Pocono Farms Weathervane November 2017

November 2017

182

LA KE

R OAD

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TOBY H AN NA,

Cocktail Hour Begins at 6pm with a cash bar and a selection of appetizers Buffet Dinner at 7pm $48 includes tax & gratuity Jackets required • Cash Bar No Jeans

SATURDAY DECEMBER 2, 2017 6:00 -11:00 PM

DJ Hits with Pocono Farms favorite MATT ARNOLD Dancing Children’s Program Available

Reservation Deadline 11/28/17 Contact Katrina 570-894-4435 or katrinaw@poconofarms.com Reservations cancelled after 11/28/17 will result in $10 cancellation fee

Holiday

GIFT & CRAFT FAIR Saturday, November 18, 2017 12-4 PM

P E NNS Y LVANIA

1 8 4 6 6

GLACIER LAKE GRILL & PUB NOVEMBER HOURS MONDAY

CLOSED

TUESDAY

CLOSED

WEDNESDAY

CLOSED

THURSDAY

5pm - 10pm kitchen closes at

FRIDAY

5pm - 11pm kitchen closes at

SATURDAY

10pm 10pm

12pm - 11pm kitchen closes at

SUNDAY

10pm

12pm - 7pm

RESERVATIONS SUGGESTED 570-894-4435 x132 Our menu can be viewed at www.poconofarms.com

IN THIS ISSUE

• Free Entry • Local Crafters • 50/50 • Food Available for purchase

At the Pocono Farms Country Club Clubhouse

To benefit Feeding Families

O U R COMM U NIT Y From Your B.O.D.

2

B.O.D. Meeting Schedule

2

Notes from the Manager

3

Crime Watch

4

Public Safety

4

Women’s Club News

5

In the Farms

5

A Horse with No Farm Growing Pains

6

CA LENDA R OF E V ENTS Pocono Farms Events

7

November Calendar

9

SPORTS Fun with Fitness

10

Rockin’ Recreation

11

Round by Round

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Newburgh, NY 12550 PERMIT NO. 335

182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania 18466

PAID

PRSRT STD U.S. Postage

From Your Board of Directors

BY JIM YANDO BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President Vice President Treasurer Secretary Director Director Director Director Director

As a new member of the Board of Directors, I’m excited to see and hear about all of the activities taking place in our community. As a member you may not always be aware of the amount of effort, dedication and creativity that the staff and volunteers put in to make the Farms’ a great place to live and enjoy. I sincerely believe we have a jewel in the Pocono Mountains! If you look around at the golf course, pool, restaurant, lake and fitness center, the quality of our amenities is incredible. The events and activities taking place each week is a testament to the staff ’s dedication in providing various services for all members of the community. Without these amenities and activities, the community would be like any other neighborhood of various homes and people that barely know each other.

Steve Bunker Neil Carlson Collette Houston-Ong Wayne Meyers Frank DeBrincat Harry Hamill Frank Milano Peter Volpe James Yando

COMMITTEE LIAISON ASSIGNMENTS: A & B/Environmental James Yando Communications Harry Hamill Crime Watch Peter Volpe Elections/Nominations Wayne Meyers Finance Collette Ong Fitness Frank Milano Golf Frank DeBrincat Long Range Planning Neil Carlson Pool Peter Volpe Recreation/Tennis Frank DeBrincat AD-HOCS Community Garden New Member Welcoming Grill & Banquet Room

The Farms’ is unique in that we live and play together which becomes the attraction and strength. If you haven’t already, I encourage you to take a look at the Weathervane regularly DEPARTMENT HEADS General Manager David Timko or visit our website. The PFCCA website is a 894-4435 ext. 100 dtimko@poconofarms.com great resource for staying connected. You’ll find Accounting/Office Manager Lorraine Daviduk information about upcoming events, committee 894-4435 ext. 103 ldaviduk@poconofarms.com and Board meeting dates, Administrative Code, Golf Pro Kyle Monahan 894-4435 ext. 110 golfshop@poconofarms.com Community By-laws, Building (A&B) Regulations, Greens Superintendent Jeff Lesoine copies of the Weathervane, PFCCA contact 894-4435 jeffreyl3@poconofarms.com information and amenity information. Also check Chef pfchef@poconofarms.com out the video of our golf course and amenities.

894-4435 ext. 130 It is amazing! A few easy ways to contribute Food & Beverage Director Katrina Weithman 894-4435 ext. 132 katrinaw@poconofarms.com and participate include visiting the restaurant or Activities Director Joe Sprovkin attending an event. The next time you want to 894-4435 ext. 113 recdir@poconofarms.com go out to eat, don’t go down the mountain, visit Director of Public Safety Artie Furman the restaurant for a great selection of food. If you & Compliance need to get out of the house, check out one of the 894-4435 ext. 105 afurman@poconofarms.com many activities available just about every weekend.

Maintenance Dave Winters 894-4435 pfmaint@poconofarms.com Or play a round of golf, visit the pool or sign up Fitness Kristen Aylward for a class in the fitness center. Just by getting 894-4435 ext. 116 fitness@poconofarms.com involved for the first time or increasing your Communications Susan Nevarez participation, you help enhance our community.

894-4435 ext. 106 admin@poconofarms.com Frank Milano Harry Hamill Collette Ong

All of these activities and assets we enjoy help create an environment that is second to none. We live in an active recreational community and the more participation from the members, the more value is added for all homeowners. So let’s ‘Stay Connected and Get Involved’!

Staying connected includes being aware of association goals and objectives. The Farms’ has a set of goals called the Four Pillars, which steps include an aggressive approach toward bad debt, increased membership participation, team (people) development and better and increased marketing of PFCCA. I do feel these goals address the most critical needs of our community and are a great rallying point. For example, collecting association dues from all owners is critical. If not, the owners that are paying are technically paying a higher percentage overall and it adds to our budgetary challenges in making improvements to the community. Increased member participation on committees or attending events will only strengthen our community and increase revenue.

Developing the staff creates value for all members and reflects our willingness to invest in our most important asset, people. Marketing PFCCA is critical in attracting homeowners who will want to be active members of our association and utilize the amenities available.

If we work together, remain positive, highlight our strengths and remain focused on common goals, we can accomplish great things and enhance our community. All homeowners own a share of this community and it is in everyone’s best interest to stay connected, get involved and enjoy the benefits of our association.

POCONO FARMS REALTY Lex Colon 894-0300 lex.colon.realtor@gmail.com

2017-18 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETING SCHEDULE

182 Lake Road • Tobyhanna, PA 18466 www.poconofarms.com • admin@poconofarms.com

Host Your Event in Your Community’s Picturesque Lakeside Banquet Facility

ALL MEETING TIMES ARE 7PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED

N ovember 17, 2017 D ecember 15, 2017 J anuary 29, 2018

With seating for 20 to 120 people

Contact Katrina Let us assist you in planning your next special event 570-894-4435 ext. 132 Baptism Bar / Bat Mitzvah katrinaw@poconofarms.com

Confirmation Family Reunion Let us assist you in planning First Communion your next special event Quinceañera Rehearsal Dinner ~ Shower Baptism Quinceanera Bar / Bat Mitzvah Rehearsal Dinner 16 Sweet Confirmation Shower Wedding

Family Reunion First Communion

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Sweet 16 Wedding

F ebruary 23, 2018 W ork S ession

M arch 23, 2018 A pril 20, 2018 M ay 18, 2018 J une 29, 2018 J uly 13, 2018

S aturday , J uly 14, 2018 10 am A nnual M eeting

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2017

Notes from the Manager

BY DAVE TIMKO

Recently the Board of Directors has approved the engagement of Jeff Evans who represents Management Matters, Inc. The recommendation to engage Jeff came from me. For those of you that have been a member of Pocono Farms for some time, you have known our struggles as well as our successes. We may not have always agreed on the course of action to accomplish the end goal(s), but all of us have had the best interest of Pocono Farms at the forefront of our decisions.

