Derry Township eNews - October 23, 2020
Current News
Derry Township Supervisors Meeting
The public is invited to attend the next Derry Township Board of Supervisors meeting on Tuesday, October 27th at 7 p.m. The agenda will be posted on the Township website later today. For instructions on how to join the virtual call, please visit our website.
Helpful Voter Links
If you plan to vote in person, please check your polling place as some have changed, click here.
 
If you would like to request a mail-in ballot, visit this website. Please note that mail-in ballot applications must be submitted by 5 p.m. the Tuesday before an election – October 27 for the General Election.
 
If you already requested a mail-in or absentee ballot, you can check on the status of your ballot here.
 
Important Instructions for In-Person and Mail Voting
Whether you plan to vote in person or by mail, there are new details you should know to be prepared. Please visit the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections website for information. 
 
For more information, please check this helpful FAQ from the Dauphin County Bureau of Elections.
Hazard Mitigation Plan Survey
Dauphin County is updating its Hazard Mitigation Plan (HMP). The HMP will analyze the hazards faced by the County and Derry Township, its residents, and businesses, and will identify a strategy for minimizing the vulnerability to these hazards. You can find out more about the HMP and the planning process here: https://www.dauphincountyhmp.com/. We encourage all residents and visitors of the County to provide input into the planning process. We have developed a short survey about the County and the risks it faces. We would greatly appreciate it if you would complete the survey and otherwise participate in this important endeavor. The survey can be found here: https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/DauphinCountyHMP. Thank you for your participation in this planning effort!
Spotted Lanternfly Season Update
When putting lanternfly tape around trees, take an extra step to put chicken wire or small gauge wire over the exposed tape. We received many calls about bats, birds, squirrels, raccoons, opossums, baby owls, snakes, and other wildlife getting stuck to the tape on the trees. This tape is so sticky that the animal ultimately ends up dying from the stress of being stuck, or suffers wounds and loss of feathers, fur, or skin and could lead to euthanasia. 

Guidelines for how to properly protect these animals from such tape can be found at this link.

If you have any questions regarding proper tape use, please feel free to reach out to Bob Piccolo from Public Works, 717-533-2057, OPT 4, or https://extension.psu.edu/spotted-lanternfly for further information.
Reminder: Township Yard Waste Center Hours
The Derry Township Yard Waste Center is still operating under “Summer Hours” until November 02, 2020.

Summer Hours:
Monday & Wednesday- 4:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.
Friday & Saturday 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Winter Hours (beginning 11/2):
Monday - 4:00 p.m. - 8:00 p.m.
Friday - 8:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.
Saturday- 8:00 a.m. - 1:00 p.m.
Township Events
Drive-In Movie
Concessions open at 7 p.m. Movie starts at dusk.

Join us for an evening of fun out at Shank Park for a Drive-In Movie, featuring “The Addams Family” (2019 Animated). Participants will be parked in the grassy area at Shank Park, so they can safely enjoy a movie from their vehicle. Admission is absolutely free! For more information, please visit www.usatheatres.com.

A special thank you to The Hershey Company for providing candy to hand out to those in attendance.

*Please Note: All social distancing guidelines and protocols need to be followed while attending the event. Thanks in advance for your cooperation.

In order to comply with distancing requirements, this event does have a maximum capacity.
Disc Golf Tournament at Shank Park
Saturday, October 31st (rain date – Sunday, November 1st)

Whether you’re a beginner/novice (6th grade – adult) or an advanced player, this event is for you!  The Joy of Sports Foundation, Derry Township Parks & Recreation and Hershey Area Disc Golf present our first Annual ‘SPOOK-TACULAR’ Doubles Disc Tournament.

There will be two divisions for this non-sanctioned event:

Beginners Tournament
  • Registration @ 11:15 am
  • Disc Golf Clinic 11:30- 12:30
  • Tournament Play 1-3:00pm
  • Fun Prizes 6th Grade & Above
  • $15 Registration fee

Advanced Play
  • Registration 8:00 am
  • Tournament Play - 2 Rounds
  • 9 - 11:00 am & 1- 3:00 pm
  • Cash Prizes
  • $25 Registration fee

For more information or to register, click this link.
Derry Township Trick-or-Treat Night
Saturday, October 31, 2020 - 6:00 p.m. to 8:00 p.m.

If you plan to participate in Trick-or-Treat, the Derry Township Police Department asks that you please be safe and smart. Here are some simple tips for kids, parents, and homeowners to follow. Have fun!
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Township Meetings and Events Calendars
Join Us at The Library
Friends Pop-Up Book Sale! Now until December 5
The sale operates during regular library hours in the hallway to Meeting Room 2. Pop-Up Sales highlight different merchandise each week and follow strict protective protocols for customers and library patrons. Please wear a mask or a face covering at the library and at the book sale. Each of the Pop-Up Sales will continue for a week, followed by a three-for-one or five-for-one sale on the highest priced item on Saturday. Saturday, October 16 is the final day for puzzles and games. 

The schedule is as follows:
Oct. 19-24: regular-sized paperbacks
Oct. 26-31: hardback books and audiobooks
Nov. 2-7: children’s paperback books and board books
Nov. 9-14: cookbooks
Nov. 16-20: DVDs and CDs
Nov. 30 – Dec. 5: Holiday Extravaganza: Assortment of holiday books, CDs, DVDs, etc.
Edible Book Contest
Saturday, October 24 - 10:00 .am. to 3:00 p.m. 

Use your amazing culinary skills to recreate a favorite book (fiction or non-fiction) with food! Edible books can look like a book, be inspired by a book or author, be a pun, refer to a character, or reproduce the book cover. But don't let the details hold you back--let your imagination run wild! Your interpretation is what we want to see! Register online to enter. Vote for your favorite at the library or online. Winners will be announced by 4:30 pm. 
Virtual Game Board Night
Saturday, October 24 - 8:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m.

Register online to join the Hershey Public Library DISCORD server to play virtual board games. You will receive an email with the invite link after you have registered. This is the library’s way to join the Discord world. We will be playing on Board Game Arena for which you will need an account. Board Game Arena is at https://boardgamearena.com/
Tim Burton Movie Trivia
Sunday, October 25 - 2:00 p.m. to 3:00 p.m.

Register online to us on Zoom and/or Facebook Live at https://www.facebook.com/hersheypubliclibrary for Tim Burton Movie Trivia: Family Program. Make sure you try and watch movies like Edward Scissorhands, The Nightmare Before Christmas, Beetlejuice, Frankenweenie, and others. Just don't say Beetlejuice three times.
Utility News
PPL Update
Our crews have been working on Elm Avenue, Governor Road and Sand Hill Road. We are now complete on Governor Road, and nearly complete with the paving restoration. We have also finished our work on Sand Hill Road North of Cherry Drive, including paving restoration.

The crew is moving to the Sand Hill Road portion between Forest Ave. and Cherry Drive, which requires a full road closure from now through approximately November 6, 2020. Sand Hill Road will be closed between Forest Avenue/Clark Road and Cherry Drive on Monday through Friday from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Please follow detour signs for alternate routes. It will be open after 5 p.m. and on weekends.
For the full update and more information about upcoming work, please visit PPL's Hershey Project website and read the October 2020 Hershey Project Update. If you have questions, please email HersheyProject@pplweb.com.
Community News and Events
TICKETS ON SALE! Hershey Area Playhouse presents We Are Monsters
Hershey Area Playhouse is proud to present We Are Monsters, a hilarious musical that follows human kids into a monster cabaret filled with quirky monster characters.

Sponsored by a grant from The Hershey Company, the show is made up of a cast of 17 talented students, ranging from grades 4 to 12.

The show will be performed on October 23 at 6 pm on the Hershey Area Playhouse lawn. Tickets for the show are $5 each, or $20 for a family.

Songs from We are Monsters will be performed at the Hershey Gardens during Pumpkin Glow on October 24 and 31 at 11, 1, and 3. The performance is included with a visit to the Gardens and the Atrium. For more information or to buy tickets to the October 23 show at the Playhouse, visit www.HersheyAreaPlayhouse.com.
Drive-through prescription drug take-back events planned
Penn State Health will host drive-through prescription drug take-back events at three locations from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. on Saturday, Oct. 24. People may drop off their unwanted, unneeded or expired medication for safe disposal at the following locations:

  • Academic Support Building, 90 Hope Drive, Hershey (on the Hershey Medical Center campus)
  • Penn State Health Medical Group—Nyes Road, 121 N. Nyes Road, Harrisburg
  • Penn State Health Medical Group—Palmyra, 941 Park Drive, Palmyra

Needles and syringes will also be accepted. The service is free and anonymous with no questions asked. The events aim to provide a safe, convenient and responsible means of disposing of prescription drugs, while also educating the public about the potential for abuse of medications. These events are being held in partnership with the Derry Township, Lower Paxton Township and North Londonderry Township police departments. They’re among several nationwide coordinated by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Medications, needles and syringes cannot be accepted before 10 a.m.
Help Feed Local Families in Need and Support Program for Adults with Disabilities
Hope Springs Farm will hold a Drive Thru Chicken Bar-B-Que fundraiser on Saturday, October 24th from 11:00am-2:00pm. We have partnered with Family Promise of Harrisburg Capital Region to distribute meals to local families in need.

