Shanthi Project, the Easton-based nonprofit bringing evidence-based mindfulness education to more than 5,000 kids and adults each year across the Greater Lehigh Valley, has announced new leadership on its Board of Directors.
George Wacker, Owner of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, Named Among Lehigh Valley’s Most Influential People of 2026
George Wacker, owner of Lehigh Valley with Love Media, has been named one of The Lehigh Valley’s Most Influential People for 2026 in an inaugural list published by The Morning Call.
Lehigh Valley with Love Tree Lighting Photo Featured on Fox & Friends First
Lehigh Valley with Love made a national appearance this morning on Fox & Friends First, as one of our photos from Bethlehem’s annual tree lighting was featured during a segment on “Christmas City, USA.”
Holiday Lights Map Music Playlist
The Lehigh Valley Holiday Lights Map is back for 2025, and this year it comes with its own soundtrack. To go with your nighttime tour of neighborhood displays, we have put together a Spotify playlist that runs from movie classics to soul, rock and jazz favorites.
‘Rooted’ to premiere on PBS39 Nov. 21 at 7 p.m.
“Rooted,” a 75-minute documentary about Bethlehem’s arts community, will make its broadcast debut on WLVT-TV PBS39 on Friday, November 21, 2025, at 7 p.m.
FeaturedLehigh Valley Small Business White Elephant
Welcome to the Lehigh Valley Small Business White Elephant. This community giveaway brings together dozens of local shops, restaurants, makers, and independent businesses for a fun, citywide gift exchange. Once we put out the call, more than fifty small businesses stepped up with gift cards, products, and experiences worth at least twenty dollars, and we are incredibly grateful for every one of them for joining in.
How it works
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Look through the full list of prizes on this page.
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Fill out the form below (or at this link) and rank every prize from first choice to last. Your entry must include a ranking for every prize.
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After sign ups close, all participants will be randomized.
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We will select all winners on Sunday, December 21. Starting from the top of that randomized list, each person will receive the highest ranked prize on their list that has not already been claimed.
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We continue down the list until all prizes are assigned.
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Winners will be connected directly with the business that donated their prize to arrange pickup, mailing, or digital delivery.
Disclaimer
Lehigh Valley with Love Media hosts the event, manages the sign ups and prize matching, and connects winners with participating businesses. We do not provide the prizes and are not responsible for fulfillment, shipping, or delivery. NO purchase necessary.
Visit www.lvwithlove.com for updates and more information.
Please email info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com with any questions.
PRIZE LIST
Email your news release to info@lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com
Bethlehem Running Festival Runs Through the Christmas City (PHOTOS / VIDEO)
The Bethlehem Running Festival ran through the Christmas City for another weekend in 2025.
How We Used AI and a Stolen Phillies Home Run Ball to Reach 7.4 Million People Organically
We set out to see if AI could help us create something that felt more real than a meme. The idea landed right in front of us: the Phillies “Karen” who took a home run ball from a young fan. Silver wig. Glasses. Phillies hoodie. She already looked like a Spirit Halloween costume. So we made one.
The Housing Podcast Part 2: New Bethany and Habitat for Humanity Lehigh Valley
Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com
Housing is one of the hottest topics in the Lehigh Valley right now. On this episode of Off the Record with Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, George Wacker and Northampton County Commissioner Jeff Warren sit down with two leaders on the frontlines:
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Gina Loiacono, Director of Community Engagement and Grants at Habitat for Humanity of the Lehigh Valley
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Marc Rittle, Executive Director at New Bethany
We talk about:
• Habitat’s 142 homes in the Valley and what it takes for families to qualify
• The reality of transitional housing and how New Bethany is adapting programs to meet demand
• The difference between affordable housing and attainable housing
• The stigma around low-income housing and how nonprofits are working to change it
• Habitat’s ReStores in Hellertown and Whitehall and how donations fuel more homebuilding
“No child should ever wonder where to lay their head at night.” — Gina Loiacono
“At the end of the day, there is more power in the private sector than the public sector when it comes to housing.” — Marc Rittle
Links
- Habitat for Humanit: https://habitatlv.org/
- New Bethany: https://newbethany.org/
Subscribe for more conversations about the people and issues shaping the Lehigh Valley.
