Hellertown Pool Season Passes Now on Sale

The Hellertown Community Pool will open for its 2013 season on Saturday, June 15.

Season passes for the Hellertown Community Pool are now on sale at Hellertown Borough Hall during regular business hours, Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. According to an update posted on the Lower Saucon Township website, passes will also be sold at Borough Hall on Wednesday, June 5 and June 12 from 6 to 8 p.m., and Saturday, June 8 and June 15 from 9 a.m. to 11 a.m.  Season passes are only being sold at Borough Hall, and are only available for Hellertown or Lower Saucon Township residents (proof of residency is required). At Hellertown Borough Council's May 6 meeting, Borough Manager Cathy Kichline said season passholders from last year would be receiving a direct mailing letting them know that passes are now only available at …

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SVSD Swim Instructor Honored for 50 Years of Service

Volunteer Red Cross swimming instructor Lachlan Peeke was honored for a half-century of service to the Saucon Valley School District at the high school pool on March 23.

A well-known face in the Saucon Valley School District, former school board president Lachlan Peeke was honored for 50 years of service as a volunteer Red Cross swim instructor, lifeguard, instructor trainer and coach on March 23. Heidi L. Weddigen-Weikert presented Peeke with a certificate and gifts in recognition of his achievement, and said he has been "instrumental" to the success of the Saucon Valley recreational swim program over the years. The brief presentation was at the conclusion of the recreational swim program's Learn-to-Swim lesson session at the high school pool. Peeke's wife, Jackie, and other family members were present for the ceremony. Weddigen-Weikert said Peeke's career began on Long Island, and noted that he has also …

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Senior Spotlight

Senior Spotlight on Dana Linsky

Cross country, swimming and track are three sports that keep Dana busy during the school year.

Saucon Valley senior Dana Linsky swims year-round with her club team at Lehigh Valley Aquatics. Dana credits her coaches, who have been great and provided the necessary support during her four years as a member of the Saucon Valley swim team. "My father swam when he was younger," she explained. "My parents had me try it when I was 10. I loved it and have been swimming ever since." In 2011, winning a medal at districts as a member of the Saucon's 400 Medley Relay Team (which also included Sam DaSilva, Amanda Long and Rebekah Evangelista) was a career highlight for Dana. Any time she did not swim to her full potential would be her disappointment, she said. Natalie Coughlin and Cullen Jones are swimmers she admires. In the 2012-13 season, …

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Senior Spotlight

Spotlight on Saucon Swimming: Peter Daniel

Senior Peter Daniel is one of four boys swim team captains.

Saucon Valley senior Peter Daniel recalls that he has always loved being around water, whether at a pool or the beach. "I always swam as a kid, never competitively on a team though," he said. He joined the Panther swim team with several friends and because his older brother Kyle had been a member. Peter likes the competition, but at the same time it has been a fun and low-key experience with his friends and coaches. "We like to work hard and encourage each other. It has been a great experience and I will miss my team," he said. In each of his four years, Peter has qualified for districts. He swims the 50 Freestyle, 100 Freestyle, 100 Butterfly and 200 Freestyle events. A career highlight came in 2012 as a member of the 400 relay team that …

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Richard Hafner

8:55 am on Monday, March 11, 2013

Peter is one of four team captains..2 senior boys and 2 senior girls.   more ›

Senior Spotlight

Senior Spotlight: Brian Peterson

A knee injury suffered in ninth grade helped propel Saucon Valley senior Brian Peterson toward becoming a successful swimmer.

There are many reasons for an athlete to choose a particular sport. Saucon Valley senior Brian Peterson's case, injuries suffered during his freshman year helped propel him toward the pool, where he has excelled. Brian initially suffered a knee injury while skiing as a ninth-grader, and that spring he further injured his knee while running for the track team. As a result of these injuries, in his sophomore year he decided to try swimming. Although it is not an easy task to begin competitive swimming so late, Brian made up for his lack of experience by swimming at the Emmaus Aquatic Club five days a week in order to improve his technique and times. He now swims in the 200m and 500m freestyle events and is also a member of the Panthers' 200m…

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Pool Packed on Hottest Day of Year So Far

The Hellertown Pool was "the place to be" Thursday, when the temperature at Allentown reached 100 degrees and Saucon Valley residents sweltered under a blazing July sun.

