OCTOBER 2021
182
LAKE
ROAD
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TOBYHANNA,
P E N N S Y LVA N I A
18466
IN THIS ISSUE OUR COMMUNITY From Your B.O.D.
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From the General Manager
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B.O.D. Meeting Dates
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Public Safety
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Neighborhood Watch
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Public Bid Notice
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• Live entertainment
Letter to the Editor
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• Bounce house
Halloween Events!
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Round by Round
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Fun with Fitness
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Saturday, October 23
rd
12:00 pm - 6:00 pm
Join us for a perfect fall event including:
• Magic shows • Buffet with all your favorite foods • Beer Haus with Oktoberfest & Fall drink specials!
Visit Our New Website poconofarms.com
182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, Pennsylvania 18466
Newburgh, NY 12550 PERMIT NO. 335
PAID
PRSRT STD U.S. Postage
P O C O N O FA R M S
COUNTRY CLUB ASSOCIATION INC. 182 Lake Road • Tobyhanna, PA 18466 www.poconofarms.com • admin@poconofarms.com
BOARD OF DIRECTORS: President Vice-President Treasurer Secretary Director Director Director Director Director
Steve Bunker Frank Milano James Yando Wayne Meyers Richard McCormick Annette Doerr Steve Baker Renee McClure James Ribardo
COMMITTEES: • A & B, Environmental, Crime Watch • Finance • Golf • Recreation, Tennis, Pool, Fitness • Communications/ Long Range Planning
Rich McCormick Jim Yando Jim Ribardo Steve Baker Renee McClure
DEPARTMENT HEADS
From You r Boa r d Of Dir ec tor s BY ANNETTE DOERR Well, we made it through the summer as close to normal as this Covid-19 era allowed. It’s hard to believe how fast this summer went, but here we are officially in the Fall season! Our golfers enjoyed amazing weather this summer, and our golf course did not disappoint. Although we got hit very hard with those rainstorms, the new forward bunkers that upgraded early in the season held up extremely well. Reviews of the course have been very positive, and we’ve gained many new golf members during 2021. Several tournaments were held including our Member-Guest, Member-Member as well as private events throughout the season. We still have a few weeks left to play so if you’ve been considering giving the course a try, October is the perfect month! In case you didn’t know, you don’t have to be a golf member to enjoy our beautiful course, we offer resident pricing so stop by the Pro Shop and give golf a try. You can even rent a bucket of balls and practice at our driving range if you’re pressed for time and want to work on your game. The pool crowd also enjoyed a great summer, and we were happy to be able to have our snack bar open all season along with the Halfway House. Patti and her team did a great job keeping everyone fed and hydrated during the season. A huge shout-out to our seasonal lifeguard staff, who made sure everyone stayed safe in and out of the water this summer. The pool itself will be requiring a major overhaul prior to the 2022 season. Once we know our options, we will be providing information to the community. Our restaurant staff also had a phenomenal summer especially with all the staffing challenges we endured. If you haven’t stopped in to check out our new menu, I strongly suggest you make a reservation ASAP! Our new chef, whom we welcomed in July, is doing a phenomenal job.
General Manager 894-4435 ext. 100
David Timko dtimko@poconofarms.com
Asst. General Manager 894-4435 ext. 132
Katrina Weithman katrinaw@poconofarms.com
Controller 894-4435 ext. 103
Milt Kwasnik controller@poconofarms.com
Although summer is over, I look forward to fall and all of the beauty that the Pocono Mountains offer during this season. And remember, this is our community.
Golf Pro 894-4435 ext. 110
Kyle Monahan golfshop@poconofarms.com
The amenities, the restaurant, the golf course, it’s all here for our residents to enjoy. Get involved, join a committee, try a class at the Fitness Center, and enjoy what your community has to offer.
