EU zooms in on tighter Russia sanctions; backs Ukraine aid | Business News

EU zooms in on tighter Russia sanctions; backs Ukraine aid | Business News

If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

· Air Products and Chemicals Inc.’s chosen warehouse developer, Prologis Inc., will have to wait until July 13 for a final decision by Upper Macungie Township’s zoning hearing board on 2.61 million square feet of warehouses. 

· Chubby’s of Southside Easton has added Krispy Krunchy Chicken to its offerings and name.

· Curaleaf Holdings Inc., which operates in the U.S. and Europe, will open a medical-marijuana dispensary at 1801 Airport Road, Hanover Township.

· Habitat for Humanity, which has “ReStores” that sell new and lightly used furniture, has leased 30,000 square feet at the South Mall.

· Nat Hyman’s bid to convert an old warehouse at 938 Washington St. in Allentown into 48 apartments did not win zoning hearing board approval this week after neighbors said more housing would make an on-street parking shortage worse.

· Members 1st Federal Credit Union opened a new branch this week at 5605 Hamilton Blvd, Trexlertown. It’s one of five planned for the Lehigh Valley. 

· A Turkish restaurant has relocated from one downtown to another, taking its fresh ingredients and cozy atmosphere from Nazareth to 200 Main St., Tatamy.

· The Tennessee Titans have chosen Allentown-based Shift4 Payments to handle payments at Nissan Stadium.

· Wells Fargo Bank held ribbon-cutting at its downtown Allentown branch at 740 Hamilton St.

· The Wiz Kidz outlet at the Madison Farms residential/retail development in Bethlehem Township will hold a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting at noon on July 15.

· Bad Biscuit Company, which offered breakfast with scratch-made biscuits, freshly baked pastry and local, small-batch artisan coffee, said it will cease operations at 16 Columbia Ave. in Reading after its July 1 hours.

· FastBridge Fiber has announced it will build an all-fiber cable network that will offer ultra-fast internet in the Reading area.

· Hamid Chaudhry has said he no longer plans to move forward with pursuing a food truck park he previously proposed on the site of the former Sheetz convenience store and gas station in Exeter Township at 6600 Perkiomen Ave. (Route 422 East). 

· The Maxatawny Township Planning Commission has OK’d a proposal for a Mavis Discount Tire store in the Kutztown Road shopping center that features a Giant supermarket.

· Valentino’s Italian restaurant has gotten Maxatawny Township’s approval to remain open when the state transportation department takes one-third of its parking lot to build a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Route 222 and Long Lane.

· Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, under new ownership, will hold a “Grand Re-Opening Bash” July 9 and July 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

· Sauce West End plans to open in a former Rita’s Italian Ice, just off Route 209 across from the Tractor Supply store in Brodheadsville.

· The Surgery Center of Pottsville, which offered medical procedure services for 16 years in Cressona Mall. will close June 28.

· Wells Fargo has closed its branch office in Langhorne, near the intersection with Maple Avenue.

· The latest PrimoHoagies location in New Jersey held a grand opening at 1930 State Route 57, Hackettstown.

· A new Tractor Supply Co. store in Warren County will have its grand opening in the former Toys ‘R’ Us store in Pohatcong Plaza on July 9.

· Hunter Pocono Peterbilt plans to move Pocono Township operations to Stroudsburg.

· Coal Winery and Kitchen at 81 Broad St., Bethlehem, has closed as its owner searches for a new location for the business, according to its Facebook page. 

· Lowhill Township supervisors approved a 312,120-square-foot commercial warehouse and distribution center on a 43.4-acre tract on the west side of Route 100, south of the Kernsville Road intersection.

· The Mint Gastropub at 1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, announced that it has temporarily closed to undergo a merger with a “well-known restaurant group” from Bethlehem.

· The Slatington Farmers Market opened its 28,000-square-foot showroom, which includes space for 53 vendors, as well as a 4,000-square-foot event space.

· St. Luke’s University Health Network opened a new pediatric inpatient unit next to the eight-bed pediatric intensive care unit at St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem.

· 25th Asian House opened at the location of the former Tin Tin Chinese restaurant in the 25th Street Shopping Center in Palmer Township.

· The Chick-Fil-A in Broadcasting Square shopping center in Spring Township was razed to make way for a new, expanded facility for the popular chicken sandwich restaurant.

· Plans for drive-thru locations of a Chipotle and a Starbucks at the intersection of Ivy League Drive and Kutztown Road were rejected by Maxatawny Township planners.

· Cumru Township plannes reviewed preliminary plans for NorthPoint-Morgantown Commerce Center, a 738,720-square-foot warehouse to be built on 75.2 acres at Morgantown Road (State Route 10) and Freemansville Road.

· Kutztown University has plans to expand its historic Poplar House to 13,161 square feet with an addition around its side and back, but keep the 129-year-old structure intact.

· A wine store and beverage outlet could be coming to a new two-unit building along the commercial strip of Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Lehighton, Carbon County.

· ChristianaCare, a Delaware health care organization, has announced it will buy the former Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Chester County.

· Garden of Health Inc. celebrated the opening of the food bank’s new warehouse at 201 Church Road, North Wales, in Montgomery County.

