Easton To Get More Apartments After Two Projects Turn To Office Space, Mayor Says

As Downtown Easton began its resurgence in recent years, first came nighttime foot traffic from people going to restaurants.

After the Pomeroy’s Lofts opened in the 300 block of Northampton Street, that added to the evening surge on the city’s sidewalks and into the city’s bars.

The Crayola Experience on Centre Square has for years provided a daytime tourist presence, and new retail locations and the farmers market have put some feet on the streets during daylight.

When Pomeroy’s developer Mark Mulligan bought the Wolf Building on North Second Street for conversion to apartments after Northampton County moved its human services operation to Bethlehem Township, the daytime/nighttime equation seemed to slide further out of balance.

Read more:

http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2015/05/easton_to_get_more_apartments.html

Allentown Police Hire New Officers, Implement New Training

The PPL Building (seen here in the distance) is the tallest building in Allentown, Pennsylvania. (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Allentown Police Department added four new officers on Wednesday, as the police chief described for city officials new training and equipment the force has been implementing.

In the last few months the department has appointed its first liaison for the gay and lesbian community, and added training in Spanish language, emergency vehicle usage and riot policing.

The department has also received a $68,000 grant for the installation of audio and video equipment in 10 police cars, something Chief Joel Fitzgerald hopes will be implemented in all the city’s marked police cars.

“It’s a tremendous benefit for both the community, as well as cops because it insulates them from claims that might not be true,” he said.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2014/09/allentown_police_hire_new_offi.html#incart_river

Bethlehem To Reverse Back-In Angled Parking On Main Street

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Come on Pottstown, follow suit!

The back-in angled parking on Bethlehem‘s Main Street is going to be reversed.

Mayor Bob Donchez said merchants on that end of Main Street have long been asking for the parking to be switched to head-in and he’s complying with their requests.

“It was clear the back-in angle parking was a negative to bringing people to lower Main Street,” Donchez said. “It’s the right thing to do to help the merchants.”

Donchez is hopeful the switch could occur in time for the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival scheduled Sept. 26-28 or shortly thereafter.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/bethlehem/index.ssf/2014/08/bethlehem_to_reverse_back-in_a.html

Easton Mayor Arrives At Scene Of Reported Shooting; Witnesses Say Several Shots Fired

English: Skyline of Easton, PA from Lafayette College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Easton Mayor Sal Panto Jr. has arrived at the scene of a reported shooting in the 1200 block of Washington Street.

Easton police have yet to confirm earlier scanner reports that someone was wounded in a drive-by shooting about 3:30 p.m. on the block, but witnesses say they heard or saw several gunshots exchanged between the occupants of two vehicles.

Panto said he didn’t have any information about the shooting. He said he came out to the scene as a show of support for the police department.

“I like to support them and the neighbors,” the mayor said. “They get upset about this kind of thing and rightfully so. Seeing me here can show them that we’re making this a priority.”

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2014/08/easton_mayor_arrives_at_scene.html

Group Forms To Raise Money For Easton Ambassadors Program In Downtown Area

English: Skyline of Easton, PA from Lafayette College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The Easton Ambassadors are looking for a little help from their friends to generate needed money to sustain and expand the program.

The red-shirted Ambassadors clean Downtown streets, assist visitors with local tourism questions and provide police with an extra set of eyes to spot potential trouble.

But officials say reduced funding has limited their ability to perform their duties. Their patrol shrank in 2012 to cover primarily Centre Square and nearby Third and Northampton streets.

The group’s budget is about $230,000 this year but if it can raise its revenues by at least $50,000 to previous years’ totals, it may be able to expand its reach to Pine and Fifth streets, as it had done in the past, officials said.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2014/08/group_forms_to_raise_money_for.html

Wilson Borough Police Charge 18-Year-Old Easton Man In Sunday’s Shootings

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Wilson Borough police have charged an 18-year-old Easton man with shooting two people on Sunday evening in the 1500 block of Washington Street in the borough, according to court papers.

Tchella Bellamy, of the 100 block of South Ninth Street in Easton, is charged with two counts of attempted homicide, two counts of aggravated assault and three counts of recklessly endangering another person, according to charges filed at District Judge Richard Yetter III’s office in the borough, court records say.

Read more:  http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/easton/index.ssf/2014/07/wilson_borough_police_charge_1.html#incart_m-rpt-1