The Irregular March 2020

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The Stick Figure Poetry logo was designed by Darrell Parry.

by Christine Lake The Lehigh Valley is home to a vibrant arts scene that celebrates all types of creativity.

A new poetry group, Stick Figure Poetry, is offering workshops and open mics for any budding or established artists to come perform and learn in an open, welcoming environment. The Open Mics take place on the third Thursday of every month from 7-8 PM, with a workshop at 6 PM, at Mary Meuser Memorial Library in Easton’s Wilson Borough. March’s open mic, set for Thursday, March 19, will be right before World Poetry Day, recognized each year on March 21.

The United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) proclaimed March 21 as World Poetry Day in 1999. Poetry has always been a large

part of the oral tradition of storytelling, and is a way to learn about the values of all cultures. At its heart, poetry reminds listeners that individuals everywhere share the same feelings and ask the same questions. The goal of World Poetry Day is to engender a renewed appreciation of poetry, and to strengthen the ties between poetry and the other arts such as dance, music, theatre and visual arts.

Stick Figure Poetry has a similar goal. “The poem, Stick Figures, on the header of stickfigurepoetry.com is about making new friends,” explain the group’s co-founders.

“We believe that poetry builds community and have found the local open mic crowd to continued on page 3

PENNSYLVANIA CELEBRATES WOMEN

by Christine Lake March is National Women’s History Month, a time to spotlight and celebrate the accomplishments of women throughout history. This year also marks the 100th year that women were able to vote, adding an extra historical layer to 2020’s celebrations.

Pennsylvania recognizes noteworthy women in several ways and some local women and their accomplishments have been featured. The Governor’s Office, in conjunction with the Pennsylvania Historical & Museum Commission, the Pennsylvania Commission for Women and the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania put together an exhibition called Game Changers which highlights 32 notable Pennsylvania women.

The Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania also recognizes outstanding women for their service and contributions to the Commonwealth each year, and the Pennsylvania Commission for Women recognizes female veterans at a special ceremony.

Art Matters page 10

Women’s History Month began as “Women’s History Week” in 1982. Over the next five years, Congress passed resolutions to label a week in March for celebrating Women’s History. In 1987, the National Women’s History Project petitioned Congress to turn the week into a month, and Congress complied, and from 1988-1994 kept the resolutions going for the declaration of this national recognition. Since 1995, the President has issued an annual proclamation designating March as “Women’s History Month”.

One of the historical accomplishments of women being celebrated this year is ratification of the 19th Amendment giving women the vote. The national vote took place in August 1920, but Pennsylvania voted to ratify in June of 1919. To celebrate, an exhibit called Game Changers: Pennsylvania Women Who Made History was put together to be displayed at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg through the end of 2019.

As of January 2020, the exhibit has moved to the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg. The exhibit highlights 32 Pennsylvania women and their accomplishments.

Some, like Grace Kelly and Pearl Buck, are basically household names, while many Call 610-258-4330 to advertise

Gardening page 11

Jeanetter Reibman is one of 32 Pennsylvania women featured in the exhibit Game Changers: Pennsylvania Women Who Made History at the State Museum of Pennsylvania in Harrisburg.

March 2020

The Irregular

IRREGULAR THOUGHTS Women of Strength

The Irregular Lydia E. Bruneo Publisher & Editor

Hello March... it’s time to celebrate women! The national celebration of women’s accomplishments originally began as a week-long event in 1981. March 1987 was the first Women’s History Month. “Women’s History Month honors and celebrates the struggles and achievements of American women throughout the history of the United States. American women have struggled throughout our history to gain rights not simply for themselves but for many other under represented and disenfranchised groups in America.” Additional info on Women’s History Month can be found at womenshistorymonth.gov.

Michelle L. Corby Creative Director Contributors: Carole J. Heffley Richard F. Hope Christine Lake Janene Otten James Jacob Pierri Pam Ruch Chris Vilardi

I am fortunate to know several strong and amazing women, and once a week I meet with some of them for coffee. We call ourselves Women of Strength Lehigh Valley. Women of Strength is an informal group of women who meet Saturday mornings at 10 AM at Easton Public Market. The group originated as a few friends meeting weekly for coffee and conversation and grew into a group of strong women who meet to share stories and empower each other. We offer each other support and celebrate each other’s accomplishments. Occasionally we have guest speakers, followed by a discussion, most of which are organized by our beloved member Marishka Titus Michener. We owe our title to Marishka as well.

Our most recent speaker, Maryanne Russell, told us about her life as a NYC-based Expert Corporate and Editorial Photographer, her reasons for moving to Easton, and her latest venture with life and business partner Mark—REEDS403 Cowork Lounge at 403 Northampton Street. Maryanne, a professional photographer, began her career at Time Inc., and her work has graced some the most influential magazines in the industry—Time, Forbes, People, Sky, Fortune, Lodging and InStyle. Russell also mentored young women photographers and donated her talents to non-profits.

Maryanne says, “I was privileged to have turned my childhood hobby of photography into a fulfilling first career; I’m equally thrilled to now share our aesthetic sensibility with the community, as well as to be part of Easton’s Renaissance.”

Reach us at: PO Box 85 Easton, PA 18044 610-258-4 330 bruneo1776@aol.com

Past speakers have included Melba Tolliver, journalist and former NYC news anchor and reporter, and the first African American woman to anchor a network TV news broadcast; Susan Ravitz, a peace and justice activist since high school who, with her husband Artie, advocates for the people of Vieques, a small Puerto Rican island where they spend their winters; hair stylist and make-up artist Maryanne Russell, co-owner of REEDS403 Cowork Lounge speaks at a recent Adriana Garcia, a double amputee who attended the 2019 Amputee Women of Strenth meeting.

Coalition National Conference; and Dr. Bonnie Winfield who directs photo by Janen Otten an art therapy group called The Journey Home for women inside the Northampton County Department of Corrections and in the upstairs we do welcome men and have had male speakers, including space at SmARTivities Showcase in Centre Square.

Mayor Sal Panto. Women of Strength meetings are a great way to meet new people, network, and relax. We are a group of women Women of Strength has grown from a just a few friends to of varying ages, backgrounds and interests—We are Women of approximately 50 women, some who attend every week, and some Strength! Please feel free to join us any time. To receive our who come and go. The group has been a great source of strength newsletter, put together by Women of Strength member Janene for me. I have made some great friends, and the weekly interaction Otten, email womenofstrengthlv@gmail.com. Visit on Facebook with these wonderful women has helped me to grow as a person. at @womenofstrengthlehighvalley.

Founded by Carole J. Heffley and James R. Hicks, Jr. 1996

There is no cost to attend a Women of Strength meeting, and all See you in April! Don’t forget to support your local community... are welcome. We meet at the tables in the back of Easton Public BUY LOCAL, ADVERTISE LOCAL!!

Market by the kitchen. Show up any Saturday at 10. Depending on schedules, some ladies show up a little later, some leave earlier; Lydia E. Bruneo it’s very informal but welcoming. And it is not strictly women; Publisher & Editor

Buy local.

Remember, support your community.

Women of Strength Lehigh Valley logo design by Lydia E. Bruneo

2 The Irregular

March 2020

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My New Friends Are Stick Figures continued from page 1

be like an extended family.” Darrell Parry, who founded the group with his daughter Eva Parry, has been around the local arts community for about 15 years as a member of the Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group, doing performances at Riverside Festival of the Arts and Touchstone Theater. Darrell introduced Eva to the scene that he had come to love, and she was hooked too. “There are a large number of pocket groups of writers spread throughout the area that seem to have little contact with one another,” say the Parrys. “Writers groups don’t seem to have any knowledge of the open mic scene and the open mic-ers have maybe heard of the groups but don’t know much about them.” Reaching out to and pulling these groups into one event is a way to bring a greater range of work to one place.

Although the local open mic scene is a very welcoming and safe environment where performers of all genres are welcomed and embraced, each individual event has its own style based on the venue, the host and the geographic location. “Since we’re at a library, we tend to get fewer musicians, but we draw more poets and fiction writers,” say the Stick Figure founders. “We’re hoping to encourage more musicians, and hopefully collaborations. We’ve got plans in place for outdoor performances when the weather gets warmer as a way to encourage this.” The Parrys recognize that the local crowd that frequents the open mic events is respectful and welcoming to all performers who take the stage, and that there can be a lot of crossover in attendance. But they also recognize that people—both performers and audience members— have busy lives and schedules, so more opportunities to both make and see art is better for everyone.

This year marks the beginning of the workshop component to the Stick Figure open mics. “We’re hoping to bring in some experienced workshop presenters from area writers groups to share their knowledge of flash fiction, poetry, editing, publishing and basic word craft,” explain the Parrys. The idea is to get attendees thinking about their current works in new ways. Presenters will provide writing prompts or other exercises to help the participants create a work to share at the open mic later. Topics vary by workshop so attendees will never see the same exact thing twice. Some sessions will focus on specific forms of poetry, or categories of writing like nature writing. Others will focus on broader topics such as word usage or poetry structures. There might even be a ‘zine publishing workshop later in the year.

Mary Meuser Memorial Library was a good choice for Stick Figure Poetry in terms of location. Darrell had been on the library’s board of trustees in 2016, and there was a call for some new programming at that time. Poetry performances were a good fit for the space and Darrell’s interests. Open mics had been happening at the space since that time, and Stick Figure Poetry is the re-branding of those open mics for 2020 and beyond. Eva had always been a regular at those sessions helping with set-up, but this year she’s taken over hosting duties.