· Silverline Trailers Inc. opened its first location in Pennsylvania and in the Northeast at 223 Porter Road, Pottstown, where it sells utility, cargo, dump, equipment and car hauler trailers. 

· A new smoothie and bowl restaurant, Sips & Berries, opened at 285 Maple Ave., Harleysville, in Montgomery County.

· Terrain on the Parkway offers 160 new 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments at 1625 Lehigh Parkway East in Allentown. 

· Lehigh Valley native Don Wenner is moving his real estate investment and finance firm DLP Capital from Bethlehem to Allentown at 835 W. Hamilton St.

· While Wells Fargo has been the leader in closing banks lately, it will hold a ribbon-cutting for its new downtown Allentown office at 740 Hamilton St. on June 30.

· If you’re in the market for sterling silver jewelry, minerals and semi-precious gemstones, C& I Minerals is now operating at the South Mall at 3300 Lehigh St. in Allentown.

· The Allentown-based utility company PPL Corp. bought a major Rhode Island utility.

· Ownership at Martellucci’s Pizzeria in Bethlehem has changed, but Paul and Donna Hlavinka and their family are running the pizza place at 1419 Easton Ave., just as it has been operated for 49 years. 

· Dr. Jacob Kasprenski’s new Kasprenski Family Eye Care opened at 1088 Howertown Road, Catasauqua.

· Josie’s New York Deli in downtown Easton closed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but a June 13 Historic District Commission meeting approved a request for a new sign at its building at 14 Centre Square. 

· Zekraft cafe has opened its second location in the Easton Silk Mill in Easton. The first Zekraft restaurant was opened in Bethlehem. The restaurants’ menus change frequently, with a focus on local ingredients. 

· Manta Massage at 319 Main St., Emmaus, will hold its grand opening on July 10 starting at 11 a.m. 

· The former Iron Lakes Country Club, constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, will operate at 3625 Shankweiler Road in North Whitehall Township under its new name, The Club at Twin Lakes. 

· Prologis, a titan in the logistics industry, will own and operate three warehouses proposed in Upper Macungie Township at the former Air Products headquarters campus at 7201 Hamilton Blvd. 

· Lehigh Valley Health Network ceremonially opened its first Carbon County hospital — a $78 million, 100,578-square-foot facility at 2128 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Mahoning Township.

· Pocono Township commissioners voted to accept Swiftwater Solar’s preliminary final plan for the $111 million, 80-megawatt field on a private 644-acre site on top of Bear Mountain that would include about 200,000 solar panels.

· Firetree Ltd. wants to expand its in-patient rehab operation at the former Sands Ford auto dealership at 440 N Claude A Lord Blvd. (Route 61), Pottsville.

· A Dunkin’ in Schuylkill County located at 400 Terry Rich Blvd., St. Clair, has become just the fourth location of the donut and coffee chain to go entirely digital. 

· The Conservatory music school in Bucks County will close after 34 years, and school officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is the cause. The nonprofit, located at 4059 Skyron Drive, Doylestown, will close June 30.

· A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Arby’s will be built on the site of the former Ahart’s Market on Route 22 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

· Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce offices and the Unity Bank Center for Business & Entrepreneurship will be located at 119 Main St., Flemington. 

· Honeygrow opens Quakertown location, next to Chipotle on Route 309, on June 3.

· Dunkin’ reopens remodeled restaurant at 1174 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township

· Muse Modern Med Spa at 325 Fifth St. in Whitehall Township  will hold a grand opening June 4.

· Around Again, a consignment store, opened at 154 S. Main St., Phillipsburg

· Steak and Steel Hibachi, a restaurant in the works at 44 W. Walnut St., Bethlehem, still plans on opening late this summer. 

· Take It Outdoors Recreation Hub has moved to a spot along the Schuylkill River Trail at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, Montgomery County

· Pedego Electric Bikes has a new outlet in Lambertville, N.J. at 13 N. Union St.

· Amanda Vachris has opened a new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St. in Schuylkill Haven.

· Easton’s new West Ward Market will open Wednesday and be open on Wednesday’s through the summer from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market, created by the Greater Easton Development Partnership, will sell fresh produce on 12th Street, next to Paxinosa Elementary School.

· Ciao Sandwich Shoppe is adding a second location, this time on College Hill in Easton. Ciao plans to open at 325 Cattell St. in late summer. Ciao already operates in downtown Easton at 12 N. Third St

· Ma’s Crepes and Cakes will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting June 16 at 46 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe. The celebration starts at 5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 5:45 p.m. 

· Bethlehem’s Back Door Bakeshop will reopen as a wholesale operation at 7 E. Church St. in the city’s historic district. The business was open for nine years as a retail outlet at Broad and Center streets, before announcing in March that it would close the storefront April 3 and “go back to its origins as a wholesale business.”

·The Beef Baron on Catasauqua Road in Bethlehem is closed indefinitely for renovations

· The Brothers That Just Do Gutters are opening a new location in Allentown at 1302 N. 18th St.

· St. John Chrysostom Academy, an Orthodox school serving grades 1-9 starting this fall, held a grand opening at its St. Francis Center, Bethlehem, campus.

· Easton Commons, a shopping center anchored by Giant Foods at 2920 Easton Ave., Bethlehem Township, has a new name: The Shops at Bethlehem.

· Carbon County is getting a taste of Brazil at Uai Brasil BBQ at 315 Lehigh Ave. in Palmerton.

· The Keystone Pub in Bethlehem Township, at 3259 Easton Avenue, has reopened after a lengthy and expensive renovation. 

· The Trading Post Depot opened at 401 Northampton St., Easton. The rustic furniture store makes custom tables for dining rooms, desktops, conference centers and more.

· The Easton area has a new gym: Homemade Fitness at 444 Cedarville Road in Williams Township.

· Il Gaetano Ristorante opened at its 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg, location. 

· Ciao! Sandwich Shoppe to open second location on College Hill in Easton, replacing The Kettle Room

· Rene and Grisellies Benique have opened Ezekiel 47 Cafe at 10 S. Fifth Ave., off Fifth and Penn avenues, in West Reading. 

· Alter Ego Salon and Day Spa in Emmaus is holding a grand opening Sunday, May 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at noon. 

· Origen Latin Fusion has opened at the site of the former Tomcat Cafe in Sinking Spring, Berks County. 

· Sellersville Senior Residences will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 24. The Bucks County affordable-housing community for adults 55 and older has 50 apartments, with eight allocated for people with behavioral health needs.

· The House and Barn in Emmaus has opened its Shed outdoor dining and cigar bar area. The House and Barn is at 1449 Chestnut St. in Emmaus.

· Realtor Amanda Vachris and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at Vachris’s new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven, at 4 p.m. on May 24.

· Il Gaetano Ristorante will hold a grand opening on Friday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. The 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg.

· First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union will hold a grand opening at its new headquarters in Trexlertown, 6126 Hamilton Blvd., on May 18.

· Vinyl Press Signs & Graphics has relocated within Emmaus. The new site is 15 S. Second St., not far from the former Sixth Street location.

· Pedro’s Cafe in Emmaus to close

· SV Sports (formerly Schuylkill Valley Sports) to close Quakertown location

· Flemington DIY will host a Grand Re-Opening on May 14 at 26 Stangl Road, Flemington. The celebration will kick off at 10 a.m. 

· Elpedio’s Ristorante at Seipsville opened at 2912 Old Nazareth Road in Easton. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday.

· Uai Brazil opened at 315 Lehigh Ave, Palmerton, offering both a seated or buffet option. 

· Colombian Mex Restaurant opened at 107 E Union Blvd in Bethlehem, offering traditional Colombian cuisine. 

· Precision Ink opened at 161 W Berwick St. in Easton. 

· King Wing opened a location in Bethlehem at 129 E. Third St., serving wings and sandwiches.  

Social Security’s 2023 Raise Could Shock You | Business News

Social Security’s 2023 Raise Could Shock You | Business News

If you know of local business openings or closings, please notify us here.

PREVIOUS OPENINGS AND CLOSINGS

· Air Products and Chemicals Inc.’s chosen warehouse developer, Prologis Inc., will have to wait until July 13 for a final decision by Upper Macungie Township’s zoning hearing board on 2.61 million square feet of warehouses. 

· Chubby’s of Southside Easton has added Krispy Krunchy Chicken to its offerings and name.

· Curaleaf Holdings Inc., which operates in the U.S. and Europe, will open a medical-marijuana dispensary at 1801 Airport Road, Hanover Township.

· Habitat for Humanity, which has “ReStores” that sell new and lightly used furniture, has leased 30,000 square feet at the South Mall.

· Nat Hyman’s bid to convert an old warehouse at 938 Washington St. in Allentown into 48 apartments did not win zoning hearing board approval this week after neighbors said more housing would make an on-street parking shortage worse.

· Members 1st Federal Credit Union opened a new branch this week at 5605 Hamilton Blvd, Trexlertown. It’s one of five planned for the Lehigh Valley. 

· A Turkish restaurant has relocated from one downtown to another, taking its fresh ingredients and cozy atmosphere from Nazareth to 200 Main St., Tatamy.

· The Tennessee Titans have chosen Allentown-based Shift4 Payments to handle payments at Nissan Stadium.

· Wells Fargo Bank held ribbon-cutting at its downtown Allentown branch at 740 Hamilton St.

· The Wiz Kidz outlet at the Madison Farms residential/retail development in Bethlehem Township will hold a grand reopening and ribbon-cutting at noon on July 15.

· Bad Biscuit Company, which offered breakfast with scratch-made biscuits, freshly baked pastry and local, small-batch artisan coffee, said it will cease operations at 16 Columbia Ave. in Reading after its July 1 hours.

· FastBridge Fiber has announced it will build an all-fiber cable network that will offer ultra-fast internet in the Reading area.

· Hamid Chaudhry has said he no longer plans to move forward with pursuing a food truck park he previously proposed on the site of the former Sheetz convenience store and gas station in Exeter Township at 6600 Perkiomen Ave. (Route 422 East). 

· The Maxatawny Township Planning Commission has OK’d a proposal for a Mavis Discount Tire store in the Kutztown Road shopping center that features a Giant supermarket.

· Valentino’s Italian restaurant has gotten Maxatawny Township’s approval to remain open when the state transportation department takes one-third of its parking lot to build a traffic roundabout at the intersection of Route 222 and Long Lane.

