Bellefonte Victorian Christmas A Holiday Wonderland

Counties constituting the Happy Valley Region of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Step into the holiday wonderland of the 32nd Annual Bellefonte Victorian Christmas, but watch out for some of its characters.

They may be stepping around you.

Charles Dickens, Ebenezer Scrooge, Mr. and Mrs. Bob Cratchet and the Fezziwigs will return to Bellefonte in all their festive sartorial splendor to stroll around and greet visitors during the Dec. 12-15 celebration.

They’re among the many attractions scheduled for the traditional holiday extravaganza organized by the Bellefonte Historical and Cultural Association. Carolers, arts and crafts vendors, concerts, horse-drawn carriage rides, gingerbread houses, visits with Santa and more await to put even the biggest Scrooge in a holiday mood.

Read more here: http://www.centredaily.com/2013/11/29/3911255/victorian-christmas-a-holiday.html#storylink=cpy

Neighbor Said He Heard Screams Near Lancaster Twp. Home Where Two Bodies Found, Autopsies Planned

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

Autopsies were in progress late Friday morning to determine the cause of death for two people whose bodies were found in a Lancaster Township townhome Thanksgiving day.

The autopsies began around 9:30 a.m. Friday, and were still underway at 12:30 p.m.

Manheim Township Police, which patrol Lancaster Township, were dispatched to the townhome at 788 Sterling Place at 7:58 a.m. Thursday, after two people were found dead inside the residence, possibly by family members.

Police declined to provide additional information in the case Friday morning.

Read more:  http://lancasteronline.com/article/local/924969_Neighbor-said-he-heard-screams-near-Lancaster-Twp–home-where-two-bodies-found–autopsies-planned.html#ixzz2m3c6wcSm

At Least 36 Displaced In Carbondale Fire

Map of Pennsylvania highlighting Lackawanna County (Photo Wikipedia)

The fire alarm was piercing, but it had sounded plenty of times in the 15 years Mary Gerzie has lived in Building L of Carbondale’s Summit Garden Apartments. What really frightened her was the thick black smoke that billowed into her apartment when she opened her door.

Then came the shouts of “get out of here.”

Mrs. Gerzie, 72, was one of at least 36 people that were taken out of the apartment complex and into the lightly falling snow Friday morning while firefighters worked to stop a fire on the first floor, said Carbondale Fire Chief Chris Pezak.

“The smoke was so intense,” said Chief Pezak of the fire that damaged part of the building around 8 a.m.. “It was very thick black smoke.”

Read more: http://thetimes-tribune.com/news/at-least-36-displaced-in-carbondale-fire-1.1593134

Allentown’s ‘Lights In The Parkway’ Display Opening To Motorists On Friday Night

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

Come Friday night, those caught in a traffic jam on a certain stretch of Allentown’s Lehigh Parkway probably won’t be complaining.

The city announced the start of the 18th season of “Lights in the Parkway,” a holiday light display that spans more than a mile along the parkway. A trip through the display has become a tradition for many in the Lehigh Valley. Organizers say it has drawn close to 2 million people since it debuted in 1996. Last holiday season, nearly 20,000 vehicles passed through.

The gates open at 5:30 p.m. Friday for a special Thanksgiving weekend preview that ends Sunday night. “Lights in the Parkway” will then reopen for the official start of the season on Dec. 6, the city announced in a news release. From then until Dec. 31, with the exception of Christmas, the display will be open each night from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m., the release says.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2013/11/allentowns_lights_in_the_parkw.html#incart_river

It’s Personal: How Lundgren Led Macy In Bouncing Back

Macy’s logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

As backdrop to the legendary parade, the Macy’s store at New York City’s Herald Square is a star of the show on Thanksgiving. But ask Terry J. Lundgren about Philadelphia, and the Macy’s CEO shares a surprising adoration for a different landmark altogether – the one in Center City that opened a century ago as Wanamakers.

“That is one of the most unique stores in the entire enterprise of Macy’s Inc.,” the chairman, president, and chief executive said as he gushed, largely unprompted, about the Philly stunner that is home to the world’s largest working pipe organ, the kitschy-but-adored Christmas Light Show, and the Dickens Village exhibit.

“It’s the only store in the world that has a pipe organ and that has performances on this organ every single week – and we maintain that. I mean, who would do that?”

Here’s who: A $28 billion company that believes, even amid the growing popularity of Internet shopping, that retailing remains a local game. With this guiding principle and Lundgren’s charisma as change agents, the 800-store chain, now based in Cincinnati, has grabbed a top position only a few years after the department-store sector looked like an endangered species.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/20131128_How_Lundgren_led_Macy_in_bouncing_back.html#u2dKLoMavfuplyf4.99

NY Chef’s Jaw Broken In Philly Attack

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

A Manhattan chef suffered a broken jaw while walking in Philadelphia last week in what he believes could be a vicious example of a so-called “knockout” attack – but police aren’t yet calling it that.

But police say they are investigating the assault on Diego Moya, 30, and hoping to locate surveillance video in hopes of finding suspects, said Officer Jillian Russell, a department spokeswoman.

According to police and Moya’s own account to the New York Daily News, Moya had just finished eating pizza with some friends in Old City when he headed out toward the hostel he was staying at on the first block of S. Bank Street about 11 p.m. Tuesday. He had been in town visiting his parents for a pre-Thanksgiving visit.

While on Bank Street, Moya was attacked from behind. He told the New York Daily News he believes it was a group of males between the ages of 16 and 21.  Philadelphia police said Moya was not able to give a description of any attackers after they arrived about 11:30 p.m.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/Report_NY_chef_breaks_jaw_in_knockout_game_in_Philly.html#QlAX3wWl5FOYoMFK.99

Pottstown Schools Eye Eliminating Class Rank

POTTSTOWN, PA — To rank or not to rank?

That may soon be the question.
Class rank has been a staple of high school life, and college admissions, for years beyond count.

But school board member Polly Weand raised the possibility at the Nov. 21 school board meeting that Pottstown may soon opt-out of the practice.

Weand, who chairs the school board’s curriculum and technology, said the discussion is underway at her committee, which presumably will make a recommendation to the full board, perhaps as soon as January.

Read more: http://www.pottsmerc.com/general-news/20131128/pottstown-schools-eye-eliminating-class-rank

Mohnton Firehouse Feud Flares

Map of Berks County, Pennsylvania, United States with township and municipal boundaries (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

The rift between Mohnton‘s fire crew and the social club that oversees it was years in the making.

But the catalyst, both sides agree, was a dispute over the Friendship Fire Company No. 2 of Mohnton’s stand selling waffles and ice cream at Gov. Mifflin Community Days.

The fire crew and social club clashed over where fundraising proceeds should go and who should be allowed to volunteer at the stand. Simmering tensions between the two factions boiled over, leading to the first of back-to-back suspensions of Fire Chief Allen Detwiler.

Now Detwiler and his volunteer engine crew are asking borough government to separate the department and social club.

Read more:  http://readingeagle.com/article.aspx?id=520511