The Muhlenberg men's basketball team prevailed in a tight contest over Moravian Sunday night, 84-77, at Memorial Hall.
Malique Killing paced the Mules with a game-high 23 points, who upped their record to 4-2.
Jarrod Dilts tallied a season-high 19 points to lead the Greyhounds, who dropped to 1-5.
This weekend, hundreds gathered at a favorite pit stop for Santa and his reindeer, Z Arch Barn Farm in Forks Township, Northampton County.
The Christmas tree farm has all of the trimmings including cupcakes, family photos and reindeer.
"The holiday is real and that's what it is all about," Nazareth resident Karen Morykan said.
The idea for the farm started with farm owner, Deb Zarate's husband Vince who envisioned a magical place for families to gather for the holiday season.
"We started three years ago," Deb Zarate said. "This is our third winter, our third Christmas."
For many the atmosphere brings back the feeling of a more traditional celebration of the holiday.
"Family getting together and the children and all of their beliefs and Santa Claus and the reindeer," Morykan said. "In my heart, [this] is what Christmas is all about."
"Kids were really excited to see Santa," Boston resident, Kristen Keane said. "We actually got a great family photo where everyone sat and didn't cry."
With her family's dream now a reality, Deb works as Mrs. Claus, helping with sales, the reindeer and the visitors.
"[It is] Very fulfilling, very fulfilling," Deb Zarate said.
The farm is open each day from Black Friday through Christmas Eve.
All signs indicate the cameras snapping pictures of people driving through red lights in the Phillipsburg area and other parts of New Jersey will be coming down for good.
The pilot program is set to expire mid-December.
"I don't think it is fair that you get a ticket, maybe there is an explanation," said locla driver Karin Walsh.
Walsh is just one of thousands of New Jersey drivers who have been slapped with an $85 ticket through the mail after she drove through a red light.
"The light turned red so fast," said Walsh.
In 2009, a red light camera pilot program was given the green light in 25 New Jersey municipalities including the intersection at Routes 22 and 519 in Pohatcong Township, Warren County.
"If you stop, and you want to make a right hand turn, you can turn but you would get a ticket," said local driver Virginia Apgar.
The program has been plagued with criticism over the past 5 years.
"A lot of them seem like a cash grab, like a tax on drivers," said local diver Ryan Berk.
Pohatcong Townhip Mayor James Kern, has vocally opposed the cameras. He says the 5 year pilot program ending in 2 weeks will most likely not be renewed.
"It looks like there are no members of the legislature will put forward a bill to extend it," said Kern.
However, some drivers say it's not time to pump the brakes just yet. In fact, a state study did show a reduction in right-angle accidents at intersections where cameras were installed.
New Jersey Governor Chris Christie has vocally opposed the red light camera program. The program is expected to end on Dec. 16.
Pottstown police are investigating a shooting.
The shooting was reported shortly after 7 p.m. in the area of Walnut and North Evans street.
Crews at the scene indicate at least one person was shot.
At this point, there's no word on the victim's condition or what prompted the shooting.
Stay with 69 News and WFMZ.com for updates as they become available.
The Lehigh and DeSales men's basketball teams picked up wins on their home floors on Sunday afternoon.
At Stabler Arena, the Mountain Hawks (2-4) rolled past Penn State Mont Alto, 100-74, in a non-league game.
Austin Price paced Lehigh with 15 points. Jesse Chuku added 13 while Brandon Alston poured in 10 as 14 different Mountain Hawks scored in the game.
Lehigh will host St. Francis (PA) on Wednesday evening.
At Billera Hall, DeSales upped its record to 5-1 following an 80-75 victory over Catholic.
Aaron Burton led the way for the Bulldogs with 20 points. Cody Deal tallied 18 points, with 16 coming in the second half alone.
DeSales visits Manhattanville on Wednesday night.
A Carbon County road near Penn's Peak was closed Sunday afternoon after an accident.
Crews on scene say a woman drover her car into a pole, knocking it over.
The pole fell and took wires with it, however it did not cause any power outages.
The accident happen on Maury Road in Penn Forest Township around 1:30 p.m.
Maury Road was closed while crews cleared the scene.
The female driver was injured and taken to the hospital.
Pennsylvania State Police are investigating.
At 10:45 Sunday morning, an electrical pole, which had rotted at the bottom, fell over across Route 23 in Caernarvon Township.
It fell on another pole with transformers on it and caused it to burn and explode.
Route 23 was closed for a time.
PPL was called to the scene to deal with a somewhat widespread power outage throughout the Morgantown area.
PPL's website showed 840 customers without power in that area.
A Bethlehem man was killed early Sunday in Whitehall after being thrown from a vehicle in an accident.
It happened just after 2 a.m. at the intersection of Route 145/MacArthur Boulevard and Schadt Avenue.
Luis Navarro-Natal, 49, was pronounced dead at the scene less than an hour later.
Navarro-Natal was thrown from a car he was a passenger in when that car collided with another.
The Lehigh County coroner and Whitehall Township police are investigating.
Here's a look back at the stories making headlines this week in the 69 News Week In Review:
Monday in Bethlehem, a mother of three was charged with criminal homicide after allegedly killing the father of one of her children.
Police said 31-year-old Ebony Jones told police she was arguing with Ismail Bonets when she grabbed two knives off the kitchen counter and threw them at Bonets.
Police found him on the kitchen floor with a stab wound to his chest.
Tuesday, a Lehigh County woman pleaded guilty to fatally stabbing her grandfather.
21-year-old Chene Mejias pleaded guilty to third degree murder.
Authorities said Mejias repeatedly stabbed her 65-year-old grandfather, Wilson Mejias, inside the South 12th Street, Allentown home she shared with him and her girlfriend.
According to police Mejias told them her grandfather had acted inappropriately toward her girlfriend several times.
Wednesday, a 33-year-old Whitehall Township mother who had been missing for nearly a week was found dead on her stepfather's property in Allen Township, Northampton County.
Officials said the stepfather, 53-year-old Gregory Graf, admitted to murdering Jessica Padgett.
He has been charged with criminal homicide.
Officials said Graf either sexually assaulted or attempted to sexually assault Padgett right before the murder.
Thursday in Easton there was a dramatic rescue for a cat named Stewie.
The one-year-old cat got out of his house on Tuesday and was stuck for two days high up in a tree, struggling to hold on through cold and snowy weather.
Finally on Thursday night, a tree service came out to rescue Stewie.
Friday, Reading police released surveillance footage of the man they say is responsible for a barrage of gunfire inside a a barbershop.
Police said the man seen here walked into All Stars Barbershop in Reading on Wednesday, just hours before Thanksgiving, and shot four people.
One of the victims was critically injured.
So far, authorities have not released a possible motive for the shooting.
On Wednesday, eleven volumes of an expensive historical book were stolen from the Reading Public Library.
According to library director Frank Kasprowicz, a security guard at the library found security stickers on a shelf that had been taken from books.
Assistant library director Mike Najarian says security footage showed two people who came into the library, went to a corner, removed security devices on the books and walked out with them.
Najarian says he assumes the two culprits previously scoped the books out based on the ease with which they walked directly to the location of the books.
They took eleven volumes of "The Passing Scene," by George Meiser, a Berks County historian.
The assumption is that the books will be sold on Ebay, but Najarian says they have not seen the library's copies on there yet.
The thieves did not take the oldest or newest volumes of "The Passing Scene."
Najarian says there were another two attempts Saturday morning in other Berks County libraries on the same books. These individuals were not the same actors as the Wednesday robbery at Reading Library.
George Meiser, the writer of the books, says he is not surprised by the robbery seeing as some of the books have disappeared from various libraries before and some sell for as much as $250 on Ebay.
Reading Police are investigating.
After outcry from the community, officials in Reading held a lighting ceremony for the new Christmas tree on Saturday night. Thousands of people came together for carols and to spread Christmas cheer in front of the new pine.
The lush, ornate tree now on display in City Park stands in stark contrast to Reading's original Christmas tree on display a few blocks away on 5th and Penn.
"Not even birds are willing to hang on that tree because they are scared," said one Reading resident.
"This is so ugly looking," said another resident.
The so-called ugly looking tree has lit up Reading on a national scale. Dozens of media outlets have taken notice and thousands of people across the country are weighing in on what's been called "The Charlie Brown Christmas Tree".
The tree even served as a backdrop for a local couple's wedding photos on Friday.
"This tree captures the heart and soul of the Reading community," said the groom.
So that's why after plans to tear the tree down, City Council president Francis Acosta decided to keep this tree standing in the center of the city, while adding a new tree a few minutes away.
