PRLA Restaurant & Lodging Matters Winter 2020

28  • PENNSYLVANIA RESTAURANT & LODGING matters • Winter 2020 MEMBER MILESTONES Lehigh Valley Chapter WNEP TV’s Trail of Treats in the Northeast region of Pennsylvania is an event organized and executed by the television station for the benefit of special needs children of all ages in its viewing area. This year, both the Red Robin locations in Wilkes Barre and Selinsgrove participated in this event. Wilkes Barre Lead Brand Ambassador (LBA), Alex Olex, and Brand Ambassador Supervisor, Bonnie Yuscavage, treated more than 1,000 children at their stand, decorated with space aliens at the Mohegan Sun Arena. Team members, Tiana Rowls White and Allie Dick from the Selinsgrove Red Robin location, joined 30 other vendors at the Best Western Plus at Country Cupboard in Lewisburg, PA. They featured a superhero theme and entertained about 500 children. Lehigh Valley Restaurant Group, the Red Robin franchisee who owns both of these locations, is extremely proud of these two restaurants for helping to make this a meaningful event for all those children who might not otherwise have the opportunity to enjoy this special day. The Historic Hotel Bethlehem was named the 2019 Best Historic Hotel (76–200 guestrooms) by the Historic Hotels Awards of Excellence. The Hotel Hershey nabbed the Best Social Media of a Historic Hotel, as well. Dorney Park & Wildwater Kingdom’s 95-year-old wooden roller coaster, ThunderHawk, was named an International Roller Coaster Landmark by the American Coaster Enthusiasts. This award is given to historically significant coasters. ThunderHawk is the first roller coaster designed by Herbert Schmeck and the fourth-oldest operating wooden coaster in the U.S. Brandywine Chapter PJW Restaurant Group CEO Jim Fris spoke to Forbes about the restaurant group’s keys to success and plans for growth. The first P.J. Whelihan’s opened in 1993 in Allentown. PJW currently operates 17 restaurants, along with four arena partnerships in Pennsylvania and New Jersey. Jim is the immediate past chairman of PRLA. The Brandywine Chapter re-purposed its last happy hour into an industry fundraiser for the staff of Sovana Bistro, which was destroyed in a fire. Sterling Pig Brewery hosted more than 100 people for the event, which raised more than $6,000 for the Sovana staff. Central Chapter Lebanon County Career & Technology Center held its annual Gingerbread House contest. Congratulations to this year’s winners: Shon Messick, first place; Larissa Ealy, second place; and Esmeralda Bedolla, third place. Winners with their gingerbread houses. The gingerbread house in the forefront was created by Chefs Brian Peffley and Robert Corle. Lancaster Chapter Kitchen Kettle Village adopted 200 local families during the holiday season from the Pequea Valley & Lampeter-Strasburg School Districts. The families were invited to the village to pick up goodies and enjoy some family fun with a visit from Santa, s’more making, and cookie decorating. Families receive Christmas dinner in a box; a tote bag filled with toiletries for the family; socks and underwear for each child in the family; craft supplies for each child; and books. Kitchen Kettle Village employees work year-round to raise money to support this program. They hold sandwich, Stromboli, popcorn, and candy sales; Jeans Day Fridays; and reach out to vendors for donations. The Village has been involved in the program since 2004.