APRIL 2020
Since 1998
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CONNECT APRIL 2020
FEATURES 6 MAXIMIZING FAMILY TIME Now as much as ever, close family ties can make a significant impact on young lives. Constantly emerging technology sometimes limits personal interaction, while many school-age children experience unprecedented stress levels.
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NOW’S THE TIME TO TEACH AT-HOME NUTRITION With a lot of parents facing the challenge of keeping housebound kids happy and healthy, this is the perfect time to teach kids the basics of nutrition and eating right.
TO FILE IN FASHION 10 HOW Since most homes now have a computer, and the majority of bills, magazines and personal documents are available online, many have wondered if a day will come when we live in a “paperless world.”
COLUMNS 5
WORDS FROM THE TEAM
18 POCONO SECRETS
12 DISASTER BLASTER
20 OUTDOOR RAMBLINGS
14 MRS. DOGOOD
22 PETS
16 CRITICAL RELIEF EFFORTS
24 BOOK REVIEW
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CONNECTIONS Magazine
president • publisher • editor in chief deborah bailey production manager meica drake account representatives barry weiss editorial correction services kay marks contributing writers terry mooney, Reflections of a Prison Inmate arthur middleton, MD, FAPA, Behavioral Medicine michael krupa, Finance josh sheard, Finance terri schlichenmeyer, Book Review la guzda, Pocono Secrets arnie milidantri, Classic Cars bill deaton, Outdoor Ramblings pike/wayne conservation partnership, Living Green disaster blaster, Home Tips mrs. dogood, Letters
CONNECTIONS Magazine 3305 Lake Ariel Highway Honesdale, PA 18431 570.647.0085 • Fax 570.647.0086 cmag@ptd.net • thinkconnections@yahoo.com www.connections-magazine.com Connections Magazine is not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All advertising, including photographs, is the property of Connections Magazine and not that of the advertiser. The advertiser has purchased the right of reproduction only in Connections Magazine and does not have the right to reproduce the ads in any other place or publication. Connections Magazine reserves its rights to exercise its discretion in the selection of advertisements.
WHAT A DILEMMA To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk rejection. To place your visions before the crowd is to risk ridicule. To love is to risk not being loved in return. **To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. We may avoid suffering and sorrow, but we cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or know GOD. Chained by our own self-assurances, we are a slave. We have forfeited our freedom. Only the person who dares to take risks and to trust in their GOD will ever be made FREE.
© COPYRIGHT 2017 CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE
In 1997, Rev. Edwin E. Bailey, father of the editor, gave this poem to his daughter 8 days before he had a stroke and 3 weeks before he died. The poem was adapted from works by Leo Buscaglia. Edwin hand wrote this on a scrap of paper and gave it to his daughter, Deborah, saying the words, “Someday you’ll understand these words and use them. God bless sweetheart.” **These words were used in making the decision to purchase Connections Magazine in 2002. CONNECTIONS COPYRIGHTED 2007
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WORDS FROM THE TEAM
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Keep the faith, hold on. Things will get better. It might be stormy now, but it can’t rain forever.
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W
ow! We certainly never thought we’d be going through such unprecedented times when we were planning our April issue! While we all try to navigate through this uncertainty, we here at CM wanted to bring you a little bit of normalcy by giving you something you can sit down, relax and read this month. We’ve got some great articles for you while you're home and spending more time as a family! Take this time to really enjoy each other and the beautiful outdoors the area has to offer! Also, as our communities are built on small businesses, we ask you to try and do what you can to help them during this time... get some takeout from a local restaurant, pick up your groceries curbside at one of the family-owned stores, or grab a gift certificate for future use or to give as a gift. And if you can, do something nice for an essential worker! They are invaluable, and we thank and salute them. Stay safe and healthy! The CM Team 570.647.0085 cmag@ptd.net
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FAMILY TIME
Now as much as ever, close family ties can make a significant impact on young lives. Constantly emerging technology sometimes limits personal interaction, while many school-age children experience unprecedented stress levels. Building strong connections with trusted adults can give kids a sense of security and a better foundation for achieving their potential. Make spending time together a priority with these engaging activity ideas that allow the whole family to get in on the fun.
