The second annual Airing of the Quilts in Palmerton did not disappoint quilts and more quilts enhanced the beauty of this small town in Pennsylvania Entering the town from Route 248 leads to the main street Delaware Avenue and that is where you were first greeted with the welcome to Palmerton sign decorated with three quilts churches and restaurants had quilts hanging on the railings and out of their windows as you headed down Delaware Avenue to the large serene Palmerton Park in the middle of town I got into town early to take photos before the event started because rain was on the radar but as I meandered my way down Delaware Avenue more people were on the sidewalks because the event started at 9 a.m In the park was the information tent where people could pick up the booklet that contained a map of the food options there was the Vote for Viewer’s Choice Quilt on the back of the book which houses the Concourse Club’s Summer Concerts and is one of the town’s focal points There were more than 500 quilts between outside downtown Palmerton inside several Palmerton buildings in town John’s Lutheran Church on Fireline Road and personal quilts that people put out at their homes and George’s yellow school buses were picking up and dropping at several stops throughout town There were 10 locations that were part of the scavenger hunt and each had a wooden block painted like a quilt block Some people were from the surrounding towns The Texas ladies built their vacation around this show They came early to travel to Niagara Falls Hershey and then to be in Palmerton on Saturday and were going to start heading home with a few stops along the way The Living Hope Lighthouse Church was the location that housed the Antique and Vintage quilts because as you walk into the church its stunning stained glass windows allow beautiful light onto these treasures I had wished they could tell stories from the past I’m sure some have been handed down generation to generation and some of the styles The Palmerton Library had quilts and table runners for sale upstairs but with the quilts draped over the banisters on the second floor it made it even more magical of a space it was full of beautiful creations just waiting for the right person to buy them and when I returned at 4 p.m. The Palmerton Area Heritage Center was part of the Scavenger Hunt and the normal historical space was transformed into a space of artistic design and talent of some of the members quilts Different colors and patterns filled the two rooms I was excited to see what was just waiting to be seen this church has a huge space with just the right amount of natural light spilling in to see the meticulous work of several quilters told me about several of the quilts he there What I learned from talking to several quilters throughout the day was that every quilt has its own unique story The colors and patterns are only part of it and I understand why some don’t want to sell their creations because they are filled with love Palmerton Area High School’s colors are blue and white blue and white filled the space and were delightful to look at I learned how to tell the difference between hand verses machine stitched Machine stitches are closer to each other and hand stitched has a little more space in between The store was transformed into a great display space for quilts The mattresses were covered with gorgeous quilts and quality furniture like tables had runners adorning them Even the numerous recliners and couches were draped with many more quilts Walking allowed me to meet a lot of people from all over and listened to the conversations about them enjoying the town of Palmerton and the event but you do not need to know how to sew have fun at the “Airing of the Quilts.” John’s Towamensing Lutheran Church is another stunning Palmerton church All the quilts that decorated it were loaned from members of their church They draped the pews and hung over the upstairs railing The Palmerton High School was another main location for this event the gym had a large display of quilts and vendors Some have a more traditional look or pattern and then others are a scene or object the sewing machines and longarm quilting machines Last year taught me there was more to quilting than what I thought but this year deepened my appreciation and respect It’s a part of history and was done originally out of necessity and has become a beautiful art form one of the Airing of the Quilts planning group was at the information table in the park all day and was told often listening to Jeni Hackett play guitar and sing in the Bandstand and catching the band 14th & Spring on the corner of Fourth and Delaware playing jazz The businesses and restaurants looked busy there were several people checking out her display and shop Talking to the owner of Bert’s Steakhouse and Restaurant and the One Ten Tavern both said they were busy all day long and enjoyed hearing all the positive comments about the event and the town who were at Bert’s only take one vacation a year and this was what they chose to do this year The great thing about small-town America is easily noticed at events like these The town comes together and the feeling of pride of town because that is when the third annual Airing of the Quilts will be in Palmerton The event’s planning group wants to thank everyone who helped make this event possible and hopes everyone enjoyed the day “Thank you to everyone that allowed us to borrow their quilts and had them on display.” Our nation celebrates its 250th Birthday next year so quilters start those stunning creations Use of and/or registration on any portion of this site constitutes acceptance of our User Agreement, (updated 8/1/2024) and acknowledgement of our Privacy Policy, and Your Privacy Choices and Rights (updated 1/1/2025) © 2025 Advance Local Media LLC. All rights reserved (About Us) The material on this site may not be reproduced except with the prior written permission of Advance Local Community Rules apply to all content you upload or otherwise submit to this site YouTube's privacy policy is available here and YouTube's terms of service is available here Ad Choices John Neumann Regional School is excited to announce its inaugural Yard Sale & Eco-Fest Recycle,” will bring together local families and eco-conscious organizations for a day of shopping The Yard Sale & Eco-Fest will feature a variety of activities • Community Yard Sale Tables – Find hidden treasures at unbeatable prices • Eco-Friendly Vendors & Informational Booths – Learn about sustainability and green living from local organizations and businesses A great way to share greenery and gardening knowledge • Upcycled Fashion Show – A showcase of wearable art made from recycled or discarded materials • Interactive Sustainability Activities – Hands-on fun for all ages teaching ways to make a positive environmental impact — A third person has been charged in the fatal shooting of a man in a parking lot off MacArthur Road last month is charged with criminal solicitation/criminal homicide and conspiracy-aggravated assault in the Dec Rodriguez was arraigned Tuesday night before District Judge Mark A McCants and awaits a preliminary hearing before McCants at 10:45 a.m In December, Christian Martinez-Ramos, 35, of Palmerton, was charged with shooting and killing Garcia Gomez. Martinez-Ramos faces charges of homicide and aggravated assault Shortly after, Liz Marie Pacheco, 37, of Allentown, also was charged with homicide aggravated assault-attempting to cause serious bodily injury and conspiracy to commit aggravated assault — all first-degree felonies Police said Pacheco lived with Martinez-Ramos Rodriguez told police her husband was having an affair with Martinez-Ramos's and Pacheco's neighbor according to an affidavit of probable cause filed in the case Garcia Gomez died from gunshot wounds to the torso in a business parking lot off MacArthur Road Officers found Garcia Gomez with multiple gunshot wounds to his abdomen and he was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital-Cedar Crest The affidavit of probable cause said video surveillance showed Garcia Gomez’s vehicle arriving at the store Garcia Gomez went into the store for several minutes as Rodriguez stayed inside the car and called Pacheco Martinez-Ramos’s vehicle pulled into the parking lot three minutes after Rodriguez called Pacheco As Garcia Gomez left the store and began to get inside his car Martinez-Ramos' vehicle parked behind him and multiple gunshots were fired at Garcia Gomez from inside the suspect vehicle Lehigh County District Attorney Gavin Holihan said but the license plate on the vehicle was obtained by a license plate reader and came back to a different vehicle owned by Martinez-Ramos Rodriguez remained in the car for nearly a half-minute after her husband ran into the Loco Hot Deals store after being shot according to the affidavit of probable cause then "at a slow to normal walking pace" followed her husband inside Garcia Gomez and Martinez-Ramos fought outside a Whitehall Township AutoZone on Dec Pacheco that day warned the woman with whom Garcia Gomez was having an affair that Martinez-Ramos was extremely angry "This is going to get worse — [Garcia Gomez] is a dead man!" Pacheco said Rodriguez also told police that Martinez-Ramos assaulted her husband in October Police pulled messages from September through Dec 7 Rodriguez contacted Pacheco in an attempt to set up a confrontation between her husband and Martinez-Ramos Police recovered more than 2,000 deleted text messages between Pacheco and Martinez-Ramos Pacheco told Martinez-Ramos three times that "he needs to kill" Garcia Gomez Multiple messages between them included Garcia Gomez's location and information about his vehicle and companions Pacheco posted a photo on her WhatsApp account showing a bouquet of flowers beside Martinez-Ramos's Glock 19 handgun and a caption reading The caption translates to "Flowers for the dead." Martinez-Ramos told police he used that weapon to kill Garcia Gomez The Palmerton Pool Feasibility Study: Community Meeting will be held at 6 p.m study consultants MKSD Architects and Counsilman-Hunsaker will discuss findings of a study conducted on the pool Palmerton Borough Council adopted a resolution applying for a Department of Community and Natural Resources Peer to Peer grant for the Palmerton Memorial Park Association