Several community-minded individuals have taken their rightful place on a distinguished plaque at the Slatington Public Library.

On Tuesday, the library hosted the family and friends of the newest names added to the Louise Hallman Memorial Plaque.

Secretary Renee Evans introduced each of the new honorees, which included Russell Hallman Sr., Ron and Hali Kuntz, and Lynne Fedorcha.

Evans said it isn’t only the generosity of Hali and Lynne that the library appreciates, but also their presence. She noted that with Christmas just around the corner, Hali and Lynne are a “present to our library.”

Additionally, Evans acknowledged the Hallman family, whom she said has been another present to the library.

The Louise Hallman Memorial Plaque was donated by her children Linda Nierer, Connie Rehrig and Russell Hallman Sr. in memory of their beloved mother. In addition, it serves as a philanthropic endeavor for family and/or friends to donate a minimum of $1,000 in honor or memory of a loved one to benefit the Slatington Public Library.

Russell Hallman Sr.

Hallman Sr. passed away in 2018, and was a familiar face in town, having owned Hallman’s Service Station for many years.

Serving as a member of Slatington Borough Council, as well as chairman of the Halloween parade, Hallman was a very civic-minded man who loved his family and was very proud of his children, Rebecca and Russell.

Nierer said the family wanted to do something for her mother.

“She was always active in the community helping people,” Nierer said. “My brother was always helping the community, too.”

Ron and Hali Kuntz

Lifelong residents of the Northern Lehigh area, they donated $1,000 to the library as they continue their support and involvement in the community.

Retired from 30 years at Mack Trucks, Ron keeps busy as chairman of the Walnutport Water Authority, as well as operating NL Team Sales along with Hali.

Ron previously served as president of the Slatington Skeet Club and the former Slatington Booster Club.

Hali retired from teaching as a secondary mathematics teacher at Northern Lehigh Middle School in 2014.

Her involvement with the Slatington Public Library is vast, including serving as a board director since 2012, assistant treasurer, preschool story hour teacher, and currently facilitating the library’s monthly book club meetings. In addition, Hali has been a member of the Woman’s Club of Slatington since 1982. Residing in Walnutport and their second home in Ocean City, Maryland, Ron and Hali truly do “bleed blue and white” as their friends often say and the library appreciates their generosity.

“It is an honor,” Ron said. “We always felt the community is so good to us; we owe them for all they did for us.”

Hali added that her family has always strived to be a “big part of this community.”

Lynne Fedorcha

Honored with two $1,000 donations is Slatington Public Library’s treasurer, Lynne Fedorcha.

Fedorcha’s immediate family, which consists of her husband Gary, children Kori (husband Frank), Kyle (wife Marci), and Cody (wife Jenna), and grandchildren Tyler, Franki, Kyle, Derek, Aaron, Sophie, and Elise, love her passion and commitment to the beloved library. Secondly, a close relative who wishes to remain anonymous donated for Fedorcha’s dedication to the library.

As a retired teacher, reading specialist and district administrator, Fedorcha gave 28 years of her love of learning to the Northern Lehigh School District.

Currently, she is the library’s treasurer, Preschool Story Hour Teacher, and enjoys her monthly book club with friends.

Reading has always been Fedorcha’s passion.

“It has educated me and transported me to faraway places and different times,” Fedorcha said. “Reading aloud to children is one of my greatest joys.”

Born and raised in Lehighton, Lynne and Gary moved to Slatington in 1976 and live in Washington Township.

Lynne considers her most valuable work as a volunteer with the Slatington Public Library since becoming a board director in 2011.

“I feel so honored, so (grateful) that my family did this,” Lynne said. “The library is a passion of mine, and to think that my family thought enough of me to invest in my passion is quite the honor.”