Nazareth Teacher Accused Of Molesting Boy Student; ‘Who Checked This Guy Out?’ Board Member Asks

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A Nazareth Area Middle School drama teacher has been arrested on charges that he sexually molested a male student at the school over a two-year period, according to court records filed Friday.

Shawn William Salevsky, 39, of the 1500 block of Kennington Lane in Lower Macungie Township, is charged with 22 offenses that include involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and indecent assault of a victim under age 16, sexual assault, corruption of a minor and reckless endangerment.

Among the allegations in court papers, police said that during a school production of “Snoopy,” Salevsky followed the boy into the bathroom during a wardrobe change and touched the boy’s penis before the boy ran and shut himself in a stall.

On a bus trip to see a play in New York, Salevsky “did open his pants and attempt to lay on top of the victim,” according to court papers.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-c-nazareth-middle-school-drama-teacher-sex-stud-20130503,0,332875,full.story

Jobs Returning To The Lehigh Valley, Slowly

Lehigh Valley workers were hit harder by the recession and recovered more slowly from the damage than those in many comparable urban areas.

That finding and a slew of others are included in the fifth annual State of the Lehigh Valley research study that was rolled out Thursday at Lehigh University by the Lehigh Valley Research Consortium and Renew Lehigh Valley.

Researchers Christopher Ruebeck and Jamila Bookwala, who led the presentation, ran down regional employment figures between 2006 and 2012, finding that the Lehigh Valley’s job market held its own prior to the recession, comparing favorably with similar metro areas, with the nation as a whole and with our neighbors in New Jersey.

But the Valley’s unemployment rate rose more than comparable metro areas during the Great Recession, and those jobs have come back more slowly than in many comparable areas or the state or nation as a whole.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-allentown-lehigh-valley-jobs-20130228,0,7642549.story

Bethlehen Mayor John Callahan Apologizes To Wrestling Ref Who Ejected Him

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan apologized Monday to the referee who ejected him from a high school wrestling match over the weekend, a story that media sites across the country picked up.

In an email, Callahan said he should have handled “the incident better no matter how I felt about the calls made during the match” and said he respects that the referee, Dennis Buchman, has “the right to call the match the way he sees it.”

“That said, both Mr. Buchman and I agree that this was a minor incident that has become overblown and unfortunately took away from the great effort and dedication shown by the young men who participated in the tournament,” Callahan said. “I hope that this will no longer distract from the real issues facing Bethlehem and Northampton County.”

Callahan did not return a telephone call seeking a comment.

Read more:

http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-bethlehem-mayor-apologizes-over-wrestling-eject-20130225,0,1969119.story

Sands Casino In Bethlehem Is For Sale

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem is on the selling block, a source familiar with company thinking told The Morning Call.

Las Vegas Sands, the world’s largest casino company, is asking as much as $1 billion for the Bethlehem casino.  But the source cautioned it’s part of company policy to gauge outside interest on every company property in the United States.

In other words, while Las Vegas Sands’ highly lucrative Macau properties are off-limits, every Sands casino in the U.S.— even the Venetian — theoretically could be had, for the right price.

Some analysts theorize that with Sands Bethlehem revenues riding high, and potential gambling competition brewing in New York state, the time is right for Las Vegas Sands to sell Bethlehem — its only U.S. casino outside Las Vegas.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-sands-sale-20130117,0,5249878.story

Peep Chick Drop And Fireworks To Ring In New Year At SteelStacks

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

New York City may have Carly Rae Jepsen and its huge crystal ball, but Bethlehem has music from the indie rock band for kids Starfish and will drop a 75-pound light-up Peep to ring in the New Year.

“We’re really trying to create a Dick Clark of Bethlehem event,” Matt Pye, vice president of corporate affairs at Just Born, said Sunday, the first day of the city’s annual Peeps Fest.

Now in its fourth year, the annual family-friendly festival is put on by ArtsQuest and candy-maker Just Born. More than 8,000 people attended the festival last year.

This year, Peeps Fest has more interactive activities and the duration of the festival has been condensed from four to two days.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-peeps-fest-20121230,0,7670122.story

Bethlehem City Council Passes $71 Million Budget With 7 Percent Tax Hike

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

In a budget where rising pension costs framed the debate, Bethlehem City Council on Thursday adopted a $71 million budget that includes a 7 percent property tax hike and other revenue including a tax on certain concert tickets.

But what it doesn’t include is $500,000 from a citywide trash hauler, a proposal by Mayor John Callahan that drew public backlash.

Instead, council cut hundreds of thousands of dollars from the budget and accepted Callahan’s suggestions on refinancing the landfill debt.  Council also accepted the administration’s updated revenue projections that show the earned income tax and casino fees as bringing in more money than when Callahan first released his budget proposal last month.

