Connections Magazine - March 2015 Issue

ZEROING IN ON ZILLOW:

How Technology Is Helping You Do Your Real Estate Homework – P 5

SOCIAL SECURITY:

How To Get The Most Out Of Your Benefits – P 9

MARCH 2015

AN ESTATE PLANNING RECIPE: How To Make Sure You Have All The Ingredients – P 10

Since 1998

Country Living...

Priceless

Insights From Local Real Estate Experts

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march ‘15

contents

departments ArtScene

28

Ask the Vet

18

Behavioral Medicine

20

Book Corner

14

Classics

17

Events Calendar

24

Film Review

14

Finance

10

Healthy Geezer

21

Hearing Column

23

Laser Vision

22

Living Green

13

Outdoor Ramblings

16

Pocono Secrets

15

Reflections of Prison

12

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connectionsmagazine MARCH ’15

VOL. 17 NO. 3

features

5

ZEROING IN ON ZILLOW Constant advances in technology make it easier for us to do the simplest tasks, from buying groceries to finding a destination ten minutes away. The housing market isn’t any different, and websites like Zillow make it possible for people to do all of their “real estate homework” prior to speaking with a licensed real estate professional.

6

COUNTRY LIVING... PRICELESS

9

GETTING THE MOST OUT OF SOCIAL SECURITY RETIREMENT BENEFITS

10

Do high transportation costs deter people who work in metro areas from wanting to live in the scenic Pocono Mountains?

Are these costs a deciding factor with people selling their homes here and moving closer to where they work in the city? Several local real estate experts offer their insights on the challenges they find selling “country” properties when people travel to jobs within the tri-state area.

Too many people end up getting less than what is due them from Social Security when they retire because they don’t know the rules and the real financial impacts, says independent retirement advisor, Gary Marriage, Jr.

AN ESTATE PLANNING RECIPE Unlike cooking, baking is an exact science. To create a great cookie or pie, you must follow the recipe to the letter. There is little room for deviation. For many, fresh baked treats evoke fond memories of childhood and the eager anticipation of waiting for grandmother to take that delicious smelling morsel out of the oven.

Just $36 per year.

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connections

[YOUR] NEPA MAGAZINE 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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zillow

real estate

Zeroing in on Zillow

By Allison Mowatt

C

onstant advances in technology make it easier for us to do the simplest tasks, from buying groceries to finding a destination ten minutes away. The housing market isn’t any different, and websites like Zillow make it possible for people to do all of their “real estate homework” prior to speaking with a licensed real estate professional.

Founded in 2005, Zillow is the leading online real estate marketplace on the Web and mobile apps, where users can easily find information on homes, townhouses, condos, and apartments. Zillow has data on millions of homes across the country, not just those currently for sale but also those not yet on the market, such as pre-foreclosures. In addition to giving value estimates of homes, the site offers value changes of each home in a given time frame, aerial views of the homes, and prices of comparable homes in the area.

Research indicates Zillow’s website activity continues to grow each year with increased numbers of visitors. Over the past several years, Zillow launched new features such as mobile apps, an online advice service, real estate market reports, and a mortgage marketplace.

How do local realtors feel about sites like Zillow ?

Bridget Gelderman, a Realtor at Davis R. Chant Realtors Hawley office, offers her insights and opinions: “Websites like Zillow, Realtor.com, and Trulia can be helpful in the initial search to locate homes and narrow down areas of interest; however, the information is often not always accurate on these websites. These websites do not play by the National Association of Realtors Code of Ethics, and for consumers, this is a big deal. Zillow falls short with its valuations on homes. These “Zestimates” can be way off. For example, in Wayne County, the Zestimate Accuracy Star Rating is a “1” star out of 5 stars, 5 being the best. Basically, they are unable to compute Zestimate accuracy yet they still put a Zestimate out there. Pike County is a “2” star rating. Trulia.com was recently acquired by Zillow. This highlights a wide range of features like school information, crime, and tips on their homepage. This site’s photo feed pulls very poor quality photos.

“The bottom line is while all of these websites are helpful, go directly to a broker’s website to get additional information on the

home or market and then use a Realtor to navigate through the home buying or selling process. For most people, buying a home is the largest financial investment they will ever make. There are big decisions that have to be made, and emotions come into each and every decision, both on the buyer side and the seller side. Having an expert help lead through the process is critical in securing the best deal with the least amount of headaches.”

Bridget Points Out Other Key Factors: When you work with a Realtor, their fiduciary responsibility is to look out for the customer’s best interests since they subscribe to a strict Code of Ethics.

There are ever changing rules and regulations from changes on how to obtain a mortgage to zoning issues. The Realtor assists with all of these issues.

There are pros and cons to each property, and a Realtor can help direct the customer through the ins and outs of a community, township and a,ny issues that could be possible within the construction of a home. They have a resource of experts that provides invaluable information before spending a life’s savings.

When it comes to pricing and selling your home, a Realtor has access to tax records and data that is current and can provide a customer with a Comparable Market Analysis (CMA) of a recommended list price for a home based on what has happened in the market.

Realtors can help lead through negotiations and contracts. Once the excitement has settled from finding the right home, the real work begins. Navigating the negotiations and making sure the customers understand what they’re signing is a large part of a Realtor’s job. They help throughout the entire process and keep all people involved on track for a smooth closing.

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A Local Couple Finds Their Dream House on Zillow Colleen and Steve Berlen are recent new homeowners and used Zillow to find the home they’ve always wanted. The couple lives in Bangor, PA, with their son, Logan.

The house they purchased last November sits on about four acres and is an expansive home with five bedrooms and two and a half bathrooms.

“We love our new home,” said Colleen. “It has beautiful landscaping out front and a fenced vegetable garden. We wanted more land and interior space and this is perfect. It sits back from the road, and we like the privacy aspect, too.

We used Zillow to look at houses years before we bought the one we recently moved into. So when we were looking for a house that would fit all of our needs, we used Zillow again. It’s one of my favorite sites because it’s user friendly, and there are pictures of the interior and exterior of the houses. The website also provides information about the area you’re interested in, and this is helpful when researching places to relocate.

Once we found our picture perfect house, we contacted our Realtor to set up a time to see the house. We decided to put in an offer since the house was everything we envisioned. The homeowners accepted. The entire process took a little over a month, and it wasn’t long before we moved in.”

While Colleen and Steve initially found their home on Zillow, they followed up by contacting their Realtor and finalizing the process with a trusted professional.

To contact Bridget Gelderman at Davis R. Chant Realtors, call (570) 226-4518, email bgelderman@chantre.com, or visit www.chantre.com.

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real estate

country living

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real estate

country living

Tim Meagher Broker/Owner at RE/MAX Wayne, Honesdale

“

At RE/MAX, we’ve seen a small shift locally with people wanting to save on travel time and costs,” said Meagher.

“For instance, last year we helped a family sell their home in Hawley and purchase a home in Cherry Ridge Township on the southern side of Honesdale because it was fifteen miles closer to a job in Monroe County. We also helped another family sell their home in Waymart and purchase one in the Milford area because it would save sixty miles round trip in travel time and costs when commuting to Brooklyn on a daily basis. This small shift isn’t making it difficult to find buyers for our properties, and we don’t have a lot of people selling for this reason. There are many reasons why our area of the Northern Poconos in Wayne and Pike counties is a great place live, work, raise a family, retire, play, and explore the endless recreational activities we have to offer.”

“In the ever changing world of real estate where relationships can be lost to technology, we continue to stick to our core values,” Meagher emphasized. “As a local familyowned company with three RE/MAX offices and over forty agents and staff covering Northeastern Pennsylvania, we strive on treating all of our customers like family. Through our process, if we find the home they want is too far away from their work and the cost of commuting is going to hurt them in the long run, we will advise them that we may need to look at homes closer to their place of business.”

Meagher reveals, “We track our advertising and target buyers in Connecticut, New York, New Jersey, and Philadelphia. We’re aware of where our buyers are coming from, and we can invest more money into the best strategies that produce the most buyers for our listings.”

(570) 253-9566 www.remaxwayne.com

Thomas R. Wilkins CEO/ Broker at Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates, Stroudsburg

“

There are two main reasons why families still choose to live in beautiful Northeastern Pennsylvania even if they have a long commute to their job in the city: affordability and technology,” stated Wilkins.

The cost of living is always more expensive in New York and New Jersey and continues to rise. People choose to live in the Pocono Mountains where the cost of living is cheaper but still commute to work even if they’re looking at high transportation costs.

Wilkins further commented, “From what I see, people don’t complain about this. Those who live in the Pocono Mountains that’s closer to the city, such as the Milford or Stroudsburg areas, see it as a balance whether they’re driving from those areas or happen to live ten miles outside of New York, as in Staten Island. For them, it ends up being the same hour and a half commute. People purchasing homes here remains popular, and it’s not going to go away.”

With regards to technology, Wilkins said, “With advanced technology, people don’t necessarily have to drive into the city every day.

They can either work from home, or their jobs allow them to double up on shifts so they only have to go into the city two or three times a week.” Some examples of these jobs are law enforcement, health care providers, and firemen.

Interestingly enough, people, who lived in the city and had a shorter commute to work who now live in Northeastern Pennsylvania and have a longer drive, miss the vast offerings of food available in a metro area.

“That’s what people talk about; not how expensive it is to get to work,” Wilkins chuckled.

Wilkins closed by saying, “I don’t think high transportation costs will have a negative impact on our real estate sales as we continue moving forward.”

John Schmitt Vice President at Davis R. Chant Realtors, Honesdale

“

At Chant, we haven’t experienced any major issues with transportation costs affecting our sales, “said Schmitt.

“Approximately 70% of our sales are second home buyers who have purchased farms, country estates, and vacation homes here in Northeastern Pennsylvania. These buyers are families who primarily live in the metro areas of New York, Philadelphia, and Connecticut.

They enjoy the mountains on the weekends and extended vacations, or in some cases, are looking for retirement homes for the future.”

Schmitt continues, “The other 30% are primary home buyers who, in most cases, live and work locally or carry on business activities in their homes and/or cottage industry. In some cases, they will commute back to the metro areas a few days a week. We’ve found our customer’s decision whether or not to purchase in our region is not based on the distance to town, but rather on the beauty and charm of our area.

This is the 51st year Davis R. Chant Realtors has been matching buyers with sellers of country properties in Northeastern Pennsylvania. Over 25,000 properties have changed hands, through our hands and we plan on continuing our extensive marketing programs in the metro areas,” Schmitt concludes.

(570) 253-4191 www.chantre.com Of course, some people decide to live closer to their jobs in the city, for a variety of reasons, but the appeal of living in the breathtakingly unparalleled beauty of the Pocono Mountains isn’t lost on others who find you can’t put a price on a “country” quality of life.

(570) 421-8950 www.wilkinsandassociates.bhgre.com

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real estate

combining forces

COMBINING FORCES: TRETHEWAY & SCULL ASSOCIATES, LLC Architect • Consultants Construction Management

S

andi Scull, owner of Consulting & Construction Services based in Honesdale, PA, announces the partnership with Barry Tretheway, architect, and the formation of their new company- TRETHEWAY & SCULL ASSOCIATES, LLC. Ms. Scull, a Mansfield University graduate, brings forty years of architectural design and construction management experience to the partnership, including nursing home and health field design, building retrofit and reconstruction, ADA compliance, and historic preservation. Most recently, she designed and oversaw the construction of the first mikvah in the area for Camp Moshava. She has a green environment approach to building techniques and materials and is a designated designer for Polysteel construction, using styrofoam building components.

Mr. Tretheway, a graduate of Cornell University School of Architecture and formerly from Stroudsburg, PA, is a registered architect in PA and SC. He has spent recent years in Naples, FL, and Hilton Head Island, SC, designing and building custom homes, as well as several church, commercial, and school projects. His flair for creating open, naturally lit spaces has brought numerous design honors, including the “Home and Condo” Florida dream home of the year in Naples, FL. Tretheway and Scull have had suc-

cessful collaborations in the past, including the Chateau at Camelback- a 120 room hotel, and have provided clients with an experienced team to guide projects from the first idea on paper to the final product completion, a prime example being the design and construction of a 6660 SF custom luxury home near Stroudsburg, PA. Barry and Sandi each bring unique skill sets, resources, and experience to the partnership, which has allowed the company to expand its capacity to handle larger, more complex projects and to offer start to finish expertise for their clients.

Sandi and Barry both reiterate the company philosophy- “Having all essential services in-house assures our client that their project will be managed professionally from the first concept to ribbon cutting.”

Services include architectural and construction services for all types of residential, commercial, industrial, and educational projects, large and small. Working in both AutoCAD and Chief Architect, drawing production can be expedited. We also can provide 3-D modeling, allowing the client to “see” the proposed project in realistic visuals.

“We would be pleased to meet with you and discuss your upcoming projects.”

Contact Information: Tretheway & Scull Associates, LLC 69 Lightning Drive; Honesdale, PA 18431 Phone: 570-253-5788 trethscull@gmail.com www.treth-scull.com

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social security

money

Financial Expert Offers Tips for

Getting the Most Out of Social Security Retirement Benefits

T

oo many people end up getting less than what is due them from Social Security when they retire because they don’t know the rules and the real financial impacts, says independent retirement advisor, Gary Marriage, Jr. “There’s a lot of talk about the future of Social Security, but we still have this benefit, and if you’re 50 or older, you should be planning to make the best use of it,” Marriage says.

