Coroner IDs Second and Third Victims in West Ward Apartment Fire

By Christina Georgiou

Workers were seen boarding up and securing the building
at 724 Spring Garden St. where Joy Lozier, 24, and her four-year-
old son Makai Peters, along with James Strickland, 25, lost
their lives after a fire ripped through their upper-level
apartment. Seven residents next door, right, were displaced by
the blaze.

Makai Peters, 4, and James Strickland, 25, have been formally identified by Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek as the two residents who died at the scene of the fatal blaze that occurred at 724 Spring Garden St. early this morning.

The official manner and cause of their deaths will be released at a later date, Lysek said, pending the completion of autopsies.

Lysek confirmed that Peters is the son of Joy Lozier, 24, who was pronounced dead at the Lehigh Valley Hospital burns unit at 7:30 a.m. Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim ruled her death accidental, as the result of body burns, in a press release issued earlier today.

Three other residents of the home, including a baby, escaped the upstairs apartment home with injuries. Ground-floor apartment occupant Kris Thompson, 28, was the only resident in the building to escape unscathed.

Easton Fire Chief John Bast said not a single smoke detector was found in either unit, and attributed the deaths and the extensive damage to the building to their lack.

Joy Lozier's and Makai Peters' deaths tragically mark three generations of fatalities in one family due to fire.

Joy Lozier's mother, Charlette Ann Eryilmaz, also perished as the result of a fire at her home in Phillipsburg, NJ a little over seven years ago, in May of 2006, a copy of her obituary archived online states. Eryilmaz was 36 years old.

Helen Lozier, Joy Lozier's grandmother and Peters' great-grandmother, is a lifelong Easton resident.

She is additionally the great-grandmother to Elijah Strickland, who was murdered in 2008 by Eugenio Torres in Wilson Borough. Torres had been dating the boy's mother at the time. He was convicted and sentenced to life in prison for the crime in 2011

James Strickland was Elijah's father, and he and Joy Lozier were apparently second cousins.

Joy Lozier's other son, a baby, believed to be about a year old, was saved from the blaze, and was reportedly released from the hospital earlier today after being treated for smoke inhalation.

Updated at 7:47 p.m.

City Police Seek 16-year-old Runaway Believed to Be Involved in Armed Robbery

Easton Police are seeking Al-faquan Craft, who also goes
by the name "Fu-Fu". Anyone who sees him or knows his
current whereabouts is asked to call 911.

Easton police announced today that they are seeking 16-year-old Al-faquan Craft, who also goes by the name "Fu-Fu". Authorities say he is both a runaway and a wanted person.

An arrest warrant has been issued for Craft in connection with an armed robbery that occurred on Friday, Sept. 27 in the city's Southside neighborhood involving a knife, which was not recovered after the crime, police said in a media release.

Craft is described as a black male who is about 5'11" tall and weighs about 150 pounds.

He is believed to have ties to the Newark, NJ area, and may be traveling in a stolen dark blue 1994 Saturn SL, with Pennsylvania license plate number FLP-2407.

Police ask that anyone who thinks they see Craft or know his current location call 911 immediately.

"It is in the best interest for public safety and for his own safety that we locate him," said Easton Police Inspector Daniel Reagan.

Those with information that may help authorities find Craft are asked to contact Reagan via 610-250-6796 or the Easton Police Department tip-line at 610-250-6635. Callers may remain anonymous.

Updated at 7:49 p.m. to correct the license plate number of the suspected stolen vehicle, incorrectly given in the original media release issued by police.

One Fire Victim Identified by Coroner; City Fire Chief Urges Residents to Check Smoke Detectors

By Christina Georgiou

Joy Lozier
Facebook photo

The first of three victims killed as a result of a fire that gutted their apartment early this morning was identified by Lehigh County Coroner Scott Grim this afternoon.

Joy Lozier, 24, was pronounced dead at 7:30 a.m. at the burn unit at Lehigh Valley Hospital in Salisbury Township, where where she had been transferred after having initially survived the blaze and taken by ambulance to Easton Hospital, Grim said in a press release.

Grim has ruled Lozier's death was accidental and attributed it to body burns.

Two other people, a man and a four-year-old boy, were also killed in the blaze, but Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek has not yet released information on their deaths and was not immediately available by phone Monday afternoon.

Unofficial reports indicate the four-year-old was Lozier's son, Mackai Peters, and the surviving baby is Lozier's second child. Online sources suggest Lozier worked as a manager for Dunkin' Donuts at a location in the city and was a graduate of the Lincoln Technical Institute.

Three other residents of the upstairs apartment at 724 Spring Garden St., a woman, a man, and a baby, survived the fire. Additionally, the resident of the first floor apartment escaped unharmed.

Residents' names, including that of Joy Lozier, who died as
a result of body burns sustained in a fast-moving fire that
consumed the apartment she shared with five others, are
seen on the mailbox at 724 Spring Garden St. While officials
have not yet released the names of a man and a four-year-old
child that also died in the fire, Gregory Jackson, whose
name is also seen above, is not thought to be among them.

Easton Fire Department Chief John Bast said Monday afternoon that both the man and the child have been released from a local area hospital after being treated for smoke inhalation.

The woman remained in the hospital Monday afternoon, and suffered burns as well as smoke inhalation, he said.

The fire started in a middle room on the second floor of the building near an electric clothes dryer, Bast said.

Though fire officials still haven't announced the official cause of the blaze, Bast said the fire is not suspicious, and there was "no criminal intent".

All the residents in the building, along with the seven residents of the other half of the duplex at 726 Spring Garden St., were left homeless by the blaze, as city officials have deemed both addresses uninhabitable.

The American Red Cross is reportedly sheltering the seven people that lived at the single-family home at 726 Spring Garden St. The resident of the first floor apartment at 724 Spring Garden is staying with family, Bast said, adding that he doesn't know what arrangements have been made for the survivors of the upstairs apartment at that address.

A house next door, at 722 Spring Garden St. also suffered minor damage from the fire, but owner Bruce Reichard, who has lived on the block "for most of 77 years" was not displaced. He was waiting for an insurance adjuster Monday afternoon to look at siding that melted, as well as a window that broke from the heat, and a glass panel in his front door that was shattered by emergency personnel when he was evacuated as a precaution during the fire.

Reichard said none of his neighbors next door had lived there for very long.

"I knew them to say hello to, but I didn't know them that well," he said.

