Home Care In Pen Argyl, PA

Schuylkill Haven football coach Mike Farr had something in his back pocket throughout Saturday afternoon’s Colonial-Schuylkill League game at Pen Argyl.

He was waiting for the right moment.

“Sometimes I wait too long,” Farr admitted.

Farr called a pass play in a steady rain in sloppy conditions on a grass field. It was the Hurricanes’ first pass play since their third offensive play.

Senior quarterback Auggie Warke hit sophomore Niko Castillo, who hauled in the wet ball with two defenders on him for a 41-yard completion.

Four plays later, Niko Carestia scored his third rushing touchdown of the game, a 14-yarder with 62 seconds left to give Schuylkill Haven its seventh win in a row, 28-21 at Alumni Stadium.

Pen Argyl drove 61 yards in 14 plays to take a 21-20 lead with 2:05 left on Mason Soos’ 1-yard TD run and freshman kicker Reid Kotulka’s extra point.

The Hurricanes had only 29 completions in 71 attempts for 337 yards in their first seven games. But on second-and-10 from their 33-yard line, Farr’s hand was forced.

“I saw that pass play all day,” Farr said. ‘But we didn’t need it and I didn’t want to take a chance because of the conditions. Then, I had no choice but to take the chance.

“[Warke] can throw the football. We just don’t. We pick our spots.”

The Green Knights had the pass defended but the two players in the secondary could not turn around in time to get a hand on the ball.

The game’s defining moment will sting Pen Argyl until Friday night’s game.

“We talked about it,” Green Knights coach Brady Mutton said. “There were two minutes left. They don’t have any other options. They are not the best throwing team. We just had a breakdown. We had two of our best players covering him. He made a good play on it. It was a good throw.

“It was not convenient. It should have been stopped. It’s inexcusable from the coaches and players. It shouldn’t have happened. We were in a spot to win the game.”

After the catch and a spike to stop the clock, Carestia had runs of 3, 9 and 14 yards to complete the comeback.

The sophomore also had touchdown runs of 7 and 24 yards to give the Hurricanes a 12-8 halftime lead.

The Green Knights took a 14-12 lead when Damian Tyminski finished off a 19-play, 90-yard drive with a 4-yard TD run on the first series of the third quarter. They converted one third down and three fourth downs on that series that took 10 minutes off the clock.

Pen Argyl was 6-for-6 on fourth downs in the game.

Schuylkill Haven responded, thanks to Carestia who returned the ensuing kickoff 36 yards to the Pen Argyl 45. Six plays later, he raced around right end for a 20-14 lead with 8:20 left.

The Green Knights came right back with a scoring drive to regain the advantage. Soos’ TD plunge came on third down. They were only 4-for-13 on third down.

Schuylkill Haven was 4-for-8 on third down, including Carestia’s 9-yarder to move the chains on the last series. He scored on the next play by running around the left end.

After gouging Pen Argyl early in the game on plays up the middle, Schuylkill Haven found success with Carestia on the edge.

“We were playing a chess match just like they were playing a chess match with their formations, running strong, running weak, flip-flopping their guys,” Farr said. “We just keep making adjustments during the game. We’re just lucky we made one more play than they did.”

Pen Argyl got to the Schuylkill Haven 37-yard line on 22- and 11-yard completions from Brad Rissmiller to Tyminski, but a sack and an intentional grounding penalty stopped the momentum.

Leyden Hertz intercepted the Green Knights’ last-play attempt.

“They are going to hurt from this one,” Mutton said. “They will take it personally. They will have a good week of practice and go to Panther Valley and take care of business and then get ready for Bangor.”

Pen Argyl drove 65 yards in 10 plays to take an 8-0 lead on Tyminski’s 1-yard TD run and Soos’ 2-point run on the game’s first series.

Schuylkill Haven got within 8-6 when Warke, a transfer from Bethlehem Catholic, scored from a yard out on fourth down. There was miscommunication in the backfield and a handoff exchange was missed. Two Pen Argyl defenders had a grip on Warke in the backfield, but he fought through it and found the end zone.

Carestia’s next big play came on special teams with a minute left in the half. He blocked a punt and teammate Aidan Clauser returned it to the Green Knights’ 7. Carestia scored on the next play for a 12-8 Hurricanes lead.

