Water For Breast Cancer Awareness

Century 21 Select Group Lake Harmony Office raised $350.00 for Breast Cancer during the “Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine & Food Festival” on June 12, 2010 held at Split Rock Resort.

Festival patrons were offered “free” bottled water for a donation to Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. Parking is at a premium during the festival. Our prime location also generated donations in exchange for parking at our office. We thank all of those who made donations and look forward to seeing them again next year.

100% of the money raised went to the Northeast Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen Foundation.

LHWPG Holds Annual Benefit Dinner

The Lake Harmony Watershed Preservation Group is holding its Annual Benefit Dinner this year at Split Rock Lodge on the patio by Lake Harmony on Saturday June 19, 2010 from 6 to 10PM. This year the event is a “Taste of Lake Harmony” where many of the local restaurants are providing gourmet food for the buffet service dinner so you have a chance to get something from them all in your selections. The cost is $20 per person before 6/12/10 and $30 per person after that date. Children 6 and under are free. Two bands, Pair of Nuts and Project Buzz, will be providing music for your listening and dancing pleasure. There will be a silent auction for items donated to the event and many of those items may be familiar to those who have been in the area for any period of time. This is always a fun event so plan to attend and bring your family, friends and weekend guests for a good time at a reasonable cost. Rain accommodations will be at the Galleria at Split Rock. For tickets or more information, contact Danielle @ 570-722-2841. You can also contact Joyce at 570-401-2296.

On Saturday March 27, 2010, Local Volunteers once again sponsored an Easter Egg Hunt complete with a visit from the Easter Bunny and special prize baskets for age group winners. It is their way of saying thank you to local residents (and area visitors) who help to support their year long fund-raising efforts for the Volunteer Fire Companies and Rescue Squads in the community. The Easter Bunny arrived and was immediately greeted by some children who had been anxiously awaiting the visit so the Hunt could get started. After all, there were over 1600 eggs to find, collect and get the candy and toy prizes inside them!

The Hunt is divided into 4 age groups – under 3 years old, 4 to 5 years old, 6 to 9 years old and 10 to 12 years old. Each group had a minimum of 400 prize loaded eggs to find plus two special eggs (this year they were carrots) which get the lucky finder one of the special Easter Baskets prepared for the event. The Prize Winners were very happy with the results of their efforts but all of the 70+ children participating enjoyed the Hunt. Most said they planned to come back again next year.

The Hunt has been marked by typical early-spring in the Poconos type weather with snow, sometimes rain, and many times heavy mud. Despite those weather obstacles, the event has always gone on and the children had fun, which is the purpose of the day. This year, despite heavy snow melt and heavy rains the weeks before, we found Saturday as a cool but sunny and dry day with little or no mud involved. Volunteers and parents alike were happy to see that turn of weather for this year’s Hunt.

The event also provided the opportunity for the children to have their pictures taken with the Easter Bunny. Proud parents and Grandparents did most of the picture taking but we have a sampling of the children here. As you can see the children fit into all of the age groups. If you did not have a camera with you, you could copy the picture or pictures from here which may be of interest to you.

If you are in the area next year, please remember that the Easter Egg hunt is held on the Saturday before Palm Sunday each year -- so we hope to see YOU there.

3rd Annual Emergency Services Banquet

Kidder Township’s Third Annual Emergency Services Banquet will be again be held at the Galleria at The Resort at Split Rock on Friday May 7, 2010 starting at 6:00PM. This annual dinner honors the service provided by the Lake Harmony Volunteer Fire Co, Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Co, Kidder #1 Volunteer Fire Company and the Lake Harmony Rescue Squad and Ambulance Corps. The evening provides an inexpensive means for area residents, visitors, property owners and businesses to meet, greet and say Thank You to the many people who not only volunteer their time but risk their lives to serve their community. If you have been to either of the first two banquets, you know what a wonderful and inspiring evening it is. If have not had the chance to attaned before, please plan to join this year’s festivities – you will be glad you did.

Open Bar cocktails start at 6 PM followed by a great dinner (choice of Beef, Chicken or Lasagna) with beer, wine and soda provided then dance the night away or just listen to the varied music provided by a disc jockey. Come out to Support and Honor your local Heroes. Ticket price is $25 per person and checks should be made payable to KTES Banquet. Tickets for this event can be obtained by contacting Joyce Bradley at 570-401-2296 or 570-722-9344 or from many of the fire fighters and rescue squad members themselves. Putting your reservation in early guarantees you a spot at the dinner and helps the organizers get an accurate early head count for table setups etc. This helps the evening run more smoothly and we sincerely appreciate your support of this community event. Look forward to seeing you there!

