The Jim Thorpe Current- February 2023

The CURRENT GO

A Pocono Winter Beyond The Slopes

By Emily Whalen Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau

The Pocono Mountains has been a top ski destination for decades, but there’s so much more to winter in the Poconos than just action on the slopes. Come experience all the region has to offer this snowy season! Take in the crisp, cold air with a variety of exciting outdoor winter activities, or stay warm while enjoying the indoor family attractions in the area. There are so many things to do during a winter day trip, you may want to find a place to stay and give yourself a longer getaway. Check out eight winter experiences to discover in the Pocono Mountains this year.

Hiking

Jim Thorpe Winterfest Brings Fire and Ice to Fight Winter Blues

Go on a winter hike! With over 126 trails all over the region, there are plenty of options, whether you prefer to climb to the heights or venture into the forests. With or without snow, the bare winter landscape has a unique beauty of its own. Get out of the house and bundle up for a rejuvenating walk.

Continued on page 8

By Natalya Bucuy The Current Contributing Writer

If January is for dreamers, February is for doers. And if you’re looking for something fun to do to shake off those icy winter blues, Jim Thorpe has a fiery event for you.

The Winterfest has been connecting the businesses and the community of Jim Thorpe for three decades. This year, as the event celebrates its 30th anniversary, the historic business district will host a Fire-and-Ice-themed celebration on Feb. 17-19.

“The event is a moving work of art and everything about it is created with beauty and art,” says Michelle Gallagher, Vice President of the Jim Thorpe Tourism Association and chair of the Winterfest celebration. “It comes as an afterglow of Valentine’s Day and really makes the town look like a Hallmark movie set. It brings a boost to the

businesses in town during the slow time of the year.”

The Love and Light Luminary Walk kicks off the weekend at sunset on Friday. Broadway and Race street will create a perfect setting for a romantic evening or fun outside activity for the family. Business owners will show off their creativity with unique luminary creations. Businesses also design their own ice sculptures and keep the designs top-secret. “The Walk encourages people to get out of the house and move,” Gallagher says. “It’s so important to do that this time of year to escape cabin fever.”

The Mauch Chunk Opera House will present two concerts, a Creedence Revived and The ELO Tribute Show. The 70-minute round-trip train rides will run Saturday and Sunday during the Winterfest. Departures will be at 11 am, 1 pm, and 3 pm. Horse-drawn carriage rides and fireand-ice-themed food and drink specials at participating restaurants complete the list of Continued on page 8

5 Personalized Ways to Celebrate Galentine’s Day

Are you ready to celebrate Galentine’s Day on February 13? Originating from a 2010 episode of the popular TV show, “Parks and Recreation,” Galentine’s Day celebrates some of the most important relationships in our lives: our girlfriends. Over a decade later, the now-official holiday has skyrocketed in popularity. Here are tips on celebrating your gal pals with personalized touches.

1. Batch of Baked Goods. Food is the way to most anyone’s heart, especially when its homemade. Test a new recipe of your gal pal’s favorite dessert; or decorate cakes, cookies or cupcakes with icing in her favorite colors. No matter what you make, the extra effort will show just how much you care.

2. Creative Customized Cards. Everyone knows that gals love a sappy, pull-on-yourheartstrings letter or card. And you can up your card-sending game with a more personalized approach that resonates with the recipient. With the continued evolution of digital greetings,

SmashUps and Creatacard from American Greetings have made it easier than ever to create a card just as special and unique as your individual friendships.

Specific friendship-themed ecards include creative options like talking animals or tacos, messages from celebrities, animated folded digital greetings celebrating your “girl gang” and more! They’re sure to entertain, surprise and delight your friends.

SmashUps are smile-inducing, shareable videos that can be highly personalized in a variety of ways, including adding their name or a message into the audio and graphics. With Creatacard, users can replicate the best parts of the offline card-sending experience without the hassle of printing, addressing and postage. In a few easy steps, you can create, personalize and sign your favorite digital cards, then send them to your girlfriends in their preferred way of receiving messages, such as email, text, through a messaging app or social

Continued on page 7

Lehighton Board Approves Move to Colonial League

It’s official. Lehighton is leaving the Schuylkill League for the Colonial League.

The Lehighton Area School Board recently voted unanimously at its general meeting to approve the move, which takes effect in all sports for the 2024-25 scholastic season.

Lehighton’s decision to leave the Schuylkill League comes after the Colonial League extended invitations to both Lehighton and Jim Thorpe in December. Jim Thorpe has not taken any action on its invitation to this point.

“There is definitely an excitement amongst the students and the community in regards to the Colonial League move,” Lehighton athletic director Kyle Spotts said. “We have heard nothing but positive feedback and the unanimous decision by the board supports the feedback that we have received in regards to the move. I am excited for all of our student-athletes to be able to compete in a league setting and not miss out on opportunities.”

Briggs Farm Blues Festival Announces Main Stage Line Up for 2023 Show

People expect a world-class musical experience at Briggs Farm Blues Festival, and the July 6, 7, & 8, 2023 show will exceed those expectations! The Main Stage line up is locked in! The fields of Briggs Farm are ready to vibrate with over 20 musically acclaimed artists. From deep delta-blues to smokey soul to heady funk, the 2023 line up encompasses the unique twists and turns of blues music. From guitar shredders to vocal powerhouses, the blues has found its home on the rolling hills of Briggs Farm.

The music begins Thursday, July 6, from the intimate Back Porch Stage. Thursdays are wild cards at Briggs Fest! Anything from country music to the sounds of the 70’s to classic blues and everything in between can be featured Thursday. Whatever the genre, Thursday at Briggs Farm brings the party and folks can count on high octane, heavy-hitting musical acts! Unique arts vendors, more amazing food vendors, and beer sales from Berwick Brewing kick off the festival. Thursday at Briggs is just the beginning of an unforgettable weekend!

The Main Stage is the beating heart of the festival and 2023 will pump the foot stomping tunes deeper and louder than ever before with a dynamite line up!

SATURDAY’S LINE UP, JULY 8, 2023

Robert Randolf will headline Saturday’s show! Rolling Stone put Grammy nominated Randolph on the list of the “100 Greatest Guitarists of all Time.” He’s a pedal steel guitar virtuoso with irresistible rock n roll swagger who jumped from the spiritual music world to the secular and found his audience among blues fans, roots aficionados, and people looking for joy and uplifting music.

Eddie 9V has acted on instinct all his life, and that instinct landed him firmly on the roots and blues circuit of his native Atlanta, Georgia. Impulsive and unpredictable, his sound draws from classic blues and soul while creating something new, something wild, and something Briggs Farm Blues Festival can sink its teeth into.

Bywater Call is a 7-piece powerhouse of Southern Soul and Roots Rock that runs on raw emotion and strong musicianship. They’re a band whose mission in life is to subvert the crowds expectations and make them listen. With comparisons to Derek Trucks and Susan Tedeschi, Bywater Call is just beginning to see how far they can go.

Jackie Venson is an Austin legend in the making! A complex multi-instrumentalist known for blazing guitar skills that create psychedelic electronic journeys that will surprise and please a blues crowd. She’s like nothing Briggs Farm has ever experienced before!

FRIDAY’S LINE UP, JULY 7, 2023

Victor Wainwright and the Train will Headline Friday’s show! Wainwright is a grammy nominated award winning powerhouse who can’t hold himself back! With the train behind him, rolling thunder collies with boogie-woogie blues! It’s the kind of rockin’ heart stoppin’ experience that brings people back to Briggs Farm year after year!

Joanna Connor and the Wrecking Crew will turn the grassy fields into a Chicago Blues Club! Her style is formidable, her vocals like a butter churn for the soul. National and international accolades gave way to a decade of world-tours, a dozen recordings, a documentary, and a multitude of TV appearances and radio features. She’s straight-shootin’ guitar shredder, plain and simple.

Super Chikan and the Fighting Cocks will bring the Mississippi Delta to Briggsville! Hailing from Clarksdale, Mississippi, James “Super Chikan” Johnson is fun, frisky, danceable, and as loopy as you’d expect from a guy who plays instruments fashioned from discarded metal and who grew up chatting with poultry!

RL Boyce and the Cornlickers will kick off Friday’s Main Stage! A master at improvisation, RL Boyce plays music that’s loose and laid back while looping into an endless groove of hypnotic guitar that builds into a frenzy!

RL is a Mississippi Hill Country legend who weaves the past 50 years of blues seamlessly to the present. His live performances are nothing short of a spiritual experience!

While the Main Stage is rockin’, the Back Porch stage is jammin’ right along throughout the entire festival. Many people never make it to the Main Stage because the Back Porch is so good in every way. Briggs Farm Blues Festival takes special care with all booking, but especially with this stage. Twelve more exciting Back Porch Stage artists will be announced soon.

Camping is the best way to get the full Briggs Farm experience. Wide open spaces never run out or feel cramped. Briggs Farm Blues Festival has two ways to enjoy an epic camping adventure: patrons can purchase their ticket and roll in to stake a claim, or reserve a space that’s ready and waiting for them in the “Regular Reserve”camping area.

Briggs Farm Blues Festival boasts a sprawling vendor marketplace. Its twisting lanes are packed full of charming artist ready to show off their unique wares. From handmade leather goods to vintage jewelry to colorful paintings, the variety of vendors at Briggs Farm will delight, entertain, and inspire. There’s something special and new to discover around every corner.

For more information visit briggsfarm.com or call 570-379-3342

Lehighton came to the Schuylkill League from the Mountain Valley Conference in the fall of 2014 as part of the Indians’ move to the Anthracite Football League. The football move paid immediate dividends, as Lehighton won the 2015 AFL title and the Schuylkill League Division I crown in 2017, reaching the District 11 championship game in both seasons.

The Indians have had moderate success overall in their nine years in the Schuylkill League so far, winning back-toback boys’ soccer championships in 2014-15, the 2021 Schuylkill League golf team title and the team title at the 2023 Schuylkill League Wrestling Championships

11 days ago.

Lehighton hasn’t qualified for the league playoffs in girls’ soccer, girls’ volleyball, girls’ basketball, boys’ basketball, baseball or softball during its tenure in the Schuylkill League. Spotts said a key reason to switch leagues was that the Colonial League offered championships in field hockey, boys’ and girls’ tennis and competitive cheerleading, which the Schuylkill League did not. He also previously cited Lehighton’s exclusion in postseason events and scholar-athlete events that are only offered to the schools located in Schuylkill County.

With a male enrollment of 254 and a female enrollment of 265 for the current two-year PIAA cycle, Lehighton is the second largest school among the 18 full-time members of the Schuylkill League behind Pottsville (264 male/316 female). The Indians’ departure leaves a hole amongst the league’s big schools, which would get larger if Jim Thorpe also decides to join the Colonial League.

Lehighton would be the 14th full-time member of the Colonial League, joining Bangor, Catasauqua, Moravian Academy, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Notre Dame-Green Pond, Palisades, Palmerton, Pen Argyl, Salisbury, Saucon Valley, Southern Lehigh and Wilson. Lehighton slots in at third in terms of enrollment behind Southern Lehigh (401 male/429 female) and Bangor (372 male/330 female).

Spotts wasn’t sure if the Indians would be placed in a division based on enrollment or geography. The Colonial League’s basketball divisions, for example, are sorted based on location, with Lehighton most likely joining the West Division, which includes Catasauqua, Northern Lehigh, Northwestern Lehigh, Palmerton, Salisbury and Southern Lehigh.

Lehighton’s proximity to Northwestern Lehigh, Northern Lehigh and Palmerton was a big positive in the move to the Colonial League. (Yahoo News)

Scholarships Available for Carbon County Students

The Carbon County Community Foundation is pleased to announce a number of scholarship opportunities that are now available for students graduating from Carbon County school districts this year.

Scholarships range from $500 to $5,000. Qualified students are invited to submit their applications online at www.cccfoundpa.org. Applications are due March 1st.

The following scholarships are available:

The Anastasia Susko Memorial Scholarship awards $1,500 to a qualified female senior graduating from Jim Thorpe. Applicants should have a proven record of academic success with at least a 3.0 GPA cumulative average over the time period of two years prior to graduation and should demonstrate leadership and compassion despite having faced adversity.

