WEL Summer 2024 Issue

WEST END LIVING

NEW TO THE NEIGHBORHOOD

Three New Establishments

Will Diversify the West End’s Nightlife

BY MEGHAN KITA

In 2024, the West End will celebrate the opening of three unique dining and drinking establishments that are unlike the others the neighborhood previously offered: West End Taproom, Bagpiper’s Pub and 1812 Piano Lounge.

West End Taproom

The first, the West End Taproom, opened in May in the former Greenhouse Enoteca space at 2114 W. Tilghman St. It’s operated by Illumination Brewing, LLC, which makes local hard seltzers. In 2023, Illumination acquired Funk Brewing, which has brewed craft beers in Emmaus since 2014. The West End Taproom is serving Illumination seltzers and Funk beers, Pennsylvania-manufactured wines and liquors, appetizers and wood-fired pizzas.

Charles Laputka, a partner in Illumination Brewing and head of its retail operations, has lived in the West End for 20 years: “It’s basically the neighborhood that I raised my family in,” he said. “We love the charm of the West End because it has a city feel without being downtown. It is an amazing neighborhood between the city and the suburbs.”

Laputka and his partners saw a need for a family-friendly place in the neighborhood to grab a drink and a bite to eat. So, they fixed up the grass out front of the restaurant for lawn games and stocked the taproom with plenty of board games and card games. They are looking forward to eventually utilizing the greenhouse space for seating and live music, temperature-permitting.

“One of the things that I love, and I don’t usually see this outside of breweries, is we want to create a place people will go to relax and play games like Uno or backgammon or cornhole,” Laputka said. “The whole

is that this should be a place where families can meet with friends for a relaxing afternoon in the West End.”

Bagpiper’s Pub

The second, Bagpiper’s Pub, hopes to open this August in time for the Allentown Fair. It will be a Scottish-Irish pub located in the former Stooges Bar & Grille space at 2101 W. Liberty St. The West End, home to Allentown’s St. Patrick’s Day parade, hasn’t had an Irish bar since Jack Callaghan’s Ale House closed in 2020.

The proprietors are Bill Dech and his wife, Suzanne, who operate Bethlehem’s Southside 313 and The Nest: “My wife and I actually frequent the bars in the West End when we want to get out of Bethlehem,” Bill said. “We like the scene over there.”

The space will serve a mix of typical bar food (sandwiches, salads, snacks) and Irish and Scottish food (fish and chips, bangers and mash, traditional Irish potato pancakes). For drinks, they’ll

PHOTO BY BILL BASTA

New Establishments

offer “a lot of good scotches and whiskeys,” Bill said, and they’re planning to reconfigure the space (reverting back to one large bar in the main room instead of the two smaller bars left from the most recent renovation) to fit 24 draft beers. They’re installing new flooring and a tin ceiling to give the bar and restaurant a darker, more homey feeling. Suzanne is Irish, and the Dechs’ business partner, Bruce Campbell, is Scottish, hence the bar’s theme. As for the name, it comes from Campbell’s “bar he built on the side of his house,” Bill said. “There is actually a Bagpiper’s Pub in Bethlehem. It’s just in someone’s home.”

1812 Piano Lounge

The third, the 1812 Piano Lounge, is targeting a fall opening. The space, at 1812 W. Allen St, will be the only piano bar in the Lehigh

Thank You to our West End Alliance Cornerstone Partners

WEA Cornerstone Partners commit to a year-long investment in our neighborhood and WEA activities. We are grateful for their support. For more information on becoming a Cornerstone Partner, contact Michael Drabenstott at (610) 417-0503.

Valley. It’s the dream of Jill Schaefer, the president of neighboring Allentown Appliance, which previously had used the 1812 building for damages and excess inventory. The dream began in 2017, when Schaefer visited a piano bar in Chicago.

“I fell in love with it,” she said. “It’s a good time. You can’t be sad at a piano bar.”

Schaefer has partnered with Cindy Billera, a former manager of Grille 3501 who has more than 20 years of experience in the restaurant business, to bring her dream to life. The vibe they’re going for is “bougie dive bar,” Billera said, one that offers a wide variety of cocktails, wine and beer as well as shareable appetizers. Piano nights will be Fridays and Saturdays, but the space will be open Wednesday through Sunday with some type of entertainment nightly (possibilities include karaoke and music bingo).

Schaefer said that, while she loves Allentown Appliance, it’s not her dream. It was the dream of her late brother, Joe. She’s looking forward to making her own dream a reality and bringing the fun and levity of a piano bar to the part of the Lehigh Valley she loves the most.

