Police were called Sunday night for a reported reckless driver on Route 378.

A Bethlehem woman stopped for reckless driving had a blood-alcohol level almost five times the legal limit, Lower Saucon Township police report.

Police said they were called Sunday night for a tan Subaru weaving in and out of its lane on Route 378.

Township police stopped the car at Koehler Drive. Elizabeth Reed, 53, of the 400 block of Forrest Avenue, was driving, and she failed field sobriety tests, according to police.

MORE: Rabies confirmed in cats in Lower Saucon Township

Reed's BAC at the time was 0.39; penalties for drivers begin with a BAC of 0.08. She was also found to be driving with an expired license, police said.

Reed will faces charges of DUI, driving with an expired license and failure to stay in a lane of travel, police said.

Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Winnings from the First Responders Cook-off at the Garlic Fest donated to the Easton club.

Northampton County Sheriff's Department Deputy Sheriff Brian Budraitis was awarded the $100 check as the winner of the First Responders Cook-Off at the 2016 Easton Garlic Fest.

Dean Young, executive director of the Boys and Girls Club of Easton, accepts a check from Brian Budraitis, Northampton County deputy sheriff Brian Budraitis. (Courtesy photo) 

The Sheriff's Department was competing on behalf of the Boys and Girls Club of Easton, which was selected because of its core mission and record of providing services to the youth of the Easton area.

Do you have community news to share? To see it posted here and possibly in The Express-Times, send me an email.

Jason John Myirski, 37, is charged with fatally shooting his father in his Northampton home.

The attorney for a Northampton veteran charged with killing his father wants information from a veterans' clinic, a drug rehabilitation center and the county prison to help him build his case.

Those requests were discussed Friday at the formal arraignment of Jason John Myirski, who allegedly shot his father Joseph E. Myirski Jr. in the home they shared at 3:17 a.m. Aug. 9, 2016.

Northampton Borough police Chief Ronald Morey told lehighvalleylive.com that Jason Myirski complained of post-traumatic stress, had served in the military overseas and was taking an opioid-blocker to deal with a drug problem.

But it's unclear what triggered the shooting that night. The father heard a loud noise, went down the hall to investigate and was shot. He was shot in his son's bedroom doorway, possibly through the actual door.

Police testified at Jason Myirski's preliminary hearing in September that they had to persuade him to disarm himself and surrender. Northampton police patrolman Ryan Grube said Jason Myirski kept talking about training his dog and said he loved the smell of gunpowder during the brief standoff.

Defense attorney Robert Eyer said he seeks records from the Allentown Veterans Administration Clinic; Palm Partners Recovery Center in Delray Beach, Florida; and from Northampton County Prison. Eyer had no comment after Friday's hearing.

Myirski served in the U.S. Army Reserve. His right arm has an Operation Iraqi Freedom tattoo. One on his left arm says POW/MIA.

Veteran charged with killing dad said he loved smell of gunpowder

He had a shaved head when he was arrested. He now has a full head of spiky red hair and a neatly trimmed mustache and beard. He appeared in court wearing glasses, red coveralls and shackles.

Northampton County Judge Jennifer Sletvold asked Eyer and Northampton County Assistant District Attorney to work out a pre-trial meeting schedule and come up with a realistic date by which Myirski can stand trial.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

Joseph Ehrie, 35, was sentenced Friday to three and a half to seven years in state prison.

Three days after his release from state prison, Joseph Ehrie was unprepared for what he would find at his estranged wife's home.

He broke into the Bushkill Township home on March 8 and punched the man who was there with Ehrie's wife, police said.

"Let's just say I was caught off guard when I drove by that night," Ehrie told Northampton County Judge Paula Roscioi on Friday. "I wasn't taking my medications and things went the wrong way."

Ehrie pleaded guilty to burglary and was sentenced to three and a half to seven years in prison.

The 37-year-old Easton man said he and his wife were separated but were talking about getting back together. But she had a protection-from-abuse order against him, which he violated.

She stood by him in 2013 when he was sentenced for having sex repeatedly with a girl who was 15 at the time.

The wife said back in 2013 it probably looks a "little crazy" that she supported Ehrie, but said he made a lot of progress with emotional and mental issues and drug and alcohol addictions. She wasn't present on Friday.

Ehrie had just been released from prison for an assault he committed in Bushkill Township in 2015 when he broke into his wife's home.

He blamed bipolar disorder and hypermanic disorder for his behavior. He said he was waiting to get a prescription card and didn't have access to his psychotropic medications at the time of the break in.

15 boneheaded, bizarre or bewildering Valley courtroom events

"I'm just anxious to get up to prison where I can get some help," he said.

Roscioli said his mental health problems don't justify his crimes.

"I think it explains it a little bit but I still can't have you out on the streets because you're a danger," she said.

She denied a request for permission for Ehrie's seven- and 11-year-old children to visit him in prison. But she won't stand in the way if their mother, the victim of the break-in, gives her consent.

