What's Going On In Cumberland County And Beyond
Fifth Graders May Enter PAWC Contest To “Protect Our Watersheds”
Feb 7th
Winner of PAWC's 2009 "Protect Our Watershed" art contest in 2009 by Sydney Hill of Spring-Ford Intermediate School in Royersford, Montgomery County
Thanks to Pennsylvania American Water Company’s Terry Maenza for forwarding me information about PAWC’s eighth annual “Protect The Watersheds” art contest.
Open to all fifth graders who live in PAWC’s service area – which encompasses about 400 schools – the contest calls on kids to submit original art work and a brief narrative. The contest challenges young people to illustrate the “…importance of protecting Pennsylvania’s watersheds and water resources….” while also telling judges how they may be personally impacted by watershed protection.
The contest, which 670 children entered last year, will recognize six winners; a first, second, and third-place winner will be named from both sides of the state. Winners will receive gift cards to Barnes & Noble ranging from $100 to $25, and the overall grand prize winner will have their picture featured on seed packs PAWC calls Bloomers.
Sydney Hill of Spring-Ford Intermediate School in Royersford, Montgomery County was the Bloomer Card Winner in 2009.
The deadline to enter the contest is Feb. 26. Entries will be judged on “…creative vision, artistic talent, understanding of watershed protection and the ability to communicate that understanding.” You can download an entry form on PAWC’s web site, or see additional information.
I’ve asked to post the winning artwork here on The Lowdown. Check back for updates.
How You Can Help A Lower Allen Hero
Feb 5th
Fresh from a tour of duty in Iraq, Lower Allen Township Community Service Officer John Young, age 25, was enjoying some down time with friends on Saturday, Jan. 30. The evening ended tragically, though, when he suffered severe injuries in an ATV accident.
Employed by Lower Allen Township since 2005, Young is now in the fight of his life. And you can help.
Having served us for a year in Iraq as a member of the PA National Guard, Young is facing a long, difficult recovery from the brain injury he suffered during the accident. While he is making incremental progress, Young and his wife, Jessica, will benefit from any good wishes or prayers you can send their way.
Also, you can make a tangible impact by donating to an account created by the Lower Allen Township Public Safety Department at the Susquehanna Valley Federal Credit Union. All donations to the LA Public Safety Support Account go directly to the Youngs, and will get this Lower Allen hero and his family back on their feet again.
Cumberland County Library System Nowhere Near The End Of The Tunnel
Jan 24th
I read with some regret the news that several libraries in the Cumberland County Library System are planning even more service cuts as they struggle to meet the needs of the community. In The Patriot-News:
A 33 percent reduction in state funding has prompted another round of cutbacks for Cumberland County’s public libraries.
The East Pennsboro branch library in Enola will reduce its weekly operating hours from 42 to 36 and will close on Wednesdays, library system Executive Director Jonelle Darr said this morning.
Hours will be cut for some part-time staff at the Fredericksen library in Camp Hill. That library will cut spending for new materials by a third and the Simpson library in Mechanisburg will pare new purchases by 13 percent, Darr said.
Also, she said the Simpson library will be closed on four more holidays and on Sundays in June.
The cuts will save around $100,000, Darr said. They come on top of other hour and service reductions announced in December.
All this comes at a time of staggering unemployment in a recession likely preparing for a second bite of the apple. The public needs libraries now more than ever; for education, for training, and for entertainment.
But they’re not willing to pay for it, at least according to a recent poll featured in western edition of The Patriot in Friday’s Patriot-News.
The paper posed the following question:
Cumberland and York libraries are facing funding cuts, so some are cutting hours. Would you pay more in taxes to keep the libraries open?
Now, a wise man once told me that unscientific polls are notoriously unreliable, and should not be counted on to do more than take the temperature of those who care enough about an issue to respond. So while we won’t do any more than wring our hands over the results of this poll, I must say I was astounded to see the stark results:
46% said Yes
54% said No
That’s no to acquiring new books, no to paying librarians, no to keeping the doors open on one of our greatest cultural assets in a free society, and more succinctly no to the future.
And whether or not we’re willing it to pay for it now, we’ll pay for it in the end. The great news, though, is that we likely will never realize it.
In a country where you can still find people who believe:
- Saddam Hussein was behind the 9/11 attacks;
- Joe Paterno is ever going to throw the ball inside the 10 yard line on first or second down;
- Vice presidential candidates really understand why there’s a North and a South Korea…
…devoting tax dollars to funding Curious George or Clifford The Big Red Dog is going to take a lot of time and energy on the part of some pretty devoted folks.
I met some of them a couple weeks ago.
In my new role as Lower Allen Township’s delegate to the Fredricksen Library Board of Directors, I attended my first board meeting on Jan. 14. What I saw and heard in that room, along with the dynamic, committed people I met, give me hope for libraries.
If you feel passionately about libraries and their role in society, please come out for a fund raiser at the library late next month. Birdies for Books runs from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 20, and there is complete information on the library’s web site.
