February / March 2018 Pocono Living Magazine by Pocono Magazines

FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

The Pocono Mountains' Magazine

Complimentary

Pocono Living M A G A Z I N E

WHAT’S INSIDE • Ice Fishing “Hot Spots” in the Poconos • Exploring the Winter Landscape • Ice Harvesting at Quiet Valley • Winter Photo Gallery • Ice Becomes an Industry in the Poconos & more!

POCONO MAGAZINES

Pocono Magazines, LLC PUBLISHING

PUBLISHER/EDITOR Larry R. Sebring ASSISTANT EDITOR Samantha J. Holbert ACCOUNT REPRESENTATIVES Samantha J. Holbert, 570-856-7578 Linda St. John, 570-856-8155 Linda Zak, 484-264-7915 MAGAZINE DESIGN Smart Blonde Creative WEB DESIGN Smart Blonde Creative FOOD & WINE EDITOR Avize Batalova GRAPHIC DESIGNER Brian Hunter Chelsea McMahon

Pocono Living Magazine and Pocono Family Magazine, 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.

PHOTOGRAPHY & ART Veronica Murray Andrei Protsouk David Sandt Lisa Newberry James Chesnick James Smeltz Marlana Holsten Matt Siptroth William McKee Barbara Lewis Linda Zak Nancy Tully Maritza McFaline Vinzon Lee

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS Roseanne Bottone Jamie Bowman Kimberly Blaker Kathy Dubin-Uhler Marty Wilson Amy Leiser Dave Pierce William M. Williams Kevin Conroy Janet Mishkin Suzanne McCool Chelsea McMahon INTERN Rebecca Sebring, Susquehanna University ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT Kristen Sebring

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. © 2016 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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Photo courtesy of Marlana Holsten 4 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE Â© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

What’s Inside February/March 2018

FEATURES 7

Ice Fishing “Hot Spots” in the Poconos

Exploring the Winter Landscape

Cabin Fever

5 Benefits of Personalized Dog Food

4 Tire Safety Tips for Winter

Ice Harvesting at Quiet Valley

Winter Photo Gallery

5 Creative Gift Ideas for Your Valentine

Ice Becomes an Industry in the Poconos

Protect Your Vehicle Since Corrosion

Bear Beginnings

Hiking with the Brodhead Watershed Association

In & Around the Poconos

Cuttin’ Ice on Big Beaver Lake

Complimentary

Pocono Living FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

The Pocono Mountains' Magazine

M A G A Z I N E

COVER Touched by Winter By: Vinzon Lee

CONTRIBUTING WRITERS

KEVIN CONROY Born in New York but raised in Barrett Township, Kevin Conroy attended East Stroudsburg State College as a townie majoring in fine art. After college, Kevin served a two-year apprenticeship with the American Culinary Federation and studied advanced baking at Culinary Institute of America. Kevin is a chef, pastry chef, artisan baker, culinary arts instructor, writer, and business owner. He writes on a wide array of topics for newspapers, magazines, trade journals, and blogs.

JAMIE BOWMAN Jamie Bowman is a freelance writer, Penn State graduate, and lifelong resident of the Poconos. A teacher by day and a writer by night, Jamie spends her free time running and cheering for the Nittany Lions on game day.

AMY LEISER 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

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 Benton and enjoys spending time on his hobby farm with his wife Michelle, Chesapeake Bay Retriever Rocco, alpacas, goats, and chickens.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

By: Pocono Living Staff

Ice fishing is probably one of the oldest winter sports in the Poconos. Perhaps the reason is because there are so many lakes in the Poconos suitable for ice fishing. In the early 1900’s, many lakes were created when streams were dammed for the Ice Harvesting Industry in the Poconos. Huge blocks of ice were cut from the frozen lakes, packed in saw dust and shipped by railroad cars to Philadelphia and New York. Once that industry declined with the widespread consumer use of electric freezers in the 1940’s, the lakes were enjoyed for swimming and boating in the summertime and ice fishing in the winter. The sport can be as simple as a few tip-ups, some buckets and a sled, or deluxe as a fully outfitted and heated “ice shanty” with wet bar and satellite TV. (Remember the movie, “Grumpy Old Men” with Jack Lemmon & Walter Matthau?) If you have never experienced the sport it is certainly worth investing a few dollars for the minimal gear you will need to have some great winter fun. It’s all about the tug on the line or the flag springing up, and then finding your surprise catch on the end of the line. And, even if you leave at the end of the day with only a few fish, it is really the chase that matters, and not the catch!

Some of the public lakes to enjoy this winter sport are: Tobyhanna Lake – Tobyhanna State Park, Tobyhanna, Pa Gouldsboro Lake – Gouldsboro State Park, Gouldsboro, Pa Hidden Lake – Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area, Bushkill, Pa Beltsville Lake – Beltsville State Park, Lehighton, Pa

Find out all you need to know at: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks or www.nps.gov/dewa/index.htm

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Exploring the Winter Landscape

Why and where to cross-country ski the Poconos By: Kevin Conroy

ou get the wide motions of cross-country skiing by the time you near the woods with your friends. In you go, following what appears to be a deer path, past immense bull pines and trees felled by forgotten storms. Elegant quiet hangs about the place, lit now and then by shimmering snow borne on sudden breezes. Saplings close in about you, brushing your face with cold. You skim the edge of a marsh thick with rhododendron until you reach a stone row and realize these woods had once been farm fields. You side-step your way over the stones and continue on, but soon stop to look at a group of massive vines climbing to the treetops. With astonishment you realize they are grapes. You race to catch up with your companions. An apple tree gnarled with age marks the end of the path where a wide meadow rises in front of you. On top of the hill stands an oak, its branches sweeping up in chaos against the sky. One lone branch reaches down as if to make a snowball. You ski toward it, and learn to herring bone your way up the hill where you turn to take in the view. The daily hassles get left behind in this kind of tranquility. You return home feeling renewed, though you’ve had a great workout. As your skis swooshed over the trail, you used your

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entire body to expend nearly 1,000 calories per hour while maintaining the excellent heart rate of an aerobic workout. It seemed easy because no muscle group became overtaxed. Cross-country skiing is simple, and so is getting started. There are scads of instructions on YouTube, but you won’t need too many. Watch a video each on how to move forward, ascend and descend hills, and stand up after you’ve fallen. It’s relatively inexpensive too; once you’re outfitted there’s no need to buy lift passes. “We outfit complete cross-country ski sets from Rosignol,” says Ian Amato, general manager of The Loft ski shop in Tannersville, PA. The average price to get started is about $279 for everything... skis, poles, and shoes. After that there are thousands of acres of open space and mile upon mile of free trail available in the Poconos. Much of what we hike in summer we can ski in winter. The Glen Brook Golf Club, located along the scenic McMichael Creek in Stroud Township, has been used casually for years for sledding and cross-country skiing. The Club was purchased to be preserved and used for public recreation in 2006 by Stroud Township. The property now welcomes cross-country skiing in the snow, but be sure your tracks miss the greens! The perfect treat after a ski here is a cup of

hot chocolate or a glass of something stronger at the historic farmhouse-turned café at the golf course on Hickory Valley Road. Twenty-five miles of McDade Trail is skiable north from Delaware Water Gap and only requires the competence of beginner easy to intermediate. Views of the Delaware River, waterfall streams, open farmland and forest are all part of this trail. A stretch of it lies between massive cliffs rising to one side and the river on the other.

