Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity Will hold a Bake Sale on Dec 8-10, 2011
Donated bake goods may be brought to the Library Dec. 7-10, 2010 during regular hours
Thanks everyone for helping to make the event a success.
Tuesday, December 07, 2010
Essroc Layoffs - Valley Unemployment Up
The Express-Times reports that Essroc has laid off 10% of its workers (read the article here). The cuts impacted 19 workers. The article also notes that three salaried positions were also recently cut.
The Morning Call reports that unemployment in the Lehigh Valley increased in October (read the article here) despite seasonal hirings in retail. Congress has not approved extending unemployment, and if they do not 5,500 people in the Valley will lose their benefits this month. Roughly half of the 15 million on unemployment have been out of work for six months or more.
The Harvard Business Review had an article in mid-November on the fact that high unemployment also means high overemployment, in short, those left working work more to account for the people laid off (read it here).
One must also factor under-employment, which is defined as taking part-time work instead of full time work, roughly 9% of the workforce is in this category and then there are those who took full time work well under their former pay, but better than part-time. I’ve not seen estimates on the size of this group.
Taken together, it is not a good job market and is going to be a challenging holiday season for many people. If you know someone who is out of work or under-employed, the best thing you can do is make a personal introduction. There are so many people applying for positions that having a contact is really the only way to stand out when hiring does occur.
Sunday, December 05, 2010
Nativity in Story and Song
The Nativity in Story and Song
Christmas multi-media worship service at St. John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth
Saint John’s Lutheran Church in Nazareth will celebrate Christmas with a contemporary multi-media worship service on Saturday, December 18, at 5:30 p.m. The Nativity in Story and Song features an instrumental ensemble of 20 musicians from the Lehigh Valley and an ecumenical choir of 20 voices under the direction of Ralph Brodt III, who is also the conductor of the Nazareth Area Community Band. Familiar Christmas carols, as well as other music composed for the season will be presented in captivating and stirring arrangements for both orchestra and choir. This 90-minute alternative worship service will be filled with instrumental offerings, choir anthems, solos, and congregational participation, as well as scripture, prayer, visual interpretation, and a brief message. The community is cordially invited to attend. A freewill offering will be received. When was the last time Christmas music brought you to tears of joy? Come and join us for an inspiring Christmas celebration!
For more information, call (610) 759-3090.
25th Annual Dream Come True Telethon
Reminder to those with RCN:
Attention RCN CABLE CUSTOMERS!We know we are in a tough econmony right now but we would like you to reach in your pockets and give a dollar or more to help Dream Come True Tonight!Special Day Monday!Join us Monday at the Westgate Mall in Bethlehem PA For the 25th Anniversity Dream Come True Telethon from 6pm-10pm as It will be LIVE ON RCN4 As Groups and Organzations will come with checks and state Representives like Steve Samuelson and Lisa Boscola and other politicans will be on hand!Andy Weaver will be with the DreamKids!They will have Andy's name on their yearly check they give!Andy will also be holding a flag when they sing God Bless the USA!2 Segments!1 at 7pm and another one around 8pm!!RCN Will look back in the years of the Telethon and show highlights from the last 25 years!The Phone Number to call with money or anything you may have is 1-800-749-8099Once Again, The Number is 1-800-749-8099Auction Items too!As Said Earlier this is the 25th Anniversity and we want to make this the most special Telethon Ever!!!lDream Come True’s mission is to promote and enrich the lives of children who are seriously, chronically or terminally ill. We offer children with life threatening illnesses the chance to hope, dream and live their fantasies.
Our grassroots organization was founded by a vision. A vision to help children who have faced many difficulties in their young lives. Kostas Kalogeropoulos our founder dreamed of helping every child afflicted with a debilitating illness a chance to forget their problems. Fulfilling our first dream for a young girl afflicted with Cancer in 1984, 24 years later we have made a positive impact on 975 children.Hope to hear from you and see you Monday!
