Did you know that more than 40% of adults in the United States suffer from obesity? Unfortunately, there is no miracle cure for this condition. Perhaps worse is that more and more adults and children are gaining weight across the country, choosing the convenience of fast and nutrition-deficient foods over healthy eating, exercise, and positive life choices. From an aesthetic standpoint, being overweight is a struggle - clothes don't fit right, people make uncomfortable comments about how you look, and everyday activities are less appealing.
From a health and wellness standpoint, however, being obese is much worse. Your life is literally on the line. The people who love you and depend on you to be in their lives could lose you sooner than you expect. With time, you have a higher chance of suffering from significant, life-changing issues such as:
While obesity is a serious problem, a new medication on the market is giving hope to millions of men and women across the U.S. This game-changing treatment is called Semaglutide in Alpha, NJ. This anti-obesity medication is unique because it treats obesity as a chronic metabolic disease, rather than a problem that can be solved through sheer willpower. The best part? Semaglutide and other medical weight-loss peptides are now available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
At Global Life Rejuvenation, we understand that losing weight is not a one-size-fits-all approach. Our medical weight loss clinic offers custom medical weight loss plans tailored to your body, rather than plans based solely on your age or weight. In fact, our team of doctors and practitioners provides personalized guidance to help you achieve real results and live a healthier life.
Because the truth is maintaining good health and fitness are crucial in the modern world. Research has shown that viruses and diseases are more likely to affect those who are overweight and unhealthy. At Global Life Rejuvenation, we take a comprehensive, custom approach to medical weight loss that includes peptide therapy and more. We then work with you to make positive lifestyle changes, so you can lose weight, get healthy, and boost your wellbeing permanently - not for a few weeks or months.
If you're ready to get back to loving your life with more energy, confidence, and positivity, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may be for you. But to truly understand the benefits of peptides like Semaglutide, it's important you grasp what peptide therapy is and how it benefits your body.
Many individuals turn to peptide therapy to enhance their overall wellbeing by boosting hormones. Different types of peptides can target different areas of health, such as collagen peptides that can help improve skin, hair, and gut health.
Other peptides, such as AOD 9604, CJC 1295, and Semaglutide in Alpha, NJ, are incredibly beneficial for losing weight. Compared to vitamin supplements, peptide therapy works differently as peptides are already part of the proteins in our bodies, making them easier to absorb and benefit from. Conversely, our bodies can sometimes fail to absorb all the nutrients present in multivitamins, leading to their excretion through urine.
However, it's important to note that weight loss is a complex process that involves various factors like age, genetics, lifestyle, exercise, and diet. While peptides like Semaglutide can provide much-needed assistance in achieving your weight loss goals, they are most effective when combined with healthy dietary choices, regular exercise routines, and overall healthier lifestyle choices.
If you've already tried different weight loss plans and diets but haven't had any success, medical weight loss with peptide therapy may provide that extra boost you need to realize your goals.
If you're looking to lose weight and keep it off, diet and exercise are important, but it can be difficult to stick to a routine. For busy adults and parents, Semaglutide can be a helpful tool for weight loss. This injection, approved by the FDA for diabetes and obesity, works by stimulating GLP-1 receptors in the brain to aid in weight loss and improve long-term health.
You may be wondering to yourself, "That sounds great, but how does this type of peptide work?" Semaglutide acts like glucagon in your body, which signals to your brain that you're full and don't need to eat anymore. When you take Semaglutide, and you try to overeat, your body waves a proverbial red flag as if to say, "That's enough."
Semaglutide also slows down digestion, reducing unnecessary snacking throughout the day. By reducing glucose spikes after meals, it reduces inflammation, which is important for overall health. Additionally, Semaglutide helps your pancreas secrete insulin, regulates the glucose levels in your body, and even has anti-aging and longevity properties. If you're struggling to lose weight, peptide therapies for weight loss like Semaglutide can be an invaluable addition to your weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation.
