Category Archives: May 2024

Mayor’s Message: May 2024

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By Mayor Max Conway 

I’m convinced that if you traveled the country, you wouldn’t find a community as tight-knit as Dunmore. If you were at the Dunmore Community Center on Saturday, April 20th, you’d see why.

For the past 10 years, the annual Jog for Jude event has brought many people together to raise awareness and funds for S.I.D.S. (Sudden Infant Death Syndrome) research. The event honors Jude Zayac, who tragically passed away in July 2014.

Jog for Jude is a shining example of the Dunmore community rallying around one of our own and turning an unimaginable tragedy into an opportunity to inspire hope in all of us.

All photos courtesy of Liza Gillette Photography and used with permission.

Dunmorean of the Month: Fr. David Cappelloni

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By Steve Svetovich

Father David Cappelloni–pastor of SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish, and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, both in Dunmore–was raised by devout Italian parents. Going to Mass for the early 8 a.m. service was always a part of his family’s weekly Sunday tradition. There were six children, five of them boys, in the family.

Their local pastor at the time, Msgr Anthony Marra, would often ask Father Cappelloni’s mom if her sons could help in the parish. The annual pasta dinner would serve over 5,000 people. Homemade pasta, meatballs, bread, cannoli and drinks were served. Most of the women in the parish did the cooking.

And Msgr. Marra, who came often to the family home to play cards at night, inspired Father Cappelloni to enter the priesthood.

Msgr. Marra took him to visit St. Pius X Seminary in the diocese one day. Young David was captivated by it and later made the decision to enter the priesthood. But he first took a job in New York City working in a department store after his senior year in college. Then his calling came as he decided to go back to the seminary and become a priest.

Father Cappelloni has been pastor of Sts. Anthony and Rocco Parish, 303 Smith St., Dunmore, since 2007. He has been pastor of Our Lady of Mount Carmel Parish, 322 Chestnut St., Dunmore, since June 2023. He is also in charge of St. Mary’s and Our Lady of Mount Carmel Cemetery.

Father Cappelloni is Dean to the Deanery covering many parishes in the area. It covers parishes from Olyphant to Moscow. Father Cappelloni said he feels his best accomplishment is celebrating the Mass and Eucharist and experiencing the Body of Christ.

He is also responsible for many of the buildings owned by the three parishes. He is also chairman of many of the parishes’ societies and committees. He serves as the religious representative for the Dunmore Bucks football team. He has led the team in prayer before every game for the past 17 years.

Father Cappelloni received a bachelor of science degree in Human Services from the University of Scranton in 1981 and he also earned a master of science  in Psychology from Marywood University. He was ordained into the priesthood in 1986 after receiving a Master in Divinity from Mary Immaculate Seminary in Northampton, PA.

“My ongoing goal is to bring both of these Dunmore parishes together into the community,” he said. “I want to bring them together and work together as one community of parishes in Dunmore. I want to see them come together as a church. It’s a great way to build and unify the community. We have a great spirit between the two churches and it’s very positive.”

Known for his love of Italian cooking, he is the pastor for the annual Sts. Anthony and Rocco Festival held each August in the Bunker Hill section of Dunmore. The festival features a wide variety of ethnic foods dating back to over a century.

Father Cappelloni said the annual Sts. Anthony and Rocco Festival will be held on the parish grounds August 9-10-11.

“It really brings the people together,” he said. “It’s a great way to build and unify the community.

“It’s a festival where we all come together in a different way. We have over 100 volunteers helping each night. It is truly a community event.”

DEC girls build confidence and friendships through running

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Members of the DEC’s Girls on the Run team shown in the school gym. (Courtesy: Emily Coleman)

“Girls on the Run” is a national nonprofit with the goal of inspiring young girls to be healthy, joyful and confident. Dunmorean Online Editor Emily Gerchman recently spoke with Emily Coleman, a coach for the Dunmore Elementary Center’s “Girls on the Run” team to learn how the program is impacting girls in our community.

Emily Gerchman: Tell me about the DEC chapter of “Girls on the Run.” How long has it been going on and who’s involved?

Emily Coleman: “Girls on the Run” has been offered at the Dunmore Elementary Center several times over the past couple of years. Jaime Coleman, Linda Valvano, Bridget Robinson and I wanted to keep it going this year, so we reached out to district officials and became certified Girls on the Run coaches. Along with the four of us, we have several other moms and teachers who help us run the program: Sara Amendolaro, Jen Dempsey, Caroline Gentile, Bobbi Hughes, Melissa Loughney, Katie McKenna, Kristina Petrauskas, Kathy Scanlon, and Laura Shultz. 

EG: What made you want to get involved in this program and become a coach?

EC: I had heard so many wonderful stories about “Girls on the Run” and the curriculum that goes along with it. I knew that I wanted to share my love of running while incorporating mind and body positivity activities with my daughter Maddy and the other girls at the DEC. GotR is so much more than just running.

EG: The girls have been working towards running a 5K, right?. How has that been going?

EC: The girls have come so far in their running since we first started meeting on March 7. They stay after school two times a week for an hour and a half. Our end goal is to complete a non-competitive 5k by running, jogging, walking, and even skipping across the finish line. [That] is going to give the girls a sense of accomplishment and confidence because they have set this goal and will achieve it on May 18. 

EG: What does “Girls on the Run” offer young girls in the borough? What do you hope the kids involved get out of it?

EC: Dunmore’s Girls on the Run offers girls in grades 3-5 the opportunity to participate in a 10 week program that culminates with a celebratory 5K. Each girl gets to choose a running buddy who is over the age of 16 to run with them during the 5K. 

The girls also create a community impact project in which they come together as a group and think about how best they can help in the community. My biggest hope for all of the girls who participate in Girls on the Run is that they realize being active whether it is running or just playing outside makes you feel so much better.  

EG: What’s your favorite part about being involved in Girls on the Run?

EC: My favorite part of Girls on the Run is seeing 43 girls laughing and having fun while being active. I hope that they take as much as they can from the lessons and realize how strong they are and how confident they can be. 

EG: What would you say to a student who might want to join the program and become “a girl on the run?”

EC: I would tell them that this program is so much more than just running! As “Girls on the Run” says: The 5K is “Your K, do it your way!” There is no pressure to run the 3.1 miles – the goal is to finish it however feels best for you. We help them find their “happy pace” and encourage them to stick with it and to just be proud of what they can do. 

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You can learn more about the program and what it means to be a “girl on the run” by visiting https://www.gotrlehighpocono.org/.