Pocono Living Magazine Dec 19/Jan 20 by Pocono Magazines

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

The Pocono Mountains' Magazine

Complimentary

Pocono Living M A G A Z I N E

“THE ART OF MIKE REINER” “HICKORY RUN BOULDER FIELD” “THE LAST RESORT”

Pocono Magazines, LLC PUBLISHING

Pocono Living Magazine© & Pocono Family Magazine© 1929 North 5th Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570-424-1000 pmags@ptd.net www.poconomagazines.com PUBLISHER/EDITOR Larry R. Sebring larry@poconomagazines.com ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Linda St. John, 570-856-8155 MAGAZINE & WEB DESIGN Smart Blonde Creative Food & Wine Editor Jamie Bowman PHOTOGRAPHY & ART Ricky Batista James Chesnick Julie Enterline John Galarza M. Harmon Marlana Holsten Barbara Hornstra Vinzon Lee Ann LeFevre Barbara Lewis Harry Loud Maritza McFaline

William McKee Veronica Murray Lisa Newberry Andrei Protsouk Lynn Pryor David Sandt Matt Siptroth Tom Stone Dave Trainer Nancy Tully Linda Weaver Linda Zak

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Roseanne Bottone Jamie Bowman Kimberly Blaker Kathy Dubin-Uhler Marty Wilson Amy Leiser Suzanne McCool Amanda Kuhn John L. Moore William M. Williams Jim Werkheiser Janet Mishkin Allison Mowatt ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANTS Kristen Sebring Linda Spalluto

Pocono Living Magazine and Pocono Family Magazine,

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two regional publications filled with articles, features and photography exploring and capturing the real Pocono Mountains living experience.

Our publications can be found at many locations

throughout the Pocono Mountains region, and are available by subscription.

The information published in this magazine is believed to be accurate, but in some instances, may represent opinion or judgment. The publication’s providers do not guarantee the accuracy or completeness of any information and shall not be held liable for any loss or damage, directly or indirectly, by or from the information. © 2019 Pocono Magazines. All rights reserved. No part of this publication may be copied, reproduced or transmitted in any form or by any means without the expressed written permission of the publisher.

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DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 3

“He who knows all the answers has not been asked all the questions.” ― Confucius

> P hoto by Marlana Holsten

4 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

What’s Inside December 2019/January 2020

FEATURES 7 The Last Resort 10 A Christmas Memory 12 Hikes and Outdoor Adventures with Pocono Living: Hickory Run State Park and Boulder Field 20 History of the Pennsylvania Christmas Tree 24

The Art of Mike Reiner

34 It’s the Most Wonderful Time of the Year... to Bake Cookies 38 Remembering Paradise School 40 Keeping Wildlife Healthy in Cold Weather 44 Where Went th Whip-Poor-Will? 50 How to Find the Right Dog for Your Family Complimentary

Pocono Living DECEMBER 2019/JANU

ARY 2020

The Pocono Mountains

' Magazine

I N E M A G A Z

COVER By: Vinzon Lee

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 5

Amy Leiser

Suzanne McCool Suzanne is a native of the Poconos and a former schoolteacher and former Monroe County Commissioner. She has recently published her own book, and lives with her husband Terry in Stroudsburg. Today, Suzanne enjoys writing, traveling and visiting her grandchildren.

KATHY DUBIN-UHLER Katherine Uhler is the director of the Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center. She became a licensed wildlife rehabilitator in 1980 and has been growing the nonprofit, all-volunteer PWREC since. In addition to running the Center with her husband and co-director, Eric, she has earned a Master’s Degree in Wildlife Biology and teaches Ecology at Stroudsburg High School.

William M. Williams William M. Williams is a Wildlife Conservation Officer and the Information and Education Supervisor for the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northeast Region. “Bill” is responsible for administering the Hunter/Trapper Education program for the 13 county region and serving as both media and legislative liaison for the agency. Prior to working for the PA Game Commission, Bill served in the U.S. Navy as a Hospital Corpsman and worked as an Environmental Education Specialist for the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. He is an active member of the Pennsylvania Outdoor Writers Association and Outdoor Writers Association of America. Bill lives near Bento and enjoys spending time on his hobby farm with his wife Michelle, Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rocco, alpacas, goats, and chickens.

Photo courtesy of Family Features

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

Amy Leiser is a local resident and historian who has been working with the Monroe County Historical Association for 19 years. In addition to the live tours, research assistance, and museum that the organization keeps available, Leiser offers her knowledge and assistance with family charting and genealogy. Visit www.monroehistorical.org

THE LAST RESORT

“ONE OF THE POCONOS BEST KEPT SECRETS IN THE ‘70S By Suzie Fretz McCool Photos courtesy of Mary Ellen Flood

hat a great place the Last Resort was in the 1970s and what a perfect name for this tiny, cozy, friendly bar tucked away in the woods in Paradise Township on Carlton Road near the entrance to Merry Hill Road right up from Forest Hills Run.

My now husband of 47 years, Colonel Retired Terry McCool, and I used to frequent the Last Resort in the 1970s when we started to date and soon were engaged. We married in March of 1972. We often stopped by The Last Resort after a movie or maybe after a show at the Paradise Stream Resort down the road. We had a favorite comedian there and were friends of the manager. Actually Terry had been a social director at Paradise Stream one summer when the Harriton’s still owned the resort.

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 7

Actually the Last Resort, this small club, was owned by a highly respected New York lawyer named Arthur Flood. Art bought 100 acres in Paradise Township in the 1940s, and had a house built there after the war and it was their summer home. As the Floods had four children – Kevin, John, Margaret and Lois, he named the property Kejomalo using the first two letters of each of the children’s names. It was a large two story home featuring the kitchen on the lower level with a finished attic. Mr. Flood brought cobblestones from Brooklyn to use in its construction.

