Sinking Spring YMCA goes hi-tech with new equipment

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The Sinking Spring YMCA, located in South Heidelberg Township, is using state of the art technology to help members fulfill a popular New Year's resolution, to lose weight.


The gym just received new shipment of treadmills, ellipticals and bicycles, all with state of the art technology.


The machines are made by PreCor.


"As long as you know how to use an iPad, it's relatively easy," said Rick Wagner, manager at the YMCA.


You simply connect your smart phone to the machine, and it keeps track of your goals, and makes sure you meet them during your training sessions.


The new machines were a big hit with the clientele.


"I like them a lot. They provide an opportunity to get a different type of work out," said Steve George.


"I think it will help a lot of people, bring a lot of new customers to the Y, and attract a lot of new faces," said Peter Gass.


Management says with the arrival of the new machines, they hope to keep customers coming back well into the New Year.






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Most Memorable 2014: Hail Storm

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Countless cars were totalled and roofs were ripped apart as a result of an unrelenting hail storm that hammered Berks County.



The storm's impact is still being felt, and the damage is just as visible now as it was seven months ago.



Thousands of vehicles were dinged and pinged by tiny bricks of hail, and many shops are still backlogged.



"We're still fixing hail cars," said Trevor Glass, with Glass & Sons Collision Center in Reading. "We have quite a bit in the shop now and we have quite a bit scheduled to come in through January and February."



It's been non-stop inside the shop on Lancaster Avenue. For the past seven months, workers have spent six to seven days a week repairing hail damaged cars, which is on top of their regular customers.



It all started May 22, 2014. Storm clouds appeared out of nowhere and then chunks of ice rained down over Berks County.



"When it first came it sounded like a train, it sounded like a train," said Jeff DeWald, who spoke to 69 News moments after the storm hit.



In the 700 block of Reading Avenue in West Reading, windshields were decimated and a strip of homes had their front windows blown out.



"My front window is smashed and then I looked out and I saw my car, and I was like please don't tell me that's what's happening and it was," said Sarah Pepe.



Skylights were shattered inside the Berkshire Mall in Wyomissing, and golf ball sized hail could be found on streets and sidewalks throughout the county.



The storm also had some expensive taste. Four-hundred Mercedes and BMW's were destroyed at a dealership on Lancaster Avenue in Reading, which totalled more than $10 million in damage.



Catastrophe tents were set up at several locations to help make repairs, and paintless dent repair workers were called in from across the country to keep up with demand.



Ever since the storm, roofers and construction crews have been cashing in. 69 News revisited the 700 block of Reading Avenue in West Reading, and it's now almost back to normal.



"It took awhile, it took a long time, every roof had to be done and windows had to be done, it was crazy," said DeWald.



The work continues, and it doesn't look like business will be slowing down any time soon.



"I think we're still going to be fixing hail cars through the summer of 2015," said Glass.






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Family rebuilds after devastating fire

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It is New Years Day, a time where families normally reflect on what they want to change in the new year.


But for the Reitnauers, they just want everything back to normal.



That is because just days before New Year's Eve last year, they suffered a devastating loss.



Flames ravaged their home in the 1700 block of Mt. Laurel Road in Muhlenberg Township.


They lost all of their belongings including their family pets; two dogs, two cats and a rat.



Investigators say an air conditioning unit sparked the fire.



"It was just total pretty much devastation. We we got there, when we saw the house, we don't even have a toothbrush," said Erin Reitnauer, the homeowner.



Watching it go up in flames was especially hard for Erin.


It was a home her grandfather had built in the late 1940s.


That is why they were determined to rebuild.



"There was a lot of ups and downs financially.


The community really came out and supported us.


We had a lot of help," said Jeffrey Reitnauer, the homeowner.



Help they say poured in from community members and local organizations like the Muhlenberg Police and Red Cross.



Most of 2014 was spent rebuilding.


They just got back into their house about three months ago.


Jeffrey loves the new wrap around porch.


But for Erin, it has been hard getting used to the new home because it is so different from what was there before.



"There is one spot in the basement that looks exactly the same as it did before.


So I would have to say that is my favorite spot," said Reitnauer.



Now the Reitnauer family is looking forward to a new year, in a new home with a fresh start.



