Hanna O'Reilly

Allentown

TV News Reporter at WFMZ-TV (Allentown, PA)

TV News Reporter @69News WFMZ | Lehigh Valley born & raised | St. Joe’s Alum

Articles

'Nothing but black smoke': Neighbors react to fatal Allentown fire

Oct 22, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — "Nothing but black smoke. Nothing but black smoke," said neighbor Crystal Cruz. "Everybody is just going crazy in the house."She was reliving the panic of seeing flames and black smoke coming from her neighbor's homes. "We didn't know what was going on," said Cruz. "Everybody just started panicking."It was 6:30 a.m. Sunday when flames broke out inside 915 North Penn Street in Allentown. The fire killed a 28-year-old woman and sent two people to the burn center.
Girl, 11, turns Barbie house into Halloween haunt to honor dad's memory

Oct 21, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

11-year-old Alyssa Schlicher wanted to do something special for Halloween this year. "This is my haunted house. It took about four weeks," said Alyssa. She converted one of her old Barbie doll houses at her grandparents' home in Coplay. What once was pink and bright is now a haunted mansion with ghosts and goblins. But, it wasn't just for Halloween. Three years ago, Alyssa lost her dad, Richard. She says Halloween was his favorite. 'We used to carve pumpkins together," said Alyssa Schlicher.
First responders get hands-on training to save lives in Allentown

Oct 21, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

They say it could be life saving — it's extrication training for first responders. "We hope the guys who get this training can save someone's life," said Greg Thomas, Nationwide Business Development Manager for Crash Champions. 30 first responders from local fire departments received hands-on training right in Allentown, brushing up on how to extricate someone from a car after a crash.
LVHN treats kids, employees to annual Halloween event

Oct 19, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

SALISBURY TWP., Pa. - Lehigh Valley Health Network is getting into the Halloween spirit. "Spirit of Halloween comes to put on an event at the Children's Hospital every year," said Trish Dilg, Child Life Activities Coordinator at LVHN. The store donates costumes for local kids to pick out just in time for trick-or-treat. Physician's assistant and mom-of-three Lindsay Blomstrom didn't want to miss the event. "We love it," Blomstrom said.
Cat sanctuary soon to be hot topic for North Whitehall's Zoning Hearing Board

Oct 18, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

N. WHITEHALL TWP., Pa. - Kandice Reinert has been a cat lover all her life. So, it was a no brainer she'd open up a non-profit to help them in 2019. "We're a 501(c)(3) non-profit kitten rescue," said Reinert. "We hand raise them because they don't have a mom."It's called Foxy's Cradle. Kandice runs it out of her home in North Whitehall Township. But they say the North Whitehall Township Zoning Hearing Board wants to change their classification to one that puts Foxy's Cradle in a bind.
Reading Motorcycle Club kicks off holiday gift drive for at-risk kids

Oct 15, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

The Reading Motorcycle Club started their engines and geared up to give back. "It warms my heart," said Paul Sovolewski. It was the kickoff to the official holiday gift drive for The Children's Home of Reading, a place geared to assist at-risk kids in Berks County. "It's kind of heartbreaking some of the stories we get from the kids — their stories and upbringing," said Jon Higinbotham. That's why five motorcycle clubs in the area wanted to get together to help for the holidays.
Pork roll vs. Taylor ham debate takes over Phillipsburg

Oct 15, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

PHILLIPSBURG, N.J. — "Pork roll….end of story," said Helene Meissner. The debate is on at the sixth annual Pork Roll Palooza in Phillipsburg: Pork roll or Taylor ham. We asked people, "What’s the correct way to say it?""I think pork roll is the preferred name for this," said Rich Johnson. "Taylor Ham…definitely.""It is pork roll…there is no debate," said Mark Valley, CEO of Norwescap. "Taylor Ham," said Mark Renges. We even asked the mayor, what side of the aisle he stands on in the controversy.
Moms for Liberty hosts author Rebecca Price Janney in Nazareth

Oct 14, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

NAZARETH, Pa. — "I try to find any type of events that are educational to bring him to," said Kirsten Antonioli. Antonioli home-schools her 9-year-old son, Josiah. She's been looking for ways to engage him in U.S. History. Once she heard that local author Rebecca Price Janney would be teaching kids about the Constitution at the Nazareth Memorial Library, she decided to bring him.
Out of the Darkness Community Walk helps families grieving suicide

Oct 8, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

Craig Salomon was your typical well-rounded 13-year-old.. Sports, boy scouts, and being a friend to everyone around him. "He was very well liked by his peers. He was the type of kid that when his friends had problems., he sat and listened to them," said Nancy Salomon, Craig's mom. But deep down, Craig was dealing with his own set of struggles.. Leading him to take his life at just 13 years old. "Kids are taking their life and this has become an epidemic. My kid mattered," said Nancy Salomon.
Cedar Crest College hosts 24th annual Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk

Oct 7, 2023 | wfmz.com | Hanna O'Reilly

The Bernard family… standing side by side… ready to support their loved one with Down syndrome. "He's been through so much as a little kid."Their family member, Mason, is a part of this year's 24th Annual, Lehigh Valley Buddy Walk. "It's to raise money for Down syndrome awareness."They're walking together as Mason's Minions with other local families with similar stories.