Top Ten Things to Do Outdoors in the Lehigh Valley

The warm weather has finally arrived in full force so it's time to get outside and enjoy it! Here are some suggested activities:

• Join NET's Ultimate Frisbee group each Tuesday in Little Lehigh Parkway
• Explore the Valley's many bike trails: Allentown, Ironton Rail Trail, and more. (More trails per capita than anywhere else in the world!)
• Enjoy a free concert in West Park in Allentown by the The Municipal Band of Allentown.
• Or hear free music in Bethlehem's Rose Garden.
• Enjoy a track race at the world-class Lehigh Valley Velodrome
• Take a hike on one of the many area trails.
• Explore the area's beautiful river system.
• Grab some clubs and head out on the golf course.
  
• Got kids? Go to the Lehigh Valley Zoo
• Or the Lil-Le-Hi Trout Nursery at the Parkway.

Southside Film Festival Fundraiser: Red Hots Burlesque Show

Enjoy great food, entertainment, dancing, movies, silent auction, and MAGIC!

All proceeds benefit the SSFF 2007.

Enjoy burlesque fun in the part of town formerly known as Sin City! (Really!)

NOTE: A couple of people have asked us how "burlesque" the show will get. Burlesque dancing is an art form, all about the tease and an ode to vaudeville and sideshow burlesque traditions, but with a knowing wink. The new burlesque is accepting and celebratory of all genders, sexual orientations, and body shapes and sizes. Underneath the tease and comedy is self-respect and confidence... real glamour!

When: Friday, May 11

Where: Comfort Suites of Bethlehem, 120 W. Third St., Bethlehem

Cost: $25

Takeover at Drinky's

Join Takeover Lehigh Valley at Drinky's this month.

They have extended happy hour from 6:00 to 9:00. This includes $3.00 off martinis and wine, $2.00 Bellinis and beer specials. They have an awesome Tapas menu all under $10.00 and will be providing free samples. There is plenty of room and they are going have plenty of bartenders. In fact there is an attached bar called “The Standard” which opens out right onto the square so you can sit outside and enjoy the weather. They will also have DJ Matty Matt spinning house and top 40 all night for us.

Parking is free on the street after 6:00 or there is a parking deck right behind the Crayola factory.

PS: If you want to really splurge you can reserve VIP European bottle service (with your own lounge area and bouncer) online or by calling 610.252.3800

When: Friday, May 11

Where: Drinky's, Easton

Volunteer with NET for Ben Franklin Technology Partners i xchange

The Ben Franklin Technology Partners of Northeastern Pennsylvania is looking for a few good ushers to assist at our sixth annual i xchange to be held the evening of Tuesday May 22, 2007 at Lehigh University’s Zoellner Arts Center.

In return for your assistance in taking tickets and handing out programs, we offer you the opportunity to participate in what has become the premier business networking opportunity in northeastern Pennsylvania. Last year, more than 600 technology entrepreneurs, business people, venture capitalists, educators, students, bankers, lawyers, and accountants attended.

The i xchange begins at 5:30 pm with lots of hors d’ouerves and a cash bar (for wine and beer); soda and water is on the house. We need volunteers to take tickets from 6:30 pm to 7:00 pm. You are then able to join the audience for the presentation of Ben Franklin’s annual Innovation Awards followed by the keynote address to be delivered this year by Sir Ken Robinson.

Ushers need to be at Zoellner Arts Center by 6:00 pm for a brief orientation session (10 minutes). Required dress is business casual. If you’d like to be an usher for our i xchange, please email Louise Brong – lbrong@nep.benfranklin.org by May 10.

When: Tuesday, May 22, 6 p.m. orientation

Where: Zoellner Arts Center, Lehigh University, Bethlehem

Cost: FREE with volunteering

Contact: Louise Brong at lbrong@nep.benfranklin.org

Bethlehem mayor wants more funds dedicated to city parks

With nearly $2 billion in proposed development, Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan has a plan to extract ''millions of dollars'' more from developers to pay for park upgrades, fields and other recreational programs.

Exactly how much that new recreation fee will be, Callahan is still researching. But, between the Sands BethWorks casino and redevelopment of Martin Tower, Callahan said upping the city's fee -- now at $200 per residential unit -- will stockpile so much cash that the city can get a head start on future parks such as the greenway, a two-mile linear park along a old railroad bed, and a 100-foot boat launch on Sand Island West.

'The parks are in need of improvements, and this is the fair way to do it,'' Callahan said.

