Highspire Herald

Highspire Herald
A QUARTERLY PUBLICATION FOR THE RESIDENTS OF HIGHSPIRE BOROUGH
640 Eshelman Street, Highspire, PA 17034
Phone 717-939-3303 - www.highspire.org
Spring 2016
Inside this issue:
2015 Holiday Home Decorating
Contest Winners
2
Highspire Historical Society
News
2
Memorial Day Ceremony
3
Daylight Savings Time
3
Arbor Day Celebration
3
Schedule of Borough Upcoming
Events
3
Dog Licenses
4
Pavilion Rentals
4
Garbage Pick-up Reminders
4
Codes/Zoning Information
4
Street Sweeping
5
Why Plant a Rain Garden?
5
How to Build a Rain Garden
5
Compost Facility
5
Upcoming Dates & Events
6
Find Out How State Representative
Patty Kim Can Help You!
Contact Her Office At: -
Saturday, March 5th
9 - 11 a.m.
Adults and Children
11 & up - $6
Ages 3-10 - $3
Children under 2 - Free
Highspire Fire Hall
272 Second Street
Highspire
Highspire Borough Welcomes
A New Council Member
8 South Front Street
Steelton, PA 17113
717-986-1673 (Phone)
717-986-1677 (Fax)
www.pahouse.com/Kim (Website)
[email protected] (Email)
Georgann Thompson was appointed by Council on
December 8, 2015 to fill the vacant seat when former
council member Edward Fritz resigned.
Please join us in welcoming Georgann to
her new position.
Saturday
March 5th
11:15 a.m.
Age Groups:
0-4 ~ 5-8 ~ 9-12
at the
Highspire
Fire Hall
Summer 2016 ISSUE
DEADLINE FOR ARTICLES
IS MAY 1ST
Submit articles to the Borough
office at 640 Eshelman Street,
Highspire or email them to
[email protected], and
they may be published in the next
newsletter.
Page 2
Highspire Herald
CLUBS & ACTIVITIES
The Borough would like to thank everyone who participated in the 2015 Holiday
Home Decorating Contest. The Borough would also like to thank all the local and
surrounding area business owners who provided prizes for the contest. We wish to
extend the invitation to participate again in 2016, and hope that many more
residents take the opportunity to participate. Homeowners, renters and businesses
are all welcome to participate.
Category
1st Place
Christmas Masquerade
Ken Becker
Colorful/Brightest
David Billheimer
Most Festive
Sanford D. Rosa
Traditional
The Wilson House
Victorian
Steve & Cathy Navitsky
Whimsical
Jimmy & Joyce Ohler
2nd Place
Florence Smith
Wanda Harshman
The Highspire Historical Society meets on the 4th Monday of each month at 7:00 p.m. at the Wilson House,
273 Second Street, with the exception of cold weather months, when the meetings are held at St. Peters Lutheran
Church on Broad Street. Should you have any questions, please call 717-566-6828.
2016 Flea Market Dates
For all flea markets, the Historical Society
is in need of slightly used house wares,
linens, toys, tablecloths, books, clothes &
jewelry. Donations of baked goods are also
needed. Individual stands are $5.00 per
space (bring your own table or blanket),
and are held at 273 Second St., Rear
at Lusk Ave. from 8:00 a.m. to Noon.
Please call 717-566-682 if you have any
questions. All money raised is used for the
maintenance of the Wilson House (outside
& inside painting, yard upkeep, etc.).
Saturday, May 21 (rain date May 28)
The Highspire Historical Society is getting ready to undertake a
major project. We are in the process of hiring a painting company
to paint The Wilson House; this is going to be an expensive
project to undertake. The cost of painting the entire exterior of the
building will cost approximately $7,000.00. This project will
deplete the funds that are currently in the Treasury, and the only
income for this year to restore our funds will be from our three flea
markets, and a book sale. If you would be interested in donating
any amount of money to the Historical Society we would greatly
appreciate it. All checks can be made payable and mailed to:
The Highspire Historical Society
c/o Steve Whittle
1681 Landvater Road
Hummelstown, PA 17036
“Work Day” at the Wilson House will be on Saturday, May 7 th from
9:00 a.m. to Noon. Come wearing old clothes, and help rake, pull
weeds, etc. to spruce up the Wilson House. We need your help!
The Spring luncheon will be on Sunday, April 17th @ 1:00 p.m. at the
Old Country Buffet on Rt. 22 in Harrisburg. Members pay for their own
dinner, and can carpool or drive on their own. The dinner will be in a
private room.
