42-Inch Sewer Main Ruptures In Reading – Raw Sewage Being Dumped Into Schuylkill River

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Heads up to anyone who lives downstream from Reading.  A 42-inch sewer pipe has ruptured and the City of Reading is pumping raw sewage into the Schuylkill River to avoid further damage to the pipe!  The damaged section of pipe is 50 feet from the Schuylkill River.  The raw sewage starting being pumped into the river at 4 pm today.

The city is digging a big hole to collect the sewage and pipe it directed into the treatment plant downstream.

Reading Mayor Tom McMahon said fortunately the river is high because it will help “dilute” the sewage.  The damaged pipe is sixty years old!

Officials in Pottstown and Philadelphia were notified as both communities use the Schuylkill River for their water supply.  The state Department of Environmental Protection are on the scene and the EPA (federal) has been notified.

Might be a good time to stock up on bottled water!

Stupid News

A highly intoxicated, 65-year-old man from Carlisle (old enough to know better) was arrested for the second time on Sunday after trying to steal a rack of ribs by shoving them down his pants!  Really!?!  Hey!  Let’s all tie one on and head over to Giant to steal some pork products!

The Darwin award-winner pulled the same stunt on May 22nd when he pleaded guilty to theft and public drunkenness (say it ain’t so Joe).

Because this is the second time the senior citizen has shoved ribs down his pants and tried to leave a grocery store without paying, (never a bright move) he is being charged with a second-degree misdemeanor.

To add to his stellar list of accomplishments, Sunday’s attempted rib heist was this dude’s sixth citation for public drunkenness in less than five months.  Sounds like somebody has a little alcohol problem!

Lancaster Gets Innovative Café

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Tuesday, August 30^th, a new restaurant will open in Lancaster near the Arts Hotel and F&M College.  The Fridge, will be a craft beer and artisan flat-bread pizza café.  The will offer the regions largest selection of craft beer and microbrews.  Selections are available by the individual bottle and mix and match six-packs.

The craft beer movement in the midstate is really taking off.  The Fridge will join The Tape Room on King Street in Lancaster City, which also offers craft beers.

The Fridge is located at 534 N. Mulberry St., right off Harrisburg Pike, and is adding to the mix of eateries and shops along Harrisburg Pike.

To check out The Fridge, click here:

http://www.beerfridgelancaster.com/

Philadelphia Looks To Turn Reading Viaduct Into Urban Park

Much like the High Line was in Manhattan, the Reading Viaduct in Philadelphia is an abandoned elevated railroad line that runs through parts of Philadelphia.  The idea of taking in urban views from an elevated garden style park is catching on in Philly.

This concept was a huge success in Manhattan and even got celebrities like Diane von Fürstenberg and Edward Norton involved in the project.

After eight years, two Philadelphians succeeded in lobbying city council to take control of the viaduct from the Reading International Company.  The city is presently in contact with Reading International to take control of the larger section of the viaduct.  The Center City District is working with SEPTA to create a park on the shorter section of the viaduct, which is owned by SEPTA.

The Reading Viaduct is much wider than the High Line in Manhattan and will make the space more versatile.  People are envisioning a renaissance in the area that will bring in food, entertainment, outdoor activities of all sorts, artists and housing.  The park would stimulate growth for Chinatown, eliminate blight and attract new residents.  The High Line has had a tremendous economic impact on the area of Manhattan it is located in.  Philadelphia could expect similar results.

We applaud Philadelphia’s leadership for getting on the “rails to trails” bandwagon and doing something innovative that will enhance the quality of life for city residents!

Kelly Clarkson To Drop New Single August 30th – New Album To Be Released October 25th

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Kelly Clarkson is getting ready to release her fifth album since being crowned the first American Idol.  To whet our appetites, she will drop her new single, Mr. Know It All, tomorrow during a webcast from 5:30 – 6:00.  You can listen here: https://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=203194156406417

You can also check out Kelly’s website for more information: http://rsvp.kellyclarkson.com/

Starting on September 5^th, you can download the new single.  Kelly is also taking preorders for her new album Stronger on her website.

Looking forward to hearing her new music!

Amtrak, NJ Transit and SEPTA Trains Halted By Flood Waters From Irene

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Things have not returned to normal after Irene.  Amtrak service between Philadelphia and Boston was halted due to high water that flooded the Trenton Station and tracks, making train travel north of Trenton impossible.

SEPTA had seventeen cars stranded at Trenton when water from a nearby creek overflowed over the tracks.  The water is not expected to recede until Monday evening and then the damage will be assessed before a timeline to re-establish train service can be determined.  SEPTA still has four train lines without service: Trenton, Paoli/Thorndale, Norristown and Cynwyd.

NJ Transit trains are only operating on the Atlantic City Line.

Amtrak service between Philadelphia and Harrisburg is expected to resume about 3 p.m today.

Pottstown Regional Public Meeting – September 8, 2011 @ 7:00 PM

 

NEPA Higher Education Institutions Prosper Despite Economic Uncertainly

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Institutions of higher learning in the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Metropolitan Area are thriving.  Even during hard economic times.

The University of Scranton set an all-time undergraduate enrollment record this fall with 1,059 students enrolled.  The university received 9,045 applicants – the largest pool of applicants in the school’s history!

King’s College saw a record number of new students enrolling for the fall semester.  The school’s full-time enrollment of 2,025 sets a record as well as receiving a record number of applicants (2565).

Wilkes University will welcome 570 freshmen this fall, up from 497 last year.  The enrollment this fall will tie for the second highest number of students in the school’s history.

Keystone College will welcome 1400 full-time and 400 part-time students this fall.  The highest enrollment since the school’s founding.  330 new freshmen will swell the student body.  Over 500 students will be living on campus this year, a record number.

Marywood University will have 1,100 students living on campus this year after constructing three new dormitories. This is the most students to have ever lived on campus.

Misericordia University set a record for applications received.  This year’s 2,011 applications represent a 24 percent increase over last year’s record number.

Eleven Counties In Pennsylvania On List For Potential Federal Disaster Assistance

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Governor Corbett has asked President Obama to declare eleven Pennsylvania counties disaster areas, which would begin the process of applying and qualifying for federal aid.

The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency said Monday the list so far includes Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Lehigh, Monroe, Montgomery, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike, Wyoming and Wayne counties.  More counties may be added.

Governor Corbett and Lt. Governor Cawley are touring areas of the state ravaged by Hurricane Irene.

Irene Leaves More Than Two Dozen People Dead In U.S.

Irene claimed 27 lives in eight states according to CBS.

New York’s Metropolitan Transit Authority has begun rebooting their massive system which was entirely shut down for the first time in its history due to weather.

13,000 flights were cancelled, nearly 5 million homes and business lost power at some point during the storm and damage is estimated at $7 billion dollars.

Already people are pointing fingers and crying overreaction.  I say better to overreact and save lives.  Things could have been much worse and we should be thankful for that.