Bethlehem Press

Bethany United Church of Christ held its vacation Bible school July 23 to 27. The theme for the week was "Babylon - Daniel's Courage in Captivity." Participants chose from a selection of costumes that they could mix and match each evening.

Community Schools benefit from registering store cards

Registering or reregistering Giant, Bottom Dollar and Target store cards will help local schools. With all of the cuts in school funding, this helps supplement programming, school supplies and other needs. School names and codes are available on the websites.

Register Giant cards after August 26 at www.giantfoodstores.com/aplus/; Bottom Dollar anytime at www.bottomdollarfoodconnections.com; and Target anytime at www-secure.target.com/redcard/tcoe/home.

Bloomsburg University scholarships

Two Bethlehem residents received scholarships to attend Bloomsburg University of Pennsylvania as freshmen for the 2012-13 school year. These awards, which are reserved for new students, provide between $1,000 and $3,750 of assistance.

Northampton County is famous for its cacophony and dissonance, but Aug. 22 was an unusually harmonious day. It occurred, strangely enough, during the dedication of a new, 100-bed treatment center for drunk drivers and domestic relations offenders in tiny West Easton Borough. The person who set the tone was West Easton's 73-year-old mayor, Gerry Gross.

Following his Aug. 15 arrest for beating his wife and driving drunk, State Rep. Joseph Brennan, (D-133) announced in a brief statement Aug. 22 he is ceasing his campaign for November re-election.

"I have been privileged to represent the 133rd District for the past six years, but today I am submitting a request to remove my name from the November ballot," Brennan said. "I will remain in office until the conclusion of my term on Nov. 30 and my offices will remain open and staffed to help constituents deal with state government."

The Bethlehem Steel plant is as important to our national history as any Civil War battlefield or former president's home. There is no better symbol for the pervasive loss of American industry that occurred at the end of the 20th century. Yet it seems that no government body or educational institution can afford the costs of preserving the Bethlehem plant.