I went outside just after noon this afternoon. You could smell a strong smell of skunk. I looked over at our fenceline and the perpetrator was on the other side, about 15 yards from me (Waaaay too close for comfort). I watched him for a little bit with binoculars from the other side of my truck windows. He ambled along the fence for about 10 yards, then sat down. After a couple of minutes, he went another 10 yards and then stopped. He walked back along the fence and over to a burrow about 10 yards into the neighbor’s property.The main problem is that (1) it was walking and acting erratically and (2) it was out during the middle of the day. Both of these are possible signs of a rabid animal.I called both our township and Bucks County Health and Human Services. Neither could offer any real help other than to hire a professional exterminator. I was a bit surprised and disappointed considering the seriousness of rabies. I believe only one person has ever survived exposure to rabies without having received the vaccination or shots.
The gentleman at the County was helpful otherwise. He mentioned that the main carriers were skunks, racoons, bats, foxes and feral cats. I was aware of the first three but wasn’t aware of the latter two. We do have a fox that comes through occasionally but it seems to be pretty healthy. Oh well, just one more thing to be aware of.
This summer Bucks County will have four hazardous waste drop off dates for residents. While this program is nice, I really wish it was just a little easier to dispose properly of hazardous waste.I believe you are limited as to how many computers you can drop off. There are two things you should keep in mind when dropping computers and monitors off
- Keep a record of the serial number and the fact that you dropped it off at a properly designated drop off point. If the machine should ever turn up in an illicit landfill, you will have proof that you acted properly if the EPA should prosecute you (that has happened in the past with some waste disposal companies)
- The hard drives should be physically removed or destroyed. Simply erasing or formatting them does not adequately remove sensitive information.
The dates and locations are
- Lower Makefield Corporate Center: May 3rd
- Upper Bucks County Area Vocational Technical School: June 21st
- Middle Bucks Institute of Technology: July 19th
- Bucks County Technical High School: August 16th
- Quakertown Community Pool: September 27th
Resources
An article in Phillyburbs describes PPL using eminent domain to place high tension towers on the land of a Richland Family.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-09192007-1409981.html
I’m sure the Real Estate agents and supervisors of Bucks County Townships aren’t too happy to hear this discussed. Property values are one of the things driving the Bucks County Economy. People are willing to spend millions for homes here, especially in Central and Upper Bucks.The nightmare would be to spend a million or so of your life savings to find the perfect farm or property with just the right setting…. and then have ugly towers plopped right in the middle of things.In addition to the esthetics of the situation, there is also concern that the high tension wires cause health problems. That idea is, of course, poo-pooed by the power companies.. (remember at one time tobacco companies promoted smoking as a healthy thing to do). On the other hand, there are books and articles that point to powerline-cancer links.One of the things driving the need for powerlines is the rampant development. A 6000 foot McMansion needs a good bit of ‘lectricity to keep the heat pumps going. The little munchkins from the Mcmansion need to go to a school, which needs plenty of ‘lectricity to keep the kiddies in light and a nice comfortable environment.
So, as people are buying up houses, they may be faced with their home being under the shadow of a transmission line in order to provide additional power for those who buy homes after them.
One thing that did strike me was the apparent unwillingness of PPL to follow the railroad lines instead of going through people’s homes. I have no knowledge of the engineering involved so I can’t make a judgement. However, it would seem that it should be possible to situate the power lines along railroad rights of ways.Eminent domain is scary. The governement can come in and enforce the taking of all or part of your property with the muzzle of a gun.What can be done to lessen this in the future? For one thing, if we cover Bucks County with a spiderweb like netting of high tension wires, I would think that would have a negative effect on property values and tourism. “Gee dear, don’t those power lines just look lovely this time of year in the valley?”.. Yeah right…Here are some thoughts..
- Let’s stick to the comprehensive plans in the townships. Over and over again, developers are coming and and threatening lawsuits if they can’t take R2 zoning and change it to High Density age restricted housing.. Simple math and common sense says that when you stick more people on an acre, you will need more electric…
- Make sure that the people who have the power to stick a butt ugly transmission pole smack dab in the middle of your horse pasture have incentive to try to find less obtrusive routes.
- Look into alternative energy, incentives to make things as energy efficient as possible and perhaps other ways of bringing electricity besides towers. However, the geography of Bucks County with it’s glacial rock will probably preclude underground high tension wires.
