JACKSON TOWNSHIP NEWS
Your Community News
Source
Summer, 2005
IT’S JACKSON HERITAGE FESTIVAL TIME!
A bigger and better weekend of fun is planned for Jackson Townships
SECOND Annual Heritage Festival which is scheduled for Saturday, July 16th
and Sunday, July 17th, 2005. Admission is FREE and the weekend
promises to be FUN for the entire family! Festival hours are Saturday
from 10:00 am to 7:00 pm. Following the regular festival hours there will be a
benefit dance featuring The Fabulous Flashbacks from 7 - 11 pm.
Last year the Flashbacks were a huge hit and this year the Flashbacks are back
courtesy of the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company. Admission is free and
any proceeds from refreshments will go towards the Aaron Rusin Scholarship
Fund. Festival hours for Sunday are from 12:00 Noon to 6:00 pm. A dance
will follow featuring The Polka Family Band from 6 - 9 pm. The
Polka Family Band plays of course "polkas" and a variety of other music and have
played throughout the United States. The festival will be held at Veterans
Memorial Park in Vinco as well as the Senior Center & Fire Hall along Adams
Avenue just off of Route 271 in Vinco.
The festival has a full schedule of entertainment beginning on Saturday with
the Classic Clowns from 11-2 who will be there with face painting,
animal balloons and just entertaining the kids on the park grounds. At 12:00
Noon the Jackson Senior Center Line Dancers will hit the stage
with their precision, quick-stepping dances. At 1:00 pm the Fire Company will
host a "Battle of the Barrel" behind the Fire Hall building where
Fire Company teams from throughout the area will compete. Proceeds from this
event will also go towards the Aaron Rusin Scholarship Fund. At 1:30 John
Robertson will perform an unbelievable magic & illusion show that will
entertain and amaze young and old alike. You can expect to see anything from
making animals appear and disappear to sawing someone in half to raising someone
off of the stage. From 3-5:30 you can enjoy the music of Clay Bowser
who can play and sing hundreds of tunes and often takes requests from the
audience and of course at 7:00 the Fabulous Flashbacks take the stage.
On Sunday from Noon to 1:30 you can enjoy the harmonic gospel sounds of
The Masters who are led by Jackson Township’s own John Lythgoe. From 2-5
pm, Beaver Creek, a widely popular bluegrass band from last year
will return to the stage to showcase their instrumental and vocal talents and
from 6-9 the nationally known crowd-pleasing Polka Family Band
will entertain festival-goers.
Seating for the free scheduled concerts is
limited so bring your own lawn chairs so you can enjoy the music in comfort.
Some of the childrens activities will include children’s crafts,
clowns, free balloons, games and face painting. Those providing
activities are Classic Clowns, First National Bank of PA, Jackson Township Boy
Scouts Troop 204, Pike Grace Brethren Church and St. Pauls Community Nursery
School. Some of the featured games will include Suction Darts, Birthday Game,
Basketball Game and the Fish Pond. As an added attraction, Big Bouncy
Bunch of Fun, a place where little ones can test their jumping skills,
will be there. This year Big Bouncy will have a huge tiger lying on it’s back.
Everyone will enjoy the elaborate miniature train display at the
Jackson Sr. Center and for you bingo lovers, there will be bingo
at the Senior Center at 2:00 both Saturday & Sunday and in addition, the Jackson
Vol. Fire company will hold their regular scheduled "Big Bingo" at 7:00 on
Sunday. Everyone loves to eat and there will be a wide variety of food
on hand to suit every taste. The menu includes American fries, bbq
hamburgers, chicken tenders, chippers, cole slaw, cotton candy, desserts,
enchiladas, fresh cut fries, fresh fruit cups, fried chicken, funnel cakes,
gobs, hamburgers, halushki, hot dogs, hot sausage sandwiches, ice cream, kettle
korn, keilbassi & kraut, nachos & cheese, Philly steak & cheese sandwiches,
pierogies, potato salad, pulled pork sandwiches, rosette waffles, shaved ice sno
kones, strawberry shortcake, strawberry smoothies, stuffed cabbage, tacos, taco
potatoes, tossed salad and wings. For those who enjoy crafts
the line-up includes: baby blankets, beading, bears, bibs, coasters, decorative
crates, dog leashes, doilies, dolls, earrings, fabric crafts, floral
arrangements and other items, gingerbread, hair and neck wear items,
hand-painted ceramics, hats, holiday items, jewelry, lamp shades, macrame,
ornaments, painted items, pictures & frames, plastic canvas, quilted items,
scarves, scented wax-dipped candles, sewn items, sterling silver, stuffed
animals, swags, towels, wooden lawn ornaments and wreaths.
