Concerned Parents of Parkland - CPOP

06/17/2026

The proposed Atlas DataCenter is of interest to many district families, so we are sharing this information from Sharon Fehlinger-Ricker (Township Commissioner) about the upcoming Planning Commission meeting on Thursday, July 9. Comments MUST be made in person.

We are not experts in the details of the data center and will not be able to accurately answer your questions, but we encourage you to do your homework to read up on it, and plan to attend the meeting if you want to share comments.

06/08/2026

Documents show that at least two South Whitehall Township departments do not recommend building the data center campus as it’s currently proposed.

06/08/2026

Parents in the Parkland Schools - Parent Support Group (UNOFFICIAL) have asked for support on this petition asking the District to continue to offer after-school activity buses. These buses are crucial for many students at the middle and high schools to be able to attend after-school activities (tutoring, arts, athletics) that otherwise would require parent pick-up. Alternatively, the District could provide a supervised safe space in each building so that they could stay later at school to wait for pickup. Of course these buses cost money and perhaps there's a way to make them more cost-efficient... but it's impossible to walk or bike down Cedar Crest Boulevard from the high school safely.

Preserve Late Activity Transportation for Parkland Students

04/20/2026

Tomorrow, Tuesday April 21st, will be the next school board meetings.
At 6pm, there will be a presentation on LERTA during the workshop session.

03/15/2026

The drug manufacturer Eli Lilly has plans to build a large manufacturing facility in Upper Macungie, potentially bringing new jobs to our district. Upper Macungie Township, where the facility would be located, has approved a “LERTA” designation for that property, meaning that improvements to the property will be tax assessed at a reduced rate over the next 10 years (no real estate tax on the improvements in the first year, 90% exempted in the second year, etc.). LERTA stands for “Local Economic Revitalization Tax Assistance” Act.

The UMT Commissioners’ minutes state that “The School District and County will need to adopt similar ordinances for their respective real estate taxes. Both PSD and the County are aware of the Township’s intent and view the designation as favorable.”

We are still learning about how this LERTA designation will affect the school taxes paid by Eli Lilly to the Parkland School District, and the School Board’s Solicitor will explain more about this issue and the options available to the Board at this week’s meeting (Tuesday, March 17 at 7 PM at the Administration Building). We encourage you to attend the meeting if you have questions about this important issue facing our District!

Note: This post was edited to more accurately reflect our current understanding as of 3/15/26.

02/27/2026

PBS39 hosted a community conversation last night regarding data centers. Watch it here.

Artificial intelligence is driving an unprecedented demand for data centers, large-scale facilities that consume significant land, water, and energy. In Penn...

02/11/2026

A highly anticipated review of a massive data center campus proposal will have to wait for another day.

01/22/2026

Take what helps.
❄️TAKE HEED! ❄️
❄️GREAT WHITE HYPE IS COMING! ❄️

BEFORE THE STORM (24–48 HOURS AHEAD)
❄️1. Charge all phones, power banks, tablets, and rechargeable lanterns.
❄️2. Fill vehicle gas tanks in case stations lose power.
❄️3. Get cash in small bills in case card systems go down.
❄️4. Pick up prescriptions and essential medications early.
❄️5. Download movies, books, and maps for offline use.
❄️6. Identify one warm room in the house to “camp out” if power fails.
❄️7. Locate water shut-off valve and breaker box now, not later.
❄️8. Set fridge and freezer to colder settings to hold temperature longer.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

WATER AND PIPE PROTECTION
❄️9. Drip faucets on exterior walls when temps drop below freezing.
❄️10. Open cabinet doors under sinks to allow warm air circulation.
❄️11. Disconnect garden hoses from outdoor spigots.
❄️12. Cover outdoor faucets with insulated caps or towels.
❄️13. Know how to shut off water quickly if a pipe bursts.
❄️14. Fill jugs, buckets, or bathtub with water for flushing and washing.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

FOOD AND KITCHEN PREP
❄️15. Keep 3–5 days of no-cook food: peanut butter, tuna, bread, crackers, canned meat, fruit cups.
❄️16. Have manual can opener available.
❄️17. Buy shelf-stable milk or powdered milk if needed.
❄️18. Freeze a few water bottles to act as freezer “ice packs.”
❄️19. Keep a cooler ready to move fridge food outside if power is out and temps are below freezing.
❄️20. Avoid stocking large amounts of perishables right before the storm.

