DISCOVER YOUR TOWNSHIP SUMMER 2014 PRSRT STD U.S. Postage PAID Newburgh, NY 12550 PERMIT NO. 335 Township News Enjoy the Outdoors in 2 Lackawaxen Township Who is the Pike County 3 Conservation District? News for Constituents 4 Students Awarded First Place 7 in State Entrepreneurship Challenge Parks & Recreation Lackawaxen Township 8 Outdoors PSATS Youth Awards 9 Geocaching for Beginners 9 Living Lackawaxen Towpath Road Conditions 10 Letter from Secretary of Transportation Like Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/lackawaxenconnection IN THIS ISSUE LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION 169 Urban Road, Hawley, PA 18428 In case you haven't heard, the Board of Supervisors recently approved a new Ordinance, No. 103, the Address and Sign Ordinance For 9-1-1 Emergency Response. It has taken a number of years to reach this point which is an important milestone for Lackawaxen Township and its residents. However, to fully appreciate its significance, a little history is in order. Ever since Pike County decided to implement a 911 numbering system several years ago, the Board of Supervisors, in coordination with the Emergency Call Center, has been working to ensure that Lackawaxen Township was in compliance. In case you're wondering why this is important, think for a moment how things used to be before we had 911. Not that many years ago, you often had to keep (and find) separate phone numbers for fire, ambulance, police or just about any situation where you needed help. That was not only time consuming, but often difficult under the stressful situations in which many people found themselves in an emergency. Flash forward and now all you need to do is dial those three magic numbers - 911. You're immediately connected to someone on the other end who will be able to quickly and efficiently dispatch whatever assistance you need, whether you're reporting a fire, accident, injury, illness or just about any situation where you need an emergency responder. To be truly effective, though, the 911 system has to be coupled with an equally effective way to locate the source of the call. Response time is critical and the sooner help arrives, the better, no matter what the need. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in our emergency vehicles have helped make it a lot easier to find a specific address under almost any conditions. However, they're not perfect and can only do so much. In the end, good signage on roads, streets and houses is absolutely essential to enable first responders to rapidly and accurately identify the location requiring assistance, whether it be a house number or a highway. That is why Pike County's 911 plan is so important and why, in 2002, Township Ordinance No. 60, the Street Sign Ordinance, was passed. As a first step, it established uniform standards, consistent with County New Sign Ordinance Continued on Page 3 2014 SPRING CLEAN-UP A SUCCESS Saturday May 31, 2014 was a perfect sunny day and yielded a better than expected turn out for our annual Spring Clean-Up Day. Thanks to our great Road Department and the residents’ of Lackawaxen Township it was a huge success. By John Kerkowski
Transcript
DISCOVER YOUR TOWNSHIPSUMMER 2014
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
PAID Newburgh, NY
12550 PERMIT NO. 335
Township News Enjoy the Outdoors in 2 Lackawaxen Township Who is the Pike County 3 Conservation District? News for Constituents 4 Students Awarded First Place 7 in State Entrepreneurship Challenge
Parks & Recreation Lackawaxen Township 8 Outdoors PSATS Youth Awards 9 Geocaching for Beginners 9
Living Lackawaxen Towpath Road Conditions 10 Letter from Secretary of Transportation
Like Us on Facebook www.facebook.com/lackawaxenconnection
IN THIS ISSUE
LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION 169 Urban Road, Hawley, PA 18428
In case you haven't heard, the Board of Supervisors recently approved a new Ordinance, No. 103, the Address and Sign Ordinance For 9-1-1 Emergency Response. It has taken a number of years to reach this point which is an important milestone for Lackawaxen Township and its residents. However, to fully appreciate its significance, a little history is in order.
Ever since Pike County decided to implement a 911 numbering system several years ago, the Board of Supervisors, in coordination with the Emergency Call Center, has been working to ensure that Lackawaxen Township was in compliance. In case you're wondering why this is important, think for a moment how things used to be before we had 911. Not that many years ago, you often had to keep (and find) separate phone numbers for fire, ambulance, police or just about any situation where you needed help. That was not only time consuming, but often difficult under the stressful situations in which many people found themselves in an emergency. Flash forward and now all you need to do is dial those three magic numbers - 911. You're immediately connected to someone on the other end who will be able to quickly and efficiently dispatch whatever assistance you need, whether you're reporting a fire, accident, injury, illness or just about any situation where you need an emergency responder.
