Pennsylvania
7 Towns In The Poconos With Thriving Local Businesses
The Poconos is a spectacular subrange of the Appalachian Mountains. It is located in the northeastern United States between the Coal Region of Pennsylvania and the borders of New York and New Jersey. Although known for its nature, the Poconos contains communities with countless commercial attractions. From a curiosity shop to a candy cottage to an NYC-style street grill to a winsome winery to an award-winning brewery, the Poconos’ settlements have something to offer every type of tourist. Here are seven to visit sooner rather than later.
Jim Thorpe, Pennsylvania
Named after the legendary multi-sport athlete, Jim Thorpe is a versatile community in the Pennsylvania Poconos. In addition to natural wonders like Lehigh Gorge State Park, which can be explored via the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway, this 4,500ish-person borough offers access to amazing shops, bars, restaurants, and architecture. The Emporium Of Curious Goods sells curious goods to curious residents and curious tourists; the Stone Row Pub & Eatery is a progressive space peddling craft cocktails and boutique dishes; Tommy’s Subs is a shop serving diverse and delicious sandwiches; and Molly Maguire’s Pub & Steakhouse is a vibrant bar, restaurant, and historic landmark, since it operates in the Hotel Switzerland, which is the oldest commercial building in town. Tours of such attractions are provided by the Jim Thorpe Trolley Co.
Honesdale, Pennsylvania
Like Jim Thorpe, Honesdale is a Pennsylvania borough with roughly 4,500 residents. It provides peregrinations into Poconos preserves such as Prompton State Park, plus dozens of booming businesses. They range from a bar and grill called the Twisted Rail Tavern to a hip hot dog joint called Paulie’s Hot Dogs to an eclectic bakery called Camp Umpy’s Bagels & Stuff to a brewery and eatery called Here & Now Brewing Company to a herbal gift shop called Mount Pleasant Herbary. Honestly, Honesdale’s best business might be Native, an upscale yet rustic restaurant on Main Street. Venison tartare, smoked duck rueben, Spanish octopus, seared noble road, and ricotta cavatelli are just some of the dishes served with local ingredients in a low-key space. Go native in Honesdale.
Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
Stroudsburg is a southern Poconos settlement of around 6,000 people. Its population is nearly matched by its attractions, which include the Olde Engine Works, Cure Cafe, Teddy’s University 1984, Café Duet, Grandpa Joe’s Candy Shop, NYC Street Grill, Sherman Theater, Compton’s Pancake House, Carroll & Carroll Booksellers, Quench Cafe and Juice Bar, Sarah Street Grill, Benvenuto Pizza & Italian Restaurant, and Fitzpatrick’s Irish and Celtic Store. Also, if you never pegged the Poconos as a winederland, let Stroudsburg change your mind and stimulate your senses with Tolino Vineyards, The Renegade Winery, and RAW Urban Winery & Hard Cidery.
Milford, Pennsylvania
Consistently ranked one of the coolest towns in America, Milford is actually a borough in the northeastern Pennsylvania Poconos. Over 1,000 residents and many thousands of tourists enjoy natural attractions like Raymondskill Falls, historic landmarks like the Grey Towers National Historic Site, and numerous highly-rated businesses. Among them are the Waterwheel Cafe, Bakery & Bar, which is a triple threat of tastiness; Spoonful Soups & Eats, whose made-from-scratch meals include food bowls, paninis, soups, and pastries; Earthly Treasures, a “metaphysical shop” that sells everything from crystals to incense to jewelry to statues; and the Candy and Gift Cottage of Milford, which peddles bottle caps, Beemans gum, and Abba-Zaba, among many other gifts/sweets. One can stay at The Historic Dimmick Inn while marveling at Milford’s marvels.
Narrowsburg, New York
Narrowsburg is narrow in population but thick in attractions. This 380ish-person community straddles the border between Pennsylvania and New York and thus sits between the Pocono Mountains and the Catskill Mountains. Both ranges offer hiking, climbing, biking, camping, skiing, snowboarding, swimming, boating, paddling, birding, fishing, hunting, and all-around sightseeing. Let Narrowsburg be your launch pad for outdoor recreation and also a refuge for rest and libation. The Heron Restaurant provides great cocktails, The Tusten Cup provides great coffee, The Laundrette provides great pizza, the Narrowsburg Farmers’ Market provides great produce, and One Grand Books provides great reads. Lastly, the Fort Delaware Museum can make you feel like a pioneer with its recreated 18th-century settlement. Demonstrations are offered of gardening, smithing, baking, weaving, candle making, cannon firing, and other staples of colonial life.
