Connections Magazine - January 2018 Issue by Connections Magazine

JANUARY 2018

Since 1998

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CONNECT JANUARY 2018

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Cover photo– Tim & Heather Meagher at the WMH Auxiliary Mistletoe Ball courtesy of Jeanne Gieckel, Wayne Memorial Hospital.

FEATURES NEW YEAR’S HOME RESOLUTIONS Get a jump on home improvements and decorating changes that will help you enjoy your house throughout the coming year. HEALTHY LIVING HABITS THAT WORK When it comes to advice about healthy living, there are opinions nearly every place you turn. Unfortunately, a great deal of that information is based on fad diets and trendy workouts that may deliver quick results but don’t promote a sustainable, healthy lifestyle. 5 MONEY HACKS FOR A HAPPY NEW YEAR Do you ever feel like you’re in a chronic cash crunch? That can be a real damper on your days and take the hope and expectation out of a new year. MOLD AND YOUR HEALTH By far, the most common questions that we receive concern the health effects of mold exposure. While studies are still ongoing into the symptoms of being exposed to airborne mold spores and the compounds released by mold growth, we already have a good deal of information to go on. 7 WAYS TO PLAN FOR COLD & FLU SEASON Declining temperatures can bring fun, cool-weather activities, but they also mean cold and flu season is lurking. While everyone hopes to stay healthy, it can be difficult to completely avoid viruses and bugs.

COLUMNS 5 14 18 20 22 26 28 30

WORDS FROM THE TEAM BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT CALL OF THE WILD WINTER LIGHTS FESTIVAL BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE MRS. DOGOOD PRISON REFLECTIONS LIVING GREEN

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BOOK REVIEW BRIDAL SPOTLIGHT POCONO SECRETS OUTDOOR RAMBLINGS CLASSIC CARS PETS AREA EVENTS

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CONNECTIONS Magazine

president • publisher • editor in chief deborah bailey production manager meica drake account representatives barry weiss • dwight gregory editorial correction services sandi scull assignment writer allison mowatt contributing writers fred cicetti, The Healthy Geezer terry mooney, Reflections of a Prison Inmate arthur middleton, MD, FAPA, Behavioral Medicine michael krupa, Finance josh sheard, Finance terri schlichenmeyer, Book Review la guzda, Pocono Secrets arnie milidantri, Classic Cars bill deaton, Outdoor Ramblings pike county conservation district, Living Green

CONNECTIONS Magazine 3305 Lake Ariel Highway Honesdale, PA 18431 570.647.0085 • Fax 570.647.0086 cmag@ptd.net • thinkconnections@yahoo.com www.connections-magazine.com Connections Magazine is not responsible for typographical errors, mistakes or misprints. All advertising, including photographs, is the property of Connections Magazine and not that of the advertiser. The advertiser has purchased the right of reproduction only in Connections Magazine and does not have the right to reproduce the ads in any other place or publication. Connections Magazine reserves its rights to exercise its discretion in the selection of advertisements.

WHAT A DILEMMA To laugh is to risk appearing a fool. To weep is to risk appearing sentimental. To reach out for another is to risk involvement. To expose feelings is to risk rejection. To place your visions before the crowd is to risk ridicule. To love is to risk not being loved in return. **To go forward in the face of overwhelming odds is to risk failure. But risks must be taken, because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing. The person who risks nothing, does nothing, has nothing, is nothing. We may avoid suffering and sorrow, but we cannot learn, feel, change, grow, love or know GOD. Chained by our own self-assurances, we are a slave. We have forfeited our freedom. Only the person who dares to take 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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WORDS FROM THE TEAM

“

Tomorrow, is the first blank page of a 365 page book. Write a good one. –Brad Paisley

”

appy New Year!! As you know, we made our fresh start here at CM a little early with the debut of our new size and look in October. Fresh starts are Good Stuff! Changes are hard, but also rewarding, when your attitude is in the right place and your determination to be better supercedes old habits and the fear of the unknown. Our January issue is focused on a new year, new you: your home, your health, and your money. We look forward to our 2018 issues bringing you all of the Good Stuff to help make this year your best year yet! If you have any ‘STUFF’ you’d like to see in our future pages, give us a buzz, pop us an email, or stop in and chat for a minute. We would be excited to listen! The CM Team 570.647.0085 cmag@ptd.net

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RESOLUTIONS

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et a jump on home improvements and decorating changes that will help you enjoy your house throughout the coming year.

As you look over your list of New Year’s resolutions, don’t forget what should be at the top, since it may be your biggest asset: your house. It, too, needs tender-loving care to look and function its best. We’ve rounded up a baker’s dozen ideas. But before you get going, heed another one from Kathy Passarette, owner of Creative Home Expressions, Long Island. “Remove your holiday decorations by the second week in January. Nobody wants to see icicle lights or reindeer on your lawn, whether they’re your neighbors or prospective buyers.”

Here are others: Get organized Yup, everyone promises that the New Year will be the year they really do, but this year be sure you do. Before you start, make a list of what needs organizing in every single room in your house, which may include throwing out or giving away. Jeff Davidson, author of “Breathing Space: Living & Working at a Comfortable Pace in a Sped-Up Society” (Mastermedia, 1999), suggests donating anything you haven’t worn in the past two years. Don’t forget your garage, which often is a dumping ground but fortunately has become the latest place to spiff up. HouseWall Garage System, Hialeah, Fla., has developed a software program that sketches your garage and maps out how space can be maximized.

Go green

PHOTO CAPTION: This year’s the year: Organizing your home will help you purge the items you don’t need and locate the ones you do. And who knows? You may even be able to park a car in that garage. Image courtesy HouseWall Garage System.

Sustainability is no longer for a small fringe group of architects, builders, contractors, and homeowners. Plus, it’s an easy way to help save our planet. Danny Seo, eco-stylist, author and host of the TV program “Simply Green,” suggests choosing low-VOC paints, which contain no ozone-depleting chemicals, buying only enough paint for what you need to minimize waste (online paint calculators are a quick resource), choosing green hardwoods like bamboo, and donating reusable building materials to an organization

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like Habitat for Humanity so they can be used for new projects.

Become more energy conscious Turn off anything that you’re not using, whether its lights, TVs, or computers, says Don Whaley, CEO of Choice Energy Services Retail, Houston, Texas, an institutional energy brokerage consulting.

Make your house safer October may be National Fire Safety month, and June may be Home Safety month, but there’s no reason not to be safe all year. Among suggestions from the Home Safety Council: Install smoke alarms and test them monthly; stay in the kitchen while you prepare food; post emergency numbers next to every phone; keep your water heater setting at 120 degrees F or less; install foursided fencing with self-locking and closing gates.

Keep your house well Don’t let your house lock in pollutants and get sick due to super-energy efficient building techniques. Ventilation fans, like Panasonic’s WhisperGreen vent fan, help flush out pollutants and keep indoor air quality at its best. John Brennan, an environmental consultant in Summit, N.J., advises checking that your house has no asbestos, radon gas, lead or mold.

Get more fit You’ll enjoy your home more if you like how you look. Find a corner or extra room that you can dedicate to a home gym – many treadmills, ellipticals, and bicycles can fit into these spaces, and some fold up for easy storage.

Keep everything in good shape RepairClinic.com’s handy Appliance Maintenance calendar reminds you what to inspect and repair when. Many repairs require less than five minutes. Example: Improve your refrigerator’s efficiency by cleaning its condenser coils with a condenser cleaning brush and your vacuum cleaner.

Add color

appeal, says James Martin, an architectural color expert and founder of The Color People, a design color firm in Denver. Paint the shutters, front door, and some front-facing flower boxes using a high gloss. To decide on the color, look to the roof, masonry, and landscaping; use one color for consistency.

Have the title checked With fraud and ineptness, you never know if the title for your home is clean unless you’ve checked. Title-protection companies can offer an inexpensive check through your title’s history to see if there are any defects that could plague you at a later date. You need a clean title before you sell.

Save funds on furnishings Let your artistic side shine by buying unfinished furniture and decorating it yourself. For tips on decorating and where to find a store, go to the Unfinished Furniture Association’s Web site at www.unfinishedfurniture.org.

Create a sleep sanctuary Homeowners are putting lots more money into their master bathrooms, but how about the room where they sleep? Many bedrooms could use sprucing up, especially since most of us spend one-third of our life sleeping. Invest in a new bed, mattress, and lighting.

Retrofit for the booming boomer generation More folks want to age in their homes and make them welcoming and safe for fellow boomers. AARP suggests installing handrails on both sides of all steps, securing carpets and area rugs, using brighter bulbs, nightlights and lights in closets, and switching to lever handles.