· Pocono Mountain Harley-Davidson, under new ownership, will hold a “Grand Re-Opening Bash” July 9 and July 10 from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. 

· Sauce West End plans to open in a former Rita’s Italian Ice, just off Route 209 across from the Tractor Supply store in Brodheadsville.

· The Surgery Center of Pottsville, which offered medical procedure services for 16 years in Cressona Mall. will close June 28.

· Wells Fargo has closed its branch office in Langhorne, near the intersection with Maple Avenue.

· The latest PrimoHoagies location in New Jersey held a grand opening at 1930 State Route 57, Hackettstown.

· A new Tractor Supply Co. store in Warren County will have its grand opening in the former Toys ‘R’ Us store in Pohatcong Plaza on July 9.

· Hunter Pocono Peterbilt plans to move Pocono Township operations to Stroudsburg.

· Coal Winery and Kitchen at 81 Broad St., Bethlehem, has closed as its owner searches for a new location for the business, according to its Facebook page. 

· Lowhill Township supervisors approved a 312,120-square-foot commercial warehouse and distribution center on a 43.4-acre tract on the west side of Route 100, south of the Kernsville Road intersection.

· The Mint Gastropub at 1223 W. Broad St., Bethlehem, announced that it has temporarily closed to undergo a merger with a “well-known restaurant group” from Bethlehem.

· The Slatington Farmers Market opened its 28,000-square-foot showroom, which includes space for 53 vendors, as well as a 4,000-square-foot event space.

· St. Luke’s University Health Network opened a new pediatric inpatient unit next to the eight-bed pediatric intensive care unit at St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem.

· 25th Asian House opened at the location of the former Tin Tin Chinese restaurant in the 25th Street Shopping Center in Palmer Township.

· The Chick-Fil-A in Broadcasting Square shopping center in Spring Township was razed to make way for a new, expanded facility for the popular chicken sandwich restaurant.

· Plans for drive-thru locations of a Chipotle and a Starbucks at the intersection of Ivy League Drive and Kutztown Road were rejected by Maxatawny Township planners.

· Cumru Township plannes reviewed preliminary plans for NorthPoint-Morgantown Commerce Center, a 738,720-square-foot warehouse to be built on 75.2 acres at Morgantown Road (State Route 10) and Freemansville Road.

· Kutztown University has plans to expand its historic Poplar House to 13,161 square feet with an addition around its side and back, but keep the 129-year-old structure intact.

· A wine store and beverage outlet could be coming to a new two-unit building along the commercial strip of Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Lehighton, Carbon County.

· ChristianaCare, a Delaware health care organization, has announced it will buy the former Jennersville Hospital in West Grove, Chester County.

· Garden of Health Inc. celebrated the opening of the food bank’s new warehouse at 201 Church Road, North Wales, in Montgomery County.

· Silverline Trailers Inc. opened its first location in Pennsylvania and in the Northeast at 223 Porter Road, Pottstown, where it sells utility, cargo, dump, equipment and car hauler trailers. 

· A new smoothie and bowl restaurant, Sips & Berries, opened at 285 Maple Ave., Harleysville, in Montgomery County.

· Terrain on the Parkway offers 160 new 1-, 2- and 3-bedroom apartments at 1625 Lehigh Parkway East in Allentown. 

· Lehigh Valley native Don Wenner is moving his real estate investment and finance firm DLP Capital from Bethlehem to Allentown at 835 W. Hamilton St.

· While Wells Fargo has been the leader in closing banks lately, it will hold a ribbon-cutting for its new downtown Allentown office at 740 Hamilton St. on June 30.

· If you’re in the market for sterling silver jewelry, minerals and semi-precious gemstones, C& I Minerals is now operating at the South Mall at 3300 Lehigh St. in Allentown.

· The Allentown-based utility company PPL Corp. bought a major Rhode Island utility.

· Ownership at Martellucci’s Pizzeria in Bethlehem has changed, but Paul and Donna Hlavinka and their family are running the pizza place at 1419 Easton Ave., just as it has been operated for 49 years. 

· Dr. Jacob Kasprenski’s new Kasprenski Family Eye Care opened at 1088 Howertown Road, Catasauqua.

· Josie’s New York Deli in downtown Easton closed early in the COVID-19 pandemic, but a June 13 Historic District Commission meeting approved a request for a new sign at its building at 14 Centre Square. 

· Zekraft cafe has opened its second location in the Easton Silk Mill in Easton. The first Zekraft restaurant was opened in Bethlehem. The restaurants’ menus change frequently, with a focus on local ingredients. 

· Manta Massage at 319 Main St., Emmaus, will hold its grand opening on July 10 starting at 11 a.m. 

· The former Iron Lakes Country Club, constructed in the late 1950s and early 1960s, will operate at 3625 Shankweiler Road in North Whitehall Township under its new name, The Club at Twin Lakes. 

· Prologis, a titan in the logistics industry, will own and operate three warehouses proposed in Upper Macungie Township at the former Air Products headquarters campus at 7201 Hamilton Blvd. 

· Lehigh Valley Health Network ceremonially opened its first Carbon County hospital — a $78 million, 100,578-square-foot facility at 2128 Blakeslee Boulevard Drive East in Mahoning Township.

