Northern Lehigh's state title hopes came to an end in the state quarterfinal round Friday when they lost to Wyalusing Area 27-24.
The Bulldogs and Wyalusing went back and forth throughout the dual, but the final bout was won by Wyalusing as they knocked the Bulldogs out of title contention 27-24.
Fri., Feb. 6 marks 'Go Red for Women Day,' which aims to raise awareness of heart disease in women.
The disease is the number one killer among Americans and kills one in three women annually, according to the American Heart Association.
Lehigh Valley Health Network marked the occasion with a luncheon Friday, bringing together doctors and former patients.
"We're not only celebrating women's heart health, but some pioneering women who were patients here at Lehigh Valley Health Network," said Dr. Raymond Singer.
Singer referred to women like 82-year-old Grace Miller, of Boyertown, who was 80 when she was diagnosed with severe aortic stenosis, or blockage of the aortic valve.
Other health complications limited how doctors could treat her condition. She was not a candidate for open heart surgery.
"So we had a new procedure. The transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVAR) procedure was performed through a small incision and she was able to go home in just a few days," Singer said.
Miller credited Singer for saving her life, and said she's grateful for how the procedure has impacted her life.
"I don't do no speed running, but I get up, I can go out and go shopping," Miller said.
Though paying tribute to those women who survived heart disease, Singer said the occasion is also important for educating Americans.
"We tend to think of it as a middle aged man's disease," Singer said.
Though men and women are both affected by the condition, Singer said women sometimes experience different symptoms, as was the case, he said, with WFMZ's Melanie Falcon.
"She had a very serious problem with her aortic valve," Singer said.
Melanie underwent open heart surgery and has fully recovered. She's now expecting her first child.
While an early diagnosis is key in treating the disease, Singer said prevention also plays a big role.
"I often refer to the three E's: eating, exercise and emotion. It's important to concentrate on all three," Singer said.
Friday's event also came with a special announcement for the Lehigh Valley Health Network.
After a $5 million donation from Charles Chrin, an Easton businessman and former patient, the facility renamed its heart and vascular center the "Charles Chrin Heart and Vascular Center."
Doctors with the network said the donation will allow healthcare professionals to provide more educational services and continue to invest in the most modern medical technologies.
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The Lehigh Career and Technical Institute in Schnecksville was placed under a lockdown Friday afternoon.
The lockdown was confirmed by Elsie Bell, director of curriculum at LCTI, but she would not explain why.
She said students were dismissed at 2:45 p.m, their normal dismissal time.
Stick with wfmz.com and Channel 69 News for additional information.
The suburban New York rail crossing where six people, including the husband of a former Berks County woman, died in a collision between a commuter train and an SUV had undergone a number of safety upgrades in recent years, but some planned work was never done.
Records obtained by The Associated Press show that in 2009, state officials set aside money to install a third set of flashing warning lights at the crossing. For reasons officials can't seem to explain, they were never put in.
It's unclear whether more lights would have prevented Tuesday's crash.
The wreck involved a motorist who stopped her SUV in the crossing.
That woman, identified as Ellen Brody, was killed, along with five passengers aboard the Metro-North train, including Joseph Nadol, an executive with New York-based JPMorgan.
Nadol, 42, was the husband of Berks County native Jennifer (Rearden) Nadol, a 1989 graduate of the former Mount Penn High School. The couple has three young sons.
A memorial service will be held for Nadol on Saturday at First Congregational Church in Chappaqua, New York.
The defense has rested in the trial of a man charged with strangling a Pennsylvania pharmacist and his girlfriend and burying them on his property, where at least three other bodies were found.
Prosecutors allege Hugo Selenski and a co-conspirator tortured Michael Kerkowski as part of a robbery, then killed him and his girlfriend, Tammy Fassett. The victims' bodies were found buried in Selenski's yard north of Wilkes-Barre.
Selenski has pleaded not guilty. Prosecutors are seeking the death penalty.
The defense accuses a key prosecution witness, Paul Weakley, of lying about Selenski's involvement in the slayings.
Weakley, who pleaded guilty in federal court and was spared the death penalty in exchange for his testimony against Selenski, has already admitted to the jury that he lied repeatedly early in the investigation in hopes of escaping punishment.
Luzerne County Detective Lt. Richard Capitano told jurors Friday that Weakley lied "to insulate himself" from the homicides, but changed his story when authorities confronted him with his lies. Eventually, Weakley came clean and provided details of the slayings that were corroborated by police, Capitano said.
Another witness, inmate Caine Pelzer, testified that Weakley, facing abuse behind bars because of his cooperation with police, once forged a court document in hopes of showing other inmates that "Hugo Selenski is a rat and he's not the rat." Pelzer said he informed Selenski's defense team of the forgery.
