Connections Magazine - November 2018 Issue by Connections Magazine

NOVEMBER 2018

Since 1998

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CONNECT NOVEMBER 2018

FEATURES 6

8 12

LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Do you have the oil changed in your car, tires rotated, and brakes checked? Sure, you say. Cars are expensive and I want it reliable and safe. Makes sense. Cars are the second most expensive item most of us will ever buy. Then what about ensuring the safety of our most expensive investment? 9 SMOKE DETECTOR PRACTICES Smoke detectors save lives! Here are tips to make sure yours will do their job. WINTER LIFE JACKET WEAR Although we are currently enjoying the beautiful fall foliage here in the Delaware River valley, winter is fast approaching. With the water temperatures quickly dropping, the National Park Service would like to increase awareness of both the wonderful cold-weather recreational opportunities this area has to offer, as well as the steps you can take to stay safe while on rivers, lakes, and streams this winter. GIVING BACK TO OUR VETERANS The Settlers Hospitality Group is pleased to present a night of complimentary lodging on November 12th at The Settlers Inn, Silver Birches or Ledges Hotel. Reservations are required. There will also be a fire side chat with wine and cheese at The Settlers Inn from 4-6pm featuring speaker Earl Granville starting at 4:15pm.

COLUMNS 5

WORDS FROM THE TEAM

26 BOOK REVIEW

10 FIRE SAFETY

28 POCONO SECRETS

16 DISASTER BLASTER

32 OUTDOOR RAMBLINGS

18 LIVING GREEN 20 MRS. DOGOOD

34 PETS

22 PRISON REFLECTIONS

36 BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE 38 LASER VISION

24 MONEY

39 AREA EVENTS

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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 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

“

Be thankful for what you have. Be fearless for what you want.

”

appy Fall! This month's cover of a single star represents many things. Most importantly, it represents our flag and the brave men and women who fight for our freedoms. Happy Veteran’s Day to all veterans! We salute you! Secondly, it represents our support of the Honesdale community fighting to keep the historic Irving Cliff star lit. And finally, it is a reminder to get out and VOTE, November 6th. It takes your vote for change! Inside...we focus on safety and rescue, from fire & water, to baby & pet. There are some great tips to help keep you and your loved ones safe. Our three feature fire articles focus on this year’s fire prevention week campaign, Look. Listen. Learn. Be aware. Fire can happen anywhere. Look for places fire could start. Take a good look around your home. Identify potential fire hazards and take care of them. Listen for the sound of the smoke alarm.You could have only minutes to escape safely once the smoke alarm sounds. Go to your outside meeting place, which should be a safe distance from the home and where everyone should know to meet. Learn two ways out of every room and make sure all doors and windows leading outside open easily and are free of clutter. We hope you enjoy all the Good Stuff in our November Issue and encourage you to share your Good Stuff with those who are less fortunate. From our family to yours, Happy Thanksgiving! CM Team 570.647.0085 cmag@ptd.net

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LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN. Do a one hour check-up: It could save your life! By Gary Ryman

Do you have the oil changed in your car, tires rotated, and brakes checked? Sure, you say. Cars are expensive and I want it reliable and safe. Makes sense. Cars are the second most expensive item most of us will ever buy. Then what about ensuring the safety of our most expensive investment? 6 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |

Houses need the same regular safety inspections—check-ups—especially for the most dangerous disease they’re exposed to, fire. Investing an hour or so once a year can pay inestimable dividends, not only in keeping the property safe, but also the loved ones who live and sleep there. Start with your heating system. Pick up the phone and make an appointment for a professional to inspect and service your furnace. Have a fireplace? Get that chimney cleaned and make sure your wood supply is dry and well seasoned. Have a safe place designated to dispose of ashes. Check your smoke detectors. Have the batteries been changed? Are the detectors less than ten years old? Smoke detectors were never intended to last forever, and now new models designed for a ten-year life with

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HOME FIRE SAFETY sealed batteries which never need to be (and base of the fire, squeeze the handle, and can’t be) changed are readily available. “Just sweep back and forth, applying the agent to like any electrical appliance, the components the fire. An important tip: keep a pot lid, of smoke alarms wear out over time. When a pizza tray, or similar item out when you fry. smoke alarm reaches ten years of use, the Covering the pot can smother the fire. potential of failing to detect Annual inspection time is a fire increases substanalso a good time to review tially,” says the National your home evacuation Association of State Fire plan. Don’t have one? Marshals. They’re not complicated Do you have detectors to develop. Have a safe everywhere needed? meeting place outside Smoke Detectors The answer can differ the home and teach chil Home Evacuation Plan depending upon the dren never to go back Heating System Check & home and local or state inside. Keep bedroom codes. National standoors closed. If a hallMaintenance dards recommend that way fire occurs, a closed Chimney Cleaning for new homes, a smoke door may hinder the Dryer Vent Vacuuming alarm is provided in smoke from overpowereach bedroom, and at ing family members, giv Carbon Monoxide Detector least one outside the ing firefighters extra Fire Extinguishers bedroom area, but near time for rescue. Teach House Number Visible? enough to be heard in toddlers not to hide the bedrooms with the from firefighters. Their doors closed. In addition, protective gear can be scary there should be at least one detector on each in times of crisis. Teach children that firefloor level of a home, including basements. fighters are there to help in an emergency. This is so regardless of where a fire starts; Take children for a tour at your local fire stainside or outside a bedroom, the occupants tion so that they can see a firefighter in full receive prompt warning. For existing homes, gear. Teach your children how to crawl the National Fire Protection Association under the smoke to reduce smoke inhalation. (NFPA) recommends a detector outside the Also, teach your children how to touch bedrooms and at least one on each level of closed doors to see if they are hot before the structure. Both they and the National opening. If so, use an alternate escape route. Association of Fire Marshals agree that more Check your carbon monoxide detector. is better, and providing the numbers called Over a ten-year period, the Center for Disease for in new construction is best. Control and prevention reported over five Check your dryer. Why, you ask? I clean thousand deaths from unintentional carbon the lint trap every time I use it. I’m very monoxide poisoning. You can’t see it, smell careful. it, or taste it. Without a detector, you can be I’m sure you are, but when is the last time one of the statistics. Visit your local hardyou checked the dryer hose itself? First, ware store and make sure that won’t happen. make sure it’s metallic. The plastic ones are Is your house address visible from the inexpensive but burn like solid gasoline. roadway? This is a big help for emergency Second, disconnect the hose and check the responders who may be trying to find you in interior. Have a vacuum ready. You’ll probthe dark. ably be surprised at the amount of lint which You wouldn’t think twice about spending gets by the screen and accumulates in the an hour cleaning the gutters or washing the hose. A good annual cleaning helps prevent windows on the house. Take the same dryer fires. amount of time to check it for fire safety. It Do you have a fire extinguisher in the can be as important as that annual physical kitchen or garage? As importantly, do you from your doctor. know how to use it if you need to? When Gary Ryman is the author of the novels Mayday! Firefighter the stove is on fire is not the time to be readDown & Fire in His Bones as well as the memoir, Fire Men: ing the instructions. Remembering one word Stories From Three Generations of a Firefighting Family. will help you: PASS, pull, aim, squeeze, All three books are available in paperback and ebook versweep. Pull the pin, aim the nozzle at the sions from Amazon.com. For more information, visit

Home Fire Inspection Check-list

www.fire-men-book.com. www.connections-magazine.com

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LISTENSTORY . LEARN. LOOK. FEATURE

Sm ke 9Detector Practices

Choose smoke detectors evaluated by a recognized testing laboratory.

Install smoke alarms in every bedroom, outside each sleeping area, and on every level of your home.

Smoke alarms installed in the basement should be installed on the ceiling at the bottom of the stairs leading to the next level.

If you have ceilings that are pitched, install detectors at least 4 but not more than 36 inches below the peak.

Don’t install detectors near doors, windows, or duct outlets where the air flow could interfere with their operation.

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For the best protection, interconnect all smoke alarms. When one smoke alarm sounds they all sound.

Consider installation of sealed battery 10-year detectors.

7. 8.

Don’t paint, decorate, or place stickers on smoke detectors. These alterations can prevent proper operation. Test all smoke alarms in your house monthly!