Other booths on hand will feature beauty products, gourmet food
items, sports trading cards and memorabilia, temporary body art & tattoos,
Yankee candles, gift items, home decor, travel information, massage therapy and
home remodeling. Baltimore Life will be taking free children’s photo id’s
and fingerprints. The Nant-Y-Glo Tri-Area Historical Society will
feature a historical display in the Senior Center which will
include various photos and artifacts from the area. Some of the
local organizations and businesses participating include A to Z Travel,
Avon, Ebensburg Women’s Aglow, First National Bank of PA, Hagerich Auto, Home
Interiors, Jackson Twp. Boy Scouts Troop 204, Jackson Township Lions Club,
Jackson Twp. Senior Center, Jackson Twp. Vol. Fire Company, Laurel Highlands
Historic Village, Laurel Mountain Bible Church, Mercik’s Ideal Market,
Nant-Y-Glo Tri-Area Historical Society, Nay Spa, Neighbors Who Care, Orange
Blossom Restaurant, Pike Grace Brethren Church, St. Pauls Community Nursery
School, St. Pauls Lutheran Church, Vinco Pharmacy and Watkins Products.
Area businesses and organizations have been extremely supportive
of the festival effort and without them, this event would not be possible. Three
major sponsors that deserve special recognition are The Jackson Twp. Vol.
Fire Company, Waste Management and Amfire Mining.
They have made sizeable contributions in a show of support for bringing the
community and residents of Jackson Township together for this special event.
Other sponsors include Atlantic Broadband, Dolans Welding & Steel,
Dominion Peoples, Martin Oil and Mercik’s Vinco Ideal Market.
Others donating towards this event include Ameriserv Bank, Barnes,
Saly & Company, the Cambria County Commissioners, Congressman John P. Murtha,
Cooper Signs, First National Bank of Pennsylvania, Hagerich Auto, P. Joseph
Lehman Engineers, Paulette Baker and Vantage Physical Therapy.
Without the support of these generous businesses, organizations and individuals,
this festival would not be possible. There are many expenses including
entertainment, tent rental, port-a-johns, electric, advertising, security,
activities, advertising and more.
At this years festival you may notice that the festival grounds (Veterans
Memorial Park) will look a lot better with recent landscaping done
and trees planted. A new decorative bridge now connects the Senior
Center & Fire Company parking lots and a sound system was
installed on the pavilion to make announcements. Jackson Township also received
a grant to install lighting and electrical facilities at the park
but that won’t be in place until sometime later this year. Last year the
Heritage Festival was very successful and the first question everyone asked is
if we would hold one again and the answer was. . YES! It is hoped that this will
be an annual event as long as everyone comes out and supports it with their
attendance. This is a great opportunity to invite not only local but
out-of-town friends, family, co-workers and guests to have a great time and
showcase your community in a "positive light".
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INFORMATION NEED UPDATED?
If you received this newsletter and your name or address information is
incorrect, or if you know of any resident of Jackson Township who didn’t receive
it, please call the Township Office at 749-0725.
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
FESTIVAL VOLUNTEERS NEEDED
We would like to invite those in the community who are interested in helping out
with the festival to volunteer. This would also be an excellent
opportunity for organizations to volunteer such as church youth groups,
community groups or organizations, school groups, etc. Volunteers can help
in a number of ways including setting up before the festival, trash & litter
clean-up, helping with children’s games, distributing programs, delivering soda
and ice and tearing down after the festival. One area where there is a
special need is to have individuals with electrician skills. We
welcome all volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please
contact Dave Hirko at 749-0725 (day) or 322-3433 (evening) or Paulette Baker at
322-1863. Also if you still wish to set up a booth for the festival
or as a business contribute towards the festival, feel free to call as well.
YEWCIC HELPS SECURE TWO GRANTS FOR JACKSON
State Representative Tom Yewcic
was successful in helping Jackson
Township secure two grants recently. The first grant is for $45,000
which will be used for lighting and electrical facilities to be installed at
Veterans Memorial Park. Included in the project will be decorative
lighting to light the walking path as well as lighting in the pavilion,
park grounds and the Senior Center parking lot. Electrical facilities
will also be installed for special events such as the Heritage Festival &
Firemans Convention but they will also be able to accommodate things such as
concerts, bingos, craft shows, childrens activities, etc. According to Rep.
Yewcic a third additional grant may be possible for this project. A
second grant for $8,500 will be used to purchase new computers at the
Senior Center. The Senior Center recently had a network installed with
high-speed internet and printing capability. Frank Singel,
President of the Senior Center was instrumental in applying for this grant. Our
thanks go out to Representative Yewcic for his efforts in helping to secure the
grants.
DCNR AWARDS GRANT FOR $25,000 TO JACKSON
Jackson Township was recently awarded a matching grant for $25,000 to help
develop a Master Recreation & Land Use Study for Jackson Township.
The Board of Supervisors recently hired Pashek Associates of
Greenville, PA to help develop the plan while working with the Jackson
Township Recreation Commission as well as soliciting public input.
Pashek Associates is one of the few Recreational Planners in Western / Central
Pennsylvania and are considered to be highly qualified and respected in this
area. Pashek is currently working on several other projects in Cambria County
including a proposed ATV park in Northern Cambria County. By having a Master
Recreation & Land Use Study in place, Jackson Township may qualify for much
larger recreational development grants in the future.
ROAD PROJECTS SCHEDULED
Township Roadmasters Dave Bracken & Bruce Baker completed a road inspection of
Jackson Township Roads this Spring and several road projects are scheduled for
completion this Summer. The paving bid was awarded to Grannas Brothers
of Hollidaysburg while the low seal coating bid received was from New
Enterprise Stone & Lime. The Jackson Township Road Crew will be busy
doing preparation work for paving and chipping projects as well as other needed
maintenance work including drainage, berm and shoulder work.
