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jimthorpecurrent.com I FEBRUARY 2022
Ways to Rock Valentine’s Day
alentine’s Day is no longer just for the happy couples. Whether you’re married, dating or content being single, there are ways for everyone to celebrate love of all kinds, including romance in 2022, regardless of relationship status. 1. Custom Cards. SmashUps from American Greetings can help prioritize love and romance any day of the year. There are SmashUps specifically for Valentine’s Day, with romantic messages from celebrities like Michael Bolton and Smokey Robinson. However, these e-cards aren’t just for couples on Valentine’s Day. There are plenty of options for love and friendship, like hilarious videos of talking dogs, cats and koalas. The customizable e-cards let you send personalized messages to your boo, your bestie and your brother for a variety of holidays and occasions.
29th Annual Jim Thorpe WinterFest Serves Up Family Fun, Festivities and More For Your Holiday Weekend
F 2. FaceTime. Couples who are separated by distance might have to settle for a candlelit FaceTime instead of the in-person dinner they had in mind. Luckily, romance in 2022 means technology can keep us connected, even when we’re apart. If you’re celebrating from a distance this Valentine’s Day, consider shipping gifts to your significant other or gal pals and opening them together while you’re on a video call, or make the same recipe and eat it together on FaceTime. Continued on page 6
or those who know historic Jim Thorpe, WinterFest is a great reason to get out of the house, celebrate winter and enjoy all this small town has to offer. For anyone who hasn’t yet experienced the wonder of this hidden, beautiful gem in the southern Pocono Mountains, it’s the perfect time to explore the kind of festivities Jim Thorpe is known for. On Saturday and Sunday, Feb. 19 and 20, the 29th annual celebration will feature ice carvings and ice bars, live entertainment, train rides, horse drawn carriage rides, food and drink specials, and of course the famous Mug Walk. Mug Walkers take the official souvenir Jim Thorpe mug
to participating shops and restaurants where they will receive sweets, treats, trinkets, novelties and special discounts. Mugs are in limited quantity, so get your tickets now at bestofjimthorpe.com for $30 each. Wander along Broadway, West Broadway and the iconic Race Street where you will experience Victorian architecture like nowhere else. The best part is, the spectacular winter views from all over town are free. For more information on WinterFest and all things Jim Thorpe, visit bestofjimthorpe.com and be sure to follow our FACEBOOK PAGE (facebook.com/ jimthorpepa) for the most up-to-date event schedule.
All-Inclusive Escapes for Valentine’s Day in the Pocono Mountains by Emily Whalen, Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau Special to The Current
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ue all the hearts and chocolates: Valentine’s Day is right around the corner, and what better way to celebrate than with a romantic getaway? Try something new this year with a lover’s escape for two to the Poconos. With dinner, wine, and extras included, resorts in the Pocono Mountains make it easy to plan a romantic retreat. Here’s a quick look at some Valentine’s Day ideas guaranteed to spark some passion.
Cove Pocono Resorts
As the home of the iconic heart-shaped tub, it’s no surprise that Cove Pocono Resorts pull out all the stops for Valentine’s Day. Celebrations happen everyday throughout the “Month of Love” at all three couples-only resorts: Cove Haven Resort in Lakeville, Paradise Stream Resort in Mount Pocono and Pocono Palace Resort in East Stroudsburg. Legendary suites, live entertainment every night, and plenty of amenities make Cove Pocono Resorts the perfect place to rekindle your romance.
Ledges Hotel
With a stunning view of the river gorge falls and delectable dishes galore, who wouldn’t fall in love at Ledges Hotel ? The Valentine’s Day at Ledges Hotel special offer includes a one-night stay, Valentine’s dinner for two, a delicious breakfast for two, plus chocolates, Champagne and a small arrangement from Gorgeous Floral for the finishing romantic touch. Continued on page 4
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Poconos Network to Show Jim Thorpe – All American W
“Love & Light Luminary Walk” A Memorial for Lynn Highland
Event on Saturday, February 12 from 5-8pm
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his Valentine’s weekend, bundle up with someone you love and stroll, shop, and dine along the beautiful candlelit streets of Jim Thorpe. On Saturday, February 12, luminaries will be placed leading from Josiah White Park (the train station) up both Broadway and Race Streets to the Opera House from 5-8pm. Don’t miss this one of a kind chance to enjoy all the unique food, drink, and shopping that Jim Thorpe has to offer in Victorian winter ambience and charm. This year’s luminary event is dedicated to Lynn Highland, who tragically lost her life in a house fire last year. Lynn was a friend to many and she could regularly be seen dancing at the front of the crowd at a concert or even performing onstage acting in short plays. She loved her family and friends fiercely, and shared her creative and compassionate spirit with all who knew her. Lynn loved her little mountain town and often paused to appreciate and
Lynn Highland share the beauty, wishing all who were fortunate enough to enjoy a good evening from Jim Thorpe. There will be approximately 2 dozen shops, restaurants, and wineries open for the evening. Keep up to date with the latest news on Facebook at https://fb.me/ e/1bVOurMJ2
Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival Returns for 5th Year
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he Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival (JTIFF) founders, Todd Morris and Jocelyn O’Neil are pleased to announce that the festival will return for it’s 5th year at the Mauch Chunk Opera House on April 21st through the 24th. The first four years were such a rousing success, even last year’s festival despite COVID, that we’re expecting to double the excitement and turnout for our fifth year. The Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival channels the rebellious spirit of the Molly Maguires, welcoming the boldest, most defiant filmmakers to present their work, shatter convention and incite spirited debate. Their credo is “eyes and minds wide open” and they mean it. JTIFF cares deeply about diversity and makes a concerted effort to program and promote films by women, people of color, members of the LGBTQ community, and young student filmmakers. They welcome features and shorts of every genre and budget - from gritty underground and experimental films to traditional narratives and documentaries.
The film festival experience is a unique one that welcomes everyone to attend and enjoy everything from short films to full length films and everything in between. In addition to celebrating the 5th Anniversary year, organizers are inviting students to submit films as part of this years’ festival. Whether you love to create films on your smartphone or through animation, the festival is giving students (middle school, high school, college, etc.) an outlet to display their works of art. All submissions can be made online at https://filmfreeway. com/JimThorpeIndependentFilmFestival. The deadline to submit films is February 13, 2022. There are 12 award and prize categories that can be found online. Sponsorships are available now at www.jimthorpeindiefilmfest.com. The 5th Anniversary film schedule and ticket sales, VIP passes and more will be available in March. The Carbon County Chamber of Commerce is a proud sponsor of the 5th Annual Jim Thorpe Independent Film Festival.
ith the Winter Olympic Games getting underway and the stage nearly set for Super Bowl LVI, the Pocono Television Network (PTN) proudly announces it will show the feature film Jim Thorpe – All American on three dates starting the first Sunday in February. The special presentation is brought to viewers free of charge thanks to Mauch Chunk Trust Company. Jim Thorpe - All-American is a biographical film produced by Warner Bros. in 1951 honoring Jim Thorpe, the legendary Native American athlete who won medals at the 1912 Olympics and is commonly known as the greatest athlete of the 20th Century. Burt Lancaster portrays Thorpe for whom the town nestled in the Pocono Mountains is named. “This film captures the essence of who Jim Thorpe was as a man and athlete, rising past adversity and achieving countless accolades in his amateur and professional careers,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau which operates PTN. “We are pleased to share this important piece of cinema with residents and visitors of the Poconos to help keep the memory of Thorpe alive.” Pocono Television Network will air the 107-minute film about the Olympian and founder of the National Football League (NFL) on three dates in February across many of its available channels including cable (Blue Ridge Cable 734, Service Electric Cable - Lehigh Valley 189, Service Electric Cable – Wilkes-Barre 192, RCN – Philadelphia 41) and broadcast (WDPN 2.8 in Philadelphia). Showtimes are listed below. A memorial to Jim Thorpe, including his remains, is located in the borough which changed its name from Mauch Chunk to Jim Thorpe shortly after the athlete’s death in 1953. Jim Thorpe, PA is also a popular destination for visitors annually because of its charming shops and restaurants as well as
its historic architecture set along the Lehigh River and Lehigh Gorge State Park. “Academy Award winner Burt Lancaster stars as the legendary athlete who rises from poverty on a Native American reservation to graduate from college and win more gold medals than any other athlete in the 1912 Olympics--the story of a hero, Jim Thorpe - All American,” reads the description from Warner Bros. “But Thorpe’s life is a constant struggle against racial prejudice: Despite his talent and his desire to coach, no one will hire an American Indian; and his Olympic medals are taken from him because he had accepted money to play basketball to help pay for college. Yet, like any hero, through the triumphs and the tragedies, Thorpe never surrenders.” Schedule Sunday, February 6, 2022 at 8 p.m. (repeat 10 p.m.) Tuesday, February 8, 2022 at 8 p.m. (repeat 10 p.m.) Sunday, February 20, 2022 at 10 a.m. (repeat 8 p.m.)
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Fresh New Look to Pocono Mountains DEP Awards Borough Of Jim Thorpe Visitors Bureau Website Growing Greener Grant For Stream PoconoMountains.com redesigned with mobile users in mind
Restoration Work In Carbon County
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he Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau (PMVB) recently launched its redesigned and mobile-friendly website, PoconoMountains.com, which is the official hub for information about the 2,400-squaremile region encompassing Wayne, Pike, Monroe, and Carbon counties. More than four million users access the website each year to easily discover places to stay, things to do, events, and other valuable resources about the Pocono Mountains. Some of the most popular new features and redesigned pages include: Blogs: Fun and in-depth weekly articles highlighting seasonal information, insider tips, and unique stories about the region. Blogs are organized by category and constantly updated. Interactive Map: Provides a visual overview of the region’s 2,400 square miles. Users can click on individual counties and towns to explore places and activities in those specific areas. Live Cameras: Before visiting, take a real-time look at more than 24 webcams around the region showcasing views from popular locations such as ski areas, small towns, and resorts. Pocono Television Network: Live stream
PTN, our 24/7 TV network, featuring compelling stories and ever-changing content from across the Poconos as well as regular weather updates. Access weekly episodes of Pocono Mountains Podcast, our Pocono Mountains Magazine monthly program, and an archive of videos. Trip Builder: Allows users to create a personalized travel itinerary via a shopping cart-style experience. After “favoriting” any number of places and activities of interest, map out and share your customized trip. “The Pocono Mountains is a beloved four-season destination hosting 30 million visitors each year,” said Chris Barrett, President/CEO of the Pocono Mountains Visitors Bureau. “Our redesigned website is a great tool to help guests learn about the area and plan their trip accordingly. Lifelong memories are made in the Poconos, and it all begins on PoconoMountains.com.” Other website enhancements include online booking at area hotels, quick view for attractions and places to stay, an events calendar, and special offers. PoconoMountains.com is also an ideal resource for planning weddings, meetings, or groups & tours.
ilkes-Barre, PA – The Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) announced today that it awarded the Borough of Jim Thorpe a $200,000 Growing Greener Grant for design work on the Silk Mill Run creek restoration project in Carbon County. The nearly two-mile creek is a Class A brown trout cold-water fishery popular for outdoor activities in the Pocono Mountains that runs on the outskirts of the borough and feeds into the Lehigh River. The project will include the demolition and removal of at least five dams along the nearly 2-mile creek. “When you have a cool water fishery, there are species like trout reproducing and finding habitat that would be available for them there,” Kristie Fach, director of ecological restoration for the Wildlands Conservancy, one of the partners in the project, said. “With the dams that are in place, they’re preventing all of that habitat from being there. If you’re thinking like a fish, the mile where there’s a series of dams located now, the fish aren’t able to come up. Once they get to that first dam, they’re blocked from coming up through and that’s really important, especially in the summer months when the temperatures are high and they’re looking for those nice cooler springs to move into.” “This restoration project will have significant environmental impact to the stream’s water quality, health and aquatic habitat, not to mention improving outdoor experiences for sportsmen and women,” said Shane Kleiner, watershed manager and grants coordinator for DEP’s
Northeast Regional Office in WilkesBarre. “Having funding available through Growing Greener enables the project partners to begin the work needed to restore the creek to its natural habitat.” The borough will partner with Wildlands Conservancy, a non-profit that works to preserve thousands of acres of land and waterways in the Poconos, to design the restoration project. Some of the work that is planned includes: demolition and removal of at least five dams, streambank restoration and improving wildlife habitat by restoring wetlands nearby. The dams present a significant danger to aquatic life as they prevent fish passage to approximately half of the stream, obstructing native trout from swimming upstream in headwater habitat where water temperatures would be cooler in the warm summer months. They also trap hundreds of tons of nutrients and sediment in the creek that could be released in the water should the dams breach. Silk Mill Run flows 2.6 miles to the Lehigh River. According to the Wildlands Conservancy, the cold water and woodlands protecting the stream would provide ideal conditions for healthy trout populations and the organisms that serve as a food source for cold-water fish. DEP’s Growing Greener Grant Program provides funding for environmental projects that work to improve the natural beauty of the commonwealth. The program remains the largest single investment of state funds in Pennsylvania’s history to address critical environmental concerns of the 21st century.
