May 30, 2018

COVER STORY

‘Hard to put into words’

The Bethlehem Garden Club, in partnership with the City of Bethlehem, recently held a Blue Star Memorial highway marker dedication, unveiling a marker installed in the city’s Rose Garden. The initiative began with a bequest to the Garden Club from the estate of Marion Clewell nearly six years before, according to project chair Liz Lorenz.  Placing Blue Star Memorial highway markers across the nation is an initiative of the National Garden Club. Begun originally to honor World War II veterans, the mission has been expanded to include all who have served, are serving or would serve in the United States military. Photo:

Bethlehem Garden Club president Wendy Webber Welsh and past President Liz Lorenz unveil the marker at the intersection of West Union Boulevard and Eighth Avenue. Behind them is Lt. Col. John McGeehan (Ret.) of the U.S. Army Special Forces, who accepted the Blue Star Marker as an armed forces veteran.

By Dana Grubb

 

LEHIGH VALLEY

Former congressman joins CNN

Former U.S. Congressman Charlie Dent has joined CNN as a political commentator. His first appearance as a CNN political commentator was on Erin Burnett OutFront May 21.Dent emailed The Press May 22 stating he is not a CNN employee, but his arrangement with CNN is exclusive. He also said he will continue to reside in Allentown. Above: Another View cartoon by Ed Courrier.

By Deb Galbraith

 

COMMUNITY

Celebrating reading in the sun

Sunny weather and blue skies greeted the 12th annual Cops ‘n’ Kids Celebration of Reading…and the Arts and Sciences, held in the parking lot of Northampton Community College’s Southside campus April 28. The lot was filled with tents and tables staffed with volunteers from 95 community groups, showcasing activities from various disciplines for kids to explore. Indoor venues hosted performances by a total of 639 students, storytelling and cooking demonstrations. “[This event is] so important because the kids get exposed to literature, the sciences, drama and the theater and all of the arts, so with the performances and the big bands coming in, they see what their future has in store for them,” said Susan Stachowski, a Cops ‘n’ Kids volunteer of five years and an employee of Sands Bethlehem. Photo: Volunteers invite kids to join them in parachute-related activities.

By Katya Hrichak

 

BETHLEHEM SPORTS

Hawks set to play for District 11 title

Bethlehem Catholic won its berth in the District XI Class 4A softball final by defeating Blue Mountain, 11-1, last Thursday at Pates Park in Allentown. “We just had to make sure that we did all the fundamentals to get the job done, and that’s pretty much it,” said Becahi outfielder Alexa Panuccio. “We just kept the same mindset during the game, never let up, always pushed our hardest, and that’s why the score was how it was.” The Hawks got through their entire line up in the first inning, started off by Jess Indelicato who reached first base on an error and then stole second. Alyssa Jiminez also reached first on an error, which gave Indelicato the opportunity to score Becahi’s first run.

By Katie McDonald

 

LV FOCUS

An enchanted story

The comedy and misadventures written by Shakespeare, and some of Grimm’s beloved fairytale characters, will appear in the Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s presentation of “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and “The Enchanted Woods,” 7 p.m. June 1, Baker Hall, Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem. Produced by Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley Artistic Director Karen Kroninger Knerr, “A Midsummer Night’s Dream,” with score by Felix Mendelssohn, is based on the 1595 Shakespearean comedy about the romantic adventures, quarrels, and eventual reunion of two couples.

