Your source for news and information since August 1999

In the spirit of Black History Month, we hope this edition of LV BNN provides you with the information and connection you need to commemorate this important month of recognition, history and accomplishment!

I'd like to welcome the Moravian College Music Department, and the Allentown School District back to the Network for 2005! This month you'll read about Nicholas Payton and Sonic Trance performance @ Moravian College on February 18th.

For those ladies interested in by-passing 'Super Bowl weekend', you can join the members of 'Sisters Unique' as they celebrate the Tenth Anniversary - of "Ladies Night Out" at The Crown Plaza in Allentown on Sunday February 6th.

Our Community Web section has a new employment opportunities web l_nk and several interesting news articles related to Black History Month. Remember to support the organizations and businesses that support LV BNN. Enjoy this Edition.

Kevin Easterling

Founder & Publisher Lehigh Valley Black News Network

Join the Members of Sisters Unique as we Celebrate the Tenth Anniversary - Ladies Night Out at The Crown Plaza, 904 Hamilton Street, Allentown, Sunday, February 6, 2005 from 4:00PM - 8:00 PM.

The cost is $35/person. Buffet Dinner Served. Entertainment, Door Prizes, Vendors and More. Recipients this year are: The Lehigh Valley Sickle Cell Support Group and The Helping Hands Ministry. For more information, contact Gwen Adams at 610.791.1875

Saturdays feature in-depth visual arts workshops and children's programs, while Sundays showcase musical performances and lectures on the arts in the Binney & Smith Gallery of the arts center, located at 25 W. Third St., Bethlehem.

The lineup includes a Valentine card class for kids Feb. 5, an "art" doll making workshop Feb. 12, a beading workshop Feb. 19, an American Indian craft workshop Feb. 26, a Polaroid transfer techniques class March 5, a Japanese tea ceremony and Raku kiln firing demonstration March 12 and a spring art and gardening class for children March 19.

Sunday concerts include "The Arrogant Worms Feb. 6, a chocolate buffet and love songs by Matthew James Feb. 13, "Unforgettable - A Tribute to Nat King Cole" Feb. 20, Big Band sounds by the Bill Warfield Quintet Feb. 27 and folk singer Steve Forbert March 13. On March 6, internationally-known crystal sculpture designer Peter Yenawine of Bethlehem's Crystal Signatures will present a gallery talk on the creative process behind his work, while the March 20 program is "Hollywood on the Lehigh," showcasing Lehigh Valley residents in the film industry.

For tickets, class registrations and more information, visit www.fest.org or call 610-332-FEST.

• Tickets: $16.50 (Adv.), $18.50 (VIP), & $25 (Door)
• (Group Rate for tables only; 8-seats per table)
• For tickets & info, call 610-434-9327

The Lehigh University Department of Theatre is pleased to present The Colored Museum by George C. Wolfe in Diamond Theater, Zoellner Arts Center, on February 18-20, 23-26 at 8 pm; 2 pm Sunday.

Directed by Kashi Johnson, The Colored Museum assails and celebrates what it means to be black in America. Armed with humor and satire, George C. Wolfe examines questions of identity and culture through a series of live "exhibits" - short vignettes.

The play takes a no-holds-barred look at African American life, culture and history. The Colored Museum will exhilarate and shock audiences of all races as it treads a fine line between self-perception and stereotypes.

The Allentown School District is the state's fourth largest district with over 17,000 diverse students. The Allentown School Board is committed to quality education for our children and quality service for our employees.

As a former Pennsylvania Empowerment District, dramatic improvement in test results has occurred in recent years. To maintain the momentum, we wish to strengthen our human resources services for all employees with an experienced and effective leader. The person selected will report no later than July 1, 2005. The Superintendent is considering strong leaders with at least 3 years of HR experience in a similar role and at least a bachelor's degree. Candidates with experience in business and industry are encouraged to apply also. A diverse pool of candidates is sought who represent the particular leadership needs and experiences appropriate to an urban district. The salary and benefits are competitive. A job description and application are available on the district website under Director of Human Resources Search at www.allentownsd.org. Screening begins February 14, 2005.

An application and materials may be obtained also by contacting: Dr. Russ Mayo, Deputy Superintendent Allentown School District (484) 765-4154 31 South Penn Street, P. O. Box 328 Allentown, PA 18101-0328 EOE

Monday, February 7, 2005 Come out and join us for a read-in of the book, The Pack, by Rameck Hunt and George Jenkins @ 7:00 p.m. For more information, please call the church at 610.252.5640.

