The Home News January 19

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State Police request Public's assistance in East Allen robbery ID

Bath Borough Council discusses Recycling, MS4 projects, Right-To-Know requests

By SAVANNAH BROWN

The Bath Borough Council met Monday, January 9 to discuss an upcoming special meeting, MS4 projects, and Right-ToKnow requests.

During public comment, resident Bobby Siegfried raised questions about what the borough is currently doing to re-implement a recycling program since the 2023 through 2025 contract with JP Mascaro does not include recycling.

Siegfried raised many points including that the United States

produces 292.4 million tons of municipal solid waste per year, 69 million tons of recycling, and that 50% (146 million tons) of that MSW ends up in landfills.

Siegfried added that according to 2019 Pa. data, Pa. recycled 5.25 million tons of MSW, saving 7.3 million tons of carbon dioxide, which is the equivalent of taking 1.6 million vehicles off the roads.

Additionally, 94% of Pa. recycles, whereas Bath is part of the 6% that does not because the population threshold for small municipalities allows them to be

exempt from having to offer recycling programs.

“Treating recycling as expendable is a ridiculous place to cut costs,” said Siegfried.

Siegfried claimed the information the borough provided to the public regarding recycling costs was misleading.

The borough has stated the Whitetail bid was for $541.51 annually and the JP Mascaro bid was for $575.01 annually for weekly recycling and waste col-

Allen Township Supervisors discuss Truck traffic, approve purchase of Mini

excavator

By KERI LINDENMUTH

By HOME NEWS STAFF

The Pennsylvania State Police (PSP) Troop M Bethlehem Station are requesting the public's assistance in a robbery that occurred on Wednesday, January 11.

On Wednesday, January 11, an unknown actor entered the Valero Gas Station, located at 6007 W. Main Blvd., East Allen Township, brandished a knife and demanded money. The store clerk gave the actor a money pouch containing approximately $3,800 in cash. After the robbery, the ac-

tor fled the store on foot towards Grouse Road.

The actor appears to be a male, wearing a black face mask with long blond hair, along with a hooded sweatshirt, blue jeans, and boots.

Anyone with information regarding this robbery is asked to contact Trooper Michael Kowalishen of the Pennsylvania State Police Bethlehem Station at 610861–2026.

For more information on the Pennsylvania State Police, visit www.psp.pa.gov.

During their meeting on January 10, the Allen Township Board of Supervisors discussed truck traffic issues already causing headaches in 2023.

On January 9, about a dozen tractor-trailers queued onto Willowbrook Road while waiting to enter the Geodis warehouse location. Township Manager Ilene Eckhart said she was made aware of this issue, but called it a “temporary” situation due to unplanned delivery issues caused by the deadly storms facing the Western United States. The issue has since been resolved, she added.

Supervisor Dale Hassler said he was also made aware of the issue.

He drove to Willowbrook Road and counted 12 trucks lined up outside the property. He noted that at least one tractor-trailer navigated to Geodis via Howertown, Savage, and Atlas roads, where trucks are banned.

Kreidersville Road resident Larry Hiestand also voiced concerns over the truck traffic in the township.

“We have always had these problems, and we are going to [continue] to have them,” he said, “[but] it has gotten heavier than it was.”

Hiestand added that tractor-

trailers are “rumbling” past his house as early as four in the morning.

He asked whether anyone from Northampton Generating has been in touch with the township. In 2022, a representative from the company said they would be making several adjustments

6 home improvement ideas for fall

courtesy of windowsonwashington.net

Fall is the perfect time to tackle almost any home improve-

ment project: you are well-rested after your summer holiday, the weather is pleasant and, with the summer heat waves over, you

can finally get organized. More importantly, there are some home improvement projects that should be done during fall. Read on to find the must-do list that any homeowner must check off before the winter chill sets in.

Get your mind in the gutter

Cleaning your gutters may not be the most pleasant thing to do, but it is a necessity. Gutters divert hundreds of gallons of water away from your home. With the increased volume of leaves coming down in fall, gutters are at real risk of clogging, and this can

lead to water damage to your roof and exterior of your home in addition to flooding your basement.

So, the first home improvement project to tackle this fall should be cleaning your gutters and installing gutter guards to protect them from additional debris, ensuring there will be less work to do next year.

Inspect your roof

Making sure the locks are functioning properly

Inspecting the weather stripping – start with the sides of your window sash and check if the stripping is intact in the place where the frame meets the sash. Next, tilt the sash and check the weather stripping on its inside. If they are both intact, you’re good to go!

Checking the sealant or caulk to make sure it doesn’t need to be touched up.

Prepare your deck and patio for winter

What’s the Ideal Temperature to Set Your Thermostat in Winter?

Make sure your home stays warm and dry during winter with a solid roof. Stay ahead of any roof trouble and inspect it thoroughly or, better yet, hire a professional to do it. Check that your roof has not sprung any leaks during the past year,

Clean your patio furniture thoroughly before putting it away for the winter. Empty the dirt in any decorative clay or ceramic pots – otherwise it can freeze and crack the pots. More importantly, check for any cracks or dents in your deck or patio. If there are any, you should fix them as a matter of priority. Any small problem you have now will grow bigger during the cold season, especially if water gets into

Inspect your heating system and chimneys

Whatever heating system you are using, now is the perfect time to get it checked. Take the opportunity to also inspect any smoke and fire detectors, carbon

If you plan to use your fireplace, the chimney must be inspected by a professional. You

Familyhandyman.com

Like most of us, you probably have some heated family arguments over the thermostat in the wintertime. But if you’re ready to settle the issue once and for all, you’ll be glad to know that there are actually official recommendations for the most comfortable, energy-efficient winter thermostat settings. And turning your thermostat down by seven to 10 degrees when the house is empty can save you as much as 10 percent on your annual heating bill.

