The Morning Call from Allentown, Pennsylvania • 31

SUNDAY, OCTOBER 26, 2003 B3 THE MORNING CALL 'Queer Eye' Carson Kressley is tres cheek' during honors Lafayette dedicates new engineering center 1, mi mm Willi fc. if I' 1 u.T-'' IHHHi; 1 iriilimnmmr M--' 3 Demetra Stamus Special to The Morning Call CARSON KRESSLEY of the hit TV series 'Queer Eye for the Straight answers questions before a tribute at Packard Auditorium at Lehigh University in Bethlehem. Kressley grew up in the Lehigh Valley. Demetra Stamui Special to The Morning Call SARKIS ACOPIAN leaves the new Acopian Engineering Center at Lafayette College in Easton after a Friday tour. Fashion consultant mixes comedy into his return to Valley.

ByTimBlangger Of The Morning Call Carson Kressley was stylish and stylishly late Saturday at a "coming out" event honoring him, part of a week-long film festival organized by Pride of the Lehigh Valley, a gay, lesbian and transgender group. A native of Claussville, Kressley stars in Bravo's "Queer Eye for the Straight Guy," a makeover TV program where five gay consultants offer advice to a stylistically needy heterosexual male. Fans of the program expect off-the-cuff quips from Kressley, who, the audience at Lehigh University's Packer Hall seemed to agree, is the funniest consultant on the program. Wearing a pair of worn biker jeans, lug-soled boots and a brown leather shirt, Kressley was true to his TV persona, offering a running commentary through the hour-long program honoring his achievements and the 30-minute news conference before the event. "Look, I'm drinking Deer Park water," Kressley quipped to the assembled press, arriving a half hour late.

"This is made near where I'm from," he said, examining the label before saying, "Yes. New Tripoli," and pronouncing the name like a true local. The event, "Coming Out With Carson Kressley," was organized to acknowledge the role Kressley has played in modern gay culture. "Carson Kressley has shown the nation that it is OK to be out and proud," the festival brochure said. In the news conference before the event, Kressley acknowledged his coming out was on a large scale: his appearance on a nationally televised program.

MISSING CHILD JAMISON AND ASHLEY DUNN Born: Sept. 9, 1995Sept. 10, 1996 Eyes: Brown Missing since: Aug. 6, 2003 Jamison (shown) and Ashley Dunn, of North Bellmore, N.Y., may be with their mother, who does not have custodial rights. Call Children's Rights of Pennsylvania at 610-437-2971, or the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children at 1-800-843-5678, or (for the deaf) TDD1-800-826-7663.

5 'f Sarkis Acopian's gift helped his alma mater refurbish buildings. By Gail Scudder Special to The Morning Call Lafayette College graduate Sarkis Acopian, Class of '51, came to the United States from Iran in 1945. He spoke little English. The School on Easton's College Hill was his first connection to the American way of life, his grandson, Ezra Acopian, said. ji "It shaped him and made him what he is," said the young Acopian, who graduated from Lafayette last semes-i ter.

He added that his grandfather never forgot what his days at the school meant to him. Friday afternoon, Sarkis Acopian and his wife, Bobbye, attended the dedication of a new engineering complex. Their undisclosed contribution made possible the renovation of three buildings, which are now the Acopian Engineer- big Center: Alumni Hall of Engineering, built in 1952; Charles A. Dana Hall of Engi- 'neering, completed in 1966; and Eleanor Dana Engineering constructed in 1912. The Acopians live in Palmer Township.

Sarkis Acopian founded the Acopian Techni- i.cal Co. in Palmer in 1959, man- ufacturing power supplies for government and business use. lit 1 1 1 About 200 people, including professors, students and members of the Acopian fami-ty, attended the ceremonies. At the senior Acopian's re- quest, his son, Greg, spoke for him. "They wanted to help renovate this building and say thank you," Greg Acopian "They wanted to help you teach the next generation of TOBYHANNA TOWNSHIP CORONER: DRIVER IN CRASH DIED OF NATURAL CAUSES A 74-year-old Long Pond man died of natural causes Thursday morning while driving in Tobyhanna Township, according to the Monroe County coroner's office.

