Easton Homicide Suspect Arrested in Brooklyn

Naheem Adams, suspected of murdering George Jeter, was arrested in New York City early this morning, the Easton Police Department has announced.

Jeter was shot and killed in the 1400 block of Butler Street on July 27.

Adams, for who the EPD had issued an arrest warrant for criminal homicide, was taken into custody at approximately 6 a.m. this morning near his mother's apartment in Brooklyn by members of the NYPD Fugitive Task Force, a release from the EPD says.

Police say he is to be arraigned in New York and will be held there until he is extradited back to Northampton County.

Need Supplies? Here's What's Open!

Many people are looking for essentials to tide them over until they have electric service again--which for some in Easton and the greater Easton area, may come as late as Monday, Nov. 5, MetEd announced Tuesday night.

But with the problems as widespread as they are, a lot of businesses are closed due to lack of power too.

Here's who's open and who's not:
(Tip: go shopping for supplies and gas later in the evening if you can--lines are short to nonexistent.)

Redners, 3745 Nicholas St., Palmer Township, open 24/7
All departments are open and stocked. (They have run out of the free ice and water provided by MetEd as of Wednesday morning though.)

C-Town, 250 Line St., Easton, open 8 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Reportedly everything normal.

Wegmans, 3791 Easton-Nazareth Hwy./Rte. 248, Lower Nazareth, open 24/7
The store is open and fully stocked. Never lost power, they have a their own generator.

Weis Markets, 3011 William Penn Highway in Palmer, open 6 a.m. to midnight.
Open, but no refrigerated or frozen foods.

Weis Markets Easton, 3825 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township
Apparently closed due to power outage.

Giant, 801 S 25th St., Palmer Township.
Apparently closed due to power outage. Reportedly open, but status of stocks and things like frozen/refrigerated foods uncertain. Gas station reportedly NOT open yet. Gas station is open as of late Thursday afternoon, and actually, the wait time wasn't bad.

Giant, 301 Town Center Blvd., Forks Township, open 24/7
Perishable selection is very limited, very long lines at gas station--over an hour wait.

Bottom Dollar Food, 2431 Butler St., Wilson Borough
Seems to be open and running on generator as of late afternoon Thursday, but the hours and situation when it comes to refrigerated/frozen items are unknown at this time. However, they are reportedly distributing 10 pound bags of ice for free to those who need it while supplies last.

Wawa, 310 Larry Holmes Drive, Easton, open 24/7
Everything is normal, busy. (Not a gas location.)

Wawa, 225 Cattell St., Easton, open 24/7
Everything is normal, busy. (Not a gas location.)

Wawa, 631 South 25th St., Palmer Township
Now open. Lines for gas as of late Thursday afternoon were very long and the parking lot extremely crowded. They did, however, have one of the best gas prices out there.

Exxon/Square One, 158 South 3rd St.,Easton
Long line for gas, does not stock kerosene. As of late Thursday afternoon, Easton Police were directing traffic to keep things moving.

Exxon/Square One, 1509 Northampton St, Wilson Borough
Apparently closed due to power outage. Now open. Somewhat crowded, but not as bad as a lot of places.

Kmart, 320 South 25th Street, Wilson Borough, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Just reopened. No frozen or refrigerated foods right now.

Target, 3835 Dryland Way (just off Easton-Nazareth Hwy./Rte. 248), Lower Nazareth, open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Got power back on Wednesday afternoon, no frozen or refrigerated foods. Pharmacy open.

CVS, 620 Old Philadelphia Road, Easton.
Apparently closed due to power outage.

CVS, 1520 Northampton St., Easton, open 24/7
Low on some frozen and refrigerated foods, but otherwise fine.

CVS, 2467 Nazareth Road, Palmer Township.
Apparently closed due to power outage.

CVS, 215 Town Center Blvd., Forks Township, open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m., 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. on Sunday
Reopened after power outage, has not restocked refrigerated and frozen foods yet. Pharmacy open.

Turkey Hill, 55 Morgan Hill Road, Easton, open 24/7
Long line for gas, but reporting better than it was. Does not sell kerosene, but does stock propane.

Lou's Texaco, 1011 Knox Avenue, Forks Township
Apparently closed due to power outage.

Interstate Market, 480 Industrial Drive, Easton, 5 a.m. to 11 p.m.
Apparently closed due to power outage. Some reports say they're open--situation is unclear. Might be worth a shot if you're nearby.

Sunoco 1-Plus Mini Market, 3337 Freemansburg Ave., Palmer Township.
Apparently closed due to power outage. Now reported to be open.

Valero, 6597 South Delaware Drive, Easton/Raubsville.
Apparently closed due to power outage.

Rudy's and Son, 2500 Northampton St., Wilson/Palmer, open 24/7.
Long line for gas during the day. Sells propane as well.

Walmart, 3722 Easton-Nazareth Highway/Rte. 248, Lower Nazarethm open 24/7
Has power, reopened. As of mid-afternoon Wednesday, only has chicken in refrigerated/frozen section. Shelves , are reportedly somewhat bare, not sure when restocking will occur, but hopefully soon.

Rite Aid, 901 Northampton St., Easton.
Apparently closed due to power outage. Still without power as of late Thursday afternoon, but appeared to be doing business. Pharmacy status uncertain. Call them.

Rite Aid, 601 South 25th St., Palmer Township, 7 a.m. to midnight.
Just got power back. Doesn't have bottled water in gallons, but does have individual sizes. No D batteries, hopes for some by Thursday. No milk or other frozen/refrigerated foods right now. Pharmacy open.

Rite Aid, 282 Line St., Easton.
Apparently closed due to power outage.

Family Dollar, 301 Northampton St., Easton, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Open and never lost power, but stocks of everything are reportedly very low. Out of milk, eggs, D batteries, flashlights, etc. Next delivery date is Friday.

Family Dollar, 254 Line St., Easton, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Now has power, open. Out of flashlights, C & D batteries. No refrigerated or frozen foods. Hoping for new delivery soon, but doesn't have a date.

Walgreens, 2535 William Penn Highway, Palmer Township, open 24/7.
Open, no D batteries, just got more bread and milk, has frozen/refrigerated foods. Does have some small flashlights as of Wednesday afternoon.

Walgreens, 1955 Sullivan, Palmer Township, open 24/7.
Just reopened. No bread, milk, D batteries or flashlights. No frozen/refrigerated foods, but does have water. Expecting a delivery Thursday or Friday.

Easton Outdoor Company, 230 Northampton St., Easton, 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday thru Thursday, 10 a.m. to 8 p.m. Friday & Saturday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, closed Monday.
Has flashlights and headlamps, getting more battery-operated lanterns Thursday. Also has camp stoves, freeze-dried foods and other camping supplies. Does not carry batteries.

Dollar Tree, 2499 Northampton St., Palmer Township.
Apparently closed due to power outage on Wednesday.

Dollar Tree, 1700 Sullivan Trail/Laneco Plaza, Forks Township, 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., 'til 8 p.m. on Sunday.
Open, well stocked. Out of C and D batteries, but has smaller sizes, as well as small flashlights. Does not stock bread or frozen/refrigerated foods, but well stocked for other pantry and canned goods.

