About Mariella Email: mariella.savidge@patch.com
Phone: 610-390-3802
Hometown: Scranton, but I've lived in the Lehigh Valley for 31 years.
Birthday: November 4
Bio: Though Mariella did not know she wanted to be a journalist until after she graduated from Marywood University with a degree in English, she made up for lost time. Though most folks think that writing obituaries is the bottom rung of the journalism ladder, there is one lower. Mariella launched her journalism career giving tours at a local newspaper before being promoted to writing obits. She spent 13 years as a business writer, several years writing municipal stories about Lehigh Valley communities and several more writing feature stories. Along the way were three National Press Association Fellowships and an award from the National Press Foundation, a shared Keystone Award and several honors from the Pennsylvania Womens Press Association.
My Beliefs At Patch, we promise always to report the facts as objectively as possible and otherwise adhere to the principles of good journalism. However, we also acknowledge that true impartiality is impossible because human beings have beliefs. So in the spirit of simple honesty, our policy is to encourage our editors to reveal their beliefs to the extent they feel comfortable. Patch hopes that the knowledge that my beliefs are on the record will cause me to be ever mindful to write, report and edit in a fair, balanced way. And if you ever see evidence that I have failed in this mission, please let me know. Politics At this point I'm a registered Democrat, but I have voted for the occasional candidate outside of the party. I spent decades as a registered Independent until I started to feel I was missing out because I couldn't vote in primary elections. Apparently I couldn't be more middle-of-the-road if I was standing on a double yellow line. Religion The best way to describe my religious beliefs appeared in a newspaper opinion piece I read years ago: "I'm Catholic like my eyes are brown. It has always been this way, and there's nothing I would do to change it." Local Hot-Button Issues Since I live here too, the local hot-button issues affect me as much as they do everybody else. I want good schools, but I also want to be able to pay my mortgage. So keeping taxes reasonable is definitely an issue. I have enormous respect for our first responders -- particularly the Macungie Ambulance Corps always assisted by the Macungie Police Department -- who have provided my family with excellent care time and time again. I'm concerned about preserving our beautiful farmland, but I'm not sure how adamant I am about it.
Lt. Edgardo Colon, commander of the Pennsylvania State Police Barracks at Fogelsville, presented a statistical year in review -- and some advice -- to the township Board of Commissioners.
Patch to the rescue! We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time.
The market opens at 4 p.m. today! Don't miss these new vendors, plus the ones you have always loved.
Emmaus High School's graduation will be held at 1 p.m. Sunday at Stabler Arena.
Lehigh County Commissioner Chair Brad Osborne said political influences should not drive the process of seeking a replacement for county Executive Don Cunningham, who is taking a new job.
Revisons to the state's borough code, which take effect July 17, probably removes the small amount of influence borough council has now regarding the police department.
Council voted 5-0 to recommend full police coverage, but since the mayor did not attend the meeting, no definitive action was taken.
Some generous soul has pledged the money to restore festive lighting to the borough during the holidays. Funds for the lights had been cut from the 2012 budget.
The Lehigh Valley Transportation Study will hold public meetings at 10 a.m. at at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission offices.
Tonight's council meeting begins at 7:30 p.m. in the auditorium of the Macungie Institute.
With three potential rabies cases reported in the last week, here are 10 things to know about the deadly virus and how to keep your family safe.
Find three local attractions you can visit on one tank of gas.
Local report says young people are being denied jobs because of their tattoos. What do you think?
Any day is a good donut day, but the first Friday in June has been a special day for it since 1938.
Most voters chose summer camps that are farther away.
Patch to the rescue! We’ve got the best bets for your done-work-outta-here time.
Construction sites continue to be at risk.
Customers can now have pet prescriptions filled at the local Giant pharmacy.
Catherine Sirignano, 7, won the honor of taking the first slide down the new attraction at the Lower Macungie Pool.
A wreath was placed on the grave of a recently deceased Navy veteran from WWII. A Boy Scout bugler played “Taps.”