Marriage, CEO of Nature Coast Financial Advisors (www.naturecoastfinancial.com), which specializes in maximizing retirees’ finances, shares important facts to keep in mind as you plan for how Social Security will factor in your retirement:

1

“Can I convince you to wait a few more years?”

Many people are understandably eager to retire as early as possible; others fear Social Security retirement benefits will suddenly vanish, so they want to get what they can as quickly as possible – at age 62. But if you’re counting on those benefits as part of your income, you should wait until you’re eligible for the full amount. That’s age 66 if you were born 1943-54, and age 67 if you were born in 1960 and later. If you’re in the older group, retiring at 62 cuts your benefits by a quarter; for the younger group it’s nearly a third. “Chances are, you’ll be better off mentally and physically if you wait anyway,” Marriage says.

“Many studies show that people live longer and are more vital the longer they remain employed, more importantly.”

The reductions in Social Security add up to a considerable sum.

2

The average retirement benefit in June of this year was $1,222.43, according to the Social Security Administration. People born in the 1943-54 group who are eligible for that amount at age 66 will get just

$916.82 a month if they retire at 62. If they live to age 90, that’s a total of $308,052.36. By waiting just four years, they’ll net an additional $44,007.48. Waiting until age 70 can make you eligible for a bump in benefits – up to 8 percent a year – but there are no increases if you delay longer.

3

If divorced, were you married for at least 10 years?

Were you married for a decade and aren’t currently remarried? You may be eligible to receive benefits based on the former spouse’s work record.

Here are some of the other requisites: you must be age 62 or older, and the former spouse must be entitled to receive his or her own benefits. If the former spouse is eligible for a benefit, but has not yet applied for it, the divorced spouse can still receive a benefit. Additionally, two years must pass after the divorce.

About Gary Marriage Gary Marriage, Jr. is the founder and CEO of Nature Coast Financial Advisors, which educates retirees on how to protect their assets, increase their income, and reduce their taxes. Marriage is a national speaker, delivering solutions for pre-retirees, business owners, and seniors on the areas affecting their retirement and estates. He is an approved member of the National Ethics Bureau, and is featured in “America’s Top Hometown Financial Advisors 2011.” Marriage is also the founder of Operation Veteran Aid, an advocate for war-time veterans and their families.

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money

estate planning

An Estate Planning

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

U

nlike cooking, baking is an exact science. To create a great cookie or pie, you must follow the recipe to the letter. There is little room for deviation. For many, fresh baked treats evoke fond memories of childhood and the eager anticipation of waiting for grandmother to take that delicious smelling morsel out of the oven. I do not have such memories unfortunately. My grandmother was not a good baker. If she did not have a particular ingredient that the recipe called for, she would substitute another. No vanilla extract, no problem. Let’s add caramel.

She would even leave essential ingredients out of the recipe altogether. Butter, anyone? I loved my grandmother, but I really could not eat her cookies. I often use my grandmother’s baking as an analogy when I review client’s estate plans.

Estate planning is more than just having a signed Last Will and Testament. A number of other items are needed for an estate plan recipe to be “complete” and not half-baked.

Powers of Attorney Signed and executed Powers of Attorney are an essential element to an estate plan. The documents allow for the creator (the “Principal”) to appoint someone to act on his or her behalf (the “Agent”). Powers of Attorney come in two flavors - Financial and Health Care. They are effective during the life of the Principal and end upon his or her death, at which time the Last Will and Testament becomes the operative document.

For financial matters, the Agent designated in the Power of Attorney steps into the “shoes” of the Principal’s every day monetary life. The Agent, depending on how broadly the document is drafted, can sell the family home, write checks, pay bills, and even make gifts of property. In a time of crisis, a valid Financial Power of Attorney ensures that the Principal’s financial obligations are being met without interruption. However, the Agent must always protect the financial best interests of the Principal, so it does not give him or her the ability to use the Principal’s monies at the Mohegan Sun. The other Power of Attorney is the Healthcare Power of Attorney. This Power of Attorney provides that in the event the Principal is unable to make or understand matters regarding his or her medical treatment, the designated Agent is then substituted to make limited health care decisions and communicate with the Principal’s health care providers. Under HIPAA rules, health care providers can only talk to and release information to Authorized Agents under a valid Health Care Power of Attorney. A Health Care Power of Attorney in Pennsylvania is normally executed in conjunction with a Living Will. The Living Will outlines to the Agent and medical providers the Principal’s desire regarding the initiation or withholding of life-sustaining treatments, like CPR and Chemotherapy.

Proper Beneficiary Designations An often overlooked, but extremely important facet of a successful estate plan is the proper beneficiary designation of financial accounts, especially retirement accounts.

In general, if these accounts have

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named a beneficiary, they are not part of the “probate” estate and as a result, not governed by the terms of a Last Will and Testament. The person selected upon the opening of the account at the financial institution will receive the property after death.

If improperly designated or neglected when completing an estate plan, the account proceeds may pass to the wrong heir, as well as possibly cause negative income tax complications.

Last Will and Testament Finally, the icing on the cake for a complete estate plan is a Last Will and Testament. A Last and Will Testament is more than a document outlining who gets the house and car. It provides for the naming of a person to oversee the management and distribution of the estate’s assets (i.e., the Executor/Executrix). A Last Will and Testament also allows for the appointment of a guardian to care for any minor children. When a person passes away without a Last Will and Testament, the state’s particular law will determine how the estate’s assets are distributed. If the estate has minor children, a judge who does not know the family’s circumstances will determine the proper guardian.

An estate plan is too important to be baked like my grandmother’s cookies. If you are considering putting together an estate plan, it is recommended to consult one of the tremendous estate professionals in this area because as I like to say, “Local advice is often best.”

The Honesdale National Bank and its employees do not render legal, tax, or accounting advice. Accordingly, you and your attorneys and accountants are ultimately responsible for determining the legal, tax, and accounting consequences of any suggestions offered herein. Furthermore, all decisions regarding financial, tax, and estate planning will ultimately rest with you and your legal, tax, and accounting advisors. Any description pertaining to federal 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 avoiding any penalties that may be imposed by the Internal Revenue Code. This disclosure is made in accordance with the rules of Treasury Department Circular 230 governing standards of practice before the Internal Revenue Service.

company stock

money

Don’t Overload Your Portfolio with

Company Stock –Provided by Michael Krupa

M

any companies offer their employees a stock purchase plan, enabling them to purchase company stock at a discounted price and invest in the company they work for.

While this can frequently be a great way to invest in the stock market, as an investor you need to question whether it’s good to load up too much on your company’s stock — or any company’s stock, for that matter.

Investing in your company may be a good idea, but you need to make sure you set some guidelines and strategies to diversify your holdings, not only among individual stocks other than your company’s, but among industry sectors as well.

Although diversification does not ensure a profit or protect against loss, doing so may help reduce the effects of the price fluctuations that will undoubtedly occur in your portfolio.

As you decide whether to participate in your employer’s stock purchase plan, keep in mind that owning too much of any single stock is rarely a good idea. While you may be confident of your company’s prospects for success or you want to demonstrate your loyalty to your employer, you need to recognize that you may take on additional risk if you don’t diversify. Also, as you evaluate your holdings, don’t overlook the potential danger in concentrating your investments within one industry, even if you spread your investments among several stocks in that industry.

Oftentimes, when bad news hits one stock in an industry, it can also have a similar impact on other companies within the same sector.

So, how can you help reduce the risk in your portfolio? One way to help protect yourself is to diversify your portfolio among several stocks.

In addition to your company’s stock, you should try to broaden your equity holdings to include 20 to 30 stocks in at least six to eight industry sectors with different investment charac-

teristics. Keep in mind that no more than 25% of your total portfolio value should be invested in any one sector.

Furthermore, another good rule of thumb is to have no more than 15% of your total portfolio — including investments in your 401(k) and IRA — invested in one single stock. You should strive to maintain a balanced asset allocation with not only stocks in different industries, but also bonds and other investment vehicles as well. Keep in mind that an investment in stocks will fluctuate in value, and when sold might be worth more or less than the original investment.

Once you have reviewed your portfolio and evaluated your investment objectives, you may realize that you have a “concentrated position”— that is, you have too much of your holdings in a single stock or you are heavily invested in a single industry sector. If this is the case, it is a good idea to contact a Financial Advisor and discuss strategies for reducing your concentrated holdings. There are a variety of strategies that can help you reduce the risk involved in having concentrated positions in both taxable and tax-deferred accounts.

Your investment objectives, risk tolerance, and time horizon will dictate the appropriate asset balance for your financial situation. Because each and every investor has different investment needs, seeking professional assistance is usually the best alternative to avoid keeping your eggs all in one basket.

This article was written by Wells Fargo Advisors and provided courtesy of Michael J Krupa, Krupa Wealth Management, 614 Church Street, Honesdale PA 570-253-0121.

Investments in securities and insurance products are: NOT FDIC-INSURED/NOT BANKGUARANTEED/MAY LOSE VALUE. Investment products and services are offered through Wells Fargo Advisors Financial Network, LLC (WFAFN), and Member SIPC. Krupa Wealth Management is a separate entity from WFAFN.

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reflections

from inside

“Dirty Little Secret” Reflections of a Prison Inmate

By Terry Mooney

L

ast time she was here at the Pike County Correctional Facility, this courageous woman told her story for the magazine. Below, she offers a sequel that includes redemption and healing.

My Story When I was released this last time from the Pike County Correctional Facility, after having participated in and taken seriously every program and counseling session that was offered, I went home to an older person who was paying me to take care of him and an otherwise empty house. My only daughter is grown and we are not close. I was never there for her emotionally nor my two sons. I paid child support because I was required to or I would go to jail. But I lived my own life, and their father and stepmother really raised them.

Only a month after release, my daughter posted a message on Facebook asking if I was home. I told her that I was and to come on over to the house. Right away, she had me sit down and told me not to say a word. She proceeded to rip me apart about eighteen years of not being there for her. She was born on Mother’s Day, and on her sweet sixteen birthday, I was in jail. On her eighteenth birthday, I was in jail. On her prom, I was in jail. On her high school graduation, I was in jail. I missed all of it. And I was in jail for her twenty-first birthday.

I couldn’t defend myself because she was right.

My daughter knows my situation with my own mom. She knows that my mom never protected me when my adopted father was raping me in the other room, even though I screamed for her. I was her dirty little secret because she got pregnant by a married man while she was also married. All she cared about were her creature comforts and what financial support she could get from my father.

I left home at fourteen and lived in the streets. I slept in dumpsters, ate out of garbage cans. About six months later, I got a waitressing job in a Chinese restaurant where they’d found me sleeping in their dumpster, and they didn’t ask questions. They took me in as their own and gave me a job. I lived with their whole family. At sixteen, I went to court and became emancipated from my parents. That’s when I put my adopted father in jail.

From then on, I just worked all the time. At nineteen, I had my son with a man that I’d known since I was fourteen, and then had my daughter right after. When she was six weeks old, I went to a friend of their father’s club to interview for a cocktail waitress position. My boss said that I was so pretty I should try tending bar. For this, I wore a tuxedo shirt and a short black skirt. I made huge money. Then, he said I’m gonna put you on stage. You see, the club was a gentlemen’s club, and I must say, they really were gentlemen. This was back in 1992. These guys came in after working in the office all day, or on a construction site and came in for a cold beer and nice dance. They handed over tens and twenties while we were dancing, and afterward we sat and chatted. Then they went home to their wives. These were customers that came in over and over. They were regulars, and I knew them all by name.

At first, I danced completely sober, well almost. I did smoke a joint on my way to work but that was it. I wasn’t even twenty-one, the legal drinking age. I also couldn’t drink because I went home every night and took care of my kids. Their father was thrilled with the huge income I brought home, and he was Mr. Mom. If I wanted a pink kitchen with blue dots, I got a pink kitchen with blue dots.

I would give him the money to pay bills, and this went on for months. One week I had two days off in a row and told him I would do the shopping. I went to the jar that we kept

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the money in, and it was empty. When I confronted him about it, his answer was to punch me in the head. That’s when the majority of physical abuse began. It was then that I realized that he was not himself. I’d been stripping for about a year and a half, and suddenly we had no money. Friends began telling me that he was using. I didn’t have a clue; I was so naïve. As his coke habit got worse, the money dwindled.

I began working double shifts to cover the bills and his habit because I needed him to take care of the kids. I’d been offered coke at the bar for a long time and had always refused. Now, to work the long hours, I began to accept the offers at the bar. I snorted my first line of cocaine, and from then on, I felt like the queen of the night. Not long after, while I was dancing, a good friend of mine asked me for some. At this point, I was using regularly and had my own supply. I agreed to sell him some.

Two years later, I had quit stripping, stopped using, and worked in a restaurant and cleaned houses. I wanted a normal life and to get away from the constant physical abuse at home.

