Connections Magazine - April 2015 Issue

WHAT'S THE PAYBACK: Benefits From A Solar Photovoltaic System – P 6

A FRESH START:

Garden Tips The Experts Wish You'd Take – P 10

EVERYTHING GARDENING:

Tips For Composting & Caring For Your Gardening Tools – P 12

APRIL 2015

Since 1998

Hot New

Door Colors

For 2015

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april ‘15

contents

departments ArtScene

32

Ask the Vet

24

Behavioral Medicine

26

Book Corner

18

Classics

23

Events Calendar

28

Film Review

18

Finance

16

Healthy Geezer

27

Laser Vision

25

Living Green

13

Musically Speaking

20

Outdoor Ramblings

22

Pocono Secrets

19

Reflections of Prison

14

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connectionsmagazine APRIL ’15

VOL. 17 NO. 4

features

6 8 10

WHAT’S THE PAYBACK FROM A SOLAR PHOTOVOLTAIC (PV) SYSTEM? You’re heard it somewhere, if not from SEEDS: the prices for solar panels have fallen 80% since 2008. So is investing in a solar electric system for your home the right thing to do? There are lots of reasons to want your own solar system (e.g. energy independence, reduced pollution, reducing your home’s carbon footprint, etc.), but let’s focus simply on the financials and explore the details of how to answer this question for yourself.

HOT NEW DOOR COLORS FOR 2015 These are just some of the hot colors that color expert, Kate Smith, predicts will be most popular on residential door exteriors in 2015. “Five of the colors that I believe will find their ways to many front doors in 2015 are bold and influenced by cross cultural experiences, such as Bronze Tone and Tripoli Sand,” says Smith, chief color maven and president of Sensational Color. “Then there are five other colors —- like Thyme Green and Amazon Soil —- which are more muted hues that invite us to step out of the fast flow of life to relax in our homes.”

A FRESH START! Gardening professionals are our guides, our mentors, and often our saviors. Because they are professional gardeners, they understand the need for patience and nurturing, and so, they continue to instruct and educate. When we listen, we learn that the sources of our frustrations are often simple and the solutions straightforward.

Cover image courtesy of Clemleddy Construction, don’t miss their ad on the back cover.

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[YOUR] NEPA MAGAZINE

PENNIES

FR M HEAVEN aleb’s Foundation is holding their 6th Annual Tricky Tray fundraiser on Sunday April 26th from 12:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m. at Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Restaurant in Hawley.

Over 100 themed baskets valued at $100+ for every family member including the pet will be raffled off. Admission is free, cash bar available, door prizes and desserts will be given out and all ages are welcome! General tickets will be sold at $5 for 25, value packs for $50, and specialty baskets valued greater than $250 will be available for $1 and $5 per chance. Once again, Caleb’s Wishing Well will be set up so bring your extra pennies and change to toss in and make a wish!

C

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN was started in loving memory of Caleb, a sweet little boy who found delight in simple things, such as his mommy’s guitar, his stuffed animal Mr. Bear, and empty Gatorade bottles. He brought joy to everyone he met with his amazing spirit, infectious laugh, and energy for life that was unmatched.

On February 25th 2007, Caleb was granted his angel wings after being diagnosed with a malignant brain tumor. He was only two years old. Although his life ended much too soon, his legacy lives on through the foundation his mother started in his memory.

Caleb’s Pennies is rather unique in its concept which is “No parent should have to prioritize a payment or job before the care of their sick child.” The foundation has lived by this motto since May 2010 as they have financially assisted more than 330 families with a critically ill child. “Our mission has remained the same since day one and that is to support parents in the care of their sick child by relieving the stress of financial burdens at home. We help by covering rent and mortgage payments, electric and medical bills, other utility bills and much more” said Caleb’s mom, Nichole.

Due to outside support and volunteers, 98% of all donation money is able to go directly to families in need like Anthony’s family. Anthony is an 8month-old born at 23 weeks gestation and hospitalized since birth. He has undergone approx. 20 surgeries and a discharge date is unknown at this time (Rent bill paid). Olivia is a 6-year-old who had open heart surgery last year. She is still hospitalized due to unforeseen complications (Electric bill paid). Demarcus is a 15-year-old admitted to the PICU after receiving a deceased donor, full liver transplant. He required extreme care prior to the transplant, and his future medical course is unde-

termined (Rent bill paid).

Joshua is a 4 year old diagnosed with HLH in 2011.

He received two bone marrow transplants and currently remains an inpatient. His mother just exceeded the two year maximum at the Ronald McDonald House, and this four year battle has drained her finances (Electric bill).

Ivy is a 1-year-old diagnosed with TB Meningitis which she contracted from her mother. Prior to her hospitalization, she was a healthy little girl. She was hospitalized for over a year due to a progressive deterioration of her neurologic function (Rent bill paid).

These are just a few of the families who have been financially assisted by Caleb’s Pennies From Heaven. Last year’s Tricky Tray event raised an incredible $43,000! With your help, more money can be raised this year and given back to families who need it most. Please visit www.calebspennies.org for more information or contact Nichole Granville at calebspennies18@gmail.com if you would like to make a monetary donation or become an event sponsor.

PENNIES FROM HEAVEN Caleb’s Foundation, is a 501 (c) (3) charitable organization, contributions to which are tax deductible as permitted by law.

SAVE THE DATE 6th Annual Tricky Tray Sunday, April 26th 12:00 p.m.-2:30 p.m.

Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Restaurant Hawley, PA.

president • publisher • editor in chief deborah bailey production manager meica drake account representative barry weiss editorial correction services sandi scull assignment writers robin scandura allison mowatt contributing writers al hoff, Movie Review lucille norella, ArtScene barry & hillary anthony, In the Company of Books joseph tellish, PhD, Positive Behavior in Children fred cicetti, The Healthy Geezer charles curtin, Finance mark uricheck, Musically Speaking terry mooney, Reflections of a Prison Inmate arthur middleton, MD, FAPA, Behavioral Medicine michael krupa, Finance terri schlichenmeyer, Book Review la guzda, Pocono Secrets arnie milidantri, Classic Cars bill deaton, Outdoor Ramblings pike county conservation district, Living Green amy platko-williams, D.V.M, Ask the Vet mike jones, Gun Zone

connectionsmagazine 3305 Lake Ariel Highway Honesdale, PA 18431 570.647.0085 • Fax 570.647.0086 cmag@ptd.net • thinkconnections@yahoo.com www.connections-magazine.com

Connections Magazine is not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All advertising, including photographs, is the property of Connections Magazine and not that of the advertiser. The advertiser has purchased the right of reproduction only in Connections Magazine and does not have the right to reproduce the ads in any other place or publication. Connections Magazine reserves its rights to exercise its discretion in the selection of advertisements. © COPYRIGHT 2006 CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE

WHAT A DILEMMA To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.

To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.

To reach out for another is to risk involvement.

To expose feelings is to risk rejection.

To place your visions before the crowd is to risk ridicule.

To love is to risk not being loved in return. **To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure.

But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.

The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing.

We may avoid suffering and sorrow, but we cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or know GOD. Chained by our own self-assurances, we are a slave. We have forfeited our freedom.

Only the person who dares to take risk and to trust in their GOD will ever be made FREE.

In 1997,Rev. Edwin E. Bailey, father of the editor, gave this poem to his daughter 8 days before he had a stroke and 3 weeks before he died. The poem was adapted from works by Leo Buscaglia. Edwin hand wrote this on a scrap of paper and gave it to his daughter, Deborah, saying the words, “Someday you’ll understand these words and use them. God bless sweetheart.” **These words were used in making the decision to purchase Connections Magazine in 2002.

CONNECTIONS COPYRIGHTED 2007

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home & garden

You’ve heard it somewhere, if not from SEEDS: the prices for solar panels have fallen 80% since 20081. So is investing in a solar electric system for your home the right thing to do?

There are lots of reasons to want your own solar system (e.g. energy independence, reduced pollution, reducing your home’s carbon footprint, etc.), but let’s focus simply on the financials and explore the details of how to answer this question for yourself.

By Jack Barnett and Jim Sanders, Sustainable Energy Education and Development Support (SEEDS) Copyright 2014 by SEEDS of Northeast Pennsylvania

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solar panels

There are five key parts to the question: 1. Is my home a good location for solar?

2. What size PV system do I install?

3. How much will it cost?

4. How much money will I save?

5. And, is PV a good financial investment?

We will take each of these in turn. But first, let’s clarify the type of system we will be discussing here. We are not talking about ‘off-the-grid’ battery backup systems because batteries are expensive, toxic, and require a controlled environment with significant maintenance efforts.

Rather, we will focus on the most common, grid-tied, battery-less, solar photovoltaic (PV) system. Nearly every home is already connected to the electric grid, and with Pennsylvania’s net-metering regulations2, the utility will act as a virtual battery for you, crediting you for any excess electricity your system produces. In effect, your electric meter will run backwards during the times when your PV system is producing more than your home is using (and the utility then gets to sell that to your neighbors). Of course, you must still pay the flat-monthly connection fees, taxes, etc. (currently from PPL this is a little less than $15 per month), as well as for any electricity that you consume that is greater than what your PV system generates in total during the year.

Is my home a good location for solar PV? There are LOTS of factors here, but the biggest concerns are orientation and shading. In our area, the PV modules (as the panels are referred to in the industry) should be mounted so that they face directly south and at a tilt angle of approximately 25-45 degrees toward the horizon. The most common place to mount them is on a south-facing roof. If your roof is not facing directly solar south or is not at the optimum angle, some efficiency will be lost, but it still may be viable.

Also check to be certain any trees, utility wires, dormers, chimney, or satellite dish, etc. do not shade the array site between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m. It’s best to be totally unshaded even in winter when the sun is lower in the sky. In cases where a roof mount is not possible, ground mounting in an unshaded area can be a good alternative.

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If you have questions about the suitability of your site for solar, have an evaluation performed with an instrument called a Solar Pathfinder. At least three SEEDS volunteers have one of these tools and are glad to help other members in assessing possible sites (contact Jocelyn Cramer, our SEEDS Executive Director at jocelyn@seedsgroup.net).

Professional solar installers will also have one of these, or a similar tool, and often include a free site evaluation as part of estimating the cost of a solar installation.

What size PV system do I install?

Sizing a system is also something a professional installer can do with you. Your site may be physically limited by the available unshaded roof space (or ground area). Or, you could be limited by the overall amount of money you have to invest. For the optimum financial return, you want a system that produces no more than the electricity your home uses in a year. Note: In PA during each April billing cycle, a utility pays for any excess kWhrs that its net-metered customers have collected. However, they don’t pay at the full retail price that you’d pay to them; rather they pay out only at the “price-to-compare” rate, which does not include the perkWhr distribution rate or certain taxes and fees.

Now find your past electricity bills, or use your utility’s website, and locate your home’s total annual consumption in kWhrs. According to the US Energy Information Agency, the average Pennsylvania residence consumes 10,400 kWhrs3; so let’s use the round number of 10,000 kWhrs for the rest of this example. To avoid over-sizing, we don’t want your PV system annual production to exceed this amount.

It is important to know that nearly all PV modules sold in the US are tested and rated by one or more independent laboratories for their capacity to produce electricity. The ratings are in units of “wattsdc” or in other words, when there is full sunshine on the module, it will

solar panels produce its rated quantity of watts in direct current (DC) electricity. Most of the modules targeted for the residential market today come with a rating of between 230 and 340 wattsdc. For this example, we will use modules that are rated at 250 wattsdc, since these are likely to be among the least expensive. The next question is: how many PV modules do you need to generate 10,000 kWhr of electricity in a year?

Production will vary with weather, especially clouds and snowfall. But we have a simple rule of thumb based on experience from the local installers and existing system owners for an average system: For every one wattdc of rated capacity, a PV array in our area will generally yield approximately 1000 watt-hours, or one kWhr, of electricity annually. Alternatively for those so inclined, there is a web-based modeling tool called PVWatts4 that takes into account decades of weather station and satellite monitoring across the country. PVWatts shows (see example on the last page) that for a perfectly oriented and completely unshaded PV system in Honesdale PA, every one wattdc of PV capacity will produce 1178 watt-hours (or 1.178 kWhrs) of electricity during an “average weather” year. If your site is more than 10-20% away from prefect, then you should use the PVWatts model to determine the appropriate yield factor for your situation/location.

So for the example house load of 10,000 kWhrs, when divided by our rule of thumb yield factor of 1000, that equals to 10,000 wattsdc, or 10 kWdc, of PV capacity required to match the annual electricity consumption.

Since each module produces 250 watts, we will therefore need 10000 ÷ 250 = 40 modules (round up, if needed). If we were to choose more efficient modules, then this number would be smaller (and the array would use a smaller space on your roof). But what matters to us is how this will affect the cost.

How much will the system cost?

For a definitive answer, you’ll want to get a quote from one or more solar installers. Every house and construction site is different with all kinds of potential issues that can increase (or sometimes decrease) the costs. Will the system be attached to the roof (and how), or be ground mounted? Will your system use US-made or imported components? How efficient and/or stylish will it be? DIY labor, or not? All these factors will affect the total cost of your system. Plus each town has different building permit and inspection fees that add to the total cost as well.

The PV modules are generally the largest cost element of a new system installation. While PV module prices have been dropping in recent years (due to additional factory capacity in Asia and in Europe), the rest of the system components (referred to as the “balance of system”) and labor costs have not.

The second biggest cost element is the invertor. This is an electrical box that converts the DC power coming from the PV modules into the alternating current (AC) power that is used in your home and on the electrical grid.

Invertor efficiency is important, and there are many different models and options as well. You could choose a single inverter, typically mounted near your electrical breaker box, or multiple micro-inverters that are typically mounted directly underneath each PV module.

Generally, a single invertor will be less expensive with the larger number of modules you have. But, regardless of which type, the invertor(s) and other components must be sized correctly to the number and ratings of the PV modules.

Your installer will design and verify this as part of his/her job, or you can come to a SEEDS Solar PV DIY Forum to learn how. The key point is that the DC rating of a PV system drives many, if not most, of the costs of a professional installation. For this exercise, we’ll use a local industry benchmark of $3.50 for each wattdc, which is a rough average for a basic system installation cost over the past year in northeast PA. Or with a DIY installation, for just the non-premium materials cost, the benchmark

home & garden

is probably closer to $2 per wattdc. So, for a professionally installed system with a rated capacity of 10,000 x $3.50 = $35,000 is the estimated total cost; or if you’re handy and can do the labor and electrical connections yourself, approximately $20,000 in materials.

Now, $35,000 is a lot of money for any home improvement project. So first consider SEEDS’ primary premise, that energy conservation is a lot cheaper than installing solar, AND the payback is much better. It’s going to make more financial sense to invest first in good insulation, reduce air leakage (by improving the envelope), reduce water usage, replace inefficient appliances, and especially eliminate wasteful lighting and phantom electrical loads BEFORE investing in a solar PV system (see the SEEDS’ home efficiency checklist5 for suggested places to start). So get those projects done first, then re-estimate your reduced annual electrical consumption.

If, after conservation measures, your budget still can’t afford this amount, a smaller system size will usually work to get started. There’s no reason you can’t add multiple PV systems on the same house over time, or in some PV system designs (especially with micro-inverters) you may be able to add to your system in stages. Plus, there are government incentive programs that can help make the investment more affordable.