When combined with healthy lifestyle choices like diet and exercise, Semaglutide can help provide:
There are multiple medications available to combat obesity by suppressing appetite and promoting weight loss. However, Semaglutide stands out as an exceptional option.
A recent study of 2,000 obese adults examined the effects of Semaglutide when combined with a diet and exercise program. The results were compared to those who only made lifestyle changes without taking Semaglutide. After 68 weeks, it was found that half of the participants using Semaglutide lost 15% of their body weight, with nearly a third losing 20%. In contrast, those who only made lifestyle changes lost an average of 2.4% of their weight.
It's obvious, then, that Semaglutide is a safe and effective supplement for your weight loss journey with Global Life Rejuvenation. But who is the ideal patient who should be taking it?
If you have a body mass index (BMI) of 27kg/m2 or higher and at least one weight-related condition, such as high blood pressure, Type 2 diabetes, or high cholesterol, or if your BMI is 30kg/m2 or higher, the FDA recommends Semaglutide for weight loss.
As medical weight loss experts, one thing our doctors and practitioners know at Global Life Rejuvenation is that true weight loss isn't dictated by medicines. It's achieved by sticking to a combo of exercise, healthy life choices, and healthy eating habits. From there, peptides like Semaglutide in Alpha, NJ are great for taking your weight loss efforts to the next level of success.
One area where many patients fail in this process is with their diet. If you're considering Semaglutide treatment, keep these diet tips in mind.
To enhance your dietary habits, a practical approach is to concentrate on consuming whole foods, including fruits, vegetables, whole grains, lean protein, and healthy fats. These food items are rich in nutrients and can provide a feeling of fullness and satisfaction while also promoting your overall wellbeing.
Eating mindfully involves being fully present and engaged during meals. This entails taking the time to enjoy the flavor of your food, being aware of your body's hunger and fullness signals, and avoiding distractions like electronics or television.
To maintain good health and support weight loss, it's crucial to drink plenty of water. It's recommended to drink at least 8-10 cups of water daily. You may also try adding low-calorie drinks like herbal tea or infused water to keep things interesting.
Planning your meals in advance is an effective approach to maintaining a healthy diet. Set aside some time each week to plan your meals and snacks, keeping in mind to incorporate a balance of protein, complex carbohydrates, and healthy fats. This will prevent impulsive food choices and guarantee that you have nutritious options available when hunger strikes.
Unlike many medical weight loss clinics, which only offer cookie-cutter weight loss plans and one or two additional fat-busting solutions, Global Life Rejuvenation provides access to new, innovative supplements and medicines. If you're used to fad diets and "quick" weight loss plans, peptides like AOD 9604 and others may be new to you. To help build your foundation of healthy living knowledge, let's take a look at a few of the most popular weight-loss peptides and medicines available at Global Life Rejuvenation.
Often combined with Semaglutide regimens, AOD 9604 is known to promote fat breakdown, inhibit lipogenesis, and support tendons and cartilage. However, most recently, it has gained popularity due to its ability to boost metabolism and aid in burning fat.
What sets AOD 9604 apart is that it stimulates the pituitary gland without affecting tissue growth or blood sugar levels. Additionally, it can burn fat without causing overeating, making it a viable option for obese men and women who are trying to implement better eating habits.
Interestingly, AOD 9604 activates your body's fat-burning processes without requiring an HGH receptor. It also releases obese fat cells and reduces the accumulation of new fat cells. By helping to regulate blood sugar and manage insulin levels, AOD 9604 is excellent for weight loss but also for other maladies like inflammation.
Some conditions that this powerful peptide can help address include the following:
This medical weight loss supplement Is technically a combo of two peptides. These substances work by stimulating your pituitary gland to produce more of your body's natural human growth hormone, which is secreted during both waking and sleeping periods.
This results in increased protein synthesis and levels of insulin-like growth factors. As hormone secretagogues, they help release hormones into circulation while mimicking the pituitary gland's production. Extensive research has been conducted on the effects of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin. As a tool for medical weight loss, it has shown very promising results.
