It is extremely important to be comfortable enough with your roommate(s) where you can easily approach him or her. Tolerating someone who is not respecting you can be hard, which is why you need to approach them.  Explain how you feel and what the problem is.  Form a compromise with each other, so you have specific rules.  For example, have him or her consult with you first before bringing people into the room, have set times to be back, and respect each other by not making noise when you are trying to sleep.  If none of these work, then it is best to meet with your R.A. for further assistance. 

The one thing about roommates that I have learned is to not be afraid to communicate.  You should feel absolutely comfortable telling them exactly how you feel about something, whether it’s good or bad.  This makes your friendship stronger, and a chance to actually tell the truth without sugar coating things.  If you are a freshman, this could be hard because you are just getting used to them-especially at the beginning of the year.  You may be walking on eggshells around them, and feel embarrassed to confront them about something that is bothering you.  My advice is to say it and get it over with.

Dorm living can be really frustrating because your “home” is one tiny room that you have to share with somebody.  There’s no doubt that bickering will occur and disagreements will surface.  It is just a matter of how you handle the situation.  You may have one roommate who loves to go out and come home late, and you may have a roommate who loves staying in.  This could develop into major trouble.  Figure things out, compromise and respect what each of you has to say.  We are now considered adults, so we have to approach things in a mature fashion.  Of course this isn’t always the case due to certain circumstances, but when you finally feel comfortable enough to tell your roommate(s) how you feel, things will eventually fall into place. 

Wine lovers rejoice! Salvatore Vito, local lawyer of Stroudsburg, has started a new winery in our area called Pocono Limited Winery. He, along with fellow winemaker and ESU graduate Joseph Richards, have devoted their time to the creation of specialty organic fruit wines.

The apple flavored wine has been thoughtfully named “La Pomme,” which means “the apple” in French. It brings new taste to wine connoisseurs that falls out of the realm of your typical white wine. The apple flavor offers a drier, crisper aftertaste to the mouth, leaving you craving a second glass after your first sip.

Of course, the apple flavor is not so overpowering as to ruin your wine drinking experience. It is subtle, light and is paired very nicely with an Italian meal, just to make a suggestion.

The organic wine making process is quite unique. The wine is fermented so that it can reach a stable temperature, then filtered using a microbial filter, which keeps the product sterile without losing any of its organic qualities. Instead of adding sulfites, preservatives that can add to a hangover, the winemakers barrel-age the wine for four months to strengthen its flavor.

ESU graduate and winemaker Joseph Richards fills bottles with La Pomme. Photo by Kate Langenburg.

Because Pocono Limited Winery crafts each bottle in a European style, they take pride in the aging process, which helps them achieve one of the most important goals in European winemaking: to develop weinsteins or “wine diamonds” in the wine. Essentially, wine diamonds are a sign that the wine has not been overly processed and has reached full, high quality maturity.

One of the main draws to the apple wine is the lack of preservatives. Chemicals that are added to most other wines, like bentonite or potassium sorbate, are the main causes of those nasty hangovers that often come with a night of wine drinking. La Pomme doesn’t have any of those chemicals, so it leaves you feeling better than you would drinking any other wine.

Pocono Limited Winery has also created a smooth apple liqueur, which is equally as delicious as the wine, but is more decadent. The interesting aspect about its production is that it is cryogenically created, hence why the winery calls it “ice liquor.” At the end of the process, the tasty drink comes out to be 75 proof.

Recently, Pocono Limited Winery entered the 2009 Finger Lakes International Wine Competition, which was held in Rochester, New York. The competition featured over 500 wineries worldwide, with over 2,100 bottles of wine entered in the contest. La Pomme received a bronze medal, an achievement equal to third place.

Joseph Richards is very happy with the wine’s success. “For a winery that’s only been in operation for under a year, we’re doing really well,” he said. “We’re competing against wineries that have been in business for many years. It’s [the winery] got a lot of potential.

As of right now, Pocono Limited Winery features solely apple wine and liqueur created from organic apples, but plans are in the works for making other organic fruit flavors as well.

Pocono Limited Winery will be selling their delicious wines and liqueurs at the Chestnut Hill Nursery on the weekend of May 16-17. They will also be at the Monroe County Farm Market in Stroudsburg every Saturday morning from May through October. If you can’t wait that long, they also sell wine at The Crossings in Tannersville. You can find Pocono Limited Winery at the kiosk right next to Vitamin World.

To learn more, or to order yourself a bottle or two, visit their website.

If you’re any kind of wine lover, I urge you to try La Pomme. It’s scrumptiousness far surpasses many other wines out on the market. Plus, the fact that it’s completely organic helps, too. Lucky for you, the winery will be holding tastings by appointment in very soon.

Email Kate Langenburg at kll2718@esu.edu

ESU University Dance Company. Photo from Google.

The University Dance Company at East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania will hold its spring performance in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts at 7:00 p.m. on April 16, 17 and 18.  The event is open to the general public and tickets may be purchased at the door.  Ticket prices are $7 for the general public, $5 for ESU faculty/staff, and $3 for all students, senior citizens, and children.  Tickets should be purchased at the door.

For more information about this event, please contact Dr. Elizabeth Gibbons, ESU professor of movement activities and lifetime fitness, at lgibbons@po-box.esu.edu.

Academic honors, awards, and scholarships will be presented to 299 East Stroudsburg University of Pennsylvania students at the university’s 28th annual Honors Convocation on Friday, April 17. The event will be held in the Abeloff Center for the Performing Arts.