To restore peace in your household — and save a little money to boot — read on for

winter thermostat recommendations.

What Temperature to Set the Thermostat at in Winter

According to numerous sources, 68 F is the magic number in winter.

According to Energy Saver, you can save even more on your heating bill by turning the thermostat down a couple more degrees at night, and by lowering it to 55 F if you go on vacation. You can also lower your thermostat before you leave the house for the day. This way you’re not paying to heat an empty house.

The World Health Organization (WHO) recommends 64 F as the minimum safe indoor temperature for most adults. Temperatures lower than this, especially in areas of high humidity, can lead to respiratory problems. The WHO also advises minimum temperatures a few degrees higher for households with infants, small children, the elderly and health-vulnerable individuals.

At the end of the day, safety is most important, so make sure to stick to these guidelines and don’t try to push the thermostat too low.

Adjusting Your Internal Thermostat

If 68 F — or even cooler at night — is chillier than you or your housemates are used to, it's best to ease into that temperature. Energy provider Direct Energy recommends lowering the thermostat by one degree per week, giving everyone a chance

Barry Bickert

34th Annual Uptown Northampton Street Fair- Saturday, Sept. 9 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. 1700-2100 blocks of Main Street, Northampton.

American Red Cross Blood Drive- Thursday, Feb. 9 from noon to 5 p.m. at Lehigh Twp. Municipal office, 1069 Municipal Rd., Walnutport. To register, call 610-767-6771.

Bath Area Food Bank- Distributes food second Tuesday of each month, starting around 9:30 a.m. on lower level of St. John's Lutheran Church in Bath, 206 E. Main St.

Bath Museum- Open third Saturday Jan-Nov. and first Saturday in Dec., from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 121 S. Walnut St., Bath. Volunteers needed, call 484-284-0313.

Borough of Bath Community-Wide Yard Sales- Saturday, May 13 and Saturday, Sept. 9 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Yard sale permit fees waived these dates only.

East Allen Spring Festival- Saturday, May 20 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Bicentennial Park (East), 5450 Liberto Ln., Bethlehem.

East Allen Township Open Space and Farmland Preservation Committee- Meets third Thursday of the month at 7 p.m. at 5344 Nor-Bath Blvd., Northampton. New committee members welcome. Helping Homeless Vets- Weave mats for homeless vets every second and fourth Wed. of the month from 10 a.m. until 9 p.m. Prepping for weaving every first and third Wed. of month 12:30 to 3:30 p.m., Mountain View Wesleyan Church 1001 Deemer Rd., Bath. Call 610-837-1190 FMI. Leave message.

Northampton Area Food Bank- Food distribution first three Thursdays from 5 to 7 p.m. and second and third Saturday 9 to 11:30 a.m. 1601 Canal St.

Northampton Borough Crime Watch Meeting- Typically held second Wednesday of each month at 7 p.m. at the Northampton Borough Fire Dept.

Paw Prints on the Canal- Sunday, June 11 from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m., Canal Park, Northampton.

Northampton County Senior Centers

For more information and additional senior centers in Northampton County, visit www.northamptoncounty.org.

Cherryville- Open Monday-Friday 9 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., 4131 Lehigh Dr., Cherryville. FMI call 610-767-2977.

Lower Nazareth- Open Monday-Friday 9:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 306 Butztown Rd., Bethlehem. FMI call 610-297-3464.

Nazareth- Open Monday-Friday 8 a.m. to 1:30 p.m., 15 S. Wood St., Nazareth. FMI call 610-759-8255.

Northampton- Open Monday-Friday 8:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. 902 Lincoln Ave., Northampton. FMI call 610-262-4977.

Suburban Darts

Week 17

With 5-4 and 4-3 wins over Ebenezer losing the ‘nightcap’ 6-2, Dryland maintains 1st place in the Dart League. Hitters for Dryland included Earl Sigley 6 for 13, Shawn Sigley 5 for 12, Larry Golick 4 for 10 and Butch Silfies 4 for 12. Paul Yoder was 8 for 14, Joey Blevins 4 for 11, Joe Kish 4 for 12 with HR’s from Jim Voortman, Scott Blevins, Zane Blevins, and Charlie Costanzo for Ebenezer.

After losing the ‘opener’ 4-3 to Star of Bethlehem, Christ UCC came back to win 8-1 and 5-3. Leading the way for Christ UCC were Garry Hunsicker 7 for 14, Sue Gasper 5 for 10, Dave Shaver 5 for 10, with George Gasper and Keith Laudenslager each hitting a HR. For Star of Bethlehem Kyle Taylor was 5 for 11, Walt Hoffert 5 for 12 and Austin Hoffert with a HR.

In the only ‘sweep’ of the night we find St. Paul’s beating Emmanuel by scores of 3-1, 3-1, and 4-3.

Top hitters included Alan Antry 4 for 11 and Jennifer Erkinger 4 for 12 for St. Paul’s, while Jon Rice was 5 for 12, Chuck Achenzie also 5 for 12, and Bob Bast 4 for 12 for Emmanuel.

