Reporter for Lehigh Valley Public Media covering the East Penn area and more • Occasional event manager and web designer
It's been two years since Lehighvalleynews.com launched! Also makes it a little bit more than that since I started working at Lehigh Valley Public Media
Been able to do a lot in that time & it's meant so much to hear the gratitude and impact restoring coverage to the region has brought
It's a full house for the new film "War Game" at the Emmaus Theater! Producer is an EHS grad and Gov. Shapiro is coming after to moderate the panel. Should be fun 👀
Life doesn't get much better than repairing your mom's bike from the 70s then taking it for a 6 1/2 mile joyride in the light rain
Check out the photos I got from Governor Josh Shapiro's visit to Emmaus High School today for Lehighvalleynews.com!
Governor Josh Shapiro came to a growing district in the Lehigh Valley — East Penn School District — to celebrate an increase in public school funding through the 2024-25 Pennsylvania state budget.
My piece for our special "WAREHOUSED" project was published today on Lehighvalleynews.com! I was tasked with looking into the solutions for local governments and activists looking to manage what many see as a huge challenge to their landscape and infrastructure. We talked to a lot of people and did a lot of research for this project, so please take a look!
Check it out here:
https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/state-regional-news/managing-the-lehigh-valleys-warehouse-boom-the-search-for-solutions
Had a really good time at Musikfest this year! Rain made it rough sometimes but there was plenty of shining moments between
Check out this piece I wrote about what it means to local artists to be a part of it for Lehighvalleynews.com!
While headliners make headlines, Musikfest continues to give big opportunities to local musicians from the greater Lehigh Valley, fueling about a third of the festival's performances.
Happy Flag Day!
Last few years on Memorial Day, Dad and I would clean up my WWII vet grandfather's grave before I do "Taps Across America"
A few weeks ago, while it's been ~40 years since my dad picked up his trumpet, he wanted to join in
Happy to see him trying it again 😌
Last year or so covering local governments has honestly shown me a lot of what they CAN'T do. A group of former officials is in Emmaus, to bring more QoL projects to the town, is doing something interesting with a new community foundation 🧵
More a fundraising group than something like a Rotary or Kiwanis. Maybe just asking for money and having the town pursue it for you can be more impactful than managing a lot of volunteers for some things? On the other hand, maybe young people can rebrand what service orgs can be
Check out what I wrote on it here:
The nonprofit Emmaus Community Foundation looks to support borough arts, historical preservation and recreation projects by raising money from local donors.
WSKG documentaries on local history are some of my favorite media projects to go back to from when I was growing up...but what if there was a different way of capturing local history?
Interesting idea here from a local historical society here in the Lehigh Valley - rather than a documentary, make a historical drama!
I wonder what else could be done in this style? 🤔
The gala includes drinks, music, seated dinner, behind the scenes presentations and a screening of the locally produced historical film.
So will the Lehigh Valley get passenger rail...
we have the report, but it'll be a long way until it gets here, if it even can
catch up on the reporting here:
In their first meeting since the passenger rail feasibility study was revealed, Lehigh Valley Planning Commission officials said it would take months for any further decisions to be made.
🚒 🔥 Fire fire fire wee woo wee woo 🚒 🔥
wait a second fire trucks cost how much now?..and Upper Milford is looking at some tax increases to meet it
Lehighvalleynews.com
A tax increase is needed, officials agree, but how it is to be implemented is yet to be seen
How much is too much? How much is needed?
East Penn is wrestling with its desire to increase test scores, support student mental health and behavior, continue helpful programs AND realign its facilities
- while also trying to bring down the additional cost that will put onto taxpayers in its school-focused suburbs
Lehighvalleynews.com
East Penn School Board on Monday gave initial approval to a 2024-25 budget that would raise property tax 5% — but did so begrudgingly.
Folks, it's here
The different proposals would provide connections to New York City, Philadelphia or Reading.
Film lovers! History lovers! Looks like the Fries Rebellion docudrama filmed in the Lehigh Valley is hoping to release this summer:
https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/east-penn/docudrama-about-1799-fries-rebellion-wraps-up-lehigh-valley-filming
"The Fries Rebellion," a historical docudrama by the Lower Macungie Township Historical Society, wrapped filming last week.
