April 22, 2020
District, community work together
With schools closed through the end of the academic year by Governor Tom Wolf due to the coronavirus pandemic, local administrators and teachers have had to work quickly to adjust their practices to continue to deliver education to students. Bethlehem Area School District Assistant Superintendent for Curriculum Dr. Jack Silva sat down with us – virtually – and shared some of what has been happening in the district over the past few weeks.
By Theresa O’Brien - Cartoon by Ed Courrier
A normal spring day
Tuesday, April 7 was a picturesque spring day in Bethlehem, with temperatures reaching nearly 70 degrees under sunny skies. The dreary brown of the winter season was quickly becoming replaced by green grass, budding trees and pastels of blooming flowers. Seemingly in any other year, this would have seemed like a perfect day; the type of day about which countless poems and songs have been written. In 2020, however, with the COVID-19 pandemic spreading exponentially throughout the Lehigh Valley and new cases and deaths from the deadly virus increasing with every daily report from the Pennsylvania Department of Health, this gorgeous spring day felt almost eerie in its normalcy. Photo: I sat on the sidewalk for three hours talking to my parents, saying “Hi” to their cats (my “brother and sister”) through their screen door. I hadn’t seen this view of the block I grew up on since I was a child.
By Chris Haring
Dragons, unicorns, storytime weather virus
Brandy Franco and Bob Weill are co-owners of Mystical Treatsss, 1310 Main St. in Hellerown. My family and I often visit for the coffee and the children’s activities. I spoke with Brandy about how their business is faring. Photo 1: The colorful interior of Mystical Treatsss appeals to children of all ages. “We are whimsically themed for the young and young at heart,” says co-owner Brandy Franco. Photo 2 below: Teachers from Asylum Dance lead an online class. “Parents have loved seeing their kids staying active with dance and seeing the amount of effort our instructors put into their classes for their children,” says business director Louis Marchetti.
By Lani Goins
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SPORTS
Q and A with Freedom’s Lily Judge
The Bethlehem Press will be doing student-athlete Q&A’s with senior representatives from sport over the course of spring. This edition features Freedom’s girls lacrosse team, which was supposed to have one of their best season’s ever. Instead, the players are forced to wonder ‘what if’ as they deal with the cancellation of the season due to the coronavirus pandemic.
By Peter Car
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FOCUS
Student poetry project
In the time of the coronavirus, poetry is never needed more. To commemorate “National Poetry Month” in April, the Lehigh Valley Press presents the 15th annual Student Poetry Project.Please see Page B1, B2 and B3 of the Focus section and the Focus pages on The Press websites for poems selected in the Elementary School, Middle School and High School categories.
By Paul Willistein
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OTHER STORIES
Bethlehem: HARB, HCC, Task Force meetings on hold
Bethlehem: Laros Foundation aids non-profits during pandemic
Bethlehem Township: 100thCovid-19 patient goes home
Community updates: Local, county state Covid-19-related updates
Lehigh County: A regional health commission?
Lehigh Valley: Churches eligible for CARES funds
Mama’s Musings: Food insecurity
State: PA Court rejects shut-down challenge
State: Fishing season opens early
WEEKLY FEATURES
Area obituaries
Center for Animal Health and Welfare
Volunteers
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