Whitehall-Coplay Press

Gov. Tom Wolf has signed an executive order making unprecedented sweeping changes to executive branch agencies and programs to better target the public health crisis of gun violence in Pennsylvania. He was joined by advocates, legislators, cabinet secretaries and Charles Ramsey, chair of the Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency, who will use his expertise in a new role advising the executive branch on implementing these changes.

Every Wednesday, the craft group at Briarwood Commons gets together to work on various cards, quilts and other pieces, whether it be for personal use or as a group project.

A recent collective project for the members of the group — the Busy Bs — has a heartfelt purpose for the women, who meet at the development’s clubhouse off MacArthur Road in Whitehall.

At Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority’s July 18 meeting, the board passed a motion to continue with the proposed solar project despite cost increases from the project’s only bidder, RER Energy Group, of Reading.

CWSA granted the approvals because it had made a commitment to the purchase and would need to pay a penalty to return the materials, mainly the solar panels.

Fast-forward to the meeting Aug. 15 and Darryl Jenkins, the authority’s engineer, reported RER is still working on paperwork, primarily drawings for the new grading plan.

The 39th annual Coplay Community Days festival kicks off Aug. 23 with a concert by the much-loved local band The Aardvarks.

Set for 6-10 p.m., the performance will be held on the Miller Lite Stage, located at Coplay Parkway, Second and Keefer streets.

There is no admission or parking fee for the three-day event, which is run by an all-volunteer crew. There is also no cover charge for any of the six concerts taking place throughout the weekend.

The festival will be held rain or shine. Event hours are 5-10 p.m. Aug. 23 and noon- 9:30 p.m. Aug. 24 and 25.

AUG. 1

A motor vehicle accident with injuries at Schadt Avenue and Mickley Road was handled by Station 37.

AUG. 2

Stations 36, 37 and 3503 (deputy chief) responded to an outside rubbish fire at 1240 Washington St.

A carbon monoxide incident at MacArthur Commons was handled by Stations 36, 37, 38, 39 and 3501.

AUG. 3

Station 38 was on the scene of a flammable liquid spill at 137 S. Fourth St.

AUG. 6

Stations 36, 37 and 38 responded to a building fire at 111 Howertown Road.

AUG. 7

AUGUST

TUESDAY 27

Coplay Borough Planning Commission meets 7 p.m. at the borough municipal building, 98 S. Fourth St.

WEDNESDAY 28

Lehigh County Board of Commissioners meets 7:30 p.m. in the public hearing room of the Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S. Seventh St., Allentown.

At the Whitehall-Coplay School Board meeting Aug. 12, John Wieand, a Vietnam veteran and former board member, addressed the board to discuss the POW/MIA recognition night that will occur before the 7 p.m. Whitehall-Emmaus football game Sept. 6.

Wieand is an event coordinator for Wreaths Across America.

“Part of our goal at Wreaths Across America is to remember, honor and teach about veterans, and in the process of doing that, I came to realize that Whitehall had an MIA during Vietnam.”

AUGUST

THURSDAY 15

Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority meets 7:30 p.m. in the public meeting room of the Coplay Whitehall Sewer Authority, 3213 MacArthur Road.

TUESDAY 20

Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board meets 7 p.m. at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road.

WEDNESDAY 21

Whitehall Township Planning Commission holds a workshop meeting 6:30 p.m., followed by the regular meeting 7:30 p.m., in the public meeting room at the municipal building, 3219 MacArthur Road.