Brigita's Blog: June 2008

PPL has decided to route new 500 kilovolt Transmission Lines in order to service NY & NJ.  One of the proposed routes, "route C", goes through Moore, Lehigh & Bushkill Townships.  EVERYONE should be paying attention to this routing of super power lines!!!

There is a meeting on Thursday, June 26th, at the Northampton County Center, from 5 PM to 8 PM.

Please try to be there!!!

This Route C would take it at the base of the Blue Mountains, disrupting scores of people, wildlife, etc., not to mention the watershed for this area.  This would also increase taxes in the area, due to loss of revenue from these affected, perhaps land taken by eminent domain, areas.  Moore township has passed and been funding Open Space for years.  Now much of this space, which has been paid for by taxes, will be usurped by these power lines.

I have seen the destruction the clearing of these lines can do.  In Jacobsburg State Park, they came through to "clear" the lines.  They chopped trees down, let the trees fall in heaps, and left.  There was NO clean up, etc.  The whole thing is a twisted heap; a total mess.

Come to the meeting! Get answers, if possible.

Please note, all of our elected state officials are in Harrisburg, debating the budget.  No one, in all likelihood, will be available to attend these meetings.  That means it's the "little guy" against the corporate lawyers.  We need to make a stand!  Time for the squeaky wheel to be heard!

Hope to see you there.  Please pass this information on to everyone you can think of.

PERKS OF BEING OVER 50

1.  Kidnappers are not interested in you.

2.  In a hostage situation, you are likely to be released  first.

3.  No one expects you to run - anywhere.

4.  People call at 9 PM and ask, " Did I wake you?"

5.  People no longer view you as a hypochondriac.

6.  There is nothing left to learn the hard way.

7.  Things you buy now won't wear out.

8.  You can eat dinner at 4PM.

9.  You can live without sex but not your glasses.

10. You get into heated arguments about pension plans.

11. You no longer think of speed limits as challenges.

12. You quit trying to hold your stomach in no matter who walks into the room.

13. You sing along with elevator music.

14. Your eyes won't get much worse.

15. Your investment in health insurance is finally beginning to pay off.

16. Your joints are more accurate meteorologists than the National Weather Service.

17. Your secrets are safe with your friends because they can't remember them either.

18. Your supply of brain cells is finally down to manageable size.

You may e-mail this to anyone you can remember.

Five tips for a woman....

1. It is important that a man helps you around the house and has a job.
  

2. It is important that a man makes you laugh.


3. It is important to find a man you can count on and doesn't lie to you.
  

4. It is important that a man loves you and spoils you.
  

5. It is important that these four men don't know each other.
   

This past weekend, Nazareth's historic Whitfield House Museum held a craft fair on their lawn.  I enjoy hand made crafts, so I decided to visit the craft fair and see the different crafts.

It was a very warm, humid day and there were a couple of intermittent showers.  When I arrived at the fair, some of the exhibitors were packing it in, due to the occasional showers.  Others braved the weather as long as it was not severe.

Anyway, I enjoyed seeing the many crafts and talking to some of the exhibitors.  I came across a long time married couple (45 years to be exact) sitting at their station and began chatting with them.  Somehow we ended up talking about positive attitudes.  We were discussing the fact that if you don't have a positive outlook, you will not succeed.

The gentleman then proceeded to tell me a story about a young child, about 5 years old with polio.  His feet were turned almost all the way backwards and was unable to walk.  After numerous operations and doctors stating that the child had a slim chance of walking, the child did eventually walk.  The person is walking as though nothing had been wrong with him.  And do you know who this child was??  It turned out that it was this gentleman I was speaking to.

I was truly amazed.  I never would have guessed. 

See what a positive attitude will do.  If you put your mind to it, it will happen.

This same attitude should pertain to your job as a real estate agent or anything you do.  Instead of consistently griping how bad the housing market is and how terrible the economy is, plus blaming others, change the attitude. 

Thinking positively may not change the world, but it will change for the better for you.  OK, you may not get that million dollar sale, but if you are a go getter, your business will do better and it will show to the consumer, which in turn will gain you some business. 

If you think you are unable to do it, think about this story and how this gentleman overcame his physical handicap.  If he can do it, I'm sure the rest of us can overcome our problems with time and a positive attitude.

So, let's all get out there and SELL!!

Saturday, June 21, starting at 8AM, the Nazareth Rotary Club will celebrate "The Barony of the Rose" historical repayment day.  It will be held at Center Square in downtown Nazareth. 

Every June 24th, a single red rose is due as payment on the town's first property deed from the William Penn family. 

The festivities will include musical selections played by the Nazareth Community Band from 9:30AM - 11:30AM and a rose procession at 10:15AM led by a Nazareth native.

Roses will be sold at various borough locations on Friday from 3PM - 6PM and during Saturday's festivities.

Wouldn't it be nice if that was all we had to pay for our property deeds??

I saw this news article in the local paper last week, and thought it interesting.  So, I thought I would share it with you:

A local businessman in Allentown, the owner of Jim's Appliance Service, had been driving a 1991 Chevrolet Astro van.  The van had been paid off a long time ago and averaged only about 11 miles to the gallon.

With gas prices rising, the businessman decided to check out a Scion last December.  Looking at a 2005 model, he found out that 5 of his tool boxes would fit nicely in the cargo area.  So, he decided to purchase it. 

What he had figured out was that his Chevy Astro van got 11 miles to the gallon, therfore, costing him about $545 per month in gas, but no monthly car payments.  The Scion gets 28 miles to the gallon, costs $214 in gas per month with a monthly car payment of $327.  (The above is based on the cost of $4 per gallon of gas.)

Now, in doing the math, the Astro van's total cost was $545 per month, where the newer Scion cost a total of $541 per month, saving him $4 per month.  The gas savings alone are enough to cover the monthly car payments giving him a few dollars left over at the end of the month.

