Linglestown Monday mashup

An oversight … A Gazette reader pointed out that I forgot to invite Ralph Nader in my open invitation to presidential candidates to visit Linglestown. No problem – Ralph, stop by anytime. And while I’m at it, the low-budget presidential candidate also is welcome.

Political watchdog … Lower Paxton Twp. supervisors will conduct a business meeting tomorrow night, April 1 at 7:30 pm, Township Municipal Center, 425 Prince Street. Comcast cable subscribers can view a live broadcast of the meeting on channel 20.

Prior to the public meeting, the supervisors will discuss the acquisition of easements and right-of-ways for the Linglestown Improvement Project.

And, the meeting agenda includes a zoning-change request related to tentative plans to convert Sportsman’s Golf Course into some type of housing community.

Gone fishin' … Denny Rhine and Pat Shupp of Linglestown braved cold temps Saturday to take part in opening day of trout season, so says The Sports Blog with The Patriot-News. I bet ice formed on the eyelets of their rods.

Highway report … A state contractor is gearing up to do bridge repairs on the four-lane N. Mountain Road span over I-81. The bridge will remain open during the project with lane restrictions, according to a PennDOT spokesman. I have a call into PennDOT to get more details.

Family fun to benefit a good cause … Caitlin’s Smiles, a local organization that provides craft goodie bags for children with chronic or life-threatening illnesses in Pennsylvania, is hosting a Pizza and a Movie Fundraiser at New Hope Church in Linglestown, Saturday, April 5 at 5 pm. Admission is by donation (suggested at $6 per person, less for small children).

Cool tunes on tap … The world-renowned Dallas Brass will conduct a public concert as part of its Music in the Schools Project at Central Dauphin High School on Monday, April 7 at 7:30 pm. The concert will feature nearly 200 students from Central Dauphin Middle School, Linglestown Middle School, and Central Dauphin High School playing onstage with the Dallas Brass. Admission is $24 for adults and $18 for students and seniors. CLICK HERE for additional details.
__________________

Be sure to participate in the Linglestown Gazette Food Drive at Amelia’s that runs through Saturday, April 5. CLICK HERE for more info.

A feel-good story

Do you remember the story about Mary Roth (pictured), an out-of-towner searching for her birth father believed to be living in the Harrisburg area? I published her story at the beginning of this month.

Well, Mary contacted me over the weekend via e-mail to inform me that she found her dad! Below is a snippet from her e-mail:

FOUND HIM! Yes, I found my birth father! While your website certainly helped generate buzz, my birth dad received one of my mass mailings of letters to 1958 and 1959 male grads from Harrisburg-area high schools.

I'm not surprised by Mary’s success – she put herself out there in a major way, and refused to let initial roadblocks imposed by PennLive.com discourage her.

Mary is making plans to meet up with her father. Pretty cool stuff!

A call for help from Gazette's editor

I need your help!

Please help me to help the underserved in a nearby community by doing a couple easy to do things:

First, take a few minutes to watch the video that explains what’s happening with the first-ever Linglestown Gazette Food Drive at Amelia’s Grocery Outlet on N. Mountain Road, Monday, March 31 through Saturday, April 5.

Second, seriously consider making a contribution. I’d like to blow away the beneficiary of the drive with an amazing amount of donations, and it’s very possible if every Gazette reader and some shoppers at Amelia's pitch in a few items.

I’ll post updates on the amount of food and other items that are contributed.

Together, we can put Linglestown on the map as being a giving community.

Rams volleyballers pink out Patriots

The Central Dauphin Rams boys’ volleyball team ran the table Friday night against the Red Land Patriots at CD High School to run their record to 3-0 for the season. CLICK HERE for a game report – see the article for March 28 entitled “Rams take Pink Out from a motivated Red Land squad."

The game was billed as a "Pink-Out" match because the game's ticket sales were donated toward breast cancer research.

Pictured below is the presentation of a $2,500 check to the American Cancer Society. (On the left wearing a business suit is Tom Russell, WHP TV-21 weatherman who served as emcee; wearing a ball cap is CD Rams volleyball head coach John Barrick; and wearing a white "Hope" t-shirt is Natalie Marple, one of the event organizers.)

An open invitation to Hillary, Bill, Chelsea, Barack and John

As you probably know, Pennsylvania is in the nation's political spotlight since the state's April 22 primary election is the last major battleground left for Democratic presidential hopefuls Hillary Clinton and Barack Obama.

Former President Bill Clinton was in Carlisle today, and Obama is scheduled to make a stop in Harrisburg Sunday evening.

I think it's about time that Linglestown gets some attention. Don't you?

So, to those of you running for president of the USA, please accept this invitation to stop by and talk about things over a hot, steamy cup of java at St. Thomas Roasters. Or if you prefer, we could down a pint at the Eagle Hotel, snack on a burger at St. Thomas Restaurant, or sit down for a full-course meal at the Chocolate Cafe. What do you say?

To show that you care about small town folks, CLICK HERE to book a time to visit the historic village of Linglestown. See you soon!

Two CD Rams snag statewide honors …

* Gazette congrats go out to CD Rams girls' basketball coach Bill Wolf for being named The Associated Press PIAA Class AAAA Coach of the Year for leading the team to its first state championship. Clearly, Coach Wolf is a class act and a great asset to the school district.