How much will I save in the future?

The good news is that there are currently federal and other incentive programs available that help homeowners to financially justify installing a PV system. We’ll cover two such programs, but there may be other incentives available from the state or your local community, utility, or even some installers. Commercial (including residential rental properties), non-profits, and government entities in PA may have different programs available6. Visit http://dsireusa.org for a great summary of the renewable energy and efficiency incentives throughout the US. Note: the PA Sunshine Grant program for residential and small businesses ran out of funding during 2013, and is now closed. We are hopeful that legislative efforts in Harrisburg may revive it at some point.

1. Federal Income Tax Credits7 – If you owe individual federal income taxes, you can claim a credit against those taxes (i.e. dollar for dollar reduction) of up to 30% of the costs you paid (not including DIY labor) for a solar system added to your primary residence through December 2016.

2. Solar Renewable Energy Credits (SREC) – The state of Pennsylvania requires investor-owned utilities to include a very small percentage of their electricity sold in PA to be generated by solar. The current requirement increases slightly each year to reach just 0.5% of their total “portfolio” in 2021.

This is called a renewable portfolio standard (RPS), but the specific language used in PA is AEPS, or the alternative energy portfolio standard8. To meet this requirement, the utilities need to purchase “credits” (i.e. each credit being the right to claim one megawatt-hour of solar production for this purpose) from generators, including from residential PV systems! Previously an SREC might sell for as much as $250 and PV owners could sign multiple year advance supply contracts. However, due to some loopholes (e.g. generation outside of PA can qualify), the SREC market in PA has performed poorly, and the current market price is only around $30 for each MWhr (after market commissions and income taxes), or about 3 cents per kWhr. The future market for SRECs may change, but let’s assume for now this price will be constant in the future.

Both of these programs will help with affordability.

As with all such programs, the fine print matters, so investigate to ensure your system will fully qualify for these incentives, and be sure to shop around for the best SREC broker.

In addition to these programs, of course, you actually get to use the electricity produced by your PV system (or “bank it” via net-metering and use it later in the year); therefore, you avoid paying the utility for that amount of electricity each year. If you are currently paying 11.9 cents per kWhr (check those utility bills again), and you install a 10kW PV system in our area, your savings would then be $0.119 x 10000 = $1190 annually (average, depending on the weather). Of course, this assumes electricity prices stay constant into the future. Yes, there is some chance of prices declining (as they did briefly in 2011 and 2012), but the most likely future scenario is for electricity prices to increase. The PA Public Utility Commission9 reports that over the past 10 years, average retail electricity prices in PA have risen by 3.3% annually (including inflation). If we assume this long-term trend continues (but removing inflation), then the electricity supplied from utilities could reasonably be priced 1.5% higher each year. Therefore, your PV system’s production (no fuel costs!) will be worth that much more in real savings to you!

Is PV a good financial investment?

Putting all these elements together, from a $35,000 investment in PV, you can expect to receive back: • $10,500 in federal income tax credits in the first year (if you owe that much, or this can be carried over to future years) • $300 from selling SRECs each year • $1190 in savings on electricity bills in the first year, and increasing 1.5% each year thereafter.

We calculate that the payback period for this investment will be just over 15 years and have an internal rate of return of 4.5%. Yes, that’s a long time, but the warranties on most PV modules and inverters are for 20 or 25 years, and they could keep producing for as long as 50 years (no moving parts!). Once the system is paid for, each and every year thereafter, the system will be returning a profit to you (as well as cutting carbon emissions and other pollutants over that whole interval). And, especially for those on a fixed budget, your price for this electricity won’t be changing every few months. Even if you are not likely to own your home for that long, the investment can be recouped earlier from the increased value10 of your house when you sell it.

Conclusion A return of 4.5% may not be what you could get from Wall Street, but then you won’t be taking nearly as much risk with this investment. And this rate of return is far better than the current interest rates on a bank account or new CD, and is roughly the same average return as from recent 10-year US Treasury bonds11. We think solar is a good investment in northeast PA, but as with any investment, you will need to make your own decision specific to your situation. At SEEDS, “education” is literally our middle name, so we hope this discussion has helped you learn more about the economics of solar PV. Please send any questions or comments on this topic you may have to jack@seedsgroup.net.

References: 1. http://www.solarindustrymag.com/e107_plugins/content/content.php ?content.13793 2. http://www.dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code= PA03R&re=0&ee=0 3. http://www.eia.gov/consumption/residential/reports/2009/state_ briefs/pdf/pa.pdf 4. http://pvwatts.nrel.gov 5. http://seedsgroup.net/resources/home-energy-efficiency-checklist 6. http://dsireusa.org/incentives/index.cfm?state=PA&re=0&ee=0&spv= 0&st=0&srp=1 7. For more information, see http://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/f5695.pdf 8. http://dsireusa.org/incentives/incentive.cfm?Incentive_Code=PA06R &re=0&ee=0 9. http://www.puc.state.pa.us/General/publications_reports/pdf/EPO_ 2013.pdf 10. See http://cleantechnica.com/2013/12/17/study-shows-rooftop-solaradds-thousands-to-home-resale-values/, regarding Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory study.

11. http://pages.stern.nyu.edu/~adamodar/New_Home_Page/datafile/ histretSP.html

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front doors

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front doors

home & garden

hese are just some of the hot colors that color expert, Kate Smith, predicts will be most popular on residential door exteriors in 2015.

T

“Five of the colors that I believe will find their ways to many front doors in 2015 are bold and influenced by cross cultural experiences, such as Bronze Tone and Tripoli Sand,” says Smith, chief color maven and president of Sensational Color. “Then there are five other colors —- like Thyme Green and Amazon Soil —- which are more muted hues that invite us to step out of the fast flow of life to relax in our homes.”

For homeowners looking to express their “colorful self,” Smith suggests selecting paintable doors, such as those found in the Therma-Tru® Classic-Craft® Canvas Collection® and Pulse® doors. “These smooth-finish doors feature clean lines and crisp angles, which are ideal for painting with expressive colors,” says Smith. “They also offer attractive glass configuration options that can truly sparkle when framed by a colorful door.”

Bold Door Colors for 2015 Smith reports that the five bold, energetic colors identified for 2015 catch our eye and heighten our senses. “These are expressive and playful colors, with a dash of Bohemian and a pinch of sophistication,” says Smith. “You’d easily find these exciting hues at a festival in Rio de Janeiro, a multi-cultural sporting event, or in a piece of American folk art. Adding one of these confident colors to a front door can update any home scheme and create a joyful feeling every time someone comes through the door.”

Bronze Tone - Bold, but not overpowering, this deep shade of orange is a good choice to add energy to a neutral theme.

Who has this door color? Practical and strong minded, for you, your home is your hobby. Often your free time is spent decorating, gardening, organizing, or tackling home improvement projects that you enjoy showing off to friends and family.

Frank Blue - When your front door calls to you for blue, this deeply saturated, forthright blue color responds beautifully.

Who has this door color? A restless spirit that enjoys figuring out ways to use the coolest gadget, tools, or appliances to make life better. With a quick wit and quirky way of looking at things, your free time is filled with whatever strikes your fancy at the moment.

Nifty Turquoise - Drive into refreshing, tropical turquoise to complement natural materials and neutral colors on your home.

Who has this door color? Your secret barbecue sauce or creating a decadent dessert show off your creating skills while your charismatic personality makes every gathering at your house a memorable one.

Tripoli Sand - Capture the glow of the beaches along the Mediterranean with this stylish shade that brings out the golden colorcast of stone or brick.

Who has this door color? A quick smile and pleasant demeanor coupled with your logical, disciplined mind make you a natural organizer. Whether you are coordinating a charity event or heading up the running club, others follow your lead.

Cranapple - The deepest cranberry warmed up with gold is reminiscent of a luxurious carpet or velvety rose petals that add a touch of tradition to any style home.

Who has this door color? An investigator at heart, you are persistent at whatever you take on, including hobbies. You master puzzles, acquire the rare collectible, and complete what you start, thus inspiring others to do the same.

Soft Door Colors for 2015 As the rush of life and technology overload us, our home needs to be a place to regain our balance and calm. Smith identifies five muted door colors for 2015 in a range of soft hues that invite us to step out of the fast flow and live at our own pace in our homes.

This soft color palette includes shades of organic green, amethyst gray, mineral mauve, and a blue so deep it could have been pulled out of the cosmos or the depths of the sea,” says Smith. “The colors blend sophisticated style with a desire for serenity, resulting in colors that are both comforting yet slightly indulgent.”

Night Shade - A dark, mysterious navy that adds dignity and poise to any exterior door.

Who has this door color? With a curious mind that takes in every detail of life, you enjoy pursuing a diverse range of activities that engage your mind. One evening you’re playing the stock market, the next exploring a scientific breakthrough or even meditating.

Wright Blue Mist - This soft blue with a touch of gray has a modern and fresh feeling that softly breathes freshness into an entry.

Who has this door color? Your home is an oasis that calms your restless spirit and recharges it to pursue the adventures you crave. Activities that allow you to unwind both physically and mentally (especially outdoors), suit you best.

Drizzling Mist - This striking, modern purple borders on gray.

This tone , off the many subtle variations in stone, slate, brick or wood found on a home.

Who has this door color? Naturally good at whatever you do, you choose to put your energy into social responsibility and the community where you live —- possibly even actively participating in solving local problems.

Amazon Soil - A deep, lush shade of mauve, this dramatically dark color gives the front door a velvety richness.

Who has this door color? A deep thinker that enjoys your home as a space for learning and creativity; you work out your thoughts by doodling, sketching or mulling over an idea. These activities can be just as relaxing for you as a hot bath is for someone else.

Thyme Green - A classic, rich green with a touch of brown that never goes out of style and pairs well with most exterior home colors and features.

Who has this door color? For you, life is about the journey.

Figuring out what’s next is half the fun. You enjoy planning each adventure with family and close friends who appreciate your good nature when things don’t go exactly as expected.

About Kate Smith Career color trend forecaster, Kate Smith, shows companies, designers, and consultants how to become a go-to resource for color expertise. She provides color information, tools, and services using her color expertise. Free copies of her successful e-books, FRESH Color Schemes for Your Home Exterior and FRESH Home Exterior Colors, along with other color tips, can be found at www.sensationalcolor.com.

About Therma-Tru Therma-Tru is the nation’s leading manufacturer and most preferred brand of entryway doors. Founded in 1962, Therma-Tru pioneered the fiberglass entry door industry, and today offers a complete portfolio of entry and patio door system solutions, including decorative glass doorlites, sidelites and transoms, and door components. The company also offers low-maintenance Fypon® urethane and PVC products. Headquartered in Maumee, Ohio, Therma-Tru is part of Fortune Brands Home & Security, Inc. (NYSE: FBHS). For more information, visit http://www.thermatru.com/, www.fypon.com or call (800) 537-8827.

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a fresh start

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a fresh start

ardening professionals are our guides, our mentors, and often our saviors. Because they are professional gardeners, they understand the need for patience and nurturing, and so, they continue to instruct and educate. When we listen, we learn that the sources of our frustrations are often simple, and the solutions straightforward.

home & garden section subsection

Local Community

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Forget the quick fix “People tend to forget that plants are living things with living requirements,” says Alex Grainger, a consultant at Wells Medina Nursery in Medina, WA, just outside of Seattle. “Rather than adjusting the condition of the plant, people often want short cuts and easy fixes. It’s just human nature, but it doesn’t work for plants.” A popular “quick fix” is using fertilizer as a cure-all for sick plants, says Grainger.

“The plant must be healthy to respond well to fertilizer, or else fertilizer acts as a toxin.

Take the time to find out what is wrong with the plant. A professional will help you diagnose the problem.”

Too much and not enough Believe the experts when they tell you there is no onestep approach to watering.

Plants’ water needs are variable and dependent on conditions that change daily, even hourly, in an outdoor environment. Gardeners need to understand that there are many factors involved in watering.

There is no such thing as a cut-and-dry watering schedule.

Begin by asking a gardening professional about a plant’s general watering needs, and then pay close attention to actual conditions, such as the strength of the sun, and, to a lesser extent, heat and wind throughout the season. Get in the habit of checking the soil in your garden and containers for moisture. Dig down to see if soil is moist below the surface, around the roots of the plant.

Surface moisture is not an accurate indication of adequate moisture, it’s the soil underneath that matters.

MORE TIPS: Lighten up on the mulch.

Deep and heavy mulching near tree trunks will suffocate tree roots.

We often plant too deeply and space plants too far apart. Close spacing shades the soil and prevents evaporation.

Hanging baskets lined with moss or hay absorb moisture quickly and require extra attention.

Bark mulches are detrimental to plant growth. As it decomposes, it steals nitrogen from the soil and, ultimately, the plant.

Outdoor containers must have drainage holes or plants will drown after a heavy rainfall.

Gardening pros also cite over-reliance on watering systems as a common mistake.

Many gardeners attempt to water the yard and garden at the same time, hoping that the sweep of the sprinkler will sufficiently and evenly nourish everything in its path. As a result, garden plants are generally either parched or drowned. The professionals suggest watering the old-fashioned way, with a good sprinkling can or hose, which encourages closer contact with the plants and a better awareness of what’s happening in your garden. It is best to water deep and long, in the early morning hours.

GARDENS 1

Beach Lake Community Garden, 7 Milanville Road, Beach Lake In its tenth year, the Beach Lake Community Garden is a 12,000 square foot garden. It is sponsored by the Beach Lake United Methodist Church and features twenty lots. Church and community members come together to grow their own gardens and take produce to local food pantries and other organizations in need. Community groups and businesses throughout Wayne County helped with the efforts by providing funding for materials to keep the garden going.

For more information call (570) 729-7011.

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Abington Community Garden, Winola Road, Clarks Summit A neighborhood garden in a suburban area, the Abington Community Garden is a two acre section of former farmland with 107 plots. It gives local families the opportunity to grow fresh produce and flowers for a small rental fee. A community garden project organized by the Abington Area Joint Recreation Board, the community garden gives local families the opportunity to rent sections of the garden and participate in joint cultivation, planting, and watering strategies. For more information, visit www.aajrb.com or call Coordinator Caroline Crowley at (570) 586-9316.

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Smithfield Township Community Garden, Waterfront Park, Twin Falls Road, East Stroudsburg This is a garden for residents living in Smithfield Township. There are about twenty plots with plans to expand in the future. Two of the plots are used for demonstrations and examples of good planting practices. For more information, call (570) 223-5082.

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Sunset Vista Community Garden, 27 Pierce Road, Lafayette, NJ This community garden is in its sixth year.

Community members meet and learn firsthand the steps to organic and bio-dynamic gardening and farming. Members help tend their own individual garden plots and swap and share produce. The garden is located on a twenty acre farm with a beautiful view of the Sussex County farms and mountains. There are about 100 plots. Business, education and social groups are welcome to lease a plot as a group. There is a membership fee, which includes free workshops and seminars. For more information, call Coordinator Linda Grinthal at (973) 579-7382 or visit www.sunsetvista.org.

Know your space Homeowners take time to assess their yards and gardening spaces before they shop for plants. He suggests jotting down details about light factors, soil conditions, and existing trees and shrubs.

