Dishin’ the Dirt: February 2025

Posted on February 5, 2025 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Congratulations to Dunmore’s Vic Fangio who is going to Super Bowl as defensive coordinator for Philadelphia Eagles who are league’s number one defense…Fangio’s defensive schemes will try to prevent quarterback Patrick Mahomes and Kansas City Chiefs from third consecutive Super Bowl win…Chiefs football coach Andy Reid will face his former team who he coached for 14 years, including one Super Bowl appearance…Now in his 12th year as Kansas City coach, this marks Reid’s fifth Super Bowl appearance with Chiefs…He and Mahomes seek their fourth Super Bowl win with Chiefs…Eagles back Saquon Barkley, Penn State graduate and league’s leading rusher with over 2,000 yards, will be man Chiefs defense keys on…Eyes will be on Chiefs veteran tight end Travis Kelce on field and girlfriend Taylor Swift in private suite in stands…Prediction: Chiefs 35 Eagles 31..

Congratulations to former Holy Cross Lady Crusaders basketball standout Kaci Kranson named for second time Landmark Conference Athlete of the Week last month as member of University of Scranton Lady Royals…She has earned this award six times in career and is third in conference in scoring at 17.7 points per game and fourth in field goal percentage at .462…She also last month was named USBWA National Player of Week…She averaged 27.5 points, 7.0 rebounds, 2.0 steals and shot 53.3 percent from field week she was honored…She scored game-high 26 points and added five steals leading Lady Royals to 85-58 win over Juniata as her No. 3-ranked team maintained its undefeated record at 17-0, including 10-0 in the conference…

Congratulations to Ichiro, Bill Wagner and former NY Yankees southpaw C.C. Sabathia elected to National Baseball Hall of Fame, but what about former Philadelphia Phillies shortstop Jimmy Rollins?…Ichiro hit .311 for career with 3,089 hits, 1,420 runs and 509 stolen bases…He totaled over 200 hits in each of his first 10 seasons, including single season record 262 in 2004…C.C. Is one of three left-handed pitchers in MLB history to record at least 250 wins and at least 3,000 strikeouts…Wagner is second among southpaw relievers with 422 saves and struck out 1,196 batters in 903 innings while finishing career with 2.31 ERA…He allowed lowest batting average to hitters of any pitcher in history with at least 900 innings…Congratulations to Dunmore Little League graduate Jack Davis selected as District’s Freach-Keen Memorial Award recipient…Former Holy Cross basketball standout Abbey Lentowski, who scored 1,075 career points for Lady Crusaders, also is member of 1,000-point club at Immaculata University and plans on attending law school next year at Widener University Delaware Law School…Holy Cross senior forward Matt Lyons averaging 15.0 points and 8.0 rebounds per game this season…

Congratulations to Holy Cross center Adam Badyrka named MVP as coach Al Callejas, Jr. led Holy Cross Crusaders to Lynett Tournament championship…Do you remember West Scranton beating beating Western Wayne, 59-38, to give coach Jack Lyons his 400th career win 20 years ago?…Shelley Duncan returning for third season as manager of Scranton Wilkes-Barre RailRiders…How about veteran Pete Carroll at 73 named head coach of Las Vegas Raiders…Do you remember Dunmore’s Kayleigh Semion scoring 17 points, including 1,000th of career in Lady Bucks 63-25 win over Mid Valley 10 years ago?…Do you remember former Holy Cross standout Gabby Giordano scoring 16 points, including 1,000th of career, in Lady Crudaders 62-17 win over Elk Lake 10 years ago?…Two-time New York Giants Super Bowl winning quarterback Eli Manning, kicking great Adam Vinatieri, prolific receivers Reggie Wayne, Torry Holt and Antonio Gates, running back Fred Taylor and defensive backs Darren Woodson, Rodney Harrison and Eric Allen among finalists for election to Pro Football Hall of Fame to be announced Super Bowl week…Mike Holmgren is in coaching category and expected to be elected…New York Mets making big mistake not rushing to sign first base slugger Pete Alonso who has 226 homers, including 53 in rookie season, and 586 RBIs in six years with team and would be perfect adding protection hitting behind Juan Soto in lineup…Congratulations to Scranton Prep trio of quarterback Louis Paris, Times-Tribune Player of Year, linebacker Reese Tanner and defensive back Will McPartland all named All-State for football…

