Connections Magazine - January 2015 Issue

WAYNE MEMORIAL:

Certified As Primary Stroke Center – P 8

POSTURE:

The Missing Link In The Beauty-Health Connection – P 9

IMPROVED HEARING:

Wayne Memorial Hearing Solutions Is On The Move – P 10

JANUARY 2015 – HAPPY NEW YEAR!

Since 1998

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'Healthy'

Eating

l 7th Annua Festival: s t h ig L r e t Win & 25 – P 4 4 2 y r a u n Ja ine – P 12 ic d e M l a r Behavio r – P 13 e z e e G y h Healt n – P 15 e e r G g in Liv rets – P 17 c e S o n o c Po er – P 18 Book Corn gs – P 20 amblin Outdoor R – P 22 s r a C ic s s Cla ts – P 25 n e v E a e r A

8 Surprising Facts For On-The-Go

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january ‘15

contents

departments Ask the Vet

24

Behavioral Medicine

12

Book Corner

18

Classics

22

Events Calendar

25

Film Review

19

Finance

16

Healthy Geezer

13

Living Green

15

Our Towns

connectionsmagazine JANUARY ’15

VOL. 17 NO. 1

features

4

Outdoor Ramblings

20

Pocono Secrets

17

Reflections of Prison

14

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‘HEALTHY’ EATING ON-THE-GO Before you hit the road on that holiday vacation or business trip with a mindset of maintaining a healthy diet regimen, beware! What you “think” you know about healthy food choices can hurt you. Eating healthfully can be extra challenging when you are out and about, whether traveling remotely, in transit from point A to point B, or dining out locally.

WAYNE MEMORIAL CERTIFIED AS PRIMARY STROKE CENTER Wayne Memorial Hospital is proud to announce it is now officially a certified Primary Stroke Center. Accreditation was awarded this month by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare and officially recognized by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health. The certification followed a rigorous multi-disciplinary review by DNV, a state-approved accrediting organization in Pennsylvania.

POSTURE – THE MISSING LINK...

To some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the things we consider beautiful usually share certain characteristics, with symmetry and vitality being chief among them, says CEO Bill Schultz.

IMPROVED HEARING IS ON THE MOVE The puzzle pieces are fitting together for people who experience hearing loss, and it’s easier for them to seek care with the help of a new initiative that is a dream realized for a local audiologist.

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ourtowns

roots & rhythm

connections

[YOUR] NEPA MAGAZINE

Honesdale Roots & Rhythm

Awarded NEA Grant I

t’s being described as “a great 10th anniversary present!” by the organizers of the Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival. The Festival was just awarded a $10,000 Challenge America Fast-Track grant from the National Endowment for the Arts’ Art Works program. It was their first time applying for the honor.

“To say I’m elated is an understatement,” said Jamie Stunkard, the Roots & Rhythm board member who submitted the grant. “It’s just a great honor for the Festival and the community.”

The Challenge America program is geared to offer support to small and mid-size organizations for projects that extend the reach of the arts to underserved populations, and according to Stunkard, Roots & Rhythm really met the criteria. “We’re rural, we’re wheelchair accessible, and we’re free, so that people of any income level can attend and enjoy.”

Festival Chairman Brian Fulp agreed—this grant was a natural fit.

“When we started Roots & Rhythm we wanted to combine music and arts and offer it to a community that may not have otherwise had the opportunity to experience it,” said Fulp, adding “I’m excited about the grant, but I’m also inspired by the community that embraced the opportunity we offered with Roots & Rhythm and helped us grow.”

Roots & Rhythm was one of 919 nonprofit organizations nationwide to receive a National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) Art Works grant this fall. NEA Chairman Jane Chu said, “I'm pleased to be able to share the news of our support through Art Works including the award to Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival. The arts foster value, connection, creativity and innovation for the American people and these recommended grants demonstrate those attributes and affirm that the arts are part of our everyday lives.”

The Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival draws more than 5,000 people each year from all across Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey.

The festival unfolds on a Saturday in June with local bands on Main Street in the morning and, in the afternoon, a solid lineup on the main stage in Central Park of four or five bands from around the country.

Stunkard hopes this award will open doors to more funding opportunities. “We had to provide a lot of material to support our application,” said Stunkard, “including three years of video clips of the musicians, musician biographies and several lengthy essays. We also had to show our funding structure for the past and going forward.”

While the NEA grant is sizeable, both Stunkard and Fulp say it’s just a portion of what’s needed to mount the Festival each year. Roots & Rhythm is possible largely because of local sponsors.

“Roots & Rhythm would not be possible without the support of our local benefactors,” explained Fulp. “This year, we plan to celebrate our 10-year history and our relationships with our sponsors. We want to make Roots & Rhythm bigger and better than ever, and we want them on board.”

The Honesdale Roots & Rhythm Music & Arts Festival in 2015 will take place on June 20, 2015 – rain or shine. Mark it on your calendars and check the website, www.HonesdaleRootsAndRhythm.com, often for updated information.

president • publisher • editor in chief deborah bailey production manager meica drake account representative barry weiss editorial correction services sandi scull assignment writers robin scandura allison mowatt contributing writers al hoff, Movie Review lucille norella, ArtScene barry & hillary anthony, In the Company of Books joseph tellish, PhD, Positive Behavior in Children fred cicetti, The Healthy Geezer charles curtin, Finance mark uricheck, Musically Speaking terry mooney, Reflections of a Prison Inmate arthur middleton, MD, FAPA, Behavioral Medicine michael krupa, Finance terri schlichenmeyer, Book Review la guzda, Pocono Secrets arnie milidantri, Classic Cars bill deaton, Outdoor Ramblings pike county conservation district, Living Green amy platko-williams, D.V.M, Ask the Vet mike jones, Gun Zone

connectionsmagazine 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. © COPYRIGHT 2006 CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE

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 risk and to trust in their GOD will ever be made FREE.

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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winter lights festival

winter fun

7th Annual Winter Lights Festival January 24 & 25, 2015

Experience New Events & More Skate Time To the Music of the Roaring 20’s

A

bove is Ann Street Park, the ice rink and backdrop for Milford’s Winter Lights Festival and the setting for last years’ FIRE & ICE: The Rise & Fall of the Norse Gods. This photo was the inspiration to attract more folks from the community and surrounding area to our winter wonderland. What follows are some of the events which will take place in one jammed packed weekend.

These major additions will take our guests on a postcard journey to the fun, rollicking, boisterous 1920’s as we take advantage of Ann Street Park’s winter setting surrounded by turn of the century houses with an early evening torch light skate session with music from the period.

When the Session ends at 8PM, the fun is just beginning. Over in the renovated Boro Hall, next to the Fire House will be our Olde Time Dessert Shoppe with local store made pastries, candies and ice cream specially created for this free event as we listen and dance to the music of Scott Joplin, Gershwin and decades of jazz greats featuring DVHS Tyler Williams and his “In Your Face Big Band”.

In addition, during this Gatsby-like weekend (1/23-25/15), participating restaurants will create a special 20’s drink, entrée and dessert.

WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL: Please Note Though the Festival covers one weekend, the joy of ice skating, children thru seniors, can be enjoyed daily from the time the rink is frozen until Mother Nature welcomes spring from 10:00 AM to 8:30 PM. Friday, January 23, 2015 6:30 PM: The Milford Historical Society, 608 Broad Street. The Columns will do a spaghetti dinner and a movie in a speakeasy atmosphere. They will show Bugsy Malone. A little gem that was made with kids playing the parts of gangsters. It will be family friendly. Tickets are $25. $15 for kids.

Saturday, January 24, 2015 11:00 AM–1:45 PM: The Festival leads off with our popular Mac & ‘N Cheese Contest at the Dimmick Inn, but bowing to popular demand we have also added a Chili Contest for restaurants and locals to try for a First, Second & Third place honors.

2:00 PM: The Festival will open as we did last year with a ZUMBA WARM UP followed by several original short works we call ICE POPs after the popular musical experience created by the Boston Pops to music based on our Festival’s 1920’s theme, with songs and music by Scott Joplin & George Gershwin and a performance by local skating champion Jordan Hartey. During a brief

Intermission the winners of our Mac ‘N Cheese and Chili Contest will be announced followed by Nina Simon’s “Sinner Man: RUN TO THE ROCK” integrating our skater/actors and unique puppetry elements.

3:00–5:30 PM: After a short break to clear the ice, the rink will officially be open.

6:30–8:00 PM: SKATING by TORCH LIGHT to the music & songs of the 1920’s.

Opening Torch Light Ceremony DINNER at Local Participating Restaurants including a ‘20’s Drink, Entreé & Dessert.

8:00–10:30 PM: Boro Hall/THE OLDE DESSERT SHOPPE w/music featuring DVHS Tyler Williams & “In Your Face Big Band” 100 YEARS OF JAZZ 1915-2015. Donations Requested.

Sunday, January 25, 2015 2:00–2:30 PM: ZUMBA WARM UP & ICE SHOW. 2:45–5:00 PM: Ice Rink Open.

3:00–4:00 PM: Boro Hall THE OLDE DESSERT SHOPPE. Tyler Williams & “In Your Face Big Band”. Donations Requested.

5:30–7:30 PM: SKATING BY TORCH LIGHT. DINNER at Local Participating Restaurants: w/a special ‘20’s Drink, Entrée & Dessert.

Winter Lights / Ann Street Park Events aimed to enliven Milford Attracting tourists in the cold sleep of winter taking you back to another time, another place, as candles glowed from soft turreted houses and sleigh bells bounced, announcing friends.

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wellness

healthy eating on-the-go

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healthy eating on-the-go

wellness

B

efore you hit the road on that holiday vacation or business trip with a mindset of maintaining a healthy diet regimen, beware! What you “think” you know about healthy food choices can hurt you. Eating healthfully can be extra challenging when you are out and about, whether traveling remotely, in transit from point A to point B, or dining out locally.

Cardiologist, chef, and martial artist, Dr. Mike Fenster, author of ‘The Fallacy of the Calorie,’ lists eight medically-based food facts to help you correct common dietary deceptions. This is information that will compel you to rethink your approach to healthy eating not only when you travel, but also when you’re preparing everyday fare at home: Diet salad dressings are equally, or more, detrimental.

Opting for a salad even with “light” dressing when dining out may not be the healthiest choice. Whether it is low calorie, low fat, or regular salad dressing, it’s often loaded with omega-six polyunsaturated plant oils—too much of which is associated with an increased risk of cardiovascular problems. In fact, consuming too much of these salad dressings can be even more harmful to your waistline and overall health than what you presume to be “less healthy” menu items you were trying to avoid with the best of intentions. When opting for salad, stick with just a little olive oil, vinegar, fresh lemon juice or nothing at all.

1.

Burgers beat deli meat.

Despite conventional thinking, the consumption of fresh red meat that isn’t over processed has not been associated with any increased risk of heart disease, cancer, or mortality.

Many restaurants today, outside of the fast food variety, offer freshly ground, quality burgers—some even use beef that’s organic, grass fed, and pasture raised. In contrast to fresh red meat, the consumption of highly processed meat and meat products like that typically used in deli sandwiches often presumed to be a healthier option over burgers- has proven to be associated with an increased risk of heart disease, cancer, and mortality. Piling on a few zombified vegetables that have marginal nutritional value won’t give the meal much more health merit.

2.

Diet drinks are tied to disease.

The common misconception that you can avoid or compensate for poor food choices with diet drinks is a double-edged exercise in futility. In fact, studies have shown women who

3.

drink more diet drinks are heavier and have an increased risk of diabetes and heart disease.

Under-salted food may be a diet disservice.

We season our food so it tastes good, and a properly seasoned meal leaves us more satisfied and less likely to binge and over-consume. What’s more, adding salt to fresh food only accounts for about 5% of the daily intake—well within bounds. But, “fresh” is the key word as over 75% of an average person’s daily sodium intake comes from eating highly processed and prepared foods. Seek out those restaurants that utilize fresh ingredients, from produce to proteins. In a worst case scenario, stop into a market and grab some fresh fruit, optimally organically grown, to tide you over.

4.

Low cholesterol advertising is a fat trap.

Most are surprised to learn the cholesterol consumed in one’s diet has little or nothing to do with your blood cholesterol levels. Foods and menu items promoted as “healthy” because they are “low in cholesterol” are often loaded with fat, sugar, or other additives that cause more harm than a three egg omelet ever could.

