Community Corner

🌱 Patch AM: How Hotel Bethlehem is betting on people instead of AI bots

Coming up: Estate Sale in Allentown, PA | Furniture | Artwork | Collectibles | Alderfer Auction on the Bethlehem Patch calendar

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Morning Bethlehem! We've got the scoop on the latest happenings in town. Read on to get looped in. ☀️

In today's newsletter:

  • How Hotel Bethlehem is betting on people instead of AI bots
  • What's pouring at Bethlehem's SteelStacks Oktoberfest this weekend?
  • Bethlehem man sentenced after teen's fatal overdose in Allentown

Also on today's calendar: Estate Sale in Allentown, PA | Furniture | Artwork | Collectibles | Alderfer Auction and 9 more events.

Today's riddle: What do you call a belt that is made of watches? 🤔 (Answer below!)

Weather forecast:

  • Thursday: Humid with clouds breaking, with a high of 79 and low of 60 degrees.
  • Friday: An afternoon shower in spots, temps: high: 83, low: 54.
  • Saturday: Partly sunny and not as warm, with a high of 72 and low of 48 degrees.

📰 News we're reading

1. 'Real people doing real jobs': Hotel Bethlehem doubles down against 'soulless' AI bots (lehighvalleypublicmedia.org) — Historic Hotel Bethlehem is rolling out a "REAL People Promise," training all 200-plus employees as concierges so guests get personal, locally informed service instead of AI bots and kiosks. Staff will learn Bethlehem's history, restaurants, and attractions to better guide visitors, reinforcing the hotel's century-old role as a community hub and social gathering place for local families.
   

2. Events roundup: Oktoberfests lead the way during busy festival season (readingeagle.com) — Bethlehem residents can head to SteelStacks for Oktoberfest, running this Friday through Sunday and again Oct. 9–11 with beer, food, music, artisans, and even dachshund races. The roundup also lists concerts at Wind Creek Event Center in Bethlehem and dozens of other festivals, performances, and cultural events across eastern Pennsylvania and Philadelphia.
   

3. Bethlehem man sentenced to prison in fatal Allentown overdose (mcall.com) — A Bethlehem resident has been sentenced to 4½ to 10½ years in prison after a 16-year-old died from drugs he supplied in Allentown in December 2022. Investigators say they found large quantities of drugs, cash, and firearms, and the defendant pleaded guilty to drug delivery resulting in death and related charges.
   

4. Autumn Harvest Title Nets Hall Patriot League Golfer of the Week Laurels (lehighsports.com) — Lehigh University junior golfer Alana Hall, competing out of Bethlehem, has been named Patriot League Women's Golfer of the Week after winning the Autumn Harvest tournament in New Jersey. Her three-round 214, capped by a final-round 69, led a strong overall showing by the Mountain Hawks, who set multiple program scoring records.
   

5. Lehigh Valley Public Media CEO Steps Down. (insideradio.com) — Lehigh Valley Public Media, which operates Bethlehem's WLVR 91.3 and PBS39, is undergoing more upheaval as President and CEO Hasanna Birdsong resigns after major layoffs and a steep loss of federal funding. With another top executive also departing and a multimillion-dollar deficit, the future direction of local public radio, TV, and the Lehigh Valley News website remains uncertain for Bethlehem listeners and viewers.
   

📸 Around Bethlehem

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💬 Chatter

What your neighbors are talking about on social media

  • inside of the engine block and was fully rounded out.
    I had 2 others try to get it out and both could not. At first George could not either so he figured out what he had to do and got it done. Saved the… (Nextdoor Grandview Blvd)
  • Oh, come on!
    I don't remember anyone wearing this back in the day! Its like grown Toddlers! (Nextdoor Walnut Hills/Windy Knob)
  • Saucon Valley Country Club posted a job opening for Housekeeper in Bethlehem. Apply here.
  • HTSS, Inc. posted a job opening for Forklift Operator in Bethlehem. Apply here. You can search for other jobs near Bethlehem here.

Ok Bethlehem! So now you're in the loop about what's happening today. Thanks for reading, and see you in your inbox next time! Oh -- and if you like what you're reading, invite a friend to Patch AM!

-- The Patch AM Team

P.S. The answer to today's riddle: A waist of time. (Thank you Martin L. for sending it in!)
Got a good riddle for PatchAM? Submit it here!

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