MAY 2019
Since 1998
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 1
2 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
CONNECT MAY 2019
FEATURES
CLASSICS 6 NEPA More reliable than a groundhog’s prognostication, spring is really here when the garage doors open and the boys roll out their toys – sleek muscle cars with meticulous chrome, gleaming, polished and ready for the season. Classic car enthusiasts can’t wait to show off their beauties at some of these great classic car events and clubs throughout NEPA.
14
18
CLEANING UP YOUR WHEELS Proper vehicle maintenance goes beyond taking care of your car or truck’s mechanical items. Your vehicle’s interior and exterior likewise need regular attention to help preserve a like-new look, add longevity inside and out, and boost its resale value at trade-in time. DISCOVER DISC GOLFING Looking for exciting and inexpensive outdoor recreational fun for the entire family? Try disc golf- a flying disc game and one of the fastest growing sports in the country. It’s similar to traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players throw a disc, or Frisbee.
COLUMNS 5
WORDS FROM THE TEAM
27 BOOK REVIEW
10 CAR CRUISE SCHEDULE
28 MONEY
16 AREA GOLF COURSES
30 POCONO SECRETS
20 DISASTER BLASTER
32 OUTDOOR RAMBLINGS
22 LIVING GREEN
34 PETS
24 MRS. DOGOOD
36 BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
26 PRISON REFLECTIONS
38 AREA EVENTS
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 3
CONNECTIONS Magazine
resident • 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 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.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE
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
4 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
WORDS FROM THE TEAM
“
May we think of freedom, not as the right to do as we please, but as the opportunity to do what is right.
”
–Peter Marshall
C
alling all enthusiasts... car, golf, outdoor, running & more! Rev up your engines! We’ve got lots under our hood for you to check out this month, like summer’s car cruise schedule, a listing of area golf courses (disc golf, too!), paddling Pine Creek, MuckStock, the area’s hottest obstacle course race, plus so much more! Put the pedal to the metal and 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
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 5
6 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
NEPA CLASSICS
More reliable than a groundhog’s prognostication, spring is really here when the garage doors open and the boys roll out their toys – sleek muscle cars with meticulous chrome, gleaming, polished and ready for the season. Classic car enthusiasts can’t wait to show off their beauties at some of these great classic car events and clubs throughout NEPA.
3rd Annual Dingmans Township Car Show in the Park
T
he Dingman Township Parks & Recreation Commission will be holding their 3rd annual car show in the park on Sunday, May 19, 2019 at the Dingman Township Park located at 679 Log Tavern Road. Registration starts at 8 am and the fee $10. Show goes from 10:00 am till 3:00 pm with awards ceremony beginning at 2 pm. The event will also feature live music by The Gripes. Proceeds from the car show will go to Pike County Humane Society, who will be hosting an adoption day. We will also have bins to collect donations for PCHS (food, blankets, etc.) and The Ecumenical Food Pantry. Donations are greatly appreciated. For more information, call the township at 570-296-8455 or go to Dingman Township Park’s Facebook page. Visit dingmantownship.org or email recbd@ptd.net for registration form.
2019 Catskill Region AACA Car Show
O
n Sunday June 2, 2019 antique, classic and custom car owners from all over the region will gather in Rock Hill, N.Y. at the Sullivan Event Center 283 Rock Hill Drive, adjacent to the Crust Italian Eatery, to show off to the public their beautiful antique, classic and custom cars, trucks, motorcycles and tractors. This car show, celebrating its 56th year, is the longest running and largest car show in Sullivan County. The gates will open at 9 am. Call 845-932-8923, 845-798-4173 or visit www.catskillregionaaca.org for more information. The Catskill Region Antique Automobile Club of America brings together old car enthusiasts to share all facets of the old car hobby. The club is proud to support our community by using profits from this car show to help fund local BOCES scholarship and local food banks. VENDORS WANTED, CRAFTS, AUTO & NON-AUTO Call Vicky at 845-932-8923 for details.
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 7
NEPA CLASSICS
5th Annual Cruzin' 2 Browndale Car/Truck/Bike & Craft Show-Swap Meet
T
he Browndale Fire Company No.1 is excited to invite the public to the 5th Annual Cruzin'2 Browndale Car Show benefiting the fire company to be held on Saturday, June 1, 2019, beginning at 11 AM with food, music, raffles, and more until 4 PM at the Browndale Fire Company grounds, Route 247, 620 Marion Street, Browndale. Registration for vehicles will begin at 10 AM. Rain or shine! Cars, trucks and bikes will be on the grounds for all to enjoy! We will have live music, food to purchase, craft and other vendors, raffles and fun! The public is invited free to the grounds to view the vehicles. We are still accepting crafters, vendors and swap meet applicants as well as car show registrations but space is getting limited so contact us to register now! For more information please check us out on Facebook: Cruzin' 2 Browndale, or email us at: browndalefire@ gmail.com, or phone us at (570) 7855300. We thank you in advance for your support and look forward to seeing you all at this family friendly event!
8 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
20th Annual Equinunk Car Show
T
he 20th annual Equinunk Car Show will take place on Saturday, June 15 from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on Pine Mill Rd. in Equinunk, PA, one mile south of the center of the village. The show features vehicles of all description, including gorgeous antique cars, hot rods, motorcycles, rat rods, tractors and even the occasional semi. There is something for every member of the family; craft and flea market vendors, bake sale, books, T-shirts, and superb ice cream from Creamworks Dairy. Food is available for purchase. The People’s Choice Award will go to the vehicle the crowd votes as the best of the field. There will be additional Special Recognition awards, and the Best Paint Job will be recognized. Free admission, free dash plaques to the first 100 registrants, door prizes, DJ and best of all, NO registration fees. Sponsored by: Mr. and Mrs. Kevin Dunn, The Equinunk Emporium, Menotti Tire, C. Neer RV, Inc., Pine Mill Garage, St. Clair Graphics, Town & Country Energy Corp., and Wayne County Ready Mix Concrete. Awards are from Northeast Rally Club, and Whitey’s Auto Restoration. If you visit our sponsors, please thank them for us. Information: call 570-224-6722.
Photo caption: 2018 People’s Choice Award went to Andy White of Cochecton, NY for his brilliant red 1951 Studebaker pickup. Andy also won recognition for the paint job on his 1970 AMC Javelin; it too is brilliantly red.
www.connections-magazine.com
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 9
10 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
CRUISE SCHEDULE
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 11
CRUISE SCHEDULE
12 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 13
A bucket, hose, and towel are all the tools you need to keep your car or truck looking good. By Jim Gorzelany CTW FEATURES
14 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
Proper vehicle maintenance goes beyond taking care of your car or truck’s mechanical items. Your vehicle’s interior and exterior likewise need regular attention to help preserve a like-new look, add longevity inside and out, and boost its resale value at trade-in time. Looking good doesn’t necessarily come cheap, however. A professional detailing job can cost well over $100, and even a simple automated car wash can cost $10 or more, and some can mar your vehicle’s finish in the bargain. Fortunately, cost-conscious consumers armed with a bucket and garden hose can do the job themselves for a fraction of the cost. Working our way from the inside out, here’s a look at the best ways to keep your car looking new:
www.connections-magazine.com
CLEAN YOUR WHEELS
INSIDE:
1}
Door-to-door carpeting.
Vacuum and spot-shampoo your vehicle’s carpeting regularly (household rug-cleaning spray-foam usually will do the trick), especially after extended bouts of bad weather, to avoid permanent stains from ground-in mud and road salt.
2}
Seat treatments.
