Parkland News

The biggest expenditure in the proposed budget is township building renovations, including renovations to the municipal building.

Upper Macungie Township’s proposed 2023 budget does not change the real estate tax. It does includes a $15 increase to the refuse and recycling rate.

The proposed 2023 budget for South Whitehall Township would increase water and sewer bills for residents.

Almost 500 housing units have been proposed at Upper Macungie Planning Commission's meeting, including the controversial Sunset Orchards development.

School Board Director Patrick Foose said the school board harrassed him for voting against a new $80,000 scoreboard for the district's swimming pool and was not transparent about the process.

Police released details Monday of the threat received last week through the Safe2Say tipline.

Officials learned of the threat through the Safe2Say anonymous messaging system.

Allentown native and three-time Grammy Award-nominated jazz singer, Denise Donatelli, recalls how the music of legendary composer Burt Bacharach she first heard as a teenager inspired her to record an album of his songs. Bacharach died Wednesday at age 94.

WLVR's Brad Klein spoke with Parkland area reporter Olivia Marble about the issues at play and the atmosphere at the meeting as residents spoke on a proposed recovery house near Cetronia Elementary.

Some spoke about the need for recovery houses, and others spoke about the potential harm it could bring to the children.

South Whitehall Township officials and North Whitehall residents were concerned about a section of the southern part of the township that is marked for industrial development in the plan’s potential future land map.

South Whitehall residents will likely be able to comment on the proposed recovery house next to Cetronia Elementary at Thursday's hearing. LehighValleyNews.com was invited into a recovery house ahead of the hearing.

North Whitehall staff will begin a trial period of a 9-hour 4-day week on Feb. 20. The municipal office will be closed on Fridays during the trial.

Concerts on the Grange, a two-day music festival featuring tribute acts portraying Elton John, Billy Joel, The Doors and The Grateful Dead, will be May 12-13.

Renovations to the North Whitehall Township municipal building could cost $4.9 million, according to initial plans for the project.

ArtsQuest, the organization that annually presents Musikfest in Bethlehem, has announced it will offer a music festival and other events in Upper Macungie Township this summer.

Upper Macungie Township supervisors granted preliminary approval to a land development plan for three warehouses at 7201 Hamilton Blvd.

South Whitehall commissioners unanimously appointed Capt. Stephen Brown and Lt. Eric Dotter at their meeting Wednesday.

The witnesses spoke about the operations of recovery houses and the proximity to the elementary school.