Barrett Township, PA

To whom it may concern:

Until recently, with Blue Ridge Cable's phone service, the modem came with a battery backup.  This way, if the power at your house goes out, you can still call 911 while the battery is still charged (approx. 4 hours).

Now, Blue Ridge's modems are the new "DOCSIS 3.1" technology, and they don't include a battery!  They now require you to purchase the battery separately (see below).  Customers that still have the old DOCSIS 3.0 modems will continue to have battery backup available until Blue Ridge replaces that modem.  

For now, my suggestion is that you purchase your own "UPS" battery backup (Amazon link) instead, so that you can plug not only your cable modem, but also your WiFi router, cell phone, laptop, etc.

Editor's Note: Please be advised that there are health, privacy, and security implications that come along with this new technology!  Below is the actual letter that I recently received from PP&L about new "smart" meters being installed.

Official PP&L Links:

• https://www.pplelectric.com/newmeters
• https://www.pplelectric.com/reliability/new-electric-meters/meter-data-privacy-notice.aspx

Further Reading:

• Examples of sources of High Frequency electromagnetic radiation: Mobile phone towers, Mobile phones, Smart meters and all the appliances that connect to it in ‘smart grid’, Wi-Fi and Wi-Fi enables devices, Cordless phones, Bluetooth, Digital radio and TV, Radar and airport navigation systems, Baby monitors
• stopsmartmeters.org
• Breaking: New Mexico rejects PNM Smart Meter proposal — “it does not promote the public interest”
• Who Will Pay The Ransom When Smart Meters Are Hacked Into?
• Big Government Pushing For Smart Meters Once Again, Will Your Home Be Monitored?

May 11, 2018

In coming months, we will be replacing our electric meter on your property as part of our state-approved plan to upgrade all our customers' electric meters. Your new meter will benefit you in several ways: It will help us improve the reliability of your service by better detecting power outages. And, over time, the new meters will give you improved access to data that will help you manage your energy use. Here's what you can expect during the replacement:

Some thoughts regarding the snow storm that wiped out the power throughout much of the Pocono region back in early March, 2018: 

The Starner’s Exxon gas station was one of the only working gas stations around.  On Sunday 3/4/18, the underground, 10-thousand-gallon tanks were filled up.  On Wednesday 3/7/18, the tanker truck was back in town, and we were down to around 25% capacity.  That means that as a town, we would have run out of gas in less than 7 days!  

For all who are concerned about losing the Recycling Center in Barrett:

Original Article:

Now you get to do the work that China won’t.

The huge dirty secret of recycling was also one of the world’s worst polluters.

Every branch of government from Washington D.C. to your local town council had spent a fortune convincing people that recycling is a magical process that turns your old pizza boxes into new pizza boxes while creating those imaginary “green jobs” in the community. The reality was a lot dirtier.

All of America’s industries, including trash sorting, had been outsourced to China.

And recycling is just a fancy lefty way of saying "trash." All that recycling, which children in progressive communities are taught to sort as the closest thing to a religious ritual, was really being dumped by the ton on dirty ships and sent over to China. We weren’t recycling it. The Chinese were.

But now China is banning foreign recycling because it’s bad for the environment.

Update 7/12/18:
This ordinance was passed at the last night's (July 11) meeting

Clarification:
This ordinance only applies to 'large' fireworks displays (e.g. if you hire a professional company).  All others are regulated by the State of Pennsylvania.  

Pennsylvania's purchases of consumer-grade fireworks are limited to buyers 18 and older, and have usage restrictions, including requiring permission from the property owner, not using them inside buildings or motor vehicles or within 150 feet of an occupied structure.

Further reading:
http://www.psp.pa.gov/public-safety/pages/fireworks-safety.aspx

Time: 8am – 12pm

Dates:
August 4, 2018
September 8, 2018
October 13, 2018

(Contact the Maintenance Dept for a weekday drop-off appointment – 570-595-7866. 24 hr notice required. Available May 6 through Oct 12 only)

Clean-Up takes place at the Barrett Township Maintenance Facility, 194 Sandspring Rd, Cresco, PA. Clean-up is for Barrett Township residents only. Must show valid ID when checking in.