Congratulations to Scranton Prep senior quarterback Louis Paris who earned the 33rd Fiore Cesare Award…He completed 84 of 132 passes for 1,321 yards and 12 touchdowns and ran 138 times for 1,182 rushing yards and 12 touchdowns for Prep who won Lackawanna Football Conference Division I championship with 12-2 season…Ava Kochmer and Gemma Bistran each won pair of individual events to less Holy Cross past West Scranton in Lackawanna League swim meet…Condolences to family of former Scranton Miners EBA great Tom Hemans who died last month…Holy Cross coaching legend Al Callejas earned 400th coaching win 10 years ago when Crussders beat Mid Valley, 52-48, in overtime…Sophia Talutto scored 21 points, including three 3-pointers, to lead Dunmore to 59-48 win over Honesdale…Amanda Dempsey and Jackie Brown scored 11 points each for Lady Bucks…Leena Conte added nine points for Dunmore…Mollie Urban and Ava Schmidt scored 11 points each to lead Holy Cross Lady Crusaders to 36-35 win over Western Wayne..,

Congratulations to Scranton Prep senior offensive tackle Ambrose Rossi and Riverside junior defensive tackle Tavian Branch named recipients of annual James “Hookey” Reap Awards…Olivia Kosin of Holy Cross scored 18 points, including 1,000th of career, 10 years ago in team’s 56-39 win over Carbondale Area…Sophia Talutto and Amanda Dempsey scored 17 points each to lead Dunmore to 67-30 win over Mid Valley…Jackie Brown added 10 points for Lady Bucks…Lila Kolcharno scored all of her 17 points in second half to lead Holy Cross Lady Crusaders to 41-37 win over Lakeland…Ava Schmidt added 14 points for Holy Cross…Adam Badyrka scored 17 points and C.J. Thompson added 13 as Holy Cross beat Lakeland, 65-50…Mike Hughes and Mario Matrone added 10 each for Crusaders…Cincinnati Bengals receiver Ja’ Marr Chase and Minnesota Vikings receiver Justin Jefferson were unanimous choices for Associated Press 2024 NFL All-Pro Team…Do you remember Dunmore’s late Owen “Onions” Dougherty?…Whatever became of Hubie “Babbling” Brooks?…

Nunsense comes to People’s Security Theater in March

Posted on February 5, 2025 by The Dunmorean

Cast members of the upcoming production of “Nunsense” include, from left: Courtney Rosenkrans as Sr. Robert; John Baldino as Sr. Mary Hubert; Rob Misko as Rev. Mother; Christine McGeachie as Sr. Mary Amnesia, and Laura Lockwood as Sr. Mary Leo.

The smash-hit musical comedy Nunsense returns to Scranton on March 22 and 23 at the People’s Security Theater on the campus of Lackawanna College. Our Cabaret Productions is partnering with Lackawanna in this professional theater fundraising event to support higher education in the region.

The music and antics of the Little Sisters of Hoboken will entertain audiences on Saturday, March 22 at 7 p.m. and Sunday, March 23 at 2 p.m. Tickets are $35. Patrons can also enjoy pre-show dinner or brunch from St. Julia’s Kitchen before each show at 409 on Adams, the college’s student-run restaurant. Advanced reservations are required, $45 per person. Tickets for the show, brunch, dinner, and a VIP meet-the-cast reception following the March 22 performance are available online at ourcabaret.com. 

The show will star Rob Misko (Carbondale) as Rev. Mother and John Baldino (Clarks Summit) as Sr. Mary Hubert with Laura Lockwood (Moscow) as Sr. Mary Leo, Christine McGeachie (Peckville) as Sr. Mary Amnesia, and Courtney Rosenkrans (Scott Township) as Sr. Robert Anne. Nunsense is produced by Baldino and directed by Misko with tap choreography by Ballroom ONE Dance Company, Eynon.

“This is an extraordinary opportunity for our cast and crew as we celebrate our company’s 20th anniversary,” says Baldino who is general manager of Our Cabaret Productions and an assistant professor at Lackawanna. “The People’s Security Theater at Lackawanna College is a special gem in a city so rich in theater history and Nunsense is a gem of a show in the musical theater world. Bringing them together will be a tremendous experience for faculty, students, staff, supporters of the college, and theater-goers all over northeastern Pennsylvania. I’m also eager for my students and colleagues to meet Sr. Hubert.” 

