Following the Tragic Loss of Northampton Junior Rianna Glass, 2 Classmates Coordinate Race to Aid Initiatives Combating Domestic Violence

Over 200 individuals gathered to participate in a race commemorating Rianna Glass, a 16-year-old junior from Northampton Area High School, tragically killed in September alongside her mother, Rosalyn Glass, 39.

Named Rianna’s Race and organized by Northampton students Ava Clapp and Sophie Burkhart, along with their adviser Tara Mrazik, the event aimed to raise funds for Turning Point of Lehigh Valley, an organization combating domestic violence. The students hoped that their initiative would alleviate the burden on those most affected by Rianna’s unexpected passing.

Remembered as a softball player for the Moore Township Athletic Association and a dancer at the 3D Dance studio in Northampton, where she had been involved for a decade, Rianna had recently commenced her junior year of high school. Rosalyn Glass, born in the Philippines, was affiliated with Grace Christian Fellowship in Bethlehem and worked at iHerb in Easton, according to her obituary. Terry Glass, Rianna’s father, expressed the event’s significance, mentioning that both he and Rianna’s stepmother, Amber, were present to witness the morning's proceedings.

Rianna’s race garnered over $3,000 in donations, with roughly 245 individuals registered to participate in a 5K run or a 1-mile "remembrance walk." Mary McKenna, a child and teen advocate for Turning Point, highlighted that the funds could be utilized for the organization's youth programs encompassing counseling, support groups, and in-school awareness sessions.

Statistics reveal that one in three teens in the U.S. has encountered dating violence—ranging from physical and sexual abuse to emotional or verbal mistreatment from a romantic partner. Despite its prevalence, advocates underscore that teen dating violence remains an inadequately addressed issue. The grieving friends distributed purple wristbands to attendees inscribed with “Live long Rianna” and #Breakthesilence, aiming to raise awareness about domestic violence. Prior to the event, they organized their fundraiser by selling shirts and donating the proceeds to Turning Point. 

'Tis The Season: Tree Lighting Ceremonies Around the Lehigh Valley
Special from http://LehighValleyNews.com

Promenade Shops Holiday Tree Lighting Nov. 18, 5 p.m.
2845 Center Valley Pkwy, Center Valley
Live holiday music will be performed in areas around the mall. Santa will be making an appearance to take photos.

DeSales University Annual Tree Lighting and Blessing Nov. 20, 6:30 p.m.
Campus Mall, Center Valley campus
Features an opening prayer and a performance by the DSU Chorale, the University’s flagship choral ensemble.

Christmas City Tree Lighting Ceremony Nov. 24, begins at 5 p.m.
Payrow Plaza, 10 E. Church St., Bethlehem
Live performances, free hot chocolate and cookies and a visit from Santa.

Hellertown Light Up Night Nov. 24, 4 - 8 p.m.
Dimmick Park, 570 Durham St., Hellertown
Live reindeer, cash wagon rides, adult beverage bar, hot chocolate and cookies.

Easton Peace Candle Lighting Nov. 25, Activities begin at noon. Candle lighting ceremony begins at 6:30 p.m.
Easton’s Centre Square
Live music, carriage rides, ice carvers and strolling street performers.

Coopersburg Tree Lighting Nov. 25, 6 - 8 p.m.
13 S. Main St., Coopersburg
Featuring hayrides, live music, a visit with Santa and an ice carver.

Southside Tree Lighting Celebration Nov. 25, 5 p.m.
Bethlehem Greenway between 324 S. New St Parking Deck and 306 S. New St. building
Featuring the Touchstone Theatre & Moravian University MFA students. Free cocoa and cookies will be provided by Bethlehem’s Roasted. Rock band The Beautiful Distortion will be performing holiday tunes.

Bath Area Tree Lighting Nov. 26, 6 p.m.
Monocacy Creek Park, Bath
Bath Area Community Choir will be performing holiday tunes and Santa will arrive at the park in a fire truck.

Borough of Northampton Tree Lighting Ceremony Nov. 26, 7:00 p.m.
Main St. and Laubach Ave., Northampton
Featuring the Pennsylvania Classical Ballet and Good Shepherd Catholic School Choir, a visit from Santa, and goodie bags filled with holiday treats for all the children!

