Baby, it’s cold outside. Here’s a good way to warm up: Get tickets for ArtsQuest’s 8th annual Souper Bowl, noon-3 pm Saturday.

Taste soups by some of the top restaurants and caterers in the region and vote for your favorite, with the winning restaurant named the Souper Bowl Champion. A panel of judges will also sample the soups and choose the best entries in six categories: vegetarian, seafood, cream, meat, ethnic and most original.

Participants include: Cafe the Lodge, Bethlehem; Cathy’s Creative Catering & Cafe, Catasauqua; Copperhead Cricket, Allentown; Forks Mediterranean Deli, Easton; Hotel Bethlehem; Iron Lakes Country Club, Allentown; Molly’s Irish Grille & Sports Pub, Bethlehem; Penn Pizza Mill Creek, Allentown; Roosevelt’s 21st, Bethlehem; Shankara Vegan Restaurant, Bethlehem; Southside 313 Bar and Grille, Bethlehem; The Steel Pub, Bethlehem; The View at Morgan Hill, Easton; and Whole Foods Market, Lower Macungie Township.

Proceeds support ArtsQuest’s art and education programs for area students. Since the first Dinner Bowl in 2010, more than $85,000 has been raised.

It’s at Musikfest Cafe at SteelStacks, Bethlehem. Tickets are $35; $30, ArtsQuest members (VIP tickets sold out).

Info: www.steelstacks.org or 610-332-3378.

— Jennifer Sheehan

Bob Born ‘Father of Peeps’ Dead

Courtesy Just Born Quality Confections; Alamy Stock Photo

Ira “Bob” Born, the candy company executive known as the “Father of Peeps,” has died. hey what 98

Born was long at the helm of Just Born Quality Confections, a century-old company started by his father Sam Born. The company announced his death Monday, sharing that he died peacefully on Sunday.

Born in NYC, Born’s family moved in the 1930s to Bethlehem, Penn. where Just Born is still based. After graduating from Lehigh University, Born enlisted in the US Navy where he served as a radar specialist and a lieutenant on a destroyer in the Pacific. The Navy ultimately sent him to both the University of Arizona and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, where he studied math and physics.

Though he had aimed to attend medical school and had been accepted, he decided to help out at his father’s business while he awaited the start date, and ultimately felt it was his calling. He stayed with the company until retirement.

At Just Born, where he was president for 30 years starting in 1959, Born led a legacy that involved the invention of Peeps, the popular marshmallow bunnies. He revolutionized the technology to change the process of making the marshmallow delights — cutting the 27-hour process down to a six-minute mechanized procedure. Born also invented Hot Tamales by finding a way to rework the Mike and Ike candies.

Bob Born ‘Father of Peeps’ Dead

Courtesy of Just Born Quality Confections

“He learned the business from the ground up, focusing on the technical and processing aspects of candy making,” Ross Born, Bob’s son, said in a statement. “At the same time, he recognized the importance of developing people, and he discovered wonderful talent that made a positive impact on the business.”

Though Born eventually stepped away, he visited Just Born often and last visited the factory in February 2019 when he was honored by the city of Bethlehem after they named the first day of the Easter season as “Bob Born Day,” according to the company.

Story continues

“Bob will be remembered as a tireless and passionate advocate for the candy industry and a wonderful supporter of our community,” David Shaffer, the board chair and co-CEO of Just Born, said in a statement. “Bob was our second-generation family member whose dedication was instrumental in Just Born reaching our 100-year milestone. We extend our deepest sympathy to his son, Ross, and the entire family.”

peeps

William Thomas Cain/Getty

RELATED: Easter Peep Show! Go Inside Museum’s Art Exhibit Featuring and Inspired by Beloved Marshmallow Treat

After retiring, Born moved to Florida where he pursued his other passions, including photography. Born also started a literacy program in a Florida school system in an underserved community, according to Ross.

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He was involved with a vast array of organizations such as being the director of the Jewish Institute for National Security of America and a chair of the Anti-Defamation League.

Born is survived by his widow, Patricia; children Sara and Ross; five grandchildren and 12 great-grandchildren.

Las Vegas Sands and Nassau Community College have agreed to make the college the primary employee training center for the proposed Sands casino/resort at the Nassau Coliseum property.

The public-private initiative would be contingent on Sands being successful in securing the opportunity to develop its proposed multi-billion-dollar entertainment complex at the Uniondale site.

Nassau Community College

The college, part of the State University of New York system, is known for its associate degrees, certificates and workforce development programs in diverse fields of study, including hospitality, culinary arts, business, humanities, theater and technology, according to a joint statement from the school and developer. The collaboration, which will include an internship and experiential learning component for NCC students, would be aimed at supporting sustainable job growth and economic development on Long Island and throughout the New York metropolitan region.

“The creation of a new industry with thousands of jobs in multiple sectors is a tremendous opportunity not only for our students but for the diverse populations we serve as a community college,” Maria Conzatti, acting president of Nassau Community College, said in the statement . “Enhancing our curriculum with training programs, mentorship, and internship opportunities in conjunction with an industry leader like Sands, provides an opportunity for adult students, career changers, and all community members to be placed on successful career paths.”

