Talonda Rogers knows firsthand what it’s like to deal with postpartum health issues, and her goal is to ensure women in similar positions receive the right care at the right time.

To that end, Rogers teamed up Penn State’s Berks LaunchBox to create The Fourth Trimester MAHMEE — a nonprofit startup that advocates for pregnant and postpartum women with the help of support services. MAHMEE is an acronym for — Maternal Advocates Helping Magnify Education & Empowerment.

Berks LaunchBox, located in the Goggleworks Center for the Arts in Reading, is an innovation hub that connects local early-stage entrepreneurs to the support, resources, and facilities that they need to build businesses.

Working alongside Berks LaunchBox staff, Rogers created a prototype product and developed a website showcasing Fourth Trimester MAHMEE’s services, including physical and mental health assessments, yoga and exercise classes, maternal education, and “MAHMEE Mood Rooms” for relaxation.

Rogers’ journey toward advocacy began 23 years ago, when she was expecting her first child.

She suddenly began experiencing blurred vision, excessive thirst and decreased fetal movement, Rogers said in a press release from Penn State Berks.

Concerned, Rogers told her doctors, but her worries were dismissed.

Her son, Brandon, was stillborn, and Rogers faced further complications from a C-section that left her with paralyzed lungs and intestinal muscles, and a near diabetic coma.

That trauma led Rogers to pursue a career in nursing.

Rogers earned her licensed practical nursing certification, then associate, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in nursing, the release said.

After working as a bedside nurse for 11 years, she switched to working as a nurse educator.

As a teacher, Rogers came face to face with statistics outlining the mortality rates disproportionately affecting Black women in childbirth compared to other groups in the United States.

“It’s concerning to note that Black and Indigenous People of Color are experiencing a three- to four-times higher mortality rate than others in the United States, and this gap is growing rapidly,” Rogers said in the release. “The high number of maternal deaths during the postpartum period highlights the historical neglect of postpartum care. What’s even more distressing is that 84% of these deaths could have been prevented. This emphasizes the critical need for widespread systemic changes.”

Learning those grim statistics motivated Rogers to start The Fourth Trimester MAHMEE.

Working with Berks LaunchBox

Rogers was referred to Berks LaunchBox in 2021, where she worked with Michelle Hnath, LaunchBox coordinator and entrepreneurial adviser, to undertake LaunchBox’s Idea TestLab accelerator program, which offers a six-week customer discovery course to prove an idea, culminating in a final pitch event.

Rogers took first place in the pitch event and earned $1,500 in funding.

She then teamed up with Berks LaunchBox’s Makerspace engineer, Jim Hong, to create a prototype product — a talking stuffed animal, designed to empower women to advocate for themselves during and after pregnancy.

“(The stuffed animal) is designed to provide comfort and important health information to expecting and new mothers,” Rogers said in the release. “This new product aims to help women ask their health care providers important questions when they experience symptoms. It also aims to offer support for those facing postpartum mental health challenges.

She said Hong played a crucial role in finalizing the design and functionality of her prototype.

“When the animal’s paws, ears, belly and heart are pressed, it delivers audio information to support and uplift women during this significant phase of their lives,” Rogers said.

Rogers also worked with LaunchBox to create a company brochure and website.

“Embarking on my journey with the Berks LaunchBox was transformative,” Rogers said in the release. “I have been supported in crafting a compelling pitch, building a great website, creating a professional brochure and, with the help of the LaunchBox’s Jim Hong, building my first fully working electronic prototype. Their hands-on support from pitch rehearsals to website development not only nurtured my business, but also connected me with a vibrant community of entrepreneurs, opening doors I never imagined.”

Since starting with Berks LaunchBox, Rogers has also received a $3,000 I-corps mini-grant and two $500 “Grow Your Startup” grants, which provide funding support for entrepreneurs engaged in Berks LaunchBox programs.

Fourth Trimester MAHMEE

According to the website, Fourth Trimester MAHMEE offers a suite of services for women in Berks and Chester counties, which can be requested via a link and submission form.

The process starts when Fourth Trimester MAHMEE receives a referral from the family, or a health care provider.

The mom is then visited within two weeks of postpartum to asses her and the baby’s progress. A mental and physical assessment is performed, and the mom receives access to education, other services, personal care supplies, and referrals as needed.

For the assessment, the company acts as a liaison between patients and doctors to provide a comprehensive physical and mental health checkup before a 6-week postpartum follow-up, to proactively address concerning signs and symptoms in a timely manner, according to the website.

