Linglestown civic group featured in daily newspaper

If you're not familiar with Linglestown Area Civic Association, the area's newest community group, here's your chance to get in the know.

The Patriot-News did a feature article on the group that is worthy of your attention. CLICK HERE to read the story.

Linglestown Saturday happenings

Start this Saturday, Sept. 29 off with a PANCAKE BREAKFAST at Linglestown Fire Company, 7 to 11 am. Cost is $7 for adults and $4 for children under 12.

Next, shop until you drop at the COMMUNITY FLEA MARKET at New Hope Church, which is the only church along Country Club Drive. (map)
 
Odds are you'll need additional nourishment after rummaging for deals, so head over to St. Thomas United Church of Christ for their drive-in CHICKEN BAR-B-QUE, 10 am until sold out. The church is located along Route 39 about a mile east of the roundabout in the village square.

If you're lucky, you'll have just enough time to plop into your easy chair, start digging into your bird and watch Penn State take on Illinois in the Big 10 football opener.

Enjoy your Saturday in Linglestown, a small village with a big heart!
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Photo by Danielle Bostic

CD School Board meeting tonight at 6:30 pm

Please join me, Linglestown Gazette publisher B², in attending tonight's Central Dauphin School Board meeting that features a workshop session dedicated to comments from the public, 6:30 pm, Lecture Hall in CD East High School.

I'll be sharing info on the newly formed Citizens for CD Schools group and ways the board and administration can use workshop sessions on an ongoing basis. It's somewhat dry stuff but I always try to jazz it up.
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CLICK HERE for an article from The Patriot-News that explains why a discussion on the possible closure of some school buildings has been postponed.

Move your business to Linglestown

Linglestown building has been transformed in beautiful office spaces

Last week I had the pleasure of meeting Linglestown-area resident Gordon Weinberg who has renovated the office building at 1288 N. Mountain Road into modern office and retail rental spaces.

I toured the second floor and it's a place that I'd rent in a heartbeat if I decide to leave the confines of my home office.

Gordon has renovated and modernized the building with high-tech stuff like LED lighting and something he refers to as "mini split heating and cooling." Heck, the place even has a LED advertising sign out front that can be used to promote a business.

If you want to take a tour, contact Gordon at 652-1730 or send him an email.
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Full Disclosure:  This is not an advertisement, but Gordon did say he would throw a few shekels my way if a blog post helped him rent a space. Also, I worked a few hours in the building last week thanks to one of the St. Thomas Roasters porch misfits whose employer rented a second-floor space.

Life on the porch at St. Thomas Roasters

NY driver caught red-handed violating a local traffic law

A ripple of excitement spread among a few of the morning misfits on the porch at St. Thomas Roasters last week when a motorist from the Empire State did a very New Yorker thing – parked against the flow of traffic. You may not be aware that this vehicular maneuver is a big fat no-no in Lower Paxton Township.

This dastardly deed couldn't be left alone and suggestions on what to do started flowing like the Linglestown Blend coffee being dispensed inside Roasters. Calling the cops was dismissed, and no one could come up with a snide comment to hurl at the law-violating dude.

Then Todd Parlin, the hero of this story, said "watch this" and proceeded to inform the driver that he could get hit with a ticket for parking his car like they do in the Big Apple.

"I don't want to see you pay for the world's most expensive cup of brew," Parlin said.

The New Yorker thanked Parlin, scurried back to his car and drove off in search of a legal parking space.

This is why I like being of member of the morning java-junkies tribe – we're the kind of group that makes you darn proud to be a misfit.
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Other "porch life" posts that you might enjoy:

Linglestown backdrop for political

Real-life story: Linglestown Truck-O-Rama
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Citizens for CD Schools gets some press

Prior to jetting off on an overseas missions trip, Patriot-News reporter Mary Klaus penned a story about the kickoff meeting of the Citizens for CD Schools that was held on Sept. 11.

Speaking of the group, I will try to contact those of you who expressed a willingness to serve on a steering committee next week to schedule our first get-together.

CD changes game plan for Monday workshop

Community discussions about Central Dauphin School District enrollment trends and possible building closures have been delayed.

But, the board WILL conduct a workshop session this Monday, Sept. 24 in the Lecture Hall at CD East High School starting at 6:30 pm and citizens have an opportunity to speak.

Below is the message that appears on the home page of the district's website:

Due to the unexpected number of new students registering in the district, the Facilities & Enrollment Study discussion set to begin on Sept. 24 has been postponed. The Administration will commence discussions when enrollment figure data become more stable.

At the September 24, 2012 school board meeting, a workshop will be held beginning at 6:30 p.m. The board will devote one hour to public comment on any subject matter. Individuals wishing to speak must sign up with their topic of discussion, with Mrs. Kim Fisher, board secretary, by 4:00 p.m. Friday, September 21, 2012. Mrs. Fisher can be contacted at 717-545-4703, ext. 209 or by email.

