The Jim Thorpe Current - March 2023

The CURRENT

Elements Music and Arts Festival Phase One Lineup

Elements Music & Arts Festival, the Northeast’s premier boutique festival experience, has announced the phase one lineup for its 2023 edition. Best described as an escape unlike any other, Elements is co-created by all those who embark on the journey, fostering a creative getaway aimed to inspire and offer a break from the stresses of everyday life. It’s the ultimate carefree weekender where music, community, art, camping, and adventure join together in perfect unison, taking over Long Pond, PA from August 10th-14th.

Long Pond proved to be the perfect new home for the revered Elements community in 2022, welcoming revelers to its magical fields

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6th Anniversary Celebration

The Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival Is Coming!

Now in it’s 6th fantastic year, the The Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival returns to the Mauch Chunk Opera House, April 20-23, 2023. Once again, they are proud to invoke the rebellious spirit of the Molly Maguires, inviting the boldest, most defiant filmmakers to screen their work, shatter convention, and inspire spirited debate. Their credo is “Eyes and Minds Wide Open” and they mean it. And for their 6th season, they’ll continue that mission, with live in-person-only screenings of the latest cutting-edge films from around the globe of every genre and description, including a slew of US and Pennsylvania premieres. Saturday at Midnight, continues the controversial *GRINDHOUSE program, so prepare yourselves for a twisted mix of over-the-top films that not only push the envelope but rip it to shreds.  *NOTE: No one under 18 will

be admitted to the Grindhouse screenings.

In the coming weeks the festival will be announcing the entire festival program including special Opening & Closing Night features, Live Performances presented by GREAT CIRCLES – innovative music partners from Philadelphia, and of course, details about the hottest party of the year –the fabulous FILMMAKERS GALA. So, keep checking their website and social media pages for the latest updates.

The 6th year of JTIFF promises to be bigger and better than ever, so strap yourself in and get ready for a thrilling ride!

JTIFF 2023 will take place April 20 - 23, 2023 at the Mauch Chunk Opera House, 14 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe. All-Access VIP Passes, Day Passes and individual tickets are on sale now! Go to jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com for tickets, the latest info and Sponsorship opportunities.

A Look Back at Mauch Chunk and the Lehigh River

By Cleo Fogal Special to The Current

The Lehigh River and the town of Mauch

Chunk have been tied together ever since the town was founded, in 1818.

Mauch Chunk was placed on the banks of the Lehigh because it was a good place to dispatch loads of anthracite coal down to Philadelphia, and from there to the entire east coast by steamship.

Anthracite coal was discovered in Summit Hill in 1791. Once city factories realized that it burned hotter and cleaner than other kinds of coal, anthracite was in high demand, but it was difficult to get the coal from the coal fields to the factories that wanted it.

Coal from England was cheaper and easier to get.

When the War of 1812 between the US and England broke out, it resulted in blockades of shipping bound for the US, which created a huge market for domestic coal.

The first long haul coal transportation was done by arks, which were skiffs built specifically for one way coal transportation, which would be unloaded and their timber sold for lumber when they reached their destination. The arks proved to be both unreliable and expensive, so the founders of the Lehigh Coal and Navigation Company built themselves a canal system.

Mauch Chunk was the hub of the canal system because the Lehigh’s steep banks made it easy to bring coal on the switchback railroad from Summit Hill and dump it onto the waiting canal boats at the foot of Mount Pisgah. The canal boats could carry 100 tons of coal. At the height of the canal era there were an estimated 2 thousand boats on the canal network, which included the Lehigh, Delaware, and Morris canals

Anthracite powered the nation in the 1800s, and Mauch Chunk was the transportation center that moved it from the coal fields down the Lehigh corridor to the factories and homes that needed it. In 1855 more than

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Photo courtesy of the Delaware and Lehigh National Heritage Corridor/National Canal Museum

Lehigh River, Independence Day, circa 1900. Empty coal boats on the lower right were ready to head upriver to the coal chutes when they reopened. Visitors visible at the Lehigh Valley Railroad station on the right, and on the Mansion House Bridge on the left.

The Magic of Wonderland On Broadway

By Yvonne Wright The Current Contributing Writer

If you are bored with the “been there, done that” syndrome, and are looking for an entertainment experience that is totally unique, fun and family friendly, with interactive brain teasing / puzzle solving qualities filled with magical stories that allow the participants to immerse themselves in a world of strange creatures following in the footsteps of Alice in Wonderland…. then, the newly opened Wonderland On Broadway Escape Game Room will be exactly your cup of tea (pun intended).

watch the players’ progress and safety - e.g., there maybe a container that needs a passcode to open, or a locked door that needs a key.

If participants search diligently and collaborate with each other, they should be able to find the hidden items and important clues needed to progress within the game. Most importantly, if they wish participants are free to leave the game of their own accord, without completing the story.

Comprised of three parts, Wonderland On Broadway is a one hour journey into a magical world that starts with the Rabbit Hole, an entry point at which the players receive instructions about the rules of the game and watch an informatory video about the story line. From there, the Game Master leads them into the Victorian Sitting Room, a place where the game truly begins to unfold and the clock starts ticking! “If you have what it takes” informs Ed challengingly, “you will eventually find your way into the Cheshire Cat’s Lair, where the fascinating word of Wonderland comes to life!

Based on various interpretations of Lewis Carroll’s stories, and a year in the making with hurdles to overcome, this fascinating new business that just opened in Jim Thorpe is the creative vision of Ed and Vanessa Maddock, both great enthusiasts of escape room games, who only recently (2020) settled down on West Broadway. Ed particularly credits his mom, Patricia Maddock, for introducing him to Alice in Wonderland books as a boy, and then being instrumental in inspiring and physically helping him with the project.

“From the moment we experienced our first escape room as a couple, we were hooked!” laughs Ed candidly, “to us, it felt like an interactive movie in which we were the main characters in a fictional world, working together at problem solving to complete a story line.” For those less familiar with the Escape Room phenomenon, these reallife adventure games first became popular in East Asia (2003) before spreading to North America and Europe by 2010, becoming especially popular among “highly stressed students and overworked young professionals.”

The most sought after variety of such games are usually set in fictional prison cells, haunted dungeons, or alien space ships. Symbolically locked in a room, participants are given instructions with a limited time to explore clues and hints vital to completing the mission and ‘escaping’ the room.

The uniqueness of Wonderland On Broadway in Jim Thorpe lies in its playful aesthetics and the type of fantastical experiences presented to the players, that are entertaining as well as educational and cognitive. The game encourages teamwork and cooperation rather than competition among the players, rewarding the proverbial ‘thinking outside the box.’ Based on Alice in Wonderland, the Maddocks chose this classic children’s book and gave its selected tales their own quirky interpretations to keep the game surprising and exciting.

“The puzzles are tricky!” Ed warns with a mischievous smile, “so, we require adult supervision with children under 18 years of age. However, contrary to the game’s name, no one is really trapped in our escape room, and the idea of ‘escaping’ simply means that you completed the room successfully!” But, if the players get stuck and are unable to move forward, or become frazzled, they can always ask for helpful hints from a live Game Master, whose role is to

In our story, the players will be helping Jack Spade, the head gardener of the Queen of Hearts, who many, many years ago, to his misfortune made the mistake of planting white rose bushes in the Queen’s garden instead of red. The playing party needs to enter the Cheshire Cat’s Lair and use his magic to turn white roses into red permanently, before the monarch’s grand arrival at her annual celebrity croquet match betrays his mistake. They have only one hour to obtain the cat’s magic, or, it might be ‘off with his head!’ for Jack” - because the wicked Queen is quick at punishing anyone at the slightest offense.

Designed for a maximum four players at one time, solving approximately 30 puzzles, the game allows participants to work alongside their favorite Alice in Wonderland characters and even meet new ones along the way. The Wonderland On Broadway escape room offers a highly sensorial and tactile artistic experience that incorporates painstakingly hand made props, surreal artworks and interior decorations, the majority of which were created right in the Maddocks’ house by a team of talented local artists and contractors.

The game’s website is a stunner, designed by HostingNSB and can be admired when booking the game at https://escapejimthorpe.com. The project’s lead artist and prop designer, Brian Quinn, impressed Ed and Vanessa with his “intuitive abilities to understand and envision their ideas” which materialized in artistic masterpieces for the game.

Jillian Franko’s talent lies behind her fantastical, jawdropping flower-faces which she created as part of the enchanted world of Wonderland. Danielle Buery oversaw the completion of the outside courtyard and the Rabbit Hole entrance. Her well-rounded skills and expertise moved the project forward.

Their general contractor was Darren Reinart “without whom this enormous undertake would not have come to fruition.” Also hard at work were Shawn McCarty and Dani Davison who built the outdoor railing as an absolute work of art, while Yvonne Wright (Studio YNW) contributed several character drawings for the gamehinting at likenesses of people important to the owners as inspiration. Finally, out of gratitude for Ed’s mom, there is a quote on the wall in the Cheshire Cat’s Lair that refers to a special watch she gave him as a child.

Ed and Vanessa Maddock have accomplished the mammoth task of bringing the escape room phenomenon to Jim Thorpe as a true labour of love, providing local and visiting gamers with an entertainment experience worthy of spreading the word around. Located in the historic part of town at 158 West Broadway, in close proximity to the Old Jail Museum, Wonderland On Broadway is set to become a trending star attraction - affirming Jim Thorpe’s lead as a sought after tourist destination, where memorable experiences are made, in a place the Maddocks love and call their home. For more information about the game call (570) 624-8333.

Danielle Buery, The Rabbit Hole. Photo: Y. Wright

Yvonne Wright, Aunt Adelaide. Photo: Y. Wright

Jillian Franco Flower Faces. Photo: Y. Wright

Brian Quinn, Mad Hatter Tea Party. Photo: Y. Wright

Kilts on Wheels *Shake Loose with the Caboose*

Save on Golf This Summer in the Pocono Mountains

Enjoy a fun day with the Lehighton Downtown Partnership and Jim Thorpe Trolley Company visiting numerous pubs in Lehighton on Saturday, March 11, 2023 from noon – 8 p.m.

Kilts on Wheels will be a hop on and off tour of six of Lehighton’s fun pubs and restaurants. Attendees will also be able to enjoy the unique boutique businesses of First St., Lehighton. All attendees will receive a half pint glass to enjoy your drinks throughout the day, swag bag with water, snacks, coupons/ discounts for businesses plus many other goodies!

There will be fun activities at each location including trivia games, Pot of Gold chances, basket raffle and more! Dress to impress in your favorite Irish Garb and win our best dressed Irish Man and Woman Contest!

Need a DD? A special Designated Driver ticket is available with a swag bag complete with a free MockTail or soda plus everything mentioned above. Please note this is a 21 years or older event. ID will be checked before receiving wristband. In case of inclement weather, Kilts on Wheels will be held on Sunday, March 12, 2023.

Proceeds from Kilts on Wheels will help with the revitalization of Downtown Lehighton and the refurbishment of the Lehigh Valley Caboose situated at the Lehighton D&L Trailhead.

Tickets are limited so grab your’s today! To purchase tickets use the QR code or visit Eventbrite at: https://tinyurl.com/Lehighton-Pub-Crawl

For more information please contact Bambi at BambiE@carboncountychamber. org or call (610) 509-6465.