Hawley, Pennsylvania
Located southeast of Honesdale and southwest of Narrowsburg, Hawley is a hub of Poconos activity. This borough sits on the Lackawaxen River, which runs into the 13-mile-long Lake Wallenpaupack and its 52 miles of shoreline for swimming, sunbathing, and sightseeing. After diving into the water and exploring the surrounding greenery, a tourist can unwind with a hoagie from the family-owned Lake Wally Cafe, a burger from casual Pat’s Bar, a “lousy” steak from the eccentric Crazy Country Club, and a beer from the award-winning Wallenpaupack Brewing Company. But you can get almost all those things at The Settlers Inn, a luxurious Main Avenue bed & breakfast in an authentic 1927-built Arts and Crafts-style lodge. It is the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel of Hawley-wood.
East Stroudsburg, Pennsylvania
A growth on the eastern flank of Stroudsburg, East Stroudsburg is actually larger—and arguably livelier—than its host. Nearly 10,000 people call this borough home, while thousands of others call it a fantastic weekend, week, or even a months-long retreat. Weekenders can hit up the Trackside Station Grill & Bar and then crash at the Cherry Valley Manor just south of town; over weekers can set up camp at the Delaware Water Gap-Pocono Mountain KOA and then explore the Delaware Water Gap National Recreation Area; and those months-long mainstayers can enroll at East Stroudsburg University, which is a public institution with about 5,500 students. Regardless of the length of stay, you would be wise to see the Silverback Distillery and the Pocono Indian Museum. The former is the “only mother-daughter distilling duo in the nation crafting high quality, award-winning spirits” and the latter is the “only museum in northeastern Pennsylvania dedicated to showing the history of the Delaware Indian.”
Although the Poconos is famous for its nature, this region in the northeastern United States is full of life in a different way. Its low-key communities have lively, independent businesses like shops, restaurants, bars, breweries, wineries, markets, cafes, and hotels. The best of these can be found in Jim Thorpe, Honesdale, Stroudsburg, Milford, Narrowsburg, Hawley, and East Stroudsburg. Go poking around the Poconos for commercial wonders.
Pennsylvania
Man arrested for allegedly posting hit list, threatening more than a dozen Pennsylvania lawmakers
LEBANON, Pa. — A Lebanon County, Pennsylvania man is charged with making terroristic threats and accused of creating a hit list of 20 Democrats, many from the Philadelphia region.
Adam Berryhill’s X handle goes by Pennsylvania Militia.
On it, state police say he posted, “I can’t wait for Memorial Day Operation.”
His thread also displayed guns, and he called local politicians gun-grabbing communists. His alleged hit list included state Rep. Malcolm Kenyatta of North Philadelphia.
“I’ll tell you to a certain degree, not that much shock. You know this is not the first time I’ve been the victim of threats,” Kenyatta told ABC Philadelphia affiliate WPVI.
He says the threats have no impact on his governing.
State police say among the other local Democrats named by Berryhill are congressional candidates Sharif Street, Chris Raab and others, like state Rep. Morgan Cephas.
A routine investigation by the state police detail assigned to state House Speaker Joanna McClinton led to the discovery of the alleged terroristic threats.
Berryhill was arrested and charged last week.
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“It’s not about being a Democrat or Republican or an independent. This is about American belief, that in America, Philadelphia, where it all started, that you get to say you believe without any threat of violence,” Kenyatta said.
Court records say Berryhill also criticized Republicans. In another post, he said they need to stop whining and claimed the only solution is war.
Charging documents say Berryhill has been involuntarily committed in the past and is prohibited from possessing firearms.
“It’s deeply uncomfortable for anybody to be doing a job just serving your neighbors. You did not sign up to be in the crosshairs of someone who is unhinged and violent,” Kenyatta said from his North Philadelphia district offices.
Court records say Berryhill was unable to make bail.
Calls to his public defender have not been returned.
Pennsylvania Gov. Josh Shapiro issued the following statement on the arrest:
“Today, I spoke with Speaker McClinton and Leader Costa about the terroristic threats made against members of their caucuses in the State Legislature. I told them that while these threats of political violence seek to intimidate and silence, my administration will continue to do everything in our power to keep them safe and ensure their members can continue to make their voices heard as the people’s elected representatives.
We are experiencing a dangerous rise in threats of political violence across the Commonwealth and I appreciate the quick action of the Pennsylvania State Police and the Lebanon County District Attorney to charge and arrest the perpetrator. It is also clear a better process is necessary to notify elected officials directly when these threats are made. Lt. Colonel Bivens has spoken extensively with House and Senate leadership and their teams, and the Pennsylvania State Police have instituted a new process to notify members of the General Assembly immediately and directly of any and all threats of violence against them.
It is on all of us to combat hate speech and political violence, and I call on all of my fellow Pennsylvanians and fellow leaders to stand up against this dangerous rising tide of violence we are seeing across our country.”