“The Glen Brook Golf Club, located along the scenic McMichael Creek in Stroud Township, has been used casually for years for sledding and cross-country skiing”

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Promised Land State Park and neighboring Delaware State Forest offer fifty miles of trails; the best of which are the loop around Conservation Island and the footpath to Bruce Lake. Conservation Island, accessible at Promised Land State Park off PA Route 390 in Greene Township, may be the best place to begin if you are learning. The flat, well-marked stone loop trail, built by the Civilian Conservation Corps in the 1930’s, is less than two miles long and skirts the snow-covered Promised Land Lake. There is a lot to discover and benches sit beside the trail if you want to rest. Formed during the last ice age by a glacier, Bruce Lake is an area undeveloped and inaccessible to cars. You must ski the trail, north of Promised Land on PA Route 390 to reach it. “People can recreate passively there” says Promised Land Park Operations Manager Brian Taylor. “They can go into the woods. There is no camping, no development.” The rolling terrain to the spring-fed lake takes you through rhododendron tunnels and varying forest of hardwood and hemlock. It is a place of serenity and beauty, especially when blanketed with snow. Tobyhanna State Park sports some rugged trails but you can circumnavigate the lake on skis in about three hours. If your ability develops far enough, you may mountaineer-ski unmarked trails through Pennsylvania State Game Land. From end to end, there are hundreds of Pocono venues waiting for you. Step into a pair of cross-country skis and explore the winter landscape this year!

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Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

Cabin By: Jamie Bowman

CABIN FEVER: extreme irritability and restlessness from living in isolation or a confined indoor area for a prolonged time 10 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

There’s something going around this time of year. Have you caught it? No, it’s not the flu. It’s that dreaded cabin fever. But fear not, friends - there is a cure. Whether you’re a fan of the elements or prefer to keep cozy indoors, there is plenty to do right here in the Pocono Mountains this winter. If you haven’t experienced the annual Crystal Cabin Fever event, head to Sculpted Ice Works Inc. in Lakeville, PA. Every Thursday through Monday from February 9-25 enjoy incredible ice displays and partake in exciting winter activities. Admission is just $15 for adults, $10 for children, and kids 3 and under are free. There’s hot chocolate, food trucks, and even a 50-foot ice slide! Get crafty at Poke-A-Nose Pottery in Bartonsville where an extensive inventory of bisque pieces are just waiting to be painted. From plates and bowls to mugs and frames, PokeA-Nose has a variety of items ready to be personalized. Attend a class or walk-in and work on your own. Most

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pieces range in price from $12-$20 plus a $7.50 studio fee. Simply paint your piece then pick it up (or have it shipped to you) in seven days. This activity is fun for people of all ages and is the perfect way to spend a winter day.

A PA U L M I C T H E L L F O C U S S A L O N

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Experience a weekend in the great outdoors at the Pocono Environmental Education Center (PEEC). From Friday, February 16 through Monday, February 19, enjoy crosscountry skiing, tracking animals, hiking, snow tubing, and relaxing around the campfire at PEEC’s “Winter Wonderland” Family Camp Weekend. $225 includes lodging and meals, with special rates available for children, commuters, and daily participants. If your President’s Day Weekend is already booked, don’t worry - animal tracking and cross-country skiing are available on alternate weekends. Visit www.peec.org to view the entire winter calendar of events.

Whether you’re starting a snowball fight or thawing by the fire, enjoy your winter.

Do you ski or snowboard? Then you won’t want to miss Shawnee Mountain Ski Area’s 34th Annual Costume Carnival Day. Dress up in your favorite costume on March 18 and receive a free lift ticket for the day! There will be a parade with prizes for the best costumes. Don’t worry, you can change out of your costume when it’s time to hit the slopes. Searching for a weeknight activity? The Casino Theatre in Mt. Pocono is the answer to all your entertainment needs. Every Monday and Tuesday, grab dinner and a show for just $12. That’s right, $12 gets you a drink, dinner, and your movie ticket. On Thursdays, movie tickets are $5 all day. What a deal! You can even have your meal AND dessert delivered right to your seat! Did I mention they offer more than 60 flavors of Hershey’s ice cream? Sweet! While we wait for our friend Punxsutawney Phil to predict the start of warmer temperatures, get out and cure your case of cabin fever. Whether you’re starting a snowball fight or thawing by the fire, enjoy your winter. See you in the spring!

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ONAL S R E P F O S T I F E 5 BEN

dog food

IZED

or dog owners, your pet is often your world and there are few things more special than the bond you share. From playtime to mealtime, you never settle for “good enough,” and your dog’s health is no different. When it comes to nutrition, every dog has specific needs and you know them best. Each dog is unique and his or her food should be as well. When deciding which dog food works best for your pet, keep personalized foods like Just Right by Purina in mind, which can help address your dog’s unique needs. It combines your firsthand knowledge with nutritional expertise to create the best dog food blend for your dog. By answering just a few questions about your pet’s breed size, eating habits and more, you can create a personalized blend of food that includes your dog’s name, photo and feeding recommendation that gets shipped directly to your door. “Every pet is an individual and that includes how we feed them,” said veterinarian Dr. Marty Becker, a 17year veteran of “Good Morning America” and founder of Fear Free. “A highly personalized diet tuned to their specific needs and combined with plenty of exercise and regular veterinary care can dramatically impact their nutrition, health and wellbeing.”

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Photo courtesy of Getty Images POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 13

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Feeding your dog personalized food could help yield these five benefits:

HEALTHY SKIN AND COAT

By providing important details about your dog’s skin and its needs, certain ingredients can be included in order to avoid dry and itchy skin. Omega-3 fatty acids from fish oil, along with vitamin A and linoleic acid, can help keep your pup’s skin refreshed and can give your dog’s coat the nourishment it needs to be shiny and healthy.

IDEAL BODY CONDITION

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Being the right weight can contribute to a lot of different health factors, but having an ideal body condition can be about more than just the amount of food you feed your pet. The right amount of fats and proteins can help keep your dog right where he or she needs to be. Choosing a formula with chicken, salmon or lamb as the first ingredient can help your dog’s body feel strong and healthy with their high amounts of protein. Just as important, each dog has different metabolisms and different caloric needs, so personalized feeding instructions like those offered by Just Right by Purina can help your dog reach his or her ideal body condition.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

JOINT HEALTH AND MOBILITY

Many dogs are often on the move – walking, running and playing. Having healthy bones and joints can support your dog’s overall health, especially in developing puppies, large breeds and senior dogs. Choosing a formula with proper amounts of calcium and phosphorus can help support joints and bones.