By Emily Whalen Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau

The return of green this spring means the return of golf, so get ready to dust off your clubs for the 2023 season. Enjoy the varying landscapes and breathtaking views exclusive to Pocono Mountains golf - at a discount.

Purchase a Pocono Mountains GolfA-Round Card for just $45 and play twice at five of the region’s golf courses for just $30 per round with cart. Browse the participating courses to experience golf’s best destination secret. BUY NOW!

Participating Courses:

Country Club of the Poconos

Hideaway Hills Golf Club

Jack Frost National Club

Pocono Manor Golf Course

Split Rock Golf Club

1. Country Club of the Poconos

With the Pocono Mountain foothills and the Allegheny Plateau as its backdrop, Country Club of the Poconos offers beautiful scenery as well as a challenging and varied fairway. This Par 70, 5,902-yard course features four sets of tees fit for all levels of play.

2. Hideaway Hills Golf Club

The 300 acres of pristine golf at Hideaway Hills Golf Club include remarkable elevation changes, four lakes, over 60 sand traps and a signature island green. The terrain is always in peak condition thanks to the automated irrigation system. Enjoy the spectacular views of the region while perfecting your swing.

3. Jack Frost National Club

Jack Frost National Golf Club , located in Blakeslee, Pennsylvania, offers a 7,200yard course, flowing with the natural

contours of the mountainous landscape of the Poconos. The picturesque topography provides wide fairways, easily-identified target areas, few uneven lies and no blind shots.

4. Pocono Manor Golf Course

Players can enjoy 18 holes of championship golf at Pocono Manor Golf Course , where legends like Sam Snead, Arnold Palmer, and our own local Masters champion, Art Wall Jr., have tested their skills in the past. With a history stretching back over 100 years, this beautiful resort has earned a designation on the National Registry of Historic Places.

5. Split Rock Golf Club

Split Rock Golf Club’s 27-hole, twocourse layout attracts players of all levels. Putt and drive your way through stunning surroundings and majestic views. After the game, grab a bite to eat and watch the sun set over the green at the on-site Sunset Green Restaurant & Bar.

Purchase your Golf-A-Round card now and prepare for another great season of scenic golf right here in the Pocono Mountains! Some restrictions apply. Card is valid for the 2023 golf season only. You may use the card any time the courses are open Monday-Friday or after 2 p.m. on Sundays, Not available for use on Saturdays or Holidays. The card is valid for the cardholder only.

You must call for tee times and mention the Golf-A-Round card; tee time can be made three days in advance. Tee times are subject to availability. Not valid with any other offer or tournament play. Card is nontransferable and can be purchased online.

Interested in more ways to save on golf? Reach out to learn more about customized golf packages that can be tailored to your specific interests. Sign up for golf lessons to brush up on your swing or introduce family and friends to the sport!

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New Passenger Train from Pittston to Jim Thorpe

A new passenger train is coming to town right in time for summer!

This new passenger train will run from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Regional Railroad Station to Jim Thorpe. It will be up and running on Saturday, May 27 and tickets will go on sale at 9:00 a.m., on Wednesday, March 1.

This train will be the first in nearly 50 years to operate from the Wyoming Valley through the Poconos.

“It’s a wonderful advantage for our local merchants in town, the more people are here, my job as the president of the tourist agency is to try and help the community and help the business community kind of manage that sense of tourism how can we best provide for the number for the number of people coming in on a regular basis,” said James Dougher, President of Jim Thorpe Tourist Agency.

In addition to its successful freight operations, Reading & Northern has become a favorite with families, daytrippers and railfans for its various passenger excursions throughout the region.

They have included seasonal day trips from Outer Reading station in Berks County to Jim Thorpe via Port Clinton and Tamaqua, special trips from Outer Reading to Pottsville, as well as special excursions using steam locomotives 425 and 2102.

The debut of newly restored 2102 last year attracted railfans and railroad journalists from all over the country, while 425 was the star of a well-attended Rotary Club of Mountain Top excursion last July.

In Jim Thorpe, meanwhile, the railroad’s Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway offers trips into Lehigh Gorge State Park that depart from the historic Mauch Chunk railroad station in the heart of the borough.

As noted, riders on the Pittston trains will be able to connect with those trips during their stopovers in Jim Thorpe.

The excursions will run on a regular schedule every weekend.

For more information on RBMN’s passenger operations, visit www.rbmnrrpassenger.com.

Heffley, Argall Announce Panther Valley School District to Receive School Safety Grant Award

Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) and Sen. David Argall (R-Schuylkill/Carbon) are proud to announce that the Panther Valley School District will receive $75,000 from the Pennsylvania Department of Education (PDE) Office for Safe Schools’ Targeted Grant Program.

The grant money, which is from a line item in last year’s budget, can be used for salaries, training or equipment.

“Providing these funds to Panther Valley means that we are able to create a space that creates an environment for greater productivity, safety and learning, as well as working to enhance anti-violence efforts,” said Heffley. “I’m pleased that our schools will be able to use this money to preserve the safety of our children.”

“Since I chaired 10 roundtable discussions of the Majority Policy Committee in 2018 about how best to protect our students and teachers, Pennsylvania has invested hundreds of millions of dollars in school safety measures,” said Argall. “I’m thankful these competitive grants will be coming to Carbon County to ensure our schools are a secure place to learn and grow for our children.”

The list of awardees can be found on the Pennsylvania Department of Education’s (PDE) Office for Safe School website.

The Hippie 5k is Back! Carbon Run Continues in 2023

The Carbon Chamber and Economic Development (CCEDC) in association with the Business Education Partnership are excited to announce the return of the Hippie 5K Run/Walk on Saturday, April 15, 2023 (Rain date: April 16th). This familyfriendly event is an official “Get Your Tail on the Trail” Run/Walk starting from the Lehighton trailhead.

Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the run at 9:30 a.m.

Be sure to dress in your hippie best! A prize will be awarded to the best dressed hippie!

This event would not be possible without our groovy sponsors. Thank you to St. Luke’s Carbon, Lehighton Outdoor Center, Lehighton Walmart, and Lehigh Carbon Community College for continuing to support community events.

Proceeds fund the CCEDC/Business Education scholarship fund. Local 2023 high school graduates are eligible for the

scholarship. Students need to be nominated by their district and are requested to volunteer for the event to qualify. School Administrators are instructed to contact Marianne Rustad of the CCEDC at 610379-5000 to submit student information.

Student nominations are to be submitted by March 30th.

Registration fee is $35 per person with a discount for teams of 3 or more. Register before March 15th and receive a Hippie 5K tee-shirt! Enjoy FREE on-site refreshments and the live broadcast by the Colossal Community Podcast. Medals will be awarded for different age categories ranging from 14 years old and younger to 70 plus.

Please save the date and follow https:// tinyurl.com/Hippierun23 for up-to-date information.

“Rattlesnake Run” Fundraiser Scheduled

students at Carbon Career & Technical Institute (CCTI) and to provide access to special events and field trips.

“By working with the Community Foundation, our group was able to mobilize quickly to start raising funds to support our kids,” said Reyna Desmarais, President of the Friends of CCTI Parent Group. “Most CCTI grads join the workforce right after high school. Many have to pay out-of-pocket for materials needed in their specialty. These could be things like wrenches, ratchets, dual-action sanders, boots, etc. Our goal is to help offset some of these expenses for students in need.”

The Friends of CCTI Parent Group is busy planning its first fundraiser event to help students who will be graduating this year.

A Cinco de Mayo Hoedown will be held on Friday, May 10th at Franklin Township Fire Company in Lehighton, featuring line dancing lessons and Gunslinger Country Band.

Tickets are $10. All proceeds benefit the Friends of CCTI Fund.

Help CCEDC Promote Carbon County by Donating Your Photos

Today!

Do you have a tourism-related business? Are you a photographer who takes pictures of Carbon County landscapes, events and attractions? If so, we invite you or your company to donate your tourism-related photos of Carbon County to the CCEDC to be used for our website and marketing purposes. We will give photo credit to the photographer or donor when we use your photo.

All donated photos/images MUST be high-quality, no less than 240 dpi resolution and owned by you or your company. Only PDF, JPEG, PNG, TIFF or EPS files are accepted. NO Microsoft Word documents. Photos containing people must have a signed photo release on file at your office. Types of Carbon County photos

The Carbon County Environmental Education Center has begun taking registration for its annual “Rattlesnake Run”, a 5k race and one-mile fun walk set for June 17 this year.

The event takes place at Lehigh Gorge State Park, and is open to runners and walkers of all ages.

“If you’ve never done an event like this before, this is a great opportunity for firsttimers,” said race director Susan Gallagher. “It’s an easy, out-and-back course. It’s flat and you can’t get lost. You can go as fast or as slow as you want.”

The race has been held each summer for over ten years, and offers unique “rattlesnake” awards made from repurposed bicycle chain.

Registration is available in-person at CCEEC, or online through the center’s website at www.carboneec.org.

Sponsorships are also being accepted to help cover costs of the fundraiser.

Questions can be directed to Gallagher at cceec@ptd.net.

The Friends of Carbon Career & Technical Institute (CCTI)

Announcing our newest fund at the Community Foundation: the Friends of CCTI Fund!

Established to purchase special equipment, supplies, and uniforms for

Executive Editor/Publisher Jeffrey “JD” Diaz 570.399.1400 - JD@JTCurrent.com

For Editorial call: 570.399.1400

e-mail: JD@JimThorpeCurrent.com

Contributing Writers

Lily Appleby • Julie Druzak

Kara Edmonds • Cleo Fogal

Patrick Menzel • Victor Stabin

Nicolas and Stephen Servis

Emily Whalen • Bob Wilkowski

Yvonne Wright For Advertising

Jay Pelc • 917.957.1713 JP4541@aol.com

Distribution JD@JimThorpeCurrent.com

Published

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needed: All Season Outdoor Sports & Adventure | Fairs & Festivals | Resorts | Arts, Recreation & Entertainment | Indoor Waterpark | Visitor Attractions | Landmarks

| Our Towns: Main Streets, Historical Landmarks, Events & the like | Historical | Camping & Glamping | Restaurants, Bars, Food & Nightlife | Landscapes & Mountainscapes | Nature & Wildlife

For more information or to donate, contact Dina Tulli Davis, CCEDC Marketing Consultant & Webmaster at 570-722-3751 or ccedcweb@ jumpsparkcreative.com.

Country Junction Brew and Chili Cookoff set for March 18

Register For Chili Contest 2023

Saturday • March 18th • 12pm to 2pm

Chili entry is FREE.

Each contestant gets $20 FREE arcade play

You will need to bring a minimum of one (1) 5 quart crock pot of your famous chili hot and ready to serve.

No other condiments are allowed. All of your ingredients need to be in the crock pot.

Set up is between 10:30AM and 11:30AM on Saturday March 18th. Meet in “The Square” located in back arcade area.

Country Junction will supply electric, poly gloves, sample cups and spoons for you to serve your chili between 12pm and 2pm.

