Talk:Bethlehem, Pennsylvania

Moravian Star

There should be a image of a moravian star on this page since it is nearly a icon of the community, not to mention a article on the star its self. The large Star of Bethlehem in Bethlehem, PA is mentioned in the article on that city with little mention of moravians and their star. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 12.20.127.229 (talk • contribs) 17:18, 28 November 2005

Stephen Vincent Benet

Stephen Vincent Benet was not born in Bethlehem, nor did he ever live in Bethlehem (as far as I know). You can make an argument that his name shouldn't even appear on the Bethlehem page; however, I'd argue that including his name helps to clarify the common misconception that he's from Bethlehem and helps point people in the right direction. Search the web and you'll see that his birthplace is commonly listed as Bethlehem. As I recollect, his parents were staying at the Eagle Hotel (site of the current Hotel Bethlehem) just prior to his birth, but headed to Fountain Hill for the actually delivery. If I'm wrong about any of this, please, by all means correct. Nyutko 01:32, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

If he has no affiliation with Bethlehem, then he should come off the page; he is on the Fountain Hill and Lehigh Valley ones, which are appropriate. PAWiki 02:40, 16 October 2006 (UTC)

Oktoberfest, The Chicken Dance, Pennsylvania Dutch Dialect

I moved to Bethlehem as a child and Oktoberfest, The Chicken Dance, Pennsylvania Dutch Dialect, the Christmas Putz were all very distinctly Bethlehem events that caught our attention. I think they warrant mention. —Preceding unsigned comment added by SleepyElephant (talk • contribs) 21:00, 8 November 2006

Media

I noticed the article says the Globe-Times stopped publishing in 1991. But, didn't it actually merge with the Easton Express to form the Express-Times? Or, did they just tack on part of the name after the Globe died? --Free-world 00:28, 29 January 2007 (UTC) Most likely, given the massive illegal immigration, there's a Spanish-language newspaper.

Musikfest

The article fails to mention Musikfest at all. Considering it draws over one million people to Bethlehem per year, shouldn't it be mentioned? --Cory Kohn 00:16, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

Michael Behe

I am deleting Behe from the notable people from Bethlehem section. He was Not born in Bethlehem. He moved here in 1985. --Cory Kohn 00:22, 19 February 2007 (UTC)

I put him back in. I think that anyone who has lived in a town for 22 years counts as a resident and can say he's 'from' Bethlehem. Vickihaller (talk) 03:19, 16 December 2007 (UTC)

Correct Municipalities

It is my understanding that Freedom High School and Northampton Community College are both in Bethlehem Township, not Bethlehem City. They are two completely separate municipalities. Does anyone agree these citations should be deleted from Bethlehem City? Jschnalzer 23:07, 23 May 2007 (UTC)

NCC is definitely in Bethlehem Township (see http://www.northampton.edu/Welcome/locations.htm), and I believe you're correct about Freedom as well (and I think also the Green Pond campus of Moravian Academy). I think both schools are worth mentioning in the context of Bethlehem, however; just add verbiage indicating their location. Perhaps you could beef up the boilerplate Bethlehem Township article, also. --Free-world 03:29, 24 May 2007 (UTC)

I like the idea of leaving references in Bethlehem City. I updated the information for both Freedom and NCC. I don't know enough about Bethlehem Township to add anything significant. Not to mention I'm not quite familiar enough with editing in Wikipedia to take on such a task at this point. Jschnalzer 17:19, 27 May 2007 (UTC)

Where did the county info come from? According to the USGS, Bethlehem, as a populated place in PA, is listed under Northampton and Clearfield counties. Obviously, Clearfield is a wholly different Bethlehem. But, the USGS does NOT recognize Bethlehem as being in Lehigh county. Only the regional Allentown-Bethlehem-Easton Airport is located in Lehigh county. Please use the Search Page, http://geonames.usgs.gov/pls/gnispublic/f?p=116:1:375890476266708, to cross-check my info. —Preceding unsigned comment added by 137.237.29.117 (talk) 18:15, 4 March 2009 (UTC)

Pronunciation

Does the city have an official pronunciation? I've heard plenty of people outside of the area call it Beth-La-Hem, but I've heard it called Beth-Lum by people in the Lehigh Valley and NEPA. Can anyone clarify? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 24.115.132.109 (talk) 02:37, 23 July 2008 (UTC)

I've heard this too, that it's more like two syllables. Does anyone know? --Golbez (talk) 03:33, 14 December 2008 (UTC)

Just Born and Peeps

I'm wondering why the Just Born factory, the only one in the world, is not mentioned in the article. Peeps are known nation-wide and perhaps even world-wide. Former President Ronald Reagan was an avid lover of Just Born jelly beans. Other than Bethlehem Steel, Just Born is the most well known part of Bethlehem, PA.PokeHomsar (talk) 15:24, 30 May 2008 (UTC)

Michael Guman Michael Guman, born in Bethlehem, is a former professional football player with the Los Angeles Rams (1980-1988) —Preceding unsigned comment added by 207.172.39.229 (talk) 16:58, 9 August 2009 (UTC)

Relevance and structure -- History -- Moravians

I believe the paragraph that begins "Associated Moravians founded missions with Algonguian Mahican in the New York colony as well, ..." needs to be moved outside. It's fascinating; but what does it have to do with Bethlehem's history? It belongs in the Moravian article.

But when I go there, I find something odd: it doesn't seem to mention that Moravians settled in North America, founded Bethlehem (!), or ministered to indiginous peoples in NA. I think both articles would be improved by first expanding the Moravian article (including a link to Bethlehem,) then moving this paragraph there. JustinTime55 (talk) 14:23, 4 March 2010 (UTC)

Good suggestions - often more than one article has to be edited to be sure they have complete information.--Parkwells (talk) 19:03, 4 March 2010 (UTC)

Crime rate

I believe that the article should state that the crime rate in Bethlehem is less than half of Allentown's crime rate. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Brideye (talk • contribs) 14:09, 23 February 2011 (UTC)

Unless someone can direct to evidence for the Pembroke Village claim, I will delete. A quick glimpse at crimemapping suggests Pembroke has had fewer crimes over the past twelve years than, for example, South Bethlehem.--Beahiver (talk) 11:19, 16 October 2012 (UTC)

The Christmas star

I remember quite clearly that the pre-1967 star had a cross superimposed on it, which was lit at night around Easter time (instead of the star, which was only lit at Christmas), though that isn't mentioned here. Was the cross continued on the third-generation star, and is it still lit at Easter since the year-round lighting?

This section is nice, but to be strictly "kosher" (sorry for the mixed metaphor) it needs source citation(s). Also, are the 81 feet wide by 53 feet high dimensions correct, or is it the other way around? I believe it was always taller than it is wide. JustinTime55 (talk) 18:33, 23 March 2011 (UTC)