Rudy Miller may be reached at rmiller@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @RudyMillerLV. Find Easton area news on Facebook.

The 21-year-old was charged with robbery and trespass, according to the Northampton County Sheriff's Department.

Carlos Daniel Cantres (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

Carlos Daniel Cantres, 21, is wanted after being charged with robbery and criminal trespass, the Northampton County Sheriff's Department said. 

Cantres, known to frequent the Bethlehem area, is described as 5 feet 5 inches tall and 150 pounds with black hair and brown eyes.

The sheriff's department asks anyone with information about Cantres to call Sgt. Michael Orchulli at 610-829-6520.

Authorities in Northampton and Warren counties were looking for two suspects.

Northampton County authorities seek Carlos Cantres - fugitive of the week

Warren County authorities seek Gerald Bennett - fugitive of the week

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and on Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Brian Keith Norton Sr. didn't return after work release in August.

Three months after failing to return to a prison on a work release, a Northampton County fugitive is back behind bars.

Brian K. Norton Sr. (Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com) 

The county prison on Saturday reported that Brian K. "Bubba" Norton Sr., 49, was returned by Colonial Regional police.

Norton did not return to the Easton facility on Aug. 17.

He was serving a six-month sentence for domestic relations-civil contempt, according to the prison.

Norton was also taken into custody in March on a Warren County Prosecutor's Office warrant for a narcotics charge, according to court records. He had a last-known address at that time in the 700 block of Canal Park in Easton.

Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The fundraiser by Sunday morning raised $13,270 toward the $20,000 goal.

An online fundraiser has been launched to pay for funeral expenses of the brother and sister of a Lackawanna County police officer who were killed in a crash along I-80 in Pocono Township.

The GoFundMe fundraiser, started by family friend Stacey Kordish on behalf of Aleksey Dmitriev, aims to raise $20,000 to help pay for funeral expenses for Dmitriev's 14-year-old sister and 12-year-old brother. Dmitriev is a Moscow Borough police officer who graduated from the Lackawanna College Police Academy and currently serving as an EMT.

Dmitriev also is related to a Coolbaugh Township volunteer firefighter and emergency medical technician, according to the Pocono Record.

Dmitriev's father and stepmother remain hospitalized with critical injuries, as well as his 15-year-old sister with moderate injuries, according to the posting. The fundraiser also plans to help pay with mounting medical costs.

By Sunday morning, 231 people raised $13,270 toward the goal.

"The family has many struggles they must now face," Kordish states in the posting. "Surmounting medical bills as well as unplanned funeral expenses are further adding to their hardship. Please take the time to donate to this heartbroken family as any help is needed and deeply appreciated. May we keep him and his family in our thoughts."

The Lackawanna College Police Academy also has taken to Facebook, urging the public on the department's Facebook page to donate. Donors also can contribute through the police academy.

The crossover crash occurred about 4:30 p.m. in the area of the Tannersville interchange (Exit 299), near the popular Crossings Premium Outlets.

Luigi Depari, 61, of Allentown, was behind the wheel of a box truck headed east when it crossed the median and collided with a car driven by in the westbound lanes, according to a report by the Pocono Record.

Depari was reportedly thrown from the truck and pronounced dead at the scene. The highway was closed for several hours Friday evening.

3rd death confirmed from I-80 crash in Poconos

Sammy Rutkowski, 12, in the back seat of the car, was pronounced dead at the scene. Andrea Rutkowski, 14, of Tobyhanna, Pa., was pronounced dead shortly before 2 a.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township. She died from complications of injuries suffered in the crash, according to the Lehigh County Coroner's Office.

Aleksey Dmitriev's parents, Thomas and Galina Rutkowski, ages 53 and 45, were airlifted to an area trauma center. The 15-year-old girl suffered moderate injuries.

The GoFundMe posting states the family was returning home from a birthday celebration for the 15-year-old when the accident occurred.

State police and coroners from Monroe and Lehigh counties are continuing the investigation. Anyone who witnessed the crash is asked to contact the state police Swiftwater barracks at 570-839-7701.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The pair were arguing just prior to the shootings, Pennsylvania State Police said.

A man in Luzerne County shot his ex-girlfriend and toddler son before taking his own life while driving along Interstate 81, Pennsylvania State Police said.

State police at Wyoming at 5:30 a.m. Saturday began receiving reports about an erratic driver along I-81 north in Pittston Township, Luzerne County. Witnesses said the vehicle was swerving and changing speeds before veering off the road onto the grassy median.

By the time troopers arrived, 23-year-old Zackary Charles Yashkus had shot himself in the head while in the driver's seat, police said.

Yashkus' 3-year-old son, seated in car seat in the back of the car, also had a bullet wound to the head, but was still breathing, police said. The child was taken to Geisinger Hospital, where he was pronounced dead at 6:42 a.m.

