It's no secret, most of us would like to stay in our own home as we age. Yet, sometimes our loved ones just need a little extra help to remain comfortable at home. That's where Always Best Care can help....we are dedicated to exceeding expectations....always.
They say that your golden years are the best years of your life. For most older Americans, that's how it should be - a time to relax, reflect, and live life in a familiar place. After all, senior citizens in the U.S. have worked tirelessly to build a better economy, serve their communities, and raise families.
However, as seniors grow older, completing daily tasks like showering and enjoying activities such as visiting the historic 1753 Bachmann Publick House gets harder without someone by their side. Unfortunately, many older Americans aren't able to rely on their adult children for help. The reality in today's world is that family members do not have the skills or time to dedicate to caring for their parents. That's where Always Best Care Senior Services comes in.
Our in-home care services are for people who prefer to stay at home as they grow older but need ongoing care that family or friends cannot provide. More and more older adults prefer to live far away from long-term, institutionalized facilities and closer to the place where they feel most comfortable - their home. Home care in Easton, PA is a safe, effective way to give your loved ones the care they need when they need it the most.
Home Care Services
Service AreasSince 1996, Always Best Care has provided non-medical in-home care for seniors to help them maintain a healthy lifestyle as they get older. We are proud to have helped more than 25,000 seniors maintain higher levels of dignity and respect. We focus on providing seniors with the highest level of in-home care available so that they may live happily and independently.
Unlike some senior care companies, we genuinely want to be included in our clients' lives. We believe that personalized care is always the better option over a "one size fits all" approach. To make sure our senior clients receive the best care possible, we pair them with compassionate caregivers who understand their unique needs. That way, they may provide care accordingly without compromising their wellbeing.
The Always Best Care difference lies in life's little moments - where compassionate care and trustworthy experience come together to help seniors live a fruitful, healthy life. Whether you are an aging adult that can't quite keep up with life's daily tasks or the child of a senior who needs regular in-home services, Always Best Care is here to help.
“Always treated with respect and they showed care for my mother. Everyone was pleasant when”
“Always Best Care Senior Services provided very professional services that resulted in finding the best”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of”
“I am a current client of this provider Always best care cared for my mother. They”
“Ken Good was so helpful and knowledgable when my elderly father needed in-home care. He”
“Ken and Rebecca have been extremely helpful during the process of finding in-home care for”
“Ken is a fantastic provider of in-home care in Doylestown. I highly recommend his team.”
“Ken was the first person I really talked to when I found out my father”
“Excellent in every respect.”
“The support provided by Ken and Rebecca Good (and all of their team) has been”
“Very few businesses or even people come from a place of compassion and a good”
“I am a current client of this provider Ken and Rebecca go above and beyond”
“Ken and Rebecca were a godsend in our search for care for our elderly father.”
“Very good, prompt attention to an unexpected need for day care in home for Mother-in-law.”
“Ken & Rebecca were very helpful & knowledgeable with resources in helping me care for”
“Both Rebecca and Ken were very easy to talk with and were very interested in”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care provides extremely caring, compassionate help”
“Your loved ones will be in great care with Always Best Care of Greater Bethlehem.”
“Always treated with respect and they showed care for my mother. Everyone was pleasant when I would call about different circumstances.”
“Always Best Care Senior Services provided very professional services that resulted in finding the best personal care facility fit for my mother. They have a passion for helping seniors and prioritize the health and well-being of their clients over everything else. I would highly recommend them when you are in a position of finding senior care services for your loved ones.”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of Bethlehem. Wonderful staff and excellent caregivers that go above and beyond what is expected of them!”
“If your loved one needs in home care, I highly recommend Always Best Care of Bethlehem. Wonderful staff and excellent caregivers that go above and beyond what is expected of them!”
“I am a current client of this provider Always best care cared for my mother. They have been amazing. My mother really likes her caregiver.”
“Ken Good was so helpful and knowledgable when my elderly father needed in-home care. He actually came to the rehab center to meet us where my father was getting physical therapy after a fall. This way he was able to accurately access how much care my father would need and which caregivers would be the right fit. We were afraid we'd have to move him to a nursing home but fortunately we were able to set up in-home care. It's been four months now and we have been very happy with the caregivers who have been assigned to my father. Always Best Care is very responsive and flexible in adjusting hours as needed, somehow managing to keep the caregivers my parents have bonded with even though the hours have been reduced. We are happy our parents are able to age in place with care as they need it.”
“Ken and Rebecca have been extremely helpful during the process of finding in-home care for my in-laws. They have been sensitive to our needs, diligent in their efforts to provide the best possible care, and consistent in their follow-up to see if things are satisfactory. We have been executing this process from out-of-state and the process has been very smooth. Through phone calls and face-to-face meetings when possible, both Ken and Rebecca have been professional, knowledgeable, and a pleasure to work with. I would highly recommend Always Best Care Senior Services.”
“Ken is a fantastic provider of in-home care in Doylestown. I highly recommend his team.”
