In this issue of Bethlehem Local Buzz…

🌡❄️ Snow to Blanket Lehigh Valley: Frigid Weekend Ahead as Winter Storm Hits

📖🕊️ Community to Gather in Remembrance: Bishop Clennon's Legacy Celebrated at Central Moravian Church

🏠🙏 Bethlehem Church's Housing Proposal: A Mission of Community and Compassion

❄️🚜 Navigating Winter Roads: PennDOT's Tracker Offers a Glimpse into Snow Plow Operations

🍴✨  Hellertown-Lower Saucon’s Restaurant Week: Discover Culinary Treasures and Local Flavors 

🎭 This Week’s Trivia, Daily Quotes, Weather, and More!

🤩 Support Local Bethlehem Area Business

🤩 SPECIAL ANNOUNCEMENT 🤩

A heartfelt thanks to everyone who engaged with our newsletter survey. Your insights are the catalyst for some delightful enhancements we're unveiling next week. The anticipation is palpable, and we're thrilled about your continued involvement. Keep an eye out – exciting updates are just around the corner! 

“Winter is the time for comfort, for good food and warmth, for the touch of a friendly hand and for a talk beside the fire: it is the time for home.”

   - Edith Sitwell ♨️😊

Snow to Blanket Lehigh Valley: Frigid Weekend Ahead as Winter Storm Hits🌡❄️

The Lehigh Valley is preparing for its second winter storm of the week, with snow accumulations of up to 6 inches expected. A winter weather advisory warns of slippery roads and icy conditions as temperatures drop. The storm, resulting from a coastal low and an intensifying system from the Ohio Valley, will bring snow throughout Friday, followed by a chilly weekend with highs in the 20s and gusty winds.

Question: Which weather event set the record for the most snow ever received in a single storm in Bethlehem, PA?

A) The Blizzard of 1996

B) Winter Storm Jonas in 2016

C) The Nor'easter of 2003

D) Winter Storm Stella in 2017

(ANSWER NEAR BOTTOM OF NEWSLETTER)

Community to Gather in Remembrance: Bishop Clennon’s Legacy Celebrated at Central Moravian Church 🕯🕊 

Bishop C. Hopeton Clennon, the senior pastor of Central Moravian Church, will be honored in a memorial service tomorrow. The community will gather to celebrate his life and legacy, marked by his spiritual leadership and dedication to community service. The visitation session is scheduled for 5pm to 8pm today at the Cantelmi Long Funeral Home. The funeral service is set for 11am tomorrow at the church's sanctuary. Bishop Clennon's journey from Jamaica to Bethlehem, his passion for education, and his warm personality have left an indelible mark on the community.

Bethlehem Church’s Housing Proposal: A Mission of Community and Compassion 🏠🙏

First Presbyterian Church in Bethlehem has shared preliminary plans for a mixed-income residential development, offering a range of housing units and preserving significant open space. The project, developed with community feedback, aims to contribute to solving the city's housing shortage and support the church's mission. While the initiative is seen as a positive step by many, it also faces skepticism from some local residents concerned about its impact and the church's intentions.

Navigating Winter Roads: PennDOT’s Tracker Offers a Glimpse into Snow Plow Operations ❄️🚜

PennDOT has implemented a snow plow tracker, providing residents with real-time updates on the location and activity of around 2,200 plow trucks. The system, accessible online, offers detailed information about the trucks' routes and the roads they have serviced, although it only covers state-maintained roads. Introduced in the winter of 2015-16, this tool aims to improve the efficiency of winter road maintenance and keep residents informed.

Discover Culinary Treasures: Hellertown-Lower Saucon’s Restaurant Week Spotlights Local Flavors 🍴✨

Restaurant Week in Hellertown and Lower Saucon Township is offering residents a delightful culinary journey this winter. All are serving up special menus and unique dishes. This event highlights the rich culinary landscape of the area and provides an excellent opportunity for the community to come together and support local businesses. With a range of dining options, from cozy cafes to historic hotels, Restaurant Week is a celebration of local flavors and community spirit.

Participating restaurants, include:

• Art Cafe

• Black River Farms

• Braveheart Highland Pub

• Drip - The Flavor Lab

• Hellertown Crossroads Hotel

• Plaza Aztec

• Springtown Inn

• Taste of Italy

• Vassi’s Drive-In

• Yianni’s Taverna

• Wings on Main

Fri Jan 19

• Stevie Vicks Duo @ Palette & Pour: 5:30pm

• Video Daze @ Steel Pub: 7pm-11pm

• Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party @ PPL Center: 7pm

• The Lords of 52nd Street @ State Theatre: 7pm

• Damn The Torpedoes - Tom Petty Concert Experience @ Musikfest Cafe: 7:30pm

• Forever Donna: The Ultimate Donna Summer Tribute Experience @ Wind Creek: 8pm

• DMC Duo @ Palette & Pour: 8pm-11pm

Sat Jan 20

• Qigong: Meditation and Relaxation Training @ BAPL: 10:15-11:30am

• Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party @ PPL Center: 11am, 3pm, & 7pm

• Wonderland on Main @ Promenade Shops: 12pm-4pm

• Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs Ballet @ State Theatre: 2pm

• Dancing with the Stars @ Wind Creek: 3pm

• Piano Pete @ Palette & Pour: 5:30pm-7:30pm

• Dancing with the Stars @ Wind Creek: 7pm

• The Brit Pack @ Musikfest Cafe: 7:30pm

• Brittany Ann Tranbaugh @ Palette & Pour: 8pm-11pm

• UUU @ Wind Creek: 9:30pm

Sun Jan 21

• Disney on Ice: Mickey’s Search Party @ PPL Center: 11am & 3pm

• Two Of A Kind | Jelly Bean Jam - Songs & Stories for All Ages Family Series @ Godfrey Daniels: 2pm-3:30pm

We ❤️ Local Businesses!

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✅ OWN a Bethlehem Area Business » Apply to be Featured!

  Local Sports Updates & Schedules:

• Lehigh University

• Moravian University

• Bethlehem Catholic High School

• Liberty High School

• Freedom High School

The Answer to “Did You Know” Trivia: 

Correct Answer: B) Winter Storm Jonas in January 2016 with 31.9 inches of snow

In comparison:

• The Blizzard of 1996 was also a significant event, blanketing Bethlehem with 28 inches of snow and causing widespread disruption.

• The Nor'easter of 2003 brought substantial snowfall as well, with Bethlehem receiving 24 inches of snow.

• Winter Storm Stella in March 2017 was another major snow event, delivering 30 inches of snow to Bethlehem and surrounding areas.

Each of these events has contributed to Bethlehem's winter weather history, highlighting the city's experience with significant and impactful snowstorms.