High schools have a notorious reputation for being massively overcrowded, but this is just ridiculous at Emmaus High School. We have approximately 2,663 students in grades 9-12. The much-needed addition helps a lot, but there is no denying the East Penn School District needs another high school.
In the Aug. 21 article, “A decade later, Pennsylvania cyber schools go viral,” the reporter appears to be baffled that the state’s 11 digital academies have mostly failed to meet state testing standards while enrollment in these schools is soaring. Although she attempted to offer a balanced account, there are a number of important facets of the Annual Yearly Progress issue related to cyber schools that were not addressed in the article; yet these factors have a huge connection to assessment outcomes.
Let me see if I got this right. While he was mayor of Bethlehem last year, John Callahan overspent $5 million; “borrowed” money from unauthorized city accounts; spent money for Bethlehem that really belonged to other municipalities; and projected a budget surplus, not a $5 million deficit for 2009, leaving the city with a negative fund balance of $8.5 million.
John Callahan, the mayor of Bethlehem, continues to conduct the financial affairs of the city like the game of three-card monte — now you see it, now you don’t. Meantime, City Council and its financial committee — with the exception of one member — stand around and watch the game. That one member is David DiGiacinto, the only council member who is a business person.
As an IronPigs season ticket holder since day one, I find it very frustrating that they have decided to reduce the amount of fireworks shows during the season based on the opinions of five. It is a good thing that those five people don’t like the fact that the team on the field consistently loses games.
I don’t know what I found more incredible. That you bothered to use the front page for the troublesome fireworks article or that you and Allentown bothered to respond at all. I wonder if a list of complaints by at least 10 people exists in Allentown because if it does, I’m sure it must be a long one. Those five people complaining should get so much attention is admirable, but doesn’t Allentown have a few problems that are more important than the IronPigs fireworks? I’ve been in the historic Allentown district on Friday nights and couldn’t hear the fireworks over the noise of super loud, bass-thumping cars. Let the Pigs alone and let the fireworks go on.
Maybe the reason there were only five complaints to Allentown police regarding Lehigh Valley IronPigs fireworks is because East-siders felt that their complaints would just fall on deaf ears — pardon the pun. I sent several e-mails last year to IronPigs executives about the late hour and artillery caliber of noise and received no response or reply. The gentleman who claims to be an East side spokesperson and says we just love our IronPigs neighbors doesn’t speak for me.
How sad it is that a few people can spoil the fun for more than 9,000 who just want to have a good time.
The recent negativity about Coca-Cola Park fireworks may persuade other potential businesses to relocate elsewhere rather than Allentown, ultimately harming the city and its revitalization efforts.
Allentown Councilman Michael Donovan is right on point with his comments pertaining to the fireworks and the mentality of stadium-goers. Living a few blocks from the ball park, I complained repeatedly in 2009. The fireworks have been set off as late as 12:15 a.m. on a weeknight. Also, the so-called show is not eight minutes as stated, but closer to 15 minutes. Many nights I am kept from sleeping and I time the show. A few times it sounded like gunshots.
