PenTeleData

Even in the face of a pandemic and economic volatility, The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) mission has never been stronger and neither has the need to help patients who are fighting for their lives every day. To learn how you can help, reach out to pamela.formica@lls.org

Man & Woman of the Year exists because the movement against cancer needs leaders. This campaign consists of a select group of individuals from different locations and walks of life, coming together for a greater purpose: a cancer-free world. Candidates in this philanthropic competition form and lead powerful fundraising teams that help find innovative ways of fueling the LLS Mission. If you would like information on supporting the Lehigh Valley Candidates, please visit https://www.mwoy.org/mwoy-lehigh-valley-0

Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® Release 2020 Annual Market Report

JUSTIN R. POREMBO, CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICER GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY REALTORS®

As the premier source of real estate information in the Lehigh Valley and its surrounding communities, the Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® (GLVR) is pleased to provide an in-depth report on the 2020 local housing market.

The information that follows is an overall look at the 2020 housing market, in addition to predictions for 2021.

2020: The Year of COVID and a Housing Market that Didn't Get the Memo

Some markets have been performing exceptionally well throughout the pandemic due to a robust inmigration of new residents, faster local job market recoveries, environments conducive to work-from-home arrangements, and other factors.

The Lehigh Valley is one of those markets.

Real estate was an industry in Pennsylvania that was deemed non-essential and was shut down during the normally booming spring market. When real estate was reopened on May 19, 2020, the local housing market rebounded rather quickly, with repressed demand equating to a wave of showings. Buyers were quicker to return to the housing market in force than sellers, but the Lehigh Valley area was already strapped for sellers pre-COVID. A healthy sales pace continued through the winter months, with strong buyer demand being buoyed by near-record low-interest rates and by individuals and families in neighboring states leaving behind highoccupancy locations and buildings in search of more rural living.

This momentum has already continued into 2021. During the first month of the year, despite near-record-breaking snowfall, pending sales were up 3.0 percent to 592, closed sales went up 8.9 percent to 515, the median sales price increased 27.0 percent to $234,900, and the percentage of list price received almost hit the mark, increasing 2.4 percent to 99.8 percent.

-5.7%

Closed Sales

+99.3%

Seller Received their Orginal List Price

+11%

Single Family Home Prices

DIGGING DEEPER INTO 2020 AND THE NUMBERS

(Lehigh and Northampton counties)

SALES: Pending sales decreased 0.9 percent, finishing 2020 at 8,507. Closed sales were down 5.7 percent to end the year at 8,131.

LISTINGS: Comparing 2020 to the prior year, the number of homes available for sale was lower by 55.9 percent. There were 632 active listings at the end of 2020. New listings decreased by 13.0 percent to finish the year at 9,493.

LIST PRICE RECEIVED: Sellers received, on average, 99.3 percent of their original list price at sale. Year-overyear original list price increased 1.2 percent.

PRICES: Home prices were up compared to last year. The overall median sales price increased 11.6 percent to $229,000 for the year. Single Family home prices were up 11.0 percent compared to last year, and TownhouseCondo home prices were up 10.3 percent.

WHAT TO EXPECT IN 2021

The housing market in 2020 proved to be incredibly resilient, ending the year on a high note. Home sales and prices were higher than 2019 across most market segments and across most of the country. Seller activity recovered significantly from the COVID-19 spring decline, but overall activity was still insufficient to build up the supply of homes for sale.

As we look to 2021, signals suggest buyer demand will remain elevated and tight inventory will continue to invite multiple offers and higher prices across much of the housing inventory. Mortgage rates are expected to remain low, helping buyers manage some of the increases in home prices and keep them motivated to lock in their housing costs for the long term. These factors will provide substantial tailwinds for the housing market into the new year.

FULL ANNUAL REPORT

Curious to know what else the Annual Report contains? Contact a Realtor® today for more information or for a full market analysis. You can find a Realtor® at www.GLVR.org.

