Having trouble determining who deserves your vote in the upcoming Primary election on May 19?
Fret not.
Head over to the onlive voter's guide at Pennlive.com, and start educating yourself. The guide features candidate comparisons and biographies to help you navigate your way through the decision-making process.
Looking for my information? Step right this way...
In case you have spent any time at all outside this weekend enjoying the fabulous weather, allow me to direct your attention to an item in the agenda for Monday evening's meeting:
13.ADMINISTRATIVE SERVICES
a. Discussion: Joe Woodward of PA American Water Co. is in attendance to
answer Commissioner's questions regarding the water pressure increases.
After last Thursday's announcement of PAWC's request for a rate increase, not to mention the public sturm und drang during the pressure increases last winter, this may be an interesting portion of the meeting.
We've been tracking the fiscal tea leaves left by collected permit fees this year because they may provide some indication of both the health of the local economy and the accuracy of LAT budget projections.
This month's update is found in the March, 2009 Department of Community Development monthly report:
- Total fees collected for March, 2009: $8,876.86
- Total fees collected for March, 2008: $20,696.00
- Total fees collected for year-to-date 2009: $27,406.40
- Total fees collected for year-to-date 2008: $49,986.16
According to the 2009 budget, we expected to receive $200,000 for this line item. So, doing the math, we're at 13.7% of budget after 25% of the budget year.
Comparatively, we were at 18% of budget at this time last year, with the lending crisis and all other shoes left to drop.
What does it all mean? Well, you've read the same reports that I have which indicate the economy has hit bottom and may be rebounding. Based on what I can see, though, it appears the economy is bouncing more like a deflated basketball than a superball.
A late email today from PennDOT provides the details of next week's closing of the Shiremanstown exit on Route 15 South:
Shiremanstown Exit Closure (Permanent),
Beginning Wednesday, April 29, 2009 (Night Time)
On Wednesday Night, April 29, 2009, the contractor anticipates permanently closing and then removing the ramp from US 15 Southbound to Westbound Simpson Ferry Road (Shiremanstown Exit). Traffic will be diverted around the closed exit ramp via a signed detour route, until the new intersection at Lower Allen Drive is fully functional. The detour route will direct traffic to continue on US 15 Southbound to the Highland Park Exit, make a left turn onto Gettysburg Road, make a right turn onto Lower Allen Drive, and the detour will end at Simpson Ferry Road. A detailed animated map showing the detour route is available at: http://www.penndot8.com/projects/0015-006/images/ramp_d_detour.swf
If you don't want to click through, here's a quick look at that detour route:
With the growth - pardon the pun - of gardening, next weekend's Gardener's Gathering at LACP should be well attended.
Here's the schedule from the pdf file available on the LAT web site:
Workshops in the Barn – Upper Level
9:00 AM Composting - Penn State Cooperative Extension/Cumberland County Master
Gardeners; Receive a free Compost Bin for attending! To register, please call
the Extension office at (717) 240-6500; Class size limited to 25.
10:00 AM Pollinator Gardens – Annette MaCoy, Penn State Cooperative Extension,
Cumberland County
11:00 AM Secrets of Companion Planting of Flowers and Vegetables – Barbara GreenWorkshops in the Barn- Lower Level
10:00 AM Bird Identification (slide show) – Paul Zeph, Appalachian Audubon Society
11:00 AM Audubon at Home – Paul Zeph, Appalachian Audubon SocietyCHILDRENS’ PROGRAMS – Bring the kids along for these great hands-on programs!
9:00 AM A Garden is a Habitat – Award-winning children’s author Toni Albert, M.Ed., will demonstrate nature activities that help children get to know the little animals that live in gardens.
10 - 12:00 Leaf Printing/Take-home “Pot & Plant”/Kid’s Garden Tour
Enjoy!
If you are at all interested in local history, be sure to head over to a new web site, Celebrate Lisburn.
The site is locally built and maintained, and will provide information about events surrounding Lisburn's 270th anniversary celebration, a new book about the history of the village, and upcoming meetings.