“I grew up in the West End. Joe and I always loved this neighborhood, which is why he opened Allentown Appliance here,” said Schaefer, who also owns West End Liquidation, an online store with offices at 1823 W. Allen St. “I love this neighborhood and have a long history here. Glad to be a part of the exciting changes coming!” n

WEST END LIVING

ADVERTISING

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West End Alliance, Inc. PO Box 173, Allentown, PA 18105

www.westendallentown.com

PUBLICATION STAFF

Editor — Rob Stevens

Writers — Frederick Jerant, Meghan Kita, Ron Epstein, Rob Stevens

Copy Editing —Sara Muir

Designer — Robert Ayers

Publication Design, Inc.

Photographer — Bill Basta

Editorial Consultant

— Michael Drabenstott

For advertising information, — Elizabeth Martin Contact us at westendlivingmagazine@gmail.com

•••

West End Living is published quarterly by the West End Alliance, Inc. to promote the West End Theatre District.

•••

EDITORIAL

Editorial suggestions or comments? Contact us at westendlivingmagazine@gmail.com

•••

Publisher assumes no responsibility for return of unsolicited manuscripts, photos or artwork. Nothing may be reprinted in whole or in part without written permission from publisher. Printed in U.S.A.

PHOTO BY BILL BASTA

Bagpiper’s Coming Soon

1812 Piano Lounge Coming Soon

Oakmont Tennis Club Hosts Program for Kids on the Autism Spectrum

BY ROB STEVENS

A gloomy Saturday afternoon in late April at the West End’s Oakmont Tennis Club was brightened by the cheerful, bustling activity of young players on Court 4, where the season’s first Love Serving Autism class was shining under cloudy, then rainy, skies.

But the weather failed to dampen the enthusiasm of the five engaged youngsters, nor their Coach Katie Miness or the volunteers that day.

13-year-old Devin Hassett didn’t say much during the 45-minute session on April 27, though his actions spoke volumes. He followed Miness’s cheerful directions, displayed good social behaviors and developing tennis skills, especially when practicing the shot of the day, the volley.

Oakmont, the area’s only claycourt tennis club, has been hosting Love Serving Autism since 2021. This clinic-type atmosphere, created and sponsored by the United States Tennis Association (USTA), runs late April-early June, then again during the summer and fall. It serves up a structured,

inclusive and hands-on tennis experience that blends vital skills for the kids, ages 5 to 18, who are on the autism spectrum: communication, participation, teamwork and athletic play.

Autism spectrum disorder is a condition related to brain development, which affects how a person perceives and socializes with others, causing challenges in social interaction and communication. A wide range of symptoms and severities define the term “spectrum” in autism spectrum.

Hassett is eager to come each week to Oakmont, arriving a bundle of energy and often the first player on the court, says his mother, Brooke Watson, who drives him there from their home in Allentown and stays to watch the 45-minute session.

“He thrives on it, because it fits his athletic skills, personality and needs for involvement and sociability,” she explained.

“There’s a routine and predictability that he responds to, and it’s competitive, like Devin.”

“And Katie keeps it fun, too.”

Recalls Dave Bobb, former president of Oakmont and still

active at the club, “When Katie came to Oakmont to ask for permission to hold Love Serving Autism at the club, I thought it was a great idea, as it fit perfectly with the club’s mission of serving our community.”

Sarah Halpin’s son, Hunter, 8, has been at LSA since the start, when he would often cry and

refuse to join the activities, said his mother.

But now, in his third year at Oakmont, “He has progressed significantly,” reports Halpin, of Orefield. “He follows directions, has improved his hand-eye coordination and has learned to interact with his peers,” something that’s often a challenge for him, Halpin explains.

“He loves it, and loves Miss Katie, and he looks forward to coming every Saturday.”

Miness, a USTA Middle States employee, and Macungie resident, brought the program to Oakmont after learning about it from the woman in Florida, Lisa PuglieseLaCroix, who started LSA. Miness admits that, like her players, or volunteers, she wouldn’t be anywhere else on those Saturdays, come sunshine or drizzles.

“I’ve been a tennis coach for nearly 20 years, and this has been one of the greatest things I’ve been a part of,” she says with a smile that could light up the dreariest sky.

For more information about Love Serving Autism, email lisa@ loveservingautism.org. n

Civic Theatre Added to National Register of Historic Places

BY MEGHAN KITA

In late February, Civic’s 19th Street Theatre was added to the National Register of Historic Places. The art deco theater opened in 1928 and was restored from 2017-2019. The theater had been considering the designation for decades, said the Civic’s managing artistic director William Sanders, but hesitated because it wasn’t initially clear how the designation would affect decisions about upkeep on the building.

