August 29, 2018

COVER STORY

It was the day SPEEDY DELIVERY came to Bethlehem

It’s the 50th anniversary of  ‘Mr. Rogers’ Neighborhood,’ a children’s program on PBS which ran from 1968 to 2001 and can still be viewed today on PBS and Amazon Prime. Children sharing this masterpiece today will learn about kindness, doing what’s right, and making sense of the world around them. Fred Rogers accomplished all of this through puppetry, make believe, one-on-one talking and ending his show every time with the notion “I like you just the way you are” so all children could feel important and special. Photo: Donning his Speedy Delivery hat from the series, David Newell poses for the camera in his standard at the door position when Fred Rogers would open it upon ‘Mr. McFeeley’s’ knock.

By Lori Patrick

 

LEHIGH VALLEY

Help available for abuse victims

The Aug. 14 release of the grand jury report on decades-long abuse in Pennsylvania by over 300 Catholic priests was a double-edged sword for victims of sexual abuse. More than 1,000 victims referenced in the report got the closest thing to justice, but the healing process is far from over. “Any time there is large amounts of news media coverage, it isn’t uncommon for people to feel reminded of their own experiences of abuse,” said Ali Mailen Perrotto, president of the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center in Lebanon and Schuylkill counties. “It is one of the trauma echoes, right along with hearing something, seeing something or smelling something that takes a victim back to those horrible memories.”

By Jarroa Hedes and Nate Jastrzemski

RELATED ITEMS

Pope’s apology, a call for solidarity, reform

Bishop’s letter read to congregations Aug. 19

Church must examine itself

 

COMMUNITY

Summer fun at the library

If it’s a Tuesday evening during the summer, it’s game night for children at the Bethlehem Area Public Library. Perhaps because it was raining or maybe because Musikfest was in full swing, the group that gathered Aug. 7 was small, but everyone seemed to be having a great time. Photo: Socializing is a big part of kids’ activities at the library. Here, Jennifer Rios of Bethlehem (right) and her daughters, Margaret Riebe (left) and Mary Riebe (right), welcome Le-Le to a game of Candy Land.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

MOUNTED POLICE

Volunteers save taxpayers plenty

It’s a little before 6:30 in the morning, and volunteers Mike Duffy and Jamie Kaintz are already at Quadrant Private Wealth Stables, set to get Pharaoh, George, Asa and Grey ready to face another day of duty. Duffy and Kaintz are joined by Sgt. Mike Leaser of the city of Bethlehem’s Mounted Police Patrol. Their duties include mucking the stalls, feeding, ensuring there is plenty of fresh water for each mount, looking for any apparent injuries and making sure the barn is clean. The same process will be repeated in the evening by another set of volunteers. Photo: About 25 area residents contribute their time to assist the city of Bethlehem’s Mounted Patrol in a variety of ways saving city taxpayers over $400,00 in the process since 2014, according to police chief Mark DiLuzio.

By Dana Grubb

 

LIVING BY FAITH

North, south, east, west

Oki! Let me take you back to the month of August 2017. In my first piece, I discussed my feelings as my family drove away and left me to my new path in Montana. During that month, I found my neighbors to be a little standoffish. Only a few would talk to me, and they only had tales of terror about my new home, Browning. One neighbor even went so far as to say that I am too white to teach in Browning, and I needed to be stern, strict, and hide all my feelings in the hopes that my students and their families would be OK with me. Photo: Traditionally, the lodge, what they call niitóyis, we would say tipi, was placed so that the door would face east, in the direction of the sunrise.

By Carina Stoves

 

SPORTS

FHS rolls; eyes showdown with Becahi

“We got off to a fast start,” commented head coach Jason Roeder following the Freedom Patriots’ 68-14 season opening victory over the East Stroudsburg North Timberwolves at BASD Stadium Friday night. Showing a veteran coach’s gift for understatement, Roeder’s team started the game by holding ESN to a three-and-out following the opening kickoff. The next four plays from scrimmage were: a blocked punt recovered by Freedom at the 12, a 12-yard TD run by Sebastian Gibbs, an interception returned to the ESN 11, and an 11-yard TD pass from Jared Jenkins to Vincent Reph.

