City administrator to retire

The City of Bethlehem Business Administrator David Brong will be retiring on Dec. 31 after 13 and one-half years with the city.

He was instrumental in improving the city’s credit rating from BBB Stable to an A+ stable. The implementation of a five-year financial model has reduced the projected five-year deficit from $44 million to $12 million.

He was previously the director of water and sewer resources, where he restored sustainability to both enterprise funds, made significant progress toward modernizing the city’s wastewater operation, and improved the city water filtration plant’s out treatment process.

Zemanek appointed to Naval Academy

Bethlehem Catholic HS graduate John Zemanek has been accepted to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Md. The son of Kenneth and Elizabeth Zemanek, he was nominated by U.S. Representative Matt Cartwright.

During high school, he was a member of the marching band, was a jazz band trumpet section leader, a Hawk Ambassador and a member of the cross country and track and field teams. He is an Eagle Scout and a volunteer for the Neighborhood Association.

Grezzo, Long participate in Geisinger’s ‘Day of Service’

Bethlehem area residents Laura Grezzo and Stephen Long were two of the student leaders representing Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine’s MD Class of 2020’s multi-site “Day of Service.”

On Sept. 18, five groups of between 15 to 20 second-year medical students volunteered at the Carbondale YMCA; Lackawanna Heritage Valley’s River Heritage trail; Nay Aug Park; the Waverly Community House; and St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen.

They participated in cleaning parks, stocking food pantry shelves and helping to care for the youth, elderly and the homeless population in the region.

Weingartner named Pa. Social Worker of the Year

Lisa Weingartner, Valley Youth House senior vice president of Lehigh Valley and Northeast programs, received the Pa. Social Worker of the Year Award during the Sept. 17 NASW-PA annual conference Keystone Awards gala.

A licensed social worker, who earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Rutgers University and a master’s degree in social work from Marywood University, she was recognized for her extraordinary work for her clients and community.

In addition to her many previous positions with Valley Youth House and Northampton County Children and Youth services, she worked with the PA Youth Count with the Lehigh Valley Regional Homeless advisory board and the Regional Integrated Collaborative for Healthy Youth project.

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