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APRIL 16-22, 2020
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Lehigh Township Police East Allen Township Department Easter Goes Parade Virtual Amid Pandemic From LTPD We would like to thank everyone for helping take the Easter Bunny and Chicken around the township. We started to plan this on Friday and it turned out to be bigger than what we anticipated. Lehigh Township is approximately 32 square miles with over 90 miles of township roads as well as state roads. We did our best to get to everyone, but we know we missed roadways, and had to cut our route short due to incoming calls.
Thank you to the following people and businesses: Making Memories Demo Club Lehigh Township Volunteer Fire Co. Lehigh Township Fire Police Amy and Todd LaFever Sierra Franco and Derek Thomas Silfies Farms Balloons by Robin Easter Bunny #1 Easter Bunny #2 Chicken.
Creating community With Easter worship Services
By HOME NEWS STAFF Morningstar Living found a way to provide traditional Easter worship service for residents of its communities…while enforcing the “stay-at-home” order. Morningstar Living’s Chaplain, Otto Dreydoppel, took Easter worship service outdoors to the village green at Heritage Village, where residents of Morningstar’s active adult community reside in Nazareth. Residents of the community walked to the village green wearing masks and physically distancing themselves from each other
to participate in the spiritual service and music, provided by accordionist, Attorney Richard Santee. Chaplain Dreydoppel emphasized the importance of spiritual health as fundamental to our physical health, well-being and essential to winning the war against COVID-19. He also officiated at an afternoon Easter worship service for residents living at Morningstar’s Moravian Hall Square Campus, also in Nazareth, streaming the Easter message directly to resident televisions via Morningstar’s internal television channel.
By KERI LINDENMUTH East Allen Township Supervisors held their first public meeting since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic and quarantine. The meeting was held virtually via Zoom on Wednesday, April 8, a first for the township and its residents. Over a dozen township residents attended the virtual meeting. All supervisors were present. For many, the new format required a slight adjustment. "If I use the gavel, I'll probably smash my screen," joked Supervisor Roger Unangst. Most orders of business revolved around COVID-19. Supervisors officially approved the township's Declaration of Emergency in response to the pandemic. This allows the township to modify labor contract agreements and seek reimbursement for PPE and other protective equipment. Costs for masks, gloves, and disinfectant for firstresponders is expected to cost about $30,000. "I'm not sure where this ends and where we go," said Supervisor Brent Green. "[But] there is definitely some hope on the horizon." The declaration will be in effect for 180 days. During this time, the township office is closed and staff is working remotely. Green warned that there is a mail backlog in order to prevent contamination. Currently, there is no zoning code officer or building official since the third-party organization the township uses has furloughed employees. As a result, no zoning permits are being accepted at this time. Other work on hold in the township includes the demolition of the former juvenile detention facility on Weaversville
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April Cement Worker of the Month- Harold Balliet
by ED PANY Mr. Harold Balliet was reared in Coplay, graduating from Whitehall High School in 1984. A co-op student, he worked at Laneco where his mother Grace was the deli manager. His wage was $4 an hour. Upon graduation, he worked for a number of food distributors. Harold later worked for Eastern Industries where he learned to operate quarry equipment. His cement career started at Essroc, now Lehigh Heidelberg, in 1993. Harold recalls, “I was hired by labor foreman Rick Gaston and soon was assigned to the quarry where I could use my equipment skills.” After the quarry he was promoted to shift technician and completed electrical courses at Northampton Community College. Harold said, “My father Edward was proficient in many trades. I learned the basics of electrical work from him. Two oldtimers who shared their expertise with me were Harvy Mertz and Richard Croll.” Today, Mr. Balliet is an instrument technician. He is a member of a nine-member electrical team. The team works on maintaining a wide array of technical electrical
equipment ranging from PLC’s to motor controls. Each morning a safety meeting is held to update the team on various safety issues. Safety is a priority at the plant. The group is supervised by Jarrett Hahn and Mike Zonka. Harold said, “Each day we face different challenges. We are always learning as there have been many changes so we constantly have to upgrade equipment. We have a great group of men who work together. I enjoy working in a cement plant and would not want to work anywhere else.” Mr. Balliet is a friendly, dedicated cement worker with a strong work ethic. His uncle and cousins have all worked in the industry. In his spare time, Harold enjoys hunting, fishing and watching the Dallas Cowboys. He resides in Allen Township. We wish continued success to Mr. Balliet and all of our friends at the Nazareth plant.
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