Lehigh Valley Style February 2025 by Innovative Designs & Publishing, Inc.

Influential Men Ye ar ofthe

Heart failure can hide in plain sight.

Heart failure doesn’t always happen all at once. It can start slow with symptoms like fatigue, shortness of breath or swelling. Don’t get caught off guard. Lehigh Valley Heart and Vascular Institute has the region’s largest team of heart failure specialists. Schedule your appointment today.

LVHN.org/heart | 888-402-LVHN

FEBRUARY

Sunday, February 23

10:00 AM to 5:00 PM

WIND CREEK BALLROOM • 77 Wind Creek Boulevard, Bethlehem

• VISIT with Travel Experts including ocean & river cruise lines, U.S. & worldwide rail & tour companies, travel insurance, passport photo and international driving permit services, airport & airline representatives, Caribbean & Mexico Hotels & Tourist Bureaus, & local drive resorts & getaways.

• BOOK AT THE EXPO & SAVE. Meet with a knowledgeable Travel Advisor to book your trip with special savings!** RECEIVE A SPECIAL GIFT** when you book the day of the Expo.

• LEARN ABOUT the discounts, rewards, beneﬁts & services that come with your AAA membership***. SIGN-UP at the Expo.

• PARTICIPATING TRADE SHOW VENDORS (subject to change): AAA Member Choice Vacations • AmaWaterways • American Cruise Line • Azamara • Carnival • CIE Tours • Destination Gettysburg • Holland America Line • Seabourn • Hurtigruten • J & J Luxury Transportation • New York State Tourism • Norfolk Virginia • Pleasant Holidays • Cruises by Pleasant Holidays • Princess Cruises • Rocky Mountaineer • Royal Caribbean International • Tauck Tours • Trafalgar • Insight Vacations • Brendan • Uniworld Boutique River Cruises • Viking River and Ocean Cruises • Visit Atlantic City • Visit Bucks County • AAA Passport Photos • AAA International Driving Permit • AAA Membership & Insurance • AAA Travel Store

New Beginnings

After seeing (and admiring!) this publication all over the Valley during my 15 years living here, it’s been my absolute privilege to join the staff of Lehigh Valley Style as managing editor. One of the first assignments I embarked on was the photo shoot for our influential men feature against the whimsical backdrop of the new Moxy hotel in Downtown Allentown. Working with photographer Alison Conklin, I got to meet this year’s influential men: Al Jacobsen, Hal Warner, Stephen Walker, Yusuf Dahl, Keith LampmanPerlman and Khalfani Lassiter. Words by Amy Unger showcase the amazing things these men are doing in our community, and helping to bring their stories into the light through this feature has been an amazing experience. I think I’m going to love working here.

In addition to our influential men feature this month, we also got to peek into a gorgeous kitchen and living space renovation in the home of Bob Della Sala. Designer Amy Bloom of Spundesign used rich, dark colors to create what Della Sala calls a “soft, but manly” mood here, which you can see for yourself on pg. 38.

For staving off the chill of midwinter, warm up with five of our favorite hot chocolates on pg. 34, and tuck into an elevated grilled cheese sandwich with a recipe from McCall Collective Brewing Company on pg. 58. And if you feel like bundling up and venturing out, don’t miss The Bottle Shop @ PA Rye Co. in Allentown—more on what they have in store on pg. 22.

Here’s to new beginnings!

ANGELA VENNEMANN editor@lehighvalleystyle.com

our publisher, Pam Deller, is looking forward to this month! pdeller@lehighvalleystyle.com

22 Checking out The Bottle Shop @ PA Rye Co.

Learning more about our 2025 Influential Men.

Sushi at Ume!

at our home makeover photo shoot

BTS at our Influential Men photo shoot

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 2

...snuggling close to my Alaskan Malamute, Smokey, and building a nice fire in the fireplace.

...wearing my favorite oversized wool sweaters and shearling slippers!

...wearing oversized sweatshirts, fleece-lined leggings and fuzzy socks! Nothing beats that!

...making sure I have a hot cup of tea or cocoa (extra marshmallows LOL), and my oversized sweatshirt and heated blanket.

...bundling up in my finest winter gear for a run and then warming up with a cup of locally roasted coffee.

...curling up on the couch with my kids, my dog and a great movie.

My potbelly wood stove is my favorite spot to warm up!

President/CEO

Paul Prass

Vice President/COO

Lisa Prass

Publisher Pamela Deller

Managing Editor Angela Vennemann

Digital Strategy Director Jason Chrin

Production Coordinator Eleanor Anderson

Graphic Designers

Eleanor Anderson, Thomas Körp, Nick Reeder, Elaine Wyborski

Corporate Marketing & Events Manager Jen Fronheiser

Marketing Advisors

Erika Berardinucci, Denise Lichty, Arielle Solliday, Pam Taylor

Contributing Writers

Alison Conklin, Susan Gottshall, Heather Mayer Irvine, Amy Unger, Daisy Willis

Contributing Photographers Marco Calderon, Matthew Cannon, Alison Conklin

Proofreader Lori McLaughlin

Accounting

Jobelle Aleño, Donna Bachman, Kim Kressman

When it’s cold outside, I stay cozy by…

...knitting! I love to snuggle under my favorite handmade blanket and work on a warm sweater or a pair of socks.

...making a fire in the fireplace and drinking a cup of hot cocoa with Baileys in it!

...making a cup of hot chocolate and snuggling into my throw blanket.

...making a cup of my favorite tea in a mug I picked up on Maui—the mug’s palm tree design reminds me of the sparkling turquoise ocean and the sun-soaked, warming days I spent there.

I have no less than three layers on, socks and slippers, and I am in front of the fireplace.

...staying inside with a fire going.

AMY UNGER

Contributing Writer

“It's always such a joy to speak with the distinguished group of gentlemen who are selected as Men of the Year. They're different in many ways, but they share many attributes, too, like humility and tenacity. They truly want to improve the communities they call their own. The Lehigh Valley is lucky to have them.”

Lehigh

| Barry and Janet Fisher 2 | Brian Wagner and Shelley Redding 3 | Anne and Brad Baum

| Curt and Jamie Mosel 5 | Johan and Debbie Sundlof 6 | Jonathan and Lisa Goldner 7 | Katie Ellis and Josh Cooney

Style Insider Happy Hour

Located at Meli European Taverna

Curated comfort

This cozy great room was designed as the perfect space for family gatherings. The fireplace serves as the room’s focal point, complemented by stone accents and rustic beams that capture the family’s love for Western vacations. Personal touches, including a custom painting of a cherished vacation photo, add warmth and character. The result is a functional, welcoming room that invites family togetherness.

From cozy winter to vibrant spring — Swine Design makes it effortless.

Strength 'n Love Classic Celebrity Casino Night

To Benefit Turning Point of Lehigh Valley | Located at Woodstone Country Club

Phoebe Institute on Aging Gala

Located at The Club at Twin Lakes

THIS MONTH’S PICKS

TEA TIME

Feeling fancy? Make a reservation for afternoon tea, now available at Let Them Eat Cake in Nazareth. Enjoy a variety of sweet and savory treats like English cucumber dill sandwiches, pistachio chocolate opera cake and various scones, accompanied by teas like berry hibiscus and peach oolong. Bring the little ones—they offer a kids’ menu as well letthemeatcakesshop.com

SECOND LOCATION

EXPANDING

If you’re a fan of Assante Ristorante Italiano in Northampton, there’s good news for you. The family recently opened Assante Italian Market in Allentown, and the store is chock-full of goodies like fresh sandwiches and baked goods, cheeses, oils and more. Stop in to snag everything you need for your own Italian feast at home.

Assante Italian Market

Winter is perfect for indoor fun, and if you love pinball and retro video games, get on over to Back to the Arcade’s second location, now open in the Palmer Park Mall. Just pay a single entrance fee and play all day on classic games like Pac-Man, Q*bert and Galaga, plus newer pinball games! If Palmer Park is too far, you can still visit the original location in the South Mall Back to the Arcade

NEW PRODUCTS

For personal care products with natural ingredients, look no further than Hippie Momma’s Apothecary and their newest items: lavender bath salts for a relaxing soak in the tub, a fatigue-fighting diffuser oil blend and three roll-on perfume scents made with essential oils. Purchase online or at various local markets, including Belleville Market in Easton, Crooked Row Farm in Orefield and the Bethlehem Visitor Center. hippiemommasapothecary.com

Collaborating

Southside Bethlehem’s latest indulgence is Bub’s Breads, a collaboration with Lit Coffee Roastery & Bakes and Monocacy Coffee. The menu includes focaccia, multiple flavors of sourdough, and pastries like cookies and scones. Gluten-free options are available, too! Check them out at Lit on Wednesdays and Fridays. bubs_breads

NOW OPEN

Boredom be gone—there’s a new way to entertain yourself on the Emmaus Triangle! Board to Death Games opened in November and it’s the latest place where you can buy and play tabletop games, from board games like Sorry! to card games such as Magic: The Gathering. Later this spring they hope to host outdoor events in conjunction with the Emmaus Farmers’ Market. boardtodeathgamestore.com

SONNYMOON CHILDREN’S

BOUTIQUE JUST OPENED

Even kiddos deserve quality fashion and fun! SonnyMoon is a new boutique in the heart of Historic Bethlehem offering a “carefully curated” collection of kids’ clothes, shoes, toys, books, gifts and more. After the birth of her first granddaughter, owner Carole Pirozzi enjoyed purchasing high-quality items for her at children’s boutiques in the New York area and noticed an opportunity to fill that same niche in the Valley. Pirozzi often looks toward sustainability when selecting her merchandise, including clothing made from reclaimed fibers and toys made from wood or recycled plastic, and she leans into “brands that inspire kids in terms of wonder and development and growth.” Set in a prime location two doors down from Hotel Bethlehem, SonnyMoon offers clothing and shoes for kids from newborn all the way up to 10 years old, and shoppers can also find room décor such as pillows and banners as well as music and art activities. Plans are underway for an online shopping experience, but for now, Pirozzi is thrilled with her Main Street space: “I couldn’t have asked for a better time and place to have my little vision come to reality.”

