BETHLEHEM

CITY COUNCIL: The June 3 Bethlehem City Council 7 p.m. meeting will be live-streamed via the “City of Bethlehem Council” YouTube channel, www.youtube.com/. To view previous meetings, visit www.youtube.com/results?search_query=City+of+Bethlehem+council.

The council president will announce two public comment periods during the meeting. The first period is for subjects not being voted on at this meeting. The second is reserved for subjects being voted on at this meeting.

The public comment phone number is 610-997-7963. Before calling, turn off all speakers including computer speakers, televisions or radios. There is a five minute time limit per call. At the start of the call, state caller’s name and address. If the line is busy, call back when the current speaker is finished.

CITY POOLS: Bethlehem Mayor Bob Donchez announced that Bethlehem’s five pools will be closed this summer. Significant funding from the state supports the city’s parks and pools programs and are subject to state restrictions. Lehigh and Northampton counties are currently in the red phase and, even in a yellow phase, the restrictions do not make it feasible to open the pools. The length of the stay at home policy has stalled lifeguard certification processes. After six weeks of being shut down, Memorial Pool construction has restarted with an expected opening in 2021.

Music in the Parks series and Movies in the Parks are canceled for the summer. Sand Island courts, skateplaza, dog park, basketball courts, pavilion rentals, Charles Brown Ice House and Illick’s Mill are closed until further notice. Neighborhood parks are open but will not be staffed this summer. Residents are asked not to use the playground equipment. Tennis courts and walking trails are open. Guidelines are posted at the tennis courts.

Visit www.bethlehempa.gov and social media for information on city facilities, public meetings and updates on COVID19.

BASD KINDERGARTEN REGISTRATION: The Bethlehem Area School District incoming kindergarten virtual open house will be held from 6 to 7 p.m. on various dates via ZOOM and will be structured in the same format as a face-to-face open house. There will be meetings with the school principal, a teacher and a guidance counselor; a virtual tour of the school; and learn about the kindergarten program.

The dates and schools are: June 1-Farmersville, Fountain Hill, William Penn; June 2- Calypso, Donegan; June 3- Clearview, James Buchanan, Miller Heights; June 8- Hanover, Marvine and Spring Garden; June 9-Lincoln, Thomas Jefferson; June 10-Asa Packer, Freemansburg, Gov. Wolf.

Pre-registration is required. Visit www.basdschools.org/kindergarten.

ARTSQUEST SUMMER CAMPS: As families transition from remote learning to summer vacation, ArtsQuest is offering them a new way to learn, explore the arts and ‘travel’ the globe with its weekly “Around the World Virtual Summer Camps.” Launching June 15, the Around the World art camps will explore a different continent and theme each week through hands-on art activities that can easily be done at home. Australia, North America, South America, Asia, Europe and Africa will all be on the destination list during the eight-week summer session. There are fees.

Camp cost includes access to all online instruction and a Take-Home Art Kit that comes complete with supplies and instructions for creating five arts projects based on the week’s theme. Students will also connect daily via the ArtsQuest Virtual Cabin online learning platform to engage with their camp teacher and other campers, ensuring plenty of social interaction and fun. Each camp week will include a special Wednesday workshop led by a Banana Factory Teaching Artist and conclude on a Friday with a Zoom Art Party for students to share their artwork with families and fellow campers.

To enhance the fun and theme, Banana Factory staff will offer a variety of resources and other at-home activities children and families can enjoy, including story times, recipes tied to the countries they are learning about, scavenger hunts, virtual field trips and art history lessons. Students’ artwork will also be showcased via a virtual exhibition on the Banana Factory website.

ArtsQuest is also making its Take-Home Art Kits available “a la carte” for families who prefer to learn at their own pace. The kit includes all supplies, instructions and a link to a video tutorial. Each kit will provide 1.5 hours of hands-on activity plus suggestions for extended learning.

Registrations for Banana Factory Virtual Summer Camps can be done online starting May 26 at www.bananafactory.org and the camp art kits can be picked up at the Banana Factory, 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem, on the Friday or Saturday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m., before your child’s camp week begins. Pickup times for a la carte kits are Monday-Saturday, 9 a.m.- 4 p.m.

SONG WRITING CONTEST: BETHLEHEM, Pennsylvania, May 19, 2020 - Celtic Cultural Alliance will be hosting a songwriting competition, sponsored by Sellersville Theatre, on Saturday, September 26, 2020, at 10:30 a.m. at the Celtic Heritage Hollow Stage during the 31st Celtic Classic Highland Games and Festival. The contest is open to all amateur songwriters.

