Home Care In Hellertown, PA

As work on the Wawa store on Rt. 412 in South Bethlehem near Hellertown continues, residents of both communities continue to wonder when the popular chain will open its newest location.

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As work on the Wawa store on Rt. 412 in South Bethlehem near Hellertown continues, residents of both communities continue to wonder when the popular chain will open its newest location.

Wawa company representatives said in August that the store’s opening is planned for sometime in December, and to date nothing to the contrary has been announced.

When it opens, the Wawa at the intersection of 412 (Hellertown Road) and Commerce Center Boulevard will feature a 16-pump gas station, a beer and wine section, a deli where sandwiches will be freshly prepared and other amenities for which the Pennsylvania-based chain is well-known.

The site for the new store was chosen at least in part because of its location between Bethlehem’s Wind Creek casino and the nearby I-78 interchange. As the main leading road to and from the interchange, Rt. 412 has become one of the busiest traffic corridors in the region, meaning thousands of potential customers will stream past the Wawa on their way into or out of the city.

Hellertown is located less than a mile south of where the Wawa will be located, so it will also be a convenient destination for borough residents in search of coffee, hoagies, lottery tickets, cold beverages and other items the stores sell.

The South Bethlehem Wawa will add to the company’s already significant presence in the Lehigh Valley, where it operates more than 20 stores, including locations in Fountain Hill, north Bethlehem, Bethlehem Township and Upper Saucon Township.

As of Sunday, the new location was not yet listed on the Wawa website.

According to a banner hung outside the new store, applications for positions there are now being accepted at Wawa.com/careers.

Work on the new Wawa at Hellertown Road and Commerce Center Boulevard in South Bethlehem is continuing at a brisk pace, with what appear to be finishing touches currently being applied to the building and its adjoining gas station. Company representatives in August said they expected the store to open sometime in December. On Sunday, a large dumpster was visible outside the building and plants were already in the ground.

HELLERTOWN, Pa. — Hellertown leaders now formally say the recent offer from Lower Saucon regarding library funding and a number of other proposals is nothing more than a “political ploy” and a power grab.

Borough Council released a public statement late Monday on Facebook, looking to “clear up any misperceptions.”

Lower Saucon Council on Sept. 20 offered a number of proposals to be “considered as a package and not as separate issues,” according to Township Manager Mark Hudson within the offer.

“In fact, even if the Borough agreed with the terms — which it most certainly does not — it could not accept the offer even if it wanted to, as the areas regarding the library would need to be agreed to by the library’s board, not the Borough Council."

Hellertown Borough Council

It also required an answer from Hellertown by Oct. 12 or the township would rescind the proposal.

The offer included:

Hellertown Council on Oct. 2 voted unanimously to deny the deal but agreed that an official statement for the public would come in the next week.

“This was Lower Saucon’s way of attempting to wrest control over Hellertown, something they knew full-well that would never be accepted,” the recent public statement reads.

“It is our hope that Lower Saucon residents see through this political ploy and realize that new leadership is needed if the two communities are going to work together in the future.”

“This was Lower Saucon’s way of attempting to wrest control over Hellertown, something they knew full-well that would never be accepted. It is our hope that Lower Saucon residents see through this political ploy and realize that new leadership is needed if the two communities are going to work together in the future.”

Hellertown Borough Council

A key point mentioned at previous meetings of borough council and Hellertown Area Library Board of Directors is that the parties are two separate entities.

And since the Lower Saucon offer was addressed to Hellertown Borough Council, the officials said they can’t vote or act on behalf of the library.

“In fact, even if the Borough agreed with the terms — which it most certainly does not — it could not accept the offer even if it wanted to, as the areas regarding the library would need to be agreed to by the library’s board, not the Borough Council,” the statement reads.

Library officials on Sept. 28 said they were adhering to an Oct. 1 deadline to submit a State Aid Library Subsidy Application, which highlighted the library’s service area.

Lower Saucon residents can currently check out whatever they like within the HAL inventory, but they aren’t authorized to take part in interlibrary loans or the digital library.