Plan a Movie or Game Night Kids thrive on routines and clear expectations, so a regular special event like a movie or game night can give them something to anticipate each week. Watching TV at home may not be a novelty, but you can make it an occasion to celebrate by adding special touches like dimming the lights to mimic a theater, pulling out cozy blankets and preparing popcorn or other treats. If you opt for game night instead, keep the enthusiasm strong week after week by creating longrange tournaments or allowing kids to rotate game selection privileges.
Read Together Sharing books together not only creates an opportunity for bonding, it’s a way to give your child an academic boost outside the classroom. Studies show that daily reading promotes literacy, helps kids build their vocabulary and improves overall academic achievement. Also, the benefits don’t end with elementary-age children. Parents can connect with older kids through books that carry important lessons about life and relationships. Reading books individually then coming together to discuss them, similar to a book club, can provide the chance for thoughtful talks about difficult topics. For example, “Regretting You,” from bestselling author Colleen Hoover, explores a tumultuous relationship between a mother and her daughter who
must turn to one another when a tragedy shatters their lives. Find more information on the novel at www.amazon.com/ Regretting-You-Colleen-Hoover/dp/ 1542016428
Cook Meals Together Eating together is a goal for many families, but preparing meals together takes those benefits even further. Engaging kids in meal preparation creates a sense of cooperation and instills pride for a successful project. It’s also a chance to share family traditions and pass on recipes that have traveled through generations.
Enjoy a Craft Day Kids need the chance to let their imaginations soar, and arts and crafts projects can provide the perfect outlet for creative expression. An art session may be as simple as enlisting everyone’s help to make decorations for an upcoming event. Another thoughtful way to channel all that creative energy: have little artists make cards to deliver to a local senior or retirement community.
Take a Trip Discovering new places is an exciting way to create shared memories. A trip need not be costly or even far from home. Even a day trip to explore a new community nearby can provide a natural setting for the whole family to connect and form lifelong memories. No matter what activity you choose, investing in time together strengthens relationships so kids can flourish with the confidence of a support system behind them.
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Family Features Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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AT-HOME NUTRITION With a lot of parents facing the challenge of keeping housebound kids happy and healthy, this is the perfect time to teach kids the basics of nutrition and eating right.
ple, try this fun, fruity recipe for “Kids” with Almond Toast, www.dole.com/ recipes/d/Dole-Kids-with-Almond-Toast.
Food Groups Focus – Get kids involved in making dinner by setting a rule that each food group must be represented. Give them a warmup activity by asking which food groups are found in family favorites like chicken soup, lasagna or meatloaf. Asking kids to Consider these simple suggestions from guess which ingredients are used in these Melanie Marcus, MA, RD, health and nutridishes and identifying which food group each tion communications manager for Dole Food ingredient belongs to can Company. help them understand dietary balance. Find Healthy Snack Time more at-home tips in Taste Tests – Somethe free, downloadable times it feels like kids Healthy Eating Toolkit can snack all day long from the nonprofit on easy-to-grab crackTotal time: 10 minutes organization Action for ers, chips or cookies. Servings: 4 Healthy Kids, Next time they reach www.actioninto the snack pantry, 4 slices whole-grain bread forhealthykids.org/ try incorporating a taste 6 tablespoons unsalted almond butter nutrition-toolkit/. test or food critic activi2 teaspoons honey (optional) ty to encourage some1 Dole Banana, peeled Reading Time – From thing different and 2 Dole Strawberries, trimmed and halved food labels to chilmore nutritious. 4 chunks (1 1/2 inches) fresh dren’s books to cookDole Tropical Gold Pineapple books, there are plenty 2 Dole Blackberries Purposeful Playtime – 2 teaspoons toasted flaxseed (optional) of reading materials to Many households have choose from that reina play kitchen or some Toast bread slices. Spread with almond force healthy eating kind of play food. Use butter and drizzle with honey, if desired. habits. Exposing chilthis as an opportunity dren to fruits and vegto act out how to create To make “kids”: Cut eight slices and 32 etables outside the a healthy kitchen with matchsticks from banana. Arrange one kitchen is a subtle way activities like making strawberry half and one pineapple chunk to show that nutritious salad, setting the table, on two slices toast; arrange remaining ingredients are part of peeling bananas and strawberry halves and blackberries on everyday life. washing dishes. This remaining slices. Place one banana slice can help young chil“head” at top of each piece of fruit and Explain the Bathroom dren become more arrange four banana matchsticks around Routine – Make sure to independent, learn each “kid” for arms and legs. Sprinkle wash hands and what to expect and flaxseed along bottom edges of toast explain that this is a grow into little helpers under kids’ feet, if desired. way of washing away at family mealtime. germs to stay healthy. Also explain why brushing teeth is important Sensory Activity – One idea that can work for by reminding children that food can get stuck school and at home is making a sensory box. in teeth and cause cavities. Simply place a fruit or two inside a tissue box and have children put their hands inside then try to guess which fruit it is by feeling it.