“As the Floods had four children — Kevin, John, Margaret and Lois, he named the property Kejomalo using the first two letters of each of the children’s names.” My sisters, Linda and Paulette and I did not really know the Flood kids too well because we were much younger than they at that time. However, we got to meet them on one of Bus Depue’s hayrides and bonfire picnics which Bus and Clara had each year. However, many years later, after my sisters and I finished college and moved back to the area to be near our mom, who was a widow since 1958 and had various health problems, we

used to stop at the Last Resort with our dates. Terry’s buddy, Sam Goll, was a bartender there and we liked to visit with lots of our local friends. Also Terry reminded me that Bill Coffman was one of the bartenders too. This little club, fashioned from the basement of Art Flood’s house was a wonderful social venue for people our age and actually all ages. (Many of Art’s friends used to come up to the Poconos and relax at The Last Resort.) Another of our favorite bartenders was Charlie Dross, a sonin-law of the Floods; but everybody called him “Fat Charlie,” which he seemed to like. He was a really fun guy. He was good friends with my husband, Terry, his brother, Tim, and their parents Kay and Tom McCool, who owned the McCool Shooting Range and Gun Company over the hill in Henryville. Fat Charlie, Sam, Terry and Tim liked to shoot together at the Range. Terry’s younger sisters, Susie and Annie, were crack shots too. I guess you could say that the Poconos, especially Paradise Township, was a tight knit community in those days. Thinking back to that time in our “hey day” evokes many fond and warm memories of a sweet, gentle time in our lives. This was before the population explosion of the Pocono Mountains. We didn’t even lock our doors in those days. Actually it wasn’t until I was in my 20s that I got to know one of the Flood kids – John Flood, who owned the gas station (which used to be called Blackwells) at the bottom of the hill on Carlton Road. John was a character in his own right! Years later I came

to know very well his ex-wife, Mary Ellen Flood, who became my secretary in the Monroe County Commissioner’s office during my 12 years tenure there. Mary Ellen and I are still good friends today. I will close this memoir with a funny Last Resort story. After our wedding on March 25, 1972 at St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Tannersville and after our reception at the Tannersville Fire Company recreation hall across the road, many of our out of town and local friends did not want to stop partying, so they moved the after party to The Last Resort. Terry and I went to see our honeymoon suite at the Paradise Stream Inn. It was quite lavish and had the heart shaped tub/ swimming pool within it, a big mirror over the bed, fancy red wall paper and so forth. I’m sure you get the idea. However, Terry found out that the gang all gravitated to the Last Resort and he said he wanted to run up for a few minutes to say goodbye to Timmie and his buddies. The few minutes turned into hours. There I sat in the fancy honeymoon suite with no bridegroom waiting by the heartshaped tub, not knowing what to do. There were no cell or smart phones in those days. He eventually returned, feeling no pain, but carrying a note from my baby sister, Paulette, which she had written on toilet paper because she couldn’t find anything else. It said how lonely she would be with both Linda and me gone now, that it would be just she and mom at home now. I had dozed off by the time Terry returned, and I knew I had missed a really great party. People would talk about our wedding for years to come. The house and club burned down in October of 1975. It was a very sad day for many of us who loved that place and spent many happy hours there, socializing with our friends and neighbors. This was the end of an era. Today we look back at this wonderful “gem” and realize that it was a privilege to have been a part of the history of the Last Resort.  > Information on the Last Resort and photos were contributed by Mary Ellen Flood (daughter-in-law of Arthur and Margaret Flood).

BUILDING OF THE FLOOD HOUSE IN SWIFTWATER AND LATER BECOMING THE LAST RESORT

rthur flood hired people he knew to build different stages of the house. Some of them might have been from New York, and some were local here in the Poconos. Bus DePue used his work horses to move large slabs of stone that became the front porch and the patio outside the kitchen door. The cobblestones were from streets in Brooklyn and the shiny brick from one of the tunnels in New York (it could have been from the Brooklyn or Holland Tunnels) where he worked. He probably collected other material from wherever he felt he was getting a freebie or a good deal. DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 9

A CHRISTMAS MEMORY By Suzanne McCool

y memory of Monroe County (The Poconos) more than fifty years ago was of forests and farms and beautiful quiet country roads with very little traffic. Growing up in Paradise Township when my sisters and I were young, there were lots of woods filled with evergreens, birches and a variety of other trees, beautiful mountain laurel and lots of rhododendron. The kids in our neighborhood often played in the woods building forts, picking flowers or greens for wreaths, or just generally running around in them and often seeing deer or other wildlife. I especially remember one crisp, clear winter’s day. There had been a snowfall earlier that week. My sister, Paulette, and I headed out for a walk with our dad, John Fretz. Leafless snowdusted branches made jagged silhouettes against the blue-gray winter sky. We took the sled, my dad with an ax, and headed

10 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

into the snowy woods behind our house. We were looking for a Christmas tree. I was probably ten and Paulette was eight years old at the time. Pulling the American Flyer, Daddy broke a trail through the snowy woods with Paulette and me trudging behind. We were probably less than half mile from the house but it seemed really far for our short little legs. I recall that all was quiet and almost ethereal that day, the only sounds the plowing of the sled, branches snapping underfoot, and the occasional thump of snow falling from limbs and branches. A rabbit scurried past our track and up ahead in a small clearing stood a doe who somehow avoided the hunters’ guns that year. A ricocheting branch stung Paulette’s cheek and Daddy leaned down and kissed it to make it better. Soon we saw what we were looking for – the most perfect Christmas tree on earth and just the right size for our living