"We are going to see it as an opportunity to bring people to downtown reading, " said Acosta.
So whether residents prefer the simpler tree, or the more ornate one, Reading officials say the only thing that matters is that locals embrace the Christmas spirit.
Part of the City of Bethlehem has been transformed into a "village."
The historic downtown is now featuring its Fourth Annual Christmas City Village.
It's modeled after a traditional German Christmas village and features dozens of huts manned by vendors.
While shopping visitors can enjoy holiday music and decorative lights.
The village is open for business Fridays through Sundays leading up to Christmas.
In between Black Friday and Cyber Monday, local shoppers are out in full force for Small Business Saturday.
Promoted by the National Federation of Independent Business, the goal of Small Business Saturday each year is to recognize the contribution small, independent businesses make to create jobs, boost local economies and preserve neighborhoods.
More than 1,400 communities across the country are participating in this year's event, including here in Allentown along North 19th Street.
"I think the main goal is to grow our neighborhoods and re-acquaint people that live around us about what our neighborhoods have to offer," said Elena Pascal, owner of Boutique to Go in Allentown.
Organizers say the annual event has increased the amount of money spent at local businesses.
During last year's Small Business Saturday consumers spent $5.7 billion at independently-owned small businesses.
That's up from $5.5 billion the year before.
Two people were killed Saturday in an early morning Chester County fire.
Officials say it happened around 1:30 a.m. in the 2400 block of Harmonyville Road in Warwick Township.
Officials also say the fire, which is not being looked at as suspicious, was fully involved when they arrived at the one-story, ranch-style home.
A 64 year-old woman and 67 year-old man were found inside the home and pronounced dead at the scene.
The cause of the fire is still under investigation by the Pennsylvania State Police Fire Marshal Unit.
The estimated fire loss based on the structure of the home and the objects inside is about $325,000.
R.J. Shelton returned the opening kickoff 90 yards for a touchdown and Jeremy Langford ran for 118 yards and two scores to help No. 10 Michigan State beat Penn State 34-10 on Saturday night.
The Spartans (10-2, 7-1 Big Ten, No. 10 CFP) won their third straight game and hit the double-digit win mark for the fourth time in the last five seasons under coach Mark Dantonio. The Spartans have four of their six 10-plus win seasons in school history under Dantonio.
Shelton doused the enthusiasm of the emotional senior day festivities at Beaver Stadium when he used all of 14 seconds to dart through defenders for the score.
From there, the Spartans never really dazzled against the Nittany Lions (6-6, 2-6). Connor Cook threw a 10-yard TD pass and Langford chipped in with a 3-yard score in the third quarter to methodically put it away.
The Nittany Lions honored the 17 seniors who weathered four coaches, the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal and the resulting NCAA sanctions. The NCAA lifted the bowl ban this season and the Nittany Lions await their destination.
Under first-year coach James Franklin, the Nittany Lions finished 2-6 after a 4-0 start.
Christian Hackenberg, the quarterback predicted for NFL stardom under former coach Bill O'Brien, has sputtered on Franklin's watch. He has been sacked over 40 times behind an oft-maligned offensive line and threw 15 interceptions, the kind of numbers that sour scouts and leave a program languishing in the middle of the conference.
Hackenberg was one of 10 recruits from the 2012 recruiting class — along with 39 holdovers — from the summer of 2012 who kept the program competitive under O'Brien while it dealt with the devastating sanctions.
The seniors received a special pregame salute for their mettle in the wake of the sanctions and playing for former coaches Joe Paterno, Tom Bradley and O'Brien.
But before parents even had time to dab their eyes, Shelton zipped into the end zone for the score.
Michael Geiger kicked field goals of 36 and 39 yards in the first quarter for a 13-0 lead.
Sam Ficken set a Penn State single-season record with 23 field goals with his 41-yarder late in the half that made it 13-3.
Hackenberg twice blew chance in the quarter to make the game more competitive. He just overthrew Eugene Lewis on a corner route shy of the end zone and his final pass attempt of the half was bobbled by Chris Goodwin in the end zone and intercepted by Trae Waynes.
The Spartans kept up the pressure against Hackenberg in the third, forcing a fumble off a sack. Michigan State recovered at Penn State's 18 and needed only four plays for Cook, who has guided the Spartans to three single-season offensive records for most points, most offensive TDs and most yards in a season, to hit Tony Lippett for a 10-yard TD and a 27-3 lead.
That score sent a good chunk of what was left of the announced crowd of 99,902 fans headed toward the exits.
Penn State's Akeel Lynch had an 8-yard touchdown run in the fourth.
Langford put the finishing touches on the blowout with a 6-yard TD run that made it 34-10 and pushed him over the 100-yard rushing mark.
Penn State was leading the nation and the Big Ten in rushing defense (81.7 yards per game) and was second in the conference in total defense (267.2).
But Langford led an offense that topped 100 yards rushing and fell 2 yards shy of 300 yards of total offense.
The Lehigh Valley Phantoms held off the visiting Norfolk Admirals, 4-3, on Saturday night at the PPL Center.
The Phantoms had played 6 games in 11 days coming into the contest. The team finished above .500 during the stretch.
Austin Fyten, Blair Jones and Talor Leier all tallied goals for the Phantoms, with Jones netting two.
The Phantoms will be in action on Friday at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton.
The Wilson West Lawn football team returned to the top of the District 3-AAAA pyramid on Saturday night, defeating Central Dauphin, 21-10, to capture the District championship and advance to the PIAA semifinals.
Jake Templin connected with Jake Gehman on an early touchdown that set the tone. Austin Rosa returned a fumble 33 yards to the house as the Bulldogs built a 21-3 halftime lead.
Wilson never looked back en route to the District crown, their first since last visiting Hershey two years ago. The Bulldogs defeated Central Dauphin twice this year.
The Bulldogs will face Pine-Richland in Altoona next weekend in the Pennsylvania West final.
The Wyomissing football team, just two seasons removed from a state championship, is back in the state semifinals following Saturday's big quarterfinal win over Montoursville.
Sam Weaver had a huge day for the Spartans, recording an 80-yard interception return for touchdown and an 80-yard rushing touchdown.
Tom Paolini also had a score for the Spartans, but the versatile playmaker had to leave the game in the first half and was on crutches the rest of the game. His status is unknown.
Wyomissing will face Dunmore in the PIAA semifinals next weekend.
anything offensively...Julian Spigner sacked...as Becahi, falls in the piaa quarterfinals, 30-0, the final. >>> Double-A quarters, District 3 champ Wyomissing taking on Montoursville up in Shamokin... -1st Quarter..tied at 7-7 Wyomissing's tom paolini takes the handoffgoes 8 yardspowers in for the TDSpartans up 14-7...Paolini, unfortunately hurt for Wyo in the game... -Early in the 2nd quarter Montoursville's brycen mussina, son of Mike Mussina... gets intercepted by Wyo's sam WEAVERWeaver goes 80 yards for the touchdown21-7 -3rd Quarternow 28-14 mussina throws to throws to wyatt entz for the 22 yard touchdown Warriors cut the lead to 28-21 -4th quarternow 31-21 Wyomissing's sam weaver
The St. Joseph's Prep and Pennsbury football teams earned PIAA-AAAA quarterfinal victories on Saturday, setting up a semifinal showdown between each other. Parkland, Coatesville and Becahi were among the teams who saw their seasons come to an end Saturday.
In Bethlehem, St. Joe's edged Parkland, 34-30, despite the Trojans taking a 4th quarter lead when Devante Cross hit Kenny Yeboah on an 8-yard touchdown pass.
But St. Joe's responded when Jack Clements hooked up with De'Andre Swift on the decisive 50 yard touchdown pass later in the quarter.
At Souderton, Pennsbury used a last-second goal-line stop on 4th and 1 to preserve a 21-14 victory over Coatesville in the District I title game.
The Falcons' Mike Alley had the decisive score, a 15-yard touchdown run in the 3rd quarter.
