NEWFOUNDLAND, PA — The Taste of the Poconos, held on May 18, had everyone sporting their raincoats and boots. However, the rain didn’t stop people from coming out and supporting their community. Despite the weather, the Newfoundland Area Public Library raised approximately $8,000, with close to 200 attendees. 

So what made this event so successful? Was it the volunteers, the community members, the sponsors, the vendors? The correct answer: all of the above. 

There were seven alcohol vendors in total. One of the most popular was Silverback Distillery (located in East Stroudsburg) due to the tastings, specialty drinks and smoked whiskey the distillery was offering. 

There were also multiple food and dessert vendors, including an ice cream truck from Creamworks Creamery in Waymart. 

In order to get a better understanding of this event, I wanted to talk with some of the vendors who also sponsor Taste of the Poconos. I spoke with Michael Seagraves, owner of the Newfoundland Hotel. This restaurant sponsors nearly every library event, and when I asked what compels them to do so, he simply responded, “We’ve had a family business in this town since 1976. It’s just a part of our lineage to [help the community] and carry on. It builds a community, and anything that builds a community makes it a better place for my children—I have seven—to live.”

“And it’s also super fun!” his young son chimed in.

I also got a chance to speak with Chris Weaver, one of the several owners of the Jam Room Brewing Company, located in Greentown. When asked why he felt sponsoring an event like Taste of the Poconos is important, he smiled and said,  “In a small community like Newfoundland, we don’t have much that is just open to the public for everybody. We have the park, and we have the library. That’s about it, so seeing the library and the park work together is always really cool. We don’t have a community building, so being a part of events like this, making sure they are strong and continuing to get better is really important. 

“I’ve lived here for 30 years and I’m gonna be living here another 30 years after this, so to be a strong community member for a tiny little community like this is really important.”

Even though the event is somewhat centered around alcohol tastings, there were also tons of activities for kids to participate in throughout the event. Lawn games, including corn hole and football, were played, along with face painting for free. Tracy Bajadek from Buds in Bloom Kids Yoga had an obstacle course set up as a fun way for kids to learn basic yoga poses. 

Although the main goal of this event is a fundraiser for the library, Kristina Russo, the director of the Newfoundland Area Public Library, wanted to emphasize that this event is also helpful to local businesses, especially those that are either just starting up, or are trying to get their name out into the public. 

This was the case for husband-and-wife proprietors Stefanie and Luis, who run Sleepy Hollow Acres Rescue for Animals (SHARA). The rescue, located in Lake Ariel, was established in 2022 and is home to various different types of animals. Rabbits, chickens, ducks, turkeys, quail and even pigeons are up for adoption. One of the residents, an adorable bunny named Cappuccino, was also in attendance looking for his forever home. “Anyone in animal rescue will tell you that we don’t do it for the money,” Stefanie said, “We do this for the animals.”

If you are looking to adopt a furry or feathered friend and have the means and ability, you can check out SHARA’s Facebook page or call 347/256-1318.

One of my favorite parts of the event was the tile-making station. The Wayne County Community Foundation and other local groups are creating an art trail across Route 191 from Equinunk into Newfoundland. Jessica Gorlin Liddell, a Philadelphia-based mosaic artist, was at the event helping anyone who desired to create their very own tile. The tiles designed at this event will be used in a mosaic for the Creative Communities Art Trail Newfoundland, and the work will be placed at the Carlton Drake Memorial Park.

When I talked to Russo after the event, she said she was “very pleased” with how the event turned out, especially since the weather was not ideal. She was hopeful that the funds raised from this event will give the final push in order to open the community center on the second floor of the library by the end of this summer. Make sure to mark your calendars for May 17, 2025 so you don’t miss out on this amazing event next year!