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Lehigh Valley FREE! August/September 2016 The Second Annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium GUM RECESSION Gingival recession or receding gums refers to the progressive loss of gum tissue around teeth which, if left untreated, can result in tooth root exposure. Page 7 THINKING ABOUT STARTING YOUR OWN BUSINESS OR EXPANDING YOUR EXISTING WORKFORCE? The Top Three Employment Laws You Need To Know To Take The Next Step. Page 12 A Bi-monthly Resource Dedicated to Education Visit us at www.LehighWoman.com CREATIVITY THAT WORKS You never get a second chance to make a first impression. Graphic design options for any budget. Page 20 Publisher’s Note Lehigh Valley Autumn Days Are Here Again Dear Readers, Publishers Now that its the end of summer we have some great events to kick off the fall... Celeste Kline Linda Hunsicker Our cover story presents the second annual benefit Polo Match to support horse related therapies for individuals with special needs. Read about this great organization and how you can participate in this great cause on pages 22-23. Design/Editorial Claire C. O’Neill LINDA HUNSICKER Web Design While your out and about in the Lehigh Valley check out the exhibits and events at the Sigal Museum, Historic Bethlehem and the Allentown Art Museum as well as the shows at the State Theater, Civic theaters and Miller Hall. P.O. Box 162 Coopersburg, PA 18036 Contact us at 484-312-0248 or Email: [email protected] www.lehighwoman.com As always, this issue is full of educational and informative articles on a variety of topics that you have come to rely on from our valued contributors. PC Resources The Lehigh Valley Woman Newspaper is published bi-monthly and is available free of charge at display stands in approved private and public establishments and authorized distributors only, or by paid mail subscription. Trademark and U.S. Copyright Laws protect The Lehigh Valley Woman’s Newspaper. No part of this paper may be reproduced without the written permission of the publisher. The Lehigh Valley Woman Newspaper is not responsible for any editorial comment (other than its own), typographical errors from advertisements submitted as camera ready or any reproductions of advertisements submitted as camera ready. If an advertisement does not meet our standards of acceptance, we may revise or cancel it at any time, whether or not it has been already acknowledged and/ or previously published. The advertiser assumes sole responsibility for all statements contained in submitted copy and will protect and indemnify The Lehigh Valley Woman’s Newspaper, its owners, publishers, and employees, against any and all liability loss or expense arising out of claims for libel, unfair trade names, patents, copyrights and propriety rights, and all violations of the right of privacy or other violations resulting from the publication of this newspaper or its advertising copy. The publisher shall be under no liability for failure, for any reason, to insert an advertisement. The publisher shall not be liable by reason of error, omission and/ or failure to insert any part of an advertisement. The publisher will not be liable for delay or failure in performance in publication and/or distribution if all or any portion of an issue is delayed or suspended for any reason. The publisher will exercise reasonable judgment in these instances and will make adjustments for the advertiser where and when appropriate. The Lehigh Valley Woman’s Newspaper assumes no responsibility for unsolicited material or reproductions made by advertisers. This newspaper will be published by the 15th of every other month. 2 There is something for everyone in the Lehigh Valley. Musikfest will celebrate its 33 year in Bethlehem with a 5 day all-star line up, and you won’t want to miss the Riverside Festival of the Arts celebrating its 20th year in Easton. August/September 2016 Sincerely, Celeste Kline and Linda Hunsicker, Publishers CELESTE KLINE FEATURED ON THE COVER POLO: The Sport of Kings Sunday, September 18, 2016 The Second Annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium On Sunday, September 18, the sport of kings, polo, will be played for a second time here in the Lehigh Valley. The Second Annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium, a benefit to be played at Braden Airpark in Forks Township, which last year pitted the 4Winds Concrete team against the team sponsored by Air Products, and the biggest winner will be the participants and families who make a once, or twice, weekly trip to northern Nazareth to receive therapy, either on horseback or working in horse-related activities. CHANGE YOUR LIFE IN 2016 Licenses Available In Your Area Woman Publishing Entrepreneurs Wanted ... Join over 371 other counties that are publishing or have an option to publish in the United States and BE YOUR OWN BOSS! We are looking for a few bright, energetic, creative women and men to publish our trademarked, copyrighted newspapers in YOUR COUNTY, IN YOUR STATE, IN YOUR OWN BUSINESS! Join the fastest growing educational Woman’s Newspaper syndicated in the United States. MINIMAL INVESTMENT REQUIRED! MAXIMUM RETURN... Be your own boss, set your own hours and make your life mean more! ALL TRAINING PROVIDED! If you are interested in developing with us in 2015 in your STATE, in your COUNTY... CALL 1-800-993-3822 Join the #1 Woman’s Educational Newspaper in the U.S. LehighWomen.com Contents Medical Finance Taking Charge of Your Fertility.............................................4 Surviving Widowhood: Smart Coping Strategies .................................................... 13 A Virtuous Woman - Easton Hospital..................................5 Women and Depression: The Facts....................................6 Dental Care Gum Recession...........................................................................7 Health & Wellness Don’t Know Which Diet Plan Would be Best? Look No Further.........................................................................8 Transform Your Body and Your Health Lose 20 to 40 Pounds or More in Just 40 Days!...............9 RxCut Offers Significant Savings.......................................... 10 Melasma and Hyperpigmentation................................... 11 Legal Thinking About Starting Your Own Business or Expanding Your Existing Workforce? The Top Three Employment Laws You Need To Know To Take The Next Step......................................... 12 Myth-busting the Adjustable Rate Mortgage.............. 14 Business Working Dog Press................................................................. 15 Boutique To Go........................................................................ 15 La Petite Provence.................................................................. 15 Don’t Update or Repair Your Home to Sell!................... 16 5 Signs That You Need an Academic Editor.................. 17 Creativity That Works - You Never Get a Second Chance to Make a First Impression. ................................ 20 Women of Lehigh County Women in Profile..............................................................18-19 Community Do Not Read This Article! Riverside Festival of the Arts Celebrates its 20th Year .............................................. 25 MUSIKFEST RETURNS to Bethlehem for 33rd Year This Month............................................................ 26 Art & education Allentown Museum............................................................... 27 Sigal Museum.......................................................................... 28 Miller Hall ................................................................................. 29 State Theatre............................................................................ 30 Civic Theatre ............................................................................ 31 Fine dining Beat the Heat with these Summertime Drinks............ 32 The Shoppe at Hotel Bethlehem ..................................... 33 Historic Bethlehem Museum and Sites.......................... 21 Edge Restaurant...................................................................... 34 POLO: the sport of Kings The Second Annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium ......................................................22-23 Fine Art and Photography Walk to END Alzheimer’s...................................................... 24 Night Falcon............................................................................. 36 The Moment Photographer ............................................... 35 Wanted: Part time display ad sales LEHIGH COUNTY WOMAN is seeking a PT advertising sales representative. Set your own schedule! If you live in the following towns: Bethlehem, Allentown, Easton, Nazareth or Emmaus. Great opportunity to make extra income in your own back yard! Are you are self motivated and love your community! Lehigh Valley Lehigh County Woman is looking for an experienced advertising sales professional to call on local businesses and area professionals. The ideal candidate will have magazine, newspaper or B-to-B advertising sales experience. Straight commission — huge potential market. Call 484-312-0248 or email [email protected] LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 3 Medical Taking Charge of YOUR FERTILITY BY WENDY J. SCHILLINGS, MD, FACOG & JUANITA KANESS, CRNP INTRODUCTION How long should couples attempt pregnancy before seeking help from a fertility expert? An infertility evaluation is usually indicated after one year of regular unprotected intercourse in women under 35 years of age and after six months of unprotected intercourse in women 35 years of age or older. However, the evaluation may be started sooner in women with irregular menstrual cycles or known risk factors for infertility, such as endometriosis, a history of pelvic inflammatory disease, or reproductive tract disorders. The main components of the workup assist in determining any underlying causes of infertility in couples attempting pregnancy. Testing is done to evaluate ovulation and ovarian function, tubal and uterine anatomy, and possible male factor issues. Basic Infertility Workup History and Physical Examination Before testing, a thorough history and physical examination is performed. Couples are asked questions about their medical and surgical history as well as lifestyle questions. Females are asked questions about their gynecological and obstetric history. It is important for couples to provide as much detail as possible. A review of previous medical records from other doctors can provide additional important information. Ultrasound Evaluation A vaginal ultrasound is an important tool used to help identify any abnormalities of the uterus, fallopian tubes and/or ovaries. It also assesses a woman’s fertility potential by counting immature follicles on the ovaries-also called basal antral follicle count. Hormone Studies Hormonal studies help identify hormonal imbalances that may impair fertility along with assessment of ovarian function. Ovarian function testing assesses a woman’s remaining egg supply through a simple blood test. Testing is done around day three of a women’s menstrual cycle. Hormone levels of follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), luteinizing hormone (LH), estrogen, progesterone and antimullerian hormone are assessed at this time. ADDITIONAL TESTING Assessment of Uterine Cavity A more extensive evaluation of the uterine cavity may be indicated for women with suspected uterine fibroids, uterine polyps or scar tissue as well as women undergoing an In Vitro Fertilization (IVF) treatment cycle. There are two procedures that are commonly performed to better assess the uterine cavity: saline infused sonography (SIS) and hysteroscopy. Saline Sonography (SIS) An SIS is usually done in a doctor’s office. During the procedure sterile saline is infused into the uterine cavity under ultrasound guidance. Some ultrasounds are able to capture 3 dimensional images (3D) of the cavity. Hysteroscopy A hysteroscopy is an outpatient surgical procedure. While the woman is asleep, a small camera is placed inside the uterine cavity. The doctor is able to visualize the cavity, take pictures and remove any fibroids, polyps or scar tissue that are found. Laparoscopy A laparoscopy is a surgical procedure to look inside the abdomen and assess the uterus, fallopian tubes and ovaries. A laparoscopy may be indicated for patients who are suspected of having pelvic scarring or endometriosis. This is an outpatient procedure that is usually done in a hospital operating room. Once testing is complete an individualized treatment plan is made based on the test results. Efficient and thorough testing is key to helping couples achieve the ultimate goal of a healthy baby. Additional information can be found at www.acog.org/~/media/For Patients/faq136.ashx. Assessment of Adequate Ovulation Blood work is usually done to verify ovulation around day 21 of a woman’s menstrual cycle. About 25% of all infertility is caused by some type of ovulation problem. The most common ovulatory disorder in women is polycystic ovarian syndrome (PCOS). Most ovulation abnormalities can be treated with medication that can help a women ovulate. Additional Blood Tests Thyroid stimulating hormone and prolactin hormone levels are commonly checked to rule out subtle abnormalities that may affect fertility, treatment and/or pregnancy. The most common are overproduction of prolactin and underproduction of thyroid hormones. Other blood tests that may be done include testing for infectious diseases, anemia, and immunity to chicken pox and rubella. Hysterosalpingogram (HSG) The HSG assesses the shape of the uterus, the inside of the uterine cavity and determines if the fallopian tubes are open. The HSG is usually scheduled between days 6 and 10 of the menstrual cycle - after bleeding and before ovulation. A dye is instilled into the uterine cavity while pictures are taken. This test is usually done in a radiology department. It is estimated that about 25-30 percent of female infertility is caused by a problem with the fallopian tubes. Semen Analysis It is estimated that about 1/3 of infertility is caused by male factor or abnormal sperm. A semen analysis is obtained to determine sperm count (total number of sperm), motility (percent of moving sperm), and morphology (percent of normal shaped sperm). In addition, testing for the presence of antisperm antibodies is recommended. The semen analysis results help determine the best treatment options for a couple. 