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The Downtowner
Newsletter of the Kiwanis Club of Allentown
March
1, 2008
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Newsletter
Editorial
Your
editor apologizes for failing to provide a biweekly newsletter the past two
months. Since I returned to work full-time I have found it more challenging to
keep up with my many Kiwanis responsibilities. I hope to get caught up and
resume biweekly newsletters after the summer. Until then, please bear with me.
And, if any of our members is interested in taking over production of
“The Downtowner”, just let me know!
June
5 Meeting
This
meeting was provocative and a bit controversial! Speaker Don Frazier of PPL
provided background on pending deregulation of electricity in Pennsylvania, and
the likelihood of significant, 30% or more increases in electric bills beginning
next year. PPL has had its prices capped since 1999. In that time period fuel
costs have escalated. Natural gas and coal prices have risen by 200% in the past
ten years, and uranium is up over 700%. And, fuel oil prices have increase 200%
in the past two years alone. Because of price controls these costs could not be
passed on to customers. Other electric generation costs are significant. PPL is
paying $600 million for scrubbers to comply with environmental regulations for
their coal-fired plant near Montoursville. During the past 10 years electricity
usage has risen 2-3% per year. Currently, PPL rates are below other utility
companies in the mid-Atlantic region. They charge 10 cents per KWH v. a 12.5
cent average, and compared to ConEd whose rates are up to nearly 25 cents per
KWH. PPL’s planned rate increase next year will be to go from 10 cents to 14
cents per KWH- a 40% increase. Don noted that electricity rates have been
increasing all over the country. Consumers can mitigate the impact of rate
increases by using energy more wisely, by purchasing more energy-efficient
appliances and light bulbs. Many tips on energy conservation can be found on
PPL’s website in their “e-power” section. There is information about how
to shop for electricity supply, and a handy feature- an “energy analyzer”.
This tool
enables customers to access data on their daily energy use, and even “hour by
hour power” details. This can help consumers identify times of the
day when changes of habits could save electricity, and money. There were many
probing questions from our audience about next year’s major rate hike by PPL.
Our meeting was one of dozens planned by PPL throughout its service area to
provide information to the public about this controversial issue.

Don Frazier of PPL Addresses an Inquiring Audience
Annual
Foundation Elections
At our June 5 meeting the following members were
unanimously elected to serve as officers and board members of the Kiwanis
Foundation of Allentown during the 2008-09 administrative year:
¨
President – Craig Walls
¨
Vice- President – Mark Rosania
¨
Treasurer – Jim Fronheiser
¨
Secretary – Ellen Kern
¨
Elected Director – Bill Randall
We would like to thank these members for their commitment to serve in these
positions, and wish them well as they carry on the good work of our Foundation.
Another
New Member!
It
was our great pleasure to induct another new member into our club on June 5-
Pete Ambrosino of Allentown. Pete is President of Servpro of Western Lehigh
County. He has a variety of other business ventures as well. He graduated from
Central Bucks West HS, and lives with his partner Terrie. He has a 6 year old
son and a 10 year old daughter. Pete enjoys all kinds of outdoor activities
including boating, fishing, camping and skiing. He is an energetic, imaginative
guy and a wonderful addition to our Allentown Kiwanis family. Pete is the 6th
new member to join our club this year, and we have another new member who we
plan to induct at an upcoming meeting. CONGRATULATIONS PETE, and THANK YOU Bob
Ashcraft for sponsoring this new member!
Annual
Club Picnic a Success
We had a wonderful time at
our annual club picnic on June 19. Approximately 25 members and their guests
attended. There was delicious and AMPLE picnic fare (Nick is still dining on
leftover hot dogs), great fellowship, and a spirited quoits tournament! Young
Chang and his son, Larry “The Leaner” Kistler, Pete Ambrosino, Enos Martin,
and Tom Harp participated. But in the end a NEW CHAMP was crowned- Nick
“Lord of the Rings” Lukow! Nick
certainly “raised the bar” for future tournaments.
Larry must add “Eye of the Tiger” to his I-Pod play list and “hit
the slate” with hours of quoits practice to be able to de-throne the champ
next year! The kids that joined us had a great time as well, exploring a nearby
creek and finding unexpected treasure in the form of a set of discarded football
shoulder pads. This was nearly the longest day of the year, and we took
advantage of that and the gorgeous weather to prolong the gathering as late as
possible. Thanks to all who helped make this annual event a big success!

Pa.
District Kiwanis Convention
Please
notify Tom Harp as soon as possible if you would like to attend the annual state
Kiwanis convention August 14-17 in Altoona. Our club has already budgeted
registration fees for three members, who are all eligible to be delegates. It
should be a fun and informative time!
Miracle
League Games
Our team, the “Allentown
Kiwanis Angels” will be playing in Miracle League of the Lehigh Valley games
on the following dates this month:
¨
Sunday, July 13, 2:30 PM v. the
Red Sox
¨
Saturday, July 19, 3:30 PM v. the
Mets
¨
Wednesday, July 23, 7:00 PM v. the
Rockies
Please try to attend at
least one of these games to show support for our team! Also, if you are
interested in volunteering to run the concession stand during those games,
contact Tom Harp at 610-428-1427.
Upcoming
Programs
July 3 – Joe Garrera, Director of the
Lehigh County Historical Society. “Lincoln and the Gettysburg Address”. Invocation:
Bob Ashcraft
July 17 –
Bernie Durant. “My Baseball
Career”.
Invocation: John McKeever
July 18 – KIWANIS NIGHT AT THE
IRONPIGS! 7:05 PM
Next Board Meeting: TBA
July Birthdays

15 - Peg Harp
Tom Harp, Editor