Fourth Trimester MAHMEE also offers therapeutic massages and yoga and low impact exercise classes, which aim to stave off postpartum and pregnancy related health issues by reducing stress and improving blood pressure regulation and circulation.

Other services include child loss support groups, one-on-one mental health support, lactation support, a rentable space for baby showers, and classes on family planning, nutrition, CPR, and maternal warning signs, as well as partnerships with childcare providers, healthcare facilities, community organizations, schools, individuals, businesses, and other non-profits, according to the website.

The company’s partners include Maternal and Child Health Consortium, Black Women of Chester County in Action, Alvernia University, Breadth of Hope, The Fund for Women and Girls, and Taylormade Behavioral Health Solutions.

For more information, visit www.4tmahmee.org.

That idea spurred Albert Boscov and Edwin Lakin — along with Eunice Boscov and Alma Lakin — to open the store’s first travel branch at Boscov’s East department store in Exeter Township, in 1974.

“In the early stages of Boscov’s Travel, the founders of the company wanted to create a different mindset towards leisure travel,” said Pat Cinfici, president of Boscov’s Travel. “They made affordable travel opportunities available for everyone.”

Now, five decades later, the company is celebrating its 50th anniversary.

Cinfici attributes Boscov’s Travel’s success to the same principles of community service and honest pricing that have kept its parent company thriving through the decades.

Staying true to those values gives Boscov’s Travel an edge, even in the age of online booking, according to Cinfici.

“Our business is about relationships; we have gone through life with our clients from the pandemic to 9/11, we’ve been here with them,” Cinfici said. “To us a customer isn’t just a customer, they are family.”

Cinfici has been with Boscov’s Travel since the start, initially serving as a leisure agent before taking on various roles and eventually becoming president in 2006.

The business has grown from a small operation into a full-service travel management company, with 17 branches across Pennsylvania, New Jersey, Delaware, Maryland and Ohio, company officials said in a press release.

The company offers a suite of travel management services, covering everything from vacations, cruises, honeymoons, and destination weddings to business and group trips.

Cinfici noted that the company is continuing to develop, having recently secured new accounts in various states where Boscov’s Travel is new to the market.

While operations have expanded, Boscov’s Travel still holds true to its founding ethics, according to Cinfici.

“Whether a client wants to experience a VIP-vacation, or they’re planning their first trip to Walt Disney World, the business model remains the same,” said Cinfici.

One way the business lives those values is offering complementary planning services along with its complete vacation packages, Cinfici said.

“Clients are entrusting us with thousands of dollars to help build them a dream and we take that very seriously from the start of planning to the moment they get home from their vacations,” Cinfici said.

Another customer-focused service is an emergency line, open 24/7, 365 days a year, for clients who need assistance with unforeseen circumstances that arise while traveling.

To honor the customers that made its 50th anniversary possible, Boscov’s Travel has planned a few special promotions, according to Cinfici.

“Starting on our anniversary date of April 24, 2024 through May 4, 2024, we will be running a dollars off promotion on clients’ next cruise or tour vacations,” Cinfici said. “We are also celebrating our anniversary with President’s Choice hand-chosen 2024 journeys for our clients to book, trip giveaways, and exclusive travel partner promotions.”

The anniversary celebration is slated to run all year, so customers should keep an eye out for new promotions, according to Cinfici.

Jim Boscov, Boscov’s president and great-nephew of department store founder Solomon Boscov, said he was excited to celebrate Boscov’s Travel’s 50th anniversary.

“They reflect the values of the company and the family by providing superior value and customer service in a very specialized field,” Jim Boscov said. “Their attention to detail is especially important with the urgency of business travel and precious nature of time off for the leisure traveler.”

“I’m extremely proud of our knowledgeable and experienced staff who are devoted to making every trip a success.”

“There’s a real, steep history of cycling in South America that nobody knows about…until they go there,” said Aaron Johnson, co-founder and chief executive officer of Go Grava, a bike shop opening its first location Saturday in Wyomissing, Berks County.

Johnson, an avid cyclist, realized just how ingrained the culture of cycling had become below the equator when he visited a few years ago.

“What I noticed was everybody was riding bicycles, it was getting really, really popular,” Johnson said. “Especially after Egan Bernal, who is from Bogota, Colombia, won the Tour de France in 2019. That just exploded cycling.”

The vibrant cycling scene piqued the interest of Johnson, who was looking for a new business venture.

“As I was looking around, I started finding these small family companies, like F. Duarte…they’ve been (building bicycles) since 1967, when their grandfather was in bike racing,” Johnson said.