Prosecutors allege Selenski and Weakley stole tens of thousands of dollars from Kerkowski. The pharmacist had pleaded guilty to running an illegal prescription drug ring and was about to be sentenced when he and Fassett were reported missing in May 2002.
Weakley led police to the bodies in Selenski's yard about a year later.
After his arrest, Selenski was initially charged with killing a pair of reputed drug dealers whose charred remains were also found on the property. In 2006, a jury acquitted him of one homicide and deadlocked on another but convicted him of abusing the men's corpses.
After that verdict, authorities immediately charged him with killing Kerkowski and Fassett.
He is already serving decades in prison for an unrelated robbery.
He's fast, strong and powerful. Myles Honda can flip his opponent in a split-second.
The 16-year-old judo competitor has been a national champion in his age and weight class.
"Oh, it's a lot of training and hard work," Honda said.
But training became even harder when Honda's left arm started to bother him.
"It's not really a pain," Honda explained. "It was more like extreme fatigue in my arm."
His dad, who's also his coach, noticed Honda's performance was suffering.
"When he was practicing the hard practices, he had no strength in the left arm," recalled his dad, Alan Honda.
Doctors explained that Honda was born with a defect. The artery in his arm didn't connect to the main artery in his heart. That meant he had no pulse in his arm.
"They hadn't been able to measure a blood pressure in the arm," explained Dr. William Quinones-Baldrich, vascular surgeon and director of the UCLA Aortic Center at the University of California, Los Angeles.
To fix it, UCLA surgeons took Honda's short arm artery and connected it to his left carotid artery, which also connects to the aorta in his heart. That restored blood flow in the arm and gave him normal circulation.
"Right after we did reconstruction, we could feel the pulse in his wrist," Quinones-Baldrich said.
Now, Honda is back at it, and stronger than ever.
"He's a very strong kid. I wouldn't want to get in his way," Quinones-Baldrich said.
Doctors said it's rare that someone Honda's age would have poor circulation symptoms. If he didn't exercise so vigorously, he may not have ever had any symptoms.
Honda holds a brown belt in judo and is planning to train for a black belt, the highest rank. He's considering training for the Olympics one day.
DOWNLOAD and VIEW research summary and an in-depth interview with the doctor
Gov. Chris Christie signed into a law a bill requiring schools in New Jersey to keep a supply of allergy medications on hand.
Christie approved the bill on Thursday after lawmakers gave final approval in December.
The law seeks to address the growing number of school-age children with food allergies and also allows school nurses or other trained officials to give the treatment.
Under current law, school officials must have parent authorization before giving epinephrine to students suffering from an allergic reaction.
But lawmakers say it's possible for allergic reactions to develop among students for the first time during school hours.
to get there.Life Lessons. >>> jaciel cordoba: How do you get focus and motivation for the goals you set for the year? >> eve tannery: WFMZs Nancy Werteen looks at some attitudes and behaviors of successful people. >>Nancy: This time of yearits easy to feel stuck in a routine. And its difficult to feel very motivated. But experts saya few simple changes might be all you need to get that spark back. >>nancy: a change in attitude and putting your goals in check can make all the difference.here is what successful people do. first off successful people dont just go to work, they go to work to prosper. they go to work to accomplish tasks and work toward their dreams, not to just get their hours in. successful people all have drive.that means you
A man who was accused of pouring gasoline on another man and lighting him on fire in Reading has been found not guilty.
Thomas Lopez Junior was acquitted on all charges during a trial that ended Wednesday.
He was accused of setting Joel Fontanez on fire inside the City Sub and Grocery at South 10th and Cotton Streets in April of 2013.
All charges were dropped against 31-year-old Lopez.
Lower Macungie Township is hiring a consultant to evaluate its future fire protection needs — including the possibility of a third fire station in the western part of the township.
Township officials also are moving ahead with their controversial plan to install two turf fields at Quarry Park this year and are developing a plan to preserve open space.
On Thursday night, township commissioners unanimously agreed to spend $22,500 to hire municipal fire protection consultant Harry R. Carter of Adelphia, N.J.
Township Fire Chief David Nosal said Carter will start working to develop a new fire department master plan for the entire township at the beginning of March and will complete that plan in July or August.
When the study is done, Carter will attend a public meeting to deliver his findings.
Among the many issues Carter proposes to evaluate are the fire risk potential in the township, including special hazards, as well as station locations, staffing and equipment needs — even a review of the fire department’s public education program.
“His plan, as comprehensive as we expect it to be, should take us the next 15 years down the road,” said the fire chief.
