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Hello and welcome to living in the Lehigh Valley, the recap show.

I'm Brittany Sweeney, and I'm Grover Silcox.

Our weekly segment focuses on health and wellness in the Valley, and now we're checking back in on some of our most recently featured guests.

That's right.

Grover.

Over the last few months, we've had the privilege to tell some remarks.

Stories of health tragedies turn to health triumphs.

That's right.

Brett.

I know we both enjoy meeting the folks at the heart of the stories.

We do absolutely.

And today we get to check back in with some of them.

First up, a newer partnership in the Lehigh Valley aims to strengthen the health and well-being of entrepreneurs, especially those in the black and brown communities.

The Watson Bed School of Construction and Saint Luke's University Health Network are launching a program aimed at getting minority contractors more representation in health care construction projects.

321.

With the snip of a ribbon, students from the Watson that school of construction are on their way to building a better business.

I really want to grow my company to the next level.

Nicole Gerhardt is the owner of C.C.

visions LLC, a construction business in Whitehall Township that she built from the ground up.

I'd like to take on higher bid.

Getting certified and actually being able to bid for those contracts is predominantly my, reason.

Gerhardt grew up in the Lehigh Valley and is part of one of the first classes in the Watson Math School.

This is a great opportunity for the people in the community because we don't often get these opportunities, you know, given to us.

So we have to work for them.

The eight week program has two paths, one for young adults under 28 years old interested in the professional side of the construction business.

And the other is for small business owners.

It's an opportunity for small business owners to learn to scale their businesses so that we can get involved in construction sites that are going up and youth in the community to see that they're place in the community, to have hope and to know that all of this development can include them.

Hassan Bhatt, who heads the nonprofit Promise Neighborhoods of the Lehigh Valley, is the co-founder of this school.

When people feel a sense of hopelessness and they don't see opportunities, they fall into diseases of despair and they fall to support decision making.

He says they partnered with Saint Luke's to offer their students a chance at better health outcomes through employment and business ownership.

Saint Luke's came along as a partner and recognized that they said, we're here to to to fight for for healthy outcomes and healthy life and health outcomes.

And, this collaboration is doing just that.

The program is based out of the health providers Careerlink center at the Sacred Heart campus in Allentown.

So when we look at our community health needs assessment.

Workforce development was one of the key issues in there.

And in terms of helping people secure training and creating a pathway to employment, and that pathway to employment and securing employment is really essential in in someone's overall health.

Bill Moyer, a Saint Luke's West Region president.

This is a continuation of our commitment to the community to ensure that we have those pathways for career development.

The Watson That School of Construction was co-founded by the president of Watson Organization, Ivan Watson.

He started the Philadelphia based company More than a decade ago with no prior business knowledge.

We didn't understand the business.

We didn't have any mentors to really guide us through, and we learned the hard lesson, and we learned that hard lesson and a lot of ways.

He's now using his years of experience to mentor a new generation.

We were cautious about that not happening to other businesses, particularly diverse businesses, because they were already at a disadvantage.

They're already lacking opportunities.

They're already lacking confidence.

For students like Gerhart, it's about building a stronger business so families can have a healthy and financially sound future ahead.

I always wanted to create something for them that, you know, would leave a legacy so that they, you know, to create that generational wealth so that they are able to, take this business to the next level.

Currently, the program has 21 students, but the plan is to expand.

Students are accepted based on what community they live in, what income level they hold, whether they are a disadvantaged business, and what their goals are, according to Batts.

He says the partnership with Saint Luke's not only helps career growth, but also builds relationships between large companies like the health care provider and small business owners in the community.

And it works with students on how to make sure that their businesses qualify for large scale contracts.

So that's things like bonding that things like insurance does, things like walking a job, like putting forth a bid, making sure that it's really a level of professional ism that can take them from residential construction, like, maybe redoing someone's bathroom or basement to building towers.

What a driven group of students.

They absolutely are.

Grover.

And the first class of the Watson Bat School of Construction was expected to graduate within weeks of the ribbon cutting.

Here, now, to catch up on how the program is doing is Doctor Hassan Batts, thank you so much for joining us.

Thank you for having me.

I'm excited.

It's great to see you again.

Great to be here a remarkable piece.

Thank you so much for sharing all of that with us.

And that was just the beginning.

That's right.

So how are things going now?

It's amazing.

So the students graduated in December and they're ready for the world.

So the students showed up, they did their part.

And the graduation was beautiful.