Come out and help show Fredricksen that the light coming towards it truly is the end of the tunnel and not an oncoming train carrying another round of budget cuts.
And Now I’m On Pennlive
Jan 16th
Yes, you read that right.
Five years of blogging about Lower Allen Township – along with signing up for a username on Pennlive.com and making some comments about articles – has netted me a blog on Pennlive.
I don’t know yet how I’m going to reconcile both of these two forums, but I’ll keep you postes in the coming weeks. In the meantime, you can see my first post at http://blog.pennlive.com/lower-allen/index.html. The content will likely be familiar to regular readers, but I wanted to try out their software before the training session.
As always, I’m open to any thoughts you might have on this new development. Comment here on the blog, or shoot me an email.
Paper Or Email?
Jan 13th
By now, many of you have received the Winter, 2010 edition of the Lower Allen Township News, and I’m curious how many of you will read the newsletter online in the coming months, and how many will opt to have a paper copy delivered for $5.00 per year?
Here’s some pertinent text from the article:
Beginning in April, The Township News will be available on the Township’s website, www.lower-allen.pa.us. Residents interested in receiving the newsletter via email must register on the Lower Allen Township website by clicking on the word “Register” under “Login” on the right hand side of the Township home page. If you need assistance, contact Danna Lutes at 975-7575 or danna_lutes@lower-allen.pa.us.
Residents may continue receiving a paper copy of The Township News for a subscription fee of five dollars ($5.00) per year. Please use the Comment/Suggestion Form found on the Comment/Suggestion Form in this newsletter to order a subscription. Checks should be made payable to Lower Allen Township.
I’m going to do both, but how about you?
Feel free to chime in on the comments for this post.
Snapshot: Jan. 11, 2010 Meeting Notes
Jan 11th
Starting a new feature here on the Lowdown called Snapshot, where I give you some brief updates from Lower Allen Township – or other meetings – the night of the meeting. Read all about it, before you open your morning paper.
Of course, that assumes your morning paper would actually send a reporter or stringer to a meeting I attended. Usually, they do not.
So, setting that aside, let’s dive into tonight’s Lower Allen Township Board of Commissioner’s meeting. For those following along at home, we’ll follow the agenda.
4. Employee Recognition
The Board recognized Gary Frazer’s 35 years of service to LAT, an honor which Assistant Manager Jan Faust mentioned tonight Gary is the first LAT employee to achieve.
Congratulations, Gary.
7. President Titzel
While the Board was prepared to vote on Ordinance 2010-01, a new chapter of Article VIII dealing with temporary obstructions in the rights of way, Comm. Schin asked a question about where the text of the ordinance had been featured. He started to ask if it had been advertised in the quarterly township newsletter, but Pres. Titzel closed debate and proceeded to the vote.
After the vote, discussion did not continue on the point until…
8. Any business pertinent to the Township
I opened my big mouth – second meeting in a row – to amplify Comm. Schin’s point about broadcasting the text of proposed ordinances. The legal notices in The Patriot-News do not contain the entire text of the ordinance, and if people want to get informed, they may have to drive to the Township office to get a copy of the text; that or call Township staff and request an email.
I asked if the commissioners would consider posting the draft text of the ordinance on the LAT web site prior to the vote. The commissioners agreed with the suggestion, and directed staff to revise their current procedure.
Now we will all get to read the entire ordinances, just like the BOC: before the vote.
Yes, I really miss that weekly packet.
10. Community Development
The traffic signals in the Lower Allen Drive corridor came up for discussion. LATPD Chief Frank Williamson mentioned that none of the signals are in their final configuration yet. Some lights are timed, and some are on sensor, and many will be switched as the construction phases continue. Regardless, they have a ways to go before everything is finalized.
11. Manager
The BOC appointed a panel to review architectural services bids for design of a storage building at the Municipal Services Center. This project is on the tracks, and likely headed to a municipal building near you, in case you’re interested.
That’s about all for this evening’s meeting. The BOC adjourned to executive session, after which no action was expected.
Get Your Lower Allen Patches Right Here
Jan 9th
As I’ve written before, I have a Google Alert set up to return news on all things Lower Allen.
So, I was checking my email today, and I came across this interesting link in the LAT alert:
Lower Allen Twp PA Police COMMUNITY SERVICE patch RARE – eBay …
eBay: Find Lower Allen Twp PA Police COMMUNITY SERVICE patch RARE in the Collectibles , Historical Memorabilia , Police , Patches , Pennsylvania category on …
To say my interest was piqued would be an understatement.
I don’t know how rare those patches are, but I do know they adorn the uniforms of LAT’s Community Service Officers.
Anybody who wants a piece of LAT can place a bid for the next three days. The current bid is 99 cents.
What’s On The Menu Monday?
