Phil Gianficaro
General Assignment ReporterA native of northeastern Pennsylvania, I've been a journalist for more than four decades. I've reported on events like the pope's visit and the Democratic National Convention in Philadelphia, local appearances by Presidents Bill Clinton and Barack Obama, covered the Flyers in the Stanley Cup finals, and the Eagles in the playoffs. However, the stories that have touched me most involve ordinary folks in our community. A 12-year-old boy getting the better of cancer; Holocaust survivors sharing horror stories they know the world needs to hear again and again; a little girl from Bucks County who grew up to become Miss America. These are the stories I'm committed to finding and sharing with our readers. About me: Married with a son and a daughter in college. Golf when I can. Morning coffee's a must; Favorite quote from my late mother: "There are givers and takers in this world, which do you want to be?" Contact me at PhilG@lehighvalleynews.com or 267-222-0540.
-
The Athena Awards were presented during a luncheon at ArtsQuest Center on Tuesday. The awards honor women who provide valuable service to improve the quality of life for others in the Lehigh Valley and who actively assist other women in realizing their full leadership potential. -
The Interfaith Temple and The Enlightenment Circle hosted an “Embrace Unity: A Call for Peace” event at the Delta Hotel in Allentown on Monday.
-
Salisbury Township native Tim Mayza has overcome injury and being released to earning a spot on the New York Yankees' World Series roster.
-
A warehouse developer sidestepped Lowhill Township and went directly to the DEP to have the agency force the township to amend its sewage facilities plan.
-
The inaugural Lehigh Valley Nonprofit Impact Conference at Wind Creek Event Center on Wednesday attracted 300 participants designed to bring nonprofit and community leaders together.
-
A land developer's request of the DEP to have Lowhill Township amend its sewage plan was viewed unfavorably during a project review by a committee of the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission.
-
Cedar Crest College held ribbon-cutting ceremonies at its $2.5 million, all-weather turf softball field on Friday.
-
United Auto Workers President Shawn Fain and U.S. Rep. Susan Wild, PA-07, will headline a rally to help elect Kamala Harris and Tim Walz on Sunday, Oct. 20 at 10:30 a.m. in Allentown.
-
A proposal to build 73 apartments at the Fellowship Community senior living community received final approval from the Whitehall Township Planning Commission on Wednesday night.
-
At a Miller-Keystone Blood Center event in Allentown on Wednesday night, Sofia Groves thanked blood donors whose generosity helped save her life.
-
An incorrect set of instructions was included with mail-in and absentee ballots mailed to Lehigh County voters on Oct. 9. The error with the first ballot mailing has been corrected for subsequent mailings.
-
Limiting the influx of warehouses into Lower Nazareth Township is the key issue for all three candidates for Lower Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors.
-
Open space usage and preservation, zoning and the environment are the major concerns of all three candidates in the race for two open seats on the Upper Nazareth Township Board of Supervisors.
-
The 13th Oktoberfest opened Friday night at SteelStacks in Bethlehem. The German-inspired festival will be held Friday, Oct. 6 through Sunday, Oct. 8, and Friday, Oct. 13 through Sunday, Oct. 15. It features polka and other music, a variety of beer, food and entertainment.
-
Former space shuttle astronaut Terry Hart, of Lower Saucon Township, believes the psychological impact of spending more than a year in space on a mission to Mars is impossible to predict.
-
The Celtic Cultural Alliance, presenter of the Celtic Classic Highland Games & Festival, vows to do "everything possible" to continue the event. Rainy weather severely impacted attendance and revenues during last month's event, casting uncertainty over its future.
-
The Whitehall Township Board of Commissioners is expected on Monday night to accept the bid of a Harrisburg-based civil engineering firm to conduct an evaluation of two recreation projects.
-
DeSales University professor Elisabeth Felten is in her second year teaching non-traditional, special needs adults to give them a college experience.
-
Inclement weather created expected low attendance and revenues at this year's Celtic Classic festival, placing the future of the event in question.
-
A local initiative to develop a sustainable farm food infrastructure was instrumental in Pennsylvania Secretary of Agriculture Russell Redding choosing to appear in Easton to announce the theme for the 2024 state Farm Show in Harrisburg.
-
Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley has joined a group of local organizations and schools that plans to partner with local farmers to develop a strong local and sustainable food infrastructure to provide balanced, nutritious food to the region’s ever-growing population.
-
Members of United Auto Workers Local 667 have voted nearly unanimously to authorize a strike against Mack Truck Lehigh Valley if a new contract is not reached by Oct. 1.
