May 15, 2013

COVER STORY

‘Hunter raised my spirits to the sky’

Diane Silviotti, founder of “Cans for Diane” is grateful for Hunter MacMillan’s can collection efforts. The Notre Dame HS senior raised $1,000 to help pay Silviotti’s property taxes.

By Carol Smith

BETHLEHEM

Marles: ZHB has no jurisdiction on issue

Attorney Blake Marles consults with his client, Abe Atiyeh, during the recent Bethlehem Zoning Board meeting. Marles said that a ZHB has no authority to issue an “advisory opinion” on a land development application.

By Bernie O’Hare

ANOTHER VIEW

By Ed Courrier

PRIMARY ELECTION

NorCo Exec candidates mix it up in lively debate

As Northampton Community College’s women went after each other in a lacrosse game, three Northampton County Executive candidates beat each other with verbal sticks May 9 during a lively debate sponsored by the League of Women Voters (LWV

By Bernie O’Hare

Area municipal and county candidates round-up

HELLERTOWN

Borough police officers honored

Hellertown Borough Police Chief Robert Shupp recognizes borough police officers for their work the past year at the April 15 council meeting.

By Mark Reccek

LEHIGH VALLEY

Victim of gun violence remembered on birthday

Nearly 40 people gathered to wish Tyree Wimberly a happy birthday May 8. They even sang him a song. But Tyree was not there for his family, friends and neighbors. They were gathered outside of Scoobie’s Genleman’s Club, where Wimberly was gunned down Jan. 26 while running an errand for his sister.

By Bernie O’Hare

FOUNTAIN HILL

Legion donates taser funding

Fountain Hill Police Chief Ed Bechert receives a check from Fountain Hill American Legion finance officer Jim Taglang.

By Bill Tattersall

CLASSMATES

65 years of friendships

Sixty-five years after graduating from St. John Capistrano School, eighth-grade pals Frank Gerencser, Steve Chanitz, Bob Rudas, Chuck Uhl, Joe Kravatz and John Berry gather each month at the Palace Restaurant for breakfast.

By Dana Grubb

BETHLEHEM

Habitat volunteers

Following a check presentation,  Bethlehem Rotary Club president George Mowrer stands with Debrah Cummins, director of LV Habitat for Humanity and homeowner Elsie Garcia, who received $3,000 from the local service organization.

By Tim Gilman

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY

A chip off the ‘ole first house

A remnant of the First House of Bethlehem still exists as a small blackboard pointer, just over two feet in length.

By Jason Rehm

CLASSROOM

A ‘Passport on Ice’

Spectators were treated to a trip around the world as ice skating majors at The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts performed “Passport on Ice” at Steel Ice Center in Bethlehem. The Lehigh Valley Charter High School for the Arts is the only free high school in the United States with a figure skating program.

By Cynthia Underhill

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM SPORTS

Hawks get by Pates

Bethlehem Catholic scored in three straight innings to grab a 3-2 win over Freedom in the Lehigh Valley Conference semifinals game at Patriot’s Park in Allentown. The Golden Hawks advance to play Emmaus in the conference championship Thursday after Emmaus defeated top-seeded Northampton 6-2 in ten innings in the nightcap.

By Chuck Hixson

Bethlehem sports on the Facebook.

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Trash worries Second Ave. resident

BASD: First steps taken on Nitschmann MS

Bethlehem: Boutique volunteers begin their work
Bethlehem: Third book sale opens

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

High school news reports

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

Send news to the Bethlehem Press

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May 8, 2013

ELECTION 2013-05-06

Press seeks input from area candidates

The Bethlehem Press has limited space and resources to contact local candidates and publish the issues important to their campaigns.

We encourage all candidates for local office in the City of Bethlehem and surrounding municipalities to contact us with the following information:

• your name and the office you seek;

• what you believe is the most important issue facing that office and your plan to confront it; and

• a high-quality digital portrait we can include with your response.

Responses may be edited for brevity.

Deadline: May 11.

Please contact us at 610-625-2121, or email Editor George Taylor at gtaylor@tnonline.com.

BETHLEHEM

Prayers for the nation

Miyo Lloyd, a member of the El Shaddai Bethlehem Ministries, lifts her hands to the sky during one of the moments of prayer.

By Dana Grubb

BETHLEHEM

Breaking new ground

Dr. Tom Lubben announces plans to establish the Pennsylvania Autism Charter School for children from 3 1/2 to 8 years of age. Annette Hickey, on his left, will become executive director of the school and she describes the methods that will be used to assist the 50 to 75 students expected to attend PACS when it opens in September 2014.

