Dunmorean of the Month: Steve Lavelle

Posted on August 2, 2023 by The Dunmorean

CORRECTION: In the August issue of The Dunmorean, several errors were made in the Dunmorean of the Month story.

Steve Lavelle was employed by Thompson Consumer Electronics until it closed, and then he worked for Marywood University. His wife, Donna, was employed by The Dunmorean and then by Target. Their granddaughter’s name, which was spelled incorrectly, is Isabelle.

By Steve Svetovich

Steve Lavelle has been involved in the PA American Legion for over 30 years and would not have it any other way.

Commander of Post 13, Dunmore, Lavelle, 73, last month was elected Commander of the PA American Legion.

“I am thrilled and honored they have the trust and faith in me to lead the department and help all of the veterans,” he said.

Steve is marred to the former Donna Cardoni for 53 years. She was formerly employed by The Dunmorean and worked at Target for many years. The couple’s grandchildren are Emelia Ann, Jesse Francis, Sophia Maria, Isabelle, Nicholas and Noah.

“I met my wife in high school and we’ve been together ever since,” he said.

Lavelle graduated from West Scranton High School in 1967 and went on to receive an associate’s degree in business from Lackawanna Junior College. He served six years in the U.S. Navy from 1967 through 1973 and served in Vietnam.

“I’m proud to have served in Vietnam,” he said, “We were the best they had at the time and I was proud to go there for my country. However, we suffered because it was a political war. The veterans did not need to suffer like they did.”

Lavelle worked for over 30 years at RCA at the Dunmore Industrial Park following his stint in the service. He retired in 2013. He became involved in the PA American Legion over 30 years ago when another veteran invited him to a meeting.

“Another veteran talked to me about it,” he said. “I went to a meeting, stepped in, and it just blossomed from there. I became very involved in all aspects. I just got more and more involved. I want to help veterans.”

Lavelle previously served with the PA American Legion as Master Sergeant of Arms, District Commander, and Central Section Commander. He is Past Central Vice Commander and a member of the National Security Commission.

The 31-year member of the PA American Legion, said he will work with veterans on the local level in his new position as Commander.

“I’m just very happy with the position as I love helping veterans,” he said. “I love being involved with the PA American Legion. I will always be a part of it.”

Humble and good-natured, Lavelle said he loves Dunmore.

“My wife and I raised our family in Dunmore. I love the Dunmore community.”

Lavelle said he is focusing on family, retirement, and his new position as Commander. “It all keeps me busy which I like.”

Alison Ross of Holy Cross earns all-state softball honors

Posted on August 2, 2023 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Job well done. Such is the case for Holy Cross Lady Crusaders second baseman Alison Ross who was rewarded for her efforts with selection to the all-state team as a junior.

Daughter of Joe and Mari Ross, her dad is the coach of the Holy Cross softball team. Alison, 17, batted .488 in earning an all-state selection as a second baseman. The soon-to-be senior said she owes a lot to her parents.

“They teach me to always be a good person and look at the positives. Treat people right.”

Alison said her dad has always been like a coach to her even before she became a member of the Lady Crusaders softball team under him.

“He brought the game to me at a very young age,” she said. “He taught me everything I know. He knows what to say at the right time. He is always supportive.”

A positive thinker and hard-working, Alison talked about what it takes to be a good second baseman in high school softball.

“It takes a lot of hard work and dedication,” she said. “You need to stay positive to make the plays. Our coaches are very positive and push us to do our best.”

The scholar-athlete has an impressive 3.8 grade point average at Holy Cross. Her favorite academic subject is science. She is a member of the TRUE Club, Foreign Languages Club and National Honor Society.

She will be playing her fourth year on the Lady Crusaders softball team next year. Alison will also be in her fourth year on the basketball team where she was a starting guard as a junior.

Alison comes from a family of outstanding softball and baseball players. Her dad and uncles Frank and Paul were standout high school baseball players. Her late grandfather Paul was a superb and well-known professional softball player. Her sister Amanda was a stalwart softball player for Holy Cross who played for Kean University. Amanda, 24, is currently a graduate student at Widener University studying to be an occupational therapist.

Alison talked about what it takes to be a solid hitter in high school softball. “It all starts with a lot of practice and trying to be a good teammate,” she said. “You need to practice in the off season and during the season. I just try to get on base for my teammates.

“The all-state second baseman said the success of the Lady Crusaders this year was due to teamwork. “We banded together as a team,” she said. “We all get along. We encourage each other and never get down. That’s why we have success.”

Alison said she is not sure if she will play softball in college or where she will attend, but is thinking about becoming a pharmacist eventually.

