If you’re not a local and visiting the area for the first time Wilkes-Barre is about an hour North West of the Poconos and is close to Scranton so you’ll often hear Wilkes-Barre/Scranton, Scranton is only about 45 minutes away though(at least for us, tack on another 15 minutes for each if you’re leaving from downtown Stroudsburg).

 Scranton you say?  Yes its that Scranton from the TV show The Office, home of Dunder-Mifflin.  My family is big fans of the show but sadly I’ve only ever seen a couple of episodes, as funny as they are TV time is far and few between and either spent watching movies or mindless reality tv.  Before you go busting on reality tv - I’ll agree its usually scripted and mindless - but that’s exactly why I watch it, no need to think or concentrate, who cares if you go get a snack and miss something.  Come the fall when quality shows come back on then its a whole different story.  I have to admit though I hated that as a kid - fall programming was what you always wanted to watch, but it ran on weeknights and of course it was homework & early to bed.  Forget setting the VCR - literally I’d always forget to set the VCR or I would be unable to find a blank tape.  Then summer time would come and there would be nothing good on… 

Flash forward to today - our DVR (Digital Video Recorder), we have Blue Ridge Cable, that we got on a whim but I swear I can’t live without the thing now.  No more scrambling for VCR tapes, no more reminding myself to record each week, just hit record episode and it will tape every single show for you throughout the season.  Being able to pause live TV helps too so if you are actually interested in watching a show and someone walks in and starts a conversation or the phone rings you can pause it no problem, then unpause whenever you’re free and fast forward through the commercials to catch up.  Its a luxury but for the $8.95 a month it costs is well well worth it.

What I do know is that we have had our fair share of crime and issues that might turn some people off:

Gangs
Gangs have become such an increasing issue that the Monroe County Gang Task Force was created last year.  According to the Pocono Record the task force is tracking a family tree of New York and New Jersey gangs moving into the Poconos.  One draw to the area is the increasing number of cheap foreclosures, the other is easy access to I-80 makes it very easy for transportation of drugs from the bigger cities into the Poconos.  Many “original” Pocono-ers who have grown up in the area have a bad taste in their mouth when it comes to commuters or transplants moving into the area.  This paragraph from the Pocono Record sums up most their fears “Families buy homes and move here hoping for a better life, but find low-paying jobs when they arrive. Unable to make the mortgage, they commute to better jobs, leaving kids to fend for themselves. Parents leaving kids alone for a week at a time is alarmingly common in the Poconos. No parents, no school — truancy becomes a problem.” 

“Parents leave $100 and the oldest in charge. Pretty soon there is a party, rape, drugs,” Ortiz said. “Kids have a wanting to feel affection. When there is none at home they turn to their friends.” These are the kids gangs prey on.

If you’re looking to buy a home in the Poconos and find a great house at a great price - make sure you do your homework on the area.  Many of the gated communities although you might assume they are safer then ungated communities or even homes not in communities at all end up being quite the opposite.  “In New York, gangs have territories.  In the Poconos, conflicting gang members live next door. That creates tense neighborhoods in places such as A Pocono Country Place, where a mix of gang members live in close proximity.  Other hot spots for gangs include Saw Creek, Pocono Farms East and Penn Estates. Weapons, fights and drugs are part of the landscape.  Private communities, where municipal police don’t patrol, plus bargain-priced housing is an invitation to lawlessness.  But the criminal element can be found everywhere, including drug dealers on Main Streetin Stroudsburg, Varkanis said.”

For more information on gangs in the Pocono area: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS0924

Disturbing Murders
Deanna Marie Null was murdered in January and her body was dismembered and placed in bags that were spread across I-380 and I-80.  Its a disturbing story to say the least: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=NEWS0947

Lee Van Luvender was murdered in December ‘07 and the murder was featured on America’s Most Wanted in April 2008.  Billboards were put up offering a reward leading to his death being solved, although he was going hunting that day it has been determined that it was definitely not a hunting accident that ended his life.  Again, its mentioned about how as the Poconos expands, so do the crimes.  “From Sleepy Hollow to Bustling Metropolis - Cops say the Pocono Mountains region, once the best-kept vacation secret in Pennsylvania, known for its pristine beauty and resort feel, has exploded over the last few years. They say its growth, due in part to the introduction of a new casino in the area, has transformed the resort town from a sleepy hollow to a bustling metropolis, drawing gamblers from New York and New Jersey, but cops say it also draws transients as well.”

