BETHLEHEM

BOUTIQUE AT RINK CANCELED: Sadly, for the first time in its 45-year history, the Boutique at the Rink will not be held this year. Due to restrictions caused by the COVID-19 virus and our desire to do our part in keeping our volunteers and patrons healthy, we have canceled the Boutique that was scheduled for this May. We thank the community and our sponsors for their continued support, and we hope to be able to resume the Boutique in May 2021. We are deeply concerned for the organizations we support. Although COVID-19 is getting all of the attention right now, the needs of cancer patients and their families have not diminished. In lieu of supporting the Boutique this year, please consider making a donation directly to one of our organizations: the Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley, St. Luke’s Cancer Center, and St. Luke’s Hospice.

YARD WASTE: The City of Bethlehem yard waste facility reopened as of April 22. The facility will only be accepting drop- offs. There will be no loading of mulch or compost materials until further notice. The Theis/Cornfeld Recycling Drop-Off Center, 635 Illick’s Mill Road, is closed until further notice. Individuals utilizing the city facilities are required to wear a mask for their and city employees’ safety. Individuals not wearing a mask will not be permitted to enter the facility. They will need to leave and will lose their place in line. Anticipate long lines and possibly extended wait times. Individuals requiring assistance to offload their yard waste will need to bring someone with them. City personnel will not be able to assist. Yard waste paper bags will need to be emptied by each resident prior to leaving facility. Only five vehicles will be allowed to unload at a time. Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

MESSAGE FROM LIBERTY HS PRINCIPAL HARRISSON BAILEY: I would like to inform our seniors, their parents and our staff that we are postponing our June 8 graduation ceremony, due to the pandemic. The new date for this ceremony will be Friday, July 24 at 7 p.m., in the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. The inclement weather date will be Saturday, July 25 with the time to be determined.

MESSAGE FROM FREEDOM HS PRINCIPAL MIKE LAPORTA: I would like to inform our seniors, their parents and our staff that we are postponing our June 8 graduation ceremony, due to the pandemic. The new date for this ceremony will be Thursday, July 23 at 7 p.m. in the Bethlehem Area School District Stadium. The inclement weather date will be Saturday, July 25 with the time to be determined.

FROM HARRIS AND LAPORTA: During recent meetings, our seniors have expressed how important it is to ex-perience this event and we want to do everything we can to make it happen. Hopefully, this postponement will provide enough time for community health conditions to improve to a point that allows us to bring people together for this momentous event.

We are currently making decisions regarding ways to celebrate our seniors. We would like to announce that each of our graduating seniors will receive a free yard sign for parents to display. An announcement will be made as we approach the end of the school year to coordinate sign distribution.

Finally, we would like to recognize our students for their dedication and academic engagement during these tough times. I know it can be difficult but it is critical that all students log into Schoology and complete their assignments each week. This is an incredible opportunity for students that truly struggled during marking period three to lift their grades and pass their courses. Please reach out to your teachers and counselors for support. Freedom and Liberty staff will be reaching out to homes, if students appear to be disengaged. Parents, please partner with us and check in with your children regarding their progress during these final months of school.

HOMELESS: Mayor Bob Donchez has announced that the city of Bethlehem has been actively working with community partners to ensure that the needs of vulnerable populations, such as the homeless, are addressed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The city recently received additional funding from the Pennsylvania Department of Health to support prevention, preparation and response activities related to COVID-19. As part of the overall plan, the city’s collaboration with New Bethany Ministries and Comfort Suites Bethlehem will provide hotel rooms for Bethlehem homeless individuals and families in an effort to control the spread of COVID-19 in the community. During this time, New Bethany Ministries will operate an additional transitional housing program to ensure that these families and individuals have a space to socially distance and self-quarantine, as well as have access to consistent showers, hand washing and bathroom facilities.

SMALL BUSINESS RELIEF: he City of Bethlehem has created a Small Business Emergency Relief Fund to assist city businesses impacted by COVID-19. Some $300,000 of Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funding has been identified to be utilized by the program that will provide one-time grants of $2,000. Awarded funds can be used for operational costs inclusive of rental assistance, payroll assistance, and utilities.

