Spring 2011 Derry Township Newsletter
Total Page：16
File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb
Reasons to Hug a Tree Heads Up for Talking Trash Sollenberger's interests were Besides their natural beauty and the shade Hershey's far reaching and included that they provide, trees have many more Thursday, May 26 Entertainer: sports, music, theater and benefits. 7 p.m. John B. Sollenberger amusements. He is credited Hershey Public Library 1897-1967 with bringing hockey to Trees absorb carbon from the atmosphere. Hershey. In 1931, he had the 701 Cocoa Avenue Trees produce oxygen. Archivist Pamela Cassidy Whitenack When Milton Hershey reor- Convention Hall converted Trees reduce soil erosion and water pollution. Get All Your ganized his businesses in into an ice palace and con- Trees reduce noise pollution, provide privacy, 1927, he placed all his non-chocolate businesses in a new compa- and block unsightly views. Questions Answered vinced two amateur ice Trees soften the appearance of your home ny, Hershey Estates. The new business would manage the town hockey teams, Villanova and add value to your property. The Derry Environmental Action Committee and run all the recreational and tourist-oriented attractions. In College and the Penn Trees shield your home from the wind and can (DEAC) in coordination with the Derry Township 1927, Hershey Park was popular, but the community's other reduce your heating bill in the winter and lower your cooling costs in the summer. Athletic Club, to come play Board of Supervisors will hold a meeting on the attractions were still modest and somewhat limited. John an exhibition game. The John Sollenberger looks on as golf Trees can provide fruits and nuts. collection of trash and recycables in Derry pro Ben Hogan signs contract. 1941 Trees provide shelter for animals. Sollenberger, the park's general manager, would play a critical sport's immediate popularity Trees can be planted in memory of a loved one. Township. Local and regional solid waste han- role in developing Hershey as a major destination for all types of dlers will present information on what is collect- led to Hershey establishing its own team the following year. Trees are fun to plant with your children. Care for them together and watch them entertainment. Sollenberger helped to establish the American Hockey League grow. ed, how it is collected, and where it goes. John "JB" Sollenberger was born June 13, 1887, on a farm in Silver and served as general manager for Hershey's hockey team from The Township’s TreeVitalize Grant Program provided trees to be planted this “Talking Trash” will provide residents with cur- Springs Township, Cumberland County. At age 16, he enrolled in 1932 through 1949. spring for approximately 40 residents. We’d like to thank The Hershey Company, rent information on the Recycling Center, the the Harrisburg School of Commerce, a 2-year course of study in Hockey was Sollenberger's first love, but it wasn't his only interest. PNC, Good’s Tree Care, Inc., and Members 1st for their sponsorship of the curbside collection program, single stream recy- business and stenography. His exceptional stenographic skills led program. cling, processing of materials, marketing recy- He also oversaw Hershey's development as a golfing destination. to a job working for the school's owner in a traveling stenography He served as general manager for the Hershey Country Club and If you did not submit an application and want to plant your own tree, remember cled products, incentive based recycling pro- grams, DEP recycling grants, how generating demonstration that was offered in regional high schools. also managed the construction of Hershey's three other courses: these helpful tips for caring for your tree. less trash can lower user fees, and a variety of Sollenberger's skill, plus his good memory, enabled him to appear Parkview, Juvenile and The Hotel Hershey executive course. It Water is the most important thing that your tree needs, especially during the first goods produced from recycled materials. to take high speed dictation, often at rates approaching 250 was under his leadership that the Hershey Open golf tournament year. Apply 10-15 gallons of water once a week from March through October and words per minute. In many ways, the demonstrations were the- (1931-1941) was established. more during drier weather. Plant annual flowers, around your tree. When they Residents will have an opportunity to learn atrical, giving him his first experience with theatrical production. wilt, it will remind you to water the tree. about greener behaviors that can affect the At the same time, Sollenberger oversaw entertainment program- economy. At age 17, he began working as a clerk for the Hershey ming at the Hershey Theatre, Hershey Park venues, the Hershey Keep the area around the tree free of weeds and keep the soil around the tree Improvement Company in 1914. His stenography skills soon led to from getting too compacted so that water can reach the tree’s roots. Placing Arena and the Stadium. He was