459 Main St., Bethlehem | sonnymoonbethlehem

TOTO’S PET CARE BUSINESS

EXPANSION

Rosie Selvaggio, founder of Hocus Pocus Cleaning, knows that a clean space is great for your mental health. Since 2016, her goal has been to give clients their time back and provide a stress-free living environment at home. During that time, Hocus Pocus’ technicians have become buddies with their clients’ best friends—their pets. Naturally, Selvaggio knew that the next step in her business was to allow her clients to bundle home care and pet care services, and Toto’s Pet Care was born. (The name, a nod to a dog known across generations, evokes the thought that “there’s no place like home.”) A number of Hocus Pocus’ technicians that were already certified professional house cleaners have cross-trained to also become certified pet sitters, giving clients peace of mind that everything under their roof is in capable hands. Even if you don’t need cleaning services, you can still trust Toto’s Pet Care for all your furry friend’s needs, from dog walking to poop scooping and pet sitting. Selvaggio says, “Time is precious, and we’re elated to eliminate any stress among an already busy or overwhelmed household.”

hocuspocuscleaningservices.com/pets

ROOM & WARD VINTAGE

JUST OPENED

Vintage shoppers rejoice—there’s a new spot to find pre-loved treasures. Room & Ward opened in December, and founder and owner Andrew Ward takes pride in the warm, inviting environment he has curated in his shop. “When you step into Room & Ward, you enter a sort of getaway as if you are at a vacation cabin where you can relax and shop,” he says. He is eager to share his love of vintage items with the rest of the Valley. “I’ve always had an eye for apparel and home goods that had a history, a patina or were unique in some way,” Ward says. “I finally decided to take my knack for finding great items and share it with the community.” Shoppers can find the usual vintage clothing, but they may be surprised at what they can find when it comes to styling their living spaces. “We carry vintage home décor, housewares, wall art and even furniture, so there is something for everyone,” Ward says. Room & Ward is located in the heart of Downtown Allentown, steps away from the PPL Center and other dining and shopping locations—easy to find for those on the hunt for unique goods.

CREWY WOO

CURATED GIFTS

Mother-daughter duo Ann and Jessica Morrissey love giving gifts, and that inspired them to launch Crewy Woo, their boutique featuring a thoughtfully curated collection of gifts, home goods and accessories. The shop gets its unique name from Ann’s grandmother, who was nicknamed “Crewy” by her husband. “We chose to name our shop after her because she embodies love and thoughtfulness— two qualities that are at the heart of meaningful gift-giving,” the Morrisseys say. Shoppers can find everything from décor to barware and stationery, and customers have really loved local items, especially Lehigh Valley-themed sweatshirts. Other customer favorites include tea towels and candles. “Our curated collection is designed to offer unique and meaningful items for any occasion, helping you find that perfect gift or something special for yourself,” the Morrisseys say. In other words, at Crewy Woo you’re sure to find a gift that will be a hit.

21 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem | shopcrewywoo

Women have different needs than men when it comes to the heart.

Back row: Yasotha Rajeswaran, MD, Marissa Famularo, DO, Nidhi Mehta, MD, Cheri Silverstein Fadlon, MD, Hiwot Ayele, MD, Courtney Bennett, DO

Front row: Deborah Sundlof, DO, Mila Ju, MD, Kailyn Mann, DO, Alison Wand, MD, Ellina Feiner, MD

CLEVER GIRL WINERY

EASTON TASTING ROOM

“When we were in Downtown Bangor, we would be told over and over again that if we could just pick our store up and put it in a town with better foot traffic that we’d find success,” says Don Andreas of Clever Girl Winery. So that’s what he did, moving the winery’s tasting room to The Commodore in Downtown Easton. Now Clever Girl has doubled the number of their sangria flavors, increased their beer selection to include various Pennsylvania breweries like Saucony Creek and Tröegs, and added a selection of cocktails, mocktails and martinis to their menu. While not a full-on restaurant, Clever Girl does carry a selection of cold sharable items that pair perfectly with their beverage offerings, and activities like charcuterie classes and paint and sips are also on offer. But the heart of this venture is still Andreas’ wine, born out of a desire for a home winemaker to create a side-hustle that eventually became something much bigger. His wines, made in Pennsylvania from grapes grown around the world, remain the star of the show. Treat yourself to one of Clever Girl’s more popular pours, the merlot, syrah or pinot grigio.

116 Northampton St., Easton | 484.484.8907 | clevergirlwinery.com

BE PART OF THE STORY!

Do you know an individual who should be considered for our 2025 Influential Women of the Year feature? Nominate them at lehighvalleystyle.com/share-with-us!

Win It

Head to lehighvalleystyle.com to find out what’s happening each week in the Lehigh Valley! Want to see your event included in the roundup? Email editor@lehighvalleystyle.com

DID YOU KNOW?

You can view the entire issue for free online at lehighvalleystyle.com!

WANT TO KNOW WHERE OUR NEXT STYLE INSIDER HAPPY HOUR WILL BE?

Want info about upcoming Lehigh Valley Style events? Follow Lehigh Valley Style on Facebook and check out our Events!

CONNECT WITH STYLE :

Enter to win a $50 gift card to Meli European Taverna! Visit lehighvalleystyle.com/ share-with-us to enter!

PHOTO BY ALISON CONKLIN

GET THE GOODS

The Bottle Shop

Jesse Haik and Dan Gonzalez know a thing or two about good food and drink. In 2022, they launched Pennsylvania Rye Company (shortened to PA Rye Co.) in Downtown Allentown, which quickly became a popular destination for quality dishes and an extensive bar menu, including more than 100 whiskeys, bourbons, and, yes, ryes from Pennsylvania. The duo has since expanded into the space next door to PA Rye Co. with their latest venture, The Bottle Shop, selling local provisions and beer and wine to-go. Haik shares with us the background and newest developments of their business.

QTell us about the journey of opening your businesses. I received a phone call from Dan, who had run into someone that worked with City Center in Allentown. He asked Dan if he was interested in opening a bar or restaurant in the old Grain space at 536 Hamilton. Dan asked if I was interested and I definitely was—I had been looking for commercial space in New Jersey near where I live. Dan and I kicked around the concept

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCO CALDERON

for a week until we solidified the idea of PA Rye Co. Things moved pretty quickly after that. Dan and I did most of the renovations ourselves; everything but the bar top and electrical, really. We connected with staff we had worked with in the past, and they brought more good staff with them. We got the place open and listened to our clientele, catering the menu to our audience. Once PA Rye Co. was stable, we opened The Bottle Shop.

Tell us about how The Bottle Shop came to be.

The Bottle Shop really came from the space being vacant or unused. City Center asked us to take on that part of the property, and at first we were reluctant, but we decided to take a chance and basically open a secondary business.

What decisions go into sourcing your wines and beers?

Our clientele tells us what they want to see, and we source the highest quality at the lowest price that we can find in the market. Of course, there are some menu items that we just truly believe to be stellar products, like Turley, Ridge, Martinelli, Orin Swift, Pine Ridge, Ramey, I could go on for days. We also attend all of the grand portfolio tastings that we can for the wine distributors that we work with. Things that stick out for that season or have great vintage releases we invest in.

What kind of events does The Bottle Shop host?

The last event we hosted was a celebration of oyster season that we call Oyster Fest. It’s allyou-can-eat oysters on the half shell and as much champagne, Crémant, Sancerre, Muscadet— or whatever you want, really— as you like. We also do some

wine and cheese tastings, and we’re planning more events soon.

What can patrons find in The Bottle Shop besides wine and beer?

We also sell local cheese, the same that we sell in the restaurant. We feature local cheese producers like Valley Milkhouse, Bobolink Dairy & Bakehouse, Valley Shepherd Creamery and Cherry Grove Farm. They make some super-fun cheese and they all are awesome quality. We also carry some classic accompaniments to cheese and wine like pickled vegetables, olives and dried figs. We do have some international cured meats, like prosciutto and Spanish jamón, and we sell glassware as well.

What is something your customers might be surprised to find in your shop?

It depends on the customer when it comes to surprises. Wine lovers lose their mind when they see the highly allocated wines like Turley, Keever, Alain Graillot, Orin Swift and Premier Cru Burgundies. People into health are always pumped about the zero sulfites and natural wines we carry. The locals are excited about the high-quality products for great prices like Les Dauphines Côtes du Rhône for only $17 or Francois de La Roche Touraine for $21.

What do you love about your location?

I love that we are across the street from the Americus Hotel, Pizza Mart and Kyle’s. Assembly88 is next door, and Tacos Y Tequila is on the other side. These businesses are well established and create great foot traffic. The 500 block of Hamilton is poppin’!

How does The Bottle Shop complement PA Rye Co.? If you like a wine or beer we carry at PA Rye Co., you can grab some on your way out at The Bottle Shop as well—our inventory is used for both sides. The more fun things that show up in The Bottle Shop, the more fun stuff we get to have at PRC.

Any customer favorites in the shop?

There are so many, but when it comes to wine, customers really love the Le Trois Neveux sauvignon blanc, the Evening Land Salem Wine Co. pinot noir and the Bellenda Enoteca AD bianco frizzante. Popular beers are La Trappe Tripel, Lord Hobo Boomsauce and anything from Tired Hands Brewing Company or Funk Brewing.

538 Hamilton St., Allentown 484.602.2570 | the-bottle-shop.com

NETWORKING AS A CREATIVE ENTREPRENEUR

BY DAISY WILLIS | ILLUSTRATION BY LVNL / ADOBE STOCK

Carter McKinney CEO, MCKINNEY MEDIA mckinneymedia.co

You’re not looking for a job per se; you’ve already made your own. But as an entrepreneur, hobnobbing with intention is a great way to get the word out, get inspired and build community with like-minded movers and shakers. Carter McKinney, CEO at McKinney Media and host of vibrant networking events, shares his best advice on the optimum mixer mindset.

HAVE A MIND FOR MINGLING

In his early 20s with six years of work and more than 25,000 people’s photos under his belt, McKinney has built a dynamic career out of making and multiplying connections. Switching from biology student to camera-toting enlistee of Northampton Community College’s Center for Innovation & Entrepreneurship, he’s been collaborating, marketing and promoting at a breakneck pace and bringing folks into the fold from across the tri-state area. Hosting regular networking events for creatives, McKinney aims for an encouraging environment. “I went to an event a week or two ago,” he says, “where it was just food on the table, a bar and a free-forall. Everyone just talked.

I like a little more structure, whether it’s things like speed networking or even a panel discussion, because not everybody is as outgoing as others.”

Networking events are increasingly shedding awkward formality and embracing the fact that they bring interesting, creative folks together to enjoy sharing the burdens and rewards of the lifestyle.

Over 75 Years of Service

Long’s Water Technology, a local resource since 1949

BY BRITTANY PETERSON

a special for Long’s EcoWater

Long’s EcoWater Systems is the same company you’ve known and trusted to keep your water clean for the better part of the last century. This locally owned and operated business began back in 1949 as Lindsay Soft Water of Allentown.

Current owners Scott Warrick and Jim Carroll purchased the business in 1998 and, with an entrepreneurial approach, have brought it into its 75th year of serving the community. Scott and Jim have a proven track record of providing the most advanced water treatment solutions to solve customers’ water problems. Alongside their cutting-edge products, the duo has built a tight team of familiar faces, boasting 150 years of experience.

Water quality issues are not new to Long’s EcoWater Systems. Whether a homeowner is concerned about a decades-old hard water issue or has a newer concern such as PFAS forever chemicals, Long’s EcoWater has a wide range of certified filtration products. Customers greatly benefit from drinking water systems

that remove over 95 chemicals/ contaminants, water softeners that use minimal salt, and advanced leak detection with remote shut off.