organizational study Borough Manager Autumn Canfield noted at that time that the borough previously partnered with the Palmerton Pool on the lease update and feasibility study along with the Palmerton Memorial Park Association worked with MKSD Architects in the Lehigh Valley and Counsilman-Hunsaker a national firm that specializes in aquatic projects to provide a comprehensive study to aid in understanding the current condition and future options for the pool The community survey is to help position the borough and PMPA to seek future funding to renovate and improve the pool complex as the borough has $60,000 from a grant through DCNR Canfield said the PMPA previously approached council for a partnership of two grants with council through DCNR She said one is a planning grant for a feasibility study of the property leased by PMPA The other is the peer grant with DCNR providing funding to assist in the cost of a professional to update the lease the borough has with PMPA The PMPA is a nonprofit created for the benefit of the residents of the Palmerton area in memory of veterans who served in the military during World War 1 and World War II the PMPA facilities consist of a swimming complex with a 90-foot by 225-foot swimming pool and baby wading pool associated bathhouse with office and refreshment stand a picnic grove with a large pavilion and a wooded nature trail surrounding the facility on 18 acres of woodland said the borough owns the pool and leases it to the association Papay said the feasibility study will provide a physical/structural assessment of the pool She added they anticipate that the completed feasibility study will enable them to apply for grant funding in the near future for rehabilitation and development of the swimming pool complex The Peer-to-Peer Technical Assistance Project helps municipalities improve their park recreation and conservation services through a collaborative process with a $1,500 match requirement that was split equally between the borough and the PMPA The borough’s half of the match requirement was paid for by a donation from Councilman Richard Nothstein The Community Conservation Partnerships Program allows for a planning project for a Swimming Pool Feasibility Study with a 30% match requirement that is being paid with funds from the PMPA Palmerton Area High School hosted a mock crash Wednesday morning culminating a week of events aimed at promoting student safety ahead of prom and graduation The dramatic crash demonstration involved student actors emergency responders and real-life cautionary stories from police and funeral directors “We do this program because this is an important time of the year for you all,” said Aquashicola Fire Department Assistant Chief Pete Beblavy The message was clear and sobering throughout the mock crash program where students witnessed a simulated drunk-driving car accident involving their classmates and responders acted as they would in a real-life fatal crash — extricating victims placing a student in a body bag and arresting another Student Mikayla Maxwell played the role of the deceased “It was definitely uncomfortable to know that that’s something real that happens to people every day,” she said “It’s not just something that you see on the news and you can be the next person that it happens to Her classmate Sadie Gair portrayed the drunken driver in the scene and watched her friend taken away in a body bag even though I was in the back of the police car Palmerton teacher and program organizer Sage Nalesnik opened the event by emphasizing that the issue is “about so much more than” just drunken driving “We’re going to give you all the information that you need in order to make an informed decision that you feel best supports yourself.” who is also an assistant football coach at the school spoke about his personal experience as well “My first fatal crash was three months on the job,” he said crossed over the double yellow line and hit a car head-on and died.” He also discussed a 2018 incident involving a 26-year-old Slatington man who hit and killed a pedestrian while under the influence of marijuana “I was the first one on the scene,” Leadbetter said “I had to make the notification with the family I had to drive over to his wife of 45 years and let her know that her husband died in a motor vehicle accident.” was sentenced to three to five years in prison He emphasized the long-term consequences of a criminal record military — you’re going to need that clean criminal record,” he said “Employers do run your criminal history and you can’t have a convicted felony.” Leadbetter also warned about the loss of financial aid and college opportunities due to legal trouble they will take your financial aid away,” he said “You’re probably not going to be going to that school anymore.” The final presenters were Brooke Krupa and Adam Schisler from Schisler Funeral Homes they spoke about the emotional and logistical impact of teen deaths “We probably attended more funerals of our friends growing up than we have older people who have died of natural causes,” Krupa said Schisler recalled a recent case in which a drunk teen driver killed two parents “They were away for a long weekend … an 18-year-old girl was coming home Sunday morning after a party Hit that family head-on going 60 mph,” he said the 18-year-old girl … nothing was wrong with her It’s not only you that you have to worry about Palmerton students received wristbands Wednesday labeled “I Promise.” The message: “I promise to make good decisions I promise that I will also do my best to protect my friends.” “What if you were the driver in that car?” Beblavy told students as they watched the mock crash aftermath Don’t be the person I have to go tell your parents about.” Students also attended a mini health fair on Tuesday and heard a presentation from distracted driving awareness speaker Joel Feldman A Palmerton woman voiced concerns to borough council last week about the property around her home Janis Sylstra of the 500 block of Mauch Chunk Roads first discussed an old railroad tie wall she said is falling down “If that wall situation was down here in town I have a feeling it would be (more) addressed than in the West End (portion of the borough),” Sylstra said but it seems like things in the downtown get addressed (first).” Sylstra added that she’s not the only one who feels that way “Nothing’s getting done up here,” she said “That doesn’t even include the cars that speed up and down Mauch Chunk Road.” Councilman Kris Hoffner said he drove through Railroad Alley (behind Mauch Chunk Road) Hoffner said the borough needs to determine who owns it Council President Terry Costenbader told Sylstra he understood her worries Sylstra noted that she had previously brought her concerns to council three years ago “Nothing seems to be being done with the wall in the back,” she said Sylstra added that she believes the wall is a huge safety issue Costenbader assured Sylstra that once the borough determines who owns the wall Sylstra also alluded to the speeding that goes on along Mauch Chunk Road which she said is alarming when trying to pull out of Railroad Alley onto Mauch Chunk Road Palmerton Borough officials are thankful a traffic signal project at Third Street and Delaware Avenue continues to inch its way closer to completion borough council on Thursday approved the third installment based on Keystone Consulting Engineers recommendation to Telco Inc Councilman Kris Hoffner said the traffic signal project is sorely needed “Thank God that’s being done,” Hoffner said “There were seven traffic accidents last year at that intersection.” Borough Manager Autumn Canfield previously said the project remains on schedule to be finished in July council approved the first payment request in the amount of $80,371 to Telco The scope of the work for Delaware Avenue and Third Street includes removing the existing traffic signal at Delaware Avenue and Third Street and installing a new traffic signal The project also includes all related traffic signal infrastructure including signal heads pedestrian push-button signals and push buttons new controller cabinet and electrical service and relocation of existing signs as noted on the drawings council on a 6-0 vote awarded a bid to Telco in the amount of $483,215 The borough obtained an Automated Red Light Enforcement grant and worked on permitting through the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation Palmerton received $329,398 to bring the intersection up to current PennDOT safety standards A classic eating establishment known for its Pennsylvania Dutch cooking is under new ownership has been purchased by Palmerton native Kody Gildner Gildner bought the diner on April 4 from co-owners Rich Wenner and Michael Aniskevich A 1995 graduate of Palmerton Area High School Gildner said he wanted to ensure the diner remains the local icon it’s always been and really didn’t want it to go into the wrong hands.” Gildner said the diner’s legacy is really about the people and those patrons who have been coming there from the time they were little “The people that are there are absolutely amazing,” he said Gildner said he began having discussions with the owners about two years ago Gildner’s dream to buy the diner became a reality “The biggest message is that nothing’s going to change,” he said “We want to make sure the continuity is going to remain.” he earned a degree in civil engineering from Widener University president and CEO of KLG Building Group in Franklin which specializes in building state-of-the-art health care facilities He currently lives in Nashville with his wife But that doesn’t stop Gildner from making the long trek back to his old stomping grounds “I love coming back for the (Palmerton Community) Festival,” he said Both Wenner and Aniskevich said the decision to sell the diner was bittersweet Wenner said that he and Aniskevich started leasing in late 1991 and then purchased the business in 1996 from his father The diner has been family-owned since around 1960 Wenner was a sheet metal mechanic before owning the diner His aunt owned a restaurant that he worked at when he was a teenager “It was an opportunity to gain a pretty lucrative business,” Wenner said “Me and Mike (Aniskevich) became partners.” Wenner said the time has come to sit back and reap the rewards of his hard work my wife has sacrificed