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

LET'S GO, GIRLS

LEHIGH VALLEY WOMEN’S SOCIAL GROUPS

ARTSQUEST’S KASSIE HILGERT

DINE OUT AT ROSA BLANCA

See what makes these women stand out, pg. 54

InfluentiaL WOMEN

o f the Y e ar 2025 's

Plays like a kid.

When your child needs the best emergency care, you’ll find:

Certified team.

We have the only team of all board-certified pediatric emergency medicine clinicians and nurses.

LVHN.org/childrensER

Unmatched expertise.

We have the most experienced team, providing specialized pediatric emergency care and the region’s only pediatric trauma and burn center.

Dedicated space.

We are the largest Children’s ER with 27 beds, a separate entrance and sensoryfriendly spaces.

YOUR SUMMER ESCAPE

Escape to our AAA Four Diamond hotel for premier accommodations and indulgent amenities. Rejuvenate at the Spa at Wind Creek® with a massage, facial, body treatment, or signature mud experience, then relax in our serene pools with spectacular views of Bethlehem.

VIEW HOTEL PACKAGES

MORE THAN GREAT DEALS

Our designer outlets are just the beginning. Discover unique experiences like axe throwing at Angry Jack’s and virtual golf at Twisted Tees. Plus enjoy family fun at Kids Quest and Cyber Quest, or indulge in New Orleans-inspired treats at Sweet Revenge.

Holmquist Farm

A quintessential Bucks County estate on the outskirts of New Hope. The renovated main house & detached garage with luxe guest suite are surrounded by 12 private acres. Offered for $5,950,000

Peaceful Valley

Surrounded by 53 acres of woods, wildflower fields, streams, and pond, this custom design creates one of the most noteworthy properties to ever have come on the market. Offered for $3,995,000

Mill Run Farm

This Bucks County gentleman’s farm combines the best of country living with the convenience of a modern home, with 21+ acres with frontage on Cooks Creek. Offered for $2,100,000

Spring Hill

This renovated barn includes re-imagined vaulted spaces blended with stunning new details and modern amenities, all perfectly positioned amidst 90 rolling acres. Offered for $4,450,000

Tutto Niente

This custom crafted Tudor home & vineyard includes unique touches throughout as well as a stunning panoramic view over 55 acres of big sky & Pocono Mountains. Offered for $3,945,000

Holly Farm

A quintessential stone colonial on over 36 preserved acres. The updated & expanded home is complemented by a bank barn with garage, inground pool, and wooded trails. Offered for $999,000

Molasses Creek Farm

Expansive 58-acre property in Bucks County. The updated farmhouse is complemented by an outdoor kitchen, pool, pool house, 5-stall bank barn & indoor riding arena. Offered for $4,000,000

Timbertop Lodge

Inspired by the beauty and magnitude of its surroundings this 13,000 sqft residence showcases fine craftsmanship along with rare and unusual design elements. Offered for $2,750,000

Cherry Avenue

Curb appeal, a sizable .4-acre lot, and superior amenities define this impeccably maintained home with 4,900+ sqft of living space on three finished floors. Offered for $775,000

The Women’s Edition

I love the saying “Comparison is the thief of joy.” It’s such a grounding reminder that we all have our own paths and our own accomplishments, each of which is huge in their own ways. It certainly made me feel better about what felt like my own meager contributions to the world while reviewing the nominations for 2025’s Influential Women of the Year. Good gravy, these women are all amazing! It was so eye-opening to learn how many accomplished women live in our community and are doing the most to make the Lehigh Valley that much better. This year, we are proud to honor the achievements of Carly Comando, Katosha Grays, Amy Kocis, Jada Amirah Lewis, Jessica Ortiz and Elaine Zelker. Learn more about the outstanding

things they’ve done and continue to do on pg. 54. If you’re looking for more womencentric content, we have you covered. Make new friends who share a common interest with our feature on local women’s social groups on pg. 48. Just in time for Musikfest, we’re profiling ArtsQuest president and CEO Kassie Hilgert on pg. 37. Learn more about art therapy with Melanie Linder on pg. 33, bake a sweet treat with chef Sophie Vandecasteele on pg. 74 and find out how to get a bra that fits with Sandy Prothman on pg. 29.

Join us in celebrating the wonderful women in this edition and throughout the Valley at Lehigh Valley Style’s annual Women’s Networking Event on Thursday, August 21 at Wind Creek Bethlehem!

Let’s hear it for the

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

26 Some retail therapy at Crewy Woo.

Joining a new social group.

Networking with our Influential Women on August 21!

We start with the essentials: 5 kinds of made-to-order guacamole, 4 types of salsa and a selection of 80 tequilas. That only whets your appetite for a menu filled with ancient Mexican cuisine made with modern ingredients and new flavors. Creatively prepared tacos. Fresh takes on ceviche and enchiladas. All our dishes are part of a balanced diet of awesome Mexican food you can’t find anywhere else.

torrerestaurant.com 610-841-9399

VOLUME 27, ISSUE 8

This is like having to choose your favorite child! I’m blessed to know so many amazing women who own businesses in the Valley!

No Worries Pet Sitting! Christine runs a wonderful operation and our sitters have been with us for years, taking great care of our pets at home when we travel.

Boutique to Go, as it provides not only unique fashion pieces but also a place for women to go for friendship and camaraderie.

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, Elaine Wyborski

Marketing & Events Coordinator Jaiden Vazquez

Marketing Advisors

Denise Lichty, Arielle Solliday, Pam Taylor

Client Specialist

Emily Markovich

Contributing Writers

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

Contributing Photographers

Marco Calderon, Matthew Cannon, Alison Conklin

Editorial Intern Erin O’Neil

Proofreader Lori McLaughlin

Accounting Jobelle Aleño, Kim Kressman

What’s a womanowned business you love?

hairWerks Salon in Easton.

Alison Conklin Photography!

If you haven’t heard her inspiring story or picked up a copy of BonusDays magazine you need to!

For all my running needs, I love Aardvark Sports Shop (coowned by Sheena Wells!), and for all my refueling needs I love From Lino from Melanie Lino.

SUSAN GOTTSHALL

Contributing Writer

I’ve never been interested in traveling to Cuba—until I visited Rosa Blanca and wrote this month’s Inside Dish. Now I’m longing to see that island nation and experience the vibrancy of its food, culture and cocktails!

HEATHER MAYER IRVINE

Contributing Writer

I was blown away by how many women’s groups—across so many interests— we have in the Lehigh Valley. I need to branch out!

Style Insider Happy Hour

5 Lessons in Leadership from the Courtroom to the Community

As another Lehigh Valley summer draws to a close and we transition from poolside afternoons to the steady rhythm of fall routines, it feels fitting to pause and reflect on the lessons that continue to shape growth within our community. As an attorney and a mom, I am proud of the career I’ve built and deeply grateful for the opportunities I have to serve the Lehigh Valley. Looking back, I am reminded that evolving means embracing change, seeking fresh perspectives, and striving to lift others as we climb. Specifically, here are a few lessons I’ve learned along my path:

1. Embrace Change and Diversity. Welcoming new perspectives and encouraging diversity of thought are essential to building a stronger, more resilient community. At Gross McGinley and within the Bar Association, I have seen how taking the time to listen, embracing change and seeking out different voices leads to more creative solutions, richer dialogue, and a community that is now beginning to reflect the people we serve.

2. Be Strategic in Your Approach. Effective leadership requires more than good intentions. It demands thoughtful planning and a willingness to adapt. Whether preparing for trial, advising a client, or serving on a community board, I have learned the value of setting clear goals, anticipating challenges, and remaining agile in the face of uncertainty.

3. Leverage Technology. Innovation is transforming not only the legal profession, but every industry. Within the practice of law, firms that embrace technology are best positioned to serve clients and colleagues effectively. From virtual hearings to our cloud-based document management software, integrating new tools has allowed our team to deliver timely, efficient, and accessible legal services while staying connected in the ever-evolving business landscape.

4. Prioritize Mentorship. No one succeeds alone. The guidance and encouragement I received from mentors early in my career shaped my

growth both as an attorney and a leader. Today, I am committed to paying it forward. Establishing and overseeing our firm’s internship program, supporting young lawyers, and fostering mentorship within our firm ensures that the next generation has the tools and confidence they need to flourish.

5. Make Safe Spaces for Women and Moms. Creating environments where women and mothers can thrive is not just the right thing to do. It is essential for the health and vitality of the legal profession. At Gross McGinley, we have prioritized policies and practices that support work-life balance, parental leave, and open dialogue, ensuring that our attorneys and staff can contribute fully and authentically.

These lessons continue to shape my journey and inspire my commitment to the Lehigh Valley. By embracing change, uplifting one another, and fostering inclusivity, we can lead with purpose and make a lasting impact in the courtroom and our community.

From the desk of,

Sarah Hart Charette

President, Bar Association of Lehigh County Co-Chair, Healthcare Defense Practice Group Chair, Criminal Defense Practice Group Partner, Gross McGinley, LLP

Phone: (610) 871-1334

Email: SCharette@GrossMcGinley.com

Visionaries of the Year

To Benefit Leukemia and Lymphoma Society | Located at DeSales University

ROOM

CLOSETS

GARAGES

Serving the area for over 20 years with award winning designs.

Call (610) 944-1333 for a free in-home design consultation and estimate or visit us online at closetfactory.com

3900 Hamilton Blvd. Allentown, PA 18103

1785

Shop in store during the month of August and 5% of The Origin Collection sales will be donated to The Perfect Fit. America’s Oldest Jeweler

THIS MONTH’S PICKS

Blast Off!

Experience the wonder of a life in space at the Da Vinci Science Center exhibit Mission: Astronaut, open until September 1. Learn how to prepare for launch, guide a space capsule and even create a meal fit for an astronaut! davincisciencecenter.org

BREAKFAST IS SERVED

Edge restaurant in Bethlehem isn’t just celebrating 23 years in business—they’re also now serving breakfast! Stop by for plenty of morning meal options, including eggs Benedict, waffles, flapjacks and French toast. edgerestaurant.net

CONGRATULATIONS!

Owowcow Creamery, with a location in Easton, was recently named the fifth best ice cream in the country by USA Today! Stop by to see why their signature flavors like Honey Lavender and Cookie Monstah are among the best nationwide. owowcow.com

Expanding

Weyerbacher Brewing Company is opening a third location this summer, filling the former Pines Dinner Theatre space in Allentown with a tap room featuring a full kitchen, stage and outdoor MainGate beer garden. weyerbacher.com

New Ownership

Fans of longtime Bethlehem breakfast spot Darto’s will be excited to hear that the menu lives on under new ownership, now operating as Bilal’s Breakfast & Sandwiches. Enjoy the same breakfast classics plus new Turkish dishes like doner and soujouk bilalsbreakfastandsandwiches.com

Wheels of Time

From August 22–24, take a journey back in time at Macungie Memorial Park, where cars of all kinds and from all years are on display. This Lehigh Valley summer staple is guaranteed to make for a fun weekend!

wheelsoftime.org/august-rod-run

THE GRILLE AT BEAR CREEK

MOUNTAIN RESORT

RESTAURANT REFRESHED

Anthony Distefano, executive chef of The Grille at Bear Creek Mountain Resort, knew where his passion lay at just 10 years old. Born into a “kitchen table” family, each member of Distefano’s family had cooking running through their blood. “For me, food is more than sustenance; it’s storytelling,” says Distefano. Now, he shares his stories through his dishes through The Grille’s newly revived menu and look. One standout on the menu is the Jamaican jerk chicken dish, rich with Caribbean-inspired spices and flavor. The atmosphere, elegant yet timeless, is light and cozy, making for a perfect night out. “At The Grille, we don’t just serve food—we serve community, comfort and connection,” says Distefano. He is particularly proud of his culinary staff, as well as general manager Erin Visco, whose passion and creativity make the dishes and atmosphere what they are. “From the quality and consistency of our food to our attentive, professional staff, every detail is thoughtfully crafted with hospitality at the heart of it all,” shares Distefano.

101 Doe Mountain Ln., Macungie 866.754.2822 | bcmountainresort.com

MENTAL STRENGTH RITUAL OPENING AT THE PROMENADE

While working for local health networks, Adam Wallach, MD, and Olga Chugusova, MD, grew frustrated with how mental health was viewed as a part of health care rather than as a foundation of health. To act against this, they founded Mental Strength Ritual, opening this summer at Promenade Saucon Valley. “Our goal is to bring wider awareness to this beneficial, life-changing and potentially life-saving technology,” shares executive director Christine Kolodi. The technology refers to transcranial magnetic stimulation, or TMS, often used to target drug-resistant depression. It is a gentle process, similar to an MRI, but “the energy only stays on for a very brief period of time, less than a thousandth of a second, just enough time for cells to absorb a bit of energy without causing any harm,” says Kolodi. “The energy is utilized by the cells to supplement the energy generated by food consumption and allows brain cells to repair.” Approved by the FDA, this process lasts as short as three minutes, resulting in improved brain function and connectivity. “We can only get so far with healthy food, nutrients, drugs and even intense exercise,” says Kolodi. “The brain requires carefully directed external stimulation for optimal function and health.”