Councilman Robert Donchez acknowledged the budget isn’t perfect but a lot of work was put into it.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-bethlehem-council-passes-budget-20121221,0,6831964.story

Coroner: Garrett Reid, Son Of Eagles Coach Andy Reid, Died From Accidental Heroin Overdose

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Easton, PA – An accidental heroin overdose killed Garrett Reid, the son of Philadelphia Eagles coach Andy Reid, a coroner said Thursday.

Northampton CountyCoroner Zachary Lysek said a toxicology test confirmed the presence of heroin in Garrett Reid’s body.

Investigators revealed they found a used syringe and spoon in his room, along with a gym bag filled with dozens of syringes and needles, many of them unopened.

“We are confident today that Mr. Reid’s death was the result of a self-injected lethal dose of heroin,” District Attorney John Morganelli said at a news conference in Easton.

Reid was found dead in his dorm room early on Aug. 5 at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, where he was assisting the team’s strength and conditioning coach during training camp.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=421805

Bethlehem Zoners Reject South Side Artist Colony

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A nonprofit developer said this week’s zoning denial would not stop its multi-million-dollar plan to bring low-rent housing and a convert a vacant church into an art gallery in south Bethlehem.

Housing Development Corp. Midatlantic of Lancaster will go back to the drawing board to determine how to address the parking issues associated with the $11 million project, President Michael Carper said.

“We closed on the properties. We own them. We’re not going away and will make it work,” he said.

Plans included converting the vacant St. Stanislaus Church on Hayes Street into an art gallery accompanied with building 28 new, low-rent townhouses, loft apartments and 26 parking spaces on the property.

Read more:  http://www.mcall.com/news/local/bethlehem/mc-bethlehem-zoners-art-gallery-20120927,0,2601905.story

Bethlehem’s Vegan Treats Named One Of World’s Best Bakeries

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Northampton County (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Vegan Treats, the little Bethlehem bakery where stars shop, has just received sweet news from American Express. It has been named as one of 10 of the World’s Best Bakeries.

It’s featured in Departures, an American Express magazine available only to the company’s Platinum and Centurion charge card holders.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/dining/mc-vegan-treats-american-express-20120906,0,6639845.story

Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem Table Games Boom Benefits Easton

English: Skyline of Easton, PA from Lafayette College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Editor’s note:  Great to see this money benefit the taxpayers of Pennsylvania!

The city was left out of the local share of taxes on the casino’s thousands of slot machines, but came away with a 25 percent cut of local table gaming taxes. The games — poker, blackjack and more than a dozen other options — remain a fraction of the tens of millions poured into Sands’ slot machines, but the casino’s tables are the most popular in the state and show no sign of slowing down.

The city budgeted $560,000 in table games money this year, a slight uptick from 2011′s $530,000 haul, yet Easton could see more than $700,000 if the boom in south Bethlehem continues. Through the first two quarters this year, Sands shunted $336,000 into Easton’s coffers and the table games at Sands remain the state’s highest grossing.

“We are definitely getting more than we expected,” Easton Finance Director Chris Heagele said.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-sees-windfall-table-games-revenue-20120824,0,5728945.story

Easton Moves Forward With Commuter Tax

English: Skyline of Easton, PA from Lafayette College (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Easton City Council approved a commuter tax Wednesday, raising the earned income tax for more than 10,000 people who work in Easton but live outside the city an average of $127.

City officials estimate the new tax will generate $1.35 million, which Easton can use only toward offsetting a $1.8 million increase in pension obligations. The commuter tax, which takes effect Jan. 1, raises the earned income tax for non-Easton residents from 1 percent to 1.75 percent, the same rate city residents pay.

Council’s 6-1 vote came after an impassioned debate between Mayor Sal Panto Jr. and Councilman Jeff Warren, who wrote a recent op-ed piece opposing the commuter tax. Panto accused Warren, the only council member to vote against the tax, of political grandstanding.

“You keep saying you’re against this but you haven’t laid out any alternatives,” Panto told Warren. “What are you coming up with? What is your solution?”

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-commuter-tax-vote-20120808,0,1762718.story

Andy Reid’s Son Found Dead At Lehigh University

Garrett Reid, the troubled son of Eagles head coach Andy Reid, was found dead in his dorm room at Lehigh University this morning. He was 29 years old.

Garrett Reid, who served a prison sentence on drug charges stemming from a 2007 arrest and later had a relapse, had been working with the team’s strength and conditioning staff as a volunteer, according to a team spokesman.

Andy Reid is not with the team, which kneeled for a prayer before this morning’s practice.

Garrett Reid’s legal problems began with a 2007 arrest following a traffic accident when he was found to be high on heroin at the time.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/sports/football/eagles/mc-eagles-training-camp-0805-20120805,0,7806625.story

Lehigh Valley Housing Market Continues To Rebound

The Lehigh Valley housing market continued to rebound in April, with sales and prices up from a year ago.

A total of 466 homes sold in April in Lehigh and Northampton counties, up 24.9 percent from the same month a year ago, according to the Prudential Patt, White Real Estate HomExpert Market Report. The median sale price was $170,000, up 6.3 percent from a year ago and up 8.4 percent from the median sale price in March.

