The Pittston Dispatch 01-01-2012

WILKES-BARRE, PA $1.
00 Sunday, January 1, 2012

Dispatch takes a
look back at news
stories of 2011.
>> PAGE 3
Library plays host
to community
Christmas party.
>> PAGE 6B
Flood is
top story
Santa visits
Wyoming
HAPPY NEWYEAR
PHOTO BY BILL TARUTIS
to all my family, friends and clients... from the law ofces of
Atty. Michael I. Butera
121 South Main Street Pittston 654-0067
Michael I. Butera
Happy New Year!
Happy New Year!
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Call Karen Fiscus at 970-7291
Advertising deadline is Thursday at 3 P.M.
Impressions Media
Fax: 602-0184
January 1.
New Years Day.
What a perfect time for re-
flecting on the year gone by
and making plans for the one to
come.
But you wont catch me do-
ing any of that.
Ive worked too hard master-
ing the art of living in the mo-
ment living in the now to
throw it away, even at the start
of a New Year. I prefer to think
of my life as one long succes-
sion of starting not new years
but new moments.
The moment is perfect. The
moment is peaceful and calm
and in it I can do anything.
Indeed, its the only place I
can do anything. The only
place I ever have.
The past is gone; the future
yet to come.
Whats left?
The now is whats left.
The moment.
The moment has no past and
it has no future. And thats what
makes it great.
In the moment Im always
brand new.
In the moment I have no
track record. Ive never failed
and cannot imagine myself
doing so.
Ive also never succeeded, so
theres no temptation to rest on
my laurels.
All I can do in the moment is
to give my all, my very best.
I always find that I can.
And I always find that its
easy.
See, in the moment I have no
place to go and no schedule to
keep. Theres no time-clock in
the moment. In fact, theres no
clock at all, which means I have
all the time in the world.
In the moment the time is
always the same: its now. And
in the moment Im always in
the same place: here. Here
where I belong, doing the only
thing I need to do.
Theres no multi-tasking in
the moment. In fact, its impos-
sible. My to-do list in the now
has only one thing on it and one
thing alone. And thats what I
do.
I love the now. Can you tell?
And let me make it clear that
by the now I dont mean
today. I mean now, the very
moment were in.
I dont practice some 1960s
live for today philosophy.
Hardly. I live for eternity. But I
do my living in the now.
Hope that makes sense.
I wasnt always this way. As I
said, its taken work. I used to
do a lot maybe most of my
living in the past. Then I came
to my senses.
I want little to do with the
past, short of reading books or
watching documentaries about
history. That stuff fascinates
me.
Its my past I can do without.
My past is part of me, of
course. Its molded me. I get
that. But do I have to keep
reliving it?
My past wears me down.
Thats where all my failures are.
My past is littered with regret.
It makes me feel terrible. Its
where Ive done all of my
screwing up.
Ive dropped fly balls in Lit-
tle League games in my past.
Ive said stupid things in my
past. And worn the wrong
clothes. And lost loves and
wasted opportunities.
Ive been hurt in my past and
worse, Ive caused hurts.
My past makes me think of
myself as a loser. It makes me
weak.
Sure there are good things
back there first kisses, babies
to rock to sleep, hair to comb
and Im grateful for all of them,
but they usually only remind
me that they are here no more.
Who needs that?
Then theres the future. Oh
my God, the future.
If the past makes me weak,
the future makes me afraid.
And it should.
The future is the domain of
worry. Its the land of what
ifs?
The ups and downs of the
stock market lurk out there in
the future, hiding in the same
shadows as the viability of
Social Security and the effect
the economy will have on my
lifestyle.
A nuclear Iran lies in the
future along with a brand new
force to be reckoned with in
North Korea and the fallout of
the Arab Spring.
Health issues await in the
future ours and those of ones
we love.
And, of course, death.
The future can render you
powerless. It can stop you in
your tracks.
But the moment, the now, has
none of that.
The moment is for renewal.
The moment is for happiness.
The moment is for success.
The moment is for heroes.
To me, the moment, the sense
of now, is the best glimpse we
humans get of Heaven.
Because Heaven, too, is a
place of no past and no future,
and therefore, a place of no
regret and no fear.
Which makes me think Heav-
en is simply an eternal moment.
After all, in Heaven isnt it
also always now?
Ed Ackerman, optimist
eackerman@psdispatch.com
Happy New Now
2011 in Review....................................................3
Deaths of 2011....................................................7
Local Chatter ....................................................8
Matters of Faith ...............................................10
Editorial /Letters.............................................14
Peeking into the Past .....................................15
Maria Remembers...........................................16
Nutrition ..........................................................24
Santa at the YMCA..................................25, 26
PA Chorus Concert .............................2, Social
Town News ......................................................34
Sports..............................................................40
Obituaries .........................................................51
Weddings.................................................Social 1
Birthdays................................................Social 3
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VOL. 65, NO. 46
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T
he September flood,
which damaged more
than 1,100 homes and af-
fected several businesses in
Greater Pittston, is considered
by Sunday Dispatch staff mem-
bers the Story of the Year 2011.
Many are still not back into their
flooded homes more than three
months later.
A smear of blood on a side-
walkinPittstons Riverfront Park
in March which led to the even-
tual discovery of the body of Lil-
lian Calabro, 48, on the river-
bank near Wilkes-Barre and an
arrest on a homicide charge is
another story which captured
public interest for several weeks.
The closing of St. Marys As-
sumption school, dating back to
1868 and the last remaining
school in Pittston City, is another
top story along with the demoli-
tion of the 8th Street Bridge link-
ing Jenkins Twp. and Wyoming.
Legislative redistricting, the
election of four with Greater
Pittston ties to the Luzerne
County Court, the upset of the
incumbent district attorney by a
young woman with Pittston
roots, the continued progress on
Main Street, Pittston, and the re-
signation of West Pittston Mayor
Bill Goldsworthy to accept the
job of running the governors
Northeast Office were also sto-
ries of interest.
A month-by-month recap of
the stories that made the pages of
the Sunday Dispatch in 2011 fol-
lows.
January
In recognition of Father
Hugh McGroartys 65th anni-
versary of his ordination to the
priesthood, Paul John Caprari,
director of Professional Hearing
Aid Service, presented him with
a new custom all in the ear
hearing device. Father McGroar-
ty continued to preach for the
rest of the year. Wordwas that his
hearing may have improved but
his jokes did not.
Letter carriers from Pittston
Post Office set a local recordand
placedsecondinthe nationwhen
they collected 48,000 pounds of
food for Meals on Wheels of
Greater Pittston during their an-
nual drive.
Richie Kossuth was named
by the Sunday Dispatch Person
of the Year for 2010. Allan and
Ann Rose were selected to re-
ceive the Joseph Saporito Life-
time of Service Award.
West Pittston Borough Coun-
cil announced the sale of the his-
toric Hitchner Bakery to Unit-
ed Community Development
Corporation for $348,000 thus
netting a profit of $238,000.
West Wyoming was awarded
a grant for $295,000 to enhance
pedestrian safety along W.
Eighth Street.
Chucks Auction Service
raised $13,500 for the local Peo-
ple Helping People holiday pro-
gram and for Toys for Tots.
George Zorgo, 90, the first
printer of the Sunday Dispatch,
was laid to rest.
Palazzo 53, a newupscale res-
taurant on Main St., Pittston,
made a splash all year but per-
haps none bigger than when mo-
vie star Paul Sorvino visited in
January.
The 52nd anniversary of the
Knox Mine Disaster was noted
with a Memorial Mass at St.
John the Evangelist Church and
the laying of the wreath at the
Knox Memorial in Port Griffith
near where the mining disaster
took place in 1959.
The first Dispatch Sunday
Sitdown of the year featured
Clem Lyons, 90, a champion of
rights for members of the Inter-
national Ladies Garment Work-
ers Union.
Pittston Twp. police intro-
duced their newest colleague: a
3-year-old German shepherd
named Rocky.
Sen. John Yudichak held an
open house at his newheadquar-
ters in Exeter.
Pittsburgh Steelers fans went
crazy at local Steelers HQ
Cuzs Bar in Exeter and then
gathered, along with a fewGreen
Bay Packers fans, at Pittston Ar-
ea High School for a photo for
the Dispatch which ran on Super
Sunday.
Marriedcouples were honored
at the Feast of the Holy Spouses
ceremony at the Oblates of St.
Joseph Seminary.
February
Longtime Steelers fan Pat Ai-
ta and longtime Packers fan
Melanie Yozwiak were pictured
on the front page of the Dispatch
on Super Sunday.
783 local prognostications ap-
peared inside, 469 predicting a
Steelers win, and the centerpiece
of the paper was all Steelers fans.
West Pittston Library hosted
a unique event at the former
American Legion Building on
Linden Street: a chance to view
2 01 1 : A L O O K B A C K
September flood is Story of the Year
Murder in Riverfront Park; closing of St. Marys School other top local stories
By Ed Ackerman and Jack Smiles
FILE PHOTO BY TONY CALLAIO
Scenes like this were common when the Susquehanna River roared over its banks into parts of West Pittston, Jenkins Twp., Duryea
and Exeter Twp. in September making the flood the Sunday Dispatch Story of the Year.
See 2011, Page 4
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and even have a photo taken with
life-sized cutouts of all 44 U.S.
Presidents.
The West Pittston Fire De-
partment held its annual Valen-
tines Day roses sale.
The gymnasium at Wyoming
Area Catholic School was dedi-
cated in memory of the late Fa-
ther Daniel Hitchko, pastor of
St. Cecilias and St. John the
Baptist parishes in Exeter, who
died unexpectedly at age 73.
Surviving family members of
Spc. Dale Kridlo, who was
killed in action in Afghanistan
on Nov. 7, 2010, were honored
guests at the Pittston Police and
Firefighters Ball. It was the first
of several tributes to Kridlo dur-
ing the year.
Big Gene Guarilia, former
member of championship Bos-
ton Celtics basketball teams and
founder and leader of the local
band The Cadillacs, was the
subject of a Jack Smiles Sunday
Sitdown.
At a tribute to late railroad en-
thusiast Ed Miller on the occa-
sion of the first anniversary of
his 90th birthday, it was an-
nounced that the famed Crown
Ave. Tunnel would be renamed
the Edward S. Miller Tunnel.
The train that transports passen-
gers fromdowntown Scranton to
PNC Field for Scranton/Wilkes-
Barre Yankees games passes
through that tunnel.
Morgan Banaszek was a sil-
ver medalist at the 2011Pennsyl-
vania Skating Championships,
Keystone State Games, in York.
Matthew Powell, an Avoca
20-year-old who has battled ce-
rebral palsy throughout his life,
took first place in an arm wres-
tling tournament at Dianes Deli
and Caf in Pittston.
Bob and Sally Adonizio were
featured in a first-person ac-
count of their trip cruising on
The Nile.
Althea Semanchik, a Duryea
native, was featuredina storyex-
plaining that she was the inspira-
tion and model for a World War
II comic strip titled Winnie the
WAC, an acronymfor Womens
Army Corps, in which she
served.
Pawsitively Perfect Pet Sa-
lon, South Main St., Pittston,
had a grand opening.
Lisa Woodruff opened a pho-
tography studio in Harding.
Kiel Eigen, Old Forge senior
who spent most of his high
school career ina wheelchair fol-
lowing a football injury, got up
from his chair and walked to
thunderous ovation to meet his
parents at center court at parents
night.
Pittston Area cheerleaders
placed second at a national com-
petition in Florida.
Pittston Ambulance Associ-
ation introduced a new para-
medic-staffed Advanced Life
Support system described by
Mike Lombardo, city council-
man, association solicitor, and
volunteer member, as an emer-
gency room on wheels.
Bob Calpin was named recip-
ient of the Lifetime Achieve-
ment Award by the Greater Pitt-
ston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick.
Joseph J. Joyce Jr. was named
recipient of the W. Francis
Swingle Award. Paul Leonard
was named Man of the Year.
A 14-part Dispatch exclusive
of the World War I diary of the
late James J. McCarthy, of
Avoca, wrapped up on Feb. 27.
March
A Dispatch story revealed the
work of Sgt. Meredith Burns,
U.S. Marines, who reaches out to
women of Afghanistan as a Fe-
male Engagement Team (FET)
leader. Sgt. Burns is a West Pitt-
ston native and Wyoming Area
grad.
Residents of the Mill and Car-
roll streets section of Pittston
City caused a stir claiming a sig-
nificant number of cancer cases
amongresidents of the area qual-
ifiedit tobe designateda cancer
cluster.
New Pittston Area head foot-
ball coach Mike Barrett was
welcomed by the Pittston Area
Football Lettermens Club at a
reception at The Lincoln Inn in
Dupont.
A group from the Pittston
Memorial Library expansion
committee, out to raise funds to
add the John P. Cosgrove annex
to the library, met in Washing-
ton, D.C., where Cosgrove, a
Pittston native, worked in the
media for 70 years, with Sen.
Bob Casey and Congressman
Lou Barletta.
At a council meeting, Pittston
City police department an-
2011: WA Catholic gym dedicated to Father Dan Hitchko
Continued from Page 3
FILE PHOTO BY BILL TARUTIS
Steelers' fans at Cuz's Susquehanna Bar & Grille in Exeter knew who's number one when the Steel-
ers earned a trip to the Super Bowl.
See 2011, Page 5
A smear of blood on a sidewalk at Riverfront Park in Pittston in March started an investigation that
led to a homicide charge.
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If youre unhappy with whats happened to your current bank, dont stressswitch
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business with a bank you know will be here tomorrow. A bank that not only knows
your name, but your nancial needs as well. So take a few moments and drop in to
your nearest First Liberty Bank & Trust branch and see what its like to Bank Happy.
Pittston Branch 45 South Main St. 570-655-7750
nounced it upgraded its weap-
ons, vehicles and computers and
the fire department announced it
was purchasing a new, smaller
truck which will be easy to ma-
neuver on the citys tight side
streets.
A blood stain on the walkway
of the Citys Riverfront Park
prompted an investigation which
led to an extensive search of the
Susquehanna River and its banks
for a body believed to be Lillian
Calabro, 48, who did not return
to her apartment at the Gabriel
House in Pittston on March 11.
On Sunday night, March 21,
about 100 family and friends of
Calabrostageda candlelight vig-
il at Riverfront Park at the site
where they believed Calabro was
murdered. The next day, Cala-
bros body was found on the west
bank of the river just south of
Kirby Park. Arthur Stoss, the
person reportedly last seen with
Calabro on the night of March
11, was arrested and charged
with an open count of criminal
homicide and jailed without bail.
David Ciotola, who among
other things donated a total of 92
pints of blood to American Red
Cross, was named Man of the
Year by the Slovak League of
America Branch 474.
EileenBurns and EllenMon-
dlak, longtime board members,
each serving for 16 years, were
named recipients of the Jean
Yates Awardby the Pittston Me-
morial Library Board of Trust-
ees.
Father Paul McDonnell,
OSJ, was on hand at an open
house to bless the newpool at the
Greater Pittston YMCA.
Sisters Letitia and Miranda
Warunek, Pittston Area stu-
dents, organized an Emerald Isle
Step Dancers performance at
Pittston Area High School to
benefit the Care and Concern
Pediatric Health Clinic in Pitt-
ston. The event raised more than
$7,000.
April
The Pittston Area Middle
School Science Olympiad
team, the first for the school in
five years, placed 14th out of 21
teams in the Science Olympiad
at the Penn State Wilkes-Barre
campus. Teachers Jill Quinn
and J.J. Anthony coached the
team.
Pittstons pro bono city man-
ager Atty. Rose Randazzo was
the subject of a Jack Smiles
Sunday Sitdown. A one-time
Pittston Area cheerleader shes
become the citys biggest cheer-
leader.
At its 85th commencement,
Misericordia University be-
stowed the Catherine McAuley
Medal on Margaret (Peggy)
Burke, founder of the Greater
Pittston Food Pantry of the Care
and Concern ministries of St.
John the Evangelist Parish Com-
munity, Pittston.
Pittstons Shawn Klush, the
premier Elvis Presley tribute art-
ist in the world, came back to his
alma mater St. Marys Elemen-
tary School for a visit and per-
formed a fund-raising concert at
Mellow Auditorium in Scranton
to benefit the school. The con-
cert was a rousing success but
could not save the school. The
2011: Local Government Excellence Award for W. Wyoming
See 2011, Page 6
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Diocese of Scranton announced
it would close at the end of the
school year. The school, the last
remaining school in Pittston
City, dated back to 1868.
Members of the Wyoming
Area soccer team, along with
their friends, made 1000 origami
cranes a symbol of making
wishes come true and sold
them for a dollar apiece to raise
funds for earthquake victims in
Japan. Mike Pryor is the teams
coach.
The Little Sisters of the Poor
presented Dolores and Michael
Insalaco with the Holy Family
Award at their annual Holy Fam-
ily brunch.
Stephanie Bartz, a Pittston
Area senior, organized a cookie
walk to benefit the Care and
Concern Free Health Clinic in
Pittston. For a donation, walkers
were allowed to fill a basket to
take home with homemade coo-
kies.
Maxwell Marcus, founder of
the Exeter Historical Society,
was the subject of a Jack Smiles
Sunday Sitdown.
In a case of misunderstanding,
a vintage signpurchasedbybusi-
nessmen Mark Williamson and
Ryan Ksiezopolski, who oper-
ate Yore Antiques on Main
Street, Pittston, was ordered
hauled away by Councilman
Danny Argo. The sign was later
returned.
A year-and-a-half after being
more than $900,000 in debt and
on the verge of bankruptcy, West
Wyoming officials managed to
turn things around to the point
where the borough was awarded
the Governors Award for Lo-
cal Government Excellence.
Rep. Phyllis Mundy delivered
the good news and the certifi-
cate.
Pittston City hired, at a fee not
to exceed $2500, the firm Dia-
mond and Associates of Phila-
delphia, to help develop a target-
ed housing plan.
The first of several modern
signs were installed at business-
es on Main Street in Pittston
City. New signs went up at Pa-
lazzo restaurant and Yore An-
tiques. The signage is part of the
citys new faade ordinance.
Duryea Police Chief Nick
LohmanandAvoca Fire Depart-
ment Sgt. Chris Collins an-
nounced the 5th annual Guns n
Hoses charity basketball game to
benefit St. Jude Childrens Re-
search Hospital was the most
successful yet raising $3,000.
May
Mary Sklanka, 77-year-old
widow who lives at the end of a
dead end street in Hughestown,
had a major runoff problem on
her property to deal with. Mean-
while, Sen. John Yudichak
toured a flooded section of Exe-
ter Borough. Both problems
were serious enough, but noth-
ing compared to what hundreds
of residents would face come
September.
Community Medical Center
opened its NewSteps Joint Re-
placement Center and Spine
Unit under the direction of Dr.
Harry Schmaltz, a West Pitt-
ston native.
Wyoming Area Superintend-
ent Ray Bernardi announced
the district received a refund of
$230,000 from the Northeast
Pennsylvania Health Trust.
Former Pittston mayor Mi-
chael Lombardo, a former di-
rector of the Governors North-
east Office, accepted a position
with Quad Three Group, Inc., a
full-service architectural, engi-
neering and environmental ser-
vices firm.
Father Dan Schwebs, OSJ
was honored on the occasion of
the 25th anniversary of his ordi-
nation to the priesthood.
Officer DionFerdandes (Pitt-
ston City), Officer Bonnie Gu-
zon (Dupont Borough, Lacka-
wanna County Sherriffs Dept.
and FSB Army National Guard)
and Officer Crystal Matos (Old
Forge) received new bulletproof
vests from the Adopt a Cop pro-
gram created by Fallen Officers
Remembered.
The Wyoming Area Percus-
sionEnsemble wonfirst place at
the Chapter 7 Championships in
Mill Hall making them six for
six in competitions.
On Mothers Day, the Dispatch
told the story of a mom, Tanya
Lydon, and her two-year-old son
Anthony who was born with
half a heart and has undergone
three major heart surgeries.
Mayor Bill Goldsworthy was
named Grand Marshal of the
40th West Pittston Cherry Blos-
som Festival.
Sister Josephine Palmeri,
MPF, was the keynote speaker at
a Mothers Day Communion
Breakfast at the combined par-
ishes of Our Lady of Mount Car-
mel and St. Rocco.
Downtown redevelopment in
Pittston City got a boost when it
was announced $1.48 million in
slots revenue was awarded to
the city. The city redevelopment
authority targeted most of the
money for the acquisition and
demolition of several properties
in a square block area bounded
by Main, Charles, Spring and
Kennedy streets.
Alana Aufiere was chosen
2011 West Pittston Little Miss
Cherry Blossom.
Chartered in 1851, Pittston
Little League noted the 60th an-
niversary of its first opening day.
Joyce Insurance was named
Small Business of the Year at the
91st anniversary dinner of the
Greater Pittston Chamber of
Commerce. President Charles
Adonizio gave the annual report.
In May primary elections,
Greater Pittston candidates Bill
James and Sal Licata were vic-
torious in earning nominations
for the new Luzerne County
Council while Fred Pierantoni,
Mike Vough, Jennifer Rogers
and Lesa Gelb garnered nomi-
nations for Luzerne County
Judge.
The Pittston Tomato Festiv-
al, specifically the Tomato
Fights, was mentioned in Pa-
rade Magazine, a national pub-
lication which appears in the
Sunday Dispatch.
Stephanie Jallen, 15, from
Harding, born with only one leg
andone arm, made the U.S. Para-
lympic team in downhill skiing.
She started skiing when she was
9 years old.
The annual West Pittston/Exe-
ter Memorial Day Parade fea-
tured a fly-over in an F-18 fighter
jet by Navy Lieutenant Jason
Harding, a West Pittston native
and Wyoming Area graduate.
Lisa Lewis, the noted Victor-
ian Lady of West Pittston, was
the subject of a Sunday Sitdown
with Jack Smiles.
Sen. Bob Casey presented a
$48,000grant tothe PittstonMe-
morial Library. It was accepted
by librarian Anne Hogya.
A public meeting was held at
Pittston Area Middle School to
discuss the possible cancer
cluster in the Mill/Carroll
streets section of Pittston City.
Chris Menichini and his father
ChuckMenichini hadraisedthe
question in April and believed
the Butler Tunnel, an old mining
tunnel, might have something to
do with the unusually high cases
of cancer in the area. The Envi-
ronmental Protection Agencys
assurances that the Butler Tunnel
has nothing to do with the situa-
tion left residents more frustrat-
ed than satisfied.
Afinal Mass was celebrated at
St. John the Baptist Church,
Exeter, which was closed after
106 years.
Bill Lewis, of Jenkins Twp.,
was named to the Pennsylvania
Historical and Museum Com-
mission by Gov. Tom Corbett.
Aflagthat flewinAfghanistan
was raised at the Upper Pittston
Sportsmens Club in Forkston
in memory of Spc. Dale Kridlo
who was killed in the line of duty
in Afghanistan on Nov. 7, 2010.
Dale was a member of the clubas
is his father, Albert.
June
A century-old building on S.
Main Street in Pittston City was
razed after extensive structural
damage was uncovered. The
building had most recently
housed Waynes World, a music
store.
A CD of bagpipe music titled
The Heros Call, a tribute to
Pennsylvania State Trooper
2011: Joyce insurance named Small Business of the Year
Continued fromPage 5
FILE PHOTO
Sen. Bob Casey, left, and John P. Cosgrove met in Washington, D.C. as members of the Pittston
Memorial Library expansion committee sought government funds for the proposed Cosgrove Annex
at the library.
See 2011, Page 28
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Scrapple ....................................$2.99 lb.
Hard Salami ...............................$3.99 lb.
Dog Bones - Large and Small
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T
he Sunday Dispatch pub-
lished 1,136 obituaries in
2011, 53 fewer than the
1,189 published in 2010.
The highest monthly total was
the first month of the year. Last
January133 obituaries were pub-
lished. The lowest monthly
count was in August, when 70
obits were published.
The single issue with the most
deaths was the second issue of
the year, January 9, when 40
obits were published. The lowest
single week count was the last
week of July. The July 31 issue
had nine obituaries.
There were 43 World War II
veterans among those who died
last year, including four women.
The 43 included only men and
women who were born in the
Pittston area or lived here for
most of their lives.
Here are just a random few of
the 43 who WWII heroes we lost
last year:
Paul Vargo, 89, of Suscon
Road, Pittston Township, was
Marine who served in the Cen-
tral and South Pacific area and
Okinawa. His anti-aircraft unit
was credited for destroying 87
enemy planes. He was the father
of seven sons.
Josephine Jean Remas, a
Pittston native who died in Ma-
ryland, was an Army nurse who
treated men injured at Pearl Har-
bor.
Alfred T. Koytek, 87, of Du-
pont, served in the U.S. Navy Air
Corps from 1943 to 1945. He
flew numerous missions in the
Pacific Theatre. He was awarded
several medals for his bravery,
including the Distinguished Fly-
ingCross, the nations thirdhigh-
est military award.
Frank Nardone, Pittston
Township, was with the 100th
Fighter Wing during the D-Day
Invasion.
Louis Lanzone served on a
Navy mine sweeper.
Frank Singer, Hughestown,
was an infantryman in the battle
of Luzon in the Philippines.
AdamBryk, of Suscon, was a
Navy Sea Bee.
Anthony Dellarte, West Pitt-
ston, served with the 75th Artil-
lery on France and Germany.
Notable Passings
In a community as closely knit
at Greater Pittston it is difficult
to single out any death as partic-
ularly noteworthy since every
passing creates a ripple effect
touching a number of lives. Still,
in the past year death claimed
several who left a unique mark
on the community.
Heres a partial list of some,
but certainly not all, of the nota-
bles who passed in 2011:
Dan DeRoberto, Exeter, 26-
year member Exeter Council,
Exeter Police officer, President
Exeter Panthers football.
Ursula Burke, 84, Pittston
Area School District Health Su-
pervisor, Secretary Upper Valley
Eyebank, Red Cross volunteer
nurse, former member Wyoming
Area school board.
JohnJRCebula, 84, owner
Cebulas Bar and Pizza Dupont.
Clem Lello, 83, past member
PA school board, Dupont Bor-
ough Secretary, Cubmaster Pack
361.
Guy Doc Fasciana founder
of Docs Sports Bar West Pitt-
ston, the areas original sports
bar, and noted humorist.
Ryan Jones, Exeter, 30, pro-
fessional fiddle player in Nash-
ville for LoCash Cowboys.
Ada Rostock, West Pittston,
co-founder Expresso Restaurant
with husband Anthony, co-foun-
der of WP Cherry Blossom Fes-
tival and President and Treasur-
er, Entertainment Director.
Michael J. McClernon, 39
West Pittston, Gold Glove Boxer
and rock singer.
John Gadomski, 84, Wyom-
ing, last survivor of the Knox
Mine Disaster.
ElwoodRichards, 47, captain
of Pittston Volunteer Firefight-
ers.
John A. Adonizio Sr., 91
Hughestown, a former member
of the Hughestown, Northeast,
Pittston Area and Wilkes-Barre
Area Vocational Boards of Edu-
cation. A noted baseball player
in the Suburban League.
John Beno Borzell, 22,
Magna Cum Laude Grad of
Wilkes, Yellowstone researcher,
Environmental Scientist, base-
ball and football standout at WA.
Joseph Falzone, 99, down-
town Pittston barber for over 70
years, founding member Ema-
non Golf Club.
Robert Coyne, Exeter, West
Side Conference football all-
star, founding member of the
Exeter Historical Society. Broth-
er of the late mayor of Exeter Joe
Coyne
Angelo Smitty Shandra,
Pittston, noted fast pitch softball
pitcher. Played against the King
and His Court and the California
Cuties. 15-year Little League
coach.
Joseph Emma, 92, Jenkins
Township, noted musician in Pa-
cis Band and the U.S. Army
Band
Leonard Cumbo, West Pitt-
ston, Italian American Associ-
ation Man of Year 1994, Cherry
Blossom Festival Grand Mar-
shall 2008, Democratic Com-
mittee man, volunteer, past pres-
ident of Serradifalco Society.
Richard P. Notari, Old Forge,
teacher and Athletic Director
and father of Dispatch sports ed-
itor Rick Notari
Sister Philip (Rita) Dzurisin,
born in Pittston she grew up in
St. Michaels Church and later
was a nun in Sisters of St. Basil
the Great Order for 63 years.
Sharon OBrien Dugan,
noted local artist
Raymond W. McNulty, 64
Pittston, former Dispatch corre-
spondent. He was a popular and
funny English teacher at West
Side Vocational Tech for 32
years and a coach of football,
basketball, softball and volley-
ball.
Monsignor Kevin P. ONeill,
the Avoca native was a pastor at
St. Marys Avoca, St. John the
Evangelist, St. Casmirs and St.
Josephs Pittston.
MatthewStephen Peter Chi-
polis, 19, of Harding. Wyoming
Area football player in 2010.
Anthony Trotta, former May-
or of Old Forge.
JohnDavidRoberts Jr., 93, a
former teacher inthe PittstonAr-
ea School District, where he was
the schools first athletic direc-
tor. He also had the distinction of
playing basketball against the
Harlem Globetrotters and play-
ing baseball against many fa-
mous athletes, such as Phil Riz-
zuto and Walter Alston.
Captain Fred R. Demech,
Jr., Moosic, was a graduate of
Pittston High School. He served
in the Navy for 27 years as a
cryptologist. As a Navy Captain
2 01 1 : A L O O K B A C K
Dispatch published 1,136 obituaries in 2011
43 World War II veterans listed among dead in 2011
By Jack Smiles
Associate Editor
See DEATHS, Page 21
LOCALCHATTER
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What are you chattin about? Call 602-0177 or email sd@psdispatch.com and let us know.
The Pittston Area Varsity
Cheerleaders have won a bid to
the National High School Cheer
Championship in Orlando, Flor-
ida.
They ask the community to
help them get there by taking
part inANight At the Races on
Saturday, January 21, at 6 p.m. at
the Jenkins Twp. Fire Hall
The event includes all you can
eat including soup, salad, pasta,
meatballs, chicken strips, pota-
toes, vegetable, deserts, and
much more.
You must be at least 21 years
old to attend. Cost is $5.00 at the
door. Horses cost $10.00.
Hughestown Notes
Hughestown Borough Coun-
cil will hold a re-organization
meeting on Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 7
p.m.
Newspapers in the borough
will be collected on Tuesday in-
stead of Monday due to the holi-
day. Those using Pittston City
for garbage pick-up will have no
change in their New Years col-
lection.
Newgarbage stickers are to be
used for the Jan. 10 pick-up.
Those using Pittston City for
their collection must have new
stickers.
Anniversary Today
Happy anniversary wishes go
to Big Gene and Liz Guarilia,
Duryea, celebrating today, Jan. 1.
Birthday Notes
Happy birthday wishes go to
John Gonska, Wilkes-Barre, cel-
ebrating on Jan, 2, Jerry Fabian,
Sweet Valley celebrating Jan. 4,
Troop 303 Scout Master Leo-
nard Sanguedolce of Pittston
celebrating on Jan. 5 and Jessica
Olejnik of West Wyoming cele-
brating on Jan. 6.
Health Clinic
The Care and Concern Adult
Health Clinic will be closed until
Tuesday, Jan. 3.
The clinic will reopen on
Wednesday, Jan. 4.
LCCC Registration
Luzerne County Community
College will hold registration for
springsemester classes onSatur-
day, Jan. 7, from10 a.m. to noon;
Monday, Jan. 9 and Tuesday, Jan.
10, from 9 a.m. to 7 p.m.;
Wednesday, Jan. 11, from 9 a.m.
to3p.m.; Thursday, Jan. 12, from
9 a.m. to 7 p.m.; and Friday, Jan.
13, from 9 a.m. to3 p.m., at the
Colleges campus in Nanticoke.
Classes for the spring semes-
ter begin on Tuesday, Jan. 17.
For more information, call
LCCC at 740-0337 or 740-0340
or (800) 377-LCCC, extension
7337 or 7340.
Jenkins Twp. Notes
The 2012 refuse and recycling
stickers are available at the Jen-
kins Township Municipal Build-
ing at a cost of $52.50 and must
be displayed in a visible location
before Jan. 20. After this date,
there will be a $10 late fee. There
is a $10 discount for senior citi-
zens and residents with a disabil-
ity.
The New Years Day schedule
for collection will be on a day
late schedule as follows: Mon-
days schedule will be collected
onTuesdayandTuesdays will be
collected on Wednesday.
The municipal offices will be
closed Monday, January 2 and
will re-open on Tuesday, January
3 at 8 a.m.
The reorganization meeting of
the Jenkins Township Board of
Supervisors will be held on
Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 6:30 p.m. at
the municipal building.
Dance for Pets
There will be a dance on Sat-
urday, Jan. 21, from 8:30 p.m.
until midnight sponsored by the
Northeast Social Dance Club at
The DAV Hall, 516 Storrs Street
in Dickson City, to benefit Tra-
ceys Hope Hospice Care Pro-
gram & Rescue for Domestic
Animals, Inc. Admission is
$5.00 per person.
Music will be provided by Jer-
ry Dreater Productions. In addi-
tion there will be refreshments
and numerous basket raffles, a
50/50, and a trip to Cove Haven
in the Poconos.
For more information call
event coordinator, Nicole
McDonald at (570) 466-7930 or
if youcannot make the dance and
wish to purchase raffle tickets
for the Cove Haven trip, you can
contact Traceys Hope Director,
Denise Kumor (570) 457-1625
Raffle Tickets for Cove Haven
are $2.00 each or 3 for $5.00
PA cheerleaders seek funds for Florida trip
The JosephL. Wroblewski (JLW) Mt. Laurel Lions Clubrecentlyentertainedthe residents at the VAHospital Resident Center. Dick
Yurish provided accordion music and Christmas carols were sung. Donuts and coffee were distributed along with Christmas cards and
bags of cookies. Anyone interested in becoming a club member can contact Joan Milligan at 823-6035 or any club member. Pictured,
seated fromleft , are Elsie Belmont, Ann Rose and Dick Yurish, second row: Karen Daniels, Rosemary Dressler, Darlene Walkowiak,
Eileen Yurish, Charlotte McAdarro, Jean Bohac and Joan Milligan.
JLW Lions entertain at VA Hospital
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A ttorn eys A tL aw
490 N .M ain St.,Su ite 202
P ittston 654-4643
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Servin g greater P ittston sin ce 1946
H appyN ew Year
M aytheN ew Year Bring You
Good H ealth,H appiness,and Peace
Standing,1strow: Joseph F. Saporito,Jr.,Esqu ire,Carlo J. Saporito,W illiam J. W att,III,Esqu ire,
Sam u el A . Falcone,Jr.,Esqu ire;2nd row: LeeA nn Sh ovlin,PatriciaSu rvilla,Eileen Casper
3rd row: TracyCiarim b oli,NicoleRinaldi
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MATTERS OF FAITH
email items for this page to sd@psdispatch.com; fax to 602-0183
The Mount Zion United Meth-
odist Church on Mount Zion
Road in Harding will offer an
all you can eat soup and salad
dinner on Saturday, Jan. 7.
Dinner will be served from
4:30 until 6:30.
An assortment of soups, sal-
ads, breads, beverages and des-
serts will be available.
Price for adults is $6.50 and
for children $4.50.
All are welcome to come for
good food and fellowship.
PEDIATRIC CLINIC
The Care and Concern Pediat-
ric Health Clinic will be open the
first and third Thursday of each
month.
The clinic is located in the for-
mer Seton Catholic School
Building on WilliamStreet, Pitt-
ston.
Free healthcare is providedfor
infants through age 11. Registra-
tion is from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.