F. Duarte, a third-generation bike maker, is one of several small, South American companies that Johnson works with to source the bicycles, biking apparel and accessories sold by Go Grava.

“It really comes down to sourcing and how they view their workers,” Johnson said of his suppliers.

Johnson said Go Grava’s apparel suppliers get materials from water conserving farms, and use natural, non-harmful dyes, and nickel-free zippers.

That care, Johnson said, can be seen in the quality of the products.

“(Our clothing supplier) Medellin, they make probably some of the best cycling clothes in the world, using the most eco-friendly practices,” Johnson said.

Go Grava’s bicycles are made in Bogota, Colombia by F. Duarte and in Lima, Peru, by Marino Bikes.

“We can make very sophisticated, advanced bicycles out of titanium that comes from Italy and Canada…(or) stainless steel from Spain,” Johnson said. “We can take an order and in eight to 10 weeks have a customized bicycle that fits you specifically.”

“Grava” is Spanish for gravel, and Johnson said he chose the name because Go Grava specializes in gravel bikes.

“Because this area in Reading and Berks County has so many magnificent trails…we were going to start with trail and gravel bikes,” Johnson said. “The kind of bikes you can load up with bags and do, like, the Allegheny trail.”

Johnson noted that the company was formerly based online, operating out of Sheridan, Wyoming.

He said he and his wife, Rebecca Johnson — a graduate of Wilson High School — decided to open their first brick-and-mortar location upon moving back to his wife’s hometown.

A unique identity

Go Grava is the only company in North America that imports bicycles from South America, the company noted in a press release.

The company said it is committed to stocking at least 50% of its store with products made in the Americas.

“We’re really looking at diversifying our supply chain and using materials not just from Asia anymore,” Johnson said. “Our wheels are made in Grand Rapids, Michigan. Some of the bearings on our bicycles are made in North Carolina.”

What results is a brand with a unique identity, that blends elements of North and South American craftsmanship and represents the Americas like no other.

“What we do as a company, is we’re really just trying to be helpful,” Johnson said. “Helping (our manufacturers) move stuff and sell in the United States.”

He said that despite the quality of their products, language barriers can make it harder for small South American companies to break into the American market.

“Unlike Europe, where a lot of people speak English, in Latin America, not a lot of people speak English,” Johnson noted.

A commitment to community

Go Grava’s commitment isn’t just to its partners, according to Johnson — he said his goal is to contribute to the cycling community in the area.

“My idea was just to try to find a way to maybe rebuild some grassroots efforts, get kids out cycling more,” Johnson said. “Berks County has a great cycling community anyway, so it’s an easy place to start.”

He said part of those efforts involve things like sponsoring the Boy Scouts of America to help kids earn cycling merit badges, and giving away free T-shirts to people who bike 100 miles over the summer.

One effort that is close to Johnson’s heart is the establishment of a new 9/11 memorial trail, that starts at the Arlington National Cemetery and makes its way to New York City and the Flight 93 crash site in Somerset County, before ending in Washington D.C.

“We wanted to be part of that since I’m past military, I did 20 years in the Marine Corps,” Johnson said. “We’re going to be part of that, sponsoring (a memorial ride) and helping the riders come through and enjoy our area.”

He said he helped direct a part of the memorial ride that will pass through Reading on June 15 and 16, incorporating trails that branch through the Penn State Berks campus and Wyomissing Park.

The memorial ride covers 1,200 miles and runs from June 5 to July 1, according to Johnson. It will also pass through portions of Montgomery and Delaware counties.

Johnson’s own biking experience includes everything from cyclo-cross to road racing, and he’s biked in triathlons, the Bike MS race, and even the Iron Curtain trail along the old Soviet Union in Europe.

“I’ve been cycling my entire life, ever since I was a kid,” Johnson said. “It gave me a sense of freedom. You could ride anywhere on your bicycle.”

He aims to share his love of cycling with those who stop in to Go Grava’s grand opening on Saturday, March 23, starting at 10 a.m.

Go Grava is located at 840 North Park Road in Wyomissing.

The company will be offering discounts on its products during the grand opening, and the first 75 attendees will win a voucher for neighboring Nino’s Pizza, good for two slices and a soda.

Jose Daniel Pizarro, 26, was apprehended inside an apartment building in the Bedford-Stuyvesant section of Brooklyn, detectives said in a press release Wednesday.

Pizarro was identified as a suspect in October 2022 for the fatal shooting of Antonio Dennard, 32, and an arrest warrant was issued for homicide and related charges.

Dennard, of Shillington, was fatally shot in the parking lot of the Rodeway Inn and Legends Bar & Grill at 2545 N. Fifth St. Highway, police said.