Thank you to our Partners!
WDIY 88.1 FM
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
Fizz That Fights: A-TREAT Partners with PCFLV for Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month
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For more than a century, A-TREAT has been part of the Lehigh Valley story. The sodas and seltzers we grew up with, the flavors that feel like home. Now the brand is doing something new: using that fizz to fight pediatric cancer.
In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast we are on site at the A-TREAT facility with Luke Jaindl, Vice President of Jaindl Companies, and Michelle Zenie Rounds, Executive Director of the Pediatric Cancer Foundation of the Lehigh Valley (PCFLV).
Together they share the story behind “Fizz That Fights” Lemon Twist Seltzer, a limited edition release that puts community first. Every bottle helps raise awareness and support for PCFLV’s mission to provide hope, programs, and direct assistance to more than 450 local families navigating childhood cancer.
We talk about:
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How the A-TREAT and PCFLV partnership came to life
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Why local matters, from Jaindl’s rescue of A-TREAT in 2015 to PCFLV’s hyperlocal mission
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The importance of awareness initiatives like “30 Days, 30 Stories” during Pediatric Cancer Awareness Month
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A-TREAT’s unique place in Lehigh Valley history, from Big Blue to holiday flavors, and what the future looks like
Listen in for community, history, and a whole lot of fizz.
Learn more about PCFLV: https://www.pcflv.org/
Thank you to our Partners!
WDIY 88.1 FM
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
This Survey Could Change the Lehigh Valley Arts Scene: Add Your Voice
Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com
The Greater Lehigh Valley Arts + Culture Patron Survey is more than a questionnaire. It’s a region-wide effort to gather real data on how people engage with the arts, what gets in their way, and how we can create more inclusive, accessible cultural experiences.
In this episode of Off the Record, we’re joined by Meg Mikovits, Assistant Director and Research Manager at the Lehigh Valley Arts and Culture Alliance, and Marta Kepka, Director of Arts Marketing at Lafayette College. They share how this free, anonymous survey came together, what kinds of questions it asks, and why it’s so important that both individuals and organizations take part.
We talk about:
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Why the arts are essential to economic growth, public health, and social connection
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The surprising lack of existing audience data in the region
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What organizations can gain from distributing the survey to their audiences
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How the results will be shared and used across sectors
Whether you’re a mural lover, a Musikfest regular, a parent with kids in band, or someone who just wants to see more arts opportunities in your neighborhood, your voice matters.
🎭 Take the survey: https://bit.ly/LehighValleyArtsSurvey
🎧 Full episode and more: www.lvwithlove.com
Watch Episode: https://youtu.be/jyLmJr6pCGs
Thank you to our Partners!
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs
WDIY 88.1 FM
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
Mayor’s Musikfest Preview Podcast 2025
Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com
Recorded at City Hall’s Payrow Plaza, it’s the Mayor’s Musikfest Podcast 2025, hosted by Bethlehem Mayor J. William Reynolds and Lehigh Valley with Love Media’s George Wacker.
This year’s episode highlights the people powering Musikfest behind the scenes and on stage:
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Kassie Hilgert, President and CEO of ArtsQuest, shares what’s new and what keeps the festival going after 42 years
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Patrick Brogan, Chief Programming Officer of ArtsQuest, talks booking hundreds of bands and building a “city within a city”
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Dave Fry, local music icon who’s performed at every single Musikfest since 1984, joins the conversation and performs live
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Laura Waits and Cathy Campanaro of Sync Recovery, along with Northampton County Council member Lori Vargo-Heffner, talk about the launch of SoberPlatz, a new alcohol-free space at the festival
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Meet the Mayor, a long-time local band, reflects on playing Musikfest for the past 8 years
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Bren closes out the episode with thoughts on artistry, identity, and what it means to perform at Musikfest
Listen for honest conversations, local stories, and a look at how community and music come together every summer in Bethlehem.
Musikfest starts Friday, August 1.
Thank you to everyone who helps make Bethlehem such a special place to live, visit, and celebrate.
Have a great Fest.
Watch Episode
Thank you to our Partners!
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs
WDIY 88.1 FM
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
The Perfect Fit: 25 Years of Empowering Women in the Lehigh Valley
Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com
What started with a single blazer in the trunk of a car has become one of the Lehigh Valley’s most powerful stories of community-driven change.
