JACKSON TOWNSHIP NEWS

Your Community News Source
Summer, 2010

COME JOIN THE FUN AT HERITAGE FESTIVAL 2010

YOU’RE INVITED
 Come one, Come ALL to a weekend of FREE top notch entertainment, great food, crafts, exhibits, games, model trains, history, bingo, clowns, petting zoo, car show and FIREWORKS!

The Jackson Township Heritage Festival continues to draw more and more people each year. This year will be the 7th anniversary for the Heritage Festival and while the big "draw" continues to be the great entertainment and food, the Festival has plenty more to offer those attending. The Heritage Festival will be held this year on Friday, July 16, Saturday, July 17 and Sunday, July 18. The big weekend will kick off on Friday with the 3rd Annual Car Cruise-In beginning at 6 pm and last throughout the evening. The first 75 vehicles will receive free "dash plaques" for their participation and all car show participants will receive other free goodies plus chances to win some great door prizes. Several local car clubs will be participating but you don't have to belong to a club to join in the fun! There is no charge so just bring in your best set of wheels to show off to the crowd. Also on Friday evening will be a concert from 7 to 10 pm featuring the Johnstown Classic Rockers, a group of musicians from some of Johnstown's most popular groups ever. The Classic Rockers play music from the 50's through the 80's. This classic night of entertainment should be a fun and entertaining way to kick-off the Festival so come and invite your friends for a great time. Most food booths will be open and some of the other crafts and vendors will be open early as well. Everything will be open during regular Festival hours on Saturday and Sunday as the Festival kicks into high gear. As in years past, there will be continuous entertainment alternating on two stages both Saturday & Sunday. Thanks to the help of our generous sponsors, the entertainment is top quality and you won’t want to miss a single performance! Entertainment on Saturday will begin from noon to 2:00 with Tree, an Irish folk music group. New this year making their first appearance at the Heritage Festival will be the Bayou Bandits from the Harrisburg area. They are one of the premier Cajun / Zydeco bands in the Northeast US and are working hard to bring this energetic Louisiana music to this area of the country. The Bandits have created their own sound by taking traditional Cajun music and stamping it with their influences in Blues, Rock, Country and Zydeco. Cajun / Zydeco has become very popular in this area and one of the biggest draws at the Johnstown Folk Festival. You won't want to miss their energetic concert / show! John Robertson will be returning to do a brand new magic & illusion show from 5:30 to 6:30 geared for all ages!  The Fabulous Flashbacks, a regular at the Festival will be returning from 7 to 11 pm to pack the house with their famous oldies show. Back by popular demand, a spectacular fireworks display is planned at 9:30 pm.

Sunday will begin with Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church once again holding their regular morning church service at 10:30 am. Last year there were over 270 attending and Pastor Drew Walther and the Singer Hill congregation are looking forward hosting this service again. Everyone is welcome! The Masters who are based in Jackson Township will return to play from noon to 1:30 pm to perform their awesome style of Southern Gospel music. Also returning from 1:30 to 4:30 is Beavercreek, a real crowd pleaser who put on an excellent show with their own brand of Bluegrass Music. Returning with Beaver Creek this year are original members of the group, Mary & Randy Ord. Clay Bowser takes the stage to entertain from 4:30 to 6:00. Clay plays a wide variety of music and even takes requests from the audience. Back by popular demand will be NOMaD (North of Mason & Dixon) who are considered Pittsburgh's hottest country band. NOMaD has drawn quite a following in this area since their first appearance and last year drew a standing ovation at the end of their action packed concert & show!  NOMaD has opened up for many of the most popular country entertainers including Brooks & Dunn, Toby Keith and Rascal Flatts and won first place in a band competition sponsored by Kenny Chesney. Their debut CD called "Born and Raised" and their first two singles have charted nationally in the top 100 and they will soon be releasing their second CD. In addition, they have appeared on several nationally syndicated radio shows and are destined for future fame in the country music business. NOMaD will play from 6:30 to 9:30 and are sure to provide an exciting evening of great entertainment for everyone!  Seating will be provided at the Festival but come early. You may even want to bring your own favorite lawn chairs for comfort and to guarantee your seats.

There will be plenty of activities for children of all ages. The Cambria County Community Arts Center will be hosting a Children’s Craft Tent on Saturday from 3 to 7 and on Sunday from 2 to 5. This will be for ages 5 through 12. Children will enjoy making their own crafts under the guidance of the Community Arts Center staff. The Classic Clowns will be returning on Saturday from 4 - 7 pm. They will have a whole crew of clowns who will create balloon animals, do face painting and mingle with the Festival crowds. Always a big hit is Big Bouncy Bunch of Fun which will feature a new Atlantis theme this year with an "under the sea" type of atmosphere where kids can jump the day away!  A.J. Devlin will be giving hayrides on Saturday from 5 to 8 and on Sunday from 3:00 to 6:30. Jackson Township Boy Scouts Troop 204 will provide a wide variety of games for the young and young-at-heart. Another popular attraction is the elaborate model train display which will be operating in the Senior Center Building. Returning this year is the Living Treasures Animal Park who will bring in their petting zoo this year which will feature llamas, goats, sheep, ducks, turtles and a miniature horse or donkey. They will also be bringing in some other unusual critters so you never know what you'll see there. Last year the big hit of the zoo was a baby alligator! This attraction is free and if children wish to feed the animals, they can obtain feed for 25 cents from a machine that will be provided. New this year will be a Rock Climbing Wall sponsored by the Army National Guard. Anyone wishing to try their skill at climbing will be able to do so free of charge. Also returning this year will be a complete children's games and contests program on Saturday & Sunday broken down into age groups. The games will include Bobbing for Apples, Duck-Duck Spray, Ice Fishing, Clothes Basket Relay, Clothes Line, Pasta Trail, Ping Pong Relay, Marble Relay, Mirror Throw, Spoon Water Relay, Big Foot and the William Tell Race. Saturday's games will go from 2 to 4 and again from 6 to 8. Sunday will feature the most popular games from Saturday from 2 to 5 pm. Kelly Lundren will be the Children's Coordinator for the games. Last year everyone had a blast so invite all the kids you know to come and join the fun!

For bingo lovers, there will be bingo at the Senior Center each day from 2 to 4. In addition the Jackson Twp. Vol. Fire Company will host their big bingo beginning at 7 pm on Sunday at the Fire Hall. The Tri Area Historical & Museum Society will have a large display of historical items of local interest in the Senior Center Building and will feature a military theme. They will also have a booth outside where they will sell various items supporting the organization and their Liberty Museum Project. Also returning this year is the 4th Annual Cutest Baby Contest. This contest is highly popular and Festival-goers have a chance to vote for their choice of the cutest baby in Jackson Township. To enter the contest, you need to submit a 5 x 7 (or close to that size) photo of the baby you'd like to enter. Any child 2 and under from Jackson Township can be eligible to win one of three prizes which are Savings Bonds in the amounts of $100, $75 and $50. Another returning event will be the display of antique tractors at Veterans Park. Any local tractor enthusiasts are invited to participate. If interested contact the Township office at 749-0725.