The Small Business Emergency Relief Fund is supported with Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) money. CDBG is federal funding with specific eligibility criteria. To be eligible, businesses must be located in the City of Bethlehem, and comply with low to moderate income (LMI) funding requirements outlined in CDBG guidelines. Additionally, priority will be given to those businesses in the retail, food, and beverage, and personal service industries within the Central Business Districts and Limited Commercial zoning districts; however, all businesses are encouraged to apply.

Mayor Bob Donchez said, “These are unprecedented times, businesses are struggling and in need of support. We are fortunate to have funding available to be used toward this program and will continue to craft programs to provide support to our business community.”

Applications for the program are available on the city’s website at www.bethlehem-pa.gov. Applications will be reviewed by a committee for eligibility and evaluated based on funding priorities.

ARTSMART: One of Bethlehem Area School District’s most popular afterschool education programs is set to resume virtually this week as ArtsQuest offers its ArtSmart afterschool enrichment program at 4:30 p.m. weekdays via ArtsQuest@Home. The ArtSmart@Home initiative, which will offer online programs in visual arts, comedy, dance and literary arts, is also being opened to all area school districts during this time of social distancing and online learning, thanks to the support of law firm King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul, LLC. The Bethlehem Area School district will be sharing ArtSmart@Home content via its “Community Outreach Group” as part of the Schoology learning management system platform.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

HHWC COLLECTION: Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, and the need to limit person-to-person contact, the Northampton County Department of Public Works is postponing its annual residential Household Hazardous Waste Collection event scheduled for Saturday, May 16. Public Works will try to reschedule this event for later in the year.

STAFF MEMBER: Northampton County President Judge Michael J. Koury Jr. announced that a staffer at the Northampton County Juvenile Justice Center (NCJJC) has tested positive for COVID-19. County probation departments and NCJJC staff have been notified of the positive test result. Facility administration is working with families to provide information and updates. The staff member was last at the facility on April 13. Following guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Health and the Centers for Disease Control as well as court policy, the individual will be quarantined for 14 days, must be symptom free for at least 72 hours prior to returning to work and will be retested before reentry to NCJJC. Upon notification of the positive test, the facility implemented protocols to further protect the health and safety of employees and juveniles, including cleaning and disinfecting of the facility four times daily.

CORONER: This data reflects the number of people who have died of COVID-19 within the county’s borders as of April 24. It does not reflect those Northampton County residents who died of the virus in another county. Seven of the 66 deaths recorded were residents of other counties or states. Municipalities in which the 66 decedents lived: Bangor Boro (1); Bethlehem Twp. (11); City of Bethlehem (3); City of Easton (5); Forks Twp. (1); Lehigh (1); Lower Nazareth Twp. (2); Nazareth Boro (1); Palmer Twp. (13); Plainfield Twp (1); Tatamy (1); Upper Macungie (1); Upper Nazareth Twp. (14)

Washington Twp (1); Williams Twp. (2); Wilson Boro (1); Astoria, NY (1); Bronx, NY (1); Lopatcong Twp, NJ (1); Millersburg, PA (1); Monroe County (1); Phillipsburg, NJ (1); and Washington, NJ (1).

HANOVER (NORCO) TOWNSHIP

COMPOSTING CARD: Hanover Township, Northampton County residents: To apply for an ID Card for the City of Bethlehem Compost Center, mail a check or money order for $15 payable to the township or drop it in the mail slot on the front of the municipal building, Hanover Township, 3630 Jacksonville Road, 18017-9302. The ID Card will be mailed. Individuals must possess a valid Compost Card available from Hanover Township, Northampton County, and a valid driver’s license with a township address to gain entry to the compost center for drop-offs only. The township’s yard waste program is still suspended. Individuals utilizing the city facilities are required to wear a mask for their and city employees’ safety. Individuals not wearing a mask will not be permitted to enter the facility. They will need to leave and will lose their place in line. Anticipate long lines and possibly extended wait times. Individual requiring assistance to offload their yard waste will need to bring someone with them. City personnel will not be able to assist. Yard waste paper bags will need to be emptied by each resident prior to leaving facility. Only five vehicles will be allowed to unload at a time. Hours of operation: Monday to Saturday: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., Sunday 10 a.m. to 2 p.m.

LEHIGH VALLEY

PPL SCHOLARSHIP: PPL Electric Utilities is extending the deadline for applications for its Future Environmental Leaders Scholarship Program to May 30 because of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic and its effect on schools. The program is open to high school seniors planning to attend either two-year or four-year colleges to pursue an environmentally related career.

