Greg Piccolo is heading to Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem on Friday, April 24, with something new.

Greg Piccolo is not just another touring musician coming through Bethlehem. He is one of those rare artists whose career reaches back through decades of American roots music, with a sound and presence that helped define a generation of blues, jazz, R&B, and rock and roll.

The show will be the first time audiences hear songs from his upcoming record performed live. For Piccolo, that matters. He says this project is less about spotlighting himself as a sax player or vocalist and more about finally giving these songs their chance. “It’s about the songs that I wrote,” he says, explaining that many of them had been sitting with him for years, waiting for the right time to be recorded and heard.

He recorded 15 songs for the project and eventually narrowed it down to 11 for the final release. The album is titled Who Knows What the Future Holds and is scheduled for June 19. The Godfrey Daniels performance will give Bethlehem audiences an early listen before the full release arrives.

Piccolo also sings on the record, something that fits naturally with the way he sees his career. He says singing has always been part of what he does, right alongside the horn, and that his work as a songwriter kept pulling him toward material that needed to be voiced in a fuller way.

That makes Godfrey Daniels a fitting place for this stop. The Bethlehem venue has been welcoming artists and audiences since 1976 and is still known for the kind of close-up listening room experience that puts the music right in front of people. For a songwriter bringing new material into the room for the first time, that kind of setting can matter as much as the songs themselves.

For Lehigh Valley listeners, this one is not just a chance to see a veteran musician on stage. It is a chance to hear a new chapter as it starts.

Show info and tickets: https://godfreydaniels.org/event/greg-piccolo-and-heavy-juice-april-24-2026/

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Hair by Harley in Emmaus, Pennsylvania feels like the kind of place that comes from years of figuring out exactly what you want your work and your space to be.

For Harley Detrick, that path started with wanting a creative career that still felt practical. He talks about growing up in a blue collar family, wanting to be an artist, and eventually realizing hair gave him a way to do something creative with his hands while also building a career. What pushed it from idea to decision was a conversation with his older brother, who pointed him toward beauty school.

Harley took the chance, and it turned into the best gamble he ever made.

He started working while he was still in beauty school, assisting in a salon in Easton, washing hair, sweeping, and learning the business from the ground up. He began taking clients early, moved around a bit, and eventually found a long home base in Bethlehem, where he spent about 15 years building both his skills and his clientele.

That long stretch matters because Harley talks openly about what the early years in this business are really like.

You do not make a lot of money right away.

You have to build your clientele, build your skills, and stick with it long enough to get somewhere. He was able to do that because he had support, and he is honest about how much that mattered. There is no shortcut in that story. Just time, work, and patience.

Now, in Hair by Harley in Emmaus, he has the chance to shape a more personal space. The studio is located just down the street from where he lives, which made Emmaus a natural fit. He had known the space for years and had wanted to be there for a long time. Now that it is his, the studio reflects what he was aiming for: a smaller neighborhood-based setting, a stronger connection to the people around him, and a place that feels like more than just a spot to get a haircut.

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That shows up in the details too. Harley talks about wanting people from the neighborhood to come in, wanting to know his neighbors better, and wanting the space to feel connected to Emmaus itself. He even partnered with Apport Used Books down the street to sell a small selection of books in the studio. It is a small touch, but it says a lot about the kind of environment he wants to create.

After years in the business, this space feels like the result of someone spending a long time learning the work, building trust with clients, and then creating a place that feels true to who he is and how he wants to work.

Hair by Harley official website: https://www.hairbyharley.com/

Hair by Harley contact page: https://www.hairbyharley.com/contact

Lehigh Valley Style feature: https://lehighvalleystyle.com/everything-lv/around-town/hair-by-harley/

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On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we talk with Gráinne Hunt and Jules Stewart ahead of their April 17 show at Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem.

Gráinne, an Irish singer-songwriter, talks about how she describes her music as “nu-folk” and explains why that label fits. The conversation gets into the difference between traditional assumptions people sometimes make about Irish music and the original songwriting work she and other contemporary artists are doing.

Jules talks about what she brings to the live show as a drummer, percussionist, and harmony singer, and how she approaches supporting songs that are deeply personal without getting in the way of them. One of the more interesting parts of the conversation is hearing how much thought goes into leaving space in a performance, not just adding to it.

We also talk about Gráinne’s songwriting process, including why lyrics usually come first for her and how she often builds songs outward from the chorus. From there, the conversation turns to “Magnets,” how the song came together, and how certain images or ideas can sit with a songwriter for years before becoming part of a finished piece.

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New York-born, Macungie based R&B and neo-soul artist Maniya joins us ahead of her April 11, 2026 performance at ArtsQuest’s Fowler Blast Furnace Room in Bethlehem.

Known as “Songbird,” Maniya has been building her sound since childhood, performing with Harlem’s Emmy Award-winning Gospel for Teens choir, studying vocal performance at Berklee College of Music, and now stepping further into the spotlight with her own music.

