March 27, 2019

COVER STORY-CELTIC DOGGIE PARADE

Companions strut their stuff

Wearing their finest Irish attire, 35 purebred and mixed breed dogs from around the Lehigh Valley shared in some St. Patrick’s Day fun. They strutted their stuff in a friendly Celtic canine costume competition in historic North Bethlehem March 16. Photo: Donegal Square owner Neville Gardner and Betsy Daley hold Glen of Imaal terriers, Fergus McCarthy and Daithi. Standing beside the dog owners is Beth Barry, emcee for the Celtic Doggie Parade.

By Cindy O’Brien

 

COMMUNITY
Prayers at Packer Chapel

Students, faculty and others were drawn together in solidarity and grief Friday at the Asa Packer Memorial Church on the edge of the Lehigh University campus. They were there to express their concerns and thoughts and to show their support of the victims killed in Christchurch, New Zealand on March 15, when 50 people were murdered and 50 wounded by a white Australian man espousing white supremacy as a reason for his massacre. Photo: “It was a horrendous attack on a peaceful religion,” said Terri Ball-Nicholas, left, of Bethlehem. She is with her friend, Em Finney. “I felt tremendous sadness – sorrow,” said Finney, also of Bethlehem.

By Douglas Graves

RELATED: ‘We will continue to stand together’

 

CLASSROOM

Saucon Valley Theatre presents ‘Curtains’

“Curtains,” from the creators of “Cabaret” and “Chicago,” is a musical comedy whodunit taking place in Boston 1959. Saucon Valley’s theater program performed “Curtains” to enthusiastic audiences between March 14 and 17. Photo: Lt. Frank Cioffi (Evangelos Hahalis) reviews a copy of the score from “Robin Hood” with the play’s cast.  Hahalis is a senior performing in his third high school production.

By Mark Kirlin

 

SPORTS

Hawks bring home the gold

“Too happy to even cry,” said Bethlehem Catholic guard Jaleesa Lanier after the Hawks were crowned PIAA State Class 4A girls’ basketball champions by defeating North Catholic, 60-49, on Saturday at the Giant Center in Hershey, Pa. Screams and squeals filled the arena as time ran out in the state final and the Hawks’ emptied the bench to celebrate.

By Katie McDonald

 

FOCUS

Still more spring HS musicals

By Ed Courrier

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Council approved $6M general bond

Bethlehem: Helping people come top answers

Bethlehem: Seven Sirens signage approved

Bethlehem: 5 x 5 Exhibit opens March 28

Bethlehem: Irish flag raising, Shamrock Parade

Bethlehem: Authority makes plans for Earth Day

Lehigh Valley: Summit explores equitable school funding

Lehigh Valley: Lending a hand on President’s Day
Lehigh Valley: Women aren’t finished making a difference

Lehigh Valley: $2.5M literacy campaign under way

Moravian College: Fleeing to America

Northampton County: Nurse cite ‘horrifying staff shortages’

Northampton County: Despite ethics sanctions, member reappointed

Student profile: Liz Cartier

High school news – Notre Dame HS

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Meeting board

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

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Health news

School news

 

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March 20, 2019

COVER STORY-BATTLING ADDICTION

The littlest victims

 A baby boy born at Reading Hospital in 2017 came into the world the fourth child of a woman struggling with addiction to methamphetamine and heroin. The little one had a tough road ahead, but was blessed with a dedicated hospital staff and loving adoptive parents. The hospital staff held and soothed him as he was weaned from the drugs passed to him by his mother. Once home, his adoptive parents, Millicent M. and Steven C. Himmelreich, continued the love and patience he needed to thrive.

By Chris Parker

RELATED STORIES

Help available for addicted mothers

A cascade of illicit drugs

Opioid treatment bills in state house hearing

Gov. Wolf: Warm hand-offs help transition many overdose survivors

 

BETHLEHEM

Police dept. reports a decade of falling crime

Bethlehem Police Chief Mark DiLuzio released a report recently outlining his department’s many successes in recent years, beginning with what amounts to a 22 percent overall drop in crime from 2007-18.

By Nate Jastrzmeski

 

CLASSROOM

Moravian Academy presents ‘The Boyfriend’

Students of Moravian Academy performed “The Boy Friend” March, 1, 2 and 3 uder the direction of Jarrod Yuskauskas. Sandy Wilson’s musical, which takes place at a boarding school on the French Riviera in the 1920s, put a smile on everyone’s faces. The small cast and lively musical numbers made for an intimate and exciting experience. The performances took place on Moravian Academy’s campus in the Dyer Auditorium. Above: The young girls of Madame Dubonnet’s Finishing School sing “Perfect Young Ladies,” a song about how they must act based on society’s standards and their desire to find husbands.