“We thought that we wouldn’t be able to make any changes or simple and inexpensive improvements, but that is not the case,” Sanders said. “Significant changes can result in you being removed from the registry, but basically, it’s pretty

loose and easy.”

The final designation process was spearheaded by Meredith Bzdak of the architectural firm of Mills and Schnoering, which handled the recent renovation. There are grants available only to organizations with buildings on the National Register of Historic Places, and the Civic is researching those to potentially enable further renovation. The second-floor rehearsal and education rooms still need renovation and sealing, and the second-floor windows need to be replaced.

While the designation is cool, it’s

also significant: “It reminds people of how important it is to preserve and support the organizations who preserve these extraordinary buildings. It hopefully will draw more individuals to our productions and our films,” Sanders said.

“There are too many people that still don’t know that we are here on 19th Street. Maybe a shiny plaque and a designation will incite people to check us out, or come back again. Like most nonprofits, we depend on our audience, and we would like our audience to expand.” n

Meet Margaret McConnell the New Executive Director of WDIY

BY MEGHAN KITA

During the 15 years

Margaret McConnell has lived on 24th Street, her career has steadily evolved. When she moved in, she was doing marketing and communications for the Lehigh Valley Economic Development Corporation. She then spent 10 years managing marketing for the Butz Family of Companies.

During the pandemic, she realized she wanted a job that was more focused on community engagement, so she transitioned to People First Federal Credit Union as the director of strategic partnerships for two years.

On February 5, she began her newest role as executive director of WDIY, whose mission is “to engage the Lehigh Valley community through a wide-ranging exchange of news, music, arts and culturally diverse information.” “West End Living” asked McConnell for her perspective on the role and on life in the West End.

What are you hoping to accomplish in your first year with WDIY?

What we have here is an excellent product and a team of people who know what they’re doing. This role allows me to be deeply engaged with our community and to showcase all of the wonderful aspects of living here in the Lehigh Valley. I want to focus on two things going forward: visibility and sustainability. Making sure that people know who we are, what we offer, publicizing the programming that we have, getting more listeners—all that is part of this. The programming put in place by my predecessor and the team is excellent, award-winning programming. I want to sustain that and continue to build on that. Our finances and making sure we have continued funding into the future is a big priority.

Why did you choose to live in the West End?

I lived at 17th and Livingston with my family for a few years when I was in college. When [my partner and I] decided to purchase a home, we really wanted it to be in the West End. I love walking in the neighborhood. I love all the character and the different styles of homes. The greenery and the trees are just beautiful. It’s quiet in a lot of the neighborhood. I like the variety of neighborhood-type bars and restaurants. Every local place we go into, we make friends. It’s a really nice community feel.

Describe your perfect day in the West End.

It would be taking a walk around the neighborhood or attending a class at West End Yoga in the morning, and then I’d go to the Farmers Market and get my meat and veggies for the week. If I can’t get there on those three days [it’s open], it ruins everything. Then, I’d spend time in my backyard. It’s private. It’s quiet. There’s lots of birds and nature. Then, I’d probably go to one of our local establishments, like Cuzin’s, and grab a bite to eat for dinner. n

You’re Right— The Muhlenberg Bells DO Sound Different

BY MEGHAN KITA

In March, West End residents may have noticed that the hourly chimes coming from Muhlenberg College’s Haas Bell Tower had changed. This was one result of the college upgrading its carillon system.

“Going forward, the carillon will allow for select emergency messages to be transmitted across speakers in public locations,” said director and chief of campus safety Brian Fidati. “This will allow visitors and others who do not have immediate access to text and email alerts to receive emergency notifications.”

When the carillon was updated, Muhlenberg added “Gaudeamus Igitur,” the song that plays daily at noon, and the college’s alma mater, which plays daily at 6 p.m., “to the extensive playlist of prepackaged songs that come with the system, most of which we will never have the need to play,” Fidati said. That’s why those familiar sounds of the West End haven’t changed. n

STUDENTS OF NOTE

Muhlenberg Elementary

Isaac Brace is a 5th grader at Muhlenberg Elementary. Isaac is his classroom representative on the Student Council. This year, Isaac participated in the school drama club called PAC. This club performed 5 times in 3 different venues. Isaac participated this year in P.A.L basketball. This year, Isaac earned his black belt in Tae Kwon Do at Kim’s Black Belt Academy in Allentown. Isaac is a member of the school band. He is in the percussion section. Isaac is one of the top students and volunteers in his school. Muhlenberg Elementary and his community benefit from his involvement!

