2.5.10
Theres a new way to access the Levee Loop Trail in East Stroudsburg! The Stroud Region Open Space Commission, after a one year project involving PennDOT, has created a new pedestrian access to the Levee Loop from Veteran's Memorial Bridge on the northern East Stroudsburg side near Mesko Glass. Click here for the PR story.
2.4.10
Unfortunatly, the Lackawanna Cutoff was not funded in the most recent ARRA grant announcments for rail. On the bright side though, our federal delegation sure is fighting for us.
2.1.10
The February Edition of the ECA newsletter is out today! Check your email box around 2pm. If your not signed up, use the box to the left! 
1.22.10
The 2010 ECA event calendar is up! Check out the Google Calendar Feature, it allows you to ad ECA events directly to your personal calendar without retyping! Click here to see the 2010 ECA events calendar.
1.14.10
East Stroudsburg HS students will premier 2 new student made documentaries tonight at the Pocono Community Theater.
"We are the Solution to Pollution" and "Before you Drink" will discuss the issues of alcoholism and pollution. Come by the Pocono Community Theater at 7pm for this free event.
PR story here
12.14.09
Were becoming more pedestrian friendly every day! Click Here
The East Stroudsburg Borough Holiday Party and Volunteer Employee Recognition Dinner was held Saturday Night at the Pocono Inne Towne. It was a lovely event, and your Downtown Manager was fortunate enough to sit with distinguished shade tree commissioner and ECA volunteer Evelyn Miller. Jim Phillips, Borough Manager gave a heartfelt thank you to Borough Volunteers and Employees from the podium, and A ball was had by all!
12.1.09
Metro Action of Scranton is a non-profit offering consulting and training services to the small biz community of NEPA. They are offering 2 free seminars in Monroe County this week;
Entrepreneurship: 101 seminar on Thursday and,
Business Planning Seminar on Friday.
visit
www.MetroAction.org for more info or to sign up
11.25.09
There has been quite a bit of discussion about Smithfield Township's efforts to adopt an official map. People are throwing around terms like eminent domain, but what does it really mean? Click here for the relevant section from Pennsylvania's Laws.
And don't forget, East Stroudsburg's Christmas Tree Lighting will take place this year on Friday December 4th at 5:30pm. Santa will make a special appearance, the Salvation Army will provide cocoa and coffee, and some of your holiday favorites will be preformed by the New Approach Singers. Click here for a PDF of the flyer.
11.17.09
God news for both of the twin boroughs downtown's - The East Stroudsburg and Stroudsburg post offices will remain open. Originally, the post office had proposed consolidating the two offices in a newer, larger facility, likely outside of downtown (because they wanted a 4 acre lot).
With the recent accident on Washington Street, pedestrian safety is on everyone's mind. The Borough of East Stroudsburg and the ECA are working together to make downtown safer and more friendly to pedestrians, keep your eyes peeled for public hearings relating to setting a speed limit for Crystal St.. I'm thinking 10 mph. And remember, use the crosswalk, don't jaywalk, look both ways and live another day!
Also, we've got an animal shelter again in Monroe County.
And don't forget to tune in tonite to 90.3 WESS (ESU's radio station) for Prof. MacKenzie's radio show. Among tonight's guests will be downtown manager Henry Pyatt.
11.2.09
New content: Rail Service for East Stroudsburg
Work to repair the Dansbury Depot has begun. This morning a crane was being used to remove heavy equipment from the roof that was damaged by fire to clear the way for structural repairs.
Pocono Raceway has announced the coming on-line of 40,000 photovoltaic panels at it's entrance. The panels will provide all the electric power the facility needs, as well as sell some back into the grid. Click here for the PR story.
This project was assisted by Tech Quest PA, a non-profit committed to enabling PA's high tech economy, click here to learn more about Tech Quest PA.
9.30.09
The Mural Raffle Drawing has taken place, click here for the details. Collectivly we raised $1,253 to purchase mural supplies for comming years!
ESU, in co-operation with ECA, the Twin Boroughs, SARP and others are making an outreach effort to off campus ESU students to improve student / permanent resident relations. PR story here.
The Crystal Street Block Party is comming along. Remember to mark you calendar for Sunday October 11th from noon to sundown! There will be apple bobbing, pumpkin painting, music, and more! Please contact ECA if you would like to preform, raise awareness of your non-profit group or participate in any other way!
