Northampton DECA Club donates Mats to homeless Page 16
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The Home News Your Local News
FEBRUARY 21-27, 2019
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Looking by Back Ed Pany A century of faith
Following recommendation For approval, Jaindl-Watson Makes presentation before Allen supervisors By KERI LINDENMUTH Having received a recommendation for approval from the Allen Township Planning Commission, Jaindl-Watson appeared before the Allen Township Board of Supervisors on Thursday, February 14 to present their development plans and discuss some of the commission’s recommendations. Plans consist of six warehouses, five between Howertown and Seemsville Roads and one to the south of Howertown Road. Attorney Erich Schock said developers tried to accommodate residents as best they could. They added berms, increased buffers, and added truck turnaround lanes to keep trucks off Howertown Road. A driveway at Howertown Road for car traffic was added, and developers said an overhang may also be added to prevent trucks from accessing the facility there. Traffic engineer Anne Marie Vigilante described road improvements Jaindl also proposes,
including a southbound left turn lane on Howertown Road, dedicated turning lanes for trucks on Seemsville Road, and the relocation of a widened Seemsville Road to the east, with three lanes for traffic. However, residents voiced their concerns over the project and pleaded with supervisors to reject the plan. They spoke of poor air quality from truck traffic and other health risks. Residents of Seemsville Road also voiced their concern for physical danger, being unable to leave their driveways with increased truck traffic and decreased visibility. Supervisor Bruce Frack voiced his concern for resident safety, while supervisor Dale Hassler spoke more critically of the proposed plan: “Whether it is by right does not, in my book, mean it is right,” he said. “There are places for warehouses. I just cannot see anyone leasing these warehouses Continued on page 4
In this fourth and final column, we are speaking to the Rev. Jerry Mraz, a native of Czechoslovakia, who was the last full-time pastor at Holy Trinity Slovak Lutheran Church in Northampton.
The church was organized in 1905, an era when many ethnic churches were formed by immigrants in the Lehigh Valley. Holy Trinity’s roots were laid by dedicated Slovaks, who constructed
A look inside the church, then and now.
the church on land formerly owned by John Smith, a wealthy local property owner. A group of volunteers dug out the basement with shovels and picks and chose stones for the church foundation. Cement was procured from the Atlas Portland Cement Company to bind the stone; later, cement was used to mold the concrete blocks for the church structure. Many members were employed at local cement plants. Ninety percent of the original church membership was local cement workers and their families. In 2005, the church observed its 100th anniversary. A banquet to celebrate the anniversary was held at the former Northampton Community Center. Seventeen pastors have served the church. The first pastor was H.J. Kuder. The pastor in 2005 was Rev. Mraz. During the Depression, a Philadelphia stained-glass company installed all the beautiful windows for $3,000. The company did this because they did not want to lay off its employees. One former pastor, J. Albert Billy, was called to serve the nation in 1943 as a naval chaplain. Unfortunately, as with many houses of worship, Holy Trinity has seen a decrease in membership, but a determined group of members continue the mission of the church, which has been an integral segment of the community for over a century. The oldest current members are Ellen Uherchick, Elaine Hewko and June Mishko. Continued on page 9
78th Year, Issue No. 8 www.homenewspa.com
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