Week Three

Another productive week under my belt that was actually a bit of a break compared to my schedule last weekend, activities during my third week as Mrs. Pennsylvania United States 2011 included the Raub Area Community Watch meeting at the Lehigh County Senior Citizen Center, where my mother, aunt, and I attended to hear the remarks of Captain Keith Morris, Detective Sergeant Sal Aprile, and Detective Chad Wasserman regarding the recent auto theft issues surrounding the 200- and 300-blocks of South Fulton Street, where my mother and aunt happen to live. Our purpose in attending was three-fold in that we wanted to learn from the information Captain Morris, Detective Sergeant Aprile, and Detective Wasserman had to share, to enlist support for a neighborhood block party to educate the community on auto theft prevention and provide prevention measures such as VIN etching and Citizens on Patrol sign-ups, AND to hear the declarations of local primary election candidates, one of whom includes my aunt, Joanne Jackson, for Allentown School Board. That's her to the upper left (isn't she purdy?) speaking so very eloquently on the importance of electing an active educator to the Board of School Directors for Allentown School District. Stay tuned for more information about our block party plans and about her candidacy!

Saturday I chaperoned a charity dance at Southern Lehigh High School (where I teach) to benefit the Bo Tkach Memorial--Under Every Helmet & Hat is a Child Who Needs Us--which is a foundation established to raise awareness about mental health issues in children and teens. The cause means a lot to me in particular because Bo attended Lehigh University for a year and while there, I was his resident assistant. We interacted sporadically not only in this capacity but also at football celebrations, as he was a scholar-athlete and I was an avid Lehigh football fan. The photos include Troy Ruch, our student council advisor who enabled the students to make such an event happen.

Sunday I had hoped to attend a basket bingo to benefit Geno, a Solehi Class of '00 classmate's cousin who is battling cancer for the second time. Unfortunately an appointment earlier in the day ran much longer than I'd expected and I drove home from Palmerton with a throbbing head, so I was left to appear in spirit via my donation of the PartyLite Sunflower Pillar Holders and Home in the Country Pillar Candles (pictured here) that I wrapped up into a basket for the Pick-a-Prize raffle held in conjunction with the bingo. I hope to catch up with the organizers of the event to hear about its success!

This weekend promises to be very busy and I shall be without Mr. Pennsylvania, who will be on a golf trip in Wildwood. Wish me luck without my better half as I appear at the Epilepsy Benefit in honor of Emily Cherry on Friday, organized by WIAIPA and LVMA; the Lehigh Valley Zoo's Party for the Planet on Saturday; and, if I can squeeze it in, the Lehigh Valley Walk Now for Autism Speaks event on Saturday morning. In the meantime, I am busy finalizing details and registering golfers for the Wish Upon a Par Golf Tournament to benefit the Make-A-Wish Foundation of Greater PA and Southern WV and continuing to plan the runway fashion event to benefit Valley Youth House Residential Living Programs in July.

I'll be back soon!

Dream big,
KAM