The D&P Hawk Scholarship , established by David and Patricia Hawk of Lehighton, awards $5,000 each to two qualified high school seniors, one male and one female, graduating from Lehighton. Applicants should show proficiency in science, math, or business, with the intent to pursue further education in one of those fields.

The Hawks both consider themselves fortunate to have received financial support for their secondary education and wish to pay it forward for current students for whom college may be a financial hardship.

The Eugene “Peck” Armbruster Memorial Scholarship and the Glenn Eisenhower Memorial Scholarship , established by the Lehighton Orioles Nest #183, honor the memories of two longtime Orioles members. The scholarships each award $500 to a Carbon County senior who is seeking to further his or her education in a trade career at a 2 or 4-year college, university, or trade school.

The Hunters Heroes Memorial Scholarship , established in memory of Hunter Kurak Wolfe, awards $500 to a qualified senior graduating from Jim Thorpe. Applicants should exhibit great leadership and involvement throughout their community. An unsung hero who reflects hard work, courage, and passion in all that they do.

The Orioles Scouting Scholarship , established by the Lehighton Orioles Nest #183, awards $500 to a Carbon County senior who is currently active in Boy or Girl Scouts with a strong record of volunteerism and community service.

The Susan J. Tisiker Memorial Scholarship , established by Donald Katz, Esq. in memory of his wife, awards $2,000 to a qualified senior graduating from Palmerton. This scholarship can be renewed for up to four years, for a total of $8,000 per student. Applicants should demonstrate financial need and community or volunteer involvement. Preference will be given to students who are or have been active in Boy Scouts or Girl Scouts for at least four years, though this is not a requirement.

The Tyler Strong Memorial Scholarship , established in memory of Tyler Kowatch, awards $500 to a qualified senior graduating from Jim Thorpe who is seeking to further his or her education at a trade/technical school or community college. The scholarship will be based on merit alone which should be demonstrated through good attendance and character; the ideal candidate is someone who is fair, friendly and a peacemaker among peers. Preference will be given to a track and field athlete.

If applicants have questions about any of the funds or would like to discuss their eligibility, they should contact the Carbon County Community Foundation at info@ cccfoundpa.org or 610-730-2526. Scholarship Funds are generally the most popular type of fund held at a Community Foundation. These funds support the pursuits of

students at different levels of education and can be established to promote a certain career or industry, acknowledge a special school or community, or honor the memory of loved ones.

Setting up a fund is easy and takes less time than opening a bank account. Donors make a contribution of personal assets (cash, stock, real estate and more) to establish the fund and receive an immediate tax deduction. Once the fund is named and guidelines are defined for scholarship recipients, the Carbon County Community Foundation staff administer the scholarship applications each year, working with donors and a committee to pick the recipients.

If you are interested in learning more about setting up a scholarship or other type of fund at Carbon County Community Foundation, please contact us at 610-7302526 or info@cccfoundpa.org.

About the Carbon County Community Foundation

The Carbon County Community Foundation was formed in 2015 with the mission to improve the quality of life for residents of the Carbon County region, now and forever. The Foundation exists to simultaneously be a philanthropic leader, a community resource and a financial steward. Carbon County Community Foundation’s role in charitable giving is:

• to help donors realize their goals today and in the future

• to improve the capacity of nonprofits to meet vital needs through grants and workshops

• to facilitate opportunities for collaboration and innovation

• to build resources and strengthen our community, forever

Learn more about CCCF at cccfoundpa.org or by calling 1-855-545-1311.

CCCF President, Sharon Alexander, presents a ceremonial check to Cody Meckes of Jim Thorpe, the 2022 recipient of the Orioles Scouting Scholarship

pocono bits

Free Text Service Launched for Two Pocono Ski Resorts

The Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) and SkiText announce a partnership to deliver a quick and efficient way to access information at select Pocono ski resorts in real time through text messaging.

SkiText is a new communication platform available at Pocono area resorts including Shawnee Mountain Ski Area and Ski Big Bear at Masthope Mountain to communicate with skiers & snowboarders through their mobile devices.

your subscription. You may also join online by going to PoconoSki.com and click on the SkiText banner.

“SkiText is just another way our ski resorts aim to make the experience on the mountain even better for guests,” said Chris Barret, President/CEO of the PMVB.

“SkiText offers guests resort-specific information that can assist in planning your trip from the beginning to end.”

The first Pocono Mountain ski resorts that will be using SkiText are Shawnee Mountain Resort and Ski Big Bear.

For more info on SkiText and the partner mountains using this service in 2023 go to PoconoSki.com.

Doyle Heffley Named Republican Chairman of Human Services Committee

Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) has been appointed by House Majority Leader Bryan Cutler (R-Lancaster) to serve as Republican chairman of the Human Services Committee.

the Hotel Room Tax in 2023. The deadline for applications is February 10, 2023.

The PMVB has been supporting nonprofit organizations and event-planning partners in conjunction with the Tourism Promotion Committee and the Wayne County Commissioners. These funding recipients bring overnight visitors to the county each year providing additional revenue for area businesses.

More than 30 attendees learned about the PMVB marketing initiatives and the grant application process at The Undercroft at The Settlers Inn in Hawley on January 12, 2023. Nonprofit organizations and event planners shared success stories from previous grant rounds and indicated the importance of hotel tax grants in promoting their causes.

Organizations are encouraged to reach out to PMVB and other community organizations to combine efforts and maximize marketing potentials. Organizations are encouraged to submit their application electronically, or supply just one copy by mail or delivered to the courthouse.

has helped keep 10 families within Monroe County housed each month.

“Linda’s work as a mediator has been a shining example of the impact one person’s idea can have in a community when it is implemented correctly,” said Pocono Mountains United Way President/CEO Michael Tukeva. “She has done everything from coming up with the original idea to creating valuable relationships with property managers and landlords so she can help tenants more effectively. Linda’s work in Monroe County has been vital these past two years.”

To honor Paugh’s hard work, the Housing Alliance of Pennsylvania awarded her the Eviction Prevention and Diversion Award “for implementing an innovative program in response to the pandemic that stabilizes families who would otherwise be displaced by eviction.”

Want to know trails open or local weather conditions at Shawnee or buy lift tickets? Want to know your food & drink options at Ski Big Bear?

SkiText’s automated two-way text messaging system can provide skiers and snowboarders with the information needed to navigate a successful day on the slopes from the comfort of their mobile phones. And signing up is free!

To sign up for SkiText, text the word SKI to (844) SKI-TEXT or (844) 7548398. Once you get a message back from SkiText, just follow the prompts to finish

“It’s an honor to be named the Republican Chairman of the Human Service Committee,” said Heffley, who has served as a member of the House Human Services Committee throughout his tenure as a state legislator. “As a long-standing member of this committee, I know firsthand the good work we can do, from overseeing the opioid task force addressing the overprescribing of medications, and ensuring our vulnerable populations have access to needed services and treatments. I will be vigilant in making sure and our tax dollars will be spent wisely and eliminating the fraud that can occur.”

The House Human Services Committee has oversight of issues within the Department of Human Services and the Department of Drug and Alcohol Programs. Among the issues it has dealt with include legislation to address the heroin and opioid overdose crisis by trying to prevent these powerful drugs from getting into the wrong hands. The committee will continue to convene hearings regarding the delivery of human services throughout the Commonwealth and the challenges faced by individuals with physical and intellectual disabilities, along with those needing mental health services and drug and alcohol treatment.

Lehighton Winter Farmers Market

Stop by the Lehighton Downtown Winter Farmers Market and enjoy a unique experience! Everything at our market is either homegrown, homemade or handmade! Check out our numerous vendors including; produce, baked goods, dairy products, meat, eggs, poultry, gifts, honey, dog treats, crafts and much more!

New Location at 1 Constitution Avenue in Lehighton.

2nd and 4th Saturdays of the month from 10:00 am - noon!

For more info contact Bambi Elsasser(610) 509-6465.

County, PMVB Encourage Nonprofits & Event Organizers to Apply

The Wayne County Tourism Promotion Committee and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) jointly announced the open application period for funding from

Applications can be obtained by e-mailing Wayne County CFO Vicky Botjer at vbotjer@ waynecountypa.gov, or on the PMVB website or at www.waynecountypa.gov under Open Bids. Awards will be announced by March 8, 2023.

Linda Paugh Receives Award For Eviction Mediation Work From Housing Alliance of PA

“I felt very honored to have my work recognized on the state level,” said Paugh. “It is my hope that other counties that have heard my story will consider starting a similar program to help those facing eviction in their communities.”

Lehighton Family Bowling

Come out for a fun day of family bowling at Fritz Lanes in Lehighton! Hosted by the Lehighton Downtown Partnership, this is a free bowling event to all Lehighton Area School District students and their families. What do you need to do? Contact Fritz Lanes & Pro Shop to set up your bowling time, show up and have fun! Call (610) 377-5022 to set up your lane and bowling time.

Please note food and bowling shoes are not included. All children must be accompanied by a parent or guardian, this is a family event. No parties will be allowed at this event.

Saturday February 25 from 2:00 PM - 8:00pm at Fritz Lanes &Pro Shop, 100 South Second Street in Lehighton.

Pocono Mountains United Way is leading the way in support to landlords and tenants through eviction mediation by creating a unique program. Linda Paugh came up with the idea when the COVID-19 pandemic first happened, and she had it operational by September 2020.

Paugh does not work for the landlord nor the tenant, so she is able to mediate between the two parties and help find a middle ground that is agreeable by everyone.

“I believe that the success comes from my ability to listen, assess what is being said, ask the important questions, and my qualities of empathy and compassion show through,” said Linda. “I have a soft and calm voice which speaks volumes. People respond very well as a result. I let them know at the beginning that I am a neutral party which puts all at ease.”

Since October 2020, Paugh has been incredibly effective at keeping people housed. With a 98% success rate at keeping people housed an average of 30 days after mediation, Linda has helped 266 families – comprising 682 people. On average, she

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pocono bits

traditional unit trains.

Reading & Northern’s popular passenger trains carried more than 250,000 riders in 2022, an increase of more than 10 percent. Last year also saw former Reading 4-8-4 2102 come online, pulling numerous “Iron Horse Ramble” trips through the region. This year will bring additional expansion out of Jim Thorpe, Pa., as well as excursion service from the Wilkes Barre/Scranton area, the railroad said.

Promote Your Business on the Radio for FREE!

Promote your business for FREE on the Chamber Tuesdays Live Radio Broadcast during the prime time morning drive from 7am-8am with Chris Crumbliss on Magic 105.5 fm. As a benefit of your Chamber membership, every member can enjoy 1 FREE interview. Call 610-379-5000 or Email Marianne Rustad to take advantage of this opportunity and book your time slot for Chamber Tuesdays Radio Broadcast.

Reading & Northern Freight, Passenger Departments Smash Records

Reading & Northern Railroad again broke its own records for freight traffic and passenger ridership last year, the company announced.

Revenue freight traffic rose by more than 4,000 carloads, or 15.4 percent, and was driven by anthracite coal shipments as well as the opening of its new Tunkhannock frac sand terminal. Following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, Reading & Northern saw an uptick in demand for Pennsylvania anthracite. To handle the export business, R&N and Norfolk Southern worked to move the traffic in manifest trains instead of

DIRECT SUPPORT STAFF

Are you looking for a job and a way to make a difference in the life of a young 22 year old man with autism?

Terrapin House Inc. located in Allentown is hiring FULL and PART TIME STAFF to provide important care and support for this young man, to enable him to have the best life possible.

Yes, sometimes it can be difficult, but he is worth the effort and the personal reward is immeasurable. Starting rate $16 per hour increased to $17 after 90 days and then evaluated after one year. Performance bonuses annually.

Immediate need for staff to rotate weekends and overnight shifts.

(Terrapin is a 24/7/365 facility)

Applicant must have valid driver’s license and pass the professional Crisis Management (PCM) training. We provide and reimburse for the training.

Terrapin is a small facility for those who enjoy getting to know your coworkers. We may be small, but our vision of what is possible is not.