Phillipsburg Tree Lighting Ceremony Shappell Park Nov. 27 6-9 p.m.
Olaf, Elsa, Santa Claus and Frosty the Snowman will be making an appearance. Free hot chocolate and cookies will be served

Pen Argyl Borough Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 1 6-8 p.m.
Weona Park
Enjoy vocal performances by Mackenizie Hughes and a visit from Santa.

Slatington Tree Lighting Ceremony Dec. 1, 5:00 - 7:00 p.m.
509 Main St., Slatington
Food and craft vendors in the park

Hanover Township Tree Light Ceremony Dec. 1, 6:00 - 7:30 p.m.
3660 Jacksonville Rd., Bethlehem
A visit from Santa, hot chocolate bar, indoor snowball fight, live reindeer and more.

Downtown Allentown Tree Lighting Celebration Dec. 2, 4-7 p.m.
20 N. 5th St., Allentown
Live musical performances, dance acts, horse-drawn carriage rides, children’s activities and a visit from Santa and Mrs. Claus.

Emmaus’ Old-Fashioned Christmas Dec. 2, 4 -7p.m.
Triangle Park, Main St., Emmaus
The event will include the Candy Cane Lane with Emmaus Historic Sites and the Cheers Trail with Old Fashioned Christmas.

South Whitehall Township Tree/Bridge Lighting Ceremony Dec. 2, 5:30 p.m.
Covered Bridge Park 2465 Wehr Mill Road
Enjoy family activities like the Candy Cane Hunt, s’mores stations, dance performances, and live entertainment.

Forks Township Tree Lighting Dec. 3, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m.
1606 Sullivan Trail, Easton
Santa will arrive for the tree lighting at 7 p.m.

Whitehall Township Tree Lighting Dec. 6, 6:30 p.m.
3219 MacArthur Rd., Whitehall
Santa will be making an appearance just in time for the Whitehall Township Tree Lighting

North Whitehall Township Annual Tree Lighting Dec. 10, 5-7 p.m.
3256 Levans Rd., Coplay
Food will be available for purchase, as well as local businesses will host a holiday shopping market. The Grinch will be making an appearance.

LehighValleyNews.com | By Emily Baxter

Emmaus Historical Society

The date of the Annual December Potluck Christmas Party special event has been changed from December 13th to December 20th. Please mark your calendars. The annual Christmas Potluck Party will begin at 5:30 p.m. at St. John’s Lutheran Church, 501 Chestnut Street, Emmaus. Drinks and the main course will be provided by the Emmaus Historical Society. Please bring an appetizer, side dish or dessert to complement the main course.

Reprinted/shared with permission from the Emmaus Historical Society

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)

Dinosaurs Invade The Lehigh Valley!!!

What does this mean? Jurassic World Live Tour hits the PPL Center this Weekend. Tickets can be purchased here.

Christmas City Village opens in Bethlehem

This beloved part of the Lehigh Valley opens soon. Get the info here.

Emmaus Police Blotter October 20 - November 14

Open Lewdness: Charges were filed against Andrew Krowitz 21 of Emmaus on 10/11/2023 for Open Lewdness. Charges were filed with Lehigh County Courts.
Driving Under the Influence: Jada Morton 24 of Emmaus was arrested on 10/11/2023 in the 300 block of State Avenue for Driving Under the Influence, and Obedience to Traffic Control Devices. She was transported to Lehigh County DUI Center and processed.
Strangulation: Giuseppe Carbone 23 of Macungie was arrested on 10/11/2023 following an event in the unit block of South 10th Street. Charges were filed with Lehigh County Courts for Strangulation, Simple Assault, Harassment, Theft by Unlawful Taking or Disposition, Receiving Stolen Property and Criminal Mischief.
Simple Assault: Charges were filed against Kyle Tarboro 25 of Emmaus on 10/12/2023 for Simple Assault and Harassment following an incident on 9/13/2023 in the 100 block of Main Street. Charges filed with Lehigh County Courts.
Found Property: Reported on 10/12/2023 a cell phone was found in the 100 block of Klines Lane. The phone is being held at the Emmaus Police Department.
Criminal Mischief: Reported on 10/13/2023 a vehicle tire was damaged in the 300 block of North 5th Street.
Theft: Reported on 10/17/2023 a package with miscellaneous items valued at $98.00 was stolen from a building in the 300 block of Powder Mill Lane.
Theft: Reported on 10/18/2023 tires were stolen from a business in the 500 block of State Avenue.
Harassment: Charges were filed on 10/19/2023 against Anthony Delgrosso 35 of Tyrone for Harassment. Charges were filed with Lehigh County Courts.
Driving Under the Influence: Charges were filed against Sally Garcia-Colon 36 of Emmaus on 10/20/2023 following an event in the unit block of Main Street on 9/23/2023. Charges for Driving Under the Influence, Careless Driving, and Driving on Roadways Lined for Traffic were filed with Lehigh County Courts.
Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License: Marcello Barry 20 of Northampton was arrested on 10/20/2023 following an incident beginning in the 100 block of North 2nd Street. Charges were filed with the Lehigh County Courts for Firearms Not to be Carried Without a License, Fleeing or Attempting to Elude Police Officer, and other related charges. He was transported to Lehigh County Booking Center and processed.

