Dozens of Silver Creek Road Trees Spared the Axe

Lower Saucon Township Council Vice President Tom Maxfield said power company PPL's recent plan to remove about 70 trees from a section of Silver Creek Road was partly quashed thanks to township intervention.

After a single Silver Creek Road resident filed a complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) about the frequency of power outages in the area, PPL decided to take drastic action in order to keep its power lines near the rural thoroughfare clear of trees, Lower Saucon Township Council Vice President Tom Maxfield said May 1. Last month it was learned that the power company had earmarked about 70 large trees along Silver Creek Road for removal, and it was only because of a last minute intervention by township officials that the company ultimately "deselected" about 45 of those trees, Maxfield said. "They (PPL) will continue to pursue the policy of getting as much as they can get," Maxfield said, adding that "it took a …

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Township Fears Silver Creek Road Trees Will Be Axed

PPL has marked a number of large trees for removal along a section of Silver Creek Road in Lower Saucon Township. Township council members have expressed concern about the potential loss of the trees.

The eastern end of Silver Creek Road in Lower Saucon Township is a narrow thoroughfare that winds through dense woods composed of towering trees. Interspersed with the trees are historic homes, some nearly hidden from view. That unique character could change, however, if PPL succeeds in its effort to remove many of the large trees from along the sides of Silver Creek Road, not far from its terminus at Lower Saucon Road. The issue of the trees' potential removal was brought before Lower Saucon Township Council Wednesday by Township Manager Jack Cahalan, who said it was recently discovered that many tree trunks along the road are tagged in preparation for cutting. Several council members expressed concern about PPL's plan, which Cahalan said…

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L. Saucon Accepting Bids for Traffic Signal Battery Backup Systems

Sealed bid proposals must be received by Lower Saucon Township prior to 2pm on Monday, Feb. 4, 2013.

Lower Saucon Township announced Monday that it is accepting sealed bids for traffic signal battery backup systems. Traffic signal battery backups are designed to temporarily illuminate traffic signals in the event of a power outage, such as the ones caused by Superstorm Sandy in October of last year and the Halloween snowstorm of October 2011. In the wake of Sandy, a number of the township's major intersections were dark for days, during which time they functioned as four-way stops for motorists. All bids for the battery backup systems must be submitted on township bid proposal forms, which are available at Lower Saucon Town Hall, 3700 Old Philadelphia Pike, Bethlehem, PA 18015, or by clicking HERE for instructions and specifications to …

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Chief Praises Residents' Response to Storm

On Nov. 5 Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp thanked members of the public for remaining calm during the recent power outage that lasted for up to a week for some residents.

In a situation that was extremely trying for many local families, calm and order prevailed, Hellertown Police Chief Robert Shupp told Borough Council Nov. 5. Shupp praised residents for reacting stoically in the aftermath of Superstorm Sandy, whose high winds left much of the borough in the dark for days. "This was hard," he said. "I would like to thank the public, because everybody really took this in stride." "I don't think we had one call that was involving an argument or a fight at a gas station or something like that," he added. "It was nice to see that nobody acted out or anything like that." Shupp credited the fact that Dewey Fire Co. Social Hall was opened as a heated comfort station for residents for helping improve the situation…

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Letters to the Editor

Letter: Local Reaction to Storm Inspires Pride

Carol Schneider says many local residents benefited from the kindness and quick-thinking of the Saucon Valley School District's administration and staff during the recent power outages.

To the Editor: I would like to thank Dr. Sandra Fellin and Wally Zimpfer, both from Saucon Valley School District. These two people were quick to get a handle on the needs of the residents within the school district by putting together a warming station/shelter for those affected (by the power outages). A fellow co-worker and I volunteered on Saturday night at the SVSD shelter/warming station and we saw firsthand how residents of the school district (Lower Saucon Township and Hellertown Borough) benefited from their kindness.  As Dr. Fellin stated to me, “it takes a team,” and she is absolutely correct. I would also like to thank Giant in Hellertown, the Hellertown Diner and the many residents who donated food to the shelter and all the …

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Nor'easter Forecast for Wednesday, Thursday

The National Weather Service now calls a storm that's forecast for Wednesday 'significant.'

Parts of Pennsylvania were still without power as temperatures took a decidedly colder turn the last two nights--and now those same areas face the prospect of a major Nor'easter striking Wednesday into Thursday. The National Weather Service has issued a hazardous weather outlook for the tri-state area, and its predictions have grown more dire in recent days. The Eastern Pennsylvania Weather Authority blog says that locally the Lehigh Valley could see as much as four inches of snow.  "A significant coastal storm will likely impact the tri-state region Wednesday and Thursday," the service said Monday. "Confidence continues to increase that strong, gusty winds...rain/wintry precipitation...coastal flooding and additional beach erosion will …

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Saucon Students to Return to Class Monday

Saucon Valley schools will reopen on Monday, Nov. 5, after being closed for a week due to widespread power outages caused by Superstorm Sandy.

Saucon Valley students will return to class tomorrow, superintendent Dr. Sandra Fellin announced late Sunday afternoon. Students were off from school for a week due to widespread power outages caused by Superstorm Sandy's high winds. Since a few parts of the area are still without power, Fellin said accommodations will be made for students and staff who haven't had service restored yet. "Locker rooms will be open to staff and students if needed," she said. And "those students not is attendance due to power outages and road closures will have excused absences." Monday will be a catch-up day for students; Tuesday and Wednesday will be the end of the first quarter; and Thursday will be a half-day grading day. Fellin said all Lower Saucon …

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Middle School Shelter to Stay Open Until Sunday

Saucon Valley Middle School will continue to serve as a shelter for storm-weary local residents who lost power during Superstorm Sandy. The Saucon Valley Compost Center will also open for extended hours. Volunteers are needed at both locations.

A day after opening the Saucon Valley Middle School gym as a temporary shelter for local residents dealing with a days-long power outage, Saucon Valley School District superintendent Dr. Sandra Fellin announced that the school will remain open as a shelter until Sunday, Nov. 4 at 9pm. The school's locker rooms and showers are also open during the daytime for the thousands of local residents who have been without power since Superstorm Sandy brought down trees and utility lines Monday night. Fellin said Thursday that falling temperatures and the number of local residents still without heat prompted the decision to open part of the school as a shelter. Friday night's low is forecast to be 36 degrees, and the low Saturday night is forecast to…

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