31, NO. 9
Lake News
October 2025
©2025, Lake News. All rights reserved. A CANWIN publication
Ruth Isenberg, Editor
Seth Isenberg, Ads / Distribution Publishers
(Continuing the work of founders Frank Pieri and Mary Farnschlader, 1995 – 2018) Lake News is published monthly for the enjoyment of Lake Harmony area residents and visitors. Copies are free and are mailed to Lake Harmony box holders. Find additional copies at The Country Peddler and at selected area businesses.
Subscriptions are also available, for $15 as a PDF via e-mail. Mail your check to CANWIN at 211 Main St., White Haven PA 18661.
E-mail us at lakenewslakeharmony@gmail.com
Call us at 570-215-0204, Seth x1 and Ruth x2
To submit an article or photo, use the above e-mail, or give us a call. Articles may be accepted or rejected. If accepted, they will be edited. Submitted items can be returned by arrangement. Articles appearing in Lake News may not be reprinted without permission of Lake News or CANWIN newspapers. Mailing address is 211 Main St., White Haven PA 18661.
LOCAL CONTACT INFORMATION
Kidder Township Office 570 722-0107
Kidder Township Police
(non-emergency #) 570 722-0192
Lake Harmony Vol. Fire Co. (non-emergency #) 570 722-8138
Lake Harmony Rescue Squad (non-emergency #) 570 722-1782
For emergencies, call 911. If you do not live in an area served by 911, call 570 325-9111.
KIDDER TOWNSHIP MEETINGS
Kidder Township Supervisor meetings are held the fourth Thursday of each month at the township building, and unless otherwise noted, begin at 6:00 PM. Notices of special meetings are posted at the township building and advertised Planning meetings are held the 1st Wednesday at 6 PM; Zoning meetings, the last Monday at 6 PM; EAC, the second Wednesday at 7 PM. The public is welcome.
This Month’s Cover
A PLACE IN THE SUN: “The picture of this big beautiful bear was taken over the summer, after he decided to take a nap on a large boulder located behind our home in Blakeslee,” writes Bill Lundon. “My wife and I guesstimate that he was over 200 lbs. He was resting on that boulder for a good 20 minutes before he slowly moseyed away. He still comes by from time to time passing through.”
Share your photos of life at The Lake (or nearby) by sending them to lakenewslakeharmony@gmail.com
Entertainment Around Lake Harmony
At Shenanigans Events at shenaniganslh.com
Karaoke, DJs and Dancing in Boomers Night Club Fri. & Sat. 9 p.m. -1 a.m.
November 1 Halloween Bash with The Buzz, 8-12
December 13 Christmas & Ugly Sweater Party with Mystery City, 4 p.m.
At Nick’s Lake House
November 29 Christmas Shopping Event, 12-4 p.m.
At Boulder View Tavern (All 6-9 p.m. except as noted) www.boulderviewtavern.com/events
October 24 Brian Roder
October 25 Tony Alosi
October 31 Erin McClelland
At The Pub @ the hub
Music Friday and Saturday from 6 to 9 p.m.
October 24 Brian Smith
October 25 Ashley Marquez
October 31 Zac Lawless
November 1 Friends of Rodger
November 7 Solkatana
November 8 Andrew Moses
November 14 Dina Hall
November 15 Nina Peterson
November 21 Ashley Marquez
November 22 Hannah Noel
November 28 Brian Smith
November 29 Tim Fitzpatrick
December 5 John Simonson
December 6 Nina Peterson
At Holy Ghost Distillery & Tasting House on Route 940
Tours, tasting experiences, Firepit Fridays. Registration required for some events. More info, www.holyghostdistillery.com
At Mauch Chunk Opera House mcohjt.com
October 24 GA-20 and Black Joe Lewis & The Honeybears
October 25 The Grand Slambovian Halloween Ball
See ENTERTAINMENT, page 4
Wapiti
by Mark Peterson
One of the joys of visiting or living in our region is spotting a majestic white-tailed buck emerging from the forest, perfect for a striking photo to share on social media. Male deer, known as bucks, can sport impressive antlers, sometimes with as many as eight points and a spread reaching up to two feet. Growing and shedding every year, these antlers are used primarily to attract females and spar with rival males during the mating season, known as the rut.
Impressive, yes, but rather small when compared to a massive animal known to the Lenape people as wapiti or the eastern elk. While an adult male deer typically weighs 150 to 300 pounds, a bull elk can tip the scales at 600 to 1,000 pounds. Its antlers can stretch nearly five feet from tip to tip an awe-inspiring sight. Once ranging widely across Pennsylvania, with significant populations in the Allegheny Mountains and the Pocono Plateau, elk disappeared from the commonwealth by 1877 due to overhunting and habitat loss. The
last known elk in the Poconos was reported in 1845.
The effort to reintroduce elk took place between 1913 and 1926 when the Pennsylvania Game Commission reintroduced 177 elk from Yellowstone National Park and other western states into several north-central counties. These animals became the foundation of today’s herd.
Success was not guaranteed a 1971 aerial survey counted just 65 elk in the state. Thanks to careful management, habitat restoration, and a trap-and-transfer program from 1998 to 2000, the population has rebounded. Today, Pennsylvania’s elk number between 1,300 and 1,400, primarily in Elk, Cameron, Clinton, Clearfield, and Potter counties, covering roughly 800 square miles. Since 2001, regulated elk hunting has been permitted to manage herd growth and reduce crop damage, ensuring a sustainable balance between people and wildlife.
As large as these animals are, the elk makes a curious noise. A bull elk’s call, known as a bugle, is one of nature’s most haunting and dramatic
See WAPITI, page 7
Wapiti
Continued from page 6
sounds. It begins as a high, almost eerie whistle that rises in pitch, then drops into a series of deep grunts or chuckles. By contrast, a white-tailed buck is much quieter, communicating with short grunts, snorts, and bleats all to impress females. Whether male or female, visitors will also be impressed by the excellent service and wide selection of gear at Peterson’s Ski and Cycle. Known to occasionally grunt and chuckle himself, proprietor Eric Peterson has helped customers find the bikes and skis they need for over 30 years. Located in Blakeslee next to Wawa, the store also offers t-shirts, hoodies, souvenirs, blankets, and more. Stop by and say hello, or visit the online store at www.petersonsskiandcycle.com. We hope to “ski” you soon!
