Northampton Press

The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley announced it is now receiving nominations for the 16th annual Spirit of Volunteerism Awards.

The Spirit of Volunteerism Awards is one way of recognizing and thanking volunteers for all their great efforts. This is a great opportunity for local nonprofits or businesses to recommend those individuals, teams and organizations who they feel have made a difference in our community. The award recipients embody the spirit of volunteering in their community and serve as role models for others.

Northampton Regional EMS has received the American Heart Association’s Mission: Lifeline® EMS Gold Plus Award for implementing quality improvement measures for the treatment of patients who experience severe heart attacks.

Lehigh County District Attorney James Martin announced July 11 an Allentown man has been charged in relation to a fatal crash.

Corey Sickler, 26, of 315 Linden St., Allentown, has been charged with one count each of homicide by vehicle while driving under the influence, a felony of the second degree, and homicide by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury while not properly licensed, both felonies of the third degree.

Pennsylvania College of Technology students vying for gold at the SkillsUSA National Championships is common. An all-female welding team representing the school at the prestigious competition is not. Thanks to three talented female welding and fabrication engineering technology students, it may be in the future. The trio aims to be trendsetters at the college and nationally.

Lehigh Township Rails to Trails (LTRT) has begun making improvements to the path in the wooded area of Indian Trail Park.

The goal of the group is to create a looped walking trail through the woods, highlighting the natural plants that grow there.

To date, an abundance of trash has been removed, and the growth of invasive species has been abated to some degree.

Horner’s Cemetery Historical Society has announced the 10th-year anniversary of the restoration and maintenance project at Horner’s Cemetery by offering free tours from May 26 until the end of October.

Also, noon May 27, the Sons of Veterans, Union soldiers will hold a short memorial service in the cemetery to honor the 21 veterans from four wars, with 19 soldiers from the American Revolution. One Civil War veteran lost his life due to this country’s conflict and his service to preserve the Union.

There will be a tour of the cemetery offered for those who are interested.

Denise Continenza, of Whitehall, was presented with the Director’s Award for Collaboration and Partnership during the recent extension annual conference in State College. This award recognizes an individual who has built strong partnerships or collaborations to advance the extension’s strategic goals during the past year.

The League of Women Voters of Northampton and Lehigh counties are co-sponsoring a candidates forum for the new 7th Congressional District 7-8:30 p.m. May 2. It is being hosted by Northampton Community College and will take place in Alumnae Hall on the main campus, 3835 Green Pond Road, Bethlehem Township. Doors open 6:30 p.m. to allow some time to meet and greet candidates. Parking is plentiful.

The 15th National Take Back Day drug collection event has been scheduled for 10 a.m.-2 p.m. April 28. During that time, Lehigh County residents can take expired and unused prescription and over-the-counter medications to police departments and other locations at 14 sites in Lehigh County.

County residents can dispose of capsules, pills and liquids, including pet medications.

Syringes or sharps will not be accepted. Residents who dispose of medications will remain anonymous, and no questions will be asked.

Caleb Oliver, of Northampton, has undergone quite a transformation — going from morbidly obese on Halloween in 2016 to running in the Boston Marathon April 16.

Oliver weighed in at 377 pounds that Halloween before undergoing laparoscopic gastric bypass surgery with Maher El Chaar, M.D., the co-medical director of bariatric surgery at St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Heading into the 2018 Boston Marathon, Oliver, 38, is now carrying between 236 and 241 pounds on his 6-foot frame.