By Tom Wenborg

 

LV FOCUS

Allentown Fair brings summer to a fun close

The Great Allentown Fair, Aug. 28-Sept. 3, brings the summer season to a fun,
entertaining and educational close with a lineup of Grandstand shows, farm exhibitions, arts and crafts contests, culinary demonstrations, midway rides and more at the Allentown Fairgrounds 17th and Chew and Liberty streets, Allentown.
This year’s 166th edition of the Allentown Fair is sure to be another Lehigh Valley classic.

 

OTHER STORIES

BASD: State offers safety grants, but questions remain

BASD: ‘Bethlehem Built’ kicks off new school year

Lehigh Valley: SafeSports clear Nothstein of allegations

Northampton County: Magistrate directed to return court fee

Saucon Valley: Asst. Supt. leaves for Pleasant Valley

 

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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August 22, 2018

COVER STORY

A painful picture of abuse

The Pennsylvania Supreme Court released what is believed to be the largest grand jury report of its kind Tuesday, Aug.14, leveling accusations of sexual abuse against more than 300 Catholic Church priests and a “systematic cover-up” by church leaders. Every diocese in the state except Philadelphia and Altoona-Johnstown, which were the subject of previous grand juries, were the focus of the 18-month probe. According to Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, the investigation uncovered “a painful body of facts and documents that paint a complete picture of abuse and cover-up in every diocese.”

By Jarrod Hedes

 

LEHIGH VALLEY

‘It’s time to end this sort of politics’

It’s that bittersweet time of year when many parents see their college-bound children leave home for the first time. That includes Lehigh Valley congressional candidate Marty Nothstein and his wife, Christi. Their daughter left for Penn State Friday. Before that happened, the family awoke to a Morning Call story that placed Nothstein at the center of a supposed sexual misconduct investigation. Nothstein is a candidate for the state’s newly created seventh congressional district. “It was a tough day to send my daughter to school,” he would say later that day as he took his case to the public. Photo: Marty Nothstein, left, with campaign manager Dennis Roddy at the news conference this past Friday. “I want to say to the voters of this district: these are false accusations, planted just days after I began my candidacy,” Nothstein said at the press conference. … “It’s time to end this sort of politics. We should be talking about policy, not false rumors.”

By Bernie O’Hare

 

LEHIGH VALLEY

Scamming: Seniors learn how to protect themselves

Scamming anyone is terrible. Scamming senior citizens is particularly deplorable. Preventing it from happening was the reason for Pennsylvania Rep. Steve Samuelson’s (D-135th) Seniors Fraud and Scams forum held Aug. 13 at the Andrew W. Litzenberger House in Bethlehem. He was joined by two cabinet secretaries from the Wolf administration - Pennsylvania Secretary of Aging Teresa Osborne and Secretary of Revenue Dan Hassell. Photo: From left, Pennsylvania Secretary of Revenue Dan Hassell, Department of Aging Secretary Teresa Osborne and Pennsylvania Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-135th, discuss scams designed to steal money from senior citizens during an Aug. 13 forum in Bethlehem.

By Stephen Althouse

 

MUSIKFEST WRAP-UP

Adversity brings out best in community

Nearly one million guests from 40 states visited Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley as Musikfest celebrated its 35th year Aug. 3-12 with 500 music, art and comedy performances on 17 stages throughout the city. The 2018 Musikfest attendance, which does not include the preview night, was 955,000; total attendance at the Sands Steel Stage main stage for the 10 days of the festival and the preview night (11 total shows) was 45,119. Among the many highlights of this year’s event are the new Hungry Games competition, promoting the festival’s 38 different food vendors, expanded visual arts and family programming at Familienplatz, the Craft Cocktail Bar showcasing the region’s distilleries and wineries, and the addition of 20-plus music performances as a result of expanded hours at SteelStacks on weekends. Photo by Dana Grubb: Festgoers come and go along First Street near SteelStacks.

 

Police chief issues his Musikfest report

Police Chief Mark DiLuzio has released his annual report on incidents and events which occurred at Musikfest, and things look very good from an arrest standpoint, though he said he suspects the many rainy days kept things from heating up, metaphorically, at least.