Greens Superintendent Jeff Lesoine 894-4435 jeffreyl3@poconofarms.com Chef 894-4435 ext. 130
Tom Mack pfkitchen@poconofarms.com
Recreation Director 894-4435 ext. 113 recdir@poconofarms.com Public Safety & Compliance Director Artie Furman 894-4435 ext. 105 afurman@poconofarms.com Maintenance Dave Winters 894-4435 pfmaint@poconofarms.com Fitness Director 894-4435 ext. 116
Krissie Aylward fitness@poconofarms.com
Member Services 894-4435 ext. 106
Susan Nevarez admin@poconofarms.com
Pocono Farms Realty Lex Colon 894-0300 lex.colon.realtor@gmail.com Website/Communications Kathleen Nealon Coordinator webcomcord@poconofarms.com 894-4435 ext. 201
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 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.
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From T he Gener a l M a n ager BY DAVE TIMKO As we wind down the summer season and head into the fall, it also signals the start of the budget season for the management team and the Board of Directors at Pocono Farms. Typically, we use historical trends and statistics as we put together our budgets. The past year and a half have not been normal at all. There were peaks and valleys through the entire time based on staffing levels, utility cost, and other costs we could not control. Some of the trends are positive and we trust that they will continue. Payroll costs and the costs to purchase goods and services are continuing to increase. The golf operations have done very well the past two seasons. More people have been playing golf and that is a great thing for Pocono Farms. Our food and beverage operations have done well, all things considered. The challenge, as most of you know, is in recruiting enough staff to cover our operations and provide the level of service our members have come to expect and deserve. The Pocono region is full of food and beverage operations, from chain restaurants, to resort restaurants, and they are all looking for staff and tapping the same employment pool, which is very thin at the moment.
2021-22 BOARD OF DIRECTORS MEETINGS ALL MEETING TIMES ARE 7PM UNLESS OTHERWISE NOTED October 22, 2021 November 19, 2021 December 17, 2021 January 21, 2022 February 25, 2022 work session March 25, 2022
April 22, 2022 May 20, 2022 June 17, 2022 July 15, 2022 Annual Meeting July 16, 2022 - 10am
Our expenses have been increasing as we attempt to stay competitive in the staffing market and keep our operations open. Our normal operating costs are increasing as well. Most of these we cannot control. Insurances, utilities, employment benefits, and payroll. In addition, we will be entering the 4th year of our 5 year agreement with our garbage provider, County Waste. Within the agreement, we were able to negotiate a free month of service for each of the first three years. Because we lose this free month in year 4, our services will increase roughly $34,000.00 in the final two years of the agreement. From a revenue perspective, we will continue to focus on the collection of current year assessments. We will also look to increase our nonassessment revenue, golf, food & beverage, tenant registrations, to off set some of the anticipated increases in expenses. Our capital improvement fund remains strong as well as it is solely funded through the transfer of properties. Currently we are looking at a major renovation of our outdoor pool for 2022. We have spent a lot of money in repairing it the past few seasons and the pool liner is beyond its useful life. We are working with a couple of pool companies at the current time to figure out the best solution for the pool itself. We are on track again to realize over 14,000 attendees at the pool again this season. The past two seasons have seen the most attendance at the pool than the previous years. It is definitely an amenity that a lot of our members use. Once we receive some ideas on the best replacement approach for the pool we will put together a funding strategy for the pool, which would typically be expensed from the replacement reserve account. Depending on the cost, and availability of the contractor, we may be able to start the renovations this fall. If not, we will do everything we can to get the pool opened as soon as possible in the spring. Depending on when the weather permits us to get started, the goal would be to have the pool opened for memorial weekend. If the weather does not cooperate, we may be delayed well into June, but we will not know that until we can get started on the project.
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P u blic Sa fet y BY ARTIE FURMAN It’s October again and the leaves are turning, our snowbirds are packing, cause warmer weather their yearning. The leaves they are falling and far too quickly snow will be too, one day I hope I can snowbird with you. As many of you have felt and seen, the days are getting a little cooler and a little shorter. Before we know it, we will be having our Turkey Bash and Halloween festivities. It is time again to remind all of you about the importance of getting rid of the leaves and debris that accumulates in the swales in front of your homes and drainage pipes under your driveways. You certainly remember all the rain we had in the prior months. I remember getting many calls about overflows for residents in all parts of Pocono Farms. This is the precise reason you should keep those drainage pathways clean and clear, so you don’t get those backups and pooling of water that lead to flooding.
