Family of Woman Fatally Struck by Vehicle in Allentown Initiates GoFundMe Campaign

Ruiz Acosta and Christopher Stocker, 44, also of Allentown, died early Sunday after they were hit by a car in the 300 block of West Hamilton Street, according to Allentown police. The two were engaged.

Following the tragic incident in Allentown where a woman lost her life after being struck by a vehicle, her family has launched an online fundraising campaign. The family of Luz Daneza Ruiz Acosta, 43, initiated a GoFundMe drive on Tuesday to honor her wish of being laid to rest in Puerto Rico, her birthplace and childhood home.

The family's heartfelt message on the GoFundMe page reads, "We are asking for help to make those dreams a reality; any donation, no matter the size, would be greatly appreciated. Even a simple share of this fundraiser would help in getting her story recognized by others."

For those interested in contributing, donations can be made at gofund.me/20d3ca99. As of Wednesday afternoon, approximately $5,000 had been raised towards this cause.

LV Legislators in Fight Over 'Book Bans,'

Recent Lehigh Valley school board races have thrust "book bans" into the local spotlight, sparking impassioned debates within school district communities. Local lawmakers advocate for state intervention to quell tensions surrounding this issue; however, they are currently at odds regarding the most effective approach. Across Pennsylvania's 500 school districts, concerns regarding appropriate library materials have been primarily managed independently, often amidst fervent community protests.

In October, the GOP-dominated state Senate approved a bill mandating districts to compile a catalog of library books and course readings featuring "sexually explicit" content. Parents would then be required to opt in for their child to access these materials. Subsequently, this bill was forwarded to the Democratic-controlled House, specifically the education committee, where Democratic Chair Peter Schweyer, D-Lehigh, deemed it dead on arrival. An alternative solution proposed by the House earlier in the year, which would establish book review panels through intermediate units for residents to appeal to in cases of dissatisfaction with their home district's book challenges, has shown no progress.

Given the Senate's Republican control and the House's Democratic leadership, the likelihood of either measure becoming law in the near future appears slim. Nonetheless, legislators anticipate the necessity of taking action eventually.

Electric Vehicle Tax on the Horizon

Electric vehicle owners in Pennsylvania might soon face an annual fee, potentially the highest nationwide, for the privilege of driving an environmentally friendly car or truck.

The House Transportation Committee has approved a bill passed by the Senate that proposes setting the fee at $290 per year starting next year. At $290 annually, Pennsylvania would boast the highest registration fee for electric vehicles in the country. The Tax Foundation, a nonpartisan organization based in Washington, D.C., notes that among the 24 states implementing an electric vehicle fee, charges range from $50 in Hawaii and South Dakota to $200 in Ohio, West Virginia, and Wyoming.

Sen. Greg Rothman, R-Cumberland County, the bill's author, suggested this fee, estimating it to be roughly equivalent to what gas-powered passenger vehicle owners pay each year in the state's gas tax at the current rate of 61 cents per gallon. The proposed legislation would impact all non-commercial passenger battery electric vehicles, excluding hybrid vehicles. Additionally, disagreements persist regarding the effective year for the fee implementation—whether in 2024 or 2025.

South Mall Mercantile at South Mall Shopping Center Forced to Close

The eight-year-old store with roughly 120 vendors selling crafts, gifts, antiques, collectibles, repurposed items and more, will close Jan. 25 at the 3300 Lehigh St. shopping center.

Owner Shirl Desch said rising rent left her no other choice. Desch opened South Mall Mercantile with her late husband, Daniel Desch, in November 2015. The store’s forthcoming closure will affect dozens of local, independent vendors.

News of South Mall Mercantile’s upcoming closure comes about a month after The Giant Company announced plans to construct a new store and fuel station at the site of the former Bon-Ton department store at the South Mall. 

The Phillies Family Generously Prepares and Provides Meals to Nearby Homeless Shelter

At Bethesda Project’s Our Brother’s Place, individuals finding refuge were treated to homemade holiday feasts courtesy of volunteers from the Phillies front office and OVG employees. The generous donation, preparation, and serving of these meals were supported by additional contributions from The GIANT Company. Esteemed guests such as Phillies broadcasters Ruben Amaro, Jr., Larry Andersen, Scott Franzke, Ben Davis, 1993 National League Champion Mickey Morandini, Phillies ambassador Scott Palmer, and Executive Vice President Dave Buck lent a hand in serving the food, spreading joy during the festivities.

Adding to the merriment, Phanta Claus made a delightful appearance, uplifting the holiday spirit. Attendees were also gifted backpacks filled with personal care items generously donated by SEI employees, alongside Phillies merchandise including caps, t-shirts, and water bottles. This heartwarming event formed part of the Phillies Season of Giving presented by SEI, a month-long endeavor aimed at fostering goodwill through a series of charitable activities to commemorate the holiday season.