Meet your neighbors They may become wonderful friends and may help watch your house when you’re away. Before the New Year ends, host an open house and invite everyone over. They’re likely to ooh and aah over your beautiful, organized home, says April Masini of the column AskApril.com.

Even if you’re not up to repainting your entire house, add color to improve its curb

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FEATURE STORY

When it comes to advice about healthy living, there are opinions nearly every place you turn. Unfortunately, a great deal of that information is based on fad diets and trendy workouts that may deliver quick results but donâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;t promote a sustainable, healthy lifestyle.

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HEALTHY HABITS The medical community generally agrees that slow and steady is the way to win the race toward healthy living. Adopting a broad set of healthier habits can deliver results over time and foster a new way of living that promotes your overall health and wellbeing.

Aim for balance. A diet that combines healthy levels of protein and carbohydrates from all the food groups is the surest way to deliver your body the vitamins and nutrients you need for optimal health. The Dietary Guidelines for Americans call for an eating plan that is centered on fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and reduced-fat dairy foods, rounded out by lean meats, poultry, fish, beans, eggs, and nuts for protein. When planning your meals, be sure to limit saturated fats, trans fats, cholesterol, sodium, and added sugar.

Know when to say when. Building a healthy lifestyle is about more than eating the right foods. It also means keeping your calorie count in check. That means keeping the amount you eat and the portion size in mind. Work with your doctor or a nutritionist to determine your body’s true caloric needs, which can vary depending on numerous factors such as your age, activity level, and overall health. Then get smart about the portion sizes that will help you stay within those parameters. Initially, you may want to weigh out portions, but soon you’ll be able to recognize and adjust your portions on sight.

Set your body in motion. Increasing your activity level not only helps burn calories and boosts your metabolism, it also helps tone your muscles and improve overall

body condition by promoting healthy blood flow. The exact amount of exercise you need will vary depending on your goals, age, and physical ability. You may need to work up to the optimal level, which according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention is 150 minutes of moderate activity or 75 minutes of vigorous activity a week for most adults.

Replace what you lose. A strong workout may help you shed calories, but it also can deplete your body of essential fluids. Staying hydrated is crucial to keep your body functioning properly, from regulating your body temperature to providing the lubrication your joints and muscles need to keep you in motion. Rehydrating during and after exercise is important for getting the most out of your workout. For example, try incorporating an electrolyte beverage, such as Propel Electrolyte Water, which helps replace what is lost in sweat and supports hydration by stimulating thirst and promoting fluid retention. The ten flavors contain no calories and provide B vitamins to support metabolism as part of a daily diet and antioxidant vitamins C and E. Learn more at PropelWater.com.

Give yourself a break. Most experts agree it’s OK to indulge and enjoy your favorite treat occasionally. Skipping a day at the gym won’t end your efforts either. The key is to make those allowances an exception rather than the norm, skipping one day instead of three or eating a sliver of pie, not a giant slice. Rewarding yourself within reason is a good way to stay motivated and create a sustainable healthy lifestyle. Photo courtesy of Getty Images

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YOUR MONEY

Money Hacks for a Happy New Year Provided by Jonathan “Josh” Sheard, Sage Investments, LLC

o you ever feel like you’re in a chronic cash crunch? That can be a real damper on your days and take the hope and expectation out of a new year. But if money tops your list of New Year’s resolutions, you’re in luck! Research shows you’re on the road to success. According to Fidelity Investments, 56% of people who resolved to improve their finances last year did just that. Better yet, 83% said last year’s financial resolution is an ongoing event instead of a one-time goal. Who knew change could be so exciting? Put those resolutions into action—and get a leg up on your happy New Year—with these five money hacks.

Use Cold, Hard Cash

Lots of folks choose plastic over cash for everyday purchases, and research shows that can lead you to spend more. Why? According to a Journal of Experimental Psychology study, parting with cash really is sweet sorrow. Plastic simply doesn’t tug at your emotional strings in quite the same way. So this year, put a little more pain back into your purchases. Use envelopes to divvy your dollars up across everyday budget categories. You might have one each for groceries, restaurants, entertainment, clothing, and pocket money. On payday, fill your envelopes with the cash you budgeted for each category. When an envelope’s empty, the spending stops for that category until your next paycheck. It’s that simple.

Give Impulse Buys a 30Day Notice You went to the store for one thing

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and ended up with a cart full that you never intended to buy. Once the thrill of the bargain hunt wore off, regret set in. Sound familiar? If so, join the crowd. A recent study found that five in six Americans are impulse shoppers. We all know it pays to sleep on a big money decision overnight. But what about smaller purchases that crop up throughout the month? Why not add them to your wish list and wait thirty days? That gives you a chance to work them into next month’s budget. And who knows? That can’t-live-without item you had your eye on just might be on sale by then!

Ignore Interest Rates When Paying Down Debt

Want to put a big dent into your debt this year? You might be tempted to grab debt by the jugular and attack the biggest interest rate first. But it takes more than math to win. According to Fidelity, the number one reason people stick to a money resolution is because they’re encouraged by their own progress. That’s where the debt snowball comes in. Here’s how it works: List your debts in order by outstanding balance, and attack the smallest one first. Once you knock it out, roll that cash over to your next debt, working your way up to the biggest of the bunch. You’ll build momentum—and motivation—as you watch your debts go down and your cash flow go up!

Go Roth With Your 401(k)

These days, most full-time workers have access to a 401(k) through their employer. This is a great way to save for

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retirement because it enables you to make pre-tax contributions for your future. What you may not know is many employers offer a Roth 401(k) option, too. According to a Willis Towers Watson study, 54% of large and midsize companies do, yet only 10% of employees take advantage of it. That means lots of folks are missing out on tax-free growth. Does it really make a difference? Let’s compare. The same amount of money went into two 401(k) accounts— one traditional and one Roth—and both grew at the same rate. The Roth takes the cake at retirement. And beginning last year, any pretax match dollars your employer puts in can be converted to a Roth. That’s means even more opportunity for tax-free growth! Just keep in mind that you do have to pay taxes on any money you convert. An investing professional can show you how it works so you can weigh your options and choose the strategy that’s right for you.

Take Advantage of Free Financial Education

It’s no secret that money can cause big-time stress. According to the American Psychological Association, 72% of adults worry about money at least some of the time, and 32% say money woes stand between them and a healthy lifestyle. This stress can distract you on the job, too. It’s hard to get work done when you’re pre-

occupied with money problems. No wonder almost 90% of employers surveyed by Aon Hewitt had their sights on a financial wellness program last year. If your company offers this benefit, don’t miss out! It’s a great way to learn how to manage your money and plan for the future. That’s something everyone can feel good about!

You Can Do It! The confetti may have settled, but the New Year’s fun has just begun. It’s time to rock your resolutions and show your money who’s boss! Who knows? You just might discover a fresh new burst of confidence that inspires you to set—and conquer—even bigger goals next year. Josh is a Dave Ramsey Endorsed Local Provider for this area. He specializes in retirement income strategies, investments strategies, as well as additional financial strategies. His focus is on lifelong financial guidance and his commitment is to place clients first and provide unmatched customer service. He would be glad to answer any questions regarding the content of this article as well as any others. Call today at 570729-1020 or email Josh at sage@cfiemail.com. You can also visit www.sageinvestments.net. Jonathan Sheard offers securities and advisory services through Centaurus Financial, Inc. member FINRA and SIPA and a registered investment advisor. This is not an offer to sell securities, which may be done only after proper delivery of a prospectus and client suitability is reviewed and determined. Information relating to securities is intended for use by individuals residing in PA, NY, AR, VA, FL, NC, GA, CT. Sage Investments, Dave Ramsey and Centaurus Financial Inc are not affiliated.

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BEAUTY SPOTLIGHT

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YOUR HEALTH

Mold

and your Health

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By far, the most common questions that we receive concern the health effects of mold exposure. While studies are still ongoing into the symptoms of being exposed to airborne mold spores and the compounds released by mold growth, we already have a good deal of information to go on.

Mold is an allergen What this means is that mold affects everyone differently, and some people may have no reaction at all. The best comparison is to something like cat dander. While I may have no reaction at all, you or your family may. With over 100,000 mold species globally, you may even find that one or two trig16 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |

}

ger a reaction in you, while others do not.

What symptoms have been attributed to mold exposure? According to the CDC, which has spent a lot of time trying to quantify

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the health effects of mold exposure, people that are sensitive to molds can experience symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation. Some people, such as those with serious allergies to molds, may even experience fever and shortness of breath, while those with chronic respiratory issues or asthma can find that their conditions are aggravated or worsened. Recently, studies have begun to link early mold exposure to the development of asthma in some children, but more research is necessary and ongoing.