Can’t afford a detector? Many fire departments have teamed up with WNEP, Kidde, and Home Depot to distribute detectors across northeastern and central Pennsylvania. You can contact your local fire department to see if they are participating or see www.wnep.com/operation-save-a-life

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LOOK. LISTEN. LEARN.

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WATER SAFETY

Winter Life Jacket Wear –By Anya Shaunessy

dents represent only 8% of lthough we are currentthe boating-related accily enjoying the beautidents; however, they result ful fall foliage here in in 24% of the fatalities. the Delaware River valley, winThe good news is that ter is fast approaching. With wearing a properly fitted the water temperatures quickly life jacket can help save dropping, the National Park your life if you fall into Service would like to increase cold water. In fact, wearawareness of both the wondering your life jacket is ful cold-weather recreational mandatory from November opportunities this area has to 1 to April 30. This means offer, as well as the steps you that everyone in a canoe or can take to stay safe while on kayak, or in a boat measurrivers, lakes, and streams this ing 16 feet or less, must winter. wear a Coastguard certified We are surrounded by life jacket. This law was rivers, streams, and lakes that Hypothermia adopted in November of are excellent for fishing in the Falling into cold water, even in 2012 because of how effecfall, winter, and spring. Ice water that is as mild as 70° F, tive life jackets are in fishing, eagle watching, and keeping people safe while cold-weather kayaking are can lead to hypothermia. recreating on bodies of some of the best recreational This is because the human water in cold weather. If activities in the area. Howevyou fall into cold water, er, there are some extra steps body is cooled 25% faster wearing a life jacket will you should take to make sure in water than in air. allow you to float without you stay safe this winter! expending unnecessary Being on the water in winter energy, in addition to parmonths is fun, but it can be tially insulating your body. dangerous. Being submerged in cold water Before you go out on the water, you should poses serious and life-threatening risks due to always make sure your life jacket is properly fithypothermia. Hypothermia is your body’s ted and is in serviceable condition. There is a response to your core temperature falling below simple way to ensure that your life jacket is its normal range of 95° F to 98.6° F. Falling into properly fitted: when you have put your life cold water, even in water that is as mild as 70° jacket on, stand with your arms straight up in F, can lead to hypothermia. This is because the the air, and have a friend tug upward on the human body is cooled 25% faster in water than shoulders. If your life jacket is properly fitted, it in air. Water temperature, air temperature, curshould be snug and should not slide up past rents, and wind, as well as gender, body size, your chin. Checking to make sure your life jackand body fat percentage all play a role in how et is properly fitted ensures you will not slip out fast one’s body temperature drops once in the of it once in the water. A snuggly fitted life jackwater. Children and the elderly are especially et has the added benefit of acting as a layer of vulnerable to hypothermia, as well as people insulation between your body and the cold who are under the influence of drugs or alcowater. Additionally, the life jacket should be in hol. good, working condition. This means that all The risk of fatality from hypothermia and buckles and zippers should be functional, and drowning greatly increases as the winter the life jacket should be free from rips, tears, or months approach. According to the Pennsylvaexcessive wear. nia Fish and Boat Commission, cold water inci-

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VETERAN THANKS

Giving Back to Our

Veterans

he Settlers Hospitality Group is pleased to present a night of complimentary lodging on November 12th at The Settlers Inn, Silver Birches or Ledges Hotel. Reservations are required. There will also be a fireside chat with wine and cheese at The Settlers Inn from 4-6pm featuring speaker Earl Granville starting at 4:15pm. Earl Granville is a nine-year veteran under the Pennsylvania Army National Guard as an infantryman. During his time in the service, Granville served in support of Operation Joint Forge in Bosnia, Operation Iraqi Freedom and Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan. In the summer of 2008 while on a patrol in Zormat, Afghanistan, his vehicle was hit by a roadside bomb which resulted in the amputation of his left leg through the knee. His comrades, Specialist Derek Holland of Wind Gap, Pennsylvania and Major Scott Hagerty of Stillwater, Oklahoma were killed in action. After his injury, Earl found himself competing in many sports adapting to his injury such as snowboarding, ice sled hockey, GoRuck endurance Challenges and Spartan Races. Earl also speaks publicly about the importance of finding help in battling mental adversity after the passing of his twin brother, Staff Sergeant Joseph Granville, who took his own life December of 2010 while still on active duty. Earl is enrolled at the University of Scranton for Counseling & Human Services. Earl medically retired from the army holding the rank of Staff Sergeant, earning some military awards such as the Combat Infantryman Badge, Bronze Star and Purple Heart. During the veterans appreciation event, guests are invited to check out a photographic exhibit in the Undercroft at The Settlers Inn featuring over 80 images from 1965 and 1966 by: Stanton Pratt, former US Army combat photographer. The public is invited to view this self-guided exhibit November 9th through November 13th, 10am to 8pm.

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Stanton R. Pratt, son of the late Gerald S. Pratt, Jr. and Ruth Stanton Pratt of Honesdale, enlisted in the US Army in September of 1964 planning to become an army photographer. He completed basic training at Fort Knox, KY followed by photographic school at Fort Monmouth, NJ where he graduated first in his class. Following school, he was assigned to the 593rd. Signal Company, Photo Platoon based at Tan Son Nhut Airbase outside of Saigon. The next twelve months would see him serving with the 173rd. Airborne Brigade, 1St. Brigade of the 101st. Airborne Division, 1st. Air Calvary Division, as well as Australian, Korean, New Zealand and Vietnamese units. It wasn’t all combat, however, as he also provided coverage for Bob Hope, Roy Acuff, Jo Collins, Vice President Hubert Humphry and other visiting VIPs. Near the close of his tour, he had the privilege of becoming the official photographer for general officers and, as such, worked with many of the commanders at that time. Upon completion of his tour in Vietnam he returned to the photographic school at Fort Monmouth, where for the next fourteen months, he taught photography to Army, Marine Corps, and NJ state police personnel. “We are thrilled to host this event for our veterans as well as the free lodging on Nov. 12th. We hope it is a token of our appreciation for everything our veterans do for this country to keep us free.” Stated Justin Genzlinger, CEO/Owner of Settlers Hospitality. To learn more about the event, check out SettlersHospitality.com or call 570.226.2993.

About Settlers Hospitality Settlers Hospitality is a family run hospitality group in Hawley, PA consisting of The Settlers Inn, Ledges Hotel, Silver Birches Resort, Hotel Anthracite, Sayre Mansion, The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Glass-wine.bar.kitchen, Kol Steakhouse, Cocoon Coffeehouse, Lake Region Fitness, The Mill Market Bakery, & Art on the Edge.

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TIPS FOR YOUR HOME

BABY PROOFING Your Home Provided by Disaster Blaster

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From crawling to their first steps, these are monumental moments for every parent to witness, but they certainly change the dynamics a bit. Your baby is mobile now, and theyâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re FAST!

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Here are some tips The Nursery You likely started prepping the nursto ensure your little ery right away. Picking paint colors, bundle of joy canâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t furnishing with cribs and changing get into too much tables, stocking up with diapers and supplies, but did you baby-proof? trouble, or even hurt. other Kids are little magicians, and in no time 16 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |

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at all they’ll be surprising you with the ease in which they’re able to get out of that crib! Select the right furniture – Changing tables and cribs should really come with an extra set of hands, right? Well, until that technology makes it to thankful parents everywhere, look for these available safety features: Crib – Look for cribs with fixed rails at least 26 inches from the top of the mattress and with bars no more than 2 3/8 inches apart. Your crib’s mattress should be firm, should not sag under your baby’s weight, and should fit snuggly in the crib. While decorative touches can be aesthetically pleasing, they can also pose additional safety issues, so we recommend avoiding cribs with decorative cutouts and posts. Similarly, features like drop rails and crib bumpers have been proven to be unsafe and should not be used. Changing Table – Select a changing table with raised sides and a strap for added safety. Changing tables should be sturdy, and the top should be concave so the middle is slightly lower than the sides (This makes changing much easier and safer!). Good changing tables should have built in storage so necessities like diapers and wipes are within reach. Secure your furniture – Install wall anchors on all furniture pieces so it can’t tip over or fall, particularly when your baby starts climbing. Secure cabinets and drawers – Prevent your baby from getting into cabinets and drawers by installing child safety locks. Soft flooring – Your baby will inevitably manage to get out of the crib at some point. Ensure even the least graceful escape is safe by putting down soft carpeting or a cushy rug next to the crib.