And now we're waiting on the partners within the community to bring forth the jobs for them.

Wow.

Now, there was talk of a graduation.

Did that happen?

Yeah, the graduation was amazing.

We had four generations there.

The standing room only.

I mean, it was beautiful.

How many graduates?

21.

Wow.

And these are 21 people from the community.

Born and raised in Allentown, Lehigh Valley area.

That that are looking to make a contribution to the built environment.

Wonderful.

So what do you have planned for 2025 for the school and the next classes to come?

So the next class is going to come around March and then the schools.

Also, we're looking at Tennessee.

We've been asked to come to Harrisburg.

I mean, the school is just growing, but really here in the Lehigh Valley, what we're focusing on are jobs for the students that have graduated.

So they've shown up, they've done their part, and we're looking for anchor institutions and places like hospitals, health care systems, universities that are building.

We want our students to be a part of that.

Hassan, why is it so important to offer these opportunities to black and brown communities and other underserved populations, because it builds hope to know that there are opportunities that are going to be shared in our area.

I mean, as you drive down the road, you see buildings going up constantly, and people are losing hope because they feel as though they don't have a part of that.

So this is huge.

And at this point, the onus is on the owners and the builders to say, we want to partner with the community.

We want this to be about equity.

They have the skills, they have the experience, and they have the passion.

So they're showing up and we're just waiting for the other side of the right.

Not only hope, but I bet it builds confidence as well.

That's right.

Yeah.

And construction is really about repetition, right.

So so the more you do it, the better you get.

And if we want to create these pipelines and pathways to generational wealth, to safety within our community, to, you know, just opportunities in general, we have to start here and start now.

And that's why we started the school.

Do you see a transformation in the students as they go through the process?

Yeah, exactly what you just said.

We've seen their confidence skyrocket.

So these are folks that again, have been building, decks, finishing basements, doing kitchens.

And now they know that they're prepared to do commercial, large scale commercial projects.

So they're confident and we see an, an excitement, an eagerness, a passion like they did, anticipating the opportunities.

Yeah.

Hassan, you had just said that they graduated a few weeks ago, and now they're out doing their thing.

And so what's been their feedback about the program and going through that program?

They love the program.

They love that they had instructors that they could relate to that reflected them.

They love the curriculum.

Love the opportunity to program is fully funded by us.

So so it was free for them.

And their feedback is that again, and I can't emphasize enough tonight that they're ready.

They're really excited for for the next time.

So they're looking at schools that are going off.

They're looking at towers that are going up.

They're putting in bids, and they're just waiting to to win and get those opportunities.

And best of luck to them.

And for those who are watching and see the segment and think that would be the perfect program for me.

How do people get involved?

They can go to the website, the Watson School of Construction, find us on LinkedIn, or they can call me at (610) 351-4288.

Awesome.

So accepting applications and getting ready for the next class now, right?

That's right.

And also we want the owners to to call us if you're building, if you have a site going up and you want to involve the community, those folks are trained and ready.

So give us a call.

Right.

And it's a form of networking too.

I mean, I'm assuming that the students form lifelong friendships will form lifelong friendships.

That's right.

They've been helping you sell on different projects and stuff.

Yeah.

Exactly right.

It really seems like a remarkable program.

Doctor Hassan Bab, thank you so much for sharing this information and joining us for this recap show.

Thank you for having me.

Absolutely.

Next up is a man from northeast Pennsylvania who lives life with a song on his lips.

And that's a big part of what keeps Joseph Petty going.

That end a palm sized titanium pump called an Lvad.

Here's more on Sia Perez's fascinating journey and the medical miracle that saved his life.

Hey, Joe, how about a little tabletop entertainment?

Okay.

Sounds good.

Greg, please release me.

Let me go.

73 year old Jose Abed of Scranton loves to sing.

And, he will always want a knee, He's been singing since he was a teenager and has performed with his own acapella group and some well known groups through the years.

Unfortunately, Joe suffered a heart attack about 15 years ago, and his heart weakened to the point where he eventually needed an artificial heart pump known as an Lvad, to survive and regain his quality of life.

I wanted to live.

Me and my wife.

We spoke it over and we decided that Lvad would be the best decision.

Joe needed a heart transplant, but because of his age and a cancer diagnosis, a transplant was out of the question.

So he opted for the artificial heart pump on his feet.

It's one of the greatest things I've done.

I mean, I keep singing, you know, I can sing now because before I couldn't lose my breath.