Food will be plentiful this year and no one should go away hungry as there is something for everyone! A sampling of some of the food items this year will include: Apple Dumplings, Apple or Blueberry Shortcake, BBQ Pulled Pork Sandwiches, Cactus Chippers, Cake, Chicken Fingers, Chicken Salad, Chicken Teriyaki Kabobs with Fried Rice, Chicken Wraps, Cinnamon Rolls, Cookies, Cotton Candy, Curly Fries, Egg Rolls, Freeze Pops, Fresh Cut American Fries, Fresh Fruit Cups, Fresh Squeezed Lemonade, Fried Chicken, Frozen Smoothies, Fudge, Gobs, Hamburgers, Halushki, Homemade Rootbeer, Hot Dogs, Hot Sausage Sandwiches, Italian Hot Dogs, Kettle Korn, Kielbasa Sandwiches, Loaded Fries, Macaroni Salad, Nacho Grande, Pepperoni Rolls, Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches, Pierogies, Pies, Pigs In a Blanket, Pit Beef or Ham Sandwiches, Pittsburgh Sandwich, Potato Salad, Pumpkin Rolls, Punky’s Soft Shell Tacos, Quessadillas, Roasted Almonds & Cashews, Root Beer Floats, Shaved Ice Sno-Kones, Sloppy Joes, Snails, Strawberry Shortcake, Stromboli, Walkin Tacos and Wings.  Crafts this year will feature Alabaster Stone Items, Angels, Aprons, Baby Items, Bag Dispensers, Bears, Bird Baths, Blankets, Brooms, Ceramic Crafts, Clothes Pin Bags, Coasters, Crystal Jewelry, Dog Collar Covers, Doggie Coats & Accessories, Fabric Items, Hair & Neckware Items, Beaded Jewelry, Hand Painted Items, Hand Sewn Items, Homemade Jams & Jellies, Hot Pads, Jewelry Mannequins, Kitchen Items, Lamps, Marshmallow Shooters, Night Lights, Ornaments, Penn State Items, Pillows, Pitt Items, Quilts, Raggedy Anns & Andys, Seasonal Items, Seatbelt Covers, Seat Covers, Semi-Precious Stone Jewelry, Shirts, Steeler Items, Steering Wheel Covers, Stethoscope, Sugar Keelers, Sun Catchers, Table Runners, Therapeutic Jewelry, Toilet Seat Covers, Towels, Tree Toppers, T-Shirts and Wood Crafts. Other exhibitors will feature Animal Rescue, Balloon Twisting, Bathroom Remodeling, Books, Childrens Games, Children's Novelty Items, Face Painting, Fitness & Health, Free Health Screenings, Glow & Light Up Items, Hats, Historical Displays, Kitchen & Pocket Knives, Kitchen Tools, License Plate Holders, Pennsylvania Information, Photo Albums, Puzzles, Small Games of Chance, Specialty Food Items, Sports Cards & Collectibles and Tupperware

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 Amfire Mining, Somerset Trust and Waste Management whom have made sizeable contributions towards the Festival. Other sponsors include Askew-Houser Funeral Homes, Atlantic Broadband, Dolan's Welding & Steel, Jackson Township Senior Center, Jane's Signs & Designs, Jerry Gilkey Pools, Mercik's Ideal Market, Neighbors Who Care and Sheetz. Others donating towards this event include C & R Motors, Damin Printing, Dr. Donald M. Leckey-Optometrist, Hagerich Auto Sales, Highmark Blue Cross / Blue Shield, Jane's Signs & Designs, Laurel Sand & Stone, Luther P. Miller Inc., Martin Oil Company, P. Joseph Lehman Engineers, Rose Excavating, Vantage Physical Therapy, Warren Oil and Wyse Memorials.  Without the support of these generous businesses, organizations and individuals, this festival would not be possible. There are many expenses including entertainment, fireworks, tent and chair rental, porta-johns, electric, advertising, security, activities and more. 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". Come and enjoy the fun, food, free entertainment and fireworks and have a GREAT TIME at the Jackson Heritage Festival!

WANT A BOOTH AT THE FESTIVAL?
 For those of you who would wish to have a booth at the Heritage Festival this year, contact Dave Hirko at 749-0725 or Betty & Dave Perry at 322-0938.

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 set up, trash & litter clean-up, helping with children’s games and activities, distributing programs, delivering ice, parking, information booth and tearing down after the festival. We welcome all volunteers. If you are interested in helping, please contact Dave Hirko at 749-0725 (day) or 322-3433 (evening). 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.

MITCHELL PARK PROJECT NEARING COMPLETION
 It won't be long and we will finally have public restrooms open and in use at Mitchell Park. This convenience most of us take for granted was not available at Mitchell until now. Prior to that hundreds of people on any given day would be using 2 porta-johns at the park. When a Master Plan for Mitchell Park was developed several years ago, public restrooms was one of the top priorities for this heavily used park. In addition two new pavilions have been constructed in a beautiful wooded area with a view of Mitchell Field # 2 just off of the basketball courts. The pavilions will be available to anyone wanting to use them for a larger gathering such as a birthday, shower, graduation party, reunion, wedding or picnic of any kind. Each pavilion could accommodate approximately 100 people. Picnic tables will be ordered or constructed for the new pavilions. The buildings and extension of electric lines was done by Berkebile Brothers of Johnstown, low bidder for the Project at a cost of $207,116. The Project had previously been awarded a $125.000 Grant from the DCNR (Dept. Of Community & Natural Resources. Other work such as ground clearing and construction of a road and parking areas were done by the Jackson Township Road Department. The Jackson-East Taylor Sewer Authority and Jackson Township Water Authority both offered their services to install the line extensions at cost of materials only. The work preformed by Jackson Township and it's Authorities saved a tremendous amount in the cost of the project. The Jackson Township Supervisors wish to thank everyone who had helped make this project possible. Other amenities in the near future will include BBQ Pits, Horseshoe Pits and access to water by the pavilions. A Phase II Project for Mitchell at sometime in the future will include park lighting, landscaping, additional pavilions, new playground equipment, volleyball courts and a walking trail around the entire perimeter of the entire 65 acre park. Many visitors have complimented Jackson Township on Mitchell Park and now with the new improvements, Mitchell Park is one of the premier parks in Cambria