* And, Gazette congrats also go out to Alyssa Thomas, a sophomore member of Coach Wolf’s team, who was named to The Associated Press Pennsylvania girls' all-state basketball first team.

Weekend preview …

* Music at St. Thomas Roasters features two mystery artists – Second Look on Friday, and Just Dave on Saturday. Music starts at 8 pm both nights, no cover.

* Please join me Friday at 6 pm or so at the CD Rams boys’ volleyball team’s “Pink Out” match to benefit breast cancer research. CLICK HERE for more details.
____________

Watch for a new Linglestown TV video about next week's Linglestown Gazette Food Drive at Amelia's Grocery outlet.

Lastly, one entry has been received for Linglestown Gazette's Name-That-Street Contest. CLICK HERE for details. Deadline for submitting an entry is tomorrow, Friday, March 28 at midnight.

Enter first-ever Gazette contest

It's Wednesday, and that means the highly-acclaimed weekly feature Hump Day News 'N Notes is headed your way.

Name-that-street contest … Gazette reader George submitted a good idea for a contest related to yesterday’s Linglestown Video Postcard. Check out the video and make a list of the streets and/or locations shown in the photos and video clips. CLICK HERE to submit you entry via e-mail. The reader with the most correct answers will win a cup o’ Joe at St. Thomas Roasters. Deadline for entering is Friday, March 28 at midnight. Good luck!

War of words … A gigantic debate about Wal-Mart has broken out on the Linglestown forum at PennLive.com, see thread # 347.

Got the Comcast blues … The furor over Comcast switching to digital TV seems to be getting more confusing by the day for those of us who haven't coughed up big bucks to get a digital high-definition television. According to a letter to the editor that appeared in today’s The Patriot-News (scroll down to the second item entitled “Cable requirement”), customers who aren’t using digital TVs will need a converter box to view channels 21 through 78 after the HDTV transition takes place next February.

The Comcast rep who I talked with today couldn't verify what channels would be moved over to a digital feed. I ordered a free-for-a-year converter box during the call.

CD High School news …

* Gazette congratulations go to Alicia Kless for being named student-of-the-month for March by the Colonial Park Rotary Club.

* Did you take a tour Tuesday night of the newly renovated Linglestown Middle School. If not, CLICK HERE for details provided by Diana Fishlock of The Patriot-News.

* State police reported today that a 15-year-old female student at Central Dauphin High School has been placed in Schaffner Youth Center after carrying a knife to school Tuesday. Word on the streets is that the student may have been involved with the gunshots fired near the village Sunday night.

CD Rams sports …

On the diamond, three hits by Sam Nott and three RBIs from Billy Felo headlined CD’s 14-5 decision over Palmyra. Zach Seaman added four runs scored to aid game-winner Nate Shroy.

In girls' soccer, CD opened its campaign with a stylish 4-0 victory at perennial District 11-AAA power Emmaus. The Yurkovic sisters, Allicia and Kate, combined for two goals and three assists for the Rams, who claimed a share of last spring's PIAA Class AAA title.

Moving to boys' volleyball, Nick Sheleman posted 17 kills and Jon Lutz chipped in 14 more to pace CD to a 3-1 blitz of Northern, my alma mater.

Sports Source Link

Gazette food drive only days away

Linglestown Gazette and Amelia's Grocery Outlet are teaming up to help an emergency food shelter in Harrisburg. The food drive kicks off next Monday, March 31, and runs through Saturday, April 5.

More details will be posted later this week.

Linglestown video postcard

Today, something that’s a bit different.

I took a walk today with my trusty digital camera in hand, and produced a brief video that gives an eclectic look at the village of Linglestown set to the sounds of a high-tech stringed instrument.

Report: Shots fired near Linglestown

Lower Paxton Twp. police are investigating a report of shots fired Sunday night in the 800 block of Mclhenny Street near Linglestown, according to a news brief posted byThe Patriot-News this afternoon.

McIlhenny Street runs parallel to N. Mountain Road between Catherine Street and Blue Ridge Avenue. CLICK HERE for a map, and HERE for a video report from WHP TV-21.

Linglestown Monday news fix

More on furor over Comcast … Many cable customers are peeved and confused about recent channel changes and the switch to digital TV. A WGAL TV-8 investigative report tries to get to the bottom of the controversy.

Creek pollution …The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency says the Paxton Creek watershed is impaired by phosphate and sediment pollution. Tributaries of the creek flow through the Linglestown area.

The cleanup could cost taxpayers in Lower Paxton Township and other nearby municipalities big bucks in the coming years.

According to an article entitled "Creek woes may hit taxpayers" published in The Patriot-News, the feds held a lightly attended meeting on the issue last week. Lower Paxton Township manager George Wolfe told the newspaper that municipalities weren’t notified about the meeting.

In an editorial that ran Saturday, The Patriot-News called for the EPA to do a better job of working with local officials, to better identify sources of the phosphates and to propose effective responses.

Related link: Paxton Creek Watershed and Education

CD sports … Rams baseball team won its first game of the season last Thursday in dramatic style over Lower Dauphin Falcons. The team has a shot at the league title, according to a Patriot-News sports guru.