Left, work men were seen boarding up and securing 724 Spring Garden St.,
site of a deadly fire early this morning in which three residents were killed and
three others injured. Right, displaced residents, one with an infant, sit on the
porch while other residents of the home pack belongings. Both properties
were deemed uninhabitable after the blaze.

Bast said smoke detectors might have prevented the the deaths and lessened the damages suffered by the survivors.

"We did not find one smoke detector in there, up or down," he said. "Please, people, check your smoke detectors. If you can't afford them, we'll give them to you. If you buy them, we'll put them up for you."

Bast said the fire is the deadliest he's handled during his career with the City of Easton.

"This is the first fatal fire in 12 years, since 2001," he said, adding that in that blaze, one man was killed.

Smoke detectors are available free of charge to city residents from the Easton Fire Department, which recommends having the life-saving devices on every floor and in every bedroom.  Residents can call the department at 610-258-6672 to arrange installation of smoke detectors.

Updated at 4:11 p.m.,  4:20 p.m. and again at 7:30 p.m.

Three Confirmed Dead in Spring Garden Street Fire, Smoke Detectors Missing

By Christina Georgiou

An Easton police officer stands in the doorway
of 724 Spring Garden Street in the early hours
of Monday morning. Three people died, and
another three were injured in a fast-moving fire
that started on the second floor. Only the
resident of the first floor apartment escaped
the blaze unharmed.

Three people--a man, a woman., and a four-year-old boy--lost their lives in a fast-moving  fire that broke out in a second- and third-story apartment at 724 Spring Garden St. early this morning, Easton Mayor Sal Panto has confirmed.

The man and the child died at the scene, while the woman died of extensive burns at a hospital shortly thereafter, he said.

Authorities know their identities, but are withholding their names until their families can be notified.

Three other residents reportedly remain hospitalized with smoke inhalation, and one suffered burns as well, the mayor said.

A total of six people lived in the upstairs apartment, which was gutted in the blaze.

First-floor resident Kris Thompson escaped the blaze unharmed.

When asked at the scene, he said his apartment lacked smoke detectors.

While mounting brackets were found for smoke detectors, none were actually present in the building, the mayor said, and their lack likely contributed to the severity of the fire and the resulting fatalities.

"(This incident) continues to show the importance of early (fire) detection," he said.

"It's a very tragic day in the City of Easton," Panto added.

City Administrator Glenn Steckman said it's too soon to tell whether the property owner, listed as Ellen Moskella of Bethlehem Township according to online county property records, will be cited for any code violations for the lack of detectors.

"We need to let the fire marshal do his job and find out all the facts before we make that determination," Steckmann said.

The apartment was properly registered with the city, but the date of its last inspection was not immediately available. City ordinances require that rental units be inspected every three years.

Smoke detectors are available free of charge to city residents from the Easton Fire Department, which recommends having the life-saving devices on every floor and in every bedroom.  Residents can call the department at 610-258-6672 to arrange installation of smoke detectors.


Updated at 11:42 a.m.

West Ward Blaze Kills as Many as Three People, Injures Others

By Christina Georgiou

An apartment fire at 724 Spring Garden Street, claimed
the lives of up to three people in the early hours of  Monday
morning. Seen above, a member of the Easton Fire Department climbs
a ladder shortly after the fire was extinguished.

As many as three people lost their lives early this morning and as many as three more may have been injured when a fire ripped through a home at 724 Spring Garden Street at about 1:30 a.m.

Officials offered few details about the fire at the scene, citing the in-progress ongoing investigation into the blaze and the need to confirm facts before releasing information to the public, but witnesses said the blaze started on the second floor of the duplex, which appears to have housed two apartments, though online county records list the property as a four-bedroom single family home.

Flames had engulfed the entire second story and had spread to the third story by the time the occupants tried to escape, one witness said, adding that a woman and a baby were rescued from the third floor. Neighbors said they didn't know exactly how many people lived in the upstairs apartment.

She and the child, along with an elderly man, were taken away by ambulance, witnesses said.

One witness said the woman appeared to have burns on her arm, and another said they saw medics administering chest compressions to the man. The official condition of the baby is unknown, but one woman said she carried the child to ambulance medics, and he appeared to be uninjured.

Kris Thompson, 28, who lived in the first floor apartment downstairs from the fire, escaped without injury, as did seven other residents who live in a single-family home at 726 Spring Garden St.

"All I know is, I heard a big bang and a window exploded. Then someone yelled 'Fire!', and I got out," Thompson said. His dog, Havoc, also made it out of the burning building safely.

Jason Soto, right, stands with his son behind police lines
early Monday morning. He helped one of his neighbors
escaped the blaze which engulfed their apartment and took
the lives of others.

Next door neighbors Jason and Annette Soto ran out of their home, along with five other family members at their residence, after hearing a commotion.

"We heard breaking glass," Jason Soto said, adding that he initially thought someone was breaking into either their house or a car outside. "Then we heard someone screaming 'Fire! Fire! Fire!"

He said he tried to help one of the next door neighbors escape from the third floor, and then Easton Fire Department members arrived at the scene, at which point they stepped in and rescued at least one person from the blaze.

"I saw them pull one person out, and an old man," Jason Soto said.

His haste to escape and help his neighbors left him standing shoeless and shirtless on the sidewalk.

While their neighbors' attached apartment was entirely engulfed in flames, other than the sound of breaking glass and shouting, the Sotos had no warning of the danger, Annette Soto said.

"We have smoke detectors, but they didn't go off," she said. "There wasn't any smoke in our house, but theirs was in flames."

Ellen and Tom Moskella, right, talk with an Easton Fire
Department official at the scene.

Thompson said there were no smoke detectors in his apartment at 724 Spring Garden, though property owners Ellen and Tom Moskella, of Bethlehem Township, who arrived at the scene shortly before 3 a.m. disputed that fact.

Tom Moskella said both apartments were equipped with working detectors, "unless the tenants did something to them."

County records indicate the single family dwelling at 726 Spring Garden is owned by Guillermo Aguilar, of Palmer Township.

Neighbors adjacent to where the fire broke out said they knew little about the residents that lived there, including the number of people. Thompson said they'd moved in about four or five months ago and were generally quiet.

Easton Mayor Sal Panto, third from left, talks with Easton
police officers at the scene of an apartment fire that claimed
the lives of up to three people early Monday morning.

Mayor Sal Panto, along with City Administrator Glenn Steckman, was on the scene a bit after 2 a.m.

The mayor confirmed at least two people died in the blaze, and one of them was a child.

