Derry Township eNews, April 3, 2020
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For those who pay for their trash collection service one bag at a time, if you need more Waste Management green trash bags contact Tom Clark at tomclark@derrytownship.org or call and leave a message at 717-533-2057 option 4. We will deliver the trash bags to you. Please provide your name, address, phone number and the quantity of bags needed. Payment made payable to Derry Township.
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PPL Programs To Assist Customers In Paying Bills
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PPL Electric Utilities wants to help ease some of the concern’s residents may be having during these difficult times. PPL will not cut service to any customers for unpaid bills until further notice and will waive all late payment fees, effective March 16, 2020. PPL offers several programs available to help customers who are having a hard time paying their bills. Please see below the options offered.
CARES
can help customers who are experiencing a temporary hardship. Learn more or apply by calling 1-800-358-6623.
No matter what the situation is, if you’re having trouble paying your bill contact PPL and they will see what can be done to help.
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Gov. Wolf's Shutdown Order
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In accordance with Gov. Wolf's March 19th shutdown order the Township of Derry's Administration Building's Lobby will be closed to the public. Township Staff will be available for contact via phone or email. A staff directory is available on
the website.
It should also be noted that the Township's Recycling Drop-Off Center will be closed until this order is lifted. Curbside recycling will still be collected.
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In an effort to protect our most vulnerable population from the spread of the virus, the Mohler Center and People Mover have teamed up and mobilized volunteers to help senior citizen remain safely in their homes. They are offering assistance with obtaining groceries, pharmacy runs, and general errands.
The Mohler Center will be open for phone calls (717-533-2002) from 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM Monday through Friday to offer problem solving and social contact as well. In addition to office hours, staff will be checking voicemail messages throughout the day. All messages will be returned within 24 hours.
The Mohler Center is committed to assisting the area senior citizens. Give them a call and let them know how they can help!
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Local Businesses Offer Modified Services
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The Downtown Hershey Association has compiled a list of local restaurants and businesses offering takeout and/or delivery options during this time of limited contact through social distancing. Please be sure to consid
er supporting your local eateries and other shops by clicking on the image below. Thanks to resident Christy Ricker for volunteering to design the list. A
n updated list will also be kept on their website:
https://downtownhershey.com/open-for-business/
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Township Meetings and Events Calendar
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THE HERSHEY PUBLIC LIBRARY IS CLOSED UNTIL FURTHER NOTICE
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Due to the continuing health and safety concerns surrounding Coronavirus (COVID-19).
• THE LIBRARY'S OUTSIDE DROP BOX IS CLOSED.
• LIBRARY FINES WILL BE WAIVED.
• SORRY, THE LIBRARY IS UNABLE TO TAKE PHONE CALLS.
Follow the Hershey Public Library on Facebook @hersheypubliclibrary, and Twitter and Instagram at @hersheylibrary for online resources and news, and see the library's website at
www.hersheylibrary.org
for program updates.
E-books, audiobooks, streaming media, and digital resources for all ages are available 24/7 online at
www.hersheylibrary.org
>
e Library
, and
Research
. A great way to stay in touch with the library is through the library's monthly electronic newsletter. Please
sign up
here.
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Virtual Library Card (eCard)
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Derry Township Residents (with a ZIP code of 17033 and 17036) may apply online for a virtual library card to access the
e-Library
for Hoopla, OverDrive, and others. Access hundreds of free online resources 24/7 including e-books, audiobooks, streaming movies and TV shows, music and comics. And, use the eCard to access the library's E-resources, aka. databases for learning and research.
To get a virtual library card (eCard), please e-mail “Ask a Librarian” (on the left side of the library's Home page at
www.hersheylibrary.org
). Ask about being issued a virtual card. Please include the
required information in your message:
- Your name
- Your birth date
- Your full home address with zip code
- Your e-mail address
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An unlimited amount of wood and yard waste will be collected curbiside one time per month on your regular trash day by the contracted waste hauler. The collection will occur April through October.
Items must be placed at the curb by 5:00 a.m. on your collection day. Items must be placed in a container not to exceed 32 gallons or in a “Kraft” bag not to exceed 50 lbs. Branches and tree limbs must not exceed 3″ in diameter, must be cut to 4′ in length, bundled and secured by rope or twine and not to exceed 50 lbs.
