Then it rained. Not your typical rain, but an all-out downpour. We were soaked to the bone – but the plan worked and Gerald’s truck made it to the driveway and back to camp. What had started as a deer hunt ended in several hours of hard labor – and we were still iced in. We spent the entire afternoon waiting for it to warm up and melt the ice. As we waited,
we ate our venison pot roast and played more cards. Then we heard it. The distinct sound of a truck backing up. Could it be a cinder truck? Fred hurried outside and was greeted by a cinder truck from Pine Twp. With the cinders spread, the road was drivable – but the township decided to close the road entirely due to icy conditions forecasted for the night. We packed up quickly and decided to head home immediately to avoid any further icy surprises. The hunt was cancelled. You never know what can happen during a deer camp excursion. Road maintenance with pick and shovel during a downpour certainly made it memorable – but as we look back on it, we can laugh and joke because we made the best of a bad situation. Good friends do that somehow. Tom Shank can be reached at tshank38@ comcast.net
Trophy winners
COLLEGE BASKETBALL
Lions hope Navy game pays dividends By Will Doyle
For The Press And Journal
The Penn State Harrisburg men’s basketball team was given a great opportunity to play against Division I Navy in November. Playing a major college team was exciting, but the experience could have a longer effect on the Lions. The players spent the first day of the two-day trip visiting Washington, D.C. and all of the historic sites that it has to offer. With the help of Paul Thompson, Penn State Harrisburg’s senior lecturer in homeland security, and U.S. Rep. Charlie Dent, the Lions not only saw the sites but received a VIP tour of the House and Senate chambers and the Supreme Court building. Coach Don Friday called it “a great bonding experience for the team.’’ With Thompson’s help, “It was an incredible experience that gave myself
DID YOU KNOW? 73 percent of community newspaper readers read the discount store ads.
and the team memories that will last a lifetime,” Friday said. After all the sight-seeing, Penn State Harrisburg (1-8) hung tough and proved they weren’t just there to say they played against a Division 1 team, but that they could win. The Lions’ hustle and grit held Navy to 21 points in the first half, and kept the score close, 21-16. The Midshipmen eventually won, 67-42, but Penn State Harrisburg left feeling good about the overall outcome of the contest. What the Lions need most now is to continue to build on the positive experiences they have put together as a team. This year’s squad is made up of a unit of quality players, but they do not have the standout star player that scores a majority of the team’s points. The Lions’ season will be all about how well this group of players can come together and play as one unit – and they hope experiences like they had in their foray into Division I competition will pay off. Penn State Harrisburg will work on turning things around for the new year when it plays The College of New Jersey at noon on Wednesday, Dec. 31 in Middletown.
HAVE A GREAT YEAR
Middletown girls’ basketball players Bianca Jasper, left, and Jalynn Burton-Jones hold the trophies they received for earning a spot on the Big Spring Tip-Off Tournament all-tournament team. Middletown won the tournament, beating South Western, 47-42 in its opening game on Dec. 5 and East Pennsboro, 44-33 in the championship on Dec. 6. Jasper scored 12 points against East Pennsboro and 11 against South Western, while Burton-Jones led the Blue Raiders with 13 against East Pennsboro and 19 against South Western. The identity of one of the players was incorrect in the Dec. 10 edition of the Press And Journal.
Photo by Don Graham
GIRLS
Continued From Page One
Without your loyal support we wouldn’t be here. Thank you for your past patronage. We hope to serve you in the coming year.
MIDDLETOWN T IR E & ALIGNM E NT
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As we turn the calendar, we want to take this opportunity to thank our loyal friends and customers for their continued support. Our success begins and ends with pleasing you. 231 Oak Hill Drive • Middletown • 944-7154
Middletown’s Bianca Jasper (3), drives to the basket against East Pennsboro.
Happy New Year
Photos by Don Graham
Middletown’s Jey Rivera (1) shoots over the East Pennsboro defense.
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THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - B-3
www.pressandjournal.com; e-mail - sports@pressandjournal.com
Standings for 12-31-14 BOYS’ BASKETBALL MID-PENN CONFERENCE Capital Division W L OVERALL Trinity 4 0 6-1 Steelton-Highspire 3 0 5-0 Camp Hill 3 2 5-2 East Pennsboro 2 2 5-3 Milton Hershey 2 2 4-5 West Perry 0 4 3-5 Middletown 0 4 2-7
Bishop McDevitt 3 2 5-4 Cedar Cliff 1 4 4-5 Hershey 1 4 3-4 Susquehanna Twp. 0 5 1-8
Last week’s games East Pennsboro 46, Middletown 34 Middletown 53, Tulpehocken 25 Steelton-Highspire 56, Wilson 44
Tuesday, Jan. 6 Red Land at Lower Dauphin, 7:30 p.m.
This week’s games Saturday, Jan. 3 Middletown at Shippensburg, 2 p.m. Bishop McDevitt at Steelton-Highspire, 6:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 West Perry at Middletown, 7:45 p.m. Trinity at Steelton-Highspire, 7:30 p.m. Keystone Division W L OVERALL Cedar Cliff 5 0 10-0 Susquehanna Twp. 4 1 6-2 Bishop McDevitt 4 1 5-2 Hershey 2 3 4-3 Lower Dauphin 2 3 4-4 Mechanicsburg 2 3 4-5 Red Land 1 4 2-5 Palmyra 0 5 3-6 Last week’s games Lower Dauphin 63, Mechanicsburg 50 This week’s games Friday, Jan. 2 Northern York at Lower Dauphin, 7:30 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 3 Conestoga Valley at Lower Dauphin, 7 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 Lower Dauphin at Red Land, 7:30 p.m. GIRLS’ BASKETBALL MID-PENN CONFERENCE Capital Division W L OVERALL West Perry 4 0 8-0 Camp Hill 4 1 7-1 Trinity 3 1 4-5 East Pennsboro 2 2 5-4 Middletown 1 3 6-3 Steelton-Highspire 0 3 1-5 Milton Hershey 0 4 2-5 Last week’s games East Pennsboro 45, Middletown 37 This week’s games Saturday, Jan. 3 Shippensburg at Middletown, 2:30 p.m. Tri-Valley at Steelton-Highspire, 2:30 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 6 West Perry at Middletown, 6:15 p.m. Steelton-Highspire at Trinity, 7 p.m. Keystone Division W L OVERALL Palmyra 5 0 8-0 Mechanicsburg 4 1 7-1 Red Land 3 2 7-3 Lower Dauphin 3 2 5-3
Last week’s games Mechanicsburg 28, Lower Dauphin 24 This week’s games Friday, Jan. 2 Lower Dauphin at Northern York, 7:30 p.m.