The final match of the night saw Light of Christ ‘sandwiching 3-2 and 8-1 wins around a6-3 loss to Farmersville. Leading the Light of Christ hitters was Norm Schoenberger 5 for 12(HR), Eric Harper 5 for 13, Terry Knauss 5 for 14 with HR’s from Chuck

Crisaft and Charlie Mann. For Farmersville, Sue Grim was 7 for 11, Tom George 6 for 11, and Wade Chilmonik 5 for 10.

W L

Dryland 31 20

Star of Bethlehem 29 22

St. Paul’s 28 23

Emmanuel 26 25 Christ UCC 23 25 Ebenezer 23 28

Farmersville 20 28 Light of Christ 21 30

Deborah Keenhold

Deborah A. “Debbie” Keenhold, 64, of Niagara Falls, New York (formerly of Moore Township) died suddenly at her home on Sunday, Dec. 4, 2022. She was born in Easton, Pa. and was the daughter of Vera M. (Digerlando) Keenhold and the late Charles F. Keenhold Jr. She was an alumnus of Holy Family School and a 1976 graduate of Northampton Area High School. Debbie played field hockey in high school. She was a CNA at Easton Hospital. She

relocated to Buffalo, New York, where she resided for over 20 years. She is survived by her siblings, Karen (Keenhold) Dietterick of Bushkill Township, Charles F. Keenhold III of Arizona, Kathie Keenhold of Allentown, William Keenhold of Moore Township, Terri Puccio of New York, and Jeffrey Keenhold of Moore Township. She is also survived by many nephews and nieces and great nephews and nieces. Debbie showed a great love for her nephews and nieces, animals, and the elderly. She had a kind heart and often volunteered at Heart Love and Soul Food Pantry in Niagara Falls, New York. In lieu of flowers, please send donations to: Heart Love and Soul Food Bank (attention Sandra) at 939 Ontario Avenue, Niagara Falls, New York 14305. Please reference Debbie's name with the donation. Sympathy cards for Vera Keenhold may be sent to

PO Box 211, Bath, Pennsylvania 18014. Debbie will be laid to rest in a private family ceremony at Holy Family Cemetery. She will be missed and forever in our hearts. Online condolences may be offered at www.reichelfuneralhome.com.

Lehigh Township Supervisors conduct first Meeting of the year

By LAURA KLOTZ

East Bath Rod And Gun Club January

The Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors met on January 10 at 7 p.m. Board vice-chairman Cynthia Miller ran the meeting in chairman Michael Jones’s absence.

After approving minutes for both the December 13 supervisors meeting and the January 3 reorganization meeting, the board reviewed planning items. An extension was approved by the planning commission for William Jones III regarding land development; the plan was set to expire on January 30, and the board confirmed the approval of extending the plan until June 30. It was clarified the land in question is on Municipal Drive next to the American Legion.

Township Engineer Michael Muffley reported that clearing ground for stormwater basins at the Northwoods project is currently in progress. He noted it was a quiet December with no new plans submitted. The planning commission met on January 9 and discussed a proposal for a solar farm, which is likely to be submitted next month.

Public Works Director Frank Zamadics observed that several of his workers were on vacation during the month of December, which was a largely quiet month. Because of the abundance of mud caused by recent rains, the township’s dog park has been closed and will remain closed until April. The yard waste site will be closed in February and March to allow for maintenance, as discussed at the previous board meeting. The marked dead trees have been removed near Indian Trail Park; Zamadics said that someone has

been taking the felled trees for firewood, and that they are welcome to it.

Elizabeth Amato of the Zoning Board reported no new cases in December, though she expects an appeal for a notice of violation to be submitted in February. The solar company mentioned during the engineer’s report has signed an extension through the end of February and is eager to schedule a hearing as soon as possible. Township Solicitor David Backenstoe took a moment to remind residents that trees are falling quite a bit due to recent high winds, and that any trees on private property which fall on township roads are the responsibility of the homeowner.

Fire Commissioner Richard Hildebrand provided the department’s year-end report. The department responded to 440 incidents in 2022, including 91 fires and 54 hazardous conditions. Board member Philip Gogel complimented the report as being thorough and comprehensive. The ladder and engine truck has been repaired, and the committee is almost finished drafting specs for a new ladder truck, which will be sent out for bids. The department has applied for a grant for safety devices for personnel in the wake of the tragic deaths of the New Tripoli officers; as Hildebrand said, no one wants to see anything like that happen ever again.

It was decided that going forward, the township’s municipal authority will be asked to submit a monthly report and have a representative attend board meetings.

Curb cuts have been poured at the Cherryville intersection; PennDOT has completed their final inspection but no reports have been issued yet. Township Manager Alice Rehrig reported that the maintenance building committee met just after Christmas and have decided to put the project back out to bid in February, but will keep the excavation cost separate from the main project. Board member Gerald Pritchard explained that the excavation is the biggest line item, so getting a separate bid for that aspect will help to keep costs down. The board approved the committee’s decision.

The board next discussed an ordinance and three resolutions. The ordinance is expected to correct some inconsistencies in Cluster Development Resolution, which will allow cluster development across all zones; Rehrig will draft an amendment for solicitor Backenstoe’s approval and

Moore Township ZHB discusses Revised concept plan during Water’s Edge appeal

By SAVANNAH BROWN

The Moore Township Zoning Hearing Board met Thursday, December 8 to continue the Water’s Edge at Wind Gap warehouse development proposal appeal of the zoning officer’s determinations. The ongoing appeal that began in June challenges the substantive validity of various sections of the township’s zoning ordinances and zoning officer determinations. The applicant is now also requesting relief from various ordinances as well.

To begin, Township Solicitor David M. Backenstoe responded to questions from Zoning Hear-

ing Board Chairman Jeffrey Ayers. Backenstoe shared that after the late submission of plan “alternatives” at the previous meeting, the township did not have adequate time to review the additions. Backenstoe also objected to the submission of a new concept plan in the middle of a hearing because a new submission should be presented as a new plan.

Additionally, Backenstoe expressed that procedurally, he felt unsure of what the applicant’s intention was regarding whether they were withdrawing their current appeal, amending their appeal, or amending their plan, es-

pecially since the submission of the concept plan or alternative did not go before the Planning Commission prior to the hearing.

Attorney Marc B. Kaplin (representing Water’s Edge at Wind Gap) provided two cases that similarly submitted revised concept plans. However, one of the cases outlined that whether amendments require a new hearing should be decided on a caseby-case basis.

Kaplin went on to explain that the revised concept plan addresses some of the revisions they filed an appeal for and is more compliant with the determinations made by the township engineer and zoning officer.

“We don’t believe we can put the berm behind the trees, so we challenged the zoning officer’s interpretation. We are willing to move the berm if we get the other relief regarding steep slopes,” said Kaplin.

However, Board Solicitor Chad DiFelice explained that the applicant did not request a variance on the original plan for steep slopes. “These issues have to be narrowed down to clarify what you are asking for,” DiFelice added.

Kaplin retorted that the problem with asking for a variance for steep slopes is that there is no defined minimum relief, and therefore, he believes that the ordinance is either applicable or non-applicable.

Kaplin also argued that if the applicant does not have to improve Jones Road past the curve in the road, they will not have to cut down the trees that are currently there. Kaplin added that although it is not ideal for the applicant, the berm can be placed behind the trees on the property as suggested by the township engineer.

Due to advertisement obligations, Solicitor DiFelice felt it was necessary to publicly advertise the amendments to the application before moving forward. The

board also decided the amendments should go before the Planning Commission at their Monday, January 23 meeting before reconvening.

Solicitor DiFelice requested that Kaplin provide a comprehensive list of the specific requests for relief that the applicant is looking for.

Kaplin expressed that he would provide the list of issues within the next 10 days, however, the lengthy document Kaplin provided exceeded that timeframe.

As it stands, the applicant is withdrawing their challenge of the berm requirement and expressed that they are willing to take some of the other issues off the table in order to be more com-

pliant, which is what the board requested.

The comprehensive list of challenges and requests for variances that was provided identifies five challenges to the substantive validity of the determinations made by the zoning officer. These challenges include: the proposed numbers of off-street parking spaces; proposed use of the property; man-made slopes and steep slopes within previously disturbed areas not being exempt from preservation requirements; revisions that include the total proposed area of disturbance of regulated woodlands, regardless of whether the disturbance is attributable

Barry Bickert

to the construction of the buffer berm yard or other site improvements; and the identification

on the plan of all existing steep slopes and subsequent restrictions related to lot area, width, density, and coverage ratios due to the presence of steep slopes.

Additionally, the list identifies eight requests for variance relief based on the zoning officer’s de-

terminations. These variance requests include: the determination that man-made steep slopes and steep slopes within previously disturbed areas are not exempt from preservation requirements; the off-street parking space requirements; the dedication of 2,000 square feet of open space or contribute $2,000 to the Township in lieu of dedication of land per “potential” residential building lot; the improvements (realignment and widening) of Jones Road to current standards along the entire frontage of the subject property and the dedication of an additional right-of-way in the northwesterly corner of the realigned intersection of Jones Road and Moorestown Drive as necessary to accommodate required road

improvements or a monetary contribution to the Township Road Improvement Fund, at the discretion of the Board of Supervisors; the minimum centerline radii for a local street shall be 150 feet for grades less than eight percent and 200 feet for grades eight percent and greater, whereas the centerline radii for Jones Road along adjacent tax parcel J6-5-18C is significantly less than required at approximately 73 feet; the maximum longitudinal grade of a local road shall be 11 percent, whereas the grade toward the westerly end of the proposed improved portion of Jones Road ranges from 11.3 to 13.4 percent; locate and label on the plans required traffic control signs along the proposed improved portion of Jones Road

including stop and speed limit signs and others as applicable including curve and road narrows warning signs and advisory speed limit plaques; and delineate and label on the plans required pavement striping along the proposed improved portion of Jones Road in accordance with this section including tapered white edge lines at 8:1 along both sides of the road at the transition between the improved and the existing segments of Jones Road.

The Water’s Edge at Wind Gap warehouse development proposal appeal will reconvene on Wednesday, February 1 at 6 p.m. at the Klecknersville Rangers Volunteer Fire Company, located at 2718 Mountain View Dr.

Our students perform within the 90th percentile overall on National Standardized Testing. STM School engages in leadership positions at all grade levels. Our students demonstrate strong character traits of honesty, integrity, empathy and respect.

Northampton School Board approves Commencement exercises and Extracurriculars

By SAVANNAH BROWN

The Northampton School Board met Monday, January 9 to discuss appointing and hiring staff, adding various proposed extracurricular programs and clubs, tax increases, and the suspension of Policy 623 that requires three signatures on district checks.

To begin, the board unanimously voted to approve the Class of 2023 commencement exercises, which will take place at

the Al Erdosy Stadium on Friday, June 2 at 7:30 p.m. with inclement weather dates for Saturday, June 3 at 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, June 4 at 7:30 p.m.