“Kids” with Almond Toast
Recipes for Fun – If you’re preparing a meal, it could be a good time to teach children of reading age how to review a recipe. Evaluating ingredients to learn how food transforms from raw to cooked or how a dish is created can help kids learn kitchen skills. For exam-
Find more kid-friendly recipe ideas at www.dole.com plus nutritional tips, free printables and other healthy fun on www.facebook.com/Dole, www.pinterest.com/ DolePins/, twitter.com/DoleTweets, or www.instagram.com/dolepics/ Article courtesy of Family Features Photo courtesy of Getty Images
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GET ORGANIZED
S
ince most homes now have a computer, and the majority of bills, magazines and personal documents are available online, many have wondered if a day will come when we live in a “paperless world.” If the piles scattered about your dining room table, hall closet or kitchen counter are any indication, we’ve got a long way to go. Experts say that even though people claim the mess of bills, coupons and unopened mail is “organized chaos,” it’s still chaos; and it’s doing more harm than good. A cluttered environment cuts productivity and greatly increases stress at the office and at home. “Being organized saves time, money and piece of mind,” says professional organizer Erin J. Kelly, founder of Arranged By Erin, a Chicago-based home-and-office organization firm. “These days, we’re pulled in so many directions – home, work, church, civic duties – there’s an extreme need to simplify a person’s process so he or she can be more effective every day,” says Kelly. Sue Monson is the office manager of a charter aviation company in Van Nuys, Calif., and says that the whirlwind of activity in her life shows most in her dining room. “That’s the place where mail or anything else brought into the house goes: on the dining room table. My husband never puts anything away, so it’s up to me.” It’s those piles of mail that need to go first. Kelly says that working with clients on paper management is a huge part of her job. “I don’t know if you can go 100-percent paperless, but you can definitely get to about 80 or 90 percent,” she says. For magazines, invest in stylish file folders for those you collect, and make sure to dispose of all others month-to-month. Kelly says investing in a scanner is the best way to begin such a process. All those old bills, business cards, receipts and even greeting cards can be scanned into your computer and stored on a disc, mobile device or online database. “Everyone has a different ‘tech level,’” says Kelly. “When I work with a client, we figure out how comfortable they are with
various technology and go from there.” If you are comfortable with scanning documents, you can reduce the amount of paper in your home drastically as long as you save those files and label them with names you understand, and keep them in a sensible, easily located place, of course. Kelly notes that even if a person isn’t ready to scan documents and e-mail files, they can still un-clutter that entryway end table if they’re willing to let go. She says people simply hold onto paper they don’t need. “Credit card receipts really can go after you pay your bill each month. Bank statements and utilities bills, too: These companies back up everything online now, and you can check that at any time.” Kelly also suggests creating a “pending” file box for information you don’t know what to do with yet, or for documents that need to be verified, like a corrected credit card bill, or various applications and contracts. New designs, including paisley, stripes and floral prints, have removed the eyesore label from filing boxes, and help homeowners get more excited about organizing. Sue Monson says that she’d love to hire a professional organizer someday to help her with her home paper problems. She insists that she wouldn’t need help with her office since “it’s pretty neat already, probably because my husband has nothing to do with it!” © CTW Features
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TIPS FOR YOUR HOME
How to keep your home dry through spring
Showers! Provided by Disaster Blaster
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With the amount of rain we can get in the spring, it’s no wonder that the systems in place to manage rain water can sometimes be overwhelmed. We just hope that water won’t make it into our homes.
