pocono bits

Project Disbursement Allocation Program. Applications for funding were submitted from a variety of integral partners in bringing visitors to the county including downtown partnerships in Hawley and Honesdale as well as nonprofits such as Harmony Presents Foundation and Delaware Highlands Conservancy.

“Our nonprofit organizations and events keep driving visitation to Wayne County each and every year,” said Wayne County Chief Financial Officer Vicky Botjer. “We are fortunate to have these organizations and the ability to fund them for another year helping to drive tourism and support the local economy.”

Applications underwent review by the Wayne County Tourism Promotion Committee and the PMVB resulting in allocations including awards such as $4,430 for the Newfoundland Library in order to market its 2nd Annual Taste of the Poconos event in May and $20,000 for the Downtown Hawley Partnership in order to market seasonal events in the downtown.

“The Pocono Mountains communities and organizations continue to show first-class hospitality and provide events and entertain visitors and residents,” stated Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the PMVB. “Tourism provides a significant chunk of the economic impact to Wayne County and our organization is thrilled to support the organizations and event planners who make the region such a special place to live, work and visit.”

These disbursements provide marketing assistance to nonprofits and event promoters to assist in bringing visitors to Wayne County and the Pocono Mountains each year providing additional revenue for area businesses.

Poconos Triathlon Chosen for USAT Pennsylvania State Championships

The Poconos Triathlon Festival, in conjunction with Settlers Hospitality and the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau, has been selected as the 2023

USAT Pennsylvania State Championship for the Olympic and Sprint distances. Scheduled for June 10-11, athletes will race for state championship titles while enjoying beautiful courses and small-town hospitality in the Pocono Mountains.

Now in its third year, the Poconos Triathlon takes place at Lake Wallenpaupack, nestled in the northeastern corner of Pennsylvania. Just 90 minutes to NYC and 2.5 hours to Philadelphia, this is a great race-cation opportunity. The race features a beautiful lake swim and an all-new bike course on the “Towpath” along the Lackawaxen River, a designated PA Scenic Byway. The run course has great lake views and finishes on the Wallenpaupack Area High School track.

Both the Sprint and Olympic distance races are open to athletes 12 and up. Sprint athletes aged 15-18 that are currently in high school are eligible for the High School Championship. We encourage all youth athletes 12-18 to take advantage of Kinetic Multisports 50% Youth Pricing during this event or any Kinetic Multisports event.

“As a Pennsylvania native, I’m honored to host the Pennsylvania State Championships at the Poconos Triathlon Festival. This is a great race to showcase the sport and to share this wonderful area with our racing community,” said Greg Hawkins, Kinetic Multisports CEO and Race Director.

“The Pocono Mountains is pleased to host the 2023 USA Triathlon Pennsylvania State Championships at Lake Wallenpaupack,” added Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “This designation is testament to the beauty of the Poconos and the athletes experience since the race started in 2021. We welcome athletes race weekend and encourage them to visit and train in the Pocono Mountains yearround.”

The Poconos Triathlon Festival raises scholarship funds for deserving Wallenpaupack Area High School seniors who demonstrate outstanding character and grit.

For more information or to register, visit https://kineticmultisports.com/races/ poconos

Skirmish Easter Egg Hunt

All eggs are prize eggs during a Skirmish Easter Egg Hunt. There are hundreds of Skirmish eggs hidden throughout the paintball facility. If you find one (or more) while you are playing, return it to the Skirmish Armory or check-in, and win a FREE PASS for every egg that is redeemed. Passes will vary. You can win anything from Skirmish, Pocono Whitewater and even Pocono Biking adventures. Find the golden egg for the best prize of them all! The more you find, the more you win. Regular rates apply, there is no additional cost to join in the egg hunt fun. Pre-registration is recommended, but not required. Book online or give or call (570) 325-8430.

Train Rides in the Pocono Mountains with the Easter Bunny!

Take a relaxing train ride through Lehigh Gorge State Park in one of Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway’s vintage train coaches. Rides depart from the historic station in Jim Thorpe.

Hear the distinct sound of the wheels and riding cars as the railway snakes along the beautiful Lehigh River. Visitors will be surrounded by mountain views and forests, while also getting a look at Glen Onoko Falls.

April 1- April 9 Friday, Saturdays, & Sundays

Departures at 11am; 1pm; 3pm

1 Susquehanna Street in Jim Thorpe

If you are an artist or artisan, join the Carbon County Art League (CCAL) meeting on Wednesday, April 12th at 6:00 pm held at the Palmerton Area Library, 402 Delaware Ave, in Palmerton, PA 18071.

If you are interested in CCAL membership, send us an email: info@ carboncountyart.com.

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Ariel Mann

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Distribution JD@JimThorpeCurrent.com technician who are bound together by their relationship to a re-animated little girl. The film just premiered to rave reviews at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and JTIFF is proud to be the first to screen it in Pennsylvania. murder. This critically acclaimed feature just premiered last month at SXSW, and for our Saturday night screening, we are honored to have writer/director Bomani J. Story, himself, flying in from Los Angeles to present his film to our JTIFF audience for its Pennsylvania Premiere!

JIM THORPE INDEPENDENT FILM FESTIVAL - continued from page 1 with an eclectic mix of brand-new cinematic gems like Starring Jerry As Himself, directed by Law Chen. A family documents how their immigrant father Jerry, a recently retired Florida man, was recruited by the Chinese police to be an undercover agent, only to discover a darker truth. This film had its World Premiere at the 2023 Slamdance Film Festival and took home the Grand Jury Prize, the Audience Award, and the Best Actor Award for the film’s star, Jerry Hsu.

