40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 34 USPS 248-700
AUGUST 25-31, 2011 A General Circulation Newspaper Serving The Community Since 1942
SERVING BATH, CHAPMAN, NORTHAMPTON, NAZARETH BOROS; ALLEN, E. ALLEN, MOORE, LEHIGH, BUSHKILL, LOWER NAZARETH & UPPER NAZARETH TWPS.
Carol Ritter named head Of national speakers Carol S. Ritter, president of the LeBeam Chamber (Bath Borough, Moore, Lehigh and East Allen townships), proud partner of The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of
CAROL RITTER
Commerce, has been elected president of the National Speakers Association in Philadelphia. She began her term on July 1. As a proven Chamber leader, Carol is passionate and dedicated to the success of chamber businesses and the local community. Carol is an accomplished professional speaker, coach and educational consultant. NSA Philadelphia’s www. nsaphiladelphia.org mission is to assist speakers in growing their businesses as well as inspiring new speakers to hone their speaking skills. Carol designs innovative strategies for businesses to develop bullet-proof ideas for recruiting More Members, More Money And Better Leaders. To learn about Carol visit www.caroltalks. com. In addition to her presidency Carol was voted “Member of the Year” by the National Speakers Association in 2010.
Thanks, Councilman McGee!
Sacred Heart School in Bath had an orientation for incoming kindergarten students. Part of the program included riding on a school bus. – Contributed photo
PennDOT reminds parents, Students about school bus safety
With the rumble of school buses serving as a notice about the back-to-school season in Pennsylvania, PennDOT is reminding parents to talk with students about staying safe -on and off the bus. “Children can be distracted by the excitement of returning to school and reuniting with their classmates,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E. “Parents and students need to talk about being safe while traveling to and from school.” Schoch suggests that parents discuss the following safety tips with students: • Get to the bus stop five minutes early to avoid having to run to catch the bus; • If crossing the street to
board the school bus, be sure to look LEFT-RIGHT-LEFT to see that all cars have stopped; • When waiting for the school bus, stay at least five wide steps away from the curb or roadway to avoid traffic; • Avoid the “School Bus Danger Zone” by staying at least 10 wide steps away from the bus on all sides so the bus driver can see you. If you drop something near or under a bus, be sure to tell the driver before trying to retrieve it; • NEVER walk behind the school bus; • When getting on and off the bus, secure drawstrings on coats and other loose items so they cannot get caught in the handrail or door;
• Talk quietly while on the bus so the driver is not distracted; and • Remain seated at all times and wait for the bus to fully stop before standing up to exit. Students who walk to school should avoid using cell phones or wearing headphones to prevent distractions while walking near traffic. If walking in low light or dark conditions, wear bright colored clothing or reflective tape strips to be seen. For more tips, visit the School Bus Safety link under the Traffic Safety Information Center on PennDOT’s highway safety website at www. DriveSafePA.org.
Motorists: be patient, Obey school bus stops Northampton Council President John Yurish presented a gift to Billy McGee for his year of service to the council. (Rest of the council story on Page 9.) – Home News photo
School buses are soon returning to Pennsylvania roadways, prompting a reminder from PennDOT for motorists to watch out for buses and students headed to and from school. “With students distracted by the start of a new school year, it is all too easy for them to make a mistake and dart into traffic,” said PennDOT Secretary Barry J. Schoch, P.E. “So that everyone can make it safely to their destination, motorists are reminded to pay attention to students as they board and exit buses,
and to obey traffic laws regarding school buses and school zones.” Motorists convicted of violating Pennsylvania’s school bus stopping law face a $250 fine, five points on their driving record and a 60-day license suspension. Under state law, motorists approaching a school bus with its red lights flashing and stop arm extended must stop at least 10 feet from the bus. Motorists approaching from all directions are required to stop. However, drivers who encounter a school
bus stopping on the opposite side of a divided highway are not required to stop. Lanes of a divided highway are clearly separated by a divider, such as concrete barriers or grass medians. Motorists must also use caution in school zones. Schools are hubs of pedestrian and vehicle traffic, so motorists are required to slow down to the posted speed limit of 15 miles per hour in school zones. Violations carry a fine and three points on the Continued on page 10