I run out of breath, I couldn't breathe, I wake up at night, I couldn't breathe.

But now everything's back to normal.

Release me, my darling.

Let me go.

Doctor Timothy Missal, chief of adult cardiac surgery, and his team at Lehigh Valley Health Network in Allentown, performed Joe's Lvad operation in 2023 of them.

An Lvad is a mechanical heart device, and it stands for Left Ventricular Assist Device.

It's something that we couldn't plant into a patient to help their heart function better, and it also gives them a better quality of life.

And the technology has improved a lot over the years when it was first approved for human use.

These were huge machines that, the patients really even had a hard time leaving the hospital.

And so the intent was to keep the patients alive long enough until they can get a transplant.

Over the years, the technology has been improved.

It's been miniaturized.

And it's now to the point where a patient could leave the hospital with only a battery pack.

It's a true engineering marvel that we have this technology available to, provide for the needs of our patients.

Doctor Missal, back then, he was very, very good.

He did the operation, and, I didn't feel nothing.

I mean, I'm asleep, and of course.

But, you know, next thing, I woke up in the morning, I was like, I'm here.

Yeah, I made it.

Joe and his wife, Denise.

Now enjoy life the way they used to before his heart started to give out.

And my my is, What?

Oldies.

You know, I like 5060s, 70s and the crooner music, you know, Frank Sinatra, PMA and stuff like that.

I do some old songs that, some of the groups I used to sing with, the classic The Mystics, the Drifters, all those guys.

I do music like that, and I'm singing in a lot of nursing homes now, and a couple of restaurants here and there, and, it's still going.

Yes.

Well, that gave Joe his life and his voice back.

Meanwhile, his wife Dee lovingly watches over him to help him manage the device.

Well, LVA N's Lvad care team remains his care team for life.

If anybody out there is thinking about Lvad, consider it.

It's really a great thing to have it.

Having your life back to back to where it was.

And also if you need a single, you can call me.

Thank you.

According to Doctor Missile Back, Lehigh Valley Health Network has several Lvad patients who've made it ten years and are still going.

He believes that the future is very bright for these patients.

Medical advancements are amazing.

And speaking of patients, we have Jose, a better joining us now via zoom to check in on how he's feeling since we last met him.

Joe, are you there?

Hello.

How are you doing?

I'm doing great, but how are you doing?

I'm doing.

Actually, I'm doing really well.

I feel good.

Things are going fine.

That's terrific.

You know, you're so high spirited and so motivated.

You know, one of the things that Doctor Misael back, told us was that motivation is the key.

And is that the same for you?

Do you believe that as well that your motivation is is what's helped you make it so far and be so successful with the other?

Yeah.

No doubt.

Keep me going.

I you got to have that attitude.

You know, like I said that much before, I feel like I did before I had it done.

I mean, you know.

Yeah.

Great.

You were saying before you had it done because you're a singer, a doo wop singer and a crooner, that you were having a hard time hitting.

Some of the notes that you're breathing was a little labored, but after the operation, you're back singing like you always did.

That's correct.

Yeah.

I couldn't breathe that at one point.

I couldn't do my shows.

It always when sleep at night.

It couldn't be that night.

Now I feel like I, you know, young kid.

Yeah.

Yeah.

And you're.

And you're out doing gigs.

You're performing right?

That's right.

Yeah.

So I, you know, nursing homes.

I did a gig last Saturday night, you know, at a big restaurant with a big, big audience.

And it was really nice.

Wow.

What a people could be out there again, I bet.

What do people say when they find out?

If they do know that you have this artificial heart pump?

Are they amazed?

I know I was.

Yeah, a lot of them can't believe it.

I can't believe, you know, you still doing this?

I said, yeah, you know, I feel good to do it, so why not do it?

I got to live my life and ask what I want to do.

Absolutely.

I mean, singing is your passion.

So, why don't you give us a few?

Can you give us a few bars of one of your favorite tunes?

I think we had a spot an hour ago.

No.

I know you're not shy.

Come on.

Oh, right.

Something came blowing in from across the sea.

Rolling in there to touch your head and walk with me.

How's that?

Wow.

You know, Frank Sinatra couldn't have done it any better, let me tell you.

Hey, can I ask you?

Have you gotten any response since we did the piece?

And it aired from friends and family?

Have they said anything?

Did they see you on the air?

Yes they did.

The people in my building where we live, they also I met, you know, they were all excited.

Oh, yeah.

Or, you know, I said, no autographs, please.