Officials, including Pocono Mountain Regional police, said John Canavan was driving on Sullivan Trail when he struck a tree around 10 a.m. in the area of Long Pond Road. Monroe County Deputy Coroner Jody Hutton said Canavan died of natural causes and not from crash injuries. Hutton said Canavan had health problems that included coronary artery disease. PINE GROVE Schuylkill County POLICE RESPONSE TO DISPUTE UNCOVERS METH LAB A Schuylkill County man was charged Friday with manufacturing methamphetamine after police responding to a froclaiming his sexuality by starring on the "Queer Guy" program seemed efficient, Kressley said: "This way, you got to tell all the second cousins in Germany." Kressley talked about his childhood, and how he was able to find acceptance.

He attended Northwestern Lehigh High School, before leaving to study at Kutztown University and, later, Gettysburg College, where he graduated with degrees in finance and fine art. "It was rough. It was lonely," he said, talking about his teen years. "But my way to with the latest technology. Lafayette senior Christopher David is pleased with his new work atmosphere.

"The new labs are very helpful; there's more room to work," David said. "We can sit down and do homework in the student work areas." Being able to gather with other students makes it easier to discuss big projects and meet other students, he added. engineers at Lafayette College." The five-level building houses six academic programs, including computer science, chemical engineering, mechanical engineering and an integrated liberal arts and engineering program. Modern in appearance, the center has more natural light and innovative student learning centers. Laboratories are designed for collaborative student-faculty research and equipped POLICE REPORT WHATEVER BECAME OF the Lynn Township bridge moved to the Central Pennsylvania College campus? if- survive was to make people laugh, to have them like me." The program's use of the word queer surfaced at both the news conference and during the main program.

Kressley defended its use. "Queer means exceptional or different, and I think this is a way for the gay community to reclaim and embrace the word," he said. A series of images, including several photos of Kressley as a young man, were displayed. "Thanks, Mom, for making these pictures available," Kressley joked. 93-foot-long iron truss bridge was trucked out of the township.

It was placed on the college campus after undergoing extensive renovations. Refurbishing and moving the span cost around $220,000. It is used on campus as a footbridge. The bridge was known by many names over the years, including Henszey's Wrought Iron Bridge, Allemaengel Road Bridge, Mosser's Bridge, Billig Bridge and Ontelaunee Creek Bridge. Designed by Philadelphia's Joseph G.

Henszey, it is the only known surviving span built between 1869 and 1878 by the Continental Bridge Co. Anyone wanting further information about the unveil-. ing ceremony or directions to the college may call 1-800-759-2727. Elizabeth Bartolai Want to catch up with a local issue or person who had been in the news? Write to Tad Miller with your idea at The Morning Call, P.Q. Box 1260, Allentown 18105-1260 (e-mail at tad.millencimcall.com) signing, 7-8 p.m.

Nov. 7, for children 4 -12. Diane Fitzmau-rice, teacher at Saints Phillip and James School, Phillipsburg, will read from her book "Turkey Strike." An adult must accompany a child. To register or for information call 908-689-7613. SOUTH WHITEHALL TOWNSHIP COUNTY CO-OP TO MEET, EAT BAKED POTATOES Lehigh County Cooperative Extension will hold its 88th annual meeting and open house 3-7 p.m.

Nov. 6 at the Lehigh County Agricultural Center, 4184 Dorney Park Road, South Whitehall Township. New board members will be elected at a brief business meeting p.m. Baked potatoes with trimmings will be served. If planning to attend, call 610-391-9840 in advance to ensure an adequate supply of baked potatoes.

Gail Scudder is a freelance writer. Firefighters stopped the flames at the 3906 W. Passer Road home of James Christ-man before they could reach an adjoining two-car garage that contained two vehicles, said Upper Saucon Fire Chief Chuck Castetter. The second garage had heat and smoke damage. The garages are at least 150 feet from Christmans' home.

Castetter said no one was injured in the fire, which is being investigated. The fire was reported at 1255 p.m. and brought under control by 1:18 p.m., according to the fire chief. Upper Saucon was assisted by the Lower Milford, Coopers-burg and Se-Wy-Co fire companies. BETHLEHEM Charged Two seventh-graders at Northeast Middle School, 1110 Fernwood Wednesday with disorderly conduct; allegedly punched each other in cafeteria fight; each released to custody of parents.

MORE POLICE NEWS PAGE B11 in the valley It has been refurbished and a historic marker will be unveiled next month. The Pennsylvania Historic and Museum Commission recently granted a historic marker for Henszey's Bridge, a bowstring truss bridge built in the 1800s, now located on the campus of Central Pennsylvania College in Summerdale. A historic marker will be unveiled at 11 a.m. Nov. 22.

