December 27,
2017
COVER STORY
‘O Come Let
Us Adore Him’
The
Live Bethlehem Christmas Pageant, a re-enactment of historical and Biblical
events surrounding the birth of Christ, held its 39th annual performance Dec. 9
and 10 at the Rose Garden Park band shell in northwest Bethlehem. The Lehigh
Valley’s first snowfall on Dec. 9 reduced the pageant’s attendance to 100
spectators, but higher temperatures and some sunshine attracted more than 300
people to the event the next afternoon, according to pageant officials. A cast
of some 100 costumed participants, live animals and musical accompaniment makes
the admission-free event a family-oriented attraction.
By Tim
Gilman
ArtsQuest
presents second Linny Awards
The 245 people who attended the
second annual Linny Awards at the ArtsQuest Center’s Musikfest Cafe were
treated to a surprise announcement at the beginning of the arts awards
ceremony. ArtsQuest Foundation Chair Jac Yaissle introduced Jane George as the
new and first full-time executive director of the foundation. Photo: Posing
after the dinner and awards presentations are, left to right, front: Alice
Kwiatkowski, Connexions Gallery; Bria Pickel, Student Artist Scholarship; and
Alexandra Pobiedzinski, Emerging Artist of the Year. (l-r rear) Richard Shemonsky, Arts Educator
of the Year; Anthony Marricinni, Connexions Gallery; Emil Lukas, Visual Artist
of the Year; Joe Feilmeier, Lafayette Ambassador Bank; Craig Larimer, accepting
for Daniel Dae Kim; Dolores Laputka, Lifetime Achievement Volunteer in the
Arts; and Walt Groller, Performing Artist of the Year.
By Carole Gorney
Tucker Toy
Run delivers
On Nov. 4,
over 630 motorcyclists made their annual ride through the Lehigh Valley, from
Northampton to the Fountain Hill campus of St. Luke’s University Health
Network, participating in the seventh Tucker’s Toy Run to deliver nearly 1,000
toys for the hospital’s pediatric patients. Organized by Rick Nauman, the
annual event is a tribute to Tucker Stuart, a motorcyclist who died in a 2011
motorcycle accident. Four vehicles filled with toys accompanied the bikers, who
in some cases also transported toys on their motorcycles. Photo: Riding the
farthest to participate in this year’s event are Tammy Belldina, Jamie Burch
and Doug Burch from Morgantown, West Virginia.
By Dana
Grubb
New Street parking deck opens
After a year
of construction and nearly a decade of planning, the city has opened its new
car park on New Street; a six-story, 626-spot tower that officials hope will
help reinvigorate the neighborhood. Mayor Bob Donchez said at an afternoon
gathering Nov. 29, one year after the project groundbreaking, “This has been a
long time coming. The opening of this garage will change the parking dynamic in
South Bethlehem, especially on the western end of the Southside.” He said the
partnership between the city, Lehigh University and St. Luke’s University
Hospital will prove an anchor for renewed interest and excitement in the area,
and that the garage will ease parking congestion for visitors, shoppers,
students and local employees.
By Nate
Jastrzemski
Wrestling
takes center stage
The 49th Annual Tony Iasiello
Memorial Christmas City Tournament will take place on December 29 and 30 at
Bethlehem Catholic. The Golden Hawks will look to maintain their dominance in
the event after last year’s performance saw them crown 10 champions, 13 medals
and collecting 314 points for the team title to runner-up Cranford’s 180.
By Peter Car
Theatre
continues to draw crowds
With so many platforms competing for your time and dollar, the depth,
range and success of the platform that is Lehigh Valley stage is rather
remarkable. Yes, theater is live and well and entertaining in the Lehigh
Valley. In its 90th year, Civic Theatre of Allentown continues its “The Next
Act” capital campaign. For its 26th season, The Pennsylvania Shakespeare
Festival set new attendance records. Muhlenberg Summer Music Theatre filled its
venues for its 37th season. In its 90th year, national touring theater
productions and other shows filled the State Theatre Center for the Arts.
Children’s theater and stage shows drew crowds to the 118-year-old Miller
Symphony Hall. Pennsylvania Playhouse noted its 52nd season. Touchstone Theatre
is in its 36th season. Munopco was back for its 90th season. Further afield,
Bucks County Playhouse continued its mix of new plays and classics in its 78th
year.
By Paul Willistein
Berthlehem:
School board reorganizes; Faccinetto remains president
Bethlehem: Nativity
sets on display
Bethlehem:
BAVTS celebrates student achievement
Bethlehem:
PPL safety detectives entertain and teach at St. Anne’s
South
Bethlehem: Banana Factory hosts Guzy event
Bethlehem
Township: New labor contracts approved
Northampton
County: Brown goes out on a high note
Northampton
County: Brown introduces last-minute tax cut
Lehigh
County: Electronic copies of budget approved
WEEKLY FEATURES
Around town
community calendar
Police logs
Area
obituaries
Center for
Animal Health and Welfare
Volunteers
Student
profiles
High school
news reports
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