Foxmoor 7 theaters' new owner Norman Adie offers a role model for other business owners and residents.

The Foxmoor cinemas' former proprietors closed the seven-screen cinema last November, but Adie had barely finished some investing some $800,000 into new seats, carpeting and trimmings when he opened his doors earlier this month. And he had barely opened the doors before he began giving back to the Pocono community.

Already Adie has contributed generously to the local chapter of the Red Cross, pledged part of the proceeds from one day's ticket sales to the United Way of Monroe County and arranged another screening in June to support the Middle Smithfield Elementary School PTO.
 
Last week, Adie invited local special needs students to a special daytime screening of the new film "Over the Hedge." Students from Resica Elementary School, J.M. Hill School, Smithfield and Pocono Elementary enjoyed the show, complete with free popcorn.

Thus far Adie appears to be eastern Monroe County's version of Stroudsburg's Rich Berkowitz, the owner of the recently renovated Sherman Theater, a live performance venue. Both men sank their own funds and hard work into their new businesses and both have been very supportive of local residents, groups and non-profits.

Adie still faces some challenges. The small shopping center Foxmoor Village, where the movie theaters are located in Middle Smithfield Township, has a number of vacancies.

But the re-opened cinema could serve as a sort of anchor to potential businesses. And the fact that Foxmoor 7 is renovated will encourage fastidious movie-goers to give it a try.

Here's hoping that Adie's own enthusiastic efforts, a healthy list of summer blockbuster films and a little luck push his new venture solidly into the black. The Pocono area could use more community-oriented business owners like him.