July 31, 2019

COVER STORY

Making city government more
transparent, accountable

Bethlehem’s former 911 communications center is now its service center and water control center, providing residents with a single point of contact for non-emergency requests, such as reporting potholes, downed tree limbs, water main leaks, and high grass complaints. At a recent rollout, city staff outlined the operation, which allows residents to report their concerns via direct phone line (610-865-7000), email (bethlehemservicecenter@bethlehem-pa.gov), eGov and a BSC App available through the Google Play and Apple App stores. Photo: Safety Center Specialist Judy Harrison is one of 10 employees working to assist Bethlehem residents in the new service center. She is a 12-year veteran with the city, having spent her time in the former 9-1-1 communications center.

By Dana Grubb

 

COMMUNITY

Friendship Park gets a facelift

Bethlehem officials, council members and residents gathered at Northside’s Friendship Park recently to witness the reveal of new playground equipment. The opening was part of the Northside 2027 Neighborhood Plan, aimed to strengthen residential areas north of downtown Bethlehem. Photo: Officials, council members, residents and children crowd around the new playground at Friendship Park.

By Tim Healy

 

32^ND ANNUAL FESITVAL

Everything blueberry

The 32nd annual Blueberry Festival July 20 and 21 offered something for everyone. Visitors could have their faces painted, watch a well-trained dog doing tricks on command, be entertained by band and orchestral music, watch demonstrations of colonial brewing and blacksmithing, and play lawn games, to mention a few of the activities. Photo: Matthew Mikhalkov ate a whole blueberry pie fast enough to take second place out of 15 kids. The use of hands is not allowed in the competition.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

SPORTS-LIBERTY HS

Athletes of the Year

Harris a class act on and off the field

By Peter Car

Stucky always left it all on the field

By Katie McDonald

 

FOCUS

36^th annual MUSIKFEST

There’s a new platz in town at the 36th annual Musikifest, Aug. 2-11, which kicks off Aug. 1 with “Preview Night.” Zinzenplatz was chosen in a contest held by ArtsQuest, which presents Musikfest, to replace the name of Experienceplatz, Main and Lehigh streets, Bethlehem. Zinzenplatz honors Countess Benigna von Zinzendorf, daughter of Bethlehem founder Count Nicholas von Zinzendorf. Musikfest, named the “Best Music Festival in North America” by USA Today’s 10best.com, is held in Bethlehem’s Historic District on the city’s northside and SteelStacks on the city’s Southside.

By Paul Willistein

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Friendship Park gets a facelift

Bethlehem: Heat, humidity fail to hinder book sale

Bethlehem: YWCA celebrates start of 92^nd year

Bethlehem: HARB approves new murals for Southside

Bethlehem: ArtsQuest announces Marcincin Award honorees

Fountain Hill: Backpack Buddy program boosted

Hellertown: New fgire truck purchase pondered

Lehigh County: Board distributes housing funds

Northampton County: Council ponders jail healthcare

State: Residents need to heed heat warnings

Valley: Fraud examiners on a mission

 

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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July 24, 2019

COVER STORY

‘A small but mighty team’

Looking for a fun community event involving an exciting, full-contact sport? Look no further – roller derby is the place for you. Two Rivers Roller Derby is a nonprofit, inclusive, flat track roller derby league serving Eastern Pennsylvania and Northwest New Jersey. “We aim to provide a haven of athleticism, sportsmanship and fun,” boasts the league’s Facebook page. Photo: The majority of the Two Rivers Roller Derby team takes a moment together after a bout last fall against the Bux-Month Derby Dolls. The skaters are Christine Martin, Apocalypse Frau; Ileana Allevi, IllyCrunch; Kate Santee, Bananas; Hannah Milagio, Brish Please; Emily Ravelle, Kale Skatan; Danielle Tampier, Collateral Dannage; Julia Loehr, Aberslam Lynx; Kaitlin Stewarts, Melon Dollar Baby; Rebecca Clegg, Chrome Menace; Kelly Rindock, Machine Gun Kelly; Jessica McGinley, Alexandra Slamilton; Christine Semanek, Jo Rolling; and Rachael Ross, Likeaross.

By Samantha Anderson

 

COMMUNITY

2019 ‘Gala of Dreams’

The Lehigh Vallley Charter High School for the Arts (Charter Arts) held its 16th annual Gala of Dreams in May at FACTORY in South Bethlehem. The fundraising event was attended by close to 250 guests and featured a night of entertainment and fun. Photo: FACTORY served as the site sponsor for Charter Arts’ 2019 Gala of Dreams.