Measuring spaces like beds and border lengths, and snapping a few pictures, is helpful to professionals who want to guide you to the right plants for the right places.

Herb Quarles, a consultant at A Growing Concern outside of Asheville, NC, is a passionate gardening educator who will often visit a client’s backyard to diagnose problems. One of the most common mistakes he sees is plantings too close to foundations, walls, and fences. “When foundation beds are not wide enough, plants don’t receive sufficient air and light circulation and grow lopsided, the structure-facing side of the plant usually wilts and dies. I see this mistake made repeatedly,” says Quarles. Carefully consider light conditions and what degree of drainage a specific plant needs.

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11

section

subsection

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Warm Weather Fun For All Ages –By Jamie Knecht and Sarah Hall of the Wayne Conservation District

o you have cabin fever? Are you feeling the need to dive into spring? If so, check out all of the exciting things that are happening in Pike and Wayne Counties!

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9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. If you have any questions please contact the Wayne Conservation District Office at (570) 253-0930.

Wayne Conservation District Annual Seedling Sale It’s important to keep in mind that we should try to plant native species as much as possible when doing any kind of landscaping or planting project. Invasive species have become such a problem within our natural ecosystems because they out-compete our native species and can take over entire land masses. Even though some invasives may be attractive to wildlife, they may not provide the best nutrition for native wildlife.

One invasive species we have all seen is Japanese Knotweed along rivers, streams, and even roadsides throughout the county. Japanese Knotweed looks like bamboo with hollow stalks and large leaves. Because the knotweed is so aggressive, it doesn’t allow anything else to grow with it and therefore reduces the diversity of the area. Habitats with low plant diversity are very poor for wildlife. Other types of invasive species that are commonly seen throughout our area that cause similar problems are Japanese Barberry, Multiflora Rose, and Autumn Olive. The more native species we can plant to compete with these invasives, the better off our habitat will be.

If you are planning to do some planting this year, the Wayne Conservation District is once again holding their annual seedling sale. This is the 45th year that the District has provided seedlings to landowners in our area. Species being offered include: White Spruce seedlings, Norway Spruce transplants, Douglas Fir transplants, Sugar Maple, Serviceberry, Winterberry, Thornless Blackberry, Peach and Apple trees.

The pre-order deadline was March 13th, but extras can be purchased at the Wayne County Fairgrounds on Friday, April 10th from 3:00 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. and on Saturday, April 11th from

Hawley Earth Fest The Hawley Earth Fest will take place April 24th through the 26th in celebration of Earth Day. An interactive family day is scheduled on Saturday, April 25th and will be held in Bingham Park in downtown Hawley. The day will include a species parade, an environmental expo, live animals, demonstrations, exhibits and more! Hikes and bird walks will be happening periodically throughout both days of the festival. You can visit them at http://www.hawleyearthfest.com for updated and detailed information about all three days of the event.

Pike-Wayne Conservation and Leadership Academy Summer is right around the corner and the Pike/Wayne Conservation and Leadership Academy is now taking applications for an exciting summer learning experience for twenty stu-

dents from Pike and Wayne Counties.

Conservation and Leadership Academy is a week-long residential summer camp housed at Lacawac Sanctuary in Lake Ariel and supported by the Pike/Wayne Conservation Partnership.

Conservation and Leadership Academy engages youth in Wayne and Pike Counties through direct learning and hands on experiences of ecosystems and watersheds. The goal of the academy is to inspire youth to consider careers and volunteer opportunities in conservation, ecology, and science while learning to be leaders in conservation and stewardship.

The academy partners with conservation organizations and professionals, naturalists, ecologists, biologists, and educators to cover topics such as aquatic ecology, water quality, forest management, geology, botany, deer management, sustainable agriculture, technology and nature, nature journaling and conservation practices.

Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station is a nature preserve, biological field station, and environmental education center located in the Pocono Mountains of Northeastern Pennsylvania.

Lacawac Sanctuary’s property is 545 acres, includes a pristine glacial lake, Lake Lacawac, and its watershed, bogs, forests with hiking trails, and a Great Camp listed on the National Register of Historic Places.

The week-long academy will be held from Sunday, July 12, 2015 through Saturday, July 18.

Space is limited, so if you are a highly motivated 13-15-year-old student with an interest in wildlife conservation, environmental science, ecology, and the outdoors apply today.

The tuition for this week-long experience is $250, but there are scholarship opportunities available. Visit www.PikeWayneCLA.weebly.com for more information or contact Lacawac Sanctuary and Field Station at (570) 689-9494.

The Pike/Wayne Conservation Partnership is an alliance of government, non-government, non-profit, and grass roots organizations with shared goals for natural resource conservation, sustainable communities, and citizen involvement in community planning.

The Partners provide a variety of educational programs that touch on all aspects of natural resource protection in our region.

Take advantage of some these opportunities to get outside and enjoy nature this spring!

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13

reflections

from inside

“Desperate Measures” – Part I Reflections of a Prison Inmate

By Terry Mooney t twenty-seven, this young man came to the Pike County Correctional Facility carrying serious charges for reasons that he details in the following story. He was a dedicated professional who made decisions that he thought, at the time, were sound and logical, but now he’s facing a high price for them.

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My Story There is a misconception of the difference between EMTs and paramedics. An EMT is basic Life Support (BLS) and a paramedic is Advanced Life Support (ALS). I became a paramedic at the age of eighteen. I started as a lifeguard at a pool located in a group home for juveniles in a suburb of New York, and stayed there, uneventfully, for about two years. One day, there was a car accident in front of the home. We ran outside to see if we lifeguards could help. The fire department came and used the Jaws of Life to cut out the victim.

EMS came and performed first aid on his cuts. When I saw the techniques and treatment of rapid response, I knew that was my calling.

By the time I was twenty, I was a nationally registered Emergency Medical Technician-Paramedic. I was also associated with a disaster relief team for two local counties. I was working for an ambulance company taking 911 emergency calls and loving it. I saw everything from graphic car crashes and traumatic accidents involving heavy workplace machinery to death from child abuse. Many scenes entailed eviscerations and amputations. I saw people partially as well as fully ejected from accident vehicles, most of whom were still alive.

One time a car was upside down and it was on fire. The person trapped inside happened to be a police officer in her patrol car. Her leg was wrapped around the brake pedal, and the dashboard had been crushed down so we couldn’t get her out. At first, I and another police officer got her partially out of the car and put the fire out with a garden hose from a nearby house. It took almost an hour for emergency personnel to completely extricate her by ultimately peeling back the dashboard, a happy ending.

One day, I was on the way to see my sister, when I came around a bend in the highway and saw a vehicle upside down on the shoulder. I called 911, and then ran over. There was a twenty-four-year-old female who was obviously pregnant. She was dead. Severe head trauma told me that she was beyond saving. I called the ER physician at the hospital where I worked and requested permission to perform an emergency caesarean. We all carry medical bags that include various medical instruments, including a scalpel. Upon the delivery, the baby was dead. I immediately inserted a breathing tube and started CPR, regaining vital signs. Although I had learned this in paramedic school, the ER physician stayed on the phone and talked me through it. My adrenaline was rushing when suddenly the baby moved. I removed the breathing tube and he started crying. I started crying too. As I held him in my arms on the side of a highway with vehicles speeding by, police cars and ambulances began showing up. I took the baby and put him in my car, wrapped him in a sheet from my trunk and started the heater to keep him warm.

I continued to my sister’s house. The next day, the father came to the hospital where I met him. I’d been trained to shield my emotions. This time it was powerful and exhilarating to know that I had saved this man’s son’s life. I saw the baby again nine months later at the Baptism. It felt really great to help someone salvage what was left of his family.

After work one night, I went to visit my other sister and my nephew when her friend from next door was there. Instantly, it was a mutual attraction. This woman had a lucrative corporate job, but suffered from epilepsy her entire life. Her

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employer did provide medical insurance, so she was able to take medication to help minimize the frequency of the seizures. Unfortunately, there is no medication to fully prevent them.

Last year, after five years of dating, we bought a house together along with her twelve-year-old son, and then got engaged to be married. Driving from store to store in her territory as manager for a food franchise company, she suffered a seizure on a local side street, losing consciousness and, as a result, control of the car. Driving up on the lawn, she crashed into the front porch of a house. Emergency personnel took her to the hospital where she was treated for the seizure and injuries to her body and face.

As a result of the accident, the Department of Motor Vehicles was notified and her driver’s license was suspended for six months pending reevaluation. Because this incident was considered work related, the corporate office of the food company let her go, based on the fact that the position required her to drive, and she no longer could. In addition, she lost her medical insurance coverage.

Now she’s home and I’m the only one working. We can’t afford the bills plus her medication, which was several thousand dollars a month. Since we were engaged to be married, I tried to get her on my medical coverage, but because she was high risk with a pre-existing condition, we were denied. We tried every option on the local, state, and federal levels to obtain assistance, but I made too much money to be eligible.

We depleted our savings, and I felt backed into a corner. I looked for a second job anywhere in medicine and there were none available. I took as much overtime as I could but, with the holidays coming, I wasn’t the only one vying for it. It still wasn’t enough. I contacted one of the pharmaceutical companies who donated a six month supply of their medication, but she still had three other medications to the tune of thousands.

Bills started getting behind, and her seizures became worse with the stress. I started having flashbacks about growing up and caring for myself and my two sisters. Severe drug addicts, my mother and stepfather physically abused and neglected us.

That’s when I began stealing food from the local market to feed us. Eventually, we escaped; running away and finding anyplace we could to stay. I lived on city streets until I came to Pennsylvania where my biological father lived, until I was seventeen. He, too, was drinking and using drugs. That’s when I went out on my own for good, working as a volunteer EMT part of the time and getting paid the other part. The program also included tuition for going to school to be a paramedic.

At this point in my life, I believed that no one has ever, or will ever, help me. I began researching other possible options. I felt that I didn’t want to hurt anyone, so that eliminated drug dealing (mainly because I saw others living on the street fighting for booze and drugs while I was fighting for food), armed robbery or any crime involving violence. I looked into white collar crimes like forgery and counterfeiting but, not only did that seem like a lot of work, I didn’t really know how.

Identify theft was too hurtful to the victim, so that was out.

I even considered robbing a pharmacy, not for the money, but for the anti-seizure medicine, quickly realizing that they could easily identify me from their records. Ultimately, I had to find a way to net the most reward from an activity that would create the least harm to others, as well as minimizing the possibility of getting caught. The conclusion I came to was (To be continued) virtually unthinkable.

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money

investing

KUNG FU Investing Charles Curtin, JD, LLM – Trust Officer, The Honesdale National Bank

ne of my fondest adolescent memories was watching Hong Kong Kung Fu movies with my father. On his periodic travels to Chinatown in New York City, he would always return with a VHS tape gift to enjoy.

I am trying not to date myself, but, yes, I do know the difference between Betamax and VHS. The Drunken Master series with Jackie Chan, Five Deadly Venoms and The 36th Chamber of Shaolin are, in my opinion, cinematic masterpieces. The stunts and action in those films were jaw dropping to a gangly, uncoordinated fifteen-year-old.

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As I grew older and eventually entered college, I was required as part of my degree to take a foreign language. Since I loved Hong Kong Kung Fu and sweet and sour chicken, I decided to take Mandarin Chinese. I probably should have stuck with Spanish like the rest of my buddies, but as I struggled and learned how to order dinner and find my way to the bathroom in Mandarin, I also began to appreciate Chinese culture. If you are not familiar, Chinese history is full of hardship. As a result, over the centuries, Chinese people have developed a thick skin. One particular Chinese

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proverb, which has stuck in my mind to this day, is indicative of the Chinese spirit. The saying is that every once in a while it is good to “Chi Ku,” which roughly translated, says to “eat bitter.” It means that sometimes in life one has to endure hardship (i.e., eat bitter), but such hardship teaches humility, patience, and appreciation of the small things.

For the last seven years, investors have not had to “Chi Ku.” The Dow Jones Industrial Average has doubled.

According to the stock market, a glorified advertising services company is now worth more than Coca-Cola. This magnificent time for investors is called a “Bull Market,” wherein investors are confident, optimistic, and expect outlandish returns.

Inevitably, all good things come to an end, and as history has shown, all “Bull Markets” are followed by a period of decline. What goes up…… must come down.

During a market decline, it is human nature to panic. Almost all psychology studies analyzing investor behavior reach the same conclusion, which is that in a time of turmoil or stress, investors’ emotions takes over his or her rational thinking component. Fear of loss drives the emotional investor out of the market at the worst possible time. They sell low and buy high.

In order to assuage these natural reactions to market volatility, my advice is to refer back to the “Chi Ku” maxim. Be humble and prepare to eat a little bitter with your investments. Such humility will allow you to take a step back and view the big picture. Investing is a long game (the Dow Jones Industrial Average has averaged an 8.4% increase per year since 1900), and while shortterm fluctuations should certainly be monitored, they should not send you rushing to put cash under your mattress.

In theory, having a humble long-term perspective is easy. However, theories are not the real world where your retirement could lose 20% in a couple of Wall Street trading sessions.

That being said, perhaps diversification and dollar cost averaging are two relatively simple investment strategies [ www.connections-magazine.com ]

that could help curb emotional decision making.

My extolling the virtues of diversification at this point probably sounds like a monthly broken record.

Diversification is the combining a variety of asset classes, including small and large cap stocks, as well as bonds and other fixed income investments, into one portfolio. A diverse portfolio should limit potential losses in a market correction (and potential upside in a “Bull Market”) and over time provide a smooth, predictable rate of annual return. Dollar cost averaging is the practice of buying a set dollar amount of a certain investment on a regular schedule so that the investor is buying more shares when the price is lower. The technique reduces the investor’s risk of investing a large sum of money in one investment at the wrong time. Various financial studies have debated the efficiency of dollar cost averaging, but it clearly does promote self-control, rational investing.

This article is not a prediction of another market crash or downturn. For my sake and yours, I hope everything keeps chugging along in the positive. However, when the market does inevitably go south, recall this article or the phrase “Chi Ku.” A little heartache will make your investments stronger down the road. Don’t fall into the trap of making financial choices based on fear. Follow your investment plan and be disciplined. If you need assistance in managing your investment stress, implement one of the above strategies or call any of the great financial advisors here in Northeastern Pennsylvania because as I like to say, “local advice is often best.”

The Honesdale National Bank and its employees do not render legal, tax, or accounting advice. Accordingly, you and your attorneys and accountants are ultimately responsible for determining the legal, tax, and accounting consequences of any suggestions offered herein. Furthermore, all decisions regarding financial, tax, and estate planning will ultimately rest with you and your legal, tax, and accounting advisors. Any description pertaining to federal taxation contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance with the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Service.

asset allocation

money

Don’t Be Afraid

To Change Your Asset Allocation –Provided by Michael Krupa

sset allocation is a time-tested strategy that can help take the guesswork out of choosing investments for your portfolio. Instead of putting all your eggs in one basket, you spread your eggs (dollars) among a variety of baskets (stocks, bonds, and cash). The baskets can be further divided within each type of investment.

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Although many investors understand that they should invest in a variety of securities, they often stumble when it’s time to choose an asset allocation that’s right for them. The allocation that you choose should be based on how much risk you are willing to assume, why you are investing, and when you will need to tap your investments.