That's because when growth hormone levels increase, nutrients are transported through the body faster, more fat is burned, and weight management becomes simpler. Additionally, because CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin increase the amount of growth hormone in your body, it stimulates the breakdown of triglycerides in adipocytes, leading to improved fat metabolism and reduced abdominal fat.
Benefits of CJC 1295 and Ipamorelin for weight loss include:
A Methionine Inositol Choline (MIC) injection is a mixture of lipotropics that aid in fat breakdown. The key components - methionine, inositol, and choline - work together to metabolize fat cells and eliminate stored fat deposits in the liver and body. Methionine is an important amino acid, inositol contributes to proper cell formation, and choline is a water-soluble nutrient that promotes healthy liver function. When combined, these compounds may help reduce body fat.
When used in conjunction with a medical weight loss plan from Global Life Rejuvenation, MIC injections can be a powerful addition to reclaiming your health and wellbeing.
Request AppointmentLike other weight loss peptides and medicines on this page, Phentermine can help you lose weight when you stick to a medical weight loss plan that includes dieting, exercise, and smart life choices. It does so by reducing your appetite, which limits the number of calories you eat every day.
As is the case with Semaglutide, Phentermine has been approved by the FDA and is supported by clinical studies that show it can support weight loss. With time, patience, and healthy living, this supplement may help you reach your wellness goals sooner than you thought possible.
Request AppointmentIn the body, 7-keto-DHEA is produced from dehydroepiandrosterone (DHEA), which is a hormone made by glands near your kidneys. However, unlike DHEA, 7-keto-DHEA is not converted into androgen and estrogen in your body. Instead, 7-keto-DHEA is used orally or topically to boost your body's metabolism. It also helps convert more of your energy into heat, instead of storing it in your body as fat, which can accumulate with time and lifestyle choices.
Much like Semaglutide treatment in Alpha, NJ, 7-keto-DHEA has been shown to be very effective for weight loss as well as a host of other issues. Additional benefits of taking 7-keto-DHEA may include the following:
Have you tried everything under the sun to try and eliminate the cellulite on your legs, arms, and other areas of your body? If you're like most people, getting rid of cellulite isn't just difficult - it's nearly impossible. Fortunately, those days are over. Lipo Sculpt Cream from Global Life Rejuvenation can help reduce the unsightly appearance of cellulite while also refining your figure and firming up your skin.
The active ingredients in this product have the ability to reduce and prevent the growth of fatty tissue while also improving microcirculation. They work together to treat both adipose and aqueous cellulite, and aid in the elimination of fatty deposits and excess water stored in the tissues. This results in a reduction of dimples and an overall improvement in the appearance of your skin.
If you have experienced success with a medical weight loss plan and reached your target weight but still suffer from cellulite, Lipo Sculpt Cream is a fantastic choice to consider. A few of the most common benefits include:
Are you craving a productive life at a healthy weight? Are you ready to make a meaningful difference in your life and the lives of your loved ones? The pathway to wellbeing starts by contacting our office for an in-depth consultation, where we'll learn more about your weight-loss goals and needs.
From there, we'll create a custom weight-loss plan tailored to your body. This plan will map out the steps of your weight-loss journey, including peptide therapies like Semaglutide in Alpha, NJ. Though every person's weight management goals are different, when you're a patient at Global Life Rejuvenation, you benefit from dedicated doctors and practitioners committed to improving your weight and, in turn, your health.
Whether your health is on the line, or you don't like how being overweight makes you look and feel, our team is ready to guide you toward long-term health and happiness. This way, you can get healthy, stay in shape, and fall in love with your newfound body.
He became an involuntary vegan.A New Jersey man is now allergic to red meat after getting bitten by an invasive species of tick — which has left him unable to consume steak, pork or even dairy products without suffering a serious reaction.“It just flipped everything — turned my life upside down completely,” Craig Smith, 62, ...
He became an involuntary vegan.
A New Jersey man is now allergic to red meat after getting bitten by an invasive species of tick — which has left him unable to consume steak, pork or even dairy products without suffering a serious reaction.