Police later conducted a welfare check of the boy's mother in the 300 block of Mclean Street. Troopers at 7:10 a.m. found 21-year-old Sharae Thompson dead in a Jeep parked in the driveway with a bullet wound to the head, police said.

Police say the pair had been arguing just after 5 a.m. Saturday. It is confirmed by police the child and Thompson both died from gunshots fired by Yashkus.

Yashkus had twice faced assault charges in the past four years, according to the Wilkes-Barre Times-Leader.

Yashkus was charged in 2012 with aggravated assault, simple assault and reckless endangerment after police said he cut the neck of a 17-year-old female. In 2015, Yashkus faced simple assault and harassment charges, which also were dropped, according to the newspaper's report.

The Times-Leader reported the charges were later dropped in both cases.

As has become the ritual, many malls and stores will be open on Thankgiving Day.

The debate over whether or not to open stores on Thanksgiving Day continues this holiday season.

Some shopping areas like the South Mall in Allentown, Liberty Village in Flemington and the Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley will remain closed on the holiday Thursday. Others are open at various times.

Here's a list of Thanksgiving Day/Black Friday hours at stores and shopping areas throughout the Lehigh Valley:

The Lehigh Valley Mall is open 6 p.m. Thursday to 1 a.m. Friday. It reopens at 6 a.m. Friday and closes at 10 that night. Saturday hours are 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and Sunday hours are 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Palmer Park Mall is open 6 p.m. to midnight Thursday and 6 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday. Other hours are 10 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Sunday.

Phillipsburg Mall opens at 8 p.m. Thursday and some stores will remain open throughout the night and into the morning. The mall does not officially close until 9 p.m. Friday.

The Outlets at Sands Bethlehem will be open 6 p.m. to 11:59 p.m. Thursday and 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday.

Liberty Village,in Flemington is closed on Thanksgiving Day. Black Friday hours are 6 a.m. to 10 p.m.; Saturday 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.; and Sunday 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

The Crossings Premium Outlets, off Interstate 80 in Pocono Township, is open 6 p.m. Thursday to 2 a.m. Friday. It reopens at 6 a.m. on Black Friday and remains open until 10 p.m. The Saturday hours are 8 a.m. to 10 p.m and Sunday hours are 9 a.m. to 8 p.m.

Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley is closed on Thanksgiving Day. It is open 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. on Friday, 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday and 10 a.m. to 7 p.m. Sunday. American Eagle and Barnes & Noble open at 6 a.m. on Friday. Barnes & Noble also has extended hours on Saturday -- 9 a.m. to 11 p.m. -- and it's open 10 a.m. to 9 p.m. Sunday.

South Mall is closed Thanksgiving Day and open Black Friday from 5 a.m. to 10 p.m.

9 quirky finds at Christkindlmarkt 2016

The following is a schedule of retail store openings on Thanksgiving Day:

J.C. Penney - 3 p.m.

Best Buy -- 5 p.m.

Macy's -- 5 p.m. 

Toys 'R Us -- 5 p.m.

Five Below -- 6 p.m.

Kohl's -- 6 p.m.

Sears -- 6 p.m.

Target -- 6 p.m.

Wal-Mart -- 6 p.m.

Michaels - 6 p.m.

Stores NOT open on Thanksgiving Day, Nov. 24, include A.C. Moore Arts and Crafts, Cabela's, hhgregg, Lowe's, Nordstrom, Home Depot and Office Depot.

Email KJ at kjfrantz@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Members of Easton Hospital along with RCN, Crothall Healthcare, GC Electric and Edwards Business Systems help make Thanksgiving a bit brighter for area nonprofits.

For the Thanksgiving holiday the IT department from Easton Hospital in partnership with RCN, Crothall Healthcare, GC Electric and Edwards Business Systems raised $1,100.

With that money, members of Easton Hospital IT, Crothall Healthcare and RCN delivered 350 turkeys on Nov. 21 to four area nonprofits: Safe Harbor (75 turkeys); Third Street Alliance for Women and Children (30) Easton Area Community Center (30) and the Salvation Army (215). 

Auto club donates turkeys

Giant helped out by selling the turkeys at a great price per pound.

An additional cash donation of $400 was given to Safe Harbor in order to purchase other needed holiday food items.

Do you have community news to share? To see it posted here and possibly in The Express-Times, send me an email.

Court records shed a bit more light on what led to a summer home invasion that resulted in a man losing his left hand.

A co-conspirator involved in a summer home invasion that left one alleged intruder's hand severed has been jailed for his role in the crime.

Charged is Ronald R. Mumbauer, 43, of the 300 block of South Madison Street in Allentown.

Wearing bandanas as masks, Mumbauer and his uncle William F. Andrews, 54, of the 4000 block of Mountain View Drive in Danielsville, at 11:20 p.m. July 2 entered a home in the 1300 block of Canal Street in Northampton Borough, police said.

Resident Troy Imbody, 28, had left the basement doors unlocked and has gone to sleep. The pair burst through the doors and began to intimidate Troy, his father Robert Imbody said previously.