What about “black mold”? “Black Mold” has made a lot of headlines over the years, but using this as a means to determine severity is a mistake. For starters, many different varieties of mold can be black, and those same varieties of mold can also be green, white, or blue. One of the predominant things that affects the color of mold growth is the food source, so the same mold, growing on a different material, can have a different color. In addition, while “black mold” is often used to refer to Aspergillus, a mold that has been linked to various health effects, the

media has used this term to refer to numerous other mold species as well, which has led to a tremendous amount of homeowner confusion.

Where do I find mold? Molds can be found in virtually every environment and can be found both indoors and outdoors. Common causes of mold problems include high humidity levels in basements or bathrooms, leaky pipes under cabinets or in wall cavities, and bathroom exhaust fans improperly venting into the attic. As mold requires humidity/moisture to grow, the easiest way to prevent a mold problem from developing is to prevent or quickly resolve moisture issues. While mold can be a scary word, it can be resolved. As part of that process, it is important to not only look at the mold contamination and areas affected, but also the underlying moisture issue causing the mold problem. About Disaster Blaster Disaster Blaster is an indoor environmental firm serving the Northeastern PA Area. For more about Disaster Blaster, please visit our website at: www.disasterblaster.com

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MISTLETOE BALL

Call of the

Wild

Theme of 77th Auxiliary Mistletoe Ball

“

Wear your faux fur, your wildest dancing shoes, and let your inner ‘animal’ roar!” says Nancy Peck Moro, cochair with Danielle Hedgelon of Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s 77th annual Mistletoe Ball. The dinner dance event takes place on Saturday, January 20th, at Silver Birches in Tafton—and you’re invited! “It’s such a great time,” adds Moro, “a way to continue enjoying the holiday season and at the same time celebrate the end of all the shopping and cooking. Come on out and support your community hospital.” The Mistletoe Ball includes live music and dancing to the band, Groove Train, and a “fabulous basket raffle” with donations from many local vendors, including Woodloch Spa, Velvet Maple, Black & Brass Coffee, Irving Cliff Brewery, Apple Day Spa, and the Wayne Hotel. Proceeds from the Mistletoe will go towards the purchase of a new, state-

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of-the-art nurse call system for the new addition currently under construction at the hospital. The call system will have “intelligent call routing,” according to hospital administrators, enhancing direct patient-staff communications and eliminating wasted time and effort. With more than 200 members, the Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary is one of the strongest in the state of Pennsylvania. “Anyone can join,” says Moro, adding, “Come to the Mistletoe Ball and find out how much fun we can be while helping our community hospital at the same time.” Tickets are $85 per person. Call (570) 226-9750 to reserve your spot. Visit wmh.org to find out more about the WMH Auxiliary. PHOTO CAPTION: Mistletoe Committee, left to right: Alice FinoEwonishon; Melissa Rickard; Gary Mesko; Danielle Hedgelon; Marianne McConeghy; Nancy Moro; Rosemarie Corigliano; Joan Buehl; Martha Wilson; Carol Sturm; Barbara Cuffe.

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Photos courtesy of Darial Sneed.

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WINTER LIGHTS

Winter Lights Festival’s 10th Anniversary

Celebrating the Arts January 20-21, 2018 will Identify both Restaurants & Home Chefs by en winters ago, at a breakfast meeting at Numbers. the Hotel Fauchére, a group of friends • Contestants no longer need to serve their own and neighbors came together to learn recipes. about a festival being planned to attract tourism • Due to increasing popularity, we’ve expanded in the dead of winter featuring ice skaters from to Adjoining Tasting Rooms. the Ice Theatre of NY to kick-off FREE ice-skating at Ann Street Park, our Village Green, sur2:00 – 3:00 PM: The 10th Winter Lights Festival rounded by turn of the century homes. Ice Show featuring: The rink was supplied and assembled over the • Warm Up with ZUMBA DANCING. years by the Milford Borough Parks & Recreation • Short works to popular music, we call “Ice Committee and its army of volunteers needed to Pops.” create and maintain the rink with our human • Awarding 1st, 2nd, and 3rd place plaques to Zamboni teams until Spring welcomes Baseball, winners of the Mac ‘N Chile Contest and thankBasketball, and Playground Games. ing those who over the years have made the FesGiven recent weather patterns, there were tival possible. times the Zamboni Teams were getting ready to • Main Presentation, MERLIN AWAKENS: trade in their parkas for swim gear, but Frozen His eternal struggle with wisdom and truth vs. Feet Theater persisted, presenting shows intethe love of Morgan Le Fey, her enchantments, grating skaters from the Ice Theatre of NY with dragons, and the most dangerous, to be loved by large puppets to dramatize the myths and legthe “Dark Side,” with an original score, mixing ends of the world to reveal who we are, were, medieval instruments within an electronic forand can be. mat, similar to the Alan Parsons Project.” To the many, many volunteers and skaters, and federal, state, corporate, and 3:15 – 5:00 PM: Shortly after ice local sponsors, thank you for resurfacing, the rink officially your continuing assistance opens: FREE SKATING for all without which there would be ages as we continue to attract Stories, no Free Festival, and especially locals and tourists throughout to Frozen Feet Theater supportAncient the weeks and weekends that ers, who continually defy the follow. Magical elements and jump out of your Mystical Tales cars when the Zumba music 5:15 – 8:30 PM: Torch Light of begins, without whom there Skating on our Village Green as would be no reason to have a ‘20s music takes us back to Hopes & Dreams, Festival. horse drawn sleighs circling the Honor, rink. Betrayal, The following is a rundown of Winter Lights Frozen Feet The Bubble & Boil Sunday, January 21 Theater events celebrating our 2:00 – 3:00 PM: Weather Date & of 10th Anniversary: Second Frozen Feet Theater

Winter Lights

Saturday, January 20 11:30 – 2:00 PM Our Annual Mac ‘N Chile Contest at the Dimmick Inn: $5 Tasting Ballot per person / Children 4 and under, Free. • New Rules: Tasting Ballots

Once & Future Kings, Revealing Who we, Are, Were, and Can Be

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Presentation. 3:15 – 5:15 PM: Short Break – Ice Resurfacing & FREE PUBLIC ICE SKATING. 5:15 – 8:30 PM: Torch Light Skating.

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Declining temperatures can bring fun, coolweather activities, but they also mean cold and flu season is lurking. While everyone hopes to stay healthy, it can be difficult to completely avoid viruses and bugs.

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r. Deborah Gilboa, a board-certified family physician and Braun spokesperson, offers some simple suggestions to help your family plan for cold and flu season.

Dispose of Expired Medicine Spend some time checking the medications you already have at home. Review the expiration dates, and if any need to be thrown out, research how to properly dispose of them according to local government guidelines.

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COLD & FLU SEASON Stock Up Before cold and flu season, make sure to stockpile must-haves like ginger ale, ice pops, and recommended cough suppressants. Thinking ahead means you won’t have to rush out when you or a family member comes down with something.

Practice Healthy Habits Encourage the entire family to maintain healthy habits such as regular hand washing, following a nutritious diet, drinking plenty of water, and coughing or sneezing into a tissue to help minimize the spread of cold and flu viruses.

Have Important Information on Hand To save time when your child is ill, keep a reference of your child’s allergies, prescribed medications, dosage amounts, and current weight handy. Health care providers typically need this information to correctly prescribe and dose most medications. Other items to keep onhand include school sick day policies, operating manuals for medical devices, and a reference of temperature readings that classify a fever.

Manage Humidity Levels Control your home’s humidity levels with a humidifier to help prevent the survival of flu viruses on surfaces and in the air.

Use a Reliable Thermometer Reading the temperature of a person who feels ill can help provide confidence and peace of mind. Make sure you have a reliable thermometer like the Braun ThermoScan 5 Ear thermometer, which takes professionally accurate temperature readings via the ear canal and, based on a survey, is the number one brand recommended by pediatricians who recommend a brand of thermometers. “It’s important to carefully monitor potential illnesses to make sure children get and stay well, and taking an accurate temperature reading is a necessary part of this process, which is why I trust my Braun thermometer,” Gilboa said. “As a doctor and a mom to four boys, it gives me the confidence to know that I’m accurately taking my child’s temperature before I take any next steps, like administering medication.”

Keep Contact Information Accessible Keep a list of important phone numbers and addresses inside your medicine cabinet door or on the fridge so they’re easily accessible to family members, babysitters, and caretakers. Include your family doctor or local clinic, schools, pharmacists, and anyone else you may need to reach in an emergency. If cold or flu reach your household this winter, it’s always important to consult a doctor if you have any questions regarding the health of your family members. For more information, visit braunthermometers.com.