Seller Beware: Pocket Listings

JOHN MORGANELLI JR. PRESIDENT AND CO-FOUNDER MORGANELLI PROPERTIES

When I was in 8th grade, I loved trading baseball cards. I remember the day I decided I was going to try to sell one of my favorite cards, the "1995 Fleer Ultra Ken Griffey Jr Top 30." My first thought was, "how much can I get for this?"

First, I went to the kids in my neighborhood. They all loved baseball cards too, but I only received one offer for a measly $10. Even as an 8th grader, I knew that to earn top dollar, I needed more exposure. I declined the $10 offer and brought the card to school with me. In my homeroom, I received a second offer, this time for $15.

Finally, I decided the best plan to drive the price higher was to make sure every kid in every homeroom knew the card was for sale. I secured a sales representative for each homeroom and offered a reward to whoever could get the best offer. Sure enough, I sold that Griffey card for $30 (200% more than the initial offer). After I paid my sales rep $5, I still took home $25 or $15 more than my initial offer.

It was a simple but important lesson – marketing drives sales. People need to know about your idea, product, or commodity, or it will not sell for top dollar. Intuitive, right? I still remember the first time I heard about "pocket listings." Real estate agents love them because it grants the listing agent exclusive access to find buyers. That means the agent will earn commission on both the listing and buying side of the transaction – in essence doubling the agent's commission. Imagine for a moment you are selling your home. The first thing most people do is try to determine the home's value. There are hundreds of sites out there that will aggregate historical sales data and provide an "estimated value." But the truth is that the home's value is simply determined by what an individual buyer is willing to pay. The key to capturing top dollar is to ensure as many buyers as possible are both aware and excited about your home. The absolute last thing a seller wants is limited exposure, but in some instances, that is exactly what they get. The following language was taken directly from a listing agreement for a residential home valued at less than $300,000 in the Lehigh Valley. It reads: "Seller hereby agrees that property will be advertised in conjunction with terms listed in paragraph 24(a) for a period of no longer than 14 days prior to being entered on the MLS. Within the … pre-MLS marketing period

the seller agrees that only Members of (BROKERAGE NAME) will be permitted to show and or make an offer to purchase the property..." Suppose you have signed an agreement with the language mentioned above; your home won't even hit the MLS for 14 days. Further, if you receive an offer from one of the few real estate agents who happen to work for the same brokerage as your listing agent, how do you know if it is a fair offer? The property has not been marketed to the masses, and it hasn't even been made viewable on the MLS, Zillow, or Realtor.com. In short, it is almost impossible to know the quality of the offer because the general public has not had the opportunity to make offers and establish the baseline value. Even worse, the seller did not even know he signed an exclusive agency listing agreement that creates a pocket listing. He trusted the agent, and the agent failed him. Before you sign a listing agreement, I encourage you to check for exclusive agency provisions the create a "pocket listing." From my vantage, accepting a pocket listing provision when selling your home is like agreeing to sell your Ken Griffey Jr. to only the kids who live in your neighborhood. It just doesn't make sense.

Are you limiting your career? Finding the Right Professional Coach for You

PAT D'AMICO, EXECUTIVE COACH FOUNDER AND CEO, ABOUT-FACE DEVELOPMENT, LLC

"What are you doing now?" I casually asked an old friend after they informed me that they had left their job as a property manager to start their own business. "I'm doing life and business coaching," they replied. This might have been a surprising response a decade ago, but it is incredibly common today…maybe too common.

The last decade has seen an explosion in the coaching industry, with some publications suggesting it is one of the top 3 growth sectors in the world. The International Coaching Federation (ICF) estimates there are currently over 53,000 coaches worldwide, with over 17,500 (33%) operating in the United States.