The Living Room With the exception of the nursery, this is likely where you and your new

baby will spend most of your time. Ensure they can be free to explore safely with these baby-proofing tips! Outlets – Toddlers especially are fascinated by outlets and could insert a finger or object in them. Purchase outlet covers and plug them into any unused outlet. Furniture corners – Falls are bound to happen while they’re still getting the hang of walking, and they could hit their heads on the corners of furniture like coffee tables and end tables. Padding is available that you can install on your furniture to avoid crying and potentially serious injury should your baby fall near furniture. Secure furniture – As with the nursery, you want to secure any furniture to the wall that has the potential to tip or fall. This includes entertainment centers, book cases, television sets, etc. Secure cabinets and drawers – Does your entertainment center or coffee table have doors or drawers? It’s easy to get those little fingers pinched, so install child safety locks so your little one can’t get into anything. Chords – Babies love to pull on things, so tuck away power chords and/or secure them so that they can’t pull down a lamp, bluray player, etc. Minimize content – Do you have a lot of knickknacks, picture frames, or breakables? It’s best to move those out of the area to prevent accidents that could hurt your baby. Congratulations on your newest addition! We hope these tips help you prepare for your baby’s arrival and their uncanny fascination with anything in your house that might be dangerous. About Disaster Blaster Disaster Blaster is an indoor environmental firm serving the Northeastern PA Area. We have been providing our local area with unparalleled mold remediation, water damage mitigation, asbestos abatement, 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.

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Tick Borne

Diseases in Pike County

With the aid of Northeast Wildlife Tick borne diseases DNA lab, a recent survey of ticks in have been found in Milford Borough revealed important epidemic proportions information and the need for countythroughout the wide surveillance. United States, and Pennsylvania leads Milford Survey Three sites were chosen in Milford the country in new Borough, and 100 black legged (deer cases of Lyme disease. tick) ticks were collected and anaThe Pike County lyzed. The ticks were initially examfor three pathogens: Lyme, BarCommissioners have ined tonella and Babesia Microti. Forty five convened a task force percent contained at least one of those to study the effect pathogens. After the initial results came back, of ticks on residents the Pike County Tick Borne Disease and visitors of Task Force along with the county Pike County. commissioners agreed the ticks needâ&#x20AC;&#x201C;By Ellen Scarisbrick

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ed to be tested further. With assistance from the Northeast Wildlife DNA lab, DNA from the original 100 ticks was tested for the following pathogens:

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Tick Borne Diseases

Anaplasma phagocytophilum, Borrelia miyamotoi, Mycoplasma spp., Bartonella henselae, and Mycoplasma fermentans. Including the numbers from the initial study it was found that 51% of the ticks collected in Milford Borough where infected with at least one known pathogen. This small study identified the need to assess tick infection rates countywide.

County Baseline Study The Pike County, PA Tick Borne Disease Baseline study is now underway, and 1,000 ticks will be collected throughout the county. This study will provide a highly detailed and statistically relevant report on seven different tick borne diseases in Pike County, and what percentage of ticks carry diseases and co-infections. The task force will be using this information to educate the public and medical community on what diseases are prevalent so residents and visitors of Pike County can take appropriate precautions and receive appropriate treatment. The information will be shared with local and state officials in an effort to encourage better legisla-

tion to mandate increased and more efficient reporting of tick borne diseases, and to mandate doctors to take continuing education courses on tick borne diseases. It will also help advocate that insurance companies cover treatment of tick borne diseases and justify increased funding to support programs to help prevent the transmission of tick borne diseases.

Results Information gained through this project will be shared with the general public, local schools and camps. Local physicians will have greater insight into the pathogens in the area and the frequency of co-infections. We look forward to sharing the results of this important study with you soon!

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Ellen Scarisbrick is a member the Pike County Tick Borne Disease Task Force.

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MRS. DOGOOD

QUELLING THE THUNDER By The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood

Dear Editor, I write this letter to the editor to invite the general public to participate in the newly launched capital campaign of The First Church of God’s Love in the farming hamlet of Halo, PA. It is not often that we ask our broader community for help but our current circumstances leave us no choice. As the church’s senior pastor, I can assure you your generosity will be rewarded through the prayerful thanks of our congregation. I named this campaign Quelling the Thunder because our goal is simply to continue our spiritual growth in peace and not raucous laughter. Alice, my best friend, and I sat in our regular booth at the River Creek Inn drinking our Green Chartreuse when she told me what it was like sitting in the congregation last Sunday. “It sounded like the organ exploded. It vibrated throughout the whole church. Given the church’s acoustics it was like the thunderous war sounds you hear in an IMAX movie.” She continued. “You were talking about compassion when it happened. Mr. Oliver passed the biggest and loudest fart that I have ever heard. The timing was perfect. You were saying ‘In order to be more compassionate we have to (fart)’. How hilarious! I tried to maintain my composure but I couldn’t. I put my hands over my mouth and uncontrollably laughed through my fingers. The stress of laughing out loud in church and of trying to maintain my composure at the same time made me leak a little. It was contagious. There were bursts of laughter throughout the whole congregation until everyone was belly laughing. The teenagers led the loud charge.” Mr. Oliver’s flatulence was known to me for some time. Mrs. Thatcher, an opinionated member of my advisory board, had brought it to my attention on numerous occasions. Normally I didn’t hear it from the pulpit. Last Sunday I did. As senior pastor, how do I tell an 83 year old member of my congregation that he should not pass wind? Mr. Oliver has been a member of the church since it first opened. In fact, when the Reverend Mr. Silas Patriot DoGood, my father-inlaw, delivered his first sermon in a yellow school

bus about the need for a new ecumenical church, Mr. Oliver was there. My mother-in-law told me he wore an ascot that day just as he has been wearing them ever since. He is well known for his ascots … and now for his farting. “I think we should ask him to resign” said one of our board members at our emergency meeting last night. The youngest member said she had gone on line and found out they make a special suit that has a “cork thing” built into it that “plugs up the hole.” That made us all laugh. Once I composed myself, I reminded everyone that we must continue to respect the dignity of our church member. We could neither ask Mr. Oliver to resign nor wear a suit with a cork in it. Mrs. Thatcher said she had approached Mr. Oliver after Sunday’s service and asked him if he was aware of the effect he was having. He said he was not aware of any disruption. “My hearing aid doesn’t work too well. I need new batteries, and they are very expensive.” We unanimously passed a resolution to quickly purchase new hearing aid batteries for Mr. Oliver. Then my loving husband who I had asked to attend the advisory board meeting said “Why don’t we purchase thickly padded cushions for all our pews? These will act as sound deadening devices and will also add to the beauty of the church” The Spirit and my husband’s intelligence were with us. Need I say more? Your generous donations to the Quelling the Thunder capital campaign of The First Church of God’s Love will allow our congregation to continue our spiritual journey in loving and contemplative peace and quiet. 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

“Zombie Apocalypse” By Terry Mooney

Part II

his tall, red-headed young man does not appear as the bad boy his story tells. Quiet and unassuming, his work on the golf course totally fits his persona, while dealing drugs absolutely does not. His deep desire to be a father to his little boy is his only focus now.

My Story I never did this, but many dealers will offer a pot smoker a pill to try for free to get them hooked. The habit actually appears when you can’t get more of the drug and begin to detox. Desperate to ward off the sickness, you will do anything to get it. Anything. I went through most of my twenties maintaining my habit. I still lived with my mom, working on the golf course, and maintaining my addiction with the money I made until a friend of mine at work introduced me to his daughter who had just come back from living in Florida. We immediately connected. One day, she tried one of my pills and, like the potato chip commercial, you can’t just eat one. I could afford my habit on my own but it was tough to maintain two, even though I was staying at her parents’ house most of the time. Then we found out we were pregnant and it was something we wanted. Immediately, we got treatment to replace heroin with Suboxone which does not hurt the baby. We were both clean for about two years. One day, I felt like I could handle getting high just once in a while, the classic lie we tell ourselves, and in time, the heroin took over again, as it always does. It became more important than my marriage, and I guess she felt neglected. When we had our second child, I was suspicious of the way she was being so secretive and always working late. When the place closed at midnight and she came home at six a.m. while I’m home with our son all night long and have to go to work at the same time she’s coming in, I realized it was a good possibility our second child wasn’t mine. Deep down I knew but did not want to face it. Just the baby being born in the hospital while she had opiates in her system, the state took both children away. One would wonder why two parents with a baby on the way would keep using. But we were so deep into the addiction and the huge amount that we were using, there was no way to afford a doctor’s visit without health insurance, and that was the only way at the time to get Suboxone. This is not a lifestyle that ends well. Jail, institution or death they say, and in the meantime the walking dead. I just recently laughed out loud, and it was a strange sound. I realized that I hadn’t done that in about nine years. Can you imagine not ever laughing again? Never feeling happy, never feeling sad or the urgency of stress, or anticipation of fun or freedom from work, or anything? As a kid, I loved the idea of killing zombies in the video games. I never thought I would actually become one. I just saw my son at visitation for the first time in a year. He’s five years old, and I could tell he was scared and upset because he hadn’t seen me in a long time. He knows I did the wrong thing and got in trouble. He said he can’t wait to play golf with me again; he even has his own little set of clubs. He’s my motivation to do the right thing now. I am absolutely disgusted with what heroin has done to my life. I want to be a father, not a zombie.