Poconos sets highest visitor spend ever
Billions generated by tourism, reinforces industry importance
New data from a state-level study of tourism’s economic impact shows steady growth and a new record visitor spend for the four-county Poconos region in 2024. In the Poconos alone, visitors spent $7.2 billion in 2024, supporting more than one third of jobs in the region and resulting in $930 million returned to our community through federal, state and local taxes. The findings are included in the 2024 Economic Impact Report which reveals tourism generated $83.9 billion in total economic impact in Pennsylvania and supported a total of half a million jobs.
“Hospitality has long been at the heart of the Poconos, and the tourism industry contributes billions to the local economy,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “The latest report is a testament to the staying power of tourism as well as its value to our workforce and way of life in the Pocono Mountains. We are extremely proud to represent the industry on a state, national and international
level while staying grounded in the reality that everyday people benefit from the Poconos hospitality network.”
Tourism in the Poconos supports more than 38,000 jobs and spending has increased each year since 2020 on everything from lodging to food and beverage, retail, recreation and entertainment, and transportation. The dollars injected into the Poconos’ economy keep the doors of beloved local businesses open, support the livelihoods of neighbors and family members, and lower the tax burden for residents. Pennsylvania households would need to be taxed an additional $950 per year each to replace the taxes which visitors contribute to state and local governments.
To learn more about the impact that the tourism and hospitality industry has on the Pocono Mountains, go to PoconoProud.com. The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau is Pocono Proud to contribute to the region’s wellbeing through initiatives like the PMVB Community Impact Grant, which has awarded $1.4 million in funding to local projects, Pick Up the Poconos, Pocono 3C, Pocono Scholarships, the Poconos Ambassador Program, and more.
KIDDER TOWNSHIP HONORED FIRE CHIEF: At the September 25 Kidder Township Supervisors’ meeting, Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company Chief Ralph Lennon was honored for his decades of fire-fighting service. Lennon began as a fire fighter 60 years ago. He has served as Lake Harmony’s chief for many years, and been a member of the fire company even before moving to Lake Harmony full-time. Shown from left are supervisors Bruce Berger, Noel Torres, and Ray Gluck, Chief Lennon holding a placque presented to him by Police Chief Matt Kuzma during the meeting, and supervisors Wilson Klotz and Louis Pantages. LN: Ruth Isenberg
WPTU program features bamboo rod craftsmen
Western Pocono Trout Unlimited will have a meeting on Tuesday, October 28, at 7 p.m. at the White Haven Area Community Library, 121 Towanda Street, White Haven.
Two local master bamboo rod making craftsmen, Brian Farrel and Ed Kania, will display and demonstrate their work. These accomplished rod builders will also explain the history of this unique craft used by early anglers going back centuries long before the advent of synthetic rods like fiberglass, carbon fiber, boron etc.
Specially made bamboo rods can cost hundreds or even thousands of dollars, and original rods made in the past centuries are often prized as works of art and have great historic and monetary
value. Special equipment is needed to make these artisanal works along with special bamboo from China, known as Tonkin cane. The two master craftsmen will demonstrate their work at the WPTU meeting.
Folks can also arrive early to obtain several recently donated high quality trout fishing books being sold as a fund raiser for WPTU. The books were donated by Janice Kanyak, wife of WPTU founding member, John Kanyak, who passed recently. WPTU thanks the Kanyak family.
The meeting is free to the public. Call 570 454 4862 for more info or WHAC Library at 570-4438776.
Letter to the editor
Kidder Township Supervisors Must Act
Anyone driving along Route 940 can see how much our landscape has changed. Land that was once forest is now acres of pavement and nearly two million square feet of new warehouse and truck terminal space. The two big projects— Exeter 1 (1.1 million square feet) and PNK5 (739,050 square feet)—have raised important
questions about how our township is handling the effects of these large developments on stormwater.
Pennsylvania DEP Act 167 and Kidder Township’s own Ordinance 148-79 are clear: developers are supposed to set aside money so that stormwater systems can be inspected and maintained for years to come. The idea is simple—protect our streams, wells, and roads, and make sure the costs don’t fall on taxpayers.
But those deposits were not required here, and that is why so many people are concerned. Without funding set aside for ongoing maintenance as required, stormwater problems could mean local flooding, icy patches on winter roads, polluted water, and damage to our environment, leaving the community to face costly repairs.
Residents have been raising these concerns at township meetings for more than a year, yet nothing has changed. Calls to the Township Solicitor’s office have gone unanswered. Still, the message is clear: we care deeply about our community, our water, and our shared future. By working together and urging our township supervisors to act, we can ensure that Kidder Township enforces the protections already on the books. An ordinance ignored is no ordinance at all.
Sincerely, Beth Hurley
Kidder Township
NASCAR returns to Pocono Raceway
June 12-14 for 2026 season
The NASCAR Cup Series stars will head to the Pocono Mountains next summer as Pocono Raceway plays host to the series for a 53rd consecutive year on Sunday, June 14, 2026.
The action-packed June 12-14 tripleheader showcasing the Cup Series also will include the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA
Menards Series on the legendary 2.5-mile “Tricky Triangle.” The weekend will feature a race each day, beginning with the stars of ARCA on Friday, June 12.
NASCAR Cup Series headlines tripleheader weekend that also includes the NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series and ARCA Menards Series.
Cup Series race set for Sunday, June 14 –one week earlier than this season.
The O’Reilly Auto Parts Series will compete Saturday, June 13, leading into Sunday’s highly anticipated Cup Series race – an event that has sold out three years in a row and continues to be one of the most in-demand stops on the NASCAR calendar.