Rams boys’ volleyball team kicked off its season last Thursday with an easy win over the Mechanicsburg Wildcats. Last spring the team made a deep run in the state playoffs.

Speaking of volleyball, the team is sponsoring a "Pink Out" match against Red Land to benefit breast cancer research this Friday, March 28. The junior varsity match starts at 6 pm, with the varsity match to follow the JVs.

CLICK HERE for more and info, and please come out to the CD gymnasium Friday evening to support a good cause – plus have some fun.

Let’s get political … Congressional candidate Toni Gilhooley of Lower Paxton Township accuses incumbent Tim Holden of Schuylkill County of having a bad case of the "Ed McMahon Syndrome." CLICK HERE to get the Here's Johnny! on this story.

More church, no Wal-Mart … Holy Name of Jesus Church is currently in the middle of a capital campaign to raise $5 million to make essential improvements to existing buildings, build a new church, and begin to renovate the school. The church property recently was targeted by Wal-Mart for a superstore, but plans fell through in part to public outcry over the plan. CLICK HERE for more details on the church expansion plans.

Linglestown postcards

Flowers outside the Gazette newsroom are pictured checking out the arrival of spring.

John Micek of Harrisburgh performed a couple entertaining sets of pop-rock tunes for a small but appreciative gathering Friday evening at St. Thomas Roasters coffee house on the square in Linglestown. His songs included a ballad about a California trip gone wrong, and one that got radio airtime in Scandinavia.

The community egg hunt at Koons Park today attracted a sizeable crowd despite the snow that arrived a couple hours before the scrambling started. New Hope Church sponsored the event.

Linglestown weekend happenings

Music at St. Thomas Roasters … According to Fly Magazine, Friday night will feature newspaper reporter, blogger, soccer and hockey fan, and indie musician John Micek. Saturday’s artist is scheduled to be Gale Gardiner. Music starts at 8 pm both nights, no cover.

Egg hunt time ... New Hope Church is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, March 22 at Koons Park. Come at 11 am for FREE hot dogs, chips and drink. The hunt will begin promptly at noon. Ages 0 through 10 are welcome.

Celebrate Easter … Below is info on this Sunday’s offering of Easter services at a couple churches:

* Linglestown Life – Sunrise (Youth led) 6:30 am … Traditional at 8 am and 11 am … Contemporary at 9:30 am

* New Hope Church – Easter Celebration at 8:30 and 10 am

Dining spotlight … Mimi Brodeur of The Patriot-News gives her take on the brand spanking new Italian restaurant Giotti’s at Patton Place plaza behind Dunkin’ Donuts on Linglestown Road.

Rewriting Linglestown history

Linglestown, a capital ...

Lower Paxton Township was established in 1767. The township was a part of Lancaster County at that time, and covered a much larger land area than it does today. It was carved into seven municipalities by 1850.

Linglestown was founded in 1765, two years before the creation of the township. Based on this chronology of events, I hereby declare Linglestown the capital of Lower Paxton Township.

Other stuff …

* Welcome to spring 2008. Below is a sign of spring – a township streetsweeper today cleaned up the cinders at Koons Park’s main lot. Snow is forecasted for Saturday morning, so hopefully this job wasn't done too soon (limited accumulation currently is predicted).


* I'm still seeking photos of "man caves" in Linglestown. If you have no idea what I'm referring to, CLICK HERE and HERE to get up to speed on this Gazette cultural investigation.

Linglestown Wet Wednesday

Linglestown Gazette proudly presents another edition of Hump Day News 'N Notes to help you work toward the Easter holiday weekend.

Fore!! ... The start of spring is upon us, and that means it's time to hit the links. And, golf courses in the Linglestown area are running special offers:

Colonial Country Club has an introductory membership, called Golf Plus, that's good for unlimited golf, and includes family use of the pool and tennis courts. This will set you back $300 a month for a year, no additional fees. The club is using the Golf Plus offer to showcase its newly renovated clubhouse and golf course, said Tim Nowak, the club's dining room manager.

Felicita, which is located in Fishing Creek Valley, is offering an unlimited golf membership with sweeteners for $1,498 if you're in my age range, 36-69. Contact the resort for price info if you're younger or older than my age group, and tell the sales associate that you heard about the deal on Linglestown Gazette.

At Sportsman's Golf Course, you can play on weekdays for as little as $15 through March 31, includes cart.

Egg hunt time ... New Hope Church is sponsoring an Easter Egg Hunt this Saturday, March 22 at Koons Park. Come at 11 am for FREE hot dogs, chips and drink. The hunt will begin promptly at noon. Ages 0 through 10 are welcome.

Class reunions ... Central Dauphin High School class of 1963, 5-11 pm, Sept. 20, Linglestown American Legion. Information: Send e-mail to Linda Deardorff Meyers, or call 545-4876.

Central Dauphin High School class of 1973 is forming a reunion committee. Information: Send e-mail to Diane Miller.

Linglestown history trivia ... Linglestown Road was a footpath used by Indians and colonial explorers.

Source: Lower Paxton Township Comprehensive Plan 2004-2014

Linglestown Tuesday tidbits

Today's top story … The Roman Catholic Diocese of Harrisburg plans to move Bishop McDevitt High School to Lower Paxton Township not far from CD East High School. CLICK HERE for details from The Patriot-News, and HERE for a WHTM abc27 video report and HERE for a map.

