What stories aren't being covered in The Patriot-News?

[Daniel Victor]

Not a lot of activity here lately. I won't take it personally, since there's not much activity on the Pennlive forums either.

So this is a good opportunity to turn it over to the members here:

What stories are The Patriot-News and other local media missing or ignoring?

It can be any kind of story -- a specific happening we're missing, or a large-scale issue that needs more attention.

And don't worry, you won't offend me. I'd rather know I'm missing something and catch up on it, as opposed to never giving it attention at all.

Let's hear it.

UPDATE (9:36 p.m.): I should have made clear that I'm looking for stories about Hershey. Oops.

[Bob Woods]

Let's take a hard look at the ongoing disintegration of traditional news media -- newspapers, in particular.

Do they (papers) stand a chance when pitted against TV and the Internet? Is there a need -- or even room -- for more leisurely news stories and analyses today?

[Daniel Victor]

An interesting question, yes -- but I should have been more specific. I meant to ask for Hershey-related stories. Oops.

If you want to talk non-Hershey stories, always feel free to e-mail me.

[Sandy ballard]

Hershey Issues Ideas --

1. It's Springtime & the Sinkholes are blooming -- two by stream between pool & library; one at founders park by restroom; one by motel across from Rite Aid. (see also #4 below)

2. Amusement Tax -- Is HERCO going to agree to pay their fair share?

3. Park Ave -- Why didn't we have some kind of public hearing before that road was taken from the residents? No one told us!

4. Flooding issues -- Are the supervisors considering less expensive options like dis-continuing all the waivers on imperivious space, rain gardens and rain barrels (other communities are selling discounted rain barrels -- like we sell the compaose bins -- not so hard to do & alot cheaper than huge infrastructure projects!)

[John BN Dunn]

Sandy, there is one other topic which is:

There are approximately 60 children in our public school system who are children of House Parents working at the Milton Hershey School. As a result of Milton Hershey School’s tax status, the houses where the children reside are exempt from real estate taxes. As you are aware, real estate taxes are the primary funding source for the Derry Township School system, accounting for 58% of monies raised to support the community’s education. Because of the unique situation of the Milton Hershey School, the community ends up covering the educational costs of those 60 children coming from the Milton Hershey School homes.

The School District’s 2007 General Budget is $50.1 million, translating to $14,200 per student to educate in Derry Township. In fairness to everyone paying their fair share of supporting the community, the Milton Hershey School should recognize this inequity and step in to some degree and cover the costs associated with House Parent kids going through the public school system. Currently, the aggregate cost of the 60 children attending the derry Township School system totals about $850,000, totally subsidized by the community.

So, as Hershey Entertainment and Resorts continues the discussions in the fairness of increasing the amusement taxes levied by this Township, they should also be cognizant why the community is requesting an increase. It is partially being driven by the fact of helping the community defray the educational costs of House Parent children, who happen to be part of the Hershey Interest family.

John BN Dunn

[Daniel Victor]

Thanks John...really interesting stuff.

[S. Lee Strayer]

With all due respect John, you've got to be kidding me? I would urge you to read Mr. Hershey's Deed of Trust...understand the complete history of Derry Township's genisis. Once you do you shoud then realize it is the residents of Hershey who should be grateful that they live there.

To help get you started, here's the link to Mr. Hershey's Original Deed of Trust:
http://www.mhsaa.org/docmanager/applications/DocumentLibraryManager...

Here too is a link of quotes from his own personal physician, Dr. Herman Hostettler:

http://www.mhsaa.org/docmanager/applications/DocumentLibraryManager...

In there you will likely read some surprising quotes...and some regarding Derry Twp. public school children as well. After reading it, you may begin to understand why many alumni have stood tall against the past/present MHS BOM and demand that the Attorney General implement meaningful reform so that Mr. Hershey's Deed and mission can be implemented as he instructed. You may also begin to know why Mr. Hershey was such a visionary when you read this quote by him too:

"If the-wrong people or organization get control, they can spend or give away more money in a short time than I have made in my life, to build monuments unto themselves, for their own financial gains, ego and recognition-- whose heads would swell and hearts would shrink, who would give to those who had plenty and take away from those who had little or none".

[John BN Dunn]

I understand your passion for the school and I am very familiar with the Deed of Trust since my whole career was working for ‘Hershey Foods” and recognizing the fiduciary responsibility we had to fuel the Trust, so to speak. However, I personally feel everyone needs to pay their fair share of the services being provided by and used in the community. Regrettably, real estate taxes have been used as the primary vehicle for funding education in this state. Hopefully, this will change in our lifetime, if Legislation would finally get off dead center and abolish this approach of funding by eliminating real estate taxes. In the instance of the House Parent children, the same taxing vehicle that is being used in the community cannot be used because of the tax status of the school. It is fact there is a true cost to educate these 60 children and if there is not a creative way for the school to contribute to the cost of these kids' education, then the community needs to look to other avenues to raise the money.

My last paragraph suggested an increase in the amusement taxes which would greatly help in this situation. Discussions are going on right now with Township and School District officials with Hershey Entertainment and Resorts Company. Having this discussion with you helps sensitize HE&R why the Township and the School Board is requesting a rate increase to them. The flat rate amusement tax being levied for 50 years is not fair to this community, especially how this community supports HE&R’s business plan of making this a destination town for families around. For your edification, attached (and, we will see if Dan’s site works) depicts the depreciated value of the $0.75 tax since being introduced in 1997. Because of this fact and if HE&R does not approved a rate increase, it ultimately forces elected officials to look elsewhere for revenue to help cover the cost of services in Derry Township.

[S. Lee Strayer]

I understand your position about property/real estate taxes. After all, it was Ed Rendell who said he'd cut all property taxes if gambling were approved by the voters. It was yet he delayed, screwed it up and did nothing other than to raise our taxes, including state income tax by around 33%.

Unless someone's dependent on government I have no idea why they'd vote Democrat/liberal. Not trying to break away from the issue since you mention taxes.

Also...If it weren't for liberal environmentalists, mostly Democrats, we'd be drilling for oil in lots of off shore places and have less dependence on the Arabs. Eventually, it'll happen because we'll have no other choice.

[Sandy ballard]

John -- sorry I just opened this chart! It shows how we are loosing money from the deal cut 10 years ago.

Dan -- can you publish something like this - to give people a visual sense of what is at stake...?

[Daniel Victor]

All good ideas. Thanks Sandy.

[Sandy ballard]

I hope the Patriot News might be able to report on the Amusement tax discussions... how do we know they are even really discussing anything.

I would think anyone (everyone) should understand and agree that continuing the FLAT 75 cents per ticket is unfair to the community. (What was the admission price in 1998 vs today? proabably increased so the percentage the Twp receives is actually less even though Twp expenses have gone up.)

And what would be the school tax paid if the houseparents paid school tax? Add that to the amusement tax.

[John BN Dunn]

Sandy, attached is a chart depicting the inflationery costs that speak towards the need of raising the Amusement Tax and modifying the contract so that the tax rate adjusts with with the Consumer Price Index over time. This would allow for a much fairer and practical approach than what the community inherited back in 1998.

By the way, the 1998 HersheyPark broshure listed a park ticket as $29.95.