Please bring your childs immu-
nization records with you. Par-
ents or guardians must be pre-
sent to have their child examin-
ed. All services are free and con-
fidential.
The clinic is sponsored by the
Care and Concern ministries of
the Parish Community of St.
John the Evangelist, Msgr. John
Bendik, Pastor.
For more information call
855-6035.
REFORMED
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
OF WYOMING VALLEY
1700 Wyoming Avenue, Forty-
Fort
Pastor Rev. R.F. Dymond
Morning Worship: 10:30 a.m.
Bible School: 11:45 a.m.
Wednesday evening prayer
service: 6:30 p.m. every other
Wednesday
Visitors are welcome. For ad-
ditional information call 570-
693-1918
BENNETT PRESBYTERIAN
501 Bennett Street, Luzerne
Everyone is welcome. The
church is handicap accessible.
BETHEL UNITED
METHODIST
Main St., Avoca
11:15 a.m. Worship
BRICK UNITED
METHODIST
905 Foote Ave., Duryea
Pastor Michael Shambora
Service: Sunday 9:45 a.m.
CORPUS CHRISTI PARISH
605Luzerne Ave, West Pittston
All children are welcome to
join the Youth Choir. Practices
are Tuesdays from 6 to 7 p.m. in
ICC.
Contact Mary Supey at 237-
2275.
Adult choir practices are Sat-
urdays, following the 4 p.m.
Mass in ICC.
FIRST BAPTIST CHURCH
Rev. James H. Breese, pastor,
Water Street, Pittston
FIRST CONGREGATIONAL
UCC
500 Luzerne Avenue
West Pittston
Rev. Joan Mitchell, Pastor
Sanctuary is handicapped ac-
cessible.
Sunday,11 a.m. New Years
Day Worship Service.
FIRST PRESBYTERIAN
CHURCH
14 Broad Street Pittston
Sunday Worship 9:15 a.m.
with Rev. William N. Lukesh.
FIRST UNITED
PRESBYTERIAN CHURCH
West Pittston
Jan 1 11 a.m. Worship
Services are being held at St.
Cecilias Roman Catholic
Church, Wyoming Ave., Exeter,
as the church recovers from the
flood of September 2011. There
is parking on Wyoming Avenue
and in the parking lot behind the
church.
FULL GOSPEL CHAPEL
Avoca
Weekly church schedule is:
Adult Sunday School, 9:30;
Sunday morning worship at
10:30 a.m.; Wednesday evening
Bible study and prayer service at
7:00.
The churchalsohosts the Rose
of Sharon Church with Rev. Vin-
cente Torres on Sunday after-
noon at 3:00 p.m. for the Hispan-
ic community.
GLENDALE GOSPEL
CHURCH
105 Church Drive
Glendale/Pittston Township
Sunday Service 10:45 a.m.
HARDING CHURCH OF
CHRIST
RR 1 Box 187A, Falls
Sunday services: 10:00 a.m.
Sunday School and 11:00 a.m.
Church Service.
Call 388-6534 www.harding-
churchofchrist.org
HOLY MOTHER OF
SORROWS PNCC
212 Wyoming Avenue, Dupont
Rev. Zbigniew Dawid, Pastor
Sunday Mass - NewYears Day
10:30 a.m. Traditional High
Mass
This Sunday there will be only
one Mass and there will be no
SundaySchool. It will resume on
Jan. 8, 2012.
Daily Mass: 9:00 a.m. Mon-
day through Saturday.
ANS Ladies Society will hold
their Annual Dinner and Instal-
lation Meeting on Jan.8, at noon.
It will be held at Agolinos Res-
taurant. Call Regina Bahaley if
you are going to attend at 457-
2378.
INDEPENDENT BIBLE
CHURCH
328 Main Street
Duryea, PA18642
(570) 451-0346 Home/Office
JLaCava@TheBible-
Church.org
INKERMAN
PRESBYTERIAN
Main St., Inkerman
Services: Sundays, 9 a.m.
LANGCLIFFE
PRESBYTERIAN
1001 Main St Avoca
Sunday worship 11:15 a.m.
The Langcliffe Church is
handicap accessible. Nursery is
provided for children during
worship.
The Care for Soldiers program
continues. To date over 50 care
packages have been sent to ser-
vicemen and women overseas.
MOOSIC ALLIANCE
CHURCH
608 Rocky Glen Road, Moosic
Pastor: DougJensen457-6020
maccma2@verizon.net
Saturday evening Bible Study
at 6:00 p.m. Saturday evening
Worship at 7:00 p.m.
Sunday morning Sunday
School for all ages at 9:30 a.m.
Sunday morning Worship at
10:45 a.m.
Prayer meeting, Wednesdays
at 7:00 p.m.
Celebrate Recovery Ministry,
Thursdays at 7:30 p.m.
OBLATES OF ST. JOSEPH
Highway 315, Pittston
Masses are held daily in the
seminary chapel at 7:00 a.m.
(Monday Friday) and on Sat-
urday mornings at 8:00 a.m.
There are no weekend Masses.
Confessions are heard daily
from 9:00 a.m. noon and from
3:00 6:00 p.m.
Office hours are Monday
Friday: 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.,
evenings and weekends by ap-
pointment. Office phone num-
ber is 654-7542.
Every Wednesday evening
Mass is celebratedat 7:00p.m. in
conjunction with the Novena to
St. Joseph &St. Joseph Marello.
Novena prayers and the blessing
of the first-class relic of St. Jo-
seph Marello, Founder of the
Oblates of Saint Joseph Congre-
gation, immediately follow the
Mass.
All are welcome to participa-
te!
Tune into Catholic Radio 750
AM. The radio studio is located
in the seminary building and is
broadcast daily from dawn to
dusk. For more information
about this station, contact Ed
Niewinski at 287-4670.
Check out more information
about the seminary and the Ob-
lates of St. Joseph locally and
worldwide by turning to their
website: www.oblates-stjo-
seph.com
Soup and salad Saturday at Mount Zion
Jenn from Balance Yoga, will be teaching
about Yoga and trying some Yoga positions, so
wear comfortable clothes to the meeting of the
Holistic Moms Network on Thursday, Jan. 5,
from 5:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. at First United
Methodist Church, 408 Wyoming Ave, West
Pittston.
The Holistic Moms Network is a non-profit
support and resource network for parents inter-
ested in holistic health and green living. Fathers
and children are also invited to attend. Everyone
is invited to come and see for free. Then if you
decide to join, the tax-deductible membership is
$45/year.
For more information contact Nicole at
570.466.1347 or hmnwyomingvalley@hot-
mail.com or visit www.wyomingvalleypa.ho-
listicmoms.org.
Holistic Moms meeting Thursday
See FAITH, Page 11
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32 North M a in St.,Pittston 655-1489 or655-1480
You rOld Fash ioned Ph arm acyGiving You Special A ttention to Personalized Servicewith Com petitivePricing
FAM IL Y O W NE D AND O PE RATE D FO R O VE R 60YE ARS
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CVS CorporateH eadqu arters W oosock et,R.I. RiteA id CorporateH eadqu arters H arrisb u rg,PA
FinosCorpora teH ea d qua rters Pittston,PA
Th em oneyyou spend in ourph a rm a cysta ysin th ecom m unity!!
M ED ICARE PART D HEAD Q UARTERS
W eAreYou rD octorsPha rm a cyW eS hou ldBeYou rsToo
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Th eM anagem entand Staff of Finoswou ld lik eto wish
all ou rcu stom ersand friendsajoyou sh olidayseason!
FIN OS PH A RM A CY
24 H O UR
E M E RGE NCY
SE RVICE
FRE E
DE LIVE RY
H OURS: M on.-Th u rs. 9 a.m .-9 p.m .,Fri. 9 a.m .-5 p.m .
Sat. 9 a.m .-5 p.m .,Su n. 9:30 a.m .-1 p.m . H OLIDA Y H OURS Ph arm aciston Call
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2012
ST. JOSEPH MARELLO
PARISH
OUR LADY OF
MT. CARMEL
ST. ROCCOS
Pittston
Parish Office will be closed on
Monday, Jan. 2 due to the holi-
day season. Priests are available
for any emergencies.
The Holy Name Society will
meet on Monday, Jan. 9, at 7:00
pm in the Parish Center. New
members are welcome.
Volunteer Christmas party
will be held on Friday, Jan. 13, at
6:30 p.m. in the parish hall for
lectors/commentators, choir
members, Eucharistic Ministers,
ushers, Religious Education
teachers/aides, Festivals/Picnic
volunteers For reservations
please call the rectory 654-6902
before January 9.
St. Joseph Marello Parish Raf-
fle is now underway. Buy your
tickets now for a chance to win
2012 Chevrolet Cruz or
$20,000.00! $20.00eachandon-
ly 2,000 tickets to be sold. Seller
of the winning ticket receives
$500.00. If you would like to sell
a few, just let us know. Call Con-
nie Toole-655-3681, Frank Scia-
bacucchi 655-6125, Pena Han-
sen-332-5989, or the rectory of-
fice-654-6902.
Church envelopes come
through the mail every other
month.
The Diocesan Wedding Anni-
versary Mass will be celebrated
on Sunday, June 3. Bishop Jo-
seph Bambera will preside at a
2:30 p.m. Mass in the Cathedral,
followed by a reception. Please
note the event is designed for
25th and 50th anniversary cele-
brants, but we can include cou-
ples who missed their special
year.
Cathedral seating will be re-
served for the anniversary cou-
ples. Call the Rectory at 654-
6902 to make your reservation.
Mt. Carmel Senior Choir will
hold rehearsal on Monday from
7-8:30 p.m. St. Rocco Senior
Choir will resume weekly re-
hearsals on Tuesdays at 7:30
p.m. in the choir loft of St. Rocco
Church. New members are wel-
come.
The Mass Book for 2012 is
available. Mass Offerings will be
accepted for the months of Janu-
aryandFebruaryonly. Due tothe
large number of families, offer-
ings are acceptedona first come,
first serve basis. Come to the
rectory office on William St.
Weekday Masses: Monday
through Friday at 7:30 & 11:30
a.m. at Our Lady of Mt. Carmel
Faith
See FAITH, Page 12
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Dr. Smith tests for glaucoma, cataracts,
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homebound or in nursing homes. Medicare
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Church.
Every Tuesday after the- 7:30
& 11:30 a.m. Mass, Novena
prayers to the Miraculous Medal
and Mother Cabrini.
Every Tuesday at 7:00 p.m.
Holy Hour at our Lady of Mr.
Carmel Church.
Every Wednesday after the
7:30 &11:30 a.m. Mass, Novena
prayers to Saint Joseph and St.
Joseph Marello.
Weekend Masses: At Our La-
dy of Mt. Carmel Church, on
Saturday at 4:00 &7:00 p.m. and
on Sunday at 8:00 & 11:00 a.m.
At St. Rocco Church, on Satur-
day at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday
at 9:30 a.m.
OUR LADY OF THE
EUCHARIST PARISH
535 N Main Street, Pittston
Mass Schedule
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. and 10:30
a.m.
Daily Mass: 8:00 a.m.
Sacrament of Reconciliation
(Confessions)
Saturday from 3:30 p.m. to
3:45 p.m. and by appointment
Religious Education Classes
will be in recess until Sunday,
Jan. 8.
The Adult Choir is seeking
new members.
The parish will sponsor a
Night at the Races on Saturday,
Feb. 11. Audra Casper and Cindy
Vough will serve as chairper-
sons. The gates will open at 5:30
p.m. with post time at 6:30 p.m.
Dinner will be served. There will
be an organizational meeting for
volunteers on Thursday, Jan. 12,
at 7:00p.m. inthe parishhall. All
parishioners are invited.
Letters have been mailed to
those who participated in the
22nd Annual Lucky Number
Calendar. If you would like to
participate, please call the parish
office. Calendars make wonder-
ful Christmas presents.
The parish is again supporting
the Pennsylvanians for Human
Life Crisis Pregnancy Center in
Wilkes-Barre by participating in
the Baby Bottle Project. Parish-
ioners may take a bottle home
and fill it with loose change dur-
ing Advent and return it by Dec.
31. All monies from this project
will help to keep the Center open
daily to meet the needs of moth-
ers and babies in crisis.
His Excellency, the Most Rev-
erend Joseph C. Bambera, D.D.,
J.C.L., Bishop of Scranton and
the Office for Parish Life &
Evangelization/FamilyLife wish
to invite couples celebrating
their 25th or 50th wedding anni-
versary in 2012 to a diocesan
Wedding Anniversary Mass on
Sunday, June 3. The event in-
cludes a 2:30 pm Mass at St. Pe-
ters Cathedral followed by a re-
ception. Requests for an invita-
tion, with a mailing address that
will be accurate in March,
should be made through your
pastor before March 1.
The next meeting for all the
youth, grades 8 through 12 will
be held Sunday, Jan. 22, from
5:00 to 6:30 p.m. in the Reli-
gious Education Center at Our
Lady of the Eucharist.
The address for the parish
webpage is:www.eucharist-pitt-
ston.org.
The Parish is now on Face-
book.
On the first Friday of each
month Communion is brought to
those who are unable to partici-
pate in Sunday Mass because of
age or health. The Sacrament of
the Anointing of the Sick is cele-
brated with anyone seriously ill,
anticipating a serious operation,
or quite elderly. Please notify the
parish office of anyone desiring
these Sacraments, as well as any-
one in the hospital or a nursing
home.
PRINCE OF PEACE PARISH
Old Forge
St. Marys Church, Lawrence
Street, Saturday Vigil 4 p.m.
Sunday, Mass 8 and 10 a.m.
St. Lawrences Church, Main
Street, Saturday Vigil 5:30 p.m.
Sunday Mass 11:15 a.m.
SACRED HEART OF JESUS
Lackawanna Ave., Dupont
This weeks Mass schedule is:
Monday through Wednesday at
7:00 a.m.; no Mass on Thursday
or Friday; Saturday at 4:00 p.m.
and Sunday at 8:30 a.m. and
10:30 a.m.
The Rectory office will be
closed on Monday, Jan. 2. Next
weekend, the Christmas decora-
tions will be taken down and put
away following the 10:30 a.m.
mass. Your help would be appre-
ciated.
The Senior Citizens Outreach
Committee will meet on
Wednesday, Jan. 11 at 6 p.m. in
the rectory meeting room.
Please note that in case of
school closing, the CCD pro-
gram will also be closed for that
night. If there is a delay to the
start of school, CCDclasses will
be held as scheduled. There will
be no CCD class on Jan. 2
(Christmas Break). There will be
class on Jan. 9; no class on Jan.
16 due to the M.L. King holiday;
at the Jan. 23 class report cards
will be distributed and the CCD
program mass will take place on
Jan. 29 at the 8:30 a.m. mass.
Grade 6 will be the ministers at
the mass. Students are to meet at
8:10AM in the church hall.
Senior Citizens Outreach
Committee continues to reach
those senior members of the par-
ish who cannot attend Mass by
mailing the church bulletin to
themweekly and providing them
with a small gift at Christmas
and Easter. If you have a family
member or knowof a parishioner
who is homebound or in a nurs-
ing home who would like to re-
ceive the weekly bulletin, please
contact the rectory at 654-
3713.If you wish to make a dona-
tiontooffset the cost of their pro-
jects, you can either send it to the
rectory or drop it into the collec-
tion basket. Please label your do-
nation SENIOR CITIZENS
OUTREACH.
Womens Society will meet on
Tues., Jan. 3, 6:30 p.m. in the
church hall. New members are
always welcome.
Holy Name Society will meet
on Wed., Jan 4, 7:00 p.m. in the
church hall. New members are
always welcome.
Parish Pastoral Council will
meet on Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7
p.m. in lower level of the rectory.
ST. BARBARA PARISH
28 Memorial Avenue, Exeter
Office Hours: Monday Fri-
day 9:00 a.m. 3:00 p.m.
Evenings, by appointment.
Phone: 654-2103
The envelopes for January and
February 2012 have been or-
dered and you should receive
them this month. The childrens
envelopes and the 2012 St. Bar-
bara Parish calendars are availa-
ble in the back of each church.
One calendar per family please.
available.
His ExcellencyThe Most Rev-
Evangelization/FamilyLife wish
to invite couples celebrating
their 25th or 50th wedding anni-
versary in 2012 to a diocesan
Faith
See FAITH, Page 13
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Wedding Anniversary Mass on
Sunday, June 3. The event in-
cludes a 2:30p.m. Mass at St. Pe-
ters Cathedral followed by a re-
ception. Requests for an invita-
tion, with a mailing address that
will be accurate in March,
should be made through your
pastor before March 1.
ST. JOHN THE
EVANGELIST PARISH
COMMUNITY
Pittston
New Years Day 10 a.m. and
12:15 p.m.
NewYears the office will re-
open on Jan. 3. If services of
priest are needed call the office
and leave a message.
The Greater Pittston Food
Pantry is accepting donations of
gently used adult winter coats,
hats, scarves and gloves for the
annual winter coat giveaway.
Altar and Rosary Society
meeting will be held on Wednes-
day, Jan. 4 at 1:30 p.m. Refresh-
ments will be served.
Holy Name and Altar and
Rosary Society members break-
fast will be heldonJanuary8fol-
lowing the 10 a.m. Mass. For
more information and reserva-
tions call Joe Walsh 655-8097.
Holy Name Society Meeting
will be held January 22 at 11a.m.
at Seton Catholic Auditorium.
Holy Name and Altar and
Rosary Night at the Races will
be held Feb. 18 at Seton auditori-
um. Doors open at 6 p.m.
Bereavement Support Group
will begin meeting on Jan. 24
and will continue Tuesday eve-
nings from 7 to 8:30 p.m. in the
parish center dining room.
The Holy Name Society is
holding their annual February
2012 lottery. Tickets are $10 each
and available in the parish office
Monday to Friday 9 a.m. to 4
p.m. also at the front entrance of
the church. Ticket returns must
by in by January 31. Proceeds
benefit Holy Name and parish
community projects.
Abreakfast for the Holy Name
and Altar and Rosary Society
members and guest will be on
Sunday, Jan. 8 following the 10
a.m. Mass. For more information
call 654-8097,
The Greater Pittston Food
Pantry is sponsored by the Care
and Concern Committee of St.
John the Evangelist Parish. If
you are in need of food call 654-
9923.
Distribution of food is by ap-
pointment only.
The Free Health Clinic is open
every Wednesday from 5:30 in
the former Seton Catholic High
School, and on first come first
serve basis.
Pediatric Health Clinic is open
on the first and third Thursday of
the month.
Registration is held in the Set-
on building from 4:30 to 5:30
p.m. Bring your childs immuni-
zations records.
Greater Pittston Kids Closet is
open Wednesday from9 to11:30
a.m. and 5 to 7 p.m.
The Closet accepts donations
new and gently used. For infor-
mation call the parish office.
ST JOHNS LUTHERAN
9 Wood St., Pittston
Pastor John Castellani
Organist Marcia Colleran
If you would like to join this
Church Family call 655-2505.
Envelopes for 2012 are in. If
you didnt get yours...Please see
Sharleen Palimia
Christmas T-shirts with the
name of the Church on the back
and font that reads Jesus, the
Sweetest Thing I Know are still
available for $10.
Portals of Prayer are available
in the rear of the Church.
There is a opening for Votive
Candle and Bulletin for January
8. Leave a message for Doris
Mersincavage.
There will be an increase of 5
dollars for the Votive Candle
which now will be $10.
ST. JOHNS P.M. CHURCH
316 Main St., Avoca
Sunday Service 10:00 a.m.
Tuesday Bible Study 6:00-
7:30 p.m.
ST. MARIA GORETTI
Laflin Road, Laflin, PA. 18702
42redwood@comcast.net
www.stmariagoretti-laflin.org
Confessions are heard at St.
Maria Goretti Church every Sat-
urday between the hours of 3:30
p.m. and 4:00 p.m. or anytime
upon an individuals request.
The American Red Cross will
hold its annual Blood Drive on
Sunday Jan. 22, in the Parish
Center from 8:00 a.m. to 1:30
p.m.
There will be no CCDclass to-
day Jan. 1. Classes will resume
Faith
See FAITH, Page 18
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Congress shall make no law abridg-
ing the freedom of speech, or of the
press
Those few words from the first amend-
ment to the constitution may well be the
most important in the document. Those
words are what distinguishes the United
States frommuch of the rest of the world;
from extremes where governments own
and run the newspapers and citizens can
be arrested for criticizing the government
as in North Korea to otherwise free West-
ern countries which have laws against Na-
zi or KKK-style speech and insulting reli-
gions.
The founders wrote those words to pro-
vide forums for citizens to criticize and
keep track of what the government is do-
ing without fear of retribution and they
wrote them, as we say today, with zero tol-
erance. So here because we cant have
laws banning Nazi or KKK-style or other
reprehensible speech we are not on a slip-
pery slope to allowing more egregious re-
strictions.
With those words from the constitution
in mind and with a New Year upon us we
see today as an opportunity to examine
what those words mean to us and to you,
our readers.
For starters in 2012, as has been the pol-
icy for several years, we will not run un-
attributed letters to the editor. Readers
might argue that is a blow against free
speech and to a degree they may be right.
Andwe might argue, basedonsome of the
unsigned letters we get including one fun-
nyone this weekabout the WyomingArea
school board, the insistence on attribution
may make for a less lively paper some
weeks. But remember the words say con-
gress shall make no law abridging the
freedom of the press.
That means we are free to run letters
from our readers, or not, as we see fit and
no law can change that.
So we will continue to insist on attribu-
tion. That doesnt mean those inclined
dont have an outlet for their anonymous
hate and criticism. Go stand on a soapbox
on a busy corner with a mask on and de-
liver your message.
Heres something we promise not to do
in these pages in 2012: act like were
smarter than you. That doesnt mean we
wont have opinions, but we promise not
to lecture you on your lifestyles. We may
write, say, dont drink and drive, but we
wont write dont drink.
Heres something we hope to do better
in 2012: hold local politicians up to a
brighter light.
In 2012 well
press ahead
For the past 20 years, I have had the honor and privilege to
serve Greater Pittston as Magisterial District Judge. I found this
position to be most rewarding in many ways. I was truly honored
to have the bi-partisan support of the community in four consec-
utive elections.
Duringmytenure I hadthe opportunitytoserve as President of
the Luzerne CountyMagisterial Judges Associationandas state-
wide president of the Pennsylvania Special Court Judges Asso-
ciation.
The Supreme Court of Pennsylvania appointed me Chair of
the Minor Court Rules Committee and a member of the Com-
mittee on Race and Gender Bias in the Judicial System.
I met United States Supreme Court Justices, Pennsylvania Su-
preme Court Justices, Pennsylvania Governors, legislators, and
shared a few moments with a United States President. I was in-
vitedtoschools andhadthe opportunitytolecture our youthas to
the evils of drug and alcohol abuse, which I witnessed on a daily
basis in our courtroom.
I was invited to senior centers and service group meetings
where I shared the workings of the magisterial court systemand
discussed cases in our community. I had the distinction of ad-
ministering the oath of office to all elected officials for the past
two decades.
I recognize I would never have had the opportunity to grow
professionally and personally by earning these life experiences
and cherished moments without the support and encouragement
of Greater Pittston.
Your confidence in my ability nowleads me on a newpath, as I
will be swornas a member of the Luzerne CountyCourt of Com-
mon Pleas.
I am forever indebted to the residents of Greater Pittston and
thankful for your friendship.
Fred A. Pierantoni III
Magisterial District Judge 11-1-04
Pierantoni praises GP as he goes to county court
OUROPINION
YOUROPINION
TimDymond sent us this photo of his son Jake sharing a moment on Christmas Eve with Jakes grandparents dog Normin West
Wyoming.
Jake is the grandson of Butch and Sue Gilligan and the son of Marissa Gilligan and Tim Dymond.
YOUR SPACE
Ask Santa to bring me a bone
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Question #1
What Pittston
Landmark was sent to
the junkyard in 1956?
1956 56 Years Ago
James Kehoe Ton-
rey, grandson of John C. Kehoe Sr.,
assumed the managerial post with the
Kehoe Insurance Agency on South Main
Street. Tonrey moved to Pittston from
Harrisburg after completing a training
course with the Maryland Casualty
School of Insurance in Baltimore Mary-
land.
Mrs. Santo Tabone of Pittston had
for three years donated something to the
Lackawanna County Convalescent
Home, so in 1956 she along with Mrs.
Michael Aquilina and Mrs. Sam Lica-
ta decided to supply cushions to the
patients at the facility. The women went
about collecting funds to purchase the
300 seat cushions. The ladies received a
thank you letter from administrator
Joseph J. Melvin stating We kindly
convey to the members and friends at St.
Roccos church our sincere thanks for
the seat covers. We appreciate your
thoughtfulness during this busy time of
year.
Duryeans New Year resolutions: Be-
tty Koes to be more careful of hot dogs
at the PTA stand; Dorothy Shimko, to
learn how to ride the boys bike she won
at the Lions picnic; Peggy Anderika,
not to bake any more ready-mixed
cakes; Stanley Burke Berkoski, to
wear his Davey Crockett outfit on Main
Street some afternoon.
The Sunday Dispatch Inquiring Pho-
tographer asked: What was the farthest
trip you ever made from your home?
Pat Prokop of Wyoming answered,
California, I was looking for work
there for about four months.
Ruth Loascher, Pittston said,
Brooklyn, Ive been on a lot of short
trips.
David Reese of Pittston stated, Ko-
rea, with the Army. That was June of
1954; I was there when they signed the
armistice that ended the fighting.
1966 46 Years Ago
An editorial column in the Sunday
Dispatch took exception to a story writ-
ten in the Wilkes-Barre Record regard-
ing John C. Kehoe Sr. and the sale of
his Harding mansion. It stated, that re-
porting on the sale was not the problem,
but the writer calling Kehoe a whiskey
salesman and referring to his many
friends as Kehoe cronies gave the
impression Kehoe was of less than hon-
orable character. The Dispatch editorial
went on to list the many anonymous
contributions Kehoe had made to the
community, churches, industries and
childhood friends. The homestead was
sold four years after Kehoes death to
Kenneth Marrell and his wife for ap-
proximately $300,000 including acreage
and servants quarters. The estimated
cost to build the mansion in 1927 was
$500,000.
Resolutions for the New Year were on
the minds of Dupont residents. Tommy
Sheridan resolved to get his term pa-
pers done three weeks ahead of time;
Dorothy Sroka to say Youre wel-
come; Rita Wozniak and Bernie
Draus to make an annual trip to Virgin-
ia; and The Fugitives, a prominent local
band, resolved to have more practice
sessions. Band members were Tony
Golya, lead guitar; John Gerlak, bass;
Billy Redicka, drums; Gerry Race of
Old Forge, rhythm guitar and Roy and
Roger Mattei of Exeter, organ and vo-
cals.
The custom of setting New Years
resolutions began in Rome at the time
of Julius Caesar, and mostly reflected
the theme of being good to others.
Bonnie Salek of Duryea was the first
person in the Greater Pittston Area to be
selected for the VISTA or Volunteers in
Service to America Program. She was
scheduled to train for six weeks in Eu-
gene, Oregon, after which she would be
assigned to a territory for a year. Cre-
ated by Lyndon Johnsons Economic
Opportunity Act of 1964, VISTA was
the domestic version of the Peace Corps
and was brought under the newly cre-
ated AmeriCorps program during the
Clinton Administration.
Question #2
What could not be seen from Water
Street before January 1966?
1976 36 Years Ago
The Pittston Area Marine Corps Phys-
ical Fitness Team coached by Jon
McHale placed second in a local match
and was set to move on to state-wide
competition. Joe Hensley took first
place in pull-ups and Sam Granteed in
the standing long jump with a 9 ft 2 in
leap. Jimmy Graziosi led the Patriots
with 87 sit-ups in two minutes. Sam
Granteed, Mike Corcoran and Mark
Justick scored perfect 100s in the 300-
yard run.
Major General Walter Churchills
vision was to give every child in this
country a chance to succeed in life and
to live a healthy lifestyle The United
States Marines Youth Foundation was
incorporated in 1967 to endow the Youth
Physical Fitness Program and others like
it.
Len Pesotini of Duryea led the nation
in pass receptions during the 1975 Indi-
ana University of Pennsylvania football
season by catching 74 throws for a total
of 1088 yards. He was one of only six
receivers in the country to top the 1000-
yard mark. In a game against West-
minster, Pesotini caught 14 passes from
All American quarterback Lynn Hieber
breaking the game record of 11. Pesotini
was inducted into the Indiana University
of Pennsylvania Hall of Fame in 2011.
1986 26 Years Ago
Some Wyoming residents New Years
resolutions: Bob Potenza to join the
family in New York City in 1986; Rich
Belza Jr. to be declared the best chef in
the Wyoming Valley; Bob Begliomini,
to join the Knights of Columbus; Mayor
Al Hizney, to finally open his own
school of boxing; Leo Latona, a suc-
cessful year as new owner of Leos Sup-
per Club; Nick Marianacci, a new
parking lot in front of his restaurant; and
Mrs. and Mrs. Michael Salvo, to keep
up their good work of babysitting their
grandchildren.
Rick Ide became the TV-kid as a
teen studying television and radio repair.
For a time, he worked with his father
Don, owner of Action Antenna in Exe-
ter. By 1981, Rick and his wife Sue had
opened Rickys TV Service on East
Sixth Street in Wyoming. Rick mostly
worked in the customers home, replac-
ing anything from small wires to high-
voltage transformers. With the new
satellite systems becoming available,
Rick installed the black-mesh aluminum
dishes weighing 200 pounds and mea-
suring 10 feet in diameter.
According to history-of-satelite-tv.net
the cost to the everyday consumer was
very high. In 1980, a satellite system
cost approximately $10,000. By 1985,
the prices on the systems dropped to
about $3000 each. The programming
was free during these years. People
made a one-time purchase of a system
and received more than 100 channels,
including every basic and premium
cable service.
Members of the Mothers Klub of
Humpty Dumpty Kollege, Laura Potor-
ski, Charlene Scarantino, Betty Turco,
Donna Padrazas, Debbie Watson,
Linda Sperrazza, Frances Carey, Nan-
cy DiMaggio, Terry Ramiza, Ann
Marie Denisco, Joyce Ashley, Claudia
Blank, Karen Joseph, Mary Clarke,
Karen Sobuta, Pat Kulick, Doreen
Latona, Helen Gaul, Maria Maida,
Janet Stackhouse Columbia Farrug-
gia, Vicki Pepe, JoAnn LoPresto,
Monica Orenich and Patty Fasciana
gathered to celebrate the holidays.
Charlene Evancho owner of the school
hosted the party at her home.
1996 16 Years Ago
Despite a slump in the national trad-
ing card business and a number of lay-
offs, managers of Topps Chewing Gum
in Duryea planned to keep their local
plant operating. Bargaining agents
agreed to a six-month contract putting a
stop to the rumor that the company
based in Duryea for 30 years would
close.
Members of Local 229 voted to ap-
prove a contract that raised the average
hourly wage by 25 cents to $11.75 along
with company financed health benefits.
Citing the 1994 Baseball strike as a
contributing factor in poor sales, compa-
ny executives hoped they had hit bot-
tom.
The Topps Company was founded in
1938 and added baseball cards to their
gum products in 1951.
Answer #1
The Miners Bank Clock that stood at
the corner of Main and Broad Streets
from1912 to January of 1956 was dis-
mantled and deposited in the Al Miller
junkyard. It was replaced with a hang-
ing chime clock.
Answer #2
The entire length of the First Presby-
terian Church and the Broad Street
Methodist Church steeple could not be
seen from Water Street until after Pitt-
ston city razed the Cash Store Block
Building in late December of 1965. The
building was built sometime in the early
1900s. Miners Bank purchased the
building and cleared the site for a park-
ing area.
We spend January 1 walking through
our lives, room by room, drawing up a
list of work to be done, cracks to be
patched. Maybe this year, to balance the
list, we ought to walk through the rooms
of our lives... not looking for flaws, but
for potential.
Ellen Goodman
Len Pesotini led nation in receptions in 76
Peeking
into the past
With Judy Minsavage
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I have givenupmakingNewYears Resolutions. Yearly
they were made with great resolve and determination to
keep them. Maybe a month or two into the NewYear they
were forgotten or deemed impossible and so away they
flew with the wind.
Instead, as the New Year of 2012 begins I re-examine
the lessons I have learned on my 77-year journey through
life and share them with you.
Use the Talents that God Gives
Not every person is earmarked for fame or fortune.
Recognizing the things we do best and use them for our
betterment and those around us is a responsibility and
offers great joy. The ability to reach out with a smile,
touch a hand in time of need, speak words of comfort,
praise or counsel are talents God intends us to use.
Find Joy in our Surroundings
There will be those to scoff at what the eye beholds in
our surroundings. The ability to look beyond is reward-
ing and gives great joy. The color of the sky as night is
beginningtofall withshades of blues, pinks, reds, or gold
intermingledwithclouds, the stance of a tree witha trunk
that requires more than two people to embrace, fresh fall-
en snowthat glitters and sparkles, the cherry blossoms in
full bloom, the church steeples that reach into the sky
reminding us of who we are, and the interaction and
lonely but worthwhile. Not everyone will believe in you
or want to stand with you. The important thing is that you
had the courage and conviction to take a stand.
Lifes Changing Styles
I remember sitting in a fifth grade class and the teacher
relating that in our lifetime there would be a material that
would not have to ironed, people would go to outer space,
and a loaf of bread would cost $3.00. Those are little
changes in comparison to I-phones, I-pads, and I-pods.
Life was so simple when we turned on the radio and lis-
tened to the Green Hornet or picked up a phone and
heard number please.
As the numbers in age increase changes in life styles
are difficult to understand: Direct Deposit, ATM ma-
chines, paying bills on line, shopping on line and Skye.
Yikes!
A Friend is a Gift You Give Yourself
I remember reading those words on a plaque that hung
in a dear friends home. Friends are people who come
into your life and a connection of mutual feelings of un-
derstanding, laughter, caring, respect and loyalty are
shared. Afriend does more than share laughter and good
times. They are there in time of need, unhappiness, and
difficulty holding your hands or listening with a tissue in
hand. Friends are priceless.
greetings of people we meet in our daily lives.
Listen to the Voice Within
Many will call it intuition and perhaps it is. I prefer to
thinkof that voice as the HolySpirit whoplants anidea or
thought in our minds. It is a thought that does not go
away. Maybe it is a call to a relative or friends, a note that
must be answered, applying for a job, volunteering, vis-
iting a sick neighbor with a little token in hand. Trying to
dismiss the thought with later, tomorrow, or Ill get to it
doesnt work. If the thought keeps coming back its the
Holy Spirit..
When youre in the River, Swim
Papas favorite expression. When a problemarises and
must be resolved you stay the course. Each step or stroke
takes you closer to the opposite side or solution.
Keep the Lines of Communication Open
Expressing feelings and thoughts were not learned
early in life. We were taught that children were seen and
not heard. Keeping unexpressed thoughts and anger in-
side leads to a festering of the heart which is damaging to
communicating. Listen to what is being said with an
open ear and understanding heart..
Crusaders Stand Alone
Climbing on a soapbox to take a stand on an issue that
is truly believed in sometimes can be disappointing and
MARIA REMEMBERS
Maria Capolarella Montante
No resolutions for 2012
See MARIA, Page 17
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457 North Main Street, Suite 101, Pittston, PA 18640
655-0300
SKIBITSKY&MOLINO
Attorneys at Law
ATTY. GREGORY S. SKIBITSKY, JR.