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

“Soon we saw what we were looking for – the most perfect Christmas tree on earth and just the right size for our living room, not too big or small — just right.” room, not too big or small – just right. In my mind’s eye I could already see it adorned and aglow with lights and tinsel and gaily colored balls and a shining star on top. We would put it in the front window, and it would sit in a big bucket of coal with my mother insisting it be secured with string because of the year our cats climbed the tree and knocked it over. That was when we lived at Airport Inn, my parent’s hotel in Mount Pocono, before we moved to Paradise Township. My dad quickly cut the tree and put it on the sled while Paulette and I held it on with our mittened hands. I was so

excited because Christmas was my favorite time of the year, not just because of the magic of the season, but because December 25, is my birthday as well! Christmas carols from the record player and Mom greeted us as we dragged the tree up the steps, across the front porch and into the house. My mother had hot chocolate waiting for us and the smell of her freshly baked apple tart wafted though the air. Our cheeks were rosy from the cold as we headed to the fireplace where a cheerful fire was burning to warm our little hands and fingers. Soon the tree trimming would begin! I will always remember this one perfect day in my life because within a few years from this day, my father would die from complications from surgery, and my mother would struggle to hold on to our home and to raise my sisters and me. She never remarried, but her youngest sister, our Aunt Audrey, would always be there to help and would always make Christmas special in our lives.  DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 11

12 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

HIKES & OUTDOOR ADVENTURES WITH POCONO LIVING By Amanda Kuhn Photos courtesy of the Hickory Run State Park Facebook page

HICKORY RUN STATE PARK & BOULDER FIELD

DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© 13

ver 40 miles of hiking trails, streams full of wild brook trout, three natural park areas, and an 18-acre field of rocks known as Boulder Field - Hickory Run State Park is primed for exploration. Regardless of the season, Hickory Run State Parkâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s diverse habitats and unique geological formations draw visitors yearround. Whether youâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;re hoping to traverse the Boulder Field or cross-country ski your way through Sand Spring Trail, a trip to this impressive park will surely keep you interested. Located in Carbon County at the western foothills of the Pocono Mountains,

“WOW, Look At All That Candy!!”

“One of the most notable features of this park is Boulder Field which was designated as a natural national landmark by the National Park Service in 1967.” Hickory Run State Park is one of the “25 Must-See PA State Parks” according to the PA Department of Conservation and Natural Resources. One of the most notable features of this park is Boulder Field which was designated as a natural national landmark by the National Park Service in 1967. Accessible by car or by hiking the 3.5 mile Boulder Field Trail, this awesome formation is something to behold.

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Comprised of boulders ranging in size, the rocky terrain appears fairly level with the tops of the rocks being nearly the same height, but watch your step! While there are different explanations for how the Boulder Field was formed, most suggest that the rocks were deposited over 20,000 years ago as a result of glacial melting. Theories on how the rocks were arranged, shaped and broken down are taught by the environmental education specialists at the park and can leave you in awe of nature’s power. The vast trail system winding throughout the park includes trails that vary in length and difficulty. While some trails are marked strictly for hiking, others are available to cross-country skiers 16 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

and snowmobilers as well. Biking, however, is prohibited on all trails at Hickory Run State Park. One of the most well-known trails is the Shades of Death Trail. Despite it’s frightful name, this rocky, 1 mile trail includes some of the park’s most majestic views. In addition to different rock formations, you’ll meander through rhododendron thickets, and the remains of old logging mills and dams that date back to the 1800s. With winter on it’s way, there is still plenty to do at Hickory Run State Park. Ice skating, snow-shoeing and cross-country skiing are just a few of winter’s perks. White-tailed deer, turkey, black bear, and gray squirrels are game that can be legally hunted with additional opportunities in the surrounding state game lands.

“In addition to different rock formations, you’ll meander through rhododendron thickets, and the remains of old logging mills and dams that date back to the 1800s.

During the warmer months visitors can fish, swim, picnic, and even enjoy some disc golf. There are also a number of hands-on activities, guided walks and presentations on the natural and historical resources given by the environmental educations specialists at the park. 

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> For more information and tips on how to explore this landmark, visit the PA DCNR website. Hickory Run State Park 3613 State Route 534 White Haven, PA 18661 hickoryrunsp@pa.gov DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 17

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Pocono Mountains Airport - 188 Airport Drive, Tobyhanna, PA

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HICKORY RUN STATE PARK

1-800-321-5890

MoyerAviation.com

TOP ACTIVITIES AT HICKORY RUN STATE PARK 1. Walk across Boulder Field 2. Check out the waters below Hawk Falls 3. Enjoy the solitude of Stametz Dam along Shades of Death Trail 4. View the Lehigh Gorge along Fireline Trail 5. Pull a wild brook trout from Hickory Run or Mud Run 6. Cross-country ski Sand Spring Trail *Top activities provided by the PA Dept. of Conservation and Natural Resources

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

HISTORY OF THE

PENNSYLVANIA CHRISTMAS TREE By Amy Leiser, Executive Director Monroe County Historical Association

he tradition of bringing evergreen boughs and even whole trees indoors during the winter solstice began in Europe well before there were reliable written records.

These early indoor trees were not adorned with fanciful decorations as Christmas trees are today. Relatively “modern” Christmas tree traditions did not begin until the 16th century — the Protestant reformer Martin Luther is credited with first decorating a small evergreen tree with candles, representing the stars in the sky that twinkled over Bethlehem.

Relatively “modern” Christmas tree traditions did not begin until the 16th century — the Protestant reformer Martin Luther is credited with first decorating a small evergreen tree with candles, representing the stars in the sky that twinkled over Bethlehem.