The appeal of poetry is different to everyone, as is the case with most forms of art. What you see, what you hear and what you feel will be unique to you, as the listener. But there is a universal appeal of art, and of poetry to everyone. “The thing that draws me to poetry is how you can encompass tons of emotions in a small amount of words,” says Eva. “Poetry feels more true to the writers’ being than fiction and can be about just simple things that the writer feels.” For Darrell, poetry is a means to self-understanding. “As an intuitive person, I don’t really think about my ideas or opinions on something,” he says. “I just sort of know how I feel but if someone asks me why, I can’t always give an answer until I write a poem about it.”

Stick Figure Poetry Open Mics take place the third Thursday of every month from 7-8 PM at Mary Meuser Library in Wilson Borough.

Stick Figure Poetry Open Mics take place on the third Thursday of every month from 7-8 PM at Mary Meuser Memorial Library, 1803 Northampton Street, Easton. Workshops begin at 6 PM. All are welcome to participate or simply to listen. More information can be found at: facebook.com/groups/1430565513649816/ or stickfigurepoetry.com.

For more information about all kinds of poetry in the Valley, visit lehighvalleypoetry.org. World Poetry Day information can be found at un.org/en/events/poetryday.

Pennsylvania Celebrates Women others are virtually unknown despite being no less accomplished. This includes a Lehigh Valley connection in Jeanette Reibman, the first woman to have been elected to the State Senate, for either Northampton or Lehigh Counties.. A former attorney for the United States War Department from 1940-1942, Reibman relocated to Easton to raise a family in 1943. In 1954, she ran for and was elected to the Easton School Board, but she quickly realized that she could make more of an impact at the state level. She served in the Pennsylvania House of Representatives from 1958 to 1966, and then was Pennsylvania State Senator for the 18th District from 1969 to 1996.

“I am extremely proud of the shared legacy of Senator Reibman and myself,” says current State Senator Lisa Boscola. “What is remarkable about the 18th Senatorial District is that this seat has been represented by a female longer than any other Senate seat in all of Pennsylvania. I believe we shared a similar vision of governing that was not focused on partisanship but on making the lives of all Pennsylvanians better. It is never lost on me that that the people of the 18th district elected strong female voices at a time when few women voices were being heard. I am certain Senator Reibman would be proud to see the increased female voices that are now present in the Senate Chamber today.”

The Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania has been nominating outstanding women to be recognized by the Governor since 1949. Nearly 500 women have been recognized to date, and the list includes athletes, civic leaders, philanthropists, researchers, artists, business executives, environmentalists, government officials, journalists, social activists, poets and more. The list of Daughters over the years represents an impressive cross-section of influential women from every part of the state and every type of employment. They all have in common a history of significant, positive impact in their communities and the Commonwealth. Nominees come from public-minded Pennsylvania non-profits, and are reviewed by the Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania membership.

“The striking thing, when you look at it, is how vast and impactful the roster of winners is,” explains Velma Redmond, regional chair of the central region of the organization and a Distinguished Daughter in 2016. “To see that breadth of talent, it reminds us how important it is for this history to be

told. It is a very deeply felt honor to be part of such a distinguished group of women, past and present.”

Awardees are honored with a luncheon at the Governor’s Residence in Harrisburg.

The Lehigh Valley is home to one Distinguished Daughter: Patricia W. Levin, recognized in 2016 for her contributions to Head Start of the Lehigh Valley and Community Services for Children, Inc. Levin was an advocate for early childhood education long before it became a buzzword. She first became involved with Head Start in 1972 and she founded the Pennsylvania Head Start Association.

She served on the Governor’s Head Start Collaboration Project, and she testified before Congress about the effectiveness of Head Start. Before her retirement in 2006, she worked with school districts to provide Head Start classrooms and family services to the most at-risk children.

“To have been recognized as a State Senator Lisa Boscola, one of two women to ever have been elected to the PennDistinguished Daughter of PA stunned sylvania State Senate for either Northampton or Lehigh Counties. courtesy photo and deeply moved me,” says Levin today.

“I am eternally grateful to the organization who, through this award, have recognized the importance of early education and the need to level the playing field for low income children.”

Rounding out the statewide celebrations, the Pennsylvania Commission for Women will hold its fifth annual Female Veterans Day Ceremony at the Governor’s Residence, with honored veterans to be selected by Governor Tom Wolf and First Lady Frances Wolf. The sacrifices of these women, sometimes delaying careers and families, to serve their fellow citizens, inspired the Wolfs to make honoring female veterans the centerpiece of their Women’s History Month events.

For more information on Women’s History month visit womenshistorymonth.gov. A gallery of the “Game Changers” is located here: residence.pa.gov/The-Residence/Pages/Game-Changers-Photo-Gallery.aspx.

Further information on the exhibit at the State Museum of Pennsylvania can be found at statemuseumpa.org.

To learn about the Distinguished Daughters of PA, visit distinguisheddaughtersofpa.org, and The Pennsylvania Commission for Women website is governor.pa.gov/about/pennsylvania-commission-for-women.

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March 2020

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WALKING TOUR St. Luke’s Health Center (414-16 Northampton Street)

by Richard F. Hope 2-story brick building with an applied modern façade facing Northampton Street, on property with a 30’ frontage on Northampton Street x 220’ deep.

This building is located on the western portion of Original Town Lot No. 215, as laid out in 1752 by William Parsons when Easton was established. A later Easton historian, probably relying on old Easton tradition but with no source specified, stated that this Lot was the site of “the hotel of Peter Kachlein and the Opps”.

Tavern co-proprietor Col. Peter Kachlein (1722–1789) (also spelled Kichlein and other variations) was a very prominent figure in early Easton history. He is said to have attended the University of Heidelberg in Germany before immigrating to America, and was certainly at least schooled in that university town. He had been one of the early settlers in the area, perhaps establishing as far as about two miles West of what would become the town in 1749, before Easton itself was even surveyed or established. For both of these reasons, he became prominent in Easton’s German community. As early as 1755 he was one of six trustees entrusted with subscription money to build a schoolhouse in the new town (“which also may occasionally be used as a church for any protestant minister”), and he personally subscribed £2 towards the project.

There are records confirming that he kept an inn at some location in the 1750s, among them a report by the Easton Constable in 1754, and two in 1755, listing “Peter Kitlin” as a person licensed to retail liquor “by Small Measure”. At the term of court for September 1758, “Peter Keichlein” sued Timothy Horsfield in his capacity as executor of the will of Easton’s founder, William Parsons. Kachlein claimed that on 23 February 1757, Parsons had requested and guaranteed payment for “Meat Drink Lodging and hospitality” to be provided to sixteen men plus “Lieutenant Miller”, and “also for divers Indians and fodder for their Horses and Geldings”. For this, Kachlein claimed the sum of £12 12 shillings and eightpence, as well as another £5 that Parsons owed him, •plus other divers Sums of Money for other, unspecified Labor and Services. Timothy Horsfield answered this complaint (in a document which is missing from the file), and attached a countersuit against “Peter Kechlein of Northampton County Innkeeper” at the term of court for September 1759. This offsetting claim (in a document which still exists) asserted that Kechlein had owed Parsons a debt of £9 14 shillings and ninepence. No resolution to these offsetting lawsuits is on file, but they clearly establish “Keichlein” as the proprietor of an inn during the period between the Easton Indian Treaty Conferences of the French and Indian War. They also suggest that the hostelry catered to a military company, as well as to “divers Indians”, during an Indian Conference. Rev. Condit’s History of Easton, Penn’a confirms (apparently based upon oral history, although no source is identified) that Col. Kachlein had been “a hotel keeper, and rented his large room in his new house, up one pair of stairs, to the Commissioners for holding courts, elections, and all other public business.” This was presumably before Kachlein became a Commissioner himself, in 1759, which would have made it necessary for him to divest his ownership of the tavern serving as the Commission’s meeting-place in order to avoid a conflict of interest.

After leaving the innkeeping business, Peter Kachlein went on to have a brilliant career in Easton. He built Easton’s earliest mill on the Bushkill – a grist mill – opposite Mount Jefferson in 1761 or ’62. He added a sawmill in 1762 located slightly downstream at the bend lying in Easton at the base of Mount Jefferson to the West of 4th Street. Kachlein assumed a prominent position in Easton before the Revolution, serving in a variety of local offices including the county Sheriff. In 1774, just before the Revolution, he was the second man elected to the county Committee of Safety that ultimately took responsibility for the area’s rebellion against the King. In 1776, he was the local militia Colonel and leader of the “Flying Camp” sent by Northampton County to aid General Washington in 1776. His regiment served gallantly under Washington at the disastrous Battle of Brooklyn (Long Island), but with great loss to itself (including the capture of Colonel Kachlein himself). Kachlein’s bravery during the Revolutionary War preserved his reputation as a prominent citizen after his return to Easton was secured. In 1789, he became the first Chief Burgess of Easton when the town was formally designated a borough. Meanwhile, in 1759 (apparently after Col. Kachlein had ceased being an owner in the inn), Lot No. 215 was finally officially “patented” by the Penn Family to Valentine Opp (sometimes indexed as Upp), for a ground rent of 7 shillings per year. Significantly, this is the year after the huge Indian Treaty Conference of 1758 concluded in Easton, during which there had been a critical shortage of accommodations for the visiting politicians, soldiers, and others who attended them. With the burning need for another inn relaxed, Opp apparently decided to sell the inn, but wanted to get an official land title in order to do so. At some time after 1759 but before 1766, Valentine Opp sold Lot No. 215 to Anthony “Asheir”. This sale was probably done about 1763, which is when Anthony “Asheir” sold the house that he had held on the other side of Northampton Street.

• Anthony “Asheir” (also spelled “Asheyer” or simply “Esser”) had been Easton’s butcher (“victualler”) at the time of the Indian Treaty Conferences, which had provided him with a grand opportunity for increased profits serving the influx of people into Easton. However, he had been pressured by the canny Quaker delegation into giving up his house for their accommodation during the 1758 Conference – or else Quaker Nathaniel Vernon would boycott “Asheir’s” meat business. Since Vernon was responsible for buying beef for the more than 500 Indian attendees, this was a serious threat, to which the butcher had been forced to bend.