5.

Bars are bogus.

Energy bars, protein bars, granola bars, and other so-called healthy eating snacks are often marketed as an all-natural or otherwise nutritious choice. The fact is that many of these bars are highly processed and contain high levels of low-nutrient fillers and sweeteners like high fructose corn syrup (HFCS).

Diets high in added sugars, fructose in particular, has been associated with an increased risk of developing hypertension, obesity, cardiovascular disease, and other life-threatening medical conditions. Bars are also often loaded with artificial sweeteners such as aspartame that’s linked to a myriad of health ailments. The short term energy boost bars provide is often followed by a “crash” that can cause you to eat yet more unhealthy bars or other food to get revved back up.

6.

Bagels are the “other” white bread.

Many people are aware of the empty calories and the lack of any nutritional redemption in a slice of white bread. Commercial breads are the number one source of sodium in the average American diet. They also often contain significant amounts of refined sugar and fat in the form of detrimental omega-six polyunsaturated fatty acids. While many health-seekers do already avoid that slice of white bread for these many unappealing reasons, they may not know a seemingly benign plain bagel is equivalent to several slices of white bread…even before the addition of toppings or fillings.

7.

Counting calories is a fallacy.

A calorie is measured by turning food to ash and recording the amount of heat given off. The caloric content of a food or beverage item doesn’t have much to do with how we actually metabolize our food. Additionally, calories alone do not accurately reflect a food’s nutritional value. For example, a 100 calorie soft drink is not the nutritional equivalent of a 100 calorie apple. Healthful eating isn’t about focusing on the quantity of calories, but rather it is about the quality of the consumable.

8.

Whether you are at home or on-the-go, taking even these few considerations into account relative to the quality of the “healthy” food at hand can have a significantly positive impact on your diet and overall well-being. Indeed, the food and drink choices you make when traveling can put you on the road to good health or result in a figurative food fatality.

Dr. Mike Fenster, “America’s Culinary Interventionalist,” is a Board Certified Cardiologist, chef, and athlete whose cutting-edge medical expertise and insight, culinary talents, and dedication to fit living convene in his uniquely integrative Grassroots Gourmet™ approach to food-born health. His upcoming book, “The Fallacy of The Calorie: Why the Modern Western Diet is Killing Us and How to Stop It,” is currently available for pre-order at www.CardioChef.com.

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wellness

area stroke center

Wayne Memorial Certified As

Primary Stroke Center

Patrick Pugliese, MD, medical director of the Emergency Department and Michele Churney, RN, manager, hold the official certificate declaring Wayne Memorial Hospital a Primary Stroke Center.

They are standing in front of the hospital’s Tele-stroke equipment, which offers 24/7 interactive video conferencing with off-site neurologists.

W

ayne Memorial Hospital is proud to announce it is now officially a certified Primary Stroke Center. Accreditation was awarded this month by Det Norske Veritas (DNV) Healthcare and officially recognized by the Pennsylvania State Department of Health. The certification followed a rigorous multidisciplinary review by DNV, a state-approved accrediting organization in Pennsylvania.

“For patients and our community, this certification means that a suspected or actual stroke patient can be assured of excellent and expedient care close to home,” said James Pettinato, RN, director of Patient Care Services. “In the world of strokes, time is of the essence.

Every minute lost is brain tissue lost.”

To achieve certification, Wayne Memorial Hospital augmented elements already in place with the following actions: • Created an Acute Care Stroke Team, which can be activated within 15 minutes.

• Implemented Tele-stroke technology, which connects a patient with a board-certified neurologist via interactive video-conferencing in real time.

• Streamlined diagnostic procedures for stroke patients, including the ability to obtain and interpret a CT image of the brain within 45 minutes.

Wayne Memorial Hospital’s Emergency Department medical staff has always had the ability to administer the only FDA approved clot busting

drug, tissue plasminogen activator (tPA), when it is medically appropriate.

With Tele-stroke, the determination can be made much more quickly.

“We have had numerous meetings with local ambulance crews over the last several months,” said Pettinato, “to further integrate the care of a suspected stroke patient. With this certification, we anticipate improved patient outcomes. Patients will not have to go further afield for care and in most cases, we can provide the care they need immediately.”

“This certification is an accomplishment worth trumpeting,” added CEO David L. Hoff, “Our Emergency Department staff, Imaging Department, Laboratory Services, and Nursing all played a part in helping us reach this goal. Community Health and Public Relations also helped us educate the community about our stroke services and about stroke in general. The faster one receives care, the greater the possibilities for a positive outcome.”

The certification effort was led by Michele Churney, RN. The certification is valid for three years.

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beauty-health connection

wellness

Posture — the Missing Link in the Beauty-Health Connection

4 Ways It Affects Appearance & Functionality

T

o some extent, beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but the things we consider beautiful usually share certain characteristics, with symmetry and vitality being chief among them, says CEO Bill Schultz.

“The human body is an excellent example,” says Schultz, president of posture innovator, AlignMed, www.alignmed.com, and recent recipient of a special Congressional Recognition certificate for his contributions.

“The people we view as physically attractive are usually healthy and symmetrical in appearance. That’s not a coincidence; postural symmetry and good health go hand in hand.”

Good posture – holding the head, shoulders, and trunk in perfect alignment – creates balance, which allows our many physiological systems to function optimally, Schultz says. When we habitually sit, stand, or walk in a less than a fully aligned position, muscles stretch or contract to accommodate.

This can result in chronic imbalances that can lead to pain. Studies dating back to the 19th Century also suggest our posture affects mood, energy, and self-confidence, all of which affect how attractive we appear to others.

“You don’t see supermodels, A-list actors, or the rest of the ‘beautiful people’ slouched over as they strut down the runway or red carpet,” Schultz notes.

“Think about the importance of posture among the most challenging sports; for track runners, ballerinas and gymnasts, optimal posture is essential,” says Schultz, who explores four ways in which posture is part of the beauty-health connection.

1}

It’s not just sitting for hours on end that’s bad for you; it’s how one sits.

The dangers of sitting have garnered plenty of attention in recent years, especially since we have become a society of sitters. Sitting for long periods comes with many health risks, including obesity and cardiovascular disease. But sitting with less than perfect posture – most frequently, sitting with the head and shoulders in a forward position over a desk — can cause significant neck pain, which involves muscles and nerves from the neck down. Proper posture can prevent neck and spinal damage.

2}

More than 116 million Americans, or a third of the population, suffer from chronic pain at some point in their lives.

That’s according to a recent report from the Institute of Medicine. Chronic pain means that a sufferer has anywhere from 30 to 60 days of lasting pain, and this massive problem is estimated to cost Americans $635 billion dollars. For many, treatment and/or prevention is out of reach; however, a reliable and easy way to prevent chronic pain is to maintain good posture.

3}

A strong, well-functioning core is crucial for training and optimal health.

The bulk of a body’s mass is located at and around one’s core, including the trunk and pelvis region. Today’s fitness fanatics firmly grasp the importance of a healthy core.

Surprisingly, however, much of the health-conscious population today is muscle-centric and does not fully appreciate the importance of posture, even though proper posture facilitates core strengthening, especially while exercising.

4}

Using passive therapy to continuously improve posture.

To feel and look your best, it’s important to maintain good posture throughout the day, but that’s difficult, especially for sedentary people. Neurologists at Rush University Medical Center say passive therapy can be even more effective than active therapy. Posture-enhancing apparel such as MyLign by AlignMed, worn by professional athletes including NBA player, Dwight Howard, offer neurologic biofeedback that constantly remind the skeleton and muscles to self-correct.

AlignMed founder Shultz says the shirts are not compression shirts, which squeeze the body and are primarily worn for aesthetics. “The shirts map muscles in the same way as kinesio tape – used to reduce inflammation, relax muscles, and enhance performance – assists world-class athletes,” he says.

About Bill Schultz Bill Schultz is the president and founder of AlignMed, the evidence-based apparel company that offers the Align Posture range of products (Postureshirt, MyLign and S3) used by many of today’s top professional athletes, including Houston Rockets center, Dwight Howard. Schultz recently received a Certificate of Special Congressional Recognition for “outstanding and invaluable service” through AlignMed. The company is home of the breakthrough alignment/posture shirt that is designed to map the muscle of the wearer’s torso and posterior region, which gently yet continually aligns the body. The shirts can be worn 24/7 and are appropriate for all manner of physical activity – or inactivity, including sleeping.

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wellness

hearing on the move

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hearing on the move

The puzzle pieces are fitting together for people who experience hearing loss and it’s easier for them to seek care with the help of a new initiative that is a dream realized for a local audiologist.

Wayne Memorial Hospital’s Mobile Hearing Solutions bus hit the road this past July. The mobile unit is a fully equipped audiology clinic on wheels and is the brainchild of Dr. Robert Gwyn, AUD, of Wayne Memorial Hospital’s Audiology Department.

“With this unit, we can provide comprehensive care for people five years old to 105 through testing the hearing, administering diagnostic fittings, providing screenings, and educating the public on hearing loss prevention and management,” he said. “We are also able to screen the hearing of infants and very young children as well.”

There was a strong need for such a unit locally. A 2013 Community Health Needs Assessment for Wayne and Pike Counties identified improved audiology services as beneficial for the area. As a result, Wayne Memorial took action and developed this unique service.

The colorful 35-foot customized motor home features a sound treated room to assure testing accuracy and the finest hearing aid fitting equipment in the industry. “We didn’t sacrifice quality; we just improved accessibility,” said Dr. Gwyn. “We provide the same level of services we feature in our state of the art Main Street clinic.”

The unit serves residents who live in Wayne, Pike and Lackawanna Counties and is stationed primarily at Wayne Memorial Health System sites in Carbondale, Hamlin, and Lords Valley. This past summer and fall, the mobile unit has traveled to the Wayne County Fair, Ladore Lodge, facilities in the Hemlock Farms community, various senior centers, and health fairs. “Our goal is to settle into a more routine schedule in conjunction with our physician offices,” said Dr. Gwyn. “We believe that hearing health care begins with your primary care physician.”

The overall goal of the mobile audiology program is based on the acronym EPIC: Education, Prevention, Identification, and Correction. “There are a lot of misconceptions about hearing and hearing loss,” said Dr. Gwyn. “Patients have difficulty separating fact from fiction, and that is the reason education will play a large role in our mobile program.”

wellness

According to Jim Hockenbury, Director of Ancillary Services for Wayne Memorial Health System, the mobile unit offered educational and screening services at last year’s Wayne County Fair, screening approximately 300 people.

Dr. Gwyn sees a number of patients who’ve suffered from noise induced hearing loss. “We service patients who are still active on farms and in industry, patients that experience excessive noise on a regular basis.” Hearing loss caused by noise is preventable, and it’s important for people to realize the need for hearing protection. Through more access to hearing screenings and dissemination of patient information, Wayne Memorial Hearing Solutions hopes to make an impact.

Many patients who experience hearing loss have feelings of disconnect from family and friends. The logo design on the unit depicts various puzzle pieces. “It follows the theme of connectivity,” said Dr. Gwyn. “We want to connect patients to life again through sound.” Today’s technology enables patients to connect wirelessly to televisions, radios and telephones to improve hearing in difficult listening environments. According to Dr. Gwyn, the mobile unit will serve to connect patients to better hearing.

A mobile unit is something Dr. Gwyn was interested in thirty years ago. While attending college in Ithaca, New York, Dr. Gwyn was impressed with the mobile unit there. “This unit traveled all over the world in industrial and community settings. I was inspired by this and always hoped to implement a similar service.” Eventually, all the pieces fell into place. In 1986, Dr. Gwyn began the Wayne Memorial Hearing Solutions audiology department from the hospital’s third floor. Several moves later, he landed in the Main Street clinic where the program has existed for the past six years. Now with the Mobile Hearing Solutions, Dr. Gwyn can continue offering these services in multiple locations throughout three counties.

Tentative future plans for the mobile unit include providing industrial screenings at manufacturing sites and bringing the unit to local schools to offer educational programs and screenings.

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wellness

behavioral medicine

65...