“The object is to take you from where you are now to where you should be in the years to come,” echoed Carter.
“The key is to provide as many solutions to your problems as possible. A lot of consultants will just tell you what your problems are. I have never done that. There will be a solution for every problem.”
Township officials believe another fire station eventually will be needed west of Route 100, because of new warehouses and other proposed development.
“If you need a third station, I’ll tell you so,” said Carter. “If you need new equipment, I’ll tell you so. I’ll create a replacement schedule for what you have and what you might need.”
The consultant said he has worked in the fire protection field for nearly 50 years. He is chairman of the board of fire commissioners in Howell Township, in Monmouth County, N.J. “I still drive Mr. Fire Truck. My experience is current.”
Nosal said Carter won’t only be talking to people in Lower Macungie, but also will meet with fire officials of adjoining fire companies that serve the township — including Alburtis, Emmaus, Macungie, Trexlertown and Western Salisbury.
“No single fire department these days can provide sufficient resources for the biggest hazards you will face,” said Carter.
“It’s important to have a good fire department in your community, but you must work well with your friends and neighbors so you can bring all their resources to bear in a timely manner.”
Lower Macungie’s fire chief acknowledged $22,500 may seem like a lot of money for an updated fire protection master plan, but said if it is divided by 15 years, “you’re talking a nominal yearly fee to help us grow with the township.”
The township has $25,000 in this year’s budget for what officials are simply calling “the fire study.”
Why Carter?
Ryan Conrad, president of the five commissioners, asked how Carter was selected.
“We put a few feelers out and he rose to the top, for a variety of reasons,” said Nosal.
The fire chief said one of those reasons is “years of experience” and another is that Carter “is in the business. He’s doing what we’re doing now, but just in another town.”
The chief also mentioned that Carter “has enough letters after his name to make a bowl of alphabet soup.”
“Quite honestly, I’ve worked with a lot of people with initials behind their names that don’t know what the hell they’re doing,” said Commissioner James Lancsek.
The commissioner said doing such a fire study requires a very specialized person.
“We on this board do not have the expertise to know whether this gentleman is good, bad or indifferent,” said Lancsek.
He added the township fire officials seated in the front row during the meeting “know who you want to deal with and why. I support whatever you guys feel is necessary and who you want to work with. What it comes down to is your confidence in him.”
“I support the department in knowing what they need and I’m more than happy to support this,” said Commissioner Brian Higgins.
“I’m happy to support this as well,” said Commissioner Douglas Brown. “It’s needed and now is the time.”
Resident criticizes appointment
Just before the vote, resident Don Richards challenged the credentials of the man township officials referred to as Dr. Carter.
In 1984, the consultant earned a doctor of philosophy degree in fire service administration from Western States University for Professional Studies in Missouri.
Richards said students at that school can earn a doctorate without ever attending a class or taking an exam.
“The PhD in Harry Carter, PhD, comes from this school,” said Richards. “The amount of due diligence that was done in deciding to accept this proposal is somewhat lacking, I would say.”
Carter was unruffled by the criticism, telling commissioners: “I agree with the gentleman, I totally agree with him. That’s why back in 2002 I enrolled in Capella University in Minneapolis. The doctorate I go by these days is a fully accredited doctorate.
“My current PhD is in organization and management, with a specialization in business and leadership. It was awarded in 2005.”
Last fire study done in 1991
Nosal said the township’s last fire study was done in 1991. It had projected needs for about 15 years, including an aerial truck, which was acquired in 1993, and building a second fire station, which was completed in January 2010.
The chief said the fire department has been looking into the need for a new study for the last four or five years, but did not think the cost of doing it should be paid by his department.
Turf fields
Also Thursday, commissioners authorized township manager Bruce Fosselman and his staff to recommend an artificial turf company to do the planned new fields at Quarry Park.
The choice will be between AstroTurf or FieldTurf, which Fosselman called two of the three major artificial turf producers.
He said the price of artificial turf will be the same no matter which of the two companies is selected: $3.25 a square foot.
The township will need 180,000 square feet for the two fields.
“So that’s $585,000,” said Fosselman, adding that price includes installation.
He told commissioners both companies offer the product, and the same installation.
“What I’ve got to do is research these two companies, to see which would be the better value,” said Fosselman.
His research will include contacting other communities that have used the companies. “I will get the pros and cons for each of the two companies.”
He promised commissioners his recommendation will include reasons why he selected that artificial turf company.
“I’d like to keep moving on this,” said the manager, adding he will make a recommendation on which company commissioners should select at their next meeting on Feb. 19.