Beef and Beer Benefits Local Volunteer Fire Companies

Mark you calendar -- A Beef and Beer event will be held on Saturday, April 3, 2010 at the Galleria at The Resort at Split Rock in Lake Harmony, Pa from 7PM to 11PM. The event will benefit both the Lake Harmony and Albrightsville Volunteer Fire Companies. Tickets are $20 in advance or $25 at the door. Tickets can be obtained by contacting Joyce Bradley at 570-401-2296 and are also available at either of the two fire companies. A ticket for this fun evening includes beer and soda plus all-you-can-eat roast beef sandwiches (with or without horseradish sauce), various salads, and cake. A cash bar will be available for those who do not want the beer or soda. A DJ will provide music all evening for your listening and dancing pleasure – so bring your friends and/or relatives for an inexpensive good time while also supporting the volunteer local organizations which provide fire fighting protection to the area. They do a sometimes thankless job without compensation and often at great personal inconvenience and risk to provide a much needed service for the community. Here is a chance to say THANKS while also having a good time yourself.

Proceeds from the event will help support both fire company’s efforts in hosting the upcoming 2011 Pennsylvania State Fireman’s Association Convention and Parade which will be held right here in Lake Harmony! This event, to be held in September 2011, will be a source of local pride and provide a chance for area residents and visitors alike to see many different pieces of firefighting and rescue equipment from across the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. An expected 700 pieces of apparatus will parade through Lake Harmony. It is the first time such an event has ever been held in the Poconos! Lake Harmony Fire Co and Albrightsville Fire Co successfully competed with many others across the State to win the opportunity to be the host of this prestigious event. More on that event in future notices.

A dance studio is moving into the area but it is so much more than a dance studio. Blue Mountain Baton & Dance will be opening November 1st, 2209. It is located at 1548 State Route 903 in the CareFree Plaza across from Pocono Whitewater. We will be offering classes in Baby Ballet, Baby Dance, Mommy & Me, Tiny Tumblers, Tiny Tot Twirlers, Hip Hop, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Lyrical, Pointe, Vocal, Theater, Modeling, Piano, Baton Twirling, Tumbling, Gymnastics,Ribbon Twirl, Aerobic Step, Zumba, Kickboxing & more!!! We will be having a Grand Opening celebration after our first week of opening. It will be held on Friday, November 6th from 5pm-9pm, Saturday, November 7th from 10am-7pm and Sunday, November 8th from 12pm-5pm. We will have a dance store on site as well! At the Grand Opening we will have demonstartions, a bake sale,games, and raffles including one for a FREE MONTH OF CLASS!!! Be sure to check out our website at www.bluemountainbatontwirling Be sure to check us out on Facebook and myspace. Sign up for a FREE try me class! Refer a friend and receive 1 free class as well. Live, Love, DANCE!

Submitted by: MJ
Phone: 570-977-1505
Email: bmbtwirlers@peoplepc.com

PennKidder Area Council of the Carbon County Chamber of Commerce has joined with the PennKidder Campus of the Jim Thorpe School District in a Red Friday Project.

Red Friday is a grass roots effort that is moving across the nation with a simple statement, "Wear Red on Fridays to support the Troops" The Tobyhanna Army Depot took it a step further and made a red T-shirt that makes the Red Friday Statement. It will be personalized with "Carbon County supports the troops" and for students "Jim Thorpe School District supports the troops". Proceeds from the sale of these shirts will benefit the Fisher House at the Walter Reed Medical Center in Washington, DC, local Military and their families, Operation Santa Claus, PennKidder Elementary School and the PennKidder Area Council.

The Fisher House is the rehabilitation Center for Military personnel who return home injured and in need of rehabilitation.

Operation Santa Claus each year reaches out into the Community with an invitation to school districts to send their physically and mentally challenged children to a special Holiday party at the Tobyhanna Army Depot. Last year they entertained over 750 children and adults! The children are treated to a special day of food and fun that includes a visit to Santa's House, multiple gifts and entertainment by local mascots and cartoon characters.

Our hope is that schools and places of business in Carbon County will suspend dress code for Fridays only and allow students and employees to wear red.

Plans are being made to have a picture taken (time and place to be determined) of everyone wearing red gathered together. Our goal would be to have everyone in Carbon County wear red and attend.

The Wilkes Barre Scranton Pioneers Arena Football Team is also helping out with the Red Friday project. They will have a Military Night Red-Out at one of their games (TBA), They will provide discounted tickets for the game and donate money from the ticket sales back to the Fisher House.

