Emergency Evacuation Drill for Animals Saturday

The Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team will conduct a 24-hour emergency evacuation drill with the Lehigh County Humane Society to better prepare for animal emergencies.

The Lehigh Valley County Animal Response Team will conduct a 24-hour emergency evacuation drill with the Lehigh County Humane Society Saturday and Sunday to better prepare for animal emergencies, according to a release from LV CART. The drill will begin at noon Saturday and end at noon on Sunday. About 50 animals will be involved in the drill. LVCART is trained to respond to the needs of animals during large-scale emergencies and disasters. Because a stream runs behind the Lehigh County Humane Society, it is possible the facility might be affected by flooding, which is potentially dangerous for their animals, according to a release.  The exercise is a first-of-its-kind involving the LVCART and an animal sheltering organization in Lehigh …

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Lehigh County Executive Bill Hansell Resigns

Lehigh County Executive Bill Hansell was recently hospitalized with pneumonia and subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma, according to a release from Lehigh County. Tom Muller is now acting executive.

Lehigh County Executive William H. Hansell, who was appointed last summer to fill the unexpired term of former Lehigh County Executive Don Cunningham, has resigned his post for health reasons, according to a release from the county. Hansell was recently hospitalized with pneumonia and subsequently diagnosed with non-Hodgkins lymphoma. He has started undergoing treatment and felt he needed to devote his energy to restoring his health, the release said. “I have been proud to serve as Lehigh County Executive for the past year," Hansell said in the prepared release. "I felt that it was the culmination of my 52-year career in local government. The decision to resign has been one of the hardest I’ve had to make in my professional life.” Thomas …

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Helix Motorsports, the Neighborhood Tuner

Eric Savage left the VW/Audi world to work on MINIs and BMWs in Manayunk.

It’s possible to walk past Helix Motorsports on Umbria Street in Manayunk and not know what happens in the building. Nestled between row homes and close to a bar, an elementary school and a purveyor of tomato pie, Helix’s headquarters could pass as a law or a dental office. It’s modest, just the way owner Eric Savage likes it.  Savage comes across as a mellow guy, but he’s taken some risks in his career … and they seem to have paid off, as his MINI and BMW tuning business is now a pretty heavy hitter in the car community. In 2001 Savage left AWE Tuning, a Willow Grove-based VW/Audi-focused company, to start something of his own. He then bought a MINI, rented some brewery space and then moved to Manayunk.  “Basically, the way we started, we…

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Dan Reynolds

10:13 pm on Saturday, May 18, 2013

Nice, I'm picking up a 2013 Clubman soon,, will stop by!   more ›

Tractor Trailer Burns at Millard Refrigerated Services

A tractor trailer carrying pallets of vehicle batteries caught fire late Thursday night at Millard Refrigerated Services, located at 7132 Ruppsville Road in Allentown.

Upper Macungie fire officials said a tractor trailer carrying pallets of vehicle batteries caught on fire late Thursday night at Millard Refrigerated Services, located at 7132 Ruppsville Road in Allentown. Upper Macungie Fire Marshal Sam Ashmar said the fire broke out at approximately 11:55 p.m. Thursday night. All three fire companies -- Station 56, Fogelsville Volunteer Fire Co. and Goodwill Fire Co. #1 of Trexlertown -- responded to the call to battle the blaze and were on the scene for about 90 minutes. Ashmar did not say if there were any injuries reported. Millard Refrigerated Services provides refrigeration and logistic services to major food manufacturing, retail, food service and food distribution companies, according to its …

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Police Blotter

Driver Cited for Failure to Yield, Police Say

Upper Macungie Police say David Manninen, 41, of Limerick was cited for failure to yield in connection with a Thursday morning accident at the intersection of Route 222 and Grim Road.

Upper Macungie Police say they cited a Limerick man Thursday for failure to yield in connection with a morning accident at the intersection of Route 222 and Grim Road. Police said David Manninen, 41, of Limerick, was driving a 2013 Ford Fusion north on Route 222 when he made a left turn and collided with a 2003 2500 HD driven by 64-year-old Leonard Woronowicz, of Glen Gardner, N.J. Police said Woronowicz's vehicle was towing a 2005 Pequest trailer. No one was injured in the accident. Both vehicles sustained moderate damage and were towed by Faust Towing. Police cited Manninen under Pa. vehicle code section 3322, which states that the driver of a vehicle intending to turn left within an intersection or into an alley, private road or …

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200-Unit Townhouse Development Proposed on Blue Barn Road

South Whitehall Planning Commission approved a higher density rezoning for Blue Barn Meadows. Thirty-two acres of the development are in South Whitehall, the remainder are in Upper Macungie Township.

Blue Barn Meadows, a 200-unit townhouse development, has been proposed for the 1500 block of Blue Barn Road. Owner Posocco Equities successfully petitioned the South Whitehall Planning Commission Thursday to rezone 11 of the 40-acre development to allow higher density housing. The land had been zoned R4 medium density, which permits only single-family detached houses. Frank Posocco paid $1.3 million for 40 acres on Blue Barn Road, between Chapmans and Crackersport roads, which includes a horse farm. Thirty-two acres of the development are in South Whitehall, the remainder are in Upper Macungie Township. The land abuts an industrial zone. Posocco said he plans to build high-end garden apartments or condominiums with first-floor master …

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Olympic Soccer Champ Teaches Clinic Saturday

Michelle Akers, a former U.S. World Cup and Olympic champion, will conduct a soccer clinic Saturday at Game Time Field House in Breinigsville.

Michelle Akers, a former two-time U.S. women's World Cup champion and member of the 1996 Olympic Gold Medal team, will conduct a soccer camp Saturday at Game Time Field House in Breinigsville. The clinic, which is open youth boys and girls of any level, will focus on goal-scoring and fitness. The cost is $75 for players age 8 through 13 and $100 for players 14 through 18. The age 8 through 13 clinic will run from 9:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m. The 14 through 18 clinic will run from noon to 2:30 p.m. For information, call 484-223-1595 or visit www.gtfieldhouse.com. Game Time Fieldhouse is an indoor sports training facility, offering a playing area and numerous amenities to customers in the Brenigsville area. The facility includes two turf fields …

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Cyclists, Families Enjoy Rodale Park

A beautiful spring afternoon this week brought out cyclists and families enjoying what Bob Rodale Cycling and Fitness Park in Trexlertown has to offer.

Finally, it looks like spring weather is here to stay after a long winter. Upper Macungie residents took advantage of the gorgeous weather this week to take advantage of the riding trails, walking trails and playgrounds that Bob Rodale Cycling & Fitness Park provides. Patch was on hand at the park and caught some residents enjoying the great weather.

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Lehigh Valley News Roundup

Dorney Fireworks, UFOs, Primary Top Lehigh Valley News

Bullet triggers school lockdown, new store coming to Promenade shops and lost piece of history returning to College Hill also made headlines.

Three times a summer, a South Whitehall woman knows she will have to sedate her dog, her windows will shake, her dishes will rattle and parking will be impossible in her neighborhood, but she and her family will get to see a spectacular nighttime show when nearby Dorney Park shoots its fireworks display. But when she read on Dorney's website that it planned to have nightly fireworks for eight weeks this summer, she was stunned. So far, the township won't allow it, but Dorney plans to appeal. Neighbors are concerned about noise. Candidates for Northampton County Executive and Lehigh County Executive, Bethlehem mayor, councils, commissioner boards, district judge seats, school boards and a host of other municipal posts make a final push to …

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