quite a bit; I’ve worked 85% of the weekends over the last 34 years.” said that doesn’t make his decision any easier “The day-to-day experience has been terrific,” he said together the couple have two grown children who live in Philadelphia “It will be nice doing all the things I’ve missed out on,” Wenner said straighten out the garage; I have a to-do list.” has been employed by the diner for the past 45 years and said he started out as a night shift cook He said he plans to stay on for about another year to help with the transition to new ownership Wenner touted the diner’s reasonable prices as another key to its success Wenner didn’t hesitate when naming the diner’s hot roast beef sandwiches homemade french fries and crab patties as being its top sellers Aniskevich also cited the diner’s homemade food “It’s a family-oriented business,” Aniskevich said Wenner was also quick to heap praise on the diner’s employees who he said are essential to its longevity “We had a great core group of employees who literally have been there for us,” Wenner said “The same goes for our customers; we have a very loyal clientele of repeat customers.” Wenner said longtime waitresses Brooke Roberts (23 years) and Danielle Zastko (22 years) began working for them while they were still in high school “They will (help) run it with Kody,” he said Wenner said another of his proudest accomplishments is that the business has been able to keep between 31 to 33 workers employed during his 34 years “I think that’s something to be proud of,” said Wenner who noted that during the COVID-19 pandemic they put a tent outside the facility to continue to serve customers Aniskevich lauded the diner’s customers and employees for its staying power “We wouldn’t have this if not for our loyal customers,” he said “We have really good customer service and good employees.” Wenner said he’s confident the business will continue to flourish but Mike is staying on for a period of time.” Aniskevich agreed with Wenner’s assessment “It’s time to step away and let somebody else take over.” they’ve been coming through,” Vikettes coach Kathy Davidowich said And now they have gold medals to show for it It’s the program’s third straight district crown and 10th since 2011 Palmerton junior center Courtney Connell scored five straight points the last three coming off an and-1 putback to tie Saturday’s final at 29-29 with 2:09 remaining in the third quarter That tie lasted 19 seconds before Central Catholic junior guard Annika Spinosa took an inbound pass from Aveline Bubnis “We don’t dial it back just because they’re applying pressure.” “We practiced staying calm and playing our game,” junior forward Morgan Seagreaves added Vikettes senior guard/forward Milly Wolf sank a 3-pointer off a feed from Spinosa and Seagreaves scored a layup on an assist by freshman forward Skylar Taylor to push the lead to 38-30 with 4:35 left in the fourth quarter “We were a little frantic throughout that stretch (when Palmerton tied the game),” Wolf said I think we just had to play defense and hit our shots.” Palmerton (21-6) didn’t make a field goal in the fourth quarter (0-for-9) The Blue Bombers were limited to four points from the foul line in the final period (all from Connell) Central Catholic protected its lead with eight points from the charity stripe as Spinosa and Wolf each scored four make sure you’re focused on the basket and your shot not on your surroundings,” Spinosa said about making late free throws You’ve just got to really stay focused on the basket and your shot.” A steal and layup by Spinosa gave Central an 18-11 lead after the first quarter The Vikettes only managed three points in the second period while shooting 1 of 9 from the floor A putback by Palmerton junior guard Cate Morgan trimmed the Vikettes’ lead to 21-18 at intermission “It’s really special,” Spinosa said of winning the D-11 title I think everyone was just really positive and ready for today’s game.” The Blue Bombers advance to the PIAA tournament Wolf registered 10 points and six rebounds The rugged EPC schedule prepared Central to tangle with two of the Colonial League’s top squads in the district bracket “We played Easton; we played Parkland; we played Emmaus; and those games got us ready but they got us ready for the big games right now.” We play some good teams in the EPC,” Spinosa said We can work on so many different things against different teams and their styles of play.” The Vikettes were bounced from the EPC quarterfinals by top-seeded Emmaus The team benefitted from the time off before the district playoffs “Having that reboot of those two weeks off after the EPCs We worked on some of the things that we needed to work on .. The girls just came into this with a lot of confidence.” The district crown was especially satisfying for the Vikettes considering they entered the season with just one returning starter (Wolf) I’ve been saying all season: you work all season to get to this moment,” Davidowich said We struggled trying to figure out how to play together it’s a big difference when you’re up on varsity everyone wasn’t as experienced,” Wolf said “How we developed throughout the season was really great.” Central will host District 4 runner-up Shamokin in the first round of states “I want to take a winning mentality (into the state bracket),” Seagreaves said Please subscribe today to lehighvalleylive.com Kyle Craig may be reached at kcraig@lehighvalleylive.com A familiar face is taking over a landmark Palmerton eatery has been an institution in the heart of the borough’s downtown since 1957 has returned to his roots after a nine-year stint in Miami got to meet many different cultures of people,” Minnich said said he was essentially coaxed into returning to his hometown by his children “My family begged me to come back to Carbon County,” he said “Two of my three kids still live in Carbon County.” Minnich made the decision to take over the business where he worked decades earlier “I thought how nostalgic and sentimental would it be for me to come back to where I started my career,” he said “So here we are in the community I raised my family in.” Minnich started his career under the late Bert Csensits Minnich worked there in the late ’60s and early ’70s For those who were fortunate enough to know Csensits Minnich said he was a true gem of a person and that’s what made the place legendary,” he said Minnich embarked on a 10-year career with a restaurant business in the Walnutport area and later a career in sales and marketing in the restaurant industry which he classified as “Carbon County Hall of Fame” worthy Other top sellers include hot roast beef sandwiches homemade pierogies (from a local church) and homemade desserts make no mistake about it; Its all-day breakfast is the restaurant’s true calling card and top seller there are veggie burgers (gluten free) on the menu Several new items on the way are avocado toast “We’re one of the few establishments in town that doesn’t have alcohol,” he said “We feel it’s unique and advantageous because of the opportunity for our customers to save money on alcohol.” Minnich said he’s proud of his staff of about a dozen employees many of whom have many decades of experience with the business who has owned the business for the past six years while front office house manager Cheyenne Tilley has been there for nearly 10 years has also been employed for nearly 40 years Minnich said owning the business where he first learned the ropes at was an opportunity too good to pass up “I just feel very lucky to have the opportunity to be here and serve the community.” Minnich said the business also hosts parties and various other functions and encouraged customers to allow them to enjoy their culinary experience Bert’s Restaurant & Steakhouse is open 8 a.m Hours are all potentially subject to change or follow the eatery on Facebook and Instagram A former Palmerton three-sport athlete and experienced high school science teacher is moving from the classroom to an administrative role in the district Palmerton Area School District’s board of directors on Tuesday night approved Justin Petersen to a hybrid high school assistant principal/athletic coordinator role at a salary of $92,000 who has taught biology at the high school for nearly a decade said he sees the new role as an opportunity to expand his leadership and positively impact a broader group of students “I feel like I have strong leadership skills and that’s something that I’ve been demonstrating for a while now and I definitely embrace that,” Petersen said “Petersen emphasized his desire to contribute to the district in new ways “Not that I don’t cherish my roles that I’m currently in — I love those roles — but I think I can make a big impact to the entire high school and district as a whole now.” he rushed for 900 yards and scored 18 touchdowns as a fullback He continued playing the position at Albany University Petersen compiled an impressive record of 137-22 and has been the head wrestling coach at Palmerton since 2012 Petersen outlined his main objectives as he steps into the hybrid role of assistant principal and athletic coordinator advocating for our students in multiple capacities working as hard as I can to make sure that they’re getting the opportunities that they deserve,” he said Petersen expressed enthusiasm about leading in a school that shaped him as both a student and educator “I care a lot about this community,” he said “It’s helped make me who I am and I want to give back to that as much as I can.” Board members expressed confidence in Petersen’s ability to handle the responsibilities of both assistant principal and athletic coordinator a position that consolidates duties previously handled separately “I just want to say congratulations,” director Erin Snyder said “The school and the kids are very lucky to have you and I look forward to watching you succeed.” Kyle Porembo had been the district’s athletic director since 2019 The assistant principal job opened up when Dave Sodl moved to junior high school principal earlier this year Board President Earl Paules noted the financial efficiency of Petersen’s appointment explaining that the dual role saves the district approximately $120,000 compared to hiring two separate individuals we always had a teacher with a stipend doing the athletic director job,” he said “So there’s no reason why this should