 | The hosts of "Dick Clark's New Year's Rockin' Eve" dish on the big Times Square bash and their plans for 2015. | From: ABC News Views: 2  0 ratings |
| Time: 04:02 | More in News & Politics |
In Monroe County, nine cats were rescued from a home in Tobyhanna Township.
The Pennsylvania Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals executed a search warrant on Dec. 23 and found three other cats dead inside the home in the 100 block of Chelsea Circle.
The SPCA says the cats had no access to food or water.
The nine that survived were on the verge of starving to death and appeared to have been abandoned but are now recovering at the SPCA.
“This situation is abhorrent. No animal should suffer to the point of relying on the remains of its housemates to survive,” said Jerry Buckley, Pennsylvania SPCA CEO.
“We’re actively pursuing the suspects and, when found, will enforce all applicable laws to the fullest possible extent,” he added.
Officials say there are two suspects they are looking into.
Anyone with information on this case or other animals suffering neglect or cruelty should call the PSPCA cruelty hotline at 866-601-SPCA.
falcon: In Monroe County.. the spca is investigating after nine cats were rescued from a home in Tobyhanna. Three other cats were found dead inside the home in the 100 block of Chelsea Circle. The spca says the cats had no access to food or water. The nine that survived were on the verge of starving to death.. and appeared to have been abandoned... but
 | Officials work to bring home the dead and find the means to identify those killed in the crash. | From: ABC News Views: 0  0 ratings |
| Time: 02:02 | More in News & Politics |
A plan to convert Broadway lyricist Oscar Hammerstein's former home into a tourist attraction appears to be falling on deaf ears, but his grandson hopes public officials will soon start singing a different tune.
Hammerstein spent 20 years at Highland Farm in Bucks County, where he co-wrote musical blockbusters such as "The King and I," ''Oklahoma!" ''Carousel" and "South Pacific."
Now, Will Hammerstein wants to transform the property into the Oscar Hammerstein II Music & Theatre Education Center.
But Doylestown Township supervisors and neighbors object to the scale of the $20 million proposal, saying it is too much development for the parcel. A zoning hearing will be held Jan. 12.
Oscar Hammerstein purchased Highland Farm in 1940, and it was there that he and Richard Rodgers formed their creative partnership, according to Hammerstein biographer Hugh Fordin.
Though Hammerstein had a townhouse in New York, the farm became one of his favorite things — the place where he worked on "The Sound of Music" and every other production with Rodgers.
"This place was deeply important to him," said Will Hammerstein.
Oscar Hammerstein raised cattle on the 40-acre property, which included a century-old, three-story house with plenty of room for his family of seven. His youngest son, James, attended the nearby George School with fellow student Stephen Sondheim, who became a frequent visitor to the farm. Sondheim then famously followed in Hammerstein's footsteps, penning lyrics to shows including "Into the Woods" and "West Side Story."
After Hammerstein died of cancer at the farm in 1960, his widow sold the land. It passed through many hands over the decades, losing acreage as it was subdivided in an increasingly suburban county.
By the time current owner Christine Cole first saw the house eight years ago, a punk rock band was renting it — the windows were boarded up, and the floors were littered with cigarette butts and beer cans.
"It was trashed, not a stick of furniture in here," Cole said.
She turned it into a bed and breakfast, with each room dedicated to a different Rodgers and Hammerstein musical. Cole had grander plans to renovate the barn too, but lacked the resources.
Then Will Hammerstein serendipitously made a reservation at the B&B in 2010. He was in town for a reunion at the George School, which he also attended, and wanted to see the inside of his grandfather's house. Oscar had died two years before Will was born.
Together, Cole and Hammerstein came up with an idea for a classic Broadway fan experience: a house tour, followed by a museum exhibit in the barn and capped off with an actual performance.
It would require building a 400-seat venue, plus a parking lot for nearly 100 cars and several buses, on the now five-acre lot.
"It could be a full day of learning about this great lyricist and then seeing his work," Cole said. "You can't have a museum that's static for somebody that wrote musical theater."
Yet adjacent property owners have major concerns about noise, traffic and stormwater runoff, according to their lawyer.
"It's just way too intense a use in what is basically a residential neighborhood," said attorney Stephen B. Harris.
The zoning board meeting isn't the only hurdle; approvals from other commissions would be required before ground could be broken.
And then there's fundraising. Will Hammerstein, a lawyer living in Brooklyn, New York, has incorporated a nonprofit to help on that front.
Members of the local arts council have expressed enthusiasm for the project, as it would add cachet to a region that already boasts the James A. Michener Museum and Pearl S. Buck House — authors who were both good friends with Oscar Hammerstein.
But township officials want to draw the line. Supervisor Richard Colello said it's unfortunate that a scaled-down concept doesn't appear to be financially viable.
"The museum and house tour is an excellent idea," said Colello, but the extra development far exceeds what's allowed by ordinance. "It's not even close," he said.
