Memories of Al

December 4, 2017 • Vol. 28 • No. 49 • $2 SERVING BERKS, LEHIGH, NORTHAMPTON & SURROUNDING COUNTIES www.LVB.com MEMORIES OF AL Party Time Boscov’s grandchildren publish tribute book Companies spending less on holiday celebrations to department store icon By WENDY SOLOMON but most still hold them to reward employees [email protected] The story goes that when Albert By KATHY RUFF vey found that 72.7 percent attend, down from 42.9 per- ees,” said Marlyn Kissner of Boscov took some of his menswear Special for Lehigh Valley Business of companies plan to hold cent in 2016. the Greater Lehigh Valley buyers from Reading to meet with the Fewer parties. Less alcohol. holiday parties, down from Still, though, three out of Chamber of Commerce. top brass from Vanity Fair, the apparel That’s the trend this 76 percent last year. Of those four are having holiday par- She said many businesses manufacturer year for company holiday having parties, 15.6 percent ties. Which is to be expected use the holidays to show their in New York, parties, according to the are budgeting less than last with low unemployment, a appreciation and thanks for a in the early annual survey by Chicago- year, and 49 percent are serv- roaring stock market and a great year, even in ways that 1980s, they based Challenger, Gray & ing alcohol – down from 62 strong index of consumer are more informal. entered an Christmas Inc., a national percent last year. confidence. “If they want to cut back office where outplacement firm. The survey also shows that “Businesses are making and maybe not do a big holi- six stiff pin- Its 2017 sur- 37.8 percent will be invit- sure that they are taking day party, they do an upscale striped exec- ing family, spouses care of their employ- lunch or thank you gift utives sat in a or partners to row behind a please see PARTY, page 9 table. Boscov got on his hands and his knees, PHOTO COURTESY OF BOSCOV’S Al Boscov coined the crawled catchphrase ‘Did you under the Boscov today?’ table and shook the president’s hand. “Those six men didn’t know what hit them,” recalled Jeff Mitgang, one of the buyers, in “Did You Boscov Today?,” the place to try out your pickup lines. The behavior could even be seen as sexual recently published book of memories GUIDELINES FOR OFFICE HOLIDAY PARTYGOERS harassment. about the late, charismatic Reading- <ARRIVE EARLY – This might be your best opportunity to talk with senior <AVOID TALKING BUSINESS – This is not the time to approach your boss with based department store owner. executives while things are still relatively quiet. Work the room: It is easy to a new business idea. Save that for Monday morning. Instead, find out about his “From them on, he had them in the socialize with members of your department. However, you gain if you use this or her interests outside the office. Find a connection on a personal level. That palm of his hand,” he wrote. occasion to meet people in other departments. You never know who can help connection will help Monday when you bring up the new idea and it could help your career. when it’s time for salary reviews. Mitgang’s story is just one of <DO NOT OVERINDULGE – Free alcohol can lead to excessive drinking. Stay in <ATTEND OTHER COMPANIES’ PARTIES – If a friend invites you to his or her many included in “Did You Boscov control. Do not do anything embarrassing. Even if your alcohol-induced actions company party, go. It is an opportunity to expand your professional network – Today?,” which was compiled by three don’t get you fired, they could hurt your chances for advancement. critical in this era of downsizing and job switching. of Boscov’s grandchildren, Amelia <BE FRIENDLY, BUT NOT TOO FRIENDLY – The company party is not the SOURCE: CHALLENGER, GRAY & CHRISTMAS INC. ILLUSTRATION/ALMOOND please see MEMORIES, page 10 BANKS & CREDIT UNIONS: Banks helping our schools | Tax tactics that go together with helping charities | Renovating a financial center to connect with students Pages 9-15 THE SEARCH IS ON FEATURES INDEX Lehigh Valley Business is seeking nominations for its annual Forty Under Behind the List ��17 40 awards event that honors the region’s young professionals under 40 Briefs ��4 for accomplishments Calendar ��17 in their organization Classifieds ��22 and their commitment Focus ��11-15 to their community. To nominate someone, For Your Information ��17 visit www.lvb.com/ Liens ��22 fortyunder40 and see Newsmakers ��20 or announcement on Opinion ��6-8 Page 21. The Lists ��18, 19 The search is on for the best and brightest GREATER LEHIGH VALLEY RISING STARS! The Forty Under 40 awards honors business professionals under the age of 40 for their accomplishments in their organizations and their commitment to the community. Submit a nomination at www.lvb.com/fortyunder40 before Jan. 19. SAVE THE DATE 2018 Forty Under 40 Awards