By Nate Jastrzemski

 

LIVING BY FAITH

Star quilts and receding fears

Oki!  Have you ever felt like a total hypocrite? As I was preparing for my big move, everyone told me I was so brave, courageous and adventurous. The truth is I was terrified. What if I wasn’t what those who hired me were expecting? Would I encounter racism? After all, white settlers stole the land, sent the natives to reservations and created boarding schools for native children that were things from nightmares. Would I offend them without knowing? My fears were the main reason that I wanted to tour the school in June, before signing the contract. Another reason for coming out in June was to arrange for an apartment. When I entered the school on the second-to-last day of school, students were having their award ceremony. The students were polite and respectful, the staff friendly, and I was reminded of my time at Sheridan ES in Allentown, where, as a student, I felt for the first time how much the principal cared. Photo: In the days before the buffalo disappeared, honor and respect were shown by placing a buffalo robe around the shoulders of the recipient. When missionaries came, they taught the woman to sew quilts. Stars, having a great importance to Native People, were created on the quilts

By Carina Stoves (Carina was born in Bethlehem, raised in Allentown and lived in Lansford. Last August, she accepted a teaching position in a school on a Native American reservation in Browning, Montana. She is sharing some of her experiences in a series of columns.)

 

SPORTS

Terenzio named Freedom wrestling coach

Dante Terenzio might be only 32 years old, but he’s a veteran wrestling coach with plenty of experience.  Now, he’ll be looking to transition what he’s learned from 10 years on the job as a head coach to Freedom’s wrestling program. Terenzio was officially approved as Freedom’s newest head coach last week and is looking forward to the challenge of coaching in District 11 following a decade at Western Wayne High School, a District 2 AA school north of Scranton.

By Peter Car

 

LV FOCUS: ALLENTOWN FAIR

A Lehigh Valley classic

The Great Allentown Fair, a Lehigh Valley classic for 166 years, will soon welcome thousands of visitors to its big-name outdoor concerts, motorsport shows, rides, games, novelty attractions, food and a showcase of products from the region’s farms, gardens and homes. One of the United States’ Top 50 fairs kicks off Aug. 28 and runs through Sept. 3, Labor Day, the unofficial end of summer. Fair organizers are touting what’s “Great” about this year’s event filled with “Fun, Yum and Thrills.”

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: HCC balks at demo proposal
Bethlehem: Police charge man following stand-off

Bethlehem: District steps up lunch fee collections

Hellertown: Payung resigns from council

Lehigh Valley: FBI/police seek help in child exploitation case

Lehigh Valley: Fight4HER locals protest global gag rule

Lehigh County: Armstrong favors car registration fee

Northampton County: Audit shows county in good shape

 

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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August 15, 2018

COVER STORY

Deluges don’t stop the music

On Musikfest’s Friday opening night, the area experienced heavy rains which caused the Monocacy Creek to overflow. The high waters and flooding shut down a portion of the festival on the Northside, including at least three stages on Aug. 4. As a result, some of the performances were re-scheduled and moved to different locations. Officials started pumping water out of the flooded areas and back into the creek with the hopes of re-opening the flooded areas on Sunday.  Despite the setback, the skies started to clear by Saturday evening and the festival experienced large crowds on both the Northside and Southside.

By Mark Kirlin

 

NATIONAL NIGHT OUT-HELLERTOWN

Lower Saucon, borough mark night

Lower Saucon Township and Hellertown celebrated National Night Out at Dimmick Park Aug. 7.  One of many such events held throughout the United States promoting positive relationships between local citizens and the emergency personnel who serve them. On hand were the Lower Saucon and Hellertown police departments, Dewey Fire Company, Lower Saucon Fire Rescue, Steel City Fire Company and members of the National Guard.  A large crowd attended the event to see emergency vehicles and equipment close-up and to interact with members of the various emergency services. Photo: One of the highlights of the event was a tug-of-war between Hellertown’s police department and Lower Saucon’s police department. Hellertown emerged as the victors.

By Mark Kirlin

 

NATIONAL NIGH OUT-FREEMANSBURG

Elvis stars in community event

National Night Out, celebrated nationally on the first Tuesday in August, is an opportunity for the community to get everyone together with first responders in a positive setting. Instead of a motor vehicle accident or a traffic stop, it’s hot dogs and pizza. Freemansburg, one of the Lehigh Valley’s smallest communities, has been hosting this event for the past five years. Where else can you tell a borough council member or the mayor that you want your hot dog well done? Photo: Star of the evening Elvis, a 4-year-old Shiloh Shepherd, with K-9 Officer Sue Narkin.

