Ask any longtime Lehigh Valley resident to name their most beloved building in downtown Easton and you’ll likely hear this as the answer – the old Pomeroy’s store on Northampton Street. An iconic example of the “golden age of downtown shopping,” Pomeroy’s Department Store occupied the structure from 1947 until the end of 1976. The building itself, however, dates back to t... »
By Kathryn Finegan Clark When children with special needs pass through the doors of Mercy Special Learning Center in Allentown they enter a new world, a place designed especially for them. They are not pressed to fit into that school world; from the beginning of the day until its end, teachers make sure that world adjusts to their special needs, encouraging them and helpin... »
By Sara Vigneri In 2012, after a career spent hosting a successful talk show, appearing in movies, and running an eponymous magazine, comedian Rosie O’Donnell found herself out of a job when her OWN network show was cancelled. But O’Donnell seemed to take her unemployment as a chance to slow down and spend time with her family. One afternoon, in the middle of August 2012, ... »
By Kathryn M. D’Imperio Planning a child’s birthday party is a lot like making an ice cream sundae. You may start out with an idea of what you think you want, but as soon as you see all the options for flavors (venues) and toppings (all those little “extras”), you can become quite overwhelmed at the thought of it. Thankfully, kids’ parties are about as easy to customize as... »
Over the course of his 31 year career in obstetrics and gynecology, Dr. Michael Patriarco has been developing and refining his skills in minimally invasive surgery. He performed the first non-invasive, laparoscopic hysterectomy in the Lehigh Valley, and with the support of St. Luke’s University Health Network executive leadership team, Dr. Patriarco has been advancing the ... »
By Mary Beth Schwartz Families in the United States count more than 78 million dogs as official members of their clans. These canines are part of households that love to pamper their pets with designer clothing, gourmet food and treats, resort boarding with turn-down service, doggy day care, and spa treatments beyond the standard menu. Here in the Lehigh Valley, pet parent... »
By Sara Vigneri It’s easy to judge crazy sports parents and I would be lying if I said I didn’t do a little judging myself. Their willingness to ramp up the stakes of a friendly youth sporting event to the level of a European soccer match makes them an obvious target. But let’s be honest, there is a bit of crazy lurking in any mom or dad who spends incredible amounts of ti... »
By Frederick Jerant On many clear summer nights, you can tip your head to the skies and watch familiar stars come out: the Big and Little Dippers, Orion’s Belt and the Northern Cross, for example. But on those same summer nights, even bigger stars come out – in action movies, comedies, sci-fi, horror and drama – all playing on huge silver screens set in vast fields. Yes…dr... »
By Ann Wlazelek Photo by Jim Rhoades When Tanara Govern unwinds with the girls after a rough week at work, the 41-year-old mother of four doesn’t head to a bar or book club. She grabs her skates and helmet and heads to the rink. That’s because the Lenhartsville woman is also known as “Helen Darink (hell-in-da-rink),” and the girls she meets are the Lehigh Valley Rollergirl... »
By Cathy Kiley Photo by Ryan Hulvat I have been looking for a great place to meet in the Quakertown area ever since my daughter and her family moved to the Philadelphia suburbs last year. Well, I finally found a restaurant that fits the bill. Not only does McCoole’s present an appealing ambience but it offers an eclectic menu of wonderfully prepared food to make everyone i... »