The township also offers a library card reimbursement program for those who choose to buy a card for limited HAL access.

Lower Saucon Council President Jason Banonis on Sept. 20 called the offer “extraordinarily generous.”

Banonis later added that Hellertown also should consider what what could result for its taxpayers if the borough continued to oppose Lower Saucon’s rezoning plans that could lead to an expansion of the Bethlehem Landfill.

Lower Saucon Councilwoman Priscilla deLeon that day said it was "embarrassing" that township residents didn't currently have a home library.

Hellertown Council on Oct. 2 agreed to not pursue proposed litigation regarding the landfill's expansion.

Library background

Lower Saucon partnered with HAL about a decade ago.

The township ultimately chose to not renew a five-year agreement between the two municipalities that expired in 2020.

However, the township and borough signed a memorandum of understanding to extend library services through Jan. 1, 2022, to give officials time to draw up another potential agreement during 2021. Lower Saucon officials also voted to extend the existing services agreement through Jan. 31, 2022.

Another agreement has yet to come to fruition.

The township council last January approved a $50,000 payment to HAL for 2022 services instead of paying the annual $105,000 per capita contribution. At that same meeting, the Lower Saucon council majority voted to authorize its solicitor to pursue legal action against HAL and its board.

At one point, Lower Saucon offered to join with Southern Lehigh Public Library. That offer was never agreed upon between library officials.

Lower Saucon even made a $50,000 donation to SLPL, even though there was no particular affiliation between the two entities.

Residents have been concerned that SLPL won't be nearly as accessible for Saucon Valley residents. The library has been said to be understaffed as is and can't handle the addition to its service area.

Saucon Valley Compost Center

Back at the turn of the year, Hellertown sued Lower Saucon Township over unpaid invoices for the operation of the Saucon Valley Compost Center. Those included around $30,000 in mutual operations funds as well as $12,500 for grinding services.

Lower Saucon refused to pay that amount and continues to hold 100% of the compost center money, according to the suit.

The compost center, located at 2011 Springtown Road in Lower Saucon Township, was agreed upon by the two municipalities to jointly operate and serve residents of both areas as part of a 2007 agreement. This would also include sharing the mutual operation costs.

In July 2022, Hellertown sent a letter to Lower Saucon stating it wouldn't be renewing the joint operation agreement. The suit says that the township acknowledges its refusal to pay the previously mentioned money since it's no longer a partner in the center's operation.

This past summer, Lower Saucon issued a cease-and-desist letter to Hellertown asking for the compost center to shut down due to zoning violations.

Hellertown officials have said that its neighbors are still free to use the facility.

Starting March 1, Lower Saucon residents have been able to purchase annual compost center access cards for $25.

Lower Saucon officials opened a yard waste collection facility at 2150 Polk Valley Road back in April that will operate each Friday through the third week of November.

Lower Saucon officials are set to meet again at 6:30 p.m. Oct. 18.

HELLERTOWN, Pa. - A new destination for vintage finds is offering a unique shopping experience in Hellertown.

Pennsylvania Treasures 4 U, offering antiques, collectibles, household items and more, opened Oct. 2 at 1322 Main St.

Owner Jaymie McWatters, of Kintnersville, established the business in 2021 primarily as a home-based venture, selling items online and also at regional flea markets such as Golden Nugget Antique Flea Market in Lambertville, N.J.

She acquires the business' items mostly from estate sales and other antique and vintage shops.

“I have a passion for finding great deals on all sorts of unique items, and I’m excited to share that same passion with the community by offering these finds at really affordable prices,” McWatters said. “Shoppers will find that I don’t raise prices to what they’d likely see at similar stores.”

The newly opened Hellertown store, next to CVS, sells a wide array of collectibles and vintage pieces, including books, coins, letters, patches, postage stamps, vases, tableware, and sports memorabilia such as autographed baseballs.

There’s also a variety section featuring clothing, shoes and fashion accessories such as hats, handbags and jewelry, along with household items such as cleaning equipment, hand tools and clocks.