· Pocono Township commissioners voted to accept Swiftwater Solar’s preliminary final plan for the $111 million, 80-megawatt field on a private 644-acre site on top of Bear Mountain that would include about 200,000 solar panels.

· Firetree Ltd. wants to expand its in-patient rehab operation at the former Sands Ford auto dealership at 440 N Claude A Lord Blvd. (Route 61), Pottsville.

· A Dunkin’ in Schuylkill County located at 400 Terry Rich Blvd., St. Clair, has become just the fourth location of the donut and coffee chain to go entirely digital. 

· The Conservatory music school in Bucks County will close after 34 years, and school officials say the COVID-19 pandemic is the cause. The nonprofit, located at 4059 Skyron Drive, Doylestown, will close June 30.

· A Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen and Arby’s will be built on the site of the former Ahart’s Market on Route 22 in Phillipsburg, New Jersey.

· Hunterdon County Chamber of Commerce offices and the Unity Bank Center for Business & Entrepreneurship will be located at 119 Main St., Flemington. 

· Honeygrow opens Quakertown location, next to Chipotle on Route 309, on June 3.

· Dunkin’ reopens remodeled restaurant at 1174 MacArthur Road in Whitehall Township

· Muse Modern Med Spa at 325 Fifth St. in Whitehall Township  will hold a grand opening June 4.

· Around Again, a consignment store, opened at 154 S. Main St., Phillipsburg

· Steak and Steel Hibachi, a restaurant in the works at 44 W. Walnut St., Bethlehem, still plans on opening late this summer. 

· Take It Outdoors Recreation Hub has moved to a spot along the Schuylkill River Trail at Riverfront Park in Pottstown, Montgomery County

· Pedego Electric Bikes has a new outlet in Lambertville, N.J. at 13 N. Union St.

· Amanda Vachris has opened a new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St. in Schuylkill Haven.

· Easton’s new West Ward Market will open Wednesday and be open on Wednesday’s through the summer from 3 p.m. to 7 p.m. The market, created by the Greater Easton Development Partnership, will sell fresh produce on 12th Street, next to Paxinosa Elementary School.

· Ciao Sandwich Shoppe is adding a second location, this time on College Hill in Easton. Ciao plans to open at 325 Cattell St. in late summer. Ciao already operates in downtown Easton at 12 N. Third St

· Ma’s Crepes and Cakes will hold a grand opening and ribbon-cutting June 16 at 46 W. Broadway, Jim Thorpe. The celebration starts at 5 p.m., with the ribbon cutting at 5:45 p.m. 

· Bethlehem’s Back Door Bakeshop will reopen as a wholesale operation at 7 E. Church St. in the city’s historic district. The business was open for nine years as a retail outlet at Broad and Center streets, before announcing in March that it would close the storefront April 3 and “go back to its origins as a wholesale business.”

·The Beef Baron on Catasauqua Road in Bethlehem is closed indefinitely for renovations

· The Brothers That Just Do Gutters are opening a new location in Allentown at 1302 N. 18th St.

· St. John Chrysostom Academy, an Orthodox school serving grades 1-9 starting this fall, held a grand opening at its St. Francis Center, Bethlehem, campus.

· Easton Commons, a shopping center anchored by Giant Foods at 2920 Easton Ave., Bethlehem Township, has a new name: The Shops at Bethlehem.

· Carbon County is getting a taste of Brazil at Uai Brasil BBQ at 315 Lehigh Ave. in Palmerton.

· The Keystone Pub in Bethlehem Township, at 3259 Easton Avenue, has reopened after a lengthy and expensive renovation. 

· The Trading Post Depot opened at 401 Northampton St., Easton. The rustic furniture store makes custom tables for dining rooms, desktops, conference centers and more.

· The Easton area has a new gym: Homemade Fitness at 444 Cedarville Road in Williams Township.

· Il Gaetano Ristorante opened at its 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg, location. 

· Ciao! Sandwich Shoppe to open second location on College Hill in Easton, replacing The Kettle Room

· Rene and Grisellies Benique have opened Ezekiel 47 Cafe at 10 S. Fifth Ave., off Fifth and Penn avenues, in West Reading. 

· Alter Ego Salon and Day Spa in Emmaus is holding a grand opening Sunday, May 22, from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m., with a ribbon cutting at noon. 

· Origen Latin Fusion has opened at the site of the former Tomcat Cafe in Sinking Spring, Berks County. 

· Sellersville Senior Residences will hold a ribbon-cutting ceremony May 24. The Bucks County affordable-housing community for adults 55 and older has 50 apartments, with eight allocated for people with behavioral health needs.

· The House and Barn in Emmaus has opened its Shed outdoor dining and cigar bar area. The House and Barn is at 1449 Chestnut St. in Emmaus.

· Realtor Amanda Vachris and the Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce will hold a ribbon cutting at Vachris’s new Keller Williams Real Estate office at 15 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven, at 4 p.m. on May 24.

· Il Gaetano Ristorante will hold a grand opening on Friday, May 20, at 5:30 p.m. The 665 Columbus Ave., Phillipsburg.

· First Commonwealth Federal Credit Union will hold a grand opening at its new headquarters in Trexlertown, 6126 Hamilton Blvd., on May 18.