not work.” Superintendent Angela Friebolin said with Petersen’s hiring officially approved he will transition into his new role once his current teaching position is filled The Green Knights had a 9-2 overall record and won seven consecutive games entered the Colonial League contest with a 3-6 record but we’re not going to get ahead of ourselves We got some games to win down the stretch and we’ve got to take care of business But this was huge for us,” Palmerton coach Bob Hock said about the victory turning around the season We just got some timely hitting when we needed it and great pitching by Hailey Barry.” Barry struck out two batters and walked four on the night The junior didn’t allow a hit after freshman catcher Abigail Scherer recorded a two-out triple in the fifth inning Following a lead-off walk by Pen Argyl freshman first baseman Talia Curtolo in the sixth inning the Blue Bombers were able to turn a double play on a sacrifice bunt attempt Green Knights sophomore left fielder Ella Garcias walked but then Palmerton senior catcher Hailey Delgado caught a foul ball to end the inning Barry retired the Green Knights 1-2-3 in the seventh inning including junior second baseman Grace Schneider recording a groundout and a popout for the Blue Bombers It’s been cold for every single game this season,” Barry said “I just felt good coming into the game today I think I just found the zone much better than I normally do and got the win.” “She started out and threw a shutout in our first game (7-0 win over Lehighton) But I’d see this was a big game and I’ll rank this as her best game of the year The Palmerton junior pitcher reached base on an error to get the Blue Bombers started in the bottom of the fourth inning. Junior third baseman Tessa Sander followed with an infield single The Blue Bombers then loaded the bases after a fielder’s choice by junior second baseman Grace Schneider Wolfe gave Palmerton a 2-1 lead with a two-run single down the right-field line “I knew she (Jill Bradley) was throwing outside and I just wanted to stay disciplined with the pitches that weren’t exactly strikes,” Wolfe said “I just fought my way until I could drive one down there.” “She’s a very good hitter,” Hock said of the freshman “She’s learning to adapt to the varsity level But she’s adjusting to those and getting the bat on the ball Schneider then scored on an error to push the Blue Bombers’ advantage to two runs in the fourth inning Pen Argyl took a 1-0 lead in the top of the third inning Senior center fielder Madacyn Rivera led off the frame with a single She later scored on a sacrifice fly by senior shortstop Grace Weaver Senior pitcher Jill Bradley struck out eight and allowed one walk and three hits for the Green Knights Palmerton will play at Salisbury on Wednesday The Blue Bombers are hoping Monday night’s victory will mark a turning point for a team that has won District 11 Class 3A gold in 2021 and Colonial League gold in 2023 the Blue Bombers had to find a way to move on from last year’s six seniors including the 2024 lehighvalleylive.com Softball Player of the Year Carly Gaffney “We knew we’d probably have struggles this year,” Hock said “We have 13 kids grades 9 through 12 and four of them are freshmen And that’s all we asked them to do this year Everybody is really nice here,” Wolfe said of the program I think everybody together would just make a really good team with friendship and everything.” Thank you for relying on us to provide the journalism you can trust Please consider supporting lehighvalleylive.com with a subscription Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com Additional realignment options are on the table in Palmerton Area School District following a highly criticized proposal late last year to shift where elementary students attend school based on their grade level instead of where they live In advance of a town hall meeting on the topic scheduled for 6 p.m Michael Kelly of KCBA Architects outlined proposals Tuesday to enhance the high school’s security and reconfigure administrative spaces Highlights of the latest realignment option include moving sixth grade to the junior high/high school campus; relocating the main high school entrance to a new two-story addition off the east parking lot; and moving the district’s administrative offices from Parkside Education Center downtown to a new addition connected to the west side of the junior high school gymnasium with administrative offices in the middle of the building does not meet modern security standards,” Kelly said “Best practices involve positioning administration closer to entry points ensuring clear oversight of visitors entering the campus.” The two-story addition at the high school’s east end would consolidate high school and junior high entrances into a shared zone The first floor of the addition would house the administrative offices The second floor would provide additional classroom space to accommodate future grade realignments “The relocation of administrative offices would free up space within the high school’s interior,” Kelly said “allowing for the conversion of existing offices into three classrooms and an assistant principal’s office Combined with the proposed second-floor addition this would create six new classrooms — which could help address potential grade realignments such as moving sixth grade to the junior high campus.” The proposal includes creating a secure vestibule at the new main entrance and ensuring that gymnasium and auditorium visitors have separate Realignment of grades has been a hot topic in Palmerton dating back to a town hall when RLPS Architects who the district commissioned to do an $18,000 feasibility study outlined an option to have all K-3 students eventually attend Towamensing Elementary and all fourth through sixth grade students attend S.S KCBA’s proposal moves sixth grade to the junior high campus “This plan provides a solution to multiple challenges,” Kelly said we open opportunities for future growth while addressing capacity issues at the elementary schools.” Questions raised Tuesday included parking limitations walking distances for students from their vehicles and the adequacy of facilities to handle the additional students students could still park on the stadium side,” Kelly said Buses will still drop off at what’s now the front over by the gymnasium that’s when all the doors are locked and the only entrance into the building would be the new main entrance on the east side.” A new two-story addition to the north of the junior high gymnasium and west of the corridor that connects the two schools could also house additional classrooms KCBA’s proposal Tuesday night also included new administrative offices built off the west side of the junior high gymnasium “The proposed administrative wing would include offices for the superintendent “This setup would maximize the use of existing land while keeping administrative functions close to district operations.” While the board expressed interest in the proposals The main entrance/classroom addition project is estimated to cost $8.3 million which includes $6.5 million for the addition and renovation The district office addition would cost around an additional $4.7 million while the creation of two more classrooms is estimated at $1.8 million we would have to borrow money,” PASD Business Manager Ryan Kish said “We could explore options to structure the debt over multiple years to minimize the tax impact on residents Bond council would provide further guidance at an upcoming workshop.” Kish estimated an additional $600,000 in debt service per year for Palmerton One mill of taxes generates around $300,000 and adds just over $40 to the average homeowner’s yearly bill will be an opportunity for stakeholders to hear more on the latest option it would have been $10 million to add on at Towamensing for the earlier option and they would have had to add on to the cafeteria,” Board President Earl Paules said “If you figure transportation would have cost an extra $250,000 We’re at $14 million here if we do everything We listened to the people and came up with another option thanked the board for looking at alternatives to an elementary realignment “You actually listened to those who came to the town hall and we’re happy to see there is another option on the table,” Angun said “It makes sense logically to have sixth graders move to the junior high A Palmerton Area High School team won this year’s Carbon County Envirothon which was held last week at The Carbon County Environmental Education Center The team is eligible to compete in the state Envirothon May 21 in Windber Park said the event was held early so that teams would have more time to plan for state level competition The nature competition for students in second through eighth grades will be held in May First place was Hagfish V.4 of Palmerton High School Third place was the Palmerton Smart Sharks The Carbon Copies from Panther Valley took fourth place followed by two other Panther Valley teams and then Weatherly The competition included five stations: aquatics high school students are tested on common knowledge questions and are not allowed to use a phone or camera Younger students can use a clipboard and a pencil The younger students are judged on a 10-minute speech Mostly cloudy with a few scattered showers lingering overnight Pictured is chocolate covered strawberry French toast at Bert's Steakhouse & Restaurant in Palmerton Pictured is a chicken parmesan sandwich with fresh-cut fries at Bert's Steakhouse & Restaurant in Palmerton Pictured is a chicken ranch wrap with Buffalo sauce at Bert's Steakhouse & Restaurant in Palmerton Pictured is a pistachio cheesecake pudding pie at Bert's Steakhouse & Restaurant in Palmerton Pictured is a pumpkin roll sundae at Bert's Steakhouse & Restaurant in Palmerton Pictured are pork rib specials at Bert's Steakhouse & Restaurant in Palmerton La Maya operates on Main Street in Hellertown A drive-thru Wawa location has closed at 6216 Hamilton Blvd the full-service chain known for its "simple fresh American dining," previously operated at 2102 Emrick Blvd will have a new owner – Jeff Minnich – as of Feb – A nearly 70-year-old Palmerton dining establishment – known for its cheesesteaks fresh-cut fries and homemade desserts – is changing hands and the new owner is no stranger to the scene with all three of his