Long’s EcoWater is the only authorized EcoWater dealer in the Lehigh Valley and has consistently earned national recognition as a Premier EcoWater Dealer. Founded in 1925, EcoWater Systems is proud to be celebrating its 100th anniversary. EcoWater is the oldest and largest water treatment manufacturer in the world and is backed by Berkshire Hathaway.

Scott, Jim and their friendly team of experienced professionals are here to help your family enjoy healthy, clean water with quality water filtration for years to come.

Effective networking is much more about genuinely listening and building connections with people who you can support and who can support you.

SHOW VULNERABILITY

At its worst, networking is all about pitching yourself and collecting contacts, but no one really wants to take part in that meat market. Creatives and entrepreneurs are typically going out on a limb to share their unique talents and abilities with the world and to network best in that spirit. Of course, we want to put our best foot forward, but rather than putting on a facade of success, “effective networking is much more about genuinely listening and building connections with people who you can support and who can support you,” McKinney says.

If you don’t have everything figured out yet, the people who connect with your vision will be happy to help you get there and contribute to a culture of collaboration that breeds meaningful referrals and new arenas. “I love finding youth that are interested in photography, video and marketing,” McKinney says, never gatekeeping his field. “As a young person of color, it meant a lot to see others like me succeeding. That made me feel that it was possible.”

SEEK OUT MENTORSHIP

“What we look for in a mentor is someone who’s consistent,” McKinney says, “who not only excels in the business realm but knows how to talk to and treat people.” Many people do good work and can offer advice on technical aspects of entrepreneurship, but finding or offering mentorship is invaluable for the cultural component it can foster.

“A lot of soft skills are lost in this digital age. People need to know how to maintain eye contact, sit or stand up straight and firmly shake someone’s hand,” McKinney says. Imparting skills in body language and etiquette can be just as meaningful, maybe more so, than tips on camera upgrades. In seeking mentorship, make a study of who you want to work with and why, and don’t overlook your own capacity to pass on the skills and understanding that could be the missing piece for somebody else!

GET ONLINE

Marketing your business through social media can be a full-time job if you let it. Posting consistently is important to maintain a presence, not just for potential clients, but for your network as well. “I try to post every day,” McKinney says, “and adapt each post to every social media platform that I’m on.” Whether you’re putting out a positive quote, sharing your work, or spreading the word about a resource you know will help others, you can take a little bit of the time out of this task by employing tools like ChatGPT.

When you’re nurturing your connections through Instagram or LinkedIn, the key, as always, is authenticity. “Don’t just message someone asking for something,” McKinney says, “engage with their work, comment thoughtfully and support what they’re doing.” The energy and conversation of face-to-face networking can’t be replicated online, but the accessibility of social media can’t be beat. Focus your time on meeting consistency benchmarks and responding to the people who really inspire you, and that scroll time won’t be wasted.

QTell us about your wellness journey!

How did it begin?

My journey towards becoming an acupuncturist and wellness advocate began at the ripe age of 19 when I was hospitalized with a skin infection that went systemic. It continued to happen sporadically throughout my twenties, and when no one could find the root cause I went digging. There was one chiropractor who practiced functional medicine who was the catalyst for me to change my lifestyle. It then took me a decade to finecomb every inch of my life and mental health to find out what was causing my symptoms. Some days I was able to live a normal life, but there were also weeks where I was debilitated in 10/10 pain, at times wishing not to be seen by anyone.

How did that journey lead you to The Void?

The Void is a collection of a decade’s worth of searching for health. The deeper I searched, the more I realized the issues were in my tissues. The technical term would be fascia, the connective tissue that connects all systems in the body. There is a specific style of movement that

Christian Pedretti

YOUR ISSUES ARE IN YOUR TISSUES

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCO CALDERON

Christian Pedretti is an acupuncturist and wellness advocate at NuHouse in Easton and an instructor at their new fitness space, The Void. His approach to health is rooted in the transformative power of self-care, a philosophy not only clinical, but deeply personal. His decade-long search for health is a model for anyone who wants to embrace a healing journey of their own.

I teach that helped me deal with multiple autoimmune disorders. Ever since, I’ve become obsessed with movement in its various forms.

Tell us what it means for The Void to be curating a boutique-style hotfitness environment!

To me it is a funny thing. Often I’m teaching people the basics of what it means to be human disguised in a heated movement class. I’ve been on multiple retreats where sweat lodges were a part of the curriculum. In many Indigenous cultures they intentionally endured physical challenges to simulate and prepare for moving through hard times. The heat adds another layer of challenge but leaves you feeling all sorts of a hormonal high and accomplished.

Explain the range of class offerings. We don’t want to be a yoga or a HIIT class studio. I appreciate people and businesses that do one thing well, but that’s never been the way we see health. Everyone’s route to wellness is different, and often the people who go hard are the people

who need to learn to be more soft and vice versa. So we want to be a bridge for everyone to experience a different pace and challenge.

Describe the work that you do at NuHouse and The Void.

The work I do starts with understanding how people function and then how the form of your body follows that path. I could nerd out and tell you all kinds of things that would ruin a dinner party, but simply put, I see the body through fascia and I listen to humans.

How do the two spaces complement one another?

Part of the reason for The Void is seeing how perfectly they connect. When you’re out of chronic pain or recovered from an injury through our services at NuHouse, you have an option to practice deeper prevention at The Void.

What makes someone a great candidate for NuHouse or The Void?

There isn’t a single person who wouldn’t benefit from our services. We see infants

LIVING WELL WITH

all the way to the elderly at NuHouse. Both spaces offer options for everyone. Ask our staff for specifics about what is going on with you and we’ll have a recommendation that best fits your needs.

What do you hope people leave both spaces feeling?

A sense of wonder, more clarity and deeper breaths.

Describe your morning routine. Is there anything you simply can’t start your day without?

I’d love to say all my mornings are peaceful, but since starting The Void they have been filled with 4 a.m. wakeups and a quick run to work. My favorite smoothie, though, is dragon fruit, banana, wild blueberries, hemp seeds and filtered water.

How about your nighttime routine?

The best rest I get is when the windows are open and I feel cold enough that I have to have an extra blanket on. Other than that, the more quiet and less stimulation, the better.

What are a few healthy habits you try to practice throughout the day?

Before each patient I try to take one deep conscious breath to reset myself.

What is your preferred exercise routine?

Come to the class I teach. It changes the game.

What’s your favorite meal to make at home?

I try to keep it simple. A nice cut of meat with some basmati white rice and a side of greens.

What are your favorite eateries and restaurants to visit in the Lehigh Valley for a good meal? What do you order?

The Rachel sandwich at Green Vida. They only have it at the Forks location!

Is there anywhere locally that you love to shop for grocery items?

The Easton Farmers’ Market is the best place to get solid produce and quality organic products.

What’s something (food-related or not) that you love to indulge in?

I have a sweet tooth, so it isn’t unheard of for me to be having cookies for breakfast.

Where are some of your favorite (nonfood-related) places to visit in the Valley?

I’ll keep my main spot a secret, but I regularly enjoy walking the bike path in Hellertown.

How do you relieve stress?

It takes action to change your state. Cryotherapy or heat exposure are great quick fixes.

What’s your approach to balance?

It’s overrated. There are seasons to put your foot on the gas and then when it catches up to you, listen and recover.

What goals do you have for your personal wellness?

With the fascia work that I’ve done, I have become pretty skinny. I’m currently attending more classes at The Void to put on a little more muscle mass.

How do you stay motivated?

Walks. Good conversations with friends and adequate rest when I’m feeling overwhelmed.

Who is someone you look up to?

John Wineland is someone in the wellness space I really respect.

Do you have a personal mantra that you’d like to share?

I’ve always been really headstrong. So my personal mantra is “Go Deeper.” There is a lot under the surface, and until you make the unconscious conscious you’ll probably continue to hurt the people around you.

Is there anything else you’d like to note?

My best advice to anyone looking to feel better and get closer to the life they want is that you have to change your state to change your habits. So go to a class, switch up your environment and talk to someone out of your normal realm.

19 S. Bank St., Easton | thevoid.studio

Serving the area for over 20 years with award

Claudio Cerullo

Anti-Bullying Advocate

BY AMY UNGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

Sometimes the scars imprinted on a young person who’s been bullied are invisible; imperceptible to the naked eye, but deeply felt nonetheless by the victim who’s been subjected to endless taunts and jeers. In other cases, those scars are quite visible, a physical manifestation of cruelties inflicted by peers. Claudio Cerullo bears both kinds of scars. In adulthood, he has made it his mission to advocate for other victims, while addressing the root causes of bullying in schools and communities and fighting for change to hold abusers accountable.

Cerullo’s family moved to Easton in 1975 when he was six years old. He says his troubles began around sixth grade, when he was picked on because of his Italian background and subjected to ethnic slurs. At first, he wasn’t even aware he was being mocked; the words the other kids used were unfamiliar to him. “They’d say, ‘Hey, how’d your dago?’ And I’d say, ‘Fine, thank you,’” he recalls.

It also didn’t help that his family didn’t have much money, so he could never afford to dress in what was considered the trendy attire of the day. “I didn’t have penny loafers, I didn’t have a hoodie,” says Cerullo. “I found a hood in the lost and found and taped it to my jacket just to try to be like everybody else.” But the harder he tried to fit in, the worse he was mocked.

The mistreatment escalated in a major way when he was walking home from school one day. A group of kids who had been hiding under a porch surprised him and threw rocks at him. Their attack left his face battered and bloodied. But Cerullo didn’t tell anyone what happened. When he got home, he threw away his bloody clothes. “I was just afraid,” he says. “I always was this kind of meek kid, skinny Italian boy who could run fast but I never wanted any problems with anyone.”

Cerullo channeled his anger and frustration into exercise and sports. He later transferred to Notre Dame High School in Bethlehem Township, where he excelled at football and track. He continued his education at Moravian University (then Moravian College), from which he graduated in 1992 with a bachelor’s degree in social science education. He would go on earn master’s degrees in elementary and secondary education and psychology, as well as a Doctor of Philosophy degree in educational leadership.

He worked in education for a while in both Pennsylvania and New Jersey, including a stint as president of the Easton Area School Board. But a chance meeting in 2011 would change his personal and professional trajectories. By then, with memories of his own experiences in childhood still fresh in his mind, Cerullo had waded into anti-bullying instruction and victim advocacy. A woman approached him after he had spoken at a conference about how bullying impacts kids who are on the autism spectrum. She asked him if he had ever considered starting an

anti-bullying nonprofit. He told her he didn’t know much about the business or nonprofit world. Turns out, the woman, Daniela Desiderio, did.

Ninety days later, along with the help of some other parents, they launched Teach Anti Bullying, an anti-bullying and school violence prevention organization. The group’s mission is to work with teachers, families, law enforcement and governments on understanding and eradicating the bullying crisis from classrooms and communities across the country. They offer services like workshops, assemblies, workplace training and professional development—anything that gets them in front of the people who need to hear their message.