Community members can purchase a chicken dinner for themselves, and if they can, purchase a special ticket "To Feed the Hungry". For $12 you will receive 1/2 BBQ Chicken, baked potato, apple sauce, roll and butter, a bag of chips, and a drink.

Visit www.HopeSpringsFarm.org to purchase your tickets. You will pick up your meals at 201 Trail Rd. Hershey. Most of Hope Springs Farm’s fundraisers have been canceled this year due to COVID-19, so they hope to have a successful Bar-B-Que. Come and get some delicious chicken BBQ and support local adults with disabilities!
Pop-Up Community Drive Collection
First United Methodist Church in Hershey invites you to drop off drive-through donations via the alley drop-off site rear of church on Saturday, October 24 from 9 to 11 a.m. The church is located at 64 West Chocolate Avenue, next to ChocolateTown Square. 
 
Just pull up and let volunteers unload your donations: 
 
Hershey Food Bank: Collection of non-perishable food items for Thanksgiving: Pumpkin 15 oz cans, Turkey or chicken stove top stuffing, Cranberry Sauce, Turkey gravy packs or jars, Pineapple (cans), Paper Towels, Pasta items
Mission Central: Blessing kits for the homeless. Items needed: new men’s socks, reusable water bottles (metal or plastic), travel size shampoos and conditioners, small notebooks (around 4"x5") with pens, Chapstick lip balm
Family Promise: Giant gift cards to help homeless families 
Cocoa Packs Partners With Food Rescue
Cocoa Packs has partnered with Food Rescue and will be distributing FREE FDA Food Boxes and Milk outside at their drive thru located at the Hershey Middle School (500 Homestead Rd.) on Monday, October 26th and Wednesday, October 28th from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m.

Any Dauphin County resident in need is welcome to stop by to pick up what they can use.

Questions contact cocoapacks@gmail.com
Learn to Skate
Do you need to learn basic fundamentals to get started? Looking for exercise? Are you ready to master more challenging skating skills, for either figure skating or ice hockey? Our comprehensive approach on conquering individual elements gives you the skills, the knowledge, the urge to go far on the ice. And even further in life. The Hershey Figure Skating Club can help.

All Age Learn to Skate (ages 2 & up)
  • Thursdays 6:00-7:00 p.m.
Morning Learn to Skate (ages 2 & up) *NEW!*
  • Fridays 10:00-11:00 a.m.
Daytime Learn to Skate (ages 2 & up)
  • Wednesdays 12:45-1:45 p.m.
  • Thursdays 1:00-2:00 p.m.
Adult Aspire (ages 18+)
  • Sundays 4:30-5:30 p.m.
Mommy & Me Learn to Skate (ages 2 - 6) *NEW!*
  • Thursdays 12:15-1:00 p.m.

Join a class anytime! For more information visit their website.
Hershey Lions join Global Crusade to Conquer Blindness
The Hershey Lions Club celebrated the Lions World Sight Day and the Worldwide Week of Service in Sight, both traditionally held in October, to heighten awareness and education about sight preservation and preventable blindness.
 
The Hershey Lions Club joined the global event by collecting eyeglasses. It is estimated that 253 million people are blind or have moderate to severe distance vision impairment (MVSI). 
 
Community members are again encouraged to deposit their no longer needed prescription eyeglasses at any of the Hershey Lions’ eyeglass collection locations in the area: Grace United Methodist Church in Hummelstown, Lebanon Valley Family Medicine in Palmyra, and the following locations in Hershey: Hershey Medical Center, Karns, Mohler Sr. Center, Northwest Savings Bank, and Pronio’s Market. Eyeglasses are collected to be matched up with needy people around the world.  
 
For more information about the Hershey Lions Club, visit our web site at www.hersheylions.org.
Township Publications
Derry Township Newsletters
Sign up to receive the library's monthly newsletter directly here.
Board of Supervisors Meeting Minutes 
If you have a community news event that you would like to share in the township eNews, email it to eNews@derrytownship.org

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