The following roads have been paved this year:
Leidy Lane from Bracken St. to Adams Ave. / Lorain Rd.
from Turkey Path Rd. to the Nanty Glo Borough line.
The following roads are scheduled to be seal coated (tar & chipped) in
2005:
Bald Eagle St. from Pike Rd. To end. / Broadwing St.
from Smith Ave. To Snably Ave. / Chaser St. from Snably Ave. to
Smith Ave. / Cherrywood Drive from Zurenda Lane to end. /
Eagle Drive from Raymond Drive to Raymond Drive / Finntown Rd.
from Fords Corner Rd. to the Nanty Glo Borough line. / Fords Corner
Rd. from Rt. 22 to Plank Rd. / Kline Avenue from Venture
St. to Bald Eagle St. / Lyle Street from Adams Ave. to end. /
Raymond Drive from Rt. 271 to Eagle Drive / Smith Ave.
from Chaser St. to Braodwing St. / Snably Ave. from Pike Road to
end. / Venture Street from Pike Road to end. / Zurenda Lane
from Adams Ave. to end.
The above road projects are part of an ongoing plan to maintain all Township
roads and insure that they are in the best condition possible for residents to
safely use and enjoy.
VINCO RECYCLING BINS MOVED
The Cambria County Solid Waste Authority’s Vinco Recycling Center is now
located at 513 Pike Road, Mundys Corner near the Municipal Building.
The
bins had to be moved in order to accommodate the new Veterans Monument at
Veterans Memorial Park near the Senior Center. The Solid Waste Authority also
has a Recycling Center in Conemaugh as well. The Recycling Centers accept
aluminum cans, metal cans, glass, magazines, newspapers and plastic. Other
locations were looked at in the Vinco area but didn’t work out, so the move was
necessary. Hopefully the new location will be a permanent home for the Recycling
Center and people will find it convenient and can drop off items on their way to
Route 22 or Ebensburg.
JUNK VEHICLE REMOVAL
If you have a junked vehicle that needs removed from your property and you’re
not sure how to go about it, perhaps the following information will help. Al
Gillin who operates a licensed junkyard along Adams Avenue has agreed to tow any
junked vehicles that you would like to have removed from your property.
According to Mr. Gillin, in most cases there will be no charge to any Township
resident for this service unless there is great difficulty getting to
the vehicle to pick it up. If you wish to have junked vehicles removed
from your property, you may contact Mr. Gillin at 322-4366 to see if you qualify
for this free service.
STREAM CLEAN-UP VOLUNTEERS & INPUT NEEDED
A Stream Clean-Up will be scheduled in the near future to
clean up the streams that are part of the Hinckston Run Watershed. The streams
are mainly in Vinco and the surround area. The Clean-Up will be reported as part
of Jackson Township’s MS-4 Permit to the PaDEP. Ryan Hirko & Matt Ocipa
will be organizing the Clean-Up as part of a Senior High School Project.
If you are interested in helping, please contact the Jackson Township Municipal
Building at 749-0725. Also if anyone is aware of any Illicit Discharge
into any of these streams, please report this to the Township Office at
749-0725. Basic information of where the discharge is occurring will be
needed.
YOUTH FAIR SCHEDULED FOR MITCHELL PARK, VINCO
The Cambria County Courts and Judge Gerald Long are holding a Youth Fair at
Mitchell Park in Vinco on Tuesday, July 19th from 11:00 am to
1:00 pm. The purpose of the Fair is to make young people aware of the
dangers and harmful effects of using drugs & alcohol. Students from Elementary
through High School are invited to attend and it promises to be a fun time for
all! Admission is FREE and there will be FREE refreshments,
T-Shirts, Games and lots of other Prizes including FREE drawings for sweatshirts
and bicycle helmets. The program has been a success for the past nine
years with the help of local police, fire and ambulance departments. A previous
Youth Fair was already held at Leidy Park in Mundys Corner on June 8th
and was an overwhelming success with 45 kids attending and 20 adults! Be sure to
get your children who are students to this event as well as their friends. For
additional information, please feel free to contact Carol Lacey, Youth Fair
Coordinator at 472-1494 or call the Jackson Twp. Municipal Bldg. at 749-0725.
OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Jackson Township welcomes anyone interested in serving on a Authority, Board or
Commission to submit a letter of interest in the event that any openings should
occur. If you are interested, your letter would be kept on file at the Township
office where you would be contacted if an opening would occur. Authorities
include the Sewer Authority and Water Authority. Commissions include Planning &
Recreation. There is also the Zoning Hearing Board.
All letters should be
mailed to Jackson Township Supervisors, 513 Pike Road, Johnstown, PA 15909.