For cloth seats, vacuum regularly using an upholstery attachment, and shampoo when necessary (using a spray-foam upholstery-cleaning product). Use a spray-on fabricprotector to repel dirt and stains. Treat vinyl upholstery, as well as the dashboard and trim items, with a spray-on product specifically designed for plastic and rubber surfaces. In addition to restoring a like-new gloss, this will keep such surfaces from drying, fading, or cracking. If you have leather seats, apply a leather-restoring cream using a clean terrycloth towel to help add longevity to their luster.
3}
Working in windows & mirrors.
Common household window cleaners work well for most automotive glass surfaces, but a homemade mixture of white vinegar and water is claimed to be best for tinted windows.
OUTSIDE:
1}
Quick-fix chips, nicks.
To prevent rusting, fix small scratches and chips as soon as possible. Most new-car dealers sell small bottles of touch-up paint to match recent models’ finishes for a few dollars. Clean the damaged area and apply the paint sparingly with the brush provided. If the chip or scratch has already begun to rust, sand the area lightly and apply a thin coat of primer to any bare metal before painting. Carefully buffout surface rust from chrome and other metal surfaces with a household scouring pad and water.
2}
Location, location, location.
Always wash and wax your car in a shaded area. This will both prevent water spotting and keep the wax from drying too quickly and baking onto the car’s surface (sun-hardened wax is especially difficult to remove).
3}
Ragtime.
Be sure to use a soft rag – either terrycloth or flannel – when washing or waxing
your vehicle. Nylon or synthetic towels or paper products are not as absorbent and may scratch the finish.
4}
Take a top-to-bottom approach.
5}
The rinse cycle.
6}
Waxing poetically.
7}
Lingering details.
Work your way from the top down, using an acid-free non-abrasive cleaner to wash the vehicle’s exterior; this is available at autoparts stores and most discount stores. Avoid using household cleansers or detergents that can remove the protective coating from the car’s surface. Use a wheel-and-tire cleaning treatment and/or scrub wheels and tires using a stiff bristle brush to remove dirt, grease and discbrake powder. Use a treatment made for removing insects and road tar to clean the front grille (take extra care if your grille is made of plastic), behind the wheels and other problem areas.
Spraying from top to bottom, rinse the vehicle by letting an adequate supply of water stream down the finish. Be sure to spray thoroughly underneath the car and inside the wheel wells to loosen road grime; this is especially important during the winter months in snowbelt areas, when corrosive road salt can accumulate. Allow the car’s surface to dry, raising the hood and trunk to allow the water to run completely from the edges. Especially if you won’t be waxing the car that day, remove water beads using an absorbent chamois – again, available where auto supplies are sold.
Apply a good coat of wax to the car’s sheet metal, but be sure to choose a wax that’s “right” for your vehicle. For example, if you have an older car, you may want to choose a wax that has a light abrasive to remove minor scratches. A newer car may require a milder polish made for so-called clear-coat paint finishes. Typically, car wax or cleaner/wax is applied with a clean, damp cellulose sponge with overlapping, circular strokes to a cool finish (to avoid streaks). Once the wax has dried to a haze, wipe it off with a soft, clean cloth.
Treat tires and exterior rubber or plastic trim with the aforementioned plastic/rubber protectant. Use a chrome treatment to polish exterior brightwork and aluminum wheels; a household window-cleaner can suffice, but apply it with a rag, to avoid spraying an ammonia-based product onto the freshly waxed paint. © CTW Features
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 15
16 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 17
DISC GOLF
By Allison Mowatt
Looking for exciting and inexpensive outdoor recreational fun for the entire family? Try disc golfa flying disc game and one of the fastest growing sports in the country. It’s similar to traditional golf, but instead of a ball and clubs, players throw a disc, or Frisbee. The goal is to play a course while limiting the number of times a disc is thrown. The disc is tossed from a tee area to a target, which is usually a basket and considered the “hole.” It’s easy to learn, making it ideal for beginners young and old while providing enough of a challenge for people interested in taking it to another level. There are disc golf courses set up in different types of parks, but players can make up their own course on any available green space. “It’s a pick up and go kind of sport,” stated Jeff Hiller, local disc golf enthusiast. “With portable targets, people can play anywhere, and it’s great exercise.” One of the best local spots to play is Prompton State Park, only about four miles west of Honesdale with an 18-hole disc golf course. “It’s beautiful there, and the course
18 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
is well planned and designed,” said Jeff. “People drive from hours away to access Prompton. It’s an ideal course for anyone whether they play once in a blue moon or are avid disc golfers.”
Local Places to Play: Prompton State Park Route 170 in Prompton: Operated by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, Prompton is an undeveloped state park situated on 1,500 expansive acres. There is a 280-acre lake, boat launch, picnic area and pavilion, 26 miles of hiking trails, and other fun recreational activities. The entire park is open to the public, and it’s free to play a round of disc golf. Discs are not included.
Apple Grove Picnic Area Route 191 in Honesdale: This is a serene picnic area. The full disc golf course is currently not operational, but people are still able to visit the grove for practice targets.
River’s Edge, Delaware Water Gap A nine-hole disc golf course about two miles from the Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort. This is a beginner friendly 1,955-foot course with narrow fairways. The area is wooded with a mix of hills and flat terrain. This is free and open to the public. People are asked to bring their own equipment. www.shawneeinn.com | 1-800-742-9633.
www.connections-magazine.com
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 19
TIPS FOR YOUR HOME
Can my remodeling contractor rip out
Asbestos? Provided by Disaster Blaster
{
Contractors and handymen are, by nature of their trade, unspecialized. They commonly accept work that they’ve never previously performed. They simply learn on the job.
20 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
}
There’s really nothing wrong with that when you’re talking about something innocuous, such as hanging drywall or painting, but when you venture into specialty services that require expertise, training, and equipment, problems are bound to occur. This is especially true of asbestos, where improper removal by an unqualified contractor can result in a serious danger to the health of you and your family.
What is asbestos? Asbestos is a naturally occurring mineral that was mined and used in various building components and home products. Unfortunately, we later learned that asbestos fibers can cause serious health effects such as mesothelioma and asbestosis.
Can my contractor remove asbestos? No. The removal, or abatement, of asbestos is heavily regulated by the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, Pennsylvania Labor and Industry, as well as the Federal EPA. In fact, any contractor that disturbs or removes an asbestos containing material is breaking the law. And these laws are for good reason. Not only can these contractors harm themselves, but they can contaminate your home, exposing yourself and your loved ones to dangerous asbestos fibers. Due to the concern of fiber exposure that is likely to accompany improper removal, all contractors working with asbestos must complete specialized training and maintain state licensing.
What building materials contain asbestos? Due to its unmatched thermal and acoustical properties, along with its durability, asbestos was viewed as a miracle material. This meant it was used in many, many building materials, from pipe wrap insulation and floor tile to surfacing materials and plasters.
While some materials, such as asbestos pipe wrap and asbestos floor tile are largely recognizable from a visual inspection, testing is required to definitively determine if a building material contains asbestos. This is particularly important for materials that less commonly contained asbestos, such as plaster and joint compound. Contractors that are working in your home are expected to recognize the potential for asbestos exposure during tearout or repairs. However, they lack the training and understanding to competently do so. For this reason, we always recommend you hire a mitigation and restoration firm that is licensed to perform asbestos abatement.
What happens if my contractor improperly removes asbestos? Proper asbestos abatement is performed under strict controls and following important safety precautions. If these steps are not taken, your contractor could contaminate your home with asbestos fibers, placing your health at risk and dramatically increasing the cost of proper asbestos abatement services. To make matters worse, though your contractor may have a general liability policy for cases where there are issues with their work, this coverage would not apply here. Not only is your contractor performing work illegally, but asbestos is a common exclusion in these policies. This means that any cost to address the contamination your contractor caused is ultimately your responsibility. Though the health risks of asbestos are commonly known by homeowners, the importance of hiring a qualified and properly licensed contractor to perform the abatement is less understood. For the safety of yourself and occupants, always ensure contractors are qualified for the work they will be performing.