When Old is Young Again

By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA

Grow old with me! The best is yet to be. ~Robert Browning

I

n recent years, considerable attention has been paid to “Baby Boomers,” focusing on the fact that they are now “Young-Old” adults, as defined by gerontologists. According to Wikipedia, Baby Boomers is a term that refers to individuals who were born between the years 1946 and 1964. They were frequently described as a special generation and, as described in Wikipedia, were the “wealthiest, most active, and most physically fit generation up to that time.” It is estimated that seventy-six million American children were born between the years 1946 and 1964. The “Boomers,” as they were often referred to, were associated with cultural change during the era of the Vietnam War and Civil Rights. In 2013, the Boomers reached retirement age (age 67) facing a new reality; they were older and had the prospective of living longer than their parents’ generation.

Gerontologists classify “old age” or “late adulthood” as the beginning of the next life cycle, which starts at the age of 65.

Previously, this was the age that was virtually synonymous with retirement, but this is no longer the case. Advertisements from a wide variety of sources abound extolling the virtues of growing old and the premise that being old is young again. Many Boomers did retire, but living longer and sometimes not having enough retirement money caused some to return to the work force. There are many television advertisements that focus on saving more to adapt to a new life expectancy.

According to the U.S. Bureau of Census, in 2012 the percentage of adults over the age of 65 was 13.7 percent of the population. It is estimated that this number will climb to 20 percent of the population by 2050.

Further, it is now estimated that individuals who reach the age of 65 have a statistical likelihood of living 18.8 years longer. This breaks down to 17.3 years for males and 20 years for females. It is also estimated that individuals who are over the age of 85, as a population, who were estimated to be a population of 5.5 million in 2010, will increase to 6.6 million in 2020.

Aging is a biological process at the cellular level, which ultimately results in the physical changes that are generally associated with getting older; graying of the hair, decrease in bone density, and the effects on senses such as vision and hearing. Aging is also associated with neurological changes, which can affect memory and the ability to learn and retain new information. CAT (Computerized Axial Tomography) allows clinicians to see if there is a change in the size of the brain. For some, aging of the brain can

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lead to dementia, which is actually not uncommon with respect to disability in individuals aged 56 and older.

According to a standard psychiatric text: Kaplan & Sadock’s Synopsis of Psychiatry by B.J. Sadock, M.D., V.A. Sadock, M.D. and P. Ruiz, M.D., the authors cite statistics that in this population approximately 5 percent have severe dementia and 15 percent have mild dementia.

With the understanding that we are living longer but cannot stop the eventual decline of our body systems, is there any reason to be optimistic about growing older? The following fictional clinical vignette is presented to highlight the experience of aging.

JT is a 68-year-old widow. She is a retired school teacher. While she worked as a teacher for over 40 years and has a pension, she is struggling to make ends meet financially. Despite the additional income from Social Security, she still deals with the stresses of her financial situation each month. Her husband died three years ago following a long battle with cancer. His illness depleted their savings as some medical bills were not covered entirely by insurance. JT has two adult sons who each live in a different state. While her children keep in touch, they have not visited her since the death of her husband.

At one point, JT worked part time after she retired at the age of 65. She was busy and had a full schedule, which included exercise, as she had always struggled with her weight. Weighing 250 pounds and five feet five inches in height, she had many discussions with her primary care doctor in regard to obesity. She did not like this term but recognized that she was overweight and could probably improve her [ www.connections-magazine.com ]

health if she lost weight. For a period of time, she did focus on her diet in addition to exercising with a fellow teacher who had also retired. However, over the course of the next several years, she lost interest in working part time and began to spend more time at home, alone. She did not exercise and did not pay attention to her diet. When she dropped out of sight completely, her neighbors grew concerned. One of her sons called her and after speaking to JT came to see her. Her son felt that his mother’s physical and emotional health had deteriorated.

She was subsequently seen by her primary care doctor who found her blood pressure to be so elevated that she was hospitalized. During the course of the hospitalization, she was seen in consultation by a psychiatrist who started her on an antidepressant.

She was prescribed Lexapro or escitalopram, which is a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor.

Celexa or citalopram and Zoloft or sertraline are other antidepressants in this class. After discharge from the hospital, JT met with her two sons who encouraged her to sell her home and move to a senior citizen residential community. JT did think about it but resisted and began seeing a therapist. With the benefits of therapy, she recognized that loneliness contributed to her depression. Therapy helped her to see that she had not recognized the impact of being independent and that she had to take control of her life again.

She decided to resume part-time work to improve her financial situation and to reconnect with people.

She also recognized the importance of having a companion and decided to adopt a dog. She did so after carefully considering the responsibility of having to care for a pet. She began to pay attention to her diet and increased her physical exercise by taking long walks with her dog. While the antidepressant helped initially, she wanted to see how she felt without it.

Her psychiatrist tapered and eventually discontinued it.

JT continues in therapy and feels that she is doing well. Her blood pressure has come under control, and with the loss of weight, her primary care doctor

c-reactive protein has been able to reduce her antihypertensive medication. She has been able to recognize the importance of controlling the direction of her life, and most importantly recognizes that at 68, she “really isn’t that old.” JT was happy to tell her sons that she has gone on a date with a man, also a widower that she met when she was walking her dog. “I feel young again,” she told her sons.

This fictional clinical vignette highlights several issues that are often experienced by adults as they age.

According to the US Census Bureau, National Center for Health Statistics and Bureau of labor statistics, 11.3 million or 29% of the population, live alone. This breaks down to 8.1 million women and 3.2 million men.

While living alone does not in itself cause depression, loneliness is an issue that is faced by a significant portion of the older population.

In a New York Times article by Judith Graham titled: The High Price of Loneliness (June 18, 2012), the author writes about a study that was conducted by Geriatricians at the University of California, San Francisco. The study focused on “meaningful connections” with others and concluded that there are physical and psychological consequences of loneliness that is experienced by some older adults. The article also describes the stress of loneliness and social isolation leading to changes in both immune and inflammatory processes.

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has focused on the State of Aging and Health in America 2013; identifying “2020 targets” which were viewed as key to aging well.

Proper leisure time and physical activity, eliminating obesity and smoking, taking medication for hypertension, and colorectal cancer screening have been identified as “Goals for Healthy People.” The report also identified mental distress that may be a function of loss or distress caused by limitations in daily activities as a result of medical illness; arthritis as an example. According to the CDC, older adults who do not experience mental distress are more likely to be nonsmokers, to eat at least five fruits or vegetables daily, and participate in moderate-to-vigorous physical activity during the average week. The report emphasizes that good physical health is key to well-being in a population that is living longer. The report also strives to alert health care providers that it is important to recognize that the treatment of older adults is not simply to treat disease. By focusing on the areas of concern, it is possible to improve the quality of life of older adults.

In another New York Times article: Life With A Dog: You Meet People, by Jane E. Brody (April 7, 2014), the author talks about being a widow and loneliness. The article cites studies

that indicated that having a dog is associated with improvement in cardiovascular health as well as longevity. The evidence is based on a study

by Erica Friedmann, which demonstrated that patients discharged from a coronary care unit were more likely to be alive one year after discharge if they owned a pet. Dog ownership has also been associated with a decrease in stress and in particular the stress of loneliness. The author describes the responsibilities of owning a dog and in particular the need to walk a dog.

This and other responsibilities actually led to more socialization. Considering the statistics from the U.S. Census Bureau (2010) that almost half of older women aged 75 and greater (47%) live alone, pet ownership is an important consideration.

In summary, growing old is not to be feared. Increasingly, it apparent that this is a phase of life that should be enjoyed. Advertisers have discovered that the baby boomers, now the 65+ generation, are not to be ignored.

No longer are commercials directed to only the young. We see commercials that extol the benefits of growing older, living longer, and staying healthier. The elimination of mental distress, which can be caused by living alone, as an example, can help to ensure the ability to live life to the fullest. Most importantly, while age is a factor with respect to physical and emotional health, it is not an obstacle to our ability to live and enjoy what a longer life has to offer.

The following references are provided for the informed consumer: The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): The State of Aging & Health in America 2013 http://www.cdc.gov/features/agingandhealth/stat e_of_aging_and_health_in_america_2013.pdf American Psychiatric Association: Seniors http://www.psychiatry.org/mental-health/people/seniors NIH – National Institute on Aging: Can We Prevent Aging? http://www.nia.nih.gov/health/publication/canwe-prevent-aging Dr. Middleton is a diplomate of the American Board of Psychiatry & Neurology, and a Life Fellow of the American Psychiatric Association. He received his undergraduate training at New York University and an MD degree from Rutgers Medical School. Dr. Middleton completed his psychiatric residency at St. Vincent’s Hospital & Medical Center, in NYC. He is on the honorary medical staff (retired) of Hackensack University Medical Center in NJ, where he is also Chairman Emeritus of the Department of Psychiatry & Behavioral Medicine. Dr. Middleton has been on the voluntary teaching faculty of Mount Sinai School of Medicine and Brown Medical School.

He is currently a Clinical Associate Professor in the Department of Psychiatry at Rutgers New Jersey Medical School. Dr. Middleton is retired as an Associate in the Department of Psychiatry in the Geisinger Health System formerly practicing at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania. Dr. Middleton lives in Dingmans Ferry, PA, and Manhattan, NY.

wellness

The Healthy

Gee z er

By Fred Cicetti

Q.

The report on the blood tests for my annual physical included “C-Reactive Protein, Cardiac.” What is this?

C

-reactive protein (CRP) is made by the liver.

Elevated CRP in your blood indicates that you have inflammation or a bacterial infection. CRP levels do not always change with a viral infection.

The CRP in a healthy person is usually less than 10 milligrams per liter (mg/L). Most infections and inflammations produce CRP levels more than 100 mg/L. CRP is a general test that may indicate a variety of ailments including rheumatoid arthritis, pneumonia, cancer, tuberculosis, appendicitis, bacterial meningitis, inflammatory bowel disease, and urinary tract infection.

The test is used to monitor patients. CRP tests don’t diagnose a specific disease; they warn that more testing may be required.

There is a high-sensitivity version of the CRP test (hs-CRP) that is used to assess the risk for heart problems. It measures CRP between 0.5 and 10 mg/L. The results of this test were what you saw on the report of your blood evaluation.

Most studies show that heartattack risk rises with hs-CRP levels.

If the level is lower than 1.0 mg/L, the risk is low. There’s an average risk for between 1.0 and 3.0 mg/L. A level higher than 3.0 mg/L, indicates a high risk.

Some studies have found that, if your hs-CRP level is in the upper third, your risk is twice that of someone whose level is in the lower third.

High levels of hs-CRP: predict new coro1} Consistently nary events in patients who’ve had a heart attack. linked to lower survival 2} Are rates of heart attack victims. increase the risk that an 3} May artery will reclose after it’s been opened by balloon angioplasty. to predict recurrent 4} Seem events in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

However, the connection between high CRP levels and heart attack risk is not completely understood.

There is evidence that suggests inflammation is involved in atherosclerosis—hardening of the arteries.

It’s possible that an infection might cause atherosclerosis.

There’s a theory that inflammation contributes to heart disease by working with cholesterol that is deposited in the plaques on bloodvessel walls. Inflammation may damage the plaques, allowing tiny portions to break off into the bloodstream. These small fragments can lodge in small blood vessels in the heart or brain, causing a heart attack or stroke.

The CRP test is ordered when inflammation is risky, such as after surgery. Because CRP levels drop when inflammation abates, the test is ordered to determine whether treatment of an inflammatory disease is working.

In addition, CRP tests are used to monitor the healing of wounds, organ transplants, and burns.

If you would like to ask a question, write to fred@healthygeezer.com.

All Rights Reserved © 2014 by Fred Cicetti

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13

reflections

from inside

“The Skating Guy” – Part I Reflections of a Prison Inmate

By Terry Mooney

T

he following story is told by an articulate, energetic inmate who has embraced the programs at the Pike County Correctional Facility as he has embraced the many adventures in his life, with enthusiasm.

My Story My family began in an upper class suburb of Philadelphia, you know, where we mingled with kids whose parents drove Rolls Royces. Blue collar and white collar did very well financially, many working in center city. We had what I see now as a very safe neighborhood.

People left their doors unlocked and their keys in their cars. Every household had the latest electronics and no one did without. Yet I could be in a ghetto neighborhood within minutes.