VETERANS MONUMENT UPDATE
Wyse Memorials
of Mundys Corner was the low bidder and awarded the
bid for a Veterans Monument to be built in Veterans Park in Vinco. The monument
will be five-sided to maximize the space available to engrave names. The
monument will be on a base shaped like a star with a flag on each point of the
star representing the various branches of service (Air Force, Army, Navy,
Marines, Coast Guard). There will also be an American flag centrally located
near the monument. Wyse has already begun work on the monument and the footer
has been poured preparing the way for the base and monument to take shape. The
Jackson Township Recreation Commission has put countless hours of work into the
design and shape of this monument. When completed, it will be something we can
all be proud of as we honor all of the Veterans of Jackson Township. There are
currently over 500 names submitted that have been verified for Military Status &
Residency in order that they can be engraved on the monument. If you wish to see
the Veterans that have submitted applications so far, you can go to the Township
Website at
www.jacksontwppa.com and see the complete list of names. If
you know of a Veterans name you would like to submit, you can mail in the form
in this newsletter. You may also obtain forms at the Municipal Building, Senior
Center, Sewer Authority or Water Authority Building or the form can easily be
printed out from the Township website. The only criteria to qualify to
have a name on the monument is that you must be a Veteran and that you must have
resided in Jackson Township at some time in your life. Mr. Bill Kish,
a local Jackson Township resident who works for the Veterans Affairs Outreach
Administration is helping to verify the Veterans status and members of the
Jackson Senior Center are helping verify the residency of the
applicant. If you would like more information on the monument feel free to
contact Joe Baxter, Chairman of the recreation Commission at 322-3291 or Al
Slippy, Vice Chairman at 322-1983.
HELP NEEDED WITH VETERANS INFO.
We need your help in providing information on the following Veterans. These are
names that were on the Jackson Township Website or the Mundys Corner & Vinco
Honor Rolls but NO FORM HAS YET BEEN SUBMITTED FOR THE VETERANS MONUMENT.
If you can help provide information on any of the following people, please
submit a Monument Form (included in this Newsletter) for that person
providing the information necessary. All names to go on the Veterans Monument
must have a completed Veterans Monument form and then go through a process that
includes verifying Veterans Status & Residency. Thanks for your help in
order that we may HONOR as many Jackson Township Veterans as possible.
A
Adams, Robert M.
Adams, Russel
Allbaugh, Richard L.
Allbaugh, Thomas J.
Altimus, Frederick
Altimus, Glen L.
Altimus, N. Von
Anderson, J. Gay
Anderson, John M.
Angus, George
Angus, Walter G.
Antol, John
B
Barr, Donald L.
Barr, Robert
Beatty, William R
Berge, Frederick
Boring, Arthur L.
Boring, Charles F.
Boring, Lester
Boring, Walter L.
Boring, Walter T.
Bracken, John J.
Broad, Edgar
Brown, Harry A.
Brown, Jack
Brown, Walter
Burkhart, Floyd Kent
Burkhart, Kenneth
Burkhart, H. Wade Jr.
C
Caldwell, Robert
Campbell, George
Carney, Samuel
Ceneski, John
Champion, Rene
Churilla, Andrew
Churilla, John J.
Claycomb, Lester
Cramer, Charles
Cramer, Theodore
Croyle, Paul B.
Croyle, Robert G.
Croyle, Thomas G.
Cullen, Vincent
Culp, Robert
Custer, Virginia R.
D
Daughenbaugh, Art
Daughenbaugh, Dyle
Daugherty, Wm. G.
Davis, Charles
Davis, Stanley Jr.
DeArmen, John
Deetscreek, David A.
Deetscreek, William L.
Deetscreek, Wm. R.
Demko, Robert J.
Devlin, Patrick, H.
Dom, Merle
Donaldson, John Jr.
Donley, Joseph
Douglas, Loy A.
Dudak, Michael D.
Dudak, Stephen
Dulashaw, Edward L.
E
Erhart, David
F
Findley, Rolley N.
Findley, Russel M.
Findley, Wayne E.
Fochtman, Harry
Fry, Robert
G
Gaboda, John
Gillen, David
Gillen, Stanton
Gillin, Carlyle
Gillin, Jay
Given, Albon E.
Golada, John
Goldie, Edward James
Goughnour, Don
Grata, Joseph J.
Gresh, Michael
Gresh, Walter
Grove, Elmer
H
Hagerich, Paul
Hessler, Robert
Hill, Clemence
Hill, Walter C.
Homan, Steve
Hoover, Carl F.
Hoover, James W.
Horn, Alton E.
J
James, Jessie L.
James, Milan R.
Johnson, Malton
Johnson, Raymond
Johnson, Walter
Johnson, Walter L.
K
Karlinsey, Donald
Keller, Donald M.
Keller, Gail P.
Kelly, Hal D.
Kelly, Merel
Kelly, Peter
Keppler, Edmund
Keppler, Richard
Keppler, Robert
Keppler, Roy
Kerr, Daniel
Kerr, William G.
Kivisto, Ina S.
Knauer, Donald
Kondor, George Jr.
Kondor, Francis|
Kondor, Joseph N.
Kowalczyk, Andy
L
Lalich, Peter
Lauffer, James H.
Lauffer, Raymond C.
Leatherman, James
Leatherman, Jay C.
Leck, Walter F.
Lee, Merriman H.
Lehman, Mary E.
Leidy, Blaine I.
Leidy, Emerson P.
Leidy, Harold
Lesko, Andrew
Lewis, Harold
Lewis, Leonard
Little, Robert
Long, Edward
Long, Steve
Lutman, Kenneth
M
McFeaters, Glenn
McHugh, John B.