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BRAIN DEVELOPMENT

Puppies need all the help they can get when it comes to growing and supporting life-long health. Giving them foods that include nutrients like DHA that support brain and vision development can inspire your puppy’s curiosity about the world.

ACTIVE LIFESTYLE

Overall, diet has a big impact on providing the nutrients needed to energize your dog every day, all day long, and ingredients in their food can provide the complete and balanced pet nutrition that helps promote an all-around active lifestyle. Young or old, big or small, every dog’s nutritional needs are unique. For more helpful tips and ways to benefit your dog at mealtime, visit justrightpetfood.com. Courtesy of Family Features

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tips for winter The same temperature you can begin to see your breath – 45 o F – is also when the all-season tires on your car can start to lose traction and grip. As temperatures drop, drivers should remember that if you can see your breath, you should think about winter tires. Whether you’re planning a cross-country trek or simply driving to and from work daily, exposing your vehicle’s tires to colder weather could lead to potential trouble on the road. Snow and ice may be fun to play in, but they make for dangerous driving conditions. Winter tires are built for coldweather conditions and deliver improved starting, stopping and steering control in temperatures 45oF and below. The difference is the tread compound of winter tires, which stays soft and pliable in colder temperatures for superior traction. Add the tread design of winter tires with thousands of extra gripping edges and you get as much as a 25-50 percent increase in traction over all-season tires. 16 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Photo courtesy of Getty Images

4 tire safety “

Add the tread design of winter tires with thousands of extra gripping edges and you get as much as a 25-50 percent increase in traction over all-season tires

”

Courtesy of Family Features

To help stay safe on the road this winter, the experts at Discount Tire recommend following these four tire safety tips:

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It is important to replace all four of your vehicle’s allseason tires with winter tires if you regularly drive in temperatures 45°F or below, snow or no snow. Winter tires are made of a softer rubber that allows the tires to stay pliable and maintain better contact with the road through winter weather conditions.

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2. Don ’ t forget the wheels. Having a set of wheels specifically for your winter tires can save you money in the long run. Pairing a separate set of wheels with your winter tires can eliminate certain changeover costs and save your everyday wheels from the wear and tear brought on by ice, slush, snow and salt during the winter months.

3. know your numbers. Check your tire pressure at least once a month to make sure tires are at the appropriate inflation level. Temperature changes affect tire pressure – for every 10 degrees of temperature change, tire air pressure changes 1 pound per square inch. Low tire pressure can lead to decreased steering and braking control, poor gas mileage, excessive tire wear and the possibility of tire failure. Also don’t forget to check your spare tire.

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4. Rotate, rotate, rotate. To help increase tread life and smooth out your ride, rotate your tires every 6,000 miles or sooner if irregular or uneven wear develops. Your safety is important, that’s why Discount Tire encourages drivers to beat the rush by getting winter ready before the first snowstorm or cold streak of the season hits. To locate a tire store near you, or search for winter tires specific to your vehicle’s make and model, visit discounttire.com.

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Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine 18 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE Â© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

ICE HARVESTING IN QUIET VALLEY By: Samantha J. Holbert, Assistant Editor

Ice harvesting lives on today at Quiet Valley Living Historic Farm in Hamilton Township. It’s a tradition sustained, not by necessity, but through a desire to preserve a large part of Poconos history. Every winter we await with anticipation the arrival of enough cold weather for ice to form on the pond that’s located just past the apple orchard at Quiet Valley Farm. Members of the Farm look for the email invitation (typically last-minute) to don their warmest clothes and waterproof boots and to bring ice crampons to help harvest the ice. It doesn’t happen every winter, but each annual turn of the calendar offers the exciting opportunity that it might happen this year! We start the day by clearing the ice, building a fire near the pond’s edge and firing up the old cook stove in the 1890s farmhouse kitchen. The team of Clydesdales, Gunther and Wilhelm, are readied for the hard work that lies ahead of them. If there is enough snow on the ground a sleigh will be pulled; if not, a wagon is used. A second team of horses is often called upon to help, because once the ice blocks are pulled out of the pond they should be loaded on the sleigh as soon as possible. With an energetic group of volunteers, the ice blocks can pile up in a hurry!

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It’s a 15-minute walk on the farm road and through the newly-added covered bridge to the pond; but, if we are lucky, we get a ride on a sleigh behind the horses. We bring a thermos of hot cocoa, water bottles and our ice skates, and we pile them near the fire. Holes have already been chopped in the ice to make it possible for us to use our ice saws.

“A worker bobs the ice block down and then back up onto the ice’s edge, using the buoyancy of the ice on the water as momentum.”

Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine

A wooden ladder with uniform spaces is laid on the ice to measure and mark the blocks for cutting with the ice saws – 15” x 10”. The most difficult step in using the old ice saws is cutting the long strips first. Once the two long strips are cut, sawing the cross cuts to create the blocks is relatively easy. It’s safe, too, as long as your tread is steady and firm on the ice, the crampons are strapped on, and you don’t lose your footing on the ice! The ice blocks are left to float, which gives another worker the job of grabbing the blocks with a pair of ice tongs and bouncing the blocks out of the water. Yes, 45-pound blocks bouncing! A worker bobs the ice block down and then back up onto the ice’s edge, using the buoyancy of the ice on the water as momentum.

The ice block is slid over to the edge of the pond where it awaits loading onto the sleigh. The sleigh is loaded with 20-30 blocks of ice, which are hauled to the ice house. The blocks then slide down a chute from the sleigh to the ice house and are stacked in rows with sawdust swept around each block to keep it cold. Finally, the ice is pulled out, ready to be used periodically during the balance of the year to make ice cream or to keep beverages and bags of sauerkraut cold at events like the Baby Animal Frolic in May and Harvest Festival in October. We all take turns sawing, bobbing, sliding and lifting the ice. There are often more volunteers than jobs, giving all an opportunity for

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Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine

Donald Sebring, a native of the Poconos, with a pair of vintage ice saws that were used by his family for generations to cut ice on the Pocono’s frozen lakes. POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 21

Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine 22 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE ÂŠ FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine

We are all rewarded at the end of the morning with more than chapped faces and cold fingers â&#x20AC;&#x201C; namely, cups of hot soup, pieces of warm farm-baked bread and something sweet. There are other volunteers who have spent their morning tending to the soup on the old cook stove and serving it in the 1820s cellar kitchen, surrounded by stone and the welcome warmth of the fire. Participation in the ice harvest is one of the best reasons to be a member of Quiet Valley Farm, because this event is only advertised to members. Participation is also a marvelous experience to enjoy such a wonderful natural environment while re-creating what our ancestors did using the same old tools and methods of ice harvesting. It is one of the most enjoyable ways to re-enact a bit of history in our county and spend a morning on the ice, working and playing hard, with friends and family.