Saturday, December 04, 2010
MMA Action in NASD
Both the Morning Call (read it here) and the Express-Times (read it here) reported this week on a NASD HS student who choked out a fellow student, rendering him unconscious, let him go and the boy landed face first breaking his nose. The student required stitches and may need dental work.
The boy who did the choking is facing aggravated assault charges and was suspended from school for ten days.
As is common practice these days the assault was recorded on video (it was not clear if it was by students or school surveillance).
The mother of the student who is charged believes this is a common, greeting game, consensual, and occurs on a more or less regular basis at Nazareth. Other students interviewed said it happens, isn’t intended to do harm, but isn’t widespread.
I’m not surprised that one kid tried a choke hold on another while goofing off at school. It happened when I was there and I’m sure it has happened since, but the part of this that gets me is the mother’s quote in the Express-Times, "I just don't want this happening to any more kids," she said. "I want the kids and the parents aware of these games, and I want the school to do something about it before another incident like this happens and more kids have to go through the same thing."
In short, it the school’s job to inform students that choking someone until they are unconscious is not a game, it is dangerous There is no doubt that when kids goof off there can be unintended bad consequences, that is a part of growing up, living and learning, but if you are 15 years old and can’t make the connection that choking someone until they are unconscious and then dropping them from a standing position is dangerous your parents have failed miserably.
Friday, December 03, 2010
Mario & Andretti - new Google OS
Thanks to the friend and reader who pointed this tid bit out to me. As a fan of both Indy car and a tech geek, I was happy to see that Google has code named its Chrome OS netbooks as Mario and Andretti according to a post on electronista (read the full story here). The OS itself is called Indy. Glad to see they are fans, hope they will put money in sponsorship to support the series as well!
The OS is supposed to be super fast, so the name is fitting.
Tyler Grady Involved in Grammy Nominated Project
Quick congratulations to Nazareth’s Tyler Grady who participated in a project that has been Grammy nominated, “Healthy Food for Thought: Good Enough to Eat” in the spoken word album for children category.
The full category:
Best Spoken Word Album For Children Award
Selma Blair – ANNE FRANK: THE DIARY OF A YOUNG GIRL: THE DEFINITIVE EDITION
Bill Harley – THE BEST CANDY IN THE WHOLE WORLD
Jim Cravero, Paula Lizzi & Steve Pullara – HEALTHY FOOD FOR THOUGHT: GOOD ENOUGH TO EAT
Julie Andrews & Emma Walton Hamilton – JULIE ANDREWS’ COLLECTION OF POEMS, SONGS, AND LULLABIES
Emma Thompson – NANNY MCPHEE RETURNS
Thanks to My News Booth for posting the full list and Facebook where I saw Tyler was involved.
Thursday, December 02, 2010
UNT and NASD Traffic Light Talks
The Upper Nazareth Board of Supervisors has now voted to discuss with the Nazareth Area School District the traffic light at the intersection of East Lawn Road and Friedenstahl according to an article in the Express-Times (read it here).
The NASD recently removed $500,000 held in escrow for the project after PADOT turned down UNT’s plans for the light.
According to this article, it noted that NASD agreed to fund the project and UNT would get the necessary approvals.
NASD now claims the cost will be $1.5M and that was the reason for pulling the funds.
UNT has indicated through their solicitor that a condition of the building permit was the light and they could retroactively withdraw it.
NASD chose the location, they understood the implications of the choice, and now they don’t want to accept the consequences of their decision. Ironically, this will get positioned as trying to save money for the taxpayer, when the Middle School project itself, opposed by many residents at the time as too costly and unnecessary, has now significantly increased our annual expenses and our total debt.
LNT NEIGHBORHOOD CRIME WATCH MEETING
For those interested in Lower Nazareth Township, I received this note from the Neighborhood Crime Watch:
WE WILL BE HOLDING A LNT CRIME WATCH MEETING, TUESDAY DECEMBER 14TH, 7:00 TO 8:00 PM, LOWER NAZARETH TOWNSHIP MUNICIPAL BUILDING, BUZTOWN ROAD.