No autographs, you know.

Right.

It was funny.

Yeah, they they got it was great.

Right.

Yeah.

Well, the call is going to be wonderful.

That's great.

See, you were, you're a performer on stage now.

You're a TV star.

What can I tell you?

So tell me, Joe, what kind of advice could you give someone who might be on the fence about getting the Lvad?

You know, it's a it's a big decision.

I would say that you really shouldn't think about it.

You should do it.

It's a great decision.

And like I said, when I woke up that morning, if I had it, I didn't want it.

But I ended up getting it.

I woke up that morning and looked around.

I said, well, I'm alive.

I got a new life and I'm going to live for many more years.

So it's a good decision.

Don't think too long about it.

It's a good move.

Right.

And how soon did you feel like your old self?

After the operation?

Definitely.

I feel like nothing ever happened.

Really?

It's great.

Joe, I thank you so much for joining us.

Keep going, keep doing your thing and keep singing.

And thanks so much for joining us.

Thank you.

And I wanted to thank my wife Denise.

Thank you.

Nice talking to you all.

God bless you.

Volunteers who give without expecting anything in return exemplify the phrase it is better to give than to receive.

Most do it just to help others, including a Lehigh Valley woman who received an Unsung Hero Award for serving as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley.

Every morning, Monday through Friday, Meals on Wheels volunteers pick up their packs of food and load them into their vehicles.

We uploaded a.

There we are.

They check their routes and off they go.

Delivering meals to grateful recipients throughout the Lehigh Valley.

73 year old Bonnie Scipio of Cat Issaquah loves volunteering her meals on wheels.

Here we go.

Bill.

He's always waiting for me.

Johnny on the spot.

I'm a volunteer.

I'm a volunteer.

Floater.

Wherever they need help, I help them out.

But I am a driver.

I've been doing these routes for about 4 or 5 years already.

Have a wonderful day.

Thank you.

Thank you.

You are not just a volunteer.

There is no such thing.

Is just so.

But I'm a volunteer.

Bonnie recently received an Unsung Hero award from the Lehigh County Office of Aging and Adult Services.

She was one of 19 older adults honored with the award for generously giving of their time and talents to enhance the lives of others in the community.

Volunteer Bonnie step six, who is just amazing.

She really goes above and beyond.

She forms a strong relationship and connection with the people that she delivers.

To hold bag.

Meals on Wheels volunteers deliver two meals for each recipient, and clients can receive both a hot meal and a cold meal.

They are delivered at the same time, so it's good to see you up and around, kiddo.

Okay.

Have a great day!

Bonnie exemplifies Meals on Wheels motto.

Quote more than a meal, unquote, because she cares about the people on her route.

They look forward to her visits, not only for the meals, but for the company as well.

Bill and Charlotte, they're always waiting for me at the door.

And Bill is a partially impaired, so he's always very careful receiving the meal.

But he says, we appreciate you people every time I come here you are good.

And I said, you know what, Bill?

It's a pleasure serving you.

And I will tell the kitchen how much you enjoy it.

Kitchen staff and volunteers at Meals on Wheels Sherman Street headquarters prepare nutritious meals using fresh fruits and vegetables and other wholesome ingredients.

Meals on wheels of the Greater Lehigh Valley has a network of 89 routes from in the high rise.

Very little Catherine.

She's the one who usually lets me in the building when I call her.

Meals on wheels for Catherine.

And I heard her say through the door, I think this is my meal.

And here's your juice and your fruit cup.

Thank you.

Ladies have a good day.

Bonnie started with us in 2018.

She's logged over 6000 miles and has delivered almost 10,000 meals, which is just remarkable.

Coming in to see my friend Kathleen.

Bonnie makes her last delivery at Kathleen's home.

Kathleen is an absolute peach.

But she looks for you.

She really does.

And we'll chat about her grandkids.

Or about the weather.

About the swimming, Hungarian recipes.

And I bring her samplings of things that I bring.

She loves it.

The kids were here.

They don't fold their stuff.

And, you know, we our grandkids are here.

They were here yesterday.

Swim.

Bonnie is grateful for her Unsung Hero award.

But like so many unsung heroes, she really plays down the heroics and rather shares the true rewards and why she's delivering far more than a meal.

Definitely more than a meal.

The meal is a big part of the visit, but you share part of your day, you share part of your time.

They look for you.

They really do.

But it's just it's so gratifying.

It's a win win, win win situation really is.