In this episode, we talk about her background, her artistic style, and what people can expect from Covered in Soul, an intimate live show that reimagines classic R&B, pop, and soul through her own voice and perspective. We also touch on her single “Curious,” her upcoming EP Dear Diary, and the path that continues to shape her as both an artist and vocal coach.

For tickets, visit: https://www.artsquest.org/event/maniya-covered-in-soul-hosted-by-rudy-rush/

To learn more about Maniya, visit: https://www.maniyasworld.com/

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Allentown City Councilwoman Ce-Ce Gerlach joins the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast to talk about her run for Pennsylvania’s 22nd House District.

After Josh Siegel left the seat to become Lehigh County Executive, Democrats held a special election process that ended with Ana Tiburcio winning the seat. Now, Gerlach is running in the May 19 primary for the full term.

In the interview, she talks about grassroots politics, the special election process, and why housing is at the center of her campaign.

We have contacted Rep. Ana Tiburcio to see if she is interested in an interview.

Ballotopedia Page for the 22nd District: https://ballotpedia.org/Pennsylvania_House_of_Representatives_District_22

Ce-Ce’s Page: https://www.ceceforallentown.com/

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Bethlehem runner Alex Price is headed to the 2028 U.S. Olympic Marathon Trials after running 2:15:24 at the California International Marathon.

In this episode, we talk with Price about how he went from a Pocono Mountain East and Susquehanna University runner to one of the top marathoners in the region, and now one of the few athletes in the country to hit the Olympic Trials standard.

He talks about how his brother helped lead him into the sport, how his first marathon in New York helped reignite his competitive drive, and how years of steady training helped him get to this point.

The conversation also gets into why Bethlehem has become such an important part of his running story. Price talks about the support of the local running community, the role of Aardvark and Team Vark, and what it means to train and race on roads he now considers home.

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Moravian Academy has been named the first school in Pennsylvania and one of only five in the United States to partner with the Villars Institute in Switzerland, and that news is opening the door to a new global opportunity for students here in the Lehigh Valley.

We sat down with Moravian Academy Head of School Adrienne Finley Odell to talk about what the partnership means, why systems thinking matters for today’s students, and how sustainability education can connect directly to real-world leadership. The conversation also touches on Moravian Academy’s long history, its three-campus presence in Bethlehem and Allentown, and how that legacy continues to evolve.

This spring, Moravian Academy’s first student cohort will begin preparing for the program before heading to Switzerland in mid-June for the Villars Institute leadership symposium. It is a chance for students to learn alongside peers and global leaders while bringing those ideas back to their school and community.

Learn more at www.moravianacademy.org

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On this special series of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary.

To keep this fair and useful, every candidate was asked the same core questions. Mark Pinsley is not included because he dropped out. We also reached out multiple times to Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s office and did not receive a response.

In this episode, we speak with Ryan Crosswell. Crosswell describes his background in public service, including serving in the Marine Corps after graduating from Duke Law School, and later working as a federal prosecutor. He also discusses why he decided to run for Congress now.

Campaign: https://ryancrosswell.com/

Day to day financial stressCrosswell says people are feeling higher costs across the board, and he mentions grocery costs rising in Pennsylvania. He says the biggest day to day stress he hears most often is healthcare costs, and he argues that cuts to Medicare and ACA subsidies destabilize care providers and make the system worse for everyone, including people who already have insurance. He says he is talking to residents who are losing insurance or are uninsured.

Healthcare and ACA premium tax creditsCrosswell says he supports extending the ACA premium tax credits for as long as needed to keep premiums down. He adds that long term he wants a public healthcare option, described as a government regulated healthcare option, and argues that broader access would also drive down costs for people who keep private plans.

Immigration enforcement, legal pathways, and work authorizationCrosswell says he served as a federal prosecutor in San Diego and prosecuted immigration related offenses, including drug smuggling, illegal entry, and human smuggling. He says he supports a strong border, and also says he prosecuted law enforcement officers who broke the law, including a Border Patrol agent. He then focuses on internal enforcement by ICE, calling it disturbing and saying it violates Fourth Amendment rights through actions like entering homes without search warrants and detaining people without adequate cause. He argues Congress should rein ICE in, including by using funding leverage, and he supports requiring federal agents to remove masks and display identification. He also calls for accountability when due process is bypassed. He says his law firm is filing lawsuits on behalf of people he says were detained illegally by ICE.

Warehouses and data centersCrosswell starts with data centers and says a major concern is energy use and the risk of higher energy prices. He says data centers should provide their own energy so local residents are not left paying more. He also raises concerns about environmental impact and water consumption, and says builders should be required to power facilities with renewable energy sources. He also says there should be requirements tied to water, including investment in desalination. He says he is uncomfortable with how quickly data centers are being rushed into the area without deeper cost benefit analysis and without clearer answers on environmental impact, energy impact, and job creation. He also connects warehouse growth to the loss of green space and says projects should be evaluated case by case based on what the community gets in return.

