Happy
Labor Day
The Home News Your Local News
AUGUST 28-SEPTEMBER 3, 2025
Looking by Back Ed Pany Penn Dixie Cement: Part 5 of 6
Penn Street home; contributed photo In this continuing series, we are looking back to the Penn-Dixie Cement Company in Bath when the three-plant complex was one of the largest companies in the Valley. Today, I recall my visit to
Inside this week’s issue s The Home New
Your Local News
610-440-0245 5 -024 -440 c.com 610 erin cent affordablepetcenterinc.comrs: Hou affordablepet Fri 9:00am to
Hours: m. 8:00p
pm. Mon- 9:00am toto8:00 m. m 6:00p Mon- Fri Sat 9:00a to 6:00pm. 0245 am 4409:00 610Sat .comhampton St., Nort ton Main tcenterinc 2022 blepe Northamp - rear) forda s: 2022 Main St., r level
(lowe Hour - rear) level erMun Lot (low icipal lLot m. in8:00p ing m to 9:00a Municipa ing in 6:00p Mon- FriPark m. Park Sat 9:00am to Northampton 022 Main St., level - rear) (lower cipal Lot Parking in Muni
t
plie s suplies petsupp premium pet ucts products ity ty pet prod iceice lies serv supp ful fulserv pethelp help mium and nest nes tand d ucts ated prod ope rate pet and oper own ice wneedd and ful serv ion ics4 Paws st and Pass clin by es help ine class vacc ly utes s oper ated min Paw 10 4 ed and on for $10 Pas stati es by sh cs sion lass clini ine vacc
s birds 4 Paw bird,s, iondogs cats, , ,cats, Pass by ses es your yourdogs for s for , pond pplie s s ppli pond s,birds wild , bird fish, birds rwild cats, wate fish, dogs, , fresh your ptile for s, es birds, ponds
esh water fish,
wild
nterr Cente e Pett Ce
$5 off of $50 10/31/20 Exp. Exp. 10/31/21
e PeCenter r Pet order
0
ord
orerde $5 ff $5 0 0ord $5
Affordable Pet
Cent
10/31/20 xp. xp. 10/31/21
THN THN
THN
your dogs of supplies for Full selection water fish, reptiles, fresh small animals,
10/31/25 xp. 31/21 31/20
Free
Pets
2025
Penn Street in Bath. This street ends at the face of one of the old Penn Dixie quarries. Residing next to the quarry was the residence of the Maureka family, all former Penn Dixie employees. Years ago, I visited with Mr. George Maureka, whose son George was a long time Northampton Borough employee and one of my finest students at Northampton High School. George has generously presented many artifacts to the Atlas Company Cement Memorial Museum. His parents resided in a Penn Dixie company home. The late George Maureka Sr. recalled how Penn Dixie bags were washed and dyed by the women and were used for dish towels, bed sheets and clothing. He remembered how Penn Dixie employees dug up their yards during the Great DeContinued on page 4
50 cents
Northampton Photo of the Month School Board Orders probe Into possible Sunshine Act Violation
By SAVANNAH BROWN During the Northampton Area School District Board of Education meeting on Monday, Aug. 11, members voted unanimously to authorize an outside investigation into whether the district violated Pennsylvania’s Sunshine Act during discussions over construction change orders for the George Wolf Elementary School HVAC project. The unanimous vote, which approved hiring attorney Eric J. Filer of KingSpry Attorneys & Counselors, reflects growing tension over how the district communicates major financial decisions and whether some board members feel shut out of deliberations that should occur in public. The decision to retain Filer followed disagreement about how emails related to the project were circulated among district officials and board members. At the center of the debate is whether the back-and-forth constituted deliberation, which, under the state’s open-meetings law, must be conducted transparently and in full view of the public. Director Brian McCulloch, who abstained from voting on the change orders at the meeting, criticized the process. He argued that the pattern of communication amounted to a violation of the Sunshine Act and announced
A sunflower at St. Luke’s Anderson Campus; by Gregory Morgan Photography his intention to bring the matter before the state auditor general if necessary. Board President Kristin Soldridge, speaking after the 9–0 vote to authorize the investigation, said the probe will likely take at least 60 days. The dispute emerged just as the board approved a slate of change orders for the George Wolf HVAC project, a $5.7 million undertaking. The change orders included: up to $135,000 in additional mechanical work and overtime for
ASL Mechanical; up to $60,000 for structural reinforcements and soffit enclosures for Uhrig Construction; and up to $25,000 for rooftop lightning protection proContinued on page 7
84th Year, Issue No. 35 www.homenewspa.com
USPS 248-700 Advertise your • Business • Specials • Events On our Front Page Various Dates Available
610-923-0382
su prem ium pet • Full line of prod ucts • Qual ity pet fu hone st and help a • 14 year s of ed and oper • Fam ily own ine clini • Mon thly vacc Pass i clas ses by • Dog train ing
Find us on Facebo
ok!
secr “The best kept ” in Northampton
et
Your one stop ral shop for natu ! animal products
m Mon- Fri 9:00a Sat 9:00am N 2022 Main St., r (lowe Parking in M
affordablepetce
610n