Jewish Day School of the Lehigh Valley

Gabby Bragin is in 4th grade. She enjoys playing the guitar, snowboarding, playing games and calling friends.

She has 3 pets.. 2 dogs and a hamster.

Her favorite thing about the Jewish Day School are her friends!

Trexler Middle School

Kendry Espaillat-Polanco is a fantastic eighth grade student here at Trexler Middle School. He is an honor roll student and medalist with our swim team. This was Kendry’s first year swimming, and by the end of the year won a gold and two bronze medals at the district swim meet. Trexler Middle School will miss Kendry next school year as he continues his academic success at the high school level.

William Allen High School

Emily Martinez is a senior at William Allen High School and has lived in Allentown her entire life.

She is the consummate Canary, involved in Band, Jazz Band, Spring Musical, National Honor Society and Canaries for Life (along with being the captain of the Color Guard).

She loves the diversity at William Allen High School where she often makes friends from students from all over the world. She loves learning about other cultures and places and

cherishes how students from different parts of the world can come together in positive ways. Emily loves visiting many of our local parks, especially Cedar Beach and Little Lehigh Parks. She does not have a favorite restaurant yet, but likes to try new places whenever she can. She appreciates how everything is in walking distance from her house on Allen Street. Next year she will be attending Kutztown University, majoring in Elementary and Special Education and minoring in Music Education.

Her dream is to someday come back to William Allen as a teacher and make a positive difference in the lives of others. n

ALL PHOTO COURTESY OF SCHOOLS

Isaac Gabby

Kendry

Emily

PHOTO BY JOE ROMANO

Wooden Cutouts Bring Festive Fun to the West End All Year

BY MEGHAN KITA

At the corner of W. Washington and N. Muhlenberg Streets, Matt Moyer’s front yard is almost always decked out for something. Moyer, who moved into his home in 2007, started cutting out and painting themed holiday train decorations in 2010. Now, Valentine’s Day, St. Patrick’s Day, Easter, Fourth of July, Halloween, Thanksgiving and Christmas each have their own train. Growing up, his father would make wooden cutouts for the family’s yard, and as an adult, Moyer started using the same catalogs to order his own kits. “I just do it on my days off if I have free time,” said Moyer, who’s a night-shift mechanic at BlueTriton. “I cut the stuff out

when I come home from work or start painting stuff on my deck before I go to bed.”

Once he exhausted the catalog’s supply of trains, he moved into other types of cutouts and holiday decorations. For example, he spent all last summer building a motorized Halloween Ferris wheel; passengers included a skeleton, a werewolf and Frankenstein.

“I had to put out a sign saying, ‘Sorry, at a wedding,’” he said. “The neighbors said there were people all over the place looking for the hot dogs.”

He has the most decor for Halloween, including animatronics and inflatables in addition to the cutouts. Some of it won’t even fit on his lawn anymore. He goes all-out, grilling hot dogs for trick-ortreaters. The spectacle draws a crowd every year, even when he had a scheduling conflict in 2022.

His next projects include a Christmas-themed Ferris wheel and carousel, both motorized, but he doubts either will be ready by this December — and he needs to find a place to store them when they’re finished: “I’m getting more into Christmas now,” Moyer said, “but I’m running out of room in my house and sheds and basement.” n

Muhlenberg College’s Newest Building Named First in the World to Achieve Core Living Building Certification

BY KRISTINE YAHNA TODARO

On March 26, Muhlenberg’s newest academic building, The Fahy Commons for Public Engagement and Innovation, was named the first project in the world to achieve Core Living Building Certification, a program administered by the International Living Future Institute (ILFI). The leading-edge building is LEED Platinum certified and was recently honored with three major sustainability and green-building awards. Fahy Commons is rooted in biophilic design, which brings visitors in touch with nature through both direct and indirect experiences. Visitors enter the building through a natively planted rain garden and once inside, enjoy sweeping views through the structure to a wooded hill sloping down to Cedar Beach Park and Lake Muhlenberg. At the entry vestibule, a sustainability dashboard displays real-time energy and solar information, as well as other information about the features of the building — from bee-friendly bricks to a meadow that helps remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

“This certification is an enormous honor for the College as well as an important recognition of our institutional commitment to educate, inspire and lead by example,” said Muhlenberg President Kathleen Harring. “Fahy Commons has quickly become a beloved hub on campus, sought

after by our students and campus community members, whether for academic or creative pursuits, a tranquil study environment or the opportunity to feel closer to nature.”