Operationally we have performed better the past few years. We still have challenges and we do not shy away from those. We have a great core staff and they are supported by some real quality people on the front lines. These folks continuously strive to provide our members with quality amenities and service. The Board members that I have had the good fortune to work with have also supported the management and staff in the pursuit of making Pocono Farms better.

So why do we need to engage Jeff Evans? Jeff has a long history in Community Management and presents topics and conducts seminars around the country on Community Association matters. He is very experienced in preparing communities for the future. His experiences have led him to be called as an expert witness many times to represent communities. The specific reason we choose to engage Jeff is to assist us in developing a Master/ Strategic Plan for the future.

This Master Plan will identify our strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats from a community perspective. It will answer the questions such as, what will the community look

like, what facilities and amenities should there be, what does the dues structure look like to support the amenities, what steps need to be taken to continue to build and maintain the property values and what are members looking for? These are sample questions that may be answered. Obviously this is not an inclusive list either.

THE OFFICIAL PUBLICATION OF THE POCONO FARMS COUNTRY CLUB ASSOCIATION, INC. PUBLISHED BY NIKI JONES AGENCY, INC. 39 Front Street Port Jervis, New York 12771

This engagement will include input from the Long Range Planning Committee and other committees as it progresses forward. The strategic road map and actionable goals as bullet points within the Master Plan may be: •

Long range planning and programming

•

Financial considerations

•

Relationships with other communities

•

Marketing of the Community

•

Realty and property management services

•

Community governance and management

This will not happen overnight. This is a process and will be identified as one. It will be a roadmap, if you will, to ensure the future sustainability of Pocono Farms. To not address what the community looks like or what planning should happen now for the future would be irresponsible of all of us. We will be discussing this further at one of our coffee updates, within other articles in the Weathervane, or updates via email.

Enjoy the fall weather!! You know what is right around the corner.

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P: 845.856.1266 E: info@nikijones.com Articles appearing in The Weathervane are presented as a community service. They do not necessarily represent the views of the publisher or of the Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. The publisher and the PFCCA disclaim any liability for any advertisements published herein, in no way endorse or guarantee these ads and reserve the right to reject any ads submitted. Position of advertising in the newspaper is not guaranteed.

idea@poconofarms.com DO YOU HAVE A...

...COMMENT? ...QUESTION? ...SUGGESTION? Send an email to a current board member.

Responses will be sent directly to the sender and periodically published in the Weathervane

idea@poconofarms.com

2017

3

Crime Watch Activity Report

Public Safety

BY RUSS KELLY

BY A. FURMAN DIRECTOR OF PUBLIC SAFETY PFCCA

November. With any luck it hasn’t snowed yet.

(I may repeat this in January, February, etc.)

The leaves have changed and a nice big turkey is going to be on my dinner table by the end of the month. Thinking of that turkey had me thinking about the animals here in the Farms and the do’s and don’ts associated with them.

To start off you must always remember that no matter how cute, no matter how tame they appear, they are still wild animals. You are not supposed to feed them. Animals have a natural transition in their metabolism that changes with the seasons. Nature has provided them with this.

Now, if we interfere with that by putting out food, we really are hurting more than helping them.

This year I received more calls than usual about animals, bears being the number one offender of the calls. Everything from “they are in my yard,” to “they stole my septic tank lid.” Bears will do that. They are just foraging for any kind of food they can get, fattening up (like me, problem is I can’t take it off like they can) for winter. I had calls about foxes, turkeys, bees, possums, raccoons, groundhogs, snakes, skunks ( Oh, no) and even little bunnies. The only 4 animals I didn’t get called about were chipmunks, squirrels, porcupines (again no) and coyotes. The thing we all have to remember is we live in the woods. The game lands are right next door and we are going to share our daily lives with the animals. But, if you follow these simple steps, it will cut down on the traffic of them in your yards. As stated above, don’t feed them. That being said, don’t unintentionally feed them either.