When I was around thirteen, the Catholic school I attended rented a roller rink three times a year, and the whole school went. Even the nuns skated. Picture Whoopi Goldberg on skates. It was like a dance, so the big moment was at the end when they turned the lights down, all wondering who was going to end up with whom. I was painfully shy, and I was not good on skates at all, but I did have a couple of guys I hung out with.

They appreciated my mechanical abilities, and I fixed their skates and bicycles. Guys would get rowdy while having a party and someone would rip their front door off. They’d call me to fix it. One time a big kid fell down the staircase of this high dollar antique home, knocking all of the spindles off on his way down. I reset and glued them back on, including all the splinters. I was a hero of sorts.

These guys would hit the skating floor, and everybody loved what they were able to do. I was determined to mimic everything they had, the girls, the popularity, the fancy skates, and the cool moves. I chased behind them around the rink, buying the cheapest skates I could afford and putting the coolest wheels on them. Little by little, I became as good as them, and to this day I’m known as “The Skating Guy.” What changed my outlook on people was when I became a “break skater,” which is break dancing on roller skates. Music then was changing into this Hip Hop that was just being born. Kids like me couldn’t live without it. What kids listen to now was just the beginning and we were all over it. We had one of the most powerful skate clubs in the area. Competition at the skating rink on Saturday was the thing to do. The more you could do on that floor, the cooler you were and the more you fit in. The best place to learn what we needed to know in this field was in the ghetto. It was rhythm.

My parents found out that I was hanging around interracial people and were livid. So, one of my biggest punishments was not being allowed to go to the skating rink, although it was the safest place to be. We didn’t drink, or do drugs. It was all about the music and the moves.

But in my family, anything we kids enjoyed was withheld as a form of punishment for the slightest infraction.

That’s how it started. I decided to get even with my mother for taking away my skating. Even though I was

a straight “A” student, she would always find ways to punish me. So I decided, instead of standing across the street in the morning at the bus stop watching the tough kids laugh and act out, I would join them. She already thought I was doing it anyway, so in the mind of a teenager, I thought I was getting even. It was aimed towards her. Six out of six kids in my family did exactly the same thing. Now I’ve traded the basically welladjusted, non-using ghetto kids for the rabble-rousing rich kids.

Miraculously, I graduated from high school. I lived for everything that felt good, listening to good music, skating, and someone to love me. So I was married at the age of eighteen and had our first child within a year, working in restaurants and the skating rink to support my family.

A hard worker, I did it all. I worked and I skated and managed to fit it all in. I thought I could budget this life.

But it didn’t take long for it to start falling apart.

This is where the bowling ball dropped. Nothing felt better to me than to feel wanted. Out of the many things that I experimented with to feel good, I’d found the winner. I supplied the party. Everywhere I brought the party with me. I became a DJ. It appeared from the outside my life looked great. I had the wife, the kids, the car, musical talent; I could jam skate. I could fix everything, your car, plumbing, electric.

I was the ultimate repair guy, as well as the party guy, a real crowd pleaser. To support this image, I had to drive, and driving impaired was part of the deal. Eventually, I ended up doing multiple stints in jail, ironically not for the DUI arrests, but for not paying the fines.

Eventually, I was incarcerated in a very urban jail where people hung out like they did as gangs in the street. They were tight and they were tough. Within the first week, myself and my cellie were sent to the laundry by the unit officer to get cleaning bleach. (Nobody drank it back then). Several hardcore inmates were the laundry room dudes. They were all over the place, and directed us to the back corner where there was a fifty-five gallon drum of bleach with a pump that you could fill the jugs with, which we did.

We turned around to leave and all these guys suddenly appeared in our path. They said point blank, “We’re gonna rape you.” There were five of them. The guy I was with was like a librarian. He was more likely to be beat up than anyone in the jail. I looked over and he was hiding under a barrel. I knew I was screwed.

Now I’m ready to defend myself to the death, gearing for the fight of my life, when my cellie blurts out “Satan, I rebuke you in the name of Jesus!” Everyone seemed to freeze at that moment. No one moved; no one even breathed. Then I heard one of the gang members say, “Ah, forget them, man. We don’t want no trouble with any Jesus!” As they all walked away, I heard some of them mumbling stuff like, “My grandmother would kill me if she knew I messed with Jesus!” We took our bleach and made a run for it.

(To be continued)

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subsection

section

OH NO...

NOT SN W! Winter Activities/Wellness

W

inter’s coming… okay, so winter is here. Anyway, I thought it would be fun to give you a few “fun facts” about snow. So, I googled “snow fun facts,” and you’ll never guess what popped up. Really, you’ll never guess. So here they are, the top ten “fun facts” about snow… or not.

The name porcupine means ‘one who rises up in anger.’

They are prickly creatures, each one with more than 30,000 needle-like quills on their back, sides and tail.

And the list went on. While I find porcupines very interesting, as did my curious Brittany Spaniel, Ace, (once… only once), it was not the bright white fluff of winter that I so earnestly sought. Really Google, what does this have to do with snow???

But, I did NOT give up. I continued my search and, voila!, fun facts about snowflakes and snow.

Did you know that Chionophobia is a fear of snow. I’m not a chionophobic, per se, but might be considered an auto-chionophobic, that being a scaredy-cat while driving in the snow.

It is common knowledge that all snowflakes have six sides, says one article. I have read articles, though, which state that there are occasional flakes of the three or eight sided variety, all started by a tiny particle of dirt floating around in the atmosphere, some growing as big as 15 inches across and 8 inches thick!.

Snow is actually colorless. What little sunlight is absorbed by snow is absorbed uniformly over the wavelengths of visible light thus giving snow its white appearance. All very scientific, but, sometimes it can make it look blue, too. Whatever. It is pretty to look at.

An average snowflake is made up of 180 billion molecules of water. That’s a bazillion quintillion of molecules.

Snow Ice Cream Recipes This is a classic recipe that works really well because the sweetened condensed milk is thick and helps hold quickly melting snow together.

1 gallon or big bowl of clean snow (if you like, you can put the bowl outdoors to collect it as it falls) 1 14-oz can of sweetened condensed milk 1 tsp vanilla extract

Mix the ingredients together and eat the snow ice cream. Yummy!

1 gallon or big bowl full of snow 1 cup sugar 1 tsp vanilla extract 1 cup cream or milk Again, just mix the ingredients together and enjoy.

And, did you know: Around 12% of the Earth’s land surface is covered in permanent snow and ice. That’s 80% of all fresh water on earth.

And, to keep the fluff from fading away, each year an average of 105 snow-producing storms affect the continental United States alone. A typical storm will have a snow-producing lifetime of two to five days and will bring snow to portions of several states.

Also, the average snowflake falls at a speed of 3.1 miles per hour. (5 kilometers) So, how many snowflakes fall in one square mile in one day. Beats me. They might know in Rochester,

–By Mariann Oswald

New York, which is touted as the snowiest large city in the U.S., averaging 94 inches of snow a year. I suppose this “fact” is based solely on averages, though, since the highest snowfall ever recorded in a one year period was 1224 inches in Mount Rainier, Washington, between 2/19/71 and 2/18/72.

(That’s 102 FEET!).

I wonder if that was considered a blizzard (not of the DQ variety). A blizzard occurs when you can’t see for 1/4 mile, the winds are always 35 miles an hour or more, and the storm lasts at least 3 hours. If any of these conditions are less, it is only a snowstorm.

Sorry kids. School is open.

Oh, and here’s a peculiar fact. People buy more cakes, cookies, and candies than any other food when a blizzard is in the forecast. I don’t remember any blizzards giving me a sweet tooth. I do, however, remember many a snowman building frenzy being followed by hot cocoa. Yummm.

The largest snowman on record was built in Bethel, Maine, in 2008. It was 122 feet 1 inch tall and weighed 13,000,000 pounds. The eyes were 5-foot wreaths. The biggest snowman I ever made with my kids was 8 feet tall and had elk antlers instead of a hat. We named him Garrett.

That’s it for fun facts about snowflakes and snow, except for one last thing. Did you know you can make ice cream from snow? Try one of the recipes listed on this page.

Now go, play, build a snow porcupine, and eat lots of snow ice cream. It’s going to be a long winter.

References: www.environmentalgraffiti.com, www.environmentteam.com, weather.thefuntimesguide.com chemistry.about.com/od/snowsnowflakes/a/snowicecream

Mariann Oswald has been the Director of Business Management at the Pocono Environmental Education Center since 2009.

She is a graduate of Fairleigh Dickinson University and Upsala College, a mother of 3, grandmother of 4, and truly believes “life is good.” moswald@peec.org, 570-828-2310 x224, www.peec.org

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15

money

risk tolerance

Risky

Business Charles Curtin, JD, LLM – Trust Officer, The Honesdale National Bank

I

n my more youthful days, I was a risk taker. I would drive a little too fast, jump from my deck into the snow bank below, scale fences just to see if I could. Typical juvenile male behavior. Today, I am older (perhaps wiser), and I rarely take risks; if I do they are rather banal, like choosing to wear my tan summer suit past Labor Day. Age and circumstance have altered my tolerance for risk. It has even affected my investment decisions. At this stage of my life, my portfolio requires a different set of risk parameters than say fifteen years ago when I was single and had a little bit more hair on the top of my head.

Any long time reader of this column will know the importance of having a diversified portfolio consisting of stock and fixed income investments. In fact, studies show that more than 93% of a portfolio return is determined by asset allocation – the proportion of various asset classes in a portfolio. This simply means that a properly diversified portfolio is the primary factor to generating solid investment return, not the individual stock or fixed

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income selection themFinancial services selves. For every highfirms have devised a flying stock like Tesla, number of different there is a JCPenney. If methods to calculate the portfolio is well such risk tolerance. rounded, it is expected They usually make Are you a risk taker? Yes or No. to grow during all sorts potential clients fill of market conditions. out a risk tolerance A coordinated questionnaire, which When do you expect to start diverse asset allocation consists of the queswithdrawing from your strategy for a portfolio tions in the green box strives to achieve a tarto the left in some form investment account? geted rate of return or another. taking into account the Your particular How would you react to a 30% level of risk the answers to these quesdecrease in the market? investor is comfortable tions should provide taking on. While not insight as to how risky Sell or Hold? necessarily true for all, you would like your general investment portfolio and the preList projected income sources principles provide that ferred asset allocation. as an investor ages his However, your other than this investment or her portfolio’s asset responses should not account (i.e., Social Security, allocation should shift be followed blindly.

Pensions, etc.) more conservative, You may need to dive focusing on generating deeper and really income as opposed to examine your personal What is your experience level in developing underlying circumstances to deterinvesting? value. It is normally mine your financial advised that when an goals. It may even be investor is younger best to consult a proWould you rather lower returns and saving for retirefessional who could and safety or higher returns with ment that he or she be offer his or her expertbigger risk of loss in value? aggressive with their ise and impartiality. A investments in order to financial expert may grow the portfolio. not be that hard to find Additionally, dialing down the risk as retirehere in Northeastern Pennsyl-vania because as ment approaches is considered wise because it has been said countless times in this column once retired, the portfolio will no longer have “local advice is often best.” consistent money contributed to it, and as a result, it will need to guard against potential The Honesdale National Bank and its employees do not render market volatility. Yet, there is no one correct legal, tax, or accounting advice. Accordingly, you and your attorneys and accountants are ultimately responsible for determining “asset allocation” for all, and one of the the legal, tax, and accounting consequences of any suggestions most important factors in determining offered herein. Furthermore, all decisions regarding financial, tax, and estate planning will ultimately rest with you and your legal, how a portfolio should be constructed is tax, and accounting advisors. Any description pertaining to federthe amount of risk the investor is cural taxation contained herein is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used by you or any other person, for the purpose of rently comfortable undertaking. avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Defining personal risk tolerance Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance with the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of relies on the individual’s investpractice before the Internal Revenue Service. ment goals and his or her personality.

Risk Tolerance Q’s to Ask Yourself:

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pocono secrets

did you know?

P

ristine natural beauty, outdoor adventure, quirky historical contributions, literary significance, mixed with some of the nicest people you’ll ever meet, are what makes the Pocono Mountains an exciting destination to visit and to live.