Contact: Donna@terrapinhouse.org

“Our performance in 2022 was amazing,” said owner and CEO Andy Muller Jr. “Faced with an unprecedented surge in business, our employees stepped up and handled the additional business perfectly. It was all hands on deck. I couldn’t be prouder of the men and women of the Reading & Northern for what they did in 2022 to take care of our freight and passenger customers.”

Local Wildlands Conservancy Programs

February 14

Wildlands Conservancy: Pre-K Pathfinders TNP: Love Birders 10:00 am - 11:00 am at Trexler Environmental Center, 4935 Orchard Rd, Schnecksville, for 3-5 year olds and their adults. There is no charge, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa.org or 610-965-4397 ext. 136. To register, visit https://www. wildlandspa.org/event/pre-k-pathfinderstnp-love-birders.

February 18

Wildlands Conservancy: Winter

Exploration Snowshoe Hike at Trexler

Nature Preserve 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Trexler Environmental Center, 4935 Orchard Rd., Schnecksville. Equipment and instruction provided including snowshoes for ages 5+ to adult. There is no charge, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa.org or 610-965-4397 ext. 136. To register, visit https://www.wildlandspa.org/event/winterexploration-snowshoe-hike-at-trexlernature-preserve.

February 19

Wildlands Conservancy: Get Out! for Wellness: Hidden Lake 1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Hidden Lake, Hidden Lake Drive, East Stroudsburg; hike is appropriate for all ages. Snowshoes will be provided if necessary. There is no charge, but please register. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa. org or 610-965-4397 ext. 136. To register,

visit https://www.wildlandspa.org/event/getout-for-wellness-hidden-lake.

February 25

Wildlands Conservancy: Winter Exploration Snowshoe Walk at Wayne Grube Park 1:00 pm - 2:30 pm at Wayne Grube Park, 1200 Willowbrook Rd., Northampton. Equipment and instruction provided, including snowshoes for ages 5 through adult. There is no charge, but pre-registration is required. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa.org or 610-9654397 ext. 136. To register, visit https://www. wildlandspa.org/event/winter-explorationsnowshoe-walk-at-wayne-grube-park.

DIMMICK LIBRARY EVENTS:

STORYTIME WITH MISS BRENDA

Every Tuesday at 10am

BOARD OF DIRECTOR’S MEETING

2nd Tuesday of every month at 5:30pm

READER’S CIRCLE

2nd Wednesday of every month from 6:00-7:30pm

DIMMICK BOOK CLUB

2nd Wednesday of every month at 2pm @ Stabin Museum

COALTOWN CRAFTERS

2nd Thursday of every month at 7pm

PENN KIDDER EVENTS:

STORYTIME FOR AGES 0-5

Every Wednesday at 11am

CLASSICS CLUB

Varying Tuesday of the month from 6:00-7:30pm

Check Facebook for updated info

post. Or, print your card from home if the moment calls for that. For that little extra something special, you can even add a gift card.

3. BYOB – Build Your Own Brunch. Brunch is all about spending time together, catching up on life, laughing until your stomach hurts…and of course the plentiful food and drinks. Hosting your Galentine’s Day brunch at home can make for a more costeffective and customized experience—no reservations required! Make it interesting (and easier for the host) by asking each gal to bring her favorite brunch dish or drink to share, or by prepping and cooking dishes together, all while toasting with a festive mimosa, Bloody Mary or unique mocktail.

4. Mixology with a Twist. If your group of gals is more of an evening crowd, request that each friend brings her own batch of cocktails or mocktails and a snack that follow a given theme. Whether it’s an era (Roaring 20s), a hit movie, a popular show, or one that draws from personal experience, like the “represent your ex” trend on TikTok, the more festive the theme, the more fun the party. You can even tie it all together with an activity, like spa treatments or game night, or dress the part as well.

5. Get Posh with Polaroids. Whatever you choose for you Galentine’s get-together, be sure to capture the moment. And while we love selfies and Insta pics, Polaroids can make cute and creative keepsakes. Whether you’re at home or out on the town, the charming aesthetic and instant gratification of seeing your photo masterpiece is bound to make everyone smile.

While Galentine’s Day started with fictional characters eating waffles at brunch, there are so many personal, intimate ways to celebrate the very real friendships in your life and create long-lasting memories. (StatePoint)

GALENTINE’S DAY - continued from page 1

WINTER BEYOND THE SLOPES - continued from page 1

Trails are open year-round at the Pocono Environmental Education Center. Encompassing 70,000 acres, Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area has lots of paths to explore, including a portion of the famed Appalachian Trail crossing Mount Minsi. The Poconos is home to hikes ranging from easy to extreme. While Bushkill Falls is closed December through March, you can catch an icy winter waterfall along hiking trails at Raymondskill Falls and Dingmans Falls.

Cross-Country Skiing

We said off the slopes, and we meant it! Experience a classic variation on the popular downhill winter sport with cross-country skiing.

Snow conditions permitting, bring your skis and glide over the snow-covered landscape on trails in Pocono Mountains parks like Lehigh Gorge State Park, Hickory Run State Park and Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center .

Eagle Watching

Another popular wintertime activity in the Poconos is eagle watching. Bald eagles migrate to the region during the winter months to enjoy the eco-friendly habitat of our pristine lakes and rivers.

Horseback Riding

Saddle up for a memorable winter horseback ride throughout the scenic Poconos Mountains. If you’ve never been on a mount before, no worries! Local stables welcome beginners, offering guided rides through beautiful fields and forests.

Enjoy a peaceful canter through the wintry landscape at Happy Trails Stables or Mountain Creek Riding Stable. When snow covers the ground, some stables also offer sleigh rides!

Entertainment

There’s no shortage of good times in the Pocono Mountains with a fantastic lineup of live performances and great entertainment. Whether you want a taste of casino nightlife, or you’d prefer to relax to good music and drinks during a local happy hour, you’ll find your niche any night of the week.

Experience some of the best shows from your favorite bands at Sherman Theater, Mauch Chunk Opera House or Penn’s Peak. These venues are known for bringing big names to the region and putting on great performances year-round.

Escape Rooms

Spend a day indoors and put your critical thinking skills to the test in an escape room. Follow a series of themed clues to try and solve a puzzling mystery in just 60 minutes.

Grab your gang to unravel the clues at Klues Escape Room. Choose one of four escape rooms, each offering a unique, themed, interactive challenge! You can also put your teamwork and communication skills to the test at Big Screen Escapes with three rooms retro rooms full of riddles.

Pocono Beverage Trail

you can take your favorite beers home! If spirits are more your thing, grab a signature cocktail at Silverback Distillery or Nomad Distilling Co. As always, drink responsibly.

Shopping

Take a stroll down Main Street in our area’s historic small towns to find one-of-a-kind shopping! Discover hand-made treasures are local craft shops or hunt for bargains at an outlet store. Here in Pennsylvania, there is no sales tax on clothing, so you can shop until you drop!

The Delaware and Lackawaxen Rivers offer abundant clean water and undisturbed land, making them popular spots for eagles to nest and roost. Take advantage of special offers with The Settlers Inn or Ledges Hotel to join an eagle watching excursion with Delaware Highlands Conservancy. You only have a few months to catch a glimpse of these majestic creatures: bald eagle watching takes flight now through March.

Quench your thirst this winter at area wineries, breweries and distilleries. Whatever your libation preference, the Poconos has vintages, brews and spirits to satisfy along the Pocono Beverage Trail. With the free Pocono Beverage Trail Digital Passport, you can check in at locations to earn points and access discounts!

Wineries like Wild Elder Wine and Cider Co. and Franklin Hill Vineyards - The Wine Shop offer specialty tastings and wine flights. Microbreweries are located across the region, each bringing delicious flavors to the area. Both Barley Creek Brewing Company and Wallenpaupack Brewing Company offer growlers, so

American Candle sells not only the obvious tapers, but also designer jewelry, handbags, clothes and over 150 varieties of candy. If antiquing is more your style, discover vintage finds at Asparagus Sunshine in charming Delaware Water Gap. Lovers of the Victorian era won’t want to miss the Poe and Raven Gallery, stocked with unique mementos, art, stained glass and jewelry.

Hop in the car and get ready for an amazing day trip to the Poconos this season, or add more fun to your itinerary and plan a longer winter escape! Find winter places to stay and save on accommodations with special offers. Discover exciting events happening during your stay as well.

Check out all the snow activities and adventures waiting for you in the Pocono Mountains, and keep and eye on area snow conditions with our live cameras for immediate weather updates. See you in the Poconos!

must-do activities throughout the weekend.

A long-time favorite, the Mug Walk, encourages shoppers to walk trails designated on Broadway and Race street. Visitors can purchase a mug at the train station and walk the town’s two trailsFire or Ice - where they can get treats and goodies at participating businesses. “It gives them a chance to discover places they haven’t seen before,” Gallagher says.

Saturday activities will start with the morning Snowball, a brand-new addition to Winterfest. A morning yoga and dance celebration will run from 9 am-12 pm in the Mauch Chunk Ballroom located at 41 W. Broadway. Yoga and dance are two powerful practices that release endorphins and encourage connection to self and others.

The Snowball is a dedication to the origin of the town’s Winter Festival and to

the owner of the Mauch Chunk Ballroom Mr. John Drury, an avid dancer. “We need to reconnect and move our bodies after everything we’ve been through the last three years,” Gallagher says. The event, hosted by Fairy Moon Yoga and sponsored by Lehigh Valley Hospital-Carbon, will include freebies, games, and baked goods from Wilde and Free Bakery.

On Sunday, Local Heroes Film Fest will feature films by local filmmakers at 3 pm and will close the festivities for the weekend.

“I’m really hoping the local residents will partake in the festivities,” Gallagher says. “It’s a great event that shows the beauty of not only the town but also the community.”

For more information and to purchase the Snowball and Mug Walk tickets, visit venusrisinginc.com.

WINTERFEST - continued from page 1

Chocolate: A Sweet Gift With History

By Tripti Stashefski Special to The Current

Roses, greeting cards, conversation hearts, and dinner reservations – Valentine’s Day is upon us. While love is what we’re looking for, the most popular gift we give and receive on this holiday could be considered even sweeter still, chocolate!

How did this sweet treat become synonymous with showing affection in our romantic relationships? Could it be the idea that chocolate is an aphrodisiac or did the candy companies create heart shaped boxes simply as a marketing ploy? Well, whether you are skeptical about the connection or if you consider yourself a hopeless romantic, the definitive answers are about as clear as Willy Wonka’s precious chocolate river.

Historically, chocolate wasn’t considered romantic and could actually be tied to ancient rituals and taxes. Consider the harsh name of its most important ingredient for starters, cacao. Cacao beans come to us from the fruit of cacao trees, native to Central and South America. The beans nestled in the fruit pods have come a long way since the ancient Olmecs and Mayans first used them to create ceremonial drinks. In fact, cacao beans even spent some time as currency, used in bartering for goods, and at one point were more valuable than gold in the Aztec culture.

Since the Olmecs kept no written history, our first true insights into chocolate’s past come 1000 years later with the Central America Maya. Long before the creation of a solid chocolate bar, the Mayans used cacao beans to concoct chocolate drinks to be consumed when celebrating or when finalizing transactions and ceremonies.

Usually, a treat of such great importance is reserved for the wealthy and powerful, but even simple homes could be found to have it as part of daily meals since it was readily available and in abundance. Our next American civilization made it more exclusive.

‘Xocolatl’ was the Aztec term referring to the product derived from cacao beans and is believed to be the origin of our term. While the Mayans introduced the Aztec to the preparation and production of chocolate, the revered cacao tree was not easily grown in all parts of their vast empire. As a result, the Aztec rulers of the time demanded

the beans be paid as tribute, or tax, by their conquered peoples. ‘Xocolatl’ was an extravagance of the upper-class, since the Aztec believed the cacao to be a gift from the gods, and was also believed to be an aphrodisiac.

It is believed that the 9th emperor of the Aztecs, Montezuma II, consumed gallons of it daily to keep up his energy and libido. From cheering up unwilling human sacrifices to motivating the military, the bitter liquid flavored with local spices was cherished indeed.