Bonnie also enjoys helping Meals on Wheels in myriad of ways, serving in the kitchen, manning the front desk, and doing whatever the organization needs to serve the community.

And now Bonnie joins us right here on set.

Bonnie, welcome.

Thank you so much.

Pleasure.

It was so much fun.

We really had following you around.

I don't know how your clients or the people you serve on your route felt, but.

Oh, they enjoyed it.

And there was only one who said, oh, I, I don't want to be on camera, but I love all the meals, she said.

But for the most part, I think they really all they enjoyed.

They got a kick out of it, you know?

And even just watching that and looking back, I could just see the, you know, the love you have for this job and all of the people in that piece.

Each person that popped up, you're like, oh, she's such a sweetheart.

I love her this much.

Must mean so much to you.

I played back a little caption on my phone which my brother in law put on for me, and I said, by the way, look, you're a star.

And they just were so tickled to see their picture.

But I lost two of the clients that are on there too.

But now I have them there too.

I'm so glad that they're on.

Most of the clients are older.

Mostly, yes.

And and in some cases would be.

You may be the only person they see.

Very true.

That's very true.

And they're, they're so happy to see another friendly face and just to chat a few minutes.

So it's really a great part of the day.

It is.

Yeah.

Bonnie, what led up to you wanting to go into this line of work, and what did you do in your earlier career that led you to that?

I did well, I'm I'm a very happily retired, engineering secretary right out of high school.

And I had several part time jobs in the interim as we were raising our children.

But I've just always wanted to do something to give back.

And I thought this was something I wanted to get involved with for so many years.

And then I finally thought, I'm going to do it.

And I've never regretted it.

I've never regretted, well, how many people in you were out now?

The average is about.

I could be as few as six, but as many as 15.

Sometimes 20.

Wow.

Yeah.

Sometimes you do a double round.

Yes, because we need volunteers.

Some people are ill this time of year, or they're problems with their cars or whatever, but it's it's a busy day.

But I really enjoy it.

Bonnie, do you see the holiday season?

With the holiday season just past?

You see the holiday season get busier.

Is the need greater?

Is there a greater need for volunteer?

Yes.

People are busy and then leading into the new year.

What are you seeing now?

Do you need or has had things slowed down?

Do you still have that need or the world has grown?

I mean, I am myself an advocate for Meals on Wheels of people see me walking by.

For example, when I was going into one of the buildings, I said, oh, you're involved with Meals on Wheels?

I know someone who wants to get involved in it.

Can you help me out?

Okay, let me give you a business card, please call.

I'll give them a couple names, you know.

So the world is increasing.

The word's getting out that we are trying to reach far and wide, and people appreciate it.

They're so grateful.

They have no idea how far, how far reaching the program goes.

Yeah, yeah.

And with the holidays, I think it's a mixture summer.

A little bittersweet because of maybe having a reset loss.

But on the other hand, they're just so happy to see someone and share the joy.

Look at my Christmas tree, things like that.

You know, when you even said you you bring treats for their.

Oh, I have to.

Those are their babies, you know, and I try to remember all their names, but they're just so tickled to see that they really I carry them with me all the so sweet.

I love that I love animals.

Yeah, yeah.

Well, Bonnie, I know that you say there's a need for volunteers.

What about the food aspect of it?

Where does that food come from?

And are you looking for donations in the food?

You know, I'm not really involved with the.

I used to help in the kitchen, but all I know is that's in a well oiled machine in there.

But the food is.

The menus have been changing, expanding, and nine I would say 97% of my clients say I love these meals, which is great.

And I'll even tell them like, this is my favorite.

You're lucky I didn't need it before I gave it to you.

And I can kick out of that because that's my car.

I smell so good.

Bonnie, you are truly an unsung hero.

I don't know about you, and we appreciate the fact that you took time out from your route to be with us in the studio today.

Thank you, thank you.

Thanks so much.

My pleasure.

Truly, Bonnie, thank you for all of your hard work.

That concludes this.

Living in the Lehigh Valley recap show.

We hope you'll check out our weekly health and wellness segment, living in the Lehigh Valley, right here on PBS 39.

You can also watch all of our segments on PBS 39.org for PBS 39.

I'm Grover Silcox and I'm Brittany Sweeney.

Hoping you stay happy and healthy.

Capital BlueCross is a proud supporter of health care programing on PBS 39 Medicare coverage, backed by over 80 years of health care expertise, serving 21 counties in central Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley capital Blue Cross going the extra mile.