Latest News
Volunteer needed to represent Clarks Summit Borough on the Abington Regional Wastewater Authority (ARWA) - ARWA is the sewerage treatment facitility located on Rts 6 & 11 in South Abington Township. It is owned jointly by Clarks Summit, South Abington and Clarks Green. Each municipality appoints representatives to sit on the ARWA Board and represent their community and the Council. We are seeking a replacement for a long term volunteer who has recently needed to step down. If you are a resident and interested in volunteering, please email or mail a letter of interest to the Borough Manager, Virginia Kehoe, at manager@clarkssummitpa.gov or 304 S State St Clarks Summit.
Multi-Agency Resource Center To Open September 21, 22 & 23
A temporary Multi-Agency Resource Center (MARC) will open next week to provide much needed resource information and guidance to the residents and businesses that experienced significant damage from the September 9 storm. The Resource Center will be located in the rear garage of the Chinchilla Fire Company, 113 Shady Lane Road, South Abington Township. Signage will direct people where to park and enter the building. The center will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday, September 21, 22 & 23. The hours of operation are 10 AM – 6 PM on Thursday and Friday, and 9 AM – 2 PM on Saturday. The County is partnering with COLTS/Coordinated Transportation to designate a Scranton pick-up location for those residents who want to get to the MARC but have no transportation. The goal of the MARC is to offer residents information and answer questions.
The Public Damage Assessment link is https://damage-assessment-3-pema.hub.arcgis.com. After clicking on the link, residents must then look for the incident name/title from the drop-down box 09/09/2023 Northeast PA Flooding Public Report. This is the only location where the information can be submitted and accepted. It vitally important to fill out the assessment to help State and local officials gauge the damage and then plan the recovery effort.
If residents are experiencing difficulties filling-out the on-line Damage Assessment Link, assistance will be available at the MARC. The agencies scheduled to be at the MARC are: Lackawanna County EMA, Pennsylvania Emergency Management, Pennsylvania Department of Human Services, Pennsylvania Insurance Department, Attorney General’s Office, Lackawanna County Department of Health, Red Cross, Department of Environmental Protection, and others to be confirmed.
As a reminder, it is very important that all residents and business owners document all of the damage to their property via written copy and photos. Everyone should also keep track of the expenses and hold onto all receipts involved in the cleanup and recovery of their properties.
PEMA’S Public Damage Assessment Link
The Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) has launched a Public Damage Assessment Link for area residents and businesses to report the damage done to their properties in the affected municipalities by the September 9 storm. PEMA and Lackawanna County 911 and EMA officials stress the reporting link is not an application for assistance nor a guarantee of assistance. It is a step in the State’s process to alert Commonwealth and local officials where to go for damage assessment. The link will be open from today (September 13) through Sunday, September 24. The link of Public Damage Assessment is link https://damage-assessment-3-pema.hub.arcgis.com
After clicking on the link, residents must then look for the incident name/title from the drop-down box 09/09/2023 Northeast PA Flooding Public Report. This is the only location where the information can be submitted and accepted. It vitally important to fill out the assessment to help State and local officials gauge the damage and then plan the recovery effort.
County staff will be available at the Multi Agency Resource Center (MARC) to assist residents and business owners in filling out the assessment if they are experiencing difficulties in navigating the form.
It is also very important that all residents and business owners document all of the damage to their property via written copy and photos. Everyone should also keep track of the expenses and hold onto all receipts involved in the cleanup and recovery of their properties.
Residents affected by Saturday's storm: Please contact the borough office at 570-586-9316 for instructions on debris cleanup.
Clarks Summit State of Emergency - Along with Lackawanna County and our neighboring communities, The Borough of Clarks Summit has declared a state of emergency as a result of the extreme rainfall on Saturday, September 9. We are working with the County to meet with PEMA and hope that the state will declare a disaster and federal and/or state monies will be available for assistance. We are asking all residents who experienced damages as a result of the rain to call the borough office and notify us of your damages. We will gladly reach back to you if/when we know what help will be made available.
YouTube video of Wednesday, 6/28/23 Work Session - We apoligize but during the meeting we lost the internet and were unable to reconnect. Be assured no action took place and the discussion will continue at our 7/5/23 Regular Council Meeting.