"It's not a good day. Not good at all," Panto said.

In addition to the Easton Fire Department, the Wilson Borough Fire Department were also at the scene. At least three ambulances were called to the address, and the Easton Police Criminal Investigations Unit had arrived by about 3 a.m.

A state police fire marshal will be investigating the blaze, in addition to Easton Fire Department Chief John Bast, who is also the city's fire marshal, and city police, EFD Captain Henry Hennings said.

More information will also probably be released about the fire later today, Hennings added.

Updated at 6:05 a.m. to add more photos.

This Week in Easton, September 30 to October 3

Can you believe October is upon us?

Monday, September 30

Trivia Night: 8 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Tuesday, October 1

Naturalist Walk at Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary: 9 to 11 a.m. Join Preserve Manager and Natural Lands Trust Wildlife Coordinator Tim Burris to explore the 200 acre Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary. Please wear sturdy walking shoes and bring your water bottle. Walks will meet in the parking lot at Mariton. We will proceed in misty conditions but cancel in case of downpour or lightening. This event is free, but please preregister. Mariton Wildlife Sanctuary, Sunnyside Road, Williams Township. For more information, please email Tim at timburris@natlands.org

Duplicate Bridge: 11:30 a.m. Temple Covenant of Peace, 1451 Northampton St.

City of Easton 2014 Budget Proposal Presentation: 6 p.m. City Hall, city council chambers, sixth floor, 1 South Third St.

Fry's Run Watershed Association Meeting: 7 p.m. Williams Township Municipal Complex, 655 Cider Press Road, Easton (Williams Township)

Line Dancing: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Beginner lessons 7:15 p.m. Open dancing follows. $5 per person. Tatamy Fire Company, 164 Bushkill St., Tatamy. 610-759-2786 or www.purecountrydancers.com

Trivia Night: 7 to 10 p.m. Hosted by comedienne Liz Russo. The Easton Fire Department will be guest bar tending from 5 to 7 p.m. too! Rivals, 5 Lehn's Court. 610-392-2932 or www.rivalseaston.com

Bingo: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, corner of South Fourth and Ferry streets.

Wednesday, October 2

Williams Township Budget Committee Meeting: 9 a.m. Williams Township Municipal Complex, 655 Cider Press Road, Easton (Williams Township)

Easton Planning Commission meeting: 6:30 p.m. City Hall, city council chambers, sixth floor, 1 South Third St.
 
Book Talk and Signing: 7 p.m., doors open at 6 p.m. Author John Searles will discuss his latest novel, "Help for the Haunted." Searles is the author of the best-selling novels "Boy Still Missing" and "Strange but True." He is also editor-at-large of Cosmopolitan Magazine and can be heard on their Sirius/XM
program. His essays have appeared in the New York Times, the Washington Post, the Daily Beast, and other national publications. The event is free and handicapped accessible. Refreshments will be served. Books will be available for sale and pre-registration is encouraged--call 610-258-2917 ext. 310. Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St. www.eastonpl.org or click here for more information.

Magnetic North Project: 7 p.m. Vintage Restaurant at The Club at Morgan Hill, 100 Clubhouse Drive, Williams Township. 610-923-8480 or www.vintagerestaurantandbar.com

Fahad & Kelly: 7 p.m. The Widow's Tavern, 200 Main St., Stockertown. 610-365-8890 or www.widowstavern.com

Texas Hold'em: 7 & 9 p.m. Free, sign up happens 15 minutes before game times. La Pazza Bar, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com
 
"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee": 8 p.m. Overachievers in the throes of puberty learn that losing doesn't necessarily make them losers. Tickets are $6 per person. Lafayette College, Williams Center for the Arts, 317 Hamilton St. 610- 330-5326 or williamscenter.lafayette.edu

Jeremy Robert: 8 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Jam Session: 8 p.m. Rivals, 5 Lehn's Court. 610-392-2932 or www.rivalseaston.com

Open Mic with Scott Harrington: 9:30 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Thursday, October 3

PBR Retro Thursday and Game Night: Available for your endless enjoyment and nostalgic lapses are a wide assortment games we all grew up playing, plus, Ring-the-Bull and Shut-the-Box. PBR cans are $1 from 4 p.m. to midnight. La Pazza Bar, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

Northampton County Council meeting: 6:30 p.m. County Council Meeting Room, third floor, Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St.

Forks Township Board of Supervisors work session: 7 p.m. Forks Township Municipal Complex, 1606 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township.

"The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee": 8 p.m. Overachievers in the throes of puberty learn that losing doesn't necessarily make them losers. Tickets are $6 per person. Lafayette College, Williams Center for the Arts, 317 Hamilton St. 610- 330-5326 or williamscenter.lafayette.edu

Bring (or wear) Your Own Vinyl night: 8 p.m. to midnight. With the Easton Record Exchange. Black & Blue, 683 Walnut St. 610-438-3604 or www.blackandblueeaston.com

Karaoke: 8 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Open Mic with Nick Levinos: 9:30 p.m. Pearly Bakers, 11 Centre Square. 610-253-9949 or www.pearlybakers.net

Save the Date!

ProJeCt of Easton's premier (and delicious!) annual fundraiser, Simply Savory will be held next  Monday, October 7 from 5:30 to 9 p.m. at the Hampton Inn in on Route 248 in Lower Nazareth, and reservations are still being taken for this delicious event. Enjoy an evening with friends savoring fabulous food, wine and beer of the Lehigh Valley's finest palate-pleasers...Click here for more details!

"This Week in Easton" lists what's happening during the weekdays, from special events to who's playing to government meetings, all in one handy place. Not just in the City of Easton, but for the entire greater Easton area...Published every Monday morning!

Is there a community or entertainment event you'd like to see here? Are you organizing something you'd like to have posted? Did we miss something? Email us!

Weekend Guide, September 27 to 29

One thing you can definitely say about Easton--there's always something interesting going on, and this weekend is no exception.

Friday, September 27

Rummage Sale: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and 6 to 8 p.m. Saturday is bag day, from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Olivet United Presbyterian Church, 1151 Northampton St. 610-258-7990 Click here for a list of upcoming rummage sales in the Easton area.

AAUW Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Includes books, DVDs, CDs and tapes. Bag days today and tomorrow. Eddyside Poolhouse, Route 611 North and East Lafayette Street. Click here for more details.

Greek Festival: 4 to 11 p.m. Traditional homemade Greek foods, dancing, music, more. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, South 20th Street and Hay Terrace, Wilson Borough.

