JANUARY 8-14, 2015 Your Local News
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The Home News
Garbage/recycling containers Viewed by Bath Boro Council
Two sizes of garbage/recycling containers were shown at Bath Borough Council meeting on Monday for consideration by borough residents. –Home News photo by BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
Bath Borough Council had a boatload of items to discuss at the first meeting of the new year on Monday night. One was viewing two sizes of garbage and/or recycling containers that could be purchased if an Act 101 grant is awarded in August. Borough Manager Tom Petrucci said they cost $80 each, but 90% of that cost would come out of the grant. Some residents don’t have that much refuse to dispose of in a week. Others do, so there could be a choice on which they would use for their own purposes. Other Matters • Bath Fire Social Hall president James Pasquariello presented a check for $500 to Fire Chief Ed Demchak for the Bath Firefighters. Demchak said that now that
we are deep into winter, he asked that residents clear snow away from fire hydrants in front of their homes, and also advised that everyone keep their smoke detectors on a full battery charge. His December report showed ten fire calls (six in Bath and four in East Allen), using 88 manhours. In addition: EMS calls, 27 man-hours; drills, 150; school, ten; administration, 240; equipment repairs, 35; meetings, 30; work detail, 50; fire police, 15. The total: 645 man-hours. There is a PIRMA (PA InterGovernment Risk Management Association) policy for fire department vehicles on liability and physical damage, but solicitor Blake Marles will go over that insurance because he said neither the fire department or borough are adequately covered. The issue was raised after a fire truck reportedly damaged an E. Main
St. sidewalk. • A storm water management plan is being worked out, and Petrucci said the public is welcome to participate in input on any storm water issues that they have at Council’s next meeting on February 2. Pasquariello said water comes down on the social hall property. He was told the parking lot will be regarded so water flows into an inlet pipe. • Council voted to authorize Petrucci to borrow $200,000 for road infrastructure repairs. It is in the 2015 budget. Action was also taken to transfer $166,904 to the PNC capital reserve fund for improvements such as roadwork and equipment needs. • Marles will also review a proposed Borough of Bath Road Preservation ordinance. Councilman Michael Reph pointed out some provisions that he questioned. Overall, Councilwoman Carol Bear-Heckman said the concept is excellent. • A new state Act 164 of 2014 amendment requires a deputy tax collector should the tax collector become incapacitated. Petrucci said a third party agency like Berkheimer Associates could serve that purpose. No action was taken as yet. • Council approved designating April 25 as the date for the 2015 Earth Day clean-up event. Parks Committee chairperson Councilwoman Jennifer George said she’s excited that the Public Works crew of the borough will participate. She had more to report following a committee meeting. It included: placing picnic tables on the cement pads at Ciff Cowling Park as a spring project started by an Eagle Scout. . . .Installation of playground equipment in the Continued on page 7
Whitefield House displaying Moravian Historical exhibit
The circa-1740’s Whitefield House in Nazareth is seen with a background of snow that blanketed the area on Saturday. – Home News photo by BILL HALBFOERSTER The Home News
The Moravian Historical Society has four rooms of exhibits in the Whitefield House at 214 E. Center St., Nazareth, that are entitled “Ephrata Tract: Where Nazareth Began.” They are in commemoration of Nazareth Borough’s 275th anniversary celebration this year. The exhibit is open to the public seven days a week from 1:00 to 4:00 p.m. Ephrata Tract is a combination of the Whitefield House and its adjoining Gray Cottage on three acres of land. The structures were built between 1740 and 1743 by Moravian settlers, who moved to Nazareth after they failed to bring Christianity to Indians and Europeans in that time period in Savannah, Georgia. Providing the financial backing for the exhibits is Morningstar Senior Living, an outgrowth of the Moravian Hall Square retirement facility in Nazareth. In a published report, Sue Drabic, CEO, said, “The borough of Nazareth is so much more than a sleepy Lehigh Valley suburb.
Many amazing stories are a part of its colorful history. We hope many people will visit this exhibit to experience the richness of these stories firsthand.” The same invitation was echoed by Megan van Ravenswaay, executive director of the Whitefield House, and Susan Dreydoppel, Nazareth historian and former executive director of the Moravian Historical Society. The four rooms at the Whitefield House contain artifacts, maps, photos, and historical documents related to the founding Moravians. Nazareth is marking its anniversary, dating its founding from the year 1740. The yearlong celebration will begin in May, and over the months ahead there will be a parade, trolley tour of historic points of interest, and a concert.
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