Outreach with the Office of Bridget Kozierowski - Representative Bridget Kozierowski will hold a monthly outreach the third Wednesday of every month from 11AM to 1PM in the Borough building beginning July 19.
Rep. Kosierowski will have a staff member there to assist with any state related needs that regional residents might have, from Property Tax Rent Rebate assistance, to PennDot help, to Unclaimed Treasury searches. Her team members will, of course, stay after 1PM to be sure that any resident needs are completely addressed.
Information from 5/17/23 Town Hall - please click on links following: 5-17-23 Town Hall TOWN HALL agenda
Urgent notice re: Morgan Highway - PennDOT has contracted out roadwork on SR 307 Morgan Highway from Lahey Family Fun Park to Winola Road Intersection. Prep work will begin tentatively on 4/17/23, and milling and pave work will begin tentatively on 5/1/23. Work should complete tentatively around 6/29/23. Roadwork will be daytime work between the hours of 7AM and 5PM. We will use flaggers at ends and intersections to pass traffic through a one lane pattern.
Unless public health concerns require otherwise, all scheduled meetings will be open to the public and held in Council Chambers with the ability to be observed simultaneously via YouTube. The YouTube link is located on our web page at https://www.clarkssummitboro.org. The YouTube link is intended only to permit individuals to observe the meeting live and is not intended for active participation. Only individuals who appear in person may address the Council. However, questions may be submitted to the Borough Manager via email at manager@clarkssummitpa.gov prior to the date of the meeting if an individual is unable to appear in person.
JP Mascaro - Notification regarding trash and recycling pickup - Due to a severe labor shortage, JP Mascaro, the Borough's contracted trash hauler, is experiencing disruptions to their collection schedule. Should your trash or recyclables not be picked up on their regularly scheduled day, please leave them out at the curb for the next day.
Beginning with its June 2, 2021 public meeting, Borough Council may resume in-person public meetings at the Borough Building.
As you know, since the onset of the Covid-19 pandemic, Council meetings and all work sessions have been held via Zoom conference. Due to the unique nature of Covid-19, municipalities were urged by Governor Wolf’s administration to declare a state of emergency which legally allowed municipalities to close its facilities and temporarily conduct public meetings virtually in order to help limit the spread of the disease. As the number of vaccinated individuals has increased and the number of new Covid-19 cases decreased, guidelines from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention CDC and the Pennsylvania Department of Health have loosened. As the risk for spreading the virus has lessened, Borough officials have expressed interest in resuming in-person, public meetings.
Pursuant to an Order entered by Governor Wolf on May 17, 2021, Pennsylvania’s Covid-19 mitigation orders relating to social gatherings will be lifted, effective May 31, 2021. Governor Wolf has stated that the masking order will be remain in place until 70% of Pennsylvanians who are 18 and older are fully vaccinated.
Based on the anticipated change in restrictions in Pennsylvania beginning on May 31st, Clarks Summit Borough Council may hold an in-person, public meeting at the Borough Building on June 2, 2021 and continue thereafter unless new restrictions are imposed by the Governor. Pursuant to the ongoing masking order, Council members, Borough officials and members of the public should continue to wear face masks at all times that they are in the Borough building. At its discretion, Council may permit individuals to remove their masks while speaking so that they can be clearly heard.
Pursuant to the Governor’s Order, there are no restrictions on the number of persons who can attend our meetings. The only occupancy limitations will be those established by the National Fire Protection Association (NFPA) Life Safety Code
THE OPEN DOOR FOOD PANTRY - sponsored by The Gathering Place, the First Presbyterian Church and Our Lady of Snows Church is available in the Elevator Lobby of the Clarks Summit Borough Building. Please take what you need or leave what you can.
ARE YOU OK?
If you are being hurt at home, or witnessing others being hurt in your home, Use these resources to have your message heard.
THERE IS HELP FOR YOU.
Download the app from the Apple or Google Play Store to submit a report. Or call 1-844-723-2729. SAFE2SAY SOMETHING
CHILDLINE:
Call the national hotline, available 24/7, to make a confidential report 1-800-932-0313.
