5 Things to Know Today

Good morning, Bethlehem.

1. Today is Wednesday, June 8, 2011, 13 days until the official beginning of summer. I’m not Ed Hanna or anything, but I’m going to go out on a limb here and say summer has made an early arrival in the Christmas City. The National Weather Service has issued a for today and Thursday. The forecast high today is 97 degrees. The temperature-humidity index is expected to be in the triple digits. Additionally, the state Department of Environmental Protection has issued a code orange air quality alert for this region, which means that air pollution may become highly concentrated and create problems for children, the elderly, people with heart conditions, asthma or other lung conditions. In short, it may be dangerous for many people to be outdoors for an extended period of time this afternoon. It’s a good day to get into an air-conditioned environment. If you must be outdoors, drink plenty of fluids. And don’t forget those pets – make sure they have plenty of water, too.
2. Speaking of water, the city’s Water Resources Department will be flushing fire hydrants in Bethlehem Township today in the area around Lowell Place, Clifton Avenue, Santee Road and Hecktown Road near William Penn Highway. If you live in that area, you might experience low pressure and cloudy water.
3. For those of you who use the Hill-to-Hill Bridge, there will be new pain in your travels today. The on-ramp from Third Street to the bridge going north will be restricted to one lane until further notice, 24-hours a day. Also, pedestrians who use the bridge will no longer have access to the eastern walkway from Main Street. Instead, PennDOT is directing you to follow detour signs to the old on ramp from Second Avenue to the western walkway. All of this, of course, is to allow the construction of a new on ramp to the bridge from Second Street in South Bethlehem.
4. Free movie night in Bethlehem returns for its fourth season tonight, beginning at 7 p.m. with “How to Train Your Dragon,” at Friendship Park, on E. North Street, between Pulaski and Maple streets. As part of the festivities, hula hoop performer extraordinaire Tina Spinz from Spirithoops will be providing hoops and instruction and running a contest for the best hula hooping performer.
5. If you go to Coca Cola Park tonight to watch the first place IronPigs play the Durham Bulls, you can sing Happy Birthday to Pigs infielder Pete Orr, who turns 32 today. Orr shares his birthday with several other notables, including master architect and designer Frank Lloyd Wright, rock/blues guitarist Derek Trucks (who also turns 32 today) and Del Ennis, a onetime Phillies great who was one of the heroes of the 1950 National League championship team. In honor of Pete's birthday, the IronPigs are giving out wristbands to the first 2,000 fans 17 and under who arrive for the 7:05 p.m. game.