HomelessnessCrosswell highlights local nonprofit work and then focuses on federal steps. He says he supports passing the ROAD to Housing Act, which he describes as bipartisan and currently stuck in Congress, and says it would provide funding for more affordable housing and cut red tape so building can move faster. He also supports grants or low interest loans to developers who build affordable housing in areas with abandoned buildings and businesses, as long as it can be done safely, and he frames that as a way to add housing while protecting green space. He also calls for reducing large institutional home buying by Wall Street buyers, including cutting tax incentives that he says encourage that behavior and drive up housing costs.

Third place in the Lehigh ValleyCrosswell says his third place is Nowhere Coffee near where he lives. He says it is often where he meets with people in the community to talk about local issues, and he also describes it as a place that helps him reset and reconnect with routines he had before the campaign.

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On this special series of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary.

To keep this fair and useful, every candidate was asked the same core questions. Mark Pinsley is not included because he dropped out. We also reached out multiple times to Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s office and did not receive a response.

In this episode, we speak with Lamont McClure, who says he recently completed his second term as Northampton County Executive and announced his run for Congress last February. He describes his candidacy as a response to what he calls growing national chaos, and he ties his platform to affordability, healthcare, and public safety.

Campaign: https://mcclureforpa.com/

Day to day financial stressMcClure says the biggest day to day financial stress he hears about is housing affordability. He argues that tariffs are limiting the ability of home builders to build homes, which limits supply and contributes to rising costs and homelessness. He says national solutions should include incentivizing affordable housing builders so more housing gets built at every level of the market. He also argues that rolling back tariffs would help control affordability, saying tariffs have raised prices, raised taxes people pay, and are killing jobs.

Healthcare and ACA premium tax creditsMcClure says he supports extending Affordable Care Act benefits, especially the premium tax credits, and says he supports making them permanent. He criticizes Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s actions around the tax credits, arguing McKenzie had opportunities to leverage his vote to secure an extension but did not. He frames his own approach as using his vote to make sure constituents are taken care of, and he links the ACA tax credits to the stability of small businesses and self employed people in the district.

Immigration enforcement, legal pathways, and work authorizationMcClure says the country needs secure borders and says violent criminals who are in the country without documentation should be deported. He then focuses on what he describes as his record pushing back on ICE actions in Northampton County. He describes an incident where ICE arrested someone in a courthouse hallway, and says he researched the law and issued an executive order preventing ICE from making arrests in his courthouse. He says that policy remains in place under his successor. He also emphasizes that he has taken on MAGA aligned opponents electorally, and frames that as proof he can win in a politically mixed county.

Warehouses and data centersAsked about warehouses and data centers and what makes a project worth it for the region, McClure points to his record combating warehouse proliferation in Northampton County. He cites land preservation work, including preserving 20,000 acres of farmland and 3,800 acres of open space, creating four new county parks, and preserving environmentally sensitive land that contains rare species. He also says he fought warehouse proliferation “to the tune of over twenty five million dollars” in Northampton County. He frames his approach as protecting a green future for the district.

HomelessnessMcClure calls homelessness a multifactorial problem and says it is not the same for everybody, so solutions vary. He says Northampton and Lehigh counties put millions of dollars a year into addressing homelessness and says he has been in that fight for years, including a focus on veteran homelessness. He also describes using money won from opioid manufacturers for efforts to fight the opioid crisis, including drug and alcohol treatment, and he references a suicide prevention task force that focused on lowering suicide rates, especially among veterans. He says he would work to ensure federal law and policy help combat homelessness, addiction, and support veterans.

Third place in the Lehigh ValleyMcClure says his third place is Minsi Lake, describing it as a serene place that helps him decompress. He also mentions other places he enjoys, including Leaser Lake Park near his home, the Lehigh Valley Zoo, and going to his native Carbon County in the fall.

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On this special series of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary.

To keep this fair and useful, every candidate was asked the same core questions. Mark Pinsley is not included because he dropped out. We also reached out multiple times to Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s office and did not receive a response.

In this episode, we speak with Bob Brooks, a career firefighter with the City of Bethlehem and a union leader. Brooks talks about affordability in the Lehigh Valley, what federal policy can do to expand housing supply, and how he thinks about public safety, healthcare, and local development.

Campaign: https://brooksforcongress.com/

Day to day financial stressBrooks says the biggest day to day financial stresses he hears about are healthcare and housing, and he focuses first on housing. He argues the region needs to build a lot more housing quickly and says that requires cutting red tape, including permitting and zoning reforms. He supports first time home buyer help and talks about expanding programs similar to the HELPERS Act style loan concept. He also argues for cracking down on bulk home buying by private equity and corporate purchasers that he says distort the housing market.