–By LA Guzda

Foodie FAVS

T

here are some truly great eateries on our area. (I have referenced several in past articles. I invite you to visit www.PoconoSecrets.com to peruse the archives.) So now that the holidays have passed, it’s important to support our local businesses. Here are some of my favorites…

The Fairview Lake Café, located on Route 390 just outside of Hawley, is cozy and boasts large portions that feature seasonal offerings. The choices are both basic and creative. I have loved every meal I have eaten here from Rack of Lamb to Salmon. The salads are big and make for a meal in itself. It is BYOB, but there is a nominal corkage fee of $2 per person. The service is very friendly and professional. They make you feel at home and are skilled in providing an exceptional eating experience.

My only negative comment is that it is difficult to get a table at the last minute on a weekend, usually in the summer.

If you haven’t been here, then you are missing something very special in your own backyard.

The Grotto at the Zaloom House in Milford is another excellent restaurant that allows you to BYOB. From tapas to roasted chicken to stuffed sea bass, The Grotto provides sumptuous meals with interesting combinations. They feature seasonal offerings, as well as vegetarian, vegan, and gluten free. Their freshly baked desserts are divine and that alone is worth a visit! The flourless chocolate torte is my favorite. This historic house is charming, and the service is warm and friendly.

Pinehurst Country Lodge in Greeley is not BYOB, but they have the best

French onion soup this side of the Seine! The rustic charm is inviting. The menu is versatile, and you will not be disappointed if you order the insane Blue Cheese burger that looks to defy physics in an attempt to bite into it. Servings are large and delicious. The specials are always a great choice. I love to go with friends so we can share several items. The service is friendly and extremely accommodating.

The Frogtown Inn, located on 390 in Canadensis, is one of the most charming inns of the Pocono Mountains. The specialty here is all things crab. The bisque is out of this world as are the crab cakes. But that doesn’t mean that the steak isn’t a tender, flavorful choice as well. You can enjoy the main dining room for special occasions or the coziness of the Pub for a more relaxed experience. Either one will provide a delicious dining experience.

If you are looking for eye-popping, over-the-top sized portions with good, simple food, then you need to eat at Laurel’s Hometown Café on Main Street in Honesdale. There are no frills, nothing fancy, just good food at reasonable prices, served with a smile.

Another of my favorites is Rowland Café. They serve one of the best pizzas in the area. Laura is back assuming the chef detail once again. Her soups are always a treat. Her salads are a meal.

And, the specials are always delicious and a great value. Rowland Café is also BYOB. So, with all the great outdoor winter activities – skiing, snowshoeing, ice skating, ice fishing, snowmobiling, and more, make sure you enjoy some good eating at one of the many great restaurants. Eat Local. Play Local. Support your friends and neighbors.

Visit www.PoconoSecrets.com for past articles. Do you have a Pocono Secret to share? Send an email to: PoconoSecrets@aol.com

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17

entertainment

book corner

In the Company of Books

100 Articles I

n times past they glued paper to paper, and rolled them up together into one roll (1). At this day the Bookbinder bindeth books whilst he wipeth (2), over papers steept in gum water, and then foldeth them together (3), beateth with a hammer (4), then stitcheth them up (5), presseth them in a press (6), which hath two screws (7), glueth them on the back, cutteth off the edges with a round knife (8), and at last covereth them with parchment or leather (9), then maketh them handsome and setteth on clasps (10)

“Firebird”

– The Book-Binder Orbis Sensualium Pitus 1810 The fine art of Bookbinding is fading quickly from sight in our hurried, high tech world.

Bookbinders’ associations report that the declined interest in bookbinding only adds to the already serious shortage of skilled fine hand bookbinders worldwide. In the United States, there are less than 350 fine hand bookbinders.

The reason for binding the pages of a book are, quite simply, to keep them together in their proper order and to protect them.

Bindings that fail to protect books may be seen anywhere books are found. Covers will be loose or off completely, leathers will be crumbling to dust. Nearly all librarians complain that they have to be continually repairing books and not after 100 years but merely 5 to 10 years. It is no exaggeration to say that 90% of books bound in leather during the last 30 years will need rebinding or some restoration during the next 30 years. One factor of decaying bindings, both old and new, is the bad conditions under which books are often kept.

The basic construction of a book is still made up of a series of folded papers called signatures contained between two outer boards whose outer surfaces are covered. Early bindings exhibit all the same construction elements that characterize bindings of today.

Many books become damaged through years of neglect or have deteriorated over time.

These books may be restored to achieve, as close to possible, the original look of the book. Whether the collection is of financial or sentimental value or both, it is recommended that you do not attempt your own repairs (this includes duct tape people) as this can cause further damage.

The craft of fine bookbinding dates back to the early monastic orders of the Middle Ages. Monks developed their binding skills to protect their painstaking hand produced manuscripts. Since then, bookbinding, simple yet infinitely complex, has not changed.

There are nearly 300 individual steps from start to finish, each one leads to the next. If an error is made anywhere along the process, a fine bookbinder will go back to step one and begin anew. It is this type of old-world bookbinding that continues today at Blue Dog Bindery by Barry L. Anthony, fine hand bookbinder.

Barry’s specialty is book restoration. His binding process is labor intensive and is hands on from start to finish. He restores books using the same hand methods that have been used for centuries. He believes that true restorations are not simply a repair but a reconstruction. He follows the important archival principles of strengthening the basic construction of the book and retaining as much as possible of the original material. His eye for detail and hand craftsmanship, while often taking considerable time and effort, produces restored books that give years of satisfaction and retain their sentimental as well as collectible value.

For more information: contact Barry at Blue Bog Bindery, Books & Prints at Pear Alley, 220 Broad Street, Milford, PA . Wednesday through Sunday, or by phone 570-296-4777. ~~ As a footnote, this article (edited for this edition) originally appeared in the Connections Magazine August 2006, it was our first article. We’ve come full circle with this, our 100th article. It has been a pleasure keeping you In the Company of Books.

Barry L. & Hillary J. Anthony • www.booksandbookbinding.com • Visit us on facebook!

Books & Prints at Pear Alley, Milford, PA • Blue Dog Bindery, Milford, PA

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By Misty Copeland Illustrated by Christopher Myers Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

Y

ou can’t. Doesn’t it make you mad to hear those words? Of course, you can – maybe just not now.

Someday, you can drive a car, for example. Years from today, you can vote for President. Not now, but later, you can live where you want, eat what you want, do what you want with no “can’t” at all.

But then there are times when you hear “you can’t” and it makes you sad. In the new book, “Firebird” by Misty Copeland, illustrated by Christopher Myers, a young girl learns to replace the word “can’t” with one that strengthens.

Once, there was a little girl who loved to watch ballet, but she knew she was nothing like the dancer on the stage. Yes, she loved to dance, but the ballerina was so much better, and the little girl was told that she’d never be like that.

The ballerina leaped and spun and bent. Her legs stretched like the New York skyline, which was something the girl couldn’t do.

“I could never hope to leap the space between,” she said, and that made her “heavy” and heartsick.

But then, the most amazing thing happened! The ballerina came to the girl to tell her a story of a dancing child who wanted to fly among the stars, a child who wanted to soar, but she saw “can’t” because there were few other dancers like her.

Still, the dancing child bent and dipped at the barre, and leaped like her heart told her to. She spread her wings, changed her slippers, and practiced arabesque. The ballet positions were like “stair steps to the sky,” and she never listened to can’t.

The ballerina promised the girl that, if she believed, there would come a day when she would be just like the dancing child. She would “become a swan… a firebird for sure.” She would be light and beautiful. Maybe she’d even dance on stage with the ballerina, jumping to the stars, and showing ballerinas not yet born that dreams come true and can’t can’t hold them on the ground.

I liked “Firebird” well enough the first time I ran through it.

With their bold colors and scrapbook-mosaic edges, I was especially pleased with the illustrations by Christopher Myers, but there was something about the narrative that I felt I’d missed…

The second time around, there it was: the font between the characters is different, as if there’s a conversation on each page.

Now that you know that, you’ll be able to easier understand how author Misty Copeland tells her story – and, once you read her afterword, you’ll see that it really is her story. Copeland explains how she was that self-conscious girl once, and how she wants “to expand the idea of beauty and art” with this book.

That’s surely accomplished, but my recommendation would be to read through this tale once before you read it aloud, just so you know how it’s set up. Do that, and “Firebird” will be a story your child can’t help but love.

movies

entertainment C O N S U L T I N G and CONSTRUCTION SERVICES Residential / Commercial Building Inspections Construction Management Renovation Planning & Building Design

30+ years design & construction experience.

THE BABADOOK

SANDI SCULL

570-253-5788

This new indie Australian film from Jennifer Kent offers a thoughtful creepiness and a story that openly suggests that plenty of what we call horror is just the awfulness of life that we won’t face. Daily life is a strain for single-mom Amelia (Essie Davis): She’s perpetually exhausted, frustrated, and even angered by her hyperactive son, Sam (Noah Wiseman). Sam is needy, disruptive, and prone to both flights of fancy and bouts of violence. Things go from bad to worse when Sam grows convinced that a monster known as “the babadook” is coming for them both.

But the dark heart of the story isn’t a winged monster who might or might not exist, but the destructive, co-dependent relationship between mother and son. Each loves, fears, and hates the other, and as the babadook (or the fear of it) imprisons them together in a gloomy old house, increasingly horrible things manifest.

Kent has a restrained hand in the director’s chair; this is a film with no silly jump-out scares and virtually no blood or gore. The pace is slower, and the vibe reminiscent of such classics as Rosemary’s Baby, where the line between monster and madness remains ambiguous.

Honesdale, PA

out of 4

THE OVERNIGHTERS North Dakota’s oil and gas fields have made the small prairie hamlet of Williston a modern-day boomtown.

But as thousands of workers — mostly men from the South and the West — pour in, hoping to snag high-paying manual-labor jobs, there’s nowhere to house them. Thus, Jay Reinke, a local pastor, institutes a program to put the “overnighters” up in the church, to the discomfort of neighbors and church members.

That sounds vaguely heartwarming, but Jesse Moss’ documentary instead casts light on deep cracks in the American Dream, as well as the disconnect between how we see ourselves and how we really are. Moss profiles a few of the workers — stories that begin in hardship, and are briefly buoyed by hope, before ending badly.

But the workers are a feint — the heart of The Overnighters is pastor Reinke. His story, gradually revealed as the battle against the town chips away at his cheery, calm exterior, is a shattering journey into the soul.

Most accounts of the energy industry focus on environmental costs or economic benefits, rather than its effect on a community.

The Overnighters uncovers nothing that didn’t exist before or was lying dormant, but it took the boom to bring such desperation, ugliness, and heartbreak to the surface. out of 4

All of these ran previously in the Pittsburgh City Paper.

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19

musically speaking outdoors

Some of the ski group examining the frozen falls.

The iconic Single Chair gives you 9-12 minutes of solitude on the ride to the top.

Skiing above the clouds at the top of Mad River Glen.

Tony Traglia of Wilkes-Barre underneath the ice flows.

Sam Verrill of Bethany makes his way down some MRG tree runs.

lifestyle

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It’s the last Tuesday in January. A dozen or so skiers from Pennsylvania are waiting for a lift ride to the top of a mountain in central Vermont. Its trails twist and turn through trees and remain mostly marked in moguls. One by one, they embark on an uphill voyage on a relic of yesteryear, the last single chair ski lift in the lower 48 states.

For some, it’s their first ride, others are veterans, but whichever is the case, in a few moments they’ll reach the top and ski Mad River Glen.

A decade ago, I was living in Vermont and was working in the ski industry. Through numerous sources, I had access to a lot of free and low-cost skiing, some of which were restricted but a lot were open to everyone, just not well advertised. Occasionally, my friends from Pennsylvania would come up and we’d make use of whatever deals we could. Such was the case in 2006 when two of my buddies came up and we took advantage of the “Roll Back the Clock Day” at Mad River Glen, a day when tickets are just $3.50.

The autumn following that first trip, I moved back to NEPA, but the lure of cheap skiing and the lore of that inaugural adventure (which also took us to Jay Peak and Okemo) prompted us to go back and bring others.

In addition to the deal at Mad River Glen, we picked up some vouchers for Killington and Mount Snow by attending the screening of the annual Warren Miller film at the Broome Co. Forum in Binghamton. We journeyed north, skied, and told more folks. This has perpetuated itself now for ten years. Our numbers have grown from three to over twenty, and through the years, we’ve tacked on days at twelve Vermont resorts plus others in Massachusetts and New York. Where else we ski is largely determined by what discounts we can find, but Mad River Glen is always on the agenda and remains the focus of the trip.

MRG is something of an anachronism. Amidst the ever-expanding, state-of-the-art, full-service, all-amenities included style of resorts that cater to every possible whim of the vacationing snow sports enthusiast, it stands as the last bastion of bare bones, no frills, takeit-as-it-is skiing in all of the Northeast. It, along with Alta and Deer Valley (both in Utah), remain as the only resorts in the US that do not allow snowboarding, and thus is both praised and resented for that fact.

Unique as well, it is owned by a Co-Op, not a private firm or a megalithic resort company, and it spends very little on marketing, letting its supporters do most of the advertising simply by plastering it’s iconic red and white “Mad River Glen: Ski It If You Can” bumper stickers on cars, trucks, road signs, or whatever. I’ve met many seasoned skiers through the years that have

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never heard of the place, and it doesn’t surprise me.

MRG’s only neighbor is Sugarbush, a moderate sized resort. Both are tucked away and more of a challenge to get to than other mountains. Both share some similarity in terrain, but that’s about it. Where Sugarbush is modern, makes snow, and grooms its trails, Mad River is throwback; it relies solely on Mother Nature for its snow and only grooms its easiest slopes. Just as it’s loved or hated for its snowboard policy, MRG is hailed or condemned for its trail conditions….and that’s what draws us back year after year.

We fully know that we could show up to 7” of fresh powder or encounter rock hard ice and patches of bare ground, but for $3.50 we’ll take a gamble. More often than not, things work our way. With an open woods policy and plenty of gladed terrain, undoubtedly most of us take to the trees for exploration as much as technical skiing. Slipping into a sketchy chute, we dodge spruce and birch trees through untracked snow and discover a frozen waterfall. Here we take a break and examine the cascade of ice before making out way back to a thin, winding trail that opens up to a steep bowl littered with moguls. After that, we breeze back to the bottom and jump in line for the Single Chair again.

Not everyone in our group has the desire to go crashing through the branches. Ages range from young adults to retirees, and ability levels go from novice to expert, but regardless, we all find something there we like. Depending on the route taken down, a skier can meander back and forth across the mountain several times and take upward of a half-an-hour to make their way down, witnessing spectacular scenery on the descent. No matter what, by 3 p.m., most of us are spent. We’ll head back to our hotel, get ready for dinner, and compare stories about the day before planning out what to tackle the next day. In a few days, we’ll be back on the Pocono slopes spinning out tales, and undoubtedly someone new will be telling us they want to go on the next trip. williamjdeaton@yahoo.com

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21

lifestyle

classics

1967

Ford

Mustang Convertible

By Arnie Milidantri

T

he peak for car shows and cruises for the Northeastern part of the United States is from May through October. After this time, car enthusiasts ready and store their cars for a long winter’s nap, as well as prepare to cope with various degrees of separation anxiety. There are always exceptions to the rule, like the guys who wear shorts in November in Northeast PA, so some car enthusiasts refuse to let the calendar dictate their enjoyment of cruising in their special ride. The January featured car is a beautiful Springtime Yellow 1967 Ford Mustang convertible owned by Dick Furst. The car is an 11,000 mile original numbers matching beauty, instantly recognizable by generations of car people. Wherever this Mustang cruises, it leaves a wake of smiles and is the catalyst of endless conversations that usually start with, “I remember!” Let’s sit back and once again take a moment to remember.

Background Introduced in direct competition with the VW and ever increasing Japanese import car niche, the Ford Motor Company introduced the Mustang model as a 1964 1/2 model. The car was conceived by Lee Iacocca, the then assistant General Manager and often called the Father of the Mustang. He led a talented design and engineering team, including Chief Engineer Don Frey, and designers Joe Oros, L. David Ash, Gale Halderman and John Foster, that completed the production design in just eighteen months. Its design was driven by a given set of five goals: it would seat four, have bucket seats and a floor mounted shifter, weigh less than 2,500 pounds, be no more than 180 inches in length, sell for less than $2,500.00, and have multiple power, comfort, and luxury options. The car was targeted to appeal to women, but needed to be desired by the male population as well. It was an instant marketing success for Ford, and they haven’t stopped yet!

The original development cost was greatly reduced since the original Mustang used chassis, suspension, and drive-train components derived from the Ford Falcon and Fairlane models. It used a unitized platform-type frame from the 1964 Falcon and welded boxsection side rails, including welded cross-members.

Although most of the mechanical parts were from the Falcon, the Mustang’s body was completely different, sporting a shorter wheelbase, wider track, lower seating position and, lower overall height. The “torque box,” an industry first, was an innovative structural system that greatly stiffened the Mustang’s construction and provided better handling. The car’s shipping weight, approximately 2,570 pounds with the straight six-cylinder engine, was also similar to the Falcon. The fully equipped V8 model weighed approximately 3,000 pounds.

After three great years (1964-1966) of market success, Ford, facing serious pressure from its competitors (Pontiac’s Firebird, Mercury’s Cougar, Plymouth’s Barracuda and Chevrolet’s Camaro), needed to make the Mustang more powerful and muscular. It responded with Mustang’s first major redesign in 1967. Although the wheelbase remained the same at 108 inches, the length of the vehicle was increased by two inches, resulting in 183.6 inches from front to back. The car also featured a front-suspension track that was widened by 2.5 inches. The increased body size allowed Ford to put their first big-block engine in a Mustang. This optional 390-cubic-inch 6.4L V-8 motor was capable of

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producing an impressive 320 hp. As such, Ford was clearly able to keep up with the big dogs on the road. In fact, according to reports, the 390 cid equipped Mustang could achieve 0-60 mph in 7.4 seconds with a top speed of 115 mph.

Additional features and changes introduced in the 1967 Ford Mustang were: Side body scoops painted to match the color of the car.

In the past, the Mustang’s side scoops were chrome plated in design. The new scoops more closely resembled real intakes than in previous model years.

The front end redesign made for a more muscular looking Mustang. Gone were the three gills that appeared next to the headlights on the 1965 and 1966 Mustang. The grille was also changed, made larger and now featuring vertical and horizontal bars that worked their way out from the galloping horse in all four directions.

The rear was redesigned to look bulkier and more performance-oriented. For the first time, the Mustang’s rear tail lights were larger and concave in design. In the past, the Mustang’s rear had been convex and basic. As for the 2+2 Mustang fastback model, its roofline now ran all the way to the rear trunk lid. A special ribbed rear panel with chrome bezels could be ordered by fastback owners seeking a customized look.

Additional options for the 1967 Mustang included a GT package that featured driving lamps, side stripes, and a dual exhaust. You could also order a hood with dual recesses as optional equipment.

The convertible Mustangs featured two glass panes, which made up the rear window. Gone was the plastic convertible window of the past.

1967 was the last year F-O-R-D block lettering appeared across the front edge of classic Mustangs. This feature would not return until 1974. It was also the last Mustang to feature the 289 Hi-Po Engine.

Of the approximately 472,000 1967 Mustangs manufactured, 45,000 were convertibles. The prices on average were $2,461.00 for a Standard Coupe, $2,692.00 for a Standard Fastback, and $2,898.00 for a Standard Convertible. Various engines were offered starting with a mild 200 cu in 120 hp six cylinder (Engine Code U) up to 390 cu in 320 hp V8 (Engine Code S).

Featured Car This month’s featured car is an original numbers matching 1967 Ford Mustang convertible with only 11,000 actual miles, purchased by Dick Furst in 2013.

Dick located the car on eBay, negotiated a deal, and has [ www.connections-magazine.com ]

been smiling ever since. He is the third owner of the Mustang and has been able to research and create a detailed pedigree, including a certified Elite Marti Report, for this outstanding original. The Mustang’s Springtime Yellow, black convertible top, and black bucket seat interior are the most preferred and rare color combination. The car sports the “original” hub caps and much appreciated updated radial tires. A full console with the floor mounted automatic shifter is fitted between the bucket seats.

The car’s factory power top and glass backlite give Dick quick access to the sun. Equipped with a mild 289 cu in V8 coupled to a C4 three speed automatic transmission, the car is both reliable and capable of spinning its tires.

The great thing about Dick’s Mustang is it’s not a “Trailer Queen.” You are just as likely to see it parked outside of Hamlin’s McDonald’s on any given sunny morning (a hangout for Dick and friends) as you are a local show or cruise. The car is an outstanding example of a great original survivor, with a great pedigree and a great future.

Owner The car’s owner, Dick Furst, is a retired Long Island New York Title Insurance businessman who has been a fulltime resident of Lake Ariel PA since 2000. The fact that Dick tracked down and purchased this beautiful 1967 Mustang was not a random act of someone buying an old car. According to Dick, owning the Mustang is somewhat of a family tradition. Just married and living on Long Island, New York, the first new car they purchased was a 1967 Mustang. It served as the family car faithfully for many years, occasionally surpassing station wagon capacities when as many as eight to nine neighborhood kids were picked up and dropped off at a wide variety of activities. After years of dedicated family service, the family Mustang was given to a neighbor’s daughter.

He rekindled his Mustang tradition when he purchased this original 1967 beauty. Richard’s son, Michael, is doing his part in keeping the family tradition alive as well, having just completed the restoration of a 1966 fastback Mustang. Dick has been active in a number of local car shows and cruises and collected his first two trophies during the 2014 season. He is quick with a smile, a supporter of local charity events, and eager to share his knowledge and love for Mustangs. If you happen to see a 1967 Springtime Yellow, black convertible top and black bucket seat interior Mustang at car shows with a guy wearing shorts sitting next to it smiling, stop and say hi to Dick, one of the car hobby’s characters!

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23

EMAIL US YOUR QUESTIONS FOR DR. PLATKO AT CMAG@PTD.NET

ASK THE VET:

lifestyle

pet column

FEAR IS HIGH, BUT RISK IS MINIMAL > The relative risk of exposure to the Ebola virus in the U.S. is extremely low, as there have been only a small number of isolated human cases and no known animal cases to date. > Although Ebola is a zoonotic disease, there has not been evidence of its transmission to humans from dogs. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Preven-tion (CDC), it is not even known if dogs are capable of contracting and then transmitting the disease. > Risk is highest for healthcare providers caring for Ebola patients and the family and friends in close contact with Ebola patients because they may come in contact with the blood or body fluids of sick patients. People also can become sick with Ebola after coming in contact with infected wildlife. CDC says, for example, in Africa, Ebola may spread as a result of handling bushmeat (wild animals hunted for food) and contact with infected bats. The virus also can be spread through contact with objects (like clothes, bedding, needles, syringes/sharps or medical equipment) that have been contaminated with the virus or with infected animals.

Brief history of Ebola virus: was first discovered in 1976 near the Ebola 1} Ebola River in what is now the Democratic Republic of the Congo. The CDC says since then, outbreaks of Ebola among humans have appeared sporadically in Africa. cases of human illness or death from Ebola have 2} All occurred in Africa (with the exception of several laboratory contamination cases in England and Russia) until the recent travel-associated case involving the now late Thomas Eric Duncan who exhibited symptoms after arriving in Dallas from Liberia. A healthcare worker who cared for Duncan in Dallas and a nurse’s aid in Spain who cared for two Ebola patients from West Africa have subsequently contracted the virus and are receiving treatment.

CDC protocol for rare cases of pet exposure to the Ebola virus: The CDC recommends that if a pet is in the home of an Ebola patient, veterinarians, in collaboration with public health officials, should evaluate the pet’s risk of exposure (close contact and exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient). Appropriate measures, such as closely monitoring the exposed pet while using necessary precautions, should be taken based on that evaluation.

Q&A: Ebola Risk with Pets Can dogs get infected or sick with Ebola?

At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or other animals. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola. There is limited evidence that dogs become infected with Ebola virus, but there is no evidence that they develop disease.

Here in the United States, are our dogs and cats at risk of becoming sick with Ebola?

The risk of an Ebola outbreak affecting multiple people in the United States is very low. Therefore, the risk to pets is also very low, as they would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a person with Ebola. Even in areas in Africa where Ebola is present, there have been no reports of dogs and cats becoming sick with Ebola.

Can I get Ebola from my dog or cat?

At this time, there have been no reports of dogs or cats becoming sick with Ebola or of being able to spread Ebola to people or animals. The chances of a dog or cat being

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exposed to Ebola virus in the United States is very low as the animal would have to come into contact with blood and body fluids of a symptomatic person sick with Ebola.

