APRIL 24-30, 2014 Your Local News
50 cents
Lehigh Gap Nature Center
Chris Martin,
Page 3
Page 10
of Martin Guitar, new NCC Executive-inResidence.
Nature in Photographs Exhibtion.
The Home News
Salute to the Troops Dinner
Submitted by DOROTHY NIKLOS The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council (aka LVMAC) is pleased to announce the 11th annual Salute to the Troops Dinner. The banquet will held on May 2 from 6 p.m. to 10 p.m. This year, the event will be held at the Days Hotel, Airport Road, Allentown. The event is hosted by the City of Allentown and the Council. The Lehigh Valley Military Affairs Council has been serving military, families and veterans since 2003. LVMAC is a service organization comprised of other organizations, veteran’s groups and businesses interested in supporting veterans, the troops and military families, service to veterans, including scholar-
ships, are well known facets of its activities. The special guest speaker for the banquet is David A Christian, one of America’s most highly decorated Vietnam War veterans. After being severely wounded in action and enduring a long recovery, Christian used his experiences by working with government agencies and veterans organizations to help fellow veterans return to health and a productive civilian life. Christian’s life, acts of valor and service are chronicled in his autobiography, Victor Six. Today, David Christian is a businessman in Bucks County, a veteran’s Continued on page 11
Pennsylvania adds 28 Farms, nearly 2,800 acres To preservation program Submitted by NICHOLE WILLIAMS Pennsylvania’s Agricultural Land Preservation Board today safeguarded 2,778 additional acres on 28 farms in 13 counties through the state’s nationally renowned farmland preservation program. The board preserved farms in Bedford, Bucks, Center, Chester, Cumberland, Erie, Lancaster, Mercer, Montgomery, Northampton, Schuylkill, Susquehanna and Wayne counties. Since the program began in 1988, federal, state, county and local governments have invested more than $1.2 billion to preserve 489,409 acres on 4,586 farms in 57 counties for future agricultural production.
“The best agriculture land is often the best land for development, but our farmland preservation program ensures prime soils stay in farming,” said Agriculture Secretary George Greig. “I thank the producers who want to preserve their land and the people behind the scenes who make it happen. Together, we’re preserving agriculture, the cornerstone of Pennsylvania’s economy.” The Pennsylvania Agricultural Conservation Easement Purchase Program identifies properties and slows the loss of prime farmland to non-agricultural uses. It enables state, county and local governments to purchase conservation easements, also Continued on page 11
Pennsylvania records lowest Number of traffic deaths ever Submitted by SHAWN BROWN
The number of highway deaths on Pennsylvania roads tumbled to a record low last year when 1,208 were recorded, the lowest number since recordkeeping began in 1928, PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch announced recently. "Though Pennsylvania has made significant progress in reducing highway crashes and deaths, our efforts to ensure that all travelers reach their destinations safely will remain paramount," Schoch said. "However, our efforts cannot reach their potential if drivers refuse to do their part by observing traffic laws and always using common sense on our roads." While the number of highway deaths dropped in many types of crashes, there were significant decreases noted in unbuckled, speeding and single vehicle run-off-the-road related deaths. Unbuckled fatalities dropped from 503 in 2012 to 425. Speeding-related fatalities also decreased from 262 in 2012 to 193 last year. Deaths at-
tributed to single-vehicle, runoff-the-road crashes declined to 566, down from 648 in 2012. Another area where significant numbers were noted includes fatalities in crashes involving a drinking driver which decreased from 377 in 2012 to 342 last year, the lowest number since 1997 when this data collection began. "Regardless of the recordlow number of highway deaths recorded this year, we must never forget that these aren't just random statistics, but rather they were somebody’s loved ones," Schoch said. "With that, we turn our attention to those crash areas where Pennsylvania saw an increase in fatalities." Fatalities increased in some types of crashes, including those involving distracted drivers and in head-on or opposite direction side swipe crashes. There were 64 fatalities in crashes involving distracted drivers, up from 57 in 2012. Also, deaths in head-on or opposite direction side swipe crashes increased to 178 up from 148 in 2012.
PennDOT has invested $50 million over the last five years for safety improvements at approximately 4,000 locations. These include low-cost safety measures such as centerline and edge-line rumble strips. PennDOT also invests about $20 million annually in state and federal funds for safety education and enforcement efforts statewide. Fatalities in crashes involving drivers ages 75 and older also increased to 142 from 126 in 2012. To help address safe driving in this age group, PennDOT offers information on approved Mature Driver Improvement courses available statewide, a brochure on talking with mature drivers and other safety tips at its highway safety information website, www.JustDrivePA.com<http:// www.JustDrivePA.com>. Following is the total number of traffic fatalities in the counties encompassed by PennDOT District 5: Berks County, 42; Carbon County, 16; Lehigh County, 30; Monroe County, 25; Northampton County, 18; and Schuylkill County, 23.
PennDOT announces start of PA 946 project in Moore Township
Submitted by SEAN BROWN The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) this week announced work would begin this Monday on a project to rehabilitate PA 946/Community Drive between Ranger Drive and Cherry Hill Road in Moore Township, Northampton County. The project includes roadway patching, milling and paving, drainage improvements and new pavement markings. Starting April 21, and last-
610-759-6214
ing throughout the project, motorists can expect lane restrictions with flagging on this section of PA 946 between the hours of 7 a.m. and 7 p.m. Drivers are urged to exercise caution while driving through work zones, and be alert for construction vehicles making sudden stops and turns. The project is scheduled to be complete in August. All schedules are subject to change. James D. Morrissey, Inc. of Philadelphia is the general contractor on the $1,087,459
619 Moorestown Dr., Bath, PA 18014 (Rt. 512)
project. The average daily traffic volume on this section of PA 946 is 3,989 vehicles. Follow local PennDOT information on Twitter at www. twitter.com/511PAAllentown.
73rd Year, Issue No. 17 www.homenewspa.com
USPS 248-700 Landscape Design & Installation Hardscaping – Paver Walkways & Patios Full Line of Excavating Landscape Products – Stone, Mulch & Topsoil Create Your Outdoor Kitchen Oasis today!
www.sunniesidelandscaping.com Over 35 Years In Business! FULLY INSURED * FREE ESTIMATES