Troy Imbody fought back and cut off Andrews' left hand with a machete, police said. Robert Imbody had described the attack as a "life or death struggle." The father said a BB gun was pointed at Troy by a third intruder when he ran outside.

Troy Imbody suffered a large cut to the forehead, the back of his head and BB shot wounds, police said. He was taken for treatment to St. Luke's University Hospital in Fountain Hill.

Andrews was dropped off at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem by two men in a tan Hyundai. Police were able to obtain video surveillance footage from the hospital that showed the license plate of the Hyundai being registered to Mumbauer.

Allentown police found the Hyundai the next day and impounded it, as well as seized cellphones belonging to Mumbauer and Andrews for evidence.

Mumbauer initially told police in an interview his uncle, Andrews, called him for a ride to the hospital and said he cut himself. But police said phone records didn't match Mumbauer's account of events and several calls were placed between the pair prior to the burglary.

Police then interviewed Christopher Delange, 27, of Allentown, who allegedly admitted to being the other male in the Hyundai with Mumbauer when Andrews was dropped off at the hospital. Delange told investigators he went along for the ride but "was drunk and didn't remember much," according to police.

Judge doesn't want to hear severed-hand suspect's story

While at the hospital, Andrews allegedly told investigators Mumbauer called him and asked him to come along to get clothing for his girlfriend left at Imbody's home. Mumbauer went down the steps first, followed by Andrews, police said.

Andrews told investigators he was attacked by the machete by the time he reached the bottom of the steps, police said. Nothing was stolen in the break-in.

Following the home invasion, signs were hung on the front door of Troy Imbody's apartment. "Come with two, leave with one" and "Beware of Troy," said the signs, which included a set of traced hands.

Andrews was airlifted to Thomas Jefferson University Hospital for surgery to reattach his hand, after investigators had recovered the hand at the scene.

Andrews was arraigned in August on charges of conspiracy to commit burglary, conspiracy to commit criminal trespass, conspiracy aggravated assault, conspiracy reckless endangerment and conspiracy simple assault. He then told District Judge John Capobianco he didn't know Imbody prior to the burglary.

DeLange is charged with conspiracy to commit burglary and conspiracy to commit criminal trespass. A warrant remains out for his arrest.

Mumbauer is charged with burglary, conspiracy to commit burglary, criminal trespass, conspiracy to commit criminal trespass, aggravated assault, conspiracy to commit aggravated assault, reckless endangerment, conspiracy to commit reckless endangerment, simple assault and conspiracy to commit simple assault.

He was arraigned Friday before District Judge Daniel Corpora, who set bail at $75,000. Mumbauer was taken to Northampton County Prison in lieu of bail.

Pamela Sroka-Holzmann may be reached at pholzmann@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @pamholzmann. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Authorities were trying to determine what killed the woman, though it appeared to be an overdose, the prosecutor said.

The death of a 21-year-old Lehigh County woman Saturday is the focus of a criminal investigation, Northampton County District Attorney John Morganelli said.

Kaitlyn N. Laumann, of the 1600 block of Rader Avenue in Salisbury Township, was pronounced dead at 11 p.m. at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Muhlenberg in Bethlehem, Lehigh County Chief Deputy Coroner Andrew Kehm said in a news release.

An autopsy was performed Monday morning. The cause and manner of death were pending further toxicological testing, Kehm said.

Northampton Borough police were assisting in the investigation, according to the coroner's office.

Morganelli earlier in the day confirmed his office was investigating the apparent heroin-overdose death of a 21-year-old woman from over the weekend. He described the investigation as an effort to find whoever supplied the drugs.

The investigation came up during a Monday afternoon roundtable on heroin and opioid drugs organized by Pennsylvania Attorney General-elect Josh Shapiro and hosted by Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin in Allentown.

Morganelli said he didn't immediately have further details on the victim, but authorities said the Lehigh County Coroner's Office was also involved in the investigation.

Asked about the 21-year-old victim, Coroner Scott Grim said shortly before 5 p.m. Monday a news release would be forthcoming, Kehm issued the release about 8:40 p.m.

Prosecuting a charge of drug delivery resulting in death is especially difficult, Morganelli said Monday, with often little to no cooperation or evidence available.

His office is currently prosecuting that charge against Daniel Fisher Jr. in the overdose death Aug. 20 of 26-year-old Thomas O'Brien Jr. in Forks Township

Bail cut for man charged in deadly overdose

Speaking generally about these investigations, Morganelli said during the forum with Shapiro, "We're trying to encourage people that are in this drug world to come forward."

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and on Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Throughout the Lehigh Valley, communities prepare for the holidays with celebrations, carol-singing and the arrival of Santa.

For most, the end of the Thanksgiving Day meal signals the start of the holiday season.

From community tree-lightings to carol-singing and festive shopping opportunities, there are plenty of community events to get you in the holiday spirit, starting soon.

