40¢
71st Year, Issue No. 4 USPS 248-700
JANUARY 26-FEBRUARY 1, 2012 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.
Architect selected for middle school; Board hears draft 2012-13 budget Each of the board members listed their choice and KCDA KCDA, an architectural won six of the nine votes. firm from Hatfield, Pa., on Budget Explained Monday was selected by the The next big order of busiNorthampton Area School ness on Monday was a review Board to design a new middle of a proposed preliminary school. budget for the 2012-13 school The firm, headed by James year by Superintendent Joe Clough, has ties with two en- Kovalchik and Business Mangineering firms in Bethlehem ager Terry Leh. Kovalchik said – Snyder-Hoffman and Terra it is a “work in progress with Form. a lot of unknowns.” There KCDA’s bid price, which is are decreases and additions conditioned upon the nego- at this point that will receive tiation and signing of a con- much consideration by the tract, is 4.63% of the construc- administration and board betion costs to build the school fore final passage sometime for 6th, 7th and 8th grades. in June. And that contract will be reAs proposed now, expenviewed by the Northampton ditures are $87,605,887 and Area School District solicitor revenue $81,609,437, a defiand approved by the board. cit of $5,996,450. While curKCDA was selected from rent millage is 45.75, it could three finalists that were inter- go up to 46.65, or a 1.97% inviewed on January 16, from crease. Based on an average an original list of six firms. 2011 assessment of properties at $56,198.94, taxes would rise from $2,571.10 to $2,621.68. Of the expenditures, $38,279,088 is for salaries and with benefits would come to $55,907,500. Pa. Governor Tom Corbett is not expected to announce As legislators returned to what state reimbursements Harrisburg for the first ses- will be coming to school dission day of 2012, hundreds of tricts until Feb. 7. The half hour power point Pennsylvania residents and slide presentation before a local officials called on state leaders to oppose the omni- large audience and the school bus gas drilling bills, HB 1950 board listed these goals: • Increase student achieveand SB 1100, which cleared ment the State House and Senate in • Design and build a new late 2011. 6-7-8 Middle School on the As the bills head to conference committee deliberations, secondary school campus • Continue implementation attention was drawn to major provisions in both bills that tie of schools with Positive Bethe hands of local elected of- havior Support • District-wide transportaficials on zoning decisions retion provider lated to shale gas operations • Recapture 111 Cyber such as wells, pipelines, compressor stations, and chemical School students • Complete capital imand waste storage. provement projects through"This was a terrible idea in 2011 and remains a terrible idea in 2012,” said Steve Hvozdovich of Clean Water Action. “Our legislators must take Mildred Kromer of Lehigh this opportunity and make a New Year’s resolution to pro- Twp. was 101 years old on tect our health, water, air, and January 18. She is a life-long communities by opposing any resident of Lehigh Township legislation that attempts to and is considered and cared weaken or allow state take- for by many. She was married to Dilwyn Kromer, who over of municipal rights." The groups assert that the is deceased. Mildred has one bills’ state preemption of local son, Harold, and daughter-indecision-making and zoning law, Anna Mae. She has two is a fatal flaw that will nega- living grandchildren and six tively affect Pennsylvania res- great grandchildren. Mildred says her secret to idents’ health, environment and quality of life, and the longevity is hard work. She bills’ impact fees and limited lived on her parents’ farm environmental provisions are growing up and started helptoo limited to make up for the ing on the farm at a very young age. She especially local zoning tradeoff. liked helping out with the Continued on page 13 animals. She worked at the By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Professor Anderko engaged the children in an investigation of solutions using oil, water, and pancake syrup! Professor Anderko’s daughter Corinne was especially thrilled to have her mom teach a lesson! – Contributed photo
Bio in the classroom at Sacred Heart School
Students in Mrs. Karen Braun's third grade class at Sacred Heart School were treated to a special presentation recently. Northampton County Community College Professor of Biology Karen
Anderko visited as guest speaker. She performed several demonstrations to reinforce what the children were learning about liquids, solids and gases.
Vince Morrow receives his proficiency award. – Contributed photo
Vince Morrow Police academy graduate
Vince Morrow, 22, Bath, graduated from the Police Academy at Lackawanna College on Friday, January 20. He was presented with the Firearms Proficiency Award. Vince volunteers as an EMT with the East Allen Township Volunteer Ambulance Corps,
is a graduate of Northampton Community College's Criminal Justice program, and is an Eagle Scout. He graduated alongside 17 other cadets in the 199th commencement ceremony.
Legislature Urged to oppose Gas drilling bills
out the district • Improve drug, alcohol, and anti-bullying programs • Investigate and possibly implement a naming rights policy on the stadium and buildings. A number of spending decreases are planned, including: Contingency special ed teacher; transition coordinator/secondary supervisor; two contingency special ed aides; third shift custodian; groundskeeper; compactors at George Wolf and Boro elementary schools; gym curtain for the middle school; over $65,000 from the building and athletic budget; some cuts in technology; administration contingency funds, and employee benefit transfers. Programs that may be expanded include literacy training, handwriting, Common Core standards, re-writing K-12 math and reading curriculum, increase gifted education offerings, expanding and reorganizing the music program, examine curriculum for 6-7-8 grades, examine high school graduation requirements, English and reading, use of e-books while maintaining textbooks to a lesser degree. Special education will include regular education with accommodation, enhanced support, ensuring success in the best restrictive environment, a new IEP program, increased transition services and programs for students with disabilities in ages 14 and older, expanding parental involvement, and expanding assistive technology support. Under technology, refreshing of mobile computer labs is planned; upgrading direcContinued on page 14
Lehigh Twp. women turns 101
MILDRED KROMER Keystone Lamp Factory in Slatington for 17 years. Mildred holds the unofficial title of Lehigh Township's Matriarch and continues to be independent at home.