{"id":16947,"date":"2016-06-20T16:57:27","date_gmt":"2016-06-20T20:57:27","guid":{"rendered":"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=16947"},"modified":"2016-06-20T17:03:48","modified_gmt":"2016-06-20T21:03:48","slug":"httpwww-thevalleyledger-comp1904-314","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?p=16947","title":{"rendered":"CATCHING UP WITH THE AARDVARKS"},"content":{"rendered":"<p><strong><a href=\"http:\/\/www.df-foto.com\/\" target=\"_blank\">Story by Diane Fleischman<\/a>\u00a0| <a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/KMolitoris.Photo\/\"><span style=\"color: #0563c1;\">Photos by: Kathy Molitoris<\/span><\/a><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><strong><div id=\"su_carousel_69f20e0a14236\" class=\"su-carousel su-carousel-centered su-carousel-pages-yes su-carousel-responsive-yes su-lightbox-gallery\" style=\"width:100%\" data-autoplay=\"3000\" data-speed=\"600\" data-mousewheel=\"true\" data-items=\"2\" data-scroll=\"1\"><div class=\"su-carousel-slides\"><div 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(1280&#215;853) (2)\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9366-2-853x1280.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-5\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9366-2-853x1280.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_9366-2 (853&#215;1280)\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9766_edited-1-1280x853.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-6\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9766_edited-1-1280x853.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_9766_edited-1 (1280&#215;853)\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9714-853x1280.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" 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class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9636_edited-1-1280x900.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-10\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9636_edited-1-1280x900.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_9636_edited-1 (1280&#215;900)\" \/><\/a><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-slide\"><a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9630_edited-1-853x1280.jpg\" target=\"_blank\" title=\"\" data-rel=\"lightbox-image-11\" data-rl_title=\"\" data-rl_caption=\"\"><img decoding=\"async\" src=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9630_edited-1-853x1280.jpg\" alt=\"IMG_9630_edited-1 (853&#215;1280)\" \/><\/a><\/div><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-nav\"><div class=\"su-carousel-direction\"><span class=\"su-carousel-prev\"><\/span><span class=\"su-carousel-next\"><\/span><\/div><div class=\"su-carousel-pagination\"><\/div><\/div><\/div><\/strong><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">It\u2019s a Sunday afternoon and the sunny rays streamed through the window blinds in a local diner in Bethlehem.\u00a0 Looking around the restaurant, there\u2019s a handful of patrons enjoying a late meal and conversations.\u00a0 Towards the center of the dining floor is a round table set for six.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Within a few minutes, the table fills with six men,\u00a0 comfortably dressed in tee shirts and jeans.\u00a0 For the curious onlooker, these men are relaxed, laughing, and talking as they order their drinks.\u00a0 It becomes obvious that \u00a0there\u2019s a strong brotherhood bond between them.\u00a0 Seated at this table are The Aardvarks, Lehigh Valley\u2019s favorite hometown rock band.\u00a0\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The Aardvarks first formed around 2002,\u00a0 with Mike Rauscher, guitar and Rod Walls, keyboards.\u00a0 In time, they grew to a full sized band, and like many cover bands changed players along the way.\u00a0 Joining Michael and Rod at the table are Ted Donatelli, drummer,\u00a0 Jon Novak, bass, Jay Morgan, guitarist and Nate Hunsicker, sound engineer.\u00a0 This line-up of Aardvarks has been together as a band for the last several years.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Going back to the very beginning, musical taste can always be attributed to the music we listened to from our parents.\u00a0 \u201cMy mom\u2019s music was kind of tame.\u201d\u00a0 Mike said as he speared his straw into a glass of tonic water with a lime wedge perched on the side of the glass.\u00a0 \u201cJohnny Mathis kind of stuff.\u00a0 Maybe Little River Band, and Lionel Ritchie.\u00a0 Those are the ones I remember getting her for the holidays.\u00a0 My father was a music fanatic.\u00a0 He is the reason I do what I do; an impeccable palate of classic rock.\u00a0 Hell, he had Jeff Beck\u2019s \u2018Truth\u2019, and that speaks volumes!\u00a0 He made me learn the lyrics of \u2018Rocky Raccoon\u2019 in front of the turntable as a kid.\u00a0 Lost him when I was young, but I\u2019d like to think that he would be pretty proud of his kid.\u201d\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Jay remembered, \u201cMy parents listened to whatever was on the radio.\u00a0 I do remember two specific albums in the collection though,\u00a0 Elton John\u2019s Captain Fantastic and The Brown Dirt Cowboy\u2019, and the Allman Brothers \u2018Live at the Fillmore\u2019, which pretty much shaped my musical taste.