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images (Mother and daughter)

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BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE

When the Season Brings

Sadness By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA

Are the days of winter sunshine just as sad for you, too? When it is misty, in the evenings, and I am out walking by myself, it seems to me that the rain is falling through my heart and causing it to crumble in ruins.

~ Gustave Flaubert

he way we feel is central to our ability to function. Our ability to succeed is as much dependent on our physical health as it is related to our emotions. It is perhaps easier to focus on our physical state because it is easier to understand; feeling pain such as a headache, for example. The Miriam-Webster Dictionary defines mood as, “a conscious state of mind or predominant emotion.” One’s mood is frequently affected by external events; financial issues, worrying about a job interview, or anxiety about a test that one is preparing to take. In these instances, our emotional state is understandable and we know why we feel this way. But what about circumstances in which our mood does not appear to be affected by the usual external stressors, but by the season itself? Is this possible and how is it experienced? Depending on where one lives, seasonal weather changes can be dramatic. Waking up when it’s dark and traveling to work, also when it is dark, then traveling home in less light under cold and unwelcoming skies, for some, is associated with feelings of depression and anxiety. It can be confusing to friends and family members who try to understand why this occurs. The term Winter Blues has been used to describe this experience in some individuals. The phenomenon of Winter Blues has been studied by researchers at the NIH (National Institutes of Health). In a January 2013 newsletter, a distinction is made between Winter Blues and Seasonal Affective Disorder. Winter Blues,

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which is not a medical diagnosis, is observed to occur in some individuals who react to a specific event(s), such as the holidays when they remember the loss of loved ones, resulting in a transient depression. This condition is not serious, however, and is often mild with respect to the degree of depression. It is self-limited, generally resolving without psychiatric or medical intervention. This is contrasted with another disorder, which is clearly related to a change in seasons. The following fictional clinical vignette is presented to highlight the key features of this disorder. JT is a 35-year-old married female. She works as an office manager for a primary care physician. She has been employed in this position for six months. JT enjoys her job and is well liked by her co-workers and her employer. During the course of the time that she has worked in this setting, JT has excelled in her work. She enjoys working with patients and has been key to the smooth functioning of a busy practice. But JT has been dreading the beginning of the change in the season. Her husband is familiar with the change that occurs in his wife’s mood when the days shorten. Each year has been unique. But every year, without question, the winter months are associated with a general sense of sadness that his wife experiences. He thought that it was the result of the loss of her mother, after an extended illness, in January several years ago. During the winter season, JT has experienced sadness that she could not easily shake. She was aware of the symptoms of depression and at one point did see her family doctor who prescribed several different medica-

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tions. But she could not understand why she was sad for a period of time during the winter, only to begin to feel better when the summer months occurred. She saw a therapist who suggested that she might even have bipolar disorder. This was followed by several trials of mood stabilizers that only made her feel worse. JT always felt better when these medications were discontinued. She was hired for her current job during the summer months when her spirits were good, and she was determined to get through the year without getting depressed, feeling that the joy that she had with her new job would overcome her winter sadness. But with the shortening of daylight hours, JT began to feel a deepening of her mood. Despite her efforts to cover this feeling, her sadness was obvious to her co-workers and her employer. JT knew that she was depressed but did not want to be on an antidepressant again. As she shared with her husband, this simply did not make sense to her. Why should she get depressed to such an extent in the winter, every year? JT began to think that maybe she had bipolar disorder after all. JT began to miss work, and when she finally came in, it was obvious that she was feeling miserable. One evening when she was working late, her employer asked to speak with her. He told her that he recognized that she was depressed and asked if he could do anything to help. Though he was a physician, he was also her employer and told her that he did not want to treat her as a patient, but he did make a referral to a psychiatrist. JT followed through and expected to be placed on an antidepressant, which she anticipated would be associated with intolerable side effects. However, she was surprised when the psychiatrist explained to her that it appeared that she was suffering from Seasonal Affective Disorder (SAD). As the psychiatrist elaborated, SAD is a real disorder, occurring during the months of the fall and winter, associated with less exposure to sunlight during the day. While her psychiatrist explained to JT that treatment would typically involve an option to start an antidepressant, she was quite surprised when he also advised her that another treatment option was light therapy. Her doctor gave her information on SAD, which described how brain biochemistry is altered, for some, with less exposure to sunlight during winter months, resulting in symptoms of depression. Her doctor prescribed light therapy. JT began treatment with a special fluorescent

light that produced a very bright light (10,000 lux) that provided the necessary light to replace the daylight that she was missing as a result of the shortened days. For the next several weeks, JT began her day by sitting in front of a light box for thirty minutes before going to work. To her surprise, she began to feel better. JT shared her experience with her co-workers who were delighted with her recovery. JT has read more about SAD and better understands this condition. In her particular case, she did not need to take an antidepressant and has been able to deal with her seasonal depression. She shared her experience with her employer, and he has become more vigilant in trying to identify patients in his practice who may be experiencing Seasonal Affective Disorder. This is a condition that he now recognizes may be more common that he realized. Visit CM’s website for more on Saddness.

The following references are provided for the informed consumer: • National Institutes of Health: Beat The Winter Blues – Shedding Light on Seasonal Sadness http://newsinhealth.nih.gov/issue/Jan2013/Feature1 • American Psychiatric Association: Seasonal Affective Disorder http://www.psychiatry.org/seasonal-affective-disorder • MedlinePlus-National Institutes of Health: Seasonal Affective Disorder http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/ 001532.htm 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.

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MRS. DOGOOD

THE NIGHT THE MOON FELL INTO THE POND By The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood

Dear Editor, It’s not easy writing a sermon every Sunday. But I do it. And since my congregation is growing, I must be doing ok. I am the Senior Pastor of The First Church of God’s Love in the bucolic hamlet of Halo, PA. Last Sunday, I spoke about forgiveness. Ho hum, you say? Not quite. I told parents and caregivers that they should forgive themselves for not being perfect when it comes to raising their children. Haven’t we all felt a little guilty at one time or another for not being perfect? I know I have, and I felt confident that most parents and caregivers shared my experience. Forgive yourselves. Yes, forgive yourself. In a funny episode of the TV show, Two and a Half Men, Charlie Sheen’s mother, Evelyn, explains that children are God’s way of punishing parents for having sex. Funny, but not true. My whole life as a mother has been enriched by my two children, Sarah and Toby. I can happily say that on most days raising children is not a punishment. Notice I did say most days. Most days, they are my husband’s and my joy, and we feel good about ourselves being their parents. But recently there was that night. Our parsonage sits on top of a hill overlooking a half-acre pond, which is about three acres down a steep hill below the house. Beyond is a picturesque valley of rolling hills, which includes our neighbor’s five hundred acre beef cattle farm. At times, the morning mist fills the valley to its brim just as a liquid fills a glass. Looking at the misty view, I often seem to have no thoughts; my mind and the moist landscape are one. It was night. We were all at home. My husband, Willie, was reading in our library, and the children were in their downstairs bedrooms for the night. It was a very clear night and the summer sky was filled with stars. I got up from my chair in the parlor to go speak with Willie, and as I walked past the large window that overlooks the pond, I saw it. The Moon had fallen into the pond. The Moon’s reflection in the pond was as bright as the Moon, which still hung in the sky. What shall I call it? The Moon’s sister moon or brother moon or twin moon? It didn’t matter. It was strikingly beautiful.

As I stood there, I was surprised to see my fifteen-year-old daughter, Sarah, with an H, walk barefoot from the lower level of the house to sit on what the family calls Sarah’s Chair. When Sarah was about five, she named a collection of rocks her “chair” from which she would sit and enjoy the view. Sarah verbalizes almost everything she is thinking. When she was about nine, she always introduced herself by saying that her name was Sarah with an H because she was upset when people thought her name was spelled Sara. I went downstairs to her room, picked up a pair of sneakers, and walked out to her. “I thought you could use these. You could hurt your feet.” “I’m ok” she said as she continued to eat the box of fattening cookies, which she promised to give up on her diet. “I see you’re eating cookies again.” “I feel squirrelly,” she said defensively. “What does that mean?” “I need something that makes me feel good.” “But you promised.” “What difference does it make? No one loves me anyway?” “How can you say that? We all love you.” “Leave me alone.” I turned my eyes away from her and looked at sister moon. Because of my sadness, it was easier to look down at the pond than to look up at the sky. And I preach love? How can I preach love to my congregation when my own daughter doesn’t feel the love that I have for her? I had to think of forgiveness. So, I forgave myself and continued to love her. Amen

The Reverend Mrs. Silence DoGood Senior Pastor Executive Director President Chairman Choir Master (part-time) The First Church of God’s Love

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Prison Reflections

“Lost Innocence” Part II By Terry Mooney

his woman is quiet and reserved. She has volunteered to do programs and is a facility tailor. Her story tells of some major trauma she has had to process, starting at a young age, but she doesn’t give up.