Hidden Treasures Stop by and experience Hidden Treasures! Enjoy guilt- free shopping, never-ending sales, and a variety of clothing, accessories, housewares, and much more. Someone will always serve you with a smile. Shop til' you drop at Hidden Treasure Thrift Store. Located at 416 Canal Street in Easton, PA. Open Tuesday through Saturday from 9:00am to 5:00pm. Donations welcome. For more information call 610.438.4115.

G.W.C.Y.L. is a Christian support group for recovering alcoholics and addicts. We share our experience, strength and hope with one another to help solve our common problem and to enhance our personal relationship with our Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. We use God's Word and the Twelve Steps of Recovery, believing that Scripture and the Twelve Steps are important healing tools. If we regularly apply these tools to our lives, we open ourselves to God's healing love and grace.

Monday Nights 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. Greater Shiloh Church The Enrichment Center Easton, PA

Thursday Nights 7:30 p.m. - 9:00 p.m. St. Paul's Lutheran Church 8th * Walnut Street Allentown, PA

Announcements: A workshop will be held on Saturday, February 19, 2005, 9:00 a.m. - 12:00 noon, in the Caf�, at Greater Shiloh Church. The workshop will be on the Christian Roots of the Twelve Steps, as well as an overview of the Twelve Steps will be given. For more information, please call (610) 653-9494.

The Community Action Development Corporation of Allentown (CADCA) will begin its fourteenth (14th) Start Your Business program on Monday, February 14, 2005 and will be held Monday nights from 6:30 to 8:30 for 20 consecutive weeks at The Lehigh County Government Center, 17 S 7th Street, Allentown.

A fee of $64.00 is payable at the third session but will be refunded upon completion of the program. This entrepreneurial training program was created for people of low- or moderate-income who are thinking about starting a business or expanding their current business in center city Allentown.

The course begins with a three-week preparatory segment called 'Getting Ready for Business', in which participants will have the opportunity to assess their entrepreneurial skills, the soundness of their business idea, and their readiness to start a business within six months to one year after completing the program.

The program focuses on all the essential aspects of starting a business, such as marketing, finance, management and legal issues. To register, please call Alicia Keegan, Business Development Director, at (610) 433-5703.

Jazz trumpeter Nicholas Payton and his newly formed ensemble, Sonic Trance, will perform in concert on Friday, February 18, at 8 p.m. in Foy Concert Hall, Moravian College.

The group will perform selections from the Grammy- nominated "Sonic Trance" (Warner Brothers, 2003), Payton's seventh album to date which includes among its influences a wide variety of musical styles such as: modern electric jazz; world music; ragtime; mariachi music; and a heavy dose of hip-hop. The album offers a selection of musical tastes and textures arranged loosely around a common theme- the "sonic trance," a dreamlike state of being that the listener passively allows becoming a musical meditation.

Payton began trumpet lessons at the age of four. He played semi-professionally during his teen years while attending the New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts and the University of New Orleans. Throughout his distinguished musical career, he has played with jazz masters such as Clark Terry, Wynton Marsalis, and Elvin Jones.

Foy Concert Hall is located on Moravian College's Priscilla Payne Hurd Campus, Church and Main Streets, Bethlehem. Tickets are $20 general admission, $15 senior citizens, and $10 students and children 12 and under. For more information, please contact the Moravian College music department at 610-861-1650 or email music@moravian.edu. The concert by Nicholas Payton is sponsored in part by: MCS Industries, Inc., Richard Master, president; and Moravian College Office of Institutional Diversity and Multicultural Affairs.

IF YOU MISSED THE BREAST CANCER AWARENESS EVENT IN PHILADELPHIA LAST MONTH, YOU CAN STILL GET KEY INFORMATION BY ATTENDING AN ALLENTOWN AFFAIR HOSTED BY SACRED HEART HOSPITAL IN CELEBRATION OF BLACK HISTORY MONTH.

PLEASE MAKE YOUR PLANS NOW TO ATTEND THE "AFRICAN AMERICAN WOMEN AND BREAST HEALTH LUNCH AND LEARN

EVENT" ON SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19TH FROM 11:00 AM - 2:00 PM AT SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, LOCATED AT 421 CHEW STREET, IN THE RECEPTION ROOM (2ND FLOOR).