“We have a little bit of everything – from furniture, bicycles and sports equipment to light fixtures, wall art and fine glass,” McWatters said.

The clothing area, featuring tops and bottoms for men, women and children, is continuing to grow, McWatters said.

Shoppers can browse $8 jeans for adults and $5 jeans for children.

“It’s extremely important to me that everything in the store is priced reasonably,” McWatters said.

“We never know anyone’s circumstances, and maybe a shopper is on a strict budget and looking for a new outfit for a job interview. So, my main goal is to offer a nice, clean and welcoming place to shop where people from all backgrounds can walk in, feel at home and find unique and useful items at affordable prices. And if they leave having found only great conversation with me, that’s fine, too! Above all, I want people to leave the store feeling better about themselves.”

McWatters had been looking to open a retail store for years as the business continued to expand and outgrow its space at her Bucks County home.

The Hellertown spot reminded her of the first house that she owned, and she “immediately knew it was the right fit.”

“This store is a dream come true as I've been selling items at flea markets for about 20 years,” McWatters said. “I also have an Airbnb at home, and my husband occasionally works from home as well. So, I felt like I needed a separate space to focus on my work and display my finds. My garage was just getting more and more full.”

The new store, which features off-street parking behind the building, also sells a variety of quilts, $1 comics, $7 brooches, kitchen accessories and decorative home accents.

There’s also a children’s play area, snacks and drinks area, and a bathroom that doubles as a dressing room.

Hours change monthly and are posted on the business’ social media platforms, including its Facebook page.

“I don’t see myself ever establishing standard 9-5-type hours because I also have to devote time to finding all of the store’s treasures,” McWatters said. “The benefit of varying hours though is that customers can almost certainly find a time that suits them to visit.”

For the latest updates on Pennsylvania Treasures 4 U, which also offers storage unit clean outs and other clean-out services, follow the business’ Facebook and Instagram pages. Info: 267-905-8591.

It won’t be long until the sweet sounds of the Hellertown Halloween Parade fill the air in the borough.

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It won’t be long until the sweet sounds of the Hellertown Halloween Parade fill the air in the borough.

This year’s parade will be held Sunday, Oct. 22 beginning at 2 p.m., and the air should feel seasonally crisp for anyone who is marching in it or watching it.

Temperatures will be in the mid-50s, according to the latest National Weather Service forecast, with breezy conditions and sunny skies prevailing.

The parade route is a loop that begins and ends at the Saucon Valley School District campus entrance at the intersection of Panther Way, Walnut Street and Constitution Avenue.

The parade marches down Walnut to Main Street; Main to Water Street; Water to Rentzheimer Drive; Rentzheimer to Durham Street; Durham to Constitution; and back to the starting point.

Residents and visitors should be aware that all roads within and around the parade route will be closed to traffic by 1:30 p.m. Sunday, and will remain closed until the conclusion of the parade. With barricades in place to keep cars out, residents who live within the parade route loop will not be able to enter or leave the area while the parade is in progress.

Police will try to locate the owners of vehicles that haven’t been moved off the route by then, but if they are unable to do so cars will be towed, borough officials said in an email Thursday evening.

They also said that anyone traveling through Hellertown should expect to encounter delays around the time of the parade, because of the detours that will be in place for traffic.

The theme of the 2023 parade is Celebrating Hometown Heroes, and prizes will be awarded to parade participants in a number of categories.

Updates about the parade–before, during and after it is held–can be found on the Hellertown Halloween Parade Facebook page.

After the parade, there will be a community party held in Dimmick Park from 4 to 6 p.m., with everyone invited to attend.

Flirtin’ with the Mob will perform on the park stage and a number of local food trucks and beverage purveyors will be on hand. Among those you can expect to be there are Nick’s BBQ, Cactus Blue, Kona Ice, Travelin’ Tom’s Coffee Truck and Lost Tavern Brewing. There will also be free hot dogs and water (until it’s gone) for guests at the party, thanks to support by local business donors.