By Leslie Regan

 

SPORTS

Becahi girls hoping to advance to state finals

Editor’s note: The Becahi girls semifinal game took place after Press deadlines.

Bethlehem Catholic’s girls’ basketball team cruised again this past Saturday when they defeated Danville, 60-37, in the PIAA State Class 4A quarterfinal at Hazleton High School. Becahi guard Jaleesa Lanier came out in the second quarter firing two consecutive threes, and the Hawks were off and running.

By Katie McDonald

 

FOCUS

Crowded Kitchen Players premier addresses ‘Unspeakable’ topic

“’Unspeakable’” describes a system that often finds itself inadequate to help the very individuals it has been created to serve,” says Ara Barlieb about the genesis of his new play.The Crowded Kitchen Players’ “Unspeakable” has its world premiere March 22, Charles A. Brown Ice House, Bethlehem, where it continues March 23, 24, 29, 30 and 31.

“Unspeakable” tells the story of a boy, Adam Shane (represented by a Doug Roysdon-designed and built marionette handled by Pamela Wallace), who is part of a fragile framework formed by a working single mother, Naomi (Florence Taylor), a trusted caregiver, Uncle Henry (David Oswald), as well as a stranger, and the authorities who try to find out the truth.

“It [the play] describes a society that often finds itself complicit in the endangerment of its most fragile members,” Barlieb says.“’Unspeakable’ has been created through years of interviews and collaboration with dedicated and caring child-welfare and law-enforcement professionals who themselves often share in these feelings of helplessness,” says Barlieb.“The purpose,” Barlieb continues, “is to encourage widespread involvement in the protection of children. It takes only the slightest disregard to endanger a child, but it takes constant effort, fearless accountability, and tireless vigilance to protect them.”

By Douglas Graves

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: State of the city ‘strong’ says Donchez

Bethlehem: Book sale opens March 27

Great Decisions Lectures: Roots of European populism complex

Hellertown: Lost Tavern expansion approved

High school musical calendar

Lenten events calendar

Lehigh County: Term limit referendum fails, 5-2
Northampton County: Gracedale passes inspection

Saucon Valley: Shoe collection

 

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Center for Animal Health and Welfare

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March 13, 2019

BATTLING ADDICTION

An addict’s mother reaches out

Ruth Plebani used to feel shame over her sons’ addiction to drugs, but after one nearly died from an overdose, she decided it was worth sharing her story if it helps others get into rehab. Her son Keith Goosman had been confined to a hospital bed after an overdose of methamphetamine. He temporarily lost control of basic bodily functions. Thankfully, Keith has made considerable progress, but he still has a long way to go. As she looked at him hooked up to a ventilator, Plebani decided that she wanted to share her story and Keith’s, and hopefully reach at least one person and convince them to seek help for addiction.

By Chris Reber

 

BATTLING ADDICTION-BLUE GUARDIAN

County considers program an early success

As the drug crisis continues countrywide, legal and medical professionals at every level are seeking new means of reducing opioid prescriptions, monitoring their use, saving lives and promoting treatment for those becoming dangerously addicted. In Lehigh County, officials’ experiment with a support program has seen early success. Blue Guardian is a program devised more than a year ago to help guide addicts and their loved ones after near-tragedies through continued communication and broad support. In fact, officials said the support system on the governing end as encompassing the district attorney’s office, the Regional Intelligence and Investigation Center, Department of Drug and Alcohol, 15 municipal police departments, two state police barracks, six hospitals, treatment providers, certified recovery specialists and the Center of Excellence.

By Nate Jastrzemski

 

RELATED STORIES

Evolving drugs pose challenges.

Blue Guardian by the numbers

Blue Guardian: Working with several partners

Parent’s denial leads to unnecessary death

 

COMMUNITY

Feasting on fastnachts

For years Valley Farm Market has done a big business selling fastnachts on the days preceding Lent, and this year was no exception. Anticipating that they would not be eating sweets during the fourty days of Lent, people poured in to purchase a last treat - luscious doughnuts, also known as fastnachts. Customers could choose plain, powdered, glazed, or those with granulated sugar. And pick they did - among the roughly 2,000 fastnachts sold. By 10:30 a.m on Tuesday, the day before Lent began, the fastnachts shelves were emptying rapidly. Photo: Leticia Merceno, joined by a co-worker, takes a break from packing fastnachts to decorate cupcakes.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

SPORTS

Hawks win team state team title

Ryan Anderson is no stranger to a smile or having fun.  On Saturday night in Hershey, Anderson was able to do both of those things after winning his second-straight state championship at the PIAA 3A wrestling tournament. Anderson was the lone gold medalist for the Hawks on the night, as Kenny Herrmann made a run to the finals but lost to Northampton’s stalwart Julian Chlebove. The pair helped push Becahi to the team title with 93 points and closed an eventful season for the program in customary fashion - as champions.