Original songs must have lyrics and be performed in person on the guitar by the songwriter. The songs will be judged on lyrics, melody, hook, and performance by professional musicians Graham Wright of the Glengarry Bhoys, Gerry Timlin and Seamus Kennedy. The contestant with the highest score will be awarded the opportunity for a select audition as the opening act for a performance at the Sellersville Theatre among other prizes. Contestants must send in a registration with the lyrics, and it must be postmarked by September 1, 2020. The contest is limited to the first 15 applicants with a correct registration.

For more information and a registration form, please visit http://www.celticfest.org/celtic_song_writing_contest or contact Marcie Mulligan at mmulligan@celticfest.org.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

CORONER REPORT: As of May 15, data collected by the Northampton County Coroner shows that 180 people have passed away due to Covid-19 in Northampton County (161 Northampton County residents, 19 residents of other counties and states). One death from Washington Township was removed from previous lists after it was determined the individual did not have Covid19.

Residents: Allen Twp,1; Bangor, 1; Bethlehem Twp, 42; City of Bethlehem, 7; City of Easton, 36; Forks Twp, 6; Freemansburg, 1; Hellertown, 2; Lehigh Twp, 2; Lower Nazareth Twp, 3; Lower Saucon Twp, 1; Moore, 1; Nazareth, 2; Northampton Twp, 2; Palmer Twp, 23; Plainfield Twp, 1; Tatamy, 1; Upper Nazareth Twp, 49; Williams Twp, 3; Wilson, 2; Wind Gap, 1.

Non-residents: Astoria, NY, 1; Bronx, NY, 1; Bucks County, 1; City of Allentown, 3; Lopatcong Twp NJ, 1; Lower Macungie Twp, 1; Millersburg, PA, 1; Monroe County, 5; Montgomery County, 1; Phillipsburg, NJ, 2; Upper Macungie. 1; Washington NJ, 1.

Demographic data for 180 deaths reported by the Northampton County Coroner:

Average age of the deceased is 81.8 years

Gender – 50% Female, 50% Male

Race: 87% White, 6% African American, 2% Asian, 5% Hispanic

GRACEDALE UPDATE: As of May 18, out of the 325 tests for Covid-19 administered to residents, 195 have been positive. Ninety-five residents at Gracedale are actively positive, thirty-eight have officially resolved. Fifteen are in the hospital. Unfortunately, 46 residents have passed away.

Out of the 700 employees which work at Gracedale, forty-four have tested positive for the Coronavirus. Thirty-seven have finished their quarantine periods and are back at work.

Gracedale is the largest nursing home under one roof in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. There are approximately 600 residents living at Gracedale with 700 employees tasked with caring for them.

DRIVE THRU TESTING: The Northampton County sponsored Covid-19 drive-thru testing site at Easton Hospital will remain open until June 5th. Hours of operation are Monday through Friday, from 10:00AM – 4:00PM. The site will be closed on Memorial Day, May 25. The Coronavirus testing site is located in the main parking lot at Easton Hospital, 250 S 21st Street, Easton, PA 18042 and the tests are free. The risk of viral transmission at a drive-thru site is much lower than at a walk-in clinic.

Only residents from Northampton County will be accepted for testing and they must show at least one of the following CDC recognized symptoms of Covid-19 to be eligible: fever, dry cough, shortness of breath, chills, muscle pain, headache, sore throat or loss of taste and/or smell. A prescription from a doctor is not required. Although insurance is not required to be tested participants should bring a photo ID and their insurance card, if they have one, with them.

MEALS DISTRIBUTED: The Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED), in collaboration with Lehigh Valley Food Policy Council distributeD Operation BBQ relief meal boxes May 21 at the Northampton County Government Center to citizens of Northampton County. Approximately 1,700 meal boxes were distributed on a first come, first served basis. Upcoming additional sites will be scheduled around the county in the next few weeks. Each person will receive a pan of food, which will feed four people. There is no charge and no personal information is needed to participate.

COUNTY PRISON: The Director of Corrections reports that, as of today, eight inmates at the Northampton County Prison (NCP) have tested positive for Covid-19. Six have finished their quarantine periods.

The Prison’s vendor, PrimeCare Medical, is closely monitoring the health of the inmates. Employees and inmates are following guidelines established by PrimeCare Medical to prevent further transmission of the virus. All inmates and employees have their temperatures checked multiple times a day.

Seven NCP employees have tested positive for the virus since the outbreak began. All seven have finished their quarantine periods and have returned to work.

LEHIGH VALLEY

FOLK FESTIVAL: Due to the COVID-19 restrictions and the related health concerns of its spread, this year’s annual Kutztown Folk Festival will take place online including the world famous Quilt Auction.