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Ted, the latest addition to the band added, \u201cIt\u2019s funny. I tell people all the time that my parents are more hip now than they were 30 years ago.\u00a0 When I was 18, they couldn\u2019t stand what I was listening to at the time.\u00a0 Now, they\u2019re going to rock shows and hanging out at Aardvark gigs till one in the morning,\u201d he laughs.\u00a0 \u201cThey\u2019re still into Johnny Mathis and Tony Bennett, so they balance it out.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">For The Aardvarks, their passion for music began at an early age.\u00a0 \u201cI was about eight years old when I started taking piano lessons\u201d, Rod commented.\u00a0 \u201cOne of the first songs I learned was \u2018Just the Way You Are\u2019 by Billy Joel.\u00a0 It was a favorite of my parents at the time.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Jon \u00a0added, \u201cI was 15 when I started playing the bass.\u00a0 First actual song was \u2018Come As You Are\u2019 by Nirvana.<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Mike chimed in, \u201cMy mom is the one who paid for my first guitar and lessons when I was eight.\u00a0 I love you mom!\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Nate took a sip of Coca-Cola and placed the glass on the table.\u00a0 \u201cThe first gig I ever had doing sound was at age 15 at Scarlett O\u2019Hara\u2019s in Bethlehem.\u00a0 I got the job because the house guy called off and friends of mine were playing that night. I knew nothing and just fudged my way by watching someone else do it.\u00a0 But I actually started out as a bass player around 13 or 14 years old.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Nate is the guy you don\u2019t see on stage, as the sixth member of The Aardvarks, he performs at the soundboard. \u201cI hope people don\u2019t think of the sixth Aardvark like they thought of the sixth Beatle. I come to almost every rehearsal.\u00a0\u00a0 I\u2019m involved in the song selection and sometimes even the arrangement of songs.\u00a0 I\u2019m honored that the band values my contribution to the group and finds it substantial enough to be called a member.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">From one of their first gigs at Penalty Box on Lehigh Street to present day bookings at Musikfest,\u00a0 Sands Casino, Maingate in Allentown, to charity benefits as well as many community events The Aardvarks presence and popularity is well known throughout the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0 In over a decade\u2019s time their music has undergone changes and evolved.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cWe started as a very classic rock centric,\u201d Jon stated.\u00a0 \u201cOver the years we\u2019ve become much more diverse. We play a wide range of music.\u00a0 The Stones to Michael Jackson,\u00a0 Stevie Wonder to Justin Timberlake.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cOur attention to detail like dynamics and tempo have evolved greatly over the past three years\u201d, Jay added.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cAfter I came onboard about ten years ago,\u201d Nate started, \u201cit left the band free to only concern themselves with playing.\u00a0 I had worked with Jay in a previous band, so I would come out and see The Aardvarks play when I had a night off.\u00a0 I remember watching Jon trying to mix the band with this little mixer on top of his bass amp while playing.\u00a0 It was not a recipe for success.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 The last big evolution for the band came with the addition of Ted. Bringing some new talent in from the outside renewed a passion for playing and performance within the band.\u00a0 After realizing the chemistry of this new lineup was going to take the band to the next level with the size and types of venues we were looking to book, the personnel change prompted me to ramp up the caliber of our production gear as well.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Mike smiled as he began, \u201cI was blessed with a team that is open to any ideas across the board.\u00a0 Nothing is taboo for us.\u00a0 If it feels good, we give it a go. Rod is the secret weapon that can conjure up the sounds needed to execute any given tune.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI believe we play the same type of songs, but we have gotten better at knowing which ones to keep in the set list and which ones aren\u2019t just working\u201d, Rod commented.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">As summer begins, Aardvark season takes over the Lehigh Valley.\u00a0 \u00a0\u00a0Packing the venues around town The Aardvarks become high energy animals on stage. While watching them perform, it is apparent everything they do is for their devoted fans. For any band, it goes without saying that they would be nowhere without the solid following of their fans.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Ted explains, \u201cThe people that frequent our shows are some of the nicest folks you\u2019ll ever meet.\u00a0 They are kind, appreciative, and very loyal.\u00a0 They get there early and they stay late.\u00a0 I\u2019ve been fortunate to play in this group for a number of reasons, one being that I\u2019ve had the opportunity to meet and become friends with some really nice people.\u00a0 I\u2019d say our crowd ranges from the early 40\u2019s on up.