WRESTLING MID-PENN CONFERENCE Keystone Division W L OVERALL Cedar Cliff 3 0 8-0 Lower Dauphin 1 0 1-0 Mechanicsburg 1 0 5-1 Hershey 1 0 2-1 Red Land 2 1 2-1 Susquehanna Twp. 0 3 0-3 Middletown 0 4 0-5 Last week’s matches Boiling Springs Holiday Invitational 1. Spring Grove (210.5 points) 2. Boiling Springs (165.5) 3. Middletown (128) 4. Bedford (123.5) Middletown’s individual results: 106 pounds – Zach Matter, 0-2; 113 pounds – Logan Stoltzfus, 2-0; 120 pounds – Devin Martin, 2-0; 126 pounds – Ulyses Hernandez, 0-2; 132 pounds – Wyatt Smith, 0-2; 138 pounds – Jordan Matter, 0-1; 145 pounds – Corbin Stetler, 1-1; 152 pounds – Abel Botterbusch, 2-1; 160 pounds – Matthew Black, 0-2; 170 pounds – Will Botterbusch, 1-1; 182 pounds – Bobby Graham 0-2; 195 pounds – forfeit; 220 pounds – Charles Euker 0-2; 285 pounds – Michael Osayi, 1-1. 2014 Trojan Wars 1. Emmaus (185 points) 2. Southern Columbia (183.5) 3. Chambersburg (169) 4. Central Dauphin East (156.5) 5. Palisades (156) 6. Lower Dauphin (150) 7. St. Mary’s (136) 8. Penn Cambria (118) 9. James Buchanan (116.5) 10. Bishop McDevitt (114). This week’s matches None BOYS’ SWIMMING MID-PENN CONFERENCE Keystone Division W L OVERALL Red Land 2 0 4-1 Lower Dauphin 2 0 2-2 Palmyra 2 0 2-3 Milton Hershey 2 1 2-1 Bishop McDevitt 1 1 1-1 Mechanicsburg 0 2 1-3 Cedar Cliff 0 2 0-3 Susquehanna Twp. 0 3 1-3 Last week’s meets None This week’s meets Tuesday, Jan. 6 South Western at Lower Dauphn, 7 p.m. GIRLS’ SWIMMING MID-PENN CONFERENCE Keystone Division W L OVERALL Palmyra 2 0 5-0 Red Land 2 0 3-2
RAIDERS Continued From Page One
a catchup game from the beginning. Ryan Hughes broke the streak with a driving layup at the 4:28 mark and then added two free throws 26 seconds later to get the Raiders on track. After the Panthers (5-3, 2-2 in the division) went up by a 14-6 count with 1:40 left in the opening period, Ryan Hughes scored and Leggore went 1-for-2 from the foul line to pull the Raiders to within five, 14-9, by the end of the quarter. But the offensive woes continued to hurt the Raiders in the second stanza where they were outscored 13-5 by their hosts. East Pennsboro owned a 27-14 lead at the halftime break. The Panthers cooled off during the intermission and made just one of 10 shots from the floor in the third quarter. That single basket, along with making just 4 of 10 shots from the free throw line, limited East Pennsboro to just 6 total points in the third. At the same time, the Middletown side was able to collect 11 points (two each from Leggore, Leach and Dagen Hughes). Middletown was led by Ryan Hughes, who scored 5 points to help the Raiders close the gap. By the end of the third quarter, the Raiders trailed by a 33-25 count, with East Pennsboro’s opening 8-0 run showing up as the difference. With 4:31 left in the game, the Panthers had eked out a 37-26 lead before the Raiders used a Fox basket and foul shot by Dagen Hughes to cut the lead to 37-29. But after missing out on a good opportunity to gain ground following an East Pennsboro miss, the Raiders came up empty on the offensive end and Henry buried a crushing 3-point bomb with 2:36 left.
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Down by a 40-29 count at that point, the Raiders just did not have the firepower to rally. Ryan Hughes made a pair of free throws at 2:29 and then added a 3-point play that cut the East Penn lead to 42-34 with 1:22 on the clock. But the Panthers went 4-for-4 at the charity stripe in the final minute to secure the win. Larry Etter can be reached at larryetter66@gmail.com
Lower Dauphin 2 Bishop McDevitt 1 Cedar Cliff 1 Susquehanna Twp. 1 Mechanicsburg 0 Milton Hershey 0
MIDDLETOWN AREA WRESTLING 0 2-2 1 1-1 1 1-2 2 1-3 2 1-3 3 0-3
Last week’s meets None This week’s meets Tuesday, Jan. 6 South Western at Lower Dauphin, 7 p.m. ICE HOCKEY - CPIHL Tier 1 W L T PTS Hershey 10 0 1 21 Lower Dauphin 9 1 1 19 Palmyra 6 2 3 15 Hempfield 4 5 2 10 Warwick 4 5 1 9 Cumberland Valley 4 5 1 9 Dallastown 3 5 2 8 Wilson 2 6 1 5 Central York 2 8 1 5 Last week’s games Lower Dauphin 6, Cumberland Valley 4 This week’s games Friday, Jan. 2 Lower Dauphin vs. Wilson, 9:30 p.m., The Body Zone Tier 3 W L T PTS Carlisle 10 0 1 21 MSM 10 2 0 20 Penn Manor 8 3 0 16 West York 6 6 0 12 Susquehannock 3 7 1 7 Middletown 1 10 0 2 Northern York 1 11 0 2 Last week’s games None This week’s games Friday, Jan. 2 Middletown vs. Susquehannock, 6:45 p.m., York City Ice Arena Monday, Jan. 5 Middletown vs. Northern York, 8 p.m., Twin Ponds West COLLEGE BASKETBALL CAPITAL ATHLETIC CONFERENCE MEN W L OVERALL Marymount 3 0 9-1 Christopher Newport 2 1 5-3 St. Mary’s 2 1 5-3 Frostburg St. 2 1 6-4 Wesley 2 1 4-5 York 2 1 2-6 Salisbury 1 2 4-4 Penn State Hbg. 1 2 1-8 Southern Virginia 0 3 1-7 Mary Washington 0 3 0-10 Last week’s games None This week’s games Wednesday, Dec. 31 The College of New Jersey at Penn State Harrisburg, noon Saturday, Jan. 3 Penn State Hbg. at St. Mary’s, 4 p.m. WOMEN W L OVERALL Salisbury 3 0 9-0 Mary Washington 3 0 5-2 Marymount 3 0 7-3 Christopher Newport 3 1 7-3 Penn State Hbg. 2 1 3-6 Wesley 2 2 6-4 York 0 3 3-5 Southern Virginia 0 3 2-7 Frostburg St. 0 3 1-7 St. Mary’s 0 3 0-7 Last week’s games None This week’s games Saturday, Jan. 3 Penn State Hbg. at St. Mary’s,2 p.m. Monday, Jan. 5 Immaculata at Penn State Harrisburg, 6 p.m.
Photo by Don Graham
Middletown’s Corbin Stetler, top, in a earlier dual meet bout against Red Land, reached the third round of the consolation bracket.
Johnson, Stoltzfus advance at tournament Two Middletown wrestlers reached the championship and consolation semifinals at the Governor Mifflin Holiday Tournament in Shillington on Monday, Dec. 29. Bobby Johnson reached the semifinals in the championship bracket at 160 pounds, winning a 19-6 major decision over Tommy DiSisto of Plymouth-Whitemarsh. Johnson opened the tournament with a pin of
Jake Fenstermacher of Brandywine Heights (at 5:42) and a 10-7 decision over Ben Maack of Governor Mifflin to advance. The Blue Raiders’ Logan Stoltzfus reached the consolation semifinals with a 4-1 decision over Matt Barnell of Southern Regional at 113 pounds. He had reached the championship bracket quarterfinals before losing 6-4
to Governor Mifflin’s Elijah Horst. Middletown’s Devin Martin reached the quarterfinals of the championship bracket at 120 before losing by a pin to Garden Spot’s Connor Finkey at 5:19. Six Middletown wrestlers won their first-round bouts. Besides Johnson, Stoltzfus and Martin, first-round winners were Wyatt Smith at 126 pounds, Corbin Stetler at 145 and Will Botterbusch at 170.
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OUR
VIEWPOINTS
EDITOR'SVOICE
A new year, a clean slate, renewed hope for all
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014
Your Opinions from www.pressandjournal.com. Visit our website to cast your vote.
What do you think of New Year's resolutions?
H
ighspire will drop a bundle of candy on New Year’s Eve revelers to usher in 2015, and we hope the celebration is a sign that the year will be sweet. A new year brings renewed hope that things will get better – depending, of course, on how you define “better.’’ Better economically, better environmentally, better politically, better personally. Whether you hope for more money greater peace of mind, you look Whether you hope for or upon a new year as a fresh page, or more money or a fresh start, or a reboot. greater peace of On the horizon for 2015 locally are – the primary in May and mind, you look upon elections the general election in November – a new year as a fresh and the proposed revitalization of page, or a fresh start, Middletown’s business district. In four borough council or a reboot. Middletown, seats will be contested, while neighboring municipalities will have their own local races. And the revitalization of Middletown’s business district, anticipated to cost about $2.7 million, will begin, with the goal of finishing sometime this fall. There will undoubtedly be countless resolutions to eat right in 2015, to exercise, to find a better job, be more patient with others, do something good for the community. It is hoped we can carry self-improvement through the entire year – though, truth be told, we often would settle for a good six months. No matter whether you make resolutions or not, or view a New Year as a clean slate or new opportunity, we hope it will be a happy, prosperous, productive and enjoyable one. Define that as you will. Happy New Year!
