The Home News Your Local News
MAY 10-16, 2018
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The Art Den joins downtown Nazareth
By HOME NEWS STAFF A new business has joined downtown Nazareth- The Art Den, an art studio offering a broad variety of creative classes for both children and adults. The Art Den received a warm welcoming from the community at its grand opening on May 5 with a ribbon cutting ceremony, joined by State Representatives Marcia Hahn and Joe Emrick. Free arts and crafts were available for children along with face painting, raffles and giveaways.
Looking by Back Ed Pany Early Schools
(Originally published in 2006) My friend and fellow historian ogy. I still rely on my 1956 WebLarry Oberly wrote a very inter- ster’s Dictionary. esting booklet on the schools of At one time, Allen Township Allen Township. He graciously was extremely large, covering allowed me to use his well-re- what is now East Allen, Hanover, searched material in my column. Northampton County, Hanover, Larry is much more advanced Lehigh County, Boroughs of than this so called writer. He has Catasauqua, Northampton and the latest in computer technol- North Catasauqua.
Our state’s founder, William Penn, had an early vision of education, saying, “All persons in this province and territories having children shall cause such to be instructed in reading and writing of which every county court will take care; girls and boys should receive an education such as might enable them to successfully meet the duties of life.” Penn’s vision for universal education took a back seat to the desire for religious freedom. Most schools between 1701-1750 were denominational schools, with the church and schoolhouse setting side by side. The schoolmaster was paid by the congregation, which was too poor to pay the minister. Continued on page 13
Northampton Borough Council members express Safety concerns during Rental ordinance hearing By KERI LINDENMUTH The Northampton Borough Council held a public hearing about its proposed rental inspection ordinance on May 2. Borough residents, many of them landlords, came out to voice their concerns about the ordinance. Many of them expressed worry over the costs it would inflict upon them. However, several councilmembers countered their financial concerns with safety concerns. Councilman Robert McHale, a member of the rental inspection ordinance committee, says he believes the committee took all of the landlords’ concerns into account and lowered registration and inspection fees as a result. Any semblance of rental inspection regulation has been absent from the borough since 1978. The ordinance, which will require apartments to be inspected every three years, McHale said, is a way to ensure apartments are kept in safe and livable conditions, with windows that open and close, roofs that do not leak, outlets that are covered, and fire alarms that work. “These are basic needs every one of us has in our own homes,” said McHale. “The function of the whole ordinance is to guarantee safety for the tenant, the landlord, and the borough,” said Councilman Anthony Lopsonzski Sr. “[It] guarantees that their [landlords’] property will not be destroyed and that they [tenants] have a safe place to live.” Councilwoman Judy Kutlzer, who works with and counsels
women in the community, has heard stories of unsafe living conditions firsthand, from no heat in apartments to sewage leaking into apartment basements. Many of the women she works with expressed fear of speaking up, which could result in their rent being increased. “When you are a single mom trying to raise your family, you cannot have your rent increased,” she said. “Unfortunately, government has to intervene when there are issues of safety that have to be addressed,” she added. “A human being should be able to lay down at night and not worry about electrical issues, plumbing issues, and whether their windows open and close.” However, several landlords in attendance said they believe they are being punished for the actions of a few “bad landlords.” Attorney Alan Troutman spoke on behalf of landlord Derek Richmond. “This is an ordinance [that is] vastly overreaching,” he said. He said it will increase costs for landlords, create time delays, and impact their ability to “support themselves.” Landlord Joan Marinkovits agreed. An owner of a two-unit Continued on page 15
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