The Honors Convocation is sponsored annually by the Association of Pennsylvania State College and University Faculties (APSCUF) with a grant from the ESU Office of Academic Affairs.  Music for the event will be provided by the University Brass Ensemble under the direction of Dr. Otis French, assistant professor of music.

The keynote address will be presented by Dr. Faith Waters, retired distinguished professor emeritus of professional and Secondary Education.  Dr. Waters came to ESU in 1989 and in addition to her teaching responsibilities she served on numerous committees and is credited with such contributions as having been the co-founder of the Center for Teaching and Learning,.  She served co-director of the Center from 1994-2002.  She also served as co-author of ESU’s comprehensive classroom assessment model, was co-founder of the PSED professional development school program, and chaired the initiative to develop the collaborative Educational Leadership doctoral delivery program between Indiana University of Pennsylvania and ESU.

In 2008, Dr. Waters was named a Distinguished Professor, ESU’s highest faculty honor.  The award recognizes outstanding contributions to the university in the areas of teaching, scholarship, creative endeavor, and/or service to the university or community.

Dr. Waters earned her bachelor of science degree at Bucknell University, a master’s degree in education at Trenton State University, and her doctorate at the University of Pennsylvania.  She taught courses in inclusionary practices, teaching methodology, secondary curriculum, leadership application practices and educational administration.  She remains an active scholar with multiple publications and frequent professional presentations on a wide variety of topics.

Dr. Martin Wilson, associate professor of history, will present the William D. McFadden Scholarship award to Katherine Ernest, a history major from Bensalem, Pa. The $550 award is given annually to a graduating senior with a major in history or social studies, and is based on scholarship, leadership and demonstrated human concern.

Scholarship committee member Dr. Hooshang Pazaki, associate professor of sociology, will present APSCUF scholarship awards to: Alyssa Callan, a special/elementary education major from Glenside, Pa.; Brittney Coleman, a pre-law major with a minor in environmental services from Kresgeville, Pa.; Courtney Jackson, a secondary education English major from Lancaster, Pa.; Erin Snyder, a speech and language pathology major from Scotrun, Pa.; and, Emily Ward, a sociology and Spanish major from Allentown, Pa. These awards are valued at $500 each.

Honors students meeting the following criteria are listed below: 

- Achievement of a minimum quality point average of 3.50 reflecting at least 36 semester hours of work completed at ESU.

- Completion of at least 96 semester hours by Jan. 1 of the year in which the award is considered.

- A minimum of two semesters as a full-time student immediately preceding consideration for the award.

For more information about the 2009 ESU Honors Convocation, contact Ms. Toni Heller in the ESU APSCUF Office at (570) 422-3278.