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Money

H ow t o Tu r n Yo u r C a r Pa y m e n t I n t o a

Retirement Million-Dollar

o you ever feel like you’re out of cash before your paycheck even clears the bank? If so, you’re not

alone. A 2017 CareerBuilder survey found that over three-quarters of Americans are living paycheck to paycheck— but that money crunch affects their ability to build a bright future.(1) And the cost of living is a top reason people don’t save more for retirement, according to Ramsey Solutions research. One of the biggest costs holding people back? Car payments. Americans owe more than $1.22 trillion in car loans alone.(2) People, that’s a problem! What would happen to your retirement outlook if you got rid of your car payment? Is that goal even possible? Absolutely! Let me show you how.

Americans Spend More and Pay Longer for New Cars Each quarter, Experian Automotive releases data on the latest car financing trends. Their 2017 Quarter 4 report shows how much car loans are crippling people: • Nearly 9 in 10 new cars are purchased with borrowed money. • The average new car loan totals $31,099 with monthly payments of $515 at 5.11% interest.

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• The average new car loan term is 69 months—that’s more than five and a half years!(3) Now, take a second and let that sink in. If you’re the average car buyer, you’ll spend the five years to pay more than $34,000 for a car will be worth maybe $12,000 at the end of that time. That’s not okay! Chances are, you won’t be as happy with your car as you were when you started paying for it. So, you go out and buy another new car, and the process starts all over again. If this sounds like your situation, you’re spinning your wheels without ever gaining traction.

How Your Car Payment Destroys Your Retirement This never-ending cycle means you’ve permanently dedicated a chunk of your income to car payments—and you won’t have anything to show for it but a car that’s losing value every year you have it. That hard-earned money could be working for you if you’d invest it instead. Simply put, if you didn’t have a car payment and instead worked with a pro to invest that $500 a month in your 401(k) or Roth IRA, you could retire with more than $1 million after 30 years. That would certainly go a long way toward closing the

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retirement savings gap that grows by $3 trillion a year.(4) The good news is, you can stop the carbuying cycle and start saving for retirement. It will take some sacrifice and a lot of discipline, but it’s worth it all to change your future. Here’s how.

Eliminate Your Car Payment Forever Let’s say the paid-for car you’re driving now is worth $12,000. Instead of taking out another loan to buy a new car, stick with this car a little longer. In the meantime, save your $500 car payment in a good money market account specifically to save for a car replacement—and in two years, you’ll have $12,000 cash plus your trade-in to buy a nicer, new-to-you car without owing the bank a single penny. Once you’ve learned how awesome saving money can be, you won’t mind driving your current car a little longer while your car-replacement fund grows. Keep adding $500 to your car-replacement account every month for another three years, and—in less time than it would have taken you to pay off a new car loan—you could have nearly $31,000 plus your trade-in to buy a new car. Of course, you don’t have to use all of that to find another great used car, so you leave a sizeable balance in your carreplacement fund to keep growing until your next car purchase. At this point, you

stop contributing to your car-replacement fund and put that $500 toward retirement instead! Now, that’s something worth working toward!

Can This Plan Work for You? Getting rid of car payments isn’t a fairytale. It just takes planning and patience. And isn’t your future worth it? No car, no matter how fancy, can give you peace of mind in retirement. That kind of security comes from having a plan and following through with 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 IN YOUR LIFETIME, YOU’VE DONE MANY AMAZING THINGS.

enough to move the ball along in play. He wasn’t nearly as good as Adam, but with Adam gone, what were the choices? Practice, practice, practice. That was You learned to walk. Imagine how the only option, and as Zayd thought about hard that was, and you did it! You learned an upcoming game, he also thought about to make words and put them into senhis beloved Jamal Mamoo’s predicament: tences, which is no easy feat, either. You Jamal Mamoo had recently gotten engaged know how to get to school, do math, read, but everybody had an opinion about the and play ball. But, as in wedding. Zayd could the new book “On tell that Jamal Mamoo Point” by Hena Khan, and Nadia Aunty were could something be not happy about their holding you back from ceremony becoming greatness? something they didn’t For weeks and want. He practiced and weeks before try-outs, thought, until the Zayd Saleem practiced answer was finally clear. his shots, dribbles, and Was it possible that the lay-ups for a better solution for both of chance at joining the them was the same? best fourth-grade basketHere’s the first ball team in the whole thought about “On entire league. No kid Point”: though it’s based was happier than Zayd in basketball, your child when he finally made it doesn’t have to be a bas– and the bonus was ketball fan to like it. that his best friend, Indeed, author Adam, was on the team, Hena Khan is careful to too. use correct terms in this And that was great hoops-book, but they – it gave Zayd more (and other words) are time to hang out with quietly explained within Adam, and it allowed the story itself, usually them more time to play by its main character. By Carole Boston Weatherford ball. But then the basReaders unfamiliar with Illustrated by Frank Morrison ketball team started b-ball are even schooled Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer doing poorly, losing on the title’s meaning, games by a lot of points. but not in a manner Adam was the team captain, but he began that’s off-putting to kids who already know. hanging out with some other, older boys That’s perhaps what’s going to put who preferred football. this book in a youngster’s hands. What will Zayd was afraid that his best friend keep it there is the story itself, which is one had lost interest in hoops, especially when of tradition, confidence, and learning to Adam skipped basketball practice a couple lead, but it’s not a preachy message. of times, and that made Zayd sad. He figured the team was as good as done, but All around, that makes “On Point” a then coach dropped a bombshell: Adam truly appealing book, both for kids and for was out for awhile and Zayd was on point! parents who want subtle lessons learned. If But how could that be? Zayd wasn’t that’s true for your 7-to-10-year-old, then sure how to tell coach that he wasn’t ready! this book should do it. He wasn’t aggressive enough, or fast

“On Point: Zayd Saleem, Chasing the Dream”

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Balance

FBIANLDAINNCGE By LA Guzda

As parents and educators, we may have had to deal with bullies and the awkwardness of being a teenager. But, thankfully, we didn’t have social media to shine a spotlight on our foibles -preserving them forever in cyberland. 28 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |

Today, our youths face many of the same rites of passage – popularity, relationships, self-discovery; but also new challenges. Clearly, the opioid epidemic has not escaped our neighborhoods. Maybe it’s easy for you to talk to your kids, maybe it’s not. If you have ever caught yourself saying… “when I was a kid…” then perhaps

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you might benefit from joining the conversation with our youths, educators and other community members. A new, locally produced video series titled, “We Have Found Balance”, has been released to highlight these many issues facing young adults today and to open a dialogue between students and adults. The purpose of the series is to help young adults know their voices are being heard and there are resources available to them. And, also to help adults better understand the challenges our youths are facing. Sponsored by AMSkier Insurance, the six-part series features panel discussions from a wide range of experts in the Western Wayne, Wayne Highlands, Forest City Regional and Wallenpaupack school districts, as well as from members of the Chamber of North Poconos Leadership. The experts included teachers, counselors and community organization leaders from these districts. The video series focuses on several issues central to young adults today. These issues include time management, stress and anxiety, social media, drugs and alcohol and planning for the future beyond high school. The project concludes with a segment dedicated to specific programs that young adults can access to receive counseling and support, such as the Student Assistance Program (SAP). Each chapter features interviews with different students discussing these topics, each sharing their experiences and concerns, followed by a panel of experts analyzing the interviews and providing advice and recommendations for ways students can cope with their issues and resources they can access to get help. The “We Have Found Balance” project was inspired by the AM Skier Insurance Eat, Sleep, Play webinar. Wayne Memorial Hospital’s long-time Community Health Manager Donna