Robberies, shootings and more
The Poconos has had its fair share of crime, although recently it does seem escalated - In April 2008 the manager at the Arby’s in Stroudsburg was stabbed when he went back inside after closing up for the night and walked in on a robbery in progress.  A fight at a McDonalds in April led to a handgun being fired into the ground(thank gosh). 

There are plenty of accounts of recent crime activity in the Poconos.  I think the biggest question people have to ask themselves when they are looking to move into the area is if the Poconos are really any worse off crime wise then other areas of the county.  I definitely think that the crime rates have risen over the years, the only numbers I could find I’m not sure are even valid: http://www.disastercenter.com/pennsylv/crime/11478.htm and again, the number of people that move into the area each year is bound to increase crime - the question is if its proportional or not.

My advice is to do your homework and thoroughly investigate the area which you’re moving too.  A great place for free advice is http://pocono.commuterclub.org contrary to its name its not a site for commuters and people are very willing to give their honest opinions whether you’re open to hear it or not.  So if you post on their forums “hey I’m looking to purchase a home in this area/community, can I get some input from other people that live there or have” you’ll most likely get some kind of response that should help make your decision.  I would check with your realtor as well as to any crime statistics they have, and trust your gut - if it feels odd and seems to good to be true it probably is.  As a homeowner myself I had to convince myself “if we don’t get that house there is a reason for it”….months and many of potential houses and disappointments later we’re thoroughly satisfied with the home we finally purchased and looking back its the ideal home compared to what we were looking at.  Don’t sacrifice safety for a better price on a home - make sure wherever you choose to live that you’re comfortable being there.

Although I feel strongly that the Poconos are definitely a step back from big city living, there is less crime, in general people are more laid back, less hostile, less stressed - it still comes with its own set of issues like any area.  You will face new challenges - community living, deer eating your flowers, septic mounds and wells but in my opinion the pros far outweigh the cons and still make the Poconos one of the most beautiful relaxing areas to live in.

” What is Megan’s Law?
Megan’s Law exists solely for the purpose of providing a means of protecting the public, especially our children, from victimization by sexual offenders. This is accomplished by tracking the whereabouts of convicted sex offenders and providing notification to the public of the presence of a sex offender in their community. Utilizing the combination of tracking and notification, law enforcement and private citizens are able to develop constructive plans, safety programs, and victimization prevention strategies to prepare for the presence of sex offenders in their neighborhoods. 

Pursuant to the provisions of Pennsylvania’s Megan’s Law, 42 Pa.C.S. § 9791 et seq., the State Police has established this web page to provide timely information to the public on registered sex offenders who reside, attend school, are employed/carry on a vocation, within this Commonwealth. ”

Basically its a sex offender registry and although I don’t warrant myself in a position to say if the people listed on the website are/aren’t guilty or make any assumptions about them…I will say as a parent if nothing else it opens my eyes as to being a little bit more aware of who my neighbors are.

There are about 30 registered sex offenders in Stroud township/boro alone - that’s not including anyone not yet recorded, or have passed the 10 year registration mark.  For the 10-year registration mark offenders can have been convicted of the following: Kidnapping, where the victim is a minor, Luring a Child into a Motor Vehicle, Sexual abuse of children, Sexual exploitation of children and more (look under “registration details”).  IMO if your kid gets the old “I got candy in the car” and gets kidnapped the offender should be put on there permanently…I over react from time to time but I don’t think I’m too out of line with that suggestion.  There are obviously a bunch of other areas besides Stroud township/boro so I can’t even venture to guess what the total in the Poconos is.

Anyway, if you go to the website: http://www.pameganslaw.state.pa.us and click “I agree” it will bring up a search on the left by County, Municipality, City, Zip Code, Name or Alias.  If you’re looking out of state there are sites like http://www.criminalcheck.com that you can use to search as well.

