Tax on natural gas would harm state’s recovery
As spring nears, time to tackle home improvement projects
Pennsylvania has gone from energy importer to key exporter and the second-largest producer of natural gas in the nation. That’s thanks to the shale revolution made possible by modern hydraulic fracturing and horizontal drilling.
As the demand for affordable, reliable and clean energy grows, Pennsylvania’s natural gas industry has met the need while generating good-paying jobs and billions in impact fees and other tax revenues that have benefited all 67 counties.
Gov. Wolf ’s severance tax plan, however, would do more harm than good. In addition to discouraging investment and job creation, a severance tax could increase household energy bills and consumer prices for commonly used items and services.
To get our economy back on track and generate new jobs, we need policies supporting job creators such as the natural gas and oil industry, which sustains thousands of direct and indirect jobs in Pennsylvania. Imposing another energy tax could put more Pennsylvanians out of work and increase costs for businesses and consumers, undermining our economic recovery and energy future.
Stephanie Catarino Wissman
The writer is executive director of American Petroleum Institute Pennsylvania, Harrisburg.
As spring is finally in sight, so too are new beginnings. From flowers pushing up through the ground to birds returning from their winter getaways, signs of renewal are all around us.
The warmer days are also a good opportunity to tackle those home improvement projects that we’ve been putting off for months — OK, maybe years.
Whether it’s a small project like replacing a handrail or a more elaborate project like upgrading your deck, a new lumber store in Hellertown has your hardwood needs covered.
Maple Street Woodworking, which opened Feb. 12 at 76 W. Water St., carries around two dozen types of wood, from common varieties such as birch, cherry, red oak and walnut to exotics such as wenge, lacewood, sapele and purple heart.
Owner Phil Kochsmeier also handles custom woodworking projects, including bedroom sets, kitchen cabinets and bathroom vanities.
“People will often send me a picture of a table, vanity or another piece of furniture and ask if I can make it,” he said. “Nine times out of 10, I say yes. I don’t do chairs though.”
Kochsmeier, a Lower Saucon Township native, is a self-taught woodworker who in June moved back to the region after living in Ohio for nearly a decade.
It was in Ohio where he met his wife, started a family and kicked off a career in woodworking, the latter resulting from necessity after he needed to furnish his home on a budget.
“First, I sold a mower and trailer to get the down payment on the home,” he explained. “Then I went to a pawn shop, bought a few random tools and literally drove around to find down barns and pick up free lumber to build furniture.”
Kochsmeier, who now lives in East Greenville, does planing, custom projects and other woodworking services in his Sellersville workshop.
He sources lumber from two Pennsylvania-based mills, with popular varieties including poplar and hard maple.
Customers can purchase pieces measuring 7 to 10 feet long and 1 to 4 inches thick. Smaller pieces measuring a couple of feet long are available on a donation basis.
“As long as I have 4 feet of wood to put back on the floor, I’ll cut a piece smaller if a customer wants,” Kochsmeier said.
The shop, which is open 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Monday through Friday and 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Saturdays, also sells plywood, hand-crafted wooden American flags and General Finishes paints, stains and topcoats.
Kochsmeier enjoys educating the community about woodworking and invites anyone to come and chat about projects and also enjoy free coffee and doughnuts, 8 to 9 a.m. Saturdays before the shop opens.
“Even if you’re not into woodworking and just want the doughnuts, that’s fine, too,” Kochsmeier joked. Info: 610-2970286; maplestreetwoodworking.com.
Foodie finds
From lumber to lasagna, Mama Minniti’s, offering made-from-scratch gnocchi and other Italian dishes along with cheesesteaks, club sandwiches and other American favorites, opened Wednesday at 1701 E. Susquehanna St. in Salisbury Township.
The building previously housed other eateries, including Pantry Diner, Francesco’s Italian Ristorante & Pizzeria and MaGia’s Friendly Italian, in recent years.
“I’m Mama Minniti,” owner Tawnya Minniti said. “My daughter’s friends have always called me Mama Minniti.”
The BYOB, full-service restaurant, with seating for 75 (half temporarily due to COVID-19 restrictions), also offers breakfast selections (7-11 a.m. Tuesday through Friday and 7 a.m.-1 p.m. Saturdays and Sundays), including Belgian waffles, chocolate chip pancakes, French toast, three-egg omelettes, eggs Benedict with Hollandise sauce, homemade biscuits with sausage gravy and breakfast sandwiches on your choice of bagel, English muffin or toast.
For fans of Italian cuisine, Mama Minniti’s offers a variety of specialties, including chicken and seafood dinners (starting at $14.99) such as chicken Marsala, shrimp scampi and calamari marinara, as well as pasta dinners such as fettuccine alfredo, capellini caprese and stuffed shells.
Other menu highlights include 14and 16-inch specialty pizzas such as margherita and meat lovers, starters such as jumbo wings and homemade mozzarella sticks, sandwiches such as chicken parmesan and pastrami with Swiss cheese and desserts such as homemade pies.
