COMING TO AN ARENA NEAR YOU: NEW RESTAURANTS ON HAMILTON STREET

The favorite sports bar of Philadelphia Fans, Chickie’s & Pete’s, will be one of three new restaurants to open inside the new PPL Center this fall. Also joining the lineup will be Tim Horton’s, the number one fast food chain in Canada that is known for their fresh coffee and doughnuts, and Crust, a coal-fired pizza restaurant. All three new eateries will have entrances on Hamilton Street and will be open all year, including non-event days for the arena.

Chickie’s and Pete’s was founded in 1977 in Northeast Philadelphia, and the location on Packer Avenue near the sports complex has become the destination for food and drink before, during, and after a game. The chain, known for its Crabfries, quickly expanded throughout the Philadelphia area and was named America’s Best Sports Bar by ESPN in 2012.

This will not be the first Chickie’s & Pete’s to come to the area, but will be the first one open to the general public year round. In 2011, they opened two stands inside Dorney Park and Wildwater Kingdom, open when the park is, and last year added a full-service restaurant.

The restaurant will be able to accommodate 275 guests indoors and 50 outside, and will feature two bars: one will be Phantoms-themed, and the other will be the chain’s standard bar, complete with its signature sliding wooden ladder for their bartenders to access their drink selection. It will also include a broadcast booth for television productions.

Tim Horton’s is an appropriate addition to the home of the Lehigh Valley Phantoms since it was started by former Toronto Maple Leaf Defenseman Tim Horton. He opened his first store in 1964 in Hamilton, Ontario, and had expanded to 40 restaurants when he was tragically killed in an auto accident in 1974. The business, which started as just a coffee and doughnut shop, has expanded and is now known for its muffins, baked goods, and charity work, and has over 4,000 locations throughout the United States and Canada.

MAYOR PAWLOWSKI CALLS ON VOLUNTEERS FOR “A WEEKEND OF ACTION” TO HELP ROB McCORD!

Mayor Pawlowski invites you to join in on Saturday, April 26^th, and Sunday, April 27^th, for the first “Weekend of Action” event to motivate democrats to support local candidates and Rob McCord, who is running for Governor. “Rob is the only candidate who will create jobs, rebuild our economy and fix our schools through proven leadership,” said Mayor Pawlowski.

Volunteers are needed to knock on doors and make phone calls to registered Democrats, so if you can help out on either day, or both days, your help will be greatly appreciated! The goal is to get at least 15 volunteers to phone bank, and 60 volunteers to canvass.

If you can canvass or phone bank on either day, please call Celeste at (610) 841.3733 for a staging location near you.

If you are unavailable, another “Weekend of Action” will be held on May 10^th and May 11^th.

 

TAKING PRIDE IN ALLENTOWN: LET’S CLEAN UP OUR CITY

Take pride in your City and volunteer to help Mayor Pawlowski with his 8^th Annual Great Allentown Clean up. Most of activity will take place on Saturday, April 26, just a few days after Earth Day on Tuesday, April 22.

As many as 700 volunteers have taken part in organized clean-up projects in past years. The Mayor is asking even more city residents, business owners, church and community group members to sign up for the program. “We’re asking all city residents, whether they own or rent, to help out and take care of their homes and sidewalks,” said Pawlowski. “If everyone pitches-in, we’ll have a tremendous impact on cleanliness across the city. It begins with each home, with each block and each neighborhood.”

The city will supply brooms, bags, dust pans and litter tongs to the volunteers to be used for the Great Allentown Cleanups, as well as provide trash pickup.

“I want all residents to be proud of their city and to help keep it clean,” said Pawlowski. “Please don’t litter, tie your trash bags, and set aside a few minutes each week to pick up the trash around your sidewalk. Taking those easy steps will enhance the look of the city and improve the quality of life for all of us.”

For more information, or to volunteer for the Great Allentown Cleanups, call the Recycling Bureau at 610-437-8729, or sign-up on-line atwww.allentownrecycles.org.

ADDING TO THE RANKS: PROMOTIONS AND NEW OFFICERS FOR APD

The Allentown Police Department has added four new officers and promoted 12 during a recent ceremony in City Council Chambers. Mayor Ed Pawlowski conducted the oath of office, and was proud to do so.

“These promotions complete a necessary reorganization of the department in the wake of the retirements late last year required under the DROP program,” said the mayor. “The promotions establish the leadership of the Allentown Police Department. With Chief Fitzgerald’s guidance, the Allentown Police Department is in good hands for years to come.”

The 12 promoted officers are veterans of the force who earned their promotions in recognition of their accomplishments and dedication to the force.

Keith Morris joined the department in 1997, and has steadily worked his way up the ranks to his new position as Assistant Chief. He is a graduate of the Northwestern University School of Police Staff and Command, and graduated last spring from the US Department of Justice FBI National Academy. In addition, Morris was named commander of the Hostage Negotiation Team and Director of Training of the Gerald M. Monahan Sr. Police Academy in 2013.

Captain William Reinik was a sergeant in the US Marine Corps prior to joining the department in 1993. He was promoted to 4^th Platoon Lieutenant. Captain Tony Alsleben joined the department in 2000. He was later transferred to the Police Academy in 2007, where he currently serves as Commander. Captain William Lake was hired in September 1998 after serving in the US Army Reserves for six years, and was promoted to Sergeant in 2008, where he was assigned to the Criminal Investigation Division.

