Thursday: LEPOCO to Protest Military Action in Syria

The Bethlehem-based Lehigh-Pocono Committee of Concern (LEPOCO) is planning a peace vigil to protest the planned U.S. military attack on Syria.

The demonstration will take place at Third and Wyandotte streets, near the south end of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge, beginning at 4:30 p.m.

A statement issued by the LEPOCO steering committee a week ago called on the U.S. to refrain from bombing Syria, where 100,000 people have already died in a civil war.

“We lament the lives lost by chemical weapons, but our grief will be no less for those killed by conventional weapons,” the statement said. The statement called for a continuing investigation into chemical attacks.

On Wednesday, the U.S. Senate Foreign Relations Committee voted to authorize a bombing campaign in Syria. The full U.S. Congress still must act on the resolution.

Here’s what else is happening in Bethlehem on Thursday:

• There are open houses for parents at Nitschmann Middle School and Marvine, Fountain Hill, Thomas Jefferson and Farmersville elementary schools.

• The grand opening of a new Cardinal Camera store in The Outlets at Sands Bethlehem will be celebrated with a ribbon cutting at the store at 5:30 p.m. Cardinal Camera is a full-service camera store that sells digital photographic and video equipment and offers printing, processing and a number of other services. The Lansdale-based regional chain has 15 stores, most of which are in eastern Pennsylvania, including one in the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley.

• Get into shape with free Zumba classes at the South Side Branch of the Bethlehem Area Public Library at 6:30 p.m. Certified Zumba instructor Rebecca Salabsky leads the way and welcomes all level of students to the class, which involves dancing to salsa, merengue and hip hop music.

• Mark Gamsjager and the Lustre Kings play rockabilly and roots rock n’ roll with fervor, commitment and flair. Gamsjager brings his Gretsch and his band to the Levitt Pavilion Steelstacks for a free show at 7 p.m.