READERS'VIEWS
Council decisions caused drama and financial chaos Editor, On Monday, Dec 8, I was in attendance for the Middletown Borough Council’s finance committee meeting, and it came as a shock that the figures for the downtown’s infrastructure project that council proclaimed would cost $1.2 million were incorrect. Mark Morgan, the financial consultant for the borough, stated that the true cost for the project is $1.7 million, which is a $500,000 increase over their estimated proclaimed cost. However, on top of that there are still unpaid bills owed to contractors, engineers and other entities, and when you factor the outstanding unpaid bills another $1 million is owed to close the project, as Morgan stated – which was also covered in the Press And Journal. It’s perplexing to think that our local governing body has such poor accounting practices that $1 million is unaccounted for in unpaid bills. Even more perplexing is council’s proclamation on their Facebook posts, borough Web site and media releases that the borough is “debt free” with the water/sewer lease. As it turns out, that’s not the case in examining council’s 2015 budget, which calls for transfers upwards of $3 million dollars from the Electric and Electric Trust funds to cover costs. Electric Trust Fund money should be used to subsidize electric costs, not to balance a budget due to council’s poor accounting practices. It is becoming more and more outrageous everyday for this body of council to continue to be disingenuous with the public regarding the true picture of the borough’s finances. It is villainous for this body of council to continue to be reckless with taxpayer money and not adhere to basic government accounting principles, as they spoke at the finance committee meeting of taking out a $6 million to $8 million bond (a.k.a loan) to move the Mill Street substation – and no money for improvements needed to the substation are taken into consideration in the 2015 budget that council passed on Monday, Dec 15. It is disgraceful for this body of council to continue to employ a borough manager and communications director, who utilize a taxpayer-funded borough newsletter as a tool for personal vendettas in attempting to slander and defame private citizens. As the communication director has stated publically to the media, he is the editor of the newsletter and the borough manager approves its content. It is very disappointing that the council president and vice president voted “no” to having borough workers plow critical arteries of the borough and be reimbursed by PennDOT, thus jeopardizing public safety as we enter the winter season. It is idiotic for this body of council to continue to make detrimental and destructive decisions that have only increased the speed in which our town is declining and spiraling out of control. Council members Chris McNamara, Suzanne Sullivan, John Brubaker, Victoria Malone and Robert Louer need to resign immediately, as they have done nothing but cause drama and financial chaos, and have forced businesses and citizens to leave town with their asinine decisions.
Diana McGlone Middletown
Press And Journal
PUBLISHER Joseph G. Sukle, Jr. joesukle@pressandjournal.com EDITOR Jim Lewis jimlewis@pressandjournal.com STAFF WRITER Dan Miller danmiller@pressandjournal.com STAFF WRITER Eric Wise ericwise@pressandjournal.com PRESS AND JOURNAL PUBLICATIONS 20 South Union Street, Middletown, PA 17057 OFFICE: 717-944-4628 FAX: 717-944-2083 EMAIL: info@pressandjournal.com CORPORATE WEBSITE: pandjinc.com
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THEY’RE GREAT! THEY’RE STUPID NO OPINION
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ALEJANDROCHAFUEN
The Cuban embargo and Che Guevara T-shirts
W
e all celebrate when an innocent person is released from prison. The freedom of Alan Gross
free enterprise. Echoing the Chamber, a powerful German think-tank, the Bertelsman Foundation, published a piece which concludes with a typical modern-day capitalist statement, “who knows, maybe the U.S. will be able to export a few more Che is welcome news. Guevara T-shirts along the way.” But the release of three convicted Cuban Fernando Menéndez, a Cuban expert of spies and operatives (who were directly the Center for a Secure Free Society, notresponsible for the killing of other innoed that when making the announcement, cents), the continued lack of consultation President Raúl Castro – who had been by the administration with other branches wearing civilian clothes – donned his of government and Congress, and the dismilitary uniform to send a signal of who regard for the unrelenting oppression of still remains in power. Crony capitalism political freedoms are a high cost to pay. of the left, if that is an appropriate name The leading Cuban-Americans in the for the Chinese model, might create huge legislature, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), opportunities for profits but, as we see Sen. Robert Menéndez (D-N.J.) and in the current disputes in Hong Kong, it Congresswoman Ileana Ros-Lehtinen can also weaken the struggle for political (R-Fla.) released statements with scathing freedoms and respect for human rights. criticisms. The decline in the price of oil was Rubio stated that the deal was “disgrace- threatening Cuba with a reduction of the ful for a president who claims to treasure subsidy it receives from its sugar-daddy human rights and human freedom. This – Venezuela. This deal was arranged bepresident is the single worst negotiator cause the Obama administration is strugwe have had in the White House in my gling to create some positive legacies. It lifetime.” aims to get credit for reversing a policy, The statement by Ros-Lehtinen complea stringent embargo, which on its own ments Rubio’s criticism: “This misguided failed to bring down communism. action by President [Barack] Obama will The Pope and the Canadian government, embolden the Castro regime to continue mentioned as playing important roles, its illicit activities, trample on fundamenseek different benefits. Pope Francis sees tal freedoms and disregard democratic opportunities for the Catholic bishops in principles.” Cuba who receive I spoke with sevThe release of three convicted periodic permiseral human rights from the Cuban spies and operatives, sions and democracy tyrants to expand the continued lack of their preaching and advocates and all were strongly criticonsultation by the Obama educational efforts. cal. Tony Guedes, Mainstream media administration with other also leader of the Cuban hails the role branches of government and of Canada, whose Liberal Union, and who lives in exile in Congress, and the disregard for government hosted Spain, is convinced facilitated the unrelenting oppression of and that the policies just some of the negopolitical freedoms are a high tiations. Canadians announced will help the Cuban commucost to pay. have less restricnist regime and will tions to travel and delay the transition conduct business to a real democracy. in Cuba. The U.S. Guedes believes that the announcements sanctions and embargo certainly cause are connected with Obama’s decision them headaches. The Canadian governto attend the upcoming Summit of the ment has a pro-Western stance but it is Americas in Panama. not immune from the power of economic Menéndez, the Democrat who is chairinterests and these might trump concerns man of the Senate Foreign Relations for political and human rights. Committee, had strong words about it as The economic crisis in Cuba resulting well. He said, “I’m extraordinarily disapfrom the woes of Russia and Venezuela pointed that we intend to violate our own would have been a wonderful opportuprinciples, laid down in the Inter-Amernity to demand true changes. Cuba is still ican Democratic Charter in 2001, on listed as a state sponsor of terrorism. It the Summit being a forum for the hemicould be delisted if it stopped meddling sphere’s democratically-elected leaders.” in other countries. Its major ally, VenezuAccording to Menéndez, the new actions ela, would likely have to release its own on Cuba “disavows the Charter and sends political prisoners. a global message about the low priority Not yet. Unfortunately, the potential of we place on democracy and respect for selling more Che Guevara T-shirts carried human and civil rights.” the day. Unlike the above bipartisan critics, the leader of the U.S. Chamber of ComDr. Alejandro A. (Alex) Chafuen is merce endorsed the new Cuban policy. president of the Atlas Economic Research Its CEO, Tom Donohue, stated that the Foundation, Washington, D.C. “U.S. business community welcomes today’s announcement, and has long supported many of the economic provisions the president touched on in his remarks.” Donohue said the Chamber and its members “stand ready to assist as the Cuban people work to unleash the power of free We want to hear from you. enterprise to improve their lives.” Free enterprise indeed improves lives. Send your letters to: Free trade also works wonders to bring letters@pressandjournal.com, or people and countries together. But trade 20 S. Union Street managed by communist oligarchs can Middletown, Pa. 17057 hardly be defined as free trade. An econoLetters may be edited for accuracy, my where all the key decisions are made clarity, and length. by men in uniform can’t be described as
YOUR VIEWS ARE WELCOME
FRANKCLEMENTE
Congress gave us a lump of coal
C
hristmas came early this year to some of Washington’s biggest special-interest groups when Congress passed legislation that was laden like a decorated Christmas tree with some of the finest-looking and most expensive ornaments lobbyists can buy. Known inside the beltway as the “tax extender” bill, it is more accurate to call it the Corporate Tax Breaks Renewal Act. It retroactively renewed for one year – 2014 – more than 50 tax breaks that expired at the end of 2013. The one-year cost is $42 billion, but over 10 years these tax breaks will cost more than $500 billion if they continue to be renewed as they have been year after year. Eight out of every 10 dollars of these tax breaks benefit corporations. Some of these tax cuts are stocking stuffers for the wealthy – like special tax breaks for owners of NASCAR racetracks or thoroughbred race horses – costing tens of millions. Others are giant ornaments on the scale of the huge White House Christmas tree. Take the $5.1 billion one-year cost of a loophole known as “active financing exception.” It enables Wall Street banks and other multinational corporations to avoid paying federal income taxes on financial income that can be claimed to have been generated offshore. Known as the “GE Loophole,” it helped General Electric pay nothing in federal income taxes from 2008 to 2012; instead, the company got $3.1 billion in tax refunds on $27.5 billion in profits. Another costly ornament is “bonus depreciation,” which allows companies to deduct the cost of new equipment well before it actually wears out. Numerous studies have shown As the New it “is largely ineffective as a Year begins, policy tool for economic stimu- most Americans lus,’’ according to the Congreswould be sional Research shocked to Service. Many members learn that the of Congress next Congress would not vote will be for these tax preparing breaks if they had to consider another them one at a time. But the bill Christmas tree bill, also contained a few attractive although this and less costly one might be decorations, a lot worse. making it a bit easier on the eyes. They include a tax break for school teachers who pay for supplies out of their own pockets, a deduction for commuters who use public transportation and a tax break for “underwater” homeowners who due to the Great Recession lose money when they sell their homes at a lower price than they paid for it. As the New Year begins, most Americans would be shocked to learn that the next Congress will be preparing another Christmas tree bill, although this one might be a lot worse. Corporations will not only demand that Congress renew these tax breaks next year, but also will push to make some of them permanent. That nearly happened this past November, when House and Senate leaders proposed a $400 billion tax extender bill. They backed down once President Barack Obama threatened a veto. These giveaways will all be folded into the bigger push for “corporate tax reform,” which for corporations means lowering tax rates by nearly 30 percent at a cost of $1.3 trillion over 10 years. Tax fairness advocates believe we need to go in the opposite direction – corporate tax reform should close loopholes and raise a significant amount of new revenue so that big companies contribute their fair share. Recent polling shows the American public agrees. Congress needs to make a New Year’s resolution: Future tax legislation should not be like a Christmas tree with glitzy ornaments that are expensive gifts for corporations and their lobbyists. That’s not what Americans want – and it’s not what they should get. Frank Clemente is executive director of Americans for Tax Fairness, Washington, D.C.
THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - B-5
www.pressandjournal.com; e-mail - info@pressandjournal.com
JOHNPAYNE
The Capitol REPORT
State to replace 558 bridges in new partnership A new public-private partnership will allow the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) to replace 558 bridges across the state, including one bridge located within the 106th District. Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners will team up with PennDOT for the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, which will begin in summer 2015 and complete the replacements within 36 months. The Commonwealth will retain ownership of the bridges, but the team will be responsible for maintaining each bridge for 25 years after its replacement. Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners will manage the bridges’ design, construction and maintenance under the contract. The team is responsible for financing the effort and PennDOT will make performance-based payments based on the contractor’s adherence to the contract terms. PennDOT will be responsible for routine maintenance, such as snow plowing and debris removal. One of the bridges scheduled for
replacement is the Laudermilch Bridge over the Norfolk Southern railroad, which connects East Derry Road with HersheyPark Drive in Derry Twp. To see all the bridges included in the initiative or to learn more about the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, visit www.P3forPA.pa.gov.
My 2015 events I host several annual events for veterans, seniors and other residents of the 106th District as a way to stay connected with the community and provide regular access to valuable state-related information. Several of my 2015 events have been scheduled, and I encourage interested residents to mark your calendars in advance for them: • Handgun Safety Course, 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, March 28 at Middletown Anglers & Hunters, 1350 Schoolhouse Road, Middletown. • Health Expo, 9 a.m. to
noon on Friday, April 24 at the Hummelstown Chemical Fire Company No. 1, 249 E. Main St., Hummelstown. • Concealed Carry Class, 9 to 11 a.m. on Saturday, Sept. 12 at the Hummelstown Chemical Fire Company No. 1, 249 E. Main St., Hummelstown.
• Veterans Breakfast, 8 to 10 a.m. on Friday, Nov. 6 at the Spring Garden Reception and Conference Center, 903 Spring Garden Dr., Lower Swatara Twp. More details about each of the events will be available in the near future. Information about upcoming events can also be found on my website, RepPayne.com. John D. Payne is a Republican member of the Pennsylvania House of Representatives. He represents the 106th District, which includes Middletown, Royalton, Lower Swatara Twp., Hummelstown, Derry Twp., Conewago Twp. and part of Swatara Twp.
EDDIECOSTIK
Savoring the candy and memories from Derricks G
eorge Bernard Shaw once quipped, “Youth is wasted on the young.” I was born and raised in “Our Town” – Middletown. For the most part, I lived and worked here my entire life. It’s not what I expected. It just happened. Most things in life do. At 62, I have a lifetime of memories growing up in Middletown, and I wouldn’t trade them for the world. For all of us, as we get older, life takes on a greater sense of urgency, an urgency akin to plugging the leaks in a sinking boat. We get so busy trying to plug the leaks with new memories and adventures that we forget about the old ones. We forget what the boat looked like when it was new. As I share my early memories of Middletown, some of you won’t have an inkling of what I’m talking about. For others, they’ll be vague recollections. For the rest, perhaps they’ll evoke some happy, forgotten time in your life. I attended parochial school – St. Mary’s, Seven Sorrows of the B.V.M. (Blessed Virgin Mary). For me, there was always a certain amount of communal disconnect not attending public school. Some public school kids called us “fish.” Back in the day, a tenet of the Catholic Church was to abstain from eating meat on Friday. Fish was fine. Farm animals a no-no. To this day, I still don’t know why. The rectory of the priest, Father Cavanaugh, sat on the corner of Race and Conewago streets, where the new church now stands. One day, as a second-grader, after lunch
at home – yes, we were actually allowed to go home for lunch back then – I saw Father Cavanaugh’s dog eating a hunk of garlic bologna. It was Friday. Catholic priest. Catholic dog. No meat on Friday. I snatched the hunk of meat from the jaws of Father Cavanaugh’s mutt, who promptly bit me in my cheek. There was a buffer between the public elementary school, the George W. Feaser Building and St. Mary’s Elementary School – Derricks. It was where we Catholic kids and public school kids comingled. It was a soda fountain and candy store that stood across from Feaser. Elmer Derrick ran the shop with his wife. They both worked there. Elmer mostly. He always wore a full-body white apron. He had a storefront window, but I don’t know if he ever displayed anything that I can remember. There were two or three booths but I never saw them used much. Most everyone sat on the stools with their little legs dangling off the stoop of the floor. I usually had a nickel Hires Root Beer. Dispensed from an actual Hires barrel. He served it in a frozen mug. Half of it was suds. Half root beer. We used to ask Elmer for a “nickel mug of suds.” If I didn’t get a root beer, I’d get a nickel Pepsi that he made himself with real fountain Pepsi syrup, carbonated water and ice. Loved his ice. He had the best twin Popsicles, too. Orange, root beer, raspberry and grape. They don’t make them like that today. If I didn’t get either of those three, I’d stand in front of his glass encased display of penny candy.
Squirrel Nut Zippers. Atomic FireBalls. Jaw Busters. Licorice Babies. Brown, white and pink coconut squares. Sugared jellied fruit slices. Mary Janes. Pixy Sticks. Candy necklaces. Candy dots. Red Hot Dollars. Mexican Hats. I can’t remember them all. But for as much as we needled Mr. Derrick’s speech impediment, he certainly was patient and kind with us as we tried torturously to pick our lousy 5 cents worth of penny candies. Then he carefully put them in a small brown paper bag. I look back on my memories of Mr. Derrick. Here was a man who ran a little shop, eked out a modest living, lived modestly in a modest home right next to his shop. I used to deliver his newspaper. He always tipped me. He was a nice man. So was his wife. Today, Derricks has been remodeled into a cozy little home. Cycle of life. I get teary-eyed as I write this. Memories do that to me. They sadden me. Don’t know why. Wish I did. But I don’t. Now that I’ve reached 62, I regret that I didn’t savor every moment that life offered me. Probably true for all of us. I’ve always remembered one bit of advice Mr. Derrick gave me on one of the last evenings I went to his house to collect for his newspaper. I was 13. He patted my head and said, “Eddie, don’t get old. There’s no future in it.” He chuckled as only Mr. Derrick could. And you know what? He was right. Eddie Costik, a Middletown native, writes from Hummelstown.
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SOUNDOFF Submissions to Sound Off appear as written. The Press And Journal edits only for clarity and punctuation. Additional comments of some Sound Off comments are available at www.pressandjournal.com.
• “Please check out the movie
‘Bad Parents’ on Netflix. You will see so many Middletown parents portrayed it will literally make you laugh out loud.”
