SEPT. 13-19, 2012 Your Local News
50 cents
Konkrete Kids Fall to Nazareth, 63-28
Page 6
The Home News homenewspa.com
Proposed Dumpster Ordinance Still Raising Questions in Bath
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
CUB SCOUTS raised the flag at Moore Elementary School on Tuesday in memory of 9/11. – Home News photo
Flag Raising Ceremony Marks Sept. 11
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
In a memorial tribute to the thousands of men and women who died in the terrorist attacks of September 11, 2001, Cub Scout Pack 35 on Tuesday held a flag raising ceremony at the Moore Elementary School on Tuesday. Students and school staff, along with Pack 35 from Little Moore Church in Danielsville in their uniforms, participated in the ceremony. The entire Northampton Area School District celebrated Patriot Day by wearing red, white and blue. All America, and indeed the world, remembers that horrible morning on Sept. 11 when terrorists took over American civilian aircraft and destroyed the twin towers of the World Trade Center in
New York City; tore a hole in the Pentagon in Washington, D.C., and plunged an aircraft, Flight 93, into the ground of a central Pennsylvania field at Shanksville – altogether killing more than 3,000 people. After the flag was raised, “Taps” was played by Alex Cabanela, 11, a sixth grade student at Moore Elementary. School Principal Curtis I. Dimmick told of the importance of 9-11 over the school’s public address system before the ceremony. “It’s important that the children know that this day is a part of American history. Most of these kids weren’t even born when it happened,” Dimmick said. The Cub Scouts were led by Assistant Leader Jason Kornhausl. All gave a hand salute as the flag was raised.
Bath Community Day
The 7th annual Bath Community Day will be held Saturday, October 6 from 11am to 4 pm at its new location, Keystone Park in Bath. Sponsored by The Bath Business
INDEX:
& Community Partnership, Community Day has been put together for the young folks, as well as the ‘young at heart!’ Continued on page 3
forcing an ordinance that is already in place concerning trash removal. Council voted to have a workshop on the dumpster ordinance on Tuesday, Sept. 25 at 6 p.m. That date and time were decided on as other topics of concern were raised during the meeting. It was a busy night, with the meeting following the Labor Day holiday. Other Matters • First off was the presentation by Council President Robert Fields of a plaque to members of Bath’s 275th Anniversary committee. They were congratulated for all their hard work over the last four years that made the week a huge success. In turn, co-chairperson Fi Mirabito thanked all who gave the committee their support.
An ordinance that has been proposed over a period of several Bath Borough Council meetings is still being questioned, not only by local businesses and organizations, but also by Council. It’s the dumpster ordinance, and how to deal with the appearance of the containers and what problems arise if the law is not adhered to. At Council’s meeting on Sept. 4, Councilman Michael Reph had questions, and business representatives queried about having a wall or other cover to screen the dumpsters from public view. Also asked was is there a fine for overflowing dumpsters? One of those raising questions suggested just en-
Borough Manager Tom Petrucci commended the Colonial Regional Police for their traffic control during the anniversary, for which there was no charge. • A resident of Old Forge Dr. asked Council for permission to have a neighborhood yard sale to benefit a family that has been experiencing hard times. The event she said would be on Saturday, Sept. 29, noting also that the residents are trying to spruce up their properties. Council okayed the yard sale, and a waived fee for it. • Another resident, Carla Bucklad of S. Chestnut St., complained about drugs in Bath and the teenagers who are involved. Colonial Regional Police Chief Roy Seiple said Continued on page 2
District Debt and Obesity Presentations Heard
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News Chris Bambar of Public Financial Management in Harrisburg gave the Northampton Area School Board an update on borrowing and refinancing, as he met with the directors on Monday night. The extensive report detailed various sections of the district debt, much of which involves financing for the new middle school. Bambar told the board that with the current economy, interest rates remain very low, between 1.5% and 1.8%. He went into detail about debt service that includes principal . He offered advice for what the board should heed when taking action expected at their next meeting on Sept. 24. The district has debt service that amounts to $103.916 million. Act 34 Hearing The board was told by James Clough that Plan Con Parts B and
C for the middle school will go to Harrisburg after the Sept. 24 meeting. There will be an Act 34 hearing, for the state [Dept. of Public Education] regulates how much can be spent on new school construction. The hearing will be advertised in newspapers, with the deadline for public comment on Sept. 21. Starting Oct. 1, the DPE has imposed a moratorium for subsidies on building construction, but it doesn’t include the NASD. However, all drawings will have to be submitted to the DPE for review so that they include enough space for students in the rooms that are planned. DPE wants the school districts to be pro-active, Clough said. Two slides were shown by Chris Haller of D’Huy Engineering regarding an irrigation system. The board later approved the architect and consultant fee of $21,000 to incorporate the design of the
Carrie Fellon...................5
Seniors...........................8
Church .........................11
Letters from Readers .....2
Sports............................6
Northampton .................9
Classifieds ...................14
Touring Germany ...........4
Bath...............................7
Nazareth . ....................10
Police ...........................16
extension of the irrigation system to the upper athletic fields and to incorporate the bus loop turf fields in the bids. There will be another $100,000 added to this project. Clough said that the state is happy to see when utilities are close to the school and happy to see when a school site is away from hazardous conditions. Plan Con Part F will be submitted later when all properties are purchased and bids are sought. The total cost of the new middle school, on the site of the former Northampton Vo-Tech Branch, will remain at $80,720,752. Fruits and Vegetables Another presentation was made by Ned Cummings of Aramark, the food service for the Northampton Area School District. Cummings revealed new federal regulations that are clamping down on childhood obesity. Under the new regs, students are asked to
Continued on page 16
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