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Spring 2016
MESSENGER
Inside this issue:
President’s Message 2
Calendar of FOCSP and Park Events 3
Volunteer Opportunities 3
Thanksgiving Dinner 4
Breakfast with Santa 4
Winter Festival/Eagle Plunge 4
www.friendsofcodorus.org 1 Spring 2016
Scenes from Winter Festival 5
Meet the Park Staff: Karl Hershey 6
Park Partners: Birders group 6
Membership Application 7
Award Recipients 7
Book Collection Program 8
Messenger is the official newsletter for Friends of Codorus State Park, and is
published 4 times per year.
Spring Fling Banquet will be held on March 19. If you are planning to attend, please RSVP to 717-451-3635 or return the form on the enclosed insert to the Park Office or send to FOCSP by March 4.
Happy Winter Everyone. It’s with a happy heart and a sad heart that I announce my retirement to all of our great volunteers. My retirement date will be April 1, 2016. My wife and I are headed for sunny Florida. We have family there and I will be getting involved with the Florida Park system. Now let me give you my final manager’s report.
Project Updates:
Campground Amphitheater = replacing all seating plus new electric system and sound system update.
New Main Launch Bathroom = The bid was awarded and we’re waiting for the first contractors meeting.
Lift Station Pump repair = We have 3 lift stations that are having their sewage pumps repaired.
Mill House Renovations = Electrical work in the whole house.
Swimming pool food concession= Kitchen upgrade for ceiling replacement.
Staff update:
1.) New salary sewage treatment plant operator trainee is Karl Hershey.
2.) This spring we will be interviewing for lifeguards and semi-skilled laborer positions.
3.) New seasonal DCNR Ranger Kayla Sanders.
Eagle Scout Projects:
1.) Disc Golf Course= upgrade course work and new display boards.
In closing I want to say my time at Codorus has been rewarding. With over 35 years at my career, it’s time to start the next chapter in my life. It’s hard for me to think that 35 years ago I was a Naturalist at Prince Gallitzin Start Park making $5.13 an hour. Never had cell phones and computers were used very little. Wow how things change.
The staff and volunteers have been so helpful and very kind to me and my family. To live in the park is truly a once in a lifetime experience. As my wife and I travel on this next adventure, I will always keep Codorus in my heart and I know my replacement will make your volunteer program a success. So Happy Trails everyone and please take care of this beautiful park.
Thank you to all of you,
Warren and Earl
Thank you, Warren, for
having the vision to start a Friends
group, and allowing us to be
a part of this wonderful park.
FOCSP
www.friendsofcodorus.org 2 Spring 2016
In late November we received a $6,000.00 donation check for our clean-up efforts at the
Hanover Borough Chili Cook-off. Thanks to all who helped with this project. This is the
highest amount we have ever received from the Chili Cook-off.
The eagles are preparing their nest for another season of raising young (hopefully). The
Pennsylvania Game Commission has once again had cameras installed so that everyone
can watch the event live. The Friends of Codorus State Park is once again financially
involved in the project.
We have a supply of eagle t-shirts, sweatshirts, hoodies, patches, mugs, and bumper
stickers for sale in the Gift Shop, the Outpost Camp Store, the Classroom lookout area,
and at other events at the park.
Our Breakfast with Santa event on December 12th was a huge success with our largest
attendance ever. There were over 125 children who met Santa and received an orange, a
candy cane, and a story book. Many pancake breakfasts were served. Lynne Thompson
and her helpers entertained the children at three craft tables. There were over 20 great
volunteers helping out that morning. A big thank you to all.
We then started the new year off by adding Donald Eichelberger to our Directors team. He is taking the place of Tom
Markle who resigned after serving a three-year term. Thanks to Tom for the fine job he did as a Director. In addition to
being a Director, Don is also serving as our Volunteer Coordinator. Other than these two changes, all other Officers
remain the same as last year. Committees have been established for all the upcoming events for 2016. We are all hoping
for another successful year.
Larry Albright was our chairman for the Winter Festival event which was held on Saturday, January 16, 2016. There were
quite a few brave souls who did the Eagle Plunge into the 42° waters of Lake Marburg. Lots of onlookers were on hand to
cheer them on. Lots of people also enjoyed the hot foods being served at the band shell. This was good because of the
winds that picked up making it feel quite cold. Lynne Thompson and other volunteers kept the children busy at our activity
tent. Elsa from the Disney movie “Frozen” also helped to entertain the children. There were dog sled demonstrations as
well as carriage rides with two beautiful black horses There was a snowmobile display as well as a chainsaw wood carver,
and a chainsaw ice carver. Music flowed through the crowd of people by our disc jockey “Music on the Move”, while off in
the distance our two resident eagles provided a view through Karen Lippy’s large spotting scope. Then following this,
Karen Lippy found out she had the winning chance for the large wood carved eagle. She was very excited about this.