Decker, Wayne Highlands School District Superintendent, Greg Frigoletto and Wayne County D&A Prevention Specialist Mary Paladino combined their experiences and passion to gather a team of experts to produce this project. This diverse group of community stakeholders got together with one goal in mind; to make something that would resonate with our community's students and their parents. The videos can be viewed at amskier.co/foundbalance in any order or watched as one video. The webinar that inspired “We Have Found Balance”, as well as links to other informative talk segments, can also be found here. 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

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Outdoor Ramblings

Take Stock &

Stocking Up By Bill Deaton | williamjdeaton@yahoo.com

f you are a hunter, well, November is probably your prime-time. Small game, bear, and rifle season for deer dominate the calendar. While there are plenty of trails to bike or hike, it’s sort of bland in the woods and if you paddle or ski there’s not much to do. I like to take advantage of the down time and go through my gear to see what needs attention. I always start by going through my summer gear. Currently I know I have one pair of shorts that I need to re-thread the built-in belt back into the waistband. I’ll tape the end to a wire hanger, shove it back through, and it’ll be good to go in five minutes. I just replaced the laces on the hiking boots that I use the most, so I’m good there. Sadly, my bivy sack is a goner. The waterproof-breathable laminate, after 15 years, has finally turned to powder. Similarly, I’m noticing that in a rain jacket I’ve had about ten years. Some stuff just needs a good cleaning. My kayak and a lot of my paddling gear is fairly dirty. Clean it, condition it, store it. The boat will reside in its sling in my garage, and the gear gets stored in a large plastic tote. On a nice day I’ll remove the kayak rack and put the ski box on the roof of my vehicle. Don’t wait until it’s freezing to swap out that kind of stuff. I stored my winter stuff and made those repairs back in the spring, so all it takes is a few minutes to sort through my skiing and snowshoeing gear. Anything you use year-round, like flashlights, trekking poles, water filters, etc., should be given a good check and serviced as needed too.

Fall Gear Check Clean and store stuff you won’t use until spring in a locking plastic tote. Make minor repairs to your stuff before storing. Send out items for warranty or for major repairs now so they are ready in the spring. Service gear you use year-round. Unpack your winter gear and double check to make sure it’s ready for use. Throw out or recycle gear that needs to be replaced. (Do all of this with your winter gear in the spring!) Sometimes all you need is to make a quick fix with some thread or tape. Sometimes you discover it’s time to send your stuff to the rubbish pile and replace it…or better yet, have your loved ones replace it for you by means of a gift card to your favorite outdoor retailer. After all, the holidays will be here soon. It’s the perfect time to upgrade your locker. Large photo: This shoe sole is easily fixed at home with some rubber cement. Top small photo: This bivy sack has delaminated and should be discarded. Bottom small photo: These sandals need a resole and can be sent back to the manufacturer for a retrofit. www.connections-magazine.com

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Pets

Vital 5 Reasons for Securing your Pet on Car Rides

mericans have been buckling up for years, and for good reason. The proper use of lap and shoulder belts has been shown to reduce the risk of fatal injury to front seat car occupants by 45 percent, while reducing their risk of moderate to critical injury by 50 percent. Further research has shown that unbelted rear seat passengers increase the death rate of front seat passengers by up to 5 times. With these facts in mind, we take care to make sure that all of our family members are safe and secure during car travel. Or... do we? While we strap our kids and ourselves in snugly, we may be forgetting our four-legged family members. Many people believe securing their pets in the car is unnecessary for short trips around town, and don't think twice about traveling with unsecured pets to the bank, the pet store or the dog park. However, these short and sweet trips are when most accidents occur. With pet travel on the rise, more and more dogs and cats are at risk of suffering

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severe injuries during car trips. To help bring awareness to this problem, we've come up with five important reasons for securing your pet in the car.

Driver Distraction Even the most well-behaved pet travelers can get overly excited or frightened while riding in a car. Frightened or excited pets may jump into the front seat, lunge out of windows, cry or bark incessantly, or attempt to climb on the driver. Multiple pet travelers may choose an inopportune moment for a fight or a rambunctious play session. Any one of these scenarios can cause the driver to become distracted, which can dramatically increase the chances of an accident.

Injury During a Car Ride Even in situations where an accident does not occur, pets who are allowed to roam free in the car can become injured in a variety of ways. If the car swerves or stops suddenly, they may tumble off seats, be thrown across the car, or be hit by unsecured objects. A curious or comfort-seeking cat may crawl into a tight space and get stuck. Dogs who stick their heads or paws out the window risk injury from passing cars, or may be tempted to try and jump out if something outside the car piques their interest.

Injury During a Crash During a crash, unsecured pets can be thrown against windshields or out of win-

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dows, and those riding on their parents' laps can be seriously injured by deployed airbags.

Potential Injury to Other Passengers Even at just 30 miles per hour, the impact from a car crash can turn a 60-pound dog into dangerous projectile wielding 2700 pounds of force, which could have devastating consequences for both the pet and anyone else rising in the car.

Loss or Injury After an Accident

Mowi

While most safety concerns revolve around what happens during a car crash, few people consider the dangers posed in the aftermath of an accident. Unsecured pets that are frightened and disoriented may run out into traffic, run away entirely, or become aggressive with police or paramedics who are trying to help with a rescue.

3 year old ginger and white male who is good with kids, cats, dogs, and is house trained.

Current pet auto safety devices are comfortable, affordable, and easy to use. There are plenty of options available. Pet travel crates and kennels are a traditional option that keep pets calm and secure. Vehicle pet barriers restrict pets to either the cargo area or back seat. And pet safety belts secure pets firmly to the seat, where they can still look out the window to their hearts' content. There are numerous options available for securing your pet during car travel. Whichever product you choose, know that you're investing wisely in your pet's safety and well-being. About TripsWithPets.com TripsWithPets.com is the #1 online resource for pet travel. Named best pet travel site by Consumer Reports, TripsWithPets.com's mission is to offer resources that ensure pets are welcome, happy, and safe while traveling. The website features a directory of pet friendly hotels and accommodations across the United States and Canada, as well as airline & car rental pet policies; pet friendly restaurants, beaches, and events; a user-friendly route search option; pet travel tips; pet travel supplies; and other pet travel resources. About the Author Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the US and Canada, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.

Pita Adult male Akita. He would do best in a home with teens and older and is good with cats and most dogs he meets.

Available for adoption at Dessin Animal Shelter! Call 570-253-4037.

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BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE

The Challenge of

Change By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA

We must embrace pain and burn it as fuel for our journey.

~Kenji Miyazawa

t is a given that challenges in life are unavoidable. We deal with these issues on a daily basis. Sometimes the challenge is anticipated, which makes it easier to confront. Sometimes it is unexpected; a car accident which is followed by legal consequences with a financial downturn, as an example. As another example, the birth of twins, which clearly has financial consequence, but the parents are thrilled and prepared to make a commitment to provide for their children even with the recognition that child care and saving for future education expenses will require greater sacrifice on their part. Other challenges in life that are unpredicted may include the diagnosis of a serious medical condition with a poor prognosis. This can be followed by feelings of anxiety and/or sadness. Financial changes after a job loss and the inability to find work may result in a severe financial reversal to the extent that the individual is unable to support a mortgage, ultimately resulting in foreclosure. Again, this may cause feelings of sadness and anxiety or in some instances thoughts of suicide. In each instance the individual’s response to the challenge will be unique; totally dependent on one’s ability to cope and adapt to the change. One question is whether the response warrants clinical intervention. Every day we are exposed to advertisements that promote the use of medications to treat