Under new business personnel/ voice vote, the board unanimously approved the following agenda items: the revised job description for the Business Administrator effective January 9; three unpaid leave of absences; three resignations; one resignation for the

purpose of retirement; the appointment of Denise Vilkauskas as Interim School Board Secretary through April 3 with the position of Assistant School Board Secretary being left vacant during that time and on April 3, Denise Vilkauskas will resume her position as Assistant School Board Secretary—pending all bond suspensions and reinstatements as required; the appointment of Craig Neiman as School Board Secretary to fill the unexpired term of Matthew Sawarynski effective April 3 until June 30 conditioned upon Craig Neiman beginning his employment as business administrator on April 3 with a Public Officials Bond of $100,000 at no additional cost to the district; the approval of five individuals and all varsity softball players to attend the Coastal Sports Center Training Facility in Virginia Beach from March 16 to March 19 with no cost to the district; additions and deletions to the Substitute Listing for the 2022-2023 school year; and the revised Master District Volunteer List for the 2022-2023 school year.

Under new business personnel/ roll call vote, the board unanimously approved the following agenda items: the revised Mentor/Inductee List for the 20222023 school year, including stipend payments; the revised listing of Traffic Duty Monitors and hourly rates through the end of the school year; the Building Substitute Contracts between the current 68 Day Substitutes and NASD through June 30; the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the Northampton Area ESPA and NASD effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2027; the Memorandum of Agreement between the Northampton Area ESPA and NASD effective July 1, 2023 through June 30, 2025; Brian Davies as Security/Usher, Janet Gehret as Track Official, Michael Schneider as Security/ Usher/Game Manager, Mandy Sommer as Wrestling Scorebook, and Tammy Vajda as Clock Operator for additions to the Athletic Event Staff for the remainder of the school year; the attendance of three individuals at the Pa. Educational Technology Expo and Conference in February at a cost of $2,056.87; James Sansone and one student to attend the PMEA District 10 Band Festival at Nazareth Area High School at a cost of $405; and for Kristy Young and two students to attend the PMEA District 10 Orchestra Festival at Exeter Senior High School at a cost of $560.84.

The board also unanimously approved the following new

hires: Megan Repsher as Secretary to the Business Administrator with benefits effective February 21; the voluntary transfer of Custodiam John Turk from third shift to day shift at the high

school; the voluntary transfer of Custodian Edward Schoeneberger from middle shift at Siegfried Elementary to split/day shift at

By ANDY WEAVER

The Nazareth Boys Basketball team were at home versus Bethlehem Catholic on January 10 and lost, then defeated Easton on January 13. The boys traveled to Northampton on January 17 and up next will have Community Night at home versus Pocono Mountain East on January 20.

The Nazareth Wrestling team hosted Pleasant Valley for Senior Night on January 11 and got a big win over the Bears. They went to the Virginia Duals where they beat Smithfield MD on January 13, then on the 14th they beat St. Mary’s in the semifinal and lost to Wyoming Seminary in the finals. They traveled to Dieruff on January 18 and next will be at Emmaus on January 19.

The Nazareth Girls Basketball team beat Bethlehem Catholic on January 10, then went on to beat Easton on January 13. They hosted Northampton on January 17 and up next will travel to Pocono Mountain East on January 20.

The Nazareth Swimming team hosted Pocono Mountain West on January 10 where the boys and the girls won. They competed at Parkland on January 17 and next will host Central Catholic on January 19.

For up-to-the-minute sports

news, visit https://nazarethsports.webador.com/.

County seeking Nominations for ‘Outstanding

Senior’ awards

Natural Perspectives

gets in the way of being human. Again, this is meant to be humorous, all the while striking to the reality of the situation yet calmly accepting that through it all, who you are is more than enough. So, give yourself some slack already. I do not feel it is a cop-out to say that it’s been a rough couple years all around.

what's called a "ghost reading" — falsely high. Try to avoid the following locations for a thermostat:

• Areas in direct sunlight;

• Directly above air vents;

• Kitchens;

• Hallways;

• Near doors or windows.

Submitted

by BECKY BARTLETT

Lamont McClure and the Northampton County Area Agency on Aging are seeking nominations for outstanding seniors. Nominees must be 60 years or older, a resident of Northampton County, and have a passion for helping others through personal action, inspiration, public service, sports, educational instruction or humanitarian efforts.

Nominations may be made in an essay of 250 words or less with a description of why the nominee deserves to be recognized and a listing of their volunteer activities. Forms for nominations can be obtained from Melissa Titus at 610829-4509 or mtitus@northamptoncounty.org. For each nominee, please return one entry form along with the essay to:

Melissa Titus

Area Agency on Aging 2801 Emrick Blvd. Bethlehem, PA 18020

Nominations must be postmarked by March 22, 2023. The selected individuals will be announced in April.

New You Resolution

by DR. GLENN CLEARIE, DC

Has anyone else given meaningful thought to New Year’s resolutions this go ‘round? I have and usually do, yet more so these days as a reflective tool rather than to perform a declared crusade against. Ruminating on a few, I broke down and asked my wife for her perspective on the matter. Moving forward I think I’ll keep things private as my wife somehow made my perceived short list of things I would like to work on much longer. I should have seen that coming!

By and large, most resolutions appear to be more rhetorical than actionable. If action is taken, the typical self-loathing transiently inspires us to denounce our bad habits and self-deprecate into action. As is most common, most resolutions only last for a small period of time. Am I right?

Now I myself would give up a bunch of my bad habits, but many of you already know I am not a quitter. Okay, a bit of humor here yet being resolute in maintaining my resolutions is much more challenging than it seemed on those later hours of Dec. 31, 2022.

