Parkland News

The township Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to approve the final 2024 budget, which keeps the property tax rate at 0.6 mils. The budget accounts for three new staff positions, large building projects and increased funds to the township’s volunteer fire companies.

The North Whitehall Board of Supervisors voted unanimously Monday to table, or delay the vote on, the preliminary plan for 55-plus residential community Strawberry Acres.

Take a look at stories that ran throughout the week of which we are most proud, had a profound impact on readers or that you might want to look at again.

South Whitehall Township will host its first Municipal Open House on Wednesday, Dec. 13 from 4 p.m. to 6 p.m. The event will have light refreshments, including coffee, hot chocolate and cookies. There will also be giveaways of informational packets and flyers.

A proposed business park in Schnecksville would have an AutoZone along with a Wawa and a medical office building, the developer confirmed Wednesday.

North Whitehall's Planning Commission on Tuesday reviewed a plan for the proposed Rising Sun Subdivision, which would have 116 single-family homes on about 100 Acres.

Upper Macungie Township has announced several new indoor programs for this winter, including Zumba, youth soccer, arts classes and a science camp. Several of these classes have been offered outdoors during other seasons, but have never been offered during the winter months.

The alleged double homicide of 16-year-old Rianna Glass and her mother Rosalyn Glass motivated Parkland School District resident Rachel Farrow to advocate for more education about teen dating violence and abuse.

The South Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners is looking to put an open space tax referendum on the November 2024 ballot. Lower Macungie Township recently passed a similar referendum.

Over 1,500 veterans are buried at Resurrection Cemetery in Upper Macungie Township. But last year, only about 1,032 wreaths were placed, leaving hundreds without one.

South Whitehall Township is creating a preservation plan called 'South Whitehall Landscapes.' Tuesday was the kickoff meeting for the plan's creation.

South Whitehall Township is creating a plan to preserve its open space, historic, agricultural and natural resources, called 'South Whitehall Landscapes.' The plan's creation will kick off with a public meeting at the township building and online Tuesday at 6 p.m.

Cetronia Fire Department has a new chief: Ricardo Diaz, who has served the all-volunteer agency for 10 years. Most recently the deputy chief, he was appointed after former chief Jay Heicklen retired on May 1.

Building projects that would address overcrowding in the Parkland School District will cost between $169 million and $391 million, according to a presentation at the school board meeting this week.

The water main broke late Tuesday and service has been restored to residents. Officials say the thoroughfare will reopen later today.

The Parkland School Board renewed a sports medicine and school health needs agreement with St. Luke's after state Sen. Jarrett Coleman urged them not to. He suggested the health network should find better ways to spend the money.

Senator Bob Casey visited the chemical and gas company Air Products at its headquarters. Company engineers took him for a drive in a new hydrogen-powered Toyota.

This week was the South Whitehall Township Emergency Services Youth Camp. The camp teaches youth ages 12 to 16 years old the basics of emergency services.

South Whitehall has a new policy that outlines the process for implementing speed reduction measures in the township.

North Whitehall supervisors granted preliminary/final approval to the plan for housing development Greenleaf Fields at Parkland.

Some parents and residents are asking schools to take books off library shelves. Others want a parental consent policy for children to take out some books.

Upper Macungie supervisors adopted a Vision Zero Action Plan, which has the goal of eliminating traffic fatalities in the township.