"We are home now and we are starting off this new year as everything is fresh.


We are just going to go at it and keep going at it," said Reitnauer.






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Traditional Pennsylvania Dutch meal brings good luck for the New Year

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It's a dinner time Pennsylvania Dutch tradition on New Year's day.


Pork and sauerkraut, I know some people who were having that tonight!



Some people were eating it for good luck and some have other reasons.



If you want to keep moving forward and prosper in 2015.


This needs to be your dinner on January 1st.



"It's tradition." said Dan Heist as he ate at Allentown Brew Works. "It's Pennsylvania tradition and it's a good way to start off the new year."



Some have been eating pork and sauerkraut since they were children.


The sauerkraut according to tradition will bring blessings and wealth.



Eating pork brings good luck and well-being.


Also, the pig roots forward, which signifies moving forward in 2015.



Heist came back to Pennsylvania from New England to get his meal.



"They eat fish because it's the same kind of argument," added Heist. "Fishes keep moving forward so it's good luck. Instead of eating something from a cloven hoofed animal that scratches backwards."



For others it wasn't about tradition.



"I've been coming here for the last 3 or 4 years," said Adam Dunn from New Tripoli. "I just come for the all you can eat pork and kraut."



Jeffrey Mann is from Fairbanks, Alaska and didn't even know the meal he was eating will bring him good luck in 2015.



"Sounds good," said Banks. "Sounds like it fits with the day. We've already had an auspicious beginning to 2015."



No matter if you are eating one plate or four like Adam Dunn.


Eating the meal does invoke a feeling of hope and good fortune as the year goes on.



"I would want a healthy baby," said Dunn. "Because my wife is pregnant, she's due on February 25, so that would be what I want."






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Fire forces couple to start over in the New Year

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In the blink of an eye, the home Robert Rodriguez and Gianna Gambirini shared together in an apartment complex on Market Street in Bangor, was destroyed by raging flames.


The fire broke out on Wednesday morning at around 4 am, according to offiials. Four families are now displaced.


" We were like, oh my god, the house is on fire," said Gambirini.


When the fire first broke out, Gambirini and Rodriguez first grabbed their two young children, before heading out of the building.


"We just knew it was spreading fast," said Gambirini.


Gambrini and Rodriguez then noticed the family, living next door with young kids, was nowhere to be found. Rodriguez then went into the home to rescue the family.


No one was injured. The cause of the fire is still unknown.


Rodriguez and Gambirini lost everything, and are now forced to start over in the beginning of the new year.


"We have so much love coming to us," said Rodriguez. "So we will be ok."


The Red Cross is assisting all four displaced families.






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Abduction of a mother and children ends in a crash on the turnpike

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State Police in Wyoming have a suspect in custody who led police on a chase down the Pennsylvania Turnpike after allegedly abducting a mother and her two children from Luzerne County.


The chase began in Luzerne County Thursday afternoon when State Police from the Wyoming barracks were alerted to the abduction.


Luzerne County 911 Center said it is its policy not to release any information to the media and refused to disclose the time or location the initial incident call.


The chase ended in Carbon County at 4:23 pm when the suspect's vehicle crashed into the center concrete median along the southbound turnpike in Penn Forest Township, according to Carbon County Communications Center.


There were no injuries and the mother and children were safe Thursday evening, according to Wyoming State Police.


Check back for more information on this developing story.






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NJ minimum wage hike goes into effect