By Dana Grubb

DEBATES

Mayor: Trash, police, districts

Bethlehem mayoral candidates J. William Reynolds and Robert Donchez debated each other in an April 30 forum sponsored by the League of Women Voters of Northampton County.

By Andrew Cass

DEBATES

Council: Budget tops the list
The six democratic candidates vying for seats on Bethlehem City Council squared off in a May 2 debate sponsored by the Bethlehem City Democratic Committee in Prosser Auditorium in the Haupert Union Building on Moravian College’s campus.

By Andrew Cass

SOUTHSIDE

Gen. Pulaski honored

At one time, the Lehigh Valley’s strong Polish-American community worked the blast furnaces and cranes at Bethlehem Steel Corp., producing the gun forgings and artillery shells that protected this nation in two world wars. On April 28, about 60 members of this community were at Bethlehem’s Southside again, not to manufacture steel, but to commemorate a man who represents the very best of American and Polish ideals.

By Bernie O’Hare

FOUNTAIN HILL

Arbor Day honors Exchange Club

Mike Klo of the Fountain Hill Shade Tree Commission speaks at the borough’s Arbor Day Celebration April 26. The tree in the foreground is one of the four Black Hill Spruce trees planted at the Little League field.

By Bill Tattersall

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Bechtel Building up for sale

Asking price for the Bechtel building in Bethlehem is at or near $1.95 million. The county, however, is interested in securing the best development plan for the community. With 95 parking spaces, 2.12 acres of land and 29,000 square feet of office space, the two-story building is zoned for commercial and mixed-use development.

By Carol Smith

ENTERTAINMENT

Habitat hosts ‘Hope” happening

Patrons of the Habitat for Humanity’s “A Toast to Hope” charity event socialize and circulate among wine and food stations spread throughout the Musikfest Cafe.

By Dana Grubb

BALL BENEFIT

Lauren’s Hope Foundation

Costumed Butterfly Ball attendees looking at a phone camera image are Lehigh Valley Hospital pediatric nurses who took care of brain-injury patient Liam David Nagy – Vivian Foulke, Andrea Gordon, Michelle Moyer, Rebecca Favretto and Wayne Foulke, husband, who took the picture of the nurses at the masquerade event.

By Tim Gilman

READING BENEFIT
Books for the troops

Judith’s Reading Room in Bethlehem was bustling recently as more than 50 people boxed books to send to the troops. The Lehigh Valley Steelhawks joined regular volunteers for this event. Cathy Leiber, co-founder of Judith’s Reading Room, said the players were passionate about selecting their books.

By Cynthia Underhill

CLASSROOM

City MS Orchestra 156 strong

Nitschmann MS orchestra director Daniel Zettlemoyer instructs the All City Middle School Orchestra, “I need that crescendo going into that downbeat,” during a rehearsal.

By Dana Grubb

CLASSROOM

Becahi students take TEAMS title

Eight student members of the Engineering Team from Bethlehem Catholic HS placed first in the TEAMS Competition of the PA Society of Professional Engineers, Keystone Northeast Chapter.  The Golden Hawks won their local division, competing at Penn State Wilkes-Barre campus.

Contributed photo

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY

WWI brought major league players to the city

During World War I (April 6, 1917- Nov. 11, 1918), residents of Bethlehem were privileged to be able to watch major league level baseball at the Bethlehem Steel Athletic Field on Elizabeth Avenue.

By Karen M. Samuels

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM SPORTS

LVC officials hold emergency meeting

Lehigh Valley Conference principals and athletic directors met Monday morning in an emergency meeting to discuss the future of the LVC as we know it, following last week’s developments that the Mountain Valley Conference invited 10 of the league’s schools to form a ‘super conference,’ while  excluding Bethlehem Catholic and Central Catholic.

By Pete Car

Bethlehem sports on the Facebook.

OTHER STORIES

BASD: 2.1% tax increase looms

BASD: Who will pay for Pre-K?

Bethlehem: Scout brings zoning applicants good luck

Freemansburg: Utilities must be answerable

Hanover Township: New rescure truck on the way

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

High school news reports

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

Send news to the Bethlehem Press

To advertise: Ad staff

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May 1, 2013

IN YOUR BACKYARD

Building a nest

A male Sparrow flies with a pieces of tall, dried ornamental grass that he will use to build a nest.  The birds will use the nest nearly the whole year.

