April 8, 2020
Saying ‘Thank you!’
Moravian
Book Shop retail manager Carol King wanted to thank people who continue to
provide crucial services during the COVID-19 pandemic. On March 31 her idea
came to fruition, as she taped brightly colored messages of thanks and
encouragement onto the store’s large glass windows on Main Street. “I just want
to say thank you to all of those people who are working and sacrificing. God
bless them,” said King. Above: Carol King affixes messages of thanks to the shop’s
front window.
By Dana Grubb
Graphic commentary by Ed
Courrier
A balancing act in the age of
COVID-19
It
was only a month ago that April Smith, a pediatric home-care practical nurse,
and her partner of 11 years, Matt Molchany, sole proprietor of Shards Recording
Studio in South Bethlehem, purchased a new conversion van with hopes of
planning a small trip with their mates in the Bethlehem-based indie rock band
VoirVoir. Now they are dealing with the
challenges of working in healthcare and owning a small business, respectively,
paying their mortgage and the rent on Molchany’s studio. Photo: Matt Molchany and April Smith with
their dogs Pop-Pop and Atticus at Illick’s Mill before the pandemic hit the
country.
By Chris Haring
Online lessons begin
With the Pa. Department of
Education closing all public schools statewide through at least the end of
April, BASD shifted to online learning March 30. Superintendent Dr. Joseph
Roy’s message to parents, posted on the district’s website March 24, is that
“in terms of detailed content, less is more,” but that “in terms of positively
engaging and connecting with students, more is better.” District teachers and
principals have been connecting in new and often light-hearted ways, with the
social and emotional benefits accruing to both faculty and students. Photo: Clearview
ES Principal Heather Bennett-Knerr and her son Zeke host a daily morning show
for her students. In this episode, Zeke is reading from “Laugh Out Loud Jokes
for Kids” by Rob Elliott.
By Theresa O’Brien
‘All creatures great &
small’
As a result of
Pennsylvania’s order to shut down all non-essential businesses in the wake of
the COVID-19 pandemic, owners and operators of everything from restaurants to
hair salons have had to deal with the impact on their employees and customers. Establishments
that offer both essential and non-essential services, such as The Christmas
City Veterinarian Hospital on West Broad Street, face the challenge of finding
creative ways to meet essential needs without jeopardizing public health and
safety. Photo: According
to the American Veterinary Medical Association, infectious disease experts and
multiple international and domestic human and animal health organizations
thought our friends, such as Moxie, could not catch COVID-19, but a new case at
the Bronx Zoo renews questions.
By Carole Gorney
Doors closed, hearts open
This year, Rosemont
Lutheran Church is celebrating a century of being a beacon of faith in West
Bethlehem. It is also joining other churches in having to temporarily suspend
services and activities – with Easter on the horizon – due to the novel
coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic. The church has never had to cope with a
situation such as this, but the Rev. Jack Steltzer, pastor, is confident the
congregation will rise to the challenge, and faith will continue to flourish.
Photo: The
Rev. Jack Steltzer, pastor of Rosemont Lutheran Church, stands outside the
church at 1705 W. Broad St. on a recent March morning. The church has
temporarily suspended worship services and all activities due to the novel
coronavirus pandemic.
By Tami Quigley
Gruber, Lynn chase 4th straight
doubles titles
Liberty’s boys’ tennis team left
everything on the court at Emmaus on March 13 and took with them a 4-2 victory,
for what Hurricane coach Chris Conrad told them could be their last match of
the season, and for senior singles players Louis Gruber and David Lynn, their
last match of their high school careers.
By Katie McDonald
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Coronavirus closings
Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival Producing Artistic Director Patrick
Mulcahy had high hopes for the 2020 season. Now he has high hopes for the
Festival’s 2021 season.
“We were really excited about this season and we are still excited about
this selection of extraordinary plays,” Mulcahy says in a March 30 phone
interview hours after a PSF press release that, “In response to the COVID-19
(coronavirus) outbreak, Pennsylvania Shakespeare Festival has announced the
cancellation of all performances for its upcoming summer season.”
The cancellation is Shakespearean in its irony.
By Paul Willistein
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Community updates: Local,
county, state
Mama’s musings: Safe and
saving
Saucon Valley: District
adjusts to a COVID-19 world
School: State cancels standardized
testing this year
State: Wolf’s strategy-Prevention,
mitigation
Student profile: Jolene
Bachman, Liberty HS
Valley: What you need to know
about COVID-19
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