“Ken was the first person I really talked to when I found out my father was given a year to live. Instead of immediately looking at me like a business opportunity, he treated me like a close friend. He listened and treated me with complete kindness.. I have gotten to know Ken and his wife Rebecca and I can easily say that they are two of the most wonderful people I have ever met. There is nothing in this world I wouldn't trust them with. Especially the care of a loved one.”
“Excellent in every respect.”
“The support provided by Ken and Rebecca Good (and all of their team) has been invaluable as the family navigates through dealing with the impact of our sister's illness to all of us. The structure with using ABC's online portal to evidence our sister's care is extremely beneficial in ensuring strong and coordinated communication. It is truly appreciative this technology is available and utilized by ABC. For those dealing with identifying care for a loved one, you would be smart to contact Always Best Care of Upper Buxmont.”
“Very few businesses or even people come from a place of compassion and a good heart. Always Best Care does. The client always comes first as does their health and well-being, and the family seeking the best for their loved ones. Thank you Ken for all you did for my parents!”
“I am a current client of this provider Ken and Rebecca go above and beyond for their clients, as do their staff. They handled emergent situations for my grandmother when we were on vacation - staying with her the entire time at the hospital. Ken also did significant research for our decision to put her in an assisted living community. I highly recommend Always Best Care.”
“Ken and Rebecca were a godsend in our search for care for our elderly father. Both Ken and Rebecca were incredibly compassionate, empathetic and caring. In addition, they were knowledgeable and had a wonderful process for determining the needs of the family, the needs of the specific individual and finding an appropriate match for a caregiver to meet those needs. I can't say enough about the services provided by Always Best Care. Ken always went above and beyond, he knew the questions to ask, and how to navigate all the red tape of various organizations (Veterans Administration, etc.) AND he diligently does site visits to the facilities he references so he is able to speak from experience about the quality of care at the facilities under consideration. If you are in need of advice and assistance in caring for a family member I recommend Ken and Rebecca and Always Best Care with no reservations.”
“Very good, prompt attention to an unexpected need for day care in home for Mother-in-law. Ken is very well versed in available providers and other services needed at this time.The day care providers dealt well with her memory problems.”
“Ken & Rebecca were very helpful & knowledgeable with resources in helping me care for my Mom during an extremely difficult time. It was great finding two people who cared & listened to my situation. I never felt alone in my difficult decision making process.”
“Both Rebecca and Ken were very easy to talk with and were very interested in getting to know my father. They went out of their way to help us as our plans changed from in home care to personal care. They explained the process and were with us every step of the way to answer questions and provide support. I would use them again in a minute.”
“I am a current client of this provider Always Best Care provides extremely caring, compassionate help for my mom, I live out of town, and can't be there myself very often. But this business goes all-out to take care of my mom. I don't know what we would do without them.”
“Your loved ones will be in great care with Always Best Care of Greater Bethlehem.”
Home is where the heart is. While that saying can sound a tad cliche, it is especially true for many seniors living in America. When given a choice, older adults most often prefer to grow older at home. An AARP study found that three out of four adults over the age of 50 want to stay in their homes and communities as they age.
When you begin to think about why, it makes sense. Home offers a sense of security, comfort, and familiarity.
The truth is, as we age, we begin to rely on others for help. When a family is too busy or lives too far away to fulfill this role, in-home senior care is often the best solution. Home care services allow seniors to enjoy personal independence while also receiving trustworthy assistance from a trained caregiver.
At Always Best Care, we offer a comprehensive range of home care services to help seniors stay healthy while they get the help they need to remain independent. As your senior loved one gets older, giving them the gift of senior care is one of the best ways to show your love, even if you live far away.
To give our senior clients the best care possible, we offer a full spectrum of in-home care services:
If your senior loved one has specific care needs, our personal care services are a great choice to consider. Personal care includes the standard caregiving duties associated with companion care and includes help with tasks such as dressing and grooming. Personal care can also help individuals with chronic conditions like diabetes.
Common personal care services include assistance with:
Sometimes, seniors need helpful reminders to maintain a high quality of life at home. If you or your senior has trouble with everyday tasks like cooking, our home helper services will be very beneficial.
Common home helper care services include assistance with:
Using this kind of care is a fantastic way to make life easier for you or your senior loved one. At Always Best Care, our talented caregivers often fill the role of a companion for seniors. That way, older adults can enjoy their favorite local activities, such as visiting Hugh Moore Park with friends while also receiving the care they need daily or weekly.
Common companionship services include:
According to AARP, more than 53 million adults living in the U.S. provide care to someone over 50 years old. Unfortunately, these caregivers experience stress, exhaustion, and even depression. Our respite care services help family caregivers address urgent obligations, spend time with their children, and enjoy nearby activities. Perhaps more importantly, respite care gives family members time to recharge and regroup. Taking personal time to de-stress reduces the risk of caregiver burnout. So, if you've always wanted to eat at the local THREE OAK Steakhouse or visit ParsonsTaylor House, don't feel bad. Doing so is great for both you and your loved one.