The Dan DeChellis Jazz Duo: 6 p.m. Bella Luna, 3417 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township. 610-253-7458

Kid's Fashion Show: 7 to 9 p.m.  A showcase of local designers and models hosted by 6ABC Action News co-anchor Alicia Vitarelli. Tickets are $25. Crayola Experience, 30 Centre Square. 610-515-8000 or www.crayolaexperience.com

Line Dancing: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Lessons at 7:15 p.m. $5 per person for members, $6 for non-members. Tatamy Fire Company, 164 Bushkill St., Tatamy. 610-759-2786 or www.purecountrydancers.com

Live in the Square - Christopher Dean Band: 7:30 p.m. Groove, funky soul and blues. Last Live in the Square concert of the season! Free, sponsored by the Easton Main Street Initiative. Centre Square.

School of Rock Presents MTV Unplugged, DJ Menson: Band at 7:30 p.m., DJ at 10:30 p.m.  Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com
 
 FON (Family OUT Night): 8 p.m. to midnight. LGBT social with complimentary buffet. Featuring DJ April spinning up some old school jams. Free, much be 21 to attend. La Pazza Bar, 13th and Ferry streets. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com 

Craig Thatcher & Nyke Van Wyk: 8 p.m. Thatcher on guitar and vocals, Van Wyk on electric violin. Mesa Modern Mexican, 42 South Third St. 610-829-2101 or www.mesamexican.com

Lelica and BD Lenz: 8 p.m. Valenca, 64-66 Centre Square. 610-923-5141 or www.valencarestauranteaston.com

Sal Ritz & Joe Mixon: 8 p.m. The Riegelsville Inn, 12 Delaware Road, Riegelsville. 610-749-0100 or www.riegelsvilleinn.com

Naked Jake: 9 p.m. Colonial Pizza & Spaghetti House, 136-138 Spring Garden St. 610-252-3033 or www.colonialpizzapub.com

DJ Mikey Z: 10 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Phonics: 10 p.m. An audio visual extravaganza with Josh Fink--always an amazing show.  Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

DJ Riske One: 10 p.m. Dub's on Fifth, 402 South Fifth St., West Easton. 610-438-3827 or www.dubson5th.com

Saturday, September 28

Easton Farmers' Market: 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. The oldest continuous open-air in the United States. Centre Square. www.eastonfarmersmarket.com

Lehigh Valley Knife Show: 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Buy, sell, and display knives, new antique, rusty, factory, custom, hunting, military, swords, daggers, folders, Bowies, razors, sharpeners, books. Admission is $6 per person, ages 12 and under get in free. Charles Chrin Community Center, 4100 Green Pond Road, Palmer Township. 610-253-2745 or www.paknifeshow.com

Fall Festival: 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Craft fair, corn maze, hayrides, pumpkin patch, Easton Municipal Band plays at 2 p.m. Raub's Farm, 1459 Tatamy Road, Palmer Township. www.raubsfarmmarket.com

Rummage Sale: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Bag day! Olivet United Presbyterian Church, 1151 Northampton St. 610-258-7990 Click here for a list of upcoming rummage sales in the Easton area.

2nd Annual Fall Plant Sale: 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Selection to include trees, shrubs, perennials, along with pumpkins and decorative gourds. Proceeds benefit the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership. 630 Northampton St. For more information, click here.

AAUW Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Includes books, DVDs, CDs and tapes. Bag day--today is the last day of the sale. Eddyside Poolhouse, Route 611 North and East Lafayette Street. Click here for more details.

Pocono Greyhound Adoption Event: 10 a.m. to 9 p.m.  Palmer Park Mall, Management Office, Route 248 and Park Avenue, Palmer Township. 570-856-0377 or www.poconogreyhound.com

Jacob Nicholas House Tour: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Tour one of the few buildings in Easton remaining from the colonial era. $5 per person. Jacob Nicholas House, 5th and Ferry streets. www.sigalmuseum.org

Fall Festival: 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Crafts, games, food and more. 11 a.m. to 5 p.m.  New Creation United Church of Christ, 3730 Nicholas St., Palmer Township. 610-253-1541

Greek Festival: 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. Traditional homemade Greek foods, dancing, music, more. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, South 20th Street and Hay Terrace, Wilson Borough.

Safe Harbor Annual Regatta: Noon to 2 p.m. More than 1,000 toy boats are expected to race down the Bushkill Creek in this annual fundraiser for Easton's Safe Harbor homeless shelter. Also includes pony rides, a K9 demonstration, a tricky tray, and other fun activities. Boats can be purchased for $5 apiece, and prizes will be awarded to those whose boats place in the race. Penns Pump Park,  just off Northwood Avenue and Bushkill Drive, Palmer Township. 610-258-5540, www.safeharboreaston.com or click here for more details.

Museum Day Live! at the National Canal Museum: Open noon to 5 p.m., free admission and $5 canal boat rides with a Museum Day Live! ticket. Hugh Moore Park, 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road. 610-923-3548 or www.canals.org or click here to download a Museum Day Live! ticket for free. Click here for more about Museum Day Live! and a list of participating museums.

Museum Day Live! - "From the US Sanitary Commission to the American Red Cross": 1 p.m. Kathy Coddington discusses the history of the United States Sanitary Commission and other civilian relief efforts  during the American Civil War and their influences on Clara Barton and the formation of the American Red Cross after the war. Free. The Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St. www.sigalmuseum.org

Spaghetti Dinner: 4 to 7 p.m. $8 per person, $6 for children ages 6 to 12, free for kids 5 and under. St. John's Lutheran Church,  2745 Morgan Hill Road, Williams Township. 610-252-3571

School of Rock Presents MTV Unplugged, Lou Franco Project, DJ Jesse Funk: SOR at 5 p.m., Lou Franco at 7:30 p.m., DJ at 10 p.m..  Rivals Sports Bar & Nightclub, 5 Lehns Court. 610-923-7625 or www.rivalseaston.com

Free Texas Hold'em: 7 & 9 p.m. La Pazza, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

Family YMCA Fall Fete: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Enjoy hearty hors d'oeuvres along with wine and beer, live music by BC Combo, with a silen auction. Evening attire/black tie optional. $40 per person, $80 per couple. Proceeds benefit the Family YMCA youth day camp. Nurture Nature Center, 518 Northampton St. www.familyymca.org

Dance: 8 to 11 p.m. With music by King Henry & The Showmen. $10 per person. Charles Chrin Community Center, 4100 Green Pond Road, Palmer Township. 610-252-2098

