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Print Edition Highlights - September 1, 2011

--Mid-Atlantic quake causes little damage in area
By Peggie Williams

_---There has been a dam in the Yellow Breeches at Rosegarden since the late 1700s. By the end of September there will be one no more.
_---Deemed unsafe by the Department of Environmental Protection, the lowhead dam just west of the Rosegarden Bridge on Old Gettysburg Road is being slowly removed.
_---“I can’t wait for this to be over,” said Linda Gates, who presently owns the Rosegarden house and property, which was once owned by the McCormick family of Harrisburg. “It’s been a crazy two years.”
_---That’s how long it’s been since the DEP told them the dam failed an inspection and it would have to be either fixed or removed.
_---“We loved the dam when we bought the place,” said Linda. That was just weeks before the DEP inspection.
_---And they tried to save it. But an engineering study showed there would be no way to restore what was there. They would have to start from scratch, which would cost nearly $1 million. It was something they could not afford to do by themselves.
_---“We contacted everyone we could think of to help with the cost of rebuilding,” said Linda’s husband, Lowell Gates. That included historical societies and commissions, environmental groups, watershed groups and government officials. “No one was interested in helping us save the dam.”

Photo by Curt Werner
A piece of heavy equipment rests in front of the Rosegarden dam on Friday, Aug. 26. Sections of the concrete were removed to allow a controlled slow release of the water.

Rosegarden history lesson
_---The first dam at the Rosegarden site was a wooden structure that first appeared in the late 1700s to provide power for the Brougher Mill. The property was passed down through the Rosenbrough family until 1880, when it was sold to Henry McCormick, of Harrisburg, who gave the property the name Rosegarden. At that time the dam was converted to a concrete-and-steel structure.
_---The Yellow Breeches runs east to west for 33 miles at the base of South Mountain. It was once known by its Native American name, Callapatscink which means “where the waters turn back.” It’s thought that name was based on what one source describes as “its torturous meanderings as it approaches the Susquehanna.” The modern name is attributed to two sources. One story claims that someone was washing his buckskin breeches (pants) that were so dirty they turned the water yellow. But more likely it is just a corruption of Yellow Beeches, a type of tree that was once plentiful along its banks.

See the September 1, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.–

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Award given for million miles of safe driving

Photo by Curt Werner
Dillsburg rural route carrier George Whittington, left, was inducted into the National Safety Council’s Million Mile Club for recognition of his more than 30 years of accident free driving while on the job. Whittington began his postal career in April of 1979. He received a plaque and a jacket at a ceremony held on Aug. 31 at the Dillsburg Post Office. To his right is Ann Brady, OIC Dillsburg Post Office and Jeff Ebersole, Manager of Post Office Operations in Harrisburg.

See the September 1, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.–

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Rare joint session held
By Carolyn Hoffman

_---In a rare joint session, Warrington Township’s planning commission and board of supervisors created four areas of the township they will propose to rezone for commercial or industrial uses.
_---Although originally prompted by a zoning change request from Wellsville’s Pennex Aluminum, the addition of three other proposed tracts puts to paper uses that to some extent already exist in those areas.
_---As currently proposed, the four areas are 1). an area around Pennex Aluminum; 2). both sides of Carlisle Road from Wellsville to Rossville; 3). an area along Zeigler Road that ends just past Bowhunters International; and 4). a small area along Wellsville Road just beyond the borough limits of Wellsville, currently encompassing seven acres. The area around Pennex is planned for the village-industrial use. The other three will likely be named as village commercial zones.
_---The process to rezone the areas is only at the beginning stages, and upcoming steps include approving an updated drawing of the boundaries of these four areas, sending the request to the York County Planning Commission for its input, writing the updated ordinance, holding a public hearing and eventual approval.

