Salisbury Press

The Arts Academy Charter School is officially up and running for the 2012-2013 school year.

The school was founded by Dr. Thomas Lubben, who opened the Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Performing Arts, Bethlehem.

The middle school, which contains grades five through eight, is located in the Washington School building, formerly KidsPeace, on Emmaus Avenue, Salisbury Township.

A vote to accept or reject adopting the Salisbury Township Comprehensive Plan is expected to be on the agenda of the township Board of Commissioners' first monthly meeting, 7 p.m. Sept. 13, Salisbury Township Municipal Building, 2900 South Pike Avenue.

The township Planning Commission has voted to recommend adoption of the plan by the BOC.

There is something special about dogs. Their panting smile, appreciation for affection and simple excitement about life can have a profound effect on someone's day.

The ability to bring a smile to a stranger's face is the reason 10-year-old Kasey Schlack, of Salisbury, gains great pleasure from being a certified Therapy Dogs International handler.

Salisbury High School opens Aug. 27 for orientation welcoming ninth grade students and new students to the district.

Harry S Truman Elementary School opens its doors Aug. 27 for orientation and welcomes kindergarten and first grade students.

Lehigh County officials unveiled in back-to-back press events Aug. 28 the county's new executive and the proposed 2013 county budget.

President Judge Carol McGinley administered the oath of office to 75-year-old William Hansell, a former city council member and business administrator with decades of experience in government and management.

Hansell replaces Don Cunningham who, after six years, left the position to become executive director of the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation.

July was a particular busy month for the Salisbury Township Police Department, based on a report issued at the recent Board of Commissioners' meeting and a recently-concluded murder investigation.

The new six-month police department report was issued by Salisbury Township Police Chief Allen W. Stiles.

"We brought our homicide case to a successful conclusion after a long investigation," Stiles said.

When Dr. Carl Weber retired at the end of June as principal at St. Thomas More School, he hinted his successor as principal, then Vice Principal Peter Schutzler would be implementing new computer technology to enhance the learning process for STM students.

Weber was not kidding. Schutzler last week said STM would begin phasing in a program providing personal Apple iPads for every student for academic use by the end of the 2013-2014 school year.