“It just flipped everything — turned my life upside down completely,” Craig Smith, 62, told NJ.com of his unwilling conversion to vegetarianism. “You get so frustrated. Food becomes an enemy to you.”
The Cream Ridge retiree specifically suffers from Alpha-gal syndrome, a potentially life-threatening allergy that triggers an immune reaction to a sugar molecule (carbohydrate galactose-alpha-1,3-galactose) found in meat, per the National Institutes of Health.
This insidious condition — diagnoses of which multiplied six-fold between 2011 and 2018 in the US — is spread via the saliva of the lone star tick, an invasive species of bloodsucker named for the distinctive dot on its back.
Originally hailing from the southern US, this voracious species has become increasingly common throughout the northeast as well, which experts attribute to warming temperatures.
AGS symptoms generally occur two to six hours after eating meat or dairy products and include hives, difficulty breathing, facial swelling and, most seriously, anaphylaxis — a potentially fatal reaction incorporating all of the above symptoms and more, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, which can only be treated with an injection of epinephrine and a trip to the emergency room.
Smith’s unfortunate saga began all the way back in the spring of last year after he woke up in the middle of the night with painful rashes all over his body.
“You’re itching all over,” explained the frightened New Jersyite, who said some of the welts were the size of dinner plates. “You’re like: What the heck is going on?”
Alarmed, Smith turned to doctors and allergists, but neither were able to definitively diagnose his condition.
They prescribed to him a regimen of steroids, which provided temporary relief from the rashes — only for them to return as soon as his prescription ended.
“As soon as the steroids ran out — boom,” said Smith, who, along with his wife Liz, 66, spent the next few months searching for answers to no avail.
Then, a doctor finally suggested that he might have alpha-gal syndrome.
That’s when the former laborer remembered that he’d been helping his daughter fell trees at her Monmouth property in January and February of last year, which he surmised could’ve been when he got bitten.
A subsequent battery of blood tests confirmed the doctor’s suspicion.
From that point on, Smith was forced to do a dietary overhaul, swapping out beef, pork, lamb and other red meats, as well as dairy, for vegetables, which the alleged picky eater never touched growing up.
This adjustment “devastated” the self-proclaimed “carnivore” and pulled pork lover, who used to love to fire up his meat smoker during backyard barbecues.
“Food is like one of your — I mean, it’s life,” lamented Smith, who can’t eat any of the aforementioned sans falling ill.
And while the poor fellow can still consume chicken, turkey and fish, he says he hates being in “such a narrow food lane.”
And meat isn’t the only source of the AGS trigger.
Smith’s blood pressure medication reportedly also contains an animal product-based ingredient with the culprit carb, which prompted him to cease taking it for about a week as he was tired of being sick.
However, the patient said doctors forced him to go back on it as they deemed it “more of a risk to not take the blood pressure medication” despite the egregious side effects.
Smith said the ordeal has even affected his relationship with Liz, who he finally married in 2016 after 35 years together.
“The food, the medicine — when you compile all that together, and then it’s affecting my marriage,” the union man despaired. “It’s affecting my wife.”
And while doctors said the Alpha-gal should disappear within a year, it’s now been over 12 months, and Smith’s meat allergy has shown no signs of abating.
Not only that but there is currently no cure for the disease, which was only discovered over the past two decades. “It was sad,” Smith’s wife Liz rued. “He didn’t get the help he needed.”
Unfortunately, there has been a massive uptick in Alpha-gal cases of late.
While in 2009, there were only two dozen or so cases in the United States; now there are over 34,000 that scientists know of, according to Dr. Scott Commins, an associate professor of medicine at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill.
Meanwhile, the lone star tick itself has migrated ever northward, notably becoming the most common species in Long Island.
“Between 1994 and today, this tick had thoroughly colonized Long Island,” Jorge Benach, a professor of molecular genetics and microbiology and pathology at Stony Brook University, told The Post. “It is the most abundant tick that we have now.”
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The lone star tick is particularly insidious in that, unlike other species, this disease vector actively pursues its mammalian prey.