However, in some cases, once investors choose their allocation, many are afraid to change it. As you experience changes in your life, it can be appropriate to redistribute your assets.

So, when should you change your asset allocation? It is important to maintain balance in your portfolio. Accordingly, you should reevaluate your allocation strategy at least once a year or when you experience a major life change such as marriage or the birth of a child. It is not always necessary to make a fundamental change to the allocation, but you need to make that evaluation on a regular basis.

Sometimes your portfolio might just need a tweak to rebalance assets that have either increased or decreased in value.

For example, a booming stock market may mean that the value of the stock portion of your portfolio exceeds your original allocation. If that occurs, you may want to consider selling some stocks to bring your portfolio back into line with your initial allocation. Rebalancing is a strategy that every investor should take advantage of as a way to ensure their portfolio reflects their current investing goals, time horizon and tolerance for risk.

Further changes to your allocation also may be appropriate depending on your particular investing style.

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Strategic investing

Most investors take a strategic approach to asset allocation, meaning they have at least ten years before they anticipate needing the money

they are investing. Strategic investors look at the long-term and typically do not make frequent changes to their allocation model. A strategic investor would change the way his or her money is invested if there was a fundamental shift in the economy (recession) or if inflation began to outpace the earnings that his or her investments were generating.

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Cyclical investing

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Tactical investing

Because the economy is cyclical, meaning it moves in stages of prosperity and recession, some investors change the way they allocate their assets based on the cycle of the economy. This is called cyclical investing, and it typically means that an investor will reallocate his or her funds every three months to three years. A cyclical investor might invest heavily in stocks when the economy experiences growth and, conversely, would invest more dollars in bonds when the economy experiences a period of contraction.

The third type of investor looks at the short-term – a period of one year or less. The tactical investor changes his or her portfolio based on trends in the market. A tactical approach to asset allocation isn’t for everyone as it typically requires an investor to trade rather actively and sometimes trade with greater risk.

Each investor has unique goals for their money and a distinctive investment style.

It is best to talk with your financial consultant about what kind of asset allocation would be right for you and how often you should redistribute your assets. Bear in mind that although asset allocation diversifies your assets, it does not protect against fluctuating markets and uncertain returns.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Michael J Krupa, Krupa Wealth Management, 614 Church Street, Honesdale PA 570-253-0121.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANK-GUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), and Member SIPC. Krupa Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.

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entertainment

book/film corner

FOCUS

“Dead or Alive?”

By Clive Gifford • Illustrated by Sarah Horne Consultancy by David Burnie Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

ately, you’ve been fighting a lot with your brother.

Sometimes, he makes you mad, though, and you just can’t help it! So you yell, and he yells, and pretty soon, there’s a war that makes your mother crazy.

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Even though you fight with your brother, you still love him. And nothing dangerous happens, unlike with the creatures in the new book, “Dead or Alive?” by Clive Gifford, illustrated by Sarah Horne.

When an animal in the wild gets hungry, there aren’t a lot of options.

It’s not like they can go to the grocery store, right? No, they have to catch their supper, and while nature’s given some of them speed and claws to do that efficiently, potential meals have a few tricks on their side, too.

Take, for instance, ‘possums and hognose snakes.

When opossums and hognoses are threatened with becoming snacks, they act dead, they smell dead, they look dead, and are very unappetizing to predators. That allows them to live (and play dead) another day.

On the other hand, though, what about those critters that gotta eat?

They can pretend to be rocks, like an alligator snapping turtle, and lure their lunches straight to their mouths. Or, like anglerfish, they might use bioluminescence to invite other creatures to dinner. Or, like orange barnacles, they could just turn their prey into zombies and wait until snacktime.

For other animals, matters of life and death are a little more unusual.

Mayflies have mouths, but they don’t use them because mayflies “don’t live long enough to get hungry.” Scientists think there’s a possibility that the Antarctic volcano sponge might live for up to 10,000 years! A fourmonth-old puppy in England accidentally got flushed down the toilet and survived, and a cat in Boston fell nineteen stories and lived. Extinct animals have been discovered alive (no dinosaurs yet, but still….) and scientists are trying to figure out how to bring other animals back from extinction. And if you ever happen to find yourself on walkabout with an Aboriginal person in the middle of Australia , bring lots of water.

Your second option isn’t so tasty…

Anybody can spout information about cats and dogs. Many kids know things about horses and cows. But who knows about tardigrades and thylacines? Your child, that’s who, once he’s got “Dead or Alive?” in his hands.

Inside this book, there are creatures that crawl, walk, run – and are eaten. There are animals that fly, swim, wiggle – and are hunters. And, of course, author Clive Gifford includes critters that have uniquely adapted to survive in ways that your child will find fascinating, maybe a little icky.

And if icky isn’t enough, there’s fun to be had in Sarah Horne’s colorful, informative, but cartoon-like illustrations, too.

This book is perfect for kids ages 7-to-12, and I think even adults could learn a thing or two by paging through it. If you’ve got a young biologist or animal lover around, look for it. Getting him to read “Dead or Alive?” shouldn’t be much of a fight.

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“You get them to focus, and you take whatever you want.” Such is the art of the steal that veteran con man Nicky (Will Smith) explains to junior con artist Jess (Margot Robbie), whom he’s begun tutoring. Will they fall in love over pilfered watches? Likely. Will trust always be an issue? For sure. Do women need men to explain complicated stuff to them? Always.

This amiable who’s-zooming-who caper from Glenn Ficarra and John Requa is split into two chapters. The first finds our couple hard at work at a New Orleans sporting event, freeing drunk and distracted fans from their jewelry, credit cards, gadgets, wallets, and so on. This adventure is capped by the film’s nerviest scene, in which Nicky goes head-to-head with a high-stakes compulsive gambler (B.D. Wong) at the big game.

Then the film moves to Buenos Aires and settles in for a long con, involving Formula One racing, and every bit of it — from the are-they-or-aren’t-they romance to the various plot twists — feels a lot more contrived and a lot less zippy. Still, plenty of Focus gets by — like any good con man — on the easy charm and good looks of its stars. out of 4

STILL ALICE This drama, co-directed by Richard Glatzer and Wash Westmoreland, charts the unstoppable decline of Alice Howland (Julianne Moore), a well-regarded professor of linguistics, after she received a diagnosis of early-onset Alzheimer’s.

She vows to fight, but what defines her — career, facility with language, independence, intimate family relationships — begins to fall away. There is a supportive family — a husband (Alec Baldwin), two prickly daughters (Kate Bosworth, Kristen Stewart) — but their lives go forward, while Alice’s goes backward.

The filmmakers have created an intimate portrait of the devastation wrought by dementia, and they relate it in an almost lyrical fashion: Time jumps are muted, and scenes are everyday moments turned wonky rather than grand dramatics. It’s free of the manipulative tear-jerker moments we expect from disease-of-the-week films, yet no less devastating. The work has a certain genteelness, as if these well-heeled Upper West Siders would never behave badly under stress, that risks making the tragedy feel idealized.

But, Still Alice is Moore’s showcase and worth seeing for that alone. (Moore won an Academy Award for the role.) Even portraying the catatonic Alice, Moore is never less than captivating, and throughout, she keeps the “still” in Alice: fiercely strong and heartbreakingly vulnerable. out of 4

All of these ran previously in the Pittsburgh City Paper.

pocono secrets

did you know?

ristine natural beauty, outdoor adventure, quirky historical contributions, literary significance, mixed with some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, are what makes the Pocono Mountains an exciting destination to visit and to live.

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–By LA Guzda

WEMATEKAN’IS AND THE HUNTER – Native Folklore At last, spring has arrived and it’s time to start hiking our pristine forests, but keep your eyes open for what creatures may be sharing in the sweet scented woods.

Last month, I wrote about the “True People” of the Poconos, the Lenni Lena’pe. While researching for the article, I came across many of their traditional stories.

They didn’t have a written record of their history; they relied on storytelling. These stories are colorful with charm, innocence, and humor. This month, I wanted to share one of my favorites with you. Long before JR Tolkien was telling the story of the Hobbit, the Lenni Lena’pe were sharing stories about the Wemategunis.

Wemategunis are the magical little people of the forest, like sprites or dwarves. Their name is pronounced wehmah-teh-guh-neese. They are mischievous but generally benevolent creatures, although they can be dangerous if they are disrespected. It is said that they are about as tall as a man’s waist yet have immense strength for their size, and in some folklore, they have magical powers such as the ability to become invisible. They may help people who are kind to them or tolerate their tricks with good humor. In some legends, the Wematekan’is even serve as messengers of the Great Spirit WEMATEKAN’IS AND THE HUNTER There once was a man who was out hunting with several friends. They wandered off and left him alone, but even so, he was lucky and killed a young buck. He

dressed it and put it up on his back, and then he went looking for his friends. After searching for a while with no success, he whooped to call them. “Ju hu!” he called.

Somebody answered, “O’ho!” The voice seemed close by, just across the valley. He ran to catch up with the person calling, but when he got there he saw no one. Then he called again, “Ju hu!” He heard and answering call, “O’ho!” from the side of the valley he had just left. Every time he crossed the valley, he would hear the voice coming from the place he had just come from. Eventually, the hunter became angry. He threw down the deer and chased the person who was answering him.

When he caught him, the hunter found it was a Wematekan’is, one of the Little People, carrying a bow with the bark on it. “I’ll teach you to answer when I am calling my friends,” the angry hunter said. “For that we’ll have a fight right here.”

“Ke’hela! Yes, indeed!” said the little man. “I’ll fight, but wait until I take off my jacket.” Wematekan’is took off a jacket made of cornhusk, and the hunter was ready to fight. “Wait! Let me take this jacket off, too!” said little Wematekan’is, and he stripped off another one. He kept taking off jackets until he had taken off twelve in all. Each time he took one off, Wemate-kan’is became smaller, and by the time the twelfth jacket was off, he was so small that the hunter was ashamed to fight him.

“I won’t fight you now,” said the hunter. “But I’ll give you a name. When you get home, tell your people that someone named you Nox’kumi, Answer-Me. And now I want you to answer me this. Why did you try to fool me?”

Wematekan’is laughed, “I just wanted to see how strong you were and how far you could run carrying that deer!”

Visit www.PoconoSecrets.com for past articles. Do you have a Pocono Secret to share? Send an email to: PoconoSecrets@aol.com.

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lifestyle

musically speaking

As far as the blues in Northeast Pennsylvania are concerned, Bill Coleman has had a foot in the game for arguably as long as anyone in the area. Coleman has played just about every facet of the genre, as well.

– By Mark Uricheck

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After serving twenty years with NEPA’s Jeffery James Band, Coleman decided to form his own outfit around 2003; Funk ‘n Gumbo, which specialized in New Orleans-styled funk and blues.

Eventually, the band changed its name to MOJOMO, which led to a meeting that would solidify Coleman’s current status on the NEPA blues scene – as bassist/vocalist and one-half of the duo The Soul Shakers, along with percussionist, Sharon O’Connell.

“Sharon played drums in MOJOMO and we formed a pretty funky rhythm section,” explains Coleman of the connection with his Soul Shakers partner. As The Soul Shakers, the pair have recently been backing various artists at a series of blues jams – notably at venues like Mecca’s in Dunmore, and Arlo’s Tavern in Ararat, PA. The sheer electricity of these jams has seemed to signal a polar shift in the recognition of blues locally.

When the live shows for MOJOMO began winding down at the end of the band’s tenure, Coleman hooked up with area musicians, Matt Bennick, Pat Marcinko, and ex-MOJOMO keyboardist, Rock Belza, in Matt Bennick and The Blues Mine, which had a successful four-year run.

“I then was picked up by Lee Delray, and I wound up going to Memphis with him and Sal Bucheri to compete in the International Blues Competition,” Coleman continues with the timeline that brought him and O’Connell together on a more permanent basis. “When we got back, Joe Kopicki tapped me for bass in his band, and I recommended Sharon for drums we’re still playing with Joe. Now, Sharon has been playing with Clarence Spady for a while, and she also plays with Souled Out. So, she’s somewhat rooted in the blues scene here.”

Coleman can’t toss enough positive commentary O’Connell’s way when it comes to musical synergy. He says that the pair are musically intuitive on the live stage. [ www.connections-magazine.com ]

“I think our individual styles clicked pretty well,” he admits. “People just love her. She’s a great drummer, and she just exudes her love of drumming every time she gets behind the kit.

Mostly, I’m just the guy on bass who happens to be playing along with her. She works hard, and she’s gotten so damn good in the last few years I just have a ball playing music with her. We listen to each other and communicate constantly on stage and can hit stops together, building dynamics without even thinking about it.”

As the blues jams have continued, they’re featured notable area talent and attention-grabbing names like Mike “Miz” Mizwinski and Stingray Delrpriore. Coleman and O’Connell have been having a blast backing such artists thus far.

“The idea is having a stable rhythm section backing many different guest hosts,” Coleman says of the blues jams. “It would be a different show, a different artist at every jam, and I thought audiences would enjoy that. So far they have, from the feedback I’ve gotten. Now, what that has done for us is make us perform at a higher level. You never know what’s going to be thrown at you. A lot of times the only info we’d get at the start of a song is its key- maybe we’d be told it’s a shuffle or a slow blues… and off we go!”

As Coleman’s stated, he’s been pleasantly surprised at the response to these jams – audiences have been packing the clubs and are being pulled in from beyond the usual limits of the area.

“We’ve had most of them at Arlo’s Tavern, which is a small venue in the middle of nowhere in Susque-hanna County, and generally, it’s been standing room only,” Coleman proudly tells. “We’ve had people come from the Stroudsburg area, Binghamton and Johnson City, Scranton, Pittston and Wilkes-Barre.

Based on what I’ve seen, there is a healthy audience for blues in NEPA.” Coleman goes on cite the bigger blues draws

musically speaking of the region as prime examples of the music’s power to attract.

“Mountain Sky has run a blues fest for the last couple of years at their venue and of course, Briggs Farm is the regional granddaddy of blues fests,” he notes. “In the Poconos, Michael Cloeren draws good crowds for the Pocono Blues Fest, and as far as blues and roots music, the Honesdale Roots and Rhythm fest always has a great audience. There are people who want to hear this music because they feel it’s real music to them.”

Coleman does lament the sometimes maligned status of his beloved genre as a whole.

“I and others were quite annoyed that there were no blues categories at the Steamtown Music Conference last year,” he says. “Blues doesn’t get much press, not much radio play around here - not much recognition at all. It’s as if it’s underground music, but it does have a good audience.”

Not to misconstrue his feelings, Coleman prefers to dwell on the high points that his music has brought him – the incredible depth of talent and musical challenge that the blues jams have brought for him and O’Connell.

“I’m constantly amazed that there are musicians who come to these jams, play with other musicians that they’ve never played with before, and produce music like it’s been rehearsed,” he begins. “It really speaks to the level of musicianship in this area. I’ve played with guys I’ve never heard of before playing with them at jams like Eric Brodyfantastic keyboard player, James Estes- young lap steel player, Clyde Rosencrance - another young guitarist, just to name a few. One moment that I especially enjoyed was when I asked a couple of players if they knew a Clapton song called ‘The Core.’ It’s not really a

lifestyle

blues tune, but it’s a great jam song that lets a lot of players take solos.