 

ENTERTAINMENT

Raceway at SteelStacks

ArtsQuest’s SteelStacks thrilled families with an open Lehigh Valley Grand Prix to celebrate Father’s Day June 16. Despite overcast skies and sporadic rain, the enthusiasm wasn’t dampened in any way. The Lehigh Valley Grand Prix set up a temporary half-mile road course in the parking lot next to the blast furnaces. Photo: Drivers line-up as they eagerly await their turn to race.  Each group was given eight minutes of race time on the track.

By Mark Kirlin

 

SPORTS-ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Bethlehem Catholic HS

    Magliochetti found her sport at Becahi

    Paz goes down as one of the best

 

FOCUS

For shore

When Steven Van Zandt looked for a folllowup album to his critically-acclaimed “Soulfire” (2017), he knew what he wanted to do. He wanted to capture that sure-fire sensation of summer. In the midst of the Summer of 2019, his Little Steven and the Disciples of Soul tour stops at 8 p.m. July 26, State Theater Center for the Arts, Easton.

By PaulWillistein

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Disruptive student housing a concern

Bethlehem: ‘Wanders’ author visits BAPL

Bethlehem HARB: Small home addition approved

Lehigh County: DA gets $1.1M grant to combat gangs

Northampton County: Zrinski slams pipeline deal; Bethlehem Twp. commissioners respond

Southside: Lightning strike - not

Valley: State Police warn of hot car dangers for kids, pets

 

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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July 17, 2019

COVER STORY

Valley watches FIFA final

People from all over the Lehigh Valley converged on SteelStacks’ PPL parking lot in South Bethlehem to watch the United States woman’s soccer team win the Fédération Internationale de Football Association (FIFA) World Cup July 7. Photo:  A vast crowd assembles to watch the U.S. Women’s team win its fourth World Cup in soccer.

By Douglas Graves

 

COMMUNITY

45 years at the rink

The 2019 Boutique at the Rink cancer fundraiser was a rousing success as over $282,000 was raised to support three area agencies, Cancer Support Community, St. Luke’s Hospice and St. Luke’s Cancer Center. Co-chair Carol Jacoby reported that 303 volunteers provided 15,069 hours to set up, run and pack up the 45th annual event. Jacoby was joined by co-chair Janet Binsau to run the 2019 sale. Premiere night May 28 saw hundreds of shoppers pay $10 to enter and shop from amongst the best inventory of donated items, followed by four days of full price, half price and bag purchase options. Proceeds are divided equally between the three organizations. Photo: Exuberant shoppers rush into the 2019 Boutique at the Rink May 28.

By Dana Grubb

 

CLASSROOM

Promoting a world-class work force

“We’re here because of Elmer’s leadership,” said Katie Walter, executive director of the SkillsUSA Council. She was speaking to a ballroom full of red-jacketed students who have honed useful skills applicable to the modern demands of the work place. The breakfast ceremony May 23 was held the Homewood Suites and Conference Center in Center Valley. Photo: Freedom HS and Bethlehem Vocational Technical School student Matthew Clark receives his certificate from Patti Gates-Smith in a SkillsUSA breakfast meeting in Center Valley.

By Douglas Graves

 

SPORTS

Northwest divers do well

Northwest swim team hosted Trident for its last home meet of the season on July 9 when Eli Kovar and Windsor Reiss scored first place points for Northwest in diving. Keller Pooley and Jeffrey Eisenhardt scored second place points for Northwest.

By Katie McDonald

 

FOCUS

A silver jubilee for Diane Wittry

A quarter of a century is a significant milestone: a silver jubilee.

For Diane Wittry, her 25 years as Allentown Symphony Orcestra Music Director and Conductor will be celebrated all-season-long in 2019-2020. It’s a “Season of Celebration.” During Wittry’s 25 seasons of artistic leadership, the Allentown Symphony has risen to increasing standards of excellence, performing with passion and dedication and honored nationally with the prestigious “American Prize” for artistic quality in 2014 and 2017.

By Paul Willistein

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: SteelStacks incident concludes safely

Bethlehem: Hotel Bethlehm to host Latino convention

Bethlehem: Mayor talks Southside car parks

Bethlehem: HCC approves Shaman signage

Hellertown: Water Street bridge to close July 22

Lehigh County: CEO Borland says zoo in great shape

Lehigh Valley: Camp Smile

Northampton County: New parking lot planned next to courthouse

Saucon Valley: Vaping policy added to student handbook

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

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July 10, 2019

CELEBRATING JULY 4TH

Bethlehem celebrates our country’s Independence Day on July 4 with its annual fireworks display along the Lehigh River and above the former Bethlehem Steel blast furnaces.