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almost every imaginable biological and emotional experience. We see a “cloud” to promote an antidepressant and a “bladder,” on a leash, to promote a medication to treat urinary frequency. The public has been made aware of a multitude of medications to treat insomnia, anxiety, depression, and mood instability, as an example. The net result is a significant number of adults who are on one or more psychiatric medications. Do we need to consider medication for each and every challenge that we deal with in life? The following fictional clinical vignette is presented to highlight the experience of confronting an unexpected life event. JT is a 24-year-old single man. He is a recent college graduate and is working part time in a software company while he continues his studies as a graduate student in computer programming. He recently moved to his own apartment but had to find a roommate to help with expenses. JT is coping but recognizes that his financial situation is tenuous. He has received financial support from his parents, but recognized that this was limited and encouraged his parents to stop sending money they could not afford. Part of the reason for doing this was the illness of his father who was recently diagnosed with cancer. JT was startled to receive this information when his father called to tell him. He had no previous information to suggest that his father was even ill and was concerned that his father

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had not shared all of the information with him. His father assured him that he was doing OK and encouraged him to concentrate on his studies and not to worry about money. It was reassuring to receive an occasional check from his parents, but at the same time experiencing some guilt and continuing to wonder if his parents could really afford it. JT was able to coordinate his work and studies and gradually regained control of his finances over the course of several months. He was optimistic about his future and looked forward to calling his father soon to tell him he was going to finish his graduate studies and was going to work in a prestigious software company as a programmer with a good salary. JT was an only child and always felt it was important to be a “success,” so he could make his father proud. However, JT’s life was jarred suddenly after he received a call from his mother. His father’s condition had deteriorated dramatically, warranting hospitalization. His mother told JT that his father had not shared all of the details of his illness with him; he had terminal cancer. JT immediately left work, flying to his parents’ home, and then to see his father in the hospital. His father’s appearance startled him. While he had prepared himself for this experience, he was not prepared to see his father in an emaciated state in a hospital bed. He was immediately overcome with guilt because he had not focused more carefully on his father’s medical condition. The thought “I am not a good son” immediately shot through his mind. JT and his mother spent the night in his father’s hospital room. Sometime during the night, his father died. He never awakened, and JT did not have the opportunity to tell his father that he wanted to be successful and make his father proud and that he loved him. JT stayed with his mother for the week and then returned to his apartment. He was saddened by the unexpected death of his father but felt he was able to cope with feelings of loss that he recognized was normal. But JT could not stop thinking about his father. Why wasn’t he there for him? Was he a bad son? Should he have accepted money from his father? JT could not shake feelings of sadness and guilt. He had difficulty sleeping and concentrating.

He had episodes of crying and told his mother that, several months after the death of his father, he still missed him. His mother tried to reassure him. She told him she felt that his feelings were normal and would diminish over time. JT had many friends who were supportive, as well as his colleagues at work and school. However, JT began to change, often abrupt in his interactions with co-workers. He decided he had to excel in school and focused on finishing his studies in order to stop thinking about the loss of his father. Noticing the change in JT, a friend encouraged him to see a grief counselor. JT followed through and began to understand his feelings and his behavior. He saw his primary care doctor who offered to prescribe an antianxiety medication, such as Xanax or alprazolam. At the same time, his doctor advised JT that this medication would be prescribed for a limited period as it was not intended to be a chronic medication. JT decided not to take medication and continued counseling. After a few months, he ended treatment with a better understanding of himself. He loved his father and was able to understand how important his father was to him. Visit CM’s website for more on change.

The following references are provided for the informed consumer: U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: Grief – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ ency/article/001530.htm U.S. National Library of Medicine National Institutes of Health: Adjustment Disorder – http://www.nlm.nih.gov/ medlineplus/ency/article/000932.htm NIH: National Institute on Aging: Getting Help for Your Grief – http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/endlife-helping-comfort-and-care/getting-help-your-grief 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, Pennsylvania.

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Laser Vision

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU

10 LASIK

By Dr. Frank A. Bucci, Jr.

Myths About

It’s dangerous

Everyone is a candidate for LASIK

There is one kind of LASIK

LASIK involves one laser

LASIK can’t fix astigmatism

If you have astigmatism, you already know what it is. LASIK corrects astigmatism and the curvature of your cornea while correcting the other imperfections in your eye. LASIK works by using a highly focused laser to reshape the cornea, and people with mild to moderate astigmatism can be candidates for the procedure. However, the first step is a fully dilated exam performed by an ophthalmologist, the surgeon performing your procedure. Based on the results of this exam it will be determined if your are a LASIK candidate.

It hurts!

Many people avoid LASIK out of fear of the pain involved. Well, we have good news. Thanks to modern medicine, you may experience a lot less discomfort than you might expect. Prior to the procedure, you’ll receive eye drops to numb your eyes. And while the discomfort varies from person to person — some experience none at all — you’ll likely feel a pressure that usually lasts no longer than a minute. But what if you’re still anxious? Dr. Bucci will also provide a medication prior to the procedure to calm your nerves. We also encourage you to ask all your questions up front. You’ll find the more you know, the less there is to be afraid of!

While there are potential side effects, which are discussed with your surgeon at your LASIK evaluation, complications from the procedure can usually be managed with the proper follow-up care. The complications vary, depending on how much nearsightedness, farsightedness and/or astigmatism you have as well as, the experience of your surgeon and the technology he uses to perform your procedure.

LASIK can yield excellent results when performed on the right patient, but it is not for everyone. If you have an autoimmune disease, or an immunodeficiency disease, you should avoid LASIK, as they affect the body’s healing ability. Additionally, if you are pregnant or nursing, experiencing corneal thinning (keratoconus), you should not get LASIK. Schedule your free LASIK evaluation with Dr. Bucci; based on the results of your testing, he can determine if you are a candidate.

Did you know that there is actually more than one kind of LASIK, one being bladefree LASIK? Well it can, but it doesn’t have to. When preparing your eye for the procedure, a doctor can use either a microkeratome blade or a femtosecond laser (blade-free). We encourage you to ask your doctor about the equipment and if blade-free is an option. Just like not all surgeons are the same, not all procedures or the technology they use is the same.

Todays advanced LASIK involves two lasers — the femtosecond laser creates the flap, Continued on page 44.

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EVENTS

Y O U

ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS

RECREATION

a+r+e NOV ’18

THE AREA’S GOOD STUFF

C O N N E C T E D

mal life & more. Wear appropriate footwear. Pre-registration required & limited. Registration & info: 570-629-3061.

Ongoing Events DAILY

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

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

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.

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.

TUESDAYS

THURSDAYS

WEEKLY

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. TUESDAYS

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

Wednesday Bog Walk 1–3:30 p.m. Tannersville Bog, E. Stroudsburg. Environmental Educators explain the Bog’s formation, its interesting plant & ani-

Thursday Night with John Curtin 6–9 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Classic guitar playing & musical stylings. Info: 570-226-1337 or ledgeshotel.com. 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

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.

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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. 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

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. 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.

SATURDAYS Main Street Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. A vibrant & friendly gathering of exemplary local producers & enthusiastic consumers, connecting through a mutual appreciation for each other & for our regional foodscape. Farm-to-table eats from Anthill Farm Kitchen, locally grown produce & other artisanal goods. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

THROUGH NOV. 5

“Public Spaces/Private Places” ARTery Gallery, Milford. Works by Kate Horan & Randall FitzGerald. Horan’s passion is the human figure, which is portrayed in semi-abstract paintings & drawings. FitzGerald, a digital artist, captures the natural world with his camera & creates one of a kind works of art with digital brushes. Info: 570-409-1234 or www.arterygallerymilford.com.

November 1– November 9

NOV. 2

Project Owlnet Saw-whet Owl Banding 8–10 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. See description at Oct. 12. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. NOV. 2 & 3

NOV. 1–29

Art Exhibit: Don Baylor, “Joy in Nature” Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Oil & acrylic paintings of landscapes & fishing scenes from the Poconos & Rockies — places where Don has been inspired by nature while hiking, fishing & paddling. Meet the artist Nov. 3, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061. NOV. 2

A Number 8 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Pocono Mountain Theater Company.

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Exploring the ethics of cloning & the fragility of personal identity, this performance is sure to entertain & is not to be missed. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Fall Rummage and Bake Sale St. John’s Lutheran Church, Honesdale. Fri., 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Sat., 9 a.m.–Noon. Bag Sale at 12:30 on Sat. Info: 570-253-2782. NOV. 3

Annual Bird Seed Sale 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Quality seed at a good price. Wide variety of seed mixes & specialties, as well as bulk black oil sunflower seed. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

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EVENTS NOV. 8

NOV. 3

Bees, Please! Englewinds Ensemble Milford Theatre, Milford. This program related to the disappearance of bees has been emblematic of this award winning ecoensemble. Their selection includes works by Chopin, Rimsky-Korsakov, MacDowell, & others. Info: 570-409-1269 or www.kindredspiritsarts.org.