Here's a look:

NORTHAMPTON COUNTY

Bangor: The borough tree-lighting ceremony is set for 6 p.m. Nov. 26 at Founders Park, South Main Street and Broadway.

Christmas in Bangor runs 2 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9 and 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. Dec. 10 and includes decorated storefronts, live reindeer, pictures with Santa and cookies/hot chocolate.

Bath: The borough tree-lighting will be held 5 to 9 p.m. Nov. 27 at Monocacy Creek Park.

Bethlehem: The city's annual tree-lighting ceremony is set for Nov. 25. It features performances, a community sing-along, hot chocolate and cookies beginning at 4:30 p.m. at 10 E. Church St.

South Bethlehem Historical Society's 25th annual ethnic tree-lighting will be 2 p.m. Nov. 27 at the Comfort Suites, 120 W. Third St. Trees will be on display through January.

Easton: The South Side Civic Association is holding a tree -lighting ceremony Nov. 25 at McKeen Park on Berwick Street. Santa will arrive at 6:45 p.m. and the Easton Area High School string quartet will perform at 7 p.m. Hot chocolate and cookies will be served.

An ironworker's eye-view

Easton Peace Candle will be lit at 6:30 p.m. Nov. 26, but festivities in Downtown Easton get underway at 11 a.m. with music on the Centre Square stage all day. Food stands and trucks, crafts, strolling characters, ice carvings, outdoor movies and more make up a day of holiday events that celebrate the season and Small Business Saturday. Visit eastonmainstreet.org for a full list of events.

Forks Township: A Tree of Lights celebration takes place 7 to 8 p.m. Dec. 7 at Park Plaza, 1800 Sullivan Trail. The evening features the Easton Area High School Brass Ensemble, Frosty the Snowman and the arrival of Santa Claus. 

Hanover Township: The community will light its tree from 6 to 8 p.m. Dec. 2. The event features horse-drawn carriage rides, live reindeer, food and demonstrations.

Hellertown Historical Society's Holiday Open House will be held 6 to 10 p.m. Dec. 2 in the period-decorated Heller-Wagner Grist Mill Tavern Room. (Snow date is Dec. 3)

Nazareth: The borough tree-lighting takes place 7 p.m. Dec. 1 in Nazareth Center Square, just off Main Street.

Christmas in Nazareth will take place 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 at various downtown locations, featuring ice carving demonstrations, an artisans' village, food and tours.

Upper Saucon Township: The Promenade Shops at Saucon Valley will host a holiday tree-lighting featuring Santa and Mrs. Claus in Town Square beginning at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 26 with music and giveaways for children. Santa and Mrs. Claus will arrive at 6 p.m. 

Pen Argyl: The borough celebrates Christmas in a Small Town 4 to 6 p.m. Nov. 30 in front of borough hall at 11 N. Robinson Ave. Entertainment, ornament-making and more activities are planned.

Bethlehem celebrates Christmas

Northampton Borough: The tree-lighting ceremony takes place at the triangle on Main Street at Laubach Avenue. Good Shepherd Catholic School Choir will sing carols beginning at 5:30 p.m. Nov. 27 and Santa and Mrs. Claus are expected about 6 p.m.

Roseto: Columbia Fire Co. No. 1, 164 Garibaldi Ave., will host a tree-lighting ceremony 6:30 p.m. Nov. 27 with caroling, refreshments and the arrival of Santa by firetruck.

The Tatamy Historical Society's annual tree-lighting ceremony features carols and a visit from Santa at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 4 at the municipal building at 423 Broad St. Refreshments follow at St. Peter's Church, 401 Broad St.

LEHIGH COUNTY

Allentown: The city's tree-lighting ceremony takes place in the 800 block of Hamilton Street from 4 to 7 p.m. Dec. 1

Catasauqua: Christmas at the George Taylor House is slated for 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 4, featuring the lighting of the community Christmas tree at 6:30 p.m., carolers, crafts and food.

Whitehall Township: The tree-lighting ceremony takes place at 6:30 p.m. Dec. 7 at the municipal building. Pennsylvania Performing Arts Academy will entertain.

Allentown tree lighting ceremony

WARREN COUNTY

Blairstown: The annual Jingle on Main celebration includes crafters and vendors, activities for kids and a performance by the Blair Academy Singers. Tree lighting is at 4 p.m. Dec. 3.

Hackettstown: The BID will host the 11th annual Hometown Holiday celebration 5 to 9 p.m. Dec. 2, featuring horse-drawn carriage rides, bazaar shopping and dining tent, business specials, a tree lighting, a Santa parade and musical performances.

Phillipsburg: The town's tree-lighting will be 6 to 9 p.m. Nov. 28 at Shappell Park, South Main Street.

