Lower Saucon voters should know about landfill

With the Nov. 4 election approaching, Lower Saucon Township residents should know about potential environmental hazards related to the Bethlehem Landfill and plans for its expansion

Vultures are attracted to the landfill as a food source. Vultures pose serious health risks through their droppings. They also pose an aviation safety threat through collisions with aircraft.

Landfills also release PFAS — forever chemicals — into the air through gas emissions. PFAS enter landfills through everyday products and escape not just through treated leachate but through untreated gas “burps” from decomposing waste.

According to one report, the Lehigh River watershed ranks second nationally for the amount of chemicals released into the river that are linked to harmful reproductive effects. There is concern that runoff from the landfill will add to those problems.

Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection records document repeated violations at the Bethlehem Landfill. When regulatory violations become routine, enforcement has failed.

Lower Saucon Township voters should take all of this into consideration when voting for members of the township council.

Russ Sutton

Lower Saucon Township

Vote for Guanowsky, Fehlinger-Ricker in South Whitehall

As a registered Independent, it is abundantly evident to me that Glenn Guanowsky and Sharon Fehlinger-Ricker are by far the best candidates qualified to deal with upcoming complex issues facing South Whitehall Township; emphatically their two opponents do not have the equivalent skill sets required for the job.

Glenn’s and Sharon’s skill sets include critical thinking to understand problems and develop reasoned solutions. Their training and work experiences in successfully leading large public serving and corporate organizations is required to navigate upcoming land development, rezoning, abandoned commercial spaces, aging sewer and water infrastructure and new data center issues. In these turbulent times, for example, Glenn and Sharon are pushing for sensible ordinance modifications that would include tech safeguards for new artificial intelligence data centers to prevent increasing rises to our electric and water utility bills plus pollution protections.

(Please note: Guanowsky is the former legal services and risk management vice president for a major Lehigh Valley health care organization, and a Penn State as well as University of Notre Dame graduate. Fehlinger-Ricker is a former Lehigh Valley high school principal, and Lehigh University graduate.)

Please vote for Sharon Fehlinger-Ricker and Glenn Guanowsky for fairness, competence and a better quality of life.

Peter Strub

South Whitehall Township

Bethlehem voters should elect competent council members

It is axiomatic that Bethlehem is best served by a competent city council. It is also axiomatic that the best individuals to judge council’s performance are those who attend council meetings. For this reason, this writer, a private citizen who attends the vast majority of meetings, tries to gauge opinions. Of the two current incumbent candidates seeking reelection, Rachel Leon and Hilliary Kwiatek, Leon rates the highest on council and Kwiatek the lowest.

Jo Daniels, who has attended a number of council meetings and who appears to know Bethlehem and its issues, deserves to be elected along with Justin Amann, a fellow Democrat of unknown performance. It might be time for all Democrats to think outside of the box and elect Republican Joseph Poplowski, who will certainly be, if elected, the check and balance over a 100% Democratic council. An unknown Republican is a better choice than Kwiatek.

Stephen C. Antalics Jr.

Bethlehem

Reelect incumbent South Whitehall commissioners

As a longtime first responder in South Whitehall, I’ve worked closely with Commissioners Monica Hodges and Chris Peischl and have seen firsthand their active, vocal, and effective leadership. They are committed to open, honest and transparent government and to protecting the unique character of our community. They listen, engage and act always with the best interests of our residents in mind.

Many residents are concerned about high-density development, traffic, and proposed state legislation to strip local control of zoning. Monica and Chris have stood firmly against state-level efforts to impose one-size-fits-all zoning regulations that would take oversight away from townships like ours.

Equally concerning is a county initiative exploring the consolidation of local police forces into a single regional department — a move that would dismantle South Whitehall’s trusted, community-based police force.

Monica and Chris recognize the importance of maintaining a police department that knows and serves our community directly. They have strongly opposed this idea and continue to advocate for keeping public safety decisions local.

South Whitehall is on the right course. Monica and Chris have played a key role in that progress. Let’s reelect them and keep our township moving forward under their strong, dedicated leadership

Jeff Kelly

The writer is the South Whitehall Township Emergency Management Coordinator.

Democrats can turn insult into praise

Thanks to President Trump for offering up a beautiful acronym for Democrats in 2023. He said Democrats are vermin. And yes, every letter stands for an uplifting quality.

V for victories

E for educating everyone

R for respect of all humans near and far

M for mental acuity

I  for intelligence engaged

N for nurturing our common home from sea to shining sea.

Peg Church 

Bethlehem

Trump lacks American values

I believe in science. Donald Trump does not. I read. He does not. I have compromised when necessary. He has not. I support a free press. He does not. I uphold freedom of speech as a cornerstone of our democracy. He does not. I believe in America — a nation governed by elected officials who serve their constituents. He does not. I believe in our Constitution. He does not.

And still, I believe in America’s resilience. I believe we will reclaim our democratic principles. Donald Trump will become a footnote in history — not a defining chapter.

John R. Kotsch

Catasauqua 

The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.

https://www.mcall.com/2025/10/30/letters-consider-landfills-hazards-when-filling-out-your-ballot/