The entire six division parade is made possible thanks to support by local individuals and businesses, some of which annually sponsor the marching bands that participate in it. The all-volunteer parade committee is chaired by Mayor David Heintzelman. Some of the volunteers will be collecting donations along the parade route that will help fund future Hellertown Halloween parades.

The Hellertown Post Office also supports the parade by operating a candy refill station at the post office, which is located near the mid-point of the parade route. Volunteers from the post office help keep parade participants’ candy supplies well-stocked by giving them more treats to throw along the back section of the loop. All of the candy supplied is donated to the post office each year.

Residents are also reminded that Trick-or-Treat in the borough of Hellertown will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 31 from 6 to 8 p.m. A trunk or treat event sponsored by the Hellertown Area Library will be held the same day–Halloween–from 5 to 7 p.m. in Dimmick Park. A live performance by the Saucon Valley High School marching band will be held in the park bandshell during trunk or treat.

There is no rain date for either the parade or Trick-or-Treat.

HELLERTOWN, Pa. — The showdown between Hellertown and Lower Saucon seemed to continue Monday, as Hellertown Borough Council denied a recent proposal from the township with an assortment of requests regarding library access and more.

Hellertown had been requested to offer a response no later than Oct. 12, according to Lower Saucon.

In the meantime, borough officials said this would make for a good time to update the public on the situation at hand, as some may be misguided as November elections are approaching.

Hellertown Council voted unanimously to work on a letter to the community providing an update on its position regarding Lower Saucon's recent proposal on the library, Saucon Valley Compost Center, Hellertown Pool and more.

That letter should be shared with the public in the next week, officials said.

Council commentary

Hellertown's administration said the offer letter from Lower Saucon was explicitly directed to the borough government, while instead just carbon copied to the library administration.

Councilman Matt Marcincin, library representative on the panel, said Hellertown Area Library (HAL) is its own independent 501(c)(3) — a group gaining IRS tax exemption because of its charitable programs — therefore the borough administration couldn’t act on the proposal as stated.

“The way that the offer has been presented to us, it is a ‘take all of this or none of this.' … I think Hellertown Borough Council has been very transparent in our attempts to work with Lower Saucon council over the last two years.”

Hellertown Council member Liz Thompson

Some on council said that while they didn’t see the offer as fair as presented, they’re looking to meet the township halfway and have been for some time.

“The way that the offer has been presented to us, it is a ‘Take all of this or none of this,’” Councilwoman Liz Thompson said. “I think Hellertown Borough Council has been very transparent in our attempts to work with Lower Saucon Council over the last two years.”

Councilman Earl Hill said the additional requests on the proposal, including offers to buy the Saucon Valley Compost Center and more, seemed like Lower Saucon was “trying to put a gun to your head.”

“This is nothing but a political stunt; I’m sorry, that’s where I’m at."

Hellertown Council member Earl Hill

He and Hellertown Mayor David Heintzelman said that since Lower Saucon has its elections just around the corner, township voters should be on guard.

“This is nothing but a political stunt; I’m sorry, that’s where I’m at,” Hill said. “There’s no way to not reject this, and hope people understand what they’re really trying to do here is trying to get independent people that are undecided as to what’s going on over there.”

Heintzelman said, “I do agree that this was politically motivated. And politics aside, we need to come together and we do need to work together — but not under time constraints or the language that was provided.”

"As much as I would love to mend the fences between Lower Saucon Township and Hellertown Borough, I just can't see accepting this as it is, this offer. I think we have a long road ahead of us.

Hellertown Borough Council member Theresa Fadem

Councilwoman Theresa Fadem said she would have to ultimately vote against accepting the offer.

"As much as I would love to mend the fences between Lower Saucon Township and Hellertown Borough, I just can't see accepting this as it is, this offer," Fadem said. "I think we have a long road ahead of us.

"I appreciate the gesture, but I'd have to say no."

Comments from the public

Beth Bloss, a member of HAL’s board of directors, said some people she’s spoken with aren’t brushed up on the ins and outs of the offer.