See NASCAR, page 15
NASCAR
Continued from page 13
The 2026 edition will be slightly different than this season as the race weekend falls a week earlier next year, along with the ARCA Menards Series competing. The series first raced on the 3/4-mile oval at Pocono in 1969 and then the 2.5-mile triangle 70 times since 1983. Some of the biggest names in NASCAR have launched their careers with an ARCA victory at Pocono, including Justin Allgaier (2008), Joey Logano (2009), Kyle Larson (2014), Chase Briscoe (2016), Ty Majeski (2019), Ty Gibbs (2020), Corey Heim (2021) and Jesse Love (2023).
A scheduling conflict led to the NASCAR CRAFTSMAN Truck Series being unavailable for the 2026 weekend, but Pocono Raceway expects to welcome the series back in 2027.
Single-day tickets and weekend packages are on sale at www.poconoraceway.com, with Cup Series tickets beginning as low as $65. Families can take advantage of the “Kids Free” program, where children 12 and under are admitted free all three days with a ticketed adult.
Race start times and television broadcast partners will be announced at a later date.
About Pocono Raceway
Pocono Raceway, also known as ‘The Tricky Triangle,’ is family-owned and situated in the beautiful Pocono Mountains of Pennsylvania. In business for over 60 years, the Raceway hosts multiple, national motorsports events including the NASCAR Cup Series, NASCAR O’Reilly Auto Parts Series, NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series and ARCA Menards Series events. The facility’s calendar also consists of over 300 events including Elements Music & Arts Festival and a wide range of entertainment events, car clubs and racing schools. Pocono Raceway is recognized as the world’s first, privately-owned solar-powered sports facility. Their 25-acre, three-megawatt solar farm provides the energy needs of the Raceway, as well as, adds electricity to the local power grid. Each member of our raceway staff is committed to creating exciting experiences and lifelong memories. For more information, please visit www.poconoraceway.com.
Entertainment Around Lake Harmony
At Mauch Chunk Opera House mcohjt.com
October 31 Dancin’ Machine
November 1 Back in Black: The AC/DC Experience
November 2 Jim Thorpe ParaCon 2025
November 7 Parker Barrow
November 8 Cinema Stereo and Moon City Masters
November 14 Late for the Sky The Jackson Browne Tribute with Jake Thistle
November 15 Last Waltz Celebration The “The Band” Band
November 21 The Artimus Pyle Band Honoring Ronnie Van Zant’s Lynyrd Skynyrd
November 22 Rubix Kube The 80s Strike Back!
November 26 14th annual Harvest Jam featuring Free Range Folk
November 29 The Stevie Ray Vaughan/Hendrix Restrospective by Dustin Douglas
December 5 & 6 Twelve Twenty-Four
At Pennspeak.com
October 21 The Olivia Show: Honoring the Musical Legacy of Olivia Newton John
October 22 The Everly Brothers Experience featuring the Zmed Brothers
October 24 Tommy James and the Shondelles
October 25 HUGO: The Ultimate Journey Tribute
October 26 Deck Party: Bandana Brothers
October 28 Barbara and Frank: The Concert that Never Was–a Sensational Tribute to Sinatra & Streisand
October 29 Alan Jackson Tribute by Doug Brewin—SOLD OUT
November 1 FireHouse with special guest: George Lynch and The Mob
November 13 Joe Russo’s Almost Dead
November 21 Hollywood Nights The Bob Seger Experience
November 22 Live Wire The Ultimate AC/DC Experience
November 26 An Evening with-Dark Star Orchestra
November 29 Wisecrackers Comedy Group
December 2 Nashville Christmas by Country Jamboree
December 4 Ryan Pelton-An Elvis Christmas Show
Entertainment
At Mount Airy Casino Resort mountairycasino.com
November 15 Separate Ways-A Tribute to Journey
At F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts, Wilkes-Barre kirbycenter.org
October 25 Rubi Nicholas
October 29 Chicago
October 30 Swan Lake: by International Ballet Stars
November 2 Mania-The ABBA Tribute
November 7 NeedToBreathe
November 8 Nutcracker! Magical Christmas Ballet
November 9 An Evening With Phil Rosenthal of “Somebody Feed Phil”
November 11 Froggy 101 Guitars and Stars presented by Burke’s Gun Shoop
November 14 Strangelove-The Depeche Mode Experience
November 19 Queensryche & Accept
November 21 Blue October
November 22 Almost Queen
November 29 Manheim Steamroller
Local business brings local seniors together
Senior Community Breakfast Program
1st Thursday of Each Month 8am-10:45am
A Key Community Resource Joins Each Month Sharing Info for Seniors & One-OnOne Conversations Over Coffee
Pocono Organics farm market café invites the local Senior Citizens’ community together with a monthly program geared toward welcoming socialization and connecting area resources with a Senior Community Breakfast 8-10:45 a.m. the first Thursday of
each month.
Starting October 2nd off, Pocono Mountain Regional Police officers & administrators joined attendees for Coffee with a Cop t in an effort to familiarize the community with their local men and women of law enforcement in a comfortable casual setting rather than an
emergency situation.
“We’ve been members of this community for generations,” says Ashley Walsh, Pocono Organics Founder, adding, “Providing a place to bring people together with resources like our local police, as well as other emergency responders and organizations or hosting events at Pocono Organics for Seniors & area residents to socialize is something we’re proud to be a part of.”
Breakfast menu
pricing drops to $10 and includes a coffee for guests age 55 & up to enjoy while mingling among friends and new acquaintances. The monthly gathering continues November 6 & December 4 with two new organizations eager to meet Seniors and share valuable insight.
Follow along at https://www. poconoorganics.com/ seniors for updates & to download flyers to share with friends or clubs to plan on visiting.
Spooky Skeletons at
Hickory Run SP
Hickory Run State Park, Visitor Center Side Porch is where you will meet for this Free Event on Friday, October 31 at 6 p.m.
The Visitor Center is located at 3 Family Camp Road, White
Haven, off of PA Route 534.
Join park staff to explore the skeletons of different animals and discover what makes each of them special. Come find out what these bones have to tell us, and create your very own creature with a takehome craft!