How deserving since she is our eagle expert.
We will have a booth set up again this year at three trade shows. The first one will be at Camping World’s Spring Open
House. The second one will be at the Hanover Builders’ Show The third one will be at a Sportsman’s Program at Calvary
Church. The purpose of this is to try and recruit new members.
Plans are underway for our members’ Spring Fling Banquet to be held this year on March 19 at Dutch Country
Restaurant’s upstairs banquet room. For anyone concerned about stairs, they have a stair chair lift. The banquet this year
will once again be free of charge. Please RSVP to (717) 451-3635 no later than March 4.
Plans are also underway for this year’s Easter Egg Hunt on March 25. Paulla Sanders is the chairperson for this event. It
will once again be held at the round Classroom Building. See the enclosed flyer for more info.
The camping season opens on April 8. The campground, and the Outpost Camp Store opens on this date. We will need
volunteers to man the Camp Store. The Gift Shop will be opening on April 9.
Spring Clean-up Day is scheduled for April 23 beginning at 8:30 am from Pavilion #1.
For all of the events, Don Eichelberger will be making contacts to set up the scheduling of volunteers.
I want to say Thank You to all our volunteers for jobs well done. I also want to thank the entire park staff, whether it be the
office staff, the maintenance department, the Park Rangers, or the management team. We all share a passion for the park.
It takes all our combined efforts and support. Lets make it a goal for Codorus State Park to become the number one park
in the state.
See you at the park.
Dwight Resh
President’s Message
Dwight, accepting the check for FOCSP’s help
at the 2015 Chili Cook-off
March 3,4,5,6 Camping World Open House
March 10,1112 Hanover Builders’ Show
March 16 & 19 Training for Gift Shop/Outpost
March 17 FOCSP Board meeting
March 18 & 19 Sportsman’s Show
March 19 Spring Fling Banquet
March 25 Easter Egg Hunt
April 8 Campground opens
April 8 Outpost opens
April 9 Gift Shop opens
April 21 FOCSP Board meeting
April 23 Park Clean-up Day
May 19 FOCSP Board meeting
May 29 Concerts by the Lake begin
June 9 Members’ Picnic
June 16 FOCSP Board meeting
June 17, 18, 19 Blast
SEE INSERT FOR MORE EVENTS!
www.friendsofcodorus.org 3 Spring 2016
MARCH
Su Mo T W T Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5
6 7 8 9 10 11 12
13 14 15 16 17 18 19
20 21 22 23 24 25 26
27 28 29 30 31
UPCOMING FOCSP and OTHER PARK EVENTS FOR 2016
APRIL
Su M T W Th Fr Sa
1 2
3 4 5 6 7 8 9
10 11 12 13 14 15 16
17 8 19 20 21 22 23
24 25 26 27 28 29 30
MAY
S Mo Tu W T Fr Sa
1 2 3 4 5 6 7
8 9 10 11 12 13 14
15 16 17 18 19 20 21
22 23 24 25 26 27 28
29 30 31
JUNE
Su Mo T W T Fr Sa
1 2 3 4
5 6 7 8 9 10 11
12 13 14 15 16 17 18
19 20 21 22 23 24 26
26 27 28 29 30
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
March 3-6 Camping World Open House
March 10-12 Hanover Builders’ Show
March 18, 19 Sportsman’s Show
For all 3 events: give out info about FOCSP and the park
Contact Dwight at 717-451-3635 to volunteer
March 25 Easter Egg Hunt
Hide eggs, help with crowd control and crafts
Contact Don at 578-6579
Starting April 8 Outpost Camp Store*
Sell wood, ice, and camping supplies; run cash register; training offered; contact Bob Larsen at 717-965-3868
Starting April 9 Gift Shop*
Run register, light housekeeping, answer questions such as “What are the pool hours?”; “Can I register my boat?”
Contact Sandy Rushton at 717-688-3863 or Bob Larsen at 717-965-3868
*Information and training meetings for the Outpost and Gift Shop will be March 16 and 19, starting at 10 am at the Gift Shop;
You may attend either meeting if you are interested in helping at either location
April 23 Park Clean-up Meet at Pavilion 1 (near swimming pool) at 8:30 am; we will work 9-3; lunch will be provided
Starting May 29 and continuing every Sunday evening Concerts by the Lake
Sell snacks; contact Bob Larsen at 717-965-3868
WE NEED YOUR HELP!
Some of the many Volunteers at the Winter Festival/Eagle Plunge
OTHER NEEDS/DONATIONS NEEDED:
New stuffed animals and individually wrapped candies for Easter Egg Hunt; drop off at Park Office
New or good-condition used books—see article on bottom of page 6
“Volunteers do not necessarily have the time, they just have the heart.” Anonymous
www.friendsofcodorus.org 4 Spring 2016
Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner was held on Thursday, November 19, 2015 at Dubs’ Church Annex. Meat was provided, and, as usual, there was an abundance of covered dishes brought by the 120 attendees. Awards were presented to volunteers for their many hours given to the park (see pictures on p. 7). Entertainment was a program of patriotic slides, information, and songs provided by Paul Whitson.
Santa made an early appearance on December 12, 2015, at FOCSP’s Breakfast with Santa. Over 200 people received free breakfast. We used 35 pounds of pancake mix! That’s a lot of pancakes, in addition to sausage, fruit, and beverages. The children enjoyed meeting Santa, receiving oranges, candy canes, and books, and completing crafts. We received many thank yous as well as monetary donations. Thank you to Donna Webber for chairing the event, and to LIU Class for helping with the decorating. Thanks also to all the other volunteers who helped with set-up, greeting people, cooking, serving, crafts, and clean-up. This is a wonderful opportunity for FOCSP to give back to the Hanover community!
Breakfast with Santa
BRRR! That was a sound
often heard on January 16,
2016 at the Bandshell area of
the park, when 80 people braved the frigid waters of Lake
Marburg to take part in the Eagle Plunge! Estimates of over
2000 spectators watched the plungers, and enjoyed the other
activities provided, including rides in a horse-drawn carriage,
watching the ice carver and the chainsaw wood carver, meeting
sled-dog teams, meeting Elsa from the movie “Frozen”, and warming up by the large bonfire. Food
was provided by Penn Township Emergency Services Team and Bricker’s French Fries. Music and
announcements were provided by Music on the Move. Penn Township Fire Company also raffled
off a wooden eagle carving. Karen Lippy and her group of eagle watchers provided a viewing
scope and information about the eagle pair and other birds of the park. In the activity tent, children
could construct a pine cone bird feeder, snow measuring stick, and a campfire starter, as well as
play with fake snow. Thanks to Pleasant Hill and Penn Township Fire Companies for providing
emergency services, including monitoring the Eagle plungers. Even though the water and air
temperatures were definitely in the frigid range, participants had a “hot” time enjoying all the
festivities! Plans are already underway for next year’s Winter Festival and Eagle Plunge,
scheduled for January 21, 2017.
SEE MORE PICTURES ON THE NEXT PAGE!
Paul Whitson entertained us. Kathy won a goose!
www.friendsofcodorus.org 5 Spring 2016
www.friendsofcodorus.org 6 Spring 2016
Karl Hershey has been promoted to the full time Sewage and Water trainee position at the park. Karl started as a seasonal employee at the park. He was a semi-skilled laborer. Welcome aboard , Karl.
1066 Blooming Grove Road
Hanover, PA 17331
Email: [email protected]
Website: www.friendsofcodorus.org
717-451-3635 (cell)
717-632-2916 (Gift Shop)
President: Dwight Resh
Vice-president: Robert Maher
Accounts Payable: Ray Weleski
Accounts Receivable: Bob Maher
Secretary: Suzanne Gamber
Directors: Larry Albright
Don Eichelberger
Stacy Folks
Sandy Rushton Jim Sanders
Newsletter Ed.: Lynne Thompson
Webmaster: Brad Bealing
Park Manager: Warren Werntz
Asst. Manager: Earl Hockenberry
Blast Organizer: Larry Albright
Vol. Coord: Don Eichelberger
Vol. Hours: Bob Maher
Membership: Suzanne Gamber
Park Partners: The Birders
Friends of Codorus State
Park (FOCSP)
Mission Statement
A non-profit, all volunteer operated and staffed group,
dedicated to restore, preserve and improve the Codorus State Park and its surroundings. Assist in
providing recreational and educational opportunities for
current and future generations
Almost every day, you can find a small group of people at the classroom building in the park, watching for birds. This group, which has been dubbed “The Tribe”, monitors the park’s osprey, eagle family, and other birds which call Codorus State
Park home for some or all of the year. Karen Lippy, who has been a birder since a very young age, is usually there on Wednesday evenings and Sunday afternoons, along with Connie and Mike Myers, Barb Schwartz, Carolyn Boose, and others as work schedules and weather permit. They set up their own scopes, giving anyone who is interested, a close-up view of the eagles, who are currently preparing their nest for a new family, and the osprey who will return in March to set up house, hopefully on the pole platform on Long Island. Karen and her Tribe also offer their extensive knowledge of the birds. Karen has written and published a book, A Year With The Eagles: The Unseen Story of the Hanover Eagle Nest. The book is available at Readers’ Café and on Karen’s website. She is also in the process of having the first in a series of children’s books published about the eagle family. For more information about these books, check her website: www.karenlippy.com. The website also
contains video clips of the eagles from different vantage points than that seen on the eagle camera installed by PA Game Commission. Karen will also be giving presentations about the eagles on March 11 at Carrol County Library in Taneytown, and on April 10 at Trinity UCC on York Street in Hanover. Karen and her group have also helped the park by covering quite a bit of the cost of putting up the new eagle cameras. Thanks to Karen and this group for sharing their time and talents to help make our park an exciting and educational place.