Sands says its hospitality education initiatives span contributions to higher education institutions, scholarship programs, on-property and industry-supported training opportunities for students and hospitality professionals, and mentorship support from company leaders and experts.

“Our company has a strong track record of partnering with a variety of educational organizations to put people on pathways to success in the hospitality industry and help them build the skills they need to increase their earning power,” Robert G. Goldstein, Sands’ chairman and CEO, said in the statement. “We are making the same commitment to the Long Island community and have an excellent partner with an aligned vision to do so in working with Nassau Community College. We look forward to investing in people with any skill set or background who have a desire to be part of this exciting new industry planned for Long Island.”

The collaboration between Sands and Nassau Community College would lead to programs in hotel and casino management, security and surveillance, meetings and banquets, entertainment, and food and beverage, according to the statement.

Genette Alvarez-Ortiz, acting vice president of academic affairs at NCC, said that the college is currently renovating a free-standing building on its north campus to serve as the home to its Culinary Arts program, which offers the Associate in Occupational Studies degree. The building is expected to be completed in 2024.

“The college’s programs are designed to educate individuals for a wide-range of jobs in current and emerging fields,” Alvarez-Ortiz said in the statement. “We offer excellent programs for particular skill areas such as food service and nutrition, sales and marketing, cybersecurity and information technology, world languages ​​and cultures, and theater and music.”

When Sands developed its previously owned resort in Bethlehem, Penn., the company said it had established a similar collaborative relationship with Northampton Community College that included co-development of curriculum to train local workers for resort jobs, on-site student learning opportunities at the resort, coursework taught by Sands representatives, internships and other events and programs.

In Las Vegas, the company co-founded and continues to support the Sands Center for Professional Education at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas Harrah College of Hospitality, according to the statement. The company says it recently established a $1 million scholarship program to help advance hospitality careers in Singapore in conjunction with its Marina Bay Sands resort, which also regularly hosts, trains and employs hospitality students on site through a variety of developmental programs.

Review and Photos by R Scudder Smith

ALLENTOWN, PENN. — “I bought the Antique City Show from Norm Schaut two years ago and since it was already booked into the facility on Lehigh’s campus in Bethlehem, I had to have it there, but it was not an ideal venue,” Bill Thomas of Holiday Promotions said. He noted that visitors found the building hard to locate, parking was not near the building, restrooms were inadequate and the food service was not up to par. “I decided to ask my dealers if they would like to move, and if so, where would they like to go,” Bill said. The suggestion to move was well received by the dealers and all but one suggested the show move to the Allentown Fairgrounds. And that’s what happened.

Show manager Bill Thomas of Holiday Promotions surrounded by Christmas ornaments in the booth of dealer Russ Harrington of Baltimore.

On Saturday and Sunday, June 18-19, Antique City opened its doors at the 302 North 17th Street location with 130 exhibitors set up in one large room with an overspill of about ten dealers in an adjoining room. “We had some last-minute dealers either call for a booth or show up and so we took part of the connecting room to accommodate them,” Bill said. He mentioned that, in the future, if the show continues to grow, both rooms will be needed to fit in all of the exhibitors.

The show, advertised as “5 shows in one!,” opened at 8 am on Saturday with a $10 preview, which drew about 400 visitors for an early look. Regular hours, 10 am to 5 pm, had a $5 admission, as did the Sunday hours from 10 am to 4 pm. “Sunday wasn’t as busy as we had hoped, but some people did come and there was selling both days. In total just under 1,400 people attended the two-day show,” said Bill.

“We like to think we are giving the public five shows in one,” he said, listing the categories that are prominent across the board. Toys and dolls are stacked high in some of the booths, advertising catches one’s attention with graphic pieces in porcelain, cardboard and paper touting things such as automobiles, tires, medicines and war bonds, while holidays have their turn with row after row of Christmas ornaments , a few feather trees and some Santa figures, and Halloween is remembered with an array of early costumes and papier mache pumpkin lanterns. Primitive and country things, such as tools and kitchen pieces, stoneware and redware, are offered, and some dealers present just a general line of things including quilts, postcards, jewelry, doorstops and shaving mugs, books and some early publications, and glass ranging from Tiffany to depression.

For those who plan ahead, mark down June 17-18 for the 2017 Antique City in Allentown. For more information, 410-538-5558.

Porter Court Plaza in the downtown heart of Fontana will take on a festive new look for residents and visitors alike this coming holiday season as part of ongoing village efforts to enhance the community’s holiday lighting displays.

Meeting on Jan. 18, the Fontana Park Commission gave an informal green light go-ahead recommendation to Public Works Director Kevin Day’s request to install a new 22-foot-tall holiday panel tree, outfitted with white LED lights, in the space formerly occupied by the water fountain feature at Porter Court Plaza, overlooked by the Fontana Parks Commission and located along Porter Court between Mill Street and State Hwy. 67 (Valley View Road).

“Our idea for right now is to put it down in Porter Court where the fountain was…,” Day said, noting an alternate idea was to put the new panel tree at Reid Park. “It can be moved as desired.”

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Last year, the Fontana Village Board approved removal of the deteriorating water feature.

In Park Commission discussions, members indicated they were “excited” to learn about the panel tree purchase and supportive of a Porter Court Plaza placement of the panel tree, which Day said would be similar to the one installed at nearby The Abbey Resort, 269 Fontana Boulevard.

