Help the Ram Band win up to $50K

Gazette readers can help the Central Dauphin High School Ram Band win up to $50,000 in a grant competition sponsored by Clorox cleaning products. You can vote once a day per email account and once per cell phone number (texting).

CLICK HERE to vote online. To locate the band's page, enter Harrisburg, PA in the LOCATION SEARCH box. You'll have to register the first time you vote.

You also can use a cell phone to text a vote to 44144 with the message clorox4715.

There are 38 days left in the voting period and the Ram Band was in 12th place at the time this post was published. Grants are awarded to the top four finishers.

Again, be sure to vote once a day via both email and cell phone to help the Ram Band win money for new uniforms and equipment.

Boo Bash to aid Humane Society

First Impressions Boutique, Gifts & Day Spa in Linglestown is teaming up with the Humane Society to host a Boo Bash this Saturday from 11 am to 2 pm.

There will be adoptable dogs dressed in Halloween attire on the store's front porch. Those who donate to the Humane Society will receive a complimentary Mimosa and will be able to take advantage of in store promotions. A percentage of select sales will be donated by First Impressions.

First Impressions also will be selling $2 raffle tickets for an animal themed tote (pictured above) filled with animal related merchandise valued at $125. Proceeds will support The Humane Society.
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Click on the Boo Bash flyer above to view a larger version.

Lower Paxton moved Trick-or-Treat to Oct. 31

The Patriot-News reported this afternoon that Lower Paxton's Trick-or-Treat night has been rescheduled from tomorrow night to 6 to 8 pm on Monday, Oct. 31, because of a bad weather forecast.

The National Weather Service says there's a 100 percent chance of rain tomorrow during the day, and then intermittent light rain in the evening.
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Hat tip to Gazette reader Q for the Q-Tip.

Linglestown Legion thanks the community

The Linglestown American Legion once again had a very successful chicken and rib Bar-B-Q today. The chicken and ribs were all sold, which is the normal level of support given by the community.

Proceeds from the sale help support the goals of the American Legion that are best stated in their mission statement:

The American Legion is the nation’s largest veterans service organization, committed to mentoring and sponsorship of youth programs in our communities, advocating patriotism and honor, promoting a strong national security, and continued devotion to our fellow servicemembers and veterans.

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Pictured from left to right - Rick, Alex, Dan, Charlie and Brad

Fall Fest includes antique appraisals on Sunday

Click on flyer to view a larger version.

Linglestown project dedicated by officials, residents

Linglestown Fall Festival kicks off today

Things get started today at 11 am with the square dedication and flag raising. CLICK HERE for info on other Fall Festival events.

Gazette debuts on Facebook

Please consider liking the Gazette on Facebook ...

Take a walk through Linglestown's history

The historical talk and tour described below are FREE event that are part of this weekend's Linglestown Fall Festival. (Click on the flyers to view larger versions.)

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For a sneak preview of what you'll learn about, check out a video news report by Chuck Rhodes of WHTM abc27.

CLICK HERE for a listing of all Fall Festival events.

Chuck Rhodes checks out Linglestown history

Below is the Out & About report by Chuck Rhodes of WHTM abc27 that I mentioned in a post a few days ago.

Java Head Stout made from Roasters' beans

The video shows Java Geof of St. Thomas Roasters preparing beans to be used in a beer brewed by Tröegs Brewing Company.

Linglestown to be featured on TV news

An Out & About segment by Chuck Rhodes on WHTM abc27 about the history of Linglestown will be broadcast tomorrow evening during the 6 pm newscast. If you miss it Monday, check it out Tuesday at noon.

Linglestown rec basketball sign-up dates

Attention youth basketball players ...

Registration sessions for the Linglestown Rec Basketball season will be held on three consecutive Thursday evenings, Oct. 20, 27 and Nov. 3 from 6–8 pm at the Linglestown Baseball Clubhouse located behind home plate at the midget baseball field in Koons Park.

CLICK HERE for more information.

Backyard News, 10.15.11

Lower Paxton Township will spend $31,000 to remove 97 trees and stumps that are interfering with sewer construction and repairs, is reviewing plans for a 92-unit addition at a development along Linglestown Road, and has been informed that Harrisburg may hit the township with a sewer-treatment rate hike.

CLICK HERE for a complete listing of municipal notes from The Patriot-News.

Linglestown-area community calendar

Oct. 13–15 ... Book collection at East Shore Area Library, lower level of library – Thursday, Oct 13 (10 am to 8 pm); Friday, Oct. 14 (10 am to 5 pm); Saturday, Oct. 15 (10 am to 2 pm)

NEW LISTING -- Oct. 15 ... Indoor flea market and baked goods sale at New Hope Church, 8 am–noon. CLICK HERE for map.

NEW LISTING -- Oct. 15 ... Linglestown Fire Company will be opening up its new fire station for an open house at 11 am. Stop by and see what your tax dollars and donations do! Check out the trucks, see the newly renovated station, try out a real fire extinguisher, and see how our rescue tools can save your life! Bring the kids!

