Check out any calendar and you’ll see that the third Monday in February is designated as Presidents Day, a holiday most commonly associated with two of the (arguably) most important presidents of our country, Abraham Lincoln and George Washington. But really, only one of those is accurate. Read on to find out who--and what--we celebrate on Presidents Day, as well as some other fun facts: 1. Abraham Lincoln and George Washington share the same birth month. Lincoln was born on February 12, 1809, while Washington was born on February 22, 1732--slightly less than 77 years apart. But while Honest …

Every Feb. 14, men and women (but mostly men) are expected to express their affection for their significant other by “surprising” them with gifts of flowers, candy, jewelry, dining and greeting cards in the annual love-fest known as Valentine’s Day. Although the exact roots of Valentine’s Day are unknown, historians speculate that once upon a time--we’re talking third century AD here--the Roman emperor forbade young soldiers to wed, believing that single men made better fighters. However, a rebel bishop named Valentine continued to wed young couples in secrecy. Eventually he was discovered …

The Saucon Valley was settled almost 300 years ago, and it's a beautiful place, so it's perhaps not that surprising that some of its residents have, well, chosen to remain here "in spirit." Here's a list of 6 local places that are rumored to be haunted. If you know of others, please tell us about them by posting a comment! 1. Hellertown Borough Hall. There's only one thing scarier than walking into Borough Hall to pay your tax bill--and that's the ghost that's reputed to walk the aged building's halls. Built in 1818 as the home of Dr. Henry Detwiller, this stone structure was a hotel from …

September is World Alzheimer’s Month—a time to wear purple and raise awareness about this devastating disease.  Here are five things to know about Alzheimer’s disease: 1. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common cause of dementia among older people.   It is an irreversible, progressive brain disease that slowly destroys memory and thinking skills, and eventually even the ability to carry out the simplest tasks. Symptoms usually first appear after the age of 60. Estimates vary, but experts suggest that as many as 5.1 million Americans may have Alzheimer’s disease.  2. Microscopic changes in the …

What is Ramadan? Ramadan is the ninth month of the Muslim calendar, and the month when it is believed that the Holy Qur’an was sent by God to man. During that month, from dawn to dusk, observant Muslims abstain from eating, drinking, sex, smoking and anything that would distract from the observance of the faith. When does Ramadan take place? The Islamic calendar is a lunar calendar, which means it has 354 days a year instead of 365. Since each month begins with a crescent moon, pinpointing the exact start of Ramadan is debated even among Muslims. This year it runs from August 1 through August…

Whenever there's an extreme heat wave, like last week, the advice offered includes staying cool, and to that effect, experts recommend staying indoors in an air conditioned room. But what did people do before air conditioning existed? We might suppose they sweltered though the non-climate-controlled summers of days past, but this is far from the truth. Here are five ways our ancestors managed to get through the summers in relative comfort, without consuming a single watt of electricity. 1. They designed their houses to keep them cool. Today we use fancy terms like “passive solar” and “thermal…

Editor's Note: July is National Ice Cream Month. For the ice cream connoisseur and the ice cream-loving kid alike, here are five shops across the Lehigh Valley offering delicious ice cream treats along with a destination experience. We know this list is far from inclusive, so if your favorite isn’t here, please leave a comment below. 1. The Shoppes of Premise Maid 10860 Hamilton Blvd. (Route 222), Breinigsville  Hours: 9am-9:30pm, Mon.-Sat.; 11am-9:30pm, Sun. Information: 610-395-3221. Triple Chocolate Sin. Chocolate Cashew Turtle. Blueberry Crumb Pie. The list of flavors goes on and on, with…

If you don’t have a garden of your own, find a local farmers market or farmstand via Buy Fresh Buy Local's Greater Lehigh Valley website. If you live in the Hellertown-Lower Saucon area, be sure to check out the produce available at the Saucon Valley Farmers' Market, which is held Sundays from 9am to 1pm in Hellertown's Water Street Park. 1. Sweet Corn The first sweet and tender ears of the season have arrived! Enjoy fresh corn steamed, grilled or in salads and other dishes. 2. Beans Mundane in winter, green or yellow (or even purple) string beans are gourmet fare in July. Three bean salad, …