First Name      Last Name       Major   Second Major    Hometown        State  
Alyssa  Ambrose Elementary and Special Education                Greeley PA     
Garen   Amirian Psychology              Saylorsburg     PA     
Nicole  Anderson        Elementary Education            Easton  PA     
Alexes  Andrian- Castillo       Hospitality Management          Glen Gardner    NJ     
Rebecca Angelucci       Spanish Secondary Education             Schwenksville   PA     
Lawrence        Apgar   English         Columbia        NJ     
Jennifer        Asman   Early Childhood Education               Washington      NJ     
Christopher     Bach    Sport Management                Levittown       PA     
Lisa    Balascak        Spanish Secondary Education             Zionsville      PA     
Jonathan        Bamat   Mathematics Secondary Education Economics       Karthaus        PA     
Rosemond        Banas   Psychology              Levittown       PA     
Jacob   Barbaro Marine Science          Lehighton       PA     
James   Becchetti       Physical Education Teaching Certification               Dunmore PA     
Allison Becker  Nursing         Pen Argyl       PA     
Carlee  Beehler Psychology              Tobyhanna       PA     
Sara    Bellomo Psychology              Kresgeville     PA     
Jennifer        Bensinger       Social Studies Secondary Education      History Tamaqua PA     
Dana    Berg    Psychology              Mansfield       PA     
Monika  Berger  Elementary Education            Nazareth        PA     
Jordan  Berrian Sport Management                Camp Hill       PA     
Sean    Birch   Pre-Sport Management            Brick   NJ     
Beth    Bodek   History         Linden  NJ     
Ashley  Bommarito       Biological Chemistry            East Stroudsburg        PA     
Bethany Bookwalter      Elementary and Special Education                Carlisle        PA     
Scott   Borger  Industrial Physics              Lehighton       PA     
Gemma   Boyd    Psychology              Tobyhanna       PA     
Melissa Breitfeller     Elementary Education    Elementary Education    Kunkletown      PA     
Matthew Brightbill      Sport Management                Lebanon PA     
Lesle   Brogan  Nursing         Center Valley   PA     
Crystal Bronson Sociology               East Stroudsburg        PA     
Sarah   Brownlee        Biology         Coopersburg     PA     
Anthony Bujno   Biology         Berwick PA     
Tyler   Bunnelle        Physical Education Teaching Certification               Stroudsburg     PA     
Shannon Burns   Early Childhood Education               Henryville      PA     
Rebecca Canti   Sport Management                Phillipsburg    NJ     
Ashley  Care    Athletic Training               Monicasy Station        PA     
Alison  Carr    Physical Education Teaching Certification               Sugar Notch     PA     
Brian   Catalano        History History East Stroudsburg        PA     
Nicole  Cegelka Economics               Pocono Summit   PA     
April   Chalfant        Special Education               Stroudsburg     PA     
Elise   Clifford        Elementary and Special Education                Scranton        PA     
Meghan  Coari   Speech Pathology and Audiology          Parsippany      NJ     
Vanessa Colyer  History         Tobyhanna       PA     
Theresa Corbett Elementary Education            Wurtsboro       NY     
Jamie   Cronk   Athletic Training       Athletic Training       Elmwood Park    NJ     
Jared   Crum    Pre-Sport Management            West Milford    NJ     
Robyn   Cumberland      English         Blakeslee       PA     
Meredith        Davies  Media Communications and Technology             Dallas  PA     
Jean Marie      Dean    Elementary and Special Education                East Stroudsburg        PA     
Teresa  Dean    Pre-Elementary Education                Tobyhanna       PA     
Jennifer        Degroat Elementary Education            Dingmans Ferry  PA     
Adam    Deisenroth      Management              Henryville      PA     
Nicholas        Di Tore Biological Chemistry    Chemical Biotechnology  Bushkill        PA     
Danielle        Didonato        Exercise Physiology             Millington      NJ     
Danielle        Dinaro  Nursing         East Stroudsburg        PA     
Kimberly        Donoughe        History         Stroudsburg     PA     
Rachel  Dotter  Elementary Education            Wind Gap        PA     
Ryan    Doyle   History         Bartonsville    PA     
Courtney        Drahovsky       Hospitality Management          Lebanon PA     
Brian   Drum    Physical Education Teaching Certification               Newton  NJ     
Dana    Dungan  Elementary Education            Easton  PA     
Rebecca Eck     Medical Technology              Swoyersville    PA     
Lydia   Eden    Recreation Management           East Stroudsburg        PA     
Matthew Ellis   Physical Education Teaching Certification               Saylorsburg     PA     
John    Enright Communication Studies           Boothwyn        PA     
Jonathan        Erb     Physics         Brodheadsville  PA     
Katherine       Ernest  History         Bensalem        PA     
Amanda  Estabrook       English         New Milford     PA     
Marissa Favata  Community Health                Lansdale        PA     
Carmen  Fazzolari       Management              Washington      NJ     
Jenna   Ferlin  Biology         Phillipsburg    NJ     
Cassandra       Ferrari Philosophy              Delaware Water Gap      PA     
Corey   Finke   Elementary Education            Manahawkin      NJ     
Katie   Flint   Elementary Education            Marshalls Creek PA     
Michael Freed   Athletic Training               Pottsville      PA     
Carol   Freeman Elementary Education            Effort  PA     
Ashley  French  Nursing         Towaco  NJ     
William Fritz   Political Science               East Stroudsburg        PA     
Cory    Gager   Pre-Management          Hawley  PA     
Anthony Garbarino       Fine Arts – Art         East Stroudsburg        PA     
Brandon Garcia  Physical Education Teaching Certification               Chambersburg    PA     
Suzanne Gardner Elementary Education            Hackettstown    NJ     
Kerri   Gavin   Athletic Training               Conshohocken    PA     
Allison Getz    English         Kunkletown      PA     
Patricia        Gianatiempo     Early Childhood and Elementary Education                Hawley  PA     
Catie   Gingrich        Elementary and Special Education                Harrisburg      PA     
Sara    Gordon  Elementary and Special Education                Nazareth        PA     
Anna    Governali       Psychology              Blakeslee       PA     
Kevin   Graham  Sociology               Stewartsville   NJ     
Nyere   Grant   Computer Science        Computer Security       Bensalem        PA     
Marissa Gravante        Hospitality Management          Carmel  NY     
Trisha  Green   Elementary Education            Palmerton       PA     
Michael Grembowiec      Biology         Ramsey  NJ     
Jason   Grigg   Pre-Management          Saylorsburg     PA     
Michael Grima   Computer Security       Computer Science        Saylorsburg     PA     
Kristin Groetsch        Elementary and Special Education                Tannersville    PA     
Kelly   Guido   Speech Pathology and Audiology  Spanish Kingston        PA     
Nicola  Haag    Elementary Education            Hackettstown    NJ     
Christopher     Hamburger       Mathematics Secondary Education         East Stroudsburg        PA     
Danielle        Hantz   Elementary and Special Education                Coopersburg     PA     
Jamie   Harr    Elementary Education            Hewitt  NJ     
Samantha        Hartmann        Physical Education Teaching Certification               East Stroudsburg        PA     
Kimberly        Hartzell        Elementary Education            Easton  PA     
Sharon  Hasselbach      Biology         Kresgeville     PA     
Pamela  Hayford Elementary and Special Education                Nazareth        PA     
Julie   Heimbach        Elementary Education            Easton  PA     
Christa Hein    Spanish Secondary Education             Northampton     PA     
Sara    Heintzelman     Elementary and Special Education                Hellertown      PA     
Janine  Helmrich        Speech Pathology and Audiology          Yonkers NY     
Daniel  Herrero Media Communications and Technology             East Stroudsburg        PA     
Kyle    Heselpoth       Nursing         Lafayette Hill  PA     
George  Hettinger       Computer Security               Stroudsburg     PA     
Traci   Hipple  Psychology              Stroudsburg     PA     
Holly   Holdredge       Media Communications and Technology             Tunkhannock     PA     
Nicole  Hover   Physical Education Teaching Certification               Hamilton        NJ     
Jessica Howey   Elementary and Special Education                Milford PA     
Curt    Hoy     Economics       Management      Wernersville    PA     
Alyssa  Iarossi Speech Pathology and Audiology          Bloomfield      NJ     
Joseph  Iero    Hospitality Management          Frazer  PA     
Carolyn Jablonowski     Biological Chemistry    Chemical Biotechnology  Carbondale      PA     
Marcel  James   Elementary and Special Education                Hawley  PA     
Lisa    Jannone Elementary Education            Pittstown       NJ     
Kimberly        Jarovits        Elementary Education            Tannersville    PA     
Timothy John    Athletic Training               West Pittston   PA     
Amanda  Johnson Hospitality Management          Effort  PA     
Amanda  Johnson Elementary Education            Bensalem        PA     
Jennifer        Johnson Elementary and Special Education                Philadelphia    PA     
Jarrod  Jones   Sport Management                Allentown       PA     
Nicole  Jordan  Elementary and Special Education                Lafayette Hill  PA     
Bassam  Jouny   Economics       Management      Easton  PA     
Joshua  Joyce   Pre-Physics Secondary Education Physics Stroudsburg     PA     
Caitlin Judge   Hospitality Management          Clarks Summit   PA     
Pawel   Kalinsky        Social Studies Secondary Education      History Pen Argyl       PA     
Heather Kaphan  Physical Education Teaching Certification               Hackettstown    NJ     
Audra   Kern    Communication Studies           Mohnton PA     
Mark    Kilker  Geography               Saylorsburg     PA     
Courtney        King    Speech Pathology and Audiology          Easton  PA     
Carolyn Kisling Psychology              Washington      NJ     
Kelly   Kleckner        Athletic Training               Schuylkill Haven        PA     
Samantha        Knappenberger   Spanish         Sociology       Pottsville      PA     
Allison Kolubinskyj     Management              Canadensis      PA     
Deborah Kosinski        Elementary Education            Cresco  PA     
Timothy Kosteczko       Exercise Professional           Pine Bush       NY     
                                               