children graduating from Palmerton Area High School and he previously worked at Bert’s as a dishwasher and cook in the early 1970s under original owner Bert Csencsits Minnich recalls fond memories of Csencsits and his original Bert’s gig “It was my very first job at the age of 14 “[Csencsits] was old school and knew how to treat customers and employees Everybody in the community knew him and loved him.” Minnich is taking over operations from Jaclyn Costenbader a longtime Bert’s employee who took over operations about six years ago “Jackie’s been with Bert’s for 20-plus years and she’s owned it for the last six of those years,” Minnich said but she will stay on as operations manager.” who had been living in Miami for nearly a decade recently moved back to Palmerton to take on his new role at Bert’s He’s excited to return to the business where he earned his first paycheck and lead a team of talented restaurant professionals many of whom have been with Bert’s for decades “It’s kind of a full-circle moment,” Minnich said with a chuckle and the last thing on my mind was coming out of retirement to run a restaurant Minnich is not planning any changes to the look of the restaurant and he’s also keeping the food menu the same Customers will still be able to enjoy all of the restaurant’s staples our customers have told us that they don’t want any changes,” Minnich said “They love our cheesesteaks and our fresh-cut We’ve had some requests from customers looking for gluten-free we plan on introducing some of those items.” Bert’s customers can enjoy a variety of entrees Delmonico and T-bone; seafood selections such as baked haddock breaded scallops and grilled crab patties; and chicken dishes such as chicken cordon bleu Other Bert’s menu highlights include appetizers such as homemade pierogies breaded pickles and Buffalo chicken fingers; hot sandwiches such as tuna melts hot roast beef and sausage sandwiches; cold sandwiches and wraps such as BLTs 3-D clubs and chicken ranch wraps; and sides such as corn nuggets which can be customized to your preference “Customers can order their cheesesteak to their liking either with or without sauce,” Minnich said “The original Philly cheesesteak is traditionally served without sauce but a lot of people up this way like sauce we’ll make it however you like – with or without sauce including rotating selections of soups and desserts Customers also can enjoy breakfast selections cinnamon buns and creamed chipped beef on toast “Breakfast is actually our number one component,” Minnich said We’ve got all of the traditional items like eggs It’s not something you find at a lot of restaurants and not everyone enjoys it one of which is considered the business’ banquet/special events room The restaurant can host a variety of events birthday parties and business and nonprofit meetings “Not having a liquor license positions us as a pretty unique establishment in town,” Minnich said we pride ourselves on that because it gives our customers an opportunity to save on the cost of alcohol They can bring their own and not spend a fortune for drinks at a bar.” For the latest updates on Bert’s, including announcements regarding menu additions, follow the business’ Facebook page – The owners of a popular produce stand are bringing another delicious concept – featuring sourdough melts fresh-cut fries and other tasty eats – to the Allentown Fairgrounds Farmers Market is expected to open in late January at the 1825 W The new eatery will be owned and operated by Swartley and his brother-in-law, Cori Citro. The pair also runs the neighboring Red Barn Family Produce stand at the market. Full story here top-notch eats and drinks have a new destination to frequent in the Christmas City The cafe occupies space that was previously home to a Toastique location a fast-casual eatery serving gourmet toast which recently closed after nearly two years of business Cafe Crewy owner Chris Marcus said he’s looking to implement a “comfortable and homey vibe,” where people can catch up with friends, do work on their laptop or simply relax while enjoying freshly prepared food and drinks. Read more here – A Mexican eatery that’s built a strong following in the Bethlehem area will begin offering its tacos burritos and other Mexican specialties at a satellite location in Northampton County this weekend a downtown Bethlehem restaurant serving “authentic Mexican food made with love,” is planning to open a pick-up and delivery location on Saturday The new location will offer a limited Lu Taqueria menu for pick-up and delivery services only as there is limited space It will operate at the same site as Smoothie & T Bar, a Hellertown eatery offering freshly prepared fruit smoothies, Belgian waffle sticks with toppings and more, which Batisa also operates. Read more Foodies looking to savor a new dish or a familiar favorite will have plenty of opportunities to treat their taste buds next week in the Saucon Valley area Hellertown-Lower Saucon Winter Restaurant Week kicking off Sunday and continuing through Jan multi-course menus and other promotions at nearly a dozen dining establishments Participants include longstanding favorites like Braveheart Highland Pub and new hot spots such as La Maya and B Social. Full story here – Mushrooms are on full display at the Pennsylvania Farm Show One shows visitors how mushrooms are grown and displays a number of different varieties Others offer tasty treats like mushroom jerky, stuffed mushrooms and more. Read more here – Lobster lovers will soon be able to indulge in fresh lobster rolls lobster mac and cheese and other dishes at a new dining establishment in Lehigh County a rapidly expanding fast-casual restaurant chain known for its authentic New England-style lobster rolls is planning to open its first Pennsylvania location on Jan The new 1,500-square-foot restaurant will serve lunch and dinner daily in a renovated space next to Slime Time at Promenade Saucon Valley. Read more – A restaurant aiming to bring people together “over a feast of good food” will begin welcoming diners this weekend in Lehigh County hands-on all-you-can-eat dining experience that merges traditional Asian hot pot with Korean BBQ flavors,” is set to open at noon Sunday at 2180 MacArthur Road Suite 20 in Whitehall Township The restaurant will operate between Red Crab Juicy Seafood and The Vitamin Shoppe in the Whitehall Square shopping center. Full story here – The lineup at the Lehigh Valley's largest shopping mall is continuing to change with several new and coming-soon tenants Carter's/OshKosh B’gosh store and Star Park Indoor Playground & Party facility at MacArthur Road and Route 22 in Whitehall Township is set to welcome four businesses – D’Colombia Restaurant & Bakery Carter’s/OshKosh B’gosh and Star Park Indoor Playground & Party – in the coming months The businesses will follow the recent openings of several other new Lehigh Valley Mall tenants, including Game Box Arcade, As Seen on TV, Spice n Shake, Fit Leggy, Furniture & Linen, Golf Galaxy, Perfume Galaxy and Perfume City. Full story here - Workers and shoppers taking the bus to and from the Lehigh Valley Mall may see a shakeup this summer The Lehigh and Northampton Transportation Authority -- LANTA -- says the mall is asking the bus stop to be moved once its lease is up this summer LANTA has been picking up and dropping off riders at the same spot in the Lehigh Valley Mall since 2007 But that's about to change. LANTA Bus Services recently posted signs at the mall, and a notice on its website, that says come the end of June, the bus's lease at the mall is up, and the mall requested the bus stop to move for safety concerns. Read more here – Mother Nature may have brought snow to much of the region in recent weeks but a new eatery is bringing a “delicious and nutritious” taste of the tropics The first Pennsylvania location of Tiki Bowls The new shop operates on the ground floor of the Butz Corporate Center in space previously occupied by gallery840. Read more – A boutique hotel — offering a "spirited and fun" experience — is almost ready to welcome guests in downtown Allentown Marriott International's experiential hotel brand on Thursday announced that the Moxy Allentown Downtown – the brand's first hotel in Pennsylvania – will open Jan The 133-bedroom Moxy Allentown Downtown will be operated by Gulph Creek Hotels a hotel management and development company in the Mid-Atlantic region The $27-million, five-story boutique hotel features several public gathering spaces on the ground floor, including the brand's signature Bar Moxy featuring nightly DJs and performers, a lounge, a library, a courtyard with yard games, and a yet-to-be-named restaurant. Full story here Pa – A popular coffee shop has expanded operations with an additional location in Lehigh County on Wednesday held a soft opening of its new cafe and roastery at 17 S The new location supplements Nowhere’s original coffee house which opened in February 2022 at 3127 Tilghman St -- The Easton Winter Market is kicking off January 11 It will open on the 300-block of Northampton Street outside the Easton Public Market Greater Easton Development says that the market will run every Saturday from 10 a.m. to noon, through April. Read more A new business in Northampton County is serving a taste of sobriety It has a zero-proof bottle shop and it's offering mocktail classes 69 News Reporter Grace Griffaton got a sneak peek ahead of its grand opening. Full story here family-run business is bidding farewell to its stand at the Easton Public Market but its main Lehigh Valley location will remain open a butcher shop offering high-quality meats such as hand-cut prime beef local heritage Duroc pork and air-chilled and antibiotic- and hormone-free chicken is planning to close its Easton Public Market stand on Jan according to an announcement on the business’ Instagram page Saylors’ primary location on Main Street in Hellertown will continue to operate. Read more here Pa.