McKeel, Carl
McQuinn, Patrick L.
Mellott, Carl
Mellott, Donald
Mellott, Lorenzo
Michaels, Carl J.
Michaels, Lester B.
Michaels, Raymond
Michaels, Roy
Mintmier, Robert I.
Mitchell, George P.
Mitchell, William H.
Morgan, James L.
Morgan, Larry
Myers, Wade
O
Olie, Frank
P
Packard, Jack
Parloskey, Carl S.
Patterson, Dan R.
Patterson, Sam B. Jr.
Patterson, William A.
Pearson, Tom V. Jr.
Pringle, H. Stanley
Q
Quinn, Allen
R
Rager, Alfred I.
Rager, John Michael
Rodkey, George
Rodkey, Ralph
Rorabaugh, Larry L.
Rose, Duane
Rose, Harry
Rose, Max Lynn
Royer, Alfred L.
Rummell, Floyd W.
Rummell, Ralph H.
S
Sabo, Charles
Sabo, Joseph
Sabol, John C.
Scott, Harry A.
Sekerak, Ernest J.
Senski, Charles
Serski, John
Shawley, Ronald
Shuagis, John
Shuagis, Julius
Shuman, Logan A.
Shuman, Paul
Shuman, Warden Jr.
Simmers, David
Simmons, Alton H.
Simmons, Elmer Jr.
Simmons, Leroy T.
Simmons, Owen W.
Singer, Dale M.
Singer, Everett B.
Spontak, John
Stager, Elmer M.
Szekeresh, Albert
Szekeresh, Mike
Szekeresh, Steve A.
Szekeresh, Thomas
T
Taylor, Adam
Thompson, Chester
Thompson, Glenn
V
Voyzey, Walter
W
Wakefield, Wm. Jr.
Weaver, Alonza
Wenklar, Bob
White, Russell B.
White, Wallace J.
Whyt, Stanley H.
Wilkinson, Ray Y.
Wilson, Marlin
Wissinger, Merritt
Withers, Emmett
Y
Yost, James F.
Z
Zanoviak, Pete
MEMORIAL DAY CEREMONY HELD AT SENIOR CENTER
The 2nd annual Memorial Day Ceremony was held at the Jackson Township
Senior Center on May 30th. The ceremony was once again well attended
with over 125 people present. At the event, fourteen names of service men and
women were read who were killed in the various wars. The Special Guest Speaker
was Marine Major Randy Parker, Site Commander of the Joint Marine
Corps. Reserve Training Center in Johnstown. Groups participating were the
Johnstown VFW Post 155 Honor Rifle Team, Jackson Township Troop 204 Cub Scouts
and Boy Scouts. Also participating was Rev. Paul Robine,
Pastor of St. John Vianney Catholic Church. Betty Lybarger led
those present in several patriotic songs. A special thanks goes out to
Frank Singel, President of the Jackson Senior Center for organizing the
event.
POLICE REPORT
Submitted by Police Chief, Bob Fatula
February, 2005 - May, 2005
911 Calls Dispatched to Police: 1,544
Reportable incidents: 189
Criminal Mischief-33
Theft-24
Harassment-20
Underage Drinking-14
DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-13
Receiving Stolen Property-11
Trespassing-9
Burglary-8
Drugs-7
Assault-7
Disorderly Conduct-6
Forgery-5
Corruption Of Minors-4
Fleeing Police-4
Identity Theft-3
Phone Scams-3
Vehicle Theft-3
Attempted Burglary-2
Counterfeiting-2
Dog Law-2
Furnishing Alcohol to Minors-2
Reckless Endangerment-2
False ID to Police-1
Resisting Arrest-1
Tampering With Evidence-1
Terroristic Threats-1
Unsworn False Information-1
Total Accidents Handled: 33
Non-Traffic Citations issued: 83
Traffic Citations Issued: 107
Criminal Charges Filed: 127
Theft-15
Underage Drinking-14
DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-13
Receiving Stolen Property-12
Harassment-9
Burglary-7
Criminal Mischief-7
Drugs-7
Assault-6
Criminal Conspiracy-6
Disorderly Conduct-5
Forgery-5
Fleeing Police-4
Trespassing-4
Threats-3
Dog Law-2
Furnishing Alcohol to Minors-2
Reckless Endangerment-2
False Identification to Police-1
Resisting Arrest-1
Tampering With Evidence-1
Unsworn False Information-1
RECREATION NEWS
Several projects were recently completed or are underway by the Jackson Township
Recreation Commission. Just completed was the installation of two new
backstops at Mitchell Park by Laurel Highlands Fence. Concrete
dugouts were also poured at Mitchell as well. Another project done by
Ryan Davis was the rebuilding and refurbishing of a set of
bleachers at Leidy Park. This was done as part of Ryan earning his Eagle
Scout badge. New park entrance signs are to be installed by Cooper
Signs. The signs will give an inviting look to the entrance of each park and
display the Township logo. On the Veterans Park sign, an American flag will also
be featured. Other projects underway include the development of a Master
Recreation & Land Use Plan with Pashek Associates as well as the
Jackson Township Veterans Monument / Memorial Project.