One feature not to be missed is the photo page with pictures from both today and yesterday.
Nicely done.
I have been remiss for too long in posting a congratulatory note about the Lower Allen Township Police Department's recent CALEA reaccreditation.
The original press release can be found here if you want to read all the details.
This reaccreditation is significant for a couple reasons:
So, my hat's off to the men and women of the Lower Allen Township Police Department for all they do, day and night, to protect and defend our residents, businesses, their property, and all who travel through LAT.
One other set of kudos goes out to my fellow Commissioners Titzel, Black & Young. These three gentlemen traveled to Raleigh to support LATPD at the awards banquet, and did it on their own dime. In these days of contracting budgets and tight economic times, its one of those unheard stories which deserve to be told.
I read with great interest the article in this morning's Patriot-News detailing the impending removal of the dam near Green Lane Farms on the Yellow Breeches because I've spoken often to the LAT property owner mentioned in the story:
"...Getting to the cliff requires crossing private property. The cliff's owner, William Baker, has shouted at kids, posted no-trespassing signs and called the police.
On the other side of the creek, Mark and Maria Gregory have endured groups of young people crossing their backyard, littering, screaming and cursing. They hang wet clothes on the Gregorys' white fence...."
While discussion at a recent Lisburn Neighborhood Plan meeting spoke ill of the removal of the dam above the mill race, I have to admit that I support the removal of dams along the Yellow Breeches. The program returns the creek, as much as possible, to its original state, aids in flood control, allows for healthy natural habitats, and may contribute to the local economy by bringing more trout fishermen and fisherwomen to the area.
Of course, to the extent that the removal of the Green Lanes dam also allows the Gregorys to quietly enjoy their property while deterring thrill seekers from hurling themselves off the cliffs, it's all good.
From our friends in the Village of Lisburn, we have a couple updates regarding their upcoming 270th anniversary celebratrion.
First:
We would like to honor all Veterans of every war in our new Lisburn History Book. If you are or know a veteran that resides or resided in Lisburn and served in any United States War from the Civil War to Iraq and Afghanistan, please let us know.
We need as much information as possible such as name, address; years served (if known) and Branch of Service.
Please contact Brian Kline @ 620-8707 or email him at KlineBSA@hotmail.com.
On a more immediate note, a village walk is planned for mid-May. You can find the event flier here for more details about the May 17 tour, along with how to order tickets.
Don't miss it.
While I won't be able to attend, here's the text of a press release regarding an upcoming meeting to discuss the future of Corridor One:
A local Cumberland County, non-partisan activist group—Organizing for America, Central PA-- is hosting an informational and action Forum on CorridorOne, the regional rail system designed to provide a modern rail transit in south central Pennsylvania and address important issues facing families and small businesses, caused by growing traffic congestion, air pollution, energy consumption, and spur economic development.
The Forum is set for April 28, 2009 at 7:30 PM at the Community Room at the Giant Supermarket in the Camp Hill Shopping Center.
Organizing for America-Central PA is inviting state and local elected and transportation experts, and others to discuss the status of CorridorOne and to get input from the public. John Ward, of the Modern Transportation Partnership will make an informational presentation. The Forum is open to the public and will provide an opportunity to debate, ask questions and get answers about how the mass transit rail needs of Cumberland County are being met.
The Forum will focus attention on the question: Why have the funds authorized for the grade separation needed to preserve the future of mass transit to the West Shore not yet been appropriated? What action needs to be taken to gets the Funds appropriated?
Organizing for America, Central PA will continue to actively and publicly seek answers and get action on this project and other important issues facing our community and encourages the public to attend this important Forum.
For additional information, please contact Margie Stuski at 717-421-3215 or Sandy Christianson at 717-761-1566 or go to the website for Organizing for America, www.OrganizingforAmerica.com and click on events.
Thanks to Walter Lyon for providing this information.
Where will I be? Glad you asked. The next public hearing regarding the zoning ordinance changes for LAT is scheduled for that same evening.
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