In the event of rain, this program will be held at the Visitor Center porch or classroom.
If you need an accommodation to participate in park activities due to a disability, please contact our office at (272) 808-6192.
Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area is ‘best loved’ outdoor space nearby
by Carol Hillestad
For more than 80 years, long before it became the Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area, this land along Tobyhanna Creek was a communal pleasure ground. Starting in the 1930s, when it was Harrison Park and later Toby Park, it boasted a roller rink, dance hall, swimming pools, steamoperated carousel, penny arcade, and softball fields.
Then the Flood of ’55 swept it all away.
Today, what remains of the original buildings are low walls and memories. But this 130-acre preserve is still a center of community life — just off Route 115 and close to Blakeslee and Route 80, it is an easy-to-reach haven for walking, fishing, picnicking, photography, and peaceful contemplation.
Well-worn paths take you right to the brink
of the creek, where you are likely to find people fishing, spring through fall. If, like me, you are familiar with the rushing creeks in the Brodhead watershed that cascade off the Pocono Plateau and flow quickly to the Delaware, the Tobyhanna is a change of pace. With headwaters above Tobyhanna
See AUSTIN T. BLAKESLEE, page 24
Austin T. Blakeslee
Continued from page 22
Lake, and flowing more slowly for 30 miles across the Plateau, the Tobyhanna is a wide, almost stately, creek.
From several points along the trail, you can clearly see its meandering path as it journeys toward the Lehigh River, then through the Lehigh Valley, not reaching the Delaware until Easton. Protecting this water safeguards drinking water for millions of people downstream.
Three blazed trails make for lots of hiking options. There’s a quick half-mile loop – Pine Trail – blazed in orange. Highland Trail, blazed in blue, is almost a mile long and loops through mixed hardwood and pine forest above the creek.
But it’s the red-blazed Creek Trail – a 2.3-mile, out-and-back walk along the creek – that I have in mind.
A male red-winged blackbird calls from the cattails in a small wetland even before I get into the grove of red pines at the start of the trail. Seeps and wetlands on the uphill side are crowded with drifts of lush green skunk cabbage. Small,
IF YOU GO
Where: Near Blakeslee. Take Route 903 to Route 115 South. After the Tobyhanna Creek bridge, parking areas are on left. Or take Route 940 east to Route 115 North at Blakeslee Corners; parking areas will be on the right before the bridge. Note: Two trailheads serve Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area.
GPS coordinates 41º 4’ 59”N 75º 35’ 4” W, elevation 1,560 feet.
Trail information: Trails are blazed in red, blue and orange. Many side trails exist. Roots and rocks are common on the trails, which are wet in many places. Sturdy, appropriate footwear is essential. A walking stick is helpful.
unnamed tributaries also cross the trail in places. The walking would be mucky, but volunteers have placed bridges and simple stepping-stone crossings made of tree-trunk slices and smooth rocks where they are needed.
See AUSTIN T. BLAKESLEE, page 25
Austin T. Blakeslee
Continued from page 24
There are lots of blueberry bushes and glacierdropped boulders along the way to the highlight that everyone aims for — the falls. Wide, flat bedrock above the falls has been worn smooth by decades of sightseers and fishermen. With good balance and a walking stick, you can make your way down to the deep pools below the falls and along the very edge of the creek, with no sound but the rushing water in your ears. Or take the easier high route to an overlook above, in a clearing furnished with picnic tables and benches.
The trail continues another half-mile, with postcard-worthy views of the creek all along the way — just over a mile of prime creek frontage. At the boundary of the conserved land, a small white sign reminds me that this property has been preserved by the people of Tobyhanna and Tunkhannock townships and Monroe County for the use and pleasure of all. I’ve reached the end of the trail, but still have the pleasure of walking back.
Austin T. Blakeslee Natural Area is among the best loved and most used public spaces in the county. Appropriately, it is named for a beloved member of the community — farmer, conservationist, and “a really good guy.” At times within earshot of Route 80, the preserve is still a source of peace, beauty and wonder, enjoyed by generations past and preserved for generations to come.
Carol Hillestad is a hike leader and writer for Get Outdoors Poconos, a grant-funded series administered by Brodhead Watershed Association.
Follow the Pocono History & Art Trail to explore the Pocono Mountains region
Follow the Pocono History & Art Trail to discover important American landmarks in the Pocono Mountains. There are sites close to Lake Harmony on this Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau project, and places at the other end of the region that would make for a fascinating day trip. Small town museums to visit in the Poconos represent notable moments in Pennsylvania history and offer visitors a chance to dive into the richness of both the past and present.
Step across a landscape formed 20,000 years ago at Boulder Field National History Site in Hickory Run State Park or learn about the Ice Age Native American inhabitants who lived here 10,000 years ago at the Pocono Indian Museum in East Stroudsburg. Relive family farm life in the eighteenth century at Quiet Valley Historical Living Farm, stay in a Victorian mansion built in the nineteenth century in Jim Thorpe, then view beautiful art from the twentieth and twenty-first centuries in Pocono galleries. From the beginnings
of commercial railroad tracks in Honesdale to the beginnings of the conservation movement in Milford, history buffs will find so much to enjoy in the Poconos.
Sign up for the mobile exclusive passport for free at https://www.poconomountains.com/poconohistory-art-trail/ and see how many Pocono Mountains historical and cultural attractions you can check off the list. The Pocono History & Art Trail gives you access to audio clips highlighting the people and places who have made the region what it is and left their mark on American history.
We want your stories
If you have a good tale about life at the Lake, or a photo you’d like to share, a recipe or an opinion, let us know. E-mail us at lakenewslakeharmony@gmail.com Call us at 570-215-0204, x2
Township Reports
Lake Harmony Rescue Squad
In September 2025, the Lake Harmony Rescue Squad responded to 35 calls, an increase of 8 calls compared to September 2024. Year-to-date, the squad has handled 369 calls, which is 53 more than the 316 calls recorded by the same time last year.
The calls in September were 33 in Lake Harmony, 1 in Penn Forest Township, and 1 in Monroe County.