Noting the panel tree in front of The Abbey Resort is “beautiful” and “looks nice,” Park Commission members called Porter Court Plaza the “most visible” location for erecting the village’s new panel tree, given its proximity to Hwy. 67 (Valley View Drive), a heavily-used traffic corridor through the village between neighboring Walworth, Williams Bay and Delavan.

On Jan. 10, the Fontana Tourism Commission approved Day’s request for the $12,000 purchase of the panel tree to augment the village’s inventory of municipal holiday decorations.

The panel tree is being purchased at a post-holiday clearance 33% discount from Bethlehem, Penn.-based Holiday Outdoor Décor, the largest commercial holiday display company in the country. In business for more than a century, the firm specializes in offering made-in-the-USA commercial holiday decorations.

Approvals given

In other news at the Jan. 18 meeting, Park Commission members approved:

Receipt of an unrestricted $2,500 monetary donation to the Fontana Park Commission from the Adreani Family Foundation.

A park use permit application filed by the Fontana Garden Club for the use of Porter Court Plaza in downtown Fontana on Saturday, May 27 from 7 am to 5 pm for its annual Memorial Day weekend Pots and Pies Garden Fair fundraiser in support of the club’s student Scholarship Fund. Fees were waived by the Park Commission.

A park use permit application filed by the Big Foot Lions Club for the use of the Reid Park Pavilion and all of Reid Park on Saturday, July 29 from noon to 11:30 pm to the club’s annual Lobster Boil fundraiser. Fees were waived by the Park Commission.

A park use permit application filed by the Big Food Lions Club for the use of Reid Park Gazebo on Saturday, Sept. 26 from 7 am to 2 pm for the fundraising Big Foot Triathlon. Fees were waived by the Park Commission.

An application from Elkhorn-based GTS, one of the fastest growing baseball and softball organizations in Wisconsin, for tournament use of the Duck Pond ballfields on March 25, April 22, April 29, May 12-14, May 27-29 and June 2 -4.

An application from GTS for April-July Monday night practice use of the Duck Pond ballfields from 5-7:30 pm

next meeting

The next meeting of the Fontana Park Commission will be held Wednesday, Feb. 15 at 5 pm in the town office conference room at Fontana Village Hall, 175 Valley View Dr. (State Hwy. 67), Fontana.

Photos from the Geneva Lake Shore Path: Linn Pier to Black Point

Beautiful flag and flowers

A flag can be seen in the distance beyond the flowering hydrangeas along the shore path between Linn Pier and Fontana.

Shore path map

‘A place to dream’

Midwest Adventures: Lake Geneva’s ‘Shore Path’

The angel: One of the many landmarks on the lake

A peaceful lake

A balcony is a must

Flowers and boat house

It never gets old: A look at the lake

A place to remember

A perfect boat house

life is good

Shore path this way

Black Point Manor

Another view of Black Point Manor

A home with it all

Wonderful gardens

Hidden in the woods

The stairs up to Black Point

Another hidden treasure

Reflections at Black Point. Sold for $5.2 million in 2021

the path

Beautiful details

reflecting trees

Where memories are made

Amazing gardens

Path along the lake

A little red, white and blue

one of a kind walkways

A view across the lake

Perfect views

A look at the lake

Along the path

Perfect place for friends

A place for the kids

Perfect for day or night

A place to hang out

Choose your chair and your colour

A cabin on the lake

A place for laps

An amazing estate

A private waterfall

paddleboarding

What dreams are made of

Taking it all in

An outdoor view

The windows

Linn Pier to Blackpoint

Linn Pier to Blackpoint

Linn Pier to Blackpoint

A place to play

On the path from Linn Pier to Blackpoint

Linn Pier

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The cake boss is coming to town.

Bartolo “Buddy” Valastro announced plans this week to open San Antonio outposts of his Buddy V’s Ristorante and Carlo’s Bakery family of restaurants at The Shops at La Cantera. Construction on the 7,500-square-foot Buddy V’s is slated to start in the next week and a half, but an opening date has not been set for either.

Valastro has earned a legion of fans since making a nationwide debut on the reality show “Cake Boss” in 2009. The show focused on his New Jersey-based Carlo’s, which has since been duplicated at more than 20 locations across the country and one in Brazil. Valastro operates Buddy V’s properties at casinos in Las Vegas and Bethlehem, Penn.

Nicole Valdes, spokeswoman for Valastro, said Thursday that area residents can count on regular Cake Boss sightings in the Alamo City.

“He will be down, of course, when we first open, just making sure everything is exactly as he wants it to be,” Valdes said. “ But for him, he just goes places he falls in love with. He really likes to pick places he enjoys going to, and he enjoys going to San Antonio.”

Valdes said the San Antonio Buddy V’s will feature a large, open kitchen built around a wood-fired grill. The menu, she said, will be consistent with the other locations, focused on classic Italian-American staples and, of course, a generous dessert list. Chefs at the San Antonio store will spend time training with Valastro at his 30,000-square-foot facility in Jersey City.

“The goal for Buddy is to make sure the experience you’d have walking into his house is the same experience you’d have in any of his locations,” Valdes said.