GSkibitsky@skibitskyandmolino.com
ATTY. GENE M. MOLINO
GMolino@skibitskyandmolino.com
Wishing You A
Happy NewYear
from the Attorneys and staff at
The members and friends of
the Falls Senior Center spon-
sored by the Area Agency on
Aging for Luzerne/Wyoming
counties recently enjoyed a visit
fromSanta and Mrs. Claus. First
row, from left, Marita Zim, Don
Faux, Norene Faux, Santa,
Mrs.Claus, Art Haefner, Eliza-
beth Rutkowski. Second row,
Eugene Smith, Stanley Hedrick,
Dee Hedrick, Florence Keyes,
Norma Talbot, Jean Franko, Ma-
rie Dowse, Margaret Zalackas,
Rosemary Lunny, Eleanor Rezy-
kowski, Jeanette Martin, Herb
Watkins. Third row, Ron Jack-
son, Marilyn Fitzgerald, Elaine
Pendleton, Margie OFier, Pat
Fisher, Pat Smith, Darlene Head-
ley, Warren Keller.
The Center offers daily re-
freshments and the following ac-
tivities : Wii, Shuffle Board,
Scrabble, and Yatzee.
Shuffle Board tournaments
between teams are played at the
Center each Thursday from
12:30 p.m. to 2 p.m.
Mini lunch lectures are given
several times weekly. Anyone
60+is welcome to come for a hot
meal at noon for a suggested do-
nation of $2 should RSVP to
Twila at 388-2623 by 12:30 p.m.
the day before.
The Center is open 9 a.m. 2
p.m. Mon- Fri. and located on
SR 92.
Santa and Mrs. Claus visit Falls Senior Center
Faith in God gets Stronger with Age
It is a grace implanted in our hearts and souls that drawus closer to
Him. There is a realizationandcomfort that we have not come this far
in life alone. It is a time of gratitude and thanksgiving for who we are
and all that has been given to us.
Retirement is the Crowning Glory of Years of Hard Work
The reward of freedom from the daily responsibility of earning a
living. The luxury of staying in bed on a cold, snowy morning. The
realization that you have arrived and that time is not money but LIFE.
Survival
Every day living offers joys, disappointments and let downs. They
are coped with and life goes on. Sometimes we are hit with an event
that is painful to the heart and soul and the journey seems insur-
mountable. One day on that journey comes the realization there is a
hidden factor within us that is called Survival.
The process of Survival has no rules or time limits. Living each
day one at a time, accepting support fromfamily and friends, keeping
busy and above all Trust in God. Trust in God sometimes is the hard
part when your mind and heart are crying out Why Me? Then the
miracle happens when one day you can honestly say, Why not me?
I ama human being, living in a human body and a society with count-
less malfunctions. What happens is not Gods fault.
LOVE
Love everyminute of your day. Love those whosurroundyou. Love
what you are doing even though it is not your favorite task. Love life,
enjoy it and appreciate it.
Maria
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Jan. 8. The next meeting for the
Pittston Catholic Youth Group
will be held on Sunday, Jan. 22,
from 5:00 p.m. to 6:30 p.m. in
the religious Education Center at
Our Lady of the Eucharist Par-
ish.
ST. MARYS POLISH
NATIONAL CATHOLIC
CHURCH
200 Stephenson St.
Duryea
Rev. Fr. Carmen G. Bolock,
Pastor
Sun. Dec. 25 9 a.m. Mass -
Benediction
Sun. Jan 1 - 9 a.m. Mass
Mon. Jan 2 - 8:30 a.m. Mass.
SAINT MONICAS CHURCH
363 West 8th Street, West
Wyoming, PA 18644
Office Hours - 9:00 a.m. to
4:30 p.m., Mon. Fri.
Phone: 570-693-1991
Email: olos363@verizon.net
website: www.stmonicanepa-
.com.
Father Leo J. McKernan, Pas-
tor.
New Years Day: 11:00 a.m. at
O.L.O.S.
Mass Schedule:
Saturday Vigil: 4:00 p.m.
OLOS
Sunday: 8:30 a.m. STJ; 11:00
a.m. OLOS
Daily Mass at OLOS
Mon-Tues-Wed -Fri: 7:00 a.m.
Thurs: 7:00 p.m. followed
withBible Study&Night Prayer.
Bible Study will resume on Ja-
nuary 5th.
Father Leo McKernan, Pastor
and Bill Jenkins, Deacon wish
you and your family and friends
all the Joy and Peace of the
Christmas Season and many
Blessings in the New Year 2012.
The Parishioners of St. Monicas
Parish extends a warm welcome
to join in our Liturgical celebra-
tions, Healing Services and Bi-
ble Study during the coming
year.
R.C.I.A. The Rite of Chris-
tian Initiation (Education) for
Adults: Perhaps your New Years
Resolution might be to consider
learningmore about your faithor
looking into the R.C.I.A. Pro-
gram. This program is for any-
one interested in learning more
about their Catholic Faith as well
as anyone interested in preparing
to become a Catholic and receive
the Sacraments. Call the Rectory
(693-1991) and speak to Father
McKernan. These classes are
held on Wednesday evenings at
7:00 p.m. on the back porch of
the Rectory.
CCD CLASSES: There will
be no CCD classes on Sunday,
Jan. 1. Classes will resume on
Jan. 8.
H.S. Theology Group will
meet in the Rectory with Father
McKernan at 9:45 a.m. every
Sunday (Resuming on January
8.) This new program offers
Teens the opportunity to learn
more about the Catholic Faith as
it relates to important issues of
today. The focus is on Jesus and
the Scriptures. Registration is on
going so if you want to attend,
please call Father McKernan at
693-1991.
SAINT PETERS
EVANGELICAL LUTHERAN
CHURCH
100 Rock Street, Hughestown
Stpeters_elc@yahoo.com
654-1009
Confirmation Class - 9:00
a.m.
Sunday School 9:00 a.m.
Worship Service 10:00 a.m.
Sunday, Jan.1, 10 a.m. Lessons
and Carols Service in lieu of the
Worship service; everyone is
welcome
QUEEN OF THE APOSTLES
PARISH
715 Hawthorne St.
(570) 457-3412
stmarysavoca@verizon.net
www.stmaryavoca.4lpi.com
Queen of the Apostles Parish
will celebrate the feast of the So-
lemnity of Mary, the Mother of
God, today at the 8, 9:30, and 11
a.m. Masses. People of all faith
traditions are welcome. Please
note this is a holy day of obliga-
tion for Catholics.
will not have religious education
classes January 1 and 2 in ob-
servance of the New Years Day
holiday.
The pastoral council will meet
Monday, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in St.
Marys Rectory, 715 Hawthorne
St.
The womens guild will meet
Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in St.
Marys Rectory.
The worship committee will
meet Monday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in
St. Marys Rectory.
The social concerns commit-
tee will meet Tuesday, Jan. 17at 7
p.m. in St. Marys Rectory.
has gone green! Any person who
would like to drop off aluminum
cans may place them in a con-
tainer in the empty bayof St. Ma-
rys Rectory garage which will
be open on the weekend during
Mass times: Saturday at 4 p.m.
and Sunday at 8, 10, and 11 a.m.
To have your cans picked up,
please call Jason at 351-5062.
Become a fan today! Queen of
the Apostles Parish now has a
page on Facebook. ***
Anyone who is interested in
renting St. Marys School for
child care, parties, or other use-
ful activities is invited to call the
rectory at 457-3412 to learn
more about this opportunity.
Daily Masses: 8 a.m.
(Wednesday at 7 p.m.)
Eucharistic Adoration: Tues-
days from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.
Miraculous Medal Novena:
Wednesday following the 7 p.m.
Mass
Weekends Masses: Saturday
at 4 p.m.; Sunday at 8, 9:30, 11
a.m.
Confession: Saturdays 3-3:45
p.m.; anytime upon request by
calling 457-3412.
Prayer Chain: 457-5867
SECOND PRESBYTERIAN
143 Parsonage St., Pittston
Sunday, Jan. 1 11 a.m. Wor-
ship
Tuesday, Jan 3 7 p.m. AA
meeting
Wednesday, Jan 4 6:30 p.m.
choir rehearsal
TRINITY EPISCOPAL
CHURCH
Spring Street and Montgom-
ery Avenue, West Pittston
Youth Program: 10:45 a.m. ev-
ery Sunday.
Faith
See FAITH, Page 19
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Faith Forum for Adults: En-
richment for adults seeking spir-
itual renewal and opportunities
for ministry and volunteerism.
Parish Life Events Team: Bi-
monthly first Sundays.
Parish Council: Every second
Sunday.
Women of Trinity: Every third
Sunday.
WOT Ministry Invitation. The
Women of Trinity have under-
taken a ministry to help support
Good Shepherd Episcopal
Church of Scranton in their ou-
treach to the homeless of the re-
gion.
Each month after enjoying a
home cooked meal at Good
Shepherd all who have needs
may shop for necessities like
clothing, shoes, toiletries in a
store-like setting in the churchs
refurbished basement of donated
items. Donations of trial size and
sample size toiletries are wel-
come.
Music Together Classes: Fun
and music for infants and chil-
dren through age five accompa-
nied by a parent or caregiver.
Visitwww.musictogether.com
for details or call 654-3261.
UNITED METHODIST
CHURCH
Corner of Broad & Church
Sts.
Rev. Dr. Michael Turner
Sunday Worship Service 9:30
a.m.
Childrens Sunday School:
9:30 a.m.
Holy Communion: 1st Sunday
each month
Choir Rehearsal: Thursdays
at 7 p.m. unless told otherwise
Websitewww.umcpittston.org
Phone 655-4340
United Methodist Women:
2nd Monday unless told other-
wise
Hoagie Sale on Tuesday, Janu-
ary 10.
Choices are - ham, salami and
cheese or turkey and cheese with
or without onion. Price of the
hoagie is $4.
Orders must be received by
Sunday, January 8.
To place and order call 654-
3936 or 693-1572.
Wednesday, Jan. 18 - Ad.
Council meeting at 7 p.m.
Faith
Note: The Dispatch had an
early news deadline last week
due to the New Years Day holi-
day. The followingitems for Mat-
ters of Faith arrived late and are
note included in the listing which
begins on page 10.
The Worship and Music Com-
mittee of Saint Peters Evangel-
ical Lutheran Church, Rock and
Center Streets in Hughestown,
will present a Service of Lessons
and Carols today at 10:00 a.m.
This service will be an opportu-
nity to come and celebrate the
Birth of Jesus Christ through
prayer, scripture, song, and mu-
sic.
The format of the service will
be the same as it has been in
years past, including the reading
of brief scripture lessons high-
lighting events surrounding the
Birth of Christ, congregational
singing of Christmas carols, and
other music.
Members of Saint Peters will
serve as lectors and prayer lead-
ers. Michael Sowa will serve as
organist, and members of the
church choir will lead the con-
gregation in song.
All are invited to this special
service on the first day of the
New Year.
ST. JOHNS LUTHERAN
7 Wood Street Pittston PA
18640
Serving in the House of the
Lord
Pastor John Castellani
Organist - Marcia Colleran
Lay Reader - Doris Mersin-
cavage
Acolyte - Brooke Cherney
Ushers - Alan Drummond &
Bob Shumaker
Please keep in your prayer list
our military personnel and their
families, all the unemployed, ev-
eryone who had recent flood
damage in and around the
Wyoming Valley, Dan Peck,
Emalee Kachurka, Donna Mis-
cavage, Bobby Drummond, Leo-
nard Peterson, Gene Rooney,
Charles Barone, Joe Dennis,
Mike & Jody Farrell and Barb
Mizenko and Renee Weislogel,
also shut-ins Mary Agnes Man-
gle, Ted Burkel, Donna Capo-
bianco, Elaine Proietto ,Char-
lotte Kerns, Donna Bobbouine
and Gladys Bowman
Envelopes for 2012 are in. If
you didnt get yours see Sharleen
Palimia.
Portals of Prayer are available
in the rear of the Church.
There is an increase of 5 dol-
lars for the Votive Candle which
is now$10 while the bulletin $ 5,
effective today.
If you would like to join our
Church Family have any ques-
tions or comments please call us
at 655-2505. Please leave your
C H U R C H N O T E S
Service of Lessons and Carols
today at St. Peters in Hughestown
See CHURCH NOTES, Page 21
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Tis Weeks Dining Guide Feature:
DECEMBER
DINING GUIDE
WINNER
SHIRLEY WILCOX
of Pittston
To Advertise In Te Dining Guide Call:
Karen Fiscus 829-7291 Steve Morris 829-7290
ENTER TOWIN
THIS MONTHS
GIFT CERTIFICATE:
Fill out and deliver
or mail entry to:
Te Sunday Dispatch
Dining Guide
109 New Street
Pittston, PA 18640
Name:____________________
Address:___________________
__________________________
City:______________________
State:______________________
Zip:_______________________
Phone:____________________
CAFE ITALIA
CASTLE INN
COOPERS WATERFRONT
DENTES CATERING
ERNIE GS
FIRE & ICE
IPANEMA GRILLE
MARVELOUS MUGGS
NARDONES RESTAURANT
SAVOS PIZZA & RESTAURANT
TIPSY TURTLE
Look On Te Following Pages For
Tese Advertisers Weekly Ads
NOW THRU SUPER SUNDAY FEB. 5TH WHILE WATCHING THE GAME ON OUR
12 CUTS OF PIZZA ONLY $9.99
CHICKEN WINGS ONLY 40 Each
Eat-In Only Sold in 6 or 12 pieces only
OPEN TODAY (SAT)
NEW YEARS EVE 11:00 TO 8:00
seating till 7:00/Full Menu
OPEN TOMORROW (SUN)
NEW YEARS DAY 12:00 TO 8:00
seating till 7:00/LIMITED MENU
Pizza Chicken Wings Buffalo Bites
Giant Hot Dogs & Cold Hoagies ONLY
HAPPY NEW YEAR
Price does not include sales tax, cannot be combined with
other specials. Good for our red pizza only.
Expires 1/31/12
24 Cuts Pizza
Only
$
19.99
Price does not include sales tax, cannot be combined
with other specials. Expires 1/31/12
Get 12 Cuts of Pizza For
30 Piece Order
Of Wings
Only
Only
$
4.99
$
13.55
When You Buy 12 Cuts at
the Regular Price
Includes 1 Side Of Bleu
Cheese & Celery
Price does not include sales tax, cannot be combined with
other specials. Good for our red pizza only.
Expires 1/31/12
DELIVERY, PICK-UP OR EAT IN COUPONS
2
0
1
2
2
0
1
1
Rt. 11 Pittston By-Pass, Pittston Commons
OPEN 7 DAYS A WEEK
Open Weekdays 11-9
Fri & Sat 11-10 Sun 12-8 655-0001
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
NEW YEARS EVE &
NEW YEARS DAY
SPECIALS
BUY 18 CUTS of Unbaked
Pizza & GET 6 CUTS FREE
7
2
0
3
2
2
GIANT TV SCREENS
NO COUPONS NEEDED. Sorry, we dont deliver these specials.
Miller Lite & Coors Light Buckets (5 Bottles only $6.00)
16 oz. Miller Lite Pounder - only $2.00
Frosted Mugs - only $1.00 16 oz. Drafts - only $1.75
EVERY SUNDAY & MONDAY (No coupon needed. Sorry, we dont deliver these specials)
Buy 12 Cuts Of Pizza Get 1 Giant Hot Dog FREE
or Buy 24 Cuts And Get 3 Giant Hot Dogs FREE
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Dont just watch a movie, experience it!
All Stadium Seating and Dolby Surround Sound
825.4444 rctheatres.com
3 Hrs. Free Parking At Participating Park & Locks with Theatre Validation
Free Parking at Midtown Lot Leaving After 8pm and All Day Saturday & Sunday.
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All Showtimes Include Pre-Feature Content
Avoid the lines: Advance tickets available from Fandango.com
ALL FEATURES NOW PRESENTED IN DIGITAL FORMAT
FIRST MATINEE SHOW ALL SEATS $5.25
EXPERIENCE D/BOX MOTION ENHANCED
SEATING ON SELECT FEATURES
Rating Policy Parents and/or Guardians (Age 21 and older) must
accompany all children under 17 to an R Rated feature
*No passes accepted to these features.
**No restricted discount tickets or passes accepted to these features.
***3D features are the regular admission price plus a surcharge of $2.50
D-Box Motion Seats are the admission price plus an $8.00 surcharge
First Matinee $5.25 for all features (plus surcharge for 3D features).
***The Darkest Hour - PG13- 100 min.
(1:30), (3:40), 7:45, 10:00
War Horse - PG13 - 155 min.
(12:50), (3:55), 7:10, 10:15
We Bought a Zoo - PG - 135 min
(12:50), (3:40), 7:10, 9:55
***The Adventures of Tintin in 3-D - PG-
115 min.
(1:10), (3:30), 7:20, 9:45
**The Girl With the Dragon Tattoo - R -
170 min.
(1:00), (3:40), (4:20), 7:00, 8:00, 10:20
Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol -
PG13 - 130 min
(12:40), (1:20), (3:40), (4:15), 7:00, 7:30,
10:00, 10:30
Alvin and the Chipmunks: Chipwrecked
- G - 95 min
(12:30), (1:00), (2:40), (3:10), (4:50), (5:20),
7:15, 9:20
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of
Shadows - PG13 - 140 min
(12:40), (1:00), (3:30), (3:50), 7:00, 7:20, 9:50,
10:10
Sherlock Holmes: A Game of
Shadows in D-Box - PG13 - 140 min
(1:00), (3:50), 7:20, 10:10
Young Adult - R - 105 min
(1:15), (3:30), 7:10, 9:30
NewYears Eve - PG13 - 130 min.
(12:30), (3:10), 7:15, 9:55,
The Sitter - R - 130 min.
7:40, 9:45
**Arthur Christmas - PG - 110 min.
(12:30)
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HOURS: Mon. thru Fri. 8-6 Sat. 8-5 Fax Us Your Order 654-0901
PRICES EFFECTIVE 1/2/12 1/7/12 NOT RESPONSIBLE FOR TYPOGRAPHICAL ERRORS
Accepting Mastercard...Visa...Discover...American Express
We have a large variety of Italian Goods, Pasta Bowls to Expresso Pots, etc. The best variety of Italian
Specialty Food in the Northeast: Panatone, Torrone Pizzeles, Homemade Cookies, Prosciutto, Sopresatta,
Homemade Lonza Dried Sausage, Salami, Super Chubs. We have Fresh Baked Bread and Rolls, Italian Cheese,
Imported Pasta, Homemade Ravioli, Gnocchi and Pasta, Farm Fresh Produce, Fresh Made Salads Daily!
SABATELLES
An Authentic Italian
MEAT MARKET &
FINE FOOD STORE
114-116 S. MAIN ST., PITTSTON 654-4616 - 654-4617
We Deliver WE ACCEPT FOOD STAMPS HOME OF BELLA BASKETS
HOT FOODS TO GO
SYMPATHY PLATTERS CATERING
The Best All Year
Homemade Deli Hot Foods To Go
ROASTED PORKETTA
CHICKETTA ROAST
ROAST BEEF
AMERICAN CHEESE
COOKED HAM
SWISS CHEESE
$7.99 LB.
$7.99 LB.
$7.99 LB.
$3.99 LB.
$3.99 LB.
$4.99 LB.
ONLY THE BEST FOR YOU! WHERE ALL THE GOOD STUFF IS!
CUT FRESH GROUND FRESH HOMEMADE DELI
HAPPY NEW YEAR - GOD BLESS ONE & ALL FOR 2012!
PORK BUTT
PORKETTA ROAST
$
2.99LB.
CENTER CUT
PORK CHOPS
$
2.69LB.
THE
ORIGINAL
SINCE 1978
$
1.79LB.
HOT
SWEET
GARLIC
DELMONICO
STEAK
TENDER CUT
BEEF ROAST
$
8.99LB.
$
3.99LB.
CHICKETTA
ROAST
$
3.69LB.
ITALIAN
SAUSAGE
$
3.39LB.
10 LB.
BAG
GROUND
SIRLOIN
$
2.29LB.
NEWYORK STRIP
STEAKANGUS
$
8.99LB.
BONELESS SKINLESS
CHICKENBREAST
BONELESS SIRLOIN
STEAK
$
4.99LB.
TOP ROUND
LONDONBROIL
$
3.99LB.
RUMP ROAST OR
BONELESS CHUCK ROAST
$
3.69LB.
EYE ROUND
ROAST
$
3.69LB.
LESSER
WHOLE
$
2.99LB.
LEANBEEF
STEWMEAT
$
3.49LB.
VEAL CUTLETS
TOP ROUND
$
12.99LB.
$
12.99LB.
$
1.29LB.
CHICKENBREAST
WHOLE OR SPLIT
$
1.99LB.
BONELESS SKINLESS
CHICKENTENDERS
$
1.29LB.
LARGE ROASTER OR
SOUP CHICKEN
BONELESS PORK
CHOPS OR ROAST
$
3.49LB.
LOINLAMB CHOPS OR
VEAL T-BONE STEAK
BREADED CHICKEN TENDERS
BREADED EGGPLANT
LARGE STROMBOLI
EGGPLANT LASAGNA
MEATBALL HOAGIE
STEAK & CHEESE HOAGIE
$8.99 LB.
$7.99 LB.
$14.99 EA.
$5.99 CUT
$5.99 EA.
$6.99 EA.
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Ph. 570-347-7580 PA019285
www.moldspecialist.net
Has your home been fooded?
Call us, we can help.
We are certied in Mold Remediation,
Testing & Inspection
Structure Drying & General Construction
name phone number with your
message and someone will be in
contact with you as soon as pos-
sible. Our e-mail address isst-
johnspittston@verizon.com
OBLATES OF SAINT JOSEPH
SEMINARY
Route 315 Pittston
Masses are held daily in the
seminary chapel at 7:00 a.m.
(Monday Friday) and on Sat-
urday mornings at 8:00 a.m.
There are no weekend Masses.
Confessions are heard daily
from 9:00 a.m. noon and from
3:00 6:00 p.m.
Friday: 9:30 a.m. 5:00 p.m.,
evenings and weekends by ap-
pointment. Office phone num-
ber is 654-7542.
Every Wednesday evening
Mass is celebratedat 7:00p.m. in
conjunction with the Novena to
St. Joseph &St. Joseph Marello.
Novena prayers and the blessing
of the first-class relic of St. Jo-
seph Marello, Founder of the
Oblates of Saint Joseph Congre-
gation, immediately follow the
Mass.
All are welcome to participa-
te!
Tune into Catholic Radio 750
AM. The radio studio is located
in the seminary building and is
broadcast daily from dawn to
dusk.
For more information about
this station, contact Ed Niewin-
ski at 287-4670.
Happy, Healthy & Holy New
Year to all our friends and bene-
factors!
The Oblate Fathers express
their deepest gratitude to every-
one who sent cards, gifts and
goodies to the seminary over the
holiday season. May 2012 bring
all of you much peace, joy and
success!
The Josephite-Marellian Laity
Association will hold their
monthly meeting this coming
Wednesday, Jan. 4, following the
7:00p.m. Mass/Novena toSt. Jo-
seph &St. Joseph Marello. Plans
will be made for the upcoming
Feast of the HolySpouses, which
is planned for Sunday, Jan. 22, at
noon in the seminary chapel.
New members are always wel-
come, especially at the start of
this new year.
Monthly Vocation Holy Hour
will be heldthis Thursday, Jan. 5,
at 7:00 p.m. in the chapel. The
Holy Hour includes exposition
of the Blessed Sacrament, silent
adoration, recitation of the Ros-
ary with vocation-theme myster-
ies, Scriptural reading, sermon,
intercessions and benediction.
All are welcome to participate in
this monthly devotion as we pray
for an increase of vocations to
the priesthood and religious life,
especiallyinthe Congregationof
the Oblates of St. Joseph.
Blue Army First Friday Prayer
Vigil, Jan. 6, beginning with
confessions at 8:00 p.m., fol-
lowedbyMass at 9:00p.m. tothe
SacredHeart of Jesus. Devotions
also include exposition of the
Blessed Sacrament and devo-
tions to the Immaculate Heart of
Mary. All are welcome to attend.
Check out more information
about the seminary and the Ob-
lates of St. Joseph locally and
worldwide byturningtothe web-
site:www.oblates-stjoseph.com
Church notes
and Presidential Appointee, he
twice servedas the Executive Di-
rector for the Presidents Foreign
Intelligence Advisory Board in
the White House.
GerardMusto, 77, of Pittston
Township, was with the Pittston
Area district since its formation
in 1966. He served as District
Psychologist, Director of Curri-
culum, District Principal and Su-
pervisor of Curriculum and In-
struction and Superintendent.
Thomas Durkin, Mayor of
the Borough of Avoca.
Leonard A. Charney, 90, of
West Pittston. Originally from
West Wyoming he was a well-
known and very talented accor-
dion player. He spent his last 20
years entertaining at local senior
citizen centers, the VA Hospital,
nursing facilities, as well as per-
forming at numerous Christmas
and special occasion parties.
Curtis Everitt Hannon Sr.,
of Harding, President of The
West Pittston Little League and
owner of The Wing Zone restau-
rant in Pittston.
Frank J. Avvisato, 66, former
police chief of the borough of
Old Forge, he was instrumental
in creating the Lower Lackawan-
na/Luzerne County Drug Task
Force.
Deaths
The Pittston Memorial Li-
brary crochet club will meet on
Tuesdays at 10 a.m. and on
Thursdays at 6 p.m. New mem-
bers always welcome
Crochet will resume on Janu-
ary 3.
The library is forming a LE-
GOclub and is currently seeking
donations of LEGOS and LEGO
accessories to build a supply.
Any donation will be greatly ap-
preciated. Look for future an-
nouncements about the club,
open to children age 6-12begin-
ning in 2012.
Toddler and Preschool story
time will beginthe weekof Jan. 9
and will run for 6 weeks. There
are three sessions. Please call the
library to register your child.
The library will be closed Ja-
nuary 2
Crochet resumes Tuesday at library
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SUNDAY
DISPATCH
www.omarscastleinn.net 675-0804
Murder Mystery
January 8th
Audience
Participation
VOTED #1
SHOW IN
LUZERNE COUNTY
Enjoy a cozy
dinner in front of
our 2 freplaces
SUNDAY
BRUNCH
$10.95
over 24
Homemade Items
WWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWWW
eeeee
dn
es
days
BI B AN G D
LUE
Catering Packages Available
Stop by our other location:
245 Owen Street, Swoyersville
287-6074
5 to 10 pm
Any Burger off the
menu only $6.95
Tipsy 5-0 MARGARITAS $9.00
(Market St. Only)
29 Market Street
Jenkins Twp.
655-8091
2 Large Family Dining Rooms
in the Pittston Commons, Pittston By-Pass, Pittston
& Family Restaurant
Since
1964
655-0001
OPEN WEEKDAYS 11 TO 9;
FRI. & SAT. 11 TO 10;
SUN. 12-8
MONEY SAVING SPECIALS
7 DAYS A WEEK!
www.savospizza.com
GIFT CERTIFICATES AVAILABLE
OPEN
New
Years
Eve
5PM
DELIVERY, PICK-UP OR EAT IN COUPONS
24 Cuts Pizza
Only
$
19.99
Price does not include sales tax,
cannot be combined
with other specials. Expires 1/31/12
Get 12 Cuts of Pizza For 30 Piece Order
Of Wings Only
Only
$
4.99
$
13.55
When You Buy 12 Cuts at
the Regular Price
Includes 1 Side Of Bleu
Cheese & Celery
Price does not include sales tax, cannot
be combined with other specials. Good
for our red pizza only.
Expires 1/31/12
Price does not include sales tax, cannot
be combined with other specials. Good
for our red pizza only.
Expires 1/31/12
NEW YEARS EVE &
NEW YEARS DAY
SPECIALS
NO COUPONS NEEDED Sorry We Dont Deliver These Specials
WATERFRONT
PITTSTON
304 KENNEDY BLVD
654-6883
SCRANTON
701 N. WASHINGTON AVE.
346-6883
OPEN TODAY (SATURDAY)
NEW YEARS EVE
11:00 TILL 8:00 - FULL MENU
seating till 7:00
OPEN NEW YEARS DAY
12:00 TILL 8:00
seating till 7:00
23OZLABBATTBLUE$3.00ALLDAY
ALLOFOURAWESOMESALADS
ARE$2.00OFF
ddnnn
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d
ss
ddaaayyys yss
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00
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AY
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Y
LIMITED MENU - Pizza Chicken Wings Buffalo Bites
Giant Hot Dogs & Cold Hoagies ONLY
1/2 LB. LOBSTER TAIL
$
19.99
1pm till Midnight
OPEN
Served with French Fries & Cole Slaw.
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1723 River Road Jenkins Township
570-299-7724
Open Tuesday-Saturday
11:00 am - 9:00 pm
Same Great Taste,
New Cozy Environment
Wishing All of our Loyal Customers
and Friends a Happy New Year
~ Sam Marranca, Family and Friends
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SUN., MON., TUES.
7 A.M.-3 P.M.
WED., THUR., FRI., SAT.
7 A.M.-8 P.M.
509 Exeter Ave., West Pittston
The Best Breakfast Around
Overstuffed Omelets Huge Frittatas
Fluffy Buttermilk Pancakes Hand Dipped FrenchToast
Voted Best Value...Most Affordable... and Favorite Restaurant by our loyal customers
SUNDAY
DISPATCH
Steve Morris 970-7290
Karen Fiscus 970-7291
To Advertise In The
Please Contact
1022 Main St. Avoca, PA 18641 570-457-1600
Monday & Wednesday
Eat in only 40 Wings
(Sold in Quantities of 10)
Tuesday - 40 Rhode Island Clams
Eat in only (Sold in Quantities of 10)
LUNCH SPECIALS
from 11AM-2PM
WE HAVE THE NFL AND
BIG TEN PACKAGES
Monday - 8 Inch Italian Hoagie/Chips $5.00
Tuesday - Chili Dog/Chips/Soda $5.00
Wednesday - Porketta Sandwich/Chips $5.00
Thursday - 8 Inch Chicken Parm Hoagie/Chips $5.50
Friday - 8 Inch Tuna Hoagie/Chips/Soda $5.00
COME DINE WITH
US DURING
THE HOLIDAY
SEASON!
Montage
Mountain
Road
marvelousmuggs.com
Biagio A. Dente, CEC,AAC, HOF
Blaise Alan Dente, CCC
DENTES
Catering & Tent Rental C
655-0801
www.dentescatering.com
TABLE TALK
Happy
New Year!
From the
Pittston
Dispatch
Happy 2012
Wishing All Our
Friends A
Healthy, Happy
& Prosperous
New Year!
Serving Affordable Home-Cooked Meals Eat-In or Take-Out
Call For Our Daily Specials, 654-2536
Happy NewYear!
We will be closed NewYears Day,
re-opening on Monday
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The Local Guys With The National Buys
Kingston 287-9631 Exeter 655-8801
TV & APPLIANCES
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If feeling healthy and being ten pounds lighter is on your list of
New Year Resolutions, then the National Institute of Health and the
Weight Control Information Network at http://win.niddk.nih.gov/in-
dex.htm has a long list of myths for you!
Beware, the media and advertisers will soon be highlighting all the
fad diets and newest diet aids. Be ready, read these myths and ask
questions of the sellers!
First, what is a fad diet? A fad diet is any diet that you feel you
cannot stay on longer than 3-4 months It also usually is not balanced
in that it restricts certain types of foods. Some fad diets restrict carbo-
hydrates yet allow all the protein and fat that a person wishes to eat.
Here are the myths that can be found on the NIH web site. Click on
the link to see more.
Myth: Fad diets work for permanent weight loss.
Fact: Fad diets are not the best way to lose weight and keep it off.
Fad diets often promise quick weight loss or tell you to cut certain
foods out of your diet. You may lose weight at first on one of these
diets. But diets that strictly limit calories or food choices are hard to
follow. Most people quickly get tired of them and regain any lost
weight.
Fad diets may be unhealthy because they may not provide all of the
nutrients your body needs. Also, losing weight at a very rapid rate
(more than 3 pounds a week after the first couple weeks) may in-
crease your risk for developing gallstones (clusters of solid material
inthe gallbladder that canbe painful). Diets that provide less than800
calories per day also could result in heart rhythm abnormalities,
which can be fatal.
Tip: Research suggests that losing to 2 pounds a week by making
healthy food choices, eating moderate portions, and building phys-
ical activity into your daily life is the best way to lose weight and keep
it off. By adopting healthy eating and physical activity habits, you
may also lower your risk for developing type 2 diabetes, heart dis-
ease, and high blood pressure.
Myth: High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are a healthy way to
lose weight.
Fact: The long-term health effects of a high-protein/low-carbohy-
drate diet are unknown. But getting most of your daily calories from
high-protein foods like meat, eggs, and cheese is not a balanced eat-
ing plan. You may be eating too much fat and cholesterol, which may
raise heart disease risk. You may be eating too fewfruits, vegetables,
and whole grains, which may lead to constipation due to lack of die-
tary fiber. Following a high-protein/low-carbohydrate diet may also
make you feel nauseous, tired, and weak.
Eating fewer than 130 grams of carbohydrate a day can lead to the
buildup of ketones (partially broken-down fats) in your blood. A
buildup of ketones in your blood (called ketosis) can cause your body
to produce high levels of uric acid, which is a risk factor for gout (a
painful swelling of the joints) and kidney stones. Ketosis may be es-
pecially risky for pregnant women and people with diabetes or kid-
ney disease.
Tip: High-protein/low-carbohydrate diets are often lowin calories
because food choices are strictly limited, so they may cause short-
termweight loss. But a reduced-calorie eating plan that includes rec-
ommended amounts of carbohydrate, protein, and fat will also allow
you to lose weight. By following a balanced eating plan, you will not
NUTRITION
CORNER
Mary R. Ehret, MS, RD, LDN
Penn State Cooperative Extension
Beware of fad diets
Mary R. Ehret, M.S., R.D., L.D.N., is with Penn State Cooperative
Extension, Luzerne County, 16 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston, Pa., 18643.
(570) 825-1701/602-0600. Fax (570) 825-1709. mre2@psu.edu.
See NUTRITION, Page 27
Almost a quarter of a million
men in this country will be di-
agnosed this year with prostate
cancer.
In the United States, a man
will die of prostate cancer ev-
ery 36 minutes.
My patients are totally con-
fused by the recent newspaper
column regarding the United
States preventative services
task force that healthy men
should not receive PSA Pros-
tate Specific Antigen Blood
Tests to screen for cancer.
This recommendation is
counter-intuitive and ignores
many years of sound scientific
research.
The chairman of the panel
was a pediatrician (children do
not get prostate cancer) and in-
credibly not a urologist or on-
cologist was included on the
committee!
I amcurrently Chief of Urol-
ogy at Wyoming Valley Health
Care and I have been practicing
Urology in Northeast Pennsyl-
vania for 31 years. During my
residency at the Hospital of
The University of Pennsylva-
nia in the 1970s, almost half of
the men diagnosed with pros-
tate cancer had metastatic dis-
ease. Presently, this number is
less than 10%.
Since large scale screening
with PSAs, the death rate from
prostate cancer has decreased
dramatically, and has been an
even greater diminution in di-
agnosing advanced prostate
cancer.
The Goteburd randomized
population based prostate can-
cer screening trial Lancet On-
cology July 2010 found that
with screening, deaths from
prostate cancer dropped 44%
over a 14 year period. This
study begs the question: Why
would the panel ignore the dra-
matic decline in prostate can-
cer mortality over the past two
decades in which PSA treating
has become the norm?
