Tim Mangan and Brian McAndrew are shown wishing the Dunmore Bucks much success this football season from the Jersey Shore. They borrowed the beach towel from Tim’s wife, Carolyn, a teacher at Dunmore High School.
By Steve Svetovich
Stephanie Longo is a positive person by nature. So it is easy to see why she is excited about her new position as director of marketing and communications for the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.
Daughter of Ann Marie Longo, Dunmore, Stephanie, 312 William St., Dunmore, said she looks forward to her new position. “I am very excited about it,” she said. “I have always been a proponent of anything that brings a better view of Lackawanna County to the general area and to the world at large. I hope to use my talents to support the area I love.”
Stephanie, 34, and a 1999 Bishop O’Hara High School graduate, will be responsible for the management of the Chamber and its affiliates’ brands in the Greater Scranton community, including helping to generate positive media coverage for the Chamber and its affiliates, helping to grow its online presence and strategize, deploy and manage all facets of communication for its affiliates.
“I am very happy to be a part of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce,” she said. “Having grown up in the area, it is thrilling to see all that the Chamber has contributed to the local business landscape.
“I look forward to helping promote the Chamber’s initiatives and projects so that the community at large learns about all we are doing for the region.
“There are so many things the Chamber does that people are not aware of. The Chamber has a lot of affiliates who do a lot to support the community. There is a great benefit to your membership.”
Stephanie’s late grandfather, Joe Longo, was a well known barber on Chestnut Street in Dunmore. Her mom operated a beauty shop close by. “I never knew my grandfather, but heard so much about him. He is my hero.”
Stephanie has a broad background in journalism. She has a B.A. in Italian and French from the University of Scranton. She earned an M.A. in history from the University of Scranton and an M.A. in journalism from Regent University.
She is author of “The Italians of Northeastern Pennsylvania” and “The Italians of Dunmore.” Both are published by Arcadia Publishing. An award-winning journalist, she previously served as editor for the Abington Suburban and for The Villager newspapers. She was a correspondent for Go Lackawanna.
Stephanie will also be co-hosting “The Menu” at the Scranton Cultural Center.
“I love being a part of the Dunmore community and being a part of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. The Chamber cares so much about the area. There is great passion from everyone who works here. You can feel it. The Chamber has given me a chance to spread my wings. And the Dunmore community is the best. It is a wonderful place to live.”
The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce serves Lackawanna County and surrounding areas. The Chamber’s mission is to attract,sustain and grow businesses and jobs in the region.
And with her attitude of always looking at the bottle as half full, Stephanie Longo is bringing her positive exuberance to the job.
By Steve Svetovich
Committee members will meet at 6 p.m. on Thursday, Oct. 22, at Calabria’s, located on Drinker St. in Dunmore, to discuss reunion plans. The reunion will be held May 29 at the Waldorf Park Tiki Bar, 13 Waldorf Lane, Scranton. The time is to be announced.
Ann Lacertoso Berardelli, a committee member, said class members are excited. Other committee members of the 1976 bicentennial class include William (Babe) McAndrew, Betty Buck, Patty Rafalko, Jamie Decker, Patti Manci, Diane Genett, Paula Kernan, Mary Ferguson, Sherry Rubino, Rose Ann McDonough, Renee Ragnacci, Leo Woelkers and Mary Burke.
The veteran Jack Henzes, still the football coach, led the football team 40 years ago to the Big 11 Northern Division title before the team, known as the Crimson Tide then, lost to the Shamokin Indians, 33-19. Cory Meade, class of 1976, was Athlete of the Year, Player of the Year and All-State at defensive back on the football team. Victor Fangio, currently the Chicago Bears defensive coordinator, a member of the class of 1976, was on that Dunmore Crimson Tide football team.
The Dunmore basketball team in 1976 was coached by the popular Canio Cianci. That team finished number two in District 2, Class AA. And that included a stunning upset in the final seconds over Hanover Area in the District 2 playoffs. Michael Reilly was selected All Regional for basketball.
Samuel Incavido coached the golf team to a District 2 title. The track team finished 6-1.
Girls’ softball, coached by Louis Cali, was added for the first time. The team played to a surprising .600 won-loss percentage in its initial season. The sport has thrived since.
Lanny Masucci coached the baseball team to an 8-8 record. Baseball team members included Fangio, Anthony Duchnowski, Gerard Dempsey, Anthony Lacertoso, A.J. Sabatelle, Frank Capoccia, Robert Chylak and Joe Marrazzo.
The Dunmore class president in 1976 was Michael Sandone. A.J. Sabatelle was class vice president. Cindy Carter was recording secretary. Colleen Burke was treasurer. Ellen Miller was financial secretary. Sharon Rubino was Miss Buck.
The school principal was Eugenia DeFazio. Joseph McDonald was vice principal.
The Saint Patrick’s Day Parade in 1976 featured a Dunmore High School bicentennial float designed and created by Dunmore band members. The Dunmore High School band of 1976 received three trophies for excellence. There will be a float and flat-bed truck in this year’s Saint Patrick’s Day parade for the Dunmore class of 1976. Class members will be aboard.
The Dunmore prom was held at the Treadway Inn, Wilkes-Barre, May 27, 1976. The theme was “Never Say Goodbye.” The class trip was at Niagara Falls. The Dunmore Class of 1976 graduated 228 seniors June 2, 1976.
Ann Lacertoso Berardelli reflected on how times have changed in 40 years for high school students.
“I think we had more hands on fun,” she said. “Obviously,, there was no Facebook, cell phones, internet, or texting.”
“There were more dances. Dunmore had a dance every Friday night. Bishop O’Hara had a dance every Sunday night. We had motorcades before football games. We played in the Big 11 and there were cross town rivals. We played Scranton Central, Tech, West, Valley View, Mid Valley, and so on.”
“We had a different kind of fun. We all walked to school. We hung out in bunches at Cali’s and Carroll’s at Dunmore corners.”
“The kids today have internet and cell phones, but we just had more functions, dances, the Big 11, riding around the towns in a motorcade. It was a lot of hands on fun. Those really were the days.”