The CURRENT
GO • SEE • DO JIM THORPE
The Jim Thorpe Current
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Serving The Jim Thorpe Area
October 2018 • 1
jimthorpecurrent.com I OCTOBER 2018
Leafing Summer Behind, Falling into Autumn By Christopher Holland The Current Contributing Writer
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Breast Cancer Survivors Helped to Feel Whole Again One Tattoo at a Time
he end of summer signals many things: the start of postseason baseball, closing your pool until next Memorial Day and packing away your shorts and sandals, to name a few. But while several things might be coming to an end, others are just getting started. From leaf peeping in the Poconos to hitting the ski slopes at an area resort, to paintball excursions to ice fishing, the autumn and deep winter months of the Northeast offer quite a variety of activities within our local communities. But let’s not jump into the snow piles too soon. After all, as we said, autumn is just ramping up. And with autumn comes October, one of the most exceptional months in our region – offering new, seasonal craft beers from local breweries, a panoply of colors served up by Mother Nature, fall festivals and of course, Halloween. So, while we’re all dreading snowstorms and single-digit temperatures, let’s take the time to embrace outdoor activities before we dig out our snowshoes and shovels. One place that truly takes advantage of the fall season is Jim Thorpe. Home to one of the most prestigious fall foliage festivals in the region, the small town’s celebration is for everyone. Offering children’s activities, craft vendors and live entertainment, the festival takes place over three weekends in October, and it has a huge economic impact on the local community. Michael Rivkin, who chairs the Fall Festival Committee of Jim Thorpe Fall Foliage weekends, has worked tirelessly with local businesses and politicians to make possible this event. Elected to the board of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency in January, 2017, Rivkin has played a vital role in continuing a tradition that’s been happening in the borough for many years. But he doesn’t only accredit himself with the festival’s success. “Happily, we had many other volunteers who had assisted very strongly for many years, which made working on the event that much smoother,” Rivkin said. The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency, which produces the free festival which runs the weekends of Oct. 6-7, 13-14 and 20-21, has many hands on deck to make the event possible.
By Christopher Holland The Current Contributing Writer When Tina Madden was growing up in Dublin, Ireland, little did she know that by her early 20s she’d relocate to the United States and become an expatriate businesswoman. After traveling around the states for a while, Madden moved to Jim Thorpe where she now runs her business “Skin Deep,” an endeavor that combine cosmetics with tattooing. “My business started out as skin care and after continued education in the beauty industry I became more interested in permanent makeup,” Madden said. Madden originally went to school for esthetics, micro-needling therapy and cosmetics, and then attended the Beau Institute Tina Madden for Permanent and Corrective Cosmetics in New Jersey to become a permanent makeup and medical tattoo artist. “I started out as an esthetician Continued on page 6
By Jessica Clair Special to The Current
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hat better way to enjoy the weekend after Halloween and the classic Victorian charm of Jim Thorpe, PA than at a charity ball? On Saturday, November 3, 2018, from 6pm to 11pm, the elegant Mauch Chunk Ballroom will be transformed into a whimsical world of futuristic steampunk technology and Victorian gothic romance for a modern twist on the traditional Victorian Ball. The 2018 Victorian Gothic and Steampunk Ball will be an evening of dinner, modern dancing, and entertainment, with all proceeds benefiting the Mauch Chunk Museum and Cultural Center. Two contrasting interpretations of the Victorian era world are presented to guests in a playful mashup of styles. The
“We rely on numerous volunteers to assist—especially with the logistics of the parking and shuttle service from Mauch Chunk Lake Park,” Rivkin said. He said that Dan Ward, troop leader of Scouts of America Troop 555 is also invaluable to the festival. “In the end, we can’t produce the event without the generous support of the community… countless contributions, from individuals and businesses alike, that directly pay for parts of the festival, like the entertainment programs,” Rivkin said. Continued on page 9
darkly romantic Victorian gothic theme recalls a mystical past of crumbling castles and otherworldly creatures who lurk in nighttime shadows. Meanwhile, the adventurous, gear-heavy Steampunk style imagines a fantastical future equipped with the latest in 19th century technology. Two photograph staging areas are available for guests. One is a Victorian gothic photograph setting, with red velvet furnishings and a mirror tactfully covered with black cloth for those vampyres in the crowd. The other photograph vignette features the steampowered gear theme suitable for those living the life of Victorian adventures and pirateers. A photographer will be onsite to print complimentary keepsake photographs for guests. Planned and organized by the Museum’s Board of Directors, Board Member Karliene Zack aims to create an event that is “classy and fun.” Using her skills as a set designer, she has constructed a steampunk gear machine and floating airship which will be part of the ballroom decor. Local resident Jerry Clair has used his experience in floral design and love of antiques to create unique floral arrangements and decorations. Red roses and black ravens in tabletop centerpieces recall Edgar Allan Poe’s poem The Raven, while pops of steampunk are present in decorations made of copper wire, metal gears, and skeleton keys. Prior to dinner, a dramatic reading of The Raven will be performed by Board Member and Actor Christian Gould, and later in the evening all guests are invited to show off their best moves in a “Gothic versus Steampunk” dance-off to the tune of Michael Jackson’s “Thriller.” Popular steampunk and gothic theme songs, along with current dance tunes, will be played by the DJ. Continued on page 14