Awards will be announced and handed out at 2:30pm

Sampling of local brews will occur between 12pm and 2pm

1st Place - Ribbon + $100 Gift Card

2nd Place - Ribbon + $50 Gift Card

3rd Place - Ribbon + $25 Gift Card

4th Place - Ribbon

5th Place - Ribbon

6th Place - Ribbon

Music By: TWO of A KIND

Local Brew by: Shawnee Craft Brewing Company

Think Spring! Trout Stocking Schedules Available

The Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission (PFBC) announced that its 2023 trout stocking schedules are now available online and on the FishBoatPA mobile app.

The PFBC will stock approximately 3.2 million adult trout in 697 streams and 126 lakes open to public angling. Stocking began the week of Feb. 21 in advance of the statewide Mentored Youth Trout Day on Saturday, March 25, and the statewide opening day of trout season on Saturday, April 1.

The 2023 adult trout stocking schedule is searchable by county, lists the waterways in alphabetical order, and indicates stocking dates and the species of trout that will be stocked.

Elissa Garofalo 1957 - 2023

Peacefully and gracefully Elissa M. Garofalo

formerly of Jim Thorpe, PA, passed away on February 15th surrounded by family and very dear friends.

Born in Scranton, Pennsylvania, daughter of Matthew A. Garofalo and Maria Morreale Garofalo, Elissa was a graduate of Abington Heights High School and a Penn State University graduate with a degree in Urban & Regional Planning. Retiring in 2021, Elissa held the position of Executive Director of the Delaware & Lehigh (D&L) National Heritage Corridor for nine years.

Under Elissa’s direction, The Lehigh Valley Greenways Conservation Landscape program became a model program and driver of THE LINK trail network. Elissa developed two regional revitalization programs and directed the update of Corridor’s Management Action Plan. She was an early steering committee member of Philadelphia’s Regional Bicycle Network, “The Circuit”, as well as on the board and a member of the Strategic Planning Committee of the Alliance of National Heritage.

Elissa was passionate about the outdoors, whether it be mountain biking, white water rafting, downhill and cross-country skiing, a Sprint Triathlon or long walks with her German Shorthair Pointer, Winnie. As a champion of a sober lifestyle, Elissa also enjoyed traveling, new experiences and local history. However, Elissa’s greatest pride and joy were her children, Maggie D’Angelo and Jay Marsden, who she adored immensely as well as her recent grandson, Cameron D’Angelo.

Elissa would light up a room with her infectious smile. If you were a friend of Elissa’s, it was for your lifetime. Elissa, along with special group of supportive friends, called themselves “The Backwoods Babes”. We should all be so fortunate to have friends as loving, loyal and dedicated in our lives.

Prior to coming to the D&L, Elissa co-owned Blue Mountain Sports in Jim Thorpe and was one of America’s first Main Street Managers. She pioneered efforts which led to Jim Thorpe‘s main street (Broadway) being named one of the Great Places of America by the American Planning Association.

During her 21-year tenure with the D&L, she had an enormous positive impact across the entire heritage area, in individual towns, and to the people she worked with. 132 miles of the trail were completed; the “Get Your Tail on the Trail” wellness initiative was launched in partnership with St. Luke’s University Health Network; the “Tales of the Towpath” educational curriculum was expanded to 80+ elementary schools and 6,500 students participated in related field trips. Elissa’s continued efforts resulted with a section of the trail being dedicated and appropriately named “Elissa’s Mile” in Jim Thorpe.

With Elissa’s leadership, the D&L resulted with major connections along the Delaware and Lehigh Rivers through the historic canals via the D&L Trail. These include the Mansion House Bridge in Jim Thorpe, projects connecting the Delaware Canal section through Bucks County and a merger to save the National Canal Museum and Josiah White III Canal Boat in Easton. Elissa’s vision and efforts brought about the successful merger with the National Canal Museum which contributed to the D&L becoming the first National Heritage Area which is a Smithsonian Affiliate.

An annual Christmastime event that Elissa would host in her home was the production of a family favorite dessert, Italian cannoli, a family recipe that has been passed down from generations. Her kitchen was a sanctuary for delicious holiday meals that she would arrange and prepare all on her own. The aroma would fill the room immediately as you entered her home.

Surviving are her children, Mary M. “Maggie” D’Angelo, husband Daniel and grandson Cameron of Sparta, NJ and Thomas J. “Jay” Marsden IV and wife Meredith of Ft. Washington, PA., along with the father of her children Thomas J. Marsden III of Jim Thorpe, PA. Also surviving are three brothers: Richard and wife, Nancianne of Clarks Summit, PA., Roland and wife, Barbara of Boca Raton, FL, Samuel and wife, Andrea of Clarks, Summit, PA, along with 5 nieces, 6 nephews, 8 great nieces and 3 great nephews. Elissa also had two brothers that preceded her in death, Angelo (wife Marise) and Matthew (wife Joyce).

The family would like to extend their deepest gratitude to Cheryl Kunkle, who in the past few years provided Elissa with wonderful surroundings, a calm abode and peaceful living environment in nature’s natural surroundings.

Memorial services will be held this spring.

In lieu of flowers, kindly consider donations to the D&L trail in Elissa’s honor. Contributions can be made online at: delawareandlehigh. org/support/donate noting “Elissa” as the tribute. They can also be directed to the Delaware & Lehigh National Heritage Corridor Inc. (DLNHC), 2750 Hugh Moore Park Road, Easton PA 18042 with the note “Elissa”.

$235 Million in Revenue Tied to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area

Tourism tied to the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area generated more than $235 million for local businesses, supported 2,686 jobs and raised nearly $3 million in hotel and sales tax revenue for the area, according to an economic impact report.

The National Parks Conservation Association partnered with economic development consultants Jon Stover and Associates to analyze the impact of tourism in the recreation area, which includes Pennsylvania’s Northampton, Monroe and Pike Counties, as well as New Jersey’s Warren and Sussex Counties.

“Local businesses, such as breweries, wineries, restaurants, hotels, and museums directly benefit from their proximity to Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, as they capture spending from park visitors and staff members,” the report said.

The report broke down the economic impact of tourism on local businesses by industry: hotels and motels ($27 million); museums, historical sites, zoos and parks ($25.7 million); and restaurants ($22.1 million for full-service and $21.6 million for limited service).

The report found visitor spending at the park generated $2.9 million in tax revenue for the states and municipalities. Out-oftown visitor spending increased by $33 million, and local visitor spending increased by about $5 million between 2014 and 2021, according to the report.

National Canal Museum Volunteer Fair

Saturday, March 4, 11am - 2pm in Easton, PA

We’ll be hosting a Volunteer Fair to celebrate a new year of volunteering within the Corridor! This event will celebrate all of the incredible volunteers we have, while

If you are an artist or artisan, join the Carbon County Art League (CCAL) meeting on Wednesday, March 8th at 6:00 pm held at the Palmerton Area Library, 402 Delaware Ave, in Palmerton, PA 18071. It’s going to be a most interesting presentation hosted by Jen Sinclair of Cancer Support Community and Sophie Hami of Henna Chakra on the subject of “Art with a Purpose” - a meditative effect of doodling.

Whether on paper or on skin, learn about the history of henna, some simple doodling patterns, and other relaxing techniques that provide a mindful experience.

Also, if interested in CCAL membership? send us an email: info@ carboncountyart.com.

also creating new volunteer connections in the community.

We will be providing updated information about the organization, recruiting for upcoming volunteer opportunities, and sharing important dates for the year. Volunteering at the DLNHC is a great way to learn more about local history, stay active on the D&L Trail, and/or meet new people at community events!

Snacks and beverages will be provided. For more information, contact DLNHC Events and Volunteer Coordinator at outreachcoordinator@delawareandlehigh.org.

ELEMENT FESTIVAL - continued from page 1

and immersive forest landscapes. Quickly becoming a celebrated prodigal home for the long-running event, the location is one of the Northeast’s most unique venues, a clear capitulation of the imaginative feeling Elements has become known for amidst its dedicated community.

With the phase one lineup, Elements has delivered its most ambitious billing to date while providing something for fans of all styles of electronic music and jam. This is only an initial taste of the full musical offering this year, which will be twice the size of previous lineups at Elements with over 100 artists across 10 unique stages.

Headliners on the phase one lineup include some of the most in-demand tastemakers and creators in the scene. Attendees can look forward to a performance from the one-and-only Skrillex, along with the mesmerizing sounds of Porter Robinson (DJ Set), house music heavyweight founder Chris Lake who will be hosting a Black Book Records stage takeover, crowdfavorite John Summit, the potent musical stylings of the Pennsylvania kid Subtronics, and Belgian bass duo Ganja White Night.

Lovers of live electronic music will feel right at home with performances on deck from the classically-trained English vocalist Elderbrook and East Coast funk-jam icons Pigeons Playing Ping Pong. Those seeking out heavier electronic strains of dance are in for a treat with appearances by trippy low-end producer LSDREAM, the esoteric frequencies of globally revered beatsmith TOKiMONSTA, and the dark styles of Mersiv, Peekaboo, and Of The Trees. Level Up will offer her femme touch on the bass music sound, while Zingara reimagines the genre with her super-producer sensibilities.

House heads can rejoice as Elements has gathered some of the genre’s foremost modern flag bearers to soundtrack its return to Long Pond. LP Giobbi’s pianoweapon gold will be on full display with a FEMME HOUSE stake takeover along with French icon Tchami, followed up by the meteoric momentum of HoneyLuv, Dirtybird innovator Nala, and bass house superstar Noizu. Dutch duo Tinlicker bring an underground European flavor to the lineup alongside chart topper Westend and the laidback stylings of SNBRN.

Electronic funk duo The Sponges will showcase their larger than life performances, while Kaleena Zanders sets forth a soulful, live vocal journey into the new-age corners of house music. The more melodic

end of the 4/4 spectrum is represented by Anjuna’s own Qrion and All Day I Dream upstart David Hohme.

The four primary stages of the festival are aptly named to each represent one of the key elements that define not only the event’s experience, but the very fabric of the natural world it celebrates. Fire is the home for thrill-seekers who thrive off moments of spontaneous fun, while Earth presents a psychedelic paradise of neon trees, galactic mushrooms, and airborne jellyfish. Air offers a temple of melodies tucked deep in the forest, while the sunshine playground known as Water is where acrobats, pirates, and clowns are ever abounding and swimsuits are heavily encouraged.

Beyond the music, festival goers can explore a magical playground that includes Burning Man style art cars that are quickly becoming a staple of the Elements experience, 3D video projection mapping, large-scale art installations, and interactive performances in every direction, plus a Health & Wellness lineup featuring yoga, aromatherapy, dance, comedy, sound baths, and multidisciplinary workshops. Attendees can also stop by the vendor village for unique jewelry, creative art, and festival attire, or refuel from the dance floor at a 24-hour food court with an array of healthy and organic local food provided by Pocono Organics, one of North America’s largest regenerative organic certified farms.

The concept of co-creation remains pivotal to the Elements experience. A row of sanctioned theme camps bring their own renegade feel to the event’s programming, offering spontaneous spaces to explore through all hours of the day and night. Elements also relies on the feedback and polling of its community in order to shape the edition to come. When their dedicated attendees talk they listen, act, and evolvemolding the event’s lineup and production to mirror its ever-changing fanbase of music lovers and party people.