VALENTINES ESCAPES - continued from page 1
The Settlers Inn
Reconnect with your loved one any weekend throughout February with the Winter Romance Getaway package at The Settlers Inn . Enjoy an overnight stay and sample a complimentary bottle of Champagne and a pastry selection before you feast with a $125 dining credit at the Inn’s award-winning, farm-to-table restaurant. Wake up to a delicious breakfast for two, also included. Book your trip on February 14 to take advantage of the Valentine’s Day at The Inn offer.
Silver Birches Resort
Make your reservations for a sentimental sojourn on the shores of Lake Wallenpaupack at Silver Birches Resort . This weekend special includes not only a complimentary bottle of Champagne and delicious breakfast for two at The Dock on Lake Wallenpaupack , but also tickets to the Valentine’s Dinner Theater!
Skytop Lodge
Spend Valentine’s Weekend in the ultimate lovebird luxury. Escape to AAA Four Diamond-rated Skytop Lodge for an overnight stay complete with a romantic prix fixe Valentine’s dinner for two. The four-course menu comes with a glass of red or white wine on the house.
Stroudsmoor Country Inn
Choose from an array of different Valentine’s Day offers at the elegant Stroudsmoor Country Inn . Get A Sweet Deal on your stay Friday through Monday, with dinner and breakfast for two included with your accommodations, or add an extra touch of luxury with The Suite-Heart Package , which includes extras like chocolate-covered strawberries, Champagne in your room and a bottle of wine with dinner. Feel Cozy and Comfy at the Inn and find a rose and chocolates waiting on your pillow.
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Briggs Farm Announces Fire House Concert Series
2022 Lehigh Valley Yankee Fan Club Bus Trips to Yankee Stadium Saturday, May 21st 2022
Yankees vs Chicago White Sox Sunday, June 12th, 2022
Yankees vs Chicago Cubs Saturday, June 25th, 2022
Yankees vs Houston Astros Saturday, July 16th, 2022
Yankees vs Boston Red Sox Saturday, August 20th, 2022
Yankees vs Toronto Blue Jays Saturday, September 10th, 2022
Yankees vs Tampa Bay Rays Cost $125.00 – Deposit $75.00 Price includes Potts Hot Dog Tailgate Before Game
2022 - YANKEE ROAD TRIP TO ST. LOUIS All Games at Busch Stadium vs St. Louis Cardinals Cost to be determined
Friday, August 5th 2022 Sunday, June 12th, 2022 Saturday, June 25th, 2022 Download reservation form on our website: www.lvyankeefanclub.org FOR MORE INFORMATION OR TO RESERVE YOUR SEATS CALL: 484-347-8331
Photo by Alyssa Kriner
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s an extension of their mission to bring quality music acts to the region, Briggs Farm Concerts, in partnership with the Columbia Montour Visitors Bureau, will host a monthly concert series at the Nescopeck Township Fire Hall. The first of four concerts in the Fire House Concert Series will feature The National Reserve with special guest Sean Farley and will be held on Saturday, January 29th at 7pm. While most known for its annual three-day blues festival, now in its 25th year, Briggs Farm Concerts has a reputation for bringing high caliber national and regional music artists to the area. With the expansion of their offerings in the fire house series, the Briggs production team is harnessing an opportunity to branch out into other genres such as country and americana while still hosting the same level of musicianship. “The Fire House Concert Series is an exciting start to the 2022 live music presentation!” states president Richard Briggs. “We’re really looking forward to showcasing a group of exceptional musicians, all hand-picked by the team here at Briggs Farm.” January’s series kick off will bring festival favorites The National
Reserve back to the area with their laid back, bluesy brand of classic rock. Opening for them will be local musician and luthier Sean Farley. The evening promises to be a fun mix of the great music and relaxed atmosphere for which Briggs is well known. Concerts in the Fire House Series will be held the last Saturday of every month, January through April 2022. Upcoming performances will feature Yarn, Cristina Vane, and Cris Jacobs. Craft beer by Berwick Brewing will be available on site and food sales will benefit the Nescopeck Township Volunteer Fire Company. Tickets are now on sale for the January Fire House Concert and information can be found at briggsfarm.com/firehouse. Briggs Farm Blues Festival is a three-day, family run celebration of music, camping, good food, and great company. Since 1998, the Briggs family has been hosting some of the world’s best musical acts on their 250-year-old farm in Nescopeck, PA. Whether coming for a day or camping for the weekend, families & friends return year after year to gather ‘round campfires, dance to bluesy beats, and join other music lovers for the “Best Weekend of the Year.”
5 WAYS TO ROCK VALENTINES DAY - continued from page 1
3. Swipe Left. Many modern-day love stories start with a simple swipe to the left on a dating app. If you’re hoping to meet new people but aren’t sure where to begin, consider having some fun with online dating apps like Bumble, Hinge and Tinder. They’re not just for those looking for love. Many have friendship features, like Bumble BFF, which works the same way, but connects you with others looking for friendships too. This can be particularly useful for those who are moving to new cities, seeking roommates, or looking to network with others who are around the same age or share similar interests. 4. Did Someone Say Galentine’s Day? Originally created by fictional character Leslie Knope in the television series “Parks and Recreation,” Galentine’s Day is all about female friendships and the laughter, joy and support they bring to our lives. Galentine’s Day can be spent as simply
or elaborately as you please. Some gals might get together to exchange gifts of candles and fuzzy socks for the occasion, while others might have a glass of wine and gossip over a charcuterie board. For some, the holiday may just be a reason to call your friends and check in on them. Single or taken, Galentine’s Day is a reminder to glorify your girl gang. 5. Self-Care. Being alone on Valentine’s Day can feel a little lonely, but the day doesn’t have to be painful. If you’re spending it on your own, plan a day at the spa, take a group workout class or cook yourself your favorite meal. Self-care is the perfect way to honor the strong and independent person you are. Romance in 2022 can be dinners for two with flowers and chocolate, but it can also be celebrating the mystery and magic of an ordinary day with a custom e-card, dinner with gal pals, or spending time doing things you enjoy on our own. (StatePoint)
library calendar Virtual Story-time is posted every Tuesday from 10 AM on the library Facebook page. The schedule will be February 1st theme- Dragons, February 8th theme- Valentine’s Day, February 15th Theme-Chocolate, and February 22nd theme- Teddy Bears. Our Winter Meditation with Michelle Gallagher will be continuing in February. The group meets every Thursday (except for Feb. 10th) at 6 pm in the Library. Please come early to settle in before the session starts. Our Board of Directors meeting is on Tuesday, February 8th at 5:30 PM at the Library.
The Dimmick Book Club will be meeting on Wednesday, February 9th via Zoom. Please email the library to get more information. The Coaltown Crafters will be meeting on Thursday, February 10th at 6 PM in the library. Newcomers are always welcome! The Friends of the Library are hosting a book sale weekend during Jim Thorpe Winterfest. The book sales will be inside the library from 10 am – 4 pm on February 19th. Masks are required inside the library. Come find your next favorite read!
Come out to both libraries to see our month-long Blind Date with a Book displays! Pick out a book sight unseen and maybe find a new favorite! Check our Facebook page for more up-to-date information!
Dimmick Memorial Library • 54 Broadway in Jim Thorpe • 570-325-2131 • www.dimmicklibrary.org
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pocono bits Lehighton’s Valentine’s Day Date Night 2nd Saturday
Valentine’s Day Date Night? Why not? No date, that’s OK, stop by with your friends and join us for Lehighton’s 2nd Saturday! Every month we will be having 2nd Saturday, giving you an opportunity to visit your favorite shops, restaurants and businesses. February’s 2nd Saturday is Valentine’s Day Date Night Saturday on February 12th until 8:00 PM.
Infield Block Party on Thursday, Friday and Saturday, daily programming for all ages at the Pocono Mountains Activities & Welcome Center, Saturday night fireworks show, the ability to enjoy the first-ever dog park (Pocono Raceway’s Bark Park) at a NASCAR track and the chance for kids of all abilities to learn, grow and play at the 5,000 square feet #POCONOMTNS Inclusive Playground. In addition to these great perks, camping guests receive complimentary access to the Grandstands for the General Tire 200 ARCA Menards Series race and access to Fan Fair all weekend. 2022 NASCAR Schedule of Events Friday, July 22 – General Tire 200 ARCA Menards Series Saturday, July 23 – CRC Brakleen 150 NASCAR Camping World Truck Series Saturday July 23 – NASCAR Xfinity Series Sunday, July 24 – NASCAR Cup Series
Lehighton’s Winter Farmers Market Thru the Month of May Find the Valentine’s Day Heart at your favorite business and take a selfie or picture with the Heart in each business you visit and email to BambiE@carboncountychamber. org for your chance to win a Wine on the River VIP basket. Pictures will be posted on our Facebook page Lehighton Downtown Partnership - LDP. The more businesses you visit the more changes to win. Winners will be announced on Monday, February 14th at noon via Facebook live on the LDP page. Shop Small - Support Local For more information, please call (610) 509-6465 or email bambie@ carboncountychamber.org.
Pocono Raceway Selling Out Fast
Campsites
Pocono Raceway’s 50-Amp Infield and Trackside GEICO Family Grandstand Camping areas are already sold-out ahead of the 2022 NASCAR weekend at ‘The Tricky Triangle.’ Coming off a complete sell-out in 2021, momentum continues for Pocono Raceway with less than 10 premier Fenceline and 50-Amp GEICO Grandstand camping spots available. Camping guests will enjoy a 4-night immersive camping and entertainment experience from July 21-24. To purchase a reserved or general admission campsite, while supplies last, please visit www.poconoraceway.com/ camping or call our Ticket Office at 1-800722-3929. Remaining committed to growing the sport, kids ages 12 and under receive both camping and reserved grandstand admission for free. “We saw the largest overnight camping crowd in history last year for our NASCAR weekend,” said Raceway President, Ben May. “Excitement from our camping guests is at an all-time high and we can’t wait to welcome everyone back this July.” Camping guests will enjoy three nights of live music and entertainment at the
Stop by the Lehighton Winter Farmers Market and enjoy a unique experience! Everything at the market is either homegrown, homemade or handmade! Check out the numerous vendors; produce, baked goods, dairy products, meat, eggs, poultry, gifts, honey, dog treats, crafts and much more! The Winter Market is open from 10:00am – noon, the 2nd and 4th Saturday of the month, through May Winter Market is in the parking lot of the Lehighton Recreation Center located at 243 South 8th Street in Lehighton. For more information, please call (610) 509-6465 or email bambie@ carboncountychamber.org.