“Everything we make is from scratch,” Tawnya said. “My husband makes the gnocchi from scratch. He makes the meatballs from scratch. We also make all of our own sauces, including our meat sauce, which is a family recipe.”
During warm months, a front window will be used to serve gelato, pizza and other food to outdoor diners. Info: 610-351-4366.
Another delicious addition to Lehigh Valley’s dining scene: Viva Cafe, specializing in breakfast and Mexican
cuisine, opened Feb. 27 at 107 E. Union Blvd. in Bethlehem.
The 10-seat eatery, operated by Jose Torres, offers all-day breakfast options such as French toast, pancakes, eggs Benedict, threeegg omelettes, chicken fried steak and eggs, pierogies topped with creamed chipped beef, combination platters and egg sandwiches on your choice of bagel, croissant, English muffin or Kaiser roll.
Mexican highlights include flautas, nachos, quesadillas, burritos, tacos, enchiladas and fajitas.
There are also specialty desserts such as chocoflan and tres leches cake. Info: 610-7073304; facebook.com/Viva. Bakery.cafe.
A final tasty tid-bit: As my colleague Jennifer Sheehan reported this week, Green Vida Co. Downtown, specializing in organic cold-pressed juices, smoothies and more, opened earlier this month at the Easton Public Market.
It is the second venture for Jackie and Wilson Rueda, of Bangor. The duo owns Green Vida Co., the flagship that opened in 2018 in Bangor, and then moved in 2019 to Forks Township.
The market venue is a smaller version of their Forks location, offering many of their most popular items including signature organic cold-pressed juices; smoothies and smoothie bowls; and salads. It also offers signature toasts, such as The Avocado Toast, and vegan and gluten-free items. Info: greenvidacompany. com.
XGOLF Lehigh Valley
For golfers looking to swing and putt year-round, XGOLF Lehigh Valley, a 10,000-squarefoot golf-themed sports bar and family entertainment center, is expected to open within the next couple of months at 80 Kunkle Drive in Palmer Township, according to franchise co-owner Robert Barlow.
The building previously housed other restaurants, including Don Pablo’s Mexican Kitchen, Celtic-themed sports pub Tilted Kilt and, most recently, The Cask Taphouse and Grill.
“I’m thinking May — hopefully, May 1,” Barlow said in regard to a target opening date.
XGOLF Lehigh Valley, featuring seven golf simulators with state-of-the-art technology, is part of a national franchise, XGOLF America, that’s being brought to the area by Barlow and his wife, Robin, of Williams Township.
The Los Angeles-based company, founded in 2015, features golf simulator bays with bright and durable hitting screens, luxury memory foam enclosures and cutting-edge technology, including automatic ball feeders, high-definition projectors, high-performance 3-D graphics, precision sensor systems, sophisticated swing analysis and 93 of the world’s most popular golf courses.
The Palmer spot, with seating for more than 100 customers, will feature a full bar and serve pub staples such as burgers, wings, fries and flatbread pizzas, Robert said.
Golf lessons, leagues, club fitting and open play will be available, and an outdoor deck with fire pits is also planned. Info: xgolflehighvalley.com.
Odds and ends
For individuals who’d rather play musical instruments than golf, Walden’s Music and Gifts, offering instrument sales, rentals, repairs and more, about a month ago moved from its 2-year-old spot at 134 E. Broad St. in Quakertown to a new location at 291 N. West End Blvd. in Richland Township.
“It’s a little more narrow and deeper, with room on the sides for practice and storage,” owner John Waldenberger said of the business’ new space.
Waldenberger, a 2007 Souderton Area High School graduate, established Walden’s in 2013 by selling musical gifts and novelties at band competitions.
The business has consistently grown over the years, from outgrowing a space at the Quakertown Farmers Market to opening its first full-time store on Quakertown’s Broad Street to moving to its new Route 309 location in the Penn Center Plaza.
Customers can shop an assortment of instruments, including guitars, saxophones and keyboards, along with accessories such as drumsticks, reeds and speakers.
“We also offer consignment, rentals for schools and lessons,” said Waldenberger, who teaches trumpet and French horn. Info: 267-347-4221.
Lastly, as my colleague Christina Tatu and I reported this week, the Bethlehem location of Ahart’s Market is closing at the end of April, a manager at the store confirmed Wednesday.
The 20-year-old store at 410 Montclair Ave. will close April 30 because of slower sales caused by the coronavirus pandemic, manager Luis Morales said. Fewer students have been shopping at the store as Lehigh University switched to remote learning during the pandemic, which also affected sales, Morales said.
Ahart’s has other locations in Bath, Allentown and Blakeslee. Those locations will remain open, Morales said. A Phillipsburg location of the store closed in 2017.
The closure of Ahart’s will leave South Side residents with one major grocery store, C-Town, on Third Street.