The Irregular May 2019

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EATING WELL IN THE LEHIGH VALLEY Northampton Community College students show off their purchases at The Farm Market at NCC. photo courtesy of Kelly Allen

by Christine Lake Spring and summer traditionally bring to mind a lot of things for people: renewal, growth and abundance being top of the list. For many, that means turning thoughts toward fresh, locally grown foods. A new event aims to expand the Lehigh Valley’s knowledge about the local food systems and options. The first ever Lehigh Valley Food Conference will take place on Sunday May 19 from 10 AM to 5:30 PM at Northampton Community College’s main campus at 3835 Green Pond Road in Bethlehem. The schedule for the day includes a Pop-Up Farmers’ Market and keynote speaker Jon Steinman, author of Grocery Story: The Promise of Food Co-ops in the Age of Grocery Giants.

There will also be food trucks, local crafters, garden seedlings and entertainment by the Northampton Community College Summer Theatre program. Tickets to the conference are $5, and include a $5 market voucher; entrance to the pop-up market only is free.

The conference is the result of planning and realized common ground among three separate but interconnected groups. One is the NCC East 40 Community Garden, which acts as an outdoor classroom,

growing space and resource center in support of the College’s commitment to sustainability. The garden offers students experiential learning and research opportunities in the course of interdisciplinary projects, and it also offers the community a space to grow their own food on individual plots. “While working with students in Southeast Philly, I became very interested in the idea of growing food with others and using our time and space as a means for engaging in conversations,” explains Kelly Allen, professor of English and coordinator of the East 40 project. “There was something I was experiencing while growing food that seemed to naturally coincide with the kind of dialogue I wished to have in the classroom.” In 2010, Allen and the East 40 Committee, made up of students, faculty and community members, began work on their vision for a community garden that now serves community gardeners, student clubs, faculty, summer camps for kids, and field trips for local schools. continued on page 3

Northampton County Celebrates Memorial Day With New Festival

by Christine Lake When most people think “local”, it brings to mind the city one lives in, and maybe the next town over. Less often considered is the county level, and a new festival is trying to change that for Northampton County residents.

The Northampton County Department of Community and Economic Development will host the first Northampton County Festival on Saturday May 25 from 10 AM to 6 PM at Louise W. Moore County Park at 151 Country Club Road in Bethlehem Township.

The County vision statement says that “Northampton County strives to be a safe and prosperous community by providing quality, cost-effective services to ensure the health, safety and wellbeing of present and future generations.” The Department of Community & Economic Development (DCED) works to realize this vision by providing resources to communities and organizations to stimulate economic development and encourage community planning, thereby ensuring a continuing improvement in the quality of life for residents. It’s important work, and it affects every resident in the county, but it’s not always obvious in its scope. The department works with those looking to start businesses in the county via programs that include financing, technical assistance, business planning, budgeting and workforce development. DCED also supports programs that help county residents with housing issues, and they have a program called AgConnect that provides training, information and opportunities for those in the agricultural business. “The idea for this festival was born from the effort to engage all municipalities and residents in celebrating our community,” says Lamont McClue, County Executive. “It’s an opportunity to Call 610-258-4330 to advertise

recognize the outstanding municipal employees that go above and beyond their job requirements to contribute to the safety and prosperity of Northampton County.”

The opportunities to recognize outstanding service go beyond just employees, however.

The County will recognize outstanding service personnel and youth based off of community nominations. “We will be accepting nominations for Outstanding Volunteer, Outstanding Veteran, Outstanding Emergency Services Personnel, and Outstanding Youth until May 13,” continued on page 3

Artistic Endeavors page 10

Gardening This Big Easy Easton Brass Band will be performing prior to the awards ceremony at the Northampton County Memorial Day Festival on May 25. photo by Michael Kubel Photography

May 2019

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The Irregular

IRREGULAR THOUGHTS

The Irregular

The end of an era in Bethlehem

Welcome to May! This month if you tune into WFMZ on May 19, you can view the end of an era. The implosion of Bethlehem’s Martin Tower, the former world headquarters of Bethlehem Steel, will take place during the morning hours, and 69 News will broadcast the implosion live on-air and on WFMZ. com. The skyscraper, named after then-Bethlehem Steel chairman Edmund F. Martin, is the tallest building in the greater Lehigh Valley. The 21-story building opened in 1972. Bethlehem Steel filed bankruptcy in 2001 and officially left the building in 2003. It’s decline continued thereafter; Martin Tower has been vacant since 2007.

Having opened the year I was born, I have never seen the Lehigh Valley landscape without it. When I think of Martin Tower, I think Bethlehem Steel, Dun & Bradstreet, parking for the Musikfest shuttle. It was an iconic building.

A landmark in Bethlehem. It was listed on the National Register of Historic Places on June 28, 2010. A Facebook page, Save Martin Tower - Bethlehem, PA, was started in June 2013. But unfortunately, a registered historic place with much community support for its renovation will be demolished. In its place are plans for a medical office building, apartments, shops, a gas station, a restaurant and a hotel [insert sad emoji here].

In memory of Martin Tower, Bethlehem based photographer and writer Glenn Koehler has put together a photography exhibit titled: A Final Look: Inside the Last Days of Martin Tower. The exhibit provides an intimate look into the building. “Spanning five years, the work showcased at Bethlehem’s Fox Optical Gallery chronicles the structure from an untouched, abandoned edifice, with flora and fauna sprouting around a building still pristine inside, to a final glimpse into the gutted tower and its surroundings prior to implosion.

This show offers a raw, but delicate window into the last vestige of the Lehigh Valley’s tallest building.”

A Final Look: Inside the Last Days of Martin Tower will be on display May 3 through June 29 at Fox Optical & Gallery, 28 E. 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA. Join the artist for an opening reception Friday, May 3 at 6pm. Glenn Koehler works as the Marketing and Outreach Coordinator at the National Museum of Industrial History and serves as the Director of the SouthSide Film Institute.

See you in June! Summer is just around the corner, yay! Don’t forget to support your local community... BUY LOCAL!!

Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor

Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor Michelle L. Corby Creative Director Contributors: Carole J. Heffley Richard F. Hope Christine Lake Dawn Ouellette Nixon Janene Otten James Jacob Pierri Pam Ruch Reach us at: PO Box 85 Easton, PA 18044 610-258-4330 bruneo1776@aol.com Founded by Carole J. Heffley and James R. Hicks, Jr. 1996

Remember, support your community.

“Kindling” by Glenn Koehler shows the exterior of Martin Tower with steel that was removed from the former printery building. A Final Look: Inside the Last Days of Martin Tower will be on display May 3-June 29 at Fox Optical & Gallery, 28 E. 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA.

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May 2019

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Eating Well In The Lehigh Valley continued from page 1

The Community Garden also gave rise to the Farm Market at NCC. “As an experiential learning opportunity, I was running a weekly market with students who had helped grow food at the school,” recalls Allen. “After our first year, some vendors from other markets approached us to inquire about the possibility of establishing a larger market at the school that could operate all year.” The Farm Market at NCC was born. Allen and garden manager Gary Warren worked hard to ensure that the market would maintain a student-first identity, proposing a location, day and time that would be visible and accessible to a high volume of students, and would continue opportunities for service learning projects and experiential learning initiatives. Now in its third year, the Farm Market at NCC can definitely be considered a success.

During the same timeframe as the beginnings of the Community Garden, the Bethlehem Food Co-Op was also forming. This group began after a Facebook post lamenting the lack of access to fresh food in downtown Bethlehem, and interested community members decided to form a co-op, which is a community owned-and-operated grocery store offering healthy, affordable, locally-focused food. Allen’s interest in the subject made him a natural fit for the Board of Directors of the Bethlehem Food Co-Op. While the Market at NCC was brainstorming ways to attract more community members, and settled on the idea of pop-up markets around specific themes, the Food Co-Op was presented with an opportunity to host an author event with Jon Steinman. “We saw Jon’s visit to Bethlehem as a chance to get a large group together to talk about the health of our local food economy,” Allen says. “Part of the Co-Op’s mission is to provide educational opportunities for the community on topics related to eating well and building a strong and diverse local economy.” Since the Farm Market at NCC shares similar goals, and Allen was on both boards, the suggestion was presented to the planning committees of both groups to work together to create something big. Both sides jumped at the chance.

Steinman is the producer and host of the internationally syndicated TV series, radio show and podcast Deconstructing Dinner. His new book, Grocery Story, takes a look at the food retail sector and how corporations have shaped the way we buy food, and makes a case for food co-ops as an alternative. His keynote talk on this subject will take place at the end of the Food Conference, at 4 PM, and then he will be available to sign books from 5:00-5:30 PM. Prior to that, there are several panels that occur on the hour beginning at 10 AM; they will encompass information about food systems, the state of the Lehigh Valley food economy, food co-op experts, local food scholars and a community roundtable. The pop-up market, focused on celebrating the spring season and all that it has to offer, will run from 10 AM to 3 PM. There will be two food trucks, The Taza Truck and The

Northampton Community College students helping with the harvest at the NCC East 40 Community Garden. photo courtesy of Kelly Allen

Flying V, as well as a children’s garden table that will offer pots, soil and seeds for the kids to plant. Other vendors at the pop-up market include Monocacy Coffee Company, Teels Hill Soapworks, Greenmouth, Magick and Stardust, TieDyeJen Creations and many more.

For more information about the Food Conference, visit facebook.com/events/345624086075224/?active_tab=about or bethlehemfood.coop/calendar. Tickets can be purchased at the Food Co-Op calendar page; please note that tickets are only required for the Food Conference but admission to the pop-up market is absolutely free. Further information about NCC East 40 Community Garden can be found at northampton.edu/noncredit/horizons-for-youth/in-the-community/communitygarden.htm or facebook.com/ncceast40. Keep up with The Farm Market at NCC on their Facebook page, facebook.com/ TheFarmMarketAtNCC.

Northampton County Celebrates Memorial Day With New Festival continued from page 1 McClure explains. Nominations should consist of a short summary on the merits of your nominee and be sent to Rebecca Sanchez at the Department of Community & Economic Development at rsanchez@northamptoncounty. org. The nominations will then be reviewed and winners will be announced at the 11:30 AM awards ceremony on the day of the festival.