Jim Thorpe Residents Petitioning to Save Roller Rink
It’s been nearly 15 years since the roller skating rink inside Jim Thorpe’s Memorial Hall was open to the public. The lack of volunteers and people using the rink is to blame. But now, people want to bring it back; Franklin Klock of Summit Hill is one of them. “In the old days, that’s what everybody did, and you know in Jim Thorpe, there was a good fraction of kids and adults alike that skated at that rink,” he said. “You’d see people walking up the hill to a memorial hall with their skates over their shoulder.” Mary Shorten, who lives in the borough, is another who believes the rink will give kids something else to do. She’s just one of the more than 800 people who signed an online petition to preserve the rink. “We need a place for our kids to go, and it’s an indoor activity in the winter months, and in the summer months, kids can have birthday parties there, they can have a place to meet that’s safe and supervised,” she explained. The rink has been closed for years, and borough officials say it’s just not practical
to reopen it. “For decades, it was a wonderful thing for the youth, but it’s just, things have changed. Like I said, nostalgia. Everybody looks back at their youth and wishes they could relive it,” said Greg Strubinger, Jim Thorpe Borough Council President. Strubinger also says there’s another plan in place to update Memorial Park next to the hall and feature an outdoor skate park. “In the warm months of the year and then in the colder months of the year, it can be iced over for ice skating rink,” he added. He says Memorial Hall is in the final stages of receiving approval for $1 million in federal money to go towards renovations. The police department and administrative offices will move inside along with a 350 seat community center. Those working to reopen the rink are encouraging people to write in and voice their opinions or request a community meeting if they don’t like the borough’s plan for the building. (www.wnep.com)
U.S. Navy Blue Angels Headline 2023 Airshow
Three Carbon County School Districts Receive Safety Grants
The mission of the Blue Angels is to showcase the teamwork and professionalism of the United States Navy and Marine Corps by inspiring a culture of excellence and service to country through flight demonstrations and community outreach. Since 1946, the Blue Angels have performed for more than 500 million fans. For more information about the Blue Angels, including the 2023 air show schedule, visit www.blueangels.navy.mil. The 2023 event is under the planning and guidance of David Schultz Airshows LLC of Clearfield, Pa. Schultz Airshows has coordinated airshows and provided the Air Traffic Control and Announcing for over 500 events in their 25-year history all over North America and the Caribbean. For more information, please visit www.poconoairshow.com.
Safe Schools Targeted Grants totaling nearly $170,000 have been awarded to three school districts located in the 122nd Legislative District, according to Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon). “School buildings that are safe and secure create an environment where students, faculty and staff can focus on learning,” said Heffley. “I am pleased our local districts are taking advantage of this funding opportunity to maintain or improve the safety programs they have in place.” The funding awards are as follows: Jim Thorpe Area School District – $24,999 safety equipment grant. Lehighton Area School District $59,940 school police officer grant (two years). Weatherly Area School District $24,999 safety equipment grant and $60,000 school police officer grant (two years). The grants aim to assist schools in reducing unnecessary student disciplinary actions and promoting greater productivity, safety and learning; and also enhancing anti-violence efforts between schools and parents, local governments, law enforcement and community organizations. The three Carbon County school districts were among 303 local education entities statewide that shared in $8 million to increase school safety by purchasing equipment, enacting new programs, and hiring security personnel and school resource officers. The Safe Schools Targeted Grant Program is administered by the Pennsylvania Department of Education and funded by the General Assembly in the 2021-22 state budget. More than $40 million in grant funding has been awarded to schools statewide since 2015.
The Great Pocono Raceway Airshow will return in 2023 headlined by the U.S. Navy Flight Demonstration Squadron, the Blue Angels. This biennial event will be held Memorial Day Weekend on May 2728, 2023. Advanced ticket purchases for the Airshow begin at $10 for kids, ages 12 and under, and $25 for adults. This unique, stadium-style show will feature the same program and acts both days, headlined by the Blue Angels. Pocono Raceway will announce additional acts over the next 16 months in preparation for the can’t -miss Memorial Day weekend event in the Pocono Mountains in 2023.
Ferris Wheel Plans Moving Forward in Carbon County
There will soon be a lot more to see than just mountain views when you look up in Jim Thorpe. Plans to put up a Ferris wheel are moving in the right direction. Jim Thorpe Borough Council’s first action of the new year was a zoning amendment that will clear the way for the attraction to return to Flagstaff Park. Victor Stabin lives in the borough and was at the meeting. “Well, it’s always nice to have diversity. I think it will be terrific and I think if it’s a Ferris wheel, you know, it’s not a roller coaster, it’s not bumper cars. It’s one thing they want to do; let them do it. They have all the space to do it up there and will look great from below,” said Stabin. Tom Romanchik bought Flagstaff last year and asked the council for the amendment because a Ferris wheel is not a current permitted use in this area under the borough’s zoning ordinance.
Winter Clearance! Help make room for new Spring Arrivals!
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pocono bits The developer says he wants to bring back a similar Ferris wheel to the one that stood here in the early 1900s; he has his eye on one in State College. Borough council President Greg Strubinger says the decision was a no-brainer. “There are some things that the new property owner wants to do in the future, and the council is trying to work with him to make that property the diamond in the rough that it is,” said Strubinger. People who live in Jim Thorpe are excited to learn that there’s potential for a Ferris wheel to come back to the borough. Some do have their concerns considering this is already a popular tourist place. Nonetheless, they are glad to learn it’s not downtown and instead someplace else. “If they are putting it down here, where, there’s no space. But up at Flagstaff, yeah. I would go. I would visit it. Yes,” said Justin Aue, Jim Thorpe. The borough council will adopt the amendment in February. There’s no timeline on when we might see the Ferris wheel spin for the first time. (www.wnep.com)
United Way to Help Increase Access to Diverse Books
Got children’s books? You can help local children see diversity in the books they read. The community is invited to inspire our young readers by donating new or gently used books for Pocono Mountains United Way’s second annual United We Read: Diversity Book Drive happening through March 4th. All books will be curated and donated to young readers throughout Monroe County as part of Pocono Mountains United Way’s education initiatives. One of the barriers to reading for young children is a lack of books of their own. The United We Read: Diversity Book Drive is the organization’s annual literacy initiative to ensure that young readers would see themselves represented in the books they read. The initiative grew out of Pocono Mountains United Way’s commitment to equity and last year collected books that were distributed to local children through partners like Early Learning Resource Center, Nurse Family Partnership, Laundromat Library League, and to children in programs served by United Way. ”It’s especially important for young children to see characters that look like them in the books they read. These are books written by, illustrated by authors that represent different communities,“ said Michael Tukeva, President and CEO of Pocono Mountains United Way. Last year companies and organizations in our community partnered with United Way to donate more than 1,500 books that were distributed to children between March and June, providing them with books to promote literacy. With community support, we hope to exceed
that number in 2022! Community businesses and individuals can support the drive by hosting a book drive, donating via United Way’s website, or purchasing books from Pocono Mountains United Way’s Amazon wish list. 100% of all donations made towards the book drive will go towards the purchase of diverse books for children in or community. Make it easy by using and sharing this Amazon wish list and selecting to have your books shipped directly to Pocono Mountains United Way. Pocono Mountains United Way engages and mobilizes resources to improve live through accelerated community change. For more information about Pocono Mountains United Way, please visit poconounitedway.org
Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library Comes to Carbon County
The Carbon County Community Foundation is thrilled to be able to offer Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library in Carbon County. Through this program, more than 700 kids from Carbon County receive a free book every month!
response has been overwhelming. “We post on Facebook like many other shelters did. We got a little bit over a thousand dollars. We had a lot of people drop some donations off, supplies that we can use,” said Dunbar. The challenge asked people to donate $5 to their local animal shelter on January 17. That would have been the late actress and animal activist’s 100th birthday, a purrfect way to honor her. “She helped you now many shelters, many animals, so it’s just great for a benefit for other shelters and us benefit from it and honor her on her day,” Dunbar said. From toys to food, even cleaning supplies, all of it goes to benefit more than 100 cats in the shelter. “People don’t realize it’s a huge essential to keep us up and running,” Dunbar said. In Monroe county at the Animal Welfare Society of Monroe, also known as AWSOM in Stroud Township, people showed up not only to honor White but to help the animals. “It was incredible. We have never seen such an outpouring of donations, whether it was money, whether it was $5 or $100, or it was food and bedding. It was absolutely incredible,” said Melissa Cozze, Clinic Manager at AWSOM. For some shelters, money raised from the challenge was the most they’ve had received in such a short period of time. (www.wnep.com)
Survey To Bring Child Care Center To Jim Thorpe
This program is made possible thanks to donations from generous individuals like you, and our partnerships with St. Luke’s University Health Network and The Dollywood Foundation. Dolly Parton’s Imagination Library is a book gifting program that mails free, highquality books to children from birth to age five, no matter their family’s income. Each month, a new, carefully selected book will be mailed in your child’s name directly to your home at no cost! The first book is ‘The Little Engine That Could’ – a classic for children of all ages. If your child is under the age of 5 and lives in Carbon County, sign him or her up for Imagination Library today at https:// cccfoundpa.org/imagination-library
Pocono Animal Shelters Benefit from Betty White Challenge
Call it the cat’s meow. Carbon County Friends of Animals Shelter in Jim Thorpe are thanking donors who participated in the Betty White Challenge. Manager Dana Dunbar says the
Jim Thorpe Rotary is working towards filling a need in the community and needs your help filling out a survey. The rotary is an active community organization. Over the years they have heard concerns about Jim Thorpe not having any licensed affordable quality child care. The group has been looking at the data and brought in licensed quality organizations for help. Now they have a survey they’d like you to fill out to help them be a catalyst to bringing a child care center to Jim Thorpe. The rotary’s president says the survey takes three minutes to complete. “The big thing is do you want full-time care, part-time care, summer care? Do you want services that just give your child social interaction with other children? Jim Thorpe’s school superintendent who’s also a member of the rotary says a child care center would be very helpful for school workers. “There could be a benefit to our staff, our teachers to having a daycare or something for our staff to utilize during their work hours.” The survey is available online at the rotary’s website at http://www. jimthorperotary.org The deadline for submission is February 23rd. (www.brctv13.com)
JIM THORPE BOROUGH DIRECTORY 101 East 10th Street Jim Thorpe, PA 18229 www.jtborough.org
General Information (570) 325-3025 Emergency 9-1-1 Emergency Management (570) 325-3097 Water (570) 325-2631 Sewerage (570) 325-2547 Zoning and Codes (570) 325-3025 Streets (570) 325-2844 School District (570) 325-3691 Police Department (570) 325-4995 Fire Department (570) 325-3811
10 • February 2022
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taste
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Lehighton Downtown Partnership’s 3rd Annual Wine on the River
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tart thinking spring and save the date for Lehighton Downtown Partnership’s 3rd Annual Wine on the River! Wine on the River will be held at the Lehighton Outdoor Center with wineries, food trucks, crafters and vendors. Enjoy the day sampling a variety of wines, shopping, listening to music and more. Bring your lawn chairs, drink, eat and listen to music. In between tastings enjoy visiting and shopping with our local crafters and vendors. Don’t want to carry your purchases? Not a problem, check them with our unique wine check operation. Watch for new exciting fun happenings at Wine on the River this year! So mark your calendars Saturday, May 7, 2022 from 11:00 am - 6:00 pm. Advanced ticket sales will be available starting in February. To keep up to date on Wine on the River follow Lehighton Downtown Partnership - LDP on Facebook
Seafood Bouillabaisse This recipe is perfect for a romantic Valentine’s date night dinner. First, it’s so delicious, but second, it doesn’t take a ton of time to prepare. You will impress your date for sure. This recipe makes enough for 6. Personally, it’s so good I can eat this with one or two more people, and it’s just enough!!