About Disaster Blaster Disaster Blaster is an indoor environmental firm serving the Northeastern PA Area. Licensed to perform Asbestos Abatement, we have been providing our local area with unparalleled asbestos abatement, mold remediation, water damage mitigation, and radon mitigation services for decades, and are proud to have been recently named The World’s Greatest Indoor Environmental Firm. 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.
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 21
The Pocono Commute:
GREEN UP Your Daily Drive By Sarah Corcoran
Many of the roads in our region are narTraversing the Pocono row, with blind curves and no shoulder, so Mountains can take a toll riding your bike to work is not always an While hiking is healthy and a on your vehicle and on option. prime alternative, walking 15 miles to our environment. Public work in the morning can be exhausting. may be a viable choice, but not transportation is rare, and Carpooling many of us have coworkers who live nearthe “Pocono commute” by. So what can we do about this? can put several thousand Where to Start miles on your car every Worry not, there are still ways to “green up” your daily drive. Start by looking at year. While reducing your the type of vehicle you own. Does it have carbon footprint is good gas mileage? Is it a hybrid? Is electric option? When was the last time it was admirable, people still an serviced? How is the tire pressure? Are the have to get to work and emissions standards up to date? Next, try looking at where the majority of buy groceries! your drive time comes into play. Can trips be combined or factored into your commute? Is buying in bulk an option to cut down on the number of trips to the store? Is there somewhere closer to home?
22 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
Pocono Commute
Another important consideration is the way you drive. Speeding can increase your gas consumption by more than 30% and frequent stops and starts can wear down your vehicle and decrease efficiency.
Choosing a Vehicle If you are looking into replacing your old vehicle, purchasing hybrid or electric may be the best option depending on your needs. These cars are much more environmentally friendly, cutting emissions drastically, and the overall savings adds a nice incentive. There are tax-credits available to those who purchase vehicles with electric or hybrid technology, and your stops at the gas pump won’t drain your bank account. If a new vehicle isn’t needed right now or funds aren’t available, ensuring that your tires are properly inflated and that your sensors are reading accurately are small ways that you can reduce your emissions. Biking or walking may not be an option for your daily commute, but they are still wonderful options for maintaining a healthy lifestyle and exploring the region
we call home. Instead of doing a fall foliage tour in your vehicle, take advantage of one of the many local guided hikes available at that time of year or strike off on your own to explore a NEPA trail. Instead of cruising down Main Street with the top down or the windows open, try catching the breeze while mountain biking on one of our rail trails or a bikefriendly trail at a local state park. Don’t drive to the store to buy fish that was transported cross country to reach you; instead, take a trip to one of our breathtaking water bodies and catch dinner for yourself! Sarah Corcoran is the Forest Watch Coordinator for the Pennsylvania Chapter of the Sierra Club, America’s largest and oldest environmental non-profit. She is focused on getting NEPA locals out and enjoying our beautiful green spaces through the Sierra Club outing program and always has something going on! Interested in finding out about upcoming events or learning about volunteer opportunities? Visit the PA Chapter website at www.sierraclub.org/pennsylvania or check out the Facebook page at www.facebook.com/PASierraClub/.
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 23
24 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
MRS. DOGOOD
CRISIS OF CONSCIENCE Dear Editor, Even religious leaders have moral dilemmas. I am having one as the senior pastor of The First Church of God’s Love in the farming hamlet of Halo, PA. And I am discussing this here to share my humanity with my fellow congregants. I met my best friend Alice Bright-Light when she spoke at the Lordville County Library several years ago. Her speech entitled From Beyond was to introduce her work to the people of our area. She is a full blooded Chippewa Indian and an evidential medium channeling people from the other side. She also does psychic readings. Incidentally she can bend spoons lying on a table without physically touching them. There were about fifty people assembled in the basement meeting room that night. After describing what she does, Alice said there was a man who recently died who wanted to speak with his wife. After describing the man in detail, a woman in the audience said it was her late husband. He, through Alice, gave details of their life together that only they could have known. Alice couldn’t have known nor imagined those details. The couple had a conversation through her for over an hour. Everyone was impressed, and the widow left happy. Since then Alice and I have become close friends as we both deal with the spiritual world. Besides we like each other. Alice recently called me to meet her at the River Creek Inn for after dinner drinks. We often meet there to enjoy our lively conversations while drinking green chartreuse. But when she entered she looked different; she looked burdened. Something had happened. She told me my late father-in-law the Reverend Mr. Silas Patriot DoGood had come to her in a dream. He told her to tell me to stop being the senior pastor of The First Church of God’s Love. He said I should become a doctor. I was shocked. My first reaction was to disbelieve her. I looked back at my knowledge of Alice, but I couldn’t find anything to discredit her. Her mediumship was always clear and correct. I was crushed. But then I reviewed how I became the senior pastor. My father-in-law appointed me! And my congregation continues to grow. Its members wholly endorse the church’s stated mission that I
wrote of helping them overcome the fear of living and the fear of dying. Let’s go back. I met his son, now my husband, while we were both getting masters’ degrees at Lyon Arts Institute in Boston. He was getting his degree in classical music, and I was getting a degree in art history. We became engaged and moved into the parsonage for a short time after graduating. Silas had always thought his son would take over the Church when he retired. But it was during this time that Silas realized that Willie’s panic attacks prevented his son him from becoming pastor. Willie could play the organ but could never preach. I had no such problems; Silas saw an opportunity to train me as his successor. Silas offered to pay for Willie’s Ph.D. in liturgical music at Bellingshire University in Sussex, England if I could stay in Halo and help him run the church. We all agreed; Willie would only be gone for two years and would spend many vacations and summers at the parsonage during that time. The Reverend first appointed me deacon of the church and then senior pastor. Even when The Reverend DoGood retired and then passed away, I never took the title of pastor out of respect for his work. To this day I am senior pastor. I discussed with Alice whether we could have a session inviting Pastor DoGood to join us from beyond. She said our close friendship would probably interfere with a clear mediumship. “Did he say anything else? Could you have misremembered? Did his words mean something else?” Alice had no answers. Only the memory of the dream. I am praying to find the answer. Amen.
The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood Senior Pastor Executive Director President Chairman Choir Master (part-time) The First Church of God’s Love
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 25
Prison Reflections
“Normal”
Part II
By Terry Mooney
T
he following story is told by a mother of four children. At thirty two, she is a good example of someone her age who realizes that the “party” life is definitely no party. Her focus now is to embrace recovery so she can participate fully in the lives of her children, and her own.
My Story At sixteen, I met my future daughter’s father. He was friends with my older sister and was six years my senior. He had dropped out of school and was selling drugs. All the girls wanted to be with him. He was tough, cool, popular and gorgeous to look at. His wanting me made me feel like I’d won the prize that everyone else longed for. I dropped out of school. We had a child, and right away the abuse started, jealousy and control issues escalating to physical punching and grabbing me by the throat. He isolated me from my family and friends. I had never been satisfied with a “normal” life; I thought it was dull, but this wasn’t what I had in mind. That’s when I started taking my sister’s prescribed oxycontin. It helped with the pain. When I discovered he was sleeping around all over the place, I began seeing a guy I knew from high school. We had a good but brief four month relationship until I got a call from his mother that he was a passenger in a car that went off the road and hit a tree. He died in the hospital shortly after. Not strong enough to stay away, I found out I was pregnant again with my daughter’s father. At one point, we tried to be clean. At last, we just wanted to be normal, but really we just didn’t know how. He was in and out of jail where I would take the children to see him. He never followed through with any of his promises of being clean, of being normal. It no longer was other women keeping him from me, now it was jail. I began a relationship with yet another guy from high school. It was really great for ten years. He treated my children like his own and helped me raise them. We had two children together, and finally my life was normal. I truly embraced it. One night on his way home, he hit a patch of ice and died in the crash. I am still hurting from that terrific loss; twice I felt I got it right, and then it was gone. When my father was diagnosed with stage four COPD and was in the hospital, I also was brought there to emergency due to hemorrhaging after birth. Ironically, we were both in the same place but not together. Right then and there, he died before I could say good-bye. Overdosing one night on thirty klonopin, I arrived at the Pike County Correctional Facility in such bad shape an officer had to carry me in. I was on a twenty-four hour constant watch when that officer noticed I wasn’t breathing. I was rushed to the hospital with a third officer by my side watching over me. In spite of my focus on looking to men to save me, those who have crucially been there for me at my worst are women, specifically, these three female corrections officers. I am so grateful to them for helping me get another shot at life. I finally have hope for the future, for recovery and for being a mom. I am working on my GED, and holistically healing all the pain, loss and trauma instead of masking it with drugs that only create more pain, loss and trauma. Normal no longer seems dull, but healthy and safe.
26 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
Book Review YOU CAUGHT IT!
With respect came new equipment and invitations to tournaments. Venus The ball was thrown very high – so would win her game, then Serena would high that you lost it in the sky for a minute win, and they’d concentrate on winning – and you weren’t sure how you’d do it, again and again. Venus would cheer when but your hands were out and you caught it. Serena was on the court, and Serena would Just. Like. That. Some balls are meant to be cheer when Venus was on the court. As the thrown or batted, while some are meant to girls grew into better tennis players, they bounce. In the new book “Sisters” by grew into women with fashion sense and Jeanette Winter, you’ll learn about two girls power, too. And when it was time for who don’t just hit a ball, they smash it. Venus and Serena to Ever since they play one another on were babies, Venus the court, they did it and Serena were very just like they did close. everything else all They slept in their lives: together. the same bed, enjoyed Let’s face it: the same books, and when it comes to the got up at the same lives of Serena and time every morning, Venus Williams, even though it was there’s really not still dark sometimes. much left to publicly That’s because their tell. Certainly, author Mama and Daddy Jeanette Winter doeswanted their two n’t share anything youngest daughters to new in “Sisters,” so learn to play tennis so why would your they could have a betchild want this book? ter future. Two words: the Each morning artwork. started with clean-up Even if your because the local tenchild can’t read the nis court was always words inside “Sislittered. After cleanters,” she’ll be able to up, it was time for tell the story because practice with equipWinter’s vivid illusment that was old and trations carefully folused. Venus and Serelow the words, and na served and then some: the telling By Jeanette Winter volleyed, chased of the tale is in the art Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer balls, and hit forebut, more so than hand and backhand, with many picture books, backgrounds matforehand and backhand while their Daddy ter. There’s graffiti behind the characters on reminded them to “Concentrate.” one page, tough boys hiding in another, and Pretty soon, the girls could ignore the a definite sense that the Williams sisters gunfire down the block. They could forget didn’t come from lives of luxury. about the trash on the tennis court, and the That gives browsing 3-to-8-year-olds a fact that their equipment was old and usedsubtle sense of why this book, and it up, and that there was still homework to be should give parents comfort that their childone. They started to get really good at tendren are learning about perseverance and nis and they started gaining respect from “concentration.” For that, “Sisters” is a the kids in the neighborhood, from people book you’ll want to catch. around the country, and from folks who
“Sisters”
wanted to help. www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 27
Money R E L AT I O N S H I P S & M O N E Y
Se t U p a H i g h Sc h o o l S t u d e n t for Success with t h e B e s t Pa r t - T i m e J o b
I
f you and your teenager have stayed up late discussing what you would do in the event of a zombie apocalypse, there’s great news. Your survival plan could mean a college scholarship for your teen. No, this isn’t a late April Fools’ joke. The “Zombie Apocalypse Scholarship” is real. And so is the $2,000 award that goes with it. It’s one of thousands of scholarships your teen could apply for. There are so many, in fact, that finding them and filling out the applications could be a part-time job in itself!
What Does My Teen Need to Do Before Searching for Scholarships? Before your teen begins to apply for that zombie scholarship, the two of you need to do a little groundwork. 1. Fill out the FAFSA. That stands for “Free Application for Federal Student Aid.” Most colleges won’t award students scholarships if they don’t fill out the FAFSA, so start there. Since it takes time to complete, plan ahead. The FAFSA requires basic demographic and financial information about you and your teen. Although the FAFSA will tell you which student loans your teen qualifies for, steer them clear of accumulating mountains of debt for their education. There are lots of other options that won’t leave you or your child on the hook for thousands of dollars.
28 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
2. Get copies of their high school transcript. Some scholarship applications require originals, so make sure your teen asks for several from their school. 3. Write a résumé. Here’s your teen’s chance to show the scholarship committees what they’re made of! Schools and organizations love rewarding accomplished teens with money for school, so your teen should list all clubs, organizations, honors and other highlights from freshman year forward as well as nonschool activities like church and volunteer involvement. 4. Start applying right away. Most of the legwork to win scholarships happens during senior year. But that isn’t the only possible time to put a dent in future tuition bills. Did you know some scholarships can be acquired as early as a teen’s freshman year of high school? That’s right! In fact, the zombie apocalypse scholarship is open to freshmen! Encourage your teen to go find some of the scholarships aimed at younger students and not wait until senior year to apply.
How Can I Motivate My Teen to Find Scholarships? Providing incentives for your teen to search for and fill out scholarship applications will be more effective than nagging them at dinner. Here are a few ways you can encourage Junior to find free money:
www.connections-magazine.com
1. Tell them to check THIS out! To give your teen an easy place to start, let them know about our $58,000 Financial Literacy Challenge. Until April 25, seniors have a chance to win one of SIX scholarships, including FOUR worth $10,000 each! And we didn’t forget underclassmen, who can win one of three $500 Amazon gift cards. Your teen can enter today at daveramsey.com/challenge! 2. Do the math. Your teen may have a vague idea of college expenses but sitting down with a calculator and a pen to add up the actual cost may kick their scholarship hunt into high gear. 3. Match the money. If you can, agree to match a percentage of the scholarship money your teen wins. The more scholarship money they earn, the more you pitch in for school. Think of it as a 401(k)-matching plan with your teen as the employee. 4. Exempt the chores. Teens will do almost anything to avoid cleaning their room or doing the dishes. Agree to occasionally dismiss them from dish duty if they put in enough time to do scholarship work. (Make sure you see evidence!)
5. Offer to organize. Applying to multiple scholarships can be confusing. Each has different requirements, deadlines, essay topics, usernames and passwords. If your teen isn’t the organized type, you might offer to pitch in to keep them on track. Missing a deadline could cost them thousands—literally! Think of it this way: If your teen spends one hour filling out an application for a $250 scholarship and wins, then they made $250 an hour. Now imagine a scholarship of $1,000, $5,000, or even $10,000. That’s a great return on the investment of time and energy! © 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 570-729-1020 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.
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 29
Fire-Fighters
Hats By LA Guzda
M
emorial Day kicks off summer fun! Cookouts, campfires, fireworks – time for play with family and friends. It’s also a time when we see firefighters on the road, hats off or a bucket for donations. Pennsylvania is home to 12% of the nation's 20,000 all-volunteer fire companies, which is more than any other state. Pennsylvania has a long history of volunteer fire service, reportedly being the home of the nation's first volunteer fire company started in Philadelphia around 1736. As you pass by the people collecting, do you look away? Do you throw some loose change into the bucket? Maybe a dollar? Fire-fighting equipment is expensive as is maintenance for the vehicles. Volunteers respond to fire, emergency and rescue calls, but have you ever thought about what it takes when that call comes in?
30 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
Off!
Imagine for a moment you’re a volunteer. It’s winter, snow is falling, ice is on the ground, and the temperature is well below freezing. It’s 3:00 AM and you’re sound asleep, and you are suddenly awakened by a fire call. You get dressed as quickly as you can and race down to the fire station. Some of your fellow firefighters are already there, ready to roll. You grab your gear, jump on the truck and head to the scene. You arrive minutes later to find the home is ablaze; it’s a working fire. Fortunately, the occupants were able to get out in time, but extinguishing the flames is tough work, made even more difficult by the weather. By the time the blaze is brought under control, almost everyone’s turn out gear, as well as just about everything else in the area, is covered with ice. You’re cold,
www.connections-magazine.com
you’re wet and you’re tired, but you’re still not done. The fire is out, and the adrenalin rush may be over, but extinguishing the fire is only part of the job. Some may have slipped and fell, probably more than once, while others are thinking about the warm bed they left hours ago. If you were hurt, you’ll get first aid, but getting back to that warm bed will still be hours away. The equipment needs to be put back, and the crew has to return to the fire house. Once there, everything needs to be cleaned and properly stowed to make sure it’s ready for the next call. Everyone hopes it won't come too soon, but if it does, they’re prepared. They have to be, because your safety depends on it. This is not an unusual scenario for our volunteers, but let’s take it one step further. Instead of winter, it’s summer. Winter is bad, but summer can be worse, especially when it’s hot and humid. Turn out gear helps protect you, but it’s heavy. Self-contained breathing apparatus helps you survive in a smoke-filled building, but puts a strain on your body. The heat and humidity on a sultry day cause you to perspire so much sweat can
puddle in your boots. Now, instead of frost bite, you contend with dehydration and heat stroke, all the while remembering your first mission is to save lives, put out the fire and still get back home safely to your family later. No matter the season, the plain truth is that being a fire fighter is hard work. You split your time between family, work and the department, and not always in that order. Think about what it means to be a volunteer fire-fighter when you get your appeal letter in the mail. And when you pass them on the road, please give and give as generously as you can. Put some money in your car now so you’ll be ready.
Hats Off to these angels among us! We salute you! Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @PoconoSecrets 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
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 31
32 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
Outdoor Ramblings
Paddling Pine Creek
By Bill Deaton | williamjdeaton@yahoo.com
P
ennsylvania’s Grand Canyon, most of which resides in Tioga State Forest, is a national natural landmark that, at its greatest depth, is 1450 feet from the top of the plateau to the Pine Creek far below. Still cutting its way through the gorge since the end of the last ice age is Pine Creek, which, as long as the water level measures more than 1.8 ft deep, can be run by kayaks and canoes. Typically, early spring before June is when it’s most runnable. Last Memorial Day weekend I embarked on a 19-mile trip though the gorge. The Owassee rapids, billed as Class-III, was the most challenging part of the voyage. There’s no way to find calmer water around them and following the drop, the runout is pretty long. I watched more than a few boats get swamped and capsize. Luckily there were swiftwater rescuers stationed at the rapids to lend a hand to those that got jammed up or dumped. Canoers shooting them would be best served by adding float bags, and sit-in kayakers should absolutely have a skirt. River wildlife was definitely plentiful. I had four bald eagle sightings and counted numerous Canada geese, mergansers, pintails, and even a swan or two. Orioles and red-winged blackbirds, among other birds, were also easy to spot. As the current was swift much of the way, risking my camera and big zoom lens wasn’t something I wanted to do much, so many of our feathered companions went unphotographed along the way. Much of the route is flanked by the canyon walls that drop dramatically from the hills above. Here and there cabins emerge from the shoreline, but largely, the floor of the gorge is undeveloped on the right side. While there seemed to be less buildings on the left, that bank serves as the platform for the cycling path that many were utilizing both on bikes and on foot. Primitive camping in the gorge is also allowed by permit, so that’ll be my adventure for this month!
• • • • •
19 miles of creek from Big Meadows to Rattlesnake Rock 30 primitive campsites along the creek in Tioga State Forest 2 drive-in campgrounds are also available in Tioga State Forest 2 access areas for put-in and 2 access area for pull-out Adjacent trail open to hiking, mountain biking, and horseback riding
For more information contact Tioga State Forest. 570-724-2868 or www.dcnr.pa.gov/StateForests/FindAForest/Tioga Photo: A bald eagle takes flight in front of a Pine Creek Gorge kayaker. Photo by Bill Deaton. www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 33
Pets
Part III
Heartworms H
eartworms are large worms reaching 6-14 inches (15-36 cm) long. They are primarily located in the right ventricle of the heart and adjacent blood vessels.The typical clinical signs of heartworm infection are fatigue, coughing, and poor physical condition.
How are dogs treated for heartworm? There is some risk involved in treating dogs with heartworms, although fatalities are rare. In the past, the drug used to treat heartworms contained arsenic, so toxic effects and reactions occurred more frequently. A newer drug is now available that does not have the toxic side-effects, allowing successful treatment of more than 95% of dogs with heartworms. Some dogs are diagnosed with advanced heartworm disease. This means that the heartworms have been present long enough to cause substantial damage to the heart, lungs, blood vessels, kidneys, and liver. A few of these cases will be so advanced that it will be safer to treat the organ damage rather than risk treatment to kill the heartworms. Dogs in this condition are not likely to live more than a few weeks or months.
34 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
Treatment to kill adult heartworms: An injectable drug to kill adult heartworms is given. It kills the adult heartworms in the heart and adjacent vessels. These injections may be divided and given thirty days apart. Complete rest is essential after treatment: The adult worms die in a few days and start to decompose. As they break up, they are carried to the lungs, where they lodge in the small blood vessels and are eventually reabsorbed by the body. This can be a dangerous period so it is absolutely essential that the dog be kept quiet and not be allowed to exercise for one month following treatment. The first week after the injections is critical because the worms are dying. A cough is noticeable for seven to eight weeks after treatment in many heavily infected dogs. Prompt treatment is essential if the dog has a significant reaction in the weeks following the initial treatment, although such reactions are rare. If a dog shows loss of appetite, shortness of breath, severe coughing, coughing up blood, fever, and/or depression, you should notify your vet. Response to antibiotics, cage rest, and supportive care and intravenous fluids is usually good in these cases.
www.connections-magazine.com
Treatment to kill microfilariae: Approximately one month following treatment to kill the adults, the dog is returned to the hospital for administration of a drug to kill the baby heartworms or microfilariae. Your dog needs to stay in the hospital for the day. Your dog is started on heartworm preventive after this treatment. Other treatments: In dogs with severe heartworm disease, it may be necessary to treat them with antibiotics, special diets, diuretics to remove fluid accumulations, and drugs to improve heart function prior to treatment for the heartworms. Dogs with severe heart disease may need lifetime treatment for the heart failure, even after the heartworms have been killed. This includes the use of diuretics, heart drugs, and special low salt, low protein diets.
Dyckman 1 year old ginger and white male who can be shy at first but is actually really lovable.
Response to treatment: Dog owners are usually pleasantly surprised at the change in their dog following treatment for heartworms, especially if the dog had been showing signs of heartworm disease. The dog has a renewed vigor and vitality, improved appetite, and weight gain.
Are changes made in the treatment protocol for dogs that have severe heartworm disease? Yes. The state of heart failure is treated as described above. However, we also treat the adult heartworms in a two-stage process. Only one treatment with the drug to kill the worms is given initially. This causes the death of approximately half of the worms. One month later, the full treatment is given to kill the remaining worms. By killing them in two stages, the severe effects on the lungs are much less likely to occur. This protocol is also used in moderate cases to provide a safer treatment.
How can I prevent this from happening again?
Bella Rose 7 year old female Chihuahua with mega esophagus. She is very sweet but would do best with older kids and mellow dogs.
When a dog has been successfully treated for heartworms, it is essential to begin a heartworm prevention program to prevent future recurrence. With the safe and affordable heart preventives available today, no pet should ever have to endure this dreaded disease. www.connections-magazine.com
Available for adoption at Dessin Animal Shelter! Call 570-253-4037. | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 35
BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE
Physical or
Psychogenic? By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA I am poured out like water, and all my bones are out of the joint: my heart is like wax; it is melted in the midst of my bowels.
I
~Unknown Author – Dictionary.com
t is likely that we are all familiar with the term, “It’s in your head.” A parent who is dealing with a child who believes her foot pain is indicative of a serious disease despite several visits to a pediatrician, who finds no abnormality or cause, is an example. More often than not, the pain goes away and the experience is soon forgotten. Were this behavior to continue into adulthood, it might be seen as “psychogenic,” which in psychiatry is a term used in describing a physical symptom that is psychiatric in origin. In this instance, the individual believes he or she has a serious disease, which may be based on symptoms the individual has that result in emotional distress but are not associated with any clinical finding. It has been reported that 3% of medical students in their first two years of study have this experience. Modern medicine has advanced significantly in the ability to diagnose and treat disease It is nevertheless still largely dependent on the skills of the clinician to critically review the symptoms that the patient presents and to order tests accordingly in order to make an accurate diagnosis. Medical students and residents are often told you cannot properly treat any disease without an accurate diagnosis. The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines disease as: “an illness that affects a person, animal, or plant: a condition that prevents the body or mind from working normally.” While we might not view depression or anxiety as a disease, these are conditions that all disciplines of medicine treat daily, despite the absence of any laboratory tests which
36 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
would confirm the diagnosis. Disorders that are psychological in nature often interfere with the daily functioning of the individual. There are clinical criteria to make the diagnosis, and the pharmacological and psychological treatments are generally effective. Mental health clinicians see patients who are often referred by primary care physicians who cannot establish a medical basis for the symptoms the patient describes. The implication is these patients may have “imagined” symptoms. Psychiatrists will often view the referral of such patients as “psychiatric by exclusion.” But it remains there are patients who have true physical symptoms without the benefit of confirmatory medical tests. Is there a disease that is being missed? The following fictional clinical vignette is presented to highlight the issues associated with the proper diagnosis of a medical condition that is well known, but generally not easily identified as a disease. JT is a 48-year-old married mother of two sons, both of whom are attending college. She is successful academically and is currently the principal of a prestigious high school. Her husband is a software engineer, also well regarded and successful in his field. JT considers herself well-read and feels she can communicate with her physicians in order to accurately describe her physical symptoms, which have continued for almost three years. JT has a psychiatric history. She was psychiatrically hospitalized for two weeks twenty-five years ago. At that time, she was in college and became severely depressed. She expressed thoughts about harming herself to
www.connections-magazine.com
her college roommates who were instrumental in convincing her to sign herself into the hospital. She was treated with antidepressants and psychotherapy, which JT still regards as extraordinarily effective at that point in her life. Over the course of time, with the supervision of her psychiatrist, she was able to taper and eventually discontinue her medications. However, she remained in therapy for many years. JT received a Master’s Degree in Education and went on to obtain a PhD. Although she had many opportunities to teach in college, she decided to take a position as a high school principal in her community. While she has not missed a day of work over the last three years, she has struggled with weakness and lethargy. JT makes it clear that she loves her job. She feels she has good emotional support from her husband and children. While her doctor was initially supportive and focused on determining the cause of her symptoms, JT felt that over the course of time, it was clear he no longer believed that her symptoms were real, encouraging JT to return to psychiatric treatment because of her past history. She did so and was prescribed antidepressants. Her psychiatrist focused on helping her deal with the frustration of not being able to label her physical symptoms as an identifiable disease. Her medical doctor eventually diagnosed her condition as CFS or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. JT was familiar with this disorder and wondered if it meant her doctor did not believe that her symptoms were real. She was able to continue her work, but it was difficult. At times, she felt her concentration was poor. She sometimes wondered if she was simply distracted by her physical symptoms. Sleep was poor, and her fatigue and body pains clearly interfered with her ability to do her job. With the continued support of her psychiatrist, she began psychotherapy, specifically cognitive behavior therapy, which focused on helping her to regain her
confidence and embark on more physical activities. To JT, this seemed counterintuitive. “I’m exhausted,” she said, “how can I exercise?” She continued the therapy and actually felt she was improved. JT saw a new doctor who helped her to understand her condition, telling her that CFS, while not completely understood, was real. She continued in therapy in addition to taking an antidepressant prescribed by her psychiatrist and anti-inflammatory medicines prescribed by her medical doctor, which helped to relieve her muscle pain. It has taken some time, but JT does feel better. She has learned more about CFS, in particular the research that is helping to further understand this condition. Most importantly, she feels she has a good therapeutic relationship with her physicians, which greatly contributes to her progress. Visit CM’s website for more on this topic.
The following references are provided for the informed consumer: Office on Women’s Health, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services: Chronic Fatigue Syndrome http://womenshealth.gov/publications/our-publications/fact-sheet/chronic-fatigue-syndrome.html# MedlinePlus: U.S. National Library of Medicine / NIH: New Name, New Criteria for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_150867.html MedlinePlus: U.S. National Library of Medicine / NIH: Therapists Must Ease Patients’ Fear When Treating CFS: Study http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/news/fullstory_150420.html
www.connections-magazine.com
Dr. Middleton is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. 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, PA.
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 37
EVENTS
Y O U
ENTERTAINMENT
ARTS
RECREATION
a+r+e MAY ’19
THE AREA’S GOOD STUFF
C O N N E C T E D
WEDNESDAYS
Ongoing Events DAILY
Art-a-Pelago D.J. Harvey Agency and The Bodhi Tree Art School & Studio, Honesdale. One art gallery in two locations (Paros-Anafi). Info: waynecountyartsalliance.org.
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. THURSDAYS
DAILY
Public Art Displays Nature’s Grace, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Honesdale & Pocono Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, Hawley. Wayne County Arts Alliance artists display their work. DAILY
Public Art Display REMAX Wayne, Honesdale. Art displays of local artists all year long. Info: 570-253-9566. 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 American Legion Post 311, Hawley. Doors open 10:30 a.m., games begin at Noon. Info: legionpost311@gmail.com. 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. TUESDAYS, THURSDAYS & SATURDAYS
Figure Drawing with Model Mark Rando The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Improve your figure-drawing skills. Must be 18 or older; model is nude. Bring your own materials. Easels provided. Info: 570-251-1181 or TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com.
38 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
Wayne Pike Workforce Alliance 10 a.m.–Noon. Newfoundland Library, Newfoundland. Serves as an intermediary to identify, create & provide educational opportunities. They can help you apply for jobs or refine your resume. No appointment necessary. Free. Info: 570-676-4518. THURSDAYS
Pub-O-Lympics 8 p.m. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. A combination of trivia & physical challenges. Compete with your team to win a gold medal, gift certificate & bragging rights. Info: 570-226-4388. FRIDAYS
Live Music 8 p.m.–Midnight. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music. Info: 570-226-4388 or silverbirchesresortpa.com. FRIDAYS
Live Music at Tannery Room 8–11 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Info: 570-226-1337 or ledgeshotel.com. SATURDAYS
Drop-in 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.
www.connections-magazine.com
EVENTS SATURDAYS
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. THROUGH MAY 4
“Before the Echo” Alliance Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY. An exhibition of photography by Lisa DiLillo, comprised of photographs that are reimagined landscapes created by introducing various sources of illumination such as smoke, sparks & fireworks into rural settings. DiLillo is interested in discovering underlying visual potential using light, the very essence of the photographic process. Info: 845-252-7576.
a workshop on next level sales: adopting social media best practices & cultivating customer relationships. Peer-to-peer learning session teaches farmers & producers vending at farmers markets & farm stands tools to building strong branding through business websites & via social media outlets. Dinner provided by The Mustard Seed. Free entry, but registration is required: 570-2532020 or info@thecooperageproject.org. MAY 1–30
Art Opening: Ruth Bush, “Breath of Fresh Air” Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Ruth is attracted to the organic quality of natural elements & incorporates them into her abstracts. She chooses to paint her subjects from nature in an
MAY 1, 8, 15, 22 Stained Glass for Beginners with Bill Brown 10 a.m.–Noon. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Learn the basics of designing & building a beautiful piece in a 4-session class. Pre-registration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. THROUGH MAY 4
“Branches, Rocks, and String” Loft Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY. An installation of sculpture by Eric Baylin, made using natural materials found mostly in the woods surrounding his home. Info: 845-252-7576. THROUGH MAY 6
“Behind the Scenes” ARTery Gallery, Milford. Unique, new exhibit reveals the creative process behind a work of art. Artist members reveal what happens before the painting is framed & hung. Alongside their finished artwork, see sketches, scribbles, doodles, photos, books, poetry, tools & materials, & any other element that brought them from inception to completion their work. Info: 570-409-1234 or www.arterygallerymilford.com.
May 1– May 9 MAY 1
Farmer Next Level Sales 6–8 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. The Cooperage Project & The Food Trust present
impressionistic fashion. Opening Reception: May 4, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. MAY 3
Drawing with Bozena Janiszewski 1–3 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Learn to draw or improve your skills. Just bring yourself & be prepared to have a good time. Pre-registration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. MAY 3–5
Birds & Brews Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Spring migration has begun. Enjoy a weekend of bird watching & beer tasting. Enjoy guided hikes that teach how to identify birds by sight, sound & habitat. Geared toward beginners & experts alike. Sat. night PEEC provides transportation to a local brewery & buys the 1st round. Commuter & day rates available. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 4
Run, Hike, Crawl: PEEC 5k 8 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Educa-
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 39
EVENTS tion Center, Dingmans Ferry. Take a 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 three male & female participants in each age group. Maximum of 100 spaces. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 4
Volunteer Work Day 9 a.m.–Noon. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Join in to help get Lacawac’s trails & property ready for the summer season. Bring gloves. Lacawac will provide tools & equipment. Register & fill out Lacawac volunteer form: www.lacawac.org.
MAY 5 Ecozone Discovery Room!
MAY 4
In Search of Spring Migrants 8–10 a.m. Lacawac Sanctuary, Lake Ariel. Join experts from the NEPA Audubon Society on a hike through the sanctuary in search of spring migrants on their journey home. Wear comfortable footwear. Binoculars suggested. All ages welcome. Registration appreciated. Free program. Info: 570-689-9494 or info@lacawac.org. MAY 4
Lackawaxen Garden Club Monthly Meeting 10 a.m. Township building (169 Urban Road), Hawley. Attention gardeners, novice & experienced: share knowledge, socialize and assist with the beautification of the township. Info: Facebook or 570-685-7288. MAY 4
Oil Painting with Bozena Janiszewski 1–3 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Pre-registration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. MAY 4
Marketing Magic 4–6 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Writers and Readers at the Cooperage. The best books & authors in the world can get overlooked without effective marketing. Take away dozens of ideas so you can put together a personalized marketing plan, which you can put to use immediately to sell more books. Learn about self-publishing, hybrid publishing & traditional publishing to help you decide which option is the right one for you. Info: 570-253-2020 or info@thecooperageproject.org.
40 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore the indoor discovery room & enjoy handson exhibits on natural history, sustainability & the local environment. No registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 5
MiZ: An Intimate Storyteller’s Show 2 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Intimate, solo acoustic storyteller’s show by Mike Mizwinski, better known simply as MiZ, an Americana/Roots Rock artist from NE Pa. known for masterful guitar playing, well-crafted songwriting, & powerful & energetic live performances. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 8
Birding the Bog 7–9:30 a.m. Tannersville Bog, E. Stroudsburg. A morning of migration birding at the Bog. Pre-registration required: 570-629-3061. MAY 9
Salamander Meander with PARC 6–7:30 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Join Pocono Avian Research Center to search the trails at Kettle Creek for the slimy creatures. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.
www.connections-magazine.com
EVENTS MAY 9
Stage Door Cabaret 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. An evening of Broadway show tunes with six local musicians – Mark Applegate, Lindsay Rae Barnes, Karuss Carver, Jennifer Kiesendahl, Steve Faubel on piano & featuring Shawn Caden on strings – performing it all, from torch songs to 11 o’clock numbers, heart breakers to toe tappers, timeless classics to modern phenomena. BYOB. This show is intended for mature audiences. Reservations & info: 570-253-2020 or info@thecooperageproject.org.
ing will be done in the park. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 11
Intergalactic Board Game Day Noon–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Free entry. Donations accepted at door. Board games, brain games & card games all day long. Learn new games, win prizes, make new friends & have a lot of fun. Events & tournaments include Warhammer Kill Team Event, Magic Draft, Pandemic Survival Tournament, Cosplay Contest. Game demos & game giveaways all day. Events
MAY 11 – JUN. 15 Chronicles of Forgotten Wars Alliance Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY. Exhibit by Dasha Ziborova of large-scale fresco paintings on canvas & ink & watercolor drawings on the pages of Rhymes of a Red Cross Man, a book of war poems by Robert W. Service. Info: 845-252-7576. schedule & info: 570-253-2020 or info@thecooperageproject.org.
May 10–May 19 MAY 10
MAY 11
Mother’s Day “Paint & Sip” with Arielle Sekula 5–7 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Share a special experience with your Mom — create a memorable painting together. You will each go home with your own completed picture, or put together, they will become one. BYOB. Pre-registration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com.
Alcohol Ink with Agnes Lippi-Johnson 1–3 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Get ready to become addicted to “Alcohol Ink.” Decorate an extremely unique, original piece & go home with items for your walls or table tops. Pre-registration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com.
MAY 11
Wildflowers at Kettle Creek 10–11:30 a.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Kettle Creek is home to some beautiful spring wildflowers. Join Roger Spotts for a hike on the trails to look for & identify the early blooms of spring. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. MAY 11
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 collect-
MAY 11–12
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. Sun-loving & shade-loving plants available. Remaining plants will be sold through the following week so stop by to check them out. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. MAY 11– JUN. 15
TAT ART Loft Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY. Solo show by Brandi Merolla. Info: 845-252-7576. MAY 12
Century Day 7 a.m.–7 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Board the
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 41
EVENTS Kettle Creek bus looking for 100 species of birds for this year’s Century Day. Meet at 7 a.m. then head to the river valley to start the day. Heading south & east, visit some incredible habitats along the way. Includes lunch, beverages & snacks throughout the day. Limited space. Pre-registration required, deadline is May 4. Prepayment required by May 8. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. MAY 12
Mother’s Day Celebrations The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. Brunch: 11:30 a.m.–2:30 p.m. Dinner: 3:30–8 p.m. Live music with Dan Bradley. Reservations: 570-226-2993. MAY 12
Mother’s Day in Gravity Hall 11 a.m.–3 p.m. Gravity Hall, Hotel Anthracite, Carbondale. Mother’s Day brunch with live music. Children 12 and under are half price. Info: 570-536-6020. MAY 12
Mother’s Day Buffet Noon–4 p.m. The Waterfront at Silver Birches, Hawley. Info: 570-226-4388.
burg. A morning of migration birding at the bog. Pre-registration required: 570-629-3061. MAY 15
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 entirely acoustic. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 16
Author Talk with Marilyn Stasio 2 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Stasio, an author, writer, theater & literary critic, & the renowned New York Times “Crime Columnist” presents a talk, “Hard-boiled Dames: How Women Writers Changed the Crime and Mystery Novel”. And she will have some great book suggestions. Light refreshments & beverages served. Proceeds benefit Wayne County Public Library. Info: 570-253-1220. MAY 16
Mother’s Day at Glass Noon–6 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Mother’s Day by the falls. Reservations suggested: 570-226-1337.
