Union Township OKs July 4th parade through township and Jonestown

This article was funded by LebTown donors as part of our Civic Impact Reporting Project.

During its Jan. 14 meeting, the Union Township Board of Supervisors approved a parade on July 3 to celebrate the country’s 250-year anniversary the following day.

The route will start at the Lebanon Area Evangelical Free Church parking lot, proceed onto Shepherd Street heading north, onto Jonestown Road heading east over the bridge, through Jonestown, turn right onto South Mill Street, and end at Jonestown Community Park. Jonestown Borough Council already approved the parade, which will go through both Union Township and Jonestown Borough, on Jan. 5.

Lebanon’s Angelina Marko is leading the charge in organizing the parade. She provided the township with a packet outlining some key reasons for the parade, such as honoring military legacy, boosting patriotism and unity, showcasing strength and innovation, educating the public, and celebrating national milestones.

Marko said at the Jonestown meeting that they plan to ask local businesses to sponsor the event.

Township manager Brent McFeaters said it’s exciting for Union and Jonestown to be part of this historical milestone.

“I think the whole country is excited about 250 years, so I‘m happy that they’re doing it,” he said after the meeting. “I’m happy that they run the Memorial Day parade here, as well. I think it’s a good event for the county.”

The parade will start staging at the church parking lot at 4:30 p.m. for a start time of 6 p.m. The information packet says it will end at approximately 8 p.m.

Organizers are requesting barricades to close the streets, and they said they can set them up themselves, if needed.

Newest supervisor Stephen Lum said he was approached about serving on the committee for the parade, and organizers want a representative from each involved municipality. Solicitor Paul Bametzreider suggested the board hold a vote for the appointment, so they officially appointed him to the position.

In other business, supervisors:

• Accepted a 90-day extension letter for the BL Companies’ preliminary final subdivision/land development plan at 2855, 2861, and 2867 PA-72. This will extend the plan to May 1.
• Approved an escalator clause resolution, as recommended by township engineer Stephen Sherk, to help guard against inflated bids.
• Voted to approve Lum’s health-care benefits, with Lum recusing himself from the vote. He will be deferring the benefits at this time, but would like the opportunity to pick the benefits up if he needs them in the future.
• Raised the planning commission and zoning hearing board member rates from $25 per meeting to $50 per meeting. Lum recused himself from the vote due to a familial connection.
• Approved a quote of $495 from Powerton Generators for two annual maintenance services for the township’s emergency generator.
• Gave Sherk permission to advertise bids for the township’s 2026 paving projects, which will be Campmeeting and Green Point School roads.

Union Township supervisors will meet next at 3111 PA-72 on Feb. 11 at 6:30 p.m.