Save By The Bell's Mr. Belding visits Reading

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Fans flocked to the Santander Arena in Reading for some Royal's hockey and to see special guest Dennis Haskins, also known as Mr. Belding.



Haskins is known for his role as Richard Belding, the silly principal at Bayside High in Saved by the Bell. It is a show that first graced television screens across America 25 years ago and its popularity took off.



"We had white, black, brown, yellow. We never talked about race. Everybody was friends and it was a safe school," said Haskins. "So we just tried to go about the basic rights and wrongs of growing up and it kind of worked out."



Most recently he reunited with his cast mates on Jimmy Fallon, the YouTube clip garnered more than 28-million views.



That is why the Reading Royals asked him to make a special appearance at the game and help honor teachers in Berks County during Teacher Appreciation Night.



"Where would we be without teachers. So let's at least stand up and applaud them," said Haskins.



Hundreds of people lined up just to meet Mr. Belding hoping to get a picture with him or even an autograph.



"We came to see Mr. Belding because he is my 90s heart throb," said Janelle Stine, a fan.



"It was really great to meet him. Huge fan of the show growing up as a kid," said Ted Minner, a fan.



Mr. Belding says he enjoys visiting Berks County, a place where he is greeted with open arms.



"I love this state. A lot of really terrific people here and I am blessed to come back and say hello and we are going to get out there and cheer on the teachers and cheer on the team," said Haskins.






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Parent meet to discuss recent wave of attempted abductions

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Concerned parents in Reading joined forces with local officials Friday night to come up with ways to protect their kids after a string of reported child luring incidents in Berks County.



The brainstorming session was held at the Police Athletic League on Walnut Street.



Parents, police officers, and elected officials all put pencil to paper to come up with the a series of suggestions on how to protect young students from child predators.



"We need all players in the community. We need teachers, elected officials, administrators. Everybody on the same page," said Bernardo Carvajal, attorney.



Mayor Vaughn Spencer participated in the event, and he said that the kids were big contributors.



"Some of the best ideas I heard were from the children and I hope that everyone who was here tonight shares everything they learned with their friends, family and neighbors," said Mayor Spencer in a statement released late Friday night.

.

Isamac-Figueroa Torres is part of a group of concerned citizens, along with the Olivet Boy & Girls Club, that organized the event.



She say she'll follow up to make sure these great ideas don't go in one ear and out the other.



"We're going to start with the city and the school district, and let's see what we can do to make sure that our kids have a safer journey to and from school."



School board members were also in attendance, they said they plan to follow up with the Berks County district attorney, as well the Reading chief of police.






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Congress votes to fund Homeland Security for one more week

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The wrangling in Washington has just ended, at least for now.



On Friday night, the House voted to provide one stop-gap week of funding for the Department of Homeland Security.



Lehigh Valley Congressman Charlie Dent, who did vote in favor of this one week provision, said this is just a temporary solution and said these types of gimmicks are "tactical malpractice"



"We have people on both sides of the aisle playing silly games and it's time we get on with governing," said Congressman Dent (R-15th District).



It's been a drama-filled day in Washington as lawmakers raced against the clock to avert a partial shutdown of the Department of Homeland Security on Friday.



30,000 DHS workers would have been furloughed at midnight. Another 200 thousand workers, deemed essential, like TSA screeners, emergency managers, and Customs and Border Patrol agents, would continue to work without pay. Something Dent said, just shouldn't happen.



"Those in the Coast Guard, Border Patrol, Immigration, and other agencies should be able to go to work and not worry about making ends meet because Congress couldn't fulfill its obligations," said Dent.



Congressman Dent said the next step is for the House and Senate to come together to decide on a full spending deal for DHS.






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Temps drop to zero overnight, cold Saturday, snow Sunday

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A clear and cold night on tap with temperatures dropping down close to zero. Shouldn't feel as harsh with relatively light winds.


This weekend will start out chilly too with highs staying in the 20s on Saturday despite plenty of sunshine.


Sunday will be a bit warmer, but by the afternoon we will have to watch our next system which will push snow, ice and perhaps rain into the area late Sunday afternoon through Sunday night.




Slick spots are possible prior to the Monday morning commute. We can expect some snow/ice accumulations Sunday afternoon to Monday morning, around 2-4" of snow is possible for northern Berks & northern Lehigh and then 1-2" is possible for southern Berks & southern Lehigh. Totals will be dependent on the duration and how fast we mix with ice/rain.


We'll continue to monitor the details of that system over the next couple days so stay tuned for the very latest.


