Don Zipp, Chestnuthill Township's Emergency Services coordinator, told Chestnuthill Township supervisors at a meeting earlier this week that EMS is currently working with the National Weather Service (NWS) to become StormReady.

StormReady is a community preparedness program that encourages government entities and commercial gathering sites to prepare for severe storms. It provides communities with clear-cut advice from a partnership with the local NWS, state and local emergency managers, and the media.Zipp reported that the West End Ambulance has answered 479 calls from January to the end of April and that the West End Vol. Fire Co. responded to 329 calls in that time frame.He said Lisa Hoffman passed the hazmat classes she recently took.Township manager Dave Albright reported that township engineer Chris McDermott is working on different possible solutions to the flooding that occurs on Bonser Drive. One is a possible retention basin and another is installment of infiltration rings."Chris said that by next meeting he should be ready to report back," said Albright.Supervisor Eckert asked if Dave heard anything from letters he sent to PA State representatives and senators to see if there was any grant funding available to help with the problem to which Albright said the State Representatives indicated that potential sources would be through DEP Storm water management program or the Local Share Grant Program (Gambling Funds).Supervisor Eckert asked if we had sent any requests in to the Federal government and Zip said no they wouldn't until they would be approved for NWS's StormReady.Resident Clark asked if there was targeted date for this issue to be resolved and Chairman Gould said he didn't think they could give a time frame until they heard back from McDermott and Zipp.Supervisor Eckert said that the supervisors received many great ideas about cleaning up the blight in townships and municipalities at the recent Pennsylvania State Association of Township Supervisors annual convention in Hershey they attended.Fleetwood added that the court system needed to be educated about this issue to do the right thing to help the townships to get the blight situation cleaned up."It went into effect as of April 26. It's a big jump if it works," said Gould.Touched by artAt some point, we are touched by an artist, whether we wear clothes, live in a house or buy a car because art is in every part of our lives.That was the message Laura Goss, executive director of the Pocono Arts Council, had for the Chestnuthill Township supervisors and those in attendance at the May 3 meeting. She said that over the years, the PoconoArts Council has originated and developed many services and programs that enrich the cultural atmosphere for artists, residents and visitors to the Poconos.Goss said the Pocono Arts Council is like the Chamber of Commerce of the arts. She invited everyone to two upcoming events: Art On Main-Pocono Arts Squared2, to be held on Saturday, May 14, from 3-8 p.m. on the sidewalks of downtown Stroudsburg with art, music and more; and the Pocono Arts Council's Members' Exhibition on May 7-29 at the PoconoArts Community Cultural Center, located at 18 N. 7th St., Stroudsburg.For more information, call 570-476-4460 or visit the website at

www.poconoarts.org.Resident Leon Clark made a $100 donation to Chestnuthill Township to help defray the cost of the $300 donation the township made to the Pleasant Valley High School Chem. Free Party. He says he wanted to do that to help alleviate any burden to the taxpayers.Supervisor Chairman Chuck Gould thanked Clark, stating that the $300 donation is one the township has made to the Chem. Free Party for the last several years and is budgeted yearly.Clark noted that the township solicitor, Joseph McDonald, was not at the last two township supervisors meetings. Chairman Gould said that if there is nothing on the agenda that would warrant his presence, he does not attend in order to save the taxpayers' money.Resident Virginia Sheldon told the supervisors she was interested in buying one of the repository lots located in Sun Valley and wondered when they would be available. Chairman Gould told her that the county provides the listing."Often times these lots don't perk. We're working with the county on this. We're not through that program yet," he said.Sheldon said the property already has a sewage system and water on it and there is a dwelling. Gould suggested she contact Helen Beers, the township sewage enforcement officer, to determine if it has a workable sewage system.Supervisor Dave Fleetwood thanked Kozen for putting together the Cleanup Days and coordinating pick-up. He recognized Dave Johnson for his coordinating efforts with seniors who are willing to go out and do picking up."It's a very worthwhile thing. We can't clean up all the roads, but we do what we can," he said.Fleetwood encourages all residents to come out on Cleanup Days - today and next Saturday, May 14 at 7:30 a.m., meeting at the Chestnuthill Township Municipal Building - and to "grab a garbage bag and pick up trash along your roads."When Roger Kutzler asked Kozen if the surveillance cameras at the park were working, Kozen said, "half and half."Dave Albright, Chestnuthill Township manager said new cameras have been discussed since the township's are very grainy and its hard to identify faces.In other business:• Supervisor Gould thanked the township manager, Dave Albright and township office manager Cathy Martinelli, for the wonderful job they did on refinancing the township's mortgage at a better rate, saving $128,000.• Manager Albright said that an auto-parts store may be built on the site of the former Mike's Pizza, New Winner and Chocolateer's site along Rt. 209 near Kinsley's ShopRite Market.• Office manager Martinelli said she talked to Chris Kinsley of Kinsley's ShopRite Markets and he told her that they have received all necessary permits to go ahead with the building of a new store on Weir Lake Road, including the Highway Occupancy Permit. Kinsley said before they signed the plans, he wanted to make sure he has 100 percent of his financing. He plans to be at the June 7 meeting.• The board approved (3-0) to resign the Larry and Kathleen Heller plans because they were not recorded within the 90-day limit. The Hellers had to resubmit the plans before approval can be given.• Office manager Martinelli said that the proposed Tractor Supply store, to be located off Rt. 209 across from the law office of Merwine Hanon & Kaspszyk, is supposed to have closing this week and "they are ready to put a shovel in and go for it."• Dominick Sacci made the announcement that the West End Organizers will hold a Meet and Greet of the seven candidates for the Pleasant Valley School District's board of directors on Monday, May 9, from 8-9 p.m. at the West End Firehouse, of which he is one.• Supervisor Chris Eckert said that the township actually did issue three citations in the last month because of illegal dumping of residential trash.• Supervisor Fleetwood said the Chestnuthill Township Historical Society will meet on Wednesday, May 18, at 7 p.m. at the Chestnuthill Twp. park building and they're looking for new members. They will hold a clean up/cleanup day at the Merwinsburg Hotel on May 23 and he said that if anyone was interested in helping they should contact him.• The next Chestnuthill Township supervisors' meeting will be a bill paying meeting only on May 16 at 7:30 a.m. There will be no meeting on Tuesday, May 17. The next scheduled meeting will be on Tuesday, June 7 at 7 p.m.• Bernie Kozen, the executive director of the West End Park and Open Space Commission, reported that in between the rain, they actually got some cleanup time in.• The egg hunt at the Haney-Van Buskirk Park had been rescheduled from April 23 to April 30 with about 100 kids attending.• Kozen said there are currently 18 signed up for the Tennis Club this summer which will be held at Pleasant Valley Middle School tennis courts and it looks like there are enough sign-ups to go ahead with a day-camp program at the park. If anyone is still interested in fly fishing, Chestnuthill residents can sign up at the township building for half-day fly fishing permits on the McMichaels Creek in cooperation with the Pohoqualine Fish Association.