Unplug for Better Health Too Much Tech Is Harmful
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March 26, 2018 • Vol. 29 • No. 13 • $2 SERVING BERKS, LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON & SURROUNDING COUNTIES www.LVB.com Unplug for better health Too much tech is harmful By MELINDA RIZZO Special for Lehigh Valley Business Is your iPhone your alarm clock? Do you get the jit- ters if you’re away from technology for more than a couple of hours? Is going on vacation and leaving your lap- top behind unthink- able? Your tech might be ‘Screen time toxic, so look for red and tech flags such as being unable to be without use has it. Or ignoring people become an when you’re physically with them. Or feelings urgent issue.’ of restlessness, agita- — Dr. Kolin Good, psychiatry, IMAGE COURTESY OF A-TREAT tion or depression. A special logo developed for A-Treat’s centennial by Klunk & Millan Advertising of South Whitehall Township. “We know that Reading Hospital screen time and and tech use has become an urgent MORE INSIDE issue,” said Dr. Kolin HEALTH Good, chair of the CARE & REVIVEDrefreshing department of psy- WELLNESS chiatry at Reading INITIATIVES Hospital in West Once down to its last sip, iconic A-Treat soda celebrates centennial <Care coordination Reading. goals: reduce errors, By STACY WESCOE 100TH ANNIVERSARY FESTIVITIES Having a healthy save money. Page 9 [email protected] relationship with A-Treat’s centennial celebration kicked off with <Funding spurs more When Patti Stimpfl was growing up in Whitehall during the 1970s, her your tech is as vital an A-Treat Heroes contest that let fans choose a cancer-treatment family owned Al’s Market in the township, and that meant a steady sup- local hero whose face will emblazon the labels to your overall well- trials. Page 10 ply of A-Treat soda. of a special edition 100th anniversary A-Treat being as are a bal- <Company wellness “We had A-treat all of the time. I’m very nostalgic about it,” she said. bottle. anced diet, enough plan improves “We always felt better about it. It seemed healthier; it was local and more Scott Rothrock, a Catasauqua police of cer sleep, nourishing productivity. Page 12 natural.” injured in the line of duty, was named the family and friend <Wellness in an Stimpfl’s is a common story that could be told by many families who 2018 A-Treat hero. relationships and sat- organization takes enjoyed the soda and its lower cost compared to name brands such as A-Treat also gave $10,000 donation to isfaction from work. many forms. Page 16 Coke and Pepsi. In its heyday, A-Treat was popular not just in the Lehigh Fraternal Order of Police Le-Hampton No. 35, But its overuse Whitehall Township, in Rothrock’s honor. Valley but throughout the Northeast corridor, including New York City. can lead to social isolation, depression, Meanwhile, details are being nalized for an A-Treat 100th anniversary party this summer. please see A-TREAT, page 5 please see UNPLUG, page 4 INSIDE TODAY CELEBRATE OUR FEATURES INDEX MEETING & EVENT RISING YOUNG STARS Behind the List ...........................19 Join us April 10 in honoring 40 of Briefs ............................................4 PLANNER 2018 Calendar .....................................19 Meeting & Event Planning an off-site meeting or event? the region’s rising young stars in Planner Classi eds ..................................22 2018 Our annual 20-page supplement business and other industries at our Focus .......................................9-17 examines the region’s hotel revival Forty Under 40 awards celebration at For Your Information ...................19 STEEPED IN SLEEP and offers valuable advice for hosting Bear Creek Mountain Resort. For ticket Greater Lehigh Valley sees a dramatic revival Off The Clock ..............................22 in hotel openings, renovations and expansions an event, such as must-have apps, information and the list of honorees, visit www.lvb.com/events and see our Opinion ......................................6-8 ways to trim costs, and other dining The List .......................................21 MORE INSIDE announcement on Page 24. Make a great impression when networking | End of the rubber chicken circuit | Must-have apps to help with planning | Organizing a small event on the cheap options besides, yes, chicken. 