Your source for news and information since August 1999

Todays issue of Lehigh Valley Black News Network is brought to you in part by East Penn Financial Group- MetLife.

I'd like to welcome the Ways to Work Family Loan Program as our newest member to the Network!

Remember, tell a neighbor, tell a friend and be sure to let them know, you saw it in LV BNN!

Support the organizations and businesses that support LV BNN. Enjoy this Edition.

Kevin Easterling

Founder & Publisher Lehigh Valley Black News Network

The Allentown Branch of the NAACP will be having its 64th Annual Freedom Fund and Awards Banquet on Saturday July 29, 2006, beginning at 5:30 p.m. at the DAYS INN & Conference Center located at the intersection of routes 22 and 309 in Allentown, PA.

The theme for this year's banquet is “Valuing Our Votes and Voting our Values”. Our keynote speaker will be Pennsylvania State Representative Thaddeus Kirkland who represents the 159th Legislative District. Representative Kirkland serves as the Chairperson of the PA Legislative Black Caucus.

Individual tickets can be purchased for a donation of $40.00 each. Please call 610-780-9903 for more information or to purchase tickets.

The Crayola FACTORY's 10th Birthday Bash will be officially celebrated from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Saturday, July 15, 2006. This indoor/outdoor celebration will be filled with lots of colorful fun, cool entertainment, and exciting prizes throughout the day.

Strolling performers, hourly giveaways, mascot "Tip" visits, as well as live music and dance will all be a part of the big celebration.

Also, for July 15, 2006 only, The Crayola FACTORY will roll back the prices to $6.00, which is what the admission fee was in 1996. Log onto the website at www.crayolafactory.com or call group reservations at 610-515-8000 for more information on the days events.

Comedian Margaret Cho takes the State Theatre stage for the first time on Thursday, July 6th at 8 PM with special guest LISP.

Tickets for Margaret Cho are $40 & $35 and can be obtained by visiting the State Theatre Box Office, 453 Northampton Street, Easton, by calling 1-800- 999-STATE, 610-252-3132 or the 24-Hour Credit Card Hotline at (610)991-STATE (7828), or via the internet at www.statetheatre.org.

Margaret Cho's comedy has been described as "biting and incisive", "scabrously funny," and "pointy-sharp satire." Since chronicling her experience on the short-lived sitcom All-American Girl in her 1999 off Broadway one-woman show I'm The One That I Want, Cho has been leading her own politically charged comic revolution with a string of hit tours and live concert DVDs including Notorious C.H.O, Revolution and Assassin. Mature Content

We've gathered prominent leaders from all areas of the community to test their scholastic acumen at the first annual CIS Celebrity Scholastic Scrimmage.

Enjoy this entertaining contest and assist us in raising money to help kids stay in school and succeed in life. WHEN Thurs., October 12, 2006, 6:00-10:00pm WHERE Best Western Conference Center, Routes 512 and 22.

Join us for the premier evening of great food and entertainment, as Lehigh Valley public figures take on the challenge that high school students tackle on PBS Channel 39's Scholastic Scrimmage! Details to follow soon.

Questions? Call 610-969-2680 or email info@cislv.org

A Reverse Mortgage allows homeowners age 62 and older to use the equity in their home for income. There are no payments to make so long as the homeowners own and reside in the home, which could mean no payments for life. FHA reverse mortgages are insured by the Federal Housing Administration. Learn more here.

For more information contact John L. Krajsa, Jr., Esq.
AFC Reverse Mortgage Reverse Mortgages For Better Living
AFC First Financial Corp
Phone: 610-437-7230 888-821-4076
FAX: 610-437-7232
Email: jkrajsa@afcreversemortgage.com

Featuring a great lineup of musical performers, including LL Cool J with special guest Ne-Yo Aug. 6,
Train Aug. 7,
KC's Boogie Blast - The Ultimate Dance Party Aug. 8,
Melissa Etheridge Aug. 9,
Styx and Kansas Aug. 10,
Carrie Underwood Aug. 12
Heart Aug. 13.

Other performers include Grammy Award winning trumpeter Chris Botti, the Glenn Miller Orchestra, R&B songstress Bettye LaVette, the jazzy Larry Coryell Trio and nearly 300 other acts. Tickets for all announced Musikfest concerts go on sale to the public 10 a.m. April 17. They will be available by visiting www.fest.org or calling 610-332-FEST. To learn more about Musikfest - America's Music Festival - visit www.fest.org.

The YWCA of Bethlehem is the local site administrator for LPGA-USGA Girls Golf. Girls Golf provides the opportunity for girls, ages 7 to 17, to learn to play golf, build lasting friendships and experience competition in a fun, supportive environment that prepares them for a lifetime of enjoyment of the game. The only national initiative of its kind, Girls Golf is administered through a partnership between The Ladies Professional Golf Association (LPGA) and the United States Golf Association (USGA), both non-profit 501(c) (3) charitable organizations.