Bitter? Yes! While the idea of celebratory and moodenhancing chocolate drinks sounds delicious, and perhaps it was in its own way, sugar was not known to the much of the early civilizations. Spanish explorers and conquerors are to thank for getting cacao beans back to Europe. First landing in Spain, the chocolate frenzy quickly spread through Europe and the recipes for preparing it were increasing. Still in a liquid form, we can liken prepared chocolate of the time to our idea of hot chocolate. We’re in the late 1700s and still don’t have a chocolate bar, let alone heart-shaped boxes filled with truffles.

In 1828, a Dutch chemist named Coenraad Van Houten discovered the process that would be known as “Dutch processing” to turn the beans into a powder that was more easily mixed with water. Finally, we would be able to eat chocolate, not just drink it. Dutch processing also allowed cacao to be mass produced and affordable. The milk chocolate we enjoy today was created less than 50 years later by a Swiss chocolatier, Daniel Peter, who would team up with his successful friend, Henri Nestle, to bring it to the mass market.

Shortly after, Rudolf Lindt invented a machine that would take the chewy chocolate we were enjoying and elevate it to a melt-in-your-mouth, smooth consistency that was easily combinable with other ingredients. By the late 19th and early 20th centuries, chocolate companies like Mars, Cadbury, and Hershey were creating and mass producing a wide variety of chocolate confections to satisfy the growing demand.

By then, the romance of Valentine’s Day was already marked by roses and heartfelt poems, a private exchange among lovers. Then Richard Cadbury thought of a “fancy box” to sell full of treats but could then be used as keepsake storage for love letters and mementos, a gift that was decadent and thoughtful. The idea took off with

chocolatiers creating ornate heart-shaped boxes, covered in lace, ribbons, and satin. These sexy gifts were soon the craving of any recipient ready to be swooned.

So, while the origins of the chocolate we know today aren’t as sweet as a Hershey’s Kiss, it is a gift that has been part of celebrations for thousands of years. Go ahead and grab that chocolate sampler for your sweetie, you’re honoring an age-old tradition after all.

Tripti Stashefski tends bar at The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe. For more visit www.marionhosebar.com

Back to the Basics: A Quest Against Processed Foods

By Julie Druzak Special to The Current

Adear friend of mine from overseas mentioned to me that when she first came to America she ate the same foods as she did at home, yet somehow managed to gain four sizes in just under a year. Being the investigator at heart, I needed to find out why. And so, I have been educating myself in the realm of food, food processing, and the American food industry.

My findings have been astounding. Turns out that our way of eating endangers our lives. It affects how we feel, how we sleep, our energy levels, and our overall health.

In the times before highly processed food and an excessive number of choices entered our kitchens, people ate simple meals made from scratch at home. In the 1800s and 1900s, dinner was a large meal in the early afternoon. Supper came as a smaller evening meal. Many families lived off the land, raising their own meat and cultivating their own gardens.

Then, as early as 1931, processed foods started to integrate our daily food rations. We added snacks, such as potato chips, Oreos, and Twinkies. In 1954, T.V. dinners containing high sodium and fat became an easy way to serve a household dinner and became a $9 billion dollar industry. In the 70s, snacks became an even bigger part of the American household, a practice that continued into today.

This was the beginning of the American downfall of food and nutrient-based eating. Food with dangerous preservatives, chemicals, and additives are now household staples. Marketed as convenient and affordable, they appeal to busy individuals and families. By 1992, USDA introduced Food Pyramid as the standard for healthy eating. As we all know, this carbohydrate-based way of eating has placed American public health at risk, causing heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, obesity, chronic disease, and other health problems.

So how did this all happen and why? The food industry is a big business. Extensive efforts go into lobbying to change laws around food, what we can and can not eat, and what is

deemed safe. And the results are not always in the best interests of the people, but instead, serve capitalist purposes. Large food corporations prioritize profits over health. With such significant influence over government policies and regulations, the further perpetuation of unhealthy eating habits continues.

So what can we do?

First, let’s go back to the basics. I love the philosophy of eating from the perimeter of the food store. Start with vegetables, fruits, and meats, and stay away from the center isles. Don’t think of things to take away, just think about adding more vegetables, protein, and fruit.

When you clean up your eating your taste buds become refined and food starts to taste like food again. If you go back to eating an oreo you will taste the chemicals. Fill yourself with nutrient-dense foods. Look at the ingredients, not just the fat and calories. Read the labels and understand what you are putting in your body. Stop filling your body with highly processed foods.

Limit snacking and give your body time to reset and readjust to new habits. Try eating your big meal in the middle of the day and have a small dinner. Give yourself a cut-off time for food. Most importantly, listen to your body. It is hardwired for health and it craves the foods we would eat 100-1200 years ago without all the chemicals.

A morning routine is also important. Nutritionist Kelly LeVeque suggests starting the day with protein. Take two scoops of vegan-based protein powder, 1-2 tbs of a fat such (ex: avocado/coconut oil/banana), 1-2 tbs of fiber (ex: chia or flax seeds), and some greens and blend together for a delicious morning smoothie. It turns off the “hunger” hormone and fills you with both energy and nutrition.

Finally, we need to reeducate ourselves on the topics of food and nutrition. Read or listen to podcasts about the food industry and health. We truly are what we eat. The purpose of food is to nourish and sustain our bodies. It is up to us to make informed choices about what we eat and live healthy lives.

wellness

GET FIT: Tackle Goals With Fitness-Friendly Tech Gadgets

Play Your Way to Fitness

If your workout regimen needs an infusion of playful fun, the Meta Quest 2 virtual reality headset may be just the ticket. This VR headset is your ticket to the metaverse (and so much more), whether you’re working out, gaming, meeting up with friends or going on a virtual field trip. Industry-leading graphics and immersive audio put you in the middle of the action. The portable device is ideal for workouts on the go, and you’ll find a wide range of apps that let you work out amid stunning scenery, compete against friends and participate in challenges. The immersive experiences break up the monotony of a boring, basic workout, making exercise fun and playful.

Music

to Power Your Workout

Committing to getting fit and actually doing it aren’t always one and the same but relying on tech devices can be an effective way to tackle your fitness goals.

From watches and phones to earbuds and virtual reality headsets, technology can make it easier to track your progress and create a more enjoyable workout experience. See how some of the latest technology is fueling new devices ideal for amping up your workouts this winter with these trendy ideas.

Find more inspiration to energize your fitness regimen at Qualcomm.com.

experience. The watch detects movement and starts a workout for you. In addition, not only does it allow you to monitor how hard your heart is working and provide estimated blood oxygen measurements so you can see how well your body is circulating oxygen, but it also measures your cardiorespiratory fitness, allowing you to track the amount of oxygen your body utilizes during exercise. In addition to keeping tabs on your active hours, the watch also helps you understand more about your sleep habits, including sleep quality and history, restfulness and progress against sleep goals.

A

Smart Workout Buddy

Wellness You Can Watch

Powered by the Snapdragon 4100+ Wear Platform, the Fossil 6 Wellness Edition watch provides the speed, power and performance you need to efficiently track your health, all with extended battery life, Bluetooth 5.0 LE connectivity, rapid charging and more features to elevate your

If you’re always on the go, a powerful smartphone is a smart way to get in a streamlined workout. An option like the OnePlus 10T 5G delivers on multiple levels. Driven by the powerful Snapdragon 8+ Gen 1 mobile platform, this is a phone built to evolve beyond speed. It has Qualcomm FastConnect 6900 for premium Wi-Fi connectivity and a Kryo CPU for unbeatable performance, ideal for multitaskers and power users. The charging system delivers a day’s power in 10 minutes. What’s more, the antenna system, featuring a total of 15 antennas, provides a 360-degree closedloop system to avoid blind signal angles, while simple and textured visuals help you focus and move seamlessly between work, rest and play.

Sound to Motivate More Movement

An energizing workout requires a soundtrack to get you pumped up and moving. Enhance your listening experience with LG Tone Free T90 wireless earbuds, which feature Dolby Head Tracking and Snapdragon Sound. These earbuds identify the location of sound as you turn your head, recalibrating to enable a more natural sound experience so you’re always in the center of the scene. The speaker driver is made of a strong, lightweight material that delivers better overall audio clarity and reduced vibration so you can hear every sound come alive. Exceptional audio combines with superior connectivity for music, movies, crystal-clear voice calls, gaming and a low latency fit for aptX Adaptive compatible devices.

Enjoy stereo-quality sound wherever your workout takes you with a state-ofthe-art smartphone like the Motorola Edge+ Gen 2, powered by the Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 Mobile Platform. Giving you up to two full days of power, lightning-fast speeds and pro-quality features for doing more of what you love, this smartphone can provide music that motivates you regardless of your exercise style. When it’s time to rest and recover, you can enjoy days of entertainment on a beautiful display that wraps around the edges.

Track Your Progress

Setting fitness goals starts with a plan and achieving them requires strong work ethic and, just as importantly, the ability to track progress so you can enjoy the success. The ultimate expression of ultra-portability and versatility, the Lenovo IdeaPad Duet 5 Chromebook is powered by the Snapdragon 7c Gen 2 Compute Platform. Slim and sleek, this 2-in-1 features a detachable keyboard to transform from a tablet to a laptop so you can keep an eye on your fitness goals whether you’re working out at home or on the go, and 15 hours of battery life means you can enjoy usage from day to night.

(Family Features)

library corner

WHAT’S HAPPENING AT OUR LIBRARIES?

Get Your Very First Library Card!

Introducing an exclusive, brand-new offering for our youngest community members: “My First Library Card!”

Now children 5 and under can have their very own bright, cheery-yellow card that allows the cardholder to check out up to 20 print materials. Help your little person grow as a reader by providing them with their own connection to the library!

Hot Spots Now Available For Checkout!

Ever have frustrations with spotty internet at home? Would you love to do some work on a road trip but don’t have internet access? We have a solution for you! We now have 8 Hot Spots for you to check out. These are available for Adult patrons in good standing. You may check them out for 7 days with 2 renewals. The devices comes with everything you need to charge them up and use. Happy surfing!

Access to Local Museums Soon Available

We will soon have museum tickets you can check out to attend interesting attractions around the area! Get ready for access to “America on Wheels” in Allentown, “Bucks County Children’s Museum” in New Hope, “Lehigh Valley Heritage Museum” in Allentown, “Pearl S. Buck House” in Perkasie, and “Reading Museum” in Reading. Access to these tickets will be available to Adult patrons in good standing at both Penn Kidder and The Dimmick soon!

FIRST-EVER

DIMMICK STAFF ART SHOW IS

A HUGE SUCCESS

This year, our library team made the decision to hold a staff art show. If you’ve visited the library, you might be familiar with our art shows. Every two months, a new artist displays their craft, allowing for different artists to reach the community in a fun and unique way. This is a great way for us to help out budding artists, but it’s also a fantastic way to support our library as well.

FEBRUARY IS NATIONAL LIBRARY LOVER’S MONTH

Did you know that February is actually National Library Lover’s Month?

Library month is a time to celebrate the many services that libraries have to offer to patrons, from free computer services, to our fancy shmancy 3D printer (that we’re still trying to figure out how to learn how to use), to the thousands of books you can check out!

However, libraries aren’t just about books. As a public library, we’re also a safe space where anyone can come, free of charge, to hang out, relax, enjoy some peace and quiet, and come out from the cold. We also have so many free programs ranging from children’s story-time to recurring events for adults, like our book club.

So, what can you do to support your library during Library Lovers month? Donations are always wholly welcome, but you can also just come visit us--participate, comment or share our post on social media, if you’re able. While it might seem silly, even these small gestures can help us get extra funding to further give back to our community! We are also always looking for circulation volunteers if you have a few hours a week to spare, though supporting us can be as small as just walking in our front door on a Saturday book sale and waving hello, too!

If you’re a library lover, we want to hear about it. Take a “shelfie” here at the library with your favorite book and tag us on social media telling us all about what you love about the Dimmick!

GOODREADS CHOICE AWARDS BOOKS FLY OFF LIBRARY SHELVES

If you’re not familiar with Goodreads, Goodreads is a popular literary app/website that helps readers to set book goals and track how many books they read each year. It also helps readers to explore different genres and the website has many different book recommendations.

Each year, Goodreads comes up with an awards list that recognizes books in different genres for their popularity. The awards are voted on and chosen by the public and this year, we decided to display the winners (and some finalists, too!) for our January book display!