Tonight: Mainly clear and bitterly cold. Low: 0

Saturday: Plenty of sunshine, still cold. High: 28

Saturday Night: Very cold with increasing clouds. Low: 9






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Neil Diamond starts tour at PPL Center

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One of the most recognizable names in rock and roll history is wowing fans at the PPL Center this weekend.


Friday,. Neil Diamond played the first of two shows at Allentown's PPL Center.


The show kicked off a world tour for one of the most prolific singer-songwriters of the rock and roll era.


Diamond will return to the PPL Center Sunday night.






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William Allen HS names auditorium in honor of former principal

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The Allentown community came together tonight to honor a beloved former high school principal.


A concert celebrated the dedication of the William Allen High School auditorium in honor of Doctor John McHugh.


The school board voted unanimously last night to name the auditorium for Doctor McHugh.


He served as principal there from 1971 to 1982 touching the lives of thousands of students.






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PennDOT leaving Doylestown facility

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PennDOT is looking to build a more modern maintenance yard in Bucks County.


Approval was granted to move from the Doylestown facility to a new site in Plainfield Township.


The planning phase is underway for the new site.


PennDOT employees said they hope to move to the new facility in the Spring of 2017.


The Upper Bucks Regional Police Department has expressed interest in taking over PennDOT's Doylestown facility if it becomes available.






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Quakertown redistricts local schools

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Some Quakertown students will be attending new schools when they return to classes next year.


The board of school directors approved a redistricting plan Thursday night.


Students going to 4th, 5th, 7th and 8th grades will have a choice.


They can stay in the school they have been attending, or go to a new school, based on the district's map.


The move will be mandatory for some elementary school students.








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Greenwich Township police chief accused of insubordination

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Did a police chief sworn to protect and serve ignore his superiors or was he just watching out for public safety?



That's the argument in Greenwich Township, New Jersey.

An administrative hearing started today for Chief Rich Hummer.



Hummer wanted his administrative hearing open to the public, but township officials would not allow any cameras in the meeting.



Then, officials tried to prove Hummer neglected his duties.



Standing room only in the Greenwich Township Municipal Building as the administrative hearing for Police Chief Rich Hummer got underway.



"Personally I think that the gentleman who's holding the hearing is a hand picked member from Mayor Tauriello and his councilmen and I think the verdict has already been chosen," said Greenwich Township resident, Paul Beam.



The whole ordeal started in 2014, after a former officer won a lawsuit and was reinstated to the force as part of the settlement.



According to a witness and now former Mayor Joseph Tauriello, township committee members didn't feel the officer needed full re-training after being off the force for over three years.



A recommendation Tauriello said he received from the New Jersey Police Training Commission.



Hummer wanted the officer to go through the police academy again before getting his badge back.


"I know the chief wanted him to go back through the training in the interest of his safety, the interest of the safety of the public and the huge liability if they just brought him back and threw him out on the road," said Jim McDonald, President of the Warren County Police Chiefs' Association.



Township officials said Hummer was insubordinate because he kept pushing for full training until a lawsuit was filed against him by the township by July.



Officials said the chief also did everything he could to delay putting the officer back on the force.



Things like delaying to re-enroll the officer in training classes, and ordering a custom bulletproof vest.



"The former mayor says they should have given him one off the shelf," added McDonald. "First of all there is no such thing as a vest off the shelf. And the reason why they are custom made is so there are no gaps that's for the officers safety."



The hearing was continued until next week.

Chief Hummer will testify at that time.






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Local llama breeder reacts to 'llama drama'

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Loose llamas captivated the nation, including some local llama breeders, on Thursday.


"It gave everybody a lot to talk about!" said Carol Reigh, of Buck Hollow Llamas in Robeson Township.


The fiasco, fondly named "Llama drama," took off on social media around the world.


It all began on Thursday after two fugitive llamas ran wild through traffic near Phoenix, Arizona.


The pair had been serving as therapy llamas at a retirement community when their unnamed owner took them out for a bathroom break. The animals became startled and darted.


"They weren't running full-out either," said Reigh. "I mean they were at a medium pace, so you could tell that they were just curious as to where to go next."


Reigh is happy both of the llamas were safely recovered.


She wouldn't necessarily advise that type of capture, though.


"The easiest thing to do is get a group of people and corral them into a corner. They won't break through a rope or your hands," she said.


Reigh hopes that the story won't shed negative light on the animals, which she said are loving and comfortable around people. They can be easily approached in a gentle-manner.


"I hope that people can be interested in just seeing how cool they are," she said. "I mean, they're beautiful animals and you can see how intelligent they are. That's what's really fun about raising them, they're so easy to train."