I can only assume that the
task force recommendation is
routed in the desire to cut
health care costs for the gov-
ernment and private insurers.
This will put all men at risk, but
especially jeopardize those
most at risk, men with a family
history, African Americans,
and the under-insured.
The PSA is a diagnostic tool
and should be used according-
ly, and weighed intelligently
with other risk factors. In my
opinion PSAs if used appropri-
ately are one of the best tumor
markers available and can aid a
patient and physician in deter-
mining diagnostic and ther-
apeutic options.
I will continue to have my
blood drawn yearly for a PSA
and I will continue to recom-
mend it for my patients.
Ira C. Grossman, M.D.
Urology Associates
of Kingston
YO U R S PA C E
Urologist urges men to continue
PSA testing for prostate cancer
A News Lady
One day I stopped by,
To her office on the fly
She always has a smile on
to greet you,
A wonderful trait to have
as it arrives on cue.
There are more Im sure,
Her character is demure
It all comes from within
Passed on from parents to
kin.
Another year has passed
As I look at the calendar,
Im aghast
A new year is approaching
us
Before Christmas, its a lot
of fuss.
Three hundred sixty-five
days have gone by
Too quick as we wonder
why
Guess its part of the norm
As I hope outside temps
will start to warm
In the meantime this lady
always has a greeting
To everyone who stops in
for a meeting
Happy New Year Judy
Minsavage
I wish to mention
Youare a credit tothe Dis-
patch
It deserves everyones at-
tention.
Ronald Voveris
Yatesville
Finds Dispatch office
manager worthy of rhyme
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Santa visits children at Greater Pittston YMCA
PHOTOS BY BILL TARUTIS Pre-school children gather to welcome Santa as he enters the Greater Pittston YMCA last Friday morning.
Some of the pre-school children who visited with Santa at the Greater Pittston YMCA on Dec. 23
pose for a group picture.
Four-year-old Hunter Puhalla poses for a photo with Santa at the
Pittston YMCA.
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Happy New Year
from
DILEOS SERVICE CENTER
DOMESTIC - FOREIGN AUTO SPECIALIST
MAJOR - MINOR REPAIRS
A.S.E. CERTIFIED MASTER MECHANIC
EMISSIONS - STATE INSPECTION
AIR CONDITIONING & RADIATOR SERVICE
100% TRANSMISSION FLUID FLUSH
Call for Full Service Oil Change and
Inspections Specials.
JOSEPH DILEO, Proprietor
440 Wyoming Avenue, Wyoming, PA, 693-0467
2012
2012
2012
2012
More photos of Santas visit with children at the YMCA
BILL TARUTIS
Tina Fisher of the Greater Pittston YMCA assists Santa as he passes out Hershey bars and talks with the children at a party on Dec. 23.
Eighteen-month-old Nicholas Hower looks over a big Hershey bar
given to himby Santa at the Pittston YMCA.
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have to stop eating whole classes of foods, such as whole grains,
fruits, and vegetablesand miss the key nutrients they contain. You
mayalsofindit easier tostickwitha diet or eatingplanthat includes a
greater variety of foods.
Myth: Certain foods, like grapefruit, celery, or cabbage soup, can
burn fat and make you lose weight.
Fact: No foods can burn fat. Some foods with caffeine may speed
up your metabolism(the way your body uses energy, or calories) for a
short time, but they do not cause weight loss.
Tip: The best way to lose weight is to cut back on the number of
calories you eat and be more physically active.
Myth: Natural or herbal weight-loss products are safe and effec-
tive.
Fact: A weight-loss product that claims to be "natural" or "herbal"
is not necessarily safe. These products are not usually scientifically
tested to prove that they are safe or that they work. For example, herb-
al products containing ephedra (now banned by the U.S. Govern-
ment) have caused serious health problems and even death. Newer
products that claim to be ephedra-free are not necessarily danger-
free, because they may contain ingredients similar to ephedra.
Tip: Talk with your health care provider before using any weight-
loss product. Some natural or herbal weight-loss products can be
harmful.
Currently Penn State Extension is offering the DASH, Dietary Ap-
proachtoStopHypertensionbooklets for a small fee. The DASHdiet
is researched based and meets the recommended dietary recommen-
dations. Call 825-1701 to see how you can receive your own copy.
Nutrition
As a part of their ongoing service to community,
Knights of Columbus Assembly 948 members rang bells
at Quinns Market, Pittston, on behalf of the Salvation
Armys Red Kettle Campaign.
Left, five-year-oldDominickFerentinogives a helping
hand as Knights Martin Simko, Pittston, left, and Al Pal-
ladino look on. Dominick is the son of Jarrett and Nicole
Ferentino.
Right, Herbie Lewis, Pittston, makes a contribution to
the Salvation Army.
Knights of Columbus, Pittston, assist Salvation Army
PHOTOS BY TONY CALLAIO
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Joshua Miller was released by
Oasis Records. All profits from
sales go to the Joshua Miller Me-
morial Fund. Miller was killed in
the line of duty in 2009.
On open house was held June
21 for Interstate Distribution
Center, a manufacturing and
distribution company, at the for-
mer Techneglas plant in Jenkins
Twp. The plant, which closed in
2004, once employed 2500.
Wilkes-Barre Publishing
Company, the parent companyof
the Sunday Dispatch, announced
a new name Impressions
Media designed to better re-
flect the companys position as
the pioneers in Northeastern
Pennsylvanias multimedia
world.
The sixthannual tour of histor-
ic Greater Pittston churches took
place on June 19 with founder
Atty. Jan Lokuta hosting a tour
of churches in Exeter Borough:
St. Cecilias, St. John the Baptist,
Slocum Chapel and St. Anthony
of Padua.
Bill Goldsworthy stepped
down as mayor of West Pittston
to accept a position as deputy di-
rector of Gov. Tom Corbetts
Northeast Regional Office. As
his last act as mayor, Goldswor-
thy, 57, suggested council ap-
point Tony Denisco as mayor,
which it did.
A star erected on Stauffer
Heights in the 1950s and was
lightedeverynight upuntil about
20 years ago, found a new life at
Pittston Area High School
thanks to the National Honor So-
ciety. Jim Zarra urged the stu-
dents to take on the project and
Pat Hadley of Hadley Construc-
tion donated workers to assist.
Shawn Klush was again a
headliner as the Northeast Fair
took place in late June.
Pittston native John P. Cos-
grove, 93, who lived and worked
inthe media inWashington, D.C.
for the last 70 years, donated two
paintings to the Irish Embassy.
One, commissioned by Cos-
grove, depicts Charles Thomson
notifying George Washington
that he had been elected presi-
dent. The other shows Washing-
ton surrounded by13 senior offi-
cers of the revolution, all of Irish
descent. Several locals were on
hand in Washington for the pre-
sentation to Irish Ambassador
Michael Collins.
Kevin McGroarty, an artist,
musician and entrepreneur, was
the subject of the Sunday Sit-
down by Jack Smiles.
July
The first week of July Retired
United States Army Captain
Thomas Jerome TJ Hromi-
sin agreed to his first wide-rang-
ing interview four years after he
was criticallywoundedbya snip-
er bullet during Operation Iraqi
Freedomwhile leading a combat
patrol. A third of his skull and
part of his brain were destroyed
and he was blinded.
Sitting at the kitchen table at
his parents home inPittstonhe
along with his father Jerry and
his mother Mary Ellen talked
about his recovery.
In the immediate aftermath of
his injury doctors held out little
hope that TJ would ever be able
to do the things he talked about
in the interview. Im able to
move around freely without
help, he said. I think clearer. I
put dates and times in their prop-
er situations.
Among his recovery goals
were: Id like to get a job I want
to do instead of settling for a job.
I want a chance at normalcy.
July saw the first stage of the
demolition of the old Eighth
Street Bridge when the two
trusses and piers on the Jenkins
Twp side were brought down by
dynamite.
Dr. Joseph and his wife Rose
Mattioli were honored guests
when the Wyoming Monument
was rededicated on July 4. The
Mattiolis, who own Pocono
Raceway, donated $100,000 to
the Monuments restoration fund
after it was extensively damaged
by lightning on August 3, 2008.
The Pittston Farmers Mar-
ket opened on July 12 at a new
location, the former St. John the
Baptist School parking lot. The
market had to move fromthe To-
mato Festival lot because of sew-
er construction work.
Dr. WilliamV. Lewis, Jr, Jen-
kins Township was appointed by
Pennsylvania Governor Tom
Corbett to serve as a Commis-
sioner of Pennsylvania Histori-
cal and Museum Commission,
the official history agency of the
Commonwealth of Pennsylva-
nia.
2011: $100,000 donation helps restore Wyoming Monument
Relatives of Spc. Dale Kridlo, cousins Raphael Kon, left, Michael Mondlak, Dominic Kon, and Jacob
Fenske, cheer on runners in the Tomato Festival 5K run which was dedicated to the memory of Kri-
dlo, who was killed in action in Afghanistan on Nov. 7, 2010.
The popular Tomato Fights were not only a hit at the 2011 Pittston Tomato Festival but also were
mentioned in the national publication Parade Magazine.
See 2011, Page 29
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Several hundred people, most-
ly from Greater Pittston, attend-
ed the funeral service Friday for
Captain Fred R. Demech Jr.,
U.S. Navy (Retired) at Arlington
National Cemetery, Washington,
D.C.
Avoca native Fred Gedrich, a
resident of Washington, said
Capt. Demechs burial service
took place several feet away
from where Dale Kridlo, who
was killed in Afghanistan in No-
vember, is buried.
Progress on the revitalization
of downtown Pittston in July in-
cluded flowers growing up and a
building going down. Volunteer
Jim Norris planted flowers in
tree beds along Main Street and
the old Waynes World building
was demolished.
When Yankee third baseman
Derek Jeter got his 3,000th hit
a home run on July 7, 37 locals
were there on a bus trip fromOur
Lady of Eucharist Church. Fa-
ther Tom Maloney randomly
picked that date for the trip in the
spring.
In July, Pittston City Council
passed an ordinance to place a
home rule study question on the
November ballot.
The new two-story, 3,200-
square-foot, $600,000 Chief Ed-
ward Brennan Public Safety An-
nex was dedicated in Wyoming
Borough during the annual joint
memorial service for Wyoming
Police Chief Edward Brennan
and West Wyoming Police
Chief Ralph Daley who were
both shot and killed in 1918.
August
A fire at 252 Parsonage Street
destroyed the home of Sam and
Mary Danaher and their four
kids and virtually everything
they had, including a Monte Car-
lo stock car Sam had worked on
for two years.
He was only halfway through
his first race season with the car.
Analreadyscheduledfundraiser
at Dianes Deli on Main Street
was supposed be for the race car,
but wound up as a fund raiser for
fire victims.
Pittston received notice from
Gov. Tom Corbetts budget of-
fice that the citys MainStreet re-
development project was ap-
proved for $3 million in state
money from the state Redevel-
opment Assistance Capital Pro-
gram.
Also in August the city got an-
other $2.45 million in grant
money to jumpstart the $9.4 mil-
lion riverfront condo project.
Despite the constructiongoing
on downtown for the sewer pro-
ject and Streetscape, the Tomato
Festival Committee reported
another successful festival.
They estimated 50,000 vis-
itors. Rachel Leandri was
crowned queen. The Little Mr.
and Miss were Benecio Carpen-
tier andAvaFlanagan. Juniors
Pasta House won the Sauce
Wars.
Dr. Joseph Lombardo was
the parade grand marshal.
Nationwide Tire completed
the job of shredding some
600,000 used tires at the old
Hawk Recycling Center in Du-
ryea.
Emmy award winning actress
Kimberly McCullough hosted
a dinner and a screening of her
short film Nice Guys Finish
Last at Palazzo 53.
The bell was removedfromthe
tower of the closed St. Marys
Assumption Church in August.
The 111-year-old bell was forged
of bronze in 1900 at the famed
McShane Foundry in Baltimore,
which is still a leading manufac-
turer of bells.
The Landmark Griecos Res-
taurant in Exeter was destroyed
by fire in August.
Owner and Chef Pat Green-
field was rescued from her up-
stairs apartment by Exeter fire-
men at 2:30 a.m.
The building was over 100
years old and had been a restau-
rant since 1935.
Greg Lukatch was appointed
Director of the Greater Pittston
YMCA August.
The Exeter Park and West
Wyoming Hose Companies
merged in August.
Regge for Robert, the annual
2011: Junction Jam remembered two local fallen heroes
With a new span linking Jenkins Twp. and Wyoming completed, the more than 100 year old 8th St. Bridge was demolished.
See 2011, Page 30
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Dr. Je Walker, DMD
and his sta wish you
PEACE, JOY, HARMONY
In the spirit of the season,
We extend best wishes to our
patients for a Healthy
and Happy NewYear.
Complete Comprehensive Dentistry For The Entire Family.
Day & Evening Appointments Available
Participating with most Insurances.
Standing:Tammy Strellish,Dr.Jeff Walker,Bridget DeGerolamo
Seated: Kerry Girman,Susan Smith
113 New Street Pittston 654-5551
We Accept
Authorized Supplier of
PERFORMANCE MOUTHGUARDS
We Proudly Use The
event for the Earthly Angels Au-
tism Fund, drew some 200 peo-
ple to Mt. Carmel Center for a
night to donate, dance and
dine.
JunctionJam11, a two-day
music event at Pittstons Jeffer-
son Park in August, honored two
soldiers who were killed in Af-
ghanistan, First Lt. Jeffrey De-
Primo and Spc. Dale Kridlo.
Part of the proceeds was used to
purchase the base of a donation
tree for Pittston Memorial Li-
brary.
The Care and Concern Free
Pediatric Clinic, the Pittston
FoodPantryandthe PittstonCity
Parks Department also benefit-
ed.
September
The story of September was,
of course, the story of the year,
The Flood of 2011.
After torrential rains from
Tropical Storms Irene and Lee
the Susquehanna River crestedat
a record 42.66 feet at 3 a.m. Fri-
day, September 9, more than two
feet higher than it had in the1972
Agnes Flood.
West Pittston and Jenkins
and Exeter Townships were the
hardest hit areas by the Susque-
hanna, while the Lackawanna
River, which also had a record
crest, devastated parts of Du-
ryea.
In West Pittston, 880 homes
and 26 businesses were affected.
Among the homes 628 experi-
enced basement flooding, 236
first floor flooding and 16 sec-
ond floor flooding. Of those 15
were listed as unsafe for entry
until further inspection and two
were recommended for demoli-
tion.
Duryea was number two on
the hit list with 339 homes af-
fected, 108 with basement and
192, first floor flooding.
At least 12 houses had founda-
tion damage.
Three homes are confirmed as
unsafe.
In Jenkins Township 91homes
were affected, five basement on-
ly, 73 first floor and 13 second
floor. Six got major structural
damage.
Three businesses, Magione
Service, Milazzo Industries
and River Street Ale House got
structural damage. Snap Tools,
Cafe Italia, Mesko Motors, and
Brews Brothers were also af-
fected.
In Exeter Township 36 single
family homes, one multi-family
building, 37 mobile homes and
three businesses were flooded, a
total of 77. Among the single
family homes damage was listed
as major in 29, minor in eight,
while five were destroyed.
Among the mobile homes five
had major damage and 32 were
destroyed.
Exeter Borough estimated
28-30 homes affected on Sus-
quehanna Avenue withbasement
and first floor flooding.
In Pittston City16 businesses
received basement flooding.
Homes on Towpath were flood-
ed.
One was declared unsafe and
will be demolished. Another 8-
10 homes on the other side of
North Main got basement water.
Wyoming had seven homes on
Susquehanna Ave and one busi-
ness in Bridge Plaza affected.
Flood recovery and survival
stories dominated the Dispatch
pages throughout September.
One story focused on the home
of John and Charlene Maroni.
They owned their dreamhome at
the corner of Philadelphia and
Susquehanna avenues in West
Pittston only11months when the
flood hit with 8 1/2 feet of water.
Among the losses was a $3,000
baby grand piano they had only
two months.
Other September stories told
of the destructionof a trailer park
in Exeter Township, a business
in Pittston, GT Fabrications,
which had 15 feet of water and
lost $2 million in equipment, the
devastationof businesses andthe
library in West Pittston, national
news broadcasts from West Pitt-
ston and the Eighth Street
Bridge, the moving of Holy Ros-
ary School and Vice President
Joe Biden visiting Duryea.
Then there were stories on the
outpouring of help from and
churches, the Salvation Army,
scout troops, the Red Cross, the
Wyoming Area and Pittston Ar-
ea football teams, and numerous
other groups and randomstrang-
ers all of whom worked hands-
on in the recovery or made dona-
tions and held fund raisers.
Despite the flood, life had to
go on and other September sto-
ries hinted at normalcy. Avoca
native Dick Callahan the
voice of the Oakland As and the
University of California Golden
Bears was interviewin the Dis-
patch.
He offered to be a speaker at
the Friendly Sons banquet in
2012 and after the story ran the
Sons took him up on the offer.
Four local natives Adele
2011: Outporuing of volunteers follows September flood
See 2011, Page 31
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RIVER SHORES We still have two
great properties in West Pittstons River
Shores.. We have a ranch with rst oor
master and master bath suite, fabulous
stainless kitchen with separate pantry
room, Three full baths, huge home theater,
loft, high ceilings and two Fps. We also
have a building lot for a custom home of
any size in this great neighborhood. No
ood.
EAGLE VIEW.. Great buys VERY HIGH AND VERY DRY !!!!
The Views at Eagle View in Jenkins Township are outstanding. All rear
yards offer breathtaking views of the river and valley. Youll never nd
a better time to buy your lot. Put a deposit on any lot and build now or
when you are ready. We are a custom builder and will build to your plan
or modify one of ours to be your Dream Home. We have started our
landscaping, utilities and pave at Eagle View. making these spectacular
lots even more outstanding.
From South Main turn toward the river on Brady Street then left.
Build in the New Year!
Charney, Mickey Calabrese,
Jude Donato and Sean Gilligan
recalled September 11, 2001on
the 10th anniversary of the at-
tacks on America. The first three
were in New York at or near the
World Trade Center.
Gilligan was at the Pentagon.
Pittston Area, Kelly Keener,
andWyomingArea, AudraAm-
ico, elected Homecoming
Queens. Pittston Diner waitress
Deb Harth returned $260 she
found in a booth.
Ground was broken on a pro-
ject to convert the Hitchner
Bakery in West Pittston into
apartments.
October
Flood stories continued to
dominate in October. One told of
how the flood inundated all 28
homes in the Patch section of
Port Blanchard, leaving several
permanently uninhabitable.
Senator Bob Casey came to
West Pittston to meet with small
business owners who were put
out of business by the flood and
2011: Flooded WP Library reopens in donated location
The flood aftermath was almost as big a story as the flood itself. Here, equipment begins the arduous cleanup task at Agolino's Restau-
rant in West Pittston. The restaurant took on close to 8 feet of water but bounced back and reopened before the end of the year.
See 2011, Page 33
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Pride Mobility Products Cor-
poration and QuantumRehab re-
cently offered 28 students with
disabilities an opportunity to be
mentored by career profession-
als in the various fields at Pride
and Quantum during Disability
Mentoring Day (DMD) at
Prides Exeter facility.
Attendees also included Lu-
zerne Intermediate Unit (LIU)
18 specialists and learning sup-
port teachers.
DMDis designed to bring stu-
dents and job seekers with dis-
abilities into the workplace
through hands-on career explo-
ration, on-site job shadowing,
and ongoing mentoring leading
to internship and employment
opportunities.
Through Pride and Quantums
DMD, participants were wel-
comedwithremarks fromChair-
man & CEO Scott Meuser and
had the opportunity to meet with
professionals to learn the typical
job responsibilities and the nec-
essary knowledge and skills
needed for a specific vocation.
Careers in research and devel-
opment, marketing, education,
reimbursement, government af-
fairs, sales, and technical service
were highlighted.
DisabilityMentoringDayis a
wonderful opportunity to not
just introduce students to pro-
spective career paths, but to truly
inspire every facet of their lives,
said Mark E. Smith, Pride Con-
sumer Research Manager. Di-
rectly showing students with dis-
abilities that their futures arent
limited, but limitless, is a true
privilege for those of us with dis-
abilities who have sat in their
seats, and gone on to inspiring,
rewarding careers.
The event also included a tour
of Prides facility, including the
test lab, hands-on demonstra-
tions of mobility products such
as a manual and power wheel-
chair, personal perspective pre-
sentations frommobilityproduct
users Mark E. Smith and Ma-
donna Long, Pride Consumer
Advocate, and a continental
breakfast and lunch.
Dimitri Theodorelos, a partic-
ipant from Wyoming Valley
West High School and a power
wheelchair user, was impressed
by the extensive testing facility
at Pride.
I liked driving over the gravel
in the test lab because its fun to
run around on it and it showed
my power chair can do a lot of
things, Theodorelos said.
Diane Orloski, LIU18 Transi-
tion Specialist, said both she and
her colleagues were extremely
impressed with Prides product
innovations, professional atmo-
sphere and kindness to the stu-
dents. I think it is really great
for the kids tobe sowelcomedby
Pride andtohave the opportunity
to look at howa business is run,
Orloski said. I dont think the
students realized beforehand all
of the jobs that are available to
themthrough hard work, dedica-
tion and believing in yourself.
Hosted by the American Asso-
ciation of People with Disabili-
ties (AAPD), the largest national
cross-disability membership or-
ganization in the United States,
the National Disability Mentor-
ing Day Program began in 1999
withjust 11students withdisabil-
ities job shadowing in the White
House under the Clinton admin-
istration.
Today, DMD has grown to
provide job-shadowing, career
fairs and mentoring opportuni-
ties to more than 85,000 students
and job seekers with disabilities
in all 50 states, Puerto Rico, and
the U.S. Virgin Islands.
DMD is the nations largest
job-shadowing program de-
signed for people with disabili-
ties, which allows career explo-
ration to take place outside of the
hiring context so that job seekers
can meet and learn about em-
ployers committed to hiring
from this diverse and untapped
workforce.
To find out more about DMD,
please visit the website,
www.dmd-aapd.org.
Pride Mobility Products Cor-
poration is the worlds leading
designer and manufacturer of
mobility products including
JazzyPower Chairs, Pride Scoot-
ers, Pride Lift Chairs, and Pride
Lifts and Ramps.
Quantum Rehab, a division of
Pride Mobility, manufactures in-
novative, complex rehab solu-
tions.
The company, headquartered
in Exeter, also has operations in
Australia, Canada, Italy, the
Netherlands, New Zealand, and
the United Kingdom.
Pride Mobility is dedicated to
providing expertly designed, en-
gineered, and tested products in-
corporating technologically in-
novative, intelligent features en-
abling end-users to achieve their
mobility goals.
Pride hosts Disability Mentoring Day for students
International company headquartered in Exeter hosts 28 students with disabilities
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P inna cle R eh a b ilita tion A s s ocia tes
520 Third A venu e K ings to n
C A L L 714-6460 T O D AY!
K n ee R eplacem en t?
W E D O N T N E E D M IR A C L E S!
Allofourtherap istshave over
15 yearsexp erience treating yourp roblem s
B e able to w alk an d clim b stairspain free!
O u r experthan ds-on treatm en tw illim prove you r
m obility,in crease you r stren gth an d decrease you r pain .
w w w .pin n aclerehabilitation .n et
K evin M . B a rno , M P T K . B ridgetB a rno , P T
Sha ro n M a rra nca , M P T H a l G la tz, M P T M a ria H a ll, P TA
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M ostIn su ran cesD o N O T R equ ire A R eferral
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talk about SBAloans to get them
back on their feet.
Symbolically they met in the
hallowed out shell of Agolinos
Restaurant which had 7 1/2 feet
of water.
The flood reached up Exeter
Avenue in West Pittston to Old
Mill Pine, the hardware store
owned by Jeff and Christine
Holtz.
The store was closed only 24
hours. They reopened without
power and flooded homeowners
came in to buy hoses, nozzles,
mops, gloves, tarps, squeegees,
extension cords, flashlights, bat-
teries and sump pumps. Jeffs
mothers home, two of his broth-
ers homes, a woodworking shop
and a three-unit apartment build-
ing in the original store building
were flooded.
An October story told of the
extensive damage to the Lu-
zerne County National Recre-
ation Trail in Pittston.
After the story ran, the Lu-
zerne County Redevelopment
Authority closed the trail.
Alocal surveyof local munici-
palities showed that over 22 mil-
lion pounds of flood debris had
been hauled away to landfills by
the first week of October.
WithAgolinos out of business
the Moose Lodge picked up the
slack offering a Sunday morning
breakfast buffet prepared by
Chef Pat Greenfield.
The West Pittston Library reo-
pened in the Insalaco Shopping
Center in West Pittston in a do-
nated storefront
Area chefs serveda free dinner
for flood victims at Mt. Carmel
Center.
Sponsored by the WA Key
Club, FloodFest an event fea-
turing 13 bands at Jake Sobeski
Stadiumin West Pittston raised
money for the West Pittston Li-
brary.
In non-flood news in October
Paul and Linda DePietro
opened a pizzeria, New York
Pizza Cucina, at 74 South Main
at the historic site of the citys
first bakery.
At its annual banquet the
Greater Pittston YMCA pre-
sented Leadership Awards to Pe-
ter Dancheck, Lou Ciampi,
Krystina Price and TomReilly.
Angela Biscotto, Pittstons
Mrs. Clean, was profiled in Oc-
tober.
She sweeps streets and tends
flower in the downtown area.
Hadley Construction ac-
quired St. Marys Assumption
Church, school, convent and rec-
tory and slated the church and
rectory for demolition.
The siding was removed form
the church and used on Hadleys
project inHughestownwhere the
company is converting the for-
mer Blessed Sacrament church
into Grace Luxury Apart-
ments.
Jordan Thomas of Harding,
13, retired from Cart racing as a
state champion.
November
In November St. Monicas
Church in West Wyoming raf-
fled of a homemade quilt created
by Joann Kwasny. The 80 x100
masterpiece had a retail value es-
timated at $1,000.
Veterans were in the news in
November. Frank Lewicki, 86,
received his WWII medals some
60 years after the fact.
He was an infantryman in the
South Pacific theater. Richard
White of Pittston was named
AMVETSAmerican Veteran of
the Year.
Duryea barber Frank Brosso
was profiled for having been in
business cutting hair for a half
century.
The Care and Concern Food
Pantry marked three years of
service in November having dis-
tributedover 22,000foodparcels
to the needy.
In the November election, a
women who grewup serving hot
dogs at the Majestic Lunch on
Main Street in Pittston was elect-
ed Luzerne County District at-
torney.
Stephanie Salavantis, whose
grandfather and father own the
Majestic, out-spent incumbent
Jackie Musto-Carroll by 2-
to-1.
Pittston said yes to a home rule
study and elected seven mem-
bers of a study commission.
Four with local ties were elect-
ed to the Luzerne County bench.
Fred Pierontoni, Ed Vogue,
Lesa Gelb and Jen Rodgers
were sworn in on December 30.
But Greater Pittston was shut
out in the election for the new
Luzerne County Council.
The biggest electionnews here
was what happened in Wyoming
Area where 20-year school
board incumbent Toni Valenti
and her running mate Nick
DeAngelo were defeated by a
slate of candidates including In-
dependent Mary Louise Deg-
nan.
The office of Congressman
Lou Barletta announced that he
introduceda bill that will rename
the Pittston Post office The
Trooper Joshua D. Miller Post
Office Building. Miller, a Pitt-
ston native who lived in Suscon,
was killed in the line of duty in
2009.
Downtown stayed in the news
in November.
A co-op art gallery called the
ArtsSEEN Gallery opened at
71 South Main, Sapphire Salon
noted its10th Anniversary with a
visit from Edyta Silwinska a
professional dancer onDancing
With The Stars.
Also, KeithandJessicaHom-
schek opened Shooters, a state
of the art billiards parlor, at 10
South Main.
John Cosgrove, 92, the Pitt-
ston native who spent 70 years
working in the media in Wash-
ington D.C., was back in the
news in November.
He was the honored guest at a
reception at Fox Hill. The recep-
tion was a kick off for the Li-
brarys capital campaign for its
proposed Cosgrove Annex
which will house Cosgroves
personal papers. He donated
$50,000.
There was flood recovery
news in November. Sam Mar-
ranca reopened his restaurant
Caf Italia on River Road in
Jenkins Township less than two
months after 5 1/2 feet of water
receded.
Groove Train, a renowned
party dance band lead by Dave
Chaump of West Pittston, re-
corded an album of original
songs.
Austin Welsh, a PA junior,
finished his novel Alex and
Sky. It will be published in Ja-
nuary.
December
The first week of December
saw more stories of flood recov-
ery as Agolinos Restaurant in
West Pittston and Independent
Graphics in Jenkins Township
both reopened at their original
sites.
Another new downtown busi-
ness was profiled in December.
Pharmacist Joseph Albert
bucked a trend of franchise phar-
macies by opening an old-fash-
ioned one-man owner/operated
pharmacy at 201 South Main.
Local rock legends, The Ca-
dillacs, played their last gig in
December at Bar on Oak. The
band, founded by Gene Guari-
lia, had been GPs house rock
band for 20 years.
Another downtown story in
December told of the opening of
Open Space.
The unique concept is a city
authority owned space suitable
for renting for just about any oc-
casion. The opening reception
included wine, a hors doeuvres
buffet by Palazzo and music by
Eddie and the Dreamers. Bo-
den, a fashion retailer based in
London, had an outlet sale there
the next day.
WWII Vet Ed Strucke was
profiled in December. Strucke,
95, served in the Navy as a pay-
master aboard a troop transport.
Another Vet story saw Duponts
Jerry Guanari inducted into the
Geno Merli Center Hall of
Fame.
Controversy rose up at Pittston
Area School District as the
school board members voted 6-3
to rescind a hiring policy that
would combat nepotismand cro-
nyismandthat theyhadvotedfor
less than a year earlier.
Board President Tony Guari-
gila was hammered in editorials,
on radio and TV for saying the
policy was rescinded Because I
dont see that people are follow-
ing it.
One final flood story for the
year was about a 15-year-old
Avoca musician. Jordan Marsh
recorded and produced CD of
Christmas music on guitar to
raise money for Christmas toys
for Duryea boys and girls dis-
placed by the flood.
Through sales of his CD and
donations he raised $5,000.
Redistricting was in the news
as the year wound down.
The Legislative Reappor-
tionment Commission tried to
carve Pittston, Hughestown and
Duryea out of State Rep Mike
Carrolls district but he fought
back and won.
There were plenty of changes
though. Lou Barletta gave Pitt-
ston to Tim Holden from St.
Clair and John Blake picked up
the Pittston area.
Christmas stories dominated
the last few weeks of the year,
one of which was cheery and one
not so much.
The happy tale told how the
Miller family, Lois, Robert and
son Robbie, of Hughestown tra-
ditionally hosted a sandwich and
goodie breakfor Santa Claus and
the Hughestown firemen as they
toured the borough with the jolly
old guy.
Lois Miller said, Its nothing
for me to have 25 firemen and
Santa in my house.
But another story told of the
work of a Grinch, or a gang of
Grinches, who stole a large
blow-up inflatable Christmas
decoration from the OBrien
property on Camp Ground Road
in Exeter Township.
Jackie OBrien had been col-
lecting the inflatables for her
grandson Josh Sutton for 20
years.
A $500 reward was offered.
2011: November general election brings some surprises
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From all of us at
Konicki
Pharmacy
655-8610
278 Main St., Dupont
Open January 2, 9am - 6pm
Happy New Year my friends!
As we start the New Year, I want
to share an Irish NewYear bless-
ingwithall of you: Maythe new
year bring the warmth of home
and hearth to you the cheer
andgoodwill of friends toyou
the hope of a childlike heart to
you the joy of a thousand an-
gels to you the love of the Son
and Gods peace to you.
Garbage Stickers
The 2012 Avoca Borough gar-
bage stickers can be purchased
fromTherese Wrubel at the Avo-
ca Municipal Building, 752
Main St., beginning Tuesday,
Jan. 17. The office will be open
Tuesdays from9-11a.m. and Fri-
days from 6-7 p.m.
The fee schedule for purchas-
ing the window sticker in order
to have up to three bags collected
weekly is as follows: $155 if pur-
chased by February 21; $160 if
purchased between February 22
and March 21; $170 if purchased
between March 22 and April 21;
$180 if purchased between April
22 and May 21; and $190 if pur-
chased between May 22 and
June 21. Please note delinquent
accounts will be referred to dis-
trict court after June 21, and all
Avoca home owners and renters
are obligated to purchase a gar-
bage sticker.
Residents who are unable to
stop by the municipal building to
purchase a garbage sticker or
would like to purchase one be-
fore Wrubels office hours begin,
can mail a check made payable
to Avoca Borough and a self-ad-
dressed stamped envelope to
Avoca Borough c/o Therese
Wrubel, 129 Factory St., Avoca,
PA18641.
If you have any other ques-
tions please call Wrubel at 457-
4891.
Thank You Note
I recently received the follow-
ing note from the Ladies Auxil-
iary to V.F.W. Post 8335 they
askedme toshare withall of you:
As we enter a new year, the
Ladies Auxiliary to V.F.W. Post
8335 would like to extend heart
felt thanks to the Sunday Dis-
patch for the generous publicity
they have given during the past
year. Articles are sent in often
and they are always published
without question. As a result all
of our meetings and projects
have been very successful. Also,
we would like to extend sincere
thanks to the Veterans who stand
behind us and all of our endeav-
ors namely, Commander Joseph
Kitcho, Steward Thomas Ver-
mac, and the members of Post
8335. From them we receive
moral support and sometimes fi-
nancial support. For this we are
truly grateful. We wish the entire
staff of the Sunday Dispatch and
all our friends a very happy,
healthy, peaceful, and prosper-
ous New Year.
Piontek is Back
Like many Duryea businesses,
the Bernard J. Piontek Funeral
Home Inc. was deeply impacted
by the September floods. Al-
though they remained open and
continued to have services off-
site at the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Rectory for the past several
months, Funeral Director Mi-
chelle Piontek is happy to an-
nounce that the funeral homes
on-site visitation room has been
completely restored.
Anyone who is in need of their
services may call the office at
457-4301.
Masses Today
will celebrate the feast of the So-
lemnity of Mary, the Mother of
God, today at the 8, 9:30, and 11
a.m. Masses. People of all faith
traditions are welcome. Please
note this is a holy day of obliga-
tion for Catholics.
No CCD Classes
will not have religious education
classes January 1 and 2 in ob-
servance of the New Years Day
holiday.
VFW Auxiliary
The V.F.W. Post 8335 Ladies
Auxiliary will meet Monday,
Jan. 2 at 7 p.m. in the post home,
915 Main St.
President June Fitzgerald will
preside over the meeting. Joan
Emlaw and Sylvia Smith will be
the hostesses for the evening.
Swearing In
On Tuesday, Jan. 3, Judge Fred
Pierantoni will swear in Avoca
Borough Council Members Ga-
ry Halagarda, Michael Fuller,
Susan LeLack, and Joseph Sat-
kowski at 6:30 p.m. in theAvoca-
MunicipalBuilding, 752 Main
St. The public is invited to at-
tend.
Food Giveaway
The Avoca Lions Club will
have their monthly food give-
away Thursday, Jan. 5 from 4-
6:30 p.m. at the Bethel United
Methodist Church, 532 Main St.
Volunteers are needed to unload
the truck at 1:30 p.m. Individuals
who use this service are encour-
aged to bring boxes and bags
with them for their goods. For
more information, please call
Mary Ann at 457-7619.
