The complete article can be read here.

The complete article can be read here.

Contact: Dan LaBert, Executive Director The Bar Association of Lehigh County 610-433-6204 Ext. 5; Tina Bradford Public Relations 610-248-3460

ALLENTOWN, PA (May 3, 2010) – The Bar Association of Lehigh County will present its Liberty Bell Award 2010 to Allentown public school teacher John Annoni. Annoni will be honored at the association’s annual Law Day Luncheon, Monday, May 3, 12 noon, to highlight its observance of Law Day 2010.

The Allentown middle school teacher will be recognized for his enduring service to youth and as founder of Camp Compass Academy. Annoni, a teacher at Trexler Middle School is author of “ From the Woods to the Hood” and recently worked with students on Oneface.me, a cyber-safety project for ‘tweens.

The Liberty Bell Award is the Bar Association’s highest honor award. Law Day Committee co-chairmen attorney Zachery Cohen and attorney Rebecca Young will announce Annoni as the committee’s 2010 award recipient.

Law Day 2010 provides an opportunity to understand and appreciate the emerging challenges and enduring traditions of law in the 21st century, notes Dan Labert, executive director of the Bar Association of Lehigh County. “It also provides an opportunity for everyone to reflect on our legal heritage, on the role of law, and on the rights and duties which are the foundation of peace and prosperity for all mankind.”

Each May, the Bar Association observes Law Day to highlight the place of law in American society and the many important roles played in the legal arena by area lawyers, judges, paralegals, court officials, county officers and others who shoulder the task of making the legal system work on a daily basis.

Law Day was initiated in 1958 by then President Dwight D. Eisenhower to encourage a rededication to the role of law in our country. Law Day activities of the Bar Association in Lehigh County are twofold and include lawyers going into the schools to speak to students in our local classrooms about law and legal issues, and the recognition and celebration of outstanding achievement within the legal community.

The schools program was arranged by Law Day Committee Co-Chair Rebecca Young and included over two dozen volunteer speakers (attorneys & paralegals) and schools during the first week of May.

As we begin the second decade of the twenty-first century, the law is changing dramatically as it seeks to shape and adapt to new conditions. Economic markets are becoming global, transactions require cultural adaptation and understanding, populations are more mobile, and communication technologies such as the Internet bridge distances and time zones to form new communities around the world.

In such a world, all of us must renew our commitment to the enduring principles of law, become knowledgeable about other legal systems, recognize the need to adapt our practices, and acquire new cultural understandings. In a global era, matters such as human rights, criminal justice, intellectual property, business transactions, dispute resolution, human migration, and environmental regulation become not just international issues between nations but shared concerns.

Criteria for award recipients includes a person who encourages a greater respect for law and the courts; promote a better understanding of our Constitution and the Bill of Rights, contributes to the effective functioning of our institutions of government; Fosters a better understanding and appreciation of the rule of law in the community, and stimulates a deeper sense of individual responsibility so that citizens recognize their rights.

Annoni and his students participated in Oneface.me, a cyber-safety program made possible by a $20,000 grant from The Verizon Foundation in conjunction with The Bar Association of Lehigh County and Lehigh Valley Community Foundation. For more information visit http://www.oneface.me/ For more information about the Bar Association of Lehigh County visit http://www.lehighbar.org

Contact: Tina Bradford Public Relations 610-248-3460

Dan LaBert, Executive Director The Bar Association of Lehigh County 610-433-6204  Ext. 15

“Tweens,” Educators, Elected Officials Across Lehigh Valley Learn Cyber-Safety with Oneface.me

LEHIGH VALLEY, PA –  ‘Tweens — kids ages 8 to 12 –  throughout the Lehigh Valley are getting an extra lesson regarding cyber-safety, etiquette, bullying, sexting and the law thanks to newly launched Oneface.me, a DVD and lesson plan distributed to 12,000 students, law enforcement officials and educators throughout the Lehigh Valley.

ONEFACE.me addresses the dangers of social networking sites (including the use of cellular devices) and provides social networking “etiquette advice.”

Oneface.me includes an online pledge and informative six-minute video with guests Attorney General Tom Corbett; Judge Kelly Banach, Lehigh County Court of Common Pleas; State Trooper Paul R. Iannace, Southeast Pennsylvania Bureau of Crime Investigations Computer Crime Unit; teacher, author John Annoni, founder of Camp Compass Academy. Cyber Legal expert attorney Avery Smith, a member of the Bar Association of Lehigh County is also featured.