Palmer Park Mall, Rte. 248 in Palmer Township.
Currently closed due to power outage.

Restaurants and take-out

Had enough of the dark and the cold? Getting out for good meal can help a lot. Here are some options that are open:

Tic-Toc, 2510 Northampton St., Palmer Township. Open 6 a.m. to 11 p.m. weekdays. Does take out too. 610-252-6466

Antonio's Pizza, 114 South 3rd St., Easton. Take out or eat in. Italian dinners as well as great pizza. 610-253-9977

Great Wall, 390 Larry Holmes Drive,  Easton. Chinese take out, no MSG. 610-252-7700 Open 'til 10:30 p.m., 11:30 p.m. on Fridays and Saturdays.

Magic Wok, 601 Northampton St.,  Easton. Chinese take out. 610-438-2083

Gino's Pizza, 349 Northampton St.,  Easton. Also has tacos and some Mexican food. 610-258-7690

Don Juan's Mexican Grill, 518 March Street  Easton. 610-438-5661.Open 11:30 to 9 p.m., noon to 7 p.m. on Sundays. Menu online.  www.donjuanmexgrill.com

All Downtown Easton restaurants are keeping their regular hours.

Morning coffee, breakfast

Angelo's, 14 N. Fourth St., Easton, open Monday thru Saturday, 7 a.m.  to 4 p.m.
Great diner breakfast, very affordable--good, but not fancy. No wifi.

Cosmic Cup Coffee Co., 520 March St., Easton, 6:30 a.m. to 5 p.m, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. on weekends.
Awesome coffee & specialty hot drinks, has wifi and outlets for charging devices.

Dunkin' Donuts, 54 Centre Square, Easton. 6 a.m. to 6 p.m.
Has wifi too!

Dunkin' Donuts, 2926 William Penn Highway, Palmer Township. 5 a.m. to 9 p.m.
Reportedly open, has wifi, though wifi status is uncertain.

Dunkin' Donuts, 2500 Nazareth Road, Palmer Township, open 24/7.
Open, has wifi.

Madame Mim's New Age Shoppe, 22 North Third St.
Reportedly offering free coffee, tea and cocoa and a warm place to rest. Be warned, they're not a coffee shop, though they are lovely people and it's a nice place to browse.

Quadrant Book Mart & Coffee House, 20 North Third St., Easton, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Full breakfast, has wifi on weekdays. Very home-ish. Good place to hang and check out the books too.

Terra Cafe, 321 Northampton St., Easton, 5:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. (sometimes later), weekends 7 a.m. to 5 p.m.
Good hot coffee and specialty drinks, smoothies, light menu. Has wifi.

Tic Toc Family Restaurant, 2510 Northampton St., Palmer Township.
See the food listing above for more details. Wifi uncertain, but makes a good diner breakfast.

Wawa, Wegmans--see above listings.

This list is a work in progress--check back for additions regularly!

Got information on the situation at a store, gas station, business or restaurant that could be useful? Please post it in the comments or email us to have it included in this list! Thanks!

As of Saturday, Nov. 3, we will only update this page sporadically, if at all. As electric service is being steadily restored to the area, more and more businesses are open and more are becoming fully stocked, greatly easing the situation that existed right after the storm.
Updated on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 10:50 p.m. Partial updates again on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 5:55 p.m., on Friday, Nov. 2 at 12:21 a.m. and 1:10 a.m. and on Saturday, Nov. 3 at 2:17 p.m.
5

Emergency Management Officials Urge Public to Stay Safe

The electricity provider MetEd announced Tuesday night that they estimate the thousands of people left without electricity in the aftermath of "superstorm" Sandy will see full service restoration by Monday, Nov. 5--or Wednesday, Nov. 7 at the latest in some areas.

That's a long time to go without, and people are being forced to make do in the meantime. However, some stop-gap measures to get by without power can be dangerous--even deadly--if proper care isn't taken.

Local emergency management officials are urging the public to use common sense and exercise caution while services are being restored.

Battery-operated lights are better than candles

"Be very, very careful with candles," warned Easton Fire Chief John Bast Tuesday afternoon. "We'd rather people didn't use them at all. Battery-operated flashlights and lanterns are much safer."

But for those who must use candles, Bast offered the following advice:

• Don't fall asleep when candles are lit
• Use glass hurricane shades whenever possible
• Make sure smoke detectors are working

"Halloween is one time people are supposed to check their smoke detector batteries anyway. Now is a very good time to do so," Bast said.

With colder temperatures arriving, he noted that it might be tempting for people to try to warm up in ways that are unsafe.

"Never use a gas oven for heating," he said, adding that cooking on a grill indoors can also be deadly.

For those with generators, he offered the reminder that they must be kept outdoors and never run in a house or garage where they can create a deadly build-up of carbon monoxide fumes.

Kerosene heaters should also be approached with a great deal of caution, both because of the risk of fumes and also because of the risk of fire.

Know these things when driving in a widespread power outage

With many traffic signals inoperative due to power outages, PennDOT also offered advice to motorists via email on Tuesday.

Traffic lights that are out should be treated as four-way stops, the state transportation agency says.

For signals that are blinking, a flashing red light should be treated like a stop sign; a blinking yellow light has right of way, but motorists should proceed with caution through the intersection.

Also, last month a new state law went into effect that imposes stiff penalties on motorists who ignore “road closed” or other safety warning signs and devices.

 

Under the law, motorists who past traffic control devices closing a road or highway due to hazardous conditions will have two points added to their driving records and can be fined up to $250.

If the violation results in a need for emergency responders to be called, the fine increases to between $250 and $500, and violators will be held liable for repaying the costs of the emergency response.

 

With the extent of damage the storm caused to electrical lines and trees, it may take work crews some time to clear dangerous situations, and some damaged lines and trees may still come crashing down.

 

Downed trees and power lines are dangerous

Met-Ed warns that touching a live power line can cause serious injury or death. You can't tell by looking whether a line is "hot" or not. Even if a downed line isn't actively sparking, always assume it is carrying electricity.

The company further states:

• Immediately report downed wires to 888-544-4877 or your local police or fire department by calling 911.
• Never go near a downed power line, even if you think it's no longer carrying electricity.
• Stay more than 30 feet away from downed power lines, don't walk or drive near or over a downed line, and watch out for anything touching the line.
• If a wire falls on a vehicle, passengers should stay inside until help arrives.
• Don't drive over downed power lines.
• If a downed line is near water - even a small puddle - keep well away.
• Keep children and pets away from any wires.
• Be careful not to stand under damaged tree limbs or power lines. Tree limbs can become weakened during a storm but not fall until several hours or days later. The same can be true for damaged power lines or poles.
• Unplug appliances like refrigerators and freezers, and sensitive electronic equipment like TVs and computers, so that they won't overload when power is restored.
• When operating a generator, always disconnect the power coming into your home. Otherwise, power from your generator could be sent back onto the utility lines, creating a hazardous situation for utility workers. The proper generator should be selected and installed by a qualified electrician.
• Stay out of flooded basements, even if the power is off. Stay away from the breaker box if it's in a flooded basement.

Avoid food poisoning 

The lack of electricity also presents difficulties when it comes to food storage.