Pastoral Council
Queen of the Apostles Parishs
pastoral council will meet Mon-
Garbage stickers available starting Jan. 17
AVOCA
JACKIE BORTHWICK-GALVIN
457-3351
avocahappenings@verizon.net
Station 112 received a visit from Senator John Blake and Representative Michael Carroll during its
annual Christmas party. Both Sen. Blake and Rep. Carroll provided monies recently to Station 112 to
purchase and install Opticon lights on the department's apparatus. These opticon lights work in
conjunction with the vehicle's emergency warning lights, and assists in pre-empting traffic signals
during responses, providing emergency responders the green light. This upgrade ensures the safety
of both responders as well as the traveling public. Sen. Blake and Rep. Carroll are pictured above
with Station 112 members.
See AVOCA, Page 35
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201 Foote Avenue, Duryea
FREE DELIVERY! CALL 457-8881
OPEN DAILY: 6 a.m.-7 p.m. Saturday & Sunday til 5 p.m.
REHOSKIS MARKET
FRESH & SMOKED KIELBASI
Bottom Round Roast ........................$2.99 lb.
Rump Roast .....................................$2.99 lb.
Eye Round Roast ..............................$3.99 lb.
Lean Stewing Beef ...........................$3.99 lb.
Fresh Cut Minute Steaks...................$4.59 lb.
Smoked Bacon.................................$4.99 lb.
Turkey Breast ...................................$5.99 lb.
Slicing or Stick Pepperoni ................$4.99 lb.
Cleareld American Cheese .............$4.99 lb.
AMERICAN LEGION POST 585
DURYEA
Commander John Mlaker
Ladies Auxilliary President
Alice Resavy
S.A.Ls Commander
Dan Loch
and all of its members
With the New Year upon us,
many people will make resolu-
tions to make positive changes in
their lives. While pledging to
lose weight and exercise are al-
ways popular and good choices,
why not considering mixing in
the gift of volunteering too?
Volunteering for an organiza-
tion not only is a tremendous
help to them but also a tremen-
dous help to you too.
Yes, I said you.
Helping others sets off a reac-
tion within our souls that builds
us into better people. By reac-
hing out to others in need, we re-
ally reach within ourselves and
often discover the best version of
who we are.
While were on the subject of
helping others, Norie K. and her
Crossin Towers Sorority Sis-
ters recent Freedom Isnt
Free Christmas card writing
campaign is a great example of
helpingothers andmakinga pos-
itive difference. What started as
a small project amongst a group
of friends quickly grew into a
successful outreach program
that yielded more than 1,000
cards being signed, sealed, and
delivered to the veterans residing
at the VA Medical Center in
Wilkes-Barre and theWalter
Reed National Military Medical
Center in Maryland.
And I am happy to report, that
this special delivery to Walter
Reed spurred volunteers and
staff at the medical center toreci-
procate the gift and send more
than 1,000 cards to the VAs pa-
tients for Christmas.
Take a lesson this New Year
from the Freedom Isnt Free
campaign make a difference
volunteer.
Thank You Note
Speaking of the Crossin Tow-
ers Sorority Sisters, the ladies
would like to thank the members
of the Excelsior Hose Company
No. 2, the first and second stu-
dents of Holy Rosary School,
and Ellen at the V.F.W. for all of
their help in making the Free-
dom Isnt Free Christmas card
writing campaign a success.
PNCC Services
The Rev. Carmen Bolock and
the parishioners of St. Marys
Polish National Catholic
Church, 200 Stephenson St., in-
vite the community to Holy
Mass today at 9 a.m. - Circum-
cision of Our Lord, distribution
of wine from St. Johns Day and
Benediction; and on Monday,
Jan. 2 at 8:30 a.m.: Holy Mass -
Solemnity of the Holy Name of
Jesus.
Piontek is Back
Like many Duryea businesses,
the Bernard J. Piontek Funeral
Home Inc. was deeply impacted
by the September floods. Al-
though they remained open and
continued to have services off-
site at the Sacred Heart of Jesus
Rectory for the past several
months, Funeral Director Mi-
chelle Piontek is happy to an-
nounce that the funeral homes
on-site visitation room has been
completely restored. Anyone
who is in need of their services
may call the office at 457-4301.
Holiday Hours
The Duryea Borough Street
Department and borough offices
will be closed Monday, Jan. 2 in
observance of New Years Day.
All collections will be one date
late this week. Recycling will be
collected January 5 and 6.
Excelsior Meeting
The members of the Excelsior
Hose Co. No. 2 will meet Thurs-
day, Jan. 5 at 7 p.m. at the hose
company, 798 Foote Ave.
The officers for 2012 will also
be sworn in at this time. All
members are invited to attend.
Garbage Stickers
The 2012 Duryea Borough
garbage stickers are on sale now.
Stickers can be purchased Mon-
day through Friday from 7 a.m.
to noon and 1-3 p.m. at the Du-
ryea Municipal Building,315
Main St.
Stickers can also be purchased
Tuesday, Wednesday, and Thurs-
dayevenings from5-8p.m. at the
municipal building. Prices of the
garbage stickers are one bag
$80, two bags $135, three bags
$175, and four bags $215.
Residents are asked to remove
their old garbage sticker when
they place their new one in the
window. Garbage stickers are
due by February 1.
Legion Auxiliary
The American Legion Ladies
Auxiliary Post 585 will meet
Tuesday, Jan. 10 at 6:30 p.m. at
the post home,329 Main St. All
members (senior or junior) are
invited to attend.
2012 dues for the American
Legion Ladies Auxiliary Post
585 are due. Anyone who has not
paid their dues or updated their
information is asked to do so as
soon as possible.
Also any female, adult or
child, who is interested in be-
coming a member of the auxilia-
ry, is welcome andencouragedto
inquire about the application
process. To be eligible, the appli-
cant must be a relative of a veter-
an, living or deceased. For more
information, please call the post
at 457-4242 or stop by the post
home.
Little League Signups
The Duryea Little League will
have sign-ups for the 2012 sea-
son January 24, 25, 26, and 31
from6-8 p.m. at the Duryea Mu-
nicipal Building, 315 Main St.
Until Next Time
Thats about it for this week! If
you would like something to ap-
pear in next Sundays edition of
the Duryea News, please e-mail
or call me with your information
by Thursday at noon. You can e-
mail me at duryeahappen-
ings@verizon.net or call me at
457-3351. Please be sure to in-
clude your name and phone
number with any correspond-
ence in case I need to reach you.
Crossins Sorority Sisters make a difference
DURYEA
JACKIE BORTHWICK-GALVIN
457-3351
duryeahappenings@verizon.net
day, Jan. 9 at 7 p.m. in St. Marys
Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Womens Guild
womens guild will meet Tues-
day, Jan. 10 at 7 p.m. in St. Ma-
rys Rectory, 715 Hawthorne St.
Worship Committee
worship committee will meet
Monday, Jan. 16 at 7 p.m. in St.
Marys Rectory, 715 Hawthorne
St.
Social Concerns
social concerns committee will
meet Tuesday, Jan. 17 at 7 p.m. in
St. Marys Rectory.
Until Next Time
Thats about it for this week! If
you would like something to ap-
pear in next Sundays edition of
the Avoca News, please e-mail
or call me with your information
by Thursday at noon. You can e-
mail me at avocahappen-
ings@verizon.net or call me at
457-3351.
Please be sure to include your
name and phone number with
any correspondence in case I
need to reach you.
Have a great week!
Avoca
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The reorganization meeting of
Dupont Council will take place
on Monday, Jan. 2, at 7:00 p.m.
with Judge Fred Pierantoni ad-
ministering the oath of office.
All residents are invited to at-
tend.
The first regular monthly
meeting of the New Year will
take place on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at
7:00p.m. andall meetings there-
after will be held on the second
Tuesday of each month.
Extended Hours
Patty McDonald, Borough
Manager announcedthat munic-
ipal office hours have been ex-
tended for the month of January
as follows:
MondaytoFriday, 8:00a.m. to
5:00 p.m. with the exception of
Thursday when office hours will
be from 8:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m.
Borough residents can now
purchase their 2012 refuse bags,
windowsticker and calendars, at
the municipal office, no billing
notices have been mailed.
The 2012 refuse fee must be
paid by January 30.
Dupont landlords must notify
the borough office of the ten-
ants names for all their proper-
ties.
Ordinance requires all land-
lords to report the names of ten-
ants so that all can be properly
billed for refuse collection as
well as have contact information
should an emergency arise.
AMVETS Calendars
The AMVETS Post 189 has
2012 calendars are available
from any AMVET member or
by contacting Post Commander
Bernie McDonald at 817-4858.
Donation is $30.00 and will
benefit 16 VA hospital and
homes including the Wilkes-
Barre VA Medical Center and
the Gino J. Merli Veterans Cen-
ter, Scranton.
Eco-Tip
Here is Joey Joness Eco-Tip
of the week:
Remember to plant a tree in
the spring especially if you had a
live Christmas Tree for the holi-
day. Trees are good for the envi-
ronment.
Sacred Heart Meetings
Sacred Heart of Jesus Church
meeting dates for January:
Womens Society will meet on
Tuesday, Jan. 3, at 6:30 p.m. in
the church hall.
The Holy Name Society will
meet on Wednesday, Jan. 4, at
7:30 p.m. in the church hall.
Newmembers are always wel-
come.
Parish Pastoral Council will
meet on Tuesday, Jan. 10, at 7
p.m. in lower level of the rectory.
Wafer Dinner
The Womens Society of Sa-
cred Heart of Jesus Church will
hold their annual Christmas Wa-
fer Dinner on Jan. 15 at Sacred
Heart of Jesus ParishHall begin-
ning at 2:00 p.m.
The event will be catered by
Coopers of Scranton. Cost per
person is $10.00 due at time of
reservation.
Reservations can be made by
calling Diane Skrzysowski at
654-6639 or Carol Klimek at the
rectory office number of 654-
3713.
Senior Outreach
Senior Citizens Outreach
Committee of Sacred Heart of
Jesus Church continues to reach
those senior members of the par-
ish who cannot attend Mass by
mailing the church bulletin to
them weekly and providing
them with a small gift at Christ-
mas and Easter.
If you have a family member
or know of a parishioner who is
homebound or in a nursing
home who would like to receive
the weekly bulletin, please con-
tact the rectory at 654-3713.
Senior Citizen Outreach will
meet on Wednesday, Jan. 11, at
6:00 p.m. in the parish hall.
Happy Birthday
Special Happy Birthday wish-
es toAnnPaddock, whowill cel-
ebrate her 90th birthday on Ja-
nuary 7 with family and friends.
VFW Meeting
The Dupont V.F.W. Post 4909
meeting will be held Monday,
Jan. 2, at the post home. Com-
mander Dave Burrier will pre-
side.
The Home Association meet-
ing will follow. Nomination of
officers will be accepted.
Refreshments and camarade-
rie will occur after both meet-
ings.
Smoke Detectors
The Dupont Fire Department
is a participant inWNEPs Oper-
ation Save-A-Life and has limit-
ed number of smoke detectors
available free of charge to bor-
ough residents.
You can request a smoke de-
tector by calling us and leaving a
message at 654-5121.
Mother of Sorrows
Holy Mother of Sorrows
Church s Nominating Commit-
tee is in process of gathering
names of individuals who would
be willing to serve on their Par-
ish Board in 2012.
Submit your name to Alex
Dubeck (954-0476) or Helen
Jendrey (655-1448) prior to the
Annual Meeting, which will be
held on January 29.
Blood Drive
The VFWPost 4909, Main St.
will host a blood drive on Tues-
day, Jan. 31, from12:30 to 6 p.m.
To schedule an appointment
call 1-800-RED CROSS. To be
eligible to donate blood, an indi-
vidual must be 17, meet height
and weight requirements and be
in generally good health. Paren-
tal permission is required for 16
yr. old donors.
Walk-ins are always welcome.
For more information contact
the post home at 654-9104.
Service Schedule
Dupont Service Schedule for
the week of Jan. 1:
Tuesday, Jan. 3 - Refuse
Wednesday, Jan 4 Recycling
cans and bottles
Thursday, Jan. 5 - Yard waste
Friday, Jan. 5 Ashes - weight
limits for all containers - 30lbs.
Raffle Winners
Final week winners of Elkos
Jr. Bowlers annual fundraiser:
#256- Abbie Jones; #258- Cathy
Piechota; #3- George Koltura;
#271- Dupont Jr. Bowlers; #175-
Brianna Arcarese; #166- Robert
Adomiak; #261-Tom Spurlin;
#125- Sarah Solano; #255- John
Piechota; #274- Ray Wasko;
#198- Billy Elko, Jr.; #112-ZTer-
ri Maruhnich; #66- Karen Wru-
ble; #100- Halle Gronka; #206-
Bryan Shupp.
Bowling Results
Dupont Lanes Bowling
Leagues scores:
Universal
High Scratch Series Scores:
David Titton, 729; Jerry Cog-
gins, 708; William Elko, 704;
Dale Reese, 699; Peter Chod-
nicki, 627; Francis Pupa, 622;
Mike Gotcha, 576; Edward Col-
lins, 567; Mark Prebish, 561; Ni-
cholas Berlinski, 553.
National
Rich Gorzkowski, 702; Bruce
Rydzy, 694; Dale Reese, 675;
Edward Collins, 672; Jerry Cog-
gins, 672; Neal Elko, 672; Allyn
Jr. Ferretti, 647; John Kulick,
640; Mark Kulick, 638; Jeff Lo-
pata, 636.
Junior/Senior
Mens Division: Tyler Spurlin,
593; Austin Elko, 572; Zachary
McKitish, 547; Dave Pacovsky,
540; Cameron Marotto, 537.
Womens Division: Courtney
Osiecki, 430; Irene Magdon,
421; Katie Wynn, 364; Michelle
Grossbauer, 302.
Warehouse Mixed
Mens Division: John Borgia,
684; Chris DeHaas, 597; Frank
Obitz, 562; Matt Charney, 561;
Dom Tafani, 550.
Womens Division: Melony
Yurek, 398.
Magic Circle
Mens Division: Matt Char-
ney, 676; Greg Renfer, 620; Jo-
seph Chmiel, 615; John Colarus-
so, 607; Wally Zieminski, 602;
Paul Chmiel, 598; Russ Stevens,
579; Kyle Wagner, 569; Don
Zieminski, 565; Bill Pupa, 565;
Rich Jr. Aston, 565.
Womens Division: Lisa
Heck, 476; Denise Gordon, 469;
Marytheresa Pupa, 403; Sarahy
Helcoski, 318; Ashley Fuller,
302.
Dupont Bowlerettes
KimKishel, 513; Trisha Chmiel,
512; Rose McDade, 483; Donna
Kasa, 475; Debbie Stevens, 474;
Barbara Slusser, 471; Marythe-
resa Pupa, 467; MaryLou Fe-
reck, 457; Gracelynn William-
son, 445.
American
Dave Kern, 697; Neal elko, 692;
Edward Collins, 650; Mark Kul-
ick, 640; Tom Spurlin, 623;
Chris Kasa, 613; Pete Latona,
603; Mike Morrissey, 600; Ger-
ry Reilly, 596; Francis Pupam
586.
Sunday Night Mixed
Mens Division: Joe Argenio,
583; Jim Rowlands, 568; Joe Sr.
Wruble, 563; Russ Stevens, 527;
Terry Salek, 518.
Womens Division: Gracelynn
Williamson, 458; MaryLou Fe-
reck, 438; Marytheresa Pupa,
424; Courtney McKitish, 406;
Marianne Argenio, 350.
Got News?
If you have an article which
youwouldlike tosubmit youcan
send the information todu-
pont.news@comcast.netor by
calling 407-0231.Send your
news items by Wednesday eve-
ning.
Please include a contact
phone number.
Council to reorganize at meeting on Monday
DUPONT
ANN MARIE PADDOCK
654-0897
dupont.news@comcast.net
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The WA Senior Parents will
meet Jan 11 at 7:00 p.m. at the
Secondary Center in room 164.
Planning for the All-Night
Party continues.
The next fundraiser will be
Januzzis Pizza starting January
16.
All parents of the Wyoming
Area Class of 2012 are invited
to attend.
Library Programs
Adult Programs
Beginner Yoga - Tuesdays &
Thursdays, 8:30-9:30 a.m.
Anne Bramblett-Barr, library
director and certified yoga in-
structor, leads a class for all
experience levels.
By building a strong founda-
tion in classical yoga postures,
proper breathing and align-
ment, you will increase your
strength, flexibility, range of
motion, balance and feel more
focused and relaxed.
Vinyasa Yoga (All Levels) -
Mondays, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
Get ready to deepen your
practice.
This class will allow you to
open your hearts fully to what-
ever the universe has in store
for you, while remaining root-
ed in the Earth.
Come prepared for a strong
asana with upbeat fun music
and relaxation.
Softening into Strength: The
Art of Letting Go (All Levels)
- Thursdays, 6:15-7:15 p.m.
By letting go of tightness
and contraction in the body
and mind, we release into in-
herent and unlimited healing
potential.
Ann will lead you through
this gentle restorative yoga of
long release intended to quiet
the mind, relieve tightness in
connective tissues throughout
the body, in order to open the
self into calm delight, radiant
pureness of being and innate
strength of spirit.
Classes are held in the for-
mer American Legion Building
at 316 Linden St. by the Mont-
gomery Ave. Elementary
School.
Fee is $7 per person drop-in;
discounted punch passes are
available
West Pittston Library Book
Club - First Tuesday of Each
Month, 6:45 p.m.
Grab a cup of coffee and
join the WPL Book Club in an
informal discussion of mem-
ber-selected books.
Theres no need to purchase
the books; just ask at the circu-
lation desk for an available
copy of the months selection.
The club will not meet dur-
ing the month of January.
The book club is currently
meeting off-site.
Please call the library for
details.
Friends of the Library next
meeting is on Jan. 9 at 12:30
p.m. at the library.
Childrens Programs
Weekly Story Time - Every
Friday, 1:00 p.m.
Wind, money fish, sunshine,
birds, picnic, bugs.
What do these things have in
common?
Theyre all prior Story Time
Themes.
Each week, Summer, the
Youth Services Coordinator,
chooses a fun, kid-friendly
theme, reads a few books
aloud to the group, and gathers
the children and adults to com-
plete a related craft.
Please sign-up each week by
Wednesday at 3:00 p.m.
Some events require regis-
tration.
Stop by the circulation desk
or call the library at 654-9847
to sign up.
If a cost is associated with
the program, the fee will be
required at the time of sign-up
to reserve your spot.
Tax Reminder
West Pittston Tax Collector
George L. Miller announced
the penalty period phase is
now over and books are closed
for 2011. New billings for 2012
will be out in February.
Office hours are:
Tuesday evenings from 6:00
p.m. to 8:00 p.m., Saturdays
9:00 a.m. until 11:00 a.m. and
by appointment.
For an appointment, call
570-655-3801.
Any property owners not re-
ceiving a tax bill are requested
to contact the tax office at
655-7782 ext. 232.
Birthday Notes
Celebrating this week:
Carissa Belles, 1/02; Alison
Wolfgang, 1/3; Sara Radzwilka,
1/04; Maryjo Hetro, 1/6; Dana
Phillips, 1/6; Alexa Blandina,
1/7; and Nicholas Mozal, 1/7.
Thought for the Week
Circumstances are beyond
human control, but our con-
duct is in our own power.
Quote of the Week
When we are afraid we
ought not to occupy ourselves
with endeavoring to prove that
there is no danger, but in
strengthening ourselves to go
on in spite of the danger.
- Mark Rutheford
Bumper Sticker
History is still happening.
West Pittston Library held an evening of caroling led by member of the Board of Trustees Amy Hetro
and a dozen members and friends of the library. After caroling, the group was treated to hot choco-
late, cookies and doughnuts.
Three WP Scouts attain Eagle Scout honor
WESTPITTSTON
Tony Callaio
654-5358
tonyc150@verizon.net
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Judging for the first ever Holi-
day Storefront Contest in Exeter
Borough, managed by Junior
Council Representative Angela
Marie Coco of the Exeter Bor-
ough Council, will take place
Monday, Jan. 2. The top three
prizes are: 1st place, $250, 2nd
place, $150, 3rd place, $100.
Friendly Circle
The Friendly Circle Senior Ci-
tizens will meet on Jan. 5 at
1p.m. in the Exeter Community
room on Schooley Street. Host
for the meeting is Kate Proko-
pach. New members are always
welcome.
WA Senior Parents
The WA Senior Parents will
meet Jan. 11 at 7 p.m. at the Sec-
ondary Center in Room 164.
Planning for the All-Nite Party
continues. The next fund raiser
will be Januzzis Pizza starting
Monday, Jan. 16. All Senior Par-
ents are invited to attend.
Refuse Stickers
Refuse stickers for Exeter
Borough are available at the mu-
nicipal building. Stickers are
$150 and $110 for senior citizens
65 years or older by March 31.
These are the rebate prices un-
til Feb. 28. From March 1 to
March 31, the price will be $180
for anyone under 65 and $130 for
senior citizens 65 years or older.
From April 1 to April 30, the
sticker will be in penalty and the
charge will be $250 for every-
one.
On May 1 the delinquent list
will be turned over to the chief of
police and citations will be is-
sued for a fine plus the $250 re-
fuse bill.
through Friday 9 a.m. until 4
p.m. until. Beginning Jan. 4, the
refuse office will be open
Wednesdays 9 a.m. until 7 p.m.
through March.
Pay by mail to: Refuse Office,
1101 Wyoming Avenue, Exeter,
18643 and a sticker and calendar
will be mailed to you. Please in-
clude self addressed stamped en-
velope with your payment. Pay
withcash, check, moneyorder or
credit card but no American Ex-
press. Any questions call Lynda
at 654-3301 Ext. 2.
Recycling Reminder
Exeter residents are reminded
to call recycling coordinator Ka-
ren Szwast at 570-654-0933 to
report missed recycling. She
asks residents to please be pa-
tient with the street department
workers as the different materi-
als are sometimes collected in
separate trucks.
Wait until the afternoon and
call Szwast with your address
and your materials will be col-
lected.
Be sure to place the recycla-
bles curbside by 6 a.m. and pre-
pare them as described on your
recycling calendar. Ensure the
proper paper recyclable is placed
curbside on the appropriate
week.
New calendars will be availa-
ble Dec. 1.
Cosmopolitan Seniors
The Cosmopolitan Seniors
will meet again on Tuesday Jan.
3, at 1p.m. in St. Anthonys Cen-
ter, in Exeter.
Vic Malinowski will preside.
Hosts/Hostesses have been con-
tacted.
Travel coordinator Johanna is
accepting reservations for a trip
on Thursday, Jan. 19, to Sands
Casino. Pickups in Exeter and
Pittston.
You do not have to be a mem-
ber to come on these trips. De-
tails canbe obtainedfromJohan-
na at 655-2720.
St. Barbara Parish
There will be no Religious
Education class on Sunday, Jan.
1or Monday, Jan. 2. Classes will
resume on Sunday, Jan. 8 for
grades 7 to 12 and Monday, Jan.
9 for grades K to 6.
available. Mass Offerings are ac-
ceptedona first come, first serve
basis.
The envelopes for January and
February 2012 have been or-
dered and you should receive
them this month. The childrens
envelopes and the 2012 St. Bar-
bara Parish calendars are availa-
ble in the back of each church.
One calendar per family please.
His ExcellencyThe Most Rev-
Evangelization/Family Life in-
vite couples celebrating their
25th or 50th wedding anniver-
sary in 2012 to a diocesan Wed-
ding Anniversary Mass on Sun-
day, June 3.
The event includes a 2:30 p.m.
Mass at St. Peters Cathedral fol-
lowed by a reception. Requests
for an invitation, with a mailing
address that will be accurate in
March, should be made through
the pastor before March 1.
Reminder
That is all for this week; re-
member if you have any events
or news you would like listed in
the Exeter Town column, you
can reach me at 287-3349 oreci-
priani@comcast.net.
Holiday Storefront Contest judging tomorrow
EXETER
EILEEN CIPRIANI
287-3349
ecipriani@comcast.net
Three Boy Scouts fromWest Pittston Boy Scout Pack 302 became Eagle Scouts in a ceremony held at the Moose Lodge.
Shown are new Eagle Scouts, left to right: Eric Werbin, Connor Mangan, Bob Messina, Jr. being pinned by Assistant Scout Master Bob Messina, Sr. and Scout Master Pat
Messina.
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On Sunday, Dec. 18, Cub
Scout Pack 366 of St. Monicas
Parish in West Wyoming held
their Christmas Party and Pack
meeting. The boys received their
pinewood derby kits from Santa
and had the opportunity to place
their Christmas requests. The
boys who earned their Bobcat
badges were Aidan Dollak, Ca-
ryle Robinson and Benjamin
Schell.
Scientist activity pins were
presented to Webelos Joshua
Carlson, WilliamFauntleroy, Ni-
cholas Perry, Michael Remley,
Robert Salvo and Luke Stavish.
Forester and Naturalist pins
were presented to Joseph
Chiampi, Michael DeSanto, Ca-
ryle Robinson, Joseph Sanfilip-
po, Benjamin Schell, Robert Se-
myon, George Sharkey and
Christopher Sinibaldi.
Cub Scouts also received ac-
tivity segments for participating
in the caroling program present-
ed to the residents at the Laurels
in Wyoming. Activity segments
were presented to the Cubs who
assisted with the supper for the
homeless members of Mother
Theresas Haventhat was heldon
Dec. 9 at St. Monicas Parish in
Wyoming.
Tiger Cubs
Tiger Cubs of Pack 366, St.
Monicas Parish, toured West
Wyoming Hose Company #1 on
Shoemaker Avenue recently. Jim
Ostrowski and Dave Granteed,
two of the departments volun-
teer firefighters demonstrated
the equipment used and allowed
the boys to inspect the fire en-
gines and taught themfire safety
procedures. Tiger Cubs attend-
ing were Ryan Bonin, Roman
Alder and Thomas Lynch.
Barbara Stahley, Cubmaster of
Pack 366, St. Monicas Parish
wishes to express a sincere thank
you to everyone who assisted in
helping with the Friday night
supper of Dec. 9 for the home-
less men of Mother Theresas
Haven. Aspecial thank you goes
to Michael Buosante and to the
parents from the pack who as-
sisted in making the food, the
baked goods and snack items.
She also thanks Mr. Kaminski
and Mr. Jackson and the Boy
Scouts of West Wyoming Troop
366 for serving and helping with
the cleanup.
2012 Garbage Stickers
Wyoming Borough 2012 gar-
bage stickers are on sale at the
borough office. The cost re-
mains $200 per year/$190 for se-
niors. Half year stickers are
available. First half stickers are
due by January 31. Beginning
Feb. 1, a $50 late fee will be at-
tached.
Payment by mail is welcome.
Please send a self-addressed
stamped envelope along with
your payment to Wyoming Bor-
ough, 277 Wyoming Avenue,
Wyoming, PA18644.
Senior Citizens
The regular meeting of the
Wyoming, West Wyoming Se-
niors will be Tuesday, Jan. 3, at
St. Monica meeting center at
1:30 p.m. with President Frank
Perfinski presiding. Servers are
Sam DeSalvo, Mickey DeSalvo
and Genny Labaty.
Newmembers are always wel-
come and you do not have to be a
resident to join. The club meets
the first and second Tuesday of
the month. Refreshments are
served after the short meeting
and bingo is played. Dues for the
coming year will be collected.
Parking is always available and
for the handicapped.
Friendly Circle
The Friendly Circle Senior Ci-
tizens will meet on Jan. 5 at
1p.m. in the Exeter Community
room on Schooley Street. Host
for the meeting is Kate Proko-
pach. New members are always
welcome.
Library News
John Roberts, Librarian and
the Staff of the Wyoming Li-
brary, said to watch for new
events, newbooks and programs
in January.
The Scrabble Club meets on
the first Monday of the month
from 6 p.m. to 8 p.m. The next
session will be Monday, Jan. 2.
Bring your Scrabble board.
Newcomers are welcome.
The Library has a Book Club
Discussion Group that meets on
the second Wednesday of each
month at noon in the Miller
Room.
The Friends of the Wyoming
Free Library meet on the third
Wednesday of the month. The
membership dues are $5 per
year. The group plans events,
parties and many different fund-
raising programs for the Library.
Visit the Library located at
358 Wyoming Avenue, Wyom-
ing. For valuable information,
access the Library on the web at
www.wyominglibrary.org or call
570-693-1364.
St. Monicas Parish
St. Monicas Parishs Night at
the Races is Friday, Feb. 10, in
Our Lady of Sorrows Church
Hall at 363 West Eighth Street,
West Wyoming. Dave Kuhar-
chik, WBRE news personality,
will be the Master of Ceremo-
nies. The doors will open at 6:00
p.m. Post-time is 7:00 p.m. Ad-
missionis $10andadvance ticket
sales will be available only until
175 seats are sold.
There will be no paid admis-
sion accepted at the door. Ad-
mission includes food, beer and
soda the entire night.
The hall is handicapped acces-
sible with ample lighted parking.
Horses are $10 each and race.
Sponsor advertising at $50 to
$100 is available in the program
and on the projection screen be-
fore the race.
Forms can be obtained at St.
Monicas Parish churches fol-
lowing the weekend masses or
you can also contact Tom Tom-
sak at 237-2188 or by e-mail at
rtesix@gmail.com to purchase
advance tickets, horses or adver-
tise as a race sponsor.
The owner of the winning
horse for each race will win $50
and does not need to be present
towin. AChinese Auctionof gift
baskets and gift cards will also
be held. Donations of any type
are greatly appreciated and can
be forwarded to St. Monicas
Parish c/o Night at the Races,
363 West Eighth Street, West
Wyoming, PA.
Bible Study will resume on
Thursday, Jan. 5, after the 7:00
p.m. Liturgy. Bible study is fol-
lowed by the night Prayer of the
Church.
C.C.D. teachers meeting will
be onMonday, Jan. 9, at 6:00pm.
at the Rectory.
Check out www.stmonicane-
pa.com. Updates are posted and
listed on the Home Page. Photos
of various events are in a special
folder under Happenings. The
Links give valuable sources of
information regarding Church
life and opportunities for spiritu-
al advancement. If you do not re-
ceive the Catholic Light in the
mail, you can read it on line. You
can even pray the Rosary on
Line.
JMJ Radio 750 AM is located
on the second floor of the Ob-
lates of Saint Joseph, in Pittston
is approaching four years of
broadcasting the very best in Ca-
tholic Radio. You can access the
station on the Internet by going
to www.jmj750.com. There you
can pull up Stations in the U.S.
and Listen Live.
Ed and Carol Niewinski own
the station. Their email address
is ed.niewinski@gmail.com.
The station is 100% dependent
on listener support.
The 2012 PA Pro-Life Essay
Contest is open to all students in
grades 7 to 12. Students must
write a pro-life essay about abor-
tion, euthanasia or stem cell re-
search with a word limit of 500
for grades 7-9 and 750 for grades
10-12. Deadline is March1. Each
essay must include a cover sheet
with the students name, address,
phone number, grade and name
of the school.
Essays may be emailed to life-
lines@paprolife.org or mailed to
the Pennsylvania Pro-Life Fed-
eration, 4800 Johnstown Rd.
Suite 102, Harrisburg, PA17109.
St. Monicas Cub Scouts get badges and pins
WYOMINGNEWS
EILEEN CIPRIANI
287-3349
ecipriani@comcast.net
Cub Scout Pack 366 of St. Monica's Parish in West Wyoming held
their Christmas Party and Pack meeting. The boys who earned
their Bobcat badges are pictured left to right: Aidan Dollak, Caryle
Robinson and Benjamin Schell.
Tiger Cubs of Pack 366, St. Monica's Parish, toured West Wyom-
ing Hose Company #1 . Pictured checking out the original fire hall
bell are, left to right: Ryan Bonin, Roman Alder and Thomas
Lynch.
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Sports
One word graces the front of
the Pittston Area warm-ups.
Team.
Coach Alan Kiesinger preach-
es teamworkeverydayandthePa-
triots listenas theyusedquickball
movement and team defense to
run away fromHanover Area 67-
47 in the first round of the 46th
Annual Robert McGrane Basket-
ball Tournament on Monday
night at the CYC in Wilkes-
Barre.
The victory led PA into the
championship game against
Lake-Lehman on Wednesday
night when they beat the Black
Knights, 68-53, to win the
McGrane title for the first time
since 2002.
Against Hanover, Pittston Area
useda21-3second-quarter explo-
sion to take a 32-12 halftime lead,
one which they wouldnt relin-
quish.
Steve Stravinski poured in 26
points and grabbed eight re-
bounds to pace the Patriots while
Jordan Houseman chipped in
with 17 points, 11 rebounds and
six assists.
Stravinski is agymrat andhes
only going to become a better
player, said Kiesinger. He took
shot after shot after shot in the
summer. He probably shot 500 to
600 shots a day.
After falling behind 7-3, the
Patriots used an 8-2 run in the fi-
nal three minutes of the quarter to
takea11-9leadgoingintothesec-
ond quarter.
Stravinski started the second
quarter onslaught as he dropped
in a fast break layup off of a silky
behindthebackpass fromHouse-
man. Houseman then dropped in
two of his own before setting up
Shaun McDermott to make it
17-9.
Stravinski made back-to-back
baskets to push the lead to 21-9
before Hanover Area finally
snapped the10-0 run with a made
free throw. Stravinski answered
right back with a rainbowjumper
from the corner and Houseman
tooka nice feedfromMcDermott
to push the lead to 25-10 with two
minutes left in the half. House-
manthentossedahalf court alley-
ooptoStravinski wholaidit infor
two before hitting a three to ex-
tend the lead to 30-10. Michael
Schwab then took a nice feed
fromMason Gross for two before
the Hawkeyes scored as time ran
out tocut its deficit to32-12at the
half.
In the third quarter, McDer-
mott and Chris Kovaleski both
dropped in layups but Hanover
Area responded with four points
of their own.
Stravinski scored off a no-look
pass from Houseman but the
Hawkeyes fought back with a
made free throw and a three-ball
to cut the lead to 38-20. After
Stravinski drewan offensive foul,
McDermott hit a big three to
bump the lead to 41-20.
Hanover Area went on a 12-6
run to cut the lead to 47-32 at the
end of the third quarter, and start-
ed the final quarter with a basket,
but McDermott answered right
back with a midrange jumper to
stop the spurt. After a HA free
throw, Pittston Area rattled off
seven straight on a Houseman
three and layup and a Steve
Sklanka fast break lay-in.
The Hawkeyes answered back
witha7-2runof their owncutting
the lead to 58-42, but it wouldnt
be enough as Stravinski added
four more, Houseman dropped in
an easy two and Kovaleski added
a free throw to end the game.
McDermott added11points for
the Patriots.
In the final, Lake Lehman
would prove to be a tougher test
for the Patriots, but the Black
Knights couldnt stop Stravinski
as he went off for 29 points and
Team play gives PA McGrane title
Stravinski earns MVP for Patriots
By Matt Page
Dispatch Correspondent
PHOTO BY BILL TARUTIS
PA's Steve Stravinski goes airborne on his way to score two against Hanover Area in the opening
round of the McGrane Tournament on Monday night in Wilkes-Barre. Stravinski totaled 55 points in
two games to earn MVP honors as the Patriots won the title.
See STRAVINSKI, Page 44
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Editors Note: Due to early ho-
liday deadlines, the Pittston Ar-
ea Holiday Tournament results
between Pittston Area and Holy
Redeemer, and Wyoming Area
and Mt. View will not appear in
todays issue. Check next week
for a full report on the game.