Daily news headlines tell the tale of just how pervasive this problem is in the United States. “You can’t go a day without someone telling a story of an active shooter who was victimized or bullied, to someone taking their own life,” says Cerullo. His own niece survived the deadly 2012 shooting rampage at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Connecticut when she was in fourth grade. Advances in technology and ubiquitous social media platforms have only made it more difficult for victims to escape their bullies. “It takes an army. We’re fighting a never-ending battle,” Cerullo says. “The brutality, the endless verbal language and how insulting some kids can be, especially via social media, it’s just endless and cruel.”

The advocacy arm of Teach Anti Bullying is working to instill accountability, whether that be in school districts and parents who turn a blind eye to troubling behavior, or social media companies that expose young users to unreasonable risk. Cerullo has served on anti-bullying task forces at both the state and federal level. He’s helped to get anti-bullying legislation on the books in Camden, New Jersey, one of the few cities in the country that’s taken such a step.

Ultimately, Cerullo wants an audience at the White House in Washington, D.C. “I would like an executive order, not just having anti-bullying during the month of October, but that we recognize it all 12 months out of the year, and we start to look at mental health and how it relates to bullying.”

His efforts over the years have earned him numerous accolades. Among the highlights: in 2013, the Philadelphia 76ers honored him with a “Heroes Among Us”

award; the Pennsylvania State Legislature presented him with an Outstanding Community Service Citation in 2018 for his work to help develop safe schools; and in 2023, Cerullo was recognized by Channel 6 Action News for his Sneakers for Smiles program, which provides new kicks to bullying victims and those who speak up against it.

Cerullo spoke to Channel 6 at the tail end of a long recovery from a life-threatening staph infection. Even though he still wasn’t feeling great, he said he was determined to keep his commitments to the young sneaker recipients: “I think it exemplifies that no matter how beat down someone is, there’s always someone else that may be hurting intrinsically more so than you. And you have to keep trudging forward.”

Cerullo estimates that Sneakers for Smiles has donated more than 1,200 pairs of sneakers. But the reaction from the recipient never gets old, Cerullo says. “That precious video or photo I get when they get a pair of shoes… I wish I had something like that when I was a kid. I would have been so elated.”

Those are the moments that buoy him on the darker days—and there are many. Hearing about a young person’s suicide always hits him hard. “It should never get to that point of no return. The cruelty,” Cerullo says. He’s quick to point out that he has his own village when it comes to

pushing forward. Daniela Desiderio, the woman who was instrumental in the founding of teachantibullying.org , and serves as its executive director today, became his wife in 2017. “She’s just an endless support system for me,” he says. “She’s a motivator.”

Together they share three children, all of whom are now young adults and involved with the anti-bullying movement. They’re often a presence at Teach Anti Bullying fundraisers, but their youth may be their biggest asset, when it comes to helping Cerullo navigate the intricacies of social media and read between the lines of teenspeak: “They can speak peer to peer, and help me to interpret coded messages,” says Cerullo. “They’re like my own little spies.”

Cerullo, who lives in Delaware County, is an author, too. His latest book is Inside the Mind of a Bully: From Victim to Advocate Besides serving as a resource and guidebook for adults, it’s also the story of how Cerullo rose above the bullying of his childhood to become a successful, empowered adult. It’s an outcome he hopes to share with the millions of children who are bullied every year.

“Seeing that there is a caring adult who is an advocate for them and can be a voice is a narrative that I believe is very powerful,” said Cerullo.

drclaudiocerullo.com | teachantibullying.org

ROASTY, TOASTY HOT CHOCOLATE

BY HEATHER MAYER IRVINE PHOTO BY LTUMMY / ADOBE STOCK

’Tis the season of warm drinks, like hot cocoa. But you don’t have to be a kiddo to enjoy this winter libation. No matter your preference, there is a Lehigh Valley hot chocolate for you. (And yes, for the kids.) Stop into one of these cozy spots and treat yourself.

1. LIT COFFEE ROASTERY AND BAKESHOP

26 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem 484.626.0945 | lit610

Just because this Southside Bethlehem coffee shop is known for its Monocacy Coffee doesn’t mean the crew doesn’t know how to make a hot chocolate. It’s creamy and rich, but perhaps its best feature is the temperature and size adjustment for little ones. And you can top with whipped cream for the full experience.

2. MIA & MADDIE’S BAKERY

34 N. 2nd St., Easton 484.656.7771 | Mia & Maddie’s Bakery

This Easton-based bakery is known for its custom cakes and baked goods, but in 2024 the team upped its hot chocolate game with special toppings. The New Yorkers Hot Cocoa, for example, is served in a glass mug, with a chocolate sprinkle-lined rim, filled with mini marshmallows, and topped off with a graham cracker garnish.

3. CHOCODIEM

325 Northampton St., Easton 973.518.2789 | chocodiem-us.com

Belgian hot chocolate just hits different. Chocodiem’s chocolatiers use real, awardwinning chocolate to recreate the experience the founder had growing up in Belgium. If you’re used to mixing a packet of powdered chocolate with hot water, you are in for an incredible treat. Chocodiem avoids adding sugar to its dark chocolate, so the drink isn’t overly sweet. And its ingredient list is pretty simple, with nothing artificial added. Plus, there is a vegan option. Chocodiem is located in the Easton Public Market, so pair your rich, velvety beverage with a pastry, macaron, or heck, an artisan truffle.

4. BILLY’S DOWNTOWN DINER

10 E. Broad St., Bethlehem 610.867.0105 | bethlehembreakfast.com

Mix summer and winter with Billy’s S’mores Hot Chocolate: steamed milk, chocolate marshmallows, graham crackers and topped—or crowned, as they say— with whipped cream. And although this isn’t a hot chocolate drink, the Bethlehem diner also has a “PeepsUccino,” a nod to the Peeps manufacturer located in the city. It’s espresso, steamed milk, white chocolate, whipped cream, and, of course, topped with a Peep marshmallow.

5. FRANKLIN HILL VINEYARDS

7833 Franklin Hill Rd., Bangor 888.887.2839 | franklinhillvineyards.com

Move over, hot toddies. Spike your hot chocolate with a wine or spirit from one of the Valley’s favorite vineyards and its sister shop, Social Still. During the winter months, you can warm up (and enjoy a little buzz) at any of the Franklin Hill locations

LEADER OF THE PACK CANINE INSTITUTE

Creating Happy and Balanced Dogs... One Leader at a Time! ™

Leader of the Pack Canine Institute is a full-service canine facility specializing in all levels of dog training. In addition to training, they offer doggy day care, boarding and grooming and high-quality pet products including dog food, dog treats, training equipment and more!

Opened in 2009 by Lisa McDonald, Leader of the Pack Canine Institute has become the Valley’s most recognized full-service canine facility. This family-run business takes considerable pride in offering award-winning services including dog daycare, boarding, grooming and training. The company’s motto is “Creating Happy and Balanced Dogs, One Leader at a Time.”

The McDonald family is excited to announce a significant milestone with the opening of their second Leader of the Pack Canine Institute in Forks Township, Easton. With over 28,000 square feet, this brand-new ultramodern facility brings Leader of the Pack’s full array of award-winning canine services to the eastern area of the Lehigh Valley and beyond. Located 1.5 miles from the Tatamy exit off Route 33, Leader of the Pack is convenient to the Bethlehem and Easton area, the Poconos and Western New Jersey. Stop in to see this impressive new facility and visit online at lopci.com

KLECKNER & SONS

“Service Is Our Most Important Product”

Kleckner and Sons Appliances, now celebrating their 80th anniversary, was originally founded by Allen Kleckner, his son Roy Kleckner and his son-in-law, Joseph George. The entrepreneurs opened their first store location on Main Street in Egypt in 1945. Within several years, they expanded to a new location on MacArthur Road in Whitehall. In the 1970s, proprietorship changed hands to the sons of Joseph George: Donald and Dale George. Present day, Kleckner’s is operating under the family’s fourth generation: Doreen Cantalini and Todd George, the great-grandchildren of Allen Kleckner.

Kleckner’s continues to grow, as other stores come and go. Their educated sales personnel, highly trained service technicians and equally skilled delivery and installation teams distinguish them from their competitors. Their knowledge and experience consistently prove why they are considered “The Leader” in appliances in the Lehigh Valley.

With two convenient locations, consumers are able to find a vast selection of namebrand appliances, televisions, Catnapper recliners and more. In addition, their Emmaus location showcases a fully functioning Monogram kitchen to help customers envision a modern-day cooking area. Most of all, customers will find impeccable customer care, because service is their most important product.

PHOTO COURTESY OF KLECKER & SONS

Doreen Cantalini, center, with Kleckner’s team members Nadia Pletz and William Alexander.

LEHIGH VALLEY WATER SYSTEMS

Lehigh Valley’s Water Softener Experts

With just $800 to his name, founder Barry Long opened a local water treatment and well pump business in 1976. Although Barry maintained the original Orefield location, he ended up selling that initial business decades later. In 2012 after a brief period out of the business, Barry established Lehigh Valley Water Systems. Lehigh Valley Water Systems is owned and operated by the father-and-son duo of Barry and Ben Long. Make no mistake, there is only one Long family-owned and -operated business, and that is Lehigh Valley Water Systems.

Lehigh Valley Water Systems is the premier family-owned and -operated water treatment business. Lehigh Valley Water Systems specializes in water softening and water filtration with superior “old school” customer service. Lehigh Valley Water Systems offers customized water treatment solutions to both residential and commercial customers. There is no one that will work harder for the customer than Lehigh Valley Water Systems to ensure customers are satisfied for years to come.

Owner Ben Long had this to say: “I can personally guarantee that we will always be true to our word, no matter the cost. Customers can rest easy knowing if they ever have a question or concern, we will be there for them. We have been in business for decades and will be there for years to come. Sustainability is important to us, because we want our customer to know we will always have their back and solve their unique water problems.”

Lehigh Valley Water Systems offers free in-home or virtual consultations to resolve any water issue. The Lehigh Valley is known to have excessively hard water which causes issues with household plumbing and appliances, causes itchy skin and scalp and provides brittle and dry hair. Bottom line is, hard water is hard to live with. Call or text the water softener experts today!

Making it

When Bob Della Sala decided the time had come to update his Lower Macungie Township home, he had a plan. “I knew I wanted to upgrade the kitchen,” he says. “The kitchen cabinets were the original builder’s grade, they were peeling, they were coming apart.” So, kitchen overhaul? Check. That was the entirety of the to-do list. Easy enough. Then that plan went right out the window. “It turned out to be the whole first floor of the house,” Della Sala says.

A LowermasculineMacungie home makeover

BY AMY UNGER PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCO CALDERON

Della Sala, the president and CEO of Keystone Sales & Associatesand owner of Allentown's Trendz Salon, purchased the home in 2006. It was a new build, a typical center-hall Colonial. “Nothing too fancy,” Della Sala says. Fancy or not, nearly 20 years later, it’s safe to say some elements of the home were showing their age. But what’s a bachelor to do? “I’m not good with colors, I’m not good with matching,” he says. “I knew I would need somebody to help me.”