Tweens are exploring virtual worlds, connecting through social networks and posting videos online. In short, they’re as adept online as their older brothers and sisters, and they face the same risks. A recent Tween Internet Safety Survey, sponsored by the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, found that 90 percent of kids have used the Internet by age 9. More than a third of 11 and 12-year-olds have posted profiles on social networking sites such as Facebook and MySpace, and more than 25 percent of tweens have been contacted online by a stranger.

In the Greater Lehigh Valley, there are over 12,000 middle school students. With growing use of social networking platforms, it is vital that we as a society reach out to this group and teach the dangers of social networking sites.  In a perfect world, we could ban our tweens from using these sites. However, banning them could backfire, they could resort to secret accounts or logging on at their friends houses.

The program has been made possible by a $20,000 grant from The Verizon Foundation in conjunction with The Bar Association of Lehigh County and Lehigh Valley Community Foundation.

For more information visit http://oneface.me/. Follow on Twitter at http://twitter.com/onefacedotme. Follow on Facebook at http://bit.ly/onefacedotme.

The complete article can be read here.

The 25-year-old Tonia lost her mother to domestic violence in June 2005, and is the niece of Markow. Tonia graduated from Upper Bucks Vo-Tech School with a degree in cosmetology.

At Purple Salon & Spa, cosmetologists give back to the community in myriad of ways. In addition to serving the public, the salon also provides makeovers for domestic violence survivors, particularly prior to court appearances.

“Purple Salon & Spa is committed to helping women and those affected by domestic violence,” says Markow.

The Beginning Over Foundation awards beauty school scholarships to survivors of domestic abuse. Purple Salon & Spa is seeking individuals interested in a career in the beauty field who also want to make a difference. Clients and each stylist at Purple may donate to the salon’s beauty school scholarship fund.

“We are able to provide these scholarships through our fundraising efforts through donations from the community at large, and our stylists that donate back to the Foundation each month,” adds Markow.

Those interested in obtaining information on how to donate, or obtain a beauty school scholarship may do so by emailing Heidi@BeginningOverFoundation.org.

Foundation contact is Heidi Markow at 610-392-3837. Press contact is Tina Bradford at 610-248-3460.

To learn more about how to apply for a scholarship, send us an email.

Anyone interested in making a donation to the scholarship fund may send his or her donation to: The Beginning Over Foundation, P.O. Box 3953, Easton, PA, 18043.

Contact: Major Roger Duperree (610) 432-0129
Press Contact: Tina Bradford (610)248-3460

LEHIGH VALLEY, PENNSYLVANIA – The Salvation Army of the Lehigh Valley, along with the PPL Corporation, will herald the start of the Christmas season with a Red Kettle Kick-Off, Thursday, November 19, 1:45 p.m., at PPL Plaza, 9th and Hamilton Streets, Allentown.

Overall, the combined Salvation Army of Allentown, Bethlehem, Easton and Pen Argyl assisted more than 25,000 area residents of all ages, gender and backgrounds, in 2008, with emergency assistance, holiday dinners, food baskets, toys, gift cards, and clothing for families, youth, and senior citizens.

James H. Miller, chairman, president and chief executive officer of PPL Corporation, has been named honorary chairman of the Salvation Army Lehigh Valley 2009. “I’m honored, on behalf of all PPL employees, to be part of the important work that the Salvation Army does in the Lehigh Valley, helping the neediest people here in our own backyard,” says Miller. “I’m confident that area residents will respond positively to the Salvation Army’s efforts and, in the process, will feel blessed as they reach out to the less fortunate who are facing particularly tough times,” Miller adds.

“We are highly honored to be named in partnership with PPL.  The recognition of our mission by a major energy company such as PPL signals great need in our community. With Lehigh Valley residents and employee participation and support, we anticipate success with the 2009 campaign,” says Major Roger Duperree, Allentown Corps officer and Lehigh Valley Coordinator.

Lehigh Valley residents may choose to be involved with this Christmas initiative in a number of ways, from the annual toy drive, to the Adopt a Family program, by becoming an Angel Tree participant, by sponsoring a holiday food drive, by making a Red Kettle donation or by volunteering in a myriad of seasonal activities.

Founded in 1865, The Salvation Army is an international organization with hundreds of local chapters across the United States. The mission of The Salvation Army is to meet human needs and to serve suffering people.

For more information about the Salvation Army Lehigh Valley holiday 2009 efforts, contact Major Roger Duperree at (610) 432-0128. Press contact is Tina Bradford PR at 610-248-3460 or Tina@TinaBradfordPR.com.