Rep. Bob Freeman

Earlier today I was happy to join Mayor Panto, Jared Mast from GEDP, and representatives from DCNR and PennDOT for a press conference announcing a $765,000 grant award from the statewide Transportation Alternative Set-Aside (TASA) grant for the Highline trail project in Easton! This is great news for this great project since it provides enough funding, along with a previously awarded grant from DCNR, to fully fund the acquisition costs for this project. I’m glad I was able to help secure this TASA grant after speaking with Secretary of PennDOT Mike Carroll, who was a former House colleague of mine. I spoke over the phone with him and advocated for the funds for this project. Thankfully, he saw the merit of this proposal and gave his support. The Highline project will be an outstanding addition to the Easton scene, providing an opportunity to link downtown Easton with surrounding communities by bike and pedestrian trails. I will continue to do what I can to support this great project!

On Thursday I presented a Certificate of Recognition during the grand opening and ribbon cutting ceremony for The Confluence in downtown Easton! Serving as a striking new gateway to the downtown area, The Confluence offers mixed-use residential and commercial space. During my remarks, I touched on how the land where The Confluence sits today used to be the home of a close-knit Lebanese community in downtown Easton. Unfortunately, that whole neighborhood was demolished during Urban Renewal in the 1960s. The Confluence is a major component of the revitalization of South Third Street and is now an anchor connecting that area to Centre Square. I am happy that The Confluence will help bring more residents to this area of downtown Easton again, filling the void left by the old neighborhood that stood there before. Congratulations to John Callahan, J.B. Reilly, Michael Perrucci, and the group over at City Center for their beautiful new building and helping contribute to the ongoing revitalization of Easton!

This afternoon I attended a press conference held by Lehigh Valley 250, where we announced $1 million in funding to assist Lehigh Valley 250 in promoting and organizing the events for the celebration of the 250th anniversary of the Declaration of Independence. I was able to help secure, along with my fellow Lehigh Valley House Democratic members, $500,000 in funding from the House Democratic Caucus as part of that $1 million total. Lehigh Valley 250 will feature numerous events for everyone to enjoy, including our annual Easton Heritage Day, where we commemorate the public reading of the Declaration of Independence here in Centre Square on Jul 8th, 1776. As I mentioned during my remarks, I encourage our fellow citizens to read the Declaration of Independence to gain a deeper understanding of its meaning and significance, and make sure to check out the many Lehigh Valley 250 events celebrating this occasion.

Yesterday morning I joined with many in the community for the 127th Easton Memorial Day Parade, where I was honored to march with our veterans, local officials, marching bands, and several other organizations in the parade through Easton. At the end of the parade, there was a ceremony at the Northampton Street Bridge where the Mayors of Easton and Phillipsburg tossed flowers and a Memorial Wreath into the waters of the Delaware River. Following the bridge ceremony, there was another ceremony at Riverside Park that included the Roll Call of Deceased, Rendering of Honors, and Taps. Thank you to the Veterans Memorial Day Council of Easton Area for putting together this solemn ceremony, and may we never forget those who lost their lives in service of our country.

I work hard to ensure that my district gets its share of available grant dollars that are allocated across the commonwealth.

$800,787 in Local Share Account grants were awarded today for public safety improvements, emergency vehicle upgrades and community projects throughout Northampton County.

You can find the list of grant recipients on my website here:
https://www.pahouse.com/Freeman/InTheNews/NewsRelease/?id=143742

On Saturday I attended Hellertown-Lower Saucon Heritage Day, with the event taking place at both the Heller-Wagner Grist Mill and the Michael Heller Homestead. It was a great day to learn more about Saucon Valley’s history, and the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Heritage Group put together a great day with living history exhibits, historical presentations, activities for the children, and more. I had the opportunity to make some remarks at the event, and I touched on how important it is to have community events like this that touch on the foundation of the rich history and heritage of Hellertown and Lower Saucon. Let us never forget that we stand on the shoulders of those who came before- who shaped our world as they formed the world in which they lived. Thanks again to the Hellertown-Lower Saucon Heritage Group for putting together a wonderful and educational day.

In Harrisburg last week I had the pleasure of catching up with my friend and former state House colleague, Congressman Brendan Boyle, who was visiting Harrisburg for a series of meetings with legislators. It was great to catch up with Congressman Boyle and talk about some of the work we are doing on both the state and federal levels to tackle the issues facing Pennsylvanians!

This afternoon I was happy to present a citation from the PA House of Representatives alongside Representative Joe Emrick to Detective Christopher Miller, who was named the 2025 Easton Police Officer of the Year by the Kiwanis Club of Easton and the Easton Police Department. Detective Miller joined the Easton Police Department in 1997 and has demonstrated exceptional professionalism and commitment through multiple specialized assignments including K9 Handler, Field Training Officer, Crisis Negotiator, as well as a Criminal Investigator assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division. Throughout his exemplary career, Detective Miller has been recognized with 41 Unit Citations and numerous commendations recognizing his merit, bravery, and excellence in criminal investigations, as well as successful narcotics seizures and lifesaving searches for endangered individuals. Congratulations to Detective Miller on his recognition and thank you for your service to our community!

Last Thursday I was happy to participate in a Grand Opening and Ribbon Cutting Ceremony for Launchpad Bikes in Easton! Owned by Jimmy Madden, Launchpad Bikes is a new bike shop where they offer repair services and different types of bikes for purchase. I was happy to present Jimmy and his family with a Certificate of Recognition to mark the special occasion. Congrats again to the Madden family for this exciting endeavor and make sure to check out Launchpad Bikes for your biking needs!

🔷 Launchpad Bikes, 507 Northampton St., Easton, PA 18042