At the heart of our declarations is a common shared desire to develop into a better version of ourselves as the years move along. I have yet to find a person that wants to be a worse version of themselves. I would be surprised if I did. Because of this common desire for personal growth, it appears the worst aspect to making the resolutions is how you feel about yourself when you go back to your old ways, which is often the case. It feels as though we failed ourselves, doesn’t it?

I propose that for 2023 we all resolve to mentally take it easy on ourselves when our humanness

Yes, I know that you want to be the best version of yourself in 2023. So do I. Because we do, may I suggest you make an extremely small, new “you’s” resolution that can be easily kept? Perhaps it’s as simple as drinking half a glass of water as soon as you roll out of bed. Commit to that and months down the road you will be better off for it. You certainly won’t be worse for wear. Maybe you resolve to water brushing your teeth right after your last meal of the day to reduce chances of snacking. How about you put your slippers to the side instead of tripping on them again and again during the night? Yes, this last one was one of the many my wife suggested.

We all have an area where we could make a minuscule area of improvement that would feel very satisfying when consistent with. From this place of success, you can make another and another and collectively you have really done good things on your own behalf. This is the approach that has allowed me personally to excel in many areas. It gets tiring, always biting off more than you can chew.

I know that you may have a burning desire to make a dramatic change like quitting smoking or not having French fries for a year and the like. I get that and respect that, however for the moment, just unburden yourself. Something small can genuinely snowball into something bigger and better down the road. See this for the truth it is.

May you never be the same you in 2023…be slightly better. You are worth it.

"Natural Perspectives" is a health commentary only and does not claim to diagnose and/ or make treatment recommendations. Always seek the advice of your health care professional.

If you use space heaters for supplemental heat in the wintertime, keep them away from the thermostat. They can also cause ghost readings. And make sure you're following proper safety protocols when using them. The last thing you want is a house fire.

How Can You Get More Out of Your Thermostat?

There are a few different thermostat options, all with different features. One of these home investments can help you save on your heating bill and avoid constantly adjusting the thermostat:

• A Wi-Fi thermostat connects to your home's wireless internet service and lets you remotely check and change the temperature in your home from an app on your smartphone or tablet.

• Smart thermostats have some features in common with Wi-Fi thermostats. Both styles connect to the internet to be controlled remotely. But smart thermostats can also self-adjust based on a programmed schedule or the daily weather. Some even come with motion sensors to heat the rooms you use most.

• Programmable thermostats may be controlled remotely or centrally depending on the model. Some require you to program the settings right at the wall thermostat. Others will connect to an app. (Note: Programmable thermostats might not work with heat pumps or electric baseboard heaters. Double check before you decide to install one)

• Traditional thermostats offer fewer special features, but they are the less expensive option. If you don't need to adjust the temperature remotely or to set up personalized heating and cooling schedules, a traditional thermostat should work just fine.

to acclimate. Simply wearing more clothes in the house, like an extra sweater or warm slippers, can also help you adjust to the lower temperature.

Does Thermostat Placement Affect Heating?

If you've set your thermostat to 68 F but wonder why your teeth are chattering, it might have to do with thermostat placement. If the thermostat is installed in a warm or sunny spot in the house, it will give

For the healthMinded individual

the proposed ordinance will be advertised for public comment.

The three resolutions concern establishing fee schedules for the Sewage Enforcement Officer, the police department, and building permits. The Sewage Enforce-

ment resolution would bring that fee in line with current regulations; the police resolution will increase shooting range fees to $25 per officer and also add a 25 cent photocopying fee; and the building permit resolution will change wording regarding electricity supply and also increase the fee to be in line with other commercial fees. All three resolutions were approved.

Two grants have been received from Northampton County. One is for security needs and must be used this year; Rehrig suggested beginning with security cameras and keyless access for the municipal building and police station. She will research updated pricing to bring to the board. The other grant is for emergency services and will be used for the purchase of a new police cruiser. Chief

Fogel has also applied for and received a software grant which will allow the police filing systems to be fully upgraded.

A debt collector representing Deere Country has contacted the township regarding the outstanding charges. Rehrig will reply with the board’s intent to dispute the charges and provide copies of all letters which have been sent to Deere Country previously.

On a final note, discussion was held regarding businesses in the township. The old Kmart has been purchased by a property firm in Allentown, which is advertising it for lease for warehousing or wholesaling purposes; in the meantime, they are allowing the fire department to use the parking lot. Turkey Hill is still working with PennDOT on their plans to relocate, but nothing can be done by the township to move the project forward. The board then adjourned for an executive session to discuss personnel issues.

The next supervisors meeting is scheduled for Tuesday, January 24 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building at 1069 Municipal Rd., Walnutport.

School Board

Continued from page 7

the high school; Jennifer GrossEdwards as LTS Study Hall Instructional Assistant at the high school for the rest of the school year; David O’Neill as a Maintenance employee; Nicolette Fragnito as 12-month High School Secretary with benefits effective February 7; Emma Kitts as Short Term Substitute Special Education Teacher at Moore Elementary through April 28; Jessica Armour as PE Elementary Teacher at Siegfried Elementary with benefits; Jarrett Alexander as middle shift Custodian at the high school with benefits; and Dylan Skubik as middle shift Custodian at Siegfried Elementary with benefits.

Next, the board unanimously approved the suspension of a portion of Policy 623, which requires signatures of the Board President, Board Secretary, and Board Treasurer on district checks for the payment of bills approved by the board, whereas the Board Secretary will no longer be required to sign until a permanent Board Secretary has been appointed.