Despite his move to the South side of Northampton Street in about 1763, “Asheir” did not remain long at that location either. In a deed dated 1766, he resold the Kachlein/Opp tavern property to “cordwainer” (shoe maker) Henry Shnyder. Tax records list Shnyder as a shoemaker in 1772, but in 1774 (then spelled “Schneider”) he had become an innkeeper. A map by historian A.D. Chidsey shows the house of Henry Shnyder (which was, accordingly, the original Kachlein/Opp tavern building) on the western portion of Lot No. 215 in 1776.

Henry Shnyder retained the property until he died in 1778. His widow, Juliana, then immediately married John Shook, the neighbor next door (on Lot No. 214, to the West). A guardianship was established for five of the Shnyder children who were under the age of 14. In 1893 (fifteen years later), the youngest girls had presumably reached age 14, and the oldest son (Peter) had already died before his 20th birthday. The oldest daughter had by now married John Herster, who became one of Easton’s most successful merchants, while daughter Eliza (who had not been listed as a minor in 1778) was also married (to Christopher Meixsell).

At this point, the oldest surviving Shnyder son, Henry (Jr.), petitioned Orphan’s Court to have the family home valued, so that the estate could be settled among the surviving children. This was done, and a value of £200 8 shillings and fourpence was placed on it by the Sheriff’s “Inquisition”. Henry Shnyder Jr. himself acquired title, presumably at this money figure, and immediately sold the western half of Lot No. 215 to his enterprising brother-in-law, John Herster, for £100 4 shillings and tuppence .

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March 2020

• Shnyder continued to hold the eastern half of the Lot until 1812, when he bought out the annual ground rent obligation to the Penn Family under the original property “patent” on the whole Lot, thus clearing his title. He then immediately sold the remaining half of the Lot that he still owned (with a house on it) to Philip Mixsell Jr. for $6,500.

John Herster (1758-1856) was an early Easton industrialist who built two mills and two distilleries along Bushkill Creek. He was a Burgess of Easton, County Treasurer from 1795 until 1801, and an incorporator of the Easton and Wilkes-Barre Turnpike Co. (1803), the Easton Water Co. (1817), the Lehigh Chain Bridge (1811), and the Easton Delaware Bridge Co. Even in his 90s, he was remembered as being an “imposing figure”. His four-story “Homestead” facing Centre Square still stands, known as the “Tindall House” that is incorporated into Jacob Mayer’s building façade.

In 1855, this Northampton Street property of John Herster was listed as the place of business of William Barnet, distiller. It was numbered 152 Northampton Street under the street numbering scheme then in effect. The Barnet Family were relatives of John Herster. In addition, William Barnet’s distillery was apparently jointly owned with John Herster, and operated by them in conjunction with a mill on the Bushkill, located at 13th Street. In 1855, William Barnet’s residence was on South 4th Street.

John Herster died in 1856, at age 97. John Herster’s will gave effective ownership of the property to his grandson, John J. Herster, but (in light of later events) the Barnet Family probably continued to lease it. John J. Herster died on 15 August 1866, and his daughter and only child, sold it the following year to William Barnet for $9,100. After William Barnet died without a will, Orphan’s Court “partitioned” his property to divide among his various heirs. This parcel became “Purpart No. 3”, which was accepted by his son, George H. Barnet, at the price appraised by the Court’s commissioners. By the early 1870s, this Northampton Street property had become George H. Barnet’s house (residence). It was still listed as 152 Northampton Street at that time. The same address was also shared by Jeremiah Anglemeyer’s hardware store.

With the inauguration of the modern street numbering scheme in 1874, George Barnet’s office was listed at 416 Northampton Street, and his residence became No. 418.

• No. 418 was associated with the Franklin House hotel – now a parking lot next door to this building. It is not known whether the street number was reassigned, or the directory suffered a typographical error, or whether George H. Barnet was actually living in the Franklin House for a time.

• Jeremiah Anglemeyer’s hardware store was assigned the address of 414 Northampton Street.

In 1878, George H. Barnet put the property into a trust. The trustee, Benjamin F. Riegel, was a respected businessman, the son of Riegel Paper Co. founder John Leidy Riegel. [In the early 20th century, Benjamin Riegel would build a retirement mansion for himself in Easton at 44 North 2nd Street, and another for his brother Howard at 214 Spring Garden Street.] Riegel was to hold the trust for the benefit of George H. Barnet himself for life, and after Barnet’s death was to

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Walking Tour

St. Luke’s Health Center (414-16 Northampton Street)

go to his mother, Elizabeth Barnet (widow of William). Such a trust might have been used in an attempt to insulate the property from creditor claims. By 1880, it is clear that George H. Barnet was living in the building, because his residence address had become 414 Northampton Street (rather than No. 418, as earlier). George died shortly thereafter, however, without any offspring, and since his mother had already died during his lifetime, the trustee sold the property for $18,741.85 to George’s sister, Mary, who had married Joseph Hackett.

• Joseph Hackett, who served a term in the Pennsylvania State Assembly from 1879-82, offered to donate Hackett Park to the City of Easton, only to have the offer refused. His son, State Senator W. Clayton Hackett, renewed the offer in 1914, at which time the City reconsidered and accepted the park.

In early 1894, W.A. Kemmerer’s notary public office was listed at 416 Northampton Street. Beginning in that year and continuing into the early 20th century, Wilson A. Kemmerer and Henry P.B. Odenwelder operated a firm dealing in real estate, to which they later added an insurance business. They had a particular interest in selling commercial properties, such as the “old Seitz’s Brewery” (on South 2nd Street), and the Delaware Ice Company’s former property along the Delaware River. Their business address was 414-16 Northampton Street.

On 4 June 1905, Jeremiah Anglemeyer died, at age 84. His former clerk, W. Stewart Weaver, returned to take over the hardware store at 414 Northampton Street, now with his son Charles Weaver as a partner.

The elder Weaver continued to work at the hardware store until a few weeks before his own death in 1926.

A photograph taken in 1910, primarily of the building next door, shows the building as a 4-story frame structure. A sign painted on the side announced the sale of seeds and tools, as well as hardware.

After property owner Mary Hackett died, her will left the building to her children, W. Clayton Hackett and M. Leila Hackett. In 1912, using an intermediary, they transferred the property to Clayton alone. W. Clayton Hackett was, at various times, President of Hackett Company, Inc. (men’s clothes), Vice President of the Easton National Bank, Vice President of the Lehigh Water Co., and a Pennsylvania State Senator elected in 1914 and 1918. He died in 1930, and is buried in Easton Cemetery. His mansion still stands at 165 Spring Garden Street.

After Senator Hackett’s death in 1930, Orphan’s Court granted a petition to sell the property in a private sale to Philmon F. Tucker for $38,000. It then permitted Tucker’s wife, Rose, to be substituted as the buyer. At that time, commercial space in the building was leased to the W.S. Weaver hardware store.

By 1941, a photograph shows the building on this property had been replaced by a 4-story brick “Italianate” style structure containing the Lantern ice cream and candy store (at No. 414) and a vacant shop at No. 416 with a projecting sign proclaiming that the previous tenant had been The Quality Shop. A later caption to this photograph identified the building as the same one that later housed St. Luke’s Medical Center.

A survey of Easton buildings in the late 1970s/early 1980s identified the building, by then only two stories high, as being a “post 1930, modern commercial” structure. This would appear to be describing the present two-story building – which has apparently been cut down from the 1941 structure – with a modernized façade applied over the underlying bricks. The survey’s “post 1930” conclusion was apparently reached without regard to the underlying, much older brick building.

Rose Tucker held title to the property until 2000, when it was sold for $132,000 to Koehler-Kheel Realty, LLC. This collaboration of former New York chef Peter Koehler and national labor mediator Theodore Kheel invested in Easton properties with a view to rehabilitating and revitalizing the city. They redeveloped the building from its former use as the Tucker Yarns store, after which it became one of the finalists in the “Properties of Merit” award election held in 2004, while serving as the St. Luke’s Health Center. Legaspi Enterprises LLC purchased the property in January 2018. Owen Legaspi, a New Jersey based physical therapist, is renovating the building with plans to open Easton Grounds, a combination café/bistro, event venue and motorcycle studio.

[In the interests of space, the endnotes to this article have been omitted. The complete article (including endnotes) will be filed in the Marx Local History Room of the Easton Area Public Library, and in the Sigal Museum Library of the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society. The author’s articles on this and other buildings in the Easton Historic District are also available for review or download from the www.eastonhistory.com website.]

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March 2020

The Irregular

Film screenings are just one of a variety of science and environmental programming at Nurture Nature Center (NNC) in Easton. Films focusing on topics that are relative to the community are an excellent method of creating dialogue. The topics can affect us individually, as a community, as a country, and even globally. A film screening educates the audience and opens up discussion about the topic in regard to finding solutions that benefit the whole and serve the greater good. When people come together to better understand something and how it will shape the future, together they can imagine their vision for the future and how they can work together to achieve it.

Nurture Nature recently began a film series titled, Imagined Futures, Global to Local. NNC’s Fellow, Lauren Fosbenner, put the series together. January offered a screening of Tomorrow, showcasing alternative and creative ways of viewing agriculture, economics, energy, and education.

February’s film was Save our Land, Save our Towns, a PBS documentary focusing on land development. Based on the book by Thomas Hylton, the film explores strategies for preserving our countryside and enhancing our towns and cities. Former Governor Ed Rendell called the work, “A thought-provoking book for everyone who cares about Pennsylvania’s future.”

