40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 46 USPS 248-700
NOVEMBER 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.
Help for the Needy
Tashner wins Moore Twsp. Supervisor seat; write-in vote Yields new Bath councilman
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
ROWS OF CANNED GOODS were lined up in the vestibule of Christ UCC Church in Bath last week as the congregation brought in items for the Bath Food Bank. They wanted to have 1,111 by Nov. 11, but excelled that with over 1,300 cans. The Scouting for Food drive was also successful in the Bath area, as people contributed a total of 3,700 pounds. Also noteworthy: Loaves & Fishes, the food kitchen at Christ Church, served 53 men, women and children a free meal on Saturday – turkey and all the trimmings. – Home News photo
Stoffa scolds Allen Twp. board for lack of Info on open space tax By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Northampton County Executive John Stoffa said the Allen Township Board of Supervisors could have done a better job of informing the public about open space before last Tuesday’s election referendum on the proposal to increase earned income taxes by a quarter of one percent (0.25%) for that purpose. The referendum went down to defeat by a count of 332 “no” to 258 “yes”. Stoffa said it was also sad that only 593 people out of 3,061 possible voted in the township. Stoffa asked the supervisors if they will try again to pass the earned income tax so open space farmlands and environmentally sensitive areas can be saved from development. The board agreed to do so.
Metro Leshak said he doesn’t know enough about what open space means, when the board said they had fliers out about it. With tongue in cheek, he said, “The only open space I know is between their ears.” Fire Co. Funding Allen Township Fire Co. Fire Chief Nick Lalik questioned the board about provisions in the agreement between the township and the fire company. It includes an allocation of $80,000, which he said is a cut of some $56,000. On fuel and other needs, the township will continue paying for that. The township will also continue to maintain the parking lots with snow removal in the wintertime, after they have cleared major township Continued on page 16
Incumbent Maynard Campbell, who has been serving as chairman of the Moore Township Board of Supervisors, lost his bid for re-election in last Tuesday’s municipal election. David Tashner, Sr. received the most votes, 674, and Campbell was second with 508. A third candidate, former supervisor Rodney Jarinko, trailed with 291 votes. Only one seat was up for election. While voting started out light, the electorate came out rather strongly the rest of the warm and sunny day. Townships In East Allen Township, with two six-year terms at stake, Madelyn “Maggie” Kemp received the most votes as she cross-filed, netting 492 votes, while incumbent supervisors chairman
Christopher Colitas received 325 votes. They beat Gregory Kuhn, who had only 106 votes. Bruce Frack and Alfred Pierce were unopposed for re-election as supervisors in Allen Township, but the question of having a quarter of one percent earned income tax to support the open space program failed by a vote of 332 to 258. In Lehigh Township, Supervisor Dell Grove won re-election with 744 votes, but was second to Cindy Miller, who had 977. Two six-year seats were in the election. Richard C. Rehrig lost with 615 votes. Two seats were up in Bushkill Township as well, and veteran supervisor Clifford Bonney polled 717 votes, with Julianne Bender second at 601. David Brewer was third with just 368 votes. In Lower Nazareth Township, incumbent Eric Nagle
was a winner, as was newcomer Gerald Green. They were alone on the ballot. Upper Nazareth Township winners were Scott Sylvainus and Willard Mohn for sixyear seats and James Augustine for two years as supervisors. Boroughs In borough voting, Bath Councilmen Jennifer George, Robert Fields and Mark Saginario won re-election. But there was a surprise among all the write-in votes for a fourth Council seat. There were 97 write-in votes cast by Bath voters. Three names received the most votes: Kathryn Roberts, 39; and Joseph Linsenmann and Michelle Ehrgott, each 22. Linsenmann has been serving on Council and was seeking re-election. The votes that this writer Continued on page 13
JENNIFER GEORGE of the BBCP receives check from Lodge 413 Worshipful Master Peter Gigliotti. – Home News photo
Masons donate $500 to BBCP for park
Last Thursday evening November 11 the F.&A.M. of Bath Manoquesy Lodge #413, in an ongoing effort to partner with the local community and foster mutually beneficial relationships, made a check donation to the Bath Business & Community Partnership. The lodge raised over $2,500 at a recent golf tourna-
ment and wanted to help the local community organization rebuild the pavilion that was destroyed during heavy flooding following Hurricane Irene. The money will go towards rebuilding the pavilion at Keystone Park which is used for most events held by the BBCP including the annual 5K held in the spring and
the Bath Farmers Market held at Keystone park during the summer months. Manoquesy Lodge is one of seven lodges in the 50th Masonic District. The lodge is located at 221 Penn Street in Bath where they hold meetings, plan events and bring in new members.