Although the Christmas tree tradition was brought to Pennsylvania by early German colonists, the first documented Christmas tree in our commonwealth belonged to Lancaster resident Matthew Zahn. His 1821 diary entry reads, “Sally & our Thos. & Wm. Hensel was out for Christmas trees, on the hill at Kendrick’s saw mill.” Throughout the 1800s, the Christmas tree grew in popularity. Queen Victoria and Prince Albert of England were featured in the London News in 1846 with an illustration of the royal family standing around a Christmas tree. This picture caused a sensation, and the Christmas tree became instant fashion for others to imitate. By the late 1800s, the decorated tree movement had hit the United States, and the Christmas tree became commonplace in many American homes.

The first popular style of American Christmas trees did not look like the typical decorated trees of today. Such trees were 3 to 4 feet tall and stood on a table in the center of the room for all guests to enjoy. Ladies and children would spend hours crafting home-made decorations and ornaments using natural materials. Often, clusters of berries, nuts, pretzels, fruit, paper, raisins, cotton, and cookies adorned the evergreen branches of the tree. Small candles were clipped onto the outermost branches to illuminate the tree and show off the decorations. The candles would only be lit for a few minutes at a time because of the danger of fire. Not much later, manufactured holiday ornaments became part of the tradition. The Easton Express advertised Christmas tree ornaments in 1867, while a Pottsville newspaper, in its December 1881 edition, boasted “charming little ornaments can now be bought ready to decorate Christmas trees that it seems almost a waste of time to make them at home.” As Christmas trees became more and more popular, a demand for artificial, reusable trees arose. The first artificial trees were created in Germany in the 1880s. Concerned about extensive lumbering and the health of their forests, the German people created feather Christmas trees. Feather trees were made out of goose feathers that were dyed to resemble evergreen needles. The feathers were separated at the spine, then held secure using DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 21

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

â&#x20AC;&#x153;By the late 1800s, the decorated tree movement had hit the United States, and the Christmas tree became commonplace in many American homes.â&#x20AC;?

Photo courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Association

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> T his photo, circa 1895, is believed to be the Lesione family of Henryville, proudly posing with their Christmas tree. wire to form a branch. The branches of feathers were then inserted into a small wooden pole, representing the tree trunk, to make an “evergreen” Christmas tree. Pennsylvania Germans brought this tradition with them to America, and since then, a vast array of artificial trees in different styles, textures, materials, and even colors have come to decorate many Monroe County homes. The National Christmas Tree Association maintains data on Americans and their Christmas tree spending habits. In 2014, the group revealed the average cost of a real tree was $39.50, and the average cost of an artificial tree was $63.60. Households in the United States purchased approximately 26.3 million real Christmas trees with a retail value of $1.04 billion. About 13.9 million artificial trees were purchased with a total retail value of $1.19 billion. Eleven percent of U.S. homes will display both artificial and real Christmas trees this holiday season.

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Whichever type or style of Christmas tree you might choose to help you celebrate the holidays, you can find one close to home. Artificial trees can be found at many different retailers. If you are among those who prefer the aroma and beauty of natural trees, you will be happy to know that according to 2012 agricultural census reports, Pennsylvania boasts 31,577 acres of land dedicated to Christmas tree farms. Monroe County has many tree farms which occupy a total of 658 acres.  DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 23

THE ART OF

MIKE REINER M

ikey Reiner was born in a US Army Hospital in Cannstatt, Germany. At the age of two, he and his parents moved to New Jersey. He attended New Jersey schools and at a young age it was apparent to his teachers and fellow students that he had great artistic abilities. As his education continued he took courses of study that focused on art. His graduation from William Patterson University with an Art Degree is a source of great pride. Through a 30 year career as a Union Carpenter of Local 253, he continued creating and exhibiting throughout New Jersey, receiving awards and accolades. Now, newly retired, he is a local resident of Middle Smithfield Township. He enjoys spending quality time with his 18 month old Alaskan Malamute, named Inga. Planning ahead he awaits fulfilling a lifelong dream of illustrating a childrenâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s book.

24 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂŠ DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

IT’S THE MOST WONDERFUL TIME...

TO BAKE COOKIES By Amy Leiser, Executive Director Monroe County Historical Association

hat is Christmastime without cookies? The tradition of baking holiday cookies began in the early 1800s and was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Dutch. They embraced the Christmas spirit of giving by baking hundreds of cookies in a variety of shapes to share. The cookie cutters they used were handmade of tin by local tinsmiths. These cookie cutters were used to create the unique cookie shapes found throughout many Pennsylvania Dutch homes.

Tinsmithing is not a common present-day occupation. These tinkers, as they were often called, could form any number of objects from metal, and their items were readily sought after. Tinsmiths produced and installed large household necessities such as stove pipes, plumbing parts, and roofing and gutter materials. But it was the smaller items, such as coffee pots, candlesticks, weathervanes, children’s toys, and cookie cutters for which the tinsmith’s artistic work is admired.

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“The tradition of baking holiday cookies began in the early 1800s and was brought to America by the Pennsylvania Dutch.” To make an object, the tinsmith cut the various pieces of metal he needed from sheeting or plates using patterns and a special type of shears known as snipps. Early tin was very thick and was actually sheet iron with a thin coat of tin over it. Often, the tinsmith would trace the pattern onto the tin before cutting. Using a hammer and anvil, the tinsmith would bend the tin into the exact shape he needed. To join pieces together, he would use solder. Tinsmiths wasted very little of the metal sheeting; scraps were often used to make small toys or cookie cutters. It is perhaps in the cookie cutters that the tinsmith was most able to express his individual style, fashioning any number of patterns or shapes to cut cookie dough that could be displayed (and then eaten). There were over 30 local tinsmiths active in Monroe County between 1810 and 1940. Although records before 1810 are incomplete, there is evidence to suggest that tinsmiths had been active in the county since 1800.