Photo courtesy of Pocono Living Magazine

rest. Our youngest ice harvesters help with sliding the ice when they can, but they mostly love ice skating in lovely loops around the parts of the pond that are far from the opening.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

â&#x20AC;&#x153;Our reward at the end of the morning, other than the chapped faces and cold fingers, are cups of hot soup, pieces of warm farm-baked bread and something sweet.â&#x20AC;?

P o cono L i v i ng M aga z i n e ’s

Winter

IN THE POCONOS photo

ga l l e ry

Winter Pond, Courtesy DWGNRA

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Above: Winter Time on the Farm, Dave Sandt Below: Child Park, Vinzon Lee

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Above: Blue Jay, Jim Chesnick

Facing page, top: Ice on the River, Jim Chesnick

Facing page, bottom: Pileated Woodpecker Closeup, Linda Zak POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE Â© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 27

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Delaware State Forest Winter, Richard Genova

Top: Mallard in Flight, Veronica Peltz

Left: White Tailed Deer, Marlana Holsten Above, right: Eagle, Nancy Tully

POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 29

Above: Winter Morning, Dave Sandt

Facing Page, top, right: Spring House, Marlana Holsten

Facing page, bottom, right: Touched by Winter, Vinzon Lee 30 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

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Seasons Change, Marlana Holsten 32 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

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Facing page, top, left: Frozen Wetland, James Chesnick Facing page, top, right: Marlana’s Winter Photo, Marlana Holsten Facing page, bottom: Winter at Kerr’s Mill, Dave Sandt Above: Winter Woods, James Chesnick POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 35

Sciota Mill Race, Vinzon Lee 36 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Top: Stone Bridge, Vinzon Lee Bottom: Frozen Creek, Vinzon Lee POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂ© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 37

Smithfield Park Cabin, Marlana Holsten

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5 CREATIVE GIFT IDEAS

Photo courtesy of Shutterstock

for Your Valentine

Looking to surprise your loved one this Valentine’s Day with something a bit different? Check out these five creative gift ideas that will help make the day special. Take a trip around the world with your taste buds. Cooking dinner for your partner on Valentine’s Day is nothing new, but kick it up a notch with an “Around the World” theme. Pick some destinations you’d love to travel to and get into the kitchen together to create their signature dishes. For extra points, track down drinks specifically found in those regions to pair with your food. You’ll have fun experiencing new cuisine, and it may even ignite a spark to book a trip! Make more time together. Use some creativity to show your Valentine that you want to spend more time together. Pair a new timepiece with roses for a unique presentation. Consider classic fashion choices with Casio’s Vintage timepieces, which feature stainless steel bands in different metallic color combinations, a daily alarm, hourly time signal and an auto-calendar, ensuring you are never late for a date. Commission a custom family portrait. Whether you have kids, pets or it is just the two of you, a custom family portrait is a sweet gift and a great piece of artwork for your home. Find an independent portrait artist on a site like Etsy or put your own artistic abilities to the test and create the portrait yourself. Create an at-home spa day. Get pampered without leaving the house. Book a traveling masseuse or create DIY bath products like bath bombs or scrubs with essential oils. Create a spa-like atmosphere with low lights, candles and flower arrangements. Order dinner in afterwards and enjoy the special time together as relaxed as can be. Write a love song. Whether you write it yourself or pick a favorite that’s personal to you, performing a love song is a touching way to show you cherish someone. Enhance your performance with a portable keyboard that makes learning easy, such as Casio’s CTK-2550. It features 61 full-size keys, 400 high-quality tones and 150 built-in rhythms to ensure you have all the tools you need to create a beautiful musical number for the one you love. Or, connect to your iOS or Android device to use the free Chordana Play app, which uses the keyboard’s display to show you how to play your favorite songs. Just download your favorite MIDI files, connect your device’s headphone output to the keyboard’s audio input, and explore an endless library of music. Courtesy of StatePoint POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 41

Photo courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Association

Ice becomes an industry By Amy Leiser, Executive Director Monroe County Historical Association • mcha-pa.org

One hundred years ago, Monroe County was a leader in northeastern Pennsylvania’s ice production and distribution business. The ice was initially harvested from our lakes for use locally by both residents and resorts catering to tourists. As demand for ice grew, Monroe County ice companies began to transport their ice to areas outside Monroe County including New York and Philadelphia. The freezing winter temperatures of the Poconos guaranteed a large crop of ice and provided employment to hundreds of local citizens throughout northeastern Pennsylvania. Harvesting ice was hard, cold work. Beginning in January, or even December if the weather had been cold enough, laborers flocked to the frozen lakes looking for employment. In particular, many farmers were able to earn a little extra income by harvesting ice. Harvesting ice from lakes was not as simple as chipping away at the sheet. First, the lake had to be prepared, by plowing away any snow, then scraping the ice to a smooth 42 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

surface with large, horse-drawn planes. Next, the boundary of the area to be harvested was scored into the ice with a hand cutter. The boundary had to be marked carefully, as all of the blocks needed to be the same size to make storing the blocks easier and more efficient. After the boundary was marked, a worker with a horse-drawn “cutter” would score a checkerboard pattern in the harvesting area. The cutter, which resembled a strange mix of a child’s sleigh and an old-fashioned plow, had two runners. One runner was a guide plane, with which the cutter operator would carefully follow the boundary line. The other runner was an actual cutter, that carved a two-inch deep groove into the ice. The cutter operator would then turn his horse and make the next pass, scoring one line at a time. The runners on the cutter were exactly forty-four inches apart. By the time the cutter operator was finished, the lake had been scored into a gridwork of 44-inch blocks. After the layout was complete, anther horse-drawn sleigh was used. This tool, an all iron ice plow, had adjustable

blades on three runners and was used to retrace the grid, scoring the ice to within four inches of the bottom of the ice sheet. As the ice was now too weak to hold the weight of horses, the final step in the process was cutting through the ice blocks by hand with long-bladed saws. Workers would saw off very large sections of the sheet, then ride them as they were floated or pulled across the ice toward the ice house. As they approached the ice house, the men would break the large sections into their 44-inch squares with a series of wedge-like bars. Monroe County boasted many lakes and thus many ice companies. While local merchants had been cutting and distributing ice since the 1880s, it was the Pocono Mountain Ice Company that turned local ice into industry. In 1893, investors from Easton established the Pocono Ice Company in Pocono Pines. These investors initially devoted $30,000 into the new company and built an ice house capable of storing 104,000 tons of ice. By 1900, the Pocono Ice Company was so successful, the promise of profit drew more companies to the area. The Pocono Ice Company rapidly became the largest with ice plants in both Tobyhanna and Gouldsboro.

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“Poponoming Ice Company was established at Saylor’s Lake, employed 30 men with 20 teams of horses, and was capable of storing 30,000 tons of ice.”