5th ANNUAL FISHING DERBY DRAWS OVER 200 CHILDREN
 The 5th Annual Jackson Township Fishing Derby was held on Saturday, May 8th and was an overwhelming success according to Ed Westrick, President of the Jackson Township Community Rod & Gun Club who co-sponsored the event with the Jackson Township Recreation Commission. Despite the cold and windy weather, there was a great turnout and attendance has increased every year the Derby has been held since it's humble beginnings. The Derby now in its 5th year is gaining a reputation of being a fun and well organized event and gaining respect as one of the best Fishing Derbies in the area. The Derby this year was once again held at Woodland Park Campground just off of Route 22 across the Jackson Township line.  Special trophies and accompanying prizes were given out to the following winners: Carter Boring for the first fish caught, Austin Paul for catching the first Palomino fish, Trent Mock for being the first one to catch their limit of fish, Jack Brew for having the largest total combined length of fish caught - 68 1/4 inches and Brandon Bailey for catching the longest fish. A huge amount of prizes were awarded throughout the Fishing Derby which began at 9 and went until 3 pm. All prizes were worth at least $15 or greater. In addition. Every child attending went home with something and a great time was had by all! Businesses, organizations and individuals that contributed towards the Fishing Derby included: Adams' Country Market, Al's Pizza, Ameriserv (Ebensburg), Best Way Pizza, Big Stone Inn, State Rep. Frank Burns - 72nd District, C & G Savings Bank, C & R Motors, Cabela's, Commons Hardware, Cooper Signs, Dairy Queen (Park Hill), Dolan's Welding & Steel, Fabrication, Ebensburg Ace Hardware, Ebensburg Fishing & Hunting, First Commonwealth Bank, First Summit Bank, Dwyane & Carol Fisher, Foodland (Nanty Glo), Dorothy Ford, Fords Corner Beverage, Gilkey Pools, Jeff Gore - Allstate Insurance, Greater Jackson Twp. Sportsmans Club, Gresh Family, Herr's Potato Chips, Jackson Township Recreation Commission, Jackson Township Supervisors, Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company, Jannas Hair & Tanning Salon, Kamziks Septic Service, Shawn Kurtz, Dr. Donald Leckey OD, Mainline National Bank, Martin Marine, Martin Oil Company, Masters Ministries, Mercik's Ideal Market, Tom & Nancy Morrison, Nanty Glo Auto Supply, Nickles Bakery, Northwest Savings Bank, Randy Wike Heating, The Right Cut, Rose Bud Inn, Somerset Trust Company, Somogyi's Route 22 Supply, T & P Trains, Tire Outlet, Twin Rocks - Cardiff Sportsman Club, Valewood Farms Dairy, Vantage Physical Therapy, Virginia Sidor Beauty Salon, Waste Management, Wise Trailer Sales and Woodland Park Campground. In addition to the all of the generous donations received, the Jackson Township Community Rod & Gun Club also raised money by selling 50-50's and chances at the Club. The Jackson Township Community Rod & Gun Club along with the Township would like to thank all of the businesses and individuals who donated to the Fishing Derby. Thanks also go out to the Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company for having their water rescue and ambulance on site in the event of an emergency. A special thank you goes out to Wally Vorhauer and the Vorhauer Family, owners of Woodland Park Campground for agreeing to host the event. In addition, the Jackson Township Supervisors would like to commend the Jackson Township Community Rod & Gun Club for a job well done!

ETJ PLAYING UNDER THE LIGHTS!
 "I grew up playing baseball as a child and there’s something about playing under the lights," says Al Boring of the East Taylor-Jackson Little League. Al has been a big supporter of the lighting initiative along with ETJ President, Denny Grove and the ETJ Boosters. ETJ has been involved with local youth baseball for over 30 years. Their mission is to provide guidance to the youth in the region. Boring said, "We strive on promoting, developing, and encouraging sportsmanship in hopes of providing a good, solid foundation as our children continue to grow through their younger years. As they mature, it is very important to provide the finest recreational facility we as mentors, political leaders and local businesses can provide. Our kids are the future and it is up to us to build the groundwork in hopes of providing direction and keeping the children active in recreation." For those reasons the ETJ Boosters, with support from the Jackson Township Supervisors and Township Manager Dave Hirko have been committed to installing lights while other expansion and improvements are underway at Mitchell Park. Denny Grove, former President of the ETJ Boosters said, "the most important aspect of the project was that it was all for the kids and to keep them interested in baseball and keep them coming back".  Everyone has been extremely supportive of the project from the beginning. Initial estimates for lighting were very costly and the project may not have happened based on the initial estimates which were around $40,000. This was the time to explore how the project could be done and how costs could be trimmed. Through the cooperation of three major entities, everything fell into place. REA Energy Cooperative became heavily involved and donated labor, equipment and installation plus provided poles and materials at a reduced cost. Somerset Trust made a sizeable financial contribution towards the project and last but not least, the dedicated families involved in the ETJ Boosters, fundraising, concession stand sales and community donations made it happen. It was truly a team effort!  Another individual who played a primary part in making the lighting project happen was Al Conrad who coordinated and orchestrated the much needed help from REA. The lights installed at Mitchell Field # 1 are the same fixtures that are used at Heinz Field in Pittsburgh.  A special opening night ceremony was held on Friday, April 30th with local dignitaries, community and business leaders, ETJ families and lots of residents from the community. Even Steamer, the mascot of the Altoona Curve came to see the big event. A host of past officials and officers of ETJ were called to the field and one by one, each of the ETJ teams lined up around the bases. A. J. Pagano then sang a heartening rendition of the Star Spangled Banner to officially open the game. Another special guest attending was Steven Mitchell, son of Richard Mitchell who was killed at age 27 while working on the development of Mitchell Park in 1978. The park was then named after him and thus became Mitchell Park. Steven’s son got to throw out the first ball as the large crowd attending cheered. The weather was great and the lights lit up the field just like the big leagues. It doesn’t get any better than that.

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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.
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SUPERVISORS APPROVE CDBG FUNDS FOR CHICKAREE
 The Jackson Township Supervisors approved the use of 2010 Community Development Block Grant Funds totaling $116,103 to be put towards the construction of a new sanitary sewer line along Chickaree Hill Road. According to Larry Custer, Executive Director of the Cambria County Redevelopment Authority, CDBG funds are up 9% more than last year. The new sewage line (Phase I) would come from the borough of Vintondale and extend 1200 to 1400 feet up Chickaree Hill Road and pick up 5 houses. This area would include a part of Chickaree Hill Road where there has been raw sewage flowing on the road and numerous complaints have been made by residents in that area. Construction on the new line should start in Spring of next year. Estimated cost of the new sewer line is $200,000 and will be constructed in 2 phases. Phase 2 which would continue the line further up Chickaree Hill Road will be built in 2012. The Cambria County Redevelopment Authority has had some problems with the contractor, Lumadue Excavating, who was awarded the bid to put a sewage line in on Loraine Road and a water line on Chickaree Hill Road. Neither line would be accepted by the local Authorities until various problems are resolved. Most of the problems are clean-up and maintenance issues. If the problems aren’t resolved by Lumadue in the time limit given, retainage money held from that job will be used to have the work done by someone else. Currently Claycomb Excavating is working on installing a 1000 foot extension onto the original Loraine Road Sewage Line which will serve 7 additional families. This extension was made possible when the CDBG Program received additional funding as a result of Federal Stimulus Recovery Program monies made available at the beginning of this year. The cost of the extension is approximately $60,000. In addition Claycomb was hired by the Redevelopment Authority to resolve the maintenance issues left by the previous contractor. Nearly all issues have been resolved and the Nanty Glo Sewer Authority was pleased with the results. A final inspection will be scheduled for the line.

