Has anyone else noticed the lack of announcements at Hershey?

[Shop Rat]

Bill and I have sure noticed that the announcements about no bikes etc . were not made today. And I saw at least three people riding bikes through the crowd at a pretty good clip. Several non-authoized handicapped carts/golf carts. But many that had the 2012 tag displayed. Two thumbs way up to the folks walking their bikes through and those that had the proper tags on their carts and golf carts. Quite a few dogs of every kind and size including a HUGE Mastiff and a pit bull.

[Peter J.Heizmann]

Nope...too busy having a good time. On the other hand I do not let such things bother me and seldom notice.

As this is a yearly complaint list any chance you could finally walk over to the announcer or Hershey Region officials and air out then get back to us with their comments? I doubt you will receive feedback on the forum.

[old car fan]

Susan,have not been walking the field to often,to busy at my space.But i will say this,some things will never change,Susan have a great week ,and stop by if you can.I hope to spend more time in the field Friday,good luck.It seems like there are more people around thjs year?

[auburnseeker]

I did notice the lack of announcements. That was one of the things you always remember about hershey. I do recall hearing it once or twice today and did notice alot of carts. It didn't bother me much other than some people with carts feel they have the right of way over pedestrians. weather has been wonderful so I'm just happy to be here.

[Shop Rat]

Peter H. and others,

Bill and our friend Rodger just got back from the flea market fields. (I didn't go due to a blister that was the result of the wrong sock/shoe combo.) Bill took off his shoe and sock and was examining the top of his right foot. I asked him what was going on. "I got run over by a guy on an electric three wheeled scooter. I watched him go back and forth a couple of times. I wanted to look at something on a table and when he went by I walked over to the table. The next thing I know he backs up onto my foot then drives off. Never checked to see if I was hurt or not. Never said he was sorry. Just drove off in a hurry."

Luckily there doesn't seem to be any broken bones or permanent damage to Bill's foot. But the guy that did it didn't care one way or the other.

[jackofalltrades70]

I got there early once again today. As I was walking up the hill in the parking lot, They started to play the National Anthem. So, I stopped, mid hill, blocked my wagon with my foot, took my hat off and placed my hand over my chest and sang along. Many people walked past me, none stopped!! Not one! Many were older gentlemen. I was appalled. I intentionally walked in front of people on golf carts driving too fast to make them slow down. All day! I literally felt like I was out to commit suicide several of those times. There were no announcements yesterday at all. Today, the familiar voice of past years was there, but didn't have much to say.....Seems the only thing they announced was people parked in the car corral that shouldn't be or similar situations. But, what a great day. Sorry I didn't get to see you Susan. I was looking for you. Matt

[Shop Rat]

I am sorry I did not get to see you Matt.

I will say that everyone did stop for the national anthem where I was on the field.

[trimacar]

I was walking the Chocolate field, and a guy buzzed by my shoulder on roller blades.....didn't think that was kosher....and a lot of electric vehicles on the field, I was pulling out of car corral and had five in a row blocking me....one person commented it's a sign of the times, that a lot of older people in the hobby going to Hershey...although I saw people that weren't that old, but as has been discussed before, you can't tell by looking what physical issue they may have..

Great Hershey, great weather, lot's of "new" stuff out it seemed, for a couple of years I recognized most parts from the previous year!! Lot's of brass cars at show, that was great....

[stock_steve]

I will say that everyone did stop for the national anthem where I was on the field.

I have to agree that, from where I was on each morning at the time, everyone within eyesight stopped and stood at attention for the playing of the National Anthem.

[1937hd45]

Yes, Same in my section of the Flea Market.

I have to agree that, from where I was on each morning at the time, everyone within eyesight stopped and stood at attention for the playing of the National Anthem.

[Steve Moskowitz]

Same in our area too! I saw very, very little disrespect for our anthem. I am sure some people didn't hear or notice it was being played! As far as announcements, in the past there were complaints about too many!

In any case, the bicycle issue seems worse this year and I will bring this to the attention of the region.

[dalef62]

Great Show, Thank You Hershey Region!!!! Yes, most people in our area stopped for the National Anthem. In the lower end of the Green field it was very hard to hear the announcements.
As far as the motorized vehicles go, I think 50% of the crowd was on them.

I had an idea on how to slow the use of bicycles and illegal carts, when they are stopped by Hershey Region members or security, they should take the schader valves out and make them push their bicycle or carts around...

[Marty Roth]

Each morning, wherever I was, almost everyone whom I observed, stood, uncovered his / her head, and showed respect for the National Anthem.
It appeared that I may have been the only one singing it -- felt like a football game --
Doesn't anyone know the words anymore?

[dalef62]

Each morning, wherever I was, almost everyone whom I observed, stood, uncovered his / her head, and showed respect for the National Anthem.
It appeared that I may have been the only one singing it -- felt like a football game --
Doesn't anyone know the words anymore?

Oh say can you see, by the Cords or Knights???????.......
Just joking.

[old car fan]

I know every word,but would ruin it if i sang,hats off,and listen.Also,i am in orange and the only day we actually heard it was sat,We could here it faintly,and did the same thing,I Love it,and would love it everywhere.Hats off to all the folks who dedicated there time.A great time

[trimacar]

I was in the show field Saturday, around the brass cars....and the anthem started....and lots of salutes and hands over hearts....