Andy Killcoyne & Friends: 8 p.m. The Riegelsville Inn, 12 Delaware Road, Riegelsville. 610-749-0100 or www.riegelsvilleinn.com

Titi Bamberger: 9 p.m. Gypsy jazz straight from France. No cover. Black & Blue, 683 Walnut St. 610-438-3604 or www.blackandblueeaston.com

Jealous Monks: 9 p.m. Bella Luna, 3417 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township. 610-253-7458

The Ultra Kings: 9 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Will Kiss Band: 9 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Karaoke with Nort: 9 p.m. Rip Van Winkle's Pub, 3700 Nicholas St., Palmer Township. 610-258-8873

ReaLion: 10 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Modern Romantz: 10 p.m. Dub's on Fifth, 402 South Fifth St., West Easton. 610-438-3827 or www.dubson5th.com

"Dance-a-Palooza": 10 p.m. With a DJ, blazer required for men, dress to impress. Mesa Modern Mexican, 42 South Third St. 610-829-2101 or www.mesamexican.com

 

 Sunday, September 29

Lehigh Valley Knife Show: 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Buy, sell, and display knives, new antique, rusty, factory, custom, hunting, military, swords, daggers, folders, Bowies, razors, sharpeners, books. Admission is $6 per person, ages 12 and under get in free. Charles Chrin Community Center, 4100 Green Pond Road, Palmer Township. 610-253-2745 or www.paknifeshow.com

Pocono Greyhound Adoption Meet and Greet: 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. Sam's Club, Receiving Appointments, 3796 Easton-Nazareth Highway, Easton (Lower Nazareth). 570-856-0377 or www.poconogreyhound.com

Basket Bingo: Doors open 11:30 a.m., bingo starts at 12:30 p.m. Refreshments available. $20 per person. Williams Township Fire Company, 2500 Morgan Hill Road, Williams Township. 610-559-8693

DJ Brad Scott Smith, DJ Mumbler: Noon to 4 p.m., during brunch. Valenca, 64-66 Centre Square. 610-923-5141 or www.valencarestauranteaston.com

Greek Festival: Noon to 6 p.m. Traditional homemade Greek foods, dancing, music, more. Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, South 20th Street and Hay Terrace, Wilson Borough.

BC Combo: 5:30 p.m. Bella Luna, 3417 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township. 610-253-7458

Save the Date!

 The Easton Garlic Festival will gloriously stink up the Centre Square next Saturday and Sunday, October 5 and 6 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Cooking demos, free samples, food, beer and wine, live music, crafts, and lots of other fun and amazing garlicky delights are all part of the event.  Click here for more details or visit www.eastongarlicfest.com  Oh, and did we mention that Easton Eccentric editor and publisher Christina Georgiou is one of the emcees? Come say hi! See you there!

Easton's most comprehensive guide to what's happening over the weekend, in the city and beyond, is published every Friday.

Are you planning an event? Did we miss something? Let us know! Email us.

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Authorities ID Woman Found Shot to Death in Pickup Truck

By Christina Georgiou

Amanda Stratford, 28, listed on
her Facebook page as having worked
as a bartender and originally from the
Wilkes-Barre area, was named by authorities
Thursday afternoon as being the woman
who was found dead of gunshot wounds
in a green pickup truck in Easton's
West Ward late Sunday night.
Facebook photo

Authorities say the victim found shot to death in the driver's seat of a green Dodge pickup truck on the 100 block of South Peach St. late Sunday night was 28-year-old Amanda Stratford, who had no known address.

Stratford was also known in the Lehigh Valley area by her street name, "Money", said Easton Police Detective Matt Gerould.

"We believe she was involved in the drug trade," he said, but police aren't saying whether they believe her alleged illegal activities led to her murder.

"We're not going to discuss motive at this point," he said.

Stratford was shot multiple times authorities say, and Northampton County Coroner Zachary Lysek has ruled her death a homicide as a result of gunshot wounds.

Police still declined to say Thursday where Stratford was shot or name the number of times.

"The investigation is still ongoing," Gerould said.

Easton Police scour the scene of the homicide of
Amanda Stratford early Monday morning. Stratford was
found shot to death in the driver's seat of a green Dodge
pickup truck in the 100 block of the South Peach Street
alley in the city's West Ward late Sunday night.

Stratford's death does not appear to be related to two stabbing incidents that have taken place recently nearby, Gerould said.

"We never rule anything out, but it doesn't appear (that the crimes connected)," he said.

He added that some people who knew Stratford might only have known her by her street name, and that he hopes the release of that information might lead to tips police can use to find her killer.

Easton Police are asking anyone with information about Stratford's death to call 610-759-2200, 610-250-6656 or the Easton Police tip line at 610-250-6635. Callers may remain anonymous.


Updated at 2:40 p.m. to add a photo.

Community Involvement Key to Safer Neighborhoods, Police Say

By Christina Georgiou

Lt. John Remaley, of the Easton Police Department, told
attendees at the city's quarterly Block Watch meeting
Wednesday evening that reporting suspicious activity
to authorities helps make neighborhoods safer.

Residents that see something amiss or that witness suspicious activity need to report incidents--even small ones--to authorities so they can better serve the community, police said  Wednesday evening.

Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo and Lieutenant John Remaley, who heads the EPD's Problem Oriented Policing program, addressed a group of about 30 people from several city neighborhoods that gathered at the Nurture Nature Center to attend the Easton Block Watch's quarterly meeting.

Scalzo said the number and scope of recent drug raids, including some that shut down makeshift labs manufacturing methamphetamines, have put a dent in local illegal drug dealing, and the department will continue to put pressure on dealers and users.

But there are only 62 officers to the nearly 27,000 city residents, and to do the best job, police need community assistance and cooperation, Remaley said.

"You're our eyes and ears," he said. "The more you get involved in your neighborhood, the safer it will be for you."

Remaley praised the work of various local community organizations, such as Weed and Seed, the West Ward Neighborhood Partnership, the College Hill Neighborhood Association, and others, noting that while they are all separate groups, "you all have the same goals."

He said the various groups should work together and with police to continue to improve quality of life in Easton's neighborhoods.

"Pooling our resources, sharing information is a great way of working," Remaley said.

But private citizens should also be involved in helping to keep their blocks and neighborhood safe too.

"Chances are, if something raises the hackles on your neck, something's wrong," he said. "If you sense something's wrong, let us know about it, and we'll check it out."