In the PIAA-AAA quarterfinals, Becahi was blanked by Somerset, 30-0, out at Chambersburg as the Golden Hawks' season comes to an end.
final heave sails long......P'Burg gets the win over Easton, 19-15...their first win over the Red Rovers since 2009.>>> While that contest was all about bragging rights...there are a number of teams from our Big Ticket coverage area that suited up for state and District tournament action today...We start with the piaa tournament, quad-A quarterfinals...Parkland taking on St. Joe's prep in Bethlehem...-Pick things up in the 2nd Quarter, Parkland down 20-3, Devante Cross fires to Anthony Pagliaro 18 yards, 20-10 -Then with 1:02 left in the half, Cross hits Jarey Elder for the six yard score, 20-17 -3rd Quarter, Trojans down by ten, Cross going through the air again...this time connects with Gabe Clark, he reels it in and takes it the distance 62 yards, Parkland down 27-24 with 2:14 left in the 3rd -Then in the 4th, Cross speading it around... this time its Kenny Yeboah in the end zone, 8 yards, pat blocked, but Parkland takes their first lead of the game, 30-27 -St. Joe's Prep answers, Jack Clements puts it up for De'Andre Swift, he finds zone 50 yards later Parkland's season comes to an end, 34-30.... >>> ...St. Joe's will play the District i champ...Pennsbury or Coatesville...that game was played today at Souderton...- Midway through the 2nd quarter, Pennsbury doubling their 7-0 lead...Raheem Thompson gallops in from 4 yards out...14-0 Falcons...- Just before halftime, Red Raiders finally break through...Jordan Young with fake pitch on the option...and scores from 9-yards out...deficit cut in half...- Same score, less than 5 minutes to go in the 3rd...Coatesville's Jalen Hudson gets the carry...he rips off an 18-yard touchdown run...game tied at 14...- But, under 15 seconds to ay, 3rd quarter, Pennsbury gets the lead back...Mike Alley keeps it himself and pulls a houdini act appearing out the pile...15-yard touchdown, 21-14 Falcons...- Then with 30 seconds left in the game, Coatesville has a 4th and 1 on the 1...but the Pennsbury defense
Stephen Friedmen returned a punt 70 yards for a touchdown in the 4th quarter, lifting Phillipsburg to a 19-15 win over Easton at Fisher Stadium on Sunday in the 108th meeting between the two rivals.
Friedman's punt return helped snap a Phillipsburg losing steak in the series that dated back to 2010.
Joe Maso rushed for more than 100 yards and a touchdown for the Stateliners. Anthony Guarino added another.
Shane Simpson eclipsed the 2,000 yard rushing mark for the season to lead Easton. He also scored a pair of touchdowns.
>>> It's not often that a high school football rivalry garners national clout. Then again, Easton-P'Burg is not a normal rivalry. The teams battled for the 108th time today......this one, usually played on Thanksgiving Day...snowed out...didn't effect the energy level or attendance over at Lafayette though...- 1stuarter, P'Burg knocking on the door...Joe Maso busts it down with the 3 yard touchdown...Stateliners up an early 6...they led 12-0 in the 2nd quarter...- Before Shane Simpson announces his presence...43 yard burst up the middle...and no one is catching him...Red Rovers cut it to 12-7...that was the score at halftime...- 3rd quarter, Simpson back to work...this time from 11 yards out, gives Easton its first lead of the game...Simpson, went over 2,000 rushing yards for the season in this game... - But with just over 6 and a half minutes left in regulation, P'Burg forces a punt down by 3...Stephen Friedman turns in a play he'll remember for the rest of his life...cuts down the near sideline, gets a couple of huge blocks...and he is gone...70 yard punt return for the touchdown...Stateliners grab a 19-15 lead...- The defense would hold that advantage the rest of the way.as
It's not your typical Black Friday shopping, but the FBI says there's been a big boom in the number of guns sold on the the biggest shopping day of the year.
"I have seen increased sales," said Adam Miller, owner of Lehigh Valley Guns and Ammo in Allentown.
Miller says the number of people in the store shot up on Friday.
"We had a few glocks on sale, we did five percent off all of our guns," said Miller.
The FBI says on average, someone tries to buy a gun every three seconds on Black Friday.
However, it's not always a straight shot from the gun store to your home. The FBI says because of the increased sales nationally, background checks are taking longer.
"Our instant check system has gone down on Black Friday and days following because of increased sales," said Miller.
The FBI says its employees are working overtime because a background check must be processed within 3 days.
Officials say 2% of the more than 144,000 Black Friday background checks will be rejected.
But for those who are cleared, Miller says many customers keep coming back.
"In general, I have a lot of loyal customers," said Miller.
Friday night, Lower Nazareth Township small business owner Walter Garrett was forced to hand over cash at gunpoint.
"I was just kind of shocked," Garret said. "Why would somebody want to do this?"
Police say two men with guns and face masks approached Garrett as he was leaving work for his daughter's choir lesson. They demanded the money from his pocket, which included a sum of cash being transferred from his business at Porcupine Piercing & Body Modification in the Trolley Station Mall.
"I was a little nervous especially when the guy pulled a gun on me and put it up to my face," Garrett said.
Garrett has been in business for over 20 years and says he works hard every day to keep each of his customers happy. It doesn't take long to find one of those customers near the mall.
"Porcupine Piercing is a great place," customer Jake Fink said. "I have gotten a couple of piercings there and he is real strategic with how he does it and he has a lot of training."
Police are now on the hunt for the men responsible.
"One male had a black and red plaid sweatshirt or jacket on, jeans," Sgt. Mike Enstrom of the Colonial Regional police said. "The other male had jeans on and a white hooded sweatshirt."
"They should just turn themselves in," Garrett said. "Eventually I'm sure they'll get caught, like most people normally do."
Garrett is also offering a reward for anyone with relevant information.
Volunteers in Philadelphia are searching for a college student missing since he left a bar early on Thanksgiving morning.
Police say 21-year-old Shane Montgomery was home from West Chester University and had met with friends at a crowded Manayunk bar Wednesday night.
He was last seen at Kildare's Pub on Main Street around 1:45 a.m. Thursday morning.
They say he became separated from them and was escorted out by a bouncer at 2 a.m. after stumbling on a bar stool.
He is 5 feet 11 inches tall and has a tattoo of a Celtic cross on his shoulder blade.
Our partner station WPVI says a $10,000 reward had been offered for information that helps police find Shane.
A Fleetwood area woman was seriously injured in an accident near the Walmart in Muhlenberg Township.
The crash happened around 4:30 p.m. Friday in the area of Allentown Pike and Kutztown Road.
The only vehicle involved rolled onto its side and came to rest against a utility pole, police said.
The driver had to be freed from the car and flown to Reading hospital, but officials on the scene could provide no information about the extent of her injuries.
Muhlenberg EMS officials did say, however, that she was conscious and speaking when being transported to the helicopter.
The normally busy intersection was closed for about an hour.
The death of a man found inside a crashed truck in Berks County is believed to be the result of natural causes, according to the coroner's office.
Emergency crews were dispatched around 3:30 p.m. Friday to the 300 block of Albright Road in Maxatawny Township.
They arrived to find a truck hauling bales of hay off the road and into some trees.
Initial reports from dispatchers were that the driver was unconscious and unresponsive.
Officials on the scene confirmed a short time later that the driver, 62-year-old Steve Knabb from Maxatawny Township, had died as the apparent result of a medical incident he suffered before the crash, the coroner said.
No other vehicles were involved in the accident.
A man was injured while fighting off a pair of robbers armed with handguns outside a mall in Lower Nazareth Township, Northampton County, according to police.
Colonial Regional Police said the victim was leaving the Trolley Station Mall in the 200 block of Nazareth Pike around 5 p.m. Friday when two while males told him to hand over his money.
The victim fought with both males and sustained minor injuries before being forced to the ground. That's when the two robbers drew handguns and pointed them at the victim, according to police.
The victim then handed over an unspecified amount of cash. The two robbers ran away, heading north on Nazareth Pike.
One of the robbers is described as a white male, about 5 feet 10 inches in height, with a stocky build. He was wearing a red-checkered hoodie, jeans, red face covering, and was carrying a small caliber Smith & Wesson handgun with a brushed nickel finish.
The other male is described as 6 feet in height, with a medium build. He was wearing a white hoodie, jeans and a black ski mask, and was carrying a black handgun, possibly a 9mm.
Anyone with information is urged to call police.
The average person spends almost 250 dollars decorating for the holidays, so how can you save some money?
Andrea Rincon, an art instructor from the Baum School of Art in Allentown visited the Sunrise crew for tips on how to craft your own decorations.
If you are interested in purchasing crafts already made, the Indie Made Craft Market will be held on December 6th at the Starlite Ballroom on South Front Street in Allentown at Maker Table.
http://www.indiemadecraftmarket.com/
Small businesses across the nation are hoping you will come shop at their stores this weekend.
The fourth annual Small Business Saturday begins this weekend.
The hope is to get people to shop and support small, independently owned businesses.
More than 1,400 communities across the country are expected to participate, including Allentown and West Reading.
Around $5.7 Billion dollars were spent during last year's Small Business Saturday.
