A young boy delievered unexpected Christmas gift
Shopping at Boscov’s on Saturday, Nov.19 around 5 p.m. I was speaking with a young mother, and her son (approximately 4 or 5 years old) was there. He came over to me and handed me a dollar bill. My response was thank you but why don’t you give it to someone else. He shook his head no, I want you to have it. I gave him a big hug and looked at his mother. She told me he enjoys doing this. When he wasn’t looking I handed it to her and let him give it to another. Now that was all I needed and I was choked up. He was so sweet. My friends, that was a Merry Christmas to me.
Marion O’Neil
Bethlehem
St. Luke’s earns top grades for safe hospitals
The recent article about the Lehigh Valley’s safest hospitals unfortunately failed to highlight St. Luke’s achievement as the safest health network in the Lehigh Valley and Pennsylvania, as shown in the latest Leapfrog Hospital Safety report. All 11 St. Luke’s acute care campuses earned A grades, an extraordinary accomplishment unmatched in this period by any other health care system in Eastern Pennsylvania.
This achievement is not just a statistic; it’s a testament to St. Luke’s employees’ unwavering commitment to patient safety. Leapfrog’s evaluation of nearly 3,000 hospitals is based on 30 quality and safety measures. An A indicates a hospital excels at preventing medical errors, injuries and infections that cause up to 250,000 deaths annually. St. Luke’s consistent A’s are undeniable evidence that it delivers the highest level of safety for every patient, every day.
The Morning Call article did not sufficiently explain the difference between A grades and B and C grades. Our community deserves clear reporting that acknowledges true excellence. St. Luke’s record is a standard that The Morning Call and our community should celebrate.
Dr. Aldo Carmona
The writer is the senior vice president of clinical integration.
Dr. Jeffrey Jahre
The writer is the senior vice president of medical and academic affairs.
Donna Sabol
The writer is the senior vice president and chief quality officer.
Time to move solar energy bill in state House
Gov. Shapiro and Pennsylvania’s legislators wrestled for months over the budget and part of the fallout was the removal of the state from the Regional Greenhouse Gas Initiative. However, as Thomas Pritchett noted in a letter recently published in The Morning Call, this could clear the way for HB 504 to move forward. This bill provides for community solar for those buildings that aren’t appropriate for solar panel installations, broadening the offerings for solar.
Now is the time for state Sen. Boscola to request that HB 504 be moved out of committee. Sen. Boscola has been responsive to the idea of solar power and alternative electrical sources. I was especially pleased to see her past support of electric vehicle school buses, as she has consideration for the health of students and Pennsylvania’s citizens.
Peg Church
Bethlehem
Plastic packaging threatens environment
Single-use plastic packaging threatens human and environmental health. Waste accumulates in landfills and waterways, breaking down into microplastics, persisting in ecosystems for centuries. Recycling cannot keep up: most packaging is used once before being discarded, there is a growing demand for more plastics, increasing emissions and waste as a result. Stronger packing and recycling regulations that require corporations to limit single-use plastics and shift toward environmentally friendly packaging materials is crucial. State leaders must pass extended producer laws, which require companies to be responsible for the end-of-life management of their products including collection, recycling and disposal. This will incentivize companies to redesign packaging more sustainably.
Abigail Masillo
Bethlehem
The writer is a senior at Lehigh University.
Help needed to tackle food insecurity
Thank you to reporter Lindsay Weber, photographer April Gamiz, and The Morning Call for shining a light on the important work being done by iHave iNeed. As highlighted in the article, food insecurity continues to rise in the Lehigh Valley, while usable food and essential goods are discarded every day. iHave iNeed plays a vital role in rescuing these items and redirecting them to nonprofits that support those in need, reducing waste, easing immediate needs and protecting our environment.
This grassroots initiative thrives on collaboration with nonprofits, schools, businesses and community partners. However, the demand is increasing, and we cannot meet it without broader community support. Volunteers, donors, and local partners are essential in ensuring that no good resource goes to waste.
Together, we can create a Lehigh Valley where everyone’s basic needs are met, and usable items remain out of landfills. We encourage readers to learn more and get involved at www.ihave-ineed.org. With more hands and greater support, we can make an even bigger impact.
Jeffrey McCary
North Whitehall Township
The author is one of the founders of iHave iNeed.
Trump’s actions regarding drug trade are contradictions
Can anyone tell me what President Trump thinks regarding leaders of countries supporting the drug cartels? He is blowing ships from Venezuela out of the water saying they are running drugs to the U.S. with Venezuela President Maduro’s acquiescence. However President Trump also pardoned Juan Orlando Hernandez, the former president of Honduras who is a convicted supporter of the Hondurian drug cartels. It makes no sense.
Chris Letourneau
Bethlehem Township
Canceling bonfire was the right thing to do
I believe the decision to cancel the Thanksgiving Day bonfire in Catasauqua was responsible. Beyond safety concerns, large open fires release smoke, soot and fine particulate matter that can linger in the air and affect people with asthma, allergies or other respiratory conditions. These impacts are often overlooked, yet they directly affect kids, older adults and anyone attending the event. As a community, we should take seriously how our celebrations use shared resources, such as clean air. Finding traditions that bring people together without adding pollution is an essential step in caring for our environment and public health.
Cindy Delgado Jimenez
Bethlehem
The writer is a senior at Lehigh University.
The Morning Call publishes letters from readers online and in print several times a week. Submit a letter to the editor at letters@mcall.com. The views expressed in this piece are those of its individual author(s), and should not be interpreted as reflecting the views of this publication.
https://www.mcall.com/2025/12/07/letters-an-unexpected-christmas-gift/