- Oh, just for fun, every proposed route should be audited to see if the people responsible for the route have chosen a path away from their homes at the expense of other’s homes..
- Let’s make sure that the people who are forced to give easements are fairly compensated for their land. There have been a lot of national stories about eminent domain abuses where the owners are paid a fraction of their economic losses. That just is not fair.
The Washington Crossing State Park will be closing on July 9th 2007 for an indefinite period of time due to budget issues:
According to the PA Historical and Museum Commission site at http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/
ALERT: As of Monday, July 9, 2007, Washington Crossing Historic Park will be closed to the public until further notice due to a budget impasse and furloughing of state workers. The Park is looking for actors to portray General Washington. Of course, that will be on hold until the budget is resolved
Perhaps old George and the boys should take the Durham boats up the Susquehanna to Harrisburg and deal with the mercenaries running Pennsylvania. Of course, they folks in the Capitol don’t have the cool hats the Hessians had.
Life just isn’t simple any more. Some folks in Upper Bucks were trying to make a few extra bucks with drilling leases and ended up complicating the titles to their properties.Supposedly the folks found mortgages attached to their properties that the local title companies didn’t know how to handle. Apparently the mortgages don’t really encumber the sale of the house or property. One family had to hire a lawyer to help sort things out.I don’t think you have to worry about buying a house in Upper Bucks and suddenly finding an oil or gas well in your neighbor’s yard but you should do some research on the subject if you are looking at real estate in that area.
see The Phillyburbs story for the whole story
We may have moved a little closer to having a Veterans cemetary in Bucks County.
KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia – Buxco School Board Considers Land For Vet Cemetary:
“Plans to locate a national veterans cemetery in Buck County, Pa. couldtake a giant step forward. A local school board was expected to meet on theissue Thursday night.The Council Rock School Board was expected to vote onwhether it will sell a key piece of land known as the Melsky Tract in UpperMakefield to Toll Brothers.”
An article in Phillyburbs was talking about traffic problems on side streets near Second Street Pike and Street Road in Upper Southampton. During any part of the rush hour, Second Street Pike is at a virtual crawl.A developer wants to take 3.5 acres of commercial/business property next to Premier Bank and rezone it to residential. Their plan is to put 57 condo units there. Question – If we already have traffic problems does it make any sense to rezone commercial/business property into residential? The developer is asking for a half dozen or so variances in order to build there.Part of the development plan, as I understand it, is to route the traffic from these condos onto both Street Road and by the old train station onto Second Street Pike. So, we already have a traffic problem and now we are going to add a couple of hundred cars entering and exiting 2nd Street Pike and Street Road..
Calming
measures sought for traffic (phillyBurbs.com) Intelligencer:
“Residents of Hampton and Summit avenues are fed up with drivers usingtheir close-knit neighborhood as a cut-through from Street Road to Second StreetPike.They’re asking the Upper Southampton supervisors to look intotraffic-calming measures for what residents describe is a neighborhood filledwith children.”
Some good news here. Doylestown Hospital is expanding it’s maternity ward. Frankford Hospital in Northeast Philly has recently closed it’s maternity center.. Having a baby.. Better hold it in till you get to a hospital that has a maternity staff.
While maternity wards across Southeastern Pennsylvania have closed indroves, two local hospitals are upgrading and expanding their services for
expectant moms.
Warminster Hospital closed its obstetrical unit in 2000, and Jeanes Hospital,in Northeast Philadelphia, last week became the 14th unit to close in
Southeastern Pennsylvania in the past decade
Anyone want to guess why the obstretrical units are closing???
Malpractice insurance is expensive
Yep, those lawyers have to earn enough for the country club, the house in aspen, the mercedes, the mistress…. there are other factors including the payments by Medicare and the insurance companies which often don’t cover the cost of services.
So, if you are a young couple planning to have children, take a look at the local hospitals when you are looking for your new suburban home. Where is the nearest hospital with a maternity ward??
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/147-06042007-1357249.html
This isn’t to be confused with the dingbat who recently stole an ambulance.The article details the fact that a lot of the ambulance squads in Bucks County have financial problems.I’m not thoroughly re-assured that “the next closest ambulance will be dispached”. For things like a heart attack or major trauma, seconds count. With hospitals closing, the logistics of getting those needing emergency care to the proper treatment facility just gets more complicated.
KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia – Ambulance Squads in Bucks County Say They Are Being Pinched Financially: “Two ambulance companies in Bucks have already closed down, unable to make a go of it because of financial problems. Leaders at surviving squads say that should serve as a warning that something needs to happen soon”
Here’s a great opportunity to get rid of of hazardous materials you have around your house. Bucks county only runs this program during the summer and early fall. Take a look at the link below and find a recycling date and place near you. Of particular interest is the fact that they will collect old computers and monitors which should not be disposed of in the regular trash.
Commissioners Announce Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Program in Full Swing: Next Event Slated for Saturday, June 9 at Bedminster Twp.’s Upper Bucks Vo-Tech: “Commissioners Announce Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Program in Full Swing
Next Event Slated for Saturday, June 9 at Bedminster Twp.’s Upper Bucks Vo-Tech “
Saturday, June 9, Upper Bucks County Area Vo-Tech School, 3115 Ridge Rd.., Bedminster Twp.Saturday, July 14, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Old York Rd., Warwick Twp.Saturday, Aug. 18, at Bucks County Technical High School, 610 Wistar Rd., Bristol Twp.
Saturday, Sept. 29, Quakertown Community Pool, Mill St., Quakertown Borough
Bucksview Blog – Bucks County Pa
I went outside just after noon this afternoon. You could smell a strong smell of skunk. I looked over at our fenceline and the perpetrator was on the other side, about 15 yards from me (Waaaay too close for comfort). I watched him for a little bit with binoculars from the other side of my truck windows. He ambled along the fence for about 10 yards, then sat down. After a couple of minutes, he went another 10 yards and then stopped. He walked back along the fence and over to a burrow about 10 yards into the neighbor’s property.The main problem is that (1) it was walking and acting erratically and (2) it was out during the middle of the day. Both of these are possible signs of a rabid animal.I called both our township and Bucks County Health and Human Services. Neither could offer any real help other than to hire a professional exterminator. I was a bit surprised and disappointed considering the seriousness of rabies. I believe only one person has ever survived exposure to rabies without having received the vaccination or shots.
The gentleman at the County was helpful otherwise. He mentioned that the main carriers were skunks, racoons, bats, foxes and feral cats. I was aware of the first three but wasn’t aware of the latter two. We do have a fox that comes through occasionally but it seems to be pretty healthy. Oh well, just one more thing to be aware of.
This summer Bucks County will have four hazardous waste drop off dates for residents. While this program is nice, I really wish it was just a little easier to dispose properly of hazardous waste.I believe you are limited as to how many computers you can drop off. There are two things you should keep in mind when dropping computers and monitors off
The dates and locations are
Resources
An article in Phillyburbs describes PPL using eminent domain to place high tension towers on the land of a Richland Family.
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/113-09192007-1409981.html
I’m sure the Real Estate agents and supervisors of Bucks County Townships aren’t too happy to hear this discussed. Property values are one of the things driving the Bucks County Economy. People are willing to spend millions for homes here, especially in Central and Upper Bucks.The nightmare would be to spend a million or so of your life savings to find the perfect farm or property with just the right setting…. and then have ugly towers plopped right in the middle of things.In addition to the esthetics of the situation, there is also concern that the high tension wires cause health problems. That idea is, of course, poo-pooed by the power companies.. (remember at one time tobacco companies promoted smoking as a healthy thing to do). On the other hand, there are books and articles that point to powerline-cancer links.One of the things driving the need for powerlines is the rampant development. A 6000 foot McMansion needs a good bit of ‘lectricity to keep the heat pumps going. The little munchkins from the Mcmansion need to go to a school, which needs plenty of ‘lectricity to keep the kiddies in light and a nice comfortable environment.
So, as people are buying up houses, they may be faced with their home being under the shadow of a transmission line in order to provide additional power for those who buy homes after them.
One thing that did strike me was the apparent unwillingness of PPL to follow the railroad lines instead of going through people’s homes. I have no knowledge of the engineering involved so I can’t make a judgement. However, it would seem that it should be possible to situate the power lines along railroad rights of ways.Eminent domain is scary. The governement can come in and enforce the taking of all or part of your property with the muzzle of a gun.What can be done to lessen this in the future? For one thing, if we cover Bucks County with a spiderweb like netting of high tension wires, I would think that would have a negative effect on property values and tourism. “Gee dear, don’t those power lines just look lovely this time of year in the valley?”.. Yeah right…Here are some thoughts..