The community came together Friday night to support a two-year-old boy in his battle with leukemia.
Bradley Heater is currently receiving chemotherapy treatments. More than 100 people came out for a fundraiser in his honor at Slick Willy's Karts and Eats in Wyomissing.
Several local race car drivers were also on hand for the event.
Organizers say they're doing everything they can to help the family during this tough time.
Mike Schauer said, "I work with the parents and we just decided that I'm just going to get a whole bunch of people together to help me and throw a fundraiser and help them out."
Friday's fun also included basket raffles and, of course, go-cart rides.
The Reading Royals earned a home win over Greenville Friday night, while the Lehigh Valley Phantoms lost at Albany.
The Royals beat the Road Warriors 5-2 at the Santander Arena, marking their sixth win in their last eight games.
The Phantoms fell behind Albany 3-0 and couldn't recover, losing 4-2 to the Devils.
The loss is the third in a row for the Phantoms.
Loved ones gathered in Easton Friday night to remember a man who died last month.
On what would have been Richard Scheuermann's 40th birthday, a few dozen people gathered at the spot where an incident involving him and the police ended. Friends and family prayed, sang, and lit candles at the corner of 13th and Spring Garden Streets in Easton.
"I couldn't help my son that night, I couldn't help him," Scheuermann's mother, Lois Spaziani, said during the vigil.
The group also sang "Happy Birthday."
Spaziani and other relatives told 69 News Scheuermann had a good heart.
"Richie would have done anything for you, for anybody, and he did a lot for people," she said.
The family is seeking answers about Scheuermann's death after an incident Oct. 24.
"It's been hard. I guess it's just accepting it right now, everyone's still in shock," said Scheuermann's sister, Liza Scheuermann. "There's really no words for it, I guess."
Investigators said Scheuermann was driving on the wrong side of the road and a failed traffic stop in Palmer Township led to a police chase. It ended at the corner where Friday's vigil was held after police said Scheuermann crashed his truck into a utility pole and rammed a police cruiser twice, before officers opened fire.
As the investigation continues, it's still not clear how he died. He had both bullet and knife wounds.
Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said in October, "He also sustained a self-inflicted wound to the neck, which touched the carotid artery and resulted in extensive bleeding."
Spaziani said, "I have my feelings on what happened and what I know is to be true."
"I hope we just find answers and get justice," said Liza Scheuermann.
Scheuermann's father, Richard Scheuermann, Jr., said, "I was always there with him. I was there when he was born, I loved him then, I loved him in between, I'm going to love him forever and I'll remember him."
Santa Claus made a special trip south Friday to meet some very deserving kids. About 65 young people with special needs or serious illnesses took a train ride through the Lehigh Gorge in Jim Thorpe.
"Every day, they have to deal with something, and all we try to do is bring them smiles and a good time, and today does that," said executive director Rayann Vasko. "It's a day where we can really just act up and have a good time and forget about all the troubles."
Some of the kids had to be pushed in wheelchairs and some had to be lifted onto the train, but once the Polar Express left the station, everyone was ready to meet 'Ol Saint Nick.
"They're excited," said Allen Starr, a parent from Jim Thorpe. "They want to go to the North Pole."
These are all "Dream Come True" kids. The group grants wishes for children with special needs or a serious illness -- a difficult life for them and their parents.
"But it's rewarding too," said parent Tracy Weaver from Wescosville. "They give a lot back."
Dream Come True has been making these trips for more than 10 years now. In years past, they flew kids on an airplane for this journey.
But behind all the laughter, there is some sadness.
"A lot of our stuff is kind of sad, because some of the kids unfortunately pass away," said Vasko.
One of those kids was four year-old Ella Luchansky. She died of cancer last year. Ella's mom, Jennifer Kresge, still brings the other kids here.
"It's a good memory for us to be able to do this, because we originally did it with her, so it's nice to see people who are still fighting and also people who have lost too," she said.
Santa may not be able to grant every wish here, but for one day, he made a lot of kids' dreams come true.
Domonick Bragalone set a new Pennsylvania single season rushing record Friday night as South Williamsport ended Pius X's season with a 69-41 win in the PIAA A quarterfinals at Northern Lehigh High School.
Bragalone carried 23 times for a career-high 439 yards and six touchdowns in the game.
That put his season total at 4,230 yards, establishing a new Pennsylvania single season record.
Pius X ends its season at 11-3 overall and as District 11 class A champions.
Easton is officially aglow for the holidays.
The Peace Candle in Centre Square was lit Friday night.
The lighting was just one of many holiday events going on in the city on Friday.
The Peace Candle has been an Easton tradition since 1951.
The Phillipsburg vs. Easton game is traditionally held on Thanksgiving Day. However, due to the snow, the game has been postponed until Saturday afternoon.
On Friday, both schools held rallies ahead of the big match-up.
At Easton Area High School, thousands of planks of wood burned on Friday night as thousands of people of all ages looked on.
The school's marching band provided the soundtrack as the wood simmered.
Tim Culver, originally from Easton but now lives in Texas, brought his family back for the festivities.
"We make it home every year and we have a great time doing it," said Culver.
Phillipsburg High School also took part in traditions on Friday night.
A fireworks show lit up the sky and thousands of fans came together for a pep rally.
The Phillipsburg football team promised their fans a big win on Saturday.
WFMZ will be broadcasting the game live. Coverage begins at 1:30 p.m. and kick-off starts at 2 p.m.
New Jersey Republican Gov. Chris Christie has vetoed a politically charged bill that would have banned the use of certain pig cages in the state.
On Friday, the potential 2016 presidential contender called the bill a ``solution in search of a problem.''
It would have banned pig farmers from using gestation crates, which are so small pregnant pigs can't turn around.
The contraptions are rarely used on New Jersey's 300 pig farms. But they're widespread in Iowa, a state that's home to the nation's first presidential nominating caucuses.
Many farmers are opposed to the idea of the government telling them how to raise their livestock.
Animal rights advocates say the practice is cruel.
Christie's response was being watched as a gauge of his presidential ambitions.
November 1, 1817 may have been a Saturday, but Pennsylvania’s Governor Simon Snyder was at his desk, clearing up some last minute work.
After endorsing the result of a special election to fill a vacant Congressional seat, he turned to something of a more ceremonial nature.
Snyder had recently heard that the Presbyterian Synod of Pennsylvania had passed a resolution in support of a day of thanksgiving and prayer for the state’s having been spared from deaths in an outbreak of an illness that had stricken other parts of the country. He wanted to endorse the Synod’s action, but the governor wanted to take it a step further, to recognize a general thanksgiving.
Snyder began by recognizing the mercy of the “holy Governor of the Universe” for “dealing infinitely better with us than we deserve,” by “averting from our State the hand of the destroying Angel.”
But it was not only for this that the governor thanked God. It was also to praise the “the Supreme disposer of events,” that had “blessed our land with the fruits of the earth in the greatest abundance.”
“I do recommend to my fellow citizens of the Commonwealth,” he went on, “that on the third Thursday, in the present month of November, they meet for religious worship and to offer up their unfeigned thanks and acknowledgements to Almighty God, the source, and benevolent bestower, of this great good and for many other blessings, both spiritual and temporal, which we enjoy--that he will extend, bless, and perpetuate them to our latest posterity.”
As a devout Christian, Snyder ended with a hope that God, “spread the knowledge of the Redeemer throughout world,” and, “make ours Emanuel’s land.” He ended with his signature and the application of the state’s seal.
There had been many proclamations of thanksgiving in Pennsylvania before 1817.
George Washington himself had issued one from Philadelphia when he was president. But the following year, after Snyder left office, his successor Governor James Finley reinforced Snyder’s action, proclaiming Thursday, November 19th as Thanksgiving Day. From then on the ceremony became a regular event in the state.
But who was this Simon Snyder whose actions gave Pennsylvania an official thanksgiving of what had traditionally been a New England event, long before it became a national holiday?
Well, as the state’s first Pennsylvania German governor, he may have gotten the idea from his ethnic roots. For a long time, the 18th century German settlers of Pennsylvania and their descendants celebrated De Ern Karrich, or Harvest Church celebration. Later it became known as Harvest Home.
It was part of a tradition to thank God for a good harvest. Churches were decorated with the fruits and vegetables of the field. It was also to provide food for those whose crops did not do well. There was no special date for a Harvest home event.
And there was no big feast, although some churches did have a chicken and waffle dinner. Today Harvest Home largely survives in some churches as a part of Thanksgiving.
