Readers' Choice

Armetta's Voted Best Italian Restaurant in Lower Mac Patch

The winner was determined by ratings submitted by readers.

Armetta's was voted the best Italian Restaurant in this week's Readers' Choice poll throughout Lower Macungie Patch. The unassuming storefront at which passers-by can watch pizzas as they're made, has been a Macungie staple for almost 10 years.  Armetta's and Italiano Delite each earned 27 out of 67 votes in this week's Readers' Choice poll, but readers have awarded five stars to Armetta's to break the tie. You can add your own review of Armetta's, Italiano Delite, or any business in our Directory. Check back Monday for our next poll: What's the best movie theater in Lower Macungie Patch area?

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Crime and Fire

Guns, Jewelry Snatched in $10,000 Lower Mac Burglary

State police seek witnesses or knowledge of the crime.

A burglar may have struck gold recently when entering a Lower Macungie Township residence. If not literally, then at least figuratively. A release from state police at Fogelsville did not detail the stolen valuables but did generalize by listing jewelry and several firearms. Whether that jewelry included gold items or not isn't certain, but the $10,000 total value of the loot would suggest that the thief made a pretty good haul nonetheless. The home, in the 3900 block of Larkspur Drive near Fish Hatchery Road, was entered between 8 a.m. May 9 and 8:15 a.m. May 16, police said. Police ask that anyone with information call them at 610-395-1438.

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Lower Macungie Township

Stanley Cupp Hired as Lower Mac Facilities Head

An Air Force veteran, Stanley Cupp fills the recently vacant position.

Stanley Albert Cupp of Zionsville was hired Thursday as the new facilities crew chief for Lower Macungie Township. Four commissioners voted unanimously to approve Township Manager Bruce Fosselman's recommendation that Cupp be hired. Commissioner Ryan Conrad was absent. Cupp, an Air Force veteran, has experience with heavy equipment, Fosselman said, and Cupp also possesses strong leadership skills. Noting the new employee's unusual and otherwise famous name, Fosselman said the candidate told him that he was born in a year that the Philadelphia Flyers won the Stanley Cup. His hockey-fan father lobbied hard to name his son after the trophy. His mother was reportedly less of a fan. Commissioners James Lancsek and Roger Reis said Cupp's veteran…

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East Penn School District

East Penn not Alone in Debate About Budgetary Reserve

Districts statewide have large stores of cash in reserve funds and have differing opinions on whether it’s time to dip into those “rainy day” accounts.

Monday night’s budget vote in East Penn School District mirrors a debate going on statewide these days. According to a report in the PA Independent, some Pennsylvania school districts are looking to their budgetary reserve funds to achieve a balanced budget for 2012-2013, while others, like East Penn, have voted to raise property taxes, keeping budgetary reserves intact. Those districts say that even tougher economic times are coming and it’s prudent to keep those budgetary reserve accounts intact to cover looming expenditures like ever-increasing pension costs for public school employees. The PA Independent report says that the rule of thumb offered to school districts by the Pennsylvania School Board’s Association is that reserve funds …

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Giovanni Landi

1:57 pm on Friday, May 18, 2012

Mr. Earnshaw – there are no misconceptions about the 2012-2013 budget. The budget presented by the administration does say that over $4 million is required to bridge the gap between expected revenues and expenditures. It makes claims like that every year. Have you looked at any of the historical data? It was included in the handouts distributed by Mrs. Donches. The 2010-2011 budget presented by …   more ›

Crime and Fire

Lower Macungie Pair Charged in Fight, Police Say

The following arrest information was supplied by Pennsylvania State Police at Fogelsville. It does not indicate a conviction.

The following recent Lower Macungie Township incidents were released by state police at Fogelsville: Charged: Elechi Wilson, 25, and Tarah Bartholomew, 33, both of Lower Macungie, at 4 p.m. May 6; both with summary harassment after a physical altercation at 3050 S. Cedar Crest Blvd., according to police. Criminal mischief: Reported May 10 by a 73-year-old woman of 5475 East Texas Road; shed spray-painted with red paint between 6 p.m. May 7 and noon May 10, police said; no estimate of damage. Charged: 18-year-old man with retail theft from Wal-Mart, 1091 Mill Creek Road; took several items May 10 without paying for them, police said; $28.55 value. Charged: Duzur Paul Palmieri, 38, of Gateway Road, Breinigsville, and Letasha Ann Pearson, 31…

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East Penn School District

Emmaus Boys Lacrosse Wins LVC Championship

Emmaus boys lacrosse tops Nazareth 13-4; the Blue Eagles, however, defeat Emmaus girls lacrosse, 10-8.

With Lehigh Valley Conference titles on the line, the Green Hornets lacrosse teams faced the Nazareth Blue Eagles Monday night. The boys came out victorious, taking the LVC championship. The Green Hornets defeated Nazareth, 13-4. The win marked the fifth-straight title for the Green Hornets. The girls, however, took a tough loss. The Blue Eagles defeated the Green Hornets, 10-8. Nazareth's Kaity Wiltraut picked up the Lehigh Valley Conference MVP award by scoring three goals, according to a report in The Morning Call.

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East Penn School District

Emmaus Teacher Takes Home Da Vinci's Grand Master Award

Emmaus High School Environmental Science Teacher Steven Baier is awarded the DaVinci Science Center's Hall of Fame Grand Master Award.

Special to Emmaus Patch By Chrissy Cilento, Emmaus High School Junior Anyone who knows Emmaus High School Environmental Science teacher Stephen Baier can probably list countless reasons why Baier was been named this year's Da Vinci Science Center Hall of Fame Grand Master. Of course, there's the fact that he's led the Emmaus Envirothon team to victory 15 years in a row. He's also known for arranging all sorts of interactive activities for his students, like biking on a cycle built for eight or riding in fuel cell powered cars. Do you have a word of congratulations for Stephen Baier? Tell us in the comments. Out of hundreds of teachers in eastern Pennsylvania and western New Jersey, Baier and three other educators were chosen as the …

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Get Out: Five Things to Do This Weekend

Patch to the rescue! We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time.

This weekend is chock full of fun things to do: a free concert, baseball, the designer showhouse, a Broadway revue and a chocolate fest featuring chocolate beer! Something for everyone! 1. Iron Pigs When/Where: 7:05 p.m. May 18 at Coca-Cola Park, Allentown Why Go: Because the Indianapolis Indians are in town! Pricing: Tickets start at $7. 2. SOTA Designer Showhouse & Gardens When/Where: 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily through May 20 at Three Chimneys Farm near Coopersburg. Why Go: Because this is the last weekend to see all those beautiful rooms, and to to come away with some great ideas! Pricing: $25. 3. Chocolate Fest 2012 When/Where: 2-5 p.m. May 20 at the Sun Inn Courtyard, Bethlehem. Why Go: Are you kidding? Chocolate appetizers, chocolate …

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