2880 Center Valley Pkwy. Suite 610, Center Valley | 484.275.0020 | mentalstrengthritual.com

HAIR BY HARLEY

HAIR CARE FOR EVERYONE

Harley Detrick and hair have always just worked. For 17 years, he has loved every moment of his career and has cherished each experience that has now led him to opening his new solo studio, hair by harley in Emmaus. “I want hair by harley to be a safe and comfortable space where my guests can be their authentic selves and we can make awesome hair together,” Detrick says. His mission? To be a fully inclusive space that provides gender-affirming hair care with neutral, hourly based pricing. His clients come in for the services and stay for the conversation and connections. “All of my longtime guests will agree that the conversations we have are part of the reason they see me,” Detrick says. “These conversations range from basic chitchat to the strange and esoteric. I have a great appreciation for the vulnerability and openness that my guests come to me with.” Each moment a client shares their excitement about their new look is a moment Detrick is overwhelmed with joy, and he’s looking forward to connecting with new clients. “If you’ve ever felt like your barber or stylist wasn’t listening to you, I want to see you,” says Detrick.

203 Franklin St., Emmaus | hairbyharley.com | hairbyharley

COURTESY OF HAIR BY HARLEY

ROOTED SALON

EXPANDED SALON SPACE

“ Before Rooted existed, I was navigating the highs and lows of this industry with a vision that didn't quite have a home yet,” shares Rooted Salon owner Katelyn Quigney. “In the early days, I faced one of the hardest professional moments of my life— a complete staff walkout. It was heartbreaking, humbling and ultimately a turning point.” However, Quigney decided to take this as redirection and commit herself to working with new intention and clarity. Enter Rooted. Quigney became devoted to creating a calm and thoughtfully designed space that clients feel seen and supported in. Rooted Salon specializes in personalized haircuts, modern styling and dimensional color—offering styling, color, gray coverage and treatment services. Rooted first opened its doors as a small business right before the COVID-19 pandemic, and today they have expanded into a new, larger location off of Hamilton Boulevard. “[Rooted] is the result of years of resilience, reinvention and deep belief in what is possible when people feel supported and seen. Every challenge helped shape the culture we are so proud of today,” says Quigney.

3900 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown | 484.860.3060 | salonrooted.com

To do right by women, you have to get it.

As a woman, you’re constantly evolving – physically, mentally and emotionally –with each new season of life. But you don’t have to navigate it alone. No matter where you are in life, the region’s leading women’s health experts are here to guide you. We do right by women because that’s what you deserve.

LOCAL LEAF MARKET

FOODS FROM AREA PRODUCERS

The Funderburk sisters —Paige, Samantha, Emma and Hannah— fostered their love for fresh food through their parents’ local produce farm. “We grew up in a family that prioritized eating healthy and prioritizing local foods whenever possible,” they say. So, when the opportunity to buy an established health food market in Trexlertown arose, they couldn’t pass it up. Now, Local Leaf Market is under vast expansion, carrying over 100 local growers and producers and extending their hours to open seven days a week. “We strive to improve accessibility within our local community to the fresh, nutrient-dense foods and locally sourced products available from local growers and producers in eastern Pennsylvania,” the Funderburks say. Local Leaf Market now offers eight flavors of Portch Tea kombucha on tap, Good Churn Creamery ice cream and nitro cold brew coffee in The Cafe. “Local food is really about a deep connection to place and support of your neighbors within the community that you live [in],” the sisters say. “We also understand the importance of keeping dollars in our local economy and preserving working agricultural land for future generations, and the best way to accomplish that is by supporting local businesses, especially local growers and producers.”

7150 Hamilton Blvd. Unit 130, Trexlertown | 610.366.9866 | localleafmarket.com

BE PART OF THE STORY!

Do you know an individual who should be considered for our 2026 Influential Men of the Year feature? Nominate them at lehighvalleystyle.com/share-with-us!

DID YOU KNOW?

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

Win It

Enter to win two tickets to our Women’s Networking Event on Thursday, August 21 at Wind Creek Bethlehem—a $60 value! Head to lehighvalleystyle.com/ share-with-us to enter!

LVS Weddings

Head to lehighvalleystyle.com to check out our favorite local wedding Instagrams of the week! Want to see your post featured? Tag us at @lvstyleweddings to catch our attention!

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 click on our Events tab!

CONNECT WITH STYLE :

Crewy Woo Boutique

When you’re giving a gift, they say it’s the thought that counts. If that’s the case, there are likely fewer more thoughtful people in the Lehigh Valley than Ann and Jessica Morrissey, the mother-daughter duo behind the Bethlehem gift boutique Crewy Woo. We spoke with the Morrisseys about Crewy Woo’s inspiration, the importance of giftgiving and how they spark joy in their customers.

QTell us about what inspired you to open Crewy Woo! We were inspired to open a gift store because we felt that the Lehigh Valley was lacking in nice gift stores.

What’s the meaning behind the name?

The store is named after my mother, Jessica’s grandmother. Crewy is her nickname, given to her by my father when they were dating. She had just gotten a perm and her hair was frizzy—my father said, “You look like Crewy Lou.” Crewy Lou was a character in the comic strip Dick Tracy, which was popular at the time. We didn’t want copyright problems, so we changed Lou to Woo.

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCO CALDERON

Tell us about the importance to you of gift-giving.

At Crewy Woo, gift-giving is the heart of everything we do. Our store was founded on the belief that the right gift—whether it’s something sentimental, thoughtful or fun—can connect people in meaningful ways. Every item we carry is curated to spark joy, reflect the spirit of Bethlehem and help customers express love, appreciation or celebration.

There’s a lot of variety in the items you carry! Describe the different types of goods customers can purchase at Crewy Woo.

We offer city-inspired items like Bethlehem-branded apparel, mugs, cutting boards and home décor that celebrate the charm and history of our town. We also carry handcrafted gifts, locally made candles, artisan soaps, jewelry, stationery and novelty items that add a personal touch to any occasion. For students and alumni, we have Lehigh University-themed pieces that are perfect for dorm rooms, graduation gifts or keepsakes. Beyond that, you’ll find seasonal items, holiday décor, baby gifts and a few unexpected treasures that make people smile. Our goal is to create a space where customers can always discover something special, whether it’s a heartfelt gift or a little indulgence for themselves.

What items have been customer favorites?

Eagles and Bethlehem sweaters. Whimsical, fun items, like witty dishtowels, jewelry boxes and trays.

Is there anything customers might be surprised to find in your store?

Dog collars, bow ties and leashes.

What makes Crewy Woo unique in the Lehigh Valley?

What sets us apart is our deep connection to Bethlehem and the Lehigh Valley community. We intentionally stock goods that reflect the identity of the region, whether it’s a Bethlehem-branded sweater, a locally made product or a thoughtful nod to Lehigh University. You won’t find a generic retail experience here; everything is curated with a personal touch and a local soul.

What do you love about your location in Southside Bethlehem?

There’s an incredible energy level here—a mix of history, creativity and community that you can really feel. We’re surrounded by a vibrant arts and cultural scene, great local restaurants and Lehigh University, which brings a youthful spirit and diversity to the area. Being on the Southside means we get to be part of a neighborhood that’s growing and evolving while still holding onto its roots. There’s a real sense of resilience and pride here and we love being a small part of that story. Our customers come from all walks of life—locals, students, visitors—and it creates such a dynamic atmosphere in the

shop. Plus, there’s something special about being in Bethlehem, a city with a deep sense of history and tradition. We are proud to represent that in our store every day.

What has been the community reaction since Crewy Woo has been open?

Incredibly heartwarming and supportive. People walk in and immediately say things like, “This is exactly what Bethlehem needed,” or “I could spend hours in here.” It’s been so rewarding to see customers connect with the store, whether they are locals who feel proud to see their city represented in creative ways or visitors who find something special to take home.

Anything else you’d like to note?

What I like the best is to see the joy the shop brings to people. Whether it’s someone finding the perfect gift or laughing over a funny card or quirky item, we’ve created a space where people feel happy and inspired. That’s what we hoped for and we are so grateful that the community has embraced us.

21 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem shopcrewywoo.com

IS A BRA FITTING FOR YOU?

BY DAISY WILLIS | ILLUSTRATION BY CREATIVETEAM

Sandy Prothman OWNER, FOR THE GIRLS BRA AND LINGERIE BOUTIQUE

Undergirding our every outfit is that most complex and challenging item of intimates: the bra. Daunting to shop for and liberating to unclasp at the end of the day, this undergarment can nevertheless be brought onside with the right resources. Sandy Prothman, owner of For the Girls bra and lingerie boutique and expert in all things bosomboosting, shares how a proper fitting can change your life.

A NEEDED NICHE

When Prothman’s daughter, now in her 30s, was hitting puberty, finding a good bra for a petite yet voluptuous figure was a nightmare. Only through a far-reaching storm of research was Prothman able to find the comfortable, supportive bras that her daughter’s body needed. “I realized that everyone needs help finding a bra,” Prothman says. With no bra fitter in the area and department stores full of shoddy merchandise, she decided to spare locals the trip to New York to get their breasts best equipped and started her own boutique.

THE WRONG BRA

As with so much in fast fashion, our bodies are bespoke while our bras are not. “A quite small range is provided for,” Prothman says, “and if you’re either smaller

or bigger, you’re out of luck.” You can tell your bra is not meeting your needs if the back band rides higher than the front and the center gore doesn’t touch the skin in between your breasts. The creation of three or four boobs where you’re aiming for two is another major sign.

The Valley’s Largest Locally-Owned CPA Firm, Serving the Region for Over 50 Years Insight. Opportunity. Strategy.

“A lot of chiropractors, massage therapists, back surgeons, even gynecologists send clients to me,” Prothman says, “because the wrong size or an unstructured bra can cause upper back issues, neck problems and posture issues.” A well-fitted band with good-quality elastane places the weight of the breasts on the body’s core rather than slinging it over the shoulders. Cheap bras skimp on elastane and are often guilty of putting too much weight in the straps.

BRAS ARE LIKE SHOES

Bras are for looking put together for public life. At home, no bra or a “comfort” or “courtesy” bra just to spare friends and family members from overly saucy displays is all that’s called for. “If you’re not wearing shoes,” Prothman says, “don’t wear a bra.”

Alternating a couple of public bras could be a good start to a properly fitted arsenal, with optional fancy bras for special occasions. Much like a shoe collection, a bra collection can be as extravagant or utilitarian as our lives and tastes demand. Prothman herself possesses no less than 75 bras and matching knickers for every possible mood.

CARE & KEEPING

Each bra should be worn 21 times between washings, and is not to be worn twice in a row. “Give the elastic a 24-hour break,” Prothman advises. Hand wash in the sink with any detergent. “Some of my clients use Dawn dish soap,” she says. “Some bring their bras in the shower with them to wash.” With her immense collection, a bra soup in the bathtub is Prothman’s laundering strategy.

By not throwing your delicates in the washing machine, you can get more life out of these carefully made and hardworking items.

APPROPRIATE ARCHITECTURE

Most of the inventory at For the Girls is underwired. Prothman believes that proper fit and comfort are much more achievable with wired bras, though she does stock some non-wired depending on function. “Women give up on wire because they’re either wearing a bra that’s too small or they’re not scooped right,” she says. To perform the scoop, the wire needs to be pulled behind the root of the breast to scoop the full volume of boob into the cup.

A style called the cut-and-sew, structured with seams across the cup, is one that Prothman prefers and recommends. Many bras are designed to enforce an almost hemispherical shape onto the chest which doesn’t reflect the natural curvature of the breast like the cut-and-sew does.

THE FITTING

An appointment is recommended but not required at For the Girls, where a fitting can take anywhere from 30 minutes to an hour, exploring a thorough survey of your needs. Height, weight, pendulousness and lifestyle demands lead fitters to select from a stockpile of literally thousands of bras those that will work best.

Every bra provided at For the Girls will have your breasts sitting pretty between elbow and shoulder, whether you’re expanding through a pregnancy, have right bigger than left or have undergone a lumpectomy.

Once your measurements have been fully divined, the experience of trying on many, many bras that all fit could have you feeling indecisive in a whole new, much more fun way. “As my mother says,” Prothman quotes, “as long as we have to wear a bra, we might as well feel like we get to wear a bra.” 11 N. 2nd St., Easton | forthegirlseaston.com

We don’t just clean spaces, we restore your

ONE ROOM AT A TIME

Refresh your space, reclaim your calm.

Because life feels lighter when your space is clear.

Scan for details and rates or to schedule a new client estimate

KAYLA RODRIGUEZ owner

Melanie Linder

ART THERAPY PRACTITIONER

When her art students began to pour their hearts out to her over scissors, paper and glue, Melanie Linder took steps to find out how to best support them, leading her to obtain her certification as an art therapy practitioner. Today she works with everyone from children to young adults, helping them manage their feelings as they create collages and find a moment of peace.

