Water Damage Restoration in Allentown, PA

BETHLEHEM, Pa. — Christmas will be here in 25 days.

As that number ticks down, the level of anxiety grows for parents and caregivers who cannot afford to buy toys and clothing for their children, or food for their families.

Local organizations can help, but deadlines to apply for that help are approaching.

Just like any other year and even more so, many agencies say there is more need than what may be deliverable. Groups are afraid to make promises of toys that they may not be able to keep.

Where to find help with toys, clothing

Angel Tree is a popular Christmas donation initiative of The Salvation Army. While collection periods have closed, parents who wish only for toys for their children can visit the toy shop on Dec. 19 at the 521 Pembroke Road branch.

Parents who applied for help either have been called back with a date to pick up gifts and shop at the toy shop or will be contacted soon, but the toy shop will be open to parents looking for only toys. New toys will be accepted for the toy shop at any time, for walk-in shoppers not on a list.

Major Karen Peabody heads the Bethlehem branch and says close to 600 children's wishes were distributed to this year. The requests for assistance is so great this year, likely due to the cost of living, that they were still taking gift requests past the mid-November cutoff.

"There are always ones who are desperate and will come in, and of course, we'll help," Peabody said.

Call 610-867-4681 for help or visit https://easternusa.salvationarmy.org/eastern-pennsylvania/bethlehem/.

Toys for Tots Lehigh Valley is accepting request applications until Dec. 10. Recipients who have completed an application will be contacted by Dec. 15. Toy distributions will occur between Dec. 1-20:

The Lehigh Valley Chapter of The Ancient Order of Hibernians hosts “Joe's Kids Toy Party,” Sat., Dec. 7 from 2-6 p.m. at Bru Daddy's Brewing Company, 732 Hamilton St., Allentown.

Admission is $10 and an unwrapped toy. Free for kids aged 12 and under. Includes food and refreshments. The Rogue Diplomats and The O'Grady Quinlan Academy of Irish Dance will entertain.

Food pantries, soup kitchens, drives

Everlasting Life Ministries, 224 N. Sixth Street, Allentown: Holiday dinner has been taking place for over 40 years. Serving 1200 meals in a day, the meals take place 1 week before each major holiday, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter and in two settings 12:00 p.m. and 2:00 p.m. https://www.elmallentown.org/

Lehigh County lists 30 food pantries in Allentown, 16 in Bethlehem, 11 in Easton, and 10 in its other municipalities. Find help here.

New Bethany Ministries Southside Drop-In Center: Free dine-in brunch on Christmas Day. 341 W. Fourth Street, at the corner of 4th and Wyandotte streets. All are welcome. Christmas Day, December 25, 2024, 11:30 am to 12:30 pmGifts for the children from 1:00 pm to 2:00 pm. 610-691-5602.

Pennsylvania 211: Dial 211 or text your zip code to 898-211.PA 211 is a service that provides information and referrals to essential community resources for low-income families and individuals in Pennsylvania. Find assistance with housing, food, healthcare, mental health services, utility bills and more. It is a free, confidential service available 24/7, and is available to all residents of Pennsylvania.

Second Harvest Food Bank of Lehigh Valley and N.E. Pennsylvania: https://shfblv.org/find-food/

Slater Family Network: Nonprofit foundation for individuals' and families' basic needs, free and confidential, open to the Bangor Area School District. Families or individuals must contact the office.https://slaterfamilynetwork.org/about-us

Trinity Episcopal ChurchOffers a free holiday meal on Saturday, December 18. The church is located at 234 Spring Garden Street, Easton.

Valor Clinic Foundation, 1130 Scenic Drive, Kunkletown, provides no-cost holiday meals to veteran families in crisis. Provides a complete day's meals, from breakfast to dessert after dinner. 570-664-6468 or https://valorclinic.org/contact.

This list will continue to be updated.

