Kenyon Energy Extends Deadline to NASD

The Morning Call has an article indicating that the hard deadline that NASD was under to get approval for a solar farm in LNT has been extended significantly (read the article here).

I’ve been against this arrangement from the start. Essentially, the state takes tax dollars and awards them to out-of-state companies to build solar energy plants on school district property. The schools get “paid” a reduction on their electric service (the LNES estimate was $50,000 per year with a $1M grant from state to build the plant). What is not made public is how much money the energy company earns on these plants.

My position aside, here is the latest. LNT denied the NASD plan. Dr. Lesky held a press conference stating the entire deal was done if LNT didn’t grant approval by the end of September. The school would lose much needed revenue and the taxpayers would have to bear the burden. LNT didn’t budge. NASD filed a lawsuit.

According to the article, the NASD missed a zoning appeal hearing last week, because a Kenyon employee who was to testify at the hearing failed to make the trip from FL to PA due to illness.

Now Kenyon officials, who previously said end of September was the latest they could wait, are willing to wait until January or February if needed.

While residents are upset with the thought of a three acre solar array staring at them, the larger issue is the use of public property for private business use completely unrelated to education.

The article also notes that in addition to the $1M in state grants, Kenyon is looking at federal grants to use toward construction. For Kenyon, you can understand the desire to move fast. Construction is paid for by state and federal tax dollars, land use is provided by the school in exchange for a reduced rate on electric (which doesn’t cost Kenyon any money), and they are then free to sell the remaining electric for profit.

I wonder what the cost of 3 acres of land in Lower Nazareth runs these days? Take that figure plus the grant money being received compared to the annual ‘savings’ in electric and the overall taxpayer gain/loss has got to be a significant loss.

And I don’t blame Kenyon, who in business wouldn’t want a deal like that? What do you think?

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

End to the Meter Debate?

For roughly two years there has been discussion and debate over parking meters on E. Center Street between Main and Broad.

At issue, the balance between places to park for residents versus those to park for customers. At first there was a vote to install meters. It was approved with little notice. When they were installed residents were upset and came to Council asking for them to be removed. A total of four meters were installed in the block on both sides of the street, so there remains non-metered parking. Plus the Circle is nearby as is north Broad which is not metered.

According to the Express-Times, Council had another vote on the meters on Monday and it was a tied vote to keep or remove them leaving Mayor Daugherty to cast the deciding vote which honored the original vote to install the meters (read the article here).

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Election Debate

On Tuesday, candidates for the vacated State House seat in Nazareth left by retiring Rep. Grucella, met to discuss topics. Democrat Charles Dertinger and Republican Joe Emrick met at Nazareth HS for a debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters, according to an article in the Morning Call (read it here).

Dertinger is an electrician who lost his County Council seat in the last election. Emrick is a school teacher from Lower Moreland High School who currently serves on the Upper Nazareth Board of Supervisors.

The article really didn’t address too many issues. Emrick wants to ‘clean-up Harrisburg’ and be more tax friendly, Dertinger wants to close corporate loop-holes so taxes aren’t lost to other states.

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Haunts & History at the Moravian Historical Society

Haunts & History Come to Life this Halloween Season at the Moravian Historical Society

Nazareth, Pennsylvania – On October 21st the Moravian Historical Society will begin offering “Hauntingly Historic Walking Tours” of Nazareth. These guided tours will take visitors on a voyage through the past where the threat of Indian attacks and sudden death were daily fears. The tours will be offered Thursday October 21st- Saturday October 23rd at 6:00 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday October 24th at 6:00 p.m. On October 23rd at 7:45 p. m. the Moravian Historical Society will host the 3rd annual Hallows and Bellows Hauntingly Historic Organ Concert in the Saal of the Whitefield House.

Tours will leave from the Whitefield House, located at 214 E. Center St. in Nazareth. Space is limited so reserve your tickets today!! Tours are rain or shine so please dress for the weather. Participants are also encouraged to bring a flashlight and umbrella if necessary. Refreshments will be available before and after each tour. The Whitefield House museum will be open for viewing before each tour.

The ticket price ($7.00 for adults, $4.00 for students) includes the guided tour, refreshments, and museum admission. RESERVATIONS ARE REQUIRED by 5:00 p.m. the day of the tour. Tickets may be purchased and picked up at the Whitefield House in Nazareth (214 E. Center St.) M-F 9:00 a.m. to 4:00 p.m. or weekends 1:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. Tickets can also be purchased by calling (610) 759-5070.

If you would like more information about this event or upcoming exhibits and programs please call the Moravian Historical Society at (610) 759-5070 or visit www.moravianhistoricalsociety.org. The Moravian Historical Society operates the Whitefield House Museum and research library located at 214 E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 18064, open 1-4pm daily.

###

Ross

Ross Nunamaker

Nazareth, PA

484.809.4872

ross@thenunamakergroup.com

www.thenunamakergroup.com

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Hallows and Bellows

Thanks to the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce for forwarding along this announcement:

The Moravian Historical Society Presents…Hallows and Bellows, a Historically Haunting Organ Concert on October 23, 2010 @7:45 p.m. in the Saal of the Whitefield House (214 E. Center St. Nazareth, PA 18064).