Healthcare and ACA premium tax creditsBrooks says he supports extending the ACA premium tax credits and argues they should not be removed without a replacement plan. He warns that cutting help people rely on will raise costs, and he links paying for coverage support to tax policy changes. He argues for a minimum tax on billionaires and large corporations, saying that would fund major priorities. He also says making programs permanent will require negotiation and compromise, and he frames himself as a negotiator from his labor leadership experience.

Immigration enforcement, legal pathways, and work authorizationBrooks frames the issue through public safety and argues enforcement efforts should focus on serious criminals, not everyday people. He says the purpose of ICE should be to target drug dealers and people committing violent crimes, and he argues the agency should be refocused. He also calls for streamlining the pathway to citizenship and supports adding more immigration judges to speed up the process, criticizing long wait times.

Warehouses and data centersBrooks says he will side with workers, and evaluates projects based on whether they bring real jobs and benefits. He says he is concerned about data centers in particular because of infrastructure impacts, especially strain on the electric grid. He says federal involvement is limited compared to local government, but argues there is room for federal regulation related to electricity markets and for slowing or tightening approvals. He also argues data centers should be required to generate their own power rather than pulling heavily from the existing grid.

HomelessnessBrooks argues federal action should expand housing options and help people afford them. He supports expanding Housing Choice Vouchers, but says vouchers are capped and that cap is linked to the lack of available housing. He argues the solution requires building more housing and increasing affordable and entry level housing. He also emphasizes mental health funding, saying mental health needs are a major factor in homelessness and that resources have not matched the scale of need.

Third place in the Lehigh ValleyBrooks says his third place is a baseball field behind the Nazareth Intermediate School, where he coaches varsity baseball for Nazareth High School. He describes it as a place where he can put his phone away and focus on helping young people grow.

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We were lucky to catch up with Bethlehem native Daniel Roebuck while he’s back in town for the premiere of The Hail Mary.

Written, directed by, and starring Roebuck, the film tells the story of a reluctant man pulled into coaching an all-boys Catholic football team and finding redemption along the way. For Lehigh Valley audiences, this one hits especially close to home.

Scenes were filmed at Bethlehem Catholic High School, the Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, and at the Bethlehem Area School District stadium, where game sequences were shot over eight nights, sometimes as late as 2 and 3 a.m. Real Bethlehem Catholic players, Liberty and Freedom band members, and local residents filled the stands.

This weekend, you can see The Hail Mary at SteelStacks, The Roxy Theatre, and other regional theaters. There is also a special event at Hotel Bethlehem following a screening, including dinner and a behind-the-scenes conversation with Roebuck and the team.

If you are from the Lehigh Valley, you will recognize faces, locations, and that unmistakable local energy on screen.

Find showtimes and details at:https://www.achannelofpeace.org/

Get out there and support a film made here, with our people, telling our story.

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On this special series of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary.

To keep this fair and useful, every candidate was asked the same core questions. We also reached out multiple times to Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s office and did not receive a response.

In this episode, we speak with Carol Obando-Derstine, who shares why she is running and what she is hearing from residents across PA-07.

Campaign: https://www.carolforpa.com/

Day to day financial stressObando-Derstine says people are struggling to make ends meet and pay for the essentials of life, specifically naming housing, healthcare, groceries, utilities, and childcare. She cites the United Way ALICE report and says it shows 41 percent of district families are struggling to cover the essentials, which she describes as roughly 124,000 households.

Healthcare and ACA premium tax creditsObando-Derstine supports extending the ACA premium tax credits. She frames healthcare as personal, sharing stories of people she knew who could not afford care and how costs can financially devastate families. She argues that access to care helps families and also strengthens the economy because prevention and early treatment keep people healthier and working. In this conversation, she focuses on why the subsidies matter and does not detail a specific funding mechanism.

Immigration enforcement, legal pathways, and work authorizationObando-Derstine says immigration policy is personal to her as an immigrant who came to the United States at age three with parents who fled violence in Colombia. She says the system needs fixing in a way that is legal, effective, and humane. She criticizes what she describes as cruelty, racial profiling, and unaccountable enforcement, and says fear is widespread in immigrant communities, including among documented Latinos. She also says she supports secure borders, but argues the current approach creates chaos and does not make communities safer. She calls for more immigration judges and support staff, modernizing immigration courts, speeding up asylum processing, and opening up DACA applications so people are not kept in limbo.

Warehouses and data centersObando-Derstine notes that local governments make many of the key decisions, and she emphasizes a robust local stakeholder process so residents have meaningful input. Drawing on her background as an energy engineer, she describes work connecting projects to the electric grid, including warehouses. She argues against a top down approach that overrides state and local authority and says local voices should guide what gets built and how communities are impacted, especially when projects use significant resources and create limited jobs.