· Vinyl Press Signs & Graphics has relocated within Emmaus. The new site is 15 S. Second St., not far from the former Sixth Street location.

· Pedro’s Cafe in Emmaus to close

· SV Sports (formerly Schuylkill Valley Sports) to close Quakertown location

· Flemington DIY will host a Grand Re-Opening on May 14 at 26 Stangl Road, Flemington. The celebration will kick off at 10 a.m. 

· Elpedio’s Ristorante at Seipsville opened at 2912 Old Nazareth Road in Easton. The restaurant is open Wednesday through Sunday.

· Uai Brazil opened at 315 Lehigh Ave, Palmerton, offering both a seated or buffet option. 

· Colombian Mex Restaurant opened at 107 E Union Blvd in Bethlehem, offering traditional Colombian cuisine. 

· Precision Ink opened at 161 W Berwick St. in Easton. 

· King Wing opened a location in Bethlehem at 129 E. Third St., serving wings and sandwiches.  

IFT panelist challenges idea consumers read labels

IFT panelist challenges idea consumers read labels

CHICAGO — Consumers for a long time have relied on diet labeling significantly significantly less than is generally believed, reported Robert Lilienfeld, government director at Sustainable Packaging Analysis, Facts, and Networking Group, Broomfield, Colo.

In a panel discussion at IFT 1st, July 11-13 at McCormick Spot in Chicago, Mr. Lilienfeld explained as number of as 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of consumers read labels and that buyer packaged meals firms need to not count on labeling to communicate messages to customers.

In the course of the session, titled “What position does labeling engage in in educating individuals,” panelists put in much more time discussing problems this sort of as sustainability than the function labels perform in educating people. Turning to the question of labels, Mr. Lilienfeld cited knowledge he claimed was collected for The Procter & Gamble Co., in which he started off his occupation.

He claimed the food stuff market in the late 1900s was “scared to dying that sort of info would alter people’s minds about what foods they obtain.”

Knowledge and subsequent purchaser conduct exhibit that the problems ended up misplaced.

“We did research that showed 95{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of individuals explained it was important to have the info, only 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} basically applied it,” he claimed. “It did extremely tiny to modify how people ordered products and solutions and what they bought.”

 Rapid progress in desire all through the 1990s for foodstuff from quick-company dining places and snack/processed food items at supermarkets appeared to affirm the data, Mr. Lilienfeld mentioned.

“If you count on labels on your package to connect with individuals, keep in mind that the odds are only 5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of people are basically looking through that label,” he mentioned. “You superior be seeking for other approaches to communicate that message.”

Other panelists questioned no matter whether so several individuals examine labels. Benefits of other surveys have been released in new yrs, showing bigger amounts of utilization, but figures fluctuate greatly.

In 2019, information posted jointly by the Worldwide Meals Info Council Basis and the American Heart Affiliation showed 59{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of shoppers explained they normally study labels on a packaged food items just before getting it for the to start with time. A 2016 Ipsos study confirmed two thirds of respondents mentioned they browse foods labels. A study in the late 2010s from the University of Minnesota College of Community Health and fitness concluded “many people today test Nutrition Details occasionally, if at all.”

Mr. Lilienfeld reported the knowledge he cited experienced been deemed proprietary for numerous many years, but no extended.

Another panelist, Stacey Cox, director of insights, North The us Main Abilities & Accelerators at Kraft Heinz Co., claimed it is significant to retain in mind the distinctive methods buyers manage journeys to the grocery store.

“Often, we think everybody is the same,” she explained. “If you really don’t realize that purchaser is likely down the grocery store aisle and they are paying 10 seconds in that aisle, considering about their Friday night dinner following they’ve had a extended 7 days. They want to have some fantastic pizza. You seriously want to unpack who is this man or woman, what’s their scenario. Some are influenced by folks. Some are not. They’re building incredibly break up-second conclusions on extremely small deals.”

She mentioned it is a problem for food items firms to supply the most standard details desired to enable consumers with decisions.

“Sometimes, their head is someplace else,” she mentioned.

Impairment charge weighs on PepsiCo earnings

Impairment charge weighs on PepsiCo earnings

Purchase, NY. — A pre-tax impairment charge connected to the war in Ukraine dragged down 2nd-quarter earnings at PepsiCo, Inc. but didn’t dampen the spirits of company executives who explained company momentum continues.

“Our final results are indicative of our really committed personnel, the energy and resilience of our types, agile supply chain and go-to-industry systems and robust market execution,” said Ramon Laguarta, chairman and chief govt officer. “Our performance also presents us assurance that our investments to develop into an even Faster, even More robust, and even Far better firm by profitable with pep+ are performing. Presented our 12 months-to-day effectiveness, we now count on our full-calendar year organic income to increase 10{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} (previously 8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}) and we continue to count on main constant currency earnings for each share to increase 8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.”

Web revenue in the 2nd quarter ended June 11 totaled $1.43 billion, equal to $1.03 per share on the common inventory, down 39{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $2.36 billion, or $1.70 for each share, in the exact same period a calendar year in the past. The most modern quarter incorporated a $1.4 billion pre-tax impairment cost associated to the Russia-Ukraine conflict as very well as a $13 million attain from the sale of the Tropicana, Naked and other find juice makes to PAI Partners.