Memberships
Historical Society annual dues are now $10.00
per person, per year. No lifetime memberships.
All checks can be made payable and mailed to:
Highspire Historical Society
c/o Mrs. J. Shank
81 Chestnut Street
Highspire, PA 17034
Highspire Herald
Page 3
BOROUGH NEWS
SCHEDULE OF BOROUGH
UPCOMING EVENTS
Fire Company
Turkey Dinner
March 13th
11:00 am till Sold Out
Easter Flower Pre-Sale
This years Memorial Day Ceremony will
take place on Monday, May 30, 2016. The
ceremony will be held at Memorial Park starting
at 10:00 a.m. All residents and non-residents
are invited to remember our past soldiers who
have fought for our country, and to honor those
currently serving here and abroad.
DAYLIGHT
SAVINGS TIME
MARCH 13, 2016
Don’t forget to turn
your clocks ahead
one hour
Arbor Day Celebration
Come and join your neighbors for the annual
Arbor Day Celebration on April 24th at 4:00 p.m.,
location to be determined. Please call the Borough
Office at 717-939-3303 closer to April for more
Information.
Money and Orders will be
due by March 15th - Flowers
will be delivered March 24th
Fire Company
Roast Beef Dinner
April 10th
11:00 am till Sold Out
Cash BINGO and Raffle
April 17th
Doors Open at Noon
Games Start at 2:00 p.m.
Tickets are available for
pre-purchase.
Chicken BBQ
April 30th
11:00 am till Sold Out
Fire Company
Roast Beef Dinner
May 8th
11:00 am till Sold Out
First 50 Mothers will get
a free carnation.
Chicken BBQ
Arbor Day is a holiday in which individuals and
groups are encouraged to plant trees and also to
promote the caring of trees. The Borough of
Highspire has been certified as a Tree City USA
applicant for the past 18 years. We encourage all
residents to take an interest in Arbor Day and come
out and help us celebrate.
May 28th
11:00 am till Sold Out
For more information on any of these events,
you can call or email Jenna Condran - (717)736-6509
Esther Byrd - (717)939-5808 (Bingo Only)
Email: [email protected]
Page 4
Highspire Herald
BOROUGH NEWS
DOG LICENSES
Licensing dogs over the age of three months in
Pennsylvania is mandated by state law. Those who
do not comply can receive fines up to $300 for each
violation of the law.
For more information, or if you have any questions,
please contact the Dauphin County Treasurer’s
Office at 717-780-6550 or on line at
http://www.dauphincounty.org
PAVILION RENTALS
The pavilions at Highspire’s Memorial and
Reservoir Parks are available for residents and
non-residents to reserve throughout the year.
The use is free for Borough residents.
However, a $25.00 charge for non-residents
will be collected. Please call the Borough office
at 717-939-3303 to make a reservation.
Garbage Pick-Up Reminders
The yearly garbage rate has stayed the
same. The price is $208.00 per unit and will
be billed on your 2016 Real Estate Tax
Notice. The Borough would like to remind all
residents that garbage pick up is on Friday.
If a holiday falls on or before pickup in the
same week, pick up will be delayed one day.
The Borough does participate in curbside recycling. If your
bin becomes lost or broken a replacement bin can be
purchased at the Borough Office for $15.00
while supplies last. Normal garbage cans can
also be used for recycling contents.
However,
you
must
write
“RECYCLABLES” on both sides of the
can. Only recyclables consisting of plastic,
glass, cans, paper, and cardboard should be
placed in the recyclables container. Republic
Services will not empty any recyclable container that
contains garbage, leaves, sticks, or any other
non-recyclable material.
Just a reminder, Republic Services will accept only
one (1) large item curbside per week with your normal
pick-up. This is for residents and
businesses who are billed a trash fee on
their real estate tax bill. If you have any
questions regarding garbage pick-up
please call Republic Services at
1-800-210-9675 or log onto their website at
www.republicservices.com.
CODES/ZONING
CODES/ZONING
INFORMATION
Building and Zoning Permits are required for
numerous things including new roofs, electrical
service upgrades, decks, additions, fences,
storage sheds, garages, swimming pools, and a
multitude of other things. New floor coverings,
painting, and minor repairs do not require
permits. Please call the Borough Office at
717-939-3303 if you need any additional
information.
As Spring time approaches here are some
Borough facts that al1 residents should be
aware of…
The Borough’s Code states that grass and
weeds are not to exceed eight inches in height.