When we did that song and it sounded as good as it did, it made my night.”

Coleman gives warm recognition to the staff at Arlo’s, including Frank Freno and A.J. Gallagher, both of whom Coleman points out as giving the blues jam idea a real chance. Because of this leap of faith on Arlo’s’ part, The Soul Shakers will be performing this summer on Main Street at the Honesdale Roots and Rhythm Festival, and notable upcoming backing gigs at Arlo’s soon with the likes of Stroudsburg’s Chris London from the Friar’s Point Band, Stingray Delpriore, Joe Libertucci and Steve Corcoran from the Cinder Brothers Band, and Randy Light. Whatever twists in this music are served to him, Coleman is happy to be a part of it.

“To me, all American music sprang from the blues,” he says. “I suspect that the blues in this area will continue as it has been, but I am happy to see that there are some younger players gravitating to it. Having an occasional article on a blues CD release or an up-andcoming blues artist like Jarekus Singleton or Eric Gales will help get the genre back in the public’s eye.”

Just don’t suggest to Coleman that any of the current radio-friendly, blues-tinged darlings of the hipster set are going to save the genre.

“The Black Keys – they do blues?” he asks with a sly grin.

For more on Coleman, The Soul Shakers, and the NEPA blues jams, visit facebook.com/ NEPASOULSHAKERS or www.arlostavern.com.

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lifestyle

outdoors

There’s a buzz about the Wayne County Fairgrounds on an early springtime Sunday morning. Personal watercraft of various types are strewn along the side of parking area. Here and there people affix numbered sheets of paper to brightly colored kayaks and dull aluminum canoes. One by one, the boats and their paddlers slip into the cool water of the Dyberry Creek and begin a journey to White Mills, some nine miles downstream. The Annual Jaycees Canoe Classic has begun.

Held every year the Sunday after Easter, the race draws serious competitors and casual paddlers alike.

Since Easter is a floating holiday, weather and water conditions can vary greatly from year to year. However, since it usually happens a few weeks before many kayakers and canoeists even consider dropping in, most of the paddlers that show up for this spectacle are relatively speaking, die-hards.

“No one’s really sure exactly when it started and how it all came about,” said 2014’s race chairman Dave Sporer, “we said it was the 27th year, but the actual history is somewhat of a mystery.”

Regardless of lore and legend, one unequivocal fact is that the annual race has become a tradition for many local paddlers and even has a regional following, drawing in contestants from far and wide. Year after year many return to tackle the current, some to defend a past title; others to shave off some time from their personal best; and still others just to simply enjoy an early spring day on the water.

While some are there for a leisurely paddle, most racers are there for the competition. With temperatures still hovering in the low 40s at the 11 a.m. start time, veterans are easy to spot. Most are wearing some sort of synthetic base-layer under their traditional paddling garb; neoprene wet suits are not an uncommon sight either, nor are spray jackets and skirts. By the time they cross the finish line over an hour or so later, layers have been shed and most admit upon getting out of their boats that they overdressed for the day.

“I wore too much,” said Dave Gustin of Honesdale.

Part of a two-man canoe team, Gustin and his partner, John Finnen, worked up a sweat paddling hard and taking first place in their division last year.

Dave Stahley of Wilkes-Barre came back for his second year determined to beat his time from last year. “I finished high but not in the top three my first year, and I knew I could improve. Last year, I didn’t know what to expect and this year I came in second in my class.”

Part of what keeps drawing paddlers back year after year is the course itself. Almost the whole first mile is a technical, twisty section of the Dyberry Creek that ham-

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pers speed and can play havoc on folks in long boats unfamiliar with maneuvering in tight spaces.

Competitors can pick up some speed over the next mile as the creek is a relatively straight shot as it cuts east of Honesdale before meeting up with the Lackawaxen River. More time can be gained in the next mile as the increased volume of water propels boats downstream quickly. For the next three miles or so the river is a mixture of short straightaways and bends of various angles that can all play a factor in speed and maneuverability. A big bend with a sand bar and some rocks is the final big challenge about a mile-and-a-third before the finish line. Paddlers who can get through that without getting hung up can push on to the finish at Fireman’s Field in White Mills. About nine miles long, the fastest paddlers in specialized racing boats can sometimes do the distance in just over an hour.

Pittston’s Meg Kuniegel finished her first race in an hour and forty-three minutes. Pleased with her time, she vowed to return as well.

It takes a lot to keep up that pace for the entire course.

If the natural elements and the river obstacles aren’t enough to distract paddlers, spectators along the banks, the sounds of traffic on the nearby roads, the smells of the annual chicken BBQ at Alert Fire Company that seem to always waft over the river, and just the mere tendency to want to look at familiar landmarks from a different point of view are also things that can hamper someone just enough to affect one’s time.

All’s good at the end, though. It takes a while for all of the boats to come in and for the final scores to be announced. Those that came in small groups might be tailgating and the White Mills Fire Department is usually cooking up burgers for the famished who don’t feel like making their own food.

SAVE THE DATE Jaycees Canoe Classic April 26th – 9:00 a.m. Registration Wayne County Fairgrounds williamjdeaton@yahoo.com

classics

1959

lifestyle

Ford

Fairlane Galaxie 500

By Arnie Milidantri

o matter where I am, if I see an old car, I have to stop and look. If I’m lucky, I get to meet the owner and learn something about their car and its story. Once again during my winter travels, away from the cold and snow of Northeast PA, in sunny Florida, I was fortunate to discover a pampered resting classic- a two-tone Colonial White and Fawn Tan 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 500 two-door club sedan that was peeking out of an open garage door. The car owners, Ray & Georgette Trocciola were spending their winter in Florida away from the cold and snowy Shirley, Long Island, NY. I spoke briefly to Ray and asked if I could stop back and write about his car. Fortunately, he agreed.

Ray’s car is a great example of a piece of preserved auto history that is owned, enjoyed, and shared with others as it cruises the small towns and streets of The Villages, Florida. The car’s mellow sound as it approaches triggers one’s expectations that something different is coming, and as it goes by, you can’t help but wave, smile, and for those of us old enough, remember “our 1959”!

N Background Starting in 1957, Ford Motor Company introduced their first production cars of their newest three-year model cycle, a cycle that would see Ford’s mainstream line of cars grow substantially larger. The flashy Crown Victoria was discontinued, and the Crown Victoria acrylic glass-roofed Crown Victoria Skyline was was replaced by a new model, the retracting-roof hardtop Skyliner. A newly redesigned chassis moved the perimeter rails out so that they fully enveloped the passengers and allowed the floor to be placed much lower, which in turn led to an overall lower and longer look. The 1957 models retained a single-headlight front end like their predecessors, but were unmistakable with their long flanks and tailfins. They came standard with the deep-dish steering wheel. The radio became transistorized. There were lights for the generator and oil instead of gauges. The controls became recessed for more safety.

In 1958, the line was freshened with a simulated hood scoop, dual-headlights, and the rectangular grille openings gave way to circles. A new 3-speed Cruise-O-Matic automatic was optional along with the 2-speed Ford-O-Matic and manual transmission.

Engines were also updated, with the 272 CID dropped, the 292 CID making 205 hp, and a newgeneration 332 CID (V8 rated at 240 HP in 2 barrel form and 265 HP in 4 barrel “Interceptor” form).

The new 352 cubic inch V8, also dubbed “Interceptor” and rated at 300 hp made its debut.

Air suspension became optional.

1959 was one of the more notable years for styling with the American automotive manufacturers, and Ford was certainly in the mix when they redesigned the 1959 Fairlane. The redesign included: much more squared up lines, a bigger windshield, “gullwing” headlamp brows, and a “Flying V” back panel cradling large round taillights. New for 1959 was the introduction of the Galaxie trim, which appeared mid-year as a pair of Fairlane 500 hardtops with rectangular, wide-quarter Thunderbird-

style roof lines, a design theme that Ford would use for several years and be widely copied by others.

The mid-year 1959 Galaxie was a chrome and stainless steel-bedecked, two-tone colored vehicle; an excellent example of the chrome heavy steel cars of late-1950s American automobile. The V8’s were slightly detuned in deference to buyers made more economically conscious by the recession of 1958.

Suspension tweaks improved ride at the expense of handling, but workmanship improved, and durability was served by no-wax “Diamond Lustre” enamel paint and long life aluminized mufflers. This was also the last year for the Skyliner Hardtop Convertible.

It takes decades for some cars to become collectible. Others just take a minimum and find their values on the rise right after the normal depreciation curve ends. The 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 500 wasn’t one of those instant classics. It had great styling to be sure, but the other three manufacturers introduced lots of very competitive iron in that year.

Chrysler was flying high with their “Suddenly it’s Sixty” design, Chevrolet had their all new Impala with the bat winged trunk lid. Fuel economy was becoming something to be reckoned with, and Rambler was kicking butt with their economy cars and sensible, pragmatic philosophy that was 180 degrees from the Detroit style kings.

Featured Car The colonial white and fawn tan 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 500 was purchased by Ray Trocciola in 1990 from an antique auto dealer located in West Virginia. The car was originally from sunny California (still has the California Triple A auto club sticker on the rear windshield) and has been pampered all its days. This is one of 10,141 1959 mid-year model Fairlane Galaxie 500 two door club sedans built and had a manufacturer’s sale price of $2,594.00. The car is rust free, 114,000 miles original that has had minimal restoration/ modifications done to it. The exterior paint and

chrome are excellent for its age. The car’s carpeting, dash, headliner, and door panels are all original and in great shape. The only interior change, made prior to Ray’s ownership, was the replacement of worn seat panels. The body is in excellent shape with its beautiful straight lines and low powerful stance.

The car’s frame, all mechanical and suspension systems, the 292 V8 and 2-speed “Ford-O-Matic” transmission are all original and in excellent shape.

Only two minor mechanical changes were made to the car. The first was the installation of the mellow dual exhaust system that gives the car a great sound.

The second was done by Ray; the replacement of the “mechanical distributor points” with an electronic ignition for more reliable performance. The chrome fender skirts, a dealer installed option in 1959, add that final “bling” to a very classy ride.

The Owner Usually you can tell when you first meet an owner of an old car whether it’s an antique, street rod, custom, etc., if they are a car owner or a car enthusiast (usually referred to a motor head sometime during their lives). Ray Trocciola is a car enthusiast! Ray retired in 2004 as assistant to the Manager of the Brookhaven/Calabro General aviation airport located in Long Island. Ray and his wife Georgette, as part of their retirement strategy, spend their winters in Florida and return north to Shirley, NY during the summer (one of many couples who are referred to as “snow birds” who migrate south to enjoy the winter sun). As any normal car enthusiast would understand, Ray relocated his 1959 Ford Fairlane Galaxie 500 from his Shirley, NY home to his winter home in the Villages of Florida four years ago. Once an avid car show participant, Ray now prefers “cruisin’” and waving back to the people. Ray is a great guy to sit and talk about old cars and loves sharing his knowledge of Ford’s 1959 Fairlane Galaxie 500. So if you love cars, keep your eyes open. You just might get to share a story and make a friend. What a great way to spend a day!

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EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS FOR DR. PLATKO AT CMAG@PTD.NET

ASK THE VET:

lifestyle

your pets

April is Heartworm Awareness Month PART I What is heartworm disease?

Heartworm disease is a serious and potentially fatal disease in pets in the United States and many other parts of the world. It is caused by foot-long worms (heartworms) that live in the heart, lungs, and associated blood vessels of affected pets, causing severe lung disease, heart failure, and damage to other organs in the body. Heartworm disease affects dogs, cats, and ferrets, but heartworms also live in other mammal species, including wolves, coyotes, foxes, sea lions, and—in rare instances—humans. Because wild species such as foxes and coyotes live in proximity to many urban areas, they are considered important carriers of the disease.

Dogs. The dog is a natural host for heartworms, which means that heartworms that live inside the dog mature into adults, mate and produce offspring. If untreated, their numbers can increase, and dogs have been known to harbor several hundred worms in their bodies.

Heartworm disease causes lasting damage to the heart, lungs, and arteries, and can affect the dog’s health and quality of life long after the parasites are gone. For this reason, prevention is by far the best option, and treatment—when needed— should be administered as early in the course of the disease as possible.

Cats. Heartworm disease in cats is very different from heartworm disease in dogs.

The cat is an atypical host for heartworms, and most worms in cats do not survive to the adult stage. Cats with adult heartworms typically have just one to three worms, and many cats affected by heartworms have no adult worms. While this means heartworm disease often goes undiagnosed in cats, it’s important to understand that even immature worms cause real damage in the form of a condition known as heartworm associated respiratory disease (HARD). Moreover, the medication used to treat heartworm infections in dogs cannot be used in cats, so prevention

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is the only means of protecting cats from the effects of heartworm disease.

How is heartworm disease transmitted from one pet to another?

The mosquito plays an essential role in the heartworm life cycle. Adult female heartworms living in an infected dog, fox, coyote, or wolf produce microscopic baby worms called microfilaria that circulate in the bloodstream. When a mosquito bites and takes a blood meal from an infected animal, it picks up these baby worms, which develop and mature into “infective stage” larvae over a period of 10 to 14 days. Then, when the infected mosquito bites another dog, cat, or susceptible wild animal, the infective larvae are deposited onto the surface of the animal’s skin and enter the new host through the mosquito’s bite wound.

Once inside a new host, it takes approximately 6 months for the larvae to mature into adult heartworms. Once mature, heartworms can live for 5 to 7 years in dogs and up to 2 or 3 years in cats.

Because of the longevity of these worms, each mosquito season can lead to an increasing number of worms in an infected pet.

excess fluid in the abdomen. Dogs with large numbers of heartworms can develop a sudden blockages of blood flow within the heart leading to a life-threatening form of cardiovascular collapse. This is called caval syndrome and is marked by a sudden onset of labored breathing, pale gums, and dark bloody or coffee-colored urine.

Without prompt surgical removal of the heartworm blockage, few dogs survive.

What are the signs of heartworm disease in cats?

Signs of heartworm disease in cats can be very subtle or very dramatic.

Symptoms may include coughing, asthmalike attacks, periodic vomiting, lack of appetite, or weight loss. Occasionally, an affected cat may have difficulty walking, experience fainting or seizures, or suffer from fluid accumulation in the abdomen.

Unfortunately, the first sign in some cases is sudden collapse of the cat, or sudden death.

Gastrointestinal Parasites in Pets — Part II will now run in June!

What are the signs of heartworm disease in dogs?

In the early stages of the disease, many dogs show few symptoms or no symptoms at all. The longer the infection persists, the more likely symptoms will develop. Active dogs, dogs heavily infected with heartworms, or those with other health problems often show pronounced clinical signs.

Signs of heartworm disease may include a mild persistent cough, reluctance to exercise, fatigue after moderate activity, decreased appetite, and weight loss. As heartworm disease progresses, pets may develop heart failure and the appearance of a swollen belly due to

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–Amy Platko-Williams, D.V.M Dr. Platko is one of the four full time veterarians at the Cherry Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Honesdale.

Send your questions to Dr. Platko, c/o Connections Magazine, 3305 Lake Ariel Highway, Honesdale, Pa. 18431 or e-mail them to cmag@ptd.net and type 'Ask the Vet' in the subject line.

laser vision

wellness

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU

By Dr. Frank A. Bucci, Jr.

