Category Archives: August 2016

St. Mary’s Class of 1966 reunites after 50 years

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Eighth grade classmates of the Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Class of 1966 held their 50th reunion on June 11, 2016. The reunion activities started with 4 p.m. Mass at Saint Mary of Mount Carmel Church followed by a self-guided tour of the school.

During the tour, the classmates were able to visit the classrooms, library, cafeteria, and principal’s office. At one point, they took their seats in a classroom as they did 50 years ago. Conversations centered around how the high quality of education and discipline at St. Mary’s had a positive effect on their lives.

After the school tour, the classmates had a reception and dinner at La Una Banquet Hall on Drinker Street in Dunmore. Timothy McGurl played Beatles songs on his guitar as his classmates shared photographs, stories about their families and jobs, and their escapades at St. Mary’s.

One such story centered on Madelyn’s Penny Candy Store. This popular candy store was on Chestnut Street near the school during the 1950’s and 1960’s, but was off limits to the students. Students would attempt to sneak into Madelyn’s to buy candy by leaving the official school line on the way home. For just a few candy cigarettes or atomic fireballs, Robert Meehan (Rollo) and William Cicciotti (Wild Bill) recalled spending many hours standing in the classroom corner after getting caught by Sister Victoire.

While there were humorous stories, many classmates expressed that going to St. Mary’s not only provided an excellent education, but served as the basis for lasting friendships which can only happen in a place such as Dunmore. Perhaps, this was best stated by Ellen Burne in a letter expressing her disappointment for being unable to attend the reunion. She stated in part “Personally, my memories of living in Dunmore are among those most dear to me. We are all so fortunate to have been raised in such a loving, family oriented community where friends for life were made.”

The classmates wish to thank the Reunion Committee of Regina Kearney Garvey, Mary Alice Golden McCormick, and James McCormick for all their work in organizing this outstanding event. They also made a donation to the school in memory of two classmates, Susan Gilligan and Michael McDonald.

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Out of the original class of 58 students, over half (30) attended the reunion event including:

Robert Farrell, Robert Kelleher, Regina Kearney Garvey, Mary Alice Golden McCormick, Gerald Conway, Donald Loftus, Robert McDonald, Sharon Maus Pitoniak, Kathy Fennie Blythe, Marianne Kramer, James McCormick, Patrick Cuff, John Earley, Regina Garvey, Mary Katherine Kreis Curtis, William Ciccotti, Michelle Langan Rohulich, Eileen McLaine Mallas, Laurie Holmes Ekes, Linda Dougherty Borland, Maria Graci Ceccacci, Patricia Grady, James Vinard, Robert Meehan, Brian McAndrew, Timothy McGurl, Owen Dougherty and Lorraine Spangler Vitris.

(Photo credit: Michael Straub Photography).

 

 

 

 

Lantern send-off to remember Dunmore’s angels

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Angel Night

By Emily Fedor

Kelcey Hallinan was 18 years old when she passed away on November 16, 2013 after fighting a courageous battle with Hodgkin’s lymphoma. Her love for the Disney movie “Tangled” inspired last year’s “Lanterns for the Lost Princess” event.

“We thought it would be a nice tribute for the whole town to get involved because she was Dunmore’s child, and Dunmore was so supportive throughout her battle,” said Kelcey’s mother, Alicia.

Last summer, Alicia brought the fundraising memorial idea to the Dartt family, who also lost their daughter Carissa at a young age. They sold paper lanterns throughout Dunmore and beyond. Then on August 7, 2015, everyone lit up  the night sky—to remember and send love up to those two beautiful girls.

After last year’s impressive turnout, the Dartts and the Hallinans decided to host the event again.

The fundraiser has since been renamed “Dunmore’s Angel Night,” to include all of Dunmore’s lost loved ones in the event.

Dunmore’s Angel Night will take place on Friday, August 12. Even if you’re not in Dunmore that night, you can still be a part of this beautiful event and light a lantern from wherever you are.