4 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Medical A Virtuous Woman BY RAJEN OZA, MD, Oncology/Hemotology Janicca Covington isn’t your typical sales consultant. Maybe it is her relaxing demeanor. Maybe it is her career in social work. Maybe it is her focus on motherhood. “I was looking for a fun outlet after the birth of my little girl,” says Janicca. She and her husband have lived in the Lehigh Valley for nearly a decade and welcomed their daughter two years ago. The fun she was looking for was in the bag. She became a consultant for Thirty-One, a bag and gift company designed to empower women. “The name comes from Proverbs 31, which describes a woman who is self-sufficient, capable and hard working,” she says. “Selling bags was a way to do something for me.” Little did she know that her hobby would impact so many. DOING FOR OTHERS So Janicca got to work. She used social media to share the story about Idellle. Each bag sold would go directly to chemotherapy patients at Easton Hospital. Many people sponsored bags, buying ones that might brighten a patient on a cancer journey. Others bought a bag in memory of loved one who died of cancer. More bought bags in honor of Idellle. Janicca used the commission she earned to buy items to fill each bag. “Just little stuff, like tissues, gum, blankets, puzzles, butterscotch candies… things that would make people feel better,” she says. In short order, Janicca had 19 bags stuffed to the seams. SEEING THE IMPACT Janicca and Idellle brought the bags to the hospital to much fanfare. “The staff at the hospital were in tears,” Janicca says. “It made me feel so good. The staff embraced Idellle, were in awe of the bags and pleased to meet me.” Soon Janicca was living the mission at Thirty-One by giving as much as she was getting. It started with giving bags to the families of premature infants born at a local hospital. Then it was helping patients with cancer. Hearing the excitement, a patient on treatment stepped out of a room, looked the bags and picked one to keep. “It was so wonderful to see the impact,” Janicca says. Idellle Bullett sang in Janicca’s church choir. When Janicca learned of Idellle’s cancer journey, she wanted to honor her with a fund-raiser. She didn’t know what to expect when she began this endeavor. While Janicca’s been pleased by her own entrepreneurial spirit, the true reward is the good spirit her business has passed along to others in need. “Ms. Idellle is a patient here at Easton Hospital, so I gave the cancer center a call,” says Janicca. “They were very receptive.” LehighWomen.com Janicca Covington August/September 2016 5 Medical Women and Depression: The Facts BY PAUL K. GROSS, MD E veryone experiences disappointment or sadness in life. But when the “down” times last a long time or interfere with your ability to function, you may be suffering from depression. Major depression affects your mood, mind, body and behavior. Nearly 15 million Americans — one in 10 adults — experience depression each year, and about two-thirds don’t get the help they need! Women experience twice the rate of depression as men, regardless of race or ethnic background. An estimated one in eight women will contend with a major depression in their lifetime. Many factors unique to women’s lives play a role in developing depression, including genetic and biological, reproductive, hormonal, abuse and oppression, interpersonal, and certain psychological and personality characteristics. Depression occurs most frequently in women ages 2544, and peaks in childbearing years. SYMPTOMS OF DEPRESSION • Little interest or pleasure in doing things • Feeling down, depressed or hopeless • Trouble falling or staying asleep or sleeping too much • Feeling tired or having little energy • Poor appetite or overeating • Feeling bad about yourself, that you are a failure or have let yourself or your family down • Trouble concentrating on things, such as reading the newspaper or watching television • Moving or speaking so slowly that other people could have noticed, or the opposite in that you are so fidgety or restless that you have been moving around a lot more than usual • Thoughts that you would be better off dead or of hurting yourself WOMEN ARE MORE LIKELY TO REPORT THESE SYMPTOMS • Anxiety • Somatization (the physical expression of mental distress) • Increase in weight and appetite • Oversleeping • Outwardly expressed anger and hostility Depression is a painful and serious condition, but there are many treatment options available, including Transcranial Magnetic Therapy (TMS), a safe, painless treatment for depression and certain other conditions without the use of medications. TMS uses brief MRI-strength magnetic pulses to stimulate the parts of the brain associated with the symptoms of the illness. Unlike medications, TMS does not cause side effects such as weight gain or sexual dysfunction. TMS can be effective even if you have failed to respond to anti depressant medications. Unlike other treatments, TMS does not cause cognitive side effects or memory problems. No anesthesia or sedation is used, so you can drive yourself to and from treatment and even go back to work or school right after a treatment. There is no need to disrupt your usual routine. A typical course of TMS Therapy lasts 4 to 6 weeks. Treatments are given daily, Monday through Friday. Each treatment session lasts about 40 minutes. If you feel that depression has taken over your life please contact us at TMS Center of the Lehigh Valley. We can help! 6 August/September 2016 The TMS team: Alisson Stauffer, Cortney Gillen, and Dr. Paul K. Gross TMS CASE STUDY OF A 51-YEAR-OLD SINGLE WOMAN Patient Description • 51-year-old single woman • Suffers from recurrent Major Depressive Disorder • Continues to work as human resource manager despite depression • Symptoms include anhedonia, interpersonal withdrawal, excessive sleeping, hopelessness, poor concentration and decrease in work performance Depression Treatment History • Current episode was approximately five years in duration • Treated with multiple medications: Lexapro, Effexor, Wellbutrin and Abilify • Treated with psychotherapy Treatment in Current Episode • Patient had discontinued all medications because they failed to relieve depressive symptoms or caused side effects • Also treated with psychotherapy TMS Therapy Treatment Course and Results • Treated acutely with 30 TMS treatments • QID-SR scale decreased from 18 to 5 • Patient noticed positive changes within two weeks of treatment • Patient has experienced a renewed quality of life, her energy level has returned to normal and her sleep has normalized • Currently taking Cymbalta 120mg to prevent reoccurrence • She has remained in remission for 5 months. She is no longer disabled by her depression and she is able to enjoy life again. “For the first time in twenty years I am at peace and content. I have hopes and dreams again!“ ~ Patient Quote 610.820.0700 401 North 17th Street, Suite 304 Allentown, PA 18104 www.tmslv.com LehighWomen.com Dental Care Gum Recession BY DR. CHRISTINA M. LAWRENCE Gingival recession or receding gums refers to the progressive loss of gum tissue around teeth which, if left untreated, can result in tooth root exposure. Gum recession can be difficult to self diagnose in its early stages because the changes often occur gradually without symptoms. Regular dental examinations can assess the risk factors of recession and help to prevent it. Gum recession is a widespread problem that dentists diagnose and see on a daily basis. It is important to thoroughly examine the affected areas to make an accurate diagnosis of the actual underlying problem or condition causing the recession. Once the cause of gum recession has been determined, surgical or non-surgical procedures can be performed to halt the progress of the recession and prevent it from occurring in the future. The most common causes of gingival recession are 1. Position of tooth or teeth in dental arch. Because gum tissue is supported by the bone surrounding teeth, the position of the tooth in the dental arch determines the position of the gum tissue. If a tooth and the root are in a prominent position, the gum tissue is thin overlaying the tooth or root and unable to withstand the forces applied during chewing or proper tooth brushing. Teeth can be positioned in close position to muscles which allow lips to pucker. If the attachment of the muscle in close to the margin of where gums tissue meets a tooth recession may occur because of the constant muscle movement of the lips. Teeth can be positioned either by nature or orthodontic treatment. 2. Trauma. Brushing with too much pressure or too frequently can result in a chronic excessive force on the gum tissue and cause it to “wear away.” Use of a hard bristled toothbrush can cause excessive force also. A person must brush with a soft bristle toothbrush only. Hold the toothbrush with a soft hand and brush the teeth in small, circular motion which follows the scalloped anatomy of the gum tissue. Ill fitting prosthetics to replace missing teeth, such as partial dentures, can cause gum recession by exerting pressure on the gum tissue causing tissue death or necrosis and subsequent recession. 3. Chewing tobacco. Any kind of tobacco use has devastating effects on the entire oral cavity. Chewing tobacco, in particular, aggravates the gingival lining of the mouth and causes gum recession from chemical trauma. 4. Periodontal disease. Periodontal disease is the loss of supporting bone surrounding teeth as a direct result of a chronic bacterial infection of the gum tissue. Since the gum tissue is supported by the jaw bones which house the teeth, if the bone is disappearing or becoming thinner than the gum tissue will recede with the bone. Periodontal disease can have symptoms that include gum inflammation, bleeding while brushing or bad breath. Gum recession can lead to sensitive teeth. The cementum (root surface) becomes exposed and the pores which are present in the cementum become more susceptible to stimuli such as cold, hot or sweets. Sensitivity resulting from root exposure usually can be lessened or eliminated with the use of toothpaste specific for sensitive teeth. If the gum recession is sufficient the root surface is visible during normal smiling or speaking, this can lead to a “toothy” smile with dark spaces visible between very long appearing teeth. Every case of gum recession is slightly different and therefore many treatments are available. The nature of the problem which caused the recession needs to be addressed before any treatment can be recommended. If overly aggressive brushing techniques are eroding the gums, a softer toothbrush and/ or a gentler brushing technique should be used. If poor oral hygiene is a problem, a prophylaxis (dental cleaning) may be recommended to rid the gum pockets of debris and bacterial. If the case of severe tartar buildup or bone loss surrounding the teeth, scaling and root planning will be performed to heal the gingival inflammation and clean LehighWomen.com the teeth and root surfaces. If tooth position is the cause of the gingival recession, orthodontic treatment or minor tooth movement can reposition the root eliminating further gum recession. Once the cause of the gingival recession has been addressed, surgery or cosmetic procedures can be recommended to improve the esthetics of the teeth and gums. Your mouth is important to your overall health. It is also the most useful part of your body: it is used to eat, it is used to speak and it is used to breathe. You have a lifelong need for ideal dental health. We are passionate about your health and take pride in providing only the best care. Please visit cmlawrencedmd.com for more information and to learn about my dental office. Come meet my staff and me and let us check out your smile. Dr. Christina M. Lawrence Personalized Dental Care for You and Your Family Preventive Dentistry Teeth Whitening Cerec Single Visit Crowns Implants Invisalign Periodontal Treatment Root Canals Credit Cards and Financing Available Dr. Christina M. Lawrence 4132 W. Tilghman Street Allentown, PA 18104 610-395-4400 www.cmlawrencedmd.com August/September 2016 7 Health & Wellness Don’t Know Which Diet Plan Would be Best? Look No Further Y BY ERIN E. KLINE, MS. RD. CSO, LDN ou may have heard on the news lately that U.S. News and World Report evaluated common diets with the help of experts in the field and ranked them. They ranked them based on their ease, their nutrition, and their safety and effectiveness for weight loss, heart disease, and diabetes. For this article I am going to highlight the top 5 for you. They are as follows: 1. 2. 3. 4. 