July 22, 2020

COVER STORY-SCHOOL REOPING

Shifting guidance poses challenges

On Friday, March 13, Gov. Wolf ordered all Pa. schools closed from March 16 through March 27; Bethlehem Area School District (BASD) treated these two weeks as an extended snow closure, with no formal education being delivered, although skill review materials were made available. Photo: Children who participated in YMCA childcare during the spring of 2020 were taught to make “airplane arms” to maintain social distancing. A June 24 NPR feature by Anya Kamenetz explored the methods YMCA childcare centers used to protect children and staff from coronavirus transmission, including cloth face coverings for staff, daily temperature checks, and grouping children into “pods” of nine children per adult.

By Theresa O’Brien


http://bethlehem.thelehighvalleypress.com/2020/07/21/shifting-guidance-poses-challenges

 

AUCON VALLEY SD

Tentative reopening plans reviewed

The July 14 Saucon Valley School Board meeting centered on the same challenge that districts across the country are facing: What will school look like come fall? Before the meeting, Superintendent Dr. Craig Butler held two virtual parent information meetings on Zoom July 13, one in the morning and the other in the evening, on their Summary Outline of the Health and Safety Plan. Butler indicated that the finalized version of the plan is anticipated to be approximately 60 pages. Photo: Saucon Valley School Board discusses reopening plans virtually through Zoom.

By Chris Haring

http://bethlehem.thelehighvalleypress.com/2020/07/23/tentative-reopening-plans-reviewed

ANOTHER VIEW – ED’S WORLD

Graphic commentary by Ed Courrier

http://bethlehem.thelehighvalleypress.com/2020/07/21/another-view-ed’s-world

SPORTS – FREEDOM ATHLETES OF THE YEAR

Mims brothers leave as greatest hoop duo

By Peter Car

Katie Flynn a natural leader for Pates

By Katie McDonald

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FOCUS

An ‘Epiphany’

When sisters Koula Sossiadis Kazista and Katina Sossiadis were growing up in Bethlehem, they say their father was “always trying to shove our Greek culture down our throats.” Their father, who emigrated from Greece to the United States at age 24, had started taking them every year to a town in Florida that boasts the largest percentage of Greeks in the nation.

By Kathy Laure-Williams

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OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem Township: Sports may reopen soon, with limits

Hellertown: Heroes & Lifesavers event

Hellertown: Council covers fireworks, youth sports

Northampton County; Council approves pandemic plan

Saucon Valley: Tentative reopening plans reviewed

State: Wolf, legislature bolster law enforcement rules

Virus: Surge forces unpopular decisions

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

 

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July 8, 2020

DESPITE COVID-19

City marks July 4^th

Bethlehem’s annual Fourth of July fireworks display went off as scheduled, providing a backdrop to the belfry of the Moravian Bell House along historic Church Street. The city’s fireworks presentation was one of few that were held due to COVID-19 restrictions affecting large gatherings. The ninth annual reading of the Declaration of Independence also took place on the morning of July 4 at Bethlehem’s Payrow Plaza.

By Dana Grubb

 

COMMUNITY

A reason to smile

Many of the charities in the Lehigh Valley have been joining forces to provide food and clothing for local families hard hit by school closings and job losses during the coronavirus pandemic. Project Hope of Easton, noted for its annual Christmas generosity, has spearheaded a weekly, summer-long program that so far has provided more than 2,000 meals to needy families with children. Photo: More than a dozen volunteers from Project Hope and New Bethany Ministries sorted and bagged summer clothing for children a week before the distribution date in mid-June. Seventy families registered in advance to receive the bags of clothes, food, toys and produce.

By Carole Gorney

 

WOMENS’ SUFFRAGE

League celebrates 100^th anniversary

In 1920, Carrie Chapman Catt, activist and suffragette, founded what was to become the League of Women Voters. To commemorate this event and to mark the 100th anniversary later this summer of the 19th Amendment, the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County hosted a Hot Topics luncheon earlier this year featuring an appearance by regional actress Pat Jordan in the role of Carrie Chapman Catt. Photo: Actress Pat Jordan gives a spirited performance as League of Women Voters founder Carrie Chapman Catt. 

By Beverly Springer

 

ISSUES

Policing the police

The June 30 edition of PBS 39’s Community Conversations series featured a discussion on the recently trending topic of police misconduct and accountability. The program featured a panel of five local officials, along with PA Attorney General Josh Shapiro, who offered pre-recorded comments. Joining host Monica Evans were Allentown Police Chief Glenn Granitz, Allentown criminal defense attorney Ettore Angelo, Lehigh County Controller Mark Pinsley, Executive Director of Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley Dr. Hasshan Batts and Pa. State Trooper John Scott. Photo: Program host Monica Evans with Allentown criminal defense attorney Ettore Angelo.

By Chris Haring

 

ANOTHER VIEW

Graphic commentary by Ed Courrier

 

SPORTS

Karam new Easton wrestling coach

Jody Karam had a regret. After resigning from the Liberty wrestling job following the 2018-19 season, Karam suddenly felt the void in his life this past January when he told Liberty athletic director Fred Harris that he made a mistake. That point was only exacerbated in February as he watched the District 11 dual tournament in Memorial Gymnasium.

By Peter Car

 

FOCUS

Crowded Kitchen Players

The Crowded Kitchen Players release of “Twelveness: A Play in Three Scenes” by Charlie Barnett as an audio file retains the dramatic impact of the original stage production. Plus, it has the advantage of portability and convenience. You can listen to it wherever and whenever you want. Ara Barlieb and Pamela Wallace, cofounders of Crowded Kitchen Players, co-directed the audio version, recorded at Westwires Recording USA, Allentown, a few days before the coronavirus (COVID-19) shutdown.

By Dave Howells

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Drive thru book sale exceeds expectations

Bethlehem: Burnside bees and berries

Saucon Valley SD: Staffing cut questions tabled for now

School: Coronavirus teaches us how to handle opiod crisis

Sports: NASCAR This Week

State: ‘Wear a mask, Pennsylvania’

Student profile: Elena Hume, LV Academy

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

 

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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