JACKSON TWP. SCHOLARSHIP FUND GIVES AWARDS TO 2 STUDENTS
 The Jackson Township Scholarship Committee Fund is now in it's 5th year and continues to recognize excellence in students from Jackson Township. Just formed in 2006, the Committee was able to award two $500.00 scholarships to two deserving Central Cambria Seniors from Jackson Township in its first year. The fund grew through the generosity of local organizations, businesses and individuals and now the scholarships are over $1,000 per student. The two highest ranking students (1 boy and 1 girl) from Jackson Township were Katheryn Sanner and Cory Henry. Each will receive $1,125 from the Scholarship Fund. Katheryn ranked # 1 out of the Senior Graduating Class of 133 at Central Cambria and had a 4.42 GPA . She served as Valedictorian and was involved in many activities including school musicals, mock trial, Student Council, National Honor Society, Track and the Scholastic Quiz Team. She also took part as a Junior Mentor and plays the piano. Besides school activities, she was very active at St. Paul's Lutheran Church where she participated in youth activities, Vacation Bible School, choir and has taken several mission trips. Katheryn has also earned the Tri-Area Museum & Historical Society Scholarship and the US Marines Scholastic Achievement Award. She is the daughter of Barry Sanner and Pastor Lynn Miller of William Penn Avenue. She plans to attend George Washington University in Washington DC where she will major in Political Science. Cory Henry ranked number 8 out of the graduating class of 133 with a grade point average of 4.28. Cory was Captain of the Central Cambria Soccer Team and lettered 4 years. He also lettered 4 years with the Swim Team and 2 years with the Track & Field Team. Cory also has achieved the high achievement of being an Eagle Scout, participated in the Junior Mentor Program, served as a Certified Life Guard at Central Cambria and helped with various community events including the Jackson Heritage Festival. Cory was a member of Homecoming Court, Stage Crew, National Honor Society, Students against Destructive Decisions and was a mentor in the Outdoor Odyssey Program. Cory is the son of Marlene & Charles Henry and plans to attend the University of Pittsburgh at Johnstown where he will major in Mechanical Engineering. These scholarships are made possible through the generosity of local organizations, businesses and individuals. Thanks go out to all of those contributing this year to the Scholarship Fund. They are: Gilkey Pools, Mr. & Mrs. Ivan Hanson, Jackson Township Lions Club, Mercik's Ideal Market, Neighbors Who Care and Somerset Trust. The Scholarship Committee is comprised of Dave Cobaugh, Deana Deetscreek and John Letizia Jr. and was formed after the community-oriented group, Neighbors Who Care, came up with the idea. The Committee is already planning for next year and will be soliciting donations from the business community, organizations and from successful graduates from Central Cambria who wish to give something back to the School District and Jackson Township students. It is hoped that citizens of Jackson Township will come forward to offer a scholarship in their name or as a legacy in their parents name. The donating party can choose the criteria for the scholarship awarded. Smaller donations will be pooled and the Jackson Township Scholarship Committee in cooperation with the Central Cambria Scholarship Committee will choose the criteria. Donations are tax deductible. Ms. Susan Dixon, Chairperson of the CC Scholarship Committee and a guidance counselor at the High School encourages any interested Jackson Township Seniors / Students to apply for the scholarships by requesting a form from the guidance office. Any additional information needed can be obtained from the Scholarship Committee members by calling: Dave Cobaugh 322-4512, Deana Deetscreek 322-3503 or John Letizia Jr. 535-2278

AARON RUSIN SCHOLARSHIP FUND IN 5th YEAR
 It's hard to believe that the Aaron Rusin Scholarship Fund is now in its 5th year. The Fund was established by the family of Private First Class, Aaron Rusin, a 2003 graduate of Central Cambria who was killed in the line of duty in Iraq on October 10, 2004. Central Cambria School District, Jackson Township and the entire area will be eternally grateful for Aaron's sacrifice in service of his Country while preserving our freedom. The Scholarship Fund is financed through an annual event called the Aaron Rusin Battle of the Barrel which is held at the Jackson Twp. Vol. Fire Company where Aaron served as an active member.

The criteria for earning the Scholarship includes:
1. Completing a Scholarship Application
2. Senior male and Senior female
3. Minimum 3.0 GPA
4. Accepted to an institution of higher education.
5. Had a positive impact on the quality of life at the High School and in the Community through involvement and participation in activities.
6. Personifies "true spirit" of volunteerism and community service.
7. Financial need may be considered, but is not the driving force.

This year the $500 awards went to Megan Lee of Winterset Road, Ebensburg and Chad Colopy of N. Center Street, Ebensburg. Megan is President of the Interact Club, a Junior Mentor and involved in the National Honor Society and Volleyball. She has been a volunteer for the Special Olympics Program. She plans on attending Mount Aloysius this fall where she plans on majoring in Medical Imaging (Ultrasonography). Chad Colopy has been involved in the Outdoor Odyssey and Upward Bound programs as well as being a member of the National Honor Society. While involved in the Outdoor Odyssey Program, Chad accumulated over 900 hours of community service time. Chad plans on attending Penn State University main campus this fall where he will major in Pre-Medicine. Congratulations to both of these well deserving individuals

JACKSON STUDENTS EXCEL AT CEN. CAM. AWARDS ASSEMBLY
 An Awards Assembly in May at Central Cambria High School and many students from Jackson Township took home awards, honors and scholarships. Here are some of the achievers from Jackson Township:

Air Force Math & Science Award
Haleigh Gabor

Air Force Technology Award
Michael Dernar

American Red Cross Scholarship
Corey Shirk

Ann Bufoni Visual Arts Award
Cory Henry

Art Department Award
Jennifer Pfeil

Business / Technology Department Award
Joshua Bednar

CBW Credit Union Scholarship
Keith Henry

Central Cambria HS Alumni Scholarship
Kaitlin Aurandt

Central Cambria HS Faculty Award
A. J. Pagano

Challenge Program Attendance Award
Richard Coval

Challenge Program Community Service Award
Desire Muir

Chorus Recognition
Corey Shirk, Joshua Duman

Computer Science Department Award
Collier Devlin

District 6 Sportsmanship Award
Nichole Pennington

Ebensburg Moose Lodge # 681 Scholarship
Richard Drahnak

Ebensburg Rotary Club Scholarship
Haleigh Gabor

Ebensburg Women’s Club Scholarship
Denise Page

English Department Award
Kathryn Sanner

Greg Ricketts Memorial Scholarship
Nichole Pennington

In-Shore Technologies Scholarship
Collier Devlin

Jackson Township Academic Scholarship Awards
Cory Henry, Kathryn Sanner

John Lainsky Memorial Scholarship
Michael Dernar

Letizia Family Scholarship
Kelsey Mehora

Marine Corps. Distinguished Athlete Award
Cory Henry

Marine Corps. Scholastic Excellence Award
Kathryn Sanner

Music Theatre Recognition
A. J. Pagano, Kathryn Sanner

Nant-Y-Glo Tri-Area Essay Contest Scholarship
Kathryn Sanner

Paul E. Seymour Memorial Scholarship
Ben Grove

Prudential Spirit Of Community Recognition
Ben Grove

Saluatorian Award
Haleigh Gabor

Science Department Award
Denise Page

Susan W. Makosy Scholarship
Joshua Duman

Superintendent’s Award
Joshua Duman

Valedictorian Award
Kathryn Sanner

Voice of Democracy Recognition
Ben Grove

If you see one of these individuals, be sure to congratulate them on their achievements.