Katherine       Kostiuk Hospitality Management          Mechanicsburg   PA     
Kyleen  Koury   Physical Education Teaching Certification               Dunmore PA     
Ryan    Kramer  Social Studies Secondary Education      History Bechtelsville   PA     
Joshua  Kreger  English         Kunkletown      PA     
Kimberly        Kreseski        Elementary Education            Mount Pocono    PA     
Lauren  Kwiatek Elementary Education            Oxford  NJ     
Julia Ann       La Verda        Elementary and Special Education                Andover NJ     
Jeanette        Labar   Speech Pathology and Audiology          Stroudsburg     PA     
Vincent Lakatos Social Studies Secondary Education      History Clarks Summit   PA     
Rachel  Lambert Sociology               Saylorsburg     PA     
Kate    Langenburg      English         Dingmans Ferry  PA     
Yolanda Larsson Elementary Education            Pocono Lake     PA     
Jillian Leach   Athletic Training               Harrisburg      PA     
Le Shor Lee Bellinger   Speech Pathology and Audiology          East Stroudsburg        PA     
Melissa Lemon   Recreation Management           Red Hill        PA     
David   Lenox   Fine Arts – Music               Tannersville    PA     
Emily   Lienhard        Elementary Education            Easton  PA     
Charles Lindow  Sociology               Great Meadows   NJ     
Kimberly        Lippman Early Childhood Education               Oradell NJ     
Roberto Lopez   Athletic Training               Stroudsburg     PA     
Mandy   Lorenz  Nursing         Stroudsburg     PA     
Rebecca Loveatz Elementary Education            Bethlehem       PA     
Emily   Ludwig  Elementary Education            Salisbury       MD     
Christina       Macaluso        English Secondary Education             Saylorsburg     PA     
Karin   Maccia  Elementary Education            Roseto  PA     
Maryanne        Magda-Kash      Psychology              Stroudsburg     PA     
Nicole  Manger  Sociology               Bartonsville    PA     
Jenell  Manzi   Theatre Arts            Mount Bethel    PA     
Megan   Maxwell Communication Studies           Bethlehem       PA     
Deanna  McCaa   English         Bangor  PA     
Steven  McGuire Hospitality Management          Stanley NY     
Liam    McMahon Psychology              Henryville      PA     
Megan   McNulty Elementary and Special Education                Jenkins Township        PA     
Stephen Meglio  History Philosophy      Stroudsburg     PA     
Paul    Mejia   Sport Management                Tobyhanna       PA     
Meagan  Melenchick      Elementary and Special Education                Seltzer PA     
Kaitlyn Meredith        Early Childhood and Elementary Education                Scotch Plains   NJ     
Erin    Micklo  Elementary and Special Education                Aston   PA     
Kari    Miller  Early Childhood Education               Kenvil  NJ     
Michael Miller  Physical Education Teaching Certification               Easton  PA     
Antonio Mirabito        Sport Management                Bath    PA     
Lori    Moeck   Pre-Elementary and Special Education            Palmerton       PA     
Kyle    Moore   Pre-Athletic Training and Sport Medicine                Oley    PA     
Susan   Moore   Psychology              Cresco  PA     
Kristen Morby   Biology         Doylestown      PA     
Matthew Morgan  Biology         Barnesville     PA     
Melissa Morgan  Biology         Belvidere       NJ     
Chelsea Moskowitz       Elementary and Special Education                Edison  NJ     
Kathryn Munley  Physical Education Teaching Certification               Highland Lakes  NJ     
Kelly   Neale   Physical Education Teaching Certification               Aston   PA     
Lauren  Nelson  Elementary and Special Education                Pen Argyl       PA     
Robin   Nevels Zatarga  Nursing         East Stroudsburg        PA     
Hai     Nguyen  Hospitality Management          Easton  PA     
Andrea  Novatnack       Environmental Studies           Bethlehem       PA     
Kristen O’ Connor       Management              Ashland PA     
Brendan O’ Malley       Elementary Education            Stroudsburg     PA     
Kathleen        O’ Rourke       Speech Pathology and Audiology          Freeport        NY     
Bonnie  Ogden   Early Childhood Education               Milford PA     
Jacob   Oliver  Mathematics             Brodheadsville  PA     
Laura   Olivo   Early Childhood Education               Flemington      NJ     
Theresa Pace    Elementary and Special Education                Ridley Park     PA     
Lindsay Paradis Elementary Education            East Stroudsburg        PA     
Lauren  Parker  Elementary and Special Education                Philadelphia    PA     
Ashley  Patete  Elementary and Special Education                Hamburg NJ     
Joseph  Paulus  Media Communications and Technology             Doylestown      PA     
Cherilyn        Peteja  Pre-English Secondary Education         East Stroudsburg        PA     
Janice  Peters  Sociology               East Stroudsburg        PA     
Kelly   Peterson        Nursing         Lebanon PA     
Melissa Phillips        Management              Scranton        PA     
Maria   Picon   Pre-Law         Stroudsburg     PA     
Thomas  Polaski Communication Studies   Theatre Collegeville    PA     
Alyssa  Polise  Elementary and Special Education                Pen Argyl       PA     
William Powell  Sport Management                Philadelphia    PA     
Caitlin Reardon Sport Management                Englishtown     NJ     
Brian   Reddy   Pre-Exercise Science            Morristown      NJ     
Steven  Richard Elementary Education            Canadensis      PA     
Tamara  Rivera  Psychology              Bushkill        PA     
Holly   Rogan   Physical Education Teaching Certification               Carbondale      PA     
Sage    Royer   Sociology               Bangor  PA     
Kimberly        Ruoff   Elementary and Special Education                Washington Crossing     PA     
