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TO THE CITY OF BETHLEHEM, BETHLEHEM AND HANOVER TOWNSHIPS AND THE BOROUGHS OF FOUNTAIN HILL, FREEMANSBURG AND HELLERTOWN

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Tuesday, February 26, 2019


February 27, 2019

COMMUNITY

Isis Irizzary goes to Mexico


"I’m my mother’s daughter,” said new lawyer Isis [pronounced Ee-sis in Spanish] Irizarry when explaining why a local woman now working in Connecticut would go to the West Coast, and then to Tijuana, Mexico, to help asylum seekers. Irizarry is the daughter of Olga Negrón, a Bethlehem city councilwoman and high-profile spokesperson for the Latino community in the Lehigh Valley, “She’s not one to sit idle while there is an injustice,” Irizarry said of her mother in a recent interview. Irizarry, a 2006 graduate of Bethlehem Catholic HS, decided to take direct action. She flew to the border at Tijuana, Mexico, to help at-risk immigrant asylum seekers when the opportunity arose late last year. She appealed to friends via social media for help and raised most of her expense money for the trip. Photo: The Otay Mesa Port of Entry. The reddish cement is on the U. S. side of the border.  This is the area we were corralled into, where we waited overnight.

By Douglas Graves

 

ST. LUKE’S HEALTH NETWORK

Art as healing art

The healing properties of art, whether from making or participating in it, or from just observing and enjoying it, are well documented. The list of benefits ranges from alleviating depression to reducing stress, lowering blood pressure and actually alleviating symptoms.   With that in mind, the St. Luke’s University Health Network officially established a Healing Arts Program last fall for cancer patients at its Bethlehem, Allentown and Anderson campuses.  That was only the beginning, though. In addition to the cancer centers, the program is being expanded to the St. Luke’s Baby and Me Support Center, where new mothers have worked on art projects. Soon it will also be available to the inpatient pediatric department at the Bethlehem campus. Photo: Vicky Picard and Heather Nieves-Ramos were cheerleaders together with Erica Curtis at Liberty HS. They were on hand for the dedication of “Erica’s Art Carts.”  Picard lives in Bethlehem, and is sports coordination for Service Access & Management (SAM). Nieves-Ramos, from Philadelphia, is Erica’s best friend. 

By Carole Gorney

 

ANOTHER VIEW

What did I learn from the March for Life

“Who loves babies?” “We love babies!” This was one of the many chants I heard one month ago when in Washington, D.C., for the March for Life. Along with about 20 of my fellow students from Bethlehem Catholic, I had gotten on a bus the morning of Jan. 18 prepared to walk, to pray, and to have (hopefully) a good time.We got to D.C. after the March had begun, racing to take a photo with Notre Dame and Central Catholic students before finding a spot to blend into the stream of protesters. To someone who had never attended a march before, it seemed like the whole nation had turned out to lobby for the unborn’s right to life. This obviously wasn’t the case, but a thousands-strong crowd impressed me in a way I doubt anything has. Photo: Senior Issaiah Lopez was one of 20 Bethlehem Catholic HS students making the trip to Washington, D.C., for the March for Life.

Mary Frances Scheidel

 

SPORTS-DISTRICT 11 WRESTLING

Hawks advance 9 to regionals

It was probably not a coincidence that Ryan Anderson and Jagger Condomitti were slated as the final matchup of last Saturday’s District 11 3A wrestling finals. The 145-pound showdown set up a rematch of Condomitti’s upset victory at the PIAA team championship and Anderson knew this would be an opportunity at redemption and he took care of business. Anderson scored a four-point in the second period with a takedown and two back points to control with a 4-1 lead and held on for a 5-3 decision to give Bethlehem Catholic their second gold medalist on the night, as Cole Handlovic (152) started the finals with a 16-7 major decision over Northampton’s Michael Kistler for his first district title.

By Peter Car

 

FOCUS

Shakespeare meets the classics

William Shakespeare is often considered the most influential writer in the English language. We studied Shakespeare in school and some of us can even recite famous quotes from his plays: “To be or not to be: that is the question” from “Hamlet”; or “O Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?” from “Romeo and Juliet,” or ”If music be the food of love, play on.” from “Twelfth Night.”