I had my kids back, and life was good. Then, out of the blue, the state police contacted me to say that there was a warrant for my arrest. Turns out my “friend” was a narcotics detective who had been watching us girls, all of whom were eventually busted. When they came to get me, I was already gone. The restaurant I was working in declared my salary, and that’s when I went back on the radar. I went to jail for just a short amount of time and went on probation.

Soon after I completed probation, I got into a motorcycle accident. I was hit by a car that was going sixty-five miles an hour in a parking lot. I was sent flying into the air and my body hit a parked vehicle. I couldn’t walk for six months. I had my gall bladder removed and a hysterectomy. It really destroyed me. In order to manage the excruciating pain, I was prescribed Fentanyl, Oxycontin, Somas, Percosets. I had every operation imaginable including a blood transfusion. The doctors didn’t bother to detox me, sending me home cold turkey. I was in the hospital for nine weeks one time on pain medication and they sent me home with nothing. That’s when I got addicted to heroin. A friend said, “Try this, it’ll make you feel better.” I already had holes in my arms from the hospital, so it was easy enough to shoot up.

Over the years, I’ve had clean time in and out of jail. This last time around, my addiction was so deep that I sold my truck for heroin. I sold my 110 inch plasma flat screen TV. If I could’ve pulled the carpet off the floor, I would have sold it.

You see, last time when I was on my way to probation, I stopped at Wal-Mart. A man came from nowhere as I was climbing out of my truck and pushed me back in. He raped me. This sent me spiraling further down than I’d ever been. It brought back every nightmarish experience of feeling the terror that was my childhood. The violation that the rape inflicted on me, both personally and psychically, was as damaging as being hit by a car at sixty five miles an hour. The shame and humiliation came back to me in an instant, and I wanted to obliterate myself. I overdosed on Mother’s Day, and they brought me back to life. My drug dealer came and picked me up.

This time in the Pike County Correctional Facility, I’m no longer afraid to be around positive, supportive people. I have an awesome support system, so many individuals, professional and spiritual, helping me, which I’ve never had. When you’re told your whole life you’ll never amount to anything, at the time when you are a sponge, impressionable, molding your identity, the damage is incalculable. Now I know that I’m not just worth something; I’m worth everything.

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musically speaking

entertainment

Passive Homes –By Jocelyn Cramer

An Aggressive Retirement Tool

Y

our home is your castle. It may also be one of the most significant investments you make, but have you thought about your home as a retirement tool?

the rest of your life. Passive House refers to homes that are built with a very high energy efficiency standard, requiring minimal heating and cooling.

In fact, they can use 80% less energy than conventional homes. Imagine the money you could save if you could cut your current heating and electricity SEEDS (Sustainable Energy costs by 80%. In retirement, Education and Development when most of us will be living Support) encourages home ownon a fixed income, using less ers to consider renewable enerenergy also provides protection gy systems and energy efficienagainst rising energy costs. cy as part of their retirement The principals of a pasplanning. Spending the money sive house are simple. Supernow on a solar system to generinsulate the home. Provide conate your own electricity for tinuous insulation throughout decades to come will provide a the entire envelope of the home. return on your investment after A “climate screen” or moisture several years or more (the length barrier is added between the of the return varies), and it will inner walls and the insulation. significantly reduce the energy This provides protection from costs of your home for the lifeair leaks over time. Use high time of that system. A solar performance doors and winphotovoltaic system, comprised dows (often triple-paned). of multiple panels on the roof, Position the home for optimal or mounted on a ground strucheat and natural light. Because ture, can last anywhere from 20 the passive house building stan– 40 years! Lower energy bills dards aim for an airtight home, in your retirement years will a balanced heat and moisturehelp you live better on a fixed recovery ventilation system is income. also used. This system reduces The same is true for energy air temperature variations, cutefficiency upgrades. Spending ting down on condensation and money on newer, more efficient mold. It also reduces dust and heating/cooling systems, hot pollen, providing superb indoor water heating, appliances, and air quality.

Top Photo: Passive House on Lake Martin, AL insulation upgrades etc., while Photographed by John Coley Passive houses still use elecyou are still working full time, www.flickr.com/photos/lakemartinvoice/ tricity for lighting, electronics 9935060216/in/photostream will reduce your energy costs and appliances, and heating for the rest of your life. If you water, but little air heating is haven’t purchased a new hot water system or heatrequired. Even here in our northeastern climate, a ing system lately, there are exciting, innovative, and passive house gets most of its heat from the sun and efficient new options on the market. The Internet the incidental heat generated by the appliances and makes this research fun and easy. If you want a people inside the house. A solar system can be new, more efficient hot water system, spend a few installed to produce the modest amount of electriciminutes on the Department of Energy’s webpage: ty needed for the passive house. This can allow the energy.gov/energysaver/articles/selecting-newhome to achieve Zero Net Energy, which means the water-heater. You may never buy a conventional home uses no more energy than it creates. Passive electric hot water tank again. building can be applied to single family homes, If you are thinking about building a home, you apartment buildings, offices, and skyscrapers. can maximize energy savings and comfort by building a “Passive House” and reducing energy costs for

About Passive Homes “Passive House offers an elegant solution to reducing the consumption of nonrenewable resources in our buildings, but equally important, Passive House is about building comfortable, healthy, and durable buildings with excellent indoor air quality,” states local architect and SEEDS member, Richard Pedranti. Mr. Pedranti is a Certified Passive House Consultant (CPHC), and specializes in energy efficient residential and small commercial projects in Northeastern Pennsylvania, New York City, and Philadelphia, with a particular focus on Pike County projects. You can learn more about his passive house construction in Scranton by visiting www.scrantonpassivehouse.com.

Passive home construction has become very popular because people just like you and me are thinking differently about energy efficiency. Some European countries are adapting the passive house standards in their building codes. More than 1000 architects, builders, and consultants have received passive-house training in the United States.

Local contractors are also paying attention.

Nicole Sanchez, Executive Director of the Wayne County Builders Association told us, “Many of our members have received their Green Building certification and are interested in further training. Our goal is to keep our membership informed of green building trends and remain competitive, especially since we see an increase in customer interest.”

Currently, passive construction costs anywhere from 10 – 25% more than conventional building, with larger buildings yielding less of a cost difference. But as demand increases and more manufacturers bring higher performance products to market, prices are expected to drop.

When we retire, we think about what we are going to leave to our children and our communities. Reduced home energy costs mean that you can leave more money to your family. Adapting greener building standards and making better choices about the energy we use means we reduce carbon emissions. This may be the best inheritance we can offer. wikipedia.org/wiki/Superinsulation

Jocelyn Cramer is the Executive Director of SEEDS of Northeastern PA. SEEDS is a nonprofit community based organization committed to promoting renewable energy, energy efficiency, and sustainable living in our area. We are located on the second floor of The Cooperage at 1030 Main Street. Phone: (570) 245-1256. To learn more about joining SEEDS, email jocelyn@seedsgroup.net. For a full schedule of our 2015 free forums, please visit our website at www.seedsgroup.net.

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entertainment

book/film corner

BLACK SEA

“Stella by Starlight”

By Sharon M. Draper Reviewed by Terri Schlichenmeyer

H

ave you ever wanted to do something big – but you didn’t know how? You struggled. You practiced. You tried and tried and tried until finally, you saw where you went wrong and where you went right. Aha! That’s when you realized that whatever you wanted to do – you could!

It might have been a small action, and it might’ve been something great, but never giving up was the way to go. In the new book, “Stella by Starlight” by Sharon M. Draper, for instance, a young girl wanted to become a writer. Her daddy wanted to vote.

Fire can be a good thing. It can bring warm rooms and hot meals – but when Stella Mills saw the sparks from across Kilkenny Pond that night in 1932, she knew there was nothing good about that fire or the nine hooded men surrounding it. Quickly, she and her brother ran to wake their parents because they knew that everybody in their neighborhood was in danger when the Klan was about.

Normally, life in Bumblebee, North Carolina, was a safe place for Stella and her friends. Yes, it was true that there were places they couldn’t go because they weren’t white, and no, their blacks-only school wasn’t nearly as nice as the whites-only school, but Stella loved her schoolmates and neighbors because they always watched out for one another. When one lacked, the others shared, and that made her proud.

But the Klan was another matter, and every black person in Bumblebee knew it. Even Stella’s teacher, Mrs. Grayson, understood the seriousness of what was happening, and she tried to keep her students calm and safe by distracting them with writing and with stories. Stella loved stories and she loved writing, but she didn’t think she was any good at either of them.

That would change, though, when her friend, Tony, told her to write what she knew – and so Stella did. She wrote about the Klan and their dragons; about airplanes and books and grown men making boys bleed.

She wrote about gifts, her father’s reason for celebration, and the courage it took to stand up for your rights.

Yep. I loved “Stella by Starlight,” and there are many reasons why.

Its authenticity is at the top of the list. Author Sharon M. Draper gives this story a historical basis, yet she keeps it fictional so young readers can understand and identify with the characters.

Those characters are second on the list: I loved Stella! She’s sunny and smart, and her determination will make it easy for your child to want to know what happens to her and her family.

I also liked the way Draper lends child-friendly, not-too-detailed, not-tooscary action in this chapter book, and the anti-racism theme really struck me as timely.

And then there’s the… well, I could go on and on, but let’s just say that this is the perfect book for a 7-to-12-year-old reader who enjoys a good historical novel. For that kid, “Stella by Starlight” is a book she’ll want.

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Things that seem like a bad idea: Getting into a mothballed Soviet sub, with a crew of angry Brits and boozy (and also angry) Russians, and secretly searching for lost Nazi gold at the bottom of the Black Sea, in an operation funded by a dubiously connected “executive.” But when you’ve been let go from your navy salvage job and your finances and dignity are the line — as it is for many of the crewmen — such a venture might sound promising.

Capt. Robinson (Jude Law, grubbed up) is undaunted, and so we have the predictably harrowing events of Kevin Macdonald’s underwater thriller. And despite some stock characters (Naïve youngster, grizzled veteran) and ludicrous science, Black Sea is a pretty decent, compact B-movie, by turns gritty, tense, and nearly always entertaining. (It even has a splash of socio-economic commentary.)

The film breaks little ground in submarine drama — you can bring a check sheet of what will go wrong, from leaks to fist fights in a tiny metal vessel submerged underwater- but doubles down on mechanical and basic interpersonal problems by adding lots of money for the men to fight over as well. In all, a journey better observed than taken. out of 4

A MOST VIOLENT YEAR In J.C. Chandor’s new drama, set in New York City in 1981, immigrant Abel Morales (Oscar Isaac) is embroiled in a dispute between heating-oil companies. Morales is expanding his own heating-oil operation, but he’s juggling sabotage from competitors, a federal investigation, and blowback from shady financial partners. There’s a bit of violence in the story, but the title more likely refers to the general state of New York City then — relayed in snippets of radio news, as well as the film’s gritty milieu; it’s also a fair description of the upheaval in Morales’ plans.

Mostly what Chandor (Margin Call) offers is a downbeat but fascinating character study of Morales, a methodical striver, who is determined to pilot his American Dream craft through rough waters without incident. Isaac racks up another great performance as the rattled but steady Morales, and Jessica Chastain is his match as his hard-edged, scheming wife and business partner. For a work set essentially in the 1970s, Chandor echoes the tenor of some of that decade’s slow-burning, grungy, and fatalistic crime dramas, like Serpico and The French Connection, which pit flawed but determined men against a seemingly unending wave of crime and corruption. out of 4

All of these ran previously in the Pittsburgh City Paper.

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

LENNI LENA’PE THE TRUE PEOPLE OF THE POCONOS Long before Europeans, the Lenni Lena’pe called this area home. These Native Americans were the first inhabitants of the Pocono Mountains, having settled in the area over 10,000 year ago. Lena’pe is pronounced “LehNAH-pay” and it means “the people.”

Sometimes you will see this name spelled Lenape, Lenápe or Lena’pi.

The tribe is also known as the Lenni Lena’pe, which translates to “true people” or the Delaware Indians after the Delaware River – The River of Human Beings, which runs through Lenni Lena’pe territory. The word Pocono in the native Lena’pe tongue means “a river between two mountains.” The Lena’pe did not have a written language; their history was passed from generation to generation by storytellers.

Three clans comprised the Lenni Lena’pe nation: Wolf, Turtle, and Turkey. The Wolf Clan occupied the land in what is now Monroe County.

This clan was referred to as the Munsee or Minsi, the name of their spoken dialect of the Algonquin language. The members of the Wolf Clan were known as “People of the Stony Country.” The Turtle Clan occupied land south of the Lehigh-Delaware confluence, reaching into Philadelphia and was referred to as “People Down the River.” The Turkey Clan lived the furthest south, occupying current-day Wilmington, DE. They were called the “People Who Live Near the Ocean.”

The three clans were all sects of the Algonquin tribe and generally lived peacefully with each other. The Lena’pe, however, did conflict with other warring Indian nations, including the Iroquois and the Cherokee.

There are two federally recognized Lena’pe tribes in Oklahoma: the Delaware Tribe of Indians and the Delaware Tribe of Western Oklahoma. Like most Native American tribes, the Delaware Indian tribes are autonomous. Lenni Lena’pes in New Jersey and Pennsylvania are not officially recognized as tribes by the United States.