My Story My parents partied a lot with the neighbors. One day, my mom told me she was leaving my dad for one of them. I wanted to stay with him, but I didn’t have a choice. We moved with mom into a tiny little apartment, me and two brothers and the new man. At thirteen, I started rebelling. One day, I found a rolled-up joint in a cereal bowl on the shelf in my dad’s closet during our weekend visit. It made me look because it was a cereal bowl that belonged in the kitchen. I took the joint and brought it to my friends and we all smoked it. We liked the feeling of being high, and he never let on that he missed the joint. I still wanted to live with him, but my mother wouldn’t let me, mainly because he let me do whatever I wanted. I thought if I constantly got into trouble, she’d let me live with him, so I didn’t give up. I threw a desk and books out the window and cursed out the teacher. I pushed a Snapple machine down the stairs, brought various farm animals into the school and let them loose, and plastic wrapped the toilets. I went to three different high schools due to bad behavior and eventually lost a scholarship to the French Culinary Institute. And I still didn’t get to live with my dad. The third school I was in I got pregnant with my high school sweetheart, dropping out three months before graduation. A stay at home mom, I never stopped partying. When her father came home from work at night, I would go out until two or three in the morning. He was not happy, but I didn’t care. I got pregnant again as a result of drunken sex at a party and ended up going back to my husband with the new baby. He agreed to raise both girls with me. We then conceived a third daughter together, but once she was a year old, I left again. Ultimately, I’ve had a total of six kids with four different men. I kept trying to have that family love, and it just wasn’t working out. I don’t think I was allowing myself to give it a chance because of the dishonesty involved in substance abuse. Everything became justification to feed the addiction, especially when I became a heroin addict. I went missing for a couple of days while all of my children were with their respective fathers. Walking on one of the worst roads known for prostitution, I was about to sell myself to get my next fix. Suddenly, my neighbor pulled up in his car and yelled for me to get in, now! I started crying and said I need help, and he said he would help me but I wouldn’t like it. He threatened my dealers when they called, and when I was finally clean, he got me a legitimate job working alongside him on a pirate ship for kids, a ride they take for fun up and down the waterway. He was the bad pirate and I was the good one. I never picked up again. He and I eventually fell in love and had our son. We’re still co-pirates. I’m here at the Pike County Correctional for time that I owed them because I did not serve it when it was due. I’ve made the best of it while here, working on my GED and continuing my recovery, four years clean. My goal is to help other addicts crawl out of the depths of hell.

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Winter Eagle Watching in the Upper Delaware By Bethany Keene

eyond the cold winds, ice, and snowy weather, winter also brings something else to the Upper Delaware River regionâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; hundreds of bald eagles searching for safe habitat. When lakes and rivers freeze over in Canada and upstate New York, eagles fly hundreds of miles south in search of open waters where they can fish and large stands of trees for perching and roosting. The healthy forests and clean rivers, streams, and reservoirs of our region provide an excellent winter home for bald eaglesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;and create a wonderful opportunity to observe these magnificent birds in the wild.

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Eagle Watching

On weekends throughout January and February, you’re invited to join the Delaware Highlands Conservancy and our expert volunteers at the Upper Delaware Visitor Center in Lackawaxen, PA or at one of our Eagle Observation Areas along the Delaware River. You’ll learn about eagles and “eagle etiquette”—how to observe them safely, without disturbing the birds and forcing them to use the precious energy they need to survive. At the Visitor Center, warm up with coffee or some hot chocolate, view our interpretive exhibits and a short film, and plan your own driving tour to look for eagles. Or, join us on a guided Eagle Watch bus tour while we take a scenic drive throughout the region and visit our Eagle Observation Areas to look through binoculars and spotting scopes to see eagles soaring overhead, fishing, or resting in the trees. Tours are scheduled on select weekends in January and February, and advance reservations are required by visiting DelawareHighlands.org or calling 570-226-3164. Today, the largest threat to the bald eagle is habitat loss. Poorly planned development threatens the forests and waters that all wildlife—and people—need to thrive.

Because wintering eagles do not build nests here, they require healthy forests to stay safe and protected from the elements. The bald eagles are here because our region is healthy enough to support them, but it’s up to all of us to help keep it that way. The Delaware Highlands Conservancy works year-round to protect the working farms and forests, clean waters, wildlife habitat, and exceptional quality of life we enjoy in the Upper Delaware River region. By joining us for a bus tour or other event this winter, or making a donation in support of our work, you’re helping to ensure a bright future for the eagles—and the people—that call the Upper Delaware River region home. Bethany Keene is the Outreach and Development Team Lead for the Delaware Highlands Conservancy. Founded in 1994, the Conservancy has directly protected nearly 15,000 acres of working farms and forests, clean waters, and wildlife habitat and coordinates a variety of educational events and community initiatives throughout the year. For more information on the Conservancy and how we connect people to the lands where they live, work, and play, visit www.DelawareHighlands.org, call 570-226-3164 or 845583-1010, or email info@delawarehighlands.org

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Book Review although visiting your Earthling cousins could bring a bit of a challenge. It would absolutely not be cool to fall into a black hole, though. Not cool one bit, She’s probably right. You see things if dinos didn’t go extinct. And despite that differently and can look at something and it might seem like the right thing to do, it’s spot possibilities and uses beyond the nornot a good idea at all to kill off the world’s mal things any object is made for. You like to take them apart, whether in real life or in mosquitoes. What if Neanderthals were still your mind, and, as in the new book, “What around? The answer Would Happen?” by might surprise you! Crispin Boyer, you like What if you fell into a to ask “what if…?” volcano? What if you If you could could become invisible, change the world in or could teleport to anyany way, what would where or any time? you do? And what are you doing Before answering without this fun book? that question, you need If you know a to know what you’re curious kid, it’s a good proposing. What question because “What might be the conseWould Happen?” tackquences of your les subjects that your changes? How might child might ponder things be different? In but that’s not all. This this book, you’ll see book also asks a kid to what could become of think further, and your ideas. uniquely. What, for That might sound instance, would haplike work to a young pen if you ate nothing reader, but flights of but ice cream for the fancy and imagination rest of your life? You’d are enjoyable with be bored, first of all, author Crispin Boyer, and you wouldn’t feel who has included simlike moving much. ple, mundane ideas that Let’s just say it’s not By Crispin Boyer are almost too easy, as recommended. Not Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer well as thought-provokeating at all is likewise ers that are surprisingly not advised. complex. Colorful photos help explain the Or what if you never got old? It narrative to struggling readers and engage might be fun for a while, but, assuming those who are book-averse. Kids will also you’re the only one who gets to skateboard find silliness in this book, but there’s plenthrough the centuries, you’d get lonesome ty of seriousness here, too: Boyer also with your family and friends gone. Even explains whether each idea is plausible, so, it could happen; scientists believe they what science says about it, and the “side can give humans a 1,200-year lifespan effects” of reality. someday. It could be cool to have a tail like a Eight-to-fourteen-year-olds who enjoy learning about monkey, or to pet a Woolly Mammoth (hey, new things, and those who ask “Why not?” and demand scientists may be able to bring them back answers, will find that just irresistible. For them, “What soon!). It might be fun to live in space, too, Would Happen?” is a book you can easily imagine

MOM SAYS YOU’VE GOT A BIG IMAGINATION.

“What Would Happen? Serious Answers to Silly Questions”

they’ll love.

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Title

eople ask us if we have a favorite season here on the farm. That is a hard question. We are lucky to live in northeast Pennsylvania where there are at least four solid seasons; five, if you count mud season! Lindsey and Jim had the kind of June day that makes you think late spring would make the cut for favorite season. As shown in Lindsey's bouquet, peonies, irises, delphinium, and false indigo were putting on the garden show. But the best show that June day was Lindsey, Jim, and their families. Mindy Lipcavage Photography perfectly captured the joy and fun on each side of the family throughout the celebration. Accentuate Caterer from Scranton and Community Bakery in Clarks Summit made for wonderfully satisfied guests, then EJ the DJ brought them to their feet on the barn floor! We are so grateful to couples like Lindsey and Jim who appreciate the beauty of northeast PA and bring their families to enjoy along with them. Cheers!

