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Man burned, cabin catches fire after leaf blower ‘blew up’ in Plains Township

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Lake-Lehman’s Dominic Hockenbury leads WVC track and field competitors to PIAA championships

<p>Count yourself lucky to live in Northeastern Pennsylvania, where, as a long Memorial Day holiday weekend nears, summer stretches out before you like a water-soaked Slip&#8217;N Slide &#8211; waiting to be relished from start to finish.</p><p>Not so for your peers in every part of the nation.</p><p>In Arizona&#8217;s desert cities, for instance, all but the heartiest souls soon will hunker during daytime hours in air-conditioned homes, waiting for the blazing heat to retreat. In Florida, meanwhile, summer&#8217;s humidity can smother people&#8217;s ambition for outdoor pursuits like rainfall chokes a campfire.</p><p>You, however, are in an enviable location. So slather on sun block, get outdoors and savor the things, places and tastes that make this region enjoyable all season.</p><p>Below are some activities that shouldn&#8217;t be missed. What are the top items on your summertime checklist? Post a comment or email us. Better yet, send a postcard.</p><p>&#8226; Visit a state park. From Ricketts Glen to Lehigh Gorge, Luzerne County contains some top-rate recreation spots for hiking, biking and appreciating nature. If planning to camp, make a reservation by going online to <a href="http://www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/index.htm" target="_blank">visitpaparks.com</a>, or by calling 1-888-727-2757.</p><p>Of particular interest to Wilkes-Barre area residents, bus rides will be offered beginning June 11 from the downtown intermodal center to Frances Slocum State Park in Kingston Township. This special route operated by the Luzerne County Transportation Authority will continue daily, except Sundays, through late August.</p><p>&#8226; Spend a day at an amusement park or water park. Montage Mountain Waterpark, near Scranton, opens for the season Saturday. If it&#8217;s roller coasters and carousels you crave, it&#8217;s hard to top Knoebels Amusement Resort, near Elysburg.</p><p>&#8226; Explore the <a href="http://www.poconomountains.com/" target="_blank">Pocono Mountains</a>. Rafting. Paintball games. Golf. After looking at recent years&#8217; visitation figures, pennlive.com put the Poconos atop its list of &#8220;<a href="http://www.pennlive.com/life/2016/05/pennsylvania_top_tourist_desti.html#0" target="_blank">Pennsylvania&#8217;s most popular tourist spots</a>.&#8221;</p><p>&#8226; Attend an outdoor concert. Beyond the lineup at The Pavilion at Montage Mountain, don&#8217;t overlook the area&#8217;s off-the-beaten-path musical events such as the <a href="http://briggsfarm.com/" target="_blank">Briggs Farm Blues Festival</a>, near Nescopeck, and the <a href="http://cornstockfestival.com/" target="_blank">Cornstock Folk Festival</a>, in Tunkhannock.</p><p>&#8226; In honor of the U.S. National Park Service&#8217;s centennial, buckle up and go. Set the GPS locator for Gettysburg National Military Park, Philadelphia&#8217;s Independence National Historical Park or one of the other fine <a href="https://www.nps.gov/findapark/index.htm" target="_blank">national park properties</a>.</p><p>&#8226; Put up your feet. Whether in a backyard hammock or lakeside deck chair, nestle in and let time pass without worrying about chores, deadlines or other drudgery. Relax. Reboot. Nap.</p><p>&#8226; Eat ice cream. You probably already patronize a favorite restaurant or stand for shakes, sundaes or two scoops. If not, commence the taste testing at Manning&#8217;s, May&#8217;s and the region&#8217;s many, many other sweet eateries. No hurry to decide which is tops; you have all season.</p><p>Mmm, summer!</p><style>
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Our Opinion: NEPA a great place to spend your summer; dive in