Fellow Hershey’s Mill Residents,
(This has been sent to all HM residents registered on the HM email platform)
Update #36
PREPARING to MOVE to YELLOW PHASE
We are in Red Phase and still under Stay At Home Orders until June 5. Assuming the PA Governor moves Chester County to Yellow on June 5th, here are the Guidelines for the Yellow Phase:
PHASE YELLOW
In this phase, state officials will ease some restrictions and allow more businesses to open, but customers can still expect mitigation efforts such as curbside pickup/delivery only and potential limitations on the number of people allowed in store. Closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, hair and nail salons, as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place.
Click Below to be taken to the PA Government website:
https://www.governor.pa.gov/process-to-reopen-pennsylvania/
IMPORTANT: Once a county transitions to the yellow phase, the rates of infection will be monitored for significant outbreaks. Some counties could move to the green phase — in which salons, gyms, and restaurants reopen in a limited capacity — within two weeks if the infection rates continue to decrease.
As a Practical Matter, here is what we can and cannot do in the Yellow Phase:
Life under Yellow Phase for the majority of Hershey’s Mill residents means being able to leave your home and continue activities with the guidelines above and below, while wearing a face mask and social distancing.
SOCIAL RESTRICTIONS
We still have to wear masks
We still have to social distance
The stay-at-home order is lifted
Gatherings of more than 25 are prohibited
We will be able to enter some retail stores, but curbside and delivery is preferable.
Businesses and retailers will have to follow specific rules, such as limiting capacity in buildings, installing shields at registers, and mandating mask wearing among employees and customers.
Restaurants State wide, in Yellow Phase areas, will be able to serve customers sitting down at outside tables spaced six feet apart, and continue carry-out. Face masks must be worn by customers except when seated. Keep in mind, your favorite restaurant may not be able to have outside seating if on a through way sidewalk area.
We suggest making reservations early because of the high demand there will be for few tables.
All businesses must follow guidance for social distancing and cleaning.
Indoor recreation, meaning Table Tennis, Pool, Bridge, Movies, Gyms, etc. will remain closed.
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NOTES:
1) HM Community POOL – Gov. Wolf has not re-opened pools. Watch for notices via email.
The second step is PA Governor Wolf opening pools for our local area. This has not been done. There will likely be criteria that must be met in order to use facilities when they are re-opened. The Board is watching closely and abiding by Governor Wolf’s Orders and Guidelines. Watch for notices from emails issued through this HM Email Platform.
2) Meetings – In Person and in HM Facility Meetings continue to be Cancelled until further notice. This means pre-planned meetings and events.
MEETINGS Continuing Via Zoom, Skype, Conference Calls –
HM Board
HM Landscape Committee
HM Master Association
Nature Group
Sports Groups
Technology Committee & Sub Committees
Village Councils
3) Returning & New from out of State HM Residents – Things to Know:
PA DOH requires that we wear Face Masks when we leave home and when we enter the grocery store, pharmacy and other open businesses.
4) CAUTION – Face Masks: When we are finally able to go without face masks, we recommend that everyone keep their face masks. Health Organizations worldwide are expecting a second, possibly worse, round of the COVID-19 to occur during our next Flu season. This will complicate diagnosis and treatment. We expect that Face Masks will be required again. Remember – for now, face masks are required.
5) Walkers around Hershey’s Mill: Please be careful when crossing the street in Hershey’s Mill. Look both ways before stepping into the street. Be sure you can hear your surroundings over your ear phones. A few have almost been hit by a car and never even knew it.
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NEIGHBORS
Please check on your neighbors regularly. A simple phone call checking in may make all the difference in someone’s day. We are all in this together – call a neighbor or two today. If you just moved here an don’t know any one, call one of your Village Council members.
-Please communicate this information to any neighbor that does not receive emails.
– Please check with your friends and neighbors to be sure they see the COVID-19 emails.
COMMUNITY UPDATES
1) Please tune into Hershey’s Mill Community TV (HMTC) Channel 1971 for updates via scrolling banners
2) Please log onto hersheysmill.org for updates on the HersheyMill website.
We thank you for your understanding and patience as we navigate these unprecedented times.
On behalf of the Technology Committee,
To your health and safety,
Wash your hands, wear a face mask, social distance, stay healthy,
Bill and Sherry Kane
Co-Chairs, HM Technology Committee
Note: Emails sent out Community wide through the HM Email Platform are for internal HM use only and not for public distribution, posting on any type of website, with the exception of the hersheysmill.org website, or used in any other manner available to the general public or those residing outside Hershey’s Mill.
We often get questions about feeding mealworms to Bluebirds. We have been advised by our past chair, Wilbur Amand, DVM, that it is not a good idea to do so on a regular basis.
Eggshells can be an excellent substitute. During the nesting season, female Bluebirds need extra calcium to produce eggs. That’s why eggshells could be what they actually require! You can save the shells in your freezer until you’ve accumulated 6 or 8. Once you have enough, place them on a baking sheet and dry them in the oven for 15 minutes at about 250 degrees. You can then crumble them and place them in a dish. (I use a pie plate.) If you like, mix in just a few mealworms and the Bluebirds will love it.
We thought since we were close to the small retention pond on the south side of the lagoon, we should take a look. We were in for a big surprise! Linda found a brood of baby Wood Ducks—13 of them! Then for a second surprise. Another birder found a second brood, this time out on the main lagoon. We may have counted 8.