Restaurant review … There's a detailed review of Sakana Hibachi Steak House & Sushi on the Linglestown forum at PennLive.com, see thread #343. The eatery is located in the Patton Place plaza behind Dunkin’ Donuts along Linglestown Road.

Skateboarding anyone? … Plans for a skatepark at Lower Paxton’s George Park located along Nyes Road appear to be moving along. Central Penn Freedom Group, a nonprofit organization made up of six volunteers, is gearing up to raise $250,000. Township Supervisor Bill Hornung is helping to spearhead the project. CLICK HERE for more info.

Cable company deflects arrows … Comcast has been getting ripped in the media for dropping channels from its basic service package. CLICK HERE for a Comcast official’s take on the issue.

Twitter updates return … The widget in the right-hand sidebar has been fixed. Check it for event reminders and breaking news.

Words to live by … I urge you to watch the video presentation below by a young college professor who is expected to die soon. After viewing the video, CHECK HERE for a report on his medical condition.

Linglestown green Monday

Happy St. Patrick's Day to one and all!

LP news … The Lower Paxton Township supervisors will conduct a business meeting tomorrow night, March 18 at 7:30 pm, Township Municipal Center, 425 Prince Street. Comcast cable subscribers can view a live broadcast of the meeting on channel 20.

The supervisors will discuss and possibly take action on a final subdivision plan for phase 2 of the Chelsey Falls housing community located off of Goose Valley Road near Colonial Country Club.

I recently drove around the property. It is located on the side of a fairly steep hill that’s a 7-iron shot away from I-81 – I didn't get out of the car to check the noise level coming from the highway.

Also, the agenda includes a revised development plan for N. Mountain Road Office Court. I couldn't dig up any info on this project on the township’s Web site, but it's probably has something to do with the new office buildings in front of Linglestown elementary and middle schools.

BB notes … On Saturday, I traveled into Susquehanna Township via Linglestown Road and got my rapidly receding mop trimmed at Rick's Barber Shop in the Beaufort Plaza. The shop has four chairs and is very clean. I got fast service and a great cut for $12 plus a tip. I’m definitely going back.

Also, I got a chance to get dinner Saturday at the Eagle Hotel. The fare was very satisfactory, plus I got to meet for the first time Gazette reader Kim Paterekas, who was working as the Eagle's hostess.
_________________

Youth sports reminder – Linglestown Football Association will hold its first early registration this Saturday, March 22 from 9 am to noon at the Linglestown Fire Hall.

Central Dauphin school happenings

Free concert … The CD High Jazz Band and Orchestra concert will be held tomorrow night, Tuesday, March 18 at 7:00 pm in the high school auditorium. Admission is free. The musical groups are really a treat not to be missed, according to CD Band Boosters member Eric Bloom. “The students work hard all year and sound amazing in the high school's state-of-the-art auditorium,” he said.

CD bowler medals … Congratulations to CD High School bowling team member Justin Nye for finishing third at the PA State High School Bowling Championship Bowling held over the weekend in Altoona. Tyler Herman, another CD kegler, notched a very respectable fifth-place finish. CLICK HERE for a video report about the school’s bowling team that features both bowlers.

Show added for spring musical … CD High School’s musical "The Sound of Music" has added a show on Thursday, April 3 at 7 pm. Tickets are on sale now at the box office at the school and will be available the evening of the show.

Two shows are sold out – Friday, April 4 at 7:30 pm and Saturday, April 5 at 2:30 pm. Tickets for other shows are in short supply, so be sure to purchase tickets as soon as possible. CLICK HERE for more info.

Your're invited … Here's your chance to see how CD School District is spending taxpayer dollars. The district will hold an open house to tour the renovated Linglestown Middle School (formerly the junior high school) on Tuesday, March 25 from 6 to 8 pm.

Linglestown has at least one 'man cave'

Here's an exclusive look at a man cave that's been verified as being located in the Linglestown area. Send in a photo or two if you have a man cave that will top this one.

One more standing-O for Lady Rams

CLICK HERE for a WGAL TV-8 news report on CD girls' come-from-behind win Friday night over Pittsburgh's Mt. Lebanon in the state Quad-A championship game. The report includes interviews with Gabby Singer and sophomore standout Alyssa Thomas.

On a personal note, I'm normally very subdued watching sports on TV, but I was hooting and hollering during the closing minutes of this one!
________
Photo by John C. Whitehead of The Patriot-News

Game reports: CD Lady Rams win state title

Links to coverage in The Patriot-News about the CD Lady Rams basketball team snagging gold medals Friday evening in a stirring comeback victory over Pittsburgh's Mt. Lebanon ...

* CD heats up as Mt. Lebanon goes cold; Mt. Lebanon has no answer for CD's momentum change

* Dynamic CD duo: Thomas, Singer pull off 2nd-half rally to give Rams 1st state title

Lady Rams strike gold in State College

CD girls’ basketball team defeated Mt. Lebanon of Pittsburgh 56-49 Friday at Bryce Jordan Center in State College to become the PIAA Class Quad-A state champions.

Down by 8 points at halftime, the Rams won the school’s first state gold medal with a big fourth-quarter effort, outscoring the Blue Devils 25-10.

