Trans-Bridge VP to retire

Kirby Parnell, Trans-Bridge Lines senior vice president, will be retiring after 22 years with the company.

He joined Trans-Bridge in June, 1992, as the director of operations, overseeing all facets of operations and safety. As the senior vice president, he was responsibile for regular route development and terminal and facility operations.

He has been active with several business and bus associations throughout his career. Most recently, he was on the transportation committee of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, of which he was a past chairman. He was a board member of Discover Lehigh Valley. He was on executive committees of the Bus Industry Safety Council of the American Bus Associationand of the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce.

Colon announces council candidacy

Lifelong Bethlehem resident Michael Colón will be a democratic candidate for a seat on Bethlehem's City Council in the May 2015 primary election. Prior to earning a political science degree from Penn State, he worked in the city's health bureau department. He was previously an emergency call operator for two and a half years for the Northampton County Dispatch Center.

He is currently the volunteer coordinator for Gracedale Nursing Home. The City of Bethlehem Citizen's Academy graduate is vice chairperson of the City of Bethlehem Human Relations Commission, and is an alternate on Bethlehem's Civil Service Board. He is active with city non-profit organizations such as The Society of Volunteer Administrators of the Lehigh Valley, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley and its monthly food pantry, and the Historic Bethlehem Visitor Center.

Negron announces council candidacy

Olga Negron will be a candidate for a two-year seat on Bethlehem's City Council.

She is the president of the Community Action Committee of the Lehigh Valley. She was on the statewide crime prevention and community revitalization advisory board, appointed by former Gov. Randell. She is vice chairwoman of the City of Bethlehem planning commission. She is on the Southside Vision 2014 board of directors and on Mayor Robert Donchez's ad hoc advisory committee on Latino issues.

The former vice president of the Bethlehem Public Library board of directors is an adult services technician at the library.