It’s too hot. It’s too cold. Well, I ate too much. I haven’t eaten enough; I won’t have the energy. I’m not a morning person. Night? It’s just too dangerous to go at night. I’m sick. I have to do laundry and I’m also in the middle of a very committed six-hour “Game of Thrones” binge. I’ll just go tomorrow. Or maybe on Monday. Yes, I will – it’s my New Year’s resolution. I’... »
The arts have power. Films and plays can bring us to tears – whether through comedy or tragedy. Photographs and paintings can hold us transfixed by their colors, composition, even their subjects. And playwright William Congreve knew that “Musick has Charms to sooth a savage Breast, To soften Rocks, or bend a knotted Oak.” … a place where those who are healing find st... »
Most of us are pretty healthy. We skate through life with assorted cuts and bruises, perhaps a broken bone or a bout with the flu. I couldn’t walk more than one block without leaning against a building and trying to catch my breath. But over 122,000 people nationwide (and many in the Lehigh Valley) aren’t so lucky. Their survival depends on receiving a desperately needed o... »
Perhaps grass stains, a perpetual heap of dirty jerseys, and the overwhelming anxiety of literally becoming the “last picked for the team” are all rites of passage. Whether we were budding Beckhams, benchwarmers, or the one doing the laundry and cleaning up after muddy cleats, in some way or another, we’ve all been there, right? All of us, that is, except for those of us w... »
Bruises a little too dark to be masked by concealer, threats of PFA filings, police visits commanded by concerned neighbors, and the occasional empowering Blockbuster movie or chart-topping pop single are what we picture when we hear the words “domestic violence.” What we do not picture is a woman surrendering the contents of her paycheck to her abuser every week, e... »
Few things are as sacred to some children as their holiday wish lists. Of course, there’s never a guarantee that their wishes will be granted, but as children set out a tray of milk and cookies before pretending to fall asleep for the evening, the overwhelming sense of hope hangs in the air that someone – Santa, mom, dad or grandpa – will deliver their dreams come morning.... »
For the past 15 years, the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley has helped to ensure every child receives a special gift during the holiday season. Through their Holiday Hope Chest program, they collect and distribute more than 4,000 gift boxes to at-risk or underprivileged youth in the Lehigh Valley. “The way it works is simple,” explained Phyllis Walsh, Holiday Hope Che... »
On July 5, 2010, Dana Hahn’s life as she knew it was shattered. Her son, Luke, and husband, Kraig, were involved in an accidental propane tank explosion. Her husband sustained severe burns on 83 percent of his body that kept him in the hospital until Christmas Eve of that year, but their son was killed in the explosion. He was just two days shy of his thirteenth birthday. ... »
Grasping the scope of hunger in America can be daunting. According to the Food Research and Action Center, about one in six Americans was sometimes unable to buy necessary food last year. And in a nation of nearly 320 million, that represents over 5 million hungry people. It’s even more widespread in the Lehigh Valley. Estimates show that up to 25% of Allentown’s residents... »
Every 26 seconds, a student in the United States drops out of high school. Within the confines of the Lehigh Valley, approximately 2.5 students drop out every single day. In 1970, the US held the highest graduation rate out of all developed countries. Today, it ranks 22nd out of 27. While these numbers are staggering, there’s still hope. “Every student is one caring adult ... »