2 Lehigh Valley Business • March 26, 2018 LVB.com Strong economy, many buyers – but few homes to sell By KATHY RUFF Special for Lehigh Valley Business MODEST DECLINE IN SALES A lack of inventory led to a 3.5 percent drop in home closings in February in the Greater Lehigh Valley. A closer look: Low inventory continues to affect the housing market in the Greater Lehigh Valley. Homes sold in Homes sold in Average days on Average days on market, Percentage difference in February 2018 February 2017 market, February 2018 February 2017 number of homes sold According to Realtors in the region, Lehigh Valley* 421 451 48 63 -6.7% February’s residential inventory fell by 9.6 percent when compared to February Berks County 269 266 86 89 +1.2% 2017. Carbon County 35 38 101 96 -7.9% That undoubtedly contributed to a 3.5 Schuylkill County 52 48 101 135 +8.4% percent drop in the number of closed sales Warren County, N.J. 72 81 75 108 -11.1% and a 2.4 percent fall in pending sales. Pocono Mountains** 186 189 134 176 -2.23% “It’s nuts,” said Sam Ruta, associate THREE-YEAR RESIDENTIAL REPORT CARD broker manager of Prudential Choice that, that is a little reflective. I think we’re NEW TOTAL PENDING AVERAGE SALES MEDIAN SALES AVERAGE DAYS Properties, Nazareth. “We don’t have certainly going to catch up once the weather LISTINGS SALES SALES PRICE PRICE ON MARKET enough inventory.” breaks up a little bit.” Berks County Industry professionals hope the 7.8 per- Tillman has seen good inventory moving February 2018 384 269 409 $161,779 $139,900 86 cent price growth – an average $11,140 more steadily for the past two years, a trend he February 2017 457 266 455 $154,692 $135,000 89 than homes sold in February 2017 – and expects to continue. February 2016 459 267 433 $149,846 $133,635 102 high buyer demand will entice potential “We still have foreclosures and things that sellers to list homes this spring. are getting cleaned up slowly, but we still Lehigh Valley* “We do have quite a few buyers out have a ways to go,” he said. February 2018 721 421 646 $212,530 $175,000 48 there but just no properties to really sell to Tillman expects home sale prices to begin February 2017 821 451 639 $208,197 $170,000 63 them,” said Kristen Obert, associate broker to appreciate in spring and throughout sum- February 2016 866 453 589 $190,705 $165,000 79 and office manager with Hugh Dugan Real mer. Estate, Palmerton. BIG JUMP IN PENDING SALES Carbon County The biggest problem remains good inven- Activity remained brisk in Carbon February 2018 67 35 53 $124,440 $120,000 101 tory, said Rich Tillman, broker/owner of Re/ County, which saw a 51.4 percent spike February 2017 62 38 35 $ 97,176 $ 88,500 96 Max Town and Valley in Hackettstown, N.J. in pending sales and an 8.1 percent boost February 2016 71 27 43 $116,722 $ 83,500 132 “Houses that are in good condition and in new listings, even though closed sales Schuylkill County priced reasonably well, when they come on dropped 7.9 percent in February. February 2018 101 52 84 $102,295 $ 75,450 101 the market, they get a lot of activity,” he said. “We’re still seeing low inventory,” Obert MONEY TO BUY said. “We’re still hoping that this spring will February 2017 114 48 89 $ 77,129 $ 57,500 135 In Lehigh and Northampton counties, the bring some sellers into the market. We are in February 2016 95 76 88 $ 84,752 $ 68,750 144 lack of good inventory may have contributed multiple offer situations. Some of the prices Warren County, N.J. to a 6.7 drop in closed sales. A 12.2 percent are going higher than asking price.” February 2018 201 72 146 $182,332 $152,000 75 decline in new listings predicts more inven- Obert sees those factors negatively affect- February 2017 205 81 133 $197,958 $187,450 104 tory challenges, but strong buyer activity ing first-time homebuyers who need sellers’ February 2016 182 69 108 $200,304 $186,725 101 continues. assist as sellers opt for better deals. “The economy is roaring right now,” Ruta “Interest rates have gone up, so buyers Pocono Mountains** said. “People have money. They have been can’t buy as much as they had been able February 2018 292 186 275 $140,012 $132,700 134 on the fence for a while. There’s a lot of to the past few years,” she said. “Carbon February 2017 295 189 302 $121,394 $ 95,000 176 competition now. It’s a good market.” County is a different animal. Things aren’t February 2016 372 218 316 $107,792 $ 88,500 166 Ruta remains optimistic for replenish- quite as aggressive as it is in the Lehigh *-Lehigh and Northampton counties **-Monroe County ment of the low housing stock as interest Valley. Things don’t seem to move quite as SOURCES: Trend Multiple Listing Service (Berks and Schuylkill counties), Garden State Multiple Listing Service (Warren County), Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors reductions realized under restructured loans quickly.” and Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors. Note for Warren County and Lehigh Valley: This representation is based in whole or in part on data supplied such as the Home Affordable Refinance MULTIPLE OFFERS by the Garden State Multiple Listing Service LLC and the Greater Lehigh Valley Realtors.