In Tragedy's Wake, Strong Support for Starters

A recent tragedy at a popular Lower Saucon Township restaurant and pub hasn't affected most people's loyalty to the locally-owned business, according to responses to an editorial note posted on Hellertown-Lower Saucon Patch's Facebook page Tuesday morning.

The note, posted by Hellertown-Lower Saucon Patch editor Josh Popichak, reads as follows:

Has anyone been to Starters Pub in the past week? Or since yesterday? I drove by there last night and saw a number of cars, so I know it was open. I hope everyone will consider dining there this week... Because think about it. We don't need a great, locally-owned Lower Saucon Township business that employees LOCAL people to become another casualty just because of something tragic they had NO control over. I'm posting this because I heard about someone saying that they didn't want to eat there because of what happened. And to me, that's just not right/fair. -Josh

As of about 7 p.m. Tuesday it had received more than 130 likes and 14 shares.

On Aug. 18, police say Starters—which is located on Route 378 in the Saucon Square shopping center—was where a mother chose to end the life of her newborn baby, after giving birth to him in secret in a bathroom stall.

Details about the highly-publicized case were announced Monday, when authorities charged 26-year-old Amanda Hein of Allentown with criminal homicide in the death of her son.

"It's not fair to blame an establishment for what happened on their property," wrote Rebecca Walser on Patch's Facebook page. "People need to wake up and realize the only person to blame here is the evil creature who killed her son. In no way, shape, or form does this rest on the shoulders of Starters."

"I'm a regular patron of the pub, and I took my daughter there for dinner yesterday after her first day of kindergarten," added Kristy Katz. "Starters Pub is a GREAT establishment, and quite frankly, if people don't want to eat there anymore because of this VERY ISOLATED incident that the owner and staff had NO control over, then that's fine. It just goes to show their mentality."

Some commenters acknowledged that thinking about what allegedly happened is difficult, but said they will still continue to patronize Starters and support its staff.

"There is no reason we should all not go there and enjoy what we have always enjoyed," wrote Deb Gress. "It's very sad what happened, but it was no fault of Starters or anyone employed by them. The shopping center there is already like a ghost town, so let's not make it worse for a business trying to thrive there."

Reflecting the message of compassion publicly relayed by Starters owner Dave Rank after the discovery of the infant's body Aug. 19, a restaurant employee said Tuesday that "our thoughts and prayers go out for the innocent baby in this tragedy."

Photo: Starters Pub in Lower Saucon Township