At the end of the day, our goal is to become a valuable part of your senior's daily routine. That way, we may help give them the highest quality of life possible. We know that staying at home is important for your loved one, and we are here to help make sure that is possible.
If you have been on the fence about non-medical home care, there has never been a better time than now to give your senior the care, assistance, and companionship they deserve.
Always Best Care in-home services are for older adults who prefer to stay at home but need ongoing care that friends and family cannot provide. In-home care is a safe, effective way for seniors to age gracefully in a familiar place and live independent, non-institutionalized lives. The benefits of non-medical home care are numerous. Here are just a few reasons to consider senior care services from Always Best Care:
According to AARP, 9 out of 10 seniors prefer to age in place within the comfort of their own home. With in-home care, seniors have a way to stay at home, receive the care they need, and maintain a sense of independence, improving overall wellness.
If you or a member of your family have assumed the role of caregiver for your senior loved one, you know how stressful the job can be. Between caregiver burnout and constant worry, being a family caregiver is hard. In-home care relieves your burden and gives you peace of mind knowing that your older family member is in expert hands.
Unlike nursing homes, where the staff and residents rotate frequently, seniors can foster new friendships and build bonds with their caregiver. Seniors who socialize on a regular basis are often happier, which fosters positivity and leads to increased wellbeing.
No two seniors need the same kind of in-home care assistance. That is why each of our Care Plans is tailored to meet our client's individual needs. We offer plans that cover everything from light housekeeping to more involved duties like transportation to doctor's appointments. Our Care Coordinators will work closely with you to develop a personalized plan to ensure your senior's needs are exceeded.
Always Best Care offers a full array of care options for patients at all levels of health. With our trusted elderly care services, your loved one will receive the level of care necessary for them to enjoy the highest possible quality of life.
Request More Information
While it's true that some seniors have complicated medical needs that prevent them from staying at home, aging in place is often the best arrangement for seniors and their families. With a trusted caregiver, seniors have the opportunity to live with a sense of dignity and do so as they see fit - something that is unavailable to many older people today.
In-home care makes it possible for millions of seniors to age in place every year. Rather than moving to a strange nursing home, seniors have the chance to stay at home where they feel the happiest and most comfortable.
How much does a senior's home truly mean to them?
A study published by the American Society on Aging found that more than half of seniors say their home's emotional value means more than how much their home is worth in monetary value. It stands to reason, then, that a senior's home is where they want to grow old.
With the help of elderly care in Easton, PA, seniors don't have to age in a sterilized care facility. Instead, they can age gracefully in the place they want to be most: their home. In contrast, seniors who move to a long-term care facility must adapt to new environments, new people, and new systems that the facility implements. At this stage in life, this kind of drastic change can be more harmful than helpful.
Institutional care facilities like nursing homes often put large groups of people together to live in one location. On any given day, dozens of staff members and caregivers run in and out of these facilities. Being around so many new people in a relatively small living environment can be dangerous for a seniors' health and wellbeing. When you consider that thousands of seniors passed away in nursing homes during the COVID-19 pandemic, opting for in-home care is often a safer, healthier choice for seniors.
Aging in place has been shown to improve seniors' quality of life, which helps boost physical health and also helps insulate them from viral and bacterial risks found in elderly living facilities.
For many seniors, the ability to live independently with assistance from a caregiver is a priceless option. With in-home care, seniors experience a higher level of independence and freedom - much more so than in other settings like a nursing home. When a senior has the chance to age in place, they get to live life on their own terms, inside the house that they helped make into a home. More independence means more control over their personal lives, too, which leads to increased levels of fulfillment, happiness, and personal gratification. Over time, these positive feelings can manifest into a healthier, longer life.
More independence, a healthier life, and increased comfort are only a few benefits of aging in place. You have to take into consideration the role of cost and convenience. Simply put, it's usually easier and more affordable to help seniors age in place than it is to move them into an institutional care facility. According to the US Department of Housing and Urban Development, seniors who age in the comfort of their homes can save thousands of dollars per month.
In-home care services from Always Best Care, for instance, are often less expensive than long-term solutions, which can cost upwards of six figures per year. To make matters worse, many residential care facilities are reluctant to accept long-term care insurance and other types of payment assistance.
With Always Best Care's home care services, seniors and their families have a greater level of control over their care plans. In-home care gives seniors the chance to form a bond with a trusted caregiver and also receive unmatched care that is catered to their needs. In long-term care facilities, seniors and their loved ones have much less control over their care plan and have less of a say in who provides their care.
In-home care is a valuable resource that empowers seniors to age in place on their own terms. However, a big concern for many families and their loved ones is how much in-home care costs. If you're worried that in-home care is too expensive, you may be pleasantly surprised to learn that it is one of the most affordable senior care arrangements available.
Typically, hiring an Always Best Care in-home caregiver for a few hours a week is more affordable than sending your loved one to a long-term care facility. This is true even for seniors with more complex care needs.
At Always Best Care, we will work closely with you and your family to develop a Care Plan that not only meets your care needs, but your budget requirements, too. Once we discover the level of care that you or your senior need, we develop an in-home care plan that you can afford.
