Scanner: Fire Rips Through Emmaus Duplex

Twin home was engulfed with flames soon after initial reports, according to emergency transmissions. At least one person received smoke inhalation.

A two-alarm fire tore through a twin home in the eastern section of Emmaus early Monday, sickening at least one and badly damaging the two joined dwellings, according to emergency scanner transmissions. Fire was reported about 12:40 a.m. on the rear porch at 502 E. Main St., according to the transmissions. A second caller, from the Dalton Street side, quickly reported a fire to the rear as well. An Emmaus ambulance was summoned to tend to at least one smoke inhalation victim, according to another transmission, even before the second alarm was struck. The first arriving Emmaus firefighters requested a second alarm, bringing a tanker from Vera Cruz, a pumper from Western Salisbury and a Rapid Intervention Team from Alburtis, the latter to …

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Biz Bites

Introducing Applied PC Solutions

Old Zionsville business owner says would-be entrepreneurs should give their ideas a shot because they'll never know what they can do until they try.

Special to Emmaus Patch By Chrissy Cilento, Emmaus High School Senior Business: Applied PC Solutions 5831 Kings Highway S, Old Zionsville 610-966-7337 www.appliedpcsolutions.com Owner: Joseph Marks  Hours: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday; Saturday 9 a.m. to noon What service do you provide? We do complete computer repair -- so that would be virus removal, data recovery, hardware upgrades, software upgrades, etc. Lately we’ve been featuring iPad and iPhone repair, so that’s now something we can do. We’re starting out with the “i” devices mainly, but we can do some HTC’s too. We do repair for Mac laptops, but not Mac software, per say.   Is there a business you'd like to see highlighted in Biz Bites? Tell us in the comments. Why did you …

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Book Takes Upper Milford Township Back in Time

Upper Milford Historical Society members give residents a look at their roots through new book.

Upper Milford Township’s original inhabitants were the Lenni Lenape branch of the Delaware Indian Nation. Both Upper and Lower Milford townships were first part of a large area in Bucks County called Milford Township. A tobacco factory owned by Thomas Stahl stood in Powder Valley in the early 1900s. On Sept. 27, the Upper Milford Historical Society celebrated the recent release of its pictorial history book about the township. “Images of America Upper Milford Township” is filled with facts and plenty of photographs, some before the township was even organized. More than 40 people attended the event -- most of them contributors and financial investors for the book. As historical society president Rose Parry thanked each one individually, …

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Pennsylvania State Police Reports

Old Zionsville Woman Severely Injured in Crash

She is taken to a hospital after hitting a utility pole in Upper Milford Township, police say.

An Old Zionsville woman was severely injured recently when her car struck a utility pole in Upper Milford Township, according to police. Amanda L. Burgen, 19, was heading south on Chestnut Street just north of Indian Creek Road at 6:36 a.m. Sept. 12 in the Old Zionsville area, according to state police at Fogelsville. Burgen's 2006 Hyundai Sonata went off the right side of the roadway and struck a PPL pole. Police did not list any other vehicle as being involved. Burgen received severe unspecified injuries and was transported to an area hospital by Macungie Ambulance Corps, police said. Upper Milford Western District Fire Department assisted. Burgen was cited for failing to maintain her lane of travel, police said.

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Old Zionsville Post Office to have Hours Reduced

The Postal Service will conduct a study to determine the new hours.

In a plan to keep rural post offices open and save money, the U.S. Postal Service (USPS) intends to shorten the hours open of some, including the Old Zionsville Post Office.  How do you feel about a reduction in hours at the Old Zionsville Post Office? Tell us in the comments. According to Ray Daiutolo, Sr., regional spokesperson, the postal service is responding to the needs and wants of the people. Feedback from rural postal customers indicates they would prefer a cut in hours rather than closing the post offices as a cost-cutting measure. The USPS agreed with the strategy and is in the process of putting it into effect, Daiutolo said. It is hoped that the new hours will be implemented by 2014 following a study, which will include a …

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Old Zionsville Troop Founder Discusses 50 Years in Boy Scouts

Henry Beitler, 94, founded Boy Scout Troop 31 in Old Zionsville.