For more information and regular updates, visit CarlosBakery.com, @CakeBossBuddy on Twitter, @BuddyValastro on Instagram or Facebook: Buddy Valastro.

pstephen@express-news.net

Twitter: @pjbites

Instagram: @pjstephen

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As temperatures begin to creep up, music festival season is fast approaching, and each year, more and more events are joining the lineup, expanding and diversifying the music festival circuit in North America. Our panel of music festival aficionados has hand-picked 20 essential festivals from coast to coast where music fans can see dozens of artists in one place, and our readers voted for their favorites.

• music festival
  Bethlehem, Penn.

  MusikFest was founded in 1984 with 295 performances on six stages. Today, this event in the town of Bethlehem has grown to include 500-plus shows on 16 stages over the course of 10 days, with some 900,000 music lovers in attendance each year. Past headliners have included The Chainsmokers, Lady Antebellum, Brad Paisley and The Goo Goo Dolls.
  Photo courtesy of Jesse Faatz Photography / Musikfest

• 

  Riot Fest is a multi-destination music festival taking place each year in Chicago. It began in 2005 as a weekend of punk and rock and continued to expand to include a full carnival. yup “Corn dogs. Ferris wheels. yourmusic.” That’s the short description. Fans at Riot Fest have watched bands like the Misfits and Dead Kennedys. The goal is simple and pure: to throw unforgettable shows.
  Photo courtesy of Chris Andrew / Riot Fest

• 

  Electric Daisy Carnival
  Las Vegas

  Electric Daisy Carnival, or EDC, is the largest electronic dance music festival on the continent, held each May at the Las Vegas Motor Speedway. Music is complemented by carnival-themed attractions and multi-sensory experiences, including rides, art installations and circus performers.
  Photo courtesy of Calder Wilson / Electric Daisy Carnival

• 

  Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival
  Las Vegas

  Life Is Beautiful debuted in 2013 in the newly revitalized neighborhood of East Fremont in Las Vegas. Today, the three-day festival attracts more than 175,000 attendees and top talent, like Lorde, Blink-182, Muse, Wiz Khalifa, The Lumineers, Major Lazer, Arcade Fire, Duran Duran and Childish Gambino.
  Photo courtesy of Life is Beautiful Music & Art Festival

• 

  Hangout Music Festival
  Gulf Shores, Ala.

  Gulf Shores in Alabama is the site of a unique music festival that brings bands to the powdery white sand. Festival-goers listen to live music in the warm May weather with the view of the ocean at the Hangout Music Festival (often just called Hangout for short). The three-day festival features all kinds of music, from rock to electronic, with headliners the likes of Jack White, Paul Simon and the Red Hot Chili Peppers.
  Photo courtesy of Matt Winkelmeyer/Getty Images for Hangout Music Festival

• 

  Outside Lands
  san francisco

  The Outside Lands Music and Arts Festival takes place in San Francisco’s Golden Gate Park every August. The festival began in 2008 and has since earned a reputation for its eco-friendly efforts, like solar-powered stages. The 50,000-plus attendees enjoy music, along with beer, wine, art and more. In fact, the thoughtful wine pairings make Outside Lands stand out from other music fests.
  Photo courtesy of Jeremy Cohen / Outside Lands

• 

  Capitol Hill Block Party
  Seattle

  This three-day festival in the heart of Seattle celebrates music, art and its host city. Attendees can listen to live music on six stages, browse art shows and enjoy food and drinks from some of Seattle’s top local bars and restaurants. Past talent has included ODESZA, The Lumineers, Macklemore, MGMT, Run the Jewels and CHVRCHES.
  Photo courtesy of Christine Mitchell / Capitol Hill Block Party

• 

  Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival
  Manchester, Tenn.

  Bonnaroo brings 85,000 attendees to hundreds of acres in Tennessee for more than 150 performances on 10 different stages. This four-day festival in June features a variety of music, from rock to jazz and everything in between (a few from the past: Allman Brothers, White Stripes, Tom Petty, Jay-Z), with shows running late into the night. Visitors can also catch live comedy, a small film fest and other events, all while enjoying Mother Nature. Bonnaroo has earned some important accolades, too, including being called one of the 50 moments that changed rock and roll by Rolling Stone magazine.
  Photo courtesy of Nathan Zucker / Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival

• 

  Newport Folk Festival
  Newport, RI

  Newport Folk Festival is one of the originals. In fact, its the self-proclaimed “grandparents of the modern-day festival.” Started in 1959, the festival has earned a reputation over the years for showcasing musicians and launching their successful careers – perhaps most notably, Bob Dylan. The Newport festival spotlights folk, blues, country and bluegrass musicians every summer. It aims to preserve the history of folk music while continuing to honor it and help develop it in the modern age.
  Photo courtesy of Mike Lawrie/Getty Images

• 

  Lightning in a Bottle
  Kern County, Calif.

