Your source for news and information since August 1999

This edition of Lehigh Valley Black News Network is brought to you by The Allentown Art Museum and Musikfest 2007.

..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 migration of African-Americans from the south to the north set the backdrop for a story of two brothers, Seed and Prophet, who reunite after 15 years of separation. Their vastly different methods of navigating through society reveal a struggle of how our own personal energy can power a matrix-like system that is designed to keep us enslaved to our own desires. Hip-Hop, Spoken Word and Soul music are employed in a dazzling multimedia dialogue between stage and film. This brief week-long engagement is a must for sparking intergenerational conversation.

Wednesday, May 2 - 8pm $20/$18 Students and Seniors Pay What You Will at the door -
Preview Performance Thursday, May 3 - 8pm -- $20/$18 Students and Seniors Pay What You Will at the door
Friday, May 4 - 8pm -- $20/$18 Students and Seniors (Includes Artists Reception following performance)
Saturday, May 5 - 8pm -- $20 Adults/$18 Students and Seniors
Touchstone Theatre: 321 E. 4th Street, Bethlehem, PA 18015 610-867-1689 www.touchstone.org

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Reverse Mortgages Are Our Only Business

The Communities In Schools of the Lehigh Valley 'Calypso Community School' will hold its second annual community wide health fair on Friday, May 11th, 4:00pm - 6:00pm at the Calypso Elementary School located at 1021 Calypso Avenue in Bethlehem PA.

The Miller-Keystone Bloodmobile will be on site for adults who wish to donate blood and the Saint Luke's Hospital HealthStarVan will be providing blood pressure and cholesterol checks for the adults and helping children put together their own first aid kits.

The Bethlehem Fire Department will offer the chance to learn about fire safety by allowing everyone to travel through their "Fire Safety House" and the Bethlehem Police Department will offer Child ID's and fingerprinting. Other groups sharing information include: The Boy Scouts, The Bethlehem Area Public Library, Kim's Karate, Latinos for a Healthy Community, Turning Point and HighMark Blue Shield. Don't miss this day of fun and safety for healthy kids and healthy adults!

If you have questions or care to speak with someone about this community event, please do not hesitate to contact Alyissa Ballek at balleka@cislv.org or phone 610-691-0152.

A Community School is a place as well as a set of partnerships between the school and other community resources. Its integrated focus on academic, services, support and opportunities leads to improved student learning, stronger families and healthier communities. Schools become centers for the community and are open to everyone.

I'm sure you've have had one of those days when you just wanted to see your heritage reflected in your home or office. Or perhaps you've always wanted to purchase beautiful artwork for family and friends to enrich their lives.

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FREE SHOPPING SPREE WHEN YOU HOST YOUR OWN ART SHOW!

Hosting your own theme Art Party is easy and more fun than you can imagine. What better way to receive free and discounted art?! I will partner with you to help

LET ME HELP YOU PURSUE YOUR DREAMS! Could you use an extra $300 a month? How about an extra $500 or more per month? It's possible with Ethnic Expressions Supplemental Income Program. Give yourself a pay raise, spend more time with your family, earn FREE vacations to spectacular places! Are you ready??

Care Net Pregnancy Centers of the Lehigh Valley will hold its Annual 5K Run/Walk For Life at Sand Island in Bethlehem on Saturday April 28th. Walkers and runners are needed for the approximate 2 mile walk and 3.1 mile run through Historic Downtown Bethlehem.

Event registration begins at 9am and is held rain or shine. This year's theme is "Hope and a Future".

This is a fundraising event for Care Net Pregnancy Centers of the Lehigh Valley.

Funds raised from this event are used to continue providing mentoring, community referral services, options information, abstinence- based school and youth group presentations, support groups, and material resources to women, men and their families throughout the Lehigh Valley.

Individuals and groups are invited to participate and /or sponsor walkers and runners. Free t-shirts will be awarded to those who donate $25.00 or more and pre-register. Prizes for top donors will also be awarded. For more information call the Care Net Allentown Office at 610-821-0943.

The United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley will host a major new spring event on Wednesday, May 30, 5:30 - 8:00 p.m. at the Allentown Fairgrounds Ag Hall Annex.