George Possinger of Jackson Township is the first man mentioned in the county records as being a tinsmith. He came to the area and settled around Reeders in 1811. Although no other smiths are mentioned as having been active that early, several pieces of tin dating to before 1840 have been found near Shawnee on Delaware, suggesting that another smith was active in the eastern portion of the county.

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> Vintage tin cookie cutters in the shape of a reindeer, a tulip and a bird.

In the 1850 census, Wendell Brenner and Ed Fagen were listed as two active blacksmiths. By the 1860 census, smiths were active in all portions of Monroe County. Census records, newspaper advertisements, and maps of the area all show that the number of metal workers in the area had grown. Five smiths were active in Stroudsburg alone. Much of the demand for smiths came from the railroad which had been expanding rapidly during that time. Within the Pennsylvania Dutch home, volume was the key when it came to Christmas cookies. Why? The cookies were made to share throughout the community with neighbors, friends, and of course a visit from Belsnickel. Belsnickel, often referred to as Santa’s cranky cousin, is a part of Germanic folklore; this man, unlike Santa, punished little children who had not behaved. Carrying a switch to hit naughty children, Belsnickel traveled from house to house, offering candy and nuts in return for children to recite poems, sing songs, or perform mental arithmetic. Cookies were often hung from the Christmas tree, and children chose the very best cookies to hang in the front windows of

“There were over 30 local tinsmiths active in Monroe County between 1810 and 1940. Although records before 1810 are incomplete, there is evidence to suggest that tinsmiths had been active in the county since 1800.

the home for all to enjoy. A reverend from Lebanon County in Pennsylvania wrote during the Christmas holidays that “the cheery housewives were not satisfied with less than a bushel or more of the best molasses and sugar cookies, some of them being moulded in the form of horses, rabbits, stars, dolls, stags, and others, and these with apples and cider were freely offered to every caller, whether friend or foe.”

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Cookie cutters were foremost used for practical cookie making, but over the years, such a simple item has become a form of Pennsylvania German folk art. During the 1800s, bakers took pride in making cookies in rare or unique shapes. Today, the rarest cookie cutters are sought after by collectors. The art of the cookie cutter helps tell the story of Pennsylvania Dutch culture. Common Pennsylvania Dutch icons such as tulips, hearts, stars, and parrots were used. The shape of the cookie cutter also helps to assign a date it. One example is a cookie cutter in the shape of a runaway slave. That particular cookie cutter was made just before or during the Civil War era. However, it is difficult to assign a date to many cookie cutters. For example, pigs looked like pigs whether the cookie cutter was made in 1810 or in 1910. Nowadays, Christmas cookies come in all shapes, sizes, and flavors. Some are handmade and some are store bought, but the message remains the same over the centuries. Distributing cookies to family, friends, neighbors, and co-workers is a delicious way to spread Christmas cheer.  DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© 37

REMEMBERING

PARADISE SCHOOL Photo courtesy of Pixabay

By Suzie Fretz McCool

hile frequenting a used book sale several years ago, I picked up a songbook with a red cover. I thought there was something familiar about it. When I Iooked inside I noticed that it was stamped with the name of a school, HoHoKus Township School, located in Matawan New Jersey and that the copyright date was 1940-1941 by the Hall & McCreary Company. The serendipitous part of this story is that as I looked through the song book, a wave of nostalgia washed over me. They were the songs Miss Hamblin taught to us at the Paradise Township Elementary School. Miss Audrey Hamblin played the piano beautifully, and with the double doors opened, the entire school would have these wonderful sing-a-longs. We kids didn’t know this qualified as our music class, just that it was so much fun. Many years later at Mansfield State College, I had a course called “Teaching Music in the Elementary School.” Now as an adult, discovering this find, I am amazed that kids in Matawan, New Jersey, were singing the same songs we kids were singing at Paradise School in the early 1950s. The 4th song in the book was called “Fair Hills and Valleys.” It is a Viennese melody, arranged by Catharine Quimby and has the

most beautiful words. Do any of you Paradise kids (who are now senior citizens) remember these words? And the melody?

Fair hills and valleys of my native home, Tonight I dream again of thee alone; of sunlit peaks that touch the bluest skies, Tonight I’m dreaming while the firelight dies. Then from the curling smoke that seems my world, There rise to thrill me memories of old, Broad fields of grain appear and forests tall, cool rippling sands beneath a waterfall: My native land of mountain lakes aglow, of rushing winds, to thee in heart I go, tho’ this strange voice within that calls my name, Finds silent answer in the sinking flame.

One of the other songs we Paradise kids sang often was: “Early One Morning”, an English Folk Song in which the boys in our school got carried away with the whistling section. Do kids today know how to whistle a song? I’m thinking it’s becoming a lost art.

