Bethlehem Press

Animals are available for adoption at the Center for Animal Health & Welfare no-kill shelter, 1165 Island Park Road, Easton. The shelter is working to end pet overpopulation by running a clinic so animals can be spayed or neutered before they go home. For more information, call 610-252-7722 or visit www.healthyanimalcenter.org.

The Lehigh County Commissioners deferred a vote on whether to approve a tax increment financing plan for the proposed Hamilton Crossings shopping center at its May 22 meeting.

Director of Community and Economic Development Cindy Feinberg recommended the deferral because the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission has not had a chance to look at the traffic impact of the proposed project, which was a concern to some commissioners.

Outgoing Nitschmann MS Principal Jackie Santanasto was toasted and roasted at a May 28 retirement reception held in the ArtsQuest Center's Fowler Room by over 125 of her family, friends and education colleagues.

In a short video prepared for the occasion by Nitschmann staff, Santanasto was identified by her colleagues as "inspirational, supportive, positive, a team player, elegant, compassionate and caring" among the many terms used. Perhaps the one description that best summed all of the sentiment was one that called Santanasto "one in a million."

The stands were packed at Notre Dame's gridiron June 2. But instead of shoulder pads and helmets, the uniform of the day was Oxford caps and graduation gowns as the Bethlehem Township school said good-bye to 123 seniors.

"The world is ours," announced valedictorian Jessica Ann Petrakovic, an Easton resident. If Notre Dame's graduating seniors are any indication, it will be a better world.

It was only fitting that World War II veteran Pvt. William Yawney's remains were finally laid to rest two days before Memorial Day.

Strong winds were coupled with blue skies as family and friends gathered at St. John the Baptist Ukrainian Cemetery in Northampton the morning of May 25 for his funeral 69 years after his death.

Yawney, originally from Freemansburg, served at the age of 23 as a private in the U.S. Army in Delta Company, 1st Battalion, 105th Infantry Regiment, 27th Infantry Division and was deployed to the Pacific theatre late in the war.

"It's all about relationships," said Freshpet CEO Richard Thompson as he met with five Freshpet scholarship recipients April 26 prior to present a check for $10,000 to Northampton Community College director of development and scholarships Paul Acampora. Ten NCC students are receiving $1,000 scholarships because of their enrollment at NCC in manufacturing related fields of study.

Former Bethlehem Police Commissioner John Yerk swore to Bethlehem's Zoning Hearing Board May 22, under oath, that he and his son are lousy contractors. Years ago, they built a storage building at 1746 Center Street, but it's rotting away. So he asked zoners for a dimensional variance that would enable them to demolish the storage building and replace it with a 11-foot by 28-foot garage.