If you have a suggestion or resource to add to this list, please email us at news@lehighvalleynews.com and put "Holiday Help" in the subject line.

ALLENTOWN, Pa. – After several months of declining foot traffic, a well-known spot for burgers, mac and cheese and other tasty eats is set to end operations this weekend in Allentown.

Blended, a full-service restaurant offering hand-crafted food, cocktails and more, will hold its last day of business on Sunday at 27 N. Seventh St. in downtown Allentown, co-owner Gil DeGruccio said.

The restaurant is closing for a variety of reasons, with a primary one being a “steep decline in foot traffic that began in the spring,” DeGruccio said.

“We were crushing it the first half of the year, and then business just dropped off a cliff at the end of spring and in early summer,” DeGruccio said.

“We were hoping to stay open longer, but the numbers just haven’t been there to justify the continued struggle for another month. Our lease is also up at the end of the year.”

DeGruccio also cited the country's overall economic climate and less events happening in downtown Allentown as reasons for the restaurant closing.

He said that he’s also noticed less foot traffic, especially in the evening hours, following the Downtown Allentown Market’s reduced hours, which went into effect on April 1.

“It’s really sad,” DeGruccio said.

“We didn’t want to close. We have amazing staff members and amazing regulars who we are so thankful for. But we just didn’t have any other choice.”

Blended originated as blended by Brü Daddy’s in May 2021 under previous owners Rich and Kevin Ryan, who operate the nearby Brü Daddy’s Brewing Co.

DeGruccio said that he originally served as the restaurant’s executive chef before he and his partner, Eric Cutting, took over operations in 2022.

Blended’s menu features a diverse selection of made-to-order dishes, including snacks and shareables such as traditional and boneless wings, cheesesteak empanadas and truffle parm fries; cast-iron mac and cheeses such as broccoli cheddar and Buffalo chicken; and burgers and handhelds such as the “McBrayer’s Cowboy” burger (8-ounce Angus patty, shredded lettuce, jalapenos, cheddar cheese, candied bacon, bourbon BBQ sauce and onion rings on a brioche roll) and a Cali salmon cheesesteak wrap.

Popular items include the burgers, classic mac and cheese, Brussels sprouts and Buffalo cauliflower bites, DeGruccio said.

The restaurant also features a large craft beer selection.

Earlier this month, Cutting began working at another restaurant, DeGrucchio said.

Following Blended’s closure, DeGruccio plans to join the management team at Brü Daddy’s, at 732 Hamilton St.

Blended offered weekly events, including bingo, karaoke and trivia, and DeGruccio hopes to continue hosting these events at Brü Daddy’s, he said.

“I want all of our regulars to know that they’ll still be able to find me at Brü Daddy’s,” DeGruccio said. “Some of our employees are also moving to Brü Daddy’s.”

Blended will operate regular hours during its final weekend: noon to midnight (or later depending on the crowd) and 11 a.m. to 5 p.m. Sunday, DeGruccio said.

Food and drink specials will be offered on Sunday.

“We really want to make sure that all of our staff and regulars know just how much we appreciate them,” DeGruccio said.

“Truthfully, we have some of the greatest customers and team members in Center City Allentown, if not the entire Lehigh Valley. We wouldn’t have made it this far without them.”

Blended occupies an ArtsWalk space that previously housed other dining establishments, including Queen City BBQ and Shula’s Steak House.

DeGruccio is unsure of the future plans for the corner site after Blended closes.

City Center Investment Corp., which owns the building, is in talks with a prospective tenant seeking to occupy the space, according to Jeff Vaughan, City Center's spokesman.

"As Eric and [Gil] seek to downsize their restaurant, we wish we had available space to accommodate them," Vaughan said in a written statement.

"We wish them the best of luck, and we are in negotiations with another established restaurant group to open a new concept at this location.”

ALLENTOWN, Pa. — Allentown School Board members criticized early renderings of a new school for looking too much like a prison at Thursday's finance committee meeting.

