Wage Increase Deceptive, Say Feds

Another Snow, Another Day Off In W-b Area

By JENNIFER LEARN; Times Leader Hazleton Bureau
 Sunday, January 16, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: CHILL IN AIR, CARVERS
TAKE CHISEL IN HAND 





WHITE HAVEN -- Saturday's sub-zero temperatures were almost too cold for
Wapwallopen ice carver Dennis Beach. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The cold weather makes the ice brittle. It's shattering like glass today,"
said Beach, a competitor at the fifth annual Festival of Ice at the Mountain
Laurel Resort on Saturday. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "You can't be rough with the ice today," said carver Kevin McDonald of the
Mountaintop area, explaining that it's easier to carve ice when the air is
warmer because the molecules are "softer." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If you cut into it too fast today, it will go `ping.' They call it a
stress crack," McDonald said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Eighteen ice carvers from across the country competed in the two-hour
singles competition. The team ice-carving competition runs from 1 to 3 p.m.
today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Beach, a wood carver, created an intricate motorcycle after two hours of
rubbing, scraping, sawing, drilling and wetting his 300-pound block of ice. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The judges must have liked Beach's work because he won a second-place medal
and trophy. Mike Palombo of Virginia took the first-place prize of $1,000 and
Goichi Matsumoto of New York City finished with a third-place medal and
trophy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 McDonald buffed his ice butterfly, titled "January Monarch," with his
waterproof deep-sea diving gloves. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "These gloves are my secret. I have two pairs," McDonald said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 An iron was one of Randy Rupert's secrets. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I use it to smooth my flat surfaces before I freeze them together," said
Rupert, who hails from Binghamton, N.Y. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At least the cold air made it easier to freeze pieces of ice together. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "The fusion, where we bond pieces together, will be immediate today. We'll
be able to defy gravity in this cold," McDonald said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Spectators also enjoyed cooking classes, food-tasting booths, face
painting, cross-country skiing, ice skating and an indoor fair featuring live
bands, carnival games and crafts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All events are free, except the parking, cross-country skiing and ice
skating. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The event continues from noon to dusk today. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Music, games, arts and crafts start at 11 a.m. Some other free special
events scheduled for today are: &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 10:30 a.m. -- Cross country ski seminar &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 11:30 a.m. -- Beer seminar &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 1-3 p.m. -- Ice carving competition &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 2:30 p.m. -- Wine and cheese seminar &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 4 p.m. -- Ice carving awards competition &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mountain Laurel Resort is located off Route 940 in White Haven. For more
information, call 1-800-458-5921. cq

Chill In Air, Carvers Take 
Chisel In Hand 
It Took True Talent To Sculpt In 
Sub-zero, But Ice Carvers Managed 
To Heat Up The Competition 
With Style And Skill

Chill In Air, Carvers Take Chisel In Hand It Took True Talent To Sculpt In Sub-zero, But Ice Carvers Managed To Heat Up The Competition With Style And Skill