NNC’s Program Coordinator, Liesel Dreisbach says an interesting discussion followed the film, and people in the audience made excellent contributions. Dreisbach is a commissioner with the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission and shared information with the audience about the Commission’s new regional comprehensive plan, FutureLV. The plan, released in 2019, establishes goals, policies and actions designed to carry the region through 2045 and beyond.

It will be updated every four years to account for the changes of a successful and growing region. FutureLV covers both Lehigh and Northampton counties, creating a forward-thinking strategy that leads the region into the future, while addressing the needs of today.

If you missed the first two films in the series, there is one more this month. The Biggest Little Farm will be shown at Nurture Nature Center on Thursday, March 26 at 6:30 PM. The film follows John and Molly Chester in their eight-year journey of turning a barren piece of California farmland into a productive enterprise that works in harmony with nature. Through frustrating challenges and conflict with their environment, they eventually see their vision come to fruition. Featuring breathtaking cinematography, captivating animals, and an urgent message to heed Mother Nature’s call, The Biggest Little Farm provides a vital blueprint for better living and a healthier planet. The screening is an opportunity to discover new ideas and to inspire conversations and learning about regenerative agriculture, food, soil, and the endless possibilities of nature. Please note this film includes some scenes involving death of farm animals that may be upsetting to children.

6 The Irregular

March 2020

The Lehigh Valley is growing rapidly. Utilizing programs at Nurture Nature Center is a great way to learn more about the environmental aspects of this growth and to talk to others who may share your same concerns about the future of our area.

Nurture Nature Center is located at 518 Northampton Street in Historic Downtown Easton. For more information on the film series and/or other community programming, call 610253-4432 or visit online at nurturenaturecenter.org.

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IRREGULAR BOOKSELF with Carole J. Heffley

*****THE SILENT PATIENT by Alex Michaelides ©2019, 336 pages “The Perfect Thriller” says one reviewer and I couldn’t agree more. The Silent Patient is the ULTIMATE psychological thriller! This is not my favorite genre but from the first page I was hooked on this story of a woman who, it seems, shot her husband to death and lapsed into a state of being unable (or unwilling) to talk. Is it an act? She is ultimately sent to a mental facility for the criminally insane. A well-known artist, she apparently paints her last canvas before the police arrive. The canvas is bloody red with a self-portrait looking out at the viewer, dripping in blood. But what does it have to do with the crime and what was she trying to say? The ending of this thriller is stunning. Be prepared to be utterly shocked! I can easily see this book being turned into a movie, but who would be the right director? After all, Alfred Hitchcock is no longer with us and it would take an Alfred Hitchcock to do justice to this magnificent mystery.

To be sure, this story has more twists and turns than a bag of pretzels!! No wonder it’s on the New York Times Best Seller list!! *****HEART OF BARKNESS by Spencer Quinn ©2019, 304 pages From the sublime to the ridiculous.

As much as the previous review is a book to contend with, Heart of Barkness is pure fun. Here again is Bernie, the luckless gumshoe about town, and his faithful companion, Chet “The Jet”, the K-9 companion who is always a step ahead of his human detective partner. Bernie is still heartbroken over his on again, off again romance with reporter Susie Sanchez but in this tale, a new woman has entered his life. Of course there is a mystery for the dynamic duo (Chet and Bernie) to solve before romance can take its turn in the story, and Chet and Bernie are up to the task at hand. Join the pair in this completely satisfying “doggone good” romp of a mystery story. Spoiler alert: of course Chet must save Bernie from the bad guys and in this book in the series, the disaster awaiting Bernie is as bad as it gets.

Each Chet and Bernie mystery stands on its own so readers do not have to read all in the series to enjoy the one at hand. As one review states “a Chet and Bernie book is the best way to a smile when the skies have been grey a little too long”. *****MEETING WITH REMARKABLE MANUSCRIPTS: TWELVE JOUNEYS INTO THE MEDIEVAL WORLD by Christopher De Hamel ©2016, 572 pages This remarkable book, written by a master scholar of rare manuscripts, takes readers into the Book of Kells (written in 475 and the world’s oldest book), The Gospels of St. Augustine (c. late 600s) and ten other rare and vastly important manuscripts from the Middle Ages. Each manuscript is a chapter. These are the writings we hear about in a history or English Literature class and usually not again and yet they are referred to over and over in even contemporary writings. You will not find out what is IN each manuscript but you will find out how and why the manuscript was written, its provenance (for all you devotees of Antique Roadshow), short bios of those who have curated or ever “owned” these renowned works of literature, their bindings, housing (boxes, whatever it has been held in), the institutions which have kept each manuscript, snippets of the historical events surrounding the works and so much more. This is a scholar’s scholarly discussion of the works itself, not its content, and in this aspect, Meetings is remarkable. The book so completely elegant, its phrasing is almost other-worldly in praise of the work discussed, and its illustrations of some of the selected illuminated pages of the works are magnificent. Mr. De Hamel approaches each manuscript with what can only be described as reverence and he imbues his descriptions with the same reverence so as to convey this spirit to the reader. This is not a book to be taken lightly. It is not a weekend read. It is a study and I am afraid that I could not devote the time needed to digest Meetings completely. A two-week loan from the library on this new book was only enough time to read, and not fully, I admit, the first two chapters. I will get back to it in coming months to learn more and be fully immersed in a time lost in the mists of the ages.

PUDDIN’ ON THE BLITZ by Tamar Myers ©2019, 208 pages YUK! Phooey, Ugh!! This book is a complete waste of ink. Either the author owns the publishing company or has an “in”. There is no other way this trash could have possibly been put out into the public eye. “Terrible” does not start to describe its awful attempt at humor. The fact that the cover mentioned something about a “Pennsylvania Dutch” mystery story is the only reason I picked it up in the first place.

I quickly put it down after 2 pages. Puddin’ has no redeeming quality at all. I would have thrown it in a garbage can but it would have tainted the garbage! Pass this one by and any other work by the same author.

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March 2020

The Irregular 7

ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Communications Hall Northampton Community College 3835 Green Pond Road Bethlehem, PA 610-861-5300 Flora & Fauna: Works by Richard Begbie, James A. DePietro & Maryann Riker thru March 5, and Patrick Kraus Freshman Drawing Art Exhibition March 23-April 10.

Open Mon.-Thur. 8am-9pm, Fri. & Sat. 8am-5pm. northampton. edu/events

Banana Factory 25 W. 3rd Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Lori Remmel: Hot Garbage thru March 8, Lehigh Art Alliance Spring Show thru March 15, Will Hübscher: Beautiful Decay thru March 29, and Compendium: Chroma - Color Through the Decade March 21-May 3.

Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-9:30pm, Sat. & Sun. 8:30am-5pm. bananafactory.org/events/exhibitions

Allentown Art Museum 31 N. 5th Street, Allentown, PA 610-432-4333 Collecting Across Cultures: Japanese Textiles in the West: Rotation 2 thru March 22 (Rotation 3 March 25-July 12), Evolution of the Spiritual: Europe to America thru March 29, Color & Complexity: 30 Years at Durham Press thru May 3, and Flash! The Sensational Photography of Weegee the Famous thru May 17. Open Wed.-Sat. 11am-4pm (3rd Thur. till 8pm) & Sun. 124pm. allentownartmuseum.org ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks 101 Founders Way, Bethlehem, PA 610-332-1300 Last Look: Rob Tucher, Photographer thru March 15. Open Monday-Wednesday 3:30-9pm, Thursday 4-11pm, Friday 4pm12am, Saturday 11am-12am, and Sunday 12-9pm. artsquest.org/arts Charles Klabunde Gallery & Studio 73 N. 2nd Street, Easton, PA 610-252-1938 Original etchings, drawings and paintings by Charles Klabunde. Open Thur.-Sat. & 1st Sun. 12-5pm & by appt.

CharlesKlabundeArtist.com

Connexions Gallery 213 Northampton Street Easton, PA 610-250-7627 2ND Time Around March 7-April 13, reception March 7, 7-10pm. Open Mon. 12-5pm, Thur. 12-7pm, Fri. 12-8pm, Sat. 11am-8pm & Sun. 12-6pm. connexionsgallery.com The Eagle Nest Gallery Nazareth Area High School 501 E. Center Street Nazareth, PA 610-759-1730 Annual Student Invitational Exhibit throughout March,

Bucks County Playhouse 70 S. Main Street New Hope, PA 215-862-2121 Other World: A New Musical March 13-April 11. bcptheater.org 8 The Irregular

Cedar Crest College Theatre Samuels Theatre at Tompkins College Center 100 College Drive Allentown, PA 610-606-4608 Silent Sky March 26-29. cedarcrest.edu/academics/ performing_arts/events.shtm Country Gate Theatre 114 Greenwich Street Belvidere, NJ 908-475-1104 Pippin April 18-May 3. countrygate.org

15. Open Sunday 2-4pm & by appt. forksart.org Gallery at St. John’s 330 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 610-258-6119 Artists Without Walls and Small Works Show thru April 26. Open Sun. 12-3pm (closed Easter) & by appt. stjohnseaston.org/ ministries/gallery

Easton Hospital Gallery State Theatre Center for the Arts 5th & Northampton Streets Easton, PA 800-999-STATE 2019 FREDDY Awards Retrospective thru May 30.