JACKSON TOWNSHIP PHONE DIRECTORY
 Jackson Township Mun. Bldg. 749-0725
Jackson Township Fire Company 322-3155
Jackson Township Police Dept. 749-0051
Jackson Township Senior Center 322-3237
Jackson - East Taylor Sewer Auth. 322-3444
Jackson Township Water Authority 322-1262
Paulette Baker, Tax Collector 322-1863
Harry Baker, Zoning Officer 322-1425

JACKSON TOWNSHIP NEEDS YOUR VOTES FOR PEPSI REFRESH GRANT
 Bob Sekerak Jr., resident of Jackson Township put in an application to the Pepsi Refresh Everything Grant Program for Mitchell Park in the 50K category. This is a nationwide competition and not all applications are accepted. Bob was notified by Pepsi the Jackson Township Project he submitted was accepted and people could start voting on June 1st for the entire month of June. Bob got the idea from Nanty Glo who has been in the running for a grant in the 25K category since April. Bob has faithfully been voting for Nanty Glo every day and though, why not Jackson for a grant! In the 25K and 50K category, the top 10 projects with the most votes receive the grants. Those who do not win but finish in the top 100 automatically have another month to try again. Jackson Township started out in position # 284 on June 1st and has continue to gain momentum and as of June 22nd ranked # 52. Anyone can vote each day through their email address or Facebook. You only need to set up a password and you can also vote up to 10 projects per day every day of the month so each person could vote for Jackson Township and Nanty Glo. It's simple to vote. Just go to the following website pages to vote:

www.refresheverything.com/jackson
 www.refresheverything.com/nantyglorecreation

Since the voting began for Jackson, residents, non-residents, students, those out of state, other groups, ETJ Little League and many others have been faithfully voting each and every day. Thanks go out to Bob Sekerak for getting the ball rolling for a possible 50K grant for Jackson!

CAMBRIA CO. LIBRARY BOOK MOBILE RETURNS TO JACKSON
The Johnstown Cambria County Library Book Mobile has once again returned to Jackson Township for the summer months. According to Trudy Myers representing the Library, the Jackson stop will be only through the summer. The Book Mobile will be at the Jackson Township Senior Center on the following dates:

Thursday July 22nd 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Thursday Aug. 5th 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Thursday Aug. 19th 1:30 - 3:00 pm
Thursday Sept. 2nd 1:30 - 3:00 pm

This is a great convenience for residents with the Library literally coming to their front door. Last summer it was a great resource for children not in school but it is hoped that the Book Mobile will be used by residents of all ages.

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.

Residents Cashing In On Scrap Metal
Many residents are getting top dollar on scrap metal. This includes automobiles that may be sitting on your property. EMF Industries of Franklin Borough accepts old vehicles and pays for the scrap metal value which has been up dramatically this year. The phone number for EMF is 536-5047.

VEHICLE BATTERY DROP-OFF
 Every wonder how to dispose of any old batteries from cars, trucks, lawn mowers, tractors, etc. that you may have laying around your property? They are considered hazardous so you cannot put them out with your garbage. You can however drop them off at Naugles Auto & Truck Sales free of charge where they will see that they are properly processed for disposal or recycling. Naugles Auto & Truck Sales is located at 3309 William Penn Avenue near Mundys Corner. If you have any questions concerning battery disposal, please contact Eric Naugle at 659-7429.

INTERESTED IN SERVING YOUR COMMUNITY?
 Have you ever wondered how you can serve the community you live in? Jackson Township welcomes anyone interested in serving on a Authority, Board or Commission to submit a letter, note or email saying you are interested in serving on a Board or Authority in the event that there are openings. 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 at which time you could accept or decline. Authorities include the Sewer Authority and Water Authority. Commissions include Planning & Recreation. There is also the Zoning Hearing Board. Another group where participation is encouraged is the Historical Preservation Committee. All letters and notes should be mailed to Jackson Township Supervisors, 513 Pike Road, Johnstown, PA 15909. You may also drop it off in person at the Municipal Building or you can send an email to office@jacksontwppa.com By volunteering you can make a difference in your community. Any and all inquiries would be greatly appreciated!

CURRENT OPPORTUNITIES TO SERVE
Jackson Historical Preservation Committee
 If you are interested in helping the Historic Preservation Committee, feel free to attend any of their meetings. If you have any knowledge of the history of the Township, you are welcome to share. The Committee meets the 3rd Thursday of each month at the Township Municipal Building at 1:00 pm.

Jackson Heritage Festival
Help plan and organize the 8th Annual Jackson Heritage Festival. Planning will soon be underway for next year's big event. If you are interested in helping out, please phone, write or email your name to the Jackson Township Office.

POLICE REPORTS
 (Submitted by Chief Bob Fatula)

March, 2010
 The figures for March were as follows: 911 Calls dispatched to Police: 295 Reportable Part I Crimes: 5 broken down as follows: Larceny-3 and Burglaries-2. Reportable Part II Crimes: 17 broken down as follows: Disorderly Conduct-2, DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-2, Vandalism-2, Drunkenness-1, Fraud-1, Receiving Stolen Property-1 and all others-8. Calls Resulting in Cases: 18, Total Arrestees: 10, Total Suspects: 1, Total Victims: 14, DUI Arrests: 2, Traffic Citations: 21, Non-Traffic Citations: 9, Total Warnings: 1

April, 2010
The figures for April were as follows: 911 Calls dispatched to Police: 380 Reportable Part I Crimes: 9 broken down as follows: Larceny-7 and Assaults-2. Reportable Part II Crimes: 30 broken down as follows: DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-8, Receiving Stolen Property-6, Disorderly Conduct-3, Fraud-3, Drunkenness-1, Embezzlement-1 and all others-8. Calls Resulting in Cases: 23, Total Arrestees: 18, Total Suspects: 3, Total Victims: 10, DUI Arrests: 6, Traffic Citations: 41, Non-Traffic Citations: 1, Total Warnings: 0

May, 2010
 The figures for May were as follows: 911 Calls dispatched to Police: 330 Reportable Part I Crimes: 16 broken down as follows: Assaults-7, Larceny-4, Arson-2, Burglaries-2 and Robberies-1. Reportable Part II Crimes: 32 broken down as follows: Disorderly Conduct-8, Sex Offenses-6, DUI (Driving While Under the Influence)-5, Vandalism-4, Drunkenness-2, Receiving Stolen Property-1 and all others-6. Calls Resulting in Cases: 21, Total Arrestees: 10, Total Suspects: 5, Total Victims: 14, DUI Arrests: 4, Traffic Citations: 20, Non-Traffic Citations: 0, Total Warnings: 0

FIRE COMPANY NEWS & EVENTS
 The Jackson Township Volunteer Fire Company did a mailing this year for their Annual Fund Drive. This is different than previous year where they went door to door but they realized that a lot of people were nervous about answering their door to someone they didn't know and many people aren't home these days as well. They do greatly appreciate everyone's support! If you haven’t mailed in or given a donation yet, you can still do so by dropping it off at the Fire Hall or mailing it to 176 Adams Avenue, Mineral Point, PA 15942. If you did not receive one, you can contact the Fire Hall at 322-3155 or just stop by and pick one up. Just a reminder that Ambulance Memberships will be mailed out in late July or early August and are due in September. This is unrelated to the Annual Fund Drive that supports the Fire Company. Thanks go out to everyone who supported the Jackson Fire Company Homecoming 2010 Weekend. One of the highlights was the 6th Annual Aaron Rusin Battle of the Barrel. Aaron was a firefighter who was killed in action while serving in Iraq. Funds raised from this charitable event go towards the Aaron Rusin Scholarship Fund. Other events included lots of great entertainment, a car cruise and even a kiddie tractor pull. The Fire Company would like to thank everyone who turned out to support their special event! An Archery Raffle will be held on Saturday, September 18th and a Fall Gun Raffle will be held on Sunday, October 17th at the Fire Hall. Once again there will be a booth set up at the Cambria County Fair where volunteers will sell tickets for their Annual Turkey Raffle which will be held on Saturday, November 20th. Many people look forward to purchasing the tickets with multiple prizes on it donated from area businesses and residents. If you are interested in donating a prize to have your business or name listed on the ticket, please contact the Fire Company at 322-3155. As always, Bingo is sponsored by the Auxiliary and is held every Sunday evening. For information on any of these events, call the Fire Hall at 322-3155.  An Open House will be held on Wednesday, October 6th at the Fire Hall to help celebrate National Fire Prevention Week. The Open House will include Fire Department tours, a chance to meet the Firemen and check out the fire trucks, tours of the Smoke Trailer, free fire truck rides, free 911 House ID Numbers, free refreshments and educational information on fire fighting. As in the past, the Jackson Township Fire Company and Auxiliary would like to express their sincere thanks and gratitude for the strong support received from the Community for their recent fundraisers. They really appreciate the support of the Community to help keep the Fire Company operating in order to serve the residents of Jackson Township and surrounding communities.

