Lowe's opens in Mount Pocono.

Lowe's Home Improvement opened a new store Thursday on Route 940 in Mount Pocono. The company will hold a grand opening this Thursday and will match purchases of Lowe's gift cards up to $5,000 to support Monroe County Habitat for Humanity.

Mount Pocono - Jennifer-Lynn Amantea, Realtor has joined the Mt. Pocono sale staff of Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates. Amantea was recruited by Christine A. Scrofano, Senior V.P.

Amantea, originally from Stroudsburg, is a graduate of ESU and taught school for a number of years in the Bangor Elementary School District. In 2009 Amantea took the necessary courses and passed the required examination to be licensed by the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania as a Real Estate Salesperson.

In addition to her real estate career, Amantea is a joint owner in JPA Masonry, LLC a regional masonry business that she runs with her husband and partner. JPA Masonry is a leader in commercial construction throughout Northeast Pennsylvania.

Amantea will be under the supervision of Christine A. Scrofano, Senior V.P. and will work fulltime from the Mt. Pocono office. Said Scrofano, "Jen will prove to be a very big asset to the Mt. Pocono area. Because of JPA Masonry, and her being a local, she literally knows everyone in the Poconos. That's important when you're looking to build a bigger referral base--and with our marketing, Wilkins is the place."

Prior to joining Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates, Amantea was with At Your Service Realty, Inc.

Selling homes since 1988, Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates services the entire Pocono Mountains, North Pocono/Moscow area, historic Milford and all towns in between. Better Homes and Gardens Realtors handle listing, rentals and sales of primary, vacation and starter homes, as well as estate and farm properties. Buyer services include first and second home buyers, relocation buyers and transferees. They have three offices in the Pocono Mountains. All offices are open 7 days a week. Visit Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates online at www.wilkins1.com.

Staging takes you places!

I love the fact that being a professional Home Stager has allowed me to travel all over my region to places I didn't even know existed... all right in my own backyard!

 Over the Pocono Mountains, through the valleys, down private roads, behind gated communities...the spaces, places and properties I have seen and transformed over the past 5 years have been truly incredible.

My most recent staging though, took me somewhere I would have never imagined...a space where something magnificent took place...

...A place where Heaven met Earth in the most beautiful way.

This special place was not a million dollar mansion with magestical views but rather the humble gymnasium of my kid's Catholic school. Not pretty, not new, nothing fancy...but this staging of a different kind has been one of my most rewarding for sure.

A very special young man who has graced our school for the past year with his service was ordained over the weekend and choose to have his first Mass at our school which is quite an honor...the kids absolutely adore him!! Sooooo....operation transform the gym into a church was in effect. It was simple but served as a great backdrop for an incredible event which I feel incredibly honored to have been a part of.

Not something you experience every day...Take a minute and watch the video I put together of the Ordination at the Cathedral and then his First Mass. There are some really beautiful images....

If you like reminiscing about the 1950's, have kids or want to please your inner child or just have a great time, then you want to visit the Casino Theatre Entertainment Center, located at 110 Pocono Boulevard which is right off Route 611 in the heart of downtown Mount Pocono. Once inside, the aroma of freshly cooked burgers and seeing the memorabilia on the wall, brings you back to the sock hop days of the old fashion Malt Shoppe. You can get your fill of both old and new favorites here as well as take in first run movies, play games in the arcade, enjoy miniature golf (weather permitting) and special events. Twin theatres also feature at your seat dining! They serve lunch and dinner, the staff is very friendly and the prices are fantastic. They have a Friends and Family Night Special Every Tuesday that features dinner and a movie for just $10. are you kidding me? That is the best deal in the Poconos and was voted as such by various local publications. The Casino Theatre is a true Pocono fixture that originated as a dance hall in 1922 and has been a family owned and operated theatre, malt shoppe and fun center since 1975. For more information including movies and showtimes you can call them at 570-839-7831, e-mail them at info@casinotheatre.net or visit them online at www.casinotheatre.net.

Pocono Mountains - Shelby Sharp joins Better Homes and Gardens Real Estate Wilkins & Associates, announces Dominick J. Sacci, the company's President.

Shelby is originally from New Jersey and has lived in Penn Estates for the last six years. She graduated from the Pocono Real Estate Academy on June 28, 2007 and was recruited by Dennis Mooney, the firm's Associate Broker/Recruiter.

Personally, Sharp worked in the accounting department of Prudential Financial and is currently pursuing a degree in accounting at the Northampton Community College. When she is not working or studying Shelby enjoys attending garage sales, walking and shopping.