But....one guy just started wandering around...and it came to me that, if he was from a fern land (you know, if you have to grow ferns, you talk to them in a fern language), then the anthem is meaningless.....

Overall, much respect, and it makes one feel proud.....

[Shop Rat]

.....In any case, the bicycle issue seems worse this year and I will bring this to the attention of the region.

Thank you Steve for being willing to address this with the Region. One couple that I saw on Thursday were going very fast and went coasting around a corner and if there had been someone there it wouldn't have been pretty. I know that folks that ride bikes a lot are skilled at riding. But many folks are mobility challenged even if they are not on a cart and are unable to get out of the way of a bike and rider.

And I know that at least two of the folks have expressed that they hate hearing the cans dragging on the ground. But after Bill getting his foot run up on by an electric three-wheeled cart on Friday, and the man that did it driving off without checking to see if he hurt Bill, I think it should be required to have some sort of noise maker on every mobilitycart/golf cart so that people know they are coming. Bill had waited until he thought the man had left the aisle, but the guy backed up and onto Bill's foot. A can dragging, or a large metal washer like I have on my "Hershey Hauler" Radio Flyer wagon would have alerted Bill that the guy had returned. I am just glad he seems to be okay.

I am very safety minded for several reasons. I don't want to get hurt. I don't want to hurt someone else. I worked for the phone company for thirty-one years and four months to the day. Every month during that time I attended monthly safety meetings. That is 376 safety meetings. And I "drank the Kool-Aid" and never had to be written up for a safety violation. And I baby-sit for thirteen kids in five families for kids ages 11 to 3. I have to keep them safe while they are in my care.

[jackofalltrades70]

I got there early once again today. As I was walking up the hill in the parking lot, They started to play the National Anthem. So, I stopped, mid hill, blocked my wagon with my foot, took my hat off and placed my hand over my chest and sang along. Many people walked past me, none stopped!! Not one! Many were older gentlemen. I was appalled. I intentionally walked in front of people on golf carts driving too fast to make them slow down. All day! I literally felt like I was out to commit suicide several of those times. There were no announcements yesterday at all. Today, the familiar voice of past years was there, but didn't have much to say.....Seems the only thing they announced was people parked in the car corral that shouldn't be or similar situations. But, what a great day. Sorry I didn't get to see you Susan. I was looking for you. Matt

I hadn't even stopped and thought that the gents might have been from the other side of the pond........My bad. Sure was hard to hear it though in the green field as stated before. Matt

[Lincolnman65]

I know that security does try to stop the bikes. However some people that ride them don't care. They get told about it and will walk their bike around a corner out of sight of the security and then get back on and ride it again. Does anyone have authority to take the bikes away and / or fine someone if they are caught riding it? I think that would be the only way you will be able to stop it.

But, we have to say that will so many people there most do follow the rules.

[Shop Rat]

Bill suggested that it would be good to have some bike racks where the bikes could be locked up at the gates where there is someone there to keep an eye on them. Most that value their bike have one of the cable locks to secure them. And if it is vendors, or their friends with them, riding them then escort them back to their space(s) and tell them if they ride them again they will be escorted out and no refunds for the space rental.

We have a right to feel as safe as possible at events. And those with valid reasons for using a mobility cart/golf cart should watch where they are going and not fly though the crowd just because they can. We saw quite a few going at a higher rate of speed than is permitted of the vehicles that drive through.

[John_Maine]

By Thursday afternoon, I was thinking I hadn't heard as many announcements as in past years, so guess I was not alone. I park on the black top at Chocolate World and if I get there before 8:00, stay in the car until the anthem comes on. From that vantage point, everyone I saw stopped what they were doing and paid attention during the anthem. However, I was in the show field on Saturday when they played the anthem at 10:00 and I saw several people continuing to talk and mill around. Again, they could have been foreigners, but even if I were a foreigner, I would at least take my hat off and stand still while it was playing.

[kingsting]

I noticed the lack of announcements this year too. I always wanted to meet the announcer too as his voice has been a part of Hershey every year since I started going in the mid-80's.
I was on race car row behind the stadium when the national anthem was being played and the whole area came to a screeching halt until it was over. Still lots of respect back there...

[old car fan]

In the orange field,you really can not hear it ,The only time is Saturday.More speakers in the orange field please.A great year,thanks.

[mrpushbutton]

We ALWAYS stop what we are doing in our booth and stand at attention for the National Anthem. Most all in our immediate area are not crazy with the Southern-Baptist-y male vocal rendition, the female solo version is fine. I would suggest the Marine Corps band version, nice and straightforward, solid, not "regional" or "stylized" in any way. We miss the Vee-Hick-ell parked in the vendor space announcements, we always get a big laugh that it always seems to be New York or New Jersey plates!

[ChrisSummers]

This was my first time at Hershey. I found the golf carts as annoying as everyone ever told me they were (maybe they need to be fitted with cowcatchers?), but no more annoying than the people who looked right at me as I was taking pictures on the show field, then walked right into the picture...or the vendor who, when I tried to negotiate on a piece of literature, reacted as if I had insulted his mother... I do think that the energy some of the security guards expended on making sure people were paying for parking, might have been better spent making sure people were following the rules on the fields.

There are (polite euphemism here) donkeys at every car show and if you make rules they will break them.

That said, I had a wonderful week and will return in the future...with considerably more money than I brought this year. So many nice things left behind for other people to buy...