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THE FAMILY RECIPE
Happy Valentine’s Day Ingredients:
• Sauce Rouille • 1 Tbs clam broth • 2 cloves garlic, peeled • 1 small red hot pepper • 1/2 tsp salt • 1/4 cup soft white bread, pulled into pieces • 1/2 cup olive oil
or on Instagram at WineOnTheRiver. Lehighton Downtown Partnership is a committee of the Carbon Chamber and Economic Development. For more information, please contact Bambi at (610) 509-6465 or email at BambiE@ carboncountychamber.org. For more information, please call (610) 509-6465 or email bambie@ carboncountychamber.org.
Did You Know?
Bouillabaisse
• 3 Pounds firm fish, such as bass, haddock, cod, cut into pieces about 2 inches • 1 Lb mussels or clams, or a mix of both • 1 Lb squid and or Crab • 1/4 EVOO (extra virgin olive oil) • 1 cup sweet onion sliced thinly • 1/4 cup fennel bulb, thinly sliced, or 1 tsp fennel seed. • 2 cloves of garlic • Crushed large tomatoes, chopped or small can chopped tomatoes drained • 1 bay leaf • 3 sprigs of saffron threads • 2 tsp salt • 1 long wide strip orange zest or • 1 tsp orange zest in a jar • 1 cup clam juice • 1/4 tsp fresh black pepper • A good crusty bread, plain or toasted. I prefer toasted. 1. Make the sauce rouille: • In a blender, add the clam broth, then add the garlic and red hot pepper, salt, and bread. Blend until smooth. • While the blender is still on, add the olive oil slowly until it disappears, Now set the sauce aside. 2. Cooking the vegetables (Onions, leeks, and fennel) • 1/4 cup of olive oil heated in an 8-quart pot on medium heat.
• Cook vegetables until they are softened but not brown, 10 to 15 minutes. This will impart great flavor to this dish, so it’s important to be patient. 3. Add the garlic, tomatoes, and herbs • Crushed garlic, chopped tomatoes, bay leaf, thyme, saffron, salt, and orange zest. • Cook till the tomatoes start to break down approximately 10 minutes 4. Add the fish: • Bring 2 cups of water to a boil. • Place the fish pieces over the vegetable mixture • Add the boiling water over the fish and vegetables. • Add the clam juice • Bring to a boil, simmer uncovered for 5 mins. 5. Add the shellfish: • Move the fish to the side of the pot and add the shellfish to the pot, ensuring the liquid is covering the seafood. • Salt and pepper to taste. • Remove the bay leaves and thyme 6. Serving your masterpiece. • Place all the fish and shellfish on a platter to keep warm. • Place a piece of crusty bread in the bowl, place a scoop of the rouille on the bread, ladle the broth over the bread, and then add the fish and shellfish. You can serve this beautiful dish with freshly made Pappardelle pasta!!
Recipe deliciously sent in by Andrea Celentano - www.angelinaitaly.com
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February 2022 • 11
taste needed for other resorts to open in our area and over the next thirty years we welcomed Camelback, Jack Frost, Shawnee, and Blue Mountain. Après ski is what you make it. The only requirement is reflection, a celebration of the day’s accomplishments. Whether it be a DJ-fueled slope-side après ski party in Aspen, a nightclub open until dawn in Chamonix, fondue and wine by the fire in Vermont, starlit bubbly in a hot tub by Lake Placid, or burgers and beer at the pub in PA, the common denominator is that you’re having the moment next to those with shared experiences of the day. Picture it, Jim Thorpe, PA, 2022: You and your closest friends have bundled up and head out to the slopes for some incredible runs. The adrenaline is high, the view is incredible, and the memories will last a lifetime. You come back to the quaint town, street lined with lit trees, and you fill a corner table at a small, local bar with loads of delectable appetizers, warm cocktails, and refreshing beer. Your après ski moment is full of camaraderie, laughter, and appreciation of your day at the mountain. Tripti Stashefski is tends bar at The Marion Hose Bar located at 16 W. Broadway in Jim Thorpe. For more visit www.marionhosebar.com
By Tripti Stashefski Special to The Current
P
icture it, Chamonix-Mont-Blanc, 1955: Three decades after hosting the first Winter Olympics, the mystical mountain town nestled in the French Alps broke into the commercial skiing scene with the opening of the Aiguille du Midi cable car. From the time the Alpine Sports Club was birthed in Chamonix in 1905, it seems becoming an international ski destination was written in the stars for the southeastern region of France. The mountains were no longer exclusive to professional athletes. Friends and families could now take part in hitting the slopes together! As the sport of skiing was taking off in Europe in the 1950’s, a culture was being formed. Gathering after a day on the mountain to share experiences became commonplace. Soon, quiet mountain towns were booming with bars and restaurants for skiing enthusiasts to unwind and socialize. The culture was charged by the French term, après ski, which has a literal translation to “after ski” or “after skiing”. The United States was no stranger to the world of winter sports by this time. With the first chairlifts being built in the late 1930’s and the magic of man-made snow making an appearance in the 1950’s, the ski industry was making great strides. Alongside that rise was the après ski culture, with ski resorts boasting beautiful, warm lodges and surrounding towns capitalizing on the food and beverage market. Pennsylvania’s first commercial ski area is right here in the Poconos. Big Boulder opened in 1946 and was making snow about a decade later. Snowmaking machines were the fuel
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health • wellness
Dear Ladies:
Give Yourself the Gift of Self-Care for Valentines Day By Maura Guzek Special to The Current
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s a woman, the topic of “self-care” can be fraught. On the one hand, most women feel completely over-extended and under-supported and intuitively know that running on fumes will eventually catch up to us. On the other hand, well-meaning encouragement to take care of ourselves can sometimes only add to feelings of despair if accessing the resources to do so feels impossible.
Part of the fallacy of our concept of self-care is the belief that it comes nicely packaged in a warm bubble bath or an overdue coffee date with a good friend. While those can be wonderful, cupfilling activities, they don’t fundamentally address the systemic issues in place that leave you depleted day after day and night after night. True self-care stems from making the slightest, most impactful shift in how you think about yourself as a woman and what you’re willing to tolerate. It requires embracing the belief that your family, work, friends, and community will all be fundamentally better off if they receive the best of you, not the dredges. So the question begs, what would it look like to live a life where your needs didn’t always come last? Would you need to set better boundaries with others around your time and other resources? True self-care can begin with getting comfortable saying, “no,” “not now,” or “I can’t do that, but here’s how I can help.”
Or, do you need to get yourself out of a victim-mentality loop? True self-care might look like learning to accept or ask for help and abandoning a belief that you are uniquely blocked from receiving that help. Think creatively! I promise there are people and resources available and waiting to help. Yes, you may need to do something outside your comfort zone to access that support. You may need to hire someone to help clean the house, find a mothershelper to provide you with a mental health break, or take up your family member on their offer to bring over dinner. If you have never cared for yourself in those ways, it can feel uncomfortable or even “wrong” to take those first steps. But the reward, on the other side, will be a sense of lightness and freedom, knowing that the responsibility to hold it all together 24/7 doesn’t rest solely on your shoulders. And please remember, as you step into this new version of yourself, you will likely fall back into familiar patterns or engage in other forms of self-sabotage (you are human, after all!). Making a change, even one we know is for the better, can be difficult. Talking with a therapist or other source of wise counsel about the habitual thoughts and beliefs that keep you stuck can be very helpful. I offer a private therapy practice focused specifically on helping women work through these types of issues and would be happy to provide a free fifteen-minute phone consultation to see if working together would be helpful. Please know that perfection is never the goal! You can commit today to no longer accepting a life where your needs come last….and still find yourself facing depleting days. Life happens. But that doesn’t take away from the powerful impact of making consistent small changes that compound over time. This Valentine’s Day, the best gift you can give yourself as a woman is to commit to truly love yourself—to live out each day with a willingness to value your needs, to provide weight to your desires, and to create a life that reflects back to you the love and support you deserve. Maura Guzek is a Licensed Clinical Social Worker focused on working with women and postpartum mothers. To schedule a free fifteen-minute consult, please email me at hearthandharmony8@ gmail.com. You can find her on Instagram at @the_woman_who_healed_herself.
St. Luke’s Pediatrics and Wellness 101 Launch New YouTube Channel for Family-Friendly Web Series
The four-time Emmy® Award winning “Wellness 101 Show” presented by St. Luke’s University Health Network is proud to announce the launch of their new YouTube Channel and children’s web series “Wellness 101 Junior.” The channel and web series were created to help families access factual and accurate health care information during a time when they need it most. Last year, Jeff Hartney, owner of Production Pocketknife, LLC and St. Luke’s University Health Network partnered to produce the “Wellness 101 Show,” a web series of 3–5-minute episodes in which Hartney steps in front of the camera as “Mr. Wellness” and illustrates for viewers various tips and tricks to get and stay healthy and well. But when it was clear the pandemic wasn’t over for the 2021-2022 school year, St. Luke’s University Health Network and Hartney felt it was necessary to study up and raise the bar by creating a children’s edition of the program, “Wellness 101 Junior,” to help kids understand what is happening. The episode “What is COVID-19?” was nominated for and won an additional regional Emmy® Award this year, winning Best Branded Content. Now in an effort to help our community get the information they need, a new free YouTube Channel was created, hosting all episodes of “Wellness 101” as well as the new, interactive children’s edition – “Wellness 101 Junior” to help our community and beyond stay informed with easy-to-understand videos ranging from “How to Stop a Panic Attack” to teaching children the ins and outs of navigating COVID-19. Investing in our children has always been a driving force for St. Luke’s but especially over the past several years during which time St. Luke’s opened a brand new pediatric intensive care unit (PICU) at St. Luke’s University Hospital – Bethlehem, broke ground on pediatric specialty center in Center Valley, opened two new labor and delivery units and neonatal intensive care units (NICU) along with welcoming new primary care pediatricians and numerous pediatric specialists. All of these investments in the future of our children make it possible for those who need advanced care to stay close to home at St. Luke’s “No family wants to leave their local support system when their child is ill. Through the investments St. Luke’s has made in pediatric services and the commitment to continue expanding these services, children with complex needs can receive expert care at St. Luke’s,” says Jennifer Janco, MD, St. Luke’s Chair of Pediatrics. “Launching this You Tube channel is the perfect complement to what we are doing in our communities and the hospitals that serve them.” To learn more about “Wellness 101” and “Wellness 101 Junior” visit https://youtube. com/wellness101show
Heffley Supports Funding to Aid Hospitals, Health Care Workers in Carbon County Recognizing the ongoing challenges faced by Pennsylvania’s frontline health care workers, Rep. Doyle Heffley (R-Carbon) on Wednesday joined his House colleagues in supporting the allocation of $225 million in federal COVID-19 relief funding to hospitals statewide, including two in Carbon County. The bill was then signed into law by the governor as Act 2 of 2022. Under the new law, St. Luke’s Carbon Campus Hospital was awarded $113,879, while St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus received $462,573. “I am happy to see this funding go to help those health care employees on the frontline who have worked so hard and sacrificed so much during the pandemic,” said Heffley. “Our hospitals have been under enormous pressure, especially during the recent surge in cases, as they deal with capacity and staffing issues. This funding will go toward their retention and recruitment efforts to ensure Carbon County residents continue to receive quality health care services.” Act 2 directs $100 million in funding to be shared among all hospitals and $110 million for critical access hospitals, high Medicaid-use hospitals and behavioral health providers. The measure also allocates $15 million for a nursing student loan forgiveness program. Hospital executives and administration, contracted staff and physicians are not eligible for payments. The funding can only be directed to nurses and other hospital employees. The General Assembly is also expected to pass another proposal next month that would direct $25 million to EMS and fire companies.