Neighbor hood Watch BY EDWARD KELLY We are in one of the prettiest times of the year here in the Poconos. Before we start thinking about the coming winter season, we can take time to enjoy our surroundings. In past years, our volunteers would be cruising the streets on Halloween Eve and Halloween, but over the past few years, the pranks that used to occur seem to have lost favor with the kids. Therefore, our added patrols have been discontinued. In many of those years we would get a snowstorm right around Halloween, but with the way our weather has been changing, I hope hurricane season will be complete. Along with volunteering for crime watch, several of our drivers are also members of the Monroe County Retired Senior Volunteer Program. These are the people you may see delivering food for shut-ins, working at the food pantry, shopping for those that can't do it themselves or just spending time with the lonely citizens of the county. Some people can find time to do so much, yet we can't seem to find a few more people that can spend a few hours a month patrolling our streets. A few years ago, one of our past members who was a long-time employee of the New York Phone System, put a few things of interest in the weathervane. I assume these are still viable and worth repeating. The emergency number worldwide for a mobile phone is 112. If you are in an area outside your network, by dialing 112, your mobile will search any existing network to establish the emergency number to you. Apparently, our phones have hidden battery power. If your battery is low, press*3370# your phone will restart with this reserve.
A few years ago, the state of Pennsylvania started the “Yellow Dot” program. You fill out a form with all your emergency information and place it in your glove box. Then a yellow dot sticker is put on the rear window, which indicates your emergency information is in the glove box. I know you can get information about this at Maureen Madden’s office in the community center off route 611. Also, you can Also, it’s time before the season go online at www.dmv.state.pa.us and click on ends to get in and permits for the the emergency contact information icon, or work you may require around your emergency contact information in the “Online home. Things like tree removal, Driver and Vehicles Services” section. BY RUSS K ELLY painting, roofing, that new shed to In August, our volunteers spent 108 hours store your new snowblower. If you patrolling the farms. Many them aremost driving have any questions about whether This time of of year is the colorful. We get to see every day what people drive miles multiple days. A few more volunteers could you need a permit, please ask my • Masonry Chimneys Rebuilt & Repaired to look at for a day or so. Evenhelp if you do not venture far from the Farms, the streets • Stainless Steel Liners & Caps the time ahere little. If ayou would likealltooftry it,colors on each side as you drive by. I understand why of Inserts Member Services. •department Woodstove & Fireplace Installed • Gas or Oil Chimney & share Furnace Cleaning are picture with the no contracts are signed, call the office or Russ • Wooden Chase Chimneys • Animals & Any Other Blockages Removed years ago the early residents put together the rules, concerning the restrictions on tree As always should you have Rebuilt & Repaired Kelly at 570-894-4034. removal. I am sure many of them came from cities or suburbs where trees were all concerns, please CALL TODAY: (570)676-5253 •questions Fireplaces, Woodor & Coal Stoves don’t hesitate to contact us. removed to make room for the maximum amount of homes that could be built in the subdivision. $10 OFF CHIMNEY REPAIRS & CLEANING WITH THIS AD
Gouldsboro Chimney & Furnace Cleaning
Cr i m e Watch Ac t i v it y R eport
To keep the idea of tree preservation alive, our drivers are encouraged to report tree removal when not accompanied by a permit from our code official. As homes being built in the Farms were getting larger than the original homes, tree preservation became more difficult. So, if it becomes necessary to remove a tree, make sure you speak with the code official and follow the rules that are meant to maintain the quality of living we all came here to experience. One of our volunteers was going to speak with Dave Timko about including some of the basic rules that we agree to follow when another mailing is sent out to all residents. Garbage cans left out for more than a day after pick up is a common item. Some people may be away and have not made arrangements with a friend or neighbor to “pull in their trash can”. Others are here full time, and still drive by the cans when returning home, leaving the cans at the end of their driveway. There also seems to be many more cars without plates being reported. Our code official is working on getting our residents to comply with this rule. In August, our drivers logged 98 hours of driving. Now with winter coming, a few of our drivers “fly south” and we could use help keeping the patrol as active as possible. A couple of hours a month can be helpful to your community. Give Russ Kelly a call at 570-894-4034 or call the Administration Office and they will get you in the right direction.