QTell us about your art background. I started my art career in graphic design, but I got sidetracked (in a good way) by a handful of other creative opportunities—sign-making, jewelry design and custom wedding invitations. All of that somehow led me to create a line of affordable graphic art prints called Spread the Love. I enjoyed a bit of success with that, even landing on Oprah’s Favorite Things gift guide. But I was a one-woman operation, and keeping pace with orders left very little time for my favorite part of the job: creating new artwork. When my first daughter was born, I put Spread the Love on pause and got back to the things I love—painting, sketching, digital illustration and collaging. Today you can find my work online, in local boutiques and art shows or at my studio in Kutztown, where I also hold art therapy sessions and the occasional collage workshop.

What led you to expand your art into a therapeutic setting?

Art has always been therapeutic for me; I just didn’t realize I could share the experience with others. The first hint came while I was teaching collage courses

at the GoggleWorks in Reading. During periods of handwork—cutting, arranging, gluing—my students inexplicably opened up and shared these highly personal stories. Experiences, beliefs, opinions… sometimes traumatic, always emotional. I felt totally unprepared for these outpourings. What was an appropriate response? (Was I even allowed to respond?) I made it my mission to learn all I could about providing support in a creative setting. The second hint came when a friend, a professor of counseling education, invited me to run a collage workshop for her graduate students as part of a unit on alternative therapies. That process introduced me to the history of art therapy and the brain science behind it, all of which helped explain what I was experiencing with my students. I was hooked.

Who can benefit from art therapy?

Everyone can experience benefits from art therapy. The practice is built upon neurological concepts—activating certain areas of the brain while quieting others. For example, an overactive amygdala (a little almond-shaped area in your temporal lobe) is thought to produce negative emotions

like fear, anxiety, anger and sadness. But stimulating your prefrontal cortex area through activities like art-making and journaling has been shown to reduce amygdala activity, resulting in improved emotional regulation, decision making and problem solving. I don’t know anyone who wouldn’t benefit from that!

Tell us about the art therapy classes that you lead.

My art therapy classes are structured for teens and tweens coping with anxiety, so we focus on activating that prefrontal cortex area and quieting that amygdala. We often begin with a mindfulness exercise to ground us and bring our attention to the present moment. We then spend about 45 minutes collaging to a prompt or theme, which is one of my favorite prefrontal cortex stimulators. We finish the class by discussing the student’s collage—what it represents to them, why they chose the images they chose, how they feel about those choices. I encourage students to also journal their findings (another prefrontal cortex stimulator) so they can remember what they felt in that moment. As a practitioner, I’m not licensed to counsel anyone beyond that; I am

PHOTOGRAPHY BY MARCO CALDERON

simply facilitating a safe, healthy experience that may uncover new feelings and ideas. Licensed therapists often recommend me as part of a larger healing journey, and my students can bring those feelings and ideas back to their therapy sessions.

How do you incorporate mindfulness into art?

One facet of mindfulness is becoming aware of your thoughts and feelings without needing to change or judge them. Collage is like the embodiment of that idea. You are choosing imagery, cutting it into shapes and combining it… almost without thought or intention. It’s a very in-themoment activity. When it’s complete, you can then ask questions about the choices you made—without judgment. It’s really an act of discovery, observing yourself almost like an outsider and becoming aware of thoughts and feelings you might not otherwise have noticed.

What have you learned through your experience helping teens and tweens navigate anxiety?

They want to talk! I’m always surprised by how much even a seemingly shy teen or tween will share in the right environment and mood. They have very real stressors in their lives, just like all of us. I hear about school, sports, relationships, managing expectations and even money and future planning. And, finally, I’ve learned that we don’t have enough (or any) time built into our daily schedules for this type of downloading, processing, etc. My students really seem to value the time and space the classes give them.

What do you hope people will take away from your art therapy classes?

A deeper connection with themselves, and some new methods for calming their nervous system. We are bombarded with information all day, especially if we use social media. It’s so easy to let our attention get pulled away from ourselves and to let our nervous system get excited. I hope my classes provide a moment of quiet and calm. A serene interruption to the intensity of the rest of our day. That is what art-making does for me—it forces me to slow down and put my brain in a lower gear for a while. I believe everyone should make time for that.

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

My morning routine starts with getting my family up and into their days as happily as possible. My husband and I tag-team most of the chores—packing lunches, ensuring permission slips are signed, finding lost shoes, socks and hair brushes. I have to check myself constantly to maintain a light, carefree attitude. When time is short, the vibe can go south so quickly; keeping things light is a constant exercise in restraint, redirection and compassion. Once everyone is out the door, I take a moment of peace for myself while I enjoy some coffee. I love watching the birds and animals in our yard, especially our little orange yard cat inspecting the edges of a nearby pond.

What is something you love to indulge in?

Food. We are a family of foodies. I love to cook; it’s definitely one of my love languages. We all love snacks and candy and trying fun new sweets and treats from around the world. We just tried those popular crystal candies called Silky Gems and had so much fun trying the different flavors. My daughters even love raw oysters and trying funky cheeses. It’s an absolute indulgence, and I’m so thankful to have it!

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

Paying attention to my mind-body connection. When I feel overwhelmed, I try to take a step back and give myself time to breathe, relax and regroup. I focus on my jaw and hips—the two places I hold tension. I also forgive myself for the many, many mistakes I make. I do not strive for perfection. I listen to music that makes me feel good. I do resistance workouts and bike or walk daily. I make it a point to find joy in simplicity and nature and be thankful for what I have.

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

I guess it would be “Be kind to yourself!” And be willing to pivot. Sticking to something that’s causing pain might not be the best course.

xoxomelanielinder.com

Kassie Hilgert

PRESIDENT AND CEO, ARTSQUEST

BY AMY UNGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

Maybe it all seems so effortless to the hordes that swarm Bethlehem each summer, just as the calendar turns to August. They arrive by the hundreds of thousands, clutching their refillable, commemorative mugs. They crave food. Beer. Entertainment. Polka music. And, every year without fail, all of those things are there at their fingertips, spread across 50 acres on either side of the Lehigh River. For 10 years now, ArtsQuest President and CEO Kassie Hilgert has served as the maestro of Musikfest, the flagship event of the nonprofit’s nonstop slate of community festivals and programming. And she can tell you, while the festival may run like a well-oiled machine at this point, there’s nothing effortless about it. “We already have offers out for main stage headliners for 2026,” Hilgert says during an interview with Lehigh Valley Style in late April. “We have the poster done for 2026. It overlaps. It isn’t as though it’s a 52-week year. It never ends.”

...you can either complain about it, or you can start making the change yourself.

And while Musikfest may be the marquee soiree in a land that loves its fests, it’s just one of the many demands that keep Hilgert’s calendar cluttered during all four seasons as she shepherds ArtsQuest through an exciting time of expansion and change.

Once upon a time, Hilgert was like a lot of other local teenagers, itching to finish high school so she could try out a new ZIP code. She had moved to the Lehigh Valley from Winston-Salem, North Carolina, with her family in 1981 when she was 11 years old, after her father took a job with PPL as manager of its pension fund investments.

Following her graduation from Salisbury High School, Hilgert briefly studied journalism at Ohio University before transferring to Penn State, where she majored in communications. Later, Hilgert’s first brush with the nonprofit world came courtesy of Good Shepherd Rehabilitation, where she worked as the director of marketing for several years. “I got to work with the son of the founder, Dr. [John] Raker, and just how all the employees were so passionate about what they were doing really had an impact on me,” she says.

It was in her next role, managing community relations and philanthropy for Air Products, that she got to know Jeff Parks, the founder of Musikfest and then president of ArtsQuest. Parks was the guy, Hilgert notes, “who had kind of this crazy idea of turning the nation’s largest brownfield into an arts district.” That brownfield was, of course, the once-mighty Bethlehem Steel campus on the city’s Southside; steelmaking had ceased in 1995. “Over the course of two years, and talking with [Parks], I just got so excited,” Hilgert says. “And he eventually one day said, ‘Why don’t you come on over here?’ And so, it took me two years, but I made the jump. To think that I could have any small part to play in that was just something that I couldn’t turn down.”

By that point, Hilgert’s interest in the arts wasn’t brand new. She was in the theater program in high school and considered studying theater at Penn State, which had offered her a scholarship. Her father, Hilgert says, had a different opinion on the subject: “He said, ‘That’s great. You can do that in your spare time, but you’re going to get a different degree.’ We had a funny laugh about that later on that it came full circle that I ended up at an arts organization.”

Hilgert joined ArtsQuest in 2008, working in marketing and advancement. The centerpiece of the transformation of the old Bethlehem Steel site—the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks—opened in April of 2011. But there was much more work to be done.

In 2015, Parks retired, and Hilgert was named his successor after a nationwide search. It’s a role she accepted with some trepidation, she says. But encouragement from Parks, whom Hilgert describes as a visionary and a mentor, helped to assuage her fears. “He gave me a great deal of confidence to set my own path and follow it,” says Hilgert.

Now, in 2025, Hilgert has 10 years in the top spot under her belt. ArtsQuest continues to be the epicenter for arts programming in the Lehigh Valley, with a more than $130 million economic impact each year. But with that success, new challenges come, including growing pains.

Two major development projects underway in Bethlehem aim to give the organization a little more elbow room. The Banana Factory, which hosted artist studios, classrooms and gallery spaces since the late 1990s, was knocked down in the spring to make way for a new, larger, creative factory. “We’re going from a 65,000-square-foot building to an 80,000-square-foot, fivestory building,” Hilgert says. “That’s going to allow us to have six classrooms versus the two we have now.” There will also be a maker space and a digital production lab.

In addition, the 150-year-old Bethlehem Steel Turn & Grind Shop is being converted into a new programming facility, exhibit and festival venue, which will allow ArtsQuest to free up space in its Musikfest Café for more performers. An opening date is planned for 2027. But, that busy schedule, which is perhaps a good problem to have, is the very thing making the timeline tricky. “We have to do the construction and not interrupt our programming calendar,” Hilgert says. “We can’t not have Musikfest on the main stage because the building’s under construction.”

Charting the future of ArtsQuest is a careful balance of respecting traditions of the past while staying fresh and relevant. For Musikfest, that means making sure polka is always on the bill, while also booking musical acts that appeal to the younger ’festers. And of course, all decisions have to be made with a budget

in mind; not just for ArtsQuest, but for the people coming to see the shows. “Coming out of COVID, the artists’ costs have skyrocketed so much,” Hilgert says. “You see mega tours that the ticket prices are in the thousands of dollars, and what that means is people don’t have the same disposable income to go to several shows, potentially. And in addition to that, the infrastructure costs for all festivals— tents, chairs, stages—that’s gone up 20 to 30 percent.” Lump in concerns about weather and safety, and “there’s no shortage of things that keep you up at night,” says Hilgert.

But the payoff is those 10 days in August, when that Musikfest magic is in full bloom in Bethlehem. Hilgert first got a taste of it as a teenager, hanging around with her friends on Main Street: “I remember going there and thinking how cool it was that, here were throngs of people walking all around Bethlehem, all different ages, all different backgrounds and all different kinds of music, never once thinking I would have any kind of role in it.”

That was around the same time when Hilgert was plotting her escape from the region; the result of an “anywhere but here” mindset that’s common among many young people, regardless of where they grow up.

Hilgert can recall the time when she went all-in on the Lehigh Valley. While working for Air Products, she was on the r oad a lot, traveling all over the US and into Canada. “In doing that and going to all these communities, large and small, it really dawned on me that everywhere I went was somebody’s town they were trying to leave. And I remember having that ‘aha’ moment of, maybe I should look around with different eyes where I live and see how I could step in and make a mark. Maybe I should throw myself into the ring and roll up my sleeves and say, ‘What can I do to help here?’ So it really taught me to look around the Valley and see all the amazing assets that were just kind of bubbling up and beginning to change. And I thought, you can either complain about it, or you can start making the change yourself.” artsquest.org

ARTSQUEST

ArtsQuest is a nonprofit with a mission of providing access to the arts for all. Its programs reach more than 1.9 million people annually. Fundraising events, sponsors and community partners allow ArtsQuest to provide over half of its programming free to the public with scholarships available for individuals facing financial

Mission-focused, ArtsQuest has its eye on the future with a brand-new, state-of-the-art Cultural Center slated to be built in 2025 in addition to the renovation of the historic Turn & Grind Shop, located next to the Bethlehem Visitor Center on the SteelStacks campus. The Cultural Center will serve as a visible and creative gateway to Bethlehem’s SouthSide; provide much needed space, new programs and advanced technology that will double the number of students and families ArtsQuest currently serves; implement new partnerships as a Communications Career Pathway Program with the BASD; and further foster economic development and tourism across the Lehigh Valley, which will improve property values and further civic pride. The Turn & Grind Shop will allow ArtsQuest to significantly expand its private event space to further accommodate corporate events, weddings, proms and additional functions. Its beautiful and historical location and structure will significantly further travel and tourism to the Lehigh Valley.

HAVEN HOUSE: RESTORING HOPE, RENEWING LIVES

By creating a stigma-free community in which those with barriers can thrive towards independence and accomplishment

Members of the Haven House

The need for community-based mental health services from organizations like Haven House has grown post-pandemic. Looking in from the outside, one wouldn’t know that over 70 staff members are working to keep seven distinct programs and countless partnerships running to support around 3,000 individuals in Lehigh and Northampton counties. Haven House continually searches for new opportunities to expand and improve access to services to fulfill their mission. In addition, Haven House takes every opportunity to further educate the public around mental health to foster a stigmafree environment. This year, Haven House plans to resume poverty simulations, grow group therapy options and host a gala-type event, in order to reach new and different audiences regarding community mental health. Please follow them on Facebook or subscribe to their newsletter to avoid missing any of their exciting updates. 1411 Union Blvd. Allentown 610.433.6181 haven-house.com

leadership team

hardship.

