The Home News January 2

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JANUARY 2-8, 2014 Your Local News

Cement Worker of the Month, Page 5

Meet Nick Pope Runner for a Cause Page 4

The Home News FedEx plans huge Hub in Allen Twsp. A $175-million ground distribution plan by FedEx is now in the hands of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and on January 20 the Allen Township Planning Commission will study it for development approval. It calls for a 1.3 million square foot distribution facility and two warehouses of another million square feet along Willowbrook Road. All

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of it is on land in Allen Township that has been owned by the Lehigh-Northampton Airport Authority –– 239 acres that they are selling for $9.6 million to help pay off their huge debt. There are positives and negatives in the proposal. It is expected to create 800 new jobs and $25-million will be Continued on page 9

Sewage rate Hike in Bath

The Bath Borough Authority adopted their budget for 2014 on December 18. It calls for a sewage rate increase of 10%, effective January 1, 2014. The increase is needed to cover final design and bid documents prior to going out for bid, and also to help cover interim finance charges during construction of a new sewer plant, according to Chairman George Gasper. Construction will begin sometime in 2014. On August 16, 2013, the Authority received notifica-

tion from the United States Department of Agriculture & Rural Development that it has set aside funds for the upgrade and construction of a new sewage treatment plant. The amount of loan reserved is $6,095,000 for a term of 40 years at a 2.750 interest rate. The present plant located on Mill Street in Bath was constructed in 1965 and is more than 45 years old. There was some good news in the 2014 budget. The Authority did not adopt any rate Continued on page 3

BATH SEWAGE treatment plant, built in 1965, will be replaced in 2014. – Home News photo

Pastor Fran Merkel enjoyed the singing of a community choir, who got together especially for her. – Home News photos

Pastor Merkel Retiring From UCC church in Bath

fellowship hall singing “Jingle Bells.” Pastor Fran has a love For just over seven years, of music and had often played The Rev. Frances Merkel has her flute during worship served as pastor of Christ services. And as music was U.C.C. Church in Bath. The played on the organ, she’d congregation and, indeed, the most always be seen swingcommunity of Bath and much ing and swaying as she loved of the Bath area, have had a to hear the music played. mutual love for each other. The choir on Saturday conOn Saturday afternoon, the tinued their tribute to Pascommunity came together to tor Fran, singing with gusto wish her well, now that she “Give Me That Old Time Relihas announced her retire- gion”, “Heart and Soul”, “And ment, effective December He Will Raise You Up on Ea31, 2013. Everyone attending gle’s Wings,” concluding with had hugs for her, and she, in “Auld Lang Syne.” At the end, turn, embraced each one with all of the choir members got a hugs, and shed some tears, hug from her. too. Sunday morning, for her fiTo her surprise, a commu- nal service as pastor, she had nity chorus of more than 35 The Rev. Harold Henning of voices came walking into the Womelsdorf, a son of the con-

gregation, preach the sermon as Holy Communion was celebrated by the congregation and Fran’s family and friends. At the beginning of the service, State Representative Marcia Hahn, presented a citation from the Pa. House of Representatives, detailing how much she has meant to Christ Church and the community at large. One of her many significant contributions has been to start the “Loaves & Fishes” free luncheons for needy people two Saturdays in Bath and two in Nazareth every month. After the Sacrament of Communion, members of Consistory had readings in which they shared the experi-

INDEX:

73rd Year, Issue No. 1

By BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News

Bath ..............................7

Nazareth ......................10

Focus on Folks 60+..........8

Obituaries ...................12

Northampton.................9

Classifieds ...................14

Continued on page 7

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