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}
What can you do though if the rain outside is starting to come in your home? Groundwater entering through the foundation As the ground soaks up all of that rain, it’s going to start looking for places to go – and unfortunately that means it may come into your basement! Foundation walls can actually hold a great deal of moisture, which will slowly increase the humidity in your basement area. For that reason, we strongly recommend monitoring humidity levels in your basement and setting up a dehumidifier if this proves to be an issue in your home. Because if the humidity is high, mold will soon follow! For long term, or frequent water intrusion, you may need a more permanent solution. For wet basements, a basement waterproofing system may be necessary to prevent or divert groundwater that may want to come in through the foundation. A qualified basement waterproofing service will be able to design a system that will work for the unique needs of your home.
Driven rain coming in through windows or doors Sometimes driven rain can blow at the perfect angle that it’s able to come in through windows or doors, but this shouldn’t happen. If you find yourself in a situation where rain water is coming in through the jam or sash, it’s a clear indication of an issue that needs to be addressed. Be sure to clean up any rain water that makes it inside and attempt to diagnose where precisely the moisture is entering from. In all likelihood, replacing weatherstripping will solve the problem, but a replacement of the door or window may ultimately be necessary depending on what needs to be fixed. If you believe that moisture may have entered a wall, ceiling, or floor cavity, it is important to contact a professional mitigation and restoration firm as this hidden moisture could lead to mold issues in the future.
While it’s important to prevent further interior damage by cleaning up the water and drying surfaces properly, so long as the roof damage exists, water will continue coming in. We recommend taking a pair of binoculars and going outside to take a look at your roof. Look for any shingles that are missing, not laying flat, or don’t appear uniform. When looking at your roof, don’t limit your search to the area where you saw the leak inside, as moisture can travel along rafters and roof structures once it gets inside your home. The water mitigation firm assisting with the interior damage & drying should be able to refer a roofer that is able to thoroughly inspect the roof for damage and prepare a proposal to address the problem. They should also be able to assist in getting the roof tarped to prevent further moisture damage while waiting to proceed with these repairs. While we hope you’re able to keep dry inside this spring, this should help you address some common moisture issues this rainy season may bring! As always, should you have any additional questions, or have a need of assistance with a moisture issue, please give us a call, we’re happy to help! About Disaster Blaster Disaster Blaster is an indoor environmental firm serving the Northeastern PA Area. We have been providing our local area with unparalleled water damage mitigation, basement waterproofing, mold remediation, asbestos abatement, radon mitigation, and fire / smoke restoration services for decades, and are proud to have been named The World’s Greatest Indoor Environmental Firm. For more about Disaster Blaster, as well as more helpful tips, please visit our website at: www.disasterblaster.com or call our office at (570) 963-1123.
Roof leaks Ceiling and roof leaks are most commonly caused by damaged, lifted, or missing shingles. www.connections-magazine.com
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MRS. DOGOOD
THE WHOLE STORY By The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood Dear Editor, Sometimes I have to hear the story from two of my parishioners so that I can see the whole and true picture. The first parishioner who told me what happened was Margaret Thistle who is vice chair of the Sunday School Board and mother of three. She is one of the people who saw the horse with the luminous green eyes that I wrote about in one of my earlier letters. She saw this late one night as she drove on the Old State Road. My best friend Alice Bright Light also saw it so I know it’s true. But let’s move on. Margaret pulled me aside after one of the Sunday School Board meetings to tell me what happened. She told me that John Wradick called her and asked her out on a date. I was shocked. Margaret is a happily married homemaker and has been for 17 years. She is 42. John Wradick is a happy single man who recently had a book published. He is 29. “Why did he do that?,” I innocently asked. “Do you know John?” “As you know I was invited by his publisher to attend the dinner held at the River Creek Inn to celebrate the publication of his novel The Anguished. I think they invited me because I’m the chair of Library Board. I sat at his table.” “That’s all?” “I only know him from that dinner. And we also had a few emails choosing a date for his book signing at the library. But it was all very innocent.” “Did you flirt with him?” “Of course not. I’m very-happily married.” “And that’s all you did?” “Well I did bake and donate the buttercream cake for dessert at his dinner. The Inn lets me do that. You’ve had my beautiful celebration cakes there.” “And that’s it?” “Yes. Now our relationship is strained. I feel like I have to avoid him. And in our little village that’s not easy.” “How can I help? Do you want me to talk to him? He’s a member of my congregation.” “Yes. I need help.” The next day I was making organic tomato soup and I wondered how I could bring this up with John. Then it happened. The phone rang and John asked if he could see me. He said he
