County of Northampton

Northampton County’s restaurants and bars are in desperate need of this program. The State Legislature determined that the counties would serve as a conduit for the money to a non-profit who would administer that program. The McClure Administration quickly brought forward the proposal to County Council that the Rising Tide Community Loan Fund administer the program. Council immediately approved the program for our beleaguered hospitality industry, and The Rising Tide Community Loan Fund expects to have the application on its website on March 15th. https://www.wfmz.com//article_ea54636c-7d4f-11eb-97b0-872e

CareerLink Lehigh Valley will hold job fairs for Eastern Engineered Wood Products and Amazon on Wednesday, March 10th. Register here: https://careerlinklehighvalley.org//employer-wednesday-ea/

March 5th Press Release Lamont McClure and the Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) announce allocations from the Office of Community Planning and Development (CPD) for 2021. CPD funds are used to develop strong communities by promoting integrated approaches to provide decent housing and suitable living environments while expanding economic opportunities for low-and-moderate-income and special needs populations. Through the CPD’s formula, Northampton Count...y will receive a total of $3,051,035. Community Development Block Grants - $2,217,058 HOME Investment Partnerships - $ 645,299 Emergency Solutions Grant $ 188,678 DCED will issue an announcement when the application process for each grant opens in a few months. Community Development Block Grants (CDBG) are funded with money from the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD). These grants assist people with low incomes for help with affordable housing, infrastructure and antipoverty programs. HOME Program Grants Grants to local governments are used, often in partnership with local nonprofits, to fund a wide range of activities including building, buying and/or rehabilitating affordable housing for rent or homeownership for low-income residents. Emergency Solutions Grants assists individuals and families to quickly regain stability in permanent housing after experiencing a housing crisis or homelessness.

https://www.wfmz.com//article_0c7435b2-7d64-11eb-907a-6f83

Stay safe #LehighValley! Together we can stop the spread of #COVID19. Do your part: 1. Wear a cloth mask when leaving home 2. Maintain 6 feet social distancing 3. Wash your hands regularly & use hand sanitizer #MaskUpLV #MaskUpPA

https://www.cdc.gov/nchs/nvss/vsrr/covid19/excess_deaths.htm

Ocean Spray is taking part in Career Link's "Employer Wednesdays" on Dec. 16th. Register at the website posted below https://careerlinklehighvalley.org/employer-wednesday-ocea/

Northampton County Council meets on Thursday, November 5th at 6:30pm @ the County Government Center, 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA, 3rd Floor. This meeting is also available on the County's YouTube channel. https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYbPLqdMR1dkl9R95Rlq8rw

Area Agency on Aging is offering a free program on managing Chronic Disease for Northampton County residents ages 60 and over. Classes begin on January 6th. To register, contact Joan Schafer at 610-829-3201

Northampton County employees are canvassing the mail-in ballots today. Check out this video to see how the process works. https://www.votespa.com/About-Elect//Election-Results.aspx

Dec. 9th Press Release Lamont McClure and the Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development (DCED) are pleased to announce the awarding of $10,000 grants to seven local non-profit organizations: Bethlehem Emergency Shelter, Easton Neighborhood Center, the Hispanic Center, the Nazareth Food Bank, Project of Easton, Safe Harbor and Third Street Alliance. Funding comes from the Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) program. CDBG funding is specifically designed to address Northampton County resident’s growing food insecurity. Due to the impacts of COVID-19, these are especially trying times, says Lamont McClure. It’s important that the County support these critical community services so they can continue to provide assistance to our residents.

Influenza season (commonly known as the flu season) has just commenced. Flu season is typically recognized as starting in October/November and slowly ending d...uring the months of April and May. What is Influenza (flu)? Influenza (flu) is a contagious respiratory illness caused by influenza viruses. It can cause mild to severe illness. Serious outcomes of flu infection can result in hospitalization or death. Some people, such as older people, young children, and people with certain health conditions, are at high risk of serious flu complications. There are two main types of influenza (flu) virus: Types A and B. The influenza A and B viruses that routinely spread in people (human influenza viruses) are responsible for seasonal flu epidemics each year. While seasonal influenza (flu) viruses are detected year-round in the United States, flu viruses are most common during the fall and winter. The exact timing and duration of flu seasons can vary, but influenza activity often begins to increase in October. Most of the time flu activity peaks between December and February, although activity can last as late as May. Want to see the national flu map/chart? Follow: https://www.cdc.gov/flu/index.htm Want to find a pharmacy or health care professional in your area offering flu shots? Click on link to use the interactive flu shot finder map. LINK: https://vaccinefinder.org/?address= Healthcare professionals feel that the best way to prevent the flu is by getting vaccinated each year.