Please forward any comments.
The agenda are as follows:
1. Meet your neighbors.
2. CRPD Officer Mike Kovach: Crime Watch Concept and the Township Police Blotter.
3. Web Site.
4. Old Business: Recap our accomplishments to date.
5. New Business: Future projects.
6. Membership comments and closing.
Joe Fresco
Director
Lower Nazareth Township Neighborhood Crime Watch
NAEA Donation to Food Bank
Received this note from the Nazareth Area Education Association:
Nazareth Area Education Association Donates to Nazareth Area Food Bank
Teachers in the Nazareth Area Education Association (NAEA) graciously showed their holiday and community spirit by donating over $7,000 to the Nazareth Area Food Bank during the past two years. The NAEA consists of about 335 members representing grade K-12 teachers and staff in the Nazareth Area School District. All money collected was sent to the Nazareth Area Food Bank which, in turn, purchased Giant gift cards to help over 280 families in need over the holiday seasons. If you would like to support the Nazareth Area Food Bank, tax-deductible monetary donations can be made to: The Nazareth Area Food Bank, P.O. Box 178, Nazareth, PA 18064. Donations of non-perishable food items are also appreciated. These donations are collected on Tuesdays from 6-7 PM and Fridays from 9-11 AM at 529 South Main Street, Nazareth, PA. If you have any questions, a representative of the food bank can be reached at 610-365-8869.
Wednesday, December 01, 2010
A special message from The Dream Kids - telethon info and more!
Received via the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce regarding Dream Kids and Nazareth’s Andy Weaver:
Congratulations to Candy, Scott and The Dream Kids for reaching a huge milestone - $100,000 in donations! Thank you for all you do on behalf of the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce!
EVERYONE in the Nazareth Community!!! DREAM KIDS will be televised Monday, December 6th on RCN Cable Channel for their yearly telethon. This year is very special to them as well as to Dream Come True. It is Dream Come True 25th anniversary and Dream Kids will be honoring our own Nazareth Dream Come True recipient, Andy Weaver. When Dream Kids present their 2010 donation check, it will be in honor of Andy. Andy is also 25 years old and has been the President of the Dream Come True fan club and updates their Facebook page and sends out notices of upcoming events. Also, Dream Kids has hit $100,000 of donations over their 14 years of giving 100% of the donations they receive to Dream Come True. It is a milestone and estimates to be at least 200 Dreams, not to mention all the many hearts they have touched throughout the Lehigh Valley and beyond with their talent and true community spirit.
Thank you to the community for continuing to support the Dream Kids who are proud members of the Nazareth Area Chamber of Commerce. If you would like to help make the Dream Kids dream come true, please consider donating to their "Give Kids the World" tour and performance. They would really appreciate help in funding their bus trip. "Give Kids the World" is the Village (in Orlando, FL) that houses all the special Dreams and Wishes children from all over the world. It is a very special place and some of the children receiving this dream are unable to physically enjoy Disney World, so are limited to the Village..which is such an amazing place in itself. The nurses dress up as characters and read the children a bedtime story, give them their medicine and then tuck them in. There is a 24 hour Ice Cream Parlor and Perkins Restaurant that never exchange a dime in cash. It is all provided by the Village thanks to all the many donations that help these special children. The Dream Kids are also scheduled to perform in Disney World, two shows during their time in Florida. If you are would like to donate to the Dream Kids, please do so by sending your donation to: The Dream Kids,c/o Scott & Candace Keller, 24 E. 2nd Street, Nazareth, Pa 18064. Thank you!!!
Nazareth's Hamsher Making Impact at VT
The Express-Times reports that former Nazareth Volleyball standout Tori Hamsher was named to the ACC All Freshman team and her collegiate team Virginia Tech is headed to the NCAA Championships for the first time (read the article here).
Hamsher started every game for VT this season who finished the regular season 19-10. Their first round game is Friday at Penn State.
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