KEEPING PEOPLE WARM SINCE

Your destination to complete your fireplace upgrade. Our knowledgeable sales staff is here to help guide you through the process.

Kring’s offers sales, service and installation of fireplaces, stoves and inserts, powered by gas, wood, pellets and electric.

HAVEN HOUSE: RESTORING HOPE, RENEWING LIVES

By creating a stigma-free community in which those with barriers can thrive towards independence and accomplishment

1411 Union Blvd. Allentown 610.433.6181 haven-house.com

Members of the Haven House leadership team

Fairs & Festivals

BY DAISY WILLIS | PHOTO BY CAROL BELL PHOTO / ADOBE STOCK

The music, the mugs, the fleets of food trucks: we all know Bethlehem kicks off August with the incomparable Musikfest—but every weekend in summer is stuffed to the gills with gatherings in the Valley. Come stroll some of the other celebratory showcases happening this month.

1. LEHIGH VALLEY PRIDE

STEELSTACKS | AUGUST 17

101 Founders Way, Bethlehem bradburysullivancenter.org

Celebrate the indomitable spirit of the LGBTQ+ among us with music, food, dancing and frivolity at the beautiful SteelStacks campus, rain or shine. All ages are invited to soak up the good vibes at this supremely accessible, free festival of diversity. A much-needed morale boost, whether you kick back on the grass and take in the tunes or make connections to get politically involved. Slay.

2

. DAS

AWKSCHT FESCHT

MACUNGIE MEMORIAL PARK

AUGUST 1–3

50 N. Poplar St., Macungie | awkscht.com

The antique car event of the year spans a whole weekend and has been bringing motorheads together for over 60 years. From slick muscle cars to the quaint horseless carriages of the automobile’s inception, every stripe of antique example is on display. A flea market and vendors of crafts and antiques adds even more to pore over.

3. BETHLEHEM VINTAGE MARKET

BETHLEHEM ROSE GARDEN AUGUST 3

W. Union Blvd. & 8 th Ave., Bethlehem bethlehemvintagemarket

One Sunday a month through the spring, summer and into the fall, this bounty of vintage goods turns the Bethlehem Rose Garden into an extravaganza of vendors showing collectibles, clothing, jewelry and more. Crafters, live music and food trucks round out an event that will have you coming back monthly to see what new (old) treasures await!

4.THE GREAT ALLENTOWN FAIR

ALLENTOWN FAIRGROUNDS

AUGUST 27–SEPTEMBER 1

302 N. 17 th St., Allentown | allentownfair.com

This agriculturally-originating event traces deep roots to 1852 and sprawls over many realms of entertainment, from the 4-H livestock of Agri-Land to the dazzling lights of the carnival rides. Ticketed acts like Alabama and Heart can be seen at the grandstand, or perhaps your ear prefers the crash of the demolition derby. What better way to see off the summer?

5. ROASTING EARS OF CORN FESTIVAL

MUSEUM OF INDIAN CULTURE | AUGUST 16–17

2825 Fish Hatchery Rd., Allentown museumofindianculture.org

Steep yourself in the culture and traditions of the country’s original and enduring Indigenous groups. From Aztecs of Mexico and Incan flutes to stunning regalia and powwow dancing, a wealth of expression is represented, along with artisan goods and food like fry bread and, naturally, roasted corn.

Chestnut St. Emmaus, PA 18049 (610) 965-9851

MacArthur Rd. Whitehall, PA 18052 (610) 433-4202 or visit us online at klecknerandsons.com With two locations to serve you:

Beauty Artists

Looking for a late-summer glow up? From hair and skin care to brows, lashes and tans, these aesthetic experts have the skills you need to look your very best.

BRITTANY ROGERS

OWNER + STYLIST | INTRIGUED SALON

With 12 years at its current location, Intrigued Salon is known for expertise in curly hair, offering Deva and RëZo Curly Cuts, plus Pintura and RëZo Lites color. The salon emphasizes healthy hair for optimal results. Brittany, owner and stylist, is a Wella color expert with 25+ years of experience, creating long-lasting styles for all hair types and textures.

559 Main St. Suite 006, Bethlehem 610.849.2126 | intriguedsalon.com

GWEN CROUSE

OWNER | HAIR TO DYE FOR

Gwen turns hair into art. With over 20 years of experience, she specializes in luxury extensions and rich, dimensional color. As the owner of Hair To Dye For in Easton, Gwen delivers elevated, confidence-boosting transformations in an exclusive, feminine space designed for women who know their worth and want their hair to show it.

200 Northampton St., Easton | 610.923.3530 hairtodyeforeaston.com

AMBER VANARSDALE

ESTHETICIAN | TRICIA VERMILIYA AESTHETICS

As a licensed esthetician, Amber specializes in facials, laser hair removal, microneedling, chemical peels, waxing, and lash extensions. Her passion is helping clients feel confident in their skin by combining science, skill, and care. Every treatment she offers is tailored to individual needs, because beauty isn’t one-size-fits-all, and glowing skin starts with expert, personalized attention.

601 Stones Crossing Rd. Suite B2, Easton 484.788.3491 | triciavaesthetics.com

JESSICA DEJESUS

Jess DeJesus is the founder of Mirror Beauty Studio and an award-winning hair extension specialist. She focuses on custom K-Tip installs, blonding and solutions for thinning hair. With a commitment to detail and a salon stocked with premium raw Slavic hair, she’s built a reputation for naturallooking transformations that empower women to feel like their most confident selves.

3060 Center Valley Pkwy., Center Valley 484.820.1205 | mirrorbeautystudio.com

MICHELLE LASKO

Michelle Lasko, owner of Level Ten Hair, has been behind the chair perfecting custom color for clients for 14 years. A Liberty High School graduate and Bethlehem native, Michelle opened her very own salon in Bethlehem in 2024. Level Ten welcomes new clients to a laid back trendy atmosphere right in the heart of the city.

PEGGY STOSS

OWNER | STUDIO 8 HAIR LOFT

With 18 years of hairstyling experience, Peggy Stoss has transformed her passion into owning an eco-friendly luxury salon studio. The studio focuses on clean, natural ingredients in all products and hair colors. She specializes in blonding, lived-in color and hair extensions—delivering beauty with integrity, sustainability and elevated care in every service. Clients discover their healthiest, most radiant hair at Studio 8.

3026 W. Tilghman St. Suite 203, Allentown 484.523.2422 | studio8hairloft.glossgenius.com

RIAN SCHULZ

JUNIOR STYLIST + ASSISTANT | MANE HAVEN

Rian is a talented stylist who combines creativity with advanced training to craft personalized color and style solutions. Passionate about vivid tones, color corrections and curly hair artistry, she continually refines her expertise alongside top educators. Rian’s focus is on creating a welcoming, elevated salon experience where every guest feels inspired and confident.

7619 Tilghman St. Unit B, Allentown

484.221.8469 | manehavensalonlv.com

LIZZ PRAEDIN

OWNER | PARKER GRACE HAIR

Lizz is known for her warm energy and expert touch, specializing in luxury extensions that boost confidence and look completely natural. Her personalized transformations are designed to help each client feel radiant, empowered and authentically themselves. With a focus on individual needs and exceptional results, she creates a truly elevated experience. Mention LVSTYLE when booking.

3060 Center Valley Pkwy. Suite 707A, Center Valley 484.515.6420 | parkergracehair.com

JORDAN FESTGER

HAIRSTYLIST | MANE HAVEN

With 8 years of experience behind the chair, Jordan is a soughtafter stylist specializing in lived-in color, max blonding and hand-tied extensions. Voted Best Stylist of the Lehigh Valley in 2023, she’s earned certifications from Braggn Beauty, Haircation, Mane Ivy and Habit Salon. Jordan creates customized, effortless looks that leave every client feeling radiant and refreshed.

7619 Tilghman St. Unit B, Allentown 484.221.8469 | manehavensalonlv.com

ALLISON HESS

OWNER | THE SKIN CLINIC

A holistic esthetician with 20+ years of experience, Allison specializes in natural skincare, integrative wellness and treatments that nurture skin and soul. She blends healing techniques with modern science, helping clients achieve radiant, balanced beauty. As leader of The Skin Clinic, Allison is proud to guide her team and pamper the women of the Lehigh Valley.

133 Northampton St., Easton 610.515.9038 | skinclinicpa.com

SELINA

SENIOR ARTIST | ROOTED SALON

Selina brings over eight years of experience to the Rooted team, with a passion for artistry and connection behind the chair. Known for her attention to detail and creative edge, she meets each guest where they are. From gray coverage to bold color, Selina delivers personalized, intentional results that make every appointment feel elevated and collaborative.

3900 Hamilton Blvd., Allentown 484.860.3060 | salonrooted.com

ALLY MUSTO

OWNER | BLUSHTAN EASTON

Ally Musto launched BlushTan Easton with one goal: to deliver natural-looking spray tans using clean, organic ingredients. Every visit begins with a personalized color consultation and ends with a flawless, confidence-boosting tan. The space was thoughtfully created to be inclusive, welcoming and empowering—because everyone deserves to feel amazing in their own skin. Come see what all the Blush Babes are raving about: BlushTan.

158 Northampton St., Easton 610.295.3519 | blushtan.com

GRETCHEN HUGO

OWNER | MY GIRL GRETCHEN

At My Girl Gretchen, it’s never just a haircut—it’s a visit with your “hairapist.” Gretchen Hugo specializes in curly hair, combining expert techniques, honest education and heart. Her private suite is a cozy, empowering space built on genuine connection. Clients leave feeling seen, supported and confident—because healthy, beautiful hair begins with feeling good in their own skin.

3026 Tilghman St., Allentown | SMS: 484.602.5331 gretchenhugohairstylist.com

SAROLTA STANGE

FOUNDER | GLOW BY LASER

Sarolta Stange, founder of Glow by Laser, is a medical aesthetic laser specialist with more than nineteen years of experience. Her vision was to create a boutique med spa where each client is treated as the unique individual they are. Using advanced technology, Glow offers HALO, BBL, exosomes, laser hair removal, neurotoxins, fillers and TShape treatments—changing lives one face at a time.

79 W. Market St. Suite 300, Bethlehem 484.995.5098 | glowbylaser.com

JESS DOWD

FOUNDER & ARTIST | LV

AND BROW

Jess Dowd is the founder of LV Lash and Brow, Pennsylvania’s only accredited lash academy, known for providing top-tier lash education. She serves as a board advisor for the National Association of Lash Artists and leads a multi-award-winning business with internationally recognized artists. Dowd offers transformative classes that elevate both the skills and confidence of lash professionals at every stage of their careers.

1640 Washington Blvd., Easton 610.438.1620 | lvlashandbrow.com

LYNDA WREN

OWNER | HAIR WRENDEZVOUS SALON

Lynda Wren, owner of Hair Wrendezvous and a stylist with 28 years of experience, offers a full range of hair services, including extensions, cuts, luxury scalp treatments, blonding, vivid specialty colors, and curly hair services certified by DevaCurl. Each client receives one-on-one, personalized attention in a small, private salon setting, with exceptional service designed to exceed expectations.

568 Chestnut St., Emmaus 484.734.5484 | @hairwrendezvoussalon

ALEX KEENY

BROW & LASH ARTIST | LV LASH AND BROW

Alex Keeny, an artist at LV Lash and Brow, is known for her precision in lifts and tints, brow laminations, and awardwinning color lash sets. Her creative eye and technical skill craft bold, expressive looks that enhance natural beauty. Alex is passionate about delivering customized results that celebrate individuality and vibrant artistry. See more of her work on Instagram by following @keen.artistry.

1640 Washington Blvd., Easton 610.438.1620 | lvlashandbrow.com

Let’s Go, Girls

Find your crowd with one of these just- the-girls -this -time social groups.

by Heather Mayer Irvine

Photography by Marco Calderon

Outdoors Lehigh Valley Women of Adventure

It wouldn’t be totally inaccurate to say Jackie L. Seidman, 64, created Lehigh Valley Women of Adventure because of a bear. In 2022, shortly after the death of her mother, for whom she was the primary caregiver, Seidman and her adult children traveled to Alaska, where she encountered a bear.

“I’m face to face with a bear, and the animal said to me, ‘Go find your way to give back to others,’” says Seidman, a selfproclaimed wearer of many hats.

Ever the outdoorswoman, Seidman told

her kids that night that she was going to start a women’s outdoor group. “I wanted to give back to women… With all of the different hats women wear, we have a tendency to put ourselves last,” she says. The group, which launched in March 2023 as a nonprofit, aims to encourage women to make themselves a priority for a better “physical and emotional and social you,” Seidman says.

