BETHLEHEM

PARKS: Bethlehem opened the skateplaza, dog park, and playgrounds June 10.

CITY HALL: City Hall is open to the public effective today, June 17.

As always, please monitor the city’s website at www.bethlehem-pa.gov and social media for additional information on city facilities, public meetings and updates on COVID-19.

RECYCLING: The Theis/Cornfeld Recycling Center will be open for City of Bethlehem residents and businesses only as of June 10. Hours of operation will be 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday; closed Sunday and Monday. Users must have a current valid driver’s license/proof of ID showing a City of Bethlehem address.

Wearing of masks is required for everyone’s safety of city employees. People not wearing a mask will not be permitted to enter the facility. Please practice appropriate social distancing. Pets are not permitted. Parking will be limited.

Used clothing / textiles will not be accepted as this time. Shredding services will not be available. Office paper materials may be dropped into the appropriate container.

The facility will be open to the general public, including non-City of Bethlehem residents and businesses, beginning June 25.

Monitor the city’s website at www.bethlehem-pa.gov and social media for additional information on city facilities, public meetings and updates on COVID-19.

VIRTUAL SUMMER CAMP: Due to the circumstances related to the COVID-19 pandemic, Valley Youth House has made the difficult decision to not hold in-person programming at Camp Fowler this summer.

Although camp will not be held as we know it, Valley Youth House is extremely excited to announce a partnership with PBS39 to broadcast the Camp Fowler experience to millions of households in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Delaware, and Maryland.

“It’s Camp!” will be a daily 30-minute program featuring STEM, STEAM, Literacy, Nutrition, Leadership and Nature activities – all designed for youth ages 8-14 to watch and participate in from their homes. Youth will be able to virtually ride the bike trail, fish in the creek, learn how to grow and cook their own vegetables, and even enjoy a campfire, sponsored by Martin Guitar, to close out the week!

It’s Camp! will then air 55 episodes beginning June 22 through August. It will air live each weekday at 11:30 a.m. and will be available to view on PBS39, Facebook Live, PBS39.org and PBS39 Passport. Check your local listings to find PBS39/WLVT on your cable or satellite provider.

LIBRARY: The Bethlehem Area Public Library cards for both the main library and the SouthSide branch are available online for checking out e-books or e-audiobooks or streaming a movie on Kanopy.

Also available is a blog for subscribing to the library YouTube channel and visiting Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram for announcements, home crafting, recipes, on-line story times, comfort reads, staff shelfies, recordings of past Zoom sessions such as Home Gardens Of Hope and more. There is a summer reading program available. Visit www.BAPL.org for more information and resources.

BOOK RETURNS: Bethlehem Area Public Library has begun accepting fine-free returns of all library materials currently on loan to our patrons. The Main Library, South Side Branch, and BAPL Coolidge will all be staffed during normal business hours beginning June 9.

During those hours, deposit library materials in the appropriate bins located outside of these locations. Before and after those hours, deposit materials in the book drops. No library locations are open for patrons at this time. Stand at least six feet apart and wear a mask. Visit www.bapl.org for information at all locations.

YARD WASTE: The City of Bethlehem yard waste facility, 1480 Shoenersville Road, has mulch and compost for pick-up. Hand loading is available for up to three 30 gallon containers for qualified residents of the City of Bethlehem, Hanover Township (Northampton County) and the Borough of Fountain Hill only. Loader services are available for 10 dollars cash only per bucket full. Hours are from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Saturday; closed on Sundays.

Masks must be worn at all times; you will be turned away if you (or your occupant / helper) do not wear a mask. There are vehicle and other restrictions; call 610-865-7082 and press option 3 before you go to the facility. There may be extended wait times and longer than usual lines.

For an HanNorCo residents compost center ID Card: Mail a $15 check or money order payable to Hanover Township or drop it in the mail slot on the front of the Municipal Building, 3630 Jacksonville Road, Bethlehem, PA 18017-9302. The card will be mailed to you.

