“I live alone. You don’t even plow these roads… I had to crawl, these roads were so atrocious!” a distressed resident, nearly in tears, told borough council Nov. 2. Fountain Hill opened the floor to Patricia Ann Callahan, of Kiefer Street, to reprise her need of a handicapped space. Claiming to be crippled and struggling to walk even with the assistance of a cane, Callahan pleaded to be able to park in front of her home to avoid the difficult and at times dangerous alleyways around the row of houses. At night they are pitch black and treacherous for one with a disability, especially in icy conditions, she said.

At the work session Oct. 21, council addressed her written request, only to learn that she already had two parking spaces in the back of her house, along with a sliding back door. According to reports, she kept a bar over said door that could not be removed from the outside. Understanding her road as an already tight place for parking, and seeing an alternative space to park, they denied her request.

Callahan now came in person to passionately say she could not have that bar removed without running the risk of another break-in. She’s suffered two already. After these incidents, police advised her to set the bar in place. Now it complicates the very notion of getting into her home. No matter what recommendations council gave to keep that back door safe, she claimed nothing, not locks or security lights, would protect her home better than that safety bar.

Chief of Police Ed Bachert said, “You are creating your own extenuating circumstance to gain handicapped privilege.”

Council member Helen Halleman added, “You put us in a very difficult position. It is your responsibility to keep your home secure…”

Callahan answered, “I secure my house.”

Halleman then reminded her that the parking space was her purpose for coming to the meeting, not security issues.

Council member Fred Capuano said, “We can sympathize… but we have to abide by the ordinance. We can’t say ‘we feel sorry for you so we’re going to give you a handicapped spot,’” as many have been denied in the past. Her parking spots in the back of her house were the factors doom of her request, as had been the case for many other applicants.

“I’ve been here since ’93,” chimed in council member Norman Blatt, “Three times we’ve changed the ordinance to accommodate everyone,” but in all that time a case had always arisen that couldn’t be helped.

And while the matter, however discouraging, seemed to have been settled, Halleman repeated, “The best thing you can do is be very realistic and put up lights.”

She was sharply interrupted by Callahan, still fixed on having what she came for, said, “I have that!” and restarted her tale of woe.

President Larry Rapp, meanwhile, settled back in his seat muttering, “I need a drink.”

The discussion finished without Callahan receiving her handicapped parking privilege and Blatt’s complaint that, “People think they have a constitutional right to park in front of their house.”

Matters shifted swiftly on account of council member Carolee Gifford’s reaction to Oct. 24’s Jazz Festival.

“It was an utter, utter, utter disappointment…[Alfonso] was utterly unprofessional… there was supposed to live music, family friendly venues…!” Gifford said.

The borough had looked forward to Todd Alfonso’s Jazz Festival, at which he promised music and family-oriented activities. But what he delivered was a boom box as the “live entertainment” and little else to categorize it as a legitimate festival.

“You can’t blame the venders… the venders were beautiful!” Halleman said.

Mayor Jose Rosado, though disappointed, would still like to organize more festivals in the future. “I don’t want this particular experience to sour us from participating. I want these sorts of venues again.”

Council members agreed.

Apart from the disappointing festival, council hired its new health officer/ food inspector, Lynn Zakos. An IUP graduate and registered dietitian, Zakos said she revels in serving her community to keep food chain sanitation updated while working close to home in Bethlehem. It was at Gifford’s request that she attend the night’s meeting to be introduced in person before receiving the position.