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Poponoming Ice Company was established at Saylor’s Lake, employed 30 men with 20 teams of horses, and was capable of storing 30,000 tons of ice. Interestingly, the ice houses were eventually torn down, and the lumber was used to build cottages along the lake front. Trout Lake and Mountain Springs Lake in Reeders boasted a storage capacity of 130,000 tons of ice. The Tunkhannock Ice Company on Stillwater Lake built a 10-room storage house and could house 31,000 tons of ice. The American Ice Company housed 57,000 tons of ice on the shores of Lake Naomi.

Photo courtesy of the Monroe County Historical Association

By the end of the 1930s, modern electric refrigerators with freezers replaced the ice boxes. Ice could be made at home easily, and eventually there was no need for ice to be harvested from frozen Monroe County lakes.

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570-424-1174 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 43

Ken’s Auto Service Center Quality Repair

With a Price That’s Fair Rte. 447 & Brushy Mt. Rd., East Stroudsburg, PA 18301

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44 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

De-icing and anti-icing chemicals are important tools for highway snow and ice control. Slippery winter roads account for 24 percent of weather-related vehicle crashes, and studies show that treating roads in freezing weather can reduce collisions and save lives. However, roadway de-icing and anti-icing solutions can also cause vehicle corrosion. Chemicals from treated roads splash onto the car and adhere to the body and undercarriage. Most newer chemicals are applied in liquid form which is thrown up by tires as a fine mist that penetrates into vehicle cracks and crevices that rock salt cannot. Even more problematic is that the new de-icing and antiicing chemicals are hygroscopic – they attract moisture and are often used as desiccants. This means that even after a vehicle is dry, deposits that contain these materials will pull moisture out of the air and contribute to ongoing corrosion. Parking in a heated garage during winter can also accelerate corrosion. Melting snow combines with de-icing chemicals to form liquids that penetrate more than frozen deposits. In addition, moisture and heat activate and accelerate the corrosion process.

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Compton's

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Classic American Fine Dining Good vehicle maintenance is the best way to protect a vehicle from corrosion. Regular car washes, including the undercarriage, are critical. Unless removed, de-icing chemical deposits left over from winter will continue to corrode year-round. Automated car washes often have undercar spray jets, but even powerful pressure washing can fail to remove some deposits, and too much pressure may drive chemicals further into cracks and crevices. Low pH detergents can help break down and neutralize deposits, and some car washes now offer low pH pre-rinse cycles.

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Body scratches and chips should be repaired in a timely manner to prevent rust and corrosion, and regular vehicle waxing adds an effective layer of body protection. Professional rustproofing, including asphalt undercoating and oil/ wax body cavity sprays, may also be helpful, but generally only if applied when the vehicle is new. Regular vehicle maintenance checks in areas where de-icing chemicals are routinely used should include inspections of safety-related undercar components such as brake and fuel lines, whose failure could result in a crash or fire. POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 45

Bear BDeadeginnings of winter brings cubs to life By: William M. Williams, PA Game Commission, NE Region Information and Education Supervisor A female black bear stirs just long enough to give birth to her cubs in the pitch darkness of an excavated den. Weighing no more than a can of soda and covered in fine, black fur, one cub cries out as a storm rages outside. The newborn bear, only 9 inches long, has rudimentary ear buds and will not open its eyes for another six weeks. An innate ability to seek out heat stimulates it to crawl clumsily through a black forest of hair toward the sow’s breast where it begins to nurse. Two littermates soon follow and join in the feeding. The three hum contentedly. Scenes such as this will play out unseen under the frozen landscape of Pennsylvania throughout much of the month of January. Nature sees that bear cubs are given an optimal chance of survival. Female black bears breed every two years, with the peak of mating season taking place from mid-June through mid-July when dominate males search for receptive sows. Males fight one another for the opportunity to breed and many will mate with multiple females. While eggs are fertilized immediately, only tiny balls of cells called “blastocysts” will develop initially. These bear embryos are about the size of pinheads and will float freely in the sow’s uterus for the next several months. 46 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Changes in the amount of daylight during late October and early November trigger hormonal changes in the sow, causing the blastocysts to attach to the uterine wall in a process called delayed implantation, and growth begins again. Delayed implantation postpones investment in a pregnancy until after the critical fall foraging period as the bears gorge on autumnal food. It results in the synchronized births of thousands of black bear cubs born in Pennsylvania each year, in the safety of protective dens. For implantation to be successful, the female needs to weigh at least 110 pounds by late fall. If fat reserves are poor because of unexpected food shortages, cub survival during hibernation could be compromised, in which case blastocysts may be aborted, freeing the female to breed again the following summer. When the factor of decreased food availability outweighs the amount of energy a bear is forced to expend finding adequate nutrition, bears seek out areas protected from the elements and slow down their metabolism. Pregnant females typically den first, followed by females with cubs from the previous winter and juveniles of both sexes. Adult males are the last group to den, sometimes remaining

Photo Courtesy of Rebecca Fry

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“Females will groom and nurse their cubs daily despite their own body remaining in a physiological state of hibernation”

active into January. Because some pregnant females typically begin denning in early November, prior to Pennsylvania’s bear-hunting season, they are afforded additional protection. Pregnant females also tend to select sheltered dens more so than other bears. Seventy-nine percent of pregnant female dens studied in northeast Pennsylvania were rock cavities, brush piles, or excavations. Conversely, ground nests and open brush piles are more typical of males. Most dens, regardless of type, are lined with dry leaves, grass, broken twigs, or some other material collected by the bear. Bear dens are seldom reused. POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 47

The question of whether a bear is considered a hibernator may be largely a matter of semantics. The body temperature of a denning bear decreases from about 100 degrees F to 88 degrees F, which is different from almost all other hibernators (such as bats and groundhogs) with body temperatures that drop to near-ambient temperatures. The heart rate of a bear will decrease from around 40 beats per minute to only 8 to 10 beats per minute. Although bears appear lethargic during hibernation, they are easily aroused and capable of fleeing. Females will groom and nurse their cubs daily despite their own body remaining in a physiological state of hibernation. They also protect the cubs from winter’s elements by hunching over them, but unless disturbed, will not step out of the den despite the activity involved with caring for cubs.

Black bear cubs in Pennsylvania are born during the first three weeks of January and grow rapidly. Bear milk has a fat content of similar to whipped cream and is high in calcium and iron. In northeastern Pennsylvania, the average litter size is three cubs, with older females producing larger litters. Litters of two are about as common as litters of four. Bears over 9 years of age are the ones most likely to have litters of five. Sex ratios within litters are typically equal. A number of female black bears in the Pennsylvania Game Commission’s Northeast Region are captured by Wildlife Conservation Officers and fitted with radio collars each summer. The dens used by these bears are visited by Game

Photo courtesy of PA Game Commission

Bears do not eat, drink, defecate, or urinate while hibernating. They live off of a layer of fat built up prior to hibernation. Waste products that are produced through metabolism are recycled, with toxic urea being broken down into nitrogen that is used by bears to build protein, which allows them to maintain muscle mass and organ

tissues. Despite this incredible biological adaptation, a lactating female may lose up to 40 percent of body weight during hibernation but remain in relatively good condition. Although a hibernating bear drinks no water, it does not become dehydrated and maintains almost perfect water balance after several months. Biologists have long acknowledged that studying hibernating bears may be useful in helping us understand, and eventually cure, renal disorders and a host of other human ailments.

