Northampton Borough Council Considers pulling permits for Adult softball league

By KERI LINDENMUTH

A home run is typically a cause for celebration, but not for the residents along Canal Street in Northampton. Since spring, fly balls from an adult softball league playing at Canal Park have damaged several homes and vehicles along the street. The outfield fence at Canal Park is 320 feet away, but that distance is not enough for the adult leagues using the park.

“These guys are cranking them out of there,” said Councilman Jason Donohue during

Northampton AARP Announces June meeting

Submitted by JEAN RUNDLE

The Northampton AARP Chapter 3915 will meet on Wednesday, June 14 at the Northampton Banquet and Events Center, located at 1601 Laubach Ave. Doors will open at 11 a.m. All members are cordially invited to attend. We welcome any new members or visitors to join. Bus trips will be on display at the trip table. Anyone interested in bus trips should call Sharon Bechtold at 610-262-9182. Our speaker will be from the AARP Foundations Senior Service Employment Program.

Northampton Borough Council’s June 1 meeting.

Borough Manager LeRoy Brobst said the borough had a previous issue at the 26th Street Playground. In that case, the borough pulled the league’s permit and asked them to find another home field. A similar decision, in council’s view, is in order.

Brobst said leagues are warned of the risks when applying for a field permit.

“[The team] is told at the beginning of the year ‘no Gorilla balls, no Gorilla bats.’” Brobst and Borough Solicitor Brian Panella will work together on language to prohibit adult softball leagues from Canal Park, limiting the park only to youth leagues.

In other news, Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski, Sr. took some time to explain his reasoning for suggesting a reduced pool fee for Catasauqua residents during a previous meeting. Council rejected the motion. However, Lopsonzski, Sr. said he has since received backlash online for his suggestion.

“Catasauqua residents have endured a 50 percent rise in borough taxes,” he said. “My intention was to show that our community is sympathetic toward their community.”

He added that the reduced rate would still be more than what Northampton residents pay but less than what other out-of-town passes cost.

Councilwoman Judith Haldeman said Lopsonzski’s idea was “honorable,” but with the motion previously rejected, “Catasauqua residents will have to pay like [other] out-of-towners.”

Motions approved during the meeting included an escrow release of over $11,000 to Schoolhouse Apartments on Main, LLC. The 1503 Main St. developer has completed all outstanding property requests required by the borough and its zoning.

“They have been a good neighbor,” Brobst said of the developer.

Council also approved an application for a Nor-Co Grant for $48,000. If awarded, this grant would be combined with an additional $20,000 grant to help the borough update its zoning ordinances as part of the River Central Comprehensive Plan.

Meanwhile, Mayor Anthony Pristash announced that the Hometown Heroes banner program is starting again. The initial response was overwhelming and interest is still rampant.

“I would hate to see anyone turned away,” Mayor Pristash said, adding that this program helps “build a more patriotic Northampton.”

Finally, Mayor Pristash and council bid farewell to Junior Council Representative Ryleigh Tillotson. A graduate of the Northampton Area High School Class of 2023, Tillotson’s twoyear term will conclude at the end of June.

“From here on, everyone is going to build on the back of what you have done,” Mayor Pristash told Tillotson.

The mayor’s sentiments were echoed by every member of council.

“[Tillotson] will have a very successful career,” said Lopsonzski, Sr. He added that she has got-

By ANDY WEAVER

The Nazareth Boys Volleyball team played Emmaus at Catasauqua High School on May 30 in the District Semifinals and lost to end the 2023 volleyball season.

The Nazareth Softball team played Emmaus in the District Semifinals on May 30 and won, then played Easton in the District Finals and beat Easton to win the Championship. They then played a home state playoff game on June 5 versus Pennridge and won 12-3. They will now play Chambersburg on Thursday, June 8 in the States Quarterfinals at 2:30 p.m. at Twin Valley High School. The Semifinals will be on June 12 and the State Finals would be on

June 15 at Penn State. For up-to-the-minute sports news, visit https://nazarethsports. webador.com/.

Continued

Hill’s Strows Plumbing bathtub “No Rough Too Tough,” and Buck Vanhorn’s carrot “The Carrot Express.” Crowd favorite was Meghan Uliana’s “#38 Farm Team” as Remaly and Babian announced that Uliana was the only female driver of the derby, which received excited roars from spectators showing their support.

During the first bracket Shupe’s “Grocery Grabber” won against Steven Noversel’s white NB2 Motorsports and Vigilance Hose “NB2-S” and Rick

Noversel’s white NB2 Motorsports “NB2-R.” Randy Ressler’s third generation Ressler’s Racing “#12” won against Cole Heitzman’s “Blue Bed” and JR Williams’ “Eternal Rest.” Due to a no-show, Louis Stubits’ black “Mechanical Mayhem” also won. Rob Leiser’s red STP #2 “The Andretti Car” won against AJ Ressler’s white “Ressler’s Racing” and Mason Rinker’s yellow 30s roadster “The Rink.” Hill’s “No Rough Too Tough” won due to a no-show, and Uliana’s “#38 Farm Team” won against Vanhorn’s “The Carrot Express.” KC Creyer’s blue bomber “Quarry Slugs” won against Brandon Ahart’s wooden “Dude Where’s My Soapbox?” Dave Austin’s green #5 “Austin Special” won against Neil Romanishan’s black snowmobile “The Dream Team,” and due to a no-show, Dan Geiger’s Mario cart “Knuckleheads” won, with Geiger even dressed as Mario.

Races continued as fans and their tail-wagging pooches cheered on throughout the day while jamming to 80s classics and munching on hot dogs and Girl Scout cookies.

During the final bracket, Austin’s green #5 “Austin Special” went head-to-head with Leiser’s red STP #2 “The Andretti Car” and AJ Ressler’s white “Ressler’s Racing.” Austin won by a mere foot with Leiser coming in second place and Ressler coming in third.

During Austin’s winning speech, he thanked Leiser who actually built the “Austin Special,” and Leiser was a great sport, posing for pictures with Austin and the “Austin Special.”

Founder Matt Rinker and announcers Remaly and Babian

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Continued thanked spectators for coming out and proudly shared that NASBRA will be back next year for everyone to look forward to. Interested racers should start