SUMMER WATER SAVING TIPS
 With the summer season upon us, the Jackson Twp. Water Authority would like to stress the issue of water conservation. Here are some great water saving tips for outside the home:

Water Saving Tips Outside the Home
1. Use a broom, not a hose, to clean driveways, steps and sidewalks.
2. Wash the car with water from a bucket. If a hose is used, control the flow with an automatic shut off nozzle.
3. Water the lawn only when needed. If grass does not spring back after walking on it, it probably needs water.
4. Water the lawn or garden during the coolest part of the day. Do not water on windy days.
5. Set sprinklers to water the lawn or garden only. Do not water the street or sidewalk.
6. Use soaker hoses and trickle irrigation systems to reduce the amount of water used for irrigation by 20 to 50 percent.
7. Use mulch around shrubs and garden plants to reduce evaporation from the soil surface and cut down on weed growth.
8. In landscaping, use native plants that require less care and water than ornamental varieties.
9. Cover the swimming pool to prevent evaporation.
10. Adjust the lawn mower to a higher setting to provide natural ground shade and to promote water retention by the soil.

SENIOR CENTER NEWS
 The Center is buzzing with many upcoming events. Here is a sampling of upcoming events: The Center received word that the Cambria County Area Agency will be at the Center to issue Farmers Market vouchers from 10 am to 12 noon on Wednesday, July 14th. Based on last year's information you must be a resident of Cambria County, 60 years of age or more and financially eligible according to income guidelines. The Senior Center will once again be participating in the Jackson Heritage Festival on July 17th & 18th and will be making Stuffed Cabbage, Halushki and other goodies! Another event coming up will be the Annual Calendar Party scheduled for Sunday, September 26th at 2 pm. This is a fundraiser for the Center. Anyone wishing to donate a new gift or craft item for this event should contact the Center at 322-3327. All items donated are greatly appreciated and can be dropped off at the Center up until the day of the event. There will be a Free Health Screening on Tuesday, August 3rd from 9:30 am to 11:00 am. The Black Lung Coalition / Pulmonary Rehabilitation will be providing free lung screening, blood pressure checks and pulse oximetry. April Hicks, RRT Supervisor and Project Director or another respiratory therapist at the Windber Medical Center will be at the Center to administer the free tests.  Jim and Barb Crissey, Cambria County Apprise Insurance Coordinators will be visiting the Center once a month to help seniors with their health insurance questions or problems. Tentatively they are scheduled for the third Tuesday of each month. The Center Knitting Club meets every Tuesday at 10:00 am to knit / crochet hats, mittens & scarves to be given to the needy children and adults. Items are then contributed to organizations such as Head Start, Family Services, Women’s Help Center, Victim Services and Cambria County Children’s Shelter Care. For more information on any of the above events, contact the Senior Center at 322-3327.  Every Thursday at 1:00 pm, the Center is showing an afternoon movie donated by All the Right Movies. Members are welcome to take time to relax and enjoy a current movie in the Community Room on the Center's large screen TV. Just a reminder that Pennsylvania offers a Property Tax / Rent Rebate Program that benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older, windows and widowers age 50 and older and those with disabilities age 18 and older. The program income limit is $15,000 to $35,000 (which excludes half of Social Security income) for homeowners and raised the maximum rebate for both homeowners and renters from $500 to $650. The deadline to apply for a Rebate on property taxes or rent paid in 2009 has been extended to December 31, 2010.  If you are in need of work, age 55 or over and qualify within the set income levels, you may be eligible for the Senior Community Employment Program Service. For more information on the program, contact the local National Council on Aging Senior Employment Program in Johnstown at 536-0691. The Silver Sneakers Program is still going strong with over 50 individuals taking advantage of the program. Anyone who is a Medicare-eligible member of Highmark or Blue Cross-Blue Shield can participate. In addition the Center has a room full of state-of-the-art exercise machines that are available for member use during regular hours which are Monday 9 to 11 am and 7 to 9 pm and on Tuesday thru Thursday from 9 am to 3 pm. For more information, contact the Senior Center at 322-3327.  The Center has many special weekly events for the membership including lunch 3 times a week, parties, Bible study, bingo, knitting, line dancing, weekly Pinochle party, speakers and events on health issues concerning the aged population, monthly blood pressure screenings, weekly movies, ceramics, computer use with high-speed internet access and beginners computer classes. In addition there are monthly CamTram bus trips to different shopping areas in Westmoreland, Indiana, Blair, Somerset and Cambria Counties. Anyone interested in visiting or taking a quick tour of the Center is invited to stop in. Membership offered to those age 50 and older is constantly growing and is only $10.00 a year. The Center opened on May 10, 1998 and have issued over 750 membership cards. The Center relies on volunteers to operate and stay open. It's a great place to meet and socialize. If you are interested in being a member or volunteering, please contact the Center at 322-3327.

JACKSON LIONS SEEK NEW MEMBERS
 Members wanted!!! Have you ever wanted to make a difference in your Community or even the world? The Jackson Township Lions Club is looking for a few good men and women to join them at 7 PM on the second Monday of the month at the Jackson Township Senior Center. Lions Club International is the largest service club in the world. Its members have the reputation of being doers in their communities. Join the Jackson Lions at a meeting and find out what the Lions Club is all about. For more information, please call Dave Perry (President) or Betty Perry (Secretary) at 322-0938 or Betty Lou Shoup (Treasurer) at 322-1678.

PEDESTRIANS AND MOTORISTS URGED TO USE CAUTION
 The Township has received numerous comments on PEDESTRIANS walking late at night and not being visible due to wearing dark colored clothing with no flashlights, etc. With warmer weather on the way and the end of the school year approaching, there will be many youth and children staying outside after dark. Chief Robert Fatula is advising that those out walking after dark along the streets wear light colored or reflective clothing or carry a flashlight with them. These common sense practices will be beneficial for the safety of pedestrians and motorists alike.

OTHER JACKSON TWP. NEWS
 ~Who’s New Around the Township
We would like to welcome those who have been recently elected, appointed or hired by Jackson Township. Alan Eck is now working at the Senior Center on a special work program. The Supervisors accepted the resignations of Tim Davis and Karl Smith from the 9 member Recreation Commission. Their service to the community is greatly appreciated!

