NASD to build "spiteful" fence around LNES

According to the article in the Morning Call, NASD is leaving behind a "goodbye gift" for the residents who fought the installation of the three acre Commercial solar array on Residential zoned property in Lower Nazareth.

This move by the board can only be described as spiteful. This is somewhat similar to the neighborhood kid who doesn't get his way so he takes his ball and goes home.

Back in early 2008, I was at a NASD board meeting when a friend of mine asked about the possibility of erecting a fence around the Shafer playground. His concern was that the playground was relatively open and given the number of sexual predators (as registered by Megan's Law and easily determined by anyone with a computer) near Shafer, he was concerned for the children's safety. The boards response to that request?....

Not necessary. Too expensive.

Yet now, the board is more than willing to spend the money (estimated by some to be approximately $30-40,000) to erect a fence just to "spite" the neighbors who got the school and township to realize that zoning laws matter. That is, you cannot construct a commercial enterprise in a residential zoned area.

The school district had NO case and no legal standing to build a commercial solar array on residential property. Let me give you a simple example that I think will help those who didn't understand this situation:

I like hamburgers. I have a large property with property behind my house (next to my neighbors). What if I decide I want to lease my "extra" property to Five Guys so they can build a restaurant there and in return, they'll give me a break on the price of hamburgers? You think that would fly with the zoning board?

If NASD goes through with building this fence, I think they need to consider fences around Shafer and Bushkill too...

Hobby Lobby to Open in Lower Nazareth

The Express-Times reports that Hobby Lobby will open in the former Redners location in Lower Nazareth (read the article here).

Target to Open Sunday

Target will open 23 stores nation-wide on Sunday including the store located in Lower Nazareth Township according to a press announcement posted on Fox Business (read it here).

According to the release the LN store will have an expanded food market:

The 17 expanded food stores offer all of the merchandise found in our general merchandise stores with the added convenience of fresh food. This new format has an open-market layout and features new food additions including basic fresh produce, fresh meat and bakery goods. Each expanded food format store employs 100-250 team members and is approximately 135,000 square feet.

Lower Nazareth Man Announces Bid for Congress

The Morning Call reports that Nazareth grad and Lower Nazareth resident Jake Towne announced he was running for Congress as an Independent to challenge incumbant Rep. Charlie Dent.

Towne will need to gather 3600 signatures to get on the ballot according to the article.

He plans to do fundraising through his web site: http://towneforcongress.com/

Hit and Run - Your Help Needed

The Morning Call (read it here) and Express-Times (read it here) both report that a boy was hit on his bike while using the cross-walk infront of Lower Nazareth Elementary School.

If getting hit by a pick-up truck wasn't enough to shake him up, the driver felt compelled to curse at the boy prior to speeding away.

As a reminder, drivers are to yield to pedestrians in cross walks. If there is an intersection of roads, but no cross walk is painted - it is still a cross walk and the driver should yield. The cone/signs that have been installed are helpful, but it doesn't mean drivers don't have to yield when one isn't present.

Any information please contact the Colonial Regional Police (from the articles):

• Incident happened on Saturday around 12:30 to 1:30 p.m.
• Infront of the Lower Nazareth Elementary School in the crosswalk at Newburg and Fieldstone Drive
• Vehichle was a blue Dodge extended cab, possibly a Dakota
• The pickup truck driver yelled obscenities at the child after hitting him and then sped away
• The bicycle was damaged and the boy was ''shaken up,'' said police, who did not identify the child.
• Anyone with information is asked to call officer Michael Kovach at 610-861-4820 or 610-330-2200.

Lower Nazareth Applebees Supports Alex's Lemonade Stand

The Express-Times reports that the Applebees chain, including the restaurant in Lower Nazareth, raised $1.6 million for Alex's Lemonade Stand (read the article here).

The Lower Nazareth restaurant raised $12,000 as much or more than any other Valley Applebee's.

Lower Nazareth Man Charged Sexual Assault

The Morning Call reports that a 55 year old Lower Nazareth man was charged with sexual assault of an 11 year old girl (read the story here).

Lower Nazareth News

The Morning Call reports on a few items from the Lower Nazareth Township Supervisor meeting last week (read the article here).

A 16 pump Wawa was approved as a condominium complex and will feature retail stores as well, on the former Brown Daub facility located on the corner of Jandy and 191.

The roads in Newburg Manor will be repaved, this is the first of five phases of road improvement for old neighborhood roads. Impacted residents will receive letters.

If you live in Lower Nazareth and have water supplied by Easton Suburban Water, you should have received a phone call as a part of its test of its warning call system. If you didn't, contact info@eswater.net

Motorcycle Accident in Lower Nazareth

The Express-Times reports a man was killed in a motorcycle accident this morning on Newburg Road in Lower Nazareth (read the article here).

Five Guys Burgers Coming to LNT

The Morning Call retail watch reports that Five Guys Burgers and Fries will be opening in the new Target Shopping Plaza in Lower Nazareth adjacent to Wegmans as early as October (read the article here).

Prologis Parkway Now Open

The Express-Times reports that Prologis Parkway is now open after months of being closed due to a municipal dispute between Palmer and Lower Nazareth Township (read the article here).

