40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 10 USPS 248-700
MARCH 10-16, 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.
Bath Council airs H.A.R.B. And questions its future
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
W.C.O. Kevin Halbfoerster is congratulated by Game Commission Exectutive director Carl Roe. – Home News photo
21 new WCO’s now serving State Game Commission
The Susquehanna Township Middle School auditorium in Dauphin County was filled to capacity on Saturday morning for the graduation of 21 cadets from the Pa. Game Commission’s 28th class in the Ross Leffler School of Conservation. It was a very impressive ceremony. Several persons from the Lehigh Valley were present as they saw Kevin Halbfoerster of Moore Township and 20 others take the oath of office and become full-time wildlife conservation officers in various counties of the state. They had undergone 50 weeks of intensive training at the school located in the PGC’s main headquarters in Harrisburg. Timothy Grenoble, Director of Training, introduced members of the Game Commission, the staff, and special guests, including Dauphin County Judge Todd Hoover, who served as keynote speaker and administered the oath of office. Remarks were also given by PGC Executive Director Carl Roe, PGC President Ronald Weaner, and cadet Philip White. Roe said, “This WCO Class will fill 21 of the 35 vacant WCO districts, but we still
will have 14 districts vacant with the potential for another 18 districts being vacated, due to retirements and promotional opportunities, by the end of this fiscal year. By June of 2011, we anticipate a return to more than 30 WCO vacancies statewide. So, we plan to have another WCO class enrolled in March of 2012.” It was apparent from their show of unison in movement that the cadets had undergone close order drills as part of their training. Each of the cadets were handed their official credentials by family members, and received their diplomas, commissions and badges from the executive office and training school staff. The new officers then recited the Conservation Pledge, led by WCO Doty McDowell, resident instructor. Special awards were also given, with selections made by the staff and/or fellow cadets, as follows: academic achievement, Kyle Jury (97.1%); Kevin Anderson, Jr. markmanship (460 out of 550 points) and fitness, and torch award, Eric Erdman for leadership. The Quittapahilla Bagpipe & Drum Band accompanied Continued on page 15
One of the major topics of discussion at the monthly meeting of Bath Borough Council on Monday was the Historical Architectural Review Board (H.A.R.B.) and its future. The chairman, Councilman John Kearns, has been considering resigning from the board. He questioned whether the historic district should stay as large as it is; whether it should be reduced, and if indeed the board is needed at all. Councilwoman Carol BearHeckman said a H.A.R.B. is necessary for a certified historic district under state rules. Bath is locally and state recognized, and except for completion of paperwork could be eligible for a national historic district. She said other towns are envious of Bath, and Nazareth and Easton don’t have as much as Bath has in the type of 1800’s community architecture. Councilwoman Jennifer George said it is difficult to get volunteers, such as the H.A.R.B. in Bath has. She and Ms. Heckman agreed that it takes personal contact to get others to join. Mrs. Heckman added that without an historic district the town would be overrun like Orefield and Schnecksville in Lehigh County. Kearns would like the district reduced from its present stretch from East Main St. to Walnut, Chestnut and Main Streets, and perhaps have the duties of H.A.R.B. taken over by the Bath Planning Commission, while retaining architects that H.A.R.B. has now. Mrs. Heckman had been on H.A.R.B., but stepped down in view of her securing a grant for her property from the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce through Sharon Davis, the Borough Business Revitalization Coordinator for GLVCC. She volunteered to serve again if there is no conflict of interest or appearance of impropriety. Councilman Joseph Linsenmann also volunteered to serve. And when the audience was asked, two other women said they would be willing, Kathryn Roberts, esq., and Mahdi Bourhim. At that, Kearns said he would stay on for at least an-
other two months, and said they can all get together at the next H.A.R.B. meeting on the third Wednesday of the month, March 16. Home Occupation & Garbage Another subject of debate was the classification for charges on collection of garbage. Borough Manager Richard Klotz defined home occupation as outlined in a Bath ordinance. The question was if they are qualified to have garbage picked up by the borough’s carrier, J. P. Mascaro & Son, or if they will contract with some other hauler. Mrs. George cited what she perceives as unfairness in how garbage rates are charged, mostly in relation to volume. Klotz said Mascaro has three rates. The charges now for lists of 19 and 15 residents were questioned, and may stay the same for 2011. However, appeals for a lesser rate may be made in 2012. Other Matters • Mrs. Marjorie Rehrig and Mrs. Evelyn Hartzell of the Bath Museum told Council that the committee never intends to sell any of the museum artifacts, and this was
noted in a recent letter to the editor. They also complained that they were not notified that the municipal building roof had leaked water, which got into many of the items at the museum. Mrs. Rehrig said there are buckets and mops in one corner of the room, the items are wet or mildewed, and blinds are dirty. Klotz apologized and said that the problem will be cleaned up. Tar had been used for previous leaks, but this winter’s ice spelled more trouble. • Klotz announced that streets will be swept on Tuesday, March 22. In other parts of his report, Klotz said he is applying for two grants in connection with the streetscape project, and is often frustrated with details that need to be worked out with the funding sources; reported that Met-Ed wants to replace 109 street lights with others that give off an orange light, using less power, and which could mean a $358 a month savings on electricity; cross-walk signs may be put up on Walnut St. for pedestrians going to and from Christ Continued on page 7
BATH OFFICIALS (l-r) front - Carol Bear-Heckman, Robert Fields, Joe Linsenmann, Mayor Donald Wunderler; rear - Jennifer George, Mark Saginario, Michael Reph, John Kearns – Home News photo
Bath Easter hunt April 16
The Bath area hometown Easter egg hunt will be on Saturday, April 16 at 11:00 am with a rain date of Sunday April 17. It is sponsored by: Ahart’s Market. Participating organizations include Boy Scout Troop 33, Cub Pack 33, Christ Church Girl Scout troop, and St. John’s Lutheran Church. The egg hunt will be held at the field next to Ahart’s Market on Walnut Street ( route 512) Bath. 200 dozen eggs are col-
ored at St. John’s Church by Boy Scout Troop 33 and Cub Pack 33. There will be four age groups: walking- 3 years, 4 – 6 years, 7- 9 years, 10-12 years. The Easter Bunny will arrive on a fire truck courtesy of Bath Firefighters Lots of prizes for each age group: savings bonds, Easter baskets, chocolate bunnies. Coloring contest for kids, winners are picked and prizes given.
2 0 1 0 L e B E A M C o m m u n i t y S p i r i t Aw a rd R e c i p i e n t