responsible for bringing some additional duties. In just two short months, he was transferred to of the biggest names in entertainment to Hershey, including Fred mulch around the tree controls weeds and prevents compaction of the soil. Residents are reminded the Hershey Trust Company. to place their basket ball Waring, Victor Borge, Sonja Henie, Tallulah Bankhead, and Avoid wounds to the bark. It protects the trunk. hoops behind the sidewalk Sollenberger's involvement with bringing entertainment to the Eleanor Holm. There really was no limit to his interests and Remove straps and stakes around your tree within the first year so that they do or in the driveway to avoid Hershey area began years before he was promoted to Hershey knowledge of the varied facets of entertainment. not cut into the bark. damage from passing Park. In 1918, Sollenberger partnered with George Gerth, another vehicles. In sports, Sollenberger sought out successful athletes and brought Hershey employee, to open motion picture theaters in them to Hershey as performers and employees. Golf professionals Hummelstown and Palmyra. These theaters operated until 1928, Henry Picard and Ben Hogan were hired by Sollenberger, bring- when Sollenberger needed to focus more attention on his ing national attention and stature to Hershey's golf program. Township 2011 Advisory Board Hershey responsibilities. Hershey's own movie theater had For Hershey's hockey club, Sollenberger signed former NHL Bruin Appointments opened in 1914. player, Herb Mitchell, as the Bear's coach in 1934. He later con- EmployeNeews It is probable that "JB" was involved with Hershey Park prior to vinced Frank Mathers to come as the Bears head coach in 1956. The Board of Supervisors made the following appointments at his promotion to assistant general manager under Charles Ziegler. Mathers would lead the Bears to three Calder Cup victories their January 3rd reorganization meeting. There are several stories about his booking famous performers between 1958 and 1969. prior to 1925. While those stories are not verifiable, they reflect He booked three-time Olympic Figure Skating Champion Sonja Sollenberger's reputation and skill bringing the nation's top per- Derry Promotes James Ingalzo - Vacancy Board Henie to perform at the Hershey Sports Arena inaugural hockey Community Service formers to Hershey. His skill in recognizing talent and his willing- game. A few years later Sollenberger hired skating sensation Anne Reeves - Board of Library Directors, reappointed ness to take risks helped make Hershey a major performance Evelyn Chandler as the Arena's figure skating professional. Officer venue. Those skills were evident in the story behind crooner Edward Buchan - Design Review Board, reappointed Rudy Vallee's first performance in the Hershey Ballroom. For his many contributions to sports, Sollenberger was recognized On January 7, 2011, Chris Ned Wehler - Planning Commission, reappointed in a variety of ways. When Pennsylvania established its Sports Abruzzo, Chairman of the Hershey Ballroom typically paid $250-$300 for bands who Hall of Fame, Sollenberger was named its first president. His Board of Supervisors, James Brandt - Police Pension Advisory Board, reappointed played Saturday nights. In 1929, Hershey had the chance to contributions to hockey led to naming the AHL award to the book Rudy Vallee, a national celebrity, for a Saturday night gig administered the Oath of Dr. Richard Hammer - Zoning Hearing Board season's leading scorer the "John B. Sollenberger Trophy." Office to Andrew M. in the Ballroom. Vallee's fee was $3,500 and park manager JB Chairman Chris Abruzzo Condran. Andrew has David Feidt - Tax Collection Association Sollenberger and his boss, Charles Ziegler, needed the permission Because of Milton Hershey's interest in developing the town as a and Officer Andrew of Milton Hershey to pay such an exorbitant fee. Milton Hershey destination, JB Sollenberger had frequent contact with his boss. worked for the Police John Foley, Jr. - Industrial Commercial Development Authority Condran Department as a Community was reluctant and initially turned them down. Ziegler and In a 1955 interview, Sollenberger reflected on Milton Hershey's Services Officer since 2009. Andrew is a graduate of Sollenberger next asked permission to rent the Ballroom and vision and approach to developing the town as a destination: Lower Dauphin High School. Soon after, he joined the book Vallee themselves. In response, Milton Hershey suggested “Milton Hershey tried to invest the money in the future of the United States Marine Corps and was honorably dis- that he could more easily afford the financial risk and agreed to community, and in a way that the whole community would ben- charged in 2001. He went to work in the private sec- Sign-Up for the Township’s booking Vallee. Rudy Vallee's appearance was a huge success efit and enjoy. I hear him say many times he never went nuts on tor and then became interested in law enforcement eNews at www.derrytown- and helped build Sollenberger's reputation.