Fahy Commons and other campus spaces are available to rent for all kinds of events, including private parties, meetings and conferences, and other gatherings. For more information, contact Muhlenberg’s Director of Conferences and External Events Brian Stephens at brianstephens@muhlenberg.edu. n

PHOTOS BY BILL BASTA

Zaveri Fine Jewelers

BY FREDERICK JERANT

Are you looking for some special sparkle for birthdays, Christmas, Valentine’s Day?

Maybe you need an exquisite piece to accent a new outfit? Or perhaps you simply want to expand your personal collection of fine jewelry? It’s quite possible to satisfy those cravings without traveling to Manhattan or Philadelphia – or taking risks with online purchases. Instead, just visit Timothy Zaveri Fine Jewelers at 532 N 19th Street.

Owner Harsh Zaveri explains that he had been in the wholesale jewelry business for many years before venturing into the retail market.

“Actually, I still do wholesale for 190 stores,” he said. “And that gives Timothy Zaveri access to my entire wholesale catalogue –over 3,000 pieces. If an item is not

available in the store, I can usually have it in hand the next day.”

Timothy Zaveri offers a wide range of jewelry selections, including engagement rings, wedding bands, earrings, pendants, earring and pendant settings, bracelets, and earring jackets.

The shop also offers a level of control beyond other jewelry stores in the area. “Every corner of the business is covered by us personally,” Zaveri said. “Timothy

Statler has over 30 years of experience as a master jeweler, and handles all of our repair work in-house, so we don’t have to send it out to a third party, as other jewelers do.”

That arrangement means his customers always know exactly where their pieces are, at all times. “That’s especially important, particularly when we’re dealing with antique jewelry, or pieces that hold much sentimental value,” he added.

Statler also creates the store’s custom pieces. The most common custom work for the shop is engagement rings. Design elements from photos or illustrations – along with personal customer input – can be combined into a one-of-a-kind item.

Zaveri’s other key staffer is Lisa Shoenberger, whose main responsibilities include sales and customer service. “She’s been working with us since we relocated to this spot several years ago,” he said,

Timothy Zaveri also offers both natural and lab-grown diamonds. The latter stones are created by subjecting tiny crystals of diamond to a precise technological process that results in the formation of much larger diamonds in a matter of weeks to months, rather than millions of years.

While both natural and labgrown diamonds have the same chemical composition and physical properties, lab-grown diamonds are typically less expensive than natural diamonds.

“Buying a lab-grown stone is a big trend, especially with younger customers,” Zaveri said. “They can save quite a bit of money – a 2-karat natural stone could sell

for $40,000, while a lab-grown diamond of the same size could sell for as little as $2, 500. They also know these diamonds weren’t mined in Africa.”

The store also caters to another popular trend – so-called “permanent jewelry.” “That’s a big TikTok trend in large cities,” Zaveri said. “Essentially, a customer picks a particular chain design, we cut it to length, and then use a precisely controlled arc welder to form a permanent bond between the ends.” He added that these items are generally created as bracelets or anklets for Valentine’s Day or Mother’s Day, but are available at all times. “Last year, we had multi-generations of women coming in to get them,” he said.

Zaveri noted that, when removal is required, the store will break the bond and restore it later, both at no charge.

Additionally, he still maintains his office at 1403 N. Cedar Crest Blvd. in Allentown. “That’s where I do my wholesale work,” he said, “I see individual customers there – often for estate buying – by appointment only.”

Timothy Zaveri Fine Jewelers 532 N. 19th Street Allentown PA 18104

610-435-2470

Monday- Closed

Tuesday- 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Wednesday- 10:00 a.m.-5:00 p.m. Thursday- 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Friday- 10:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m. Saturday- 10:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m. Sunday- Closed

https://www.zaveridesigns.com/ https://www.facebook.com/ trjeweler Instagram: @timothy zaveri n

PHOTO COURTESY OF HARSH ZAVERI

Protecting Yourself Online

With many of our financial activities occurring online, it is important to be aware of the risks these activities entail and the steps you can take to reduce the risk of someone illegally gaining access to your private information or financial accounts.

Scams methods you should be aware of:

n Spoofing is when someone disguises an email address, sender name, phone number, or website URL—often just by changing one letter, symbol, or number— to convince you that you are interacting with a trusted source.

n Phishing is when a fraudster sends an email notifying you that an institution or store needs confirmation of account information. Links within these emails often lead to a fake (or spoofed) website that looks legitimate but is just a place to disclose personal information to fraudsters. These scams are designed to trick you into giving information to criminals that they shouldn’t have access to.

n Vishing scams occur over the phone, via voicemail, or via VoIP

network at home, but that is better than having a fraudster sitting in a car on your street monitoring your activities and gaining access to your files and information.

