Bethlehem Press

The Mayor’s South Side Task Force mid-summer meeting was upbeat with favorable news on the Bethlehem Police department and the city in general. Chairman Roger Hudak cited a recent study, funded by DeSales University, that a majority of Bethlehem residents were confident with the city police force and generally felt safe in their neighborhoods.

Improved communication between law enforcement and the public was one of areas that respondents requested in the report. Quality of life issues, such as speeding in school zones, litter, vandalism and poor lighting, were of concern, as well.

George and Karen White were granted a certificate of appropriateness from the Historical and Architectural Review Board for solar panels for their home at 407 Center St. Assisted by Charisa Hoang and Josh Lee from SolarCity at the July 5 hearing, the Whites were unanimously approved by HARB to install the solar panels on an asphalt shingle section of their dormer roof that is not visible from the street. The nine horizontal panels each measure five foot by three foot and are expected to provide around 25 percent of the property’s total electricity usage.

Thomas Mann, Penn State Lehigh Valley Artist in Residence for July 2017, is at the heart of several art events throughout the Lehigh Valley this summer. The former Allentown resident and a successful jewelry designer and sculptor moved to New Orleans after attending a jazz fest there in 1977.

Sponsored by the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce, the Second Annual Bethlehem Italian Festival was held June 17 on Main Street and in the Sun Inn Courtyard. The event featured a “Wine Trail,” with 14 wines curated by South Italy Imports were available for tasting. An “Italian Food Trail” featured culinary delights sampling at nearby participating restaurants like The Brick, Tapas On Main, Twisted Olive, and The Colony Meadery at the Book Shop.

The Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV) paid tribute to their late friend and former next door neighbor in the Banana Factory, Ray Smicker, with a ribbon cutting ceremony recently. Smicker, owner of Silver Images in the adjoining space and steadfast supporter of PCFLV, passed away in 2016 from cancer. PCFLV then expanded their office suite into the vacant digital print shop and named it the “Ray of Sunshine Room” in his honor.

Charter Arts stitched together a graceful “Dance Quilt” of ballet, modern, and tap styles with the help of visiting alumnus Nicholas Heffelfinger May 19 and 20.

Heffelfinger, recently graduated from Boston Conservatory.

According to artistic director of dance Kim Maniscalco, “For me a quilt represents many hours of work put forth from the hands of many people. The outcome is always a thing of beauty …”

“Our quilt was not only to please the eye and soul, but for its own practical purpose; to serve as a training ground for our young dance students.”

The Bethlehem Historical and Architectural Review Board, chaired by Fred Bonsall, quickly reviewed and unanimously approved two roofing installation requests at the June 7 hearing held in the Rotunda. HARB members also provided advice to a third applicant that had the potential to save her a considerable amount of money on her roof replacement proposal.

Reel life comes to the stage with “Puttin’ On the Ritz: A Salute to the Golden Age of the Silver Screen,” through July 2, The Pines Dinner Theatre, Allentown.

The well-paced musical revue of movie themes and show tunes from the days of silent films through World War II is brought to the cozy stage by the cast of Monica Handwerk, Dante Hill, Taylor Hopkins and Katherine Tabisz.

The Lehigh Valley will be experiencing a sense of déjà vu when the 1980s return this summer to Allentown.

“Vision-Sound Revisited: Allentown’s ’80s Art Scene,” June 14 - Aug. 2, is a collaboration between the Muhlenberg College Martin Art Gallery, The Baum School of Art, The Allentown Art Museum of the Lehigh Valley, and The Cigar Factory Alternative Gallery.

Chairman Roger Hudak began the Mayor’s South Side Task Force meeting May 23 with the disappointing news of the negotiations falling through for the sale of the Sands Casino Resort Bethlehem to MGM. Resident Stephan Antalics asked, “Is what happened in the long term good or bad for the city?” Hudak replied that while negotiations were going on, development of the real estate was put on hold, which endangered the historic buildings on the property. He asaid Sands has kept the promises made when it built the casino and hoped projects can begin moving again.