To be truly effective, though, the 911 system has to be coupled with an equally effective way to locate the source of the call. Response time is critical and the sooner help arrives, the better, no matter what the need. Geographic Information Systems (GIS) in our emergency vehicles have helped make it a lot easier to find a specific address under almost any conditions. However, they're not perfect and can only do so much. In the end, good signage on roads, streets and houses is absolutely essential to enable first responders to rapidly and accurately identify the location requiring assistance, whether it be a house number or a highway.
That is why Pike County's 911 plan is so important and why, in 2002, Township Ordinance No. 60, the Street Sign Ordinance, was passed. As a first step, it established uniform standards, consistent with County
New Sign Ordinance
Continued on Page 3
2014 SPring Clean-UP a SUCCeSS Saturday May 31, 2014 was a perfect sunny day and yielded a better than expected turn out for our annual Spring Clean-Up Day. Thanks to our great road Department and the residents’ of lackawaxen Township it was a huge success.
By John Kerkowski
LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SUMMER 2014Page 2
169 URBAN ROAD, HAWLEY, PA 18428
Main Office: 570-685-7288 Road Dept: 570-685-3200 After Hours: 570-685-7822 Building: 570-685-2990 Zoning: 570-685-2990 Sewage: 570-685-2990
MUNICIPAL MEETINGS:
SUPERvISORS MEETINGS Are held on the third Monday of each month at 6:30 p.m. at the Township Building on 169 Urban Rd, Hawley, PA 18428.
PLANNING COMMISSION MEETINGS Are held on the first Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.
We approve minutes from the previous month at our regular meetings. Our Supervisor meetings are where the regular business of the township are conducted. Comments from the public are of value and often influence public policy and our laws. We encourage residents to attend regular meetings, hearings, and workshops.
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Lackawaxen Connection is not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All advertising, including photographs are the property of Niki Jones Agency, Inc and not that of the advertiser. The advertiser has purchased rights of reproduction in Lackawaxen Township and does not have the right to reproduce ads in any other place or publication without written permission from the publisher. Lackawaxen Connection reserves the rights to exercise its discretion in the selection of advertisements.
Enjoy The Outdoors in Lackawaxen Twp. By robert Cocchi, Chairman lackawaxen Township Supervisor
Now that summer is upon us we can enjoy the great outdoors more fully. Whether you are a fisherman, or you enjoy photographing our great eagles on the Lackawaxen it is a great time of year. Our old township building which collapsed during this past winter has been demolished and cleared away by the lowest bidder, KAI, Construction. There was no cost to our township for it was covered by our insurance. The “Old Chicken Coop” Township building had served us well since the early sixties. Our plans for the future of this property are to build a garage to store equipment to be used in the winter for snow removal. This will enable our crews to have two locations to access the snow removal equipment.
As nothing so far has been done to repair our state roads letters were sent to our representatives, Senator Lisa Baker and State Representative Mike Pfeifer letting them know we need their help. Letters of support from our representatives were sent to the Department of Transportation. We requested PennDot put the Towpath Road on the top of the list (see letter on page 10).
In order to organize and keep track of our equipment and vehicles the Township purchased an Asset Management Program. This will include the assets of our four township fire departments (Central, Forest, Greeley, and Lackawaxen) and the Lackawaxen Ambulance. This will also enable the Fire Commission to know what equipment is available and what else might need to be purchased to better serve the community.
Treasurer Robert Cocchi 570-685-7288 [email protected] HOURS: By appointment only
requirements, for the naming and marking of streets. Subsequently, Ordinance Nos. 64 and 86 were passed for the numbering of all principle structures in the Township. Now, with the passage of Ordinance No. 103, those two ordinances have been consolidated and updated to bring the Township into full compliance with the County's 911 numbering protocol.
As you can see from the new street name and house number signs that have been appearing over the past few years throughout Lackawaxen Township, compliance has been a work in progress. Not only have our street name and road signs been updated (and, in some cases, renamed), but many buildings and residences now have new street number signs as well. However, the work of bringing the entire Township into compliance is not done yet. Aside from locations where proper signs have yet to be installed, it’s important to note that with the passage of Ordinance No. 103, many properties that may have been grandfathered will now have to come into full compliance by February 2014 if they have not done so already.