Wet-on-Wet Painting with Rick Weber 6:30–9 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Learn to paint in the style of Bob Ross — instead of waiting days for oil paint to dry, paint with layers, applying wet paint into wet paint. Info: 570-251-1181 or TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com.

NOV. 3

Flying Needles — Fiber Arts UFOs Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Join other crafters & Patti Shreiner while finishing your knitting, quilting or other fiber art works-in-progress. Other small projects include holiday cards & button earrings. Includes lodging & meals. Day rates available. Registration & info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

Love? said the Commander 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Duo from the Philadelphia area made up of Kate Hall, a sad gal who sings & plays guitar & bass, & Chris Bishop, a less sad guy who plays guitar. Combining powerful lyrics & vocals with dynamic guitar work, the two hope to deliver a sound unlike anything listeners

NOV. 8–11

NOV. 8 Maple City Jazz Festival: Film Screening 7 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Special screening of “The Taking of Pelham One Two Three,” a 1974 American thriller film which features a phenomenal jazz score & is the epitome of how jazz has been interwoven in American history, particularly in Hollywood. Commentary & discussion led by Dan Rigney of WJFF. Donations collected at door. Info: thecooperageproject.org or 570-253-2020. have heard before. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. NOV. 4

Ecozone Discovery Room 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore the indoor discovery room & enjoy hands-on exhibits on natural history, sustainability & the local environment. No registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. NOV. 4

Music Fit for a King 4 p.m. St. Stephen’s Episcopal Pro-Cathedral, Wilkes-Barre. Festive season-opener of music from England’s greatest Baroque masters. Verse anthems for chorus, a quintet of soloists, & chamber orchestra include music of Purcell & works of Handel. Ages 18 & under free. Info: choralsociety.net.

NOV. 8–11

Maple City Jazz Festival The Cooperage, Honesdale. Weekend-long event explores the Jazz genre, including performances & a film screening. BYOB. Info & event line-up: thecooperageproject.org or 570-253-2020. NOV. 9

Italian Wine Dinner 7 p.m. Settlers Inn, Hawley. Enjoy a taste of Italy featuring Chef James Kelly. Prix fixe menu. Info & reservations: 570-226-2993. NOV. 9

Maple City Jazz Festival: 3 Divas 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Superswingin’ powerhouse trio plays original, traditional & contemporary standards from all genres of music, with their own unique style, innovative arrangements, & effervescent musical joy. Reservations: info@thecooperageproject.org or 570-253-2020.

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EVENTS November 10–November 19 NOV. 10

Protect the Tap 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Blue Ridge Estate Vineyard & Winery, Brodheadsville. Have you ever pondered the source of the clean water that goes into your favorite adult beverage? Learn about & celebrate all of the components that go into keeping the water behind the cocktails clean at a fundraising event in cooperation with local watershed organizations. Cornhole, fly-fishing casting & Quizzo competitions, wine toss, & more. Live entertainment. No entry fee, but all games & raffles are cash only. Proceeds fund environmental education efforts of the Monroe & Northampton Cty. Conservation Districts. Info: www.protectthetap.com. NOV. 10

Maple City Jazz Festival: JAZZQUATCH 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Free & open to the public. Live jazz during the Main Street Farmer’s Market, with a “soul jazz” band formed by four local musicians on guitar, bass, percussion & tenor saxophone. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

NOV. 10 HHS Craft Show 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Honesdale Middle School, Honesdale. Honesdale HS Marching Band hosts annual show with over 90 vendors showcasing home decor & soaps, jewelry, woodcrafts, sports memorabilia, wreaths, pottery, salt lamps, holiday florals & photography. Basket raffles, baked goods & door prizes. Lunch items for sale at the Hornet Cafe. Info: 570-253-5900 or hhsbandcraftshow@yahoo.com.

NOV. 10

Maple City Jazz Festival: La Tanya Hall & Andy Milne 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Milne collaborates with vocalist Hall in a celebration of the life of Sarah Vaughan. Together they chronicle Sarah Vaughan’s unique path, which touched everything from Pop & Jazz to Bossa Nova & Opera. Hall’s rich vocal range & dynamic stage presence make her uniquely qualified to commemorate the “Sublime Sarah.” Reservations: info@thecooperageproject.org or 570-253-2020.

NOV. 11

Maple City Jazz Festival: Kazzrie Jaxen & Friends 2 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Standard tunes, jazz lines, original compositions & totally free improvisations are woven into the performances through the contrapuntal voices of piano, bass, poetry & song — always unique & surprising. BYOB. Reservations: info@thecooperageproject.org or 570-253-2020. NOV. 11

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

Venison Cooking Class 2–4 p.m. Boiler Room at The Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Chef Travis Lugo demonstrates five ways to cook what you have hunted. Guests dine as Chef Travis cooks. Info & reservations: 570-390-4440.

NOV. 10

NOV. 12

NOV. 10

Milford After Dark Downtown Milford. Extended shopping hours, gallery events, live music & diverse dining options. Info: www.milfordpa.us.

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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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EVENTS NOV. 13

Watercolor Workshop with Cynthia Hanson 2–4 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. All skill levels welcome. Learn to use watercolors to create a special painting, or enhance your skills. Info: 570-251-1181 or TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. NOV. 14

Open Mic Night 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Hosted by Kluster Phunk. Come to perform or come to listen & watch. BYOB. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. NOV. 15

Game Night 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Play from

birds & a good time. Bring a lunch, binoculars, & dress for the weather. Stops made for coffee & snacks. Pre-registration & payment required. Registration & info: 570-629-3061. NOV. 17

Lilliana’s Nature Discovery Area Exploration 9 a.m.–Noon. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. A designated outdoor area designed to allow children of all ages to have a safe, fun & natural area to explore. Featuring special activities in addition to the elements already in the area, which include a canoe, tunnel, xylophone, talking tubes & more. Program is free. Info: 570-629-3061. NOV. 17

Game Dinner 6–8 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Enjoy the bounty of the season at PEEC’s 8th annual dinner,

NOV. 17 Ecozone Discovery Room 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore the indoor discovery room & enjoy hands-on exhibits on natural history, sustainability & the local environment. No registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

a selection of games or bring your own game to share & teach. All ages welcome. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. NOV. 15

Chaos Wire Wrapping with Bernice Craft 6:30–8:30 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Learn how to wire wrap crystals. Create handmade, unique works of art. Leave class with a finished piece. Crystal included in fee. Bring jewelers’ pliers (no teeth); all other materials included. Info: 570-251-1181 or TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. NOV. 16

Mystery Birding Field Trip Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Join Brian Hardiman on a field trip where the destinations & target birds will not be revealed until the day of the trip. Meet at 8:30 a.m. & return 5:30 pm. Cost includes bus transportation, plenty of

which features local game & seasonal harvests. Bring your friends & family to enjoy a cozy evening. Reception at 5 p.m., Main Building. Registration & info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. NOV. 17

RiverFolk Concert: Zoe Mulford & Brad Yoder 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by RiverFolk Concerts. Mulford charms audiences with powerful, storydriven songwriting, an engaging stage presence & an unlabored vocal style. Yoder performs a unique mix of humorous, poetic, political, funky & edgy original songs. BYOB. Reservations & info: 845-252-6783 or riverfolkconcerts@frontier.com. NOV. 18

Create Your Own Walking Stick 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Spend the after-

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EVENTS noon creating a handcrafted walking stick. Wood, tools, gloves & aprons provided, as well as suggestions & pointers on how to personalize your work. Pre-registration required. Registration & info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. NOV. 18–DEC. 23

Art in Sixes Alliance Gallery, Delaware Arts Center, Narrowsburg, NY. Group exhibition of small works. Free. Opening reception, Nov. 18. Gallery hours: Tues.–Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m. Info: 845-252-7576 or delawarevalleyartsalliance.org.

es, Hawley. Traditional buffet meal with holiday favorites. Reservations: 570-226-4388. NOV. 22

Fuss-Free Thanksgiving Noon–6 p.m. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Family-style Thanksgiving meal. Reservations: 570-226-2124. NOV. 22