Like many early Pennsylvania Germans, Simon Snyder’s early days were not lived in the lap of luxury. He was born in Lancaster on November 5, 1759, the fourth child in a family of five. His father was a mechanic. He died in 1774 when Simon was a teenager. At age 17 he left Lancaster and went to York. Over the years he was to marry three times and have seven children.
Snyder lived in York for eight years and learned the trade of a tanner. At the same time he attended a night school where he learned to read, write and do basic math. In 1784 Snyder moved to Selinsgrove, where he soon owned a store and a mill. He ran for the office as Justice of the Peace and was easily elected. In 1797 Snyder became a member of the state legislature and by 1802 had been made Speaker of the State House of Representatives.
Snyder had always been a Federalist, the party founded by Alexander Hamilton. But by 1805, after a split with the governor over important legislation, he joined the Democratic-Republicans founded by Thomas Jefferson and James Madison.
In 1808 Snyder decided to run for governor. The Pennsylvania Germans, now the major ethnic group in the state, had long wanted one of their own in the governor’s chair. Snyder won by a majority of over 24,000 votes. He was re-elected again in 1811 and again in 1814.
According to one story, Snyder’s youngest child is supposed to have asked his mother after the 1808 election if they were all governors now. “No, just me and Pop,” she is supposed to have responded.
The two biggest events of Snyder’s nine years as governor were the moving of the capital from Lancaster to Harrisburg in 1812 and the War of 1812 with Britain. The first came about as a result of population growth in the western part of the state. Harrisburg was selected as more centrally located. Just before it left Lancaster, one of the legislature’s last acts was the creation of Lehigh County.
The War of 1812 was widely popular in Pennsylvania, despite the general failure to gain any land by invading Canada. In 1814 a British invasion force that burned Washington D.C. was stopped in Baltimore before it could get to Philadelphia. Most of the Pennsylvania militia’s casualties came from diseases like dysentery.
Still widely popular, Snyder returned to Selinsgrove in 1818 only to be overwhelmed by financial woes brought on by the Panic of 1819. Elected to the State Senate, he only served one session. On November 9, 1819 Simon Snyder, the man who gave Pennsylvania Thanksgiving, died of typhoid fever just five days after his 60th birthday.
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An Allentown man is facing federal charges for allegedly posting threatening statuses on his Facebook page.
According to FBI officials, Glen Joseph recently posted statuses on his page containing threats to a federal agent and a Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas Judge.
Joseph had just been released from prison in February, after serving time for threats made against authorities in 2012. Officials said he had made threatening statements against officers, agents and President Obama in 2012.
According to court documents, Joseph threatened to kill law enforcement officers in 2012.
Court documents also say Joseph posted the following threat against the President in 2012: "I can't believe nobody put a bullet in uncle tom obama's brain yet...someone bring me a gun I'll do it."
After two extra days of waiting, Easton and Phillipsburg will finally renew their historic football rivalry on Saturday.
Officials elected to postpone the annual Thanksgiving Day game due to Wednesday's snowstorm.
So now, the long-time rivals will meet Saturday at 2pm at Lafayette's Fisher Stadium.
The game will mark the 108th time the two rivals will face each other.
You can watch the game live beginning at 1:30pm on WFMZ-TV on Saturday.
The top two seeds will square off for the District One 4A Championship on Saturday.
No. 1 Coatesville will face No. 2 Pennsbury on Saturday at 1pm at Souderton High School for the title.
Coatesville enters the game at 13-0 while Pennsbury comes in at 12-1.
The winner of Saturday's game will face the winner of the Parkland vs. St. Joe's Prep game next weekend in the PIAA 4A semifinal round.
Allentown's Lights in the Parkway is now open for its 19th season in Lehigh Parkway.
Many new animated displays are part of the drive-through holiday light show, which features hundreds of thousands of lights in displays that continue for more than a mile through the Parkway.
The new "larger-than-life light spectaculars" join traditional favorites set to music.
Lights in the Parkway can be viewed from 5:30 to 10 p.m. daily through Dec. 28, except for Christmas Day.
Admission is $12 per car, and $22 per commercial van, minibus and limo. Only cash or checks are accepted at the ticket booth. Cash is preferred. A $2-off coupon is available online.
Advance sale tickets costing $10 and $20 are available at Wegmans, Allentown City Hall and Allentown Federal Credit Union.
At the end of the route, patrons can visit the gift barn, which features a large selection of one-of-a-kind decorations, ornaments and holiday collectibles.
Hot chocolate, popcorn, cookies and other refreshments are offered inside the Gift Barn.
There is also an opportunity to have photos taken with Santa Claus inside the gift barn from 5:30 p.m. until 9:30 p.m. from Nov. 28 through Dec. 23.
Credit cards are accepted in the gift barn.
A fifth annual "Lights in the Parkway 5K and Walk" will begin at 7 p.m. Wednesday. Interested participants can register and see the course online.
Space is limited. No race day registration is accepted.
For more about Lights in the Parkway, contact Serena Davis, Allentown's special events manager, at 610-437-7530 or at serena.davis@allentownpa.gov.
A pair of EPC teams are getting set for PIAA state playoff showdowns on Saturday.
Bethlehem Catholic will face Somerset at 2pm in Chambersburg in a 3A state quarterfinal.
Becahi and Somerset each bring 12-1 records into the game.
After beating Easton for its third straight District 11 championship, Parkland will face Philadelphia powerhouse St. Joe's Prep Saturday at 1pm at BASD Stadium in Bethlehem.
This marks the second straight year Parkland has faced St. Joe's Prep at BASD Stadium in the PIAA state 4A quarterfinals.
Last year, Prep ended Parkland's season en route to winning the state championship.
From "atrocious" to "ugly," many of the words used over the last week to describe Reading's official Christmas tree have not been nice.
But one Berks County couple showed the tree a little love on Friday, gathering their wedding party on Penn Square and posing for pictures in front of the tree.
"Can't miss opportunity," said the groom, Brad Graczyk. "I'm moving down south after the wedding, and uh, perfect way to say goodbye to my hometown."
The bride, Nora Graczyk, isn't a Reading native, but she said many members of her wedding party actually grew up near Egleman's Park, where the tree was cut down.
"I think it is a beauty in its own way," she said. "I didn't grow up here, so I find it neat to be a part of something that they grew up with."
As for all the negative comments about the tree and the earlier effort to have it replaced:
"I don't think they know what they're talking about. This tree captures the heart and soul of the Reading community," Brad said.
In fact, many people in Berks County and those around the world who learned of the tree's plight through international media coverage have since embraced the tree as a symbol of the holiday season's true meaning.
The city plans to decorate the tree with a single red ornamental bulb, just like Charlie Brown's scrawny tree in the beloved "Peanuts" holiday tale. A public re-dedication ceremony is set for next Saturday, Dec. 6., at 6:30 p.m.
Meantime, the tree that was bought by Reading City Council President Francis Acosta to replace the one at Fifth and Penn streets was decorated at Second and Penn streets Friday. A ceremony to light the tree is set for 5 p.m. Saturday, Nov. 29.
Police on Friday released surveillance video that, they said, shows the man who opened fire inside a crowded barbershop in northeast Reading.
Investigators are hoping someone who sees the video can help them identify the shooter, who wounded four people inside the All Stars Hair Studio in the Rockland Plaza shopping center at North 11th and Rockland Streets on Wednesday.
One of the victims remained hospitalized in critical condition Friday afternoon. The other three suffered only graze wounds, police said.
Police said they believe the shooting is connected to a round of bullets fired inside the same barbershop Tuesday night. None of the two employees and nine customers who was inside at the time of that shooting was injured.
The shop's owner told 69 News he believes one of his customers, who was not injured Wednesday, was the gunman's intended target. He has since been banned from the business.
If you have any information about the shooting, call Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913. A cash reward of up to $5,000 is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
The Black Friday shopping frenzy is well underway and bargain hunters have been in the stores for hours looking to fill out their holiday shopping lists.
The crowds keep building at Lehigh Valley Mall in Whitehall Township, Lehigh County.
Shoppers are doing exactly what retailers hoped for on Black Friday: Buying lots of items.
"Home and small electrics," added John Rozum, store manager at JCPenney. "The cookware aspect was phenomenal. Shoes and boots was another area that we really accelerated in."
The full bags are part of tradition for some and making sure their money stretched for others.
"We're looking for bargains this year, really good bargains." Said Robert Baker, from Blakeslee, Monroe County.
"Things that family members would like that are maybe half off or something a little better than that," he added.
The Lehigh Valley Mall opened at 6 p.m. on Thanksgiving.
Many say they shopped, went home, and then came back.