Over the past two years, the group, which calls a private Facebook group home, has amassed some 6,000 members. But online

turns outside with a simple post: Members, who range from 18 to 85 years old, Seidman explains, can share their plans for an activity— a bike ride, a hike, a walk—and anyone can join them.

“Even if no one comes, you’ll do it anyway,” she says. “It makes you accountable” for when the weather is lousy or you think you’re too tired. “It’s really magical.”

lvwoa.org

Lehigh Valley Women of Adventure

Moms Suppor ting Moms MOMS Club International

Motherhood can be isolating. Natalie Hoffman, like many new moms, needed community and support. When her eldest, born in 2020 (when new moms really needed community and support), was 18 months old, she stumbled upon MOMS Club of Easton. It changed her life.

“I had not left the house until I joined the group,” says Hoffman, who is now the chapter’s president. “I learned how to be out alone with my child.”

The club, which is an international group with local chapters, is open to children ages 0 through 5. The only requirement for moms is that they have to be at home with their kids for at least some part of the typical work day.

The club’s mission is to break up those long hours during the day when moms are on their own with their kids.

Activities aren’t complicated. Hoffman and her Easton crew usually plan a playdate at a library or playground. Special events have included an Easter egg hunt and a Friendsgiving event.

Three times a year, the MOMS Clubs give back to the mom-child community with projects like a food drive and gift donations during the holidays. This spring, MOMS Club of Easton donated NICU care baskets to a local hospital. And once a month, the moms have their own night (or morning) out—kid-free.

MOMS Club has given Hoffman, now a mom of two, a community, for her kids and herself, and she wants other moms to have that experience. Over the past four years, the “event” that stood out the most for Hoffman was when she had to take her older child to the bathroom but also had her youngest in tow.

“One of the moms offered to watch the little one,” Hoffman says. “A light bulb went on. I told her, ‘That would be great.’”

momsclub.org

Lehigh Valley chapters include: Allentown/ Whitehall, Bethlehem, Easton, Nazareth and Southwest Lehigh Valley. Find them on Facebook.

what happens in book club stays in book club.”

Relax with a Romantic Novel Mimosas and Meet-Cutes

Every month for the past three years, women of the Lehigh Valley have gathered at The End bookstore in Allentown to top off their mimosa glasses and reflect on their latest romantic read in their book club, Mimosas and Meet-Cutes. Say what you will about romance novels, says Theresa Hagel, club host and fangirl of The End, but the club really took off.

“At one point we had to cap the membership because so many people were interested,” Hegel says.

The range of romance novels, Hegel says, is wide. And although the group does sometimes read “raunchy” stories, popular

reads have included A Love Song for Ricki Wilde, Birding with Benefits and Not Another Love Song. Hegel says the group chooses books that feature a variety of voices, including writers of color and members of the LGBTQ+ community.

The books, of course, are launching pads for deeper discussions about underlying themes and personal stories, including traumas, Hegel says.

“What happens in book club stays in book club,” she says. “People are able to express themselves and give opinions that are different from the group.”

The women talk about all sorts of issues: motherhood, politics, sexuality. “A lot of people denigrate romance as fluffy and silly to read, but it touches on a lot of serious topics,” Hegel says. And at the end of the day, readers of romance know what they’re going to get: a happy ending. Which, Hegel says, can be comforting during times of turmoil and uncertainty.

“You don’t have to justify why you like these books.”

theendbooks.co/events

BE BOLD. TAKE A CHANCE BY SHOWING UP AND HAVING A PINT.”

Bottoms Up!

Lehigh Valley Girls Pint Out

When Hayden Rinde and her now husband moved to the Lehigh Valley from Atlanta in 2019, they didn’t know anybody. Thanks to Instagram, she came across Lehigh Valley Girls Pint Out, a local chapter of the national organization created to connect women who love craft beer.

Her first pint in the area was with a rep from Terrapin Beer Co.—serendipitous, because the brewery is near her hometown in Georgia. “It felt familiar,” Rinde says.

Over the years, Rinde, who works for the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, found a second home with Girls

Pint Out, making friends and discovering local breweries. She assumed the role of chair around 2022. The group does have a book club component, which remained popular during the COVID-19 pandemic, but in broader strokes, women meet up about once a month at local watering holes and bond over craft beer.

“The industry has changed, and a lot of women like craft beer,” Rinde says. But, anyone can join the get-togethers—wine drinkers, seltzer lovers or soda sippers.

The brewery locations rotate, Rinde says, but a few fan favorites are McCall Collective

Brewing Company, Sherman Street Beer Company and Taylor House Brewing—all women-owned or co-owned. The group also has been involved in do-good activities, including She Nailed It, an event that supports Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley. Rinde calls it a great way to connect with and give back to the community.

“Be bold. Take a chance by showing up and having a pint,” Rinde says. “You never know who you’ll meet.”

lehighvalleygpo

Lehigh Valley Girls Pint Out

Tackle a 5K , Make Lifelong Workout Buddies First Strides

For more than three decades, girls and women of the Lehigh Valley have tested their mettle on the gravel pathways of the Lehigh Valley Parkway with First Strides. The 10-week fitness program is geared toward beginners (although veterans of running are welcome) and culminates in a 5K race— walking, running or a mix.

“It is our hope that our participants will leave with strength, confidence, new friendships and a healthier lifestyle,” says Michelle Sames, co-leader of First Strides.

Weekly sessions kick off with wellness and fitness talks from local experts, which include nutrition, injury prevention and proper workout gear. Women divide themselves based on pace—how quickly they run or walk—and work closely with seasoned mentors to build their fitness. Workouts consist of a mix of walking, jogging and

We keep our groups small so women get personal attention, encouragement, and a stronger sense of community.”

running, Sames says, alternating between higher and lower intensity efforts.

“We keep our groups small so women get personal attention, encouragement, and a stronger sense of community,” Sames says, noting that after the program, many participants have found lifelong run or walk buddies.

Spring participants will culminate with the Lehigh Valley Road Runners June 5K (a free event) and summer/fall participants will end with the Women’s 5K Classic in October.

Once First Striders graduate, they’re invited to join the free Lehigh Valley Road Runners women’s speed workout group to keep up and improve their fitness.

“As long as you can walk, it is literally left, right, repeat,” Sames says.

lvrr.org/first-strides

It’s really nice to get together with people who are as passionate about something you’re passionate about.”

Bond Over Yarn Knit Night at Conversational Threads Fiber Arts Studio

With fingers flying, the regulars of Knit Night at Conversational Threads Fiber Arts Studio share inside-baseball-level tricks of the trade: types of yarn, patterns and designs, knit and crochet stitches.

“It’s really nice to get together with people who are as passionate about something you’re passionate about,” says Cindy Fitzpatrick, the owner of the Emmaus-based shop. “We talk about a lot of things, mostly chitchat.”

Fitzpatrick opened the studio 16 years ago; the fact that it’s still going strong surprises her. “Most shops don’t last more than two years.”

Knit Night—it’s just not knitting though— is open to everyone interested in yarn-based traditional crafts. Every now and then a man will join the group, breaking the stereotype that knitting and crocheting is just for women. These groups, Fitzpatrick says, are fairly common at yarn shops, and they are excellent ways to build community around a like-minded hobby.

“We’re like a family,” Fitzpatrick says. Right now, she says, many of the regulars are knitting sweaters. But, she says, crochet is having a moment, thanks in part to A-list stars like Jason Momoa,

Jack Black and Taylor Swift donning crocheted clothing.

“The popularity has exploded,” she says.

Conversational Threads Fiber Arts Studio is also a popular stop on “yarn tours,” Fitzpatrick says—people often come in from New Jersey, State College and West Virginia. This past spring, a woman from France on her way to Kutztown University stopped in and recorded a video for her YouTube channel.

Mondays, 6:30–8:30 p.m. conversationalthreads.com

Influential WOMEN

o f t he Y e ar

BY AMY UNGER | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN ON-SITE AT ARCHER MUSIC HALL

Lehigh Valley Style is excited to share its 2025 Influential Women of the Year. As always, whittling down the lengthy list of nominees was not easy. But this year’s class, just like those before it, showcases a unique mix of our community’s changemakers. These are six women (technically, five women and one lovely young lady, as you’ll read) who keep on keeping on, making their little corners of the Lehigh Valley just a bit brighter.

AMYK o cis

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

ANIMAL FOOD BANK OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

THE NOMINATION: “AMY IS A WONDERFUL LEADER WITH A CLEAR VISION, WHO HAS THE DRIVE AND AMBITION TO MOTIVATE AND LEAD PEOPLE TOWARDS ACHIEVING EXTRAORDINARY RESULTS IN THE ANIMAL RESCUE WORLD. SHE PUTS HER ENTIRE HEART INTO THIS ORGANIZATION WITH EVERY WAKING MOMENT.”

Amy Kocis first got involved with Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley 14 years ago as a volunteer. “I heard about their mission and absolutely loved it. I had been in animal rescue for a decade prior to that,” she says Kocis, who lives on a farm with three donkeys, a dog and several cats, all rescues.

Within two years, she was running the nonprofit as its executive director. “Things happened fast,” she laughs. It was a time of change for the organization, which aims to keep pets in their homes and out of shelters by providing food and supplies to owners facing economic hardship. “The food bank came to a point where more people needed to step up,” says Kocis, and that’s exactly what she did.

Animal Food Bank of the Lehigh Valley is marking its 25th anniversary this year, as well as a decade at its permanent home in Emmaus. It serves about 3,000 pets every month, and the list keeps growing. “There is never a month where we don’t have new clients,” Kocis says.

Like many nonprofits, the food bank relies on donations to carry out its mission. Trying to drum up those dollars can be a challenge, Kocis says, but the end result makes it all worthwhile: “For so many individuals, their pets are their everything, whether it’s a senior with a pet for companionship or the family dog. Keeping those pets at home and out of the shelters is the most rewarding for me.”

JESSICA O

rtiz

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

THE ORTIZ ARK FOUNDATION

THE NOMINATION: “JESSICA ORTIZ IS AN ADVOCATE FOR THOSE WHO DO NOT HAVE A VOICE OR CHOICE THAT ARE IN MANY BAD SITUATIONS… SHE REMOVES OBSTACLES AND BARRIERS SO THAT THE PEOPLE SHE HELPS CAN SUCCEED.”

There aren’t enough hours in a day to accomplish everything on Jessica Ortiz’s to-do list. She’s a chef and caterer, which she describes as her passion, and also a Realtor, professions that help pay the bills for another priority: Allentown-based The Ortiz Ark Foundation. Ortiz founded the nonprofit and runs it with her family.

The “Ark” part of the name comes from the biblical story of Noah’s Ark; it’s symbolic of a figurative flood the foundation hopes to stave off for those it helps. “We listen to the people,” says Ortiz. “Whatever they feel is needed in the community, that’s what we do.”

That includes everything from egg hunts at Easter to re-entry services for former prison inmates to women’s empowerment programs. There’s also a heavy emphasis on reaching out to young people, including a sports program for kids who can’t afford to join traditional leagues and clubs. “They learn discipline, and not just in sports, and social skills and how to adapt,” Ortiz says. Ortiz, a domestic violence survivor, also was molested as a child. Those painful experiences color her interactions with young people today. She says she can spot the red flags: “It’s something you can see in other kids.” Ortiz recounted an interaction she had with a girl at one of the foundation’s events. She had seen the girl before, but this time, they struck up a conversation, and, “she came to confess some things to me,” Ortiz says. “That’s my drive.”

Those are the kinds of breakthroughs that keep Ortiz going as she grapples with the pain that still lingers from the physical abuse of her past. “I function on adrenaline,” she says. “Doing these things is what keeps me out of bed.”

JADA AMIRAHL ewis

FOOD INSECURITY ADVOCATE

THE NOMINATION: “JADA

HAS BECOME A VOICE FOR HER GENERATION… [SHE] BLENDS PURPOSE WITH POWER, ALL WHILE STAYING ROOTED IN COMMUNITY AND STYLE.”

Jada Amirah Lewis was front page news when she was just a baby. A picture that appeared in a local newspaper captured her interaction with a beaming then President Barack Obama during a visit to the Lehigh Valley in 2009. Now fast-forward to 2025, and Lewis is the embodiment of the hope and change that many associated with Obama’s presidency.

At just 16 years old, Lewis is the first teenager ever to be named a Lehigh Valley Style Influential Woman of the Year. She may be young—she’ll soon start her junior year at Liberty High School in Bethlehem—but she’s packed a lot of action into those dozenplus-four years.

In 2021 she was awarded a Presidential Lifetime Achievement Award for completing 5,000 hours of volunteer service, time spent picking up trash, gardening, mentoring and advocating for causes that are close to her heart.

A chief focus now is encouraging the creation of more hydroponic gardens in the region; she wants them “anywhere and everywhere,” she says. Hydroponics allows for crop growth using a water-based solution rather than soil, making it easier to produce food in areas where land use may be limited, like in cities.

Lewis describes the neighborhood where she lives in North Bethlehem as a “food desert.”

Her goal is to make nourishment accessible to everyone. “I just wanted to make it so people have food right within their home,” says Lewis. “They don’t have to drive to supermarkets. I hope that helps with food insecurity and trying to diminish that.”