The township has allocated $3.3 million in its 2015 budget to create the turf fields at Quarry Park, despite opposition from many residents and two of the five commissioners.
Fosselman promised commissioners an updated “rough” estimate of the total project cost.
Officials noted there will be additional costs beyond the $585,000 for the artificial turf, such as engineering and stormwater work.
They also intend to install fencing, lights for nighttime use of the fields, a park trail and even a dog park as part of the project.
The turf purchase from one of the two companies will be made through a cooperative purchasing agreement with The Cooperative Purchasing Network, a national purchasing cooperative that is based in Texas.
Fosselman said he never heard of that co-op, but has learned “Lehigh County uses them quite a bit.”
Preserving open space
Lancsek outlined an initial plan for preserving more land in the township during the commissioners’ budget and finance committee meeting, which preceded their main meeting Thursday night.
“We need to know how much money we have to work with and then find out what parcels might be available — either through a sale or purchasing development rights,” suggested Lancsek.
“We have to see if there is any interest by the property owners.”
The commissioner stressed: “I am not condoning condemnation to do this. The purchasing of the development rights or the parcel has to be acceptable by the property owner.
“We may not have any property owners willing to sell us anything.”
He also noted someone who is willing to sell may want too much money for their land
“We have to start with the money part first and then work out,” said Lancsek.
He proposed using some or all of the surplus money from the 2014 budget. Fosselman said the township should know how much 2014 surplus it has by early April.
Conrad said whatever surplus the township has won’t solely be used land preservation. He indicated some of it may be used for other capital needs.
Lancsek said some of that money may be needed in the future to build a third fire station in the township.
Lancsek also suggested the township staff look into the possibility of Lower Macungie borrowing money by floating a bond for land preservation “without breaking the bank, without having to introduce any new taxes.”
Fosselman promised to look into borrowing. He said bonds can be issued for open space preservation.
Lancsek noted interest rates are low, but also said: “If there’s nothing to buy, then we don’t borrow.”
“I’d like to start some rough conversation, just to kind of keep things rolling,” said Lancsek. “I’m sure a lot of people will be worried that this thing is going to die or we’re not moving forward on it.”
Conrad prefers buying development rights to buying land. “Getting government into property ownership is not necessarily in our best interest.”
Added Lancsek: “Plus our money will stretch a lot further.”
Creating a pond
Also during the meeting, commissioners voted 4-1 to have a detention basin along Mill Creek Road turned into a pond with vegetation rather than usually being dry.
Evergreen trees will be added around that pond.
The basin is near Mill Creek Road, just southwest of Willow Lane Elementary School and the township’s fire station and just north of homes in the Brandywine Village development.
It was created as part of section two of that residential development. Turning it into a naturalized pond will be done and paid for by the developer, but it will be owned by the township.
Lancsek cast the only no vote. “It’s in very close proximity to those residents,” he said. “With standing water, you’re going to get mosquitoes. You’re going to get complaints from those residents.”
Other news
* Commissioners approved spending a total of $309,400 to renovate the barn in Camp Olympic Park off Cedar Crest Boulevard. That work will included adding restrooms on two floors of that structure, known as the camp building.
* Higgins announced he will hold a one-man town hall meeting 7-9 p.m. Feb. 24 in the township community center, “to continue to build transparency in government and dialogue with our residents.” He plans to have such a meeting every month.
More than 100 area residents --mostly from Moore and Lehigh Townships where the proposed PennEast pipeline is expected to run through nearly 150 properties -- attended an informational meeting Thursday evening on the project co-hosted by State reps. Marcia Hahn (R-Nazareth) and Julie Harhart (R-Northampton).
The state legislators invited Dave Messersmith, an educator with the Penn State University Cooperative Extension and Attorney Carl Englemen, Jr., an environmental law specialist from Reading to make brief presentations followed by question and answer periods.
Harhart said although tentative pipeline construction is not expected to begin until 2017, the project has caused concern among many of her constituents.
She said her desire was to provide an informational forum where affected landowners could get answers to their questions.
Messersmith's presentation included understanding pipeline regulation, construction, and landscape impacts.
"We're not here to take a position. We're here to provide information," he stated.
He pointed out that nearly all natural gas consumed in the U.S. is transported by pipelines and 63% of American homes are heated by natural gas.
Alternatively, however, he said pipelines can negatively impact the environment, landscapes, and property values in addition to causing safety and health concerns.
With regard to "eminent domain," Messersmith said it generally only applies to federally regulated projects, state distribution lines, and projects showing direct public benefits.
He said it does not apply to local shale gas gathering lines whose right-of-way decision remains with the landowner.
