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LEHIGH VALLEY WEATHER
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Community gets ‘Fair’ treatment

Published September 08. 2026 02:44PM
by Ed Courrier Special to the Bethlehem Press

Community members were treated to free pizza, cookies, refreshments and swag at the July 23 State Rep. Steve Samuelson’s 2026 Community and Senior Fair hosted at First Presbyterian Church, 2344 Center St., Bethlehem.

State Rep. Steve Samuelson (D), accompanied by Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds (D), introduced newly-minted BASD Superintendent Dr. Renato Lajara as they welcomed attendees and encouraged them to check out the various booths throughout the church’s recreation hall.

Legacy Unisex Barbershop & Salon from Bethlehem’s Main Street offered complementary haircuts to Community and Senior Fair attendees on the lobby outside the hall, across from where the refreshments were served. According to Glorilex Vasquez, Samuelson’s district office director, they were able to purchase cheese pizzas at $4.95 per pie, the price they had been in 1979, as the 23rd was Campus Pizza’s 47th anniversary.

LANTA offered sign-up for seniors 65 and older to apply for free bus passes and CAT–Coalition for Appropriate Transportation promoted their bicycle co-op. PPL Electric Utilities advertised their appliance recycling program.

Bethlehem Township resident Isabelle Timberman was delighted to find out that she could have access to a small sum of money from her late father stashed away in the state vault at the Pennsylvania Treasury Bureau of Unclaimed Property.

Other participating local businesses and organizations included: Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living (LVCIL), Meals on Wheels, Northeast Community Center, Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley, Second Harvest Food Bank, Bethlehem Police and Fire departments, and the Bethlehem Area Public Library. LVHN/Jefferson, St. Luke’s University Health Network and United Way of the Greater LV were among the event sponsors.

Samuelson, along with his legislative office staff and representatives from various government agencies were on hand to answer constituent questions about state issues and programs.

Samuelson’s district office: 104 E. Broad St., Bethlehem; 610-332-1300.

State Rep. Steve Samuelson (D) and Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds (D) introduce newly-minted BASD Superintendent Dr. Renato Lajara at the 2026 Community and Senior Fair July 23.
At right, Ariel Kociolek cuddles up to her grandmother, Mary Ann Transue as she gets a free haircut from hairdresser Makita McFarlane from Legacy Unisex Barbershop & Salon. Located on Bethlehem’s Main Street, the establishment offered complementary haircuts to Community and Senior Fair attendees.
From left, volunteer coordinator and mechanic Tim Phillips and fellow mechanic Christine Ford man the table for CAT–Coalition for Appropriate Transportation. Phillips explains the Bethlehem-based co-op serves the Lehigh Valley as a proponent of human-powered mobility.
From left, Virginia Youravich encourages her daughter Valentina to pick a treat from the basket offered to her by BAPL Outreach Tech Yvonne Albright. A Bethlehem Township resident, Youravich works for the Alzheimer’s Association. Her daughter will be attending Farmersville Elementary in the fall.
PRESS PHOTO BY ED COURRIERBethlehem resident Susan Schaffer relates to LANTA Marketing and Communications Specialist Emely Tavevas that, “All the drivers are good,” as she visit’s the transit authority’s table.
Representing Lehigh Valley Center for Independent Living at the Community and Senior Fair are, from left, Coordinator of Accessibility and Related Programs Bryan Cohen and Community Inclusion for Young Children Project Coordinator Julianna Rodrigues. They are on hand to promote LVCIL’s services that assists residents of Northampton and Lehigh Counties.
Jesi Bonoan from the Northeast Community Center promotes the organization’s 2026 Monday Family Bingo Night events from her community fair booth.
At left, Glorilex Vasquez, Samuelson’s district office director, stops by to visit Hispanic Center Lehigh Valley Chairman Guillermo Lopez as he promotes a Sept. 26 Bethlehem-Patillas Sister Cities event. More photos on A12.