Seven winners will be selected, one from each geographic region served by PPL. Each winner will receive $2,000 toward college expenses. To learn more about the scholarship and view the application and rules, visit pplelectric.com/scholarship.

CHILD ABUSE MONTH: April is Child Abuse Awareness Month and the COVID-19 pandemic is a critical time to ensure the safety of and a safe living environment for children in Lehigh County. During this crisis, there may be children subjected to abuse while quarantining at home.

Lehigh County’s Children and Youth Services stresses to the community to call the 24/7 hotline if a child’s welfare is endangered or if an incident is suspected. The hotline number is 1-800-932-0313. To reach Lehigh County’s local Children and Youth office, call 610-782-3064.

Resources are available to families via the county website and at childwelfare.gov during this difficult time.

MEALS ON WHEELS: MOW has fresh meals that will be made available to people in need. First priority will be people who are homebound due to age or a health condition. Eligibility is determined by need. Clients must be over the age of 18, be homebound and unable to prepare meals, be unable to meet basic nutritional needs either temporarily or permanently, have no reliable options for nutritious daily meals and reside in Lehigh County or Northampton County. It takes two days after receiving the phone call to make a delivery. There is a sliding fee for service, but meals are free through the end of May for low-income residents. Have the senior or family member call Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley at 610-691-1030.

PENNSYLVANIA

CONSTRUCTION: All businesses in the construction industry in the commonwealth are permitted to resume in-person operations starting May 1 – one week earlier than previously announced. Guidelines, developed with guidance from the General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania, provide universal protocols for all construction activity, as well as specific additional guidance for residential, commercial and public construction projects.

All business and employees in the construction industry must adhere to safety measures, which require every person present at a work site wear masks/face coverings unless they are unable for medical or safety reasons, and require that businesses establish protocols upon discovery that the business has been exposed to a person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.

All construction projects must maintain proper social distancing and provide handwashing and sanitizing stations for workers, as well as cleaning and sanitizing protocols for high risk transmission areas.

Businesses must identify a “pandemic safety officer” for each project or work site, or, for large scale construction projects, for each contractor at the site.

Residential construction projects may not permit more than four individuls on the job site at any time, not including individuals who require temporary access to the site and are not directly en-gaged in the construction activity.

For non-residential or commercial projects, the number of individuals permitted on enclosed portions of a project varies depending on the size of the enclosed site. Commercial construction firms should also strongly consider establishing a written safety plan for each work location containing site specific details for the implementation of this guidance to be shared with all employees and implemented and enforced by the pandemic safety officer. Contractors performing work at the direction of the commonwealth, municipalities or school districts should defer to those public entities to determine what projects may continue.

Local governments may elect to impose more stringent requirements than those contained in the guidance and in such instances, businesses must adhere to those more stringent require-ments. Local officials have been tasked with ensuring that construction businesses are aware that this guidance exists and notifying businesses that a complaint of noncompliance was received.

Businesses that have questions about whether this guidance applies to them may email the Department of Labor and Industry at RA-LIBOIS-BUILDINGS@pa.gov.

CONSUMER SCAMS: In this time of heightened stress, the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission (PUC) reminds consumers to remain vigilant when discussing energy supply service with telemarketers, particularly if the contact was unsolicited. Additionally, consumers are encouraged to be on the lookout for unscrupulous activity and potential scam artists who may pose as utility representatives. Do not feel pressured to make any decisions over the phone or immediately. If an offer sounds too good to be true, think twice before acting, and if pressured to act immediately, end the call. No reasonable offer should require a consumer to act immediately. Be alert for any caller who demands immediate payment for utility or supplier service. No utility or supplier is going to demand immediate payment up-front for service. And no utility or supplier is going to call you and threaten to terminate your service - including demands that payments be made using gift cards, wire transfers or other non-traditional ways of paying a bill.

ELECTRONIC INCOME TAX FILING: The Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to take advantage of user-friendly electronic filing options for their Pennsylvania personal income tax returns (PA-40s). Even though the deadline for filing 2019 tax returns has been extended to July 15 due to the COVID-19 pandemic, filing now electronically is a good option, including for Pennsylvanians who are expecting a tax refund

FIRE COMPANY FUNDING: The Wolf Administration announced April 6 funding is now available to help Pennsylvania’s rural communities increase protection from wildfires. Local firefighting forces in rural areas or communities with fewer than 10,000 residents qualify for the aid, which is used for training and equipment purchases directly related to fighting brush and forest fires. Grant applications must be electronically submitted through DCNR’s grant website (grants.dcnr.state.pa.us/Dashboard/VFAGrants) by 4 p.m. May 21.