The squad operates 24/7 and reported a total mileage of 2,500.5 miles for Unit 1760 and 1,277 miles for Unit 1761 during the month. Fuel for operations was generously donated by Kidder Township.
Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Co.
In September 2025, the Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Company responded to 13 incidents, contributing to a year-to-date total of 128 calls.
The September incidents included 8 automatic
alarms, 1 brush/forest fire, 1 medical assist, 1 mutual aid call to Monroe County, 1 Pennsylvania Turnpike incident, and 1 search and rescue/ recovery operation.
Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Co.
In September 2025, the Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Company responded to a total of 40 incidents. These included building fires, passenger vehicle fires, and brush or grass fires, with one incident reported for each type.
The team also handled 19 EMS calls, 3 motor vehicle accidents with injuries, and 1 other accident-related incident. Additionally, they addressed smoke or odor removal and responded to 3 unintentional alarm system activations.
The department was also dispatched to 10 incidents that were canceled en route.
Kidder Township Code Enforcement
In September 2025, the Kidder Code Enforcement team handled 233 cases, bringing the year-to-date total to 1,481 cases. The monthly activity report highlights key areas of focus, including rubbish accumulation, high weeds, unregistered vehicles, and waste container storage.
Accumulation of Rubbish or Garbage: 86 violations were addressed in September, bringing the year-to-date total to 564.
High Weeds, Grass, or Plant Growth: 6 violations were recorded for the month, with a year-to-date total of 8.
Motor Vehicles (Abandoned/Unregistered): 1 violation was handled in September, with 2 cases resolved so far this year.
Storing Containers for Waste or Trash: 32 violations were addressed in September, contributing to a year-to-date total of 339.
Tree Preservation Permits: 18 permits were issued in September, with 84 issued year-to-date.
Home Inspections: 42 inspections were conducted in September, bringing the year-to-date total to 60.
Hotel Inspections: 3 inspections were completed, with a year-to-date total of 3.
Other Violations: 45 cases were handled in September, with a total of 421 violations addressed this year.
Township Reports
Kidder Township Police Department
Emergency Calls
911 Hang Up: 3 calls
Medical Emergency: 4 calls
Mental Health: 1 call
Welfare Check: 3 calls
Administrative Calls
Admin - Other Maintenance: 2 calls
Alarms
Alarm (False Business): 1 call
Alarm (False Residential): 3 calls
Animal Complaints
Animal Complaint (Barking Dog): 1 call
Animal Complaint (Other): 1 call
Criminal Incidents
Assault (Physical): 1 call
Burglary (No Force - Non Residence): 1 call
Drug Possession: 2 calls
DUI (Alcohol): 1 call
Harassment: 4 calls
Theft (Other): 2 calls
Disturbances
Disorderly Conduct (Disturbing the Peace): 3 calls
Disorderly Conduct (All Others): 2 calls
Disorderly Conduct (Public Drunk): 1 call
Disturbance (Other): 3 calls
Domestic (Non-Arrest): 5 calls
Assistance to Other Agencies
Assist Other Agency (Fire/EMS): 15 calls
Assist Other Agency (Other): 2 calls
Assist Other Agency PD: 3 calls
Traffic-Related Calls
Traffic Enforcement (Summons): 110 calls
Traffic Dismounted Post: 5 calls
Traffic/Parking Problems: 4 calls
Traffic Speed Trailer: 2 calls
Traffic Hazard (Lights Out, Wires Down, Debris on Roadway, etc. ): 1 call
Suspicious Activity
Suspicious Activity (Person): 1 call
Suspicious Activity (Vehicle): 2 calls
Other Calls
Civil Complaint: 1 call
Dismounted Posts: 11 calls
Missing Person (Juvenile/Runaway): 1 call
Trespassing: 5 calls
Township Ordinance (Loud Noise): 3 calls
Total Calls: 243
Volunteers Needed for a D&L Trail Photo Shoot
Post Office Notes
by Christine A. Gilliar-Feller
Before they were famous, they were postal workers
USPS updates its list of VIP employees
The Postal Service has updated its list of famous postal workers.
The list, compiled by the USPS historian’s office, features 35 names, including actors, artists, athletes, musicians and politicians.
Here’s a sample:
• Steve Carrell: “The Office” star was a rural carrier in Littleton, MA, in 1985.
• Bing Crosby: The popular actor and singer — ranked as “the most admired man alive” in a 1948 poll — was a substitute and regular clerk in Spokane, WA, in 1921.
• Walt Disney: The animator, film producer and theme park pioneer was a substitute carrier in Chicago in 1918 and a temporary holiday worker in Kansas City, MO, in 1919.
• William Faulkner: The novelist and Nobel laureate served as acting postmaster and
Morgan Freeman, shown at an event at the Pentagon last year, was a substitute letter carrier in San Francisco in the 1960s. (Courtesy of the U.S. Department of Defense)
postmaster in University, MS, from 1921-1924.
• Dennis Franz: Before he starred on “NYPD Blue” in the 1990s, Franz was a substitute letter carrier in Illinois in the 1970s.
• Ace Frehley: The KISS guitarist was a New York City substitute letter carrier in the 1970s.
• Morgan Freeman: The Academy AwardSee PO NOTES, page 34
PO Notes
Continued from page 33
winning actor was a substitute letter carrier in San Francisco around 1965.
• Sherman Hemsley: Before he moved on up as a star of “The Jeffersons,” Hemsley worked as a clerk in Philadelphia and New York City in the 1960s.
• Rock Hudson: The film and TV actor was a substitute letter carrier in Winnetka, IL, around 1947.
• Abraham Lincoln: The 16th president was the postmaster in New Salem, IL, from 1833-1836.
• Charles Lindbergh: The aviator was an airmail pilot from 1926-1927.
• Jason Mraz: The singer-songwriter was a casual clerk in Richmond, VA, around 1995.
• Knute Rockne: The football coach was a substitute and regular clerk in Chicago from 1907–1910.
• Harry S. Truman: The 33rd president was the postmaster in Grandview, MO, from 1914-1915.