What started from humble roots has continued to evolve with Elements Festival now looking towards its 6th edition, yet still remaining purely independent in the process. Founded by Timothy Monkiewicz and Brett Herman in 2013, Elements has grown rapidly from a one-day event on the Brooklyn waterfront to an immersive camping experience that has quickly become a staple of the festival circuit. The move to Long Pond has aided in this growth, with Elements now hosted in the woodlands adjacent to the raceway. The venue is powered by an onsite solar farm, further assisting Elements in its long-term sustainability goals.

According to the founders, this venue was always part of the plan for Elements, noting “We first saw our new home outside of Pocono Raceway in 2016 when we were scoping the location for our first Elements campout. We instantly fell in love with the site, but it was way too big for a first year festival on a shoestring budget. Out of the 40+ locations we visited, it was by far the best, and we always knew that this would be the perfect home for Elements. We are beyond grateful that 6 years later we were able to move here.”

Tier One GA and VIP passes are currently on sale through the official Elements Festival website, with a price increase coming soon for Tier Two tickets. Both ticket types are moving quickly and are on track to sell out. Fans can also purchase passes with an initial deposit and pay the rest after, which is $47 for GA passes and $62 for VIP.

Thursday early arrival passes can also be purchased, which allows attendees to beat the rush and celebrate the beginning of the festival with an exclusive pre-party with secret headliners. Elements also offers a variety of options related to accommodations, which range from car camping to on-site glamping, nearby hotels, and preset RVs and tents for those seeking an elevated experience.

Making Fresh Pasta Dough Using Beautiful, Healthy Flour From A Local Company

By Nicolas and Stephen Servis

The Current Contributing Writers

Welcome to the month of March.

Or, as many chefs, farmers, and Pennsylvania natives call it, the fools winter. It’s too cold to grow anything. Who knows if we will have snow on the ground? How long are our days at this point?! With all of these weird questions whirling through our minds, Steve and I ask ourselves, what are we cooking this month?!

To put it simply… Flour products.

Since we are so knitted into the food industry, we pay very close attention to the food trends. We find out what’s new and exciting and we get a scoop on food allergies, with gluten being one of the most prevalent. We have been asked a number of times if we are able to provide a glutenfree menu. Of course, we always oblige, but only after a little education on gluten and the history of this very new intolerance.

Economic improvements in the 60s and 70s and the idea of more shelf-stable food changed the food industry. Food producers took out the germ and the bran from the wheat plant leaving us only with the endosperm. They then bleached the product to make it more appealing, and more shelf stable.

Here is the problem. Fat, which is

found in the bran and the germ, is what tells our brains to tell our stomachs to start the digestive process. With fat being removed from this equation, this bleached white flour goes into our bodies and sits like a brick in our stomachs, causing stomach pain, inflammation, and even migraines. To avoid this scenario we always recommend using a local, whole wheat flour such as Castle Valley Mill right here in Doylestown.

In the early 1990s, Monsanto bought

RoundUp and re-marketed it as a wheat desiccant instead of a weed repellent. From that, bigger problems arose. Instead of a little spot spraying here and there to get rid of weeds, farmers started spraying this onto our fields on a large scale right before harvesting to dry out the wheat. This practice resulted in spraying four billion pounds of this nasty chemical right onto our beautiful planet. It leached into our waterways and traveled through the air.

The side effects of eating wheat sprayed with this chemical include nausea, difficulty breathing, abdominal cramps, headache, diarrhea, dizziness, anxiety, as well as kidney failure. If there are any of these side effects after eating a glutenheavy meal, this may be the reason, and not the gluten itself.

Instead of eating box pasta using white flour, try making fresh pasta dough using beautiful, healthy flour from a local company. We use a recipe that is foolproof and works every time.

Here it is:

250 g whole wheat flour

1 tsp kosher salt

1 whole egg

7 egg yolks

1 tbsp extra virgin olive oil

1 tbsp raw milk

Place the flour and salt in a bowl and mix using the dough hook attachment. Combine the eggs and liquids in another bowl but do not beat the eggs. Turn the mixer on low and slowly, one by one start adding the eggs and yolks. When the mix has formed a solid ball remove it from the bowl and transfer it to a floured counter. Knead until the dough ball is smooth. Once smooth, cover with a slightly damp towel and let the formed gluten “relax.” Once those steps are all finished you can begin rolling.

A St. Patrick’s Day Sandwich

In honor of the day when everyone is Irish, welcome family and friends to a traditional St. Patrick’s Day lunch with this Reuben Sandwich recipe.

Reuben Sandwich Servings: 2

2 tablespoons butter, softened

4 slices rye and pumpernickel swirl bread

4 slices swiss cheese

6 ounces corned beef

Find more seasonal recipes at Culinary.net.

2 tablespoons, plus 2 teaspoons, Thousand Island Dressing, divided

4 tablespoons sauerkraut

Heat nonstick skillet over medium heat.

Spread 1 tablespoon butter on one side of two bread slices. Place buttered side down in heated skillet. Add two slices cheese to each bread slice. Spread 2 tablespoons dressing over cheese slices. Add 3 ounces corned beef to each bread slice. Spread 2 teaspoons dressing over corned beef. Spread 2 tablespoons sauerkraut over corned beef.

Spread remaining butter on one side of remaining bread slices. Place buttered side up on top of sauerkraut.

Cook 4-7 minutes each side, flipping once, until golden brown and cheese is melted.

Sleep Guide: The Importance of Getting Good Zzzs

St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard Memorializes Nurses for Lives Spent in Service to Others

It’slike a 21-gun salute at a funeral – but to honor the quiet heroism of nurses.

Several years ago, Denise Snyder was touched by the stirring Nightingale Tribute performed at a fellow nursing colleague’s memorial service, who died after a long battle with breast cancer.

“I remember to this day how it resonated with me and its importance for any and all nurses to receive this beautiful service,” recalls Snyder, a nurse at St. Luke’s Carbon Campus. Inspired by that touching experience, she set out to develop the St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard to honor those who have dedicated their lives to the nursing profession and given so much to serve their community.

Among the services now offered free of charge by the St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard: The Nightingale Tribute – Known as the “Lady with the Lamp,” Florence Nightingale saved many wounded soldiers during the Crimean War with her pioneering nursing work. In many ways, she laid the foundation for professional nursing. During the services, a member of the Honor Guard reads the Nightingale Pledge and a nursing sonnet, then places the rose while saying the nurse’s name and, “We honor you this day and give you a white rose to symbolize our honor and appreciation for being our nursing colleague.”

Honorary Pallbearers – The Honor Guard may be requested to attend the visitation and/ or funeral services to serve as honorary pallbearers.

Casket Honor Guard – The Honor Guard may be posted at the head of the casket, standing silently to give their last respects.

Final Call to Duty – The Final Call to Duty may be performed during the services or at the gravesite. During the Final Call to Duty, the Nightingale Lamp is lit in the nurse’s honor, and the nurse’s name is called out as a request to report to duty. After the third and final call, and with no response, the nurse is announced as retired and the lamp’s flame is extinguished.

By Julie Druzak The Current Contributing Writer

Sleep. It’s one thing we can’t do without yet some people find it extremely elusive. We can go without food or water for 48 hours, but when it comes to sleep deprivation, the effects are much more immediate.

We are the only species that deprive ourselves of sleep for no reason. Yet, lack of sleep is the fastest way to do serious damage to one’s brain and body. With less than six hours of sleep, cognition, attention, learning, memory, and mood start to get affected. We need sleep as it provides a restorative balance and is the best way to reset our body and brain health. Sleep is the foundation of our health and wellness.

We are conditioned to believe that sleep is equal to laziness. Our culture praises the work ethic of our society. Less sleep equals more work and more productivity. But when sleep is abundant our minds flourish.

In a recent study, scientists measured health metrics while dialing back the patients’ sleep. The subjects’ cardiovascular systems, emotions, anxiety, blood pressure, the immune and metabolic systems declined. Eventually, they reached a breaking point.

Sleep deprivation can even affect our genes. With a lack of sleep, some genes have increased activity, which causes the growth of tumors, cardiovascular stress, and longterm chronic inflammation. Some genes get suppressed. This compromises our immune system.

So why do people today find it hard to get to sleep and ultimately stay asleep? As you probably know, in today’s world we experience tons of input in many different areas of our lives, from our work to our relationships. Other factors include our lifestyle, stress levels, eating habits, hormone production, dehydration, alcohol consumption, addiction,

blue light, and more. A big one is insomnia, defined as a failure to turn off your thoughts and the inability to fall asleep at night.

So what can we do? Here are some sleep tips that can help us not only get enough sleep but also enjoy high-quality sleep.

• Go to bed when we are tired (instead of fighting to watch one more episode of that show.)

• Journal during the day to let out some of your thoughts. That way, when your head hits the pillow at night, you don’t have the ongoing case of “the monkey brain”.

• Take five minutes to breathe, quiet your mind, and create a grateful mindset.

• At night, set up your house for nighttime success. Turn the lights down. This will help keep melatonin levels rising. Any light in the form of tv, computers, phone, and overhead lighting will lower your melatonin levels which are necessary for sleep.

• If you wake up in the middle of the night, make sure you avoid bright lights and the urge to look at your phone.

• As for caffeine, find your threshold. What is the latest time you can have caffeine during the day so that it won’t affect your sleep?

• Try not to eat two to four hours before bedtime.

• Turn down the heat to help the body prepare for sleep. In the winter, in order for your body to get ready for sleep, it needs to feel a one to two-degree temperature drop.

• If you can elevate your feet, and ankles above the chin, when sleeping it will clear the glymphatic system, wash out the brain’s debris, and help create a better night’s sleep.

• You can try yoga nidra, a form of deep relation where the practitioner turns your awareness inward through guided meditation.

Essentially the shorter you sleep, the shorter your life. The single most effective way to rest your brain and body is to get the most sleep that you can.

“This is one of the greatest community services I have been involved with, and we are most honored that it has St. Luke’s University Health Network representation,” Snyder says. “It brings their career in nursing full circle. A career in nursing starts by the honor we receive at the time of our capping or pinning at our nursing school graduation. It stays with us throughout our nursing career until the end, when the honor guard performs the final call to duty, which is unanswered. They are then relieved of their nursing duty to rest in peace.”

Last April, Snyder launched the pilot with the support of Marjorie Federanich, St. Luke’s Carbon Auxiliary President, and John Nespoli, President of the St. Luke’s University Health Network’s Lehighton and Carbon campuses.

“Being able to do this for our nurses has truly become a passion of mine,” Snyder said. And, as a result of that passion, the St. Luke’s University Health Network has become the first in the Lehigh Valley to offer the Honor Presentation at funerals or memorial services. The program gained exposure and momentum. In June, St. Luke’s Home Health and Hospice President Lisa Giovanni attended and was moved by the service. Giovanni and David Gibson, Vice President of Patient Care Services at the Lehighton and Miners campuses, encouraged Snyder to present about the Nurses Honor Guard during the September meeting of the Network Nursing Executive Council. The presentation was well received and the plan to move forward with network-wide participation was enacted and realized.

