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AUGUST 18-24, 2022
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Bath Old Home Week kicked off Cement Worker of the With time capsule rededication and Month: John Hish Jr., Softball tournament Lafarge, Cementon
By KERI LINDENMUTH After quite the wait…110 years to be exact…Old Home Week officially returned to the Borough of Bath. “We took a couple of years off,” joked Council Vice President Frank Hesch. Hesch spearheaded the return of the weeklong, townwide celebration. He
was helped by members of the Community and Economic Development Committee and the Old Home Week Committee. Sunday, August 14, marked the first official day of the event, featuring a time capsule rededication, softball tournament, and concert by The Verdict. The time capsule rededication
took place outside Borough Hall and was attended by members of the community, council, and borough administration. The crowd waved American flags, provided by Kathy Hayes-Reph of Hayes Flowers, also a member of the Old Home Week ComContinued on page 6
Northampton School Board Discusses communications, votes On implementing livestream By SAVANNAH BROWN The Northampton School Board met Monday, August 8 to discuss communications, livestreaming, the upcoming Act 34 Hearing, transgender students participating in sports, and mental health services for students. After a presentation on the 2023-2029 Comprehensive Plan, NASD Superintendent Joseph Kovalchik began a discussion on communications throughout the district and provided two options
for board members to consider: hiring a Community Relations Coordinator or allow the board to solicit bids for a communication company. Kovalchik asked the board for direction. Board members Robert Mentzell and Doug Vaughn expressed they do not feel NASD needs either option. Board Member Kim Bretzik offered that she believes the district does not need formal positions for communications, but that the
board could do better with communicating things to the public. Bretzik suggested that communications could be melded into an existing committee. Board President James Chuss provided an alternative suggestion for a part-time hire that would handle public communication because it is time consuming for Superintendent Kovalchik. No decision was made. Continued on page 9
Lancaster. In 1990 John joined By ED PANY Mr. John Hish was born in Bal- Standard Electric and worked on ly, graduating from Boyertown motor vibration and laser analytics. High School in 1982. During his employment at He recalls, “My mother gave me three choices: the military, Standard, he was sent to Lafarge college or trade school, so I en- to work on their electrical components and became very knowllisted in the Navy in 1982.” John received basic training in edgeable on the plant’s operaOrlando, FL. and Great Lakes tions. As a result, Mr. Hish was Training Center as an electri- hired as maintenance inspector cian mate, being assigned to the by Lafarge. He works to ensure U.S.S. Shenandoah, a destroyer the plant operates efficiently and tender with a crew of 1500 and safely. When the plant opened a resailing on the ship’s maiden voycycling plastic operation, he was age. He remembers, “One of my great memories was sailing Continued on page 3 through the Panama Canal.” The ship was a repair ship, 81st Year, Issue No. 33 equipped with a full machine www.homenewspa.com shop to repair ships when required. His tour of duty ended in 1986. He used his electrical skills at Electric Motor & Supply in
USPS 248-700