Workers Worried About Jobs

Abraham Azain 
January 10, 1997 
Abraham J. Azain Of Lee Park Towers, Hanover Township, Died Friday At The 
Wilkes-barre General Hospital.

Sunday, January 12, 1997 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1G 





Into the heart of the Everglades &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ultimate Florida nature trip gives tourists and adventurers alike insight
into the wonders of this unique ecosystemStory and photos by BOB NOCEK &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Times Leader Staff Writer &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 EVERGLADES NATIONAL PARK -- From the safety of a wooden boardwalk, a few
feet above the marsh and several large alligators, we watched some waders. A
great blue heron, a great egret, a wood stork, all feeding on fish in the
water below. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A substantial wooden railing afforded us a safe feeling, not unlike being
in a zoo, and kept us from becoming gator chow. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Then we heard the screams. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Just out of sight, amid the rustling of high sawgrass, the agonized squeals
of a large bird signaled an alligator's dinner. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Sounds like a gator got him a big one," said one man. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The frantic, chilling shrieks reminded us that Everglades National Park is
not some zoological tourist attraction, but rather an active wilderness and
one of the more unusual natural areas in the United States. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Covering about 1.5 million acres in the Southwest corner of Florida,
Everglades National Park protects the largest part of the ecosystem known as
the Everglades, a shallow, slow-moving river that once occupied as many as 4
million acres. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Today, less than half that remain, protected by the National Park and Big
Cypress National Preserve. And while their primary purpose is to save this
shrinking ecosystem, these parks also offer visitors a chance to explore this
uniquely diverse environment. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 On two visits in the past year, Everglades National Park revealed itself to
be a tourist-friendly place. Even the most casual observer can explore the
park's vast resources. There's plenty for the serious adventurer to observe,
as well. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Everglades of television and the movies is a place where airboats
gracefully skim the water, slicing through the sawgrass. But in reality,
airboats aren't allowed in Everglades National Park. If an airboat ride is
your desire, there are several operators in the area nearby. Several operate
in canals to the north of the park, near Big Cypress National Preserve. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 If you're intent on truly investigating the Everglades inside the park,
canoes and larger boats can be rented at the marina at the Flamingo Visitors
Center. We rented a canoe for an overnight trip through a maze of mangroves,
camping at a remote site along the way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But you don't need the explorer's spirit of Ponce De Leon to discover the
inner Everglades. And in fact, your car is all you need to really take a drive
on the wild side. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The only public road through the park is the 38-mile drive from the main
entrance in Florida City to the Flamingo Visitor's Center, but along this road
are some of Everglades National Park's greatest treasures. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The park features several wooden boardwalks -- most about 1/2-mile -- that
wind through the high grass of freshwater habitats, or the mangrove trees of
saltwater habitats, or the hardwood hammocks of palms, oaks and gumbo-limbo
trees. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From these easy ambles, with help from the informative signs along the way,
you can gain a good understanding of the park's natural makeup. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The best of these, particularly if it's for a look at South Florida's
varied wildlife, is the Anhinga Trail, where this story began. Here you'll
find gators galore, as well as a vast assortment of birds, including the white
ibis and the endangered wood stork. Great blue herons, like those that can be
found near Pennsylvania lakes and streams in summer, are quite prevalent, as
are the brownish anhingas, which spread their wings to dry them in the
afternoon sun. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Another prime viewing spot is Eco Pond, near the southern end of the park,
where roseate spoonbills circle overhead as common moorhens feed in the water
amid sleeping alligators. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Everglades' plant life is as diverse as its animal life, and any of the
park's hiking trails offer a closer look. Bear Lake is a hardwood hammock
trail featuring more than 50 tree types, while the 7.5-mile Coastal Prairie
trail displays the coastal plants that grow in the park's wide-open area. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Camping is allowed throughout the park, and tent and recreational vehicle
sites are available near the Florida Bay. There is also a lodge and several
cabins available for overnight visitors in that region of the park, and
countless hotels and motels are nearby, in Homestead and Florida City. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Miami Beach, with a wealth of resort hotels, is about a half-hour to the
north. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 But the truly adventurous will want to spend a night in the Everglades
backcountry at one of the sights reachable only by boat. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Everglades canoe trails are well-marked and lead into the deepest recesses
of the park. Our trip led 5 1/2-miles to Hell's Bay, then back to the campsite
at Lard Can, about three miles from the trailhead. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other routes include the Wilderness Waterway, a posted route that extends
99 miles from Flamingo, on the Florida Bay, north to Everglades City on the
Gulf Coast. This route takes about six hours by motorized boat, up to seven
days by canoe. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The best time to visit the park is in winter, for two main reasons. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because of the winter migration, bird activity is at its peak, particularly
during a stretch of February, when feeding activity is almost frenzied. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The other reason is mosquitoes, which are annoying in winter, particularly
along land and water trails. But in the summer rain season, mosquitoes and
other biting insects make backcountry use unbearable. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/BOB NOCEK &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A great blue heron grabs its dinner from the shallow waters near Anhinga
Trail. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Alligators like this one are among the most popular residents of Everglades
National Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Great blue herons, which can be found in Northeastern Pennsylvania during
the warmer months, take refuge in the Everglades during the winter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Anhingas often sun themselves on tree branches, often with their wings
spread wide to dry them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Hawks are among the raptors that make their home in Everglades National
Park. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;

Into The Heart Of The Everglades 
Ultimate Florida Nature Trip Gives Tourists And Adventurers Alike Insight Into 
The Wonders Of This Unique Ecosystem.

Into The Heart Of The Everglades Ultimate Florida Nature Trip Gives Tourists And Adventurers Alike Insight Into The Wonders Of This Unique Ecosystem.