And dont't forget, Saturday October 17th a Steam Train from Steamtown will visit East Stroudsburg! ECA will host scarecrow building in Miller Park from 11am to 3pm alongside the train and the Pocono Community Theater will host "A Toast to the Ghosts" (a magic show feat. Michael St. James) that day as well!
9.24.09
Great News! It looks like East Stroudsburg will have a health clinic by the beginning of 2010! Click here for PR story
9.23.09
The long awaited American Freedom Festival video is up! Click here to see it!
The East Stroudsburg Micropolitan statistical area has one of the longest commutes in the nation, and 26% of county residents work outside the county, one upside: 5.9% of us commute using mass transit! PR story
ECA's new electronic newsletter will debut very soon, please sign up for the list on the left!
9.14.09
The Pocono Record ran a nice piece on East Stroudsburg's history today.
While doing some research Congressman Kanjorski's guide to stimulus programs came up, its re-posted here as it contains information pertinent to small buissinesses as well.
Don't forget, were still working on our block party on Sunday October 11th! Please contact ECA if youd like to table for your non-profit, set up a game for passers by, or have your band play on Crystal St.!
9.4.09
Lots to report today...
New events for October are up on our Calendar, they include a block party, a magic show, and scarecrow building! Speaking of our block party, please contact the ECA if youd like to participate by tabeling for your non-profit, or promoting your downtown buisiness by setting up an activity at the party.
Also, please sign up for our email list if you havent yet using the box to the left, its cheaper than postage.
And, take a look at the "Bike Friendly EastBurg" Page, its full of links to resources on how bike facilities should be planned, why theyre nessisary, how to ride safe, and advocassy efforts both local and national.
Comming soon... A full explination of the factors comming to bear on the construction of the passenger rail project for the Poconos.
Another note for biz owners, if you havent already done so, list your buisiness using Google Local. Its free, its really quick (under 5 mins) and it makes sure that anyone searching the web for you, or your catagory of buisiness locally will find you.
8.27.09
The Crystal St. Mural Project Page is up, just in time for the raffle being organized to raise money for future year's paint, take a look here. Also, raffle tickets are availible at East Stroudsburg Hardware.
8.19.09
Pocono Community Theater will host a lyme disease awarness event including a screening of the film Under Our Skin screenings and panel discussions will be held this Saturday, and next Saturday. Click here for the PR story.
8.18.09
The EastBurg farmer's market is now listed on Local Harvest, a national organization that helps promote Farmer's Market, and their benefits, to the USA. Check out the listing here.
Also, working on a central resourse page for making EastBurg bike friendly, heres how it looks so far
If you havent yet, please sign up for our email list to the left! Its so much cheaper than postage!
8.12.09
Working for the pocono Community Theater this afternoon, come stop by at 88 Courtland St.
Had a great meeting with Scott D. @ ESU, we will be working to impliment a bike plan for EastBurg, ESU, and Smithfield Twp. CLICK HERE
8.6.09
Steven B., as part of his mission to create a public access TV channel for Monroe County, has begun producing local "TV" programs. One of his first as part of this effort is a program about the 2009 American Freedom Festival, which is almost done and will be availible online soon!
8.3.09
The good people at Jay Bird's news stand are getting behind a push to reinstitute an annual block party on Crystal St. to mark the transition from summer to fall. Who's game to pitch in? A date and time for a planning meeting will be announced soon, if interested email eastburginfo@gmail.com
7.27.09
Check out this toolbox for taking advantage of ARRA grants and credits for making your home more sustainable. Don't miss an oportunity to save money, both with tax credits, and the long term energy savings provided by more efficient components!
Thanks to Pocono Biz. Journal for catching this one.
Also, this weeks roadwork in Monroe County.
7.23.09
It's master planning time. ECA's master plan expire at the end of 2008, and now it's time to renew it. That means assesing our progress over the past five years, and updating our goals to reflect past experience, and present oportunities and challenges. Look for a public meeting in the comming months where I will solicit your input.
On the subject of master planning our downtown, here is a very compelling piece about the importance of pedestrian facilities. This link was passed on by BikePGH.
Also, The Salvation Army of Washington St. has two new officers that just transferred in from Springfield, OH. Info on that here.
7.10.09
Its a great day for East Stroudsburg! We got loads of good press! First, The Mural Project on Crystal Street got a lovley pair of photos on page A2 (yesterday, print edition only), then the Dansbury Depot was the subject of a full artical about their new chef, and Cindy Brown, a lifegaurd at the Dansbury Park pool, saved a young boy's life using her CPR training! Speaking of the pool, sign up today for a free movie next friday!