\u00a0 However, when we do say a Musikfest gig, the 20 somethings really get involved.\u00a0 I\u2019d like to think we offer a little something for each generation.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cBy the way, I\u2019d like to thank all of our fans for supporting The Aardvarks\u201d, Mike added.\u00a0<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Rod held up an empty coffee cup\u00a0 and signaled the waitress for a refill.\u00a0 \u201c Our formula has always been keep it up tempo and keep people moving. \u00a0My wish for every performance is that people walk away having had a great time and wanting to come back for more.\u00a0 That\u2019s our job as a cover band and if we do it well people will come back and see us again.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">It\u2019s no doubt fans keep on returning based on the songs they perform.\u00a0 \u00a0There are always favorites.\u00a0 Mike commented, \u201cAt this point, we are a medley driven band, and I love it.\u00a0 It keeps the asses shaking and that\u2019s the most important thing in our business.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201c \u2018Rock and Roll All Night\u2019 gets everyone pretty riled up,\u201d\u00a0 Ted joined in with a hearty laugh. \u201c People go nuts for that song, as they should.\u00a0 It\u2019s Kiss.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cWe put our own twist on most songs,\u201d\u00a0 Jay said. \u201cProbably because we never learn anything verbatim.\u00a0 We change things constantly.\u00a0 Another fan favorite is \u2018Bounce Around the Room,\u2019 by Phish.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Jon added his take, \u201c \u2018Summer of 69\u2019,\u2019 Jessie\u2019s Girl,\u2019 \u2018 Jenny,\u2019 and \u2018My Sharona.\u2019,\u00a0 \u2018Under Pressure\u2019 always makes the hair stand up on my neck.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">When it comes to the behind the scene action, to get an idea of those \u2018Spinal Tap\u2019 moments within The Aardvarks, we turn to Nate.\u00a0 \u201cThere\u2019s always the possibility of equipment failure that haunts every band. Once I had to rig a guitar amp with a fuse\u00a0 wrapped in aluminum foil to get through a show. There was an infamous event where an unnamed member was presumed dead after being unreachable by phone and almost slept through a show.\u00a0 Lots of forgetting instruments at home or getting stuck in traffic.\u00a0 But as far as I know, our previous drummer is alive and well and did not die in a bizarre gardening accident.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">As the conversations shifts to the Lehigh Valley music scene, these guys are the experts, as all members reside in the area at least for the past twenty years.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI think there\u2019s\u00a0 a lot of talent in our area and a lot of hard working artists and bands out there.\u201d Rod commented.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cThe bands are still there, however, the rooms are dwindling down a little.\u201d\u00a0 Ted leaned back in his chair and continued, \u201cThe Sterling Long Bar is gone, as is Second Ave in Bethlehem, and a bunch of others.\u00a0 Those rooms had a lot of character, and smells,\u201d he laughed.\u00a0 \u201cBut overall, it\u2019s a pretty good area to be in.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI truly love this area,\u201d Mike boasted.\u00a0 \u201cI\u2019ve played in quite a few places in this beautiful country, and have seen some of this beautiful world, but on these little gig excursions I still always got homesick.\u00a0 We have a good thing going in this valley of ours.\u00a0 Embrace it.\u00a0 There is a reason John Lennon took a limo with his son Julian to walk in the rose gardens down by Cedar beach.\u00a0 A Beatle can\u2019t be wrong!\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">The Aardvarks have a busy schedule ahead this summer.\u00a0 Going around the table we find their personal lives are just as busy.\u00a0 \u201cI look forward to taking my car to the race track,\u201d Jon commented.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI look forward to spending time with the people I love,\u201d Mike added.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI have a six year old daughter, \u201c Rod began, \u201cand I really enjoy taking her to Dorney Park frequently.\u00a0 It thrills me to see how excited she gets.\u00a0 It keeps me young at heart.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI look forward to getting out on my mountain bike\u201d, Nate stated.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI look forward to traveling with the family and playing with the band,\u201d Ted said.<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<p><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u201cI just love to be outside in the summer.\u201d\u00a0 Jay smiled as he continued. \u201cDoesn\u2019t matter if I\u2019m on my bike or just sitting on the back porch.\u00a0 I just love the warm weather.\u00a0 I am most grateful that I have found these gentlemen I play with, it\u2019s more of a family than a band.\u00a0 If we didn\u2019t play together, we would still socialize with each other, which is really important.\u00a0 No one makes me smile or laugh like those guys.\u00a0 It really doesn\u2019t get any better.