By Diane Wittry

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: New city website brings promise of transparency

Bethlehem: Locals honored by 10,000 Friends of Pa.

Hellertown: Long-time public works director retires

Bethlehem Township: ‘Frozen’ comes alive

Classroom: MATHCOUNTS – even on weekends

Northampton County: Election commission looks to 2020

Northampton County: McClure questioned about Gracedale

State: Sunday hunting makes some progress

High school news – Liberty HS by Elisabeth Lee

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

 

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Tuesday, February 19, 2019


February 20, 2019

COVER STORY-NIGHT TO SHINE

Unforgettable prom night experience

The Riverbend Community Church went all out to give some of the community’s most excluded people a chance to dress up, be feted, and have fun at a prom just for them. The Night to Shine celebration at the Palace Center on Hanover Street in Allentown gave 140 special needs guests the chance to dance, eat and socialize. The lobby of the Palace Center was transformed to create the atmosphere of a grand hotel lobby, complete with red carpet, where arriving guests strutted their finery as they entered the building. Photo: Kelsey and Kyle enjoy a slow dance at the gala evening, A Night to Shine, sponsored for the third year by Riverbend Community Church in Allentown.

By Douglas Graves

 

REIGNITING THE DREAM

Women lauded at MLK Day breakfast

More than 150 people attended the annual free community breakfast held Jan. 21 in celebration of the life of Martin Luther King Jr. and in recognition of the role women play in society.  Co-sponsored by the Bethlehem branch of the NAACP and the Bethlehem YWCA, and held at the Cathedral Church of the Nativity, the program included a panel of four women who spoke on the theme of “Reigniting the Dream: The Power of Women.” Photo: Discussion panel members include YWCA Executive Director Stephanie Hnatiw, Tracie Springer, Amanda Sutter, Bethlehem Councilwoman Olga Negrón, Judy Lappen and Bethlehem NAACP President Esther Lee.

By Carole Gorney

 

THE CLASSROOM

All-City MS Orchestra 141 strong

The 2019 All-City Middle School Orchestra performed its annual concert  in the Nitschmann MS auditorium before several hundred parents, families and friends Feb. 6. Comprised of 141 student musicians from the Bethlehem Area School District’s four middle schools, Broughal, East Hills, Nitschmann and Northeast, the concert was directed by middle school instrumental directors Adam Stoltz, Christy Davies, Daniel Zettlemoyer and Brian Rupnik. Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva was guest conductor for the playing of the “Star Spangled Banner” to open the concert. Photo: Assistant Superintendent Dr. Jack Silva directs the All-City Middle School Orchestra as they perform the National Anthem.

By Dana Grubb

 


SPORTS

Becahi EPC champions

Bethlehem Catholic’s boys’ basketball team has had their fair share of close contests throughout the season, but the Hawks may have saved their best for last in the EPC championship Saturday at Easton Area Middle School when they took down Emmaus 46-44 for the league title. Justin Paz’s layup with 2.5 seconds left in the fourth quarter proved to be the difference in the finale and helped push Becahi (22-3) to its second-straight conference crown.

By Peter Car

 

FOCUS

High school musicals

With the spotlight on Lehigh Valley high school musicals on the road to the 2019 Freddy Awards at the State Theatre Center for the Arts, Easton, the Lehigh Valley Press Focus section begins its annual preview series.

The 17th annual Freddys recognize accomplishments in musical theater in high schools in Lehigh and Northampton counties, and Warren County, N.J.

The list of the 30 schools participating in the 2019 Freddy Awards, along with productions, performance dates and ticket information, is at: freddyawards.org

The 2019 Freddy Awards ceremony will be broadcast at 7 p.m. May 23 from the State Theatre on WFMZ-TV and wfmz.com.

By Ed Courrier

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: BASD preliminary budget shows no tax increase

Lehigh County: Budget revision allows Cedarbrook hiring

Lehigh Valley: $21K grant aids computer science programs

Lehigh Valley: New LVHN childrens pediatric unit opens

Salisbury Township: Survivor tells of hiding from Nazi oppression

State: New school safety option sees early successes

South Bethlehem: ‘Don’t touch that dial’ at NMIH

Traditions of Hanover: Couple renews vows for 70th anniversary

Opinion: Speak up and save lives

Opinion: More Trumans, fewer show horses

Student profile: Larent Weintraub, Saucon Valley HS

High school news reports: BAVTS by Alexandra Hutchinson

 
WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

Volunteers

 

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Tuesday, February 12, 2019


February 13, 2018

COVER STORY-R.K. LAROS SILK CO.