The Northampton County Department of Corrections Honor Guard will kick off the day with an opening ceremony at 10 AM, complete with flag bearers, riflemen, a bag piper and a drummer. The Big Easy Easton Brass Band will be playing to open up the awards ceremony, and then live music will continue throughout the festival. Performers include duo Ziggy Blue from Nazareth, playing rock from the ‘60s through today; C.E. Longenecker performing as The beautiful 100-acre Louise W. Moore Park along Country Street Box Strummer, his solo act featuring one man and Club Road in Bethlehem Township will be the site of the four instruments; and Brielle, a singer-songwriter who has Northampton County Memorial Day Festival. been performing in and around NY, NJ and PA since she photo courtesy of Northampton County was 4 years old. In addition to music, there will be some demonstrations throughout the day. Kitchen Magic will hold an interactive culinary demonstration, and The Moravian Historical Society will be having colonial-themed interactive activities during the day. The event is rain or shine, and though families are welcome, your furry friends will have to stay home (service animals are an exception). No outside food is permitted. There will be food trucks and vendor tents serving delicious selections ranging from barbecue to ice cream to soft pretzels and snacks, and more.

The Festival also offers residents an opportunity to get out and explore a beautiful location in Louise W. Moore County Park. Moore donated the former Slate Post Farm to the County in 1973 with the express purpose of turning the land into passive park land, and it was the first park to be developed by the Northampton County Parks System. Situated on 100-acres, the park offers four pavilions that can be rented, two playgrounds, one turf and two sand volleyball courts, six tennis courts, a softball field, one multipurpose field and a network of walking paths and trails. There is also a series of trailside exercise stations to spice up the walk if one would choose, and there’s even a cross-country skiing/equestrian trail. The park is ADA accessible, with restrooms available from April-October (and portable toilets during the winter months). The park actually sits astride Country Club Road, and there are paved parking lots on either side.

The festival offers a great way for residents to kick-off their Memorial Day weekend by doing something brand new and maybe learning a few things about the works of their local offices. “We hope that attendees will enjoy a day of fun and good fellowship, leaving the event feeling a sense of pride in their community,” McClure remarks.

The festivities begin at 10 AM and continue through 6 PM on Saturday May 25. For further information on either the festival or the Department of Community and Economic Development, contact Rebecca Sanchez at 610-829-6307 or rsanchez@ northamptoncounty.org.

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May 2019

The Irregular 3

WALKING TOUR

Flemming Homestead (117-19 North 4th Street in Easton, PA)

by Richard F. Hope The property is part of original town Lot No. 155 as surveyed by William Parsons when Easton was founded in 1752. That Lot was occupied by John Deichman, a weaver first assessed taxes for a house in 1774, and assessed thereafter until at least 1789. Later descriptions of the property mentioned a house of stone, which probably described the house built by Deichman.

Deichman did not bother to obtain title from the Penn Family for his property. That was not done until 1794, after Mathias Eyerman had taken over its occupancy. Eyerman (1753-1816) was a stocking weaver, and so probably replaced weaver Deichman in the weaving shop, presumably also installing his family in the residential portion of that building as well. John Deichman appears to have left town after he sold his Easton property by 1794: he probably moved to Moore Township, where the estate of a weaver named John Deichman was settled in 1815.

The federal “Windows Tax” of 1798 assessed Matthias Eyerman for a house built of stone, 243 square feet in size, apparently located on this property. This assessment did not indicate whether the house was old – i.e. what Deichman had provided – or was new construction by Eyerman, but it does establish the presence of a stone house on the property in the late 18th century. In 1803, Matthias Eyerman took out a loan for £ 200, and (in accordance with the standard usage of the time) gave a penal bond (a form of mortgage) for double its value (i.e. £ 400) against the property to the lender, the prominent Easton politician Robert Traill.

In 1812, Eyerman “sold” the northern 16 feet of the Lot (up “to the stone House”) to his son, Henry Eyerman, according to the official deed for $400, and took back a mortgage from Henry for the same $400. This appears to have become the little house that today stands next door, at 121 North 4th Street. Young Henry Eyerman (born in 1784) advantageously married Elizabeth Herster, a daughter of John Herster. His father-in-law in the course of a long career became a prominent Easton merchant, miller and investor during the first half of the 19th century. When Henry Eyerman died on 22 February 1814 at age 29, apparently without a will and without paying off his mortgage to his father, fatherin-law John Herster became the administrator of Henry Eyerman’s estate. In 1815, Herster (as both estate administrator and guardian for the Eyerman minor children) paid Robert Traill 5 shillings to be released from any obligation on the mortgage of the main Eyerman house, leaving Traill with recourse only against the main house.

Mathias Eyerman died two years after his son, in 1816. In his will, he gave his deceased son Henry’s children a forgiveness of the mortgage debt they owed to him on the little house. He otherwise left his “Household and Kitchen Furniture” to his wife, Hannah Sybilla Eyerman, “as she may want for her own use during her Lifetime”. Everything else, including his weaving “Loom dyestuffs and apparatus”, he directed should be sold to pay his debts. If that was insufficient, he directed that the “Lower End” of his real estate property fronting on the alley (now Bank Street) be sold to make up any deficiency. The remainder – including his “House and Shop” – should then be sold at “Public Vendue” [auction], and the proceeds divided between his two daughters, Hannah (wife of Abraham Force) and Elizabeth. Hannah’s inheritance was left to her in trust, but Elizabeth was to receive her share outright, and was also named as a co-executor of the estate, together with Eyerman’s “Friend”: Easton businessman John Green.

For all the bravado of his will, it does not appear that Matthias Eyerman left his family with sufficient financial resources to pay his bills, especially Robert Traill’s mortgage on the house. Fortunately, inlaw John Herster appears to have come to the rescue. Herster acquired the mortgage on the Eyerman property from Robert Traill, and in 1819 used it to engineer a clever property sale that left the proceeds in his hands, insulated from all of Eyerman’s unsecured creditors. Herster had a history of providing property and “loan” funds for a large number of his relatives during his lifetime, as shown by his Will after his death.

• Also in 1819, John Herster appears to have engineered another, similar transaction to benefit Henry Eyerman’s children. Elizabeth Eyerman (by now married to James Doran) foreclosed on a debt of $15.52 plus $1.12½ “costs” owed by Henry Eyerman’s estate to his father’s estate. On this debt, he got the Sheriff to seize the little house from Henry’s estate administrator (who just happened to be John Herster himself!), to be sold at public auction. The purchaser at auction was then none other than . . . John Herster (!), for the sum of $170! This transaction essentially left the property in the hands of John Herster, free of the claims of Henry Eyerman’s other creditors, where (as estate administrator and guardian to the children) Herster apparently allowed Henry Eyerman’s family (i.e., John Herster’s grandchildren) to recover from their father’s death. In particular, Herster appears to have helped launch Henry Eyerman’s son John (1808-1883) into his later prominent position in Easton society and business – a career that was heavily advanced by business relationships with John Herster and the Herster Family.

The main Eyerman property’s new purchaser, Christian Flemming (also spelled Fleming), was a butcher, sufficiently successful in business to own several buildings at the SW corner of Centre Square and Northampton Street. Flemming’s will later referred to this house as the “Homestead . . . where I now reside”, making it likely that he had it upgraded to suit the lifestyle of a wealthier merchant. A modern survey suggested that the construction date of the house currently on the property as c.1850, which would be consistent with such an upgrade by Flemming. The 1855 Easton City Directory listed Christian Flemming’s address as 65 North 4th Street, under the numbering scheme then in effect.

Christian Flemming died in 1869. His son, John C. Flemming, inherited his “Homestead” on condition that he pay his sister, Mrs. Mary Ann Keiper (wife of an Indiana doctor), $5,000. John C. Flemming was also given (among other properties) the “Slaughter House and Tan Yard” previously purchased from John Barnet, located near the Flemming Homestead on property stretching from the NW corner of Bushkill and 4th Streets to the banks of the “Bushkill Creek”.

John C. Flemming also ran a butcher shop (presumably the continuation of his father’s) in the Flemming Building at the corner of Centre Square and Northampton Street, in space that he leased from his father (and after his father’s death, from his sister Elizabeth, who inherited that building under her father’s will).

He was extremely wealthy for the time: a somewhat indistinct entry in the 1870 Census appears to show his real estate as worth some $74,000, with a further $8,000 in personal property.

John C. Flemming continued in residence in the Homestead in 1873, which was then (curiously) numbered 59 North 4th Street. He died in 1874. The Flemming residence was then renumbered 117 North 4th Street with the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874. John Flemming’s widow continued in residence there for the remainder of the 1870s.

In 1880, the Flemming Homestead was occupied by “Nettie” Flemming (age 22), living there with five younger sisters and brothers and a servant. Nettie was almost certainly John C. Flemming’s daughter, Henrietta. She was to marry Alvin Franklin Nolf on 29 December 1880. Evidently in anticipation of her upcoming marriage (and probably in need of funds for her siblings), Nettie Flemming made a motion in Orphans Court to have John C. Flemming’s real estate appraised and “partitioned” among the heirs. The estate at that time was administered by Elizabeth Flemming, Nettie’s capable Aunt who had inherited the Flemming Building in Centre Square from old Christian Flemming, and who had lived next door in 1870. In response to Nettie’s motion, an Orphan’s Court report dated 4 August 1880 divided the real estate into only three economically-viable pieces (not enough to accommodate all the heirs), and these were offered to his heirs at appraised prices. One of these pieces, Purpart No. 3, was accepted by C. Fleming Sandt at the assigned price, but no other heirs agreed to take Purparts 1 and 2 (the Flemming Homestead and back lot) at the values appraised for them. Accordingly, in accordance with Orphan’s Court procedures, they were offered for sale to the public – a public sale for cash that was probably the real objective of Nettie’s motion in the first place. At the resulting sale, Edward Hilliard purchased both remaining “Purparts” for a bid of $6,275, confirmed by the Court at the end of 1880 and commemorated in a formal deed finally in March of 1881.

Hilliard’s purchase included the Flemming Homestead, with a Lot containing 60 feet of frontage on North 4th Street, and (after combining the two “Purparts”) extended 240 feet back to Bank Street.

Edward Hilliard, a dealer in coal, shoes and leather, was a neighbor living at 123 North 4th Street in

4 The Irregular

photo by Lydia E. Bruneo

1880; he had been a member of the Orphan’s Court Commission that had apportioned and evaluated the Flemming property for the estate.

Two years after Hilliard’s purchase (i.e., in 1883), he sold a strip of the land off the southern end of the property, with 16 feet of North 4th Street frontage, to Samuel W. Nevin for $1,500. Samuel Nevin was the father of David Nevin, an Easton developer and politician who lived next door at 111 North 4th Street. By that time the Flemming Family children were apparently no longer in residence in the Flemming Homestead; instead, it appears that Hilliard had begun to lease the property out as rental apartments. By 1890, the Homestead (117 North 4th Street) was occupied by confectioner Josiah Moser and his family, as well as Mary A. Rohn and her family. In 1900, No. 117 was the residence of Carl Grari, age 83, and his wife Sophia, age 25.

