The Home News Your Local News
JANUARY 9-15, 2025
50 cents
LVHN announces First baby born in 2025
Nazareth Borough Council Honors Blue Eagle Marching Band; appoints various Commission and board members
Christopher and Kloe Smith welcomed their daughter Nola Monica Smith to the world on Jan. 1 at 12:05 a.m. Nola was the first baby of 2025 born at LVHN. Submitted by JAMIE STOVER Lehigh Valley Health Network is pleased to announce the first baby born at LVHN in 2025. Christopher and Kloe Smith of White Haven, Pa. welcomed daughter Nola Monica at 12:05 a.m. on Jan. 1, 2025, at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg. Nola was born 6 pounds, 11.4 ounces and 20 inches
long. She was delivered by Honi Trauger, CNM, after 11 hours of labor. Nola is the Smith’s second daughter. The couple chose the name Nola because they like the uniqueness and Nola’s middle name, Monica, is a celebration of Christopher’s mom. The Smiths were all smiles when they learned they were the first to welcome a baby at LVHN in
2025 and they can’t wait to share their story with Nola when she gets older. They said the entire LVHN team was rooting for them the entire time. Nola came a bit early and was born at 37 weeks and one day. The Smiths feel her birth on Jan. 1 was “meant to be!” When asked about their resolution for 2025, the Smiths giggled and said, “to survive two children!”
Outbreak of bird flu suspected in Killing at least 200 snow geese in Lehigh Valley: What you can do to Protect yourself and your animals variant has created cause for concern due to its rapid spread amongst wild and migratory bird populations, as well as several animal species, including humans. In fact, the American Veterinary Medical 84th Year, Issue No. 2 Association notes that www.homenewspa.com “experts [are worried] that H5N1 will eventually mutate into a lethal strain capable of human-to-human transmission, setting USPS 248-700 off another pandem-
By SAVANNAH BROWN Although the highly pathogenic avian influenza (HPAI) has been spreading globally for almost four years, the recent outbreak of the new type A H5N1
ic.” While the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention assess the current risk to human health as significantly low, a research article published in Science found that it may only take one more mutation for the virus to switch host receptor recognition specificity, making humans increasingly susceptible to infection. The bird flu has not only Continued on page 5
Mayor Lance E. Colondo presents the Nazareth Blue Eagles Marching Band members and Band Director Matt Tanzos with a resolution that commended and honored them for their 2024 undefeated competition season. By SAVANNAH BROWN The Nazareth Borough Council met Monday, Jan. 6 to swear in fire chiefs and fire police, commend the marching band for their undefeated competition season, appoint commission and board members and consider various events for 2025. To begin, Mayor Lance E. Colondo swore in Fire Chief Jerry Johnson and Second Assistant Chief Frank Betz, as well as Fire Police Captain John Gostony and officers Kerry Frey, Raymond Fogel and Heather Kromer to faithfully uphold their duties. Following, Colondo presented the Nazareth Blue Eagle Marching Band with a resolution to commend and honor Band Director Matt Tanzos, his band officers, band members, color guards, drum majors, the student conductor, the band front and support staff for their tremendous 2024 undefeated compe-
tition season and the unprecedented number of championships they have won throughout eastern Pennsylvania and the midAtlantic region. Nazareth Blue Eagle Marching Band’s recent victory has left them undefeated since 2019. Colondo presented the band members in attendance and Tanzos with citations that congratulated and honored them for their recent championships and terrific accomplishments at local, state and regional levels. Colondo also thanked the band members for continuing to bring pride to the borough and the district, and wished them many more successful seasons to come. Tanzos thanked council for recognizing the hard work that the students put in to win the championships and stated that they do a great job representing both the Nazareth community and the school district.
Tanzos also noted that he was fortunate to grow up in Nazareth and march in the program himself. “It's really surreal to be here and continuing that legacy now as director. So, thank you again for having us and we’ll try and do it again next year!” said Tanzos. In other business, council unanimously approved the following motions listed under finance and economic development: a resolution prohibiting member contributions to the Police Pension Plan; the hiring of Campbell, Rappold & Jurasits to do the annual audit for 2024 and submit it to the Pa. DCED by the deadline and to do the annual audit of Tax Collector Carole Bowers for 2024 for submission to the borough; naming Alfred Pierce as the borough’s 2025 delegate to the Northampton County Tax Collection Commission and Paul Kokolus as the Continued on page 3
2025 Health • Wellness • Beauty Supplement Publication Date: February 13 Advertising Deadline: February 5
The Home News
255E South Best Ave. (Rt. 145), Walnutport, PA 18088 Email: cstroh@homenewspa.com Phone: 610-923-0382 • Fax: 610-923-0383 • www.HomeNewsPa.com