That means they do not have reservation land or their own governmental system, though they still practice the Lena’pe culture.

The Lenni Lena’pes didn’t live in tepees. They lived in villages of round houses called wigwams. Some Lena’pe Indians preferred Iroquoian-style longhouses to wigwams because more family members could live in a longhouse.

The Delaware Indians were farming people. Lena’pe women did most of the farming, harvesting corn, squash, and beans. Lena’pe men went hunting for deer, elk, turkeys, and small game, and caught fish in the rivers and inlets.

Because there is no written record left by the Lenni Lena’pe, archaeologists and historians are needed to decipher the life ways of the Pocono’s native peoples. The only written descriptions of the Lena’pe come from European settlers. Early records of contact between the Natives and European colonists in the area date to 1609. There is a detailed account of the 1742 meeting between Chief Kakowatchiky of the Shawnee and Count Zinzindorf, founder of the Moravian Church. One archaeological site, the Shawnee-Minisink site, is unique because it reflects a record of continuous occupation by the Native Americans in the Upper Delaware River Valley, uncovering evidence of extensive habitation of the river valley

by Native Americans. The archaeologists’ finds included not only stone tools, but evidence of long-term settlement such as hearths, burial grounds, and post mold-holes for longhouses.

Artifacts from the Shawnee-Minisink archaeological site date over 11,000 years old and include hundreds of stone tools, pieces of pottery, remains of fish, animal bones, shells, and fruit and plant seeds.

There are many traditional Lenni Lena’pe legends and fairy tales.

Storytelling is very important to the Lena’pe Indian culture. The Lena’pe tribe is also known for their beadwork and basketry products. Like other eastern Native Americans, the Leni Lena’pe crafted wampum out of white and purple shell beads. Wampum beads were traded as a kind of currency, but they were more culturally important as an art material.

The designs and pictures on wampum belts often told a story or represented a person’s family.

Lena’pe Indians all speak English today. Only a few Lena’pe elders still speak their native Lenape language also known as Unami. Some young Lena’pe people are working to learn their ancient language again; “he” pronounced “hey” is a friendly greeting and “wanishi” means “thank you.” Many place names in Pennsylvania are derived from the Lena’pe language, such as Manyunk, Conshohocken, Neshaminy, to mention only a few. In the city of Philadelphia stands a statue of Chief Tamanend, a revered leader among the Lena’pe, who signed many treaties with William Penn. The history of the Lena’pe is truly the history of Pennsylvania and the Poconos.

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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lifestyle

outdoors

Finding great places to explore can sometimes be an adventure itself.

While anytime is a good time to peruse the local library stacks or the bookseller’s shelves gathering intelligence for your next trek, for many, late winter is a good time to lay down some ideas for the next few months’ worth of wilderness wandering.

By my very nature, I’m an information hoarder. There’s no such thing as a “quick stop” at a highway welcome center, and I’ll stand in front of a kiosk at a hotel looking at every bit of literature that is on the darned thing. When stuff is free, I generally grab everything that interests me, to the point where I have several boxes dedicated to specific geographic regions and a 5-inch 3-ring binder full of magazine articles; maps; and pamphlets. However, when it comes to actually dropping some dollars on a guidebook, I’m pretty particular about what I’ll actually purchase.

I’ve come to the conclusion, after thirty or so years of standing mesmerized by the masses of guidebooks I’ve encountered on many visits to outdoor specialty shops and bookstores, that there are no “perfect” guidebooks. Some try to encompass too much; others miss a lot; and some are just poorly organized. When I find a gem, I usually scarf it up and it gets put to good use.

One such book in my collection is The Poconos: An Illustrated Natural History Guide by Carl S. Oplinger and Robert Halma. If you have to have one book about the Northeast PA outdoors, this is the one. It is broken up into chapters about geology, forest vegetation, forest animals, and wetlands, to name a few. Each chapter has checklists, comparative illustrations, lists of places to go, and tidbits about some of the people who have contributed to Pocono conservation over the years.

Great Natural Areas in Eastern Pennsylvania by Stephen J. Ostrander is another fine book to have in your collection.

It details natural areas from Susquehanna County to Delaware County in a north-to-south manner, keeping things easy to find by location, but also has a “Best Picks” section listing the top spots for birding, overlooks, wildflowers, etc., etc. Each entry includes maps, directions, contact info, and other information valuable to planning a visit.

Keystone state waterfall lovers should get a copy of Scott E. Brown’s Pennsylvania Waterfalls: A Guide For Hikers & Photographers. It’s not a complete collection of PA falls,

but since it encompasses the whole state, certain omissions can be accepted.

Case in point, Wayne County has only one listing. On the other hand, Brown does detail many Pike, Luzerne, and Sullivan County (PA) cascades. The book is organized by county and includes many photos, as well as statistics about each waterfall and very detailed maps.

Lastly, in this list of my dogeared favorites is Weird Pennsylvania by Matt Lake. Intermixed with stories of the strange, legends of the paranormal, and photos of the roadside curiosities that dot the Commonwealth, readers will also find information about abandoned places, roads off the beaten path, and geological and archaeological features worth exploring. Few places in the book are destination locations and the book is not organized by geographic region, but if you put some effort into reading it, you can find small attractions to visit traveling to and from bigger adventures.

When looking to purchase any guidebook, try to find the latest edition. Older versions of the same book are still useful but may not have updated contacts or maps. Public areas, PA State Forests for example, are constantly adding new territory and additions or improvements, such as what we have seen lately in the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, and can render books outdated, but not obsolete. Be wary of books that lack a lot of maps and photos. One guidebook I own lists a lot of hiking trails in the state, but beyond that the information is sketchy. One entry was entirely incorrect as if it hadn’t been field checked, and many others only pointed me to seek more information with another guidebook!

Guidebooks are a great way to discover a plethora of places worth exploring. A well-written one can serve an adventurer for many years. Often you might learn of a new place that is right in your own backyard or discover something you didn’t know about a place you’ve visited a dozen times. Regardless of your pursuits, there’s probably a guidebook that is most likely worth checking out. williamjdeaton@yahoo.com

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classics

1992

lifestyle

Cadillac

Allanté

By Arnie Milidantri

W

ith spring just around the corner, the days are getting longer and warmer. Visions of car cruises and shows start to appear in Northeast Pennsylvania car enthusiasts’ heads. As they awaken their cars from winter’s hibernating slumber, we start to see glimpses of these pampered classics. In my travels, I came across a unique awakened treasure, a rare 1992 white Cadillac Allanté being readied for the 2015 season by its owner, Mr. Neil Andersen of Lake Ariel, Pennsylvania. This Cadillac Allanté two-seater is one of only 1931 made in 1992 and is an outstanding example of one man’s commitment to details for a very different and difficult restoration.

Background Car manufacturers are forever analyzing the car buyers market and, based on their research, invest in new models, features, and designs they hope will pay major dividends. Some cars were instant hits: e.g. the Ford Mustang and the Chrysler Minivan; others turned out to be short production models that were never embraced by the car buyers. The Cadillac Allanté was one such “market miss”! General Motors Cadillac division designed, manufactured, and marketed the Allanté, a two-door, two-seater roadster built to compete with the Mercedes-Benz 560 SL and Jaguar XJS. The Allanté used components from several of General Motors high end models, using a slightly modified variant of the 4.1 liter V8 used across Cadillac’s model, Cadillac Eldorado chassis, and some components of their Buick Reatta, the Buick Riviera, as well as the Oldsmobile Toronado. The Allanté never became a serious market contender, and after a seven year production run (1986 – 1993) during which roughly 21,000 cars were sold, the Allanté was added to the discontinued model list.

The Allanté had a unique production arrangement: the cars’ bodies were designed and manufactured in Italy by Pininfarina. The completed bodies were shipped 4,600 miles from Italy in specially equipped Boeing 747s, 56 at a time, to Cadillac’s Detroit/Hamtramck assembly plant where they were mated with domestically manufactured chasses and engine assemblies. Another production feature that was special to the Allanté was that the car’s hood, hardtop, and trunk lid were all made of aluminum.

The Allanté was an option rich car, equipped with every option/feature Cadillac offered at that time as standard. The only option not included was for the installation of a car mounted mobile phone. The car was offered in a convertible only and as a hardtop/convertible. Cadillac originally fitted the Allanté with a port fuel injected 4.1-liter V8 engine. The car featured an independent strut suspension system in the front and the rear, and the vehicle was standard with disc brakes all around.

By the 1989 model, Cadillac had increased power with a 4.5 liter 200 hp V8 engine coupled with a four speed automatic transmission and introduced a speed dependent damping control system that would firm the suspension at 25 miles per hour and once more at 60 miles per hour.

Minimal changes were introduced until 1993, Allanté’s final year. Cadillac installed their 4.6liter Northstar dual overhead cam V8 engine 295 hp coupled with a four speed automatic transmission. Not only was the engine improved; the Allanté featured a new rear suspension that was used in the Seville, as well as the Eldorado. The new suspension helped somewhat, but the car’s front wheel drive still did not make for easy handling. The 1993 Allanté also boasted a road sensing suspension system, which was an active damper management system, upgraded disc brakes, variable assist power steering rack, single piece side windows, and a deep front spoiler.

Cadillac was proud when the Allanté was ranked above both a Jaguar convertible and the Mercedes Benz 300SL by Car and Driver. Even though the Allanté proved to be a popular choice for many consumers because it offered power, style, and was more affordable than either the comparable Jaguar or Mercedes competitors, 1993 would be its last year in production. When you consider that the Allanté retailed for about $65,000 in 1993 and the Jaguar was almost $72,000 and the Mercedes was over $90,000, it’s easy to see why the Allanté was a competitive dollar choice for those looking for a luxury roadster.

While the Allanté lasted just seven model years, it is still recognized as one of the most luxurious Cadillac roadsters that one could buy.

Featured Car The pearl white 1992 Allanté hardtop/convertible originally sold for $64,090 (a mid-year price drop made the price $62,790) and was truly an option/featured rich car. Because only 1931 Allantés were made in 1992, the car’s restoration

by Neil Andersen is very challenging, costly, and time consuming. The car had 94,000 original miles on it when Neil became the fourth owner.

Starting with the mechanics, Neil rebuilt the entire brake system, restored the suspension system, the transmission, and had the engine’s valves replaced. He had the leather interior seats restitched, installed a new dash pad, and installed an original radio. His commitment to detail is evident by looking at the car’s body. The body was completely gone over; all needed bodywork completed, and an original pearl white paint was applied. The cars taillights were cracked, and Neil found original taillights located in California, purchased and installed them. Neil liked the look of the chrome wheels introduced in 1993 on the Allante; he located a set of chrome 1993 wheels, mounted new tires, and installed them on his car.

The car has been painstakingly restored correctly and is preserved as part of Cadillac’s history.

Owner Neil Andersen has been addicted to cars all his life. At the age of twelve, when other kids were playing in the park, Neil wandered into a local repair shop and was befriended by the owner.

Their lifelong friendship started that first day with a lesson on how to rebuild a power-glide transmission and would continue for a lifetime. He worked for a Chevrolet dealer as the Corvette specialist for a while and took over the local shop from his mentor. Neil purchased his first home in Northeast Pennsylvania in 1986 and became a full time resident upon his retirement as a Sargent of the Marlboro, New Jersey police department in 1996. Neil is a true restoration craftsman, who unselfishly shares his knowledge with those who ask and listen. He is a welcomed regular at the morning gatherings at the McDonald’s on 590 Hamlin, PA. He is quick to lend a hand, enjoy a good story, and share his expertise with those lucky to be called friend. If you see a beautiful while pearl 1992 Cadillac Allanté at a local show or parked outside McDonald’s, look for a tall guy with the baseball hat, introduce yourself to Neil, and if you’re nice and listen, you might just learn something!

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17

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

ASK THE VET:

lifestyle

your pets

Gastrointestinal Parasites in Pets — Part I Preventing and Treating These Bugs

nervous system, liver, lungs, and other organs. They can even travel to the eye and cause blindness.

astrointestinal (GI) parasites can make your dog or cat — and sometimes even you — sick, which is why it’s so important to prevent infestations, and, if they do occur, to treat your pet quickly. Here are some of the things you need to know to keep your pets safe.

Hookworms: These worms attach to the intestinal wall and suck blood and other nutrients from their hosts, leading to severe blood loss and diarrhea in infected pets. And larvae found in the environment can penetrate the skin and cause illness in a new host. When humans are infected, the condition is called cutaneous larva migrans. The tell-tale symptom? Itchy skin lesions with a snakelike pattern.

Even the cleanest, best cared-for pets are susceptible to these bugs, which take up residence in the stomach or intestines.

Some of these parasites can be spread from mother to puppy or kitten or by fleas or rodents or through the feces. Good hygiene, regular visits to the veterinarian, preventive medicines, and deworming treatments can keep your pets free of these pesky intruders. Luckily, if your pet is infected, many effective treatment options are available. Your vet can guide you on what is the best strategy for your pets.