Dennard, born in Chicago, played football at Langston University in Oklahoma and was signed as a cornerback to the practice squads in the 2012-14 seasons for three NFL teams — the Jacksonville Jaguars, New York Giants and Green Bay Packers.

Dennard was pronounced dead by a Reading Hospital trauma surgeon shortly after arriving at the hospital’s emergency room about 3:15 a.m. on Oct. 16.

The arrest was handled by the United States Marshall’s fugitive task force and members of the New York City Police Department.

Pizarro was taken to the NYPD’s 120th Precinct where he was processed and is awaiting arraignment.

Extradition proceedings have begun to have Pizarro returned to Pennsylvania.

Zeppos said the Greek word is an expression of ultimate satisfaction, a phrase uttered in a haze of pleasure, after the perfect night out.

“(If someone asks) ‘how was your dinner with friends and family?’ you would say ‘telia,’ which means life is good, everything’s great. It’s perfect, embrace it,” Zeppos said.

The expression captures everything Zeppos aims to offer with Telia Greek, a casual fine dining Greek restaurant, which opened in August at 400 N. Park Road in Wyomissing.

Telia boasts an open-air concept that represents the feel of dining aside the Mediterranean, along with a menu of Greek favorites with a modern twist.

“It’s a type of open-air restaurant you would experience as you’re walking through the streets of Athens,” Zeppos said. “All the windows, all the doors open up, so the spring and summer are just wonderful.”

The location, formerly a Friendly’s, was completely gutted and renovated from floor to ceiling when Zeppos took over.

The concept of “telia” sets a high bar, but the best isn’t anything new for Zeppos — the third generation restaurateur and his wife, Eleny Zeppos, also own Willoughby’s on Park in Wyomissing — across the street from Telia — as well as The Hitching Post in Leesport.

“I always loved that Park Road corridor, I believe in what the community is doing there from the medical school to the new businesses coming in,” Zeppos said. “There’s such a great energy, and we’re so happy to be a part of it.”

Telia’s indoor section seats about 55 between the bar and lounge area, and the outdoor patio seats 25, Zeppos said. The restaurant currently employs about 15, he said.

The energy of “telia” can be found in the restaurant’s modern décor and plating and upbeat tunes, but also in its commitment to traditional Greek cuisine, Zeppos said.

“We have a fresh fish program, so we do the whole fish from the tail to the head, serve it open face at the restaurant,” Zeppos said. “Very unique to Greece where you would actually see the fish fresh, hanging at the restaurants, and they would grill it for you and open it up.”

Zeppos, who is Greek, said some of Telia’s recipes have been in his family for generations.

“I was the first generation born in this country,” Zeppos said. “Greek cuisine is in my blood, it’s in my heart.”

A few other Greek inspired highlights include a slow-braised lamb shank in a tomato orzo base, and charbroiled octopus served with pickled onions and hummus.

The menu shifts with the seasons, along with the inspiration of head chef Chris Kantor, Zeppos said, but one dish holds a special place in his heart.

“The spinach pie, whenever I see it, I think of my mother and grandmother and how they made it, and so many people rave about it that it makes me feel great,” Zeppos said. “It just reminds me of growing up with my family.”

Telia Greek is open Monday through Saturday, from 4:30 to 9 p.m.

Small Business Saturday is a day for recognizing the impacts that small businesses have locally: Creating jobs, propping up local economies, and adding vibrancy to neighborhoods.

Founded by American Express in 2010, and co-sponsored by the U.S. Small Business Administration in partnership with local chambers of commerce, the day features a slew of deals and events promoting small businesses in towns throughout the country.

The idea of Small Business Saturday has been catching on for years. It gained momentum in 2022, when shoppers at independent retailers and restaurants spent a record $17.9 billion on the Saturday after Thanksgiving, according to the Small Business Administration.

That traffic is critical for small businesses, which generate two out of every three new jobs, said Mark Ratcliffe, main street executive director for West Reading.

“Every dollar spent at a small business brings in 67 cents…that money stays with the local community,” Ratcliffe said. “Our local businesses also support local events, sports teams, charities, so there’s a ripple effect to shopping locally.”

Benefits of shopping small

The benefits of shopping small are unmissable in West Reading, where a revitalization effort brought dozens of small businesses onto Penn Avenue.

West Reading’s main street went from a 50% vacancy rate in 2000, to having a waitlist of people looking for storefront space, according to Ratcliffe.