\u201d<\/span><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n<h2><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Check out The Aardvarks at their upcoming shows:<\/span><\/h2>\n<ul>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Friday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 June 24\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Covered Bridge, South Whitehall<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Saturday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 June 25\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Rock for MS,\u00a0 The Clubhouse Grill<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Saturday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 July 2\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Molten Bar Sands Casino<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Friday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 July 29\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Maingate<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Saturday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aug 6\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Musikfest<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Sunday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aug 14\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Musikfest<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<li><strong><span style=\"color: #000000; font-family: Cambria;\">Friday\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Aug 26\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0 Colplay Community Days<\/span><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<h2>You Can also find them online at:<\/h2>\n<table>\n<tbody>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8142\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/www.jpg\" alt=\"www\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" \/><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"http:\/\/www.theaardvarks.net\/\" target=\"_blank\"> http:\/\/www.theaardvarks.net\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8105\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/facebook.jpg\" alt=\"facebook\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" \/><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Aardvarks-202962683096\/\" target=\"_blank\"> https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/The-Aardvarks-202962683096\/<\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<tr>\n<td>\u00a0<img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" class=\"alignleft size-full wp-image-8108\" src=\"http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/YouTube.jpg\" alt=\"YouTube\" width=\"64\" height=\"64\" \/><\/td>\n<td><a href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=skQxuoep_8Q\" data-rel=\"lightbox-video-0\" target=\"_blank\">https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=skQxuoep_8Q <\/a><\/td>\n<\/tr>\n<\/tbody>\n<\/table>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<hr \/>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<p>&nbsp;<\/p>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner3023'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/' target=\"_blank\" data-id='3023' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class='adkingprobanner sidebar banner7036'><a href='http:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com' target=\"_blank\" data-id='7036' data-ga='{\"campaign\":\"\",\"banner\":\"\",\"implemented\":\"universal\",\"imp_action\":\"Impression\",\"click_action\":\"Click\"}'><img src='https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/inpostblank.jpg' alt='' \/><\/a><\/div>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"&hellip; <a href=\"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/?post_type=adverts_posts&p=7036\" class=\"read-more\">Click here to read more... <\/a>","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":16953,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"_jetpack_memberships_contains_paid_content":false,"footnotes":"","jetpack_publicize_message":"","jetpack_publicize_feature_enabled":true,"jetpack_social_post_already_shared":false,"jetpack_social_options":{"image_generator_settings":{"template":"highway","enabled":false},"version":2}},"categories":[2290,1024,69,2319,1042,5],"tags":[1719,2987,2986,2,2983,2988,2984,2985],"class_list":["post-16947","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-diane-fleischman","category-entertainment","category-in-the-valley","category-kathy-molitoris","category-music","category-photography","tag-aardvarks","tag-jay-morgan","tag-jon-novak","tag-lehigh-valley","tag-mike-rauscher","tag-nate-hunsicker","tag-rod-walls","tag-ted-donatelli"],"jetpack_publicize_connections":[],"acf":[],"jetpack_featured_media_url":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/IMG_9766_edited-1-1280x853.jpg","jetpack_sharing_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16947"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=16947"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/16947\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/media\/16953"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=16947"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=16947"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.thevalleyledger.com\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=16947"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}