Alzheimer’s Association presents the 10 Warning Signs of Alzheimer’s

Memory loss is one symptom that alerts us to brain changes; however, there is more to forgetfulness when determining a dementia diagnosis.

Join Heritage Hill Senior Community and guest presenter Jennifer Dotzel with the Alzheimer’s Association on Thursday, March 9, at 2 p.m., at 800 Sixth St., in Weatherly, to learn about the 10 warning signs of Alzheimer’s. RSVPs are required; please register by March 6.

To RSVP, call Rachael or Brittany at 570-427-4500 or email rtimm@ heritagehillsenior.com.

In the case of inclement weather, the event will be rescheduled for Thursday, March 16, same time.

A goal of this program is to have a team of Nurses Honor Guard volunteers in place at each campus within the St. Luke’s University Health Network. The program has accomplished this with a chairperson at each of the 14 St. Luke’s campuses and 55 total volunteers across the network.

“This allows us to cover a very large area and give us availability and manpower to attend the funeral services of as many fallen colleagues as possible,” Snyder says. “Any nurse is eligible to receive the service from the St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard no matter where they were employed. It is nurses honoring nurses.”

The St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard currently serves Lehigh, Luzerne, Northampton, Berks, Bucks, Carbon, Montgomery, Monroe and Schuylkill counties in Pennsylvania, and Warren and Hunterdon counties in New Jersey.

To arrange for a tribute by the St. Luke’s Nurses Honor Guard, please call 1-866-STLUKES (785-8537) Option 4, then Option 1, and leave a message or email mystlukes@sluhn.org.

St. Luke’s Honor Guard honors a sister in nursing with the Nightingale Tribute. From left: Eileen Wan, BSN, RN; Lynn Birney, CRNP; Dana Carl, BSN, RN; Denise M. Snyder, BSN, RN.

library corner

BOOK REVIEW: REBECCA by Daphne du Maurier

By Lily Appleby Special to The Current

“Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again…”

D aphne du Maurier, born on the 13th of May 1907, grew up surrounded by a family that was far from lacking in the realm of creativity. Her father, Gerald du Maurier, was a famous actor-manager; her mother, Muriel Beaumont, an actress; and her uncle, George du Maurier, an esteemed artist and writer.

Despite growing up in Hampstead, England, du Maurier’s own creative genius is reported to have shone within the family’s holiday home of Ferryside at Bodinnick in Cornwall during her youth. In her adulthood, du Maurier became Lady Browning, after marrying Fredrick Browning, with whom she had three children.

Regardless of her fortunate upbringing, the success du Maurier encountered as a result of her career was irrefutably due to her

independent aptitude for writing. It would be impossible to denounce the novelist’s credibility as an astoundingly talented writer and a fitting figure for Women’s History Month.

Though du Maurier is the author of many renowned novels - Jamaica Inn, My Cousin Rachel, and French Creek, to name a few; it is Rebecca, published in 1938 - only 7 years after her first publication - which perhaps upholds her legacy most resolutely today.

Rebecca details the story of an unnamed heroine, who marries, and subsequently moves in with a wealthy and bereaved Maxim de Winter, at his home in Manderley – which was heavily inspired by du Maurier’s own home of Menabilly, which like Manderley’s description, truly does resemble “a jewel in the hollow of a hand”.

As the novel progresses, the second Mrs. de Winter is faced with the looming presence of her predecessor, Rebecca de Winter, and the peculiarities surrounding her death.

Du Maurier captures feelings of enchantment and hope, alongside jealousy

and betrayal like no other, with each manipulated feeling utilized in such a way to make the ghastly twist all the more captivating. It would be criminal to give more away, as to fully appreciate the novel, it’s best to go in with as little knowledge as possible.

To paint du Maurier as a romance novelist is to dismiss the intensity of feeling she is able to invoke. To read Rebecca is to become as equally hopeful, as equally scared, as equally insecure, and as equally disturbed as our unnamed protagonist. If you have been left feeling underwhelmed by previous reads, I can assure you that Rebecca will not fail to have you on the edge of your seat – seizing every ounce of your attention.

If you have previously enjoyed novels such as Lady Audley’s Secret and We Have Always Lived in the Castle, or are looking for something in lieu of other popular authors such as Agatha Christie or the Brontë sisters, do not hesitate to pick up a copy of Rebecca and indulge yourself in this evocative tale that will leave an almost guaranteed mark upon your consciousness.

United Nations Ambassador For The Arts, Ibiyinka Alao, Presents Programs For All Ages At The Dimmick Memorial Library

best seller, random donations that seem interesting, the methods are near endless.

Most often, we use a mixture of various deciding factors to help us choose what to add to our collection and what to pass on. While we would love to accept every single book, our library is quite small, and that means limited shelf space! We have to be picky to ensure our collection is best suited for the community’s needs.

During the week of February 2024, Ibiyinka Alao was the Artist in Residence at Jim Thorpe Area Schools in honor of Black History Month. Ibiyinka

Alao is an author, visual artist, filmmaker and musical theater composer and considers himself an ambassador for peace. He uses his painting, filmmaking, music and storytelling to work for peace and community development around the world.

This past February 24th, the library was excited to offer two opportunities at Dimmick Memorial Library to engage in lively conversation surrounding all forms of art and to bask in Ibiyinka’s positive energy. Ibiyinka Alao shared some of his experiences and how art can change our lives and our communities in an impactful, positive way.

Ibinyinka Alao shared his book “Ibi’s Fireflies” and taught a painting workshop. This program was focused on kids up to 13.

Ibiyinka Alao also held a discussion on art, storytelling, and how – through artwork – it is possible to bring back History, Culture and Education and increase Downtown Economic Development into our community. Through creativity, comes peace.

For more information on Ibiyinka Alao, find his website at: https://ibiyinka. com/

You may also reach him directly at 570317-5779.

NOTES FROM A CATALOGER: HOW A BOOK GETS ADDED TO OUR COLLECTION

By Atlas Seng

There’s a lot that goes into adding a new book to our collection, but first, we have to pick which book we’re going to add! We use a lot of different citeria to help decide which books to add, including patron requests, whether it’s an award winner or

When a book arrives, there’s a long process it goes through before it’s put on the shelf and is ready for reading. One of the first steps is labeling it with a barcode, an appropriate call number, and anything else it might need! The call number designates what area of the library it’s in-- “F” for fiction, “J” for juvenile, etc, as well as the first three letters of the authors name. It also might get a graphic novel sticker. a young adult sticker, a label showing if it’s part of a series, or even a colored dot denotating the number of sentences per page to help young readers (or their parents) find books suitable for them.

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

is ready to brave the outside world, it needs a few finishing touches. A few stamps go in the inside, giving the month and year it was added to the collection and the name of the library it belongs to. The copyright information page in the front gets embossed with the Dimmick’s name, and a sticker on the spine designates that it’s new (and might have a sooner due date than other books!). There are a few special circumstances that might add a few more steps, such as a memorial donation, but those are outliers to the general process.

Once all of the applicable labels have been applied, it’s time to protect the book. Library circulation is very hard on the life of the book, so making sure it’s as best protected as it can be is crucial to helping it last longer before it becomes too damaged to use and we have to either discard it or buy a replacement. Books wearing out over time is a fact of library life, but it’s good to slow the process however possible with things like mylar sheets to wrap the dust jackets in, or specialty archival tape to thicken the covers of paperbacks and keep the corners from bending. Some books are neither paperback, nor have a dust jacket, so they might simply get a clear glossy sticker holding the labels in place.

After the book has been suited up and

Finally, the book appears done--it looks like any other you’d take off the shelf--but the work isn’t quite over, as it still needs to be added to the system! This data entry is how the computer knows what book is being scanned, how long it can be borrowed for, whether other libraries can borrow it, and more! It’s relatively easy, just tedious, but it’s the key factor in how patron’s can get their books, DVDs, audio books, etc.

All in all, there’s a lot that goes on behind the scenes before a book can land in the hands of a patron! One of the best parts of being the cataloger means that I can see how other libraries prepare their books, and how I might improve my craft. After all, there’s always room for improvement.

Maybe some day, we’ll find a way to make books waterproof, to avoid rain damage, spills, and ‘I totally didn’t drop this in the bathtub while I was reading it’ moments, which I’ve certainly been guilty of!

music • entertainment

THURSDAY, MARCH 2

PENN’S PEAK

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.

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

a group that sold over 10 million records featuring Top 10 hits like Hole Hearted and the Number 1 Grammy nominated smash hit More Than Words, Pat Badger had a vision for the types of musicians he would need to create the ultimate tribute to The Eagles.

Tickets $20 - $25

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 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

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

THE LINDA RONSTADT EXPERIENCE

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

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 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

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE SPLINTERED SUNLIGHT (GRATEFUL DEAD SHOW)

Formed in 1992, Splintered Sunlight has been captivating audiences with their authentic tribute to The Grateful Dead for years. The band’s faithful following reflects their deep understanding of the improvisational traditions of The Dead. Splintered Sunlight is every bit the equal of the various bigger-name Dead bands. From its authentic two-drumset lineup, to Butchy Sochorow’s soaring lead guitar and naturally dead-on Jerry-like voice, Splintered can do it all in a big way. If you have never heard them, well, look out! They’re musically superb, imaginative, and always changing set lists, like the Dead. Experience them for yourself!

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $32

FRIDAY, MARCH 10 PENN’S PEAK

KILMAINE SAINTS

Kilmaine Saints is a band formed on good whiskey and bad intentions. The brainchild of two members of a Harrisburg Pipe & Drum band, this side project was originally created with the sole intent of getting them free beer at St Patrick’s Day shows in the Central PA area (and might I add – mission accomplished). After incorporating the help of fellow members from the pipe band and other notable musicians from the area, they soon realized they were in for one hell of a ride. Since 2009 they have continued to pound through blistering, high-energy live sets that keep people singing along, stomping their feet, lifting their pints and shouting for more.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $25

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

TARTAN TERRORS

Taking the Celtic scene by storm, the Tartan Terrors, North America’s premiere Celtic Event, features the best in music, comedy and dance. Bolstered by the blistering piping of a Two Time World Champion Bagpiper, the driving tones of drums from around the world, and a guitar played unlike any you’ve ever heard, standing room only audiences understand why Dig This Magazine declares “(The Terrors) one act to keep an eye on!” Combine this musical prowess with championship caliber Highland Dancers and internationally recognized comedic performers and this Celtic Group goes beyond the ordinary. Members of the Tartan Terrors have performed on four different continents, in some of the most prestigious Festivals, Highland Games and Theatres of North America. Join the phenomenon of the Tartan Terrors and see why Celtic Beat Magazine hails them as “the heirs apparent to the [Celtic] mayhem.”

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $32

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

PENN’S PEAK

EVENT SCHEDULE

COMING MARCH - 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.

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!