The largely unregulated nature of the coaching field/ profession has resulted in many professionals having a poor coaching experience themselves or knowledge of others who have. Too often, this results in a reluctance on the part of those that would benefit from coaching from seeking out this potentially impactful experience. This doesn't have to be the case. There are many talented and qualified coaches out there. You just need to know how to find the one that's right for you.

Selecting a Coach

The question most often asked by those seeking or considering one-on-one professional coaching is, "How do I find and select a coach that is right for me?" Answering that question effectively will mean the difference between an investment well-made or wasted.

What type of coaching am I looking for?

Without question, this is the starting point that will drive the search and selection process. Depending on the source, there can be more than 30 different types of coaching. For our purposes, I will discuss the three primary types of coaching I have found most individuals seek.

Coaching is not telling you what to do.

It is important first to understand that coaching is different from mentoring or advising. Those later modalities often focus on providing the client direction and advice. A well-trained and talented coach will help guide the client to understand, evaluate, and find solutions for themselves, resulting in greater self-development and long-term impact.

A Life Coach

What they do: If you are looking for a Coach that will primarily help you manage your personal life in areas that might include health and wellness, relationships, and/or personal goals, then a life coach may be right for you. Life coaches will encourage self-discovery and personal growth, along with helping you hold yourself accountable. Be aware that life coaches are seldom professionally trained counselors or psychiatrists and, therefore, should not be engaged as such.

What to look for: Life coaches can come from many walks of life and bring vast personal experience to the coaching relationship. At the same time, literally, anyone can call themselves a life coach as no formal training or credentials are required. Due to the variability in life coaching "credentials," your best approach may be to first seek recommendations from others you trust. When interviewing a life coach, ask if you can speak to some professional clients (not friends or family members they may coach). Ask about formal training and certifications they possess and what they believe makes them an effective coach. A caution here is that if you get the impression the life coach you are interviewing does not, themselves, have a handle on their own life, you probably want to keep looking.

A Business Coach.

What they do: If you are looking for a coach that will help you navigate the landscape of your business environment and/or the growth of your company, you might consider a business coach. Business coaches will often work with multiple

What to look for: As you can guess, when selecting a business coach, it's important that the individual have extensive and relevant experience in your sector. You are essentially hiring an expert in your field; in the same manner you would be evaluating an external consultant. The difference is that you are also looking for them to have business coaching experience as well. Think of the old saying, "the best players don't always make the best coaches." Even highly successful CEO's may not have the training and/or skills to be an impactful coach. When interviewing them, ask about existing clients and for references. When contacting any of their current/past clients, ask if they have quantified the business impact resulting from their engagement with the business coach.

An Executive Coaching.

What they do: Executive coaches work with leaders at all levels (not only the C-Suite) to help them enhance their performance by building on their strengths and addressing areas of development. By nature, leaders are often relied upon to have all the answers within their organization and have the responsibility to develop others. Executive coaching provides them an opportunity to focus on their own development. While it was common years ago for an organization to engage an Executive Coach to address senior leaders' deficiencies (often career-limiting behaviors), today, Executive Coaches more often are tapped to develop high-potential individuals and prepare them for greater responsibility.

What to look for: While Executive Coaching is one of the more established and credentialed areas of coaching, there is still no formal education/experience requirement for someone to call themselves an Executive Coach. Therefore, selecting someone with formal training, credentials, and experience are more critical when identifying an Executive Coach. While certain functional experience may more naturally lend itself to Executive Coaching, such as human resources, you should evaluate a potential Executive Coach by asking questions about their coaching credentials and experience. Often the most qualified Executive Coaches will have achieved certification through professional organizations such as ICF (International Coaching Federation) or an Executive Coaching program from a renowned academic institution. These types of formal training/certification are coveted in the Executive Coaching arena and separate truly professional Executive Coaches from the masses. While these individuals may also provide services as a business coach if the client is within their professional experience area, they are typically not functional/industry specific. Additionally, some Executive Coaches will hold certifications for tools such as 360-degree feedback surveys, allowing them to leverage these as part of the coaching relationship. As mentioned for other coaching modalities, look for them to provide referrals and/or formal recommendations.