 | The Hollywood star and luxury vehicle maker's first commercial spurred countless online parodies. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
| Time: 02:00 | More in News & Politics |
 | Stock market highs may be good news for your 401(k) in the new year. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
| Time: 01:14 | More in News & Politics |
 | The soccer superstar was in court hoping to get abuse charges against her dismissed. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
| Time: 02:19 | More in News & Politics |
 | How to make sure that your device is clear of personal information before you sell it. | From: ABC News Views: 0 0 ratings |
| Time: 03:33 | More in News & Politics |
with us. >>> jaciel cordoba: Its the time of year for New Years resolutions. Will you be making any? >> melanie falcon: Many people skip the resolutions because they cant stick to them. In Life Lessons, WFMZs Nancy Werteen tells us there might be a better way. >>Nancy: Making a resolution and breaking it a few weeks later doesnt make anyone feel good. So if youre going to try and change something in your lifeexperts say be realistic and make a plan. >>nancy eating healthy, working out more, starting a new activity, getting more sleep, all of these resolutions may sound familiar to you, but for many they are just never able to stick to them. try making your resolution something you actually want and not something that you should want. it has to work for you. stick to only one resolution. if you make multiple it can just be too much to handle. change your habits and be prepared to do so.rearrange your life enough so that you dont fall into temptations or bad habits. accept that there will be challenges and if you do mess up, dont quit. instead forgive yourself and keep trying again. make this year different from previous ones.make your resolutions matter and benefit your life.for tips on starting the new year off right, --- -- >>Nancy: You can also try having a few people act as motivators or >>cheerleaders
Family members and friends welled up with tears as they gathered outside a home in the 500 block of Spruce Street in Reading.
They were there to remember Pedro Morales, 86, and Miriam Vega, 87, a couple tragically killed during a fast moving fire on Sunday night.
"It is still so unreal. It is just really hard to just accept, especially this time of year," said Yomara Rodriguez, a family friend.
The blaze ripped through their home around 8:30 that night. Family members tell us the two were bedridden leaving them unable to escape in time.
During the vigil, family members cried out in agony "I don't want to live without them. No, I won't accept it."
"Every year something always happens and this just takes the cake. Like to lose the ones who started this whole family. I have no words," said Reina Suarez, one of the victims' granddaughters.
It is a tough loss for these family members who tell us their grandfather was full of life, a jokester at heart who always had nicknames for everyone. And their grandmother would light up anytime music came on, taking to the dance floor regardless of who was around.
Now relatives are just trying to relive the good times and thank everyone for their support.
Family members of the deceased are just reminding people who came out to support them to embrace their own family members this holiday season.
"It doesn't matter, any problem you have with your family, an argument, anything, just forget about it. You never know when your last day here is on earth. So just hug them, hold them tight, be there for them. It doesn't matter," said Suarez.
Investigators say the blaze started on the first floor but they are still unsure of what sparked it.
If you're heading out for New Year's Eve celebrations, bundle up: it'll be cold out there!
Today will feature mostly sunny skies with brisk and chilly conditions.
Afternoon highs will top out in the lower 30s.
Midnight temperatures for New Year's Eve festivities will be in the lower 20s under clear skies, but wind chills will be in the middle teens.
New Year's Day on Thursday looks blustery and chilly with sunshine and high temperatures in the middle 30s.
Friday also looks quiet with sunshine and some clouds. High temperatures will reach the upper 30s.
A storm system will affect the region from late Saturday into early Sunday.
A wintry mix looks to break out late Saturday before changing to rain Saturday night.
Police in Delaware County shot and killed a man they say tried to run down officers trying to arrest him on Tuesday.
The suspect is identified as Joseph Anthony Pacini.
Police say Pacini posted an online video threatening to kill police and FBI agents.
Police ordered Pacini out of his car in Upper Darby Township, but he appeared ready to accelerate at officers who set up a blockade.
Officials say the officers feared for their lives and "did what they had to do."
State Police are investigating a sexual assault in Bucks County.
Police say a 20-year-old woman reported a rape at St. Luke's Hospital in Quakertown.
She told police the incident happened Monday between 11:30 a.m. and noon in the area of Potter Lane at Stony Garden Road in Haycock Township.
Police haven't released any other details, but say the investigation is ongoing.
Stroudsburg, I'm Chandi Lowry, 69 News. >>> jaciel cordoba: Police in Upper Darby shot and killed a man they say tried to run down officers trying to arrest him. The suspect is identified as Joseph Anthony Pacini. Police say Pacini posted an online video threatening to kill police and f-b-i agents. The shooting happened yesterday afternoon. Police ordered Pacini out of his car, but he appeared ready to accelerate at officers who set
officers feared for their lives.. and "did what they had to do." >>> melanie falcon: New at Sunrise.. State Police are investigating a sexual assault at a hospital in Quakertown. Police say a 20-year-old woman reported a rape at St. Luke's Hospital in Quakertown. It happened Monday between 11:30 and noon. Police haven't released any
Crews are on the scene of a working fire at an apartment building in Northampton County Wednesday morning.
The fire broke out just before 5 a.m. at 28 Market Street in Bangor.
There's no word on how the blaze may have begun.
No injuries have been reported so far.
WFMZ has a crew on the scene.
Refresh this page for the latest information.
Every year it seems like the same routine: We make a resolution but for most of us, we break it within two weeks.
Here are a few tips to make our resolutions last longer this new year.
Eating healthy, working out more, starting a new activity, getting more sleep: all of these resolutions may sound familiar to you, but many people are just never able to stick to them.
Try making your resolution something you actually want and not something that you should want. It has to work for you.
Stick to only one resolution.
If you make multiple, it can just be too much to handle.
Change your habits and be prepared to do so.
Rearrange your life enough so that you don't fall into temptations or bad habits.
Accept that there will be challenges and if you do mess up, don’t quit' instead forgive yourself and keep trying again.
Make this year different from previous ones.
Make your resolutions matter and benefit your life.
Also try having a few people act as your motivators or cheerleaders.
Having people alongside you can help you stay on track. Telling them your progress every so often will also help hold you accountable.
 | In New York City tourists are already flocking to Times Square to ring in the new year. As many as a million people will pack into a mere ten square blocks. More than 190 million Americans... | From: ABC News Views: 1 0 ratings |
| Time: 01:36 | More in News & Politics |