Junior point-guard Gabby Singer and sophomore guard/forward Alyssa Thomas were top scorers for CD. Singer and sophomore guard Sarah Dowhower were perfect from the stripe down the stretch to seal the victory.

On the TV post-game show, Rams coach Bill Wolf said he was not rattled by being down 8 at the half since the team only shot 25 percent from the field. He told the girls to continue playing tough defense, and to expect the shots to start swishing.

The Rams shot a steamy 50 percent from the field in second half.

Congrats to the Rams players and coaching staff for one heck of a season!

CLICK HERE for live blogging from The Patriot-News, and check back tomorrow for a link to the paper’s game.
_______________

Photo credit: Dan Gleiter of The Patriot-News

Search is on for Linglestown ‘man caves’

Diana Fishlock of The Patriot-News wrote a bodacious article – if you’re a guy – about man caves, which are also referred to as man centers and man sheds.

I'd like to spotlight man caves located in the Linglestown area, if there are any. And, I’ll gladly keep the identity and address of man cave owners a top secret upon request.

So please, if you have special place where women may not tread, contact me ASAP to compete for the coveted Linglestown Man Cave of the Year award.

Linglestown postcard

Here's a sure sign that spring is fast approaching. Volunteers with the Linglestown Baseball Association on Thursday afternoon started prepping the baseball field located along Balthaser Street that is used by teener, legion and twilight teams. Manning the rake is Fran Roman, who puts in a lot of time grooming the field.

Linglestown holiday weekend preview

The big St. Patrick’s Day weekend is upon us, and there are a surprising number of things happening in ye ole village of Linglestown.

The Eagle Hotel will feature specials and green beer Friday, Saturday and Monday, according to a barkeep who was decked out in a green t-shirt and hat today.

You could check out a new restaurant. Japanese-style foods are available at Sakana Hibachi Steak House & Sushi located at Patton Place behind Dunkin’ Donuts on Linglestown Road. Get the lowdown on this place by checking out a review on Linglestown forum at PennLive.com written by bakabaka, see thread #337.

And, St. Thomas Restaurant (pictured) in the village square is running a breakfast special as part of their grand opening festivities.

Staying in the village square, music at St. Thomas Roasters coffee house features 61 South on Friday, and Jim Baker on Saturday. Music starts at 8 pm both evenings, no cover.

For kids, Linglestown Life church will hold its EGGS-travaganza on Saturday at 1 pm. Activities include egg hunts, games and crafts.

To wrap things up, remember to check out the CD Lady Rams compete for a state basketball championship Friday night, 6 pm on PCN, which is channel 74 on the Comcast cable system.

Koons Pool seeks help from township

A member of the Koons Park Pool board asked the Lower Paxton Township supervisors Tuesday for financial assistance to help offset the cost to open the pool on Memorial Day weekend.

He said the pool and filtration systems are in good shape, but the pool faces about a $10,000 bill to have a contractor paint the pool and service its filtration system.

The supervisors briefly discussed giving the pool a $4,000 grant but did not make a firm commitment. Instead, they asked the pool representative to submit a formal request to township’s parks & rec director.

Last year the township gave the pool about $14,000, which included $7,000 to replace a well pump that went belly up just prior to last year’s Memorial Day weekend.

In December, an annual grant for the pool was among budget cuts made by the township to address decreasing tax revenue and increased fees from vendors in 2008.

Bill Hawk, chairman of the Board of Supervisors, urged the pool to aggressively seek new members as a way to sure up the pool’s financial situation.
_________________

Youth sports sign-ups ... Linglestown Football Association will hold early registration sessions on March 22, March 29 and April 5 from 9 am to noon at the Linglestown Fire Hall.

CD athletes get shot at state gold medals

Two groups of Central Dauphin athletes will be seeking state championships this weekend.

First up, the Rams girls’ basketball team will take on Pittsburgh’s Mt. Lebanon for the PIAA Class Quad-A state basketball championship Friday, 6 pm at Penn State’s Bryce Jordan Center in State College. The game will be televised live on PCN, channel 74 on the Comcast cable system.

The Rams qualified for the big game by creaming Allentown Allen 60-37 in the semifinal game Tuesday night in Reading. CLICK HERE for a game report, and HERE for a story about Emily Wolford, the senior sixth man on the Rams squad who has come back from knee injuries to help the team during its unprecedented playoff run.

Also on Friday, a pair of CD bowlers, Justin Nye and Tyler Herman, will be traveling to Altoona to compete in the PA State High School Bowling Championship. CLICK HERE to view a recent WHP-TV 21 news story about the CD bowling team.
______________

Upcoming community event ... Central Dauphin's High Jazz Band and Orchestra will be in concert on Tuesday, March 18 at 7 pm in the high school auditorium. Admission is free. The musical groups are really a treat not to be missed. The students work hard all year and sound amazing in the high school's state-of-the-art auditorium.

CD girls' b-ball team headed to state final

CD defeated Allentown Allen 60-37 tonight in Reading to advance to the PIAA Class AAAA basketball championship game Saturday in State College, according to a news brief posted by The (Allentown) Morning Call.

Check back tomorrow for a link to a game report by The Patriot-News.