Even though he may be paying about the same amount every month for his business vehicle, he gets a newer model with better gas mileage, eventually saving him money.

The software firm, Synchronoss Technologies is relocating to the new Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII, located at the old Bethlehem Steel grounds in south Bethlehem, PA.  Looking to expand, Synchronoss considered Kansas, Florida and Texas as possible sites.  After an 18 month search, the company decided to stay in the Lehigh Valley and make it's move from it's current site in Hanover Township, in Northampton County.

This move will create about 250 more jobs in the area, with salaries ranging from $30,000 to $150,000.  In addition to more employment, the company will also invest $5 million in new equipment, plus $12 million to build. 

Pennsylvania provided $565,000 in incentives for the project, $270,000 in grants and $295,000 in tax credits.  Incentive packages are negotiated by the Governor's Action Team to keep or attract new businesses to Pennsylvania.

The package of state and local financial incentives was a factor in Synchronoss' decision to remain in the Lehigh Valley, PA.

Synchronoss has signed a long term lease for a 60,000 sq. ft. building on 9.6 acres.  The company plans on breaking ground in August and hopes to be up and running by August, 2009.

An historic home tour is scheduled for Sunday, June 22nd, from 1 - 5 PM in Catasauqua, a borough in the Lehigh Valley, in Pennsylvania.    The cost of the tickets is $13 in advance and $16 the day of the tour.  Maps will be included with the purchase of the tickets.  The event is presented by the Historic Catasauqua Preservation Association.

Thirteen homes, gardens and other buildings will be on the self-guided tour.  It will run through the borough's 2 historic districts, both of which are listed on the National Registry of Historic Places.

The architectural styles will include Victorian, Queen Anne, Italiante, Romanesque, Tudor, Gothic and Colonial Revival.  The buildings selected for the tour vary from year to year for variety.

The tour will be held, rain or shine.  Interior photographs of the homes are NOT permitted.

In addition to the tour, Catasauqua will also have a few other events going on on the same day:

• The 5th Annual Community Day - a street fair with local businesses, music and food
• The Catasauqua Public Library book sale
• The Patriots Motorcycle Club Lehigh Valley Chapter B - will hold a Poker Run to benefit the American Legion in Catasauqua.  Registration is from 9AM - 11AM.  For tickets call Jeff Jones at 484-764-4202.  The cost is $20 per motorcycle ($15 in advance).  $25 per motorcycle with passenger ($20 in advance).

If you enjoy the architecture of historic homes, come out on this tour and include the other events for an enjoyable Sunday afternoon out with the family.

The East Penn School District in the Lehigh Valley in Pennsylvania needs some help.  A taxpayer tea party is being organized to let the politicians know that it will either be food and gas money for the family or tax money for the government.  They are asking everyone in the Lehigh Valley to get involved to straighten out the confusion as to who is working for whom.

The following is a press release sent out asking for volunteers to help fight the East Penn School District tax hike:

Attention Lehigh County FreedomWorks Members:

 Taxpayer Tea Party in East Penn!!

• There is a rapidly growing taxpayer protest in East Penn School District.
• Taxes have increased at 2 1/2 times the rate of inflation for the last decade.
• Spending has increased at 3 times the rate of inflation for the last decade.
• East Penn taxpayers are fed up and are saying "enough".  Just drive through the school district and you can see hundreds of yard signs.
• We are putting out 2,000 pieces of literature and will be circulating petitions to oppose the school tax hike, which will be voted on June 23rd.
• Even if you don't live in the school district, I am asking for your help with this effort.  We are all overburdened taxpayers who have a very difficult time fighting irresponsible, big spending politicians.  So help out your county neighbors!
• Please contact me if you would like to help over the next 10 days.  If you have an hour to give, or more, it will be greatly appreciated!
• Next time, others may help in your fight!  We have to unite to succeed.

Jill Hilliard, Field Coordinator - FreedomWorks PA

610-349-7030

East Penn School District is not the only one with a large tax hike.  Nazareth School District has increased it's taxes over 9% for the 2008-2009 school year.  They are building a new school with a huge pool.  The majority of the taxpayers opposed the building of the pool, but the school district went ahead with the project anyway.  (The pool is costing the district $7 million to construct.) 

Plus, they are laying off teachers.  Where is the sense in that?  Is a pool more important than teachers?  Are sports more important than education?  It is the school's responsibility to educate the children, not promote sports.  Sports is an extracaricular activity. 

We may end up seeing more and more "Tea Parties" all over the country as everyone's taxes keep increasing. 

Well, they say history repeats itself.  It's time the taxpayers speak up loud and clear.  The cycle will never end unless we do.

Here are some things to think about that are true:

1. I signed up for an exercise class and was told to wear loose-fitting clothing.  If I HAD any loose-fitting clothing, I wouldn't have signed up in the first place!

2. When I was young we used to go "skinny dipping," now I just go "chunky dunking."

3. The early bird still has to eat worms.

4. The worst thing about accidents in the kitchen is eating them.

5. Don't argue with an idiot; people watching may not be able to tell the difference.

6. Wouldn't it be nice if whenever we messed up our life we could simply press 'Ctrl Alt Delete' and start all over?

7. Stress is when you wake up screaming and then you realize you haven't fallen asleep yet.

8. My wife says I never listen to her.  At least I think that's what she said.

9. Just remember... if the world didn't suck, we'd all fall off.

10. Why is it that our children can't read a Bible in school, but they can in prison?

11. If raising children was going to be easy, it never would have started with something called labor!

12. Brain cells come and brain cells go, but fat cells live forever.

13. Why do I have to swear on the Bible in court when the Ten Commandments cannot be displayed in a federal building?