Friday, May 18, 2012
The township's sewer ordinance has not been addressed since 1983.
Lower Macungie commissioners took the first steps to update the township's sewer ordinance at the May 17 board meeting. The four commissioners in attendance unanimously voted to draft a plan that to which it will attach all comments from the public before it is sent to the state's Department of Environmental Protection for approval. Commissioner Ryan Conrad was absent Thursday. Several residents had concerns about the new plan as explained in a Morning Call story. And several had lengthy concerns that could not be accommodated by the board's three-minutes-for-comment limit. Consequently, written comments will be accepted by the township until 7 p.m. June 7, just before the board's next meeting.
40.526141
-75.54878
Lower Macungie Township Building
3400 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/lower-mac-will-amend-sewer-regs
1828410
/locations/7052202
An Air Force veteran, Stanley Cupp fills the recently vacant position.
Stanley Albert Cupp of Zionsville was hired Thursday as the new facilities crew chief for Lower Macungie Township. Four commissioners voted unanimously to approve Township Manager Bruce Fosselman's recommendation that Cupp be hired. Commissioner Ryan Conrad was absent. Cupp, an Air Force veteran, has experience with heavy equipment, Fosselman said, and Cupp also possesses strong leadership skills. Noting the new employee's unusual and otherwise famous name, Fosselman said the candidate told him that he was born in a year that the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup. His hockey-fan father lobbied hard to name his son after the trophy. His mother was reportedly less of a fan. Commissioners James Lancsek and Roger Reis said Cupp's veteran…
40.526141
-75.54878
Lower Macungie Township Building
3400 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/stanley-cupp-hired-as-lower-mac-facilities-head
1828410
/locations/7048918
Thursday, May 17, 2012
But does the plan meet state requirements?
The construction of a new sewer pipe along Mertztown Road and through the village of Brookdale in Lower Macungie Township is part of the township plan to provide public sewer service to the proposed 600 acres Jaindl land development project. Typically, when a new sewer line is installed, all property owners along the line are required to connect to it. The township Board of Commissioners plans to vote to approve the new sewer plan at its meeting at 7 p.m. today at the township building on Brookside Road. But the plan to expand the public sewer area to the Jaindl project and build the new pipe does not seem to satisfy the state requirements for planning such sewer system upgrades. The township plan does not contain the detailed studies and …
40.526141
-75.54878
Lower Macungie Township Building
3400 Brookside Rd, Macungie, PA
/articles/letter-to-the-editor-lower-mac-boc-may-vote-on-sewer-plan-tonight
1828410
/locations/7046767
Newly elected state Rep. Ryan Mackenzie says his office is open to help local residents
State Rep. Ryan Mackenzie wants to inform residents of the 134th House District of services that his office provides. Mackenzie won a special election last month to fill the unexpired term of former state Rep. Doug Reichley. His staff is available to help with: Mackenzie has a full-time office at 1245 Chestnut St., Unit 5, in Emmaus (Phone: 610-965-9933). This is former Rep. Doug Reichley’s previous office location. Office hours are Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Residents can download state forms or contact him via his website, RepMackenzie.com. Also, Mackenzie interacts with his constituents on Facebook and Twitter.
40.527858
-75.508381
1245 Chestnut St, Emmaus, PA
/articles/mackenzie-s-office-offers-constituent-services
/locations/7032401
A New York Times story on graduates weighed down with college debt makes the case for last week’s column.
Once again, The New York Times is playing catch-up with Patch.com. On Sunday, The Times had a front-page story about the growing burdens of college loans, three days after my column ran on the same subject. The paper did a wee bit more legwork for their gazillion-word story – my research consisted mainly of talking to a friend at the deli counter at the Giant supermarket – so I’ll leave the term “copycat” out of this discussion. The lead of The Times story was about a young Ohio college graduate who owes $120,000 in loans and is working two jobs to pay the $900-a-month bill. Her mother is taking out life insurance on her because if anything happens to her daughter, she couldn’t pay the loans for which she co-signed. A decade ago, 58 …
Township supervisors across Pennsylvania are fighting unfunded mandates from Harrisburg and Washington.