• “ ‘I own a house on Ann Street in
Middletown. One of the neighboring houses is owned by a slumlord that rents to anyone who moves into the building. The tenants often have no pride and throw garbage out the back door, leaving it to blow into the yards. Sofas and other furniture are dumped outside in the alleyway, and it sits for weeks at a time. A green couch is there now. These same people often will stand outside in big groups, smoke cigarettes, drink beer and sometimes drug use. It’s been reported to the landlord, to the police and to the Middletown powers-that-be, and yet this landlord goes on. Add to it: There are two houses within a half-mile that were burnt from fire and yet not destroyed or repaired. What is Middletown’s problem? Why can’t it be more prideful?’ To the person who posted this: You have a codes enforcement office – use it! Landlords are required to report all those who move in, and when they move out. If you feel your ‘slumlord’ is not, report them so something can be done about it. If the proper agency doesn’t know, then nothing will get done.’’
WHEN YOU CAN'T BREATHE, NOTHING Dear Editor ... ELSE MATTERS
You may e-mail your Sound Off any time day or night, at our Web site: www.pressandjournal.com.
Sound Off is published as a venue for our readers to express their personal opinions and does not express the opinions of the Press And Journal. Sound Off is published in the Viewpoints sections but is not intended to be read as news reports. Sound Offs are published at the discretion of the Press And Journal.
• “Hey, Mr. HAAC Student, sales
tax is good for pay because it taxes everyone. Let’s work on getting rid of property tax and school tax like two administrations ago we were promised!”
• “Once again I am reading that
people who don’t go to the council meetings are once again sounding off about what they think, but don’t
know, is truly wrong with the Borough of Middletown. Sounding off about hearsay is just plain dumb. If you truly want to make a difference in your town, get properly informed before you open your mouth and make a fool of yourself.”
• “Mayor Curry, I would like to
know if our police officers carry Naloxone and are trained to use it?”
Wishing all the best to our loyal friends and customers in the coming year. HEATING • PLUMBING • AIR CONDITIONING WELL PUMPS • WATER TREATMENT Residential Service • 24 Hour Service Our Family Serving Your Family
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B-6 - THE PRESS AND JOURNAL
Wesley United Methodist Church
Church Calvary Orthodox Presbyterian Church
Middletown
“Follow Jesus, Change the World.” is more than a mission slogan for us at Wesley. We are committed to finding ways to embody this purpose through “hands-on” ministry designed to care for those in need. We invite others to come and discover how they can be a part of this spiritual adventure to be all God has created us to be. We worship on Sunday morning at 8:30 and 10:30 a.m. Our early service is informal and features a Praise Band. Our later service follows a traditional pattern and includes all types of music. We encourage people to “come as you are.” The First Sunday of the New Year is also Epiphany Sunday, January 4. This is a very special time for the people called United Methodists. We will share Holy Communion, pray the Covenant Prayer and celebrate the Visit of the Magi to Jesus. All are welcome to come and join us in this experience of spiritual renewal. Pastor Dawes’ sermon is “Changing Directions” on Matthew 2:1-12.
Our Threads of Hope Clothing Bank is open on the Fourth Friday of every month from 4 to 6 p.m. Free clothes in all sizes from infant to adult are available. Wesley hosts will be present to help persons find what they need on January 23. During January, we will be having “Epiphany Talks” during which we explore future possibilities for the ministry and mission of Wesley. Times and places will be announced each week! American Red Cross is holding a Middletown Community Blood Drive on January 15 from 1 to 6 p.m. at Wesley. There is no better way to start the New Year than by donating blood. Call 1-800-733-2776 to schedule an appointment. Wesley is located at the corner of Ann and Catherine streets in Middletown. Contact us by e-mail at wesleyumc@ comcast.net. Call us at 944-6242. “Follow Jesus, Change the World. Seek. Serve. Send.”
First Church of God Middletown
First Church of God, 245 W. High Street, Middletown, invites you to join us for worship at either 8 a.m. or 10:30 a.m. this Sunday. Childcare is provided. Sunday mornings at 9:15 a.m. classes are available for Youth (grades 6-12), FROG Pond (1st through 5th grade), Kindergarten (4-5 year olds), Nursery (infants through age 3), and Adult classes that offer a variety of Bible studies and electives. Classes for special education are also available. Wednesday Night Live: There will be no Wednesday Night Live on Dec. 31, but will resume on Jan. 7. Four new classes and some old favorites continue. Men’s Book Study “The Way of the Wild Heart.” This book calls itself a “Map” of the masculine journey; Women’s group “He Loves Me!” By Wayne Jacobson; Yoga - you bring your mat and together we stretch; Cooking Together - Busy lives and working families struggle with food: How to eat healthy, on a budget, in a timely manner, etc. Come prep meals together, so minimal work is required throughout the week. Shopping lists
Wednesday, December 31, 2014
and menus will be provided at the first class. Bring the groceries, and we will prep four meals together. Then you will take them home, freeze or refrigerate them, and just throw the meal in the oven or crock-pot on the day you wish to eat it. This class is perfect for busy, working families, who are still striving for home cooked meals; Craft Class - projects include decorating tote bags and wood trays and bring ideas for crafts you would like to make; Discipleship Class is designed to help you become a believer that bears much fruit; Ladies Bible Study led by Paulette Fusselman. “Women of the Old Testament.” Thursdays: 6 p.m., Pasta and Prayer Young Adult Bible Study. Latino Congregation: Betesda Casa de Misericordia, CGGC, 245 W. High St., Middletown. Estudios Biblicos Domingos, noon; Servicio Evangelistico: Domingos 1:30 p.m.; Contactos: Ricardo and Jeanette Perez (717) 333-2184. For additional information call the church office at 944-9608 or e-mail us at mdtcog@comcast.net.
Middletown Are you perplexed or perhaps dis- free grace. Our services are at 10:15 tressed by the rapid change in moral a.m. and 6 p.m. We are located at the standards of the present day? We at corner of Spruce and Emaus streets Calvary Church are committed to here in Middletown. upholding the unchanging standards We have a fellowship meal following of the Word of God, which is revealed the 10:15 a.m. morning service on the in the Bible. We are also committed to first Sunday of every month, free to proclaiming the hope of salvation from all who come. We also have Sunday the sin that results from the world’s school classes for all ages at 9 a.m., changing moral standards, the hope and a Bible Study each Wednesday at found in faith in Jesus Christ alone. 7 p.m. We are now studying the Gospel We invite you to join us each Sunday of Luke. Feel free to contact us with to hear more about this message of questions at 944-5835.
Presbyterian Congregation of Middletown Middletown
The Presbyterian Congregation is located at the corner of Union and Water streets in downtown Middletown. We are a body of Christian people who reach out to others by sharing God’s Word, love, and fellowship. Warm greetings to one and all as we seek to grow closer to our Lord Jesus Christ. The church office will be closed on Wednesday, December 31 and Thursday, January 1. Happy New Year to all! Please plan to join us for worship – visitors are especially welcome. On January 4, Church school begins at 9:15 a.m. with classes for all ages. Children meet in the Morrow Room; Teens meet in the Teen Room; Adult Forum meets in Fellowship Hall. Adult Forum will be assembling welcome kits to benefit clients of the Bethesda Mission. Please plan to join us. Be sure to join us Sunday, January
4 at 10:30 a.m. for Worship when we will celebrate the Lord’s Supper. Join us as we begin the New Year seeking God’s guidance in Jesus Christ. Nursery is available during this service, and there are hearing devices for anyone wanting to use one, as well as Bible Listening bags for children to utilize during the service. Grace Triumphant is a Bible Study that meets each Sunday from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. in Fellowship Hall. Those who attend bring food to share from 5:30 to 6 p.m. The study follows at 6 p.m. Please direct your questions to Paula and Larry at 717-944-3131. The Parish Nurse is available by calling the church office at 717-9444322. For further information, see our Website www.pcmdt.org, visit our Facebook page www.facebook. com/Presbyterian Congregation, or call the office.
