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JANUARY 16-22, 2025
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Allen Township home Bath Borough Council shares Destroyed in fire
Photo by Allen Township Fire Chief Dale Hassler By HOME NEWS STAFF In the early morning hours on Wednesday, Jan. 8, a fire was discovered in Allen Township. At around 2:30 a.m., the fire was spotted by people walking by the area. Just before 3 a.m., crews responded to the area of the 3800 block of Cherryville Road. The blaze was a 2-alarm fire. According to the Allen Township Fire Co., the extreme cold and wind made things difficult, and due to the long delay in the discovery of the fire, the structure was a total loss. Fortunately, there were no injuries during the inci-
dent, especially from the ice. The Allen Township Fire Co. No. 1 thanked the following agencies for assisting with the dwelling fire: Northampton F42, East Allen F46, Lehigh Township F47, Hanover Twp. F15, Bath F40, Klecknersville F48, Hecktown F53, Nancy Run F14, Catasauqua LC2, Coplay LC5, Laurys Station LC12, North Catasauqua LC18, Northampton Regional EMS 49, Allen Twp. Public Works and Fire Police from some of the agencies listed above. The PSP fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.
East Allen Township Supervisors plan for 2025
By KERI LINDENMUTH During their reorganization meeting on Jan. 6, the East Allen Township Board of Supervisors reconvened for the first time in 2025 and looked ahead to the new year. During the meeting, supervisors unanimously voted to reinstate Supervisor Roger Unangst as chairperson and Supervisor Mark Schwartz as vice chair. Unangst was also appointed as the First Regional Compost Authority delegate. Supervisors also voted to approve the following non-elected appointments: Angela Henry as township secretary; Christine Wentz as township treasurer; Jo-
seph Piperato as township solicitor; Robert Gundlach as township special counsel; Stanley Margle as Zoning Hearing Board solicitor; Jill Smith as township engineer; Jacob Schray, Paul Gallagher Saba, Chris Taylor, Pam Kemecsy, Luke Eggert and Scott Brown as sewage enforcement officers; Luis Figueroa as emergency management coordinator; Eckert Seamans Cherin & Mellott, LLC as township labor council; and Barry Isett & Associates as zoning officer, UCC reviews agency and building code
Continued on page 4
State of the Borough Address; Extends Sympathies To family of Firefighter Following Recent loss
By SAVANNAH BROWN During the Bath Borough Council meeting on Monday, Jan. 13, Council President Frank Hesch shared a state of the borough address that detailed the borough’s 2024 accomplishments and future projects. First, Hesch thanked Borough Manager Bradford T. Flynn and council for making adjustments to the 2024 budget when unexpected issues or requests arose, to which the sensible management of the funds resulted in no tax increase for the 2025 budget. Hesch also thanked Flynn and Mayor Fiorella ReginelliMirabito for helping to obtain an influx of grant funding totaling $800,041, which includes the following: $1,500 from the County of Northampton for Spuds & Spurs; $1,300 from the County of Northampton for National Historic District sign toppers; $25,000 from the County of Northampton for Master Park Plan implementations (upcoming stage/bandshell project); $25,000 from the County of Northampton for a backup emergency generator for Borough Hall, Public Works and Fire Department use; $189,970 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a Public Works truck purchase; $247,271 from the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania for a Public Works truck purchase; $65,000 from the County of Northampton for the Old Forge lighting project; and $245,000 Continued on page 9
Looking by Back Ed Pany The Allen Trust Company
Allen Trust; photo courtesy of Larry Oberly
Gala opening of Allen Trust Company; photo courtesy of Larry Oberly The 1920s was a period of pany. A beautiful stone structure prosperity in the United States was constructed at the southeast when the production of goods corner of Main Street and Lauby industry rose to record levels. bach Avenue. The presidents during the 1920s The building had a gala openwere Warren Harding, Calvin ing on Oct. 13, 1929. UnforCoolidge and Herbert Hoover. tunately, 17 days later, on Oct. There was a familiar quotation 29, the stock market crashed. A during President Coolidge’s ad- “Great Depression” faced the naministration: “The business of tion and the world. America is business!” This writer saw a deposit book The banking industry saw large from the Allen Trust Company; increases in their balance sheets the family savings was $800. during this time. The residents When the family went to the of the Northampton area were bank to withdraw their money, served by the Cement National the bank was closed. All their savBank of Siegfried. The name of ings were lost. the bank recognizes the cement Our new president, Franklin industry which employed thou- Continued on page 10 sands of people in the cement belt. The Cement National Bank 84th Year, Issue No. 3 of Siegfried opened its doors in 1899 on Main Street with www.homenewspa.com $50,000 in capital. In 1925, Northampton business leaders met to consider establishing a new bank. The bank was named the Allen Trust ComUSPS 248-700
PHOTO OF THE MONTH CONTEST
January theme: BIRDS
Email bird photos to cstroh@homenewspa.com Include: Photographer’s name, description of photo, location taken & bird ID if possible Deadline: Jan. 27 • Winner featured in Jan. 30 issue
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