St. Luke’s Carbon Campus Displays Photography of Its Own ER Nurse Jason Stewart
Jason Stewart, an emergency department nurse and gifted photographer, is honored to have his artwork hanging in the new St. Luke’s Carbon Campus. Jason’s photographs of local landscapes and wildlife line the hallway connecting the emergency department with radiology, grace patient rooms and hang in the intensive care unit, medical-surgical units and the human resources department. “It still gives me goosebumps even weeks later when I walk in the hall and see
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health • wellness my photographs,” he says. “When I take patients past them, it’s all I can do not to say ‘I took these.’ Patients who know that I took them, say it’s pretty cool.” Employees and patients who learn that Stewart is the artist who captured the beautiful images frequently come up to him and offer their compliments. Of all of his photographs in St. Luke’s Carbon Campus, Jason’s favorite is a picture of a goldfinch on a flowering thistle that hangs in the intensive care unit. Before a horseback accident eight years ago, Jason had only a passing interest in photography. Jason and his wife Isabelle live on a farm in Packer Township occupied by a yak, cattle, sheep, chicken and horses. In 2013, they had to put down Isabelle’s beloved thoroughbred. In an attempt to find Isabelle a new horse, he was riding one that he was considering buying. Suddenly it bucked, tossing Jason onto a piece of farm equipment. He broke five bones – both bones in his arm – the radius and ulna, the femur in his leg, his finger and a rib. While he was convalescing at home over the next six weeks, he picked up his camera and learned how to use its various settings to control shutter speed and light exposure. Among his favorite subjects was his daughter Olivia who was about six months old at the time. An avid outdoorsman, he also enjoyed taking pictures of landscapes and wildlife, which he says helped him connect to his thoughts. “I think photography saved me in more ways than one,” he says. “It helped me work through feelings of depression by giving me a purpose a path out of it.” Meanwhile, Jason started posting his photographs to his Facebook page and was surprised by the positive comments he received from his friends and family. People started asking if they could buy them. Soon he joined the Palmerton and Lehigh Valley Camera Clubs. “I’m pretty much self-taught,” he says, adding that he received a diploma from
the New York Institute of Photography. While he takes portraits and photographs weddings, he enjoys landscape and wildlife photography most. His interest in photography aligns nicely with his nursing career, says Jason, adding, “being an ER nurse is a stressful job. When you’re taking photographs, you need to relax and see things other people don’t see. Photography lets me take my mind off of things and be in a different moment.” His schedule – six days on, followed by several weeks off – has enabled him to travel in pursuit of capturing that perfect photograph. For example, he’s gone to Elk County for the elk and to Maryland for the bald eagle migration. In addition, their family vacations always involve photography and have included trips to Botswana and Zimbabwe in Africa.
While it’s hard to pick a favorite photograph, definitely among the contenders is a picture he took of a charging hippopotamus. Jason was sitting in a boat on the Chobe River in Botswana. It was his last day there when the boat came across a hippo wallowing in a mud hole. The boat stopped for the group to observe the hippopotamus. It became agitated and charged. “It took a lot of nerve to stay there and take the photo,” Jason says. He entered the photo in a photography magazine contest. While he did not win, he was one of the finalists and had his article placed on the website of Outdoor Photography.
February 2022 • 13
LVHN Takes COVID-19 Vaccination Efforts on the Road By Hannah Ropp Special to The Current
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ehigh Valley Health Network (LVHN) is committed to providing everyone access to COVID-19 vaccines and boosters. In order to do that, LVHN began the mobile vaccination unit, which allows a team of LVHN providers to reach a large concentration of people eligible for the vaccine or booster, but unable to get to a clinic. Over the past nine months, the LVHN mobile vaccination unit has visited many sites including schools, skilled nursing facilities, community centers and more. “The mobile vaccination unit is extremely important because it creates a safe and comfortable environment for those who are getting a vaccine. Sometimes getting a vaccine can cause some nervousness and inconvenience. By going on site, we are able to eliminate some of that,” says Laura Williams, outreach specialist, infection control. Born out of necessity Williams says the idea of the mobile vaccination unit was born out of necessity. “There was a large population that we weren’t able to vaccinate because they were unable to get to us; it was important for us to get to them,” she says. In March 2021, Bennett Toyota donated three new vehicles to transport vaccines, IT infrastructure (such as computers) and the medical team. The COVID-19 mobile vaccination unit serves all areas of our region and visits high-rises, community centers and other facilities to reach community members with limited transportation or other barriers that could keep them from receiving their COVID-19 vaccine or booster. According to Williams, the mobile vaccination unit is generally on-site for two to three hours and averages about 200 vaccines during that time. She says that some weeks the mobile vaccination unit is at several locations, while others it may only be at one or two facilities.
Behind the scenes Vaccinating a large number of people offsite is a team effort. “The mobile vaccination team is comprised of registration specialists, pharmacy colleagues, vaccinators, team leads, scribes and non-clinical support. There is a lot of logistics that need to take place before we ever step out the door,” says Williams. To make sure each clinic runs smoothly, the team for the mobile vaccination unit follows a process to ensure they have everything they need from paperwork to supplies. All the materials needed for the mobile vaccination unit are kept at an LVHN site and loaded in and out of the van as needed. Once the team is on-site, they are able to provide vaccinations without interruption. Willliams says that during cleanup, the team does inventory to make sure all necessary paperwork is accounted for and all unused vaccines and supplies are stored properly. A grateful community Williams says the reaction to the service has been overwhelmingly positive. “People have been so grateful that they have the opportunity to get the vaccines that they need without having to worry about how to schedule it or how to get there,” she says. It’s a sentiment that is echoed by many who have been vaccinated through the mobile vaccination unit, including Gladys Pickering, a resident of Luther Crest in Allentown. “I was so thrilled when I heard that LVHN was coming to us. It was important because we have an elderly population who can’t always be mobile enough to get out to get their vaccines, so this helps protect them and everyone here in our community,” she says.
14 • February 2022
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style Never Underestimate the Value of Accessories to Update Your Home! By Victoria Guillot The Current Contributing Writer
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s a home stager and interior designer, I see a lot of homes. Most often, I’ve been asked to update spaces. Whether you’re selling your home and want to update to attract more buyers or want a fresh look in the home where you live, you want the house to reflect current tastes. If you’ve been living with your things for a long time, you may want it to feel refreshed and different. Through the years, I’ve seen certain common scenarios over and over and over again. Let’s use a simple example and talk about the entry foyer. Here is a “Before” example of a very typical foyer design in Bucks County executive homes that I frequently encounter. Cut-crystal lamps and vases used to read as very formal, but now they risk looking dated when coupled with brown wood. The oil painting is top quality but small compared to
the current “bigger is better” design trend. So how do we update this space? Most people think they must throw out everything and start from scratch to get a new look. I’m here to show you that you don’t have to throw it all out to change the look and feel of a space completely. The power of accessories is tremendous! As a designer who believes in upcycling as much as possible, I love giving new life to old pieces that may be sentimental by changing out the accessories. Let’s take our first example:
Here’s another example with a completely different vibe using items inspired by nature: Here are two more examples that look completely different using the same furniture with more exotic accessories: Hopefully, these examples have convinced you to look at accessories with a whole new sense of possibilities. Professional
We kept the furniture and swapped the accessories for larger, more contemporary items with clean lines. We added drama with color in the art. The smaller pieces from the before image are re-used elsewhere but in different groupings that make them feel fresher. For example, we can move the painting to the powder room, which will be more in proportion and elevate that space.
designers rely heavily on accessories to bring that special designer’s touch to our projects. Interior designers have access to a staggering array of beautiful items to suit a wide range of budgets. This month I’ve curated a collection including the accessories shown, granting you special designer trade access. Get access to the best internet pricing by using the shopping links at https://stagecoachservices. com/home-shop. (If you purchase through this link, I will receive a commission at no additional cost to you.) Victoria Guillot is a home stager/interior designer of 15 years based in Buckingham/ Doylestown. A 6-time Best of Houzz winner, she has been featured on a 26-episode radio series and is the author of a book of tips on home staging. If you would like more trade access or would enjoy her decorating or staging assistance, you can find her at stagecoachservices.com.
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February 2022 • 15
16 • February 2022
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music • entertainment FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 4 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
RYAN NIEMILLER COMEDIAN Despite being born with a disability in both arms, Ryan Niemiller, the self-proclaimed “Cripple Threat of Comedy” shares his views of the world from the perspective of the handicapped. Ryan began his comedy career in Los Angeles, California, and hasn’t looked back since, performing in clubs and colleges across the country. Covering topics such as dating, trying to find employment, and attempting to find acceptance in a world not designed for him, Ryan tackles the issues in a way that makes you think while laughing the entire time. With his quick wit, great timing, and a gimmick that only he can exploit, Ryan hopes to prove to the comedy world that he may be unarmed, but he is dangerous. Doors open 6:30 PM – Showtime 7:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $28 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 PENN’S PEAK
BAT - THE MUSIC OF MEAT LOAF
FRIDAY - SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 11 - 12 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
TUSK (FLEETWOOD MAC TRIB)
Tusk, The Definitive Fleetwood Mac Tribute invites audiences on a trip back to when great pop songwriting ruled the charts and Fleetwood Mac dominated the airwaves with multiple top ten hits spanning two decades. TUSK masterfully duplicates all the hits of one of rock’s premier super groups. . Saturday 8:00 PM – Sunday 6:30 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $39 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 11 PENN’S PEAK
RANDY HOUSER WITH ELLA LANGELY
FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 18 PENN’S PEAK
SARA EVANS
She’s had five #1 singles, sold millions of records, won the Academy of Country Music’s Top Female Vocalist Award and claimed a Country Music Association trophy for her signature song, “Born To Fly.” It’s tough to imagine many accomplishments Sara Evans hasn’t already checked off her bucket list. And yet, with the release of her eighth studio album, Words demonstrates that she’s still willing to leap into the unknown, taking greater control of her career and calling the shots in a way that’s unusual in country music – particularly unusual for a woman in the genre. Tickets $38 - $44 Doors Open 6:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 PENN’S PEAK
GREEN RIVER - TRIBUTE TO CREEDENCE CLEARWATER REVIVAL & JOHN FOGERTY Experience the iconic Bat Out Of Hell album and other hit songs performed brilliantly by The Neverland Band featuring American Idol winner, Caleb Johnson. The Neverland Band includes world-class alumni spanning the history of the Meat Loaf legacy. In addition to a number one album and touring with some of the biggest names in rock, Caleb Johnson is the winner of American Idol season 13. He delivers his own unique stamp to such classics as “Bat Out of Hell”, “Paradise by the Dashboard Light”, and “I Would Do Anything For Love” while staying true to the essence of Meat Loaf’s delivery. The show is created & produced by Meat Loaf’s musical director/ guitarist/ record producer, Paul Crook. Tickets $22 - $27 Doors Open 6:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 5 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
BENNY & THE JETS (ELTON JOHN SHOW)
With an inimitable voice the New York Times describes as “wholly different, thicker and more throbbing, a caldron bubbling over,” Randy Houser racked up three consecutive No. 1 hits with his album, How Country Feels, plus earned critical acclaim for his powerful delivery of the Top 5 smash and CMA Song of the Year-nominated “Like A Cowboy.” Houser added a fourth No. 1 to his catalogue with “We Went” from his 2016 album, Fired Up. Houser’s fourth studio album, Magnolia, marks a new era for the singer/songwriter which many have called “Houser at his best.” Tickets $40 - $45 Doors Open 6:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 12 PENN’S PEAK
DEAD ON LIVE – AN ALL-STAR TRIBUTE TO THE GRATEFUL DEAD
FEBRUARY ENTERTAINMENT Sean & Cassandra
February 11
Twin Hill
February 12
DOC Valentines Party
February 18
Mark Hannig
February 19
Joanna Bea & Mike ET
February 25
Steve Brosky Duo
February 26
Burn Classic Rock
Friday and Saturday shows from 6pm - 9pm Sunday shows from 3pm - 6pm Wednesday Open Mic from 5pm - 8pm www.facebook.com/Insurrectioninc 201 Main Ln., Lehighton, PA 610.379.4775
Songwriters’ Open Mic. Be an original! Share songs you wrote yourself or put a new spin on an old favorite. Poets and comics welcome. Hosted by Peaches & Wine.
