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SEPTEMBER 2-8, 2021
Senior living residents Say ‘aloha’ to family After year in lockdown
Haleigh, Evangeline, Shiloh and Jessica. By KERI LINDENMUTH Residents of Renaissance Senior Homes in Northampton dawned Hawaiian shirts, colorful leis, and even some grass skirts as the sights, sounds, and smells of an island luau came to Washington Avenue on Saturday, August 28. The over 30 residents and dozens of staff members at the nursing home had reason to celebrate: since the start of the pandemic, there has not been a single COVID case in the Northampton
Renaissance community. Rose Yanger, Renaissance administrative assistant, credited the staff for this remarkable feat. Their hard work kept residents not only safe, but happy, even when residents could not see their children, grandchildren, and other loved ones. “The staff loves the residents as their own family,” said Yanger. Bingo, crafts, senior-cise, and even therapy dog visits were held Continued on page 3
Bill Milkovics
50 cents
East Allen Township addresses Road hazards, potential Weaversville Road project
By CHRISTINA SANTO The East Allen Township Board of Supervisors met on Thursday, August 26 to discuss the Weaversville Road curve realignment and the township’s involvement in road hazards. Township engineer Jim Milot discussed the Weaversville Road curve realignment project. The project is only in its very early stages, and most likely will not reach construction for another 10 to 15 years. The Pennsylvania Department of Transportation is behind the project and was seeking the township’s input on various plans. Five different plans were presented to the board. The first option, being the least costly and intrusive, only slightly changes the road’s curve. The second option would make Weaversville Road completely straight; this option would affect many residents and the airport property. PennDOT called Option C “desirable and most advantageous” in that it does not take from any properties and accomplishes the project’s goals. This option would
also eliminate truck restrictions on Weaversville Road. Option D placed a roundabout in the area and the final option is similar to the second, but avoids the airport property. The board motioned to allow Milot to inform PennDOT that they prefer the third option, with his amendments to make it less intrusive for residents. The board’s discussion on road hazards was also a carry-over from their previous meeting. At the meeting, the board discussed potentially cutting down trees that are affecting sight distance on a private property at the owner’s expense. This prompted a discussion on the creation of a township policy and ordinance on road hazards. Currently the township has nothing written down on the matter. The township tends to send letters informing the property owner to do something about the issue; if the resident does not take action, the township will trim the trees or weeds themselves, but they have never removed an entire tree.
Supervisor Georgiann Hunsicker expressed that she wanted to be fair to all residents of the township and suggested the creation of a committee to further discuss a road hazard policy and ordinance. Eventually, the board decided to bring the topic up once again at their September 23 workshop meeting to allow board members to further research a potential policy. In other business, the board approved a waiver request regarding frost footings after the motion deadlocked at their previous meeting. Three 12-inch frost footers, as required by PennDOT, were installed in October 2018. After East Allen Township notified the construction company they require 30-inch footers, the correct ones were installed. However, the three 12-inch frost footers in question are still in use, causing the need for a waiver request. Two representatives from the Airport Road Lot 1 Warehouse
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Morningstar Living mandates COVID-19 vaccination for Employees Submitted by LIZ BRANDL Morningstar Living in Nazareth has announced it will require all employees to receive a COVID-19 vaccination. The mandate requires that all current employees age 18 and older must be fully vaccinated by Friday, Oct. 29, 2021. The mandate also requires that all new employees hired after Sept. 1, 2021 must be fully vaccinated as a condition of employment. Morningstar Living provides a choice of the Pfizer, Moderna and Johnson & Johnson vaccines at no cost to employees. Vaccines are administered during weekly vaccine clinics held at Moravian Hall Square. “As an organization that pro-
vides housing, hospitality and healthcare services for a population of active older adults living at Moravian Hall Square and Heritage Village in Nazareth, PA, Morningstar Living takes seriously its commitment to provide a safe environment for residents, resident family members and employees,” said Susan Cooper Drabic, President & CEO, Morningstar Living. “For this reason we believe mandating COVID vaccination for our employees is absolutely the right thing for us to do to honor the commitment we have made to the residents and their families.” The organization made this decision to require employees be
vaccinated as they continue to follow the guidance and recommendations of the Centers for Disease Control and the PA Department of Health. Morningstar Living will recognize documented medical and religious exemptions to the COVID vaccination mandate. Employees wishing to file such an exemption may do so through Morningstar Living’s Human Resources department.
80th Year, Issue No. 35 www.homenewspa.com
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