Amanda  Sampey  Elementary Education            Newton  NJ     
Kimberly        Satos   Early Childhood and Elementary Education                Edison  NJ     
Francesca       Scala   Physical Education Teaching Certification               Bethlehem       PA     
Amy     Schendel        Pre-Athletic Training and Sport Medicine                Tioga Center    NY     
Jessica Schmoyer        Nursing         Kutztown        PA     
Kristin Schnell Speech Pathology and Audiology          Lehighton       PA     
Veronica        Scrivens        Elementary and Special Education                Saylorsburg     PA     
Carly   Serafin Physical Education Teaching Certification               Hackettstown    NJ     
Brittany        Shaw    Elementary Education            Newfoundland    PA     
Meilee  Shen    English History Cresco  PA     
Nicole  Shipos  Athletic Training               Morrisville     PA     
Rosanne Simone  Elementary Education    Special Ed.     Mount Pocono    PA     
Shannon Simpson Sport Management                Stroudsburg     PA     
Nicole  Sirkot  Elementary and Special Education                Weatherly       PA     
Michael Siviglia        Political Science               Thornhurst      PA     
Shelby  Skeabeck        Political Science               Pottstown       PA     
Neil    Smartschan      Nursing         Zionsville      PA     
Brittany        Smith   Biotechnology           Delaware Water Gap      PA     
Zachary Smith   Computer Science                Walnutport      PA     
Mark    Snyder  Social Students Secondary Education             Dickson City    PA     
Megan   Snyder  Elementary Education            Wind Gap        PA     
Melissa Snyder  English Secondary Education             Dickson City    PA     
Samantha        Soder   English         Bloomingdale    NJ     
Christina       Squires Political Science       French  East Stroudsburg        PA     
Samantha        Sramek  Elementary and Special Education                Bridgewater     NJ     
Corri   Stalter Social Studies Secondary Education              Wharton NJ     
Shelby  Stedenfeld      Biology         Gouldsboro      PA     
Andrea  Stella  Elementary Education            Hawley  PA     
Sara    Stellatella     Exercise Professional           Moscow  PA     
Jessica Stender Mathematics Secondary Education         Blairstown      NJ     
Taylor  Steward Media Communications and Technology             Danielsville    PA     
Jeffrey Stewart Computer Security       Computer Science        Macungie        PA     
Lindsay Stewart Psychology              Mount Bethel    PA     
Lauren  Stokes  Psychology              Pitman  NJ     
Bridgette       Stone   Elementary and Special Education                Thompson        PA     
Thomas  Sutor   Pre-Exercise Science            Annandale       NJ     
Julian  Taibi   English Secondary Education             Lehighton       PA     
Cara    Taranto Pre-Management          Bethlehem       PA     
Rebecca Taylor  Nursing         Chalfont        PA     
Stephanie       Thiem   Elementary and Special Education                Union Dale      PA     
Samantha        Thomas  Pre-Law         Wilkes Barre    PA     
Elizabeth       Tolino  Recreation Management           Flicksville     PA     
Stacey  Tramutola       Elementary and Special Education                Mount Bethel    PA     
Karen   Trebitz Environmental Studies           East Stroudsburg        PA     
Shannon Unger   Elementary Education            Nazareth        PA     
Meagan  Unmack  Communication Studies           Kunkletown      PA     
Lee     Van Fleet       Elementary and Special Education                Fleetville      PA     
Susan   Van Grouw       Elementary Education            Blairstown      NJ     
Tammy   Van Why Management              East Stroudsburg        PA     
Terri   Verbovsky       Physical Education Teaching Certification               Greenwood Lake  NY     
Nathan  Verkade Sociology               Asbury  NJ     
Priscilla       Villa   Elementary and Special Education                Tamiment        PA     
Hope    Waldvogel       Hospitality Management          Holmes  NY     
Patricia        Walters Elementary and Special Education                Bangor  PA     
Angela  Wary    Media Communications and Technology             East Stroudsburg        PA     
Amanda  Wascavich       Mathematics Secondary Education         Avoca   PA     
Allison Webb    Elementary and Special Education                Catasauqua      PA     
Megan   Wentzel Elementary Education            Lebanon PA     
Tara    Werner  Speech Pathology and Audiology          Plains  PA     
Brian   Wertheimer      Pre-Management          Pine Brook      NJ     
Amy     Whyte   Medical Technology              Brodheadsville  PA     
Brette  Williams        Fine Arts – Art         Mt Pocono       PA     
Candice Williams        Elementary Education            Saylorsburg     PA     
Jasmin  Williams        Elementary Education            Effort  PA     
Rachael Williams        Physical Education Teaching Certification               East Stroudsburg        PA     
Amy     Wittig  Elementary Education    History Port Murray     NJ     
Jared   Wolfe   Elementary Education            Quakertown      PA     
Christopher     Worthington     Elementary Education            Spring City     PA     
Jennifer        Wright  Early Childhood and Elementary Education                Marshalls Creek PA     
Claes   Wyckoff Psychology              Shawnee On Delaware     PA     
Melissa Xepolitos       Social Studies Secondary Education      History Shohola PA     
Jaclyn  Yandrisevits    Physical Education Teaching Certification               Wind Gap        PA     
Joseph  Yuhas, Jr.      Biology         Bethlehem       PA     
Michelle        Zahariev        English Secondary Education             Pocono Summit   PA     
Brandy  Zelinski        Special Education               Allentown       PA     
Theresa Zuba    Health Administration           Stroudsburg     PA     

East Stroudsburg University and Shippensburg traded come-from-behind victories to split the first half of this weekend’s PSAC East baseball series on Saturday at Fairchild Field. The Warriors (22-15, 6-8) won the first game 8-3 as freshman SS Evan Gallagher drove in the tying and go-ahead runs with a two-out single in the top of the sixth inning, and ESU scored four runs in the seventh to put the game away.

In the nightcap, Shippensburg (15-22, 5-5) scored two runs in the bottom of the seventh inning on a walk, two hits and an error to take a 4-3 victory and even the series at 1-1 heading into Sunday’s doubleheader at Mitterling Field at 1 p.m. ESU beat Shippensburg senior pitcher Tim Freshour in the first game, handing him just his third loss against six victories. The Warriors got single runs in the first and second innings, on RBI doubles from senior 3B Mark Angelo and senior OF Mike Bortz, while junior pitcher Steve Prazenka held the Raiders scoreless through the first three innings. Shippensburg got on the board in the fourth when Ben Miller had an RBI single, but ESU limited the damage when junior C Brendan O’Connor threw out the lead runner at third to get the second out of the inning. In the fifth, Tyler Redick doubled to score Kyle Rhoades with the tying run, and scored on a sacrifice fly by Steve McCardell after freshman Andy Noga relieved Prazenka.

O’Connor threw out Rick Shumway on a steal attend for the third out of the inning, and Noga retired all seven batters he faced after he entered the game to hold Shippensburg at bay while the Warriors’ bats came to life with six runs over the final two innings.

Senior 1B Chris Zsenak singled and senior OF Kevin Thompson walked to start the Warriors’ rally in the sixth, and O’Connor’s base hit loaded the bases with one out. Freshman 2B Ryan Guarino popped out to second for the second out of the inning before Gallagher came through with a single through the left side to plate Zsenak and Thompson and give ESU a 4-3 lead. Noga threw a perfect sixth inning and the Warriors got after it again offensively in the top of the seventh. Angelo, Thompson and junior DH John Pisker all had hits in the inning, Gallagher and Bortz walked to drive in runs and Shippensburg made three errors as the Warriors took an 8-3 advantage into the bottom of the seventh.

Noga got three more outs to close the game and didn’t allow a hit in 2.2 innings to improve to 3-1 on the season. Prazenka struck out two and didn’t issue a walk in his 4.1 innings, while the Warriors touched Freshour for four runs in 6.0 innings and three Shippensburg pitchers got one out each in the seventh.

In the second game, ESU sophomore Tom Admire (5.2 IP, two runs, five strikeouts) and Shippensburg’s Andrew Burke (7.0 IP, two runs, nine strikeouts) were locked in a pitchers’ duel until the Raiders scored the tying and winning runs in the seventh. Zsenak gave the Warriors an early 3-0 lead with his sixth home run of the season and 12th of his career in the first inning.

Freshman OF Carey Zimmerman singled and Angelo struck out but reached on a throwing error by the catcher, and Zsenak followed with a blast to left field. Shippensburg got on the board in the second with a runscoring single by Jimmy Miller, and the Raiders got another run in the fifth on Shumway’s RBI double that scored Redick and made the score 3-2.Admire retired the first two batters he faced in the sixth before Ben Miller and Jimmy Miller both drew walks to put the tying run at second base before Noga entered in relief and struck out Sean Killian to end the threat.

In the seventh, Rhoades walked to start the inning and junior Christian Saveri came in for Noga for his 14th appearance of the year. Redick singled through the left side and Shumway laid down a bunt single to load the bases. McCardell hit a ground ball to third, but the throw home was just off target and Rhoades and Redick crossed the plate to give Shippensburg the win.

ESU’s victory in the opener was its seventh straight, matching the 2006 team for the longest winning streak in the last 10 years.

Shippensburg won the first game 2-1 in 12 innings, then posted a 10-5 victory in the nightcap to take a PSAC East baseball doubleheader from East Stroudsburg University on Sunday afternoon at Mitterling Field. Junior lefthander Jeremy Gigliotti threw nine innings in the opener, gave up three hits and didn’t allow an earned run in his second straight outstanding performance for the Warriors. The reigning PSAC East Pitcher of the Week, Gigliotti hasn’t given up an earned run in his last 16 innings on the mound and has 49 strikeouts in 43.0 innings this season.