• Hal Williams: The “227” and “Private Benjamin” star was a Los Angeles clerk from 1968 until the 1970s.
As the historian’s office notes, 16 of the names including Crosby, Disney, Faulkner, Lincoln and Truman were honored with stamps after their postal service.
The full list is available on the usps.com postal history page.
Here’s when to send your holiday mail and packages
USPS recommends deadlines for expected delivery by Dec. 25:
USPS will deliver mail and packages throughout the holiday season.
The Postal Service has recommended deadlines for the holiday mailing and shipping season.
The suggestions, released Sept. 17, are for expected delivery by Thursday, Dec. 25.
Here are the deadlines for items being sent to addresses in the lower 48 states:
Wednesday, Dec. 17: USPS Ground Advantage
· Wednesday, Dec. 17: First-Class Mail
Thursday, Dec. 18: Priority Mail
· Saturday, Dec. 20: Priority Mail Express
Here are the deadlines for items being sent to Alaska, Hawaii and U.S. territories:
· Tuesday, Dec. 16: USPS Ground Advantage
Wednesday, Dec. 17: First-Class Mail
· Thursday, Dec. 18: Priority Mail
· Saturday, Dec. 20: Priority Mail Express
Customers sending packages internationally or to military addresses can find the complete list of recommended mailing and shipping dates at usps. com.
Packaging guidelines and information on preparing shipments, ordering free shipping supplies and local Post Office hours can be found at usps.com and on the USPS YouTube channel.
As always, we thank you for your business!
April Shaner, Postmaster
Christine A. Gilliar-Feller, Sales Service Associate, fancy for clerk Window hours, Monday–Friday 8-11:30 a.m., 1-4:45 p.m.; Saturday 10 a.m.-Noon Lobby hours 6 a.m. to 8 p.m., 365 days a year, 7 days a week
Please call if you have any questions or concerns, 570-722-8524
From Lake News
October/November 1995
From the Archives
This issue is printed in orange ink,both front and back.It is 24 pages, and on the front cover is the story, “Tannersville Come of Age,” reprinted with permission from News of the Poconos.
The history of the western Poconos region is laid out, starting with the interactions of the Indians and the first sttlers of the area, the trek of General John Sullivan and his troops through Tannersville on their way to the Wyoming Valley to put down Indian raids, followed by lumbering and tanning, and eventually the rise of the resort industry and shopping along the actual route Gen. Sullivan took through the area in 1779.
A Lake Benefit was organized by the Peterson family, held at the Blue Heron Grille. With two bands and many door prizes, the mid-week event raised about $2,600. The money was slated to be used for the on-going lake management project. “The summer treatment is already showing
improvement in the vegetation growth. At this time, we are engaged in extensive research and planning concerning the correct and most efficient program to pursue in the coming years.”
An accompanying article dealt with the testing of the lake in August for fecal coliform. A total of 13 samples were taken around the lake. Ten of the 13 samples showed less than 20 parts per 100 milliliters (almost too small to measure). Three areas exceeded 20 parts; two showed 20 parts, and one showed 40 parts per 100 milliliters The suspicion was that the numbers were so low because of drought conditions through the summer. Because the ground was very dry, nothing could leak into the lake. “Historically, when problems are found, the ground is excessively wet and saturated, causing leakage into the lake.” Monitoring as appropriate was to be continued by the Lake Harmony Association.
The new meeting room at the Lake Harmony Firehouse was nearing completion. Also in Fire House News, 62 chairs were donated to the new room at the annual breakfast.
The fire company bought a used rescue craft, complete with a 15 hp motor, to be used in case of water eegency.
In response to a request in the previous issue for old pictures of Lake Harmony area. They chose two to highlight in this issue, the first a sign for Big Boulder Ski Area that advertised its “T-Bar Lift and Rope Tow.” The second one, much older, showed men camping at Big Spring, which was a popular area for camping on Lake Harmony.
See ARCHIVES, page 38
From Lake News
October/November 1995
Continued from page 36
From the Archives
Mike D’Amico, Jr., chef at Shenanigans, contributed a recipe for Hearty Pumpkin Soup, while John Kaminski, chef at Murphy’s Loft, added a recipe for Trout Amaretto.
Along with an article “Getting to Know…Edison Gumbs” there was a recipe from his Carribean background, Pesca Corra, calling for a whole Red Snapper and to be served with fried plantain and Fungi, a dish made with yellow cornmeal and okra. Gumbs was at that time working at the Lake Harmony Lodge Restaurant.
Carbon County was gearing up for a gypsy moth onslaught in two years (1997), by making plans for chemical spraying the spring of 1996.
“Ed Murphy reported a stranger than fiction turkey tale. On October 11, he was called at work by Security in Laurel Woods that a wild turkey had crashed into a window of his home, breaking it. Luckily for Ed, a screen prevented the turkey from actually getting inside his home. His neighbor was not so lucky. Apparently, after being only partially successful at the Murphy residence, the persistent turkey tried another window. The errant turkey was captured inside a neighbor’s home (covered with a blanket) and later released safely outside. Doesn’t this turkey know that Thanksgiving is coming?”
From 18624
“Sue and Frank Pieri attempted to photograph one of our resident bears one evening and must have scared it. The bear took off in the direction of Debby and Frank Schwartz’s home. The couple was outdoors, enjoying a post Labor Day dinner of hardshell crabs that attracted the attention of the bear. When he came too close, Frank shooed the bear away. The bear took the hint and went out on their dock, jumping into the water and swimming across the lake.”
A poem and a photo showed Police Chief Ron Gallagher in the dunk tank at the Lake Harmony Rescue Squad’s Backyard Bash. Written by Jen Obrien, it ends: “You were such a good sport,/and you sure made a big splash./We thank you for your support/At our Block party bash!!”
Getting It Rite Ain’t As Easy as It Seams
by Matthew Sieger
Excitement over Major League Baseball reaches a crescendo this time of the year because it means the World Series is around the corner. It’s MLB’s crown jewel. But there’s at least one thing that MLB teams have gotten wrong over the years, and it’s on uniforms for the world to see.