In this episode of the Lehigh Valley with Love Podcast, host George Wacker sits down with Sarah Barrett, Executive Director of YWCA Allentown, to celebrate the 25th anniversary of The Perfect Fit, a workforce empowerment program that’s helped more than 13,000 women step into new careers with confidence.
Topics include:
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How The Perfect Fit began as a grassroots effort
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Why clothing is just a tool, and the real heart is community support
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Career workshops, tech certifications, and professional mentoring
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What’s next for the next 25 years
- TICKETS ARE ON SALE NOW!
Join the Celebration: Outfit to Empower Luncheon
Friday, October 24, 2025
Renaissance Hotel, Allentown, PA
Learn more or get involved: ywcaallentown.org/perfect-fit
Watch Episode
Thank you to our Partners!
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs
WDIY 88.1 FM
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
Still Indie After All These Years: SouthSide Film Festival Turns 21
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The SouthSide Film Festival is turning 21 — and it’s still one of the Lehigh Valley’s most vibrant, volunteer-driven cultural events.
In this episode, George Wacker sits down with Festival Director Jen Cotto and longtime jury member Ben Bertalan to talk about the grassroots origins of the fest, how they choose which films to feature (“Would you pay $10 to see it?”), and what makes this year’s event more international and community-driven than ever.
We get into past favorites like Tucker & Dale vs. Evil, this year’s picks like 25 Cats from Qatar and 40 Watts from Nowhere, and how the SouthSide Film Festival remains a celebration of weird, wonderful cinema — built by and for the Lehigh Valley.
🎥 Festival Dates: June 10–14, 2025 (with a showing of Rooted on the 15th!)
📍 Locations: Cathedral Church of the Nativity, Touchstone Theatre, PBS39, and more
🎟️ Info & Tickets: ssff.org
Watch Episode
Thank you to our Partners!
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs
WDIY
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
🎧 SouthSide Film Festival Turns 21 and Stays Purely Indie
The SouthSide Film Festival returns June 10 through 14 in South Bethlehem. In this episode of Lehigh Valley with Love, host George Wacker talks with Festival Director Jen Cotto and longtime jury member Ben Bertalan about what makes this grassroots, international film event so unique.
It began as a casual idea between friends at a coffee shop. Two decades later, it has become a fully independent, volunteer-powered celebration of independent film with global reach and deep local roots.
“We are an international film festival. We have films from Qatar and Cyprus this year. Ireland. Almost every state in the United States.” — Jen Cotto
What Makes a SouthSide Film?
Each year, the jury screens hundreds of submissions. Films come through FilmFreeway, and the process begins in the fall.
“We start meeting in September through April. We sit and we watch these films and we say, would we suggest people spend $10 to see this?” — Jen Cotto
That simple question shapes every selection. Jury members consider story, plot, acting, technical quality, and whether the film offers something worth an audience’s time and money.
A Festival Built on Volunteer Power
SouthSide Film Festival has no corporate sponsors or large institutional backers. It operates on community energy and independence.
“We are not affiliated with any other nonprofit in the area. Everybody thinks we’re part of ArtsQuest. We are not. We don’t get any money from them.” — Jen Cotto
“We are such a best-kept secret in the Valley. If we were to get a bigger audience, I’m not expecting us to get Musikfest numbers. But we would be comfortable with two or three times the audience we have.” — Jen Cotto
This Festival Is About Connection
More than just screenings, SouthSide offers Q&A sessions with filmmakers and real audience interaction. There are no competitive prizes or red carpet ceremonies. Instead, there is conversation.
“We don’t really give prizes. We give an audience award, where people write in their favorite feature and short film. That’s it. We don’t offer a monetary prize.” — Jen Cotto
What to Watch in 2025
🎥 25 Cats from Qatar
A documentary about an organization that rescues stray cats and brings them to the U.S.