Aaron Nola Committed to Philadelphia by Finalizing 7-year Contract with the Phillies.

The Phillies announced that the right-handed pitcher, Aaron Nola, inked a seven-year deal, choosing to remain with the team instead of exploring free agency. According to reports from ESPN and others, the 30-year-old's contract is valued at $172 million.

Since being drafted in the first round by the Phillies in 2014, Nola has been a constant presence in Philadelphia, making his debut the following year and remaining with the team throughout his career. He's earned a reputation as one of baseball's most reliable pitchers, a coveted asset given the current emphasis on robust bullpens. Over the past six years, he's delivered consistent performances, making at least 32 starts and pitching no fewer than 180 2/3 innings, except for the shortened 2020 season due to the pandemic.

In the 2023 season, Nola posted a 12-9 record with a 4.46 ERA across 32 starts for Philadelphia, accumulating 202 strikeouts in 193 2/3 innings. Apart from this season, he had similar ERA figures of 4.63 in 2021 and 4.78 in 2016, with a career average of 3.72.

Contributing significantly to Philadelphia's securing of an NL wild card in 2023, Nola showcased his prowess in the playoffs, boasting a 3-1 record with a 2.35 ERA in four starts. Despite his efforts, the Phillies were ousted by Arizona in the NL Championship Series.

In the 2022 World Series run, Nola played a key role, starting five postseason games, although Philadelphia ultimately fell short against Houston. The Louisiana native closed the series with a 2-2 record and a 4.91 ERA.

Throughout his nine-season career, spanning 235 starts, all with Philadelphia, Nola has accrued a 90-71 record with a 3.72 ERA. His tally includes 1,582 strikeouts in 1,422 innings. His standout year came in 2018, when he achieved a stellar 17-6 record with a career-best 2.37 ERA across 33 starts and a career-high 212 1/3 innings pitched.

Emmaus Spotlight Polls

Really?

Humble Beginnings
In the 16th century, a radical group of Protestant Christians from Switzerland and Germany formed their own sect based on the belief that only adults could make the conscious choice to accept God. So even though they had been baptized as infants, this new group had themselves re-baptized, earning them the name Anabaptists (ana is Greek for “repeat” or “again”).

Humility was the cornerstone of Anabaptist belief. They rejected pride, shunned non-believers, and refused to take part in any military action. They took no oaths, not even wedding vows, and firmly believed in the separation of church and state. The Anabaptists were fiercely persecuted in Europe, which led to mass migrations in the early 19th century to the more tolerant United States.

By this time the Anabaptists had split into a number of separate sects, most of them named after their spiritual leaders: the Amish, led by Jakob Amman; Mennonites, founded by Menno Simons; the Hutterites by Jacob Hutter; and the Brethren in Christ. Each branch established its own rules for living and for what devotees could and could not wear. They lived simply and dressed simply, which earned them the nickname “plain people.” Their style of dress became known as “plain dress.”

Humor

• They say a Freudian slip is when you say one thing, but you really mean your mother.

• It’s hard to explain puns to kleptomaniacs because they always take things literally.

• The bartender says, “We don’t serve time travelers in here.”
  A time traveler walks into a bar.

• Queue is spelled just with Q and four silent letters.
  No, it’s not. They’re just waiting their turn.

 November 21