Lehigh Valley Marketplace

By Jennifer LoConte On August 24, 2009, Jim and Ali Lazaridis of Bethlehem welcomed their first child into the world, Khloe Coco,  a healthy and happy baby girl. At the age of three months, Coco developed a seemingly non-threatening fever. Upon further examination, their pediatr ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LoConte Our furry household members, those we call our pets, are an essential part of most American families. They enrich owners’ lives and, with each wagging tail or purr, bring a smile to our faces. Some pets are workers and enjoy helping their human friends while ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LoConte They served our country throughout history and protected us both here and abroad.  Yet, our country’s bravest heroes are often the ones who suffer the most.  Drug and alcohol addiction, homelessness and mental health disorders continue to claim the lives ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LoConte You know you are doing the right thing in life when all the forces of nature conspire to make you successful.” Beverly Bradley, President of Cops ‘n’ Kids Children’s Literacy Program, keeps this quote as a daily reminder of how a single book can foreve ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LoConte It’s a crystal clear summer day at the ball field. Parents sit on bleachers shouting words of encouragement while young players eagerly await their turn at bat. As the cliché goes, baseball is as American as apple pie; however for these players with special ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LoConte What began as a simple lemonade stand to raise money for a children’s hospital has evolved into a national foundation to raise awareness and cure childhood cancers. Alex’s Lemonade Stand was founded by Alexandra Scott, a little girl with a big heart who wa ... CONTINUE READING

by Jennifer LoConte Pinebrook Family Services, now in its 31st year, is a non-profit organization dedicated to children and their families. What began in 1979 as diagnostic foster care has blossomed into a full-service agency that strives to keep families together while meeting ... CONTINUE READING

By Susan Stets Imagine you’re a six-year-old running around Walt Disney World’s “Fantasyland” with Peter Pan and Captain Hook, or perching on Pluto’s lap for a train ride through “Give Kids the World,” where ice cream is served for breakfast and Christmas comes ever ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LaConte Domestic violence is a crime that happens to people across all ethnicities and financial backgrounds. The single most dangerous call for law enforcement response is for domestic violence incidents and it is not uncommon for an officer to have to return repeate ... CONTINUE READING

By Jennifer LoConte “I’m going to save my sister,” stated five-year old Conner Reitz, after learning that his 20-month old sister, Claire, had been diagnosed with Acute Lymphocytic Leukemia. In 1999, Claire began an extensive two-year treatment program consisting of daily o ... CONTINUE READING