  Lightning in a Bottle aims to be California’s top camping festival – a “transformational” event that not only supports music, but also promotes social unity, health, sustainability and creativity. Guests can also enjoy workshops on how to grow food and live a more sustainable lifestyle, do yoga, meditate and view interactive art installations. Lightning in a Bottle welcomes people of all ages and is drug-free. Electronic dance music is front and center at this one.
  Photo courtesy of Jess Bernstein / Lightning in a Bottle

The top 10 winners in the Best Music Festival category are as follows:

1. Music Festival – Bethlehem, Penn.
2. Riot Fest – Chicago
3. Electric Daisy Carnival – Las Vegas
4. Life Is Beautiful Music & Art Festival – Las Vegas
5. Hangout Music Festival – Gulf Shores, Ala.
6. Outside Lands – San Francisco
7. Capitol Hill Block Party – Seattle
8. Bonnaroo Music & Arts Festival – Manchester, Tenn.
9. Newport Folk Festival – Newport, RI
10. Lightning in a Bottle – Kern County, Calif.

A panel of experts partnered with 10Best editors to pick the initial nominees, and the top 10 winners were determined by popular vote.

Congratulations on all these winning events!

License the 10Best Readers’ Choice Award Logo

The Experts

Andrew Gretchko

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew… Read More

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew has nearly a decade of experience in journalism, public relations and content marketing spanning his time in Pittsburgh, New York City and Chicago. Andrew now incorporates the lessons learned from his time working directly with some of music’s top acts at The Chamber Group, as well as building out New York City-based premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, to craft stories across music, sports, theater, comedy and more at North America’s most trusted ticket marketplace: Vivid Seats.

Andrew Gretchko

A graduate of the University of Pittsburgh, Andrew has nearly a decade of experience in journalism, public relations and content marketing spanning his time in Pittsburgh, New York City and Chicago. Andrew now incorporates the lessons learned from his time working directly with some of music’s top acts at The Chamber Group, as well as building out New York City-based premium audio brand Master & Dynamic, to craft stories across music, sports, theater, comedy and more at North America’s most trusted ticket marketplace: Vivid Seats.

Gareth Hornberger

As Director of Consumer at Eventbrite, Gareth is… Read More

As Director of Consumer at Eventbrite, Gareth is responsible for establishing Eventbrite as the best place to discover live experiences. Gareth has spent more than a decade developing innovative strategies and award-winning campaigns for iconic global brands including Google and Levi Strauss & Co. He currently lives in San Francisco and in his spare time you’ll find him at a yoga class or hunting down the best electronic music shows.

Gareth Hornberger

As Director of Consumer at Eventbrite, Gareth is responsible for establishing Eventbrite as the best place to discover live experiences. Gareth has spent more than a decade developing innovative strategies and award-winning campaigns for iconic global brands including Google and Levi Strauss & Co. He currently lives in San Francisco and in his spare time you’ll find him at a yoga class or hunting down the best electronic music shows.

Barry Kahn

When newly minted Everfest CEO Barry Kahn saw the… Read More

When newly minted Everfest CEO Barry Kahn saw the opportunity to merge Everfest into Qcue, the company he has run for more than a decade, there was no hesitation. Both companies shared a common history as successful Austin software startups that received worldwide recognition for reimagining the live entertainment space. Since its founding in 2014, Everfest has grown into the market leader in festival discovery, showcasing more than 20,000 festivals and hosting the renowned festival guide and magazine, Fest300. The Everfest platform hosts an online community for festival fans globally and gives festival organizers another channel for ticket sales, while connecting vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers to new opportunities.

Barry Kahn

When newly minted Everfest CEO Barry Kahn saw the opportunity to merge Everfest into Qcue, the company he has run for more than a decade, there was no hesitation. Both companies shared a common history as successful Austin software startups that received worldwide recognition for reimagining the live entertainment space. Since its founding in 2014, Everfest has grown into the market leader in festival discovery, showcasing more than 20,000 festivals and hosting the renowned festival guide and magazine, Fest300. The Everfest platform hosts an online community for festival fans globally and gives festival organizers another channel for ticket sales, while connecting vendors, artists, sponsors and volunteers to new opportunities.

10 Best Editors

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased… Read More

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the US and around the world.

10 Best Editors

10Best.com provides users with original, unbiased and experiential travel coverage of top attractions, things to see and do, and restaurants for top destinations in the US and around the world.

story links

TEMPE – There’s a top-15 dual going down Saturday night in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. No. 10/14 Sun Devil Wrestling (3-4, 1-1 Pac-12) and No. 14/12 Lehigh (6-7, 3-2 EIWA) meet January 28 at 4:00 pm AZ at Lehigh’s Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall. The dual will air on FloWreslting, with radio coverage provided by Lehigh Valley Fox Radio. (FloWrestling/InterMat Rankings)

ASU at Lehigh

Saturday, Jan 28 | 4:00pm AZ/6:00pm EST
Bethlehem, Penn. | Leeman-Turner Arena at Grace Hall.
Watch on FloWrestling | Listen on Fox Radio
ASU match notes
Lehigh’s Weekend Preview

The Sun Devils are back in District 11 for the third time this season after opening the 2022-23 season with a pair of Journeymen Wrestling events. ASU defeated No. 21 Rutgers (25-16) on Nov. 12 before earning seven titles at the Collegiate Classic the next day. ASU then returned for the Keystone Classic where a number of reserve wrestlers competed.