FREE LUNCH, AND PARKING, FREE RISK ASSESSMENTS FOR BREAST CANCER AND BLOOD PRESSURE SCREENINGS ALSO AVAILABLE. SEATING IS LIMITED, SO PLEASE R.S.V.P. BY FEBRUARY 15TH, WITH YOUR NAME AND TELEPHONE NUMBER AT 610.776.5979.

The book selected for our first meeting is Ain't No Mountain by Sharon Ewell Foster. Ain't No Mountain (Bethany House, $12.99) by Sharon Ewell Foster is a modern-day fairy tale introducing an urban princess, lost and in search of her true identity, who is aided on her journey by a middle- aged, self-proclaimed hip- hop god-mama and an African prince who isn't having any of it.

The three embark on a search for truth, true love and happiness in a land called Baltimore. Bishop T.D. Jakes says, "Sharon writes for those of us who want more than just words on a page, but pictures painted on the canvases of our minds"

Place: Jazzman's Caf� 4 Campus Square (Lehigh University) Bethlehem, PA 10:00am. If you would like to join us, send a note to Ramona at dblemnt2001@yahoo.com or contact at 610-954- 9173.

Zoellner Arts Center presents Classical Savion, a one-man show with internationally acclaimed tap sensation Savion Glover, the award-winning choreographer of the Broadway hit Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk.

The Bring in 'Da Noise, Bring in 'Da Funk tour has been cancelled by its producers. All previously purchased tickets will be honored for Classical Savion. For more information contact Ticket Services at 610-758-2787, ext. 0

Pre-show performance in the lobby at 7 pm by Lehigh University's Finest Step Team

In 2005, the YWCA of Bethlehem will celebrate the 30th Anniversary of its annual Women and Teens of the Year Awards Dinner. Every March, to celebrate Women's History Month, the YWCA of Bethlehem honors local women and teens for their outstanding contributions to our community. The 2005 Women and Teens of the Year Awards Dinner is scheduled for March 30th at 6pm at the Holiday Inn East Gateway Conference Center on 512 (Note the date change). The YWCA of Bethlehem is holding its 30th Annual Great Decisions Foreign Affairs Lecture Series on February 9, February 16, February 23, March 2, March 9, March 16, March 23 and March 30 from 11:30am-1pm at Kirkland Village, Bethlehem.

The Baby and Me Program, a program for new moms to prevent depression, child neglect, parent overwhelm, poor health and to provide supportive resources is being offered again on the following Thursday evenings February 3rd, February 10th, February 17th and February 24th from 6-8pm at the YWCA of Bethlehem.

Talk→ Listen → Action → Change. Want to learn how? Join a Study Circle? A Study Circle is a small, diverse group of 8 to 12 individuals who share individual experiences, stories and perspectives about race relations. Each Study Circle is led by a facilitator whose role is to get people listening to one another, to enhance awareness and to create efforts for action. To learn more about these programs and events call the YWCA of Bethlehem at 610-867-4669 or email at flordelisa@ywcabethlehem.org

State Wide Employment-THE PENN STATE DICKINSON SCHOOL OF LAW IN Carlisle, PA

• Lehigh Valley Employment

• CACLV ANNOUNCES EXPANDED Tax Prep Program

Articles of Interest: Africans slaughtered as rest of world stands by

• Judge Black entrepreneurs upon their business plans

• BLACK HISTORY MUSEUM APPOINTEES

BLACK HISTORY CONFERENCE DATE SET The 28th Annual Conference on Black History in Pennsylvania will be held April 20 -23, 2005 at the Holiday Inn, 400 Arch Street and the African American Museum in Philadelphia. The conference is titled "A Historic Black Capital of America, Philadelphia, Pa" and its theme is preserving the history, culture and style of the first and largest free black community in America. Donna Brazile, a senior fellow at the Academy of Leadership, University of Maryland, will be the keynote speaker. For more information contact Karen James, conference coordinator, at (717) 783-9871.

For more information please send an email to:

• lvbnn@mnetofpa.com

Lehigh Valley Black News Network (www.lvbnn.com) is an informative eNewsletter designed to inform you about events and information related to the connection and inclusion of Black / African American communities throughout the Lehigh Valley and the State of Pennsylvania.

LV BNN is distributed twice a month to over 2500 responsive email readers from the Lehigh Valley Region, parts of Philadelphia, Harrisburg and Reading Pennsylvania.

An MNET of PA Production