Open 90 minutes prior to most performances. statetheatre.org/ gallery

Gallery On Fourth 401 Northampton Street Easton, PA 610-905-4627 Brush & Lens: The Female Perspective featuring Aida Birritteri, Jane Dell, Louise Fiore, Lee Muslin and Natalie Searl thru April 5. Open Wed.Thur. 12-7pm, Fri.-Sat. 12-9pm & Sun. 12-5pm. galleryonfourth.org

Easton Public Market 325 Northampton Street Easton, PA info@eastonart.org Arts Community of Easton (ACE) Artists. Open Wed.-Sat. 9am-7pm & Sun. 9am-5pm. eastonart.org Forks Area Art Society Cottage in the Woods 700 Zucksville Road Easton, PA 610-250-2260 2nd Annual Easton Art Honor Student Exhibition thru March

Grossman Gallery Lafayette College 243 N. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 610-330-5361 William Lamson: Badwater, 2018/2020 thru April 11. Open Tuesday-Saturday 1-4:30pm & by appt. galleries.lafayette.edu

The David E. Rodale and Rodale Family Galleries The Baum School of Art 510 Linden Street Allentown, PA 610-433-0032 Hope and Healing Juried Exhibition thru March 21, and Children and Teen Student Exhibition March 26-April 16. Open Mon.-Sat. 9am-9:30pm. baumschool.org

Civic Theatre of Allentown 527 N. 19th Street Allentown, PA 610-432-8943 Silence! The Musical March 13-21, and Frozen, JR. April 2-5. civictheatre.com

Buck Hall Lafayette College 219 N. 3rd Street, Easton, PA 610-330-3311 Theatre Dept.: Heddatron thru March 7, and National Theatre Live: Hamlet April 5. lafayette. universitytickets.com

reception March 19, 6-9pm.

Open Mon.-Fri. 8am-3pm & during cultural events. hs.nazarethasd.org/en-galleryhome-page

Muhlenberg College Theatre 2400 Chew Street Allentown, PA 484-664-3333 The Bacchae March 2629. muhlenberg.edu/main/ academics/theatre-dance/ onstage/mainstage.html

Northampton Community College Theatre 3835 Green Pond Road Bethlehem, PA 484-484-3412 The Little Foxes thru March 2, and Dogfight: A Musical Love Story April 16-19. ncctix.org

MunOpCo Music Theatre Scottish Rite Cathedral 1533 Hamilton Street Allentown, PA 610-437-2441 Gypsy thru March 8. munopco.org

Pennsylvania Playhouse 390 Illick’s Mill Road Bethlehem, PA 610-865-6665 12 Angry Jurors March 27-April 19. paplayhouse.org

DeSales University Act 1 2755 Station Avenue Center Valley, PA 610-282-3192 The Jungle Book! March 19-April 23. desales.edu/act1 Moravian College Theatre Arena Theater/Haupert Union Building 1200 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 610-861-1489 Machinal March 26-29. moravian.edu/theatre/season March 2020

Hunterdon Hills Playhouse 88 Route 173 West Hampton, NJ 800-447-7313 Sherlock Returns March 10-April 30, and Andy Cooney’s The Irish Cabaret March 14-17. hhplayhouse.com

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ARTS & ENTERTAINMENT Martin Art Gallery Baker Center for the Arts Muhlenberg College 2400 Chew Street Allentown, PA 484-664-3467 Life of the Mind: Burak Delier, Pilvi Takala, and Vesna Pavlović thru March 15, Anthony Cervino: Hurry with the Furies March 10-April 11, and The Autonomist Anomaly March 25May 25. Open Tue.-Sat. 12-8pm. muhlenberg.edu/gallery ME-Art Studio 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor Easton, PA 908-319-4864 Gallery and working studio of Beverly Murbach-Erhardt featuring watercolors, acrylics and art cards. Open Fri.-Sat. 11am-4pm. me-artstudio.com

Bradbury-Sullivan LGBT Community Center The Fine Art Galleries 522 W. Maple Streeat, Allentown, PA 610-347-9988 We Can Do It! Feminist Stitching by Barbara Schulman thru April 14. Open Mon.-Fri. 10am-6pm & during programs/events. bradburysullivancenter.org/galleries Hunterdon Art Museum 7 Lower Center Street Clinton, NJ 908-735-8415 Explorations in Felt thru April 19, Gloria Ortiz-Hernández and Lorraine Kisly: Art + Design thru April 19, and Members Highlight Exhibition: Yael Eisner March 8-April 19.

Open Tues.-Sun. 11am-5pm. hunterdonartmuseum.org

BUY LOCAL. Shawnee Playhouse River Road Shawnee-On-Delaware, PA 570-421-5093 Godspell April 3-5. theshawneeplayhouse.com Star of the Day St. John’s UCC 139 N. 4th Street Emmaus, PA 484-809-9228 Newsies March 27-April 5. staroftheday.org

Lehigh University Art Galleries 420 E. Packer Avenue Bethlehem, PA 610-758-3615 The Teaching Museum: Selections from the Permanent Collection ongoing, Art, Architecture, and Design Faculty Exhibition thru May 22, The Motion of Light in Water thru May 22, British Abstraction: Three Views thru May 22, Brit Pop Snapshot thru May 22, and QUILIBRAR: Strength in Community thru Dec. 4. Open Tue. 11am-7pm & Wed.-Sat. 11am-5pm. luag.org

Museum of Ethnography 22 S. 3rd Street, 2nd floor Easton, PA 908-798-0805 Conflicted No Longer (8 minute film) thru Sept. 30.

Open Tues. & Fri. 11am-4pm, Sat. 11am-2pm & by appt. maryaclarity.com Nazareth Center for the Arts 30 Belvidere Street Nazareth, PA 610-614-0404 Perfectly Pysanky: Ukrainian Easter Eggs by Lane Rundle March 8-28, reception March 8, 2-4pm. Open Thur. 6-8pm, Sat. 10am-12pm & by appt. nazaretharts.org

Jackie Lima thru April 11, and Velvet Woods: Works by Claire McConaughy thru April 11. Open Wed. 12-4pm, Thur.

6-9pm, Sat. 12-4pm & by appt. nurturenaturecenter.org

SmARTivities Showcase 60 Centre Square, Easton, PA 484-544-3954 Works by Aruna Mettler March 7-28, reception March 7, 6:30pm. Open Wed.-Fri.126pm, Sat. 10am-6pm & Sun. 12-5pm. smARTivities.net

Payne Gallery Moravian College 346 Main Street Bethlehem, PA 610-861-1491 Biennial Moravian College Faculty Show March 12-April 12. Open Tue.-Sun. 12-4pm. moravian.edu/art/payne-gallery

Stirner Modern Gallery 230 Ferry Street, Easton, PA 908-472-7574 From Croatia with Passion thru March 28. Open Thur.Fri. 2-5pm & Sat. 12-5pm.

StirnerModern.com Williams Center Gallery Lafayette College 317 Hamilton Street Easton, PA 610-330-5361 Jim Sanborn: Looted? thru April 12. Open Mon.-Fri. 11am5pm, Thur. 11am-8pm, Sat. & Sun. 12-5pm, and performance nights 7:30-9:30pm. galleries. lafayette.edu/category/ exhibitions

Ronald K. De Long Gallery Penn State Lehigh Valley 2809 Saucon Valley Road Center Valley, PA 610-285-5261 WomenXWomen: Selections from the Petrucci Family foundation collection of African-American Art thru March 14. Open Mon.-Thur.

11am-5pm, Fri. 11am-3pm & Sat. 10am-2pm. lehighvalley. psu.edu/ronald-k-de-longgallery

Rotunda Gallery at City Hall 10 E. Church Street, Bethlehem, PA 610-398-1451 Jeffrey Green: Colored Pencil Paintings thru March 30. Open Mon.-Fri. 8:30am-4:30pm. bfac-lv.org

Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street Easton, PA 610-253-4432 Thom Cooney Crawford: The Inner Eye of Art, The Outer Spark thru March 21, Infamous Oculus: Works by

State Theatre Center for the Arts 453 Northampton Street Easton, PA 800-999-STATE The Greatest Love of All: A Tribute to Whitney Houston starring Belinda Davids March 5, Masterchef Junior Live!

March 6, Bandstand March 12, The Fab Faux March 14, Red Hot Chili Pipers March 21, and Dancing with the Lehigh Valley Stars April 2. statetheatre.org

Zoellner Arts Center Lehigh University 420 E. Packer Avenue, Bethlehem, PA 610-758-2787 ext 0 East Winds Quintet: Generations March 1, Notations: Kate Racculia March 3, Erth’s Prehistoric Aquarium Adventure March 13, Sleeping Beauty: Russian National Ballet Theatre March 15, LU Jazz Rep Orchestra March 20, Michael Jorgensen, Violin: Partita March 21, Finding Neverland March 22, LU Choir, Glee Club & Dolce with The Princeton Singers: Groundbreakers March 27-28, and National Geographic LIVE: Ocean Soul with Brian Skerry, Photographer March 29. zoellner. cas2.lehigh.edu

Touchstone Theatre 321 E. 4th Street Bethlehem, PA 610-867-1689 Edith Piaf: Hymn to Love March 5-8, and The Secret April 2-5. touchstone.org

Pines Dinner Theatre 448 N. 17th Street Allentown, PA 610-433-2333 Mission: Improbable, Super Spy Edition thru March 7, and Nunsensations: The Nunsence Vegas Revue!

March 20-May 10. pinesdinnertheatre.com Call 610-258-4330 to advertise

Williams Center for the Arts Lafayette College 317 Hamilton Street Easton, PA 610-330-5009 Joey DeFrancesco Trio March 7, La Morra March 26, and Pablo Ziegler Jazz Tango Trio March 28. williamscenter. lafayette.edu March 2020

The Irregular 9

ART MATTERS

Brush & Lens: The Female Perspective at Gallery On Fourth in Easton

by Chris Vilardi image on front cover: “Early Morning at the Dock” by Natalie Searl, digital photograph, giclee ink and clear acrylic on canvas, 8 x 10 inches “A light here required a shadow there.” -Virginia Woolf Contrast and composition are two of the most important and difficult skills for an artist to master. The common factor of the five artists in this exhibition are their ability to do just that. Gallery on Fourth director Lisa Kovacs has assembled a complimentary mix of painters and photographers in an alluring exhibition on view till April 5.