The Birders group is just one
of the many groups who help
to make Codorus State
Park a fun place. Each issue of the Messenger will feature a
different one of these groups.
Board Members: (front row l. to r.): Stacy Folks, Dwight Resh, Su-
zanne Gamber, Sandy Rushton; (back row l. to r.): Don Eichel-
berger, Jim Sanders, Bob Maher, Larry Albright, Ray Weleski
Meet the Park Staff: Karl Hershey
www.friendsofcodorus.org 7 Spring 2016
Name:__________________________________ Date:_______________
Address:__________________________________________________________
Contact information (phone # or e-mail address)___________________________
MEMBERSHIP CATEGORY COST VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES
(Per person) Check your area(s) of interest:
LIFE $250 or by donations of ______Winter Festival
$50 for 5 years ______ Seasonal Park Clean-up Days
HICKORY $25 ______ Outpost Store in Campground
PINE $10 ______ Gift Shop
SAPLING/YOUTH $1 ______ Wood cutting/splitting/stacking
______ Spring Fling banquet (set-up) ______Easter Egg Hunt
BUSINESS $50 ______ Ice Cream Socials for Campers
BUSINESS LIFE $500 or by donations of ______Sunday Band Concerts (sell snacks)
$100 for 5 years _____ Chili Cook-off Clean-up
_____ BBQ & Vehicle Show ORGANIZATION $50 ______Halloween in the Park
ORGANIZATION LIFE $500 or by donations ______Thanksgiving dinner (set-up, clean-up)
of $100 for 5 years ______Breakfast with Santa
______Newsletter (assemble and label)
______Member Recruitment
______Trade Shows
Invite a friend to join our
group!
AWARD
PRESENTATIONS
Our annual Thanksgiving Dinner was held on November 19, 2015. Over 100 members and guests attended.
Many members received awards for the volunteer time they have given to the park.
These members were awarded with honorary Life Membership for the many volunteer hours they have given to the park:
L to R: Dwight Resh, Dean Rohrbaugh, Jeannette Rohrbaugh, Ray Weleski. Not in picture: Karen Lippy
These members received FOCSP logo items for the volunteer hours they have given to the park:
Front Row L to R: Stacy Folks, Ellen Oaster, Glen Bankert; Back Row L to R: Ray Weleski, Paulla Sanders, Larry Albright, Bruce Folks, Bob Klinedinst, Terry Alwine.
Did You Know?
www.friendsofcodorus.org 8 Spring 2016
1066 Blooming Grove Road
Hanover, PA 17331
NONPROFIT ORG
US POSTAGE PAID
HANOVER, PA
PERMIT NO.71 RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED
EAGLE UPDATE:
Thanks to the Pennsylvania Game Commission and partners, including FOCSP, two cameras have been installed to monitor the eagle nest adjacent to the park. Tune in to the PGC website at portal.state.pa.us to view the live cams as well as time-lapse videos and updates. As of February 1, the eagles were busy preparing the nest by adding twigs and bedding.
HELP US CLEAN OUT YOUR SHELVES!
Book Collection Program
FOCSP has partnered with Passion for Print program which takes donations of new or good-condition used books. The books are cleaned and either sold or sent to needy individuals or organizations. From the books that are sold, we receive a portion of the profits. All we have to do is collect books!
You can drop off your no-longer-needed books at the Visitor Center, Gift Shop, Board Room, or Outpost.
For more information about the Passion for Print program, check out their website at passionforprintpa.com, or their Facebook page.