MASK DONATION: DLP Real Estate Capital teamed up with one of its Elite Partners in order to assist with re-opening efforts in the City of Bethlehem as the county moved from the ‘red’ to ‘yellow’ phase last week. Alex Szkaradek, President of SC Health SPV, LLC and Don Wenner, Founder and CEO of DLP Real Estate Capital provided 10,000 protective masks (PPE) to businesses throughout the downtown Bethlehem as well as the city itself in order to ensure business owners had masks for their entire staff and for patrons and customers.

This was all in part of the #BacktoBethlehem Campaign launched by The Chamber, Downtown Bethlehem Association, Southside Arts District, and Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem. For more information on the campaign visit https://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/backtobethlehem.html.

VOW OF THE VALLEY: Over 80 Bethlehem merchants have come together to sign the Lehigh Valley Chamber’s Vow of the Valley.

The ask for merchants to sign this vow was part of the #BacktoBethlehem campaign led by the Bethlehem Chamber, Downtown Bethlehem Association, Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem, and the Southside Arts District.

The Vow of the Valley states “In order to instill confidence in our communities, Valley business owners and employees vow to take extra, virus mitigating care in operating our restaurants, accommodations, retail locations, offices, manufacturing and distribution facilities, and cultural institutions to ensure returning customers and employees are confident, safe and secure.”

The Vow can be found here: https://www.lehighvalleychamber.org/vowofthevalley-complete.html

MUSIKFEST 2020: More than 80 performers and 30 partners are joining with ArtsQuest to keep the music alive and free for the community during Musikfest 2020 July 31-Aug. 9.

The 2020 Musikfest will include 40 all-new, exclusive concerts shown via Musikfest.org as part of Virtual Musikfest, 40 performances by bands airing live from the Service Electric TV studios and an on-site food and beverage experience at SteelStacks that will include at least 10 Musikfest favorite food vendors.

Full detail appear in our Focus section this week.

SOUTHSIDE REOPENS: Join us on the SouthSide as our restaurants and retailers welcome you #BacktoBethlehem. Part of a Bethlehem wide campaign of excellence, our merchants are dedicated to creating a safe environment for their guests and employees, as we begin outdoor dining and shopping in our retailers. Be sure to wear a mask when you’re out and about, continue to social distance and be kind. It’s a new world out there, but we’re still you’re old South Bethlehem!

We hope you can join us this weekend and after for great dining downtown, shopping and fun events to come in the near future! For more information on the SouthSide Arts District on please visit: https://southsideartsdistrict.com/

LEHIGH COUNTY

GOVERNMENT CENTER: Effective on Monday, June 8th, the Lehigh County Government Center will be open to visitors following new procedures and guidelines. At this time all visitors are asked to check in upon arrival and make an appointment, when possible, depending on department protocols. Temperature screenings are required for entry and will be accessible from 7am-5pm at the Front Entrance. Individuals with a temperature greater than 100.4 °F will not be permitted to enter to the building. Please note during this period all staff and visitors are required to wear a mask or appropriate face covering.

HUMAN SERVICES: Effective on Monday, June 8th, the Lehigh County Department of Human Services will provide “face to face” services inside the Government Center facility via appointment only. When possible, please call ahead and make an appointment to ensure the right staff member is available for assistance. Offices are available Mon-Fri 8:00 am - 4:30 pm. The number for services are as follows:

CEDARBROOK: The National Guard will administer COVID-19 tests to all Cedarbrook residents and staff without a prior diagnosis of COVID-19 starting on 6/16/2020. These measures are taken as a precaution in preventing the spread of the COVID-19 virus by staff and residents who may be asymptomatic or pre-symptomatic. Universal testing will be conducted at both County nursing homes, starting at the Cedarbrook Allentown nursing home.

The testing came at the requests of Lehigh County Executive Phillips Armstrong and Cedarbrook Administrator Jason Cumello. On 6/4/2020, the Cedarbrook Administration met with a Pennsylvania Department of Health team via conference call regarding the request for universal testing supplies and operational support at this scale. The request for support was subsequently accepted.

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

SCAM CALLS: The Northampton County Sheriff’s Department has received inquiries about a male caller identifying himself as Sergeant Mark Zenko in regards to a county resident being wanted on a bench warrant and needing to pay finds over the phone. The public should be aware that the Sheriff’s Department does not accept money over the phone, nor do they have a Sergeant Zenko on staff.