~Many Turn Out To Honor Vets
The weather cooperated with a nice turnout of about 125 people for the annual Memorial Day Ceremony held at Veterans Park in Vinco. Bill Kish, retired Director of Governor's Outreach & Assistance Program for Veterans was the guest speaker. Kish has been instrumental in verifying the military records of nearly all of the names on the Veterans Monument. Other participants in the ceremony included the Giestown VFW Post 155 Honor Rifle Team, Jackson Township Troop 204 Boy Scouts & Cub Scouts, Pastor Drew Walther of Singer Hill Grace Brethren Church and Corey Shirk, a Senior at Central Cambria High School who provided special music selections. Special thanks go out to Dale Wicks of Wix Pix Productions for providing and operating the sound system and especially to Frank Singel who spent much time organizing the event and also acted as Master of Ceremonies. Frank has been instrumental in planning and organizing every Memorial Day & Veterans Day ceremony since the very beginning and for that we commend him for his efforts.

~Construction Activity Up In Jackson
Jackson Township construction activity has been dramatically up this year. Total construction is at 3.6 million through June 15th. Last year's total for the entire year was 1.4 million. Included in this year's total is an addition to Jackson Elementary School, a business expansion, several new homes, additions and accessory buildings.

~Seal Coat Bid Awarded
 New Enterprise Stone & Lime had the low bid submitted for 2010 Seal Coating or "tar & chip" Projects scheduled for Jackson Township. The bid was awarded at the Supervisors May 27th Meeting. New Enterprise’s bid came in at $ 63,921.76 beating out HRI, Quaker Sales and Russell Standard. This year two larger streets are scheduled for seal coating. They are Adams Avenue and Fords Corner Road.

~Miscellaneous Materials Bids
The Board of Supervisors awarded a contract for miscellaneous stone and antiskid for the coming year at their May 27th Meeting. New Enterprise Stone & Lime came in as the low bidder on each individual item. For the three types of miscellaneous paving materials, Quaker Sales was the low bidder.

~Primary Election Results for Jackson Twp.
Although the turnout was less than 50% in Jackson Township it was considered good for a Primary Election. Vinco (Precinct # 2) had the highest turnout with 49% followed by Pike Family Life Center (Precinct # 2) with 45% followed by St. John Vianney (Precinct # 3) with 42%. The race that drew the most attention in this year’s Primary Election was a Special Election Race to fill the position left vacant by Congressman John P. Murtha of the 12th Congressional District through the end of 2010. Mark Critz won over Tim Burns by 51% to 43% in Jackson Township. Critz & Burns will be facing off in the General Election. Another hot race was the Democratic Primary between Sen. Arlen Spector and Joe Sestak. Sestak defeated Spector with 60% of the vote in Jackson. There were no major local races. The General Election is scheduled for Tuesday, November 2nd.

~Somerset Trust Holds No Snow Grand Opening
Somerset Trust's new Vinco branch held it's original grand opening after one of the worst snowstorms of the season so they had decided that a No Snow Grand Opening would be in order. The event took place on Saturday, April 28th. Attending the event was Steamer, the mascot of the Altoona Curve, the WKYE Tookey Bird and Ty the Tiger, the official bank mascot. Lots of prizes were given away including ball game tickets to the Curve and Pirates. Ballpark refreshments were served including hot dogs, popcorn and Crackerjacks!

~Jackson Police Receive Grant
The Jackson Township Police Department received a $1,700. grant from the office of Congressman Jack Murtha administered through Mountaintop Technologies of Johnstown. The grant monies was used to purchase radios and a scanner.

~Wagner - Chickaree Water Update
The Chickaree Water Line and Wagner Road Water Line extension still have many maintenance issues to be resolved by Lumadue Excavating, the contractor on the project. Retainage money not paid to the contractor may be used to pay another contractor to do the work if necessary. In addition, it was determined that a Pressure Reducing Station would be needed on Chickaree Hill Road before the Jackson Township Water Authority would consider taking over the line. The Cambria County Redevelopment Authority approved putting in the new Pressure Reducing Station at an approx. cost of $50-60 thousand dollars. Once all issues have been resolved and the line is taken over by the Jackson Township Water Authority, residents along the water lines would be notified with information on tapping into the system.

~Barnes Saly Completes 2009 Twp. Audit
Barnes, Saly & Company presented the 2009 Jackson Township Audit to the Board of Supervisors at their April 29th meeting. Terry Shook, CPA said the Audit resulted in a clean opinion on the financial statements with no major findings. This was the 8th consecutive year that Barnes Saly as performed the Audit for Jackson Township.

~Phase II Planning Nearing Completion
Jackson Township in cooperation with Cambria Township and Ebensburg Borough as part of the Central Cambria Coalition is nearing the completion of the Phase II Planning Project. This project was made possible with a grant from the DCED (Dept. of Community & Economic Development). Richard C. Sutter and Associates of Hollidaysburg was hired as the planning consultant. The project included updating each municipalities Zoning Ordinance and Map, Subdivision Ordinance and becoming more coordinated with neighboring communities. The updating of the zoning map will make it parcel specific. This task was made possible since Cambria County has computerized mapping (GIS) available. In addition, all ordinances will be up-to-date with the Municipal Planning Code. A final step of amending the Multi-Municipal Comprehensive Plan will take place as well.

~Large Screen TV Donated to Senior Center
Somerset Trust donated a new 52 inch Samsung flat screen television for the Jackson Township Senior Center. Roberta Lohr, spokeswoman for Somerset Trust said the idea was initiated by President and CEO, Henry Cook after the Jackson Township Senior Center allowed the bank to use their facilities to set up new accounts for new customers before the February grand opening of the new branch in the Vinco Plaza. Cook said "We were impressed with the efforts of the residents of the area to have a local bank continue to provide them with banking services." "The response we received from our survey was overwhelmingly positive," said Cook. Frank Singel said the Senior Center was thrilled to receive the new television which was mounted in the Media / Bingo Room. He said members are enjoying movies, watching the news and that the Center would like to buy a Nintendo WII so they can play bowling and other games on the system.

~Josh Bednar Completes Eagle Scout Project
Once again Jackson Township has benefitted from the efforts of Jackson Township Boy Scout Troop 204 members completing an Eagle Scout Project. Josh recently received the Eagle Scout Award, the highest award in scouting after completing a community service project at Mitchell Park. The project included completing landscaping around the Concession Stand and constructing two picnic tables that will be used in one of the new pavilions being built at the park. This project is one of many that have been completed by Troop 204 for Jackson Township. Other past projects included a veterans landscaped area and Biodiversity area both at Leidy Park, landscaping around the flagpole and sign at Mitchell Park, street sign inventory of the Township and stormwater drain stenciling and stream clean ups.

~Swigle Mountain Water Update
The Swigle Mountain Water Line moves closer to completion according to Richard Wray, Project Engineer. The status as of June 15th is as follows: General Contractor is 55% complete, 13,798 feet of 8 inch main has been installed and 9 fire hydrants have been installed. The water storage tank contractor has installed the concrete foundation and first ring of the steel tank structure. Construction of the tank structure will begin on or about June 23rd and is scheduled to be completed on or about July 15th. The General Contractor is awaiting clearing and grubbing (tree removal) operations to be completed before completing line installation between Swigle Mountain Road and Ogden Street. According to Wray the project should be completed as early as Labor Day pending delivery of the pumping station. Once the project is completed and lines tested, the Jackson Township Water Authority will be notifying residents along the line with information on tapping into the system.