TIRE RECYCLING AVAILABLE
The Laurel Highlands Landfill offers recycling. Tires can also be put in a
recycling bin for a minimal cost of $1.00 per normal-sized vehicle tire. This
does not apply to any commercial establishments.
WATER AUTHORITY NEWS
The Water Authority has been busy with many projects. Some of the projects are
completed, some are in progress and others are proposed. The Solar Street
Extension has been completed and officially turned over to JTWA in June.
The Salt Lick - Ebensburg Line which runs along Adams Avenue and
Ogden Street is in and residents along this line will be customers of the
Ebensburg Municipal Authority. Customers along this line may want to contact
their insurance carriers regarding fire protection discounts. Pike
Road Extension from Kingdom Hall to Ogden Street is 95% complete. This
line has created a second source of water for JTWA, should anything happen that
we could not receive water from Nanty Glo. Again, these customers should also
contact their insurance companies concerning fire protection discounts. On
the Wagner Road Water Project (proposed), JTWA had a meeting in
June with Larry Custer from the Cambria County Redevelopment Authority, Rizzo
Engineering and JTWA’s Engineer, Gwin, Dobson & Foreman. This project is now in
the preliminary design stage. The Mundy’s Corner Tank will be off
line for around the week of August 8th for inspection. This tank was
refurbished last September and the warranty is good for up to one year after
completion. With the Summer months upon us, JTWA would like to remind
their customers to please use water wisely and conserve. They also
would request that you report any wet spots during dry times, pool
installations, and "topping off" of pools. This reflects in their daily pumping
charts which bring concern of a possible leak. Due to JTWA’s constant
delinquents, the Board has decided to make changes to their billing
procedures. Within the next month or two, JTWA will notify all customers
by mail of these changes. They ask that you please read over the notice and note
the changes made.
FIRE COMPANY NEWS & EVENTS
The Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company and EMS Service wishes everyone a
very relaxing Summer. Thanks go out to the residents for supporting their
Fund Drive. Members were around the Township during the first week of
June and got to chat with many residents. Any and all comments are welcome from
the questionnaire that was included in your Fund Drive envelope as the Fire
Company is always trying to serve the Community better. Also at the
Heritage Festival this year, the Fire Company will hold it’s "First Annual
Aaron Rusin Battle of the Barrel" competition on Saturday, July 16th.
The Captain’s Meeting for the battle is at 12:00 Noon followed by the Battle
which starts at 1:00 pm. All proceeds from this annual competition will be
donated to the Aaron Rusin Scholarship Fund at Central Cambria High School. The
School gave two $500.00 scholarships this year, one to a female student and on
to a male student. For the residents who may not know, Aaron was a member of the
Fire Company and was serving his country in Iraq when he was killed in the line
of duty on October 10, 2004 at the age of 19. Aaron is now an Honorary Lifetime
Member of the Fire Company. Each year after, the Fire Company plans to hold this
"Battle of the Barrel" competition to keep Aaron’s memory alive. If you need
more information, call the Fire Hall at 322-3155. After the competition, the
Fire Company wishes to invite everyone to stay and enjoy the festival as well as
the musical entertainment of the Fabulous Flashbacks which will be
appearing on stage under the tent in the Fire Company parking lot from 7 to 11
pm. Refreshments will be served. Other events to keep in mind are the
Auxiliary’s regular Sunday Night Bingo and an Archery Raffle
that is scheduled for Saturday, August 27, 2005. Doors open at 5:00 pm
and the Raffle follows at 6:30. Price of a ticket is $20.00. For more
information call 322-3155. After the Heritage Festival ends, Jackson Fire
Company will be busy getting ready to host the Cambria County & Vicinity
Volunteer Firemen’s Association Convention once again. The Convention
will be held from July 23rd through July 30, 2005. There will be lots
of entertainment and food and everyone is welcome to attend and support our
Firemen. The Festival & Convention promise to be a fun time for all!