In addition to our flexible care options, families should also consider the following resources to help offset potential home care costs:
When you or your senior loved one needs assistance managing daily tasks at home, finding a qualified caregiver can be challenging. It takes a special kind of person to provide reliable care for your senior loved one. However, a caregiver's role involves more than meal preparation and medication reminders. Many seniors rely on their caregivers for companionship, too.
Our companion care services give seniors the chance to socialize in a safe environment and engage in activities at home. These important efforts boost morale and provide much-needed relief from repetitive daily routines. A one-on-one, engaging conversation can sharpen seniors' minds and give them something in which to be excited.
At Always Best Care, we only hire care providers that we would trust to care for our own loved ones. Our senior caregivers in Easton, PA understand how important it is to listen and communicate with their seniors. A seemingly small interaction, like a short hug goodbye, can make a major difference in a senior's day. Instead of battling against feelings of isolation, seniors begin to look forward to seeing their caregiver each week.
Understanding the nuances of senior care is just one of the reasons why our care providers are so great at their job.
Unlike some senior care companies, our caregivers must undergo extensive training before they work for Always Best Care. In addition, our caregivers receive ongoing training throughout the year. This training ensures that their standard of care matches up to the high standards we've come to expect. During this training, they will brush up on their communication skills, safety awareness, and symptom spotting. That way, your loved one receives the highest level of non-medical home care from day one.
While it's true that many seniors prefer to age at home, sometimes in-home care isn't the best fit. For those seniors and their families, choosing an assisted living facility makes more sense. Unfortunately, finding the optimal care facility is easier said than done in today's day and age. That's when Always Best Care's assisted living referral services begin to make a lot of sense.
Assisted living is a form of housing intended for seniors who require varying degrees of medical and personal attention. Accommodations may include single rooms, apartments, or shared living arrangements. Assisted living communities are typically designed to resemble a home-like environment and are physically constructed to encourage the independence of residents.
At assisted living communities, seniors receive help with daily activities such as bathing, dressing, and eating. They may also benefit from coordination of services with outside healthcare providers, and monitoring of resident activities to ensure their health, safety, and well-being. Caregivers who work at assisted living communities can also provide medication administration and personal care services for older adults.
Other services offered within assisted living communities can include some or all of the following:
At Always Best Care, our representatives can match your senior's emotional, physical, and financial needs with viable assisted living communities nearby. Results are based on comparative data, so you can select the best choice for you or your loved one.
Always Best Care works closely with local senior living communities to gain valuable knowledge that we then use to help seniors and their loved ones make informed decisions. This information can include basic care and rent, resident availability, and services provided. Because Always Best Care is compensated by these communities, we provide senior living referral services at no extra cost to you.
Some of the most popular assisted living communities to consider in our area include the following:
For many seniors, moving into a senior living community revolves around how and when they want to make a transition to more involved care. Some seniors are more proactive about transitioning to independent living. Others choose to remain home until their care needs or other requirements are satisfied. Remember - our staff is here to help. Contact our office today to learn more about assisted living communities and how we can find a facility that exceeds your expectations.
The first step in getting quality in-home care starts with a personal consultation with an experienced Always Best Care Care Coordinator. This initial consultation is crucial for our team to learn more about you or your elderly loved one to discover the level of care required. Topics of this consultation typically include:
A discussion of your needs and how our trained caregivers can offer assistance in the most effective way
A draft of your care plan, which includes highly detailed notes and a framework for the care that you or your senior will receive
Discuss payment options and help coordinate billing with your insurance provider
Our caregivers are trained to spot changes that clients exhibit, like mental and physical decline. As your trusted senior care company, we will constantly assess and update your Care Plan to meet any new emotional, intellectual, physical, and emotional needs.
If you have never considered in-home care before, we understand that you and your family may have concerns about your Care Plan and its Care Coordinator. To help give you peace of mind, know that every team member and caregiver must undergo comprehensive training before being assigned to a Care Plan.
At the end of the day, we only hire the best of the best at Always Best Care. Whether you need home care in Easton, PA 24-hours a day or only need a respite for a couple of hours, we are here to serve you.
When you're ready, we encourage you to contact your local Always Best Care representative to set up a Care Consultation. Our Care Coordinators would be happy to meet with you in person to get to know you better, discuss your needs, and help put together a personalized Care Plan specific to your needs.
After three weeks of nonleague contests, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football games start this weekend; Thursday, in fact, when Pleasant Valley visits Parkland.Just in time for the start of league games, Easton has joined Parkland in the Class 6A state rankings with the Red Rovers nudging in at No. 10 while the Trojans hold steady at No. 4.Easton will play at Bethlehem Catholic on Saturday night and the Golden Hawks are considered a “team to watch” in 4A.Elsewhere, Southern Lehigh remains ranked No. 2...
After three weeks of nonleague contests, the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference football games start this weekend; Thursday, in fact, when Pleasant Valley visits Parkland.