Don’t forget to mow the grass areas between
the sidewalks and curbs. Also, sweep sidewalks
and cut weeds. Rubbish is not permitted to
accumulate on or around properties. Rubbish
includes, but is not limited to, paper, rags,
cartons, wood, metals, plastics and other items.
PUBLIC WORKS
STREET SWEEPING
The Public Works Department anticipates
having the street sweeper the week
of May 23rd thru May 27th, 2016,
weather permitting. Please sweep your
sidewalks prior to that
time to remove the
cinders from the
winter months. Streets
will be marked with
NO PARKING signs
prior to the sweeping,
and individuals found
parking in the NO
PARKING areas will
be ticketed by the Police Department.
We request that you do not move your
vehicle back onto the street until the signs
have been removed. Please contact the
Borough Office for more information.
Thank you for your assistance in keeping
our community clean!
Highspire Herald
Page 5
PUBLIC WORKS - MS4
Why Plant a Rain Garden?
You know how precious freshwater is to life. You
probably also know that freshwater is becoming
increasingly scarce due to pollution, misuse, overuse
and climate change.
So when someone asks you "why plant a rain
garden?" you can tell them that you are doing it to
help keep clean, fresh rainwater out of the sewer
system and you are doing your part to reduce
pollution and preserve our water systems.
This sounds like a grand effort that only scientists,
ecologists and politicians can do. But you can plant
a rain garden and then spread the word and tell
others that you plant native plants and rain gardens
to improve the world you live in.
Explain to people who question you how rain and
melting snow runs off roofs, driveways and even
lawns and flows directly to the street, down the storm
drain and right to our rivers and lakes. Tell them that
this runoff is untreated and carries with it pollutants
like oil, salt, fertilizer, pesticides, pet waste,
transportation chemicals, sediment and all sorts of
other things that shouldn't be in our freshwater.
Tell them that a rain garden can capture that runoff
and hold not only thousands of gallons of rainwater
that can be used in your own garden and yard, but all
of these pollutants that contaminate our waterways.
Then explain after the capture of the water comes
the soaking or infiltrating of the water deep into the
ground so that it can be used by the nearby plants
and trees. Tell them how the native plants planted in
the rain garden also help to soak up the water and
how the roots are deep and will break up hard soil
and infiltrate water and nutrients deep into the soil.
Then finally, tell them how the plants, mulch and soil
break up the pollutants and make them inert, not
harmful. Explain how the moderate amounts of water
and limited amounts of pollutants people shed from
their personal property can easily be handled by the
rain garden. And that these same pollutants will
cause havoc if combined with pollution from your
neighbors on your block and the next block and the
neighborhood and the community. Imagine all the
pollutants from a whole city moving, untreated into
your rivers, lakes and streams that you might be
drinking!!!!
Oh, and you can also explain that a rain garden is
beautiful, creates habitat for birds and beneficial
insects, reduces pest and harmful insects, makes a
great statement in your yard, and can be used
seasonally to teach kids and adults about the nature
of nature.
This is why we all should plant a rain garden ... or
two ... or three ...
How To Build a
Rain Garden
Here are some basic steps to give
you a good start building your own
rain garden.
1. Find a location
The rule of thumb suggests that
you place the garden at least 10
feet away from your home to
prevent flooding in your house. Do
not locate the garden over a septic
field. You should try to choose a
naturally occurring low spot in your
yard or position the garden where
your downspouts or sump pump
outlet can be used to direct
rainwater into your garden. Try to
choose a location in the sun either
full or partial.
2. Measure drainage area
If you are building the rain garden
in a low spot in your yard you do
not need to measure the drainage
area. Just ensure the area
receives water regularly during a
rainstorm. If you are capturing
water from a roof or other hard
surface you will need to measure
the specific drainage area of that
surface and multiply by the number
associated with the type of soil you
have. For sandy soil multiply by
20%, for loam use 30-35% and for
clay use 45-60%. These numbers
are somewhat inflated but they will
ensure the garden holds as much
water as possible.
3. Create a design
Whether your garden is large or
small the same basic principles
apply. By planning your garden on
paper first, you will be able to
create the best appearance
possible for your rain garden.
4. Choose your plants
Native plants are suggested for
rain garden installations because
they are best adapted for our
climate. You will want to choose
plants (flowers and grasses) that
will grow well in both wet and dry
areas because the rain garden will
temporarily fill with rainwater from
time to time.
http://www.raingardennetwork.com/whyplantraingarden
5. Lay out the garden
Lay out the shape and boundary of
the garden based on your design.