Pennsylvania’s township officials are taking aim at unfunded mandates, which they say waste millions in tax dollars every year. Close to 4,000 local leaders attended the Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors’ 90th Annual Educational Conference last week in Hershey, where they launched a campaign to eliminate the mandates that Harrisburg and Washington pass on to local governments without accompanying dollars. Township officials wore green stickers, which featured a rifle’s crosshairs over the words “Unfunded Mandates” throughout the conference. In particular, PSATS members have set their sights on the state’s outdated legal advertising requirements — studies say reforming these would save municipalities $23 million a year…
Wednesday, May 16, 2012
Down 12 spots from 2011, East Penn is ranked fifth in region, 94th in state
The East Penn School District ranks 94 among 500 school districts in Pennsylvania, based on its performance on the Pennsylvania System of School Assessment (PSSA) Exam, according to the Pittsburgh Business Times. The Pittsburgh Business Times recently released its 2012 Guide of Western Pennsylvania Schools. The guide lists the school district rankings on the PSSA scores statewide. The formula for the ranking takes into account three years of PSSA test scores in math, reading, writing and science, according to The Business Journals. Three years of scores are considered, with the current year given the most weight. According to the rankings, East Penn ranked 82 in 2011, dropping 12 spots in the past year. Here's how East Penn ranked against …
40.537169
-75.506229
800 Pine St, Emmaus, PA
East Penn School District Administration Offices
/articles/east-penn-ranks-94th-in-state-for-pssa-scores
/locations/7027257
Tuesday, May 15, 2012
Friends for the Protection of Lower Macungie Township has every intention of paying its bills.
- GOVERNMENT
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Tuesday, May 15
To the Editor: Friends for Protection of Lower Macungie Township takes our responsibility of handling donations from the community very seriously. To date we've raised more than $20,000, mostly in small donations from more than 50 community members through events and online. This is why we are challenging what we believe to be unnecessary fees billed to the appellants by the township. We will continue our policy of vigorously vetting all bills before authorizing any expenditure of money we collect. We owe this to the members of the community whom trust us to administer the legal fund on behalf of the residents. All contributions collected are used solely to underwrite legal costs of the appellants in appeal procedures. Further, we believe …
Monday, May 14, 2012
State lawmakers might raise the Pennsylvania Turnpike speed limit to 70 miles per hour. Do you support the move?
State lawmakers are considering a bill that would allow the Turnpike Commission to raise the Pennsylvania Turnpike speed limit to 70 miles per hour. The House Transportation Committee recently approved the measure, which would affect sections of both the Northeast Extension and the rest of the turnpike. Supporters of the measure say the change makes sense because vehicles are safer and the turnpike is wider, flatter and straighter thanks to road improvements. There is no timetable for when - or if - the bill will come to a vote. Turnpike officials say the speed limit change would not be made without additional study and would apply only to some portions of the road. Do you think the speed limit should be raised? Vote in our poll and add …
Sunday, May 13, 2012
Pennsylvania reports earliest ever detection of West Nile Virus in a mosquito.
- GOVERNMENT
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Sunday, May 13
Pennsylvania has reported the earliest detection of a West Nile virus-carrying mosquito since testing began in 2000. The infected mosquito was found May 3 in Exeter Township, Berks County, state officials said Friday. Typically, the state’s first West Nile virus-carrying mosquito is found in mid-June. “The unseasonably warm weather in March caused the virus cycle to begin early this year,” Department of Environmental Protection Secretary Mike Krancer said. “Our staff will continue to monitor mosquito populations and conduct spraying to reduce the threat to public health.” Lehigh County was designated a hot zone for West Nile virus last September. Certain mosquito species carry the virus, which may cause humans to contract West Nile fever …
My 2 Cents
9:01 am on Friday, May 18, 2012
His parents had a sence of humor I see. Stanley Cupp, how many jokes does he get? I thought it was a typo. more ›