Most refrigerated foods become unsafe to consume after being kept at 40 degree temperatures for more than two hours--that's about four hours in the average refrigerator without power when the door's been kept closed.

Obviously, with the expectation electricity won't be restored to the local area until next week, that's a problem.

Still, some foods that are commonly kept cold are safe to eat for longer, says www.foodsafety.gov , including:

• Hard cheeses, such as cheddar, Colby, Swiss, Parmesan, provolone, Romano
• Processed cheese, such as American
• Butter and margarine
• Fruit juices, opened canned fruits, fresh fruits, coconut, raisins, dried fruits, candied fruits, dates
• Peanut butter
• Jelly, relish, taco sauce, mustard, catsup, olives, pickles
• Worcestershire, soy, barbecue, hoisin sauces
• Opened vinegar-based dressings
• Bread, rolls, cakes, muffins, quick breads, tortillas, and breakfast foods--waffles, pancakes, bagels
• Pies, fruit 
• Fresh mushrooms, herbs, spices
• Raw vegetables

Nearly all other refrigerated foods should be discarded, especially highly perishable ones like meat. You can’t always rely on appearance or odor to determine whether food is safe.

Remember, "If in doubt, throw it out."

For more detailed information about food safety during an emergency, click here.

Easton Begins to Assess Damage, Pick Up After Sandy

By Christina Georgiou

At least one in three people of the City of Easton has been left without power after raging winds lashed through neighborhoods Monday night, downing countless trees and powerlines.

While the Downtown district, which mostly has it's utility cables underground, suffered some damage, the bulk of the problems are in the other three districts, Mayor Sal Panto said early Tuesday afternoon.

"The neighborhoods are horrible," he said. "About a third of the city is out."

Click on any photo for a better view.

Panto's house in Southside is included in the number, along with his neighbors.

The mayor said the city doesn't yet have any estimate of the extent of the damage, but those without electricity may stay that way for days.


Traffic backs up on Ferry
Street Tuesday afternoon as
those without power try
to get gas
and supplies in the city.

 "We've got a lot of roofs damaged," Panto said.

MetEd has not yet issued estimates for the amount of time it will take them to restore service to the Easton area.

About 120 residents of the Alzheimer care facility Praxis were in the process of being evacuated from the facility Tuesday afternoon, after the building lost about three-quarters of its roof.



Emergency managememt officials oversee the evacuation of Praxis
residents. The facility's roof was badly
damaged Monday evening.



The decision of whether to also move residents of the neighboring Easton Nursing and Rehabilition Center, also damaged in the storm, has not yet been made, said Easton Fire Chief John Bast.



A large piece of torn roofing material
lies on top of the Easton Nursing and
Rehabilitation Center on Washington
Street Tuesday.

"It's not an immediate evacuation," Bast said from the parking lot. "They're working within their emergency management plan."

Northampton County Emergency Management is assisting with the situation.

It is unclear when residents may return, officials said, adding, "It is a major repair."

The line to fill up streams out into
South Third Street Tuesday afternoon.

The line of cars waiting to fill up at the nearby Exxon gas station spilled into South Third Street early Tuesday afternoon too. Elsewhere Downtown, traffic was relatively heavy as people tried to stock up on food, gas and supplies.

Down the street, backup generators hummed at the senior housing complex at the corner of Washington and South Fourth streets, while traffic jammed the parking lots of Wawa and McDonalds, crowded with those looking for hot coffee and a quick meal.

But those now looking for a quick coffee will have to go elsewhere temporarily, as Wawa suffered an electrical problem several minutes later, around 1:20 p.m., necessitating its temporary closure. Numerous emergency vehicles were on the scene.



Emergency vehicles responded to an
electrical problem at the Downtown
Wawa Tuesday afternoon. The
convenience store is temporarily
closed as a result.



An Easton police officer said the business hopes to reopen later, if the city codes department says the site can safely operate after an inspection.

On South Fifth Street, UGI personnel were working to fix a gas leak over the course of several hours. The street remained closed as of mid-afternoon, along with a number of other in the city, as crews work to clear roads and fix damage left in the storms wake.


UGI employees works to fix a
gas leak on South Fifth Street.

 An earlier water main break on Northampton Street has been repaired and service restored to the area.

Power is reportedly out at the Salvation Army, in the 1100 block of Northampton Street, but the day-time shelter facility is apparently still open.

At the city's other day shelter, St. John's Lutheran Church at 330 Ferry St., a few people were taking advantage of the offer to go to the county Red Cross shelter in Bethlehem.

Pastor Sue Ruggles said not too many people have visited the Downtown location yet.

"Mostly people are coming in and wanting to go to the Red Cross shelter in Bethlehem," she said, adding that though LANTA promised transportation, they seem overwhelmed and the church has been providing those without power who want to go with a ride. "But if we don't have power for three or four days, then I think we're going to have more people."

She added that her home in College Hill is without power too, and she understands the difficulties people, especially with children, face.



Pastor Sue Ruggles, far right, plays basketball with \
Jesse and Jeiseh  Gordon, 5 and 1, while their mother, April
Gorden and her nephew, Marked Barnes, look on. The West Ward
family plan to spend their time at the storm shelter in
Bethlehem until power is restored at their home.

 "So far, we've been driving people over in my car," Ruggles said, adding that it's understandable that LANTA may be overwhelmed. "But now we need the (church-owned) van."

St. John's is not providing meals, but the church lower level is heated and has electricity. Anyone who wants or needs to is welcome to stop by to spend some time, warm up and charge their cell phone, she said.

West Ward resident April Gordon, waiting for a ride to the Bethlehem shelter, smiled as her two children and nephew played mini-basketball.

"Especially families with kids, if they don't have power, it can be long days," Ruggles said, joining in the game.

Those whose homes have been damaged by "superstorm" Sandy, without power or with medical needs they need help meeting may call the church at 610-258-6119 for possible assistance, Ruggles said.

The back of Kaplan's Awnings shows some storm damage.



A ripped-off roof and other debris
lays in an alley off South Second Street. It
apparently broke the second
story windows on the way down.



The hatch covering roof access on top of the Bixler Building has been ripped off.

This clock a the top of the Rock Church is no longer right even twice a day.



The carriage wheel atop the century ol Third Street Garage building
was shredded by Sandy's winds Monday night.



The roof and edge facade above the former Sith Street Laundromat
is heavily damaged. Chunks of roofing material and wood
littered Northampton Street Tuesday.

More roofing material litters the streets.
It is unclear which building it is from.



Easton Upholstery owner Chuck Adams inspects the roof of his building and replaces torn-off flashing Tuesday afternoon. Additionally, a third story window was blown out Monday night. No one was hurt, and the glass was nowhere to be found. Adams, who lives in Williams Township, was without electricity at home Tuesday, and since
his residence is supplied by a private well like many in the township, without water too.



Superstorm Sandy Keeps Emergency Services Busy Overnight

By Christina Georgiou

Widespread power outages along with downed wires and trees caused by wind gusts that reached nearly 70 mile per hour across the Easton area were the most immediate result most residents probably noticed as they hunkered down to wait out Sandy in safety, downgraded from a hurricane to a "superstorm" as it reached land early Monday evening.