Are you limiting your career? Have you wondered if Executive Coaching is for you?

EXECUTIVE COACHING WITH 3 DECADES OF LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE

Pat D’Amico

Executive Coach (Graduate of UC Berkeley Executive Coaching Institute) Founder and CEO, About-Face Development, LLC

Developing an attitude of gratitude will determine your altitude.

WILLIAM CHILDS, CREATIVE DIRECTOR, KITCHEN MAGIC

Back in the Summer of 1983, I was working at a sign company in Allentown. I was excited to start my career, and since I was already working part-time at the company, I jumped at their offer of full-time employment. Due to my youthful exuberance, I chose to not celebrate completing high school, instead going immediately to work the day after graduation.

Six years into the role, my attitude towards my job took a dark turn, forcing me to try and make sense of why it was happening. The business was doing well, but I was not. I had grown increasingly bitter and resentful and started blaming everyone and anything for what I perceived as a lack of opportunity. The problem wasn't the company; it was me. My supervisor, Mr. Darryl Shellhamer, had witnessed my slow and steady transformation into the dark side, and he grew concerned. He spent time coaching me, often trying in vain to help me understand that my life is not as bad as I was making it out to be. He wanted me to stop looking for all the wrongs in every situation and instead focus my energies on the positive aspects. In retrospect, I can see what held me back was my complete lack of awareness and appreciation for all the good in my life. Privilege, without gratitude, becomes an entitlement, and entitlement is the natural enemy of gratefulness.

While a positive, mental attitude was something that had eluded me during my time working with Darryl, his efforts were not in vain. Fast forward some fifteen years

later; while I was working for a different company, I had a rather rude awakening when I was asked to lead a team where several individuals needed major gratitude adjustments. That's when the lessons Darryl tried to teach me came full circle. Karma wanted my mea culpa. All that Darryl tried to instill in me, I now found myself using to help my new team grow and succeed. Trust me when I say that I can appreciate the irony. Lessons taught to me that didn't stick then now get used by me to help others change their behavior. The biggest lesson for me from Darryl was that he never gave up on me. He may have gotten frustrated, but he always believed that I had it within me to change. That left an impact on me.

Recent studies on the topic of gratitude have proven quite convincingly the many aspects of your life will improve once you begin embracing a positive mindset. Many experience better sleep, less stress, improved relationships, lower blood pressure, more robust immune systems, and generally feel more alive, alert, and awake, and have higher optimism and happiness levels. Cultivating gratitude is not difficult. It merely requires that you shift your mental focus and be open to the abundance present in your life. The beauty of it is that anyone can do it, and the rewards are real and lifechanging. Robert A. Emmons, Ph.D., a leading gratitude researcher, studied the link between gratitude and well-being. "Gratitude is fertilizer for the mind, spreading connections and improving its function in nearly every realm of experience. Gratitude empowers us to take charge of our emotional lives and, as a consequence, our bodies reap the benefits."

For the uninitiated, I'm sure this sounds like folly. I can assure you it's not. A positive mental mindset is one of the tools I use daily. Next time you find yourself spiraling down a rabbit hole of disappointment or feeling sorry for yourself or your current situation, try applying some good old-fashioned gratitude. Over the years, Whenever I get asked about the one thing that helped me the most during any rough patches during my life or career, it always comes back to optimism. That singular ability to believe that whatever challenge you might find yourself facing, by being positive or looking for a silver lining, You can work your way through it. The Persian poet Rumi sums it up best, "Wear gratitude like a coat, and it will feed every corner of your life.

