Upper Perkiomen Valley Chamber of Commerce News Newswire

The Pennsylvania CDFI Network Has Officially Opened Its Microgrants Program

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 12:14:33 GMT

Good news for our incredible small business owners!

The Pennsylvania CDFI Network has officially opened its Microgrants Program, providing grant funding ranging from $7,500 to $20,000 to help historically disadvantaged businesses start, grow, and thrive. Unlike a loan, these funds do not have to be repaid and can be used for a variety of business expenses, including equipment, inventory, marketing, website development, professional services, working capital, rent, insurance, and other eligible business growth needs.

The application period is open now through August 10, 2026, so we encourage you to review the program and determine if you are eligible to apply.

For questions, eligibility requirements, and to apply, please visit:
https://www.pacdfinetwork.org/basc-microgrants-programs

Ears, Nose & Throat and Allergy & Asthma Specialties Join St. Luke’s University Health Network

Wed, 15 Jul 2026 16:13:43 GMT

Two of the Lehigh Valley’s biggest independent ENT (otolaryngology) and allergy-asthma practices have joined St. Luke’s University Health Network, adding new specialty care services to the health care system that is ranked #1 in quality, safety and patient experience by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services.

Effective July 1, Specialty Physician Associates and the Center for Allergy & Asthma Care joined St. Luke’s and will now operate as St. Luke’s Ears, Nose & Throat and St. Luke’s Allergy, Asthma & Immunology.

This addition significantly expands access to specialty care across the region, bringing into the St. Luke’s family more than 30 providers and more than 10 locations throughout the Lehigh Valley, including Quakertown and Wind Gap.

“This is exciting news for St. Luke’s,” said Scott Siegfried, Vice President, Specialty Care Division of St. Luke’s Physician Group. “These organizations have always been close partners, so to officially welcome them into the family will only enhance the care we provide to patients.”

Together, these new teams strengthen St. Luke’s ability to provide comprehensive, coordinated care closer to home for even more patients and communities.

These two long established and highly regarded practices have been intertwined in the fabric of St. Luke’s over many years and have been strong allies of St. Luke’s organization and partners, according to David Yen, MD, who specializes in otolaryngology as well as head and neck surgery.

The physicians in these practices chose to join St. Luke’s due to its efficient, integrated system and positive workplace culture, according to Shannon Kearney, DO, an allergy, asthma and immunology physician

“I am excited for the opportunity to grow alongside St. Luke’s,” said David Yen, MD. “As a longtime partner, I’ve enjoyed everything about St. Luke’s, and now this enables us to provide care to our patients across a broader network of physicians. This decision was made with our patients in mind, and we believe it will only enhance the care we provide to them.”

Kearney echoed Dr. Yen's sentiments and called St. Luke’s a “well-oiled machine.” She also says St. Luke’s “really feels like home” and that she would not have joined a hospital system other than St. Luke’s. “I’ve always valued St. Luke’s commitment to high-quality, compassionate care." Michael Ciliberti, MD, an allergist, agreed. “We are so happy to be joining the St. Luke’s family, because that’s what it is,” Dr. Ciliberti said. “Everyone in the office feels the same way.”

For St. Luke’s, the addition addresses a growing community need in the Lehigh Valley, one of the worst areas in the country for seasonal allergies. This represents both a strategic expansion and a validation of St. Luke’s stellar reputation.

"With the legacy and reputation of these organizations, and the strength and stability of St. Luke’s, both areas will continue to grow and support the needs of our communities”, Siegfried said.

