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JANUARY 29-FEBRUARY 4, 2026
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East Allen Township denies zoning Hearing request for solar farm By KERI LINDENMUTH During the December meet- have rental inspection programs in The East Allen Township Board ing, residents in attendance were place. of Supervisors has rejected a re- largely outspoken against the During their Jan. 22 meeting, quest for a public zoning hearing change, citing safety and quality of supervisors asked Township Manfor a zoning map change from Piv- life concerns, and questioning the ager Brent Green to obtain copies ot Energy, a Colorado-based en- site’s larger economic impact. of neighboring rental inspection ergy company seeking to construct In other news, supervisors con- ordinances for the board to review two solar facilities in the township. tinue to explore a possible rental and discuss further. This decision was made during the inspection program in the town- Finally, the East Allen Township Jan. 22 meeting. ship. The program, proposed by Fire Department welcomed two Pivot Energy appeared before the Deputy Fire Chief Ray Henry in new members. They were sworn board in December to make their October, would ensure that “when in by Supervisor Roger Unangst. request, presenting their plan for folks come to our community, Keith Meserole and Phil Brink will 10,000 solar panels on land owned they are renting a safe property,” serve as special fire police. by the Lehigh-Northampton Air- Henry told the board during his “I want to thank you for your port Authority. This construction Oct. 9 request. volunteering,” Unangst said to the would have required amending the Rental properties and multi- new members. properties’ zoning from suburban family dwellings are often at an The fire department continresidential to agricultural. increased risk of fire. An ordi- ues to look for new volunteers. A The Pennsylvania Municipalities nance, said Henry, would serve as membership application is availPlanning Code allows landowners an “ounce of prevention” and help able at https://www.eastallenfire. to request a public hearing when catch potential safety issues before org/. seeking a zoning map change. they turn into serious accidents. The next East Allen Township Whether to hold a hearing is de- Neighboring municipalities, in- Board of Supervisors meeting will cided by supervisors. cluding Northampton Borough, be held on Feb. 12 at 7 p.m.
Backyard winter wonderland photo taken on Dec. 24, 2025 by Lori Stack in Upper Nazareth Township.
Senator Nick Miller secures more Than $5 million for transportation And water infrastructure in the Lehigh Valley Submitted by GAIL VIVAR Senator Nick Miller (D-Lehigh/Northampton) announced that $5,145,800 from the Multimodal Transportation Fund and Pa. Small Water and Sewer Grant
programs to benefit the 14th Senatorial District. The Multimodal Transportation Fund and the Pa. Small Continued on page 7
NCC hosts welding fabrication competition Submitted by MIA ROSSI-MARINO Northampton Community College hosted the SkillsUSA Welding Fabrication Competition at its Bethlehem campus on Jan. 13. The competition, hosted at the NCC for the first time this year, is one of 62 contests in a variety of career and technical fields. Contests run the gamut from culinary and cosmetology, to automotive and welding, and they are created and judged by industry professionals. The welding fabrication
competition consisted of a written test portion and a hands-on portion where five teams consisting of three students each were given blueprints and information to build a tow hitch carrier in four hours. The goal was to make it a usable product at the end of the competition. The students represented Bethlehem Vocational Technical School, Lehigh Career & Technical Institute, Career Institute of Technology, Monroe Career & Technical Institute and Upper
Bucks County Technical School. “It’s a chance for these high school students to showcase their skills,” says Andy Hammer, executive director of SkillsUSA Continued on page 5
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