18 Year Old Damages Colonial Regional HQ

The Express-Times reports (read it here) that an 18 year old Nazareth man was arrested for allegedly stealing at Wal Mart on Friday afternoon.  He then fought with Wal Mart staff until police arrived and he fought with them until being tasered.

In his holding cell, the man pulled a fire alarm triggering the sprinkler system and caused $5000 in damages.

Lower Nazareth Election Results

The Express-Times has an article on the supervisor primary in Lower Nazareth (read it here) in which James Pennington and Martin Boucher won their primary in a field of four and will be unopposed in November as both incumbents decided not to run for re-election this year.

Two Local Dealerships Impacted by Closings

Two Nazareth area dealerships have been hit by GM and Chrysler's decision to cut.

The Express-Times reports that Saturn at Route 33 will no longer have new vehicles and will only sell used vehicles (read the article here), and that Young Volkswagon, Mazda, Dodge, lost its Dodge franchise (read the article here).

Powerhouse Gym Under Investigation

The Attorney General's office is now investigating Nazareth's Powerhouse Gym which was formerly located at the Giant Shopping Plaza at 191 & 248 according to an article in the Morning Call (read it here).

The article notes:

The lawsuit against Powerhouse alleges the new gym is not ''comparable'' to the old one, and is seeking refunds for 146 members. The lawsuit alleges the gym failed to post a bond or letter of credit to guarantee the long-term, prepaid memberships.

Having personally spoken to a few members who attempted to get out when the location initially changed from Nazareth to Bethlehem Township, the management wasn't agreeable at all to cancellations.

Now, according to the owner, the gym is doing everything it can to cooperate with disgruntled members.

I'd imagine there are many more members that the AG's office is aware of that have been penalized with cancellation fees or were told they could not get out of their contract, these individuals should contact the PA Attorney General's Bureau of Consumer Protection.

School Board Write in Campaign Announced

Received the following and wanted to alert readers of a write-in campaign for school board by Darrel Crook:

Darrell Crook, will be running a write in campaign for the soon to be vacant School Board seat in Lower Nazareth.

Darrell retired from Northampton Areas School District last July were he served as a Principal for 21 years and a teacher for 20 years. He previously served on the Nazareth Area School District Board for 12 years (1985-1997).

Darrell has always been active in the community. He currently serves as a board member on the National Canal Museum, Nazareth Area Food Bank, Nazareth Area Citizens Committee for ESROC, Moravian Hall Square Retirement Community, Moravian Academy, Nazareth Lions Club, Southeast PA Board of Directors for Odyssey of the Mind and currently serves as President of Church Council of the Nazareth Moravian Church.

In the Past he has served on the Nazareth Borough Council, the Board of the Nazareth YMCA, Nazareth Moravian Church Board of Elders and Christian Education Committee, Eastern District Education Committee of the Moravian Church, Northern Province of the Moravian Church Education Ministries and as a Board member of the Moravian Historical Society.

His experience in education and working collaboratively with various board would be useful in meeting the issued facing the Nazareth Area School District.

New Business at ProLogis in LN

Both the Express-Times (read it here) and the Morning Call (read it here) report that B&G Foods will relocate is distribution to ProLogis' facilities in Lower Nazareth.

Hecktown Fire Company Receives New Equip

Hecktown Fire Company receives new life saving equipment according to an article in the Express-Times (read it here).

According to the article, the fire company put forth about $6000 and the remaining $60,000 was paid by federal and state grants.

Power Line Upgrade in Lower

The Morning Call reports that PPL is planning to upgrade a 91 year old power line that runs nearly seven miles and crosses through several municipalities, including Lower Nazareth (read the article here).

A public meeting for those concerned will be held by PPL from 5-8 p.m. April 29 at the Best Western Hotel and Conference Center at 300 Gateway Drive in Hanover Township (22 & 512).

The Road Less (well not) Traveled...Prologis Prkwy

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood
And sorry I could not travel both

Well, Robert Frost would have no choice to make regarding his path from Palmer to Lower Nazareth as Lower's officials refuse to open Prologis Parkway.

The Express-Times' Joe Owens not too long ago expressed his displeasure with Lower Nazareth Township for creating a road named Prologis Parkway, installing a stoplight on route 248 to access this Parkway, and then deciding it is not for the public to use (ie it remains finished, but unopened - read my post on that post here).

Fellow placeblogger, Chris Moren of Tatamy, recentlymade a post on the same topic (read it here) and therein indicates that Lower Nazareth officials are holding up the opening of the road as a tactic to force Palmer Township to enter a municipal agreement (the closure connects Palmer residents with Route 33 and the Crossings, thereby impacting them more than Lower residents).

For those who are not familiar with the problem this poses, route 248 from Easton to Nazareth at the stoplight in question begins an uphill climb and reduces from two lanes to one lane over the crest of the hill. A very short distance past the crest is the intersection of Van Buren and 248. For cars attempting to turn onto 248 toward Easton/Route 33, that must cross traffic it is literally Russian Roulette. If a car is coming, it will be at the speed limit or higher, and there may be two if they are battling for position as often happens.

All of this would be avoided by opening the finished and yet closed roadway, Prologis Parkway.

Maybe it is time to read some Thoreau...