If you are performing financial transactions online, be sure the sites you visit are secure. Most secure sites have URLs that start with “https://” instead of the normal “http://.” Some websites may display a logo indicating it is secure, but make sure you know the site is one you trust.

It is also important to install antivirus software on your computer and keep it up to date. The same holds true for firewalls and security patches for your operating system.

Passwords

Many websites you visit require a username and password. Having a strong password will make your online activities safer. Unfortunately, many passwords are chosen to be easily remembered

rather than to protect the user. Some common passwords that hackers could easily guess are password, username, your real name, your address, 123456, abcdef, or just a number. With just a fourdigit number, there are only 9,999 combinations and a sophisticated hacker could probably figure out the password easily.

Strong passwords are at least eight characters long and preferably more. They should contain a mixture of upper and lower case letters, numbers, and special characters (#, $, ^, &,!,?, {, >, etc). They should not be based on personal information. Changing passwords often and using different passwords for different websites also increases protection. Beware of what you click on and share. You are the first line of defense in protecting yourself. When in doubt, do not click! Member FDIC. Equal Housing Lender. n

(voice over Internet Protocol) calls and are designed to trick you into giving out personal information.

n Smishing scams happen through SMS (text) messages and are also aimed at tricking you into disclosing personal information to fraudsters. Remember, banks do not call, text, or email unsolicited requests asking for your personal information such as username, password, personal identification number (PIN), dual authentication codes, social security number, account numbers, driver’s license, or other non-public information. Do not freely share these details. Contact your bank to validate unsolicited inquiries, or anytime you believe your information has been compromised.

Protecting Your Online Activities

Wireless internet networks with public access are available at many places such as restaurants, hair and nail salons, sporting venues, and more. Some are secure and some are not. Be careful using wireless networks that are free and not secure. Wireless home networks deserve attention as well. It may be time-consuming or more expensive to have a secure

PHOTO COURTESY OF QNB

St. Luke’s Ranked Number 1 in Pennsylvania for Charitable Giving

St. Luke’s University Health Network has been identified by the Lown Institute for the third year in a row as the No. 1 health system in Pennsylvania for charitable giving.

St. Luke’s is the only health system in the Lehigh Valley with a “fair share” surplus, meaning it spends more on charity and community investment than it receives in tax breaks, according to Lown.

No hospital in Pennsylvania had a greater surplus than St. Luke’s University Hospital, comprising both the Bethlehem Campus in Fountain Hill and the Allentown Campus. Three additional St. Luke’s hospitals – Easton, Miners and Upper Bucks campuses – were among the 14 hospitals in the state with a surplus.

“This report’s findings confirm St. Luke’s longstanding commitment to the communities we serve,” said St. Luke’s University Hospital President Wendy Lazo. “At St. Luke’s, our culture and values have resulted in meaningful investments and sustained engagement in our communities, from downtown neighborhoods to rural enclaves –which is why St. Luke’s has been widely recognized nationally, regionally and locally for our service and dedication.”

The Lown Institute calculated fair share spending based on 2021 IRS Form 990. Fair share deficits and surpluses for each system were calculated by balancing the estimated value of hospital systems’ tax exemptions against the amount systems spent on charity care and community investment— including community health improvement activities, contributions to community groups, community building activities and subsidized healthcare services.

St. Luke’s fair share surplus stands in stark contrast to the fair share deficits of the vast majority of other health care systems locally and across the country.

According to Lown research,

St. Luke’s University Hospital (Bethlehem and Allentown campuses) spent $8.8 million more on charity care and community investments than the estimated value of its tax exemption. The other three St. Luke’s hospitals’ surpluses totaled nearly $10 million:

n Easton ($4.6 million)

n Miners Campus ($2.7 million)

n Upper Bucks Campus ($2.5 million)

Massachusetts-based Lown analyzed 2,425 nonprofit hospitals and found only one-fifth to have a fair share surplus. The other 80% spent less on charity care and community investment and thus had a fair share deficit. The combined fair share deficit for all hospitals studied is $25.7 billion for 2021, according to Lown, which is enough to erase 29% of the United States’ medical debt.

Vikas Saini, M.D., president of the Lown Institute, said, “Everyone wants to see their local hospital thrive, but not at the expense of the communities they serve.”

St. Luke’s fair share surplus

Under the leadership of President & CEO, Rick Anderson, St. Luke’s established the Network’s Community Health Department more than 25 years ago. Since then, the department has forged long-term meaningful partnerships with communitybased organizations, government and business partners.