- What's a comeback story without a little drama Unexpected twists and turns may make for a good movie plot but the team trying to resurrect the old Gap Theatre in Wind Gap would be happy with fewer of them Plans for a soft reopening in December of last year were derailed when the theater's heating system went kaput Prior to that, power- or the lack thereof- was the problem. Harry Guerro, who has been overseeing the building's facelift, told 69 News in October he'd been going back and forth with Met-Ed for months, trying to get the lights back on. Read more - A new gaming store opened in the Berkshire Mall on Saturday Lounge Around Gaming Company opened their doors on Jan inviting people in to play games to their hearts content While you may be able to play games in your own home - the co-owners of the store hopes this brings people together. Full story here — The Lehigh Valley's first drive-thru Wawa location has ended operations in Lehigh County The drive-thru location of the Delaware County-based convenience store and gas station chain closed on Jan The posted sign encourages individuals to visit other nearby Wawa locations at 4900 Hamilton Blvd in Lower Macungie and 7572 Schantz Road in Upper Macungie Township A reason behind the closure was not provided, and a Wawa spokesperson did not immediately return a message seeking more information. Read more here — The last Lehigh Valley location of a well-known restaurant chain has ended operations full-service chain known for its "simple fresh American dining," closed this week at 2102 Emrick Blvd Signage on the restaurant's doors thanks customers for their patronage and encourages them to visit nearby Ruby Tuesday locations. Read more - A feed mill in Montgomery County will close its doors after more than 150 years Operations at the Moyer and Son Inc.'s feed mill in Souderton will wind down over the next several weeks Yocum says it was a difficult decision to close the feed mill and The Store at Moyer and Son. Full story here Email notifications are only sent once a day Headlines and Weather delivered directly to your inbox Your source for important local government and business events delivered Tue to Sat Your daily headlines and complete forecast from 69 News meteorologists delivered every morning around 6am The latest headlines plus find out what's coming up tonight on 69News Your browser is out of date and potentially vulnerable to security risks.We recommend switching to one of the following browsers: Get up-to-the-minute news sent straight to your device A Whitehall-Coplay School District administrator was tabbed Tuesday night as the next superintendent in Palmerton Area School District 2 after the school board voted 7-2 to approve a three-year contract running through June 30 who is currently Whitehall’s director of personnel to receive a starting annual salary of $135,000 for the 2024-25 school year Her salary will increase by 3.5% for each of the following two years Friebolin will be eligible for performance-based bonuses The contract also includes a benefits package including health insurance “I would like to express my sincere gratitude and honor to the board of directors for placing confidence in me for the superintendent of schools position for this great district,” she said A lifelong resident of the Northern Lehigh area Friebolin said has a deep connection to the region and experience working within similar school districts the thing not to do is just make huge changes and sweeping changes outlining her short-term goals for the district Friebolin acknowledged some tense moments during Tuesday’s meeting as all but one of around 10 public commenters which included teachers and community members before the vote specifically voiced their support for one of the other finalists “and I knew that there are a lot of very strong opinions and feelings I do respect that and I don’t hold any ill will to anyone who spoke out on behalf of Ryan and I am very much looking forward to working with him.” has been serving as interim superintendent since July 6 when Dr Jodi Frankelli left after four years to become the executive director of early learning at Allentown School District “Probably Ryan’s greatest attribute is that he has been able to communicate not only with parents but also fellow administrators,” Butch Acierno you get a response from him and then the person heading that department within that same day Acierno also described watching Kish help carry items for the construction crew working on S.S and he cares this much as an interim superintendent what will he do as a superintendent?” Acierno said “It’s true that he doesn’t have an educational background maybe somebody with business sense is a quality we need School board members Earl and Danielle Paules said the district had a points system as part of the superintendent selection process which Palmerton contracted with the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit #21 to help conduct who were the only two directors to vote against approving Friebolin on Tuesday “I’ve been involved in the school district for 11 years now,” said Michelle Gordon “I went to the town hall for the superintendent I’m here today to urge you to remember those results and it doesn’t seem that those results are being reflected The whole point of the event was to engage a community we feel that our voices are not being heard.” Palmerton director MaryJo King said while the board did have a rubric as it went through the process it was never meant to be the only metric by which a candidate was chosen “The rubrics were always meant to be a talking point not the sole determining factor,” King said “We all agree Ryan is doing a great job in his interim position It was not a waste of time and it was not a waste of money I want what’s best for these students and staff as well.” Mary Farquhar said she felt like she asked “stupid questions” when she began coming to school board meetings and he volunteered to give me whatever information I needed which I really appreciated at the time,” she said and I really think he is the right man for the job And I would really hate you guys to miss out on that opportunity to get the right person.” Board President Sherry Haas acknowledged Friebolin was not her first choice Palmerton’s administration will be willing to work with her “When you talk to her on a personal one-on-one level Angela is ready to hit the ground running,” Haas said “I’m confident the finalists we had were the best candidates has allowed her and her family to spend quality time in Palmerton a community for which she has fond admiration “There’s a tremendous amount of pride here,” she said “I think it’s evident just from the way they’ve been able to maintain their town We started coming to football games when I became integrated into this process and I just feel like the support is very evident.” to meet with members of administration and the board learn from what they’ve already been doing and then really prepare a leadership plan moving forward,” she said “You don’t really know a district until you’re integrated in it The Neffs National Bank recently purchased the former bank property at 372 Delaware Ave said in a release that the bank is in the planning and renovation stages of opening a new branch location by the end of 2025 is committed to serving the financial needs of their clients and local communities with high quality customer focused,” Borowski said “With their roots firmly planted in the local community The Neffs National Bank is proud to be growing and expanding their footprint to better serve their current and future customers.” the building along Delaware Avenue had housed the former KeyBank branch The original bank building was built by Citizens Bank before it was morphed into several other bank companies including Harleysville National Bank The Neffs National Bank said The Neffs National Bank continues to look at its current staffing needs The Delaware Avenue structure will give The Neffs National Bank three locations within a roughly 10-mile radius Current branch locations are at 5629 Route 873 which in 2023 celebrated its 100th anniversary Schmidt said The Neffs National Bank has been successful and currently has assets of about $460 million Rhett Anthony Hernandez gave an amazing presentation on Monday at the Aquashicola Volunteer Fire Company Most times the Palmerton Area Historical Society holds presentations at the Palmerton Library but the society felt this one would have more people show than the library can hold Hernandez is a retired officer in the United States Army a Palmerton native and a graduate of Palmerton Area Class of 1971 World War II and the Palmerton contributions and sacrifices The name is a military term used to designate the day a military operation is to begin D-Day marked the beginning of the liberation of Western Europe and is considered a turning point in the war were preparing for their trip last year to visit Normandy and the graves of the Palmerton servicemen still there he went to the Palmerton Area Historical Society to do some research Marianne Smelas and Stephen Goidich helped him start his journey by suggesting some reading materials he learned all the ways the Zinc Company and its workers contributed to the war effort also when the men headed to war the women stepped up to take their places to keep the industry going items and talents to support the war effort Rhett mentioned that what shocked him the most is that growing up in town among many of the people who served he knew very little about the war and the Palmerton involvement While in Normandy he wanted to visit the graves of the Palmerton servicemen and place a military coin and Palmerton soil at each grave to show respect While visiting the Normandy American Cemetery and the Brittany American Cemetery he noticed at the graves a small American flag as well as a small French flag There was a French family at one of the graves French families can opt to take care of an American soldier’s grave and they do that to thank them for all they did during the war and for paying the ultimate price to help France A local name that many know is Mlkvy; most will think of Bill and Bob So many people were affected by the action of war and many were not openly talked about after World War II His choice to tie in the Palmerton connection made the impact even stronger for all who sat in the room many said they could have listened for hours The crowd was filled with people of all ages and the time passed so quickly For those who would like to see this presentation please keep an eye on the Palmerton Area Historical Society’s YouTube channel Martin Wambold is kind enough to donate his time to provide the society this opportunity The website for the link is