“The serendipitous part of this story is that as I looked through the song book, a wave of nostalgia washed over me.” We learned several songs by Stephen Foster: “Beautiful Dreamer”, “Jeanie with the Light Brown Hair”, “Camptown Races”, “Some Folks”, and “My Old Kentucky Home”. Miss Hamblin must have loved his music. Although many think of Foster as a southerner, he actually was born in Lawrenceville, PA, and his beautiful home in Towanda, PA, in the Endless Mountains is an historic landmark I used to see every time I rode to college to Mansfield. I didn’t get my first car until I signed my first teaching contract in 1966, so I always bummed rides. I should also add that Camptown is very near Towanda, PA. This gave “Camptown Races” its name. Stephen Foster was considered the “Father of American Music” by many. He was born July 4, 1826 the day Thomas Jefferson and John Adams both died. Getting back to the song book, Miss Hamblin taught us many patriotic songs, also songs from other cultures such as: “The Troika” Irish Airs”, “Shortnin’ Bread”, “Home on the Range”, “Ciribiribin”, “Cielito Lindo”, “Dixie”, “Kemo Kimo” (a Tennessee Mountain Song), “Skip to My Lou”, “Santa Lucia”, “Sweet and Low”, “Loch Lomond” and “Carry Me Back to Old Virginny” to name a few, also “A Merry Life” (Funiculi, Funicula). We learned lots of spirituals too such as: “De Boatman”, “Swing Low, Sweet Chariot”, “Deep River”, and “The Boll Weevil.” Some of our other favorites were: “The Erie Canal”, “Alouette”, “Auld Lang Syne”, “Good Night Ladies” and “Home on the Range.” And who could ever forget “Grandfather’s Clock”? Remember the final line - “It stopped, short, never to go again when the old man died.” Also we actually sang hymns in the book around Easter, Christmas, and Thanksgiving. I remember dressing up like Pilgrims for an evening program at Paradise School, and we all sang “We Gather Together” from the “Prayer of Thanksgiving”, and we loved “Come Ye Thankful People.” Looking through this songbook jogged my memory and evoked so many happy feelings. I guess that’s what people mean when they talk about the “Good Ol’ Days.” We baby boomers have been blessed with many special memories from the Paradise Township school days. 

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KEEPING WILDLIFE HEALTHY IN COLD WEATHER By Katherine Uhler Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center

eeping humans healthy is a big job, but at least we can whine, complain, and otherwise describe our symptoms in exquisite detail to determine the cause of the problem. We concern ourselves with prevention and treatment of illness and injury, not only to individuals but for entire communities and populations. We know that injuries and illnesses stem from many sources including viruses, bacteria, insects and other creepy-crawly vectors, weak immune systems, and physical dangers such as ice and snow. Animals are susceptible to many of the same kinds of health problems we suffer. Although they don’t outwardly display problems often, because that would draw predators, it is possible through observing and caring about wildlife, to not only become a sentinel for their problems, but to help prevent it as well. Wildlife issues may easily become human issues. Some animals get diseases which can be

passed to people, or to our pets. Other simply become injured and need a hand until they can heal themselves. In any case, the following are some simple rules and ideas that can prevent putting wildlife in harm’s way during the winter months.

1. Please don’t feed bear.

Luckily, bears are beginning their denning season and aren’t generally up and about until March or so, but feeding bears reduces their fear of people, a process called habituation. Bear that do not fear humans risk being trapped, or even killed when their behavior crosses the lines of human-determined acceptability. There are folks who not only hand-feed bears, but invite them into their homes, and even feed them marshmallows “mouth-tomouth”. This behavior endangers every other person that bear comes in contact with. The other problem for bears is garbage.

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“We concern ourselves with prevention and treatment of illness and injury, not only to individuals but for entire communities and populations.”

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Keep it in closed containers INSIDE your garage until garbage day. You can’t blame a bear for being a bear, and all kinds of critters love our garbage. At the very least, attach a suet feeder to the inside of the can and place an ammonia-soaked sponge in the suet feeder. The odor will repel most animals.

2. Don’t feed deer.

First, feeding deer is feeding not only deer, but bears and rodents. Concentrating animals around food spreads disease like wildfire. All those mouths munching on the same pile, poop accumulating, etc. is just not safe. Rodents harbor many dangers which can cause human disease- Hanta virus, plague, ticks carrying Lyme disease and several other more recently discovered tick-borne diseases etc. Deer will not starve to death without your help, and the lean winter months will help to reduce the birth of fawns, helping to naturally balance the population.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

3. Feeding birds is a wonderful hobby. To do it properly, however, requires

some commitment on your part. Just as with deer, you are artificially concentrating individuals, which can contribute to conjunctivitis and salmonella outbreaks, causing death to the birds for which we are trying to care. Frequent emptying of seed, washing of the feeders in a mild bleach solution, and sweeping of the areas beneath the feeders will prevent most of these problems. It also will prevent attracting rodents, the uninvited nighttime visitors to feeders.

4. Your indoor-outdoor cats can contract and bring inside parasites and diseases from wildlife. Keep your cats indoors. They and you will be safer and healthier for it.

5. Watch for animals in need of help.

Freezing ponds and lakes strand wildlife occasionally. Ducks become frozen in water. Loons and grebes land and cannot take off . Deer even fall through thin ice. Do not venture out onto ice unless you know it is thick enough to support you. Call for help if you are sure an animal is in distress.

6. Be sure you have wildlife-proofed your home, so that conflicts don’t occur in

winter between you and wildlife attempting to share your abode. Animals attempting to den in one’s attic, crawlspace and inside walls can do real damage, and introduce fleas etc. into your home. Relocating them in cold weather generally results in the animal’s death, so prevention is better for homeowner and animal. Have a safe, healthy and warm winter!  Katherine Uhler Pocono Wildlife Rehabilitation and Education Center 361 Cherry Drive Stroudsburg PA 18360 www.poconowildlife.org 42 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

Photo courtesy of Janet Mishkin

WHERE WENT THE WHIP-POORWILL? By William M. Williams Information and Education Specialist PA GAME COMMISSION

spattering of stars peeked through the partly cloudy night sky. Along a desolate country road and under the diffuse glow of an unseen moon, the ping-ping-ping of the door alarm sounded as I exited the state truck. The date, time, location, and moon phase for the early June survey was chosen well in advance to offer the best opportunity of hearing what I was desperately hoping to hear. I felt hopeful – but not what you would call optimistic – when my watch indicated it was time to proceed. The song of the elusive bird was something I had not heard since childhood. This nighttime serenade was relegated to serving as a musical score for increasingly distant memories of lazy summer evenings sitting on an uncle’s back porch near a patch of woods, with relatives long since passed, listening to a small bird hauntingly repeat its name over, and over again. One minute elapsed. The road behind the truck wrapped around the base of Hickory Nut Hill, just outside the little village of Waller,