If you couldn't take the triple-digit heat and humidity Thursday, there was one very obvious place to seek relief: the Hellertown Pool. The popular swimming venue was packed with local residents and some who came from further afield, including softball fans in town for a state tournament being played at Dimmick Park through Sunday. The current heat wave is also expected to last that long, with temperatures Friday forecast to reach the upper 90s. An excessive heat watch remains in effect for the area, and residents are being advised to take precautions against heat exhaustion, heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses. For anyone without air conditioning, the pool remains a good option for cooling off in a hurry.

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Josh Popichak

3:37 pm on Friday, July 22, 2011

I'm sure it's packed again today! That water is so inviting. :)   more ›

DJ Gets Pool-Goers Dancing to the Music

A "Dip-N-Dance" party was held at the Hellertown Pool from 5 to 7pm July 14, and young and old bopped till they dropped.

A favorite summertime activity returned to the Hellertown Pool Thursday, when kids and adults had the opportunity to wiggle and twist to fun tunes at a "Dip-N-Dance." Under the direction of DJ Dan Wade and D.H. Productions Disc Jockey Entertainment, the fast-paced two hour event kept both young and old entertained. Outstanding dancers were rewarded with prizes provided by the event sponsors, who included Texas Roadhouse, Burger King, Domino's Pizza, Rave Motion Pictures, Applebee's, The Roxy Theater, A-Treat Beverage, Lehigh Valley Mall and Lehigh Valley IronPigs Baseball. Hula Hoop contest winner Jackie S. from Hellertown took home a pair of IronPigs baseball tickets.  Gloria Quier, who said she has been coming to the pool for 44 years, …

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UPDATE: Borough Pool Repaired, Will Open Tuesday

The Hellertown Pool was closed Monday following to damage to a pump caused by a lightning strike.

In defiance of dire predictions that it would be closed until at least the end of the week, repairs have been made and the Hellertown Pool will open for business Tuesday, borough staff announced shortly after 9 this morning. The pool's pump system was damaged by a lightning strike last week and subsequently suffered a system failure, leading to Monday's closure. The pool recently opened for the summer 2011 season.

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UPDATE: Borough Pool Repaired, Will Open

The Hellertown Pool's pump was struck by lightning late last week, leading to a system failure.

Staff at the Borough of Hellertown have confirmed that the Hellertown Pool is temporarily closed due to a major pumping system failure. The pool's pump was reportedly struck by lightning--possibly on Friday--and smoldered over the weekend. The part needed to replace the damaged piece of equipment has been ordered and will arrive via UPS on Thursday at the earliest, Patch was told. Consequently--even if the part can be installed by borough employees Thursday afternoon--it appears likely the pool will be closed at least until Friday, which is the start of the busy Fourth of July holiday weekend. The pool only opened full-time for the summer season about a week ago, on Saturday, June 18. Perhaps fortuitiously, about six miles from Hellertown'…

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Man Got Wet at Pool Business, Police Say

Police cited Richard Norman Hamm II for disorderly conduct after he allegedly went for a swim at the Route 378 pool business May 26.

Just because it's hot outside doesn't mean you can take a dip wherever you like. A 19-year-old Center Valley man found that out after he was cited by Lower Saucon police for disorderly conduct, after allegedly going for a swim at Dr. Feelgoode's--a Route 378 pool business--during the early morning hours of May 26. According to police, Richard Norman Hamm II, of 4077 Lalique Lane, Upper Saucon Township, was found "soaking wet," walking along Route 378 at the I-78 overpass at approximately 2:58am May 26. Hamm admitted to swimming in the showcase pools at Dr. Feelgoode's, police said, before being cited for disorderly conduct and released.

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