That somebody was Amy Bloom, founder and owner of Lehigh Valley-based Spundesign. It was Bloom who gave Della Sala the gentle (and necessary) nudge in the direction of a more extensive home renovation; after all, a modern, refreshed kitchen would look out of place smack dab in the middle of the early 2000s vibe that permeated the

rest of the place. “I couldn’t just do a kitchen with the peach walls peeking out from the fireplace room,” she says, which prompts a laugh from Della Sala.

By the time Bloom was finished working her magic, frequent visitors to the home probably didn’t recognize the place. For starters, the floor plan had changed. They decided to open up the first floor by knocking out a wall between the old kitchen and the formal dining room behind it, and then shifting the new kitchen into that dining area.

The look of the new kitchen is clean and classic without skewing too traditional; no white Shaker cabinets or subway tile here. Instead, Bloom opted for flat cabinets from Swartz Kitchens & Baths in two colors—black and walnut brown. The upper cabinets glow with soft interior illumination.

The walls are overlaid with marble hexagon tile from Creative Tile that extends all the way to the ceiling. A backsplash that ends below the oven hood is a pet peeve of Bloom’s: “It looks like it’s not finished,” she says.

When it was time to pick the quartz countertops, Bloom again veered away from predictable: “I saw black with white lightning in it. I thought, ‘That’s Bob,’” she says.

The overall kitchen color scheme when first proposed had its skeptics in the Della Sala camp. Ultimately, though, Bloom won them over: “I said, ‘Trust me, trust me,’” she recalled. Della Sala conceded he was glad he did, describing the final look as soft, but manly.

That cycle—hesitation, assurance, satisfaction—would repeat itself more than once during the entirety of the project, which took about a year from planning the design in the spring of 2023 to adding the finishing touches.

“She pretty much had full rein in picking all the stuff out,” Della Sala says. “She obviously wanted me to give my approval. Most of the time I said, ‘If you think that’s the way we should go, that’s the way we’re going to go.’”

For the new dining area, now an extension of the eat-in kitchen, Bloom chose a walnut table (a nod to the kitchen cabinets of the same hue) from Crate & Barrel with seating room for 10; the modern white chairs are from Arhaus. To one side of the table are two pairs of sliding glass doors that lead outside to the pool and hot tub, as well as a sizeable patio that’s been upgraded with a kitchen, refrigerator and seating area (couches and high tops), all protected from the elements by a newly installed roof.

It's like being wrapped up in a warm blanket…

To the other side of the dining room table is a generously sized wine cooler, dry bar and hanging shelves custom made for Della Sala by 142 Ironworks. The roomy countertop is the perfect spot to whip up an old-fashioned or a Woodford Reserve on the rocks (Della Sala is a bourbon guy). It’s a reinvention of an area that Della Sala says previously was just wasted space.

Remember those peach walls that Bloom detested so much? They’re long gone. In two rooms on the first floor she employed the drenching technique, meaning everything in the room— walls, ceiling, trim, doors, windowpanes—is painted the same color. “It packs a punch,” says Bloom of the look. “But it also cozies up the space. It’s like being wrapped up in a warm blanket.” It’s also cost effective—one room, one color—and it makes the painting process a little less stressful. Drips on the baseboards? No problem. It’s all going to be the same color, anyway.

But, before any cans could be cracked open and any paint

could be poured, Bloom again had to do a little arm-twisting.

Initially Della Sala wasn’t sold on the monochromatic theme, and lamented the loss of the home’s traditional white crown molding. Again, though, he decided to defer to Bloom: “She was right. I was very happy when it was all done.”

The game room off to the side of the kitchen got drenched in SherwinWilliams’ Grizzle Gray, one of Bloom’s go-to darker hues, and now conjures up a speakeasy vibe.

The living room is bathed in a creamy gray beige, with the exception of an accent wall that serves as the backdrop for the fireplace, which is sporting a new walnut mantle from AWM Carpentry. The wall is noteworthy for its threedimensional flourish as well as its color: Little Black Dress from Behr. Think black with hints of blue. Della Sala says it’s a crowd-pleaser. “When people come into my home now, they look at that and go, 'Wow, that’s really cool.' That’s really something that grabs their attention.”

And that blue, while subtle, was intentional: Della Sala is

a Dallas Cowboys fan. The color also makes an appearance in a stairwell leading up to the second floor, as well as in the picture frames that encase Della Sala’s high school and college football jerseys. Those hang on the wall in his office, another room that was drenched, this time in Sherwin-Williams’ Bunglehouse Gray.

The jerseys are one example of personalized décor that Bloom curated for the home. Another is on an adjoining wall in the office: a wood carving of the Keystone company logo, fashioned by one of Della Sala’s employees, hangs between a pair of matching cabinet units. A single-light wall sconce was added above it to create a pop of dramatic illumination.

Bloom also made sure that an American flag Della Sala’s father received for his military service, as well as a picture of Della Sala and his mother, were positioned in places of prominence in the home. These special touches make all the difference, Bloom says. A house should be filled with meaningful items, not just stuff.

The completion of the first-floor renovation doesn’t mean Bloom has seen the last of the Della Sala home. He was so pleased with her work, he decided to enlist her expertise again, this time for an overhaul of the second floor. Although the start date isn’t set in stone (it’ll happen sometime in 2025), Bloom says she’s already brainstorming ideas.

When that project is done, there won’t be much in the home’s interior that Spundesign hasn’t enhanced in some way. And it all started with a kitchen.

wow, When people come into my home now, they l ook at t hat and go, tha t 's rea lly c oo l.

EQUI-LIBRIUM Healing Through Horses

Nestled on an 18-acre historic farm in Nazareth, Equi-librium provides healing through horses by implementing equine-assisted services to help individuals with physical, developmental, behavioral and psychological challenges.

Equi-librium helps individuals with physical, developmental and behavioral health challenges reach their highest potential through equineassisted services. Founded in 1981, Equi-librium is the only center of its kind in the Lehigh Valley to hold a premier accreditation from the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship (PATH) International.

Equi-librium serves individuals of all ages from the Lehigh Valley and beyond through specialized programming led by PATH-certified therapeutic riding instructors and equine specialists in mental health and learning. In 2024, Equi-librium welcomed over 250 unique individuals through equine-assisted movement, adaptive riding and horsemanship, and therapeutic carriage driving utilizing a wheelchair-accessible wagon. The organization also provides free educational programming to over 1,000 public school students each year.

While many of Equi-librium’s programs help participants achieve physical goals, including improved balance, coordination and physical fitness, interactions with Equi-librium’s herd of 15 specially trained therapy horses can also help decrease feelings of stress and anxiety, while helping to build social skills, confidence and self-esteem.

Equi-librium collaborates with local organizations serving children in foster care, individuals with mental health challenges and survivors of domestic violence and trauma, and partially subsidizes program fees for every single participant. This would not be possible without the help of over 200 volunteers annually, generous donors and supporters and fundraising events such as Lehigh Valley Polo on September 14.

CAMELOT FOR CHILDREN

Enriching the lives of children with special needs for 40 years!

Camelot for Children is a nonprofit where children with special needs and medical complexities can thrive, find belonging and build lifelong friendships. Thanks to the passionate staff, adult and teen volunteers, and generous support from individual and corporate donors, children’s families and caregivers are reassured while the kids experience the magic of childhood. A 2024 summer camp teen volunteer said:

“Camelot enriches my life in countless ways. Being able to play, learn and grow alongside the coolest kids is absolutely priceless. I have learned the invaluable values of patience, open-mindedness and understanding. Camelot opened so many doors in my life, and I’ve met some of the kindest, toughest, most inspiring people here. Even though I went home every day exhausted, the thousands of laughs and smiles made it beyond worth it. I’d see kids walk in miserable and walk out with the goofiest grin on their face. I’d come in complaining about how early it is and walk out wishing I could stay just for an hour longer. I truly wish the absolutely best for Camelot, because I know I am not the only one who has been so deeply impacted. Because of Camelot, I’ve determined where my passions truly lie. Because of Camelot, I’ve learned how far the smallest of smiles can take you. Because of Camelot, my heart is so, so much fuller. I am beyond grateful for everything Camelot has given to me and I will always tirelessly give back to this community. I love Camelot!”

Camelot for Children provides kids with special needs free, year-round social, recreational and educational opportunities conducted in a safe, inclusive environment. Enroll a child, volunteer or donate at camelotforchildren.org

Follow Camelot on Facebook, LinkedIn or Instagram, or email info@camelotforchildren.org

HAVEN HOUSE

Whether facing aging concerns, transitioning from incarceration or navigating everyday challenges, Haven House offers seven specialized programs for mental health support.

The Outpatient Program provides therapy, medication management and nursing services, as well as reintegration support in partnership with Lehigh County Prison.

The Psychiatric Rehabilitative Services program assists, both on-site and mobile, individuals—with severe persistent mental illnesses—in developing skills for independent living and community involvement.

The Mental Health and Aging Program, at Gracedale Nursing Home, enhances care for aging residents with mental health illnesses.

The Wellness Recovery Team offers community-based support for those with severe mental health and chronic physical conditions.

The THRIVE program ensures continuity of care for individuals transitioning from Northampton County Prison, while the STARTS program provides housing and more structured re-entry services.

The final program, the Community Food Pantry, addresses food insecurity for those in need.

To learn more, follow Haven House on Facebook.

THE PEDIATRIC CANCER FOUNDATION OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

The “wonder women” of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV) are a small but mighty team that truly makes a difference in the lives of local pediatric cancer families. With over 400 of those local families counting on this hyperlocal foundation for financial, social and emotional support, the team at PCFLV stresses how crucial a role the community plays in making this possible.

“While we recognize that there are national organizations out there that many people know and donate to, we also hope that our local community chooses to ‘give where they live’ and to support PCFLV as well,” says Michelle Zenie Rounds, Executive Director and Cancer Mom. Donations of time, talent and funds all help PCFLV to provide over 25 impactful programs and services to families that are enduring the most difficult time in their lives—their child’s battle with cancer.

PCFLV’s programs and services improve the quality of life for local pediatric cancer families— and bring smiles to all in the process! For information about what PCFLV offers and how to get involved through fundraising events, volunteering and by making a donation, go to pcflv.org

The “wonder women” of PCFLV, left to right: Rhonda Johnson; Kristine Buss; Michelle Zenie Rounds, MAT; Stefani Buck; Caley Bittner; Tracy Stauffer

Haven House is a registered 501(c)(3) nonprofit community based mental health organization providing services to approximately 3000 Lehigh Valley residents. Their mission: to empower individuals to overcome barriers in their lives, provide them with support and an opportunity to reach their full potential.