It is public information and I’m sure its not on the minds of most on a daily basis but if you’re the curious or protective type you’d probably want to check it occasionally.

In a January 2008 article by McCall.com they state the following “The state will continue collecting its tax from Mount Airy — a portion of the tax is devoted to reducing school property taxes. Other profits will be held in an escrow account until the charges are resolved.”  “Charges” being perjury charges against owner Louis DeNaples.  So does that mean that their has been money set aside for local tax cuts but that it won’t be put into effect until everything gets resolved?

According to the Pocono Record there has been money collected: “Slot revenues across the state fell about 1 percent to $391 million last week, while generating about $17 million in gaming tax revenue. Mount Airy produced $32,027 in local county tax revenues from gaming during the same period. Since it opened, Mount Airy has generated $ 924,924.69 in direct gaming revenues for the county.”

Hmmm…

So I called Don Mader, our local tax collector, and asked if they knew anything about it.  The woman I spoke to said that as far as she knew nothing had been put into effect and if anything would happen I should expect to see a reduction on the August tax bill.  She stated that its the school districts who would handle it, not the township but that she had no other information.

I had read something at one point that said that as a home owner I would need to contact my tax collector, not the other way around, to sign up for a reduction.  That sounded pretty out of place to me, but I figured if that was the policy that I better figure out how to get it done sooner rather then later.

I’ll admit I’m clueless…I know a lot about a lot of different subjects but I don’t even know where to begin investigating this.  If anyone has more information, let me know!

So, onto recent experiences…I had never been to a Garfield’s although I’ve been to plenty of places like it - its your typical Ruby Tuesdays, TGIFridays, etc. chain restaurant with the objects all over the walls, a bar section and a varied menu.  What Garfield’s has that I’ve only seen at a few other restaurants was a full cover table mat (a piece of paper) that you could draw on.  As simple as that idea might seem it keep both kids - our 4 y/o and my husband, occupied until the food arrived.  It took a little bit longer then usual but having something to do kept everyone distracted enough that no one seemed to mind.

The food itself was good, ever since Ruby Tuesdays took potato skins off their 3-type appetizer I’ve been looking for a replacement so I got Garfield’s mixed appetizer which included potato skins, mozzarella sticks and chicken quesadillas.  My husband got a cheese steak which was pretty good - we’re both originally from around the Philadelphia area so nothing quite matches a “real” cheese steak but it was pretty good nonetheless.  Our son got their Dino bites - aka chicken nuggets, fries and an apple juice.  I liked the fact that they had the option of both chicken fingers and chicken nuggets on their kids menu - since our son is more likely to eat the latter.

We had stopped by the Ruby Tuesdays on 611 for lunch earlier in the week and I was actually quite disappointed.  Its usually an alright place to eat, and although our waitress was nice enough to rush because we were short on time, the food definitely fell short.  I had their 3-type appetizer(what can I say I’m on a streak), of cheese fries, chicken fingers and mozzarella sticks.  There were no dipping sauces - which when you’re in a rush you take what you can get but I assume they just forgot - the cheese fries were hard as a rock and the cheese was in that solidified crusty state from being over cooked and the mozzarella sticks were nothing but a shell and a tad bit of cheese.  Now we’ve stopped their plenty of times before with better results, their soup & salad bar option is usually good, my husband always likes the salad bar, but this time was sad to say the least.  The cherry coke my husband got was probably the oddest way I’ve ever seen it served - it was topped with real cherries which was cute, but there was cherry…particles…in it.  You couldn’t drink it without getting a mouthful of grainy pieces - I’m not sure if that was someone’s idea (good in theory just badly executed) or what but not being one to send stuff back my husband had no choice because it was really pretty inedible.  What didn’t help the situation was that whoever prints their childrens menu hadn’t so they were photo copying them and a selection of 2 crayons didn’t exactly tide the little one over for very long so he was very restless.  I definitely feel like we didn’t get our moneys worth and we’d probably choose Garfield’s over them in the future, but every restaurant has their days, that day just obviously was not theirs. 

