Lower Paxton random notes

Below is a collection of tidbits culled from the last two newsletters published by SWAN. Members of the citizens group attend all township meetings and file brief reports on issues discussed by local officials. This is an invaluable service because it provides insights into what’s happening that never show up in local newspapers.

* Paul Salosorich was appointed to fill a vacancy on the Shade Tree Commission. (Please post a comment if you can explain in simple terms what this commission does.)

* Giant Food at the Point Shopping Center has received approval to install a gasoline fuel island.

* Bryan Yesilonis, who recently stepped down as the executive director of Bethesda Mission, is leading the fund-raising effort for the planned skatepark at George Park. Design work for the project is under way and construction could start this summer.

* Backers of the planned dog park at Lingle and Kohl parks have applied for a $10,000 grant from a private foundation, which would cover 60 percent of the estimated start-up costs. They hope to open the park on Memorial Day next year.

* Colonial Park Fire Company expects to put a new rescue truck in service this month.

* Lower Paxton Twp. Authority, the people who run the township's sanitary sewer system, have recommended that the quarterly sewer rate go up $10 to $116 starting in January. The supervisors will vote on the recommendation this month.

* Chris Johnson was elected committee chairman and Priscilla St. Jacques-Glusko was elected vice chairman of the township's new Greenway Committee. The committee has initiated survey workto formally establish a walking path on the Darlington Trail from Hocker Park to Boyd Big Tree Preserve Conservation Area.

CLICK HERE for background info on the greenway plan that was adopted last summer.