She likes listening to music in her spare time and would like to see Drake in concert.

Right now Alison is enjoying her time at Holy Cross and looking forward to her senior year.

She is keeping her future goals simple. “I want to get a good job, live a good life and be a good person.”

Doin’ Dunmore: SS. Anthony & Rocco Parish carry tradition for over 100 years

Posted on August 2, 2023 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

It’s been a tradition in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore since 1906, making it 117 years old..

SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish will hold its annual Italian Festival Aug. 11, 12 and 13 at 122 Kurtz Street in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore.

The annual event is noted for its delicious Italian foods and pastries and musical entertainment, but the highlight is always the annual Feast Day Mass to be held this year Saturday, Aug. 12, at noon, followed by the annual Procession with Statues of the Saints at 1 p.m.

Started in 1906 in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore, the procession has taken place every year, including during the COVID-19 pandemic. The event was broadcast on social media in the first year of the pandemic.

The actual Feast Day is Aug. 16, so the procession is always held the closest weekend prior to the Feast unless it falls on Sunday.

Many families participate in the procession together. It symbolizes the strength of their parish family.

Rev. David Cappelloni, pastor of SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish, who blesses the people with a relic of Saint Rocco at a special Mass before the procession, said the event helps the parish have an identity.

“We carry the statues of St.Rocco, St.Anthony, the Blessed Virgin Mary and Saint Joseph through the neighborhood to remind people of who we are and who we are called to be,” Rev. Cappelloni said. “The procession of our patron saints are carried throughout the Bunker Hill section to show and signify that we, ourselves, are also striving to become saints.”

After leaving the church, the procession travels throughout the streets of the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore with the patron saints carried on beams by the men of the parish. The parish priest accompanies the procession and blesses bystanders with a relic of Saint Rocco. A band usually follows the procession.

In addition to the special Mass and procession, the Dunmore community always celebrates its annual three-day festival the same weekend.

Those who walk in the procession of faith often pray for others or someone in remembrance. The tradition also carries on with few changes each year. It’s all about family, tradition, and mostly faith.

Saint Rocco, the protector against deadly plagues, is considered the patron saint of Guardia de Lombardi. Veneration to this Saint dates back to 1656 when a deadly plague and drought swept through the Italian town, killing 1,110 of its 1,475 residents. Guardia’s first procession in honor of St. Rocco took place that year when the remaining townspeople prayed to him to bring rain and to end the aggressive plague.

By the time the Guardiese immigrants arrived in Dunmore, the procession to Saint Rocco had been an integral part of life in their Italian community for more than 250 years.When Italian immigrants settled in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore, they continued many of the same traditions. The annual procession is one of them

.In the early 1900’s the Guardiese community in Dunmore had become so large that members decided to found their own church. About 40 families banded together and called themselves the Society for Congregation of Saint Rocco’s Church. They traveled door to door within the community to solicit funds to purchase a church building from a Presbyterian congregation in the neighborhood.

The first Mass at Saint Rocco’s Church was held in October, 1905. The first procession to honor Saint Rocco took place the following August.

The annual festival was added to the procession in 1922. Initially, members prepared food at the stoves of the church basement and carried it outside in bowls to sell on the grounds.

Father Cappelloni said SS. Anthony and Rocco are now linked to Our Lady of Mount Carmel where he also serves as pastor. The three-day festival will run 5 to 9:30 p.m. the first two nights and noon to 9:30 the final day.

The Dunmore High School marching band and cheerleaders will perform the first night at 6 p.m, followed by the band, Picture Perfect, at 7 p.m. The band, Popstar Drive, will perform Saturday, Aug. 12, at 7 p.m.

Following the Feast Day Mass at noon and Procession of Saints at 1 p.m. Sunday, Aug. 13, Vinsko Entertainment with provide music at 2:30 p.m. followed by the Scranton Prep cheerleaders at 5:30 p.m, and the Luongo Brothers Band at 6 p.m. There will be fireworks at dusk.

Then there is the delicious Italian food, pastries, and desserts to fill and satisfy the palate. That includes sausage and peppers, pasta fagioli, porketta, shells, tripe, delicious pizza, Italian pastries, cookies, cakes and desserts ,ice cream, snow cones, pizza fritta, cannolis and anything else Italian. Oh, the pasta fagioli! And let’s not forget the beer tent, wine, coffee, cappuccino, crispy potato pancakes and french fries, lemonade and root beer floats. A new desert item, Gelato, has been added this year.

It’s an event in Dunmore not to be missed and a tradition that is sure to go on forever.