Catasauqua Press

SEPTEMBER

MONDAY 11

Catasauqua Borough Recreation Committee meets 7 p.m. in the municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.

Catasauqua Borough Authority meets 7:30 p.m. in the municipal complex, 90 Bridge St.

TUESDAY 12

North Catasauqua Borough Council meets 7 p.m. in the borough building, 1066 Fourth St.

Catasauqua Area School Board meets 7 p.m. in the administration office board room, 251 N. 14th St.

WEDNESDAY 13

Allentown’s Da Vinci Science Center would like to reinvent itself in Easton. Thanks in no small part to a $30 million pledge by Easton Mayor Sal Panto, the science center, now near Cedar Crest College, plans to transform into a $130 million aquarium, complete with an event center and even an immersion theater, in the City of Easton.

But who will pay for it?

Fairly or unfairly, U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., has come under heavy criticism for refusing to meet his constituents at one of those increasingly raucous town halls. One group calling itself Tuesdays with Toomey actually camps outside his legislative offices weekly. On Aug. 31, it was Thursday with Toomey. It was a one-hour televised town hall at the Steelstacks’ PBS39 studios before a small crowd of 54 people and nine reporters and photographers.

The recent unexpected death of actor and comedian Jerry Lewis, 91, put media focus on the Muscular Dystrophy Association.

Lewis, who served as national chairman and hosted the MDA’s annual telethon fundraiser every Labor Day weekend from 1966 to 2010, helped raise more than $2.6 billion for the organization.

The MDA ended the telethon in 2015, transitioning from a 21-and-a-half hour show in 2010, Lewis’ last year, to a six-hour show in 2011, three hours the next year and two hours in both 2013 and 2014.

Solicitor Jeffrey Dimmich discussed a draft of an agreement between the borough and the volunteer Friends of George organization at the council’s workshop session Monday.

“I have been drafting the agreement for a while ... and now I have the agreement that we can look at,” he said.

Before further discussion on the details of the agreement, Dimmich asked if council was in favor of turning over the entity to an independent group.

A 50-year-old Catasauqua Boy Scout leader has been charged with exposing himself to Scouts in his care and supervision.

Stephen Piller, of 214 E. Wood St., was arraigned Aug. 24 before District Judge Michael D’Amore. Piller was charged with one count of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and five counts of indecent assault.

According to the criminal complaint, Lehigh County Detective Andrew Millen received information March 17 that a sexual assault may have taken place in Catasauqua.

Employees of the North Catasauqua Public Works Department have some new additions to their wardrobe, thanks to Marc Hillenbrand and Marc’s Auto.

The business, which is located at 423 Arch St., donated 15 shirts to the borough’s work crew members.

Hillenbrand says this is one of many outreach gestures that the auto shop has given to the community in recent years.

“When I see them working on the roads on a hot day, I’ll often get them drinks and help them stay cool,” Hillenbrand said.

Representatives of the Fuller Family Trust and Land Trust Properties Inc. received preliminary conditional support from the North Catasauqua Planning Committee to proceed with residential development plans at the Willow Brook property along Howertown Road.

Justice Schlichting, a Junior Girl Scout, attended the Aug. 7 meeting of the Catasauqua Borough Council to make a request of council members.

She asked the council for permission to erect a free library in the Catasauqua Park & Playground, which is located along St. John Street in the borough.

A Little Free Library is a take-one-return-one book exchange, contained in a small wooden box. There is not cost, and anyone can participate.

According to Girl Scout leader Katie Scott, the project will be erected and maintained for a year by the Scout.