Northampton County Halloween Parades and Trick-or-Treat Dates, Page 14
The Home News Your Local News
OCTOBER 3-9, 2024
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Lehigh Township Supervisors Bath Republican Club donates to Local Discuss newsletter and banners Northampton The Bath Volunteer Fire Dept. By LAURA KLOTZ During the Sept. 24 Lehigh Township Supervisors meeting, Township Manager Alice Rehrig informed the board that the new maintenance building’s certificate of occupancy has been received. Rehrig is working on collecting all of the final paperwork from the contractors, and the Public Works crew is transitioning into their new facility. The old buildings will, at least for the time being, be used for storage and also for messy projects such as oil changes in maintenance vehicles. A public open house for the new building will be discussed and scheduled with Public Works Director Frank Zamadics. Rehrig next presented the board members with the minimum required amounts for 2025 pension MMOs for the township employees. The township will receive roughly $200,000 in state assistance next year for this purpose. The board also voted to once again purchase Thanksgiving turkeys as employee appreciation gifts. A lengthy discussion was held concerning what should be printed in the township newsletter regarding the appointment of the new tax collector, Suzanne Hawke. Hawke was asked for an update on her position, and she replied that she has completed her background check and given her oath of office to Rehrig; the bonding paperwork has been filed. Outgoing tax collector Mary Lou-
ise Trexler was also present, and is working well with Hawke, who is assisting her with correcting errors in previous reports. The board members present agreed to the wording of the short article which will appear in the newsletter, and it should be printed and distributed in the coming weeks. It was noted that Hawke’s appointment is only until the conclusion of what would have been Trexler’s current term, which expires on Dec. 31, 2025. Residents who have tax questions should contact Hawke by calling 610-760-9295, or by sending an email to lehightwsptax@aol.com, rather than calling board members or the township office. Additionally, any residents who would like to view the results of the forensic audit may request to do so by filling out a right-to-know form on the township website, www.lehightownship.com. Board member Cynthia Miller advised the board that state law requires a closeout audit for the portion of 2024 when Trexler was actively in office. This audit clears the outgoing tax collector so that the incoming tax collector starts fresh, and it must be done as soon as possible. Rehrig will get a cost quote from David Kunsman, the accountant who has done previous audits for the township. During public comment, resident Paul Nikisher encouraged everyone to attend the Dream Continued on page 3
County farms To open their Gates for Annual tour
Submitted by DORA BOYD SIMONS Open Gate Farm Tours have been a local tradition for more than four decades. Each year, farms throughout Northampton County “open their gates” to the public to help educate the community on exactly what they do. Come discover the wide array of farms that are growing fruits and vegetables, making cheese and yogurt, training horses, raising alpacas and so much more, on Saturday, Oct. 5 and Sunday, Oct. 6 from noon to 5 p.m. Johnsonville Farm & Garden (Saturday only) 154 Johnsonville Rd., Bangor Johnsonville Farm & Garden is an agricultural co-op complex fit with a granary, greenhouses, indoor farmers market and community agriculture space. They will offer educational tours and workshops throughout the facility along with tastings of locally raised foods at the market. Games for children will be available and farm equipment will be on display. Continued on page 2
Last week, members of the Bath Republican Club presented a donation of $7,500 to the Bath Volunteer Fire Department.
Allen Township Supervisors Consider garbage collection Fee increase for 2025 By KERI LINDENMUTH count of $290 for early payments Allen Township residents will and $280 for senior citizens. The likely see a garbage collection fee Continued on page 6 increase in 2025. This comes after JP Mascaro warned the town83rd Year, Issue No. 40 ship in August that prices for a www.homenewspa.com new three-year contract will increase by as much as 12.5% in 2026, 5% in 2027 and 7.5% in 2028. Currently, residents pay a base fee of $300 per year, with a disUSPS 248-700
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