Detroit’s Davos: Op-Ed Piece From The NY Times

Map of Michigan (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

ONCE a year, business and political leaders from metropolitan Detroit travel to an island resort that bans all motorized vehicles and talk about the regional economy.

For me, memories of childhood vacations at that resort, Mackinac Island — the ferry ride, the fudge shops, the horse-drawn carriages — are primarily olfactory.  In the unlikely event I’m ever again hit with the dueling scents of confectioner’s exhaust and horse manure, it would probably trigger some kind of Proustian flashback.

For years, Michigan’s business community seemed bent on flashbacks of its own, to the days when the Big Three automakers towered arrogantly from the safe confines of an insular culture.  But now its buzzwords are “innovation,” “entrepreneurship” and a “21st-century global market.”  This week’s Mackinac Policy Conference has positioned itself as a sort of Midwestern Davos, with a roster of marquee speakers, including Michelle Rhee, Jeb Bush and the hosts of “Morning Joe.”

The topic on everyone’s mind will be the fate of Detroit, which was placed under state control in March by Gov. Rick Snyder.  The governor, a Republican, is attending the conference, and four of the candidates running for mayor in November are scheduled to speak there today — among them, the front-runners: the excellently named former police chief Benny Napoleon, and Mike Duggan, who has a serious shot at becoming the first white mayor of Detroit in 40 years.

Read more:  http://www.nytimes.com/2013/05/30/opinion/detroits-davos.html?_r=0

Man Admits Robbing, Beating Three Elderly Mennonite Women; Charge Of Ethnic Intimidation Dropped

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lancaster County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Dereck Taylor Holt, well-spoken, polite and intelligent, pleaded guilty this morning to what he called “utterly loathsome actions” at the home of three elderly sisters in December.

Holt quoted C.S. Lewis, apologized to the victims and blamed prescription drugs for warping his mind during an elegant 5-minute statement before Lancaster County President Judge Joseph Madenspacher.

“I’m not a heartless being.  I’m not an empty carcass incapable of contributing to society,” Holt, 24, told the judge.  “But I can’t defend these actions.

“This was the culmination of a long, two-year addiction to substances.  These actions wouldn’t have happened without my alarming abuse of mind-altering prescription medication.”

Read more: http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/855631_Man-admits-robbing–beating-three-elderly-Mennonite–women–charge-of-ethnic-intimidation-dropped.html#ixzz2UnI0JpjU

Surveillance System Change At Wilkes-Barre Garage Draws Rave From Board Member

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Luzerne County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

WILKES-BARRE — An upgrade to a fiber-optic connection improved the Hawkeye Security Solutions cameras in the Park & Lock East garage, said a member of the board of the nonprofit corporation overseeing the operation of the city’s surveillance system.

The switch from copper wire cost about $2,000 for hardware to make the connection, said Lou Lau, a Hawkeye board member and Wilkes-Barre city employee, at the board’s regular monthly meeting on Wednesday.  “The improvement there is fantastic,” Lau said.

The garage is located on the corner of North Washington and East Market streets, across from City Hall.

The Wilkes-Barre Parking Authority’s two other garages, Park & Lock Central and North, have wireless connections.  The Intermodal garage, operated by the city, should have more than 60 cameras operational in another month.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/555670/W-B-Hawkeye-upgrade-praised

Pennsylvania’s Bad Roads Costly To Drivers

Map of Pennsylvania, showing major cities and roads (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Two out of every three major urban roads in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre region are in poor or mediocre condition, underscoring the transportation dilemma the state faces, according to a report released Wednesday by a national transportation organization.

And using those roads is costing the average driver an additional $1,320 per year in extra vehicle operating costs as a result of driving on roads in need of repair, lost time and fuel due to congestion-related delays.

The report, “Future Mobility in Pennsylvania: The Cost of Meeting the State’s Need for Safe and Efficient Mobility,” finds that throughout Pennsylvania:

• Thirty seven percent of major roads and highways provide motorists with a rough ride.

Read more:  http://www.timesleader.com/news/local-news/554650/Pa.s-bad-roads-costly-to-drivers

Jobs In Lehigh Valley Hit New Peak

After more than three years of sluggish job growth, the Lehigh Valley has replaced all of the roughly 25,000 jobs wiped out during the country’s worst economic crisis in generations.

The region had 351,400 jobs in April, a new high, according to data released Wednesday by the state Department of Labor and Industry.  The old record of 350,200 was set in June 2007, just before the Great Recession hit, bringing 2 1/2 years of plant closures and cutbacks that put the local labor market in a tailspin.

The number of jobs in the Valley hit a recessionary low of 324,700 in January 2010 and has since been slowly recovering.

The private sector is driving job growth.  Gains in warehousing, tourism and business services were partially offset by cuts in government and public school jobs.  Warehousing and business services — a broad jobs category that includes bookkeepers, janitors, landscapers and engineers — both hit new highs in April.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-lehigh-valley-jobs-april-20130529,0,2958420.story

Allentown’s City Center Gets NIZ Pay Day Of $14.4 Million

The PPL Building (seen here in the distance) is the tallest building in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Close to half of the $31.8 million in mostly state tax dollars swept up by Allentown‘s arena zone last year will go to the private developer erecting an 11-story office building across Seventh Street from the arena.

