40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 11 USPS 248-700
MARCH 17-23, 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.
School board airs cut in state Funding, graduation site By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
“We’re going to have to find a way to come up with the money, and solve some of our issues,” Northampton Area Schools Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik told the school board at their meeting Monday night. That was after Business MAMA’S PIZZA the day after the fire. – Contributed photo Manager Terry Leh noted that the school district will be losing $2-million in state funding following Governor Tom Corbett’s address to the Pa. General Assembly this past week. Altogether, the district Mama’s Pizza at 4613 W. the fire was extinguished by may face up to $4-million in Mountain Drive in the vil- 10:50 p.m. funds needed. lage of Berlinsville sustained There was significant fire, It can’t come from the alheavy damage Saturday smoke and water damage on ready .75-mill increase in the night when fire broke out. the first and second floors of proposed 2011-12 budget, the Lehigh Township Volun- the building that is located at highest they can go. It could teer Fire Co. received a call at the Berlinsville intersection mean that cuts will have to 10:18 p.m. about the fire. with Rt. 248. There were no in- be found to make up the vast According to published re- juries. ports, smoke and fire were Cause of Fire shooting out of the roof and Fire Chief Rich Hildebrand first floor of the building could not speculate on the when firefighters arrived. cause of the fire, but that it With assistance from other is under investigation by fire neighboring fire companies, marshals.
Fire heavily damages Berlinsville pizzeria
Soccer field, McAuliffe Expansion noted in Lehigh By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Township engineer Phillip Malitsch discussed two items at a meeting of the Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors on Tuesday, March 8. A new permit will be needed, as well as a conservation district review, before the soccer field at Delps Park can be developed. He showed a proposed lay-out of the fields. The project was permitted before new regulations were implemented, and the original permit expired after five years. Malitsch said that after plans are approved, it could take up to 60 days before work could start on the field. The field includes a portion of Moore Township as well as Lehigh Township. Malitsch said a regula-
tion-size soccer field is 195 x 330 feet, and no more than two soccer areas could be included, as well as parking, as shown on his plan. He will develop an estimate of costs. Also noted was the proposed expansion of the McAuliffe Hauling property along Timberline Drive. He said there are concerns about traffic and truck access, so that widening is seen necessary. Pa. DEP has not yet accepted the McAuliffe application, but after that acceptance, wants the township to hold an information meeting for the public. The expansion increase proposed would allow a jump from 23 to 92 trips per day by the trash haulers. Other Matters • The board approved exContinued on page 11
difference. “We have to analyze and step back,” Kovalchik said, with Leh saying that “The decisions we make today will affect us two to five years down the road.” Director Jane Erdo feels that there should be no cuts in funds for the learning disabled, for by educating and loving them they can be kept out of trouble. Otherwise, because of their problems with ___________ Related story on Page 13 ___________ analysis, the prisons could be filled with troubled youths later on. One item approved on Monday was a new policy on discipline of students with disabilities and screening and evaluation for students with disabilities. Kovalchik said it’s not just
Northampton, but everywhere that school districts and other governmental bodies are having financial difficulties. “It’s a huge concern,” he said. Leh said they may know more by the end of April on what can be done. Another item approved concerned the Bethlehem Area Vo-Tech School general fund budget. Of the $10,584,101 total, NASD’s share is $2,402,405. Stabler Graduation Another topic that drew comments was the item on the agenda that calls for an agreement with Lehigh University for the rental of Stabler Arena for the 2011 graduation ceremonies. It was listed at $7,400, plus any actual expenses. The board apContinued on page 9
Allen Twsp. discusses sewer Pact in executive session
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Allen Township mulled over Northampton Borough intermunicipal sewer agreement negotiations in executive session Thursday night. But the board of supervisors said they would not make any public comment afterward. The previous Thursday, March 3, Northampton’s Borough Manager, Gene Zarayko, said there had been no communication from Allen Township pertaining to the expired borough / township sewer agreement. Zarayko said that a new draft agreement had been written, in which user fees were increased from $2.95 to $3.81 per 1,000 gallons. Under the agreement it would give Allen Township 160,000 gallons, or enough for all their approved subdivisions, amounting to 761 homes. Hook-ups were also increased from the previous $2,500 to $3,800. The $2,500 fee had been in effect since 1993. The past contract agreement expired in 2008, and Zarayko said they’ve been negotiating since 2009. Since that past agreement expired, a cease and desist order was given on any more home hook-ups, Zarayko said.
It was unclear on Thursday how that may affect the proposed Willow Ridge Apartments that were given conditional approval on Thursday. That development includes 216 apartments and 67 detached garages along Willowbrook Road. The developer discussed the project, hoping that they could start building in April and have occupancy in the
fall. It was noted that a sewer connection has to be worked out with Northampton first. Other Matters • Complaints were heard about cars speeding, several cars parking and revving up motors, garage doors opened, ATV’s going up and down an alley, and there have been loud parties at 3 a.m. The business has apparently upset the Continued on page 11
DALTON SEMMEL shown hearth cooking at Ralston-McKeen House fireplace during Gov. Wolf Historical Society antiques show. (More photos on page 5.) – Contributed photo
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