Backyard news, 10.27.08

* Patriot-News nightlife guru Sara Bozich has spilled the beans (scroll down to end of column) about Troegs Brewing Co. in Harrisburg using coffee beans roasted by Java Geof of St. Thomas Roasters to make a special brewskie. The coffee house is hosting a Troegs tasting event on Thursday, Nov. 20, 6:30–8 pm. Be sure to mark your calendar!

* From The Patriot-News … CD East art teachers give students a chance to express their feelings and learn skills that can lead to jobs. … CD Rams football team upended Lower Dauphin 28–14 Friday night at Landis Field. The win qualified the Rams for the district playoffs. … CD Rams field hockey advanced in district playoffs Saturday by defeating Warwick 4–0 at Hersheypark Stadium.

* Holy Name of Jesus Church is having a Holiday Craft Show on Saturday, November 15, 8 am to 3 pm. Gazette reader and contributor KM is going to sign up to sell stuff there – homemade craft items. If you want to set up a table, send an e-mail to the event organizer to reserve your spot. The cost is $25 for an 8-foot table space – the church will supply a table and two chairs. They get quite a few people through there, said KM.

* I had another adventure buying jeans, this one at Ollie’s Bargain Outlet on Allentown Blvd. I insist on trying on jeans before making a purchase since there are more jean cuts made these days than I can count with my fingers. Well, it turns out that Ollie’s doesn’t have a dressing room – a store employee said I could return the jeans within 30 days if they didn’t fit. No way! Instead I tied on the jeans in the restroom, and to my glee the carpenter pants fit!

By the way, the Ollie’s website is packed with cool sound effects.

* My miles-driven total for the one-week transportation experiment called Project No Drive ended Saturday at 120.5. I logged 46 miles Friday in my trusty 1998 Saturn SW1 to attend a concert at Messiah College, and 14 miles running errands Saturday. If you subtract the 46 miles driven for entertainment, my daily average for day-to-day stuff was a little over 10.5 miles.

Analysis: I had hoped to get a lower daily average since I work for pay from my home, but going cold turkey from driving is darn near impossible in a suburban neighborhood. The village of Linglestown and most other Lower Paxton Twp. neighborhoods lack a full complement of businesses and services to be true walkable communities. Plus, the main thoroughfares in the Lower Paxton Twp. are hazardous to walk. Many streets, like Balthaser and Wenrich, don’t have a berm for pedestrians.

There is a ray of hope for pedestrians though – Lower Paxton Twp. is in the very early stages of implementing a greenway plan.

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