Dorney Fireworks, UFOs, Primary Top Lehigh Valley News

Dorney Park Nightly Fireworks Plan Fizzles

Three times a summer, a South Whitehall woman knows she will have to sedate her dog, her windows will shake, her dishes will rattle and parking will be impossible in her neighborhood, but she and her family will get to see a spectacular nighttime show when nearby Dorney Park shoots its fireworks display. But when she read on Dorney's website that it planned to have nightly fireworks for eight weeks this summer, she was stunned. So far, the township won't allow it, but Dorney plans to appeal. Neighbors are concerned about noise.

Primary: Local Candidates Reach Out to Voters

Candidates for Northampton County Executive and Lehigh County Executive, Bethlehem mayor, councils, commissioner boards, district judge seats, school boards and a host of other municipal posts make a final push to reach voters as Tuesday's primary approaches. Among the stories on Patch:

3 Democrats Want to Be Next Northampton County Executive

Which Seat Does Julian Stolz Really Want?

Judge Candidate Says He'll Pay $273 in Parking Tickets

Candidate Says He Didn't Change Parties to Run in Upper Saucon Race

UFOs Over Bethlehem?

Several people standing outside of the Square One Exxon market on W. Broad Street in Bethlehem saw something in the sky that was difficult to explain. It was March 3 at about 8:50 p.m. and the witnesses were looking toward South Mountain when they spotted about 100 objects floating west to east, according to Dan Medleycott, a senior field investigator and a state section director for the Mutual UFO Network in Pennsylvania.

Bullet Triggers Lockdown at Nazareth Area Middle School

The Nazareth Area Middle School was under a precautionary lockdown for an hour Wednesday morning after a bullet was found on the floor in the boys bathroom, school officials and Upper Nazareth police said.

Women's Athletic Clothier Coming to Promenade Shops

Athleta—which sells women's yoga and running clothing, fitness clothing and swimwear—will open at the Upper Saucon Township lifestyle center this summer, according to a sign.

Macungie Mayor: It’s My Son’s Fault

The Macungie Mayor said his son is to thank for his tumultuous term in office. The mayor also announced that he has sold his home  his last official day as a borough resident.

Easton Schools Pick Interim Leader

The Easton Area School District has chosen a retired school administrator to serve as its interim superintendent.

Jaindl Plan for Strip Mall Concerns Residents

Developer David Jaindl came to the South Whitehall Planning Commission looking for public feedback to his latest plan on  and got it. The standing room-only crowd at a meeting Thursday night overwhelmingly opposed Jaindl's proposal to build a high-end strip mall and restaurant on the Shoemaker dealership lot because they said it would change the residential area's character and increase traffic on Walbert Avenue.

'Lost Piece of History' Returning to College Hill

The College Hill Neighborhood Association is working on bringing back the ornate Nevin Park fountain, which once greeted visitors to the park in Easton's College Hill.

Bethlehem Mayor Rescues Puerto Rican Pooch

Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan and his wife welcomed Jeter, a Portuguese water dog rescued in Puerto Rico, into their home.

 

Upper Macungie Police said a woman received a phone call Monday stating that her father was being held captive. The caller demanded a $2,500 ransom. However, she later found out her father was safe.

Costco Could Net East Penn $1.5 Million Annually

The East Penn Board of School Directors Monday night approved a tax increment financing plan that could bring the Lehigh Valley its first Costco in 2014 and eventually bring East Penn $1.5 million a year in tax revenue.

Nazareth residents who won’t have a municipal pool this summer for the first time in 74 years jumped in head first Thursday night at the first public forum on what a new Boro-Park pool should look like. Residents will form a study group to help plan the new pool.

Nobody's Happy' As Easton Passes School Budget

The Easton Area School Board has approved the district's 2013-2014 budget, which was balanced by a 1.7 percent tax increase, $750,000 from the district fund balance and an undetermined number of job cuts.

Tax Increase Unlikely for SVSD Property Owners

A proposed 2013-2014 Saucon Valley School District budget without a tax increase was approved by school board directors at their Tuesday night meeting.

No Tax Hike in Approved East Penn Budget

The East Penn School Board at its Monday night meeting unanimously approved a proposed final school district budget for the 2013-14 school year with no property tax increase.

Drivers Running Red Lights in Rt. 412 Construction Zone

A video taken Monday at Main Street (Rt. 412) and Cherry Lane—on the Bethlehem-Hellertown border—shows several motorists running red lights while another blocks part of the busy intersection near the on-ramp to I-78 East.