The Washington Crossing State Park will be closing on July 9th 2007 for an indefinite period of time due to budget issues:
According to the PA Historical and Museum Commission site at http://www.ushistory.org/washingtoncrossing/
ALERT: As of Monday, July 9, 2007, Washington Crossing Historic Park will be closed to the public until further notice due to a budget impasse and furloughing of state workers. The Park is looking for actors to portray General Washington. Of course, that will be on hold until the budget is resolved
Perhaps old George and the boys should take the Durham boats up the Susquehanna to Harrisburg and deal with the mercenaries running Pennsylvania. Of course, they folks in the Capitol don’t have the cool hats the Hessians had.
Life just isn’t simple any more. Some folks in Upper Bucks were trying to make a few extra bucks with drilling leases and ended up complicating the titles to their properties.Supposedly the folks found mortgages attached to their properties that the local title companies didn’t know how to handle. Apparently the mortgages don’t really encumber the sale of the house or property. One family had to hire a lawyer to help sort things out.I don’t think you have to worry about buying a house in Upper Bucks and suddenly finding an oil or gas well in your neighbor’s yard but you should do some research on the subject if you are looking at real estate in that area.
see The Phillyburbs story for the whole story
We may have moved a little closer to having a Veterans cemetary in Bucks County.
KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia – Buxco School Board Considers Land For Vet Cemetary:
An article in Phillyburbs was talking about traffic problems on side streets near Second Street Pike and Street Road in Upper Southampton. During any part of the rush hour, Second Street Pike is at a virtual crawl.A developer wants to take 3.5 acres of commercial/business property next to Premier Bank and rezone it to residential. Their plan is to put 57 condo units there. Question – If we already have traffic problems does it make any sense to rezone commercial/business property into residential? The developer is asking for a half dozen or so variances in order to build there.Part of the development plan, as I understand it, is to route the traffic from these condos onto both Street Road and by the old train station onto Second Street Pike. So, we already have a traffic problem and now we are going to add a couple of hundred cars entering and exiting 2nd Street Pike and Street Road..
Some good news here. Doylestown Hospital is expanding it’s maternity ward. Frankford Hospital in Northeast Philly has recently closed it’s maternity center.. Having a baby.. Better hold it in till you get to a hospital that has a maternity staff.
Anyone want to guess why the obstretrical units are closing???
Yep, those lawyers have to earn enough for the country club, the house in aspen, the mercedes, the mistress…. there are other factors including the payments by Medicare and the insurance companies which often don’t cover the cost of services.
So, if you are a young couple planning to have children, take a look at the local hospitals when you are looking for your new suburban home. Where is the nearest hospital with a maternity ward??
http://www.phillyburbs.com/pb-dyn/news/147-06042007-1357249.html
This isn’t to be confused with the dingbat who recently stole an ambulance.The article details the fact that a lot of the ambulance squads in Bucks County have financial problems.I’m not thoroughly re-assured that “the next closest ambulance will be dispached”. For things like a heart attack or major trauma, seconds count. With hospitals closing, the logistics of getting those needing emergency care to the proper treatment facility just gets more complicated.
KYW Newsradio 1060 Philadelphia – Ambulance Squads in Bucks County Say They Are Being Pinched Financially: “Two ambulance companies in Bucks have already closed down, unable to make a go of it because of financial problems. Leaders at surviving squads say that should serve as a warning that something needs to happen soon”
Here’s a great opportunity to get rid of of hazardous materials you have around your house. Bucks county only runs this program during the summer and early fall. Take a look at the link below and find a recycling date and place near you. Of particular interest is the fact that they will collect old computers and monitors which should not be disposed of in the regular trash.
Commissioners Announce Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Program in Full Swing: Next Event Slated for Saturday, June 9 at Bedminster Twp.’s Upper Bucks Vo-Tech: “Commissioners Announce Bucks County Household Hazardous Waste Program in Full Swing
Next Event Slated for Saturday, June 9 at Bedminster Twp.’s Upper Bucks Vo-Tech “
Saturday, June 9, Upper Bucks County Area Vo-Tech School, 3115 Ridge Rd.., Bedminster Twp.Saturday, July 14, Middle Bucks Institute of Technology, Old York Rd., Warwick Twp.Saturday, Aug. 18, at Bucks County Technical High School, 610 Wistar Rd., Bristol Twp.
Saturday, Sept. 29, Quakertown Community Pool, Mill St., Quakertown Borough