You don’t need to go far to find good off-road biking. Whether you are looking for wide, flat easy riding on railroad beds turned bike path or technical single trail our local area has what you are seeking. In fact, the options are so great that we threw in an 11th bonus ride. For more information, visit the local mountain biking club website for the Valley Mountain Biker... »
By Liz Reph Photos By Sabotta Imagery Photography In October of 2012, 32-year-old Alison Conklin awoke to a terrifying sight – absolutely nothing. “I woke up and I couldn’t see. When I was challenged to view the large ‘E’ on the optometrist chart, all I could make out was a very faint vertical line. I had never been so scared in my life.” Her husband, Geoff, immediately r... »
By Rick Koze Everyone is thinking more economically these days. When it comes to purchasing a home, buyers are increasingly looking to use every part of the home compared to the past when wasted space was often overlooked. That is not to say that that the trend is toward boring or less attractive. On the contrary, the new home buyer is demanding more aesthetic appeal than ... »
By Angela Bristow It’s fall, and the leaves will be changing soon. One great way to enjoy the fall foliage is by bicycling through the Valley’s extensive rails-to-trails. Nature lovers are sure to thrill at the wildlife that make their homes in the woods along many of the trails. The rail-trails, as they are called, use infrastructure once used by the Lehigh Canal to trans... »
By Cathy Kiley Photo By Ryan Hulvat What can I say? Chef Paolo Nota has done it again. He has opened yet another eatery off the beaten path and his numerous devotees continue to seek him out to enjoy a taste from his large, diverse Italian menu. Formerly of Pane e Vino and Paolo’s (Northampton), Chef Paolo has been entertaining diners in the Lehigh Valley for over 20 years... »
By Ann Wlazelek Photo By Frank Mitman When New York’s Four O’Clock Flowers and The Down Hill Strugglers took the stage at Allentown’s West Park band shell during Art-in-the-Park in June, most of the people listening and clapping had no clue they were part of an experiment. Event organizers wanted to see if musicians other than the park’s popular yet traditional municipal a... »
By Nancy Moffett Inspiring kids of all abilities to share the message of inclusion… Mikayla Resh was five days old when doctors told her parents, Kimberly and Michael Resh, that she had severe, permanent brain damage. Mikayla is now 18 and the inspiration for Mikayla’s Voice, an organization whose purpose is to promote inclusion for children with disabilities. Our society ... »
By Nancy Moffett Photos Provided By Murphy Jewelers Pottsville, Pa. was a thriving city of about 20,000 when Frank J. Murphy opened a jewelry and optometry store in 1913. He was a graduate of the Philadelphia Optical College. Then, it was commonplace for optometry, timepiece and jewelry repair and sales to be practiced together. From that small beginning 100 years ago, Mur... »
Best known as the home of Lehigh University, the Steel Stacks Campus and the Sands Casino Resort, Southside Bethlehem has a rich history born from diverse immigrant roots. Located just south of the Lehigh River, the 274-acre tract of land that is today Southside Bethlehem was originally intended to serve as a buffer between the deeply religious Moravians of North Bethlehem... »
Dear Readers, Is it me, or does it seem that every year television commercials for major holidays and events seem to come earlier and earlier? Take back-to-school advertisements for example. They begin airing in June… just minutes after the last bell has rung and the backpacks are put away for the summer. I don’t let it bother me much knowing that I have the entire summer ... »