By Camille Capriglione

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem Area SD: Students celebrate Steel legacies

Bethlehem: City brings home Silver

Bethlehem: Authority’s wind turbine fight continues

Bethlehem: Another successful book sale

Bethlehem: 111^th Bach Festival

Lehigh & Northampton counties: Unofficial election results

Lehigh County: County recognizes senior volunteers

Lehigh County; Businesses participate in senior expo

Northampton County: Koury unanimous choice as president judge

Northampton County: County to require apprentice programs

South Bethlehem: Pittsburgh artist brings 2,000 lb. sculture to ArtsQuest

South Bethlehem: Poverty simulation program

 

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May 23, 2018

COVER STORY

Coping with a revolving door

Twenty-five years ago, Sister Virginia Longcope opened the doors to a halfway house that would eventually serve more than 272 men returning to the community after incarceration. Stephen’s Place, located in Bethlehem, was Longcope’s answer to what she called the “revolving door.” As described by Stephen’s Place Program Director Daniel Massaro, “Stephen’s Place is a halfway house for men returning to the community after incarceration. We provide faith and [a] spiritual environment for them to address the issues that come along with early recovery from substance abuse.”

By Katya Hrichak

 

COMMUNITY

'It's about having a purpose'
The legendary Patsy Cline and Johnny Cash brought a packed house to its feet in Moravian College’s Johnston Hall during a March special concert benefitting the BEST Scholarship Program. BEST (Building Educational Support Teams) Inc. is a local nonprofit that specializes in developing, mentoring and funding disadvantaged Lehigh Valley students to attend and succeed in college. Tribute artists Josie Waverly as Patsy Cline and Terry Lee Goffee as Johnny Cash did not disappoint fans of these sweeping artistic icons at BEST Inc.’s first “Cash & Cline” concert, sponsored by Cohen, Feeley, Altemose & Rambo. The event drew a crowd of 374 people and, between ticket sales and donations collected throughout the evening, raised a total of $18,000 with the help of 34 volunteers. Photo: Board members and BEST scholars can finally relax and enjoy the Cash & Cline concert they put together. From the left are; board member Kim Forsyth, BEST website designer and digital marketing specialist Jay Vega, board member Troy Walker, co-founder Billy Staples, BEST scholar Sabrina Lin, BEST graduate Taylor Shafer, board member Keith Gargone, co-founder Judy Tierney and board member Mary Charon.

By Elizabeth Kemmerer

 

CLASSROOM

‘Swan Lake’ on ice

Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts brought its production of “Ballet Sur Glace - Swan Lake” to the ice. The figure skating department of the school skated the scenes at Steel Ice Center in Bethlehem.  Thom Mullins is the department and production director. “Producing a ballet on ice is a particular challenge, since skaters are accustomed to performing a routine, then leaving the ice for a costume change, returning many songs later,” Mullins said. “With a ballet, the skaters are on the ice for six or seven songs before leaving the ice. So the performance takes more focus and stamina.” Photo:  The swans end a sequence dance in Act 1 during their Swan Lake performance.

By Lori Patrick

 

BETHLEHEM SPORTS-DISTRICT TRACK & FIELD

Seabrooks takes first

Bethlehem Catholic sprinter Zaheer Seabrooks clinched the gold medal in the 100 meter dash at the District XI Class 3A Boys Track and Field Championships last Wednesday at Whitehall High School.“That was my best race all year. I was a hundred percent, and when I crossed the finish line, I looked at my teammate Joe Kurtz, and he was proud of me, and I was proud of him,” Seabrooks said.Kurtz placed fourth with a time of 11.32. Seabrooks’s time was 11.25.

 

’Canes Greta Stuckey take first in 800

Liberty distance runner Greta Stuckey clinched the gold medal in the 800 meter run last Thursday at the District XI Class 3A Girls Track and Field Championships at Whitehall High School. “It was good,” Stuckey said. “I knew [Katherine Ellmaker] was very close, especially the last lap. I could feel her right next to me, and I knew I had to go because my first lap was slower.” Ellmaker, who is from Easton, came in second with a time of 2:19.25 to Stuckey’s time of 2:18.55.

By Katie McDonald

 

LV FOCUS

Mayfair heads for Cedar Crest

Mayfair returns to its roots this year as a free community festival, but at a new location. Last year, Memorial Day weekend was left without the annual Allentown music and arts festival when Mayfair was canceled after nearly 30 years.  Now Cedar Crest College has taken over the reins and will present the three-day festival admission-free, noon-10 p.m. May 25-27, on its 84-acre, tree-lined campus at Hamilton and Cedar Crest boulevards.