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PUBLIC BID NOTICE Pocono Farms Country Club Association, Inc. (PFCCA, Inc.) is seeking qualified bids for the replacement of its outdoor pool and liner. Interested parties may schedule an appointment to review the scope of work, the facility, and its conditions prior to submitting a qualified bid. The deadline to schedule an appointment to review the facility is 10/08/21. All sealed bids must be received by PFCCA, Inc by 10/15/2021. The bids should detail the scope of work to include, but not limited to: Removal of the existing liner and inspection of the pool shell, any recommendation of the removal, replacement, patching of the pool shell, and the recommended finish of the pool surface itself. Perimeter concrete work may be included. Mail or drop off all bids to: PFCCA, Inc. - 182 Lake Road, Tobyhanna, PA 18466 Attention: Dave Timko – GM Subject: Pool replacement
L et t er from LV H N – POCONO FOUNDAT ION Dear Friends: I would like to thank you for your generous contribution on September 7, 2021 of $3,861.00 representing proceeds from Laps of Cancer in support of Hospice House – Today, Tomorrow & Always. This fund assists with the costs to support the operation and programming of Monroe County Hospice House. The health needs of our community constantly evolve, and it is Lehigh Valley Health Network – Pocono’s job to keep abreast of the changes and remain equipped to handle them. From your support, we are able to do just that each and every day. All money donated to the Pocono Foundation benefits the patients of LVHPocono and the residents of Monroe County. On behalf of our patients and their families, thank you for your support in providing extraordinary care. Sincerely, J. David Woods Director, Pocono Foundation
CLASSIFIED ADS Looking to sell an old couch, coffee table, tv, etc. within our community? You can do so on our website! By logging on to your account at poconofarms.com You can place a classified ad for our community to see! For more information, please contact Katie at 570-894-4435 ext 201 or webcomcord@poconofarms.com.
COMMUNITY REMINDER HOUSEHOLD TRASH & RECYCLING Household trash and recycling cans are picked up every Tuesday. Cans need to be out at the end of your driveway, 3 feet apart, with the handles facing your home by 6:00AM. Cans must be brought in by 6:00PM. At times due to weather and delays beyond County Waste’s control, the “normal” pick up time and route may vary. To avoid having your cans missed, please have them out by 6:00AM. If you cannot have your cans out by 6:00AM for pick up, our compactor, located at The Maintenance Yard off Kilmer Drive, is open Wednesday & Friday from 8:00AM – 12:00PM and Sunday from 10:00AM – 2:00PM where you can bring your household trash and recycling.
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R ound by R ound BY DON STORMS With fall upon us, I hope everyone enjoyed, and continues to enjoy, the 2021 golf season here at the Farms. From long standing members to past members who come back to visit, to new members, the general consensus is that Pocono Farms has never been better. That is such a great thing to hear. We are seeing new faces on the course every day. Hopefully this trend sticks with us next year and our membership continues to grow as word spreads about the outstanding conditions of our beautiful course. This year we had some of the most exciting major tournaments I can remember. Member Guest ended with a birdie in the shootout and Member Member went extra holes in the shootout. Club Championship for men was so much fun to watch as amazing golf was played by all. The women’s championship showcased two young ladies that played their hearts out. They displayed great sportsmanship when the match ended on hole sixteen and decided they would play seventeen and eighteen just for fun. Great job everyone!
of the Poconos Experience and Results Matter!
Just a friendly reminder, although our professional staff keeps our course in tip top shape, it is up to all of us to play our part to keep it in the phenomenal shape it’s in. Keep fixing ball and replacing divots. The better we put the course to bed for winter, the better it will wake up in the spring! We still have a few tournaments left on the schedule before the tarps come out, so call the pro shop to sign up, get out and enjoy the cooler fall weather, and keep swinging!