“Most of the other ticks wait for somebody or an animal to pass by, and they’re on grass,” Benach explained. “The lone star tick is what they call the hunter tick. They will seek you out. So you can be sitting in the grass, and they’ll come to you.
PRINCETON, NJ — If you’ve made a fitness-focused New Year’s resolution, but lack the inspiration, this should help you crush your goals.Alpha Fit Club (AFC), a boutique fitness studio is all set to open in Princeton on Feb. 18. AFC is owned by Sara Carlesimo of Fanwood and Elizabeth Roseman of Florham Park.AFC is a group-style fitness program, that tends to have 24 people per class, Carlesimo told Patch. AFC's circuit-style concept features a blend of total body strength training, coupled with high-intensity c...
PRINCETON, NJ — If you’ve made a fitness-focused New Year’s resolution, but lack the inspiration, this should help you crush your goals.
Alpha Fit Club (AFC), a boutique fitness studio is all set to open in Princeton on Feb. 18. AFC is owned by Sara Carlesimo of Fanwood and Elizabeth Roseman of Florham Park.
AFC is a group-style fitness program, that tends to have 24 people per class, Carlesimo told Patch. AFC's circuit-style concept features a blend of total body strength training, coupled with high-intensity cardio. Members rotate through six stations in accountability packs of four, challenging themselves for six minutes at each station.
Each station varies between cardio and strength, or a combination of the two, which can be scaled for any fitness level.
AFC was developed keeping in mind individuals who like to develop programs for themselves that yields results.
“Many people walk into an open gym and become very overwhelmed. There are spin classes, body conditioning classes, even workout with a trainer. But it's not consistent enough to lead to results. And it can also cost plenty of extra money, depending on where you're attending, in addition to the general membership fee,” Carlesimo said.
In that sense, AFC is unique. The programming is designed for each individual who can choose to come in once or twice a week, or for six days.
“You get results just from showing up consistently each week. It gives you a dynamic workout, but in a way that's scalable for someone that's either dealing with an injury or pregnancy, to someone who's training for Ironman,” Carlesimo said.
“Unlike other programming, it's a pretty equal split of cardio and strength. Group fitness programs tend to either be way too cardio-heavy or only strength. But this is a nice blend of both, giving your body that different focus to rotate through the stations.”
In December 2022, Carlesimo and Roseman opened a studio at Riverwalk Village on the border of Bridgewater. They decided to open another studio in Princeton as it’s one of the most sought-after locations.
“I think Princeton is just primed for a new fitness studio. The community is active, you have Princeton University and a whole host of businesses here,” Carlesimo said.
AFC will be located at the Princeton Shopping Center, which Carlesimo said is a great place for “foot traffic.”
A lawyer by profession, Carlesimo grew up in New Jersey. “Fitness has always been a huge passion of mine, definitely an outlet during law school and after I had my children, I was carving out time for myself,” she said.
She discovered AFC during the COVID-19 pandemic as it helped her achieve her fitness goals and build a community.
“I’ve always worked for big corporations and running a small business is a skill set I've always wanted to build on. This just seemed like the perfect opportunity,” Carlesimo said.
AFC began VIP presales on Jan. 15. Founding members will receive a discounted first month for $99; founders rate of $150 per month for the remainder of the year; access to VIP classes and VIP merchandise.
Those interested should download the Alpha Fit Club app, select membership and credits, select the Princeton location and purchase the Introductory $99 Monthly Membership.
For more information, click here and here.
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Alpha Fit Club(AFC) Basking Ridge has officially opened in Riverwalk Village on the border of Bridgewater.The boutique fitness group is owned by Sara Carlesimo of Fanwood and Elizabeth Roseman of Florham Park, who met in a moms' group.The pair had much in common. They were both mothers of newborns, both attorneys, and both had a passion for fitness. It was only natural for Carlesimo and Roseman to open Alpha Fit Club."Fitness has always been a passion and high priority of ours," said C...