“When we see things like gates and barriers and things like that, that’s a problem for me,” said school Director Lisa Conover.

Director Phoebe Harris said the building reminded her of the Lehigh County Jail.

Other board members similarly took issue with the proposed school design for its use of brick and a perceived lack of natural light, as well as a gate at the front of the 16.7-acre school site.

This feedback and more came after a presentation from Breslin Architects on the schematic design for a future East Side school, which would serve students in kindergarten through eighth grade. The district’s solicitor is negotiating a contract for Allentown School District to purchase the former Allentown State Hospital property on Hanover Avenue for the school site.

“We want that campus look,” Conover said. “We want our kids to experience something that they’ve never experienced before.”

School directors pictured a building that’s “modern,” “innovative” and “creative.” But that’s not what they got with Thursday's presentation, they said.

“Although we respect all your efforts, what we envision is not exactly what we see,” Director LaTarsha Brown told principal architect Stephen Behrens.

A starting point

In turn, Behrens stressed the schematic design is just a starting point, and his team will incorporate the suggestions of school directors moving forward. The project so far has been focused on land development and programmatic considerations for the inside of the building, he said.

The district is not locked in to any building materials or color schemes yet at this phase, he said.

“I’m very confident in saying that as we move forward with the design with your input and enact other options for your review, this is going to be a spectacular school,” Behrens said.

The three-story building is arranged with a vertical shared-use space connecting two academic wings.

The shared-use space would be home to the gym, cafeteria, library and other facilities. One academic wing would be for students in kindergarten through fifth grade; the other wing would be for students in sixth through eighth grades. There’s room outside for a courtyard between the academic wings.

Behrens said the building would also have sustainable features, like a vegetated “green” roof and energy efficient systems.

Exterior and site layout

Outside the building, there's a large canopy that would serve as weather protection. There’s also a main stair tower that juts up like a mini skyscraper to give the building “a presence in the community that’s visible from a distance,” Behrens said.

There’s also a bus loop and a separate area for car drop-offs, as well as a pedestrian pathway.

The front of the school site closest to Hanover Avenue features a multi-purpose turf athletic field.

Upon entering the school campus, students would be greeted by a gate and plaza area that features a sign and portico.

School directors took issue with the gateway area, saying again it reminded them of a prison.

“We need to engage that pedestrian traffic at the earliest possible [point] and bring them into the campus and ultimately into the building,” Behrens said of this feature.

There’s also a proposed island on Hanover Avenue that will give walkers a safe space to pause when crossing the busy street.

Natural light

School directors also said they wanted more glass incorporated into the building and larger windows.

“I’m seeing a lot more brick than I would want to see,” Board President Andrene Brown-Nowell said. “We want more sunlight coming in on the kids.”

Cononver also stressed the importance of sunlight and cited research showing it “positively impacts students’ performance, behavior and overall well-being.”

Behrens said his team prioritized natural light, and some windows may appear smaller than they are because of the scale of the renderings; but large windows and natural light are “very much a part of the design moving forward.”

The schematic design was listed as an action item on the meeting agenda but was not voted on. Behrens and his team will update their designs to reflect school directors’ feedback, he said. They will also present their design plan in front of the Allentown Planning Commission for the second time in coming weeks.

Other board news

Earlier in the meeting, school directors also approved a parameters resolution, authorizing the future issuance of one or more bond series totaling $135 million for purchasing the East Side school site and constructing the new school building.

Richard Fazio, ASD’s interim chief financial officer, said the district will likely spend less than that amount. Any bonds for the project still need to come before the board for approval. Fazio said he anticipates the district needing about a $15 million bond to purchase the property for the new school, and a larger bond later on to pay for construction, which is targeted to start next fall.

Superintendent Carol Birks said the new school will cost an estimated $100 million.