www.palmertonhistorical.org Palmerton sets dates for Christmas tree Adoption The Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee has set the dates for tree adoption for their annual Christmas in the Park The adoption events will take place from 3:30 to 5:30 p.m 17 (if necessary) at the Palmerton Ambulance Building There are a limited number of trees available on a first come first served basis and each family and/or organization may adopt one tree The minimum donation for tree adoption is $45 All checks should be made out to The Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee The following information is required upon adoption: name of person decorating the tree Trees must be decorated in compliance with the guidelines that will be provided at adoption No trees will be adopted outside of these events The festive day brings vendors with food and crafts to the park musical entertainment as well as a visit from Santa Further information and update will be available on the Palmerton Holiday Lighting Committee Facebook page (WOLF) — One man is dead following a shooting Saturday The Lehigh County Coroner's Office says the incident occurred in a parking lot area on Mac Arthur Road in Whitehall township just after 6 p.m 46-year-old Hector Manuel Garcia Gomez from Palmerton was shot multiple times and ruled his death a homicide An investigation is currently underway into the cause of the shooting Palmerton has received $1 million to construct a state-of-the-art police station “I’m pleased to see this funding has been awarded to Carbon County David Argall to secure two grants totaling $2.5 million “This funding will improve public safety by providing the Palmerton Police Department with a state-of-the-art facility The other $1.5 is going to a Little Leaf Lettuce facility family-sustaining jobs and make Carbon County safer,” Argall said Funding was awarded through the Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program which awards grants to economic development projects that have a regional impact Keystone Consulting Engineers has recommended new construction over repairing the station located in a former New Jersey Zinc building at the corner of Delaware Avenue and Fourth Street The new station will allow the Palmerton Borough Police Department to respond to emergencies faster and perform their important work in a safer and more efficient manner Borough Manager Autumn Canfield said the borough is fortunate to have received the funding “We were very happy with the announcement,” Canfield said it was announced that an agreement to donate land at the site of the former Palmerton Hospital to the borough was in the final stages of completion said during a Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce luncheon that he had been approached about the property Luke’s has committed to donating the land to the community and were in the final stages of putting an agreement together that would donate the land from the former Palmerton Hospital Canfield acknowledged that the borough has been working with St and noted they were one of the property owners the borough has been working with but that they didn’t yet have an agreement in hand “We still don’t have an agreement in place,” she said Councilman Kris Hoffner said the borough previously applied for a Statewide Local Share Assessment Grant council approved a resolution to apply for a $1 million Statewide Grant from the Commonwealth Financing Authority for the construction of a new police facility Canfield previously said council was looking at two tracts of land Canfield said the borough looked at more than a dozen sites Hoffner has suggested looking into the far east-end of the Northface Development in Palmerton the site of the former New Jersey Zinc West Plant Councilwoman Holly Hausman-Sell said council needed to determine if it wants to go with a new building or if it was looking to do those simultaneously She added that the consensus was to go for a new building rather than renovations to its existing station council said the cost for a potential 5,000-square-foot building would be about $1 million The borough has been looking at the possibility of reclaiming space rented by Carbon County’s Area Agency on Aging for use of its police department Police moved into the former lab building in 2000 The Palmerton Area High School football team got the opportunity to experience a victory for the first time this season on Saturday afternoon But the Blue Bombers had to fend off a late charge by Wilson to get the job done Wilson connected on a 29-yard touchdown pass from senior Jeramy Cressman to junior wide receiver Leonard Davis and then Cressman ran for a two-point conversion to cut the Palmerton lead to four points with 1:18 left in the fourth quarter Palmerton junior Vincent Taglieri recovered the ensuing onside kick. Then, Blue Bombers senior quarterback Jameson Trainer picked up a first down with an 8-yard run on a third-and-6 to secure the 32-28 road victory Turning points: Palmerton sophomore defensive back Cale Young recovered a Wilson fumble at the Blue Bombers’ 6-yard line with 3:13 left in the fourth quarter Trainer found Taglieri for a 75-yard touchdown pass with 31 seconds left in the third quarter A two-point conversion pass from Trainer to sophomore Connor Lawless increased the Blue Bombers’ advantage to 32-12 Wilson senior Cameron Thatcher recovered a Warriors’ onside kick with the road team holding a 24-12 lead late in the third quarter Palmerton stopped Wilson on a fourth-and-11 at the Blue Bombers’ 26-yard line to keep the lead at 12 points Top performers: Trainer ran for 202 yards on 23 carries including an 85-yard touchdown run in the second quarter The senior quarterback completed 15 of 23 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns Taglieri had four catches for 109 yards and a pair of touchdowns The junior also recovered the Wilson onside kick in the final two minutes Young recorded eight receptions for 66 yards The sophomore also came up with the key fumble recovery for the Blue Bombers in the fourth quarter Cressman connected on 11 of 21 passes for 198 yards and three touchdowns for the Warriors Senior Zeandros Johnson ran for 77 yards and a touchdown on eight carries His 55-yard touchdown run for Wilson cut Palmerton’s lead to 24-12 with 4:01 remaining in the third quarter Davis had two catches for 96 yards with both receptions going for touchdowns The junior had a 67-yard catch from Cressman to get Wilson on the scoreboard in the second quarter Warriors junior Nickenson Louis-Jeune had eight receptions for 70 yards What it means: The Blue Bombers improved to 1-5 overall and 1-3 in the Colonial/Schuylkill League White Division this season The Warriors fell to 0-6 overall and 0-5 in the league’s White Division They will play at Northern Lehigh on Friday night Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com © 2025 Blue Ridge Communications TV13 The conclusion of the 2024-25 school year will bring with it a farewell to Palmerton Area High School English teacher Bob Falkenstein who is retiring after 27 years in that role Palmerton’s school board approved Falkenstein’s retirement Tuesday on a night that featured tributes from colleagues and administrators High school Principal Paula Husar praised Falkenstein’s extensive contributions during the meeting served as an adviser to the school newspaper and yearbook and was a freshman adviser for many years.” Falkenstein’s influence extended beyond academics Husar emphasized the teacher’s reliability and dedication I never received a single negative call about Mr and he has always spoken highly of Palmerton Falkenstein’s vibrant personality and commitment to fostering a positive school culture were evident in his active participation in student activities From performing in talent shows to supporting school drama productions he consistently found ways to connect with students and encourage their creative expression “He performed every year in the talent show and participated in all faculty versus student events,” Husar said “He was always there to give advice and mentorship to students He’s a true Blue Bomber through and through.” Falkenstein also made a lasting impression with his culinary talents known for sharing homemade kiffles with staff during the holiday season adding a personal touch that endeared him to his colleagues Board member Danielle Paules read a tribute describing Falkenstein as “a legend.” The note detailed his service as the yearbook adviser his family values and his dedication to volunteer work with organizations like the Miracle League “He’s been a staple in our school for many Palmerton also approved the retirements Tuesday of Timothy Kleintop Towamensing Elementary health room technician The 33rd annual Palmerton Halloween Parade is set for 4 p.m Sponsored by the Palmerton Area Chamber of Commerce at the Seventh Street and Franklin Avenue area It will proceed up Seventh Street to Lafayette Avenue where it will turn down Lafayette to Third Street It will then make a left on Third Street to Franklin Avenue where it will turn left onto Delaware Avenue “Decreasing the route improves the safety of its all because of the increasing amount of tractor-trailers,” said Susie Arner “(That way) they don’t have all the extra turns.” Arner said it will be a four-division parade that will consist of the Palmerton High School Marching Band sports teams and additional sports teams beyond Booster Club football so it’s up to everyone’s imagination however they would like to present themselves,” she said Arner said the Palmerton Food Pantry will participate and collect donations of (in-date) nonperishable items along the parade route “with a special thank you to students from the Palmerton Area High School Leo Club Arner noted that many people will be distributing candy along the parade route “Please keep your children at the curb,” she said “We are always concerned about the safety of the spectators as well as the participants in the parade.” Arner said late entries were due by Wednesday “We hope we see everybody out for a sunny day to support the Palmerton community and have a good time with their family,” she said “There will be gentlemen walking the parade route collecting donations to help offset the expenses of the parade and add to the future of it Palmerton remains steadfast in its quest to improve its pool