Terrific Tuesday in Linglestown

Government watchdog … The Lower Paxton Township supervisors will hold a workshop session tonight at 6 pm, Township Municipal Center, 425 Prince Street.

The agenda includes a status report on Koons Park Pool. Late last year the township cut its annual $10,000 grant for the pool in a fiscal austerity move that touched off speculation the pool may not open this summer.

Also on the agenda is McNaughton Homes to discuss its plan for the massive Autumn Oaks housing community and needed improvements to Patton Road to accommodate the development.

CD news … High school students are moaning about the salt supply being pinched in the cafeteria; School board faces challenges trying to live up to its no-new-tax vow.

CD sports … CLICK HERE for a preview of tonight’s state girls’ basketball tournament semifinal tilt between CD and Allentown Allen (scroll down to “Third Time a Charm for CD girls."); Senior CD wrestling coach Jeff Sweigard and senior wrestler Walter Peppelman receive accolades, and Peppelman will compete in big-time tournament Saturday in Pittsburgh.
______________

Watch for information on Linglestown Gazette's food drive that will take place at Amelia's Grocery Outlet along Mountain Road.

Linglestown Monday morsels

* The CD Rams girls’ basketball team is in the final four of the PIAA Class AAAA state basketball tournament. They play Allentown Allen tomorrow night, March 11, in the semifinal round at the Geigle Complex in Reading, 7 pm. CLICK HERE for directions.

* A few days ago I posted a notice about a woman named Mary Roth who is looking for her birthfather who is believed to be living in the Harrisburg area. There’s additional info available about the search on the Linglestown forum at PennLive.com. (See thread #333.)

* Linglestown Life church held a CyberSafety seminar Friday night, and WHP TV-21 attended the session and filed this video report.

* High-budget presidential candidate is coming to the Linglestown area Tuesday. Meanwhile, low-budget presidential candidate is making news in southwest Virginia.
___________

This post is sponsored by blogHarrisburg, home of the best blogs in the midstate.

Eagle Hotel gets five-star review

Q, a Gazette reader and occasional contributor, checked out the Eagle this past weekend, and he submitted this review:

Great service, great brew, great food!

I was in the mood for some wings on Saturday. We have gift cards to Kokomo's and we cut out the coupon for the Eagle Hotel that was in one of those coupon mailings. At 5 pm, Kokomo's on Linglestown Road was packed, so I decided to give the Eagle a shot. I had only been to the Eagle a few times and only ate there once a few years ago. Well, we surely will be making the Eagle a frequent stop. It was the first time having their wings and they sure lived up to the hype! There were a few other families there, and it was to my surprise kid friendly! Great service, great brew, great food! I can't wait to go back and try other entrees!
_____________

Post sponsor: Cotolo Chronicles, the internationally acclaimed Internet radio show hosted by former Hollywood insider Frank Cotolo of Grantville, Pa.

Editorial: Greenway trails won’t be crime magnets

A Gazette reader submitted the following question about the Greenway Plan that Lower Paxton Township supervisors approved last week:

Are they planning on placing any trails through private property? I know a few years ago there was a plan to put a biking/walking path through the middle of my back yard and my neighbor's yard.

The locations of trails are unknown at this time. The lines shown in the Greenway Plan are not set in stone. The township park & recreation department would need to obtain the cooperation of homeowners to build a trail through back yards. Township officials have vowed not to take property via eminent domain for this project.

The proposed trails aim to make it possible to walk from neighborhoods to public parks, public schools and other neighborhoods. Most people using the trails would be the same people who drive and walk in neighborhoods throughout the township now.

As an example, as things are now, there's no way I'm going to walk along Route 39 from the village of Linglestown to CD High School. But I would make the hike if the proposed off-road trail through the fields east of the village to the high school becomes a reality.

It's almost guaranteed that a significant number of people will protest having a trail near their home. “The Greenway Plan is a great idea, but having a trail near my home scares the bejezus out of me,” they’ll say.

But, consider this: Public streets and sidewalks, if you’re lucky enough to have sidewalks in your neighborhood, are in fact trails that border residential properties. They give good and not so good people easy access to homes.

Again, the goal of the Greenway Plan is to enhance pedestrian and bicycle transportation and recreational opportunities for township residents, which is a good thing for staying healthy, reducing gasoline purchases and protecting the environment. Scads of township residents using the NIMBY (not in my back yard) argument will ensure that the $25,000 spent on the Greenway Plan was a waste of taxpayer money.

CD Rams capture wrestling gold

The front-page of the sports section in today’s Sunday Patriot-News screams out in big, bold print “GOLDEN RAM.” The headline is positioned over a photo of CD sophomore Marshall Peppelman (pictured) who won the state wrestling title at 140 pounds Saturday night before a packed house at the Giant Center in Hershey.

Meanwhile, CD senior Walter Peppelman, Marshall’s older brother and a defending state champ, lost his title match at 145 pounds to Cumberland Valley’s Joey Napoli by a heartbreaking score of 7-6.

In the team competition, CD came out on top for the second year in a row.

“We had seven qualifiers [for the state tournament], six medalists, two kids who got their first medals, another state champion and another team title,” CD coach Jeff Sweigard told Patriot-News wrestling reporter Rod Frisco. “I’d say we’ve earned some respect.”

CLICK HERE to read Frisco’s report.