First and foremost will be a nationally-recognized keynote speaker, Geoffrey Canada, CEO and President of the Harlem Children's Zone. Canada has a radical new idea: if you really want to change the lives of inner-city kids, change everything all at once - their schools, families and neighborhoods. Mr. Canada has devoted the past 20 years of his life to helping the most impoverished, at-risk youth beat the odds.

Canada is an acclaimed author and recipient of the McGraw Prize for Education and the Heinz Award. He holds a B.A. from Bowdoin College and an M.A. in education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. He and his organization's work have been profiled on 60 Minutes, CBS This Morning, Good Morning America, and more

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

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Submit your ad info in time for the next issue of LV BNN (5/09/07)! Ads for June, July and August should be submitted this week for best exposure!

"Renaissance Faire" is the theme of this year's Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley fund-raiser to be held beginning at Wednesday, May 16 at the Best Western, Rts 22 & 512, Bethlehem. Proceeds from the event will benefit programs of the Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley that develop and encourage volunteering in our community. The Volunteer Center offers a vital service to the Lehigh Valley community by recruiting, placing, recognizing, and training over 6,000 volunteers annually.

The Volunteer Center has been fortunate to have so many prominent community and business leaders accept the invitation to model exciting renaissance costumes by Drop Me a Line Costume Shop. TC Salon and Spa will provide hair and make-up services for the models. Emcees for the event are Amy Burkett from WLVT 39 and Bob Martin of Mack Trucks. "Celebrity" Models include: Erlinda Aguiar, City of Allentown; Laura Azzalina, Sovereign Bank; Dan Bosket, CADCA; Teresa Donate, Northampton Community College; Steve Haddad, Bieber Tourways; Donna Haggerty, Haggerty Services; Sarah Harrington, UPS; Monica Haskett, Loch, Elsenbaumer, Newton & Co.; Ramona Hollie Major, The Crayola Factory; Cathy Jaindl, Leuthe Jaindle Land Company; Alan Jennings, CACLV; Tim Kennedy, The Morning Call; Kay Kurtz Vogel, People First Federal Credit Union; Ann Lalik, Baum School of Art; Diana Macsisak, Keystone National Bank & Trust; Bob McCormick, Brown & Brown; Chris Miller, Air Products & Chemicals; Cordelia Miller, American Red Cross; Meloney Sallie-Dosunmu, Just Born; Judy Savcheck, Harleysville Wealth Management; Frank Shipman, TC Salon & Day Spa; Martin Till, The Express Times; Brittany Westbrook, Channel 69 News; Ileen Wood, Community Volunteer.

Tickets are $35 per person. Attendees can try their luck at winning one of many raffle prizes. For ticket information, please sign up on-line at www.volunteerlv.org. Deadline for ticket purchase is May 9, 2007.

On behalf of Touchstone Theatre and the Leadership Committee of the Lehigh Valley Black African Heritage History Project,please consider joining us at our next story-gathering session.

The Lehigh Valley Black African Heritage Project is a collaborative project of Muhlenberg College, the Lehigh County Senior Center, the Lehigh County Historical Society, Kutztown University, and Touchstone Theatre.

Help us continue Phase III of the project as we collect material for a play to be produced by Touchstone Theatre of South Bethlehem.
Come to a gathering to swap stories, memories, and pictures or just to satisfy your curiosity!

SAVE THE DATE FOR FUTURE STORY-GATHERING SESSIONS:
Saturday, April 28, 2007, 1-4pm, St. Paul Baptist Church in Bethlehem
Saturday, June 23, 2007, 1-4pm, location to be announced
Saturday, June 30, 2007, 1-4pm, location to be announced

The YWCA of Bethlehem is holding its first annual 5K run/walk in an effort to increase awareness and action to eliminate racism in our community.

The Race Against Racism will start at 9:15 am on Saturday, May 12, 2007 at Walnut and New Street and will continue through North and South Historic Bethlehem. The Presenting Sponsor for the Race Against Racism is Enterprise Rent-A-Car.

Registration for the 5K Run/Walk costs $20 if you register by April 30, 2007 and $25 if you register after April 30, 2007. Registration for children 10 and under costs $5 regardless of when you register. The first 100 registrants are guaranteed a t-shirt. You can register online at www.ywcabethlehem5k.com, by mail (complete registration form and mail to 22 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018) or in person on the day of the race between 8:00 am and 9:00 am at 22 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, PA 18018. If paying with a check, please make checks payable to YWCA of Bethlehem. There are no refunds and the event will take place, rain or shine.