By Kathy Lauer-Williams

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Room to View

Bethlehem ASD: Data reveals sub shortage

Bethlehem ASD: Charter suit strains district, taxpayers

Bethlehem: Solar lights install at King Memorial

Bethlehem: Trinity Knights of Columbus mark  120^th anniversary

Bethlehem HARB: Christmas City Spirits light up meeting

Fountain Hill: Little League’s opening day

Hellertown: Chamber, authority updates reviewed

People: Bethlehem native Nick Hawkey named Distinguished Citizen

 

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May 16, 2018

COVER STORY

TECHNOLOGY: Is it really progress?

While self-driving vehicles, cashier-less grocery stores and unmanned delivery systems were once a concept deeply rooted in the future, today these technologies along with many others are not far off. The question now becomes not whether or not they are possible, but what impact they will have on society once broadly accepted and widely instituted. Photo: “We’re paving over the best farmland in America, putting up these massive warehousing distribution centers and they’re heavily automated with only a handful of workers,” according to CACLV’s Alan Jennings.

By Katya Hrichak

 

COMMUNITY

Good food, wine for a good cause

The Greco-Roman wine god Bacchus had his very own Bacchanalia festival in his honor, where sumptuous food and tantalizing wines were the order of the day.   Fast forward more than 2,200 years, and some of the finest aspects of the festival have been preserved at Fountain Hills’ annual wine and food tasting fundraiser that brings together the local community to benefit the borough’s Playground and Recreation Improvement Fund.  Photo: These workers from The Other Fish restaurant got some food tasting in themselves. Did we see some chili in there? They are Yuri Laubach, John Gerhard, Vinny Reichard and Matt Reichard. They are all from Bethlehem.

By Carole Gorney

 

SOUTHSIDE

Rocked by art, music festival

ArtsQuest held its second annual Southside Arts & Music Festival presented by Capital BLUE April 20 and 21,  featuring live music, visual arts and family programming.  There were approximately 10 wristband shows per day at multiple locations such as Godfrey Daniels, National Museum of Industrial History, Lehigh Valley Charter HS for the Arts, Banana Factory and Musikfest Café at Steelstacks.  The headline performers were 2018 Grammy winners The Infamous Stringdusters, Delta Rae and Dar Williams. Photo: Liz Hopkins caps off a powerful vocal during the band Delta Rae’s performance for a large crowd at Musikfest Café.

By Mark Kirlin

 

CLASSROOM

LVA’s first mini-THON a success

After months of planning, the big day finally arrived for Lehigh Valley Academy’s Mini-THON committee. On March 24 LVA held their very first Mini-THON to raise money for pediatric cancer research. From the beginning, LVA had set a goal to raise $10,000. However, with dedication and hard work LVA had aimed to surpass this goal. LVA was one of many schools that took part in this rewarding event. Four Diamonds Mini-THON is an organization that allows all students to plan their interactive events throughout their school and community to help raise money towards pediatric cancer patients at Pennsylvania State Children’s Hospital. Photo: Teacher adviser Ariella Mease (center) is holding the Mini-THON flyer and is standing along with student leaders from left to right Xavier Lopez, Amber Hernandez, Madison Stametz, and Ashley Brown.

By Rana Moawad

 

BETHLEHEM SPORTS

Gruber, Lynn win doubles title

Liberty’s Louis Gruber and David Lynn were crowned District XI Class 3A Doubles Tennis Champions after winning their match against Nazareth’s Gabe Knowles and Nate Tauber, 6-2, 6-0, last Thursday at Lehigh University. “It feels good knowing that, coming into this, we weren’t necessarily the favorites, but we knew as long as we were playing well and working well together, we knew we had a really good opportunity and we did that,” said Gruber.

By Katie McDonald

 

LV FOCUS

Mosaic of art

A colorful tile mosaic of a red barn complete with hex signs is one of the most exciting pieces that will go on the block at the The Baum School of Art’s 33rd Annual Art Auction May 19.