5. DASH diet TLC diet Mayo Clinic Diet Mediterranean Diet Weight Watchers As you can see, the Mayo Clinic Diet, Mediterranean Diet and Weight Watchers Diet ti ed for the third best diet. Based on their guidelines, hopefully you will be able to choose one that is right for you! DASH: DIETARY APPROACHES TO STOP HYPERTENSION This diet was developed by the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute to prevent or lower high blood pressure. The diet has a strong emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, fish, poultry, beans, seeds, and nuts. You will be eating lesser amounts of sweets, added sugars, sugary beverages, and red meats. Thus, it is lower in saturated fats, trans fats, and cholesterol. The DASH plan provides a chart where you can estimate your daily calorie needs based on your activity level and age. After determining your calorie needs, you can then determine how many servings of each food group you will be allowed to eat. The DASH diet is fairly easy to stick with long term, as it does not involve elimination of any certain food groups. See more at http://www.nhlbi.nih.gov/ health/public/heart/hbp/dash/dash_brief.pdf. TLC: THERAPEUTIC LIFESTYLE CHANGES The TLC diet was developed by the National Institutes of Health’s National Cholesterol Education Program. Its aim is to lower cholesterol. On this diet you will be limiting saturated fats and trans fats, so less fatty meat, poultry skin, bacon, sausage, whole milk, cream, butter, packaged foods, and fried foods. You will also need to limit your cholesterol intake to less than 200mg per day. Plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans will get you the fiber that you need on the TLC diet. To follow this diet well, you will need to be good at reading nutrition fact labels. MAYO CLINIC DIET This diet was developed by the Mayo Clinic and is aimed to help individuals lose weight. There are two parts to the Mayo Clinic Diet: (1) Lose It and (2) Live It. The Lose It phase lasts for two weeks and focuses on habits. You will learn which good habits to add to your life and which bad ones you will need to eliminate. In the Live It phase you will learn how many calories to consume and what to eat to get those calories. The goal is to develop a healthy eating pattern for the remainder of your life. Once you make it past the Lose It phase, you will be more likely to stick with it, as that two-week phase can be difficult. There is a Mayo Clinic Diet Book that you can purchase to help you along. MEDITERRANEAN DIET The Mediterranean Diet is a balanced diet. It is based on the idea that individuals that live along the Mediterranean Sea live longer and suffer less from cardiovascular disease and cancer than Americans. All countries bordering the Mediterranean do have different diets but share a common basis. This diet has an emphasis on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, beans, nuts, legumes, and olive oil. You should consume seafood and fish at least twice per week. Consume poultry, eggs, and cheese in moderation. Limit red meats and sweets to special occasions. A Mediterranean Food Pyramid was also developed. You can find it at http://oldwayspt.org/resources/ heritage-pyramids/mediterraneandiet-pyramid. This diet has been shown to have long-term success. WEIGHT WATCHERS Many of our readers are probably familiar with the Weight Watchers Program. Weight Watchers promotes a balanced diet and works off of their Points Plus system. Nutritious foods cost less than empty calorie foods. You are allotted so many points per day based on your gender, weight, height, and age. On this plan you are allowed to eat three meals per day plus at least two snacks. You can also attend weekly meetings, which is said to increase weight loss as it increases compliance. You can choose to follow on-line if you wish. Meetings and on-line access do come with a cost. Many individuals that take part in Weight Watchers stick with it long-term, which says a lot. Any “diet” can be successful if you make changes that will last your lifetime. The bottom line to most good diets is to incorporate more fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and beans while reducing processed foods, red meats, and sweets. They will come with a cost as the recommended food items do generally cost more money. But it will be worth it in the end! You can also purchase the fresh items that are on sale. It is also important to remember that eating well and physical activity (if cleared by a physician) go hand in hand when it comes to improving health and losing weight. So get started and make 2014 a great year! Erin E. Kline, MS, RD, CSO, LDN, is a registered dietitian. She holds a master’s degree in nutrition from University of North Carolina-Greensboro and a bachelor’s in biology from Binghamton University. 8 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Health & Wellness TRANSFORM YOUR BODY AND YOUR HEALTH LOSE 20 TO 40 POUNDS OR MORE IN JUST 40 DAYS! BY DR. RODRIGUEZ I’m guessing you’re intrigued... but probably a bit skeptical too. It sounds too good to be true, but it’s real. At Lehigh Valley Fat Loss we have an amazing, revolutionary weight-loss program that is sweeping America, and it can completely change your life! IT’S THE NUTRIMOST WELLNESS AND WEIGHT LOSS SYSTEM. Using this system, you’ll transform your body, inside and out. And, as you watch the pounds melt away, you’ll also be correcting hormone levels and restoring balance to your body. The NutriMost Wellness and Loss System is safe, fast, and effective. It’s completely different from any diet program you’ve tried before. “I’ve tried so many other weight loss programs, all the ones you hear about on TV—none of them worked. I spent so much money and so much time! And I felt so defeated because the weight never stayed off. Dr. Eric’s Fat Loss program works. I lost 35 pounds and I’ve kept it off.” —Gail C. You’ll clear out harmful toxins and balance your hormones as you lose fat at an unbelievable pace. And the best part? The results are permanent. Following your 40 days of fat loss, NutriMost will reset your metabolism and weight set point, so you can keep the weight off for good! “Before the Fat Loss program my gut was so huge I used to joke I was 7 months pregnant! Now, OK, I don’t have a six-pack, but the definition is getting there. And I did it without exercise!”—Ron L. “Three of us in my family successfully completed the Fat Loss program: my husband, myself and my son. My husband lost 35 pounds, I lost 30 and my son lost 50 pounds. In 40 days! I am very much into healthy eating and this was an excellent, healthy program. That’s the big difference with this program. I tried others and they weren’t about health, they were just about some numbers on a scale. It’s just a great way to lose body fat and get and stay healthier. You lose fat and you keep it off.”—Erika E. Imagine yourself being 20 to 40 pounds lighter in just 40 days. It would take you months and months to lose that much weight with other programs, but this safe, doctor-supervised system works in just 6 weeks, guaranteed. Rita lost a total of 125 pounds Dr. Eric Rodriguez is the personification of that old saying, “the right man at the right time.” The fat-loss field was a natural destiny for him, given his dual background as a veteran chiropractor and an accomplished artist. His 21 years of chiropractic training and experience taught him to see the body holistically, as an integrated system. He came to understand how it was possible to subtly tweak what was going on inside to optimize both appearance and performance outside. The doctor’s background in art, meanwhile, made him a student of beauty in all its forms, with a keen sense of how aesthetics enrich the mind and spirit, amplifying one’s appreciation of life. It follows that he is also a lifelong aficionado of proper weight maintenance. O ther weight loss programs mistakenly focus almost entirely on the diet. We focus on the breakthrough technology that enables us to Turn OFF fat storage and Turn ON fat burning. It’s not your fault that it has been difficult to lose weight. Powerful chemicals in your food scramble and disrupt your hormones and neurotransmitters, making your body resistant to weight loss and exercise. Utilizing NutriMost Technology, and the NutriMost Ultimate Fat Loss scan, we now have the technology to assess nearly every factor of fat burning, fat storage and fat metabolism. The assessment includes organs, hormones, neurotransmitters, vitamins, minerals, toxins, heavy metals, parasites bacteria, viruses, mycoplasma, candida and biotoxins. With this scan, we are able to create a personalized and customized plan that will address your body’s top organ stressors as well as find the best products to balance those biological stressors. All weight gain involves a hormonal component. To have lasting and permanent weight loss, we must balance and correct the body’s hormones. “I believe a lot of the problem in weight loss is hormonal. This program gets your metabolism going again. When I started, my metabolism was like that of a 90-year-old woman, and I’m in my mid-40’s. This program taught me a lot about my body.” —Gail C. The NutriMost Ultimate Fat Loss Scan has been programmed to help give your body the nutritional tools that it needs to overcome your specific imbalances and to bring your body into a very narrow hormonal range for optimum fat burning. This scan and the customized support program is the core of our exclusive 5 component Ultimate Fat Loss System and is what makes this system so unique and so effective. There is no exercise needed. You will be eating real food, nothing prepackaged. You won’t be craving foods. You won’t be hungry. There are no drugs or hormones involved. This program targets the problem areas like your belly, butt, hips and thighs. It burns fat and raises metabolism and it is Doctor supervised for safety and results. By following this program, we expect to not only bring your body into the optimum fat burning zone but also balance and correct both the organ and hormonal stressors, allowing us to go beyond just weight loss to help you actively create a lifetime of health. This is a simple and effective way to lose weight, burn excess body fat, look and feel great and regain health. At Lehigh Valley Fat Loss, “We’re Planning to see less and less of you!” Call us at 484-523-5056 to schedule a Body Composition Analysis and Consultation for only $27 ($99 value). Visit us online to watch our informative video at www.LehighValleyFatLoss. com and book your appoint now. Just imagine what you can look and feel like in just 40 days from NOW! LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 9 Health & Wellness 10 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Health & Wellness Melasma and Hyperpigmentation BY JEAN CARUSO A pproximately 5-6 million people in America and 45-50 million people worldwide are living with melasma. Melasma, sometimes called chloasma, is a chronic skin disorder that results in symmetrical, blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation, most commonly found on the cheekbone, jawline and central part of the face. It is more common in women than men and generally begins between the ages of 20-40 years. Any race can be affected by melasma, but people with dark skin (Latin/Hispanic, North African, African American, Asian, Indian, Middle Eastern and Mediterranean descent) are more likely to have it. It is estimated to affect 8.8% of Hispanic women and about 40% of Southeast Asian women. People who have a relative with melasma are more likely to get it, so there is probably a genetic component to it. WHAT CAUSES MELASMA? Sun exposure is the main cause of melasma and of chronic hyperpigmentation (dark spots). UVA and UVB rays from the sun are very stimulating to the skin structures which naturally produce a skin pigment called melanin, leading to excessive discoloration. It is the body’s way of protecting the deeper layers of the skin. In fact, melanin actually absorbs UV radiation! All tans eventually fade, but for people with hyperpigmentation and melasma, the skin has become dysfunctional and does not dissipate the pigment normally. For these people, any slight stimulation can trigger a reaction and cause the body to produce more melanin, resulting in more discoloration. Pregnancy and hormone treatments are also triggers. Oral contraceptive pills containing estrogen and/or progesterone, hormone replacement, intrauterine devices and implants are a factor in about 25% of affected women. Certain oral antibiotics and cancer therapies may sensitize the skin to the sun and produce hyperpigmented areas. Melasma, sometimes called chloasma, is a chronic skin disorder that results in symmetrical, blotchy, brownish facial pigmentation, most commonly found on the cheekbone, jawline and central part of the face. HOW IS MELASMA TREATED? Melasma can be very slow to respond to treatment, especially if it has been present for a long time. Year round sun protection is a must. Choose a broad spectrum, SPF 30 or higher sunscreen. It is important to wear sunscreen every day, even on cloudy days. Wear a wide brimmed hat and seek shade when outside. Choose gentle skin care products that don’t sting or burn. Products that irritate may worsen hyperpigmentation by causing inflammation. Avoid waxing any affected areas. For women, limit estrogen exposure. Clinical treatments may include papain and bromelain enzyme treatments. These enzymes have advanced exfoliation effects on the outer layers of the epidermis of the skin, revealing healthier cells below. Chemical peels exfoliate and stimulate the skin eliminating the buildup of dead skin cells on the surface, removing the pigmented cells in this layer. Skin looks brighter and healthier. Microdermabrasion is a non-chemical type of exfoliation that also removes the outermost layer of the skin, leaving it glowing. All of these exfoliation methods enhances the penetration of home care skin lightening products used for melasma and hyperpigmentation. Some of these products include hydroquinone 2-4%, azelaic acid, kojic acid, and ascorbic acid (Vitamin C). Treatments are tailored to the individual and take time. This skin condition is persistent. Dark pigment develops gradually, so resolution will be gradual. People prone to hyperpigmentation will always be susceptible to recurrence. Strict sun avoidance combined with clinical treatments and daily use of skin care products that limit the amount of melanin being produced is imperative. Your clinician will work with you to develop a customized plan to help you realize the results you would like to accomplish. Amati SkinCare Center specializes in facial skin care treatments. Please call us at 610-228-0292 to schedule a free consultation for all of your skin care concerns or check out our website at amatiskincare.com. We look forward to helping you reach your goal of achieving and maintaining healthy and radiant skin. LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 11 Legal Thinking About Starting Your Own Business or Expanding Your Existing Workforce? The Top Three Employment Laws You Need To Know To Take The Next Step BY ELLEN C. SCHURDAK AND KEELY JAC COLLINS, KINGSPRY EMPLOYMENT LAW PRACTICE GROUP Perhaps you are finally ready to open that bakery you’ve been dreaming about or maybe an expanded order from your best customer means you can add a second shift of skilled help. Whether you are just opening up shop or have fifty people on your payroll, all employers desiring to grow and sustain a business need to be aware of various federal and state laws. Before hiring, it is always best to consult with an attorney. To help you plan, this article highlights some of the issues that can surface when hiring employees. Here are the top three employment laws that small business owners should be aware of: EMPLOYEE PAY LAWS. There are federal and state laws which govern how employees are to be paid. Depending upon an employee’s wages and job duties, an employee may have to be paid on an hourly basis. If paid hourly, employees must be paid time and a half for work in which they worked in excess of 40 hours in a work week. This computation, of how many hours employees worked, can be complicated if the employee is “on call.” An employer needs to be aware that “on call” in today’s world may mean that an employee is entitled to overtime wages if he/she responds to emails when not at work. Some employees may be paid a salary based upon job responsibilities. These employees, who are not paid on an hourly basis, are referred to as “exempt employees.” As an exempt employee, one does not need to work a full day in order to receive his/her salary. It is important to be aware that the federal government The KingSpry Law Firm Legal Services Include Divorce, Alimony, Pre/Postnuptial Agreements, Property Distribution, Child/Spousal Support, Custody, Surrogacy, Adoptions, Stepparent Adoptions, LGBT Adoptions, Assisted Reproductive Technology, Business Matters, Employment Matters, Estate Planning/Trusts King, Spry, Herman, Freund & Faul LLC One West Broad Street Suite 700 • Bethlehem, PA, 18018 610-332-0390 • 610-332-0314 FX • www.kingspry.com 12 August/September 2016 has announced, effective December 2016, exempt employees must earn at least $913 per week. This means that many employers are going to have to review their employees’ statuses and determine whether or not the employees meet the new threshold. CONTRACT LAW. When you decide to hire employees, many people automatically think that having a contract is in the employer’s best interest. However, Pennsylvania is an “at-will” state.” This means that an employer can terminate the employee relationship for any reason so long as it is not based on an unlawful reason such as discrimination. Before entering into an employment contract, it is important to review what you, as an employer, are gaining and whether an employment contract is the best way to achieve these goals. To avoid losing clients or business good will to an employee who may later compete with the organization, many businesses ask certain employees to sign a non-compete agreement. It is important to know, however, that these agreements are not favored and, thus, highly scrutinized by Pennsylvania courts. Pennsylvania courts can also re-write these agreements so that they are shorter in duration or in scope. The law is changing quickly in this area: it is best to consult with an attorney regarding the drafting of the document. EMPLOYMENT DISCRIMINATION LAW When you decide to hire employees, you may want to call an attorney to consult with you regarding policies that minimize your risk of liability for discrimination. While employment discrimination laws on the federal level generally apply only to employers with at least fifteen employees, Pennsylvania employment discrimination laws apply to employers with at least four employees. Also, many localities have enacted employment discrimination ordinances that could apply to even smaller businesses. To minimize liability exposure for employment discrimination, it is critical to develop, distribute, and implement policies that address such concerns as what employees are to do if they feel they are being discriminated against and/or witnesses what they believe is a discriminatory act. It is also important to have someone within the organization knowledgeable about accommodations for disabilities. All employees, particularly managers, must be properly trained on the organization’s employment discrimination policies. LET THE LAW WORK FOR YOU, NOT AGAINST YOU. Employment laws should, when applied properly, balance the concerns of employers and employees so that employers can prosper in business without neglecting employees’ interests. A skilled employment attorney can help you navigate the laws to build a successful business venture that includes maintaining a healthy, productive work environment. Ellen C. Schurdak is a partner with the KingSpry law firm, concentrating her practice in the litigation arena including trust and estates, employment discrimination, commercial transactions and family law. Her practice is diverse, as she appears before trial courts, appellate courts, arbitration panels and mediators. Keely Jac Collins is an attorney with KingSpry, focusing her practice in employment, municipal and education law. LehighWomen.com Finance Surviving Widowhood: Smart Coping Strategies BY LISA STROHM, FOUNDER & CEO, THE ATHENA NETWORK I lost my first husband, Tom, when I was 34 and he was 40. While statistically speaking I was quite young to have become widowed, the unfortunate fact is that widowhood will be a reality for many women, especially in our later years. This is because women tend to outlive men by a few years, and men tend to marry younger women. The U.S. Census Bureau reports that 39.9% of women age 65 and older and 56.9% of women over age 75 are widowed. Widowhood can profoundly impact women on many levels – emotionally, practically, and financially. The promising news is that by employing some coping strategies, outlined below, you can put yourself in the best position to survive, and even thrive, after the death of a spouse. PRACTICAL COPING STRATEGIES: • Ask friends and family members for assistance wherever possible, especially with the decisions and actions that must be taken immediately. • Hire a competent estate attorney and accountant to assist with the estate settlement and final tax returns. • Evaluate which of the household duties you can reasonably assume and which you can afford to delegate. Financial Impacts. According to a study by New York Life, “nearly 70% of all women report ‘significant life changes’ after the loss of a spouse, and financial concerns were at the top of the list.” To make the financial transition easier after the loss of a spouse, you should take some steps to get your financial house in order, including: • Review all insurance coverage to ensure that you and your family are adequately protected. Emotional Impacts. My husband Tom had been ill for some • time prior to his passing. After he died I was surprised that at times I felt relieved by his death (because it meant the • end of his suffering), which led to accompanying feelings of guilt. In fact, many women struggle with the range and unpredictability of emotions they experience after the death of a spouse. In addition to the feelings I described, many widows also experience shock, confusion, denial, anxiety, anger, depression, and loneliness. Apply to collect any life insurance, pension, veteran’s, and/or social security survivor benefits. EMOTIONAL COPING STRATEGIES: • Lean on friends and family for emotional support. Seek the help of a therapist, grief counselor or grief support group if necessary. • Eat well and exercise. Good physical health can support a healthier emotional state. • Avoid making major decisions until your emotions have stabilized – typically at least 6 months to two years after your spouse’s passing. Evaluate your income, expenses, and long-term major needs such as college expenses, debt payoff, and lifestyle needs. Then take steps to ensure adequate income to support your current lifestyle, and a diversified, sound investment portfolio to support your long-term needs. FINANCIAL COPING STRATEGIES: A competent and trusted financial advisor can be invaluable to help you sort through and address all of the financial issues you are facing at this difficult time. A strong note of caution: While (I believe) the vast majority of financial advisors to be honest and competent, unscrupulous “professionals” have been known to prey on widows, taking advantage of their vulnerability during the grieving process. Be skeptical and cautious, and rely on your instincts as well as referrals from friends and family when selecting professional assistance. Lisa Strohm is Founder and CEO of The Athena Network, a financial and life management firm providing financial planning and investment management for women, their spouses and extended families. The firm also researches and vets other professional services for clients. Lisa earned a B.S. from Bucknell University and an MBA from Cornell University. She is a CFP® certificant and has passed Level 1 of the CFA exam. Practical Impacts. The death of a spouse impacts the surviving spouse’s daily routine and activities. There are both immediate and ongoing implications in this area. Immediate. There are some matters that will need to be dealt with right away, despite the widow’s state of grief and (often) confusion. You will need to: • • • • • • Access funds needed to cover final expenses Make funeral arrangements Obtain multiple copies of the death certificate Transfer your spouse’s accounts (including bank accounts, 401(k) plans, etc.) into your name Change titles on cars and your home Begin the process of settling the estate. Ongoing. Practically speaking, in the long run the surviving spouse will need to assume responsibility for some of the duties that were previously shared with or taken care of by your spouse. Such duties may include: • Household chores • Caring for children or elderly parents • Working outside of the home • Managing the household finances. LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 13 Finance Mythbusting the Adjustable Rate Mortgage BY BRANDPOINT In pop culture, myths can sometimes be mistaken for truth. Common ones, like, “don’t swim for a half hour after eating,” or “we only use 10 percent of our brain,” are false even though they’re widely taken for fact. The adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) earned a bad rap after the 2006 housing crisis. The problem was, before the crisis, many borrowers were able to qualify for more home than they could actually afford by using interest-only, No Income Verification or No Ratio ARM products. When the housing market tanked and many houses lost value, some homeowners with rising mortgage payments either foreclosed or walked away from their properties. Fast forward 10 years to today. The ARM is back to show potential homebuyers it’s not the villain of the housing market. It’s time to debunk the myths that give ARMs the “bad guy” reputation it doesn’t deserve. MYTH: MYTH: MYTH: ARMs are unstable and aren’t a good option while the Feds are raising rates. ARMs are only for people who want to be in a home for a few years. Rates only rise when you have an ARM. This myth stems back to the days of the 2008 recession. It’s like saying, “dial-up is the fastest way to access the Internet,” it’s just not true anymore. All ARM loans have annual and lifetime caps, so there’s built in protection. If stability is what you’re concerned with, consider an ARM with a longer adjustment period. For example, Navy Federal Credit Union’s 5/5 ARM adjusts only once over the initial 10-year period. Not true. ARMs have fixed intro periods that can vary from one to even 15 years. If you think you’ll own that home for five or six years, a fixed mortgage rate may have a higher interest rate over that span. So why spend the extra money associated for the added security of a fixed rate? Interest rates rise and fall in cycles. Even if rates are increasing now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be on the downturn when you arrive at your potential adjustment point. Many ARM mortgage holders never refinance to a fixed rate because the many ups and downs of the market happen in-between their adjustment points. Refinancing is always an option for those with ARMs. Just remember to calculate closing costs on your refinance to make sure you’re actually improving your situation. Research and the guidance of a trusted lender will be the winning combo for saving money over the life of your mortgage. “The potential savings on an ARM, can range from $10,000 to $20,000, compared to a 30-year, fixed rate jumbo mortgage,” said Katie Miller, Navy Federal vice president of Mortgage Lending. “That’s enough money for a down-payment on a car, or part of your child’s college tuition.” Again, it pays to plan for various scenarios based on how long you plan to own the home. Interest rates rise and fall in cycles. Even if rates are increasing now, that doesn’t mean they won’t be on the downturn when you arrive at your potential adjustment point. 