Aida Birritteri has a grasp of composition using brushstrokes to convey an image with a stylized shorthand. NYC street scenes crafted with pen and ink and watercolor burst onto paper with painstaking simplicity.

There is a deliberate intent in the abstract elements in Jane Dells’ works that make sense and somehow feel familiar. An eclectic mix of alien elements commingle on imaginary landscapes.

The photographs of Louise Fiore transcend subject matter and focus on the beauty of balance and structure. Black and white photography absent of color is that much more reliant on composition to achieve success. Positive and negative space offset each other on frame to maintain a harmonious equilibrium.

Lee Muslin’s abstract expressionist works deliver with striking impact. Her application of paint is skillful and produces movement the way that the Italian Futurists did in the early 19th century. The push and pull of color and contrast lead the viewer’s eyes around the

A glimpse inside Brush & Lens: The Female Perspective, on view thru April 5 at Easton’s Gallery On Fourth. photo by Chris Vilardi canvas. A sophisticated palette of colors is employed to create the illusion of depth on canvasses riddled with raised lines of twisting movement like elaborate scars.

Bright and playful, the photographs of Natalie Searl express a joy of the world as seen through her camera lens. I don’t think that many people go out and say “I want to go purchase a photograph of a bit of rope on a dock” but Natalie makes such an innocuous subject visually joyful. Artists are compelled to share their unique vision of how they see the world and hers is wonderfully vivacious. The glazing and embellishments create a curious effect that adds to the intrigue of the imagery.

A collective exhibition is difficult to curate as Kovacs attested to, but successfully achieved. The show is well balanced and visually compelling.

“Ocean Garden Lost Coral 1” by Jane Dell, acrylic and collage on canvas, 30 x 40 inches

GALLERY ON FOURTH 401 NORTHAMPTON STREET EASTON, PA 18042 610-905-4627 LISA M. KOVACS, DIRECTOR GALLERYONFOURTH.ORG

“Gentle Curve, Corning, NY” by Louise Fiore, 2018, digital print on archival paper, 16 x 20 inches

“Dynamic Voice” by Lee Muslin, acrylic on canvas, 24 x 30 inches 10 The Irregular

“125th Street Station” by Aida Birritteri, ink on paper, 24 x 26 inches March 2020

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GARDENING

It’s Propagation Time! article and photos by Pam Ruch Daylight hours are increasing. You feel it, I feel it, and our plants feel it! Every year, long, pencil-like stalks begin to emerge from my night blooming cereus in late January, and begonias and bay laurels sport tender new leaf buds in February. The action is slow, kept in low gear by cloudcovered skies and cold windowsills, but it’s happening. It is a sign that we can begin to think about propagating new plants from old.

Some plants are particularly good at cloning themselves. Stick a stem of coleus or cane begonia into a moist growing medium and it will start to grow roots within a couple of weeks. Night blooming cereus and many types of succulents are also very easy to propagate using stem cuttings.

Other species seem absolutely miraculous in their ability to grow an entire plant from a single leaf, or even a section of a leaf. Snake plant (Sansevieria), African violet, and Paddle Plant (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora) are in that category.

Plants such as Sansevieria, Begonia, and Paddle Plant (Kalanchoe thyrsiflora) are easily propagated from leaves or leaf sections.

Get a head start by starting lettuce and kale seedlings indoors.

And then there are seeds, the true miracle of growth. It’s tempting to start growing tomatoes and peppers in February, but be patient: the longer you wait to start your seeds, the less you’ll have to rely on a supplemental light source. Nothing invigorates a tomato seedling like 13 hours of April sunlight. That said, LED grow lights are a big step forward from fluorescents when it comes to growing healthy seedlings, and they’re getting increasingly affordable.

A FEW PROPAGATION TIPS AND HOW-TOS TAKING STEM CUTTINGS The easiest way to clone a plant is to scissor a stem, i.e. take a cutting, and stick it into a moist growing medium. Many propagators first dip the end of the cutting in a rooting powder that contains IBA, a root-inducing hormone. This can speed up the process, but it’s not always necessary. With coleus, sedum, jade plants, and cane begonias there is really no benefit to using rooting powder, but it can be helpful with herbs such as rosemary and lavender, or with woody shrubs. Keep your potted cuttings moist, and after three or four weeks give them a gentle tug. If you feel resistance, you’ll know your efforts are paying off. Some plants—bay laurel is an example—can take months to root, and can’t be rushed. Rooting stems in a small selfwatering pot can help keep slow-to-root cuttings from drying out.

The best time to divide hostas is when they first emerge in spring.

Bring your succulents indoors before the frost, and divide them the following spring. You’ll have an ever-increasing supply.

Horticulturist and writer Pam Ruch, caretaker of the Nurture Nature Center Urban Recycle Garden, tends gardens in the Lehigh Valley and beyond, and presents gardening and nature journaling programs throughout the region.

STEM SECTIONS Some common houseplants, such as corn plant ((Dracaena fragrans), and Dumb Cane (Dieffenbachia) can be propagated by stem sections. Other candidates for this treatment, I’ve found, are Paddle Plant and Brugmansia.

Cut a leafless section of the cane, at least 3 inches long, and sink it into potting medium, or lay it horizontally on the medium. There need to be leaf buds on the stem section for this to work. Be patient. Rooting hormone can encourage quicker rooting, as can bottom heat.

LEAF CUTTINGS Plants that propagate easily from a single leaf, or even a piece of a leaf, include African Violet, Rex Begonia, Snake Plant, and many types of succulents. To clone an African Violet, simply make a pencil hole in a moist potting medium and insert the leaf petiole. In about 6 or 8 weeks a little plantlet will appear at the base of the leaf.

DIVISIONS The easiest way to propagate most herbaceous perennials is by dividing their roots. And the best time to divide the majority of perennials is in spring, when growth is just starting. A couple of exceptions are Lilies, German and Siberian Irises, and Peonies, which are best divided in fall.

To learn more about these and other methods of plant propagation come to the Plant Propagation Workshop at Nurture Nature Center at 6:30 PM on March 11. Check out the whole garden series at nurturenaturecenter.org.

ESSENTIALS OF SEED STARTING Starting seeds indoors is easy if your conditions are right. Here are the essentials: Good Light: You can invest in grow lights or a greenhouse, or simply wait to start your seeds on a sunny windowsill when daylight hours number at least 12 (13 is better). Seedlings need light!

Bottom Heat: A heat mat will help provide optimal conditions for germination. Tomatoes and peppers, for example, germinate quickly when soil temps are in the 70° to 80° range.

Air Circulation: Set up a fan to keep the air moving and prevent damping off disease.

A Good Soil Mix: For best results, use a lightweight soilless mixture, rather than a heavy potting mix.

Liquid Fertilizer: Wait until seedlings develop a set of true leaves and then treat them to a weekly dose of half-strength liquid fertilizer.

Fresh Seeds: Test old seeds for germination. If in doubt, buy fresh seeds. Some seeds, such

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March 2020

The Irregular 11

IRREGULAR EVENTS COMMUNITY:

HISTORY & NATURE:

Every Tues., Wed, Thur. 9am-1pm: Silver Connections: Fun for Seniors. Easton Area Community Center, 901 Washington St., Easton. Info: 610-253-8271, Saints1@ptd.net

Delaware Canal State Park 11 Lodi Hill Rd., Upper Black Eddy, PA 610-982-5560, events.dcnr.pa.gov/delaware_canal_ state_park

Every Tues. & Thur. 10am-3pm: Senior Connection, a free community senior program offering social and mental stimulation for older adults. Arndt’s Lutheran Church, 1851 Arndt Rd., Forks Twp. Info: 610-253-3732, Nancy Walters 610-253-0726, nancywalters@rcn.com Every Thur. 10am-4pm: Cops ‘n’ Kids Reading Room. NCC Educational Center, 25 S. 3rd St., Easton. Info: 484-544-0256, copsnkidseaston@gmail.com, copsnkidseaston.org Every Thur. 11am-7pm: Cops ‘n’ Kids Reading Room. Easton Community Center, 901 Washington St. (9th St. entrance), Easton. Info: 484-544-0256, copsnkidseaston@gmail.com, copsnkidseaston.org Every 1st & 3rd Sat. 10am-12pm: Cops ‘n’ Kids Reading Room. Easton Public Market (FreySmiles Kids’ Zone), 325 Northampton St., Easton. Info: 484-544-0256, copsnkidseaston@ gmail.com, copsnkidseaston.org Every 2nd & 4th Sat. 10am-12pm: Easton Farmers’ Market Winter Market. Church St. lot behind Easton Public Market. Info: 610-330-9942, eastonfarmersmarket.com March 6: ArtsQuest’s First Friday Events. 6-9pm. Banana Factory, 25 W. 3rd St., Bethlehem.

Info: bananafactory.org March 7: National Alliance on Mental Health Lehigh Valley’s 27th Annual Community Dinner & Raffle. 4-7pm/$10 adv., $12 at door (10 & under eat free). St. Nicholas Greek Orthodox Church, 1607 W. Union Blvd., Bethlehem. Info: 610-882-2102 March 10: Bach at Noon. 12:10-1pm. Central Moravian Church, 73 W. Church St., Bethlehem.

Info: 610-866-4382, bach.org/season March 15: Lehigh Valley Storytelling Guild’s Family Storytelling Series: Folktales Woven from Real Life w/ Kathy Long. 2pm/$5.50, under 5 free. Godfrey Daniels, 7 E. 4th St., Bethlehem. Info: Ingrid Bohn 215-541-1429, iubtheater@yahoo.com March 12: Stop the Bleed class at NCC. 7-8pm. Fowler Family Southside Center, 511 E. 3rd St., Bethlehem. Info: 610-332-6585, nothampton.edu/HealthcareCourses March 14: Spring Craft Fair. 9am-3pm/$2, $1 seniors 65+ & NCC students, under 12 free.

