Parkland News

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman spoke at the latest Parkland School Board meeting about a bill that would allow public schools to apply for waivers of state-imposed mandates.

Upper Macungie’s Planning Commission will vote on whether to recommend approval for the final land development plan at their meeting in May.

The applicant Eric Moyer said he is considering appealing the decision or proposing a different development at the 3599 Broadway site.

Housing, speeding, upgrades and an open house next week took focus in the Upper Macungie Township Board of Supervisors meeting Thursday.

The large Ridge Farms development was granted an extension for meeting compliances, longtime firefighters in the township were given recognition, and a new self storage facility was given the okay by the township near the Ridge Farms development site.

A new North Whitehall Township plan that considers building a skate park, amphitheater, disc golf, splash pads and more as outdoors activities increase got township supervisors' approval Monday.

Former educator Mike Millo is running for the Parkland School Board again after withdrawing from the race in 2020. He said his legislative priorities are listening to resident concerns, fiscal responsibility and transparency.

Rep. Peter Schweyer, chair of the House Education Committee, said a short timetable will likely limit how much lawmakers can change basic education funding in Gov. Josh Shapiro's first budget.

North Whitehall planners discussed proposed housing development Greenleaf Fields at Parkland at their meeting Tuesday.

Warmkessel's legislative priorities include transparency in the board, not raising taxes and "lowering standards" for academics in the district. She says school staff are now "more concerned with kids' pronouns and their feelings" than curriculum.

South Whitehall's Community Development Department hosted a forum Thursday about historic preservation efforts, and residents considered creating a historic society

South Whitehall Township commissioners appointed Capt. Stephen Brown to the position of interim/acting police chief. Outgoing Police Chief Glen Dorney recently tendered his resignation to take a job in the private sector.

An art show centered around mental health and disabilities is opening in an unlikely place. Midnight Gallery is in the showroom of Vollux Autowerks, a car repair and diagnostics shop in Lehigh County.

Asst. Superintendent Timothy Chorones on Tuesday gave the Parkland School Board a presentation about staffing the district may need to add to next school year’s budget.

South Whitehall Township Police Chief Glen Dorney resigned on March 4. He led the department starting in April 2018, and before then was the Allentown police chief.

The 2nd annual Parkland Community Resource Fair & Health Symposium will be held 9 a.m. to noon Saturday in the Parkland High School cafeteria.

As Dorney Park begins testing and inches closer to the opening of Iron Menace, fans are heaping praise on Thunderhawk — a classic wooden coaster that turns 100 this year.

Upper Macungie Township plans to build a 10 foot wide, 5 kilometer-long macadam pathway along the edge of Grange Park, called the Grange Park Loop Trail.

Sangriafest, which includes food, vendors, lawn games, live music and — of course — that namesake wine-and-fruit beverage, will be 4-7 p.m. June 15 at Grange Park in Upper Macungie Township.

Lauren and Juan Vargas, owners of Nowhere Coffee Co., expect their latest business venture — a roastery and coffee bar in the heart of Allentown — to be operational very soon, they confirmed Wednesday.

An Intro to Fly Fishing class and a Birding Adventure at Trexler Nature Preserve are some of the new recreation programs coming to North Whitehall Township.

Dr. Jay Talsania is an orthopedic hand surgeon at OAA Orthopedic Specialists in Upper Macungie. In April, the physician will head to Guatemala once again to offer free health care to children in the third-world country.