“That one’s showing Wednesday night. The filmmaker is going to be there. It’s a great film.” — Jen Cotto
🎥 40 Watts from Nowhere
The story of a pirate radio station in 1990s San Francisco
“I had read her book in the early 2000s. I was amazed. There’s a documentary on it. Now I want to see it.” — Ben Bertalan
How to Attend
June 10–14, 2025
🎟️ Info and tickets: https://southsidefilmfestival.com
Screening Locations
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Cathedral Church of the Nativity
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Touchstone Theatre
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PBS39
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Frank Banko Alehouse Cinema (Friday late-night screening)
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Festival HQ: Deja Brew Coffeehouse (tickets, info, programs)
Want to Get Involved?
SouthSide is always looking for new volunteers and future jury members. The best way to join is to stop by Deja Brew, message on Instagram or Facebook, or visit the website.
“We are always on the lookout for people who want to help. Board members, volunteers. Some nights on the jury can get unruly, but we’re always open to more people.” — Jen Cotto
Listen to the Full Episode
Solving the Lehigh Valley’s Housing Puzzle: Affordability, Zoning, and What Comes Next
Get More LVWITHLOVE Content at LVwithLOVE.com
George Wacker and Jeff Warren are joined by Jill Seitz, Chief Community and Regional Planner at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and Michael Bernadyn, 2025 President of Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS®, for a deep dive into the region’s housing challenges.
From outdated zoning laws to increasing demand and shrinking affordability, the Lehigh Valley is at a tipping point. This episode brings together two perspectives—planning and real estate—to talk about how we got here and what needs to happen next.
“We have the jobs. We have the economy. What we don’t have is enough housing that works for everyone.” — Jill Seitz
“If we don’t address supply and density issues now, affordability is going to get worse—and fast.” — Michael Bernadyn
Watch Episode: https://youtu.be/Smg4Rb1dgFE
Thank you to our Partners!
L.L. Bean Outdoor Discovery Programs
WDIY
Lehigh Valley Health Network
Wind Creek Event Center
Michael Bernadyn of RE/MAX Real Estate
Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub
Banko Beverage Company
Housing Isn’t Just a Market Issue. It’s a Regional One.
Housing is one of the most urgent and complex challenges facing the Lehigh Valley.
In this episode of Off the Record, we hear from two people deeply engaged in the work:
Jill Seitz, Chief Community and Regional Planner at the Lehigh Valley Planning Commission, and
Michael Bernadyn, 2025 President of Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS®.
🎧 Listen to the Episode
www.lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/housingepisode
The numbers speak for themselves.
“We’re anticipating that we’re going to need about 20,000 new units of housing in the Lehigh Valley by 2030. And that’s in addition to what we’ve already got planned and in the works.” — Jill Seitz
But this isn’t just about building homes—it’s about building the right kinds of homes in the right places.
“People that live and work in the Lehigh Valley can’t always find housing they can afford or housing that suits their needs.” — Jill Seitz
“The challenge has always been, and still is, that we have more buyers than we have sellers.” — Michael Bernadyn
The Zoning Conversation We Need to Have
Much of the region’s housing strain comes down to barriers in zoning and local governance.
“We have 62 municipalities in the Lehigh Valley. And if you want to build a multifamily development, you’ve got to go through a very time-consuming process. And there’s a lot of resistance.” — Michael Bernadyn
“Communities want economic growth… but they don’t always want the housing that goes along with that.” — Jill Seitz
The solution? A shift in mindset—and a move toward regional thinking.
“Housing is not optional. It’s not a nice-to-have. It’s necessary if we want to keep growing.” — Jill Seitz
What’s Next?
The path forward requires policy alignment, regional cooperation, and a commitment to long-term solutions.
“We want to make sure that our municipalities are zoning for all types of housing. And that we’re working regionally to make sure there’s a place for everyone—whether that’s a first-time buyer, someone downsizing, or someone who wants to stay in their neighborhood as they age.” — Jill Seitz
“If we don’t start having these conversations now, and making changes now, the situation is going to get worse—and fast. But if we do act now, we can start to shift things in a better direction.” — Michael Bernadyn
This Episode Matters
This conversation isn’t just about housing markets. It’s about equity, sustainability, and what kind of future the Lehigh Valley wants to build.
📍 Learn More
Lehigh Valley Planning Commission → https://www.lvpc.org
Greater Lehigh Valley REALTORS® → https://www.greaterlehighvalleyrealtors.com
🎧 Listen to the full episode
www.lehighvalleywithlovemedia.com/podcast/housingepisode