ALLENTOWN RESCUE MISSION

Rescue, rehabilitate and restore men experiencing homelessness

The Allentown Rescue Mission, the largest men’s homeless shelter in the Greater Lehigh Valley, celebrates its 125th Anniversary in 2025! The Mission, with its three distinct programs, is primed to continue helping vulnerable men in the community turn their lives around by meeting their needs and addressing the root causes of homelessness.

The Emergency Shelter ensures guests have their immediate needs met, offering a safe place to sleep, nourishing meals, warm showers, clean clothing and on-site medical care.

The Transformation Program is an optional eight-week program offered to any guest of the Emergency Shelter who is in need of, and committed to, changing the trajectory of their life. Offering both life-skills classes and Bible-based classes, participants receive a well-rounded foundation as they continue to reshape their lives.

Graduates of the Transformation Program are offered immediate transitional employment through the Clean Team Workforce, LLC. Upon saving enough money or finding outside employment, men often find their own place to live and regain their independence.

With the Greater Lehigh Valley’s help, the Allentown Rescue Mission will continue to rescue, rehabilitate and restore men like Custis (pictured above). Celebrating this milestone anniversary would not be possible without the generosity of private donors and community supporters throughout the Valley.

The Allentown Rescue Mission is exclusively nongovernment funded, relying on the generosity of private donors and community supporters. To make a monetary or in-kind donation or learn more about ways to help, visit their website and follow the Allentown Rescue Mission on Facebook or Instagram.

LEUKEMIA & LYMPHOMA SOCIETY

LLS is committed to advancing health equity by ensuring that all individuals impacted by blood cancer have access to the optimal treatment, care and resources to maximize their quality of life and outcomes, from diagnosis through survivorship.

VALLEY HEALTH PARTNERS

Breaking Barriers to Health Equity in the Greater Lehigh Valley

Whole-person wellness is the focus of Valley Health Partners (VHP), a nonprofit delivering a wide range of comprehensive, patient-centered healthcare services to the Greater Lehigh Valley community. Recognized as a Federally Qualified Health Center Look-Alike (FQHCLA), VHP offers primary care, mental health, women’s health, pediatrics, dental services, vision care, chiropractic and specialized programs like veterans support for those who’ve served and street medicine for persons experiencing homelessness.

FQHC-LAs are community-based healthcare providers that provide primary care services in underserved areas, offer a sliding fee scale based on ability to pay and operate under a governing board that includes patients. Their holistic approach includes supportive services such as transportation assistance, interpretation, health education and care coordination, ensuring equitable and accessible healthcare for all, regardless of ability to pay. With a focus on cultural sensitivity and whole-person wellness, VHP goes beyond traditional care to address barriers to health and improve community outcomes.

Valley Health Partners earned Gold-level status as a Health Center Quality Leader from the Health Resources and Services Administration, placing them in the top 10-percent of health centers nationwide for quality. Learn more about their nearly 20 locations at valleyhealthpartners.org

As a globally recognized leader in the fight against blood cancer, the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) is dedicated to achieving its mission. The LLS mission encompasses the eradication of leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin’s disease and myeloma, as well as the enhancement of the quality of life for patients and their families. LLS supports groundbreaking blood cancer research worldwide, provides complimentary information and support services, and advocates for all blood cancer patients seeking access to high-quality, affordable and coordinated care.

There are various ways to support the organization. LLS offers opportunities to join the board and committees for their campaigns. Additionally, LLS relies on exceptional fundraisers to support their mission. Consider joining Light the Night, Student Visionaries of the Year or Visionaries of the Year. For more information on LLS and how to get involved, please email pamela.formica@lls.org

LEHIGH VALLEY HUMANE SOCIETY + VET CLINIC

A 24/7 organization providing animal rescue, affordable veterinary care, community outreach and more

Save animals. Serve community. That is the motto of the Lehigh Valley Humane Society (LVHS). LVHS has undergone dramatic changes in the last six years, with new leadership, new programs and a beautiful new facility. In addition to rescuing and rehabilitating abandoned and abused animals, LVHS also strives to provide affordable programming to thousands of local pet owners who have historically had little access to the kinds of services that keep animals happy, healthy and out of shelters. These include services through the Community Vet Clinic, pet grooming studio and dog training program. Over 3,000 homeless animals entered the shelter in 2024. Through rigorous efforts in adoptions, trapneuter-vaccinate-return (TNVR) for community cats, and supporting pet owners in need of assistance, LVHS achieved an average live release rate of 92.7 percent for the year-to-date in November 2024. The qualifying live release rate for a shelter/rescue to be considered “No Kill” is 90 percent or greater. Want to get involved? There are always opportunities to foster, volunteer, adopt or support LVHS’s lifesaving mission through donations!

Visit LVHS online at lehighhumane.org and follow @theLVHS on Facebook and Instagram to learn more and see how to help!

VINCO ACADEMY

Unlocking the power of creative play and transformative exploration

Vinco Academy emphasizes play and exploration as the best way for children to learn. With experienced educators, it provides an immersive and stimulating environment to foster cognitive, social and emotional development.

Vinco Academy nurtures early learners by prioritizing individual growth and academic excellence. Through clinical therapies such as art and music therapy from Pennsylvania Integrative Clinical Services, Vinco provides comprehensive solutions and enhanced learning outcomes. This partnership streamlines essential resources, enabling families to focus on their child’s development while fostering a seamless connection between learning and life skills. Together, they create a strong foundation for lifelong success.

21 Community Dr., Easton | 610.438.7200 | vincoacademy.com

CAY GALGON LIFE HOUSE

“We could not achieve such far-reaching success without the generosity of our many donors, volunteers, community partners and corporate sponsors. Together, we help vulnerable women navigate their maternal challenges to become confident and self-reliant, one mother and baby at a time.”

– PAULA ALBANESE, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, CAY GALGON LIFE HOUSE

Since 2019, Cay Galgon Life House (CGLH) has been serving as a resource to advocate, educate and empower pregnant women and new mothers in the Lehigh Valley, providing vital support to those facing homelessness, housing instability and food insecurity.

CGLH’s Residential and Community Outreach programs both offer comprehensive services, including case management, financial and parenting classes, essential daily supplies and community referrals. Through these programs, CGLH supports over 500 Lehigh Valley women annually, raising awareness about their challenges while helping them break the cycle of generational poverty and achieve self-sufficiency.

Many complex and multi-layered challenges contribute to these struggles: absent paternal figures, rising housing costs, limited job opportunities, below-poverty wages, health disparities and lack of affordable childcare. CGLH walks alongside women navigating these challenges, ensuring they feel seen, understood and loved.

Scan the QR code to learn more about CGLH. 714 W. Broad St., Bethlehem 610.867.9546 caygalgonlifehouse.org

HABITAT FOR HUMANITY RESTORE

Building strength, stability, self-reliance and shelter in local communities and around the world

Start sorting through stuff, clean out the clutter and purge what doesn’t serve a purpose, all while supporting affordable housing and critical home repairs for the elderly, veterans and individuals with disabilities. The Habitat Lehigh Valley ReStores in both Whitehall and Hellertown want those gently used and new items to fill their stores and generate funds for Habitat Lehigh Valley’s homeownership and critical home repair programs.

When someone donates items from their home like building supplies, furniture, doors, windows and home decor to the Habitat Lehigh Valley ReStore, they are building homes, communities and opportunities for hardworking low- to moderate-income families right here in the Lehigh Valley. In its 36th year, Habitat Lehigh Valley has already built 138 homes and assisted over 70 families with critical exterior home repairs. None of that would have been possible without the funds generated in Whitehall and Hellertown. As Habitat Lehigh Valley moves into a new year, they are excited to continue growing and helping the local Allentown, Bethlehem and Easton communities with affordable housing solutions.

The ReStores at Habitat Lehigh Valley aren’t just for the DIY-er or the antique collector. People from all walks of life enter the ReStore looking for something special. Whether they are a contractor, plumber or someone in need of a sofa or vanity, the ReStore has what they are looking for on any given day. And every day is different at both the Whitehall and Hellertown locations, making the ReStores a perfect place to shop for everyone!

Don’t just plan on spring cleaning—plan on spring giving this upcoming season, and donate to the ReStore in Whitehall or Hellertown today!

Both Habitat Lehigh Valley ReStores are open for donations Tuesdays through Saturdays from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Visit habitatlv.org for more info!

Influential Men Ye ar ofthe

BY AMY UNGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

ON LOCATION AT MOXY ALLENTOWN DOWNTOWN

What does it mean to be exceptional? Look no further than Lehigh Valley Style magazine’s Influential Men of the Year. The six honorees in our 2025 class didn’t seek out the spotlight, but we’re shining it on them anyway. We believe the work they’re doing is worth celebrating. They’re making the Lehigh Valley a better place through the arts, advocacy, community outreach and a push for equity for all creatures, on two legs or four.

Jacobsen Al

Orchestral classics, blues, jazz, holiday pops and contemporary favorites: it’s happening on Allentown’s 6th Street, and Al Jacobsen is at the center of it all. Jacobsen was hired as executive director of the Allentown Symphony Association and Miller Symphony Hall in 2018. A native of New York, Jacobsen has held several positions in arts administration; prior to bringing his family to this side of Pennsylvania, he worked for the Pittsburgh Symphony Orchestra for many years.

In Allentown, he hit the ground running, digging into the association and hall’s shared mission of advancing education and community engagement initiatives. More people than ever before are enjoying the array of programs, concerts and events offered inside the hall’s hallowed walls; the Allentown Symphony Orchestra subscriber base has grown by 85 percent since Jacobsen arrived, which was no easy feat when you consider that there was a global health pandemic happening in the middle of his tenure. “It’s a matter of getting word out, and we’ve really made some good progress in that regard,” Jacobsen says.

Jacobsen has also helped grow the El Sistema program, which started in 2011 in partnership with the Allentown School District. Students in grades kindergarten through 12 are offered daily instrument lessons and choral instruction after school. “It’s very much a social empowerment program that uses music as the tool,” Jacobsen says. It’s now offered at four different sites in the Allentown district, but it attracts students from around the Lehigh Valley. During the last school year, a record 160 students took part in El Sistema. “Having exposure to instruments, whether it’s playing in an orchestra, or having exposure to concerts early on, is so important to develop an appreciation for this art form, this orchestral music which is the main part of our mission,” Jacobsen says.

Recently the Allentown Symphony staged its first “movies in concert” productions, with the orchestra playing live alongside two original Star Wars movies at the PPL Center. It’s a prime example of how Miller Symphony Hall, which marked its 125th anniversary in 2024, stays true to its roots while finding ways to attract new patrons. “This is a place for all ages and demographics,” Jacobsen says.

"WE DON’T VIEW OURSELVES AS JUST AN ANIMAL SHELTER OR A VET CLINIC, WE VIEW OURSELVES AS A COMMUNITY SUPPORT ORGANIZATION."

WarnerHal

Hal Warner makes his job sound easy: “It’s animals, right? Who doesn’t love animals?” In reality, though, his position as president and CEO of the Lehigh Valley Humane Society entails a lot more than dog kisses and cat snuggles (although those are a nice perk).