HomelessnessObando-Derstine says she has direct experience with this issue through service on the Homeless Veterans Task Force for Lehigh County, volunteer work with North Penn Legal Services, and her work advocating for prevention programs to keep families off the streets. She calls for federal action that prevents unjust evictions and proposes es]]> full 363 10 https://sites-lvwl.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25193222/Congressional-Podcast-9.jpeg false no 00:21:03 No no https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/congressional-candidate-conversations-lewis-shupe-pa-07-2026/ Fri, 27 Feb 2026 10:07:20 +0000 b313f9ef-9b4d-5f8e-bc86-a36a334c4113 Get More at LVwithLOVE.com! Become a partner or contact us

On this special series of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary.

To keep this fair and useful, every candidate was asked the same core questions. Mark Pinsley is not included because he dropped out. We also reached out multiple times to Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s office and did not receive a response.

In this episode, we speak with Lewis Shupe of Allentown.

Campaign: https://realchange.us/

Why he is running and his first term goalShupe says a key goal is to harness the power of registered voters to help compose and promote legislative initiatives led by citizens.

Day to day financial stressShupe points to food insecurity and says demand at food banks is rising, including among working people. He argues wages and cost of living are pushing more households toward needing help with basics.

Healthcare and ACA premium tax creditsAsked about extending the ACA premium tax credits and making them permanent, Shupe focuses on restoring Medicare cuts he says were made in a major federal bill, and he says he would go further by supporting Medicare for All.

Immigration enforcement, legal pathways, and work authorizationShupe argues that people already in the country should have a legal pathway to citizenship and says families should not be separated. He also claims recent border politics are being misrepresented and frames the issue as needing less drama and more workable solutions.

Warehouses and data centersShupe responds to the region becoming “the land of warehouses” and data centers by describing tradeoffs. He says there are pluses and minuses to data centers and references a proposed facility in the western part of the region. His emphasis is on weighing local impacts rather than treating these projects as automatically good.

HomelessnessAsked what the federal government can do about local homelessness, Shupe connects the issue to limited income and the gap between assistance and real costs. He references his own experience going on Social Security due to health issues and says that being on a limited income is not enough.

Third place in the Lehigh ValleyWhen asked where he likes to spend time outside of work and home, Shupe points to Make Lehigh Valley! a “workshop for people who love to tinker.” Their members include engineers, woodworkers, programmers, artists, amateur radio enthusiasts, radio-controlled airplane flyers, and more. Check out their website https://makelehighvalley.com/

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https://sites-lvwl.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/02/25193310/Congressional-Podcast-17.jpeg false no 00:12:41 No no https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/aidengonzalezpa7/ Thu, 26 Feb 2026 12:01:00 +0000 4a836d5c-df75-5ba0-b63a-fb008280fea9 Get More at LVwithLOVE.com! Become a partner or contact us

On this special series of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sat down with candidates running for U.S. House in Pennsylvania’s 7th Congressional District ahead of the May 19, 2026 primary.

To keep this fair and useful, every candidate was asked the same core questions. We also reached out multiple times to Congressman Ryan McKenzie’s office and did not receive a response.

In this episode, we speak with Aiden Gonzalez, a Bethlehem resident running in the Democratic primary for PA-07.

Campaign: https://www.aidenforpa7.com/

Day to day financial stressGonzalez says healthcare is the biggest day to day financial stress he hears about. He also connects affordability to housing, saying his generation is far more likely to rent long term than to own a home. He adds that energy is a leading cause of inflation and ties that to investing in future technology.

Healthcare and ACA premium tax creditsGonzalez calls the ACA a great program but a half step, and says the country should move to single payer healthcare. He says more than a million people who were on the ACA last year are not on it this year because subsidies expired, and he connects that to rising premiums and costs.

Immigration enforcement, legal pathways, and work authorizationGonzalez emphasizes due process and constitutional protections. He argues that the First, Fourth, and Fifth Amendments apply to everyone in the country, not only citizens. He also says the U.S. should encourage talented people to come here to work and contribute, and argues current approaches are driving people away.

Warehouses and data centersGonzalez says data centers are not the kind of future focused investment he wants for the region. He argues they raise electricity and water costs and do not create many permanent jobs. He also says the region has enough warehouses and data centers and describes his preference for projects that create lasting jobs and contribute back to the community.

HomelessnessGonzalez says immediate relief requires federal funding through Housing and Urban Development to build homes to house people experiencing homelessness. He says the longer term goal should be making home ownership achievable, and he mentions increasing first time home owner loans. He also argues for discouraging large scale corporate landlord practices, including a progressive tax on corporate landlords based on how many residences they buy.

Third place in the Lehigh ValleyAsked where he likes to spend time outside of work and home, Gonzalez says he is a big gym person and names Powerhouse Gym in Bethlehem.

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Touchstone Theatre presents Language of Dolls, an original production created and performed by New York City theater artists Lizzie Olesker, Peggy Pettitt, and Louise Smith.

The show runs March 5 through March 8, 2026 in Touchstone’s 75 seat theatre on the SouthSide of Bethlehem.