Up next

Pen Argyl (4-4) visits Panther Valley (2-6) at 7 p.m. Friday. Schuylkill Haven (7-1) hosts Blue Mountain (6-2) also at 7 Friday.

Morning Call reporter Tom Housenick can be reached at 610-820-6651 or at [email protected]

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN 28, PEN ARGYL 21

Schuylkill Haven: 0; 12; 0; 16 — 28

Pen Argyl: 8; 0; 0; 13 — 21

ORDER OF SCORING

First quarter

PA: Damian Tyminski 1 run (Mason Soos run), 7:39

Second quarter

SH: Auggie Warke 1 run (run failed), 7:19

SH: Niko Carestia 7 run (run failed), 0:55

Fourth quarter

PA: Tyminski 4 run (run failed), 11:19

SH: Carestia 24 run (Aiden Myers run), 8:20

PA: Soos 1 run (Reid Kotulka kick), 2:05

SH: Carestia 14 run (Carestia run), 1:02

TEAM STATISTICS SH; PA First downs; 9; 18 Rushes-yards; 33-151; 47-136 Passing yards; 41; 87 Comp-Att-INTs; 1-3-0; 10-19-1 Punts-avg.; 3-39.0; 2-31.5 Fumbles-lost; 3-0; 5-0 Penalties-yards; 7-62; 3-25

INDIVIDUAL STATISTICS Rushing: (Schuylkill Haven) Aiden Myers 14-45; Niko Carestia 12-83, 3 TDs; Auggie Warke 5-13, TD; Niko Castillo 1-9; Colton Reber 1-1; (Pen Argyl) Damian Tyminski 15-48, 2 TDs; Alex Moser 4-7; Mason Soos 13-33, TD; Brad Rissmiller 11-50; Nuallan King 3-13; team 1-(-15).

Passing: (Schuylkill Haven) Warke 1-3-0, 41 yards; (Pen Argyl) Rissmiller 10-18-1, 87 yards; Soos 0-1-0.

Receiving: (Schuylkill Haven) Castillo 1-41; (Pen Argyl) Tyminski 7-59; Moser 1-13; Soos 1-6; Michael Thomas 1-9.

PEN ARGYL — Never mind that it's in the "middle of nowhere."

Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports, a blog website and digital media company headquartered in New York City, made a stop at Moonlight Pizza and left a rave review on his "One Bite" viral series.

Portnoy — known for his blunt remarks and over-top-critiques of sports, pop culture and pizza — gave the four-year-old restaurant an 8.3 on a scale from zero to 10 in a video posted Nov. 22.

"Spectacular, it's very good," Portnoy said in between bites as a trio of teens appeared on camera to greet him.

A woman who was driving by also yelled out to the Barstool CEO, exclaiming that the eatery on 301 S. Robinson Ave., serves "literally the best pizza in the world."

"Cool place, good music, it didn't feel like you were in Pen Argyl. It felt like you were in Italy. It just had good, wholesome vibes."

Dave Portnoy, founder of Barstool Sports

Although the media mogul pronounced "Argyl" as if it was an argyle sock, he continued to talk up the ambience inside the four-year-old pizzeria.

"Cool place, good music, it didn't feel like you were in Pen Argyl. It felt like you were in Italy. It just had good, wholesome vibes," Portnoy said.

In the video, which contains multiple expletives, Portnoy explained he was in Philadelphia and was flying out of Lehigh Valley International Airport to attend a football game at Texas Christian University on Nov. 24.

Before departing though, he asked his "One Bite" series sidekick Austin Jenkins to find a pizza joint en route.

Seemingly tripped up by the word "Lehigh," Portnoy compared the airport to the Bethlehem-based university.

"We're flying out of Lehigh, the school with the hill," Portnoy said. "I looked to go there, but I said you've got to be f—ing kidding me. I'm not going to walk up this hill every day."

'Worth the drive'

Portnoy started his "One Bite" series in 2017. It currently has 1.13 million subscribers on YouTube.

After assigning a score to each pie (part of the rules is that he is only allowed to have a few bites), he offers his thoughts on the crust, sauce and other toppings.

