12 tips for creating a backyard oasis this summer, Page 2
The Home News Your Local News
JUNE 18-24, 2020
50 cents
Lehigh Township Supervisors Consider budget cuts
Tony Tibaldi, representing State Farm Insurance Co presented Bath Area Food Bank with a $500 check on Tuesday, June 9 during the monthly food distribution. Pictured are BAFB Officers Doris Kern, President, Barbara Fischl, Vice President, and Bob Siegfried, Treasurer. Thank you State Farm for your generous contribution.
by JOE KORBA Possible budget cuts loomed large at the June 9 meeting of the Lehigh Township Supervisors, held again via teleconference because of the Covid-19 pandemic. At the April 28 meeting, Chairperson Cindy Miller asked each of her fellow supervisors to look at a particular department’s budget with the department’s manager and consider what a 20 percent cut would look like. “We don’t want to get taken by surprise,” Miller said. The township could be looking at a major budget shakeup because of declining tax revenue, but did not
finalize any solutions. Miller’s proposal to consider large budget cuts was not met with approval by the entire board, Supervisor Keith Hantz said he doesn’t want any cuts to the Police budget. “There are areas we can cut from that won’t effect any of the departments,” Hantz said. He expressed that he resented being assigned to look at the budget of one of the township offices with the highest personnel costs, leading to a heated exchange with Miller. Continued on page 5
Looking by Back Ed Pany Weaversville Part 9 of 14 Lamont McClure and Tina Smith helped distribute meals from Operation BBQ last Thursday in Northampton and Nazareth boroughs.
Today, Larry Oberly and this writer are concluding our interview with Susan Jenkins and her mother, Margie, a descendant of Samuel Weaver, whose father founded the village of Weaversville. Margie is a fascinating lady whose family roots go back to the founding of the United States. Full of determination and energy, at age 51, she applied for graduate school at the University of Houston. She said, “I was rejected because I was too old. They had to save places for minority students and young people who could make a contribution. At 51, they doubted I could do that. I was disappointed and angry.” But Margie persisted and finally was called by the admissions
office for an interview. They were concerned she could not keep up with the younger students. After a 20-minute interview, Margie was admitted. She said, “I became their token little white lady in the graduate program in 1974. I respect and am deeply grateful to UH for giving me the opportunity to attend graduate school. That experience changed my life.” She graduated with a master’s degree in social work and worked as a therapist at a counseling center at a Presbyterian church in Houston. At age 60, she became a newspaper columnist, discussing issues facing older Americans. She opened her own office for marriage and family therapy at Continued on page 3
Sacred Heart School in Bath will Close after 95 years of Education By HOME NEWS STAFF
Sacred Heart School in Bath announced last Wednesday the decision to close at the end of the current school year, June 2020. Parents and guardians were informed in the beginning of the month of the financial challenges the school was facing with the current and projected enrollment. The 2019-20 school year began with 83 students enrolled and the upcoming school year had just 60 students registered (Grades K-8). “After years of declining enrollment and financial stress compacted by the COVID-19 pandemic, I am sad to announce that Sacred Heart School will close with the end of the 2020 school year. Since 1925 Sacred Heart School has had a long and proud history of academic excellence and values based education. As Sacred Heart enters its centennial year as a Parish, we will celebrate the history and accomplishments of our School,” said Father Christopher Butera, “The decision to close Sacred Heart School was not an easy one for me to make, however, I must be responsible for the good of the school and the parish.”
79th Year, Issue No. 25 www.homenewspa.com
USPS 248-700
New PHOTO OF THE MONTH contest! See page 7 for details.