In other CD sports news, the girls’ basketball team is gearing up for Tuesday night’s semifinal game against Allentown Allen. The time and site of the game still has not been announced.
___________

Photo credit: Patriot-News photgrapher John C. Whitehead

Ram-ettes qualify for state b-ball final four

CD Rams girls' basketball team defeated Scranton 51-40 Friday night in Pottsville to move into the PIAA AAAA state basketball tournament's final four. They will play William Allen from Allentown on Tuesday, location and time to be determined.

The game report by Andrew P. Shay of The Patriot-News has an interesting description of play during the first half of last night's game: "... this PIAA Class AAAA girls' basketball quarterfinal at Martz Hall was slobbering bulldog-ugly for a half."

In other CD sports action, four Rams wrestlers – Simon Rice, Marshall Peppelman, Walter Peppelman (2007 state champion), and Tony Dallago – are still in the running at the PIAA state tournament being contested at Giant Center in nearby Hershey. Here's today's schedule: semifinals at 8 am; finals at 8 pm.

I'll update the Twitter box in the right-hand sidebar this afternoon with names of CD wrestlers who qualify for tonight's championship round.

Linglestown postcard

Music at St. Thomas Roasters last night featured the Cotolo boys of Grantville. (Pictured from left to right: Jack, Ray and lead singer Frank.)

Help needed to find father

Linglestown Gazette received the e-mail shown below. I contacted the sender to verify the authenticity of the situation:

I hope you can help me. I am an adoptee who is searching for my birthfather who lives in Harrisburg. He would be in his mid to late 60s and fit this description:

* He most likely graduated from a local Harrisburg high school in 58, 59 or 60
* He was one of six kids
* His father was a teacher
* His older brother was a priest or minister (possibly Episcopal)
* His mother died of a stroke and sister died at age 25 prior to 1965
* In 1965 he was 6 feet tall, about 180 lbs, fair complexion and blonde/light brown hair
* In 1965 he had attended one year of college and had worked in a tool & die cast company
* He lives in or around Harrisburg today, is married and has children

Unfortunately, my birthfather does not know I exist. My birthmother moved to St. Louis during the pregnancy and then gave me up for adoption at birth in January of 1966. I realize that if this message reaches a relative, it would be quite a shock, but please, please contact me. If this man sounds like someone you know, please contact me.

-- Mary Roth

Pictures of Mary as a baby and what she looks like today are shown below. CLICK HERE to send e-mail to Mary.

TGIF Linglestown

The new Sheetz at the intersection of Allentown Blvd. and Blue Ribbon Ave. is starting to take shape. The store appears to be on track to open in May or June.

Other stuff …

* Residents who live in and near the village can be glad that Linglestown Fire Co. is a top-notch volunteer operation. Other local fire departments around the state aren’t fairing so well.

* The “Smart Car,” a tiny car that looks to be a great way to motor around the village, is back in the news. CLICK HERE for a video report from WHTM abc27.

* Low-budget presidential candidate is now in West Virginia. I guess he's not going to make a stop in Linglestown. Previously, I spotted him via the Internet in Chambersburg and Williamsport. CLICK HERE for a TV news report that includes video.

Linglestown weekend preview

Notable Friday happenings ...

* CyberSafety seminar at Linglestown Life church, 7 to 8 pm. CLICK HERE for more info.

* Music at St. Thomas Roasters features the coffee house's all-time favorite act, Frank Cotolo of Grantville. His masterful singing, acoustic guitar playing, story and joke telling have been described as a "monkey piloted trip to the moon," 8 pm, no cover.

* CD Rams girls' basketball team plays in the quarterfinals of the PIAA state tournament against Scranton, 6 pm, Martz Hall in Pottsville. CLICK HERE for driving directions.

Saturday's big event ...

* Central Dauphin High School Band Boosters Association will host its 18th annual Spring Craft Show at Central Dauphin High School on Saturday, March 8, from 9 pm to 3 pm. Admission and parking are free.

Linglestown hump day update

Greenway Plan approved … As I predicted yesterday, Lower Paxton Township supervisors approved a plan that identifies possible locations for bikeways and walkways that could link schools, parks and neighborhoods. The township-wide project could cost more than $14 million and take many years to complete.

Township officials are now in position to begin working on securing grants to begin implementing the plan. The supervisors vowed to not take private property to put off-road trails in place.

CLICK HERE to view the plan for the Linglestown area.

Village eatery gets press … St. Thomas Restaurant was featured today in a column by Sue Gleiter of The Patriot-News. The column also featured two new eateries at Patton Place shopping plaza located west of the village along Linglestown Road behind Dunkin’ Donuts.

CD news …

* Rams girls’ basketball team knocked off top seed Downingtown East 53-46 Tuesday night in Reading, advancing to the state tournament's quarterfinals. Next up for the Rams is a match-up with Scranton this Friday, time and location to be announced.

* Central Dauphin High School honor roll for the second marking period can be reviewed by clicking HERE.

Let's get political … GOP Congressional candidate Toni Gilhooley of Lower Paxton Twp. is profiled by the Lebanon Daily News. She is challenging Democratic incumbent U.S. Rep. Tim Holden in the November election.

A look at the wild side … A deer made a mess of an office along Linglestown Road. CLICK HERE for a video report from WHP TV-21.