Next up – brace yourself for 8 Found Dead directed by Travis Greene, a heart-pounding thriller about two LA couples who escape for a relaxing weekend getaway in the desert, only to discover that their AirB&B is already occupied. The film won Best Picture and Best Director at Screamfest LA 2022 and HorrorBuzz called it “A Savagely Entertaining Movie!”

Next up, prepare to laugh your heart out with I Like Movies directed by Chandler Levack, a quirky Canadian coming-of-age comedy that harkens back to the simpler era of the early 2,000’s. Lawrence, a socially inept 17-year-old cinephile, who gets a job at a video store where he forms a complicated friendship with his older female manager.

If you prefer darker films from a female perspective, don’t miss Birth/Rebirth directed by Laura Moss. It’s a psychological horror tale about motherhood and creation, inspired by Mary Shelley’s Frankenstein. The film is centered around a single mother and a childless morgue

Birth/Rebirth

And from the maniacs who won Best Comedy for Lake Michigan Monster at JTIFF 2020, comes Hundreds Of Beavers, directed by Mike Cheslik. It’s a 19th century, black & white, no dialogue, supernatural Winter epic that we think both Tex Avery and Charlie Chaplin would be proud of. A drunken applejack salesman (played by physical comedy genius, Ryland Brickson Cole Tews), must go from zero to hero and become North America’s greatest fur trapper by defeating a hoard of giant beavers. Film Threat’s Michael Talbot-Hayne calls it “an unexpected visionary work that will rip you a new perspective on classic cinematic art. It’s exciting in ways you cannot imagine and must be seen to be believed.”

And if you’re looking for a family-friendly flick, don’t miss Aliens Abducted My Parents And Now I Kinda Feel Left Out, directed by Jake Van Wagoner. Miserable after her family moves to a small town, Itsy, an aspiring teenage journalist, befriends Calvin, her strange, space-obsessed neighbor who believes his parents were abducted by aliens. This film premiered at the 2023 Sundance Film Festival and boasts a 92 on Rotten Tomatoes. It also has zero adult content which makes it the perfect choice for a Sunday afternoon movie with the kids.

And for a totally different take on Mary Shelley’s work, check out The Angry Black Girl And Her Monster written and directed by Bomani J. Story, an evocative tale of a young girl named Vicaria who embarks on a dangerous journey to bring her brother back to life after his brutal

And on Sunday at 5:00pm, JTIFF is honored to host members of the Lenapi tribe for a screening of their short documentary, Keepers Of The Way, directed by Evan Cohen. This intimate portrait, told through the eyes of Lenape tribal leaders in Pennsylvania, documents a challenging spiritual journey unfolding to heal past wounds and keep their culture alive. After the film, Lenape tribe members will take to the stage to discuss the film with the audience.

Our Closing Night Feature, Deadland , is a tight, metaphysical border noir directed by Lance Larson that just premiered last month at SXSW. Angel Waters, a U.S. Border Patrol Agent, apprehends a mysterious stranger who claims to be his long dead father. The events that follow will haunt Angel and his family forever. Another PA Premiere and a remarkable film to close out the festival.

And don’t forget the 75 amazing short films from around the world that make up the bulk of our program. And despite our international flavor, JTIFF continues to encourage local talent from our own back yard to create and take part in the festival. And this year, our efforts have really paid off as the films we’re presenting in both the PA Student Film block on Saturday and the Local Heroes block on Sunday are the best we’ve seen since the festival began.

And of course, on Saturday 4/22 at Midnight, we’ll be bringing back our notorious Grindhouse block –two bloody hour’s of the most shocking and gloriously offensive short films collected from around the globe. As usual, no one under 18 will be admitted to the Grindhouse block.

Finally, we are humbled by the dozens of filmmakers who will be travelling from all over the country to screen their work here in Jim Thorpe. These directors will be coming from as far away as Los Angeles and Chicago and will meet and mix with our regular JTIFF alums like Wesley Mellott, Vernard James, Graham Burrell and Michelle Gallagher. And anyone who buys a ticket will have the opportunity to meet these artists face to face and talk movies between screenings or over a drink at our festival parties.

And speaking of parties, we are excited to announce that this year’s fabulous Filmmakers Gala will be held Friday night 4/21 at the magnificent Mauch Chunk Ballroom, (41 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe), located just steps away from the

Mauch Chunk Opera House, our main screening venue. At 9:00pm, right after Birth/Rebirth, we’ll ease into the evening with a cool lounge vibe, with drinks, conversation and passed hors d’oeuvres as brilliant video and lighting artist, Nico Dominguez, transforms the Victorian ballroom into surrealist dreamscape, painting the space with 3D imagery and light. Then we shift gears into a full-on dance party with the help of incredible Great Circles’ DJ Merlot from Philly who will be spinning her own brand of soulshaking beats into the wee hours.

In addition to the Filmmakers Gala, we’d like to give a big thank you to Marion Hose Bar (16 W Broadway, Jim Thorpe, PA) for hosting our Opening Night Afterparty And stay tuned for info about our Closing Night Wrap Party happening Sunday 4/23 after the Awards Ceremony.

So, what are you waiting for? Get your Tickets now for the 6th Annual Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival and get ready for an unforgettable 4-day event of movies, music, parties and art! We’ll see you on the Red Carpet! For tickets and more info, go to: jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com