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Calendar of Events: Aug. 2016

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Breastfeeding Week

Moses Taylor Hospital will participate World Breastfeeding Week which runs Aug. 1-7 by hosting events that promote and support breastfeeding. Activities are planned throughout the week and the public is invited to attend.

Scheduled events include:

  • Aug. 1: A presentation of “Milk” at the Regal Dickson City Stadium 14 & IMAX at 7:30 pm.
  • Aug. 2: A support group will meet on the Lackawanna County Courthouse lawn for a picnic to show solidarity and to bring awareness. Participants are asked to pack a lunch and meet in front of the water fountain.
  • Aug. 3: Lackawanna Recycling will present information related to “Saving the Earth” through breastfeeding from 5-7 pm in the 2 West conference center at Moses Taylor Hospital.
  • Aug. 5: A Breastfeeding Week Fair will be held in the 2 West conference center at Moses Taylor Hospital from 9 am–3 pm. Children’s activities and informational booths will be available.

For more information on these events, call Sarah Glenn, international board-certified lactation consultant at Moses Taylor Hospital at 570-770-5518.

Marywood Transfer Days

marywoodMarywood University will conduct on-campus Transfer Day programs for college students or former college students considering transferring to Marywood University. In a single visit on Wednesday, Aug. 3, and Tuesday, Aug. 16, between 2-6 p.m., visitors can complete an application for admission, discuss financial aid and scholarship options, and transfer credits. Transfer Day will be held at the Office of University Admissions in the Liberal Arts Center, on the University’s campus. Fall semester classes begin on Wednesday, Aug. 24. For more information,  call Marywood’s Office of University Admissions, at (570) 348-6234, or visit www.marywood.edu/admissions.

Wine in the Woods

Tickets are on sale now for a Wine in the Woods Event on Saturday, Aug. 6. The wine-tasting event will be held at the Elmhurst Roaring Brook Volunteer Fire Company Picnic Grounds from 3 to 8 p.m. Advance ticket price is $15 and day of the event is $20. Designated driver tickets are $5.  Everyone attending must be at least 21 years of age. There will be lite fare for purchase, live entertainment, and a bonfire.

Dunmore’s Angel Night

lanternThe Dunmore community will host “Dunmore’s Angel Night” on Friday, Aug. 12. This event took place last year and was known as “Lanterns for the Lost Princess.”

This paper lantern memorial fundraiser will support the #KelceyStrong and Carissa Dartt scholarship funds. Each lantern costs $5.00 and can be purchased from the Dartt and/or Hallinan families.

On Aug. 12th, all of the lanterns will be sent up into the night sky in memory of Kelcey Hallinan, Carissa Dartt and all of Dunmore’s lost angels.

Gathering places include Dunmore High School and Sherwood Park, but you are welcome to light a lantern from wherever you are.

Parish Italian Festival

Ss. Anthony & Rocco Parish Italian Festival will be held Aug. 12, 13, and 14 at  at St. Rocco’s Church Grounds, 122 Kurtz St., Dunmore, featuring food, games and live entertainment. The festival opens Friday and Saturday at 5:30 p.m. and on Sunday following the Noon Mass and Procession.

Live Entertainment includes, Friday: DHS Marching Units & Cheerleaders and Picture Perfect; Saturday: The Jeffrey James Band; Sunday: Feast Day Mass & Procession at Noon followed by The Luongo Brothers Band, Take Three, and fireworks at 9 p.m.

DHS Class of 1971 Reunionbucks

Dunmore High School Class of 1971 will host its 45th class reunion on Aug. 13 at La Buona Vita, Dunmore. Committee members include Madelyn Muffullo Smith, Mary Ann Occulto Coviello, Beverly Tur Koval, Archie Parker, Jimmy Boccardo, Suzanne Flynn Santarsiero, Cathy Errico Mazur, and Gary Smith. For information, contact Mary Ann Occulto Coviello at (570) 344-3737.

Sacred Heart of Jesus Flea Market

Sacred Heart of Jesus Parish, Peckville, will be holding its annual Summer Flea & Food Fest on August 13-15 in the air-conditioned parish auditorium.  Please come and enjoy the treasure hunt along with delicious homemade ethnic foods from the concession stand. Hours are  Saturday, 8am-6pm; Sunday and Monday, 8am-4pm.  A take-out pasta & meatball dinner will be served on Sunday from 11am to 3pm. Tickets are $10, purchased in advance only, by phone or visiting the parish office: 1101 Willow Street, Peckville, 570-383-3244 ext. 2.This fundraiser will also benefit other local charitable non-profit organizations.

Dunmore Summer Festival

SYAThe Sherwood Youth Association will sponsor the annual Dunmore Summer Festival at Sherwood Park in Dunmore. The event will be held from 5-11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday (August 18-19) and from 4-11 p.m. Saturday (August 20). 

This year’s bands, the Fabulous Fortunes, Picture Perfect and Blush, will take the stage at 7 p.m. each evening. Food selections will include everything from pizza fritta to pasta fagiole. Count on a night filled with great entertainment and music for the whole family!