Evangelical United Methodist Church Middletown
Visitors to our worship service are always welcome. May this time of praising God and learning of his plan for our lives be helpful to one and all. Evangelical Church meets on the corner of Spruce and Water streets at 157 E. Water St., Middletown, south of Main St., behind the Turkey Hill convenience store. The ministries scheduled at Evangelical United Methodist Church from January 4-6 are always open to everyone. Sun., Jan. 4: 9 a.m., Sunday Church
school, with classes for all ages. Adult Sunday school devotional leader for January: Bill Harris; 10:15 a.m., Worship service, Holy Communion. The worship center is handicap and wheelchair accessible. Nursery helpers: Gloria Clouser, Vickie Hubbard. The altar flowers are given in memory of Denise Frisbie presented by her family; 4 p.m., Junior Youth Fellowship. Mon., Jan. 5: 1:30 p.m., Communion at Frey Village. Tues., Jan 6: 2 p.m., Prayer Shawl Ministry; 7 p.m., Board of Trustees meeting.
New Beginnings Church Middletown
We are an independent body of believers offering God’s invitation for a new beginning to all who seek it. We exist to meet the spiritual, emotional and physical needs of a people through faith in Jesus Christ. New Beginnings Church invites you to worship with us each Sunday at 10:30 a.m. Nursery and children’s church is provided. Our congregation meets at Riverside Chapel, 630 S. Union St., next to Rescue Fire Company. Sunday school for all ages is at 9 a.m. We are handicap accessible via ramp at back door; Youth Fellowship is from 5 to 7 p.m. For additional church information call 944-9595. Wednesdays: Craft Group, 6 p.m.; Choir rehearsals, Wednesdays at 6:30 p.m. Thursdays: Intercessory Prayer Group at 6:15 p.m., followed by Pastor Britt’s Bible Study at 7 p.m. Everyone is welcome to participate in these important areas of our church life. The Sociable Seniors group meets the 1st Monday of every month from 1 to 3 p.m.; Blanket making is the 2nd Thursday of every month at 9 a.m. Our Angel Tree is in the hallway for hats, gloves and scarves for children in the Middletown Area. We are also collecting donations of sweat pants in sizes 6-8 for Middletown Elementary school students in need. Altar flowers were presented to the Glory of God and in memory of Jane and Harry Judy by the Richards family.
The Nedra Smith memorial fund will be continued for contributions specifically for purchasing music for the choir and other music needs. Contributions can be made to New Beginnings Church and marked for the Nedra Smith fund. We will have a group of people to clean the Middletown Food Bank on Sat., Jan. 10. Sign-up sheets are in the church to volunteer to help with this project. A new fellowship group for working persons is being formed. Everyone is welcome, you don’t need to attend New Beginnings Church to be part of the group. Please sign up in back of the church or call Pastor Britt at 982-5067 for additional information. Children’s Church leaders for December: Michelle, Katie and Jenny Strohecker. Acolyte for December: Ean Benner. Ushers for Dec.: Bonny and Joel Guzzo, Gaye and Irv Turpin. Our Sunday worship service is broadcast on the MAHS radio station, WMSS 91.1 FM at 3 p.m. every Sunday afternoon. Listen on the radio or the Internet at www.pennlive.com/ wmss/audio. Check us out on our Website at www.newbeginningschurchmiddletown.weebly.com. Pastor Britt’s parting words each Sunday: “Nothing in this world is more important than the love of Jesus Christ!” We invite you to come and experience this love.
Ebenezer United Methodist Church Middletown
Ebenezer United Methodist Church, 890 Ebenezer Road, Middletown invites everyone to join us for worship on Sunday mornings lead by Pastor Suanne Whorl. Our services are relaxed and casual. Pastor Su teaches and inspires us through her message and children’s time. She brings a modern touch to the contemporary service by using video, pictures and props. December – January 4 the sermon series will be “Changed by a Child.” We offer a traditional service at 8:45 a.m. and a contemporary service with a band (electric guitars) at 10:45 a.m. At 10 a.m., between services, there are a variety of Christian education classes for all ages. Nursery is available throughout the morning.
We have several things happening at Ebenezer and all are welcome. Our youth group (kids in grades 6-12) meet Sundays at 6 p.m. A young adult group meets twice monthly, the 2nd and 4th Mondays at 7 p.m. in the church office. We also offer a variety of adult groups. Please call for details. We are always open to new group ideas. There is a prayer time, “Partners in Prayer,” that meet the first Monday of each month at 7 p.m. We gather together to pray for each other and the world around us. Through scripture, song, and meditation we experience the joy of God’s presence. Have a favorite board game? “Game Night” is every third Monday at 6:30 p.m. Any questions please call us at 939-0766.
Have a Happy New Year CHURCH DIRECTORY
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Ebenezer United Methodist Church "Love God, Love People, Make Disciples"
890 Ebenezer Road, Middletown (Corner of 441 & Ebenezer Road)
Phone 939-0766 Sunday Worship: Traditional - 8:45 am • Contemporary - 10:45 am Christian Education (All Ages) - 10 am Christian Child Care - 985-1650
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630 South Union St., Middletown • 388-1641 Sunday School - 9 am • Worship Service - 10:30 am
Pastor BRITT STROHECKER Everyone Is Welcome!
Open Door Bible Church 200 Nissley Drive, Middletown, PA (Located In Lower Swatara Township) Pastor JONATHAN E. TILLMAN
SUANNE WHORL, Pastor
Phone 939-5180 Sunday School - 9:30 am • Morning Worship - 10:40 am Evening Worship - 6:30 pm Wednesday Prayer Service - 7 pm
Evangelical United Methodist Church
Presbyterian Congregation of Middletown
REV. ROBERT GRAYBILL, Pastor
Church School - 9:15 am • Worship - 10:30 am
www.ebenezerumc.net
Spruce & Water Sts., Middletown Sunday School (all ages) - 9 am Sunday Worship - 10:15 am
First Church of God
235 W. High St., Middletown
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New Beginnings Church at the Riverside Chapel
Union & Water Sts., Middletown • 944-4322
St. Peter’s Evangelical Lutheran Church Spring & Union Sts., Middletown Church Office 944-4651
REV. DR. J. RICHARD ECKERT, Pastor
REV. KIMBERLY SHIFLER, Pastor
Saturday Worship With Spoken Liturgy - 5 pm Sunday Worship - 8:15 am & 11 am Sunday Church School - 9:45 am Worship Broadcast on 91.1 fm - 11 am
Geyers United Methodist Church
Seven Sorrows BVM Parish
944-9608 Sunday School - 9:15 am • Worship Services - 8 & 10:30 am Classes for Special Education (Sunday Morning & Thursday Evening)
1605 South Geyers Church Road, Middletown 944-6426
PASTOR DON WALTERS
Worship - 9 am - Followed by Coffee Fellowship Sunday School - 10:30 am
Invite Your Neighbors List Your Church Service Here Contact the Press and Journal 20 S. Union Street, Middletown E-mail: info@pressandjournal.com Web site: www.pressandjournal.com Call 944-4628 for more information.
280 North Race St., Middletown Parish Office 944-3133
REV. TED KEATING, JR., Pastor Deacon Thomas A. Lang
Saturday Evening Vigil - 5:30 pm Sunday Masses - 8:00 am, 10:30 am & 6:00 pm
Wesley United Methodist Church 64 Ann Street, Middletown REV. JIM DAWES, Pastor
Phone 944-6242 Sunday Worship - 8:30 &10:30 am • Come as you are! Follow Jesus, Change the World.
THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014 - B-7
www.pressandjournal.com; e-mail - info@pressandjournal.com
Middletown Police News
Press And Journal NOW ON SALE IN THE HUMMELSTOWN AREA
Following is a compilation of reports from the Middletown Police Department. Please be aware all those charged/cited are presumed innocent unless proven otherwise in a court of law. Criminal mischief, disorderly conduct charges Bernice Kelly, 23, of the 300 block of S. 14th St., Harrisburg, was charged with criminal mischief and disorderly conduct after she allegedly smashed windows and damaged the body of a parked car with a piece of concrete at 2:13 p.m. on Dec. 21 in the 200 block of S. Union St., police report. Damage was estimated by police to be more than $3,000. Kelly was arraigned before District Judge David Judy and held in Dauphin County Prison on $50,000 bond, according to court records. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 4 before Judy. Royalton police assisted in the incident.
residence in the first block of Caravan Court at 6:52 p.m. on Dec. 20, police report. Although several suspects have been identified, police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them at 717-558-6900. UPS package stolen A package containing more than $600 in merchandise was reported stolen from a residence in the Village of Pineford on Dec. 20, police report. The package, which contained food and cooking ingredients, was taken after it was delivered to an apartment in the Hemlock Hall building, police said. Investigators confirmed that delivery had been made by the delivery service. That information was also confirmed by witnesses. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them
Eggs thrown at residence A number of eggs were thrown at a
at 717-558-6900. Theft charges Robert Douglas, 46, of the 100 block of Cedar Manor, Elizabethtown, was charged with three counts of theft after he allegedly took a Samsung cell phone while at a Middletown business on Dec. 20, police report. Investigators tracked the phone and subsequently recovered it and confronted Douglas, police said. Douglas told police he had taken the phone by mistake, police said. The phone is valued at $400. A preliminary hearing is set for Feb. 4 before District Judge David Judy. Car radio stolen A radio was taken from a 1990 Mercedes-Benz 190 parked outside an apartment in the first block of N. Union St. on Dec. 20, police report.
