Salisbury Press

A health center proposed along East Emmaus Avenue has been approved by the Salisbury Township Zoning Hearing Board.

Zoners voted 5-0 at the Nov. 5 hearing to approve an appeal for a special exception for a "wellness facility" to be run by Gregory Reihman and his wife, Dr. Kristin C. Reihman, at 739 E. Emmaus Ave.

"I believe having this center in Salisbury would be a welcome addition," Gregory Reihman said.

"Last Vegas" is a hoot, starring four icons of contemporary cinema who have never appeared together in the same film.

Robert De Niro, Morgan Freeman, Michael Douglas and Kevin Kline star as senior citizens, who called themselves the Flatbush Four when they were Brooklyn, N.Y., youths. In "Last Vegas," the four reunite in Las Vegas for a bachelor party.

"12 Years A Slave" is a profound film depicting an era of unspeakable horror in the history of the United States, as well as a marker in the evolution of the depiction of slavery and race in American cinema.

On the west is Lehigh Valley Hospital - Cedar Crest.

To the east is the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem.

In between are major thoroughfares, including Interstate 78.

It all adds up to more work for the Salisbury Township Police Department.

Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles made his case for the promotion of a police officer to detective and the hiring of a new police officer as 2014 township budget talks continued at a special board of commissioners meeting Nov. 7.

St. Luke's Emergency and Transport Services will continue to provide emergency ambulance services in 2014 to eastern Salisbury Township.

Kermit C. Gorr, Jr., executive director, St. Luke's Emergency and Transport Services, updated the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners about the ETS service at the Nov. 7 township meeting in the Municipal Building.

St. Luke's ETS responded to 405 calls so far this year, a 19 percent increase from 2012, when it responded to 340 calls.

An amendment to the Salisbury Township Police Pension Plan was recently tabled by the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners.

Township commissioners voted 4-0, with one commissioner absent at the Oct. 24 meeting, to table the amendment, which must be considered as an ordinance, pending clarification of language.

Commissioners voted 5-0 to approve the motion at the Oct. 10 township meeting, but the motion was brought back for additional consideration.

A new assisted living facility has been given the go-ahead for construction by the Salisbury Township Board of Commissioners.

By a vote of 4-0, with one commissioner absent at the Oct. 24 meeting, the board approved the preliminary-final land development for Legacy Place, 2051 Bevin Drive.

The Salisbury Township Planning Commission had voted 5-0, with two planners absent Oct. 8, to recommend commissioners approve the preliminary-final land development plan for Legacy Place.

How funny is "Bad Grandpa'?

Take it from the ticket-seller at the multiplex: "The girl at the concession counter had to use her inhaler three times."

Don't take it from me.

Then again, two movie-goers walked out during the first 30 minutes at a recent matinee of "Bad Grandpa" at that same multiplex.

Don't take it from me.

"Next time, let's go to lunch and forget it when there's a bad movie," said an elderly woman to her two elderly female friends sitting in the row in front of me at the matinee.

The Muhlenberg College Department of Theater & Dance's "The Mystery of Edwin Drood," through Nov. 3, Empie Theatre, Baker Center for the Arts, Muhlenberg College, Allentown, is one of the best musical productions to ever hit the Lehigh Valley stage.

And it is a huge hit. From the opening immersive experience of the show's actors mingling with the audience as theater-goers take their seats and settle in, to the rousing finale, "The Mystery of Edwin Drood" is a must-see for musical-theater fans.

Based on preliminary 2014 budget talks, Salisbury Township residents may see an 11 percent hike in property taxes, or $33.25, based on the township average assessment of $207,817 for a single family dwelling.

The projected increase is based on a .16-mill increase from 1.42 mills to 1.58 mills (rounded off).

The hike is one option the township board of commissioners is considering. The board faces an ever-dwindling reserve fund, which is down to about $2 million from approximately $7 million in 2008.