Last week, the Hershey Public Library and Hershey All Things Diversity welcomed the Monks of the Deprung Gomang Monastery. Over three days for more than 10 hours, the monks constructed a mandala.

"The Sacred Sand Mandala is carefully constructed from dyed sand particles to represent the particular esoteric, textual traditions of Buddhism. It is a transient art form, thought to have originated in India and transferred in the middle ages to Tibet. The sand mandala is constructed as a vehicle to generate compassion, realize the impermanence of reality, and a social/cosmic healing of the environment."

The event included an opening ceremony, creation of the mandala, and a formal closing ceremony. The closing ceremony was held on Friday and included prayers, chanting, deconstruction of the mandala and sharing of the blessed sand, followed by a dissolution ceremony at Bullfrog Valley Pond.

The Sacred Art Tour shares the unique Tibetan Buddhist teachings, sacred religious performances, and chanting, to promote world healing and peace.

Visit www.drepunggomang.org for a more detailed history and the tour objectives.

Hershey Area All Things Diversity announces its 2018-19 educational series, which will be presented at five sessions from September through May. This is the third year that the sessions on diversity and inclusion have been organized through a collaborative effort by the Township of Derry, Downtown Hershey Association, Penn State Health Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, The Hershey Company, Hershey Entertainment & Resorts, and The Derry Township School District.

Hershey Area All Things Diversity has created the series of events to educate, create awareness, and promote acceptance and inclusion. Last year’s sessions opened dialogue on Bullying, Religious and Generational Differences, Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Community Members, and Diverse Populations.

“The community has shown a great interest in learning about these topics and being goodwill ambassadors in our community,” said Susan Cort, member of the Derry Township Board of Supervisors. “The speakers have shared their professional, educational, and personal experiences with the audience, reminding us why it is so important to celebrate diversity and promote inclusion to maintain a healthy community,” she added.

The first session in the 2018-19 series is “Empowering Women and Girls” to be presented by Sharice Johnson, Senior Division, Student Programs Leader for Milton Hershey School on September 12. Johnson is the creator of Girls Grace, an annual event that features keynote speakers and activities to inspire students to pursue their dreams with confidence. She also engages Milton Hershey School seniors at weekly meetings of The Young Women’s Alliance Club that she created. She will speak on the importance of believing in yourself.

The remaining sessions include “Anti-bias Training - Equity and Equality” in November, “Addressing Micro-Inequities and Micro-Aggressions” in January, “Promoting Acceptance and Tolerance” in March, and the last session in the series to be presented in May, will be “Addressing the Needs of Individuals on the Autism Spectrum.”

The sessions are held from 5:30 to 7:15 p.m. on the main level of The Hershey Story located at 63 West Chocolate Avenue, Hershey. A light supper and dessert will be provided to attendees. The sessions are free, but seating is limited, and advance registration is required. More information is available on the Township's website.

A unique and special fundraising event will be held at the Hershey Recreation Center inside the empty outdoor pool to help raise money for the new Hershey Community Center.

Adult Swim: Last Call  will be held Friday, September 14 from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. and will feature food and drinks donated by area businesses.

The event is $100 per person and contributions are tax-deductible.

Visit the Township's website for the latest information on the campaign and the project. 

The last concert in the Music on Chocolate series will be held on Saturday, September 8 and will feature Danielle Miraglia . The Downtown Hershey Association describes Miraglia as armed with a strong steady thumb on an old Gibson, an infectious stomp box rhythm, and harmonica with tunes ranging from heart-felt to socially conscious that will move both your heart and hips.

Gleasons Drift will entertain with wide and vast spanning country ballads and rock n’ roll.



The concert will be held from 7:00 to 10:00 p.m. Food and beverages are available for purchase. 

Adult Enrichment Classes begin in September at the Hershey Public Library. Participants must be 18 years old or older to participate. There are classes in writing, art, crafts, philosophy, and much more.

Click here for a class brochure.

Head over to the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Avenue, on Wednesday, September 5 at 3:00 p.m. for In the Middle Games.

Students must be in grade six or higher.

Play Overwatch or another video game or choose a board game. This month's theme is superheroes.

LEGO Club will be held on Wednesday, September 5 at 4:00 p.m. at the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Avenue.

Participants must be six years old or older. A challenge will be set...let's see what you build!

Families with children ages three to six years old are invited to come to Play Day at the Hershey Public Library on Friday, September 7, at 10:00 a.m. The library is located at 701 Cocoa Avenue.

Play Days for Families is one hour of center-based free play that engages children and their accompanying adult in the five practices of Early Literacy: talking, singing, reading, writing, and playing.