High School Varsity Schedules

Emmaus Boys Varsity Basketball Schedule

Emmaus Girls Varsity Basketball Schedule

Emmaus Boys Varsity Wrestling Schedule

Emmaus Girls Varsity Wrestling Schedule

December 17 Space Kamp 7th Annual Holidaze Toy Drive
Space Kamp 7th Annual Holidaze Toy Drive @ Emmaus Theatre with special guests: Rootsetters, Eric RxSe, Dj Dread Head
$10 Donation Proceeds go to Toys for Lehigh Valley Children’s Hospital
Kids under 12 are Free
(Additional Unopened Toys are accepted and appreciated !)
Kids Photos with Nugz Bunny FREE 7:30-8:30

December 17 Deck The Barn Rockin' Christmas with Kinda Sorta Maybe
The ULTIMATE Christmas Eve Eve party is at The Barn with KSM on Saturday Night, DEC 23 at 7pm!
Shopping will be done, cookies will be made, friends and family will be near, and KSM will bring one more sing and dance party before St Nick hauls his jolly butt down the chimney!
Rock with us in the band room, party in the upper loft, or hang in the bar area or from the rafters, but make sure you get to The Barn for this rockin' Christmas Party! 2 quick hours to rev you up for the holiday - new tunes too! MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW!

Christmas Eve Candlelight Service: St. Margaret's Candlelight Worship Service

Celebrate a magical Christmas Eve celebration at St. Margaret's Episcopal Church Sunday, December 24th 5:00 PM
“Come together with family and friends for a heartwarming evening of worship, joy, and community. Let the glow of candlelight and the sounds of Christmas music create a memorable atmosphere as we celebrate the true meaning of Christmas. “
Location: St. Margaret's Church 150 Elm Street Emmaus, PA 18049

Blue Christmas Service Emmaus Moravian Church
Sun Dec 17 2023 at 02:00 pm 146 Main St, Emmaus, PA,
“This service is for anyone who is in need of healing this Christmas season. It is a service of reflection and love.”
Website Link: http://emmausmoravian.org

Christmas Day Service St. - Margaret's Episcopal Church

"On this blessed Christmas Day, join us as we come together to celebrate the birth of our Lord almighty, Jesus Christ!"
"Let the spirit of Christmas fill your hearts with love, peace, and gratitude as we reflect on the divine gift of Jesus. Bring your family and friends to share in the joy of this special day."
St. Margaret's Episcopal Church, 150 Elm Street, Emmaus, PA

Soul Sisters’ Studio 
Afternoon with Spirit Medium January 14, 2024, 104 pm
https://www.soulsistersemmaus.com/events/

Entertainment at the Emmaus Theater

Really?

1. Octopuses lay 56,000 eggs at a time
The mother spends six months so devoted to protecting the eggs that she doesn’t eat. The babies are the size of a grain of rice when they’re born.

2. Blue whales eat half a million calories in one mouthful
Those 457,000 calories are more than 240 times the energy the whale uses to scoop those krill into its mouth.

3. Turkeys can blush
When turkeys are scared or excited—like when the males see a female they’re interested in—the pale skin on their head and neck turns bright red, blue, or white. The flap of skin over their beaks called a “snood,” also reddens.

4. Cows don’t have upper front teeth
They do have molars in the top back of their mouths though. Where you’d expect upper incisors, cows, sheep, and goats have a thick layer of tissue called a “dental pad.” They use that with their bottom teeth to pull out the grass.

5. Bananas grow upside-down
They grow outward from their stems, but that means their bottoms actually face the sky. As they get bigger, the fruits turn toward the sun, forming that distinctive curve.

6. Dogs sniff good smells with their left nostril
Dogs normally start sniffing with their right nostril, then keep it there if the smell could signal danger, but they’ll shift to the left side for something pleasant, like food or a mating partner.

7. You only have two body parts that never stop growing
Human noses and ears keep getting bigger, even when the rest of the body’s growth has come to a halt.

8. No number before 1,000 contains the letter A
Some of these fun facts will have you counting. But there are plenty of E’s, I’s, O’s, U’s, and Y’s.

Humor - Some Good, Some Just Awful

I told my girlfriend she drew her eyebrows too high. She seemed surprised.

President Lincoln was approached by a woman after a political speech… If you were my husband I would poison your tea. Lincoln replied...if you are my wife I’ll gladly drink it.

My grandfather has the heart of a lion and a lifetime ban at the zoo.

Have you heard the joke about yoga. Nevermind it’s a bit of a stretch.

Why should you never play poker at the zoo? Too many cheetahs

What do you call a nose with no body? No body nose

Never confide in a vacuum cleaner. They’re always collecting dirt

A Roman walks into a cafe holds up 2 fingers and gets 5 coffees.

 December 13