Steve Novak

Lehighvalleylive.com • 27th November 2023

Night at the Roxy

The story of superstar Billy Joel’s first headlining gig could have happened anywhere, but it happened here — in a small theater in a small town, thanks to a small radio station with an unusual format. The various threads that came together 50 years ago are explored in this long-form story assembled through several lengthy interviews. I handled this project from the top down: writing, photography and digital layout.

lehighvalleylive • 5th November 2023

Cooper’s hawk who? New names for American birds will affect 23 seen in Lehigh Valley

When it was announced that all North American bird species directly named for people would be renamed, I quickly sought out local experts to explain what this would mean for birders in our region, and get their (varying) opinions. This was a quick turnaround on a somewhat wonky — but impassioned — topic.

lehighvalleylive • 13th October 2023

Friday the 13th: Reveling in weirdness in N.J. town where original movie was filmed

A Friday the 13th adventure in Blairstown, New Jersey, where the original “Friday the 13th” was filmed. Hockey-masked, machete-wielding men roam as horror fans renew wedding vows in what has practically become a holiday for this small town. You just have to be there, so I went.

lehighvalleylive • 4th September 2023

Bethlehem reclaiming relic of its greatest Civil War hero, by collector and coincidence

To find out how a Civil War relic was returning home after many decades, I had to track down one of the collectors involved for an interview. The result is a fascinating glimpse into history and the people who pursue it.

lehighvalleylive • 3rd August 2023

Musikfest 40 for 40: Stories from four decades of the Lehigh Valley’s biggest event

This ambitious project — 40 separate stories — required copious research through generations of archival methods, cataloging relevant headlines, story selection, writing and graphic design, planning and scheduling. The results are compiled here in the introductory post. My personal favorite is the protector of the Chicken Lady.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 30th April 2023

The end of Steel

On the 20th anniversary of Bethlehem Steel's sale, four interviewees tell their tales of individual realization that the industrial titan was doomed.

lehighvalleylive • 29th January 2023

Good sh*t! Bees are making dark, smoky honey out of spotted lanternfly excrement.

Huh. Spotted lanternflies, while invasive and dangerous to trees and agriculture, can still serve a purpose. (And I love this headline.)

Lehighvalleylive.com • 16th January 2023

Lehigh Valley Then

My ongoing almanac-style series for lehighvalleylive.com recalls local historical headlines from 10, 20, 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Researched the old-fashioned way (with microfilm in the library), featured articles typically focus on famous people or events — the things that make readers go, "Oh yeah, I remember that!"

Lehighvalleylive.com • 25th September 2022

Billy Joel’s ‘Allentown’ at 40: Tough times and hard feelings from folks still livin’ here

Billy Joel has been singing about Allentown (about Bethlehem, really) for 40 years. But how do the people living here then and now feel about that? Interviews with union steelworkers, historians, mayors and local economic cheerleaders come together in this in-their-own-words style recounting of a song that captured a snapshot of hard times, for better and for worse.

lehighvalleylive • 29th April 2022

Delaware Water Gap park proposal opposed amid questions on boundaries, hunting and history

The Delaware Water Gap is a majestic sight. But would the national recreation area be as stunning with another name? A push to redesignate it into a full-fledged national park meets strong opposition — and dredges up a painful history. Both sides seem as far apart as the gap itself in this complicated fight.

nj.com • 15th November 2021

Don’t drink the water: Neighborhood thirsts for answers about chemicals in their wells

2022 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNER: PFAS-contaminated wells were slowly being identified in a New Jersey neighborhood, but no one was talking about how extensive the problem really was. I went door to door to find out what neighbors were experiencing, and pressed the issue with local and state officials.

lehighvalleylive • 19th October 2021

Moving the Appalachian Trail: How volunteers finished a local job long in the making | PHOTOS

It takes a lot to move the Appalachian Trail. I spent one recent Saturday on a walk in the woods with these trailblazing volunteers, documenting with words and photos their mission to reroute the AT.

lehighvalleylive • 16th September 2021

Lehigh Valley billionaire launches into orbit on historic all-civilian SpaceX mission

My passions for astronomy and local history collide when a local billionaire embarks on a historic spaceflight. The story includes commentary from another local astronaut.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 17th June 2021

Juneteenth is a national holiday. We must choose what that means, Lehigh Valley organizers say.

A new holiday is a cause for celebration. But what should that look like? A unique opportunity to look at the meaning of Juneteenth as it becomes a national holiday.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 12th March 2021

Fear, isolation give way to hope on COVID anniversary

2022 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOCIATION AWARD WINNER | 2022 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARDS HONORABLE MENTION: As we hit one year of COVID-19, our coronavirus coverage team presented personal stories of challenge — a reminder of what we have all endured, and what we still faced. For me, it was a chance to reconnect with my friends who endured a life-threatening bout with the pandemic virus.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 17th December 2020

1st COVID-19 vaccines given in Lehigh Valley: ‘Light at the end of the dark, long tunnel’

As coronavirus cases surged to their peak in late 2020, a historic moment: Witnessing the first vaccinations in the Lehigh Valley.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 25th October 2020

Blue to red in 30 miles: What 1 Pa. road tells us about America’s electorate

2021 TONER PRIZE WINNER | 2021 OJA FINALIST | SOCIETY OF NEWS DESIGN 2020 AWARD OF EXCELLENCE | 2021 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARD WINNER: As co-lead reporter in the Swing County, Swing State project, I helped develop unique 2020 Election coverage, including coordinating and writing this centerpiece feature on the diversity of one of Pennsylvania's most important counties. For a month, I headed up and down one county road — at times even going door to door — asking people of different political persuasions to talk about their motivations. The result is an award-winning story told in a way never before seen on our website.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 13th July 2020

2 pandemics, 100 years apart. Headlines from the Lehigh Valley’s 1918 Spanish flu response sound like 2020.

2021 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOC. AWARD WINNER: A history feature that compared local storylines from the 1918 Spanish flu pandemic to the present day COVID-19 news. Inspiration for developing an ongoing historical headline feature, Lehigh Valley Then. Submitted to the NJPA in a portfolio of history pieces.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 4th May 2020

Local air quality improves (slightly) during coronavirus shutdown. Why science will benefit.

2021 NEW JERSEY PRESS ASSOC. AWARD WINNER: An unexpected benefit from the pandemic shutdowns, air quality was widely reported to have improved. But what did that look like locally? Through collaboration with colleagues at nj.com, I seized an opportunity to take a simple look at a complicated science, collecting and verifying data and seeking context from experts in the field.

Lehighvalleylive.com • 14th April 2020

Meet in person during coronavirus shutdown? For Phillipsburg AA, it’s a necessary risk.

2021 KEYSTONE MEDIA AWARDS WINNER: An AA group was getting the cops called on them during the COVID-19 shutdown. They needed someone to tell their story. Submitted under the news diversity category.