14 August/September 2016 The term “adjustable” gives the misconception ARMs are unstable. The ARM is very similar to a fixedrate mortgage; both offer a 30-year term with no prepayment penalty and early payoff options, among other similarities. The intro rate period (usually a lower rate) and potential rate changes (up or down) over the life of the loan is what makes an ARM unique. Knowing your cap and what the difference in payments are over the life of the loan protects you, even if rates are on a roller coaster. Knowledge is power as an ARM holder. That “power” helps you make necessary calculations to figure out a yearly breakeven point should your interest rate increase and your introductory rate savings begin to decrease. Check out an ARM vs. Fixed-rate Mortgage Calculator to see if this type of mortgage works for you Like any myth, do your research before accepting it at face value. If you add up the ARM’s initial savings plus the cost to refinance, an ARM is hard to beat from a financial standpoint, and that, is the truth. *Rates are based on an evaluation of credit history, so your rate may differ. **Navy Federal is federally insured by NCUA Navy Federal is an Equal Housing Lender LehighWomen.com Business PARKING AVAILABLE IN REAR Mon. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Tues., Wed. & Fri. 10 a.m.-5 p.m. Thurs. 10 a.m.-6 p.m.; Sat. 10 a.m.-4 p.m. Joseph Ribkoff apparel HEET bracelets Madame Mathilde earrings Avant Garde ring Santi evening bag Anne Giglio Owner/Stylist, Silver Shears Salon Singer, Secret Treaty Exercise & Golf Enthusiast BOUTIQUETOGO Shopper Shouldn’t there be a little BOUTIQUETOGO in you? VOTED BEST WOMEN’S BOUTIQUE FOR THE LATEST TRENDS 522 NORTH 19TH ST. ALLENTOWN • BOUTIQUETOGO.COM • 610.437.1663 LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 15 Business Don’t Update or Repair Your Home to Sell! There is Hope. There is Another Way. BY WILLIAM R. CUNNINGHAM, PRESIDENT OF SERENE REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS, INC. SERENE REAL ESTATE SOLUTIONS SPECIALIZES IN HELPING HOME OWNERS SELL THEIR PROPERTIES REGARDLESS OF THE CONDITION THAT IT IS IN! You don’t have to update, repair, or clean your property before we purchase it. The typical way of selling your home is to procure the services of a realtor. Realtors provide a very valuable service because of their knowledge of real estate and corresponding laws. My wife is a licensed realtor in Pennsylvania so I know firsthand the amount of study and knowledge required. A realtor may advise you on what to do for your home to attract the highest offers. You may be advised to paint, make certain repairs, update a kitchen, etc., and all of it requires your time and money that you may not want to spend. In addition to that you will be required to pay a commission to the realtor, which further decreases the amount of money you’ll end up with at the end of the day so to speak. What if you know that your home needs repairs and updating and you can’t or do not want to spend the time and money to update and repair it? What if you want to sell the house quickly and move on with your life? Serene Real Estate Solutions (SereneRES) can buy your house AS IS, i.e., in its current condition. You don’t have to repair anything, update anything, or clean anything and there is no realtor or closing fees that you have to pay. We will even pay the closing costs and we can close quickly. We can provide a solution for those in various types of real estate distress such as foreclosures, divorce settlements, inheritance, fed up landlords, and more. The process is very easy and much less stressful than having to spend all the time and money to make repairs, upgrade the kitchen and/or bathrooms, fix the deck, fix the roof, etc., with money you may not have. SereneRES will work with the home owner to develop a solution for the real estate distress. We can refer you to a very competent realtor that can help sell your house if the conventional approach is more appropriate. We will work with you and calculate an offer for your house based on the market value of houses in the neighborhood and what it would take us to get the house into market condition. For example, if the kitchen is outdated then you wouldn’t have to update it. If there are repairs needed, then you wouldn’t have to spend the money to make those repairs. All of that effort will be taken care of by SereneRES. This gives many people peace of mind knowing that they can get cash for their house without having to spend time and energy to sell it or to pay realtor commissions. SereneRES also strives to revitalize neighborhoods by purchasing and rehabbing eyesore houses and thus providing a wonderful place for someone or a family to live. SereneRES is passionate about helping people. We understand that sometimes life throws situations at us that are very distressful. Sometimes people simply do not know where to turn. They don’t have the money to fix the issues with their home and they feel that they will not be able to put it on the market using the conventional method of using a realtor. Sometimes people attempt to sell the house themselves (For Sale by Owner) only to discover the tremendous amount of work required. Contact SereneRES now so that we can begin the process to help you resolve your real estate issues and go on with your life. SereneRES also strives to revitalize neighborhoods by purchasing and rehabbing eyesore houses and thus providing a wonderful place for someone or a family to live. If you have a house that is in distress or know someone who has a distressed property, then contact us now so that we can help you or them out of the distressed situation. There is hope. Serene Real Estate Solutions. The peaceful way to do real estate. Visit us at www.sereneres.com or call Reggie at 215-647-9644 Ext 700. Call now and get money for your home AS IS. 16 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Community 5 Signs That You Need an Academic Editor BY NIKKI CORBETT Oftentimes, we find that students seek the assistance of an academic editor days before deadline. Typically, they’re finishing at the last minute, not leaving time for a professional review, and handing less-than-stellar papers to their professors. Here are some signs that you need a professional editor’s help. Plan to send your paper to an editor three weeks before deadline, so they have ample time to review and you have time to make final changes. 1. YOU’RE STRUGGLING TO MEET YOUR DEADLINE. Sometimes, despite our best estimates, we run out of time. A good academic editor can help you regain control of your project by completing the final stage of manuscript preparation. Proofreading a long manuscript like a thesis or dissertation can take dozens of hours, and trying to squeeze that kind of time out of your schedule at the end of the semester can be a challenge. After years of investing in your graduate education, this is not a process you want to rush. An experienced academic editor will have the time set aside to proofread your paper, allowing you to take care of the other tasks on your agenda. Relax, hand off your paper, and trust that it’s in good hands. 2. YOUR LAST ENGLISH CLASS WAS WAY BACK WHEN. Whether English 101 was seven years ago or twenty seven, if you’re out of practice you could miss grammatical errors. Learning all of the ins and outs of grammar takes years of study and experience — take advantage of an academic editor’s expertise. Don’t know when to use a semicolon or how to create parallel structure? That’s okay. This is what editors do. Your academic editor has style covered too, and can format those pages, citations, and tables correctly. Whether you’re working with MLA, APA, Turabian, or ACS, they’ve got current style guides handy. Your academic editor can whip your paper into shape to meet the style and formatting requirements of your program. 3. YOUR PEERS OR ADVISORS COMMENT ON YOUR WRITING RATHER THAN THE SUBSTANCE OF YOUR PAPER. Have you received feedback that focuses more on your writing than your thoughts and ideas? That’s a sure sign that you need help from an academic editor. Academic papers are the main expression of your research, and grammatical errors and typos will get in the way of what you’re trying to say. Readers who stumble through sentences can get distracted, and some programs will require you to resubmit the paper if there are too many errors. Don’t take any chances with such an important document. Academic editors will read each sentence, checking for spelling, grammar, mechanics, and overall flow. They will format your paper properly, making sure that the entire paper reads smoothly. Plus your editor can dig deeper than proofreading and help with more substantial edits, too, if that type of help is needed. 4. YOU NEED TO FOCUS ON TEACHING AND RESEARCH RESPONSIBILITIES. We know that in addition to your own research, you may be teaching or assisting with other projects in your department. Shifting your attention in and out of writing isn’t ideal, yet finding long chunks of time for proofreading can be next to impossible. The juggling act can reach a crescendo toward the end of the semester, and hiring an academic editor will give you the relief you need. Sometimes turning the job over to a writing professional is the smartest thing you can do, allowing you to stay focused on what you do best. 5. YOU’VE FINISHED WRITING AND POLISHING, BUT IT NEEDS AN EXTRA REVIEW BY A FRESH PAIR OF EYES. Few people will be able to catch every single error. If you’ve put everything you’ve got into your dissertation or thesis paper, and you still feel like you’ve missed something, then let an academic editor take a look. Your editor will read through the paper multiple times, correcting errors and noting areas that need more attention. A good academic editor will find and correct errors that you may not even know to look for! Regardless of your situation, investment in an academic editor is a wise decision. You can relax and know that you’ll be filing the best work possible. LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 17 Women of Lehigh County ELLEN C. SCHURDAK Ellen C. Schurdak is a partner with the KingSpry law firm, concentrating her practice in the litigation arena including trust and estates, employment discrimination, commercial transactions and family law. Her practice is diverse, as she appears before trial courts, appellate courts, arbitration panels and mediators. Ms. Schurdak is a former Assistant Public Defender and Assistant District Attorney in Monroe County. Ms. Schurdak was also judicially appointed as a Domestic Relations Advocate for Monroe County. She is a member of the Mediation Panel for Monroe County and she maintains a peer-rating of “AV” from Martindale-Hubbell. Ms. Schurdak has appeared on radio and television discussing child support matters. She has been featured in the Wall Street Journal for her service in the public interest law forum, and over the years, has been recognized in the press for her advocacy skills. Ms. Schurdak earned undergraduate degrees at Fairfield University in Connecticut, where she graduated summa cum laude, and the London School of Economics. She earned her Juris Doctorate from the University of Pennsylvania Law School. MARY ANN CALI, RN, MSN, AOCN Mary Ann Cali has been the Director of Oncology Services at Easton Hospital’s Regional Cancer Center since 1996. She earned her Master’s Degree in Oncology Nursing from the University of Pennsylvania in 1989. As an oncology clinical nurse specialist, Mary Ann has provided clinical expertise to her patients, families and staff. Excellence in patient care is her main priority and the heart of providing quality cancer care. Cali has also received Manager of the Year awards in 2005 and 2011. Since starting at the hospital in 1979, Cali has seen the Oncology program grow and become a state-of-the-art Comprehensive Community Cancer Center. She has been instrumental in assisting our facility to achieve this level of accreditation from the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer (ACoS CoC) since 1988. Easton Hospital Cancer Center has had an affiliation with Fox Chase Cancer Center which requires Ms. Cali to be an integral part of communicating and coordinating ongoing education to assist her staff to continue to provide the highest level of care to our patients. Ms. Cali is well known in the community through various outreach programs including organizing screenings, working with the American Cancer Society and Cancer Support Community of the Greater Lehigh Valley. 