In April, she pitched her plans to Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds. In a follow-up note, he called her an inspiring young leader in the community. Did we mention she’s just 16?

MUSICIAN, COUNSELOR AND LGBTQ ADVOCATE

THE NOMINATION: “CARLY IS A MAGNIFICENT, MAGNETIC PRESENCE… CARLY BRAVELY MOVES FORWARD IN UNWAVERINGLY SUPPORTING OUR MOST VULNERABLE CREATURES SO THEY CAN CONTINUE TO WORK ON UNDERSTANDING HOW THEY MATTER AND HOW THEY CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE.”

Carly Comando has been a musician her entire life. She’s an Emmy Award-winning composer; the score she wrote for the wildly popular 2006 short Everyday brought her national acclaim. Over the years, she has continued to make music as a solo instrumental artist while also maintaining a presence in the local punk and indie scenes. “I’ve had my hands in all the pots, musically,” Comando says.

Her experience in that world helped to lay a solid foundation for what might seem like an unlikely pivot in more recent years to a professional counselor. Comando sees a lot of parallels between the two; whether she’s working with a director on a cinematic score or listening to a patient recount a recent event, it’s her job to lend an empathetic ear. “I am helping them find their voice,” Comando explains. She’s currently pursuing her master’s degree in counseling at Kutztown University.

Comando, a New York City native who moved to the Valley in 2011, has volunteered with Lehigh Valley Girls Rock, an organization that aims to empower cisgender girls and women, as well as nonbinary and transgender people, through music and art. She also offers free and low-cost counseling to the queer community, with which Comando feels a kinship: “It’s a challenge when people don’t understand you,” she says, and adds, “It’s really important to provide support for these communities and show up for them in a world that seemingly wants to erase their existence.”

It’s not unusual for members of the LGBTQ community to have a difficult time finding affirming mental health providers when compared to the mainstream population. But Comando has stepped up to fill the void.

CARLY Comando

ENTREPRENEUR AND COACH

THE NOMINATION: “HER LEGACY IS ROOTED IN LOVE AND LOSS, BUT IT BLOSSOMS THROUGH THE LIVES SHE CONTINUES TO TOUCH. SHE DOESN’T JUST INFLUENCE— SHE LEADS IN LIGHT.”

It’s fitting that Katosha Grays’ nickname is “Bryght.” She strives to be a beacon for all those around her, even in the darkest of times. “I want to bring light and love into people’s lives,” she says.

It’s not always easy. Grays has had to contend with more than a few difficult days. In 2018, her sister, Nique, died while she was full-term pregnant with a baby girl, Astyn, who also perished.

But through that loss, Grays says, she found her passion and purpose. She started her own tax preparation and advisory business, Astyns Multiservices, named in honor of the niece she never got to know. She also established Bryght Visionz Coaching, where she works one-on-one and in group settings, “just pouring into people and speaking about where they are in life and how they can make their life brighter, whether it’s personal or career wise.”

Grays and her fiancé, Stephen Walker, one of Lehigh Valley Style’s 2025 Influential Men of the Year, are the co-founders of Nyce and Bryght, which seeks to elevate and support Black-owned businesses in the Lehigh Valley through their Black Pages directory. They also organize community events that aim to entertain and enlighten.

Grays, a mother of three, has a full-time job in addition to her passion projects. She admits that time management can be a struggle, and sometimes sacrifices are needed, but she considers it a necessary adjustment to show her children how to be successful. “It’ll be greater later for all of us,” she says.

Above all, she considers herself a very spiritual person. “I just keep my faith in front of me all the time,” Grays says. “Without my faith, I don’t even know if I’d be here.”

KATOSHA Grays

ELAINE Zelker

FUNDRAISER AND MENTAL HEALTH ADVOCATE

THE NOMINATION: “IN A WORLD THAT NEEDS MORE LIGHT, ELAINE ZELKER SHINES BRIGHTLY. HER INFLUENCE IS UNDENIABLE, HER IMPACT IMMEASURABLE, AND HER HEART LIMITLESS.”

In some ways, the stigma surrounding mental health challenges has diminished in recent years. That’s a good thing. But there are people still being left out of the conversation, and Elaine Zelker wants to do something about it. In 2024 she decided to create the nonprofit Yes, Chef! Behind the Apron. “Chefs, they nourish so many people, but a lot of them are really suffering by way of mental health, anxiety, depression, substance abuse, alcoholism,” Zelker says. “And I think they feel like they’re on an island by themselves, but they’re all suffering the same way.”

Zelker describes Yes, Chef! as an amalgamation of many different facets of her personality and her professional life: she’s a photographer, a wordsmith, an entrepreneur, and, with her husband, Zeke, owner of the café and catering and meal delivery service Zekraft.

She’s also a registered nurse by trade and has a penchant for helping other people, which was thrust into the forefront during a difficult time. After her friend was diagnosed with blood cancer, she threw herself into advocacy, creating the Get Down and Derby fundraising event for the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS). For her efforts, she was recognized as a Visionary of the Year by LLS. But more important was what had been awakened inside her: “That triggered a whole different trajectory of how my life is now, where I personally feel like I will always be involved in a mission- and passion-driven project,” Zelker says.

Now, that project is Yes, Chef! Zelker lends her photography skills to the effort, capturing pointed and sometimes deeply personal portraits of the Lehigh Valley’s culinary artists, which are then turned into a gallery show fundraiser and calendar, with some of the proceeds benefiting Second Harvest Food Bank. “I love to showcase people in a way that you don’t normally see them,” she says.

NANCI EMILIANI

Franchise Owner

European Wax Center

European Wax Center began as a family-owned business and is now the largest provider of waxing services in the United States with more than 1,000 locations nationwide,

Nanci Emiliani is a passionate business owner and community leader with over 25 years of experience in the beauty industry. As a multi-unit franchise owner since 2015, Nanci has earned a strong reputation for leading with heart and purpose. Her work is rooted in helping others thrive—especially women—and creating spaces where people feel empowered and supported.

A proud mom, Nanci draws inspiration from her daughter and is deeply committed to mentoring and uplifting other women. For the past six years, she has served on the Women’s Business Council board and held the position of Governance Chair, using her voice to shape strategy and promote growth for women in business.

With a dual degree in human resources and business administration, Nanci has always been drawn to leadership and entrepreneurship. Her education helped lay the foundation for building and managing successful teams, but it’s her passion, grit and vision that continue to drive her forward. In recognition of her impact, she was honored with the Lehigh Valley Business Forty Under 40 Award in 2023.

Nanci’s leadership is grounded in real-life experience, resilience and a love for continuous growth. Whether she’s scaling her businesses, giving back through board service or guiding future entrepreneurs, she brings authenticity and energy to everything she does. Her mission is simple but powerful: to leave every space—and person—better than she found it.

and Clarks Summit 610.798.6565 | waxcenter.com

REPRODUCTIVE MEDICINE ASSOCIATES

Proven Fertility Treatments, World-Class Fertility Care

At Reproductive Medicine Associates (RMA), Dr. Ndeye-Aicha Gueye leads a team of compassionate professionals, alongside board-certified Women’s Health Nurse Practitioner Brittany Seal, providing personalized, comprehensive fertility care. Dr. Gueye is a board-certified OB/GYN and reproductive endocrinologist and serves as assistant professor for the Division of Reproductive Endocrinology and Infertility at Lehigh Valley Health Network. With expertise in IVF, minimally invasive surgery, PCOS and fertility preservation, she brings both skill and empathy to every patient interaction. “Undergoing fertility care is often a stressful and emotional experience,” she says. “Our goal is to ensure that every patient who walks through the door feels welcomed and receives the highest quality fertility care with the best possible outcome.”

Each patient at RMA receives a custom treatment plan supported by a dedicated care team, including a nurse, financial coordinator and access to nutritionists and mental health professionals. Brittany Seal, MSN, WHNP-BC, plays a vital role in this model. With a background in labor and delivery and a passion for women’s health, Seal provides compassionate, patient-centered care. “We are caring for patients when they are most vulnerable; the bond we share is powerful,” she shares. “I am truly honored to be part of their journey.”

RMA of Lehigh Valley is proud to be part of the IVI RMA North America network—a community of fertility care spanning 22 leading IVF laboratories that has supported the births of over 220,000 babies nationwide. By blending advanced science with genuine support, IVI RMA North America strives to make the path to parenthood a little clearer, kinder and full of hope.

RMA’s modern facility features a state-of-the-art laboratory with consistently higher birth success rates than the national average. They offer treatment options including fertility preservation and care for individuals or couples needing donor eggs, sperm or gestational surrogacy to build their families.

Left to right: Tara Markovich, Lead RN; Brittany Seal, MSN, WHNP-BC; Stephanie Santiago, Lead Clinical Assistant; Vivian Davis, Financial Coordinator; Ndeye-Aicha Gueye, MD; Stephanie Rodriguez, Patient Services Coordinator.

MAGELLAN FINANCIAL, INC.

Magellan Financial, Inc., continues to pave the way in the financial services industry as a multigenerational, full-service family home office dedicated to elevating the client experience. Their mission remains steadfast—to serve as the most essential advisor and advocate for successful individuals, families and business owners. By combining expertise, innovation and a deep passion for making a difference, Magellan aims to empower clients to define and pursue their financial legacies.

In 2025, Magellan celebrates another milestone, with women comprising more than half of the team, reinforcing the team’s commitment to excellence and diversity. Senior Wealth Planner Susan Schupp, with nearly four decades of experience, brings unparalleled wisdom in guiding families through financial decision-making. Cassandra Queen, Senior Wealth Planner, specializes in long-term solutions, offering strategic insights that transform complex challenges into opportunities.

Senior Administrative Manager Kaycee Cordon continues to lead with precision and dedication and helps ensure that every client interaction is seamless. Operations Manager Cristy Church fosters meaningful relationships through her empathetic approach and commitment to excellence.

Joining the team in 2024, Office Assistant Jaleesa Wheeler quickly became an integral part of Magellan’s operations. With her keen attention to detail and unwavering support, she enhances the efficiency of internal processes and helps to ensure that clients receive a warm and welcoming experience.

As Magellan Financial looks ahead, the contributions of these talented women solidify the team’s reputation as a trusted, forward-thinking leader in financial services.

A Year of Milestones and Strong Female Leadership

“Magellan Financial walks alongside you, providing specialized planning solutions and unwavering support. With experienced guidance, you can confidently navigate your family’s present and future, aiming to ensure a meaningful financial journey for generations to come.”

Left to right: Kaycee Cordon, Cassandra Queen, Susan Schupp, JaLeesa Wheeler, Cristy Church

MONICA YURCONICGROFF

Owner

Ross Plants + Flowers + Gifts

“It’s

SAM PALLADIO

For nearly two decades, Monica Yurconic-Groff has been the heart and soul behind one of the region’s most beloved floral destinations.

As the owner of a thriving full-service flower shop, greenhouse and gift store with locations in Orefield and Allentown, she has built more than a business—she has cultivated a community.

Her philosophy is simple yet powerful: treat every customer like family. Whether designing a bouquet for a milestone celebration or helping someone choose the perfect plant to brighten their home, Monica approaches each task with genuine care, as if it were for someone she loves. It’s this personal touch that has kept customers returning for 20 years.

But she does not do it alone. Monica emphasizes that her success is a team effort. Her dedicated staff shares her passion and commitment to excellence, working together to bring every customer’s vision to life with precision and heart.

Beyond flowers, she champions self-care and joy. “I believe in living a life that feels purposeful— both through the little things we surround ourselves with and the people we connect with,” she says. Her shops reflect that spirit: vibrant, welcoming and full of thoughtful, uplifting gifts.

To Monica, going to work does not feel like a job—it feels like a mission. A mission to bring beauty, comfort and happiness into people’s lives. And in doing so, she has not only grown a business, but also a lasting legacy rooted in love, creativity and connection.

JUNIOR LEAGUE OF THE LEHIGH VALLEY

Empowering Local Women for Meaningful Community Impact

Rooted in a legacy of service dating back to 1922, the Junior League works alongside local partners to reduce educational disparity through initiatives that support school readiness, food access, literacy and life skills development throughout the Lehigh Valley. Signature programs include the Backpack Giveback, Thanksgiving Baskets, Summer Slide and Scholarship Awards.

Members of the League are more than volunteers; they are leaders who grow through service, build lifelong friendships and make a lasting difference in the communities they serve. Whether someone is passionate about giving back, growing personally or connecting with other changemakers, JLLVPA offers a place to lead with purpose.

ASHLEY HAYES

Founder & Principal Designer Swine Design

Ashley Hayes founded Swine Design with a belief that great design should feel personal, not prescriptive. After years in the industry, she saw an opportunity to do things differently: infusing the process with clear communication, thoughtful selections and moments that make the experience enjoyable, not overwhelming.

As a mom of three and lifelong creative, Ashley’s family fuels her design philosophy. She believes a home should be beautiful, of course, but also welcoming, functional and filled with joy. “I want people to smile when they walk into their space. To exhale. To feel like they can just be.”

Today, her Lehigh Valley-based firm transforms homes with brave, custom designs that reflect the people who live in them. For Ashley, success isn’t just about awards or aesthetics. It’s about impact. “It’s knowing my kids see the heart in what we’re creating—that’s what feels like success.”