Thursday, February 17, 3-6pm
Green River - The #1 Nationally Touring Creedence Clearwater Revival/John Fogerty Tribute Show is the brain child of native New Yorker Rick Horvath. Noodles as he is affectionately known, was born to perform this music. He started singing CCR songs in his very first band when he was only 13 years old. CCR was an American rock band active in the late 1960s and early 1970s. Their musical style encompassed the roots rock and swamp rock genres. Creedence Clearwater Revival’s music is still a staple of American radio airplay and the band has sold 30 million albums in the United States alone. Tickets $22 - $27 Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 19 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
Insurrection Distillery
February 5
Friday, February 11, 6-9pm
Love & Light Luminary Walk: A Lynn Highland Memorial. Enjoy Jim Thorpe by candlelight. Stop by Wild Elder for warm drink specials to keep you cozy as you sip and stroll or sit down for a flight and a bite.
ELO TRIBUTE SHOW
Scott Erickson 6-9 pm
EVENT SCHEDULE
Saturday, February 12, 5-8pm
If your thing is the music of Elton John and his band, then this is the perfect show for you. Greg Ransom plays the Elton John character with aplomb, but most importantly - he has mastered the songs, both vocally and on the piano. Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $27
February 4
The first rebellion started in 1986. New Jersey kids, punk and metal attitude, determined to conquer the world. All for one, banded together with single-minded purpose. The battlefield was the stage, the songs their arsenal in an us-against-them musical coup d’état. Top Ten singles. Gold and multi-platinum sales. No. 1 on the Billboard album chart. The world was theirs, the rebellion won, until there was nothing left to fight for — so they fought each other. In 1996, the band was finished, but the core camaraderie never died. Snake Sabo, Scotti Hill and Rachel Bolan vowed that SKID ROW wouldn’t fade into rock and roll obscurity. Skid Row returned to the big stage — literally — opening for Kiss in 2000. Exhilarated to tour with the heroes who rallied them in the first place, the band was reinvigorated by being underdogs who came out fighting to prove themselves. Tickets $46 - $51 Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK
11 years ago, touring/recording veteran Marc Muller (Shania Twain, Bruce Springsteen) assembled a cast of world-class musicians to present two iconic Grateful Dead records, Workingman’s Dead and American Beauty, at the historic Count Basie Theater in Red Bank NJ. He chose to perform the music with a totally unique, note for note-all instruments and vocals as recorded, approach that launched his project Dead On Live. Since then DOL has broken all the rules in Grateful Dead tributes by recreating virtually all of the Dead’s commercial releases, as well as some of their more notorious live productions, note for note……Dead Tickets $22 - $27 Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK
Celebrating The Genius of Jeff Lynne and ELO! Accurately performed in a Multimedia Production by seasoned musicians from the Phila area. Doing all the hits from Electric Light Orchestra and Lynne produced artists. Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $29 FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 PENN’S PEAK
SKID ROW - WARRANT - TED POLEY OF DANGER, DANGER
Donuts & Wine: A LLS Fundraiser Event Basket raffle for Leukemia & Lymphoma Society Student of the Year Campaign hosted by candidates Ella Farnell and Max Allaham.
Thursday, February 17, 6-8pm
Wild Elder Book Club Meeting: A History of the World in 6 Glasses Sellers Books + Art (65 Broadway, Jim Thorpe) is partnering with Wild Elder Wine and Cider to host a food, drink, and foraging themed book club. Club members will meet monthly at Wild Elder (76 Broadway, Jim Thorpe) on third Thursdays through May to share good food, drink, and discussion. Booklist, sign-up, and further details at wildelder.com/s/stories or just stop by Sellers Books to purchase your books and get started reading!
Saturday and Sunday February 18-19 11am-5pm
Jim Thorpe Winterfest. Wild Elder is participating with the Mug Walk. Get tickets at https://www.bestofjimthorpe. com.
March Art Show at Wild Elder/ Donerds - Mo Devlin.
Mo Devlin’s photographs will be on display and for sale at 76 Broadway in Jim Thorpe and can be viewed or purchased during business hours of either Donerds Donuts or Wild Elder.
Friday, March 4th, 5-7pm
Join us as we host the artist and celebrate his work in person. Light hors d’oeuvres will be served. Drinks and additional food will be available for purchase.
www.wildelder.com 76 Broadway in Jim Thorpe (570) 732-9933
The Jim Thorpe Current
www.JimThorpeCurrent.com
February 2022 • 17
music • entertainment FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 25 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
WISHBONE ASH
Blues Boom, and Psychedelia had made its impact. The creative possibilities were infinite. The band includes founding member Andy Powell, who handles lead vocals and trades licks with Yorkshire’s Mark Abrahams. Bassist Bob Skeat, a 25 year veteran of the band, drives the rhythm section along with Joe Crabtree, one of the best of Britain’s new breed of drummers . Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $25, $28, $38 SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 26 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
The classic rock bands of the late ’60s and early ’70s enjoy a unique place in popular musical history. The Beatles had gone their separate ways, Britain had already experienced the
JAZZ LOFT AT THE STABIN MUSEUM
JAZZ NIGHTS
ZACH NUGENT GRATEFUL DEAD EXPERIENCE Zach used to tour with Melvin Seals and has a badass Grateful Dead group from Burlington VT touring across the country. Zach Nugent’s playing is soulful, rootsy and organic, the kind of sound that grows out of the music naturally and effortlessly. He gigs almost nightly, singing and improvising in different projects around town and around the country. A lifelong Grateful Dead fan, Zach has a musical resume with that one vital, matchless feature: As far back as he can remember, music has been an integral part of his life. Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $24
FRIDAY, MARCH 4 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
RICH VOS - COMEDIAN
The Legend” 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 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 6:30 PM – Showtime 7:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $28 SATURDAY, MARCH 5 MAUCH CHUNK OPERA HOUSE
BEYOND PURPLE THE BEST OF DEEP PURPLE
FRIDAY, MARCH 4 PENN’S PEAK
LIVE & LET DIE - THE MUSIC OF PAUL MCCARTNEY
Jazz Nights: Bill washer Trio 2/14/22 Romance is alive at the Stabin Museum! A delicious five-course tasting menu and an exceptional performance featuring romantic standards performed by Bill Washer, Morrie Louden, and Daniel Gonzalez are on the agenda. Ambiance, fine fare, and elegance included! Reserved Table Seating - $100 per guest includes dinner, music, tax, and gratuity. Tom Storm and Friends: 2/22/22 Growth Rings Oak. Tom Storm and friends perform live at Vic’s Jazz Loft in celebration of Tom’s new release! LIVE MUSIC from Growth Rings Oak! $10 cover at the door, Merch/Food/Drinks available for purchase throughout the night. Jazz Nights: Kenny Werner 2/26/22 has been a world-class pianist and composer for over forty years. His prolific output of compositions, recordings, and publications continues to impact audiences worldwide. We are thrilled to have Kenny Werner at Vic’s Jazz Loft for two 75 minute sets. The first set will feature a solo “talk/ play session.” Morrie Louden and Daniel Gonzalez will Join Kenny Werner during the second set. You don’t want to miss this thought-provoking magical evening. Jazz Nights: Silvano Monasterios, Bakithi Kumalo, Daniel Gonzalez 3/4/2022 Grammy-nominated jazz pianist, composer, and producer, Silvano Monasterios, performed, wrote, and recorded with an impressive mix of artists throughout his career. You can find his latest releases, “Unconditional” and “Partly Sunny,” on Savant Records. Silvano performed and recorded with Larry Coryell, Dave Valentin, Nestor Torres, Paquito D’Rivera, Jeff “Tain” Watts, the World Jazz All-Stars, Arturo Sandoval, Bobby Sanabria, and countless others.
Singer and Recording artist, Tony Kishman is the creator and band leader of “Live And Let Die”; a full multimedia experience celebrating the music of Paul McCartney and featuring four multi-talented musicians. Tony starred for six years in both the national and international tours of Broadway’s smash hit musical, ‘Beatlemania’ and also performs in the International Symphonic Beatles production, ‘Classical Mystery Tour’. He has been performing his award winning show to the most successful band of all time around the globe for more than a decade, bringing the music and the magic of both the Beatles and Paul McCartney to a new generation, earning raves by ‘Beatlemaniacs’ for his uncanny resemblance both visually and vocally to the beloved Beatle. Tickets $23 - $28 Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK
Beyond Purple has quickly become a fan favorite packing venues all over New England. The band features the amazing guitar work of Jimi Bell of rock band, Autograph! Beyond Purple has the audience on their feet all night long, screaming for more. The band lays it all out on stage to bring you back to the 70’s and 80’s musical experience that we all love and miss. Beyond Purple consists of professional musicians that have years of experience. The show starts off with early Deep Purple Hits with an energy of an authentic Deep Purple Show, along with the Hits of Rainbow, Whitesnake and Dio. Doors open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00 PM mcohjt.com (570) 325-0249 Tickets $28 SATURDAY, MARCH 5 PENN’S PEAK
KRICKET COMEDY BENNETT
PRESENTS
Join the online party on Colossal Radio, your #1 Internet Radio Station playing some of the best classic rock and signature hits of the 80’s & 90’s. All this, coupled up with some fun contests and real relatable banter from our radio veterans. Log on to listen at www.colossalradio.rocks, download the free Colossal phone apps from your App Store and ask Alexa to enable the Colossal Radio Skill. Colossal Radio was built and designed to support small businesses and to support each other Email us for more details info@ colossalradio.rocks Check out some of our specialty shows, our partners, our Colossal line of spirits and more online. Make sure to like our FB page too.
Off The Charts Music School
http://stabinmuseum.com (570) 325-5588 Jazz Nights: Bill Washer Trio 2/11/22 With musical credits including Gato Barbieri, Liza Minnelli, Whitney Houston, Steve Grossman, and many others, Bill Washer brings a diverse style with fire. Tony Marino’s versatility and wide range of musicality allow him to accompany and record with numerous artists from jazz to folk to pop. Another versatile artist, Daniel Gonzalez, dances around the drums while keeping things interesting. You don’t want to miss the Bill Washer Trio in the acoustically rich Vic’s Jazz Loft.
Colossal Radio News and Notes
On Wednesday, January 19, 2022, our owner/drum instructor Dustin Rehrig had the opportunity to perform with “Karen As Dolly” on “The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon”. Rehrig’s group won the first season of “Clash of the Cover Bands.” and part of this win was to perform on “The Tonight Show”. Rehrig along with Karen Hester, Alfred Sheppard, and brothers Jason & Jayme Lewis headed to the “Big Apple” for this once in a lifetime experience. The recording took place that afternoon at NBC Studios in New York City, airing at 11:35PM. This was the first time a tribute/cover band performed on the late night TV show and they nailed it. Congratulations on a well deserved win & fantastic live performance! YOU ROCK!! Check out their performance on YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/ watch?v=1e4LkJdVL6M
ROSS
Ross Bennett left the United States Military Academy after deciding that he preferred to take aim and fire jokes instead of bullets. Since that day Ross’ comedy career has taken him from New York to Los Angeles and all points in between. Ross has developed a brand all his own described as “Comedy For The Rest Of Us” which resonates with everyday working class American who prefer clean humor that is both clever and politics-free. Tickets $20 - $25 Doors Open 7:00 PM – Showtime 8:00PM www.pennspeak.com (866) 605-PEAK
TOTALLY REAL • TOTALLY UNFILTERED
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 Victoria Guillot Maura Guzek Amy Moyer Brian Pultro Hannah Ropp Tripti Stashefski Emily Whalen Yvonne Wright
For Advertising Jay Pelc • 917.957.1713 JP4541@aol.com
Distribution JD@JimThorpeCurrent.com
Published by
Stony Creek Media, LLC. PO Box #222 Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania 18229 570 . 399 . 1400
Playing Classic Rock of the 60’s, 70’s and Signature Hits of the 80’s Based out of Carbon County, “Doc” (Layne Roberts) launched his very own Internet radio Station after 30 years in the radio and disc jockey business.