He’s overseen both a major expansion and renovation of the shelter on Dixon Street in Allentown, transforming the space into a welcoming place for the animals who make their temporary home there, and the launch of the Community Vet Clinic, which provides affordable animal care to those who might otherwise not be able to afford it. “It’s really taken off for us,” Warner says. “We probably serve two to three thousand customers through our clinic every year now.” The goal is to keep animals with the owners who love them, rather than forcing those owners to surrender or even abandon their pets.

What Warner is most happy about, though, is the shelter’s save rate. When he came aboard more than seven years ago, that rate was only 60 percent, meaning the other 40 percent of animals was being euthanized. But now the save rate is 95 percent, one of the highest in the state. “We’re really proud of that,” says Warner. “It’s taken a lot of work to get there.”

Warner previously worked for the Allentown Rescue Mission and YMCA of Greater Brandywine. A common theme in his career is fighting for equity and trying to level the playing field for those playing from the margins, Warner says. In his current role, that means not only caring for the animals that end up on their doorstep, but also making pet ownership possible for anyone who wants to open their home to a furry (or not so furry) friend, regardless of income. “We don’t view ourselves as just an animal shelter or a vet clinic, we view ourselves as a community support organization,” says Warner.

WalkerStephen

as a young with little money or guidance. “I didn’t know understanding my resume and job interview

(KU), Walker aims to be a guidepost for other students who find themselves in a similar situation. “It’s getting them comfortable and settled on the way in, and then on the way out, getting them used to networking and making connections so they can have a safe landing

honored with the annual Diversity, Equity and Inclusion Keepers of the Flame Award from Pennsylvania’s State System of Higher Education. It’s given to those who promote inclusive environments that cultivate a sense of belonging. KU says Walker is “intentional in providing and adopting inclusive practices

entrepreneur with a number of irons in the fire. He hosts a podcast with a former student, Luis Bardales Jr., called Empower 610. “Our motto is ‘empower minds, one episode at a time,’” Walker says. They talk personal development, business

He’s also working on a book and closing in on his Doctor of Education degree while maintaining his own creative media studio, Nyce Visions LLC. In addition, Walker runs Nyce & Bryght, a brand he shares with his

nickname Bryght. They organize community events and promote Black-owned businesses in the region through their Black Pages directory. In all of his endeavors, Walker seeks to give more people a seat at the table. “If I have the chance to make things easier for other people,

DahlYusuf

The odds were stacked against Yusuf Dahl when he was growing up impoverished in Milwaukee, WI. He was in the juvenile correction system by 14 years old; at 18 years old, he went to prison for more than five years for dealing drugs. After his release, as a Black man with a criminal record, he struggled to find substantial work, so he created his own opportunities, first in information technology and software development, then in real estate.

Grad school at Princeton University brought him east in 2015; two years after that, an opportunity with Lafayette College’s Dyer Center brought him to the Lehigh Valley, where he co-founded the Real Estate Lab in Allentown, an accelerated program for real estate entrepreneurs in the making.

Since 2022, Dahl has been working as the CEO of The Century Promise, a public/private partnership that builds career pathways for Allentown high school students. “I think their lives are going to be very different because they have access to opportunity,” Dahl says.

But even after all those successes, Dahl’s 25-year-old drug conviction can still come back to haunt him. While searching for a new place to live in 2022, he was denied housing under the Thurmond Amendment (named after the segregationist Senator Strom Thurmond), which was introduced in the 1988 Fair Housing Amendments Act and strips federal housing protections from those who have been convicted of drug distribution.

“That set me on a mission,” says Dahl.

It’s thanks in large part to his tenacity that there’s now a bill before Congress, called the Fair Future Act, that would repeal the Fair Housing Amendments Act. Senator Cory Booker and Congressman Maxwell Frost cited Dahl and his story as a catalyst for introducing the measure in September of 2024.

The Fair Future Act has been endorsed by the National Housing Law Project and other advocacy groups. Dahl says it’s a matter of not if, but when it’ll be on the president’s desk.

“I know it’ll eventually get passed,” he says.

“I just won’t stop until it does.”

" I THINK THEIR LIVES ARE GOING TO BE VERY DIFFERENT BECAUSE THEY HAVE ACCESS TO OPPORTUNITY."

Lampman-Perlman Keith

If you haven’t heard about all the good things ProJeCt of Easton is doing, you need to talk to Keith Lampman-Perlman. Touting the nonprofit’s many programs is part of his job as director of development, and it’s something he takes very seriously, whether he’s giving tours, wooing donors or talking up the successes of the center’s participants. “I call myself a oneman awareness campaign,” he says.

Lampman-Perlman, who has a wealth of experience in the world of nonprofits and fundraising, wasn’t looking to live or work in the Lehigh Valley when he answered a phone call from a number he didn’t know back in 2023. At the time, he was retired and living in Bucks County. But on the phone was an executive recruiter, and, as Lampman-Perlman tells it, one thing led to another, and six interviews later, he was working for ProJeCt of Easton. He didn’t know anyone in the Valley, but, as he says now, “Everyone is a new friend.”

ProJeCt of Easton’s overall mission is helping those who help themselves. That motto was a big selling point in convincing LampmanPerlman that he wanted to work there: “I thought, ‘Wow, that’s how I try to live my life,’” he says. The center offers six programs dedicated to uplifting low-income, at-risk residents through education and community support, including English-as-a-secondlanguage classes, a summer camp for students in the Easton Area School District, a certified pre-K program and a food pantry.

A particularly proud moment for LampmanPerlman came last June, when ProJeCt held its graduation for the class of 2024 at Easton’s State Theatre. Among the graduates were 49 students who earned their GED, seven who mastered English as a second language, and 10 who became U.S. citizens. The Easton community cheered them on with signs and cowbells during their walk from the Fowler Literacy Center to the theater. It was a moment that helped to shine an even brighter spotlight on ProJeCt of Easton and expand its foundation of supporters. “When they embrace our mission as much as I do, that’s the joy I receive out of this position,” says Lampman-Perlman.

"EVERY WEEK I DO DIFFERENT THINGS WITH THEM TO KEEP THEM ENGAGED AND SHOW THEM THERE ARE POSITIVE PEOPLE IN THE WORLD."

LassiterKhalfani

Khalfani Lassiter is busy. On any given day, he’s a businessman being pulled in several different directions—car sales, property management and landscaping are among his endeavors. He’s also a mentor and a community activist with the anti-violence nonprofit Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley. “Sometimes people say, ‘How do you find time?’ I say, ‘I just make time,’” he explains.

And he makes the time because reaching out to young men who are in danger of traveling down the wrong path is of paramount importance to him. He faced his own challenges once upon a time but found his way back to a good place. “Now I want to reciprocate it back in the community,” he says.

Lassiter leads a mentorship group called Boys to Men, in which he works with older children and teenagers on life skills and education. There are field trips, too: a go-kart track, a water park, Hersheypark. “Every week I do different things with them to keep them engaged and show them there are positive people in the world,” he says.

Adult men are welcome in his King’s Court program, which Lassiter describes as a brotherhood, a judgement-free forum for seeking advice or just talking it out during tough times. The topics are many: fatherhood, character development and entrepreneurship, among them. Lassiter isn’t just a listening ear, though; he says he can count on the group when he is seeking support or counsel.

Lassiter is a big proponent of second chances, or even third, fourth or fifth chances. He is an advocate for those in the Lehigh Valley who were formerly incarcerated and are now committed to charting a new course outside of prison walls.

So yes, he’s busy. But it’s the best kind of busy. “As I help and I give back, I feel like God in return does something great for me to keep everything that I have going,” says Lassiter.

BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRILLED CHEESE WITH Chef Anthony Yannuzzi

“McCall’s is the perfect place to go when you want to watch the game, hang out with your friends and have it all feel like a neighborhood bar and restaurant,” Chef Anthony Yannuzzi shares. “Most things are made from scratch in the kitchen here like handcut fries, all of our sauces, burgers, meatloaf and our grilled cheese. It is all elevated comfort and pub-style food that sets our menu apart from others.”

It is the creativity and the camaraderie that Chef Yannuzzi loves. “We change our menu about every six months, and my staff and I have so much fun planning and working on the dishes we put out,” he says. He describes the incredible feeling of everyone working together as a team towards the collective goal of feeding their diners. Growing up, his family were all wonderful cooks. “Being Italian, there was always

fresh and delicious food in our home, but it wasn’t until I was older that I even thought about going to culinary school,” Yannuzzi says. “When I did attend, I fell in love with it.”

McCall’s always has grilled cheese on the menu, and the recipe that is being shared today is one of the past autumn specials that they originally served with pumpkin bisque. This delicious version has roasted butternut squash, crispy bacon, smoked Gouda cheese and cranberry sauce on it, all on their toasted garlic sourdough bread. “Who doesn’t love a creamy decadent grilled cheese?” Chef says with a laugh. This recipe is quick and easy for a busy evening, but its elevated flavors will keep it in your weekly meal rotation.

102 E. Susquehanna St., Allentown | 610.973.5403

mccallcollectivebrewing.com

TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

BUTTERNUT SQUASH GRILLED CHEESE

INGREDIENTS

1 medium butternut squash

2 tbsp. olive oil

2 tsp. paprika

2 tsp. granulated garlic

1 tsp. dried thyme

Salt and pepper to taste

1 lb. fresh cranberries

1 ½ c. water

1 c. granulated sugar

1 tsp. orange zest

5 sprigs fresh thyme

2 tbsp. butter

2 slices sourdough bread

4 slices or 1 c. shredded smoked Gouda cheese

2 slices cooked bacon

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 375°F.

Peel butternut squash with a sharp knife and cut in half to remove the seeds. Dice into 1-inch cubes.

Add squash, oil, paprika, granulated garlic, dried thyme, salt and pepper to a mixing bowl and toss until evenly coated.

Rinse cranberries and add them to a pot with the water, sugar and orange zest.

Heat on medium to high heat until it starts to simmer. At this point, the cranberries should start to burst and your sauce will start to thicken.

Lower heat to medium-low and add the fresh sprigs of thyme (keep whole to pick out easily at the end).

Let cook for 15 more minutes and then remove from heat. The sauce will thicken more as it cools down.

Heat your pan or griddle up to medium heat.

Add butter to melt and place sourdough on pan. Immediately add the smoked Gouda cheese.

Let the cheese start to melt and then add ½ c. butternut squash, the bacon and 2 tbsp. cranberry sauce on one slice of the bread and close the other on top.

Place squash in a single layer on a baking sheet and place in the preheated oven for 25-30 minutes or until slightly browned and fork tender.

Continue to cook until bread is to desired toastiness and cheese is fully melted.