Tapeworms: These are long, flat worms made up of numerous segments containing tapeworm eggs. For one species of tapeworm, the immature stage of the tapeworm lives inside of a flea. When your dog or cat grooms a flea off of its hair, it eats the flea—and the tapeworm, which then hatches inside your pet and continues its life cycle. You can become infected if you inadvertently eat tapeworm eggs or infected fleas.

G

Know The Major Culprits — Roundworms, Hookworms and More Some GI parasites are big enough that you can actually see them; others are invisible without a microscope.

Regardless of their size, GI parasites can cause serious illness and even death in pets. Here, the most common GI parasites in pets: Roundworms: Visible to the naked eye, roundworms resemble small pieces of spaghetti. In people, roundworms can lead to larva migrans, an illness caused by migration of young worms through the

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pets can be exposed through direct contact with the feces or contaminated soil, water, or plants. Some of these bugs can remain in the environment for months or years. Other parasites infect rodents and other small animals. When a dog or cat eats these animals, it becomes infected.

Finally, some GI parasites can infect puppies and kittens when they nurse from their infected mothers, and puppies can sometimes become infected during fetal development.

How to Know If Your Pet Has Been Infected Parasites are tricky, as often, dogs and cats don’t show any signs of illness. But if your pet has diarrhea, is vomiting, or loses weight, he may have been infected.

In this situation, a trip to your veterinarian is a good idea.

Giardia: Giardia organisms are singlecelled parasites that live in the intestines and can be spread through fecal-contaminated water, food, or soil.

Whipworms: Whipworms live in the large intestines of dogs and shed eggs into the environment. When this occurs, the contamination can persist for years.

Female whipworms can produce more than 2,000 eggs a day.

Coccidia: Coccidia are microscopic GI parasites. They can cause severe diarrhea in some infected pets.

How Parasites Can Make Your Pet Sick Usually, GI parasites shed their eggs in the host’s feces. Once this occurs, other

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–Amy Platko-Williams, D.V.M Dr. Platko is one of the four full time veterarians at the 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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19

wellness

behavioral medicine

What is Gender

Dysphoria?

By Arthur Middleton, M.D., FAPA

One day our descendants will think it incredible that we paid so much attention to things like the amount of melanin in our skin or the shape of our eyes or our gender instead of the unique identities of each of us as complex human being!

– Franklin Thomas

W

atching an old movie is an interesting experience. Remember the term, Technicolor? The colors, while intense, do not seem natural. The actors are generally predictable with regard to what we expect men and women to be like. If there is a love interest, the viewer has no question in regard to what is expected as far as the depictions of attraction. There is never any question as to what defines their characters as being male or female. However, cutting to the present time, our society has become more accepting of diversity and for some, more complicated with regard to the issue of gender and how sexual identity is experienced.

Some might recall the character “Pat” on Saturday Night Live many years ago. The fictitious character Pat was portrayed in sketches that played on the inability of others to figure out the gender and sexual orientation of the character.

The joke was whether the character was Pat or Patricia.

The Miriam Webster Dictionary defines gender as the state of being male or female. This definition is understood as referring to an individual’s sexual anatomy, which should make the identification of who is male or female uncomplicated. If we extend this definition to include the “sense” of being a male or a female, it leads to the experience of being one sex anatomically but feeling like the other.

Our society has reached the point where the issue of gender and sexual identity are seen on cable TV and the news media. Following the president’s State of the Union Address, a newspaper headlined, “Obama uses ‘lesbian,’ ‘bisexual,’ ‘transgender’ in State of the Union for the first time ever.” While this is noteworthy, it is likely that some may be unfamiliar with the term “transgender.” There is general familiarity with the term “gay,” which reflects same sex attraction and has largely replaced the term “homosexual.” Transgender is applied to those individuals who feel that they are in the wrong body with regard to sexual assignment. How they deal with it is quite different depending on life’s circumstances.

The following fictional vignette is presented to highlight this experience.

JT is a 27 y/o single woman. She is completing her graduate studies in psychology at a university and plans to become a therapist. Her interest in psychology stems from her experience as a child coming to grips with her sexual orientation and ultimately her sexual identity. JT is an only child. Her mother is a nurse and her father is a teacher. JT credits her sur-

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vival, as she often describes it, to her parents’ ability to understand her challenges while growing up.

As a young child, JT began to feel that she was different. While she had questions about why she felt this way early on, she felt that she should keep these thoughts to herself. While the feelings that she had were initially confusing, over time she recognized that she felt more comfortable with girls.

There was no sexual attraction involved at that time.

JT did well in school, but by the beginning of high school, she began to experience difficulties. JT told her mother that she was unhappy, but didn’t know why. She didn’t understand her feelings but began to recognize that she was feeling a physical attraction to girls. JT did not feel that she could tell her parents or even her closest friends. She became irritable with episodes of crying and her grades began to fall.

Her mother, working as a nurse for a primary care doctor, spoke to the physician and expressed her concerns about her daughter. Following recommendations made by the physician, JT was encouraged to see a child psychiatrist. She did so, but never divulged the true reasons for her unhappiness.

While it was limited, during the course of her treatment with the psychiatrist, and following discussions and approval of her parents, JT was tried on low doses of several antidepressants, which included Prozac or fluoxetine, and Zoloft or sertraline. These medications were not successful.

By the age of 17, JT was no longer seeing a psychiatrist, but she had concluded that she was gay and told her parents. As is often the case, her parents had anticipated this some time ago. JT eventually learned that she was not alone and was able to socialize with other young women who also identified themselves as gay. After entering college, JT began dating women and eventually she fell in love.

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She and her girlfriend lived together, and the parents of both young women were supportive. JT still had episodes of depression despite the support of her parents and girlfriend. JT completed college and began her studies in graduate school.

As time progressed, JT began to view herself as a man trapped in a woman’s body. As a psychology student,t she had researched this issue and recognized that it was in the spectrum of being transgender. JT found a therapist who specialized in the treatment of Gender Dysphoria, which is a diagnosis given to those individuals who are transgendered and experience distress as a result of their gender identification. JT shared this information with her girlfriend. JT recognizes that whether or not she decides to make the physical transition to have a body that will be more physically male, she does have a better understanding of why she was conflicted. She continues in therapy and has slowly transformed her appearance, with respect to clothing, to be more masculine. She is going to consider hormone treatment, but at this point has ruled out surgery. She and her girlfriend remain together.

Gender Dysphoria is a diagnosis that can be found in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders- 5th edition (DSM-5). Simply put, it defines those individuals who are conflicted by their physical gender and their identified gender. As an example, a boy may feel and behave in a more feminine manner, like a girl, but is, in fact, anatomically a boy. If the individual is unhappy or uncomfortable with the gender that is anatomically assigned, the internal conflict may result in depression, anxiety, and social withdrawal and in some cases, suicide.

While this diagnosis is assigned to those individuals who experience distress, it is important to make a distinction with respect to being transgender, i.e., identifying with the sex that is opposite to the one they were born with. It is important to note that being transgendered is not considered a mental disorder as many individuals who are transgendered are neither disabled nor in distress.

Coming to grips with one’s sexual identity is a

wellness

smoking complicated process for some young people. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) now uses the initialism “LGBTQ” which stands for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual, Transgender, and “Questioning,” to include the segment of this population that may experience some distress as they question their sexual identity and orientation. From a psychiatric standpoint, according to the CDC, in a national study which covered grades 712, it was found that lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth were more than twice as likely to have attempted suicide as their heterosexual peers. However, by comparison, in a study reported by the CDC, which involved 55 youths identified as transgendered, it was found that 25% reported suicide attempts.

LGBT youths, apart from dealing with their sexual identities, are at greater risk for bullying, teasing, and violence, which has led, in some cases, to suicide related behaviors. For adults who are transgender, it is estimated that the lifetime rate of suicidal thoughts are experienced at a rate as high as 40%.

As society learns more about what it means to be transgender, there is growing acceptance in settings that may come as a surprise to some. In a New York Times article by John Leland titled “Bernard Considers Policy for Transgender Students (December 12, 2014),” the article writes about Barnard College’s decision to consider developing a formal admissions policy for transgender students. As Barnard College is a college for women, the policy under consideration would involve transgender women; individuals who were born anatomically male but identified as female. As a further example of greater acceptance of the transgender population, the article also notes that Columbia University has converted a number of single-gender bathrooms to gender-neutral bathrooms. Even the military has addressed the issue of transgendered individuals. An article titled “ACLU: Army to Recognize Legal Names of Transgender Veterans (The Associated Press, December 2, 2014)” is yet another example of societal acceptance, in spite of the complexity of issues.

Gender Dysphoria is not a common disorder. Typically, psychotherapy is used to treat individuals who experience difficulty with the issues associated with being transgendered. There may be questions about why such a condition would occur. Is it biological? Is it genetic or due to experiences in adolescence? There is no single explanation. It further underscores the complexity of being human. For those who do decide to make the physical transition from one sex to another, it is a complex process.

Hormone treatment with testosterone, a masculinizing hormone, and estrogen or progesterone, which are feminizing hormones, are used to make some changes in appearance that are either typically male, beard growth as

an example, or typically female, breast development as an example. In addition to counseling that is provided for some individuals who are transgender, mental health is also involved in screening. Increasingly, it is a practice for clinicians who administer hormone therapy to require psychological screening first. Surgical intervention or sex-reassignment surgery to make the transition is available but not often done when compared to hormonal treatment.

In summary, we live in a rapidly changing environment. Who we are, from a biological standpoint with respect to our gender, is ordinarily not complicated. For a small minority of the population, the sense of being male or female may be one in which the individual feels feminine or masculine in mind but in the opposite body. Transgender is a term that applies to individuals who have a psychological identity to a sex that is different from their anatomical sex.

These individuals do not necessarily experience distress, but for those who do, the diagnosis of Gender Dysphoria is given. This disorder is associated with emotional distress, anxiety, depression, and in some cases, suicide. Psychotherapy has proven to be an effective intervention, and there are mental health providers who have expertise in this area. For those individuals who experience conflict with their sexual identity treatment is available.

The following references are provided for the informed consumer: Medline Plus (U.S. National Library of Medicine/ National Institutes of Health): Gender Dysphoria http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/001527.htm The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual and Transgender Health http://www.cdc.gov/lgbthealth/ Gay and Lesbian Medical Association: 10 Things Transgender Persons should Discuss with their Healthcare Provider http://www.glma.org/index.cfm?fuseaction=Page. viewPage&pageID=692 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.

The Healthy

Gee z er

By Fred Cicetti

Effects of Smoking – Part II

I

f you smoke, you owe it to yourself to quit. And I believe you have an obligation to try to help others to quit. I’m doing my part by offering this unusual series of columns. No scolding or exaggerated scare tactics. I’m giving you just the facts in a chain of bulletins.

You can stick these columns on bulletin boards and refrigerators. I recommend giving them to a smoker you love.

Here are more: smoke contains 4,000 1} Cigarette chemicals, including more than 60 known to cause cancer. Some of the chemicals cause heart and lung diseases.

Included in the list of chemicals are cyanide, benzene, formaldehyde, methanol, acetylene, ammonia, nitrogen oxide, and carbon monoxide. amount of smoke is dangerous.

2} Any Even smoking as few as one to four cigarettes a day can increase the risk of dying sooner. cigarettes with lower tar 3} Smoking and nicotine provides no clear health benefit. Smokers who buy these cigarettes often inhale more deeply, inhale more often, and smoke them down to their fingers to compensate for the lower tar and nicotine. cigarettes are more danger4} Menthol ous than other types because they diminish the cough reflex and mask a dry throat. This enables smokers to inhale these cigarettes deeper and more often, too. People who smoke menthol cigarettes are less successful quitting.

5}

Hand-rolled cigarettes are not safer than commercial brands.

6}

Cigarettes billed as “all natural” have not been proven to be safer than any other cigarettes.

7}

Herbal cigarettes produce tar and carbon monoxide and are dangerous to your health.

8}

Clove cigarettes, also called “kreteks,” contain about 65 percent tobacco and about 35 percent ground cloves, clove oil, and other additives. They are a tobacco product

with the same health risks as regular cigarettes. are hand-rolled, flavored cig9} “Bidis” arettes imported mainly from India.

Bidis appear to have all of the same health risks of conventional cigarettes.

10}

Nicotine, the addictive ingredient in tobacco, constricts arteries and plays an important role in increasing smokers’ risk of heart disease and stroke.

However, other ingredients in tobacco cause cancers.

11}

Anyone who starts smoking is at risk of becoming addicted to nico-

tine.

12}

With regular use of tobacco— smoked or chewed—nicotine accumulates in the body. Daily consumers are exposed to nicotine effects 24/7.

13}

Nicotine, like cocaine, increases the level of the neurotransmitter dopamine, which affects the brain pathways that control reward and pleasure.

14}

Smoking cigars and pipes causes cancers of the lung, oral cavity (lip, tongue, mouth, throat), larynx (voice box), and esophagus. Pipe and cigar smokers, who often don’t inhale, are still breathing the second-hand smoke that surrounds them

15}

Smokeless tobacco can cause cancer of the gums, mouth, pharynx, larynx, and esophagus. People who dip or chew smokeless tobacco get about the same amount of nicotine as regular smokers.