7.8.09
Thank You to everyone who helped out with the American Freedom Festival! The event was a success, thousands of people came to Dansbury Park for great music, entertainment, food, comradery, and of course fireworks! A special debt of gratitude is owed to ECA board members John DeVivo, John Schoonover, Marynell Strunk, Roger Delarco, Stephen Washington, Ed Kimes, and the effervesent Scott MacLaren.
Also, Borough of East Stroudsburg employees Jim Phillips, Al Smith, Don Ransom, John Blick, and Fred Shoemaker made critical donations of time and effort.
Not least of all, our volunteers and sponsors, without whom the American Freedom Festival would not be possible. Pocono Medical Center made the American Spirit music stage possible this year through a generous donation.
Thank You all Very Much!
Also, today technology has allowed for, and sunshine dictates that Henry Pyatt, your mainstreet manager, work from the cafe of Pocono Community Theater this afternoon. Come down to 88 Courtland St. to have a delicious cup of coffee and say hello.
6.26.09
Buy your raffle tickets for the American Freedom Festival today! Tickets are availible at East Strioudsburg Hardware, Liztech, and Ris-K Lingerie in Stroudsburg. Volunteers to staff the day long event are still needed as well, sign up for a 3 hour shift here.
Tommorow Liztech will host their semi annual bead bash, and the ES RR Tower Sociaty will be tableing at the Delaware Water Gap Founder's Day Celebration.
6.24.09
The American Freedom Festival Page has been updated, the full line up of bands on the American Spirit Stage has been posted as well as some new sponsors.
Ris-K Lingerie on Main St. in Stroudsburg is new an American Freedom Festival Ticket outlet as well! Stop in for your tickets!
And our lovley Rail Road Tower is getting some press too...
6.23.09
Crystal street has earned it's stripes...
6.19.09
American Freedom Festival 50/50 Raffle Tickets are on sale now at East Stroudsburg Hardware, and Liztech. Buy yours today to support the festival.
Crystal Street Coffee Shop has begun to offer dinner! Dinner will be served Thursday through Saturday 3pm to 8pm.
And dont forget, Pocono Community Theater's gala fundraiser will be heald tonite, starting at 6pm at the Stroudsmore on 191 south of Stroudsburg.
It's a busy day in the borough, Crystal Street repaving is done, and lines will be painted next week. Borough crews were out trimming trees, restoration work continues on the RR Tower, and buisiness oweners were spotted sprucing up the public stairs.
6.16.09
The American Freedom Festival volunteer signup sheet is ready, click here to sign up for a volunteer shift!
50/50 Raffle Tickets are also on sale now! Contact the ECA office to purchase tickets (1=$2, 3=$5, 10=$10). Ticket outlet locations will be announced soon.
The RR Tower restoration is progressing well too...
6.11.09
If you saw what looked like a professional cycling team on Crystal Street you werent dreaming of the tour du pont, Bike and Build made it's way through East Stroudsburg today on a cross country cycling tour set up to promote awareness of affordable housing effots. For more info visit bikeandbuild.org
Theres alot of work going on downtown today, check out these pictures taken just hours ago on Crystal St...
Contractors have finished with the prime coat on the RR Tower...
Contractors are completing plantings at new curb bump outs along Crystal St.
Also in the news "Middle Smithfield abandons plans for SARP patrols", this is bad news for Borough tax payers, because when municipalities join the system, the average costs for each municipality goes down, and East Stroudsburg could have saved $100,000 annually under this deal.
6.4.09
Pocono Medical Center will host a Red Cross Blood Drive on Tuesday,
June 9th at Pocono Medical Center, 206 East Brown Street, East Stroudsburg
in the Broadhead and Stroud Conference Rooms from 10am - 4pm.
5.27.09
Pocono Jazz & Poetry The place for Pocono jazz musicians, writers, and artists debuts today. Created by East Stroudsburg-based writer, editor and amateur saxophonist Deb Burke, PJ&P will keep the community up to speed on events and items of cultural interest while providing interesting, varied and original content from within the creative Pocono community. For more information, please email info@poconojazzandpoetry.com.
Tonite the East Stroudsburg Crime watch will host a meeting at the SARPD building on Day st. at 6:30pm to discuss the Jugalo gang and its presence in Monroe County. For more info click here.
5.26.09
Pocono Snow soccer is back! The only proffesional sports club based in the Poconos will play it's season with ESU's stadium as it's home. Click here for more information. This season's home openers will be Friday and Saturday nite at 7pm.