Oct. 16 ... Capitol Operation Harrisburg's YOUTH SHOWCASE at Linglestown Life Church, 584 Colonial Club Drive, 2 pm

Oct. 19–22 ... East Shore Area Library book sale

Oct. 21–23 ... Linglestown Fall Festival Celebration

Oct. 21-23 ... Old fashioned hay rides at George Park sponsored by Lower Paxton Township Parks and Recreation, 6–8 pm. The fee is $3 per person.

Oct. 22 or 23 ... Pumpkin carving at George Park from 6–8 pm, $7 per pumpkin. Pre-registration is required – call Lower Paxton Township Parks and Recreation at 657-5635 to pre-register.

Oct. 22 ... Pumpkin Bash 2011 at George Park sponsored by Bethany Church of the Nazarene (Pony rides won't be offered due to insurance and liability issues)

Oct. 22 ... Chicken corn or ham & bean soup sale at St. Thomas United Church of Christ located about a mile east of the Linglestown square, 9 am–noon.

Ongoing activities:

Wednesday teas at St. Andrew's Episcopal Church in the Valley

Longaberger Basket Bingo events for fall and winter starting Sept. 18

Lower Paxton Trick-or-Treat set for Oct. 27

Boo!

It's time to once again prepare for little ones in search of candy and other goodies. Trick-or-treating in Lower Paxton Township will take place Thursday, Oct. 27, from 6–8 pm.

LP government watchdog

* At the request of property owners, the township supervisors agreed to submit an application for disaster funding to buy out a flood-prone home at 5805 Linglestown Road. The home (pictured) is located a few feet away from the Paxton Creek and was identified on Linglestown Gazette in 2008 as being an example of poor land-use planning.

According to The Patriot-News, other flood victims in the Harrisburg area also are ready to sell their properties to the government. CLICK HERE for a recent article out of the Wilkes-Barre area that describes how the property-buyout program works.

* In a related issue, several residents lodged complaints Tuesday during a township meeting about flooding and stormwater runoff caused by tropical storms last month. The township will investigate all complaints.

Supervisor Bill Hornung indicated that the current cost estimate of storm damage in the township is $750,000, and the total cost could reach $1.5 million.

* The township supervisors unanimously approved Tavia Larson to fill a vacancy on the Arts Council.
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Information for this post was provided by Stray Winds Area Neighbors, better known as SWAN.

Whittling away Linglestown project's punch list

With the return of fair weather, work resumed this week toward completing a small list of to-do items on the Linglestown improvement project.

Several benches were placed in the square.

Pedestrian crosswalks were painted along Linglestown Road and in the square.

Although not part of the township project, it's worth noting that the Eagle Hotel has used the public sidewalks in one quadrant of the square to make an outdoor cafe complete with an outdoor fireplace.

The completion of the project will be marked with dedication ceremonies that will be held during the Linglestown Fall Festival Celebration on Oct. 21–23.

Local TV icon tapes segment in Linglestown

I stepped inside St. Thomas Roasters yesterday and lo and behold there was longtime TV weatherman turned occasional reporter Chuck Rhodes of WHTM abc27.

He spent some time in Linglestown taping an Out & About segment on some historical spots in the village that will be spotlighted during the Linglestown Fall Festival Celebration to be held Oct. 21–23.

Suburban hiking in Linglestown

Now that it's stopped raining, you might see me walking during day in the Linglestown area. My wife and daughter use our two cars to commute to work, so I'm now an official suburban hiker. (I telecommute on my job.)

Beyond being good exercise, suburban hiking lets you see things that are out of sight when driving a car.

For instance, my walking path today included the stretch of Linglestown Road between Colonial Club Drive and the village. I spotted the pictured big bird along the Paxton Creek across from the entrance to Ranger Road.

I'm not a birder, but everything I found via Google points to it being a Great Blue Heron. The bird took flight while I was taking photos and it appeared to have a six-foot wingspan.

Line painting scheduled this week in LP

PennDOT will be doing line painting Wednesday through Saturday throughout Lower Paxton Township. This slow-moving operation is scheduled for Linglestown, Colonial, Mountain, Union Deposit and Nyes Road to name a few.

Motorists should stay at least 100 feet behind an operating paint truck and refrain from passing one unless directed by a flag person or paint crew member. Freshly-painted traffic lines typically dry within 90–120 seconds.

LP police make news by fining students

Lower Paxton Township police cited several Penn State University students for soliciting motorists for donations at an intersection to kick off Cancer Awareness Month. CLICK HERE to read the entire story from The Patriot-News.

The newspaper's editorial board today called for township police to rescind the fines.

Help Linglestown firefighters win $10,000

Linglestown Fire Company is taking part in a contest by Liberty Mutual that could earn the volunteer firefighters a $10,000 prize.

To help out, please CLICK HERE to fill out a 10-question fire prevention questionnaire.

I was the 17th person to do it on behalf of the fire company – and I got a perfect score on the quiz. Take a few minutes right now and see if you can match my score.