Phillipsburg Area Historical Society's Holiday Yule Celebration will be held Dec. 9 at the Roseberry Homestead, 540 Warren St..  An open house is slated for 5:30 to 8 p.m. on Dec. 11

Washington: The borough's Hometown Holiday celebration runs 5 to 8 p.m. Dec. 9 and features two tree-lightings: the first at the Town Hall at 5:45 p.m. and then in the Downtown Pocket Park by the Town Clock, upon Santa's arrival about 6:15 p.m. DJ Mitch Hess will play holiday tunes, and Hannukah will also be celebrated with the lighting of the menorah.  www.washingtonbid.org. 

OTHER COMMUNITIES

Lehighton: Lehighton's Community Celebration will be held Dec. 2-4 in Lehighton Park. It includes tree decorating, ornament making and musical entertainment, and it concludes with a tree-lighting ceremony at 6 p.m. Sunday.

Quakertown: Quakertown Farmers Market, 201 Station Road, is hosting a tree lighting ceremony 6:30 p.m. Dec. 3 with crafts, caroling and entertainment by the St. Isadore's School Chorus.

Do you know of any community events that you'd like to share? Let us know by leaving a comment below or email me at kjfrantz@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow lehighvalleylive.com on Twitter at @lehighvalley. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

Josh Shapiro visited the Lehigh Valley to kick off a listening tour to gauge public concerns across Pennsylvania.

Heroin and illegal opiates are flooding Pennsylvania from Mexico, New York, even Detroit across Lake Erie, prosecutors said Monday in Allentown.

Pennsylvania's attorney general-elect, Josh Shapiro, visited the Lehigh Valley to kick off a listening tour geared to hearing the public's concerns across the state.

"I can commit to you as the next attorney general that this will be job No.1, dealing with the heroin and opioid epidemic," said Shapiro, a Democrat who is now vice chairman of the Montgomery County Board of Commissioners in suburban Philadelphia. "And it will be done in a way that is multidisciplinary and in a way that's increasingly working together with the 67 district attorneys ... as well as attorneys general from other states.

"At the end of the day, drug dealers don't follow municipal boundaries," he said following a roundtable discussion at the Lehigh County Government Center in Allentown. "They're going to go where they can and push where they can. We need to be smarter than them and ahead of them, and the conversation we had here today certainly helps us."

Lehigh County District Attorney Jim Martin moderated the discussion alongside fellow District Attorneys John Morganelli, of Northampton County, and John T. Adams, of Berks County, in addition to Allentown police, Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim, medical and treatment professionals and those facing recovery from substance abuse.

Morganelli last spring challenged Shapiro the Democratic primary election, as incumbent and now former Attorney General Kathleen Kane decided against seeking re-election. She resigned in August after being convicted in a perjury case and was sentenced in October to prison. Shapiro was elected to the office Nov. 8 and will be sworn-in in January.

The battle against heroin and opioids has also garnered the attention of lawmakers, who passed a package of bills signed into law earlier this month by Gov. Tom Wolf geared toward stemming the flow of prescription drugs and improving training in fighting addiction.

Through Monday, Lehigh County saw 127 drug-related deaths in 2016, about 70 percent of which are related to heroin or opioid painkillers, Grim said. That's up from 115 in 2015 and 88 in 2014. The six emergency departments serving the county see on average 60 to 80 overdose cases a month, or 360 to 480 that come through their collective doors, said Layne Turner, administrator for Lehigh County Drug and Alcohol.

Death of 21-year-old a criminal case, DA says

The old war-on-drugs mentality is not going to help, Turner said. What's needed, Monday's panelists stressed, is the multidisciplinary approach touted by Shapiro and others for cutting the flow of heroin and opiates while treating addiction as an illness.

"If we looked at a diabetic and said this is a character flaw that you have this disease, that would be a shocking way to approach a patient. This is a disease process that requires medical treatment," said Dr. Gillian Beauchamp, medical toxicologist for Lehigh Valley Health Network. "And if we look at patients and look at this as a moral failing or a character flaw then we are missing an opportunity to provide treatment. 

"And so when I'm meeting these people, these are sons and daughters of lawyers and police officers and teachers. These are very, very high-functioning individuals who contribute to our society. And this is not a character flaw, this is a disease process. We all need to work together to provide resources for these patients."

First responders throughout Lehigh and Northampton counties are equipped with naloxone, which is administered by intramuscular injection or in a nasal spray to counteract an opiate overdose and, hopefully, start a user on the road to recovery. Allentown police got their naloxone June 30 and used it the first night, and 31 times since, Assistant Chief Gail Struss said. 

When police across Lehigh County encounter users, they are equipped with fliers listing treatment centers with contact information in both English and Spanish. 

Inpatient treatment is the reason Bucks County resident Mike Sulpizio is in recovery from six years of painkiller abuse. He'd turned for help to a loved one, who called the number on the back of an insurance card to find a bed and relief from the all-consuming addiction.

"Once that substance enters my body, I can't stop," Sulpizio said. "I tried many times. ... It wasn't until I was in inpatient treatment that I learned the solution to my recovery and I maintain that every day."