Stats to follow

• McGee has 29 career MDs coming into Lehigh.
• Montalvo is at 49 career wins
• Schultz is 19-0 in duals and 9-0 in career major decisions
• McGee and Parco looking for seventh dual victories on season, Schultz and Figs looking to stay undefeated in duals
• Figueroa may have the longest undefeated streak to start a career here at 17-0 official results.

Last time out

ASU is coming off a 25-12 Pac-12 win over No. 23 Stanford. The Maroon and Gold swept the lightweights and picked up two crucial upperweight victories to secure the first conference win of the season. Unranked Cael Valencia garnered national attention and Pac-12 Wrestler of the Week honors after a 6-3 upset over No. 23 Tyler Eischens at 174. It was Valencia’s fifth win of the season, and he didn;t allow Eischens to score one takedown.

Scouting Arizona State

• Scouting Arizona State
• ASU enters the weekend with six top-20 wrestlers on the roster: No. 7 Brandon Courtney, No.4 Michael McGee, No. 13 Jesse Vasquez, no. 5 Kyle Parco, no. 20 Anthony Montalvo, and no. 5 Kohlton Schultz.
• The 125 battle continues for ASU, with both Courtney and Richard Figueroa on the travel party. Courtney, the ’21 NCAA runner-up at 125, is 5-2 on the year. Figs, the No. 1 pound-for-pound recruit of the 2021 class, is a perfect 14-0 on the year with five dual wins to his name.
• Cohlton Schultz took some time away from ASU recently training with USA Wrestling’s Greco-Roman team. He returned to the lineup rejuvenated and picked up his sixth pin of the season and 22nd of his career, defeating Stanford’s Peter Ming in just 56 seconds.
• Michael (12-2) earned his 25th career tech fall against Stanford. It was the 61st bonus-point victory of his career (123-26).
• Despite recent losses, three Sun Devils are coming into this match on four dual-win streaks highlighted by two tech falls from Michael McGee, a major decision from Jesse Vasquez, and a fall and major decision from Kyle Parco in that span. Redshirt freshman Richard Figueroa is 5-0 in duals this year, and tasted bonus points in a dual for the first time with a major decision at Stanford. Redshirt sophomore Colhton Schultz is 4-0 in duals on the season, and returned to the lineup at Stanford to record a 0:56 fall.
• At 133 lbs, this dual’s highlight will see No. 4 Michael McGee face off against No. 6 Connor McGonagle. McGonagle is coming off a six-win streak but has not recorded a bonus point victory this season. McGee is 3-0 against Lehigh in his career, with two victories over No. 22 Malyke Hines, who will now be facing No. 13 Jesse Vasquez at 141 lbs. Vasquez’ last loss came against No. 10 Vince Cornella, whom Hines beat in a narrow 4-2 decision two weeks ago.
• After winning by major decision in a ranked match against All-American No. 11 Jaden Abas, no. 4 Kyle Parco will face another ranked foe in No. 24 Manzona Bryant or Max Brignola at 149 lbs. Bryant has a win over No. 17 Dom Demas but is 2-4 on the season. No. 21 Anthony Montalvo or Josh number will face no. 19 Tate Samuelson at 184 lbs. Montalvo and Samuelson faced off three times while they were Big 12 rivals, with Samuelson taking their matchup in the ’20 Big 12 Championships in a 3-2 decision. Jonathon Fagen will have his hands full against All-American No. 5 Michael Beard at 197 lbs, who has recorded tech falls in his last two duals.
• No. 5 Colhton Schultz won ASU’s 2021-22 season finale against Lehigh with a sudden victory over Jordan Wood and went on to beat him the same way in the ’22 NCAA semifinals. Schultz will now face Lehigh’s redshirt freshman HM Nathan Taylor. Taylor’s season highlight was a fall versus No. 19 Josh Heindselman in November, but is coming into this dual on a three match skid.

Scouting Lehigh

• Eight Lehigh wrestlers appear in the first NCAA coaches’ ranking, announced Jan. 19. The Mountain Hawks have three wrestlers in the top five in their respective weight classes, led by sophomore Michael Beard, who is third at 197.
• Lehigh’s roster features sophomore Michael Beard who came to Lehigh from Penn State where he earned All-America honors in 2021 with a seventh place finish at 197. Tate Samuelson comes to Lehigh as a graduate transfer after four years at Wyoming where he was a four- time NCAA qualifier. Both wrestlers are 4-0 in duals in the new year. Beard is up to 11-2 on the season while Samuelson is now 11-7.
• Lehigh has a wrestler ranked in six out of 10 weight classes in the latest rankings from InterMat, with sophomore Malyke Hines returning to the rankings at 141.
• Six Mountain Hawks are also ranked by both FloWrestling and WrestleStat, while four are ranked by Amateur Wrestling News. Senior Josh Humphreys (157) and sophomores Connor McGonagle (133) and Michael Beard (197) are all ranked in the top six by InterMat, FloWrestling and AWN. Graduate student Tate Samuelson is the fourth Mountain Hawk to appear in all four polls.

