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DECEMBER 28-JANUARY 3, 2024
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Northampton School Board holds Meeting to determine future of Route 329 project
By SAVANNAH BROWN On Monday, December 18, the Northampton School Board met to discuss terminating the previously awarded construction contracts. First, Arif Fazil from D’Huy Engineering Inc. presented the implications of terminating the contracts, so that the board could make an informed decision on where the district stands. Fazil expressed that cost factors associated with potentially terminating the construction contracts for the Route 329 elementary school and education center would include all design, approvals and permit costs completed,
work completed by contractors thus far, work in progress and stored materials by contractors, cancellation of purchase orders authorized by contractors and subcontractors, removing work completed and restoring the site, demobilization and potential legal claims that could result in additional monetary payments. Since work began on the project on November 30, there would be a significant financial impact to the district. Costs incurred through December 19 include the following: design, planning and bidding phases - $3,489,587.65; general contractor work completed - $665,157.61; mechani-
Looking by Back Ed Pany
cal contractor work completed - $154,350; electrical contractor work completed - $172,890; plumbing contractor work completed - $33,075; total work completed - $1,025,472.61; and retainage held to date $113,941.40. Since this is an estimate, the work in progress and stored material costs could vary, and the work to restore the site would cost an additional $584,126.37. Also, the work in progress and stored materials are estimated to include the following: general contractor work in progress and stored materials - $1,879,451.21; Continued on page 7
2 new officers join Colonial Regional Police Dept.
CRPD photo
By HOME NEWS STAFF On Monday, December 18, the Colonial Regional Police Department welcomed their newest officers to the force. Both officers recently graduated from the 112th Allentown Police Academy class and were sworn in by District Judge Capobianco. Officer Mark Maguire is a native of Phillipsburg, N.J. He graduated from Kean University and served eight years in the Army National Guard as an infantryman. He had his badge pinned on by his parents during the ceremony. Continued on page 6
Fella Studios, Part 2 of 5
In this second column, we are speaking to Mr. Martin Fella in his photography studio at 1465 Main St. in Northampton. We are tracing the history of Fella Studios, a business that has provided photography service to the area for 77 years. His grandfather emigrated from Austria to New York, where he was a partner in a Brooklyn studio. Mr. Fella moved to Bethlehem and opened a studio on Buchanan Street. Oscar, the patriarch, died in 1931. Elizabeth, his wife, and four sons, Martin Sr., Bernard, Rudolph and Edward, had to determine the future of the business. The oldest son, Bernie, was 16 years of age and a student at Liberty High School. He quit school to help run the studio with his mother and brothers. The studio became a family enterprise. Their first Bethlehem studio was sold to Bethlehem Steel for a parking lot. They found a new location on Fourth Street. Martin’s grandmother assumed the leadership of the studio and, through dedication, hard work and the cooperation of her family, became a successful businesswoman. Mr. Fella’s father, Martin Sr., was born in Bethlehem in 1920. He was delivered at home by a midwife. While attending Liberty High School, he worked in
Martin Fella Sr. and his wife, Caroline (Kovalchik) Fella, photo courtesy of the Fella family the school print shop and also at The Globe-Times. During World War II, the studio was very busy. Families had photos sent to sons and daughters who were serving in our military. Photographs were sent around the world to the battlefields of Europe and Asia. When Continued on page 4
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