St. Luke’s Ear, Nose & Throat Locations

2851 Baglyos Circle, Suite 201, Bethlehem, PA 18020
3445 High Point Boulevard, Suite 202, Bethlehem, PA 18017
3445 High Point Boulevard, Suite 400, Bethlehem, PA 18017
497 Bushkill Place Lane, Suite C Wind Gap, PA 18081
1900 AM Drive, Suite 101, Quakertown, PA 18951
1728 West Jonathan Street, Suite 100, Allentown, PA 18104

St. Luke’s Asthma, Allergy & Immunology Locations

3445 High Point Boulevard, Suite 400A, Bethlehem, PA 18017
3445 High Point Boulevard, Suite 400B, Bethlehem, PA 18017
497 Bushkill Place Lane, Suite A Wind Gap, PA 18081
1900 AM Drive, Suite 101, Quakertown, PA 18951
1728 West Jonathan Street, Suite 100, Allentown, PA 18104
2925 William Penn Highway, Suite 303, Easton, PA 18045
250 Cetronia Road, Suite 103, Allentown PA 18104

Photo Caption: L-R: David Yen, MD; Michael Ciliberti, MD; Shannon Kearney, DO.

St. Luke’s Expands Access to Primary Care with Launch of Family Medicine Residency Program at Grand View

Mon, 13 Jul 2026 12:12:06 GMT

St. Luke’s University Health Network officially celebrated the launch of the Family Medicine Residency Program at Grand View on July 9, welcoming residents and faculty to the new program.

The event also recognized a generous $1.5 million gift from the St. Luke’s Grand View Health Foundation to fund the creation of expanded clinical and educational space at St. Luke’s Grand View Primary Care of Quakertown, which is located within St. Luke’s Health Plaza in Quakertown.

The new residency program represents a significant step forward in addressing the growing demand for primary care providers across Upper Bucks and Montgomery counties.

The Family Medicine Residency Program at Grand View is the first program of its kind serving these communities and is part of St. Luke’s ongoing commitment to strengthening its primary care pipeline. Over the past decade, St. Luke’s has more than doubled its number of residency and fellowship programs, many focused on primary care. Nearly half of its primary care residents choose to remain with the Network after completing training—exceeding the statewide average.

The new program is led by Dr. Suzann Szewczak, who will serve as Program Director while continuing her clinical practice.

“This program is an investment in the health of our community for generations to come,” said Dr. Szewczak. “We are training compassionate, highly skilled physicians in the very communities where they are most needed, ensuring patients have access to personalized, continuous care close to home.”

St. Luke’s Grand View Campus, which joined St. Luke’s in 2025, has served the community for more than a century. Located in Sellersville, the campus offers state-of-the-art technology, comprehensive specialty services, and a supportive learning environment for new physicians.

The expansion would not have been possible without the support of the St. Luke’s Grand View Health Foundation.

“We are proud to support a program that directly improves access to high-quality care in our community,” said Diane Brown, Chair of the St. Luke’s Grand View Health Foundation. “This investment reflects our commitment to building a stronger, healthier future by helping train the next generation of primary care physicians right here in our region.”

Photo caption: Front row (left to right): Patricia Brown O’Hara, RN, PhD, Vice Chair of the St. Luke’s Grand View Health Foundation; Joan Holtman, Senior Director, Primary Care; JoAnn Klinedinst, St. Luke’s Grand View Health Foundation board member; Suzann Szewczak, DO, Program Director; Diane Brown, Chair, St. Luke’s Grand View Health Foundation; Back row (left to right): Robert Langan, MD, Associate Program Director; Bill Moyer, St. Luke’s West Region President; Douglas Hughes, RN, BSN, MBA, President of St. Luke’s Grand View Campus; Dennis Pfleiger, President of St. Luke’s Upper Bucks Campus and St. Luke’s Quakertown Campus

11,000 Participants to Converge in Lehigh Valley for St. Luke’s Pocono Spartan Race

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:14:53 GMT

The borough of Palmerton is about to triple its population over the weekend when more than 11,000 competitors take part in the 2026 Pocono Spartan Race at Blue Mountain Ski Area. St. Luke’s University Health Network is the Official and Exclusive Health System and Hospital Provider of the 2026 Poconos Spartan Race Event to be held July 11-12. Palmerton has a population of about 5,500, so this weekend’s race will triple the number of people in the Carbon County hamlet during one of the top five Spartan events on the East Coast.