What I’m referring to is your garbage. Don’t leave your garbage cans at the road side on Sunday for a Tuesday pickup. That for an animal is like the drive thru at McDonalds. Don’t leave your pet food outside. That is like a buffet line for them. Lastly keeping the lids on the garbage cans. Maybe a strap or latch or just a good size rock on the lid. Now that won’t keep out a bear but the smaller animals it should deter. Those few simple things will help, I promise.

It’s hard to believe that it’s November already!

The lawn is just starting to look good and I have figured out how to use the new lawnmower. Now let’s wrap it up for the winter. I certainly have not spent enough time this year on the golf course and the flower garden never did get the attention that it required.

The first of our volunteers left for Arizona at the end of October and another will be heading for Myrtle Beach after Thanksgiving. This means we have more hours that need to be filled. Since many of the outdoor activities are coming to an end, you might consider patrolling for a few months while waiting for spring.

Because this article is being written in early October, I can’t help but wonder if we will be looking back at one of those pre-Halloween snow storms that pop up every few years, or if the children were good again this year on mischief night.

If interested, call Russ Kelly at 570-894-4034 or contact the office.

For those that did not keep up with your lawns this year, you will be happy to know you won’t be receiving any more letters, just try to do better next year.

Soon it will be getting dark early which means the children getting home from school and afterschool activities will be walking along unlit streets on their way home. We have to be more alert on our routine trips through the Farms.

Last month fourteen drivers patrolled for a total of seventy-eight hours. For some reason this year there were numerous reports of furniture being dumped alongside the roads.

Most were on the major township roads, but some were in cul-de-sac’s. The township has been better at picking up large items on its roads this year. I guess some are unwilling to bring furniture to the public works yard on Laurel Drive or pay the trash collector to haul their stuff away.

Lastly things like moth balls, moth flakes, ammonia and peppermint oil with help with the animals who use scent to forage. If you have questions feel free to call me or just stop by. My door is always open.

NEED ACCESS TO THE WEBSITE? VISIT

poconofarms.com Click on RESIDENT LOGIN and FORGOT PASSWORD Your Log-in & Password will be emailed to you

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2017

Women’s Club News

BY JOAN SCHIPPER, SECRETARY

The Pocono Farms Women’s Club meets on the 2nd Wednesday monthly at noon in the Glacier Lake Grill and Pub. We were asked recently to have some meetings at more convenient times for working mothers. The Board is looking into this request.

If you would like to socialize with women in your community and see what we do to help those in need, come join us for lunch.

Our Program Person provides social and educational entertainment for us with guest speakers from different walks of life. Our Ways and Means Person is always looking for ways to raise money for non-profit charitable organizations within Monroe County. We distribute funds to about twenty organizations such as the local fire company, ambulance squad, VFW Post, Food Pantry, American Red Cross, Meals on Wheels, Women’s Resources, VNA/Hospice, Pocono Alliance and Valor Clinic Foundation, just to name a few. Our biggest annual fundraiser is the Tricky Tray which is held in August.

This year the Tricky Tray netted over $1,400.00.

The dues are $15.00 per year and the 3-course luncheon is $17.00 including tip & tax. At the luncheon we collect money for the Tobyhanna Food Pantry and have a 50/50 raffle.

The new Board Members for 2017-2018 are Lucille Dever, President; Tressa Delli-Santi, Ways and Means; Ann Sinchovich, Programs; Maureen Graham, Secretary; Jane Cilurso, Treasurer; and Penny Burlingame, Membership. This is an easy way to meet your neighbors. If you would like to attend one of our meetings, call Pat Torregrossa, 570-894-8752.

IN THE FARMS PFCCA OFFICE HOURS Monday - Saturday 8:30am - 12:30pm & 1:00pm - 4:30pm

ID Badge Picture Hours:

8:30am - 12:00pm & 1:00pm - 4:00pm Capital Improvement Fees on transfer of property: House: $1,302 Lot: $651 BUILDING REGULATIONS: Permits are required from the township and from PFCCA. Please check with the office (570-894-4435) as to your specific needs.

• Building permit required from respective township and PFCCA before construction begins • Construction permitted from 7am - 7pm Monday- Saturday – excluding major holidays • Resale certificates are required. Fee is $300.00.