By Linda Anthony

OUT FOR BLOOD

Ohio man asks other for gift of life

Al Whitney, of Cleveland, Ohio, stops in the Lehigh Valley recently to donate plateletes to the Miller-Keystone Blood Center.

By Jim Marsh

SOUTHSIDE

Happy birthday, Coretta Scott King

Just in time for her birthday, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and local civil rights activist unveiled a memorial stone on Saturday, April 27, in honor of Coretta Scott King.

By Bernie O’Hare

BUSINESS

James Funeral Home hosts dedication

Located at 527 Center St. in Bethlehem’s Historic District, the James Funeral Home and Cremation Service, P.C. opened under new ownership March 12. A dedication ceremony was held April 20 at the former Snyder, Hinkle and Lunsford Funeral Home.

By Tim Gilman

BETHLEHEM

Partnership provides books

Julianna Mancuso celebrates her first birthday, so she her mother Lillian Lopez selected the tot’s first book, “My Clothes Mi Ropa.” They live in Hellertown.

By Dana Grubb

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY

The circus is coming

Crowds of young and old alike swelled into Central Park’s show grounds in late May 1945 to witness six fast-moving, head-spinning performances headed by the one and only Clyde Beatty, greatest wild animal trainer of them all.

By Jason Rehm

ENTERTAINMENT

A not so terrible concert

The Really Terrible Orchestra of Pennsylvania, based in Bethlehem, and the Lehigh Valley Pops Orchestra performed together recently at Moravian College’s Foy Hall. Violinist Ronald Haas of Bethlehem, who plays in both orchestras, was among 80 musicians in the joint performance. George Fennell, who conducts both orchestras separately, was the concert conductor.

By Tim Gilman

NEWS&VIEWS

Western holidays come top China

Parker Wang and his wife Rae are typical of the growing number of affluent young couples in Shanghai with disposable incomes that retailers target at Christmas and the New Year.

By Carol Gorney

CLASSROOM

Friends of Liberty soiree

Nitschmann Middle School principal Jackie Santanasto and Lorita Musselman attend the Soiree and taste hors d’oeuvres served by Angel de Jesus, a hospitality student at Northampton Community College. All three are Liberty HS alumni.

By Cynthia Underhill

St. Anne students wear pink for cancer

Pink Out basketball event co-organizer Nicole Medei of the St. Anne CYO shows a pink T-shirt to Ann Lefebvre and fourth-grade daughter Margaret at the sales table near the entrance to the gym.

Contributed photo

CHURCH
Bethany UCC hosts talent show, dinner
Bethany United Church of Christ congregation hosted a variety show and dinner recently as a fundraiser for the Faith Formation Sunday school program. ABOVE: Flutist Abigail Sullivan, of Bethlehem, has her eyes on the sheet music during a solo performance by the Calypso Elementary School second grade student.
By Tim Gilman

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM SPORTS

Sinai wins District 11 tennis title

Andrew Sinai felt that he could have, and should have done better in the District 11 singles tournament last year, losing in the quarterfinals to eventual runner-up Egor Ivanov of Parkland. This year, he wanted to prove that he was the best tennis player in the district.

By CJ Hemerly

Bethlehem sports on the Facebook.

OTHER STORIES

Lehigh Valley: LVHN, GHHA agree to merger

Bethlehem: Careful control advances are made

Northampton County: Bridge repair work to begin

Hellertown: Volunteers begin work on town square fountain

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

High school news reports

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

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To advertise: Ad staff

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April 24, 2013

WHAT’S ON FOURTH?

Mouth on fire

Sponsored by Andrew Po’s Homebase Skate Shop, the first ever hot pepper eating contest found a half-dozen willing participants with strong stomachs. If you thought jalapeno peppers were hot, try eating habanero, chocolate habanero and then four ghost peppers after the jalapeno. That’s what 25-year-old Ben Bridge from Phillipsburg, N.J. did to win the hot pepper eating contest. ABOVE: Ben Bridge takes a bite of a jalapeno pepper. To win the contest, he ate a total of eight very hot peppers.

By Carol Smith

EARTH DAY

Practical recycling

Alex Bundrick, president of Moravian’s Eco Club, demonstrates how tires salvaged from the Monocacy Creek, when painted, can make colorful planters. Marigolds are good pest deterrent plants.

By Carol Smith

GREENWAY

Harmony Pavilion dedicated

A Chinese lion entertains the crowd during the dedication ceremonies Sarurday for the Harmony Pavilion on the Greenway. Brothers Sam Hau and Billy Hau are the animators.