NCC’s Arthur L. Spartan Center, 3835 Green Pond Rd., Bethlehem. Info: Katherine Noll 610861-5336 March 14: NCC presents Peacherine Ragtime Society Orchestra. 7pm/$15. benefits Lehigh Valley Youth Chorus & NCC’s Horizons for Youth program. NCC’s Lipkin Theatre, Kopecek Hall, 3835 Green Pond Rd., Bethlehem. Info: 610-861-4120, showtix4u.com

March 7: Volunteer Opportunity: Vanish the Vines. 10am12pm, reg. req. Giving Pond Recreation Area, 1125 River Rd. (PA-32), Upper Black Eddy March 8: Full Moon Towpath Trek (4-miles). 6:30-9pm/reg. req.

Giving Pond Recreation Area, 1125 River Rd. (PA-32), Upper Black Eddy. Info: Gabie Lent 610-982-0166, glent@pa.gov March 14: Hike: Raptors of Winter #3 (7 miles round trip).

10am-2pm, reg. req. Riegelsville Fish and Boat Access, 1440 Easton Rd., Riegelsville. Info: Katie Martens 610-982-0161, kmartens@pa.gov Jacobsburg Environmental Education Center 400 Belfast Road, Nazareth, PA 610-746-2801, jacobsburgsp@pa.gov, dcnr.pa.gov/StateParks/FindAPark/ JacobsburgEnvironmentalEducationCenter March 11: Hike for Health. 5:30-7pm March 14: Volunteer Work Day. 10am-3pm, reg. req.

March 20: Family Night: Frog Find and Salameander. 6:308pm, reg. req .

March 27: Speaker Series: The Spotted Lanternfly. 7-8pm, reg. req.

Moravian Historical Society 214 E. Center Street, Nazareth, PA 610-759-5070, moravianhistory.org Ongoing Exhibit thru May 24: Individuality in a Common Place March 14: Historic Nazareth Walking Tour. 4pm/$8, under 5 free March 27: Share the Heritage Gala. 6-10pm/$100. Hotel Bethlehem, 437 Main St., Bethlehem

March 19: Destination Arts: Third Thursday. 5-8pm. Multiple Art Venues in Downtown Allentown. Info: 610-751-4929, downtownallentown.com March 27: Easton Out Loud: Go Green. 5-9pm. Downtown Easton. Info: 610-250-6533, eastonoutloud.com

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Irregular Events Nurture Nature Center 518 Northampton Street, Easton, PA 610-253-4432, liesel@nurturenaturecenter.org, nurturenaturecenter.org Every Wed. & Sat. 12-4pm, Thur. 6-9pm: Science on a Sphere & SOS Explorer Touch Screen Kiosk March 5: Flash Flood Susceptibility in the Delaware River Region w/ Dr. David Brandes, professor of civil and environmental engineering at Lafayette College. 7-8:30pm March 11: Garden Workshop: Propagating Plants: Tricks and Tips for Making New Plants from Old. 6:30-8pm/$15 (includes light meal) March 14: Sphere Spotlight: Pi Day. 1-2pm March 18: Garden Workshop: Garden Soils and Bed Preparation. 6:30-8pm/$15 (includes light meal) March 19, 21: Science on a Sphere: Spring Equinox. Thur. 7-8pm, Sat. 1-2pm March 25: Garden Workshop: Flowering Trees for the Urban Landscape. 6:30-8pm/$15 (includes light meal) March 26: Film Series: The Biggest Little Farm. 6:30-8pm March 27: Nurture Curiosity, a science cafe for curious minds w/Dr. Lindsay Soh, Lafayette College associate professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering. 7-8pm April 1: Garden Workshop: Growing in a Straw Bale Garden. 6:30-8pm/$15 (includes light meal) PennState Extension Northampton County 14 Gracedale Avenue, Nazareth, 610-813-6613, NorthamptonExt@psu.edu, extension.psu.edu/northampton-county March 31: Basics in Vegetable Gardening. 6-7:15pm/$5. Hanover Township Community Center, 3660 Jacksonville Rd., Bethlehem March 31: Garden Safely as You Age. 7:15-8:30pm/$5. Hanover Township Community Center, 3660 Jacksonville Rd., Bethlehem April 7: Growing a Tomato and Pepper Salsa Garden. 6-7:15pm/$5. Hanover Township Community Center, 3660 Jacksonville Rd., Bethlehem April 7: Composting at Home. 7:15-8:30pm/$5. Hanover Township Community Center, 3660 Jacksonville Rd., Bethlehem

Aries- Don’t rub employers or authority the wrong way right now.

Playing or messing around with younger friends or siblings is guaranteed trouble; just prepare for the consequences. Pick your battles with lovers too. The Sun enters Aries this month kickstarting the Spring Equinox, do something outdoorsy to celebrate. Dreams or constant thoughts of old friends or lovers can be haunting, refrain from trolling online.

Taurus- If you’re deciding to bump heads with your nutritionist or cross the line with a personal trainer then make sure you’re ready to interview for new ones in the future. Make nice with industry interns instead of treating them as lackeys. Your actions now create your Karma for tomorrow! Remember, money and respect both need to be earned.

You make an excellent mentor or teacher, provide those services to someone in need.

Gemini- Rubbing up against everyone or anyone right now will feel good for the moment but sooner or later the spring fever Conga line ends and all you could be left with are a few frisky memories not worth remembering later! Aim for higher ground, it serves you well. Be ambitious, stand out of the crowd, most importantly, be seen and heard.

Image is everything, be conscious of how you’re perceived by others.

Cancer- Looking for the bright spot in bad people or in the worst situations doesn’t always work out. Know when you’re looking a dark soul in the eyes and protect yourself and your wallet! Expect an old acquaintance to save the day last minute. However, let go when the moment’s over and passes. Springtime signals change, take the season up on that challenge and allow change to occur in your life. Feel free!

Leo- Your body heat can fill a small house, thus the reason so many want to get closer to you. People fantasize that you’ll make all their dreams come true from career and societal status or being totally fulfilling in bed. Remember that when you feel your ego over stroked, you’ll have to live up to some high and unrealistic standards. Share some of your time volunteering or doing something selfless.

Virgo- Gossip is like junk food, it’s got a salty or zingy taste but eventually leaves a bad taste in your mouth and does nothing supportive for the body! Keep your palate clean with better conversation and even better company. Speaking of healthy, be very selective not only with what passes through your lips but also what goes in! Leaning on soul food to overcome a rough moment once is fine but seconds or thirds can cause devastation to sensitive tummies. Keep tea handy.

Libra- Desperate times call for desperate measures, plainly put, stop being desperate. Keep life humble and care free, trying to be something you’re not only leads to personal disappointment in the end. You have so much innate charm to offer, it’s sincere, it’s uplifting and it’s what is preferred! If a lover forgives you, perhaps you can return the favor for first time offenses.

Scorpio- Having sudden change of heart related to a definite decision and urges to do charity are not a nervous breakdown coming, it’s the cosmic sign of redemption! Do what you can for others and carelessly let go of bad habits and replace them with random acts of kindness!

There’s a compassionate flow of astrological energy for strong zodiac signs to channel, do your part and funnel this flow upon those around you.

Sigal Museum (NCHGS) 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA 610-253-1222, sigalmuseum.org Ongoing Exhibit: Destination: Northampton County Thru May 31: Canine Illumination: Drawings and Paintings by Dirk Bach March 4: Lunch & Learn: Clarina Nichols, 1863 featuring reenactor Marianne Phifer.

12:30-1:30pm/$5 donation (lunch may be ordered in adv./Pie + Tart, 444 Northampton St., 484-202-0235/$10+tax) March 19: Historical Dinner Project – Third Thursdays at Bachmann Publick House (recipes of influential female chefs and writers from the last 200 years). 2nd & Northampton Sts., Easton. 5:30pm/$45 March 21: Vietnam Veterans: Memories of War. 1pm/free March 27: Easton Out Loud: Free Admission, Voting Machine Demonstrations screening of Iron Jawed Angels. 5-9pm March 27: Artist Talk w/Dirk Bach. 6pm March 28: The Life Behind the Legend: Stitching Betsy Ross’ Story Together. 1pm/$5.

Bachmann Publick House, 2nd & Northampton Sts., Easton Have an event taking place in the Easton area? Email it to us here at The Irregular, bruneo1776@aol.com. Events will be placed on the events calendar at the discretion of the publisher. Or consider placing a display ad with us; email or call 610-258-4330 for rates.

Sagittarius- Win some, lose some. In matters of friendship and romantic relationship ships it’s important to exercise loyalty. cheating on lovers could be fun in that steamy moment but eventually has its ramifications. taking about friends behind their back is down just down right wrong.

Watch your step! Being surrounded and outnumbered could bring you down hard.

Capricorn- Family is there for you when you need security. friends could come around to help confuse you in personal decision making.

Choose one jury over the other because mixed messages create messy choices! Taking lip service from those who just tell you what you want to hear can’t possibly help. Take constructive criticism from sincere sources and you’ll be grateful later. Don’t over sleep, keep energy and metabolism moving.

Aquarius- It’s that time, clean off the slate, power wash negative energy and afterwards see clearly through the windshield of life and see what direction you’re going in! Your time is precious and should be focused on things that bring you happiness and success! Wasting your energy on distracting people or situations out of your control has its regrets. You’re going places, heed your destiny and remember sometimes there’s only room for one on that magic carpet.