If you're not sure you have the right signs and need more information, you can read both Ordinance 60 and 103 by going online to the Township web site - http://www.lackawaxentownshippa.gov/. Alternatively, you can call the Township Code Enforcement Officer at (570) 685- 2990 and ask for a consultative visit. Most existing signs that have been installed in the last few years probably meet the ordinance requirements or can be easily modified to update them. In certain situations, reasonable waivers from some parts of the Ordinances may also be appropriate where the intent, if not the letter of the law can be met. What's important, though, is that everyone be in compliance and not just because it is the law. These ordinances were passed to enhance public safety and security. They are intended to generally protect the public health, safety and welfare, by improving the ability of emergency response personnel to navigate and locate dwellings and other structures in the Township as well as to provide for the convenience of the general public. With your help and cooperation, they'll be able to do just that.
The Pike County Conservation District (PCCD) works as a clearinghouse for natural resource concerns in your community. PCCD is designated by state law as the primary local government unit responsible for conserving natural resources and implementing programs to quantify, prevent and control nonpoint sources of pollution. The District is led by a dedicated volunteer Board of Directors whose main responsibility is the conservation of natural resources within County boundaries. The Board directs a staff team who are well-trained and experienced in their respective fields. The District’s Technical staff work with local developers and landowners on Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection plan review, permitting, complaint handling and inspection responsibilities for erosion and sediment control and some waterways management issues. A county-wide water monitoring program of Pike County streams and groundwater resources is completed by the Conservation District. Additionally, the District works with a number of partners providing natural resource educational opportunities for schools, municipal officials and community groups. The Conservation District program is a focused effort to protect the County’s land and water resources.
The forests and waters of Pike County are what make it a unique and exceptional place to live and play. The Pike County Conservation District plays a key role in watching over our natural resources and helping to balance resource conservation with growth and development. Conservation Districts have a long history of responsible, efficient delivery of environmental programs, and Pike County is no exception. For more information about the District visit www.pikeconservation.org or contact the office in Blooming Grove on Route 402 at 570-226-8220.
Who is the Pike County Conservation District? By Michele Ulmer, administrative Manager, Pike County Conservation District
LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SUMMER 2014Page 4
Parks & Recreation
Township News
Meetings & Events
Living LackawaxenPennsylvania’s 2014 vacation Guide
Day trippers, weekend explorers, and vacation seekers will find the 100-page “Pennsylvania, 2014 Vacation Guide” a superb planning tool for summertime fun.
Book hotel rooms, find travel deals, discover new sights, and locate special events listed in your hardcopy of the Guide. Use the online resources to take advantage of filters to narrow your selection by region, city, or town, type of accommodations and amenities, as well as satisfying activities.
The mobile version of VisitPA is available to smart phone users choosing to stay conveniently connected through social media. Sign up for E-News to receive monthly updates, exciting events, special deals, and seasonal trip ideas.
You thought your phone number was on the Do Not Call Registry but telemarketers are once again calling to sell you something you do not want or to request a donation.
Is the caller a scammer or is your Do Not Call Registration expired? Telemarketers are prohibited from placing sales calls to any phone number on the PA Do Not Call List and the National Do Not Call List. Those who wish to report violations should file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection or call 1-800-441-2555 or 1-888-777-3406. You may call the National Registry at 1-888-382-1222.
Do Not Call Registry: http://www.puc.state.pa.us/consumer_info/telecommunications/do_not_call_list.aspx
Do Not Call Registration: https://dnc.attorneygeneral.gov/Verification.aspx
PA Do Not Call List: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/dnc.aspx
File a complaint: http://www.attorneygeneral.gov/complaints.aspx?id=591
National Registry: www.donotcall.gov
Seat Belt Use Saves Lives and Prevents Traffic violations
According to Pennsylvania State Police and the Department of Transportation, the increased use of seat belts in 2013 contributed to 78 fewer fatalities on Pennsylvania’s roadways than was experienced in 2012.
Seat belt usage is increasing and will be the target of enforcement efforts into summer. The “Border-to-Border” seat belt initiative is intended to drive seat belt usage over the current 84 percent compliance rate.
Vehicle operators and passengers both over and under 18 years of age are required to observe these life-saving laws. Those under 18 years of age must buckle up. Children under age four require proper restraint in an approved child safety seat. From four to eight years of age, children must be restrained in an appropriate booster safety seat. Children ages eight to eighteen must wear a seat belt regardless of where they are riding in a vehicle.