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Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center Drive-thru Testing for COVID-19
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We understand that these are uncertain times for many people as the coronavirus pandemic
evolves and cases in our region continue to grow. We understand our decision to establish
drive-thru testing on our Milton S. Hershey Medical Center campus for possible COVID-19
patients has raised questions or concerns from local residents. We hope the information in this
letter helps to address those concerns.
As a university hospital that has been caring for the sickest patients in our region for the past
half-century, Hershey Medical Center has an obligation to provide safe and effective care for
our community during this unprecedented situation.
The express purpose of Penn State Health’s drive-thru COVID-19 testing clinics is to test
symptomatic patients in a controlled environment. Patients do not leave their personal vehicles
during the testing process and their individual samples are handled according to strict infection
control protocols. The staff doing the testing are dressed in personal protective equipment to
guard against transmission. The drive-thru testing clinics are located well beyond safe distances
to resident housing areas and should not pose a threat to residents, according to CDC
guidelines.
Penn State Health is taking every precaution to isolate people with symptoms to prevent the
spread of illness. Our drive thru clinics are essential to keeping symptomatic patients out of
medical practices, emergency rooms, and the community as a whole, to decrease the risk of
transmission.
Since Penn State Health has opened its two drive thru testing clinics in Hershey and Reading,
we have no knowledge of incidents in which patients have left their cars or ventured onto
private property.
We hope this answers the questions your community members may have about our drive thru
COVID-19 testing clinics.
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Summer Day Camp Registration
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With the evolving situation of COVID-19 virus, Summer Day Camp registration has been postponed until further notice. The new registration dates will be posted on Derry Township’s website and an email will be sent out to existing families in the ProCare program.
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Library and Recycling Center Hours and Addresses
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Community News and Events
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Bowman Trust Extends Flower Basket Sale
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The Bowman Trust is EXTENDING their flower basket sale and taking orders by mail now through the month of April. Baskets will be ready by May 9th...right before Mother's Day. All baskets must be pre-ordered and pre-paid by April 24th, 2020. (That is a change from what is printed on form below.) Print out the image for more information. Two basket sizes available. When mailing in your form, please include your phone number with your name and payment. (Pick up arrangements may change depending on what PA restrictions are in place at that time.) Thank you for supporting the William S. Bowman Trust!
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Waste Management is working to ensure that they can continue to serve our community safely and with the least disruption reasonably possible in the face of the many challenges created by the COVID-19 virus. In order for Waste Management to maintain its focus on municipal solid waste collection and disposal,
effective Monday, March 30, 2020, Waste Management is temporarily suspending bulk collection, such as furniture, carpet, mattresses, appliances, etc. until further notice.
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The Hershey Food Bank has modified operations to insure safety for our clients and volunteers, but is following normal distribution scheduled. We have sufficient volunteers at the current time and are trying to minimize people on site to reduce unnecessary interactions. Our greatest needs right now are (1) funds to procure food due to temporary reductions in local donations and (2) donations of hard-to-obtain and high demand items that our clients need: Tuna, canned meats, baked beans, canned peas, peanut butter, Hunts canned pasta sauce, laundry detergent, bars of soap, toilet paper, paper towels, and sanitizing wipes. For more information about drop off locations for any extra items you might have to donate, and for a link to make a monetary donation, please visit our webpage:
hersheyfoodbank.com and check the “Food Bank News” page for updated information. We appreciate all the community support at this challenging time!
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DTCC To Suspend TNR Operations
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Derry Township Community Cats will follow Governor Wolf's order closing all non-life sustaining businesses. All TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) clinics are canceled for the immediate future.
If you have community cats in need of TNR services, please leave a message (address, number of cats) on our 'cat phone' (717) 592-8087, and we will contact you when surgery dates are available.
Thank you, be safe, hug a cat (if cat allows you to)!
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Creating an LGBTQ-Inclusive Community
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Heteronormativity and cisnormativity may not be words or concepts many know about, but they are ideas that affect our daily lives a lot more than we may be aware. Todd Snovel’s “Creating an LGBTQ-Inclusive Community in Hershey and Beyond” presentation on March 11, 2020 discussed the problems of heteronormativity and cisnormativity, and he gave attendees both big and small ways to fix these issues in the community.
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Derry Township Newsletters
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Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes
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eNews@derrytownship.org
Please note that listings should be related to local events. Submissions should be no more than a few sentences and include a link to a website with more information.
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.
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