Pisces- Hiding behind a more powerful apron or letting others control your emotions because you’re too weak at the moment to decide for yourself is not a valid excuse! It might be better to be slightly vulnerable than to be enslaved. If the wrong people learn your Achilles heel you can expect lots of manipulation instead Maintain your sensitivity and empathy just protect yourself. Vitamins and minerals are vital for well being, make sure to take em.

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AT THE LIBRARIES Easton Area Public Library (Downtown Branch) 515 Church Street • Easton 610-258-2917 • eastonpl.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9-9, Fri. 9-6, Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun.

Mary Meuser Memorial Library 1803 Northampton Street • Wilson Borough 610-258-3040 • meuserlib.org Hours: Tues.-Thur. 9:45-8, Fri. 9:45-5, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun. & Mon.

Phillipsburg Free Public Library 200 Broubalow Way • Phillipsburg 908-454-3712 • pburglib.org Hours: Mon.-Thur. 9:30-8, Fri.-Sat. 9:30-5, Closed Sun.

Every Tues.: Tax-Aide with AARP Foundation.

9-11:30am March 4: Mosaic Art Workshop w/Mary Iacovone.

6:30-8pm, reg. req.

March 5: Hungrytown Concert. 6:30-7:30pm March 9: Cookbook Club. 6:30-7:30pm March 16: Quilting Club. 6-8pm March 18: Write On! Writing Club. 5:30-6:30pm March 21: Quilting Club. 9am-4pm March 24: Spring Card Making Class w/Alicia Vincelette from Inked Edge Paper Art. 6:30-7:30pm, $8/reg. req.

March 25: Northampton County Voting Booth Demo. 11am-1pm March 25: Non-fiction Book Group: What Immigrants Never Tell You by Dina Nayeri. 7-8pm March 26: Real ID Info Session. 6:30-7:30pm, reg. req.

March 26: Mosaic Art Workshop w/Mary Iacovone.

6:30-8pm, reg. req.

March 30: Quilting Club. 6-8pm

1st & 3rd Wed.: Any String Goes fiber craft group.

4-6pm 3rd Thur.: Stick Figure Poetry Open Mic. Workshop 6-7pm, Open Mic 7-8pm Every Sat.: Knitting Club. 10am-12pm April 2: Acrylic Painting Class: Spring Flowers w/ Susan Camarata. 6-8pm, $10/reg. req.

2nd & 4th Sat.: Yarn Crafts Group. 2pm March 2: Laughter Yoga. 12 & 6:45pm March 9: PFPL Writers Group. 6pm March 11: Spring into Action with Google’s Business Insights Tools. 12pm, reg. req.

March 11: Arts Experience: Garden Journal. 6pm, reg. req.

March 12: Power Your Job Search with Google Tools. 6pm, reg. req.

March 18: Book Forum. 1:30pm March 19: Film Screening: Megan Leavey. 7pm March 21: Strengthen Your Intuition w/Kathleen B. Covalt, Ed.D. 1:30pm March 23: PFPL Writers Group. 6pm March 25: Happy Bookers Discussion Group: My Dear Hamilton by Stephanie Dray. 7pm

Easton Area Public Library (Palmer Branch) 1 Weller Place • Easton 610-258-7492 • eastonpl.org Hours: Mon. 9-5, Tues.-Thur. 9-7, Fri.-Sat. 9-5, Closed Sun.

Memorial Library of Nazareth & Vicinity 295 E. Center Street • Nazareth 610-759-4932 • nazarethlibrary.org Hours: Mon. 10-5, Tues.-Thur. 10-8, Fri. 10-5, Sat. 9-4, Closed Sun. March 7, 21, 28: AARP Tax Prep Services. 9:30am1:30pm March 9: Historical Tour of the Library. 11-11:30am March 10: Historical Tour of the Library. 6-6:30pm March 11: Nazareth Book Club: Hillbilly Elegy by J.D. Vance. 6:30pm March 26: St. Luke’s University Health Network Presents... Cancer Screening: Why You Need It and How It Works. 6:30-7:30pm, reg. req.

March 27: Daytime Book Club: The Testaments by Margaret Atwood. 10:30am April 1-4: Spring Book Sale

Every Thur.: Sew Others May Be Warm Knitting/ Charity Group. 1-2:30pm Every Thur.: Chapter #14, Soc. PA Archaeology Meeting: Bring your Indian artifacts for typing, age determination. 7pm. Info: Len Ziegler 908-750-4110 2nd Thur.: The Writers Café. 7-9pm. Info: glvwg. vebmeister@gmail.com 2nd Sat.: Pocono Lehigh Writers meeting. 10am2pm. Info: dpetersmayer@aol.com 4th Sat.: Greater Lehigh Valley Writers Group meeting. 10am-12pm. Info: glvwg.vebmeister@ gmail.com March 4: True Crime Library: Jodi Arias. 6-7pm March 10: Spring Greeting Program w/Kristine Tanase. 6-7pm, $8/reg. req.

March 18: Forever Young Adult Book Group: Wilder Girls by Rory Power. 6-7pm March 24: Adult Book Group: The Book Woman of Troublesome Creek by Kim Michele Richardson.

6-7:30pm March 26: Real ID Info Session. 1-1:30pm, reg. req.

April 1: True Crime Library: The Mob. 6-7pm

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March 2020

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Table Booth Bar with Vincent and Mia

FIT TO BE THAI'D: 1001 THAI IN EASTON The 21 Club, Bond Street Sushi: 1001 Thai joins the list of restaurants that incorporate their address into the restaurant’s name. Tucked into a quaint Victorian house is a little restaurant with big, bold flavors. The former home of landmark Italian restaurant Cherubina is now dishing out upscale Thai food.

Since sampling their entry in the Wing War competition at Riverside Festival of the Arts two years back I’ve been itching to have a proper meal here. The wait was well worth it; this is exceptional Thai food.

Absent of a bar or a booth we sit at a table and order a selection of appetizers and a couple of those uniquely orange Thai iced teas. One of the evening’s specials is a bacon-wrapped shrimp and asparagus that arrives on a slick of soy based sauce.

Curry marinated Lamb Satay skewered, perfectly grilled and served with classic Thai peanut and cucumber dipping sauces. To round out the appetizer selection a revisit to the sweet, spicy Thai Wings topped with crispy fried basil. Flavorful and cooked to perfection, they are as delicious as I remember from the wing competition.

Choices under the “Specialties” column include Thai Crab Fried Rice, Tilapia Sam Rod and Massaman Lamb Curry. The lengthy menu also contains a vast array of Stir Fry, Noodle, and Curry dishes.

Mia opted for the Pad Thai which had a perfect balance between the sweet tamarind and spicy pepper. Impeccably cooked homemade noodles properly dressed with sauce share the bowl with moist chicken medallions.

I charged on with the Kang Ped Curry described as a red curry with pineapple, grape tomato, red and green bell peppers, Thai basil and sliced roasted duck served with Jasmine rice. The duck was remarkably moist and the rich broth an amalgam of flavor.

It’s ordinarily hard for me to take a pass on crème brûlée for dessert but the unusual options lured me in. Mia took to sampling the papery, phyllo wrapped Banana rolls,

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served with ice cream and maple syrup. It sounded odd to me but she was quite taken with it. I didn’t go full out exotic; the crispy fried cheesecake intrigued me too much to pass on. The server said it was a take on Thai fried ice cream. The pastry crust was a nice textural contrast to the rich cheesecake and the pool of chocolate sauce rounded out the decadent nature of the dessert.

Luckily we arrived early as they were booked solid till 8 o’clock, a testament to their well-deserved success. Thai 1001 is the finest example of Thai cuisine I’ve experienced in the Lehigh Valley to date.

1001 Thai is located at 1001 Northampton Street, Easton PA (610-252-1001). Open Tuesday thru Saturday; lunch 11-2, dinner 4-8:30. Visit online at 1001thai.com.

March 2020

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Organ Recital Will Feature Vivaldi, Franck, Vierne and Saint-Saëns

by Janene Otten College Hill Presbyterian Church has long upheld a tradition of musical excellence. Over the years, the church has offered its community splendid organ music, Adult Choir, brass ensemble, instrumental soloists, music on handbells, programs with the Youth Choir and now even its very own African Heritage Choir. A very special gift was given to the music program at CHPC by a long-time parishioner there named Anna Davis.

Before her passing in 1986, Anna Davis established a trust that would, among other things, support the maintenance of the organ and music program at College Hill as well as the annual recital that bears her name. The upcoming recital given by Dr. Bryan Holten will be presented in her memory. Her financial support made possible the recent renovations to the church’s 1940 Austin pipe organ.

On Sunday, March 22, College Hill Presbyterian Church presents Dr. Bryan Holten in Annual Anna David Concert at 4 PM at the church, 501 Brodhead Street on Easton’s College Hill. Organist Bryan Holten will perform The Orchestra in a Box: Works for Pipe Organ Inspired by Symphonic Styles featuring works by Antonio Vivaldi (arranged by J.S. Bach), César Franck, and Louis Vierne, followed by an exhilarating finale transcribed from the “Organ” Symphony by Camille Saint-Saëns. This event is sure to be lots of fun, and with a total performance time of about an hour, you’ll have plenty of time to enjoy the reception afterward.

Dr. Bryan Holten received his DMA in Organ Performance and Literature from the Eastman School of Music. Since his arrival in the Lehigh Valley in 2017, Bryan has quickly established himself as one of the region’s foremost recitalists and accompanists. He serves as Organist and Accompanist at the College Hill Presbyterian Church (Easton), and as Artist-Lecturer in Organ and Accompanist for Choirs at Moravian College. He recently appeared in concert with the Bach Choir of Bethlehem for their production of Noah’s Flood by Benjamin Britten.

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