Value of the radio was not reported. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them at 717-558-6900. Wooden Christmas tree stolen A wooden Christmas tree and an electric extension cord were stolen from the porch of a residence in the 100 block of Wilson St. on Dec. 19, police report. Loss was estimated at $20. Police are asking anyone with information about the incident to call them at 717-558-6900.
Our weekly newspaper is on sale at the following locations: Hummelstown 7-Eleven 32 N. Hanover Street Soda Jerk 403 E. Main St. Turkey Hill #265 1025 Middletown Road Weis Market #67 1130 E. Mae Street
Press and Journal
Bus stop detail A security detail was stationed at a school bus stop at the intersection of North Pine and East Emaus streets during the early morning hours of Dec. 22.
20 S. Union St., Middletown, PA 17057 Phone: 717-944-4628 E-mail: info@pressandjournal.com Web site: www.pressandjournal.com
2015
January Community Calendar
SUNDAY
2
MONDAY
1
5
6
-M-town Kiwanis - 6 pm -M-town Am. Legion Board - 7 pm -LD School Board - 7 pm -Lower Swatara Fire Co. Aux. - 7:30 pm
13
MARTIN LUTHER KING JR. DAY -Red Rose Rebekah Lodge #586 - 1 pm -Alzheimer’s Support Group, @ Frey Village - 6:30-7:30 pm -M-town Fire Dept. Consolidation - 7 pm -LD School Board - 7 pm
20
-BINGO, Londonderry Fire Co. Doors Open - Noon; First Game - 2 pm
12
18
-Block Shoot, M-town Anglers & Hunters - 1 pm
19
26
-M-town Kiwanis - 6 pm -M-town Am. Legion Board - 7 pm -Lower Swatara Twp. Municipal Auth.- 7 pm -MASD Board - 7 pm -Dauphin County Conservation District Ag Committees - 2 pm
Live Music on the deck Daily Food & Drink Specials Open Golf Tourneys Jr. Golf Clinic Stars & Stripes Salute
Committed To Excellence In Meeting The Educational and Cultural Needs Of Area Residents, Businesses And Industries.
An Equal Opportunity University
-M-town Library Board - 6 pm
-Lower Swatara Fire Co. - 7:30 pm -Red Rose Rebekah Lodge #586 - 1 pm -Londonderry Twp. Supervisors - 7 pm Re-Organization/Regular Meeting
11
2601 Sunset Drive Middletown • 944.5415 www.sunsetbandg.com www.sunsetgc.com www.londonderrypa.org
THURSDAY
FRIDAY
SATURDAY
1
NEW YEAR’S DAY
2
3
8
-Lower Swatara Lions - 6:30 pm -Walk-In Immunization Clinic at Woodlayne Court, 149 Wilson St., M-town - 9:30-11:30 am -M-town Women’s Club - 6:30 pm -Dauphin County Conservation District Mtg. - 11 am -Londonderry Twp. Parks/Rec. - 7 pm -MASD Athletics/Activities Committee - 6 pm Operations Committee - 6:30 pm
9
10
-MABA Signups - 9 am-Noon @Royalton Boro Hall Youth/Girls/Teener For more info call 940-8320
17
-MABA Signups - 9 am-Noon @Royalton Boro Hall Youth/Girls/Teener For more info call 940-8320
24
-BINGO BLAST, at Hummelstown Fire Co. Doors Open - 5 pm; Games - 7 pm
First Quarter January 26
-Block Shoot - 1 pm Sponsored by Sportsmen Limited Held @ M-town Anglers & Hunters
25
3
January Is -Get Organized Month -National Mentoring Month -Personal Self-Defense Awareness Month -National Radon Action Month -National Skating Month -National Volunteer Blood Donor Month -Poverty in America Awareness Month -Shape Up US Month
New Moon January 20
-Sons of Am. Legion - 5 pm
4
WEDNESDAY
1
Full Moon January 4 Last Quarter January 13
TUESDAY
777 West Harrisburg Pike Middletown, PA 17057 (717) 948-6000
-Triune Odd Fellow #307 - 7:30 pm -Highspire Planning Commission - 7 pm -Royalton Boro Council - 7 pm -Londonderry Twp. Elected Auditors - 5 pm
-BINGO, Lower Swatara Fire Hall - 7 pm -M-town Youth Club Board Mtg. - 7 pm; General Mtg - 8 pm -M-town Am. Legion Aux. - 7 pm -Lower Swatara Twp. Commissioners - 7 pm -Dauphin County Prison Board - 1:30 pm Board of Commissioners - 10 am
-M-town Alumni Assoc. - 8 pm -ABWA, Olmsted Chapter - 6 pm -Triune Odd Fellow #307 - 7:30 pm -Highspire Boro Council - 7 pm -MASD Academic Affairs Committee - 6:30 pm Personnel Committee - 6 pm
27
7
-BINGO, Lower Swatara Fire Hall - 7 pm -Wesley Gold - 11 am-1 pm -M-town Elks Lodge at Am. Legion - 7 pm -Dauphin County Board of Commissioners - 10 am
14
-Triune Odd Fellow #307 - 7:30 pm -Highspire Boro Council - 7 pm -Londonderry Twp. Planning Commission - 7 pm -Royalton Boro Planning Commission - 7 pm -MASD Finance Committee - 6 pm
21
-Triune Odd Fellow #307 - 7:30 pm -Londonderry Lionettes - 7 pm
28
-BINGO, Lower Swatara Fire Hall - 7 pm
15
-Londonderry Senior Citizens - 1 pm
16
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Lower Swatara Lions - 6:30 pm -Lower Swatara Twp. Planning Commission 7 pm
23
-Lower Swatara Twp. Commissioners - 7 pm -Dauphin County Board of Commissioners - 10 am -Londonderry Twp. Supervisors - 7 pm
-BINGO, Lower Swatara Fire Hall - 7 pm -Dauphin County Board of Commissioners - 10 am
STEELTON
Established 1880 Experience Steelton . . .
The “Little Town With a Big Heart” Thomas Acri, Mayor Borough Council: Sara Gellatly, Jeffery Wright, President Borough Manager Maria Marcinko, Vice President Rosemarie Paul, Asst. Treasurer Michael Albert Michele Powell, Utility Billing Clerk Dr. MaryJo Szada Marianne Reider, Tax Collector Denae House John Heffelfinger, Captain-Fire Police Stephen Shaver Steve Brubacher Sr., Fire Chief Brian Proctor
Welcome To Lower Swatara Township! “A Progressive First-Class Township”
Board of Commissioners Thomas Mehaffie, President Jon Wilt, Vice President Laddie Springer, Secretary Michael Davies (717) 939-9377 Dominic DiFrancesco II
-MABA Signups - 9 am-Noon @Royalton Boro Hall Youth/Girls/Teener For more info call 940-8320
29
30
r u o Y e Plac Here Ad fo Discount
r Non-p fit organizatiro ons
Get The Word Out About Your Club or Organization’s Events and Activities For more info: 944-4628 or e-mail:
info@pressandjournal.com
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-Dauphin County Ag Land Preservation Board - 9 am
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31
Embracing a Rich History and Working Toward a Bright Future We serve with passion and strive for excellence JEFF HASTE, Chairman MIKE PRIES, Vice Chairman GEORGE HARTWICK III, Secretary
Middletown Area School District “Helping To Shape The Future By Meeting The Challenges Of Today” The Middletown Area School District does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national origin, sex, age, or disability in its programs, or employment practices as required by Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Title IX of the Educational Amendments of 1972, Section 504 of the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 and the Americans with Disabilities Act. 55 West Water Street, Middletown, PA 17057 (717) 948-3300
B-8 - THE PRESS AND JOURNAL, Wednesday, December 31, 2014
www.pressandjournal.com; e-mail - info@pressandjournal.com
ut&about Community Blood Drive at Mid Penn Bank
A
nd you thought that all you get from donating blood is the satisfaction of doing a good deed – plus some yummy cookies and orange
juice. How about a T-shirt and a free ticket to the Pennsylvania Auto Show, which starts on Jan. 29? You got both if you were one of the folks who rolled up their sleeve during the Central Pennsylvania Blood Bank’s community blood drive on Saturday, Dec. 27 at Mid Penn Bank in Lower Swatara Twp. At least 15 people donated blood during the threehour event, which was held in the Bloodmobile parked at the Mid Penn Bank branch at 1100 Spring Garden Dr. We didn’t see a single person faint. To learn more about the blood bank and upcoming blood drives, call 1-800-771-0059 or go to www. cpbb.org.