needed help. Was it fate or wishful thinking? In either case I invited him over to the parsonage the following day. “I did something stupid,” he said. He then went on to explain that he invited Margaret out on a date … for a drink. He wanted my help on how to fix his friendship with her. “Why did you do that? What made you think she would be interested?” “She sat at my table when we had the party for the launch of my book at the River Creek Inn. She was with her husband but I thought she was flirting with me.” “Why.” “She wore this off-the-shoulder-low-cutblack dress. She has a beautiful figure. And she kept looking at me.” “That’s it?” “No. It’s what she said. My publisher was there and we were talking about my new book that I am writing. She said, ‘Let’s keep in touch. I’ll keep my oven warm.’ Wow. I thought. If that isn’t a come-on I don’t know what is.” “Why is that a come-on?” “‘I’ll keep my oven warm.’ When a woman is pregnant she says that she has a bun in her oven. Her oven. You know. Her oven. And Margaret said she was keeping her oven warm for me. For me. Her oven.” “But don’t you know that she baked the cake for your party? She baked the buttercream cake that you ate at the Inn for the launch of your book. She had used her kitchen oven. And since you were talking of your new book, there would probably be another launch party. And she would bake that cake too. Margaret is veryhappily married.” “I should apologize.” “Yes you should.” Amen.
The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood Senior Pastor Executive Director President Chairman Choir Master (part-time) The First Church of God’s Love
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AREA RELIEF EFFORTS
Critical Relief Efforts Underway in the Poconos Wayne, Pike Develop Regional Opportunities for Helping Those in Need
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s the Pocono Mountains wages a battle against an invisible threat, its most vulnerable face a significant need in order to withstand the economic impact of the COVID19 crisis. There are several efforts underway to meet that need throughout Wayne and Pike counties including the following:
MILFORD COVID RELIEF FUND The Milford COVID Relief Fund (MCRF) has been created to aid nonprofit service providers and organizations struggling with the health and economic effects of the coronavirus. MCRF will provide support to nonprofits that are trying to meet the new and urgent needs that have affected Milford’s residents, business owners and those who work in Milford. The fund was launched by a group of Milford residents, including Milford borough leaders and community members. “The COVID-19 pandemic is having a profound effect on all our lives,” said Jenni Hamill, Executive Director of the Greater Pike Community Foundation. “We welcome efforts like the Milford COVID Relief Fund to help as they can.” Tax-deductible donations can be made payable to “GPCF-MCRF” and sent to: Greater Pike Community Foundation P.O. Box 992, Milford, PA 18337
PIKE COUNTY EMERGENCY SERVICES INITIATIVE FUND The Pike County Emergency Services Initiative Fund was established to provide funding to qualified Pike County emergency services agencies and other nonprofit emergency response organizations, including training programs. Since its founding in 2012, the Greater Pike
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Community Foundation has become an important philanthropic leader in Pike County.
GREATER PIKE COVID RELIEF FUND The Greater Pike COVID Relief Fund (GPCRF) will provide support to address immediate and long-term needs in our community resulting from the COVID-19 pandemic. The fund will provide aid for emergency relief programs and other community resources that will be more strained in the coming weeks and months. GPCRF has been established primarily to provide support to qualified relief efforts to those living and working in the greater Pike region that are being harmed by the COVID epidemic. Monies will be distributed to qualified nonprofits and eligible government entities. The fund is accepting grant applications from any variety of nonprofit organizations within the greater Pike area that demonstrate a COVID-related need or emergency within our community. For more information contact Maryanne Monte at mamonte1@hotmail.com. Contributions to the fund can be made online or via check payable to “GPCF-GPCRF” and sent to: Greater Pike Community Foundation P.O. Box 992, Milford, PA 18337
NEPA COVID-19 RESPONSE FUND The Wayne County Community Foundation is participating in the NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund which will rapidly deploy resources to community-based organizations at the front lines of the coronavirus outbreak in the Northeastern PA region. The NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund is a nonendowed, committee-advised field of interest fund which intends to provide flexible resources to organizations working with communities who
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are disproportionately impacted by COVID-19 and the related economic, social, and healthrelated consequences of the outbreak. “The Wayne County Community Foundation’s goal is to help support nonprofits in this time of crisis so they, in turn, can support our community members in need,” said Executive Director Ryanne Jennings. Nonprofits can also apply for a 4th quarter grant cycle at the WCCF due May 1st. The NEPA COVID-19 Response Fund is designed to augment and complement the work of public health officials and expand local capacity to address all aspects of the outbreak as efficiently as possible, particularly those that might be unable to be effectively addressed otherwise.