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Lacawac Sanctuary

LACAWAC SANCTUARY By LA Guzda

f you’re like me, Lacawac Sanctuary is one of those places that you plan to go to “one of these days.” Well, that day finally arrived for me, and I was so impressed with this amazing Pocono Secret! A neighbor invited me to join her Red Hat group – the Betty Boop Babes led by Queen Mother, Sue Cullen. We visited The Lodge decorated in a Victorian Holiday theme. Not always open to public visits, this was a truly a treat.

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The Sanctuary was originally part of a land purchase by Burton G. Morss in 1849. He later sold to William Connell, a businessman who served in the US House of Representatives, who died in 1909. In 1913, Louis A. Watres, a lawyer in Scranton who was involved with the Wallenpaupack power project, purchased much of the property for $15,000. The land served as a country getaway for years. Ironically, the family had to import deer at the time. The Lodge, built in 1903, had fallen into disarray. In 1948, L. Arthur Watres, grandson of Colonel Watres, and his mother moved to the estate. They immediately set about restoring the property including the beautiful Lodge. Their exquisite taste and attention to detail are quite evident. It

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can sleep up to thirty people comfortably, offering private rooms with double beds and several rooms – including a screened in porch –with bunk beds. Baths are shared as is the spacious communal kitchen. The Sanctuary is dedicated to education, preservation, research, and wellness. They are also an ideal location for your wedding or special event. The Lodge can be rented by the room, the first floor, or in its entirety. It is a beautiful facility in a stunning location on par with many national parks that I’ve visited. In addition to The Lodge, there is a renovated Ice House and a spacious Carriage Barn. The Sanctuary is currently 510 acres with over 9 miles of trails through mature forests and along glacial lakes and ponds. Open year-round, the

Sanctuary offers monthly hikes (except January). Hiking trails are open daily (except for hunting season). Hikers are encouraged to pack a lunch and enjoy the pristine and beautiful wooded trails. The Sanctuary is offering a Winter Watercolor class on Saturday, February 10, 2-4 p.m. and a Winter Ecology Hike on S.aturday, February 24, 10-12 pm. Visit their website at www.Lacawac.org. Or, better yet, visit the Sanctuary. It truly is a gem in our backyard. Follow us on Instagram @PoconoSecrets and on Facebook @PocoPike. Visit www.LAGuzda.com or www.PoconoSecrets.com.

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Outdoor Ramblings

Walking in a Winter Wonderland By Bill Deaton |

williamjdeaton@yahoo.com

t’s a chilly morning. As you open your car door at the trailhead parking lot, the crisp air stings your nostrils. Fresh snow hangs on hemlock boughs and masks marks of any antecedent travelers’ treading. It’s January in Northeastern Pennsylvania and the prefect time for a jaunt in the woods. Winter in these parts in fickle and unpredictable. A righteous storm followed by a plunge in the thermometer could mean epic snowshoeing conditions for weeks. Milder weather coupled with rain might mean muddy trails all winter. Regardless, there are ample places to get out and about even if you don’t have snowshoes or cross-country skis. Waterproof boots, some packable traction devices you can attach to your footwear, and perhaps trekking poles are all the specialized gear you really need to venture out under most circumstances. On most NEPA trails, you’re more likely to encounter ice and mud than six inches of snow. The first significant snowfall of the season will close the waterfall trails at Child’s Park in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area until April, but until that happens, the trails are open and can afford you with unique sights. However, many trails near other waterfalls in the Water Gap may only be subject to temporary closures. Further north, Prompton State Park can give you a chance to see icy sheets of frozen seeps along the cliffs. Paths along Saw Creek in the Delaware State Forest and Masthope Creek on Game Lands 316 can reveal interesting scenes as well.

When heading out, heed some of these tips: Go Early. If you must trek in the afternoon, take a headlamp. Dress in layers and avoid cotton. Pack extra socks and gloves. Drink water. Dehydration in winter can more quickly lead to hypothermia. Bring snacks and something to start a fire if necessary. Tell someone where you are going and when you plan to return.

Whether you seek some solace in Wayne or Pike counties, or venture to places further away, the sights and scenes of winter can make for a memorable trek. Head out, have fun, and enjoy the trail.

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1963

Classic Cars

Split Window

Chevrolet

Corvette By Arnie Milidantri

f you ask a group of car enthusiasts to name their favorite year Corvette, nine out of ten will say the 1963 split window. Some might even admit to having a Hallmark 1963 Corvette Christmas tree ornament (I have two, a silver and a gold one). The car’s design was totally new, and anyone with the “need for speed” had to have one! Some people are satisfied driving an original classic; some will tinker and modify it slightly to improve its handling and performance. Then there are those who just can’t help themselves and have to have the ultimate machine! Gerard W. Milidantri is one of these speed seekers. His car, featured this month, is a beautiful silver carbon fiber replica of an original 1963 Corvette, designed, engineered, and built to do one thing- go fast and feed its owner’s serious “need for speed”!

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Background The 1963 Corvette was completely changed from the 1962 Corvette, offering the new aerodynamic design, imaginative engineering, and adding an exciting new fastback coupe and new passenger comfort. The new ladder style frame allowed passengers to sit inside of the rails instead of on top of them. New independent suspension was now standard in both the front and rear for the 1963 Corvette, along with ball-race steering, an adjustable steering column, and wider wheel rims. Overall, the new Corvette’s weight was distributed in a different way. More than half the weight now rested on the rear wheels. The 1963 Corvette Stingray not only had a fantastic new design, but also newfound handling prowess. All 1963 cars had 327 cu in engines, which made 250 hp standard, with optional variants that made 300 hp, 340 hp, and a 360 hp. The 360 hp engine, the most powerful, was equipped with Rochester fuel injection. Chevrolet manufactured 21,513 of the 1963 models, up 50 % from the record-setting 1962 version. Production was divided almost evenly between the convertible (10,919) and the new coupe (10,594).

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Featured Car Gerard’s car has an interesting history; it was originally built in 2001 by Todd Bevis located in Texas for a client to run in NHRA COMP class with a small block Chevy engine. The car also sported a wild seven color graphic paint job. This owner only raced the car four times and put it up for sale. Gerard’s dad purchased the car, kept the wild paint job, put in a Steve Schmitt 585 cu. in. race engine, and with Gerard driving, started racing in Division 1 Top Sportsman class, running the quarter mile in 7.30s-.40s seconds. They later

upgraded the car to a Steve Schmitt’s 728 cu in engine and were soon running 7.00s seconds in the quarter mile. Gerard’s Dad sold the car in 2006 to a friend in New Jersey. Fast forward. Gerard’s Dad retired, and Gerard was busy with his young family and racing was on hold, but Gerard always keep track of the Corvette. It changed owners and states over the years, going from New Jersey to Minnesota to Idaho and then back to New Jersey. When it went back up for sale in 2016, the timing was right and Gerard finally got back the one that got away. Continued on page 48.

COMPARISON TABLE Component

Stock 1963 Corvette

Gerard’s 1963 Corvette

Manufactured by

GM Chevrolet division

Todd Bevis

Chassis

Steel ladder type

Full custom Chromoly tube

Body

Reinforced fiberglass

Carbon fiber replica

Wheel base

98 inches

105 inches

Suspension

Independent front and back.

Frt - Lamb strut suspension Rear 4 link suspension with computer controlled electric shocks

Rear End

Steel housing 370 std gears

Engine

Chevy 327 cu in 300 – 360 HP

Steve Schmitt 585 cu in using a Merlin block with Billet aluminum heads. 1200 HP

Transmission

3 Speed std, 4 speed std & 2 speed Powerglide optional

Custom 2 speed electronically controlled

Instrumentation

Manual gauge dash cluster

On board Data computer

Weight

3150

2150

Performance

1/4 mile in 14.5 sec 100 MPH

1/4 mile in 7.44 sec 184 MPH

Price coupe

$ 4,252.

Priceless to the owner!

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Mark Williams all aluminum housing with 4.56 gears

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Pets

Top 5 Pet New Year’s Resolutions

he New Year is upon us. It’s time to reflect upon the past year and determine what we want to achieve, change, or do better in the new year. This applies to all aspects of our lives - including our pets.

Here are five pet New Year’s resolutions you may want to implement. More Walks: Whether it’s a stroll around the neighborhood or a brisk walk through some hiking trails, a whopping 56% of pet parents surveyed 40 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |

made this their #1 pet resolution for this year. Most of those respondents have a goal of two walks per day! They cited exercise, maintaining their pack leader status, and bonding as their motivation for walking Fido more often.