The popular series has also featured celebrity cameos with Jon Hamm, Jon Bon Jovi, Guy Fieri, Rob Gronkowski and Dr. Phil.

As far as Moonlight's pie, Portnoy seemed captivated by the fresh basil on top.

"I never eat the basil, you notice, I ate it that time," he quipped as the some melting mozzarella cheese fell onto the pizza box.

Before heading out, Portnoy greeted the owners, Anthony Ulecka and Nicole Adams.

"This was very good. Well done. It was worth the drive, tremendous," he said.

The duo thanked Portnoy, whose controversial remarks have been the subject of multiple allegations of misogyny, racism and sexual harassment, on Moonlight's Instagram.

"Despite what some may say, you’re a gift to the industry and certainly a Godsend to Moonlight," they wrote with the post of Portnoy's NSFW review.

"It goes without saying that ALL of our LOYAL people earn every bit of credit, without YOU, Moonlight is gone."

The intimate spot, that is BYOB and seats 12, does all its orders by phone starting at 2 p.m. until they run out of dough.

Customers can take out their food or dine at the restaurant 2-8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

The pizzeria serves 12 different types of pies with unbleached and unbromated flour made using room temperature fermentation.

Also on the menu are salads, sandwiches and desserts (cannoli and tiramisu).

To order from Moonlight Pizza, click here.

Moonlight Pizza, a small shop on South Robinson Avenue in Pen Argyl, has received a glowing review from Dave Portnoy, the controversial blogger whose pizza reviews have proven highly influential for small businesses around the country.

Owners Anthony Ulecka and Nicole Adams got a visit from Portnoy, known primarily as the founder of the blog Barstool Sports. Portnoy also claims to be a pizza connoisseur, regularly publishing “One Bite Pizza Review” videos in which he grades slices on a scale from 1 (the worst) to 10 (the best) after one bite (it’s more than one bite).

He reviewed Moonlight’s pie in a video posted on Tuesday afternoon, which has already garnered over 1 million views between X (a.k.a. Twitter) and YouTube.

Warning: The video below contains explicit language.

Ulecka and Adams, both of whom could not be reached for comment Wednesday morning, have been slinging dough for four years in their small, cozy space that seats 12. Moonlight does all its orders over the phone starting at 2 p.m. until they run out of dough for the day. Customers can pick it up or dine in, and they’re welcome to bring their own drink of choice. Moonlight is open from 2 p.m. to 8 p.m. Wednesday through Friday.

This is all key information because the pizzeria will likely see an uptick in business, especially since Portnoy gave the pizza an 8.3 out of 10.

That’s what happened recently in Bucks County, for instance, where Portnoy earlier this month reviewed two pizzerias, according to a phillyburbs.com report on Monday. “Portnoy’s visits have been a boom for business at the two pizzerias, although some customers have grumbled online about the long lines created by Portnoy’s reviews,” the news website reports.

After the Moonlight Pizza review was published, Portnoy’s followers, who call themselves “Stoolies,” showed up in Moonlight’s comments on Instagram and Facebook. A few dozen left their congratulations in some form for both the score and the business Ulecka and Adams were going to get following the popular blogger’s visit.

Portnoy’s methods and responses to his critics have generated considerable controversy. After an August video review of Massachusetts pizzeria Dragon Pizza owner confronting Portnoy went viral, Portnoy’s followers sent a deluge of 1-star Yelp reviews towards the restaurant, and Portnoy himself even derided the owner and the business on political pundit Tucker Carlson’s social media show.

Portnoy has also been subject to multiple allegations of sexual harassment, racism and misogyny. In response to media criticism of his behavior, he has often taken aggressive stances against reporters, including ones at the Washington Post and NJ Advance Media, the parent company of lehighvalleylive.com.

PEN ARGYL, Pa. - A new spot for tacos, tamales and other Mexican specialties has joined the Slate Belt’s restaurant roster.

El Portal, a family-run eatery serving authentic Mexican cuisine, opened Thursday at 492 E. Main St. in Pen Argyl, Northampton County.

The space was previously home to other food establishments, including Sweet Temptations ice cream shop, Emmy Lou’s and, most recently, Good Azz Eats.

