GRACEDALE UPDATE: Following the public filing of a grand jury report investigating safety issues at Gracedale Nursing Home in 2025, Tara Zrinski announced a continued action plan aimed at stabilizing, strengthening and rebuilding the county-owned facility. [Zrinski Ad ... Gracedale | Outlook]

The report cited concerns involving resident care, safety, staffing, security and management. Zrinski said improvements already underway include increased executive oversight, enhanced communication and transparency, efforts to reduce reliance on staffing agencies, strengthened quality assurance measures, reviews of security and emergency response procedures, and long-term planning for the facility’s future.

Among the initiatives is the hiring of Thomas Carson as director of the Continuum of Care to provide additional oversight and coordination. County officials also plan to evaluate construction of a modernized Gracedale facility as part of a broader continuum-of-care campus, though Zrinski said no construction will proceed until operations are stabilized and a financially responsible plan is identified.

Zrinski said the grand jury report should serve as a catalyst for lasting improvement and that additional information on implementation and progress will be shared as the county continues reviewing the report and its recommendations.

NORTHAMPTON HABITAT: After more than three years of hard work, perseverance, and adaptations, “Homes at Forks,”– a collaborative project being undertaken by Northampton County and Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley – has received final approval from Forks Township board of supervisors. The 12-acre development is located off Kesslersville Road near the Two T’s Family Entertainment Center and Braden Airpark in Forks Township.