September's Second Saturday program for children three to six years old is September 8 at 1:30 p.m. at the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Avenue. 

This month's program features a story and activity focused on the greatness of grandparents.

The Women's Civic Club of Hershey will meet on Tuesday, September 4, at 7:00 p.m. in the Community Room of the Ronald McDonald House, 745 W. Governor Road, Hershey.

Michael Macchioni, founder of Gemma's Angels, a nonprofit organization that was formed in 2007 to alleviate hunger will be the speaker. Macchioni is a graduate of Milton Hershey School, Harrisburg Area Community College and he also attended Penn State Harrisburg.

He served as the Director of Parks and Recreation for Derry Township for 10 years and was a co-founder of the Friends of Derry Township Parks and Recreation. He has been an active advocate for the homeless for 30 years and was recently named Partner-of-the-Year by the Shalom House in Harrisburg.

The Hershey Area Neighbors and Newcomers Club (HANN Club) will meet at the Hershey Public Library, 701 Cocoa Avenue, at 9:45 a.m. on Thursday, September 13.

 

HANN Club was created over 33 years ago as a social club that builds friendships through interest groups and guest speakers.

The first meeting of the year is an informational and organizational meeting. Guests are invited to attend and join in the activities.

Contact Jackie at 845-857-4204/[email protected], or Suzette at 717-861-4660/[email protected] for more information.

Walk for health and support the Hershey Area Playhouse in a family fun Walk-A-Thon on Sunday, September 16, 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. (Rain date: Sunday, September 23)

Register online and follow the instructions to create your online Walk-A-Thon pledge page and set a goal.    Share the page with your friends and promote it on social media to meet your pledge goal. The site will collect the pledges and send supporters a receipt for their generosity.

Walk your promised steps on a route that winds through the lovely tree lined sidewalks of a low traffic neighborhood behind the Playhouse. The Walk-A-Thon begins in front of the Playhouse, which sits on the grounds of Country Meadows Hershey Campus, 830 Cherry Drive, Hershey.

Water, restrooms and first aid stations will be available inside the Playhouse. We will also have teams with water for you along the route, and refreshments at the end. An awards ceremony will begin at 3:00 p.m. Prizes will be awarded to the top three highest pledge earners to include a brand-new Fitbit and other great items. You do not need to be present to win.

If you can't make it, you can walk on your own. Visit our website for instructions.

All pledges must be entered in your online form by the end of the day on Friday, September 14 to be eligible for the most dollars raised contest. Come and take in the fall weather, help the Playhouse, and enjoy a walk for our health and yours.

September is the time when the kids go back to school and the fall activities start to fill our schedules. As we transition into this busy season, we remember that it is important to make time to spend with our friends and family.

Come and enjoy an event for the whole family! Grace United Methodist Church, located at 433 East Main Street in Hummelstown, is hosting an event open to the community on Sunday, September 16. Please join us for a worship service that will be mixed with both contemporary and traditional elements at 10:45 a.m. 

Following the service, we will be enjoying a chicken BBQ meal and an afternoon filled with fellowship and fun for the whole family. There will be ponies to feed, inflatables for children and youth, games for the entire family to enjoy and a visit from our friends at Sweet Dawgs! The afternoon will end with a puppet show for the kids, put on by our talented creative ministries team.

We hope you can join us for this free, community event! Register on our website and let us know you are coming! Visit www.gracehummelstown.org/table-of-grace/ to RSVP and check out all of Grace’s upcoming community meals as we kick off the fall season.

Hershey Area Playhouse will offer acting classes to students in grades 1–12, September 22 through November 10. The fall session will improve performance skills with age-appropriate activities and games in an atmosphere of encouragement and fun. 

Classes are held on Saturdays at the Playhouse on the campus of Country Meadows of Hershey, 830 Cherry Drive at the following times:



Grades 1-3 meet from 9:00 -10:30 a.m.

Grades 4-6 meet from 10:30 – noon

Grades 7-12 meet from 1:00 - 3:00 p.m. 

This year grades 1-3 will focus on imagination and building the actor’s tools, grades 4-6 collaboration, listening, and responding to your scene partner, and grades 7-12 refining a role through an in-depth understanding of living truthfully in imaginary circumstances.

The Playhouse is proud to be one of the few area schools committed to instruction based on national standards for excellence in Theatre education. That means your student will experience classes designed around age-appropriate learning goals and will be taught by highly trained instructors. Each class is staffed by two experienced instructors with assistance from a teen acting intern who has come up through our program. We are proud of our reputation and the high quality of our offerings.



Register here . Visit our website for more information.