Easton News

A Multi-Agency Resource Center will be open from 3 to 8 p.m. Friday, Feb. 27, and from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday, Feb. 28, at the Gallery at the State Theatre for victims of the Hampton Hotel fire in Easton.

Broadway's "Rock of Ages" Band features the musician case of the Broadway show playing what it calls playing "the greatest rock hits from the glam metal bands of the '80s."

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley, in coordination with Greater Easton Development Partnership, has established the fund to help victims of Friday's devastating fire at the Hotel Hampton building, 462 Northampton St. Also, a Red Cross emergency shelter operation has been relocated.

One firefighter suffered serious injuries when he fell off a ladder escaping the fire. Several others received minor injuries. Authorities said the coroner was on scene Saturday "out of an abundance of caution" because they did not have an accurate count of people living in the Hotel Hampton building.

In December alone, there were 676 eviction filings and defaults in Lehigh County — the highest monthly total since August 2023.

In counties such as Lehigh, eviction filings have reached their highest point in years, even as rental vacancy rates have fluctuated. That apparent contradiction — rising vacancy estimates alongside persistent eviction volume — is part of a broader housing dynamic playing out across the region.

Xiaomin Fei, 34, on Thursday entered the plea in the June 3 shooting deaths of Robert and Gretchen Ackerman, Northampton County District Attorney Stephen G. Baratta announced.

Officials signed off on plans that call for 73 condominiums — 15 one-bedroom units, 36 two-bedroom units and 22 three-bedroom units — and about 2,500 square feet of commercial space.

Jack Bennett grew up in the family hardware business and went on to lead it for nearly 25 years. He was one of Easton's most prominent business leaders in the 1970s and '80s. He died Jan. 29 at age 98. Friends say he left an impression on the Downtown business community that still can be felt today.

Affected customers are being asked to enroll in interest-free payment plans so the city can recover more than $35,000 in unpaid bills, its finance director said Wednesday.

Batch Creamery in Upper Saucon Township, Klein Dairy Farms in Forks Township and Crystal Spring Dairy Farm in North Whitehall Township are among the 41 stops on the Pennsylvania Ice Cream Trail. We checked out those and a bunch of others.

Juneteenth events are taking place throughout the Lehigh Valley. A large crowd took to Easton to celebrate the city's second annual Juneteenth parade on Sunday.

Just about everything appears to be in order in regard to an agreement between Easton officials and the school district to revamp Vanderveer Park.

Easton and Nazareth are home to breakfast spots that offer food flights that are often favorites. Owners say they're tedious dishes to prepare, but worth it for the customer satisfaction.

Easton City Council hosted their first Juneteenth Recognition Awards on June 12, 2024, honoring three Black first responders who blazed a trail for others and made the community their home.

Free, 7-week course covers essentials from power tool use to drywall, trim, scaffolding, safety and more, and offers employment interview opportunities for those who qualify.

Opposing forces came to a head during a discussion about public use of Easton Area School District's Cottingham Stadium, with talks of potential costs, liability, and a connection to the public dominating the conversation.

Wilson Borough Council granted tentative approval for a 405-unit apartment complex at the former Dixie Cup factory site Monday night, bringing developers one step closer to launching the project.

From June 10-16, Pocono Raceway will team up with Crayola Experience in Easton to offer both racing-related arts-and-crafts and photo ops on site throughout the week, gearing up for the raceway’s NASCAR weekend July 12-14.

Rosé on the River makes its return to Easton June 15 at Scott Park, where attendees can help support the Greater Easton Development Partnership while enjoying fresh oysters and tasty wine.

A tour of commercial properties in Easton's downtown district drew dozens of attendees Friday afternoon, with plenty of people interested in retail and small business spaces.

Renowned sculptor Karl Stirner's old building, which once housed the artist's living and working space, is up for sale at nearly $3.5 million.