Keeping the story alive

The R. K. Laros Foundation and the Industrial Archives and Library hosted a joint reception at the Industrial Archives and Library to thank the nearly 30 individuals who have participated in the organizations’ joint Laros Oral History Project and to provide an interim report on the results of the project to date. Launched in March 2017, The Laros Oral History Project is documenting the history and impact of the R. K. Laros Silk Company on the Lehigh Valley community from the perspective of the everyday lives of employees and their families.

 

PEOPLE

Freedom senior earns Eagle

Christian Michael Jancsarics has achieved Boy Scout immortality by earning the organization’s most distinguished honor of Eagle Scout. “Scouting taught me about leadership,” Jancsarics said during an interview at his Eagle Scout ceremony Nov. 24 at East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem. “I think it has helped me grow as a person. I think it will help me later on in life.” Photo: Christian Jancsarics earned the Boy Scouts of America’s prestigious Eagle Scout award. During a ceremony for the honor, he is with his parents, Joseph and Cindy, at East Hills Moravian Church in Bethlehem.

By Stephen Althouse

 

SPORTS

Hawks win 7th state title

It was a bit of a shock when Bethlehem Catholic senior Ryan Anderson, the nation’s top-ranked wrestler at 145 pounds, lost a close decision to Northampton’s Jagger Condomitti in the state championships. The upset kept Northampton’s title hopes alive and certainly seemed to swing momentum to the Konkrete Kids, even if momentarily. But it didn’t last long. Junior Cole Handlovic left no doubt in Hershey’s Giant Center that there wouldn’t be any more upsets or hiccups. Handlovic’s fall, the Golden Hawks’ second of the match, sealed Becahi’s seventh PIAA team championship with a 31-19 win over Northampton on Saturday.

By Todd Kress

 

FOCUS

Mister Valentine: Tamaqua museum features vintage cards

They say still waters run deep. Late artist John G. Scott was a prime example of that adage. Those who remember Tamaqua’s most famous commercial-art illustrator say he was a quiet, humble man who touched hearts, not through bravado, but quiet brush strokes. Descendants of Scott from Oregon, California, Delaware and other states gathered Nov. 11, 2018, to unveil an extensive collection of Scott’s creativity, the inaugural exhibit at the newly-opened Tamaqua Historical Society Museum Annex, 114 W. Broad St., Tamaqua.

By Donald Serfass

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: 911 deal made
Bethlehem: $405K in KIZ grants go to start-ups

Bethlehem: Ben Franklin reports continued growth

Bethlehem: Contest winner gets peek at PEEPS

Bethlehem: Laros grants aid 8 local organizations

Bethlehem: Retired firefoighter seeks city council seat

Bethlehem: Book sale ‘great srt’ for new year

Classroom: Rep. McNeill reads to Calypso students

Classroom: Charter Arts hosts honors breakfast

Hellertown: Class-1 e-bikes get thumbs up

Lehigh County: Hanna announces bid for 2nd term

Lehigh County: Grassroots organizer seeks commissioner’s seat

Lehigh Valley: Registration open for recovery high school

Lehigh Valley: LVHN welcome newborns with Red Hate

Lehigh Valley: Baby names show trends

Lehigh Valley: Mickey Mouse visitis pediatric patients

Letter: Adaptive reuse saves our history

Northampton County: Gracedale rating concerns continue

Northampton County: Terry Houck seeks district attorney job

Opinion: Dorney Parklawsuit: Wait until all the facts are in

South Bethlehem: Sands gets AAA’s 4 Diamond rating

Student profiles: Lean Fastenau, Freedom HS

High school news reports: Saucon Valley news by Maddie Schaffer

 

WEEKLY FEATURES

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Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

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Tuesday, February 5, 2019


February 6, 2019

COVER STORY

Dent to NCC graduates: ‘Pursue your passions’


To hear Charlie Dent tell it, his father gave him some great advice when he was a young man about to enter college. “My father thought I should study one of three things – science, medicine or engineering,” he told an audience gathered Jan. 26 for the 2019 winter commencement at Northampton Community College. “I went to Penn State and started out studying industrial engineering, but I decided to switch majors to political science.”