“To Kill a Mockingbird” Auditions

Marywood University’s music, theatre, and dance department will hold auditions for its fall production of “To Kill a Mockingbird” at the Black Box Theatre, located in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts, on Friday, Aug. 26, from 6:30 – 10:30 p.m., and Saturday, Aug. 27, 2016, from 1-5 p.m. Auditions are open to the public. The performance for “To Kill a Mockingbird” will take place in the Black Box Theatre, in the Sette LaVerghetta Center for Performing Arts on Friday, Oct. 7, and Saturday, Oct. 8, at 7:30 p.m. For additional information, please contact Charles Gorden, M.F.A., associate professor and theatre program director at Marywood University, at (570) 961-4517, or email gorden@marywood.edu.

Northeast Music Center Guitar Raffle

gp001_logo_5colorNortheast Music Center Inc., Dickson City, a nationally known retailer for electric and acoustic guitars as well as other musical instruments, will raffle off a $4,200 USA made Carlos Santana model guitar in cooperation with Paul Reed Smith Guitar in Maryland. 

The guitar is signed by Santana. Tickets are $10 each or 12 for $100 and can be purchased online through Friday, Sept. 9. The drawing will be held Saturday, Sept. 10.

All proceeds will benefit the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, South Abington Township. The guitar has been hand-signed by Santana.

Questions can be sent to Jack Gretz at (570) 909-9216 or jgretz@nemusiccenter.com

Flapjack Fundraiser

The Keystone Chapter UNICO will conduct an Applebee’s Flapjack Fundraiser with “Equines For Freedom” being the primary beneficiary on Saturday, Sept. 10, from 8-10 a.m. at Applebee’s at the Viewmont Mall.  “Equines for Freedom” is located at Marley’s Mission and offers horse therapy for veterans who suffer from post traumatic stress disease.  Tickets are $7 for adults and $4 for children and  can be purchased by contacting Frank or Mary Ann Coviello at 570-344-3737 or any Keystone UNICO member.  

Rummage Sale in Olyphant

Parishioners of Ss. Cyril and Methodius Ukrainian Catholic Church, Olyphant, met recently to plan the sixth annual rummage sale for September 23, 24 and 25 at St. Cyril’s Grade School, 133 River St., Olyphant. Contact Laurel Telep at (570) 383-0319 regarding raffle prizes or donations. Rev. Nestor Isawiw is pastor.

Marywood University Research Project

Marywood University’s Human Physiology Lab is looking for participants in a research study to determine the effects of chlorgenic acid (a component of green coffee beans) and guayusa (a plant-based tea extract) on blood sugar levels. For details and to see if you qualify to participate, contact Deanne Garver, Ph.D., assistant professor of chemistry at Marywood University, at 570.348.6211, ext. 2564, or email dgarver@marywood.edu, or contact Kathy Uhranowsky, R.N., Human Physiology Lab manager, at 570.340.6069, or email kuhranowsky@marywood.edu.

 

Scranton Cultural Center to host raffle fundraiser

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The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple is pleased to announce its first ever 100 for $100 Raffle, a fundraising effort spearheaded by the organization’s Fund Development Committee.  Raffle tickets are for sale at a cost of $100 for a chance to win cash prizes of up to $10,000 and a number of other prizes including event tickets, merchandise and gift certificates all valued at a minimum of $100 each.  There will be 100 prizes in total.  Tickets will remain on sale through September or until all tickets are sold; only 1,000 tickets will be available for purchase.  Prizes will be awarded at an Oktoberfest themed drawing party to be held at the SCC on October 7.

“We are so excited about this raffle, which will help raise much needed funds for the Center,” says Deborah Moran Peterson, SCC Executive Director, “and we hope to generate some excitement in the community with 100 very happy winners!”

1682124369_2819f7bcdbMrs. Peterson also wishes to extend thanks on behalf of the Center’s Board of Directors to the event co-chairpersons: Anne Falzett, Nada Gilmartin and John Murray.

Proceeds from the raffle will benefit the ongoing operations, restoration and programming at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple.  Cash prizes awarded will be $10,000, $5,000 and $2,500.  A full list of additional raffle items is available on the Scranton Cultural Center website and will be updated as new prizes are received.  Details regarding the drawing party on Oct. 7 will be posted as the event nears.

Tickets are $100 and include entry into the raffle as well as admission for one to the drawing party in October.  Additional tickets for the drawing party will be available for $35.  Tickets may be purchased through a committee member or at the SCC’s Fidelity Bank Box Office.

For additional information or to purchase tickets, contact John Murray at (570) 650-1303.  A full list of prizes can be found by visiting the SCC’s website, http://www.sccmt.org.

The Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple’s 2015-16 Season is presented by Toyota Scranton and sponsored by LT Verrastro, UGI and id Group.  It is supported by: the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, and the Lackawanna County Office of Arts and Culture, and Commissioners Patrick M. O’Malley, Jerry Notarianni and Laureen A. Cummings.  A special thank you to its media partners:  Allied Services, Citizens’ Voice, Electric City, Entercom Communications, Lamar Advertising, MAC Signs, The Times-Tribune, Times Shamrock Communications and Eyewitness News – WBRE/WYOU – pahomepage.com

 

Dempsey’s Fashionable Laundry bounces back after fire

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Dempsey photo

Bobby Dempsey, a fourth generation member of the laundry and dry cleaning family business, has described the horrific fire at the building last year, and the efforts to begin anew within the Dunmore community.

This community is defined by the families who live and work in it. For decades, the Dempsey family has been a large part of the community fabric of Dunmore. Some are doctors, some are lawyers, many are teachers, but perhaps the most recognizable aspect of the Dempsey family is know for something else: Laundry and dry cleaning.

In 1960, Thomas A. Dempsey left Mother’s Laundry on Blakely Street in Dunmore, and moved a few blocks north to build Fashionable Laundry. For many years, Dempsey’s Fashionable Laundry has provided laundry and dry cleaning services to thousands of people and hundreds of businesses in and around Northeast Pennsylvania. Now, in its fourth generation of ownership, the business continues to serve its community in a unique way.

Tom and Jack Dempsey took over the operation from their grandfather, and now work alongside Bobby Dempsey, Jack’s son, who represents the family’s fourth generation.

“It’s important to us. We take pride in our business, and try to convey that to our customers,” Bobby says. “We try to create an atmosphere in our storefront of family. We love to see customers interacting with each other while picking up their dry cleaning.

“Doing laundry and dry cleaning isn’t glamorous work,” young Dempsey notes. “It’s hard, it’s hot, and it takes a certain type of work ethic that we have followed our whole lives.  We feel that iIf you get up early every day, and go to work, you’re ahead of the game”, and good things often find you.”

On a cold night in November of 2015, Bobby Dempsey was awoken to some of the worst news he could have ever imagined. A terrible fire struck the family business, and the damage was catastrophic. “I remember the knock on the door at 3 a.m., I remember putting my shoes on and saying to my wife, Jennifer,’ I am about to have the worst night of my life.’

“My first concern was for my customers. I wondered how would we be able to continue to serve them while we rebuilt the plant,”

The answer to that question came in the form of family. PJ and Kristen Dempsey, the owners of Dempsey Uniform and Linen Supply and Bobby’s cousins, called to find out how they could help. “We asked if they would be willing to do some work for us while we rebuilt. We operated our business out of their plant in Jessup for almost 5 months.

“If it werent for PJ and Kristen opening up their doors to us during this difficult time, who knows what we would have done?  I’m gratetful I don’t have to think about that.”

Full of gratitude, Bobby also says, “We also owe a great deal to the Dunmore police and fire departments. Without their diligent work, this building might not be standing here today. I can recall pulling in on Thanksgiving morning and the police department had parked a cruiser in our parking lot. I recall the countless texts, emails, and phone calls from hundreds of people in the community. I remember thinking ‘Wow, this is a special place we live in.’”

While working at Dempsey Uniform, it was not uncommon for a dozen Dempsey cousins and friends to be there working side by side with the Fashionable staff.

“Our extended family really rose to the challenge,” explains Bobby. “We have an extremely tight- knit family, and they were there every night folding towels and feeding sheets and pillow cases. When one of us was down, we rallied behind them.”

Billy Nicholas from Spotless Cleaners also lent a helpful hand. “Billy was one of the first people here that next morning to see what he could do to help,” Bobby points out. “They processed our shirts for several months until we got over the hump, and kept our dry cleaning customers rolling. It’s unusual for a competitor to help out, but he didn’t hesitate, and we won’t forget his generosity. ”

The Mazza family in Carbondale also stepped in to ease some of the burden placed on the business. “The Mazza family are proud, loyal people, and we are grateful for all of their help,” Dempsey adds.

Since the fire, Fashionable Laundry has virtually overhauled their entire plant, which processes roughly 4 million pounds of laundry annually. “We had to replace everything. From washing and drying equipment to paper clips and everything in between. Tom, Dad, and I worked seven days a week, 10 hour days, to make sure we were able to put this place back together,” says Dempsey.

“There were times when I didn’t see my children for days at a time. It was certainly a grueling several months, but that hard work and dedication that I talked about showed up again. I kept saying to myself, just keep grinding. It will all work out. Today, the plant is back up in full operation.”

The Dempseys managed to retain all of their industrial laundry customers and most all of their nearly 4,000 dry cleaning customers. “Our customers’ loyalty means the world to us. They could have easily found another plant to do their work or clean their clothing, but they decided to stick with us, and that loyalty is deeply appreciated,” Bobby says.

Through a combination of hard work, community support, and of course a little luck, the Dempsey family was able to overcome a tragedy that may have shattered another business. Looking back on the last several months they have realized a few things: “There is nothing more important in life than family. When the chips are down, you realize who cares, and who is willing to go to bat for you.

“We live in an phenomenal community filled with people who are eager to give of themselves. Finally, it’s important every once in a while to take a step back from your daily routine, and smell the roses. Time flies, and you have to keep an eye on what’s really important.”