But others were less fortunate, with a number of people losing roofs and suffering from trees coming down on their residences.


Debris, including pieces of damaged building roofs littered
Downtown Easton streets Monday night.

 In the City of Easton, the high winds damaged an uncounted number of building roofs, sheared off molding and facade details, and broke a few windows, with dangerous debris flying through the air for several hours in the Downtown district, while reports of exploding electrical transformers, downed trees and powerlines, and power failures streamed in from other parts of the city.

"There are pieces of people's roofs all over town," said one Easton Police officer in passing, as he worked to close yet another street.

Other neighborhoods suffered widespread power failures and wire fires, leaving more than 8,600 households in the city without electricity by the middle of the night. The Downtown district, where most utilities are located underground, was probably the least affected, with only a few seeming to lose power.

In the suburbs, outages were extensive--by late in the night, about 3,325 households in Wilson Borough, 8,235 in Palmer Township, 5,776 in Forks Township, 1,987 in Williams Township, 349 in West Easton and 42 in Glendon were all without power, according to MetEd outage reporting.

No estimate of when services will be restored is yet available from Met Ed, but a statement on their website posted in advance of the storm says despite company storm preparations, including importing extra personnel from other states, it could take days.

The Easton Fire Department, along with every other fire department in the Easton area, battled constant small fires that consumed damaged wires, exploded transformers and even set poles and trees on fire.

A fire also broke out at two row homes at 721 and 723 Northampton Street around 9:30 p.m. High winds reportedly fanned the flames as firefighters battled the blaze. The extent of the damage was not immediately clear, but it is thought residents were evacuated for at least the rest of the night.

In Palmer Township, at least three houses were hit by falling trees and emergency workers also battled wire fires and extinguished trees and poles set ablaze by live wires.

Williams Township firefighters and EMS workers were faced by so many downed trees that getting vehicles to emergency sites presented numerous logistical challenges, according to scanner chatter.

At least one house in Williams also was reportedly set ablaze during the storm as well, but details of the damage were not immediately available.

Emergency calls for downed trees and wires started coming in late in the afternoon as the storm gained intensity, and the number only grew as the night wore on, giving emergency management personnel and public works employees little rest.

It's too early to assess the damage Sandy has incurred on Easton and the greater Easton area, but judging from scanner reports, it's likely to be extensive.

And, while according to the National Weather Service the worst of the storm and the related damage likely passed through the area by 1 a.m., sustained winds and continued rain mean the storm isn't over.

A wind advisory is in effect until 9 a.m. this morning, and the NWS has also issued a flood advisory for the local area.

Local officials have also said they expect water levels of the Bushkill Creek and Lehigh River to rise and likely spill their banks.

However, the NWS flood advisory had been lifted as of late morning on Tuesday, according to weather predictions for the local area on the weather service's website.

A flood situation is not being predicted for the Delaware River, according to NWS' Advanced Hydrologic Prediction Service, however.


A USPS truck was seen on the nearly deserted Northampton
Street late Monday afternoon. Delivery was delayed, but
postal service is one of the few things
that continued uninterrupted.

 Numerous area schools, childcare providers, workplaces and businesses have announced they will remain closed on Tuesday.

The Express-Times has announced home delivery is suspended on today; instead, subscribers will receive Tuesday's newspaper with the Wednesday edition.

Area Some area Trick-or-Treat Halloween celebrations all still remain set for 6 to 8 p.m. on Wednesday, but still may be postponed, officials have said.

Mayor Sal Panto has said he will make a decision for the City of Easton on Tuesday.

Trick-or-Treat times for the City of Easton have been moved to Saturday, November 3 from 3 to 5 p.m.

The state of emergency declared on Monday in the city remains in effect until midnight.

What's the current situation in your neighborhood? Tell us in the comments. Got a good photo? Email it to us!

A list of closures and cancellations in Easton and the Easton area, with continual updates, can be found here. 

Met-Ed recommends reporting all power outages, even if your neighbors have already done so. To report an outage, call 1-888-LIGHTSS or click here.

A list of area shelters is here.

Update, 6:51 a.m.: It appears some electric service is already being restored to some residents, as the number of those being reported without power in the city on the Met-Ed outage webpage has dropped to 7,800.

In Williams Township, Wilson Borough, and West Easton, however, the reported numbers have risen, to 2,000, 3,353 and 381 households respectively. It is unclear whether more damage has occurred or people are awakening to find themselves without electricity and just now reporting the problem.

Update, 5:26 p.m.: It appears electric service is already being restored to some residents, as the number of those being reported without power in the city on the Met-Ed outage webpage has dropped to 7,800.

In Williams Township, Wilson Borough, and West Easton, however, the reported numbers have risen, to 2,000, 3,353 and 381 households respectively. It is unclear whether more damage has occurred or people are awakening to find themselves without electricity and just now reporting the problem.

Power outage update, 5:25 p.m.: Local officials still don't have an estimate of when outages will be repaired, but Met-Ed seems to be making some progress. Numbers indicate some have seen services restored.

In the City of Easton, there are reportedly 6,621 households still without power, 6,604 in Palmer, 1,617 in Williams, 3,427 in Forks, 3,587 in Wilson, 438 in West Easton, and 45 in Glendon.

Still, local officials and MetEd have both said service restoration to all customers may take days.

Also updated at 11:50 a.m. to add info about new Trick-or-Treat times in the City of Easton and again at 12:18 p.m. to update flood advisory information.

Downtown Water Main Break Leaves Taps Dry

By Christina Georgiou


Easton Water Authority employees work
through the night in the middle of "superstorm"
Sandy to find and repair a water main
break in the 500 block of Northampton Street.



As if a night of nerve-wracking high winds and damage wrought by "superstorm" Sandy isn't enough, residents on the 400 and 500 blocks of Northampton Street in Downtown Easton are likely to wake to find their water taps are dry.

Discovered at about 1:30 a.m., the leaking water buckled the pavement and gushed into the already streaming street.

Police closed the block to traffic and knocked on doors, attempting to locate the owners of the few parked vehicles nearby, with little success.

City public works employees watched over the scene for a little over an hour, until Easton Water Authority workers arrived.

Water service was shut off around 3 a.m. in the area to allow EWA employees to take a jackhammer and backhoe to the street to fix the broken water line. Work is currently ongoing.

EWA employee Rick Soscorecz said he couldn't estimate when work on the 6-inch line would be complete but he and other water authority workers would be on it until the problem is fixed.

"It will be done when we find (the break)," he said. "The street is thick here, and that makes it a little harder."

Update: Water service has been restored, and the 500 block of Northampton Street repopened.

Updated at 11:41 a.m.

Numerous Roads Closed Due to Downed Trees, Wires

Update: Click here for the new list of closed roads. (This list is no longer current.)

