December 3, 2014
COVER STORY
Let them lead the way
The holiday season officially got under way in the Christmas City with the decorating of the Mayor’s Tree and the 50th annual Christmas treelighting ceremony in Payroll Plaza. Photo: Selected students from Calypso and Lincoln elementary schools with Bethlehem Mayor Robert Donchez. Students Spencer Sabo, Gabriella Robinson, Marksym Johnson, Trevor Martucci and Jacob Rivera were chosen to be the mayor’s assistants, primarily turning on the lights during the Nov. 28 Christmas City Tree Lighting ceremony.
By Tim Gilman
LEHIGH VALLEY
Early ed programs lead to trained workforce
Tomorrow’s science, technology, engineering and math workforce starts with early education. Sadly, there is an education gap in these areas that needs to be closed if children are to become the STEM-skilled workers that businesses need to compete globally. Photo: Sponsored by Community Services for Children, the Lehigh Valley Early Learning Coalition and PBS39, the Nov. 12 Early Education STEM Summit focused on the need for support and funding in the areas of science, technology, engineering and math. Fred Rogers Company CEO William Isler, who chairs the Pennsylvania Early Learning Investment Commission, speaks to a group of about 50 community leaders at PBS39 in Bethlehem.
By Carol Smith
WEALTH
Task force blames disparity on racism
Thanks in part to a $3.4 million sustainable communities grant awarded by the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development in 2011, a local “Task Force on Wealth Disparity” has found a provocative culprit: Racism. Photo: Olga Negron and the Rev. Gregory Edwards take turns reading portions of the report.
By Bernie O’Hare
SOUTHSIDE
Light the night
With the blessing of the City of Bethlehem and Lehigh University law enforcement officials, the Lehigh University Student Senate undertook its annual ‘Light Up Off Campus’ program Oct. 22. Photo: Members of the Lehigh University Student Senate gather before heading out to pound the area sidewalks in neighborhoods between Pierce and Carlton streets from West Fourth Street south to the campus.
By Dana Grubb
BETHLEHEM
First snowstorm not so bad
A pack of canine-lovers walks along a snow-covered sidewalk on Broad Street Bridge on Thanksgiving Day. Craig Biehl with his black Australian dog brings up the rear, Kasey Leibenroth with a cattle dog mix and husband Will Leibenroth, visiting from Maine, and Jillian Eaton, who recently moved to Broad Street.
By Tim Gilman
ENTERTAINMENT
Apple festival seed planted
The Burnside Sale and Apple Days festival had a successful debut the first weekend of September, according to Charlene Donchez Mowers, president of Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites. “We were very pleased with the number of people from the Lehigh Valley community who came out to enjoy our new event at Burnside Plantation in Bethlehem. Photo: Gabriella Vacaro of Bethlehem Township offers her partly eaten apple to a toy sheep during storytelling by Regina Kochmaruk of the Bethlehem Area Public Library. The new Burnside Sale and Apple Days featured a variety of activities for visitors of all ages.
By Tim Gilman
DOWNTOWN
Christmas Village returns
Lisa and Kyle Kuester of Bethlehem walk their dog past some Christmas Village huts near Central Moravian Church and Main Street. The outdoor holiday season event which features 35 wooden stalls is modeled after a traditional German holiday market which sells a variety of native wares and food.
By Tim Gilman
THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM HISTORY
Christmas in South Bethlehem
In 1985, author Joan Campion (1940-2011), along with five like-minded friends, founded and incorporated South Bethlehem Historical Society. Over the past 29 years, the society has offered many events that have delighted its membership, supporters and friends throughout Bethlehem. Photo: A decorated Slovak tree from a previous Christmas display.
By Ken Raniere
LEHIGH UNIVERSITY
Marathon tops $50,000
Lehigh’s Dance Marathon was founded by Alex Stephanou and Katie Walters last year, making Lehigh one of the first schools to raise money for the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Last year, Dance Marathon raised close to $40,000, and this year they hoped to raise $50,000, and exceeded that number by more than $4,000.
By Lisa Kocay
THIS WEEK IN BETHLEHEM SPORTS
Becahi season ends with loss to Somerset
Based on their comparative seasons, Becahi looked like they would likely advance to the PIAA Class 3A semifinal against high-powered Archbishop Wood this weekend. Somerset, their opponent, did enter Chambersburg High School with an overall 12-1 record, but they tangled with mostly Class A and AA teams, while Becahi also posted 12 wins and appeared primed to advance as they marched through ever-competitive East Penn Conference this fall. A lopsided victory could have been in the offing.
By Jeff Moeller
OTHER STORIES
BASD: Bailey named BAEF head
Bethlehem: Homicide darkens holiday week
Bethlehem Township: No tax hike budget proposed
Bethlehem Township: Monthly report highlights
Hanover Township: Another ‘on-target’ budget year
Hanover Township: Proposed adult daycare approved
Letter: Ted Martz remembered
Northampton County: Another view-Concerns raised over reimbursements
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