Lancaster General Hospital Makes Becker’s List Of 100 Great Hospitals In U.S.

Becker’s Hospital Review is pleased to announce its 2014 list of “100 Great Hospitals in America.” Each of following institutions has a rich history, strong credentials and a growing focus on how to best care for patients in an era of reform. These organizations have played home to some of the greatest medical advancements in U.S. healthcare history, and they are also the bastions of their respective communities — serving the roles of academic hubs or local mainstays.

To develop this list, the Becker’s Hospital Review editorial team conducted research, considered nominations and evaluated reputable hospital ranking sources, such as U.S. News & World Report, Truven Health Analytics’ 100 TopHospitals, Healthgrades, Magnet designation by the American Nurses Credentialing Center, The LeapFrog Group, and several other resources.

Click here to see the list in alphabetical order: http://www.beckershospitalreview.com/100-great-hospitals-2014/full-list.html

Expert: Low Voter Turnout Could Eat Into Wolf’s Margin Of Victory

Map of Pennsylvania (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

Democratic candidate for governor Tom Wolf seems the clear front-runner for Tuesday’s primary, but an expected low voter turnout could shrink his margin of victory significantly.

“I can see him winning by 4 or 5 percent,” said Dr. Thomas Baldino, professor of political science at Wilkes University. “I’d be surprised if he won by 13 percent, or even double digits.

The hype of an increasingly aggressive and negative ad campaign won’t change the fact that voters — particularly Democratic voters — usually don’t show up for midterm primaries or elections, Baldino said.

“It won’t be any historic low, but it’ll be low,” Baldino said. “In the aggregate, a registered Republican is more likely to vote than a registered Democrat.

Read more: http://citizensvoice.com/news/expert-low-voter-turnout-could-eat-into-wolf-s-margin-of-victory-1.1688714

Pennsylvania Gay Marriage Ban Overturned

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

PHILADELPHIA — Pennsylvania’s ban on gay marriage was overturned by a federal judge Tuesday.

U.S. District Judge John E. Jones III called the plaintiffs — a widow, 11 couples and one of the couples’ two teenage daughters — courageous.

“We now join the 12 federal district courts across the country which, when confronted with these inequities in their own states, have concluded that all couples deserve equal dignity in the realm of civil,” Jones wrote.

Read more: http://timesleader.com/news/local-news-news/1409543/Pennsylvania-gay-marriage-ban-overturned

Woman Runs Down People In Allentown Strip Club Parking Lot, Police Say

English: City of Allentown from east side (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

A woman allegedly ran down people with her car in the parking lot of an Allentown strip club and then returned to hit more people, according to court records.

Police said Brianna Fleming got out of her car at about 2:55 a.m. Monday in the lot outside Platinum Plus, 1245 Airport Road, and waved a knife at several people, records say.

Read more: http://www.lehighvalleylive.com/allentown/index.ssf/2014/05/woman_runs_down_people_in_alle.html

SEPTA Aims For Happier Riders, Unveils 5-Year Plan

SEPTA logo (Photo credit: Wikipedia)

With increased state funding and stable ridership, SEPTA officials are unveiling a five-year plan to attract more riders, repair crumbling infrastructure, and improve customer satisfaction.

Having emerged from last year’s doomsday scenarios into a hopeful era of what SEPTA planners call “innovation, integration and renewal,” the officials on Tuesday outlined a blueprint for the future that will be presented to the agency’s board for approval in July.

Meeting with transit users and supporters at SEPTA’s Center City headquarters, Byron Comati, director of strategic planning, said legislative approval late last year of a $2.3 billion boost in statewide transportation funding allows SEPTA to plan more boldly.

By 2018, the additional state funding will mean a boost of about $400 million annually for SEPTA to repair bridges, buy new vehicles and upgrade stations and equipment.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/business/transportation/20140521_SEPTA_aims_for_happier_riders__unveils_5-year_plan.html#erJVxPXXeAuIyUU6.99

Contractor Gets $1.6M, Apology From Montgomery County DA’s Office

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

The Montgomery County District Attorney’s Office has agreed to pay $1.65 million to settle claims that District Attorney Risa Vetri Ferman brought unfounded theft charges against a Radnor building contractor at the behest of a church that counts prominent county officials among its members.

As part of the agreement, confirmed by the contractor’s lawyers Tuesday, Ferman apologized to Walter Logan, a man whose alleged crimes she once described as “particularly despicable” and “really very low.”

Those words, delivered to a TV news crew, came hours after her office charged Logan in 2009 with bilking hundreds of thousands of dollars from Salem Baptist Church of Jenkintown after a contract dispute.

In a statement to Logan as part of their agreement, and released Tuesday by his attorneys, Ferman struck a different tone.

Read more at http://www.philly.com/philly/news/breaking/20140426_Contractor_gets__1_6M__apology_from_Montco_DA_s_office.html#QRERrQv5H04R55Bk.99

The Mock Turtle Marionette Theater Presents: The Morningtime Of Now

The Morningtime of Now

Thursday ◊ May 22, 2014 ◊ 8:00 p.m.

Charles Brown Ice House

56 River St. (Sand Island)

Bethlehem, Pa. 18018

 

In 1920, America was enthralled by the nature writings of a precocious six-year-old girl. Her name was Opal Whiteley. Nearly 100 years later, with her stories captured in puppetry and her poetry in song, Opal takes us to a transformative place—The Blue Hills.

Opal Whiteley’s quaint diary inspired folksinger Anne Hills to use her text in song. With 30 puppets created by the Mock Turtle Marionette Theater, the show celebrates a child’s wonder at the beauty of nature! The Morningtime of Now is for adults and children alike! Bring the whole family to this original music and puppet play based on the diary of a young girl in the early 1900s.

Click here to purchase last minute discounted RUSH TICKETS are available for this performance on May 22nd for only $9.99!

 

For More Information:

www.facebook.com/themorningtimeofnow

or visit The Mock Turtle Marionette Theater’s website

http://mockturtle.org/

 

The Morningtime of Now is an original puppet play based on the diary of Opal Whiteley with original music by Michael Smith.

With Anne Hills, Kayla Prestel, Jay Ansill and the 2013-14 Touchstone Theatre Apprentices.

Puppetry and direction by Doug Roysdon of Mock Turtle Marionette Theatre.

RUSH TICKET IS FOR MAY 22nd PERFORMANCE!

Additional dates and times are May 22 – 25 @ 8pm and May 25 – 26 @ 2pm.

Click Here to Buy
Last Minute Discount
RUSH Tickets 
for ONLY $9.99!