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The New Year is bringing with it several changes.. And a little more change in the pockets of New Jersey workers who make minimum wage. But will the hike hurt business owners?>> wendy davis: WFMZ's Will Lewis joins us now in the studio with more. People will see an increase in this year's minimum wage... And every year after.. thanks to legislation that was passed in 2013. The question now is will business owners be able to keep up?>> reporter It's a little more money to take to the bank for workers earning minimum wage in New Jersey. The hourly rate jumped from $8.25 and hour to $8.38..>> richard prisco, phillipsburg RESIDENT"It's better than nothing, but still people that make three or four hundred dollars a week can't afford to live off of that.">> stem"a increase is always good i think. It's low enough as it is.">> reporter The voter ballot initiative passed in 2013 is expected to help 176 thousand workers according to the New Jersey Policy Perspective.. But some businesses, like Shammy Shine in Phillipsburg, say they are already paying more than the minimum.>> michael stem, manager, shammy SHINE"It gives a little more incentive to do a good job.">> reporter The increase in minimum wage should be the first of many. The pay rate will increase each year as long at the Consumer Price Index rises. For the last five years the c-p-i has gone up at least one and a half percent. In 2011 the index jumped three percent. Meaning business owners already paying more than minimum wage now may have to give bigger raises down the line. If their budget allows it.>> STEM'We're always going up a little bit because as prices and the cost of living goes up, wages have to go up. It's just how it is." Those earning minimum wage won't get an increase if the Consumer Price Consumer Price Index stays the Index stays the same or we experience a year of deflation.>>> rob vaughn: living goes up, wages have to go up. It's just how it is." Those earning minimum wage won't get an increase if the Consumer Price Index stays the same or we experience a year of deflation.






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Most Memorable 2014: Boulder Boy

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All week we've been revealing our reporters' picks for the most memorable stories of 2014. This next one is from Bo Koltnow... who updates us on a Schuylkill County boy who had to bounce back from a devastating brain injury.>>BO koltnow Every year i do hundreds of different stories from the terrible to to the terrific. There are some that stick out more than others and one of those is a Pottsville boy who is proving he's as resilient and determined as they come. Check it out.>>I wanted to catch the ball.>>REPORTER:In class Mikey Allen appears to be the typical 2nd grader.>>I like that handwriting it's very nice.>>REPORTER:Who just happens to be giving those around him a lesson in inspiration.>>STEPHANIE spleen i think him not giving up until he's mastered something really shows the efforts he puts into everything and how much spirit he really has. >>12:16:10Bye See you Friday. >>REPORTER:For now the 8 year old Pottsville boy attends class only for an hour and half a day.>>12:19:37 Serenity:How was your day at school buddy?Mikey: Good. >>REPORTER:Just 7 months ago..Mikey struggled out of Good Shepherd Pediatric Therapy Department..>> Good job. Really good job. >>reporter: Mikey had been in a coma after being hit in the head by a runaway boulder while playing at the bottom of a ravine near his home.>>Go ahead and grab on.>>REPORTER: Mikey suffered severe brain trauma. The left side of of his body was paralyzed.>>SHOE step>>reporter: His pt sessions were as much emotional as physical. >>serenity allen We are just really, really thankful and happy.You don't think you'd ever be a part of that but on the other hand we get to be part of a miracle too.>>NAT DICE>>REPORTER:Today..with the help of his family..and two brothers Tejay and Andrew..>>12:49:10 mikey >>reporter: Mikey is on the mend.>>SERENITY Considering for a month and half he left side couldn't do anything, it's phenomenal what he can do. >>nat bouncing or kicking ball. >>reporter: Mikey is about 85% recovered... his left hand still isn't fully useable..but you wouldn't know it watching him and his Mom play after school.>>Bo: Mikey are you competitive do you like to win? Mikey: Yeah. >>reporter: Mikey..who's a fellow Ohio State fan..still has progress to make..But if it's up to me he will continue his battle in Buckeye scarlet and grey. >> That was my Ohio State Jersey when i was your age.This is for you being such a hard worker. Sorry Penn Staters. >>REPORTER:Mikey i think you've earned it.>>O-H-I-O >>REPORTER:Bo Koltnow 69 News.






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Feast of pork, sauerkraut help ring in new year

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Hundreds of people lined up on Thursday afternoon to get a taste of pork and sauerkraut at the Ruscombmanor Volunteer Fire Company in Ruscombmanor Township.


"Good sauerkraut and pork. It is good," said Betty Kegerize of Gibraltar.


"They have the best pork, very good. Best sauerkraut. Everything they have is pretty good," said Susan Voortman of Mertztown.


The fire company started serving the traditional Pennsylvania Dutch style meal in the mid-90s. It is supposed to bring good luck for the new year and it has become a tradition for many families in the area.


"I love it. We have been coming here for years and years and years. It is my son's birthday today and we do it as part of his celebration too," said Linda Unger of Exeter Township.


"Start the new year off right," said Norman Voortman of Mertztown.