Pennsylvania State Police and the Department of Transportation:
570.296.9200CALL NOW!
New HomesNew HomesAdditionsAdditionsAdditionsAdditions
Seat belt usage: http://www.justdrivepa.org/Traffic-Safety-Information-Center/Seat-Belts/
Under 18 years of age: http://www.justdrivepa.org/Traffic-Safety-Information-Center/Child-Passenger-Safety/
Avoiding West Nile virus
Stagnant pools of water are the main culprit in attracting pesky West Nile Virus-carrying mosquitoes onto your property, according to the Pennsylvania Departments of Health and Environmental Protection.
Execute some precautionary measures to keep your family and friends safe.
Stay safe and on top of the latest West Nile Virus news compiled by PA’s WNV Control Program.
West Nile Virus: http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/action/2012WestNileVirusDiseaseFactSheet.pdf
Pennsylvania Departments of Health and of Environmental Protection: http://www.pa.gov/Pages/NewsDetails.aspx?agency=PAGovNews&item=15626#.U3pK9yTD_DU
West Nile Virus news: https://www.ahs.dep.pa.gov/WestNileNews/Default.aspx
PA’s WNV Control Program: http://www.westnile.state.pa.us/contacts.htm
Flood Facts for Drivers
Remembering three important driving flood facts saves lives, according to the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Office.
Heed these important safety precautions to avoid becoming a flood disaster statistic:
• Six inches of flood water routinely causes loss of control and stalling of most passenger cars.
• A foot of flood water permits many vehicles to float.
• Two feet of flood water can overcome most vehicles, including SUVs and pick-up trucks.
PEMA also offers safety guidelines to observe during severe weather. From recommendations on organizing an emergency kit to establishing an emergency plan in the event of an extended natural or man-made disaster, the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency stands ready to prevent, protect, prepare, respond, and recover from any disaster.
The unofficial start of summer is the perfect time to remind boaters of the importance of life jackets and observing watercraft safety tips, according to the
Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission.
Nationwide, during 2013, nearly 80 percent of those who died in recreational boating accidents were not wearing a personal flotation device.
Watch the video, then take the Wear It Pennsylvania pledge to keep you and your mates floating safely along PA’s water trails, streams, creeks, rivers and lakes.
Unofficial start of summer: http://www.fish.state.pa.us/safeboatingweek.htm
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If you are in the industry and would like to work in the Poconos or if you have a property that you would like listed in our locations database, please contact us by email at [email protected] or call 646-236-3400.
Visit poconofilm.org, follow us on Twitter, join us on Facebook, or connect on LinkedIn for the latest news, casting, and crew calls.
Page 7LACKAWAXEN CONNECTION | SUMMER 2014
A student at Wallenpaupack Area High School and a member of the InventTeam, 11th grader Kristian Sonsteby from the technical team tried to generate waves for the team's invention. Sonsteby was one of several students who took part in creating a lake wave generator, which will use the waves of Lake Wallenpaupack to generate power for lights on the docks. The students presented their generator at the Lemelson MIT's Eurekafest a few weeks ago.
REGION - Wallenpaupack High School students Bradley Shepps, Junior, Kayla Askey, Senior, and Devin Distilli, Junior, were recently awarded first place in the State Entrepreneurship Challenge presented through Economics Pennsylvania for their business plan, Paupack Waves.
The team had attended a regional Entrepreneurship Challenge in January where they and students from several local schools learned how to take an idea and develop it into a viable business plan, with marketing, financing, and product development.
They presented their completed plans to a panel of ‘investors’ made up of local businesspeople, bankers, and entrepreneurs. After placing 1st in the regional challenge, their plan was submitted to be judged state wide with other regional finalists, and placed 1st in the state.
While this team of three students presented the business plan, the idea and product behind it was a collaborative effort. The Wallenpaupack Invent Team, made up of 14 Wallenpaupack high school students, came up with the idea, and built the prototype, for a dock light which is powered by wave action, hence, Paupack Waves. Lemelson MIT (Massachusetts Institute for Technology) awarded them a grant of $9600, and PPL gave them $2000 to continue
News Eagle photo by Katie Collins.
developing the light, and taking it to the next level of production. The students presented their invention at Eurekafest, MIT Celebration of Invention earlier this month. Only 15 high schools are invited to attend, with this team from Wallenpaupack being the 1st ever in Pennsylvania to receive that honor.