What's your kid doing on the Net?

CyberSafety: Protecting Your Kids and Teens Online
Friday, March 7th
7:00-8:00 pm

While children physically may be alone in a room using the computer, once someone is logged onto the Internet, he or she is no longer alone. So how do you protect them?

Special Agent Dennis Guzy from the PA State Attorney General's Office will be conduct an Internet Safety Workshop for Parents to help you keep your kids safe online. At the workshop you will learn to assess your child’s online safety, get great tips for keeping your kids safe, and learn how to talk to your child about the potential dangers of the Internet, such as exposure to inappropriate material, sexual solicitation, harassment and bullying. A Q&A session will follow.

FREE AND OPEN TO THE PUBLIC! Workshop for parents only – please no kids.

Linglestown Life UM Church
1430 N. Mountain Rd, Harrisburg
(717) 545-5200

Hoofing it around Linglestown

Walking is my favorite form of exercise these days. I like to leave my trusty Saturn station wagon in the driveway and walk around the village and surrounding areas. Many Gazette readers have seen me – whether you realize it or not – walking my dog Buddy, a tan-colored lab mix, during the afternoon around Koons Park when it's not raining or extremely cold.

As a fan of walking, it goes without saying that the Greenway Plan that the Lower Paxton Township supervisors most likely will approve tonight looks like a good idea. The plan for the Linglestown area includes on- and off-road bikeways and walkways.

I have several questions related to the plan:

What would be done along Mountain and Linglestown roads, if anything, to make them township on-road bikeways?

Would sidewalks be constructed on streets marked neighborhood bikeways and walkways? Some kind of path is sorely needed along Blue Mountain Parkway and sections of Balthaser Street. Also, Linglestown Road east of Blue Mountain Parkway has a very narrow shoulder for riding bicycles.

Does the recommendation to improve the intersection at Linglestown Road and Blue Mountain Parkway take into consideration improvements already planned in the village improvement project slated to start construction this summer?

It looks like the plan will take many years to get close to being fully implemented. Will the numerous greenway improvements planned throughout the township be funded with monies other than state grants?

Developing story …

Balmy Monday in Linglestown

The Linglestown area experienced a taste of springtime weather today. My digital thermometer maxed out at around 63 degrees Fahrenheit this afternoon.

Other stuff …

* LP news – The Lower Paxton Township supervisors will conduct a business meeting tomorrow night, March 4 at 7:30 pm, Township Municipal Center, 425 Prince Street. Comcast cable subscribers can view a live broadcast of the meeting on channel 20. CLICK HERE for the meeting agenda.

Two agenda items have implications for Linglestown:

The board will vote on accepting a Greenway Plan that recommends numerous pedestrian and bike routes to connect neighborhoods and schools throughout the township. The plan calls for a regional bike route along Route 39 that would go through the village, and pedestrian improvements around Linglestown Jr. High School.

Another agenda item deals with the Linglestown square project. The board will vote on a supplement to the engineering agreement between the Township and Arora and Associates, P.C.

* CD sports – Rams girls’ basketball team will play a second round state tournament game against Downingtown East tomorrow night, March 4, at the Geigle Complex in Reading, 7:30 pm. Downingtown East defeated the Rams earlier this season. CLICK HERE for a game preview.

* Low-budget presidential candidate shows up in the Williamsport area. Maybe Linglestown will be his next stop?

Five Guys burgers reviewed

I'm on my own to scrape together some grub a couple evenings each week. Last Thursday I opted to leave the cooking to someone else, and decided to give the new Five Guys Famous Burgers and Fries restaurant at Colonial Commons along Route 22 a try.

I ordered small fries and a cheeseburger with lettuce, tomato, onion, pickle, ketchup and mustard. My beverage was a free cup of water. (Yeah, I’m a cheapskate.)

Few customers were in the place during the 2 pm hour, so I was surprised when it took about 10 minutes for my order to be prepared.

I discovered by reading the news clips used to decorate the walls that orders are turned out slowly because they are custom prepared – no food is prepared in advance and placed under heating lamps. It would be a good idea for order takers to explain the prep process to customers, especially for a newbie like me.

The burger had a nice hunk of meat in it – much, much bigger than what you get at Mickey D’s and other fast food joints.

The small fry was a gigantic pile of freshly sliced potatoes cooked in peanut oil that melted in my mouth. Next time I’m going to bring along an eating partner and share an order of famous fries. I had fries coming out my ears after downing a little over half of my serving.

The cost came in at a slightly overpriced $7.30 including tax, so I won’t be eating at Five Guys on a regular basis.

On a scale of 1 to 10, I rate Five Guys a solid 6 – definitely worth a try for all burger lovers.

Linglestown weekender

* Champion Ship, an all-ages music venue is Lemoyne, attracts teens from across the midstate region, including some from Linglestown.

* New Hope Church launches a community outreach program that aims to help people living in the Linglestown area deal with life's challenges. CLICK HERE to view the church’s Web site.

CD sports …

* The Sunday Patriot-New did a front-page feature article on the CD Rams wrestling team. CLICK HERE for a slide show about the team's recent victory in the state team championship.

* CD boys’ basketball coach resigns.

* On the frozen pond, Lower Dauphin bumps CD Rams ice hockey team from playoffs.