One lantern costs five dollars. All proceeds from lantern sales will benefit the #KelceyStrong and Carissa Dartt scholarships.

To purchase lanterns, contact Tom or Alicia Hallinan via Facebook or phone at (570) 877-0201.

Like Father Like Son

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terrery family

By Steve Svetovich

Baseball is life.

And Dunmore’s Charlie Terrery and his son Alex are living it in the Dunmore Freedom League at Sherwood Park.

Alex, a Dunmore High School and Penn State graduate, grew up in Dunmore learning about the game of baseball from his dad who mentored and coached him.

Never did Alex ever think he would get to play with him.

But in this “Field of Dreams” at Dunmore’s Sherwood Park, that is exactly what this father and son are doing this summer.

This father and son duo are doing their own rendition of Ken Griffey, Sr. and Ken Griffey, Jr. who once hit back-to-back homers while playing in the same outfield for the Seattle Mariners.

charlie terrery pic

Charlie Terrery is show in the 1981 photo of the Ohio Northern University baseball team.

Charlie Terrery, 57, a pharmacist at Gino Merli Veterans Center, Scranton, is playing competitive baseball this summer with his son Alex, 24, in the Dunmore Freedom League. Charlie is more than 20 years older than the league’s next oldest player. Most of the players are between 18 and 30.

Still, Charlie has been able to compete at a high level and is closing in on 10 hits for the season after two recent 2-hit games in which he drove in three runs. He has been playing first base and DH.

He made sure he was in shape for the season and did not want to embarrass anyone. He wanted to compete with players 20, 30, and even 40 years younger.

“This has been great,” said his son Alex who played four years of baseball at Dunmore and four more at Penn State Worthington. My dad taught me everything about baseball since I was a small child. To see him doing it on the field and playing with me is icing on the cake.

“And he has played quite well. At first I just told him not to get hurt. But he has been very competitive. He hits the ball almost all the time. He rarely strikes out. He fields the ball clean.

“This has been a really fun time. He loves it. I think he is coming back next year. He is having a blast.”

terrery2

Alex Terrery is shown here playing with the Penn State Worthington baseball team.

Alex, a 2011 graduate of Dunmore, was a first team all-star first baseman in his senior year. He was a second team all-star as a junior. He led his conference in hitting and gained all-star status as a junior at Penn State Worthington. He was a pitcher-catcher-shortstop-first baseman at Penn State.

Alex graduated from Penn State in 2016 with a B.S. in Information Technology and minor in Security Risk Analysis. He currently works as a computer analyst at TMG Health Care, Jessup.

Charlie is a 1977 graduate of Dunmore High School where he played four years of baseball as a center fielder.

He went on to play three more years of baseball at Ohio Northern University where he earned his Pharmacy degree. He was an outfielder-catcher there.

Charlie also teaches Advanced Pharmacology at the University of Scranton and University of Binghamton at SUNY.

Charlie played 20 years of modified softball in local leagues. He coached both of his sons, Alex and Jason, in Dunmore baseball leagues from T-Ball to Little League through American Legion. He was proud to watch his son Jason play in the state title game for Dunmore’s football team in 2007.

Charlie and his son Alex play for McGuinty’s in the Dunmore Freedom League.

He started thinking about playing again last summer while watching Alex play in the league.

“I thought I was still in pretty good shape to compete,” he said. “And I don’t like sitting. So I decided to give it a shot this year. So far it has worked out.

“My reaction time is a little slower and my legs are slower, but I can still compete.

“Alex was supportive and comfortable with it. I coached him from T-Ball right through Legion, so it has been great playing with him. My wife Faith has been supportive.

“I’m not embarrassing Alex, because I’m still hitting the ball and making the plays.

“It feels great to play baseball again. I always loved the game. I’m very comfortable on the field.

“And I will play again next year if I am healthy and can still compete.”