Can my pet’s body, fur, or paws spread Ebola to a person?

We do not yet know whether or not a pet’s body, paws, or fur can pick up and spread Ebola to people or other animals. It is important to keep people and animals away from blood or body fluids of a person with symptoms of Ebola infection.

What if there is a pet in the home of an Ebola patient?

CDC recommends that public health officials in collaboration with a veterinarian evaluate the pet’s risk of exposure to the virus (close contact or exposure to blood or body fluids of an Ebola patient).

Based on this evaluation as well as the specific situation, local and state human and animal health officials will determine how the pet should be handled.

Can I get my dog or cat tested for Ebola?

There would not be any reason to test a dog or cat for Ebola if there was no exposure to a person infected with Ebola. Currently, routine testing for Ebola is not available for pets.

What are the requirements for bringing pets or other animals into the United States from West Africa?

CDC regulations require that dogs and cats imported into the United States be healthy. Dogs must be vaccinated against rabies before arrival into the United States.

Monkeys and African rodents are not allowed to be imported as pets under any circumstances. Each state and U.S. Territory has its own rules for pet ownership and importation, and these rules may be different from federal regulations. Airlines may have additional requirements.

Can monkeys spread Ebola?

Yes, monkeys are at risk for Ebola. Symptoms of Ebola infection in monkeys include fever, decreased appetite, and sudden death. Monkeys should not be allowed to have contact with anyone who may have Ebola. Healthy monkeys already living in the United States and without exposure to a person infected with Ebola are not at risk for spreading Ebola.

Can bats spread Ebola?

Fruit bats in Africa are considered to be a natural reservoir for Ebola. Bats in North America are not known to carry Ebola, and so CDC considers the risk of an Ebola outbreak from bats occurring in the United States to be very low.

However, bats are known to carry rabies and other diseases here in the United States. To reduce the risk of disease transmission, never attempt to touch a bat, living or dead.

Where can I find more information about Ebola and pet dogs and cats?

CDC is currently working with the U.S. Department of Agriculture, the American Veterinary Medical Association, and many other partners to develop additional guidance for the U.S. pet population. Additional information and guidance will be posted at dvm360.com and avma.org as soon as it becomes available.

Sources: U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention American Veterinary Medical Association

–Amy Platko-Williams, D.V.M Dr. Platko is one of the four full time veterarians at Cherry Ridge Veterinary Clinic in Honesdale.

Send your questions to Dr. Platko, c/o Connections Magazine, 3305 Lake Ariel Highway, Honesdale, Pa. 18431 or e-mail them to cmag@ptd.net and type 'Ask the Vet' in the subject line.

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a+r+e Y O U

C O N N E C T E D

Ongoing Events DAILY

Public Art Displays Nature’s Grace, Dime Bank & Wayne Bank, Wayne Memorial Hospital, Harvey Insurance, Honesdale. & Pocono Lake Region Chamber of Commerce, Hawley. Wayne County Arts Alliance artists display their work monthly.

TUESDAYS

Bingo American Legion Post 311, Hawley.

Doors open 10:30 a.m., games begin at Noon. Info: truck48@ptd.net.

FRIDAYS

Live Music Friday 8–11 p.m. Glass — wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. No cover charge. Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

SATURDAYS

Winter Farmers Market 8 a.m.–Noon. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. Monroe Farmers Market offers preserved goods, jams & jellies, baked goods, maple syrup, farm fresh eggs & produce (while available).

Info: 570-595-2321.

SATURDAYS

FREE Tastings and Demos 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Info: info@MillMarketPA.com or 570-390-4440.

SATURDAYS

Glassworks Demonstration 11:30 a.m.–3 p.m. B. Madigan, Hawley.

See glass stretched & made into beautiful items, including watching the glass worked, learning how glass is made & what creates the colors.

Info: 570-561-3629.

SATURDAYS

Live Piano Music at The Settlers Inn 6–9:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn, Hawley.

Live music & farm-to-table cuisine, & an award-winning wine list.

Info: 570-226-2993 or www.thesettlersinn.com.

SATURDAYS

Live Music at Barley Creek 8–11 p.m. Barley Creek Brewing Company, Tannersville. The Pocono Mountains’ Original Brewpub. Great food & handcrafted beer brewed onsite. Free brewery tours daily at 12:30 p.m. No cover charge.

Info: 570-629-9399.

area events

get connected

ARTS, RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT

JANUARY ’15

THROUGH FEB. 8

64th Annual Pike County Arts and Crafts Exhibit The ARTery Gallery, Milford. Exhibiting the fine arts & crafts of more than 50 regional artist members of PCAC with many original handmade crafts for holiday shoppers: jewelry, pottery, textiles, wood craft, cards, prints & lots of original paintings & photography.

Reception, Dec. 13, 4–8 p.m.

Info: 570-409-1234 or www.arterygallerymilford.com.

January 1– January 9 JAN. 1

New Year’s Dinner Noon. Grace Episcopal Church Parish Hall, Honesdale. Delicious, traditional New Year’s dinner of pork, sauerkraut, potatoes, veggies & dessert. No charge; free-will offering gladly accepted.

Info: 570-253-2760.

JAN. 1–4

Creches From Around the World 9 a.m.–5 p.m. The Shawnee Inn and Golf Resort, Shawnee on Delaware.

Over 100 small or large tableaus of Mary, Joseph & others around the crib of Jesus in the stable at Bethlehem.

Free admission; donations may be made to Hands-On Disaster Relief.

Info: 800-742-9633 JAN. 1–4

Gingerbread Dining Skytop Lodge, Skytop. Become a gingerbread person & have dinner in a lifesized gingerbread house. Experience a private dining event like never before & make this Christmas one to never forget. Info & reservations: 570-595-8985.

brooches, rings, bracelets & earrings available. Open to public; no fee.

Handicapped-accessible.

Info: Joyce Simmons, 201-213-2146 or simmonsjo@yahoo.com.

JAN. 3

JAN. 7

JAN. 3

JAN. 9

Salute to Vienna 7:30–10 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Celebrate the New Year with an all-star cast of European singers, dancers & full orchestra featuring the Philly POPS. Features uplifting melodies from famous operettas, polkas & Strauss waltzes. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org or www.SalutetoVienna.com.

JAN. 3

The Dirk Quinn Band 8 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Urban funk & pyrotechnic guitar grooves. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

JAN. 3

The McCartney Years — From Europe 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. A note-for-note faithful recreation of a mid-1970s Paul McCartney concert. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

JAN. 3, 4, 9

Open Mic Night at Cocoon 7–9 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley. Sign-up begins 6:30 p.m.

Performers get 2 songs or 7 minutes. Or come to watch & listen. All welcome.

Free. Info: cocoonbarista@gmail.com or 570-226-6130.

JAN. 3

JAN. 4

Cross Country Skiing 9–11 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Learn the basics of cross country skiing & practice on an old logging road loop.

You decide how many loops to ski.

Skis, poles & boots provided. Register with shoe size to guarantee a spot. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 3

Vintage Costume Jewelry Show 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sparta Avenue Stage, Sparta, NJ. Vintage dazzling necklaces,

Tastes of Wayne County Fiesta On Main, Honesdale. Support the Wayne County Historical Society while enjoying a fabulous meal picked from a great menu. Info: 570-352-3700.

Ecozone Discovery Room!

1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Climb into a bald eagle’s nest, crawl into a bat cave & dig in a fossil pit. Explore the indoor discovery room & enjoy handson exhibits. No registration required.

Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

S.O.P.S. One Act Winners Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware. The five One Act Winners of the 2013 Shawnee Original Playwright Series (S.O.P.S.) are presented together at each performance. Variety of plays include comedy & drama with something for everyone. Some content is for mature audiences. Info: 570-421-5093 or www.TheShawneePlayhouse.com.

JAN. 2

JAN. 7

Christmas Bird Count 8 a.m. It’s the National Audubon Society’s 115th annual Count. If you’re a beginner, you’ll pair up with a more experienced birder. Free. Pre-registration required. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 4

Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

The Philadelphia Story Noon & 7 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Starring Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn & James Stewart.

Purchase tickets at www.dietrichtheater.com or the ticket booth.

Info: 570-996-1500.

Refuse the Conformity — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

JAN. 9

Comedy Night at Cocoon Coffee House 8:30–10 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

January 10–January 19 JAN. 10

Cross Country Skiing 9 a.m.–11 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3.

Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 10

“Kettle Creek Winter Go Outside Day” 10 a.m.–Noon. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Program for the whole family in conjunction with Get Outdoors PA. Explore the trails at KC marveling at nature’s resilience even on a cold Jan. day. Dress to go outside.

Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 10

The Cooperage Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Fresh produce, meats, breads, baked goods, candy, mustards, jellies, mushroom logs, soaps & teas from producer-only vendors located within 50 miles of Honesdale. Pick up a farm-totable meal at The Market Café.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 10

Sherman Independent Rock Series with 32 Pints 6 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Also with Socio Path Anatomy, All In,

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Alone with Us, Ear Ecstasy & more.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

Inclement-weather date: Jan. 15.

Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 10

JAN. 13

The Suitcase Junket 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Songs from a campfire junkyard, delivered with wild abandon.

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

Financial Aid Workshop 6:30 p.m. Moskovitz Theater, DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton.

Snow date: Jan. 20. Info: 570-941-7701 or marion.gatto@scranton.edu.

Children’s Series: Aesop’s Fables 11 a.m.–Noon. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Recommended for Grades K–4. Delightful fables come to life through large & colorful puppets. as well as other characters ingeniously created from paper bags, newspaper & cardboard boxes. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

JAN. 14

JAN. 10

Open Mic Night 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Acoustic-style open mic led by The Crackers. Donations collected at door.

Come to perform or come to listen & watch. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 17

Comedy Variety Show 8–10:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Cocktail hour, 7 p.m.

Boisterous laughter & hilarious comedians in a cabaret-style comedy club.

Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

JAN. 10, 11, 16, 17, 18

S.O.P.S. One Act Winners Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware. See description at Jan. 3.

Info: 570-421-5093 or www.TheShawneePlayhouse.com.

JAN. 10, 17, 24

Beginner Fly-Tying Course 9 a.m.–Noon. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville.

Three-day beginner basic fly-tying course. Instruction is free plus materials cost. Space limited. Pre-registration required by Jan. 7. Registration & info: 610-381-6188.

JAN. 11

Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3.

Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 11

Connor Garvey The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented

by RiverFolk Concerts. Clever, rhythmic string foundations provide a background for his most prominent instrument, his voice. Donations collected.

Desserts available to purchase. BYOB. Info & reservations: Jill, 845-252-6783.

JAN. 13

Pennsylvania Farm Show Trip Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. A trip in the 14-passenger bus to the 99th Pa. Farm Show. Leave from EE Center at 8:30 a.m. & return 8:30 p.m. Pre-registration & payment required & limited.

JAN. 15

Family Game Night 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Find a table of games waiting to be played, or bring your favorite.

Donations make this possible.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 15

Infamous Stringdusters 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Grammy-nominated bluegrass expansionists. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

JAN. 16

Northernmost & Last Great Hero — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

JAN. 17

Wiggles and Giggles Workshop 10–10:45 a.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Just for kids.

Participants create an artpiece/craft inspired by the morning’s show to take with them. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

JAN. 17

Owl Prowl 10 a.m.–Noon. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Where are owls during the day? Learn where & how to look for them on their daytime roosts during a walk at Kettle Creek. You may even find an owl or two. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxilary 74th Annual Mistletow Ball JAN. 17 5:30–11 p.m. The Waterfront at Ehrhardt’s, Tafton. “Pink Tie Affair” features prizes for most creative tie & most creative accessory & offers 10 special raffle items. Proceeds go toward purchase of a mobile telecom van equipped with mammography & ultrasound systems. Info: 570-226-9750.

JAN. 17

Lehar’s “The Merry Widow” 12:55 p.m. Seelig Theatre, Loch Sheldrake, NY. The Met Live in HD, presented by SUNY Sullivan.

Info: 845-434-5750 ext. 4472.

JAN. 17

Indigo Moon Brass Band 7 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Brass Band based in Wilkes-Barre, pursuing their love of New Orleans music.