Please see the below link for additional information. https://www.kutztownfestival.com/press-room/articles/2020-kutztown-folk-festival-goes-online

PENN STATE SUMMER PROGRAM: The summer 2020 Teen Entrepreneur Challenge (TEC) at Penn State Lehigh Valley has been revamped into a virtual program. TEC is in its fifth year and prides itself on educating, training and preparing the next generation of innovators for success. Rising high school sophomores, juniors and seniors will learn key strategies for starting a business or business concept, and how to develop an entrepreneurial edge. TEC 2020 is supported by Bosch Rexroth, Victaulic, and Lehigh Valley Health Network/The Pool Trust.

This year, the virtual TEC program will introduce students to various public health issues the nation is facing and teach them how to apply entrepreneurial thinking to create business solutions to address these issues. Students will complete two projects during this program, including:

There is a fee and the deadline to register is June 19. Limited scholarships may be available based on financial need and the deadline to apply for scholarships is June 5. Students can apply for scholarships on the TEC website.

For more information about the Teen Entrepreneur Challenge or to register, visit the Teen Entrepreneur Challenge website, call 610-285-5111 or email summerchallenge@psu.edu.

PENNSYLVANIA

JUNE 5 YELLOW: Gov. Tom Wolf will move the remaining 18 currently red-phase counties situated in the south-central and southeast of the state into phase yellow June 5. Wolf made the announcement May 22.

That means the counties of Bucks, Berks, Chester, Dauphin, Delaware, Franklin, Huntingdon, Lackawanna, Lancaster, Lebanon, Lehigh, Luzerne, Montgomery, Monroe, Northampton, Philadelphia, Pike and Schuylkill counties will transition to limited operations on June 5.

WOLF VETOES: Governor Tom Wolf vetoed three bills related to the state’s response to COVID-19 that violate the separation of powers and make other changes that go against the administration’s measured plan for reopening the state safely.

Senate Bill 327 would authorize counties to develop and implement their own mitigation plans and decide when businesses within their county can reopen and includes a provision that prohibits commonwealth agencies from performing an essential governmental operation, the promulgation of regulations, until 90 days after the COVID-19 disaster emergency declaration is terminated unless the legislature grants permission for a regulation to advance.

House Bill 2388 and House Bill 2412 would allow various industries to reopen in red phase counties.

“Since the beginning of this month, my administration has been gradually transitioning counties from the restrictive red phase to an intermediate yellow phase,” Wolf wrote. “The decisions to move counties from the red phase to the yellow phase are based on the advice of expert epidemiologists. These decisions are not based just on the number of cases of COVID-19, but are also based on other critical factors, such as how community members interact, the county’s number of potential transmission points, a county’s geographic location, the capacity to undertake contact tracing, and testing availability.”

NURSING HOME/FIRST RESPONDER SUPPORT: The state Senate approved new funding May 12 to provide critical support for nursing homes, programs for seniors and first responders that are struggling due to COVID-19, according to Senate Appropriations Committee Chairman Pat Browne.

Senate Bill 1122 would distribute $507 million in federal CARES Act funding to long-term living and community-based programs to ease the considerable strain placed on these organizations by COVID-19.

Long-term living facilities have been a hotbed for COVID-19 cases in Pennsylvania, accounting for nearly a quarter of all cases and more than two-thirds of all deaths associated with the virus. A Senate Aging and Youth and Health and Human Services Committees hearing last week detailed the financial challenges facing these facilities.

A major national accounting firm found that 70 percent of nursing homes in the country will be in a negative cash position by mid-May.

In an effort to help ease financial stress on our first responders during the COVID-19 outbreak, this legislation would also establish a special one-time grant program for Pennsylvania’s volunteer fire companies and EMS squads. The COVID-19 Crisis Fire Company and Emergency Medical Services Grant Program would provide a total of $31 million in grants from the federal CARES Act to organizations that were approved for annual funding by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency (PEMA) and the office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC).

Companies that did not receive a grant from PEMA and OSFC would also have a new window to apply for this grant funding.

ATV TRAILS: Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources (DCNR) Secretary Cindy Adams Dunn announced that May 19 would be opening day statewide for all All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) trails in state forests. Dunn noted this is occurring several days before the start of the normal season – typically the Friday before the Memorial Day holiday – to reduce opening weekend crowding and provide more opportunities for social distancing.

UNINSURED PATIENT REIMBURSEMENT: Through the federal stimulus bills providers of COVID-19 testing and treatment services will be able to be reimbursed for providing those services to uninsured patients. The Department of Human Services (DHS) also reminded Pennsylvanians of the continued availability of health coverage through the state’s Medicaid program, known as Medical Assistance (MA), or the Children’s Health Insurance Program (CHIP).

As part of the Family First Coronavirus Relief Act and CARES Act, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services will provide reimbursement to health care providers generally at Medicare rates for testing uninsured individuals for COVID-19 and treating uninsured individuals with a COVID-19 diagnosis. Payments for uninsured individuals will be administered through the Health Resources & Services Administration (HRSA).