Only other nighttime denizens greeted me at each successive listening location. The last of the spring peepers peeped, American toads trilled, a great horned owl hooted. The air temperature steadily dropped as the sky transitioned to mostly cloudy, then completely overcast. Conditions for optimal whippoor-will calling gradually worsened and, by the time the route was completed just before midnight, a drizzling rain fell. “Did you hear any?” my wife later asked as I wearily crawled into bed. “One,” I replied and drifted off to sleep. She had no idea how much it meant to me to hear that single bird.

WHIP-POOR-WILLS

The eastern whip-poor-will belongs to a group of nocturnal insect-eating birds known as “nightjars” because of their nocturnal habits and the jarring aspect of their vocalizations. Other nightjars found in Pennsylvania are the common nighthawk and the rarely documented chuck-will’s-widow. Nightjars also are called “goatsuckers,” stemming from a false notion that the birds would fly into barns at night and use their expansive maws to suckle milk from goats and other livestock. In folklore, the call of the whip-poor-will was considered an omen of death and substantial calling of the birds indicated an impending storm. The Mohegan tribe of Native Americans held the belief that makiwasug (magic little people) traveled through the forest at night in the shape of whip-poor-wills.

“This nighttime serenade was relegated to serving as a musical score for increasingly distant memories of lazy summer evenings sitting on an uncle’s back porch near a patch of woods, with relatives long since passed, listening to a small bird hauntingly repeat its name over, and over again.” The squat and diminutive adult bird weighs around 2 ounces with a wingspan of 19 inches. A whip-poor-will has a gaping mouth and sports two vertical rows of bristles flared toward the front of the bill to funnel insect prey captured in flight. Its plumage is a mix of camouflaging browns and grays. Both sexes have a white neck band, the male with white outer tail feathers. Soft plumage enables them to fly as silently as an owl and their large eyes provide excellent night vision. A gleam of red or bright orange eyes in the glare of automobile headlights may reveal a whip-or-will’s position as it sits along the road waiting for a meal to pass overhead. Whip-poor-wills perch on branches or sit on the ground where they fly up to catch beetles, mosquitoes, gnats, and a variety of moths. The birds are most active on moonlit nights when moths and other nocturnal insects are backlit against the bright night sky.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

in northern Columbia County. From that direction, not too far away, an unmistakable rhythmic, plaintive call pierced the silence and filled me with nostalgia: Whip-poor will, whip-poorwill, whip-poor-will. A smile crossed my face. After only a few repetitions, the calling abruptly stopped and would not resume.

The whip-poor-will is named for the male’s repeated springtime nocturnal calling. The whip is sharp, the poor falls away, and the will is the highest note. The amorous bachelors call mainly at dusk and dawn to attract females. In Pennsylvania, whip-poorwills start calling in late April or early May, when migrating males arrive from the southeastern United States, Mexico, and Central America. The calling continues through June and fades away in July. Eastern whip-poor-wills require large tracts of forests with sparse understory and inhabit deciduous and mixed deciduousconiferous stands with scattered open areas for foraging. They prefer young forests with clearings and are also found in the scrub oak barrens habitat of the Poconos. Their courtship display is rarely seen, but has been documented. The male quietly approaches the female on the ground while circling her and purring as she bobs and sways. It is believed that the reproductive behavior of whip-poor-wills correlates with the lunar cycle. Males sing longer on moonlit nights, and hatching usually occurs when the moon is waxing so that the increased light makes foraging easier for the adults, which must now feed nestlings as well as themselves. The female lays one to two eggs directly on the ground in dry open woods. The cream-colored eggs have brown spots and are perfectly camouflaged in pine needles or leaf litter. The female incubates the eggs during the day, and both parents share incubation duties at night. The eggs hatch in 19 to 21 days. The hatchlings are covered in down and soon capable of short-distance movements to help them elude predators. The chicks are fed a steady diet of regurgitated insects until they fledge at around 21 days.

SURVEYING WHIP-POOR-WILLS

In recent years, conservationists and the general public have come to share a general sense that populations of nightjars have been declining. However, there was no empirical data to help describe the changes or to help plot a strategy to reverse population losses. In 2007, the Center for Conservation Biology – a cooperative of the College of William and Mary and Virginia Commonwealth University - formed the National Nightjar Survey to collect current nightjar distribution and population data. The Pennsylvania Game Commission is a partner in this effort. Volunteers conduct standardized roadside counts on scheduled moonlit nights, by driving and stopping at 10 points along a

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predetermined route. At each point, observers count nightjars seen or heard during a six-minute period. Gathering this information over time will point to changes in nightjar distribution and population size while experts simultaneously analyze changes in habitat composition.

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A dramatic decline of the whip-poor-wills in Pennsylvania can be seen when comparing numbers of these birds noted during the first Pennsylvania Breeding Bird Atlas survey conducted from 1983 to 1989, and the second survey conducted from 2004 to 2009. Nightjars, as a group, were found to be experiencing the steepest decline of all insectivorous birds and overall whip-poorwill detection declined 42 percent.