By Stephen Althouse



BETHLEHEM

Community business grads celebrate


“The entrepreneurial spirt is alive and well in the Lehigh Valley,” Pa. Rep. Steve Samuelson told a motivated group of mostly young businesspeople who received certificates for mastering one or more business courses taught by Community Action Development Corporation of Bethlehem last month. As inspiration, Samuelson quoted one of America’s most famous early businessmen, Benjamin Franklin: “Energy and persistence conquers all things.” Photo: Kevin McCloud receives a certificate of completion from PA Representative Steve Samuelson.  CADC Bethlehem’s Business Development Coordinator Juliana Bolivar assisted with the program. Bolivar is from Colombia.

By Douglas Graves



CANDIDATES

Student runs for school board seat


Freedom HS senior Kyle Miceli has announced his candidacy for an open position on Bethlehem’s school board in the 2019 election. Miceli decided it was time for a change after observing the effects the school board’s decisions have had on students’ lives over the last four years.  His focus for his Student First Campaign is to shift the board’s priorities to the students before any other issues.  He said, “The board is out of touch with our students’ needs. They haven’t even been to a high school in years. I believe I can fix these issues – I can be the one to make a difference on the board.” Miceli has strategized a four-step plan to raise Bethlehem schools to higher standards.

By Hannah McMullan



CLASSROOM

Fountain Hill kids, volunteers celenrater MLK


Though postponed by severe weather, the principle, “Do what is right,” is too important to let lapse. It was the theme to which students and teachers at Fountain Hill ES welcomed community volunteers for a morning of education and reflection of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 25. Photo: Beverly Bradley, president of the Cops ‘n’ Kids Children’s Literacy Program (right), greets the Moravian College athletes and provides a brief review of the program and its importance.

By Dennis Glew



SPORTS

Hawks merge with gold


The Bethlehem Catholic Golden Hawks avenged their only regular season dual meet loss by defeating the Liberty Hurricanes 34-22 to win the District XI AAA team wrestling title. The Hawks head to Hershey looking to claim their second consecutive state team championship and their third in four years. Beca reached the final on the strength of 41-13 win over Northampton in their semifinal. Liberty got a final bout pin at 152 by Jason Rezac to get by Nazareth 26-24 in the other semi.

By Tom Wenborg



FOCUS

Memoir charts Rick Levy’s rock ‘n’ roll career


Like many teens in the 1960s, when Richard “Rick” Levy first saw the Beatles, he was inspired to start his own band. But unlike most youths, Levy went on to not only play guitar in various rock ‘n’ roll bands, but also to manage some of the era’s biggest pop-rock artists, including Herman’s Hermits, Tommy Roe, Freddy Cannon, Jay & the Techniques, The Tokens and Bo Diddley. He is now the manager and a guitarist for Memphis legends The Box Tops.

By Kathy Lauer-Williams


OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Callahan’s proposal targets wage disparity

Bethlehem Township: High-end gas station pitched

Bethlehem Township: Commissioners consider refinancing

Lehigh County: Cedarbrook to get new director

Lehigh County: County to get DCNR grants

Saucon Vallery: Andres replaces Leewright on board

Soputh Bethlehem: PBS49 wins national education awards

State: Bill 897 clarifies restitution law

Valley: Boscola announces bridge grant

Valley: McNeill pleased with committee assignments

Valley: Stockings for Soldiers collection breaks record

Valley: Dunkin Brands’ grant aids Second Harvest

Valley: Giant begins deploying robots

Student profiles – Jaden Freeman, LHS

High school news reports – LV Academy



WEEKLY FEATURES

Around town community calendar

Police logs

Area obituaries

Center for Animal Health and Welfare

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Tuesday, January 29, 2019


January 30, 2010

COVER STORY-MARCHES WITH A MESSAGE

‘We need to get past the cliches’

Bethlehem residents honored the late Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Jan. 21 with a Civil Rights Movement March. At around 11:30 a.m., members of the Civil Rights Movement in Bethlehem met in front of St. Bernard’s Beneficial Society on Broadhead Avenue in preparation to march to Martin Luther King Park on Carlton Avenue. The event was organized by Frankie West, president of the Civil Rights Movement and member since 1967. He explained his involvement with the organization and why he enjoys doing the marches year after year. “These marches bring us unity,” he said.