Keith Torregrossa Team
Keith Torregrossa Broker/Owner
Melanie Melnick Listing Specialist
of the Poconos Experience and Results Matter!
Tara Tall Buyer’s Agent
Linda Dross Transaction Coordinator
Keith Torregrossa Team
(570) 421-2345 Office (570) 424-1521 Direct
of the Poconos ofthe thePoconos Poconos Experience andResults Results Matter! Experience and Matter! Experience and Results Matter! Keith Torregrossa KeithTorregrossa Torregrossa Team Team Keith Team
Keith Torregrossa Broker/Owner
Linda Dross Transaction Coordinator
Tara Tall Buyer’s Agent
Keith Torregrossa Keith Torregrossa Cheryl Tara Tall Linda Dross Ehrhart Linda Dross Direct Sophia (570) 421-2345 Office (570) TaraGambill Tall 424-1521 Listing Agent Broker/Owner Buyer’s Agent Agent Coordinator Buyer’s Agent Transaction Buyer’s Transaction
Keith Torregrossa Cheryl Ehrhart Office Listing (570) Agent 421-2345 Buyer’s Agent
Buyer’s Agent
Coordinator
Linda Dross
Tara Tall (570) 424-1521 Direct Transaction (570) 421-2345 Office (570) 424-1521 Direct Buyer’s Agent
Sales are strong, call to find out what your home is worth! (570) 421-2345
Coordinator
Office (570) 424-1521 Direct 1111 North Fifth Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360 remaxmtp@ptd.net Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
JUST LISTED Sales are strong,
105 Blackfoot call toLane find out what your home is worth!
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NorthFifth Fifth Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360 105 Blackfoot Lane 11111111 North Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360 remaxmtp@ptd.net remaxmtp@ptd.net in1Independently the area looking for different property O C T O BI have E R Buyers 2 0Office 2 Each Owned and Operated Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
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types… Have you had any thoughts of selling? Each Office Independently Owned and Operated
1111 North Fifth Street-Stroudsburg, Pa. 18360
F un w it h Fitness BY KRISSIE AYLWA RD, PFCCA FITNESS DIRECTOR
October is here! One of my favorite months. The vibrant colors that surround us, the crisp fall breezes, and of course PUMPKINS!! Our new fall fitness schedule is a hit, and the New and Full Moon yoga is gaining momentum. As we begin to prepare for winter and the stress that the holiday season can bring, I encourage you to get out of the house to join one of our calm and relaxing classes. Stretch and Tone on Wednesday evenings at 6 pm is designed to give your body a much-needed stretch, something that many of us (including myself) neglect to do. It’s a time to relax, reflect and reenergize. The atmosphere is calm and soothing, and Linda does an amazing job making her class feel comfortable and welcome. Friday’s Morning Kickstart class at 9 am is a great way to become familiar with using a foam roller as well as moving and stretching your body to increase mobility and flexibility. Foam rolling a fantastic way to soothe and relive sore tight muscles, decrease inflammation, and increase joint range of motion. Dynamic stretching is designed to get the body moving before working out. Dynamic stretching involves movement vunlike static stretching where the pose is held for a period of time. If you have a foam roller, please bring it along with you! New Moon and Full Moon yoga classes are held on different evenings during the month at 7 pm. Each class is designed to help receive or release the energies that correspond with the moon. Each moon whether it New or Full has a meaning and an energy attached to it. May it be releasing the past, embracing change, stepping into our creativity, or taking a leap of faith, each class will help its members understand the meaning of the moon and embrace its energy. There may be journaling involved, as well as some readings about the meaning of that month’s new or full moon. The room is warm and inviting, all levels welcome and Krissie is great at showing the progression of different poses. I invite you to come in and move your body in ways it may not be used to but desperately needs. Step out of your comfort zone. Linda and I look forward to seeing you. As always, I appreciate your support and kind words, Krissie PFCCA Fitness Director
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