Language of Dolls follows three older women friends who come to a cabin in the woods to reconnect. Over one night they eat, laugh, argue, dance, dream, and share unexpected stories as they question how their racial and social identities were formed. The piece uses dolls as a way into deeper understandings of one another and American history, including the discovery of each character’s inner “soul” doll.

Tickets are available at touchstone.org or 610.867.1689.

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We visited Children’s Art Classes in Allentown and spoke with Peter and Andrea Nation about why they built a studio focused on real art fundamentals and skill building for kids.

We also talked with their teaching artist about what makes the program different and why it clicks for students.

Children’s Art Classes in Allentown offers programs for multiple age groups, including Tiny Hands (3 to 4), Intro to Art (5 to 6), Beginning Art (7 to 8), Art 1 (9 and up), plus a homeschool art curriculum option. Be sure to ask about summer workshops!

Studio info 327 South Cedar Crest Boulevard, Allentown, PA 18103https://pa-allentown.childrensartclasses.com/

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The Pottsville Maroons were one of the most dominant teams in early professional football, yet their story remains one of the greatest injustices in NFL history.

On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we talk with author and sports journalist David Fleming about the Maroons historic 1925 season, how a small Pennsylvania coal town helped legitimize professional football, and why the NFL championship they earned was ultimately taken away. (more…)

Various artists will come together at Godfrey Daniels on Thursday, February 19 at 7:00 PM for a special tribute honoring the life and music of Todd Snider.

The Todd Snider Tribute is a benefit show featuring musicians sharing Snider’s songs and personal reflections on how his writing shaped their own musical paths. Known for his humor, honesty, and sharp storytelling, Snider built a career rooted in connection and songs that thrived in intimate listening rooms like Godfrey Daniels, where he performed in 2001 and 2002.

The evening is organized and emceed by Dan Sullivan and Miki Sparks and will feature performances by Jack Murray, Nick Franclik, Jason Agar, Rin Elizabeth, Josh Herman, Hobo Houston, Ian Gallagher, and Josh and Amber Finsel.

This is a rescheduled show from January 25. If you already RSVP’d, you do not need to do so again.

A $10 suggested donation will be collected at the door. RSVP is requested to save your seat.

More information and RSVP details are available here: https://godfreydaniels.org/event/todd-snider-tribute-january-25-2026/

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On this episode of Off the Record with the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we’re highlighting The Chopper Foundation and the work they’re doing to help families access lifesaving veterinary care when money is tight, so people do not have to surrender a pet or make an impossible decision.

We’re joined by Sharon, Moreen, and Dr. Lee for a conversation about how The Chopper Foundation started, what the need looks like in real life, and how community partnerships make it possible to keep pets healthy and at home.

Sharon shares what she saw again and again when dogs were relinquished: lack of funds for care, or behavioral issues, often after a dog had already been rehomed. She talks about how the unexpected loss of Chopper became the turning point, and how she decided to turn that loss into action that helps other families keep their pets.

The episode also digs into what support can look like beyond emergency vet bills, including food distribution. The foundation has worked with community partners to provide large food donations and run what they call a “chow line,” with past stops in Reading, Allentown, and Bethlehem, and a goal of expanding to Easton. The point is simple: help families who are stretched thin so they do not have to choose between feeding themselves and feeding their pets.

Looking ahead to 2026, The Chopper Foundation shares plans for a low-cost vaccination clinic and ways local sponsors can help make basic care more accessible, including a “sponsor one shot” approach.

For more information and ways to support: https://www.thechopperfoundation.org/

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On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sit down with photographer and storyteller Alison Conklin, the publisher of Bonus Days Magazine, to talk about what it means to keep creating, even in the middle of the hardest seasons of life.

Recorded at Dan’s Camera City, this conversation starts with the way Alison sees the world through a lens and how “who you are personally is like your power.” From there, she shares the moment her health story took a sharp turn: “he told me in July that I had six months to live,” and what happened next as she faced the reality of needing a heart transplant.

Alison talks candidly about the waiting, the fear, and the pace of it all, including the shock of how fast things moved once she was listed. But the story doesn’t stop at survival. It turns into purpose and into print.

That’s where Bonus Days Magazine comes in, a print magazine centered on “all transplants and chronic illness,” created to “tell these stories that are not toxic positive.” Alison’s not pretending it’s easy: “not gonna tell you it’s all sunshine and rainbows.” She makes space for nuance too: “two things can be very true at the same time”… and sometimes, “just existing is enough.”

LINKS Bonus Days Magazine: https://www.bonusdaysmag.com/ Alison Conklin: https://www.alisonconklin.com/

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David Bennett Cohen is a founding member of Country Joe & The Fish and a keyboard player with deep roots in blues and early rock. He brings the David Bennett Cohen Trio to Godfrey Daniels in Bethlehem on Saturday, January 24, 2026 at 8:00 PM.