Keratoconus ave you been diagnosed with the corneal disease, Keratoconus? If you have, you’re not alone. According to the Cornea Research Foundation of America, 100 to 200 people out of every 100,000 develop this disease. Keratoconus gradually transforms the cornea from a natural round shape to a funneled cone shape and can also cause it to thin. Progression of this disease, which may last from 10 to 20 years, often leads to symptoms such as blurred vision, sensitivity to light, difficulty with night vision, and headaches due to straining of the eyes.

H

LASIK and PRK are not recommended for those who have this disease because of the risk of injury from the thin cornea. In severe cases, scarring of the corneal tissue has been reported.

Keratoconus dramatically affects the cornea. This is the clear protective outer layer of your eye. It is responsible for protecting your eyes from foreign objects such as dirt, dust, and bacteria.

In addition, your cornea is responsible for the precision of your vision. The cornea refracts the light entering your eye and depending on its degree of curvature, determines how well you can focus on objects up close or farther away. As keratoconus progresses, the cornea can transform into a cone shape, which can limit your field of view causing blurred vision, irritation, sensitivity to light, and in some cases, halos around light sources. In many cases, these effects of keratoconus happen in both eyes, and each can be affected differently.

Recent studies have shown many factors that attribute to the progression of keratoconus. One of the main determinants of keratoconus is thought to be heredity. According to the National Eye Institute, 7% of people who have keratoconus have a family history of the disease. Agitation of the eye through rubbing from allergies, scratching, chronic use of hard contacts, and injuries to the eye are also factors that determine the possibility of developing this disease.

Keratoconus can also be linked to those who have other eye diseases, such as retinitis pigmentosa, retinopathy of pre-

maturity, and vernal keratoconjunctivitis. Systemic diseases, those that affect the bodies organs and tissues, such as Down syndrome and EhlersDan los syndrom, are also are believed to be factor in acquiring keratoconus.

Treatment for keratoconus is limited.

Patients who have the corneal disease are usually prescribed certain glasses and soft or gas permeable contact lenses that provide as little irritation as possible while giving the patient the best possible view they can have. If the rounding and thinning of the cornea becomes too extreme and glasses and contacts become uncomfortable, many times a corneal transplant is recommended.

According to the Eye Bank Association of American 2008 Statistical report, each year there are 40,000 corneal transplants performed in America. When considering a corneal transplant or any type of ocular surgery, always research, educate, and find the most experienced corneal surgeon to minimize the possibilities of complications from the surgery. The TMS4 Corneal Topographer at Bucci Cataract and Laser Vision Institute screens for keratoconus with a 3D examination of the cornea.

Dr. Frank A. Bucci Jr., MD is a fellowship trained corneal specialist. If you have been diagnosed with keratoconus or have symptoms that resemble this corneal disease, please call 1-877-DRBUCCI (372-8224) for an evaluation. “Our Focus is Your Vision.”

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wellness

behavioral medicine

What is

Trichotillomania?

By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA

It is foolish to tear one’s hair in grief, as though sorrow would be made less by baldness.

– Cicero

s recent events in the news would suggest, the importance of mental health is increasingly recognized as a critical health care issue.

Psychiatric disorders such as Schizophrenia, Bipolar Disorder, Anxiety, and Depression are mental health disorders that are more often identified and treated. However, there are other psychiatric disorders which don’t often get much attention and in some cases, necessary treatment. Mental Health providers frequently deal with patients who are reluctant to fully describe their mental health issues, fearing stigma and, in some cases, rejection because their behaviors might be viewed as strange or even bizarre by family members or friends.

A

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder or OCD is a commonly recognized term. Many are familiar with this disorder even without having precise knowledge about the exact symptoms. Some of us have OCD behaviors. It is likely that we have experienced the need to check a door to make sure that it is locked; doing so more than once to make certain that it is, in fact, locked. While one check will do, a second and even a third check will “bind” or alleviate the anxiety. This is a harmless behavior that many recognize and would not describe as bizarre. Apart from OCD itself, there are other disorders which are termed comorbid, which is defined by the Miriam Webster Dictionary as: existing simultaneously with and usually independently of another medical condition. In other words, individuals who are diagnosed with OCD may also have other mental disorders that are identifiable and complicate treatment. The following fictional clinical vignette is presented to highlight the features of OCD and a comorbid or coexisting mental disorder.

JT is an 18-year-old single female. She is a senior in high school and hopes to go on to college. JT has struggled with mental health issues for most of her life. At the age of 7, she began to pull at her hair.

Initially, it would occur when she felt anxious. By the age of 10, it became more noticeable, especially at school because she would tug at her hair and pull it out leaving patches of raw skin. When this was noticed at school, she was sent to see the school nurse who applied an antibiotic to the skin. The school nurse assumed that it was a function of anxiety. Her parents were called after which she was often scolded by them, not realizing that it was more complicated and not a voluntary behavior.

Fearing further reprisals from her parents, JT began to hide her behavior. She also felt that she could not share with her parents or anyone else why this behavior occurred. Initially, she pulled her hair

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out without thinking, but over the course of the next several years, it became intentional. She was aware of the behavior but could not control the urge to pull her hair out.

The anxiety that occurred when she fought the urge to pull her hair was overwhelming and accompanied by feelings that were so unpleasant that she could not resist the urge to follow through, pulling her hair out despite the physical discomfort.

As a result, she had an appearance by her early teen years that was difficult to comprehend. Her hair was uneven with bald spots on her head. Her parents took her to a family doctor who treated her for the rashes that had developed on her scalp. JT, at that time, could not share with her doctor why this behavior occurred. She tried to cover her hair with clothing and felt sad and unhappy with the way she looked. Despite the efforts of her primary care doctor, the behavior continued. By the age of 15, JT had seen several therapists. She was given a diagnosis of Trichotillomania or Hair-Pulling Disorder. JT was also seen by several psychiatrists.

Numerous medications were tried.

Her current psychiatrist has prescribed medications which are used to treat obsessive compulsive disorder; Luvox or fluvoxamine, Celexa or citalopram, and Effexor or venlafaxine as examples. JT is also seeing a therapist for issues related to her appearance and behavior. She is being treated with CBT or Cognitive Behavior Therapy to help her understand her behavior with the goal to control it.

JT has become more aware of her mental disorder and has begun to recognize that she has some features of OCD. Her psychiatrist does not feel that she has the full spectrum of this disorder. However, JT does have some ritualistic behaviors associated with frequent hand-washing. Admittedly, this has made her social life difficult, but she has been able to make friends who have made an effort to under[ www.connections-magazine.com ]

stand and accept her behavior. JT’s appearance has improved, and she has been put on a combination of medications for OCD and anxiety that seem to be effective. Her parents have long since come to the conclusion that their initial reaction to JT’s hair pulling was neither effective nor compassionate and have resolved to become more informed about their daughter’s condition.

This fictional clinical vignette highlights two different mental health disorders; Obsessive Compulsive Disorder and Trichotillomania. It is important to note that the symptoms of OCD, as depicted in the clinical vignette, would not necessarily meet the full criteria of symptoms necessary for this diagnosis. This is sometimes the case in individuals with Hair-Pulling Disorder as it often overlaps the symptoms of OCD. The key feature of OCD is a condition in which the individual experiences intrusive thoughts and compulsions. These thoughts are often disturbing.

The compulsions are manifested by behaviors that the individual feels must be carried out, such as compulsive washing to eliminate germs. The individual experiences distress or anxiety if the act of washing does not take place and will ordinarily succumb to the drive to wash. There are varying degrees of intensity of OCD behaviors which are often seen in many of us, but these behaviors are within a spectrum; either mild or severe, with severe meeting the full criteria for the diagnosis of OCD. As an example of this spectrum, in a New York Times article titled: At Med School, ‘Seinfield’ About More Than Nothing, by the Associated Press (January 2, 2015), the authors write about a unique teaching experience at Rutgers Robert Wood Johnson Medical School. The students learn how psychiatric disorders are characterized in the media, in this case the comedy, “Seinfeld.” The article describes how the medical students are instructed to watch two episodes of this comedy series each week and then to discuss their findings with regard to the personality traits of the characters. The article highlights the observation that the character Jerry has obsessive compulsive “traits.” This is an important observa-

smoking tion as we can see that in this instance the character can easily function in society, despite these character traits.

The take home point is that features of OCD are seen in many ordinary settings.

Hair-Pulling Disorder is a mental disorder that is classified as such in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders – Fifth Edition (DSM-5). The diagnostic criteria necessary to make the diagnosis includes recurrent pulling out of one’s hair, resulting in hair loss, and repeated attempts to decrease or stop hair pulling, and hair pulling that results in clinically significant distress or impairment in social, occupation, or other important areas of functioning.

It is important to note that this disorder does have similarities to OCD with respect to the recurrent behavior of hair pulling, and it is also noted that in some cases there are symptoms of this disorder that overlap. HairPulling Disorder is a separate and distinct diagnosis. OCD and Trichotillomania are two disorders that are comorbid; often occurring together.

Hair-Pulling Disorder is seen in the general public with prevalence as high as 4% of the adult population.

According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), women are four times more likely to be affected than men. It is also noted that this is often a secretive behavior, and men are less likely to report this behavior. This behavior is hard to explain to others who become aware of it. Statistically 35 to 40% of individuals with this disorder swallow the hair leading to the development of hairballs in the gastro-intestinal tract.

The etiology or cause of this disorder has not been definitively determined. However, studies in neurobiology have considered a neurotransmitter, or chemical in the brain, called serotonin 2A. With respect to a genetic component it has been observed that family members of individuals with Hair-Pulling Disorder frequently have other mental health disorders such as tics and obsessive-compulsive behaviors. It has also been found that this disorder has been associated with stressful situations in at least 25% of the cases.

Not surprisingly, individuals with this disorder have problems with selfimage, anxiety, and depression. It should be noted that this behavior can also involve pulling the hair out of eyebrows, eyelashes or even body hair.

Given the fact that this disorder does not have an agreed upon cause, it also does not have a single agreed upon treatment. Talk therapy is a critical component of treatment. No single medication has been identified as curative, but a variety of medications have been used, anxiolytics such as Klonopin or clonazepam and Buspar or buspirone as examples. ReVia or

naltrexone, a medication that has been used to treat alcohol dependence, is also one of the medications that has been used as well as specific antidepressants used to treat OCD previously mentioned (examples Luvox or fluvoxamine, Celexa or citalopram, Effexor or venlafaxine). This disorder more often presents in early teenage years. For those who present with the symptoms of hair pulling at an age of less than six years of age, it has been found that the disorder may resolve without treatment. For the majority of individuals with hair pulling disorder, it will resolve within twelve months.

For a small minority with this disorder, hair pulling can continue for years. Early detection, according to the National Institutes of Health, is the best form of treatment.

In summary, Trichotillomania or Hair-Pulling Disorder affects as many as 4% of the U.S. population.

Symptoms of OCD often coexist in individuals with this disorder. The symptoms of Hair Pulling Disorder frequently begin before the age of seventeen and affect women four times more often than men. It is a disorder that can be secretive and men may be affected more than is currently recorded. There is no agreed upon cause of this disorder, but medications and psychotherapy which have been used have demonstrated effectiveness. If you or a family member have Hair Pulling Disorder, it is important to recognize that effective treatment is available.

The following references are provided for the informed consumer: MedlinePlus U.S/ National Library of Medicine/National Institutes of Health: Trichotillomania top of the head http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/image pages/2365.htm American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry: Hair Pulling (Trichotillomania) http://www.aacap.org/AACAP/Families_and_You th/Facts_for_Families/Facts_for_Families_Pages/ Hair_Pulling_Trichotillomania_96.aspx International OCD Foundation: Disorders Related to (And Sometimes Confused with) OCD http://iocdf.org/about-ocd/related-disorders/ Dr. Middleton is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He received his undergraduate training at New York University and an MD degree from Rutgers Medical School. Dr. Middleton completed his psychiatric residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center, in NYC. He is on the honorary medical staff (retired) of Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ, where he is also Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Middleton has been on the voluntary teaching faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Brown Medical School.

He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Middleton is retired as an Associate in the Department of Psychiatry in the Geisinger Health System formerly practicing at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Dr. Middleton lives in Dingmans Ferry, PA, and Manhattan, NY.

wellness

The Healthy

Gee z er

By Fred Cicetti

Effects of Smoking – Part III f you smoke, you owe it to yourself to quit. And I believe you have an obligation to try to help others to quit. I’m doing my part by offering this unusual series of columns. No scolding or exaggerated scare tactics. I’m giving you just the facts in a chain of bulletins.

I

You can stick these columns on bulletin boards and refrigerators. I recommend giving them to a smoker you love.

Here are more: smokers die younger than 1} Cigarette nonsmokers. Smoking shortens lives by about fourteen years. than four decades since 2} Inthethefirstmore Surgeon General’s report, smoking has killed an estimated 12 million Americans.

12}

Some smokers can just stop “cold turkey.” Others need help with drugs and behavior modification. Relapse rates are the highest in the first few weeks; they go down substantially after about three months.

13}

One study found that the greatest reductions in cigarette use were achieved when smoking became more expensive and alternative recreational activities were provided.

14}

Nicotine replacement therapies (NRTs) are medicines that relieve a smoker’s nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

NRTs are available as patches, gums, inhalers, nasal sprays, or lozenges. NRTs should be used with behavioral modification.

15}

Bupropion (Zyban) is a prescription antidepressant that affects brain chemicals involved in craving nicotine.

use remains the leading pre3} Tobacco ventable cause of death in the United 16} States, causing nearly 440,000 deaths each

Varenicline (Chantix) reduces the pleasurable effects of smoking and helps reduce nicotine withdrawal symptoms.

year. of exposure to environmen4} Because tal tobacco smoke (“second-hand smoke”), an estimated 3,000 nonsmoking Americans die of lung cancer every year.

5}

Tobacco use accounts for about one third of all cancer deaths in the United States.

6} 7}

Smoking causes almost 90 percent of lung cancers.

More than 7 million current and former smokers suffer from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the name used to describe both chronic bronchitis and emphysema. About 85% of COPD deaths are caused by smoking.

80% of all smokers would 8} About like to quit.

US adults, cigarette smoking 9} Among has declined from about 42% of the population in 1965 to about 21% in 2005.

10}

It’s never too late to quit. It doesn’t matter how old you are or how long you’ve smoked.

11}

Within minutes of smoking the last cigarette, the body begins to restore itself. After two weeks, circulation and lung function improve. A year after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is half that of a smoker’s. At ten years, the lung cancer death rate is cut in half. At fifteen years after quitting, the risk of coronary heart disease is that of a nonsmoker’s.

If you want to quit smoking and need help, contact one of the following organizations: American Cancer Society, www.cancer.org; American Heart Association, www.amhrt.org; American Lung Association,www.lungusa.org; National Cancer Institute, www.cancer.gov; Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Office on Smoking & Health, www.cdc.gov/tobacco; Smokefree.gov, www.smokefree.gov.

If you have used tobacco, you should have regular oral exams by your physician or dentist. These exams will detect changes that could be cancer or a precursor of cancer.

Cancer and other conditions of the lung have the following symptoms: a new cough, a change in cough, coughing up blood, hoarseness, difficulty breathing, wheezing, headaches, chest pain, loss of appetite, weight loss, general fatigue, and repeated respiratory infections.

However, many lung cancers have no apparent symptoms until they are advanced.

If you have been a tobacco user or continue to smoke or chew, it’s critical that you get regular medical attention.

If you would like to ask a question, write to fred@healthygeezer.com.

All Rights Reserved © 2015 by Fred Cicetti

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area events

a+r+e Y O U

C O N N E C T E D

Ongoing Events DAILY

Public Art Displays Nature’s Grace, Dime Bank & Wayne Bank, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Harvey Insurance, Honesdale. & Pocono Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, Hawley. Wayne County Arts Alliance artists display their work monthly.

TUESDAYS

Bingo American Legion Post 311, Hawley.

Doors open 10:30 a.m., games begin at Noon. Info: truck48@ptd.net.

THURSDAYS (EXC. APR. 2)

Kundalini Yoga 5:30–6:30 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Ages 16–adult. Experience the gifts that Kundalini yoga has to offer as you explore breath, movement & mantra. Bring a yoga mat & blanket.

Registration & info: 570-996-1500.

THURSDAYS

Writers’ Group 7–8:30 p.m.

Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Ages 18 & up. Ongoing group. Come read your work or listen & be inspired. Learn the craft of writing as you write toward a goal of publication. All genres & levels of writing welcome. Free admission.

Info: 570-996-1500.

FRIDAYS

Live Music Friday 8–11 p.m. Glass — wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. No cover charge. Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

FRIDAYS

Live Music 8 p.m.–Midnight. Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Restaurant & Banquet Center, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music. Info: 570-226-2124 or waterfront@ehrhardts.com.

ARTS, RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT

APRIL ’15

SATURDAYS

Glassworks Demonstration 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. B. Madigan, Hawley.

See glass stretched & made into beautiful items, including watching the glass worked, learning how glass is made & what creates the colors.

Info: 570-561-3629.

11 a.m.–2 p.m. Dingmans Ferry United Methodist Church, Dingmans Ferry.

Free family event open to the community. Light snack served & the Easter Bunny will be hopping by for photos.

Homemade Easter candy available to purchase. Info: www.dfumc.com or 570-828-2288.

Live Piano Music in the Dining Room 6–10 p.m. The Settlers Inn, Hawley.

Info: 570-226-2993 or desk@thesettlersinn.com.

SATURDAYS

Live Music at Barley Creek 8–11 p.m. Barley Creek Brewing Company, Tannersville. The Pocono Mountains’ Original Brewpub. Great food & handcrafted beer brewed onsite. Free brewery tours daily at 12:30 p.m. No cover charge.

Info: 570-629-9399.

THROUGH APR. 26

Senior ART Exhibition 2015 Mahady Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Group exhibition of undergraduate art students receiving degrees in art education, art therapy, graphic design, illustration & painting.

Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu/galleries.

THROUGH MAY 8

The Endless Mountains Spirit: M. C. Richards & Paulus Berensohn Suraci Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Exhibition documents the synergetic nexus of the arts at the Endless Mountain Farm in Susquehanna Cty., many of the people involved with examples of their work in clay, & a lasting legacy of creativity.

Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu.

April 1– April 9 APR. 1

Winter Farmers Market 8 a.m.–Noon. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. Monroe Farmers Market offers preserved goods, jams & jellies, baked goods, maple syrup, farm fresh eggs & produce (while available).

Info: 570-595-2321.

SATURDAYS

APR. 1

FREE Tastings and Demos 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Info: info@MillMarketPA.com or 570-390-4440.

APR. 4

SATURDAYS

Woodcock Watch 6:30 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Life history & amazing courtship displays of the bird. Meet at the EE Center at for a brief presentation before traveling to the Tannersville Bog area to observe the antics. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

SATURDAYS

Easter Egg Hunt

Wicked Dance Party — The Living Room Series 9 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Featuring DJ Addam Bombb.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

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APR. 1, 2, 3

Torn 7 p.m. The Vineyard Center, Honesdale. First Presbyterian Church of Honesdale presents a spectacular & innovative reenactment of the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. Free admission; free-will offerings accepted. Come experience the real meaning of Easter.

Info: 570-253-5451.

APR. 2

Tom Knight Puppet Show 11 a.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Songs & skits for children about the environment, animals, food & books. Free admission. Reservations recommended. Tickets at the door or reserve by calling 570-996-1500.

APR. 3

Kims Comeback & Survay Says! — The Living Room Series 7 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Featuring Statues & Stories, Statue, FM Waves, Above the Mendoza.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 3, 4

The Crucible Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware. Focusing on a young farmer, his wife, & a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft. Info: 570-421-5093 or www.TheShawneePlayhouse.com.

APR. 4

available. Open to public; no fee.

Handicapped-accessible.

Info: Joyce Simmons, 201-213-2146 or simmonsjo@yahoo.com.

APR. 4

Ecozone Discovery Room!

1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. No registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 4

Louie Setzer and the Appalachian Mountain Boys 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Traditional bluegrass at its best.

Donations collected at door. Info: 570253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

APR. 4

Billy Strings & Don Julin 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Drenched in sweat, grimacing like a banshee, howling like a bluegrass berserker, & picking with such ferocity.

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 4

Tartan Terrors Special Event 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. They are their own Celtic Invasion, mixing rock’s energy with traditional folklore, dance, & humor.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

Volunteer Day — Spring Cleaning 9 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry.

Help clean up after winter & prepare for the spring. Many projects — all ages welcome. Snacks provided.

Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 5

APR. 4

APR. 5

Vintage Costume Jewelry Show 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sparta Avenue Stage, Sparta, NJ. Vintage dazzling necklaces, brooches, rings, bracelets & earrings

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Easter Dinner Buffet Noon–4 p.m. Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center, Hawley. Soup, salads, entrees, carving station, dessert table.

Under 3 free. Info: 570-226-7355 or www.ehrhardts.com.

Hotel Wayne Easter Buffet Hotel Wayne, Honesdale. Meet with family & friends for a scrumptious, allyou-can-eat buffet.

Reservations: 570-243-3290.

area events APR. 8

Culinary Book Club: Italian Night 5:30–6:30 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Everyone loves to eat & share recipes. Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

APR. 8

Delaware. C&K Dance Theatre presentation tells the comic family tale of an eccentric toymaker & his mechanical doll in a beautifully adapted version for young audiences. Info: 570-421-5093 or www.TheShawneePlayhouse.com.

APR. 10–30

Open Mic Night 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Led by The Crackers. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Spring Film Festival 2015 Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Twenty-two foreign, independent & art films in twenty-one days. Festival movies & show times available at www.dietrichtheater.com.

Info: 570-996-1500.

APR. 8

APR. 11

Joe Marson — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Featuring Cara Cara.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

“Step Into Spring” With The Master Gardeners 9:30 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Penn State Monroe Cty.’s Master Gardeners workshop. A compost bin will be awarded to one winner. Pre-registration preferred. Call Monroe Cty. Penn State Extension Ofc.: 570-4216430, 10 a.m.–4 p.m. for registration instructions.

APR. 9

Author Luncheon/Book Signing Noon. Hotel Wayne, Honesdale.

Award-winning, internationally known author Suzanne Staples. Purchase tickets by Apr. 6 at the Wayne County Public Library. Proceeds benefit the WCPL. Info: 570-253-1220.

APR. 9

DIY: Ride Your Bike 6:30–8:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project. Taught by Mike Johnson & Jeff McLaine of Sawmill Cycles. Donations collected at door.

Registration appreciated, but not required: 570-253-2020.

Info: thecooperageproject.org.

APR. 9

Uprise Events presents Newsboys “We Believe Tour” 7–9:45 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

April 10–April 19 APR. 10

Spring Film Festival Opening Night Gala 5:30 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Enjoy food, two films (“Still Alice” & “Wild Tales”), beer, wine, desserts & good fun. Gala Night reservations: 570-996-1500.

Info: 570-996-1500.

APR. 10

The Dirk Quinn Band 8 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Rooted in jazz, funk & groove, & exhibiting the guitar “pyrotechnics” of Keller Williams & the brave experimentation of Medeski, Martin & Wood.

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 10

The NEPA Philharmonic — Pops 3: The Texas Tenors Return 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

The Texas Tenors are the highest ranked vocal group in the history of “America’s Got Talent” & back by popular demand. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

APR. 10–12

Coppelia Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On

APR. 11

Desserts During the Edwardian Era 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Demo of the cooking of desserts that were served to the well-todo as well as the middle classes.

Ongoing demo throughout the day.

Visit the Pennypacker mansion for a guided tour. Free admission.

Info: 610-287-9349 or www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills.

get connected

APR. 11

Salamanders, Frogs, & More!

1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore nearby breeding pools. Nets & collection jars provided for gentle, up-close study. Wear boots & clothes that can get muddy or wet. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 11

Peter and the Starcatcher 7:30 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, WilkesBarre. Swashbuckling prequel to Peter Pan that will have you hooked from the moment you let your imagination take flight. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

APR. 11

Performance Music: “In Recital” 7:30 p.m. Houlihan-McLean Center, The University of Scranton. Featuring Caleb Hudson, trumpet, & Amanda Hudson, trombonist. Free. Info: 570-941-7624 or music@scranton.edu.

APR. 11

Spring Peeper Search 8–9 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. The tiny tree frogs are active again. Listen to their choir as you carefully catch, study & release them. Bring a flashlight for better searching. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 11

Adoption Day — Pike County Humane Society 11 a.m.–3 p.m. County Kettle, East Stroudsburg. Info: 570-296-7654.

Leroy Justice 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Rock thrill ride is characterized by great American rock bands from Neil Young & Crazy Horse to the Allman Brothers Band. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 11

APR. 11

International TableTop Day 11 a.m.–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project. Hundreds of board games to learn & try, fun for the whole family. Official Pandemic tournaments at 3 & 5 p.m. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Paula Cole 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Emotionally deep & thrilling performances coupled with poetic & fiercely touching, intelligent writing.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

APR. 11

APR. 11

Art Opening: Melissa Benzinger, “Dancing Vulture Designs” Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. She strives to portray all manner of local wildlife in a mixed-media bonanza: needle-felted sculptures, fuzzy felted insects, shadow-boxes, wood-burnings & more.

Opening reception: 11 a.m.–1 p.m.

Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

APR. 11

Comedy Variety Show 8–10:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Cocktail hour, 7 p.m.

Boisterous laughter & hilarious comedians in a cabaret-style comedy club.

Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

APR. 12

Adoption Day — Pike County Humane Society 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Tractor Supply, Milford.

Info: 570-296-7654.

APR. 12

APR. 11

Health and Wellness Day 11 a.m.–4 p.m. St. Thomas Church hall, Sandyston, NJ. Admission includes all mini-services & workshops offered by 20 local health & wellness practitioners, such as therapeutic acupressure, massage therapy, nutritional consulting, life coaching, chiropractic & skin care. Light refreshments available for purchase. Door prizes awarded. All proceeds go to the church. Info or tickets: church office, 973-948-2296.

Wilderness Skills 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Ages 10+. Learn a variety of outdoor survival skills, from fire building & camping preparedness to tracking & stalking animals. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 12

John Flynn 3 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by RiverFolk Concerts.

Talented songwriter & musician.

Donations collected. Desserts available

to purchase. Info & reservations: Jill, 845-252-6783.

APR. 12

Classical Duo Recital: Masterworks for Piano and Violin 3–5:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Be mesmerized by beautiful music inside the historic building.

Featuring Richard Amoroso, Phila-delphia Orchestra violinist, & works by Mozart, Beethoven, Stravinsky, Liszt & Kreisler. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

APR. 13

Lackwanna County Library System presents Lecture Series: Novelist James Grippando 7–8 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Admission by ticket only.

Tickets free to LCLS library card holders & available at local LCLS branch libraries, in person only. Book sale & signing follows the lecture.

Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

APR. 13

“The Net Neutrality Debate: What It Means for the Future of the U.S. Economy Lobbying and the D.C. Political World” 7 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Social Justice Forum.

Free. Info: 570-941-6793 or george.aulisio@scranton.edu.

APR. 13–17

Red Hat Spring Celebration The Salvation Army Ladore Lodge, Waymart. Especially for seniors. Join the “Under the Sea”–themed Red Hat Week. Make reservations for a week of misadventures, fun & fellowship, while enjoying the many activities offered.

Info: 570-488-6129.

APR. 13, 15, 16, 17

East German Film Festival: “World War 1: A Cold World Perspective” 7:30 p.m. Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton. Four remarkable films on the subject of World War I. Free.

Info: 570-941-6206 or emily.brees@scranton.edu.

APR. 13–20

Earth Day Art Show Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. Artwork inspired by caring for the environment. Submitted by faculty, staff, students & members of the local community. Free.

Info: 570-941-6793 or george.auliso@scranton.edu.

APR. 13–MAY 1

Intricacies of the Feminine Spirit: Ceramics by Nanette Burti The Hope Horn Gallery, The University of Scranton. Ongoing series of vessels

by Dalton, PA, ceramicist explores themes addressing the feminine spirit & form. Info: 570-941-4214 or www.scranton.edu/gallery.

APR. 14

Earth Day Art Show Reception 5 p.m. Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. Free. Info: 570941-6793 or george.auliso@scranton.edu.

APR. 14

Education for Justice 6 p.m. Brennan Hall, The University of

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get connected Scranton. Discussion by John Donaghy regarding his missionary work in Honduras. Free. Info: 570-941-4392 or michael.allison@scranton.edu.

APR. 14

Earth Day Film: “Taking Root” 7 p.m. PNC Auditorium, The University of Scranton. Free. Info: 570-941-6194 or justine.johnson@scranton.edu.

APR. 14

Scott Helmer Live & Acoustic 7–8:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Proceeds benefit the Scranton Cultural Center Restoration & Scholarship Funds as part of Scott’s “Support Your Cause” tour.

Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

APR. 15

Kane Competition in Physics/Engineering for HS students 8:30 a.m. Byron Complex, The University of Scranton. Registration required.

Info: 570-941-7509.

APR. 15

area events

APR. 17

APR. 18

APR. 19

Computer Programming Contest Loyola Science Center, The University of Scranton. Day-long event for high school students. Registration required. Info: 570-941-7774 or robert.mccloskey@scranton.edu.

Vernal Pools & Paradise Township Open Space with Carol Hillestad & Ellen Davis 1–3 p.m. Donaldson Road, Paradise Township. Explore Paradise Twp.’s newest natural area on an easy trail, leading to a hilltop vernal pool teaming with signs of spring. Find frog & salamander eggs & other watery discoveries. Geared to families with children.

Info: 570-839-1120 or www.brodheadwatershed.org.

Ecozone Discovery Room!

1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. No registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 17

Lecture & Reception: “Intricacies of the Feminine Spirit: Ceramics by Nannette Burti” Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton. Presented by Nanette Burti, exhibiting artist. Public reception follows at 6 p.m. at Hope Horn Gallery.

Info: 570-941-4214.

APR. 17

Big Hix — Country Music Tribute 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Performs non-stop high-energy radio hits from a variety of arena-filling Nashville superstars.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

APR. 17

Acoustic Bluegrass Jam 7–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Led by Buckshot Jenkins & Ron Penska.