“We have about a hundred small businesses just on Penn Avenue,” Ratcliffe said. “As West Reading has grown, it also creates a real sense of community, when we have our events, or when it’s a busy Friday night, you go downtown and you’re able to run into neighbors and friends that you don’t see otherwise.”

West Reading regularly holds events that are attended by tens of thousands, like Fall Fest in September, which saw hundreds of vendors set up kiosks along Penn Avenue.

Small business Saturday events

For Small Business Saturday this year, West Reading will have DJs on the avenue, as well as giveaways of handbags and coupons for local stores, Ratcliffe said.

Awareness of the essential role small businesses play has been growing since the COVID pandemic, which saw local shops struggle, according to Eileen Dautrich, president of the TriCounty Area Chamber of Commerce.

“These are the companies that are out there supporting their local communities, giving gift cards to local nonprofits, supporting sports teams, they are members of your community,” Dautrich said. “I think that makes Small Business Saturday have a greater impact beyond Black Friday.”

Dautrich said the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce has partnered with American Express as part of its “Neighborhood Champion” campaign, which encourages area shoppers to frequent local businesses on Small Business Saturday.

The TriCounty Chamber is also working with Diamond Credit Union to hold a small business season contest, where community members can pick up passports at chamber member locations and get them stamped when spending $10 at participating stores.

Participants who rack up $100 worth of stamps can submit their completed passport to the chamber website for a chance to win gift cards from local businesses. The challenge will run until Dec. 31.

A list of participating stores is available on the TriCounty Chamber of Commerce website.

A similar contest will take place in Hamburg on Small Business Saturday, where shoppers that have a passport stamped at 10 participating stores will be entered in a drawing to win gift baskets filled with gift cards and local products.

That challenge is sponsored by Our Town Foundation, a nonprofit for revitalizing downtown Hamburg.

Small Business Saturday in West Chester will feature no shortage of holiday fun, including carolers strolling the streets in Victorian attire, a free concert by the St. Agnes Parish Combined Choirs, Santa on a Firetruck, and a window decorating contest.

Main Line areas will join in the day as well, including a shop and dine crawl Saturday Nov. 25 in Lansdowne, Delaware County, hosted by the Lansdowne Business and Professional Association, according to Bernard Dagenais, president of the Main Line Chamber of Commerce.

While the offerings on Small Business Saturday are vast, Dautrich noted that the appeal of small businesses can be as simple as a great cup of coffee.

“I go to a local coffee shop every morning, those baristas know who I am, they know what my order is, and there’s something to be said for being made to feel that special,” Dautrich said. “That’s hard to get if you’re not in that community environment.”

The acquisition supports the organization’s mission to create opportunities for kids to get involved in baseball and softball, and offer stable career paths for former athletes, according to EL1 representatives.

Rich Delucia, former owner of Delucia Baseball Academy, said he couldn’t have imagined his facility growing to support hundreds of kids when the academy opened in 2017.

“It has been a joy to serve the Reading community,” Delucia said in a press release. “Our partnership with EL1 will benefit our staff and each athlete that we work with. EL1 will provide necessary operational support, bring in additional trainers, and renovate our facility.”

The renovations will include improvements like painting, installing new turf and signage, enhancing netting systems, updating lighting systems, and adding pitching machines, according to Clint Fernandez, general manager at EL1 Reading.

EL1 will also feature technologies for tracking and measuring swings, ball speeds and hits, such as Rapsodo, Diamond Kinetics, and Hittrax, Fernandez said.

Delucia, a Wyomissing graduate and former Major League Baseball player, retains his involvement in the facility as lead instructor of EL1 Reading.

He said he was motivated to open a baseball training facility while working as a scout, following 16 years of playing professionally for teams like the Seattle Mariners.

“I wanted to create an organization that emphasized work ethic and provides a positive and productive environment for kids to improve their skills,” Delucia said. “Baseball is my life, I’ve been playing it since I was a child…There’s so much more to the game than what people see on TV, and I take great joy in passing on the insights and lessons I’ve gained.”

Investing in communities

EL1 believes in investing in people already deeply engaged with a community: People like Delucia, according to Frank Decembrino, vice president of business development at EL1.

“Rather than attempting to create an entirely new system from scratch, we recognize that the most effective way to make a difference in the sports world is by enhancing the experiences of the operators,” Decembrino said.

To that end, EL1 is deploying a suite of resources to maximize the player experience in Reading, including back-end operational support, increased camps, clinics, and lessons programming for individuals and teams, and new instructional and administrative technologies.

The organization also plans to bolster EL1’s staff — EL1 Reading currently employs seven — with additional trainers that have professional playing experience.