Moving onto less of a chain restaurant - Marita’s Cantina on Main Street in Stroudsburg has actually been surprising me.  We had gone there a few times to meet with friends for 1/2 price fajitas before it was rebuilt and it always seemed small, dark and overly crowded.  It always seemed like we were being nickel and dimed - I hate getting charged for refills when the standard now adays is “free refills” so after being charged $1 for sour cream for my faijitas(again a standard) I just about had it and we kind of phased the place out.  Flash forward to the rebuilt Marita’s and although I’ve only ever been there twice for lunch they’ve definitely elevated their standards in my book.  There is plenty of natural light, and although the seating area has not really seemed to expand it feels roomier then in the past.  I was really pleased with their Chicken Fajita salad - both times I’ve been there I’ve been unable to actually finish it, its a good size portion, has a really good combination of vegetables and the chicken is excellent.  Kid wise it didn’t go over too well, they have a kids menu but nothing to keep them occupied(crayons, placemat), but I’d definitely go back for a lunch with just myself and my husband.

Sarah Street Grill - the most ‘original’ out of the restaurants mentioned so far, its tucked away off Main Street on where else - Sarah Street.  Now that the weather is warmer the deck is open so if you’re looking to have a nice lunch outside definitely check them out.  They’ve always had comparable prices to the above mentioned restaurants, but the quality of food is a lot better, more of that ‘homemade’ type feel.  If I’m in the mood for a salad that’s definitely where I head to  - their not so “big” salad is only $2.99 and is the size of a regular salad anywhere else.  Its always fresh and you definitely can’t find a salad of that size and quality anywhere else at another restaurant (sit down or fast food) that I know of.  Their “big” salad is even bigger(obviously) and is only $3.99 - I will usually pair the “not so big” with something else small and its definitely filling.  Their wraps are also really good - their Turkey ranch wrap is really good, anything off their menu is pretty good though.  There are ‘off’ days I’m not sure if its a change in who’s the chef that day but I’d be sure to try a few different items a few different days and you’ll be sure to be pleased.  We had an event there for lunch/dinner and it was a decent price compared to other places in the area and the food was actually better then their regular menu.  If you’re looking to have a baby shower lunch, wedding rehersal dinner, etc. definitely check it out as an option.  Side note - as a few months ago they have gone totally non-smoking minus an outdoor smoking area.   They’re one of the few bars/restaurants in the area that I know of that have implemented that and though I’m sure they took a hit for it I’m sure they attracted some new customers too.  If you’re looking for a place to hear local music or watch some games check them out as well.  Oh and if you’re a sushi fan their sushi bar is open for dinner.

If you’re looking for a really nice place to have a quiet romantic dinner I’d suggest the Stone Bar Inn - the food is definitely rich and priced higher then an average dinner but its extremely tasty and beautifully done.  We’ve only eaten there once for dinner but it was a great time and definitely a breath of fresh air.  All the other places mentioned we’ve only been to lunch for, not dinner, so I can’t say what does/doesn’t vary later in the day but if you have places/stories you’d like to share please do!

If you’re not familiar with that intersection its a 4 way intersection with a light but is not a perfect crossroad which can make any intersection hazardous as is.  The main issue that I can see is that if you are driving on 191 towards 80 with the KFC on your left the arrows that distinguish what lane will be going in which direction are on the ground and faded.  It is a high traffic intersection so on a normal day if you are from out of town you would have a hard time figuring out if you’re in the correct lane or not.  My personal suggestion - and mind you I’m no expert - is to place HANGING signs that clearly mark which lane you need to be in to go the proper direction.  Here’s a yahoo map of the intersection: http://maps.yahoo.com/#mvt=m&lat=40.986494&lon=-75.190688&zoom=18

From 191 facing 80 there are 3 lanes - the far left lane is meant for traffic going to the left onto a two-lane one way street.  The middle lane is for traffic going straight across the intersection, slightly to the right, towards 80.   The far right lane is for traffic turning right onto main street a two-way street.

The biggest danger comes when traffic that should be going left or right ends up going straight - moreso from the far right lane straight across the intersection(when they should be turning right) - this causes problems not only from the traffic trying to go straight but from anyone making a right off main street.  I have seen this happen more times then I can count, am always cautious and treat it as if its a 2 lane crossover to not get blindsided by someone else trying to go straight.

