Athlete of the Month: Kieran Burrier

Posted on January 8, 2020 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

Holy Cross senior guard Kieran Burrier is known for his scrappy and clutch performance on the basketball court.

And it was his hustling and confident style that helped lead his team to its first Lynett Memorial Basketball Tournament title since 2008.

Burrier, 18, led the Crusaders with 22 points and added seven assists and six rebounds in his team’s Lynett Tournament semifinal win, 61-58, over Scranton Friday, December 27, at the Lackawanna College Student Union.

But it was in the Lynett Tournament final Sunday, December 29, at the Lackawanna Student Union that Burrier came up with his biggest clutch play.

With the scored knotted 54-54, Scranton Prep had the basketball in the closing seconds. A Prep shot caromed off the backboard towards the Cavalier bench.

“I felt no one was going to get that ball, but me,” Burrier said.

And he did. The senior stalwart corralled the basketball by the Prep bench and was fouled with close to one second left. Burrier made his foul shot as the Crusaders took a 55-54 lead. He let his next free throw attempt roll of the rim forcing Prep to take a full court shot which missed. The Crusaders had a 55-54 win and the Lynett title, unseating Prep and its six-year run.

Burrier scored 13 points plus added six assists and five rebounds in the title win. Caleb Callejas led the Crusaders with 23 points.

Son of Danielle and Shawon Burrier, Kieran’s brother Braden, 21, played football at Scranton Prep and is currently a student at Marywood University. Braden also was a very good basketball player in various youth leagues.

Kieran has 996 career points at press time and is expected to score his 1,000th career point in a home game against Old Forge, Tuesday, January 7.

He is averaging over 13 points and close to five assists per game this season.

The senior stalwart has an impressive 3.7 academic average and is a member of the National Honor Society at Holy Cross.

The scholar-athlete is a four-year member of the Holy Cross basketball team and said he will study pharmacy at Wilkes University next year. He added that basketball at Wilkes is a possibility.

He talked about what it takes to excel at the guard position in high school basketball. “You need to be scrappy and aggressive,” Kieran said. “That’s how I play the game. You also need to be a good play maker and have a high basketball IQ. You need to know what to do with the ball.”

Always a battler on the court, Kieran said it was a great feeling winning the Lynett Tournament. “I played with and against many of the guys on Prep’s team, so it was a special feeling beating them. They were the champions for the past six years, so it is a big thrill beating them in my senior year. We gave our all and finished with a feeling of elation.”

Kieran said he has learned a lot from veteran Holy Cross basketball coach Al Callejas. “He stresses discipline, respect and hard work. Respect others and always work very hard.”

The scrappy guard said his parents taught him something very simple, but meaningful. “Just to be myself everyday.”

Kieran, whose best academic subjects are math and chemistry, said he enjoys listening to music and would like see rapper Post Malone in concert.

He talked about the reason for his team’s success thus far this season. “It it because of coaching, preparation and focusing on playing together as a team.”

And his future goals? “I want to help this basketball team win the league and district title and then go as far as possible in the states. I want to help our team improve game by game. Then I want to go on in college and become a pharmacist. I will keep playing basketball if I can.”

Holy Family Residence Now “Marywood Heights”

Posted on January 8, 2020 by The Dunmorean

MARYWOOD HEIGHTS Marywood University, after recently announcing its intent to purchase the Holy Family Residence adjacent to its campus, has now revealed facility’s new name.

In a communication to the campus community and to current residents and staff, Sister Mary Persico, IHM, Ed.D., Marywood University President, announced that the facility will be renamed Marywood Heights.

Consistent with the growing trend at universities around the country, the facility is a university-based retirement community (UBRC). Although there are now several in Pennsylvania, Marywood is the first university in Northeast Pennsylvania to establish a UBRC.

“A stipulation in the acquisition agreement with the Little Sisters of the Poor required a name change for the facility,” said Sister Mary Persico. “Using input gathered from the University community, we wanted to select a name that would reflect who we are, while embracing a vision for the future. Since it will be a dynamic part of our campus, we chose Marywood Heights. We envision many opportunities for future growth, along with vibrant community involvement.”

She added, “A UBRC is a very forward-looking model that provides distinctive benefits. This will be a thriving intergenerational community in which university students receive real-life experience at the facility and residents are connected to our campus life and mission.”

Sister Mary said that Marywood students would be able to use the space free of charge for their clinical rotations and internships. Additionally, those who reside at Marywood Heights can participate in life at Marywood, such as musical events, art exhibits, use of the Learning Commons, and more.

Marywood University entered into an asset purchase agreement with the Little Sisters of the Poor to buy the property at the end of March 2019. It is a prime location directly adjacent to Marywood’s campus on Adams Avenue, including the facility and 10 acres of land. Known as the Maloney Home before becoming Holy Family Residence in 1976, the property was granted to the Little Sisters more than 100 years ago, preceding Marywood’s founding in 1915.

Marywood has selected The Liberty Group as the full-time facility operator for Marywood Heights, which will remain a Catholic facility. This aspect was important to the current residents and staff, to the Little Sisters, and to the Marywood community. Sister Mary noted that retaining the facility’s Catholic identity also fulfills a broader need in the region for a faith-based care and living community.

There is room on the property for the operator to expand the facilities to include independent care, personal care, assisted living, skilled care, memory care, and hospice care, providing even more options for residents as well as clinical training and service opportunities for students from multiple disciplines.

FNCB Raises Money for Dunmore Historical Society

Posted on January 8, 2020 by The Dunmorean

FNCB fundraiser

FNCB Bank, locally-based for 110 years, recently presented a check for $480.70 to the Dunmore Historical Society raised through a bank wide “Jeans for a Cause” dress down day. The Dunmore Historical Society’s mission is to collect, preserve, and interpret the artifacts, archives, and bibliographic materials of the history of the Borough of Dunmore.

FNCB’s monthly fundraising effort encourages employees to make small donations in exchange for the opportunity to wear jeans to work. All employee donations are matched dollar for dollar by the bank.

Since launching the Jeans for a Cause program, FNCB employees have raised $55,144 for local non-profit organizations.

Shown from left are: Jerry Champi, FNCB Bank president and CEO; Michael Williams, president, Dunmore Historical Society; and Dan Schreffler, treasurer, Dunmore Historical Society.