By Nancy Moffett They make it look easy on those DIY television shows. A crew shows up with lots of plants and hardscape material and within two days, someone’s backyard has been transformed into an outdoor paradise. However, no one talks about the cost or the planning that goes into a real landscaping project, DIY or otherwise. To get the scoop, we consulted Bryan Smith, ... »
By Scott Rothenberger Public gardens are fast becoming community gardens as more individuals in urban settings turn to Mother Nature to help heal the heart. Living in an area with a wealth of public green places like the Greater Lehigh Valley provides wonderful escapes for families during beautiful sunny days. I’ll take you on a tour of some of the area’s “healing gardens,... »
By Anthony S. Rachuba IV, Esq., Fitzpatrick Lentz & Bubba, P.C. Estate planning is necessary for all persons regardless of age or the size of the estate. In too many cases, persons procrastinate and death occurs before proper planning is done. In addition to not knowing exactly how your estate will be handled, this can put stress on your family and friends and can caus... »
By Nancy Moffett Mom is starting to lose track of when and how much medicine she takes. Dad is in the early stages of Alzheimer’s, has set the microwave on fire and sometimes doesn’t know what day it is. Meanwhile, you’re trying to earn a living and have children who need attention, too. You want to help your parents and see that they’re taken care of, but how do you handl... »
By Maureen Sangiorgio When William Stowell started getting excruciating pain down his leg last March, he thought his active lifestyle was over. “I used to run marathons,” recalls Stowell, 53, a Service Electric repairman. “But then all of a sudden, I was in agony. I couldn’t take a step without the pain feeling like a lightning bolt shooting down my leg.” Doctors diagnosed... »
By Susan Stets On a recent Monday evening, the atmosphere was charged with the blend of friendly competition and sisterhood that draws women from all walks of life to the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls. Founded in 2006 by Quakertown resident Elaina Borchelt, the Lehigh Valley Rollergirls is the region’s only women’s flat track roller derby league. A non-profit, skater-owned and... »
By Cathy Kiley The Valley is loaded with places to party with friends. For this issue, I called a few guys and headed out to explore fun places to meet, eat a juicy burger, pizza or wings, watch a game and enjoy a beer. Let’s start with The Pigs. The Lehigh Valley Iron Pigs kicked off another season in April and tickets are still available for upcoming home games at Allen... »
By Maureen Sangiorgio The instant Keriann and Joe Cwiak of Forks Township saw Alex in a video, they knew he was the baby for them. “We fell in love with him right away,” recalls Keriann. “Then when we held him, we were both crying, we were so happy.” The Cwiaks would go on to adopt another infant, Annaliese, about a year later. “My husband always wanted a boy and a girl, s... »
By Lori McLaughlin Nothing’s more fun than a family vacation, right? Sharing the freedom of the open road with the ones you love is a great experience. Still, worrying about how to pull it off robs many parents of a good night’s sleep. Last year over a million children went on a cruise…newer ships are floating pleasure domes. To make your trip memorable for all the right r... »
By Melanie Gold If you thought you knew a lot about the Boy Scouts of America, you still might be surprised to read that 7 of our last 10 presidents were Scouts,* that British TV personality Bear Grylls is the current worldwide Chief Scout, and that there are girls in Boy Scouts. They’re all reasons the Boy Scouts is celebrating its 100th birthday in 2010. “Hitting the hun... »