Henry Beitler was a Boy Scout. And he loved it. He loved it so much that when he saw a need for a scout troop in Old Zionsville, he started one—Troop 31. On Jan. 26 the Upper Milford Historical Society heard Beitler, 94, talk of his 50 years with Troop 31.  Several former members of the troop were on hand to reminisce with him: John Fegley; Wallace Stauffer; David Heintzelman; Larry Stahler, now a leader with Troop 31; Jason Heminitz; and Ron Miller, now an assistant leader with Troop 31.  Boy Scouts came to the United States from England and was incorporated on Feb. 8, 1910, according to Beitler. In 1933, Beitler began scouting with a troop in Palm. After he turned 18, Beitler became a leader in the troop, taking six boys with him from …

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Cubmaster Takes a Pie in the Face in Name of Recruiting

Joshua Levinson, head of Cub Scout Pack 31, Old Zionsville, agreed to take a pie in the face for every new member brought into the pack by a current scout.

Editor's Note: The Emmaus Patch editor's son is a Wolf Cub in Pack 31. As part of Cub Scout Pack 31's recruitment efforts this fall, Cubmaster Joshua Levinson has agreed to allow any pack member who brings in a new scout to throw a pie in his face. Three scouts "collected" their recruitment reward at the Pack 31 meeting held Tuesday night at Old Zionsville UCC Church. Anyone interested in learning more about Pack 31 and how to become a member can content the pack through the Pack 31 Web site.

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Under the Butternut Tree

Meet Old Zionsville’s Famous Tree

It may outlive us all.

Some readers of this column have been curious as to its title -- “Under the Butternut Tree.” We have a very large butternut tree on our property – some even say a famous tree.  It was pictured in local newspapers several times, visited by the arbor society and children from Kings Highway School, and is registered with the state as one of the oldest and largest butternut trees in Pennsylvania. Several years after we moved to Old Zionsville, Joe Sherman, Fire Chief of Vera Cruz Fire Company, put us in touch with a gentleman from the Pennsylvania State Bureau of Forestry who was looking for butternuts to plant throughout the state. He came and took what we estimated to be a couple thousand butternuts. When I spoke to him several years ago, he…

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Peggy Heminitz

5:22 pm on Tuesday, February 7, 2012

Absolutely!!   more ›

Photo of the Day

WPA Drainage Areas are Historic Landmarks

Upper Milford Township was one of many places across the country to benefit from the New Deal program.

You may not know much about history, but Emmaus Patch is going to help change that. Every Friday in July, you're invited to join Peggy Heminitz for a brief history lesson. Peg will share a local photograph and some historical fact about the place we call home. We promise there won't be any tests! This week, we're focusing on the drainage areas built through the Works Projects Administration: One of several drainage areas built during the eight-year Work Projects Administration (WPA) program located along Churchview Road in Old Zionsville. These areas are considered historical landmarks in the township. The WPA was the largest and most ambitious New Deal agency to offer work to the many unemployed United States citizens between 1935 and …

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Matthew Brown is a “Marked” Man

He recently received Boy Scout’s highest rank.

May 22, 2011 is a day Matthew Brown will never forget. He became the 87th member of Boy Scout Troop 31 in Old Zionsville to receive the rank of Eagle – the highest rank a Boy Scout can achieve. Brown earned 26 merit badges during his seven years as a Boy Scout (only 21 are needed to advance to Eagle). Some of these badges include Automotive Maintenance, Camping, Citizenship in the Community, Communications, Environmental Science, Home Repairs, First Aid, Personal Management, Plumbing, Swimming and Wilderness Survival. He also held several roles of leadership in Troop 31. Brown was a Den Chief, Scribe and the Assistant Senior Patrol Leader. He also earned the Order of the Arrow on his path to Eagle. A major requirement to earn the rank of …

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