In Easton, city officials have released the following list of road closures:

• Washington Street between South Fifth Street and South  Union Street
• South Delaware Driive between Third Street and the city line
• North Delaware Drive between Bushkill Street and the city line
• St. Joseph Street between Folk and Charles streets
• 300 block of Folk Street
• West Kleinhans Street between Folk and St. John streets
• Williams Street between Philadelphia Road and Seitz Street
• 300 block of Wirebach Street
• Ninth and Jackson streets
• North Ninth Street between Spring Garden Street and Wood Avenue
• North 14th Street between Northampton and Liberty streets
• Lafayette Street between Coleman and Hamilton streets
• McCartney Street between Pierce and Burke streets
• Pierce Street between Reeder and Brodhead streets
• Burke Street between Reeder and Brodhead streets
• Taylor Avenue between Park and Mixsell streets
• College Avenue between McCartney Street and College Avenue
• Cattell Street between Clinton Terrace .and College Avenue

"All residents are encouraged to stay off the roadways until the roads can be cleared from the effects of Hurricane Sandy," said Easton Fire Department Chief John Bast via email.

Mayor Sal Panto has announced  at about 5 p.m. Wednesday that many of these city streets are now open. We'll be updating the above list with specifics as soon as more information is available.

PennDOT has announced the following state roads are closed due to downed trees and utility wires blocking roadways in Northampton County:

• US 22 east between PA 33 and 13th Street exits in the Easton area is closed due to a downed utility;

• US 22 west between 13th Street and PA 33 exits is closed due to downed utility;
Route 22 in both directions is now reopened, PennDOT reports.

• PA 611 between Taylor Avenue in the City of Easton and Frost Hollow Road in Forks Township is closed due to downed trees and utility wires;

• Durham Road between County Line Road and Stouts Valley Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree in wires;

• PA 611 between Browns Drive in Williams Township and Cedarville Road in the City of Easton is closed due to a downed trees and utility;

• PA 611 between Royal Manor Road and Mill Street in Williams Township is closed due to downed tree in utility wires;

• Island Park Road between Berger Road and Park Place in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree;

• Island Park Road between Berger Hill Road in Glendon Borough and Tumble Creek Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Hexenkopf Road between Buttermilk and Morgan Hill roads in Williams Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Morgan Hill Road between Morvale Road and Cedarville Road in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Raubsville Road between Kressman Road and Royal Manor Road in Williams Township is closed due to downed utilities;

• Tatamy/Uhler Road between Short Road in Forks Township and Richmond Aston Road in Lower Mount Bethel Township is closed due to downed trees in utility lines;

• Cider Press/Tumble Creek Road between Gaffney Hill and Texas roads in Williams Township is closed due to a downed utility  Reported cleared and now open.

• Freemansburg Avenue between Dunkle and Leeman streets in Palmer Township is restricted due to a downed tree and utility;

• Greenpond Road between Bethman Road in Bethlehem Township and Northampton Street in Palmer Township is closed due to a downed tree in utility wires;

• Newburg Road/Main Street between Northwood Avenue and Fischer Road in Lower Nazareth Township is closed due to downed utility wires in trees;

• PA 191 between Lake Minsi Drive and Fox Gap Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 191 between Books Hill and Kesslersville roads in Plainfield Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 191 between Shooktown Road in Washington Township and Lake Minsi Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 191 between Gap View and Kesslersville roads is closed in Plainfield Township due to a downed utility pole;  Actually now reopened, says PennDOT

• PA 248 between Dannersville Road in Moore Township and Grouse Drive in East Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open.

• PA 248 between Creek Road in Lehigh Township and Cottonwood Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 512 north between Bushkill Center Road in Bushkill Township and Jacobsburg Road in Plainfield Township is closed due to downed utility wires;

• PA 611 between Stone Church Drive and Evergreen Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 611 between Riverton Road and Orchard Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• PA 611 between Delaware Avenue in Portland Borough and Slateford Road in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• PA 946 between Monocacy and Parkside drives in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• Jacobsburg Road between Sexton and Gold Mill roads in Bushkill Township is closed due to a downed tree; Now open

• Jacobsburg Road between Belfast Road and Sexton Road in Bushkill Township is closed due to downed utility wires;

• Sullivan Trail Road between Sandt and Abel Colony roads in Plainfield Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Franklin Hill Road between Miller Drive and Factoryville Road in Washington Township is closed due to a downed utility; Now open

• South Main Street between True Blue and Flicksville roads in Washington Township is closed due to a downed tree and utility;

• Richmond Road between Park Road and Mount Bethel Highway in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Old Allentown Road between Male Street in Bushkill Township and Roosevelt Street in Wind Gap Borough is closed due to a downed tree; Now open

• Creek Road between Fox Gap Avenue in Washington Township and Lake Minsi Drive in Upper Mount Bethel Township is closed due to downed utility;

• Allen Drive between Sylvan Drive in East Allen Township and Mud Lane in Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility. Reported to be open now.

• Cherryville Road between Thirty Second Street and Springhill Road in Allen Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Flint Hill Road between Waldheim Road and the Bucks County Line in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to a downed tree;

• Seidersville Road between the Lehigh County Line and PA 378 in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to downed utility lines;

• Bingen Road between Black River Road and Mountain Drive in Lower Saucon Township due to a downed utility;

• Seidersville/Hickory Hill Road between PA 378 and Bingen Road in Lower Saucon Township is closed due to downed utility lines;

• Center Street between Dewberry Avenue and Macada Road in the City of Bethlehem is closed due to a downed utility line;

• Main Street between Poplar and Broad streets in Bath Borough is closed due to downed utility wires.

• PA 987 between Monocacy Avenue in Chapman Borough and Valley View Drive in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Moser Road between Scenic Drive and Delps Road in Moore Township is closed due to a downed utility;

• Kreidersville Road/Main Street/Walnut Drive between Lehigh Drive and Elm Road/Walnut Drive in Lehigh Township is closed due to downed utility wires in trees.

Additionally, radio reports indicated Monday night that numerous local roads in Williams Township are unpassable, blocked by trees and downed utility wires. There is currently no list, but scanner chatter indicates crews are working to clear them as soon as possible.

Check back regularly today--this list will be updated as more information becomes available.

Is there a road you know of that people rely on to get around that is closed and likely to remain so for a while? Tell everyone in the comments, or email us.

Updated at 6: 40 a.m., 11:33 a.m., 2:47 p.m., 5:18 p.m., 6:21 p.m., 7:45 p.m., 8:13 p.m. and 11:27 p.m., and on Wednesday, Oct. 31 at 12:00 p.m.,  5:10 p.m. Again on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 2:35 a.m.

Area Storm Shelter Locations Announced

Update, Monday, Nov. 5:
Much of the area has had power restored and these shelters are beginning to close as need dwindles. Additionally, we will only be posting major updates on this page from now on. It is likely/possible the following information is now outdated. If you are in need of shelter, we highly recommend you call before you go.

Residents of Easton and the Easton area may find shelter if needed at the following locations.
Salvation Army at 1110 Northampton St. will be open 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. weekdays, closed Saturday except for serving a hot meal from noon to 1 p.m., and open Sunday 8 a.m. to 3 p.m. as a day/drop in shelter. Food provided. Contact them at 610-258-9531.

St. John’s Lutheran Church, Fellowship Hall at 330 Ferry St. will be open Wednesday through Saturday 9 a.m. to 7 p.m. and on Sunday from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. for warmth, charging cell phones. The church will feed families with children and those over 60 first and anything remaining to others. The church is asking for volunteers to cook, as well as donations of food and paper products. Contact Pastor Sue Ruggles with questions at 610-258-6119.
This shelter is closed as of Monday morning, Nov. 5. Those still without power in need can call the church, which is helping people on a case-by-case basis.

