Church's Veggie Patch Will Benefit Members, Families in Need

Raised beds at Christ Lutheran Church of Hellertown are being used to grow vegetables that will feed both members of the congregation and patrons of the New Jerusalem Food Bank.

An ambitious garden project that will likely benefit many Saucon Valley residents is taking shape at Christ Lutheran Church of Hellertown. Patch gardening blogger and project organizer Angela Drake reported that produce grown in the recently-constructed raised beds at the church on Main Street will benefit both members and local families in need. "We hope to donate excess produce to the local food bank, as well as share it with each other after church with a donation jar," Drake said. "Monies again (will) go to the food bank at New Jeruselem Church." Drake said six or seven people volunteered to help build the beds, which were filled with free loads of compost obtained from the Saucon Valley Compost Center and donated horse manure. Even …

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Pondelek's to Give Away Roses for Memorial Day

On May 23-25, Pondelek's Florist & Gifts in Hellertown will provide anyone who wants to honor a departed loved one with two free roses.

A Hellertown florist has a generous offer in store for customers this Memorial Day. Pondelek’s Florist & Gifts has announced that as a participant in this year's Memorial Day "Florist & Community" program, it will provide two free roses to anyone who wants to honor a deceased loved one. One rose is for placement at a gravestone, and the other is "to take home in remembrance," Pondelek's said in a press release about the program. The roses will be available Thursday and Friday, May 23-24, from 8 a.m. to 5:30 p.m., and Saturday, May 25 from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. The florist and gift shop, which is located at 1310 Main St., Hellertown, is currently celebrating 71 years in business. Its website is www.pondeleksflorist.com.

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Saucon Secrets

Recalling the Days of Bottled Milk

Do you remember the days when milk was delivered to Hellertown homes in baby-faced glass bottles from Brookfield Dairy?

I am fortunate to own but one Lerch Dairy quart bottle and one source of history relating to Howard K. Lerch of Hellertown, whose brief biography appeared in my great uncle's book, published in 1926 by Editor-in-Chief George P. Donehoo and titled "Pennsylvania, a History." When the book was printed, the Lerch Dairy stood on the northwest corner of Front and Water streets in Hellertown. The writer, Donehoo, described the dairy as one of Hellertown's "most enterprising and up-to-date industrial plants" where on a daily basis "two thousand quarts of milk pass through this establishment, where the latest type of machinery pasteurizes it." Lerch had been born on a Lower Saucon Township farm on Jan. 16, 1875. He attended Hellertown schools …

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Cancer Survivors Celebrate at Relay for Life

Relay for Life of Saucon Valley is an annual event that raises awareness and funding for the American Cancer Society. Saturday's Relay—held in Hellertown—featured remarks by survivors and a 'Victory Lap' around Dimmick Park.

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Woman Allegedly Stole Baby Formula for Drug Money

Kristen Fiorot, 28, of Front Street, Hellertown, has been charged with retail theft, according to court records.

A Hellertown woman was charged with two counts of retail theft and sent to Northampton County Prison in lieu of $5,000 bail after allegedly admitting to police that she stole and resold baby formula in order to buy heroin, according to court records cited by the Express-Times in an article published Wednesday. Kristen Fiorot, 28, of the 200 block of Front Street, allegedly admitted to police that she stole hundreds of dollars worth of baby formula from a Bethlehem Township Walmart over the past several months to help finance a drug addiction.

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Property Maintenance Letters Going Out: Official

Notices being sent out to those who have not adequately maintained their property.

Property owners whose homes or businesses are not in compliance with borough property maintenance codes can expect to receive letters in the mail, Hellertown Zoning Officer Kris Russo told Borough Council recently. Russo said that now that spring is here, letters are going out to a number of owners whose borough properties are not being adequately maintained. In particular, Russo highlighted a home on Second Avenue, which he told council is "pretty bad." “We need to keep putting pressure" on the owner, until the issues involving property maintenance are resolved, Council President Phil Weber agreed. "Just think—you cut your grass absolutely perfect, and you look across the street and it’s just upsetting," he said, referring to neighbors of…

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