18 August/September 2016 KEELY JAC COLLINS Keely Jac Collins is an attorney with KingSpry, focusing her practice in employment, municipal and education law. Before joining KingSpry, Collins served as a judicial law clerk for The Honorable Judge Bradford H. Charles. She has completed legal internships at the Pennsylvania Department of Labor and Industry and the Public Utility Commission. She has also worked as a member of the therapeutic support staff for Pennsylvania Counseling Services and the mental health support staff for the Milton Hershey School. Collins is a frequent speaker and author on topics related to her legal practice. She earned her Juris Doctorate from Widener Law in Harrisburg, as well as a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Lebanon Valley College. DEBRA HUTCHISON Debra has been involved in training, business management and showing of horses for over 25 years. She has experience in English, Western and Dressage riding disciplines and has been instructing using Centered riding techniques for over 20 years. She has been involved in therapeutic riding industry for 12 years and has been a PATH certified instructor for 10. Debra found herself fascinated by the positive changes that derive from human/ horse interaction including physical, mental and emotional changes which manifests through the movement of the horse during riding. Debra’s passion for learning and desire to help others spurred her forward to earn a degree in Psychology /Sociology as well as Biblical Counseling. The understanding of human behavior along with understanding of horse behavior helps her identify behavioral issues and address them using the horse as a tool. She enjoys working with clients that need help developmentally as well as socially and emotionally. Debra brought her experience and vision to Equi-librium in July of 2013 and is looking forward to help develop and grow Equi-librium’s program in order to continue to provide quality therapeutic horsemanship services to children and adults with special needs. LehighWomen.com Women of Lehigh County WENDA BOYER CASEY NOBLE Wenda Boyer is the owner and artist for Braided Love ~ hand-crafted horse hair jewelry using her customers’ or her inventory’s horse tail hair. She has earned the position as a Juried Member with the Pennsylvania Guild of Craftsmen, Reading-Berks Chapter. Her designs have been featured in Equestrian Quarterly, the ‘premier magazine of equestrian life.‘ Wenda is an alumnae of Pennsylvania State University with additional studies at Kutztown University. She currently serves on the Board of Directors for Equi-librium, a therapeutic horsemanship organization, and is a member and former Advisory Board Member for both the Alexis de Tocqueville and Leonard Pool Societies. Wenda is also a volunteer for No One Dies Alone, a program at Lehigh Valley Health Network which provides the presence of a compassionate volunteer to dying patients who would otherwise be alone, as well as the Area Coordinator for Now I Lay Me Down to Sleep, a non-profit organization that provides remembrance photography for families suffering the loss of an infant. Wenda enjoys the joy of horseownership,riding, and showing in the Hunter ring. She lives in Emmaus with her husband, Geoff, their children, Scott and Julia, and two cats, Ephemera and Ellie. CHERYL BAKER Noble is an alumnus of Lehigh University, where she received her B.S. in Business and Economics with a specialization in Real Estate. Noble currently serves on the Board of Directors for Equilibrium- a therapeutic horsemanship non-profit organization, chairs the Developing Leaders Council of NAIOP- the Commercial Real Estate Development Association, and coaches ski racing for children at Blue Mountain. Aside from work and volunteering, Noble is an avid barrel racer and travel enthusiast. CLAIRE C. O’NEILL Cheryl Baker is the CEO of Equi-librium, a non-profit located on an 18-acre horse farm in Nazareth, where horses give people the opportunity to achieve balance in body, mind, and spirit. The organization’s budget grew by nearly $100,000 in her first year, and new money raised through sponsorships of events accounted for more than half. Prior, Cheryl was an account executive with the Walt Disney Company, acquiring and maintaining clients through experiential marketing strategies. Her efforts earned her recognition as a “MillionEAR” seller. Cheryl has extensive experience in sales, marketing and communications, management and fundraising with Girl Scouts of Eastern Pennsylvania, Tribune Publishing, The Bach Choir of Bethlehem, EPCO Communications, Macy’s, United Way of the Greater Lehigh Valley and Moravian College. A Moravian College graduate, she has taught classes on marketing and corporate communications as part of The Volunteer Center of the Lehigh Valley’s Project Blueprint and internship experiences to Moravian College undergraduates. At the college she launched the Student Alumni Association. Cheryl is a member of the Board of Associates for Lehigh Valley Health Network, Muhlenberg College, and Historic Bethlehem Museums and Sites. She serves on the boards of Bethlehem’s Morning Star Rotary Club and The Friends of Music. She is active with the Women’s Leadership Initiative and serves as a music director/organist to Mountainview Moravian Church in Hellertown. LehighWomen.com LehighWomen.com Casey Noble does project management with Liberty Property Trust for the Lehigh Valley, Central Pennsylvania, and Hagerstown, Maryland markets. She is responsible for coordinating the acquisition, development, and construction of industrial speculative buildings and build-to-suit projects. In addition to project management, Noble works with the Development & Construction Department at Liberty’s Headquarters on company-wide initiatives and projects. Claire C. O’Neill is the Founder and Creative Director at CCO Designs, LLC. Claire is a Cherry Hill, NJ-based graphic designer who specializes in art direction and branding. She graduated from West Chester University with a degree in Fine Arts/Visual Communication, winning the Dean’s Purchase Award for Graphic Design Excellence. Upon visiting her portfolio, you’ll be greeted with numerous awe-inspiring projects that she has created and directed. Her portfolio contains a diverse and brilliant blend of brochures, flyers, advertisements, invitations, newsletters, trade show signage, logos, sell sheets, magazines, media kits, web design, web banner ads, and white papers. She provides a variety of design services to assist in the promotion of many businesses. She has an extensive client base, which includes; The Case Management Society of America (CMSA), The National Association of Hispanic Nurses, Consulting Management Innovators (CMI), Collaborative Marketing Solutions, South Florida Opulence Magazine, South Shore Ventures, Philadelphia Art Museum, The American Law Institute, and The Gumnut Group. Claire is very excited to be the new Art Director for Montgomery County Women’s Journal and looks forward to using her 20 years of experience to add a fresh new look to this fine publication. No project is too large or small. She treats every client with the same creative expertise. To learn how you can promote your company more effectively and creatively, contact Claire at CCO Designs, LLC - 856.261.8460 or visit www.ccodesigns.com. August/September August/September 2016 2016 19 19 Business CCO DESIGNS provides everything you need to bring your product or service to the marketplace all from one source. CREATIVITY THAT WORKS You never get a second chance to make a first impression. CCO Designs is a small graphic design firm located in Cherry Hill, NJ. For more than 20 years, Claire O’Neill has been continuously working with small businesses, nonprofit organizations, colleges, universities and individuals. She designs logos, brand identity projects, publications, financial communications, special event invitations, book covers, magazines, promotional materials and trade show materials. She has owned and operated CCO Designs since 1996. Claire’s work can be seen in the materials and messages of businesses like The Case Management Society of America, The Philadelphia Art Museum, Winerthur Magazine, Dorland Healthcare Information, The Pennsylvania Trial Lawyers Assocations, Alba Communications and Bon-Ton Interiors, just to name a few. CCO Designs has collaberated with many clients to produce award-winning design work. Awards include: • Apex Award recipient for Best Design of a monthly publication. • Keystone award for Best Overall Design of a monthly magazine supplement. • Merion Publications Award for Best Overall Design of a monthly publication. As Claire states, “We love to help small business owners promote their services. CCO Designs can design all your marketing materials, and when one design firm fulfills all your marketing, you get a consistency of brand and messages you couldn’t get any other way. Plus it’s much easier to manage when you only work with one design team! Our unique structure allows us to grow and adapt our services quickly as your needs change. This structure allows us to minimize overhead, which saves you money compared to larger agencies. In addition, we don’t make recommendations based on maximizing OUR profits. Our recommendations are based on what’s going to be most cost effective for YOU! That’s our promise.” No job is too big or too small. Every client gets same attention. Call today to discuss your next project. 856.261.8460 or visit our website ccodesigns.com for more information and to see samples of our work. We create compelling print materials. Whether you need a corporate identity package or just a fresh look for your annual party invitations, we’ll give your print piece the CCO Design touch and keep it consistent with the look and feel of your online marketing too! When you’re starting from scratch, we help you build a brand identity with logo design, business cards, letterhead and envelopes. Then we help you grow your business with marketing materials that reinforce your brand and promote your product...from brochures to postcards, packaging to signs, or any other printed marketing materials you might need, including cards, invitations, wine labels, restaurant menus, signage, theater programs and more. And getting down to business is easy with CCO Designs, because we help with the nitty gritty paper needs too. Business forms, order forms, sales kits, plus custom Microsoft Word templates for letterhead, fax cover sheets, memos, and more to help you get your work done while making a great impression every time. Our print design services include: Logos Business Cards & Identity Systems Postcards Posters Newsletters & Brochures Advertising Packaging & Installations Menus Cards & Invitations Signage Books Trade Show Materials “Claire is a great team player and extremely professional. I could always count on Claire to bring something new to the table. Her design skills speak for themselves, and you can never question her dedication and positive attitude. I thoroughly enjoyed working with Claire and would recommend her to anyone.” — Sage Thompson, Creative Director at Tat Communication Inc. CCO Designs 856-261-8460 20 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Community Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites is a nonprofit organization that shares three centuries of history with the public and preserves 20 historic sites, including two National Historic Landmarks. Historic Bethlehem is recognized as a National Historic Landmark District, a distinguished honor reserved for areas with historical significance to every American. Join us for our upcoming programs. Exhibitions- Creature Companions Featuring painted pet portraits, pet photographs from Bethlehem family albums, and animal-inspired attire and home décor spanning over 100 years from the Historic Bethlehem Collections, Creature Companions explores animals’ roles past and present in Bethlehem life. The exhibition will run until October 30, 2016 at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts. The Historic Bethlehem Museums & Sites will also host “The Dog Days of Summer,” a series of events centered on our cherished companions. Learn to “Paint Your Pet” on August 28 at the Kemerer Museum. Participate in pet-themed Kids Club Activities, including creating a no-sew sock creature during Musikfest. Add a new companion to your home by attending Pet Adoption Days hosted by Logan’s Heroes Animal Rescue and the Center for Animal Health on August 20, 11 am - 4 pm at the Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts and September 3, 11 am - 4 pm at the Colonial Industrial Quarter. Event - Apple Days Down on the Farm As the air gets crisper, join us for the third annual Apple Days on Saturday, September 10 and Sunday, September 11 from 10 a.m. - 4 p.m. at the Burnside Plantation. An apple a day keeps the doctor away, and so does fun. Apple Days will have familyfriendly activities, including kids’ crafts, donkey-drawn wagon rides, a high-horse power wheel, and bobbing for apples while listening to live music. Bring along your appetite for apples. This crunchy fruit makes the perfect ingredient in desserts, including doughnuts, cider, pies, and dumplings. Bring a piece of Apple Days home with you by pre-ordering your favorite apple treats to pick up. Mums also will be available for pre-order as autumnal decorations for your garden at home. Pre-order your apple treats and mums at HistoricBethlehem. org/events/apple-days/apple-days-dessert-pre-orders. At Creature Companions, explore the petite pets of the Elizabeth Johnston Prime Dollhouse Collection and Prime’s miniature collection of animal scenes. For a chance to prove your pie is the best around, compete for the best apple pie in the Lehigh Valley. The featured artist gallery at Kemerer Museum will present pet-themed works by local artists Lauren Beauchner and Andrew Frank Baer. A limited number of Beauchner’s custom, original pet portraits can be commissioned through the Museum Gift Shop. Enjoy the Burnside Plantation’s 6.5 acres of rolling land as its green leaves turn a palette of warm colors. After strolling through the charming colonial garden, tour Burnside’s rustic house and barn for a glimpse into colonial life. Walk through Burnside’s orchard full of heirloom apples. The exhibition is included in Pass Into History museum admission. To schedule a tour or for more information, call 1-800-360-TOUR or visit HistoricBethlehem.org. Admission to Apple Days is $5 per vehicle. Site rentals for Luckenbach Mill and Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts For a truly memorable occasion, consider hosting an event at one