By Bernie O’Hare

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Blueberries at Burnside

If you like animals, music, gardening, competitions, martial arts, colonial history, or any and all things blueberry, you’d be bound to love Historic Bethlehem’s 31st annual Blueberry Festival at Burnside Plantation. The jammed parking lot attested to the fact that the festival has many, many fans of all ages. For the young, pony rides were available and in a barn kids could read to therapy dogs. Photo: An overcast and unseasonably cool day attracted a large crowd that included many young families. Strollers were everywhere.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

LIVING BY FAITH

Legends, culture and misinformation

Oki! Oki means hello in the Blackfeet language. Part of teaching on the reservation, and actually anywhere in the state of Montana, requires one to include the native culture in the classroom. I admit I’m still trying to learn the language. The culture, history and legends are easier to learn. For example, did you know that buffalo hide was used both raw and tanned? That there were over 30 different uses for the different parts of the beast? Or that there are at least two different legends for how the buffalo jump was created? (A buffalo jump is a cliff formation which Native Americans historically used to hunt and kill plains bison in mass quantities.)

By Carina Stoves

 

SPORTS: FOOTBALL

Teams prep for scrimmages

The high school football season continues to inch closer to opening night on Aug. 24, but this Saturday will be a vital day for teams across the area in preparation for their season openers.

Saturday marks the one and only scrimmage that teams get before everything becomes real 10 days from now, and all three Bethlehem teams are in action. Bethlehem Catholic will have the biggest test at 10 a.m. Saturday morning against traditional North Jersey power Don Bosco Prep at Moravian College.

By Peter Car

 

LV FOCUS

Screen screams

The Allentown Band will accompany a full-length showing of the 1925 silent film, “The Phantom Of The Opera,” at 7 p.m. Aug 18 at Miller Symphony Hall, Allentown. The “Phantom” screening is part of the band’s “Summer Series” at Miller Symphony Hall. Accompanying the silent film, starring Lon Chaney, is a first for the Allentown Band. “It’s a new venture in that we’re collaborating with the Allentown Symphony Association to do two programs at Miller Symphony Hall,” says Ron Demkee, Allentown Band conductor.

By Camille Caproglione

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Early council meeting over quickly

Bethlehem: YWCA holds annual meeting

Bethlehem: New Southside neighborhood in its initial planning stages

Bethlehem Township: Contractor yard waste ban considered

Business: Pat’s Bistro opens in West Bethlehem

Health: Law seeks to help save lives of expectant mothers,, babies

Lehigh County: DA announces over 20,000 lbs. of medication collected

Northampton County: New voting machines next year?

Northampton County: Airbnb, county reach agreement

Salisbury Township: Police conduct DUI checkpoint  along Musikfest corridor

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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August 8, 2018

COVER STORY

35^th Musikest opens

The country’s largest free music festival is celebrating its 35th year. In the big tent at Fest-platz Friday evening, ArtsQuest CEO Kassie Hilgert energized the early crowd with palpable excitement during the opening ceremony. “I think it’s time to get this started!” she shouted. By “this” she meant a brief ceremony honoring so many years of success and those who have made it possible, namely former Mayor Paul Marcincin and 13 volunteers who have participated in every single Musikfest. Photo: Original Chicken Lady Pat Holetz performs the signature “Chicken Dance” with accordion player Walt Groller, who has likewise played at every Musikfest.

By Nate Jastrzemski

 

NORTHAMTPON COUNTY

DA says gang is behind Dumpster killing

In late April, Bethlehem police responded to what they thought was a burning mannequin at the Parkhurst Apartments complex. What  they discovered was a grisly horror. It was a human being, later identified as Tyrell Michael Holmes, age 18. He had been stabbed and set afire while still alive, as determined by the presence of smoke in his lungs. Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli determined that Holmes had been conscious and in extreme pain, and that an accelerant had been used to help burn him alive. No charges have been filed. Photo: Northampton County DA John Morganelli and Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio both believe that criminal gang membership itself should be criminal.

By Bernie O’Hare

 

ANOTHER VIEW

Small acts of kindness

Words cannot express how truly proud I am of my little man. He and I were walking into the local Dollar General and outside, sitting in his vehicle, was a Fountain Hill police officer. Honestly, I thought nothing of it. We see the police around frequently in our small neighborhood, so I didn’t even think twice. My 5-year-old little boy did think, though. He asked me, “Mommy can we get him something? He keeps us safe.”