Coffee shop landlord drama finally made a splash at the recent Emmaus Borough Council meeting 😬
Nowhere Coffee Co. co-owner Lauren Vargas says her landlord, borough council President Chad Balliet, has a conflict of interest in recent health inspections of the property. The borough manager denied that and defended the process after an Emmaus Borough Council meeting Monday night.
Do you want to hang on to winter? These wacky races lookin guys sure did
A fun one by !
Bear Creek Mountain Resort's race of self-built cardboard sleds needed some modifications this year because of melting snow, but participants in Sunday's festivities couldn't be stopped.
📚 At first glance, a TSI designation isn't the best news 😬 but East Penn is using their plan as an opportunity to fix it to help trends they see throughout the high school
See more here oLehighvalleynews.comom
East Penn School District is using a second targeted state improvement, or TSI designation, as an opportunity to plan for a variety of issues beyond what the state notice is prompting them to.
📚 Sitting at my local library wishing I could use it as a remote workspace more!
Lack of temporary quiet space for calls and limited power access makes it tough, and those work pods go for like $5k! There's got to be a way to make this work in an affordable way. 🤔
It's already a place where a super diverse set of people go, and given how isolating remote work can feel - this move could be a great reminder for a lot of people they shouldn't have to pay for a study and work space away from home!
This WaPo article sums up the potential here pretty well:
https://buff.ly/3CT2iK8
Dang, ASL? Yet another school introducing classes I wish I got to take in High School
Check it out on Lehighvalleynews.com
East Penn will be introducing American Sign Language and math foundations courses for the next school year.
🍽️🐻 See how Macungie's dining scene is evolving post-pandemic with new life in the borough!
After a lot of stories over the last year, I thought it would be a good time for a little reflection piece!
Check it out oLehighvalleynews.comom
After over a year of both the local pub and Macungie Diner being empty, businesses are re-emerging in the borough to the delight of patrons whose options have been limited.
Oh baby new warehouse rules near the airport are proposed! That's a Lehigh Valley story if I've ever heard one
https://buff.ly/3T1EN9E
In case you missed it, I got to cover this great speaking event by Brad Meltzer in Allentown, watching him melt the hearts of local youngsters (and young at heart) talking about the newest of his "I am" children's biographies
Author Brad Meltzer came to Allentown to promote the newest iteration of the now 10-year-old Ordinary People Change the World series of children's books.
tensions were kind of high after this one 😬
The Brookside Meadows apartments land development plans were rejected in a 2-1 vote citing stormwater and traffic concerns
omg I forgot to post this one hi pretend it's super bowl weekend and look at the cute otters
🦦🏈 story here:
https://buff.ly/3I6J72k
dang I wish I could have learned Chinese in a high school class that sounds sick. Ah well at least currently I could go to Montreal and kind of read the signs
The Allentown School Board approved updates to programs that add new language and career training options for students. Some of the changes are the result of a survey of more than 1,800 high school students and focus groups, officials said.
Bethlehem, PA
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Happy Flag Day! Last few years on Memorial Day, Dad and I would clean up my WWII vet grandfather's grave before I do "Taps Across America" A few weeks ago, while it's been ~40 years since my dad picked up his trumpet, he wanted to join in Happy to see him trying it again 😌
omg I forgot to post this one hi pretend it's super bowl weekend and look at the cute otters 🦦🏈 story here: https://buff.ly/3I6J72k
A joint effort by Wildlands Conservancy Delaware River Basin Commission & Lafayette College to restore and study Bushkill Creek has officially begun w/ the first of 3 dam demolitions in the Easton area The hope is to properly reconnect the Bushkill and Delaware for the first time in over a century so that fish and other species can flow upstream again🌊 Was a fun piece to write for Lehighvalleynews.com! Check it out: https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/easton/easton-dam-demolitions-begin-reconnecting-bushkill-delaware-for-first-time-in-a-century
My feature on high school esports recently aired on WLVR News! 🎮 Having come from the collegiate scene myself, it was really fun to report on this new ecosystem developing in PA for Lehighvalleynews.com ✍️ Make sure to give it a listen!: https://youtu.be/zEg40YH9Olk Check out the web story here too :^) https://www.lehighvalleynews.com/school-news/k-through-12/emerging-high-school-esports-highlight-teamwork-skills-and-a-new-horizon-of-competition