Cohen has been a professional musician for more than 60 years, known for innovative keyboard playing and a career that stretches across major blues and rock scenes. Along the way, he played and recorded with a long list of artists, and he also built a serious teaching catalog through Homespun, plus published piano instruction with Hal Leonard. (more…)

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Anja Keister is bringing burlesque back to Northampton, and she is doing it with intention.

Keister, an award-winning burlesque performer and producer who grew up in Northampton, will return home this Valentine’s Weekend with a live burlesque and variety show at the historic Roxy Theatre. The performance comes after more than a decade spent working in New York City and performing internationally across Europe, including shows in Germany and Prague. (more…)

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On this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we sit down with Allentown born trombonist, composer, arranger, and educator Brody Segan to talk about his original music, his independent label Brodacious Music, and his next big step as a showband musician with Royal Caribbean.

Brody has been busy releasing a string of projects, including the country rock single Make Lovin Great Again, the soundtrack to the short action film The Great Escape, and his final 2025 single Im Kinda Busy Now, a 1980s inspired funk blues song about unrequited love that also encourages getting to know the people in our everyday lives.

Under his Brodacious Music label, Brody is building a catalog that pulls from country, rock, funk, blues, film music, and big band writing. Make Lovin Great Again was released August 1 on all major streaming services, with artwork by his father and an animated lyric video by Miami based animator Juan Menache that earned a Special Mention from the Global Shorts Film Festival. Brody and collaborator Michael Ford promoted the track on PA Live in Wilkes Barre.

Im Kinda Busy Now followed on October 24 as the final 2025 Brodacious Music single. Brody describes it as a 1980s inspired funk blues song about unrequited love that also encourages getting to know those in our everyday lives. The track features music and lyrics by Brody Segan, mixed and mastered by Michael Ford, with Segan on lead and backing vocals and keys, Ford on electric guitar, electric bass, and cowbell, and Denisse Ferrara on backing vocals.

Beyond his singles, Brody composed the soundtrack for Sukavision’s short action film The Great Escape, recorded live at the Frost School of Music’s Weeks Recording Studio, and he continues to write for large ensemble. His big band chart Honk on This, a saxophone feature in the style of 1950s rock and roll, is available through JW Pepper.

Since graduating from UM in May 2025, Brody has stacked experience as both player and educator, includi]]> full 346 10 https://sites-lvwl.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2026/01/03133442/Podcast-Update-2-WDIY-at-30.jpeg false no 00:18:51 No no https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/jack-mccallum-on-bird-vs-todays-nba-victor-wembanyama-and-storytelling-in-the-ai-era/ Wed, 10 Dec 2025 13:32:08 +0000 13a0e96c-2bed-533b-913b-ba8372263ebb Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com

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Today I’m joined by NBA and Lehigh Valley legend Jack McCallum, a New York Times bestselling author of “Dream Team” and “Seven Seconds or Less” who spent decades covering the league for Sports Illustrated.

I caught up with Jack at WDIY 88.1 FM before he recorded a Something to Say segment to talk about how today’s NBA compares to the Larry Bird era, why he would build the next decade around Victor Wembanyama, and what AI and changing media mean for storytelling.

We also revisit the time Michael Jordan called him during one of my Moravian University classes and get into what he is working on now, from a new novel to the short radio pieces he jokes are his Tuesday “elevator music.” Let’s get into it.

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Today we’re getting into the holiday spirit with Meredith Willson’s Miracle on 34th Street: The Musical, coming to Wind Creek Event Center right here in Bethlehem, the Christmas City December 10 – 14!

In this episode you’ll hear from three members of the company: first, a visit from Kris Kringle himself; then Hanna Scotch, onstage swing and assistant dance captain who was actually born here in Bethlehem; and finally, eight-year-old Charlotte Surak, a precocious young actor who plays Susan Walker.

We’ll talk about bringing this classic story to the stage, what it’s like performing it in Bethlehem during the holidays, and what families can expect when they come out to the show.

For tickets and showtimes, head to windcreekeventcenter.com, and you can also enter to win a Family 4 Pack of tickets at lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com.

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Bethlehem Catholic graduate and Lehigh Valley native Madelyn Dundon is bringing her latest film Hazel to the Frank Banko Alehouse Cinemas at ArtsQuest for three special screenings this December AND you can find it on streaming soon!

Hazel is a survival thriller based on the true story of Hazel Miner, a teenager who tried to protect her younger siblings during a deadly 1920 blizzard in North Dakota. The film has played to sold out audiences across the Dakotas and now arrives in Bethlehem before it begins streaming later this month.

The production converted an abandoned Kmart in Bismarck into a full movie studio, complete with a snow landscape, lighting rigs, VFX elements, and even horses brought inside for filming. Local audiences will appreciate the creativity of turning a forgotten building into something new.

