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Blight spotting, spring cleanup for Kline Twp.

Standard-Speaker - 4/15/2017

April 15--KELAYRES -- With spring here, Kline Twp. officials will be outside looking for blighted properties while volunteers will be cleaning up roadsides.

But the biggest project of the spring may be a beautification project to recognize American prisoners of war and military veterans by placing seven flags around the township welcome sign on Market Street, across from the Honeybrook Water Co.

Supervisor Dale Wesner said the flags will symbolize all veterans, and the work is being done with donations.

"The flags will represent the Army, Navy, Air Force, Marines, Coast Guard, POWs and national," he said. "We are doing it with no tax dollars. It is all by donations.

"We sent letters out. The first day, we got a $1,000 donation. The second day, we got a $500 donation, and the third day we got all the concrete donated. The public response has been great. We hope it keeps going, that we can do this type of thing."

There will be a flag-raising ceremony, which will be a small social event with refreshments, Wesner said.

"I plan to invite all that donated, all local veterans, and have each branch of service raise their service flag," said Wesner, a retired Marine.

"I would also like to make it a small social event with free hamburgers and hot dogs, if we are able to have them donated, showing support for our American POWs and local residents that have served, or are serving, in our U.S. military."

Those who want to donate or have questions can call Wesner at 570-497-5773.

Blight

Township officials are taking advantage of the milder weather to start looking at blighted properties.

"We got Senator (David) Argall's letter on blight," Wesner said, referring to Argall's newsletter inviting residents to a bipartisan town hall meeting in Tamaqua to discuss ways to combat blight in communities.

"We will be out letting residents know if we see something," Wesner said. "We want to stop things before they become blighted, and look for safety issues to protect the public."

Cleanup

Schuylkill County's annual "Keep It Pretty" cleanup will be April 21 and 22 in Kline Twp., Wesner said. The event invites everyone in the community to join together to clean up the township.

"It is a two-day event that volunteers can participate as a group or individually anytime during the two days," Wesner said. "The township has bags, gloves and vests for all volunteers. This is your opportunity to show that you care about having clean roadsides. We appreciate our community volunteers."

Those who want to participate can call Supervisor Carmen Cara at 570-929-1430 for supplies or information about the cleanup.

"We plan to clean up areas of Tresckow Road, Haddock Road and Kelayres Road, as well as any other areas or streets that may need attention in the township," Wesner said. "Volunteers are only asked to give 15 to 30 minutes of their time. Volunteers of all ages are welcome and can receive community service hours, if needed."

While spring cleaning gets underway, the township has notified residents the Schuylkill County Recycling Office will no longer provide pickup of electronics because of cost.

"People with TVs and microwaves that are putting them out for the garbage are going to have to find their own way to dispose of them," Wesner said. "In 2010, it became a federal offense to put it out for solid waste. Because of the lead that is in there, it became a federal offense."

Recreation

Wesner said the township has been notified it is on the list for a 2018 recreation grant. The grant will be used to upgrade the township's playground facilities, he said.

The Kelayres Playground located near the baseball field south of and parallel to James Street is out of the running for improvements because the land is not owned by the township.

"We are looking at other township properties to possibly use," Wesner said. "If none are available by next year, we would look to upgrade the current equipment to make it more enjoyable and safer for the youth of the community."

Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3585

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(c)2017 the Standard-Speaker (Hazleton, Pa.)

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