Saturday, April 1 • 7:00 - 10:00pm

Jazz Nights: Nicholas Krolak

‘Correspondence’ Release Party

Get ready to experience a one-of-a-kind musical collaboration that will leave you spellbound. Nicholas Krolak, accomplished musician & composer, set to release his latest album, “Correspondence.” Mike Lorenz, Guitar and Tyler Dempsey, Drums. Don’t miss this incredible musical tale of collaboration. $15

Nicholas Krolak - Bass

Mike Lorenz - Guitar Tyler Dempsey - Drums

ROBERT CRAY

Since 1974, The Robert Cray Band has been touring and recording their unique groove, born from a love of Soul, R&B, Gospel, Blues and Rock n Roll. The five-time Grammy winner has been inducted into the Blues Hall of Fame and earned the Americana Music Awards Lifetime Achievement for Performance. “Having had the opportunity to play with some of our heroes was more than we could have ever imagined,” says Robert. “Albert Collins, Muddy Waters, John Lee Hooker, and the big stages with The Rolling Stones, Tina Turner, and Eric Clapton.” Cray’s producer Steve Jordan adds, “People gravitate to his guitar playing first, but I think he’s one of the best singers I’ve heard in my life.” Tickets $25 - $30

Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM

(866) 605-PEAK

DARK DESERT EAGLES

ULTIMATE EAGLES TRIBUTE BAND

For fans of The Eagles who long for the LIVE re-creation of some of the greatest hits of a generation, the Dark Desert Eagles are the ULTIMATE Tribute to The Eagles! Songs from the best-selling Greatest Hits album of all time (Eagles Their Greatest Hits 1971-1975) along with hits from Hotel California, as well as several gems from Joe Walsh's solo career are masterfully re-created during a live show of the Dark Desert Eagles. Buckle up and get ready to enjoy a stunning musical tribute to America’s Greatest Rock Band in the peak of their career! Touched by the passing of Eagles cofounder Glenn Frey, Pat Badger (an original member of the multi- platinum rock act Extreme) set out to form the Dark Desert Eagles. Badger is an enormous fan of The Eagles’ musicianship, vocal harmonies and timeless catalog. Having toured the world with Extreme, and having been a part of

Friday March 3rd @ 5-8pm

Linda Beyries Artist Reception

Come experience the beautiful nature photography of local artist Linda Beyries. Enjoy complimentary appetizers and meet the artist! Her work will be available for viewing or purchase during Wild Elder daily operating hours 11am-5pm for the month of March.

Friday March 10th @ 6:30-9:30pm

Wild Elder Open Mic Hosted by Peaches & Wine

Come share songs you’ve written or show us your take on something else! All creatives including poets, comics, musicians are welcome!

Thursday March 16th @ 5:30-7:30pm Wild Elder Book Club

This month’s book is Making Sense of the Molly Maguires by Kevin Kenny; special guest talk 5:30-6:00 by local historian & author Vince Hydro.

Friday March 17th @ 7-9pm

Tom Storm for Friday Night Live Music at Wild Elder Singer/songwriter Tom Storm delivers original folk-influenced music and Irish covers for a memorable St. Patrick’s Day evening. Drawing from personal experiences and the rich past of his hometown area, his original music offers a unique, engaging and introspective lens into the world.

Friday March 24th @ 7-9pm

Nate Marks for Friday Night Live Music at Wild Elder

Nate Marks is many things; a comedian, songwriter, multi-instrumentalist, squirrel trapper and President of the Sandwich Enthusiast Society of Pennsylvania. Join us for an evening of enigmatic talent as he beguiles us with his very original brand of talent.

www.wildelder.com

76 Broadway in Jim Thorpe (570) 732-9933

music • entertainment

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

LETTERBOMB (GREEN DAY TRIBUTE)

Letterbomb devotes themselves to accurately reproducing the sound, style, and live show of the Rock & Roll Hall of Famers, Green Day. The astounding energy that frontman Mason Jones, bassist Dawson Tucker, drummer Devon Hirsch, and lead guitarist Noah Pappo bring to the stage is unlike any other tribute band touring today, and with all the energy that Billie Joe Armstrong, Tré Cool and Mike Dirnt brought and continue to bring to Green Day! The amount of charisma that lead singer, Mason Jones, carries throughout the show is compelling, let alone having an identical voice to Billie Joe Armstrong. Jones proves through crowd interaction that the audience is not just an audience, they are a part of the band.

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

Tickets $30

FRIDAY, MARCH 24 PENN’S PEAK

winning comedy movie Women Aren’t Funny alongside Bonnie McFarlane, Chris Rock, Rosie O’Donell and many more. He is a 2 time Academy Awards writer, a regular on Sirius XM radio and the cohost of the hit podcast, My Wife Hates Me that Paste Magazine named one of the best podcasts right now. He has also appeared on WTF with Marc Maron, the Joe Rogan podcast twice, Guys we F@%*@ed. He’s been sober for over 32 years and good at golf for 20.

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM

mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $28

SATURDAY, MARCH 18

PENN’S PEAK

LIVE WIRE

THE ULTIMATE AC/DC EXPERIENCE

LIVE WIRE offers the most complete and authentic reproduction of AC/DC’s sound and stage performance in the world. LIVE WIRE’s live show is the most accurate duplication of the original band that AC/ DC fans worldwide have come to love.

Established in the year 2000 and hailing from the New York metro area, LIVE WIRE has performed for audiences on FIVE continents around the world including North America, South America, Europe, Asia, and Africa. Lead singer Francis Crouse brings to you an unmatchable emulation of Brian Johnson himself, portraying AC/DC’s frontman of the last 40 years with a powerful delivery of voice and stage presence like no one else! The trio of Bill’s: Rhythm guitarist Bill Voccia, bass guitarist Bill Bowden and drummer Billy Rauff hold down the rhythm section, the driving force behind the AC/ DC juggernaut of sheer rock ‘n roll power and wall of sound. Last but not least, the Ultimate ANGUS YOUNG clone in North America rounds out the band to deliver to you the most unforgettable and undeniably most authentic AC/DC experience on the planet.

Tickets $25 - $30

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

BIG BAD VOODOO DADDY

April, 2022, marks the 29th anniversary of Big Bad Voodoo Daddy’s remarkable arrival onto the music scene. Since its formation in the early nineties in Ventura, California, the band has toured virtually nonstop, performing on average over 150 shows a year, and has produced a sizable catalog of recorded music, with sales of over 2 million albums to date. Early on, during their legendary residency at the Derby nightclub in Los Angeles, they reminded the world, in the midst of the grunge era no less, that it was still cool to swing. The band, cofounded by singer Scotty Morris and drummer Kurt Sodergren, was at the forefront of the swing revival of that time, blending a vibrant fusion of the classic American sounds of jazz, swing, and dixieland, with the energy and spirit of contemporary culture.

Tickets $22 - $27

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

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

KASHMIR (LED ZEPPELIN TRIBUTE)

Kashmir is the most authentic representation of Led Zeppelin on the modern national touring scene. Each of the four band members assumes their individual role with pinpoint accuracy. Kashmir possesses the live stage show, sound, and likeness to bring audiences and fans back to the days when the mighty Led Zeppelin ruled the musical landscape. With the playlist of every classic rock station and the most identifiable voice in rock history, Kashmir show features Page’s iconic double-neck guitar, Bonham’s drum solo, the stage show of the era, and most importantly, the greatest hits that make up the soundtrack to peoples lives. For those who dream and wish to experience a live Led Zeppelin show, dream no more .Kashmir fits the bill, hitting every stop along the way, leaving you hungry for more. “Hits you like a Hammer of the Gods…” – Boston Globe

Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $35

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

RICH VOS

Rich Vos is an American comedian and actor. He has over 100 television appearances including 4 Comedy Central Specials as well as HBO, Showtime, and Starz appearances. He produced and starred in an award

FRIDAY, MARCH 31

PENN’S PEAK

Leslie speaker, mind-bending improvisation and amazing slide guitar playing, all in front of a dazzling video backdrop display. Come out and enjoy an experience you will not soon forget! Featured in the band for the past 5 years is Chris Burke on Hammond organ, piano and vocals. Norm Dodge and Geoff Hartwell share guitar duties and vocals. Bob Goetz is featured on bass and vocals and sharing the drum chairs are Ron Negro and Rob Wallis.

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

HERMAN’S HERMITS STARRING PETER NOONE

Peter Blair Denis Bernard Noone is a multitalented entertainer, who has been delighting audiences nearly all his life. He was born in Manchester, England, where he studied voice and acting at St. Bede’s College and the Manchester School of Music and Drama. As a child, he played “Stanley Fairclough” in the long-running British soap opera Coronation Street. He was also featured in the television series Knight Errant, Family Solicitor and Monro’s Saki Stories. At the age of fifteen, Peter achieved international fame as “Herman”, lead singer of the legendary pop band Herman’s Hermits. His classic hits include: “I’m Into Something Good”, “Mrs. Brown, you’ve Got A Lovely Daughter”, “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”, “Silhouettes”, “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”, “Wonderful World”, “Just A Little Bit Better”, “There’s A Kind of Hush”, “A Must To Avoid”, “Listen People”, “No Milk Today” “The End of the World” “Leaning On A Lamp Post”, and “Dandy”. Ultimately, Herman’s Hermits sold over fifty-two million recordings. In all, fourteen singles and seven albums went gold.

Tickets $30 - $35

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

SATURDAY, APRIL 1

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE SOULSHINE (TRIBUTE TO THE ALLMAN BROTHERS)

SoulShine is a group of seasoned New York musicians who, through their mutual love of the Allman Brothers Band, have united for the sole purpose of bringing you the ultimate Allman Brothers experience. The seminal catalogue of the Allman Brothers singalongs and jams are carefully replicated with all of the important attention to detail: spot on guitar and vocal harmonies, two drummers, a real Hammond B-3 organ with

TOTALLY REAL • TOTALLY UNFILTERED

MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE

START MAKING SENSE

(TALKING HEADS SHOW)

If David Byrne is one of the geniuses of modern times, then Start Making Sense is a tribute to genius. The musicians in this 7-piece band recreate the music and the magic of the Talking Heads’ entire career, and they do it flawlessly. Together they bring the Heads’ blockbuster live show to the stage once again, with front man Jon Braun as a spot-on David Byrne, along with the same throbbing beat and musicality of the original. The talent in this band is hard to overstate: this band can flat-out play. Nonstop. Prepare yourself for a rockin’, funkin’, dance celebration of the New Wave art-punk you loved from the 80’s.

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

Broadway Grille + Underground

FRIDAY, MARCH 3

LIVE MUSIC: JON DRESSLER

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 4

LIVE MUSIC: MIKE BROWN

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 5

LIVE MUSIC: PEACHES & WINE

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 10

LIVE MUSIC: MATT FILER 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 11

LIVE MUSIC: SHELLSHOCKED CHURCHILLS

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 12

LIVE MUSIC: BRET ALEXANDER

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

THURSDAY, MARCH 16

OPEN MIC W/ MATT FILER

7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 17

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

SUNDAY, MARCH 19

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

FRIDAY, MARCH 24

LIVE MUSIC: Q BALL 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SATURDAY, MARCH 25

LIVE MUSIC: KEYSTONE GROOVE 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

SUNDAY, MARCH 26

LIVE MUSIC: TWIN HILL

3:00 PM - 6:00 PM

FRIDAY, MARCH 31 LIVE MUSIC: SHENANIGANS 7:00 PM - 10:00 PM

a million tons of coal left Mauch Chunk. This created enormous wealth. Thirteen millionaires lived downtown.

Trains gradually replaced the canal boats, and when train routes were developed that were closer to the coal fields than Mauch Chunk, the Lehigh Gorge train lines turned to tourism. Mauch Chunk was a popular destination in its own right as a mountain escape from the summer heat in New York and Philadelphia.

Glen Onoko Falls, upstream from Mauch Chunk, had its own hotel and was a popular stop for train tourists on their way to visit Niagara Falls.

Then cars replaced trains and petroleum replaced anthracite, and Mauch Chunk lost its identity. Coal production kept some people employed and there were sewing factories and some other light industry, but the boom times were over.

Traffic on the Lehigh slowed down, and the river was left to itself, to slowly recover from the effects of being an industrial highway. Coal had been lost in the river, timber had been harvested, and sparks from steam trains had started lots of brush fires. In the early 1900s people say the river ran black.

Town leaders in Mauch Chunk started an industrial development fund in an effort to get town moving again, and in the 1950s they invested it in a memorial to the great Indian athlete, Jim Thorpe. The town renamed itself after Thorpe, and slowly started the climb back to prosperity.

In the mid 1970s the world got interested in a new sport, called whitewater rafting, and the Lehigh River was rediscovered and reinvented as a whitewater rafting destination. Locals had always gone tubing in the calmer sections of the river, but in the late 70s commercial outfitters opened up, bringing professional equipment and tourists from all over the world to run the calm and the more difficult river sections.

The Lehigh morphed from a highway for coal transportation to a destination river for outdoor recreation.

The Lehigh Gorge State Park licenses 4 outfitters to take people on guided Lehigh River trips, amounting to about

150 thousand visitors to our area each river season. Add the private kayakers, the tubers, and the rental companies, and the number of people enjoying the river is estimated at a quarter million. Those people spend money to eat and sleep. They patronize local businesses and performance venues, and keep property values up.

Local young people have an opportunity to learn leadership skills guiding city people while participating in healthy outdoor activities. The whitewater rafting industry is good for our area.

The industry is dependent on summer water releases from the Frances E Walter Dam, located near the headwaters of the Lehigh, a few miles north of White Haven. Recently New York City made moves to try to take control of the dam for their own uses.

The Lehigh flows into the Delaware. In times of drought the salt water line could come up the Delaware, fouling drinking and ground water in Philadelphia. There are several dams in the Delaware River Basin, all of which are tied to controlling that salt water line. New York City controls a couple of them, but they’d like to also control the Frances E Walter, taking the pressure off of their other dams.

New York funded a feasibility study on their takeover plan in 2019, but in 2020 they held a meeting to get Pennsylvania public input into the plan and they were blown away by the public response. A thousand people showed up to complain at the meeting, and hundreds wrote negative comments on the feasibility website.

In 2021 the study was amended to say that there could be no changes to the Frances E Walter release policy that would affect downstream recreation. Summer releases appear to be safe for now. But in an era of climate change and dwindling natural resources, the situation could change. From coal transportation to outdoor recreation, the Lehigh has always been important to Mauch Chunk and Jim Thorpe. New York City has access to all manner of experts who can professionally manipulate federal regulations. If we care about local control of our river, it’s up to us to pay attention!

MAUCH CHUNK - continued from page 1

photo by Cleo Fogal

photo by Cleo Fogal

outdoors

Wildlands Conservancy Community Educational Programs for March 2023

CCEEC PERSPECTIVE

Carbon County Environmental Education Center

March 1 • You and Me @ DRPWS: Wild Yoga

9:30 am to 11:00 am at Dorothy Rider Pool Wildlife Sanctuary, 3701 Orchid Place, Emmaus, for children aged 3-5 and their grown-ups. Enjoy a stretch with some of our education animal ambassadors accompanied by outdoor play. There is a charge. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa.org or 610-965-4397 ext. 136. To register, visit https://www.wildlandspa. org/event/you-and-me-drpws-wild-yoga

March 4 • Wild in the Parks! Snowshoeing 101

11:00 am - 12:30 pm at the Rose Gardens on Honochick Dr., Allentown, for adults and children ages 5 and up. 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/wild-in-the-parks-snowshoeing-101

March 11 • Get Out! for Wellness: Nor-Bath Trail @ Bicentennial Park

10:00 am - 12:00 pm at Bicentennial Park, Colony Dr., Bethlehem, for all ages. Take a walk on this historic rails-to-trails, formerly the Northampton-Bath Railroad Line. There is no charge, but please register. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa.org or 610-9654397 ext. 136. To register, visit https://www.wildlandspa.org/event/get-out-for-wellness-nor-bathtrail-bicentennial-park

March 14 • Pre-K Pathfinders Trexler Nature Preserve: Bunny Tales

10:00 am - 11:00 am at Trexler Environmental Center, 4935 Orchard Rd, Schnecksville, for 3-5 year olds and their adults. Hop into spring with live rabbits, themed games, and outdoor play. 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-pathfinders-at-trexler-nature-preserve-bunny-tales

March 18 • Meet the Natives: Wildlife Presentation & Wildlife Walk

12:00 pm - 1:30 pm at Trexler Environmental Center, 4935 Orchard Rd., Schnecksville. Meet some of our native wildlife ambassadors, including local mammals and birds of prey. There is no charge. For more information, contact Brandon Swayser bswayser@wildlandspa.org or 610-965-4397 ext. 136. To register, visit https://www.wildlandspa.org/event/meet-the-natives-wildlife-presentation-wildlife-walk

March 19 • Get Out! for Wellness: Sherwood Forest Greenway

1:00 pm - 3:00 pm at Sherwood Forest, 1110 Sherwood Forest Rd., Stroudsburg; hike is moderately difficult, but appropriate for all ages. See views of Delaware Water Gap, Wind Gap and long vistas of Camelback and state game lands. 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/ get-out-for-wellness-sherwood-forest-greenway

Winter Fest is Back at Blue Mountain Resort for 2023!

WINTER SCHEDULE

Art Class with Jean Perry - “Rocky Raccoon”

Saturday, March 11, 10:00 a.m. to Noon (Snowdate, March 18)

A cute mammal who enjoys a night out raiding trash, the raccoon is common in woods and towns. With a grizzled brown coat and black mask, he’s the perfect subject for one of Jean Perry’s popular art classes.

All materials for an acrylic on canvas painting will be supplied, along with reference photos and samples of raccoon fur. Participants are invited to bring their own photos as well. Cost is $20 per person, and space is limited. Register by phone.

Animal Signs

Saturday, March 18, 10:00 a.m. (Snowdate, March 25)

Naturalist Jeannie Carl leads participants on an easy walk in search of tracks, scat, and other signs of wildlife activity on EEC trails. Binoculars and field guides available on loan or bring your own. Sturdy, waterproof footwear recommended. The program is offered free of charge for EEC members and non-members alike. Families welcome. Register by phone.

Help! There’s a Raccoon in My Trash

Thursday, March 30, 6:00 p.m.

Virtual (Zoom) Program

Raccoons, skunks, bears and opossums are just a few of the animals that can end up on the “nuisance” list, especially on trash night.

At this virtual program, participants will learn what draws certain animals in to our garbage bins, so better to outsmart these nighttime marauders. The program is free of charge for members and non-members alike. But registration is required, available through this Zoom link

Family Game Night

Saturday, April 1, 6:00 p.m.

Remember the fun families used to have, gathered around a board game like Monopoly or Clue? Make those kinds of memories with children or grandchildren by joining in game night at CCEEC.

A variety of games with an environmental twist will be on hand, but participants are welcome to bring their own favorites, provided they are family friendly. Light refreshments provided. The program is offered free of charge for EEC members. A $5 donation per person is requested of non-members. Seating is limited, so register early by phone.

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

Winter Fest is back on the mountain Friday, March 3rd thru Sunday, March 5th. Celebrate the Winter season at Blue with this FREE event featuring the USA Luge Team, Live Music, a Rail Jam, Winter Games, Snowmaking Tours, a Goat Snuggle Zone, and MORE!

SCHEDULE OF EVENTS

FRIDAY, MARCH 3RD

• Torch Light Parade, starting at 8:45pm, Vista

• Live Music by Band of Brothers, 7pm to 10pm, Last Run Lounge

• Fireworks, starting at 8pm, Visible from the Summit Lodge

SATURDAY, MARCH 4TH

• USA Luge Course, Noon to 5pm, on Summit School Hill. The USA Luge Team will be onsite actively recruiting!

• Snowmaking Tours, Start times at Noon, 2pm, & 4pm. Get a behind the scenes view of where the snowmaking magic happens! Tours meet in the Summit Courtyard.

• Goat Snuggle Zone, Noon to 5pm, in the Summit Courtyard

• Frying Pan Toss, on Summit School Hill throughout the day

• Broomball, on Summit School Hill throughout the day

• Live Music by Smith Compound Band, 6pm to 9pm, at Last Run Lounge

SUNDAY, MARCH 5TH

• USA Luge Course, Noon to 5pm, on Summit School Hill. The USA Luge Team will be onsite actively recruiting!

• Snowmaking Tours, Start times at Noon, 2pm, & 4pm. Get a behind the scenes view of where the snowmaking magic happens! Tours meet in the Summit Courtyard.

• Goat Snuggle Zone, Noon to 5pm, in the Summit Courtyard

• Frying Pan Toss, on Summit School Hill throughout the day

• Broomball, on Summit School Hill throughout the day

• Live Music by Naked Soul Trio, 4pm to 7pm, at Last Run Lounge

Beat the Bidding War

By Patrick Mencel The Current Contributing Writer

There is always an uptick in sales during the spring housing market. However, if demand continues to persist and inventory continues to be low, chances are you will run into a bidding war.

A common problem, especially among first-time home buyers, is losing to a cash buyer. The cash buyer is always tough to beat, but it is not impossible. It always comes down to more than just offering a higher price.

The first thing I would say is to eliminate the escalation clause. An escalation clause occurs when the buyers set a maximum sales price they are willing to pay for the home. The bid beats out every other bid by an increment of $1,000, or by a number of the buyers’ choosing until it hits the max bid.

However, a lot of times escalation clauses can work against the buyer because they give a reason for the seller to wait around for other offers. My suggestion is to always submit your maximum bid and set the offer to expire 24 hours later. This way, the seller must respond to your offer in that time frame, and it gives little time for other offers to come in. Also, don’t wait to submit. When your gut tells you to put the offer in, then put the offer in. The last thing you want is to submit your offer on top of six others already in circulation.

Second, I recommend to check with your lender and see how quickly you can close. This is huge. Most cash buyers can close within 10 - 15 days. Find out if the loan can close in 15 days. There’s a phrase I hear often in the office - “Time kills all deals.” The more time that can be eliminated, the less risk is involved. Some lenders can preunderwrite the loan and get the process

done even quicker than 15 days. Reiterating the quick close to the sellers helps the case. It’s important to emphasize the fact that this is a 15-day close.

The only instance in which this doesn’t work, of course, is if the seller is requesting a longer close. In that case, be accommodating and allow for as much time as the seller needs. Maybe even offer rent back, and if you’re feeling generous, offer free rent back. This gives the seller permission to stay in the property for a set amount of time after closing. The bottom line is to make the process as easy as possible for the seller and make the closing day as quick or as long as requested.