But it is quite an undertaking to feed all the people that attend and it takes the help of numerous volunteers from the fire company and the local boy and girl scout troops.


"Over 700 pounds of pork and numerous cans of corn and string beans and sauerkraut and mashed potatoes. Everyone seems to enjoy it year after year," said Assistant Chief Eric Fox, Ruscombmanor Volunteer Fire Company.


Every year, about 700 community members come out to the event, and the fire company said it is one of its main fundraisers.


"We thank everybody for their support today. We thank all the people that helped put this together," said Fox.


All of the proceeds help the Ruscombanor Volunteer Fire Company purchase equipment and maintain it. It is an expense many say they will gladly keep supporting.


"They work hard," said Voortman. "Everybody should come out and support them."


Dozens of people were also enjoying a pork and sauerkraut meal in Robesonia.


The men's fellowship group at St. Paul's United Church of Christ hosted the meal Thursday afternoon. It's been a tradition at the church for 20 years.


"We've kept the same recipe that's been handed down from our founders of our men's fellowship group, Francis Klein, and prepared it the same way he did years ago," said Mike Keffer.


Organizers said they hope to keep the New Year's Day tradition going for years to come.






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For 25th year, polar plungers get 'cold for a cause'

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The bitter cold was not enough to pull the plug on a local polar plunge tradition on New Year's Day.


Hundreds of people from around the region celebrated 2015 for a cold, but good cause. You could say they attended the "coolest" party in town.


"I love coming out here and seeing all the people getting crazy and celebrating and just having a good time," said Jessica Penchard, with Developmental & Disability Services of Lebanon Valley Foundation Inc.


There were costumes, and a lack of clothing by some, during a pre-plunge party at the 25th annual Polar Bear Plunge at Willow Springs Park in Lebanon County.


"It's 11 years running right now," said a group of guys in Speedos who braved the cold. "When you can have a great time and help people who need it, why wouldn't you do it?"


"When you get about past your waist and it hits you in the chest, just don't breathe and go for it," said Leigh Miller, who traveled from Elizabethtown, Lancaster County.


It's a shock to the system, but the whole idea was to raise money for Developmental & Disability Services of Lebanon Valley Foundation Inc.


Devon Yiengst supported her twin boys, who were born premature.


"It helps with the physical therapy and the therapists they have, which are wonderful with the kids," said Yiengst.


Everyone had their own reason for taking the plunge into the chilly 40 degree water.


"My girlfriend's daughter is handicapped and needs DDS quite often, so we're here to help support her and the cause," said Anton Bryan.


The goal was $25,000 on the 25th anniversary.


The plunge has become a tradition for so many, and a cool way for families to ring in the new year.


"We get together with our family, so it's a good way to bring the family in, whether they want to jump in or not," said Miller.






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Changes to Pennsylvania child abuse laws take effect

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The new year brings a new effort to prevent child abuse in Pennsylvania. New laws take effect this week that are designed to protect children across the state.


The new laws are the commonwealth's response to the Jerry Sandusky child sex abuse scandal at Penn State in 2011.


The measures look to improve child abuse prevention and detection.


First, lawmakers have redefined bodily abuse. It's now legally characterized as causing substantial pain. Prior to the new law, it was constituted by severe pain and serious impairment.


Legislators are also now holding more people legally accountable for reporting suspicions of child abuse.


Anyone who comes into contact with a child, or is directly responsible for their care and supervision, is considered a mandatory reporter.


They must report the abuse to the state within 48 hours, or they could face legal repercussions.


The law has also stiffened penalties for those who fail to report suspected child abuse. A first offense for not reporting child abuse is now a third degree misdemeanor. It comes with a maximum sentence of one year behind bars.


Under the new law, some mandatory reporters are also now required to seek training and continuing education on detection and reporting procedures. Those programs will be offered through state licensing boards that govern them.


In addition, lawmakers have instituted employment discrimination protections for mandatory reporters who file a suspected child abuse case in good faith.






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Reading Hospital welcomes Berks' 1st baby of 2015

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It wasn't long into the new year before Berks County had its first baby of 2015.


Gregory and Christina Lovell welcomed their son, Caleb Gregory, into the world at 12:13 a.m. Thursday.