Photo: The Reverend Timothy Smith leads marchers on their way to Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. Park.

By Hanna O’Reilly

 

‘Women’s rights are human rights’

Though the temperature was a chilly 32 degrees, a crowd of some 200, mostly women, gathered at Payrow Plaza beside Bethlehem City Hall for the third annual Women’s March of the Lehigh Valley. This year, however, the Bethlehem Women’s March was not affiliated with the National Women’s March because of a desire to express disapproval of what was seen as anti-Semitism and ties to the Nation of Islam of some of its leaders. The lead organizer of the Bethlehem event was Liberty HS senior Georgia Skuza. Georgia is no stranger to protests: last year she led the “Walk Out” at Liberty in the wake of the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas HS in Florida. Co-organizer of the event was Tara Zrinski, the first woman to be elected to Northampton County Council, who declared, “Women’s rights are human rights.” Photo: Signs everywhere! A lively, engaged crowd came to the Women’s March prepared to make their opinions known. Coverage of the Bethlehem rally begins on page A3.

By Dorothy and Dennis Glew

 

LEHIGH VALLEY

LVIA ‘Fills the Bus’

Hours after it was announced New York’s LaGuardia would cease operations due to a federal shutdown-related workforce crisis Friday, Lehigh Valley International Airport was stocking entire rooms with food and necessities donated by local businesses and community members for airport staff who have been working for more than a month without pay. It was the second day of the event; the first being the Wednesday before. The “Fill the Bus” drive was a wild success thanks to everyone’s efforts, and LVIA saw no disruption to the many necessary positions - such as TSA and controllers - during the shutdown, said Public and Government Relations Director Colin Riccobon.

Photo: A steady stream of donors and volunteers brings bags and packages of groceries and paper goods to fill the bus.

By Nate Jastrzemski’

 

CLASSROOM

Learning about the locks

Fourth grade students throughout the Bethlehem Area School District got some firsthand canal experience using the book “Tales of the Towpath,” which was written by canal education manager Dennis Scholl, for the curriculum.  Each class also visited the Freemansburg Canal Education Center on a class field trip. The story is told through the eyes of a 10-year-old and depicts life along the canal during the 18th Century.  Photo: Volunteer Steve Capwell demonstrates how a lock operates to move a canal boat from one level to the next in the waterway.

By Dana Grubb

 

SPORTS

‘Canes are champs!

The Liberty Hurricanes captured their first league wrestling title since 1986 by winning the Eastern Pennsylvania Conference championship with a 33-26 win over Nazareth Saturday night at Easton Middle School. Head coach Jody Karam reflected on the first league championship of his 26-year Liberty tenure.

By Tom Wenborg

 

FOCUS

The Oscars: Snub hub

The Academy Awards nominations always leave something to be desired. There are films, actors, directors and others you think deserved nominations, but did not receive them.So it goes with the 91st Oscars. The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences presents the 2019 Academy Awards ceremonies honoring 2018 movie releases, 8 p.m. (EST) Feb. 24, Dolby Theatre, Hollywood and Highland Center, Los Angeles, televised live on the ABC-TV. Oscar snubs shouldn’t be surprising, and yet, somehow, they always are.

By PaulWillistein

 

OTHER STORIES

Bethlehem: Annual MLK breakfast draws 130

Bethlehem: Cops ‘N Kids spring schedule announced

Lehigh Valley – Times News/LV Press buy semi-annual Kids Closet Sale

Lehigh Valley: District files challenge to LVHS’s tax-exempt status

Lehigh Valley: Stabler Foundation grants $22K to Center of Humanistic Change

Lehigh Valley: CHEMO Bag volunteers are ‘priceless’

Lehigh Valley: Trial date set for officer in fatal shooting

Northampton County: Gracedale’s low rating concerns council

Opinion: Observations on the Womens March

Opinion: Allentown State Hospital needs serious developer

Saucon Valley: Comprehensive plan will be updated

South Bethlehem: Arts district hopes for national recognition


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

To advertise: Ad staff

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