Four years ago, the City of Easton began its "Easton Alfresco" program to help restaurants survive the pandemic. That program still exists, but it's going to cost considerably more to participate. Wednesday night, Easton City Council approved hiking the fees for the program to $3000 for establishments selling food, but no alcohol and $4000 for restaurants selling both food and alcohol. Last year, those same application fees cost $500 and $750 respectively. That money allows restaurants to use two on-street parking spaces for outdoor seating. This year's program begins May 4th and runs through October 27th.
Lehigh County Commissioners on Wednesday voted to approve more than $500,000 in improvements to voting equipment and training for poll workers. The series of improvements include more and replacement high-speed central scanning equipment, a subscription to online interactive poll worker training and election management software. The system will also get software and battery upgrades as well as the purchase of an extended warranty.
After disastrous weather last fall, Bethlehem's annual Celtic Classic is getting bailed out with a $75,000 state grant. Heavy rain last September forced event organizers to cancel some events and dramatically affected attendance numbers, leaving the festival with big financial losses. However, the Celtic Classic will be held this fall, thanks in part to the state money. St. Sen. Lisa Boscola helped secure the funds and she says, "This state funding will help ensure that it will continue to bring world class performers and athletes to the Lehigh Valley that can only be witnessed in Bethlehem.”
Construction is underway on a new habitat for red pandas at the Lehigh Valley Zoo. The new habitat is being built in the area that used to house North American prairie dogs and should be wrapped up later this spring. The zoo says red pandas have a population reported to be fewer than 10,000 in the wild.
Deputy U.S. Marshal Robert Clark says the deadline for the fourth alleged shooter at a Philadelphia bus stop to turn himself in has come and gone. Clark says that fourth suspect is 17-year-old Asir Boone and he's calling on Boone's family to help end the search peacefully. "The family is very aware that we are looking for our fourth suspect. They were somewhat cooperative. We are hopeful that they do the right thing," Clark says. The Marshals are offering up to a $5,000 reward for information leading to Boone's arrest. Boone and three others are accused of shooting eight teenagers at a Philadelphia bus stop last week.
A House Republican from Allegheny County has proposed legislation that would ban the practice of fluoridating public drinking water. In a cosponsor memo, Representative Jason Ortitay lists health concerns about the practice and also says citizens should be allowed to make their own decisions about whether they want fluoride in their water. The U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention says fluoridation of public drinking is a cost-effective and efficient way to reduce the number of cavities in children regardless of their family income.
The Indiantown Gap National Cemetery announced that is expanding. The expansion includes 27 additional acres which will be developed to hold approximately 15,700 gravesites for casketed and cremated remains. There will also be room for 5,330 preplaced crypts, 598 traditional casket sites, 4,020 in-ground cremation sites and a 6,000-niche columbarium. Cemetery officials say this project will provide additional burial space lasting into the year 2038. The project is expected to take three years and cost $38.6 million. It will also include the construction of a new honor guard building.
1000 Family Dollar and Dollar Tree stores are closing their doors. Dollar Tree said it operated more than 1600 stores in North America as of early February. During the fourth quarter of fiscal 2023, the company said it was doing a portfolio optimization review that included looking at which stores should be closed or relocated. As a result, Dollar Tree said it would close about 600 Family Dollar stores in the first half of 2024, followed by more closures of about 400 both Family Dollar stores and Dollar Tree stores over the next several years as their leases end. Family Dollar stores are found in more than 200 Pennsylvania locations while Dollar Tree lists 220 Pennsylvania stores.
The program that prevents utilities from cutting off services to thousands of New Jersey residents ends tomorrow. The Winter Termination Program runs from November 15th to March 15th. It blocks utilities from shutting off power to customers who are delinquent in their water, sewer and electric bills.