Pocono Community Theater is in the news today, theyve received $5000 from county hotel tax revenues.
The Theater will also be hosting a fundraising gala event called "Jazz it Up" on June 19 at Stroudsmore. At the gala, the Searchlight Awards will be given to outstanding volunteers and community-minded organizations, they are still acepting nominations by email, more info here.
5.22.09
Enjoy your Memorial Day Weekend! The parade is on Monday and it will start at ESHS at 10am. It will conclude at around 11:30am at 7th & Main St.s in Stroudsburg, to be followed by a dedication ceremony for the cannons in front of the county court house.
The American Freedom Festival page is up! Raffle tickets will go on sale during the first week in June, and volunteers are currently being solicited, please email if your interested.
5.21.09
The Books, Brushes and Blooms pictures are up!
5.20.09
Alright, the primary is over, and it's Farmer's Market Day in East Stroudsburg! They'll be open til 1pm in Miller Park, head over for a fresh loaf, or some greens!
American Freedom Festival planning is getting underway in earnest this week. Please email if youd like info about being a vendor.
UpstatePA.org launched today as well, its a tourism marketing effort that the state induced by offering grants for promotional activities, but only to regional entities. They havent listed many (or possibly any) of EastBurg's attractions, so please join me in pointing out their mistake.
5.15.09
Press coverage for Books, Brushes and Blooms has worked out well, watch tonite's evening news on channels 16 and 28 for bits about ECA, also WSBG had Henry on to talk about the event this morning, and the Pocono Record ran an artical about it today! Heres hoping for a huge success tommorow!
Become a Tree Tender! A class is being offered in Allentown on June 11th, click here for details! This excellent one day program helps citizen's become more informed stewards of our tree population.
Also, We have made some last minute changes to Books, Brushes and Blooms. All of the exhibitors will now be invited under a larger tent, so that we may enjoy their displays whether it rains or not.
Thank You Very Much to all the volunteers who helped with the flower planting on Crystal Street last night! The plantings were completed in about 90 minutes thanks to the 15 or so enthusiastic volunteers. Also, a very special thank you to Evelyn of Liztech for orchestrating the planting!
5.12.09
Representative Scavello will be speaking at 1pm at Books, Brushes, and Blooms to recognize the contributions of our Armed Forces and Present the East Stroudsburg RR Tower Society with a plaque commemorating the Tower's Centennial. Be there or be square; this Saturday in Miller Park from 11am to 3:30pm
The East Stroudsburg Neighborhood Crime Watch will be hosting Trooper Brian A. Kruszka from the PA State Police who will be giving a presentation on Juggalos. This presentation is open to the public and is for a Mature Audience based upon the sensitive material that will be presented. The date is Wednesday, May 27th, 2009 at the Stroud Area Regional Police Department Commission Meeting Room (located on Day Street, E.S) and will begin at 6:30 PM. If you have any questions, please contact the ES Crime Watch at 570-421-3543
5.8.09
The Books, Brushes and Blooms page has been updated and now contains a complete listing of the day's planned activities.
Our friends at Pocono Parent Magazine will be putting on an expo tommorow at the Stroudsburg Middle School on Chipperfield Drive from 11am to 4pm. ECA will be represented by board member and borough resident Brian Crawford, please stop by and say hello to him while your enjoying the free expo! For more info click here.
5.5.09
Legislative Alert!
The version of the 09/19 budget that the PA senate is currently considering would eliminate funding for "New Communities" Programs, including the mainstreet program run by ECA in East Stroudsburg. Please click here for more info, and call your state senator, urguing them to support funding the New Communities Programs. Info on how to find your senator and what to say are in the link above.
Downtown Flower Planting
Join Evelyn on Thursday May 14th at 4pm to help replant the planters along Crystal Street! For more info email Evelyn.
5.1.09
It's May Day!
Also:
The Gallery @ Liztech has introduced a new exhibit, "April Showers," that will run through May 24.
4.29.09
Penn State is offering training for arborists on May 21st through the 23rd in State College. The course will help participants in their quest to acheive arborist certification. For more info on cost or signing up email
wfe1@psu.edu
4.28.09
A poster for the East Stroudsburg RR Tower Society side of Books Brushes and Blooms is ready for distrobution, ask if you would like a color copy!
4.24.09
Its a beautiful day.
An EastBurg resident is holding a seminar in Mount Pocono on May 2nd, the topic is "How to get hired". Click here for more info.