El Portal, with seating for approximately 40 customers, serves made-from-scratch Mexican dishes, including tacos, tortas, burritos and quesadillas.

A variety of meats are available, including ground beef, chicken breast, al pastor, pulled pork and steak.

Ad-ons include bacon, avocado, cheese and guacamole.

“We’re excited to serve the community,” manager Alberto Hernandez said.

“We also have daily specials, with our first day’s specials including ribs and salsa and chicken and salsa. We want to keep our selections fresh and offer a little something for everyone.”

El Portal is owned and operated by Hernandez’s mother, Maria del Carmen Padilla, and stepfather, Juan Dominguez.

The restaurant is a true family affair with Hernandez’s brother, Miguel Hernandez, and sister-in-law, Claudia Hernandez, also helping out.

The group got its start in the food service business in 2015, when family members began operating a mobile food operation that involved selling prepared Mexican meals and desserts to dairy and farm workers in California, where they were living at the time, Alberto said.

A few years later, they moved to New Jersey, where they operated a food truck.

“We’ve been wanting to open a restaurant for a while,” Alberto said.

“When we moved to Bangor last year, we saw that this space was available, and we thought, ‘Let’s give it a try and go bigger!’ It’s kind of like a dream come true for us.”

At El Portal, customers can enjoy small plate “cravings,” starting at $2.50, such as flautas, tamales and street corn.

Soft and hard corn tacos, starting at $3 each, are served with chips and salsa. Other menu highlights include taco salads and Mexican bowls.

Breakfast selections, including burritos with scrambled eggs, meat and vegetables, are also available.

“We’ll also feature specials for breakfast,” Alberto said.

“For our first day, we had a burrito with scrambled eggs, ham and tomatoes, but we’ll have different kinds of meats in them. We’ll have breakfast sandwiches on rolls, too.”

In addition to savory food, El Portal offers 24 flavors of Hershey’s ice cream, available in cups or cones, along with other chilled treats such as flan, milkshakes and sundaes.

Specialty drinks include Mexican sodas, iced coffee and natural juices in water.

“We named the restaurant El Portal because we want to be a portal that takes you to a different place, filled with new food and drinks,” Alberto said.

El Portal, which features an outdoor dining patio, is open 6 a.m. to 7 p.m. daily. Info: 610-881-4090.

As Lehigh Valley communities begin to get ready for the 2022 summer season, Pen Argyl’s public pool will continue to be shut down for a ninth straight year.

The Weona Park Pool shut down before the 2014 summer season due to serious water leaks in the pool’s foundation and problems with the filtration system.

A community effort has been looking to build another pool. However, a new pool comes with a hefty price tag.

Pen Argyl’s Weona Park pool was last open in the 2013 summer season. The borough completed a study last year as to what it would take to install a new pool and related amenities at the park.

The study found that the costs and difficulties for rehabilitating the existing pool, which was built around 1926, do not make it a feasible option.

A new pool and modern splash pad would cost about $4 million, according to the study. An update has estimated that cost may increase by about $1.1 million due to the impact COVID-19 has had on the construction industry.

Pen Argyl Borough Manager Robin Zmoda said the borough is actively looking for grant money and seeking private donations to raise the money needed for a new pool.

Waste Management’s Grand Central Landfill recently announced it will donate $50,000 toward the effort.

“We are thrilled that Grand Central and WM have stepped up with this generous contribution to kickstart our fundraising,” Pen Argyl Borough Council President Joe LeDonne said in a statement. “I believe this could grow into something very special.”

Since the 2013 closure, citizen groups have formed with the goal to get a pool open at the park.

Zmoda said several citizens and local business members have donated time and equipment to help reduce costs for the pool project.

A 2017 survey of residents found that over 91% of respondents were in favor of a “recreational water experience” at Weona Park.

If a new pool is ever built, another cost would be ongoing maintenance and upkeep of the facility. The study recommends creating a splash pad area, in addition to the main pool, which could be converted into an ice-skating rink in the winter.

Wintertime entrance fees to the facility would bring in more revenue to pay for the ongoing costs.

Contributions to the pool project can be made by the following ways:

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John Best is a freelance contributor to lehighvalleylive.com. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook.