Connections Magazine - May 2018 Issue by Connections Magazine

MAY 2018

Since 1998

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CONNECT MAY 2018

FEATURES 1956 CHEVROLET 210 2 DOOR SEDAN

YOU’RE NEVER TOO YOUNG FOR GOLF

IT’S NOT JUST FOR THE PROS...

Getting your child involved in a sport at a young age keeps them active, social, and confident. Golf is the perfect sport for young children, adolescents, and teenagers. It’s a typical weekend in spring, and you’re wracking your brain for something different to do with the kids that won’t break the bank. Miniature golf is a fun and inexpensive activity the entire family can enjoy. It’s even cheaper than an afternoon or evening at the movies.

20 These harsh NEPA winters can take a toll TIPS FOR GETTING YOUR HOME READY...

on your home, which can result in significant damage over time. Here are some tips to help your home recover from the cold and get it ready for summer!

COLUMNS 5

WORDS FROM THE TEAM 30 BOOK REVIEW

10 CAR CRUISE SCHEDULE

31 BRIDAL SPOTLIGHT

16 AREA GOLF COURSES

32 POCONO SECRETS

22 LIVING GREEN

34 OUTDOOR RAMBLINGS

24 MRS. DOGOOD

36 PETS

26 PRISON REFLECTIONS

38 BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE

28 MONEY

40 AREA EVENTS

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CONNECTIONS Magazine

president • publisher • editor in chief deborah bailey production manager meica drake account representatives barry weiss • dwight gregory editorial correction services kay marks assignment writer allison mowatt contributing writers fred cicetti, The Healthy Geezer terry mooney, Reflections of a Prison Inmate arthur middleton, MD, FAPA, Behavioral Medicine michael krupa, Finance josh sheard, Finance terri schlichenmeyer, Book Review la guzda, Pocono Secrets arnie milidantri, Classic Cars bill deaton, Outdoor Ramblings pike/wayne conservation partnership, Living Green

CONNECTIONS Magazine 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.

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 risks 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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WORDS FROM THE TEAM

“

Home of the FREE, because of the BRAVE!

”

ev up your engines! This month’s issue is for all you enthusiasts out there; car, golf, hiking, running and travel. We’ve got lots of stuff for you to check out, like the car cruise schedule, the great golf courses in our area (miniature ones too!), Gouldsboro State Park, MuckStock, the area’s newest and hottest obstacle course race, pet travel safety, awesome area events and so much more! We’ve given you lots to do this month, so get outside and enjoy! This month and always... please join us in saluting and thanking all those who gave the ultimate sacrifice for our freedom. GOD BLESS AMERICA! CM Team 570.647.0085 cmag@ptd.net

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CLASSIC CARS

Motor of car featured on cover.

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After an exceptionally long and snowy winter, we deserve and are ready for some warm spring days. As nature finally awakens with longer days, budding trees and green fields, it’s an exciting time for us car enthusiasts. A time to renew old friendships, see our old favorite collector cars, meet new enthusiasts and get our first view of the newest cars completed by dedicated car lovers who worked throughout the winter in their home shops to complete their latest vision. One of the new cars being debuted this show/cruise season is a gorgeous black & white 1956 Chevrolet 210 two-door sedan, owned and built over last winter by Gerry Milidantri. The 1956 is the middle year of one of Chevrolet’s most popular body styles ever introduced and is often referred to as the “Tri Fives” (1955-1957). It is safe to say if you are a “baby boomer” you, a family member, neighbor or friend owned a “Tri Five” Chevy, and it is not easily forgotten!

Background Between 1950 through 1975, the Chevrolet division of General Motors produced the full size Chevrolet Bel Air in the United States. The 1949-1952 hardtops in the Chevrolet Deluxe Styleline model range were the first to carry the Bel Air name. In 1953 Bel Air became one of three new distinct series introduced. The other two series were the 150 and 210. The 210 was the midrange model from 1953 to 1957 that replaced the Styline Deluxe model available the previous years and was discontinued after the 1957 model year to be replaced by the Biscayne model. The second generation of the Bel Air is categorized as the 1955-1957 (“Tri Five”) model years. The 1956 model year, the year of this month’s featured car, was the center year of Chevrolet’s three-year market share growth, fueled thanks to buyers’ enthusiasm for the new style Chevrolets and the new optional V8 engines. The ’55, ‘56 and ‘57 Chevy’s looks, power and engineering made them among America’s most popular cars in the mid- fifties during a time in which consumers bought cars as never before. The fresh styling and updated design provided great market flexibility across a broad spec-

trum of the car market in response to the needs of both personal and business vehicles. Unique grilles, “wrap around windshields” and a beltline dip below the rear side window added to the “Tri Five” Chevy’s new “longer-wider-boxier” style, which was somehow magically fitted on the new 115 inch wheelbase frame. The Bel Airs came with the same features found on cars in the lower model ranges (150 & 210) plus interior carpet, chrome headliner bands on hardtops, chrome spears on front fenders, stainless steel window moldings and full wheel covers. Models were further distinguished by the Bel Air name script in gold lettering later in the year. The true catalyst for the consumer excitement was the introduction of Chevrolet’s first modern V8 engine, the 265 cubic inch “Turbo Fire” (the start of Chevrolet “Small Block Dynasty”). The new engine was lighter than the six cylinders and much more powerful, rated 162 horsepower with a standard transmission and 170 horsepower when equipped with the PowerGlide automatic transmission. An optional 180 horsepower version tagged “Power-Pak” featured a four-barrel carburetor and dual exhausts. The reliable 235 cubic inch six cylinder rated at 123 horsepower was still available, but the V8 was what people wanted. In support of the V8 option Chevrolet introduced an updated chassis with new ball-joint front suspension and standard tubeless tires.

Featured Car The 1956 Chevy was purchased in October of 2016 from the estate of its past owner by Gerry Milidantri. The car was rust free, had its floors and rocker boxes replaced,

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FEATURE CLASSIC STORY CARS had a beautiful body and the original 6 cylinder engine with a manual three speed transmission. Gerry’s vision for his “Tri Five” project was to create an all stock looking 1956 Chevy, but update the engineering and mechanical to the speed and performance level of a modern muscle car. By starting with a beautiful original car, Gerry saved months if not years of build time, thousands of dollars in sheet metal work, (smartly avoiding the one area of automobile expertise he doesn’t do which is “body work”) and was able to focus on the car’s transformation from a “Granny special” to truly something very special! Once home, Gerry removed the original engine, transmission, differential, front suspension, interior and wiring. The now shell of the 1956 was pressure washed, all undercoating was removed, the chassis painted and the following activities competed; • Installed new front suspension with Heidt tubular control arms, new spindles, coil springs and shocks. • Installed new steering box with CPP power assist unit, new tie rod links and idler arm. • Modified the rear chassis and relocated the leaf springs to facilitate wider tires. • Installed new high performance fabricated 9” Ford rear equipped with adjustable Cal Trac traction bars. • Installed Wildwood Disc Brakes all around. • Wanting an old style gasser engine for his ’56, Gerry started with a 1966 Corvette 327 block that was modified and rebuilt with the best of new components into a 430 Hp “tire spinning beast”. • To get the power to the rear, Gerry installed a Hay’s steel flywheel, a Center Force clutch, a pressure plate, aluminum titanium lined blow proof bell housing and a Tremec 5 speed manual transmission. • Installed all new wiring harness, MSD distributor and digital ignition control.

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• Interior floors were insulated with Dynamat and new carpeting installed. • Replaced all window crank handles, door levers, and outside door handles. • All of the cars bumpers, emblems, tail lights, grill, parking and headlights (over $4,000.00 worth) was replaced. Gerry’s painstaking effort, commitment to detail and quest for perfection has created another timeless beauty destined to be one of this season’s newest head turning, smile generating crowd pleasers!

Owner Gerry is now semi-retired and living in Durham, Connecticut running his own consulting company providing managerial and technical support to the aircraft and industrial turbine marketplace. When not in his office, he can usually be found in his huge barn (garage/workshop) doing what he loves, tinkering. Whether he is working on his latest car project, planning his next, fixing his tractor or grandkids’ quads, as long as it has an engine he is happy. When most kids are young, they played with cars pushing them around making noises, building models, eventually got bored, lost interest and stopped playing with cars and trucks. Gerry hasn’t stopped yet. He loves cars, always has and always will! He has owned and built numerous great cars across the spectrum of the car hobby including Corvettes, muscle cars, antiques, race cars and street rods starting back to his early teens. He is a perfectionist who enjoys the challenge and restoration/build journey as much as the final product. He is unselfish in giving of his time and expertise to help a fellow hobbyist. He continues to host Tuesday night barn nights where his friends gather to share their projects, knowledge and camaraderie. So if you happen to be cruising in Connecticut and see a bunch of kids eating ice cream in a beautiful black and white 1956 Chevrolet 210, honk and wave, the big kid’s name is Gerry!

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CRUISE SCHEDULE

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CRUISE SCHEDULE

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ITâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;S TEE TIME

Getting your child involved in a sport at a young age keeps them active, social, and confident. Golf is the perfect sport for young children, adolescents, and teenagers. It is gaining in popularity as a fun and exciting sport for youngsters for several reasons. They are able to be outside among nature in beautiful surroundings, and the sport requires concentration with little intimidation. It is also a sport where children can develop and improve in their ability. It is never too early to expose your child to golf. If your child has an interest in golf already, encourage that interest and make golf available to him or her. If your child isnâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t familiar with the sport, talk to your child about golf and try motivating them onto the green. Practice together at home and have fun hitting balls and enjoying the exercise. You can also take them and some of their friends to a miniature golf course or take them to a driving range where a professional can teach them everything there is to know about the game. You can also expose your child to the game by watching tournaments together on television. To get your child started in this unique sport, locate a local golf course that offers a junior program for them with an emphasis on fun and one that nurtures their interest. Many local golf courses offer affordable junior programs for beginners that will teach them everything from what equip-

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ment and dress they need to how to actually play the game, complete with rules of conduct. Some programs even provide free golf equipment. These programs usually run through the summer months, and one of the advantages of these programs is the social interaction with peers to which your child will be exposed. The important thing to remember when teaching youngsters the name of the game is to keep it fun and simple. When children start learning the game around the age of five, itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s easier for them to gradually evolve with the sport. Showing your child that golf is a fun sport begins at home, so bond with your children over the game first and then introduce him or her to a golf professional who will broaden their horizons and further their interest in the game. So get out on the green and have fun this spring with the classic game of golf!

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AREA COURSES

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MINIATURE GOLF

It’s Not Just for the Pros... By Allison Mowatt

Golf for the Entire Family I 1 t’s a typical weekend in spring, and you’re wracking your brain for something different to do with the kids that won’t break the bank. Miniature golf is a fun and inexpensive activity the entire family can enjoy. It’s even cheaper than an afternoon or evening at the movies. If you’re not an avid golfer but still have an interest in the sport, then mini golf is the next best thing. As we all know, miniature golf is the smaller version and is designed for people who don’t want to take it too seriously but want just enough of a challenge to keep the game interesting. Plus, the kids love it. There’s something about hitting those shiny colored balls through windmills, crocodile mouths, tunnels, ramps, waterfalls, and elevated greens that gives the game a fantasy-like appeal. The continued popularity of miniature golf probably has something to do with the fact that anyone, regardless of age or ability, can play and with a little perseverance and luck, maybe even win. Now that the weather is warm, outdoor mini golf is probably preferred over indoor miniature golf, but both provide a complete fun family experience. Also, indoor mini golf courses are perfect for those rainy days when you still want to play but the weather isn’t cooperating or if you live in a climate with a limited outdoor activity season.

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Places to Play Mini Golf

Costa’s Family Fun Park Route 6, Hawley Costa’s is three miles east of Lake Wallenpaupack and offers many things for the young and young at heart to do all day long. Some of the fun includes a 1,200 foot go-kart course, water slides, 18-hole miniature golf course and the 19-tee golf driving range, bumper boats, and batting cages complete with an open field, a home run fence, dugouts, and hardball and softball arm-action machines. Costa’s also has a Kiddie Land area where kids can go through tunnels, swim in a sea of balls, climb web ladders, and more. There is also an arcade with numerous video games and a restaurant. The restaurant features seating inside and outside on the wraparound deck with fantastic views of the park. For more information, call (570) 226-8585 or visit www.costasfamilyfunpark.com.

Carousel Water and Fun Park Route 652, Beach Lake Spending an afternoon at the Carousel Water and Fun Park is a great way for the entire family to have fun on a summer day. Carousel has large water slides, bumper boats, go-karts, kiddie kars, a landscaped 18hole mini golf course, game room, and snack bar. The game room offers skeeball, basketball, air hockey, skill cranes, and video games. In addition, there are two waterslides for the adults and older children and a frog slide, Mother Goose slide and wading pool for the younger children. For more details, call (570) 729-7532 or visit www.carousel-park.com.

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TIPS FOR YOUR HOME

Tips for Getting Your Home Ready for Summer Provided by Disaster Blaster

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These harsh NEPA winters can take a toll on your home, which can result in significant damage over time. Here are some tips to help your home recover from the cold and get it ready for summer!

Check the roof When your roof is doing its job, it’s easy to forget about it. Now that the snow is gone, it’s a great time to check your roof for any signs of damage! Get a pair of binoculars, and walk around your house looking at the roof from different angles. Do you see any missing, cracking, or curled shingles? Are there any signs of damage to flashing around chimneys, skylights, or

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vent pipes? Contact a qualified roofer to address any damage immediately to prevent moisture intrusion.

Clean out the gutters If you have trees anywhere near your home, it’s likely that your gutters are full of leaves and dirt. These remnants of fall have spent the last several months packed under heavy snow, potentially clogging

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your gutters and downspouts. Heavy rains, if not provided a place to go, can come into your home through your roof or foundation. Take advantage of the nice weather to clean out your gutters and avoid these issues.

Redo / reseal the driveway Winter can be especially harsh on blacktop and concrete driveways. Sweep and / or powerwash your driveways and, once dry, seal any cracks that you find. Blacktop / asphalt driveways should be sealed every two or three years to protect them from weather damage and wear. Concrete driveways should be sealed every four or five years to prolong their life.

Tidy up landscaping One of the best parts of summer is seeing the green yards and colorful flowers. Start off right, by clearing weeds and cleaning up any fallen twigs. You can fill in any bald patches in your yard by sprinkling some grass seed. If flowers are your thing, now’s the time to get your new plants established so you can enjoy them throughout the summer. If you have plans to add any trees to your yard this season, it’s important to start early so they can be well established before fall, so take some time to pick the perfect spot and get your tree planted right away.

Clean up outside Your walkways, decks, and even siding, may require some TLC now that winter is over. Take some time to powerwash these areas and assess any parts that may need some additional work. Decks are commonly forgotten, but they require annual staining / sealing to protect the surfaces from the elements. Siding, likewise, may require touchups (for wood siding), or replacement of a section or two (for vinyl siding that may be cracked or damaged). Take a walk around your property, looking for any issues that need to be addressed, and check them off one at a time. We hope everyone has a wonderful summer, full of sun and fun! Hopefully with these tips, your home will be just as prepared for the change of seasons as you are!

About Disaster Blaster Disaster Blaster is an indoor environmental firm serving the Northeastern PA area. Having provided our local area with unparalleled water damage mitigation, mold remediation, asbestos abatement, and radon mitigation services for decades, we are proud to have been recently named The World’s Greatest company providing such services. For more about Disaster Blaster, as well as more helpful tips, please visit our website at: www.disasterblaster.com or call our office at (570) 963-1123.

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DRINKS

for the Delaware

Protecting Clean Water with Every Sip By Bethany Keene

What if you could help protect clean drinking water for the entire Upper Delaware River region just by purchasing your favorite brew, morning coffee, or afternoon tea? With a new program of the Delaware Highlands Conservancy, Drinks for the Delaware, you can do just that.

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Through the program, participating establishments—currently Here and Now Brewing Company, Loose Leaf Pages, and Black and Brass Coffee, all in Honesdale, PA; and the Catskill Distilling Company in Bethel, NY—offer a featured drink that includes a donation of $1 for each one sold (50 cents per drink for coffee and tea purveyors) for the conservancy. Breweries, distilleries, wineries, and coffee and tea producers all rely on abundant clean water to create their product, and these establishments recognize the importance of investing in their local community and in a sustainable future. Donations collected through the program will support the conservancy’s mission to protect the clean drinking water of the Upper Delaware River region in Pennsylvania and New York. “The Delaware River is a vital part of

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Earth Week

our livelihood and quality of life,” stated Allaina Propst, owner of Here and Now Brewing Company. “As a business and as residents, it’s essential that we do all we can to protect and preserve it. Through our partnership we’re hoping to create a strong current of support for the future of the region and our river.” “Drinks for the Delaware is a natural fit for the Catskill Distilling Company. We need the pure water of the Catskill Mountains to distill our craft spirits, and our customers appreciate that we’re also committed to protecting and investing in the beautiful farms and waters that make this place so special,” said Stacy Cohen, owner of the Catskill Distilling Company and Dancing Cat Saloon. “We’re thrilled to find new ways to partner with the wonderful locally owned, sustainable businesses who care for our community, and to work together not just for our mutual benefit, but for the millions of people who rely on clean drinking water from the Upper Delaware,” affirmed Diane Rosencrance, Executive Director for the conservancy.

Drinks for the Delaware is modeled after the conservancy’s successful Green Lodging Partnership, which since 2012 has offered guests at participating local hotels the option to make a $2-per-stay contribution to the protection of the working farms and forests, clean waters, and outdoor recreational opportunities that make the Upper Delaware River region such a wonderful place to live, work, and play. Learn more about Drinks for the Delaware and participating establishments at www.delawarehighlands.org/ drinksforthedelaware. Bethany Keene is the Outreach and Development Team Lead for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Founded in 1994, the conservancy has directly protected nearly 15,000 acres of working farms and forests, clean waters, and wildlife habitat and coordinates a variety of educational events and community initiatives throughout the year. For more information on the conservancy and how we connect people to the lands where they live, work, and play, visit www.DelawareHighlands.org, call 570-226-3164 or 845-583-1010, or email info@delawarehighlands.org.

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MRS. DOGOOD

HANDS By The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood

Dear Editor, Sometimes a simple question raises profound thoughts. Two weeks ago I was teaching at our Sunday school when two children asked what appeared to be simple questions. You see, every Sunday I teach our young parishioners about the principles of love. I am the senior pastor of The First Church of God’s Love in the farming hamlet of Halo, PA. Barbara is twelve years old and is the daughter of the couple who own Top Hill Dairy Farm. She has been praying for her “Nana” every day because her grandmother is very ill and is near death. Barbara is very close to her grandmother who lives with the family and who is always there for her; her parents are very busy taking care of the cows. Five minutes before the end of Sunday school Barbara asked me “Why do we put our hands together when we pray?” Immediately Johnny Tembol, the agitator in the class, raised his hand and asked “And why do gangsters tell us to stick ‘m up when they are robbing us?” Of course as their teacher I must know all the answers. However, at that moment I didn’t. I fold my hands when I pray so why didn’t I know the answer? I needed time to think. So I told them that I would tell them the next time we met. HANDS: We wash them. We cook with them. We clean ourselves. We dress. We make love by touching. We handshake. We drive our tractors and cars. We text. We tie our shoes. We light candles on birthday cakes. I guess you would say that we use them to live. I went back to the parsonage to finish cooking our Sunday meal. It is a family tradition that my husband Willie, my daughter Sarah with an H, my son Toby and I always share our Sunday dinner together. As I was basting the chicken roasting in the oven, I once again began using my over the stove ministry technique to answer questions raised by my congregation. My family knows not to disturb me when I am cooking for I believe that while I am working to physically nourish my family I am better able to spiritually nourish my congregation by finding inspiration.

I analyzed how I feel when I put my hands together to pray. As I peeled the red skin potatoes, I began to gain an insight. I put down the peeler and put my hands together. I felt that with my hands together I surrendered my power to act. I could no longer do the things I normally do. I intentionally and willingly put my life and my power aside. I surrendered control so that another power could enter and move my life. A spiritual power. But what about the gangsters when they demand that we “stick ‘m up?” Well it’s clear. They also want us to surrender control, but they want us to surrender control to them. With our hands up in the air we can no longer live our lives as we wish. We will follow the hoodlums’ directions “or else.” And then there is the sweetness of hands. When we hold hands with another person, we are in fact sharing control of our life with that person. How comforting it is when we are in love and can trust another person to live. The following Sunday school I answered the children’s questions. But then the following Tuesday I received a call from Tara’s mom. Tara is eight years old. Her mom told me that before my lessons on praying, Tara was happy to help with the dishes. Now she won’t. She sits at the kitchen table with her hands tightly folded in prayer. “God will have to do the dishes because I am asking Him to do them with my palms together in prayer like Reverend DoGood taught us.” Ooops! I will have to revise my upcoming Sunday school’s lesson plan. I pray I can find the time. Amen

The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood Senior Pastor Executive Director President Chairman Choir Master (part-time) The First Church of God’s Love

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Prison Reflections

“History Repeats Itself” By Terry Mooney

Part II

his young woman is a tall, stately redhead who carries herself with an air of self-confidence, belying a dysfunctional and destructive childhood riddled with substance abuse and violence.

My Story The realtor showed up one afternoon to list the condo for sale and found both of them dead. Apparently, Dad’s girlfriend had arranged to put the condo they were living in up for sale. Remember, it was Dad’s condo, but he had put everything in her name. Now she was leaving him for his close friend and was in the process of taking everything he owned. So when she walked in the door one day he shot her in the stomach. Then he stuck the shotgun in his mouth and pulled the trigger. I don’t know how the realtor was able to get over the gruesome and shocking sight, or if she ever did. What you don’t see on TV is what is left after they remove the bodies, the hair, brain matter and blood everywhere. The smell was putrid. I chose to go there to get mementos of when times were good. He was still my dad, and he’d kept little things I had made him when I was in grammar school. I was pretty much numb until I found a little jewelry box with a deer I drew on construction paper, and I lost it. In spite of it all, we as a family were devastated. Years later, I came to terms with his mental illness and realized the kind of pain he must have been in. I don’t know which was more difficult, to view him as a monster, or a feeling human being living in his own version of hell. This sent me into a tailspin. Forget about counseling; we were inundated with lawsuits from the girlfriend’s family. All of my father’s assets were frozen, and eventually they got everything. I started abusing my pain pills and quickly went to heroin, ending up in a mental hospital. It was an episode that I think was drug induced, that I was not psychotic as they diagnosed me. But I still went back to heroin. My baby’s father did not want me around our son, so I went to my mom’s house. Next door lived a gang member whom I started dating to spite my ex who had moved on with someone else. For four years, he kept me stocked with drugs and physically abused me. I got pregnant with another son. I managed to escape from the gang member by running to my sister in another town. She was clean and helped get me into a rehab. Many more rehabs later, I’ve been clean for two and a half years. But I had a daughter with another drug dealer, even though I wasn’t using. Ironically, I was with him when he was arrested for selling drugs. I am now incarcerated at the Pike County Correctional Facility awaiting the bus to state prison. I want to connect with all of my children, and I want to be the person I used to be before the drugs; the old me, the young girl that didn’t need much to be happy, who drew little pictures of deer for her father; the girl who had every bit of hope for a good future before it all went to pieces. I’m already seeing glimpses of her.

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Money

What Rising Interest Rates Mean for You

f you’ve been waiting for the right moment to get out of consumer debt, there’s no time like the present to finally give it the boot. The federal interest rate is on the rise from 1.5% to 1.75% (and is predicted to inch up throughout the rest of the year). That means the interest rates on those “affordable” consumer debt payments are going to jump up too. According to the latest numbers from the Federal Reserve, household debt in America has reached $13.15 trillion.(1) And $834 billion of that total alone is consumer debt—specifically credit card debt.(2)

What Causes Interest Rates to Rise? You might think interest rates would rise during a recession, but the opposite is actually true. Federal interest rates rise when the economy is booming. During a recession, the Federal Reserve adjusts the interest rates in an effort to try and stimulate the economy (also known as trying to get people to spend their money). Usually when times are tight, people aren’t as interested in borrowing money. So the Federal Reserve lowers interest rates to encourage people to spend more. But when the economy is on an upswing, people feel confident about borrowing money, taking out a mortgage, or applying for that extra credit card and personal loan. The money class that will change your life!

What Rising Interest Rates Mean for Consumer Debt (Credit Card Debt) If you’re still using a credit card, this is where it’s really going to hit you. Anyone who carries a balance on their credit card will see an interest rate spike. Let’s say you carry a revolving balance of $10,000 on your credit card every month (the average U.S. household carries a balance of $15,983)(3) with an average credit card interest rate of 16.83%.(4) A quarter-point increase could add an additional $25 a month in interest to your bill! That’s an extra $300 leaving your pocket each year, all thanks to credit card interest.

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The good news is, if you’re already paying down your consumer debt as part of your debt snowball, the amount you still owe will become less and less as you progress. That means you’ll also be charged less in interest. If that’s not another great reason to take control of your consumer debt and spending habits, we don’t know what is!