Just in time for the start of league games, Easton has joined Parkland in the Class 6A state rankings with the Red Rovers nudging in at No. 10 while the Trojans hold steady at No. 4.
Easton will play at Bethlehem Catholic on Saturday night and the Golden Hawks are considered a “team to watch” in 4A.
Elsewhere, Southern Lehigh remains ranked No. 2 in Class 5A and the Spartans will visit North Schuylkill on Friday night in a battle of state-ranked teams. North Schuylkill remains No. 6 in Class 3A despite its one-point loss to Notre Dame-Green Pond in a thriller played at Lafayette College’s Fisher Stadium,
Defending state champ Northwestern Lehigh, which has dominated three straight opponents by an average of 37 points, remains where it ended last season — in the top spot in 3A.
District 11 also has two of the top three teams in Class 2A with Schuylkill Haven at No. 1 and Williams Valley ranked third.
Here’s a complete look at the pennlive.com rankings compiled by veteran scholastic writer Eric Epler:
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1. La Salle College HS (12) — 3-0 – 1
2. Harrisburg (3) — 3-0 – 2
3. St. Joseph’s Prep (12) — 0-2 — 3
4. Parkland (11) — 3-0 – 4
5. Pittsburgh CC (7) — 2-1 – 5
6. North Allegheny (7) — 3-0 — 7
7. State College (6) — 2-1 – 6
8. Central York (3) — 3-0 — 8
9. Coatesville (1) — 3-0 — 10
10. Easton Area (11) — 3-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Central Bucks East (1) 3-0, Imhotep Charter (12) 1-2, Manheim Township (3) 2-1, Nazareth (11) 3-0, North Penn (1) 3-0.
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1. Roman Catholic (12) — 2-1 – 1
2. Pine-Richland (7) — 2-1 – 2
3. Peters Township (7) — 3-0 – 3
4. Chester (1) — 3-0 – 4
5. Exeter Township (3) — 3-0 – 5
6. Upper St. Clair (7) — 3-0 — 6
7. Springfield-Delco (1) — 3-0 — 7
8. Bishop McDevitt (3) — 1-2 – 8
9. Strath Haven (1) — 3-0 — NR
10. Mechanicsburg (3) — 3-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Cathedral Prep (10) 2-1, Conrad Weiser (3) 3-0, Penn-Trafford (7) 3-0, West Chester Rustin (1) 2-1, Woodland Hills (7) 1-2.
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1. Bonner-Prendergast (12) — 3-0 – 1
2. Southern Lehigh (11) — 3-0 – 2
3. Pope John Paul II (1) — 3-0 – 3
4. Wyomissing (3) — 3-0 – 4
5. Thomas Jefferson (7) — 3-0 – 5
6. Shamokin (4) — 3-0 – 6
7. Jersey Shore (4) — 3-0 — 9
8. Twin Valley (3) — 3-0 — 10
9. Bishop Shanahan (1) — 3-0 — NR
10. Susquehanna Twp. (3) — 3-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Aliquippa (7) 1-1, Bethlehem Catholic (11) 3-0, Lampeter-Strasburg (3) 2-1, Mars (7) 3-0, McKeesport (7) 1-2.
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1. Northwestern Lehigh (11) — 3-0 – 1
2. Avonworth (7) — 3-0 – 2
3. Hickory (10) — 3-0 – 3
4. ND-Green Pond (11) — 3-0 – 4
5. Imani Christian (7) — 3-0 – 5
6. North Schuylkill (11) — 2-1 — 6
7. Sharon (10) — 2-1 – 8
8. Elizabeth-Forward (7) — 3-0 — 9
9. North Catholic (7) — 3-0 –10
10. Mifflinburg (4) — 3-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Berwick (2) 3-0, Conwell-Egan (12) 2-1, Forest Hills (6) 3-0, Hopewell (7) 3-0, Neumann-Goretti (12) 2-1.
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1. Schuylkill Haven (11) — 3-0 – 1
2. Troy (4) — 2-1 – 3
3. Williams Valley (11) — 3-0 – 5
4. South Park (7) — 3-0 – 4
5. Farrell (10) — 2-1 – 6
6. Bishop McCort (6) — 3-0 — 7
7. Southern Columbia (4) — 2-1 – 8
8. Steelton-Highspire (3) — 2-0 – 9
9. Lakeland (2) — 3-0 — NR
10. Richland (6) — 3-0 — NR
Teams to watch: Karns City (9) 2-1, Minersville (11) 3-0, Riverside (2) 2-1, South Allegheny (7) 3-0.
Rank – Team – District — Record — Previous
1. Fort Cherry (7) — 3-0 – 1
2. Clairton (7) — 2-1 – 3
3. Line Mountain (4) — 3-0 – 4
4. Bishop Guilfoyle (6) — 2-1 – 5
5. Wilmington (10) — 2-1 – 6
6. Port Allegany (9) — 3-0 – 7
7. Westinghouse (8) — 3-0 – 8
8. Lackawanna Trail (2) — 2-1 – 2
9. Laurel (7) — 3-0 — 10
10. Greenville (10) — 2-1 — NR
Teams to watch: Jeannette (7) 2-1, Marian Catholic (11) 3-0, Meyersdale (5) 3-0, Neshannock (7) 2-1.