Greater Shiloh Church at 403 Pastor Fred Davis St. will be open weekdays from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. as a day/drop in shelter. Contact Elder Hillman at 484-541-1129.

Boys & Girls Club of Easton at 508 Charles St. will be open all day Wednesday through Friday from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m., and Saturday from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. for charging cell phones, getting some warmth, use of restrooms facilities and to recreate. Contact Dean Young at 484-239-2075 because email and internet
access is not currently available.

A Red Cross shelter at 2121 City Line Avenue in Bethlehem is available for overnight services, showers (bring soap, towel, washcloth) and to stay overnight (bring pillow, blanket, medications, own supplies). You may contact them at 610-865-4400. Contact LANTA at 610-258-0479 for transportation to the shelter.

A regional animal shelter at at 2120 Avenue A in Bethlehem is is being operated by the Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team. Bring a week's supply of food, medication with directions and vaccination records. Treats, blankets, and toys that will make your pet feel safe and comfort them are also encouraged. More information can be found on CART's Facebook page here or at 610-390-0088.

The American Red Cross will consolidate its Lehigh Valley shelters, including the one on City Line Avenue in Bethelehem, on Friday at 8 a.m. into one shelter located at the Dieruff High School gymnasium, 815 N. Irving Street in Allentown. CART will transport pets currently at their Avenue A shelter in Bethlehem to the new location. For more information, call 610-865-4400.

The regional emergency youth shelter is Valley Youth House at 610-691-1200.

Saucon Valley Middle School,  at 2095 Polk Valley Road in Hellertown has been added as an additional location for those without power can stay overnight. The facility will be open through 9 p.m. on Sunday, and offers hot showers, coffee and device charging stations. Visitors are asked to bring their own bathing items,  and a pillow, blankets or sleeping bag. Cannot accomodate pets. (Enter through Door 17)

There is also an overnight shelter being operated by the Harold V. Knecht American Legion Post 415, 158 S. Main St., in Nazareth. The shelter provides cots and food--bring your own blankets, pillows, and other personal items. The location is reportedly staying open as long as the power outages last. Call 610-759-9900 before you go.

Updated at 12:52 p.m. to correct information about the emergency pet shelter. More shelters in Easton added Wednesday, October 31 at 4:56 p.m. Shelter consolidation information added on Thursday, Nov. 1 at 6:45 p.m. Added Saucon Valley Middle School, updated Easton day shelter information on Saturday, Nov. 2 at 6:03 a.m. Nazareth shelter location added on Sunday, Nov. 4 at 4:08 p.m. Final update on Monday, Nov. 5 at 11:21 a.m.

City Announces State of Emergency

The following is from a press release issued today:

Mayor Sal Panto of Easton announced several initiatives this morning to address the pending arrival of hurricane Sandy. These include:

1. The Mayor has declared a State of Emergency for the city through Tuesday at midnightand has issued an executive order implementing a 9 p.m. curfew this evening. Only individuals going to or from their place of employment are allowed to travel within the city.
2. Garbage collection will be a day late starting Wednesday; there will be no collection on Tuesday.
3. City Hall’s main phone line 610-250-6600 will be staffed until 11 p.m. this evening for calls for service. However, for emergency calls residents should still use 9-1-1.
4. The city is encouraging anyone resident that needs shelter to go to the Red Cross shelter at 2121 City Line Ave. in Bethlehem. LANTA is providing bus transportation. The Salvation Army on the 1100 block of Northampton Stree and St. John’s Lutheran Church at Fourth and Ferry streets will also be available during the day as needed.
5. City crews were out all weekend and will continue to be out through the storm identifying problem areas and responding to calls for service. The water and wastewater plants are also prepared for the storm and we are not anticipating any problems in this area.
6. The city website will be updated regularly beginning at noon today.
7. Flooding is anticipated along the Bushkill Creek and the Lehigh River. Residents of the Bushkill Creek area are reminded that this creek is prone to flash flooding so there is little notice. Preparations should begin immediately.
8. Currently, Trick-or-Treat is still scheduled for Wednesday evening from 6 to 8 p.m.. A decision on postponing will be made on Tuesday once the effects of the storm can be ascertained.
9. City employees are out today knocking on doors if they see a potential problem such as garbage cans or furniture not secured, as well as scaffolding or other debris that could become airborne and cause damage to individuals or property.

This Week in Easton, October 29 to November 1 - Hurricane Edition!

This week's edition of "This Week in Easton" includes known cancellations in Easton and the greater Easton area due to Hurricane Sandy, aka "Frankenstorm." More are expected to be announced, and this page will be continuously updated as more information becomes available.

We've also included a number of useful links for timely and pertinent storm information at the bottom of the page.

For all events and happenings that are listed, please use common sense dependent on weather and flooding conditions. Calling ahead to confirm is also definitely recommended.

Monday, October 29

Here's what's cancelled:
All schools in the Easton Area School District, Wilson Area School District, are closed today, along with Notre Dame High School and St. Jane Frances de Chantal School. Additionally, EASD offices are closed.

LANTA bus service has been suspended for today. Additionally, all scheduled  Transbridge Lines, Susquehanna Trailways and most Greyhound runs are also cancelled.

The Family YMCA has announced all of its facilities will be closed today, including Pre-K Counts, ECDC and SACC.

Third Street Alliance and Learning Center is closed and all programs cancelled today, with the exception of AA meetings.

St. Andrew's Nursery School, Little People Country Club and Palmer Moravian Academy in Palmer Township are closed.

All classes at the School of Rock Music in Easton are cancelled for Monday, with the possibility of Tuesday cancellations as well.

All classes and activities at Northampton County Community College are cancelled.

Lafayette College is closed and classes are cancelled, though essential employees should report to work.

College Hill Nursery School is closed.

Charles Chrin Community Center of Palmer Township is closed.

The Career Institute of Technology is closed, and there are no evening classes.

The Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts is closed, and the evening open house is to be rescheduled.

All Northampton County senior centers are closed, including the Easton Area Senior Center and the South Side Senior Center.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley campus is closed today and Tuesday.

The Easton Public Library (all branches) is closed as of noon.

The Northampton County Courthouse and government offices closes at 2 p.m. today.

Williams Township municipal offices closed at 11:30 a.m. today.

West Easton Borough offices appear to be closed.

The Palmer Park Mall is closed.

Lafayette Ambassador Bank locations closed at noon today. They intend to reopen at 11 a.m. on Tuesday.

AAA of Northampton County closed at 1 p.m.

Second and third shifts in the manufacturing department of Crayola LLC are cancelled.

Miller-Keystone Blood Center offices closed at 4 p.m. today and plans to reopen at 1 p.m. on Tuesday.

Redi-Care Medical Center on 25th Street is closed as of 5 p.m.

Wegman's stores in the Lehigh Valley will close at 7 p.m. tonight, plan to reopen at 7 a.m. on Tuesday.

To check for other area cancellations, click here.