The Junior League of the Lehigh Valley is an organization of women whose mission is to advance women’s leadership for meaningful community impact through volunteer action, collaboration and training. Learn more by visiting jllvpa.org

DR. HEATHER EVANS Evans Counseling Services

“My favorite thing in nature is seeing growth spring up in unlikely places. Trauma healing and post-traumatic growth are possible, given a safe environment, relationships that amplify voice, honor choice and at a pace suited for the individual.”

Twenty years ago, Dr. Heather Evans returned to the Lehigh Valley with a vision: to create a counseling practice in Coopersburg that would serve as a trusted resource for individuals and families in the community. As she began working with clients, she realized many were carrying deep wounds from trauma, particularly sexual abuse and domestic violence. This shaped the focus of her practice, and Evans Counseling Services (ECS) became a place dedicated to trauma-informed care.

A lifelong learner and passionate advocate, Heather considers herself a continual student of trauma and abuse. Her work is guided by the belief that true healing must address the whole person—mind, body and spirit. This philosophy not only informs her direct work with clients, but also the culture at ECS, and her involvement in trauma response efforts on regional, national and global levels. Her mission remains clear: to equip individuals and communities to be traumainformed and to amplify the voices of survivors.

In 2024, responding to growing waitlists and a recognition of the complexities of trauma recovery, Heather expanded ECS. She welcomed additional therapists and added holistic practices into the ECS approach.

Now, two decades after they started, Heather and her team at ECS remain steadfast in their mission. Whether working with children or adults, individuals or families, ECS continues to be a resource for life’s challenges, providing hope, support and healing.

To learn more or to connect with Dr. Heather Evans and Evans Counseling Services, visit evanscounselingservices.com

SACRED REALM HEALING Re-energize the Body & Spirit

Rooted in the universal pursuit of harmony, Sacred Realm embodies a deep reverence for the sacred connection between body and soul. Since its founding five years ago, owner Jamie Brotzman has experienced profound personal and spiritual growth, a journey shared with her devoted team, whose passion forms the foundation of their thriving practice. Now stepping into an elevated phase, Sacred Realm is expanding its focus on energetic healing and spiritual wellness. With a renewed commitment to intentional, heart-centered care, Jamie and her team offer a transformative experience that goes far beyond traditional spa services—it’s a journey back to self.

101 N. 4 th St., Easton 484.861.7287 | healingwellnesscorner.com

PRECISION LASER Expert Laser Aesthetics

Precision Laser is the premium provider for laser aesthetics throughout the Greater Lehigh Valley area and New Jersey. They are a family-owned and -operated business with a background in tattooing and a love of tattoo culture and history. Unlike medical spas and physician practices that spread their time and efforts across various procedures, Precision Laser focuses solely on laser-based treatments, making them experts in the field!

Precision Laser was founded on the hope of helping individuals regain confidence and comfort in their skin. Whether someone no longer identifies with their tattoo, has unwanted hair, some inches to shed or skin concerns, there is a laser for them! The Easton clinic provides tattoo removal, hair removal, Emerald Laser body contouring, laser facials, cellulite removal and more!

“Our mission is to deliver the best experience and results,” says Jessica Talley, Laser Practitioner. “Our cuttingedge technology, knowledgeable staff and commitment to great service make Precision Laser the best choice for laser treatments throughout Easton and the surrounding cities.”

42 S. 3 rd St., Easton 484.306.0089 precisionlaserspecialists.com

Everyone deserves to feel good in their skin. When someone feels comfortable in their body, it impacts everything from their mindset to their motivation. Precision Laser is changing lives one zap at a time.

Sacred Realm Healing is a sanctuary where holistic therapies nurture body and spirit. Services include craniosacral, lymphatic drainage, deep tissue massage and Reiki. They also offer Eminence Organic facials, body waxing, scrubs, wraps and now lash and brow enhancements—each designed to restore balance and harmony.

SALON STONE & SPA

Crafting Confidence, One Client at a Time

Salon Stone & Spa is a vibrant sanctuary nestled in the heart of Easton’s lively Lehigh Valley, where beauty, self-care and personalized service come together. Owner Brittany Stoneback believes every visit is more than just an appointment—it’s a rejuvenating journey tailored to each client’s unique style and needs.

At Salon Stone & Spa, the experience is designed to uplift, inspire and empower. Guests are invited to indulge in a broad array of salon and spa services, from chic haircuts and precision extensions to luxurious treatments and flawless sunless tanning. Each offering is delivered with thoughtful attention and expert technique, reflecting the individual’s personality while enhancing their natural beauty.

What sets this Easton gem apart is its compassionate, down-to-earth team. With a commitment to comfort, care and connection, the stylists and specialists provide personalized consultations to ensure every guest feels confident and completely at ease. Their genuine warmth and infectious energy create a welcoming atmosphere where clients feel not just pampered—but truly seen and celebrated.

Salon Stone & Spa transforms routine beauty appointments into meaningful, feel-good experiences. It’s a place where creativity meets comfort, and where confidence is crafted one client at a time. Whether guests are updating their look or treating themselves to a moment of relaxation, each visit is an opportunity to recharge, reconnect and reveal their radiant best.

Step into Salon Stone & Spa and discover a salon experience to love— where beauty shines from the inside out.

EMPOWERED WOMEN, EMPOWERING OTHERS: Meet the women behind the Lehigh Valley’s premier counseling practice—leaders in mental health and business. Their compassionate expertise is transforming lives and inspiring a community of strength, resilience and support. Experience counseling driven by integrity.

EMPOWERING WOMEN, ELEVATING OTHERS

Bethlehem Counseling Associates

Bethlehem Counseling Associates believes that mental health is the foundation of personal and professional success. As a women-led group therapy practice, BCA is proud to support the emotional wellness of individuals and families across the Lehigh Valley.

The team of compassionate, experienced clinicians offers personalized therapy for anxiety, depression, trauma, life transitions and more—in a warm, inclusive environment where healing can thrive. BCA understands the unique challenges women face balancing career, caregiving and self-care, and is there to help navigate them with strength and clarity.

As BCA celebrates women in business, it honors the resilience it takes to lead and support others—and remains committed to being a safe space for growth, healing and connection.

Because when women are well, communities rise.

2005 City Line Rd. Suite 300, Bethlehem 610.865.8177 | bcamentalhealth.com

“CUSTOM CLOSETS AS UNIQUE AS YOU ARE!”

States, all dedicated to creating the best custom closet solutions possible, right down to the smallest detail.

Closet Factory Allentown is a family-owned and -operated company since 1999. The Focht family brought Closet Factory to the Lehigh Valley to create perfectly designed solutions for their clients’ cabinetry needs by combining a completely custom organizational solution with innovative design style. Committed to creating opportunities for all within the organization, the family prides itself on key positions that are held by strong, empowered women. Vice President Joan Focht handles the purchasing and overall day-to-day activities in the office. Melissa Focht runs company operations, oversees manufacturing and manages the installers. Mandi Focht, the lead designer, also manages and trains the sales team and oversees advertising. Closet Factory’s support staff includes Deb Manly in factory manufacturing projects, Gabrielle Neiss setting in-home appointments/assisting Joan, and Project Coordinator Jennifer Baranowski. Every step of the company’s process is touched by one of these amazing individuals and truly makes the experience with Closet Factory one to remember.

7 Willow St. Industrial Park, Fleetwood

Office: 610.944.1333

Cell: 484.707.6313

closetfactory.com

Closet Factory has become a leading closet company franchise in closet organization with over 50 locations throughout the United

Left to right: Laura Danner, Clinical Practice Manager; Kim Woodling, Owner, CEO; Carli Henichek, COO

TRICIA VERMILYA AESTHETICS

Where Beauty Meets Women’s Health

Tricia Vermilya Aesthetics is more than a med spa—it’s a destination where women’s beauty and wellness intersect. Led by Tricia Vermilya, a family nurse practitioner and expert injector, the practice blends advanced aesthetic treatments with a strong foundation in women’s health.

Many services go beyond skin-deep. Bioidentical hormone replacement therapy (BHRT) helps women manage symptoms of perimenopause and menopause—such as fatigue, brain fog, low libido and weight gain—by naturally restoring hormonal balance.

Sexual wellness treatments, including the O -Shot and PRP-based therapies, address vaginal dryness, incontinence and sexual dysfunction, offering noninvasive solutions that enhance confidence and quality of life.

Medical weight loss programs, including semaglutide injections, are designed to support sustainable fat loss while improving metabolic health and reducing the risk of conditions like diabetes and heart disease. Each program is tailored to a woman’s unique goals and physiology.

Of course, the spa also offers a wide range of skin rejuvenation treatments—including microneedling, RF skin tightening, injectables and laser therapies—all designed to help women feel radiant and empowered in their skin.

Every service at Tricia Vermilya Aesthetics is guided by medical expertise and a commitment to holistic care. By addressing both external appearance and internal wellness, the practice provides a comprehensive approach to women’s health—helping clients look amazing, feel stronger and age with confidence.

A LEGACY OF HONORING LIVES

Erin Heintzelman, Funeral Director | Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc.

As a woman leading a traditionally male-dominated industry, Erin stands as a modern example of how tradition and progress can coexist meaningfully. Erin is leading her family’s legacy into a new era— honoring its history while setting new standards for compassionate, community-centered care.

Erin Heintzelman, a fourth-generation funeral director, is a driving force behind the continued success and evolution of Heintzelman Funeral Home, Inc., with deep roots in the Lehigh Valley. With locations in Hellertown and Schnecksville, Erin’s family has served local families with care and compassion for generations. The Schnecksville location began in 1938 with her great-great uncle, Walter S. Bard, and was later passed down through the Heintzelman lineage to Erin’s father and uncle, Robert and David.

After earning her credentials from Northampton Community College’s Funeral Service Education Program—and later becoming a Certified Life Celebrant and Certified Crematory Operator—Erin officially joined the family business in 2018. Since then, she has taken an active role in shaping the future of the profession, while remaining deeply committed to its foundational values of dignity, empathy and respect.

In June 2025, Erin and her twin brother, Matt, took a bold step forward by joining forces with the long-established Stephens Funeral Home in Allentown, a name long respected for its generational service to the community. With this new chapter, the Heintzelman-Stephens Funeral Home, PC reflects more than just growth— it represents a meaningful partnership between two longstanding families united by a shared commitment to thoughtful, compassionate funerals. This new chapter broadens Erin’s footprint in the Lehigh Valley and allows her incredible team to serve even more families with the same reverence and compassion that defines both traditions.

The partnership also reflects shared values between the Heintzelman and Stephens families: a dedication to treating every family with dignity, honor and personalized attention.

INTENTIONAL COUNSELING & WELLNESS

A New Standard of Care: Redefining Mental Health in the Lehigh Valley

Intentional Counseling & Wellness brings together counseling and holistic care to set a new standard for mental health in the Lehigh Valley. Located in Bethlehem, the practice offers a blend of traditional talk therapy and integrative wellness services. Many of the clinicians specialize in women’s mental health, providing compassionate, expert care for those navigating infertility, perinatal mood disorders, pregnancy and postpartum challenges, hormonal shifts, parenting stress, identity changes and the emotional weight of empty nest syndrome.

Among their integrative wellness services is somatic bodywork, a restorative technique that uses sound and movement to help calm the nervous system and release stress and tension stored in the body, helping people reconnect with themselves in a deeper way.

With a foundation rooted in both clinical excellence and intentional leadership, the practice offers more than just treatment; it fosters a space where people feel seen, supported and truly connected through every stage of healing.

Intentional Counseling & Wellness offers trauma-informed talk therapy and holistic wellness support in a calm, welcoming space. The practice includes clinicians attuned to the complexities of women’s lives, from infertility and motherhood to identity shifts and transitional seasons.

Left to right, standing: Sarah Babcock, MS, LPC; Brandy Bate, DOO; Caitlin Campanella Dieterich, MS, LPC; Courtney Santos, MS, LPC; Dr. Theodora Malinowski, Psy.D. Seated: Melissa Kolodziej, BSW; Dr. Brenda Yost, Psy.D.; Nicole Chetcuti, ISTP

MADELEINES WITH Chef Sophie Vandecasteele

TEXT & PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

When Sophie Vandecasteele moved to the Lehigh Valley from France, she never imagined she’d one day open a bakery. But what started as a creative outlet during the pandemic blossomed into Sophistiqué, a cozy French bakery tucked into Walnut Street in Downtown Allentown.

“I was a chemist in France,” Vandecasteele shares. “And while I had my French baking diploma, I wasn’t a baker. That changed when I had kids and started baking at home. During COVID, I began posting my pastries on social media, and people kept encouraging me to sell them.”

Her culinary roots run deep—Vandecasteele grew up in a familyowned restaurant in France—but the idea of opening a bakery there never appealed to her. “What’s the point of opening another French bakery in France?” she laughs. “But here, it felt like something new. It became my American dream.”

That dream gained traction through pop-ups at Jay’s Local and busy weekends at farmers markets. “My customers really pushed me,” she says. “They kept asking when I’d open my own place.” In late 2024, she finally did.