Throughout St. Luke’s service area across 11 counties in two states, an array of other outreach projects is making a difference in people’s lives. Some examples:

n St. Luke’s provides free lunches through its Summer Meals Program in Allentown and Quakertown, making sure no child goes without nutritious meals during the summer months.

n St. Luke’s and the Panther Valley School District partnered to begin holding a monthly food pantry to address food insecurity

among families in the district. The food pantry provides eligible families with a consistent supply of nutritious perishable and non-perishable foods and beverages.

n St. Luke’s operates the area’s most advanced medical detox unit at St. Luke’s Sacred Heart in Allentown. In collaboration with Lehigh County and Treatment Trends, St. Luke’s played a role in establishing The Allentown Center for Recovery not far from Lehigh County Prison and the hospital last Spring. This new facility, in conjunction with the hospital’s services, allows St. Luke’s to establish comprehensive care for those seeking help.

n Across the street from the Sacred Heart Campus is the Sigal Center, a Star Community Health facility founded by and affiliated with St. Luke’s. The Sigal Center offers free and sliding-scale medical and dental care, mainly treating uninsured and poorly insured individuals.

In partnership with St. Luke’s and many generous donors, a dental clinic was expanded to accommodate nearly twice as many patients as previously

possible. Meanwhile, Star Community Health mobile dental vans and St. Luke’s medical vans deliver essential dental and primary care to school children who lack these basic yet vital services.

n In Allentown and Bethlehem, St. Luke’s Parish Nurse Program focuses on homeless and nearhomeless populations, offering routine medical care, food and clothing. During the COVID epidemic, the Parish Nurses arranged for homeless people to quarantine comfortably in a local motel after testing positive for the virus.

n The Parish Nurses and the Laundromat Ministries collaborate to staff a bi-weekly free laundry night. The teams distribute meals while providing medical care such as checkups for acute and chronic conditions, using the mobile vans. St. Luke’s medical students, many of whom attend the Temple/St. Luke’s School of Medicine tuition-free in exchange for committing to practice medicine in the Lehigh Valley after graduation, volunteer with this initiative to experientially learn about their community. n

PHOTO COURTESY OF ST. LUKE’S

St. Luke’s community outreach and charitable initiatives to community health earned the Network the No. 1 health system in Pennsylvania for the third year in a row by the independent think tank and nationally recognized Lown Institue. No other health care system in the state had a greater “fair share” surplus.

Cravings by Dorcaris Sweetens 19th Street

BY MEGHAN KITA

In a gray building located at 829 N. 19th St., Dorcaris Cruz bakes a wide variety of sweet treats, from traditional Puerto Rican quesitos (cream cheese pastries) to elaborate, multi-layer, made-to-order cakes.

The Cravings by Dorcaris Facebook page chronicles both the everyday desserts available in the store, which is open 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday, and the artistic feats of frosting Cruz concocts for her clients. Recent creations include a cake topped with black buttercream depicting an alien in the fetal position, a yellow cake shaped like the head of a LEGO figurine with blocks made out of frosting, and an elegant wedding cake with two different-flavored tiers.

Cruz, whose family came to the area from Puerto Rico 11 years ago, has been baking professionally for about eight years. She previously had kitchen space in Easton and moved to the West End in October of 2022. She, her husband and her

kids are the only employees of her business, and she bakes everything from scratch. While she went to culinary and then baking school in Puerto Rico, she continues to travel (most recently, to Miami) to take classes each year and connect with fellow cake artists.

“This is a profession. You have to take classes for any profession,” Cruz said. “I’m forever going to be a student because always there are new techniques.”

Custom cake orders must be placed at least two weeks in advance, and customers can choose from buttercream (not that sweet), frosting (very sweet), ganache (made from chocolate and cream) and fondant (which allows for the most elaborate sculpting and decorating). Walk-in

customers will find a selection of Puerto Rican desserts and small — but still beautiful — cakes.

“We have emergency cakes we call mini-cakes” for customers who may not order far enough in advance, Cruz said. “We have cake every day.”

