Peeps' 60th Birthday Celebrated at Chamber Dinner

96th Annual Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce Dinner will also celebrate the 30th anniversary of Musikfest and contributions by former Mayor Gordon Mowrer, others.

  The Peep, which has held a unique place in the American candy landscape and been an integral part of Easter celebrations for 60 years, will be celebrated Wednesday night as the Bethlehem Chamber of Commerce holds its 96th annual dinner. Just Born, the Stefko Boulevard candy maker, will receive a "Milestone" award from the chamber for the Peep's longevity. The dinner will be held 5 p.m. Wednesday at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks—the home of one of the other honorees—ArtsQuest, which also gets a “Milestone” award as the 30th anniversary of Musikfest is feted. Former Mayor Gordon Mowrer, tireless anti-poverty advocate Alan Jennings and longtime city economic development professional Tony Hanna will also be celebrated for their …

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5 Things You Didn't Know About Peeps

Peeps may be peeping out of your Easter basket but how much do you know about the popular marshmallow candy made in Bethlehem?

Marshmallow Peeps have become a staple of every kid’s Easter basket. Produced by Just Born, the little neon-colored chicks, bunnies, pumpkins and Christmas trees might be the most famous thing to ever come from Bethlehem, Pa. Here are five things about the candy you may not know: There's a store devoted to Peeps candy and merchandise at the Outlets at Sands Bethlehem. Source: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/

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Peeps Hatch New Products for Easter

Bethlehem-based Just Born candy company has new Peeps products for Easter baskets.

Peeps now have a line of novelty merchandise—hats, t-shirts and even lip gloss—to go with the popular marshmallow candies. Bethlehem-based Just Born, the company that makes Peeps, has launched a flock of Peeps-related gift products in time for the Easter season. New Peeps novelties include: Peeps candy and other products are available at www.peepsandcompany.com, as well as Peeps & Company retail store in at The Outlets at Sands Bethlehem. There are also Peeps stores in National Harbor, Md. and Mall of America in Bloomington, Minn.

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Five Things You Didn't Know About Peeps

Bethlehem-produced Peeps are a staple of every Easter basket. Here are some things you might not know about the neon-colored marshmallow candy.

  Marshmallow Peeps have become a staple of every kid’s Easter basket. Produced at Just Born’s factory here on Stefko Boulevard, the little neon-colored chicks, bunnies, pumpkins and Christmas trees might be the most famous thing to ever come from Bethlehem. Here are five things about the candy you may not know: Source: http://www.businessnewsdaily.com/

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ArtsQuest Names New Board Chairman

Samuel L. Torrence is the retired president and chief operating officer of Just Born.

  Retired Just Born, Inc. President & COO Samuel L. Torrence has been named the new chair of the ArtsQuest Board of Trustees, the organization announced in a news release on Wednesday. Torrence, a resident of Center Valley, will serve a two-year term that runs through January 2014. As the chair of the ArtsQuest Board of Trustees, Torrence is charged with leading the 12-member board responsible for the overall governance of ArtsQuest. Among the volunteer board’s responsibilities are the development and approval of ArtsQuest’s annual operating and capital budgets, overseeing the organization’s strategic planning and developing and maintaining organizational policies. Since moving to the Lehigh Valley in 1993, Torrence has been actively …

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Two Days Left in First “Deck the Peeps” Holiday Art Contest

Vote for your favorite or make a last minute entry.

There are two days left in the very first “Deck the PEEPS” Holiday Art Contest, and perhaps because it is the first, unlike many online contests, it is quite possible to view all the entries easily. As of Tuesday afternoon, a total of 29 entries were posted on the contest website, with 22 in the “over-18” category and seven in the “under-18” category. Entries and public voting for favorites officially closes at 11:59:59 p.m. EST on Jan. 5. The five entries in each category with the highest number of votes will then be reviewed and judged by a panel of judges based on the following criteria (weighted equally): originality, creativity, use of Peeps products, adherence to holiday-theme and overall presentation First, second and third place …

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Revelers Ring In New Year at Peepsfest

Saturday evening Peep Drop welcomed 2012

Revelers welcomed the new year early as a giant yellow Peep was dropped at 5:15 p.m. Saturday as part of Peepsfest at Bethlehem's southside Steelstacks arts campus. This Morning Call photo gallery highlights the activities.

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Peeps Fest Begins Today!

Four days of sweet fun, culminating in the Peep drop on New Year's eve, starts today.

A celebration of all things Peeps, this festival is the place to be this week for the younger set. Running from noon to 5 p.m. today, tomorrow, Friday, and ending with a Peeps drop and fireworks on Saturday, Dec. 31, a wide array of activities are planned for the event, this year at the ArtsQuest Center at SteelStacks, 101 Founders Way. Most Peeps Fest activities are free, and others are moderately priced ($5, in many instances), making this not only the place to be for kids, but also an affordable family outing which parents will undoubtedly welcome, especially right after the expenses of the Christmas holidays. For all four days, there's plenty to keep everyone occupied. Children's entertainment throughout each day includes a scavenger …

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Peeps and Company to Open Retail Location at Sands

The new retail location, which will also carry classic candy favorites such as Mike and Ike and Goldenberg's Peanut Chews, is slated to open in February.

Peeps and Company, the retail arm of Just Born, announced today the company is planning to open a new retail location at the The Shoppes at Sands, located next to the Sands Casino Resort in Bethlehem. “We are so excited to have finally found such a tremendous location for our Bethlehem PEEPS & Company store,” said Marvin Cooper, vice president of retail division. “Lehigh Valley residents and the thousands of visitors to our region will be treated to an engaging experience where our fans can enjoy their favorite candy brands all year long. This will be our first store in the Lehigh Valley area, and we are honored to contribute to the excitement and economic infusion that the Sands Casino Resort is providing to Bethlehem.” The shop will …

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Life in the Slow Lane

Executives Say Arts Are Good For Business

At Lehigh Valley Arts Council rally, companies talk about how music, theater, dance help with economic development.

Bethlehem candy manufacturer Just Born Inc. realizes that man does not live by Peeps alone. Sometimes he needs art. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Last week, the Lehigh Valley Arts Council held a rally for the arts and I’m pretty sure it was the first rally I’ve ever attended that opened with an organ recital. The music was courtesy of Allen Organ Co. in Macungie, host of the event at which artists and arts groups from around the region received small state grants. The grants – some as little as $437 – are for local groups and individuals who bring music, dance, theater and artwork to people all over the Valley, especially those who might not otherwise have access to it.  The rally was also a chance for business people to talk about why …

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