BASKING RIDGE, NJ — Alpha Fit Club(AFC) Basking Ridge has officially opened in Riverwalk Village on the border of Bridgewater.
The boutique fitness group is owned by Sara Carlesimo of Fanwood and Elizabeth Roseman of Florham Park, who met in a moms' group.
The pair had much in common. They were both mothers of newborns, both attorneys, and both had a passion for fitness. It was only natural for Carlesimo and Roseman to open Alpha Fit Club.
"Fitness has always been a passion and high priority of ours," said Carlesimo and Roseman.
Carlesimo, who is a lawyer and senior manager within the financial services industry, was a two-sport college athlete.
"I learned early on the importance of fitness training, both from a mental and physical standpoint. I carried my dedication and interest in fitness post college, training for triathlons as a release during and after law school," said Carlesimo.
Roseman is an executive compensation attorney that is now responsible for global HR compensation and benefits strategy for a financial services company.
"I’m also a former gymnast, personal trainer and documented super taster that loves food and happy hour," said Roseman. "Love challenging anyone to a walking handstand!"
Both said they wanted "to demonstrate to their children the importance of maintaining a healthy lifestyle and habits, including a consistent fitness routine."
Discussions to open a franchise location with AFC started about a year ago.
"When franchising discussions began last year, it was an immediate yes for us. To dedicate the time, equity, and trust in a business venture, having a mission and program that you believe in is critical. Alpha Fit Club has always been special to us and opening one of the first franchises has afforded us the opportunity to be a part of an exciting growth and expansion of a business that has been such an influential and important part of my life the last couple of years," said Carlesimo and Roseman.
A grand opening of the newly designed 4,000-square-foot studio in Basking Ridge was held this past Saturday. Constructed by Shoreline East Construction Corp, the studio is accompanied by full-service locker rooms, a collaboration space, and juice and snack bar.
This is the first franchise for Carlesimo and Roseman, their second AFC location is set to open in Princeton Shopping Center in February 2023.
Alpha Fit Club is a premier group fitness training program for all fitness levels. The circuit-style concept features a blend of total body strength training, coupled with high-intensity cardio. Members rotate through six stations in accountability packs of four people, challenging themselves for six minutes at each station.
Each station varies between cardio and strength, or a combination of the two, which can be scaled for any fitness level.
Members can access class schedules for booking via the alpha fit club app. More information on memberships, packages and class schedules can be found at alphafitclub.com/locations/basking-ridge or facebook.com/alphafitclub.baskingridge or instagram.com/alphafitclub.baskingridge.
In and around the Lehigh Valley, roadside oddities dot the landscape for those who know where to look. There’s the Big Chair. A lighthouse silo. A space capsule.The steel dinosaurs in Alpha have a special, endearing story. The T-rex, brachiosaurus, triceratops and caveman were a ...
In and around the Lehigh Valley, roadside oddities dot the landscape for those who know where to look. There’s the Big Chair. A lighthouse silo. A space capsule.
The steel dinosaurs in Alpha have a special, endearing story. The T-rex, brachiosaurus, triceratops and caveman were a gift for a shop owner’s grandson. Now, 25 years later, they still stand tall, waiting to delight anyone who happens to find themselves in an industrial park outside Phillipsburg.
Here’s how The Express-Times reported on the dinos’ creation on July 30, 1997:
You wouldn’t think one of the hardest parts about building a 20-foot-tall, 10,000-pound carbon steel dinosaur is finding the proper shade of paint.
It was for G.J. Oliver Inc. The company has been making enormous custom steel products — like storage tanks and pipe columns — for decades.
But a brachiosaur?
“We had to find dinosaur color, that was the hardest part,” said John Oliver, part owner of the family run business.
Since last summer [1996], G.J. Oliver owner George Oliver has been making Jurassic Park out of a patch of grass behind his plant off Industrial Drive in the [Alpha] borough industrial park.
G.J. Oliver workers last year built and installed a carbon steel brachiosaur — long neck and gentle smile — in the plant’s back yard. This summer [1997], they added a steel Tyrannosaurus Rex — big teeth and mean look — to the collection.
Both are about 20 feet tall and 30 feet long, and weigh about 10,000 pounds. Each took more than 450 hours to build.
“We’re a steel fabricator; we build all kinds of things out of steel,” said Elwood “Woody” Houser of Wind Gap, who did the dino-design and construction. “Everything is custom.”
Actually, the dinosaurs are copies. They started with toys.
John Oliver, a Holland Township resident, said his son John Jr., 5, is a dino-maniac. George Oliver decided to build the dinosaurs as a gift to his grandson.
Houser tells the story best.
“My boss said ‘See those steel piers?’” Houser said … pointing toward where the brachiosaur is mounted. “’I want you to build me a dinosaur to fit over those piers.’
“He said, ‘I’ll get you a model.’”
Houser said George Oliver gave him one of John Jr.’s plastic toy dinosaurs and said “Here’s what I want.”
The design was difficult and time-consuming, especially making an anatomically correct neck for the brachiosaur, said Houser, a 23-year veteran of the company.
The result is two works of art, tucked away in a somewhat secluded part of the industrial park. They’re on private property but John Oliver said visitors often park on Avenue A, walk over and look.
“A lot of people come see the things, and we never promote it or anything,” Oliver said. “It’s just word of mouth.
“We don’t mind as long as (visitors) don’t get crazy.” …
This story is part of Lehigh Valley Then, a periodic series that recalls historical headlines from lehighvalleylive.com, The Express-Times and their predecessors from 10, 20, 25, 50 and 100 years ago. Stories are pulled from microfilm at the Easton and Bethlehem area public libraries. The original text is edited for clarity and length.
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By Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.comA directory board displays the businesses located in the Alpha Industrial Center, also known as Alpha Industrial Park, in Alpha, Warren County.Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.comOne is Alpha's largest taxpayer, expanding thanks to strengthening U.S. manufacturing.The other is billed as the world's first fully molecular hydrogen-powered facility, producing environmentally friendly beverages with zero greenhouse gas emissions.Both of these projec...
By Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com
A directory board displays the businesses located in the Alpha Industrial Center, also known as Alpha Industrial Park, in Alpha, Warren County.
Courtesy photo | For lehighvalleylive.com
One is Alpha's largest taxpayer, expanding thanks to strengthening U.S. manufacturing.
The other is billed as the world's first fully molecular hydrogen-powered facility, producing environmentally friendly beverages with zero greenhouse gas emissions.
Both of these projects are in Alpha Industrial Park, just off Exit 3 of Interstate 78 in the Warren County borough.
"The Industrial Park since the borough started developing that in the late '50s has been, is, an important part of our tax base in the borough, obviously, and also a job producer for us," Alpha Mayor Craig Dunwell said.
Here is a closer look at the projects:
Metal fabricator expanding
Bihler of America Inc. at 85 Industrial Drive in Alpha seeks approval from the borough land use board Jan. 17, 2018, for a third production facility. The company specializes in metal stamping and assembly for the medical and construction industries.
Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com
Bihler of America Inc., 85 Industrial Drive, is looking to build a third manufacturing facility, slightly smaller than the existing two, production manager Billy Daniels said.
"We're going to build a 100,000-square-foot facility adjacent to the two we have now," he said.
Bihler is scheduled to go before the Alpha Land Use Board on Wednesday for approval. The proposal before the board is for development of a light industrial/manufacturing/warehouse building with access drives, parking, loading docks, utilities, improvements to Industrial Drive and a stormwater management system, including a retention basin.
"We hope to be in there by 2019, end of 2018, beginning of 2019," Daniels said, declining to say how much the projected investment will cost.
Latest investment
Dunwell said Bihler, Alpha's largest taxpayer, has a solid record of investing in its borough property. Around 2010, Bihler added ground- and roof-mounted solar panels to power its production.
"Again it's a vote of confidence in the borough that it's a place they want to do business," Dunwell said of the expansion plan.
Alpha has reciprocated, Dunwell said, including repaving Industrial Drive in 2013 and investing in $4.5 million in water infrastructure borough-wide over the last seven years, plus $1.5 million in sewer collection system upgrades.
MORE: 21 Lehigh Valley employers with the most full-time job openings
The borough is seeking New Jersey Department of Transportation grant funding to reconfigure the acute-angled intersection of Industrial Drive and New Brunswick Avenue (Route 122), and to add a second access road into park, from Edge Road. Having one access road poses a a public safety issue if emergency responders can't get down Industrial Drive, Dunwell said.
60 new positions projected
Bihler specializes in metal stamping and assembly for the medical and construction industries, according to Daniels. Fueling the expansion is an increase in orders, and U.S. manufacturing on the rise, he said.
Daniels said he hopes to run the new facility around the clock, in addition to existing lines that employ three shifts. He expects the expansion to create 60 new positions.
"We're always looking for good people," he said. "We're always looking for experienced machine operators, electricians, maintenance folks."
A 'world's first' in Alpha
This is an artist's rendering of Bev-Graph Packaging International LLC's new facility planned at 910 New Brunswick Ave. in Alpha. The borough land use board granted approval Dec. 13, 2017, for construction of the state-of-the-art green sustainable manufacturing facility, which will produce spring water-based drinks in eco-friendly recyclable soft or recyclable/biodegradable-aluminum packaging, according to the company.
Courtesy image | For lehighvalleylive.com
Alpha officials gave final approval in December to the other Industrial Park project: Bev-Graph Packaging International LLC, which produces its trademarked Kokomo line of spring water-based drinks.
The 100,000-square-foot facility is planned on the former Vargo Bros. Farms along New Brunswick Avenue between Edge Road and Industrial Drive.
It's a groundbreaking facility that will produce "enhanced" beverages using proprietary technology, said Bud Phillips, managing member.
"The company will be breaking ground in Alpha, N.J., this spring 2018 with a target date to be in operation by fall 2018," he said in a statement. "Alpha has welcomed and supported our 'green sustainable manufacturing' project and not only to the benefit of the borough; but our newest technology will impact the region and eventually the entire country."
Kokomo's innovation starts with its power source. According to Dunwell, the facility will use roof- and ground-mounted solar during the day that will also feed power into hydrogen (H2) cells.
"Essentially the hydrogen will act as a battery," he said. "They'll be storing energy in the chemical bonds of the hydrogen molecule."
According to land use board minutes on Bev-Graph testimony from Jack Mosel, an expert in hydrogen production technology and partner in the project, the facility marks the "first time in the world this process will be utilized, citing it's the latest technology in the world, coming to Alpha Borough."
"Produced and consumed onsite, Mr. Mosel reiterated that this would be the world's first fully sustained generator producing its own fuel and own power without any emissions," the minutes state.
The molecular hydrogen, an odorless gas, is to be stored in 40-foot-long containers. The equipment is designed to adhere to the National Fire Protection Code, Mosel testified, and is "the safest fuel."
"Mosel stated that there will be sensors to detect any leaks. If any leakage occurs, the system shuts down automatically, adding that it is the same technology running the International Space Station," the minutes continue.
Hydrogen-infused beverages
Bev-Graph plans to produce spring water-based products with "proprietary H2 and other scientific formulations which are then filled in eco-friendly recyclable soft packaging or recyclable/biodegradable-aluminum," instead of traditional plastic bottles, Phillips stated.
"All products are fully processed in a 'total' carbon-free, sustainable 'green' manufacturing environment." he continued. "The 'green solar' power system is augmented by a 'green' H2 energy system.
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"Additionally, (the) plant will offer the most advanced digital print technology which will allow creative variable package messaging in multiple languages as part of its facility.
The driving forces behind the 'Green Love' business model includes multiple years of business development and an extraordinary team of highly experienced principles along with other strategic partnerships on a national level."
Phillips said he expects to employ up to 50 people over the company's "ramp-up period," with high-tech jobs and general manufacturing opportunities.
"It's all going to be regional hiring first," Phillips said.