To place an order, or request and appointment, visit Home | My Site (square.site), or call 267-575-8540. n

PHOTOS BY BILL BASTA

Neighborly Helpful Hints

TRASH

n Trash and recyclables must be set out between 5 p.m. and 10 p.m.

n Trash and recycling containers may not be stored in front of a property or on the front porch.

n Containers must be retrieved from the curb within 12 hours after collection.

n Trash collection nights are Monday and Thursday nights.

n If you are going to be away, ask a neighbor to put out or take in your trash cans and to check for newspapers or mail on steps.

n Recycling night is Thursday night:

As of June, 2016, all recyclables can be placed in Green and/or Blue bins. There’s no need to separate items.

n glass, plastic (marked #1-#7), aluminum cans and foil, cartons and drink boxes

(remove straws and plastic screw-top cap), metal pots, pans and small appliances, no plastic bags of any kind.

n plastic grocery bags can be recycled at most grocery stores.

n paper, books, cardboard, paperboard (cereal, cracker boxes), mail and magazines, newspapers and inserts.

n hazardous waste, TVs, electronics, computers,

batteries, liquid paint, tires and auto parts with fluids may not be set on the curb for City collection. Call 610-437-8729 for disposal information.

PARKING

n Please be considerate of neighbors.

n Do not take two spaces with one car.

n If you are having a party, please encourage your guests to park in areas where there is plenty of parking availability (ex: campus provided lots, nearby streets that regularly have space, etc.)

n During winter months after snow, it is common courtesy for you and your guests to park only in the parking spaces which you have shoveled out.

STREET CLEANING

n Notice signs posted on all streets. Do not park on the side of the street during the designated times to be cleaned or you will get a $20.00 parking ticket. If unpaid in ten days, it costs $30.00. If unpaid in twenty days, it increases to $60.00. If you become a repeat offender within a thirty-day period, the fines increase to $50.00 after ten days, $60.00 after twenty days, and $100.00 after 30 days.

PROPERTY MAINTENANCE

n Be sure you know your maintenance responsibilities as dictated by your lease.

n Keep your property clean of debris. Sweep leaves, dirt regularly. Do not let papers or trash collect on your property.

n Keep lawn trimmed.

n Shovel walks in a timely fashion. City ordinance requires that sidewalks be cleared ten hours after the end of a snowfall.

NOISE

n There is a 24-hour noise ordinance in the City of Allentown. It is too loud if noise can be heard by neighbors.

n Be considerate, especially at night.

n Remind guests when leaving your home to keep their voices down.

n Keep the line of communication open and let your neighbors know of planned parties.

VOTING

n To find out if you’re registered or where your polling place is, visit https://www.vote.org.pa

POSITIVE RESOURCES FOR THE NEIGHBORHOOD

n https://westendallentown.com n https://www.discoverlehigh valley.com2023 n

PHOTOS BY BILL BASTA

REAL ID Enforcement Goes into Effect May 7, 2025

For years, REAL ID enforcement has been delayed due to complicated logistics. The US Department of Homeland Security has said it will go into effect on May 7, 2025. That is in less than a year.

REAL ID is not mandatory. However, when it goes into effect on May 7, 2025, REAL ID will be required to board a domestic commercial flight, enter a military base and enter a federal facility that requires identification at the door. Valid US Passports are considered REAL ID. Most people, however, will “upgrade” their Pennsylvania Drivers License or Photo Identification to be REAL ID compliant.

REAL ID is NOT required for driving, general identification purposes, accessing a hospital, visiting a federal court or voting.

Where Is It?

Do you recognize this image? Identify its location in the West End Theatre District and you could win a $25 gift certificate from a restaurant in the neighborhood.

To obtain REAL ID, be prepared to visit the REAL ID Center at 1101 MacArthur Rd in Whitehall with proof of identity (birth certificate w/ raised seal), Social Security Card, two proofs of current address, and proof of all legal name changes (certificate of marriage, court order or divorce decree). In addition to renewing your identification or license, there is a $30 one-time REAL ID cost.

For more information about REAL ID, visit dmv.pa.gov/ REALID or call my office (610-821-5577) to request the REAL ID newsletter we put together.

Items Needed for REAL ID

n Birth Certificate with raised seal

n Social Security Card

n Two proofs of current address (existing license or identification, vehicle registration, bank statement, etc)

n Proof of ALL legal name changes (certificate of marriage, court order, divorce decree, etc)

Obtaining Records

For records issued by agencies in Pennsylvania, my office can help you figure out how to make the request. For out-ofstate, county, or federal records, we will need to redirect you to the right agency or office.

My office is located at 5100 W Tilghman Street, Suite 200 and is open MondayFriday. Feel free to stop by or call (610-821-5577) n Email: RepSchlossberg@pahouse.com n Online: www.RepSchlossberg.com n Facebook.com/RepSchlossberg n Twitter.com/RepSchlossberg

Send your entry by e-mail to michael@drabenstott.com or mail to: M. Drabenstott, 2346 W. Allen St., Allentown PA 18104 By June 21, 2024.

One winner will be randomly selected from all the correct entries.