The Hero Next Door

The Hero Next Door: Matt Rothrock

Meet Matt Rothrock, a volunteer firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and this week's 'Hero Next Door.'

Matt Rothrock, 19, is a volunteer firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. He has been volunteering with the company for one year. Rothrock, a resident of Lower Nazareth Township, graduated from Nazareth Area High School in 2011 and played for the basketball team. In July, he plans to head to the Universal Technical Institute in Exton, where he will study to become a mechanic. Rothrock lives with his mother, Alison. What is it like being a firefighter? “There are negatives and positives… You could be sleeping, then the next minute you're wide awake… You can go a couple days without [a call] and then you’ll get a couple of them.” What is your favorite thing about being a firefighter? “Being around the firehouse with the guys is …

•  3 Comments
• Photos (1)

Three New Lower Nazareth Businesses Take Shape

Construction is just beginning on the new LongHorn Steakhouse in Lower Nazareth Township, while the new Petco and PetSmart are receiving the finishing touches.

Have you been to the Lower Nazareth Commons Plaza recently? You may have noticed that the new LongHorn Steakhouse, which is being built in the lot next to AT&T, is quickly taking shape. According to a fact sheet on www.longhornsteakhouse.com, the restaurant provides a casual dining experience, and the menu includes items like chicken, shrimp, salmon, spare ribs, soups, salads, bread and desserts. In addition to fountain drinks, there is a full bar. There are 370 LongHorn Steakhouse restaurants in 35 states, the fact sheet says. Locally, there is a LongHorn in Whitehall and in Bartonsville, Monroe County. Each LongHorn is about 5,600 square feet with a dining room and bar that can seat 204 customers, according to the fact sheet. The …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (3)

Jaime

11:27 am on Friday, May 11, 2012

December?! Seriously?! Panera moved in in what seemed like a day!   more ›

Five Below to Hold Grand Opening Celebration May 11-13

The new Five Below in Lower Nazareth Township will hold its grand opening celebration May 11-13; everything in the store is priced between $1 and $5.

You can’t get much for less than $5 these days -- unless you shop at a store where everything is priced between $1 and $5. Now, Lower Nazareth Township residents can do just that. Five Below in the Lower Nazareth Commons Plaza will hold its grand opening celebration May 11-13. The store is one of more than 195 other Five Below stores spanning 16 eastern and mid-Atlantic states. The next closest store to the Nazareth area is on MacArthur Road in Whitehall. Five Below offers a wide variety of super-trendy products primarily marketed toward the teen and tween markets, but there's a little something for everyone. During the celebration, free T-shirts will be handed out to customers who make a purchase -- while supplies last. There's also a …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

The Hero Next Door

The Hero Next Door: Greg Heckler

Meet Greg Heckler, safety officer, treasurer and volunteer firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and this week's 'Hero Next Door.'

Greg Heckler, 57, is a safety officer, treasurer and firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. He has been a volunteer for 41 years. Heckler grew up in Lower Nazareth Township -- his home and father’s appliance shop were across the street from the fire company. He is semiretired. “I’m still active but there’s a few little health issues that I have to work out,” Heckler said. Heckler lives with his wife, Joan, who has been a volunteer in the emergency medical service field since 1974. They have two children. What is your favorite thing about being a firefighter? “I enjoy talking about it. I enjoy talking to kids and talking to adults [about firefighting]… It’s pretty much what I really enjoy… They’re astounded by what we do. It’s …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Readers' Choice

Best Places for Mother's Day Brunch in the Lehigh Valley

Here are the winners of our 'Best Mother's Day Brunch' polls from Patches across the Lehigh Valley.

Throughout the Lehigh Valley, Patch polled readers to find the best places to celebrate Mother’s Day in our towns. After five days of voting, the winners have come in. Check out who won below, and let us know what you think by leaving a comment.  Next week, come back to vote on the best staycation destination.

• Photos (1)

Lower Nazareth's Estates of Deer Crossing Moves Forward

The developer of Estates of Deer Crossing has been seeking a sidewalk variance since March 2008; he finally reached an agreement with the Lower Nazareth Board of Supervisors on May 2, 2012.

Sidewalks have been a thorn in Jim Faust's side since March 2008 -- but not anymore. After years of negotiations, the Lower Nazareth Board of Supervisors voted Wednesday night to approve a sidewalk waiver that would allow Faust, the owner of J.R. Faust & Sons Construction, to install sidewalks on only one side of his development, Estates of Deer Crossing. The plans have the development of six houses located near Hanoverville Road, by Surrey Glen Park. Each house would sit on one-acre lots, Faust explained to the supervisors at a November meeting. Faust agreed to install a sidewalk along one side of Irwin Street, which will connect Hanoverville and Steuben roads. In exchange for approval, Faust agreed to pay the township two and half times …

• Photos (1)

Plea Deal Rejected for Woman Charged with Embezzling $221,000

Judge does not accept prison terms for a Lower Nazareth Township resident, who pleaded guilty to embezzling $221,000 from Magnetic Windings in Palmer Township.

The sentencing of the former bookkeeper at a Palmer Township business will be rescheduled after the judge rejected a plea deal of one to two years in prison. Lower Nazareth Township resident Teri Romanishan, a former employee of Magnetic Windings Co. on Freemansburg Avenue, appeared before Judge Stephen Baratta in Northampton County Court Tuesday. Prosecutors and her defense attorney had negotiated the plea deal that would put Romanishan in prison for up to two years for taking more than $221,000 from her former employer. "The judge didn't accept the plea offer," said Assistant District Attorney Constance Nelson, who supported the plea bargain. "After an hour-and-a-half (in court), we're still in the same position." That position is …

• Photos (1)

The Hero Next Door

The Hero Next Door: Mark Gable

Meet Mark Gable, a volunteer firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1 and this week's 'Hero Next Door.'

Mark Gable, 38, is a volunteer firefighter with Hecktown Volunteer Fire Co. No. 1. He has been volunteering for 26 years. Gable, a resident of Lower Nazareth Township, works as a supervisor and head of safety at Sam’s Club. Gable and his wife, Alexis, are parents to a son, Dustin. What is it like being a firefighter? "It’s not something to take lightly. It’s a very involved job physically and mentally.” What is your favorite thing about being a firefighter? “My favorite thing? I’m giving back to the community.” What made you decide to become a firefighter? “My father is the one that got me into this… He got involved in it, and I took an interest.” How do your loved ones feel about you putting your life on the line? “They support me with …

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Ribbon-Cutting Ceremony Held for New Hand & Stone

Clayton Cox and John Krafty, owners of the new Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa, cut the ceremonial red ribbon, marking the grand opening of the Lower Nazareth Township location.

The opening of a new business can be hectic and a little stressful, to say the least. Unless, of course, the business you're opening is a new Hand & Stone Massage and Facial Spa. Clayton Cox and John Krafty, owners of the new Hand & Stone in Lower Nazareth Township, cut the ceremonial red ribbon Sunday afternoon, marking the grand opening of their business. "This was a venture we decided to take on a year ago, and it's really an honor to see it come to fruition," Cox said. "We look forward to being a part of the community and contributing to the community." The Easton Area Chamber of Commerce hosted the ribbon-cutting ceremony. According to Cox, the Hand & Stone located in the Lower Nazareth Commons Plaza has been open since January, but …

• Photos (4)