Big game at Koons Park tonight

Linglestown Twilight sandlot baseball team plays for a first-round playoff bye against Hummelstown tonight at Koons Park, 6 pm.

National Night Out to be celebrated Aug. 3

Lower Paxton Township's National Night Out celebration will be held Tuesday, August 3 at George Park located off Nyes Road, 6–9 pm.

There will be displays, food, drinks, emergency vehicles and activities provided by the township's parks and recreation department.

Sheetz near Linglestown robbed

The Sheetz on Allentown Boulevard reported an armed robbery early this morning. CLICK HERE for a news brief from The Patriot-News.

Twilight gets big win over Hummelstown

Linglestown Twilight sandlot baseball team took a big step Sunday toward making their path easier to a fourth straight league championship by downing Hummelstown 8–2, reducing the team's magic number for securing a first-round playoff bye to one.

Twilight can lock up the bye by defeating Hummelstown in their final regular season game this Friday in Hummelstown at 6 pm. They also can back into the bye if Palmyra loses one of their remaining three games.

In Sunday's contest, Jason Kelly pitched a complete game and helped his own cause by banging out three hits. Kyle Hollingsworth, Jon Stahl and Sam Phillips each had a pair of hits.

Finally, the team is hosting a special event this Thursday and all Gazette readers are invited to attend. (Click the ad to view a larger version.)

Linglestown alley gets new sewer line

Raspberry Lane, an alley south of Linglestown Road that runs the full length of Linglestown, is in the process of getting new sewer lines. Lower Paxton Township did the project sooner than planned so the alley could be paved to provide better access to village merchants.

Work to replace the main line in the alley has been completed, and it can be used to get to Koons Park and businesses.

Lines from the main to homes along Linglestown Road are now being installed.

Twilight in race for playoff bye

Linglestown Twilight sandlot baseball team dropped a 5–3 game Friday evening to Palmyra. The turning point came in the third inning when Palmyra plated four on three hits and an error.

The loss made Twilight’s path to a first-round bye in the league playoffs a bit harder. To lock up second place and the last bye, Linglestown needs to close out the regular season Sunday by sweeping a home-and-away twin bill against Hummelstown, which won two games against Linglestown earlier this season with late-game rallies.

Linglestown will need some help from Middletown and Palmyra during the closing days of the regular season to get a bye if they lose one or two Sunday.

Game one Sunday will start at 1:30 pm at Koons Park. The teams will travel to Hummelstown for game two at 5 pm.

In Friday’s game, Twilight pitcher Pete Hayden only gave up six hits in a losing effort. At the plate, Kyle Hollingsworth went 3-for-3 and newcomer Corey Ellsesser chipped in two hits and a RBI. Ellsesser, a Central Dauphin Ram standout this past spring, also made a sprawling grab of a fly ball in right field.

Twilight adds pair of wins

Linglestown Twilight sandlot baseball team defeated Steelton on Monday and Penbrook on Thursday to remain atop of the East Shore Twilight League with a 17–8 record.

The team plays in Palmyra tonight at 6 pm at the In The Net Sports Complex. The regular season ends on Sunday with two games against Hummelstown – 1:30 pm at Koons Park and 5 pm at Hummelstown.

Swimming price break

Evening swims cost less now at Koons Pool. Check it out HERE.

Linglestown weekender

Lower Paxton Township’s TGIF summer concert series will feature the sounds of Timeless this Friday, July 23 at Brightbill Park, 7–8 pm, free admission. The band plays classic tunes from not so long ago, and is headed up by Linglestown-area resident Dave Kaprocki. Be sure to bring a lawn chair.

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Calvary Build, a Habitat for Humanity project sponsored by Calvary United Methodist Church, is hosting a Sunday Brunch in the Church Fellowship Hall, 4700 Locust Lane, on Sunday, July 25 from 9:30 am–12:30 pm. Proceeds will benefit the 2010 house construction project on Woodbine Street that will break ground in late summer.

Tickets for the brunch are $12 for adults (11 and up), $6 for children (ages 6-10), and free for those 5 and younger. Tickets may be ordered by calling the church office at 545-0021 (payable on the day of the Brunch).

Twilight vaults into first place

Linglestown Twilight sandlot baseball team won two of three games over the weekend to move into first place of the East Shore Twilight League with a 15–8 record. The team will earn a bye in the first-round of the playoffs if they finish first or second.

On Friday at Koons Park, Twilight scored seven runs in the first inning and coasted to a 7–1 win over last-place Steelton. Brad Sanders pitched five innings of shutout ball to get the win, and Josh Muscalus finished out the game to earn a save. The offensive star of the game was shortstop Mark Frailey who went 3-for-4 with a double and two RBIs.

Linglestown split a doubleheader on the road against Valley View on Saturday. According to The Patriot-News, pitcher Joe Leo threw a one-hitter to lead Linglestown to a 7–1 victory in the first game. In game two, Valley View scored in the bottom half of the first extra inning to edge Twilight 4–3.

Twilight will play the final home game of the regular season this Sunday against Hummelstown at Koons Park. Game time is 1:30 pm.

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Twilight notches key victory over Lawton

Linglestown Twilight found a way Tuesday to take down Lawnton 7–4 on the road despite having a short bench and no regular pitchers available.

It looked like Twilight was going to have a rough game when pitcher Sam Phillips, who normally is the starting shortstop, gave up four runs in the first inning including a two-run homer to Lawnton outfielder Jesse Savage. Fortunately, Phillips got on track and blanked Lawnton the next for innings.