Anderson, a senior, topped Council Rock North’s Cam Robinson 3-2 in their 145-pound championship, displaying a stark contrast in size between both wrestlers with Robinson having at least a six-inch height difference on the Becahi champion.

By Peter Car

 

FOCUS

Spring musicals

Northampton - 'Mary Poppins'
Catasauqua - 'Anything Goes'

By Ed Courrier

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem HARB: Book shop to get exterial floor tiles

Bethlehem SSTF: Task Force walks through model

Bethlehem BASD: Power outtages caused no damage to buildings

Bethlehem NIMH: Pump house tour offered March 24

Classroom: Northeast MS presents ‘Lion King Jr.’

Lehigh County: Judge petitions for additional grandy jury power

Lehigh County: Commisioners talk term limits

Northampton County: Election commission chooses new machines

South Bethlehem: LUGA springs forwards with new exhibits

Student profile: Madeline Wickel, Bethlehem Catholic HS

High school news: Charter Arts

 

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Center for Animal Health and Welfare

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March 6, 2019

SPECIAL SERIES

Too many opioid cases

Long before President Donald Trump declared the opioid crisis a national public health emergency, local authorities were dealing with the fallout. Drug overdose deaths had risen precipitously over several years as local authorities sought answers – both to why this was happening and how to stop it. In Bethlehem alone, reported overdoses increased from 79 in 2015 to 209 in 2018, according to Health Bureau Director Kristen Wenrich.

By Jarrad Hedes and Nate Jastrzemski

 

SPECIAL SERIES

Parents Left Behind

Silence filled the room and tears flowed as three parents spoke at Northampton Community College’s panel, “Parents Left Behind,” Feb. 26. Tina Ralls, Chuck Deprill and Donna Jacobson told their stories about living with addicted children. For Ralls and Deprill, their children lost their long-fought battles with opioid abuse. For Jacobson, her daughter is still here and in recovery after a long and difficult journey with addiction. Photo: Tina Ralls of Emmaus with a picture of her son, James Ralls.  She said his relapse was triggered when was treated for burns and given morphine at a hospital.  She later learned that a different medicine would have been more appropriate for an addicted patient. Ralls has found inspiration to write a book about her son’s experience. She said that her son’s legacy is in the form of lyrics that he wrote documenting his struggle. “He was trying.” Some of the lyrics were prayers and others were dedicated to his parents.

By Hanna O’Reilly and Douglas Graves

 

COMMUNITY

Church, chapel tours celebrate history

Historic Bethlehem’s Church and Chapel tour is a look at the Moravians who founded Bethlehem more than 270 years ago, and the churches and chapels they built.  These buildings represent some of the oldest in the city.  The tour begins with guide Loretta Hein, who outlines the creation of the 1741 Gemeinhaus, where the early Moravians lived, worshiped and conducted everyday life. The Moravian religion is the oldest Protestant denomination that is still in existence today.  Much of their traditions of worship and life revolve around music. They were the first to bring trombone musical instruments to the new world. Photo: The original Oriel Pulpit, which was removed in 1851 for design changes in the church.  As a way to preserve the pulpit, it was hung on a wall inside a winding staircase.  Pictured from ground level is a view looking up toward the pulpit that hangs on the wall (center) with the staircase that winds around it leading to an upper floor.

By Mark Kirlin

 

SPORTS-DISTRICT BOYS BASKETBALL

BC boys knock off rival Central

Scott McClary knew Bethlehem Catholic’s battle against Central Catholic in last Friday’s District 11 4A championship would be emotional. One thing he may not have predicted would be the contest being a blowout. The Hawks jumped on Central early and never looked back, coasting to a 65-49 victory at Freedom High School. It was the third straight district title for the Hawks, who improved to 25-3 this year and added another championship to their resume this season after winning the East Penn Conference title as well.

By Peter Car

 

FOCUS

More HS spring musicals

By Ed Courrier

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: City prepares for March 16 Parade of Shamrocks

Bethlehem: Demolition begins at Guardian Life site

Bethlehem: Van Wirt and Carpenter run for council seats

Bethlehem: Asa Packer ES student learn importance of helping others

Holy Name School: Author gives some storytelling tips

Lehigh County: Armstrong delivers State of The County … then apologizes for story that fell flat

Lehigh Valley: Polar plunge benefits Special Olympics

Northampton County: Governor wants voting machines updated

Northampoton County: Zrinsky wants farmers to grow hemp

Student profiles: Curtis Dai, Notre Dame HS

High school news:  Freedom HS by Carson Swick

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

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