Crusader Classic planned for June 11th

Posted on June 7, 2023 by The Dunmorean

The Crusader Classic, a fundraiser for Holy Cross High School’s Track & Field and Cross Country teams, will be held on Sunday, June 11, with registration from 7:30 a.m. to 8:15 a.m. and the race start at 8:30 a.m. Cost is $25. The 5K Out and Back Course will start and finish at Holy Cross High School, with running through the Dunmore/Swinick neighbors and around Sherwood Park.

Medals will be awarded to all finishers and each participant will receive a race tee shirt. Proceeds will be used to purchase much needed equipment and uniforms for the teams. In addition, your generosity will help offset the high cost of the Track & Field and Cross Country programs.

Please know your donation is very much appreciated. Go to https://runsignup.com/Race/PA/Scranton/HolyCrossCrusaderClassic5k to register.

Dunmorean receives award at Tobyhanna Army Depot

Posted on June 7, 2023 by The Dunmorean

Tobyhanna Depot Commander Colonel Daniel L. Horn and Deputy Commander Rob Lantka present the Employee of the Quarter, Junior Category award to accountant Ariana Katchur of Dunmore. (Photo by Ryan Beilman)

Tobyhanna Army Depot (TYAD) recognized two stellar employees in May, honoring them as the newest Employees of the Quarter (EoQs).

Ariana Katchur of Dunmore who is in the Resource Management Directorate was named EoQ for the Junior category, while Janet Warnick of the Installation Services Directorate was named EoQ for the Senior category for Katchur is an Accountant for TYAD’S Financial Analysis Division in the Directorate of Resource Management.

Working as a TYAD accountant requires a meticulous attention to detail, a commitment to best practices, and a steadfast dedication to the mission of the organization.

In nominating Katchur for this honor, Chief of the Financial Analysis Division Andrea Vozzi said Katchur, combines the aforementioned qualities with an inquisitive and determined work ethic to excel as an accountant.

“Ariana always acts with fiduciary responsibility at the forefront. Despite being the newest member of the accounting team, she is not afraid to ask questions to expand her knowledge and understanding. Additionally, she is not afraid to bring her concerns to the surface, prompting conversations which improve TYAD processes,” said Vozzi.

One instance of Katchur’s attention to detail was her investigation of unmatched Transportation Account Codes (TACs). Vozzi said Katchur successfully resolved 20 rejected freight shipping invoices totaling $200K which had been in suspense. In addition, Katchur is currently developing a local regulation regarding TACs to provide clear guidance.

Vozzi said this instance is a microcosm of Katchur’s work ethic and altruistic approach to her work.

“Ariana is a model of selfless service within the organization. She continually performs extensive research and asks detailed questions to ensure that TYAD processes are audit-worthy and improve efficiency without ever thinking about whether she will be recognized for her efforts. The driving force behind her actions is always upholding her fiduciary responsibility to TYAD and all stakeholders, from customers to warfighters to taxpayers,” said Vozzi.

Katchur was humbled to be recognized in this way, saying the recognition reinforces the idea that her work is recognized by her fellow members of Team Tobyhanna.

“I am truly honored and humbled to be named Employee of the Quarter. It came as a complete surprise when my name was announced. Like most, I come into work and try my absolute best every day, not thinking anything of it. Being named Employee of the Quarter is an honor and shows that people throughout the depot and at all levels see and appreciate the work I do each and every day,” said Katchur.

Katchur enjoys her role because her work enables TYAD to best support our warfighters.

“Through monitoring our financials every day, I can catch discrepancies and work with other directorates to get them fixed so that the decision makers have an accurate picture of how TYAD is functioning overall. This is essential, as it affects every part of keeping TYAD in business so we can accomplish our most important mission of supporting the warfighter,” she said.

While recognition is nice, Katchur said the best part of working at TYAD is the ability to help her fellow team members and come together to accomplish tasks.

“A major part of my job involves working with other directorates and areas to solve issues or brainstorm the best way to approach a situation. I truly enjoy when my expertise in certain areas can help make another person’s job that much easier and I’m happy to help anytime I can!”

Recognition of outstanding employee performance across the enterprise through the Employee of the Quarter program directly aligns with Tobyhanna’s long-range strategic plan, TOBY2035, and specifically the Invest in Our People line of effort.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is a recognized leader in providing world-class logistics support for command, control, communications, computers, cyber, intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance (C5ISR) systems across the Department of Defense. Tobyhanna’s unparalleled capabilities include full-spectrum logistics support for sustainment, overhaul and repair, fabrication and manufacturing, engineering design and development, systems integration, post production software support, technology insertion, modification, foreign military sales and global field support to our joint warfighters.

About 3,100 personnel are employed at Tobyhanna, which is located in the Pocono Mountains of northeastern Pennsylvania. Tobyhanna Army Depot is part of the U.S. Army Communications-Electronics Command. Headquartered at Aberdeen Proving Ground, Maryland, the command’s mission is to empower the Soldier with winning C5ISR capabilities.

Doin’ Dunmore: Bucktown Music Fest announces summer concert series

Posted on June 7, 2023 by The Dunmorean

By Steve Svetovich

The 2023 Bucktown Music Fest is gearing up to kick off another summer of free musical entertainment on the streets of Dunmore from June through September.

