Reporting by Brooke Loomis from her home in Hershey, Pennsylvania.
Self-proclaimed Chocolate Capital of the World, Hershey is located in south-central Pennsylvania’s Dauphin County, founded in 1785 shortly after the American Revolution. A drive through the county shows its diverse landscapes, including industrial cities like Harrisburg, small towns, rolling farmland, and the Susquehanna River. In 1905 Milton S. Hershey built a chocolate factory here, tapping the county’s dairy farms to provide large quantities of milk for the chocolate-making process. The Hershey factory is one of the town’s main tourist attractions; throughout the summer, buses bring hordes of visitors to the town’s chocolate-themed amusement park. At Chocolate World, visitors experience a simulation of the chocolate-making process, from the jungles of Brazil, harvesting the cacao seed, and ending in the distribution hub of Hershey itself.
Since the COVID-19 outbreak, the spring opening of Hershey’s attractions has been delayed to prioritize the safety of the public. County commissioners hold a bi-weekly meeting, open to the public via conference call, to discuss safety concerns and health updates. Pennsylvania’s stay-at-home order has, for the most part, kept families indoors. One exception is the city’s walking paths, which can become overcrowded by residents, often in masks and walking six feet apart, yearning for the outdoor air. Today volunteers hand out groceries to those in need. Families donate masks and other key medical supplies to nearby hospitals. Teachers drive their parade of cars through the school district to boost morale. The county is a close-knit community, stitched together by gracious and generous citizens.
By Brooke Loomis “What’s the color and model of your car?” Joe asked over the phone. “Red Nissan Murano,” I answered. A few minutes later, he confidently drove his truck the wrong direction on a one-way street and parked in front of my Murano. He turned on the orange flashing light on the truck’s roof, signaling to Read more about House Call[…]
By Brooke Loomis The sun’s glowing rays reflected off the hospital’s tinted windows. In a garden nearby, newly sprouted tulips burst with color, yellow and white, while across the road tree saplings, planted in neat rows, seemed to go on forever. It was a new season, a new era. The Earth has not forgotten its habits. Animals emerge from Read more about Health Workers: Our First Line of Defense[…]
By Brooke Loomis Day 2: Stillness To be still. To sit without movement. In the home, on the couch, the bed, the oversized chair. Moving parts limited to thoughts and ideas, dreams, and creativity. To accept the uncontrollable as truth. And live in this place of present stillness. Day 13: Stillness To Read more about Quarantine Journals[…]
Name of Community: Dauphin County, PA Established (date): 1785 Land area: 525.05 sq mi Population: 278,299 Population over 65:17% Population per sq. mile: 510.5 Racial Makeup: 65.1% white, 19.2% black, 9.6% Latino, 5.0% Asian Persons per household: 2.39 Per Capita Income: $32,485 Bachelor’s degree or above:30.5% Read more about Hershey by the Numbers[…]