Easton planners for the first time gave the proposed Wood Avenue Warehouse project an official and formal disapproval.The decision deals with an environmental piece of the project that requires a special exception.The Easton Planning Commission unanimously voted Wednesday night to recommend denial of a request tied to the controversial warehouse, proposed for 1525 Wood Ave. The proposal, submitted by developer Scannell Properties, would allow construction within a designated floodplain.The project encompasses a 1-million...
Easton planners for the first time gave the proposed Wood Avenue Warehouse project an official and formal disapproval.
The decision deals with an environmental piece of the project that requires a special exception.
The Easton Planning Commission unanimously voted Wednesday night to recommend denial of a request tied to the controversial warehouse, proposed for 1525 Wood Ave. The proposal, submitted by developer Scannell Properties, would allow construction within a designated floodplain.
The project encompasses a 1-million-square-foot warehouse, which sits in portions of both Wilson Borough and Easton. Developers still need approval from Easton Planning Commission, but they have requested continuances for nearly a year.
The commission was supposed to make a decision Wednesday night, but it was pushed to Sept. 3.
The denied floodplain work includes relocating a tributary that leads into the Bushkill Creek, building a stormwater retention basin, and installing a 40-foot-wide paved access road.
The purpose of the resolution was to deliver a recommendation to the Easton Zoning Hearing Board, which holds the final decision.
The meeting drew a crowd of about 50 people, with many attendees affiliated with the local opposition group Stop the Wood Ave Warehouse. The crowd was vocal throughout the meeting, clapping in response to commissioners’ critiques of the project.
They frequently booed at Scannell’s attorney, Mark Kaplan, as he presented the applicant’s case.
He presented members of the commission with a large packet of documents. When several members of the public first requested to see the documents, Kaplan and other representatives of Scannell did not answer.
They eventually projected renderings onto the TV screen.
Kaplan emphasized that the presentation was limited to the special exception and not the land development plan. He detailed the various permits obtained, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System permit for stormwater discharges and the joint permit for water obstruction and encroachment, both approved by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection and the Army Corps of Engineers.
“By having obtained those permits, we have demonstrated our entitlement to the special exception,” Kaplan said.
A heated exchange occurred between Kaplan and Commissioner Kim Wagner, who challenged the application’s completeness and the environmental implications of the proposal.
The crowd often shouted out in Wagner’s defense when the conversation intensified.
Wagner said not all parcels involved in the project were properly disclosed from the beginning. “The plans I’m showing you tonight are part of the plans that have been reviewed,” Kaplan responded.
Wagner also questioned whether the applicant had obtained all necessary permits and approvals, including a joint permit from the Army Corps of Engineers and DEP, which she said was still under review.
She emphasized environmental and public health risks, citing hazardous materials on the site, deed restrictions against soil disturbance, and the absence of soil testing results.
“You’re not allowed to do a lot of things for our health and our safety, and that’s pretty scary,” Wagner said, referencing hazardous materials like arsenic, asbestos, and lead that she said were present on the site.
Kaplan countered her assertions, stating they received an “Act 2” approval. Act 2 is a state law that provides a process for cleaning up and redeveloping contaminated sites, based on the Land Recycling and Environmental Remediation Standards Act.
Other commissioners raised concerns about site suitability, engineering and environmental impact. Commissioner Ron Shipman felt the developers failed to disclose key project details during past proceedings, particularly the plan to expose and relocate a stream on the site.
Though developers claimed they did disclose these details, commissioners responded it was unclear and unspecific.
Commissioner Hubert Etchison voiced concerns about potential environmental and public health risks tied to the site, including hazardous runoff and airborne contaminants affecting nearby recreational areas and the broader community.
“Part of the role of this commission is to try and watch out for the safety and well being of the general public. I don’t have a comfort level in terms of what’s in the runoff that’s going to result from this project,” he said.
Etchison also questioned whether thorough environmental testing and core sampling had been conducted, especially given the depth of proposed excavation.
He pressed for clarity on any restrictions that might limit development and said permits alone were not enough; he wanted to see the detailed technical information behind them.
Commissioner Frank Graziano raised questions about the risk of increased flooding tied to the project and questioned whether stormwater management plans were adequate.
Six members of the public spoke in opposition of the project, including the members of Stop the Wood Ave Warehouse coalition.
The coalition’s leader, Colleen O’Neal, denounced the behavior of Kaplan.
“The disrespect shown to our planning commission and community tonight by Scannell and their representation is important and should never be accepted in this room,” she said.
O’Neal also questioned the transparency of the project.
“It speaks volumes that the developer clearly sought to conceal the plans of this proposal from the public by not sharing the presentation in a public forum until unrest from our beloved community,” she said.
Architect and Easton resident Brett Webber echoed concerns about transparency and preparedness.