Reigh has trained her llamas to enter and travel in her "llamasine" where she shows them.


She's inviting the community to visit her llamas during a free "open barn" event in October.






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Setting the stage for Sir Elton's 3rd concert in Reading

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Sir Elton John is set to make his return to Reading for the third time in front of a sold out crowd.


Preparations at the Santander Arena in center city were being made Friday for the big event.


"The shows have always sold out fast when he's here, the crowd has always been supportive of his music and it's a good feel for him," said David Farrar, general manager of the Santander Arena, which is preparing for big numbers.


69 News got a look into what would be Sir Elton's dressing room. All the furniture will be moved out, drapes will be hung and his specific requests will be filled.


Tom Heck, with Heck Bros Florist in Exeter Township, was on the case Friday.


"He gives us a list of what he wants and we fulfill it," said Heck, who has prepared flower arrangements for his dressing room each time he's been here.


That list includes 16 Ficus trees shipped in straight from Florida, red and white roses and a large arrangement of colored flowers for his dressing room.


"He does not want carnations. He does not want chrysanthemums, no ordinary products," said Heck. "He likes hydrangeas. He likes berries and orchids in here and higher-end flowers."


Elton's tour rider also asks for a six-foot sofa, a love seat, banquet tables, and his own caterer will provide the food.


The music legend will electrify the crowd Saturday night during a week-long schedule of events at the arena.


"It's an exciting time for the building and downtown," said Farrar. "Six events in six days means a lot of people coming through the door, and we're excited."


Elton John also performed in Reading in 2004 and 2010.






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Local high schools go head-to-head at Science Olympiad

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Students from a dozen area high schools went head-to-head in the annual Science Olympiad at Northampton Community College on Friday.


The contestants participated in events, including building and flying airplanes, conducting experiments and identifying insects.


In a few, the students will compete in regionals at Penn State.






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Lee Laubach Jr. sworn in as interim Allentown fire chief

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A new man is taking charge of the Allentown Fire Department.


Lee Laubach Jr. was sworn in as interim fire chief Friday morning.


Laubach is a 21-year veteran of the department and most recently served as deputy chief of operations.


He is taking the reigns from interim Chief Bob Kudlak, who retired earlier this month.






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Reading parents alerted to 2 more attempted abduction reports

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The Reading School District has alerted parents of city schoolchildren to two more reports of attempted abductions.


The latest, reported to the district Friday morning, happened Thursday afternoon as a student was walking home from 13th and Green Elementary School.


The boy said two men were parked in a green and red van on Green Street when one of them rolled down the passenger-side window and told him they were there to pick him up and that they knew his parents' names.


When the men failed to provide the parents' correct names, the boy ran home, officials said.


The other incident was reported to have happened Thursday morning outside Millmont Elementary School.


Two girls were playing in the snow in the 400 block of Belvedere Avenue around 8:10 a.m. when a man tried waving them over from across the street, according to police.


The frightened girls ran inside the school and the man walked away, police said.


The man was described as possibly being Latino, about 40 years old and about five feet, seven inches tall with a slender build. He was wearing a black jacket with the hood up, jeans and a black beanie.


These are the latest in a series of reported abduction attempts in Berks County in recent weeks, including one that was reported Wednesday morning at Lancaster and Hoover avenues in Reading.


A 13-year-old girl waiting for her school bus reported being asked to get in a man's green SUV. The man drove away when the bus approached, police said.


A community forum on the reported abduction attempts is set for 6 p.m. Friday at the Police Athletic League's Center for the Arts, 325 Walnut St., Reading. It's organized by the Olivet Boys and Girls Club.


In the meantime, parents and their children are encouraged to view safety tips in a video message recorded Thursday by Berks County Sheriff Eric Weaknecht in English and Berks County Deputy Sheriff Doris Natal in Spanish.






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Santander Arena set to host 6 events in 6 days

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Over the next six days, periods of rest may come few and far between for the staff at the Santander Arena in Reading, and it seems they wouldn't have it any other way.


The arena will play host to six different events between Friday night and next Wednesday night.


"We are looking forward to thousands of people visiting our building, downtown Reading and the local establishments in the next 6 days," said David Farrar, general manager.


The division-leading Reading Royals will lead things off with a game against the Greenville Road Warriors at 7:30 p.m. Friday. Mr. Belding from TV's "Saved By the Bell" will make a special appearance, and the first 1,500 fans 15 and older will receive a free Royals t-shirt.