Shirts are available in adult sizes, small, medium, large, X-large, XX-large and 3X; childrens sizes are 2-4, 6-8, 10-12 and 14-16. These are Hanes shirts and seem to run true to size. All shirts are $10.

If you or someone you know is interested in purchasing a shirt, please use the attached order form.

Make checks payable to: Operation Santa Claus and mail to: c/o Maureen Kennedy, Box 782, Lake Harmony, PA 18624.
Any questions, please do not hesitate to call me at 570-814-3433.

The Lake Harmony Office of CENTURY 21 Select Group offered free battled water to visitors arriving at the 19th Annual Great Tastes of Pennsylvania Wine & Food Festival held at The Resort at Split Rock. At the “Water for Breast Cancer Awareness” stand, outside the office across from Split Rock Lodge, the group had literature from the Susan G. Komen For The Cure® organization. Donations were also being accepted as part of the service with the proceeds going to that vital breast cancer awareness organization. 100% of the money raised will be donated to the NEPA Affiliate of the Susan G. Komen for the Cure®.

The Indoor Water Park at Split Rock, called H2Ooooh!, had its grand opening and ribbon – cutting on 10/30/08. The event provided an opportunity for a “soft-opening” trial by the invited guests and news media. Developer W Jack Kalins and State Representative Keith McCall spoke at the opening about the newest tourist and recreation venue in Carbon County. Opening day highlighted the beauty of an Indoor Water Park – as it followed on the heels of an early 12 inch snow fall on 10/26/08! All inside were comfy and warm, even in their wet swimming gear, while seeing the snow covered trees and ground just outside the glass!! For pictures of the park taken on opening day, click here.

In addition to a Tiki-Bar and a food court, the Park has a wave generating pool, three choices of waterslides, a water obstacle course, a water-oriented jungle gym called Tim-Buk-Tu (complete with slides, user-operated water cannons and a LARGE water bucket periodically spilling copious amounts of water down on unsuspecting passers-by), the Park has the first and only indoor FlowRider in the State of Pennsylvania. The FlowRider pushes large amounts of water at high speed up a wave shaped ride and allows users to “surf” or Boogey-board as though they were at the ocean’s shore. The water slide choices include a 1 or 2 person rubber tube/slide (the red tube), another 1 to 2 person rubber tube/slide which features a complete light blackout (the blue tube), or the 4 person rubber tube/slide (the yellow tube). There are some stairs to reach the top of the tubes and users of the yellow tube have the large rubber tubes taken up for them by “a tube-lift”.

Greeted by the H2Ooooh! Dragon mascot, invited attendees included various Resort employees, the Kidder Township Board of Supervisors, staff members of the Pocono Mountain Visitors Bureau, local Volunteer Fire Companies, Lake Harmony Ambulance and Rescue Squad, Kidder Township Police Department, various Scout Troops and Cub Packs. Beverages and food were provided courtesy of the Resort and all was very good indeed. The Park opened at 3PM that day and remained open to 9 or 10 o’clock that evening. Friday morning had the final official inspections completed and the Park was officially scheduled for Public Opening later that day. Normal operating hours can be found on the Resort’s Website but scheduled to be 10AM to 8PM during the week and 10AM to 10PM on weekends. Daily, multi-day, and special category entry rate information is also available through the website.

The park is decorated in an island theme with real plantings of palms, and various exotic tropical bushes and plants. Plenty of chaises are provided for lounging “on the beach” by the zero degree entrance wave pool, and plenty of tables and chairs allow for food consumption and relaxing as well.

If you are ever in the area, H2Ooooh! is worth a visit – its even better if you are staying at the Resort in the Lodge or one of the Time-Share units. Shuttle buses are available to get you around the various venues at The Resort at Split Rock if you do not want to use you car once at your destination. Come see the newest, and in some cases the first, water-fun attractions in PA – right there in Carbon County! – you’ll be glad you did.

Hi my name is Denise, I am new to Albrightsville area. We moved to Mt. Pocohontas in October of 2007. I do in home pet sitting and just recieved my pet sitting accreditation through www.petsit.com, (PSI)Pet Sitters International.
Why use a professional pet sitter?
Advantages for you & your pet –
·Reduced Stress. Your pet stays in a familiar secure environment where all the sights, smells, and sounds say “Home!”
·No “Travel Truama!”
·TLC. Most importantly your pet will receive lots of love and attention while you are away.
·No Imposition. You don’t have to impose on a friend, neighbor, or relative to care for your pet. Instead you can rely on me! I am a Pet Care Proffesionals who will put your pet’s needs first.
·Security & Special Services. Your home will have that “lived in look”. We can alternate lights, water the plants, put out the trash, and pick up the mail/ newspapers.
·Peace of Mind. While you’re away, you can feel confident that your pet is in capable caring hands.
So why not make your next Vacation the Pawsativelist, happiest, strees free, vacation you have had in years. Give me a call at 610 419 3471, References, Great Rates, and Free Counsultations.