LACKAWANNA POLICE:
Call the Lackawanna County Police Department non-emergency number to make a report 570-342-9111.
TEXT 911:
Text 911 if you are in an emergency situation. Remember to provide your address so help can find you.
www.cacnepa.org | (570)969-7313
CALL 911:
Call 911 if you are in immediate danger. Answer any questions the dispatcher has so that help can find you.
THERE IS NO CHANGE TO CLARKS SUMMIT BOROUGH RECYCLABLES: Clarks Summit does not use the Lackawanna County Recycling Center for most recyclables thereforet there is no change in the items you may put out to recycle. Also all of the following may be co-mingled.
#1-7 Plastic Bottles, #1-7 Plastic Tubs & Screw Top Jars, Cans, Clean, Balled Aluminum Foil (2″ or Larger) and Pie Pans, Corrugated Cardboard & Paper Bags, Empty Aerosol Cans (No Caps), Empty Pizza Boxes, File Folders, Glass Bottles & Jars, Loose Metal Jar Lids & Steel Bottle Caps, Magazines, Brochures & Catalogs, Newspapers & Inserts (No Plastic Bags), Opened Mail, Junk Mail, and Greeting Cards, Paper-back Books, Paperboard Boxes, Paper Egg Cartons, Paper Milk/Juice Cartons (No Foil Pouches), Phone Books, Rigid Plastics, Shredded Paper (must be in clear plastic bags), White or Pastel Office Paper
Boundaries
Clarks Summit is situated in Northeastern Pennsylvania, about seven miles away from Scranton. The northern terminal point for Interstate 476 is in our town and it is 1.58 square miles. It is surrounded by South Abington Township to the west, south, and east and Clarks Green and Waverly to the north.
Demographics
Link to 2020 Census data: https://pasdc.hbg.psu.edu/Data/PaSDC-Dashboards/Census-2020-Municipal-Data
As of the census[8] of 2010, there were 5,116 people, 2,216 households, and 1,407 families residing in the borough. The population density was 3,197.5 people per square mile (1,234.6/km²). There were 2,324 housing units at an average density of 1,452.5 per square mile (567.4/km²). The racial makeup of the borough was 97% White, 0.7% African American, 0.1% Native American, 1.2% Asian, 0.4% from other races, and 0.7% from two or more races. Hispanic or Latino of any race were 1.4% of the population.
There were 2,216 households, out of which 25.3% had children under the age of 18 living with them, 51.2% were married couples living together, 9.6% had a female householder with no husband present, and 36.5% were non-families. 32.3% of all households were made up of individuals, and 18.6% had someone living alone who was 65 years of age or older. The average household size was 2.31 and the average family size was 2.95.
In the borough the population was spread out, with 21.3% under the age of 18, 58.3% from 18 to 64, and 20.4% who were 65 years of age or older. The median age was 45.4 years.
History
PRE-REVOLUTION
Several north American Indian tribes settled and moved through what is now northeastern Pennsylvania. The Wyoming Valley was occupied by the "Six Nations". A boundary disputer with the State of New York was settled, and the forty-second parallel became Pennsylvania's northern boundary. A much more serious argument with Connecticut threatened to obliterate the forty-second parallel boundary and substitute the forty0first as the northern limit of the state.
The Connecticut title to the northern part of Pennsylvania arose from the interpretation which Connecticut placed upon its sea-to-sea charter of 1662. In theory, at least, the western boundary of Connecticut was the Pacific Ocean. The Connecticut Colony claimed all this land, with the exception of any "then possessed by other Christian prince or state." This exception forced Connecticut to leap over New York, but it did assert ownership of a strip of territory from the Delaware River westward to the Mississippi River.
In 1753 Connecticut people organized the Susquehanna Company for the purpose of acquiring Wyoming lands from the Indians and settling New Englanders upon it. Governor James Hamilton officially protested to Governor Roger Wolcott of Connecticut, without any result.