Pittston Area defended their
home court in blowout fashion
on Tuesday night, using a total
team effort on both offense and
defense to defeat Mountain
View, 68-25, in the opening
roundof the annual PittstonArea
Holiday Tournament at Thomas
R. Kelly Gymnasium in Yates-
ville.
The Lady Patriots came out of
the gate runningall cylinders and
never looked back. Pittston Area
(7-0) opened the game with a 6-0
run. Mountain View would hit a
three-pointer to cut the lead to
6-3, but the Lady Patriots re-
sponded with 12 unanswered
points before eventually taking a
23-7leadintothe secondquarter.
Senior guard Grace ONeil led
all scorers in the first quarter
with ten points including a three-
pointer fromway beyond the arc.
Mountain Viewheld Patriots star
junior Mia Hopkins to just five
points in the opening quarter, as
she was held to 2-for-4 from the
field and 1-for-2 from the free
throw stripe.
The Pittston Area lead swelled
to 42-11in the second quarter, as
freshman Liz Waleski caught
fire midway through the period
and was a perfect 4-for-4 from
the field. ONeil chipped in with
five more, sophomore Brooke
Balchune added four, and Hop-
kins and Charley Zanta capped
the scoring with a bucket each.
Mountain View came out of
the half with a chip on their
shoulder and went on a 7-0 run to
open the quarter. However, the
Lady Eagles needed much more
than seven unanswered points to
get back into the game. Hopkins
heated up in the third and scored
seven of the Lady Patriots 10
points in the quarter. Cales
Owens scored her first two
points of the game, and Zanta
added a free throw.
We only scored seven points
in the first four minutes or so,
Pittston Area Head Coach Kathy
Healey said. We told them,
Come on, lets go, because you
never know. I have been down by
a lot before and have come back.
Teams always have a punchat the
end and we wanted to work har-
der and play more aggressive.
With the game in control, Hea-
leywent tothe benchfor muchof
the fourth quarter. Sophomore
Jacqueline Rabender got into the
game and scored her first points
in the final stanza.
Hopkins hit a long three-
pointer and hit both of her free
throws. Allie Barber added three
more points to her total for the
game, and Zanta and Waleski
chipped in with a bucket each to
put the nail in the coffin as the
Lady Patriots finished strong
with a16-4 run over the last eight
minutes.
Pittston Area played stellar de-
fense as they used a suffocating
zone to hold Mountain View to
below 30 points.
Hopkins led the Patriots with
19 points. She also contributed
defensively with four blocks and
three steals. ONeill added 15
points and was a real threat from
the beyond the arc, and Waleski
contributed with 12 points, and
an impressive 6-for-7 from the
field.
It was a good win, everybody
played and a lot of different peo-
ple scored, Coach Healy said.
We came out and we trapped
and went to the basket.
WA 35, Holy Redeemer 68
The Lady Patriots were not the
only team in the Pittston Area
Holiday Tournament from the
Dispatch coverage area. But un-
fortunately for Wyoming Area,
they opened the tourney against
Holy Redeemer, and the Lady
Royals offense was just too
much to handle for the Lady
Warriors in a 68-35 loss on Tues-
G I R L S VA R S I T Y B A S K E T B A L L
Lady Patriots roll over Mt. View
PA played for Holiday Hoops title against Holy Redeemer
By Josh Horton
PHOTOS BY BILL TARUTIS
Above, Pittston Area's Allie Barber skies toward the basket in a win over Mountain View in the open-
ing round of the PIttston Area Holiday Hoops Tournament. Below left, Grace O'Neill snaps a pass to
a teammate, and bleow right, Mia Hopkins takes a shot over a Mt. View defender.
See LADY WARRIORS, Page 45
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The 2012 Wyoming Valley
Conference and Lackawanna
Football Conference schedules
were released last week with
some interesting matchups set
up for Pittston Area, Wyoming
Area and Old Forge.
The Patriots open the season
on the road against Abington
Heights on a Saturday afternoon
in Clarks Summit. The Warriors
will host Scranton Prep on a Fri-
day night in Week 1 in Exeter.
Both games featured teams that
usuallybattledinscrimmages af-
ter the first week of practice.
The Blue Devils open the sea-
son with a road game against
Lake-Lehman in the Back
Mountain.
Week 2 also sets up two tough
games for the Greater Pittston
teams as Pittston Area travels to
Scranton and Wyoming Area
travels to Mid Valley. The Patri-
ots beat Scranton this past sea-
son, and the Warriors knocked
off the Spartans in the opening
round of the District 2 Class 2A
playoff in 2011.
Pittston Areas schedule
doesnt get any easier with road
games at Dallas, at Coughlin,
and at Valley West. The Patriots
will host Crestwood, Tunkhan-
nock, Hazleton, Berwick, and
Cross-River Rival Wyoming Ar-
ea.
The Warriors home schedule
also features games against Ha-
nover, Meyers, GAR, and North-
west. WAwill also be on the road
against Lake-Lehman, Nanti-
coke, Holy Redeemer, and Pitt-
ston Area.
Old Forges schedule is high-
lighted by back-to-back non-di-
visional games against D2 Class
1A rivals Dunmore and River-
side in Weeks 4 and 5.
The Blue Devils will host the
Bucks, Holy Redeemer, Mon-
trose, Carbondale and Holy
Cross. They will also travel to
Taylor to take on the Vikings,
and to Meyers, Lackawanna
Trail, and Susquehanna.
Here are the complete sched-
ules
Pittston Area Patriots
Week 1 ...at Abington Heights
Week 2..................at Scranton
Week 3...........CRESTWOOD
Week 4....TUNKHANNOCK
Week 5 ..............HAZLETON
Week 6......................at Dallas
Week 7.................at Coughlin
Week 8..................BERWICK
Week 9.............at Valley West
Week 10..WYOMING AREA
Wyoming Area Warriors
Week 1....SCRANTON PREP
Week 2..............at Mid Valley
Week 3 .........at Lake-Lehman
Week 4 ................HANOVER
Week 5 ...............at Nanticoke
Week 6 ......at Holy Redeemer
Week 7 ...................MEYERS
Week 8 ...........................GAR
Week 9...........NORTHWEST
Week 10.........at Pittston Area
Old Forge Blue Devils
Week 1..........at Lake-Lehman
Week 2............at WB-Meyers
Week 3..HOLY REDEEMER
Week 4 ...............DUNMORE
Week 5.................at Riverside
Week 6..............MONTROSE
Week 7 ........................at Trail
Week 8 ........CARBONDALE
Week 9 ...........HOLY CROSS
Week 10.........at Susquehanna
VA R S I T Y F O O T B A L L
Gridiron schedules
announced for 12
Patriots, Warriors,
Blue Devils slates feature
some new opponents
By Rick Notari
Dispatch Staff
Visit our webpage at
www.psdispatch.com
The 2011 sports season was full of victories,
championships, individual accomplishments and
amazing performances by dedicated athletes in the
Greater Pittston area.
Here is a month-by-month look back at some of
the events at had us cheering and sometimes cry-
ing as the results, both good and bad, played out.
January
Pittston Area named Mike Barrett as its new
football coach. Barrett, a Valley Viewgrad and for-
mer VVand Mid Valley assistant coach, brings en-
thusiasm to a program which desperately needed a
turn in direction.
Wyoming Area lineman JulianCampenni is se-
lected to play in the Big 33 Game.
Pittston Area routs Wyoming Area in a non-
league Wrestling match, 67-6.
PA wrestler Michael Domarasky joined the
100-winclub, becomingthe14thPatriot grappler to
achieve the milestone.
The OldForge girls basketball teamupsets arch-
rival Riverside, 51-41, to open 2011.
February
Pittston Area defeated Wyoming Area, 66-54, in
the annual Eugene R. DeMinico II Memorial Bas-
ketball Game as the season ends for both teams
without a playoff appearance.
Wyoming Area gets a win in the girls basketball
game, 56-48 as the senior class combines for 40 of
the teams points.
Old Forge senior Kiel Eigen walks in front of a
packed house on Senior Parents Night. Bound to a
wheelchair since breaking his neck in a freshman
football game as an eighth grader, Eigen takes his
first public steps before the Blue Devils game with
rival Holy Cross.
Wyoming Area wins the Blue and Gold Skate
with a 5-3 upset of Pittston Area behind the play of
Kody Nowicki.
Pittston Area knocks off four-time champ
Wyoming Area to claim the WVC Division III
girls swimming title.
The Patriots win the WVC Division I wrestling
crown with a win over Coughlin. Justin Wilk
clinches the title with a pin in the final bout.
March
District 2wrestlingchampions JasonLaboranti
and Michael Domarasky both won medals at the
PIAA NE Regional Tournament in Bethlehem.
Laboranti won a silver medal at 215 pounds, and
Domarasky won bronze at 112 pounds. Both efforts
qualified the duo for the PIAA Class 3A Cham-
pionships in Hershey.
Both the Old Forge boys and girls basketball
teams won state playoff games to open the PIAA
tournament. The boys whowontheir fifthstraight
D2 Class 1A crown along the way defeated Faith
Christian
The girls, the D2 runner up, traveled to Harris-
burg and won a play-in game against Harrisburg
Christian who were 20-5 coming into the game.
Wyoming Areas Andy Schutz won his second
consecutive D2 Class 2A Wrestling title with win
in the 125-pound title.
April
Pittston Area defeated Wyoming Area 7-2 in the
annual Ashby Game behind the hitting of catcher
RonMusto who delivered a no-out, bases-clearing
double to put the Patriots in command. Musto went
ontoearnthe AshbyMVPina game playedat PNC
Field.
The Lady Warriors turned the tables on the soft-
ball diamond, beating PA, 11-2, behind a 16-hit at-
tack.
OldForge steals nine bases includinghome in
an 8-2 win over arch-rival Riverside on the baseball
diamond.
Freshman Sara Ruby scored two goals to lead
PA to a 3-2 win over Wyoming Area to give the
Lady Patriots their first victory of the season.
The Old Forge baseball team gives first-year
coach Tony DiMattia his first career victory in a
5-4 win over Holy Cross. DiMattia was the captain
of the Blue Devils 1992 PIAA Class 2A State
Championship team.
PittstonArea sophomore MiaHopkins is named
WVC CO-Player of the Year after scoring 18.8
points per game.
PA wrestlers Jamie Scarantino and Kevin We-
solowski are named All-American by the NHSCA
after they placed at the National Wrestling Cham-
pionships in Virginia Beach, VA.
Lady Patriots swimmer Samantha Scialpi is
namedtothe WVCSouthCoaches First-Team. She
was the onlyswimmer selectedtothe teamfromthe
PA WVC Division III championship squad.
Wyoming Area tennis player Davide Fanelli led
the Warriors to a win over rival Pittston Area to
open the boys tennis season. Fanelli beat Jeremy
Homschek, 6-2, 6-7, 6-3.
Jenkins Twp. resident and Scranton Prep swim-
mer Maria Telincho won two D2 Class 2A gold
medals as part of the Classics 200 Free Relady and
200 Medley Relay teams.
May
Pittston Areas Dave McLean won a D2 gold
T H E 2 01 1 S P O R T S Y E A R I N R E V I E W
A look back at 2011
Patriots, Warriors, Blue Devils
and others provide us with thrills,
chills and many memories
By Rick Notari
Dispatch Staff
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Wyoming Area first-year head
coach Steve Mytych had a good
feeling going into their non-
league matchwithBlue Ridge the
night before Christmas Eve. And
the Warriors gave their mentor an
early present with a 46-15 win
over LackawannaLeaguestalwart
Blue Ridge in Exeter.
I kind of knew we were going
to win, Mytych said. But, the
kids still wrestled really hard and
we did very well.
The Warriors sent one of their
best wrestlers out to the mat to
start the match in Nick OBrien.
The three-sport star pinned Blue
Ridges Addison Parsons just 55
seconds into the match.
Neither Blue Ridge, nor
Wyoming Area produced a wres-
tler at170lbs. After thenocontest,
Jude Polit-Moran was awarded
thewininthe182lbs. weight class
after Blue Ridge forfeited.
Shaun Whiting and Corey Pop-
ovich followed in OBriens foot-
steps withpins of their owngiving
Wyoming Area a big lead in the
match. Inthe195lbs. weight class,
Whiting pinned Nick Lloyd at the
3:36 mark of the match and Pop-
ovich pinned Nick Schell at the
1:21 mark of the 220 lbs. weight
class.
The Warriors allowed their first
points of the match when they
wereforcedtoforfeit intheheavy-
weight division.
After the Warriors dominated
from 160 lbs. through 200 lbs.
they went to the lower weights.
Both teams failed to produce a
grappler at 106 and Nick Hromek
won by forfeit in the 113 lbs.
weight class. The Warriors suf-
feredtheir secondloss of thenight
when Dakota Gwjewski defeated
Eric Filipiak 12-7 in the 120 lbs.
match.
The Warriors thenalsodropped
the126 lbs. match when Zack Ed-
wards defeated Carmen Mauriel-
lo 5-0.
Andy Schutz got the Warriors
back on the winning track with a
12-1decision over former District
2 champion Dalton Church.
He didnt pin him, but he blew
him out, Mytych said. The kid
was a reallygoodwrestler andit is
a great win for Andy. The win is
especially good, because when
you beat a kid who was a district
champion it looks really good
come time for seeding at the Dis-
trict Tournament. Major decisions
definitely help the teamtoo.
Wyoming Areas Shaun
OMalley then earned a 4-1 deci-
sion over Louis Esposito in the
138 lbs. match.
NickHeckthendroppedaclose
6-3 decision to former District 2
champion Tom Maby in the 145
lbs. division.
We bumped Nick up two
weights, because we wanted him
to wrestle Maby, Mytych said. I
was pretty happy with how he
wrestled. Maby was a terrific
wrestler and Nick hung in there
and it was a great match. There
was a little controversy with some
calls in the match, but overall it
was a good match and Maby is a
tough kid.
The Warriors finished the
match just like they started it.
Nick Mazzone pinned Cooper
Quick at the 5:00 mark of the 152
lbs. weight class.
One thing Mytych feels he has
accomplishedinhis youngcoach-
ing career at Wyoming Area is,
they are no longer getting pinned
as much as they use to.
The one thing with Wyoming
Area wrestling in the past, is they
usedtoget pinneda lot. Sofar this
season we havent been getting
pinned much. Even in this match,
we werent pinned at all. That is a
huge deal in wrestling. The more
times we get pinned, the more
points we lose. Overall, the kids
have bought into the systemand I
think we are on the right track.
Wyoming Area competed in
the TunkhannockKiwanis Christ-
mas Tournament, which was held
this past Thursday and Friday.
Check back next week for a full
report on the Warriors.
This weeks schedule
Wednesday
PAat Crestwood
WAv. Hanover
Friday-Saturday
WVCMeet
at Lake-Lehman
VA R S I T Y W R E S T L I N G
Confident Warriors get solid holiday win
Wyoming Area smashes Blue Ridge, 46-15
By Josh Horton
Pictured above, defending District 2 champion Andy Schutz of Wyoming Area is in control of his
match with Blue Ridge's Ed Gorick. Below, WA's Carmen Mauriello is on top of his opponent in last
Thursday's bout with Blue Ridge.
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grabbed nine boards to lead Pitt-
ston Area (7-1) to the title and
earn the tournament MVP.
It felt good, every time I got
the ball I was feeling good, said
Stravinski of his performanceand
the MVP award. Its unbelieva-
ble.
Lake Lehman jumped on the
Patriots by coming out to a quick
5-0 lead, but PA answered right
back when Houseman scored on
back-to-back transition buckets
to cut the lead to 5-4.
After a LL basket, Stravinski
took a nice dish from Gross for
two and Houseman had a tip-in to
put the Patriots ahead 8-7.
Lake Lehman answered right
back with a two to regain the lead
but Stravinski once again drop-
ped in an easy bucket off of a
Gross pass. LL hit two free
throws to take an 11-10 lead but
Stravinski buried back-to-back
three pointers to end the quarter,
giving the Patriots a 16-11 lead.
The Black Knights went on an
8-1runtoopenthe secondquarter
to take a 19-17 lead. However, a
Stravinski three-ball gave the Pa-
triots the lead again and this time,
they would not give it up.
A Sklanka midrange jumper
followed by two McDermott
buckets extended the PA lead to
26-19. Both teams hit three free
throws as they went into the half
with PA on top 29-22.
LakeLehmanwent ona5-2run
to start the third quarter, cutting
the lead to four points, but the Pa-
triots slammed the door shut as
they answered back on a Sklanka
lay-in followed by seven consec-
utive points by Stravinski and a
lay-in by McDermott. The 11-0
run pushed the lead to 42-27.
The teams would exchange
baskets before McDermott hit
two threes and Sklanka sank two
free throws to end the quarter on
an 8-0 run giving the Patriots a
52-31 lead.
The Black Knights opened the
fourth quarter with a 9-2 run cut-
tingthe leadto14, but twoHouse-
man free throws and a Stravinski
three pushed the lead back to 19.
LL returned with a 9-3 run to cut
the lead once again, this time to
12. But the Patriots iced the game
after McDermott hit a three fol-
lowed by a Sklanka two and a
Gross free throw to push its lead
to 68-53 win.
It means a lot. We havent
done it since 02, said Kiesinger.
It was one of our goals coming
into this season. We wanted to
win the Marseco Tournament at
Old Forge, we wanted to win this
tournament, and now we want to
take a shot at the league.
McDermott, who scored 16 in
the title tilt, and Houseman, who
addedeight points, bothmade the
all-tournament team. Sklanka
added12points against LLfor the
Patriots.
OF 31, Dallas 49
Two nights after limiting
Wyoming Area to just 19 points,
Old Forge experienced some of-
fensive struggles of its own in a
49-31 loss to Dallas in the cham-
pionship game of the Angelo
Schifano Memorial Holiday
Hoops Tournament at Wyoming
Area on Wednesday night in Exe-
ter.
The Blue Devils shot just 22
percent (11-for-50) fromthe floor
and matched that number with 22
turnovers in going eight-plus
minutes betweenthefirst andsec-
ond quarters without a point as
the Mountaineers went on a 13-0
run to take command with a 15-5
lead.
Dallas extended its advantage
to 21-7 at halftime as Old Forge
managed just a Colin Carey field
goal at the 3:12 mark of the sec-
ond quarter. The Blue Devils
were 1-for-5 from the field in the
secondquarter andturnedtheball
over nine times.
Old Forge (4-3) got within
nine, 25-16, in the third quarter as
BrianTomasetti andJake Manetti
scored on back-to-back buckets
right before the four-minute
mark. But Dallas extended its
lead to 32-17 heading into the fi-
nal stanza as the Blue Devils shot
just 2-for-10 from the free throw
line, including missing the front
end of three 1-and-1 opportuni-
ties.
The Blue Devils made one last
charge, opening the fourth quar-
ter with a 10-2 run as J Argonish
scored two straight field goals,
andTomasetti scoredonanoffen-
sive rebound to get Old Forge
within 34-27 with 4:58 left in the
game.
But againDallasansweredwith
a game-ending 15-4 run to earn
the tournament crown.
Manetti finished with a team-
highninepoints for theBlueDev-
Stravinski earns McGrane MVP with 55 in two games
Above, Pittston Area's Chris Kovaleski makes a move Hanover Area's Martin Steve in the opening
round of the McGrane Tournament at the Wilkes-Barre CYC. Below, Patriots guard Michael Schwab
defends during the Patriots victory over the Hawkeyes.
See BLUE DEVILS, Page 48
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day night.
Despite playing from behind
the entire game, Serra Degnan
refused to back down. The junior
was as tough as nails and was in
on every play causing many
turnovers. Her aggression car-
ried over on offense as she
scored 15 points. She drove the
lane possession after possession
and her effort earned her 16 free
throws, connecting on seven of
the 16.
Sophomore guard Nicole
Turner also played well for the
Lady Warriors, using her speed
to make things happen on de-
fense while offensively scoring
seven points. Abby Thornton
added six points, while Ashlee
Blannett chipping in with four.
Felicia Turner had two points
and Nicole Dileo capped the
Warriors scoring with one point.
The Royals had four players in
double digits. Freshman Alana
Wilson led Holy Redeemer with
14 points. Alexis Lewis, Julia
Wignot, Paige Makowski each
had ten points in the Holy Re-
deemer victory.
PA 45, Dallas 34
Pittston Area used a strong ef-
fort on the offensive and defen-
sive ends in the first and fourth
quarters as they held off Dallas,
45-34, in a non-league affair last
Thursday night at the Thomas R.
Kelly Gymnasium in Yatesville.
The LadyPatriots useda 27-12
advantage during the first and
last eight minutes of action to de-
termine the outcome.
Mia Hopkins led all scorers
with 21 points her fourth 20-
plus point game of the season.
The junior canned nine field
goals and three free throws.
Grace ONeill added seven
points for undefeated Pittston
Area, and freshmen Liz Waleski
and Allie Barber combined to
score 11 points.
OF 29, Valley View 42
Old Forge managed just seven
first-half points in a 42-29 loss to
Valley View in the opening
round of the Lou Camoni Me-
morial Tournament on Monday
at Valley View HS in Archbald.
The Blue Devils fought
through a cold start, trailing just
7-4 after the first quarter. But the
Cougars used a 12-3 spurt in the
second quarter to take command
with a 19-7 lead at the break.
Valley View extended its lead
to 34-18 entering the fourth
quarter before the Blue Devils
outscored their hosts, 11-8, in the
final stanza.
Rhyan Barnic led Old Forge
(5-2) with a career-high 12
points, including three three-
pointers.
Lauren Carey added eight
points for the Blue Devils, and
Morgan Malia chipped in with
four.
OF 53, Carbondale 29
Old Forge bounced back with
a 53-29 victory over Carbondale
in the consolation game of the
Lou Camoni Memorial Tourna-
ment at Valley Viewon Wednes-
day night in Archbald.
After scoring just seven points
in the first 16 minutes of action
on Monday, the Blue Devils lim-
ited the Chargerettes to just sev-
en points in the first half as they
ran out to a 29-7 lead at intermis-
sion.
Lauren Carey and Vicki Lee
split 14 points to lead Old Forge
(6-2).
Morgan Malia, Brittany Sou-
ryavong and Tori Tansley added
six points each for the Blue Dev-
ils.
OF 48, Trail 28
Old Forge raced out to a 20-10
first-quarter lead and never
looked back in a 48-28 non-
league victory over Lackawanna
Trail last Thursday night in the
Elio Ghigiarelli Gymnasium.
The Blue Devils extended
their lead to 31-19 at the half be-
fore limiting the Lady Lions to
just one point in the third quarter
as they entered the final stanza
with a 47-20 advantage.
Lauren Carey led Old Forge
(5-1, 1-0) with11points, and Tay-
lor Nemetz checked in with nine.
Morgan Malia and Vicky Lee
added seven points each for the
Blue Devils.
This weeks schedule
Monday
OF v. Riverside
Tuesday
PA at Berwick
WA v. Redeemer
Thursday
PA at Crestwood
WA at Tunkhannock
OF at Western Wayne
WA's Serra Degnan goes in for a layup against Holy Re-
deemer in the opening round of the PA Holiday Tourney.
WA's Ashlee Blannett looks to pass
out of the corner as Holy Redeemer's
Shaina Dougherty applies pressure.
WA's Sally DeLuca shoots a short
jumper against Holy Redeemer.
Pittston Area's Liz Waleski, left, knocks the ball out of the hands of Mountain View's Paige Seymour.
LADY WARRIORS
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medal in the Class 3A 1600m
run. Teammate Ron DEliseo
won a silver medal in the 300m
Hurdles and Cody Rydzy won a
bronze medal in the Long Jump.
Wyoming Areas Sara Radz-
wilka also won D2 gold with a
first-place finish in the Class 3A
800m race. Teammate Michelle
Goldenwon a silver medal in the
3200m race.
WA freshman Ryan Flynn
won Junior High District 2 gold
in the Pole Vault competition. PA
eight-grader Olivia Giambra
won a gold medal in the Long
Jump.
Holy Redeemers Marissa
Durako won two D2 gold med-
als in the Class 2A 1600m and
3200m distance races.
Pittston Areas Chuck Bress-
ler tosses a five-inning no-hitter
in win over Coughlin.
The Patriots 1600mrelay team
won a gold medal at the Jordan
Relays. The team of Brandon
Hampton, Tyler Roman, Dave
McLean and Cody Rydzy post-
ed a time of 3:46.79.
June
The Wyoming Area junior
high softball team captured the
WVC Division II title.
Old Forge won its fifth straight
D2 Class 1A Baseball title with
an 8-3 win over Lackawanna
Trail at PNC Field in Moosic.
The Blue Devils softball team
also won the district title, claim-
ing its fourth consecutive crown
in an improbable run through the
Class 1A field, including a 7-3,
eight-inning victory over top-
seeded Blue Ridge.
Marissa Durako of Holy Re-
deemer finishes seventh at the
PIAA Class 2A event. Durako is
a Laflin resident.
Old Forge grad and Villanova
flame thrower Kyle McMyne is
selected by the Cincinnati Reds
in the fourth round of the MLB
Amateur Baseball Draft.
July
The Plains American Legion
team won the Region 5 Tourna-
ment with contributions fromthe
host of Pittston Area players, in-
cluding Jordan Bone, Josh Sa-
vakinas, James Casetllino, and
RJ Emmett.
The Greater Wyoming Area
baseball and softball all-star
teams dominate tournament ac-
tion, winning many District 31
and Section 5 tournaments.
Don Crossin and Bill Briggs
win65thAllantitle eight days af-
ter tournament begins due to
poor weather conditions.
August
Former Pittston Area harriers
Matt Flynn and Deedra Porfi-
rio win the Tomato Festival 5K
run.
OldForge golfer CoreyPalma
and teammate J Argonish make
clutch putts on the final two
holes to give the Blue Devils a
6-3 win over arch-rival Riverside
onthe links. Palma alsowins Top
Senior honors at the annual Jack-
man Memorial Tournament.
Lou Ciampi Jr., George Al-
drich and Joe Pizano were
elected into the Luzerne County
Hall of Fame. George Miller
was awarded with the Sam Fal-
cone Award at the HOF ceremo-
nies.
Old Forge softball player Andi
Alsalahat was selected to the
PSCA All-State team.
The Greater Wyoming Area
Senior Little League team won
the Pennsylvania State Cham-
pionship and finished second at
the LL Eastern Regional in New
Jersey.
Len Coleman won his 11th
Emanon Club Title.
OldForge gradKyle McMyne
earns first professional victory
with five inning stint in Billings
1-0 win over Great Falls.
The GWA 9-10 softball team
won the PA state title and fin-
ished the regional tournament
with just one loss. The GWA ju-
nior softball team placed third at
the state tournament.
Old Forge grad BrandonGat-
to set a Guinness World Record
for jumping jacks in a minute
when he did104 at Veterans Me-
morial Stadium.
September
Harding resident Stephanie
Jallen is selected to the United
States Paralympic Ski team. The
Wyoming Area student is one of
just seven women selected to the
squad.
PAgolfer BrandonMatthews
shoots 4-under 31 at Fox Hill in
loss to Holy Redeemer. The se-
nior also wins his record fourth
Tryba Preseason Golf Tourna-
The year in review - a look back at 2011
Above, Old Forge senior Kiel Eigen took his first public steps since breaking his neck as an eighth-
grader playing in a freshman football game. Below left, PA's Michelle Fernando led the Lady Patriots
to a WVC title. Below right, Ryan Carey makes a catch for Wyoming Area.
See 2011, Page 47
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WAGBPA meeting January 10
The Wyoming Area Girls Basketball Par-
ents Association will be having its monthly
meeting on Jan. 10th at the High School in
Room #133 at 7 p.m. All parents of girls
playing basketball in grades 7th thru 12th
are encouraged to attend.
WABBPA meeting Wednesday
The Wyoming Area Boys Basketball
Parents will meet on Wednesday at 7 p.m. in
the high school gym lobby.
Plans for the balance of the season will be
discussed. All parents are encouraged to at-
tend. For more info, contact Tracey Carey at
313-0837.
Pittston Senior Center
forming Bowling League
The 2012 Pittston Senior Center Bowling
League is nowforming. This league will run
for 14 weeks and begin on Friday, January
20. Bowlingwill be heldat ModernLanes in
Exeter and begin at 1:15 p.m.. If you would
like to join this league or would like further
informationplease contact Connie Andrews
at 655-5561. This is a fun league and open to
anyone 60 years of age or older whether you
are an experienced bowler or have not bow-
led in years. Following the14 weeks a Bowl-
ing Banquet will be held.
Aspecial meeting and registration will be
held on Friday, January 13 at 1 p.m.
Sandlot Baseball Academy
The Sandlot Baseball Academy High
School Baseball Camp will begin Sunday,
January 29, and run for the next six Sundays
until March 4.
The camp will be held at 719 Capouse
Ave., Scranton from 12-2 p.m. and feature
pitching, hitting and positional breakdowns.
Open to students in grades 9-12, the camp
will feature instruction from Pittston Area
Head Coach Paul Zaffuto and Old Forge
Head Coach Tony DiMattia. Other instruc-
tors on staff include, Old Forge pitching
coach Gary DiMattia, Abington Heights
asst. coach Chris Davis, Lackawanna Col-
lege pitchingcoachBrianMinich, Dunmore
asst. coach Mike Hallinan, and Scranton
Miners Head Coach Mike Guy.
The cost of the camp is $150. Contact
Chris Davis at 499-2717 or
CDD027@aol.com to register or for more
information.
PA Cheer Night at the Races
The Pittston Area Varsity Cheerleaders
have won a bid to the National High School
Cheer Championship in Orlando, FL
Please help them get there by taking part
in "A Night At the Races" on Saturday, Ja-
nuary 21, at 6 p.m. at the Jenkins Twp. Fire
Hall. The event is All you can Eat includ-
ing, soup, salad, pasta, meatballs, chicken
strips, potatoes, vegetable, deserts, and
much more. Must be 21 to attend.
Cost is $10 cost for a horse and $5 at the
door.
WPLL Coach letters due
Prospective managers or assistant coach
for the West Pittston Little League during
the 2012 season must submit a Letter of In-
tent byDec. 31. This includes current coach-
es. There will be open positions from T-ball
through Boys Minor League. All letters
should specify which level you are interest-
ed in coaching, T-ball, Coach-Pitch, or Boys
Minor League.
Please note that submittal of a letter does
not guarantee a managerial or assistant
coaching position in the West Pittston Little
League.
Letters must be postmarked no later than
Dec. 31to: Curt Hannon, 1573Mt. Zion Rd.,
Harding, 18643
Warrior Legacy
The Wyoming Area Football Alumni As-
sociation is working on a project to collect
old Warrior football programs, Sunday Dis-
patch Goalpost editions, and other printed
memorabilia for postingonthe internet. The
Warrior Legacy Project can be viewed at
www.wyomingareafootball.org
For each year, the following sections of
the football programcan be viewed fromthe
web site: program cover, senior pictures,
team picture, scores of games.
Thus far, with the exception of 1981 and
1985, all programs since 1980 have been
posted. Programs and printed materials
from 1966 to 1979 are needed. Pictures of
cheerleaders and coaches are also being
captured and will be posted at a later date.
Anyone who has a 1981 or 1985 Warrior
football program, or programs printed from
1966 to1979, is asked to contact Nick Peru-
gini at nperugini@aol.com. Materials will
be scanned and returned promptly to the
owner.
Gynmastics Signups
Shooting Starz Gymnastics is accepting
enrollment for 2012 session dates. Registra-
tionbeganonDec. 12. The dates for 2012are
Jan. 2-Feb. 25, Feb. 27-April 14, April 23-
June 11, June 25-Aug. 18, Aug. 27-Oct. 15,
Oct. 29-Dec. 22.
For more information, contact Joelle
Rose at 822-1212. The gymnastics school is
located on 250 Johnson St., Wilkes-Barre.
Rock Solid AAU Tryouts
Rock Solid AAUBasketball will conduct
try-outs for the Spring 2012 Travel Basket-
ball Season on Sunday, Jan. 8 and Sunday,
Jan. 15. The try-outs will be for girls and
boys 5th to 10th grade. Cost is $10 per play-
er.
For more information contact Doug Mill-
er at (570) 696-2769 or email TheRockRec-
Center@bmha.org.
S P O R T S B R I E F S
WA girls hoop parents set monthly meeting
ment.
Catherine Lombardo, Pitt-
ston Area Cross Country runner,
sets the PA course record with a
time of 19:16 in a WVC cluster
against Valley West, Berwick
and Northwest.
Wyoming Area soccer player
Nate Brague records back-to-
back hat tricks in victories over
MMI Prep and GAR.
In first game back since the
Flood of 2011forced many out of
their homes along the Susque-
hanna River on the West Side,
Wyoming Area beats Lake-Leh-
man, 42-10. Nick OBrien
rushed for 218 yards and four
touchdowns in the victory. It was
the Warriors first game in two
weeks after they had to cancel its
Week 2 matchup with West
Scranton.
With four players pulling dou-
ble-duty on a sports-filled Mon-
day in Old Forge, the Blue Devils
lost for the first time ever to arch-
rival Riverside, 3-2, at Veterans
Memorial Stadium. Seniors J
Argonish, Ian Nemetz and
Adam Barsigian missed the
first half of the match while they
traveled home froma golf match
in Mt. Cobb. Junior Matt Man-
cuso held down the fort before
himself, leaving for the Blue
Devils football game at GAR,
immediately after the soccer
match.
Gabby Vaxmonsky scored a
hat trick as the Lady Patriots
field hockey team gets a big 7-0
win over Montrose in the WVC
opener.
Pittston Area gives first-year
coach Mike Barrett a victory in
his home debut with a win over
Scranton. The Patriots startedthe
season 2-0 under Barrett. In the
opening week victory over Tunk-
hannock, junior Jordan House-
man returned two punts and an
interception for touchdowns.
Marissa Durako of Holy Re-
deemer wins the Robbins Me-
morial Invitational. The Laflin
resident won the event in a time
of 19:52 as she outlasted defend-
ing PIAAchamp Tori Gerlach of
Pennridge, and defending D2
champ Regan Rome of Dallas.
October
Durako of Laflin captured the
District 2 Class 2A Cross Coun-
try title. She also finished second
at the WVC Coaches Meet.
Defending champion Bran-
don Matthews of Pittston Area
finishes tied for seventh at the
PIAAstate championships. Mat-
thews won the Regional title af-
ter finishing fifth at the D2
championships to advance to the
state tourney. Earlier in the
month, Matthews sets the Fox
Hill CCcourse record with an 8-
under 63 during the WVC Team
Playoffs.
Pittston Area boys soccer
team advances to the District 2
playoffs but are eliminated in the
first round by D4 representative
Williamsport.
The Wyoming Area Field
Hockey teamwins its first-round
District 2 matchup with rival
Pittston Area, 4-0, as Serra Deg-
nanrecords a hat-trickfor the La-
dy Warriors.
The Pittston Area girls vol-
leyball teamended the 2011cam-
paign without a victory, extend-
ing its losing streak to 31 games,
dating back to 2009.
The Patriots soccer team rout-
ed Wyoming Area, 10-3, behind
the scoring of Pietro Colella and
JordanConsagra. The dynamic
duo combined for five goals and
five assists in the victory.
The now famous Dirty Doz-
en game has arch-rival River-
side beating Old Forge, 15-14,
with a two-point conversion in
the final minute of action. It is
discovered after the game that
the Vikings had 12 men on the
fieldonthe games decidingplay.
The game is the most highly con-
tested since the series renewal in
2000.