"Spartan is built on overcoming obstacles and expanding what’s possible, but nobody accomplishes that alone,” said Brian Cox, Director of Global Partnerships at Spartan. “Having an elite Partner in St. Luke’s provides our racers with the high-level preparation and unmatched recovery support they need before and after an intense weekend at Blue Mountain. We hope to continue to grow this Partnership for many years to come.”

This weekend’s Spartan events will include a 5K sprint with 20 obstacles, a super 10K with 25 obstacles, and kids races from ½- to 2-miles with obstacles. It will also feature a Spartan Trail race on pristine single-track trails too narrow and inaccessible for obstacle building. All races will take place on Blue Mountain.

John Graham, Senior Network Administrator, Fitness & Sports Performance, and Spartan participant, is excited to mark St. Luke’s fifth year as presenting sponsor of this event in partnership with Spartan. “It’s absolutely incredible to see such determination and human spirit on display,” says Graham, who is a co-captain along with Dave Wood of St. Luke’s Spartan team. “As we celebrate our fifth year, we look forward to everyone stretching their limits and overcoming every obstacle with us. Participants are tested at every turn, making it such an empowering and life-changing race.”

During the event, St. Luke’s Chiropractic Care and St. Luke’s Sports Medicine team members will be available at the “St. Luke’s Spartans” tent, where participants can go for assistance with recovery. The tent will include post-race stretching and recovery tools to help speed up the body’s recovery from the intense event. St. Luke’s will also provide snacks and drinks to help participants rehydrate during and after their events. All finishers receive a T-shirt, medal and professional photos.

Experts from St. Luke’s Fitness Centers, Physical Therapy and Running Institute, and members of the St. Luke’s medical staff provided training and racing tips to participants and help coach teams. Spartan Training Classes lasting 90 minutes and were held every Monday and Saturday until July 9 at St. Luke’s Fitness & Sports Performance Center West End.

St. Luke’s Fitness & Sports Performance also offers group fitness classes at its Carbon, Commerce Way, Anderson, Warren and West End facilities. For more information on the metabolic class schedule, email mystlukes@sluhn.org.

About Spartan

Spartan is a global experiential sport and wellness brand with a 10 million+ strong community. We create transformational experiences, products, and content to help people, companies and teams tear down boundaries and expand what they believe to be possible. Spartan combines large scale global events with a vibrant digital content and community platform. With 250 events across more than 40 countries on six continents, Spartan is the world's leading extreme wellness and endurance brand. Visit spartan.com for more information and registration.

Pennridge Pediatrics Joins St. Luke’s

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:11:09 GMT

Pennridge Pediatrics, a long-standing and trusted pediatric practice in Bucks County, has joined St. Luke’s University Health Network. The practice, now known as St. Luke’s Pennridge Pediatrics, provides families in the region direct access to high-quality pediatric care.

The St. Luke’s name is synonymous with all-around excellence. This past fall, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services ranked St. Luke’s #1 – ahead of Houston Methodist and Mayo Clinic, two of the nation’s most prestigious institutions – as the nation’s top health system for quality, safety, and patient experience. This objective recognition, based on public data reported to the government, reaffirmed St. Luke’s preeminent position among the leading health systems in the country.

“Welcoming Pennridge Pediatrics into St. Luke’s represents an important step in expanding access to exceptional pediatric care in Bucks County,” St. Luke’s Vice President of Women’s & Children’s Service Lines Jessika Haynos said. “We are proud to partner with this highly regarded team to provide even more comprehensive services for children and their families.”

The Pennridge Pediatrics team joining St. Luke’s includes:

Deborah Faccenda, MD
Richard Kratz, MD
Anuta Dolha, MD
Danielle Lee, MD
Rebecca Bibro, CRNP
Lindsey Baranik, CRNP
Victoria Phifer, CRNP

Patients will continue to receive care at the practice’s existing locations:

711 Lawn Avenue, Sellersville, PA 18960
270 Main Street, Harleysville, PA 19438

Through this integration, Pennridge Pediatrics patients will gain expanded access to the full breadth of pediatric services available through St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital, including more than 40 pediatric specialties, advanced pediatric inpatient care at the Grand View Campus and St. Luke’s Children’s Hospital at the Bethlehem Campus, and a dedicated pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) and a specialized children’s ER in Bethlehem.

