Derry Township eNews, December 21, 2018
Current News
Derry Township's Capital Budget Requires Tax Increase to Meet Current and Future Needs
The Derry Township Board of Supervisors adopted the 2019 budget on Tuesday, December 18, 2018, which included a 0.30 mill real estate tax increase to support the Township’s capital projects and equipment needs.

The increase will generate an additional $621,995 a year and is equivalent to $30 per $100,000 of assessed home value. The total amount of the capital budget expenditures total $3,271,766 and include existing debt service and the purchase of or financing of new accounting and records management software, radios, vehicles, a dump truck, mowers, replacement of flooring in the library, and $115,000 for street improvements on SR 422 in downtown Hershey.

The Best New Year's Eve Event is in Hershey
Downtown Hershey's New Year's Eve event will feature Steve Augeri, former front man for the band “Journey”.

Monday, December 31 at the Square in Hershey, 9:00 p.m. to midnight. Admission is FREE!

Visit www.hersheynewyears.org for more event details.
Informational Meeting to Be Held About Kindergarten for the 2019-2020 School Year
D erry Township School District will be holding an informational meeting for parents/guardians of children who will be five years old before September 1, 2019 and plan to attend kindergarten in DTSD this coming fall. 

The meeting will be held from 6:00 to 7:00 p.m. on January 23 in the Large Group Instruction Room at the Hershey Early Childhood Center, 450 Rear Homestead Road, Hershey. 
Topics to be covered include an overview of our exceptional full-day kindergarten program, the school enrollment process, district food services, and student transportation. 

Registration for the meeting is not required to attend, nor do prospective students need to be present at the meeting.
Construction to Occur at the Hershey Public Library
Renovations to the circulation desk will begin mid-January. During the renovations, after-hour returns will not be available.

In an effort to offset the inconvenience, overdue fines that occur during the construction period will be waived. There will be no other changes to services during the construction. Construction is expected to take 4-6 weeks.

The circulation staff looks forward to helping you at the revamped desk in the spring!
Events
Library to Show Movies After Christmas
The Hershey Public Library will have movie days for students during winter break. The theme is "Be yourself. Be Brave."
 
Thursday, December 27, 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m., 701 Cocoa Avenue

A Wrinkle in Time (R ated PG) After the disappearance of her scientist father, three peculiar beings send Meg, her brother, and her friend to space to find him. 

Friday, December 28. 10:00 a.m. to 12:00 p.m. 

Moana (Rated PG) In Ancient Polynesia, when a terrible curse cast by the Demigod reaches Moana's island, she answers the ocean's call to seek out the Demigod to set things right. Everyone is welcome to come to the movies.
USCF Rated Chess Tournament
Saturday, January 5, 9:00 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 701 Cocoa Avenue

Join us at the Hershey Public Library for a chess tournament. Register online through Eventbrite . The tournament is open to chess players of all ages and skill levels. Current United States Chess Federation membership is required; sign up at www.uschess.org

Advanced registration players must register online through Eventbrite or arrive by 10:00 a.m. to register at the event. The cost is $15 online through Friday, January 4 and $20 on Saturday at the tournament. Contact Leteef Street at  lstreet@dvchess.com  with questions or call 267-461-0204.
Township Meetings and Events Calendar 


Township facilities will close at noon on December 24 and will be closed on December 25. Township facilities will close at noon on December 31 and will be closed on January 1.
Services
Play Days for Families
Wednesday, December 26, 10:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m., 701 Cocoa Avenue


Families with children ages 2-6 are invited to register to come to the library for an hour of center-based free play that encourages children and their adults to engage in the five practices of Early Literacy: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing.
Teens Learn the Art of Writing Thank-You Cards
In the Middle: Writing will be held on Wednesday, December 26 from 3:00 to 4:30 p.m. at the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Avenue. The event is for students in sixth grade and above.

