40¢
70th Year, Issue No. 47 USPS 248-700
NOVEMBER 24-30, 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.
Kindergarten Thanksgiving
CHILDREN of the Sacred Heart School kindergarten class dressed as Indians and Pilgrims for the annual Thanksgiving “feast” this past Thursday. They enjoyed a meal of turkey, mashed potatoes, cornbread muffin, fresh fruit, pumpkin pie, and apple juice. Each of them also received a “turkey” – an apple with a marshmallow face and feathers made of grapes. – Home News photos
House approves Marcellus Shale impact fee legislation
Food Bank Fund-Raiser
SPAGHETTI SUPPER was held on Sunday evening to benefit the Bath Area Food Bank. The fellowship hall of Christ UCC Church was filled to capacity with people who came to enjoy a meal and donate to the food bank. Two of the many young people who served the meal are shown here, Hannah and Colleen O’Reilly. There were many other volunteers in the kitchen and at the dessert table. The oldest and the youngest helpers were there, too – 93-year-old Carl L. Rehrig and 5-year-old Nico Gonzalez, both of Bath. Carl helped fill 443 bags of food last week as 175 families came to the food bank. Nico, the son of Mrs. Karen Gonzalez, says he enjoys shopping for everything.
The PA House of Representatives on Nov. 17 approved legislation that provides affected local governments with the ability to place impact fees on the state’s natural gas industry, announced Rep. Julie Harhart (R-Lehigh/ Northampton). House Bill 1950 would also create uniformity across the state in regard to regulations and oversight of the industry in order to protect the environment. “I am very much aware of the importance of making sure we include strong environmental protections within any legislation that deals with drilling or other impacts on the land,” said Harhart. “I take our land and water quality very seriously and believe there needs to be a balance between job creation and environmental protection. H.B. 1950 achieves this goal while placing greater control in the hands of those counties and municipalities impacted by the industry.” The bill would bring much clarity and consistency to state laws and regulations concerning deep gas drilling, whether in the Marcellus or Utica shales or with other non-conventional wells. To help financially with the impacts brought on by the drilling, counties where drilling is taking place will be permitted to enact an impact fee. The legislation would direct 75% of the money to counties and municipalities impacted by drilling and 25% to the Commonwealth. Counties and municipalities would have the option to use funds to address a variety of drilling impacts, including
preservation and reclamation of water supplies; improvements to local roads and bridges; construction and repair of water and sewer systems; delivery of social services including domestic relations and drug and alcohol treatment; local tax reduction; local affordable housing needs; and assistance for county conservation districts. The Commonwealth’s share would be used for emergency
response planning, training and other activities; water, storm water, and sewer system construction and repair; and infrastructure maintenance and repair. H.B. 1950 would also direct money collected from rents and royalties from oil and gas leases of any land owned by the commonwealth to initiatives such as the Environmental Stewardship Fund and the Continued on page 5
Lions Decorate Tree
MEMBERS of the Bath Lions Club this past Saturday put lights and ornaments on the community Christmas tree, which this year is located on the Main Street side of the Bath Municipal Building. The tree was donated by Robert and Lynn Billings of East Allen Township. The annual tree lighting ceremony will be held this coming Sunday, Nov. 27 at 5:30 p.m., and is made possible by local businesses and organizations. After the lighting, Santa Claus will meet the children inside the municipal building. There will be cookies, candy canes and hot chocolate. Preceding this ceremony, there will be an open house beginning at 3:30 p.m. in the fellowship hall of Christ UCC Church, Bath, including light refreshments and fellowship, along with special holiday music. – Home News photo