West Sadsbury Township Sets New Park Opening This Weekend

West Sadsbury Township supervisor Jim Landis (left) and Jim Groff are working to organize the grand opening event for Zion Hill Park on Saturday, Sept. 10.

This from the Gap-Parkesburg-Oxford Community Courier:

West Sadsbury Township will formally open Zion Hill Park on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. The community is invited to enjoy food, fun activities, music and history-related events throughout the day.

West Sadsbury Township acquired the 31-acre park property at auction in 2003. The purchase fits in with the township's mission to preserve open space. "We weren't sure what we wanted to do, but we wanted to maintain the open space," said West Sadsbury Township supervisor Jim Landis.

Since then, the township supervisors have worked to develop the site so that it can be enjoyed by walkers and hikers, and now historic connections have been added to the site.

As the nation marks the 150th anniversary of the start of the Civil War, Sept. 11 is the 160th anniversary of the Christiana Resistance, one of the important events leading up to the war.

The Christiana Resistance occurred at the William Parker House which was located near the park site. Plans for the park include the potential to build a replica of the William Parker House, where, in 1851, community members rallied to stop those who were hunting escaped slave. In the process, one man was killed and several others were injured.

Martial law was declared, and eventually, participants in the defense of the Parker home were tried for treason. "They say the first shot of the Civil War was shot at the William Parker House. I'd like to see local people (be aware of) what happened," said Jim Groff, who is leading the effort to build the replica.

"With Mr. Groff's assistance, we have started to develop it, not into just a park, but (also into) a historic entity to acknowledge the Christiana Resistance and the preservation or reconstruction of (the Parker House) and the events that led up to the Civil War," Landis added.

The timetable for the construction of the house is dependent on finding funding for the work. 

Although not on the actual site of the original Parker House, the building will be a close replica that can be used for historical and educational purposes, as well as community events. Plans include the possibility that the building can be used as the home of Boy Scout Troop 20. "We're eventually going to make this happen," Groff said.

The Scout troop will camp at the park throughout the weekend, plus there will be an encampment by the Third U.S. Colored Infantry Regiment Civil War re-enactors. For history buffs, there will be an informational lecture by local author Bud Rettew. 

The nearby Zercher's Hotel Museum, the Christiana Freight Station and the Mt. Zion AME Church are also scheduled to be open.

At the park, there will be live music, food and beverages, miniature train rides, an antique tractor show, a bounce house, face painting and hayrides. The Zion Hill Park is located at 610 Zion Hill Road, Atglen.

Click to enlarge

West Sadsbury Creek

A few more pictures from from yesterday's torrential downpour.

These from Upper Valley Road near Swan Road in West Sadsbury Township around 5:30 Wednesday afternoon.

Looking south from Upper Valley Road

Looking north

Looking north

Looking north

Parkesburg Company Launches YouTube Channel

Pinnacle Stone Products, based on Lower Valley Road west of Parkesburg,  unveiled its official YouTube channel earlier this week.

Visitors to the site at http://www.youtube.com/PinnacleStone can currently view before and after videos of fireplaces, home exteriors and outdoor kitchens transformed into stone using Pinnacle's real stone veneer. 

Pinnacle Stone Products will continue to expand the catalog of videos available on its YouTube channel to include installation demonstrations, advanced masonry techniques, unique design applications and additional before and after videos highlighting spectacular home and project transformations using Pinnacle Thin Stone Veneer.

Steve Wagner, Marketing Coordinator for Pinnacle Stone Products, stated, “Our YouTube channel has allowed us to share dramatic project transformations that may have taken days or weeks, with homeowners, builders, architects and masons in about one minute, in a format that gives the viewer a true understanding of the beauty, refinement and permanence that our natural thin stone veneer provides.”

Established in 2007, Pinnacle Stone Products produces 100% natural thin stone veneer products for use in residential and commercial building projects. Their unique products are hand-selected for exceptional color and texture from any one of over 50+ quarry operations owned by our parent companies. The company is committed to producing the finest natural thin stone veneer product available that provides an unmatched, lasting beauty.

Parkesburg Fire Company Considers Consolidation

Jennifer Carboni has a good piece in this morning's Daily Local News about discussions currently underway to consolidate the Parkesburg, Pomeroy and Atglen fire companies into a single volunteer fire fighting organization.

The plan being considered would bring Atglen, West Sadsbury, Parkesburg, Sadsbury, Highland and East Fallowfield into a single fire district

The expectations is that equipment, manpower and facilities would be better used and be less expensive under a single fire protection umbrella.

Brad Sinrod, part-owner of a company with rental properties in Parkesburg including the Parkesburg Bank apartment building on Main, is co-chairman of the steering committee.

The money quote comes from Parkesburg Fire Commissioner Ray Stackhouse:

"That's what we're looking at in our area … individually, all of our fire companies and ambulance companies are struggling to survive while operating independently."

You can read the entire article here.

New Logo, New Growth Comes To Parkesburg Today

As of this morning, Parkesburg Today has a new logo.  

Designed by Brandon Malone, a 2006 Octorara grad and son of current school board member John Malone, the new logo takes my mug off our front page (a collective 'Thank goodness!' is in order) and ushers in a new era of growth and expansion at Parkesburg Today.

Not to worry though, Parkesburg Today will remain the trusted source of news for all things Parkesburg and Octorara.  

Over time though, these pages will include more information from more people on surrounding towns and townships including Atglen, Highland, Cochranville and West Sadsbury.

In August we'll change our platform and format to allow readers more direct interaction with Parkesburg Today.  

Finally, in August we'll announce Parkesburg Today's first, of what will be several, county-wide sister sites gathering and publishing neighborhood and community news.

As If Riding a Motorcycle Isn't Dangerous Enough!

This from The Daily Local News police blotter:

West Sadsbury police charged a motorcyclist with DUI after his passenger was severely injured in a one-vehicle crash Saturday afternoon.

Police charged Richard Farra, 45, of Gap, with DUI, following the crash that occurred about 6:30 p.m. in the 3000 block of Strasburg Road.

Farra's passenger, Denis Hill-Gaugler, 48, of Oak, suffered major injuries and was transported to Lancaster General Hospital by Christiana Ambulance, police said.

Police said Farra was operating a 2008 Harley Davidson east on Strasburg Road when he lost control of the motorcycle forcing it to fall on its right side and slide east ejecting Hill-Gaugler.

Farra suffered minor injuries.

Read the entire police blotter here: