By M. Minti Ray A scenic drive along Route 248 North reveals a majestic view of the Appalachian Mountains and the confluence of the Lehigh River and Aquashicola Creek. Here lies the area of Palmerton, nestled along the northern base of Blue Mountain. Anchored by the borough of Palmerton which is home to around 5,200 residents, the area encompasses neighboring villages and ... »
By Frederick Jerant “Depression” can mean a lot of different things–a sunken landform, a very severe economic downturn, an area of low atmospheric pressure. But for as much as 15.7% of patients seeking treatment for any ailment, it’s the name of a mental disorder that can have crippling, even fatal outcomes. (It often leads to suicide, which is the 11th leading cause... »
By Susan Stets Imagine you’re a six-year-old running around Walt Disney World’s “Fantasyland” with Peter Pan and Captain Hook, or perching on Pluto’s lap for a train ride through “Give Kids the World,” where ice cream is served for breakfast and Christmas comes every Thursday. Orefield resident Cody Benedetto, now 10 years old, says those were his two favorite experiences ... »
By Jennifer LoConte For most of us, the annual holiday decorating begins around Thanksgiving weekend. Lighted candles appear in neighborhood windows, festive outdoor lights pop up and Christmas trees tied to the tops of automobiles make their first appearance as December draws near. For one man and his team, however, the arduous task of decorating the entire city of Bethle... »
By Sara Vigneri A winter chill is in the air but I’m sweating through my shirt. I’ve lugged all my children’s clothing from the basement and have begun the process of sorting and sifting. Whenever the seasons change, I find myself taking stock of the stuff that has found residence in my home: clothes from last season, toys that are no longer used, impulse purchases, projec... »
By Albertina D. Lombardi, Esquire & Marie K. Rudzinski The end of 2010 is rapidly approaching and that means it is time for year-end tax planning. Take advantage of these simple tips now to reduce your tax liability: Capital Gains. The capital gains tax rate impacts taxpayers who sell capital assets. Capital assets are certain assets (such as stocks, bonds, real estate... »
By Sara Hodon The Lehigh Valley is special all year ‘round, but there’s nothing quite like it during the holidays. Whether you’re young or young at heart, there’s something for everyone. Below are just a few of the many seasonal events happening in the area. Happy Holidays! Start the season off by visiting any of the local malls and take advantage of their Black Friday sa... »
By Frederick Jerant Ah, winter. It’s the season for skiing and skating, snowball fights and fort building, sleigh rides and snowshoeing. But in the midst of all that wintry fun, we still need to be aware of the power of cold. Just as high temperatures can adversely affect your body, so can low temperatures. One of the simplest ways to avoid cold-weather problems is dressin... »
By J.F. Pirro At 5-foot-7, just about everything that’s important in Rockne Hall Gymnasium towers above Mike Kopp, Allentown Central Catholic High School’s legendary girls basketball coach and the school’s athletic director, especially when he’s in his underground office. There are all those colorful green and gold championship banners hung so high. There’s a volleyball te... »
By Nancy Moffett As we head into the heart of winter in the Lehigh Valley, thoughts turn to keeping our homes comfortable while the winds howl and the snow falls. At the same time, we’re all trying to maximize the dollars we spend to keep the home fires burning. We know that good windows and insulation play key roles in energy efficiency, but let’s concentrate on the bigge... »
