Design Plans Refined for Topgolf in Lower Macungie

The proposed 59-acre Lehigh Valley Town Center and Topgolf project planned at Shantz and Cedarbrook roads came before the Lower Macungie Township Planning Commission for the first time Tuesday.

Developers are seeking waivers related to the access drive off Cedarbrook Road and stormwater management work needed to accommodate the Topgolf facility as the project moves through the design phase.

The changes are needed because of the sloping near the proposed Topgolf building and the need to realign and make other changes to Cedar Brook Road. Developers also asked to rename a proposed extension to the Cedar Brook Road to Kressler Road extension to avoid confusion and to create a new intersection.

Planners on Tuesday voted in a procedural motion to send the requests for the project, approved by township commissioners in August, to be further reviewed by the administration. Jay Bradley Lehigh Valley News

More than 200 new apartments could be on their way to Lower Macungie

Two projects that together would bring more than 200 apartments to Lower Macungie Township continued to move along Tuesday at a meeting of the township planning commission.

Brookside Meadows and Mill Creek Pointe Apartments got the planners' recommendation for final approval and conditional use, respectively.

Both projects will now move on to township commissioners for formal approval.

Full article here: https://tinyurl.com/lmtapartments

Pennsylvania Turnpike: "One of the Worst"

A recent survey confirms what motorists throughout Pennsylvania have long understood: traveling on the Pennsylvania Turnpike is far from a leisurely experience. The turnpike, also recognized as I-76, has earned a reputation as one of the most despised highways in the nation. In a poll conducted by Gunther Volvo Cars Daytona Beach, which gathered opinions from 3,000 drivers, the highway that stretches across the state ranked fourth among the 100 most detested interstates.

This study revealed California to have the most problematic interstates, occupying the top three spots:

US-101 — Sections in San Francisco and Los Angeles often transform into congested thoroughfares resembling parking lots, especially near popular tourist destinations, resulting in gridlock during peak travel times.
I-5 — Serving as the primary travel route along the West Coast, spanning from San Diego to Oregon, this highway is plagued by perpetual construction zones and seemingly endless rush hours, notably around Los Angeles.
I-405 — Known as the San Diego Freeway, it passes through the notorious Sepulveda Pass, facing a blend of infrastructural, environmental, and cultural challenges that frequently lead to traffic congestion.

The Pennsylvania Turnpike emerged as the most unfavorably regarded in the survey. The turnpike is particularly problematic around Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, getting worse during inclement weather or high-volume travel periods, such as impending holiday seasons.

Moreover, the toll booths on the turnpike serve as potential bottlenecks during heavy traffic, contributing to the challenges faced by drivers, as highlighted in the poll. Source: Morning Call November 15, 2023

AI Outperforms Conventional Weather Forecasting for the First Time: Google Study

On Tuesday, the peer-reviewed journal Science published a study that shows how an AI meteorology model from Google DeepMind called GraphCast has significantly outperformed conventional weather forecasting methods in predicting global weather conditions up to 10 days in advance. The achievement suggests that future weather forecasting may become far more accurate, reports The Washington Post and Financial Times.

In the study, GraphCast demonstrated superior performance over the world's leading conventional system, operated by the European Centre for Medium-range Weather Forecasts (ECMWF). In a comprehensive evaluation, GraphCast outperformed ECMWF's system in 90 percent of 1,380 metrics, including temperature, pressure, wind speed and direction, and humidity at various atmospheric levels. ARSTECHNICA November 14, 2023

Arrest for Manslaughter Made in Connection with the Death of Former Lehigh Valley Phantoms Player.

On Tuesday, authorities in England apprehended a man on suspicion of manslaughter related to the tragic passing of former Lehigh Valley Phantoms and Pittsburgh Penguins hockey player Adam Johnson. Johnson, aged 29, suffered a fatal injury to his neck caused by a skate during a game between the Nottingham Panthers and the Sheffield Steelers in the Elite Ice Hockey League at Sheffield’s Utilita Arena on October 28. South Yorkshire Police withheld the suspect's identity and age, confirming their detainment.

Footage of the incident captured Johnson moving towards the Steelers' net with the puck when Petgrave, in a collision with another Panthers player, saw his left skate rise, inadvertently striking Johnson in the neck as he fell.

Both athletes fell to the ice, but Petgrave swiftly regained his footing. Johnson, however, rose more slowly, his jersey stained with blood as he received assistance off the rink. Tragically, he succumbed to his injuries at a local hospital.

During the Steelers' recent home game, held after Johnson's passing, a poignant moment of silence honored his memory. A Minnesota native, Johnson had previously played in 13 NHL games with the Pittsburgh Penguins during the 2018-19 and 2019-20 seasons before joining the Phantoms in the 2021-22 season..

Joan Baez’s iconic 1929 Martin 0-45 guitar and signature prototype is seen in the new exhibit “Joan Baez: Musician & Artist” on Tuesday, Nov. 14, 2023, at The Martin Guitar Museum in Nazareth. The exhibit celebrating the life and musical legacy of the singer/songwriter, marks the first time a museum show will be dedicated solely to her guitars and original artwork. The exhibit runs through April. (April Gamiz/The Morning Call)

Philadelphia Eagles Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce are co-winners of the 2023 John Wanamaker Athletic Award

Jalen Hurts and Jason Kelce of the Philadelphia Eagles share the honor of being co-recipients of the 2023 John Wanamaker Athletic Award. This prestigious recognition was announced by PHL Sports, a division of the Philadelphia Convention and Visitors Bureau, in collaboration with the City of Philadelphia.

Established in 1961, the award acknowledges athletes, teams, or organizations that significantly uphold the reputation of Philadelphia and demonstrate excellence in their respective sports or teams. The John Wanamaker Athletic Award is an annual accolade jointly presented by PHL Sports, the City of Philadelphia, CBS News Philadelphia, and The Philadelphia Inquirer.

Hurts played a pivotal role in leading the Eagles to a remarkable 14-3 regular season record, securing the NFC East title in the 2022-2023 season. His exceptional performance earned him a spot in his inaugural Pro Bowl appearance and placed him as the runner-up for the NFL's Most Valuable Player Award.

Kelce's contributions were equally notable as he achieved first-team All-Pro recognition for the fifth time in his career during the previous season. His sixth Pro Bowl selection underscored his vital role in the Eagles' top-ranked running offense, further solidifying his impact on the team's success.

Emmaus Spotlight Polls

Really?

Q: Why are there A, C, and D batteries, but no B batteries?

A: “Battery letter designations are based on the size of the battery: For common sizes, A is the smallest and D is the largest. By the same logic, AA batteries are larger than AAA. You never see B batteries because they aren’t very useful. The size never caught on in products made for consumers, so stores didn’t carry them. They are sold, but only in Europe, where they’re used primarily to power bicycle lamps.”

November 16