Peeps' 60th Birthday Celebrated at Chamber Dinner

96th Annual Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce Dinner will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of Musikfest and contributions by former Mayor Gordon Mowrer, others.

  The Peep, which has held a unique place in the American candy landscape and been an integral part of Easter celebrations for 60 years, will be celebrated Wednesday night as the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce holds its 96th annual dinner. Just Born, the Stefko Boulevard candy maker, will receive a "Milestone" award from the chamber for the Peep's longevity. The dinner will be held 5 p.m. Wednesday at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks—the home of one of the other honorees—ArtsQuest, which also gets a “Milestone” award as the 30th anniversary of Musikfest is feted. Former Mayor Gordon Mowrer, tireless anti-poverty advocate Alan Jennings and longtime city economic development professional Tony Hanna will also be celebrated for their …

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'Main Street Mayor' Gordon Mowrer Feted by City

City erects Main Street monument to Gordon Mowrer, who was mayor from 1974 to 1978 and credited with halting urban renewal that would have changed historic downtown's character.

  Mayor John Callahan led a tribute to one of his predecessors at a ceremony this afternoon dedicating a Main Street monument to Gordon Mowrer. Mowrer, who was mayor between 1974 and 1978 and again in 1987, is generally credited with putting a halt to planned urban renewal projects that would have put a wrecking ball to many buildings in Bethlehem’s historic downtown. Callahan unveiled a brick wall and plaque in front of the fountain at Main and W. Market streets proclaiming Mowrer the “Main Street Mayor.” The plaque features a portrait of the former mayor and testifies to Mowrer’s lasting contribution to Bethlehem’s charm and vitality: “As Mayor in the 1970s his vision saved Bethlehem’s historic downtown from the wrecking ball of ‘urban …

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Crime News

Charges Against Former Mayor's Grandson Dropped

Former Bethlehem Mayor Gordon Mowrer asks that charges against grandson, accused of stealing from him, be dropped. Northampton County DA complies.

  The Northampton County district attorney has dropped charges against a 20-year-old Hanover Township man at the urging of his alleged victim and grandfather, former Bethlehem Mayor Gordon Mowrer, according to published reports. Forest G. Huron was accused of stealing his grandfather’s ATM card and using it to withdraw $1,250 in cash over a series of transactions made at a Wawa convenience store teller machine last spring. Northampton County DA John Morganelli told The Express-Times that he honored Mowrer’s written request to drop the charges against Huron. Mowrer told The Morning Call that he “noticed a change” in his grandson. “Everyone deserves a second chance,” he told the newspaper. Huron was charged with access device fraud, a third-…

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Crime News

Police: Former Mayor Victimized by Grandson

Former mayor and councilman Gordon Mowrer had his ATM card taken by grandson, who then withdrew more than $1,000 over the course of a month, court papers say.

  A grandson of former Bethlehem mayor and city councilman Gordon Mowrer was charged Tuesday with stealing his grandfather’s ATM card and making more than $1,000 in withdrawals from his bank account, according to court papers. In confessing to the crime to a city police detective, Forest G. Huron said he needed money to pay the costs on another criminal case in which he was accepted into a first-time offenders program. Huron, 19, of 4648 Hampshire Drive, Hanover Township, Northampton County, was charged with access device fraud, a third-class felony; theft; and receiving stolen property. He was released on $10,000 unsecured bail, following his arraignment before District Judge Patricia Romig-Passaro. The investigation began on Thursday, …

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