Middle School Shelter to Stay Open Until Sunday

A day after opening the Saucon Valley Middle School gym as a temporary shelter for local residents dealing with a days-long power outage, Saucon Valley School District superintendent Dr. Sandra Fellin announced that the school will remain open as a shelter until Sunday, Nov. 4 at 9pm.

The school's locker rooms and showers are also open during the daytime for the thousands of local residents who have been without power since Superstorm Sandy brought down trees and utility lines Monday night.

Fellin said Thursday that falling temperatures and the number of local residents still without heat prompted the decision to open part of the school as a shelter.

Friday night's low is forecast to be 36 degrees, and the low Saturday night is forecast to be 34 degrees.

In her Friday press release about extending the shelter's opening, Fellin reminded residents who want to take advantage of it that "the conditions are not optimal, but it is warm."

She said all displaced residents are welcome, but animals are not permitted, and she encouraged those who do not plan to make use of the facilities to tell others who might be in need of a warm place to stay

Anyone who plans to use the shelter should enter the middle school through Door 17, which is across from the baseball field.

Sleeping bags, pillows and blankets should be brought from home, since cots and beds aren't available.

Residents who plan to use the showers and the locker rooms should also bring their own toiletries and towels with them.

In other post-Sandy news, it was announced Friday that the Saucon Valley Compost Center will have extended hours on Saturday, Nov. 3, when it will be open from 9am to 5pm.

Next week the center will be open daily from 9am to 3pm for drop-off of brush and other debris.

The following items are accepted for drop-off:

• Leaves
• Small brush (up to 4 inches in diameter and 6 feet long)
• Hedge trimmings
• Garden plant residue

Logs, tree stumps, grass clippings, sod and commercial business materials are not accepted.

Lower Saucon Township announced Friday on its website that volunteers are needed to help staff the extended hours at the compost center.

If you are interested in volunteering, call the township at 610-865-3291 for more information.

The township also announced a need for volunteers for two or more hours per shift for the daytime warming station at the middle school, where local residents can warm up, enjoy coffee or tea and recharge electronic devices.

Anyone interested in volunteering at the school should contact Wally Zimpfer at 484-239-0768.