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Article RatingSouth Middleton gets peek at baseball training plans -- South Middleton Township supervisors got a sneak peek last week at a plan to bring a state-of-the-art baseball training facility to the township.
Doug Baker of York Road presented the board with a sketch plan for the Sandlot Baseball/Softball Academy. A sketch plan is an informal plan that shows an idea and allows the board to provide unofficial feedback.
Baker wants to build the facility on his five-acre farm in the 500 block of York Road, across from Mayapple Golf Links. The property is zoned light commercial. An indoor recreation facility is permitted as a conditional use but requires special approval.
The 4,000-square-foot barn and at least one out-building would need to be removed to make way for the facility.
But Baker said he’s sensitive to the history of the barn and has already made arrangements for it and a drive-through wagon shed to be dismantled and rebuilt in Penn Township.
Baker said he and his family would continue to live on the property in their 80-year-old farmhouse.
If built as planned, the academy will be a 9,200-square-foot indoor training facility offering five batting cages and five pitching cages, with a state-of-the-art video system designed to tape batters and hitters. The center will be geared to one-on-one instruction for boys and girls.
"It’s a teaching facility, not like the Sports Emporium where you put in quarters and bat," Baker explained.
Similar facilities are offered in Hampden Township and in Fairview Township.
Baker and his business partner, Billy White of South Middleton Township, will be the instructors. Both are serious about sports, working with children and giving back to the community.
"It’s a great passion," Baker said.
Supervisor Bryan Gembusia said he’s seen the sports video technology on television.
"Not only does it help kids improve technique, but it helps prevent injury," he said.
"These types of things keep kids off the street," Chairman Tom Faley said.
For more of this story by Sentinel reporter Andrea Ciccocioppo, see today’s print and online editions. Also today:
Grand opening -- Thousands of people turned out for the grand opening of Wegmans Food Markets Sunday in Silver Spring Square, and navigating the store meant meandering around carts and strollers and waiting in long lines just to move from aisle to aisle.
"At least at Hershey Park, there's a ride at the end of the lines," said Anthony Holloway of Mechanicsburg.
Holloway was checking out the store with friend Ron Lingle. Both were surprised at the turn-out.
"It's just a grocery store, but everyone's freaking out," Lingle said.
Wegmans opened to what may have been its largest crowd ever for a grand opening.
"At 7 a.m. about 2,000 people were lined up to come in," said Jo Natale, Wegmans media relations director. "It was remarkable."
Natale said the lines wrapped around the building and parking lot.
A long line of customers isn't unusual for a Wegmans grand opening, but the size of the line Sunday may have topped the charts.
"I think it was the longest line we've ever had at an opening," Natale said.
Celebrating 75 years strong -- New Bloomfield Volunteer Fire Co. has been involved in its fair share of celebrations over the years, but none of them have been quite as big as the event set for Sept. 29 in the Perry County community.
On that day, the volunteer unit will commemorate its 75th anniversary with a formal program and parade celebration.
It will be recognized for its early beginnings -- serving more than two-thirds of Perry County and 350 square miles -- and the progressions since that incorporation in 1932.
"The last large celebration in Bloomfield was the 100th anniversary of the Soldiers and Sailors monument on Veterans Day 1998," said Gary Eby, firefighter and one of the event's organizers. "This will be a larger parade."
Yesterday's most-viewed stories on www.cumberlink.com
1. Two older markets still running
2. Penn State football: Buffalo can’t fight the ’law
3. To market, to market
4. Firefighters’ convention comes to Mt. Holly Springs
5. County spending spat may flare again
Yesterday's most-viewed emailed on www.cumberlink.com
1. High School football: Guise grabs win for CV
2. To market, to market
3. Bookspan layoffs to affect Mechanicsburg, Hanover