The 5K run will be professionally timed by Pinnacle Race Management and results will be available online at www.ywcabethlehem5k.org. All participants are eligible for great prizes and gift certificates. Registration is required in order to participate in the Race Against Racism so if interested, please contact Carrie Antonioli at (610)867-4669 or by email at cantonioli@ywcabethlehem.org.

The Presenting Sponsor is Enterprise Rent-A-Car. Silver Sponsors are Hovertech International, Warner Benefits, and YWCA Mid-Atlantic region - Racial Justice Award. Friend Sponsors are Aardvark Sports Shop, Giant Food Stores, Kings Supermarket, L.A. Fitness, Modell's, Motivations Training Facility, Rita's Water Ice, Sam's Club, Sports Authority, TCBY, Wegman's and Weis Markets.

Ch�shingura (Tale of the Loyal Retainers), the epic story of forty-seven masterless samurai (r�nin), is rooted in history and known by virtually every Japanese. In 1701, a young daimyo (feudal lord) was tricked into drawing his sword in the presence of the Shogun, an act punishable by death. After his ritual suicide, forty-seven of his attendants secretly swore to avenge their master's death. After nearly two years of covert planning, they invaded the enemy's estate and killed him. Offering his head at their master's grave, they then surrendered to the authorities, who, in recognition of this act of loyalty and sacrifice in accordance with a medieval code of chivalry, allowed them to commit ritual suicide, an honorable death. They were buried with their master at Sengakuji temple in Tokyo, where their graves are still visited today.

The Ch�shingura sums up all that the Japanese people love in a good story: loyalty, revenge, action, and a triumphant but sad ending. It has been memorialized in Japanese theatre in kabuki and bunraku plays, in literature, and in fine art. This exhibition presents a selection of Ch�shingura prints from the Museum's collection. Many of these rare and dramatic prints have never before been displayed in our galleries.

This August 3-12, downtown Bethlehem, Pa. will sizzle with the sounds of more than 500 musical performances by artists from around the globe during Musikfest 2007.

Highlighting the lineup are acts such The Moody Blues, Patti LaBelle, Deep Purple, Petula Clark, Ludacris, Big & Rich, Jonatha Brooke, The Yardbirds and more.

In addition to the nonstop music on 13 indoor and outdoor stages, the festival features plenty of great special events, activities for families, visual arts and crafts and a closing-night fireworks spectacular. The event, which is celebrating its 24th year, is presented by ArtsQuest.


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

Employment
Lehigh Valley Employment

Business
Access to Financial Capital Among U.S. Businesses: The Case of African-American Firms.

A Warm Spirit Special Offer from Raquel Phelps, Self-Care Certified Independent Consultant

Different News,Views, Blog's and Editorials

LA Cronica, the Informative Voice of the Hispanic Community

Politics

Vote Kevin Easterling for Lehigh County Commissioner. Join his campaign email list here.

Arts & Culture and History

Each year, ArtsQuest is proud to present more than 300 musical performers from across the entire world. Current announcements for Musikfest 2007!

Faith-based Community

2006-2007 Organization Members
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
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
Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley
Williams Center for the Arts Lafayette College
Ways to Work Family Loan Program
Northampton Community College
Lehigh University Human Resource Department
Northampton Community College
Touchstone Theatre
Women Unlimited Inc.
This Is Your Life Association
Care Net Pregnancy Center of the Lehigh Valley
Omega Psi Phi Fraternity, Inc Lehigh Valley Chapter
Second Baptist Church

At Lehigh Valley International Airport, projects likely to receive federal grant funding in 2007 from the Federal Aviation Administration include, but are not limited to, land acquisition, air carrier aircraft parking apron reconstruction, acquisition of interactive airport certification training system, acquisition of continuous friction measurement equipment, installation of approach lighting system as well as residential and public building sound insulation.

At Queen City Airport, projects likely to receive federal grant funding in 2007 from the Federal Aviation Administration include, but are not limited to, engineering services for rehabilitation of airfield pavements, construction of a taxiway extension and installation of a weather observation system."

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 3000 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 � 2007 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