Submitted by: Denise
Phone: 610 419 3471
Email: msmagic@ptd.net

Maybe some relief from Tax Assessment Issue

Just read an article in the June edition of The Pennsylvania REALTOR® about two companion pieces of legislation being taken through the process in the State Legislature. The House version was introduced by Rep Tim Seip of Schuylkill County (HB 1438 and 1439) and the Senate version was introduced by Sen James Rhoades also of Schulykill County (SB 1247 and 1258).

The purpose of the Bills is to close the loophole in current law which is being exploited by school districts in the State (including Jim Thorpe School District right here in Carbon County) to appeal assessments based upon sales price thereby creating inequities in the assessment structure and among homeowners. This practice has hit Carbon County especially hard in the Towamensing Trails, Split Rock and Lake Harmony areas but I am sure elsewhere as well.

The Pa Association of REALTORS® is supporting the legislation as it has had a chilling effect on real estate transactions for a while in this area and that is in addition to the effect caused by the current worries about the economy, gas prices, and the general reluctance to commit to real estate investment caused by those worries. A past President of the Lehigh Valley Association of REALTORS® has provided testimony that there is evidence that prospective “buyers strongly reconsider looking at homes in districts that are appealing assessments after the sale”, according to the article. Part of the issue is that many Counties had delayed their County-wide reassessments for so long that an imbalance built into the system. However, this is only further exacerbated by the current practice of after sale appeals by the Taxing Authority.

The point here is that there may be some light at the end of this tunnel based upon the legislation proposed. The trail of this issue through the court system has not yielded very satisfactory results from the homeowner perspective and MAYBE legislation can correct what judicial fiat has done. If you are interested in this topic, you can follow the Legislative process to keep abreast of it and we will try to keep you up to date from a REALTOR® perspective as we get more information.

We've added another web link to the useful links page. It's in the entertainment section of the Useful Links page, try it to see if it fits your music likes (the music only ranges from 1950 to 1982 so it may not be for everybody).

It can be used for background music while you are on the computer, working or surfing. As you will see when you click on this site, there is a Jukebox- but it is no ordinary jukebox. It will play all of your favorite songs from 1950 through 1982. Each year has a scroll or drop down box that shows all the great songs for that year. Most years have over 40 songs.

Once you click on a song it will play and when it finishes it automatically plays the next song in the list and continues until it has played all the songs.
One of the best features is that it will play in the background. That means you can be doing other computer work on a different screen.

If you have completed CERT Training or will complete such trtaining, please consider getting CART Training as well. This is essentially similar to the CERT Program but covers unique issues relative to animals during emergency situations - often pets are left to fend for themselves during a major emergency event like Hurricane Katrina and Community Animal Response Team Training expands the services which can be provided by the CERT Trained teams in the area.

The State ART is trying to get a group of people intersted in CART training together so if you are interested or know someone who may be, contact Megan Snyder at Carbon County EMA at 570-624-3097 or email via www.carboncounty.com/emergency.

Submitted by: Tom Bradley
Phone: 570-722-9629
Email: thomas.bradley@century21.com

If you have any junk vehicles or scrap metal you need picked up (FREON DOES NOT HAVE TO BE REMOVED)Call L N L Haulin at 570-643-3579 or 570-620-7404 and speak with Leniece. They will arrange to pick it up and remove it for you at no charge to you. Vehicles must have wheels and tires. This noticed placed based upon input from the material movers - Note that neither Century21 Select Group nor Joyce or Tom Bradley have actually used the service so do not have first hand knowledge of them or the service.

Submitted by: Leniece
Phone: 570-643-3579
Email: campingoout18610@yahoo.com

Operation Touch of Home is seeking the names and addresses of Monroe County troops currently serving in Iraq and Afghanistan to be recipients of November essentials shipment. Family members or friends with this information please contact: touchofhome@hotmail.com or call Dean 977-1724 or Grace 977-4437.

Why not also include any Carbon County troops as well. Maybe we can get the project going here as well

Submitted by: Maureen Kennedy
Phone: 570-606-3452
Email: ria140@pa.metrocast.net