Around the Towns 10/18/2009

Blakely

The Genealogical Research Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania will celebrate family history month with a smorgasbord of ethnic dishes, said member Joseph Bryer.

The society has hosted the October event for 12 years, Mr. Bryer said.

The public is invited, and the dish each person brings to the table serves as their admission, he said.

"It's a fun event," he said. "People like coming to it."

This year, member and local historian Tom Klopfer will speak during the dinner about his book, "The Anthracite Idiom."

The event will take place Wednesday at 7 p.m., at the society, 1100 Main Street.

cbaress@ timesshamrock.com

Dickson City

Insted of going door to door, Dickson City Primitive Methodist Church invites childen to go trunk to trunk for Halloween treats at a fall festival Oct. 31.

Members will decorate the trunks of their vehicles and provide candy and trinkets for the kids, said Sheila McDonough.

The event, which begins at 5 p.m. at the church, will also feature a performance by Choose This Day, a band based at the church, she said.

"It'll be a fun, seasonal event for all ages," she said. "(Kids) can expect free games and prizes, refreshments and a live Christian rock band."

The church provides this free event yearly, she said.

cbaress@ timesshamrock.com

Dunmore

The borough council vice president celebrated Columbus Day by walking in the parade in New York City on behalf of UNICO.

"I was surprised at how many people were there for it," said Paul Nardozzi, who is applying for membership in UNICO.

He's had some practice appearing in parades - including Scranton's St. Patrick's Day Parade - but this was the first time Mr. Nardozzi walked the parade route in New York City.

By participating in both parades, Mr. Nardozzi said he celebrated his Irish-Italian heritage.

He plans to return to New York for the Columbus Day Parade "every year from here on out."

mreiter@ timesshamrock.com

Honesdale

Dozens of ears of corn were shucked during a competition at the Honesdale Harvest and Heritage Festival on Oct. 10.

Raphael Ingaglio of Lake Ariel shucked 54 ears of corn in two rounds to win the adult competition.

The Western Wayne junior four years ago won the junior corn shucking competition.

"It's always a lot of fun," Raphael said. "We had a family birthday party on Sunday, and we rescheduled it for the corn shucking."

Although Mr. Ingaglio said there isn't much strategy needed in corn shucking, he noted one does need speed.

jmrozinski@ timesshamrock.com

Moosic

Volunteers descended on Moosic Alliance Church on Rocky Glen Road recently to fill shoe boxes with items for children around the world.

In all, 201 shoe boxes were filled with items - including school supplies, toiletries and toys - and will be delivered around Christmas.

"They go to needy children all over the world. Every box has a stuffed animal," said Doris Jensen, the pastor's wife.

About 70 people, most of them belonging to the church, volunteered. But this year, community members were invited to help fill the boxes.

"We just wanted to make the community more aware of Samaritan's Purse and what they are doing," Mrs. Jensen said.

ssanger@ timesshamrock.com

Newfoundland

Sigrid Klauck Wilshinsky likes animals and she hopes kids also learn to feel the same way.

That is partly why she has written a children's fantasy book about a forest and animals.

"I hope stories like this make kinder, gentler children," Ms. Wilshinsky, 66, said.

Titled "Let Me Tell You All About," the illustrated book contains 13 stories, including one about a woodchuck having a flying adventure.

"It's all about animals, and I've been with animals all my life," Ms. Wilshinsky, an animal portrait painter, said.

Ms. Wilshinsky's book can be found at online retail sites such as Amazon.com.

jmrozinski@ timesshamrock.com

Old Forge

High school Spanish teacher Lea Garcia encouraged her students to participate in the Kids Around the World program at Scranton High School last month.

She offered it as extra credit for students who attended the program.

Ms. Garcia said community service is often emphasized in Pennsylvania and "this was a great way to do that."

About 14 of her students - mostly freshmen and sophomores - worked the Hispanic booths at the event, educating the public about traditions in several Spanish-speaking countries.

They led activities, including helping children create abstract art and making piñatas.

ssanger@ timesshamrock.com

Pittston

United Methodist Church will continue a longstanding fundraiser on Saturday, with its family-style roast chicken supper and bake sale.

A tip from committee member Cathy Grillini: Make a reservation.

"Buy tickets early so we don't run out," she said.

The dinner at the church, at Broad and Church streets, runs from 4:30 to 7 p.m., with takeouts available.

Dinner includes half a roast chicken, and there's no limit to the rest: mashed potatoes, gravy, grean beens, cranberry sauce, pepper hash, bread and butter, dessert, coffee and tea.

"They can have as much as they want," Ms. Grillini said.

A bake sale, featuring items home made by church members, will also take place during the dinner.

Dinner tickets are $8.50 for adults and $3 for young children, and can be purchased in advance by calling: 654-3936, 603-1915 or 693-1572.

ssanger@ timesshamrock.com

Scranton

Where's the beef?

Well, it's not going to be at St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Church Youth Center on Oct. 25.

Instead of the parish's annual beef dinner, the yearly tradition will serve up turkey.

"It was just to try something a little different," said Bishop Anthony Mikovsky, pastor at the cathedral.

"A lot of people say the meat doesn't matter, as long as they have our wonderful sweet and sour cabbage," he added.

The annual dinners have been held for decades, and would have been much appreciated in the days when a big beef dinner "was a real treat," he explained, especially during the lean depression years.

The event continues to draw hundreds of diners.

"It's certainly very popular amongst our parish, but there are a lot of folks who come from the neighborhood as well," the bishop said.

Takeouts are available from 10:30 a.m. to noon, and dinner begins at 12:30 p.m. at the center, 531 E. Locust St. Tickets are $10 for adults; $5 for children ages 3 to 12. There also will be a craft sale and quilt raffle.

For information, call the rectory at 343-6017.

rdupuis@ timesshamrock.com

South Abington Twp.

The anime/manga club at the Abington Community Library was having a hard time finding fundraisers to get excited about.

But when they mined the talents of their members, they found an easy project that resonated with people all over the community.

Member Neha Pancholy, a junior at Abington Heights High School, said the group decided to make and sell bookmarks at the bi-annual book sale at the Abington Community Library last weekend. They sold out in a few hours, selling enough bookmarks to make more than $40.

"A lot of us like to draw," Neha said. "We came up with 10 different designs, most of (Japanese) cartoons that most younger kids would recognize."

The anime/manga club is one of two teen groups that held fundraisers at the library during the book sale.

The teen leadership committee made more than $140 holding a bake sale. Most of those proceeds will be used to fund programming for younger kids.

"The teens wanted to take a little pressure off the library with the funding cuts," said young adult librarian Sandy Longo. "They're very dedicated kids."

enissley@ timesshamrock.com

Thornhurst Twp.

Jim Howley doesn't mind when people stop in front of his house and stare. Mr. Howley has two totem poles in front of his house that he carved.

One totem pole is 30 feet tall.

"They stop, and back up, and pull over to the side," Mr. Howley said of motorists who are driving down the road in front of his house.

Mr. Howley, 72, is also one of the founding members of the Thornhurst Volunteer Fire Company. He is captain of the department's search and rescue team, in addition to serving as Thornhurst's Emergency Management Agency coordinator.

Mr. Howley even wrote a book about the area, "Thornhurst and the Upper Lehigh River," which was first published in 2001.

mreiter@ timesshamrock.com

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