Check out Dustin and Doc every day Monday-Fridays from 9-1 • Exclusively designed to partner with and promote local businesses through in-studio spotlights, Facebook, FB Live and Instagram
For the complete show line up, log in to the stations’ web site at www.colossalradio.rocks E-mail: info@colossalradio.rocks
The Jim Thorpe Current is published monthly and distributed to over 210 locations throughout the Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania Area. Entire contents of this publication is copyright 2022 Stony Creek Media, LLC. all rights reserved and may not be reproduced in any manner, in whole or in part, without written permission from the publisher.
18 • February 2022
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The Jim Thorpe Current
The Jim Thorpe Current
www.JimThorpeCurrent.com
February 2022 • 19
arts
A Tale of Beautiful Adonis… By Yvonne Wright • The Current Contributing Writer
A
ncient cultures are imbued with artistic depictions of stories and myths about love, often played out in the realm of the supernatural and mystical. Whether immortalized in poems, carved in stones as architectural embellishments, etched in clay pottery, or depicted in paintings, human enjoyment of celebrating, and in some way, emotionally re-living the legends of lovers whose tragic circumstances wouldn’t allow them to be together, crosses the boundaries of time and civilizations, inspiring generations of romantics across millennia, right into our modern times. Being in love is a state of existence that envelopes a wide range of meanings and expectations, best expressed in action; hence, how one feels about someone is most evident in what one does to make that person feel special, adored and desired - a conundrum if not reciprocated… It is not unusual, but perhaps unconventional today, to refer to a handsome young man as an Adonis. Originating in Greek mythology, it is a well meant complement that refers to a young man of strikingly fine features, rippling muscles, and a hint of overconfidence. Made popular throughout the Hellenic world, the story of Adonis (the eternally youthful god of beauty and desire) and his relationship with Aphrodite (the goddess of love and beauty), had its roots in the ancient civilization of Phoenicia, later appropriated with minor differences by the Egyptians, Greeks and Romans, as a universal story of lust and jealousy, and the struggle between love and death. Adonis is the archetype of a handsome youth, born to the equally beautiful Myrrha, daughter of King Cinyras of Cyprus. It was King Cinyras, who inadvertently angered the extremely vain and self-absorbed Aphrodite, by often boasting to his friends how beautiful his daughter was, and going so far as to claim that Myrrha was more beautiful than Aphrodite herself! Well, if one has learned anything from Greek plays and mythological legends it is that the gods residing atop Mount Olympus were an extremely jealous supernatural bunch, quick to anger, and delighting in punishing those who crossed them. Resentful Aphrodite (known to Romans as Venus), would not allow her title as the most beautiful, to be questioned by anyone, especially mortals. After all, she was the daughter of Zeus (Roman Jupiter), the king of all the gods and goddesses of the Olympian pantheon. Therefore, she convinced her son Eros (god of physical desire, aka Cupid) to help her carry out a devious plan of revenge. By shooting an arrow through Myrrha’s heart, Eros made her fall desperately in love with her own father, impelled by insatiable lust. In the classical world, “erotic attraction was generally referred to as a kind of madness, or theia mania (madness from the gods)” and was explained with the elaborate metaphor of one’s heart being pierced with “love’s arrow” or “Eros’ dart.” As the spell took hold, a disguised Myrrha tricked her father into consummating the union, but the king was outraged and threatened to kill her upon realizing the betrayal. To save herself and the baby she was now carrying, Myrrha pleaded with the gods to change her appearance into something other than human, which they granted, and she was transformed into a myrrh tree. Incredibly, nine months later the tree simply split open and a baby boy was born. Watching the events of Adonis’s birth, a now remorseful Aphrodite became charmed by the mortal boy’s natural beauty and became devoted to him. Wanting to keep the baby safe, she entrusted the queen of the Underworld, Persephone, with raising the boy. However, as the young Adonis grew older and became progressively more attractive, the queen couldn’t help but
to fall madly in love with the handsome youth, and when the day came for Adonis to return back to Aphrodite, Persephone refused to let him go. Zeus had to intervene in the squabble, and it was decided that Adonis would spend four months of the year with Persephone who raised him, four months with Aphrodite who adored him, and the remaining four months with whomever he wished. Adonis chose Aphrodite, revealing for the first time his heart’s true desire. In Greek mythology, the myth of beautiful Adonis is always intertwined with his eternal love for the alluring Aphrodite. While the two lovers were together, the sun shone brightly upon the land, the soil was kind to the people, flowers bloomed and fruits ripened.
Georges Barbier (1882-1932). Adonis and Aphrodite, color lithograph
Arguably, one may suppose that the eternally youthful and immortal goddess of love, Aphrodite, could be in fact hundreds of years older than Adonis, but in the ancient mythologies age didn’t matter, and their love story wouldn’t be complete without mentioning the circumstances which brought them together. In many ways, Adonis’ handsome looks were his curse and undoing, because they triggered a rage of strong emotions, from love and adoration to jealousy and resentment, in those who met him. Described as androgynous, he was said to be also loved by other gods like Apollo, Heracles and Dionysus. Renowned for his hunting skills, Adonis enjoyed, more than anything, the sport of seeking, pursuing and capturing animals, and the kinship with wildlife it provided - in spite of Aphrodite’s constant pleading to stop the dangerous fun (because she couldn’t bear the thought of losing him in a tragic accident). A particularly prudent worry, when one considers the ancient practice of hunting a challenge of strength and fitness for hunters equipped only with long spears or bows. On one such hunting adventure in the Afqa forest near the city of Byblos, Adonis was badly hurt by a wild boar and bled to death from his injuries in the arms of Aphrodite, who tried to save him by administering a magical nectar into his wounds, to no avail. As his blood blended with the nectar and poured into the soil, beautiful flowers sprang up from the ground. It is believed that the scent of Anemone flowers matches the aroma of Aphrodite’s nectar, and their color Adonis’s
blood. When some of his spilled blood reached the nearby river, its water also turned red. Even today, the phenomenon of the Abraham River (also known as the Adonis River) in the Keserwan-Jbeil Governorate of Lebanon flowing red continues. Each February, “due to the volume of soil washed off the mountains by the heavy rains,” the beautifully meandering river appears as if filled with blood. In one version of the story, Artemis (worshiped by Romans as Diana), the goddess of wild animals, the hunt, vegetation and chastity, is accused of plotting to kill Adonis by sending a wild boar to attack him, because she became jealous of Adonis’s skills as a huntsman, surpassing hers. In another version, it was Ares (aka Mars), the handsome god of war and Aphrodite’s one time lover, who became jealous of her infatuation with the mortal, and to eliminate competition he transformed himself into a wild boar and attacked Adonis. In response to his daughter’s inconsolable laments, Zeus stepped in once again and determined that Adonis should only spend half of each year in the land of the dead, thereby creating a cycle of Adonis’ death and resurrection as representative of the decay and revival of plant life, reflecting the agricultural seasons of early Mediterranean civilizations. Adonis became worshipped as a god of grain crops and perpetual renewal, fertility, and beauty – a male counterpart for Aphrodite – whose love story contains elements of tragedy and happiness. The late nineteenth-century Scottish anthropologist, Sir James George Frazer, claimed that Adonis was just one example of the archetype of a “dying-and-rising god” found throughout all cultures. The myth of Adonis has been a source of great inspiration for many poets, painters, sculptors and historians, leading to its widespread use as a major theme in literary and intellectual productions. One of the most influential works in Western culture is Shakespeare’s erotic narrative poem Venus and Adonis (1593) which retells the courtship of Venus (Aphrodite) and Adonis, as originally described by the Roman poet Ovid in Metamorphoses, Book X. Venus’s desperate love for Adonis has become an inspiration for many literary portrayals of courtships in Elizabethan literature, and the most popular story of all Shakespeare’s works published within his lifetime. This highly decorative, art deco style color lithograph “Adonis and Aphrodite” by the French illustrator, Georges Barbier (1882-1932), narrates the pivotal moment of Adonis’ embarking on his last hunting trip, bow in hand. Worried Aphrodite begs him stay and abandon his plans, but her plea is to no avail, as Adonis loves hunting almost as much as her. The call of the wild beckons him, and his destiny quickens its arrival… Anemone Flower, Eternal Love! A photograph powerful feeling too difficult to describe but one that creates an unbreakable bond of unwavering devotion between two soulmates destined for each other. Once broken, it inflicts a deep wound into the heart that never heals. And yet, only very few are lucky enough to experience it…
Yvonne Wright is the owner of STUDIO YNW at 100 West Broadway in Jim Thorpe. She can be reached at studio.ynw@gmail.com
20 • February 2022
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biz briefs Monthly Small Counseling Service
Business
The Wilkes University Small Business Development Center offers education and no-cost consulting services to entrepreneurs, small business owners or anyone interested in starting a business. The program will cover: • evaluating business ideas • business plan developing • exploring finance options • applications & licenses • & much more Lucy Singer is the Business Consultant for the Wilkes University SBDC and she holds an MBA with a concentration in Human Resources from Misericordia University. Prior to joining the SBDC, she was an Assistant Vice President for 17 years in the Retail Banking Division of FNCB Bank. Registration is require? please call Linda at 610-379-5000 to schedule your FREE appointment. - Friday, Feb 4, 2021 9:00 AM - 2:00 PM EST - Carbon Chamber & Economic Development Corp - 137 South Street Lehighton PA 18235
The organization is currently accepting Letters of Intent (LOI) from organizations who offer these types of programs or who serve this population of students and would like to establish a new program. Letters of Intent are due February 25, 2022 by 5:00 PM. More information about the fund as well as grant application guidelines and deadlines can be found on the website at https://cccfoundpa.org
Love My Scrubs
Announcing the Computer Career Accelerator Fund for Carbon County & Grant Opportunity
The Carbon County Community Foundation is thrilled to launch the Computer Career Accelerator Fund for Carbon County! This new fund supports programs that promotes awareness of careers in computer and IT-related fields, and provides mentorship and work experiences in those fields for Carbon County students.
The beautifully decorated windows of Love My Scrubs contribute to the vibrant landscape of downtown Palmerton. Owner Cheryl Curran is a Certified Nurse’s Assistant and always dreamed of having her own business. Cheryl’s retail boutique offers gently used scrubs, as well as children and adult clothing, shoes, handmade home décor, woodcrafts, and handmade jewelry. Love my Scrubs offers many options for gifts at affordable prices. Be sure to visit Love My Scrubs at 426 Delaware Ave. in Palmerton.
Get Out of Debt in 2022 By Brian Pultro, AIF, BFA, RFC® The Current Contributing Writer
W
elcome to February! How are those New Year’s resolutions coming along? If one of those resolutions was to work your way out of debt in 2022, then you are in luck. Figuring out a mound of debt can be frightening and leave you with anxiety. Where do you start? How do you tackle it all? That is why I have two straightforward tips you can follow, to help accomplish that resolution of getting out of debt in 2022. Since the two methods for working your way through debt are snow-themed, February is the perfect time to choose from the avalanche method or the snowball method. Depending on your circumstances, one will be a better fit for you. Let’s plow through both. • Avalanche method – with this method, you would make a list of all of your debts and their interest rates. Once you compile the list, put them in order from the highest interest rate to the lowest. Then, you would pay the minimum amount on each of your debts except for the highest interest rate debt, which you would dedicate as much to as possible. The theory here is that you reduce the debt that is racking up the most interest billed to you. Once you have paid off the highest interest rate debt, you move down the list to the next one.