SENIOR CENTER NEWS
The Center is looking forward to participating in this year’s Jackson
Heritage Festival. They will be serving Pigs In A Blanket, Halushki,
Cake and Salad. Last year was so successful that they ran out of food and had to
make more so this year they’re planning for more to accommodate as many people
as possible. They will also have ceramics and crafts for sale as well as running
their Miniature Train Display and hosting Bingo each day of the Festival at 2:00
pm. Many bus trips are scheduled from the Jackson Center including
one on June 21st to the Mountaineer Race Track & Casino,
one on August 23rd to the Rainbow Dinner Theater near
Lancaster to see the comedy "Plaza Suite", another one on October 20th
to see the Pennsylvania Opry near Mercersburg and one on November
10th which will be a Veterans Tour of Washington DC
where they will visit the various war memorials and monuments. If you are
interested in any of the bus trips, please inquire to Bobbie at Repine Travel by
calling 1-866-473-7463. The Senior Center has many events scheduled for
the upcoming months. A Calendar Party Fundraiser will be held on Sunday,
September 25th. If you are interested in hosting a table, please
contact the Center at 322-3327. The Center also wants to thank those who
participated in the Cookbook Fundraiser as they are now all sold
out. Another upcoming event will be a Blood Screening to be held
on Saturday, October 29 from 7-9 am at the Center. The event will be hosted by
the Senior Center & Priority Care from Conemaugh Health Systems. Some of the
events held the past quarter included the following. The Center was host to the
Cambria County Senior Horseshoe Tournament and Conemaugh School of
Nursing came in to take blood pressures as well as host a class on
Osteoporosis and Exercise. The also Center assisted in a Child ID
Program at Jackson Elementary School. A Tax Assistance Program
was held as well as 55 Alive Drivers Training for Seniors. In
addition the Center spearheaded a drive to help wounded soldiers at Walter Reed
Hospital by supplying phone cards. The wounded soldiers have to
pay for their own long distance and the number one request from them is for
phone cards. The Center is also proud that it’s Silver Sneakers
Exercise Classes have been so well received. Four classes are offered each
week, two on Tuesday and two on Thursday that last about 45 minutes. Silver
Sneakers is offered to Medicare-eligible members of Highmark and Blue-Cross-Blue
Shield. The Jackson Senior Center is the only one in Cambria County to offer
this program. The new exercise room is also open with
state-of-the-art machines members can use for just $1.00 per visit. There are
currently about 8 machines that offer 16 different exercise options. The Center
has many weekly and special events for members. Some of the activities
offered to members include lunch three times a week, parties, bingo,
knitting, line dancing, weekly pinochle, special speakers, events on health
issues, weekly movies shown on a 60 inch large screen television, ceramics,
computer use with high-speed internet access and beginners computer classes.
Anyone interested in visiting or taking a quick tour of the Center is invited
to stop in. Center hours are Monday from 7-9 pm, Tuesday & Wednesday
from 9 am to 3 pm and Thursday from 9 am to 4 pm and again at 7-9 pm. The Center
offers a computer room, pool table, exercise room, crafts room and a community
room with a 60" television. Membership offered to those age 50 and older is
constantly growing and is only $10.00 a year.
SENIOR CENTER MADE AWARE OF LOCAL SENIOR THAT NEEDS YOUR HELP
It has been brought to our attention that a Jackson Township resident needs your
help! Esther (Leidy) Albright, 63 has been diagnosed with
Myleoproliferative Disorder, a rare blood disease. This is a life
threatening disorder and the only hope for a cure is a bone marrow transplant.
The experts at West Penn Hospital in Pittsburgh have evaluated Esther and have
determined that she is a candidate for a bone marrow transplant.
Through testing, it was discovered that Esther’s brother is a full match and
will be her donor. This treatment requires that she and her husband Dan relocate
for up to two months. Esther and her family have lived in the Jackson
Township their entire lives. She has been an active member of Singer Hill Grace
Brethren Church for over 30 years, until she became ill late in 2004. Esther’s
hope is to return to her duties at the church that she truly loves after her
transplant and recovery. Because of the extraordinary expense of the
bone marrow transplantation and chemotherapy, her family is asking for your
help! Without health insurance, there are numerous uncovered expenses in
addition to the transplant itself, including medication and travel / relocation
expenses. Fundraising is vital to the overall success of Esther’s struggle to
survive. To help defray such uninsured expenses, a fundraising
campaign in Esther’s honor has been established with the National Transplant
Assistance Fund (NTAF). NTAF is a non-profit organization that has been
helping the transplant community for over 20 years. All donations are
tax-deductible and are administered for transplant-related expenses only.
Her family is asking that you please consider making a donation.
Make Checks payable to:
NTAF Mid-Atlantic Bone Marrow Transplant Fund
Note in Memo Section of Check:
In Honor of Esther Albright
Mail to:
National Transplant Assistance Fund
3475 West Chester Pike, Suite 230
Newtown Square, PA 18073
For credit card contributions, call 1-800-642-8399 or visit
www.transplantfund.org
This request came from Esther’s family and feel free to contact them
for additional details:
Darla & Todd Sell (814) 472-9213
Dan & Wendy Albright (814) 749-1974
Dean & Sonya Albright (814) 322-1992
OTHER JACKSON TWP. NEWS
~New Police Officer Hired
Matt Hirko
was recently hired as a new part-time Police Officer
for Jackson Township. Several vacancies were created as the result of part-time
officers leaving to take full time positions elsewhere including Officer
David Pilot and Officer Scott Eger. Full-Time Officer
Melanie Kline is deployed to serve in the National Guard in the Middle East.
~Crouse & Company Landfill Gas Project Update
The landfill gas conversion project proposed by Crouse & Company / Keystone
Renewable Energies is still "on track" and hoping for a Fall start-up date. The
financing is in place and they are working on getting the necessary permits to
transport the landfill gas to local pipelines where it can be used by consumers.
~Three New Streets Named for 911
The area behind Adams Avenue in Vinco and off of Gillin Street & Stoneridge
Lane behind the Fire Hall has been marked with street signs for Cambria County
911. Three streets were given names. One is Deerfield Lane which
goes off of Gillin Lane where the Township road ends and the private street
begins. Another street which was never given a name is now Cyrus Lane
which connects from the new Deerfield Lane & Stoneridge Extension. Yet
another new street will be Stoneridge Extension. This was
previously labeled Stoneridge Street but being that the other side of Stoneridge
Street near the Fire Hall doesn’t connect, it was recommended by 9-1-1 that it
be given a new name. Other signs installed are Mary Avenue and Pompano Lane.