16}

Hookah smoking involves burning flavored tobacco in a water pipe and inhaling the smoke through a long hose. Hookah smoke contains varying amounts of nicotine, carbon monoxide, and other hazardous substances. Several types of cancer have been linked to hookah smoking.

17}

When smoke contacts live cells, it hurts them. There is no safe way to use tobacco.

[In the last part of this series, I’ll give you some statistics and information about quitting.]

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

All Rights Reserved © 2015 by Fred Cicetti

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21

wellness

laser vision

HERE’S LOOKING AT YOU

By Dr. Frank A. Bucci, Jr.

Keeping an Eye on Innovation

A

lthough 2014 may be over, the mission to provide our patients with the most advanced level of care continues through the New Year.

There have been major advancements made in the field of ophthalmology. Dr. Bucci and his team at Bucci Cataract & Laser Vision Institute are at the forefront. Dr. Bucci was involved in the FDA trials for the revolutionary LENSAR Femtosecond Laser Cataract System with 3-D imaging, which is designed to offer patients a more precise and safer surgical experience.

Glaucoma patients can benefit from a breakthrough with the “smallest implantable medical device ever approved by the F.D.A.” The iStent, created by Glaukos, is approved and implanted during cataract surgery on those patients who have a certain type of glaucoma and can dramatically reduce or eliminate the need for expensive prescription drops. These technological advancements continue to offer patients in Northeastern Pennsylvania the latest and most advanced treatment options for their lifestyle needs, proving that our focus is your vision.

Approved in 2013 by the F.D.A., the LENSAR Laser Cataract system provides ophthalmologists with unprecedented resolution through their proprietary 3-D imaging system. Dr Bucci was the first American surgeon to utilize this technology during an F.D.A. trial at his nonprofit facility in Peru. A major advantage of the LENSAR laser cataract system over other systems is its 3-D Augmented Reality Imaging System.

The 3-D Imaging System developed

by LENSAR provides much greater accuracy in diagnostic testing and imaging to ensure the highest level of quality care delivered by Dr. Bucci to patients.

LENSAR’s 3-D Augmented Reality System displays a true 3-D model of a patient’s eye, providing a potentially more predictable and desired cus-

tomized plan of care. In conjunction with the 3-D Augmented Reality Imaging System, the LENSAR laser cataract system softens and disassembles a cataract nucleus with lens fragmentation. Based on the density and size of a cataract, the LENSAR laser system will grade the cataract and offer fragmentation patterns best suitable for its removal. The fragmentation or softening of the cataract provides Dr. Bucci the ability to use less ultrasound or phacoemulsification energy to break up and extract the cataract, thus reducing the length of the procedure and potentially offering a safer and more predictable surgical outcome.

For those patients who have open angle glaucoma and are diagnosed with a cataract, the iStent from Glaukos can offer unsurpassed benefits. The revolutionary, FDA-approved iStent is the “smallest implantable medical device every approved by the F.D.A” as a treatment option to reduce eye pressure for patients with both cataracts and glaucoma. During cataract surgery, the iStent is permanently implanted in the vascular meshwork of the eye to relieve the increased ocular pressure caused by glaucoma. The iStent may also decrease the need for expensive prescription eye drops. Frank A. Bucci Jr., MD was the first surgeon in our region to utilize this advanced technology and his practice, Bucci Cataract & Laser Vision Institute, was named a Glaukos iStent Center of Excellence in 2014.

Dr. Bucci continuously strives to offer patients the most advanced technology to deliver the best visual outcomes. The LENSAR laser cataract system and the iStent from Glaukos are two forms of technology that can truly benefit the lifestyles of patients. If you are considering eye surgery or have been diagnosed with a cataract, Dr. Bucci can develop a customized treatment plan based on your individual needs. To learn more, visit us online at www.BucciVision.com or to schedule a consultation, call 1-877-DR-BUCCI (372-8224).

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wellness

hearing

ARE YOU TALKING TO ME? –By Harry Ballard H.I.S.

Modern Hearing Problems and Solutions HEARING IS COOL While there once was a time when self-conscious hearing instrument users carefully concealed their devices behind locks of hair and hid them in their bedroom bureau drawers, those days are over. Today, young hearing instrument users are looking for new ways to personalize the look of their instruments, much in the same way that they brandish their cherry-red cell phones or wear designer eyeglass frames. The fact is that it is no longer unusual to see a person wearing a wireless listening device in his or her ear; in fact, it is downright fashionable. So, young people make the most of what they have by personalizing their hearing instruments. As they say, if you've got it, flaunt it.

For those who prefer a hearing instrument that is completely imperceptible and surpassingly convenient, there is the 100% invisible extended-wear model. This exceptionally small prescription hearing instrument is placed, by a professional, into the wearer's ear canal about four millimeters from the eardrum. Once in place, it is worn continuously for three to four months until it is replaced with a new one. In the meantime, wearers need not concern themselves with battery changes or poor hearing that comes with non-wear. Because they work with the ear's anatomy to direct sound into the ear canal, extended-wear instruments provide excellent clarity. This is just one option among many for people looking for the instrument that best suits their needs.

PROTECT YOUR HEARING There are a number of devices available that offer effective protection against noise-induced hearing loss. Nearly everyone is familiar with preformed ear plugs, which, if sized correctly and placed in the ears properly, will expand to fill the

ear canal with a tight seal. Ear muffs afford better protection by fitting against the head and encapsulating the entire external ear.

Acoustic foam lining the muff cap can reduce noise by as much as 15 to 30 decibels. Moreover, by wearing ear plugs in conjunction with ear muffs, it is possible to protect ears from noise levels at or above 105 decibels. Effective protection is predicated on a tight seal that blocks air leakage, which allows sound to enter the ear. Those who must rely on receiving face-to-face instructions may best be served by ear muffs, which can conveniently lifted to hear conversation.

HOW LOUD IS TOO LOUD? Accumulated exposure to loud noise eventually leads to damage in the inner ear that compromises hearing ability. Thus, it is just as important that youngsters avoid prolonged exposure to loud noise as adults. The average rock concert registers 105 decibels, and even movies in theatres have the potential to inflict damage. Bear in mind that a noise level consistent with heavy traffic (85 decibels), if listened to eight consecutive hours, is sufficient to harm hearing ability.

At 100 decibels, maximum exposure is fifteen minutes. At 103 decibels, the limit is a mere seven minutes.

As far as personal listening devices are concerned, those using MP3 players should limit the volume setting to 50% to 60% of maximum.

We strongly encourage anyone who is concerned about one’s hearing to seek professional advice and have a comprehensive hearing exam. If you are experiencing problems with your ears or hearing, please call Modern Hearing Aid Solutions at 570-689-2712. We feature a range of hearing aid packages and the most advanced hearing test to best serve you and your ears.

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23

get connected

area events

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.

FRIDAYS Live Music 8 p.m.–Midnight. Ehrhardt’s Water-front Restaurant & Banquet Center, Hawley. Great drink specials, delicious food & live music.

Info: 570-226-2124 or waterfront@ehrhardts.com.

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

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 in the Dining Room 6–10 p.m. The Settlers Inn, Hawley. Info: 570-226-2993 or desk@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 on-site. Free brewery tours daily at 12:30 p.m. No cover charge.

Info: 570-629-9399.

THROUGH MAR. 13

Art Exhibit: “Cellblock Visions: Set Free in the Penitentiary” Hope Horn Gallery, The University of Scranton. Drawings, paintings & objects by inmates of penitentiaries in six states. Free

ARTS, RECREATION & ENTERTAINMENT

MARCH ’15

during gallery hours. Info: 570-941-4214 or darlene.miller-lanning@scranton.edu.

Sugar Shack Scramble

March 1– March 9 MAR. 1

All You Can Eat Breakfast 7 a.m.–Noon. VFW Post 531, Hones-dale.

Sponsored by the VFW Ladies Auxiliary.

Kids under 5 free. Take-outs available. Call ahead to place your order: 570-253-5372.

MAR. 7 9 a.m.–12:30 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. .

Use a map & compass to reach the “Two Saps” Sugar Shack & then enjoy hot cocoa & pancakes with fresh maple syrup. Spaces limited. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 1

Volunteer in the Greenhouse 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Lend a hand on PEEC’s springtime projects & plant some seeds. Pre-registration required. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 1, 6, 7, 8

Little Shop of Horrors Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware.

An exotic plant with a mysterious craving for fresh blood grows into an ill-tempered, foulmouthed, R&B-singing carnivore.

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

MAR. 2

Trip to Philadelphia Flower Show Join HJP Park & Open Space, Stroud Area Regional Parks & West End Park & Open Space for one of the most renowned displays of floral arrangements & horticultural works of art. This year the theme is Lights, Camera, Bloom. Cost includes transportation & admission. Call to reserve a seat: HJP, 570-629-0966; SARPD, 570-426-1512; WEPOSC, 570-992-9733

MAR. 2

“The Causes and Resolutions of National and Ethnic Conflicts: A Global Review” Noon. Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Series. Registration required.

Fees vary. Info: 570-941-6206 or emily.brees@scranton.edu.

MAR. 3

Justin Townes Earle 7:30 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

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

MAR. 4

Catch-22 Noon & 7 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. Admission is free. Followed by a brief discussion. Purchase tickets at www.dietrichtheater.com or the ticket booth.

Info: 570-996-1500.

MAR. 5

Middle Creek Birding Field Trip Monroe County Environmental Edu-cation Center, Bartonsville. Field trip to Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area, a major stop-over for tremendous numbers of Snow Geese. Also see a host of waterfowl, raptors & other bird species. Meet at EE Center at 8:30 a.m. & return 6 p.m. Cost includes bus transportation. Pack lunch & binoculars & dress for the weather. Pre-registration & pay-

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ment required & limited.

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

MAR. 5–8

“God’s Ear” 8 p.m.; 2 p.m. Sunday. McDade Center for Literary and Performing Arts, The University of Scranton. Presented by The University of Scranton Players. Fees vary. Info: 570941-4318 or players@scranton.edu.

MAR. 5, 12, 19, 26

“Not Demons, But Genies: Leonardo and His World” 6 p.m. Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. Schemel Forum Seminar Series, presented by Josephine Dunn, Ph.D., professor of art history.

Registration required. Fees vary.

Call 570-941-6206 or email emily.brees@scranton.edu.

MAR. 6

Ang Lee Film Series: Three Decades of Fearlessness, “The Life of Pi” 7 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Free. Info: 570-941-7643 or ann.pang-white@scranton.edu.

MAR. 6

Open Mic Night at Cocoon Coffee House 7–9 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley.

Come to listen, watch & play, & engage with the community. Free. 570-226-6130 or cocoonbarista@gmail.com.

MAR. 6

SPANK! The Fifty Shades Parody 7:30 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Whip-smart comedy featuring musical numbers, steamy performances & lots of hilarious surprises. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

MAR. 6

Kim Simmonds and Savoy Brown 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Savoy Brown is still flying the banner of British blues rock, 45 years after its debut album. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

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MAR. 6

Live Music Friday with Teddy Young 8–11 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. No cover charge.

Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

MAR. 6, 7, 8

Broadway Theatre League presents Flashdance Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton.

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

MAR. 7

Vintage Costume Jewelry Show 9 a.m.–1 p.m. Sparta Avenue Stage, Sparta, NJ. Vintage dazzling necklaces, brooches, rings, bracelets & earrings available. Open to public; no fee. Handicapped-accessible.

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

MAR. 7

Free Public Building Tour 10–11:30 a.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Tours1 meet in the main lobby & take approx. 1 ⁄2–2 hours. Tours are free; donations to the Cultural Center accepted.

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

MAR. 7

38th Public Maple Sugaring Day 10 a.m.–3 p.m. Meesing Outdoor Site, Marshalls Creek. Tour the sugar bush & learn about Native American & early pioneer methods of making maple syrup, the evaporator process & identifying & tapping a maple tree. After, everyone gets to taste some of the syrup on freshly made pancakes. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

MAR. 7

Down The Rabbit Hole: A Celebration of Creativity 10:30 a.m.–Noon.

The Cooperage, Honesdale. Suitable for toddlers, teens & all ages in between. Donations collected. Bring drums, rattles & instruments. Parents must accompany children. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

area events MAR. 7

After School Players Showcase 11 a.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Performance of selected scenes by the After School Players 2015. The students show what they have learned. Come support young talent. Tickets at the door or reserve by calling 570-996-1500.

MAR. 7

FREE Tasting with Ithaca Hummus Company 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Varieties of hummus, such as Lemon & Dill, Lemon & Garlic, & Spicy Chipotle. Info: 570-390-4440 or hello@MillMarketPA.com.

MAR. 7

Greater Pittston St. Patrick’s Parade Noon. Downtown Pittston.

Info: www.pittstonstpatricksparade.org.

MAR. 7

Spring Waterfalls 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Enjoy the waterfalls 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.

MAR. 7

Fur Ball 2015 The Inn at Woodloch, Hawley. A “pawsh” fundraising event benefiting Dessin Animal Shelter. Fine dining, dancing, music, basket raffles, live auction. Info & ticket locations: Dessin, 570-253-4037 or Tammy Hardler, tammy.h88@hotmail.com.