Owner Edward Hilliard died in 1891. In 1903, his estate sold the Flemming Homestead to James B. O’Hay for $3,750. O’Hay was a restaurateur. He would purchase 50 Centre Square in 1906 to establish his name Restaurant there. O’Hay’s Restaurant continued on in Centre Square into the early 1920s. Because O’Hay’s residence was at 321 Bushkill Street, it appears that he continued to use his North 4th Street property as a rental investment.

In 1923 (perhaps with due regard to the advent of Prohibition), O’Hay left the restaurant business, and joined the Bunn Motor Car Co. O’Hay’s Restaurant was then taken over by new owners, who were raided as a speakeasy in 1924. Having just changed professions, O’Hay also sold his North 4th Street investment in the Flemming Homestead in 1924. There were three buyers on the deed: Raymond E. Person, Henry D. Schafer, and John T. Flemming. However, they transferred the property right back to O’Hay in the following year.

Afterwards, O’Hay continued to hold the property as a rental investment. In 1930, it used two addresses: 119 North 4th Street was the residence of Daniel Schaffer, while 117 was listed to “The Owls”. The Order of Owls appears to have been “like the Moose, Elks, and Eagles, one of the ‘animal’ clubs that originated in the 19th century as a copy of the Masonic fraternity,” but was never affiliated with the Masons.

O’Hay died in 1942. At that time, his North 4th Street building was vacant. There was apparently a problem with the administration of the estate, because the Administrator renounced his office, and we find the North 4th Street property seized by the Sheriff in 1943 and sold for debt owed to the Easton Trust Company, which purchased the property in the resulting public sale, to place in its Trust Account for Robert W. Thompson. The bid price was only $386.52. Easton Trust Company was able to sell the property just a few months later for $2,300 to Angelo Curcio. However, most of this money was actually a loan and mortgage by Curcio’s own trust account.

Angelo Curcio had emigrated from Italy in 1913, when he was only about 18 years old. He was soon enlisted in the U.S. Army in World War I for about a year (1918-19), serving with the Quartermaster Corps at Camp Crane, Allentown. After leaving the Army, he went into business as a shoe repairer by 1923 with his brother, Carmen Curcio, both also living at the same residential address on Ferry Street. By 1930, both Curcios (still at the same residential address) had become shoe salesmen. By the time he purchased the North 4th Street property in 1943, however, Angelo had his own real estate and insurance firm at 522 Northampton Street. [Carmen continued in the shoemaking business.] Angelo Curcio died in 1955.

Curcio’s purchase of the Flemming Homestead was evidently for his real estate business, because just eleven days after the purchase, Curcio resold the property to Eugene Giunta. Curcio was joined on that deed by his long-time wife, Crocifissa, who in earlier years had gone by the Anglicized name of “Susan”.

Purchaser Eugene Giunta was a barber by trade. He and his wife took up residence in the building (at No. 119). By 1960, although Giunta himself continued at the 119 North 4th Street address, he had added his son, Eugene Giunta Jr., at No. 117, and established yet another address, No. 117½, which in that year was occupied by Mary Lutkeiwicz. In 1961, Giunta resold the land to himself and his wife, probably to make sure of his wife’s title in the event of his death. Giunta died in the following year (1962) at age 69, at which point his wife inherited the North 4th Street property. His wife – who was also named Crocefissa (sometimes spelled the same way as Mrs. Curcio: Crocifissa) – had been born in 1899. She continued to occupy the house after her husband’s death. She died only one month short of her 94th birthday, in 1993.

Eugene Giunta Jr. then inherited title to the building, and apparently rented out its apartments. In 2005, he sold it for $267,000 to an LLC called “SKSLAT”, which evidently continued to use the house to generate rental income. In 2007, for example, 117 North 4th Street was occupied by the Downtown Medical Associates (physicians and surgeons), while 119 was the home of Helen V. Clark, and 117½ was listed to Luis E. and Esperance Acevedo.

In 2014, the Sheriff seized SKSLAT’s property to pay the firm’s debts. Only $1,140.27 in cash was realized from the sale of the Flemming Homestead, in a sale to Bayview Loan Servicing, LLC. Two months later, that buyer resold the property for $169,000 to Daniel and MaryAnn Drosnock. The Drosnocks have continued to use the building for rental units, now divided into residential apartments.

[In the interests of space, the endnotes to this article have been omitted. The complete article (including endnotes) will be filed in the Marx Local History Room of the Easton Area Public Library, and in the Sigal Museum Library of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society. The author’s articles on this and other buildings in the Easton Historic District are also available for review or download from the www.eastonhistory.com website.]

May 2019

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LOCAL FILM COMPANY HELPS TO REDUCE THE STIGMA THAT SURROUNDS MENTAL HEALTH

by Dawn Ouellette Nixon Filmmaker Brandon Lay has been a storyteller his entire life. As a child he wrote stories about his stuffed animals coming to life (and this was pre-Toy Story days) that were popular enough to be photocopied and bound into a book by his elementary school librarians and put on to the library shelves.

“I used to draw and write and orchestrate elaborate stories as a kid with my action figures or play outside fighting imaginary monsters with sticks or plastic swords,” recalls Brandon. “I was heaped with love and attention by my parents, but I never felt secure. I was shy, introverted and bullied.”

It was through storytelling that Lay could affect change and be heard. Today that shy, creative kid has grown up. He tells stories now with his film production company, Living Proof Pictures, which shoots in and around the Lehigh Valley.

Living Proof has a catalog of 12 films and Price of Faerie Tales, his latest work, is an anthology series. The first three episodes of the series are available to stream on Amazon, with more to come in June.

“Living Proof Pictures is a small production company working with very small budgets,” Lay says. “We’re building it on a foundation that starts with storytelling. We want to say something.

I’m looking to express myself and contribute to the collective conversation.”

Lay lists film masters like Barry Jenkins, Paul Thomas Anderson and Kirusowa as some of his influences. “These are the storytellers I want to one day be associated with,” he says. “That is a really tough audience to cultivate, especially with a micro budget in the Lehigh Valley.”

Lay explains that he makes the films that he wants to see. He credits one advantage of Living Proof being small and upcoming is that it makes it possible to tell stories the way he wants and not answer to anyone.

While he laments the lack of a bigger budget, Lay does not wish to sacrifice his vision, even as the company becomes more financially secure.

“Many people talk about the fastest way to convey information to an audience and they sacrifice their characters to do it,” he explains. “Our films slow things down. What we can’t afford in production value we make up for in the writing and the performances. We explore.”

One film, Macie on a Good Day, explores the relationship between three sisters as they struggle with disability, substance abuse and care-giving. “We had our first screening of Macie on a Good Day in 2014,” Lay states, “and ever since, the stories have centered on strong female leads. Binge Purge (2016) followed starring Valynn Turkovich of Macungie and Kate Hughes of Bethlehem, which was a forty minute short film about a woman who loses her job and relapses into bulimia.

Still on its festival circuit, it’ll be heading to Columbia Film Festival in Maryland in June. It

Filmmaker Brandon C. Lay, founder of Living Proof Pictures. photo courtesy of Brandon C. Lay

has already screened in Marietta, Georgia; several times in Pennsylvania; and in Brooklyn at the “Imagine This” Women’s International Film Festival.

Lay describes his latest work, Price of Faerie Tales, as a massive undertaking. “It’s the equivalent of making a five hour long films on a shoestring budget,” he relates. “Aside from budget and scheduling, the process has been a joy. I’m working with some of my closest friends who I love dearly and who also happen to be some phenomenal actors.”

The story of Price of Faerie Tales centers on the character Sanya who suffers from anxiety and dissociation. She tells her story in second person narration.That narration functions in part as a framing device for the non-linear plot as episodes bounce around in time.

Because Price of Faerie Tales explores mental illness, Lay donated a third of the proceeds from the premiere at ArtsQuest in April to NAMI-Lehigh Valley: National Alliance for Mental Illness.

“It’s important to Living Proof Pictures and to me and my team that we not compromise our voice in telling a story,” he says. “It’s also important that we give back to our community and to help those who suffer from mental illness. NAMI is trying to reduce the stigma of mental illness and give help to those that contend with it. I think that’s really beautiful. I contend with my own anxiety and paranoia. I fortunately found a voice in my work. Not everyone else has.”

The official poster for Price of Faerie Tales; the first three episodes are available to stream on Amazon. photo courtesy of Living Proof Pictures

To learn more about Living Proof Pictures, visit www.livingproofpictures.com. To learn more about NAMI-LV and to help reduce the stigma attached to mental illness, visit nami-lv.org. If you or a loved one struggles with mental illness, reach out to NAMI’s helpline at 800-950-6264 (M-F 10am-6pm) or to get help in a crisis 24/7, text NAMI to 741741.

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May 2019

The Irregular 5

IRREGULAR BOOKSELF

with Carole J. Heffley, International Correspondent writing from “Like it’s another country”… North Carolina ***1/2 LAST CALL by Warren Adler, CreateSpace Independent Publishing Platform ©2018, 212 pgs., paperback The last line in this book is just fantastic! I liked this story a lot about two people in their mid-80s finding love while walking their beloved dogs in a NYC dog park. The Yiddish expressions used in the dialogue are delightful. It helps to be just a little “New York-ish” and knowing a few words in Yiddish (like Boobala or L’Chaim) only adds to the pleasurable reading that this book offers. So, he’s a conservative Republican protestant widower in great physical and mental shape. He worked his whole career as an ad-man with a Madison Avenue firm. She’s Jewish and a devoted Democrat with a free-love hippie background. What she doesn’t admit to is that she has a husband she is caring for with Alzheimer’s Disease. Her husband’s disease becomes heartbreakingly worse as the tale unfolds. This is a short novel and positively one to save for weekend vacations this spring or summer. *****THE OTHER EINSTEIN by Marie Benedict, Sourcebooks Landmark ©2017, 336 pgs., paperback This is the second book by Marie Benedict that our book club has read. We all like this author. Her dialogue is spot-on as she fills in the time and place of her characters. If you saw the PBS special miniseries Einstein you know a lot about this historical couple. Einstein’s first wife, Mileva Marić, was his equal or better in mathematics and his equal in physics. She had so many obstacles to overcome in turn of the century Austria where women were supposed to be at home, not seeking a University education. She was not particularly pretty and walked with a pronounced limp due to polio in childhood, yet there she is, questioning the professor and making numerous theories on her own, some of which Einstein borrowed heavily from to make his theories including “his” famous theory of relativity. Einstein was a notorious womanizer and left Mileva pregnant and alone to bear their first child. He never accepted his only daughter; while he did marry Mileva later and establish a household, he refused to allow the little girl to stay with them because people would easily discern that he fathered the child out of wedlock. His image was more important to him than the people around him. The book tallies numerous unfair situations that he put Mileva in, including deleting her name from his many published papers, while she kept quiet. The book as well as the PBS film is based on the letters from the pair to each other through the years and memoirs that they left.