Others used caffeine to help them power through a day filled with all kinds of deals, but is "Gray Thursday" helping or hurting sales?
The opinion is mixed.
"It was more fun going on Friday," said shopper Amanda Harvey.
"You actually spend time having dinner with family on Thursday and then go out the next day," she added.
"It's hard to answer that question because people really still anticipate that first day to kick off the holiday shopping season," said Lehigh Valley mall manager,John Ferreira, "Whether it be six o'clock, eight o'clock, or in the morning on Black Friday."
The other big question: Will finding all the deals Friday mean people are done shopping?
"We'll have quite a bit done today, but we are going to do the rest of it on Monday," added Baker.
Many say Cyber Monday will be another huge day for them, but until then they plan on shopping at the mall the rest of Friday.
News at Noon starts right now. >>> eve tannery: The Black Friday shopping frenzy is well under way and bargain hunters have been in the stores for hours now looking to fill out their holiday shopping lists. Let's go live to the Lehigh Valley Mall where WFMZ's Will Lewis has been checking out all the deals for us. Good afternn Will. The crowds keep building here at the mall. People looking for good deals, finding those must have items and making retailers very happy.>> reporter Shoppers are doing exactly what retailers hoped for on Black Friday: Buying lots of items.. >> john rozum, store mgr, jcpenny "Home and small electrics.The cookware aspect was phenomenal.Shoes and boots was another area that we really accelerated in.">> reporter The full bags are part of tradition for some..>> nats up FULLhave a good time.">> reporter Others making sure their money stretched.>> robert baker, blakeslee resident "We're looking for bargains this year, really good bargains.members would like that are maybe half off or something a little better than that." >> reporter The Lehigh Valley Mall, in Whitehall Township, opened at 6 p-m on Thanksgiving. Many say they shopped, went home, and then came back.. Others used caffeine to help them power through a day filled with all kinds for deals.Thursday helping or hurting sales. mixed.HARVEY, started shopping on THANKSGIVING"It was more fun going on Friday.You actually spend time having dinner with family on Thursday and then go out the next day." >> john ferreira, manager, lehigh valley MALL"It's hard to answer that question because people really still anticipate that first day to kick off the holiday shopping season.Whether it be six o'clock, eight o'clock, or in the morning on Black Friday." >> reporter The other big question.. Will finding all the deals today.. Mean people are done shopping.>> BAKERwe are going to do the rest of it on Monday." people say Cyber Monday will be another huge day for them.. But until then.. They plan on shopping here the bit done today, but we are going to do the rest of it on Monday." peoe say Cyber Monday will be another huge day for them.. But until then.. They plan on shopping here the rest of the day.
>>> melanie falcon: You may be full of turkey after your Thanksgiving meal yesterday.. so today, we're thinking Brazilian! Manager and Chef Pedro Cardozo of Rodizio Grill in Allentown is joining us in the kitchen this morning.. along with some of his team from the restaurant! They're with Eve now in the >>> melanie FALCON:back over to the kitchen this morning, where we're cooking with a Brazilian twist!>> eve tanne: This morning we're joined by Pedro Cardoza of Rodizio Grill in Allentown.. and Mark is
A proposal to disband the Barrett Township police department and pay for police protection from a nearby regional police department could save the township about $200,000 a year, officials said Tuesday.
Township residents peppered officials at a public hearing on the proposal, questioning whether police response times would increase and what would happen if someday the Pocono Mountain Regional Police Department folded.
One resident, Dave Dalton, told the township supervisors he was circulating a petition to keep the township’s police department just the way it is, not merged with Pocono Mountain Regional.
“Once the police department is gone, it’s gone forever,” Dalton said. “That’s what scaring everyone. Their afraid they will wind up with state police (coverage).” Dalton said he knows a state trooper who told him state police coverage of municipalities is hardly the gold standard.
One woman in the rear of the room agreed.
“I think we are getting screwed,” she said. “We’re losing our police department.”
Under the proposal, no Barrett Township police officer would lose his job. Each would join Pocono Mountain Regional. The township would pay about $480,000 a year to Pocono Mountain Regional for some 120 hours a week of police coverage, a number that was reached based on a statistical analysis of the department’s police calls.
The township would actually have 24/7 police coverage all year, said Chris Wagner, the police chief of the regional department, because police cruisers would always be ready to respond, in large numbers if necessary, when a police call came from the township.
“It’s a different style of policing,” Wagner said. “There’s always a backup available.”
Given its larger size, the regional department can handle multiple calls at the same time, he said. It also offers officers more opportunity for specialized training and advancement that is simply not available in small departments like Barrett Township, he said.
Ralph Megliola, the chairman of the board of supervisors, said the township can “band aid” its financial problems through 2015-2016 but by then will be in a tight spot.
The tax rate is so high now that the township would have to petition the court for approval to increase taxes. If that failed, he said, the township would have to start laying off police officers.
Township resident Tom Dente said the possible loss of the local police department was just the latest sign of the times.
“The library is on the way out, we lost our schools and multiple businesses,” Dente said. “This is a by-product of our country shrinking.”
A 92-year-old Allentown woman has died almost a week after officials say she was shot by her husband.
Malka Waide died Thursday, officials said.
She was shot Nov. 21 at the couple's home in the 1600 block of East Washington Street by her longtime husband, 92-year-old Izak Waide.
He had apparently called the couple's son in New York and said he couldn't watch her suffer from her advanced Alzheimer's disease anymore, according to Capt. William Reinik, Allentown Police Department.
Izak Waide had shot her in the head, then turned the gun on himself. He died at the scene. His death was ruled a suicide.
She was taken to St. Luke's Hospital in Bethlehem.
Police say a drunk driver from Lehigh County fell asleep at the wheel on a New York City highway, where they found his van stopped in the middle of traffic.
Port Authority of New York and New Jersey police say other cars were maneuvering around the van when an officer found it around 2 p.m. Thursday. It was on Route 440 in Staten Island.
Police say there was an open beer can in the van's cup holder.
The officer roused the snoozing driver and gave him sobriety tests. Police say the 39-year-old failed, and they soon found that that his license has been suspended some 27 times.
The Allentown, man was arrested on charges including driving while intoxicated.
His name was not released.
>>> melanie falcon: If you're not a fan of Black Friday shopping.. have no fear.. Cyber Monday is almost here! >> eve tannery: WFMZ's Nancy Werteen has a few tips about getting the more bang for your buck in Life Lessons. >>Nancy: Who can argue with getting a great deal and shopping from the comfort of your home? It's estimated that last year consumers spend about 2.2 billion on line . But shopping experts say you need to be prepared to get the best deals. browse-click- payyour holiday shopping can be as easy as that and half of all cyber spenders do it while at work! first, forget about scouring through all the paper ads check out the retale app and website. products you want, the stores you shop in and where you live. retale app sources the circulars and then gives you the store with the best price. also, just because youre not in a store, doesnt mean you dont have to shop early. many items run out and sales may be time specific.remember, only pay with a credit card, not a bank debit card.this will help protect you from giving cyber criminals your bank info. >>nat sound (tape) (:01) >>nancy: and before mondaygo to cybermonday- dot-com and freeshipping-dot- com to receive codes for free shipping and discounts at over 800 stores. --------------------------- --------->>Nancy: Also..make sure your browser says https when entering your credit card information online because the "s" stands for secure. Nancy
The early Thanksgiving shopping sent a woman in Berks County to the hospital.
Police say she was hit by a Jeep while she was leaving the Walmart located at 1135 Berkshire Blvd. in Wyomissing Thursday evening.
Her injuries aren't life threatening.
Police are looking into whether a mechanical failure is to blame for the accident.
They say the driver is cooperating.
>>> melanie falcon: The early Thanksgiving shopping sent a woman in Berks County to the hospital. Police say she was hit by a Jeep while she was leaving the Walmart in Wyomissing. Her injuries aren't
If you're heading out for Black Friday shopping, bundle up!
Even with the help of mostly sunny skies, today's highs will still remain 10 to 15 degrees below average and only reach the mid and upper 30s.
Overnight look for the clouds to increase as a warm front approaches the region.
The increase in clouds should help to hold temperatures steady after midnight, but that still won't stop them from dipping into the teens in many locations.
Saturday will be a rather cloudy day as the warm front lifts to the north. The passing of this front may also spark up a few flurries (or sprinkles to the south), but they won't amount to much.
Highs on Saturday will still be in the 30s, but with the aforementioned front off to our north, on Sunday the region will be able to tap into some of that warmer air as highs top out near 50 degrees.
Along with the warmer temperatures Sunday will feature mainly cloudy skies.