Still on, at the time of this posting:

Palmer Township Shade Tree Commission meeting: 6:30 p.m. In the Palmer Library meeting room, at the Municipal Complex, 1 Weller Place (off of Newburg Road), Palmer Township. Call 610-253-7191 to check the status of this meeting before you go!

Williams Township Athletic Association meeting: 8 p.m. Williams Township Community Building, 655 Cider Press Road, Williams Township. Call 610-438-4816 to confirm this meeting is not cancelled!
Township municipal complex closed at 11:30 a.m. due to hurricane


To check for power outages in the Met Ed/First Energy service area, click here. To report hazardous downed power lines, call 1888LIGHTSS (1-888-544-4877). To report outages online, click here. Outages should be reported, even if your neighbors have already done so because often priority is determined by the number of people affected, and power providers don't always know the extent of outages remotely. However, due to the expected magnitude of Hurricane Sandy, despite prepartations, those without power may experience extended outages, MetEd/First Energy has said.

To check Bushkill Creek water levels in Easton in real-time, click here.

To check Lehigh River water levels in Easton in real time, click here.

To see Delaware River water levels in real time with future predictions, click here.

To listen to the National Hurricane Center's Skywarn Nets, click here.
(Note: May be silent for periods of time, and operated by a network of ham operators. This is not a substitute for local news and weather. Still, it can be interesting.)

For localized travel advisories from PennDOT, dial 511 or visit www.511pa.com

For the localized weather report and forecast from the National Weather Service, with regularly updated hazard advisories, click here.

For information and advisories from Northampton County Emergency Management Services, click here or visit their homepage at www.nc911.org

In the case of an immediate emergency, dial 911.

In the case of flooding, do not drive on closed roads or into water on flodded roadways. In addition to what should be an obvious danger, new penalties for failing to heed 'road closed' signs are in effect.

For regular updates of the storm situation in Downtown Easton, along with other information, observations and occasional pithy commentary from the author of this blog, follow @Eastonwordsmith on Twitter.

Tuesday, October 30

The City of Easton continues to be in a declared state of emergency until midnight tonight. A 9 p.m. curfew is in effect. Two daytime shelters in the city and a county shelter in Bethlehem, which is open 24/7, are available to those in need.

All schools in the Easton Area and Wilson Area school districts are closed today. St. Jane Frances de Chantal School is also again closed. Additionally, Notre Dame High School is closed.

The Penn State Lehigh Valley campus is closed.

The Northampton County Courthouse, county Court of Common Pleas and government offices are closed today, scheduled to re-open at 8:30 a.m. on Wednesday, October 31.

Lafayette College is closed and classes are cancelled, though essential employees should report to work.

College Hill Nursery School is closed.

Crayola LLC corporate offices are closed and first shift in the manufacturing division is cancelled.

All Northampton County senior centers are closed, including the Easton Area Senior Center and the South Side Senior Center.

The Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts is closed.

LANTA bus service is cancelled for today, though the transportation authority says some service may be restored, depending on conditions, in the evening. Service will resume with as normal a schedule as possible on Wednesday.

Meals on Wheels for Northampton County will not deliver meals on Tuesday and instructs recipients to use their "blizzard boxes".

Miller-Keystone Blood Center offices closed until 1 p.m. today.
Pennsylvania Careerlink Lehigh Valley is closed.

ProJeCt of Easton offices are closed and all programs today are cancelled.

Spring Garden Children's Center day care is closed.

St. Andrew's Nursery School, Little People Country Club and Palmer Moravian Academy in Palmer Township are closed.

Third Street Alliance and Learning Center is closed and all programs cancelled today, with the exception of AA meetings.

Family YMCA childcare is closed today, including Pre-K Counts, ECDC and SACC. They plan to open their main facility at 1 p.m. Main facility is closed.

Northampton County Community College is closed until at least 6 p.m.

Olivet Wee Day Care & Nursery classes begin at noon--check back for updates.

The Career Institute of Technology is closed, and there are no evening classes.

Redi-Care Medical Center on 25th Street is closed.

Charles Chrin Community Center of Palmer Township is closed.

Some branches of Lafayette Ambassador Bank are  now open, but others remain closed. Check www.lafambank.com for updates.

More storm cancellations are likely--please check back for updates!

Consolidated Human Services Plan public hearing: 10 a.m. Second Floor Conference Room, Governor Wolf Building, 45 North Second St. Call 610-559-3000 to confirm this hearing has not been rescheduled due to Hurricane Sandy.
Northampton County offices are closed today.

Duplicate Bridge: 11:30 a.m. Open game. Temple Covenant of Peace, 1451 Northampton St. 610-253-2031
Cancellation has not been confirmed, but risking life and limb for duplicate bridge is just stupid...

City of Easton 2013 Proposed Budget hearing: 6 p.m. City council chambers, sixth floor, City Hall, 1 South Third St.
Cancelled due to hurricane. Meeting has been rescheduled for Tuesday, November 13 at 6 p.m.

Make a Halloween Pumpkin Floral Arrangement Class: 7 p.m. Open to everyone; children under 9 must be accompanied by an adult; registration required. $12 per arrangement. Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St. 610-258-2917 or www.eastonpl.org
Cancelled due to hurricane.

Wednesday, October 31

Happy Halloween!

All schools in the Easton Area and Wilson Area school districts are closed. Additionally, EASD offices are closed. Notre Dame High School is closed. St. Jane Frances de Chantal School is also again closed.

College Hill Nursery School is closed.

St. Andrew's Nursery School, Little People Country Club and Palmer Moravian Academy in Palmer Township are closed.

Lafayette College is closed and classes are cancelled, though essential employees should report to work.

The Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Performing Arts is closed. (Dress-up day is to be rescheduled.)

The Northampton County Courthouse, county Court of Common Pleas and government offices are closed. (ARD Summaries and DeNovo Hearings PPD  on Nov. 14 at 9 a.m.)

For Northampton County Community College, the Main and Tannersville campuses are open today. Fowler and PCCE remain without power.

The Career Institute of Technology is closed today, but offices open at 11 a.m.

The Easton Area Public Library is closed again today.

Easton Goddard School will open at the regular time today.

For ProJeCt of Easton, a.m. and p.m. classes are cancelled, but the agency is open.

LANTA plans to run under its normal schedule today, however, detours and delays should be expected.  It's still possible some  routes may still need to be suspended if area road conditions do not imp. Riders should call 610-776-7433 or visit www.lantabus.com for updates.

Trans-Bridge Lines will resume bus runs to New York City, however, it will run on a modified Saturday schedule. Visit www.transbridgelines.com/ for details and updates.

Susquehanna Trailways will resume running, with limited service today. Call 800-692-6314 for information.

The Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Easton will be closed today and on Thursday, Nov. 1 due to power outage. Donors should call 800-223-6667 for more information and to reschedule appointments. More information is also at www.giveapint.org

The Charles Chrin Community Center in Palmer Township will open at noon today--morning classes are cancelled.

All Northampton County senior centers are closed, including the Easton Area Senior Center and the South Side Senior Center.

The Family YMCA is planning a delayed opening at 10 a.m. for all facilities and childcare, but this is dependent on what their power outage situation is--please check back later for an update, call them at 610-258-6158 or visit them online at www.familyymca.org to confirm. still without power as of late afternoon.