6 The Irregular

Ms. Benedict deftly puts her readers into the time and place in which the Einsteins lived. In The Other Einstein Ms. Benedict makes plain the contributions that Mileva made while in the shadow of her famous husband. Great reading! *UNSHELTERED by Barbara Kingsolver, Harper ©2018, 480 pgs., hardcover This book was so unlikable that I did not read it past page 20 and two out of four of our Book Club attendees did the same. Ms. Kingsolver is a renowned writer with a huge fan following. That just goes to show that even the mighty can lay an egg! Reviews on Amazon.com largely follow what I and other book club members had said: “boring”, “a long, long lecture…about politics”, “the author USED TO BE a great writer but now….”, etc. There are, to be fair, some positive comments as well. It just depends I guess. ***CONSIDER THE WOMEN, A Provocative Guide to Three Matriarchs of the Bible by Debbie Blue, Eerdmans ©2019, 224 pgs., paperback.

Caveat: usually publishers release a book in paperback because they are not really sure it will sell. This one shouldn’t. I am glad that Ms. Blue identifies herself as a Lutheran pastor otherwise I would have never guessed. In light of the fact that she is an ordained Lutheran minister, it is amazing that she attacks Martin Luther for his racist ideas with zeal and the Christian religion for which she blames the holocaust as well as most of the world’s problems. Really? Consider the Women, is merely a format for Ms. Blue’s angst and a stage for her to make a name for herself by being bombastic and throwing about her many conjectures in Biblical scholarship such as God being female.

For the three women she chose to write about, Hagar is the most interesting, but she states that AfricanAmericans consider Hagar as the most important woman in the Bible. As I asked several African-American friends about that statement, none of them had any comment near to what Ms. Blue seems to feel that they should. That Muslims feel that Hagar’s story is central to their belief is equally spurious, even in the author’s later paragraphs in which several Muslim women consider other women (such as Mohammad’s daughter Fatima) as central to their religion. Wow! But not to be discouraged, Ms. Blue dives into the story of Esther and the feast of Purim which is a popular Jewish festival. The only problem is that Esther is widely regarded by Biblical scholars as more of a folk tale than actual Biblical story about a real person or happening.

Even Ms. Blue alludes to that so she shifts her focus from Esther to detailing the Purim tradition and making sure that we all know that the festival is about having fun and wearing costumes. She lunges into her own detailed observances of a Purim festival in a synagogue that she attended.

She goes on and on. It actually appears that she is making the Jewish religion seem trivial. When she gets to the Virgin Mary, she has a romp through the story then settles down to make Mary much more important to Christianity than Jesus or even God. Throw this one in the trash bin. It does little to truly advance feminism and nothing to add to the reader’s spirituality. All this being said, I did read it for the “provocative” ideas that came up again and again. It made me think and that’s a good thing, isn’t it (?).

May 2019

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Irregular Bookself continued from page 6

*****FOUR HUNDRED AND FORTY STEPS TO THE SEA

by Sara Alexander, Kensington © 2018, 416 pgs. paperback Another blockbuster for sure!!

Here’s a romance that outdoes Gone with the Wind. Set in Positano, Italy, along the incredible Amalfi coast, Ms. Alexander brings the gorgeous landscape right into the reader’s living room. In this author’s hands, you see the flowers, the sea, the sky overhead. She gives you the sumptuous smells and flavors of the finest Italian dishes with simmering olive oil, garlic, dough rising, and lemon sauce spooned over a hot lemon cake in the oven, all prepared under the skillful hands of our heroine, Santina, a servant in the house of the “Major”, a rich and marvelously handsome romantic man who teaches her poetry, literature, the English language. . . the whole enchilada, so to speak. Santina’s mother dies at a young age, leaving Santina and her brother at the mercy of their drunken father in abject poverty.

He gets rid of his two kids ASAP, sending Santina to work for a grocery store shrew of a woman and her brother, Marco, to work for a distant uncle. As luck would have it, years later Santina wins the attention of two British tourists who ask her to work for them in England. The change is fantastic for her and she meets the major and his wife and artist, Adeline, who is pregnant. After Adeline has a baby girl, Elizabeth, she becomes psychotic and the task of raising the baby becomes the duty of Santina plus the managing of the over-thetop villa in Positano which the major has purchased thinking that the sea air and views will help his wife to recover. But things go from bad to worse. Amidst the luscious cooking and positively seductive gardening, Santina becomes the glue that holds the family together, yet she never “forgets her place” as a servant girl.

The drama swirls down the mountaintop to the tourists and inhabitants of the town. All the characters seem marvelously alive and real as the story progresses. I could not put this book down, staying in the car of a restaurant parking lot so I could finish chapter after chapter as the story became like one of Santana’s pots . . . about to boil over. It took several hankies to contain my tears! All the colors and emotions of Italy play out in Four Hundred and Forty Steps to the Sea. Don’t miss it. I would not be surprised if it is made into a major motion picture soon.

TRASH BIN PICK: How can you go wrong for 25-cents in a bargain bin at the local library sale? ****HOW FAR TO BETHLEHEM by Norah Lofts, Doubleday ©1965, 353 pgs., hardcover They’re all here in this “novel” re-telling of the nativity story: the innkeeper, the three wise men, Roman soldiers, King Herod, Mary, Joseph, and even the donkey plus many more characters one would meet on the way to Bethlehem in the time Jesus was born. This is not the Biblical rendition of the first Christmas but an imaginative story that takes place all the way from ancient Korea, the home of Melchoir, the first of the wise men we meet, to the sands of Africa. All roads lead to Bethlehem in this charming tale in which chapters are listed by the distance from Bethlehem each of the characters are. And each character is given enough space to become an endearing part of the story. Author Norah Lofts is a wonderful storyteller.

She is far more well-known in England than here, but this bargain basement book find is well worth the time to sit down on cozy nights and let the tale take you to far-away lands in far-away times. This book was re-released in 2012 in paperback with reviews giving it 4½ stars on Amazon.com. All review comments are positive and filled (curiously) with a certain awe.

Many reviewers found this book as I did: as a bit of serendipity. All were entranced by it. The book is not so religiously overwhelming that the fictional story (novel) of it is lost. Most people had read it before Christmas and it enhanced their holiday spirit. Find it now online or in your Kindle and give this gentle, lovely tale a try.

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May 2019

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Banana Factory 25 W. 3rd Street Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Linda Dubin Garfield: Just My Type thru May 27, Compendium Annual Juried Exhibition thru June 9, and You Belong Here: Maria Tina Beddia & Martha Rich thru June 9. Open MondayFriday 8am-9:30pm, Saturday & Sunday 8:30am-5pm. bananafactory.org/events/ exhibitions Allentown Art Museum 31 N. 5th Street Allentown, PA 610-432-4333 Carrie Mae Weems: Strategies of Engagement thru May 5, Fresh Perspective: Modernism in Photography, 1920–1950 thru May 12, Katagami: The Japanese Stencil thru July 28, and Stephen Antonakos: The Room Chapel thru September 15. Open Wednesday-Saturday 11am-4pm (3rd Thursdays till 8pm) & Sunday 12-4pm. allentownartmuseum.org ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks 101 Founders Way Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Linda Dubin Garfield: Japan Series thru May 12, and What is a Lemon? - Martha Rich Art Installation thru August 26.

Open Monday-Wednesday 3:309pm, Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 4pm-12am, Saturday 11am12am, and Sunday 12-9pm. artsquest.org/arts ARTSPACE Gallery Pocono Arts Council 700 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA 570-476-4460 Members’ Exhibition 2019

May 3-June 8. Open TuesdayFriday 10am-4pm & SaturdaySunday 12-4pm. poconoarts.org/ artspace-gallery Bethlehem House Gallery 459 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 610-419-6262 The Spring Show: Cody Abrachinsky, Ophir Agassi, Khalil Allaik, Marilyn J. Fox, Rhonda J. Snowaert & Kristen T. Woodward thru June 15. Open Monday-Thursday 11am-7pm, Friday-Saturday 11am-9pm & Sunday 12-7pm. bethlehemhousegallery.com

Brick + Mortar Gallery Silk Mill Complex, Unit 101 1247 Simon Boulevard Easton, PA colleen@ brickandmortargallery.com Mixed Messages: Works by Paul Deery thru June 1. Open Friday & Saturday 12-6pm, Sunday 12-4pm & by appt. brickandmortargallery.com Charles Klabunde Gallery & Studio 73 N. 2nd Street, Easton, PA 610-252-1938 Original etchings, drawings and

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center The Fine Art Galleries 522 W. Maple Street Allentown, PA 610-347-9988 Magic Cat & C. U. Next Tuesday: Drawings by Cupid Ojala thru May 10, The Long Road to LGBTQ+ Equality in PA May 13-July 1, reception May 16, 6-8pm, and In Remembrance of Love: New and Recent Collages by Katy Molinaro May 13-July 1. Open Monday-Fridays 10am-6pm & during programs/events. bradburysullivancenter.org/ galleries

DeSales University Act 1 LaBuda Center 2755 Station Avenue, Center Valley, PA 610-282-3192 Pippin thru May 5. desales.edu/act1

Buck Hall Lafayette College 219 N. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 610-330-3311 Trifles May 2-3, and National Theatre Live: The Madness of George III May 5. williamscenter.lafayette.edu Bucks County Playhouse 70 S. Main Street New Hope, PA 215-862-2121 Beatles for Sale: Lennon and McCartney Revisited May 3, WellStrung: The Movie Show May 4, Student Theater Festival: Best of Fest May 5, and Dial M For Murder May 17-June 15. bcptheater.org

8 The Irregular

Connexions Gallery 213 Northampton Street Easton, PA 610-250-7627 Botanica featuring Richard Begbie, Nancy Bossert, Will Hubscher, Marya, Tomi Petrella, Florence Rodale, Thomas Shillea & Terry Wolfson-Tighe thru May 12. Open Monday 12-5pm, Thursday 12-7pm, Friday 12-8pm, Saturday 11am8pm & Sunday 12-6pm. connexionsgallery.com The David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries The Baum School of Art 510 Linden Street Allentown, PA 610-433-0032 34th Annual Art Auction Preview May 16, 6-8pm, and 34th Annual Art Auction May 18, 5:30pm (silent auction), 8pm (live auction). Open Monday-Thursday 9am-9pm, Friday & Saturday 9am-3pm. baumschool.org

The Eagle Nest Gallery Nazareth Area High School E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 610-759-1730 Claire Lucas: Inconspicuous Objects thru May 31, reception May 10, 6-9pm. Open MondayFriday 8am-3pm & during cultural events. hs.nazarethasd. org/en-gallery-home-page Easton Hospital Gallery State Theatre Center for the Arts 5th & Northampton Streets Easton, PA 800-999-STATE 2018 FREDDY Awards Photo Retrospective by Dave Dabour and Tom Kosa thru June 21. Open 90 minutes prior to most performances. statetheatre.org/gallery Easton Public Market 325 Northampton Street Easton, PA info@eastonart.org Arts Community of Easton (ACE) Artists. Open Wednesday-Saturday 9am-7pm & Sunday 9am-5pm.