Following the game, the arena staff will be called on to cover the ice and prepare for Elton John's third performance on stage in Reading. The sold-out show is set for 8 p.m.


Then, it will be back to ice for the Royals' next two games -- Sunday at 5:05 p.m. and Monday at 7:05 p.m. -- against the Elmira Jackals.


Sunday's game will feature a special appearance by the Zooperstars and an "ugly" scarf giveaway for the first 2,000 fans 15 and older.


Then on Tuesday, the ice will be covered again for a concert by the Internet sensation Piano Guys, who will be performing in Reading on the eve of an appearance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.


The arena floor will then be transformed into a basketball court as the world-famous Harlem Globetrotters dribble their way back into town for a game against the Washington Generals.


"I am extremely proud of the SMG staff here in Reading," Farrar said. "Their time and dedication help to make events possible and enjoyable to all those attending."


Tickets for all events, except for the Elton John concert, are available at the Santander Arena box office on Penn Street or through Ticketmaster online or by phone at 800-745-3000.


Elton John tickets can be found on various resale sites, including Ticketmaster, StubHub! or Vivid Seats.






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Man faces drug, child endangerment charges after police raid filthy home

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Police said they found two young children and drugs in a filthy Allentown home they searched and a 20-year-old man is facing charges.


According to court documents, police executed a search warrant around 5:20 p.m. on February 13 at an apartment in the 900 block of N. 7th Street.


Police said the apartment had garbage thrown throughout the home, as well as dog waste in several locations in the apartment.


The home had two young children inside--one was in the arms of a female in the living room, and one in a playpen in the living room, where officers also found five cell phones, a silver container with 31 white wax bags with heroin, and a red box with 8 packs of synthetic marijuana, police said.


Police also found $180 in cash.


Police arrested Ivan Maisonet at the scene. He was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, simple possession, drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.


Children and Youth Services were summoned because of the condition of the apartment.






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Man faces drug, child endangerment charges after police raid filthy home

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Police said they found two young children and drugs in a filthy Allentown home they searched and a 20-year-old man is facing charges.


According to court documents, police executed a search warrant around 5:20 p.m. on February 13 at an apartment in the 900 block of N. 7th Street.


Police said the apartment had garbage thrown throughout the home, as well as dog waste in several locations in the apartment.


The home had two young children inside--one was in the arms of a female in the living room, and one in a playpen in the living room, where officers also found five cell phones, a silver container with 31 white wax bags with heroin, and a red box with 8 packs of synthetic marijuana, police said.


Police also found $180 in cash.


Police arrested Ivan Maisonet at the scene. He was charged with possession with intent to deliver heroin, simple possession, drug paraphernalia and child endangerment.


Children and Youth Services were summoned because of the condition of the apartment.






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Another Lehigh Valley mom cited for leaving child unattended in car

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Another Lehigh County mother has been cited for leaving her child unattended in a car.


On Tuesday, 23-year-old Mirella Rodriguez was charged with endangering the welfare of children when police said she left her one-year-old daughter in a locked car unattended while she was down the block as her son got a haircut.


Police said the temperature at the time was 20 degrees, with a wind chill of nine degrees. The baby was asleep in a car seat with no blankets on her, police said.


Earlier this month, another child was left unattended in a car while his mom went shopping.


State police said officers were summoned to the parking lot at Walmart, 1091 Mill Creek Road in Lower Macungie Township, around 4:20 p.m. on Feb. 2.


The person who called police showed officers an SUV parked in a parking space with the engine running. At the time, the temperature was below freezing and the parking lot was iced over, police said.


Police ran a check of the license plate, which came back to 30-year-old Judith Konopka of the unit block of N. Church Street in Macungie.


The front driver's side door was unlocked and a 2-year-old boy was sleeping, unsecured in a car seat in the passenger seat behind the driver, according to a police news release.


At 4:30 p.m., an announcement was made over the store intercom for the owner of the SUV to come to the parking lot for an emergency.


Police said at 4:26 p.m., a woman walked out of the store with a shopping cart and came to the SUV with the unattended boy. She identified herself as Konopka and told police she went into Walmart to cash her check and buy a few items.


She told police she was only in the store for about 20 minutes and thought the boy would be safe because she left the heat on,


Police reviewed the store surveillance video which showed Konopka parking her vehicle in the lot around 4:06 p.m. and entering the store through the grocery entrance.


The video showed her leaving the store through the same door at approximately $;46 p.m., which is when police approached her.


Konopka was charged with endangering the welfare of children and leaving an unattended child in a motor vehicle.


She was released on a summons.






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