See the September 1, 2011 edition of the Dillsburg Banner for details.
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Also in the September 1, 2011 edition

____ Community events
____ Obituaries
____ Births
____ 20 years ago

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--------Despite a bit of a soggy start on Sunday, the 53rd Annual Williams Grove Historical Steam Engine Show opened its doors.
--------The nine-day show runs through Labor Day and will feature about 700 gas and steam engine tractors, along with horse and tractor pulls, sawmill demonstrations, an operating blacksmith shop, state and national plowing contests, free musical entertainment, food and a consignment sale and flea market. During the week, the steam locomotive engineering school will run. Rides on the historic train are available to the public, said Richard Reed Jr., association president.
--------Opening at 9 a.m. daily, the show operates throughout the evening. During an average year, about 60,000 people attend.
“I believe we have about 20 pieces of steam equipment,” Reed said. “The classic car show, because of Hurricane Irene, had to be rescheduled for Sunday, Sept. 11. On Thursday and Friday we will be having steam locomotive engineering classes at our train station.”
--------The steam engineering classes are held on the association's more than 100-year-old Pennsylvania steam locomotive, Reed said. The steam engine is one of the few authentic locomotives still operating in the state.
--------“All summer long, we do classes,” Reed said. “People from all around the state enroll in the class. It gives you a basic knowledge of the operation of the steam locomotive. The classes are done in [half-hour] increments. Students receive a certificate of completion.”
--------The steam locomotive is also available for rides after 5 p.m. during the week and all day on Sunday, Reed said. The 20-minute excursion is on the grounds of the historic park.

Bears ready to rumble

Photo by Curt Werner
Hayden Miller, freshman, runs up the middle against Dover.

_- _-Laden with underclassmen , the 2011 Northern H.S. varsity football team wants to shake off the effects of last year's uncharacteristic 5-5 record. The Polar Bears feature 19 seniors, 31 juniors and 19 sophomores, but the “youth movement” actually includes several players who are quite familiar with playing under the Friday night lights at Bostic Field. A total of 14 starters return for the Bears.
_- _-“We had a nice turnout this year,” said head coach Rick Mauck at last week's Meet the Team Night. “All the players are hustling and giving their best effort so far.”
_- _-However, after Northern's first scrimmage, Mauck added that the line -- on both sides of the ball -- need to improve with fundamentals. Ultimately, one of the team's goals is to make week eight “meaningful,” according to Mauck. Week eight is a home game against defending Colonial Division champion Greencastle (11-1). The Blue Devils have 10 starters back, including some key standouts.
_- _-First things first, beginning with the traditional opening clash against Bermudian Springs this Friday night, Sept. 2, at the Eagles home field. Senior quarterback Alex Dale gets the nod to lead the Northern offense. Dale has quick feet and a respectable arm to go with last year's experience. Junior Tristan Kalinay is the projected back-up quarterback. The running back corps features senior Dominic Salomone, a 5-foot-10, 228-pound bruiser, senior Kevin Lytle, a tough back who gained more than 400 yards last year, junior Elijah Locke, junior Trey Vajdic and sophomore Richard Settle.
_- _-Wide receivers are plentiful: senior Cody McLaughlin and juniors Travis Saylor, Anthony Salomone, Isaiah Locke and David Cuckovic. At tight end are senior Ryan Hoffman and juniors A.J. McClintock and Dylan Thomas.

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Right mix for Lady Bears

Photo by Curt Werner
Brooke Sheibley sprints to the ball against a Dover player in Tuesday’s scrimmage.

_- _-A nice mix of returning letter winners and new players should help the Northern H.S. field hockey team improve on their 9-10 record from last year. Leading the Lady Polar Bears will be senior midfielder Molly Urey who posted 32 points and was a Mid Penn Colonial Division All Star as a forward in 2010. She is joined by returning starters Emily Hudson (senior midfielder / back), Alexis Johnson (senior back), Kim Bartol (junior forward), Shea Regan (junior midfielder / back), Abby Wenger (junior midfielder / forward), Brooke Sheibley (sophomore forward / midfielder) and Haley Mowery (sophomore goal keeper).
_- _-"We have reasonably good team speed and good mixture of returning and young talent,” said head coach Kelly Farrell. “We also have good depth at all field positions.”

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Also in the September 1, 2011 edition_
____ Northern Girls Basketball _
____ Northern School News
____ Purple Haze
____ The Homeschool View
____ Classifieds

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