August 23, 2017
Bethlehem’s reply: Holding hands and prayer
Over the weekend, as the 34th
Musikfest came to an end, Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio had just one word
to describe it - “Great!” Over the 10-day festival, over 1.2 million people
visited the Christmas City. Only 36 people were arrested, mostly for public
drunkenness. But 309 miles away in Charlottesville, Va., a “Unite the Right” rally ended in tragedy. Three people are
dead. Dozens more are injured. A president first said “both sides” are to
blame, then blamed white supremacists and the KKK, and finally returned to
saying that “both sides” are responsible. How did Bethlehem respond? By holding
hands. By praying. Photo: Bethlehem officials, clergy, NAACP members and
Bethlehem residents join hands and pray for an end to racism in America.
By Bernie O’Hare
Another kind of eclipse
By Ed Courrier
Earth, the moon and the sun
Mark Twain fans may recall how a total eclipse helps
protagonist Hank Morgan escape death and impress royalty and the magician
Merlin when Morgan time travels to sixth century England after a blow to the
head in Twain’s novel “A Connecticut Yankee in King’s Arthur’s Court.” On Aug.
21, a total solar eclipse, visible to the continental United States, inspired
scientists, baffled wildlife and dazzled star gazers with its celestial show.
Photo: Phyllis Bailey visited her six grandchildren in Bethlehem this week and
they came to the library to take part in the solar eclipse festivities. “With
all the things going on in the world, an event like this shows us that God is
still in control,” Bailey said. “This is such a phenomenon.”
By April Peterson, Rich Chartrand, Lori p[atrick and Susan
Bryant
Event sets new attendance record
A record number of performances and performers, several new
programming elements and nearly ideal weather conditions combined to attract a
record number of patrons to Musikfest and the city of Bethlehem Aug. 4-13.
Attendance at the 2017 festival, presented by the nonprofit ArtsQuest, was
1,196,000, up 25 percent from the 957,000 people who attended the event in
2016. The 2017 attendance tops the previous all-time attendance record of
1,152,000 set in 2008 and equaled in 2009. Photo: Folks dancing to
Doppelganger’s German version of “Mack the Knife” (“Die Moritat von Mackie
Messer”) at Festplatz Aug. 13.
Contributed article/Photos by Tim Gilman and Ed Courrier
Community marks National Night Out
Freemansburg Borough held its National Night Out Aug. 1 at
the borough park. The event paid tribute to borough police officers and first
responders, while giving visitors the chance to meet those who serve in the
community. Visitors were also treated to games, free finger- printing, food and
drinks. Photo: Freemansburg Borough Council Vice President Justin LaBar grills
up hot dogs for National Night Out visitors.
By Mark Reccek
Football returns Friday night
Area football teams took part in
their season opening scrimmages last weekend, but the lights come on for real this Friday night
when the football season kicks off across the state. Bethlehem Catholic and
Liberty both begin their season on Friday, as the Hawks host Pocono Mountain
West at BASD Stadium, while Liberty hits the road for a contest against East
Stroudsburg South. Both games kickoff at 7 p.m., just like Freedom’s Saturday
night showdown at J. Birney Crum Stadium when they face Allentown Central
Catholic. For the Golden Hawks, Friday will be their first shot at an encore
following last year’s state semifinal appearance with head coach Joe Henrich
back in charge.
By Peter Car
Allentown Fair marks 165 year
One of
the United State’s Top 50 fairs kicks off Aug. 29 and runs through Sept. 4,
Labor Day, the unofficial end-of-summer holiday. Fair organizers are touting
the milestone-year event as “The Pick of the Season,” saving the best of what
summer has to offer for last. Headlining the Fair’s Grandstand shows are
ticketed concerts: Thomas Rhett, Aug. 29; Keith Urban, Aug. 30; John
Mellencamp, Aug. 31; Rascal Flatts, Sept. 1; Pentatonix, Sept. 2, and Tito
Nieves, Ivy Queen, Jose´ Alberto “El Canario,” Sept. 3.
OTHER STORIES
Bethlehem: City Council votes against gifts
Bethlehem: LVIP fire likely accidental
Bethlehem Township: Board to survey resident library
interest
Freemansburg: Council approves fire co. radio purchase
Valley: Interstate 78 repair work begins
Northampton County: Brown has some good news … and some
better news
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