Press and Journal Photos by Dan Miller
Press And Journal
A SPACE
C-1
WEDNESDAY, DECEMBER 31, 2014
OF HER OWN
Press And Journal Photos by Dan Miller
After waiting in vain to get a reserved parking space on a street in front of her Middletown home, Kathy Michels said she poured gravel on a piece of her paradise – her yard – and put up a parking spot.
Does Middletown need to revamp the way it awards reserved parking spaces for the disabled? Ask Kathy Michels, and she’ll tell you her story. It seemed from Miller’s comments that the borough didn’t have a good handle on how many reserved parking spaces there are, where they are, for whom they are reserved, and if all these residents still live in town. A week later, the borough had tallied the number of reserved parking spaces, Courogen said in a Dec. 10 iddletown officials say changes are needed in how the borough considers and approves ree-mail to the Press And Journal. served on-street parking spaces for residents with a disability. Kathy Michels couldn’t agree “As part of his review of the handicap parking policy and procedures, [Miller] has developed an up-tomore. date inventory of handicap spaces and sent notices to all of them regarding the need to renew the spacMichels has been trying to get a reserved on-street parking space in front of her house at Emaus Street es,” the e-mail said. “To date that process has resulted in about half of them submitting applications for and Peony Avenue since May 2012. Borough officials dispute the date that she applied for a space – her renewal. It also resulted in determinations that a handful of spaces will be removed due to people who application was made in 2013, they insist – but say they are in the midst of revamping the process and moved or are deceased.” determining how many exist throughout town. Michels said she didn’t know that the borough was considering revamping its policy until recently. FrusMichels has Lupus, a disease that causes allergic reactions that Michels said can kill her in 30 minutes if trated after hearing nothing from the borough for months, she reached out to Mayor James H. Curry III, she doesn’t get to a hospital. who suggested she go to the public safety committee meeting. She told the committee about her attempt She and her husband Mike bought their home on Emaus Street in 2011 because it was on a snow to apply for a space, her failure to get one and her frustration. “I had no due emergency route. They figured that even in bad weather they could get out process,’’ she insisted. “For some people [a reserved space] is a big help. quickly if Michels suffered an attack. For me, it’s a life or death situation.’’ In May 2012, Michels first reached out to the borough about getting a Courogen, who attended the meeting, noted the borough’s position – Mireserved space in front of her house. chels was denied a space because she had a gravel patch in her back yard She often parked on the grass in her small back yard because the space on for parking. Michels countered that the only reason the gravel patch was the street in front of their house often wasn’t available. But she also wanted there was because the borough had told her to park on the grass. to use her yard for other things, like planting trees. Miller said Michels’ 2013 application is still pending. Michels forwarded to the Press And Journal an e-mail she sent to the He gave the committee a revised policy concerning reserved on-street borough in June 2012, asking about the status of a request for a reserved parking spaces for persons with a disability. on-street space that she had mailed to the borough in May. In the nearly two weeks since the committee meeting, Michels has heard Then-acting Borough Manager and Communications Director Chris nothing more regarding her application, she said. Now she worries that Courogen e-mailed a response on June 4, 2012 telling her that he had sent if council adopts a new policy, her application will be invalid because it her an application form and a copy of the borough guidelines regarding was filed under the old policy. reserved on-street parking spaces for persons with a disability. She said she can’t rely on the space in front of her house being open. Courogen, now solely the borough communications director, told the Another vehicle is in the space 75 to 90 percent of the time when her Press And Journal that the borough has no record of Michels ever applycar isn’t parked there, she said. ing in 2012. Michels said she did apply for a space in 2012, but did not Michels has a tag from the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation “document” the process. on her rear-view mirror that identifies her as a licensed driver with a She said she heard nothing more from the borough, so she re-applied in disability. Her tag is good until 2017, when it is up for renewal. September 2013. Courogen said the 2013 application is the only one the borough has on file. Issuing the license plates and tags is PennDOT’s only role, said Michels said that following her 2013 application, she got “several” spokeswoman Jan McKnight. Whether someone gets a reserved space phone calls from borough officials telling her that her request had been is a local responsibility. Under state law, municipalities do not have denied because she could park on the grass in her back yard. to reserve on-street parking for persons with a disability, McKnight She cannot recall today who in borough government told her that, or added. when. But they should, said Theo Braddy, executive director of the Center But Courogen insists no one with the borough would have told Mifor Independent Living of Central Pennsylvania, an advocacy group chels to park on her yard. for persons with disabilities. “The borough’s policy for disabled spaces states: ‘The applicant must Under the Americans with Disabilities Act, businesses cannot just A sign on a Middletown street marks a reserved parking space for provide evidence that the residence at which the applicant resides, say it costs too much to provide an accommodation for someone with a resident with a disability. or will reside, does not, or cannot, have accessible off-street parking a disability – the business has to prove it, Braddy said. But municifacilities,’ ” Courogen said in an e-mailed statement. “I can tell you palities aren’t held to the same standard. unequivocally that in my time here, the borough has never considered a person’s lawn as an ‘off-street Braddy said he wasn’t shocked, or even surprised, by Michels’ story in Middletown. Local government parking facility.’ ” officials who administer programs that impact people with disabilities often know little about living with The borough even has an ordinance saying it is illegal for residents to park on anything but a paved a disability, Braddy said. That might explain why a Middletown official would tell Michels to park on the surface. grass, if indeed that happened, he said. Nevertheless, Michels said she got the clear impression from borough officials that she was supposed to “They don’t live with crutches and canes, so they don’t understand what soggy grass” means to somepark on her grass. one with a disability, he said. So she did. But that did not solve the problem. Instead, it created more problems. In general, he contended that municipalities try to avoid spending much money on providing accommoParking on the grass didn’t work in rainy conditions. Things got worse In the winter. The only way dations and accessibility for persons with disabilities because it isn’t a priority. Michels could get her car in and out of the yard was by Peony Avenue, an alley low on the borough’s “Every municipality has the same problem – budgets are tight,’’ he said. “My point has always been that priority list for snow-plowing. when it comes to these kinds of things, they just don’t allocate enough money toward it, and the people Michels recalls at least once when she and Mike had to shovel out Peony Avenue to get in and out in with disabilities who need it will go without. It always comes down to that.” case of emergency. Eventually the Michelses put gravel down in the yard. In Harrisburg, then-Mayor Stephen R. Reed once declared a moratorium on the city approving any Sometime in January or February of last year, Borough Manager Tim Konek told her that her monthsmore reserved parking spaces for persons with a disability. To his credit, Reed reached out for help to the old application for a space was denied because she had access to a gravel space in her back yard, Michels Center for Independent Living, Braddy said. Municipalities seldom reach out to persons with a disability said. when they make decisions and craft policies that directly impact those citizens every day, Braddy said. That’s where things have stood ever since – until Wednesday, Dec. 3. Michels made her case for a space About the only option Michels has left is to file a complaint with the state Human Relations Commisin person before Middletown Borough Council’s public safety committee. sion, Braddy advised. Middletown has a local commission, but it has been dormant for decades and was A few weeks before, borough code enforcement officer Jeff Miller had suggested the committee overalmost eliminated by council earlier this year. haul the entire process by which the borough provides reserved on-street parking for persons with a disBraddy said his center can help Michels and others file a complaint. To contact the center, call 717-731ability. Simply put, the program was not working for the borough or residents, Miller said. 1900 or the center hotline at 1-877-865-4893, or go to http://www.cilcp.org/. The borough had no way of tracking applications. It was unclear who in the borough was responsible for what, and it did not seem that the borough was following a consistent policy or guidelines in deciding Dan Miller: 717-944-4628, or danmiller@pressandjournal.com on a request. By Dan Miller
Press And Journal Staff
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