By Lizzy Faye Kimak

 

COMMUNITY

Apollo Grill donates to local causes

Continuing its community involvement since opening in 1999, the Apollo Grill recently presented checks to four local charities through its “Be Apollo Proud” program. Owner Rachel Griffith Fox and general manager Jansen Howard presented checks July 31 to representatives from Valley Youth House ($3,260.50), the Bethlehem YWCA ($3,155.50), the LGBT Business Council Scholarship Fund ($3,315.50) and  Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center ($2,825.50). Photo: Apollo Grill owner Rachel Griffith Fox and general manager Jansen Howard are joined by representatives of four area charities for check presentations July 31. From left are Stephanie Hnatiw, executive director of the Bethlehem YWCA, Fox, Jonathan Huerta, president of the LGBT Business Council, Donald Flad Jr., vice president of the LGBT Business Council, Angela DelGrosso, vice president of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Business and Diversity Council, Adrian Shanker, executive director of the Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center, Christina Schoemaker, vice president of development and marketing at Valley Youth House, and Howard.

By Dana Grubb

 

FOOD/ENTERTAINMENT

VegFest: Transitioning your diet

Under the hot summer sun, families and friends gathered July 14 at Daniel Rice Field in Bethlehem during the eighth annual VegFest Street and Food Festival. The festival theme was vegetarian and vegan food, accompanied by nonprofit organizations and retail vendors.

Everyone in attendance opted to try meatless meals while listening to live music and grabbing informational pamphlets from animal rights activists, pig rescuers, and environmental activists. Food trucks and food stations recreated classic dishes, minus animal product ingredients. (And added meat replacement ideas.) Photo: Festival-goers line up for some fresh, meatless meals and homemade lemonade.

By Selena Cintrin

 

LIVING WITH FAITH

What is home?

In 1994 and 1995, a TV series aired called “Christy” staring Kellie Martin. In it, a 19-year-old Christy leaves her parents’ home to teach in Cutter Gap, a fictional Appalachian village. In the pilot of the series, Christy watches the train as it leaves her at a lonely, isolated station. “That train was my last link with home,” she says. “Everything dear and familiar was disappearing over the horizon.” Why do I mention this? I mention it, because on Aug. 2, 2017, it echoed my thoughts perfectly. I was sitting in my car with my puppy, Faith, as I watched the cars containing my family drive south on Interstate 15, as I needed to head west on Highway 2 to my new home in Cut Bank, Montana. Photo: Cut Bank, Montana, is located 30 miles south of the Canada–United States border. The name of the city comes from the cut bank (gorge) – a scenic hazard to navigation and a geologic feature of the same name. As of the 2010 census there were 2,869 people, 1,249 households and 739 families residing in the town.

By Carina Stoves

 

SPORTS-BETHLEHEM CATHOLIC’S ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

‘Relentless’ Brown set the tone at BC

By Katie McDonald

Young grew into a threat on the court

By Peter Car

 

LV FOCUS

Passion for choral arts

For the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and Bel Canto Youth Choir, formerly based in Red Hill, Montgomery County, a merger of the two nonproft choral groups has been a long time coming. In 2012, Bel Canto sang with the Bach Choir for Benjamin Britten’s cantata “St. Nicolas” and the following year, members lent their youthful voices to the Bach Choir’s 2013 CD, “A Child’s Christmas in Bethlehem.” Last year, Bel Canto singers performed in the Bach Choir’s performance of Leonard Bernstein’s iconic “Mass.” Now the two groups have become one.

By Kathy Lauer-Williams

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Three variances granted with alacrity

Bethlehem police: Man wanted for indecent exposure

Classroom: AAUW presents annual scholarships

Classroom: Grant benefits St. Anne’s support program

Classroom: Manito students in therapeutic horse show

Hanover Township: Township joins chorus for state gerrymandering reform

Homefront: Sometimes children must learn from their mistakes

Lehigh Valley: Provident Bank awards grants

Lehigh Valley: Curbing the spotted lanternfly threat

Northampton County: GPA a revolving door of people, problems

Northampton County: How much is that doggie in the window?

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

High school news reports

 

MEET THE PRESS

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

Send news to the Bethlehem Press

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