The Sun

Letters to the EditorFree Access


Before we get started with the mailbag this week, my apologies on an error we made regarding an anniversary announcement in last week’s issue. The wrong text was run with the photos of Mervin and Barbara Mitchell, who are celebrating their 60th wedding anniversary. You’ll find the correct announcement on Page 10 of this week’s issue. Now, on to the show …

In 1967, ground was broken for the Hershey Medical Center. Since then, the Med Center has grown at both ends of their property along Route 322. On the other side of town, Hershey Park was a Pay-As-You-Ride park with no restrictive fences. Route 322 and Airport Road were two-lane roads. Apparently, no long-term transportation plan was even considered for growth/development of either destination.

Fast forward to today. Let’s look down that (figurative) road. A great deal of Med Center property remains farmland but a full build out of that land is certainly expected. Similarly, Hershey Interests control vast amounts of farmland along HersheyPark Drive and one might reasonably expect some to become part of their ever-expanding “future park.”

Both entities have constructed endless parking lots/ structures to accommodate more and more cars.

Are we to believe the currently undeveloped land will never be developed? Are we to believe development of these properties will never bring in even more thousands of cars transporting staff/patients/patrons daily?

If mass transit wasn’t considered 50-some years ago, why is it too late to consider mass transit now? Should we wait another 50 years before we take mass transit seriously? Is it too hard to plan for the future? We know it’s coming.

Maybe today’s staff/patrons expect to drive to these destinations but let’s be ready to ensure that future staff/ patrons have another way to arrive at their destination. (We can allow sick patients to come by private car if they so choose.) But it is past time for development of some form of fossil-free mass transit.

Anne Searer

Derry Township


Just a suggestion on the “Aerial Quiz.” Why not run a small picture and identify the places on the six locations. I save the original page to identify the photos but this is the second time I only heard there was a winner. When I saw this week’s it reminded me to contact you.

Thanks, great paper.

Patrick Di Nunzio

Palmyra

You make a good point, Patrick! The next time we have an aerial quiz in the paper, we’ll be sure to include the answers!


On a recent visit to the Weis market in the above shopping centre, I was dismayed to see the devastation there – what happened to all the trees? These trees had reached maturity and provided welcome shade for cars, not to mention shelter for the resident ducks. This seems a desecration.

I am aware of new construction there but don’t see any connection between this activity and the wholesale removal of trees. Does anyone know? I would welcome any information.

Pam Foster

Thanks for your note, Pam. We were told by the manager of a store at the shopping center that the trees were infested with Spotted Lantern Flies and that was the reason they were cut down. We have made attempts to contact the property owner to confirm that, but have not heard back.


I’m responding to Ms. Elmi’s and Ms. Searer’s request for a “list of all current members in the Hershey Area Independent Restaurant Association (HIRA)”

Ms. Shearer stated, “I would be very interested in knowing the name of the restaurants, who believe in the defiance of any new order, so we can boycott them.”

Ms. Searer, you have mine, Fenicci’s. I will not succumb to threats simply because I have an opinion. Lists are used to label people and, at their very worst, to target them. A list provides no meaningful purpose except, to support or target those who are on either side of an opinion on the list. Ms. Elmi also stated that I mentioned the, “majority” of restaurants approve of HIRA’S stance and, then proceeded to rattle off several defunct restaurants. I would state that the majority is the same in the case of four restaurants or four thousand; over fifty percent. The number of restaurants is irrelevant, unless you are trying to discredit an opinion. That is the specific reason associations are formed … to express an opinion as a group instead of an individual. (I am happy to do both since I have always stood in solidarity with my convictions).

The nature of my editorial, my Facebook posts, my civil disobedience, and the “Majority” of my civil obedience is, trying to get through this pandemic and to get though it with common sense. I want to keep the public and our government engaged so that we may make educated decisions and not target specific industries where the science does not support the decisions. (Sorry Ms. Searer, your information is incorrect, there is no evidence that restaurants are super spreaders). The Governor and his decision to stop alcohol sales at 5 p.m. last week does zero to combat COVID. We can only hope that he does not cancel Christmas and New Years Eve 48 hours prior to the event.

In the meantime we need to stand up, practice safe procedures and not succumb to overreaching government. Safety of my employees and guests have always been paramount to me. Individual liberties and fair legislation are also at the top of my list.

Phil Guarno

Owner Fenicci’s of Hershey and Phillip Arthur’s

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