Web revenues, in the meantime, amplified to $20.23 billion from $19.22 billion.

Shares of PepsiCo climbed as high as $173.32 in early early morning trading on the Nasdaq on July 12, up from a near of $170.47 on July 11 and the highest stage considering the fact that May possibly 18.

Operating earnings at Frito-Lay North The united states (FLNA) totaled $1.45 billion, up 4.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $1.38 billion in the second quarter of fiscal 2021. Internet earnings in the unit also enhanced, climbing approximately 14{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $5.18 billion from $4.55 billion.

“Importantly, Frito-Lay obtained sector share in the two the macrosnack and savory snack groups for the next quarter and 12 months-to-date,” Mr. Laguarta explained in prepared remarks launched in connection with the fiscal benefits. “Investments we have designed in innovation, marketing and advertising and buyer insights, production and go-to-sector potential are delivering advantages across the portfolio with Doritos, Cheetos, and Ruffles every delivering double-digit net income development and Tostitos and Lay’s delivering significant-single-digit net profits expansion.

“Smaller, emerging models geared toward much more nutritious snacking this sort of as PopCorners, Smartfood and SunChips each and every shipped double-digit net earnings advancement for the quarter. In addition, Frito-Lay continues to target on giving extra possibilities to satisfy the switching desires and preferences of people.”

Inside of the Quaker Food items North America (QFNA) device running income was $135 million, up 5.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $128 million in the similar interval a 12 months ago. Internet earnings was $675 million, up 17{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $575 million.

“Quaker’s next-quarter performance also provided double-digit internet revenue progress in the rice and pasta, lite treats, cookies, snack bars, oatmeal and all set-to-consume cereal types as customers seek out more wholesome and satisfying merchandise that present terrific flavor, convenience, and benefit,” Mr. Laguarta reported.

Working financial gain in the PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA) device totaled $651 million, down 20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $809 million in the same time period a calendar year ago. Internet earnings totaled $6.12 billion, down from $6.16 billion.

“Investments we have designed in our manufacturers, pricing, know-how, consumer insights, production and go-to-industry execution are fueling expansion throughout the portfolio with double-digit net income expansion in Gatorade, Aquafina and Lifewtr, substantial-single-digit progress in Pepsi and Mountain Dew and mid-one-digit progress in Rockstar,” Mr. Laguarta said. “Beyond these abilities, we have also directed investments towards innovation to offer extra options and fulfill the speedily evolving wants of our consumers.”

PepsiCo reported it sustained a decline of $797 million in its Europe phase in the second quarter, which as opposed with functioning profit of $405 million in the same interval a year back. Web income in Europe was $3.02 billion, down from $3.29 billion.

In other places close to the environment, PepsiCo posted working financial gain of $420 million in Latin America, which was up 18{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $356 million in the exact same interval a 12 months back running revenue of $290 million in Africa, Middle East and South Asia, up 13{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $256 million and working financial gain of $206 million in Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand and China Location, up 7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from $192 million a calendar year in the past.

Emirates Slams Heathrow Airport’s Order to Cut Flights | Business News

Emirates Slams Heathrow Airport’s Order to Cut Flights | Business News

By KELVIN CHAN, AP Enterprise Writer

LONDON (AP) — Mideast provider Emirates on Thursday turned down a demand by London’s Heathrow Airport for airlines to cut summer season flights in a bid to relieve vacation disruptions, contacting it an “entirely unreasonable and unacceptable” transfer that exhibits “blatant disregard for prospects.”

In a blistering statement, the airline lashed into Heathrow’s management, accusing it of “incompetence” for not remaining ready to offer with the “super peak period” for vacation.

Emirates, just one of the world’s biggest airways, was firing again a working day immediately after Heathrow introduced it was capping everyday passenger numbers at 100,000 and telling airlines to end offering tickets as it seeks to quell journey chaos triggered by soaring travel need and employees shortages.

Airways have previously slashed countless numbers of flights from their summer months schedules just after U.K. aviation authorities claimed they would not be punished for not using beneficial takeoff and landing slots in a bid to avert very last-moment cancellations.

Political Cartoons on Entire world Leaders

Political Cartoons

Heathrow, Britain’s busiest airport, stated the cuts weren’t enough, but Emirates drew a line, exposing tensions involving the airport and the airlines that are its prospects.

Emirates, which operates six day-to-day return flights involving Heathrow and Dubai, United Arab Emirates, reported it really is “highly regrettable” that the airport on Wednesday night gave it 36 hours to comply with capability cuts “of a determine that appears to be plucked from thin air.”

“Their communications not only dictated the particular flights on which we should toss out paying passengers, but also threatened lawful motion for non-compliance,” the airline said.

Booming need for summer vacation right after two decades of COVID-19 vacation restrictions have swamped airways and airports in Europe, which are shorthanded after numerous pilots, cabin crew, check out-in staff members, and baggage handlers have been laid off. That has left travelers facing final-moment cancellations, prolonged delays, missing luggage or long waits for bags.

Heathrow blames a lack of floor workers, which are contracted by airlines to check-in passengers, load and unload luggage, and prepare aircraft for their up coming journey.