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Understanding the Due Diligence Process

DAVE CLARK, MANAGING DIRECTOR BMI MERGERS & ACQUISITIONS

When selling your business, the due diligence process is a critical part of completing a transaction. Due diligence is an essential step once you agree on the buyer's price and terms outlined in a Letter of Intent (LOI). The buyer's primary purpose is to validate their offer by understanding critical areas of the business's financials, operations, organization, and contractual obligations.

If the business has been confidentially marketed, once the Letter of Intent is signed, the buyer will request that the company be taken off the market. Typically, an LOI will require an exclusivity period of about 60 to 90 days where you cannot talk to other potential buyers. Buyers will be expending significant time and money during the due diligence period. They do not want to be competing with other potential buyers while making this investment.

Areas for Review

The first step in this process is for the buyer to provide a checklist of areas they will want to review in detail. Included on the list would be:

• Corporate Records • Contracts • Property and Equipment • Financials – past five years and future projections • Legal • Employees and Benefit Programs • Environmental & Regulatory Review

• Sales and Marketing Plans • IT Systems

The buyers will include several advisors in their process, including accountants, attorneys, and possibly some specific specialists in areas such as equipment valuation, insurance, and employee benefits, as examples.

Data Management

With all the sensitive company data being exchanged electronically for the buyer to review, it is important that this information is shared on a secure platform. You do not want to be emailing important confidential documents. Suppose you are working with an M&A advisory group. In that case, they will provide a safe data room that allows access only to those individuals that the buyer needs to review the information. As the business owner, you need to determine who within your organization will know about the possible company sale and then assist in collecting and loading the data for the buyers to review.

Building a Relationship

Due diligence is an excellent opportunity for both parties to communicate and build a relationship. In many instances, the buyer will want the owner to stay on for a certain time to ensure a smooth transition and possible integration of another business the buyer owns. It could also be the buyer will want the owner to stay on for an extended period and continue to operate the company.

Further Negotiations

An important aspect of due diligence as an owner is understanding that the process will lead to many more questions that the buyer will want to get answered in greater detail. This new learning can lead to further negotiations of the LOI, and adjustments made to the original offer price and terms. At times, the deal will not go through, as the buyer becomes aware of things that make the acquisition too risky or no longer a fit for them. As the owner, you may no longer be interested in the revisions based upon your thoughts on your company's value or the revised terms. However, a serious buyer who likes the company will often try and make adjustments that will work for the owner.

Certain open items must be quantified in due diligence that the parties need to agree upon before closing. The deal may be originally structured as an asset purchase, but upon further review, given contracts or certifications that must transfer, the structure may change to a stock purchase. This has tax and liability consequences for both parties, so it must be worked out. Another area to be finalized is working capital targets. The buyer will want sufficient funds to remain in the business, so it has adequate funds to continue operating post-closing. The purchase price allocation identifies how the company's closing price is split among various areas such as fixed assets, non-compete agreements, inventory, and goodwill and must be quantified. How this is applied can determine tax implications as well.

Closing

Once the due diligence process is complete, the buyer's attorney will generally draft a purchase agreement and present it to the owner and his attorney. This document should reflect everything in the LOI, and everything discussed and negotiated throughout due diligence. This step typically takes a few weeks to finalize after all the reviews between the parties.

Due diligence is a critical step in selling a business. When handled with discipline and an appropriate sense of urgency by both parties, it will result in a successful closing and the start of a successful transition.

Thinking about Selling Your Business? BMI Provides Proven Results

M&A Advisors | Investment Bankers | Business Brokers Certified - Confidential - References

Dave Clark Tom Kerchner David Olson Contact us for consultation and FREE valuation.

610-777-7029 BMImergers.com

Mergers & Acquisitions

Since 2007

Desperate Times Call for Desperate Measures, Or Do They?