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The bird nearly disappeared from previously occupied parts of western Pennsylvania and had drastic losses in the northeast portions of the Ridge and Valley Province. This drop prompted the Ornithological Technical Committee of the Pennsylvania Biological Survey to list the eastern Whip-poor-will as “vulnerable” in Pennsylvania. The whip-poor-will’s decline is a complex issue that likely stems from a combination of several factors. A decline in aerial insects, especially moths, could be contributing to the decline whip-poor-wills and other insect-eating birds, including the common nighthawk. Dependence on aerial insects is something all nightjars have in common. Some scientists believe agricultural pesticides might be playing a role, as well.

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Habitat loss and composition changes might also be key factors in the decline. Whip-poor-wills are an edge species that needs a mix of young-forest areas for nesting and open areas for foraging. Locations meeting these specific habitat requirements have dwindled in the northeastern United States and Canada through a combination of development and forest maturation, resulting in fewer prime spots for whip-poor-wills.

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The problem also could originate in the whip-poorwill’s wintering grounds, which stretch from the Gulf states to Honduras. Little is known of changing habitat conditions and human encroachment in these areas.

“Efforts to create and enhance youngforest habitat for species such as the golden-winged warbler and American woodcock, could help the eastern whip-poor-will, as well. On state game lands, the Game Commission uses land-management practices such as timber-stand improvement and prescribed-fire operations that could benefit whip-poor-wills. Efforts to create and enhance young-forest habitat for species such as the goldenwinged warbler and American woodcock, could help the eastern whip-poor-will, as well.

STILL HERE

It happened only a few days after that nightjar survey. Chores at the barn were completed just as the sun slipped over the horizon and I was walking back toward the house. Swallows swooped and darted in the buggy twilight, their crops full of insects, ready to return to dried-mud nests crowded with young. Bats queued in the barn rafters like fuzzy fighter jets preparing for an aircraft-carrier launch. A bird began calling and I ran the remaining distance to the house. My wife and I stood on the front porch. “Listen,” I said. For a few moments, only silence. Then, from atop a nearby ridge, we heard a lone nightjar calling out its name. “I am here” it proclaimed, over and over again. 

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HOW TO FIND THE RIGHT DOG

FOR YOUR FAMILY Courtesy of Family Features

dding a four-legged friend to the family is no small decision, and it's easy to get distracted by sweet eyes pleading to be taken home. Becoming a dog parent is a major commitment, so it's important to do your research and make well-informed choices before deciding on a new dog. No matter what stage of acquiring a dog you're in, educate yourself about your options. A resource like Be Dog Smart, an online tool designed to guide consumers through the process of looking for a dog, can help you every step of the way, regardless of whether you're considering getting a dog from a professional breeder, pet store, friend, family member or adopting from a shelter or rescue.

50 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂŠ DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

By asking the right questions, researching credible sources and requesting transparency from those who provide companion animals, you can rest assured you are taking the right steps to bring home a new furry family member. Take smarter steps to bring your new fur-baby home with these tips from the Pet Leadership Council, the creators of the Be Dog Smart initiative:

1. Determine the responsible environment you would like to acquire your dog from. One way to

ensure those who raise and supply dogs maintain proper care standards is to understand the acquisition process and thoroughly vet breeders, retailers, shelters and rescues before supporting

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their operations. Ask questions about their businesses, policies, animal care and referral sources. Visit the locations personally to get a sense for the environment before making a decision. Once you settle on a source for your dog, interview several options to determine the best fit.

2. Consider how a dog fits into your living situation. For example, if you work long hours, you'll need

to consider ways for your dog to be let outside during the day. Although some breeds require less space for exercise, all dogs need daily activity and regular access to relieve themselves.

3. Think about the time and monetary investment.

Dogs typically do not understand being left in their crates because you have a busy work schedule or social life. Contemplate your available time and how you would adjust to 52 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂŠ DECEMBER 2019/JANUARY 2020

accommodate your pet. The same can be said for your finances. Ensure you can afford essentials such as food, grooming items and veterinary care as well as extras like toys and treats before making the commitment.

4. Learn about the differences between purebred and mixed breeds. With so many breeds of dogs

available, it's tough to know which one is the right fit for you. Purebred dogs, which are dogs whose parents belong to the same breed, offer predictability in size, appearance, temperament, health issues, grooming needs and energy level. Mixed breeds, whose parents come from different breeds or are mixed breeds themselves, have a lower chance of being born with inherited congenital diseases and often inherit only the best traits from each parent.

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Serving Breakfast & Lunch

“Ensure you can afford essentials such as food, grooming items and veterinary care as well as extras like toys and treats before making the commitment.”

Open 7:30am - 2:30pm • Closed Tuesdays • B.Y.O.B (570) 664-2888 • 517 Main Street, Stroudsburg, PA

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Rudy’s

Your Neighborhood Tavern Established in 1933 90 Washington Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 570-424-1131

Serving fine food & spirits in an elegant setting

owtree Inn Will

5. Weigh the benefits of a puppy versus an adult dog. Puppies are typically sweet and fun, and

there are advantages to bonding with a puppy from its earliest stages of life. However, puppies quickly grow and can require a lot of work and training. Puppies are also more likely to be destructive. At rescues and shelters you'll often find older dogs, many who were abandoned due to their owner's life circumstances, not anything they did wrong. These dogs can be wonderful additions to a family and may be house trained and have previous basic command training, but there is a possibility of not getting a clear understanding of the dog's past. 

(570) 476-0211 • www.thewillowtreeinn.net 601 Ann Street, Stroudsburg, PA

Stroud Television & Appliances 219 N. 9th Street Stroudsburg, PA

570-421-7700 > For additional tips and to learn more, visit BeDogSmart.org.

Theatre Year Round in the Poconos

SHAWNEE ON THE DELAWARE, PA

• A Christmas Wizard of Oz