Sophistiqué offers a rotating selection of fresh, handmade French pastries, quiches and sandwiches, all prepared in an open kitchen by Vandecasteele herself. “It was important to me that people can see everything being made. Almost everything is from scratch, and some ingredients I still import from France.”

The space is just as intentional as the menu—brick walls, big windows and art from a local painter. “When I found this spot, I wasn’t even looking,” she admits. “But it felt like a true shop, with character and charm.”

Despite the challenges of starting a business in a new country, Vandecasteele has found a home and a warm community in the Lehigh Valley. “We were supposed to be here for two years,” she says. “But I love the vibe. It’s not a big city, not countryside, it’s just right, and people here are so supportive.”

For this edition, Vandecasteele is sharing her recipe for madeleines, a beloved French cookie. “It’s simple, sweet but not too sweet—perfect with coffee,” she says. “It’s one of those little things that brings comfort. And for me, that’s what baking is all about.”

chefsophievdc | chef__sophie

MADELEINES

INGREDIENTS

2 extra-large eggs

½ c. sugar

¾ c. flour, sifted

½ tsp. baking powder, sifted

1 stick butter, melted

INSTRUCTIONS

Preheat oven to 465°F. Whisk the eggs with the sugar for 5 minutes until they are a mousse-like consistency.

Fold in the flour and baking powder.

Add in the melted butter and stir with a spatula.

Let batter sit at least 1 hour in the refrigerator (batter can be prepared up to one day in advance).

Fill each well of a madeleine pan and bake for 6–8 minutes at 465°F. Lower temperature to 425°F and bake for an additional 4–6 minutes.

Rosa Blanca

BRINGS CARIBBEAN FLAIR TO CENTER CITY ALLENTOWN

BY SUSAN GOTTSHALL | PHOTOGRAPHY BY ALISON CONKLIN

When I visited Allentown’s Rosa Blanca, I couldn’t stop thinking about Ernest Hemingway. The strong sense of place at this Cuban all-day café and rum bar made it easy to understand the author’s intense love for the food, spirit and culture of the Caribbean island nation where he lived for several decades.

Rosa Blanca is infused with a comfortable, easy-going island vibe. There’s a tropical undercurrent of electricity, fueled by the Latin music that fills the air and the richly appointed décor. It’s a vibe pulsing with living in the moment, inviting you to linger in this space that transports you to another place.

Chef Jose Garces—a 2009 Iron Chef winner and recipient of the James Beard Award for Best Chef, Mid-Atlantic, also in 2009—opened Rosa Blanca in March. The restaurant was inspired, he says, by cafés in Little Havana, a Cuban diaspora in Miami, Florida. Garces, who lives in Philadelphia, wanted to “bring a taste of Little Havana to the Lehigh Valley,” sharing Cuban culture through Rosa Blanca’s food and beverages.

The café takes its name from the poem “Cultivo Una Rosa Blanca,” by Cuban revolutionary José Martí—a poem that uses the image of a white rose (rosa blanca) as a symbol of peace and hope.

Located in a commercial space on the ground floor of The NINES at Cityplace, a Center City apartment community, Rosa Blanca has a definite café feel. The restaurant is small, with 32 seats inside and 28 outside, creating an intimacy that’s a large part of its charm. A gold-upholstered sofa, just inside the entrance, signals immediately the casual, comfortable sensibility.

Walls painted sea blue are sponged in bronze, giving them a weathered, antique look. Rose, gold and deeporange patterned floor tiles add bold color, as do lime green café tables. A boisterous Carnival poster, large floral artwork and a doorway mural of street architecture in muted shades bring an eclectic feel to the space. The result is a new restaurant rooted in Cuban culture that feels like it’s been around a long time.

The cuisine, says the chef, is “traditional Cuban with a Garces twist.” When he developed the menu, he chose authentic dishes, studying ingredients and planning enhancements through preparations that utilize a high level of technique and execution in the fromscratch kitchen. Rosa Blanca’s cook, chef Lucia Milonas, a Lehigh Valley resident who previously worked as a chef in Miami, is trained and mentored by Garces.

The menu offers a range of selections from empanadas and salads to pressed sandwiches, dips and chips, and sides such as tostones and papas guisadas (roasted baby potatoes in cumin and achiote compound butter).

From the starters options, the smoked ham croquettes, steeped in Cuban culture and tradition, are shaped like short, thick cigars. A crisp coating yields a creamy interior of smoked ham mixed with white sofrito and béchamel sauce, the ham’s smoky notes well balanced with its saltiness and the sauce’s richness. The ohso-crisped exterior intensifies the creamy filling in these delectable logs of flavor.

That iconic Cuban sandwich, the Cubano, is at its best here. Featuring lechón asado brined, marinated slowroasted pork with an herb crust—smoked ham and Swiss cheese with pickles and a creamy mustard-based spread on Cuban water bread, the golden pressed sandwich starts with a bit of crunch outside. That gives way, in decadent contrast, to creamy melted cheese, the meat’s smoky depth and the pickles’ welcome texture and bright, counterpoint flavor notes.

The vaca frita cheesesteak brings to mind an American classic. This rendition, however, is based on the Cuban dish vaca frita—fried and shredded skirt or flank steak. At Rosa Blanca, the crispy beef is paired with caramelized onions and

Cooper Sharp cheese on Cuban water bread. Pressed like its Cubano counterpart, the sandwich’s chewy bread is perfect foil for the meat and dreamy, oozing melted cheese. This version without tomato sauce is more focused in flavor and neater and easier to eat than its American cousin. The accompanying salsa rosa (mayo/ketchup sauce) adds lightness to the meat and cheese.

A Rosa Bowl, built on white rice with lechón asado, is dynamite. Toppings include roasted red peppers, pickled red onions, yucca fries and maduros (fried sweet plantains). Mojo criollo sauce— orange and lime juices, toasted garlic, toasted cumin, cilantro, parsley and oregano—notches up the volume of this cornucopia of flavor to maximum.

Brimming with texture and taste, this bowl is, in a word, delicious. The tender pork with its herb flavoring brings meaty satisfaction to the super crunchy, textural superhero yucca fries, topped by an avalanche of chopped garlic, lime juice, parsley and cilantro—bold flavor to wake up tired taste buds. Roasted red peppers add depth, and the plantains contribute super yummy caramelized sweetness. Pickled red onions, jewel-like in color, balance all the elements with zip and zing, and all of the flavors infuse the rice, making it a savory summary of the combination.

The focus on Cuban culture extends to Rosa Blanca’s bar, which Garces describes as “rum-centric,” because rum is a big part of the island’s culture.

Believe it or not, US Prohibition contributed to shaping Cuba’s bar culture, says Kaitlin Cornelius, director of operations for Chef Garces’ brand. During Prohibition,

Americans in the southern US went to Cuba to imbibe legally, says Cornelius. As a result, Cuba developed a cocktail culture with many drinks based on rum, because of its abundance and high quality in the Caribbean. Cornelius says that Rosa Blanca aims to highlight that moment in time in Cuba when drinks like mojitos and Cuba libres were being developed as part of the island’s rising cocktail culture.

The café offers about 50 different kinds of rum, from the familiar to the more esoteric, high-end aged and complex, deep dark liquors. Bartenders use the spirit in as many different cocktails as possible: café staff developed the El Jefe Rum Old Fashioned—a cocktail usually made with bourbon or rye whiskey—and named it for Cornelius’ father, because it’s his favorite drink.

The Rosa Junglebird is a good example of the TLC that goes into Rosa Blanca’s cocktails. A combination of Scarlet Ibis rum, house guava bitter liqueur, acid-adjusted pineapple, banana syrup and fresh lime juice, the cocktail is garnished with a pineapple frond, dried lime slice and dehydrated pink pineapple. It’s a beautiful, tart drink that refreshes the eyes as well as the taste buds.

But here’s the thing: the recipe for this drink requires constant adjustment. As simple as the drink seems, the sweetness of a pineapple varies from fruit to fruit, which means other recipe ingredients need to be regularly adapted in this complex concoction to maintain balance and consistency.

Made with Plantation 3 Stars rum, mint, fresh lime and sugar, the pineapple mojito is like the Caribbean in

a glass, its subtle sweet fruit flavor satisfying like a cooling tropical breeze. What I love most about this drink, though, is the large garnish of fresh mint. Sipping the cocktail and inhaling the herb’s lovely aroma transports you right to a summer garden.

The café’s “rum-centric” beverage program shouldn’t scare anyone, says Cornelius. Talk to the bartender, she recommends: pull one of the rums, taste it, then pull another and compare the flavors; taste the difference. “It’s a can’t-miss,” Cornelius promises.

Another beverage program integral to this all-day café is the Cuban coffee made with Philadelphia’s La Colombe artisanal brew. The café Cubano or cafecito is a small, strong and sweet shot of espresso with brown sugar. The cortadito is a small cafecito with a dash of steamed milk, and the sweet, creamy Café Bombón, made with espresso and sweetened condensed milk, shows off a layered look. More familiar cappuccinos, lattes and cups of drip coffee are also available.

Along with Cuban coffee, Rosa Blanca offers island-style breakfast options: empanadas (egg and queso; chorizo, egg and queso) and pastels (berry and cream cheese; guava and cream cheese). There’s a taste of Cuba available any time of day at Rosa Blanca.

Garces set out to create a restaurant worthy of return visits, he says. He certainly succeeded in my book. I can’t wait to return; next time I’m sampling the café’s daiquiri— Hemingway’s favorite drink when he was in Cuba. I’ll toast the author and his wise fondness for this vibrant culture and cuisine as well as Rosa Blanca, which brings a touch of Cuban soul to downtown Allentown.

Rosa Blanca

950 Hamilton St., Allentown

484.273.0881

allentown.rosablancarestaurant.com

HOURS

Breakfast & lunch:

Wed.–Sun. 7 a.m.– 3 p.m.

Dinner: Tues.–Sun. 4–10 p.m.

Bar: Tues.–Sun. 4 p.m.–midnight

Cost: Breakfast mains: $4–$5

Specialty coffee: $3.25–$5

Lunch & dinner starters: $4–$9

Mains: $8–$22

Parking: Metered parking in front of restaurant. Maple Street Deck (920 W. Maple St., Allentown) is one block away.

Reservations: Reservations are not accepted.

WHAT TO ORDER

The vaca frita cheesesteak is a savory sensation. Don’t miss the yucca fries or the maduros in your Rosa Bowl: each is a taste bonanza. On a hot day, the mojito is a must—this cooling drink is sure to drop your internal temperature by at least 10 degrees.

BY ANGELA VENNEMANN PHOTOGRAPHY BY MATTHEW CANNON

SWITCHBACK PIZZA CO. HAPPY PIG

Sometimes, just because it’s easy, you order a takeout pizza from a chain. And it’s fine, but you know as well as we do that it just doesn’t scratch that itch. You want fresh dough made in small batches. Cooked in a wood fire. Impossibly fresh toppings. Pizza magic.

Andrew Foreman and Marguerite Viola, the husband-wife owners of Switchback Pizza Co. in Emmaus, know how to create that magic, and they’ve been doing it since 2012 after spending time learning their craft in Italy. After all this time, and after creating countless signature pizzas and seasonal specials, Foreman and Viola still fall back on one of their longest-enduring customer favorites: The Happy Pig.

“The Happy Pig was one of our first pizzas when we started at farmers markets 13 years ago,” Viola says. The goal was to make a pizza using only local meat from producers with pasture-raised

livestock—hence the name Happy Pig. “It has local Italian sausage and local bacon. We purchase slab bacon and hand-cut it, making it closer to Italian lardons than American bacon,” Viola says.

A truly good pizza starts with the dough, and this dough is made anywhere from 36 to 48 hours before it’s served, which Viola says brings out the sweetness of the flour. The pizza sauce is made from 100 percent Italian tomatoes and salt—nothing else.

Fresh mozzarella and local meats grace the top of the pie, and it’s cooked to perfection in Switchback’s wood-fire oven.

It’s no surprise that customers love the Happy Pig. “This pizza was a hit from the first day we served it at the Saucon Valley Farmers Market,” Viola says. “People love the name of the pizza and its distinctive flavor.”

Of course, like any food, it’s only accentuated with the right drink, and

READY TO TRY IT? Tag @lvstylemag when you do!

Switchback has diners covered there, too. Foreman and Viola also helm Red Balloon Cider, with Switchback’s dining room doubling as a tasting room for their handcrafted ciders. “In general, cider pairs especially nicely with richer foods such as meat, because its acidity balances with the fattiness of the meat,” Viola explains. Her go-to match for the Happy Pig is Red Balloon’s Prophecy of Kilgharrah, a cider aged on Dragon’s Breath peppers and mango. If spice isn’t for you, she also recommends their most popular cider, Purple Rain, crafted with butterfly pea flowers and bearing a beautiful purple hue. Switchback Pizza Co. recently extended their hours to include Sundays, which makes it all the easier for you to score a bit of pizza perfection.

525 Jubilee St., Emmaus 610.928.0641 | switchbackpizza.com

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.

SERVICES INCLUDE:

BBL, MOXI and HALO • Toxin injections • Fillers

SkinPen/Morpheus8 • PRP/PRF Omnilux • And More!