She said she wasn’t speaking on behalf of the library on Monday, but was looking to represent “all the local, normal people that live in the world.”

“My concern is, unless there is a rebuttal or a written statement of everything you just said, all Lower Saucon looks like they’re wonderful, wonderful people — and that’s a lie,” Bloss said to council.

“So people need to know what you just talked about.”

“My concern is, unless there is a rebuttal or a written statement of everything you just said, all Lower Saucon looks like they’re wonderful, wonderful people — and that’s a lie. So people need to know what you just talked about.”

Beth Bloss, speaking to Hellertown Borough Council

Lower Saucon resident Phil Spohn, pastor at Christ Lutheran Church of Hellertown, asked council if it could take what’s at hand and go on the offensive.

“I’m just wondering if whether or not there’s something that this board could do to throw an olive branch out, as small as it might be,” Spohn said.

Councilman Andrew Hughes replied that the library board was originally meant to be built “as a marriage” between Hellertown and Lower Saucon, but Hellertown isn’t in a position to reasonably trust Lower Saucon after the past couple of years.

He also said the proposal wasn't "time sensitive."

Some of the issues at hand stem back to the township owing $90,000 in library funding, he said.

“You want to talk about a gesture of goodwill, maybe Lower Saucon should pay the bill and then we can talk further,” Hughes said.

He said the funding would cover HAL services from 2022 for Lower Saucon residents, following a state decision for the library to continue serving the township through that year’s end.

“I’m just wondering if whether or not there’s something that this board could do to throw an olive branch out, as small as it might be."

Phil Spohn, Lower Saucon resident, speaking to Hellertown Borough Council

One current concern expressed by Lower Saucon officials is their lack of current representation on the library board of directors.

Hughes said that proportional control of the board has been a topic of discussion in the past, but Lower Saucon officials at one point wanted the deal to be 50-50 across municipalities.

Ken Bloss, Hellertown resident and Lower Saucon property owner, said people need to pay attention to the “window dressing” happening in the township prior to an election and the “real elephant in the room”: efforts to expand the nearby Bethlehem Landfill.

He referenced the $826,000 Steel City paving project and $1.88 million Easton Road Ball Field project.

“It’s like bottling fog,” Bloss said. “Get it in a bottle and it disappears.

“You think you’re working with Lower Saucon on this issue, and then it changes and disappears.”

“It’s like bottling fog. Get it in a bottle and it disappears. You think you’re working with Lower Saucon on this issue, and then it changes and disappears.”

Ken Bloss, speaking to Hellertown Borough Council

Hellertown resident Jayne Shinko said HAL’s money is getting thin, and the borough administration may need to look at ways to help fund it or assist in finding a donor.

If HAL closes its doors, it’d cause the borough to lose its hometown library, leaving residents without access to all of its offerings and other public resources through state programming, she said.

More background

Hellertown proposed a library agreement to Lower Saucon back in 2021, which was slated for five years and valued around $500,000.

Lower Saucon officials ended up rejecting that in 2022 and instead offered a $50,000 donation to HAL to cover some services — which was rejected — and threatened to sue if the township was removed from the library’s service area.

This past December, HAL announced it would no longer be able to serve Lower Saucon residents as it had in the past.

Other attempts at an agreement have failed.

The Office of Commonwealth Libraries at one point also approved a request from HAL that Lower Saucon be removed from its service area.

HAL had an Oct. 1 deadline to potentially include Lower Saucon as part of its service area in the State Aid Library Subsidy Application.

Lower Saucon residents currently can pay for a library card for use at HAL, with limited services compared with Hellertown residents.

Library officials said township residents can check out anything from the library collection, but can’t access interlibrary loans or use Cloud-access programming.

Lower Saucon offers its residents a reimbursement program to cover the costs of individual and family library cards.

Landfill litigation

Also Monday, council unanimously approved to step away from its August decision to involve itself in the legal fight against the Bethlehem Landfill.