At 22 days, Sulpizio's inpatient treatment was "very inadequate," he said. It only took hold thanks to a follow-up structured, sober-living environment.

Beyond painkillers, heroin is the main illegal drug threat facing the Lehigh Valley, said Bethany Zampogna, chief deputy district attorney for Lehigh County. A bag, or 0.02 of a gram, sells for $5 to $10, down from $20 when she started as a prosecutor in 1999, and significantly more pure. A packet of sugar in a restaurant weighs 1 gram, the equivalent of five 10-bag bundles.

"So you can imagine the profit that's involved when you add cut into that to extend it and how much these dealers are making from selling this poison," she said, calling drug sales the primary way gangs fund their criminal activity.

Morganelli, the Northampton County district attorney, told Shapiro the problem is complex. 

"It's a heart-wrenching situation because we've all sat there with people who lost folks in their families," Morganelli said. 

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and on Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.

The 56th PA show was held last month in Harrisburg.

The 56^th annual Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show, held October 28-30 at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg, was attended by than 700 youth from all the counties participated in 75 performance classes throughout the weekend. There were over 1,200 entries shown by youth that qualified for the show.

The state show is the final competition of the year for 4-H horse members enrolled in performance horse projects. To be eligible for the show, members must advance through qualifying competitions at county and district levels.

Forty plus 4-H members competed in the Northampton County round-up on Aug. 7, 35 of which qualified to compete at the district show, held at the Montgomery County 4-H Center on Aug. 27.  Sixteen local individuals qualified to represent Northampton County at the 2016 Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show.

These include: Jenelle Bayer, of Nazareth; Claire Smith, Gretchen Stein and Amber Poniktera, of Bath; Hannah Billig, Alexa Rosenberger, Allsion DiNapoli and Julia DiNapoli, of Walnutport;

Abigail Heald, of Bangor; Laura Hurlock and Brooke Crossley, of Northampton; Jenna Keip, of Saylorsburg; Emma Kilareski and Caroline Kilareski, of Bethlehem; Megan Brenner, of Macungie; and Amy Andreoli, of Schnecksville.

4-H gears up for annual fair

The 17^th Annual State 4-H Model Horse Show was held on Saturday in its new location in the Small Arena. Northampton County was represented by two members from Backtrackers 4-H Horse & Pony Club: Sheridan Taylor, of Pen Argyl and Alayna Rozynek, of Wind Gap.

Do you have club news to share? To see it posted here and possibly in The Express-Times, send me an email.

The Konkrete Kids play rival Catasauqua on Thanksgiving morning.

Northampton football team is 1-10 on the season.

But that doesn't matter right now.

All the Konkrete Kids are worrying about is Thanksgiving morning and their annual matchup with rival Catasauqua.

This year's showdown will take place at 10 a.m. Thursday at the Rough Riders' Alumni Field.

"This a rivalry game. This is the biggest game of the year," Northampton coach Mark Scisly said.

"I think we fought hard for some of the games, but just didn't get the outcome we needed. Some injuries were key in that," Northampton senior wide receiver/outside linebacker Jacob Passarella said. "This is the game that counts. So that's all that matters now."

Thursday will mark the 94th meeting between the rivals. The Konkrete Kids lead the all-time series 56-33-4.

Northampton beat Catasauqua eight straight times from 2003 to 2010. The Rough Riders took the next three games from 2011 to 2013. The Konkrete Kids have won the last two meetings, including a 40-26 win last season.

"We want to keep the streak going for when I graduate and these younger guys graduate. Everybody. We want to win every single year," Konkrete Kids senior wide receiver/cornerback Justin Monte said.

The rivalry means even more to Monte as he lived in Catasauqua before moving to Northampton in sixth grade. Monte says he's friends with Rough Riders leading rusher KJ Reiss.

The Konkrete Kids know they will have to try to slow down the Rough Riders' aerial attack, which features quarterback Andrew Brett and receivers Miguel Hernandez and Ryan Greene. Brett has thrown for 1,835 yards and Hernandez has 723 receiving yards and Greene has racked up 544 receiving yards.

"They're athletic at the skill positions," Scisly said. "Their receivers have had good years. Their quarterback has played well. We got to rush the quarterback and we got to cover their receivers. Defensively, we can't give up big plays like we did last year. On offense, we got to control clock. Run the ball."

"They have pretty good receivers. They have a pretty decent running back. Their quarterback can throw the ball. But I think if our defense plays good, I think we can stop them," Passarella said.

And even though the teams enter with a combined record of 3-18, it will be a battle on Thanksgiving morning when the rivals clash.

"It's always fun. It's a great rivalry. There's always great competition with them. It doesn't matter what our records are. It's always a hard-fought game," Passarella said.

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The Rough Riders take on rival Northampton on Thanksgiving morning.

It's a matchup between 2-8 and 1-10 football teams.

Not the type of game you would think would be called a championship game.