The Easton branch of First Class Federal Credit Union is closed today.

The Downtown Easton branch of Lafayette Ambassador Bank will be open with normal business hours. All other Easton area office locations are closed.  For more information, visit www.lafambank.com or click here.

PennDOT driver and photo-license centers in Easton and Lehigh Valley are closed today due to lack of power.

The Palmer Park Mall is closed due to lack of power. The Phillipsburg Mall is also closed.

Official Trick-or-Treat times: 6 to 8 p.m. in the City of Easton, Wilson Borough, Forks Township, Palmer Township, West Easton and Williams Township. (All are still on at the time of this posting.)
Trick-or-treating has been postponed until Saturday, November 3 from 3 to 5 p.m. in the City of Easton.

Trick-or-treating in Palmer and Forks Township is set for Saturday, November 3 from 6 to 8 p.m.

Wilson Borough, Palmer Township and Williams Township have cancelled trick-or-treating for today. No reschedule date yet--will post when available.

Specific information from West Easton is not currently available. However, the borough is also suffering wide-spread power outages, and it seems likely that trick-or-treating is also to be rescheduled.

The Easton-Phillipsburg Parade, which had been postponed to Sunday, Nov. 4 has been CANCELLED.

Safe Trick-or-Treating event: 6 to 8 p.m. Sponsored by Easton Weed and Seed, along with Family YMCA of Easton Phillipsburg &Vicinity, Easton Fire Department, Community Services for Children, Legacy Ministries, Cops N’ Kids Reading Room, Lafayette College Greeks, ProJeCt of Easton and others. Free, rain or shine. Centennial Park, South 12th and Ferry streets. Rescheduled for Saturday, November 3, from 3 to 5 p.m.

23rd annual Halloween Bash: Live music by Chuck Schubert & Co., bobbing for apples, pumpkin carving contest (pumpkins and knives supplied). Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com
The area is currently without power and Porters' phone service seems to be out...

Texas Hold'em: 7 & 9 p.m. Free. La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com
The area is currently without power--call ahead if you plan to go to check if La Pazza is open!

Thursday, November 1

All schools in the Easton Area and Wilson Area school districts are closed. Additionally, EASD offices are closed. Notre Dame High School is closed. St. Jane Frances de Chantal School is also again closed.

Lafayette College is closed and classes are cancelled though the end of the week. Essential employees should report to work

College Hill Nursery School is closed. "Dad and Me" night will be rescheduled.

LANTA buses operating on normal schedule, but expect delays and detours.

Little People Country Club in Palmer Township will reopen both centers at 6:30 a.m.

The Northampton County Courthouse, county Court of Common Pleas and government offices are closed. (Argument and DRS cancelled.   Argument must be submitted on brief.)

All Northampton County senior centers are closed, including the Easton Area Senior Center and the South Side Senior Center.

St. Andrew's Nursery School in Palmer Township is closed.

Palmer Moravian Day School closed due to lack of power, but intends to post an update in the a.m. if things change.

All Family YMCA childcare and facilities without power as of late Wednesday, unlikely to open today.  Planning for delayed opening of main and childcare facilities until 10 a.m. Recheck facility status before you leave. Still closed today.

William Township Municipal offices are without power and closed until further notice. Check back for updates or visit www.williamstwp.org

The Palmer Township yard waste facility on Berk Street  is open 24 hours a day and there is no fee, according to the township website.

The Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Easton will be closed today and on Thursday, Nov. 1 due to power outage. Donors should call 800-223-6667 for more information and to reschedule appointments. More information is also at www.giveapint.org

Most Lafayette Ambassador Bank offices will be open today. Check www.lafambank.com  for further details.

Unity Bank branches reopen at 9 a.m. for limited hours today.

The Career Institute of Technology is closed, offices open at 11 a.m.

The Miller-Keystone Blood Center in Easton is closed today. They ask that those with appointments call 800-223-6667 to arrange an appointment at the Bethlehem or Reading locations. Appointments are available and walk ins are welcome at those locations.

AAA of Northampton County is closed today.

The PennDOT Driver and Photo-License Center in Lehigh Valley (Easton) is closed today.

Williams Township Landfill Advisory Committee meeting: 8 to 10 a.m. Williams Township Municipal Building, 655 Cider Press Road, Williams Township.

Northampton County Economic Development Committee meeting: 5 p.m.County Council chambers/Room 3116, Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St. In case of inclement weather or flooding conditions, call 610-559-3000 to check for cancellation.

Northampton County Council meeting: 6:30 p.m. County Council chambers/Room 3116, Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St. In case of inclement weather or flooding conditions, call 610-559-3000 to check for cancellation.
The Express-Times is reporting this meeting will happen whether the government center has power restored or not. The building is currently running on limited back-up power, and elevators and emergency lights are apparently operating.

Community Health Screening Clinic: 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. Includes flu shots. Medical screening and educational services are provided by volunteer licensed physicians free of charge as a service to the community. Preliminary screening for adults 18 or older for the following: pre-employment physicals, driver's license physicals, school/college physicals, well-health physical exam check-ups, general health education and counseling and for no other purpose. Treatment is not provided by the volunteer physicians. If treatment is required, individuals will be given referral sources for primary care physicians in the Lehigh Valley. All are welcome. Easton Mosque, 1017 Lehigh St. For more information, click here.
We recommend you call to check on the status of this event before you go--484-809-9979.

Forks Township Board of Supervisors workshop meeting: 7 p.m. Forks Township Municipal Complex, 1606 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township.
It has been confirmed--this meeting is still happening.

Ojespa Jazz Project: 8 to 11 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com
Call ahead before you go--this area was still without power as of late Wednesday night.

Bring (or wear) Your Own Vinyl night: 8 p.m. to midnight. DJs Ernie and/or Will. Black & Blue, 683 Walnut St. 610-438-3604 or www.blackandblueeaston.com
Call ahead before you go--this area was still without power as of late Wednesday night.

Open Mic with Nick Levinos: 9:30 p.m. Pearly Bakers, 11 Centre Square. 610-253-9949 or www.pearlybakers.net
Power is on in this locatioin--very likely to still be happening.

"This Week in Easton" lists what's happening during the weekdays, from special events to who's playing to government meetings, all in one handy place. Not just in the City of Easton, but for the entire greater Easton area. Published every Monday!

Is there a community or entertainment event you'd like to see here? Are you organizing something you'd like to have posted? Did we miss something? Email us!


Updated on Monday, October 29 at 4:37 a.m., 12:09 p.m.,1:28 p.m., 2:49 p.m., 4:30 p.m., 4:45 p.m., 6:39 p.m. and 10:55 p.m. and on Tuesday, October 30 at 2:23 a.m., 11:55 a.m., 2:20 p.m., 6:04 p.m., 6:43 p.m., 7:20 p.m., 7:34 p.m., 8:31 p.m., 9:41 p.m. and 11:39 p.m. to include more closures and updated information. Again updated on Wednesday, October 31 at 12:37 p.m., 3:25 p.m., 4:29 p.m., 7:49 p.m. and 9:25 p.m., and on Thursday, November 1 at 2:12 a.m., 11:50 a.m., 1:59 p.m. and 2:31 p.m.