CADY DARAGO & ED MILLER ESQUISITE MARKETING

Most decisions are not binary, and there are usually better answers waiting to be found if you do the analysis and involve the right people. – Jamie Dimon The hashtag digital marketing is trending across all channels of social media. While we don't know the exact numbers, we know companies have invested (or spent because the ROI is sometimes questionable) a ton of money in digital marketing during the pandemic. That's not a bad thing. But let's be real. Depending on the services you offer, putting all your eggs in the digital basket may not be the way to go. We had a strategy call with a client at the beginning of March. He was overly concerned about SEO and keywords. His web developer was on the call with us and asked a great question, "Do you think SEO and key words are going to help you more than reaching out to your network?" We are not here to dispute the effectiveness of digital marketing, SEO, and key words. They are important. But they cannot be your only strategy. It is no surprise that the pandemic changed how we do business – and how we get new business. In-person networking and relationship building has taken a hit, but that does not mean you can't "work" your network! So, what does all of this mean? Any marketing plan needs to contain a comprehensive strategy comprised of content, paid advertising (print, digital, social, television, etc.), social media, website, direct outreach (both old fashioned mail and & email), media, and public relations – and they need to be coordinated. If you are not handling this on your own, make sure the agency you hire is not promising you results that sound too good to be true. We have seen SEO companies getting extra aggressive in recent months. Our assumptions are that because there is much financial uncertainty, demand for some consumer services is down a bit due to the pandemic and people not being out and about as much. Therefore, some of these service providers feel the pinch and are feeling a little desperate, making them perfect prey for digital marketing and SEO companies right now. If you are feeling vulnerable, be cautious when approached by these "miracle" workers. If someone figured out how to get you on the first page of Google's search results for a relevant search term using valid methods, they would be living a phenomenal, stress-free life in a dream location – not cold calling you. The agency you work with should understand your industry as well as any ethics or compliance rules. The services you receive should be tailored to you – not a cookie-cutter plan that they use on every client they have in your industry. As for networking – there is nothing more powerful than the group of people who know, like, and trust you.

This doesn't mean you have to have a virtual happy hour with everyone you meet. Be a connector – introduce someone you met to someone else in your network. Connect with new people – people that make sense for you to know – on LinkedIn. Add new contacts to your marketing list/CRM. Send your connections something of interest – for example, if someone in your network is a Syracuse basketball fan, send them an article on the team or congrats if they win a game. Go Orange!

Remember: • Nothing happens overnight. • Build marketing into your to-do list. • Walk before you run. • If it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. • Ask for help if you need it.

ESQuisite Marketing is a professional service marketing agency headquartered in the Lehigh Valley with clients in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, New York, Georgia, and Florida.

Private Island Escape

JENNIFER DONCSECZ, CTIE PRESIDENT, VIP VACATIONS INC CERTIFIED TRAVEL INDUSTRY EXECUTIVE

Doesn't jetting off to a private island oasis sound like the perfect escape?

Scattered throughout the British Virgin Islands are several private islands that are available for rent.

Just east of Tortola is the Aerial Resort. This private island is 43 acres, and the main building rests high above the Sir Francis Drake Channel in the BVI's.

Getting to this island requires a flight to Tortola, which is available from San Juan or St. Thomas. Once you arrive in Tortola, a health official performs a Covid test (which is the 2nd test you must take as you are required to submit proof of a negative test 72 hours prior to arrival). After clearing the health station and customs, you are whisked to the pier, and the Aerial resort staff boards you on their private boat for the 20-minute ride to the island. As you approach the island, you see a castle-like building resting on the cliffs high above the sea. Upon arrival at the Aerial, each guest must take a rapid Covid test, and from that point on, no masks are required throughout your stay. You have now entered a Covid-19 free bubble!

The island resort can comfortably sleep 26 adults and up to 10 children. The private island resort features all meals, drinks, and water sports activities.

Guests can drive one of the electric Mokes from the castle-like main area down to the beach and around the island. The water sports activities include water skiing, tubing, paddleboards, and kayaks.