The bridge, with arches resembling long bows and ties resembling bowstrings, is the only bridge of its kind left. The span had linked Main Street in Slatington from 1869 until 1900. That year it was moved to Lynn Township where it spanned Ontelaunee Creek near Wanamakers. The bridge was deemed unsafe for vehicular traffic in 1987. The bridge had a historic designation but was rusty and rotting from years of neglect until Central Pennsylvania College bought it from the state for $22.

In January of 2002, the domestic dispute at his house found a drug-making lab there, officials said. David Routledge, 28, of Pine Grove was charged after Pine Grove police went to his house about 5 p.m. Thursday to answer a call about the dispute, the county District Attorney's Office said. There police found a large amount of methamphetamine and chemicals used to make it. The county Narcotics Enforcement, a unit of the district attorney's office, was called to assist, police said.

Routledge was charged Friday with domestic abuse and possession, possession with intent to deliver, and manufacture of a controlled substance, and sent to county prison under $50,000 bail. UPPER SAUCON TOWNSHIP FIRE SEVERELY DAMAGES TWO-CAR GARAGE A two-car Upper Saucon Township garage used for storage was severely damaged by fire Saturday afternoon. LAST WEEK BRIEFING Some of the week's top stories: BUCKS, MONTGOMERY, BERKS Life in prison: A Quak-ertown man admitted in court Monday he strangled his girlfriend and her 4-year-old daughter and was sentenced to life in prison. Ian Scott Wire-man, 23, pleaded guilty to two counts of first-degree murder in the March deaths of Evyonne 1 VX if, Wireman raises and co-payments for dependents' medical benefits. The arbitrator has the option of ruling on each item individually.

BETHLEHEM AREA Building needs assessed: Northampton Area's middle and high schools are both out of space and in desperate need of repair, residents who crowded into Moore Elementary School's all-purpose room heard at the district board meeting Monday. A majority of the crowd supported building a new high school. EASTON AREA Courthouse bids on target: The base sticker price for Northampton County's courthouse expansion came in at $34.8 million Tuesday as bids were opened at the Government Center in Easton. That's without any optional equipment. The figure was just under the county's construction budget of $35 million for the total $43 million project.

ALLENTOWN, LEHIGH Abductor stabs himself: A 14-year-old girl on her way to basketball practice in Catasauqua was stabbed by a man who later died after plunging the knife into his chest during a police standoff. The apparently random incident began about 6:10 p.m. Wednesday when the Catasauqua girl ran bleeding into Hartzell's Pharmacy near Wood and American streets, witnesses said. The girl was rushed to surgery. Death sentence tossed: A Lehigh County judge has thrown out the county's oldest death sentence but upheld the murder conviction of Kenneth Williams, who continues to maintain his innocence.

Judge Carol K. McGinley recently granted a new trial on the penalty for Williams, who was convicted in 1985 of fatally shooting an Ohio truck driver and leaving his body in a trailer at a Kuhnsville truck stop. CARBON, SCHUYLKILL, MONROE Man admits bribe: The owner of a small Jim Thorpe railroad company admitted in Carbon County Court Tuesday that he gave a $3,500 bribe to a Lansford police officer in exchange for not being prosecuted for drunken driving. James Zurn, 49, of Mahoning Township, pleaded guilty to a felony charge of bribery. President Judge Richard W.

Webb deferred sentencing. WARREN COUNTY COLLEGE OFFERING COURSES FOR CHILDREN IN NOVEMBER Warren County Community College will offer the following children's courses in November Super Science Program Make and Take: Toys That Teach, for children 6-12, will be offered 8:30 am to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7. Participants will make toys that illustrate scientific concepts.

The cost is $95. Writing for Movies will be offered 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7.

Students will create a movie script and focus on good writing; $95. Horsemanship Camp, 9 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Nov. 6 and 7, for children 8-12.

Students will learn about horses and their care and trail riding; $40 per day. Register for one or both days at Crescent Meadows Equine Education Center, Mansfield Township. Free book reading arra Patterson, 23, and her daughter Nila in Towamencin Township. Judge sides with CFC: In a major victory for CFC Logistics, a Bucks County judge ruled on Monday that Milford Township cannot stop the company's cobalt 60 irradiation facility and must grant a use permit In his decision, Judge Kenneth Biehn wrote: "Under the then-existing zoning ordinance, CFC was entitled to Construct and operate the irradiator." Parkland strike ends: In a concession by Parkland School Board, an arbitrator will decide key matters of dispute that led a five-day teachers strike, including pay I i.