NEPA GIVES – JUNE 5, 2020 The Greater Pike Community Foundation and Wayne County Community Foundation have also teamed up with the Scranton Area Community Foundation and others to host NEPA Gives, a 24hour giving marathon on June 5th. This is a oneday event that anyone can join from home, giving directly to the charity of one’s choice or even offering to match others’ donations to make a greater impact. “NEPA Gives could potentially have a seismic effect on struggling organizations trying to sur-
vive this year, but they have to register! Signing up is easy and can be done remotely from any computer,” said Greater Pike Executive Director Jenni Hamill. “Once complete, nonprofits can get to work on spreading the word about this event and encouraging supporters to participate.” How can my nonprofit organization participate in NEPA Gives? 1. Signuptoparticipateandsubmita$20registrationfee.Signupby visiting: http://bit.ly/2SBdNQe 2. Nonprofits will be able to begin building their NEPA Gives fundraising page beginning on March 31, 2020. Registration will be accepted until May 22, 2020. Please note: The $20 registration fee for nonprofits will go directly to support the efforts to make NEPA Gives possible.
Greater Pike Community Foundation and Wayne County Community Foundation hope to make this the most successful giving event ever! You can help stretch your dollars more if you’re willing to become a matching donor sponsor. Sponsors can receive advertising on the platform the day of the event. Details about becoming a matching sponsor will be available soon. NEPA Gives is Friday, June 5th 12:00 a.m. 11:59:59 p.m.
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Community Project
By LA Guzda
A Collaborative, Creative, Community Project
A
s a community, often our ideas align. But, just as often, we can differ greatly. Yet, we manage to find a cohesive voice that enables us to grow and prosper. We plan, we build, we live, and we play. We laugh and we cry. We celebrate births and share our sorrow in death. We fall in and out of love. We compete and we support. We dance and sometimes we sit quietly. This is life. This is life around the world. But, to all of us, we have a special connection through our community. What happens here affects all of us. Our personal stories are created here. Community is the backdrop for our life nar-
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rative. Is your story a legend, a fairytale, a comedy or a drama? What picture does it paint? COMMUNITY TAPESTRY is a project to creatively express our feelings about Community and ourselves. Each of us serves as a thread to the fabric that exists as the whole. What does Home mean to you? How are you connected and how do you contribute to Community? What should people know about you?
How to participate: WRITE – Do you love to write? Submit your poetry, haiku, essay or monologue. Talk about what you love, what scares
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you, what makes you angry… (writing prompts available on FB – Community Tapestry NEPA) MUSIC – Visit our Facebook page and let some of the writings inspire an original piece of music. Write your own lyrics or partner with a friend(s). Do you play? Do you compose? Let music be your voice.
VOLUNTEER – We need volunteers to help bring this project to life. If you don’t want to create, find a way to participate. Contact us through FB or email: CanyonMoonArts@aol.com SPONSOR – There’s no funding for this project. It’s an idea that grew from conversation. Any financial support to help underwrite this project is most welcome.