#10/14 Arizona State Probables

125 no. 7 Brandon Courtney, Richard Figueroa
133 no. 4 Michael McGee, Julian Chlebove
141 no. 13 Jesse Vasquez
149 no. 5 Kyle Parco
157 Max Wilner, Michael Kilic
165 Tony Negron
174 Cael Valencia, Josh Number
184 no. 20 Anthony Montalvo, Canyon Mansfield
197 Jonathon Fagen, Jacob Meissner
HWT No. 5 Kohlton Schultz

#14/12 Lehigh Probables

125 Carter Bailey
Killian Delaney
133 no. 6 Connor McGonagle
141 no. 28 Malyke Hines
149 Max Brignola
Manzona Bryant IV
157 no. 5 Josh Humphreys
Paul Watkins
165 Luca Frinzi
Connor Herceg
174 Jake Logan
184 no. 19 TateSamuelson
197 no. 3Michael Beard
285 no. 31NathanTaylor

BETHLEHEM, Penn.—Domaci Home owners Warren and Derrick Clark are closing their brick and mortar store for good this month and taking their business on the road—literally.

They are outfitting a 14-foot mobile stage trailer to sell accent furniture, décor and accessories at festivals and events in the same way that food trucks (or, for an older example, bookmobiles) do.

“Instead of the people coming to us, we’ll go to where the people are,” said Warren Clark. It will continue to operate in the Lehigh Valley of Pennsylvania but will have the freedom and the flexibility to explore other parts of the country, such as New York’s Hudson River Valley or Texas, where loved ones live.

Domaci Home will also continue to operate its website, which it launched before it opened its brick-and-mortar store in 2016. The website accounted for roughly 30% of its sales in 2022 (down from 50% in 2020.)

The store, one of HAT’s 2022 Retail Stars, is situated in the Christmas-oriented town of Bethlehem, Penn., and has been a model of innovative retailing, offering live entertainment some evenings and furnishing the Airbnb apartments located above the store. But the landlord has been difficult, Warren Clark said, leasing a nearby space to a competitive business and otherwise not fulfilling certain terms of the lease. When it came time to renew, the Clarks analyzed their numbers and decided to shut the store down. Its two most profitable times of the year were Christmas and during the town’s annual summer festival. “Other than that, we were treading water,” Clark said.

The mobile trailer enables them to focus on the things that generate more money, such as everyday essentials and items like candles and other decorative accessories. It eliminates a certain amount of overhead and will save them a lot on rent. The concept is unique, acknowledged Clark. “I don’t know anyone else who is doing [it],” he said. “We’re excited about it.”

The couple expects to take delivery of the trailer, which is being built in Georgia, in late March or early April. The trailer costs about $20,000, with additional costs for customized fixturing and signage. In good weather, its sides can fold down, doubling its square footage. The interior space is about 200 square feet, enough room for floor samples of accent furniture and bookshelves filled with decorative pieces. A digital kiosk shows additional product options online.

The business is also expanding its private label assortment and last week launched a candle subscription service that replenishes a particular scent on either a monthly or quarterly basis. The logistics are being fine-tuned so that subscribers will later have the option of getting a different scented candle in subsequent months, and the entire service may evolve to include other frequently bought categories.

The Clarks already have a few events circled on the calendar that they plan to participate in, including Bethlehem’s annual summer music festival, in which the local streets are closed for 10 days, and a potential arrangement with a local restaurateur for a block party in the late spring. It also plans to attend wedding and home shows, like the Lehigh Valley Home & Garden Show, to reinforce the fact that it is still in the furniture business, Clark said.

They have reached out to their vendor partners and their protected brands to reassure them that business will carry on as usual. “I see us doing as much or more [in sales] as we did in the past,” Clark said. “This keeps us more nimble if things get rough in 2023. Things are uncertain now. We’re definitely not on the high we were in ’20 and ’21.”

Domaci Home’s last brick and mortar day will be Jan. 29.

The following are updates on local athletes at the collegiate level.

Gabe Collison (Crescenta Valley High, 2014) United States Navy senior: For a second straight season, the Midshipmen are heading to the NCAA Championships.

Navy secured a spot by finishing runner-up at the Mid-Atlantic Regional Championships at Lehigh University in Bethlehem, Penn. on Friday afternoon.

The Midshipmen finished with 109 points with all five scorers placing in the top 30. Only Princeton (57) was better.

Collison, a former All-Area standout and CIF State qualifier, certainly played a big factor in Navy’s success.

The La Crescenta resident helped the cause by finishing third for his team and 24th overall with a mark of 30 minutes, 55.4 seconds on the 10-kilometer course.

Navy will be advancing to the NCAA Championships in Louisville at 8:45 am (PST) on Saturday for a second straight year and 12th time overall in program history.

As a squad, Navy finished second in the Patriot League to Army, while Collison finished fourth for his team and 13th overall in 24:42.83 in the 8K league finals, also at Lehigh on Oct. 28

Joe Mudie (St. Francis High, 2014) Chapman football senior: Mudie is having a sensational season for the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference champions.

Chapman (6-2) is headed to the NCAA Division III Football Championship where it will play a first-round against host Mary Hardin-Baylor of Texas and Mudie is a huge reason why.

The running back carries 959 yards rushing (second in SCIAC), eight rushing scores, 119.9 yards per game (second in conference) and 7.4 yards per carry (first in conference) into the postseason.