Donations make this event possible.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Paul Thorn 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

New territory for the popular rootsrock songwriter & performer with songs that express more universal truths, to make people feel good.

Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

APR. 16

APR. 17

Game Night 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project. A table of games waiting to be played, or bring your favorite. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Morningside Lane — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 17, 18, 19

Bad Movie Thursdays with Mystery Science Theater 3000 7–9 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Cocktail hour, 6 p.m. “ Soultaker.” Any MSTie will tell you that watching the shows with a group is much more fun. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

Country and Western Musical Revue The Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Swoyersville. Collection of songs including classics from Dolly Parton, Willie Nelson, Loretta Lynn, Johnny Cash, The Dixie Chicks, Rascal Flatts, Carrie Underwood, Garth Brooks & more, & country-inspired songs from Broadway musicals. Call the box office for ticket info & times: 570-283-2195.

APR. 16–19

APR. 18

APR. 16

Nuno Felting & Knitting Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. A relaxing weekend in the Poconos to create a wet-felted piece of fabric suitable for a tote bag.

Supply list will be provided. Focus project: creating wool felt.

Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

Early Spring Bird Walk 9:30–11:30 a.m.

Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Leisurely stroll along the Kettle Creek trails searching for spring arrivals like phoebes, gnatcatchers, warblers, broad-winged hawks & more.

Info & registration: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

APR. 17, 18, 19 7:30 p.m.; Sun., 3 p.m. The Lakeside Players present a thriller that will keep you on the edge of your seat, from the first bloodcurdling scream to the final shocking plot twist. Community Hall, Lakeville. Info & reservations: 570-226-6207.

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APR. 20

Italian Dinner with Mini Tricky Tray 4–7 p.m. St. Patrick’s Church Annex, Milford. Sponsored by Pike County Humane Society. Info: 570-296-7654.

Badfish: A Tribute to Sublime 7 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Encompassing the sense of place & purpose long associated with Sublime’s music, Badfish continues to channel the spirit of Sublime with a fury not felt for some time. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 18

APR. 20

Fingerstyle Guitar Basics led by Tim Farrell 4:30–6 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Donations collected at door.

Registration required: 570-253-2020.

Info: thecooperageproject.org.

Mountain Laurel Quilt Guide 7 p.m. Canadensis United Methodist Church, Cresco. New members & guests are welcome. Info: 570-676-9969.

APR. 18

APR. 18

Tim Farrell 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Unique fingerstyle playing & original compositions that celebrate the purity of the acoustic guitar. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

APR. 18

Reception: The Endless Mtns. Spirit: M. C. Richards & Paulus Berensohn 6–8 p.m. Suraci Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Exhibition runs Mar. 21–May 8. Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu.

APR. 18

Ultimate Tribute Night 7:30 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. Features all of your favorite hits from the iconic bands of Kansas, Rush & Pink Floyd. Carefully crafted faithful recreations are brought to you through excellent musicianship that leads to perfection on stage. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 18

Jean Rohe 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Ranging from fantastical riffs on old multi-lingual folktales to autobiographical sojourns, to “phonojournalism.”

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 18

“Nightwatch”

April 20–April 30

The Sons & Heirs (A Tribute to The Smiths & Morrissey) 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Recreates the experience of seeing The Smiths in their prime, with keen attention to detail.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

APR. 19

Bus Trip to see “Faust” at Tri-Cities Opera, Binghamton Price includes bus, opera & a hot buffet brunch. The Hawley Women’s Club trips raise money for scholarships for WAHS seniors & donations to local charities. Info & reservations: Judy, 570-226-6588.

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APR. 20–24

Red Hat Spring Celebration The Salvation Army Ladore Lodge, Waymart. Especially for seniors. Join the “Under the Sea”–themed Red Hat Week. Make reservations for a week of misadventures, fun & fellowship, while enjoying the many activities offered.

Info: 570-488-6129.

APR. 21

Earth Day Fair 11 a.m. DeNaples Center Patio, The University of Scranton. Interactive games, presentations & info related to the environment & sustainable practices. Free. Info: 570-941-7520 or linda.walsh@scranton.edu.

APR. 21

International Film Series: “East-West” 7 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Discussion follows the French/Russian film. Free.

Info: 570-941-6330 or sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu.

APR. 22

Gallery Talk: The Endless Mountains Spirit: M. C. Richards & Paulus Berensohn 3 p.m. Suraci Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Exhibition runs Mar. 21–May 8. Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu.

APR. 22

In This Moment 7 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

LA hard rock outfit led by frontwoman Maria Brink strikes with a seductive metallic bite. With Upon a Burning Body, Butcher Babies & The Nearly Deads.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 22

Open Mic Night 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Led by Mike Jung. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

APR. 22

“Town Hall” Meeting: Best Thing Ever To Happen In NEPA 7 p.m. Wallenpaupack HS Auditorium, Hawley. Presentation followed by Q&A. Learn more & get involved.

Info: www.ZIPPERJUNCTION.org.

area events APR. 22

Earth Day “Evening of Environmental Science” 7 p.m. Loyola Science Center, The University of Scranton. Student–run interactive science experiments, art display, astronomy observation & exhibit. Free. Info: 570-941-7669 or stan.zygmunt@scranton.edu.

APR. 23

Campus Take Back the Night Pre-Rally 5 p.m. The University of Scranton.

Free.

Info: 570-941-6194 or justine.johnson@scranton.edu.

APR. 23

40 Story Radio Tower — with Barefoot Movement 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Stage show recorded live for podcast, featuring original broadcaststyle dramas, comedies, humor & poetry, & showcases a remarkable new musical act. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

APR. 24

www.TheWasteAuthority.com. Info: Monroe Cty. Municipal Waste Management Authority, 570-643-6100.

APR. 25

Monroe County Conservation District Rain Barrel Sale 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Conservation District Bldg., Running Valley Rd., Bartonsville. Pick up your Pa.-made rain barrel featuring a screened lid, brass ball valve spigot, bottom drain & overflow fittings installed on a repurposed barrel. Ordering deadline: Apr. 15.

Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

APR. 25

Parsley: The Quiet Herb 10–11 a.m. Pennypacker Mills, Schwenksville. It has some amazing health benefits & is a powerhouse of vitamins & minerals. Master Gardener Jane Irvin with a presentation & takes your questions. Refreshments served.

Free admission. Info: 610-287-9349 or www.montcopa.org/pennypackermills.

Nunsense, the Musical 5:30 p.m. Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center, Hawley. Comedy & delicious cuisine with the story of The Little Sisters of Hoboken, who are putting on a musical variety show to raise money to bury four sisters. Seating by reservation only. Info & reservations: 570-226-7355 x2.

APR. 25

APR. 24

APR. 25

Start Making Sense/Talking Heads and Hall & Oates Tribute 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Seven-piece band recreates the music & the magic of the Talking Heads’ entire career, & does it flawlessly. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

Mad Science 1–2:30 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. For ages 7–14. Build machines.

Experiment with electricity. Hurl squashable things long distances. Try out the Van der Graaf generator (shocking!). Take one more step toward becoming a mad scientist who controls the entire world. Bwa ha ha! Space limited. Registration & info: 570-996-1500.

APR. 24

Josh Turner 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

One of country music’s most recognizable hit-makers. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

APR. 24

Comedy Night at Cocoon Coffee House 8:30–10 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley. Surgeon General’s Warning: not for the faint of heart.

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 24

Old Time Fiddlers 8:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project. A regional favorite playing traditional music — old time, bluegrass, scottish, texas swing. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

APR. 25

Schemel Forum Bus Trip to New York City: The Cloisters and Museum of Modern Art 7:30 a.m. The University of Scranton.

Reservation required.

Info: 570-941-6206 or emily.brees@scranton.edu.

APR. 25

E-Cycling Drop-Off Event 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Kettle Creek EE Center, Bartonsville. See items accepted under “Electronics Recycling Program” at

Earth Day Festival 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry.

Celebrate the Earth with hands-on learning stations, interpretive hikes, conservation exhibits, animals, crafts, food, music & more. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

get connected

APR. 25

APR. 26

Willy Porter 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Soft love poems, songs about life’s obstacles & regrets, & remarkable guitar-playing. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

An Evening of Fine Food and Wine 5:30–9:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. 15th Annual Fundraiser for the SCC allows attendees to sample tasting portions & wine pairings prepared & selected by signature area restaurants, while exploring one of Scranton’s most treasured architectural gems. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

APR. 25

Girls Night The Musical 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Adult evening of entertainment with a hilarious, feel-good comedy, as five girlfriends go from heartbreak to happiness during a wild night of karaoke.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 25

My Show Featuring Borracho — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

With Geezer & more.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 25

Harpeth Rising 8:30–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Unapologetic genre-blenders fuse folk, newgrass, rock & classical into uniquely organic sound. Info: 570588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 25 & 26

Adoption Day — Pike County Humane Society 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Wal-Mart, Milford.

Info: 570-296-7654.

APR. 25–26

Book Sale Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. Benefitting Friends of the Weinberg Memorial Library.

Info: 570-941-7816 or kym.fetsko@scranton.edu.

APR. 26

Holi: The Indian Festival of Color 4 p.m. The University of Scranton.

Free. Info: 570-941-5904 or oma@scranton.edu.

Introduction to Fly Fishing 9 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry.

Learn the basics of fly fishing. Practice knot tying & casting. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 25

APR. 26

APR. 25

“32nd Annual World Premiere Composition Series Concert” 7:30 p.m. Houlihan-McLean Center, The University of Scranton. The Univ. of Scranton Concert Band & Concert Choir. Free. Info: 570-941-7624 or music@scranton.edu.

APR. 25

The Hit Men — Former Stars of Frankie Valli & The Four Seasons 7:30 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, WilkesBarre. Amazing look back through rock & roll history with former members of mega-star acts performing your favorite songs & regaling you with lots of great stories about what it was like. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

Aesop’s Fables Stage Performance 10:30 a.m. & 1:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Fundraiser for Bethany Children’s House. Performed by the parents & teachers. Light fare by the Anthill Farm Kitchen available for purchase. Story time, face painting & other activities for children.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

APR. 26

Earth Day at ForEvergreen Preserve Noon–4 p.m. ForEvergreen Nature Preserve, East Stroudsburg. Celebrate Earth Day with music, food, walk, 5k Run, nature art. Info: 570-839-1120 or www.brodheadwatershed.org.

APR. 26

APR. 25

A Contra Dance 7:30–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Live music by Poison Love with caller Laurie B. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Salamanders, Frogs, & More!

1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore nearby breeding pools. Nets & collection jars provided for gentle, up-close study. Wear boots & clothes that can get muddy or wet. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

APR. 26

Everyone Orchestra 7 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

American improvisational musical project features a constantly revolving roster of musicians, creating completely different music every time it appears, often with audience participation, live painters & performance artists. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

APR. 27

Rapunzel! Rapunzel!

10 a.m. F.M. Kirby Center, WilkesBarre. Grades K–8. “A Very Hairy Fairy Tale.” With a dragon who’s lost his poof, a neurotic gypsy woman & a magical cast of characters, the hilarious twist on the classic fairy tale will delight princes & princesses of all ages.

Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

APR. 29

Earth Day Sustainability Symposium: “The Air We Share” 7:30 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Free.

Info: 570-941-6289 or nicholas.truncale@scranton.edu.

APR. 30–MAY 2

“New Plays Festival” 8 p.m. Scranton School for the Deaf.

The University of Scranton University Players in conjunction with Marywood University’s School of Architecture.

Fees vary. Info: 570-941-4318 or players@scranton.edu.

APR. 30–MAY 2

Liva Arts Company presents “RENT” Elm Park Methodist Church, Scranton.

Tickets available at the door.

Info: 570-941-7401 or ronald.mckinney@scranton.edu.

On the Horizon MAY 2

Kentucky Derby Party 4–7 p.m. The Mansion at Noble Lane, Bethany. Pick your favorite & follow the race on TV. Cash bar & hors d’oeuvres, auction of chairs by local artists, prize for most creative hat. Proceeds help underwrite a mobile mammography van for Wayne Memorial Hospital.

Info: Joan Buehl, 570-226-9750.

MAY 2

Andrew & Noah 8 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Powerful songwriting, explosive improvisation, deep dance grooves & a unique vision for the future of American roots music. Info: 570-5888077 or harmonypresents.com.

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31

the arts

artscene

For more information about CM ARTSCENE GALLERY, contact CM Artscene Coordinator Lucille Norella at 570.488.6742 or email Lnorella@echoes.net.

You may also contact Connections Magazine at 570.647.0085 or cmag@ptd.net

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! Artscene allows artists the opportunity to exhibit a piece of their artwork in Connections Magazine and on our website with the intent of selling their artwork and gaining exposure.

“Russian Crown Jewel” Art Type: Ceramic Artist: Larry E. Boss Size: 5" x 7" Price: $75 Available from: Larry E. Boss Pocono Lake, PA Phone: 215-620-9097 larryeboss@gmail.com www.mediaspots.com INSPIRATION: While I am content to make things

Art Type: Real Flower Pendant Artist: Lucille Norella Size: Approx. 11⁄2" wide x 2" long Price: $25 without black cord $30 with black cord Available from: Lucille Norella Waymart, PA Phone: 570-488-6742 Lnorella@echoes.net www.artbynorella.50megs.com INSPIRATION: This PENDANT is composed of three

from a wide variety of materials, it is in clay that I find the most satisfying properties and potentials.

There is a satisfyingly meditative consciousness which arises out of the process of centering, opening and forming of clay on a wheel. There is a grace which comes to form which is derived from direct and uncomplicated functionality. “Art for art’s sake” and functional craft need not conflict at a basic level.

However, I find I am fascinated with surface design as an atavistic voice which helps me make connections to distant and ancient promptings. I take my lead from the thousands of stylistic expressions throughout the history of art and culture. Often the myriad forms of nature will be my starting point.

“Real Flower” violas, a member of the Pansy family.

They are sealed in a copper bezel to preserve them for many years of enjoyment. The Victorian meaning of the Pansy is “loving thoughts.” These bring charm and grace to any attire. They have tri-colored blooms of purple, yellow and white; their leaves are heartshaped. Pansies are also flowers of remembrance. Give this pendant to someone you wish to know they are thought of in a loving way. The black cord enhances the look of the pendant … it is optional.

“Metallic Garden” Art Type: Acrylic (Metallic) Artist: Samantha Guzzi Size: 12" x 12" framed Price: $50 Available from: Samantha Guzzi Carbondale, PA Phone: 570-282-5211 strooski02@hotmail.com INSPIRATION: I am 12 years old and am aspiring to be an art teacher. I recently won 1st place for April 2015 for the Lackawanna and Susquehanna “Drug and Alcohol Stay Sober” billboard awareness. I have been recommended by my art teacher Carol Vitzacovtch for the “Scholastic Art and Writing” award through the Carbondale Jr. and Sr. High School.

The cost is only $105 for three months and will reach over 54,000 readers per month in Pennsylvania and parts of New York and New Jersey.

32 spread the word... full issues available online

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“Mountains in the Mist” Art Type: Acrylic Artist: John Spears Size: 36" x 24" framed Price: $500 Available from: John Spears Lake Ariel, PA Phone: 570-313-9095 jwilliamspears@gmail.com