TICKETS MUST BE RESERVED BY 5:00 p.m. THE NIGHT OF THE CONCERT

TICKET PRICES: $7.00 Adult; $4.00 Student (Includes concert, museum admission, and refreshments)

COMBINATION TICKET PRICES: $10.00 Adult; $7.00 Student (Includes walking tour, concert, museum admission, and refreshments)

CALL (610) 759-5070 TO RESERVE YOUR SPACE

No Refunds

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Carpenter's Community Church presents African Children's Choir

Thanks to the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce for forwarding along this information:

Carpenter’s Community Church

Presents

African Children’s Choir

Friday, October 8^th at 7:00PM

4609 Newburg Road

Nazareth

Call for reservations: 484-285-0040 or 610-216-4777

A free will offering will take place in lieu of admission

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Food Bank Drive

 

Jennings Transportation Corp.

129 Meyer Road

Nazareth, PA 18064

(610)-759-7094

Jennings Transportation Food Drive for the Nazareth Area Food Bank

 

Jennings Transportation drivers are sponsoring a fundraising effort for the Nazareth Area Food Bank in conjunction with The Nazareth Area Halloween Parade.   Donations of non-perishable food items as well as monetary donations are being accepted.  Donations can be made now through the 16^th of October, which is the date of the Nazareth Halloween parade.  

 

Jennings is encouraging local businesses and individuals in the community to participate in this fundraiser.  Last year through this effort, Jennings, along with the generosity of the Nazareth community, raised over $2,000 dollars for the Nazareth Food Bank.  Any business or individual may make a donation by dropping off food directly to the food bank, 529 S. Main St. Nazareth, or Jennings Transportation, 129 Meyer Rd Nazareth. If Donating a check Please make checks payable to the Nazareth Area Food Bank c/o Parade theme, send to Jennings Transportation 129 Meyers Rd Nazareth, Pa 18064.  Huge thanks in advance to all of those in the community who have donated and who will support this year’s drive.  Last year was a huge success and we hope to surpass last year’s efforts. 

 

 

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Whitefield House Lecture at Lunch

This Tuesday, October 5th at noon is the next Lecture at Lunch at the Whitefield House Museum. The speaker will be the Rev. Dr. David Schattschneider on the topic American Moravians in the Vietnam era. Bring your lunch. Drinks and dessert will be provided. The program is free.

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Insomniak Theatre Presents "Closer"

Insomniak Theatre Company presents the play “Closer” written by Patrick Marber and directed by Charles Weigold III. The show opens this Tuesday, October 5 at 8:00PM. “Closer” is a four character play, two women and two men. Alice is a young lost soul, a self-described waif who works as a stripper. One-time would-be writer Dan writes obituaries. Anna is a photographer. Larry is a dermatologist. Closer follows their relationships over an extended period, leaping ahead months and even years in almost each of the twelve scenes to the next decisive meeting or confrontation. Closer was made into a film in 2004, directed by Mike Nichols, and starring Natalie Portman as Alice, Julia Roberts as Anna, Jude Law as Dan, and Clive Owen as Larry. Evening shows are on October 5,6,7,8,9 at 8:00 PM. Matinees are on October 9, 10 at 2:00 PM. Tickets are $15 for adults and $12 for students/seniors. The October 5^th show has a special price of $20 per couple.

“Closer” has adult situations and language and is not appropriate for children.

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

PSSA Scores Are Out

Didn’t notice too much out there about the release of PSSA scores, but do want to thank the reader that forwarded to me some numbers tracking progression of a class over time.

Today’s 6^th grade class, that was scored in 5^th last year had some significant concerns in reading. Only 13.3% were advanced in reading compared to 40.5% when they were tested in 4^th grade, and 20.5% were indicated as below basic in reading compared to only 6% when they were in 4^th grade.

Overall, our tested students struggle more in reading than math up until 11^th grade when the trend reverses, with a greater percent below basic in reading than in math.

Traditionally, as students get older, scores go down. This again holds true with the current 12^th graders. What is alarming is nearly 18% were below basic in math.

The current 11^th graders have held pretty steady year to year in math and have improved significantly in reading. The 10^th graders numbers are similar to 11^th.

The current 9^th graders had the highest scores with 75% advanced in math and 65% advanced in reading compared to 3% and 5% below basic. This group has also ranged the most with reading scores in advanced fluctuating between 24% and 65% and math between 52% and 75%

The current 8^th graders have pretty high scores as well with 74% advanced in math and 55% in reading.

7^th grade has increased in those below proficient in reading each year while advanced has ping-ponged 26-49-27-40%, and in math those below basic have been over 10% each of the past two times the tests have been administered.

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Halloween Parade

The Morning Call has parade info (read it here):

Nazareth: 1 p.m. Oct. 16. Begins at Fairview and Belvidere streets and ends at Nazareth High School, Center Street.

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker

Soundfest

The Morning Call has an announcement regarding the annual Soundfest band competition at Nazareth (read it here):

NAZARETH BLUE EAGLE MARCHING BAND and band parents will host the 28th annual Blue Eagle Soundfest at 6 p.m. Oct. 9 at Andrew S. Leh Stadium, behind Nazareth Area High School on Liberty Street. The music competition will feature 13 schools from across the region. A performance by Kutztown University Marching Band will conclude the competition. Tickets, available at the gate, are $8 for adults; $4 for students and seniors; and free for children ages 4 and younger.

Posted via email from Ross Nunamaker