44th Annual Civic Trust Awards

November 4, 2021

On November 4th the BIP held its 44th Annual Civic Trust Awards program at the Seipsville Inn in Palmer Township. Prior to the dinner, Bob Blanchfield, President of the BIP welcomed the members present and the recipients. After dinner, Chairwomen of the Awards Committee Debra Young presented the 2021 Civic Trust Awards recipients.

Award Recipients

Booster Award – Diane Grube

Community Service Award – The Palmer Recovery Center

Civic Trust Award – X-Golf Lehigh Valley

Civic Trust Award – Essence of Health

Civic Trust Award – Enterprise Rent A Car

Scroll down to see information about each recipient.

booster award – diane grube

This award recognizes outstanding contributions to the Palmer Township community. It is presented to the person who has exhibited outstanding service to others thus distinguishing Palmer Township through their contributions to their fellow man, business community or political environment.

Palmer Community Weekend is a jewel of the township that other municipalities have tried to mimic, but don’t fully succeed. There is a special feeling each and every year, and that feeling is community. This is not by chance, it has been cultivated and nurtured beginning many years ago with Eddie Grube, Diane’s father, and has continued with the Grube family.

In 1976, there was a bicentennial celebration which included covered wagons that camped out at the high school. They paraded through the neighborhoods and ended at Fairview Park to celebrate with a pig roast. Many residents turned out for this and seemed to enjoy getting together with friends and neighbors.

Years later, Eddie and Palmer Supervisor Don Campbell decided that Palmer Township needed something to bring the community together. Remembering the bicentennial event, they planned Palmer Township Community Weekend, held at Fairview Park…and the rest is history.

When Don moved away, Eddie recruited Diane and her sister Cindy to help. It was understood in their family, as soon as you were able, you were expected to set up tables and chairs and be there to help out wherever needed. Her niece Nicole stepped up and has been Diane’s right hand and she joins her tonight.

community service award – the palmer recovery center

The Community Service Award recognizes individuals and/or groups who by the service to others or contributions to the Palmer community help to distinguish Palmer as a caring community.

The Palmer Recovery Center is located at 2906 William Penn Hwy in the Palmer Business and Commercial Center.

The mission of the Palmer Recovery Center is to provide a safe, sober, and supportive space for those seeking relief from the effects of drugs and alcohol. They offer support groups, certified recovery specialists, advocacy, education, and work to fight against stigma.

The center offers help around the clock, providing on-call services after hours, and provides information about treatment, recovery-based meetings housing, employment, counseling and other life sustaining needs. The Palmer Recovery Center feels a responsibility to Palmer and the surrounding areas to create a healthier, stronger community, that is better equipped to help those in most need.

This center is operated by Guided Pathways, Inc and is funded by Northampton County Drug & Alcohol.

We welcome and wish you the best of luck.

civic trust award – essence of health

The award is the highest tribute that the association of professionals can pay to a business, corporation or individual conducting commerce within the township boundaries of Palmer. It is intended to recognize significant physical improvement to existing properties, as well as new structures, which through the free-enterprise system in turn make an outstanding contribution to the business climate of the township.

Essence of Health is a family owned and operated natural health store located at 3615 Nicholas Street, offering a wide selection of vitamins, herbs, supplements, food and essential oils. In addition, they offer weight loss, fitness, immune and personal care products. A special feature of the store is their organic juice and smoothie bar.

Moving from 25^th Street in Wilson Borough to this location offered better access and parking, on a beautiful lot with a mature landscape and the ability to create a space to meet their vision. Converting an existing doctors office into a retail store took many modifications and enhancements to meet the code requirements. The interior space was gutted to modernize and beautify the store’s appearance, which included a 14’ long red oak counter with a live edge.

The objective was to create a destination place for their customers and future customers, and they have succeeded. Not only have they retained 90% of their existing customers, but they are also getting new customers from within Palmer and Bethlehem communities.

Congratulations to Larry & Effe Bittner and welcome to Palmer Township!

civic trust award – X-golf lehigh valley

This Civic Trust Award is being presented to X-Golf Lehigh Valley. X-Golf is located at 80 Kunkle Drive at the previous site of Cask Taphouse.

Golfers looking to swing and putt indoors can visit this 10,000 sq.ft. facility offering 7 golf simulators with state-of-the-art technology, automatic ball feeders, 3D graphics and prcision sensor systems to feel as if they are on some of the world’s most popular golf courses.

Exterior renovations included painting the building and patio, repaving and lining the parking lot, and cutting back overgrowth from along side the highway.

Inside, the interior walls were removed to fit the 7 simulators, scaled back the kitchen and filled it with equipment, moved the bar to a centralized location and increased the bar seating to 50 people. The entire inside was painted and decor was updated.

With added services of golf lessons, club fittings, full bar and bar food, vistors experience and ultimate golfing entertainment year-round.