“We needed help with a lot of things, and EL1 is providing a support system to help us continue to grow as an organization,” Fernandez said. “This move is focused on making our facility the best possible location for kids to work out, and become better ballplayers, better teammates, and better people.”

MLB partnership

The facility will also benefit from EL1’s partnership with Major League Baseball, which began in 2022.

“EL1’s partnership with MLB includes the establishment or expansion of training academies and support for community or club-run baseball and softball programs at various levels,” Decembrino said. “We currently operate six Seattle Mariners Training Centers, two Dodgers Training Academies, and a Pirates Training Center. Our association with MLB can open doors for young athletes by offering them high-quality training facilities and several camps, clinics, and community outreach programs that all tie back to our mission to transform youth through sports.”

The MLB partnership enables EL1 to better assist players of all economic backgrounds, via EL1’s support for programs like Reviving Baseball in Inner Cities, and the PLAY BALL program, a collaboration between Major League Baseball and the United States Conference of Mayors that aims to introduce the game to underserved populations, according to Decembrino.

“EL1 also offer scholarships to our seasonal camps throughout the year,” Decembrino noted. “We’re committed to working with our partners to make sure that every child has an opportunity to participate.”

EL1 operates 22 facilities nationwide, and seven in Pennsylvania, in Ambler, Conshohocken, Feasterville, Huntingdon Valley, Newtown Square, and the Pirates Training Center in Canonsburg.

The EL1 Reading facility is open to players of all ages and skill levels.

“Steve Harvey said cigar is yoga. It’s just relaxing,” Turner said. “My notes are walnut, vanilla, and some cedar. I’ll sit in a chair and just listen to music, enjoying the cigar.”

Pleasing the palates of those who pursue the finest of smoking experiences is the mission of Legacy Cigar Lounge, Adrean, and Rick Turner’s new establishment in West Reading.

The lounge at 559 Penn Avenue will hold a ribbon cutting with community members and borough officials Friday, Sept. 1, at 10:15 a.m.

The doors will open for the first time at 11 a.m. in a day-long event featuring music, giveaways and raffles.

For the Turners, Legacy is a logical conclusion: The product of an enduring appreciation for everything a cigar has to offer.

Rick Turner said his love affair with cigars began decades ago, on the other side of the equator.

“In 1989 … I just got out of (Navy) boot camp, I was deployed to my ship, one of the first stops we made was Valparaiso, Chile.” Turner said. “That’s where I got introduced to my first cigar. It was a Cuban, Cohiba.”

Turner said he was beyond hooked.

“I wasn’t smoking it right, but the fellas on the boat taught me how to smoke,” Turner said. “Ever since then, it’s just what I do.”

Their passion for maximizing the cigar experience eventually led the Turners to float the idea of a basement lounge.

But after being inspired by a couple who opened a cigar lounge on the reality television series “Love and Marriage: Huntsville,” the Turners decided their passion would be better shared with those of like minds, and the seed of Legacy was planted.

“Every time we travel (Rick) is always getting cigars, finding a lounge,” Adrean Turner said. “When we recognized that, hey, it’s possible to have a lounge, we just really started doing our research to find a location.”

Legacy’s seed has now matured, much like the seeds that flowered into the tobacco used in the premium cigars stored within Legacy’s walk-in humidor, known as “the Legend.”

The humidor, managed by head cigar sommelier Dr. James Jackson — along with the rest of Legacy’ staff of seasoned cigar sommeliers — all contribute to the upscale experience that the Turners aim to create for guests.

With its warm, inviting interior, the 4,500-square-foot lounge calmly beckons cigar aficionados and newbies alike to pair their Maduro with a top-shelf spirit, or choose whatever combination of cigar and beverage suits their tastes.

“You will have someone there to help you select a cigar that is more to your liking,” Adrean Turner said. “Someone will help you when you get to the bar to pair that cigar with a wine or other libation.”

Rick Turner described Legacy’s ambiance as “masculine but still sexy.”

“If you look at the background, cigars have been a masculine thing, but now more than ever, women are playing a big part in this world. A lot of owners, including myself, are really starting to cater to women as well,” Turner said.

The facility is equipped with all the amenities guests might anticipate at a high-end establishment: televisions, surround sound systems, Wi-Fi access, leather seating, game tables, outdoor seating, live music, and a state-of-the-art air filtration system, according to the owners.

But Legacy also steps beyond expectations, offering options like a camera-free VIP area, as well as thoughtful touches, like mouthwash in restrooms and chocolate at tables to cleanse the palate.