Resale and other related documents can be obtained at www.homewisedocs.com REFUSE COLLECTION: Curbside pick-up on household trash and recycling is done on Mondays and Tuesdays beginning at 6:00am

by County Waste 570-382-3304. Please refer to the pickup list on our website www.poconofarms.com to determine your pickup day. County Waste will only pick up household trash and accepted recycling. If you have any other items to discard, please call them at 570382-3304 to set up arrangements.

Major Holidays that will affect your collection days are: New Years Day, Memorial Day, Fourth of July, Labor Day, and Christmas. When those holidays fall on a Monday or Tuesday, garbage collection will shift by one day.

ANIMALS: Dogs must be leashed or on owner’s property at all times. Wildlife, such as deer and black bear, are common at Pocono Farms. We ask that you NOT FEED any wild animals.

EMERGENCIES: For ALL emergencies including medical or fire please contact 911 first, then contact Public Safety at 570894-4435 x105.

Weathervane DEADLINE NOTICE In order to produce a better newspaper for the Community, a Weathervane submission deadline has been established.

All articles, announcements, classified ads, etc. must be submitted to the Newsletter Coordinator on or before the 1st of each month for publication in the next issue of The Weathervane. Submissions made after this date will not be considered until the following month.

Your cooperation is appreciated.

Publication of articles is subject to the approval of the Communication Committee.

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5

A Horse With No Farm - Growing Pains

BY EMILY DENNY

I imagine evenings at Pocono Farms in the 70s like something out of Mad Men. Everyone drinks, everyone smokes, everyone dresses like they’re going to a semi-formal wedding. I imagine it in black and white and grainy like film stock, even though my grandparents experienced it in perfect light and color. Maybe because it sounds so old fashioned: cocktails on Friday, dinner on Saturday.

Dresses, coats, ties, and cigarettes all included. No assembly required.

It seems idyllic. The card games, the drinking, the partying. But like all things in black and white, there are shades of grey and not all is as it seems.

The early days of Pocono Farms featured a fair amount of boom, accompanied by no shortage of growing pains. Home building was under constant delays, all but five roads were dirt and there weren’t even enough phone lines. The whole of the country club was crammed into one building. Fighting for space in that one building was the pro shop, locker rooms, grill room, formal dining room, and bar.

The basement was the only space left for the lawn mowers and golf carts. The locker rooms, used by golf and tennis members, played double duty on busy nights, hosting impromptu card games.

It seems incomplete, and that’s because it was. But for those early members, excitement outweighed the setbacks.

The community as we know it today, began in 1967 as a Lot Owner’s Association. The name was changed to Community Association of Pocono Farms in 1974. Dr. John McGregor, Chairman of Recra-Del and his partner, Pat Faitz, founded Pocono Farms Country Club, a separate entity from the Lot Owners Association. McGregor and Faitz hired Bill Nixon (unrelated to Richard Nixon, 37th President of the United States) to be the President, and professionals Ted Johnson (a PGA golfer) and Carl Paulus for golf and tennis, respectively. George Litz (now owner of the Casino Theater in Mount Pocono) was hired as the Activities Director (the first Joe Sprovkin). Their vision of a country club was the carrot to attract.

The country club offered golf, tennis, swimming, and club dining as potential amenities. Members could pick and choose which amenities they wanted to join. As many or as few, in any combination. Bill Nixon brought the two parties together to start gathering the one thing the country club and Association still needed: residents and members.

Properties along the front nine went up for sale in the early 1970s, which quickly filled with new residents. My grandparents purchased their lot on the 6th green in 1970. As lots were built, more roads were built. Unfortunately, Recra-Del couldn’t afford the cost of paving, so red dirt was used as a placeholder. To keep down the constant dust the roads had to be oiled on occasion.

Mostly couples in their forties and fifties, busy east-coasters seeking soothing and dulcet weekends away. They lived alongside a collection of retired military personnel, local entrepreneurs and professionals. My Grandfather recalls, in particular, Colonel Bill Richards -- military Commander of the Depot – who built his home on the Farms in the early 70s. Mason Linn, top Civilian Director of the Depot, a non-resident was one of the first members to join the country club.