The Entrepreneurship Challenge is presented by EconomicsPennsylvania, and sponsored locally by The Dime Bank. EconomicsPennsylvania is a nonprofit organization committed to bringing financial literacy programs into schools K-12. Please contact Bonnie Blair, Assistant Vice President, [email protected], or visit their website, www.economicspa.org, for educational and/or sponsorship opportunities.
Lackawaxen Township has miles of clean, clear water available that is home to some beautiful smallmouth bass and many super locations for largemouth bass and of course trout..
Smallmouth bass are well known for their scrappy attitude once hooked, and they make a very sporting adversary. Pound for pound, smallmouth put up more battle than most fish available to us here in northeastern Pennsylvania. This is made truer when you drop into some lightweight tackle or even the flyrod. The Upper Delaware River is famous for its number of quality smallmouth bass. Here bass can be found among the many oxygen rich riffs or lurking the depths of the deepest boulder-strewn pools. The cold, clean water of the Upper Delaware coupled with the rocky freestone bottom, offer smallmouths an environment lush with macroinvertibrates, crayfish, baitfish and other food sources. Smallmouth bass and plenty of trout are also found among the famous waters of the Lackawaxen River. It was Zane Grey who wrote “Lord of the Lackawaxen” about a smallmouth bass he had a personal feud with back in his day.
Of course we also have plenty of largemouth bass eager to bite during the summer, as well as panfish,
Lackawaxen Township Outdoors
Summer is the perfect time for the entire family to get in on some quality angling time together.
bullheads and catfish. The largemouth bass is at home in almost farm pond, back water eddy, slough or lake. As long as he has some cover from which to ambush any available food, the largemouth bass is content Anglers can choose their favorite gear and style of fishing for taking largemouth, whether it is a rubber frog, classic Jitterbug or deer-hair mouse on a flyrod, top water is fishing for bass is just plain exciting.
Summer fishing can include wading among the shallows of the rivers lakes and ponds, and be combined with a little cool down from the summer heat.
Lackawaxen Township is also home to habitat that black bears find favorable. It is early to mid-summer when the bears have their mating season. This is a time when the large male bears, boars, come out day and night to search for a receptive female, or sow. Bear sightings rise exponentially during this black bear “rut”, as males range as much as thirty five miles in a night in search of mates.
The hunting licenses for the 2014-2015 seasons are now required (beginning July 1) for any hunting to be done. Antlerless deer licenses may be applied for by Pennsylvania residents beginning July 14, and for non-residents on July 28. The first round of unsold antlerless applications will be accepted August 4 for residents and August 18 for non-residents.
Summer hunting is limited, but groundhogs, crows and coyotes are on the list. Summer groundhog hunting offers a chance to hone marksmanship with
small caliber rifle or bow and arrow, while helping landowners reduce populations of this burrowing rodent. Groundhog dens cause plenty of problems for animals, people and equipment, and these vegetarian rodents can wreak havoc on garden and agricultural plants.
The following is a letter from the Secretary of Transportation regarding the condition of Towpath Road:
June 24, 2014 Lackawaxen Township Board of Supervisors 169 Urban Road Hawley, PA 18428
Dear Supervisors:
This is in response to your letter dated May 12, 2014, regarding the condition of SR 4006, more commonly referred to as the Towpath Road.
This past winter season has severely impacted our roadways in Pike County as well as across the state. We continue to prioritize and allocate resources based on the highest impact to our transportation system.
While SR 4006 has an average daily traffic of 218 cars per day, one of the lowest in Pike County, we are aware of its historic value to Lackawaxen Township and its ties to the Anthracite Coal Heritage, prevalent in Northeast Pennsylvania. Our Engineering District 4-0 Office has developed a plan to rehabilitate SR 4006. To alleviate some of the immediate concerns, pothole patching will be performed by July 2014. Beginning in 2015, and continuing into 2016, we will be performing cold in-place recycling. This treatment is an excellent solution to the concerns on SR 4006, while at the same time instituting “green initiatives” by recycling asphalt. It should also be noted that Traffic Route 590 in Lackawaxen Township will be paved later this summer.
We are cognizant of the roadway and bridge needs in Pike County, and are confident that Act 89 will address these issues throughout the decade of investment to Pennsylvania’s Infrastructure. Should you require additional information, please contact Mr. George J. Roberts, P.E., District Executive, District 4-0, at 570-963-4010.
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