35¢
70th Year, Issue No. 6 USPS 248-700
FEBRUARY 10-16, 2011 A General Circulation Newspaper Serving The Community Since 1942
SERVING BATH, CHAPMAN, NORTHAMPTON, NAZARETH BOROS; ALLEN, E. ALLEN, MOORE, LEHIGH, BUSHKILL, LOWER NAZARETH & UPPER NAZARETH TWPS.
Bath Council hears of Authority Plans for new well water lines
By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
KING GROUNDHOG is carried in his regal cage by men wearing black top hats. – Home News photos
On 75th anniversary of lodge, Grundsow predicts early spring
horseradish, chicken, potato filling, green beans, sweet The brethren of Grundsow potatoes, salad with bacon Lodge Nummer Ains on da dressing, applebutter and Lechaw celebrated the orga- cottage cheese, bread and nization’s 75th anniversary butter, coffee, water, and ice with their annul fersommling cream. In the dialect (not necon Wednesday night, Feb. 2, essarily in the order shown), Groundhog Day. The ban- the meal consisted of Lechaw quet was again held at the Dawl Hame Geroscht HinGermansville Fire Co., where kel, Frisha Wursht, Grumbit has been held for a few iere Filsel, Siess Grumbiere, years since moving from the Welshkan, G’shnibb’ld ObNorthampton Community sht, Griene Buhne, TzalaCenter. wdt mit Sida Schpeck Bree, After singing “America” Schmear Kase un Lodwarick, and reciting the Pledge of Al- Weis un kann brodt un Budlegiance (all in Pennsylvania der, Koffee-Rawm-Tzugar, German), the gathering of Glore Shpringe Wasser, Gfora almost 200 men raised both Rawm. their hands and gave their saMayor Tom Reenock of cred oath as good members in Northampton is annually reciting the 75th Degree. called upon to make remarks. Then they settled down to To the audience he does it in a good meal of sausage with By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Continued on page 2
RECITING the 75th Degree are (l-r) Gregory Snyder, Lawrence Hoffman, and Donald Fister.
Officials of the Bath Borough Authority on Monday briefed members of Borough Council on plans for installation of pipes between two water tanks. George Gasper, chairman, and Harry Garman said about 600 ft. of 6 to 8-inch pipes will be put in between the 5,000 gallon Smith St. tank and the 4,000 gallon Allen St. tank along a 20-ft. easement that parallels Allen Street. It complies with retention time as required by Pa. DEP on all public water supplies. DEP approved the plan on December 14, but then the hard winter weather set in,
so Gasper said the Authority doesn’t expect excavation to start until at least April. The pipe is already here, and Authority workmen will use a backhoe to dig the trench. It will not interfere with the ball fields. Garman said the water system can operate with one of the wells shut down. There is also a well on Holiday Hill. Water comes into Bath in a 12inch main from Hatch Gravel north of Bath. The men told Council that grant applications have been filed with the state, but funding isn’t expected until at least March. There have been several delays during the Rendell administration.
Council also thanked the Authority for their personnel and equipment helping the borough’s road crew in recent snow clean-up. During the last 40 days, according to Borough Manager Richard Klotz, the public works staff has come in early or has been called out on 12 occasions above and beyond their normal work day, working an additional 82 hours. Klotz and Council president Robert Fields said a policy will be written on snow removal. When there are huge snowfalls, the curbsides will be cleared downtown automatically, according to the policy. Continued on page 7
Lehigh ZHB continues hearing On proposed school solar array By BILL HALBFOIERSTER The Home News
“This board is not deciding whether this is a good idea or not – only if it is permitted by the zoning ordinance,” Lehigh Township Zoning Hearing Board solicitor Thomas Caffrey told the audience after four hours and 15 minutes of testimony on Feb. 3 concerning a proposed solar array at Lehigh Elementary School. He said, “They look at the law, the zoning ordinance, and the facts presented.” Caffrey told more than 30 residents at the meeting that their comments, which were nearly all in opposition to the project, “would be better addressed to the school board.” The solicitor recommended that the ZHB not make a decision on that Thursday, but give the builders’ attorney, Christopher Spadoni, an opportunity to provide a memorandum. At the same time, the township’s solicitor in this case, Atty. James Preston, would have an opportunity to present rebuttal testimony. The ZHB has 45 days to reach a decision, but this hearing will be continued at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Feb. 17 in the municipal building. In early testimony on Feb. 3, Spadoni said concern about sale of excess power is not the case. The attorney for MetroTek Electrical Services of Kunkletown and Energy
Alliance LLC said they be- Laura Harrier ruled otherlieve it is an accessory use at wise many weeks ago, sayLehigh Elementary School. ing it is a secondary principal Lehigh Twsp. Zoning Officer Continued on page 8
Dent holds neighborhood Meeting in Northampton By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Despite the snow, sleet and freezing rain, more than 25 people turned out at the Northampton Municipal Building for a neighborhood meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 25, in which Congressman Charlie Dent answered their numerous questions on a variety of issues confronting America today. After he thanked them for coming out on a dreary day, he opened the community meet-
ing with a moment of prayerful silence for the recovery of Congresswoman Gabrielle Giffords, who was shot in the head recently as she met the public at a supermarket parking lot in Tucson, Arizona. Six others died in that incident, including a nine-year-old girl and a federal judge. Cong. Dent told of his role on the House Appropriations Committee, and his serving on the Homeland Security, Transportation and Ethics Continued on page 15
DENT answers constituents’ questions in Northampton. – Home News photo
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