According to Cambria County 9-1-1, properly marked streets and signs are
critical and could even mean life or death if an emergency should occur.
~Two Hazardous Poles Removed
Two hazardous poles were recently removed from the right-of-way on
Leidy Lane. The poles were so close to the road that there was actually
pavement around them and over the years, there have been several accidents. The
Supervisors decided that marking them with florescent paint or tape was not
enough and that the poles should actually be moved to prevent a critical
accident from occurring in the future. There are also two poles on Adams Avenue
that need to be moved as well.
~Baker Passes State Building Code Exam
Congratulations to Harry Baker, Jackson Township Zoning
Officer on passing the State Building Code Exam. By passing the exam, Harry is
now qualified to make decisions at a local level concerning the State Building
Code.
~New Businesses & Names in Jackson
The Cross Roads Restaurant opened at the end of May under new
ownership after extensive remodeling. Brad Kane who previously worked as a chef
for the Holiday Inn and Windber Country Club is the owner of the new restaurant.
The Cross Roads was the former Mundys Corner Restaurant located at Rt. 271 and
Pike Road. In another change, the Vinco Bi-Lo Supermarket has now become
an Mercik’s Ideal Market as of June 5, 2005. According to Dave Mercik,
the move was made to offer shoppers the lowest prices possible by being able to
buy from multiple low-cost suppliers. A grand opening was held. There are three
other Ideal Markets in the Johnstown area and shoppers can view sale ads in the
Johnstown Tribune-Democrat every Sunday. We wish both businesses the best on
their new ventures.
~Need to Sign Up For New Garbage Service?
Jackson Township negotiated a new quarterly garbage service earlier this
year. The cost is $36.00 per quarter and provides for those subscribing to
unlimited garbage pick-up as well as any large items you have to dispose of with
a few exceptions (i.e.-hazardous items, freon, tires etc.). If you wish to
sign up for the new service you can do so by calling 1-800-677-4884.
~Route 22 Update
Route 22 work is progressing as scheduled. Work has begun on what will be the
future Dishong Mountain Road interchange. Mile Hill Road
and White Tail Road will be closed until sometime towards the
end of this year as major excavation takes place in that area. When completed
Pike Road West will join Whitetail Road to form one road and be extended to Mile
Hill Road. On the northern side of 22, Turkey Path Road will be
extended to Fords Corner Road. Access from both roads will be at one
intersection near Fords Corner Road. The $35 million project is scheduled for
completion in Summer of 2007.
~Traffic Light Converted To LED Signals
The traffic light at Route 271 near the Sheetz store has been converted from
regular traffic light bulbs to LED signals. According to TelPower who maintains
the light, most municipalities are converting from the old bulbs to the new
modern LED Signals. The LED Signals are guaranteed to operate a minimum of 5
years before needing replaced. In many cases the Signals could last 7 to 8
years. As of this time, only the Red & Green signals were converted to LED as
the yellow light does not stay on very long.
www.jacksontwppa.com
Jackson Township has a valuable source of information to help keep
you informed. If you haven’t checked out the Township Website, please feel free
to visit
www.jacksontwppa.com The website is constantly updated with new
information. As always, you can read the monthly approved minutes
of the Board of Supervisors Meetings and check out the updated Calendar of
Events to find out what’s going on in Jackson Township. Other newly
updated pages include Jackson Heritage Festival, Kidslinks, Links
and Veterans. If you have any suggestions of what you would like
to see on the Jackson Twp. Website, please call Dave Hirko at 749-0725 or email
to
office@jacksontwppa.com
JOIN JACKSON ONLINE NEWS
Township residents who have access to the internet can now join our new email
group to receive up-to-date Township news by email. We would like to invite you
to join Jackson Township Online News where you can receive online newsletters,
announcements, and important information concerning Jackson Township. To
subscribe just go to the Jackson Township website at
www.jacksontwppa.com and subscribe to the Jackson Township Online
News by entering your email address in the space provided. You will then be sent
a confirmation verifying that you wish to subscribe to the online news. You must
return the confirmation via email to be added to the newsletter list. We also
encourage you to invite others to join. If you encounter any problem signing up,
just email us at
office@jacksontwppa.com or call us at the Township office at
749-0725 and you can be added manually.
PLANNING A BUILDING PROJECT?
If you are planning on a building project be sure to visit or call either the
Jackson Township Office at 749-0725 or Harry Baker, Zoning Officer at 322-1425.
Your project could involve zoning, stormwater or planning. Also with the new
Pennsylvania State Uniform Construction Code, inspections may be required
as well. Be sure to allow plenty of time to get any necessary permits prior to
building. By doing this, your project can be addressed in plenty of time before
you actually begin construction. Also if you are planning to pave or alter
your driveway, a driveway permit is required. Roadmasters Bruce
Baker & Dave Bracken said that driveway permits are not to inconvenience
residents but are necessary to make sure there is a swale or pipe to direct
stormwater. They also make sure that driveways are not higher than the road so
snow plows don’t catch the edge of the driveway. When a driveway enters onto a
Township road, a safe sight distance is also very important. PennDOT requires
permits for driveways entering onto State roads within the Township.
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