Bonding Activities: More car rides, doggie bakery visits, beach outings, and family vacations are among the activities that respondents said they are resolved to doing more of with their four-legged family members. Getting out and spending some quality time with their pets to make that bond even stronger is at the top of pet parents minds this year!

Nail Trims & Teeth Brushing: Tied at #3 are these two often neglected hygiene “must dos.” Pet parents understand that keeping on top of your pet’s nail trims and choppers can prevent many serious health issues. Did you know that ideally your pet’s nails should be short

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enough so they don’t click on the floor and their teeth should brushed daily?

Training: We all can’t have a Lassie, but a good number of pet parents recognize that their pet needs some better training to curb some not-so-favorable behavior. From teaching better recall (getting your dog to come when called), to getting Rover not to jump on guests, or training your cat to stay off kitchen counters...pet parents are ready to put on their dog (or cat) whisperer hat!

Mya 8 month old kitten who is good with kids, cats, dogs, and is house trained. She is a HUGE snuggle bug.

Healthier Eating: Pet parents are definitely on board with feeding their pets better quality foods this year. They’ve been doing their homework and want to do all they can to ensure their furry friends live a long and healthy life. So, look out glutenfree, grain-free, dairy-free, soy-free, raw food, and probiotics - pet parents are coming to get you in 2018! About TripsWithPets.com TripsWithPets.com is the #1 online resource for pet travel. Named best pet travel site by Consumer Reports, TripsWithPets.com’s mission is to offer resources that ensure pets are welcome, happy, and safe while traveling. The website features a directory of pet friendly hotels and accommodations across the United States and Canada, as well as airline & car rental pet policies; pet friendly restaurants, beaches, and events; a user-friendly route search option; pet travel tips; pet travel supplies; and other pet travel resources. About the Author Kim Salerno is the President & Founder of TripsWithPets.com. She founded the pet travel site in 2003 and is an expert in the field of pet travel. Her popular web site features pet friendly hotels & accommodations across the US and Canada, along with other helpful pet travel resources. Her mission is to ensure that pets are welcome, happy, and safe in their travels.

Jim Bob 3 year old chocolate lab mix who is good with dogs and would do best in a home with children 12 and up. He is very sweet and loving; he loves long walks.

Available for adoption at Dessin Animal Shelter! Call 570-253-4037.

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EVENTS

Y O U

ENTERTAINMENT

ARTS

RECREATION

a+r+e JAN ’18

THE AREA’S GOOD STUFF

C O N N E C T E D

Ongoing Events DAILY Art-a-Pelago Loose Leaf Pages, Black & Brass Coffee Co., & D.J. Harvey Agency, Honesdale. One art gallery in three locations (Thasos-Lesvos-Paros). Info: waynecountyartsalliance.org. 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. DAILY Public Art Display REMAX Wayne, Honesdale. Art displays of local artists all year long. Info: 570-253-9566. DAILY Kids Art Display Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. Artwork created by students from all over Monroe County is featured in a month-long exhibit. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. WEEKLY Table Tennis in Honesdale Lakeside Elementary School, Honesdale. Join a group of table tennis enthusiasts who play weekly. Info: John Babyak, 570-253-4379 or jbabyak1@ptd.net.

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TUESDAYS Teen Club 3:30–5:30 p.m. Hawley Public Library, Hawley. Hang out, play games, socialize. Info: 570-226-4620 or www.waynelibraries.org. TUESDAYS Bingo American Legion Post 311, Hawley. Doors open 10:30 a.m., games begin at Noon. Info: legionpost311@qmail.com. TUESDAYS Bingo Texas #4 Fire Company, Honesdale. Doors open 5:30 p.m. Games start at 6:30 p.m. Plenty of parking. Info: 570-253-5467. WEDNESDAYS Story Time 10:30–11:30 a.m. Pleasant Mount Public Library, Pleasant Mount. Bring your young children & grandchildren to the library for a fun-filled story time. Included will be crafts, games, songs &, of course, a story. Info: 570-448-2573 or www.waynelibraries.org. WEDNESDAYS Lego Club 4:30–5:30 p.m. Pike County Public Library, Milford. Create, share ideas, make new friends. Free & open to the public, registration requested. Info: www.pcpl.org or Facebook. Registration: 570-296-8211. THURSDAYS Writer’s Retreat 10:30–11:30 a.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Writing seminar — share ideas, memories & life experi-

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EVENTS ences in written words. Limited to 12 participants. Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org. THURSDAYS Pub-O-Lympics 8 p.m. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Hilarious combination of trivia & physical challenges. Compete with teams to win a gift certificate, gold medal & bragging rights. Info: 570-226-2124. FRIDAYS Job Search and Resume Assistance 1–3 p.m. Hawley Public Library, Haw-

Info: 570-226-2124 or silverbirchesresortpa.com. SATURDAYS Saturday Family Story Time 11 a.m.–Noon. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Join Miss Melanie for a story, followed by a fun craft for the whole family to enjoy. Info: 570-253-1220 or www.waynelibraries.org. SATURDAYS FREE Tastings and Demos Noon–2 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Info: 570-390-4440.

JAN. 1

Christmas Bird Count 8 a.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. 117th year of National Audubon Society’s Christmas Bird Count, the longest running Citizen Science survey in the world. It provides critical data on population trends. Register for the area around your house & participate from the comfort of your living room, or venture out into a different part of the count circle. Beginners paired with a more experienced birder if possible. Pre-registration required. Free. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

ley. A professional from Pike County Workforce Development is available. Info: 570-226-4620 or www.waynelibraries.org. 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. FRIDAYS Live Music 8 p.m.–Midnight. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music.

SATURDAYS Live Music 9 p.m.–1 a.m. The Dock on Wallenpaupack, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music. Info: 570-226-2124 or silverbirchesresortpa.com.

January 1– January 9 JAN. 1 Brunch at the Inn The Settlers Inn, Hawley. Info & reservations: 570-226-2993.

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EVENTS JAN. 1 New Year’s Day Caviar Brunch at the Inn 9:30 a.m.–1:30 p.m. Stroudsmoor Country Inn, Stroudsburg. Buffet brunch. Info: 570-421-6431. JAN. 1 New Year’s Day Grand Buffet 3–9 p.m. Stroudsmoor Country Inn, Stroudsburg. Fisherman’s station, buffet table with entrée selections, & end it all with Stroudsmoor’s sweet confections. Info: 570-421-6431. JAN. 6 Main Street Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Farm to table eats from Anthill Farm Kitchen, locally grown produce & other artisanal goods. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. JAN. 6 Artist “Meet & Greet” 1–4 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Meet Guy D’Alessandro, who paints realistic nature scenes & wildlife. Info: 570-251-1181 or TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. JAN. 6 Cabin Fever Event 4–6 p.m. Artists’ Market Community Center, Shohola. Don’t wait out the long winter months cursing the cold & watching the Weather Channel. Join the artists & guests attending a multi-media event that will feature artwork, poetry, performance art, sculpture & music. Info: 845-557-8713 or artistsmarketcc.com. JAN. 6 Colebrook Road 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. A standout bluegrass string band of five individuals whose sum is more than the total of their talents, with intricate & dynamic arrangements filled with both vocal & instrumental harmony. 44 | CONNECTIONS MAGAZINE |

Reservations & info: info@thecoopergeproject.org or 570-253-2020.

January 10–January 19 JAN. 10 Open Mic Night 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Hosted by Janet Burgan. Come to perform or come to listen & watch. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. JAN. 12 Sounds Like Teen Spirit 7–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Open mic night provides an opportunity to showcase the talent of our community’s youth. School-aged students are encouraged to share their performing art on stage: guitar, rap, stand-up comedy, poetry, singing, juggling or keyboards. All ages invited to watch & enjoy. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. JAN. 13 Steampunk 101 Noon–2 p.m. Loose Leaf Pages, Inc., Honesdale. Want to know the difference between a dirigible & a didgeridoo? Want to get a head start on 2018’s Steampunk Weekend in Honesdale? Come learn more about Steampunk with the Honesdale Steampunk Club. Enjoy some tea while you learn about the genre, aesthetic & social movement. Info: 570-253-0907. JAN. 13 Second Saturday Honesdale 6–9 p.m. Downtown Honesdale. Festivaltown happening filled with music, art, comedy & community support. Info on Facebook. JAN. 14, 21, 27, 28 Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Enjoy the

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EVENTS JAN. 17 Acoustic Bluegrass Jam 7–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented by The Cooperage Project. Guitar-strummin’, banjo-pickin’, closeharmony singin’ open jam led by Ron Penska & Buckshot Jenkins. All levels of players welcome. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

January 20–January 31

JAN. 13 Third “High School Emerging Artist Showcase” Noon–4 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. Artists on hand to mentor the young talents. Prizes awarded for 1st, 2nd & 3rd place students (the artists judge). Winners get to hang their art in the gallery for 6 months. Come encourage local high school students. Info: 570-251-1181 or TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. winter woods with beginner ski lessons. 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: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. JAN. 15 Wayne Highlands Quilt Guild 6:30 p.m. Community Room, Chamber of Commerce, Honesdale. Welcoming quilters all ages & skill levels. Make new friends who share your passion for quilting. Show & Tell & refreshments. Info: Deb, 570-224-4914 or debszoo@gmail.com.