On Sept. 30, Mudie scored on a one-yard rushing touchdown on an untimed down for the final play in a 42-40 victory against Pomona-Pitzer. He rushed for 104 yards in 21 carries and added a pair of catches for 32 yards and was named SCIAC Player of the Week for his efforts.

Chapman was scheduled to play Occidental on Saturday, but Occidental canceled its football season due to a depleted roster.

Chapman’s final game of the regular season ended up being a 48-38 win over Claremont Mudd-Scripps on Nov. 4. Mudie had 12 carries for 98 yards and two touchdowns. His best game so far was likely a 38-21 win at La Verne on Oct. 21 in which he had 15 carries for 166 yards and two touchdowns. It was part of a span in which Mudie ran for greater than 100 yards in five straight games. He hasn’t rushed for less than 88 yards in a game this season. Heading into the playoffs, he’s run for touchdowns in three straight games.

Joe’s younger brother Will, an All-Area selection as a linebacker for St. Francis last season, is a freshman with Chapman and has tallied three tackles.

Grant Kraemer (Glendale Community College, 2015) Drake University senior: The senior gunslinger has more than proven himself an apt passer for the Bulldogs.

This season, Kraemer has completed 159 of 271 (59%) passing attempts for 2,348 yards and 16 touchdowns versus 10 interceptions.

In his last action Saturday, Kraemer and Drake roared to a 45-10 victory over host Campbell in Pioneer League action.

Kraemer was impressive in completing 17 of 20 passes for 369 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.

Drake, which was picked to finish fourth in the coaches’ league preseason poll, is currently tied for second with a 6-4 overall mark and 5-2 conference record, which ties Drake with Jacksonville. San Diego leads the league at 8-2 and 7-0.

The tie at runner-up will be broken this weekend as Drake concludes the regular season hosting Jacksonville (7-3, 5-2) in Des Moines, Iowa at 11 am (PST) on senior day.

Kayla Lund (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2017) Pitt volleyball freshman: A two-time All-Area Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year and multiple-time MaxPreps All-American, Lund has already won three ACC Freshman of the Week honors this season and established herself as a stellar player on the NCAA Division I level.

She’s notched double-digit kills in six of her last seven matches and eight times overall this season.

Her latest effort was Sunday in a four-game win over Duke in which she had 12 kills and three digs. The win improved Pitt to 21-6 as it is in a three-way tie with NC State and Louisville atop the conference standings at 14-2.

For the season, Lund is fourth on the team with 172 kills, having played in 26 of her team’s 27 matches and 71 of 97 sets. She’s also tallied 136 digs, 28 blocks and 14 aces.

Sunday’s match was the last home tilt of the regular season for the Panthers with four matches remaining, beginning Friday at Clemson.

Sophia Coffey (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2015) Seton Hall volleyball junior: In Seton Hall’s latest match, a 3-1 Big East victory over St. John’s on Saturday, Coffey posted 27 assists and 10 digs.

It was her 11th double-double this season following a sophomore campaign in which she led Seton Hall with eight.

Seton Hall is led in assists by Coffey, who has 605. She’s also tallied 20 kills, 16 aces and 260 digs having played in all 110 sets and 29 matches for the team so far. She totaled 33 assists in a five-game win over Buffalo on Sept. 1 for a season-high.

The Pirates are 16-13, 10-6 in the Big East.

Coffey, who was a two-time All-Area Girls’ Volleyball Player of the Year, and Co. return to action with a conference matchup at home Friday against Butler.

Lara Minassians (Flintridge Sacred Heart Academy, 2017) Occidental College volleyball freshman: Minassians turned in a solid debut season for the Tigers and was recognized for her character on the court, as well.

Minassians, a setter, played in all 25 matches for Occidental and was named to the Southern California Intercollegiate Athletic Conference All-Sportsmanship Team.

Minassians’ 368 assists were second on the team and she added 25 kills, six aces and 49 digs.

Against Chapman on Oct. 3, Minassians turned in a season-high 40 assists in a 3-2 SCIAC victory. The freshman truly found her stride down the stretch as she notched double-digit assists in the final 10 matches of the season.

Oxy finished the year on Oct. 28 with a 3-0 loss to Chapman in which Minassians had 10 assists and four digs. The Tigers posted a 13-12 record with an 8-8 mark in conference.

Alissa Shinn (Crescenta Valley High, 2016) Pasadena City College sophomore: In her second season in the Crown City, the former All-Area Girls’ Basketball Player of the Year is putting on a show.

Shinn finished with an astounding 34 points and 25 rebounds to pace the Lancers to a 64-46 victory over Los Angeles Southwest College on Friday evening in the semifinals of the PCC President’s Roundball Classic.

Shinn’s 25 rebounds were the third-most by a PCC player ever and marked the first time any Lancer had tallied such a total since 1993. The combined total of points and rebounds was the second-best in school history.

The only bad news for Shinn is that victory was followed up with a 72-36 loss to College of the Sequoias in Saturday’s tournament championship.

Pasadena City College is 3-2 this season with Shinn leading the squad in points (22.8) and rebounds (13.2), while she’s second in blocks (1.8).

Pasadena’s squad also features Glendale High product Merina Latu and La Crescenta resident Elise Ortega, who’s averaging four points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.4 steals and 2.2 assists per game.

andrew.campa@latimes.com

Twitter @campadresports