But that's how Catasauqua coach Phil Dorn sees the matchup against Northampton.

"We're real excited about it. It's Thanksgiving. So throw the records out of the books. This is our championship game. This is their championship game. We'll be ready to go and I expect us to play our best game," Dorn said.

The two rivals will play at 10 a.m. Thursday at Catasauqua's Alumni Field.

It will mark the 94th meeting between the rivals. The Konkrete Kids lead the all-time series 56-33-4.

Northampton beat Catasauqua eight straight times from 2003 to 2010. The Rough Riders took the next three games from 2011 to 2013. The Konkrete Kids have won the last two meetings, including a 40-26 win last season.

"It would mean a lot," Catasauqua senior running back/linebacker Dylan Mitchell said about beating Northampton. "For how this season went, it would make me feel a lot better about how this season ended."

"It would be amazing. It would make up for all the losses," Rough Riders senior tight end/defensive end Dylan Nonnemacher said about winning on Thursday.

In order to get the victory, Dorn knows his defense will have to step up against the Konkrete Kids' rushing attack, which is led by Jared Stauffer.

"Defensively, we've really struggled stopping the run this year. That's something that we really worked on here. We had a couple weeks off so that's something we're really focusing on," Dorn said. "We know Northampton is going to try to run the ball on us. They've done it the last two years. That's really our focal point. We have to slow their run down. We can't leave them ahead of the chains all day long, 2nd and 2, 2nd and 3. That's not a good recipe for us."

"I think we can definitely handle it," Mitchell said. "We just have come up and make big plays and hits. Put down the boom, they're not going to run as much. They'll try to throw it out more."

Thursday means even more for Mitchell since he missed last year's game with an injury.

"I'm really excited. It's my last year. I missed last year's game, which bummed me out a lot," Mitchell said.

"It means a lot," Mitchell added about the game. "My uncles went to Catty, they played in it. A lot of my other family played in it. I've been coming since I was little. It's always been a big thing. It's a big part of this town."

Josh Folck may be reached at jfolck@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @JoshFolck. Find Lehigh Valley high school sports on Facebook.

The state is committing $1 million to building a new parking deck in Downtown Easton.

The state is putting up $1 million to help build a new parking deck on North Fourth Street in Easton.

State Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-Northampton/Lehigh, and state Rep. Bob Freeman, D-Northampton, announced the grant after they said the state Redevelopment Assistance Capital Program funds were approved Wednesday in Harrisburg.

City leaders have said the 400-space deck is crucial to accommodating Downtown redevelopment and helping to ease the squeeze once the Pine Street parking deck becomes obsolete.

Boscola said the Downtown area of the Northampton County seat has opened 48 new retail shops and 150 apartments over the past two years -- a boom unlike any in more than 50 years.

"I am excited about how this garage will help accelerate growth and spur additional investment throughout the city," Boscola said. "I will continue to seek state support to help advance and stoke Easton's economic resurgence."

The most expensive homes for sale in the Valley

Easton opened North Fourth Street to two-way traffic and is building a new police station in the first block, across the street from where the parking deck has been proposed.

"This garage deck isn't a wishful thinking project," Boscola said. "It's a necessity. The tourists, businesses and residents are already in place. The current lack of parking is a hindrance to the city's continued economic revitalization and expansion."
 
Mayor Sal Panto Jr. was delighted by word of the grant.

"This is fantastic news for Easton," he said in a news release. "We need more parking to meet our current demand and support continued growth in our Downtown.

"I want to thank Senator Boscola and the governor for their continual support of our revitalization efforts in the city. Grants like these are often the critical piece in making a project move forward."

Freeman said the parking deck will complement Downtown improvements such as the Easton Public Market and supply convenience for visitors and shoppers.

The state's RACP program is used for the acquisition and construction of regional economic, cultural, civic, recreational, and historical improvement projects. Qualifying projects have to be regional or multi-jurisdictional and must help create or maintain jobs, and generate economic activity.

Jim Deegan may be reached at jdeegan@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @jim_deegan. Find lehighvalleylive on Facebook.

Rivalry week reaches its fiery crescendo in a Thanksgiving Eve tradition. Watch video

A revered tradition, the torching of the pre-Thanksgiving bonfire at Easton Area High School is set for 6 p.m. Wednesday.

As flames erupt and lap at the night sky, the Red Rovers Class of 2017 and fellow community members will be getting psyched for Thursday morning's football game against Phillipsburg High School.

P'burg seniors of 1 mind against Easton

Can't make it to the bonfire? Visit lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook at 6 for a live look-in as rivalry week reaches its fiery crescendo.

10 Red Rovers to watch vs. P'burg

In the meantime, here's a drone's-eye view of the building of the bonfire from Tuesday.

Game time is 10:30 a.m. Thursday at Lafayette College's Fisher Stadium in Easton. This is the 110th meeting against the Stateliners.

Kurt Bresswein may be reached at kbresswein@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @KurtBresswein and on Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.