First Snow of the Year Arrives This Weekend

AccuWeather forecasts that a winter storm will affect southeastern PA. Most areas will receive between 1 and 3 inches of snow. Regions farther west and north, extending west of Reading and into the Lehigh Valley, are expected to encounter higher snowfall amounts, ranging from 3 to 4 inches. This powerful storm is anticipated to significantly impact roads and travel over the weekend, potentially causing slippery conditions. Moreover, there's a possibility of flooding along creeks and rivers. Sub-freezing temperatures forecasted for Sunday night could create extremely icy conditions.

Valley Residents Make Their Wishes Known

Lehigh Valley News recently polled Lehigh Valley residents and asked them for their wishes for 2024 for the Lehigh Valley.

The results:
- The widening of Route 22
- Trash, be gone! Clean up of trash in the Valley
- Infrastructure investments - potential rail service to the Valley
- Trader Joe’s
- No more warehouses
- Affordable Housing

COVID, Flu Cases Rising In PA After Holiday Surge

During this holiday season, a surge in severe cases of both coronavirus and the flu has surged across a significant portion of the country, impacting Pennsylvania as per the latest data from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

This surge coincides with increased travel and larger gatherings, creating more opportunities for the diseases to spread, compounded by the dominance of a new subvariant In the past week tracked until December 23, Pennsylvania recorded 1,295 new COVID-19 hospital admissions, signifying a notable increase of over 25 percent compared to the preceding week.

Simultaneously, influenza cases have dramatically risen in the state, reaching 11,913 by December 30, according to the Department of Health. This marks more than a quadruple increase in cases since the beginning of December.

The Current Status of REAL ID

The deadline for obtaining a REAL ID-compliant driver’s license has undergone multiple changes. Presently, Pennsylvania residents should mark May 7, 2025, as the critical date to remember.
Assuming the current status remains unchanged, holders of old, non-REAL ID driver's licenses in Pennsylvania won't be able to use them for domestic flights or gain access to nuclear power plants and specific federal buildings. However, a passport or a REAL ID will remain valid for such purposes.

It is important to note that while obtaining a REAL ID can be beneficial, it's not mandatory. A REAL ID isn't necessary for driving, voting, accessing the post office or hospitals, or verifying your identity.

So, how can you obtain a REAL ID?
In Pennsylvania, REAL ID cards are issued at driver’s licensing stations. Residents must present proof of a Social Security number, two documents confirming a current Pennsylvania address, and evidence of any legal name changes.

The cost for a REAL ID is a one-time fee of $30, along with the standard $30.50 fee charged by PennDOT for all card renewals. A REAL ID remains valid for four years plus the remaining time on your existing REAL ID identification.

Man Charged with the Killing of Grandmother and 1-year Old Child Turns Himself In

The individual believed to be accountable for the tragic deaths of a 1-year-old child and their grandmother last week voluntarily surrendered to authorities on Thursday night. Gabriel Cartagena, aged 43, turned himself in at Lehigh County Prison at 8:45 p.m., as confirmed by a news release from Allentown Police Chief Charles Rocca.

He was apprehended without any resistance and will undergo due processing. Cartagena has been officially charged with two counts of criminal homicide, two counts of attempted homicide, and two counts of aggravated assault, in addition to charges of burglary, illegal possession of a firearm, and carrying a firearm without a license, as announced by DA Gavin Holihan during a news conference on Thursday afternoon.

Top 10 Salaried Philly Ballplayers

Phillies 10 players who have made the most estimated money as Phillies up to this point, according to Spotrac and Baseball Reference.

10. Jake Arrieta: $62,407,407
9. J.T. Realmuto: 67,353,704
8. Roy Halladay: $75,800,000
7. Zack Wheeler: $80,962,963
6. Jimmy Rollins: $87,790,000
5. Cole Hamels: $103,416,345
4. Bryce Harper: $118,279,629
3. Chase Utley: $119,278,257
2. Cliff Lee: $122,227,500
1. Ryan Howard: $190,585,000

Editor’s Note: Despite repeated attempts on my part requesting that any of these stars adopt me, my requests have gone unanswered.

High School Varsity Schedules

Emmaus Boys Varsity Basketball Schedule

Emmaus Girls Varsity Basketball Schedule

Emmaus Boys Varsity Wrestling Schedule

Emmaus Girls Varsity Wrestling Schedule

Events

Upcoming Happenings

Winter Bridal Show:
Experience the Lehigh Valley's most extensive and prominent bridal exhibition taking place on Sunday, January 7th, from 12:00 noon to 4:30 PM at Ag Hall, situated within the Allentown Fairgrounds. Discover numerous exhibits showcasing food and cake tastings, fashion displays, DJ services, photo booths, reception venues, floristry, catering, favors, makeup artists, and much more.

Auto Mania:
For over three decades, Auto Mania has stood as Pennsylvania's premier indoor heated automotive Flea Market. This year's event is scheduled to grace the Allentown Fairgrounds from Friday, January 19th through Sunday, January 21st. Improv Comedy Festival:

Dive into laughter at the Improv Comedy Festival hosted at SteelStacks in Bethlehem on Friday, January 26th, and Saturday, January 27th. The festival promises entertainment featuring teams from the Lehigh Valley, NYC, Baltimore, Boston, Toronto, and beyond.

Really?

No word in the English language rhymes with the word “silver.” Except for chilver—a female lamb—although many sources list this as obsolete.
The word silver comes from the Old English word for the metal, seolfor. It shares a root with the words for silver in several other languages: German is silber; Dutch is zilver; Swedish is silver; Danish is sølv; Basque is zilar. The Latin word for silver is argentum. This is why the chemical symbol for silver is Ag, and it’s also the source of the word for silver in languages such as French—argent; Romanian—argint; and Irish Gaelic—airgead.

Humor

“The downside of my celebrity is that I cannot go anywhere in the world without being recognized. It is not enough for me to wear dark sunglasses and a wig. The wheelchair gives me away.”
― Stephen Hawking

“I’m not offended by blonde jokes because I know I’m not dumb…and I also know that I’m not blonde.” —Dolly Parton

“The difference between fiction and reality? Fiction has to make sense.”
— Tom Clancy

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” —Albert Einstein

“Two things are infinite: the universe and human stupidity; and I’m not sure about the universe.” —Albert Einstein