As ESPN sportswriter Paul Lukas notes, “Since nobody has figured out how to load a spellcheck function onto a sewing machine or a heat press, uniform typos are sure to continue.” Joe Hilseberg, who has worked in the business, told Lukas, “How many people did that go through and none of them caught it? Fortunately, no mistake of mine ever got to the seamstress.” Here are some notable goofs:
Joe Carter, July 14, 1994. The city of the Blue Jays was misspelled “TOROTNO” on the front of Carter’s uniform. The manufacturer caused the jersey misspelling, Wilson Sporting Goods. One player (Joe Carter) was unable to use his primary uniform because of it. Somehow, no one noticed the mistake until the sixth inning, when Carter switched to his All-Star jersey.
Adam Riggs, August 16, 2003. Minor league journeyman Adam Riggs hadn’t been with the Angels very long before he took left field in a home game against the Tigers with a sleeveless jersey that read “ANGEES” across the front. Riggs had no clue until his hysterical teammates sat him down in the dugout between innings and broke the news to him.
Ted Kluszewski, May 8, 1960. In 1960, the Chicago White Sox became the first major sports team to put player names on the back of uniforms. That’s the good news. Here’s the
bad. During a road trip to New York, his name appeared with both a backwards “Z” and an “X” instead of a “K” at the end of his name. As The New York Times put it, “Undoubtedly, the tailor was too engrossed in the problem of fitting so many vowels and consonants in the space available to concentrate on his spelling.”
Aaron Harang, April 12, 2005. The pitcher took the mound for the Reds with his team’s city spelled “CNCINNATI” on the front of his jersey. To make matters worse, he lost to the Cardinals, 5-1.
Ryan Jorgensen, Aug. 26, 2007. After Jorgensen hit a first-inning grand slam for Cincinnati against the Marlins, a teammate pointed out that his name was misspelled on his jersey (it should end in “sen,” not “son”). Baseball players are a superstitious lot, so one might expect Jorgensen to keep wearing the “lucky” jersey, but he switched to one with the proper spelling within two innings.
Eliezer Alfonzo, June 3, 2006. Alfonzo was a journeyman in the minors for over a decade before finally receiving his call to the big leagues. He was supposed to meet the Giants in New York for a game against the Mets, but his flight was canceled because of a thunderstorm. So he took a three-and-a-half-hour limo ride through the downpour and made it to Shea Stadium just in time to learn that the game had been rained out. The next day, he found his name penciled into the starting lineup. But he made his big league debut with his name misspelled on his jersey (it should end in “zo,” not “so”). Alfonzo hit a two-run homer in the sixth inning that ultimately won the game against the Mets, which may have explained why his jersey was still misspelled in the Giants game the following day.
Getting It Rite
Continued from page 40
Eugenio Velez, April 7, 2010. Velez made his season debut wearing a jersey with San Francisco spelled incorrectly. “Maybe they left his shirt in ‘San Fran-cic-so,” quipped the AP.
Two Washington Nationals, April 17, 2009. The Nats sent their two best hitters, Adam Dunn and
Ryan Zimmerman, onto the field wearing “NATINALS” jerseys for three innings.
Jeff Francoeur, August 16, 2007. Wearing a jersey with the “e” and “u” switched in his name, Francoeur went 0-for4 with the Braves in a game against the Giants.
Joe Slusarski,
April 11, 1991. After taking a red-eye flight to Oakland to make an emergency start (because scheduled starter Eric Show had an infected finger) and getting only four hours of sleep, he found his jersey lettered with “SLUZARSKI.” Undeterred, the 24-year-old A’s rookie pitched seven scoreless innings against the Twins in a 3-0 win.
Jim Fregosi, 1986. When Fregosi started managing the White Sox in the middle of the season, his jersey read “FERGOSI” until the White Sox spotted the error. Fregosi joked, “My ex-wife and kids used to misspell it, too until it was time to go to the bank.”
Steve Garvey, 1983. When Garvey showed up at the San Diego Padres spring training camp, Ray Peralta, the equipment manager, showed him that the manufacturer had sent four jerseys for the $6 million first baseman with his name misspelled “GRAVEY.” “We noticed it last week,” said Peralta. “He wasn’t offended at all. He wanted to have one to keep. We just hope he turns out to be a gravy train for us.”
As Lukas points out, “There’s at least one team that’s never had a uniform misspelling: the Yankees. With a simple logo on the front and no player names on the back they’re typoproof.”
Matthew Sieger, a retired sportswriter, loves to recount basketball history. You can read his work at The Sports Column https:// www. thesportscol. com/category/ rounding-third/
Bach and Handel Chorale to perform 41st Christmas Concerts
The Bach and Handel Chorale, based out of Jim Thorpe, will perform their 41 st year
Christmas Concerts in December. Randall Douglas Perry, Founder, Artistic Di -
rector and Conductor, will accompany and conduct the chorale in three concerts of sa -
cred music spanning the seasons of Advent and Christmas.
The opening concert will be held on Saturday, December 6, beginning at 2 p.m., in St. Joseph Roman Catholic Church, 526 North Street in Jim Thorpe. Tickets are $20 for all adults, and children 10 and under are free. Tickets may be purchased at the door, at Sound Check Records and Jingle Bells Christmas Shoppe in Jim Thorpe, or by calling the Chorale Office at 570 -325 -4794.
Two other concerts will be performed as well. St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, 158 Fish Hill Road in Tannersville, will host the chorale on Saturday, December 13, beginning at 3 p.m.
St. Paul’s United Church of Christ, 1249 Trexlertown Road in Trexlertown, will host the last Christmas concert for the year on Sunday, December 14, beginning at 3 pm. Both of these concerts have no admission charge but a free will offering will be accepted.
Everyone is invited to any or all of these concerts as we celebrate the birth of our Lord Jesus Christ with text and music.