Some of the other early pioneers included Joe and Ilsa Barba, Frank and Lorraine Clark, Herb and

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Lorraine Creswell, Don and Arlene DeRoo, Jack and Peggy Feeny, Jim and Lee Gilboy, Jack and Ann Holland, Ed and Loretta Hummel, Dr. Peter and Margaret Kudyba, Colonel John and Kitty Lee, Dolly and Angie Marino, Joe and Phyllis Mayday, Joe and Olga Nemeth, Lou and Kay Newman, Ed Peters, Kay and Paul Preston, Vito and Sandy Raymond, Marilyn and John Reukauf, Ginny and Tom Stevenson.

But all these new residents were more than a small mountain town’s resources could handle.

The community was springing up so quickly that phone service was slow to catch up. Weekenders and other part time residents had to give up their private phone lines in exchange for party lines.

(For a comparison of how times have changed: my parent’s current home doesn’t even have a phone line thanks to the miracle of the cell phone.)

Even so, as residents set roots in Pocono Farms, membership to the club rose. The restaurant became the center of social life for the community.

That big overcrowded building became the star around which the lives of the members revolved.

Days began there picking up golf scorecards and ended at the restaurant, sipping a Tom Collins and picking up a card game with friends. The dining room would fill up every weekend. Reservations and jackets were required for dinner. Just like today, the dining room was host to a variety of characters and personalities. John Reukauf, a New York City Ad salesman for Playboy, wore seersucker suits. Tom Stevenson, a World War II veteran and shipping magnate enjoyed balancing his martini glass on his head while dancing and singing to his made-up songs.

This is what brought weekenders like my grandparents back each week. Home sales increased each year, more roads were paved, and eventually private phone lines were added. There’s no more smoking in the clubhouse but perhap that alteration is for the best. It truly was the “gem of the Poconos”, but the survival of the club itself rested on the polyester lapels of the village of members who devoted themselves to the growing pains each weekend.

In the next article we’ll discuss how this village built a golf course (literally and figuratively), how nine holes became eighteen, and more.

2017

Events

Sunday, November 12 Starting at 4:00 PM Calling begins at 4:30 PM $2.50 per card

Food will be available for purchase No outside food or drink permitted Children must be accompanied by an adult

Swim Team Fundraiser

Contact Katrina for Reservations 570-894-4435 x132 or katrinaw@poconofarms.com

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2017

7

Events

Nicholas P. Maro D.P.M.

Nicholas P. Maro, D.P.M., F.A.C.F.A.S.

FOOT & ANKLE SPECIALIST

Dr. Nicholas Maro is a Board Certified Foot Surgeon & Fellow of The American College of Foot & Ankle Surgeons.

Diplomate, American Board of Podiatric Surgery.

Podiatric Surgeon

POCONO COUNTY PLACE

Treating Conditions Related to: · Foot & Ankle Pain/Injury · Diabetes Foot Care · Skin & Nail Conditions · Wound Care

· Fabrication of Foot & Ankle Appliances · Foot Deformities (bunions & hammertoes)

POCONO FARMS

196 Nicholas P. Maro D.P.M.

FOOT & ANKLE SPECIALIST

(Handicapped Accessible with Vascular Testing and X-Rays on Premises)

Podiatrist Serving the Tobyhanna & Pocono Region for Over 25 Years!

Podiatric Surgeon

GREEN ROAD

452 Route 196 · Tobyhanna PA, 18466 · p: 570-839-7005 Surgicenter & Hospital Affliated · Most insurances accepted PA, NY, NJ. 8

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2017

TO MOUNT POCONO

Plan Your Holiday Events Now! Holiday Craft Fair November 18 Tree Lighting November 25 Holiday Party December 2 Santa Brunch December 10 Ugly Sweater Trivia December 30

November Sun

Mon

Tue

Wed

Thu

Fri

Sat

• - A&B Comm. Mtg.