The water sports crew will also take you around the islands in one of 2 of the resort's boats if you like. overlooking the Caribbean Sea. You will find daily snacks in the rooms, a Nespresso coffee maker, and throughout the resort, there is high-speed WIFI.

The resort's main areas include a large dining area, an infinity swimming pool, a library, a common "living room" with couches, loungers, and a huge TV.

Outside of the main castle-like building are hammocks and a bar with swings for bar stools as well as tables and chairs for al fresco dining.

There is also a heliport and yoga deck.

Down near the beach is an outdoor "jungle gym", a beach bar with more swings for bar stools, a covered pavilion with large tables, and an outdoor brick oven for pizza as well as dining facilities.

There are comfortable bean bag lounge chairs scattered along the beach, and plenty of hammocks hang between palm trees.

The resort employs two chefs daily, and the meals are customized to each person's diet and preferences. The focus of the dinners features local fish and healthy cuisine.

At night, there are fire pits, and one of the highlights is being entertained by one of the chefs who plays music on his guitar/keyboard. (He has performed before President Obama and Sir Richard Branson).

This private island is the ideal spot for a small destination wedding, corporate retreat, or multi-generational family looking for a Covid-19 free bubble.

Tri Outdoor, Inc. is a locally owned and operated outdoor company specializing in static & digital billboard advertising. Nothing generates more buzz than a creatively executed outdoor campaign. It takes risk and trust in going places that may feel a bit uncomfortable.

Yet, when you deliver something relevant, funny, or thought provoking, people pay attention and they tell others about it. Don’t just buy a sign, CREATE ENGAGEMENT. And don’t worry, we’ll help you!

STEVE ROWBOTTOM, CIGAR AFICIONADO CIGARS INTERNATIONAL

AJ Fernandez San Lotano Requiem Toro Nicaragua 6.0” x 54 Full

95-Rated

Powerful, patiently aged long-fillers from three countries (Nicaragua, Honduras, Dominican) are used to create this full-bodied cigar. I notice roasted coffee and richness from the Nicaraguan leaves. I notice dank earth and toasty tobacco nuances from the Honduran leaves. I notice cedar and sweetness from the Dominican leaves. The Brazilian Habano wrapper offers a sweet spice. I find all these flavors and I respect the cigar’s strength, while appreciating its incredible balance. Silky smooth yet powerful. This robust cigar is nothing short of well done.

Historically, Ave Maria is focused on mellow strength levels and graceful flavors. Dark Knight was blended to be a potent puro, so I was eager to try it. Since doing so, I’ve been burning them nonstop. I love the rich, chewy flavors this cigar puts out. Rich cocoa. Rich leather. Rich espresso bean. The finish is spicy-sweet. The room is filled with oily, charcoal aromas. The smoke is soothing, and I can feel its strength in my belly, like a homecooked meal. This is as close as a cigar can get to comfort food, and I enjoy it immensely.

Ave Maria Dark Knight Robusto Nicaragua 5.25” x 54 Medium-Full

94-Rated

Davidoff Winston Churchill Aristocrat (Churchill) Dominican Republic 6.6” x 47 Medium

94-Rated

I’m British. I love cigars. I’m a big fan of Winston Churchill. That said, I was excited to try the cigar that dons his name. Made in the DR, this well-stuffed handmade is oily and toothy to the touch. The wrapper is Ecuador Habano. The long-fillers are Dominican and Nicaraguan. The binder is Mexican. The flavor is sophisticated, and I note earth, stone fruit, sweet cedar. The Mexican binder is present with a hint of black pepper. The flavor doesn’t stray, and this cigar can easily top off any evening with a single malt.

Rocky Patel Number 6 Toro Honduras 6.5” x 52 Medium

95-Rated

RP Number 6 was recently named the #9 cigar of 2020, so I decided to give it a whirl. I'll say now, I concur. Made with a Honduran Corojo wrapper, this Toro combines long-fillers from Nicaragua and Honduras inside a Honduran binder. The smoke is uniquely sweet from start to finish, offering a nimble marriage of pepper and cashew, with soft hints of vanilla bean and citrus. The finish has a touch of spice, completing a medium-bodied cigar that is full in satisfying flavor.