HRSA is accepting claims as of May 6 and will accept claims for services dating back to February 4, 2020. Providers should access the HRSA website at https://coviduninsuredclaim.linkhealth.com/ to learn what services are covered, determine who is eligible, submit claims, and find more information.

UNEMPLOYMENT BENEFITS: Pennsylvania Department of Labor & Industry (L&I) Secretary Jerry Oleksiak today announced the launch of Pennsylvania’s Pandemic Emergency Unemployment Compensation (PEUC) program to provide an additional 13 weeks of benefits to people who exhaust their regular unemployment compensation (UC).

PEUC is included in the new federal unemployment compensation benefits provided by the federal Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act. Pennsylvania has implemented all programs under the new CARES Act and paid out nearly $7.4 billion in total unemployment benefits since mid-March.

Important information about the extended benefits program follows and has also been emailed or mailed via the United States Postal Service to all individuals who potentially qualify for PEUC.

REAL ESTATE BUSINESSES: Starting May 19, businesses and employees in the real estate industry could conduct limited business-related activities statewide and provided guidance for this industry to operate in red phase and yellow phase counties.

Previously, businesses and employees in the real estate industry were permitted to conduct limited in-person activities in counties in the yellow phase of the commonwealth’s phased reopening plan.

The real estate guidance requires businesses and employees to follow all applicable provisions of the Guidance for Businesses Permitted to Operate During the COVID-19 Disaster Emergency to Ensure the Safety and Health of Employees and the Public, which includes provisions requiring that every person present at a work site, business location, or property offered for sale, wear masks/face coverings, and provisions requiring the establishment of protocols for execution upon discovery that the business has been exposed to a person who is a probable or confirmed case of COVID-19.

All in-person activities should be scheduled and limited to no more than the real estate professional and two people inside a property at any time, exercising appropriate social distancing.

When conducting settlements/closings utilize remote notary, powers of attorney or the exchange of contract documents electronically or by mail wherever possible. Where it is not possible to conduct settlement/ closing via remote notary or POA, attendance in-person must be limited to required signatories and their legal counsel or real estate professional only, and steps to preserve social distancing must be followed to the maximum extent possible.

Businesses and employees are also encouraged to provide sellers with relevant safety information and protocols for cleaning and sanitizing properties; utilize electronic marketing as much as possible; provide all individuals at an in-person activity with a verbal health screening; stagger scheduling of property showings; avoid physical contact with the property by staging in advance to prevent the need for interaction with items like lights, interior doors, drapes and blinds; and minimize time spent in the property by having discussions away from the property via remote means.

EVICTION/FORECLOSURE: Gov. Tom Wolf has amended his executive order protecting Pennsylvanians from foreclosure and eviction to specify that the order only applies to evictions and foreclosures enacted due to lack of payment or because a tenant has overstayed a lease. The executive order, signed by Gov. Wolf on May 7, 2020, suspends evictions and foreclosures until July 10, 2020.

STATE STORES: The Pennsylvania Liquor Control Board today announced that 50 more Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in counties designated in the yellow phase of COVID-19 mitigation efforts will resume limited in-store public access beginning Friday, May 22, abiding by guidance for businesses issued by the Wolf Administration detailing social distancing requirements and other best practices in the interest of public health and safety.

Effective Friday, May 22, a total of 283 Fine Wine & Good Spirits stores in 48 counties will allow limited in-store public access.

Prior to opening to the public, each location was professionally sanitized, and Plexiglas was installed at registers to provide a physical barrier between employees and customers at checkout. All Fine Wine & Good Spirits employees are being provided masks, gloves, and frequent opportunities to wash hands

The stores offering limited in-store public access – as well as stores offering curbside pickup only – and their hours are identified on the store locator page of FineWineAndGoodSpirits.com (link is at the top, center of the homepage).

FIRE ARMS LICENSES: The Pennsylvania State Police announced today that Governor Tom Wolf has granted an additional extension to license to carry firearms permits. Permits, which expired on March 19, 2020 or later, have now been extended to July 31, 2020. The previous extension was set to expire on May 30.

TAX/RENT REBATES: Governor Tom Wolf and Treasurer Joe Torsella today announced that many older homeowners, renters and people with disabilities will receive early rebates through the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program. Rebates are typically issued starting July 1, but the governor and treasurer are issuing the rebates starting tomorrow to approved applicants. The governor also signed HB 1076 today, which authorizes the early distribution.

COCKTAILS TO GO: Governor Tom Wolf signed House Bill 327 May 21, now Act 21 of 2020, allowing the temporary sale of cocktails-to-go from bars, restaurants or hotels with a liquor license. The law takes effect immediately.