Ume

FLAVORFUL ASIAN CUISINE PARTNERS WITH PENNSYLVANIA WINE

BY SUSAN GOTTSHALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

When Ping Zhan talks about cooking, she beams, her ear-toear contagious smile a glimmer of the passion that fills her days. And when she talks about cooking for people, well, the smile takes over her face, her eyes crinkle at the corners, her whole being brightens.

That’s why Zhan and Andy Liu opened Allentown’s Ume (pronounced you-me) in August last year: the husband and wife restaurateurs had been out of the business for four years, and Zhan missed cooking for restaurant diners. Founders of Liu’s House and Bamboo, both in Allentown, the couple sold those businesses so Zhan could spend more time with their daughter. Now their daughter is off to college, and Zhan wants to be back in the restaurant kitchen.

The new restaurant finds its downtown home in the former quarters of Red Ticket Cafe and Billy’s Downtown Diner. The renovated space is minimalist in style: black trim and the black ceiling balance white walls, devoid of art, creating yin-and-yang energy. Gleaming gold vases with boughs of dried orange berries brighten a corner. Backed by elegant walnut-looking shelves with Asian plates and vases, the sushi bar serves as a focal point. Tubular bamboo lights patterned with golden swirls hang from the ceiling, casting warmth and contemporary flair. Floor-to-ceiling windows look out on an urban thoroughfare.

Despite the spare décor, the restaurant has a warm, inviting tone. There’s a focus on family: Zhan and Liu’s nephews work here, and cousins, too; most of the staff is related. Zhan’s best friend works at the sushi bar. The staff, built on family relationships, translates those relationships to an easy-going, comfortable welcome.

Because Zhan and Liu want to offer a diverse menu with a lot of variety, Ume serves up several Asian cuisines: Thai, Chinese and Japanese; there’s even Korean fried chicken. There are standards such as lo mein, fried rice, Szechuan dumplings, Pad Thai noodles, Thai basil shrimp, Thai peanut chicken, teriyaki and tempura, sushi and sashimi.

Ume-created sushi rolls are especially tantalizing. The Psycho roll features shrimp tempura, cream cheese and fresh mango inside, fresh salmon and avocado outside, with salsa teriyaki sauce and sweet chili. Inside the Ume roll there’s spicy salmon, yellowtail, asparagus, sun-dried grape and jalapeño. Topped with spicy tuna, avocado and sliced tuna, it’s served with sweet and hot chili miso sauce.

Zhan and Liu, executive chefs, head up the additional four chefs in Ume’s kitchen. A sushi chef and assistant round out the food preparation team. The couple, who hail from the same small village in China, make all the restaurant’s sauces. Not surprisingly, they met in a restaurant—30 years ago in Allentown, of all places.

Zhan, who came to the United States at 17, was working in Chinese restaurants in Manhattan when she responded to a job opening discovered through a Chinese employment agency.

As it turned out, the job was at a Chinese restaurant in Allentown owned by Liu at the time, near the former Kmart.

Over the course of cooking for 30-some years, Zhan, of course, has developed her own perspective on principles of the kitchen: “I want food to be not

only good, I want it to look nice. Food should be beautiful like a flower.” Therein lies the root of the restaurant’s name—the delicate flowers of the Japanese plum are known as ume, a symbol of new beginnings because they bloom in the spring.

Ume’s minimalism is a tabula rasa that allows the beauty of the food to take center stage. Each dish looks like a work of art— some with garnishes of exquisite orchids, some with elements of height in the presentation, all of them exploding with color and plated with a clear eye for design.

Rest assured, however, never does Ume sacrifice beauty for taste and flavor.

Rocky shrimp is a perfect example. Arranged on a striking blue and yellow serving plate,

deep-fried battered baby shrimp —in a pool of chili mayo sauce and dusted with black and white sesame seeds—are oh-so-tender inside and lovingly crisped outside. A fan of sliced avocado shares the plate, along with a stemmed cocktail glass overflowing with shredded daikon radish, topped with curly greens and an orchid. There’s a judicious hint of spice in this

dish, and the radish shreds add a visual and textural counterpoint.

On a bed of crispy greens, pan-roasted salmon with Hunan sauce, and its tantalizing combination of heat, tanginess, sweetness and umami, is another visual feast. The fish, so moist and tenderly cooked, shines in its sticky sweet glaze of sauce, the corners of the fish deep brown, signaling the caramelization

of layers of flavor. Succulent sautéed onions and red and green peppers, steeped in the deeply flavored sauce, top the fish with seductive taste notes. Pomegranate arils strewn across the plate add gleaming color and pops of flavor.

Thai basil brings pungent, interesting notes of anise and spice to Ume’s Thai beef. The sautéed whole leaves punch

strips, green beans, broccoli, mushrooms, onion, jalapeño and garlic. Al dente vegetables contribute perfect crunch, a foil to the tender meat, and hoisin sauce blankets all with sweet and salty depth. A pink orchid, fresh and perfect, provides bright accent.

From the sushi bar, the Hamilton Tower roll is a flavor bonanza. Lobster salad tops the roll; inside, crisped shrimp tempura and crunchy cucumber combine with the creamy richness of avocado. Served in a pool of sweet chili spicy mayo sauce, the roll is a study of contrast: heat and sweet, creamy and crispy. Thin slices of the marinated jalapeño garnish, reminiscent of pickling, add still more spice, but in tempered

fashion. Eel sauce and mint sauce are painted on the plate with an artist’s eye, and the architectural composition of this plate is dramatic and impressive. Not only is green tea cheesecake a sweet sight, it’s also delectable in its uniqueness. The richness of cheesecake is balanced with grassy, earthy flavor, which gives it a clean, refreshing finish, unlike many richly overbearing sweets

in this genre. A drizzle of chocolate sauce and garnish of blueberries and pomegranate arils finish this dessert with an eye to beauty, of course, and a pop of bursting flavor that plays nicely with the cheesecake.

Ume features sake, Pennsylvaniabrewed beer and Galen Glen wines, exclusively, because Liu “loves” these wines from the vineyard and winery in Andreas, near Jim Thorpe. Galen

Glen winemaker Sarah Troxell says, “Our wines really shine with this kind of cuisine. It’s a perfect match: there are so many layers of flavor in our wine and in Asian food.” Troxell, also co-owner of Galen Glen, adds, “[Because the] menu is so diverse, there’s a lot of opportunity to pair wine [with the food].”

For example, the winery’s Vinology Grüner Veltliner, rated 92 points by James Suckling, with its notes of apple, pear and white pepper, partners with the pan-roasted salmon like a longmarried couple. And the Thai beef is complemented by Galen Glen’s Vinology Cabernet Franc, with its hints of raspberry, dried thyme and violets. From time to time, Ume will offer wine dinners featuring a menu paired with Galen Glen wines, preselected for their balance of body and flavor intensity with the food. When it comes down to it, the wine, like the minimalist décor, serves to enhance the food that comes from Ume’s kitchen. After all, at its essence, Ume is all about the food.

Zhan cooks with fresh ingredients sourced from the tri-state area; in the summer she often serves fresh strawberry sauce with sushi. Liu is a wholesale fish importer, so the fish served is of the highest quality.

“We have good food,” Zhan says; “We have good wine. I want people happy and coming back.”

When people keep coming back, Zhan gets to keep on cooking. Troxell says Zhan “has an enthusiasm for sharing food,” and that’s evident in every dish this restaurant serves. Cooking for people just makes Zhan happy; her smile inspires each plate: the way the food’s cooked, the way it’s plated, the way it’s garnished, the ways its look and taste satisfy a hungry heart. I’m guessing that’s her special sauce—the sauce that makes dining here such a gustatory gift.

HOURS

Monday to Friday: 11 a.m.–9 p.m.

Noon–9 p.m. Sunday: Closed

Cost: Starters: $2.50–$15

Sushi: $5.50–$18

Mains: $11–$24

Parking: Free parking behind restaurant

Reservations: Recommended

WHAT TO ORDER

Pan-roasted salmon: hard to believe a dish this good is healthy too. Hamilton Tower roll: this architectural culinary marvel tastes even better than it looks. Green tea cheesecake is a musttry: who knew cheesecake could offer a clean, light flavor profile?

QWhat inspired your Holoholona?

I wanted to create a breakfast sandwich that was different and unlike what most of us are used to making on our own or purchasing elsewhere. Something big, super tasty and a bit over the top!

Explain the meaning behind the name!

When we had the breakfast sandwich in development, we were thinking of names but could not come up with one. About a week before launching the Holoholona, my mom, also known as Mama Jean, said, “That thing is a beast!” I looked at her, gave her a kiss on the forehead, and said thank you, because I knew that was it! However, I wanted to give it a Hawaiian name. So, I did the translation on Google to find that “beast” translated to Hawaiian was “holoholona.”

HOLOHOLONA ALOHA JAY’S

Jay Losagio OWNER

What makes the Holoholona special?

The freshness, size, presentation, textures, taste, and of course, the name.

How is it made?

We start off with a fresh malasada and slice it three quarters of the way through. Then we add our sriracha aioli sauce; a slice of yellow American cheese; a goldenbrown hash brown; another slice of cheese; our creamy, light and fluffy scrambled eggs with crisp bacon chunks throughout; and then finish it with chives and just a bit of our sweet cream drizzle, both on top.

Describe the flavors of the Holoholona!

Creamy soft eggs, ooey gooey cheese, slight tang and “kick” from the sriracha aioli sauce, a hint of sweet from the malasada and cream drizzle, a bit of salt from the crispy

bacon chunks and satisfying golden-brown fried potato taste from the hash brown. Combined all together, it provides an excellent taste and satisfying texture.

Are there any customizations or different variations of the Holoholona available to choose from?

Yes, you can get the Holoholona with or without bacon, sauces or chives. You can also choose to have the hash brown on the side and not inside of the sandwich. We do offer ketchup, salt and pepper packets as alternatives as well.

What type of beverage would you recommend enjoying with a Holoholona?

You really can’t go wrong with any of our drinks to enjoy along with the Holoholona. Hot or iced coffee, lattes, Aloha Jay’s Punch or hot chocolate all go well with it.

When is the Holoholona available?

It is available Monday through Friday, from 7 a.m. to 11 a.m. On Saturday and Sunday, it is available from 8 a.m. to 12 p.m.

Is the Holoholona a popular order? What do customers love about it?

The Holoholona has been very popular. Based on customer reviews, they love the size, taste, texture and price, and that it is different and better than breakfast sandwiches they had prior.

Is there anything else that you’d like to note?

We will add some more variations of the Holoholona in the future. For example, sausage crumble, egg and cheese. Also, stay tuned for a PM lunch/dinner sandwich that Aloha Jay’s will be offering in the near future.

1120 Main St. Unit A, Hellertown 484.851.3049 | alohajays.com

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW CANNON

The Med Spa – St. Luke’s is the region’s first cosmetic and aesthetic Med Spa operated and supported by a health care network. Committed to St. Luke’s University Health Network’s high-quality care, the Med Spa team of professionals combines the most sought-after beauty treatments you want with the highest health and safety standards you deserve.

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