Wyoming Area golfer Nick
Rydzewski finishes fourth at the
WVCPre-District 2 event at Fox
Hill CC with a 7-over 77.
November
Old Forge goes distance with
eventual state-runner up South-
ern Columbia in a 45-34 loss to
Tigers in first round of PIAA
Class1Aplayoffs. The Blue Dev-
ils led 34-31 with less than 11
minutes remaining before suc-
cumbing to the SCA big-play
ground attack. Quarterback Co-
lin Carey throws for a school re-
cord 329 yards to go with four
touchdowns in the loss.
PA outlasts WA in second an-
nual Moose Pizza Bowl.
Blue Devils win D2 title with
47-6 victory over arch-rival Riv-
erside.
Nick OBrien rushes for 321
yards in 53-44 loss to GARin D2
Class 2Atitle game. OBrien ac-
counted for 354 yards of offense
the week before in a victory over
Mid Valley in the opening round
of the district playoffs.
Duryea Wildcats B team
wins WVWYFCC Super Bowl,
20-0, over Kingston. The Wild-
cats did not surrender a point all
season.
See 2011, Page 50
2011
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ils, andTomasetti checkedinwith
eight points and 11 rebounds.
OF 47, Wyoming Area19
A back and forth game during
the first 10 minutes of action
looked to set the stage for a thrill-
ing rematch between Old Forge
and Wyoming Area in the open-
ing round of the Angelo Schifano
Memorial Holiday Hoops Tour-
nament. But a 14-minute interval
during the second and third quar-
ters proved otherwise as the Blue
Devils dissectedtheWarriors, 47-
19, in Mondays nightcap in Exe-
ter.
Old Forge (4-2) opened the
game with an 8-3 run in the first
quarter as junior guard Brian To-
masetti went perfect from the
field for three buckets and six
points. The Blue Devils led 6-0
before Bart Chupka scored for
Wyoming Area (1-6) with 2:42
left in the opening period.
Tomasetti scored on an offen-
sive rebound before Lou Vullo
made1-of-2 free throws to get the
Warriors within 8-3.
WyomingAreaopenedthesec-
ond quarter with a bucket by Vul-
loandathree-point playbyChup-
ka to knot the score at 8-8. Junior
Mike Carey then drilled the only
three-point basket of the game on
an assist fromVullo to cap an 8-0
run and give the Warriors an11-8
lead with 6:04 left in the second
quarter.
But the basket would be
Wyoming Areas last until there
were five seconds left in the third
quarter.
Old Forge answered with a 6-0
spurt to end the first half as Dave
Argust drilled two free throws,
Tomasetti scored again on an of-
fensive rebound, and Brenden
Wahl drove past two WAdefend-
ers for a layupfromthe left side to
put the Blue Devils in the lead14-
11 at intermission.
Chupka who torched Old
Forge for 30points inthe opening
game of the Marseco Memorial -
looked to break the drought for
the Warriors to open the half, but
the junior center missed a layup
and injured his right wrist on the
ensuingscramblefor therebound,
knocking him out of the game.
Tomasetti thenpaceda10-0run
for the Blue Devils with five
points of the next four minutes,
and the Warriors were held score-
less until Matt Klus scored with
five seconds left inthe thirdtocut
the deficit to 24-13 entering the
final stanza.
Old Forge extended its lead in
the final stanza with a 23-6 run
behind seven points from Colin
Carey, five from Tomasetti and
four from Argust.
Tomasetti finished the night
with a career-high 19 points for
the Blue Devils. He also added10
rebounds and four steals.
Carey notched nine points for
Old Forge, and Argust added sev-
en points, seven rebounds, four
assists and two steals. Jake Ma-
netti chipped in with six points,
five assists, four rebounds and
three steals.
Chupkas five points were a
team-highfor theWarriors. Heal-
so added five rebounds before
suffering his injury.
WAsecond-leading scorer Lou
Vullo was limited to just three
points.
WA36, Northwest 47
Wyoming Area enjoyed a bet-
ter night offensively than in its
opening round game against Old
Forge in the Angelo Schifano
Memorial Holiday Hoops Tour-
nament, but the Warriors were
unable to overcome two long
droughts without abucket ina47-
36 loss to Northwest in Wednes-
day nights consolation game in
Exeter.
The Warriors fell behind from
the start, trailing 6-0, but Lou
Vullo sandwiched two buckets
around a Jordan Zezza three-
point play to get the host school
within8-7with3:25remainingin
the first quarter.
Northwest extended its lead to
16-9 at the end of the opening pe-
riod, andto20-10with4:03left in
the second quarter as Wyoming
Area would go 8:30 without a
field goal. But Dan Newhart
keyed a 6-0 run to end the second
quarter with four points off the
bench to get WA within 20-16 at
halftime.
Vullo scored on a soft jumper
from the baseline to cut the War-
riors deficit to 20-18 to open the
second half, but the Rangers
reeled off a12-5 run over the next
six minutes to push its lead to a
game-high nine points at 32-23
with 38 seconds left in the third
quarter.
WA did not go away.
Mike Carey scored his only
bucket of the game to end the
Blue Devils, WA struggle offensively in tourney losses
Above, Wyoming Area's Lou Vullo is fouled in the second half of action against Northwest on
Wednesday night in the consolation game of the annual Angelo Schifano Memorial Holiday Hoops
Tournament. Below left, Old Forge's Jimmie Aversa fights with WA's EJ Driving Hawk (30) and Joe
Adonizio for a loose ball during Monday's opening round game. Below right, WA's Jordan Zezza puts
up a shot over a Northwest denfder.
See HOOPS, Page 50
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VA R S I T Y B A S K E T B A L L
Pittston Area sweeps Marseco Memorial titles
The Pittston Area Lady Patriots won the 12th annual Anthony 'Badger' Marseco Memorial Girls' Tip-Off Tournament at Old Forge with a win over the Blue Devils.
The Pittston Area Patriots won the 12th annual Anthony 'Badger' Marseco Memorial Boys' Tip-Off Tournament at Old Forge with a win over the Blue Devils.
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third quarter, and the Warriors
scored the next five points to get
within 32-20 on two Vullo free
throws with5:41left inthe game.
Zezza scored on two 15-foot-
ers in the lane on the next two
possessions, and Vullo followed
with a bucket off of an offensive
rebound as the teams traded bas-
kets over the next 2:29 as North-
west held on 38-36 with 3:12 re-
maining.
Wyoming Area got a defen-
sive stop on the ensuing posses-
sion but couldnt take the lead or
tie after Zezza had his three-
point attempt from the left wing
go in and out, and a Newhart 10-
footer off an offensive rebound
did the same.
Fromthere, the Rangers ended
the game on a 9-0 spurt to take
the victory as the Warriors could
not convert on the offensive end.
Zezza led Wyoming Area
(1-7) with13 points and eight re-
bounds on the night. Vullo fin-
ished with11points and eight re-
bounds, and Newhart chipped in
with seven points.
This weeks schedule
Tuesday
PA v. Berwick
WA at Holy Redeemer
OF at Riverside
Friday
PA v. Crestwood
WA v. Tunkhannock
OF v. Western Wayne
HOOPS
Old Forge's David Argust goes inside to score as Wyoming Area's
Joe Adonizio goes for the block.
Wyoming Area's Jeremy Zezza shoots a floater out of the out-
stretched reach of Old Forge's Colin Carey.
Durako, a Laflin resident, fin-
ished 8th at the PIAA Class 2A
Cross Country championships
in Hershey.
Patriots upset Warriors, 24-
21, in annual grid grudge match
at Jake Sobeski Stadium in
West Pittston. Pittston Area
held WAs Nick OBrien out of
the endzone for the only time
all season. PA defensive tackle
Anthony Houghton wins the
Falcone MVP Trophy on the
heels of his 13-tackle perform-
ance. Houghton also forced two
fumbles and recorded a sack.
December
Pittston Area wins Marseco
Memorial titles in both boys
and girls divisions with victo-
ries over host Old Forge.
Steve Stravinski leads PA to
7-1 record with 20.4 ppg aver-
age including a two-game total
of 55 as the Patriots win the
McGrane Tournament for the
first time since 2002
On the girls side, junior Mia
Hopkins had the Lady Patriots
off to a 7-0 start with her 19.4
points per game average.
Old Forge wide receiver and
defensive back Dave Argust is
selected to the Pennsylvania
Sports Writers Class 1A All-
State Team as an offensive spe-
cialist. Argust caught a 91-yard
TD in state playoffs, and re-
turned a punt and an intercep-
tion in come-from-behind win
over Mid Valley.
Pittston Area's Michael Domarasky, back, got the win over Wyoming Area's Steve Barush by tech-
nical fall in the 119-pound match when the Patriots and Warriors met on the mat.
2011
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OBITUARIES
Miss Helen A. Olsakowski,
74, a guest at Pittston Manor,
died Tuesday, December 27,
2011, in Geisinger Wyoming
Valley Medical Center, Plains
Township.
Miss Olsakowski was born in
Wilkes-Barre, daughter of the
late Michael and Mary Dinoski
Olsakowski. She was a graduate
of the class of 1954, James M.
Coughlin High School, Wilkes-
Barre. She received her bache-
lors degree in education from
College Misericordia, Dallas,
and had been an elementary
school teacher in New Jersey
prior to her returning to the
Wyoming Valley several years
ago. She was a member of Ss.
Peter and Paul Roman Catholic
Church, Plains Township.
She was also preceded in
death by a sister, Mary Ann
Dziedzic, and brother Anthony
Olsakowski.
Surviving her are sister Irene
Olsakowski, Redondo Beach,
CA; and brother Michael G. Ol-
sakowski, Plains Township; and
numerous nieces and nephews.
A Memorial Mass was cele-
brated Dec. 31 in Ss. Peter and
Paul Church, Plains Township.
Private interment.
Memorial donations may be
made to Ss. Peter and Paul
Church, 13 Hudson Road,
Plains Township, 18705. Ar-
rangements by the H. Merritt
Hughes Funeral Home, Wilkes-
Barre.
Helen A. Olsakowski
December 27, 2011
FrankJ. Avvi-
sato, 66, former
police chief of
the borough of
Old Forge, died
December 28,
2011, at home
with his children by his side.
Born October 1, 1945, son of
the late Phillip and Elizabeth Ce-
sare Avvisato, he was a lifelong
resident of Old Forge, and a 1963
graduate of Old Forge High
School. After graduation, he en-
listed in the U.S. Navy and served
at the Pentagon and aboard the
USS Thuban. In1969, he became
a member of the Pennsylvania
State Police where he served as
Trooper and a Certified Scuba
Diver until 1982. From1982 until
1989, he was a member of the Re-
gion8StrikeForce, wherehelater
retired. Following retirement, he
became Chief of Police of Old
Forge from1989 to January 2005.
As Chief, he was instrumental in
creating the Lower Lackawanna/
Luzerne County Drug Task
Force, sat on the Board of Direc-
tors of the Chiefs of Police Asso-
ciation, andintroducedtheDARE
program into Old Forge High
School. He was a member of the
VFWPost 4954, Old Forge, and a
parishioner of Prince of Peace
Parish, Old Forge. He was an avid
hunter, enjoyed riding his Harley-
Davidsonas a member of the Ma-
rauders MC, and loved his dogs,
Meko and Diesel. The family
wishes to thank Dr. Kenneth Se-
bastianelli and his nurse, Debbie
Merrick, for their kindness, ex-
traordinarycareandsupport at his
time of need.
Surviving are a son, Frank J.
Avvisato Jr., and wife Karen,
Leesburg, VA; daughter, Kerri
AnnAvvisato, OldForge; brother,
Phillip Avvisato Jr., and wife
Elaine, Duryea; two grandchil-
dren, AnthonyandKaylieAvvisa-
to; one nephew, Lt. Craig Carey,
and wife Jackie; four nieces,
Christine Sebastianelli and hus-
band Dr. Ken, Kimberly McDo-
nough and husband Jim, Kelly
Dixon and husband Andy, and
Kristin Taddei and husband Jay;
and several aunts and cousins.
The funeral with law enforce-
ment honors was held Dec. 31 in
the Ferri Funeral Home, Old
Forge, with Mass of Christian
Burial inSt. Maryof theAssump-
tion Church at Prince of Peace
Parish, Old Forge. Interment Old
Forge Cemetery.
Memorial contributionsmaybe
directed to the Griffin Pond Ani-
mal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond
Road, Clarks Summit, 18411. To
leave an online condolence, visit
www.ferrifuneralhome.com.
Frank J. Avvisato
December 28, 2011
Robert T. Gri-
glock Sr., 69, of
Wilmington,
NC, died De-
cember 24,
2011, at home.
Hewasoriginal-
ly fromPort Blanchard, before re-
tiring seven years ago to North
Carolina with his wife, Peggy.
He was bornDecember 4, 1942,
in Pittston, son of the late Thomas
and Anna Vernouski Griglock.
Robert was a veteran of the U.S.
Air Force, serving from 1960 to
1964, and toured in Europe. Prior
to his retirement, he was a truck
driver for USA Office Furniture.
Robert was a graduate and senior
class president of Jenkins Town-
ship High School, class of 1960.
He was also a graduate of Kings
College with a degree in criminal
justice. He was a member of the
Jenkins Township American Le-
gion Post 938, and also a member
of the Port Rod and Gun Club.
Robert, also known as "Pop Pop"
byhisgrandchildren, enjoyedtrav-
eling, hunting, fishingandoutdoor
gardening.
He was also preceded in death
byhis first wife, Judith; andbroth-
er, Thomas.
Surviving are his wife, the for-
mer Peggy Zabriski; son, Robert
Griglock Jr., and his wife, Patty,
Wilmington, N.C.; daughters, Lori
Robbins and her husband, Wayne,
Wyoming, and Bonnie Melville,
Wilmington, NC; step-daughter,
Peggy Ashton, Ashley; and step-
son, George Tomko, and his wife,
Debbie, FortyFort; grandchildren,
Robert Griglock III, Jennifer Ko-
lessar, Brent Robbins, Ryan Rob-
bins, Vanessa Robbins and Kayla
Melville; step-granddaughters,
Brittany Harper, Kristi Margalis
and Jaimie Gribble; sisters, Rose
Marie Hannon, Port Griffith, and
Lauren Freedom, Dover; and sev-
eral nieces and nephews.
Funeral with military honors,
conducted by the Jenkins Town-
ship American Legion, was held
Dec. 30 in the Bednarski Funeral
Home, Wyoming, with a Mass of
Christian Burial in St. John the
Evangelist Church, Pittston. Inter-
ment Mt. Olivet Cemetery, Carv-
erton.
Memorial contributions may be
made to the American Cancer So-
ciety, 712 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor,
18517.
Robert T. Griglock, Sr.
December 24, 2011
John C. Schilling, 50, of Pitt-
ston, died December 23, 2011, in
Hospice of the VNA, St Lukes
Villa, Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was
a son of Mary Ann Schilling,
Wilkes-Barre, and the late Char-
les E Schilling. He was educated
in the Pittston Area School Dis-
trict, and was employed in the
construction industry.
Also surviving are daughter,
April Slabinski, Plains Town-
ship; sister, Lisa Donnora, and
husband Robert, Port Griffith;
brothers, Mark, Illinois; Luke
and fiance Robin Samsell,
Wilkes-Barre; fiance, Barbara
Deshazo; and several nieces and
nephews.
Funeral will be held at the
convenience of the family. Ar-
rangements by the Yeosock Fu-
neral Home, Plains Township.
John C. Schilling
December 23, 2011
Irene (Kuna)
Truskowski
died in Angola,
NY, on Decem-
ber 21, 2011.
Born in Du-
pont on April
15, 1930, she was the daughter of
the late William and Constance
(Porzucek) Kuna. She attended
Dupont schools and worked in
the local garment factories until
moving to New York where she
worked as a seamstress in a hat
factory until her retirement. Our
sister, our aunt Irene was the
most loving person in the world.
She was one of a kind a one in a
million; she had the biggest
heart with the most caring touch,
which she shared with so many.
She will be dearly missed by all.
death by her sisters Theresa,
Maryann, brothers Edward, and
William Jr.
She is survived by husband
Bernard, daughter Donna and
son-in-law Mark Sudyn, grand-
son Joshua, also sisters Dolores,
Bernadine, Eleanor and brother
Chester all fromDupont, sisters-
in-law, brothers-in-law, nieces
and nephews.
Funeral services were held on
Dec. 24 from the John Kaczor
Funeral Home, Hamburg, NY
with Mass of Christian Burial at
Most Precious Blood Church,
Angola, NY. Entombment Lake-
side Memorial Cemetery, Ham-
burg, NY.
Irene Truskowski
December 21, 2011
Armenda
(Dutch) Emery,
80, of Pittston,
died December
13, 2011, in
Geisinger Hos-
pice Unit,
Wilkes-Barre. She was preceded
in death by her first husband, Ed-
die Jones, and her second hus-
band, Norman H. Emery.
Born in Detroit, Michigan, on
July18, 1931, she was a daughter
of the late Glenn and Reval
Smith Bush. She was employed
as a waitress.
Surviving her are three sons,
Edward (Sonny) Jones and wife
Susan; Ronald Jones, Newark,
DE, and Thomas Jones and wife
Mary, Maryland; sister, Cherry
Van Horn, Michigan; 11 grand-
children and five great-grand-
children. The funeral will be
held at a later date in Detroit.
Arrangements are by the Paul
F. Leonard Funeral Home, Pitt-
ston.
Armenda Emery
December 13, 2011
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Ba lo ga Funera l Ho m e, Inc.
1201 Ma in Street,Pittston
655-7333
w w w.b a loga fu nera lhom e.com
Su sa n L . Ba loga - Su pervisor
Bed na rski Funera l Ho m e
168 W yom ing Avenu e,W yom ing
693-3851
Joseph Bed na rski,Fu nera l Director
Ja cqu eline Bed na rski,Fu nera l Director
G ub b io tti Funera l Ho m e
1030 W yom ing Avenu e,Exeter
654-8931
Ma rilyn Gu b b iotti,Fu nera l Director
CPC (Certified Pla nning Consu lta nt)
Pa ul F. Leo na rd Funera l Ho m e
575 N. Ma in Street,Pittston
654-0564
Pa u l F. L eona rd ,Jr.,Fu nera l Director
M etca lfe & Sha verFunera l Ho m e
504 W yom ing Avenu e,W yom ing
693-1130
Su pervisor: Joseph A. Kopcza III
Berna rd J. Pio ntek Funera l Ho m e, Inc.
204 Ma in Street,Du ryea
457-4301
Su pervisor: Berna rd J. Piontek
Fu nera l Director: Michelle R. Piontek
Recupero Funera l Ho m e
406 Su squ eha nna Avenu e,W estPittston
654-4801
OBITUARIES
Jean Bianco, 90, of Las Vegas,
NV, and formerly of Swoyers-
ville, died December 17, 2011,
while under the care of Compas-
sion Care Hospice, after a long
illness.
She was a daughter of the late
Walter and Anna Zukoski Pokr-
zywnicki. She was born and
raised in Swoyersville and was
the former wife of the late An-
thony Bianco of Pittston. Mov-
ing to Cleveland, Ohio, the cou-
ple and son Jack were employed
by the industries in that area for
many years until retirement. In
Las Vegas, she served as chair-
woman of her private communi-
tys committee to act as counsel
involving local regulations, for
which she received awards for
her service.
She was alsoprecededindeath
by brothers, John, Edward,
Thaddeus, Frank, Walter, Ches-
ter, Aloysius, Leo, Benjamin and
Joseph and sister Helen.
Surviving are her son, Jack;
sisters, Charlotte Pomicter, Sun
City, CA; Ann Evans, Cypress,
CA; brother, Stanley Polk,
Mountain Top.
A Mass of Christian Burial
was held at St. Bridget Church,
Las Vegas, NV. Interment Palm
Eastern Cemetery. Funeral ar-
rangements were made by Palm
Eastern Mortuary and Cemetery.
Jean Bianco
December 17, 2011
Mrs. Rita
Olecki, 86, of
Duryea, died
December 25,
2011Christmas
morning at Re-
gional Hospi-
tal Hospice Unit, surrounded by
her family.
Born in Duryea, she was the
daughter of the late Anthony
and Stella Malkowski Brennan.
Prior to her retirement, she was
employed by Diamond Vending
at Topps, Duryea, for many
years. She was a member of Na-
tivity of Our Lord Parish, Du-
ryea. She was a member of the
social clubs at Crossin Towers,
Duryea, where she resided.
death by her husband, Chester,
who passed away in 1964; be-
loved son, Brian, who passed
away in 1977; sister Arlene Car-
lin and brothers, Anthony, Ha-
rold and Paul.
Rita was a kind, gentle woman
who had great faith in our Lord.
Her faith helped her through
many tragedies in her life. Rita
dearly loved her daughter and
granddaughter. Her grand-
daughter, Jennifer, was the
"light of her life." She will be
sadly missed by her family.
Surviving are daughter, Nan-
cy Glevick, and her husband,
John, of Old Forge; grand-
daughter, Jennifer Kretsch, and
her husband, Noah, of Factory-
ville.
Funeral was held Dec. 28
fromthe Piontek Funeral Home,
Duryea, with Mass of Christian
Burial in Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church, Duryea. Interment St.
Johns Cemetery, Duryea.
Rita Olecki
December 25, 2011
Lorraine (Perrins) Vance,
69, of Wilkes-Barre, died
December 24, 2011 that
Wilkes-Barre General Hos-
pital.
She was born in Dupont,
March 21st, 1942 and was the
daughter of the late George
and Dorothy (Lidy) Perrins.
Lorraine graduated from
Pittston schools and the Pitt-
ston School of Medicine.
She worked at various hospi-
tals throughout her life, in
Pennsylvania, New York,
West Virginia, and Florida.
She was a resident of
Wilkes-Barre for the past
seven years.
death by her husband, Jack
Vance, of West Virginia.
She is survived by her
step-children, Harvey, Ken-
neth, Danny and Leslie
Vance, all of West Virginia,
and Jackie Vance of South
Carolina. Her brother Wayne
Perrins, of Wilkes-Barre, her
beloved cat Abigal, several
grandchildren and great
grandchildren, nieces, neph-
ews, cousins, and aunts and
uncles also survive her.
A memorial service was
held Dec. 31 at Kiesinger Fu-
neral Services, Duryea, with
Rev. Richard Rock of St.
Johns Primitive Methodist
Church, Avoca, off iciating.
Interment Marcy Cemetery,
Duryea.
Online condolences may
be made towww.kiesinger-
funeralservices.com
Lorraine Vance
December 24, 2011
Chief Mas-
ter Sergeant
Patrick Kly-
nott, 75, of
Exeter, died
December 27,
2011, in the
Inpatient Unit of Hospice
Community Care, Geisinger
South Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he
was a son of the late Matthys
and Margaret (Hannon) Kly-
noot. Patrick was a Chief
Master Sergeant with the
U.S. Air Force for 24 years,
and was a veteran of the
Vietnam War. Before joining
the U.S. Air Force, Patrick
was a member of the U.S.
Army. He was a member of
the Swoyersville American
Legion Post 644 and the
Wyoming Hose Company 2.
He was also preceded in
death by his wife, the former
Gisela Teichert, on February
6, 2011; and infant sister,
Peggy.
Surviving are his sons,
Ralf-Peter Klynott and his
wife, Linda, Lake of the
Ozarks, MO, and John Fitz-
gerald Klynott, St. Louis,
MO; sister Kathleen L. Kly-
noot, Pittston; brothers, John
Raymond, Carmel, IN;
James G., Albuquerque, NM;
Matthew, Merritt Island, FL,
and Eugene P., Punta Gorda,
FL; and several nephews and
nieces.
Funeral service and inter-
ment were held Dec. 30 in
Denison Cemetery, Swoyers-
ville. Online condolences
may be made at www.corco-
ranfuneralhome.com.
Patrick Klynott
December 27, 2011
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OBITUARIES
James N.
Ciavarella, 73,
of Old Forge,
formerly of
Mountain Top,
died December
23, 2011 at the
Riverside Rehabilitation &
Nursing Center in Taylor.
He was born March 23, 1938
in Cunningham, a son of the late
Peter and Jeanette Mercidonti
Ciavarella. He was a graduate of
St. Marys High School, class of
1955. Mr. Ciavarella formerly
owned and operated J.C. Truck-
ing in Mountain Top. He was a
former member of St. Judes
Church in Mountain Top. He
was preceded in death by his
wife, Maryann Carlo Ciavarel-
la, in 2003.
by his brothers, Ben, Paul, Car-
men and Michael Ciavarella and
by his sister, Venus Mariano.
Surviving are children, Antoi-
nette (Toni) Lisowski and her
husband, Frank, Old Forge;
Frank Ciavarella and his wife,
Michele, Mountain Top; An-
drea Saba and her husband,
Alex, Mountain Top; James
Ciavarella Jr. and his wife, Jan-
ice, Mountain Top; grandchil-
dren, Maryann Tayoun, Mea-
gann Verdetto, Alicia Ciavarel-
la, Zackery Ciavarella, Ash-
leigh Ciavarella, Deidra
Ciavarella, Alex Saba Jr. and
Adam Saba; great-grand-
daughters, Annabella Tayoun
and Sophia Jonna Verdetto; sis-
ters, Angie Plesh, New Jersey;
Rachael Nardone, Wilkes-
Barre; Mary DeAngelo,
Wilkes-Barre; brothers, Joseph
Ciavarella, Wilkes-Barre; Tony
Ciavarella, Hazleton; Philip
Ciavarella, New Jersey; Frank
Ciavarella, Hanover Township;
John Ciavarella, Wilkes-Barre;
numerous nieces and nephews.
James family would like to
thank the wonderful staff at the
Riverside Rehabilitation &
Nursing Center for their loving
care.
Funeral services were held
Dec. 28 from the Nat & Gawlas
Funeral Home, Wilkes-Barre.
made to the Therapy Depart-
ment & the Riverside Rehabil-
itation Department, 500 Hospi-
tal Street, Taylor, 18517. Online
condolences may be made at
www.natandgawlasfuneral-
home.com.
James N. Ciavarella
December 23, 2011
Catherine Akers, 94, of Port
Griffith, passed away Sunday,
December 25, 2011 Christmas
morning, at the home of her
daughter in Bear Creek Town-
ship. She was the widow of
Harry Akers, who passed away
in 1958.
Born in Port Griffith, she was
the daughter of the late Andrew
and Elizabeth Svec Vincek.
She was educated in St. John
the Baptist School, Pittston.
Prior to retirement, she was
employed by Wright Aeronau-
tical and Botany 500 in New
Jersey and later for Topps Co.,
Duryea. She was a former
member of St. John the Baptist
Church and current member of
St John the Evangelist Church,
Pittston. Catherine was a be-
loved mother, grandmother,
great-grandmother who was
cherished by both family and
friends and will be dearly mis-
sed. She was a member of the
Jenkins Twp. Senior Citizens
and a past member of the Avoca
VFW Post 8335 Ladies Auxil-
iary.
Surviving are her beloved
daughters, Christine Akers-
Mack and her husband, John
Mack, Bear Creek Township;
Theresa Griguts, Henderson,
Nevada; sister, Elizabeth
Evitts, Jenkins Township; three
grandchildren, three great
grandchildren; several nieces
and nephews. In addition to her
husband, she was preceded in
death by her son, Ronald Ak-
ers, three sisters, Anna Terpak,
Elizabeth Vincek and Mary
Waldinger and two brothers,
Andrew and Frank Vincek.
The funeral was held Dec. 29
from the Baloga Funeral
Home, Pittston (Port Griffith),
with a Mass of Christian Burial
in St John the Evangelist
Church, Pittston. Interment Mt.
Olivet Cemetery, Carverton.
Memorial contributions may
be made to St John the Evange-
list Care and Concern Minis-
tries 35 William St., Pittston,
18640 or the American Heart
Association 613 Baltimore Dr.,
Suite 3, Wilkes-Barre, 18702.
To send an online condolence
visit www.BalogaFuneral-
Home.com.
Catherine Akers
December 25, 2011
Edward J. Cope, 39, of Al-
lentown, died, December 19,
2011, in his home.
He worked as a press oper-
ator at Hapco Screen Print-
ing, Emmaus, and previously
worked at Tyler Pipe and
Maui Cup, Pittston.
Surviving him are his
mother, Dianne, and stepfa-
ther, Charles Parenti, Hugh-
esville; sister, Lisa Cope;
and brother, Jesse Cope.
Services will be private.
Arrangements have been en-
trusted to Nicos C. Elias Fu-
neral Home, Allentown,
www.eliasfuneralhome.com.
Edward J. Cope
December 19, 2011
Ida Ellis, 85,
of Jenkins
Township, died
December 23,
2011 in the
Wilkes-Barre
General Hospi-
tal.
Born in East Lemon, she was
the daughter of the late Louis
and Julia Gerhardt Ellis. She was
a graduate of TunkhannockHigh
School, class of 1945 and re-
ceived her RN from the Moses
Taylor Hospital School of Nurs-
ing. Ida continued her education
at the University of Pennsylva-
nia, where she received her Mas-
ters Degree in Nursing. For
manyyears, she was employedat
Hahnemann Hospital of Phila-
delphia and the Philadelphia VA
Medical Center. She was a mem-
ber of the First United Methodist
Church of West Pittston.
Also preceding her in death
were her sisters Rose Barziloski
and Julia Nelson; brother Louis
Ellis.
Surviving are sisters, Helen
Biles, Jenkins Township; Esther
Alt and her husband, Ted, Zions-
ville, Indiana; Mildred Ellis,
Jenkins Township; brothers, Al-
bert Ellis andhis wife, Charlotte,
Montrose; Bud Ellis and his
wife, Ann, Exeter; nieces and
nephews.
Dec. 27 in the Metcalfe and
Shaver Funeral Home, Wyom-
ing, with the Rev. Josh Masland
of the First United Methodist
Church of West Pittston officiat-
ing. Interment Nicholson Ceme-
tery.
be made to the First United
Methodist Church of West Pitt-
ston, West Pittston, 18643.
Ida Ellis
December 23, 2011
Frances
Bright Ban-
non, of Pitt-
ston, died De-
cember 22,
2011.
Born in Pitt-
ston on December 13, 1918, she
was a daughter of the late John
and Nancy Pugliese Bright.
She celebrated her 93rd birth-
day on December 13, 2011. She
was a graduate of Pittston High
School, class of 1936, and was
a member of St. John the Evan-
gelist Parish Community, Pitt-
ston. She was also a member of
the Jacquelines Association.
death by brothers, Joseph
Bright and James Bright; sis-
ters Mary Centrella and Gene-
vieve McHale; son-in-law, Ge-
rard Gallagher.
She is survived by her loving
and devoted husband of 73
years, James Bannon, Pittston;
daughters, Ann Gallagher, Fort
Wayne, IN, and Kathy Sulima,
Pittston; four grandsons,
James Gallagher (Denise),
Carmel, IN; Gerald Gallagher
(Kari), Granger, IN; James Su-
lima (Cindy), Pittston, and Jo-
seph Sulima (Kate), Effort;
sisters Viola Giannone, Pitt-
ston, and Nancy Benjunas,
Milford, CT; eight great-
grandchildren; and several
nieces and nephews.
Dec. 31 in the Peter J. Adonizio
Funeral Home, Pittston, with a
Mass of Christian Burial in St.
John the Evangelist Church,
Pittston. Interment Mt. Olivet
Cemetery, Carverton. Online
condolences may be made at
www.peterjadoniziofuneral-
home.com.
Frances B. Bannon
December 22, 2011
Angie M. Burnside, 74, of
Pittston, passed away Wednes-
day, December 28, 2011 in Re-
gional Hospital, Scranton.
Funeral arrangements are
pending fromthe Peter J. Adoni-
zio Funeral Home, 251 William
St., Pittston.
Angie M. Burnside
December 28, 2011
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Robert (Bob) Skursky Sr., of
Wyoming, died December 22,
2011 at home.
Born in1934, he was one of 11
children by the late Edward and
Anna Skursky. Bob was educat-
ed in the Wyoming schools and
graduated from Wyoming High
School. Bob proudly served in
the U.S. Air Force for four years.
He was a proud member of the
Local Teamsters Union 401 in
Wilkes-Barre, through which he
worked for various trucking
companies and worked on the
construction of the Susquehanna
Steam Electric Station in Ber-
wick. Bob was a devout Catholic
and member of Our Lady of Sor-
rows Parish, Wyoming, for
years. He served as an usher and
was a member of the Holy Name
Society. Although a work-relat-
ed injury in 1990 eventually left
Bob bound to a wheelchair, he
never lost his positive attitude or
love for life, family and friends.
His quick wit will be solely mis-
sed by those who knewhimwell.
Surviving are his loving wife
of 43 years, Karen Suponcic
Skursky; his son Bob Jr.; brother,
Gene Skursky; sisters, Eva and
Stell Skursky, and many nieces
and nephews. He is also survived
byhis in-laws, FrankandCecelia
Suponcic.
Private funeral service will be
held at the convenience of the
family at the Hugh B. Hughes &
Son Funeral Home, Forty Fort.
Interment Chapel Lawn Memo-
rial Park, Dallas. The family
would like to thank Dr. Gelb and
Dr. Amini for their care given.
Robert Skursky, Sr.
December 22, 2011
Helen K. Oselinsky, age 81,
of Tunkhannock, died Decem-
ber 23, 2011 at home. She is
survived by her beloved hus-
band, Nicholas Oselinsky Jr.
Wed on September 3, 1955, the
couple were married for 56
years.
Born in Nanticoke, on April
22, 1930, she was a daughter of
the late Frank and Mary
Swantko Krapcho. Helen was
educated in Nanticoke schools.
Of Russian Orthodox faith, she
was a member of both Holy
Resurrection R.O. Parish in
Nanticoke and St. Michaels
R.O. Parish in Old Forge.
A brother, Wasil "Bill"
Krapcho, also preceded her in
death.
She is also survived by her
son, Dr. David Oselinsky and
wife, Marcia, of State College;
her brother, Frank Krapcho Jr.,
of Columbia, MD; and two
grandchildren, Alexa and Ka-
trina Oselinsky.
A Divine Liturgy was cele-
brated Dec. 27 at Holy Resur-
rection Russian Orthodox
Church, Nanticoke. Interment
parish cemetery. Arrange-
ments by the Thomas P. Kear-
ney Funeral Home, Old Forge.
Visit www.KearneyFuneral-
Home.com to leave an online
condolence.
Helen K. Oselinsky
December 23, 2011
Ronald Da-
vid Pantucci,
67, of Pittston,
died December
25, 2011, in
Geisinger
Wyoming Val-
ley Medical Center, Plains
Township.
Born in Pittston on November
19, 1944, he was a son of the late
Delmo and Rita Pelliccia Pan-
tucci. He was a graduate of Pitt-
ston Township High School. Ro-
naldwas employedas a meat cut-
ter in several local grocery
stores. Most recently, he was
working for Pennsylvania Child
Care and Pittston Area High
School in the custodial depart-
ment. He was an avid golfer and
a member of Emanon Country
Club, Harding. He was a mem-
ber of St. Joseph Marello Parish
at Our Lady of Mount Carmel
Church and its Holy Name So-
ciety; and took an active role in
the church picnic.
He was also preceded by a
brother, Kenny; sisters-in-law
Palma Lucas and Grace Hop-
kins.
He is survived by his wife of
25 years, Sue Ann Lieback (Bar-
retta) Pantucci; son, Ronald Pan-
tucci Jr., and his wife, Elizabeth,
Pittston; daughter, Michelle
Hochstien, and her husband, Ja-
son, Wisconsin; step-son, Ro-
nald Barretta, Pittston; sister, Li-
sa Pantucci, Pittston Township;
aunt, Lena Pantucci; sister-in-
law Marion Pantucci, Pittston
Township; brothers-in-law, Mike
Lieback and his wife, Mary; Pete
Lieback and his wife, Sharon,
and Robert Lucas; seven grand-
children; and numerous nieces
and nephews.
