The PRESS PA Edition April 13 2011

The Borough of Portland is hosting a business summit to discuss economic devel- opment in these difficult times. There are many small towns in the same shape as Portland: business closures and empty store fronts. As a community, what can you do? Who can help? Where do you start? Portland Borough Council would like to invite you to come to a “Business Summit” meeting on April 27th, at the Pensyl Social Hall on State Street. The goal of the meeting is to sort through the negative issues plaguing small communities like Portland and how do they overcome these issues. They are extending the The Slate Belt Council of Governments (SB- COG) wish to recognize a special water resource in the region. People of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania chose The Delaware River as By Maria Cascario Lent is a spiritual season for many people and comes with customs and traditions. One tradition, at least in Roseto, is having “Easter Bread” not just on Easter Sunday, but throughout Lent. Anthony L. Ruggiero, a very busy plumber- electrician by trade, has taken the tradition of making Easter Bread to a whole different level. Anthony, who has a detached building at his home on Falcone Avenue, likes to do “canning” in his spare time and uses this building for his pastime. He began about fifteen years ago and he gives his customers and friends the “fruits of his labors.” Twelve years ago, he began making the sweet raisin bread, using small commercial ovens. Initially, he made “maybe a hundred” loaves and now it’s between 800 to 1000 loaves! All his customers and friends are happy to receive the bread. A few years ago, a group of Anthony’s friends decided to join him. Every Tuesday and Friday during Lent, they gather to assist in the bread-making and to get together to have a good time. On any Sunday in Lent, fifteen to twenty guys are helping Anthony and helping themselves to the “goodies” which include Brick Oven Pizza. The Brick Oven was put in this past summer by Greg Sebastionelli and Anthony. On Sunday mornings at 4:30, Anthony makes the dough and “After the 8 o’clock Mass, we form it,” he said. “By four or five o’clock it’s ready to bake. We make between seventy and eighty loaves just on Sunday.” The Sunday I was there, the guys made French Toast, frittatas, leg of lamb, pizzas of all types including white pizza with fresh ricotta cheese and caramelized onions. I sampled just about everything and went home with a pizza and two loaves of bread! Anthony’s wife, Linda, and daughters Graceanne and Megan, joined us for dessert which included homemade cinnamon sticky buns. All in all, it was a fun-filled, food-filled day for everyone. Greg said, “This is a great hobby and the benefits are ‘All You Can Eat.” Easter Bread Made The Old-Fashioned Way: In A Brick Oven on Falcone Avenue Portland Borough Council To Host “Business Summit” invitation to state and local representatives, investors, grant writers, realtors, and friends of Portland, including neighbors: Mt. Bethel, Delaware Water Gap and Columbia. Portland Borough Council, Council President Bob Cartwright, and Mayor Lance Prator are all working together to bring the town back to life and be the best it can be. This invitation includes a special invitation to our local colleges and universi- ties to consider taking Portland as a class project. For more information on the meeting contact Nancy Knott, Coordina- tor, at naknott @yahoo.com or 579- 242-4338. Left to right: Mike D’Amato, Greg Sebastionelli, and Anthony Ruggiero, prepare a pizza to be made in the brick oven. Pennsylvania’s 2011 “River of the Year.” This is a big deal for the Slate Belt since most of the streams feed directly into the Dela- ware River. The Dela- ware River is the longest un-dammed river east of the Mississippi. This river provides drinking water to 15 million people, including 5 million in Pennsylvania. Downstream, it has the largest freshwater port in the world. Upstream, in part of the SB-COG area, this river is the centerpiece of the Dela- ware Water Gap National Recreation Area (DWGNRA). It is steeped in history from Indian settlements, agriculture and village life that many people want to experience. Millions of people visit the DWGNRA each year. By the way, a goal of the “River of the Year” designation is to raise awareness of the river and its conserva- tion needs. Lower Mount Bethel Township is one of the SB-COG municipalities; it has many miles of Delaware River frontage. The Lower Mount Bethel Township Supervisors designated a scenic by-way, in part to preserve the beauty of this watershed and in part to attract some visitors to enjoy its beauty. On April 25th, begin- ning at 7pm, at the Lower Mt. Bethel Township Centerfield School, on Route 611 North of Martins Creek, consultants will present the final Scenic By-way Plan. The Delaware River was chosen as 2011 RIver of The Year. Delaware River Chosen as River of The Year Maria Cascario/The PRESS Maria Cascario/The PRESS

The PRESS PA Edition April 13 2011

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