While we don’t have all the books, many of the books that we don’t have we are able to order through our shared cooperative.

BOOKS BY BIPOC AUTHORS JUST IN TIME FOR BLACK HISTORY MONTH

This time around, we thought it would be a neat idea to let our own talent shine--we have quite a few artists in our midst here on our library staff, but we had no idea that all of our employees were so talented! Each of us were quite surprised every time something new was brought in and it wasn’t long before the library walls started to brighten with the color and vibrancy of our personalities.

February is Black History Month, a crucial recognition of the importance of African American Culture and many years of adversity to achieve full citizenship in American society. The Civil Rights movement has become an important topic in literature over the years, with good reason--it’s essential to continue education and social change. So, what does that mean for the library?

Here, at the library, we believe in

equality and the importance of sharing diverse materials so that our patrons have the option and the ability to choose to educate themselves and expand their own knowledge about the contributions and accomplishments of others, if they wish.

If you’re looking to try something different, try picking up a book by a BIPOC author this month. You might just be surprised by what you find.

STUFFED ANIMAL SLEEPOVER WREAKS HAVOC IN LIBRARY

At the end of December, we decided to have a sleepover for our furry (stuffed) friends here at the library. It’s been a while since we’ve invited them--we were still recovering from the last time they visited us! And yet, when our friends visited, they partied it up like they always do.

The stuffed animals did a variety of library-themed activities together, to start, from coloring to reading books to each other in the Children’s Section. Some of their favorites were, I Slightly Want to Go Home and I Am Not Sleepy and I Will Not Go To Bed.

books in our beautiful library and come meditate with our host, Michelle Gallagher. Let the words jump off the pages, into your imagination. Create a new world, space, and time, with the depth and knowledge of your breath. Sessions will last from 30 to 40 minutes starting at 6 PM. A suggested donation of $10 is encouraged, a portion of proceeds to benefit the library.

Upcoming Dates:

February 20th from 6PM-7PM

March 20th from 6PM-7PM

A PSALM FOR THE WILD-BUILT BY BECKY CHAMBERS

Looking for a great short read for the beginning of the new year? Try A Psalm For The Wild-Built. A time of trying to create resolutions that do not last, this book teaches that it is okay to give yourself love, rest, and friendship. A monk and robot form a bond that leads them on an adventure into a world of acceptance and ‘finding who they are.’

While marketed as science-fiction, it is not full of confusing words or world building. The aspect of the character being a monk, and the title, should not steer you away from this non-harmful, religious character and world. An immediate purchase for my personal collection!

As you might have guessed, things got a little crazy after that. The animals partied all through the night, leaving messes throughout the library, knocking down books, and even scanning their butts on our library printer. We had quite the mess to clean up in the morning when their kiddos came to pick them up!

Luckily, our library staff kept them all in line that morning, letting them know that if they couldn’t behave themselves for pick up, they were going to become service dog Gracie’s next chew toy! The stuffed animals were beside themselves, laughing under their breath, but kept it together just long enough for their humans to collect them. We can only imagine what they’ll get up to the next time they visit the library!

MEDITATION WITH MICHELLE

We’re excited to share with you a new program that brings mindfulness to the library: Meditation with Michelle. During select evenings, come sit in the wealth of

NEW

FICTION TITLES TAKE OVER OUR HIGH DEMAND SHELF!

Since mid-December, The Dimmick has added 165 new books, audiobooks, and movies to our collection! While this might not seem like as much as our usual ‘haul,’ we’ve been busy cleaning out our cataloguing area, making sure new items are added to circulation in a timely manner, and planning our wishlist for what we’ll bring into the library in early spring! Be sure to keep an eye on our High Demand shelves for new titles, or you can request specific materials by asking at the circulation desk.

SUPPORT THE LIBRARY FROM YOUR PHONE!

We’ve been hard at work making the library more accessible in a variety of ways. If you’ve ever come in during a book or art sale and wanted to check out but didn’t have enough cash...now we accept Venmo at the library! We also now accept Paypal! Both of these payment methods are available right through your phone. Our specific identification tag for these payment methods is @ dimmickmemoriallibrary.

If you haven’t visited the library in a while, we also now have Square, which is a pretty neat system that’s attached to a tablet we have here at the library. Instead of only taking cash, you’ll now be able to pay us with a credit card for any amount over twenty five cents. You can donate to us through this system, too, if you’d like.

To get more information about our different payment methods, be sure to talk to one of us at the Circulation desk when you come in for a visit!

music • entertainment

Radio Tribute Band!

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

Tickets $20 - $25

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 9

PENN’S PEAK

THE STRANGER (THE MUSIC OF BILLY JOEL)

The Stranger is the complete premiere tribute to the music of one of the worlds most beloved performers, Billy Joel. Comprised of some of the best and most experienced musicians in the business, this 6 piece band brings together an authentic replication of Billy’s timeless music, crowning it with soulful, spot on vocals that makes listening to a Billy Joel song so special. Out front on piano & lead vocals is founder & frontman Mike Santoro. Born and raised in Levittown NY like Joel himself, Mike also looks like Billy, moves like Billy, plays piano like Billy, and most of all sounds so much like Billy Joel that you will be astonished that what you’re seeing and hearing is actually a tribute artist. We give you the Billy Joel show with the sound of his original band in his prime... energetic, interactive an often unpredictable. Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $31

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

PENN’S PEAK

AM RADIO TRIBUTE BAND

AM Radio Tribute Band – The Ultimate 1960s Experience! AMRTB has shared stages with Peter Noone & Hermans Hermits, Gary Puckett and the Union Gap, Felix Cavaliere, The 5th Dimension, The Turtles, The Association, Classics IV, The Vogues, The Cowsills, Danny Seraphine (Chicago), Nate Watts (Stevie Wonder Band), Don Dannemenn (The Cyrkle). AMRTB gives us a glimpse into the years when our brains leaped with joy at the music that’s come to define us. Those years may have passed, but each time we hear the songs we loved, the joy they once brought us surges anew. Come and celebrate one long Summer of Love with AM

CHRIS

JANSON WITH GEORGE BIRGE

Chris Janson is a “live legacy in the making” (Rolling Stone). Breakout country star Janson is a platinum-selling recording artist, highoctane entertainer, multi-instrumentalist, award-winning singer/songwriter and Grand Ole Opry member. The ACM award-winner has collected prestigious accolades that place him among country music greats. His debut single, “Buy Me A Boat,” was recognized as the iHeartRadio Music Awards “Country Song of the Year,” and MusicRow named his poignant single, “Drunk Girl,” their “Song of the Year” winner. Bobby Bones named Janson “One of the greatest entertainers in country music.” His big hits include: “Buy Me A Boat” (No. 1, 3x Platinum); “Fix A Drink” (No. 1, Gold); “Drunk Girl” (ACM Award-winning, Gold); “Good Vibes” (No. 1, Gold); “Done” (multi-week No. 1, Gold).

Tickets $33 - $40

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

turn toward the “shoe gazing” and the “antistar” alternative music and/or the grunge of Seattle. No one would have bet on this band to make any kind of a showing. The possibility that this band would hang a platinum record on the wall was slim-to-none, had it not been for one key factor……the band had beat the road relentlessly and there was that ALMIGHTY fan base. A solid base of straight up blue-collar rockers that looked at each Jackyl show as more like a family reunion. The band never looked back and has never shied away from its signature “Lumberjack” chainsaw. Whereas other bands may have chosen to distance themselves from such, Jackyl embraced it, the same as Angus wearing his school boy outfit, Kiss wearing their make-up or Iron Maiden having Eddie come out onto the stage. Give the people what they want and more. Tickets $25 - $30

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

SATURDAY,

FEBRUARY 11

DANCIN’ MACHINE (AUTHENTIC 9 PIECE DISCO BAND FROM NYC)

his very first band when he was only 13 years old. CCR was an American rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their musical style encompassed the roots rock and swamp rock genres. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music is still a staple of American radio airplay and the band has sold 30 million albums in the United States alone. The show is very faithful to a live CCR performance. Listeners enjoy a full 90 minute show of their favorite CCR classics (Bad Moon Rising, Proud Mary, Up Around the Bend to name a few) and songs that Creedence would turn into live jams such as Born on the Bayou and Susie Q. The band also mixes in John Fogerty classics including The Old Man Down the Road and Centerfield capturing the energy of his current show.

Tickets $22 - $27

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

PENN’S PEAK

THE WINERY DOGS

It’s been, well, a literal dog’s age since the vibrant powerhouse trio known as The Winery Dogs marked their recording territory with new music. But now, following a seven-year break from the studio, The Winery Dogs are back in full force with their aptly named third album III, which is set for release on February 3, 2023 on the band’s Three Dog Music label (via Burnside Distribution/The Orchard) on CD and all digital formats. (A vinyl edition of III will also be forthcoming in just a few months.) III was self-produced by The Winery Dogs and mixed by longtime band associate Jay Ruston.

Tickets $30 - $35

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

CREEDENCE REVIVED

THE WORLD’S PREMIER CCR TRIBUTE

EVENT SCHEDULE

COMING FEBRUARY - MAY 2023

Wild Elder Book Club is back! The club will meet monthly on third Thursdays at the shop. The theme this year is local history. We are partnering with both Sellers Books and Dimmick Memorial Library to make sure you have local access to the books. Visit wildelder. com/s/stories or check out our Facebook events for more info.

THE WEEKLINGS (MUSIC OF THE BEATLES AND MORE)

The Weeklings (JEM recording artists) –America’s most unique celebration of the music and muse of The Beatles, features former members of Styx, Dave Mason, the original Beatlemania on Broadway, Jon Bon Jovi & The Kings of Suburbia, Southside Johnny and The Asbury Jukes, Springsteen drummer Max Weinberg’s Jukebox and BeatleFest house band Liverpool. The band performs and records explosive renditions of The Beatles album and Top 40 classics, uniquely arranged nuggets such as “Paperback Writer”, “Baby You’re a Rich Man” and “I Am the Walrus”, 60’s classic remakes like The Easybeats 1966 garage rock hit “Friday On My Mind” featuring Peter Noone of Herman Hermit’s fame on lead vocals plus brilliant Beatles-inspired powerpop originals, like “Little Elvis”, “In the Moment” and “3” the title track from their latest album chosen the #1 Coolest Song in the World 2020 on Sirius/XM’s Little Steven’s Underground Garage.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $29

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

PENN’S PEAK JACKYL WITH TUK SMITH AND THE RESTLESS HEARTS

www.wildelder.com

76 Broadway in Jim Thorpe (570) 732-9933

25 years of Jackyl. From the moment their first album was released in 1992, the band has defied gravity. They were introduced at a time that rock music was taking a drastic

Nothing here but the “Real Deal” and we’re keeping it that way for the diehard fans of 70’s Disco! Dancin’ Machine was formed back in 2009 with the sole purpose of re-creating the experience of a 1970’s Discotheque for Disco fans everywhere. The band is comprised of 11 brilliant musicians who all take pride in producing a 70’s Disco show that is matched by none. With 4 great vocalists, a burning horn section and lots of groovin’ percussion, this band recaptures the authentic look and sound of the original artists without the use of tracks, sequencers or any other electronic device that plays back music. Nothing here but the “Real Deal” and we’re keeping it that way for the diehard fans of 70’s Disco! Nowhere else can you experience the sound, power and feel of authentic Disco played exactly the way it was by the original artists. Pair that with one of the best stage shows in the business and you will have an event that everyone will remember forever!

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $26

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

PENN’S

Creedence Revived has rapidly become one of the most highly sought after tribute bands in the world. Playing all over the globe for crowds upwards of 30,000, this group is the real deal. Creedence Revived is The world Premier tribute to CCR. The band features all professional studio musicians from Chicago

Green River - The #1 Nationally Touring Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty Tribute Show is the brain child of native New Yorker Rick Horvath. Noodles as he is affectionately known, was born to perform this music. He started singing CCR songs in

JAZZ LOFT AT THE STABIN MUSEUM www.vicsjazzloft.com (570) 325-5588 268 West Broadway in Jim Thorpe 7-10 PM doors at 6 PM $15.00 music charge • Free Parking!