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HEAT AND HOME SAFETY
❄️21. Gather extra blankets, sleeping bags, and warm layers.
❄️22. If using a fireplace, confirm chimney is clear and have dry wood.
❄️23. Never run generators or grills inside garages or homes.
❄️24. Test smoke and carbon-monoxide detectors.
❄️25. Have at least one flashlight per person plus spare batteries.
❄️26. Use battery lanterns instead of candles when possible.

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VEHICLE AND TRAVEL
❄️27. Plan to avoid driving once freezing rain begins.
❄️28. Bridges, overpasses, and shaded roads freeze first.
❄️29. Keep in the car: blanket, water, snacks, phone charger, gloves.
❄️30. Replace old wiper blades and top off washer fluid.
❄️31. Park away from large tree limbs when possible.
❄️32. Assume flights and travel may be disrupted for days.

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POWER OUTAGE PLAN
❄️33. Unplug sensitive electronics to avoid surge damage.
❄️34. Keep one battery radio or weather app for updates.
❄️35. Use surge protectors for TVs and computers.
❄️36. Know where warming centers may be in your parish.
❄️37. Have extension cords ready if using a generator outside.
❄️38. Keep refrigerator closed to preserve cold air.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

PETS AND LIVESTOCK
❄️39. Bring pets indoors with extra food and water.
❄️40. Provide outdoor animals with unfrozen water sources.
❄️41. Add straw or blankets to outdoor shelters.
❄️42. Keep leashes and carriers accessible in case of evacuation.

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MEDICAL AND SPECIAL NEEDS
❄️43. Keep a written list of medications and dosages.
❄️44. Store a small first-aid kit with thermometer and basic meds.
❄️45. Have backup batteries for medical devices.
❄️46. Identify a place with power you could relocate to if needed.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

PROPERTY PROTECTION
❄️47. Move vehicles away from trees or power lines.
❄️48. Secure outdoor furniture and lightweight items.
❄️49. Avoid trimming trees during the storm—do it beforehand.
❄️50. Photograph property for insurance before conditions worsen.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

DURING THE STORM
❄️51. Do not drive unless absolutely necessary.
❄️52. Assume downed lines are live and dangerous.
❄️53. Use only safe indoor heating methods.
❄️54. Check on neighbors, especially elderly, by phone if possible.
❄️55. Report outages to utility companies rather than 911 unless it’s an emergency.

❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️❄️

AFTER THE STORM
❄️56. Walk carefully—ice may refreeze overnight.
❄️57. Check pipes for leaks as temperatures rise.
❄️58. Throw out refrigerated food if above 40°F for more than 4 hours.
❄️59. Avoid DIY electrical repairs around downed lines.
❄️60. Be patient—restoring power after ice can take several days.

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KEY REALITY FOR SOUTHERN ICE EVENTS
❄️A quarter inch of ice can bring scattered outages.
❄️Half an inch can cripple travel and power for days.
❄️Ice is more dangerous than snow for the Deep South

(I'm not sure the original author of this or I would tag/ give credit!)

01/20/2026

The first meeting with the LV Planning Commission is today at noon! (link to virtual meeting in comments!)

The land sits at 2493 N. Cedar Crest Blvd., across the street from Parkland High School.

01/15/2026

Info on the proposed data center across from the high school!!!!

Next week, the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission (LVPC) will discuss its initial review of the plans.