Parkland News

Lauren and Juan Vargas, owners of Nowhere Coffee Co., expect their latest business venture — a roastery and coffee bar in the heart of Allentown — to be operational very soon, they confirmed Wednesday.

An Intro to Fly Fishing class and a Birding Adventure at Trexler Nature Preserve are some of the new recreation programs coming to North Whitehall Township.

Dr. Jay Talsania is an orthopedic hand surgeon at OAA Orthopedic Specialists in Upper Macungie. In April, the physician will head to Guatemala once again to offer free health care to children in the third-world country.

Willow Haven Farm farmer Reuben DeMaster and independent contractor Bill Kuklinski are partnering to open an organic grocery store at 8150 Hamilton Boulevard in Breinigsville.

The chemical odor at Sharp Packaging Solutions that sent 54 employees to the hospital on Friday remains a mystery.

North Whitehall Planning Commission on Tuesday recommended approval to a plan for a business park with a Wawa, an Autozone and a new traffic circle.

The Upper Macungie Planning Commission recommended approval to a plan to expand Americold Logistics' cold storage warehouse. Nearby residents brought a lawyer to express their concerns.

Emergency crews were called to Sharp Packaging Solutions, a pharmaceutical packaging company in Upper Macungie, after some employees became ill Friday afternoon.

Three industrial buildings in Upper Macungie have plans to expand: Americold Logistics' cold storage warehouse, XPO Logistics' trucking terminal and ATAS International's manufacturing facility.

The Parkland School District has been designated as a Great Pennsylvania School through a new initiative of the Pennsylvania School Board Association to recognize high-quality districts across the state.

Parkland School District officials on Monday presented early estimates for their 2026-27 budget. It includes a $20 million deficit, and could lead to a tax increase next year.

State Sen. Jarrett Coleman, R-Lehigh/Bucks, introduced the bill in 2023 after a student brought a knife to Schnecksville Elementary School. Parents didn't learn of the incident until a week later.

Parkland Superintendent Mark Madson, Assistant Superintendent Michelle Minotti and Chief Financial Officer Leslie Frisbie were awarded five-year extensions on Tuesday, the district said in a news release.

Parkland's school board voted unanimously Tuesday to stop payments to charter schools until a state budget is in place.

A crop farm in Lehigh County was included in the latest round of Pennsylvania's Farmland Preservation Program. Twenty-three other farms across the state were also preserved.

A Lehigh County detective Monday explained his process for obtaining a cell phone from Francis Anonia, Parkland School District's former performing arts administrator charged with secretly recording a student changing clothes. Anonia's lawyer asked a judge to throw out key evidence in the case.

Plans for 48 apartments, including 40 affordable units, on Calvary Temple's South Whitehall Township property are not ready for approval, township officials said Thursday, but will be soon.

This is the 28th year for the health system's free influenza vaccine campaign. A separate clinic will be held and hosted next week by the Lehigh County Coroner's Office & Forensic Center.

The League of Women Voters of the Lehigh Valley organized a forum Monday for all six candidates funning for the Parkland School Board. It was held at the Univest Public Media Center in Bethlehem.

Candidates for Parkland School Board will participate in a forum tonight at the Univest Public Media Center organized by the League of Women Voters of Lehigh County. There are six candidates on the ballot, vying for four seats.

Those parties now will be able to call witnesses and make arguments of their own, as is the case with the original appellee, North Whitehall Township. Argument for the appeal is planned to begin at 9:30 a.m. Nov. 17 at Lehigh County Courthouse.

North Whitehall Township officials Thursday celebrated the completion of a 14-month, $6 million overhaul of the township's municipal building.