Before you start digging contact your
local (usually non-profit) organization
that locates underground utilities.
6. Dig the garden
Remove the turf grass and dig your
garden approximately 4-8 inches
deep. Use the soil to build a berm
around the garden edges if
necessary.
7. Prepare the soil
Amend the soil with
compost. Mix in well.
2"-3"
of
8. Plant the flowers and grasses
Follow the design you created and
place your plants in the approximate
positions. Step back and look at the
garden and the design. Plants should
be placed about 1 foot apart from
each other. Once you are satisfied
you can start planting the flowers
and grasses using a hand trowel.
9. Mulch the garden
Use coarse, fibrous, shredded
woodchips that won’t float or blow
away. Apply the mulch about 2-3
inches deep. This will help to keep
the moisture in and the weeds out.
Avoid cypress mulch because it is
made by chopping down rare,
old-growth cypress in wetlands.
10.
Water
and
arrange
downspouts
After you’ve planted the garden
water every other day for 2 weeks if
it doesn’t rain until garden looks to
be growing on its own. Good water
techniques and maintenance is the
key to a quality rain garden.
COMPOST FACILITY
Located on Aviation Way
beside the Wastewater
Treatment Plant.
Monday - Friday
7:00 am to 3:00 pm
Saturday and Sunday
7:00 am to noon
If the gate is locked during these
hours, please call the operator on duty
at the Wastewater Treatment Plant at
717-939-6204.
Upcoming Dates & Events
March 1, 2016
Planning Commission Mtg
7:00 pm
March 17, 2016
School Board Legislative Mtg
6:30 pm
April 12, 2016
Council Workshop Mtg
7:00 pm
May 10, 2016
Council Workshop Mtg
7:00 pm
March 7, 2016
School Board Planning & Athletic
Association Mtg
6:30 pm
March 17, 2016
Highspire Borough Authority Mtg
7:00 pm
April 14, 2016
School Board Legislative Mtg
6:30 pm
May 17, 2016
Council Mtg
7:00 pm
March 21, 2016
Neighborhood Watch Mtg
Borough Bldg - 7:00 pm
April 19, 2016
Council Mtg
7:00 pm
May 19, 2016
School Board Legislative Mtg
6:30 pm
March 27, 2016
HAPPY EASTER
April 21, 2016
Highspire Borough Authority Mtg
7:00 pm
May 19, 2016
Highspire Borough Authority Mtg
7:00 pm
May 3, 2016
Planning Commission Mtg
7:00 pm
May 23, 2016
Neighborhood Watch Mtg
Borough Bldg - 7:00 pm
March 8, 2016
Council Workshop Mtg
7:00 pm
March 10, 2016
Civil Service Commission Mtg
6:00 pm
March 15, 2016
Environmental Advisory Board Mtg
3:00 pm
March 15, 2016
Council Mtg
7:00 pm
April 1, 2016
Sewer Payments Mailed
April 4, 2016
School Board Planning Mtg
6:30 pm
April 5, 2016
Planning Commission Mtg
7:00 pm
May 9, 2016
School Board Planning & Athletic
Association Mtg
6:30 pm
Borough Telephone Numbers
Borough Office ………………………….
Borough Fax …………………………….
Sewer Billing & Collections ……………
Code Enforcement ……………………..
Waste Water Treatment Plant ………...
Highway Department …………………..
Police Department Non-Emergency ….
Police Emergency ……………………...
Highspire Constable - Ian Castaneira ..
Highspire Tax Collector ………………..
Other Important Telephone Numbers
939-3303
939-3371
939-3303
939-3303
939-6204
986-1034
558-6900
911
773-9570
939-4369
Citizen’s Fire Company …………………….
Citizen’s Fire Company Rental Hall ………
Comcast Cable ……………………………..
District Justice Kenneth Lenker …………...
Highspire Post Office ……………………….
Republic Services - Trash …………………
PPL Electric …………………………………
Steelton Highspire School District ………..
United Water ………………………………..
Verizon ………………………………………
939-5111
939-6582
1-800-266-2278
939-6996
939-4902
1-800-210-9675
1-800-342-5775
704-3800
564-3662
1-800-837-4966
POSTAL CUSTOMER
ECRWSS
Highspire PA 17034
640 Eshelman Street
Borough of Highspire
“Your Community Since 1814”
PRSRT STD
U.S. POSTAGE
PAID
HARRISBURG PA
PERMIT NO. 821