Please report any suspicious solicitations to the Pennsylvania Attorney General’s office at 800-441-2555 or email them at scams@attorneygeneral.gov

HANOVER (NORCO) TOWNSHIP

TOWNSHIP OFFICE: Open by appointment only. No walk-ins. Call 610.866.1140

TOWNSHIP PARKS: Basketball & Tennis Courts remain closed. Playground equipment will be sanitized once a week using Sodium Hypochlorite Solution. Use at own risk! Pavilion use prohibited.

COMMUNITY CENTER: Remains closed until further notice.

YELLOW PHASE: Based on guidance and direction from Governor Wolf, Hanover Township Northampton County is now in the yellow phase to begin to power back up the economy while keeping a close eye on the public health data. Some restrictions on work and social interaction will ease while others, such as closures of schools, gyms, and other indoor recreation centers, hair and nail salons, as well as limitations around large gatherings, remain in place.

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 scheduled for June 26 – July 4 will take place online.

This year’s activities and tributes, presented by GIANT grocery stores, will continue through July 6, with live online bidding concluding with the Festival’s Nationally Recognized Quilt Auction at 6:30 p.m.

For additional information about this year’s online features, ticket refunds, and next year’s Festival, visit www.KutztownFestival.com

PENNSYLVANIA

FARMERS’ MARKET COUPONS: The Commonwealth of Pennsylvania’s farmers market senior nutrition program began June 1. Four six dollars each coupons are available to Northampton County residents age sixty and over who meet the income eligibility criteria. Distributed by the Northampton County Area Agency on Aging, they may be used to purchase food at farmer’s markets.

An individual eligibility example is $23,606/yr. for a single person in 2020, and $31,894 for a married couple (both spouses may obtain coupons.) This does not include seniors who live in nursing homes, convents or residential facilities where meals are provided. Proof of age and residence must be presented by all persons wishing to receive coupons.

There will be no in-person distribution of coupons in 2020. Application forms are available by visiting www.northamptoncounty.org. Persons may only receive coupons once during the program, which runs from June 3, 2020 until September 30, 2020. All applications must be postmarked by September 23, 2020. A list of participating farmer’s markets can be accessed at: www.PAFMNP.org

SMALL BUSINESS GRANTS: Governor Tom Wolf today announced a $225 million statewide grant program to support small businesses that were impacted by the COVID-19 public health crisis and subsequent business closure order.

The funding was developed in partnership with state lawmakers and allocated through the recently enacted state budget, which included $2.6 billion in federal stimulus funds through the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act, of which $225 million was earmarked for relief for small businesses.

The Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) will distribute the funds to the Community Development Financial Institutions (CDFIs), which will then administer the funding in the form of grants.

COUNTY GRANTS: Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) Secretary Dennis Davin announced that new funding was available to 60 Pennsylvania counties under the COVID-19 County Relief Block Grant.

Under the program, $625 million was made available to Pennsylvania counties in Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security (CARES) Act funding in the form of block grants administered by DCED. This funding may be used to offset the cost of direct county COVID-19 response, assist municipalities with COVID-19 response and planning efforts, fund nonprofit assistance programs, and deploy broadband to unserved or underserved areas.

STEADY DECLINE: As Pennsylvania continues to implement Governor Tom Wolf’s Process to Reopen PA, the state is also among a select few with a steady decline in cases, a positive indicator that the state’s phased, measured reopening plan is working to balance public health with economic recovery.

According to data analysis from Johns Hopkins University’s Coronavirus Resource Center data, Pennsylvania’s steady decline in cases since a peak in mid-April is particularly important as more counties reopen. The latest report indicates Pennsylvania is among the states with a sustained decline in cases over the past two weeks, an important indicator that reopening plans are measured and thoughtful.

FEDERAL

PPP RULES: The recently enacted Paycheck Protection Program (PPP) Flexibility Act provides additional clarity and flexibility for small business owners to meet the requirements of the PPP loan program created by the Coronavirus Aid, Relief, and Economic Security Act. To date the SBA’s Paycheck Protection Program has provided more than 4.5 million small business well over $510 billion in potentially forgivable loans, directly ensuring 50 million American workers stay connected to their jobs.