48 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Bear cubs leave the den at about 3 months of age and will be weaned at 7 months.

Photo courtesy of PA Game Commission

Anyone who finds a hibernating bear should report the location to a Game Commission Region Office. They should also leave the area to avoid disturbing the bear. Some bears are sensitive to disturbance during hibernation, and might abandon the den and any cubs present. It is mid-April when our three bears emerge from the darkness of their den and view their surroundings for the fist time. They weigh between 7 and 10 pounds as they bounce and tumble over each other. The sow looks on with quiet resignation. She will soon begin the task of teaching her young how to find food, climb trees, and avoid danger. The four of them will den together once more and, in the following summer when the urge to breed wells up in the sow again, the three young bears will venture off on their own.

Anyone who finds a hibernating bear should report the location to a Game Commission Region Office. They should also leave the area to avoid disturbing the bear.

Photo courtesy of PA Game Commission

A newborn bear cub enters the world with eyes closed. Commission biologists in early spring, before the female and young emerge. The sow is anesthetized and biological data is collected from both the sow and her cubs including body weight, vital signs, and overall health conditions. Understanding aspects of reproduction, such as average litter size, the age when females begin producing cubs, and the interval length between consecutive litters are critical to monitoring the health of Pennsylvania’s bear resource. Knowing the location of hibernating lactating bears has the additional benefit of offering a suitable location to place displaced cubs. If a sow with cubs is killed by a motor vehicle in early spring, a small window of opportunity exists to place these cubs - one cub per den - with surrogate sows that still are in hibernation. The sow rarely recognizes the extra member of her litter and feeds the new addition as one of her own. There are eight radio-collared sows denning in Pike and Monroe counties this year; three with last year’s cubs and five expected to bear young.

PA black bear cubs are born during the first three weeks of January and weigh 8 to 10 ounces. POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 49

Hiking with the Brodhead Watershed Association About the BWA Brodhead Watershed Association’s Get Outdoors Poconos series celebrates preserved lands that protect water quality in the Brodhead watershed. BWA, founded in 1989, is dedicated to preserving and protecting our creeks, streams, and drinking water, as well as the land they depend on. Please join this good work! Become a member of BWA at brodheadwatershed.org. More information about Porter Township - Pike County other hikes in the series is also available on the website.

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Thunder Swamp’s 45 miles of trails are blazed with orange. The 3.5-mile Painter Swamp Trail is blazed with red. Trail intersections are marked with white way-finding signs. Maps are provided in boxes at trailheads.

HIGHLIGHTS: Big slices of slate rise out of glacier-carved landscape. Abundant wildlife. Beaver-made ponds. Hiking, snowmobiling, ATV trails, camping, hunting. Leashed dogs welcome.

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April 2016 | PREPARED BY:

Brodhead Watershed Association 425 Carlton Rd, Mt. Pocono, PA 18344 (570) 839-1120 | info@brodheadwatershed.org

Swiftwater Forest

Protects the waters of Forest Hills Run and Swiftwater Creek

TRAILS: A family-friendly, 90-minute walk of about 2.5 miles. Moderately difficult stretches of the trail are steep. Trails have not been blazed, though they have been flagged.

HIGHLIGHTS: Steep old woods road leads uphill through a mixed hardwood forest, passing the chimney and fireplace of a long-gone cabin. Wildflowers and forest animals. Hiking, birding, photography, cross-country skiing, and picnicking. Dogs welcome. LOCATION: Trailhead is off cul-de-sac

Swiftwater Fore

on Donaldson Road, off Lower Swiftwater Road, Paradise Township, Swiftwater, Pa. GPS: 41.102408, -75.294083

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200

400

800 Feet

February 2016 | PREPARED BY

Brodhead Watershed Association 425 Carlton Rd, Mt Pocono, PA 18344 (570) 839-1120 | info@brodheadwatershed.org

Easy

Medium

Difficult

Relatively short or can be cut short; clearly defined and wide trails with smooth footing, modest elevation change.

Longer, more woodsy with blazes, narrower trail, some rocky or wet footing, varied terrain with ups and downs.

Most are 2 miles or more, trail may require attention to follow; expect rocky or wet footing, steep sections.

200

In & Around the Poconos Eagle Watch

February 9 8:30am - 5:30pm Join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman on this field trip to the upper Delaware River in search of our national symbol, the Bald Eagle. Once a rare sight, many wintering and resident eagles now inhabit this region and the probability for sightings is high. Meet at the EE Center at 8:30am and return 5:30pm. Cost: $32/non-members, $26/EE Center members and includes bus transportation. Participants should pack a lunch and binoculars and dress for the weather. Stops will be made for coffee and snacks. Preregistration is required by Tuesday, February 6th, 2018. Seating is limited. Refunds will be given only if notification is made at least one week in advance. www.mcconservation.org

Bridge the Gap: Ski the McDade Trail Cross-Country Skiing February 10 9am - 12pm

Enjoy the winter woods with beginner ski lessons; learn the basics of cross-country skiing. Skis, poles & boots provided - register w/shoe size to guarantee a spot. Bridge the Gap date funding provided by the William Penn Foundation. www.peec.org

Ecozone Discovery Room! February 10 1 - 4pm $2 per person

Climb into a bald eagleâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s nest, crawl into a bat cave, explore a beaver lodge, and dig in a fossil pit! Explore this indoor discovery room and enjoy hands-on exhibits on natural history, sustainability and the local environment. No registration required. www.peec.org 52 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE ÂŠ FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

Winter Ecology Hike

February 11 10am - 12pm $5 Learn how different plants and animals survive the winter. Join us on a hike and experience PEEC in the wintertime. All ages welcome. www.peec.org

Treasures and Tiffany’s

“Winter Wonderland” Family Camp Weekend February 16 - February 19, President’s Day Weekend Adults $225 / Child, Commuter, and Day Rates Available

Bring your friends and family to experience PEEC in the wintertime. Cross-country skiing, animal tracking, nature hikes, snowtubing, campfire and more! Price includes three nights of lodging and meals from Friday dinner to Monday lunch. Join us for a wonderful winter weekend! www.peec. org

Unique & Affordable Gifts • Stained Glass Windows & Suncatchers • Custom Work • Repairs treasuresandtiffanys.com • 570.629.5070 2736 Route 611, Tannersville, PA 18372

Photo courtesy of Pixabay

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Eagle Watch February 16 8:30 - 5:30

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MEAT MARKET Good, Old Fashioned Quality Meats Fresh Cut Daily