CALL FOR ARTISTS! ART – We are collecting a series of panels for a collective art installation. Panels are 5.75 – 6.5 feet long, 2.5 – 3.5 feet wide and includes a 3” hem along the top. Panels are available at the Hawley Library, 103 Main Street, Hawley, PA. $10 requested donation for panels. Or, Artists may create their own panels. Panels are made of fabric. (You may attach or include other materials. These panels will hang outdoors for 10 days.) Maximum weight 5lbs. ALL PANELS MUST BE COMPLETED BY MAY 13, 2020 and delivered to The Hawley Library. PERFORM – Dancers are invited to express your creativity. Actors are invited to perform your monologues - Performances will be scheduled mid-May. Contact us through FB or email: CanyonMoonArts@aol.com
Art Installation Bingham Park, Hawley – May 21st through May 31st. NOTE: Due to the virus, dates may change. Please follow us on Facebook for updates as we brave these testing days. We will get through this. We will help each other. Hopefully, we will meet the best of ourselves in these challenging times. Email or message for a muslin panel until the library is reopen. This is a great project to participate in, especially if we are still living in isolation. Designs that are of a religious, sexually specific, negatively political, or racially denigrating nature will not be accepted. Use of corporate logos and trademarks is not permitted. Community Tapestry NEPA reserves the right to decline use of any submission deemed unsuitable. Stay connected or to learn more follow us FB @Community Tapestry NEPA Follow us on Instagram and Facebook @PoconoSecrets Visit www.LAGuzda.com or www.PoconoSecrets.com for past articles.
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Outdoor Ramblings
Taking a peek at
PEEC By Bill Deaton | williamjdeaton@yahoo.com
O
ne of the more often overlooked network of trails in Northeastern Pennsylvania are those located at the Pocono Environmental Education Center, also known as PEEC. Open year-round for hiking between 9am-5pm daily, PEEC offers just over ten miles of easy to moderately pitched pathways for excursionists to explore. Five trails all starting from the center’s parking lot await trekkers. Pick off one at a time over several visits if time and difficulty are an issue or do the whole circuit in one day. Either way, there’s plenty to discover.
• The 1.03 mile blue blazed Fossil Trail is of moderate difficulty and it takes about an hour to travel. There is ravine filled with local hardwoods and vernal pools, home to many amphibians. Along the way, at the namesake rock ledge hikers can see the fossil remains of pre-historic marine animals from the ancient sea that once covered this area. • The 3.6 mile yellow blazed Ridgeline Trail offers a moderate grade through an oak-hickory forest and shady hemlock filled ravines. It can be hilly in places. • At 1.5 miles long, the red blazed Scenic Gorge trail delivers an easy-to-moderate experience along Spackman’s Creek and runs concurrent with the Ridgline Trail at points. • The orange blazed Tumbling Waters trail is relatively moderate and traverses 3.01 miles of the center’s grounds taking visitors to overlooks and waterfalls. It also is coterminous with the Two Ponds Trail. • The 1.4 mile white blazed Two Ponds trail gives hikers an easy stroll along the shores and through an area largely populated with various conifers. • The purple blazed Trail for Everyone is flat and just 0.3 miles in length. Numerous benches and resting spots serve as good places to observe wildlife. An education partner with the National Park Service, PEEC has served the community for over 40 years and approximately 24,000 people visit PEEC annually. While the center offers many classes and programs, hiking tends to be one of the most popular activities. For more information visit www.peec.org. www.connections-magazine.com
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Pets
5 Tips to Reduce Your Pet’s
Environmental Pawprint
services as regulations can vary by community. While many places suggest the compost pile, others may not.
T
here’s plenty of advice on ways to reduce your environmental footprint, but you might be left wondering about the environmental pawprint made by your pet. According to a 2019 survey conducted by the American Pet Products Association, 67% of families across the country have at least one dog or cat, which is why it’s important to think about how your furry friends affect the planet. Consider these easy lifestyle changes you can make to help reduce their environmental impact.
Check those waste bags Use compostable baggies to pick up after your pet when you take walks. Plastic bags take years to break down, if at all. There are options made from plants and other materials that biodegrade quicker. When it comes to disposal, check with your local waste management
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Consider your kitty’s litter For the vast majority of cat families, kitty litter is an absolute must. Look for a litter that’s made from natural ingredients you can put in the compost bin. Not only is this better for the environment, but natural ingredients keep your cat from accidentally ingesting toxic chemicals.
