Heidi and Paul Jarecki NEWPORT TOWNSHIP Community NEWS Newpo
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NEWPORT TOWNSHIP community NEWS Fall 2015 Online at www.newporttownship.com Number 42 Newsletter of the Newport Township Community Organization Editors: Heidi and Paul Jarecki We could never have loved the earth so well if we had had no childhood in it. ~ George Eliot, The Mill on the Floss, 1860 Fall at Najaka’s Pond in Lee Newport Township Public Business framed photo of the 1936 Newport High School State Championship basketball team. He also thanked Paul and Heidi Jarecki for having By John Jarecki ~ The following are items of pubic business discussed the photo professionally hung in the new building's community or transacted at Commissioners' meetings in July, August, and room by Marquis Art and Frame in Wilkes-Barre. September. August 3, 2015: The Commissioners voted to hire Joseph Weiberth July 6, 2015: In response to a request by the Luzerne County 911 of Freeland as a part-time Police Officer. Magistrate Don Whitaker service and to comply with the standards of the National Emergency then administered the oath of office to him. Mr. Weiberth is an Numbering Association, the Commissioners voted to give a name, independent electrical contractor in Freeland. He looks forward to Kielar Lake Road, to the dirt road going from the village of Lee to the serving the community. former Kielar property nearby. Commissioner John Vishnefski announced that Murph Fletcher Township Business Manager Rich Zika announced that the Town- was planning to conduct, for the benefit of community children, a ship delayed opening the new municipal building for business until summer Recreation Program sponsored by the NTCO. Mr. Fletcher mid-July because of a hard-to-locate problem in the information had arranged for four events: 1) a Magic Show by Chad Spencer at technology equipment, the alarm system, or the phone system. the Wanamie Rec Park on July 21, 2) a Balloon Demonstration by Commissioner John Zyla thanked the Newport Township Communi- ty Organization (NTCO) for donating to the new municipal building a (Continued on next page) ing Dedication (p. 12-13), Sewer Au- INSIDE: Township Business (p.1-2), Events (p. 6), Obituaries (p.7), Taste of Fanucci (p. 21), Ads (p.22-23), NTCO (p.24) the Township, (p.8), Veterans (p.9), thority Report (p.14), Trojan Baseball Please support our advertisers who help Robert Street Bridge (p. 2), NTCO President’s Corrections Officers Bike Rally (p.10), & Girl’s Softball (p.15), Summer Fun & make this publication possible. Message, Design of One Dollar Bill (p.3), Flora Tarnowski’s Kielbasa, New Business, VBS (p. 16-17), Valley with a Heart (p. and Fauna, Other News (p. 4), Newport Town- VOTE ON TUESDAY, NOVEMBER 3 Chili Contest (p.11), New NT Build- 18), Clem Stralka (p. 19), Newport ship H. S. Class News (p. 5), Legion Auxiliary Township Teachers (p. 20), Ben Continued from previous page Justin Credible at the Alden Playground Park on July 28, 3) a swim event at the Mocanaqua pool on August 6, and 4) a Music and Game event at the Glen Lyon Coal Street Playground on August 11. Mr. Zika announced that the Luzerne County Planning Commission will hold a public hearing on Thursday August 13 concerning a request by Glen Robert Craig Jr. of Wanamie, to rezone a three-acre parcel of land on Kirmar Parkway, near the intersection with Center Street, from residential to commercial so that he could operate a hardware store that also sells sporting goods. The Commissioners voted to approve Township Resolution Number Above: Robert Street Bridge in Sheatown remains under con- 3 of 2015, which authorized the Township Manager to file an applica- struction. There is access for pedestrians on the west side of the tion for a Pennsylvania Department of Economic and Community De- site. velopment (DCED) Greenways grant to build a walking trail at the Wanamie Recreation Park. The Grant is not to exceed $50,000. Mr. Zyla asked Township community organizations that wish to use Robert Street Bridge Project & Paving the Community Room in the new municipal building for their meetings By Tom Kashatus ~ The Robert Street paving project through to submit requests in writing to the Township, so there is no confusion Newport Township which originated at Folstown corners in Slo- in making the Room available. cum Township, then down Alden Mountain to Alden Corners, He also thanked Krissy Blank, wife of Police Chief Jeremy Blank, across Kirmar Avenue to Robert Street in Sheatown, down River for donating Newport Township historical police photos for placement Road in Sheatown, up and down West Main Street in Nanticoke, on the walls of the police section of the new municipal building. and finally terminating at the end of East Main Street in Nanticoke September 8, 2015: Murph