Freshman Andy Noga threw the final three innings for ESU (22-17, 6-10) and allowed one base runner in his first two frames before Shippensburg (17-22, 7-5) put together three two-out hits, including a pair of infield singles, to plate the go-ahead run in the top of the 12th.

Kody Kibler got the start for Shippensburg and scattered six hits over six innings to turn the ball over to cer Tyler Redick, who came on in the seventh with a 1-0 lead on an unearned run in the third. Junior DH John Pisker walked to open the inning and was forced out on a fielders choice by junior C Brendan O’Connor, who was lifted for pinch runner Brendan O’Malley.

Senior pitcher Jennifer Bensinger has been named the ABC Trophy, Inc. Athlete of the Week at East Stroudsburg University after throwing a no-hitter in a 3-0 win at Goldey-Beacom last Wednesday. Bensinger(Tamaqua/Tamaqua) struck out 14 batters over seven innings while recording the first no-hitter for the ESU softball program since the 1990 season. She also won her start against Glenville State on Friday and had a 2.80 earned run average with 23 strikeouts in 15.0 innings for the week.

Bensinger had a streak of 17 scoreless innings snapped in the fifth inning of the Warriors’ 9-1 win at Glenville State. She threw the first six innings of a 3-0 shutout at Pfeiffer on March 7, then followed up with her no-hitter at Goldey-Beacom. Claire Hoherchak and Elaine Bedell combined on the Warriors’ last nohitter, a 9-0 victory against Williams during the 1990 season. The ESU record book mentions one no-hit game, thrown by Lynn Kuchinskas against South Carolina in 1976.

In 2000, Tina Morak had a streak of 10.2 innings without giving up a hit. She went the final seven innings of a 1-1, 16-inning tie against West Chester, then no-hit Shippensburg for the first 3.2 innings of her next start. Bensinger’s hitless streak was 9.1 innings – the final inning of her start against Pfeiffer, seven innings at Goldey-Beacom, and 1.1 innings at Glenville State.

Senior centerfielder Mike Bortz has been named the ABC Trophy, Inc. Athlete of the Week at East Stroudsburg University one day after earning PSAC East Baseball Player of the Week honors, it was announced Tuesday.

Bortz (Wind Gap/Pen Argyl) led ESU to a four-game sweep of Bloomsburg last weekend for the Warriors’ first conference sweep since 2000. He hit .700 (7-for-10) against the Huskies, had a .789 on-base percentage in the leadoff spot, scored nine runs and collected 12 RBI. He improved his season batting average to .333 and leads a productive ESU lineup with 34 RBI and 11 stolen bases. His 34 runs scored are second on the team, and he is one of four players with at least 11 doubles and four home runs.

Bortz, a first team All-PSAC East selection last season, and fellow seniors Mark Angelo, Kevin Thompson and Chris Zsenak have combined for 73 extra-base hits and accounted for 133 runs scored and 121 RBI through the first 34 games. ESU leads the PSAC with 259 runs and is fourth in batting average (.323) and second in on-base percentage (.431).

For most distance runners one or two serious injuries are enough to call it quits. Mitch Slater, a fifth year senior at ESU, isn’t most distance runners. In the spring of 2005 freshman, Slater, impressed teammates and coaches by qualifying for the Pennsylvania State Athletic Conference (PSAC) meet in the ten thousand meter run.

“When we have a freshmen qualify for the conference meet, we’re excited. At that time, we were anticipating a fantastic career for Mitch,” commented his coach Joe Koch. What happened next is something no one was anticipated.

In fall ’05, Slater found himself on the injured list with achilles tendinitis. After battling achilles tendinitis throughout his sophomore year he was ready to return as a Junior. “I really wanted to be good, and I trained really hard,” said Slater. Unfortunately, he trained a little too hard and wound up battling achilles tendinitis for the second time during his Junior season.

The season had took a sudden turn, and things were not looking bright for Slate as they had two seasons ago. Slater faced achilles tendonitis twice, plantar fasciitis, and IT ban syndrome.

Many athletes and fans believed Slater would never compete at the level he had reached his freshmen year. Anyone who bet against the dedicated distance runner was clearly unaware of his determination, dedication, and persistence.

On March 21, 2009, Slater capped off an incredible return from injury and again qualified for the PSAC championships in the ten thousand meter run. “In all my time as a coach, 20 years, I can never remember anyone ever qualifying as a freshmen and five years later as a fifth year senior. Mitch is never one to take the traditional route; he has a hobby of studying maps, and he certainly didn’t plan to map out his career quite like this,” joked Koch.

On the 21st, everything seemed to be going in Slater’s favor. The weather was perfect ,and he had a freshmen teammate, Greg Laraia,running by his side.

“I went out there with a goal of qualifying. With a little less than two miles to go I started to think, ‘this is gonna be good’. Then with a half mile two go,, I was well under the necessary pace and the pressure was off. When I finished the Assistant Coach Jesse Weiner said, ‘you got it,’ and that put a smile on my face.” He finished the race in third place with a personal best , 32 minutes and 49 seconds,
just eight seconds behind Laraia.

“Around the locker room and in the stretching circles Mitch coined the phrase, ‘never give up.’ By his accomplishments, Mitch showed that he truly lives by that phrase,” commented his teammate Justin Kimbrough. Slater never stopped running. He trained through injury after injury for three years, and he ran his heart out during his triumphant ten thousand meter run on March 21 in Virginia.