JAN. 20 Bridge the Gap: Ski the McDade Trail — Cross Country Skiing 9 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Enjoy the winter woods with beginner ski lessons. Learn the basics of cross country skiing. Skis, poles & boots provided; register with shoe size to guarantee a spot. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. JAN. 20 Main Street Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. See description at Jan. 6. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. JAN. 20–21 Winter Lights Festival Ann Street Park, Milford. Enjoy public skating sessions & torchlight skating in the park as well as the Annual Mac ’N Chile contest at the Dimmick Inn. Info & weather updates: Facebook. JAN. 21 The Slambovian Underground and Phoebe Legere 5–8 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Melodic avant-folk conjures with an exotic instrumental arsenal & palette of styles Legere’s family-friendly ensemble blends elements of Americana, Cajun, New Orleans jazz, country, folk & blues into a spicy gumbo. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

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EVENTS JAN. 21, 27, 28 Cross Country Skiing 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 14. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. JAN. 25 Shakespeare on Film: Love’s Labour’s Lost 7 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Introduced with a brief background & orientation. Followed by impressions & sharing. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. JAN. 27 Eagle Watch 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Visit the Mongaup Reservoir, the Delaware River & the Delaware Highlands Conservancy to look for winter residents & nesting pairs. Bring a lunch, camera & warm clothes. Call to reserve a seat in the van; maximum of 18 spaces. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. JAN. 27 Cross Country Skiing 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. See description at Jan. 14. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. JAN. 27 “Alcohol Ink” Workshop 1–3 p.m. The Art Factory of White Mills, White Mills. With Jane Brennan. Preregistration required: TheArtFactoryofWhiteMills.com. JAN. 28 Ice Tee Golf Tournament 8 a.m.–2 p.m. In front of Silver Birches Resort, Hawley. Nine holes of golf atop frozen Lake Wallenpaupack (weather & safe ice permitting). Info: 570-226-3191 or www.northernpoconoschamber.com.

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JAN. 27–28

Wally Ice Fest Around Lake Wallenpaupack. Celebrates winter fun in the Pocono Mountains with everything from ice sculptures to a curling demonstration event, to the two main events: Pocono Pond Hockey Tournament & Ice Tee Golf. The setting is on top of a frozen Lake Wallenpaupack, near the dike at the northeastern end. Info: www.wallyicefest.com or Facebook.

JAN. 28 Animal Tracking 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Explore PEEC’s natural areas for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, chew marks & other signs animals leave as they travel through the fields & forests of the Poconos, which give us glimpses into their lives. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org. JAN. 28 MiZ “A Year Ago Today” Acoustic Album Release Show 3 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Warm soulful acoustic music with NE Pa. native Mike Mizwnski supporting his third studio album “A Year Ago

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EVENTS Today.” Kids under 15 free. Info: 570253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org or www.mikemizmusic.com. JAN. 29 Bridge the Gap: Intro to Snowshoeing 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Learn the basics of snowshoes & enjoy a winter walk along the McDade Trail. No experience necessary; PEEC provides the equipment & teaches you everything you need to know. Register early to reserve a pair of snowshoes & guarantee a spot. Free. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

February 1–February 4 FEB. 1 Supper Club: An Interactive Meal 6–9 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Attendees meet and help prepare dinner, a side dish or salad and dessert with a lesson and some hands-on participation. BYOB. Space limited. Reservations required: info@thecooperageproject.org or 570-253-2020. FEB. 3 Vintage Jewelry Show 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sparta Avenue Stage, Sparta, NJ. Vintage rhinestone, silver

and bead costume jewelry, many hallmarked, and many other retro material pieces and designs, all made in America. Open free to the public. Info: 201213-2146 or simmonsjo@yahoo.com. FEB. 3 Art Opening: “Terratracks” 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center, Stroudsburg. The world’s greatest trekking locations qualify for that appellation largely because they are visually stunning. See the works of Ray Roper in a fascinating photography exhibit. Opening reception. Exhibit runs through the 28th. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org. FEB. 3 Main Street Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. See description at Jan. 6. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org. FEB. 4 Little Eco Explorers: Eagles 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Fun hands-on program for young children, with a story, craft & activity focusing on Bald Eagles. Call for details. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

FEB. 3

E a g l e Wa t ch 9 a.m.–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Visit the Mongaup Reservoir, the Delaware River & the Delaware Highlands Conservancy to look for winter residents & nesting pairs. Bring a lunch, camera & warm clothes. Call to reserve a seat in the van; maximum of 18 spaces. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

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Good Stuff

New Future for the Carbondale Grand Hotel

r. Rob Grimm, of Grimm Construction, is pleased to announce that an investment group including Justin Genzlinger, CEO of Settlers Hospitality Group, has acquired the Carbondale Grand Hotel in Carbondale, PA effective November 15th, 2017. Mr. Grimm states, “This is a fine opportunity for our long standing family business to invest in the neighboring community and the future of Carbondale where we live and work.” Grimm & Genzlinger, both family business owners in NEPA, engaged Settlers Hospitality of Hawley, PA to manage the property including the hotel, restaurant and catering operations. This team brings an expertise in the boutique sector of hotel management that will help to continue the economic development and revitalization of downtown Carbondale. May 2018 is the targeted date to complete the relaunch of the hotel under the new name Hotel Anthracite. The concept for the rebranded hotel will be a focus on the area’s coal mining and cultural heritage. “Our goal is to highlight the rich history of the city, creatively using that idea to display signature pieces in the hotel”, says Grant Genzlinger who will partner with local historians to assemble a collection of historic photography and artifacts to display throughout the property. Jeanne Genzlinger will incorporate this idea within the interior design concept to define the boutique ambience of the hotel. In addition to the 61 guest rooms, the hotel offers an outdoor courtyard, fitness center, 500 seat event center and rooftop deck which is popular for its music concert series. “I’m thrilled to bring our hospitality group to Hotel Anthracite catering to local corporations, leisure travelers and community stakeholders,” says Justin Genzlinger, and “our executive team of Chris Simpler, General Manager and Ralph Del Prete, Food and Beverage Director will bring a high level of energy and experience to this project.” The hotel, restaurant and banquet center will remain open during the transition process. View SettlersHospitality.com to learn more about their properties including Settlers Inn, Ledges Hotel and Silver Birches Resort.

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Chevrolet

Corvette

Continued from page 39.

Gerard worked tirelessly updating his Vette. He installed a new Steve Schmitt 585 cu. in. engine, a new racing Powerglide trans, and spent numerous hours getting it just right. He along with his friends and invaluable pit crew, Anthony Barbato and Charlie Laria, are racing COMP with NETO the Northeast Timing Association. It’s a nostalgia club and they are having a blast! In their fist year, the best run was 7.44 seconds doing 184 mph in the quarter mile. The year was truly a learning one, getting used to the car, dialing it in, etc. He finished 9th in points and is confident the car has more speed to feed his need!

The Owner Some people love golf; some love tennis or the challenge of skiing down a mountain; but for some, strapping themselves into a ridiculously fast car is their idea of a relaxing sport. Gerard is one of those people! He has been a car guy raised in a car family headed by a car Dad. He loves the challenge of building and drag racing fast cars, and with the support of his family is having fun. Gerard is currently Director of OEM Operations for the Chromalloy Corporation. Throughout the past twenty-two years, he has worked for a variety of companies specializing in mechanical engineering for the aerospace industry. His experience and skills acquired with the various aspects of tool and die work, machinist functions, welding, and sheet metal fabrication are invaluable and evident in the meticulous construction and fabrication detail of his 1963 Vette race car. Gerard lives in Suffern, NY, and when not working or active helping raise his young family with his wife, Andrea (who has resigned to herself that her car will never be in the garage), he can usually be found in his garage/shop tinkering with his ‘1963 Vette. If you happen to be a local Northeast drag strip and see a sharp looking 1963 Silver Corvette coupe with a guy smiling from ear to ear, stop by and say “Hi,” and share a dream!