SAVE the DATE for our 4th Annual T.G.I.F. (Teaching Girls is Fun) Tournament on Friday, September 15, 2006 at Southmoore Golf Course, Bath. Funds raised from the T.G.I.F Tournament will help to provide program subsidies to financially disadvantaged girls and to help fund LPGA-USGA Girls Golf program expenses such as equipment, golf instruction, course access and field trips during 2007.

If you are interested in learning more about the Girls Golf Program, the Tournament or being a volunteer/mentor, please contact the YWCA at 610- 867-4669 or girlsgolf@ywcabethlehem.org.

Tell me and I’ll forget; show me and I may remember; involve me and I’ll understand. — Chinese proverb
E-Seminar Center Now Open !!

Only 42 percent of U.S. workers have tried to determine how much they will need to save for a comfortable retirement.

How much retirement income will you need? Should you refinance your mortgage? How much life insurance is enough? What type of IRA is right for you?

Our financial calculators are designed as educational tools to help you estimate answers to common financial questions. They are not intended to predict future returns or results. Simply click on one of the general financial topics to the side and you'll find a selection of easy-to-use calculators about related financial topics.

Business
Eat with Gladness Personal Chef & Catering Group, LLC

Carlton D. Taylor Financial Services Representative

Community Action Rising Tide Loan Fund

Employment

Different News,Views, Blog's and Editorials
LIB Radio
Art, Education & History

Allentown Art Museum events this month

Allentown School district

START YOUR BUSINESS SUMMER YOUTH ENTREPRENEURSHIP CAMP

African American World

Community Events and Support

Announcing the State Theatres New 2006-2007 Season

Afro American Community Project: Schedule of Events

Rejoice! Inc. Foster Care and Adoption Agency needs your ongoing support!

Entertainment
THE AFRO-SEMITIC EXPERIENCE, Appearing at Moravian College, Foy Concert Hall Wednesday, October 4, 2006 7:30PM Tickets: $15 general admission $10 senior citizens/students/children 12 and under.

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2006 Organization Members
The Afro American Community Project
The Crayola FACTORY
Lafayette College Office of Intercultural Development
St Paul Community Service Center
Allentown Art Museum
Virginia E Holland #86
Moravian College Music Department
Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority
Union Baptist Church Allentown PA.
Living Stone Fellowship Church
Private Industry Council of Lehigh Valley, Inc.
SouthSide Film Institute
Allentown School district
YWCA of Bethlehem
Art Quest
Coalition for Appropriate Transportation
Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley
Community Action Development Corporation Allentown
Greater Shiloh Church
God will Change Your Life Recovery Ministries
Lehigh County Senior Center
Lehigh Northampton Airport Authority
NAACP Allentown Chapter
Bridgeworks Enterprise Center
Rejoice Foster Care and Adoption Agency
Second Baptist Church of Bethlehem PA
State Theatre Center of the Arts
Teen Summit Program
Theatre Outlet
United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley
Virginia E Holland #86
Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley
Williams Center for the Arts Lafayette College
Ways to Work Family Loan Program

We’ve gathered prominent leaders from all areas of the community to test their scholastic acumen at the first annual CIS Celebrity Scholastic

Enjoy this entertaining contest and assist us in raising money “to help kids stay in school and succeed in life”. WHEN Thurs., October 12, 2006, 6:00 –10:00pm WHERE Best Western Conference Center, Routes 512 and 22 Join us for the premier evening of great food and entertainment, as Lehigh Valley public figures take on the challenge that high school students tackle on PBS Channel 39’s Scholastic Scrimmage! Details to follow soon. Questions? Call Kevin 610- 969-2680 or email easterlingk@cislv.org

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Did your LV BNN non-profit ad membership expire? You can re-new today! Send an email to lvbnn@mnetofpa.com or Call 610-799-1250.

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Submit your ad info in time for the next issue the week beginning (7/9/06)! Ads for July, August and September should be submitted this week for best exposure!

The 2007 Lehigh Valley Minority Business & Organizational Directory is now in development. To have your business or organization listed please call Kevin Easterling at 610- 799-1250.

How do I send information once I join or purchase a spot in LV BNN?

Lehigh Valley Black News Network 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. For Sponsorship and advertising rates please call (610) 799-1250 or email kevineasterling@lvbnn.com

Copyright © 2005 Mnet of PA. All rights reserved. You may reproduce information from this e-letter by including LV BNN as its source and, if you are reproducing electronically, please include a li_k to www.lvbnn.com in your e-letter or on your web site. An MNET of PA Production