Backyard News, 09.20.12

* Gazette congrats go out to Andrew Hicklin, a Boy Scout with Troop 10 based at St. Thomas United Church of Christ in Linglestown, on the completion of his Eagle Scout Project, new flag poles at the church's cemetery that display the American and Boy Scout troop flags.

* Lower Paxton watchdog group Stray Winds Area Neighbors, referred to as SWAN, has written a letter of support for the Village of Linglestown Project to be selected as a winner of a Dauphin County’s Premier Project Award.

CLICK HERE for archived posts about the improvement project completed in summer 2011 that added two roundabouts on Route 39 and many other upgrades.

* Lower Paxton Township has created an eleven member study committee to develop the Koons Park/Wolfersberger Park Master Plan. Committee members are from the Parks and Recreation Committee, the Planning Commission, and the public. In case you're not in the know, Wolfersberger Park is a large undeveloped tract located near the historic village of Linglestown along Wenrich Street.

Linglestown Road Warriors

Linglestown Area Civic Association (LACA) held its first “Adopt-A-Road” cleanup earlier this month in the village of Linglestown along Route 39 and N. Mountain Road.

The group found more trash than they originally believed was out there. It was very successful and very rewarding, said Doug Kepler, the association president.

Speaking of LACA, the group will hold its monthly meeting this Wednesday, Sept. 19 at 7 pm in the front meeting room at Linglestown Fire Company's social hall (brick building).

Beyond beautifying the village, the association is working to stage the annual caroling and Christmas tree lighting event and something new and pretty darn cool – a New Year's Eve celebration in the village square.

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PICTURED – Danette Blank, Denise Deimler, Sharon Griffiths, Andrea Kepler, Doug Kepler,  Debbie McKenna, Bill Minsker, Kathleen Novosel

Participants not in photo – Kelly McEntee and Angela Dick, who were still picking up trash at the time the photo was taken, and Andrew Enders, who snapped the photo.

SAVE THE DATE -- CD Band-a-RAMa, Sept. 22

The Central Dauphin High School Ram Marching Band will host top local high school and a college marching band at the 31th annual Band-a-RAMa, to be held at Landis Field on the campus of the Central Dauphin Middle School this Saturday, September 22 starting at 7 pm.

Tickets are available at the gate and are $7 for adults and $5 for students and senior citzens.

An evening of great music, pageantry and color, Band-a-RAMa is the perfect family event, featuring performances by a dozen high school marching bands, a college marching band, food, and fun!

Next steps for Citizens for CD Schools

For those of you who attended last Tuesday's kickoff meeting for the newly named Citizens for CD Schools, I will be in touch with you via email this week about getting the group up and running.

If you missed the meeting and want to be kept in the know, email the Gazette and you'll be added to the email list.

New art at Roasters

Danielle Bostic, photographer

Beyond being a great java joint and community hub, St. Thomas Roasters in Linglestown is an outlet for local artists to get their works in front of the public's eyes.

Currently, photographic portraits by Danielle Bostic of Linglestown adorn the back wall at the coffee house.

Danielle is a graduate of Central Dauphin High School and Antonelli Institute. Beyond fine art, she has experience behind the camera at weddings, family events and studio photo sessions.

In case you're wondering, yes, my wife and I are Danielle's parents.

CD bus woes back in the news

Central Dauphin is working to resolve overcrowding on some school buses, according to a report by WHTM abc 27 that features district resident Eric Epstein, who also represents the bus drivers' union.

In a related matter, Epstein told district officials in June that the fee charged this school year by Durham School Services, the district's bus contractor, doesn't add up in light of reduced number of bus routes, buses and drivers.

Karen McConnell, the district's top finance administrator, said that Epstein's estimated transportation cost for this school year was inaccurate because the district purchased bus fuel at a better price than expected.

Epstein also told district officials that the new contract with Durham would allow Durham to jack up its rates over the next three years.

CLICK HERE to read Epstein's comments to the school board.

Benefit concert coming Friday to Roasters

VIDEO LINKS: Concert info ... Tiny People Matter website

CD citizens' group appears to be a go!

About 20 fine Americans showed up for the kickoff meeting Tuesday evening at St. Thomas Roasters coffee house in Linglestown.

By a fairly wide margin, the name "Citizens for CD Schools" was selected for the group name.

Most importantly, four people indicated a willingness to serve on the group's steering committee.

More details to follow ...
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In other school news, WHTM abc27 reports that come CD buses are overcrowded. CLICK HERE for the story and video report that includes quotes from community activist and school bus drivers' union representative Eric Epstein.

CD citizens' group debuts tonight

All systems are go for tonight's kickoff of the Central Dauphin citizens' group at St. Thomas Roasters coffee house in Linglestown, 7-8 pm.