Dec. 30 in the Peter J. Adonizio
Funeral Home, Pittston, with a
Mass of Christian Burial in St.
Joseph Marello Parish in Our
Lady of Mt. Carmel Church,
Pittston. Interment St. Roccos
Cemetery, Pittston Township.
Online condolences may be
made at www.peterjadonizio-
funeralhome.com.
Ronald D. Pantucci
December 25, 2011
Curtis Ev-
eritt Hannon
Sr. of Hard-
ing, died De-
cember 22,
2011 in
Wilkes Barre
General Hospital.
He was born in Pittston, on
February 1, 1968, son of Mar-
garet "Peggy" Labarre and
the late Walter D. Hannon. He
was a 1986 graduate of
Wyoming Area High School.
Curtis was owner of Wing
Zone, Pittston, and formerly
owned Januzzis Pizza in Pitt-
ston and Plains. He was a
member of The First United
Methodist Church, West Pitt-
ston. He was President of The
West Pittston Little League,
former director of both the
Wyoming Area and Hanover
Area Marching Bands. Curtis
was a loving husband, father,
brother and a dedicated
coach. He was named presi-
dent of the West Pittston Lit-
tle League this past year and
worked tirelessly to supply
every player with the proper
uniform for the season after
the recent flood.
death by grandfather C. Ever-
itt LaBarre; grandmothers,
Margaret and Rhea LaBarre;
great aunt Louise Jones.
He is survived by his moth-
er Peggy Labarre Santich and
her husband David; wife
Glenda Rinehimer Hannon;
sons, Joseph Curtis, Curtis
Everitt Jr., Christopher Ed-
sel; daughter Megan Louise;
sisters, Jacquelyn Hannon-
Butler and husband; Grover
"Buddy" Butler; Deborah
Daniels, Jill Venturo and Cin-
dy Timinski; brothers, Jack
Hannon, Boomer Daniels;
nephews, Brandon Everitt
Butler, Joshua and Jeremy
Lowery; Brandon Rinehimer;
niece Jordan Rinehimer.
The funeral was held Dec.
27 at the Howell-Lussi Fu-
neral Home, West Pittston.
Memorial donations may
be sent to the West Pittston
Little League, P.O. Box 92,
West Pittston, 18643.
Curtis E. Hannon, Sr.
December 22, 2011
Theresa (Teresa) M. Haas, 60,
of Pittston, died December 20,
2011, in Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Pittston, she was a
daughter of the late Dorothy
Haas. She was a child care work-
er in Florida for over 31 years.
Surviving are her godchild,
Molla; a cousin, Linda Jadus;
and two friends, MaryBeth Ma-
zonis and Carol Sergio.
Funeral arrangements are pri-
vate from the Paul F. Leonard
Funeral Home, Pittston.
Theresa M. Haas
December 20, 2011
Robert S.
Naples Sr., 78,
of Wyoming,
December 24,
2011 in the
Wilkes-Barre
General Hos-
pital.
Born in Yatesville, he was
the son of the late Sebastian
Naples and Anna Vidzar. He
was a graduate of Jenkins
Township High School, class
of 1950. Prior to his retire-
ment, he was employed by
Acme Markets in the Invento-
ry Control Department. Since
2003, he was employed at Bar-
ber Ford of Exeter. He was a
member of St. Josephs Church
of St. Monicas Parish, Wyom-
ing. In his earlier years, Bob
could be found playing golf
and softball in Yatesville. He
now enjoyed his weekly trips
to the Mohegan Sun Casino,
detailing his cars and tending
to his yard.
Also preceding him in death
were his wife, the former Nan-
cy Ralston, and brothers, Sa-
muel and Anthony Naples.
Surviving are children, Don-
na Ulrich and her husband,
William, Sinking Springs; Ma-
ria Winsock and her compan-
ion, Steve Michael, Thorn-
hurst; Robert Naples and his
wife, Carol, Wyoming; Ri-
chard Naples and his wife,
Jackie, Duryea; grandchildren,
Robert Naples III, Kristen Na-
ples, Derek Ulrich and Jordan
Naples; nieces and nephews.
Dec. 29 from the Metcalfe and
Shaver Funeral Home, Wyom-
ing, with a Mass of Christian
Burial in St. Josephs Church of
St. Monicas Parish, Wyoming.
Interment Denison Cemetery,
Swoyersville.
be made to the National Mul-
tiple Sclerosis Society Greater
Delaware Valley Chapter, 30
South 17th Street, Suite 800,
Philadelphia, 19103.
Robert S. Naples, Sr.
December 24, 2011
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OBITUARIES
Isador Zi-
buck, 81, for-
merly of Exe-
ter, died De-
cember 23,
2011 at the Riv-
erstreet Manor,
Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Kingston, he was the
son of the late Isador and Helen
Pilat Zibuck. Mr. Zibuck was a
U.S. Army veteran, having
served during the Korean War.
Prior to his retirement, he
worked as a quality control su-
pervisor at the Tobyhanna Army
Depot.
by his brothers, Stanley and Tho-
mas, and sisters, Julia Yaglow-
sky and Mary Zibuck.
Surviving are his daughters,
Maryann and her husband, Mark
Miklich, Syracuse, NY, Teresa
Lepo and her husband, Rocco
Guarino, Exeter, and Regina Zi-
buck and her husband, Vince
Cinquegrani, Sterling Heights,
Michigan; grandchildren, Jo-
seph and Anthony Lepo and
Maggie and Elise Miklich and
Mark, David and Maria Cinque-
grani.
was held Dec. 27 at St. Frances
Cabrini Church, Carverton. In-
terment Mt. Olivet Cemetery.
made tothe charityof the donors
choice. Funeral arrangements by
the Gubbiotti Funeral Home,
Exeter.
Isador Zibuck
December 23, 2011
Sean T.
Walsh, 38, of
Jenkins Town-
ship, died De-
cember 24,
2011 at the In-
patient Unit of
Hospice Community Care, Geis-
inger South Wilkes-Barre.
Born in Wilkes-Barre, he was
the son of Thomas Walsh of Pitt-
ston and Rita Kwiatkowski
Walsh of Edwardsville. Sean
was a graduate of Wyoming Val-
ley West High School, Class of
1992andwas formerlyemployed
by Mericle Industries as a heavy-
equipment operator and last
owned and operated S & S De-
tailing and Customizing in Pitt-
ston Township.
Also surviving are his wife,
the former Sarah Latona; sisters,
Tracey Walsh Morrissey, Ed-
wardsville; Amy Walsh, King-
ston; Kimberly Walsh, Edwards-
ville, and Brigid Walsh, Pittston;
paternal grandmother, Geraldine
Walsh, Plains; nephews, Eric,
Tyler and Braeden; nieces, Mor-
gan and Keira.
was held Dec. 27 in St. Joseph
Marello Parish at Our Lady of
Mount Carmel Church, Pittston.
Interment at the convenience of
the family.
made to The Frank M. and Do-
rothea Henry Cancer Center at
Geisinger WyomingValley, 1000
East Mountain Blvd., Wilkes-
Barre, 18711. Online condolenc-
es may be made at www.corco-
ranfuneralhome.com.
Sean T. Walsh
December 24, 2011
Judith L.
(Nardone)
Yates, 57, of
Wilkes-Barre,
died December
22, 2011 at her
home.
Born in Kingston, on April 25,
1954, she was the daughter of Jo-
sephine (Dupack) Nardone of
Wilkes-Barre and the late Alfon-
so Nardone Jr. She was a 1972
graduate of Wyoming Area High
School. She also attended
Wilkes College, Luzerne County
Community College and gradu-
ated with honors from Allied
Medical and Technical Careers.
She was formerly employed in
the garment industry and later
worked at the lab at the former
Mercy Hospital as a phleboto-
mist.
She is also survived by her
husband of 30 years, Robert
Yates; son Jeremy McDonnell,
Hanover Township; daughter
Melanie Miscavage, Edwards-
ville; grandchildren Andrea
McDonnell, Michael Walter Jr.,
Stephanie Walter and Jeremy
McDonnell Jr.; brother, Thomas
Nardone, Kingston; sisters Anne
Hetherington, Maryland; Barba-
ra Marrow, North Carolina;
Kathy DiCaprio, Wilkes-Barre;
several nieces and nephews.
Services will be private. Knif-
fen OMalley Funeral Home,
Wilkes-Barre, has been entrust-
ed with the arrangements. Visit
www.BestLifeTributes.com to
leave an online condolence.
Judith L. Yates
December 22, 2011
Robert James Plappert, 75,
Old Forge, died December 24,
2011, in the Northeast Hospice
Unit of the Regional Hospital of
Scranton. He is survived by his
wife of 42 years, the former Su-
san Kachuroi.
Prior to retirement, Robert
was employed by Dons Vend-
ing. He servedinthe U.S. Marine
Corps as a corporal.
Also surviving are sons, Rob-
ert, Jr., Dunmore; Jack, Swiftwa-
ter, and Michael, Langhorne; a
daughter, Alicia Lozar, Reading;
a brother, Don, Dupont; three
grandchildren; nieces, nephews,
and cousins.
The funeral was Dec. 28 from
the Ferri Funeral Home, Old
Forge, with services in the Stew-
art Memorial United Methodist
Church, Old Forge. Interment
Old Forge Cemetery. To leave an
online condolence, visit
www.ferrifuneralhome.com.
Robert J. Plappert
December 24, 2011
Cary David
Kasa, 57, of
Pittston Town-
ship, died De-
cember 26,
2011 after
spending a
beautiful Christmas day with his
family.
Born in Dupont, January 3,
1954, he was the son of the late
Nicholas and Mary Peck Kasa.
He was a member of Sacred
Heart of Jesus Church, Dupont.
He was a 1971 graduate of St.
Johns High School, Pittston. Ca-
ry was a member of Pittston
Township Ambulance Board and
ItalianClubof Dupont. Heserved
in the Air Force Reserve for two
years. He was self-employed
owner and partner of Casey-Kas-
sa Coal and Well Drilling Com-
pany, where Cary loved strip
mining coal on top of Archbald
Mountain in Carbondale. Carys
true joys were picking mush-
rooms, his Humphreys Hot Dog
Cart, tapping maple trees, his
Harley, watching cooking shows,
family golf cart rides and spend-
ing time in his tree stand.
by brothers, Michael Kasa and
Joseph Casey; sisters Julie Hud-
zinski, Pauline Piechota, Barbara
Urtishak.
He is survivedbyhis wife Don-
na Costello Kasa; son Christoph-
er andwife Jacqualyn, Wyoming;
daughter Cara OHop and hus-
band; Vinnie, Pittston Township;
brothers, Theodore Casey and
wife AnnMarie, Pittston Town-
ship; Vincent Kasa and wife Be-
tty Ann, Pittston Township; sis-
ters, Betty Bellas and husband
Richard, Pittston Township;
Elaine Kasa, Pittston Township.
Papa will be sadly missed by the
lights of his life, his granddaught-
ers, Maya, Lily, Julianna, and his
faithful dog, Humprey; mother-
in-law, Gloria Costello, Dupont;
sister-in-law, Marianne Costello,
Dupont.
from the Howell-Lussi Funeral
Home, West Pittston, with Mass
of Christian Burial in Sacred
Heart of Jesus Church, Dupont.
Memorial donation may be
sent to Sacred Heart of Jesus
Church, 215 Lackawanna Ave-
nue, Dupont, 18641. Entomb-
ment parish cemetery.
Cary D. Kasa
December 26, 2011
John Ri-
chard Eshel-
man, 76, died
December 27,
2011, in his
home in Hard-
ing, where he
resided for 43 years.
He was born in Kingston,
February 16, 1935, a son of the
late John Richard and Capitola
Bosten Eshelman. John was a
graduate of West Pittston High
School, class of 1953. Follow-
ing high school, he was em-
ployed by NCR as a field engi-
neer until his retirement in
1994. John remained active af-
ter retirement. He was a mem-
ber of the Harding Fire Compa-
ny and the Valley Masonic
Lodge 499, F & A.M, West
Pittston. He was a 50-year
member of Valley Lodge and
served as Past Master. He en-
joyed camping while in Florida
for the winter. He was a faithful
member of Holy Cross Episco-
pal Church, Wilkes-Barre.
death by brothers, Louis and
Donald Eshelman.
First and foremost, John was
a devoted husband, father and
grandfather. He is survived by
his loving wife, Adelina Cesari
Eshelman; daughters, Karen
Klimas and husband Michael,
Harding; Cheryl Bencho,
Wilkes-Barre. He was blessed
with four grandchildren, Mat-
thew and Mikayla Klimas,
Harding; Aaron and Nicole
Bencho, Wyoming; sister, Sal-
ly Falzone, Wilkes-Barre; and
several nieces and nephews.
in the Howell-Lussi Funeral
Home, West Pittston, with Fu-
neral Mass in Holy Cross Epis-
copal Church, Wilkes-Barre.
Interment West Pittston Ceme-
tery.
sent to Holy Cross Episcopal
Church, 373 N. Main St.,
Wilkes-Barre, 18704.
John R. Eshelman
December 27, 2011
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Wishing our Clients and Friends a Very
Merry Christmas and a Healthy &
Prosperous New Year!
From Your Friends At
Atlas Insurance Group &Atlas Realty, Inc.
Pictured from Left to Right, front row: Luann Sperrazza, Colleen Turant, Debbie Ferack, Charles
Adonizio (Broker/Owner), Karen Adonizio, Michele Reap, Tom Salvaggio and Angie Dessoye.
Back row: Keri Best, Julio Caprari, Joe Caprari, Fred Mecadon, Terry Guasto, and Nancy Bohn.
Absent at time of photo: Bill Williams, Phil Semenza, Glen Gubitose, Melissa Hudzinski, and
Kevin Sobilo.
C M Y K
SUNDAY DISPATCH SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012 PAGE 1B
Social Section
Inside
PA Chorus ......................2-3
Birthdays............................3
Schools...........................4-5
Classified......................7-12
S E C T I O N B
S O C I A L
Amy Lynn Zielinski and Sean Paul Kwiatkowski were married
December 31, 2011. The evening ceremony took place at St. Ann
Basilica in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Father Richard Burke performed the double ring ceremony.
The bride is the daughter of Dale Falcone, of Kingston. She is
the granddaughter of Amelia Falcone and the late Angelo Fal-
cone, both of Pittston, and Victoria Zielinski and the late John
Zielinski, both of Duryea.
The groom is the son of Ann Marie Kwiatkowski, Scranton,
and Theodore and Patricia Kwiatkowski, Moosic.
The bride was presentedinmarriage byher mother andbrother,
Robert Zielinski, and chose her friend Angela Forlenza as her
Maid of Honor. Her cousin, Lindsey Falcone, was bridesmaid.
The groom chose his son Matthew Kwiatkowski, and friend
Bill Ferrario, as his Best Men.
The bride was honored with a bridal shower hosted by her at-
tendants, mother and Aunt Kathy Falcone, of Forty Fort, at the
Tripp House.
A rehearsal dinner was hosted by Theodore and Patricia at Jil-
lys, Scranton.
An evening cocktail hour and reception were held at the Colon-
nade where everyone welcomed the New Year.
The bride is 1998 graduate of Pittston Area High School. She
earned a BAin Television, Radio and Filmand Psychology from
Syracuse University in 2002.
She is Director of Sales and Marketing for an advertising post
studio in New York City.
The groom is a 1996 graduate of West Scranton High School.
He is employed by Proctor and Gamble Paper Products.
The couple will honeymoon in Belize.
They reside in Scranton, Pennsylvania.
Mrs. Sean Paul Kwiatkowski
Amy Lynn Zielinski is
New Years Eve Bride
Mr. and Mrs. William Philipps, Santa Cruz, California, are
pleased to announce the engagement and approaching marriage of
their daughter, Nuria, to Joseph Gentile, Jr., son of Mr. and Mrs.
Joseph Gentile, Exeter.
Nuria is a graduate of San Jose State University and is employed
as a Retail Manager for Macys.
Joseph is a 2001 graduate of Wyoming Area and 2005 graduate
of Shippensburg University.
He took graduate courses at Johns Hopkins University and re-
ceived his Masters Degree in criminal justice in 2010 fromAmer-
ican Military University.
He was previously employed as a police officer with the Wash-
ington, D.C. Metropolitan Police Department and is currently em-
ployed as a Deputy US Marshal with the US Marshals Service in
Sacramento, California.
An August 25 wedding in Sacramento is planned.
Joseph Gentile, Jr., and Nuria Phillips
Plan August
wedding
in Sacramento
The Pittston Area Primary Center Whats Special About Decem-
ber Assembly was held on December 15.
Students from Mrs. Shotwells first grade class and Miss Mor-
reales second grade class performed songs, poems and movements
that highlighted special events during the month of December.
Reading and math skills were integrated into the performance.
All students at the PrimaryCenter have the opportunitytoperform
in one assembly during the year.
AT P I T T S T O N A R E A P R I M A R Y C E N T E R
Whats Special About December assembly
Miss Morreale's 2nd grade class first row: Zachary Elko, Lizzy Swingle, Ozzie Dobrowalski, Alex Prete, Tyler Cegelka, Carrie Kozak,
Dreah Docto. Second row: Emily Dunn, Amber Wright, Emma Calvey, Hannah Hapersberger, Aiden Mehal, Alex Fussner, Rhena Ro-
sencrans, Aaron Hall. Third row: Evan Venetz, Gianna Guilano, Elina Vangelatos, Biagio Manganiello, Chris Castro, Leanna Wruble,
Angel Rivera, Lars Thomas, Julia Price, Miss Morreale, Teacher.
Mrs. Shotwell's 1st grade class first row: Jaylee Jenkins, Rhiannon Legg, Sydney McDavitt, Andrew Mauriello, Julia Pesotine, Dylan
Brannigan, Blaze Bruneio, Vincent Quinones. Second row: Caiden O'Malley, Peter Zawierucha, Nevaeh Thomas, Brooke Steward,
Victoria Pintha, Zoey Romanowski, Sean Grady, Collin Keogh, Third row: Mrs. Shotwell, Abigail Hoban, Kaylyn O'Brien, Donald Pan-
zino, Mike Nowakowski, Mark Korea, Morgan Carmen, Hailey Walling, Kevin Johnson, Edward Tressa.
The Big Band Society of
Northeastern Pennsylvania will
present its next dinner dance on
Friday, January 6, at Genettis
Hotel and Convention Center
Wilkes-Barre.
This event is for members on-
ly.
The doors will open at 5:45
p.m. with dinner at 6:30 p.m.
Music is provided by Mike
Shema.
For reservations please call
Glen at 570.586.5359 or Her-
man at 570.654.6454.
Herman Castellani will pre-
side.
Big Band Society
dinner dance Friday
C M Y K
PAGE 2B SUNDAY, JANUARY 1, 2012 SUNDAY DISPATCH
S C H O O L S
Pittston Area Intermediate Center, Middle School and
High School choruses present annual Christmas Concert
The Pittston Area Intermediate Center, Middle School, and High School Choruses performthe finale of their Christmas Concert at the high school auditoriumlast Wednesday night. More photos on
facing page.
Third graders KimPontier, left, Rayanna Newman, and Logan Wheeler sing with the Intermediate
Center Chorus.
Third graders Rachel Zingaretti, left, Kyleigh Shupp, and Hannah Foersch sing with the Intermedi-
ate Center Chorus.
Samantha Schneider, right, shares a laugh with Marina Sell be-
tween songs during the Pittston Area High School High School
Chorus performance.
Taylor Roberts, left, and Katlyn Jumper sing in the High School
Chorus.
Third graders Grace Slezak, left, and Cathy Vest performduring
the Pittston Area concert.
Members of the Intermediate Center Chorus act out 'a partridge in a pear tree' during the 'Twelve Days of Christmas.'
Director AdamBurdett conducts the Pittston Area High School Chorus.
C M Y K
B I R T H D A Y S & S T U F F
Lilly Nevaeh Spathelf,
daughter of Robert Jr. and
Ellen Spathelf, of Du-
ryea, will celebrate her
4thbirthdayonJanuary4.
Lilly is the grand-
daughter of Robert Sr.
and Joyce Spathelf,
Scranton, and the late
Louis and Eleanor Man-
cini, Duryea.
Lilly bowls at Modern
Lanes, Exeter, in the Pee-
wee League and takes
ballet at MYC School of
Dance in Moosic. She al-
so attends pre-school in
Sweet Valley.
Lilly Spathelf
Shane Pepe, son of Jeff
and Kelly Pepe, will cele-
brate his fourth birthday
on January 4.
Shane is the grandson
of Dave and Patti Pepe
and Peggy Morgantini,
West Pittston, and Lou
Morgantini, West Wyom-
ing.
He is the great grand-
son of John Stefanelli,
West Pittston.
Shane attends pre-
school at the Apple Tree
Nursery School. He has a
brother, Jaden, 7 and a
sister, Malina, 1.
Shane Pepe
Stop by or mail your birthday photo to:
The Sunday Dispatch
109 New Street
Pittston, PA18640
Pictures can run in back and white for $2 or color for $10.
Deadline is Wednesday at 5 p.m., but space is limited, so pictures
will be published on a first-come, first-served basis. Any ques-
tions, please call 602-0168.
Happy Birthday!
Checks can be made payable to The Sunday Dispatch.
The Pittston Area Middle School Chorus performs at the Christmas Chorus Concert last Wednesday night at the high school audi-
torium. More photos on facing page.
Eighth grader Taylor Baloga plays guitar with 'The Sperazza
Band' during the finale of the Pittston Area Christmas Chorus
Concert last Wednesday night.
Eighth grader Kayla Williams sings in the Pittston Area Middle
School Chorus.
Sixth graders Devynn Davison, left, and Katie Petro perform
'Dominic the Donkey' during the Pittston Area concert.
Fourth grader Tori Clossey, left, and third grader Jordan Mortimer
perform'four calling brids' during the 'Twelve Days of Christmas.'
Eighth grader Taylor Baloga, center, plays with Eric Sperazza, left, Mike Sperazza, and Jennifer Sperazza of 'The Sperazza Band' in
the finale of the Pittston Area Christmas Chorus Concert last Wednesday night at the high school auditorium.
Sixth graders Tabatha Stankiewicz, left, and Kalie Uzialko sing in the Pittston Area Middle School Chorus.
Sarah Cragle, seventh grade student at Wyoming Area Catholic,
led an Advent season book drive to benefit the library at Wyoming
Area Catholic. Sarah encouraged her classmates, during the season
of Advent to donate a used or new book. At the end of the season,
Sarah presented the books to the Mrs. Sabetta, librarian. Pictured
are Sarah and Mrs. Sabetta.
Seventh grader leads
WA Catholic book drive
The Cosmopolitan Seniors
and their guests greeted the holi-
day season with a Christmas par-
ty at St. Anthonys Center as fes-
tive music provided by DJ Jack
Bravyak added to the jovial at-
mosphere.
Pastor Father Philip Massetti
opened with remarks and asked
the invocation.
The men of the club then
served up a buffet dinner pre-
pared by Bobby Os, and topped
off with cake and ice cream.
Chairlady Amy Alpaugh and
her committee of Tom Alpaugh,
Carole Baccanari, Mary Kova-
leski, Mary Ann Kull, Anti-
onette Manganello, and Veroni-
ca Wyandt had decorated the ta-
bles with homemade baked coo-
kies, treats and live poinsettias.
Door prizes were awarded,
gifts exchanged and the music
continued for dancing and sing-
ing.
President Vic Malinowski
thanked the committee for a job
well done, and extended a Merry
Christmas and Happy New Year
to everyone.
The next meeting will be on
Jan. 3 at 1 p.m. in St. Anthonys
Center.
Travel coordinator Johanna is
accepting reservations for a Ca-
sino trip on Wednesday, Jan. 11.
Pickups will be in Exeter and
Pittston. You do not have to be a
member to come on these trips.
Details can be obtained from Jo-
hanna at 655-2720.
Cosmopolitan Seniors
gather for Christmas party
C M Y K
S C H O O L S
O
ld Forge High School students, mostly members of the se-
nior class, helped make the holidays bright for the district
elementary students by participating in the elementary
school Christmas partysingingcarols throughout the hallways of the
school. Above, the marching units of Old Forge high school pose
during the party.
Old Forge High students brighten elementary school party
Old Forge High School cheerleaders get into the Christmas spirit
for the elementary school party.
Seniors J Argonish, Ian Nemtez, Anthony Trotta, Corey Palma,
Dave Argust, AdamBarsigian and Colin Carey with high school
teacher Chris Gatto during the elementary school Christmas
party.
Members of the Old Forge senior class sing Christmas carols for
the elementary school students.
The Pittston Area School Dis-
trict will be closed through Mon-
day, Jan. 2, in observance of the
Christmas and New Years Day
holidays. Schools will reopen on
Tuesday, Jan. 3.
The annual Geography Bee
will be held on Wednesday, Jan.
11.Students should see their so-
cial studies teacher for more in-
formation.
The Martin L. Mattei Middle
School is scheduling school pic-
tures for the 2011-2012 school
year.
Check here next week for
more information or call the
main office at 655-2927.
Middle School Sports Weekly
Schedule
9th Grade Girls Basketball:
Tuesday, Jan. 3, at Berwick
Area
7thGrade Girls Basketball:
Jan. 7 vs. Tunkhannock
Junior High Wrestling:
Wednesday, Jan. 4, at Crest-
wood Area
Pittston Area Middle School
C M Y K
S C H O O L S
Ten schools and organizations
in the Lackawanna Heritage Val-
ley National and State Heritage
Area (LHV) were awarded Edu-
cational Mini-Grants on Decem-
ber 15, 2011. The ceremony took
place at the Lackawanna Histor-
ical Society in Scranton, Penn-
sylvania.
The Lackawanna Heritage
Valley presented grants of $500
to ten diverse and innovative pro-
jects for children frompreschool
through grade twelve. Proposals
came from schools in the North-
eastern Educational Intermedi-
ate Unit #19, as well as local cul-
tural, environmental, and heri-
tage organizations.
The Educational Mini-Grant
Program offers funding for pro-
jects that promote students un-
derstanding and appreciation of
the rich heritage of the Lacka-
wanna Heritage Valley and how
it contributedtothe development
of our nation; or that developstu-
dents understanding of the their
role as caretakers of the environ-
ment, particularly in the Lacka-
wanna River watershed.
Now in its seventh year, the
Educational Mini-Grant Pro-
gramis a highly regarded educa-
tional initiative that supports cre-
ative, multi-disciplinary pro-
jects, many using the performing
and visual arts as well as tradi-
tional academic curricula.
Preserving and telling the
Lackawanna Valleys rich histo-
ry through educational programs
is a major focus of the Lacka-
wanna Heritage Valley National
and State Heritage Area, said
Executive Director Natalie Gelb.
This grant cycle has some really
creative and dynamic projects
that build a sense of place and an
appreciation for the regions her-
itage, culture, and resources.
Among the grant recipients
was Old Forge High School sci-
ence teacher Chris Gatto for his
proposal titled Biodiesel from
Grease.
Gatto explained in his grant
proposal that students will col-
lect used cooking grease from
local restaurants, process the
grease using the fundamentals of
biology and chemistry, and then
use the fuel to run various motor-
ized diesel vehicles at the
school.
The Lackawanna Heritage
Valley National and State Heri-
tage Area is based in Scranton. It
works with community partners
on projects that conserve, pre-
serve, and educate the public
about the regions historic, cul-
tural, economic and natural re-
sources.
For general information visit
www.LHVA.org. For more in-
formation about the Educational
Mini-Grant program, contact
Tom McHugh, LHV Education-
al Coordinator, at (570) 793-
3692.
O L D F O R G E S C H O O L D I S T R I C T
Old Forge science teacher awarded grant for grease proposal
Thom Welby, President of the Board of Directors of the Lackawanna Heritage Valley National and
State Heritage Area (LHV), and Natalie Gelb, Executive Director of LHV, stand with the recipients of
LHV's 2011-2012 Educational Mini-Grant awards. Standing from left, bottom row: Ms. Gelb; Georgia
Moser Blake, 4th Grade, Lackawanna Trail Elementary School; Nikki Moser, artist with Lackawanna
Trail Elementary School; and Mr. Welby. Second row: Christopher Gatto, Old Forge Junior/Senior
High School; Lizabeth Conklin, Wallenpaupack South Elementary School; and Shannon Kuchak,
Lackawanna Trail Elementary School. Third row: Barbara Giovagnoli, Lackawanna County Office of
Environmental Sustainability; Megan Swann, Timmy's Town Center; Charles Charlesworth, Lacka-
wanna Valley Trout Unlimited; and Diane Marinchak, West Scranton High School. Fourth row: El-
izabeth Davis, Lackawanna County Children's Library; Marie Grzybowski, Isaac Tripp Elementary
School; and Gerald J. Baldauff, West Scranton Intermediate School.
Raymond J. Bernardi, Wyom-
ing Area Superintendent, and
Rita Mauriello, Title I Coordina-
tor, announce that the J.F.K. Ele-
mentary School has received no-
tification that it has been recog-
nized as a Distinguished School
in Overall Reading by the State
Department of Educations Divi-
sion of Federal Programs for
proficiency in its Title I School.
This is the third consecutive
year that the J.F.K. School has
earned this distinguished award.
The school is one of 94 to earn
this recognition out of more than
1,700 school with Title I pro-
grams in the state.
J.F.K. Elementary School will
be recognized as a Distinguished
Title I School at the Title School
Improvement Conference at the
SheratonSquare inPittsburghon
Jan. 29. Jon Pollard is Principal
of the school and Janet Serino is
District Principal of Curriculum
and Title II Coordinator.
WYO M I N G A R E A S C H O O L D I S T R I C T
JFK students recognized
for proficiency in reading
Pittston Area High School and Middle School
Menu for week of January 2
Monday - No School
Tuesday - Macaroni &cheese, bread slice, green beans, fruit, low
fat milk
Wednesday - Sweet & sour chicken, oriental vegetables, rice,
bread, fruit, low fat milk
Thursday - Roast pork with gravy, bread slice, mashed potatoes,
peas, fruit, low fat milk
Friday - Bacon cheeseburger, carrots, fruit, low fat milk
High School Breakfast
Grab &Go at cafeteria store has hot breakfast sandwiches, break-
fast pizza, bagels & cream cheese, cereal with toast, breakfast bars,
fresh fruit, juice & low fat milk.
Middle School Breakfast
Tuesday - Sausage &cheese on English muffin or scrambled eggs
with toast
Wednesday - Pancakes with syrup or egg, bacon & cheese on ba-
gel
Thursday - Breakfast pizza or egg & cheese on bagel
Friday - Waffles with syrup or ham & cheese on bagel
Available Daily
Plain and specialty pizza, whole grain chicken patty, salads, as-
sorted hoagies and wraps
Pittston Area Intermediate, Primary, Kindergarten
Menu for week of January 2
Monday No School
Tuesday - Rib A Que on bun or bacon cheeseburger, baked fries,
carrots, peaches, low fat milk
Wednesday - Pasta with meatballs, garlic bread or fish sandwich,
corn, pears, low fat milk
Thursday - Pork chop, bread slice or teriyaki beef strips, mashed
potatoes with gravy, mixed fruit, low fat milk
Friday - BBQ chicken dunkers or taco salad, bread, peas, pine-
apple tidbits, low fat milk
Alternates
Italian wrap, chef salad, turkey hoagie, chicken nuggets with
bread
Breakfast
Tuesday - Pancake sausage wrap
Wednesday - Sausage, egg & cheese on bagel
Thursday - Scrambled eggs with toast
Friday - Waffles with syrup
Available Daily
Breakfast pizza, assortedcereals withbutteredtoast, juice andlow
fat milk
Wyoming Area School District
Note: No menu was received from Wyoming Area
S C H O O L M E N U S
The Wyoming Seminary Upper School community collected funds fromstudents, faculty and staff to
purchase new toys for the Marine Corps Toys for Tots Campaign. Upper School student government
representatives organized the project and raised about $750. Seen picking up the toys are members of
MWSS472Detachment Alpha inWyomingwithstudent government members: Pvt. Christopher Stine;
Elizabeth Blaum, Student Activities Office; sophomore Ben Hornung, Forty Fort; junior Devin
Holmes, government vice-president, Fleetville; senior Renata ODonnell, government president,
Wilkes-Barre; senior Hsin Hwang, Taipei, Taiwan, R.O.C.; senior Sean Banul, government treasurer,
Pittston; junior Caroline Reppert, government secretary, Kingston; freshman Qianyi Cheng, Shanghai,
China, P.R.C.; and Cpl. Juan Torres, Jr.
Wyoming Sem students support Toys for Tots
During the season of Advent and in the spirit of Christmas, staff, teachers and students of Wyoming
Area Catholic donated gifts as part of the Giving Tree Project. The gifts were given to children in need
from the surrounding community. 190 requests were received and all were fulfilled. Kneeling, Tyler
Mozelesk. Standing, Mrs. Dana Ungureit and Mrs. Josie Toomey, coordinators of the project; MacKen-
zie Crake, Nicholas Prociak, Emma Ulichney, Abigail Kolessar, Elizabeth Kravitz and Kenny Remus.
WA Catholic students donate Christmas gifts
Old Forge Elementary 5th Grade Students completed their kindness project for the 2011-12 school
year: a Toys for Tots collection during November. Along with their teachers Ms. Michelle Zaykowski,
Mrs. Marissa Davis and Mrs. Amy Notari, students collected toys and monetary donations. Left to
right, Jimmy Perry, Charles Karam, Julian Giglio, Elizabeth Iacavazzi, Juliana Matias, Abbey Nee,
Shawna Heckman, Anna Kuckla, and Catrina Enderline, Cpl. Purdun and Cpl. Weiss
Old Forge students aid Toys for Tots campaign
Atradition at Wyoming Area Catholic every fall is to bless the sports jackets ordered by the 7th and
8thgrade students. Fr. JosephVerespy, pastor of SacredHeart of Jesus ChurchinDupont, gave a special
prayer and blessing for the students and their newjackets. First row, Zach Patterson, Nicole Cirelli, Tim
Murphy, Vanessa Musto, Marissa Moran, Giana Tondora. Second row, Brenna Satkowski, Molly
Holmes, Matthew Loeffler, Nadine Green and James Kosik.
Athletic team jackets blessed at WA Catholic
C M Y K
C O M M U N I T Y
The Wyoming Free Library presented its annual Christmas party for the staff and community.
Community Christmas party at Wyoming Free Library
Friends and employees of the library: seating, left to right: Marcella Starr, John Roberts, library director, JoAnne Rygiel. Standing:
Mary Sinibaldi, Lindsay Rysz, Susan Doty, Santa Claus, Pat Quinn, Rae Anusiewicz, Maureen Carey.
Oh deer, it's Lidia Pealer, 8, West Wyoming.
Christmas party participants and staff end the evening with caroling in the brisk winter air. Anna Wisniewski, 7, enjoys making her decorations at the craft
table.
Luke Fuller, 5, of West Pittston is getting serious about his puzzle with the help of Michele Garri-
son.
Eight-month old Ben Klime looks a little puzzled at the man in the red suit and white beard.
Abby Decker, 8, and Lindsay Rysz, help 2 1/2-year old Torrie Larson make a Christmas decoration.
Adrienne Wren, 4, has a little chat with Santa.

The Pittston Dispatch 01-01-2012

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