MAR. 7

Sharon Katz & The Peace Train 7:30 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by RiverFolk Concerts. A joyride from the traditions of Mother Africa to the electrifying jazz-folk-rock fusions of today.

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

MAR. 7

Diana Krall 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Five-time Grammy Award–winner & topselling jazz artist with her Wallflower World Tour. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

MAR. 7

Red Moon Road 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Canada’s most endearing folk trio, born in a wild storm on a Canadian lake. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

MAR. 7

Gov’t Mule with Special Guest John Scofield 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

MAR. 7

Kashmir — Led Zeppelin Tribute 8:30 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. The most authentic representation on the modern national touring scene brings audiences & fans back to the days when Led Zeppelin ruled the musical landscape.

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

MAR. 8

Fire Building 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Ages 10+. Learn primitive fire-making skills. Try your hand at a flint & steel fire, a bow-drill fire, & more.

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

MAR. 8

Sunday for Singles — Off Campus Hike 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Enjoy a guided hike on a park trail. Explore nature & meet some new people. Call to reserve a seat in the van: 570-828-2319.

MAR. 8

ZZ Top 7 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Legendary Texas trio who, without compromising their sound (or their look), are as popular today as they were five decades ago.

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

March 10–March 19

get connected

MAR. 13

Sounds Like Teen Spirit 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project & HHS Keep on Rockin’ Club. Donations make this event possible. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

MAR. 13

Glimmer Twins Rolling Stones Tribute 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Their special attraction is their ability to capture the raw energy of the most electrifying performances throughout the Stones’ career. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

MAR. 13

MAR. 10

20th Anniversary of the 14th Decree on the Status of Women 5 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Examines the impact of the document & includes remarks by Univ. of Scranton Pres. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. & Fairfield Univ. Pres. Jeffrey P. von Arx, S.J. Free. Info: 570-941-6194 or justine.johnson@scranton.edu.

MAR. 10

Tuesdays with Nellie 5:30 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Mystery Book Club returns with Annelle Snyder. Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

MAR. 11

“The Arab Spring: Why Did It Happen and Where Is It Headed?”

Noon. Brennan Hall, The University of Scranton. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Series. Registration required.

Fees vary.

Info: 570-941-6206 or emily.brees@scranton.edu.

Disposable — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

MAR. 13

Comedy Night 8:30 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley.

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

MAR. 13, 14, 15

The Crucible Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware.

Focusing on a young farmer, his wife, & a young servant-girl who maliciously causes the wife’s arrest for witchcraft.

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

MAR. 13–22

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum The Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Swoyersville. Call the box office for ticket info & times: 570-283-2195.

MAR. 14

Champagne Jelly, Hot Pepper Jelly & more.

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

MAR. 14

St. Patrick’s Parade Day Party 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

MAR. 14

Scranton St. Patrick Parade 11:45 a.m. Downtown Scranton. Begins with a mass at St. Peter’s Cathedral at 10 a.m.

Info: www.stpatparade.com.

MAR. 14

Ecozone Discovery Room!

1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. No registration required. Info: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 14

Woodcock Walk 6:30–8 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Take a walk to see the mysterious woodcock & its spectacular springtime mating display. Ages 10+.

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

MAR. 14

Kyle Morgan and Band 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Nomadic Rock Americana songwriter, with roots in balladry & country-blues. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

MAR. 14

Celtic Women 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

Unique musical ensemble presents a celebration of Ireland & spellbinding Celtic heritage with an extraordinary presentation of traditional Irish anthems, pop standards & original music. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

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

Presented by The Cooperage Project. Led by The Crackers. Donations make this event possible. BYOB. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

Scout Maple Sugaring Day Meesing Outdoor Site, Marshalls Creek.

Monroe Cty. Environmental Ed. Center’s special day for scout groups. Programs can be scheduled between 9 a.m.–2 p.m. Open to any level of scouts & their families. Preregistration required by Mar. 11.

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

MAR. 11

MAR. 14

MAR. 14

Food for Thought: CSA’s, Farmers Markets, Food Collectives and More 10:30–11:45 a.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Sustainable farmers talk about navigating the growing local food system & discuss the who, what, where & why of “Buy Fresh, Buy Local.” Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

Galway Guild — St Paddy’s Parade Weekend 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Packages the traditional roots of Celtic music with the modern-day essence of rock & delivers that sound, playing a mix of traditional, rebel & modern Irish music.

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

MAR. 14

MAR. 14

MAR. 11

Performance Music 7:30 p.m. Houlihan-McLean Center, The University of Scranton. Recital featuring The University of Scranton Performance Music students. Houlihan-McLean Center.

Free. Info: 570-941-7624 or music@scranton.edu.

MAR. 12

A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum 7 p.m. The Music Box Dinner Playhouse, Swoyersville. Show-only free performance for Special Needs Friends. Special needs organizations interested in attending call 570-283-2195 for reservations.

MAR. 13

Pot O’ Gold Lunch and Bingo at Belle Reve 12:30 p.m. Belle Reve Senior Living, Milford. Enjoy Rueben sandwiches, then try your luck at Pot O’ Gold Bingo for a chance to win gift card prizes ranging from $10–$50. Tour the community. Snow date: Mar. 16. Free & open to seniors. Seating limited. RSVP by Mar. 11: 570-409-9191.

MAR. 13

Irish Pub Night with Eric Rudy 5:30-9:30pm. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Green beer & Irish pub food specials. No cover charge.

Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

Camouflage & Mimicry 11 a.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Rick Koval presents an entertaining PowerPoint program about the fascinating techniques & adaptations animals use to avoid detection. Free admission. Tickets at the door or reserve by calling 570-996-1500.

MAR. 14

The Cooperage Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Hones-dale.

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-to-table meal at The Market Café.

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

MAR. 14

FREE Tasting with Coutts Homemade Jams & Jellies 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Samples of Blueberry

MAR. 14

Wolf and The Lost Ones CD Release — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

Live Music with Kevin Campion 8–11 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. Continue the St. Patrick’s Day celebration. No cover charge.

Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

MAR. 15

18th Annual Carbon County Saint Patrick’s Day Parade 1 p.m. Downtown Jim Thorpe. Rain or shine. Info: JimThorpePA on Facebook.

MAR. 15

The “Easy Does It” Hike 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Easy hikes, slow paces & interpretive natural history. Free.

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

MAR. 15

Spring to the Falls, Exploring Tank Creek Falls with Don Miller 1–4:30 p.m.

Brodhead Watershed Association, Henryville. Where in the

[ www.connections-magazine.com ] spread the word... full issues available online

25

get connected Watershed Walk #13. Info: 570-839-1120 or www.brodheadwatershed.org.

area events

MAR. 18

33rd Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade 2 p.m. Wilkes-Barre. Info: 570-208-4149 or www.wilkes-barre.pa.us.

“De-Coding Putin” Noon. Redington Hall, The University of Scranton. Schemel Forum World Affairs Luncheon Series. Registration required.

Fees vary. Info: 570-941-6206 or emily.brees@scranton.edu.

MAR. 15

MAR. 18

MAR. 15

Exhibit of Photographs by ‘Shannon’ and Glassworks Demonstration 2–5 p.m. B. Madigans, Hawley. See original photographs by a new artist, enjoy light refreshments & see glass stretched & made into beautiful items. Info: 570-561-3629 or 570-253-1299.

MAR. 15

Spuyten Duyvil 3 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale. Presented

by The Cooperage Project. American Roots music blends Olde Time, Blues, Bluegrass, & Folk Rock & a pinch of Punk Rock energy to create a uniquely modern mix. Donations collected at door. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

MAR. 15

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the Chestnut Tavern 5:30-9:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn, Hawley.

Irish folk music by John “Patrick” Curtin. À la carte menu & featured local brewery. Info: 570-226-2993 or desk@thesettlersinn.com.

MAR. 16

How to Create a Pro-quality Video for Your Business in 20 Minutes Using Your Mobile Phone Noon–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Hones-dale.

Presented by The Cooperage Project. Taught

by Todd Billingsly of Bottega Productions, LLC. Donations collected.

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

MAR. 18

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

MAR. 19

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.

MAR. 19

MAR. 20

Tony Kenny’s Irish Celebration 7:30 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Includes comedian & singer Richie Hayes, ballad singer Bernadette Ruddy, the Dublin City Dancers & the Dublin Trinity Band. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

MAR. 20

Robots Fighting Robots & The Calvary Is Us — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Featuring Giants at Large.

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

MAR. 19

MAR. 20 & 21

MAR. 19

Monty Python and the Holy Grail Noon & 7 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock. King Arthur & his knights embark on a low-budget search for the Grail, encountering many very silly obstacles. Purchase tickets at www.dietrichtheater.com or the ticket booth. Info: 570-996-1500.

Mystery Birding Field Trip Monroe County Environmental Educa-tion Center, Bartonsville. Includes bus transportation, plenty of birds & a good time.

Pack a lunch and dress for the weather.

Stops made for coffee & snacks. Pre-registration & payment required & limited. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

MAR. 20

MAR. 17, 24, 31, APR. 7, 14, 21

MAR. 18

MAR. 20

Streamwatch Volunteer Training 7–8:30 p.m. St. Paul’s United Church, East Swiftwater. Training event for new Streamwatch Volunteers & current volunteers who would like a refresher. Info: 570839-1120 or www.brodheadwatershed.org.

Mountain Laurel Quilt Guide 7 p.m. Canadensis United Methodist Church, Cresco. New members & guests are welcome. Info: 570-676-9969.

“The Book of Kells and its World 600–900 CE” 6 p.m. Weinberg Memorial Library, The University of Scranton. Schemel Forum Seminar Series. Registration required. Fees vary. Call 570-941-6206 or email emily.brees@scranton.edu.

Free Public Building Tour 10–11:30 a.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. See description at Mar. 7.

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

March 20–March 31

Book Club Discussion: Still Alice 2 p.m. Belle Reve Senior Living, Milford.

Discuss Still Alice, highlighting the journey of a prof. diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease who now has to face her family & the world in a new way. Light refreshments.

Free & open to public. Seating is limited.

RSVP by Mar. 17: 570-409-9191.

Bad Movie Thursdays with Mystery Science Theater 3000 7–9 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Cocktail hour, 6 p.m.

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

MAR. 16

MAR. 21

George Thorogood & The Destroyers 7:30 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre.

With Danielle Nicole Band.

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

MAR. 19

Hackensaw Boys — with Free Range Folk 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

MAR. 19, 20, 21

Creative and Performing Arts Academy presents Willy Wonka Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton.

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

St. Patrick’s Day Celebration in the Chestnut Tavern MAR. 15 5:30-9:30 p.m. The Settlers Inn, Hawley. Irish folk music by John “Patrick” Curtin. À la carte menu & featured local brewery.

Info: 570-226-2993 or desk@thesettlersinn.com.

26 spread the word... full issues available online

Live Music Friday with Nikki & Jim 8–11 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. No cover charge.

Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

66th Annual Art Sale & Show Chadds Ford Elementary School, Chadds Ford. Over 70 local & regional professional artists display & sell their art in an array of mediums to satisfy every taste & budget.

Featured Artist: Shawn Faust. Donating Artist: Ana Delia McCormack. Artisan Showcase on Sat. Info: 610-388-1112 or mick827@aol.com.

MARCH 20–22

Sugarloaf Crafts Festival 10 a.m. Greater Philadelphia Expo Center, Oaks. More than 250 artisans delight visitors with handcrafted pieces for the wardrobe, home & garden. Small-batch foods available from specialty purveyors. Children’s entertainment. Children under 12 free. Free parking. Info: 800-210-9900 or www.sugarloafcrafts.com.

MAR. 20, 21, 22, 27, 28, 29

The Crucible Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware.

See description at Mar. 13.

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

MAR. 21

A Chickadee’s Life 10–11 a.m. Monroe County Environmental Education Center, Bartonsville. Dr. Amber Rice shares her intimate knowledge of a favorite backyard bird species, the Blackcapped chickadee. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

MAR. 21

Volunteer in the Greenhouse 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Join for some gardening work in PEEC’s greenhouse. Lend a hand on springtime projects & plant some seeds. Pre-registration required. Free. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

[ www.connections-magazine.com ]

MAR. 21

Streamwatch Volunteer Training 10 a.m.–Noon. St Paul’s United Church, East Swiftwater. Introduction to Streamwatch for prospective volunteers; refresher for old.

Info: 570-839-1120 or www.brodheadwatershed.org.

MAR. 21

Food for Thought: Healthy Land, Healthy Meat: The benefits of Pasture Raised Meats 10:30–11:45 a.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Owner of Fox Hill Farm discusses environmental & health benefits of raising animals in a pastured system, as well as how it’s done. Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

MAR. 21

FREE Tasting with Joe's Chips 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Great snacks for March Madness. Info: hello @MillMarketPA.com or 570-390-4440.