Gallery at St. John’s 330 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 610-258-6119 Radiate Happiness: Artists from VIA of Bethlehem May 5-June 30, reception May 5, 12-3pm, artists’ talk 12:30pm; and Easton Artist & Storyteller Charles Hanson Book Event May 19, 12pm.. Open Sunday 12-3pm (closed Memorial Day wknd.) & by appt. stjohnseaston.org/ ministries/gallery

Country Gate Theatre 114 Greenwich Street Belvidere, NJ 908-475-1104 Twelve Angry Jurors May 3-5. countrygate.org

Civic Theatre of Allentown 527 N. 19th Street, Allentown, PA 610-432-8943 Fun Home May 3-19. civictheatre.com

paintings by Charles Klabunde.

Open Thursday-Saturday & 1st Sunday 12-5pm & by appt.

CharlesKlabundeArtist.com

Pennsylvania Youth Theatre PYT Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1400 Disney’s The Little Mermaid May 7-19 at Charles A. Brown Historic Ice House in Bethlehem. 123pyt.org

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse 88 Route 173 West Hampton, NJ 800-447-7313 Over the River and Through the Woods May 9-June 15. hhplayhouse.com Northampton Community College Theatre 3835 Green Pond Road Bethlehem, PA 610-861-5524 In The Heights June 5-16. nccsummertheatre.org

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Lehigh University Art Galleries

420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA

610-758-3615

The Teaching Museum: Selections from the Permanent Museum Collection, Pedro Meyer: Truth from Fiction, The Future is Female: Prints by Women Artists, Robert Doisneau: Paris After War, Scale Shift: Large and Small Works, and Elisabeth Frink: Mountain Hawks & Other Creatures thru May 24. Open Wednesday-Saturday 11am-5pm & Sunday 1-5pm. luag.org

Hunterdon Art Museum 7 Lower Center Street Clinton, NJ 908-735-8415 Young Artists Showcase thru June 2, THAT Exhibition: The Hunterdon Art Tour kick-off celebration May 3-5, and Transformed: Paper in Dimension May 12-September 1. Open Tuesday-Sunday 11am5pm. hunterdonartmuseum.org IF Museum/Academy 107 N. 4th Street, Easton, PA 610-258-0777 Sasha Meret: MetaMythical Fusions. Open by appt. facebook.com/ IFMuseumAcademy

Martin Art Gallery Baker Center for the Arts Muhlenberg College 2400 Chew Street Allentown, PA 484-664-3467 Liz Whitney Quisgard: Imaginary Architecture thru May 30. Open Tuesday-Saturday 12-8pm. muhlenberg.edu/main/ aboutus/gallery ME-Art Studio 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor Easton, PA 908-319-4864 Gallery and working studio of Beverly Murbach-Erhardt featuring watercolors, acrylics and art cards. Open FridaySaturday 11am-4pm. meartstudio.com

Pennsylvania Playhouse 390 Illick’s Mill Road, Bethlehem, PA 610-865-6665 Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor DreamCoat May 31-June 16. paplayhouse.org Pines Dinner Theatre 448 N. 17th Street, Allentown, PA 610-433-2333 Second Chances: The Thrift Shop Musical thru May 12, and Rock Around the Clock May 24-July 7. pinesdinnertheatre.com

Museum of Ethnography 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor Easton, PA 908-798-0805 Tolerant No Longer (6-minute film) thru September 30. Open Tuesday & Friday 11am-4pm, Saturday 11am-2pm & by appt. maryaclarity.com

Sigal Museum Northampton Historical & Genealogical Society 342 Northampton Street Easton, PA 610-253-1222 The Cat’s Meow: Lehigh Valley in the Age of Art Deco & the Roaring Twenties thru July 29, and A Plethora of Petticoats May 18-June 28, reception May 18, 7-9pm. Open WednesdaySaturday 10am-4pm (Fourth Fridays till 9pm) & Sunday 12-4pm. sigalmuseum.org

National Museum of Industrial History 602 E. 2nd Street Bethlehem, PA 610-694-6644 Don’t Touch that Dial! 100 Years of Radio thru November 3. Open Wednesday-Sunday 10am-5pm. nmih.org

SmARTivities Showcase 60 Centre Square, Easton, PA 484-544-3954 Various artists on display and working studios. Open TuesdaySaturday 10am-6pm & Sunday 12-5pm. smARTivities.net

Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street Easton, PA 610-253-4432 Let’s Explore: a 360 degree virtual reality film on climate change thru May 15, A Natural Selection: Plantlife in Print, and Alaskan Journey: Artists Respond to Climate Change thru June 20. Open Wednesday 12-4pm, Thursday 6-9pm, Saturday 12-4pm & by appt. nurturenaturecenter.org Payne Gallery Moravian College 346 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 610-861-1491 Senior Thesis Exhibition thru May 11. Open Tuesday-Sunday 12-4pm. moravian.edu/art/ payne-gallery Rotunda Gallery at City Hall 10 E. Church Street Bethlehem, PA 610-398-1451 David Lee: Watercolors May 8-June 18, reception May 19, 2-4pm. Open Monday-Friday 8:30am-4:30pm. bfac-lv.org

Shawnee Playhouse River Road, Shawnee-OnDelaware, PA 570-421-5093 Confessions of a Dirty Blonde May 10-June 2, Dog Sees God: Confessions of a Teenage Blockhead May 17-24, and School House Rock Live! JR. June 1- 22. theshawneeplayhouse.com

Zoellner Arts Center Lehigh University 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 610-758-2787 x0 LU Choral Arts: Carmina Burana May 3-4, LU Wind Ensemble: East Meets West May 5, St. Luke’s All-Star Awards Night 2019 May 8, Water On Mars May 11, and Pennsylvania Youth Ballet presents Coppelia May 31. zoellner.cas2. lehigh.edu

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Williams Center Gallery Lafayette College 317 Hamilton Street,Easton, PA 610-330-5361 Past | Present | Future | 2019: Selections from the Lafayette Art Collection thru June 4. Open Monday-Friday 11am-5pm (Thursday till 8pm), Saturday & Sunday 12-5pm, and performance nights 7:309:30pm. galleries.lafayette.edu/category/exhibitions

May 2019

Nazareth Center for the Arts 30 Belvidere Street, Nazareth, PA 610-614-0404 Fabric Illusions: Terry Wolfson-Tighe May 5-25, reception May 5, 2-4pm. Open Thursday 6-8pm, Saturday 10am-12pm & by appt.

State Theatre Center for the Arts 453 Northampton Street Easton, PA 800-999-STATE Allentown Symphony Orchestra: To the Moon and Back! May 4, A Night with Vic Dibitetto May 11, FREDDY© Awards Preview Night May 22, and 2019 FREDDY© Awards May 23. statetheatre.org Touchstone Theatre 321 E. 4th Street Bethlehem, PA 610-867-1689 14th Annual Young Playwrights’ Festival May 18, and Fresh Voices June 7-8. touchstone.org Williams Center for the Arts Lafayette College 317 Hamilton Street Easton, PA 610-330-5009 Contemporary Music Ensemble May 3, Concert Chorus May 4, Chamber Orchestra May 5, Percussion Ensemble May 6, Concert Band May 11, and The Marquis Consort May 12. williamscenter.lafayette.edu

The Irregular 9

ARTISTIC ENDEAVORS

Musical theatre takes center stage in Easton, PA

by Dawn Ouellette Nixon The Lehigh Valley is a little more than an hour from the bright lights of Broadway, but the stars of local musical theatre shine no less bright here. The FREDDY© Awards program, a production of the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, has recognized and rewarded the exceptional musical theatre performance of high school students throughout the Lehigh Valley since 2002. The Tony Awards like program culminates in a 3 hour long television awards ceremony broadcast in partnership with WFMZ-TV. Shelley Brown, President and CEO of the State Theatre, sat down with The Irregular to discuss what makes this popular awards show so important to so many.

Tell us a bit about how the idea for the Freddy Awards came about.

The program started 17 years ago. I saw that there were other theaters who did high school musical award shows based on the Tonys. No one else did it on TV so I went to WFMZ. We convinced them to put it on with us. Prior to the Freddy’s there were awards for sports but not for theatre. Theatre is just as difficult a pursuit.

Today, we are stronger than ever in our 17th year. We’ve won two Emmy awards over the years and 30 schools now participate. It has changed the lives of some of our local high school students and been embraced by the community.

Tell us more about what the Freddy’s mean to the community.

What has come out of this is that we all can look at our community and see what our kids are doing. High school is tough. The kids write to me and say “This was the highlight of my high school time.” Theatre is really a place for everyone. You can be male, female, not so beautiful, beautiful; there is a roll for you, on stage or back stage.

It is about teamwork and respect, it is so much bigger than who gets an award.

Competition is still a part of the experience however, talk about that.

Our hearts are thoroughly involved. It’s more about the larger experience and it is fun but yes, it is still a competition. Life is a contest, if you can’t handle disappointment, don’t come in it.

What is the Freddy Awards experience like for the students involved?

The students have not fallen short, it’s more than just an awards show. These are 120 kids who don’t know each other. They bond quickly, and we watch them develop relationships. They get to watch each other and develop respect for each other. We see them cheer for each other. Over the years we have made the show flow much faster with more kids and more performances; it’s all about the kids. We’ve eliminated a lot of talking from the adults. The great news is that we have a formula that works, many thanks to WFMZ, the television station, for all they do. A lot of people don’t realize that we don’t make any money on the Freddy’s, it’s really a project based on love. We’ve gotten to watch generations of kids grow and evolve with the awards over the years.

Shelley Brown, President and CEO of the State Theatre Center for the Arts in Easton, on stage at the FREDDY© Awards. photo courtesy of the State Theatre

The Freddy Awards Ceremony will be held at 7 PM on May 23 at the State Theatre Center for the Arts. The ceremony will also be broadcast live on WFMZ-TV and live streamed on WFMZ.com. The public is invited to attend the dress rehearsal May 22 from 4:30 to 10 PM. Visit freddyawards.org for ticket information.

President and CEO of the State Theatre Shelley Brown poses with the kids on stage at the FREDDY© Awards. photo courtesy of the State Theatre

SUPOORT YOUR COMMUNITY.