“The occasional negative thought crossed my mind. Then I would think, No, I’m going do it.’ My dad traveled all the way from New Jersey to see me race, so I wasn’t only doing it for myself, I was doing it for him” Slater added. What’s next for the determined distance runner? “At Bucknell this week, I would like to qualify for the 5K. But if I don’t , I’d be okay with that. Ultimately at the conference meet I want to place. That would be a great feeling to know that I did something for ESU, and that I scored points towards a championship. I really think this team can do really well,and will win a PSAC title in the near
future,” he said.

“The pressure is off and now he can enjoy the next 5 weeks of the season,” commented his coach, “That race is always a crapshoot at the conference meet and Mitch has a chance to place. It’ll be nice to see him go out there and cap off a great comeback.” The conference meet takes place at Millersville University May 7-9. “98% of people would have quit a long time ago. It says a tremendous amount about his character and self confidence.

Mitch has never shied away from putting in the work when he’s healthy and he’s always been a great competitor in races,” praised Koch. Slater hopes that people will learn from this, “If you really really love something you will find a way to do it and of course, Never give up, NEVER GIVE UP!”

Email Ryan Doyle at:
Rwd2078@esu.edu

Jay Asher’s book, 13 Reasons Why, is a brilliant novel that focuses on the impact of teen suicide. The main character and narrator, Clay, finds himself listening to tapes that were recorded by his former crush, Hannah. This wouldn’t be strange, except that Hannah killed herself 2 weeks before. The tapes are supposed to be sent to 13 people, in a certain order. The order of the list is the order the tapes follow.

In the beginning of the book, the reader learns, straight from Hannah, that the people on the list are directly responsible for her suicide, and she intends to tell them why. Asher beautifully weaves the transcriptions of the tapes, and the reactions of Clay. The reader struggles with Clay to figure out why Hannah is blaming him at all for her death; why is he on the tapes? The biggest catch of the tapes is the suspense.

Hannah says that the tapes are to be listened to, and then passed on, according to the list. She also dictates that there is another copy of the tapes, and if they are not passed on, they will be make public, which will be worse for everyone on the tapes. This thrilling page-turner captures an aspect of teenage life that is usually ignored, suicide.

Asher manages to bring this topic to the table in a way that makes the reader think about suicide in American society, and mourn for those who have first-hand experience with teen suicide. There are thirteen sides of tapes, thirteen people, and thirteen reasons why Hannah kills herself in this gripping novel.

East Stroudsburg University offered a bus trip to New York City last Saturday, March 28, to attend The Wizard of Oz at the WaMu Theater (located in Madison Square Garden), which was also hosting Ringling Bros. Circus.

The Wizard of Oz by L. Frank Baum is based on the 1939 MGM movie but incorporates new aspects such as special effects and the “the Jitterbug” song and dance. Director Nigel West allows the cast to add its own spin on the characters. He wanted to keep the musical close to the original film without staying exactly the same. The Scarecrow (Noah Aberlin), the Lion (Jason Simon), and the Tinman (Chris Kin) were Hunk, Hickory, and Zeke in the begging of the musical, who were helpers on Dorothy’s farm. Cassie Okenka plays Dorothy Gale, a Kansas girl who tries to venture home after a twister takes her over the rainbow.

Okenka is most popular for competing in MTV’s Legally Blonde: The Search for Elle Woods, where she placed in the top ten. Okenka says, “I can’t really stray too far from what Judy Garland did” (Snook 6) because she wants to keep the audience happy. Okenka’s first song on stage was the famous “Somewhere
over the Rainbow,” and she did it justice.

WaMu Theater’s website encourages audience members to dress up as their favorite Wizard of Oz character, which they did. Young girls dressed up as their idol, Dorothy, from the blue checked dress down to the ruby red slippers. Toto, played by Snickers, stole the audience’s hearts with his obedient skills. Toto is played by well-trained rescue dogs, and he received a roar of applause at the end of the performance. Something interesting is that the munchkins are played by children in the nearby area.

The “We Welcome You to Munchkinland” song and performance was well-coordinated, and the munchkins wore bright colors that looked great on stage. The yellow brick road was projected on a screen, and Dorothy began her journey to Emerald City to see the Wizard of Oz.

Flying apes, fireballs, and a tornado scene that seems alltoo- real are just a few of the effects West creates. The Wicked Witch of the West continuously throws fireballs at the Scarecrow, and it feels like the stage is going to light on fire.

The marvelous twister adaptation consisted of projection screens overlapping each other; one screen is the background with a twister, and the other screen shows objects in the twister. Of all the shows I’ve seen in New York, The Wizard of Oz is the first one to use screens as part of the show.

New aspects in the musical that were not in the movie include crows, dancing trees, and “the Jitterbug” dance, which occurs on the way to the Wicked Witch’s castle. When Dorothy stumbles upon the Scarecrow, three crows come out of the stalk and dance, which didn’t happen in the movie. Also, when Dorothy meets the Tinman, trees sing and dance together.

Comedy is incorporated after Dorothy meets the Cowardly Lion who says his father took him to the top of a mountain when he was younger and said, “Someday, son, all of this will be yours,” which is from the Lion King. There was audience involvement for “the Wicked Witch is dead,” and everybody sang and clapped along. When Dorothy finally makes it back to Emerald City, a hot air balloon appears on stage, and the wizard flies off the stage to Kansas.

The musical ends with a great lesson: “There really is no place like home.” Enjoy the MGM classic that runs for two and a half hours with a fifteen minute intermission and a few new twists from March 26 thru April 5 at the WaMu Theater.

For more Wizard of Oz show times and tickets, visit the WaMu Theater’s website at http://www.wamuatmsg. com.

Email Stacy Matusik at
sem4256@esu.edu