I would estimate at least 90% of the time I go through that intersection people are using the incorrect lanes - on one hand I really can’t blame them, especially if they’re not familiar with the area.  On the other hand every time I see an accident almost happen I think ‘why isn’t this getting fixed?’.  Now, I’m not exactly one to talk since I have yet to formally address a complaint but I do plan on doing it in the near future.  I found out recently that the intersection there is technically a penndot road and therefore up to them to make any changes.  I will investigate this further and post any updates that may shed light on the situation. 

There’s plenty of dangerous intersections and roads in the Poconos, but I can’t say that there’s anymore then everywhere else, there are so many back roads that have severe drop offs and no guard rails and I shudder to think what would happen if you ever ended up off road.  My suggestion is to take your time when you can and keep an eye out as there are more out of towners then usual this time of year.  If you know of a dangerous intersection or road that you’ve reported or have been meaning to report like myself let us know as I’m curious what changes can actually be made.

There was a really bad snow storm about 5 years ago when we still lived about 10 mins outside Stroudsburg that knocked power out for over a week - luckily the in-laws are close by and we had a place to stay - I can’t imagine what you would do in a situation like that if you didn’t have friends/relatives close by.  The issue that comes to hand is when you use well water well (pun intended) you’re in a bad situation since you’re unable to use it without power.  Flushing the toilet, washing your hands, taking a shower, getting a drink…it makes it pretty much impossible to stay for an extended period without power. 

Last night at about 7:30PM the power went out - call me crazy but I would have liked to have gotten the more intense part of the storm so it felt a little more justified.  When the storm simply passed by with nothing more then a sprinkle I was disappointed.  When the power was still off at 10:30 I was a bit restless - the first few hours you can manage to catch up on perfecting your shadow puppet skills, telling ghost stories(or gossiping), even calling people to catch up.  When it heads past 2-3 hours the worry sets in about the food - it never fails, Monday we had done a large grocery shopping so of course it would be 2 days later that the power goes out for 4 hours so I get to sit and worry if we’re going to need to get rid of it all.

Long story short, we made numerous calls to PPL during which we couldn’t even report the outage ”due to strong storms that have passed through the area we are experiencing high call volume and are unable to take your call, please try again later”.   Finally when we got through to report the outage and we didn’t get an estimated time until about 10:30 we were told that the power would be back on by 1:30am.  Ugh.

 Luckily at 11:30 the power popped back on, we were able to turn the air on(even though the 95 degree weather had cooled off it was still incredibly humid) and get everything in order with minimal damage.  Sad to say the huge bowl of potato salad(that was in the fridge) I had made just prior to the power going out was lost - I just don’t trust mayo that looks discolored like that.

 So some tips:
1) Keep your power company’s phone number and your account number in your cell phone.  We have all cordless phones so they obviously will not work when the power is out.  It can get quite frustrating to rummage through bills to grab the electric company’s number as well so do yourself a favor and keep it either in your cell or by the phone.

2) Flashlights and candles - always the obvious but I know on any given day we have 10 of each lying around but either a) they’re missing batteries or b) the lighters are out of fluid.  Make sure to keep at least 1-2 of each in a “storm only” spot for both summer and winter and check them occasionally to make sure they’re working.

3) Water - its always good to keep at least a few bottles and/or jugs on hand regardless but they really can come in handy - whether its for drinking or a quick wash of the hands its amazing how much use you’ll get out of them.

4) Activities - luckily for us last night our son went to bed at 8:00 and it was light enough out that we could leave his shades open as a ‘night light’ but for outages in the winter it really helps to have some kiddie flash lights, toys with lights, etc. to have on hand to keep the kids occupied.  For tus older kids we tried doing crosswords by candlelight - I can’t say I recommend it since the light was so dim I had a headache from all the eye strain.  So come up with some creative ideas ahead of time - games on your cell phone(be careful of battery life) or laptop, shadow puppets, a friend nearby with power - the 5 minutes it takes you to come up with some ideas in the light of day will save you hours of frustration unprepared in the dark at night.