To schedule an appointment, the new phone number for St. Luke’s Pennridge Pediatrics is 484-658-KIDS (5437).

St. Luke’s Launches Veterans Health Care Navigation Line to Improve Access and Support for Those Who Served

Thu, 09 Jul 2026 12:09:40 GMT

St. Luke’s University Health Network is proud to announce the launch of its new Veterans Health Care Navigation Line, a dedicated resource designed to simplify access to care and provide personalized guidance for veterans and their families. The service began this month, marking a significant step forward in the Network’s commitment to serving those who have served our nation.

By calling 484-526-VETS (8387), veterans can connect directly with a specialized team trained to assist with navigating the health care system, including support with insurance questions, referrals, scheduling appointments and accessing benefits.

The new navigation line is part of a broader initiative to create a more coordinated, accessible, and veteran-centered care experience across St. Luke’s. In addition to the navigation line, St. Luke’s is gathering direct feedback from veterans to better understand their needs, introducing a specialized hospital bracelet to identify and support veteran patients, and offering veteran-focused events such as the Veterans Hike held on June 13.

“Veterans deserve access to high-quality, coordinated care, and our goal is to make that experience as seamless as possible,” said Chad Brisendine, Chief Information Officer and Chair of St. Luke’s Veterans Services Committee. “The Veterans Health Care Navigation Line connects veterans directly with knowledgeable team members who understand their unique needs and are dedicated to guiding them every step of the way.”

St. Luke’s has long been committed to honoring and supporting veterans through comprehensive health care services, community partnerships, and employment and education opportunities. The navigation line enhances these efforts by providing a single, trusted point of contact for veterans seeking care across the Network.

This effort reflects St. Luke’s mission to ensure every veteran receives high-quality care close to home, delivered by providers who understand the unique physical, emotional, and transitional challenges associated with military service.

From primary and specialty care to mental health services and wellness programs, St. Luke’s offers a full continuum of care tailored to veterans and military families. The Network works closely with TRICARE, the VA Community Care Network, and other military health programs to ensure seamless coordination and access. The Veterans Health Care Navigation Line reinforces this commitment, offering personalized assistance so veterans can focus on their health, their families and the lives they’ve earned.

Building a Stronger Food Industry Workforce Together Event July 28

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:25:19 GMT

Restaurant owners, food entrepreneurs, food manufacturers, caterers, and hospitality professionals are invited to join Montgomery County's Building a Stronger Food Industry Workforce Together forum on Tuesday, July 28, from 9:00 to 10:30 a.m. at Montgomery County Community College in Blue Bell.

This interactive discussion will bring together food industry professionals to explore hiring and retention strategies, connect with peers, learn about available workforce resources, and help shape future workforce initiatives that support Montgomery County's food industry. A complimentary light breakfast will be provided.

Event Details:

Date: Tuesday, July 28, 2026

Time: 9:00 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Location: Montgomery County Community College, College Hall – Community Room, 340 Morris Road, Blue Bell, PA 19422

Campus Map: https://www.mc3.edu/maps-and-directions/assets/blue-bell/blue-bell-campus-map.pdf

There is no cost to attend, but registration is required.

Please register here: https://forms.office.com/r/D0rpYDpBJV

We hope you'll join us for this collaborative conversation to help strengthen Montgomery County's food industry workforce!

Heritage Center Unveils New Quilt Exhibit - Contemporary Quilts Feted At July 15 Reception

Tue, 07 Jul 2026 17:10:45 GMT

Pennsburg, PA —The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center is pleased to announce a new quilt exhibit that is on view through November 5: From Gifts of Love to Finding My Artistic Voice. This exhibit of contemporary quilts made by Jamee Pemberton of Quakertown explores how she turned a hobby making gifts into a means of artistic expression. All are invited to an opening reception to meet the artist on Wednesday, July 15, from 10am to 2pm. The event is free and light refreshments will be served.

