East Penn Press

The Allentown Central Catholic High School girls basketball played against Pocono Mountain West High School Jan. 10.

The Vikettes won 33-30 and marked their 1,000th win with Coach Mike Kopp.

Coach Kopp has had a distinguished career of service and accomplishment as an ACCHS teacher, athletic director from 2002-2015 and basketball coach. Among his many accomplishments is being named the National High School Coaches Association National Girls Basketball Coach of The Year in 2014 and holding the state record for most victories. Congratulations, Coach Kopp!

Now in its 14th year, the SnowBlast Winter Arts Festival, hosted by the Emmaus Arts Commission, is being held noon to 5 p.m. Feb. 1.

Activities take place at Triangle Park and various venues throughout town, including stores and restaurants.

The SnowBlast festival creates a wonderful opportunity for the community to enjoy this beautiful time of the year.

Happy New Year, Viking Nation!

Congratulations to Nick Filchner who was named Coordinated Health’s Male Athlete of the Week. Nick is a senior and is a member of the Allentown Central Catholic High School varsity boys basketball team.

The ACCHS/LVHN Christmas Tournament was held Dec. 27 and 28, 2019 in Rockne Hall. ACCHS defeated both Roberto Clemente and Springside Chestnut Hill to win the championship Dec. 28, 2019.

Midterm exams are scheduled for Jan. 14-17. Dismissal will be 11:.30 a.m. each day.

The third quarter will begin Jan. 20.

Grace Lutheran Church, 28 W. Main St., Macungie, will host a free community meal 5-7 p.m. Jan. 10.

Christmas trees should be placed at the curb for pickup by the borough Jan. 6 and 13 for recycling at the Emmaus Compost Center. All ornaments, lights and tinsel must be removed.

There will be a free document shredding event for Macungie and Alburtis residents 9 a.m. to noon Jan. 4 at the Alburtis Area Community Center, 220 W. Second St. For more information, call Alburtis at 610-966-4777.

Happy New Year! Have you made New Year’s resolutions? Does anyone do that anymore?

The Upper Milford Historical Society will hold Discovery Night, 7 p.m. Jan. 30 in the Upper Milford Township building. This is their traditional evening of historical “show and tell,” where member share family treasures, unusual gadgets, nostalgic photos and memories.

It’s hard to believe it’s time to say farewell to 2019 and welcome 2020. Hope 2019 was filled with memories galore for you.

Weather played an important role in our lives in 2019. Remember the snow emergency conditions caused by freezing temperatures Jan. 19, 20 and 21? There was a snow squall Jan. 30 (subfreezing weather, polar vortex). Schools closed Feb. 13 due to icy conditions. On Feb. 20, we had two to three inches of snow.

Merry Christmas from the Viking Nation.

Our Scholastic Scrimmage team received an early Christmas gift with a semifinal victory over Moravian Academy Dec. 16. The team will advance to the championship match in January 2020 against Northwestern Lehigh High School.

Congratulations to our Vikettes who earned All-State Girls Volleyball honors. Selections announced by the Pennsylvania Volleyball Coaches Association PVCA Class 3A are Sydney Giamalis, Monica Vargo and Maggie McGuire.

Edited version Dec. 20, 2019

Lower Macungie Community Center is collecting children’s new pajamas and books. Items will be donated to local area children. A large receptacle is located in the lobby through Dec. 23.

The Lower Macungie Library will be closed Dec. 24 and 25 for Christmas. The library will close 2 p.m. Dec. 31 and will be closed Jan. 1, 2020.

The Lower Macungie Library Book Club will meet 10:30 a.m. Jan. 8, 2020 to discuss “Eleanor Oliphant is Completely Fine” by Gail Honeyman. The book for Feb. 5, 2020 is “Last Bus to Wisdom” by Ivan Doig.

Ninth and 10th grade students who attend Emmaus High School and are interested in a biology-related school trip to the Galápagos Islands in summer 2022 should see Mr. Bisignani, Mrs. Kramer, Mr. Landrum or Mrs. Hess. A few of the places on the itinerary include the Darwin Research Station, a tortoise ranch, a flamingo habitat, lava tunnels and a cloud forest. There will also be snorkeling where attendees will see exotic fish, sea turtles and sea lions.

Viking basketball’s 90th season opened Dec. 7 against Danville at home in Rockne Hall. Eastern Pennsylvania Conference play began Dec. 10 at Nazareth. The Vikings then host rivals Parkland and Whitehall the same week.

Seven of Allentown Central Catholic High School’s choir members participated in the 100th 6ABC/Dunkin’ Philly Thanksgiving Parade. They performed as part of the youth choir and sang on the steps of the Philadelphia Art Museum. Congratulations to Emily Ahern, Jah’Kai Douglas, Robert Garza, Tess Horn, Riley Loz, Elena Wenrich-Quinones and Natalie Woytec.