Crossword Answers (Puzzle on page 15)

©2019 Satori Publishing

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10 The Irregular

May 2019

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IRREGULAR BEATS

Tuning Up For A Musical Summer

by Janene Otten

The summer season in the Lehigh Valley is upon us. The trees and flowers are in full bloom. The air is fresh, inviting us to get up and out after the long winter months. Fill your May schedule with musical events. We’re here to amp up your experience by highlighting notable upcoming musical performances in the LV. Whatever you’re into, there’s something for everyone.

FRIDAY, MAY 3 – SATURDAY, MAY 4 FESTIVAL: SouthSide Arts & Music Festival Various venues, South Side of Bethlehem, PA Soak up the sun and soak in more culture than you can shake a paint brush at with two full days of activities. Get into hands-on art experiences for all ages and free music all weekend. Banana Factory Arts Center will be the hub of art & music both Friday evening and Saturday. See the full schedule of live music at the SteelStacks website.

SUCH A DRAG: Drag Night at The Lafayette with Clan Ann The Lafayette Bar, 15 N. 4th St., Easton, PA – FREE Local Legends Clan Ann are hosting The Lafayette’s very first drag show night! Be a part of history at this fabulous event Friday, May 3 from 8pm to 1:30am. Dance the night away after the show with DJ BFS. RSVP on Facebook!

CHARITY EVENT: Music for Meals Event featuring the Craig Thatcher Band – Miller Symphony Hall, 23 N 6th St., Allentown, PA – $25 per person Come join area Rotarians at the Eric Clapton Retrospective performed by the incredible Craig Thatcher Band on Saturday, May 4 at 7:30pm. All proceeds of this concert will be donated directly to hunger projects in our region. Please bring non-perishable food to donate to the community. This event is generously sponsored by the Second Harvest Food Bank. Order tickets by calling Miller Symphony Hall or visit www. eventbrite.com/e/craig-thatcher-band-and-area-rotarians-present-music-for-meals-tickets-54996016566 AFTER DARK: May the Fourth Be With You REVEL Social, 217 Broadway, Bethlehem, PA – FREE 21 + from 10pm to 2am on Saturday, May 4 – “You will find only what you bring in.” -Yoda Cosmic Grooves and Galactic Funk join forces at REVEL Social in downtown Bethlehem. DJ BFS presents this theme night with music by “THE SMITHS” (DJ Smith & DJ BFS). May the fourth is officially Star Wars Day! Costumes are encouraged. Find the event on Facebook.

CINCO DE MAYO: Noche Latina !

Black & Blue, 683 Walnut St., Easton, PA – FREE Black & Blue will be showing its Latin roots Friday, May 4 starting at 10pm with a night of dancing, Latin food and tequila & mezcal inspired drinks. YUM! DJ Zabor will be spinning the music and there’s a special Mariachi show at midnight!

FRIDAY, MAY 10 – SATURDAY, MAY 11 LIVE AT THE FALLS: James Supra & Sarah Ayers Band Scott Park, Larry Holmes Dr., Easton, PA – FREE Every second Friday May through September enjoy live music, great eats from Sumac Catering and craft beer from Porters’ Pub from 5:30 to 9pm with music beginning at 6:30pm. Live at the Falls 2019 will kick off May 10 with James Supra & Sarah Ayers Band. This event is hosted by Greater Easton Development Partnership and Porters’ Pub. Visit www.liveatfalls.com for the full summer lineup.

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May 2019

The Irregular 11

Irregular Beats

Tuning Up For A Musical Summer continued from page 11

IT’S BACH: Bethlehem Bach Festival 2 weekends! May 10 & 11 and May 17 & 18 – Various venues in and around Center City, Allentown, PA & Lehigh University, Bethlehem, PA The Bach Choir of Bethlehem is proud to present its 112th Bethlehem Bach Festival. It is the heart of the choir’s season and will spotlight the Bach Festival Orchestra’s French Horn player Anthony Cecere. Do not miss the World Premiere of a commissioned work by prolific American composer Gwyneth Walker. The new work was composed to celebrate the merger of the Bach Choir of Bethlehem and The Bel Canto Youth Chorus. Read about the artists and get tickets now. Tickets get scarce so don’t delay!

Visit bach.org/bach-festival.

CHARITY EVENT: Rock-N-Run Coca-Cola Park, 1050 Ironpigs Way, Allentown, PA Saturday, May 11, 8am to 12pm Join The Salvation Army Children’s Services at Coca-Cola Park to challenge yourself and help raise funds to help families impacted by foster care and adoption. Rock-NRun will feature live music along the race path, team spirit awards, a great after party featuring fun and activities for the whole family, mascots, and more! With a 10K, 5K, and Kids Fun Run, there is something for everyone. “Come Rock this run to help kids!” Visit www.rocknrun4kids.com.

THURSDAY, MAY 16 – FRIDAY, MAY 17 – SATURDAY, MAY 18 – SUNDAY, MAY 19 CHARITY EVENT: The Amish Outlaws Benefit for Folds of Honor Musikfest Café –presented by Yuengling, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA Thursday, May 16 at 7:30pm $20-$25 in advance, $25-$30 at the door Folds of Honor of Eastern PA and NJ carries out its noble mission of assisting dependents affected by the deployment of a family member by providing educational support to spouses and children of America’s fallen and disabled service members. The Amish Outlaws will delight the audience with its diverse songs choices that will keep us guessing with anticipation. Honor those who sacrifice for our country at this energetic show! Visit www.steelstacks.org/event/7938/amish-outlaws-benefit-concert-for-folds-of-honor

Band while you weave through the fair, and on Sunday, don’t miss The BC Combo on the RCN Main Stage followed by the ‘80’s music experience of Rubix Kube. The website’s calendar is very interactive and fun! Visit www.cedarcrest.edu/mayfair/schedule.shtm The Great Pennsylvania Music & Arts Celebration Allentown Fairgrounds, 302 N. 17th St., Allentown, PA Saturday, May 25, 12 to 10pm, Sunday, May 26, 12 to 10pm & Monday, May 27, 12 to 8pm – FREE Pennsylvania’s Music Preservation Society promotes the preservation of PA’s musical heritage and cultural history, intending to keep them alive for generations to come. Help them do it by supporting the diverse local music from Polka to Folk & Latino to Rock.

The festival also celebrates PA’s Brewing and Vinter Arts. After all, PA does have the oldest brewery in the nation. Most events will be at the Agri-Plex to prevent a wash out.

Five Acre Fest 367 Laurel Hill Rd., Bangor, PA Opens 11am Friday, May 24 and runs through Monday, May 27.

Tent camping allowed Friday and Saturday. RV hookups at Hickory Lake Campground across the street. Spots fill up quickly – FREE Seventeen acts will appear this year including The Crowning, Acoustic Kitty Project, Emily Noel, Head Eye (Jason E. Hedrington) and Shane Reimer and Them Spicy Boys; all of them guaranteed to keep you going longer than your flashlight’s Energizer Bunny.

Don’t forget the marshmallows! Search @fiveacrefest to find out more.

OTHER NOTABLE MUSIC EVENTS: 5/2 – Tunes at Twilight (through 7/18) Thursday nights at the Sun Inn Courtyard, Historic Bethlehem 5/5 – School of Rock Easton Grand Re-Opening Party – Easton 5/7 – Alex Meiner Band – Roots of Lehigh Valley Music – Allentown 5/22 – Freddy Awards Preview Night at the State Theatre – Easton 5/31 – Into the Woods Jr. at Lehigh Valley Charter High School of Performing Arts – Bethlehem

SCHOOL OF ROCK LIVE!: A Tribute to MTV’s 120 Minutes Rivals, 5 Lehns Ct., Easton, PA, Performances Friday, May 17 6 to 8pm and Saturday, May 18 7:30pm to 9:30pm – FREE If you remember how cool MTV was when you would wait to see a world premiere music video by your favorite classic alternative band on 120 Minutes, then you don’t want to miss Easton’s School of Rock students present some of the most iconic songs of that era.

Bust out your old wardrobe. You know you still have a few articles of clothing you can only wear on an occasion like this! Visit locations.schoolofrock.com/easton/events.

FESTIVAL: Rally in the Valley – Strength in Recovery Musikfest Café, 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA Sunday, May 19 12 to 5pm – FREE SYNC Recovery Community provides an invaluable resource for people living a recovery lifestyle. Come together for this ‟free music festival to celebrate recovery as a community concept.” Six incredible musical acts, including the Philly Funk Authority, and three special guest speakers working to help end the addiction crisis in America will inspire hope. This family tradition is one of many ways SYNC brings strength to recovery. Visit syncrecovery.org/rally-in-the-valley.

MEMORIAL DAY WEEKEND: FRIDAY, MAY 24 – SATURDAY, MAY 25 – SUNDAY, MAY 26 – MONDAY, MAY 27 FESTIVALS: Mayfair Festival of the Arts Cedar Crest College, 100 College Dr., Allentown, PA Friday, May 24, 4 to 10pm, Saturday & Sunday, May 25 & 26, 12 to 10pm – FREE ENTRY; Fairy Garden Workshop $20 There will be arts & crafters, vendors, food trucks, beer and bands all weekend long at Cedar Crest College and great fun for families! Shake your rump to the Large Flowerheads on the RCN Main Stage Saturday, enjoy the roving musicians Little Brass

SUPPORT YOUR COMMUNITY.

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12 The Irregular

May 2019

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GARDENING

The Flowers of Summer article and photos by Pam Ruch “Annual flowers are so much trouble,” I sometimes hear people say. “They’re not worth it.

I’m only going to plant perennials.”

I disagree. Strongly. And here are three reasons why.

REASON 1.

All-season annual bloomers can be problem solvers if you use them instead of expanses of mulch. They can effectively cover bare ground, preventing weeds from growing and saving you a whole lot of hauling!

Here are a few of my favorite annuals for covering ground: Petunia ‘Tidal Wave Silver’ is the ultimate easy landscaping plant. It will tolerate heat, drought and complete neglect, and once it gets started it will bloom non-stop until fall. Plant it in full sun and allow plenty of space. By summer’s end, plants will be 18 inches in height and each one will cover a square yard of territory.

Dianthus Jolt™ Pink was introduced in 2015, and has proven its worth in my garden every year since. Sun loving, about 18 inches in height, and bordering on magenta, it performs from spring through fall without any coddling. If you want color in your garden (and life), use it as a border plant.

Butterflies love Zinnias!

Sweet Alyssum (Lobularia) ‘Silver Stream’ has a place in every garden I tend. Unlike the sweet alyssum varieties of the past, it will persist through the heat of summer. Tough, fragrant, only 8 inches tall but with a spread of about 3 feet, it can be used as a filler or a border plant. And, because it attracts syrphid flies and their aphid-eating larvae, it’s a musthave for anyone who grows vegetables!

