New Park Taking Shape in Hellertown [Photos]

Plantings are taking root in what will become Hellertown's Tumminello Park. The 2.2 acre trapezoidal tract is sandwiched between Main Street and the Saucon Creek along Polk Valley Run. A bridge to connect it to the adjacent rail trail is planned.

Further reading: Scout Proposes Kiosk at Tumminello Property Grants Presentation Held in Borough Park Greenways Mini Grant Will Benefit Borough Property Borough Manager Announces Greenways Grant

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Drivers Running Red Lights in Rt. 412 Construction Zone

A video filmed Monday at Main Street (Rt. 412) and Cherry Lane—on the Bethlehem-Hellertown border—shows several motorists running red lights while another blocks part of the busy intersection near the on-ramp to I-78 East.

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Lights Retimed to Help Reduce Rt. 412 Congestion

The traffic light adjustments were made to help alleviate construction-related congestion and followed a Friday afternoon meeting between borough officials, business owners, State Rep. Bob Freeman and PennDOT representatives.

A Friday afternoon meeting between PennDOT representatives and borough officials, business owners and State Rep. Bob Freeman (D-136) was "very productive," said borough councilman Tom Rieger, who attended the meeting. The meeting was called after local officials, residents and business owners expressed concern about barricades erected at the intersection of several side streets and Main Street, near the I-78 interchange at Hellertown's northern end. The barricades were meant to help prevent Route 412 traffic from detouring onto residential side streets during a new phase of construction related to an ongoing, three-year, $36 million improvement project for the state highway. However, some residents have complained about the inconvenience …

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New Detours Slow Rt. 412 Traffic in Hellertown

Barricades and detours related to a new phase of the three-year Route 412 widening project are making life difficult for residents, business owners and commuters in Hellertown and Bethlehem, particularly at rush hour.

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Police Reports

Who Tried to Burn a Sofa? Police Investigating

Hellertown Police say they are investigating a case of criminal mischief that recently occurred in the alley behind the 600 block of Main Street.

Hellertown Police say they are investigating a case of criminal mischief that recently occurred along a borough alley. In a news release, police said that on May 4 it was discovered that cinder blocks from a nearby construction site had been placed behind two vehicles in a parking lot behind the 600 block of Main Street. Nearby, "a couch out for trash pickup was attempted to be set on fire and the cushions were thrown in trees and power lines," police said. Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call the Hellertown Police Department at 610-838-7040.

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Rt. 412 Restrictions Concern Officials, Business Owners

With barricades going up on side streets at Main Street's north end in Hellertown, business owners, residents and officials are worried about the potential for long-term, major inconvenience.

Note: This story has been updated with additional information (Tuesday, May 7, 5 p.m.) Frustration over PennDOT's plan to barricade several side streets at the north end of Hellertown's Main Street was expressed at Monday's Borough Council meeting. The plan to barricade Hess, Roth, Kichline and Kiernan avenues at Main Street was announced as part of PennDOT's ongoing, $36 million Route 412 renewal project as early as March of last year. However, now that the barricades are about to go up, five business owners who will be affected by the restrictions on turning traffic are worried, council members said. Those five businesses—Top Star Exxon, Superior Auto, 412 Auto Tags, Vassi's Drive-In and the Chevy 21 used car center—are located on the …

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Hellertown Cupcake Bakery Looking to Move

Warm Sugar, a Main Street cupcake bakery, is looking to relocate to an area with more foot traffic, according to a recent post on its Facebook page.

Just two years after opening on Hellertown's Main Street, cupcake bakery Warm Sugar is looking to move. According to a recent post on the business's Facebook page, Warm Sugar's goal is "to relocate to an area with more foot traffic," such as South Bethlehem or Easton. "Ideally, we’d like to share space with an existing business of some kind," the posting said. "We have a beautifully fitted out commercial kitchen with brand-new equipment, café furniture and retail display that we can relocate if the right opportunity presents itself. Or, we can utilize existing equipment and infrastructure if that makes more sense." In addition to cupcakes, the storefront in the 1300 block of Main Street is also home to the Artisan's Kitchen Project—a kind …

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'Suspicious Device' Was Speaker, Police Confirm

Hellertown Police say the 'suspicious device' that caused a bomb scare and prompted the closure of Main Street Wednesday night was actually an external speaker with an LED light.

The "suspicious" item that caused much anxiety in downtown Hellertown Wednesday night was actually "an external speaker with a blue LED (light) in it that is used for cell phone or video gaming," borough police have confirmed in a news release. Following the discovery of the item around 9 p.m., Main Street was cordoned off and authorities set up a command post in the parking lot of Braveheart Highland Pub and Restaurant, 430 Main St., near the intersection where it was found. The restaurant and nearby homes were evacuated, as Dewey Fire Company No. 1 was opened as a temporary shelter and Route 412 traffic was detoured onto Front and Northampton streets. After the Bethlehem Hazardous Device Unit—also known as the bomb squad—arrived at the …

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Main Street Reopened Following Bomb Scare [Updated]

Main Street in downtown Hellertown reopened and evacuated residents returned home late Wednesday night. The Bethlehem bomb squad had been on scene to investigate a suspicious item discovered Wednesday evening.

A bomb scare in downtown Hellertown late Wednesday night closed a portion of Main Street and evacuated area residents. As of 11 p.m., the Bethlehem Hazardous Device Unit cleared the scene, following the discovery of a suspicious package near Main and Durham streets Wednesday evening. Evacuated residents were allowed to return to their homes and traffic began flowing freely on Main Street. What an alert Hellertown Patch reader and local resident described Wednesday evening as a "bomb scare" in the 400 block of Main Street was confirmed by borough police as a tactical response to a suspicious package. As of 10:30 p.m., the Bethlehem Hazardous Device Unit was on-scene and Main Street in Hellertown remained closed north of Walnut Street, with …

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