Dunmore’s Tom Hallinan and Brian McGurl are once again co-chairpersons for the summer event.

This year the series will feature nine concerts with 15 different bands performing.

In addition to seven of the free concerts held at Dunmore Corners, two of the free shows will be held at different sites: the 500 block of Chestnut Street near the Roosevelt Beer Garden, and the 100 block of West Grove Street near The Bar at The Patch.

Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax along with Cullen, Bordo and Ambrosia get things started Sunday, June 18, at 5 p.m., at Dunmore Corners.

The Bucktown Music Fest is pleased to welcome the always popular 12-piece Daddy-O who bring its high energy show to the streets of Dunmore. Dunmore’s Nick Costanzo will be on drums. Dunmore’s Sal Scrimalli, Daddy-O himself, will be on keyboards. Jim Cullen, Jack Bordo and Sharon Ambrosia will start the evening off with bluegrass, The Beatles and more.

Sunday, July 2. will feature Dashboard Mary along with Friend of the Gypsy on Drinker Street. Rob Roman and Joe DelRosso started Dashboard Mary back in the 1990’s. Friend of the Gypsy features music of the 1960’s and 1970’s, including The Grateful Dead, Tom Petty, and Bob Dylan. Bring your tie dyed t-shirts. The crowd will be rockin’.

Two Dunmore bands, QBall and East Coast, take to the showmobile stage at Dunmore corners Saturday, July 22, at 5 p.m.

The “Q” in Ball is Dunmore resident John Quinn who along with Brian McGurl bring their busy quartet home to rock. Started by Dunmore’s Chuck Scrimalli, East Coast had a long heyday in the 1970’s and 1980’s and was later joined by the great Dunmore drummer and singer Phil Rossi and then by keyboard player/vocalist Brian McGurl.

The Wannabes will bring their music and merriment to Dunmore Corners Sunday, July 9, at 5 p.m. The Wannabes will play numerous fan favorites from their extensive list. The Wannabes always aim to please their big following of fans. Ron Pascoe and Fran Festa make sure of that.

Saturday, July 29, marks the first time the Dunmore Music Fest moves away from the Corners. The 500 block of Chestnut Street near the Roosevelt Beer Garden will be the site of Past Our Prime and Two Minute Warning. Past Our Prime includes Dunmore’s Joe Pappa, Phebe Beckage and Tom Boylan and features Sean Loughney and Lenny Carlucci. The Roosey will be rockin’ outside.

Sunday, Aug. 6, at 5 p.m. the Music Fest returns to Dunmore Corners. Mike Kwaitek with Strangers is a long time Dunmore favorite who will sing Elton John and Billy Joel hits, among others. Strangers features Dunmore’s P.J. Stoko on bass guitar playing The Ramones to The Stones and everything in between.

Picture Perfect will bring their 11-piece band to Dunmore Corners Sunday, Aug. 29, at 5 p.m. This popular wedding show and party band have been pleasing audiences for many years. The Music Fest is happy to welcome them to Dunmore.

The Music Fest will move to The Patch Saturday, Sept. 2. Corner Pocket Blues and Rattlin’ Bones will perform. The Labor Day weekend show will take place at the 100 block of West Grove Street near The Bar at The Patch. Corner Pocket Blues features Dunmore natives Danny Cox on guitar, Jim Kernan on bass, Joe Pannick on drums and Jack Garvey on sax. Rattlin’ Bones opens up with Dunmore’s Joe Ferguson on acoustic guitar and vocals.

The finale for the 2023 Bucktown Music Fest, Shindig/Dunmore’s Got Talent, is set for Saturday, Sept. 9, at 5 p.m., at Dunmore Corners. The finale brings more great Dunmore talent to the snowmobile stage, plus more performances from many of the Dunmore musicians who performed over the summer.

McGurl said he expects many of the popular performers over the past few years to return. This includes many who performed at original Shindig shows at Dunmore High School back in the 1970’s. He also has some new faces and voices lined up to perform. All are backed up by the Bucktown Music Fest house band.

Any Dunmore musicians interested in performing can contact McGurl by email at: mcgurlb@gmail.com. He can also be reached via private message on Facebook.

“We will work with you to rehearse the numbers and give the audience a great show,” he said.

Hallinan said the Bucktown Music Fest is registered as non-profit. “We are asking for donations to offset the costs of putting together the concert series,” he said. “We thank all of the businesses and individuals who generously donated so far. Every penny we get goes to bring these free concerts to the people of Dunmore.”

The top sponsors are the Lackawanna County Commissioners, Lehigh Valley Hospital in Dickson City, Atlas Landscaping Company, and the DeNaples family of Dunmore.

“We are really looking to a great music filled summer season as Dunmore corners comes alive,” said Hallinan. “The event does not happen without the support of our Dunmore business community.”

McGurl can’t wait for the third annual event. “We are very excited to have 15 bands playing at nine free concerts for the people of Dunmore throughout the summer. The Shindig Dunmore’s Got Talent finale will be bigger than ever. The summer of 2023 will have lots of music in Bucktown. Anyone who wants to sing or perform can e mail or message me on Facebook.”