Fletcher thanked all those who helped at the San Souci Highway in Hanover Township went well. Now with the summer Recreation program that he conducted during July and residents of Newport can enjoy their trips to Mountaintop and August, including the Commissioners for making Township facilities other areas of Wyoming Valley and beyond. Kudos must be given available to him, Department of Public Works Supervisor Joe Hillan for to the Newport Township Sewer Authority. The Authority re- preparation work, and the Township Police for traffic control and quested the contractor pay special attention to their manholes in safety. the Township to avoid the normal dips and bumps where milling Heidi Jarecki announced that the NTCO is offering to donate three of the highway usually takes place. The Sewer Authority agreed more historical Township photos for the Community Room of the new to pay for the necessary 1½- to-2-inch manhole risers municipal building: 1) the Glen Lyon breaker, 2) the Alden breaker, (approximately 25 at a total cost of $2,300.00) needed to bring the and 3) the Newport Township High School. She said that the Organi- manholes up to the necessary paving level in order that travelers zation would have the photos matted and framed in a way similar to could enjoy a smooth ride. that of the photo of the Wanamie breaker that the Organization recently The same “went well” comments cannot be said about the bridge donated. The Commissioners were pleased to accept the offer. project on Robert Street in Sheatown. Replacement was to begin Heidi, as a member of the Township Recreation Board, also said that in the spring and was to be completed by the time school started in people are continuing to vandalize tables in the Wanamie Rec Park and the Greater Nanticoke Area. With the old bridge completely re- asked the Commissioners to put surveillance cameras in the park as a moved, the detours have been an inconvenience to travelers and solution to the problem. Commissioner John Zyla said that the R Bar in residents much longer than anticipated. This project, which is Sheatown has donated several surveillance cameras and that he will talk necessary, has definitely affected the businesses that are located in to Police Chief Jeremy Blank about installing them. Newport Township’s most important business community in a Mr. Zika announced that the Township had requested bids for street negative manner. There has been progress, but there have been repair projects using state Liquid Fuels and Luzerne County Office of many beautiful days throughout the summer when no work was Community Development (OCD) grants, but no contractors had bid on being done by the contractor(s). Kudos must be given to Hemal them. He said that contractors are now busy working on State road Shah, owner of The Friendly Food Mart, whose business has cer- projects. He said he would ask again for bids. tainly been affected negatively (See Spring, 2015 Newsletter, page The Commissioners voted to approve an amendment, that requires 3). However, he has remained faithful to his employees by not residents to display refuse and recycling stickers, to Ordinance Number laying anyone off. He has also offered incentives to patrons to go 1 of 1994, which regulates trash and recycling collection. out of their way to patronize and support his business. Mr. Shah They also voted to appoint accountant Karen Hazleton of Nanticoke has placed signs in critical locations in the Township to inform to perform a required audit of the spending of the $500,000 grant used customers and residents that he is still open seven days a week to construct the new municipal building. until 10:00 p.m. He continues to accept the consequences of the Mr. Zika announced that he had asked Luzerne County to collect real delay and feels that it is important to give quality service to his estate taxes for Newport Township again in 2016. The Commissioners loyal customers. then voted to approve a cooperation agreement with the County that will allow the County to perform this service. Friendly Food Mart, for- merly Penn Mart, installed Magistrate Don Whitaker is a sign at the intersection shown administering the oath of of West Kirmar Parkway office to Mr. Joseph Weiberth, and West Kirmar new part-time police officer in Avenue. the Township. Photo by Tom Kashatus 2 NTCO President’s Message an even cut. Underneath is the Key to the United States Treasury. That's all pretty easy to figure out, but what is on the back of that dollar The Newport Township Community Organization extends con- bill is something we should all know. Turn the bill over and you will gratulations and appreciation to the Board of Newport Township see two circles. Both circles together comprise the Great Seal of the Commissioners and other individuals and groups that assisted in United States.