April was the tenth consecutive month of year-to-year sales increases and it was the second straight month of price increases. If the sales pace and price trends holds, it will mean the local housing market bottomed out last year.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/business/mc-home-sales-april-20120521,0,518533.story

Bethlehem Mayor Announces $56 Million In Development At Former Bethlehem Steel Site

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan on Wednesday announced $56 million of economic development for two projects at the former Bethlehem Steel plant — two buildings that could be used for warehousing or light assembly.

Lehigh Valley Industrial Park VII is negotiating for a 175,000-square-foot facility along Route 412.

Liberty Property Trust has filed plans for an 800,000-square-foot speculative building, one that would be built without a formal commitment from whoever ends up using it.

While Callahan didn’t have any job estimates on that building, he noted that a 1.2 million-square-foot warehouse under way is expected to bring as many as 500 jobs once a tenant is signed.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/breaking/mc-bethlehem-state-of-city-callahan-20120314,0,5953407.story

Eagles’ Lead Singer Glenn Frey Coming To Bethlehem’s Sands Event Center

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The lead singer of a classic rock band that is among the biggest-selling of all time  – and who also had six Top 20 solo hits — will complete the lineup for the opening week of the Sands Bethlehem Event Center, the venue just announced.

Glenn Frey, who sang The Eagles’ breakthrough hit “Take It Easy” and No. 1 songs “New Kid in Town” and “Heartache Tonight,” then topped the charts solo with “The Heat is On” and “You Belong to the City,” will play the event center on May 18, the venue announced on its website, www.sandseventcenter.com.

Read more: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2012/03/singer-from-one-of-biggest-selling-bands-of-all-time-to-play-at-sands-event-center.html

New Brew Pub Revitalizing Long-Vacant Five Points Landmark In Easton

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Troy Reynard spoke over the pop of nail guns, buzzing of saws and clunking of shovels as he pointed to bare joists, weak beams and a battered and pocked terrazzo floor.

The Mount Vernon building at 542 Northampton St. in Easton has weathered the ages as a boarding house, hotel, bar, restaurant and, according to legend, a popular prohibition-era brothel. To Reynard, the Mount Vernon is more than the ghosts of past, faded incarnations. He plans to make a living out of the old beauty.

“This is our big thing,” said Reynard, 48, of Forks Township.

He, his wife, Kathy, and partners Brad and Judy Nelson, under the moniker Vagabond Properties, plan to pour much of their savings into the landmark building and create Two Rivers Brewery, the city’s first micro brew pub since Weyerbacher moved into the industrial park on the South Side more than a decade ago.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/easton/mc-easton-landmark-becomes-microbrewery-20120302,0,7123752.story

Jay Leno To Headline At Bethlehem Sands Event Center

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Jay Leno, who hosted NBC-TV’s “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” from 1992 to 2009, then resumed as its host in 2010 after having his own prime-time “The Jay Leno Show,” will perform at the event center  on Aug. 10.

Tickets are $65, $79.50 and $99.50.

To see who else is coming, click on the link below: http://blogs.mcall.com/lehighvalleymusic/2012/02/late-night-talk-show-icon-country-music-monarch-biggest-selling-instrumentalist-ever-set-for-sands.html

Singer Sheryl Crow Gets Second Chance To Headline Musikfest

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An artist who canceled out a previous show at Musikfest is getting a second chance at the festival.

Sheryl Crow, who had the hits “Leaving Las Vegas,” “All I Want to Do,” “Strong Enough” and “If It Makes You Happy,” but canceled a sold-out Musikfest show at the last moment in 2001, will play at the festival’s main Steel Stage at 8:30 p.m. Aug. 10, it was announced Friday.

Tickets, at $30 and $40, go on sale to ArtsQuest members at 10 a.m. Feb. 28 and to the public at 10 a.m. March 2 at http://www.musikfest.org or by calling 610-332-3378.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/entertainment/music/mc-sheryl-crow-musikfest-20120224,0,5033816.story

Lehigh Valley Sets All-Time Annual Precipitation Record

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The Lehigh Valley was spared the 1-2 inches of snow forecast early Thursday morning, but the 1.72 inches of rain that fell Wednesday pushed the area to an all-time annual precipitation record of 69.68 inches, breaking the record of 67.69 set in 1952.

The weather system expected to bring a few inches of snow to the Lehigh Valley by Thursday morning moved through the area too quickly before the temperatures could convert the rain to snow.

Read more: http://www.mcall.com/news/local/mc-lehigh-valley-precipitation-record-20111208,0,3581547.story?page=1

Tens Of Thousands Still Without Power In Berks, Lehigh and Northampton Counties

Here is a list of the latest figures on how many people are still without power in the Allentown, Bethlehem and Reading areas:

31,425 Lehigh County PPL

8,732 Northampton County PPL

1,475 Lehigh County Met Ed

4,608 Northampton County Met Ed

27,060 Berks County Med Ed