Sergeants Andrew Hausman, Daniel Wiedemann, and Stephan Vangelo were all promoted to lieutenant. Hausman joined the team in 1991, where he was first assigned to the Traffic Bureau-Hamilton Mall District before becoming Sergeant in 2002. He is a member of the Crisis Negotiations Team. Wiedemann was hired in 1996 and assigned to 1^st Platoon until his promotion to Sergeant of the 1^st Platoon in 2005. He served 11 years in the US Air Force, including 18 months of active-duty post 9/11. Vangelo joined the department in 1997 as a patrolman, and in addition to being Lieutenant, he serves as Tactical Team Commander of the Emergency Response Team.

In lieu of the promoted Sergeants, Pawlowski announced the promotions of officers Kyle Hough, Robert Holler, Raymond Sannie, Thomas Anderson, and Karl Kozlowski to Sergeant. Hough was hired in 1998 to the 2^nd Platoon where he worked the Vice and Intelligence Unit. He is also a member of the Emergency response team. Holler became an officer in 1999 and was assigned to the 1^st Platoon, in addition to serving in the Youth Division. Sannie was hired in 2000 to the Criminal Investigation Division and replaced Captain Lake as Sergeant. Anderson became a member of the department in 2001 and was assigned to the 2^nd Platoon in addition to the Criminal Investigation Division. Kozlowski was hired in 2002 to the 3^rd Platoon, and is a member of the Emergency Response Team with Hough.

“This is an outstanding group of officers,” said Chief Fitzgerald. “They have earned their promotions via their leadership skills, their test scores, and their dedication to the job. I am proud to see them get their extra stripes.”

Pawlowski also swore in four new officers to the Allentown Police Department including Robert Busch, Brian Best, Adam Dennis, and Christopher Matthews.

 

AN EVEN BETTER CEDAR BEACH PARK: MACY’S “HEART YOUR PARK” CAMPAIGN SELECTS OUR FAVORITE PARK

Allentown has the honor of being named a Playful City USA community for five straight years, and with the help of Macy’s and the National Recreation and Park Association (NRPA), the city will look to maintain that title through their “Heart Your Park” program.

Macy’s has partnered with NRPA, a nonprofit organization that devotes its time to the advancement of community parks, recreation and conservation, to introduce their “Secret Garden” spring campaign that focuses on awareness and funding for local parks across the country. The “Heart Your Park” program selects a local park or green space to support and revitalize near a Macy’s location. Cedar Beach Park in Allentown is just one of the 550 parks nationwide to be a part of this wonderful opportunity.

Customers at Macy’s Lehigh Valley Mall store donated at least $1 to the program and to Cedar Beach Park, and in turn, Macy’s has graciously offered to match the total customer proceeds across all stores, dollar for dollar, up to $250,000, benefitting all 550 parks.

“We are very pleased to partner with Macy’s and NRPA for ‘Heart Your Park’ this spring,” said Mayor Ed Pawlowski. “Through this fantastic program and donations from Macy’s customers, we are excited about the increased awareness and additional funding for Cedar Beach. This park is a tremendous asset to the community, and we appreciate Macy’s support.”

For more information about Macy’s “Secret Garden” spring campaign you can visit www.macys.com/secretgarden, and to find out all of the parks benefitting from the “Heart Your Park” program you can visit www.macys.com/parks.

 

THE ROAD TO SUCCESS: AMERICA ON WHEELS MUSEUM CELEBRATES SIXTH BIRTHDAY

The America on Wheels Museum in Allentown celebrated its sixth birthday this month with some flashy cars and tributes to forgotten roadsters.

The lobby of the museum featured a classic American sports car that was developed and launched by Allentown native Lee Iacocca, the 2009 Iacocca Mustang GT flashback coupe. The car is one of only 45 that were produced in honor of the car’s 45^th anniversary of its debut at the New York World’s Fair in April, 1964.

To celebrate the birthday of the museum, a Mustang-parade was held starting from Allentown City Hall and ended at the Museum on the Lehigh Riverfront. A 1994 Cobra Mustang Indy 500 pace car led the 50-car procession, one for each year of production. The Mustang selections include models ranging from 1964 to 2014 and were acquired from the First PA Mustang Club of the Lehigh Valley and the Berks County Mustang Club.

In addition to the parade, the museum debuted their new exhibit. Known as “Gone but not Forgotten: Orphan Cars of the 1950s to Today,” the exhibit features cars that became obsolete for various reasons. Some cars in the exhibit include a 1982 Delorean and a 1954 Studebaker Commander. In honor of Distracted Awareness Month, the museum will open its Safety Square educational area to promote its commitment to safe driving.

America on Wheels executive director Linda Merkel is optimistic about what’s in store for the museum for years to come. “We are a museum of action and energy. Museums are for lifelong learning. We want people to walk away with a story to tell,” she said.

A NEW LEADER FOR THE PUBLIC WORKS DEPARTMENT

Craig Messinger has been named interim Director of the Department of Public Works in the City of Allentown by Mayor Ed Pawlowski.

Messinger began working full-time with the city in the Streets Department in 1989, and in 2000, he became Operations Administrator for the Streets Department. He was promoted to Assistant Streets Superintendent in 2005, and became Streets Superintendent in 2006. He was promoted to Deputy Public Works Director in 2012.

“Craig recently celebrated 25 years with the city,” said Pawlowski. “He has done an excellent job in each step of his promotions along the way. He has proven himself by handling increased responsibility at every turn. I know the Department of Public Works is in excellent hands under his leadership.”

Messinger takes the place of former Director of Public Works Rich Young who left the city last month for a similar job in another county.