Look at food packaging Pets go through a lot of food, and that means a lot of packaging. You can reduce waste with an option like Petcurean’s recyclable Tetra Pak cartons, which are made from 65% renewable materials for Now Fresh and GO! Solutions wet food recipes. Additionally, its Gather line
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of kibble in plant-based bags is made from 30% sugarcane, which reduces the use of petroleum-based materials. At home, consider ways to upcycle empty food bags to get more use out of the material, such as using them to collect garden and yard waste. You can also flatten bags into waterproof mats for your vehicle’s floorboards or make a waterproof barrier between your pet’s bed and the floor.
Prepare for water on the go While humans can easily drink water from a reusable bottle, most pets cannot. Instead of making a mess by attempting to give water with your hands, make things easy on yourself and the environment by keeping a stainless-steel water dish in your car. It’s a durable solution that keeps your pet from being exposed to chemicals in plastic or silicone.
Wesley Very friendly 1 year old male. Wesley loves attention and would do great with children of all ages as well as other cats.
Think about accessories Pets go through countless leashes, toys and dishes across their lifespans. Thinking about these items as investments and purchasing items that are more durable means they last longer and you’ll waste less. For gently used items you’re ready to discard, like outgrown leashes, consider whether they still have useful life and can be reused by a rescue group or shelter. Also, for toys in particular, it’s important to know what materials they contain. For example, some pet toys are made with plastic containing BPAs, which can be harmful and negatively impact the environment. Instead look for toys that are made from eco-friendly materials.
Princess Very sweet 4 year old pit bull mix. She can be a bit of an anxious girl so we ask for a home with no other animals or small children (Teens and up) please. She also loves to give kisses and play with stuff toys!
For more ideas to reduce your family’s environmental pawprint and care for your pet, visit www.petcurean.com/blog/ (Family Features)
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Available for adoption at Dessin Animal Shelter! Call 570-253-4037. | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE | 23
Book Review STICK A SEED IN THE GROUND, COVER IT AND KEEP IT WET, AND YOU KNOW WHAT HAPPENS.
That was a secret Mira accidentally learned one afternoon: Krysta's father had a hidden Amber well in a shed behind their house, which was not exactly legal. Even when In a few days, you might find something Amber rationing became stricter and stricter, green sprout from the dirt. In a matter of she knew she couldn't tell because it would weeks, you could be sniffing a flow er or mean getting Krysta's dad in trouble and the munching a vegetable. But first, you need to whole family would suffer. take care of the things you plant, even if – as But then she learned that a little boy near in the new book "The Wonder of Wildflowher house was suffering in a different way ers" by Anna and Mira had to make Staniszewski – a little a decision: the boy's water isn't going to be brother was in her enough. class and he was Mira was not like weird... but was that the other girls in her reason to withhold a class. life-saving liquid from Someday, she a preschooler? would be, but the Looking at the big paperwork wasn't picture, "The Wonder approved yet, though of Wildflowers" is a Mira's mom had filled great introduction to it out the second they futuristic novels for got to Amberland. As your middle-schooler. soon as their papers This book has everycame through, then thing: good characMira's family would ters, a great setting, get their allotment of even a substance that Amber, Mira would artificially enhances be like the popular humanity, to the congirls, and everything sternation of some would be fine. and the detriment of In the meantime, others. she just had to hang What it doesn't on and hope that have is a lot of quick Krysta never stopped clarity. being her best friend. It takes more than Without Krysta, who a dozen pages to make kept all the mean sense of what's going kids away and kept on in the story here, her from being teased and more than twenty too much, Mira didn't pages are needed to know what she'd do. totally grasp everyObviously, Krysta's thing completely. By Anna Staniszewski family had Amber – That's a slog for an Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer her father, after all, adult and it causes was the mayor of lots of let's-get-to-the-point mouth-twisting, Amberland, and he was responsible for but it might cause young readers to toss the ensuring that rationing was followed. Amber book aside – which would be too bad. was like magic, it could heal, it could Author Anna Staniszewski has a good story strengthen a body and prolong life but here, so if you bring this book home for your nobody knew what would happen if it ran 8-to-13-year-old, be sure to remind them that out. patience is needed for best results. Like any Even if it did, it wouldn't run out for Krysgood garden, grab "The Wonder of Wildflowta's family. ers," plant yourself, and see what grows.
“The Wonder of Wildflowers”
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