“The tone and tenor of the developer’s representatives and presentation tonight doesn’t really suggest that there’s a level of respect for the community or for your time,” he said.
He urged the commission to evaluate whether minimum floodplain standards are sufficient for this site and emphasized that local ordinances still apply regardless of state or federal approvals.
Resident Jennifer Rush expressed alarm about the potential impacts to the water.
“I am shocked and appalled that anyone would say that they have the right, the privilege, to reroute a tributary that is part of the Delaware watershed and ultimately a part of our drinking water,” she said. “This request serves as an acknowledgement of their wrongdoing.”
Christa Kelleher, a hydrologist and assistant professor at Lafayette College, warned of the region’s complex hydrology and steep slopes.
“When we add steep slopes and we add a million square feet of impervious surface, plus parking lots, we are going to get runoff,” she said, noting the increased frequency and intensity of storms. “These are very important concerns.”
The commission’s recommendation will head to the Zoning Hearing Board at 6 p.m. Aug. 18 in Easton City Hall.
Chelsea McClure can be reached at . Follow her on instagram at .
If you purchase a product or register for an account through a link on our site, we may receive compensation. By using this site, you consent to our User Agreement and agree that your clicks, interactions, and personal information may be collected, recorded, and/or stored by us and social media and other third-party partners in accordance with our Privacy Policy.
EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone’s back-to-school rally will return Sunday, with a promise it will be bigger and better than ever.The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Scott Park.It will offer students 400 free bookbags stuffed with supplies, free haircuts, free pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers, free ices, a bounce house, live DJ and performances from the Easton School District Dance Team and the Easton Marching Band.Free bus rides will be provided to and from Paxinosa Elementary and Che...
EASTON, Pa. — Easton City Councilman Frank Pintabone’s back-to-school rally will return Sunday, with a promise it will be bigger and better than ever.
The event will run from noon to 4 p.m. at Scott Park.
It will offer students 400 free bookbags stuffed with supplies, free haircuts, free pizza, hot dogs and hamburgers, free ices, a bounce house, live DJ and performances from the Easton School District Dance Team and the Easton Marching Band.
Free bus rides will be provided to and from Paxinosa Elementary and Cheston Elementary schools to accommodate all students throughout the district.
“... It's not just giving the kids free stuff. It’s rallying and getting them pumped up and showing support to get them ready to start a new school year.”
Pintabone said this year’s event will be the biggest yet, thanks to several partnering agencies.
“First, I did it myself; last year I did it with Heart of a Legend at the Holmes Foundation," Pinabone said.
"This year, my buddy Kim [Checkeye] from ProJeCt of Easton reached out and said, ‘Hey, yours is successful. We'd like to partner with you.’
“So now I'm doing it, and I'm partnering with the high school, the library, ProJeCt of Easton and Third Street Alliance, St. Luke's Hospital, Lafayette College, and more.”
Additional partners include Easton Area School District, Cops and Kids, Domino’s Pizza, Crayola, the Landis Cetner and Family Connections of Easton.
Also, St. Luke’s University Health Network, the Neighborhood Center, Communities in Schools, Third Street Alliance, Easton Public Library, Headquarters Barber Shop, Bibi Styles, Eleven11 Nail Salon and Appalachia Entertainment.
“It's going to be a good event, and It's not just giving the kids free stuff," Pintabone said.
"It’s rallying and getting them pumped up and showing support to get them ready to start a new school year.”
EASTON, Pa. - This building, with its distinctive turret, has stood at the corner of Northampton and South 6th streets since 1810.The ownership team bought the landmark and opened Two Rivers Brewing in 2012. But now, they say, they're selling the building."We had hoped that we could transition, you know, to sell the building and that it stayed open the entire time and just transition to a new owner. But obviously, that didn't happen. We ran out of runway," said Troy Reynard, co-owner of Two Rivers Brewing Company....
EASTON, Pa. - This building, with its distinctive turret, has stood at the corner of Northampton and South 6th streets since 1810.
The ownership team bought the landmark and opened Two Rivers Brewing in 2012. But now, they say, they're selling the building.
"We had hoped that we could transition, you know, to sell the building and that it stayed open the entire time and just transition to a new owner. But obviously, that didn't happen. We ran out of runway," said Troy Reynard, co-owner of Two Rivers Brewing Company.
The iconic wooden bar, hundred-year-old light fixtures, and original tin roof, all meticulously restored, are now in danger of falling into disrepair. Reynard says the building went up for sale for $1.1 million dollars in June.
"A gentleman posted a picture he chose. He didn't know his father growing up. So, after 37 years, when he met his father, he chose to meet him here," Reynard explained.
Reynard cites a combination of factors in the decision to close down, including the spending habits of customers, the cost of goods, and inflation impacting the cost of labor.
"I don't think we're going to be the last brewery to close," he said.
Longtime customers will miss this building that drips of Easton's atmosphere.
'I'm sad. I'm actually getting sad thinking about it," said one longtime customer.
"It's, an amazing building, and they did so much work to restore it, to bring it back. Hopefully somebody keeps it up. That's the only thing we can hope for," added another.