City Center Investment Corp. will get $14.4 million of the tax dollars generated by its projects to put toward its construction and land acquisition loans.  The Allentown Neighborhood Improvement Zone Development Authority will get $17.4 million to pay its debt for building PPL Center.

About $2 million would go into state coffers from a part of the city that is estimated to have been generating $22 million in state money before the Neighborhood Improvement Zone was created.

The figures were released Wednesday by ANIZDA Executive Director Sara Hailstone, a month after The Morning Call filed a Right-to-Know request for the information, which was compiled April 6 by authority consultants Compass Point and Concannon Miller.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-arena-zone-tax-dollars-20130529,0,4840494.story

Wendy’s Plans Pretzel Burger?!

Wendy’s 02 (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Here’s a fast-food idea that might make Philadelphia mouths water:

Wendy‘s is planning to serve a burger with a soft-pretzel-like roll.

“The Pretzel Bacon Cheeseburger” is already “the buzz of fast food,” says USA Today.

“This could be a very, very big deal,” Boston University hospitality professor Christopher Muller is quoted as saying.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/food/20130530_Wendys_plans_pretzel_burger__.html#kleZcxS8kcuL1bkj.99

Bathtub Death Likely Accidental, Officials Say

Julia Papazian Law probably drowned in a bathtub, perhaps after a seizure, according to two law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation.

The tentative finding may sweep aside some of the speculation surrounding the death of the 26-year-old paralegal, found facedown Saturday morning in the Center City apartment belonging to her boss, defense attorney A. Charles Peruto Jr.

No drugs or alcohol were found at the scene, the room was undisturbed, and the liquor closet was closed, the officials said.  Nothing, they said, seemed out of place.

Investigators cannot be certain of the cause of death until they review toxicology reports, which are pending.  But they said Law had been frothing at the mouth, which they said seemed to indicate a seizure.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20130530_Woman_in_bathtub_death_was_loving__vibrant__emotionally_vulnerable__family_says.html#1CTE0zlIUp0FjfHt.99

Birdsboro Man Pleads Guilty To Attempted Murder, Sex Assault, Attempting To Hire Hit Man

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

READING — The Berks County man accused of shooting a Limerick fire official in the head, sexually assaulting a minor and attempting to hire a hit man from jail to eliminate witnesses plead guilty to all charges against him on Wednesday.

Christopher Yingling, 43, of Birdsboro, received no special agreements in exchange for his guilty pleas and will spend the next 27 to 70 years in jail for his crimes, according to the Berks County District Attorney’s office.

“Given the brazenness of his crimes and the harm that he caused his victims, we are pleased with what is effectively a life sentence for the defendant,” said Berks County Assstant District Attorney Jesse Leisawitz in a statement late Wednesday night.

Berks County Common Pleas Court Judge Stephen B. Lieberman was scheduled to preside over Yingling’s trial.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130530/NEWS01/130529129/birdsboro-man-pleads-guilty-to-attempted-murder-sex-assault-attempting-to-hire-hit-man#full_story

Pottstown Relay For Life Kicks Off 16th Year Saturday

POTTSTOWN — The annual Relay for Life, a 24 hour walk to help raise money for cancer research, is right around the corner and this year will be packed full of activities that will help honor those who have fought back against cancer.

The huge event will start a 10 a.m. Saturday with the opening ceremonies and end on Sunday at 10 a.m.  The day-long event will be heralded in with Celtic pipes and drums along with the Springford Vocal Ensemble.

This year, 129 teams will cheer on the survivors in attendance as they take the first lap around the Pottsgrove High School track to kick off one of the highest grossing relays in the nation.

In its 16th year, the Pottstown relay has been ranked the fifth largest relay out of the 5,100 worldwide, according to Susan Schafer, a representative with the Pottstown Relay for Life.  As of Monday night, 1,966 participants have raised $352,590.62 and that number will rise because the last day to stop raising money is Aug. 31.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130530/NEWS01/130539985/pottstown-relay-for-life-kicks-off-16th-year-saturday#full_story

Pottstown Dragon Boat Team To Compete In Philly Regatta

POTTSTOWN — The first Pottstown team to compete in the Independence Dragon Boat Regatta in Philadelphia isn’t looking to just be an also-ran this weekend.

“The coaches who do this for a living and are involved with Boathouse Row have given a lot of positive feedback about our team,” said Rob Matthews, the owner of Crossfit Pottstown where the 20 rowers train.  “If we can get their timing right, they’re going to be competitive.”

June 1 will mark the seventh annual regatta featuring 30 feet long boats with dragon faces, tails and paint jobs one might associate more with a Viking invasion than the Schuylkill River.

Beginning at 8 a.m., teams will begin the 500 meter races.  Each team participates in a qualifying heat,which determines what category the team races in.  The next round will take the top two boats from each heat and put them into a final race that will determine the winner.  A consolation race comprised of the boats that came in third and fourth in the semifinals also takes place.

Read more:  http://www.pottsmerc.com/article/20130530/NEWS01/130529127/pottstown-dragon-boat-team-to-compete-in-philly-regatta#full_story