Borough council on Thursday unanimously adopted a resolution applying for a Department of Community and Natural Resources Peer to Peer grant for the Palmerton Memorial Park Association organizational study Borough Manager Autumn Canfield noted that the borough previously partnered with the Palmerton Pool on the lease update and feasibility study A sandwich shop in Palmerton encourages its customers to come savor the flavor of its fresh cold cuts is co-owned by 18-year-old twins Erik and Robert Palacio and opened in March who just graduated from East Stroudsburg South High School in June being entrepreneurs is something they say appealed to them The brothers were looking to start a business “Our dad (Vincent Palacio) bought the (adjoining) bar Corner Pocket Saloon (which is a separate entity).” The brothers said their shop is a family-owned business with great hoagies Customers can choose from 6-inch hoagies ($9) or 12-inch hoagies ($13) plus wraps ($13) or rolls ($11) Selections include the Italian Stallion (ham American cheese); The Hammy (ham and Swiss cheese); Turkey Tango (peppered turkey chipotle sauce); Hoagie Bros’ Turkey Treat (turkey and Swiss cheese); Roast Beef Bliss (roast beef and mozzarella); Big Cheesy (three cheeses of choice and toppings); and Tuna Hoagie (freshly made tuna salad per order) which is a panini mixed with a hoagie that includes various meats cheeses and vegetables on a panini roll that’s put in a panini press customers can build their own hoagies and choose from a 6-inch hoagie choose their cheese and choose their toppings The business currently has a special going on called Hoagie in a Bag in which customers get a 6-inch hoagie with a bag of chips and soda “We make the best hoagies in town,” Robert said The brothers plan to eventually extend their hours and also expand the menu at their Hoagie Brothers deli That would include a bigger selection of hoagies along with hot foods like cheesesteaks and hot subs They also want to start serving breakfast as early as 5 or 6 a.m. The brothers said they’re proud to be young entrepreneurs and simply want to do well for themselves where everyone knows it as a great place to gather with great hoagies and a great name,” Erik said “Our interest in opening this deli is so we make a name for ourself.” Hoagies Brothers is open from 10 a.m.-7 p.m Tuesday through Thursday; 10 a.m.-midnight Friday; 10 a.m.-9 p.m search for them on Google by typing in Hoagie Brothers in Palmerton A century-old financial institution hopes to acquire a building in Palmerton to expand its reach in the region The Neffs National Bank is looking to purchase the roughly 11,000-square-foot structure at 372 Delaware Ave. Schmidt noted that a legal notice appeared in the newspaper and that is followed by a 30-day comment period “It’s all sort of tentative,” Schmidt said but there are a number of procedures we need to follow The Neff’s National Bank intends to use the structure for a bank “We have to determine how much of it we would be using initially there will probably be some renovations inside,” he said “We’re trying to keep the structure to the theme of what it was.” Schmidt said The Neffs National Bank continues to look at its current staffing needs “This is an opportunity with this facility something we could grow into and provide additional staffing here and expand into that market as well as our core,” he said “It’s more room as we expand our productions and services.” If the Delaware Avenue structure is utilized as a bank it would give The Neffs National Bank three locations within a roughly 10-mile radius “We feel there’s lot to offer in Carbon County we feel it’s a growing area with potential.” Schmidt said The Neffs National Bank plans to keep the public posted as it proceeds with its plans “We hope that everything goes favorable as to regulatory approval as well as business use; make sure the building is sound and we’re doing our due diligence on the building and inspection,” he said The three finalists for Palmerton Area School District’s superintendent position — Angela Friebolin and Jason Moser — presented their visions for the district Monday night during a public forum in the high school auditorium Hosted by the Carbon Lehigh Intermediate Unit the event gave each candidate a platform to share their plans for improving school culture by the board of directors and started on July 6 Currently the director of personnel in the Whitehall-Coplay School District Friebolin emphasized her commitment to the education profession and her personal investment in the role In presenting her vision for enhancing the district’s climate Friebolin used the analogy of a tree to explain her approach which are the fundamental concepts that you need to have in place before you can really work on developing those leaves and limbs which will allow your district to flourish,” she said is on creating a safe and supportive environment for students Friebolin proposed conducting systematic reviews of the district’s facilities and safety protocols emphasizing the importance of clear communication with both students and staff noting that students need to feel secure to thrive academically and socially Friebolin stressed the need for a districtwide communication audit to ensure that parents receive consistent information across multiple platforms and we want to make sure they get the information they need in a predictable and concise way,” she said Friebolin also placed a strong emphasis on collaborative leadership proposing the expansion of leadership opportunities beyond administrators to include teachers and even students “Your teachers are at the interface with the kids and they can be a huge part of your leadership model,” she said adding that students’ voices should be integrated into decision-making processes to create a more inclusive school environment Her community engagement plans included forming a “Bomber Advisory Committee” composed of various stakeholders who holds several certifications and is completing her Ph.D also highlighted her qualifications and extensive experience working with diverse student populations Palmerton’s business manager and current interim superintendent focused on his strong connection to the district and his business and education expertise He highlighted his dual role over the past few months managing both the daily operations of the district as interim superintendent and handling the district’s finances as business manager Kish’s presentation centered around four pillars: a culture of positivity and respect “We need to continue to build a culture of positivity and respect among our students and staff,” he said “It’s important for our staff to lead by example and encourage students to be leaders within the school community.” Kish also underscored the need to prevent bullying and create a culture of kindness sharing that he had recently applied for a grant to bring a New York Times best-selling author on bullying prevention to the district for a public forum “We want to hear from the community about bullying,” Kish said “We want to know how it is affecting students and have a conversation about what we’re going to do to prevent it.” while pointing to the need for ongoing training for staff and students on how to respond to emergencies and handle emotional well-being “We have to create a safe and nurturing environment for both our staff and our students,” Kish said “One of the ways to do that is conduct an annual climate survey to gather feedback from students Kish spoke about his efforts to manage the district’s budget including refinancing district debt and overseeing the finish of key projects such as the renovation of S.S Palmer Elementary and a districtwide feasibility study He also stressed the importance of supporting local businesses suggesting the district create internships and service-learning opportunities that would benefit both students and the community we have to create a policy to prioritize doing business with Palmerton businesses,” he said “We should keep Palmerton money in Palmerton when at all possible.” Kish reflected on the unique strengths of Palmerton particularly the close-knit nature of the community especially in a small district like Palmerton,” he said “We need to use social media and other communication tools to showcase student achievements and foster stronger connections between the school and the wider community.” currently the assistant superintendent at Danville Area School District brought a personal connection to Palmerton noting that he began his academic career in the district until second grade when his family moved to Lehighton Moser highlighted his broad range of experiences in education from teaching English to serving in multiple leadership roles including as a union president and curriculum director his vision for the district is rooted in the idea of fostering strong interpersonal relationships and ensuring that all stakeholders — students and community members — feel connected and valued “The Palmerton Area School District will fully serve students and the community by ensuring that all stakeholders feel safe is the importance of listening to students He proposed holding leadership lunches with students across grade levels to hear their concerns and ideas firsthand “Students are our best resource,” Moser said “They are articulate and they understand the context so much more than what we necessarily think or believe they do He also suggested conducting climate surveys and reviewing academic and participation data to better understand the needs of the district “We know all research indicates that when students participate in something beyond the normal school day they are a lot more likely to be successful in their academics,” he said Moser emphasized the importance of community engagement “The district should work closely with local businesses and organizations to develop programs that support students’ growth both academically and personally I helped to implement a “firefighter club” initiative in Danville where students were trained and certified as volunteer firefighters.” not only provided valuable career skills but also strengthened ties between the school and the local community Moser also highlighted the importance of maintaining a positive school climate and ensuring that all students feel they are part of something bigger than themselves