Thanksgiving Dinner Noon–6:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. Celebrate the holidays with a traditional farm-to-table feast. Reservations: 570-226-2993. NOV. 24

November 20–November 30 NOV. 21

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. NOV. 22

Thanksgiving Dinner To Go 9 a.m.–1 p.m. The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. Pick up your traditional Thanksgiving meal ready to heat. Takeout orders accepted through Nov. 20. Reservations: 570-226-2993. NOV. 22

Thanksgiving Buffet Noon–4 p.m. The Waterfront at Silver Birch-

A Contra Dance 7:15 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. NOV. 25

Animal Tracking 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore PEEC’s natural areas for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, chew marks & other signs animals leave as they travel through the fields & forests of the Poconos. Registration & info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. NOV. 25

Christmas with the Choral Society 4 p.m. Covenant Presbyterian Church, Scranton. The full array of choirs — chil-

NOV. 23, 24 & 25 Honesdale for the Holidays Downtown Honesdale. Many stores & businesses are hosting “open houses.” Holiday music. Annual Santa Parade (Nov. 23, 6 p.m.) ends in Central Park for activities including lighting of the Star on Irving Cliff, lighting of the Christmas tree & holiday music, all under Santa’s twinkling eyes. Sat., Victorian strollers promenade downtown & craft vendors dot Main St. near the pavilion. Free holiday shopper’s trolley (10 a.m.–5 p.m.). St. Nicholas Faire at Grace Epsicopal Church, Stourbridge Model Railroad Club, Stourbridge Line rail excursions (Santa Express rides: 11 a.m., 1 & 3 p.m.; www.thestourbridgeline.net or 570-470-2697). Further details: 570-253-5492 or ghp@visithonesdalepa.com.

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EVENTS December 1–December 8 DEC. 1

LTVFD Ladies Auxiliary Christmas Craft Fair 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Lackawaxen Fire House, Lackawaxen. Lots of vendors, hourly door prizes. Food & homemade soups available. Large parking lot. Info: 570-685-7330. DEC. 1

NOV. 30 Candlelight Christmas Dinner 6–9:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. Start your evening with a holiday punch, syllabub, passed hors d’oeuvres & a cozy horse & carriage ride. Then a farm-to-table feast with several delectable courses & an extensive array of handcrafted holiday desserts. The Bradley Bunch entertains. Reservations: 570-226-2993.

Holiday Bows & Boughs 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Create holiday decorations using natural materials. Evergreen boughs & materials to make wreaths, swags & table decor are provided. Bring your own supplies & decorations, too — PEEC brings the music, drinks & snacks. Pre-registration required. Registration & info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. DEC. 1

Bethany Community Event: “Christmas in the Village!” 2–6 p.m. Bethany. All ages. Open House, HHS Chamber Choir singing seasonal carols, Tricky Tray & tree lighting, appearance by & letters with Mrs. Claus, family Christmastide story with craft, living nativity & more. Seasonal foods & drinks. No admission fee. Info: 570-253-5573. DEC. 1 & 2

dren, youth & adult — join organist Dr. Timothy Smith for holiday selections, audience singing of carols, organ showpieces & a festive holiday reception. New, unwrapped, non-violent toys & cash donations collected for the U.S. Marine Corp Reserves' “Toys for Tots” program. Info: choralsociety.net.

Candlelight Christmas Dinner 6–9:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn Restaurant, Hawley. See description at Nov. 30. The Bradley Bunch entertains Sat.; on Sun. enjoy Robert Kopec & The Honesdale HS Choir. Reservations: 570-226-2993.

NOV. 26

Art Exhibit: Photo Contest Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Enjoy the entrants in the Monroe County Natural Resources Photo Contest. Winners will be revealed & the top 12 photos will be available on a 2019 calendar. Proceeds from calendar sales benefit Environmental Education programs at Kettle Creek. Opening reception Dec. 1, 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061.

Vacation Nature Camp: Animal Adventurers 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Grades 3–5 only. Get up close & personal with PEEC animals as well as learn to track the native beasts in the park. Registration & info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. NOV. 29

Wayne Choralaires concert “Caroling, Caroling!” 7 p.m. St. Rose of Lima, Carbondale. Sacred & secular holiday songs. No admission fee. Freewill offering accepted. Info: 570-253-2782.

DEC. 1, 2018–JAN. 31, 2019

DEC. 2

Wayne Choralaires concert “Caroling, Caroling!” 2:30 p.m. Queen of Peace, Hawley. Sacred & secular holiday songs. No admission fee. Freewill offering accepted. Info: 570-253-2782.

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EVENTS DEC. 2

RiverFolk Concert: Ryanhood 3 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by RiverFolk Concerts. Duo Ryan Green & Cameron Hood make up an award-winning two-man alt-folk rock band, known for their acoustic blend of folk, rock, & pop influences. Their cross-generational sound is equally at home in colleges, coffee-houses, concert halls, churches & living rooms. BYOB. Reservations & info: 845-252-6783 or riverfolkconcerts@frontier.com. DEC. 6

Girls’ Night Out 6–9 p.m. Milford. Have a fun evening out with friends as businesses extend their hours, staying open from 5 until at least 8 p.m., to offer product samplings, free classes, complimentary refreshments, prize drawings & special sales in stores. Info: milfordpa.us/event-directory/. DEC. 6

Wayne Choralaires concert “Caroling, Caroling!” 7:30 p.m. Ladore Conference Center, Waymart. Sacred & secular holiday songs. No admission fee. Freewill offering accepted. Info: 570-253-2782. DEC. 7–9

20th Annual Hawley Winterfest Hawley. A grand & beloved celebration of the season for all ages. Numerous activities & events. Hawley’s homeowners, innkeepers & shopkeepers alike display their smalltown holiday spirit & finery. Info: 570-226-4064 or hawleywinterfest.com or Facebook. DEC. 8

Second Saturday Honesdale 6–9 p.m. Downtown Honesdale. Festivaltown happening filled with music, art, comedy & community support. Info on Facebook. DEC. 8

Milford After Dark Downtown Milford. Extended shopping hours, gallery events, live music & diverse dining options. Info: www.milfordpa.us. DEC. 9

Wayne Choralaires concert “Caroling, Caroling!” 2:30 p.m. Central United Methodist, Honesdale. Sacred & secular holiday songs. No admission fee. Freewill offering accepted. Info: 570-253-2782.

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LASIK

Continued from page 36.

which is used to prep your eye for the vision correction part, followed by an excimer laser, which is used to correct the corneal tissue to fix your vision. Not to be confused with the original version used in the 90’s referred to as PRK, where the laser is applied to the surface of the cornea, without creating a flap. In some cases this may be suggested, although the procedure and healing time differs from todays advanced bladeless LASIK.

I have to pay for LASIK up front in full

I have to put my life on hold to recover from LASIK

On average, CustomVue Bladeless LASIK can cost up to $5,200 for both eyes. Traditionally it is not covered by insurances and is considered an elective procedure. We realize that’s not exactly pocket change; however, it’s your eyes and your vision you’re investing in. Plus, you’ll benefit from this investment everyday!! Fortunately, Bucci Laser Vision recognizes this and offers several financing options to those patients who qualify.

Well, this one is sort of a myth because it depends what you do with your life. For example, if you’re a swimmer or someone that does highimpact sports, you’ll want to talk to your surgeon about when it’s okay to resume these activities. Otherwise, it’s safe to assume you’ll be able to go back to your daily routine within a day or two. As with any surgery, recovery time can vary from person to person. Dr. Bucci includes one year of post operative care with his LASIK procedures.

I have to keep my eyes open for a long time

Scientists have shown that the average person blinks between 15 and 20 times per minute. Remember those numbing eye drops mentioned earlier? Those will also help reduce your impulse to blink. plus a speculum is positioned to hold your upper & lower lids apart. LASIK is a quick procedure taking less than 8 minutes minute per eye!

my eye, I can mess up 10} IftheI move procedure The laser used in the procedure has built-in technology that tracks and accounts for the eye’s movements. This keeps the laser on track to correct exactly the right spot. By exposing the myths behind LASIK, we hope you feel more comfortable and knowledgeable about the procedure. We invite you to call us at 1-877-DR-BUCCI, schedule your Free LASIK evaluation today or attend one of our free LASIK seminars hosted by Dr. Bucci and our staff.

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