In accordance with Northampton County Charter Section 1002(h), notice is hereby given that vacancies may occur at various times throughout the year on the following Northampton County authorities, boards and commissions: Gracedale Advisory Board, Workforce Board Lehigh Valley, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, Lehigh-Northampton Transportation Authority, Northampton County Area Agency on Aging Advisory Council, Northampton County Children, Youth and Families Advisory Board, ...Northampton County Conservation District, Northampton County Election Commission, Northampton County Farmland Preservation Board, Northampton County General Purpose Authority, Northampton County Housing Authority, Northampton County Industrial Development Authority, Northampton County Mental Health, Early Intervention and Developmental Programs Advisory Board, Northampton County Drug and Alcohol Advisory Board, Northampton County Parks, Recreation and Open Space Advisory Board, Northampton County Personnel Appeals Board, Northampton County Personnel Commission, Northampton County Jail Advisory Board, Northampton County Revenue Appeals Board. The Northampton County Executive is receiving the names of individuals who are interested in serving on any of the aforementioned authorities, boards or commissions. If you are interested in serving on any of the aforementioned authorities, boards or commissions please send a letter, together with a written resume, to Mr. Lamont McClure, Northampton County Executive, at 669 Washington Street, Northampton County Courthouse, Easton, PA 18042, or electronically to the Deputy Director of Administration: [email protected]

Under Pennsylvania law, voters are only permitted to hand deliver their own ballots. Mail-in ballots may be dropped off at one of the four secure drop-off boxes in Northampton County on Election Day. The boxes will close at different times. Bethlehem City Hall Rotunda 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 18018- City Hall is closed on Election Day but the ballot drop-off box will be available in the Rotunda from 7:00AM - 8:00PM... Northampton County 911 Center 100 Gracedale Ave. Nazareth, PA 18064 open from 8:30AM - 4:30PM Human Services Building 2801 Emrick Blvd. Bethlehem, PA 18020 open from 8:30AM - 7:00 PM Rotunda of the Government Center 669 Washington Street, Easton, PA 18042 open from 8:30AM - 8:00PM

Looking for a job? PA CareerLink has launched Employer Wednesday On November 4th, FedEx will hold a job fair in Allentown.

Congratulations to 9 residents of Northampton County who took the Oath of Allegiance administered by Judge Paula Roscioli today and became naturalized citizens of the United States. Home countries of our new citizens include Brazil, the Dominican Republic, Ecuador, Egypt and Peru. Welcome!

https://www.wfmz.com//article_e58876a6-1cfc-11eb-84dd-7bfc

To get a test at the drive-thru site an individual must report or display one or more CDC-recognized symptoms of COVID-19. Please bring your ID and insurance card with you. Tests are free for Northampton County residents who don't have insurance.

PA Voters Who Did Not Receive Their Mail Ballot Should Vote at the Polls Harrisburg, Pa. Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar today alerted Pennsylvania voters who applied for but have not received their mail ballot that they can vote by provisional ballot at their polling place on Election Day. Do not worry if you haven’t received your mail or absentee ballot you will not lose your right to vote, Secretary Boockvar said. ... Anyone who hasn’t received their mail ballot should go to their polling place on Election Day and vote by provisional ballot. Your ballot will be counted if you are a qualified voter who has not already cast a ballot. Polls are open tomorrow from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. Voters can find their polling place on the Department of State’s voting website, votesPA.com. Any voter who has received but not yet returned their mail ballot should do so immediately by hand-delivering it to their county election office, satellite election office or other designated drop-off location. Voted mail ballots will not be accepted at polling places. Voters must make sure that they enclose their mail ballot first in the white inner secrecy envelope and seal it, then insert the inner envelope into the outer pre-printed return envelope, and sign and complete the voter’s declaration on the outer envelope. Voters must complete all these steps for their ballot to be counted. Under Pennsylvania law, voters may only return their own ballots. The only exceptions to this are for voters with a disability who have designated someone in writing to deliver their ballot, or for voters who need an emergency absentee ballot. Voters who applied for and receive a mail ballot and then decide they want to vote at the polls on Election Day can change their mind, but they should bring their mail or absentee ballot and the outer ballot envelopes to be voided by the poll worker. They may then vote on their county’s voting system. If a voter applies for a mail ballot but does not return it and does not bring the mail ballot and envelopes with them, they may still vote by provisional ballot at the polls on election day. Their county board of elections will then verify that they did not vote by mail before counting their provisional ballot. For more information on voting and elections in Pennsylvania, call the Department of State’s toll-free hotline at 1-877-VOTESPA (1-877-868-3772) or visit votesPA.com.

For Northampton County citizens who will vote at the polls on November 3rd, please review this tutorial on the ES&S ExpressVote XL machines. https://www.northamptoncounty.org///videoembedplayer.aspx

Secretary of State Urges Voters to Know Their Rights at the Polls Harrisburg, PA Secretary of State Kathy Boockvar today encouraged Pennsylvania voters to educate themselves about their rights before they vote in person on election day, November 3. The Pennsylvania Department of State is committed to protecting every eligible voter’s constitutional right to cast their ballot safely and free from intimidation, said Secretary Boockvar. Voters should educate themselves on t...Continue reading

Voters who plan on casting their ballots at the polls on November 3rd can check the address of their polling place at this website. https://northampton.maps.arcgis.com//webappvie/index.html