The combination of vigilant residents and strong neighborhood organizations can improve the quality of life and increase safety, Remaley said.

"Let's pull all the resources into one barrel and make it a better barrel," he concluded.

While the meeting was less than a week following the homicide death of a woman found shot to death in a pickup truck in the city's West Ward neighborhood, police did not specifically address that or other recent violent incidents at the meeting, and authorities have not issued any further information since the murder that happened this past Sunday.

When asked about it after the meeting's conclusion, Scalzo declined to offer more details, saying that the investigation is still in a "delicate" stage, and that detectives are working diligently on the case, but to release more at this point could jeopardize the investigation.

Scalzo added that he expects more information about the homicide will be released"in the next few days."

Silk Mill Project Awarded $1.5M Federal Grant

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright (D-PA17) announced today that the U.S. Department of Commerce has awarded a $1.5M  grant to the City of Easton towards the redevelopment of the Simon Silk Mill Complex.  The funds are to be distributed via the U.S. Economic Development Administration (EDA).

"This grant provides an opportunity to put people back to work while improving Easton’s infrastructure," said Cartwright.  "These funds will serve as a catalyst for the development of a creative economy.  I am pleased that the EDA chose to invest in the City of Easton."

The grant will support the construction of public infrastructure necessary for the redevelopment of the Simon Silk Mill Complex and is to fund access roads, parking, water, sewer, and storm water improvements necessary to convert a remediated brownfield site into a modern commercial site.

"I appreciate Congressman Cartwright’s involvement in securing this grant, which will help with the $70 million project to redevelop the Simon Silk Mill Complex, the largest economic development project in this city.  This project will help create job opportunities for our citizens in our west ward neighborhood," said City of Easton Mayor, Sal Panto.

Cartwright said the EDA anticipates the creation of 50 to 80 new jobs as a result of the award.

The Silk Mill redevelopment project is being undertaken by the Easton Redevelopment Authority, and developer Mark Mulligan of VM Development was awarded the contract for the extensive renovation of  the first several of more than a dozen structures at the former Simon Silk Mill late last year. Since then, selective demolition has taken place at the site, along with environmental remediation work, to prepare the location for commercial and residential uses.

Mulligan was also awarded contracts for the soon-to-be complete Pomeroy building, as well as the Governor Wolf and Alpha buildings, for which work has not yet begun, in the city's Downtown district.

The former Simon Silk Mill is also traditionally the location for the annual Movies at the Mill independent film festival, but due to the demolition and construction at the site, this year's event, held last weekend, took place at Hugh Moore Park instead.

Author and TV Personality John Searles to Speak at Easton Public Library

Best-selling author John Searles will give a talk at the Easton Public Library next Wednesday, October 2 to discuss his latest novel, "Help for the Haunted".

Searles new book is described as being "an expertly-wrought, coming-of-age story with a healthy dose of creepiness." The plot centers around Sylvie Mason, whose demonologist parents are murdered in a church basement one snowy night after a mysterious phone call that brings them to the site. The tale offers "chills and family secrets that heighten the tension with each turn of the page."

Searles is the author of the best-selling novels "Boy Still Missing" and "Strange but True". He appears frequently on morning shows such as NBC’s Today, CBS’s The Early Show, and CNN to discuss favorite book selections. Searles is also editor-at-large for Cosmopolitan Magazine and can be heard on Sirius/XM’s Cosmo Radio. His essays have appeared in The New York Times, The Washington Post, The Daily Beast, and other national media.

First edition hardcover copies of "Help for the Haunted" are available for purchase at the main and Palmer branches of the Easton Public Library, as well as at the book talk, for $18. Searles will sign books at the conclusion of the talk too.

The program is free and open to the public. Refreshments will be provided.

The event will be held in the Catherine Drake Room at the Main Library located at 515 Church St. The room is handicapped-accessible from the lower level entrance. Doors open at 6 p.m.

Call 610-258-2917 ext. 310 to pre-register or for more information. For more about the Easton Public Library and other upcoming events, visit www.eastonpl.org

Annual Regatta to Benefit Safe Harbor

More than 1,000 toy boats are expected to race down the Bushkill Creek on Saturday, September 28 in an annual regatta race event that will benefit Easton's Safe Harbor.

The fundraising event will also include pony rides, a K9 demonstration, a tricky tray, and other fun activities from noon to 2 p.m. at Penns Pump Park in Palmer Township. Boats can be purchased for $5 apiece, and prizes will be awarded to those whose boats place in the race. The park is located just off Northwood Avenue and Bushkill Drive in Palmer Township.

Money raised at the regatta will go to the homeless shelter's day program, which needs to replace the $54,000 in funding formerly provided by the county. The day program provides a hot and nutritious breakfast and lunch to 80 to 100 participants daily, as well as case management, referrals to local agencies, and other programs and activities.

Safe Harbor is also seeking other donations of both funds and goods to support its efforts--linens, house wares, toiletries, paper goods, and clothing, are always needed, and the organization has a wish list posted on its website that specifies what it needs most at any given moment.

For more information about the event on Saturday or how to donate, call 610-258-5540 or visit www.safeharboreaston.com

Riverside Festival of the Arts Announces Artist Winners

By Christina Georgiou

Easton painter Cecily Mowad took first prize in the fine arts category at
this weekend's Riverside Festival of the Arts.

The 17th Annual Riverside Festival of the Arts was held this past weekend, and while most enjoy the event for the wide array of types of art and varied techniques the show displays, along with a chance to purchase one's favorite works, the celebration of the arts also offers a few contests as well.

From those displaying works at the show, in the fine arts category of juried art, festival judges
Allentown Art Museum chief curator Diane Fisher, Easton artist and NCC art professor Isadore LaDuca, and Forks Area Art Society president Penny Hochella, selected the following winners:

• First place and a $500 cash prize went to Cecily Mowad, a painter from Easton
• Second place and a $200 cash prize went to Dan Westfall a photographer based in Oregon
• Third place and a $100 prize was awarded to Tom D'Angelo, for his paintings on wood
• Painters Cece Tucker and Jonathon Rischaway received honorable mentions.

In the fine crafts category:

• Sculptor Hal Murray took first prize and $500
• Zoe Einbender and her Real Fruit Jewelry took second place and a $200 cash prize
• Trish and Ron Maietta won third place and a $100 cash prize  for their blown glass and jewelry
• An honorable mention went to Michael Cho for his ceramics.

