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JULY 2-8, 2020
Nazareth Student with Rare medical Condition Finds oneOf-a-kind Education By KERI LINDENMUTH
In spring 2020, due to the COVID-19 pandemic, many Pennsylvania students had their first experience with online schooling. But rising fifth grader Lucas Alvarado from Nazareth has never had any other choice. “Because of Lucas’s medical condition...he would not be able to attend in-person school,” says Lucas’s mother Naomi Alvarado Lucas was born with eosinophilic esophagitis (EOE), a chronic inflammatory disease that causes difficulty eating and swallowing and leads to severe abdominal pain. Frequent extended trips to the hospital and roundthe-clock care are necessary, especially when there are flare ups that can make consuming foods dangerous. When Lucas was as young as two, his mother was considering alternative schooling options. “His education is a top priority that we would not let his illness get in the way of,” she says. While homeschooling Lucas herself was an option, she admitted that she would not excel as an educator, in addition to being a full-time mother of two and caregiver. She soon discovered that an online education would be the only way her son could get the schooling and care he needed without sacrificing one over the other. She enrolled Lucas in Agora CyContinued on page 8
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LT Supervisors discuss Routine business as Township goes green by JOE KORBA The June 23 meeting of the Lehigh Township supervisors was once again held via teleconference because of the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. As Northampton County prepares to enter the green phase of Governor Tom Wolf ’s virus mitigation plan, this may soon change. Although the supervisors have been roundly critical of some of Wolf ’s mandates, the option for the public to call into the meeting will still be available even after they open the room for inperson attendance by the press and public. A township resident, Paul Nikisher, said that he thought it was time to open up the meetings and suggested even moving them to a larger, or outdoor, venue. Chairperson Cindy Miller said that as they enter the green phase, opening up would be possible. “We are going green. We can do 50 percent capacity and probably do face-to-face meetings,” she said. No solid details were hammered out, but in the least restrictive phase that Northampton County entered on June 26, social distancing measures are still a requirement and there are restrictions in place. As noted by Miller, they will only be able to accommodate 50 percent capacity in the meeting space. Also, according to the state website, masks will be required. At the last meeting, progress on looking at potential 20 percent budget cuts to all of the departments was discussed. The township could be looking at a shortfall because of lost earned income tax revenue caused by
pandemic-related layoffs and unemployment. “I don’t think it will be 20 percent, but I’m thinking maybe 10 to 15 percent,” Miller said. The real economic impact of the lost revenue won’t be known until the supplemental Pandemic Unemployment Insurance, which pays out an extra $600 a month to qualified applicants, runs out and people start to get back to work. After approving bills and minutes, with only Supervisor Keith Hantz absent, the board discussed the plan for the township maintenance building that is exceeding the price tag originally approved by the supervisors. After some discussion, a shorter building, that still keeps its wings for office and other space, was decided to be the best plan to get back under budget. Public Works Director Frank Zamadics prefers the shorter building to losing the wings. A motion was made to plan for a 100 foot by 140 foot building and passed unanimously. Miller also noted that she received an e-mail about fireworks in the township. She would like to remind residents that a permit is required for any big fireworks display or one that lasts for a long duration. “Try to be more cognizant of your neighbors. It is annoying to do it every weekend. If you get caught, you will be cited,” Miller said. The next Lehigh Township Board of Supervisors meeting will be July 14. For more information about calling in to the meeting, please visit the township’s website at lehightownship. com.
Photo courtesy of Larry Oberly. The World War II memorial stands on the grounds of St. John's United Church of Christ, Howertown. Listed are the 61 men and women from the area who served in the war.
Looking by Back Ed Pany Weaversville Part 10 of 14 In our visit to Weaversville, I checked the World War II memorial honoring the men and women who served the nation in World War II — a memorial that is rarely visited. The bronze plaque honoring 61 veterans is on the grounds of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Howertown. The roll of names lists former residents of Weaversville and the rural area surrounding the village. The area, at the time, was sparsely populated. After spending my youth in Weaversville, I was very familiar with most of the veterans. Many families had a number of sons and relatives who served. Our older readers may recall some of these family names: Albert, Frederick and Wayne Michaels;
George, Michael and John Drabic; Joseph, Michael and Frank Legath; Clayton, Charles and Kenneth Reimer; and Allen, Kenneth and Raymond Beil. Three young ladies enlisted from Weaversville — Helen Mast, PHM 2/C; Alice Houston, RM 2/C, whose father Vic was manager of the Pennsylvania State Farm in Weaversville; and Evelyn Kramlich, 2nd Lt. Army nurse, whose brother Franklin Continued on page 3
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