As Connecticut settlers took up land in the Wyoming Valley, the issue became serious enough for fighting to occur. Several so-called Yankee-Pennamite Wars (a confrontation of unbelievable brutality as one of its bloodiest battles, the Wyoming Massacre, will attest) were fought, but still the Penns could not evict the New Englanders. By 1774 there were almost two thousand Connecticut people in the Valley. At this point Connecticut formerly took possession by making the region into the New England town of Westmoreland within the County of Litchfield, Connecticut. Soon there were 5,000 New Englanders in the area which, since 1772, had been part of Northumberland County, Pennsylvania.
Unable to evict the invaders, Pennsylvania decided to appeal to a higher authority, but it had to await the formation of such an authority. The beginning of the end of the controversy was the establishment of the Confederation under the Articles on March 1, 1781. This allowed for disputes between states to be resolved through a petition to Congress. Pennsylvania did petition, and Congress gave orders. On August 3rd, 1782, the Supreme Executive Council of Pennsylvania consented to the nominees for the court, which met in Trenton, New Jersey. After hearing both side, the court gave its decision, usually nominated the "Trenton Degree", on December 30th, 1782, in favor of Pennsylvania.
POST REVOLUTIONARY WAR
Following the War, Congress had little or no money. To pay the "American" soldiers, land was given to them to settle. One of these first settler/soldiers was William Clark, who fought at the Battle of Bunker Hill and was with Washington at the Battle of Trenton. He was given 800 acres of land in Pennsylvania and was one of the first settlers to come to "Ebington", as it was then known.
The parcel granted to William Clark was part of the land in dispute and when he went to verify his deed at the land grant office in Luzerne County, he was told that his claim was worthless, and if he wished to settle on the land he would have to pay for it. Historical records have William Clark and his three sons arriving in the Abington wilderness around the middle of March, 1799. William Clark built his log cabin on the hill where the Clarks Green Cemetery is now located.
Early settlers faced many obstacles in their efforts to gain a foothold in what were mostly hostile surrounding. At that time the Abingtons as we know it today was part of Tunkhannock Township, an area covering 41 square miles. The main industry was farming. Confounding their efforts, was the need to fight a constant battle against wolves. A serious, persistent threat menacing human life and livestock.
TURNPIKES & RAILROADS
Companies were formed and turnpikes were created, charging tools. One of the first of these was the Philadelphia and Great Bend Turnpike. It was chartered by the Pennsylvania Legislature in 1818. It connected two rivers, the Delaware and the Susquehanna, and was a direct route north from Philadelphia to New York State. From Stroudsburg the turnpike wound its way over the Poconos to Dunmore, then toward Chinchilla.
In 1824 Thomas Meredith (first Treasurer of the United States) obtained a charter for a railroad from the mouth of Leggett's Creek to Great Bend on the Susquehanna. The road was surveyed but failed for lack of funds.
On October 15th, 1851 the first train traveled from Great Bend to Scranton. With the arrival of the Northern Electric Railway in 1907 Clarks Summit finally came into its own. Not just Clarks Summit but the entire Abington area.
CLARK SUMMIT BOROUGH
"Now, August 30, 1911, the Court, after a full investigation of the above case, finds that the conditions prescribed by law have been compiled with, and believing it expedient to grant the prayer of the applicants, do hereby order and decrees that the village of Clarks Summit in the Township of South Abington, said County, and the land immediately adjacent thereto, be and the same hereby incorporated into a Borough, in conformity with the prayer of the petitioners, by the corporate name of the Borough of Clarks Summit."
First school 1893 the "graded School" was built on the south side of East Grove Street (the building was destroyed by fire from lightning 2 years later).
Oldest House 1837 is on West Grove Street. Formerly owned by several generations of the Snook family, the house is to the north of the Abington Community Library.
Oldest family run business, 1911, Bunnell Hardware, South State Street.
April, 1950 the borough manager form of government was adopted.
1953 a Bond Issue was approved for $125,000.00 to build the current Borough Building.
March, 1982 Allied Summit Apartments (Senior Housing) was opened on Linden Street.
October, 1983 the Hayes-McDade Apartments (Senior Housing) on Bedford Street was completed.
For an EXCELLENT source of information about Clarks Summit, see "Clarks Summit A Narrative" by Helen R. & John C. Villaume. A copy is available at the Abington Community Library.