Typical pipeline easement specs include 300 property yards multiplied by a 50-foot right-of-way. which amounts to roughly one acre of land.
This translates into residents being paid $15 per foot of pipeline installed or $4,500 per acre, according to Messersmith's presentation.
Landowner compensation for granting right-of-way permission to the pipeline company includes eminent domain compensation for property damages affecting land values before and after the pipeline installation.
In addition, he noted "gathering line" right-of-way values are determined by private negotiation with the landowner and can be highly variable from $5 to $25 or more per foot of pipe installed.
Messersmith cautioned property owners they should never allow as part of their right-of-way agreement the installation of pipeline-related infrastructure such as valves, launchers, catchers, drying and metering facilities, compressor stations, and protection equipment.
He also recommended landowners require pipeline trench diggers separate topsoil and subsoil on opposite sides of open trenches and have it refilled in the opposite direction in order to properly manage farmland soil.
Finally, he said every effort should be made to install new pipelines near or alongside other utility lines, roadways, railroad tracks, and existing boundary areas in order to reduce the new pipeline's overall impact.
Messersmith also encouraged better pipeline planning and management of residential development near existing pipelines.
Attorney Engleman said PennEast is currently in the pre-filing review process with the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission (FERC) and the landowners' comment period to FERC on its website has been extended until February 27.
"Your involvement is critical, " the attorney said. He advised residents not only to voice their oppositions to the pipeline online during FERC's comment period, but to become a part of the public record by filing a "petition to intervene" in order to become an official part of the process.
Engleman said the only place where a landowner can contest a pipeline is not in the public's interest thus allowing the use of eminent domain is before FERC.
He cautioned eminent domain "cannot be threatened before its time" and noted FERC does not advocate land agents immediately threatening landowners with the enforcement of eminent domain.
Furthermore, he advised property owners to negotiate to minimize impacts to their land such as a loss of trees, wetlands, and water sources, etc. He said in order to halt a pipeline a resident needs to get involved and be calm, articulate, and professional in their demeanor.
In regard to compensating property owners, Engleman said they have to evaluate how severely the pipeline will impact their property surface versus the subsurface.
He said the greater the impact to the land and environment the greater the compensation to the resident.
Finally, he advises residents should consider all sides of the issue, recognize that 98 percent of all previous pipeline applications to FERC have been approved, and to make sure you get the highest possible compensation for your land.
 | Five infants in a suburban Chicago day care center now have the illness and public health investigators say that outbreak could grow. All are under 12 months of age and too young for vaccinations. | From: ABC News Views: 5  0 ratings |
| Time: 01:50 | More in News & Politics |
Wind chills this morning are in the 0 to 10 below range, so dress warmly before heading out the door.
Look for partly sunny skies today, but still a very cold day with highs only reaching the mid 20s.
Temperatures are expected to warm up a bit as we head into the weekend, but we will add precipitation (some snow, ice, rain, mix).
A front will slide into the eastern seaboard on Saturday. This front will start to stall Saturday night and where this front slows/stalls is very important. It will act as a corridor for a few waves of low pressure will be riding along it.
LINKS: HOUR BY HOUR FORECAST | LOCAL RADAR
The first (and lighter in terms of the amount of precipitation) appears to pass to our north late Saturday into Sunday morning. This could bring a PM snow shower to our area, mainly to our northern counties.
The second wave on Sunday could bring some snow, wintry mix and perhaps rain.
The third round (and one of most concern) could affect our area Sunday night...but especially on Monday.
This wave could bring snow, a wintry mix (perhaps some rain) and could end again as snow.
As we continue to monitor the models we encourage you to stay tuned for the very latest updates.
Ever feel like you are just stuck in a routine or just getting by? That isn’t the way to accomplish your dreams.
A change in attitude and putting your goals in check can make all the difference.
ere is what successful people do:
First off, successful people don’t just go to work, they go to work to prosper.
They go to work to accomplish tasks and work towards their dreams, not to just get their hours in.
Successful people all have drive.
That means you must push and shove until you get what you want. Never settle and don’t let anything get in the way.
Also don’t make excuses because they won’t change the outcome.
When things go wrong, use that as an opportunity not a hurdle to get past.
Finally focus on your daily goals.
Successful people always focus on success. Make goals everyday so that you can see that your goals can be accomplished.
And by having your goals in reach, success can be closer than you think.
Also successful people are willing to fail.
You have to take risks in order to receive rewards, which means that sometimes you might fail.
When you accept that failure, you can keep working and believing in yourself to try and succeed instead of staying down.
 | From intimate to violent scenes, Davis talks about how she portrays the fierce character, Annalise Keating. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
| Time: 06:44 | More in News & Politics |