Please come, buy a beverage and join with your neighbors to begin a new journey as a community to help CD overcome tough times in public education.

I assure tonight's gathering will be quick, painless and maybe you'll have a yuk or two to boot. NO EXCUSES ... let's go!

CD Schools: Last chance for immortality!

OK, OK ... immortality is a bit of a stretch, especially when it comes to finding a name for the new Central Dauphin citizens' group.

I'm prepping for the group's kickoff meeting this Tuesday, Sept. 11, from 7 pm to no later than 8 pm at St. Thomas Roasters coffee house in Linglestown.

You have until noon Monday, Sept. 10

to submit name suggestions.

Below is the list of names received to date:

Citizens for CD Schools

Citizens Alliance for CD School District's Future

Concerned Citizens Alliance for CD Schools

Concerned Citizens Alliance for CD Schools' Future

Concerned Citizens Alliance for CD School District

Central Dauphin Public Schools Alliance

Need a dose of patriotism?

Frank Ryan

In my opinion, every so often it's a good thing to be reminded that we live in a great country. You have an opportunity to do just that thanks to the Tea Party Patriots of Central Pennsylvania.

The keynote speaker at the group's meeting Monday evening will be Frank Ryan, who is a retired Marine colonel and former congressional candidate.

If you don’t know Frank or have never heard him speak, I'm told that you are in for a very exciting evening. For what it's worth, I plan to stop by after the school board meeting and hear what he has to say.

The meeting will start at 7 pm at New Love in Christ Church, which is located in the former Lower Paxton Junior High School on Jonestown Road. CLICK HERE for a map.

Busy weekend on tap in Linglestown

If you're in search of things to do this weekend, look no further .. .

TODAY, Saturday, Sept. 8 ... Darlington Village Community Yard Sale starting at 8 am. Darlington Village is a townhouse development with one entrance on Blue Ribbon Ave. and another on Blue Stone Ave. Rain date is Saturday, Sept. 15.

TODAY, Saturday, Sept. 8 ... Cub Scout Pack 68 of Linglestown will be have two Popcorn "Show and Sells" today. One will be at the Darlington Village Community Yard Sale and one at Hornung's Hardware.

TODAY, Saturday, Sept. 8 ... Car Show at St. Andrew's in the Valley Episcopal Church, noon – 5 pm, CLICK HERE for details. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 9. Rain date is Sunday, Sept. 9.

Sunday, Sept. 9 ... Basket Bingo at Linglestown Fire Hall, doors open at 11 am, free early-bird game at 12:30 pm.

BBQ at Linglestown-area church Saturday

Epiphany Lutheran Church on Colonial Road is sponsoring a Barbeque Dinner on Saturday, September 8, 2012 starting at 10 am until gone.

CLICK HERE for directions to the church.

Linglestown backdrop for political photo shoot

I sensed something different was in the making when I rolled up to St. Thomas Roasters this morning on my trusty bicycle.

There was a nattily dressed young woman sporting a pleasant aroma walking in front of the coffee house obviously in search of something. She had a foreign accent to boot!

Shaking off a feeling that I was in Paris or Venice on holiday, I asked her if I could provide some type of assistance. She declined and said that she was certain Roasters was the place she needed to be.

Having completed my mission of chivalry, I sauntered into the coffee house to order my usual medium coffee with a refill, forked over $2.50 to Java Geoff and then took my regular seat on the porch to solve the problems of the world with the morning crew of misfits and retired guys. (By the way, I'm one of the misfits.)

Then, several artsy types carrying photographic equipment joined the sweet-smelling gal with a foreign accent.

The reason for this flurry of activity became apparent when John McNally, the Republican candidate running for the state senate seat being vacated by longtime officeholder Jeff Piccola, appeared seemingly out of thin air.

Then it dawned on me – there's a giant-sized campaign postcard in the making. Yes, yes, that had to be the answer to this riddle.

I didn't confirm it with John's campaign manager, but I'd bet you a bag of donuts – and you buy the donuts – that scenes from this and other photo shoots will soon fill mailboxes throughout our village in a replay of John's primary election campaign.

Just like they do at Hollywood movie sets, John was escorted to the side yard of the coffee house to get makeup applied and then the snapping of high-tech cameras began.

The photo at the top of this post was taken during the shoot. John is youngest-looking person in the photo.

After things returned to normal and John paid his respects to my comrades and me, I considered how this slice of political show biz would impact whether I vote for John or his Democratic opponent Rob Teplitz.

My pondering didn't bump me out of the undecided column.

But as I sipped my mixture of Dark Chocolate Dust and Sumatra Mandheling coffees, I wondered, could Rob one-up John by employing an even more stunning makeup artist?

The answer to this question, my friends, could be the key to scoring my vote.

Ain't democracy great!
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