MAR. 21

The Cream of Clapton — An All-Cream Musical Tribute 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Explosive tribute show includes all of Cream’s greatest hits & pays homage to the world’s first blues/rock/psychedelic super trio. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

MAR. 21

Cryptid — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg. With Burial in the Sky. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

MAR. 21

Barnaby Bright 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Don’t miss their striking haunting harmonies & storytelling. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

MAR. 21

Comedy Variety Show 8–10:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

MAR. 21–MAY 8

The Endless Mountains Spirit: M. C. Richards & Paulus Berensohn Suraci Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Exhibition documents the synergetic nexus of the arts at the Endless Mountain Farm in Susquehanna Cty., many of the people involved with examples of their work in clay, & a lasting legacy of creativity. Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu.

MAR. 22

Black & White Photography Tour 9 a.m.–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. A tour of the historic buildings in the park. Pack a lunch & dress warm. Call to reserve a seat in the van. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 22

Buy Local Holiday Marketplace 11 a.m.–4 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

MAR. 22

Little Eco Explorers: Foxes 1–3 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. New program for 3–6 year olds. Story, craft, & activity focusing on a particular critter. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

area events MAR. 22

38th Annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade 1:30 p.m.

Stroudsburg.

Info: www.PoconoIrishParade.org.

MAR. 22

Serafin String Quartet Spring Concert 3 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Presenting a “Nordic Journey,” a behind-the-scenes tour of Norway’s most celebrated composer & pianist, Edvard Grieg. Info: 570-325-0249 or mauchchunkoperahouse.com.

MAR. 22

Bach To Brazil 3 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Classical guitarist Jay Steveskey plays the music of Baroque master Johann Sebastian Bach & Brazilian master Heitor Villa-Lobos.

Free admission. Reservations recommended. Tickets at the door or reserve by calling 570-996-1500.

MAR. 22

Dessin Animal Shelter Benefit Concert Featuring the Band MORE! 7–10 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

Presented by The Dessin Animal Shelter.

Donations collected at door. Proceeds benefit the Shelter. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

MAR. 22

Performance Music: “In Recital” 7:30 p.m. Houlihan-McLean Center, The University of Scranton. Featuring organist Christopher Johnson. Free.

Info: 570-941-7624 or music@scranton.edu.

MAR. 23

Harold & The Purple Crayon 10 a.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre. PreK to 3rd. Based on the picture book by Crockett Johnson, following the zany adventures of an young boy who creates the world he wants to explore, using nothing more than a big purple crayon & his imagination.

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

MAR. 23

MAR. 26

www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

Alzheimer’s Association Presentation at Belle Reve Senior Living 2 p.m. Belle Reve Senior Living, Milford.

Learn the effects it has on your loved one, caring for your loved one with Alzheimer’s, & how to prepare for the future. Light refreshments. Free & open to public. Seating limited. RSVP by Mar. 17: 570-409-9191.

MAR. 26

Wayne County Seniors’ Bus Trip Visit Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Restaurant for an Irish Murder Mystery show & luncheon.

Info: 570-689-3766.

MAR. 27

Open Mic Night 7 p.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Open to audiences & performers of all ages.

Musicians, poets, comedians & performers of all types invited to share their talents.

Afterward the Breaking Ground Poets take the stage. Free admission.

Info: 570-996-1500.

MAR. 27

Jekyll & Hyde 8 p.m. F.M. Kirby Center, Wilkes-Barre. Dark & dangerous love story in a stunning production that includes all of the classic songs that transformed the show into a theatrical phenomenon. Info: 570-826-1100 or www.kirbycenter.org.

MAR. 27

Quimby Mt Band — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Featuring Brother JT Band.

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

MAR. 27

BoomBox 9 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Electronic duo with a blend of soulful rock & blues–based dance music.

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

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

MAR. 28

MAR. 24

My Show with Tusko & King Dead — The Living Room Series 8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

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

Painting with Suzanne 5:30 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Beginner to advanced painters welcome. Bring one item to paint on — either a terra cotta flower pot or a flat rock no larger than 5" x 5". Supplies provided.

Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

MAR. 25

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

Presented by The Cooperage Project. Led by Compass. Donations make this possible.

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

MAR. 25

International Film Series: “Shadow Magic” 7 p.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Director: Ann Hu. Discussion follows showing of the Chinese film. Free.

Info: 570-941-6330 or sharon.finnerty@scranton.edu.

MAR. 26

Empty Place at the Table Exhibit 11 a.m. DeNaples Center, The University of Scranton. Free. Info: 570-941-6194 or justine.johnson@scranton.edu.

Alive! ’75 — The Ultimate Classic KISS Tribute!

8 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Bringing the KISS Alive! album to life. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

MAR. 28

MAR. 27

Fly Fishing 9 a.m.–Noon. Monroe County Environ-mental Education Center, Bartonsville. Introductory program. Pre-registration required

by Mar. 27. Info & registration: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

MAR. 28

MAR. 29

Boy Scout Badge Fest 9 a.m.–3:30 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. A fun day of badge work. Payment required at registration. Space limited. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 28

The Cooperage Farmers’ Market 11 a.m.–1 p.m. The Cooperage, Honesdale.

See description at Mar. 14. Info: 570-253-2020 or thecooperageproject.org.

MAR. 28

Diabetes Prevention 11 a.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Motivational & info-filled event where lifestyle modifications for the prevention of Type II diabetes are explored. Free admission. Tickets at the door or reserve by calling 570-996-1500.

MAR. 28

FREE Tasting with Mad Dog Farm 11 a.m.–1 p.m. Mill Market, in the Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. Teri Watson shares her Black Garlic & Garlic Sea Salt. Info: hello @MillMarketPA.com or 570-390-4440.

MAR. 28

“Signs of Spring on the Farm” 2–4 p.m. Quiet Valley Farm, Stroudsburg.

Kettle Creek Environmental Education Center walk at the farm celebrating spring & the early signs of spring in nature. Dress to walk outside. Info: 570-629-3061 or www.mcconservation.org.

MAR. 28

Laney Jones & the Lively Spirits 8–10 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley.

Steeped in the traditions of folk, jazz & rock & roll, she mixes a musical cocktail with vintage flavor. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

MAR. 28

Reverend Jefferson: The Ultimate Jefferson Airplane Tribute 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Pays tribute to the band that ushered in the era of the Jam Band.

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

Suzy Bogguss 8 p.m. Mauch Chunk Opera House, Jim Thorpe. Constantly chasing the muse, she has covered Country, Swing, Jazz, Folk, Americana & Roots music with style & grace.

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

MAR. 27

MAR. 28

Live Music Friday with Tom Rogo 8–11 p.m. Glass-wine. bar. kitchen. at Ledges Hotel, Hawley. No cover charge.

Info: info@ledgeshotel.com or 570-226-1337.

MAR. 27

Comedy Night at Cocoon Coffee House 8:30–10 p.m. Cocoon Coffee House, Hawley.

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

Broadway Theatre League presents My Mother’s Italian My Father’s Jewish and I’m in Therapy 8–9:45 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or

MAR. 28–APR. 26

Senior ART Exhibition 2015 Mahady Gallery, Marywood University, Scranton. Group exhibition of undergraduate art students receiving degrees in art education, art therapy, graphic design, illustration & painting. Reception, Mar. 28, 2–4 p.m. Info: 570-348-6278 or www.marywood.edu/galleries.

MAR. 28

MAR. 28

MAR. 27, 28

get connected

Duo Scarlatti, Classical Guitar Duo 8 p.m. St. Luke’s Episcopal Church, Scranton. Presented by Classical Guitar Society of NEPA. Performance includes works of Bach, Scarlatti & CastelnuovoTedesco. Info: cgsnepa@echoes.net.

Taipei Folk Dance Theatre 7:30 p.m. Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, Marywood University.

Performance presented in conjunction with the International Conference on Asian Studies. Free. Info: 570-941-7643 or asianstudies@scranton.edu.

MAR. 28–29

International Conference on Asian Studies: Taiwan and China in Global Context 3 p.m. Loyola Science Center, The University of Scranton. Free conference presentations; fees for lunch & dinners. Registration preferred. Info: 570-941-7643 or ann.pang-white@scranton.edu.

Wild Edibles Walk 10 a.m.–Noon. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. Hike focused on wild edibles. No collecting done within the Park. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 29

Tumbling Waters Hike 1–4 p.m. Pocono Environmental Education Center, Dingmans Ferry. An interpretive hike on the Tumbling Waters Trail. Threemile loop features a beautiful waterfall & a scenic overlook of the Delaware River Valley. Free. Info & registration: 570-828-2319 or www.peec.org.

MAR. 29

Sister’s Easter Catechism 2 p.m. Sherman Theater, Stroudsburg.

Participate as Sister runs her own version of the Easter Egg Hunt, with special rewards & candy give-aways. Info: 570-420-2808 or www.shermantheater.com.

MAR. 29

Performance Music: “In Concert” 7:30 p.m. Houlihan-McLean Center, The University of Scranton. Combined concert featuring The Manhattan School of Music Brass Orchestra & The Univ. of Scranton Singers. Free. Info: 570-941-7624 or music@scranton.edu.

MAR. 31

Froggy 101’s Guitars & Stars 10 7–9:30 p.m. Scranton Cultural Center, Scranton. Info: 570-344-1111 or www.scrantonculturalcenter.org.

Ahead In April APR. 2

Tom Knight Puppet Show 11 a.m. Dietrich Theater, Tunkhannock.

Songs & skits for children about the environment, animals, food & books.

Free admission. Reservations recommended.

Tickets at the door or reserve by calling 570-996-1500.

APR. 3, 4, 5

The Crucible Shawnee Playhouse, Shawnee On Delaware. See description at Mar. 13.

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

APR. 4

Billy Strings & Don Julin 8 p.m. Hawley Silk Mill, Hawley. On stage, the two egg each other on to more & more intense riffs & improvised breaks, pushing harder & harder on their own abilities. Info: 570-588-8077 or harmonypresents.com.

APR. 5

Easter Dinner Buffet Noon–4 p.m. Ehrhardt’s Waterfront Banquet Center, Hawley. Soup, salads, entrees, carving station, dessert table. Under 3 free.

Info: 570-226-7355 or www.ehrhardts.com.

APR. 8

Culinary Book Club: Italian Night 5:30–6:30 p.m. Wayne County Public Library, Honesdale. Everyone loves to eat & share recipes. Info & registration: Elizabeth, 570-253-1220 or ewilson@waynelibraries.org.

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27

the arts

artscene

For more information about CM ARTSCENE GALLERY, contact CM Artscene Coordinator Lucille Norella at 570.488.6742 or email Lnorella@echoes.net.

You may also contact Connections Magazine at 570.647.0085 or cmag@ptd.net

CALLING ALL ARTISTS! Artscene allows artists the opportunity to exhibit a piece of their artwork in Connections Magazine and on our website with the intent of selling their artwork and gaining exposure.

“Russian Crown Jewel” Art Type: Ceramic Artist: Larry E. Boss Size: 5" x 7" Price: $75 Available from: Larry E. Boss Pocono Lake, PA Phone: 215-620-9097 larryeboss@gmail.com www.mediaspots.com INSPIRATION: While I am content to make things

Art Type: Real Flower Pendant Artist: Lucille Norella Size: Approx. 11⁄2" wide x 2" long Price: $25 without black cord $30 with black cord Available from: Lucille Norella Waymart, PA Phone: 570-488-6742 Lnorella@echoes.net www.artbynorella.50megs.com INSPIRATION: This PENDANT is composed of three

from a wide variety of materials, it is in clay that I find the most satisfying properties and potentials.

There is a satisfyingly meditative consciousness which arises out of the process of centering, opening and forming of clay on a wheel. There is a grace which comes to form which is derived from direct and uncomplicated functionality. “Art for art’s sake” and functional craft need not conflict at a basic level.

However, I find I am fascinated with surface design as an atavistic voice which helps me make connections to distant and ancient promptings. I take my lead from the thousands of stylistic expressions throughout the history of art and culture. Often the myriad forms of nature will be my starting point.

“Real Flower” violas, a member of the Pansy family.

They are sealed in a copper bezel to preserve them for many years of enjoyment. The Victorian meaning of the Pansy is “loving thoughts.” These bring charm and grace to any attire. They have tri-colored blooms of purple, yellow and white; their leaves are heartshaped. Pansies are also flowers of remembrance. Give this pendant to someone you wish to know they are thought of in a loving way. The black cord enhances the look of the pendant … it is optional.

“Metallic Garden” Art Type: Acrylic (Metallic) Artist: Samantha Guzzi Size: 12" x 12" framed Price: $50 Available from: Samantha Guzzi Carbondale, PA Phone: 570-282-5211 strooski02@hotmail.com INSPIRATION: I am 12 years old and am aspiring to be an art teacher. I recently won 1st place for April 2015 for the Lackawanna and Susquehanna “Drug and Alcohol Stay Sober” billboard awareness. I have been recommended by my art teacher Carol Vitzacovtch for the “Scholastic Art and Writing” award through the Carbondale Jr. and Sr. High School.

The cost is only $105 for three months and will reach over 54,000 readers per month in Pennsylvania and parts of New York and New Jersey.

28 spread the word... full issues available online

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“Mountains in the Mist” Art Type: Acrylic Artist: John Spears Size: 36" x 24" framed Price: $500 Available from: John Spears Lake Ariel, PA Phone: 570-313-9095 jwilliamspears@gmail.com