“Pennsylvania Dutch Barn No. 2” (tile mosaic, 29 in. x 30½ in.) by William Weldon Swallow is one of more than 300 pieces of art from the era of school founder Walter Emerson Baum, as well as from contemporary regional artists, that will be featured in a silent and a live auction that will raise funds for the Allentown teaching and exhibiting art school.

By Kathy Lauer-Williams

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: New proposal made for Grace Mansion land

Bethlehem: AAUW book sale

Bethlehem: DAR rewards student citizens

Bethlehem Township: Special meeting called

Lehigh County: Voting machine update costly mandate

Lehigh County: Holt asked to pull amendment

Lehigh County: Drug Take Back Day nets 600 pounds

Lehigh Valley: Musically diverse Memorial Day planned

Northampton County: Local seniors lauded for volunteerism

Saucon Valley: High school principal resigns

South Bethlehem: Task Force talks spring cleaning

State: Boscola welcome open primary support

 

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May 9, 2018

COVER STORY

District 7 candidate forum

All but one of the eight candidates vying for the new 7th Congressional district seat appeared together before a standing room-only audience to answer questions at a recent forum sponsored jointly by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh and Northampton counties. Those at the forum were Democrats David Clark, Rick Daugherty, Greg Edwards, John Morganelli, Roger Ruggles and Susan Wild. Republican Dean Browning also participated. Photo: Standing room only at the Congressional candidates forum at Northampton Community College.

By Carole Gorney

 

SPRING MUSICALS

Bethlehem Catholic presents ‘Godspell’

Bethlehem Catholic HS’s Theatre Department spring musical, “Godspell” by Stephen Schwartz and directed by Debbie Acampora, opened April 13 and continues April 20 and 21. The 70s inspired ‘hippie’ costumes and the basic stage constructed of boxes that the actors stand or sit on throughout the play all made sense as you watches the musical, which has several stage-wide dance numbers and gatherings. The staging is a spectacle with movement, at times both on the floor and in the aisles. There are over 50 in the Becahi cast. “Godspell” opened off Broadway on May 17, 1971. Musical numbers include “We Beseech Thee,” “Day By Day” and “Learn Your Lessons Well.”  Photo: Rachael Mège (center) is tormented in a parable during Bethlehem Catholic’s performance of “Godspell.”

By Lori Patrick 

BETHLEHEM SPORTS

Freedom moves on from Hall in wrestling

Brandon Hall’s tenure as head coach of Freedom’s wrestling program came to an end recently. After eight-years of leading the Pates, Hall won’t be back next season. “It’s frustrating,” Hall said. “I can’t see myself coaching anywhere else because this is where I wanted to be, but they didn’t want to bring me back next year.” Freedom Principal Michael LaPorta offered his appreciation for Hall’s services, as the school looks for a new head coach. “We are very thankful for the eight years that Brandon has dedicated to our school and wrestling program,” LaPorta said. “At this time, we have decided to take our wrestling program in another direction.”

By Peter Car

 

LV FOCUS

‘Putting It Together’ at Town Hall

The Bethlehem Fine Arts Commission contacted seven area artists to participate in “Putting It Together,” an invitational show through May 31, Rotunda Gallery, Bethlehem Town Hall, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem. “Every year we do a curated show with a theme,” says James A. DePietro, a member of the fine arts commission. “Putting It Together” has a mixed media theme involving “artists working with multiple imagery,” he explains.

By Ed Courrier

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Farmers market opens

Bethlehem: City marks Arbor Day

Bethlehem: School district budget work begins

Bethlehem HARB: No COAs issued at April meeting

Fountain Hill: Construction, parking woes continue

Lehigh: The real food challenge

Lehigh: Students participate in Red Bull Launch Institute

Lehigh Valley: Bethlehem students shine in Science Olympiad

Lehigh County: Patrisanship foils meeting agenda

Northampton County: Gracedale revives tuition assistance

 

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