For anyone else that lost power, I feel your pain, I can’t really complain since there are definitely millions of other things more tragic in life but it is inconvenient.  Typing this all out is a good venting method and now I can let it go - until next time… 

Pocono 500
As any NASCAR fan knows this past weekend was race weekend - aka the Pocono 500 -  if you’re a fan you were sure to be there - if not then you were probably busy dodging the traffic.  Kasey Kahne came out on top, you can visit Pocono Record Online: http://www.poconorecord.com/apps/pbcs.dll/section?category=SPORTS0301 for all of the details.  You can also visit the Pocono Raceway website for additional information about the Pocono 500: http://www.poconoraceway.com

Gas $3.99
Gas prices have slowly been rising and have been at $3.99 for a good week or two now, I would expect to see the majority of gas stations rising above $4 this week, there have already been a few at $4.05-$4.09 for the past week.  If you’re not in a rush its well worth it to take the extra time to check around for the best price.  The Pocono Record has a gas map that will show you current gas prices in the area - its actually really helpful and accurate, be sure to check it out!  Take note that paying CASH is what will often get you the cheapest rate - read the fine print!  Some gas stations advertise low prices but then add an additional fee for using a credit card - I’ve seen it go as high as an additional 20 cents a gallon - so be careful.

Gas Prices
Currently gas is averaging about $3.79 a gallon - its been rising steadily 10 cents every few weeks and I’m sure its going to reach $4 a gallon by summer.  They’ll show national averages and although we’re not the top from what I see, we’re definitely up there.  With New Jersey so close I’ve heard of many people taking the extra couple miles to head over there where prices not only are cheaper, but they pump your gas for free! 

Transportation Alternatives
There aren’t too many alternatives when it comes to transportation in the Poconos but there are a few: The Monroe County Transit Authority better known as the Pocono Pony which is our local bus transportation and Pocono Cab Company.  I can’t say if either one is cheaper or more convenient but they are alternatives.  My best advice is carpool if you can, for the slight inconvenience the money that you’ll save is probably well worth it.  The Pocono Commuter Club is a non-profit organization for Pocono commuters that provides information, support and advice for anyone commuting to or from the Poconos.

The Train?
Good luck holding your breath on that one - its been many years coming, and I’m sure still many more will pass until we see it.  When it does finally spring into place I think it will not only be a great resource for commuters but for vacationers and reducing congestion in the area in general. 

Tolls
If constantly increasing gas prices wasn’t worrysome enough the possibility of tolls on 80 becomes more of a reality as the days pass.  An article today on PoconoRecord.com solidifys commuters fears that one way or another there are going to be additional charges in the near future.

Electric Increase
And finally…on top of everything else I recently heard news that PPL Electric Utilities prices may increase by up to 34% once they are deregulated in 2010.  34% are you kidding me?

Whether this recession, or lack there of, ends soon or not with other potential increases in the Poconos and surrounding areas looming its a good time to start planning ahead and saving some additional money if its available.

Its FREE to attend - most expos require at least a few dollar admission charge but its absolutely free so if nothing else it can get some family energy out for a few hours by walking around.  It is located at the Pocono Mountain East High School Gym - apparently last year there were many complaints that the location was too small and that there were barely room to fit strollers up and down the isles.  This year they have planned ahead and have picked a much larger location to accomodate everyone.  I can’t blame them at all if there was a size issue last year since it is a free event so no prior registration means that you’re pretty much guessing how many people will attend.

The event will feature information on local programs of interest to Pocono families including crafts, childcare, summer camps and more. They will also be giving out FREE DigiKids Child ID kits - for any parent this is a huge help - no one likes to think of the possibility of their child getting lost or stolen, but if they do minutes even seconds can make a difference.  ID kits normally store a digital photo(that you usually have access to update) and some basic information incase of an emergency it can be distributed quickly.  As important as having a kit is making sure it gets updated, so if you do get one be sure to revisit it every year - or set it as a reminder when you change your clocks/batteries for daylight savings time.

If you do not already receive Pocono Parent Magazine and would like to subscribe it is FREE, just visit their site at PoconoParent.com and click on the “subscribe free” link.  The magazine started just a few years ago but is a great resource for all families in the Poconos, it provides useful monthly columns, restaurant reviews, activities for your children and more!