Final School Board Budget Adoption, Latin Festival This Week

The Bethlehem Area School Board is scheduled to set the coming year’s tax rate when it votes to adopt its 2013-14 budget during a special meeting at 6 p.m. Monday in the Education Center on Sycamore Street.

The board endorsed a 2.1 percent real estate tax increase in a preliminary budget adoption vote in May—a $49.50 increase for the typical school district homeowner. However, four board members voted for a slightly higher increase of 2.4 percent and that proposal could come up again on Monday.

The extra 0.3 percent—$7 for a typical homeowner—would be used to add five full-day Kindergarten classes to district elementary schools.

School Board President Michael Faccinetto has said he favors adding more full-day Kindergarten classes because he believes the district is losing many children to charter schools because parents prefer the full-day option.

Bethlehem Township Commissioners are scheduled to meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the township building. Bethlehem City Council meets 7 p.m. Tuesday in Town Hall.

Monday morning will be your last chance to hunt for bargains at the Burnside Plantation’s annual New-to-You Sale. Everything at the annual yard sale to benefit Historic Bethlehem will be half price from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

Interested in a career in healthcare, but not sure where to start? Northampton Community College’s Fowler Family Southside Center is offering an information session from noon to 1 p.m. Tuesday on how to build a career path in a health profession.

Looking for something to do with the kids on Tuesday afternoon. Take them to the Bethlehem Area Public Library at 2 p.m. for the Amazing Nitrogen Science Show. Or, if they are more architect/artist than scientist, take them to the South Side Branch to Create with Legos, also at 2 p.m.

See the classic Disney musical Mary Poppins, starring Julie Andrews and Dick Van Dyke, on the big screen for free from the lawn at the Levitt Pavilion at SteelStacks at 8 p.m. Wednesday.

Feel like you’ve got an inner comedian who is just dying to get out. Head on over to Godfrey Daniels at 7:30 p.m. Wednesday for the monthly free improvisational comedy jam. Watch the Flighty Ducks perform and then join them in creating some new laughs.

Bring the really little ones—ages 2 to 5—to the Southside Library branch at 2 p.m. Thursday for .

The ¡Sabor! Latin Festival at SteelStacks gets under way Thursday with a free Levitt Pavilion show by Santa Mamba at 7 p.m. Santa Mamba describes its sound as Latin Roots Rock.

Have a question or news tip? Contact editor Daryl Nerl at Daryl.Nerl@patch.com, or find us on Facebook and Twitter. For news straight to your inbox, sign up for our daily newsletter.