MCNEILL OPEN HOUSE: To meet with residents of her district, state Rep. Jeanne McNeill, D-133rd, will host an open house 5-7 p.m. Feb. 29 at her district office, 1080 Schadt Ave., Whitehall.

“Connecting with my constituents is one of the most important jobs I have as a state legislator,” McNeill said. “I am always happy to hold these events and talk with those in the community about the variety of state programs that can help residents.”

NEW WEBSITE: Valley Youth House is thrilled to announce the launch of its newly redesigned website, aimed at providing an improved and user-friendly experience for staff, youth, and the community. The website, accessible at ValleyYouthHouse.org, has undergone a significant transformation with a fresh new look and expanded capabilities.

The website was designed and developed under the leadership of Alexandra Shade, President of First Generation and dedicated member of Valley Youth House’s LV Board of Governors and Marketing & Communications Committee, and her talented team.

For more information about Valley Youth House and its programs, please visit ValleyYouthHouse.org

FIRST HOUR FREE PARKING: The Bethlehem Parking Authority is proud to support the downtown business districts this winter with the “First Hour Free” garage parking promotion, running o March 31.

Between the hours of 11 a.m. and 2 p.m., patrons parking at the North Street Garage, Polk Street Garage, or New Street Garage will automatically have one hour taken off their total payment. The promotion gives residents and visitors an opportunity to familiarize themselves with the convenient features of downtown garage parking and makes it even easier to get downtown and support local businesses –-in both the SSouthsideArts District and on Historic Bethlehem’s Main and Broad Streets –-with lunchtime dining and shopping.

For further questions or information, please contact the Bethlehem Parking Authority at info@bethpark.org, visit our website at www.bethpark.org, or stay connected through social media.

STATE IN TOP 10 FOR SCHOOLS: New research has revealed the states with the best school systems, with Massachusetts taking the top spot. Educational resource site Teach Simple gathered data from sources including the National Center for Education Statistics to analyze factors like bullying rate, academic performance, and pupil-to-teacher ratio. Each factor was awarded a score of 10 to determine the ranking. Pennsylvania ranked ninth on the list. One of Pennsylvania’s highest-scoring categories was for the number of books in public libraries, this being a score of 7.54 for 23,930 books. In addition, a score of 8.52 was awarded to Pennsylvania for the percentage of students who possessed a firearm at school, which was 1.25%. The TTop 10are Massachusetts, New Jersey, Connecticut, New York, Maryland, Iowa, Maine, Virginia, Pennsylvania and Wisconsin. Arizona is revealed to be the state with the worst school system.

WREATHES ACROSS AMERICA: Wreaths Across America (WAA), the national nonprofit whose yeyearlongssion is to “Remember the fallen, Honor those who serve, and Teach our children the value of freedom,” proudly announces its theme for 2024: “Live with Purpose.”

This year, National Wreaths Across America Day will be held on Saturday, DecDec. 14 This is a free event open to all, and the organization encourages community members to participate by volunteering locally or sponsoring a wreath for an American hero.

To learn more, follow this link https://www.wreathsacrossamerica.org/Home/News/1081

AARP COMMUNITY GRANTS: AARP Pennsylvania invites local eligible nonprofnonprofitations and governments across the country to apply for the 2024 AARP Community Challenge grant program which funds quick-action projects that help communities become more livable by improving public places, transportation, housing, digital connections, and more. The Community Challenge is open to eligible nonprofit organizations and government entities. Other types of organizations are considered on a case-by-case basis. Grants can range from several hundred dollars for small, short-term activities to tens of thousands for larger projects.

The application deadline is 5 p.m. Eastern, March 6. All projects must be completed by Dec. 15, 2024. To submit an application and view past grantees, visit www.AARP.org/CommunityChallenge.

WHAT CONCERNS PENNSYLVANIANS? New research names the top problems Pennsylvania is facing, with residents revealed to want to stop snoring more than they want to quit smoking.

The study, conducted by nicotine pouch enthusiast Snusboss, analyzed nationwide and regional Google searches for keywords related to making positive changes and habits.

And it turns out, that Pennsylvania prioritizes a soundless sleep over living smoke-free, as there are 43,440 monthly searches on average for help with stopping snoring, which is 52% higher than the searches for how to give up smoking, which receives 28,520 searches per month.

This suggests Pennsylvania relationships are under serious strain as a result of partners struggling to share a bed with each other due to their other half’s noisy breathing - so much so it has even overtaken smoking as a problem that needs addressing.

Weight loss was found to be the most popular resolution, at an average monthly search volume of a whopping 155,100, with drinking more water ranking second at 96,560 searches.

Following in third is eating healthily, with 69,970 average searches per month, and while this is still clearly a sought-after goal, it is 55% less popular than that of losing weight. This indicates that many would rather find an alternative method to shredding fat than cutting out unhealthy foods.

Resolving an issue with snoring whilst sleeping comes in fourth, and putting an end to a smoking habit ranks as the fifth most common resolution.

Data was gathered via Google Keyword Planner, which provides nationwide and state-specific search volume behind resolutions.