5 Things to Know Today

Good morning, Bethlehem.

1. Today is June 13, 2011, 194 days until Christmas in the Christmas City. On this day in 1777, the Marquis de Lafayette arrived by ship at Charleston, S.C. to help the American Continental Congress train its Army. He subsequently became Gen. George Washington’s aide-de-camp, and saw his first action at the Battle of Brandywine in Delaware County on Sept. 11, 1777. There, the Frenchman was shot in the leg, but still managed to rally the troops to an organized retreat before he was treated for his wounds. He spent two months recuperating at the in Bethlehem before going back into battle as a major general in the American Continental Army and would subsequently play pivotal military and political roles in the successful American Revolution.
2. Hydrant flushing continues today in Bethlehem Township in the area around White Oak Circle, Santee Road, Riden Court, Red Oak Circle and Oakland Road. Water there may be cloudy and the pressure may be low, but this will be temporary, according to the Bethlehem Water Department.
3. There will be pothole patching along the continuous road known either as Easton Avenue or William Penn Highway, from Elizabeth Avenue in the city to 13th Street in Bethlehem Township. There will be flagging, lane restrictions and delays along that stretch all week, according to PennDOT. Be prepared. Also, the construction and traffic nightmare that is the south end of the Hill-to-Hill Bridge continues.
4. The Bethlehem Area School Board meets tonight in special session, at the on Sycamore Street at 6 p.m., to vote on final adoption of its 2011-12 budget. The board seems poised to adopt a budget with a of three-quarters of a mill, which would mean about $57 a year to the average Bethlehem property owner. The budget also includes layoffs for about 57 teachers and many other staff members and lots of programmatic cuts for education. Following the special meeting, the board will meet in its Facilities and Finance committee meetings.
5. It is at Coca Cola Park. Pay $1 to take your favorite pooch to watch the first-place IronPigs play the Louisville Bats and all the proceeds will go the Center for Animal Health and Welfare. is slated to get the start for the IronPigs tonight. Game time is 7:05 p.m.