The Schwenkfelder Library & Heritage Center at 105 Seminary Street, Pennsburg, is the regional history center for the Upper Perkiomen and often displays works by contemporary artists as part of its mission. The building is open free of charge Tuesday through Saturday from 10am to 4pm and Sundays from 1 to 4pm. For more information on upcoming programs and exhibits, visit schwenkfelder.org.

St. Luke’s Urges Parents to Be Vigilant Amid Increased Measles Risk

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:14:31 GMT

With an increase in measles cases recently reported in eastern Pennsylvania, St. Luke’s pediatricians are encouraging parents to take steps to protect their children, including discussing an accelerated vaccination schedule with their child's healthcare provider.

“Measles is one of the most contagious infectious diseases, but vaccination is the safest and most effective way to protect your child and those around them,” said Jennifer Janco, MD, Chair of St. Luke’s Pediatrics.

Dr. Janco recommends that parents of children who live in or plan to travel to areas where measles cases have been reported consult their pediatrician about whether an earlier vaccination schedule may be appropriate:

Infants ages 6-11 months may be eligible for an early dose of the MMR (measles, mumps and rubella) vaccine.
Children who have already received one MMR dose at one year of age may be eligible to receive their second dose earlier than the usual four-year-old dose

An up-to-date list of Pennsylvania counties with confirmed measles cases is available at www.pa.gov/measles.

“We strongly encourage parents to contact their child’s healthcare provider, especially before traveling, to ensure their child is up to date on recommended vaccinations and adequately protected against measles,” Dr. Janco said.

Wolf, Baldwin & Associates, P.C. Announces the Retirement of Charles D. Garner, JR, ESQ.

Fri, 03 Jul 2026 18:02:21 GMT

Pottstown, PA –July 1, 2026 – Wolf, Baldwin & Associates, P.C. announces the retirement of Attorney Charles D. Garner, Jr. as of July 1, 2026.

“We were extremely honored in 2012 when Mr. Garner left his previous firm and asked to join us here at Wolf, Baldwin & Associates,” said Levi Wolf, managing partner of Wolf, Baldwin & Associates. “It meant a lot to us that an attorney so well-respected in the community would seek to associate himself with our firm. It has been a professional pleasure to work alongside him for over a decade, and we will miss his legal acumen and thoughtful advice. The whole Pottstown community benefitted from his guidance to the Borough of Pottstown and I am sure that all of the elected officials and staff who worked with him will miss him dearly. We wish Chuck the best of luck in his well-deserved retirement.”

Mr. Garner received his juris doctor from Dickinson School of Law in 1986. He practiced with the firm of Reynier, Crocker, Allebach & Reber from 1986 through 1998, after which he started his own law firm, Garner and Bauer. He joined Wolf, Baldwin & Associates in 2012.

Mr. Garner served as Solicitor for the Upper Perk Police Commission, Pennsburg Borough, Upper Pottsgrove Township, Limerick Township Zoning Hearing Board, Lower Pottsgrove Township, Phoenixville Borough, and the Douglass Township Planning Agency. His longest municipal appointment was with the Borough of Pottstown, where he served as Solicitor for the Borough and the Planning Commission from 1996 to December 2025.

A donation to the Richard J. Ricketts Community Center in Pottstown has been made in honor of Attorney Garner. The Ricketts Center provides activities and programming to the local Pottstown community, and is a program of the Boyertown Area Multi-Service. Donations can be made in Mr. Garner’s honor at: https://www.boyertownareamulti-service.org/the-ricketts-center/

Wolf, Baldwin & Associates, P.C., is a general practice law firm Pottstown, established in 1973 by founding partner Jack F. Wolf. Bruce L. Baldwin joined the firm in 1987, and Levi S. Wolf joined the firm in 1996. The firm has additional offices in Reading, West Chester, and Pennsburg. Practice areas include Workers’ Compensation matters, Business and Corporate Law, Estate Planning, Estate Administration and Probate, Real Estate, and General Civil Litigation.