LeSean McCoy said beating Dallas with the NFC East lead on the line felt a lot like last year, when Philadelphia wrapped up a playoff berth in the Cowboys' $1.2 billion stadium.
There's one big difference for the Eagles, though: They might have to do it again in a rematch on their home field next month to make sure they get back to the postseason.
McCoy ran for 159 yards and a touchdown, Mark Sanchez had his first scoring run in almost three years and the Philadelphia defense took advantage of a ragged Tony Romo in a 33-10 victory Thursday.
"This is only the first half," linebacker Connor Barwin said. "We have them again in two weeks and we need to back it up again. The same way we did today, if not even better."
The Eagles (9-3) opened with quick drives of 80 and 88 yards for touchdowns. They took sole possession of the division lead with four games remaining, including the Dec. 14 rematch.
"We're not into statements," Philadelphia coach Chip Kelly said. "We've given ourselves the opportunity to play meaningful football in December, and in this league, every week is a whole different deal, a whole different animal."
McCoy, who led the NFL with 1,604 yards rushing last season, had his fourth 100-yard game in the past seven after going without one through the first five weeks. He secured his fourth 1,000-yard season since 2010, and the Eagles improved to 6-0 on Thanksgiving.
Although his deficit to Dallas' DeMarco Murray in the rushing race is probably insurmountable, McCoy outgained Murray, who was held under 100 yards for just the second time this season.
Murray finished with 73 yards and Dallas' only touchdown on 20 carries, the last a 6-yard loss when he was dropped by Mychal Kendricks on fourth-and-1 early in the fourth quarter.
"I don't really compare myself," said McCoy, who had a season-high 25 carries. "I just try to be me. I don't really get into that whole, especially during the season, who's this, who's that thing. In the big picture, we're trying to win games."
Things to consider after Philadelphia won its first Thanksgiving meeting with Dallas since 1989, a 27-0 win for the Eagles in Jerry Jones' first season as owner of the Cowboys:
RAGGED ROMO: The 34-year-old Romo wasn't around for last year's playoffs-or-bust finale because he was two days removed from back surgery. This time he was trying to play in a quick turnaround for the first time — about 90 hours after a dramatic win at the New York Giants — and following yet another back injury.
He threw two interceptions and didn't have a touchdown pass for the first time in 39 games as the Cowboys (8-4) dropped their third straight at home.
"It was definitely short just from the Sunday night coming to here," said Romo, who was 18 of 29 for 199 yards. "I don't really think that had much to do with the outcome of the game. I think they just played better than us."
SMOOTH SANCHEZ: Making his fourth start since Nick Foles was sidelined by a broken collarbone, Sanchez was 9 of 11 for 99 yards in the first quarter. That included a 27-yard scoring pass to Jordan Matthews when Sanchez hit the rookie in stride on a crossing route for a 14-0 lead.
Sanchez finished 20 of 29 for 217 yards with a touchdown and no interceptions two years after he was the starter for the New York Jets and infamously ran into the backside of one of his offensive linemen for a fumble that New England returned for a touchdown in a 49-19 Thanksgiving rout.
"It is like my favorite holiday, so that's not cool," Sanchez said. "It was a bummer. The game plan was to try not to do that. And we accomplished that."
This time, Sanchez had his first scoring run since Dec. 24, 2011, with the Jets — a 2-yarder after faking a handoff to McCoy on the zone read. McCoy set up the game's first touchdown with a 38-yard run.
HOME WOES: The Cowboys are 5-0 on the road, which means all four of their losses have come in Jones' spacious, retractable-roof showplace. "I'm disappointed because this was a great day ... we had a great Thanksgiving Day crowd, the stage was set," Jones said.
MACLIN'S MILESTONE: Eagles receiver Jeremy Maclin secured his first career 1,000-yard season with 108 yards, including a 58-yard catch to set up one of Cody Parkey's three second-quarter field goals. Parkey had four field goals total, the longest from 31 yards.
STILL WAITING: Cowboys defensive tackle Josh Brent was inactive for the second time since the end of a 10-game suspension for his intoxication manslaughter conviction. He hasn't played since Dec. 2, 2012, six days before the drunken-driving crash that killed teammate Jerry Brown.
Cyber Monday is an easy way to save money on items you want all from the convenience of your own home.
Last year over 2.2 billion dollars were spent online.
Here are a few tips that can make a huge difference in being prepared for the big day.
Browse, click and pay, your holiday shopping can be as easy as that and half of all cyber spenders do it while at work!
First, forget about scouring through all the paper ads and check out Retale app and website. J
ust list the products you want, the stores you shop in and where you live. Retale app sources the circulars and then gives you the store with the best price.
Also, just because you’re not in a store, doesn’t mean you don’t have to shop early.
Many items run out and sales may be time specific.
Remember, only pay with a credit card, not a bank debit card. This will help protect you from giving cyber criminals your bank info.
And before Monday go to cybermonday.com and freeshipping.com to receive codes for free shipping and discounts at over 800 stores.
Here’s another tip: make sure your browser says “https” when entering your credit card or personal information online because the “s” stands for secure.
After two days stuck in a tree in Easton, a cat named Stewie has been rescued.
The one-year-old cat got out of the house Tuesday and had been high above the ground in a tree ever since, even during Wednesday's snow storm.
"He gets out a lot but he always comes back. This time he didn't come back," said Stewie's owner, Brandi Diehl. "He's kind of just stuck up there."
People in the neighborhood tried to help get him down and even brought out ladders, but had no luck.
69 News aired Stewie's story at 10 p.m. Thursday and shortly after received word that a tree service came out to rescue Stewie.
The Northampton football team finished its season with a big rivalry win on Thanksgiving morning, beating Catty 33-14.
The K-Kids scored first and led most of the day against the Rough Riders. They built a 19-0 lead before Catty answered with 14 first half points.
Northampton owned the 2nd half, scoring the only points in the 2nd half on their way to a 33-14 victory.
The Quakertown Panthers won their Thanksgiving Day game, edging rival Pennridge 8-7.
The Panthers scored first, getting a defensive safety after a goal line stand by the Pennridge defense. That score held up through the half for a 2-0 Quakertown lead.
Pennridge's Matt Firuta ran the opening kickoff of the 2nd half back for a touchdown, and the Rams took a 7-2 lead.
Quakertown answered with a 4th quarter touchdown on a QB sneak by Alec Vera, and that score was the difference in an 8-7 win.
The Lehigh Valley Zoo is in need of volunteers.
If you are inclined to answer the call of the wild, the zoo could use your help.
There are many terrific and exotic animals at the zoo and Manly Offutt, a docent at the zoo, talked about some of the fun volunteers could experience.
He said in the summer, kids run around in circles at the zoo and swim with otters.
Another interesting fact he said, is that Otters do not hibernate. They have to be out in the cold hunting.
Manly's job is to explain anything and everything happening at the zoo.
Richard Rosevear, general curator at the zoo said there are various tasks that volunteers can perform, even if they happen not to like working directly with the animals.
He said volunteers can help with education or with guest services.
The only requirement officials say, is to be dependable.
This time of year though, animals are taking a back seat to elaborate illumination.
From now through Christmas the Zoo is showcasing its first ever winter lights spectacular.
There are over 600 hundred thousand lights in the park, zoo officials said.
Applications to volunteer can be filled out at the Zoo's website.
Four people were shot when a man walked into a barbershop in Reading and opened fire, police said.
Police and paramedics were dispatched around 2:45 p.m. Wednesday to the All Stars Hair Studio in the Rockland Plaza shopping center at North 11th and Rockland streets, not far from the Albright College campus.
Three victims were found at the scene; a fourth showed up at an area hospital, according to Chief Bill Heim, Reading Police Department, adding that one of the victims is in critical condition.
The gunman fled the scene.
Several of RPD's lead detectives are on the case, investigating a possible connection between Wednesday afternoon's shooting and gunfire at the same barbershop Tuesday night.
Officers were dispatched around 8:18 p.m. for a man who fired five shots into the barbershop, police said.
Two employees and nine customers, including several children between the ages of four and 11, were inside when the shots were fired, but no one was injured, police said.
No arrests have been made in either incident.
Anyone with information that can help police with their investigation is asked to call Crime Alert Berks County at 877-373-9913.
A cash reward is being offered for information that leads to an arrest.
A Thanksgiving feast in Exeter Township keeps getting bigger.
At least 150 folks stopped by for food and fellowship at the Reformation Lutheran Church in Exeter Township.
This is the fifth year the church put on a feast for the community. The menu included turkey and all the fixings.