Donations collected at door.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 17

Leroy Justice 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Guitar-driven grooves & powerhouse rhythms. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

JAN. 17

New West Guitar Group 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Firmly rooted in classic jazz, the trio’s versatility as both players & composers has given them a reputation as pioneers in the realm of guitar ensemble repertoire.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

JAN. 18

Greater Scranton MLK Commission Awards Dinner 2:30 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Keynote address by Damon Rozier, motivational speaker & comedian. Info: 570-941-6645 or jennifer.pennington@scranton.edu.

JAN. 19

the Menu — local.fresh.delicious 7–8:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Cocktail hour, 6 p.m.

Featuring Chef Paul of Wegmans.

Provides fresh & exciting ideas to try in your kitchen any night of the week, & festive concepts for special occasions.

Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

January 20–January 31 JAN. 20

HHS Midnight Fridge 7–8:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 21

Grapes of Wrath Noon & 7 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Starring Henry Fonda.

Purchase tickets at www.dietrichtheater.com or the ticket booth.

Info: 570-996-1500.

JAN. 21

Acoustic Bluegrass Jam 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

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Led by Buckshot Jenkins & Ron Penska.

All instruments welcome, but this jam is entirely acoustic. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 22

Bad Movie Thursdays with Mystery Science Theater 3000 7–9 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Cocktail hour, 6 p.m. “The Magic Voyage of Sinbad.” Any MSTie will tell you that watching the shows with a group is much more fun.

Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

JAN. 22

Jeff Daniels — Actor/Singer/Songwriter 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Not an actor who sings, but an accomplished singer/songwriter whose musical talent doesn’t require the support of his acting. Joined by the Ben Daniels Band, put together by his son, boasting a distinctive roots-rock sound.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

JAN. 23

Eagle Watch Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Field trip to upper Delaware River in search of the Bald Eagle. Many wintering & resident eagles call this region their home.

Meet at EE Center at 8:30 a.m. & return 5:30 p.m. Cost includes bus transportation. Pack lunch & binoculars & dress for the weather. Stops made for coffee & snacks. Pre-registration & payment required & limited. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 23

Andrew McMahon in the Wilderness 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

McMahon’s latest collection of earnest, sun-kissed piano-pop.

Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

JAN. 23–25

Broadway Theatre League presents Million Dollar Quartet 8–10:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

JAN. 23, 24, 25, 30, 31

The Dead Indian Museum Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware. Time is running out on Lucky & Wayne’s dilapidated roadside Indian Museum & with it their dreams of opening a petting zoo for children.

Info: 570-421-5093 or www.TheShawneePlayhouse.com.

JAN. 24

Eagle Watch for Eagle Enthusiasts!

8:30 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Visit the Mongaup Reservoir, the Delaware River & the Eagle Institute to look for winter residents & nesting pairs. Includes a special stop at “Eagle Day.” Bring a lunch, camera & warm clothes. Call to reserve a seat in van.

Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 24

Cross Country Skiing 9 a.m.–11 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See

area events description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 24

2nd Annual “Freezin’ for a Reason” SJRA Polar Plunge Mauch Chunk Lake Park, Jim Thorpe.

Registration, 9:30 a.m.; first plunge, 11 a.m. Free to observers. Take an icy dip into Mauch Chunk Lake in frigid January temps. Register to plunge, or be a chicken. Fundraiser for the St. Joseph Regional Academy. Call for more info: 570-325-3186.

JAN. 24

Sharing Your Yard with Wildlife 10–11 a.m.

Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Entertaining & informative illustrated presentation on simple things to do in the backyard to enhance its wildlife value. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 24

The Cooperage Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. See description at Jan. 10.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 24

Little Eco Explorers: Black Bears 1–3 p.m. New program for 3–6 year olds with a story, craft & activity focusing on a particular critter.

Info: 570-828-2319.

JAN. 24

“Animal Tracks on the Farm” 2–4 p.m. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville.

Discover & interpret the tracks left in the snow by wildlife around the farm.

Dress to walk outside on snow-covered trails. Bad-weather date: Jan. 31.

Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 24

Mipso 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. These renegade traditionalists are doing their part to take three-part harmony & Appalachian influences into new territory, whuch they call Dark Holler Pop. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

JAN. 24

Neo-Motown-Soul with Caleb Hawley 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Neo-motown vibes with a fresh spin on a retro sound. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

JAN. 24 & 25

7th Annual Winter Lights Festival Milford. The town will be filled with excitement and entertainment. Experience new events & more skate time to the music of the roaring 20’s. See page 5 for the full article and schedule.

Info: winterlights@winterlightsfest.com or www.winterlightsfest.com.

JAN. 25

Animal Tracking 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore PEEC’s natural areas for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, eat marks, & other signs animals leave as they travel through the fields & forests of the Poconos. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

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JAN. 25

Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

24th Annual Ice Tee Golf Tournament

JAN. 25

9 a.m.–2 p.m. Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Restaurant, Hawley. Two 9-hole challenging courses atop frozen Lake Wallenpaupack & a “Closest to Wally” driving contest. Spectators welcome.

Awards ceremony at 3 p.m. with prizes, 50/50s, music & giveaways.

Registration forms, tee times or info: 570-226-3191 or maureen@northernpoconoschamber.com.

JAN. 25

Ecozone Discovery Room!

1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3.

Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 28

Open Electric Jam 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project.

Led by Right Side Up. Donations collected at door. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

JAN. 30

Eagle Watch Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. See description at Jan. 23. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 31

Comedy Night at Cocoon Coffee House 8:30–10 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

Hiking NEPA 11 a.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Presentation showcases Pa.’s parks & natural areas, hiking trails & waterways, focusing on locations in NE Pa. Jeff Mitchell’s book, Hiking the Endless Mountains, for sale at the presentation.

Proceeds benefit Dietrich Theater. Free admission. Reserve tickets at 570-9961500; avail. at the door while they last.

JAN. 30

JAN. 31

JAN. 30

Comedy Night 9 p.m. Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center, Hawley. Cash bar & Munchie Menu. Info & ticket reservations: 570-226-7355 ext. 2.

JAN. 30–31

Scranton Cultural Center and REV Theatre Co. Present Shakespeare’s Hamlet 7–9:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Set just before WWI on the verge of impending war, revolution & chaos, the production brings the audience directly into the action of the play as both witness to & participants in the events. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

Introduction to Snowshoeing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Learn the basics of snowshoes & enjoy a winter stomp through the woods. Equipment & lessons provided. Register early to guarantee a spot. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 31

February 1–February 8 FEB. 1

Eagle Watch 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry.

Visit the Mongaup Reservoir, the Delaware River & the Eagle Institute to look for winter residents & nesting pairs. Bring a lunch, camera & warm clothes. Call to reserve a seat in van.

Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

FEB. 1

Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

FEB. 1, 6, 7, 8

The Craig Thatcher Band 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Six-piece blues ensemble presents “Badge: An Eric Clapton Retrospective” in the “Live from the Chandelier Lobby” concert series.

Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

The Dead Indian Museum Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware. Time is running out on Lucky & Wayne’s dilapidated roadside Indian Museum & with it their dreams of opening a petting zoo for children.

Info: 570-421-5093 or www.TheShawneePlayhouse.com.

JAN. 31

JAN. 31

FEB. 4

Campaign School 8 a.m. Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton. Half-day, non-partisan program for people who want to learn about running for political office. Snow date: Feb. 7.

Info: www.lwvlackawanna.org or 570-941-7401.

Stomping Mississippi Blues and Aggressive Roots Duo, SwampCandy 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Whiskey drinkin’ foot stompin’ hand clappin’ & pig eatin’ music.

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

Pretty Woman Noon & 7 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Starring Richard Gere & Julia Roberts. Purchase tickets at www.dietrichtheater.com or the ticket booth.

Info: 570-996-1500.

FEB. 6

JAN. 31

JAN. 31

Dead On Live – Celebrating 50 years of the Grateful Dead 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. They recreate, literally note for note, all instruments as well as the lush & complex vocal harmonies as heard on classic recordings of the ’60s, ’70s & beyond.

Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

Eagle Watch Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. See description at Jan. 23. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

Cross Country Skiing 9 a.m.–11 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

JAN. 31

The Fascinating Honeybee 10–11 a.m. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville.

Provides a good overview of the honeybee: their society, their impact on our food supply & the challenges presentday beekeepers face.

Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

JAN. 31–FEB. 22

Selections from the Art Collections Suraci Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Featuring recent works on paper, including photos & prints, drawn from the Suraci Collection & The Maslow Collection.

Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu/galleries.

FEB. 6

Donna The Buffalo 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Their feel-good, groove-oriented, danceable & often socially conscious music began over 20 years ago with roots in old-time fiddle music that evolved into a soulful electric Americana mix. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

FEB. 7

Boarding for Breast Cancer Camelback Mountain, Tannersville.

Support a great cause & have some fun.

Raffles all day, with great prizes like a pair of skis or a snowboard. Live DJ,

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Crystal Cabin Fever – Under the Sea FEB. 6-22 Sculpted Ice Works Factory Tour and Natural Ice Harvest Museum, Lakeville. Made from over 100 tons of ice & features a 50-foot dual-run ice slide, ice carving demos, interactive ice displays, & ice-carving competitions. Complimentary hot chocolate & wine tasting. Live woodcarving & glass blowing, food, music & many photo opportunities in the courtyard. Museum included with admission.

Info: 570-226-6246 or tour@sculptediceworks.com. live band, games, & plenty of pink swag to purchase. Wear pink to support the cause. Free admission.

Info: 570-629-1661.

glass, food & live entertainment on & around Skytop Lodge’s frozen lake.

Info: 570-595-8924.

FEB. 7

The Honey Dewdrops 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

With just a handful of acoustic instruments & two voices, this bluegrass duo hones the clarity of great raw music.

Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

Cross Country Skiing 9 a.m.–11 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

FEB. 7

Shawnee Mountain’s Paint the Mountain Pink 9 a.m.–5 p.m. Shawnee Mountain, East Stroudsburg. Dress in pink & participate in fun activities throughout the day. Weather permitting, Margaret the Pink Fire Truck will be on display in the ski area courtyard. The Hope for Strength Breast Cancer Fund is running a benefit raffle & prize winners will be drawn at 5 p.m. Info: 570-421-7231 or info@shawneemt.com.

FEB. 7

Animal Tracking 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry.

Explore PEEC’s natural areas for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, eat marks, & other signs animals leave as they travel through the fields & forests of the Poconos. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

FEB. 7

The Cooperage Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. See description at Jan. 10.

Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

FEB. 7

Art Opening: TOALC Photo Club “Nature’s View” Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Photo Club of the Older Adult Learning Center exhibition. Creativity & artistry are expressed through diverse subjects & the use of different photographic techniques. Opening reception: 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

FEB. 7

Winter Beer Festival 2–5 p.m. Skytop Lodge, Skytop.

Admission includes unlimited beer during event, a Skytop beer sampling

Winter Waterfalls 9:30 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry.

It’s a great time of year to enjoy the waterfalls. See them as they cascade down through chunks of frozen ice & snow. Dress warm, wear sturdy boots & bring a camera. Call to reserve a seat in the van: 570-828-2319.

FEB. 8

Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 3. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

FEB. 7

FEB. 7

The Jammin Divas with Long Time Courting 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Traditional & contemporary original folk music from Ireland, Australia & the USA. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

FEB. 7

David Cook 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Seventh-season “American Idol” winner with fiery vocals & searing songwriting skills has entered an exciting new chapter. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

FEB. 7, 14

Intermediate Fly-Tying Course 9 a.m.–Noon. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville.

Two-day intermediate fly-tying course.

Instruction is free plus materials cost.

Space limited.

Pre-registration required by Feb. 4. Registration & info: 610-381-6188.

FEB. 7–MAR. 1

2015 Scholastic Art Awards Exhibition Mahady Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Gold & Silver Key award– winning work by junior high & high school students from the NE Pa. art region. Awards presentation: Feb. 7, 1 p.m. (severe weather date: Feb. 8, 1 p.m.), Free admission.

Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu/galleries.

FEB. 7–MAR. 14

“Figuratively Speaking” Alliance Gallery, Narrowsburg, NY. Curated group exhibition featuring twelve artists. Tues.–Fri., 9 a.m.–5 p.m., Sat., 10 a.m.–4 p.m.

Info: 845-252-7576.

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