This month's theme is food, but for the writing project this month, we will work on our formal writing in sending thank-you cards.
The Library Offers More Than Books
In the Middle: Games will be held on Wednesday, January 2, 3:00 to 4:30 p.m., 701 Cocoa Avenue

This program is for tweens and teens in sixth grade and above. Play games at the library! Each month, we will explore a new theme with a theme-specific game, but we also have plenty of other board games to choose from. Come play MusicIQ to test your musical knowledge.
LEGO Builders are Invited to the Library
Wednesday, January 2, 4:00 to 4:45 p.m., 701 Cocoa Avenue

LEGO Club is for children age 6 and older. Register to build based on a set challenge.
Library and Recycling Center Hours and Addresses
Recycling Center Hours   - 650 Clearwater Road 
The Recycling Center will be closed on December 24 and 31.
Hershey Public Library Hours  - 701 Cocoa Avenue
The library will be closed on December 24, 25, 31, and January 1
Community News and Events
Hershey Area Playhouse Hosts 20th Anniversary Cabaret Night
Hershey Area Playhouse will host a 20 th Anniversary Cabaret Night on Saturday, January 5, beginning at 7:00 p.m., at the Playhouse, located at the corner of Sand Hill Road and Cherry Drive.

The evening will begin with a light reception during which guests will be able to bid on 20 incredibly unique silent auction items, including sports memorabilia, VIP experiences, and walk on roles in one of our shows! The evening will also include a musical program featuring local talents that have graced our stages, singing at our musicals over the past 20 years.

The current lineup of performers includes: Amy Jo Brixius, Nina Clay, Katie Copeland, Susan Cort, Natalie DeSantis, Adam Estep, Kate & Max Foley, Kacy Hartmann, Gabi Hemsch, John Mallonee, Eric Mansilla, Colleen Mullikin, Valerie Schrader, Joshua Schwartz, Ceila Traverse, Ian Wallace, Sarah Zahn, and Travis Zimmerman.


Cocktail attire is requested for this event. Tickets are $40 per person.

Visit www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com and our Facebook page for more information as the event grows closer, including the option to bid on silent auction items even if you can’t attend the event.
Hershey Area Playhouse Offers Theatre Academy Classes
Her shey Area Playhouse offers acting classes to grades 1 – 12 beginning in mid-September and running through November. 

Students in the winter session will focus on building performance skills with age-appropriate activities and games designed to offer skill building in an atmosphere of encouragement and fun. 

The eight-week session starts on January 19 and runs every Saturday through March 9 with an open house in each class. All classes are held at the Playhouse on the campus of Country Meadows of Hershey.


Grades K-3 meet each week from 9:00 - 10:30 a.m. Grades 4-6 meet 10:30 a.m. – noon, and Grades 7-12 meet from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. for eight weeks.

This year grades K-3 will focus on heightened use of body, mind, and voice to tell a story for the stage. Grades 4-6 will engage in an active exploration of theme or idea through the elements of stagecraft, working on devising original pieces using space, light, sound, rhythm, movement, and tension, and grades 7-12 will continue to focus on living truthfully in an imaginary world by learning to dig deep into the text for clues to the character’s reality.

The Playhouse is proud to be one of the few area schools committed to instruction based on national standards for excellence in theatre education. That means your student will experience classes designed around age-appropriate learning goals and taught by highly trained instructors. Each class is staffed by two experienced instructors with assistance from a teen acting intern who has come up through the program. We are proud of our reputation and the high quality of our offerings.

Visit the Hershey Area Playhouse's website for more information and to register.

www.hersheyareaplayhouse.com/theatre-academy
Citizenship Program is Next for Derry Seniors
“On Becoming a United States Citizen” will be presented at the next Derry Seniors’ gathering, set for 10:00 a.m. on Tuesday, January 15. The program will be held in room 7 on the lower level at Derry Presbyterian Church, 248 East Derry Road, Hershey.
Jwana Smith, Community Relations Officer in the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS) Philadelphia District Office, will discuss the process immigrants undergo to become an American citizen and will answer questions.
Ms. Smith began her 17-year career with Legacy Immigration and Naturalization Service (INS) in Lee’s Summit, Missouri. She has held positions as an adjudicator, trainer and supervisor with experience in LIFE Act applications, conducting background checks, congressional relations, and community relations. In 2017 she transferred to the Philadelphia District Office and began her current position.
Following devotions and the program, lunch is available in Fellowship Hall for $3 per person. A pharmacist will be on hand to answer questions regarding medications.
Township Publications
If you have community news or an event that you would like to share in the township eNews, email it to jillh@derrytownship.org

Please note that listings should be related to local events and organizations. Events determined to be discriminatory, controversial, negative, or offensive to other persons or organizations, or which promote organizations engaging in such conduct will not be included.