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APRIL 28-MAY 4, 2022
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Old Home Week will return to Bath after 110 years
By KERI LINDENMUTH When Bath Councilman Frank Hesch found a 1912 commemorative pin for Bath’s first-ever Old Home Week, the self-proclaimed “history nerd” dove deep into the event and its history. Hesch pored over council meeting minutes from 1911 and 1912 and looked through old photos of Bath’s downtown adorned in patriotic decor. Soon, Hesch and the borough’s Economic and Community Development Community decided to resurrect the community celebration. “The more the Committee
than now for Bath residents to rediscover their community. “After the past couple of years and the trying times we are living in these days, we feel it will be a nice casual way for residents to spend time together, have some fun, and appreciate all the borough has to offer.” “The history of Bath is rich and amazing,” he continues. “I think too often it gets looked at as ‘that small town with all of the traffic,’ but there is a reason we have so many main roads in our small town....and that reason is the rich history, events, and interesting people that made this town what it is.” Hesch discovered plenty of fascinating stories about Bath during his Old Home Week research, including the little-known fact that President Teddy Roosevelt has Bath connections: he was a
found out about Old Home Week, the more we wanted to hold another one,” Hesch says. “You do not hear much about Old Home Weeks in these times.” While some towns do still hold the event, they are no longer as common as they were at the turn of the 20th century. As rural residents migrated to more urban areas of the growing United States, small towns and villages like Bath held Old Home Week celebrations to invite residents back. After two years of lockdowns and social distancing, Hesch thought there was no better time Continued on page 5
‘Little Shop of Horrors’ At NAHS a terrifyingly Funny production
By KERI LINDENMUTH There are few musicals as terrifying and terrifyingly funny as “Little Shop of Horrors,” a 1982 off-Broadway musical and 1986 film starring Rick Moranis and Steve Martin. The story follows
April Photo of the Month
a Skid Row florist who captures national attention after breeding a plant that thirsts for human blood. Add a dash of romance, an evil dentist, and a memorable score by Disney legend Alan Menken, and you have an instant
cult classic. Nazareth Area High School students embraced the absurdity of Little Shop during their spring production, which ran from April 21 to April 24. Even as the alien-like plant on stage devoured cast member after cast member, the audience couldn’t hide their laughter. It’s why director Sandy Jameson chose Little Shop as the school’s 2022 production. “After two years of a quiet auditorium,” she said in her director’s letter, “we needed pure entertainment: something with the catchiest music, that would make us laugh, that would remind us all exactly how much fun we can have making and watching musical theatre.” Senior Henry Grimm captured the shy, awkward nature of leading man Seymour from the moment he steps on stage, hiding behind his glasses. Seymour, a flower store clerk, discovers a mysterious venus fly trap, which he uses to impress his grumpy boss, Mr. Mushnik, played by sophomore Aaron Louw, and coworker (and love interest) Audrey, played by senior Paige Horvath. Continued on page 11
Field of flowers behind Allen Township Dog Park. Photo by Liza Harvilla.
Northampton Borough Council continues community Planning discussions, Welcomes Aaron Koehler To Northampton Police Department By SAVANNAH BROWN During their Thursday, April 19 meeting, Northampton Borough Council approved Northampton Borough Police Department’s request to hire Aaron Koehler as a part-time police officer. Koehler was the leading candidate on the Civil Service eligibility list, and the approval was met with a unanimous decision. Immediately following, Koehler was sworn in by Mayor Anthony Pristash. Community Planner Victor Rodite addressed council again
concerning the Community Development Block Grant, grant opportunities for park surveillance cameras, the proposed River Front Garden grants, and updates for the traffic light signals at 21st Continued on page 8
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