• - Prime Rib Night • - Board Mtg

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2017

9

Fun With Fitness

THIRSTY THURSDAYS

BY KRISSIE AYLWARD, PFCCA FITNESS DIRECTOR THANKSGIVING

I can’t believe that it is November already! The word November brings so many thoughts to my mind, but the one that sticks out the most is “THANKS”. A month to give thanks to those individuals who have done good, changed a life, helped a friend, gone out of their way, donated time or money to a cause they believe in, shown support for a coworker who may be struggling or made a newbie feel at home and part of the “team”.

6:00—8:00pm

DRINKS OF THE MONTH: Fall Samplers - ask your server for available flavors NOVEMBER 2nd Beef Stroganoff $11.95

It’s been a full year since I accepted the Fitness Director position here at PFCCA and I can say that I am so THANKFUL for the opportunity. I was a bit intimidated at first and wasn’t sure what I had gotten myself into. Little by little, fitness members began to stop in my office offering kind words of support and encouragement. The ladies with whom I share the Administration office made me feel at home and took me under their wings showing me the ropes.

Served with Pappardelle noodles and honey glazed carrots. includes mixed green salad and rolls.

NOVEMBER 9th Chicken Francaise $11.95

The instructors invited me into their classes and helped me get my own bearings, finally stepping into the instructor roll myself. The support of the community for my first big event was absolutely amazing and helped make it a success. The support of upper management and the Board of Directors during the annual voting issue made that morning seem much less intimidating. The golf staff, restaurant staff and recreation staff all helped me learn and donated their time when they didn’t have to, making me feel like part of the team. Thank you to each and every one of you who has made this feel like it’s where I am meant to be.

With roasted Brussel sprouts and roasted potatoes. Includes house salad and rolls.

NOVEMBER 16th Thanksgiving at the Farms $12.95

Roasted turkey with stuffing and gravy. Served with mashed potatoes, corn and cranberry sauce. Tossed salad and fresh baked bread included!

NOV. 23rd - Closed - Happy Thanksgiving!

As you all gather around the table for holiday dinners, tailgate parties or what have you, think about all you have to be thankful for. Whether it is your health, the roof over your head, the delicious smell of your favorite pie baking in the oven, the contagious laughter of your children or grandchildren, or the comfort of your old beat up recliner after a hard day. Let a smile cross your face and thankfulness fill your mind as often times we get caught up in the harshness of the world and these small things go by the wayside.

NOVEMBER 30th Live Action Pasta Bar $10.95

Have your pasta freshly prepared with your choice of pasta, toppings and sauce. Includes Caesar salad and garlic bread.

To reserve a table call Katrina at 570-894-4435 x132 or e-mail katrinaw@poconofarms.com

I wish you all a beautiful holiday season and hope to see some new faces in the fitness center as we announce the addition of a couple of new classes and membership options.

TO ADVERTISE CALL 845-456-1218

Football Sunday

Join us in the glacier lake grill & pub

OR EMAIL POCONOFARMS@NIKIJONES.COM Festival ad 9-17_Layout 1 9/18/2017 10:18 PM Page 1

12-6PM

l l l

Bounce Houses Ninja Warrior Course Rock Climbing Wall

l l l

Food & FUN

ALL AG for ES!

FOOD SPECIALS during every game

1428 Pocono Blvd. (Rt. 611), Mt. Pocono, PA 18344 WWW.POCONOROCKS.COM l (570) 580-4100

BEER SPECIALS throughout the season Continuing our 7th year tradition of remembering the victims of September 11th we will be selling 50/50 tickets during all games throughout the football season. The proceeds of the 50/50 will go to benefit the construction of the National Memorial in Shanksville, PA, the site of the flight 93 crash. For information on the Flight 93 memorial visit www.honorflight93.org Questions contact Katrina at 570.894.4435 x 132 or katrinaw@poconofarms.com

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2017

Breakfast all day Homemade food Softserve ice cream

Round by Round

BY TOM SIROLLY A man and his chainsaw I remember the sound of the chainsaw like it was yesterday. I heard the rumbling saw through my 2nd floor bedroom window on a crisp, Pocono Farms morning in 1983. I lived in what was then known as Fairway Villas, the small row of town-homes that sit across Fairway drive from the 18th hole.