Under finances, the board unanimously approved the disposal of obsolete technology equipment, parts, and components minus one item that was pulled for further investigation, the Treasurer’s report, the 20222023 budget transfers, and the bills for payment.

Last, under miscellaneous, the board unanimously approved the following agenda items: the creation of a Junior High Baseball Program with a startup cost of $8,100; the creation of a Middle School Soccer Program with a startup cost of $8,000; the acceptance of a $1,001.87 donation from the Northampton High School Class of 1958 to provide

plaques for the High School Advanced Placement Student Recognition; Neil Koch as NASD’s representative to the BAVTS Authority through December 30, 2027; the 2023-2024 school calendar; and the Middle School Mathletes Academic Tutoring & Help Club for the current school year.

Although board members could not discuss any specifics due to confidentiality, an expulsion hearing for a student that took place in December was approved with a split vote of 6-3. Board members Robert Mentzell, Doug Vaughn, and Kim Bretzik were the dissenting votes.

During public comment, local resident Ed Pany voiced concern in regards to preserving the historical aspects of the 329 project site in East Allen Township, which he believes should embody the historical significance of that location since the first settlers of Northampton County settled in that area. Pany expressed that he hopes the board will consider using the names of historical figures and distinguished Americans when naming the roads that will surround the proposed 329 elementary school and education center. Some of the historical figures Pany suggested included Hugh Wilson, founder of Northampton Borough; William Allen who founded Northampton Town, which later became Allentown, was the Chief Justice of the Province of Pennsylvania, and is who Allen Township and East Allen Township are named after; John Hays who built a tavern that later became the Weaversville Hotel, post office, and meeting place for early settlers, some of the first soldiers from the Pennsylvania Militia who fought in the French and Indian War and the American Revolution; and most importantly, General Robert Brown who was born in Weaversville, East Allen Township, a soldier during the American Revolutionary War serving alongside General George Washington, who became a member of the Pennsylvania State Senate, and is even buried in Horner’s Cemetery near the site.

“Don’t forget where we came from!” Pany implored.

The next Northampton School Board meeting will be held on Monday, February 13 at 6:30 p.m. in the Northampton Area High School auditorium, located at 1619 Laubach Ave.

lection, whereas Whitetail’s bid for weekly waste collection was $393.66 annually and JP Mascaro’s was $374.45 annually. The borough chose the JP Mascaro bid for weekly waste collection only.

However, Siegfried expressed he has called three local haulers and for weekly trash and recycling, they ranged in cost from $387 annually to $486, which are lower than the bids the borough received from Whitetail and JP Mascaro. Therefore, Siegfried wanted to know what the borough is doing to add the recycling program back.

Council discussed that in order to add the recycling program back, they would have to look into a reelection of recycling services and that they could look into discussing this issue further at the Wednesday, February 8 special workshop meeting.

In other news, Council President Michele Ehrgott announced the borough will now begin adding information regarding rental inspections and Right-to-Know requests to monthly agendas in an effort to be transparent with the public.

Next, Borough Manager Bradford T. Flynn shed light on upcoming Municipal Separate Storm Water Sewer System projects in the borough, which will include two retention ponds and one rain garden at a cost of approximately $480,000. As of Dec. 5, 2022, the borough will have five years to complete the projects, which will help reduce the borough’s impact on nearby waterways through sediment control.

Manager Flynn shared that 2023 will require planning, and then construction will begin in

2024 for the retention ponds and rain garden. The retention ponds will be added to Holiday Hill and the 100 block of Spyglass Hill Road. The rain garden will be on the George Wolf Elementary School property to collect rainwater.

Due to a recent Right-to-Know request from a borough resident, Manager Flynn also shared some information regarding Mayor Fiorella Reginelli-Mirabito and Councilman Manny Mirabito’s health insurance.

Over the span of three years, the Mirabitos unknowingly missed nine payments for their health insurance plan, which amounted to a total of $10,501.31. The Rightto-Know request brought the discrepancy to light and the Mirabitos wrote the borough a check for the full amount two days after the discrepancy was found.

The borough has since released statements explaining that some premium payments were either missed or reimbursement checks were written out with wrong amounts and that the borough’s accountant at the time did not identify the mistakes. Therefore, the reimbursement payments were not recorded in a correct accounting standard of practice, which made the discrepancies difficult to track. Unfortunately, auditors did not catch the discrepancies either.

Manager Flynn met with auditors and lawyers regarding the situation, which did not require a forensic accountant since no other funds were missing and all discrepancies were rectified.

The borough has now employed the services of a professional bookkeeper and has begun procedural changes with accounting practices in order to prevent future mistakes from occurring.

Additionally, the professional bookkeeper has spent time recti-

fying the intricacies of the borough’s accounting errors and will help cut down on the amount of time it takes to do the borough’s books because the previous employee(s) was not qualified for the position. The borough has never had a professional bookkeeping service until now.

Manager Flynn has acknowledged that mistakes were made.

“The borough will continue to evaluate this incident, learn from what happened, and do everything that it can to prevent future mistakes like this from occurring again,” said Flynn.

Mayor Mirabito has sincerely apologized and shared that this was simply an oversight because she would never take from the borough.

As of Jan. 1, 2023, the Mirabitos will no longer be accepting healthcare coverage from the borough.

The next Bath Borough Council regular monthly meeting is scheduled for Monday, February 6 at 6 p.m. in the borough’s office, located at 121 S. Walnut St. The next bi-monthly workshop meeting is scheduled for Wednesday, February 8 at 6 p.m.