4.23.09
More news about passenger rail, this time Amtak is studying restoring service over old EL lines from Scranton to Binghamton, this would would be similar to half the route of "Phoebe Snow" if run as a through route. Click here for the Pocono Record Artical.
4.22.09
A listing of bands has been added to the Spring Event Page for our May 16th extravaganza. (Click on Spring Event to take a look.)
4.21.09
On of our fellow merchants has been hit with some bad luck, Bobby's Caribbean Grocery in Tobyhanna burned down last night. Bobby and his wife Sherry also run a store on Courtland Street next to the Pocono Shopper, please stop in to convey your condolences and show your support.
4.20.09
What a beautiful weekend that was! I just hear back from one of the railfans that were in town to photograph the D&L on Friday, here are the pics he sent along, to give crdit where it's due: the photographer is Rick Glosser and these photos are his property, used with permission.
Click on photos for full size image.
4.17.09
Another Beautiful Day! There were about half a dozen rail fans in Miller Park to snap photos of the D&L's Alco locomotives today, one such photographer said he will send me a photo to post here over the weekend.
Also, Pat at the Greater Pocono Chamber of Commerce has informed me that she has packets of information that she would be glad to mail out to anyone who is interested in participating in the Chamber's group electricity purchase program, call or email her to request info.
570.421.4433 or pmetzgar@greaterpoconochamber.com
Don't delay, energy regulation changes go into effect at the end of the calendar year, and prices will go up, this program will be a great way to lessen the impact of higher rates to come!
4.16.09
Its a beautiful day! Why don't you get outside and enjoy our new benches like these people...
4.15.09
ESU will host
"The Workshop on Sustainability Promotion and Development" at Beers Lecture Hall tommorow (Thursday) from 2pm to 4pm. The event is free and open to the public, for more info click here.
4.13.09
Pocono Business Journal, in cooperation with Borders Books will offer a free seminar as part of their "Books and Business" Series. The topic will be "Commercial Real Estate in the Poconos". The event will take place on April 16th at 5:30pm, at Borders Books on Route 611. For more info call 570-421-0100.
Our Dansbury Park Skatepark made the news, take a look here.
A high school student mentoring program will be taking place in East Stroudsburg starting in May. The program will be run by Norman McCullough at the Presbyterian Church. For more info click here.
Info on the large construction site on King St. near the former International Boiler Works site.
4.10.09
A Forum on Online Saftey has been scheduled for April 23rd at 7pm at the Chestnuthill Twp. Park Bulding on 715 in Brodheadsville by State Senators Brown and Scavello. The forum will help web users avoid pitfalls often talked about in the news such as identity theft. For more info click here.
4.9.09
The Books, Brushes, and Blooms webpage is up, click here to take a look, and as always please send me a note at eastburginfo@gmail.com to let me know how the page could improve.
Pocono Mountains Association of Realtors is offering a free help session for homeowners in danger of foreclosure. The session will introduce homeowners to availible resources, for more info click here.
4.1.09
The Pennsylvania Small Business Development Center has explanations of new Stimulous Package Tax Breaks, and instructions on how to use them at it's website.
The Books, Brushes and Blooms event planning committee will meet on 4.14.09 at 3pm, if you are interested in helping this great event come to life email eastburginfo@gmail.com for more info.
3.30.09
The Day Street Community Center will host an open house on 4.22, please plan to attend. This facility has undergone a massive transition from police station to multifaceted community asset over the last 18 months or so, this will also be a great opportunity to see what recreational oportunites the center offers that you could take advantage of. Click here for invitation.
3.27.09
Help for jobless - PA Career link will host an event on Monday to help connect the recently laid off with availible resources at NCC - Monroe Campus from 10am to 3pm
3.26.09
ESU will host "Community on the Quad" on April 18th from 11am to 3pm. This event is intended foacilitate a better relationship between the ESU community, and the greater East Stroudsburg community, please attend!
3.25.09
The "Tools for Business" page is now up. Please take a look, and if you know of a resourse that should be listed on the page please email eastburginfo@gmail.com and say so!
And... Today's D&L frieght pass through, northbound at about 2:45P
3.24.09
Books, Brushes and Blooms calls for registrants, exhibitor applications are availible now by clicking here.
3.23.09
ECA is now on Facebook, join our group here.
3.23.09
New Trash Cans, benches and street lights are in! Due to the dillegent work of the borough's public works crew, Jim Phillips, and the board of ECA, Crystal Street has some new hardware!
and my personal favorite... 
