Salisbury Press

First of four parts

For a police department of 19 officers, two of whom are part time, patrolling 11.4 square miles from woods to interstates, from neighborhoods to a major regional trauma center and charged with protecting the public safety of 13,505 residents, last year was, to put it mildly, busy for the Salisbury Township Police Department.

The 2012 police report was released by Salisbury Township Chief of Police Allen W. Stiles to the board of commissioners, township officials and the media at the Feb. 14 township meeting.

AMERICAN CANCER SOCIETY INC. needs volunteers for its Daffodil Days fundraising event. Contact Rosemarie Murphy at 610-921-2329, ext. 3109 or Rosemarie.Murphy@cancer.org.

COMMUNITY ACTION COMMITTEE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY (CACLV), Bethlehem, is seeking community members to become certified tax preparation volunteers through the IRS supported Volunteer Income Tax Assistance Program, as well as other volunteers to assist with hospitality functions at free tax sites in Lehigh County. Contact Nicole Folino at 484-893-1031 or nfolino@caclv. org.

Animals are available for adoption at the Center for Animal Health & Welfare no-kill shelter, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton. The shelter is working to end pet overpopulation by running a clinic so animals can be spayed or neutered before they go home. For more information, call 610-252-7722 or visit www.healthyanimalcenter.org.

The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection has awarded Salisbury Township a $15,000 grant from its Growing Greener Plus Program.

Salisbury Township Manager Randy Soriano said the grant "will be used to fund the rehabilitation of the stormwater basin located next to the Administration Building on South Pike Avenue.

"Currently, water streams out of the basin onto South Pike Avenue, creating dangerous conditions for drivers during heavy storms."

PRESS PHOTOS BY TYLER D. MARTIN

St. Ann School welcomes Bishop John Barres to the school.

For many Christians, the cross is the symbol of their faith. It represents the sacrifice and suffering of Christ and gives hope to many others.

For Doug Lapp, of Coopersburg, the cross represents how he shares his faith with others through his talents.

Lapp makes wooden crosses and gives them away.

He was born and raised in the Nazarene church with three uncles and a cousin holding the position of minister.

In 1976, he married Tammy and the two began attending Trinity Memorial Lutheran Church in Allentown.

Nearly 50 elementary school age Cub Scouts from the Trexler District of the Minsi Trails Council who have placed in their local races gathered March 2 for the "The Big Race" to see who fashioned the fastest car made from a block of pinewood.

The event was held at the Mack Customer Service Center behind the Queen City Airport off Lehigh Street in Allentown.

Scouts from eight Cub Packs and family members from the Trexler District of the Minsi Trails Council of Boy Scouts of America participated in the annual derby event.

The Lehigh County Commissioners tabled a bill that would extend the charter of the Lehigh County Authority at its Feb. 27 meeting.

The LCA's charter, which currently expires in 36 years, needs to be extended an additional 14 years in order for the authority to bid on the proposed 50-year lease for Allentown's water.

Dr. Terrence Roberts, who was one of the "Little Rock Nine," the first group of black students to be formally integrated into a white school, visited Penn State Lehigh Valley Feb. 27 in honor of Black History Month.

March 7

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of Executive Women International will celebrate their 30th anniversary 6 to 8:30 p.m. at the Tompkins College Center Dining Hall at Cedar Crest College, Allentown. For information regarding membership, contact Jennifer Ceneviva at jniffer20@ yahoo.com.

Allentown AARP Chapter #5415 will meet noon at St. Timothy's Church, 140 South Ott St., Allentown. Sara Ullmer from the Crime Victim's Council will speak on "elder abuse." Bring a nonperishable food item for the Allentown Food Bank.