Salvia ‘Wendy’s Wish’ is my favorite non-hardy salvia. Plant this if you want to attract hummingbirds to your sunny or partly shaded garden. Flowers are a darkish magenta pink, not garish, and the plants can grow to 2 feet in height. Pop them into the bare spots in your garden—so much better than mulch!

Narrow-leaf zinnia (Zinnia angustifolia) is not at all like its taller cousins in the Zinnia elegans clan. The 15-inch plants put out a profusion of single flowers in white, yellow, or orange. They clamber about, low to the ground, mixing peaceably with neighbors and spreading joy all around.

REASON 2.

Annual flowers provide a consistent supply of nectar and pollen for bees, flies, butterflies and other important pollinators. Native perennial plants such as mountain mint (Pycnanthemum muticum), goldenrod (Solidago spp.), and milkweed (Asclepias spp.) are the absolute best choices for attracting and sustaining native pollinators (check out Penn State’s Bees, Bugs, Bloom Pollinator Trial for details), but you’ll see plenty of action on your flowering annual plants also.

Sunflowers are a fest for pollinators.

These are some top picks for pollinators: Sweet Alyssum is the best choice for attracting syrphid flies, which do double-duty in the garden. They pollinate and they help keep your aphids under control.

Sunflowers are actually masses of tiny flowers. Sterile ray florets (petals) flag down large numbers of passing pollinators, who then gorge on the nectar and pollen contained in the many (1000 plus!) disc florets that make up the “head”. These disc florets eventually turn into oil-rich seeds—food for birds. A bountiful plant indeed!

Black-eyed Susans (Rudbeckia hirta) are considered short-lived perennials, meaning they may or may not return the second year. It’s best to just plant them every year. Small native bees are attracted to the flowers and birds enjoy the seeds in winter, so don’t be too quick to cut them back after frost.

Yellow Cosmos (Cosmos sulphureus) is easier to manage than the more commonly grown Cosmos bipinnatus, because it does not generally call for staking. Sow the seed directly in the garden and by late summer you’ll have 4-foot plants with golden blooms that offer pollen and nectar to bees and butterflies.

To attract hummingbirds, plant salvias!

Zinnias (Zinnia elegans) are easy to grow and colorful all season. Planting a garden full of zinnias is a surefire way to attract lots of butterflies!

REASON 3.

And the third reason for taking the time to plant annual flowers: Come August, your garden will be a riot of life and color. Granted, it might be a little out of control … but so worth the trouble!

Horticulturist and writer Pam Ruch, caretaker of the Nurture Nature Center Urban Recycle Garden, tends gardens in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, and speaks about gardening and nature topics.

Pictured on front page, bottom right: Black eyed Susans attract tiny native bees.

‘Tidal Wave’ Petunia: a landscape problem solver.

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May 2019

Yellow Cosmos, tall but not imposing, can liven up spaces between shrubs.

The Irregular 13

IRREGULAR EVENTS Community: Every 1st & 3rd Sat. 10am-12pm & Thur. 11am-7pm. Cops ‘n’ Kids Reading Room Story, Craft & 3 free books.

Easton Community Center, 901 Washington St. (9th St. entrance), Easton.

Info: 610-250-6562, copsnkidseaston@gmail.com, copsnkidseaston.org Every Tues. & Thur. 10am-3pm: Senior Connection, a free community senior program offering social and mental stimulation for older adults. Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Forks Twp. Info: 610-253-3732, Nancy Walters 610-253-0726, nancywalters@rcn.com Every Tues., Wed, Thur. 9am-1pm: Silver Connections: Fun for Seniors. Easton Area Community Center, 901 Washington St., Easton. Info: 610-253-8271, Saints1@ptd.net Every Thur. 6-8pm: Tunes at Twilight (May 2: Mason-Wilson Line, May 9: Resting Punk Face, May 16: Peter Johann Band, May 23: ALIAS, May 30: Trouble City All Stars). Sun Inn Courtyard, 564 Main St., Bethlehem.

Info: 484-280-3024, getdowntownbethlehem.com May 4: 39th Annual Historic Easton House Tour. 10am-4pm; $25/adv, $30/day of. Begins at Riverside Park, Larry Holmes Dr., Easton. Info: 610-330-9947, eastonhousetour.com May 8-June 12: NAMI Lehigh Valley Basics for parents & caregivers of children with mental illness. Weds. 6-8pm.

802 W. Broad St., Bethlehem. Info: 610-882-2102, kjoseph@nami-lv.org May 10: Live at the Falls: James Supra & Sarah Ayers Band. 5:30-9pm. Scott Park, Larry Holmes Dr., Easton.

Info: liveatthefalls.com May 10: Easton Book Festival Launch Party. 6-9pm. Two Rivers Brewing, 542 Northampton St., Easton.

Info: 484-541-5379, eastonbookfestival.com May 12: National Canal Museum Mother’s Day Cruise. 11am-12pm/$25. 2750 Hugh Moore Park Rd., Easton.

Info: Loretta Susen 610-923-3548 x221, canals.org May 16: Destination Arts: Third Thursday. 5-8pm. Multiple Art Venues in Downtown Allentown.

Info: 610-751-4929, downtownallentown.com May 18: Forks Area Art Society’s Amp Up The Art Annual Art in Park. 11am-4pm. Forks Township Community Center Amphitheater, 700 Zucksville Rd., Easton. Info: info@forksart.org, forksart.org May 18: Family Style Ham Dinner. 5-7pm, $9/adults adv., $10/adults at door, $4/ages 6-12 adv., $5/ages 6-12 at door. Christ United Methodist Church, 400 W. Berwick St., Easton. Info: 610-258-4762, eastonchristumc.com May 24: Easton Out Loud Fourth Fridays: Flower Power. 5-9pm. Downtown Easton.

Info: 610-250-6533, eastonoutloud.com May 31-June 2: St. Anthony of Padua Catholic Church’s Festa Italiana. Fri. 6-10pm, Sat. 5-9:30pm & Sun. 4-8pm. Holy Cross Park, Morgan Hill & Cedarville Rds., Williams Twp. Info: 610-253-7188, stanthonyeaston.com

History & Nature: Delaware Canal State Park 11 Lodi Hill Rd., Upper Black Eddy, PA 610-982-5560, events.dcnr.pa.gov/delaware_canal_state_park May 8: Birding by Kayak w/ Bowman’s Hill Wildflower Preserve. 8-10am, reg. req. Meeting place TBA. Info: 215-862-2924 May 17: Full Moon Paddle or Hike. 7:30-10pm, reg. req. Giving Pond Recreation Area, 1125 River Rd. (PA-32), Upper Black Eddy. Info: Katie Martens 610-982-0161, kmartens@pa.gov Friends of the Delaware Canal 145 South Main Street, New Hope, PA Susan Taylor 215-862-2021, friends@fodc.org, fodc.org May 14: Doing Business on the Morris Canal. 7:30pm. Riegelsville Borough Hall, 615 Easton Rd., Riegelsville.

Info: 215-862-2021 May 18: Following the Route of the Morris Canal, a 4.5-mile guided walking tour. 2pm. Forks of the Delaware River Recreation Area, 210 S. Delaware Dr. (Rt. 611), Easton. Info: 215-862-2021, friends@fodc.org Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center 400 Belfast Road, Nazareth, PA 610-746-2801, jacobsburgsp@pa.gov, dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/ JacobsburgEnvironmentalEducationCenter May 8: Hike for Health with a St. Luke’s University health professional. 5:30-7pm.

May 11: Basic Boating Course. 9am-5pm, reg. req.

Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-253-4432, liesel@nurturenaturecenter.org, nurturenaturecenter.org Every Wed. & Sat. 12-4pm, Thur. 6-9pm: Science on a Sphere & SOS Explorer Touch Screen Kiosk.

May 5: Tree Walk and Talk along Karl Stirner Arts Trail with City of Easton Forester Rob Chrisotpher. 11am. Meet at 13th St. entrance to KSAT, Easton.

May 9 & 11: Science on a Sphere: Life on the Move, Animal Migrations around the World.

Thur. 7-8pm, Sat. 1-2pm May 15: Bird Walk and Talk along Karl Stirner Arts Trail with bird guides and Lafayette professors Michael Butler and David Brandes. 8am. Meet at 13th St. entrance to KSAT, Easton.

May 23: Nature Close to Home: A Celebration of Biodiversity in the Delaware Valley. 7-8pm PennState Extension Northampton County 14 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth, 610-813-6613, NorthamptonExt@psu.edu, extension.psu.edu/northampton-county May 11: Pollinator Investigator Children’s Workshop (ages 6-12). 10-11am, reg. req. Burnside Plantation, 1461 Schoenersville Rd., Bethlehem.

Sigal Museum (NCHGS) 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA 610-253-1222, sigalmuseum.org May 9-11: Museum Store Spring Sale - 20% off.

May 11: American Diana and Parisian Venus: Women’s Fashions of the Jazz Age. 1:30pm May 11: Drexel University Alumni: Fashion Talk and Reception.1:30-4pm. $10, $5/members, free/Drexel students May 15: B.Y.O.B. - Bring Your Own Baby Historic Stroller Tour. 10am, $15 (receive $10 Easton Public Market tokens) May 18: Can You Dig It? 10-11:30am, $10 per child/parents free May 18: Dog-Friendly Historic Easton Walking Tour. 1pm, reg. req.

May 18: Washington’s Indian Company. 1pm May 18: A Plethora of Petticoats. 7-9pm, $15, members free. Mixsell-Illick House, 4th & Ferry Sts., Easton June 1: Lincoln at Gettysburg – The Meaning of His Words and the Political Background Surrounding His Address. 12:30pm June 1, 8, 15: Bachmann Players present Easton 1777, John Adams and his thoughts on Government. June 1 & 8, 6pm/$60, June 15, 2pm/$25. Bachmann Publick House, 169 Northampton St., Easton.

Have an event taking place in the local area? Email it to us here at The Irregular, bruneo1776@aol.com.

Events will be placed on the events calendar at the discretion of the publisher.

14 The Irregular

May 2019

SUPOORT YOUR COMMUNITY. BUY LOCAL. Call 610-258-4330 to advertise

AT THE LIBRARIES Allentown Public Library 1210 Hamilton Street, Allentown, PA 610-820-2400, allentownpl.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9-9, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun.

Hellertown Area Library 409 Constitution Avenue, Hellertown, PA 610-838-8381, hellertownlibrary.org Hours: Mon. & Wed. 10-8, Tues. & Thur. 10-6, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun.