Are Home Mortgage Interest Rates Rising? For current mortgages, it all depends on what type of mortgage you have. If you have an adjustable rate mortgage (ARM) or a HELOC, you might want to brace for impact. Since those mortgage rates aren’t locked down, there’s always the chance they’ll increase—and that’s especially true when interest rates go up. You might not see a huge jump in the beginning. But by the end of the year, that quarterpoint hike could be pretty noticeable. If you have an ARM on a $200,000 home, your monthly mortgage payment could increase by around $30. It might not sound like that much. But if you’re already strapped for cash, it can be hard to come up with an extra $360 a year! That’s why it’s never a good idea to take out a home mortgage with an adjustable rate. We’ll always tell you to opt for a conventional, fixedrate mortgage with a term of 15 years (or less). Keep in mind that this surge in interest rates will impact people purchasing homes from this point on—even those who go with a fixed-rate mortgage. Anyone looking to take out a new mortgage will have to take on these new interest rates. You should also know that mortgage interest rates are still relatively low when you consider what they’ve been over the last 20–30 years. So, don’t panic and buy a house before you’re ready just because interest rates are rising. We know it may seem like there are a lot of dos and don’ts when it comes to mortgage rates. But with a little bit of research, it’s easy to see why a 15-year, fixed-rate mortgage is the best

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way to go. If you’re looking for a trusted mortgage expert, reach out to our friends at Churchill Mortgage.

What About Student Loans or Auto Loans—Will My Rate Increase? You probably won’t notice much of an increase when it comes to student loans or auto loans you already have. Most of these types of loans are taken out at a fixed rate—meaning the interest was locked in when you signed on the dotted line for the loan. Still, auto loans and student loans taken out from this point on now fall under these rising interest rates. That’s another good reason to stop taking on new debt and save up to pay for a used car or college tuition with cash.

Why Rising Interest Rates Can Be a Good Thing Here’s the good news: if you’ve been saving and investing, these rising interest rates can have a positive impact for you! Banking interest rates will increase, and that means your rate of return on things like savings accounts, money market funds, and CDs will go up as well.(5) Translation: it always pays to save, but now it’s going to pay a little bit more. Talk with a SmartVestor Pro if you need more guidance when it comes to savings and investing.

What Can I Do About Rising Interest Rates? Pay Off Your Consumer Debt If you’re swimming in consumer debt (no matter how large or small it is) pay it off! The best way to pay off your consumer debt is to use the debt snowball method. That’s where you pay your debts off from smallest to largest. Pay

as much as you can toward the smallest balance while making minimum payments on the rest of your debt. The snowball gains traction as you pay off each debt and roll over what you were paying on the last debt into the next. Use Rising Interest Rates to Your Advantage and Keep Saving If you’re out of consumer debt (with the exception of your home), keep on saving for your fully funded emergency savings of three to six months of expenses. Thanks to the rising interest rates, your savings will grow a little bit more than it was before. This is where interest rates actually work in your favor! Take advantage of it! © Lampo Licensing, LLC. All rights reserved.

Josh is a Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Provider for this area. He specializes in retirement income strategies, investments strategies, as well as additional financial strategies. His focus is on lifelong financial guidance and his commitment is to place clients first and provide unmatched customer service. He would be glad to answer any questions regarding the content of this article as well as any others. Call today at 570729-1020 or email Josh at sage@cfiemail.com. You can also visit www.sageinvestments.net. Jonathan Sheard offers securities and advisory services through Centaurus Financial, Inc. member FINRA and SIPA and a registered investment advisor. This is not an offer to sell securities, which may be done only after proper delivery of a prospectus and client suitability is reviewed and determined. Information relating to securities is intended for use by individuals residing in PA, NY, AR, VA, FL, NC, GA, CT. Sage Investments, Dave Ramsey and Centaurus Financial Inc are not affiliated.

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Book Review YOU CAN DO THAT.

frage convention. They spread the word and, six days later, more than three hundred peoAsk around and you’ll find a boy who can ple showed up to learn about women and program a computer, change a tire, throw a ball, do algebra, invent things, build and cre- voting. At a subsequent meeting, Harriet Tubman came and became a supporter but, ate, lead a committee - all things girls are alas, suffrage efforts were temporarily fully capable of doing. If he can do someshelved during the Civil War. When black thing, so can she – but in the new book men got the right to vote after the War, out“Votes for Women!” by Winifred Conkling, it raged women doubledwasn’t always so… down on efforts to gain Tennessee Represenvoting equality. tative Harry Burn was Nearly fifty years still on the fence. American Suffragists and later, those who’d It was August, 1920. inherited the fight had the Battle for the Ballot” He was up for re-elecalmost reached their tion, and a “yes” on goal, but an amendthe issue of voting ment to the Constiturights for women tion had a contingency: would ratify the Ninebefore it could become teenth Amendment and law, a majority of the make it law. It’d be the states had to ratify it… right thing to do, but It’s as simple as flipvoting “yes” might cost ping a switch or drawBurn his job. ing a line. The audiIt was a dilemma ence for this book will that started in 1826, be doing it in the notwhen Elizabeth Cady’s too-distant future. And brother died: her father that’s why “Votes for had buried four other Women!” is so imporsons, but this last boy tant for your 15-to-18was his favorite. year-old: she needs to Eleven-year-old Cady know who did battle knew it, and she hoped for her. to comfort her father by Far from a commonvowing to be as good ly-boring, lecture-lecas any boy he knew. ture-lecture history Try as she might, book, author Winifred though, she was still a Conkling takes the girl and that wasn’t story of suffrage and great: females in the makes it into a proper mid-1800s didn’t have By Winifred Conkling page-turner. Young many rights. They Reviewed by readers will find feisticouldn’t own property, Terri Schlichenmeyer ness, adventure, scansign contracts, or keep dal, rousing speeches, their own paychecks. Cady was smart goosebumps, horror, and romance here. enough to understand these facts; she had a cousin who further schooled her on issues of There’s irritation and motivation inside this book, as well as a very satisfying ending that slavery so when Cady married Henry Brewrivals any kind of novel. ster Stanton, she made sure he understood What else could your teen want in a book? her stance on equality. What else could you want, because “Votes But that stance was not hers alone. She for Women!” is also a good read for grownmet others who wanted rights, specifically up voters of any stripe. the right to vote, and on July 13, 1848, five Have it around. You can do that. women sat down to discuss having a suf-

“Votes for Women!

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fter the winter we have had, it is all the more pleasurable to recall the long days of summer and look forward to those ahead. Darcy and Nick's wedding here on the farm is a perfect way to recollect that beautiful, long summer days do in fact happen here in northeast PA! I was thrilled that dahlias, hydrangea and phlox in white and shades of purple were exactly what Darcy had in mind for her flowers. Violinist Mark Woodyatt added to the magic as Darcy walked toward Nick in the late afternoon sun. Her talented bridesmaid, Kerrigan Mills of Tuckahoe Ink Company, had beautiful signage throughout the farm to point guests in the right direction. Catering the Wright Way kept everyone satisfied and fueled for some of the best dance moves the barn has ever seen with music from Frankie Carll Productions. Seriously, it was awesome. From the moment Darcy and Nick came to the farm, one could sense they were absolutely in love with one another. That sense of love, devotion and fun enveloped the party from start to finish. Couple of Dudes Photography always captures the true spirit of the day and helps us recall summer is on its way!

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Share Your Spare

A Buzz About Wo r ke r B e e By LA Guzda

hereâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a buzz happening in Milford at Worker Bee Community Acupuncture. When I arrived at the second-floor space on the corner of 209/Route 6 and Roberts Lane, I was a little surprised to discover such a lively environment. There was a steady flow of activity, an energy much like a hive. The brainchild of Blake Stove ken, a cer-

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tified acupuncturist with nearly ten years of experience, a community business model not only delivers the benefits of acupuncture: better circulation, regulation and stress reduction through elevated serotonin â&#x20AC;&#x201C; it allows for affordable pricing and schedule flexibility. They are introducing people to the art of acupuncture and making is accessible. Many people are so quick to turn to pharmaceuticals that may relieve

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symptoms but do not heal the cause. Here now is a viable alternative. They offer acupressure as well. But the real excitement is the development of an apothecary featuring the freshest and finest ingredients that provide the highest potency and ease of absorption. Based on traditional Chinese medicine that has been healing for thousands of years, Blake has a network of national experts. “There is a great divide between Chinese herbs versus local. This is a new frontier for American farmers.” In addition to the apothecary, Blake along with wild edibles naturalist, Nathaniel Whitmore, is diligently working to create a new model for local resourcing. So then peach farmers, rather than discarding leaves, bark and pits, can recycle them to herbalists. There are residual markets for many items already being grown, like peony roots. American ginseng is “green gold” as the price fluctuates highly but can generate $1,000 per pound of certain roots; although, that is an exception. Growing medicinals is not a get rich quick plan. But for some, wildflowers and weeds already growing that would previously have been discarded, there’s a new use for them. Nathaniel and Blake are looking to create a local model for herb resource. If you are a farmer, gardener, have a club, an orchard, reach out to Blake and Nathaniel and learn more about wild crafting medicinal herbs. Visit www.WorkerBeeCommunityAcupuncture.com or call 570.409.9233.

Growing Lackawaxen is hosting, TAKE A WALK ON THE WILDSIDE with Nathaniel Whitmore. Saturday, June 16th - 10a - 11:30a. Learn about the many edible wildflowers, herbs and mushrooms that grow wild and abundant in our backyards. $10 adults/ $5 teens and senior citizens – children under 12 FREE. Registration is required. www.LackawaxenTownshipPA.gov or visit them on Facebook. It's a family-friendly, non-strenuous hike/walk. Meet at the Township Office Building, 169 Urban Road. Follow us on Instagram @PoconoSecrets and on Facebook @PocoPike. Visit www.LAGuzda.com or www.PoconoSecrets.com for past articles. Do you have a Pocono Secret to share? Send an email to: PoconoSecrets@aol.com. www.connections-magazine.com

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Outdoor Ramblings

Checking Out Gouldsboro State Park By Bill Deaton |

williamjdeaton@yahoo.com

he state park system of Pennsylvania has a rich heritage. Prior to 1955, however, there were just 45 state parks and five historical parks. When Maurice Goddard became the first Secretary of the Department of Forests and Waters, the early forerunner to the current Department of Natural Resources, that same year, he set a goal to have a park within 25 miles of every citizen in the commonwealth. Although the nearby Tobyhanna State Park opened to the public in 1949, Forest and Waters didn’t take possession of the property that would become Gouldsboro State Park until 1956. As one of the initial tracts in Goddard’s plan to become a park, it opened two years later. The former 250-acre ice-harvesting lake and some of the surrounding grounds, however, were retained by the Fish and Boat Commission. In 2004, these parcels and Gouldsboro Lake were transferred to DCNR, bringing the park to its current size of 2880 acres.

While camping at Gouldsboro is not allowed, it is open for dawn-to-dusk use 365 days a year. There are five first-come-first-serve picnic areas with tables and grills as well as an ADA accessible pavilion that may be reserved up to 11 months in advance.

A sandy beach is open for swimming from Memorial Day weekend through mid-September. There are no lifeguards on duty, but there are roped areas for swimmers of various abilities, including a section suitable for toddler-sized splashing. Plywood dog-shaped cutouts line the beach to ward off geese. Surprisingly these “scarepooches” do a good job. No geese, nor their messy excrement, were to be found during our stroll along the shore.

Adjacent to the beach are a grassy activity field and a play area with a swing set. Nearby are benches for relaxing and dining, as well as the primitive rest rooms and changing areas.

Off the main parking are the boat launch, boat rental, and ADA accessible fishing pier. Only un-powered and electric motored craft are allowed on the lake. You may bring your own, provided it has either a DCNR or PA F&B launch tag, or is registered. Otherwise, you may rent a paddleboat, rowboat, kayak, canoe, or electric motorboat from the park.

Fishing is allowed on the lake year-round. The waters are home to bass, perch, pickerel, catfish, sunfish, walleye, and crappie. All PA state fishing laws apply. Hunting and trapping too are permissible. The park is open for all game, within their respective seasons, except for groundhogs. Game Commission and DCNR rules and regulations apply too.

Eight miles of mountain biking trails that include the Prospect Rock Trail and Old Route 611 are inside the park. Old 611 is also ideal for Nordic skiing in the winter. Both trails can be accessed from the day-use area, as can be the Frank Gantz Trail, that crosses into Tobyhanna State Park. The Gantz Trail is 3.2 miles and open to hiking only. It is rather rugged and not recommended for younger children hiking without supervision due both to the rocky nature of the route and because it passes over Tobyhanna Road. www.connections-magazine.com

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Pets

How to Ensure

Safe Travels for You and Your Pet

ith the busy summer travel season upon us, many families are hitting the road with their families - and that of course, means their fourlegged family members too. To ensure safe travels for everyone, it's important to take heed of a very real pet travel safety issue: pets and distracted driving. When we think of distracted driving, the typical "culprits" that come to mind include texting, eating, applying makeup, chatting on the phone, or even daydreaming. However, we seldom consider that traveling with an unsecured pet is a very real and dangerous distraction. AAA, in conjunction with Kurgo, conducted a survey of people who often drive with their pets. The survey showed that a whopping 65 percent of pet parents admitted to partaking in at least one distracting activity while driv-

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ing with their dog. Additionally, 29 percent of respondents admitted to being distracted by their four-legged travel companions, yet 84 percent indicated that they do not secure their pet in their vehicle. According to the survey, drivers were petting their dogs, putting them in their laps and giving them treats. Some drivers (three percent) even photographed their dogs while driving. It's pretty easy to understand how an unsecured pet can be a distraction while driving. Some pets may become anxious or excited, causing them to jump around or bark while in the vehicle. Additionally, a happy and loving pet may just want to be near you and crawl on your lap while driving. Oftentimes, pets can be frightened, and there is always an element of unpredictability with any animal. When looking for comfort, dogs and cats may naturally opt to be near you. Unfortunately, this may add to the possible perils caused by these distractions. Properly securing your pet in your vehicle is not only about alleviating the potential driving distraction that could cause an accident. It is also a proactive approach in case there is

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an accident or sudden stop - even a fender bender can injure an unsecured pet. We wear seatbelts for our safety in case of an accident, and we should take the same care to secure our pets. A pet that is not restrained properly in a vehicle can be seriously harmed or even killed if thrown from a vehicle. Airbags can go off and injure a pet in your lap. In the event of an accident, frightened pets can easily escape from a vehicle and run off. Further, a pet that is not properly secured may not only be harmed but could also put others in danger through the shear force of any impact from an accident. Ensuring your pet is safe while traveling in your vehicle means finding the pet safety restraint that is right for him. Options include pet seat belts, pet car seats, travel crates, and vehicle pet barriers. Planning to have the right pet safety restraint for your trip will not only keep you and your pet safe but also offer you peace of mind and take one more distraction away.

Bellamy A young adult male cat that was found as a stray. He has very unusual markings! Gets along with other cats but please, NO DOGS.

About TripsWithPets.com TripsWithPets.com is the premier online pet friendly travel guide -- providing online reservations at over 30,000 pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the U.S. and Canada. When planning a trip, pet parents go to TripsWithPets.com for detailed, up-to-date information on hotel pet policies and pet amenities. TripsWithPets.com also features airline & car rental pet policies, pet friendly activities, a user-friendly search-by-route option, as well as pet travel gear. For more information, please visit http://www.tripswithpets.com.

Shay 11 year old female hound mix with a lot of pep in her step! She loves to play with toys and gets along perfect with other dogs and cats.

Available for adoption at Dessin Animal Shelter! Call 570-253-4037. www.connections-magazine.com

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BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE

Did you

Hear That? By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA

“Hearing voices no one else can hear isn't a good sign, even in the wizarding world.” ~ J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Chamber of Secrets

he experience of hearing a voice in your head, or even being asked if you hear voices is most likely uncommon to many. However, for the psychiatrist in practice, it is a standard question. A mental status examination is part of every psychiatric visit and includes questions as to whether the patient has thoughts of selfharm or harm to others. It is generally followed by the question, “Are you hearing voices?” For the psychiatrist in practice, if the patient answers “Yes,” it is not necessarily cause for alarm. However, for the average person, hearing voices can be unsettling. In a standard psychiatric text (Essentials of Psychiatry, 3rd Edition, edited by R.E. Hales, M.D., M.B.A., S.C. Yudofsky, M.D., G.O. Gabbard, M.D.), hallucinations are defined as follows: the perception of a real sensory process in the absence of an external source, e.g. hearing a voice when no one is talking. It is further noted in this definition that in some cases, hallucinations are perceived to be indistinguishable from real sensory experiences, whereas in other cases, they are described as only approximating real sensory experiences. Auditory hallucinations can be experienced as self-derogatory; you are worthless, a terrible person. They can also be experienced as command hallucinations, telling the individual to do things such as walking into traffic or harming others. For this reason, it is always important to know the history of

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the patient and under what circumstances auditory hallucinations are experienced. As an example, psychiatrists take command hallucinations very seriously. The following fictional clinical vignette is presented to highlight the experience of hallucinations. JT is a 23-year-old college student. He shares a house with several students and has enjoyed his experiences at college. He has been doing well in his course studies, majoring in mathematics and planning to go on to graduate school. JT works part time in a bar to help pay for the costs of college. Ordinarily, he works only on weekends, but recently he has been working at nights owing to a shortage of staff at the bar. JT has found this to be stressful but necessary. In fact, he preferred working long hours, which has helped him focus on his work as opposed to worrying about his father, who is struggling with cancer. JT is hoping that his father will survive his illness, which took a sudden turn for the worse last month. JT acknowledged that his depression, which has been treated for several years with medication, has not lessened. In addition to taking a medication to treat his depression, Celexa or citalopram, JT has seen a therapist every two weeks. He has kept this part of his life to himself and does not discuss the fact that he is in therapy and taking medication with anyone. Despite his treatment, in the last few months, JT has begun to feel that his depression has worsened. He is not seeing a psychiatrist for his medication, instead rely-

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ing on his primary care doctor to maintain him on his antidepressant. Recently after a long day at school followed by his work at the bar, JT came home quite exhausted. He literally collapsed on his bed, planning to rest before taking a shower and then going to sleep. While he was thinking about his day, JT was surprised to hear a voice. The voice he heard was his father’s, telling him “good-bye.” JT was startled. He looked around to see if his father was actually there, thinking that it was unlikely. He was quite unnerved by the experience. JT finally fell asleep, but upon awakening was concerned about his mental health. While he was a math major, he had taken a psychology course and now wondered if he was mentally ill. He knew that his mother had been treated for depression and in addition to medication had received shock treatments during one of many psychiatric hospitalizations. Could he have Schizophrenia? JT went to the library and read as much as he could about Schizophrenia, convinced that he was in the early stages of developing this mental disorder. His ability to sleep was increasingly difficult and often accompanied by bizarre dreams that involved his father. Upon going to sleep, he heard what he thought were voices. On one occasion, he even thought he saw his father in the room. He called his father, who became concerned about his son’s mental health and encouraged him to see his doctor. JT contacted his primary care doctor who immediately referred him to a psychiatrist. The psychiatrist took a careful history. As JT learned, it was possible to experience auditory hallucinations as a function of a depression. This is classified as depression with psychotic features. However, JT’s depression was not viewed as severe enough to meet the criteria for this designation. Nor did the psychiatrist feel that JT was Schizophrenic. The psychiatrist explained to JT that there were many conditions that caused auditory hallucinations. Noting that JT had daytime sleepiness, consideration was given to the

possibility that he had Narcolepsy, a brain disturbance involving the sleep-wake cycles. However, JT had no history of a sleep disturbance prior to the change in his work schedule. The psychiatrist used the term hypnagogic hallucinations to describe the experience of a multisensory (auditory/visual and tactile) event, which can occur during the phase of being awake and transitioning to sleep. It was the psychiatrist’s opinion that this was the diagnosis, noting that this experience could occur in healthy individuals. JT cut back his hours of work and was able to regain a normal sleep pattern, after which his bizarre dreams and hallucinations subsided. He continued in therapy and recognized that his concern about his father was central to his dreams and nightmares. From his experience, he has learned that there are many other conditions in which auditory hallucinations occur. Visit CM’s website for more on Hearing Voices. The following references are provided for the informed consumer: Medline Plus: Hallucinations http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/003258.htm National Institute of Mental Health: Mental Health Medications http://www.nimh.nih.gov/health/publications/mental-healthmedications/index.shtml National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke: Narcolepsy http://www.ninds.nih.gov/disorders/narcolepsy/detail_narcolepsy.htm 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.

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EVENTS

Y O U

ENTERTAINMENT

RECREATION

a+r+e MAY ’18 THE AREA’S GOOD STUFF

C O N N E C T E D

TUESDAYS

Ongoing Events DAILY

Art-a-Pelago Loose Leaf Pages, Black & Brass Coffee Co., & D.J. Harvey Agency, Honesdale. One art gallery in three locations (Thasos-LesvosParos). Info: waynecountyartsalliance.org. 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. DAILY

Public Art Display REMAX Wayne, Honesdale. Art displays of local artists all year long. Info: 570-253-9566. DAILY

Kids Art Display Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Artwork created by students from all over Monroe County is featured in a month-long exhibit. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. WEEKLY

Table Tennis in Honesdale Lakeside Elementary School, Honesdale. Join a group of table tennis enthusiasts who play weekly. Info: John Babyak, 570-253-4379 or jbabyak1@ptd.net. TUESDAYS

Bingo Texas #4 Fire Company, Honesdale. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Plenty of parking. Info: 570-253-5467. WEDNESDAYS

Story Time 10:30–11:30 a.m. Pleasant Mount Public Library, Pleasant Mount. Bring your young children & grandchildren to the library for a fun-filled story time. Included will be crafts, games, songs &, of course, a story. Info: 570-448-2573 or www.waynelibraries.org. WEDNESDAYS

Lego Club 4:30–5:30 p.m. Pike County Public Library, Milford. Create, share ideas, make new friends. Free & open to the public, registration requested. Info: www.pcpl.org or Facebook. Registration: 570-296-8211. THURSDAYS

Writer’s Retreat 10:30–11:30 a.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Writing seminar — share ideas, memories & life experiences in written words. Limited to 12 participants. Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org. THURSDAYS

Pub-O-Lympics 8 p.m. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Hilarious combination of trivia & physical challenges. Compete with teams to win a gift certificate, gold medal & bragging rights. Info: 570-226-2124. FRIDAYS

Teen Club 3:30–5:30 p.m. Hawley Public Library, Hawley. Hang out, play games, socialize. Info: 570-226-4620 or www.waynelibraries.org.

Job Search and Resume Assistance 1–3 p.m. Hawley Public Library, Hawley. A professional from Pike County Workforce Development is available. Info: 570-226-4620 or www.waynelibraries.org.

TUESDAYS

FRIDAYS

Bingo American Legion Post 311, Hawley. Doors open 10:30 a.m., games begin at Noon. Info: legionpost311@gmail.com.

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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.

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EVENTS FRIDAYS

Live Music 8 p.m.–Midnight. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music. Info: 570-226-2124 or silverbirchesresortpa.com. SATURDAYS

Saturday Family Story Time 11 a.m.–Noon. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Join Miss Melanie for a story, followed by a fun craft for the whole family to enjoy. Info: 570-253-1220 or www.waynelibraries.org. SATURDAYS

FREE Tastings and Demos Noon–2 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Info: 570-390-4440.

Matt’s favorites from this collection. Opening reception: May 5, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061. MAY 2

Taste of Wayne County 6 a.m.–7 p.m. Trackside Grill, Honesdale. Your meal supports the Wayne County Historical Society. Large groups encouraged to make reservations. Info: 570-253-2462. MAY 2

Birding the Bog 7–9:30 a.m. Tannersville Bog, East Stroudsburg. Combine one of the most unique natural settings with one of the most spectacular natural phenomena & you get a morning of migration birding at the Bog. Pre-registration required. Registration & info: 570-629-3061.

MAY 4 & 5

Roald Dahl’s Willy Wonka JR. 7 p.m. Preston Area School, Lakewood. The delicious adventures experienced by Charlie Bucket on his visit to Willy Wonka's mysterious chocolate factory light up the stage in a captivating musical adaptation of the fantastical tale. Info & tickets: 570-251-9831 or www.honesdalepac.com. SATURDAYS

MAY 3

Live Music 9 p.m.–1 a.m. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music. Info: 570-226-2124 or silverbirchesresortpa.com.

SEEDS: Annual Fundraiser & SWAPAPALOOZA 5:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Celebrate SEEDS’ 10th anniversary during the annual “fun”draiser & SWAPAPALOOZA. Enjoy local food, local beer, & support the environment. In addition to some unique auction items, SEEDS continues the SWAPAPALOOZA tradition: bring in 1 item you no longer love & swap it for another item … for free. Limit 1 item per person. RSVP & info: jocelyn@seedsgroup.net, 570-245-1256 or www.seedsgroup.net.

May 1– May 9 MAY 1

Claws ’N’ Paws Wild Animal Park Opens for Season Claws ’N’ Paws Wild Animal Park, Lake Ariel. Hand-feed Jethro the new giraffe & see new baby animals. Seven days a week through mid-October. Info: 570-698-6154. MAY 1–31

Art Exhibit: Matt Giambra, “The Photo Challenge” 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. From Sept. 2016–Sept. 2017, Matt challenged himself to take & post a picture on Facebook for 365 days. The images in this gallery are some of

MAY 3

KIZ and R&D Tax Credits 5:30–7 p.m. The Stourbridge Project, Honesdale. Networking & Training Seminar Series. Light refreshments served. RSVPs appreciated. Info: 570-390-7613 or jwolk@wpworkforce.org or www.wpworkforce.org.

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EVENTS MAY 4–6

Birds and Brews Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Spring migration has begun. Enjoy a wonderful weekend of bird watching & beer tasting. Guided hikes teach how to identify birds by sight, sound & habitat. Program geared toward beginners & experts alike. Sat. night transportation provided to a local breweries & the 1st round is on PEEC. Includes two nights of lodging & meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAY 5

Spring Migration Bird Walk 9–11 a.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Bird migration is just getting underway, so join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman for a stroll along the Kettle Creek trails searching for warblers, orioles, tanagers & other new arrivals. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. MAY 5

Spring Edible’s Hike 10 a.m.–Noon. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Nathaniel Whitmore from the Delaware Highlands Mushroom Society shares his wealth of knowledge about wild edibles & how they are enjoyed by wildlife & humans. This is a short distance hike. Wear comfortable footwear. All ages welcome. Registration appreciated. Info: 570-689-9494 or info@lacawac.org. MAY 5

Cinco De Mayo — Pop Up Restaurant Boiler Room at the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Seatings available at 6 p.m. & 8 p.m. Celebrate Cinco de Mayo with Mexican cuisine. Info & reservations: Ledges, 570-226-1337. MAY 5

RiverFolk Concert: Rupert Wates & Jesse Terry 8 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by RiverFolk Concerts. Wates has been a full-time songwriter in all kinds of styles & genres, for all kinds of artists, before he formed his own quartet. Terry is a singer/songwriter whose songs are simultaneously timeless & fresh, expessed in a melodic & lyrically-driven Americana. BYOB. Reservations & info: 845-252-6783 or riverfolkconcerts@frontier.com. MAY 6

All You Can Eat Breakfast Buffet 8:30–11:30 a.m. Greene Dreher Vol. Fire Assoc., Newfoundland. Children under 4 free Info: 570-676-4207.

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Run, Hike, Crawl: PEEC 5k 8 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Registration, 8 a.m.; race begins 10 a.m. Journey through the woods of the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area. 5k runs through the main campus & a variety of different woodland habitats on two gorgeous trail loops. Awards for top 3 male & female participants in each age group. Call for more details. Maximum of 100 spaces. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 6

Bridge the Gap: Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Nature provides food & natural remedies for us in the form of many plants. Join a hike focused on wild edible & medicinal plants. No collecting will be done within the park. Free. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 6

Swing Night with The Little Big Band 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Swing tunes & dancing with the Little Big Band out of Milford, composed of horns, rhythm section & vocals, & specializing in swing tunes as well as classic dance music such as cha-

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EVENTS chas, waltzes, tangos & ballads. Beginner instruction by Anne Cahill Johansen. No partner needed, no experience needed, everyone is welcome. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

appreciated. Info: 570-390-7613 or jwolk@wpworkforce.org or www.wpworkforce.org. MAY 12

Senior Fair 2018 10:15 a.m.–4 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Exploring issues & pastimes of interest to seniors. Info & registration: 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

NYC Bus Trip for Honesdale Friends of Wrestling Bus leaves from Honesdale HS at 7 a.m. & leaves NYC at 7:30 p.m. Visit a museum, Central Park, Statue of Liberty, or enjoy all kinds of great food while supporting HHS wrestlers. Info: Mary, 570-903-0215 or mhoughton2@outlook.com, or Kim Lawson, honesdalejrhighwrestling@gmail.com.

MAY 9

MAY 12

Open Mic Night 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Hosted by Alan Cooper. Come to perform or come to listen & watch. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Century Day 7 a.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Ride the KC bus with Darryl Speicher, from Pocono Avian Research Center, & be on the lookout for 100 species of birds for this year’s Century Day.

MAY 9

MAY 11

Honesdale High School Keep On Rockin’ Showcase 7–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Join the talented Honesdale High School Keep on Rockin’ Club members for a night of song & rock & roll. Don’t miss the opportunity to see these talented students perform. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

May 10–May 19 MAY 10

Stourbridge Pie: A Market Gathering Place 4–7 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Stop by for the first market of the season. Event series strives to provide the greater Honesdale community with access to superb local agricultural products, artisanal goods, locally produced art & live entertainment. Tyler Storms & Rich Faschan provide some wonderful tunes. Free entry. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 10

Business Essentials: Business Law Basics 5:30–7 p.m. The Stourbridge Project, Honesdale. Networking & Training Seminar Series. Light refreshments served. RSVPs

Head to the River Valley, then south & east visiting some incredible habitats along the way. Fee includes lunch, beverages, & snacks throughout the day. Limited space. Pre-registration required; deadline is May 4. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. MAY 12

Tea Plant Party 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Learn the basics of planting & caring for your very own succulent arrangement. Program includes all of the supplies you’ll need with plenty of succulents & planters from which to choose. Makes a perfect Mother’s Day gift. All ages welcome. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

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EVENTS MAY 12

MAY 13

Mother’s Day Watercolor Workshop 2–3 p.m. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Spend the day together learning some watercolor basics & creating nature-inspired pieces together as a team. All ages welcome. Registration appreciated. Info: 570-689-9494 or info@lacawac.org.

Mother’s Day Buffet Noon–4 p.m. The Waterfront at Silver Birches, Hawley. Reservation required. Reservations & info: 570-226-4388

MAY 12

Second Saturday Honesdale 6–9 p.m. Downtown Honesdale. Festivaltown happening filled with music, art, comedy & community support. Info on Facebook. MAY 12

Genna & Jesse 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. They are defined by a unique alchemy born of the quirky chemistry, intricate vocal harmonies & ardent storytelling which infuse their songwriting & vibrant performances, with whispers of folk, blue-eyed soul, jazz, blues, torch song, & popular music from the ’60s & ’70s forming their self-chosen genre, “retro soul pop.” BYOB. Reservations & info: 570253-2020 or info@thecooperageproject.org. MAY 12–13

Plant Sale! 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Choose from a variety of native & deer-resistant flowers & grasses to beautify your yard at the annual plant sale. Sun-loving & shade-loving plants available. Remaining plants will be sold through the following week. Free admission. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 13

Mother’s Day Brunch 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. Info & reservations: 570-226-2993.

MAY 15

Author Talk & Book Signing Featuring K. Page Nolker 2–4 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Nolker discusses & presents readings from her book Materials on Hand, a poetic tale of compassionate caregiving, written as a poem a day over the last 14 months of her mother’s life. Presentation followed by a Q&A period & book signing. No reservations required. Cosponsored by the Friends of the Wayne County Public Library & Growing Older Together. Proceeds benefit the Wayne County Library. Info: WCPL, 570-253-1220. MAY 15

Our Happy Hour 5:30 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Jest for the health of it. There are over 14,000 things to be happy about. Got a joke to tell or a funny story to share? A happy heart is sure to heal what ails “you more.” Info & registration: Elizabeth, ewilson@waynelibraries.org or 570-253-1220. MAY 16

Birding the Bog 7–9:30 a.m. Tannersville Bog, East Stroudsburg. See description at May 2. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. MAY 16

Acoustic Bluegrass Jam 7–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Led by Ron Penska. All levels of players are welcome. All instruments are welcome, too, but leave your amps at home — this jam is

MAY 15 Our Happy Hour 5:30 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Jest for the health of it. There are over 14,000 things to be happy about. Got a joke to tell or a funny story to share? A happy heart is sure to heal what ails “you more.” Info & registration: Elizabeth, ewilson@waynelibraries.org or 570-253-1220.

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EVENTS but space limited & prior registration required. Info & reservations: 570-226-3164 ext. 6 or info@delawarehighlands.org. MAY 19

Tweets and Sweets 9–11 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. A hike that focuses on bird ID & their unique natural history. Breakfast snacks & beverages before heading out. Binoculars & field guides provided. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 19

MAY 19 Discover Honesdale 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Honesdale. Shopping, dining, train rides & opportunities to discover things you didn’t know about Honesdale, as well as crafts vendors, antiques dealers, artists & artisans, & specialty food vendors. Info: 570-253-5492 or ghp@visithonesdalepa.com.

Canaltown Moving Movie Festival Downtown Honesdale. Annual festival where attendees bounce around downtown, from venue to venue, catching sets of movies that are unique to each stop on the festival map. Sets replay at each location, giving the moving movie audience a chance to see the entire lineup, in whatever order they choose. Info: www.canaltown552.com. MAY 19

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

Herp Walk 10 a.m.–Noon. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Take a walk around Kettle Creek searching under rocks & logs & around ponds to see how many reptiles & amphibians you can discover. Dress to walk outside. Meet in the critter room & learn about some of the things you may encounter before you go outside. Registration & info: 570-629-3061.

MAY 17

MAY 19

Business Essentials: Intro to E-commerce 5:30–7 p.m. The Stourbridge Project, Honesdale. Networking & Training Seminar Series. Light refreshments served. RSVPs appreciated. Info: 570-390-7613 or jwolk@wpworkforce.org or www.wpworkforce.org. MAY 17

Game Night 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Play from a selection of games or bring your own game to share & teach. All ages welcome. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 19

Native Plants Walk 8 a.m.–Noon. Milford Experimental Forest, Milford. Join Delaware Highlands Conservancy staff & partners for an educational hike through various forest types including a deer exclosure & demo chestnut planting. Native & invasive plant species identified & discussed. Moderately steep terrain. Free,

Old Stone Jail 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Old Stone Jail, Honesdale. Free tours. Info: 570-253-5492 or ghp@visithonesdalepa.com. MAY 19

The Delaware Valley Choral Society presents Masses of Peace and Light Eternal 2 p.m. Delaware Valley High School, Milford. World-premier Requiem Mass dedicated to the memory of Elizabeth Ann Bayley Seton, first native-born American to be proclaimed a Saint in the Roman Catholic Church. Also, Schubert’s Mass in G & Lauridsen’s Lux Aterna. Soloists & full symphony orchestra join the Choral Society. Tickets: 570-296-5333 or at the door. MAY 19

Child of the Empire 8 p.m. Milford Theatre, Milford. Performance artist Ruby Lynn Willis stars in her original multimedia event. Benefits TANDEMoments. Tickets at eventbrite.com. Info: 570-618-0547 or TANDEMoments@gmail.com.

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EVENTS MAY 19–20

Greater Lake Region Relay for Life Wallenpaupack HS, Hawley. This year's theme is Super Heroes & “Our Super Power is Fighting Cancer.” Join the powerful cancer-fighting community event. RelayForLife.org/PAgreaterlakeregion to register or donate. Info: Facebook.

May 20–May 31 MAY 20

What’s the Buzz on Pollinators? 10 a.m.–Noon. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Dr. Margarita Lopez-Uribe from the PSU Center for Pollinator Research discusses the importance of pollinators & what we can do to protect them. Afterward, create your own miniature pollinator garden to take home. Registration appreciated. Info: 570-689-9494 or info@lacawac.org. MAY 20

Wilderness Walkabout 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Get out & explore PEEC. Join Paul Kovalski, aka Dr. Dinosaur, as you hike one of the trails & discuss the natural history of the park. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 20

Sunday Bog Walk 1–3:30 p.m. Tannersville Bog, East Stroudsburg. Environmental Educators explain the Bog’s formation, its interesting plant & animal life, & the role the local Preserve Committee & the Nature Conservancy play in its continued protection. Wear appropriate footwear. Pre-registration required & limited. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. MAY 20

Create Your Own Walking Stick 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Create a handcrafted walking stick. Wood, tools, gloves & aprons provided, as well as suggestions & pointers on how to personalize your work. Pre-registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 21

Wayne Highlands Quilt Guild 6:30 p.m. Honesdale Community Church, Honesdale. Welcoming quilters all ages & skill levels. Make new friends who share your passion for quilting. Show & Tell & refreshments. Info: Deb, 570-224-4914 or debszoo@gmail.com.

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MAY 26

3rd Annual Spring for Kidz Carnival 10 a.m.–5 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Hawley, Hawley. Several inflatables, a dunk tank, petting zoo, carnival games, face painting. Food available for purchase, including hot dogs, cotton candy & ice cream. Open to all. Children under 2 are free. Info: 570-226-4835. MAY 24

Business Essentials: First Steps 5–7 p.m. The Stourbridge Project, Honesdale. Networking & Training Seminar Series. Light refreshments served. RSVPs appreciated. Info: 570-390-7613 or jwolk@wpworkforce.org or www.wpworkforce.org. MAY 24

Unique Pathways Program Series 5:30 p.m. Hawley Public Library, Hawley. In 2011 Michael Dougherty was diagnosed with diabetic retinopathy & used a mobility cane for years. He graduated from the Seeing Eye campus in NJ in Jul., 2014 with his seeing eye dog, Mac. Since then, Michael has become a guide dog advocate, Seeing Eye speaker & stand-up comedian. Hear what life without sight is like as he shares his own trials & tribulations, along with general advocacy & plenty of laughs. Info: 570-226-4620 or www.waynelibraries.org. MAY 25

Comedy Night 8–11 p.m. Hotel Anthracite, Carbondale.

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EVENTS Hosted by Dennis Rooney. Featuring KC Arora & headliner Teddy Smith. Info: 570-536-6020 or info@hotelanthracite.com. MAY 25–28

Spring Fling Family Camp Weekend Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Bring family & friends to experience the best of what PEEC has to offer. Interpretive hikes, animal presentations, canoeing, campfire & more. Includes three nights of lodging & meals from Friday dinner to Monday lunch. Child, commuter & day rates available. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 26

Warehouse Sale 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill lower parking lot, Hawley. Own a piece of history: furniture, linens, household items, mirrors, artwork & much more, priced to sell. Cash only. Info: 570-390-4440 or HawleySilkMill.com. MAY 26

Ah-HA. Amazing Inventors & Their Extraordinary Inventions 11 a.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. What happens in surprising places like kitchen sinks, garages, chicken coops & backyards? Extraordinary inventions by amazing inventors. Bloomsburg Theatre Ensemble presents the inspiring stories of the Ah-HA moments of a variety of ingenious innovators. The allages performance is an enlightening, entertaining & empowering show, followed by a lively post-performance discussion to round out the hour. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 26

When Art Meets Music: 20th-Century Progress and Destruction 7:30 p.m. Milford Theatre, Milford. Mikhail Kopelman, violin, Elizaveta Kopelman,

piano, and Yosif Feigelson, cello. A former leader of the legendary Borodin & Tokyo string quartets is joined by his pianistdaughter & KSAP’s artistic director. Music by Rachmaninov, Kodaly & Shostakovich, projected paintings by Picasso, Matisse, Kandinsky & others. Info: 570-409-1269 or www.kindredspiritsarts.org. MAY 26

A Contra Dance 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Live music by Laura & Craig Gehrig, with caller Laurie B. Beginners welcome, no experience necessary. Caller Laurie B. will do a beginner lesson starting at 7:15 p.m. Kids under 15 free. Info: 570-253-2020 or info@thecooperageproject.org. MAY 27

Annual Memorial Day Parade and Ceremony 1 p.m. Hawley. New parade route for 2018: Line up at Riverside Park with procession proceeding down Church St., right onto Main St. to Bingham Park. Line-up at Noon. Info: 570-226-4064 or www.visithawleypa.com. MAY 27

Shoreline Hike 1–4 p.m. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Start Memorial Day weekend out on the right foot with a 3-mile round-trip hike to the shoreline of Lake Wallenpaupack. Wear comfortable shoes. Bring a water bottle & snack. All ages welcome. Free. Registration appreciated. Info: 570-689-9494 or info@lacawac.org. MAY 31

Canoe Kayak Trip at the Bog 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Tannersville Bog, East Stroudsburg. A paddling trip into the Bog Preserve on Cranberry Creek. Must provide your own kayak or canoe. Pre-registration

M AY 2 7

Blues, Brews & BBQs 5–9 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Live blues music by the falls with the “Lighten Up! Blues Band,” featuring a local craft brewery & BBQ-style outdoor dining. Info & reservations: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

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EVENTS required & limited. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. MAY 31

Business Essentials: Business Plan Boot Camp 5:30–7 p.m. The Stourbridge Project, Honesdale. Networking & Training Seminar Series. Light refreshments served. RSVPs appreciated. Info: 570-390-7613 or jwolk@wpworkforce.org or www.wpworkforce.org.

June 1–June 8 JUN. 1–28

Art Exhibit: Nancy Pitcher, “The Beauty of the Natural World” 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Through her travels hiking, climbing & paddling in the mountains, deserts & rivers, Nancy has always appreciated the beauty of her natural surroundings, & shares that beauty with her oil & watercolor paintings. Opening reception: Jun. 2, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061. JUN. 2

Red Cross Blood Drive 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. To register or learn more about American Red Cross blood drives, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS. Info: Barbara, 570-629-3060. JUN. 2

Money Grows on Trees 10 a.m.–Noon. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Hike to a recent timber harvest at the sanctuary. Learn how you can manage your woodlot for ecological & financial benefits. Wear sturdy hiking shows & dress for the weather. Free. Registration appreciated. Info: 570-689-9494 or info@lacawac.org. JUN. 2

Introduction to Blacksmithing 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Join William Barrett, of the New Jersey Blacksmiths Association, for a look at the history & basics of blacksmithing, including live demos over a forge. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

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