Jan 8th
A few items of interest are on the agenda for the Monday, Jan. 11 Lower Allen BOC meeting:
- Public Works Coordinator Gary Frazer will be recognized for 35 years of service to Lower Allen Township. Gary’s The Guy when it comes to keeping our roads clear in the winter. For that and everything else he does, thanks, Gary!
- Commissioners will consider a motion to either approve or disapprove Ordinance No. 2010-01, an ordinance dealing with right of way obstructions. The summary of the proposed ordinance, as advertised in The Patriot-News, is:
This proposed Ordinance regulates Temporary Right-of-Way Obstructions in Township Rights-of-Ways. The temporary objects include but are not limited to portable basketball goals.
- Now, the advertisement did say that the full text of the proposed ordinance was listed on the LAT web site. I spent some time on the site this evening, and could not find the ordinance anywhere. Can anybody else find the text? The draft text of the ordinance is posted for your review under Ordinances >> 2010 Ordinances >> 2010-01 Temporary Right of Way Obstructions.
- Under the Manager section of the agenda, the BOC will consider appointing a committee to review architectural services provider proposals for an accessory storage building to be erected on the site currently occupied by the old Beetle Bop. This would add a second capital project to LAT for 2010 after the BOC told the township that the only capital purchase it would make this year would be the purchase of a street sweeper. I spoke out against this project in December, so I’ve said my piece. If you have something to say, the place to be is 2233 Gettsyburg Road at 7:30 p.m. Monday.
The time to get involved in local government is now. Don’t wait.
I Had No Idea – Telephone Invented In LAT
Jan 2nd
It’s a good thing I read Wiley McKellar’s Cheers and Jeers column in today’s Patriot-News after the first cup of coffee this morning, or I would have missed his little tidbit about Lower Allen’s history:
…Possible drops for next year: The York Imperial apple of Leaders Heights, the Palmyra sinkhole (um, going to have to work on that one), the Hallam shoehouse and the Lower Allen Twp. telephone, honoring the memory of inventor Daniel Drawbaugh, who but for a successful lawsuit by the Bell interests would be known today as the father of the telephone….
I had head about Drawbaugh before, and his unsuccessful attempt to claim provenance of the telephone. Unfortunately, I had no idea he lived just down the road.
That set off a little online expedition this morning to confirm Wiley’s facts. The first thing I turned up was a picture of the historical marker which stands near the spot of Drawbaugh’s home:
Next, I wanted to figure out where the marker was located. The road in the background looked pretty familiar, but I wanted to be sure.
The next search turned up an address on Lake Road in Eberly’s Mill, one mile west of New Cumberland. Eberly’s Mill is not recognized in Google Maps or Bing maps. Go figure.
I did find a description of Eberly’s Mill, though, which gave me an even clearer indication that the search was nearing a conclusion:
…He then made his living as a mechanic, working in a shop in the back of the unused Clover Mill, which sat on a shaded peninsula between the Yellow Breeches Creek and the Cedar Run in the tiny village of Eberlys Mills, Cumberland County….
Here’s a picture of what may be the Clover Mill:
Daniel Drawbaugh with his grandson Roy Sheely in front of his workshop in Eberly's Mills, PA, circa 1902.
I was close, but not certain. I needed one more confirmation – without getting dressed and venturing outside on a blustery January morning – that the marker was located exactly where I suspected.
Finally, I found the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission’s registry of historical markers. Searching on the term “drawbaugh” in Cumberland County returned the latitude (40.22423) and longitude (-76.90683) of the marker.
MapguestMapquest features a tool to allow you to use a location’s latitude and longitude to map it. A few keystrokes and a click later, and voila:
The next time I drive past the red star on the map near Hempt Quarry, I’ll tip my proverbial hat to both Daniel Drawbaugh and Wiley McKellar.
Lower Allen Township; the birthplace of the telephone. I had no idea.
Hatchet Job On WSTB Budget
Jan 1st
I stumbled across an article on The Sentinel’s web site this evening describing issues which two municipalities had with the West Shore Tax Bureau’s budget.
First and foremost, this is an old, OLD issue. The bureau’s Board of Directors approved the budget months ago in a unanimous vote, and a majority of the organization’s member approved the budget by mid-November.
I served as WSTB’s Board Chair in 2009, so I have a pretty good idea what I’m talking about with this matter. Also, I attended a Camp Hill Borough meeting with WSTB Executive Director Al Timko and Assistant Executive Director Susan Pinti in early December after Mr. Timko received some pointed questions at an earlier Camp Hill meeting. That group’s board unanimously approved the WSTB 2010 budget.
Second, both Upper Allen Township and Mechanicsburg Borough have delegates sit on the WSTB’s board. Those representatives could have voiced their concern over agency pay increases by voting “no” when the budget vote was taken. They did not.
Now, months later, why are we digging up old news about an old issue? To what end?
I have my own ideas, which I will keep to myself. Suffice it to say, I believe it’s possible that one person is attempting to stir up trouble for WSTB when none exists in order to further his or her own agenda.
Yes, that’s politics. But it stinks. On ice.
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