Allentown, PA — Agents, staff and friends of Howard Hanna The Frederick Group and Hanna Frederick Commercial Real Estate have adopted a two-mile stretch of Cedar Crest Boulevard between Tilghman Street and Walbert Avenue and will conduct several litter pick-ups over the next two years to keep the highway clean and attractive.

The program is part of Howard Hanna The Frederick Group’s ongoing commitment to the Lehigh Valley, which in the past has included sponsorship of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce’s annual Commercial Real Estate Luncheon and a long-standing sponsorship of the Lehigh Valley March of Dimes signature fund-raising event.

“The Lehigh Valley is our home. We care about our home as much as we care about the homes and businesses we represent for our sellers and buyers across the greater Lehigh Valley region,” said Realtor Betty Shuster-Hanzlik, who brought the adoption concept to her colleagues. “We were thrilled for the opportunity to work with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation on the Adopt-A-Highway Program and we anticipate a great turnout for our first clean-up activity this month.”

The litter pick-up will take place between 9 and 10:30 a.m. on Saturday, May 22. Howard Hanna The Frederick Group representatives will don specially designed tee-shirts and safety vests provided by PennDOT, which will retrieve the bags of litter and waste collected by the group.

The Adopt-A-Highway Program began in 1984 when James Evans, an engineer for the Texas Department of Transportation, witnessed litter blowing out of the back of a pickup truck he was following in Tyler Texas. Concerned about the increasing cost to the government of keeping roadways clean, Evans began asking community groups to volunteer to pick up trash along designated sections of local state highways.

Evans got few takers for his idea, however, in 1985, Billy Black, the Public Information Officer for the Texas Department of Transportation took up the cause and organized the first official Adopt A Highway program.

In April of 1990, The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT) began its Adopt A Highway (AAH) program. Since 1990, volunteers have been beautifying roadsides two miles at a time.

Requirements/Responsibilities

•Adoption Time Length: 2 years

•Adoption Area Size and Location: State highway right-of-ways, including interchange areas, traffic islands or two-mile sections of roadway.

•Age Requirements: Participants must be 8 years of age or older. There must be at least one adult (18 years of age or older) per eight minors (17 years of age or younger). Minors must have parental permission.

•Pickup Events Per Year: minimum of 2

•PennDOT will provide Saftety vests, trash bags, work gloves, “Litter Crew Ahead” signs (when necessary) and other equipment as required by your PennDOT representative.

•PennDOT will pick up bagged litter from the roadside and post signs in recognition of your efforts.

Doug Frederick Broker and Franchise Owner for Howard Hanna The Frederick Group and Hanna Frederick Commercial Real Estate, said the opportunity to participate in beautifying even a small portion of the Valley reflects the company’s long commitment to the region, the people, and the businesses his agency serves.

“We want to thank PennDOT for this opportunity to give back to those who have given so much to us over the years. Our business is very community based. Our philosophy has always been one of volunteering and responding with gratitude to those who have helped us become successful over the past five decades,” Frederick said.

“We enjoy reaching in and helping out, whether it is with our residential and commercial clients, or with our community at large. This is important to us because it is important to our community,” he added.

Rain Date Saturday, June 5. Please check the Howard Hanna The Frederick Group Facebook page for updates or call 610-398-0411 for more information.

Information provided to TVL by:
Joe McDermott
Howard Hanna The Frederick Group
https://lehighvalley.howardhanna.com/

 

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