Ceremony April 10, 2018 For questions, contact Dayna Edelman at [email protected] or 610-807-9619 Ext. 4109 MAJOR SPONSOR Want to connect with the next generation of business leaders? Call Mike O’Rourke for sponsorship information on 610-807-9619 Ext 4112. Having the highest-performing and lowest-cost network. There’s value in that. To control rising costs, Blues® plans have four times the number of providers participating in value-based programs1 and experience an average 10% lower total cost of care.2,3 So your employees get the best care at the best price, and you get more value for your healthcare dollar. See the other ways we’re controlling costs at HighmarkNetworkValue.com JD Waechter, EP, MS Cardiac Rehabilitation 1. 2016 Value-based Program RFI Survey, Plan reported information. Source: BCBSA. 2. In 100+ MSAs. 3. Blue Distinction Total Care National Evaluation comparing BDTC attributed to non-BDTC members, BCBSA analysis of markets with at least one ACO or value-based provider group. Source: BCBSA. The BCBSA is an association of independent Blue Cross and Blue Shield plans. Highmark Blue Shield is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. LVB.com Lehigh Valley Business • December 4, 2017 3 Now testing: A grape to make an organic, profitable wine By STACY WESCOE in the Northeast U.S. tastiest, and most in-demand wines, [email protected] It is the granddaugh- wine growers in the region must regular- There’s an experiment underway in ter – if you will – of the ly spray their vines with pesticides and the Poconos that if successful could petite pearl grapes that anti-fungals, Hed said. make the wine industry in the region Mountain View owner This creates myriad problems for wine more environmentally friendly and more Randy Rice already growers in the region, both men said. profitable at the same time. grows at the vineyard, First, treating the more delicate grapes The U.S. Department of Agriculture, which are grapes that with those chemicals is costly. Rice said Penn State University and Mountain also are a blend of the spray is $200 to $400 per gallon and View Vineyards in Hamilton Township hearty and tasty that most of the fine grape varieties need to are collaborating on a sustainable were created to thrive be sprayed weekly. agriculture research education experi- locally. Depending on the size of the crop, ment to test a high-quality wine grape NATURE IS NOT KIND that can be a major expense for growers. that could be heartier for the climate Brian Hed, a It’s also quite time consuming, and and environmental conditions found researcher with Penn not particularly the best for the environ- in the Poconos and throughout the State who is working on ment or the people who will ultimately Northeast. the project, explained drink the wine, Rice said. This spring, farmers planted 3.5 acres that most popular ORGANIC DEMAND of a new hybrid grape. If successful, the varietals, such as char- There is another important factor at test would show that a new grape could donnay, are grown in work – market demand. Rice said many make it possible to grow high-quality, northern California of the same people who seek out locally organic wine grapes in the region, an where the conditions made wine are the same people who endeavor some in the industry have are dryer. seek out organic, nongenetically modi- called nearly impossible – at least not “In California, which CONTRIBUTED PHOTO fied products. profitably. is a dryer climate, con- Researcher Chelsy Villarroel examines young Verona grape vines as “We have the conversation almost The grape being tested is a Verona, ditions can be managed part of the sustainable agricultural research experiment at Mountain every day. Customers ask us about it,” named after the region in Italy. It is a by irrigation. East of the View Vineyard in Hamilton Township, Monroe County. Rice said. “People are spending more hybrid grape, crossbred to be less sus- Mississippi, it’s hard to Rice said that while there are many money on organic food. Shouldn’t we be ceptible to the insects and fungus that grow organic anything,” Hed said. varieties of grapes that grow well in the concerned about the wine?” can plague grapes in this growing region. Since many of the grapes that make region, those are grapes that tend to However, when it comes to wine- Experts say it produces wine that tastes the most popular wines are not hearty in make lower quality, “less balanced, often grape growing in the Northeast, “locally like classic European wine but doesn’t the eastern Pennsylvania region and sur- more acidic wines.” grown” and “organic/non-GMO” are vir- need all of the harsh chemical sprays rounding states, they often fall victim to FREQUENT, COSTLY SPRAYINGS that the classic European vines require fungus and insects.

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