Chaos Wire Wrapping with Bernice Craft 3:30–5:30 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Learn how to “chaos” wire wrap. Create your own unique pieces of jewelry. Bring jewelers pliers (no teeth). Pre-registration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com.
MAY 12
MAY 16
MAY 12
There’s No One Butter Than You MomCooking Class 2–4 p.m. Boiler Room at the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Treat mom to a Mother’s Day Cooking Class. Learn to cook Bourbon Pecan Sticky Buns & quiches. Enjoy mimosas & a snack buffet. Tickets & info: 570-226-1337. MAY 15
Birding the Bog 7–9:30 a.m. Tannersville Bog, E. Strouds-
Learn the Birds: Birding Identification Series 7–8:30 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Join Pocono Avian Research Center to learn some new tricks or hone some old skills at identifying warblers including common yellowthroat, prairie warbler, magnolia warbler, hooded warbler & more. All ages welcome. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.
MAY 16 Game Night 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Play from a selection of games or bring your own game to share & teach. All ages welcome. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.
42 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
www.connections-magazine.com
EVENTS val lineup, roving performing artists in costume & outdoor silent disco, art cars, art installations & many other surprises. Costumes very welcome. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 19
MAY 18 It Could Happen to Anyone: Hug-a-Tree 10–11:30 a.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Anyone can get lost in the woods. This program with environmental educator Karen N. Boyle is for children ages 5–12 & their parents. It will teach children what to do if they do get lost & includes a demo with the Northeast Search and Rescue K-9 Unit. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. MAY 18
When Art Meets Music: Mussorgsky's Pictures 7:30 p.m. Milford Theatre, Milford. Phenomenal Russian pianist, Ilya Yakushev, with Mussorgsky’s most beloved masterpiece as well as works by Beethoven, Tchaikovsky & Liszt, accompanied by projected paintings. Info: 570-409-1269 or www.kindredspiritsarts.org. MAY 18
Elements Lakewood Pre-Party Silent Disco 8–11 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project & Wayne County Arts Alliance. The Elements Lakewood Music & Arts Festival hosts a preparty & preview of their upcoming immersive festival this Memorial Day weekend in Wayne County. Featuring DJs from the festi-
Natural Solutions & Supportive Strategies for Lyme Disease 11 a.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Led by Helen Mele Robinson, Ph.D., Christine McCue, RN & Eileen Reiman. An educational & fun afternoon learning how to use essential oils to shield yourself from ticks & support symptoms that arise from Lyme disease. Essential oils can help to resist Lyme disease & reduce the symptoms upon infection, by fighting bacteria, improving the immune system & detoxifying the body. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. MAY 19
Bog Walk 1–3:30 p.m. Tannersville Bog, E. Stroudsburg. Environmental Educators explain the Bog’s formation, its interesting plant & animal life & more. Wear appropriate footwear. Pre-registration required & limited. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. MAY 19
RiverFolk Concert: Cliff Eberhardt with Louise Mosrie 7 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by RiverFolk Concerts. Eberhardt has been a fixture on the acoustic singer-songwriter scene for several decades. Mosrie is an expressive & soulful southern folk-Americana singer-songwriter whose thoughtful, refined compositions are highlighted by her warm, crystalline voice. BYOB. Reservations & info: 570-253-2020 or 845-252-6783 or riverfolkconcerts@thecooperageproject.org.
May 20–May 31 MAY 20
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. MAY 22
Birding the Bog 7–9:30 a.m. Tannersville Bog, E. Stroudsburg. A morning of migration birding at the
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 43
EVENTS MAY 25, 26, 27
bog. Pre-registration required: 570-629-3061. MAY 22
Perennial Exchange 11 a.m.–1:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn Terrace, Hawley. Share your passion for gardening. Bring a perennial to exchange & take home a favorite of theirs. 11 a.m., Garden Talk & Tour. 12:30 p.m., lunch. Info: 570-226-2993. MAY 23
Unique Pathways Program Series 5:30 p.m. Hawley Public Library, Hawley. Sue Frisch is a professional dog trainer with 25+ years of experience working with dogs & their owners. Come hear the pathway Sue took to help train dogs & their owners. Free. Light refreshments served. Info: 570-226-4620.
Memorial Day Brunch 11 a.m.–2:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. Reservations: 570-226-2993. MAY 26
Memorial Day Weekend Car Show at Hotel Anthracite 2–6:00 p.m. Hotel Anthracite, Carbondale. Hosted by Coal Cracker Cruisers. Music, awards, 50/50 & door prizes. Food & drink available for purchase. Register for free at 570-536-6020. MAY 26
Blues, Brews & BBQs 5–9 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Enjoy live music by the falls, featuring a local craft brewery, live blues music & BBQ-style outdoor dining. Dining reservations: 570-226-1337.
MAY 24–27
“Spring Fling” Family Camp Weekend Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Bring your family and 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. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.
MAY 30
MAY 25
Great Pike County Birding Weekend Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore Pike Cty. with PEEC to try & spot as many species of birds as possible. There are a number of secret birding locations that are fantastic for amateurs or visiting experts. Includes two nights of lodging & meals from Friday dinner to Sunday lunch. Commuter & day rates available. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.
Junk in the Trunk 10 a.m.–2 p.m. Lackawaxen Village Ballfield, Lackawaxen. Trunk tag sale/swap. Info: Facebook or 570-685-7288. MAY 25
Wayne County Farmers’ Market 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Willow Avenue next to Dave’s Super Duper, Honesdale. Weekly marketplace for farmers & producers throughout NEPA. The selection of produce changes with the season, but there is always a wide variety of locally made household items, baked goods & decorative items. Rain or shine. Info: 570-488-5435. MAY 25
4th Annual Spring for Kidz Carnival 10 a.m.–5 p.m. First Presbyterian Church of Hawley, Hawley. Admission includes unlimited use of all carnival games including a dunk tank, obstacle course, bounce house, petting zoo, face painting, carnival games & more. Food available for purchase. Local vendors selling products. Children under 2 are free. Info: 570-226-4835 or www.fpchawley.org/springforkidz.
44 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |
Canoe/Kayak Trip at the Bog 10 a.m.–1 p.m. Tannersville Bog, E. Stroudsburg. Join a paddling trip into the Bog Preserve on Cranberry Creek. Participants are required to provide their own kayak or canoe. Pre-registration required & limited: 570-629-3061. MAY 31–JUN. 2
MAY 31–JUL. 1
Art Opening: Terry Flatt, “Nature’s Magic” Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Exhibit includes beautiful photos from countries including Great Britain, Europe, Africa, South America, Australia/New Zealand, Iceland, Norway & more. Opening Reception: Jun. 1, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.
www.connections-magazine.com
www.connections-magazine.com
| CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 45