~Jackson Elementary Breaks Ground
Jackson Elementary broke ground on June 2nd at 1:30 pm for a 1.8 million Multi-Purpose Room Addition to be built. The new room will be used for gym classes and assemblies. The project includes an elevator in order to meet Americans with Disabilities Act requirements, the moving of two oil tanks and a new playground area. Additional storage space will also be added. Currently the cafeteria was being used for an auditorium and gym and this required maintenance and cafeteria workers to tear down and set up the cafeteria twice a day for breakfast and then lunch. Construction has already begun on the much needed project to upgrade Jackson's Elementary School, a valuable asset to the community.

~Petroleum Development 2nd Gas Well Approved for Jackson Township
Petroleum Development Corporation has had a site plan approved by the Planning Commission and approval from the Jackson Township Zoning Hearing Board to construct a 2nd gas well which will be located on a large tract of land just off Leidy Lane. The first well was constructed near the intersection of Benshoff Hill Road and Kepple Road.

~Loraine Road Sewer Project Update
The Loraine Road Sewer Project is now considered substantially complete but there are numerous maintenance issues that have not been resolved. The Nanty Glo Sewer Authority will not take over the line until these issues have been resolved. Lumadue Excavating, the contractor of the original line has not been able to resolve the issues as required by the Cambria County Redevelopment Authority and Project Engineer, Richard Wray. Retainage money not paid to the original contractor has been used to hire Claycomb Excavating of Claysburg to resolve. Claycomb was already hired to do an extension to the original Loraine Road Sewer Line. Nearly all issues have been resolved by the new contractor and the Nanty Glo Sewer Authority is pleased with the results. A final inspection will be scheduled before the line can be taken over and residents can begin tapping into the new system.

~FEMA Approves Winter Storm Reimbursement
Jackson Township was notified Cambria County Emergency Management that expenses incurred by the Township for any two day period between February 5th and 11th would be reimbursable through funds made available by FEMA. The reimbursement was made possible when Cambria County was declared in a state of emergency by the US Government. By declaring a state of emergency, communities in Cambria County now qualified for Federal Disaster Assistance. Lots of paperwork, applications and even a meeting with FEMA representatives was required. Jackson's expenses incurred totaled about $4,500.

~Dog Gone?
Just a friendly reminder that if your dog is missing, please check with the Jackson Township Police Department by stopping in or calling 749-0051 first. Jackson Police are in charge of dog complaints and if a loose dog is reported and there is no way of identifying its owner, the dog will be brought back to the Township and housed temporarily. If noone contacts the Police about a missing dog, it will then be taken to the Humane Society in Johnstown by one of the Officers.

~Jackson Twp. on Facebook
Jackson Township is now on Facebook! One group that was formed last fall has over 450 members with more joining every week. The Group is for those who live or have lived in Jackson Township and is open to anyone who fits that description. Many have joined from all over the United States who grew up here or at one time or another have called Jackson Township "home". There are lots of photos posted on the site and many people are writing nostalgic memories of their time living or growing up in Jackson Township. To find or join the group go to www.facebook.com and then search for the group name "Those Who Live or Have Lived in Jackson Township, Cambria County, PA". In addition, there is now a Facebook Fan Page for Jackson Township. This page is being used to promote important news or events and activities in Jackson Township and in a short time has over 350 fans and is attracting hundreds of online visitors each week. Anyone is welcome to join this page whether they reside in Jackson Township or not, so feel free to invite your family, friends and co-workers. Other fan pages have also been developed for many local schools, fire companies, churches, organizations and businesses.

~Somerset Trust Photo Contest Winners
Somerset Trust's Annual Photo Contest winners were recently displayed at the newly opened Vinco office from April 12th through May 15th. Categories included Family Pets, Children, Still Life and Salon. Entries were received from all 15 branch offices and Jackson Township had 3 local winners. They are Ed Schenk-1st Place in the Family Pets Category, Paulette Baker-3rd Place in the Children Category and Ron Burkey-1st Place in the Salon Category. Congratulations to all the winners!

~What Are Those Purple Boxes?
If you see a purple box hanging from a tree along various roads in the Township, it's not some kind of psychedelic bird house or box kite. The boxes which are actually "sticky traps" were put up by the Penn State Cooperative Extension to capture any Emerald Ash Borers which are basically small beetles that threaten the destruction of Ash trees in Pennsylvania. There are currently five infested counties including Allegheny, Beaver, Butler, Lawrence and Mercer. Cambria County is part of a study area comprised of 15 additional counties to determine if the Emerald Ash Borer is spreading. The remaining counties in Pennsylvania will be covered by similar testing conducted by various agencies.

~Crime and Vandalism
Jackson Township is a relatively safe place to live but no community is immune to crime. This is a reminder to keep a watch over your neighborhood and your neighbors in general. If you see anything suspicious, be sure to contact the Jackson Township Police Department at 749-0051. If no officer is at the Police Station you will be referred to the Cambria County 911 Non Emergency Line and they can have the officer on duty contact you.

~Free 911 House Numbers Available
The Jackson Township Supervisors in a cooperative effort of the Police Department & Fire Company want every home and business in the Township to have their 911 address number prominently displayed. In times of emergency, every minute is critical and it is important that emergency personnel be able to find you. If your house is not numbered, please stop at the Township Building at 513 Pike Road and we have free numbers we can give you. The Township also has mounting plates available if you need one. Numbers are available in black or white. If you are not able to stop by the Township Building between 8 AM & 4 PM, leave a phone message at 749-0725 with your name, address and telephone number where you can be reached in order that we can get the numbers to you.

~Want to Schedule An Event At A Jackson Park?
If you are interested in reserving a pavilion for a family get-together, party or event, please contact the Jackson Township Municipal Building at 749-0725 to make a reservation. A pavilion is available at Mitchell, Leidy & Veterans Park. Other recreation facilities that can be reserved depending upon availability include baseball fields at Mitchell & Leidy and Volleyball Courts at Leidy.

~Tire Recycling Available
The Laurel Highlands Landfill offers recycling. Tires can also be put in a recycling bin for a minimal cost of $2.00 per normal-sized vehicle tire. This does not apply to any commercial establishments

~Need to Sign Up For New Garbage Service? - Jackson Township’s garbage contract provides for unlimited curbside 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 are interested in signing up for garbage service you need to call 1-800-677-4884. The cost for 2010 is $39.74 per quarter.

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, Planning Commission and Recreation Meetings. New this year are minutes of the Jackson-East Taylor Sewer Authority. To see some of the pages that have been updated recently , click on "Whats New" on the home page. 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

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 Pennsylvania State Building 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. Just a reminder that all contractors performing home remodeling must now be registered with the State of Pennsylvania. This new law was enacted in 2010 for the protection of residents from irreputable contractors and home remodeling / repair scams. Also if you are planning to pave or alter your driveway, a driveway permit is required. Roadmasters Bruce Baker, John Wallet & Mark Westrick 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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 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. 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.
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