• Snowball method – in this method, you list all of your debts from largest balance to smallest balance. Once you complete the list, you pay the minimum on all of your debts except the one with the smallest balance, which you would dedicate as much to as you possibly could. The theory here is that you pay off the smallest balance first, gaining momentum and an emotional win as you move towards paying off all your debt. Continue to move down the list from smallest to largest until all of the debts are paid off. Being a Behavioral Financial Advisor (BFA), I love the snowball method. Providing yourself with an emotional win is crucial to keeping up the momentum of paying down debt. When we can harness our emotions and create positive change regarding money, the feeling is euphoric. However, even though I prefer one method, it does not mean it is the best fit for you. Figuring out what will work best for your situation is very important. It’s winter! Get outside, enjoy the cold and the magic of the snow while also harnessing it to pay down some of your debt. Brian Pultro is a Navy Veteran, and local Financial Advisor. His practice is built upon the foundations of “Behavioral Finance” and training individuals and families on how to take natural human emotions out of the investment process. Pultro Financial Management (215) 489-3876 • brian.pultro@LPL.com
You Are Invited . . .
The Chamber’s 33rd Annual Snow Ball is presented by the Business Council and Capital Blue Cross on Saturday, February 26, 2022 at the Aster Event Center / Hyatt Place Hyatt House Hotel (621 Grange Road, Allentown, PA 18106). Snow Ball is The Chamber’s premier black-tie dinner dance combined with a silent and live auction fundraiser. This year’s beneficiary is The Lehigh County Humane Society. Cocktails & hors d’oeuvres will begin at 6:00 pm with dinner served at 7:30 pm. After dinner and the Live Auction, dance the night away with our Lucky 7 Band from 8:30 pm to 10:00 pm. The Silent Auction will be presented from 6:00 pm to 9:00 pm with the Live Auction held during dinner. In the past 33 years, the Business Council is proud to have contributed more than $650,000 to beneficiaries of the Snow Ball Auction. This sell-out event attracts a stellar audience of approximately 250 high-
profile Chamber members and Lehigh Valley community leaders. Seating is limited, so reserve your tickets now! This year’s Silent Auction benefits: The Lehigh County Humane Society
Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency to Introduce an App
The Jim Thorpe Tourism Agency (JTTA) has announced plans to create an app to enhance visitor experience and membership value. Some of the main goals of the app are to centralize information on general events, festivals, and parking. In addition, each JTTA member will have the ability to create their own space within the app. This will allow both the JTTA and each JTTA member to send curated messaging based upon users selected preferences. The targeted roll out of the app is Spring 2022.
Mauch Chunk Trust Company Announces Promotions for Chief Financial Officer and Controller
Mauch Chunk Trust Company is pleased to announce the following internal promotions for Chief Financial Officer and Controller, effective January 1, 2022. Nicole Barbaro has been promoted to Chief Financial Officer. She began her career in banking in 2007 with the Mauch Chunk Trust Company. During her 15 years, she held various positions including Teller/Customer Service Representative, Accounting Analyst, Accounting Supervisor and Controller. Barbaro is a 2018 Summa Cum Laude graduate of Cedar Crest College in Allentown, PA, holding a bachelor’s degree in accounting. Previous to that she attended Lehigh Carbon Community College in Schnecksville, PA, achieving an associate degree in Accounting. She is a graduate of Lehighton Area High School and resides in Carbon County. In addition to her professional responsibilities with Mauch Chunk Trust, Ms. Barbaro is currently serving as a Board member with the Leadership Carbon Steering Committee and was a 2017 graduate of the Leadership Carbon Program. Louisa Krause has been promoted to Controller. She began her career in banking in 2008 with the Mauch Chunk Trust Company. During her 14 years, she held various positions including Teller/Customer Service Representative, Electronic Banking Specialist, Accounting Analyst, and Assistant Controller. Krause has an associate degree in Business Administration from Lehigh Carbon Community College where she graduated Cum Laude, and is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Accounting at Cedar Crest College. Ms. Krause is a graduate of Panther Valley High School and resides in Carbon County. Incorporated in 1902, Mauch Chunk Trust is the successor institution to the Second National Bank of Mauch Chunk established in 1864. For more information on Mauch Chunk Trust, please visit www.mct.bank.
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biz briefs New Councilman in Summit Hill
A local bank official was selected to fill a vacancy on Summit Hill Borough Council. Eugene “Gino” DeGiosio, the senior commercial lender and vice president of commercial lending for Jim Thorpe Neighborhood Bank, got the unanimous nod of council to fill a two-year term. He was one of two people to apply for the position. The other was Mille Ashmore, an employee of the Panther Valley School District who handles the district’s purchasing and grant reporting. The seat opened when councilman William O’Gurek was elected to both a four-year term and a two-year term in the November general election. He opted to keep the four-year term and resigned from the two-year seat. In his letter of interest to the borough, he wrote, “In the past, I wrestled with the notion of committing time to public service but the demands of my career conflicted with the ability to make that thought a reality. My situation has changed and I am now in a position that provides more flexibility in my schedule. As such, I can devote the time required to serve the public in a manner the residences of our community expect and deserve.” DeGiosio said he has a “strong understanding of financing and cash management needs and solutions.” He said in the past, he managed a team of business bankers covering 65 branches. Among his current and past professional involvements are: treasurer of the Mauch Chunk Historical Society, treasurer of the Carbon County Industrial Authority, a committee member for the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance Revolving Loan Fund, and the PNC Bank liaison to the Lehigh Valley Manufacturing Resource Center. He said, “In short what I will provide to the residents of our community is integrity and an objective opinion thoughtfully
conveyed as a council member who has no other agenda than to serve the community that a large part of my family and friends have resided in for most, if not all of their lives.” He was sworn-in as a council member by Mayor Jeffrey Szczecina. (www.tnonline.com)
Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway Launches 2022 Season
The Reading & Northern has launched its 2022 season of Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway excursions from the borough of Jim Thorpe. Trains will operate from Jim Thorpe on Saturdays and Sundays at 11 a.m., 1 p.m., and 3 p.m. for 70-minute route trips into the Lehigh Gorge State Park. The trains that began operation on Jan. 1 are offering new seating options. In addition to standard coach, the railroad is offering Crown Class Coach, with larger, reclining seats, and a First Class Dome option with panoramic views.
Standard coach seats are $17 per adult and $9 per child ages 3-12; Crown Class Coach seats are $18 for adults and $10 for children 3-12; children ages 2 and under are free. In the First Class Dome, tickets are $35 per seat for all ages. Tickets are available online at the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway website, by phone at 570-325-8485, or at the ticket booth in Jim Thorpe on the day of the trip.
Pocono Housing Market Skyrockets, Changes Abound By Amy Moyer Century 21 Select Group Realtors
I
t is a new year in the Poconos and the housing market is just as crazy as last year! Unless you live under a rock, I am sure you have seen or experienced how inflated the housing market is at this time. Sidenote: If you do live under a rock ... give us a call, we can help! :) The prices in our Pocono area have skyrocketed! Homes, land, and residential rental prices are at an all-time high! Carbon County values have risen by roughly 38%. In Lake Harmony, we are seeing sellers receive a 50% increase from their purchase 2 years ago! These prices are pushing out the primary home buyers. Investors and relocations are winning the bids. It has become increasingly difficult for buyers to navigate and keep up with the high prices. We can blame the pandemic for changing just about everything around us these days! From food pick-up to ticket sales, ‘virtually’ has quickly become the new norm. The world, as we knew it, is no longer here. On the Real Estate side of things, we have been seeing a lot of changes as well. Showings have gone virtual and most contracts are being signed electronically. Even closing processes have evolved to allow more electronic documents. In Pennsylvania, we do not allow a fully virtual closing as the change in deed needs to be wet signed in front of a notary. Real estate has been growing and evolving towards a fully electronic business for years, but the pandemic has pushed it into high gear. We have been hearing many stories from our clients about how COVID has affected their lives in terms of housing. Do you have a story that you would like to share with us? Please send me a quick e-mail explaining your story and it just might make it into my next article. Amy.Moyer@c21.com Century21 SelectGroup 570-656-9838 Born and raised in the Pocono area, you can visit Million Dollar Producer Amy Moyer at www. AmySellsPa.com.
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Safety Grants for Carbon County Schools
Safe Schools Targeted Grants totaling nearly $170,000 have been awarded to three school districts located in the 122nd Legislative District. School buildings that are safe and secure create an environment where students, faculty and staff can focus on learning. I am pleased our local districts are taking advantage of this funding opportunity to maintain or improve the safety programs they have in place.”
The funding awards are as follows: The program is administered by the Department of Education and funded by the General Assembly in the 2021-22 state budget. More than $40 million in grant funding has been awarded to schools statewide since 2015. • Jim Thorpe Area – $24,999 safety equipment grant. • Lehighton Area - $59,940 school police officer grant (two years). • Weatherly Area - $24,999 safety equipment grant and $60,000 school police officer grant (two years). The program is administered by the Department of Education and funded by the General Assembly in the 2021-22 state budget. More than $40 million in grant funding has been awarded to schools statewide since 2015.
New Funding on the Way for PA’s Health Care Heroes Recognizing the sacrifices our health care workers have been making each and every day throughout the COVID-19
PennDOT Seeking Summer Help
pandemic, a new law was enacted this week that calls for a $225 million infusion of funding to help. Act 2 of 2022, formerly House Bill 253, includes $210 million for hospitals and behavioral health care providers to provide recruitment and retention payments to nurses and other employees involved in direct patient care activities, environmental services or clinical care services. Specifically, $100 million is directed to all hospitals while $110 million goes to critical access hospitals, high Medicaid-use facilities and behavioral health providers. These local hospitals receive funding as follows: • St. Luke’s Carbon Campus Hospital – $113,879. • St. Luke’s Lehighton Campus – $462,573. The new law also provides $15 million in funding for the nursing student loan forgiveness through the Pennsylvania Higher Education Assistance Agency. A second bill, expected to be considered next month, will provide $25 million in funding to fire and emergency medical services providers.
2021 Property Tax and Rent Rebate Applications Available Now
Forms for the Property Tax/Rent Rebate Program are now available for eligible Pennsylvanians to begin claiming rebates on property taxes or rent paid in 2021. Remember – you do not need to pay anyone for assistance to apply for the rebates. Help is available from my district offices at no charge. The rebate program benefits eligible Pennsylvanians age 65 and older; widows and widowers age 50 and older; and people with disabilities age 18 and older. The income limit is $35,000 a year for homeowners and $15,000 annually for renters, and half of Social Security income is excluded.
The maximum standard rebate is $650, but supplemental rebates for certain qualifying homeowners can boost rebates to $975. The Revenue Department automatically calculates supplemental rebates for qualifying homeowners. The deadline to apply for a rebate is June 30. Rebates will be distributed beginning July 1, as required by law.
PennDOT is looking to hire college students from May through August to supplement its permanent workforce. The job typically entails seasonal maintenance work and sign upgrade services, maintenance and custodial services at roadside rest facilities, and laboring and flagging duties in maintenance organizations and highway worksites. The hourly rate is $14.61. Interested applicants should contact my office by Friday, Feb. 18, and also apply online at www.employment.pa.gov to the PennDOT College Student Summer Worker posting under the Open Jobs section.
Happy 100th!
Happy 100th birthday to Edward Bair of Lehighton! I had the privilege of attending his party at the Lehighton American Legion last Saturday, where I presented a House citation in recognition of his birthday milestone. Edward is a U.S. Navy veteran who served in WWII. After the war, he worked for Bell Telephone. He and his late wife, Esther, had one daughter, Lori Flaim. He has also been blessed with three grandchildren.
Attention Students: Fellowship Program Applications
House Taking
The Pennsylvania House Fellowship Program is accepting applications for its Summer 2022 session. The 13-week program remains based at Pennsylvania’s Capitol Building in Harrisburg where fellows are placed in committee chair and House leadership offices. Qualified applicants must be: • Undergraduate juniors and seniors, graduate students or law school students. • Enrolled in a Pennsylvania college/ university or a Pennsylvania resident enrolled in an out-of-state institution. • Students of any major with a GPA of 3.0 or higher. For more information or to apply, visit www.pahousefellowship.us. Applications can be submitted via email to pahousefellowship@ pabmc.net. The deadline to apply is March 1.
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