First responders who were on duty were also invited to grab a bite to eat.
The meal at Saint John's United Church of Christ in Kutztown brought the community together. Volunteers and donations helped make the meal possible.
The meal must have been pretty good. We found a lot of clean plates on the tables when we stopped by.
Meals were delivered to folks who couldn't get out of their homes.
Students in the Reading School District say they hear some of the negative things people say about them, but they're just going to shake it off.
The district recently posted a video on its YouTube page, showing students and staff members dancing along with Wyomissing native Taylor Swift's hit song "Shake It Off."
The video has been viewed more than 5,000 times.
Officials said the song is perfect for the district because the Red Knights are encouraged to shake things off and keep going forward.
Thursday is a day of turkey, travel, tossing around the pigskin and, of course, giving thanks.
Folks everywhere came together on this Thanksgiving for food and fellowship.
Jordan United Church of Christ in South Whitehall Township, Lehigh County, held its annual community dinner, and it was a packed house. They feasted on turkey and all the usual trimmings.
New Bethany Ministries in Bethlehem also put out quite a spread. Certainly, a very tasty assembly line was at work there.
Diners were loading up on lots of good stuff -- everything from mashed potatoes to pie.
Dozens of volunteers helped serve a Thanksgiving feast to about 300 people at the Hope Rescue Mission in Reading on Thursday.
Guests were invited to grab a seat and enjoy some good company while volunteers took orders and delivered the food to the tables.
"I'm thankful to be here today," said Robert Turchi, an organizer. "Thanksgiving can be a difficult time for a lot of people away from family, so we're just excited to try to put a smile on people's faces and be an encouragement. Warm their bellies and their hearts today."
Berks County Commissioner Christan Leinbach was among those who volunteered their time Thursday.
Reading's official Christmas tree continues to generate a fair share of publicity across the country and around the world as the holiday season gets into full swing.
The tree, now dubbed by the city as "the famous Charlie Brown Christmas tree," has already been featured on various network television news programs and on local newscasts across the country.
Now, a New York City newspaper and other TV stations are planning to report on the 50-foot Norwegian pine, which has been called "ugly" and "atrocious" by some and embraced as a symbol of the true Christmas spirit by others.
Reading officials announced plans Wednesday to decorate the scrawny tree on Penn Square with a single red ornamental bulb, just like was done in the beloved "Peanuts" Christmas tale.
A public re-dedication ceremony is set for next Sat., Dec. 6, at 6:30 p.m.
A ceremony to light the tree was held last Friday, but the city went ahead this week with plans to remove the decorations and replace the tree with a new, 22-foot blue spruce bought by Reading City Council President Francis Acosta.
While the tree was being undecorated, city officials had a last-minute change of heart and decided to keep the tree where it stands at Fifth and Penn streets.
Acosta's blue spruce was put in place Wednesday in front of the Gateway building at Second and Penn streets. That tree will also be decorated and lighted.
Claire Stieg has a passion for horses and has been riding since she was a little girl. But at age 14, Claire's favorite sport turned dangerous when she was thrown from her horse while playing polo.
"I hit the ground so hard that I blacked out and had a seizure," Claire said.
Claire suffered a concussion, and she isn't alone. Recent research shows female athletes get just as many, if not more, concussions as males.
"Typically, concussions occur around some event when you receive a blow to the head," said Dr. Philip Stieg, chief of neurosurgery of the New York-Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical Center.
One study found high school girls who play soccer are 68 percent more likely to have a concussion than boys. In sports played by both genders, girls are reporting nearly twice as many concussions, and studies have shown girls take longer to recover from concussion symptoms.
"They can have headaches. They can have sleep disorders, appetite disorders and cognitive disorders, Dr. Stieg said.
Doctors are still trying to figure out why more females are being affected. A reason may be that girl's neck muscles are less developed making them more susceptible to head shaking and secondary concussion.
"Women are more likely to report they've had concussive injuries than men," Dr. Stieg said.
Claire suffered headaches and was extremely tired after her concussion, but after two weeks of rest, she felt better and is now playing college polo at Cornell.
"I wasn't afraid to get back on the horse. I really wanted to get back on and ride," Claire said.
Dr. Stieg said most concussions resolve themselves within seven days, but if you are still having symptoms like headaches or trouble sleeping, you should see a doctor immediately.
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The driver of a tractor trailer was arrested Wednesday for allegedly causing a fiery crash that killed three people on Interstate 78 in Berks County.
Vincente Espinvera was charged with three counts of homicide by vehicle, two counts of aggravated assault by vehicle, three counts of involuntary manslaughter, 17 counts of recklessly endangering another person, reckless driving, careless driving and related offenses, District Attorney John Adams and state police announced at a news conference in Reading.
"This was a difficult case to reconstruct and the fact that there was a fire that resulted from the crash destroyed a lot of the evidence that we normally would have been able to find," Adams said. "A lot of it was destroyed in the fire."
Espinvera, 56, of Belleville, New Jersey, was driving his truck east on I-78 in Greenwich Township on May 12 when he failed to slow down for traffic that was stopped because of construction and struck several other vehicles in front of him, authorities said, noting that numerous warning signs were posted for miles ahead of where the crash ultimately happened.
Three people died in the wreck and several others were injured. Killed were Bob Rosner, of Sellersville, Bucks County, who worked as a Deputy Attorney General in Allentown; and Edward and Theresa Dearden, a couple from York County.
The investigation revealed that Espinvera was sleep-deprived in the hours leading up to the crash, departing Phoenix, Arizona, on a United Airlines flight at 10:22 p.m. MST the night before and landing in Newark, New Jersey, at 5:45 a.m. EST on May 12, according to the affidavit of probable cause.
Espinvera then reported for work at 7 a.m. and began driving 15 minutes later, less than six hours before the crash, police said.
"This accident absolutely should not have happened, and we've had some horrific accidents in this county involving tractor trailers recently," Adams said. "We can't allow these crashes to continue to occur without penalty."
A check of traffic citations and crash reports revealed Espinvera had been involved in seven prior accidents, including six that were reportable, said police, who noted that the non-reportable crash involved the same tractor trailer on I-78 near the Emaus Avenue exit in Allentown.
Espinvera was freed Wednesday on $10,000 bail.
If you live in the Berks County area and are flying out of Philadelphia International Airport, you can now leave much of the driving to someone else.
The Reading Regional Airport has resumed round-trip shuttle service between its main passenger terminal in Bern Township and PHL.
The service, run by Michael's Classic Limousine, operates Monday through Friday, leaving RDG at 6 a.m. and 2:30 p.m. and departing PHL at 8 a.m. and 4:30 p.m.
Parking at the Reading airport is free.
Commercial flights out of Reading Regional stopped in 2004. That led to the launch of the Schuylkill Valley Airport Shuttle, which operated at the airport for nine years.
A driver was killed early Thursday when a car hit a building in Montgomery County.
Police in Pottstown said the single vehicle crash happened around 1:40 a.m. on Industrial Highway near Moser Road.
The car was traveling east on Industrial Highway and missed a curve in the road, police said. The vehicle left the road and hit a building on the property of the Pottstown Waste Water Treatment Plant.
The driver was the only occupant in the car, and was killed.
The victim's name is being withheld to allow the family to be notified.
Industrial Highway will remain closed between Moser Road and South Keim Street while officials evaluate the safety of the damaged building.
>>> eve tannery: u-g-i customers will be getting a break on their bills this winter... The Reading based utility company says natural gas rates will be going down on December first. ugi says bills are expected to drop about four-point-seven percent. Officials say the decrease is thanks to lower wholesale natural
Thanksgiving Day started with what appears to be a drug-related shooting in Easton, police said.
Police were called to the 200 block of S. 11th Street around 12:10 a.m. for reports of shots fired in the area.
Officers located evidence of gunfire in that area, and a short time later, police and an ambulance were sent to the unit block of North Warren Street for a man with a gunshot wound.
According to preliminary police investigation information, it appears the victim was targeted by the shooter.
The victim was walking in the area when he was confronted by a man wearing a black jacket and black hood, armed with a handgun, police said, and the victim was hit when several shots were fired.
Police said both men then fled the area, heading north on 11th Street.
The victim is a 22-year-old New Jersey man, and police said he has been less than cooperative. Officers said it appears this was a drug-related incident, and evidence was recovered in the 200 block of S. 11th Street and the unit block of N. Warren St.
The investigation is continuing.
Anyone with additional information is asked to call Det. Snyder at 610-250-6637, or the police tipline at 610-250-6635.
Callers can phone the tip line and remain anonymous.