Friday, February 17

NEEMA Quartet

AKA Not your Everyday Elevator Music

Featuring Paul Kendall, Patrick Poladian, Mark Neely, Roy Cumming 7:00pm -10:00pm, Doors 6:00 $15 Music Fee

Friday, February 24 Mike Lorenzo Trio

Featuring Mike Lorenz, Tyler Dempsey, Joe Michaels 7:00pm -10:00pm, Doors 6:00 $15 Music Fee

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

PEAK

GREEN RIVER - TRIBUTE TO CREEDENCE

CLEARWATER REVIVAL & JOHN FOGERTY

music • entertainment

and LA area including Vocalist Rich Perez which was called an insanely great singer by three time Grammy winner P!NK. The band has toured nationally and internationally including performing for Harley’s 110th celebration in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $39 - $43

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

THE ELO TRIBUTE SHOW

Experience the USA’s #1 Tribute to ELO and Jeff Lynne, brought to you in a full-length sight and sound production by the Music Industry’s Top Musicians from the Philadelphia area. This incredible tribute act covers all the hits from ELO and Lynne produced artists and its members have toured and performed with some of the biggest names in the business including: Rock of Ages Broadway, Big and Rich, Tony Harnell (TNT), Dave Menniketti (Y&T), Freddie Jackson, Eric Martin (Mr. Big), Steve Brown (Trixter, Def Leppard), Ted Poley (Danger, Danger), and many others. The ELO Tribute Show will take you back to that magical era of FM radio and MTV when ELO kept you dancing all night long with songs like “Don’t Bring Me Down”, “Mr. Blue Sky”, “Evil Woman” and other big hits from that great era

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $29

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

PENN’S PEAK

DOKKEN & LYNCH MOB

Dokken exploded out of the boiling hard rock/heavy metal scene in Los Angeles in the early 1980s. 1983’s “Breaking the Chains” with its catchy title track, set the stage for Dokken becoming the most dominant creative and commercial force in the world of Melodic Hard Rock for the following years. Such classic albums as “Tooth and Nail”, “Under Lock and Key” and “Back for the Attack” all became Multi-Platinum selling smashes and the live “Beast from the East” went gold in Europe and Japan. Songs like “Alone Again”, “Just Got Lucky”, “Into the Fire”, “In My Dreams”, “Unchain the Night”, “Dream Warriors”, “Burning like a Flame” and “Heaven Sent” are still nowadays regarded among the genre’s finest.

Tickets $41 - $46

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

DAVE LANDAU (COMEDY NIGHT)

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $33

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 25

PENN’S PEAK

female vocalists, performs songs that cross three generations of rock, pop, gospel and oldies music, so the act has universal appeal. This Vegas-style rendition is a consistent fan favorite that has earned a reputation for professionalism as well as countless standing ovations. Jesse is a natural front-man, interacting with the crowd at all times and signing autographs after the show. You will truly feel like you’re at a real Elvis concert.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $30

WISHBONE ASH

Formed in 1969 in England, Wishbone Ash are one of the most influential guitar bands in rock history. Equally inspired by British folk, American jazz and R&B, the band did their part to help form the emerging rock ’n’ roll scene in the U.S. and the U.K. As true warriors of the road, the band regularly covers around 30,000 miles a year, which is roughly equivalent to circumnavigating the world. Over the years the band has embraced diverse musical genres, from folk, blues and jazz to pedal-to-the-metal rock and electronica. Regardless of the style, Wishbone Ash’s groundbreaking interplay of two lead guitars influenced bands such as Thin Lizzy, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Iron Maiden, Umphree McGee and Opeth, among many others.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM

mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $35 - $45

TUSK - WORLD’S #1 TRIBUTE TO FLEETWOOD MAC

Tusk covers all the great hits of Fleetwood Mac, which has featured the talents of Mick Fleetwood, Christine and John McVie, Lindsey Buckingham, Stevie Nicks and others over the years. The five seasoned, well-respected musicians comprising Tusk have been making music together in various combinations and styles, in original outfits and in cover bands, for over twenty-five years. It seemed only fitting that they should come together to form the Ultimate Fleetwood Mac Tribute, and pay homage to a group that dominated the charts during the band members’ formative years. Authentic-sounding and always respectful, Tusk leaves no stone unturned in replicating the sounds of one of the world’s best-loved, top-selling bands.

Tickets $27 - $32

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM

www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

PENN’S PEAK

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

THE LINDA RONSTADT EXPERIENCE

like “Beat It On Down the Line” and “Big River”, 70s rockers “Bertha”, “Big Railroad Blues” to the syncopated complex rhythms of “Estimated Prophet” (C’mon, dare ya to dance in 7!) and the driving “Touch of Grey”. Slow dance to soulful Jerry tunes “Ship Of Fools” and “Stella Blue”.

Tickets $23 - $28

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

THE IRISH COMEDY TOUR

The Irish Comedy Tour takes the party atmosphere of a Dublin pub and combines it with a boisterous, belly-laugh band of hooligans. The group’s comedians and musicians, whose ancestors hail from the Emerald Isle, include Detroit native Derek Richards; Ohio’s Michael Malone; Nova Scotia’s Damon Leibert; and from Inchicore, a suburb of Dublin, Ireland Derrick Keane.

Tickets $23 - $28

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

JESSE GARRON’S TRIBUTE TO ELVIS

Garron possesses the voice, looks, and charisma that made Elvis a superstar and draws audiences in from the minute he walks on stage. Jesse, backed by live musicians and

The Linda Ronstadt Experience is a National Touring Act showcasing the songs that Linda Ronstadt made famous. The Band’s core members recently teamed up with two young talents from Nashville. Stepping into the musical role of Linda Ronstadt is the incomparable multi-talented powerhouse vocalist Tristan McIntosh. Tristan who made a national name for herself when she auditioned for American Idol and performed Mickey Guyton’s “Why Baby Why” which brought the judges to tears and earned her a “Golden Ticket” to Hollywood to compete in the final season of the long-running television series. Tristan went on to become a fan favorite and finished in the Top 6. The Linda Ronstadt Experience covers all “The Hits” from the early beginnings of Linda’s career with The Stone Poneys’ “Different Drum” through the breakthrough Hit “You’re No Good” into the 1970’s chart toppers like The Everly Brothers “When Will I Be Loved”, Buddy Holly’s “That’ll Be The Day”, Roy Orbison’s emblematic “Blue Bayou” and onto the early 1980’s with songs by Elvis Costello, The Hollies, The Knickerbockers, Little Feat and so many more.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $26

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

PENN’S PEAK

DEAD ON LIVE

Based on their unique approach of recreating, literally note for note all instruments including the lush vocal harmonies as heard on the classic recordings of the 70’s, DOL has quickly become recognized nationally as one of the top acts to pay tribute to the music of the American treasure known as the Grateful Dead. Dead On Live is thrilled to return to the Peak and, making full use of the best dance floor in the biz, will feature the most fun, finest, dancin’est Dead tunes in their vast catalog. From early burners

Broadway Grille + Underground

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 2

OPEN MIC W/ MATT FILER 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 3

LIVE MUSIC: Q BALL

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 4

LIVE MUSIC: SHELLSHOCKED CHURCHHILLS

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 5

LIVE MUSIC: BRET ALEXANDER

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 10

LIVE MUSIC: MATT FILER

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11

LIVE MUSIC: THE FROST 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 12

LIVE MUSIC: BRIT & KENNY 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 16

OPEN MIC W/ MATT FILER 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 17

LIVE MUSIC: NOT JOHN 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 18

LIVE MUSIC: BRIAN KIBLER IN PUB

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 24

LIVE MUSIC: BRIAN KIBLER 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, FEBRUARY 26

LIVE MUSIC: TWIN HILL 3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

OPEN MIC W/ MATT FILER 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM broadwaygrillepub.com (570) 732-4343

Painterly Abstraction of Aillinn Brennan

By Yvonne Wright

The Current Contributing Writer

From a cultural perspective, the events leading up to the Second World War (e.g., increasing hostility towards Jewish citizens in Germany, and the contempt felt by the Nazis for cultural avant-garde dismissing it as ‘degenerate’) set the stage for a dramatic shift in cultural dominance and leadership away from traditionally European urban centers to North America. With the threat of the impending war, many leading modernist painters, sculptors, architects and intellectuals fled their homelands to escape fascism and years of warfare that turned most European countries into ruins — settling overseas, primarily in the United States.

The growing colony of expatriated Europeans soon included some of the greatest artists and modernist thinkers of the early 20th century; among them leading architects and designers of the Bauhaus School, Conceptual Art artists, Cubists and Surrealists, whose works greatly resonated with the cultural elite of New York City in the 1940s. While the European avant-garde continued to maintain their ideological status-quo by exhibiting, publishing and lecturing in their new home, they were soon joined by a generation of young American artists flocking to the city whose various interpretations of the European Modernist canon, strengthened by developing friendships with their European colleagues, created a fertile environment for cross pollination of aesthetic ideas upon which “the first truly American modernist movement” unfolded, today called the New York School or Abstract Expressionism — elevating the city that embodied it to the cultural capital of the West in the postwar era, a role previously held by Paris.

This shift in paradigm was also underpinned by the presence of several newly founded cultural institutions like the Museum of Modern Art (est. 1929), the Museum of Non-Objective Painting (aka the Guggenheim Museum, est. 1939), and the Art of this Century gallery (est. 1942), all decisively promoting (through their art exhibitions and publications) works by European and American avant-garde, especially the nonrepresentational works by Abstract Expressionists - passionately championed by the prominent essayist on modern art, art critic and influencer, Clement Greenberg. He believed in “the necessity of abstract art as a means to resist the intrusion of politics and commerce into art.” In his 1961 essay on art and culture Greenberg argued that “what mattered most in a work [of art] was its articulation of the medium, more particularly, its finessing of the terms of the material medium, and the progressive elimination of those elements that were beside its point.”

True to the movement’s mantra, Abstract Expressionist painters (e.g., Mark Rothko, Willem de Kooning, Lee Krasner, etc.) rejected all representational forms of articulation and sought a narrative on a monumental scale that would communicate the artist’s inner psyche and spontaneity of technique, with an emphasis on the unconscious mind expressed in a universally understood visual language. Particularly well known examples of such a concept are works by Jackson Pollock, a Wyoming artist living in New York, whose work “Number 30” (aka “Autumn Rhythm” painted in 1950) is an example of the artist’s innovative ‘random-patterns’ technique of applying dripping paint directly onto a canvas spread on the floor. A year later art critic and philosopher, Harold Rosenberg, coined the term action paintings to describe this type of artistic practice. For Rosenberg, the painter’s expressionistic encounter with the canvas was paramount, and he asserted that Abstract Expressionism was “a major rupture within the history of modern art,” arguing that the movement’s principles derive from the combination of “emotional intensity and self-denial, and the anti-figurative aesthetic of the European abstract schools such as Futurism, the Bauhaus, and the Synthetic Cubism.”

During the McCarthy era of the mid-1950s, marked by unparalleled artistic censorship in the United States, the style gained mainstream acceptance. In art “if the subject matter were totally abstract then it would be seen as apolitical, and therefore safe” or, if the art was political but its message largely obscured, then it was only for the insiders. Through it all, the New York School sought to create a genuine new kind of American art, one that was an expression of ideas concerning the mind, and the unconsciousness, but the widespread popularity of the movement was achieved at the expense of figurative art. Many pro-abstract art critics used their influence to advocate Abstract Expressionism as “the guardian of an advanced art” while the movement’s location in New York City provided its practitioners with an unprecedented international platform of influence. In the following years, it was Europe’s turn to be inspired and to follow rather than to lead, still recovering from the scars of World War Two.