Dundon also spoke about what it means to bring the film home. From her years at Bethelehem Catholic High School to the Freddy Awards to her breakout in Getting Grace with Dan Roebock (who has also been on our podcast), she credits the Valley for giving her the foundation to take on roles like this one.

ArtsQuest screening dates:• Sunday, December 7 at 1 p.m. with Q and A• Monday, December 8 at 7:15 p.m. with Q and A• Wednesday, December 10 at 12:30 p.m.

Tickets: https://www.artsquest.org/event/hazel-standard-screening/

Hazel will also be available to stream on Apple TV beginning December 23.

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This week on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we’re talking with Melissa Smith, corporate wellness coach and founder of Balance and Bloom, a health and wellness coaching company helping women, leaders, and organizations reduce stress, prevent burnout, and rebuild their spark.

With the holiday season in full swing, Melissa breaks down why this time of year hits women especially hard and what small shifts can actually make a difference.

In this episode, Melissa shares:

• Why the first three minutes of your day matter and how they set the emotional tone• Why women often feel responsible for “everything” this time of year• The difference between stress and burnout and how you can tell which one you’re in• Micro joys, what they are, and how they instantly shift your mindset

Learn more about Melissa Smith and her work at:https://www.balanceandbloom.life/

https://www.linkedin.com/in/melissa-smith-3b834610/

https://www.instagram.com/balanceandbloomnow/

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The D&L Trail is one of Pennsylvania’s most significant outdoor corridors, stretching 165 miles through five counties and connecting communities along the historic canal and rail routes that once fueled the American Industrial Revolution. To understand the impact of the trail today, we visited Hugh Moore Park in Easton, Pennsylvania, home of the National Canal Museum and one of the most historically rich sections of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor. (more…)

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This week on the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, we’re talking with Megan Cara, Clinic Director at Ivy Rehab for Kids in Bethlehem. (more…)

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The Lehigh Valley’s comedy scene takes center stage this fall with the premiere of Popcorn Pushers: Season 01, a darkly funny new sitcom from creator Jiah Peck and his production team, Pigeon City. The series follows the eccentric staff of a struggling movie theater secretly owned by loan sharks, inspired by Peck’s real-life experiences working at Regal Cinemas in Quakertown and the County Theater in Doylestown.

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In this episode of Lehigh Valley with Love, we talk with Dina Kovats-Bernat, Director of Development and Communications for Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley, about what happens when politics stall and how delayed budgets are putting real lives at risk. (more…)

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Families and young people are the future of the arts, and no one knows that better than Mark Fitzgerald Wilson, Executive Director of the Zoellner Arts Center at Lehigh University.

Mark joined Zoellner in 2020, bringing an eclectic background as an educator, business professional, and opera singer. Originally from Iowa, he discovered the Lehigh Valley through his son’s lacrosse tournaments and fell in love with the area’s energy, trails, and sense of community.

When he arrived at Zoellner, he noticed a missing piece in local arts programming: family experiences that were fun, welcoming, and accessible. The result was Family FUN-A-PALOOZA, an annual event that brings families together for live theater, interactive arts activities, and partnerships with local organizations.

This year’s Family FUN-A-PALOOZA takes place Saturday, November 1 from 10 AM to 1:30 PM, featuring Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus! The Musical, based on the beloved children’s book by Mo Willems. Developed by the Kennedy Center, the show promises laughter, energy, and plenty of opportunities for kids to move and make noise.

“This is a non-shushing show,” Wilson says. “Kids, have fun. Parents tell us that when they hear that, the weight just lifts off their shoulders. This is for everyone. We have families with neurodivergent children, sensory-friendly audiences, and people who just want to enjoy being here together.”

The event features more than 20 community and campus partners, including PBS, Lehigh University Art Galleries, and local dance groups. Visitors can take part in crafts, art projects, and pre-show performances throughout Zoellner’s lobby and open spaces. Costumes are encouraged, even for parents.

“It’s the day after Halloween, so bring your costumes,” Wilson laughs. “Dress up, have fun, and parents, wear a costume too.”

Beyond Family FUN-A-PALOOZA, Zoellner’s fall and spring lineup is packed with major performances and new experiences. Wilson highlights Postmodern Jukebox, Dirty Dancing in Concert, and the Morgan Freeman Symphonic Blues Experience, along with orchestral performances from the New York Philharmonic and Philadelphia Orchestra.

“We want to bring world-class artists to our stage while also connecting students to the professional world,” Wilson says. “There are so many great arts organizations in the Lehigh Valley, and each of us brings something different. For Zoellner, it’s about giving people cultural experiences they might not get anywhere else.”

He also points to Zoellner’s new full 329 9 https://sites-lvwl.s3.amazonaws.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/10/10104441/Zoellner3-scaled.png false no 00:12:23 No no https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/wdiy-30th-anniversary-bethlehem-flatiron/ Mon, 29 Sep 2025 17:39:34 +0000 https://lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/?post_type=podcast&p=16014 Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com

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