Reynard says the buyers will be getting a turnkey-ready restaurant, with a brewery on the second and third floors. It's enough to power the next generation of dreamers, just as it did for him and his partners.
"You know, not everybody gets to live their dream, but I have, and sometimes the dream doesn't last forever. And that's okay, because I'm proud of what we did to this building," added Reynard.
Two Rivers will be open through next Sunday, August 17th. And on Saturday the 16th, Troy plans on having a big party with the High Street House Band to say thank you to the community.
EASTON, Pa. - Discussion for a highly-debated warehouse project returned to the Easton Planning Commission on Wednesday night in the form of a special exception for the relocation of a watercourse in a floodplain.The plan, known as Easton Commerce Park, would occupy 106-acre former Pfizer Pigments site on Wood Avenue.The proposal, offered by Easton Wood Ave Propco LLC and Scannell Properties, calls for a million-square-foot warehouse near the 13th Street and Route 22 intersection at 1525 Wood Ave.The building would cover...
EASTON, Pa. - Discussion for a highly-debated warehouse project returned to the Easton Planning Commission on Wednesday night in the form of a special exception for the relocation of a watercourse in a floodplain.
The plan, known as Easton Commerce Park, would occupy 106-acre former Pfizer Pigments site on Wood Avenue.
The proposal, offered by Easton Wood Ave Propco LLC and Scannell Properties, calls for a million-square-foot warehouse near the 13th Street and Route 22 intersection at 1525 Wood Ave.
The building would cover about 23 acres. Approximately 90% of the site rests in Wilson, with about 10% of the land in the city of Easton and a smaller portion in Palmer Township. Warehousing is permitted by right in Wilson and Easton.
Representatives for the project came to the Wednesday night meeting to request special exception from the planning commission to relocate an unnamed tributary to the Bushkill Creek, and to obtain permission to create flood control structures within the tributary.
The special exception application will be decided by the zoning hearing board.
The proposed relocation plan includes bringing the underground tributary, which currently runs parallel to the property's Wood Avenue frontage for 300 feet, above ground.
Other additions include the construction of a 40-foot-wide paved access road, a culvert for crossing of the tributary, and the addition of various utility crossings, including a 12-inch water main, a gas main, and multiple stormwater management pipes, facilities outfalls.
Attorney Marc Kaplin, representing the applicant, emphasized that the project has received multiple permits and approvals from outside agencies, including the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System's individual permit for discharges of stormwater associated with construction activities, which he said was issued by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection on April 15.
"These are all of the permits that are required under Pennsylvania's multi-jurisdictional review process for stormwater management, for discharging in a stormwater facility, for creating a new stormwater facility, and for allowing construction activities that will discharge into waters of the Commonwealth," Kaplin said.
Planner Kim Wagner found issue with the permits that were presented, stating that a joint permit from the DEP and U.S. Army Corps of Engineers would be required, as the project is asking to relocate the tributary, change the stream's course, construct infrastructure in the floodplain, and cross the waterway with utilities and roads.
Wagner went on to say that the permit is still under technical review, and suggested that the special exception should be postponed until all permits are fully in place.
"You don't have a joint permit. I've been on the website; it says individual permit," Wagner said. "It's been under review in technical reducing. So we shouldn't even be here right now."
Kaplin conceded to the fact that the joint permit has been applied for but not yet approved.
Other issues emphasized by commissioners regarding the special exception request include concerns about the environmental conditions of the property and the adequacy of the site plans.
"This place is a brown site for a reason, said Planner Hubert Etchison. "When we start having open air, water sources that feed into recreational areas, I have great concerns."
"When we start digging around in there in order to build this incredibly large facility monstrosity, I have zero comfort that a core sample was taken going down to the level of the exposed wall that you're proposing," Etchison continued. "I don't want to be running along the (Karl Stirner) Arts Trail and find my feet are glowing."
Kaplin argued that the DEP has brownfield legislation to assist in cleaning up contaminated sites.
"There's more coordination program in DEP to coordinate the cleanup of Act 2 sites with an NPDES permit. This site was studied," Kaplin said. "You can't get an NPDES permit until you've got everything that includes sewage planning modules; it includes the cleanup plan."
Multiple members of the Stop the Wood Ave Warehouse coalition spoke during the public comment section, criticizing the developer's alleged "concealment of plans" and arguing that the developer's proposed actions, such as relocating the watercourse and creating a retention basin, will exacerbate flood risks.
"The current site plan includes large retention basins and the redirection of an unnamed tributary to Bushkill Creek," said Colleen O'Neal, who leads the coalition. "These design elements suggest that the site engineers recognize the flood risk to the site itself...However, we urge the review board and developers to extend this risk assessment beyond the parcel lines to the surrounding community that will bear the burden if the flood resilience worsens."
The planning commission unanimously voted to recommend that the zoning hearing board denies the special exception request.
"Regardless of the recommendation or not, it does go to the zoning hearing board," said Chairman Kennedy Greene.
484-896-8867