1st & 3rd Wed. of the month: Socrates Café. 10:30am-12pm May 2-4: Spring Book Sale.

May 7: Art & Song: Family Night Story Time. 6:30-7pm, reg. req.

May 8 & 28: Family Activity Night: Mother’s Day. 6:30-7:30pm, reg. req.

May 13: Mystery History. 7-8:30pm

May 8: Mom & Me Night - Story Time and Craft. 6:30pm May 15: Mother Daughter Book Club-Mother’s Day Tea and Poetry Night. 6:30pm May 13: Monday Book Club: Heaven is for Real by Todd Burpo.

1-2pm May 20: Adult Craft Night: Lighthouse Painting. 6:30-7:30pm

Bethlehem Area Public Library (Main Branch) 11 W. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-867-3761, bapl.org Hours: Mon.-Wed. 9-8, Thur.-Fri. 9-6, Sat. 10-5, Closed Sun.

Mary Meuser Memorial Library 1803 Northampton Street, Easton, PA (Wilson Borough) 610-258-3040, meuserlib.org Hours: Tues.-Thur. 9:45-8, Fri. 9:45-5, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun. & Mon.

Every Wed.: Gentle Yoga. 12-1:15pm. reg. req.

May 7: Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley presents Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in a family friendly version of the ballet Coppelia.

6:30-7:30pm May 11: Sing and Sign with Laura. 11-11:30am May 15 & 18: Book Sale. Wed. 12-8pm, Sat. 10am-4pm May 18: Family STEM activities – all ages. 11am-4pm May 22: Author Event: Chris Grabenstein, Mr. Lemoncello’s Library. 5-7pm

1st Tues. : Open Mic Nights. 6:30-8pm June 15: Bus Trip to the New York Botanical Gardens. 9:30am6:30pm, $76/reg. by May 24

Bethlehem Area Public Library (South Side Branch) 400 Webster Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-867-7852, bapl.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 11-8, Sat. 12-4, Closed Fri. & Sun. May 1-4: Book Sale. Wed. 11am-3pm, Thur. 5-8pm, Sat. 12-3pm May 11: Make Your Mother’s Day Card! 1-2pm May 21: PA Youth Ballet. 6:30pm Easton Area Public Library (Downtown Branch) 515 Church Street, Easton, PA 610-258-2917, eastonpl.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9-9, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun. 1st & 3rd Mon.: Quilting Club. 6-8pm May 17-May 21: Book Sale. Fri. 10am-5pm, Sat. 9:30am3:30pm, Mon. 2-7pm (half price day), Tues. 2-7pm (bag day) May 29: Non-fiction Book Group: Nellie Bly and Elizabeth Bisland’s History-Making Race Around the World by Mathew Goodman. 7pm Easton Area Public Library (Palmer Branch) 1 Weller Place, Easton, PA 610-258-7492, eastonpl.org Hours: Mon. 9-5. Tues.-Thur. 9-7, Fri.-Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun. Every Thur.: Sew Others May Be Warm Knitting/Charity Group.

1-3pm Every Thur.: Chapter #14, Soc. PA Archaeology Meeting: Bring your Indian artifacts for typing, age determination. 7pm. Info: Len Ziegler 908-750-4110 2nd Thur.: The Writers Café. 7-9pm. Info: glvwg.vebmeister@ gmail.com May 15: Forever Young Adult Book Group: Mirage by Daud.

6-7pm May 16: True Crime Library Book Group: Children of Serial Killers. 6pm May 28: Adult Book Group: Where the Crawdads Sing by Delia Owens. 6-7:30pm

Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity 295 E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 610-759-4932, nazarethlibrary.org Hours: Mon. 10-5, Tues.-Thur. 10-8, Fri. 10-5, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun. May 4: Star Wars/Free Comic Book Day. 10am-3pm May 8: Evening Book Club: Educated: A Memoir by Tara Westover. 6:30pm May 6 & 7: Historic Tour of the Building. Mon. 11-11:30am, Tues. 6-6:30pm May 7: Mystery, Crime and History Book Club: Purple Cane Road by James Lee Burke. 1-2pm May 9: Strong Bones for a Lifetime with Dr. Kathleen Morgan.

6:30-7:30pm, reg. req.

May 14: PA One Book bilingual storytime: Barnyard Banter by Fleming and Not a Box by Portis. 6:30-7:15pm, reg. req.

May 15: Marcella Shook Photography Program. 6:30-7:30pm, reg. req.

Northampton Area Public Library 1615 Laubach Avenue, Northampton, PA 610-262-7537, northamptonapl.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9-8, Sat. 9-4, Closed Fri. & Sun. 2nd Tues.: Crochet Club. 6-7pm May 4: Spring Sip & Shop. 6-8pm, $5/adv., $7/day of May 10: Life in a Fountain Hill Mansion presented by Ken Rainere. 6-7pm, reg. req.

May 15: Teen Chocolate Olympics. 3-4pm, reg. req.

May 17: Game of Thrones Escape Room (ages 18+). 6-7pm, reg. req.

May 18: Friends Spring Yard Sale. 8am-1pm May 20: Recipe Swap - Cupcakes. 6-7pm

(ages 8-17). 1-2:30pm, reg. req.

May 18: Flea Market. 9am-2pm May 21: Tea & Titles Book Club for Adults: Julie of the Wolves by Jean Craighead George. 2pm June 1-June 8: Used Book Sale. 9am-4pm Phillipsburg Free Public Library 200 Broubalow Way, Phillipsburg, NJ 908-454-3712, pburglib.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9:30-8, Fri.-Sat. 9:30-5, Closed Sun. May 2-4: Friends of PFPL Annual Book Sale.

May 7: Behind the Curtain at Disney’s The Lion King. 6pm.

May 8: Small Space Vegetable Gardening. 6:30pm.

May 13: Laughter Yoga. 12 & 7pm May 13: PFPL Writers Group. 6pm.

May 14: Spring Nutrition Series: The Truth about Nutrition – Grains & Gluten. 6:30pm.

May 15: Book Forum. 1:30pm May 16: Film Screening: On the Basis of Sex. 7pm.

May 21: Spring Nutrition Series: The Truth about Nutrition – Fats & Oils. 6:30pm.

May 22: Happy Bookers Discussion Group: Blood, Bones and Butter by Gabrielle Hamilton. 7pm.

May 28: Spring Nutrition Series: The Truth about Nutrition – Dairy & Non-dairy Alternatives. 6:30pm.

Warren County Library (Southwest Branch) 404 Route 519 • Phillipsburg 908-689-7922 • warrenlib.org/southwest Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9-9, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 10-4, Closed Sun. Every Thur.: Tai Chi for Arthritis and Balance (Ages 60+). 9-10am, reg. req.

May 4: Fix It Café. 10am, reg. req.

May 6, 7, 13, 14: Ancestry Workshop for Beginners. Mon. 1011am, Tues. 6-7pm.

May 7: Memory Screening. 9am-1pm, reg. req.

May 8: Develop Your Elevator Pitch: Workshop for Job Seekers.

1-2pm, reg. req.

May 11: Author Spotlight: Maryann McFadden, author of The Cemetery Keeper’s Wife. 1-3pm.

May 13: Dementia: What It Is and What It Is Not. 1-4pm.

May 14: Lunch & Learn- Making Youth Agencies Partners in Youth Suicide Prevention 11:30am-1pm May 15: Evening Readers Book Club: Some Kind of Hero by Suzanne Brockman. 7-8:30pm.

May 21: The Page Turners Book Club: I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai. 1:30-3:30pm.

May 23: Job Seeking Assistance Session. 2-3pm, reg. req.

May 30: Resume Review Session. 2-3pm, reg. req.

Riegelsville Public Library 615 Easton Road (Rt. 611) • Riegelsville, PA 610-749-2357 • riegelsvillelibrary.info Hours: Tues. & Thur. 9-7, Wed. 10-4, Sat. 9-3 & Closed Sun. 2nd Thur.: Adult Book Club. 7pm 3rd Sat.: Saturday Stitchers. 1-2:30pm May 11: Fizzing Away: A Make-Your-Own Bath Melt Program

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May 2019

The Irregular 15

Lehigh Valley Farmers' Markets Spring into farmers’ market season this May! The Lehigh Valley offers a bountiful selection of markets every day of the week except Monday to pick up fresh, local food. Or grab a bite to eat at the market.

The array of farms offering meat, dairy and produce are perfect to find the supplies you need for Memorial Day weekend picnics and upcoming graduation parties.

Eating locally is better for you. According to a blog post on naturalforce.com, “the nutrient density of produce begins to decline the minute it’s harvested. In North America, the average piece of produce stays in transit for five days, traveling up to 6,000 miles from places like Mexico and Chile. Produce then sits on grocery store shelves for up to 3-4 days before you purchase it. That means your fruits and veggies are up to 40% less nutrient dense by the time you eat them, as opposed to when it’s fresh.” When buying directly from the vendor, you also have the opportunity to ask questions about the food. Plus, fresh good just tastes better!

Farmers’ markets are not only a great place to purchase fresh food; they serve as a community connection. According to the Farmers Market Coalition, people who shop at farmers markets have 15-20 social interactions per visit as opposed to 1-2 per visit at the grocery store. In addition, shopping at farmers’ markets stimulates the local economy versus giving your money to huge corporations. Eat healthy and enjoy your community by checking out Lehigh Valley farmers’ markets.

Bath Farmers’ Market Keystone Park, Green & Race Streets, Bath Fridays 3-7 beginning May 17 Bethlehem Farmers’ Market Farrington Square, New & Morton Streets, Bethlehem Thursdays 10-2 beginning May 2 Bethlehem Rose Garden Farmers Market 8th Avenue & W. Broad Street, Bethlehem Saturdays 9-1 beginning June 1 Saucon Valley Farmers’ Market 409 Constitution Avenue, Hellertown Sundays 9-1 beginning May 5 Blue Valley Farmers’ Market 707 American Bangor Road, Bangor Sundays 9-1 beginning May 5

Easton Farmers’ Market Centre Square, Easton Saturdays 9-1 beginning May 4 Emmaus Farmers’ Market Triangle Park, Main Street, Emmaus Sundays 10-2 beginning May 5 The Farm Market at NCC 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Wednesdays 10-2 year round Local Food Market Fresh Fridays The Arts Park 24-32 N. 5th Street, Allentown Fridays 12-4 beginning May 17 Nazareth Farmers’ Market Center Square, Nazareth Saturdays 9-1 beginning May 4 Northampton Farmers’ Market 1401 Laubach Avenue, Northampton Tuesdays 3-6:30 beginning May 14

Art work provided by: <a href=”https://pngtree.com/”>Graphics from pngtree.com</a>

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The Irregular

May 2019

Call 610-258-4330 to advertise