of our historic sites. Each site provides a beautiful backdrop for a special day with a unique ambience that combines the past with the present. The Kemerer Museum of Decorative Arts offers a romantic wedding or engaging company event setting. The museum’s wide array of art collections will dazzle guests. Portraits and landscapes cover the walls, complemented by china, antique furniture, and other fascinating artifacts. Each piece holds a part of Bethlehem’s history that will leave an impression on your guests. Filled with 275 years of history, the Luckenbach Mill is a great location for an intimate social gathering. Located in the Colonial Industrial Quarter of historic Bethlehem, the Luckenbach Mill recently has been restored, with gorgeous exposed wooden beams. The Luckenbach Mill is next to the stunning Miller’s Garden, bursting with flowers in full bloom, and the Monocacy Creek, which brings an air of relaxation to the historic site. Add another chapter to Bethlehem’s history by hosting your event with us. For more information, visit HistoricBethlehem.org LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 21 Community POLO: The Sport of Kings Sunday, September 18, The Second Annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium BY CHERYL BAKER, CEO EQUI-LIBRIUM “Horses can carry us, entertain us, walk, trot, canter, gallop, turn on a dime, stop and start quickly, help raise money, win trophies, but the most amazing thing horses can do is improve the quality of lives.” – Polly Beste, chairperson emeritus, Equi-librium O n Sunday, September 18, the sport of kings, polo, will be played for a second time here in the Lehigh Valley. The Second Annual Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium, a benefit to be played at Braden Airpark in Forks Township, will once again pit the 4 Winds Concrete team with last years pitted, and the biggest winner will be the participants and families who make a once, or twice, weekly trip to northern Nazareth to receive therapy, either on horseback or working in horse-related activities. Equi-librium is one of only seven Premier Accredited Centers for Equine Assisted Activities and Therapies (EAAT) in the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. This standard, set by the Professional Association of Therapeutic Horsemanship, or PATH, means hope for people with disabilities across the Lehigh Valley and Poconos. Horses are used as therapy tools through a range of programs offered at their 18+ acre farm where they have been located since purchasing, and moving into, the 524 Fehr Road address two years ago. Equi-librium was founded in 2001 to serve children, youth, and adults with special needs from Lehigh, Monroe, and Northampton counties. Using the calming, accepting environment of the farm as a backdrop, about 100 participants a week come to participate in highly effective programs that help children with autism, developmental delays, cerebral palsy, at-risk behaviors, and those who require an experiential learning curriculum, as well as adults affected by Parkinson’s, stroke, MS, Alzheimers, and more. The organization relies on the strength of a great volunteer base, but the programs run on horsepower – 15, to be exact. What these horses provide, six days a week, are therapeutic sessions designed to address the specific challenges and needs of each and every individual. The great part about it is the riders don’t look at it as therapy – they see it as fun, and it is uniquely empowering. The demand for their programs, as well as others like it across the country, has grown tremendously in the past five years, particularly in the treatment of autism and other social-emotional and behavioral disorders such as post-traumatic stress syndrome. Therapeutic riding and driving have proven to be very effective in many cases where traditional therapies have failed. Learning to ride requires body awareness, 22 August/September 2016 balance, patience, focus and concentration. The documented physical benefits include enhanced spinal stimulation; sensory integration; motor, respirator and postural control; dexterity; coordination; endurance; fitness; and muscle strength and tone. Riding, driving, and caring for horses produces many essential benefits, like motivation, problem-solving, decision-making, memory, language skills, self-esteem, self-expression, and the ability to follow direction. Equi-librium’s horses help with language development – in fact, some of the first words that some non-verbal kids with autism speak are the names of their horse or commands to “walk on” or “whoa”. Under the guidance of our human therapists and volunteers the three-dimensional movements of the horses improve the ability to execute some pretty essential activities of life: walking, talking, following directions, and learning. Taking the reins offers hope, and at the same time, adds a smile to a day. All these elements add to the quality of a life. Isn’t that what we all strive to do? LehighWomen.com Community Not just any horse can be part of the Equi-librium stable. These are very special animals, with just the right disposition and the patience of saints. The horses have fairly ordinary names like Ben, Skye, Lil’ Bear, Willie, and Opal, but these horses are anything but ordinary. The “steady Eddie” horses are what they call “bomb-proof”, and they have to work hard to compensate for poor muscle tone, lack of balance, and many different rider positions – sideways, backwards, and laying across them upside down. When a rider might be having difficulty, the horses literally don’t bat an eyelash. They understand, and wait for it to pass. They are great emotional therapists, because they are nonjudgmental, have no preconceived expectations or motives, and are highly effective at mirroring the behaviors and attitudes of the humans they work alongside. They don’t lecture or scold! Given all that the horses bring to the program offerings at Equi-librium, it’s only natural, and a great extension of that fact, that they would look to horses to assist with its fund raising efforts, as well. Although highly effective, EAAT programs are not covered by insurance. Subsequently, Equi-librium subsidizes all of its participants by as much as 2/3 of the costs, and depends on the support of the community, foundations and grants, and special event fundraisers to make up the shortfall in their nearly $500,000 budget. In May, the organization raised a little more than $20,000 at its Second Annual Kentucky Derby party fundraiser. Now, as that effort is completed for the year, the staff and board of directors turns its attention again to polo. A few years ago, Equi-librium’s Board Chair at the time, Polly Beste, met with a group to discuss future plans for our organization. The group included Mark Bahnick of Van Cleef Engineering, Mark Mulligan, of VM Development, and Scott Garner, who for the last 10 years has been organizing polo matches on behalf of the MS Society, PA Keystone Chapter. Mulligan is an avid polo player, and as the conversation turned to polo he offered a challenge to Polly: if she could find the location, he would bring the players, referee, and announcer, and we would have a polo match in the Lehigh Valley to benefit Equi-librium. More than 2 years passed and possible locations were identified and subsequently ruled out for one reason or another, but then, Polly noticed Braden Airpark on Google Maps. She contacted Charles Everett at LNAA, who was more than happy to allow the game to be played at their facility. LNAA has a long-standing commitment to the special needs community in the Lehigh Valley. From all the feedback received after last year’s inaugural match, the 700 attendees, including 27 LehighWomen.com sponsor businesses and organizations, enjoyed polo as it was played on a beautiful fall Sunday. Equi-librium is now looking forward to presenting it again, to both a larger crowd, and one more versed in the sport of polo. The announcer from last year’s match, Paul Geyer, Esq., was both highly entertaining and informative, and gave everyone in attendance so much information about the match and the heritage of polo as sport that it added another dimension to the experience. The organization is under new leadership, as well, with Beste retiring as chairperson, and now headed by Robert Makos, wealth management director for PNC Bank, and the polo committee’s efforts chaired by new board member Casey Noble, associate project manager for Liberty Property Trust, and a horse person herself, and assisted by seven subcommittees. Another new board member, Wenda Boyer, owner and artist with Braided Love, chairs the retail vendor effort. A vendor herself – she makes jewelry from braided horsehair – she teamed with husband Geoff Boyer, president of Boyer Financial Group, as the sponsor and presented a variety of shopping experiences, and promises even more vendors this year, including a few from the famous Devon Horse Show. The elements that made it such a fun event last year, like the divotstomping and children’s polo clinic, presented at halftime, will remain, and be enhanced with Terrier races; the committee is also looking to bring a demonstration of polocrosse (lacrosse played on horseback) to add to the offerings. Sponsors are committing again, and Equi-librium is adding new sponsors, like Unity Bank, and Lehigh Valley Style, who will be publishing a 411 on the finer art of tailgating at a polo match and will be serving as judges that day to award first, second, and third prizes to the best tailgate! World-renowned watercolor polo artist, local Rod Skidmore, is creating a watercolor image of last year’s match that will grace the program book and its original will be auctioned off; prints will also be available to order. Whether you come alone with a VIP or general admission ticket, or bring a group and organize a tailgate, or come as a sponsor or their guest to this year’s Lehigh Valley Polo for Equi-librium, it promises to be the kind of event you will really enjoy. Polo is not just for kings anymore – and we are pleased it’s now part of the social scene of the Lehigh Valley. For more information, visit www.equi-librium.org, or call CEO Cheryl Baker, at 610-365-2266. August/September 2016 23 Community 24 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Community DO NOT READ THIS ARTICLE! Riverside Festival of the Arts Celebrates its 20th Year - Sept 17-18 11-5:30 BY ELLEN SHAUGHNESSY S welling in size and attendance with every year since its genesis in 1996, this lively arts festival features fine art and craft. Over 60 artisans exhibit along Easton’s scenic waterfront where the Lehigh meets the Delaware River. It’s free for all to attend and this 20th event also features many artist demos and workshops, live music, spoken word, performance art, cuisine and cupcake challenges, plus a super interactive childrens’ creative zone (thanks Crayola!) that will be exploding with art projects. WARNING: if you hate fun and abhor art, you should by all means not read this article - and you should definitely stay on the couch, Sept 17-18. If you appreciate art, or even if you are intimidated or new to art, come on out – there is something for everyone here; art is for everyone and this riverside festival makes art approachable. LIVE MUSIC & PERFORMANCE LINEUP Saturday, September 17th Sunday, September 18th GYPSY STAR BAND/ BILLY KEEN Performing Arts ACOUSTIC KITTY/ CARTER LANSING Performing Arts Fine Art and Fine Craft Winning Artists Announced SOUL FOLKS/ ALYSSA ALLE Performing Arts PUBLIC DISPLAY OF REJECTION/ RICK DELGADO Performing Arts HEIDI OTT & JOEL ZINGONE Cupcake Wars & Cuisine Challenge Winners Announced Performing Arts IDB GREATFUL DEAD TRIBUTE BAND/ JOHN NEMETH Plein Air Art Contest Winners Announced SERENE GREEN / MICHAEL JOHNSON As of July 19: Check EastonRiversideFest.org for updates! Over 60 fine artists exhibit + juried art gallery: $2000 in prizes To celebrate the 20th year, the Riverside Festival will host a new juried art tent where ANY artist (not just the exhibitors) can enter a piece to compete for the top $2000 in juried art prizes. Plein Air Art Contest: $2000 in prizes $30.00 to enter - then, find an inspired outdoors setting in the festival vicinity. Create your work, and compete to win the $2000 in top prizes for the best art. En plein Air simply means outdoors. Hate painting and creating art? Guess what – there’s more! Great art workshops and demos on tap: James Gloria will do an Easton Floor Brush Mural and Ian Summers will be on deck, doing a “Faces of Riverside” project. FREE LIVE MUSIC, ALL WEEKEND Lehigh Valley’s Blues and Harp maven Mr. James Supra is once again spearheading an amazing lineup for the arts festival. His specially-curated musicians will be playing all weekend, so if you hate great live music that’s free, in a gorgeous riverside setting I implore you – please just STOP reading now …and don’t even think about attending this. Cupcake Wars and Cuisine Challenge! Elimination rounds, in effect NOW. RFA is celebrating year 20 with two new culinary events: Cup Cake Wars and the Cuisine Challenge. Elimination rounds started in June. Chefs and bakers have been slogging it out in the summer heat – each month presents a new finalist. The 3 finalists from the summer trials will appear at the festival for the final challenge; who will win?! Only one way to find out… CONSIDER YOURSELF WARNED: if you hate good food and good fun, definitely stay home on September 18 for these cupcake war and cuisine challenge finales. PS: there will be delish libations and food trucks a ‘plenty. Larry Holmes Dr, where the Lehigh River meets the Delaware, in downtown Easton. EastonRiversideFest.org • facebook/riversideArts • twitter @eastonRiverside Insta @EastonRiversideFest Contact: ‘Lady’ Colleen Heller, Chairperson • 631.455.2195 • [email protected] The Riverside Festival of the Arts is a function of Arts Community of Easton, Inc. (ACE), a 501(c)3 non-profit organization. LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 25 Community MUSIKFEST RETURNS to Bethlehem for 33rd Year This Month BY ZOE HELLER M usikfest, the nation’s largest free music festival, returns to Bethlehem Aug. 5-14 for its 33rd year of free music and fun. In addition to 500-plus free concerts, this year’s festival includes a Summer Games Viewing Party, plenty of new art activities and more street performers than ever. At Musikfest, families can enjoy hundreds of free music performances on 14 stages during the event’s 10-day run. Plus, the festival’s Sands Steel Stage features internationally-known acts all 10 days including Don Henley Aug. 10, BUSH & Chevelle Aug. 11, Lehigh Valley native and Disney “Girl Meets World” star Sabrina Carpenter Aug. 12, Lady Antebellum Aug. 13 and The Avett Brothers Aug. 14. Along with more than 380 musical performers coming from eight countries, the 2016 festival features a record number of street performers - 5 per day - to delight the crowds. Among the many new “buskers” for 2016 are Kobbler Jay, who juggles knives and walks barefoot on broken glass; and 2015 Kingston, Ont. Buskers People’s Choice Award winner Her Majesty’s Secret Show, an action-packed spy-fi comedy circus show. The family fun continues at Familienplatz as families can meet and get autographs from 6abc Action News Team, take advantage of great giveaways from Spark Orthodontics and check out the PNC Bank Mobile Learning Adventure, a traveling exhibit focused on early childhood education through fun, engaging activities for parents and kids. The Bridgestone Experience Trailer is also in town, offering festival attendees the opportunity to test their gaming skills, get their name on the racing simulator leaderboard and more. Whether you plan to take the kids to Familienplatz, enjoy the many concerts or indulge in the wide variety of awesome food vendors, grab your sunscreen and join us for some great summer fun at Musikfest! Admission to all Musikfest stages is free with the exception of the Sands Steel Stage. Tickets for all Sands Steel Stage concerts are on sale now at www.musikfest.org and 610-332-3378. The complete list of performers coming to this year’s festival is available at www.musikfest.org/lineup. “Having street performers at Musikfest is so important because they add a whole new dimension to the festival,” says ArtsQuest Programming Specialist Helen Smith, who books all of Musikfest’s buskers. “There’s a special flair that they bring to the streets that builds off of the great musical performances we offer. Our buskers have become a very fun and very important component of the ‘fest.” From Aug. 9-14, watch the streets of Bethlehem come to life with STX, a choreographed drumming show on stilts. Presented by The Netherlands’ Close Act Theatre, the same people who brought SAURUS to Musikfest a few years ago, this is one act that’s sure to liven up the festival with its mesmerizing movement. Plus, don’t miss Close Act’s dinosaurs as SAURUS return Aug. 10-14. Aside from all the live entertainment, Musikfest also features 40 different food vendors offering everything from roasted corn and smoked turkey legs to plenty of deep fried goodness. In addition, there are 45 artisans bringing their unique, handmade crafts and treasures to the festival’s Martin Guitar Handwerkplatz venue. At Spark Orthodontics Familienplatz, guests can ’fest and enjoy a Summer Games Viewing Party from Aug. 5-14 as this year’s summer games are shown on a large outdoor LED television screen. Children of all ages can also celebrate the action from Rio at the site’s Creativity Tent, where they can make their own crafts relating to the games and the culture of Brazil. Presented by the Banana Factory, these funfilled crafts focus on the popular musical instruments of Rio, flags of the nations and much more. 26 August/September 2016 Musikfest, the nation’s largest free music festival, returns to Bethlehem Aug. 5-14 for its 33rd year of free music and fun. Lehigh Valley native and Disney “Girl Meets World” star Sabrina Carpenter Aug. 12 Living Vines The Netherlands’ Close Act Theatre Presents Dinosaurs as SAURUS Cooper Cow Girl LehighWomen.com Arts & Education LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 27 Arts & Education The Sigal Museum presents its new fall exhibition CABINET OF CURIOSITIES! W ithin the depths of the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society are never-before-seen artifacts that will ignite your curiosity and send shivers down your spine! Opening September 3rd, the Sigal Museum will showcase its eerie, weird, and most curious objects from the collection vault. Discover the Edison bulb, exotic natural treasures, Little Master Bobby, and many more. What is a Cabinet of Curiosity? For hundreds of years, people have been collecting items relating to the natural world, archaeological wonders, religious relics, art and almost anything you can imagine. People shared their collections with each other to learn about these wonders and entertain each other. Collections of oddities and the bizarre turned up in most cities and towns in the United States in the 1800s, perhaps most famous being P.T. Barnum’s American Museum in New York City that ran from 1841 until 1868. Eventually these collections of curiosities became our modern museums. Step back in time with us and be the first to lay your eyes on these treasures. Dare to explore the museum’s best-kept secrets! Upcoming Exhibitions at Sigal Museum Now until March 1, 2017 “Spirits of Easton” Exhibit In partnership with Porters’ Pub, the Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society presents “Spirits of Easton” -- a small but enticing exhibition on some of the early brewers of 19th century Easton and surrounding areas. Join in reminiscing about the Seitz, Kuebler, and Veile brewing companies and others through a display of exquisite vintage bottles, grain ledgers, photographs, and more. Aug 6, 11 am – 1 pm Children’s Art Program Sidewalk art program for children and their adults offered at the Sigal Museum. Sponsored by Crayola, led by Art Educator Holly Houser. Learn to celebrate a birthday with Thaumatropes: the children make takehome flameless candles. FREE. September 10, 1 pm “Teachings from the Turtle Clan: A Lenape Family Program” Learn the stories, legends, and history of the indigenous people who once inhabited – and still inhabit -- this area. Families are especially invited to enjoy the drumming, singing, dancing, and story-telling by Chuck Gentlemoon DeMund, Ceremonial Chief of the Lenape Nation of PA and spiritual leader of the Eastern Medicine Society. 28 August/September 2016 OPENS SPETEMBER 3, 2016 Only at the Sigal Museum of Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society 342 Northampton Street in Downtown Easton 610-253-1222 l sigalmuseum.org September 17, 1 pm “General John Sullivan & the Battle of the Brandywine” Michael Harris, Norristown historian and teacher, grew up learning about battles Americans fought in. His interest in Brandywine – the largest battle of the American Revolution and one that encompassed more troops over more land than any combat on American Soil until the Civil War – grew into a book-length study that reveals why the battle gained the reputation as the Battle that Lost Philadelphia but Saved America on September 11, 1777. Harris will offer a book-signing following his talk. October 15, 6:00 – 9:00 pm The Lehigh Valley Wine Auction Co-sponsored by the Northampton County Historical & Genealogical Society and the Children’s Home of Easton, at the State Theatre, 453 Northampton St., Easton, PA. The premier wine auction of the Lehigh Valley offers an extensive selection of outstanding vintages, offered in live and silent auctions, and draws aficionados from around the nation. Tickets for the food and wine pairings are available at www. lehighvalleywinegala.com, at the Sigal Museum, or at 610-258-2831, ext 153. October 22, 2 pm “Haunted Crime Scenes: Forensic Investigation and Ghost Stories” By Dr. Katherine Ramsland, Professor of Forensic Psychology and Director of the Master’s Program in Criminal Justice at DeSales University. She has published 56 nonfiction books (among them Murder in the Lehigh Valley and Bethlehem Ghosts), 16 short stories, 3 novels, and more than 1,000 articles on serial killers, criminal investigation, and criminal psychology. Sigal Museum, 342 Northampton St., Easton, PA. What happens when you blend forensic investigation with ghost stories? Author and explorer Katherine Ramsland adds a unique twist to our local tales. October 29, 5-9pm “Haunted History Night” At Northampton County Historical and Genealogical Society properties at 4th and Ferry, 2nd and Northampton, and 342 Northampton Street. Call for more information: 610.253.1222. October 29, 11 am – 1 pm, Children’s Art Program Magic Lantern Project. Free and easily attended sidewalk art program for children and their adults offered at the Sigal Museum. Sponsored by Crayola, they will be led by Art Educator Holly Houser, who knows how to lead children to a final project in just a few happy minutes. Children make Magic Lanterns just in time for Halloween. LehighWomen.com Arts & Education LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 29 Arts & Education 30 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Arts & Education LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 31 Fine Dining Beat the Heat with these Summertime Drinks BY ADAM KLINE, FOOD AND WINE CONSULTANT It is very hot outside. Very hot. Let us attempt to counter-punch nature with a few or my favorites which will cool your core. These are my top five summertime beverages of the adult nature which are best served in the heat. Rose Wine The key to remember about Rose is that it is dry, NOT sweet. This is what you want. It is a wine that is fresh and acidic, without the extra sugar which will hide it’s mineral and fruity flavors and aromas. It is the super-sweet white zinfandel and its mass production that has given pink wine a bad name. There are so many spectacular different varieties of Rose’s on the market these days. Something about the fruitiness of a Rose make you think of summers past. My personal favorite with grilling out would be a Rose made from a Malbec grape. The complexity in it’s simpleness just seems to go perfect while on the patio. Since there are so many different kinds of Rose’s being made all over the world, the dry vs. sweet question is answered more by its country or origin. Remember that Dry = Not sweet. Old World Rose (Europe) = Usually More Dry New World Rose (everywhere else) = May be Less Dry DIRTY BANANA (JAMAICA) HURRICANE (NEW ORLEANS) When my wife and I decided to get married in Jamaica three years ago, I thought I would only be drinking Red Stripe and some girly drinks for two weeks. It did not take long for everyone in our wedding party to be sucking down Dirty Bananas like it was their sole purpose for the vacation. The flavors of fresh banana mingled with dark rum and coffee flavored rum became more memorable than our actual wedding. Not for me, I love you honey, but for the rest of our guest. We recently went to lovely New Orleans for my wife and her twin sisters birthday celebration. I was expecting to drink rum, but not in the way it ended up. While we all partook in the many frozen rum drinks that are seemingly on every corner. It took us until we went to Pat O’Brien’s to discover the true Hurricane of New Orleans. This drink is nice and refreshing until you have a second. Then it hits you. Make yours at home a little weaker then they do at O’Brien’s and you will be fine. Ingredients (makes 2 servings) Ingredients • 2 oz. Tia Maria • • 2 oz. Appelton Dark Rum 1/2 oz. Captain Morgan Original Spiced Rum • 2 oz. Rum Cream Liqueur • 3/4 oz. Dark Rum • 4 oz. Milk • 3 oz. passion fruit • 1 oz. Simple Syrup • 3 oz. mango juice 1 Banana • 2 oz. sweet and sour mix Ice • 1 wheel of lime • • Directions Directions Fill blender 3/4 with ice and all ingredients. Blend until thick and smooth. Pour into glass and sprinkle top with cinnamon. Add all ingredients (excluding lime) into shaker. Shake well. Shake again. Pour into your specialty glass filled with ice. Garnish with lime wheel and enjoy. CAIPIRINHA (BRAZIL) PRONOUNCED KIE-PURR-REEN-YAH While I have not been to Brazil, I work at Leblon Churrascaria in Greensboro, NC. Trust me when I say you must try this drink if you go to any Brazilian Steakhouse. The Chipirinha is the national drink of Brazil. The alcohol within this drink is called Cachaca, a sweet Brazilian style of rum which is made from sugarcane juice. This drink is excellent to make on at a summer party to change things up. A simple recipe that brings a good discussion topic while being refreshing at the same time. BOURBON WITH A SPLASH OF GINGER ALE Anyone who knows me, knows that this is my favorite drink for any season. It just works so well with everything. Ingredients • 4 oz. Any Bourbon • 1/2 oz. ginger ale Directions Fill rocks glass with ice, Pour in Bourbon of choice, top with ginger ale, Stir once and enjoy. Ingredients • 2 oz Leblon Cachaca • 1 lime, quartered • 2 teaspoons fine sugar Directions Place the lime wedges and sugar into a rocks glass and muddle well. Fill glass with ice. Pour in Cachaca. Shake and stir well. Enjoy. Note: As we did in Jamaica - top with another shot of Rum (the floater) stir and enjoy. 32 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Fine Dining LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 33 Fine Dining 34 August/September 2016 LehighWomen.com Fine Art Photography LehighWomen.com August/September 2016 35