The Anita Shapolsky Gallery is one of those prominent Manhattan’s Upper East Side art galleries that specializes in works by the New York School of Abstract Expressionism, Geometric Abstraction, and Painterly Abstraction. With its satellite brunch in Jim Thorpe, PA, the Anita Shapolsky Foundation (est. in 1986) it also showcases works by a younger generation of Modernist artists. One of such artists is Aillinn Brennan, who has exhibited several times with this renown gallery in Jim Thorpe, PA. Born in Tullamore, Ireland, raised in New Jersey, and educated in New York City, Aillinn is an art therapist and active studio artist whose works have an aura of international sophistication. Majoring in psychology at a community college, and then earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts (BFA) degree in art and a Master of Professional Studies (MPS) degree in art therapy & creativity development (both from the Pratt Institute, a prestigious private university), Aillinn is an artist whose paintings reflect her academic education and training on the one hand, and her life-long fascination with psychology on the other — elements of which inform her work as “a dialogue between the principles of art and design (i.e., light, shape, color and composition) and the unconscious.”

“I always loved art” reminiscences Aillinn thoughtfully “and often found myself looking through art history books as a child.” In high school, her interest in art intensified, inspired by a wonderful art teacher she had, Donna Henry, who continued to mentor her in the visual arts even through her community college years. In fact, Ms. Henry was quite instrumental in helping Aillinn to create the proper artistic portfolio necessary for entering the Pratt Institute. Through experiential learning and immersive clinical training at the university, Aillinn discovered “the curative nature of the creative process and the healing potential of art.” Choosing art therapy as a vocation became a natural fit for the artist, a sensitive deep thinker, whose professional credentials soon included work at acute psychiatric wards in Manhattan; Bellevue Hospital and Columbia University’s Psychiatric

Institute. In Pennsylvania, Aillinn worked at the State Correctional Institution at Mahanoy, and held a private art therapy practice in Allentown. If that wasn’t enough, for several years Aillinn was an Adjunct Professor at Lehigh Carbon Community College and Penn State, teaching art history courses.

The artist’s busy schedule never stopped her from painting, and the psychological insights gained through work experience enriched her artistic practice. She is exceedingly fascinated with “the dialogue that emerges between the brain, the unconscious, and the material at hand.” She works in a variety of mediums, from oils and oil-enamels on maple plywood, to watercolors, conte crayons, pastels, graphite and charcoal on vellum or rag papers.

Like many young and aspiring artists, Aillinn lived and matured as an artist in New York City - later making Jim Thorpe her home base. Not considering herself a purely abstract artist, many of her works reflect a more lyrical and intellectual side of abstraction (Helen Frankenthaler comes to mind), where the apparent randomness of the application of paint onto a canvas (characteristic in Pollock’s or Kline’s art) is softened by Aillinn’s subtle references to nature, landscape, and organic forms contained within compositions in an entirely new way. As Aillinn explains: “I explore the didactic reasons for these intuitive, creative processes, drawing heavily from psychoanalytic theory and expressive analysis; viewing each work as a journey into the unique mental space that is tapped through intuitive creative process,” which elegantly encapsulates her work as a whole.

Aillinn Brennan’s 2002 painting “Daytime In Dystopia” executed in oil-based enamel paints on 3/4” maple plywood (in an impressive 4 feet x 8 feet size), denotes the idea of an Apocalypse. Painted in the artist’s Long Island City studio in the aftermath of the September 11th terrorist attack (a workplace where she could still smell the smoke wafting form the direction of the Twin Towers) “Daytime In Dystopia” is a powerful affirmation of the artist’s feelings at the time, her psychological manifestations of anger, fear and revelation, as communally experienced by many New Yorkers.

The painting’s composition seems to reverberate with multitudes of organic abstract forms violently intertwined with each other, unstable and wavy, as if an explosion of bleeding veins and ruptured flesh has created a world of an unrecognizable mass - torn and burned, but still pulsing with life. There is a sense of agony, on the one hand, and life’s triumph over death on the other, as light slowly penetrates the darkness and violence below. The feeling of anguish and hopelessness is contained primarily to the bottom of the composition, whereas a perception of spiritual defiance can be recognized as manifesting itself in the upper parts of the painting.

As one of the artist’s most heart-felt paintings, and one of nine works created in her series of Dystopia, “Daytime In Dystopia” has been showcased at many exhibitions, including the Mauch Chunk Opera House and the Anita Shapolsky Foundation in Jim Thorpe, the 3rd St. Gallery in Philadelphia, the Spike Gallery in NYC, the Art World Digest Magazine in NYC, and the CUE Art Foundation in NYC, to mention but a few.

Aillinn is an exceptional artist, creating works that can hold their own in the highly competitive world of contemporary abstraction. Don’t just take my word for it, however, but review her website. It contains an impressive body of work, divided into nine sections: Red and White (enamel on paper), Night (pastel, gouache and pencil on black paper), Free Associations (oil and enamel on panel), Free Associations 2 (colored pencil on white paper), Monsters (oil and enamel on panel), Monster 2 (colored pencil on white bristol), Dystopia (oil and enamel on panel), Dystopia 2 (pastel and conte crayon on white paper), and Suffering (graphite on Bristol board) — all worthy of a major critical note.

Her favorite artists? From Roman wall paintings to Edward Hopper, and a lot of photographers in between. She has an open mind and a keen eye for art, hence she likes to collect works by other artists. Since she moved to Jim Thorpe in 2006, Aillinn has also become a very busy business woman, who, along with her husband, owns and operates the Marion Hose Bar, one of the most popular establishments in Jim Thorpe, located at 16 West Broadway, next to the Mauch Chunk Opera House. Some of her painting can be viewed there.

Like everything else she does, Aillinn prepared herself well for the challenge, by formally studying the arcana of wine, beer, food and spirits at one of the top ranking wine schools in the USA, the Wine School of Philadelphia, under the mentorship of Keith Wallace. Today. Aillinn often credits Keith’s friendship and tutelage with her bar’s success.

She is also a contributing writer to the area’s local monthly newspaper, the widely read Jim Thorpe Current, sharing her knowledge of food, entertaining and things ‘spiritual’ with her audience. She also loves to cook “and hang with her dogs, Olive and Chloe, potting around the house” that makes her feel truly blessed with the life she has built in Jim Thorpe among the friendly and welcoming community in which neighbors become dearest friends.

Piet Mondrian once said that “Art is higher than reality, and has no direct relation to reality,” but judging by the power of visualization in Aillinn’s abstract works, her art is anything but separated from the reality that surrounds, disturbs or inspires her, forcing the viewer to reconcile with our human irrationalities, vulnerabilities and the entrapment of our modern life. You can see more of Aillinn Brennan’s works here: www.aillinnbrennan. com/Home.html.

Yvonne Wright is the owner of STUDIO YNW at 100 West Broadway in Jim Thorpe. She can be reached at

Aillinn Brennan “Daytime In Dystopia” 2002

Jackson Pollock “Autumn Rhythm” 1950

Winter Hiking Safety

CCEEC PERSPECTIVE

Carbon County Environmental Education Center

By Shannon Madden Special to The Current

Winter is one of the most magical times of year to go for a late afternoon walk or take a Saturday hike in a State Park. I especially love seeing delicate branches encased in ice after a storm. It’s like strolling in a crystal kingdom from a fantasy novel.

Freezing or near freezing temperatures bring some notable challenges that we should anticipate to keep everyone safe. Cold, darkness, and inclement weather can easily swoop in on the uninitiated ruining an otherwise good hike or worse. Fortunately, a few elementary rules will keep everyone happy and safe to enjoy some of the most beautiful views of nature you’ll get all year.

Always Check the Weather

It is a general hiking rule that you should check the forecast before hitting the trail. However, here in the northeast, the temps and visibility can quickly turn uninhabitable during winter. Whether it is a snow squall or all-day cloud cover, you should know what visibility and precipitation to expect before setting out.

How cold is too cold for a winter family hike? That depends on your level of experience, preparation, and how far you’ll hike. With small children, under 40 degrees is generally too cold for comfort for more than 30-60 minutes. Older kids may have the stamina for temps between 30 and 40 degrees with proper layering.

In addition to knowing the forecast, know the time of sunset for an afternoon hike. The light can disappear in a blink before you’re ready. It’s vital to time your return walk to get back to the trailhead before dark. Using a pacing app like Strava is helpful. Keep in mind that the cold might kill your phone battery.

Carry Extra Layers

Start with a moisture wicking base layer and warm clothes. Put on additional layers as the weather dictates. You may find that on a sunny day with temps in the 40s you only need a sweatshirt as your top layer. Pack your outermost layer in your backpack just in case. Even if you are suiting up for

a freezing cold day or an extended time outdoors, only put on what is most necessary at the time.

Carry A Hot Beverage

I like to keep warm from the inside out. A good-quality thermos or travel tumbler can keep coffee and cocoa hot for hours. Don’t forget about water though. Hydration is just as important in winter as other seasons. The unfortunate aspect of coffee, cocoa, and most tea is the diuretic effect. A pit stop in the woods is highly undesirable in winter.

You can keep it from getting too cold in a few ways. Start with warm water in your thermos or water bladder. You can carry it close to your body in a bladder under your clothes if a thermos is heavier than you want to carry. Otherwise, fill a large thermos or two with hot water and refill everyone’s mug as you go.

Wear Proper Footwear

A pair of snow boots are great footwear for everyone. My kids don’t have a separate pair for snow play and hiking. We make sure we get all-purpose boots that have a good tread. You can add microspikes to everyone’s boots if you think the conditions warrant them. They are particularly helpful if the trail has patches of ice.

Inside your boots should be a quality pair of socks. I like SmartWool and Darn Good Socks. They may seem expensive at first glance, but they work better than multipack cheap socks. I’ve had my wool socks for years and they are still going strong. Have each family member pack an extra pair in case of sweaty feet or getting water inside their boots.

I hope these tips are helpful as you enjoy winter hiking.

Shannon Madden, along with her husband and kids, are the Trail Family. They love to take family bike rides, walks, hikes, and generally just be out on the trail together. Their goal is to help you cultivate a trail family lifestyle in your own family through helpful blogs, fun videos, and engaging social media posts. They hope that sharing their adventures will inspire you to get out there too! Visit them at trailfamily.blog, on Instagram @ trailfamilylife, and on Facebook at TrailFamily.

WINTER SCHEDULE

Art Class with Jean Perry - “The Cardinal in Winter”

Saturday, February 4, 10am-12pm

CCEEC’s feeders will be stocked with corn, safflower and sunflower, inviting this remarkable bird in for a close-up. Artists at all levels of interest and skill are invited to come capture the bright plumage in watercolor on paper.

All materials are supplied, including reference photos and feathers, for a $20 fee. Participants may bring their own supplies and photos as well.

Snow date is February 11.

Ice Fishing Clinic

Sunday, February 12, 10:00 am

This free program is offered by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission, and is contingent upon safe ice conditions.

An introductory indoor session will be held at CCEEC, followed by a trip out onto the ice at Mauch Chunk Lake.

No fishing license is required, but the program is strictly limited to the first 25 registered participants. Details on registration will follow soon.

Science Sleuths

Saturday, February 18

Join CCEEC Naturalist Jeannie Carl for some fun scientific detective work. Use the scientific method to make some predictions, collect clues, and solve some of nature’s riddles.

The program is free for EEC members, and a $5 donation is requested of nonmembers. All ages welcome. Snow date is February 25.

Nature Club

Sunday, February 19, 1:00 pm

Ranger Rick meetings are back, re-branded as CCEEC’s own Nature Club! Meetings are open to all students in grades K through 6, with each month focusing on some nature-related topic.

February’s meeting will be an introductory session, and all in attendance will be asked for input on future topics, activities, and other ideas on what direction the club should take.

Meetings are free to EEC members, with a $5 donation suggested for non-members. Children and their families should dress for indoor and outdoor activities at each session.

151 East White Bear Drive in Summit Hill, PA • 570-645-8597 • www.carboneec.org

Grounds and trails open all daylight hours

Wildlife emergency? TEXT or call (570) 233-3384

biz briefs

Do I Need a Permit For That?

Patrick Mencel

Special to The Current

Atopic that comes across my plate quite often is pulling permits for home renovations. I am not a contractor but have certainly done my fair share of construction. One thing I can say is that it’s better to be safe than sorry.

Permits are put in place so that builders, contractors, and homeowners can abide by a certain standard, or code, to “reduce potential hazards of unsafe construction for public health safety and welfare.” Though the law is black and white, the subject matter is quite grey.

Updating, remodeling, and renovating have a lot to do with the equity growth of your house. In most cases, equity is based upon the appraisal, not just a home evaluation.

