Democrats Pick Mayoral Nominee, 'Restaurant Impossible' Visit Top Bethlehem News

With one broken voting machine’s contents remaining to be deciphered, J. William Reynolds called Bob Donchez Wednesday afternoon to congratulate him on winning a hard-fought Democratic primary for Bethlehem mayor. Donchez, 63, who has served on City Council for more than 17 years, will more than likely become Bethlehem’s 12th mayor in January. Councilman Reynolds’ concession came more than 18 hours after the polls closed Tuesday night. An independent, Bruce Sigmon, announced this week that he will run against Donchez in November.

'Restaurant Impossible' Tackles Fountain Hill Eatery

Fountain Hill's Benner Street Restaurant & Bar will be featured on the Food Network's 'Restaurant Impossible" show. However, show host Robert Irvine got a little more than he bargained for this week when a fire broke out in the restaurant during filming.

The owner of a Bethlehem Township spa and salon fraudulently used debit card numbers of two of her customers, according to a criminal complaint filed by police on Monday. Tocara Davis, 28, the owner of Seriously Girlie Couture at 2485 Willow Park Road, was charged with four counts of access device fraud—two felonies and two misdemeanors.

Incumbents Eric Evans and Karen Dolan coasted to victory—finishing first and second in the Democratic City Council primary on Tuesday. According to unofficial voting results provided by Northampton and Lehigh counties, they will be joined on the ticket by the mayor's older brother, Bryan Callahan, who finished third. It wasn't completely clear that political newcomer Adam Waldron won the fourth nomination until Thursday when Northampton County Election Bureau officials retrieved votes from a machine that had broken.

Democrats Choose Callahan For Executive

Northampton County Democrats appear to have chosen Bethlehem Mayor John Callahan as their pick for the next county executive. Unofficial results from the county election office showed Callahan leading challengers Glenn Reibman, the former executive, and county Councilman Lamont McClure. Callahan will face Bangor Republican Mayor John Brown in this year's general election.

$4M Project Will Convert Historic Building Into Apartments

The developers who renovated the old Farr’s Shoe Store building to add 24 luxury apartments to Bethlehem’s historic downtown have announced a similar project for another historic building a block away. Anthony Scarcia and Lou Pektor are planning to invest $4 million in the Dodson Building, 528 N. New St., the onetime Bethlehem office of the historic Lehigh Coal & Navigation Co., the developers announced.

Freedom HS Star Actor Takes Home First Freddy

Moravian Academy won the award for Outstanding Overall Production by a Smaller School, while a young star capped off his Freedom High School theater career with his first Freddy at the State Theatre in Easton on Thursday night. Freedom senior Daniel Youngelman won the Vic Kumma Award for Outstanding Solo Vocal Performance for his rendition of “Bring Him Home,” from Les Miserables in which he starred as Jean Valjean.