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Join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman on this field trip to the upper Delaware River in search of our national symbol, the Bald Eagle. Once a rare sight, many wintering and resident eagles now inhabit this region and the probability for sightings is high. Meet at the EE Center at 8:30am and return 5:30pm. Cost: $32/non-members, $26/EE Center members and includes bus transportation. Participants should pack a lunch and binoculars and dress for the weather. Stops will be made for coffee and snacks. Preregistration is required by Tuesday, February 13th, 2018. Seating is limited. Refunds will be given only if notification is made at least one week in advance. www.mcconservation.org

Brodhead Watershed Association’s Water Wiser Program February 24 10:30am - 12pm

“Tracking Pocono Wildlife” will give children and their parents the opportunity to get outside and learn about the tracks that our native wildlife leaves behind. This activity from 10:30am- 12pm is suitable for elementary age children, who must be accompanied by parent or guardian. Sponsored by Brodhead Watershed Association, funded by a Dr. Claus Jordan Endowment Grant from Lehigh Valley Health Network Pocono Foundation. Free, but registration is required. 570-839-1120 or 570-629-2727 or email info@ brodheadwatershed.org 54 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Bridge the Gap: Intro to Snowshoeing February 24 1pm - 4pm

Locally Sourced & All Natural Grilled Hot Dogs on Hot Buttered Buns

Learn the basics of snowshoes and enjoy a winter walk along the McDade Trail. No experience necessary – we provide the equipment and teach you everything you need to know. Register early to reserve a pair of snowshoes & guarantee a spot. Funding for this program is provided by the William Penn Foundation. www.peec.org

Soups & Sides

1232 West Main St. Stroudsburg, PA 18360

facebook.com/rootintootinhotdogs

Animal Tracking February 25 10am - 12pm $5

Animals leave behind clues that give us glimpses into their lives. Explore our natural areas for tracks, trails, scat, territory marks, chew marks, and other signs animals leave as they travel through the fields and forests of the Poconos. www.peec.org

Public Maple Sugaring Day March 3 10am - 3pm

Our 41st Public Maple Sugaring Day will feature a tour of the Sugarbush including stops to learn about Native American and early pioneer methods of making maple syrup, our evaporator process, and methods of identifying and tapping a maple tree. After the tour, everyone will get a chance to taste some of our syrup on freshly made pancakes! The event runs from 10am - 3pm and is located at the Meesing Sugarbush outside of Marshall’s Creek. Cost: $6/adult and $4/children under 12; all members of the EE Center and all tree sponsors attend FREE of charge. www.mcconservation.org

Fruit Pies, Burgers, Pot Pies, Sandwiches, Pastries, Gifts, Jams & Jellies

www.VillageFarmer.com

1/2 mile off of Rt. 80 exit 310 GPS Broad St. Delaware Water Gap 570-476-9440

m -8p m ! a ! n 8 day Ope ever ting! Sea ide s ek Cre Hot Dog & Slice of Apple Pie always $2.95! Over 30 Flavors of pies baked fresh daily No High Fructose Corn Syrup!!!

Rudy’s

Your Neighborhood Tavern Established in 1933 90 Washington Street, East Stroudsburg, PA 18301 570-424-1131 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 55

Art Opening: Nancy Hopping “Living with Wildlife” March 3 11am - 1pm

Growing native foods for wildlife of all sizes, flowers for butterflies and birds, arrowroot for turtles and bears and everything else in between. You never know who will fly, crawl, walk or swim in Nancy’s path but all are welcome. This exhibit will feature Nancy's wildlife photography. Opening reception 11am-1pm. Exhibit runs March 1st through 29th. www.mcconservation.org

Ecozone Discovery Room! March 3 1 - 4pm $2 per person

Voice of Business Since 1910 556 Main Street Stroudsburg, PA 18360 570.421.4433

www.GreaterPoconoChamber.com

Climb into a bald eagle’s nest, crawl into a bat cave, explore a beaver lodge, and dig in a fossil pit! Explore this indoor discovery room and enjoy hands-on exhibits on natural history, sustainability and the local environment. No registration required. $2 per person www.peec.org

Sugar Shack Scramble www.saylorsburglumberpa.com

March 3 - 4 9am - 12pm

Join us for a hike through the woods out to the “Two Saps” Sugar Shack and enjoy hot cocoa and pancakes with fresh maple syrup! Sign up for a 9am or 9:30am start time. Spaces limited! $15 www.peec.org

Middle Creek Birding Field Trip: Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area March 6 8:30am - 6pm

Middle Creek Wildlife Management Area is a major stopover for tremendous numbers of Snow Geese— their huge flocks in flight sometimes create a “blizzard” of birds. Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman will lead this trip to observe this stunning spectacle of nature. In addition, a variety of waterfowl, raptors, and other birds should be seen. Meet at the EE Center at 8:30am and return at 6pm. Cost: $32/non-members, $26/EE Center members and includes bus transportation. Participants should pack a 56 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

lunch and binoculars and dress for the weather. Pre-registration and payment is required and limited. Refunds will be given only if notification is made at least one week prior to trip. www.mcconservation.org

Introduction to Orienteering March 11 1 - 3pm

Come learn how to use a map & compass on our orienteering course. We’ll show you the basics before you try and find all the points. Space is limited – call early! $5 www.peec.org

#PoconoMtns PoconoMountains.com

Fire Building March 17 1 - 3 pm

Learn some primitive and modern fire making skills. Try your hand at a flint & steel and more! Ages 10+ please. $5 www.peec.org

Red Cross Blood Drive March 17 9am - 1 pm

We are proud to be hosting another blood drive from 9am-1pm. Call Barbara at MCCD at 570-629-3060 for more information. To register or learn more about American Red Cross blood drives, visit redcrossblood.org or call 1-800-RED CROSS.

Cherry Valley Ridge hike March 17 10am

6683 Route 191 in the heart of Mountainhome, PA

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570.481.4330 www.thefriendlycommunitycenter.org

Find the headwaters of Cherry Creek (and so much more – including the view!) from the topmost Ridge Trail at Cherry Valley Wildlife Refuge. Join Brodhead Watershed Association hike leader Carol Hillestad for a challenging hike of about 2 miles at 10 a.m. Saturday, March 17, 2018. The hike is free, but registration is required. Call 570-839-1120 or 570-629-2727; email info@ brodheadwatershed.org. For information about this and other hikes in the free Get Outdoors Poconos series, go to brodheadwatershed.org/gopoconos.