She also said the district is in the discussion phase for another East Side project – turning Andre Reed Park into an athletic facility for Dieruff High School students. ASD is working with the City of Allentown, which owns the park. The district recently received state funding via the city for a master site plan for the project.

“The city has said they have a commitment to helping us,” she said.

What is the best internet provider in Allentown?

Verizon Fios is the best internet service provider in Allentown. With exceptional fiber-optic coverage, fast speeds, favorable service terms and a lengthy price guarantee, the 100% fiber provider delivers symmetrical (or nearly so) upload and download speeds that vary from 300 to 2,300 megabits per second, marking the swiftest internet speeds obtainable in Allentown. The service package currently includes equipment rental, unlimited data and a five-year price guarantee.

While being the very best in Allentown, unfortunately Verizon Fios isn’t the cheapest ISP. That honor goes to cable internet provider Astound, with service starting at just $20 monthly for speeds up to 300Mbps. That said, while the provider’s low pricing is tempting, it’s only good for two years, after which the monthly rate may increase by $100 or more, so be aware of that before you sign up.

Fellow cable provider Service Electric Cable Television features more stable, yet slightly more expensive, pricing with plans ranging from 100 to 1,000Mbps, starting at $48 to $147 per month. While SECTV has you paying more from the start, there are no steep, scheduled price increases, so it may be a better deal down the road.

If you prefer predictability, T-Mobile Home Internet is another ISP worth considering in Allentown. Maximum speeds aren’t as fast as other popular broadband options in the area, but the contract-free internet service comes with free equipment rental, unlimited data, a distinctive price guarantee and a discount for eligible T-Mobile voice customers.

Best internet in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

How to find internet deals and promotions in Allentown

The best internet deals and the top promotions in Allentown depend on what discounts are available during that time. Most deals are short-lived, but we look frequently for the latest offers.

Allentown internet providers, such as Astound and T-Mobile Home Internet, may offer lower introductory pricing or other incentives for a limited time. Many, including Verizon Fios and Service Electric, run the same standard pricing year-round.

For a more extensive list of promos, check out our guide on the best internet deals.

Source: CNET analysis of provider data.

What’s a good internet speed?

Most internet connection plans can now handle basic productivity and communication tasks. If you're looking for an internet plan that can accommodate videoconferencing, streaming video or gaming, you'll have a better experience with a more robust connection. Here's an overview of the recommended minimum download speeds for various applications, according to the Federal Communications Commission. Note that these are only guidelines and that internet speed, service and performance vary by connection type, provider and address.

For more information, refer to our guide on how much internet speed you really need.

How CNET chose the best internet providers in Allentown, Pennsylvania

Internet service providers are numerous and regional. Unlike the latest smartphone, laptop, router or kitchen tool, it’s impractical to personally test every ISP in a given city. What’s our approach? We start by researching the pricing, availability and speed information, drawing on our own historical ISP data, the provider sites and mapping information from the Federal Communications Commission at FCC.gov.

It doesn’t end there: We go to the FCC’s website to check our data and ensure we consider every ISP that provides service in an area. We also input local addresses on provider websites to find specific options for residents. We look at sources, including the American Customer Satisfaction Index and J.D. Power, to evaluate how happy customers are with an ISP’s service. ISP plans and prices are subject to frequent changes; all information provided is accurate as of publication.

Once we have this localized information, we ask three main questions:

While the answers to those questions are often layered and complex, the providers that come closest to “yes” on all three are the ones we recommend. When selecting the cheapest internet service, we look for the plans with the lowest monthly fee, although we also factor in things like price increases, equipment fees and contracts. Choosing the fastest internet service is relatively straightforward. We look at advertised upload and download speeds and consider real-world speed data from sources like Ookla and FCC reports. (Disclosure: Ookla is owned by the same parent company as CNET, Ziff Davis.)

To explore our process in more depth, visit our how we test ISPs page.

Internet providers in Allentown, Pennsylvania, FAQs