Let’s say a homeowner decided to add 900 square feet of usable living space to her home but never pulled a permit. Technically that 900 square foot room does not qualify as any additional square footage to the original footprint. If that’s no cause for concern, at any point the township can require you to demolish the additional room and re-do it up to code.

Taking it a step further, if the home is sold and the buyers have requested to see whether the additional room was permitted and it was not, the township can require that the homeowner tear down and rebuild it to code before the sale.

Some more minor home renovations are not as obvious as additions. Replacing toilets, vanities, windows, etc. do require permits but are less likely to raise a red flag. There are different reasons for renovating and remodeling. However, one day if you do choose to sell the house there is a requirement as a seller to fill out a seller disclosure form.

The disclosure contains a requirement to state whether the homeowners have sought permits for any alterations within the home. If the seller fails to record the truth, technically the buyer can sue the seller after the home has closed and the new buyer has taken possession.

When it comes to finished basements or attics and improving what is already there, not only can permits help qualify them as useable living space but also can protect you from future code changes. The permitted improvement is essentially grandfathered in. Having a finished basement that was never permitted technically doesn’t qualify it as a finished basement. Also, keep in mind that permits are pulled mainly to ensure that work has been done correctly.

Over the years, there have been many changes in code, setting new standards for living spaces. As new findings have revealed, hazardous materials, unsound construction, and numerous incorrect ways of doing things like plumbing and electrical must be addressed.

They always say don’t mess with the law. My best advice is to pull permits and be safe. I do not work for the township, and it is not my responsibility as a realtor to require anything from any seller. But it is my job to properly advise my clients. Knowing a home is up to code makes for a better living environment all around. I’ll take to trusting the experts on this one.

Patrick Mencel is a real estate agent with The Artisan Group at Compass Real Estate. He has a passion for renovation and home restoration and sees the potential and value in properties that are often overlooked. He goes to bat for his clients with unwavering loyalty and determination. Patrick’s goal is to help you find your dream home, vacation home, or the right investment property.

Carbon Chamber to Host Valentine’s Day “Master Your Membership” Breakfast & Workshop

If you are a business owner, a Carbon Chamber member, or a future member, you are invited to join the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC) for a Valentine’s Day “Master Your Membership” Breakfast & Workshop on Tuesday, February 14, 2023 from 7:30am9:30am. This event will be held at the CCEDC Office at 137 South Street in Lehighton.

Your morning will begin at 7:30am with registration check-in, a light breakfast and some business networking followed by our feature presentation from 8:00 am – 9:30 am. You will learn how you and your business can benefit by becoming a Carbon Chamber member, which entitles you to dual membership in the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce (GLVCC). During the program, you will be shown how to leverage your numerous Chamber benefits as well as marketing strategies to promote your business online and off to make valuable connections, find appropriate resources and grow your business. Lastly, you will receive a walk thru of the online marketing tools available to you as a CCEDC member. Feel free to bring your laptop to follow along! PLUS, meet your NEW CCEDC Team and see what exciting things are happening with the CCEDC in 2023!

Topics covered include:

• Networking

• Marketing Opportunities

• Ways to Get Involved

• Online Member Information Center & Marketing Tools

• The Chamber Member Apps

• CCEDC & GLVCC Member Benefits

• Economic Development

• Member to Member Discounts

• Job Postings & Hot Deals

• Event & Promotional Advertising

• Committees & More!

As an attendee, you will receive EXCLUSIVE ACCESS to deeplydiscounted CCEDC Online Advertising Packages to jump-start your marketing efforts with the Chamber.

This event is sponsored by the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation, and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce.

When: Tuesday, February 14, 2023

7:30am-9:30am

(Registration & Breakfast at 7:30am Program begins at 8:00am)

Where: Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corp.

137 South Street in Lehighton

Fee: FREE for Chamber Members

$10.00 for Non-Members/Future Members

Can’t make this session? Mark your calendar to attend future Master Your Membership Workshops:

• Hot Membership Deals Master Your Membership: MAY 3, 2023

• Fall in Love with the Chamber Master Your Membership: SEPT. 5, 2023

• Plan Your New Year with Us Master Your Membership: DEC. 5, 2023

Registration is required at the CCEDC website. Please register online at: www.carboncountychamber.org or via phone at 610-379-5000

Grant Program Returns to Boost Pocono Projects

Following last year’s successful launch, applications are once again open for the PMVB Community Impact Grant, a program established by the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB).

Local governments including, but not limited to, boroughs and townships as well as municipal and redevelopment authorities are eligible to apply for funding to support projects that enhance the quality of life in communities across Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Carbon counties.

In 2022, the first-ever PMVB Community Impact Grant awarded nearly $300,000 among 24 community projects which funded a variety of initiatives, from upgrading basketball courts and baseball fields to preserving historic icons and beautifying small towns.

“Tourism is the top industry in the Poconos, and the PMVB feels passionate about giving back to the communities that host our 30 million annual visitors,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “This grant program benefits not just tourists, but also everyone who calls our region home.”

Proposals are due by March 3, 2023, for projects to be completed by December 31, 2023. At least a 50% match is required. Program funding is allocated from the Hotel Occupancy Tax.

To learn more about the PMVB Community Impact Grant and to download the application, visit poconomountains.com/grants.

Andreas Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning Offers 5-Star Scholarship Opportunities to Class of 2023

Andreas Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. of Lehighton, PA is giving away four $500.00 scholarships to 5-Star ‘Class of 2023’ high school seniors at the Lehighton Area High School, Palmerton Area High School, Jim Thorpe

Area High School and the Carbon Career and Technical Institute (CCTI), who plan to attend an accredited college, university or technical college and major in Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) or plumbing. A graduating trade student, who is entering an HVAC and/or Plumbing apprentice program or will obtain employment at a HVAC or plumbing company upon graduation, is also eligible.

Andreas Plumbing, Heating & Air Conditioning, Inc. has established this scholarship to financially assist and help motivate students (both new and already studying HVAC and plumbing) to pursue a rewarding career in the fast-growing HVAC and/or plumbing industries.

In the last decade, there have been many exciting technological advancements in HVAC and plumbing. Students entering the workforce have the opportunity to fill the increasing demand for talented HVAC technicians and plumbers as well as utilize their skills and ideas to make significant contributions to these trades. Now more than ever, we need bright, ambitious, talented and hardworking students to rise to the challenge and attain available positions in these fields.

Danielle Andreas, Andreas Plumbing co-owner, says, “Team Andreas is excited to offer this scholarship opportunity again this year to the Class of 2023! As part of our company mission, we feel it is important to not only give back to our community but to also help new and existing HVAC technicians and plumbers learn and grow both professionally and personally. Our industry is rapidly growing, so we are always looking for good people to join our team.”

She continues, “Our intention with this scholarship is to help offset tuition and book costs for 2023 graduates, who want to study or apprentice in the HVAC and plumbing trades as well as offset tool costs for current trade students, who will obtain full-time employment as an HVAC technician or plumber upon graduation.”

The awarded scholarships must be used within a one-year period. Deadline to apply is April 4, 2023. For complete

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details about Andreas Plumbing’s 5-Star Scholarship Program, including program requirements and application, please visit AndreasPlumbing.com/5-StarScholarship/.

Celebrate Book Lovers Month

Celebrate

Book Lovers

Month on February 23rd with CCEDC’s Women in Business Committee. This Luncheon will be at Palmerton Public Library at 11a.m. and includes a catered lunch by Jokers are Wild Cafe, plus wonderful program.

Local Author Judith W. Umlas has penned a personal memoir. This featured speaker is familiar to the Women in Business Committee. She has composed the titles Grateful Leadership, and The Power of

Acknowledgement. Judith now gets personal with a memoir told through letters.

The publication titled, Soulmates & Strangers allows Judith the opportunity to meet her mother, Sylvia as a young girl of 15 from the Bronx through letters to her French pen pal Claudia of Lyon, France. This is a true account of a 70-year-old friendship that lasts through their youth, times of war, and adulthood. This book touches the heart of every daughter.

During this luncheon you will hear Judith read an excerpt from Soulmates & Strangers, and discuss the world of publishing, and self-publishing. Soulmates and Strangers retails for $19.95, however a special event price of $15.95 can be added directly to your luncheon ticket and shipped directly to you.

To purchase your luncheon ticket and book please contact Marianne Rustad at the CCEDC office.

Call 484-943-9669 or email marianner@ carboncountychamber.org

You can also register online at https:// tinyurl.com/WIBbooklovers

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Applications for 2023 Pennsylvania House Scholarship Available

High school seniors interested in receiving financial assistance to help pay for college can now apply for the Pennsylvania House of Representatives’ Scholarship.

Each year the program awards a fouryear scholarship to two students preparing for post-secondary education. It is open to graduating high school seniors who are Pennsylvania residents with plans to attend a Pennsylvania college, university or career school as a full-time student.

To qualify, students must have attained a minimum 3.0 cumulative grade point average in high school. Other factors taken into consideration for the awards are a student’s commitment to community, leadership qualities, extracurricular activities and financial need.

The scholarship program is administered through the Foundation for Enhancing Communities. Click here for more information and an application. Deadline to apply is April 1.

The scholarship is privately funded by individual and corporate donors; no tax or other public funds are used. Scholarships are awarded through an independent panel of judges chosen by the foundation.

Better Tax Benefits for PA 529, PA ABLE Savings Programs

The tax benefits for contributing to PA 529 and PA ABLE accounts are getting better in 2023, as higher Pennsylvania state Personal Income Tax deductions are now in place for both programs.

PA 529 account owners may deduct up to $17,000 (previously $16,000) of contributions to their accounts, or $34,000 (previously $32,000) for couples filing jointly, provided both spouses have at least $17,000 of income. The PA state income tax deduction for 529 contributions is available to any PA taxpayer, making gift contributions an attractive benefit for family members or friends.

PA ABLE account owners will also be able to deduct up to $17,000 (previously

$16,000) for contributions to their accounts.

The PA 529 College and Career Savings Program is designed to help PA families steadily and strategically save for future educational expenses, while the PA ABLE Savings Program is a taxfree way for Pennsylvanians to save for a wide range of disability-related expenses while maintaining government disability benefits.

To learn more about PA 529, visit www. pa529.com or call 800-440-4000. To learn more about PA ABLE, visit www.paable.gov or call 855-529-2253.

Attention Students: House Fellowship Program Taking Applications

The Pennsylvania House Legislative Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its summer 2023 semester.

The 13-week program is based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are assigned to work in House standing committees or leadership offices; are compensated for their work (which may also include college credit); and are provided the opportunities to draft and present their own legislation, attend meet-and-greets with various public officials and staff, and tour some of the Commonwealth’s historic public spaces, to name a few.

Qualified applicants must be undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students or law school students; enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-ofstate institution; and students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher.

For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us.

Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@pabmc.net. The deadline to apply is March 1.

Emergency Programs Save Lives

Drivers are reminded of two voluntary programs aimed at saving the lives of residents in emergency situations. Participation in both programs is free of charge.

Under PennDOT’s Yellow Dot program, participants fill out the program form with emergency contact, medical contact and medical information, insert it in the program’s folder and then place it in their vehicle’s glove compartment. A yellow dot sticker affixed to the rear window alerts emergency responders to the availability of information to help them provide better care to crash victims.

JIM THORPE BOROUGH DIRECTORY

101 East 10th Street Jim Thorpe, PA 18229 www.jtborough.org

General Information (570) 325-3025

Emergency 9-1-1

Emergency Management (570) 325-3097

Water (570) 325-2631

Sewerage (570) 325-2547

Zoning and Codes (570) 325-3025

Streets (570) 325-2844

The Emergency Contact Information program offers Pennsylvania driver’s license and PennDOT-issued ID holders the opportunity to log into a secure database and list two emergency contacts. Participants can update their records as needed, but only law enforcement officials can view the information in the system. In the event of an emergency, law enforcement can use a participant’s ID to find his or her emergency contact information.

The Yellow Dot program is used only in vehicle crashes, but the Emergency Contact Information program can be used in other emergencies as well as crashes.

School District (570) 325-3691

Police Department (570) 325-4995

Fire Department (570) 325-3811