Former Borough Manager, Scholarship Recipient Honored at Banquet

It's been almost two months since Hellertown Borough Manager Charlie Luthar officially retired, but his hard work and dedication to making the borough a better place in which to live and work have not been forgotten, nor will they be anytime soon.

Luthar was formally honored for his eight years as Borough Manager at the .

The dinner was an opportunity for many Saucon Valley civic and business leaders to express their gratitude to Luthar, for the years he devoted to both the borough and a challenging job that he never intended to fill permanently.

After he retired from his position as supervisor of the Bethlehem Steel Coke Works almost a decade ago, Luthar was hired to become Hellertown's interim borough manager. Eventually he accepted the position permanently, dedicating many hours to ensuring that the quality of life Hellertonians have come to expect was maintained--and in many cases, improved upon--according to a resolution in his honor unanimously adopted by Lower Saucon Township Council at their meeting April 6.

When Luthar retired earlier this year, it was only after many significant projects he had a hand in furthering--such as the creation of the --had been brought to fruition. Other projects, such as and , are well on their way to completion thanks in part to his efforts.

"Luthar's esteem in the borough is as great as his successes," a news release from the chamber noted, adding that he is "known as friendly, down-to-earth and considerate" and someone who "is dedicated to his values and his community."

Importantly, as a resident of Lower Saucon Township, Charlie Luthar helped forge a special cooperative relationship between the borough and the township, the chamber also noted in its release.

In a taped video statement played at the banquet, Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce President Tony Iannelli said his organization "wouldn't be a partner in this community if it wasn't for (Luthar)," and called him "an asset to the entire Lehigh Valley."

Also honored at the banquet was graduating senior Andrew "A.J." Stauffer, who is .

The award, which is presented annually by the chamber, is dedicated to the memory of Phyllis M. Schnaible, a former chamber board member and executive director of the .

Stauffer, who lives in Hellertown, was at the banquet with his family to accept the award.

He said he recently completed a mentorship program with the Hellertown Police Department in preparation for studying criminal justice at Northampton Community College.

"I would like to thank the Hellertown Police Department for all they did for me," he said during a short speech. 

The opportunity to find out what being a police officer is like through on-the-job training and mentorship allowed him to decide that criminal justice is the right course of study for him, he explained.

Stauffer added that his father personally knew Schnaible, since both were active in the Hellertown Lions at the same time.

In congratulating Stauffer, Lower Saucon Council President Glenn Kern called him "the cream of the crop."

Stauffer has also volunteered at the for years, volunteered at , coached a local soccer league and maintained an active role in church activities.

At school he is ranked near the top of his class and participates in both cross country and track.

Among the local dignitaries who were on hand to congratulate both Luthar and Stauffer at the banquet were Hellertown Mayor Richard Fluck, Borough Council President Philip Weber, Hellertown Borough Councilwoman Stephanie Kovacs, Lower Saucon Councilwoman Priscilla deLeon, Kern, Lower Saucon Township Manager Jack Cahalan, Hellertown-Lower Saucon Chamber of Commerce President Rod Long and many more.