New Bethlehem Borough Council wishes to dispel rumors and provide the general public clarification in regard to repairing or replacing the New Bethlehem sign on Beautiful Lookout which can be seen from most places in town and especially as one enters from Route 66. While Council members and many residents in New Bethlehem would love to see the sign restored, there are currently seemingly insurmountable problems to do so.
The New Bethlehem sign is not located within New Bethlehem Borough. The sign is or was owned by S&T Bank as successor to New Bethlehem Bank. (The sign originally said “New Bethlehem Bank, Complete Banking Services”). The cost of a replacement and lighting would be at least in the tens of thousands of dollars. Most importantly, the property on which the sign stands is owned by a man who resides in Pittsburgh, PA who is asking for a totally unreasonable amount of monthly rent which no community organization or municipality could afford. Borough Council members and representatives of S&T have tried unsuccessfully for several years to negotiate reasonable terms to support the repair or replacement of the sign.
On a more positive note, a local community organization is working on plans for more Welcome Signs at each of the entrances into town. Currently, a ‘Welcome to New Bethlehem’ sign resides at the entrance into town from Route 66 – it can be seen on the right-side of the highway as you enter town. Two more ‘Welcome Signs’ at a cost of about $3,000 each are in the planning and approval stages for placement on Redbank Valley Municipal Authority property near the Sgt. Joseph Garrison Memorial Bridge as well as one along Route 28 from the East near the Borough line.
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New Bethlehem Borough Council has monthly meetings on the third Tuesday of each month at 7:30 PM which are open to the public. Council welcomes your ideas, suggestions and participation. Your thoughts and opinions can easily be submitted via our online email contact form https://newbethlehemboro.com/contact-us or via our mailing address seen at the top of every page on our website.