 The Riverside Festival of the Arts also held a plein air art contest during the weekend. Artists paid $10 for a canvas, and spent the weekend outdoors creating the city scene of their choice.

Entries were critiqued by three judges--Bill Barrell, a founder of the Rhino art movement and owner of Bullseye Studio in Easton, Sandra Corpora, a local plein air fine artist, and attorney Raymond J. DeRamond, who is employed by plein air contest sponsor Gross McGinley, a law firm in Allentown.

The judges chose three works for prizes:

• First place went to Stephen Russell, of Bethlehem.
• Second place was awarded to Claudia McGill, of Wyncote.
• Third place went to New Jersey artist Marina Zindel.

Riverside Festival of the Arts plein air contest winners
Marina Zindell, Stephen Russell, and Claudia McGill
pose for a photo after being awarded their prizes at the
arts fest Sunday afternoon.

All the works created in the plein air contest will be on exhibit, and a number will be for sale, at the Quadrant Bookmart, 20 North Third St., until October 31, said Riverside Festival of the Arts organizer Ellen Shaughenessy.

Shaughnessy added the annual weekend fest went extremely well this year and drew a record-breaking crowd at Easton's longest-running arts festival.

"This festival was the biggest and best-attended ever," she said. "We were so lucky to have gorgeous weather."

Easton textile artist Susan Huxley talks with
a customer.

Easton photographer Yvette Hendler is visited
at her booth by Easton artist Bill Iavacone.

Woman's Body Found in Pickup Truck, Easton Homicide Unit Investigating

A woman was found shot in a green pickup truck parked along the 100 block
of South Peach Street late Sunday night. Police were still investigating at
the scene early this morning.

The body of a woman was found late Sunday night in a green pickup truck parked along the 100 block of Peach Street in Easton's West Ward after police were called to the scene for a report of an unresponsive person in the vehicle.

Police say they arrived at approximately 11:32 p.m. at the scene, located between 13th and 14th streets and between Ferry and Pine streets, to find the woman dead inside the vehicle. Authorities added she had been shot, but declined to offer any additional details, including the number of wounds.

Easton Police detectives, along with the Northampton County Coroner's Office and the Northampton County DA's Office, were seen at the location of the crime, which is being treated as a homicide, throughout the night and into the morning.

An official cause and manner of death will be released after an autopsy is performed, police said.

Police also said they are attempting to identify the victim, and offered no other details about the victim, including her approximate age and race, citing the ongoing investigation.

Many neighbors were surprised to find police on their street
early this morning.

Authorities said they had received reports that the sound of gunfire was heard in the area prior to the discovery of the victim.

Easton Police are asking anyone with information to call 610-759-2200, 610-250-6656 or the Easton Police tip line at 610-250-6635.

While some information was apparently gathered from nearby neighbors, others had no idea the crime had occurred until they got up in the morning.

An Easton Police detective looks on a roof and over a building
early this morning while investigating the homicide death of a woman
found in a parked green pickup truck along the 100 block of
South Peach Street.

"I woke up, and there was police tape on my porch," said one 14th Street resident.

After being closed to traffic overnight and into the morning, the 1300 block of Ferry Street was expected to be reopened this morning.

Updated at 8:36 a.m. to add photos.

This Week in Easton, September 23 to 26

Need a little culture in your life? This is a very good week to make it happen...

Monday, September 23

Northampton County Gaming Revenue and Economic Redevelopment Authority Meeting: 5:30 p.m. County Council Meeting Room, third floor, Northampton County Courthouse, 669 Washington St.

Open Mic Night: 6 to 10 p.m. P.A. will be provided, please bring yourself, your songs and your instruments. Come to play or just come to enjoy the music. BYOB ok, but please, no soda or food. New Seasons Event Center, 905b Line St. Email SlideTheBlues@gmail.com for more info.

Wilson Area School Board Excellence in Education Committee meeting: 6:15 p.m. William P. Tollinger Administration Building, 2040 Washington Blvd., Wilson Borough.

Wilson Borough Council meeting: 7 p.m. Wilson Borough Hall, 2040 Hay Terrace, Wilson Borough.

Forks Township Historical Society Meeting: 7 p.m. Easy parking and handicap accessible. Enter via Sullivan Trail or Zucksville Road. All welcome. Faith Lutheran Church, 2012 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township. For more information contact Karl Miller at 610-253-1035.

Film Screening - "Shun Li and the Poet": 7 p.m. Shun Li works in a textile factory near Rome, slowly paying off the broker that brought her from China to Italy, while saving money so she can bring her young son to join her. She is suddenly transferred to work as a bartender at a pub in a small town along the Venetian Lagoon. There she meets a local fisherman, Bepi; a handsome old Slav immigrant nicknamed "The Poet." Their tender, delicate friendship grows, but gossip soon threatens their innocent relationship. 2011, Italian & Mandarin with English subtitles, 100 min. Not rated. Free. Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St. 610-258-2917 or www.eastonpl.org

"From Flapping Birds to Space Telescopes - The Mathematics of Origami": 7:30 p.m. Robert Lang, the world's foremost paper-folding artist, who also happens to be a physicist, will lead the presentation, part of Lafayette College's "Crease Fold and Bend" origami exhibition, a collection of sculptures that blend math and science. Free. Williams Center for the Arts theater, 317 Hamilton St. 610-330-5361

Trivia Night: 8 p.m. Two Rivers Brewing Company, 542 Northampton St. 610-829-1131 or www.tworiversbrewing.com

Tuesday, September 24

Duplicate Bridge: 11:30 a.m. Temple Covenant of Peace, 1451 Northampton St.

Easton City Council committee meeting: 6 p.m. City Hall, city council chambers, sixth floor, 1 South Third St. CANCELLED

Palmer Adult Book Group: 6 to 7:30 p.m. This month's book is "Turn of Mind" by Alice LaPlante. Informal discussion, open to the public. New members welcome. Palmer Branch of the Easton Public  Library at the Municipal Complex, 1 Weller Place (off of Newburg Road), Palmer Township. Click here for more information.

Palmer Township Board of Supervisors meeting: 7 p.m. In the Palmer Library meeting room, at the Municipal Complex, 1 Weller Place (off of Newburg Road), Palmer Township.

Forks Township Planning Commission workshop: 7 p.m. Forks Township Municipal Complex, 1606 Sullivan Trail, Forks Township.