Born at Reading Hospital, Caleb weighed in at seven pounds, 15 ounces and measured 19 inches, according to a hospital spokeswoman.


Congratulations to all.






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Health Beat: Smart house for seniors

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Walter Kalaf knows what it's like to feel uncomfortable in his own home, especially after knee surgery.


"As we get older, we need all the help we can get," Kalaf explained. "I felt a little insecure getting in and out of the shower."


Grab bars in the shower made a big difference.


"Not having those to hang on to, I think I might of felt a little bit more uneasy about the possibility of falling," Kalaf said.


That's why engineers at the University of Florida are studying ways of improving independent living and researching what they call a "smart house."


"An important aspect of the smart house is that it has to address entrances doors, hallways, doors. Everything has to be oversized," said Sumi Helal, director of Gator Tech Smart House.


"We have a sensor on the flush simply to know that the person has started their day, and to know that he or she is flushing," Helal explained. "Another feature is a pull down cabinet. You have a grab bar."


Something else that's already in stores is a fast-cooling stove that turns off automatically to prevent burns. And, special knobs monitor and lock water temperature while grab bars around the shower and a walk in threshold are also recommended.


Meanwhile, engineers are researching some futuristic ideas, including a smart microwave that reads the food label and sets the cooking time automatically and an application that senses a person's tosses and turns and measures sleep quality.


Since not all of this technology is available at stores yet, however, researchers said low-tech solutions are a great start to ensure quality of life and independence at any age.


An AARP report shows nine out of 10 people 65 and over would like to stay in their own homes for as long as possible. The organization provides a "Home Fit Guide" to help homeowners stay in their homes as long as possible.


DOWNLOAD and VIEW medical blueprint






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Red Cross helps family after fire displaces 4 in Allentown

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A family of four is out of their home on New Year's Day after a fire damaged their house in Allentown.


The fire broke out around 12:30 p.m. Thursday at 419 N. Spruce St.


The Red Cross is helping the family of two adults and two children.


Officials said the fire started in the back of the second floor and was under control in about 15 minutes.


The cause is under investigation.


No injuries were reported.






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4 families displaced by apartment building fire in Bangor

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Four families will start the new year homeless following a fire that ripped through an apartment unit in Northampton County Wednesday morning.


"I just sat there watching, saying what the hell is happening," said resident Norman Santiago.


The fire broke out around 4:30 a.m. and ripped through four apartments at 28 Market St. in Bangor.


"It appeared to start on the third floor and it worked its way across and onto the roof," Bangor fire Chief Bob Engle explained.


The families will now start the new year without a home. Aside from a guinea pig, no one was reported injured, but Santiago, a father of three, risked his life to save his 10-year-old pit bull after his daughter alerted him the dog was still inside the home.


"So I went back upstairs to get the dog to come out. One of the doors falls down because of the fire. I go down the steps and I see a tenant underneath me. The door is still closed. I kicked the door open, screaming, 'Alexis! Alexis! what Norman? There's a fire! Oh my gosh!' I came down with the dog and two minutes later she came down," Santiago recalled.


The apartments are a total loss, and recent Christmas presents were destroyed. Santiago is grateful his family is safe but wishes he could have saved one more.


"I kick myself a little bit 'cause I got the dog and the cage was by the door, but I wasn't thinking. I got the dog, but oh, the guinea pig," he lamented.


The fire marshal is still working to determine the cause.






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Dozens take the plunge on a frigid New Year's Day

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If it wasn't cold enough for you on New Year's Day--how about adding a level of difficulty with a dip in the Delaware?


Dozens of people in our area got the 2015 off to an exhilarating start by taking a dip in the frigid water.



Folks from ages 4 to 80 took the Polar Plunge at Trout Creek near Harrison Street in Allentown Thursday morning.


Another Polar Plunge was held in the Delaware River near Riverside Bar and Grill in Easton.


And in Richland, Lebanon County, folks took part in the 25th Annual Cold For a Cause Polar Bear Plunge at Willow Springs Park at noon.


The event benefits developmental and disability services of Lebanon Valley Foundation.


According to its website, the foundation provides training and education services to children with developmental delays and adults with disabilities so that they can live as independently as possible for a healthier happier life.






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