Meanwhile, Twilight chipped away at Lawton’s lead by scoring a run in each of the first four innings. That set the stage for Nate Shroy's dramatic three-run roundtripper in the top of the sixth inning to put Twilight in the lead for good.

Second baseman Nick Barbera relieved Phillips in the sixth, striking out two and getting a ground out. The game was called after six innings due to darkness. (Regulation sandlot games are seven-inning contests.)

At the plate, catcher Bryan Stovall banged out three hits and one RBI, and third baseman Brad Sanders had two hits and one RBI.

Twilight (13–7) plays Steelton (5–14–3) this evening at Koons Park, 6 pm.

Lower Paxton seeks rec grants

Lower Paxton Township is hoping to obtain grant money for an energy conservation plan at the Friendship Center and for the development of a recreation plan for Wolfersberger and Koons parks. (Wolfersberger Park is undeveloped parkland located near Linglestown along Wenrich Street south of the entrance to the paintball fields.)

CLICK HERE for more details from The Patriot-News.

Linglestown weekend happenings

* Luau Days at First Impressions through Sunday. CLICK HERE for details.

* Live music at St. Thomas Roasters, 2 Sides 2 Die on Friday and Brandon Weistling on Saturday, 8–10 pm, no cover.

Speaking of Roasters, Java Geof told me yesterday that he has an opening for a musical act on Friday, Aug. 20. Give him a call at (717) 526-4171 to reserve that date.

* West Hanover Township’s 225th Anniversary Celebration continues with History Day on Saturday at Mt. Laurel Community Park on Piketown Road, 9 am–3 pm. CLICK HERE for info from The Patriot-News.

Paving starts in village makeover

Construction crews have begun pouring street curbs and laying down the base layer of asphalt on the south lane of Route 39 west of the square in Linglestown. The contractor hopes to finish road construction of both lanes before the snow starts flying this year.

Noise regs in the works

Lower Paxton Township officials are scheduled to discuss this evening proposed regulations to put a lid on chronic neighborhood noise disputes.

The issue was raised over a year ago by watchdog group SWAN in response to long-standing noise problems experienced by two households affiliated with the group that could not be resolved by local authorities.

The Paxton Herald, a local tabloid publication, has come out against the proposed rules that, according to the paper's editor, provide for punishment of a $600 fine and 90 days of jail time in severe cases, and would require a permit to hold backyard gatherings in some situations.

Tonight’s meeting at the Municipal Center will begin the process to publicly discuss the proposed legislation.

If the noise ordinance is eventually adopted, I can assure you that police will not be patrolling neighborhoods listening for noisy gatherings to check out – the goal is give police enough authority to respond to complaints called in by residents.

For more insights into this issue, CLICK HERE for an opinion piece by a township resident who has been impacted by nuisance noise from an uncooperative neighbor.
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Check out tonight’s township meeting agenda, 6 pm, that includes continued discussion of a petition from Linglestown residents to open alley Raspberry Lane as a public street.

Twilight baseball update

Linglestown Twilight sandlot baseball team started East Shore Twilight League action this week in second place with a 12–7 record. Below are recaps of the last four games:

Linglestown 3 – Middletown 2 (July 8) … Twilight jumped out to a three-run lead in their first at-bat and held on to win by a run. Center fielder Scott Montgomery and left field Nate Shroy each drove in a run on singles. Jason Kelly pitched a complete game and allowed no earned runs.

Middletown 11 – Linglestown 7 (July 10) … In a slugfest, Middletown turned the game around by scoring five runs in the sixth inning and three in the seventh. Twilight’s Nate Shroy hit a home run with two on in the first inning.

Pennbrook 6 – Linglestown 4 (July 10) … Twilight had a 4–0 lead heading into the fifth inning when Penbrook got hot, scoring five on a grand slam and a home run to take the lead for good. Twilight third baseman Brad Sanders had a good game at the plate with a double that scored two and a sacrifice bunt.

Linglestown 7 – Palmyra 0 (July 11) … Twilight’s veteran pitcher Pete Hayden turned in another solid, complete-game performance, striking out three and giving up five hits and two free passes against league leading Palmyra. Second baseman Nick Barbera had a perfect game at the plate, going three-for-three with three runs scored and one batted-in. Also, catcher Kyle Hollingsworth had three RBIs and Nate Shroy hit a towering solo homer.

Twilight’s next home game at Koons Park is this Friday, July 16 against Steelton, 6 pm. CLICK HERE for the team’s regular schedule for the rest of the regular season.

Updates from Linglestown merchants

First Impressions Luau Days
Save the dates!
July 14-18 (Wednesday-Sunday)

Linglestown Church Of God Bake Sale
July 17, on front porch at First Impressions
10 am - until baked goods are gone.
Beat the heat ... shop and eat! Sizzlin' summer savings and enjoy a FREE lemonade and hot dog!

Find First Impressions on Facebook.

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First Impressions and Linglestown Church Of God are proud members of the Linglestown Merchant Association.

Twilight tops Middletown

Rhys Wolford pitched another solid game to lead Linglestown Twilight to a 10–4 win Wednesday over Middletown at Middletown High School. His teammates gave him a good cushion early the game, scoring six runs in the first three innings. The team entered the holiday weekend with a 10–5 record, second place in the East Shore Twilight League.
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CLICK HERE for Twilight's schedule.

Linglestown fireworks show Monday, July 5

The popular fireworks show at Koons Park sponsored by Linglestown Fire Company and Lower Paxton Township will light up the sky Monday night starting at about 9:30 pm.

Also, Koons Pool has a special offer to get a great place to view the show.

According to The Paxton Herald, fire company members will be collecting donations prior to the show to offset costs for staging the community event, so please give generously if you are able to help out.