A golden, seamless Connecticut leaf from Ecuador hugs this 61-ring Double Perfecto. This leaf imparts a creamy, smooth element to the richer tobaccos beneath. Vintage Dominican long-fillers offer a toasty touch of cocoa, while long-leaf Peruvian tobaccos create a gentle spice that lingers long but elegantly after each puff. I enjoy its mature layers of balanced flavors…a sign of quality, aged tobaccos that have been carefully fermented. A tick or two above medium in strength, but elegant enough for the novice.

Zino Platinum Crown Series Chubby Especial Tubo Nicaragua 6.75” x 48 Mellow-Medium

93-Rated

JOHN BROWN a n d THE HATCHETS

tim Harakal • Thomas Ostrow • Rebecca Connelly • Zach Jones

Pennsylvania based Folk band formed in 2018. The bands musical style consists of funk, rock, country, and soul elements with an emphasis on the folk genre.

Lotus Restaurant Group

KAREN & TIMOTHY WIDRICK AND SPENCER & CARISSA COBB, LOTUS RESTAURANT GROUP

In 2002 Edge Restaurant was introduced to the Lehigh Valley. Chef Timothy Widrick has been the driving engine behind our success; using classical French technique with worldly inspirations, he has made a name for himself. We are a family-owned restaurant, and it is our mutual passion for food, service, and drinks, that brings us all together. For years, the owning team was looking for the perfect location to expand our brand and in 2020 they opened SURV Restaurant. With this new restaurant, the Lotus Restaurant Group was formed. Our logo symbolizes the culmination of the owning partners. The Lotus is a beautiful flower that blooms in the most unlikely of environments. It symbolizes rebirth, unwavering faith, and tenacity. At the center is Executive Chef Timothy Widrick with his knives, and the petals each represent the additional partners of our company. Karen Widrick is our Director of Operations; she is the heart of our day-to-day operations. Whether it’s coaching and development of staff or ordering the

supplies needed to run our restaurants efficiently, her expertise and care are present everywhere. Spencer Cobb, Director of Business Development, manages the analytic processes of the business and the growth of the restaurant group. His leadership encourages us to always think outside the box, adapt and evolve. Carissa Cobb, Director of Guest Experience is the final petal. It is her creative vision and passion for superior service that blends everything together. This gives us the aesthetic and vibe that is felt the moment you cross the threshold.

Mission Statement

Through a shared dedication to excellence, we are committed to creating an impressive dining experience for our guests. Our attention to detail starts in the kitchen and is carried throughout the entire restaurant. Everything we do, we do with unwavering passion, precision, and excellence.

Vision Statement

A sexy, hip, chic and edgy restaurant that pushes the boundaries of what is expected from fine dining. Our vibe is fun, energetic, welcoming, and cool- never stuffy or snobby. We believe that our attention to details both inside and outside of the kitchen is what has fueled our success. Guests from any age group will leave with a new appreciation for food, service, and ambiance. Hospitality | This is our home, and we welcome everyone into it as such.

Cleanliness | Our attention to cleanliness is a cornerstone to longevity.

Creativity | Taking classical food and service and putting our take on it. We work in an ever-evolving industry and we strive to be on the cutting edge.

Willingness | We push ourselves every day to exceed expectations and create raving fans.

Passion | It is through a common passion for food, drinks and service that will continue to make us successful.

Family | We welcome all our staff to be part of the Lotus group family. We may not agree on everything but as long as we agree that we can find a solution together success is inevitable.

Consistency | It is through a consistent level of execution that we have become a namesake in our community.

Value | We want to continue to provide a product to our guests with exceptional value. We are a business, but nothing will be compromised for profit.