DONATION PORTAL: The Wolf Administration has announced the launch of an online portal for individuals, corporations or community organizations to inform the commonwealth of critical medical supplies available for donation during the COVID-19 pandemic. Further details and specifications required for any donated materials are available from the Pennsylvania Department of Health online via the Critical Medical Supplies Resource Guide and the CDC’s Protective Clothing Resource Guide.

STIMULUS CHECK PROTECTION: The Department of Banking and Securities (DoBS) is providing recommendations for Pennsylvanians receiving their stimulus checks, known as an economic impact payment, in paper check form instead of direct deposit. The payments are part of the federal CARES Act (Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act). The department also is reminding licensees of limitations on fees for cashing government checks. For more detailed information related to financial scams and tips for protecting yourself, DoBS has developed a financial scams guide. Contact DoBS at https://www.dobs.pa.gov or call 1-800-PA-BANKS or 1-800-600-0007 to ask questions or file complaints about financial transac-tions, companies, or products.

FOOD SUPPLY: Agriculture Secretary Russell Redding has outlined progress made in Pennsylvania to secure the stability of the food supply, increase market opportunities, protect the workforce, and ensure food is plentiful and accessible. The department has encouraged food production and processing operations to continue, but has advised they adhere to its guidelines to minimize risk, maintain a healthy workforce, and ensure the safety of food. For a complete list of guidance documents and information as it relates to agriculture during COVID-19 mitigation in Pennsylvania visit agriculture.pa.gov/COVID. For the most accurate, timely information related to Health in Pennsylvania, visit on.pa.gov/coronavirus.

PENN STATE EXTENSION

During the COVID-19 crisis, more people are cooking more meals at home. In response, the Pennsylvania State University Extension is posting easy healthy low cost recipes on Monday, Wednesday and Friday afternoons on www.Facebook.com/PennStateExtensionNutritionLinks/.

The recipes were submitted by local and state-wide nutrition education advisers who work with income-stressed families. For more information, visit https://extension.psu.edu/nutrition-links.

This French Toast recipe was submitted by Kim Munden, Nutrition Education Adviser in Crawford and Erie Counties. She states, “This recipe is a tasty way to start your day or as an inexpensive, simple lunch or dinner! It is a great way to use older bread instead of throwing it away.”

French Toast (makes 8 servings): •4 eggs, beaten; •1 cup skim milk; •½ tsp ground cinnamon or nutmeg; •½ tsp vanilla extract; •8 slices whole-wheat bread (day-old is better);• 1 tbs margarine.

In a large bowl, beat eggs with fork, add milk, cinnamon and vanilla. Beat together until mixed well. Melt margarine in a large skillet on medium-high heat. Dip one slice of bread at a time in the egg mix to coat both sides. Place in hot skillet. Brown each side about two minutes or more. Serve with pancake or fruit syrup or applesauce.

Optional fruit sauce:(makes 8 servings): •3 cups sliced strawberries or other fruit; •? cup lite maple-flavored syrup; • dash of cinnamon.

Crunchy French Toast: •1 large loaf (1 pound) bread, cut into 1-inch cubes (can use day old or whole-grain); •4 eggs; •3 cups milk (made from dry); •1 tsp vanilla extract; •½ tsp ground cinnamon; •½ cup dried cranberries or raisins.

The night before, spray a 9x13 baking dish, add bread and spread evenly. Break eggs into large bowl, beat lightly. Add milk, vanilla, cinnamon and dried fruit; mix well. Pour egg mixture evenly over bread. Cover pan tightly, refrigerate overnight.

The next morning, melt margarine; add remaining topping ingredients and mix. Drop by spoonfuls onto bread, bake 30 minutes.

Topping: •3 Tbsp margarine; •2 Tbsp honey or syrup; •¾ cup brown sugar; •½ cup low fat granola or chopped walnuts.

Wild berry syrup: Heat additional 1 cup syrup with ½ cup blueberries just until boiling. Drizzle over French toast.