Press photo by Dana Grubb

 

‘Step up and be heard’

The eighth annual reading of the Declaration of Independence was held July 4th at Payrow Plaza in Bethlehem, with over 100 Lehigh Valley residents attending. Bethlehem resident Thomas Carroll acted as program speaker and the 10 readers were The Honorable Emil Giordano, Dean Browning, Bruce Gilbert, Mike Garcia, Hayden Phillips, Northampton County Councilman Matthew Dietz, Scott Uehlinger, Lou James, Antonio Simao and Lehigh County Controller Glenn Eckhart. “Step up and be heard,” urged Carroll in his opening remarks. Photo: Andrew Azan hands out American flags prior to the reading. Azan is assistant scoutmaster and chaplain for Troop 359 in Bethlehem.

By Dana Grubb

 

COMMUNITY

AAUW’s award, scholarship night

The work was finished, and it was time to celebrate. The annual AAUW book sale, which brought in $1,600 when it began 57 years ago, raised $47,700 this year. The AAUW Scholarship Committee, whose members are Norma Ferguson, Myra Jones, Clare Wisson and Louise Wisser, had studied the records of all the scholarship applicants and interviewed each one to determine this year’s winners. Awardees received either a $1,000 or a $2,000 scholarship.

Above: High school seniors who have been awarded scholarships for higher education by the Bethlehem chapter of AAUW gather at Advent Moravian Church, Bethlehem.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

CLASSROOM

Students show business is business

To quote some wise philosophers, it’s a long way to the top if you want to rock and roll. Some students at the Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts found out just how long, with an intro to the music biz devoid of theory and steeped in reality. Partnering with ArtsQuest’s Musikfest Marketing program, the youngsters became modern-day Phil Grahams, tasked with booking four acts for a concert block at Musikfest Aug. 4. Above: The group “Banchi” performs an acoustic set during a May 7 news conference at the Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts announcing acts booked to perform this summer at Musikfest.

By Stephen Althouse

 

SPORTS

Lehigh LL wins District 20 title

Connor Martinez’s three run home run combined with Rocco Sciarra’s shutout pitching led Lehigh Little League’s 12U team to the District 20 championship in its 8-0 victory over Pennridge on Monday night at Lehigh. “I had a good feeling when we got our first run, and you could feel the kids’ excitement at that point,” said Lehigh manager Buck Horvath. Lehigh scored half of its runs in the third inning, the first on a line drive RBI by catcher Kam Kensicki that scored Elliot Berk who was running for Aidan Dancho after his infield single.

By Katie McDonald

 

FOCUS

Classical Mystery Tour

“Roll up, roll up for the Mystery Tour”- The Beatles,“Magical Mystery Tour”

When The Beatles performed on “The Ed Sullivan Show,” Feb. 9, 1964, Jim Owen wasn’t among the 73 million viewers of the legendary British rock group’s United States’ television debut. Owen wasn’t born yet. When The Beatles’ “Magical Mysery Tour” album was released in 1967, Owen was in diapers. The Classical Mystery Tour, featuring Jim Owen as Beatle John, rolls up to Miller Symphony Hall for an Allentown Symphony Pops concert, 7:30 p.m. July 13. The concert is a tribute to the 50th anniversary of The Beatles’ “Abbey Road,” released in 1969 in the U.S.

By PauWillistein

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Old Edgewood neighbors celebrate the Fourth

Bethlehem: Lehigh U. connection spotlighted by school board

Bethlehem: BAPL book sale opens July 17

Bethlehem: BAVTS Bridges awards presented

Bethlehem HARB: Board ponders plethora of proposals

Bethlehem: Tee time for Victory (House)

Bethlehem Township: LVA eyes new school location

Hanover Township: Summer swimming schemes sunk

Hellertown: New borough members sworn in

Northampton County: Health Department drops two strikes against Gracedale

Northampton County: Cusick says state should pay for new voting machines

State: Wolf vetoes voting machine assistance bill

State: Honor veterans with special car license plates

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

Student profiles

 

MEET THE PRESS

The Bethlehem Press online

Where to buy the Bethlehem Press

To subscribe: New start

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