By Douglas Graves

SOUTHSIDE

Walkway raises expectations

An artist’s rendition of how the completed Hoover-Mason Trestle will likely appear once open for use the summer of 2014.

By Nate Jastrzemski

FOUNTAIN HILL

New sign at Natural Cemetery

On April 13 employees of Spillman Farmer Architects of Bethlehem and Boy Scout Brice Kessler of Bethlehem helped erect a new sign at the Green Meadow Natural Cemetery in Fountain Hill Cemetery. The steel sign, which weighs 700 pounds, is held in place by 40 tons of stone.

By Bill Tattersall

CLASSROOM

Saucon Valley hosts District 10 musicians

Some 180 student musicians from 45 middle schools in seven counties met recently at Saucon Valley High School, Hellertown. They were participating in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 10 Intermediate Band and Orchestra Fest. The event brought the students and their band directors to the school for lessons and rehearsals all day before a concert was presented that evening in the auditorium.

By Cynthia Underhill

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM SPORTS

Canes still pace East

Liberty walked away from the Christopher Dock tournament without the title, but with some added perspective at where they stand as they head into the second half of the season. The Hurricanes finished 5-3 in pool play and advanced to the tournament quarterfinals, before losing to North Penn in a one

By Pete Car

Bethlehem sports on the Facebook.

OTHER STORIES

Southside: Proposed park is a win-win

Bethlehem Township: Temporary flooding fix Ok’d

Bethlehem Township: Apartment complex clears final hurdle

Northampton County: Human Services building will be ready on time

BASD: MS band expenses a surprise

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

High school news reports

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

Send news to the Bethlehem Press

To advertise: Ad staff

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April 17, 2013

SOUTHSIDE

Cleanup springs into action

Donegan ES students sweep along the sidewalk of East Fourth Street during the Southside Spring Cleanup April 6, under the supervision of principal Sonnia Vasqez (red vest). She said the fourth and fifth graders are from the Cadet and Leadership Program.

By Tim Gilman

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY
New archives building dedicated

Maurice Dimmick, Northampton County’s first archivist, demonstrates how the new stacks slide open and closed. Approximately two thirds of the building is a warehouse where high-density shelving on a track system store file boxes of county records that date back to 1793.

By Carol Smith

LV CHRISTIAN HS PRESENTS

‘Annie’

Lehigh Valley Christian High School students will perform the musical “Annie” 7 p.m. this Friday and 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. Saturday. The show will be cast 11 LVCHS students and six younger students from surrounding school districts. This year’s performance marks the first year the school is holding a musical.

By Mark Reccek

NOTRE DAME HS PRESENTS

‘The Music Man’

Notre Dame HS Theatre will present Meredith Wilson’s “The Music Man” for its spring musical production, the story of con man Harold Hill’s scam of small town River City, Iowa, in which he convinces the community to buy instruments for a boys band and then plans to skip town with the payments, only to fall in love with librarian and music teacher Marian Paroo.

By Dana Grubb

LV CHARTER SCHOOL FOR THE ARTS PRESENTS

‘The 25th Annual Putnam Co. Spelling Bee’

 The Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Arts will present "The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee," A musical comedy about a diverse group of contestants compete for the Putnam County Spelling Bee trophy. ABOVE: Raquel Macias as Marcy Park, the typical over-achieving student, sits atop a contestant pyramid at the conclusion of, "I Know Six Languages."

By Dana Grubb

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY

Back to Bethlehem Steel, a visual journey

Author and photographer Joe Elliott discusses the effect that natural lighting had on his interior photographs of Bethlehem Steel Plant structures.

By Ken Raniere

THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM SPORTS

'Canes give Pates first loss

Liberty knew that a loss to Freedom last Friday night at Coca-Cola Park would mean a hole in the division. The Patriots entered the contest undefeated in the Lehigh Valley Conference and had a one-game lead over Liberty. A loss would have meant an early two-game hole that nobody on the Hurricanes roster wanted to deal with.

By Peter Car

Bethlehem sports on the Facebook.

OTHER STORIES

Lehigh County: Debt vote could be soon

Northampton County: County faces lawsuit over Gracedale transportation contract

BASD: School board considers Pre-K expansion

Bethlehem: Lodge aids city’s Mounted Police Unit

Bethlehem Township: Housenick talks gain momentum

Hellertown: Police chief says new bikes needed

Saucon Valley: District terminates Berkheimer contract

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

High school news reports

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

Send news to the Bethlehem Press

To advertise: Ad staff

Follow us on Facebook

Follow us on Twitter