Once the agreement of sale is executed by both parties, the buyer is prompted to submit the deposit usually within 5 days. I always suggest submitting the deposit as soon as possible and to change that time frame to the day of acceptance if possible. And why not make the earnest money deposit something that truly counts? Instead of a small portion of the down payment, bring the full down payment, if possible. Show the sellers how serious you are. Like any other deposit, the money counts straight toward your closing. No matter what, don’t let the fear of entering a bidding war keep you from putting in an offer on a home. Ultimately, it comes down to how much the home is worth to you.

The fact of the matter is inventory has been low and it’s not predicted to get much better any time soon. I never advise settling for a home. But even so, with not many homes to choose from, every now and then something will show up that perfectly fits your criteria. When it does, don’t be afraid to strike, no matter the circumstances.

How Much Life Insurance Do You Need?

By Bob Wilkowski Special to The Current

Life Insurance is one of the building blocks of a sound financial plan. Without it, an unexpected death may force surviving family members to use their retirement and college savings for other, more immediate needs. If you have loved ones who depend on you financially, the difficult question isn’t “Do I need life insurance?” (Hint: The answer is “yes!”) Instead, it’s “How much do I need?”

Many Americans know that Life Insurance covers funeral and burial expenses. What is not as commonly known is that Life Insurance covers so much more. If you’re a breadwinner, you can get a policy that maintains your family’s quality of life for years after your death. If you have children, you can also ensure they have the means to pursue their dreams. To accomplish these goals, consider all of the expenses that your family would have to bear after you pass.

They include:

• Immediate Expenses such as funeral and burial costs, unpaid medical expenses, the mortgage or rent, car loans, credit card debt, and personal loans.

• Ongoing Expenses such as food, utilities, transportation, health care, and insurance (home, auto, medical, etc.).

• Future Expenses such as college tuition and retirement savings.

Aggregating these expenses would certainly be a comprehensive way to determine how much life insurance you need. But unless you’re already tracking most of them in a money management tool, it would also be very time-consuming. Fortunately, there are a few rules of thumb you can use instead.

The first is called the DIME Method, which stands for Debt, Income, Mortgage, and Education. In short, you can estimate the coverage you need by adding:

• Existing Debts

• Your annual Income (times the number of years until your children reach 18 years old)

• The balance of your mortgage

• The cost of a college education (times the number of children).

Another rule of thumb is called the 10x Method. Quite simply, you can estimate the coverage you need by multiplying your annual income by ten. (If you want to get “fancy”, you can then add $100,000 per child to include college tuition.)

Perhaps you’re doing the math in your head and thinking: “Wow, I need a lot more coverage than I expected. How much would I have to pay for it?” If so, you may be surprised to know that Life Insurance is not as expensive as you think.

According to the 2022 Life Insurance Barometer Study, “More than half of Americans overestimate the cost of life insurance by as much as threefold.” So, for your consideration, please don’t let the misconception of cost prevent you from securing your family’s financial future.

Life Insurance is a powerful, affordable, and necessary component of your financial portfolio. If you have loved ones who depend on you financially, a robust policy can maintain the standard of living for many years after your death. Fortunately, such coverage is not as expensive as you may think, so please explore your options… and get some much-needed peace of mind.

Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Announces New Leadership Team

It’s a brand new year, and the Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corporation (CCEDC), a proud partner of the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, is excited to announce the members of their brand new team, who are ready to connect you to valuable business professionals, programs, and resources to help start or grow your business.

Marianne Garritano Rustad has been recently promoted to the new vice president of operations. She joined the Chamber in August of 2021 as events manager and logistics coordinator. Originally from Carbon County, Marianne understands the need to preserve our history while making room for change to meet future growth. As a member of CCEDC’s Executive Leadership Team, she manages the organization’s daily operations and leads its team. In her new role, she will continue to work closely with Chamber members, volunteer leaders, partners, and municipalities to support and strengthen our communities and local economy. A graduate of the Art Institute of Phoenix, Marianne is a former small business owner and a community volunteer, who prides herself on being part of the solution.

Kathy Henderson will continue her role as the director of economic development for the CCEDC. She has been with the Chamber since 2014. In her position, Kathy consults with mentors, business operators, and owners to assist them with starting, growing, or relocating their businesses to Carbon County. In addition, she oversees the newly formed Nature and Commerce Committee for the CCEDC. A member of the PA Economic Development Association (PEDA), Kathy continues to grow and bring best practices back to the county. Kathy serves as a member of the Board of Directors for the NEPA Alliance where she chairs the Multimodal Transportation Organization (MPO) Policy Committee.

She also serves on the Board of Directors for the Carbon Training Center (CTC) and the Wildlands Conservancy. Kathy is a member of the PEDA Public Policy Committee and the Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce Political Advocacy Committee.

Kelley Andrade recently joined the CCEDC as its new membership engagement & events manager. Kelley is our ‘boots on the ground” ambassador. She is responsible for managing membership relations and Chamber and community event coordination for mixers, workshops and assisting with signature Chamber events. Kelley holds a B.A. in Communications from East Stroudsburg University and previously worked as a public relations coordinator for ArtQuest, an assistant to Mayor Robert Donchez of The City of Bethlehem, and a reporter/journalist for the Times News.

Bambi Elsasser will continue her position at the CCEDC as Lehighton Main Street manager and will also serve as membership coordinator. Bambi’s primary focus will be membership engagement in Lehighton, Weissport, Bowmanstown, and Palmerton. Bambi is passionate about the revitalization of Lehighton and its neighboring towns. As a former volunteer with the Lehighton Downtown Initiative, she held the positions of treasurer and events coordinator and now enjoys her responsibilities as Main Street manager.

Linda Rex is the administrative assistant for the CCEDC and has been with the organization since 2013. In her position, Linda works directly with members and the general public providing information, event assistance, and program administration. She is also the program coordinator for Leadership Carbon and works directly with the students, instructors, and various organizations involved in the program. In addition, Linda coordinates the “First Step” Program for Carbon County through Wilkes University Small Business Development Center allowing business owners and future entrepreneurs to

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receive free business consulting at the CCEDC office.

Jessica O’Donnell-Gower is the executive vice president of Affiliated Chambers for The Greater Lehigh Valley Chamber of Commerce, a top ten Chamber in the Nation, and the Carbon Chamber & Economic Corporation. Jessica began her nine-year tenure with the Chamber in February 2014, playing an integral role in leading several of the Chamber’s partnerships and mergers to support its regionalization strategy, including Emmaus Main Street Partners, Whitehall Area Chamber, and most recently, the Nazareth Area Chamber. Jessica strives to carry out the Chamber’s mission of improving the economy and quality of life throughout the entire Lehigh Valley by connecting key business and community leaders across her Affiliated Chambers footprint.

Dylan Shick joins the CCEDC as an intern until the end of summer 2023. Dylan will be assisting in event planning and execution. He is currently

a culinary major at CCTI and has come to the Chamber through PA Workforce Training. He looks forward to a career in front-of-the-house Hospitality Management.

If you are interested in becoming a member of the CCEDC or would like more information, please contact the CCEDC office at 610-379-5000 or visit CarbonCountyChamber.org.

CCCF Now Accepting for Grants

The Carbon County Community Foundation is now accepting grant applications for the following funds:

• Fund for Carbon County

• Creative Arts Fund

• Penny Allison Early Childhood Fund

• Scouting Support Fund

If you represent a Carbon County nonprofit or community group, scouting organization or troop, or early childhood learning classroom or program, submit your request for funding by April 9th. Details and applications can be found on our website athttps://cccfoundpa.org

Sportsmen’s and Outdoor Expo

Coming March 25

Join me for my Sportsmen’s and Outdoor Expo. This event is free and will take place on Saturday, March 25. The expo will be preceded by a hunter/trapper education course, sponsored by the Pennsylvania Game Commission, which starts at 7 a.m. The class is available to first-time hunters and children ages 11 and up. Parents are encouraged to attend with their children. To register for the course, visit the commission website at pgc.pa.gov.

PA Tourism Office Releases Happy Traveler Guide

refer to visitPA’s social media channels to discover the latest hot spots and get inspired for their next getaway.

Watch Out for Common Tax Season Scam

With the tax filing season underway, the Department of Revenue is encouraging Pennsylvanians to be on the lookout for scams that are designed to trick people into turning over sensitive data and personal information.

One recurring scam is “Final Demand for Payment” letters that threaten wage garnishment and seizure of property or assets unless the recipient calls a phone number to satisfy a lien. Some signs to watch out for include: the phony letter comes from an entity that doesn’t exist, doesn’t include a return address, refers to taxes owed to the “state” of Pennsylvania rather than “Commonwealth,” and it fails to include any specific information about your account.

New Debit Cards Being Sent to UC, SWIF Claimants

The Pennsylvania Treasury has announced that beginning on or about March 6, new prepaid debit cards will be mailed to Unemployment Compensation (UC) and State Workers’ Insurance Fund (SWIF) recipients.

The Pennsylvania Tourism Office has released its 2023 Happy Traveler Guide, highlighting must-see attractions and exciting events for people of all ages. It’s a great resource for planning future getaways right here in PA!

Sign up to receive a free hard copy of the guide or simply view it online at www. visitPA.com. Happy travelers also can sign up to receive Happy Thoughts, a digital newsletter, in their inbox each month. Additionally, happy travelers can always

Money Network prepaid debit cards, issued by My Banking Direct, will replace U.S. Bank ReliaCards® currently in use. New prepaid debit cards will be mailed to UC and SWIF recipients who receive benefit payments via prepaid debit card beginning next month. The new card will arrive in a plain white envelope with an Omaha, Nebraska, return address. Recipients should be sure to remove the card before discarding the envelope.

Claimants should note any remaining

balances on U.S. Bank ReliaCards® will not transfer to the new Money Network prepaid debit cards. Those with remaining funds on U.S. Bank ReliaCards® should continue to use the card until it reaches a zero ($0.00) balance. Remaining funds can also be transferred to a personal savings or checking account.

Supporting Our Local Fire, EMS Agencies

Fire and emergency response organizations in Carbon County were awarded over $328,000 in funding through the Fire and Emergency Services Grant Program.

The funding comes from an ongoing grant program created by the Legislature and administered by the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and Office of the State Fire Commissioner (OSFC). All funding comes from the proceeds from slot machine gaming, and not General Fund tax revenue.

Projects eligible for funding include construction or renovation of a fire or ambulance company facility, purchase or repair of equipment, training, or reduction of existing debt. All companies that apply and meet requirements outlined by OSFC receive funding. Companies must file a grant agreement with OSFC to receive their grants.

Pick Up Pennsylvania Registration Now Open

Keep Pennsylvania Beautiful has announced registration is open for the 2023 Pick Up Pennsylvania, a community improvement initiative.

Pick Up Pennsylvania is a year-long program; however, events scheduled from March 1 through May 31 receive free trash bags, gloves and safety vests provided by support from the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection, PennDOT and Keep America Beautiful, as supplies last.

Events can include litter cleanups, illegal dump cleanups, community greening and beautification, special collections, and education events.