Copyright © 2026 WPVI-TV. All Rights Reserved.
Pennsylvania
Shirley Ann Dailey
Shirley Ann Dailey, 89, of Daytona Beach, Florida (formerly of Montoursville, Pennsylvania), passed away peacefully on February 23, 2026, surrounded by her family at AdventHealth Hospital in Daytona Beach.
Born December 14, 1936, in Sayre, Pennsylvania, she was the daughter of the late John and Laura (Reinbold) White. She met the love of her life, Gordon Ell Dailey whom she shared over 60 years of marriage until his passing in 2023.
Shirley grew up in Buffalo, New York, and Dushore, Pennsylvania. She graduated from Turnpike High School in Sullivan County, Pennsylvania, and continued her education with two years of college. She went on to have a distinguished career spanning more than 40 years. Her professional journey included roles with the Social Security Administration, General Motors, Pennsylvania Department of General Services, and most notably, 30 years of dedicated service with the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT). She served as an Administrative Assistant to the District Executive for PennDOT Engineering District 3-0. Shirley took great pride in her work and spoke fondly of her time at PennDOT throughout her retirement.
In her personal life, Shirley enjoyed collecting artwork, caring for her home, taking walks, bicycling, and vacationing with her family.
Surviving is a son, David (Crista) Dailey of Daytona Beach, Fla.; a grandson, Garrett Dailey, of Daytona Beach, Fla.; sisters, Regina (Drew) Bagley of Shunk, Pa., and Deborah (Ray) Thall of Mechanicsburg, Pa. She is also survived by numerous nieces and nephews.
In addition to her parents and husband, Shirley was preceded in death by a sister, Margaret Pier, and a brother, William White.
Funeral services will be held at 10 a.m. on Wednesday, May 20, 2026, at McCarty-Thomas Funeral Home, 733 Broad Street, Montoursville, Pennsylvania, with Pastor David Smith officiating. Burial will follow in Twin Hills Memorial Park, Muncy. Friends may call from 9 to 10 a.m. Wednesday at the funeral home.
Expressions of sympathy may be sent to the family at mccarthythomas.com.
Pennsylvania
First-of-its-kind legislative funding approved for gambling support in Pennsylvania
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The digital-first gambling support model aims to strengthen the PA online casino industry’s overall infrastructure, including the integration of care coordination and self-help tools.
Players at Pennsylvania online casinos may soon find more responsible gaming resources thanks to a new, first-of-its kind rollout of a digital platform for gambling support known as Almond Digital Health. Approved by the Pennsylvania General Assembly, it represents the first legislative-led and funded program in the United States that aims to bolster the state’s overall gambling support infrastructure. If you’re in Pennsylvania, sign up for DraftKings Casino and get 1,000 Flex Spins:
Legislators take digital-first approach to responsible gambling
Another example of lawmakers looking to modernize responsible gambling resources among legal sportsbooks and PA online casinos, the program will offer anonymous, multilingual access to responsible gambling educational materials as well as self-help tools and connections to treatment services.
Officials called it the first legislative-backed, digital-first gambling support program of its kind in the nation, with the goal of filling gaps in access to care. That certainly created some urgency for legislators as the real money online casino and licensed sports betting industries in Pennsylvania continue to expand and grow.
The Almond Digital Health platform will be integrated into mobile casino apps, along with in-person casinos and through partnerships with universities and sports betting operators.
Ultimately, officials look to create earlier intervention opportunities to address potential gambling addictions and provide more readily available responsible gambling tools and resources. Get started at BetMGM Casino now here:
New responsible gambling initiative will complement existing resources
While the program is expected to be rolled out over the next several weeks, it is not designed to replace all of the existing tools and resources offered throughout the state and via PA online casinos. Rather, the Almond platform will act more as a complement to help fill gaps in access as the legal gambling industry continues to grow.
Kath Middleton, chief product officer of Almond Digital Health, emphasized that the platform is about “scale and access,” noting that Pennsylvania is “building an approach that works both within and outside traditional care settings.”
According to a press release, online casino gaming, sports betting, in-person gambling and the lottery has generated tens of billions of dollars in annual wagering. With that growth, officials wanted to ensure that Pennsylvanians had “practical, accessible and multilingual ways” to engage early with and understand all the available options for responsible gaming.
In rolling out the Almond program, Rep. Joe McAndrew highlighted that more and more people betting on sports or playing casino games online will be exposed to responsible gambling habits and how to prevent addiction through education – in fact, earlier than traditional resources.
It’s a practical approach, Rep. Joe Prokopiak echoed, that will provide “instant impact” for individuals struggling with addiction or at risk of developing one. “It’s an evolved issue,” Prokopiak said, which the state can now address “with an evolved solution.”
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