Mark Laub, with Northampton Fire Department, is one of a large team of men and women who provide excellent fire and emergency services to Northampton Borough and surrounding communities through mutual aid agreements. Northampton Mayor Tony Pristash presented the Gold Cement Bag Award to Laub at the Jan. 3 Northampton Borough Council reorganization meeting.

Laub, as a fire department group leader, was surprised to receive an individual award for his efforts at the borough’s fire department.

The Gold Cement Bag Award is given to a person who has labored to further the betterment of Northampton. The award was instituted in 2001 by borough council to recognize residents who unselfishly serve the Northampton community.

Laub received the Gold Cement Bag Award for his diligence working on behalf of the fire department. He secured grant funding that helped provide equipment and improvements to the Northampton fire station, 4 Lerchenmiller Drive. Currently, he is assembling grants to fund a new electronic sign at the fire station and a grant to replace the building’s garage doors.

Pristash presented the award to Laub, noting the team effort in the borough’s fire department is a testament to people like Laub who find a niche to assist the overall effort to provide the best fire and emergency services to the community.

Laub expressed gratitude for the honor of being selected the Gold Cement Bag Award recipient for 2021. He also serves as president of the fire department’s board of directors.

Laub joins past award recipients Anthony Lopsonzski Sr., Gene Kutzler, Jack Harhart and Gerald “Jerry” Deily.

In another fire department matter, about 15 elected officers of the fire department were administered the oath of office by Pristash, also at the Jan. 3 meeting. Pristash thanked them for their collective efforts in making the fire department an excellent organization.