Electric bills keep climbing. WHY?
by Carol Hillestad for Brodhead Watershed Association
Wind and solar are the clean, water-friendly ways to generate electricity. It’s generally cheaper, too. Electricity made with gas, coal, nuclear, and oil sucks up almost unimaginable quantities of water and other resources. There are also huge costs for the fuels it takes. The fuel costs for solar and wind? Zero. So naturally green energy tends to cost less over time.
Yet more than 2,000 green electricity projects are backlogged, waiting for approval at PJM, the gatekeeper for electricity providers in our area. It’s PJM that determines which suppliers get connected to the grid and therefore what kind of electric power is available for you and other consumers to buy. Many new green suppliers have been waiting in line for more than a year. It’s about supply and demand: giving consumers more access
See ELECTRICITY, page 44
over 35 years experience.
Power from the sun is free. It just makes sense to harness it for electricity for homes and businesses. Until PJM starts making solar energy available in our area, we’re on our own: tell your Pennsylvania State Senator you support legalizing Community Solar in PA.
Electricity
Continued from page 43
to less costly choices would help lower electric costs throughout Pennsylvania.
In response to that green project backlog, PJM reformed its process, and this year fast-tracked 51 projects. But 39 of them were natural gas producers, only one was wind, and zero were solar.
Huh? If that sound suspicious to you, you’re not alone. Some critics say that PJM’s rules are designed in a way that puts renewables like wind and solar at a disadvantage. Many of those critics are groups like the Sierra Club and the Natural Resources Defense Council, but PA Governor Josh Shapiro and the Attorneys General for Maryland, Illinois and Pennsylvania have also complained that PJM’s model squeezes out green energy that would cost consumers less. What can you do about it? Right now, not a darn thing. Except…
If you have the resources and your property gets good sun you can install solar to power your home. Costs have come down and federal rebates are still available.
Or you can shop for your electricity online at www.papowerswitch.com . Under “Offer Filters” if you check Renewable Energy, you’ll find that
many of the renewable providers cost no more than PPL’s price and some are a little less.
And you can call your Pennsylvania State Senator and say you support making community solar legal and available through the Community Solar Energy Bill.
Only about one-half of one-percent of all the water on earth is fresh and accessible. Clean, abundant water is essential to life. It shouldn’t be controversial to protect safe drinking water!
Brodhead Watershed Association protects water quality and quantity throughout our area. Get involved! Become a member! www. brodheadwatershed.org
About PJM
PJM Interconnection, LLC, is a regional transmission organization that coordinates wholesale electricity for 65 million people across thirteen states and the District of Columbia. PJM is the largest electricity market in the United States. (Originally PJM served just Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Maryland. The initials stuck.)
PJM is regulated by FERC, the Federal Energy Regulatory Commission, an independent U.S. agency that regulates interstate electricity, natural gas, and oil.
THEME: SCARY MOVIES
ACROSS
1. Awestruck
5. Paid player
8. Precedes pedia
12. Oxen connector
13. Sonic sound
14. ____ Dondarrion, “Game of Thrones” Lord of Blackhaven
15. Bibliographical abbr. (2 words)
16. *2025 Pete Davidson horror flick, “The ____”
17. Wear away
18. *Movie director of “Knock at the Cabin” fame
20. Manage without help
21. Subway coin
22. Boar’s mate
23. *Jordan Peele’s directorial debut (2017, 2 words)
26. Richard Gere in 1980 movie, pl.
30. Bit of binary code
31. A way to steal gas
34. *”It’s ____” (1974)
35. Estrogen producer
37. Have a bug
38. Glue on, e.g.
39. Comme ci, comme Áa
40. Nice to look at
42. Opposite of WSW
43. Opposite of #40 Across
45. Cordwood units
47. The night before
48. Warm down-slope wind
50. Blood component
52. *Trip to Sweden gone wrong (2019)
56. Like certain radiant energy
57. Pakistani tongue
58. “Ill at ____”
59. Not together
60. Ooze
61. Bulgarian, e.g.
62. Like certain grape beverage
63. Get it wrong
64. Shakira’s don’t lie? DOWN
1. Roll call answers
2. Visi____ or Ostro____
3. Thumbs-up
4. Italian frozen dessert
5. Southern England’s coastal town
6. *____ Polanski, director of “Rosemary’s Baby”
7. *The story of Damien Thorn, with The (1976)
8. *Americans’ attacker in London (1981)
9. Pump it!
10. Pirate Captain ____
11. Frozen H2O
13. Devotional worship, in Hinduism
14. Haze over
19. Timid
22. Envy, biblically-speaking
23. Duck follower
24. Diplomat on a mission
25. Badger or bug
26. Happy Gilmore’s game
27. Forever prisoner
28. Sheep-like
29. Movie “Battle of the ____”
32. Pay as you earn, acr.
33. Step on it
36. *Mia Farrow in Roman Polanski’s movie (1967)
38. Poetic although
40. Before of yore
41. Depletes (2 words)
44. Manifest
46. Catch in a net
48. Firearm shooter
49. More eccentric
50. Shoshonean people
51. Panache
52. Dante’s Beatrice, e.g.
53. Mauritania’s Eastern neighbor
54. Hurry up, acronym
55. RPMs
56. *James Wan’s directorial debut (2004)
AC/DC
Albrightsville
Ambassador Animals
Antlers
Austin
Recreation Rescue
Route
MARYANN SORIANO REALTOR
Text or leave
Puzzle Answers
Fall Bounty Cryptogram–page 27
“Autumn is the mellower season, and what we lose in flowers we more than gain in fruits.”― Samuel Butler
Fall Cryptogram–page 37
“If there be light, then there is darkness; if cold, heat; if height, depth; if solid, fluid; if hard, soft; if rough, smooth; if calm, tempest; if prosperity, adversity; if life, death.”― Pythagoras
Train Show set for holidays
The Carbon Model Railroad Society will hold its Holiday Open House at 529 Ore Street in Bowmanstown on Saturdays and Sundays, November 29 & 30, December 6 & 7, 13 & 14, and on January 3 & 4, from 1 to 4 p.m. www.cmrs.info.
