Toys for Joy: Memories of winters past from our northeast Pa. newsroom
The Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent unified newsroom is made up of reporters that live in Monroe and Wayne counties and more areas of northeast Pennsylvania. We may have a few miles between us, but we enjoy each others' company in our virtual bullpen.
We meet multiple times a week, thanks to modern technology, but we are constantly talking to each other. Our newsroom chat is full of jokes, tangents and professional banter — and as snow began to fall for the third time this week on Friday, our chat became a place to share memories of winters past and our favorite things about snow.
For Northeast Pa. Entertainment and Monroe County Sports Life reporter Micaela Hood, her favorite memories included "making a snowman," and throwing snowballs, she said, before adding "falling in the snow."
Wayne County Sports Life reporter Kevin Edwards mused that his favorite part of winter was "a long quiet walk in the snow at night."
Environment and politics reporter Kathryne Rubright agreed. "When you go for a walk afterward and it makes everything quiet," she responded. "Also when it's fresh and undisturbed enough to notice little animal tracks."
Column continues after gallery.
The simple things
Community reporter Peter Becker reminisced of winter memories with his mother, Elsa Garratt Becker. The Becker family lived on Church Street in Honesdale, across from the park.
"She was best of friends with our aged neighbor Marjorie Smith, who was sister to the late Dick Smith who in 1934 wrote the song 'Winter Wonderland.'" Becker began. "I will always remember, every time the first snow fell, my mother and Marjorie would race to see who would call each other first, and say, 'Happy Winter Wonderland.'"
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Becker went on to share more boyhood memories of snow days past.
"As a boy, I was pretty typical, loving hearing on the radio we had a 'snow day' and schools were closed. I loved playing in the snow, making snow forts and having snowball fights with my neighbor Kenny Kreitner. I always remember my mother showing me how to make a proper snowman, complete with coal pieces (from our cellar) for buttons, tree branches for arms, a hat, scarf and carrot nose. I was always sad to see it melt.
"Somehow, the snow back then seemed deeper than many snowfalls today, but of course I was a lot shorter."
As for myself, I have fond memories of the Blizzard of 1996 in Brooklyn. I remember my mom bundling my brother and I up in our snowsuits, and pulling a plastic sled on a rope towards a hill to go sledding.
I remember the snow piling high, up to the second floor of our building, and my father digging us a few tunnels in the courtyard. My brother and I then spent time cultivating our love of snow, milling about the tunnels and marveling at how warm it was beneath the snow pack.
I was very young, six years old, but I remember it was magical.
The winter season is full of magic, and the month of December is halfway through. Sunday we will see the start of Hanukkah, and Christmas will be just around the corner, followed by Kwanzaa. Each holiday puts the magic of the family front and center. Each holiday reminds us to enjoy the simple things in life, even if it is just a fresh snowfall.
So many families in the Poconos could use a boost this holiday season. And this is where, you, our dear readers, can help create a little magic yourself.
How to donate to Toys for Joy
This year, we are expanding our purview to include our sister paper, the Tri-County Independent. The TCI serves readers in Wayne, eastern Lackawanna, and northern Pike counties. Pocono Record serves readers in Monroe and southern Pike counties. Our reporters have been working as a unified team for nearly two years.
Donations must be made online, by check or by money order only. No cash can be accepted. You can include your name and a special message to be published with your donation.
To donate online, go to poconorecord.com/toysforjoy or formstack.io/21E47.
Checks must be made out to AllOne Charities and mailed to 83 East Union St., Wilkes Barre, PA 18701.
Donations received thus far
On behalf of the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent, I would like to thank these generous donors.
Last week's Toys for Joy donors:Toys for Joy: The spirit of peace thrives in December
Walter Ziskowski: $20
The Webster family: $25 - Loving memory of Richard Webster Given by Anne, Julia and Alexander Webster
David Fox: $100 - In honor of my parents, Agnes and George J. Fox
Trish and Doug Tweddle: $100
George Eberz: $25 - In memory of my grandson Christian Fiedler
Sandra Wert: $35 - In loving memory of Robert Jeffrey Wert and Jeffrey Richard Wert
Laverne and Jean Moyer: $50 - In honor and memory of our loved ones.
Barbara Hill: $100
Eleanor Haling: $25 - Merry Christmas to the children God bless them. In memory of my daughter Melissa Ann Gouger.
Richard Frisch: $200
Total donations received thus far: $1,656
Merry Christmas to the children God bless them. In memory of my daughter Melissa Ann Gouger.
— Ashley Fontones is the managing editor at the Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent. Reach her by emailing afontones@gannett.com.
This article originally appeared on Pocono Record: Pocono Record and Tri-County Independent staff recall winter memories