Line Dancing: 7 to 9:30 p.m. Beginner lessons 7:15 p.m. Open dancing follows. $5 per person. Tatamy Fire Company, 164 Bushkill St., Tatamy. 610-759-2786 or www.purecountrydancers.com

Trivia Night: 7 to 10 p.m. Hosted by comedienne Liz Russo. The Easton Fire Department will be guest bar tending from 5 to 7 p.m. too! Rivals, 5 Lehn's Court. 610-392-2932 or www.rivalseaston.com

Bingo: 7 to 10:30 p.m. Our Lady of Lebanon Maronite Catholic Church, corner of South Fourth and Ferry streets.

Wednesday, September 25

Williams Township Sewer Advisory Board meeting: 9 a.m. Williams Township Municipal Complex, 655 Cider Press Road, Easton (Williams Township)

Weyerbacher Wednesday: 4 to 9 p.m. This is the last week of the year for Easton Farmers' Market's new weekday evening market. Twenty producer-only vendors offer fresh locally grown produce, herb, flowers, raw milk, cheese and yogurt, pasture-raised meat and eggs, artisan breads and baked goods, prepared foods, and vegan specialties. www.eastonfarmersmarket.org or click here for more information.

FAM(iliarity) Tour: 5:30 p.m. This Downtown walking tour will point out unique historical points, new businesses and upcoming downtown & residential developments, promoting the economic development the city has seen in the recent years and the walkability of the downtown district. The tour takes about 45 minutes. Free. Starts from the Weyerbacher sampling tent (samples included!) on the south side of Centre Square. www.EastonMainStreet.org

Easton City Council meeting: 6 p.m. Please note the change in location for this meeting! St. Paul's Lutheran Church, 600 West Berwick St.

Easton Block Watch Association Quarterly Meeting: Sign-in begins at 6:30 p.m., meeting starts at 7 p.m. Scheduled speakers include Easton Police Chief Carl Scalzo and Nurture Nature Center Director Rachel Hogan. Nurture Nature Center, 518 Northampton St. Click here for more information.

Palmer Township Environmental Steering Committee meeting: 7 p.m. In the Palmer Library meeting room, at the Municipal Complex, 1 Weller Place (off of Newburg Road), Palmer Township.

Williams Township Zoning Hearing Board meeting: 7 p.m. Williams Township Municipal Complex, 655 Cider Press Road, Easton (Williams Township)

Non-fiction Book Group meeting: 7 p.m. This month's book is "Quiet: The Power of Introverts in a World That Can’t Stop Talking" by Susan Cain. By delving into introspection, Cain helps introverts and extroverts understand each other better. New members are welcome. Group meets on the last Wednesday of the month. Easton Public Library, 515 Church St. Call 610-258-2917 ext 393 or email maryannh@eastonpl.org for more info.

Local Authors Night: 7 p.m. Celebrate the wealth of local talent here in the greater Lehigh Valley area. 50 authors of all genres will be here to read from and sign their books. This is a not-to-be-missed opportunity to interact with your favorite writers and discover new ones. Barnes & Noble, Southmont Center, 4445 Southmont Way, Bethlehem Township. 610-515-0376

Tower Suite: 7 p.m. Vintage Restaurant at The Club at Morgan Hill, 100 Clubhouse Drive. 610-923-8480 or www.vintagerestaurantandbar.com

Texas Hold'em: 7 & 9 p.m. Free. La Pazza Bar, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

Traditional Irish open jam session: 7:30 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Sound Prints: 8 p.m. Grammy-winning saxophonist and composer Joe Lovano and two-time Grammy nominated trumpeter Dave Douglas. Tickets are $20 per person. Lafayette College, Williams Center for the Arts, 317 Hamilton St.  610-330-5000 or williamscenter.lafayette.edu

Jeremy Robert: 8 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Jam Session: 8 p.m. Hosted by Lou Franco. Rivals, 5 Lehn's Court. 610-392-2932 or www.rivalseaston.com

Thursday, September 26

AAUW Book Sale: 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Includes books, DVDs, CDs and tapes.  Sale runs through Sept. 28--today is half-price day and bag days are Sept. 27 and 28. Eddyside Poolhouse, Route 611 North and East Lafayette Street. Click here for more details.


Open House & Info Session: 3 to 9 p.m. During this Boys & Girls Club of Easton open house, an information session will be held from 7:30 to 8:30 p.m. to discuss the upcoming Phillipsburg/Easton Halloween Parade scheduled for Sunday, October 27--input will be taken regarding ideas for this event. The open house event will offer pre-registration for the upcoming 2013-2014 Citywide Basketball Program, after school tutoring and homework help, and tours of the club’s facilities. Boys & Girls Club of Easton, 210 Jones Houston Way. 610-253-5846 or email stars@fast.net for more information.

Artist Talk - Matthew Christopher on "Abandoned America": 6 to 8 p.m. A journey through the artist’s photographs and experiences in abandoned buildings over the past decade, this lecture examines the dangers and rewards of exploration, successes and failures in preservation and restoration and what they mean to the community are explored. Nurture Nature Center, 518 Northampton St. 610-253-4432 or www.nurturenaturecenter.org


Author Talk with Wallace Stroby: 7 p.m. Author and crime novelist Wallace Stroby will discuss his book, "Kings of Midnight." Question and answer session, book sale and book signing too. Free. Easton Area Public Library, 515 Church St. 610-258-2917 or www.eastonpl.org

Bring (or wear) Your Own Vinyl night: 8 p.m. to midnight. With the Easton Record Exchange. Black & Blue, 683 Walnut St. 610-438-3604 or www.blackandblueeaston.com

Karaoke and PBR Retro Thursday: Karaoke is 8 to midnight. PBRs are $1 all night. Smoke free from 8 to 11 p.m. La Pazza Bar, 1251 Ferry St. 610-515-0888 or www.lapazza.com

YanCarlos Sanchez: 8 p.m. Porters' Pub, 700 Northampton St. 610-250-6561 or www.porterspubeaston.com

Karaoke: 8 p.m. Riegelsville Tavern, 1274 Easton Road, Riegelsville. 610-510-3030 or www.riegelsvilletavern.com

Alex Radus: 9:30 p.m. Pearly Bakers, 11 Centre Square. 610-253-9949 or www.pearlybakers.net

"This Week in Easton" lists what's happening during the weekdays, from special events to who's playing to government meetings, all in one handy place. Not just in the City of Easton, but for the entire greater Easton area...Published every Monday morning!

Is there a community or entertainment event you'd like to see here? Are you organizing something you'd like to have posted? Did we miss something? Email us!

Last updated on Tuesday, September 24 at 12:39 p.m.