The back nine had only opened two years prior.

Although the new nine was universally accepted as having the proper mix of both challenge and beauty, there were issues. It seemed that every time we played, we tossed rocks from the fairways into the woods. The grass underneath the rocks wasn’t much better. Even when we hit the fairway, we would have to move our ball around areas of less than playable condition to find a patch of grass to hit from. The course suffered from inadequate drainage, patchy grass, washout areas, and fairways that seemed to birth rocks nonstop. We dreamed of well-manicured fairways and slick, smooth greens. We dreamed of the mature course that we enjoy today.

But then there was 18. The 18th hole was always our problem child. Some speculated that we simply ran out of money when we got to 18. Regardless of how it got that way, the 18th hole started out vastly different then it is today. The fairway has been widened, two tee areas added , the trap that was on the left side has been removed. By most accounts, the hole is far superior to any one of its earlier versions.

clearly been affected by that tree one too many times.

There was no maintenance crew about, just another member, Paul Preston, who I think fittingly and comically may have been retired from Weyerhaeuser the giant lumber company. It didn’t seem exactly the right task for the President of the club, but heck, I was in the Poconos now and maybe that’s just how they do things round here.

That was the end of our giant Oak. Through the next few decades, the 18th hole changed many more times. Each change made the hole more enjoyable to play. Today it is a beautiful and fair finishing hole.

This year the tradition of making Pocono Farms better continued through a group of members under the organizational push of Mr. Jim Ribardo.

The Monday Morning Breakfast Crew has been busy making the course more playable by removing excess growth that has occurred through the years.

They have spent many hours in the hope of making playing our course more enjoyable for us all.

One more thing worth the mention. That chainsaw wielding president in 1983 is still out there, cutting down trees. I think Mr. Bob Denny has cut damn near as many trees as Paul Bunyan. Just now he gets to do it with the Monday Morning Breakfast Crew.

Pocono Farms Country Club indeed has benefited from his years of service and effort with this and many other issues through the years.

In 1983, the fairway ran straight downhill into the woods. The area at the bottom of hill (where the flag pole now sits) was hard, flat earth. The row of mounds referred to as the “Dolly Partons” had not yet been constructed and the tree line came up closer to the fairway then it does today. If you hit your ball straight down the middle and on the rare occasion it was lucky enough to sit short of the tree line, another daunting task awaited.

Saturday, November 4, 2017

A giant oak that stood about 40 yards from the green.

Its canopy hung over the fairway between the right green side bunker and the Fairway bunker. The great tree made the shot to the green extremely difficult. One way was to sail a shot 40 feet in the air over the giant oak. Another was to try and jam a hooded 2 iron (who remembers those) underneath the branches and hope it hit the lip of green-side bunker, slowing it down just enough to keep it off the road. The third, a soft fade that played around the tree, proper execution would be rewarded with a makeable birdie putt. The membership hated it and felt it unfair. The buzz around the club was that something should be done. And so back to the chainsaw that I awoke to that morning. I looked out my window and saw the club President going after that tree with a vengeance of a man who had

4 person scramble

Rockin’ Recreation

BY JOE SPROVKIN

Fall is here and it is almost Winter! The past few months here at Pocono Farms have been very busy. Katrina and I are working hard to keep our calendar full of new and interesting events. We are still going strong!

The bowling league, which is made up of six teams, meets every Wednesday night at Summit Lanes. Mark your calendar for the 2018 Dart season which will be starting in January and ending near Easter.

This month, Katrina and I are hosting a Craft Fair inside the banquet room on Saturday, November 18th. We are having the annual tree lighting event for the children and adults on Saturday, November 25th. While the children are making ornaments and decorating the outside tree, we are requesting volunteers to help with decorating the trees inside the Clubhouse. Any questions, please feel free to contact Katrina or myself.

I hope everyone has a great Thanksgiving and remember, if you have any suggestions or ideas, please contact me.

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