“I have had a love affair with Nunsense since I first saw the off-Broadway production in 1985,” says Misko, who directed the first non-Equity production of Nunsense in the world in Carbondale and has performed as Rev. Mother more than 150 times. “And it’s always special to direct and perform in the show. To mount a Nunsense production alongside my closest friends in a space like the People’s Security Theater is a dream come true.” 

Nunsense begins when the Little Sisters of Hoboken discover that their cook, Sister Julia, Child of God, has accidentally poisoned 52 of the sisters, and they are in dire need of funds for the burials. The sisters decide that the best way to raise the money is to put on a variety show, so they take over the school auditorium, which is currently set up for the eighth-grade production of Grease. 

Calendar of Events: February 2025

Posted on February 5, 2025 by The Dunmorean

UNICO Pig Roast

Dunmore’s Keystone UNICO is planning its 13^th Annual Charity Pig Roast on Saturday, April 5, from 5-9 pm at Fiorelli’s. The theme is “The Sensational Sixties” and this year’s primary beneficiary is the Scranton Counseling Center. Upon arrival, guests will be photographed by Richard Banick and receive a 5X7 as a memento. There will be a 2-hour open bar, with hors d’oeuvres during the first hour, followed by an Italian buffet. Musical entertainment will be provided by “The Mystic Rulers.”

There will be a large basket raffle as well as “The Italian Money Umbrella” and “Wilbur the (money) Pig,” both with cash prizes. There will also be a “Wheelbarrow of Booze” raffle with pre-sale chances at $10 each or 3 for $25, available by calling Anne Martino at 570-241-1118.

Reservations are necessary and can be purchased by calling Michele at 570-343-7009. Tickets are $70. Sponsorship opportunities are available by calling Mark at 570-335-7830.

Colon Cancer CASUAL Day

Dr. Alessandro Smeraldi is chair for the Northeast Regional Cancer Institute’s 22nd Annual CASUAL (Colon Cancer Awareness Saves Unlimited Adult Lives) Day set for Thursday, March 27. CASUAL Day is a dres- down day to raise awareness for colorectal cancer in northeast Pennsylvania. Participants dress casually while wearing specially designed socks, hats, and/or t-shirts.

The focus of this awareness campaign is to have a casual conversation about colon cancer. All proceeds from the event stay in NEPA and go towards the Cancer Institute efforts to raise awareness and support to support colorectal cancer prevention, early detection education and screenings.

For more information about CASUAL Day and how to participate, call the Cancer Institute at (570) 904-8808 or visit www.cancernepa.org.

Pugliese in show

Loenzo Pugliese, a Scranton native, will be reprising his role as Sonny Bono in “The Cher Show” at the Forum Theater, Binghamton, NY, February on 17 and 18. Tickets can be purchased online at Broadway in Binghamton. Pugliese has played to rave reviews throughout the country in this production and to sell-out crowds at the Scranton Cultural Center last fall.

Catholic Choral concert

In a 75-year-old tradition of inspiring prayer and meditation through music, the Catholic Choral Society will present its annual Lenten Concert on Sunday March 9, at 4 p.m. at St. Joseph Marello Church, 237 William St., Pittston. The Reverend Joseph P. Elston V.F. is Pastor.

In addition to the Choral Society, the concert will feature the combined parish choirs of St, Joseph Marello; director, Brandon Jopling, and of St. John the Evangelist; director, Michael Sowa. Ann Manganello is music director of the Catholic Choral Society and Linda Houck is accompanist.

The concerts are open to the public free of charge. There will be a good will offering. Dunmoreans serving on the society’s board include Sheila O’Brien and Barbara Barrett.

Disco Biscuits

Trance-Fusion pioneers The Disco Biscuits will return to the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts on Thursday, February 27, at 8 p.m. Tickets ar: $34.30, $39.50, $44.50, and $49.50 plus fees. VIP Soundcheck Experience is $124.50 plus fees, available online only, and includes one general admission show ticket; early entry to venue and early access to merch, pre-show soundcheck viewing, group photo with the band, collectible show ticket, commemorative laminate & lanyard.

Tickets can be purchased online at: kirbycenter.org, ticketmaster.com, and slpconcerts.net, or in-person at the F.M. Kirby Center Box Office during regular business hours