Introduction to Fly Fishing March 17 9am - 12pm

The workshop will run from 9am to 12 Noon. Equipment, casting, strategy, fly-tying, basic trout stream macro-invertebrate entomology, and local fishing will be covered and demonstrated. Cost: $8/non-members, $5/EE Center members and children under 12. Preregistration is required by Friday, March 16th. www.mcconservation.org

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Photo courtesy of Pixabay

DIY Birdfeeders March 18 10am - 12pm

Spend the morning putting together your own unique and custom bird feeder from a variety of recycled materials just in time for spring. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll provide everything you need, but you are welcome to bring your own supplies. $5 www.peec.org

Mystery Birding Trip March 23 8:30am - 5:30pm

Join Environmental Educator Brian Hardiman on this popular birding adventure where the destinations and target species are not revealed until the day of the trip. Pre-trip scouting and local reports will determine where we go to see the best avian goodies. Meet at the EE Center at 8:30am and return at 5:30pm. Cost: $28 non-members, $22/EE 58 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂŠ FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Center member and includes bus transportation, plenty of birds, and a good time! Participants should pack a lunch and binoculars and dress for the weather. Pre-registration and payment are required and limited. Refunds will be given only if notification is made at least one week prior to the trip. www.mcconservation.org

Dirt and Gravel Road Maintenance Workshop March 24

Does your driveway or private road resemble a stream channel during rainstorms? Are you tired of paying for expensive stone that washes away every time a big gully washer comes along? Would you like to actually fix the problem instead of patching it back up every time it happens? If so, then this workshop is for you! Learn how to identify signs and causes of erosion. Find out why short term solutions repeatedly fail. Discover long lasting solutions to sustainable gravel road design and how they

work. Learn about the different types of stone aggregate, underground drainage systems to improve road base, permit requirements for stream crossings, and more! Please call 570-629-3060 to register. www.mcconservation.org

Little Eco Explorers: Frogs March 24 10 - 11:30am

A fun, hands-on program for young children! Join us for a story, craft, and activity focusing on frogs. Call for details. $5 per child www.peec.org

Salamanders, Frogs, and More! March 24 1 - 3pm

Amphibians are stirring in the woods! Join us as we explore nearby breeding pools for salamanders, frogs, and egg masses. Weâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;ll provide nets and collection jars for gentle, up-close study. Wear boots and clothes that can get muddy or wet. $5 www.peec.org

Located in Eagle Valley Mall, East Stroudsburg (at the intersection of Rtes. 447 & 209) Behind PNC Bank

Phone: 570-420-1101 Fax: 570-420-1201

Bridge the Gap: Edible & Medicinal Plant Walk March 25 10am - 12pm

Nature provides food & natural remedies for us in the form of many plants. Join us on a hike focused on wild edible & medicinal plants. No collecting will be done within the Park. www.peec.org

POCONO LIVING MAGAZINEÂŠ FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 59

CUTTIN’ ICE ON BIG BEAVER LAKE

Hi Folks … how’s it been going’?

at the crack of dawn for a hearty breakfast of flapjacks, bacon, eggs, beans, home-fries and coffee before setting out on the lake for the day. Each man brings something that we will need to get the ice in.

Right now, I want to tell you all about how we cut ice here on Big Beaver Lake. ‘Round about the middle of January each year, the lake is frozen thick with ice. We keep an eye on it, drilling holes every few days to check, and when the ice is 10 inches thick we start to harvest it.

Sasquatch Sam Mc Coy, from over in the Pine Hollow Swamp, brings his team of draft horses. He has them trained good to work on the ice. This might be because he kind of looks, acts and smells like a horse himself, and of course, that’s why we make him live in the swamp.

Ya see, up here on the lake in the mountains, we ain’t got no electricity to run refrigerators and such, and we really don’t want none. We depend on no one to keep our way of life how we want it, and it suits us just fine. But, if we want to keep our perishables cold in the summer months, and have our moonshine whisky “on the rocks”, we need to fill our ice houses come winter.

My cousin Jake “Madman” Mc Coy shows up with the homemade wooden sleds we need for dragging the ice blocks across the lake. The county sheriff lets him out of jail on work release every year at this time, so he can help out. I don’t want to tell you what he’s doing time for, but he doesn’t have the nickname “Madman” for nothing.

By: Boots Mc Coy

All of my kin who live here on the Mc Coy lands around the lake pitch in to help each year. So on the day we figure to start cutting the ice, they all show up at my cabin 60 POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE © FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018

Ole uncle Crazy Clyde Crapper brings the big 36” buzz saw rig. It’s jury-rigged and bolted up on a sled, then powered by a straight 6-cylinder engine taken from a ’55 Chevy. It cuts through the ice licketey-split and makes the work go fast. Rumor has it that Clyde stole

the engine right out of his ex-wife’s car one night when he was half-drunk on some of my moonshine.

It makes good insulation, and if everything is done right, the ice will keep well into August or September.

Hatchet Jack Mc Coy, from over in the hollow where the lake dumps into the Brodhead Creek, brings the spikes, hooks and tongs needed to lift the cut ice out of the lake. He’s the family blacksmith and is known to make some really weird axes, knifes and hatches, hence the name “Hatchet Jack”. His sister, who he never did get along with too well, was crazy Clyde’s wife so folks think he might have been in on the theft of the engine from her Chevy too. But, most folk in the family don’t really care. They know what my moonshine can do to a man and never liked Clyde’s wife anyway. Some say she drove him crazy and that’s why today folks call him Crazy Clyde.

Each man who has helped get the ice in can take some from the house whenever he needs it. And, we do let Crazy Clyde’s ex-wife have some ice since she can’t drive her car to the store anymore.

We start the cutting in the center of the lake where the ice is the thickest. Marking off parallel lines about 18 inches apart. We first cut the length of the run, and then cut those lengths perpendicular into blocks about 24 inches apart. The buzz saw is mounted on the sled, lowered slowly into the ice, and pulled forward by Sasquatch’s team of horses. As each run is finished, the blocks are pulled out of the trench by hand using the spikes and tongs and dragged onto a low sled. These blocks are heavy and it takes two men to get them onto the sled. When the sled is fully loaded, the horses drag it to the ice house at the edge of the lake. The ice house is made from cedar logs, stacked tight and chinked well. With the ice inside and slowly melting all summer long, it’s always damp inside, but the cedar logs won’t rot like other woods. We also built it in the shade of big old white pines to help keep it cool in the summer. We pack the ice in sawdust we saved from getting our firewood cut in the fall.

When the ice is taken to each man’s cabin, it is kept in the bottom of an oldfashioned oak ice box with brass hardware. These have galvanized steel shelves, so they won’t rust and several doors to get inside without losing to much cold air. On a hot summer day in August, there’s nothing better that getting the ice pick and chipping off some chunks of crystal clear blue lake ice, filling your glass with ice and lemonade, and watching the sun set while rocking on the front porch of the cabin. Well folks … it’s time to go. I have to go make some more moonshine. But thanks for stoppin’ by, and remember: “If you’re lucky enough to live in the mountains, you’re lucky enough”.

Illustrations by Bruce Hutchison Boots McCoy is a Pocono native and lives in a log cabin deep in the woods of Canadensis with his dog, “Ginger.” He spends most of his time hunting and fishing, but sometimes when he gets into the homemade whisky from his still, he takes naps that last for three days and nights. POCONO LIVING MAGAZINE© FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018 61