Letter to The Editor

Many citizens have expressed concern about the direction and actions of the Northampton Area School District, including building projects, closing schools, curriculum and resources, borrowing, and taxes. Unfortunately the only way to change the course of the school district is to change the makeup of the school board. The school board governs everything that happens in the District. In 2023, five seats on the school board, including all three Regions, will be up for election. This occurs only once every four years. Prospective candidates can obtain nominating petitions from the Northampton County Elections Office at the Northampton County Government Center in

Hayes

Easton. Candidates may begin obtaining signatures from registered voters on February 14. Completed petitions with at least 10 valid signatures on each petition (more are advised) must be returned to the Elections Office no later than March 7. Candidates for school board may ‘cross-file’ in both Republican and Democrat parties since the school board is considered a nonpolitical office. So school board elections are often decided at the Primary election. Interestingly, only voters registered as Republican or Democrat are allowed to vote in the Primary election. Voters registered as Independent or other affiliation are not allowed to vote in the Primary election. Successful candidates from the Primary election will run in the General election in November, and successful candidates from the General election will take their seats on the school board in December. Citizens interested in changing the direction of the school district, be it building issues, curriculum and resources, borrowing and taxes, or other issues should consider becoming a member of the school board. More information is available at northamptoncounty.org.

Chuck Longacre Former NASD school board member

Northampton County launches

‘Fake is Real’ Campaign to Raise awareness Of dangers of Fentanyl

Submitted by BECKY BARTLETT

Lamont McClure and the Department of Human Services (DHS) held a press conference on “Fake is Real,” a campaign to educate teens, young adults and community members on the dangers of fentanyl on Tuesday, January 31 at 2 p.m. at the DHS Building, 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem.

Speakers included Lamont McClure, DHS Director Susan Wandalowski, District Attorney Terry Houck, Coroner Zach Lysek, Administrator of Drug and Alcohol Kathleen Jiorle and Sarah Clark from Kudu Creative.

A majority of young people are unaware that four out of ten pills sold on the street contain lethal doses of fentanyl. Two milligrams of fentanyl can be a lethal dose— the size of a few grains of sand.

Northampton County is launching the “Fake is Real” campaign to educate young adults and others about the dangers of fentanyl and to reduce demand for counterfeit prescription pills.

“Illegal drugs pose a clear danger to our children and our soci- ety,” says Lamont McClure. “The County will continue to raise awareness to prevent addiction and to offer services to treat addiction. We aren’t going to leave anyone behind.”

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.

Getting Out!

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.

Chili Cook-Off and Dessert Competition- Sunday, Feb 5 at 4 p.m. at Covenant UMC, 2715 Mountain View Dr., Bath. Judging from 4:15 to 5:30 p.m. Free to enter and taste. Call 610-837-7517.

Dementia Support Group- Held third Thursday every month from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., 2801 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem. Designed for families and caregivers of dementia patients.

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.

Winter Blood Drive- Saturday, Feb. 11 from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Vigilance Hose Co. No. 1, 48 S. Cedar St., Nazareth. Call 484-239-6025 to schedule an appointment.