Emirates, however, said its ground-dealing with and catering expert services are owned by its mum or dad enterprise and “are absolutely completely ready and capable of dealing with our flights.” Blame in its place lies with the airport’s “central expert services and programs,” it reported.

The airline accused Heathrow management of becoming “cavalier” about tourists and airways, with indications of a potent travel rebound obvious for months.

Emirates explained it bought ready, including rehiring and training 1,000 pilots in the previous calendar year but that Heathrow failed to act, plan or invest.

“Now confronted with an ‘airmageddon’ scenario owing to their incompetence and non-action, they are pushing the full burden — of charges and the scramble to form the mess — to airlines and vacationers,” the statement said.

Heathrow said it has been asking airways for months to assist draw up a program to solve their staffing difficulties, “but no crystal clear designs were being forthcoming and with each and every passing working day the challenge acquired worse.”

“We experienced no option but to get the challenging conclusion to impose a potential cap built to give travellers a better, far more trustworthy journey and to preserve every person functioning at the airport risk-free,” Heathrow stated in reaction to the Emirates statement. “It would be disappointing if instead of doing the job jointly, any airline would want to place financial gain ahead a risk-free and responsible passenger journey.”

Rebooking so many possibly affected travellers is not possible simply because all flights for the up coming handful of weeks are whole, including at other London airports and on other airlines, Emirates stated. Moving some functions to other U.K. airports at quick observe is also unrealistic, it stated.

Copyright 2022 The Connected Press. All legal rights reserved. This material could not be printed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

China Trade Surplus Surges to Record as Exports Accelerate | Business News

China Trade Surplus Surges to Record as Exports Accelerate | Business News

By JOE McDONALD, AP Business Author

BEIJING (AP) — China’s monthly trade surplus soared to a record $97.9 billion in June as export progress picked up soon after anti-virus controls that shut down Shanghai were being lifted and shippers moved a backlog of cargo.

Exports rose 17.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} more than a calendar year ago to $331.2 billion, up from May’s 16.9{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} advancement, customs facts confirmed Wednesday. In a signal of Chinese economic weak spot, imports rose just 1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $233.3 billion, pushing up the trade surplus by 90{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from a yr in the past.

Imports from Russia, largely oil and fuel, rose 56{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} around a year ago as Beijing took benefit of selling price cuts offered by the Kremlin right after Washington and Europe suspended most of their personal buys to punish Moscow for its invasion of Ukraine.

China’s trade already was frustrated by weak world wide need right before Shanghai, web page of the world’s busiest port, and other towns shut down starting in late March. Cargo managing is back again to normal, but economists warn the shock will be felt abroad for months.

Political Cartoons

“Exports rebounded strongly as delivery bottlenecks eased,” reported Julian Evans-Pritchard of Capital Economics in a report. “But we feel this may perhaps be the very last hurrah for China’s pandemic export increase before shipments fall again on cooling need.”

Weak import demand demonstrates a slump in design, a big buyer for international iron ore and other raw materials, after the governing administration introduced a crackdown on personal debt that has chilled the huge genuine estate market.

Forecasters have minimize estimates for China’s economic expansion to as very low as 2{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} this year, perfectly under the ruling Communist Party’s concentrate on of 5.5{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a}.

China’s economic system grew by a weak 4.8{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} around a calendar year before in the quarter ending in March. That was an improvement more than the 4{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} level in the remaining three months of 2021.

Some think it shrank in the quarter ending in June ahead of beginning a gradual recovery. Surveys present that could be less than way as producing and services activity accelerates.

If that lasts, “the outlook for the second half of 2022 is for more robust imports,” Rajiv Biswas of S&P World Industry Intelligence explained in a report.

Exports to the United States surged 19.3{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} over a yr previously to $56 billion despite lingering tariff hikes in a trade war around Beijing’s technology ambitions. Imports of American items edged up 1.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $14.6 billion.

China’s politically risky trade surplus with the United States widened by 26{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from a yr before to $41.4 billion. It was among irritants that prompted then-President Donald Trump to start the trade fight and hike import taxes.

Envoys from the two governments have talked by phone and movie backlink but have nevertheless to announce a date to resume face-to-deal with negotiations.

Exports to the 27-nation European Union rose 17.1{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} from last June to $50.5 billion, when imports of European goods climbed 9.7{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $25 billion. China’s trade surplus with Europe widened by 65{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} to $25.4 billion.

Imports from Russia rose 56{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} more than a year ago to $9.7 billion.

China’s expanding buys of Russian strength are annoying Washington and its allies but never violate sanctions on Moscow.

Beijing declared in advance of the attack that it had a “no limits” friendship with Moscow. It criticizes the sanctions but has prevented assisting Putin for concern of dropping obtain to Western markets and the global banking process.

The Biden administration very last month accused five Chinese companies of working with the Russian military services ahead of the Feb. 24 invasion. They extra them to a trade blacklist but officials did not say if they have been accused of providing items soon after the attack.

Past calendar year, China purchased 20{1b90e59fe8a6c14b55fbbae1d9373c165823754d058ebf80beecafc6dee5063a} of Russian crude exports, in accordance to the Global Strength Agency.

General Administration of Customs of China (in Chinese): www.customs.gov.cn

Copyright 2022 The Associated Push. All legal rights reserved. This materials may not be revealed, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.