Guests can also browse a menu of lite bites, crafted by executive chef Christopher Rodriguez, offering a fusion of Latin, Creole, and soul food classics.

Adrean Turner said a few menu items include baked salmon wrapped shrimp, vegetable flatbread, Cuban sandwiches, Southern fried chicken wings, plantain fries, and wagyu beef sliders.

The goal, according to Rick Turner, is to create an environment where everyone from the janitor to the CEO can feel comfortable indulging in the cigar experience.

Creating that sense of comfort and community will also involve activities like cigar cutting classes, and “smoke and paint” sessions, according to Adrean Turner.

Turner noted that she was grateful to the larger West Reading community as well for its support.

Turner gave special thanks to the Rutter family, who previously operated Chef Alan’s restaurant at Legacy’s location at Penn and Sixth avenues, for their help in the transition.

“The Rutters have been phenomenal … we’re very grateful for Jeff and Alan,” Turner said.

She also thanked businesses that have offered partnerships, such as Trish’s Specialty Cheese Cakes, which will be making a special bourbon cheesecake that will only be sold at Legacy

The Turners noted that Legacy will be offering discounts on monthly memberships. They are available for $85 a month until the second week of September. After that, the price will be $100 a month.

Members will enjoy benefits including a members-only area, discounts on cigars and apparel, a personalized humidor cigar locker, invitations to private member-only events, advance event notifications, and priority booking for private events.

Legacy is open to all, with a $25 minimum spending requirement to enter.

Those looking for updates, promotions, or further information can visit Legacy’s website, www.legacycigarpa.com, or follow on Facebook or Instagram.

And as professional tasks are digitized, so too is the vital information they involve: Personal records and bank account info. Trade secrets.

The type of information so confidential that people of a past age only felt safe knowing it was behind lock and key — this data now moves through cyberspace at rates that would likely astonish and horrify the pre-internet population.

Brian Mahon has seen what happens when sensitive data is seized by the wrong hands.

“A lot of the times it’s a situation where, somebody who has been in business 20 years, this is the most stressful two weeks of their life, dealing with the repercussions of a data breach,” said Mahon, cyber insurance counselor with EHD Insurance, Lancaster.

At a presentation Wednesday, Aug. 9 for the Greater Reading Chamber Alliance, Mahon told the story of a distributor in south central Pennsylvania.

“They were making a big acquisition…about a week after the merger, a third shift employee got what seemed like an email from a second shift employee,” Mahon said. “He clicked on the link.”

The next day, the company was hit.

Hackers attacked using ransomware — malicious software designed to deny an organization access to their own computer system.

“(The company) had to pull all their guys out of the field, all their salespeople, even some ex-employees, to help recreate customer data,” Mahon said. “They spent $60,000 replacing servers, laptops, and phones. They also were down for two or three weeks, not making any money.”

About 60% of small businesses fail within six months of a data breach, according to the National Cybersecurity Alliance, a national nonprofit that focuses on cybersecurity awareness.

A 2019 report by insurance carrier Hiscox shows that data breaches cost companies an average of $200,000.

Mitigating that damage is what motivates Mahon to encourage companies to pursue cybersecurity insurance.

“It really does apply to every modern business,” Mahon said.

What is cybersecurity insurance?

A cybersecurity insurance policy works similarly to other forms of insurance — companies pay a monthly premium and can file claims in the case of an incident.

Coverage varies by policy, but commonly covered expenses include the costs of business interruptions and lost hardware, data recovery, and notifying customers of a breach, as well as third-party liability coverage if an affected customer sues a company that was breached.

Some policies even expand their coverage to lawsuits that arise from a company’s social media activity, public relations expenses following an incident, and regulatory fines.

Regulatory fines can be particularly expensive, especially for companies that store data from large number of customers.

“There was a famous case with Uber in Pennsylvania…they lost all their drivers’ license information (in the state)” Mahon said. “The Pennsylvania attorney general fined them…it was something like $1,000 per (lost record).”

Mahon said nearly all companies can benefit from cybersecurity insurance, not just multibillion dollar corporations.

“We work with small business that could be two or three people, contractors, doctors, law firms,” Mahon said. “I’ve even seen local restaurants that have issues with their point of sale system…(cybersecurity coverage) is far reaching.”

He noted that having cybersecurity insurance is increasingly a contractual requirement for some companies.

“I have a couple software companies that do K-12 budgeting, their school district clients require them to have cybersecurity insurance,” Mahon said. “Bigger firms like Apple, Deloitte, McDonalds, they’re requiring cyber insurance from businesses they contract with.”