Allen Twp.

to help alleviate truck traffic, including switching vehicles from tri-axles to tankers and rotating routes.

Supervisors said they would reach out to the company for an update.

“The issue with the trucks is that there are too many of them,” said Supervisor Paul Link. Link said he believes the influx of trucks started when the weight limit on the Route 329 bridge was lowered.

“If they ever [complete] the bridge on Route 329, that is going to help,” he added.

Hiestand also asked whether it would be possible for supervisors to explore putting together a police force. This has been a discussion item for supervisors in the past. Hiestand said a police force would help with traffic issues, as well as other safety concerns.

Hassler said the Pennsylvania State Police have a “good presence” in the township and are often the first ones on the scene during an accident. Eckhart added that State Police also sit on certain roads and monitor traffic when resources allow.

“We have looked at in the past what it would take to have a police force in Allen Township, but maybe it is worth looking at it again,” said Supervisor Gary Behler. He said the township

should reach out to other municipalities to get an idea of costs, which have traditionally been why Allen Township has remained with State Police. The high costs of their own police force would eat up most of the township’s budget, said Behler.

In other news, supervisors approved the purchase of a Kubota U55RCA mini excavator for $73,162.63. The equipment will be paid for using the township’s general fund and sewer account. This purchase was a planned expense in the 2023 budget.

Supervisors also approved the purchase of two mobile messaging traffic signs. These signs will help keep township workers and residents safe by alerting drivers to road work, speed changes, or

other safety announcements concerning township roads.

The township has received $9,000 from the Northampton County Grow Grant to purchase the signs. The remaining $25,370 will come from the township’s American Rescue Plan funds. The signs will be picked up from State College by the township to save the $1,600 delivery fee.

Finally, supervisors unanimously approved the Setter Hill sewer facilities planning module after a recommendation from the planning commission.

The next Allen Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be Tuesday, January 24 at 6 p.m.

Photo of the P Month Contest M

Police Blotter

DUI and public drunk

The CRPD was dispatched to the parking lot of Kohl’s for possible intoxicated behavior on Dec. 2. Witnesses said that a male was found lying in the parking lot next to his vehicle

which had an open door. Witnesses went to help the male and found he had urinated himself and was unsteady on his feet. The male got back into his vehicle and drove away through the lot. When police arrived, they found the vehicle, however the man was no longer there. Police found the man inside the Kohl’s bathroom. The man was placed under arrest for DUI and public drunk. He was identified as a 63-year-old from the Allen-

town area. Blood results came back with a BAC of 0.335%.

Terroristic threats

The PSP-Bethlehem are investigating the following which took place on January 7 on Creek Road in the Bath Borough. In the commission of the crime, the arrestee committed the act of terroristic threats by verbally communicating to the victim that he was going to shoot her as well as her place

of employment, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Hecktown Oaks. The arrestee was subsequently taken into custody at his residence without further incident.

Theft of vehicle parts

On Dec. 2, PSP Troop M was dispatched to Kopper Penny Self-Storage for the theft of a catalytic converter. Upon speaking with the victim, he related that someone had recently come into the storage facility and cut the catalytic converter out of his box truck. It was observed that a total of five vehicles had their catalytic converters cut away and taken from the scene.

Runaways

On Dec. 28 at 5:19 p.m., the complainant in this scenario contacted PSP Bethlehem and reported that her children, an 11-year-old female and 13-year-old female, ran away from home at 1:30 p.m. She related they packed two backpacks and left the residence.

At 8:30 p.m., Upper Nazareth Police Department was dispatched to a residence in Upper Nazareth Township for two females who showed up at the residence. The two females were identified as the runaway juveniles and PSP was contacted.

Morningstar Living invites you to visit our Moravian Hall Square campus in Nazareth to enjoy a variety of programs.

EventFULL Living is a series of programs to enrich life’s journey. Reserve your place today in as many programs as you like.

The programs for February include:

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3rd | 10:30 AM

Staying Young at Heart

There are lots of things that can impact your heart health. Nicole Pezzino, PharmD, BCACP, CDCES, Associate Professor of Pharmacy at Wilkes University - with the help of her pharmacy students - will discuss an overview of what is heart health, which will include nutrition tips, medications, physical activity, controlling your blood pressure and supplements.

TUESDAY, FEBRUARY 21st | 10:30 AM

Respite...What is it? and Who's it for?

If you’re a caregiver and need a breather to recharge your batteries to be the best you can be for the loved one who needs your care, this program is for you. You’ll discover three respite strategies that can prevent caregiver burnout and even possibly turn a short term breather into a win-win solution for you and your loved one.

WEDNESDAY, FEBRUARY 22nd | 2:30PM

Ecumenical Lenten Services

Morningstar Living invites members of the community to our Ecumenical Lenten Services. Services will be held each Wednesday in Lent, February 22nd - March 29th at 2:30PM. We welcome Holy Family Catholic Church to host this first Lenten Service - Ash Wednesday Ecumenical Distribution of Ashes. All are welcome to attend.

Reservations are required.

Call 610.746.1000 or register online at https://morningstareventfull.corsizio.com/

These events are held at Moravian Hall Square 175 W. North St. Nazareth, PA 18064

Nazareth, PA www.MorningstarLiving.org 610.746.1000

Declarations of Love

Surprise a loved one or someone special with a declaration of love in our Feb. 9 Valentine’s Day issue. Declare your love to your special someone with a sweet message, starting at $9 for your first 25 words. Call us today at 610-923-0382 or email cstroh@homenewspa.com to get started. Deadline is Monday, Feb. 6.