On Thursday, city officials will unveil a new recreation plan draft to the Planning Commission, and City Council could vote to adopt in as early as two months. There's nothing new in the recreation plan, written by Urban and Research Development Corp. of Bethlehem. Much of the plan had been laid out in smaller, master plans over the years, but city officials say it provides the city with a bigger, long-term look at what the city should be doing for its parks. The city will continue to work out the fee amount, which will likely include both residential and commercial developments.

The higher fee must be in place before subdivision plans are approved. That means structures like the $50 million North Street Tower won't be subject to a higher fee. But projects like the BethWorks development and $300 million Martin Tower residential development are still on the table, city officials say.

It's difficult to say how much money the city could reap from higher fees, though the mayor estimates ''millions.''

City planner Darlene Heller said the city hadn't added many homes for decades, but since 2003, the city has approved 1,488 new homes. That comes out to $297,600 with the current fee. However, if the city imposed the same fee Bethlehem Township has -- $1,500 per residential unit -- that comes out to $2.2 million.

Young Professional running for Allentown City Council

Voters will elect at least two new members to Allentown City Council this year, with three seats open and two incumbents not running.

Council writes laws that govern everything from how high your grass can grow to how your tax money is spent. And plenty of issues must be dealt with as Allentown seeks to position itself as an attractive city for businesses and families.

The Republican Party has an uncontested primary May 15 because only two candidates, incumbent Councilman David K. Bausch and Robert E. Smith Jr., a school director and former interim councilman, are seeking their party's nod for three seats. They will move on to the fall election.

Democratic incumbents Martin Velazquez III and Louis Hershman are not seeking re-election. Hershman is running for controller. Five Democrats are vying for 3 spots on May 15. One of them, Peter G. Scheweyer, is 28 years old and an Allentown native. This writer says he shares the title of "Mr. Allentown" with West End Blog's Damien Brown. Both are young and passionate about Allentown.

Schweyer's primary goals are to dismantle violent street gangs, protect taxpayer money, make government records more accessible, improve customer service and create programs to attract businesses and jobs.

''We have to start acting like a city and stop acting like a sleepy little borough,'' he said.

That means acknowledging there always will be crime in a city and attacking the problem with the best-available technology and tools. He said an initiative could be something as simple as hiring a clerk to gather data for the fight against gangs. More officers also should be hired.

Schweyer supports continuing to sweep streets year-round, and does not support training police to enforce federal immigration laws.

He supports Pawlowski's initiatives, but said he hasn't agreed with all of the mayor's decisions and wouldn't hesitate to go against him as a councilman if he disagreed with him on an issue.

He said the city should set up a center to direct residents' calls for assistance, and follow up with callers to confirm they were helped.

Schweyer, who worked briefly as a middle school teacher in Philadelphia, said government could improve neighborhoods by working more closely with the strong organizations already in place, such as block watches and recreation groups. He said the city could advise on fundraising, recruitment, insurance and other issues.

Schweyer said the city needs to take better advantage of its housing to attract families and homeowners. It could encourage businesses to offer programs such as one offered by Lehigh Valley Hospital, which provides forgivable loans for down payments and closing costs, and money for facade improvements to employees who buy homes nearby.

Schweyer has never held public office but his career is in politics.

He ran unsuccessfully for state representative in 2002, losing to incumbent Pat Browne, now a Republican state senator for the 16th District. He works for state Rep. Jennifer Mann, D-Lehigh, as chief of staff, after working previously for state Rep. Steve Samuelson, D-Lehigh and Northampton, and Sen. Lisa Boscola, D-18th District. He also was a member of Pawlowski's transition team.

Join the NET Team for Rally in the Valley

Join the NET team for the third annual Rally in the Valley. The rally is a timed and measured road course that includes a scavenger hunt for specific pieces of information. It is not a race! Teams will be scored on accuracy of complete travel time and distance, correct answers to questions and the ability to solve puzzles. Exciting prizes will be awarded to the top finishing teams.

Upon completion of the rally course, participants will enjoy a sumptuous picnic meal, prepared by Brew Works, accompanied by their fabulous handcrafted ales.

RSVP to Vanessa at vanessawilliams2004@hotmail.com no later than Friday, May 25th.

Sponsored by United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Brew Works Restaurants

When: Sunday, June 10, 11 a.m.

Where: Under the Hill-to-Hill Bridge in Bethlehem

Cost: $25 per person, which includes the game, picnic lunch and accompanying brewed beverages or soft drinks.

Contact: Vanessa Williams at vanessawilliams2004@hotmail.com