The cyber insurance industry has taken off over the past decade — in 2010 cyber insurance underwriting premiums totaled $600,000 globally. That number rose to $10 billion in 2021, and is expected to reach $23 billon by 2025, according to Forbes.

Impact of COVID

COVID played a major role in the spiking interest in cybersecurity insurance, Mahon said.

“During COVID, everybody went to go work from home. They had to quickly adapt to Zoom, and virtual private networks, it kind of added an extra layer of risk, where a lot of small business owners didn’t do that in a secure way,” Mahon said.

He said cybercrime also rose dramatically during COVID.

“Threat actors were also working from home…they couldn’t do traditional crime during the pandemic,” Mahon said.

Beyond cybersecurity insurance, Mahon said there are simple steps companies can take to protect themselves in the digital landscape.

Strategies like implementing multi-factor authentication, or using two or more credentials when logging in, can prevent bad actors from logging in under false credentials.

Backing up computer systems and training employees to identify phishing scams — where hackers trick people into revealing sensitive info — can also prevent a hack, Mahon said.

Those strategies aren’t just useful in preventing data breaches — they’re often required by insurance underwriters before a company can have a policy approved.

Mahon said the caution is paramount in a world where cyberattacks, and the threats they pose, are growing exponentially.

“I attended an event last year with three different bank CEOs…all three of them said cyber risk is the number one concern they have,” Mahon said. “There are even people out there who think cyber insurance may not even exist in the future, that it’ll be uninsurable, like flood insurance in Florida:  Carriers will pull out because they lost all their money.”

Mahon said he hopes that isn’t the case.

In a criminal complaint filed Wednesday in Washington, D.C., Anthony Nolf, 37, is charged with civil disorder, a felony, as well as misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining on restricted grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct on restricted grounds.

Nolf was arrested Wednesday and had an initial appearance in the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania, according to a press release from the U.S. Attorney’s Office.

Also named in the complaint and arrested Wednesday was Heather Kepley, 36, of Millsboro, Del.

Kepley was charged with misdemeanor offenses of entering and remaining on restricted grounds, and disorderly and disruptive conduct on restricted grounds.

According to the press release:

Nolf and Kepley entered the Capitol grounds and approached near the inaugural stage, where they helped other rioters move bicycle racks that were impeding the rioters’ approach.

After moving one of the racks, the pair made their way to the lower west terrace tunnel.

In the tunnel, Kepley and Nolf joined other rioters in trying to force their way past the law enforcement officers.

Specifically, while inside the tunnel, Nolf added the force of his body to the other rioters in a “heave-ho” effort, which put intense pressure on the police line.

Officers succeeded in repelling Nolf and Kepley and other rioters out of the tunnel.

Nolf and Kepley then stood outside the tunnel, watching officers clearing the protesters before walking away.

The case is being investigated by the FBI’s Baltimore, Philadelphia, and Washington field offices, with the assistance of U.S. Capitol Police and the Metropolitan Police Department.

Since the Jan. 6 riot, more than 1,000 people have been arrested for crimes related to the Capitol breach, including more than 320 people charged with assaulting or impeding law enforcement, according to the release.

Those prosecuted include Alan Byerly, 55, of Fleetwood.

In October, Byerly was sentenced to 2 years and 10 months in prison followed by three years of supervised release after he pleaded guilty to attacking police officers and a member of the news media during the assault on the Capitol.

Byerly pleaded guilty in July to one count of assaulting a law enforcement officer with a dangerous or deadly weapon and one count of striking, beating and wounding on federal property. He has been in federal custody since being charged in July 2021.

Those were two of the eight counts with which he was originally charged. The plea was part of a deal with prosecutors.

According to a criminal complaint filed in U.S. District Court in Washington:

Byerly was among a crowd of rioters who gathered near a line of bicycle racks set up by police to keep the crowd at bay.

Video shows Byerly just behind the bike racks holding what appears to be a stun gun, which he raises with his right hand and activates. Byerly charges at police, some of whom can be heard yelling, “Taser! Taser! Taser!” to warn their fellow officers.

Within seconds, the officers were able to knock the stun gun out of Byerly’s hands. But he kept charging, striking and pushing officers. At one point he tried to take a baton from an officer, knocking that officer to the ground in the process.

Officers were eventually able to restrain Byerly. However, he was able to escape with the help of a fellow rioter.

The attack on police officers was the second assault in which Byerly was involved that day.

Earlier that afternoon, Byerly was caught on footage posted by media outlets. It showed him joining the assault of an Associated Press photographer who was pulled down a flight of stairs, pushed to the ground and dragged toward a mob of protesters.