Curb/Sidewalk Repair Deadline for 2021 Maintenance Schedule Extended to June 30, 2023

The deadline for the 2021 Maintenance Repair cycle of the Borough's Curb and Sidewalk Program has been extended to June 30, 2023. Residents who recently received a letter from the Borough outlining repairs required to either curbing or sidewalks, now have an additional eight (8) months to meet the required repairs. This extension is the result of limited contractor and material availability being experienced locally. Anyone with questions can contact the Borough at 717-597-7143 or via email at office@greencastlepa.gov.

Greencastle Stakeholders Asked to Participate in Tri-County Survey

The Tri-County Council for Western Maryland (TCCWMD) is designated by the US Department of Commerce Economic Development Administration (EDA) as the Economic Development District (EDD) and regional planning organization in Western Maryland. As an EDD, the Council is required to prepare a Comprehensive Economic Development Strategy (CEDS) to serve as the fundamental plan for economic development efforts for the communities we serve for the next five years. The survey seeks to understand the views of community members on the opportunities and threats associated with the region's economic growth and development. The Borough of Greencastle has been invited to participate in a survey to provide input into economic development issues in the tri-county area.

Participation in the survey is voluntary and answers will remain completely anonymous. All participants who complete the survey will be entered into a drawing to receive one of five $100 VISA gift cards. Participants must be 18 years or older.

The survey link will be available July 14 through August 15.

Tri-County Council for Western Maryland Economic Development Survey

West Penn Power Conducting Inspections and Maintenance to Help Enhance Service Reliability for Customers Through Summer Season

Company Release - 6/20/2022 9:30 AM ET

"We proactively inspect and maintain our equipment to help ensure our system is prepared for increased electrical demand when temperatures soar," said Scott Wyman, president of FirstEnergy's Pennsylvania operations. "These important steps help to minimize the length and impact of service interruptions should summer storms cause power outages."

West Penn Power crews are wrapping up inspections of electrical equipment located along neighborhood power lines to ensure the equipment is ready to perform reliably with elevated summer electrical demand, typically due to air conditioning usage.

Substation electricians use thermovision cameras during summer-readiness inspections to capture infrared images, helping to detect potential problems within substations and on power lines that cannot be observed during regular visual inspections. These images can identify equipment issues such as loose connections, corrosion and load imbalances, and utility workers are able to make repairs to prevent potential power outages in the future.

In addition, helicopter patrols have completed inspections of more than 1,700 miles of power lines owned by West Penn Power and Trans-Allegheny Interstate Line Company (TrAILCo), a FirstEnergy transmission subsidiary, located in the West Penn Power area. The inspections are designed to look for damaged wire, broken cross arms and other hardware problems not visible from the ground. Any potential reliability issues identified during the inspections will be addressed.

West Penn Power employees recently participated in an annual emergency preparedness drill to practice restoration processes and review storm-management tools critical to safely and quickly getting the lights back on following severe weather. The Atlantic hurricane season runs through November 30 and is forecast to be more active than normal this year, continuing a trend seen in recent years.

Customers can get tips to prepare in advance of severe weather, and view restoration updates if storms do cause power outages, by visiting FirstEnergy's 24/7 Power Center at www.firstenergycorp.com/outages.

With the summer storm season also comes higher-than-usual temperatures and rising energy costs. Customers can take steps to beat the heat while also managing their electricity bill this summer. The following tips can help customers use electricity wisely during this period of high demand:

Set thermostats as high as comfort will allow. Every degree a customer can increase the temperature in their home will result in using about 3 percent less energy during the summer.

Use fans – moving air cools skin faster, resulting in greater comfort on hot days.

During sunny weather, close drapes or blinds on windows facing the sun to prevent direct radiant heating from impacting interior temperatures.

Use a programmable or smart thermostat to keep temperatures higher when no one is home and to reduce the temperature before arrival back home.

Seal any leaks with caulk or weather stripping to prevent hot air from sneaking into your home.

Check air conditioner and furnace fan filters. Clogged filters waste energy and money by forcing HVAC systems to work harder than necessary.

Avoid using heat-producing appliances during the hottest hours of the day. The less heat produced at home, the less work the air conditioner must do.

Payment arrangements and assistance programs are available for customers who need help with their electric bills. For more information, visit www.firstenergycorp.com/billassist.

Summer is also a time when contractors and homeowners spend more time outdoors completing projects. Important outdoor electrical safety tips are available at www.firstenergycorp.com/publicsafety.

West Penn Power serves approximately 734,000 customers in 24 counties within central and southwestern Pennsylvania. Follow West Penn Power on Twitter @W_Penn_Power and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/WestPennPower.

FirstEnergy is dedicated to integrity, safety, reliability and operational excellence. Its 10 electric distribution companies form one of the nation's largest investor-owned electric systems, serving customers in Ohio, Pennsylvania, New Jersey, West Virginia, Maryland and New York. The company's transmission subsidiaries operate approximately 24,000 miles of transmission lines that connect the Midwest and Mid-Atlantic regions. Follow FirstEnergy on Twitter @FirstEnergyCorp or online at www.firstenergycorp.com.