Tag Archives: Dunmore Summer Festival

Calendar of Events: Aug. 2016

Posted on by
Reply

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.

 

Sherwood Park Makes a Splash

Posted on by
Reply

By Emily Fedor

This slideshow requires JavaScript.

Everyone deals with grief differently, but three Dunmore families that each faced a loss of their own chose to turn their grief into something positive and honor their loved ones in a very special way.

The Zayac family lost their “Sweet Baby Jude” in 2014 as the result of SIDS—Sudden Infant Death Syndrome. Mark and Diane Michalczyk’s son Ryan passed away in his sleep in 2009. And Dorothy French Conway lost her long and bravely fought 11-year battle with ovarian cancer in 2011.

Carol Conway, Dorothy’s mother-in-law, said that at the end of Dorothy’s life, she wanted a play area where children could gather and enjoy summertime fun to be constructed.

“She was such a wonderful mother and educator…and she loved children,” said Conway. “She just felt that establishing something would give them a focus. They needed to know that they were important. She was the most selfless person.”

With similar hopes of finding a way to give back to the community and memorialize their own loved ones, the Zayacs and the Michalczyks appeared to be the perfect partners to make that dream a reality.

***

Years ago, Sherwood Park was home to a small wading pool, an area where many children were able to play and keep cool during the hot summer months. But in 2006, the pool was drained and filled in.

Susan Brace, treasurer of the Sherwood Youth Association, said, “We had to fill in the pool because of rising insurance costs. We had to keep a lifeguard on duty, and the pool was actually deteriorating.”

Brace said the idea of creating another water attraction was in the making for years, but the organization never thought they would be able to secure the funds needed to make the idea a reality.

In 2008, Tammy Robson, a former Sherwood Youth member, did a college project on installing a splash pad at the park in the same spot where the old wading pool once stood. Robson included pictures and financial estimates and ultimately made the concept a little more concrete.

“This has been an on-going idea for years,” said Brace. “We saw them [splash pads]  in the area and wanted to build something where they [local children] could enjoy the summer months, but we never thought we’d be able to do it because we never thought we’d be able to raise enough funds.”

The Dunmore Summer Festival hosted annually at the park brought in some funds, but it was not until the Michalzyk family brought in the first major donation in May of 2014 that things finally got moving.

Diane Michalzyk said that her family worked to remodel the park area at St. Anthony’s Memorial Playground in Dunmore in 2011 in memory of her son Ryan. They had an idea to construct a water attraction there but quickly realized it was a big project to tackle alone. So when they heard Sherwood had a similar idea, they immediately jumped on board.

“With the combined resources from the families and Sherwood Park, we were able to accomplish that project faster than if we went at it on our own,” said Michalzyk, “and the experience was just priceless.”

Shortly after, the Conway and Zayac families heard about the park’s splash pad plans and joined the efforts to make the concept a reality. And with that, the dream team was fully assembled.

Each family had a memorial foundation established in names of those they lost—the Jude Zayac Foundation, the Ryan Mason Michalzyk Memorial Fund and the Dorothy French Conway Memorial. Different fundraisers that each family conducted provided crucial funds that allowed construction to begin. Sherwood Youth also qualified for a $45,000 state grant funded by Mount Airy Casino Resort slots revenues—a share of money distributed annually under the 2004 slots law.

In March, the final design was completed, the splash pad equipment was purchased from Aquatic Recreation Company, based in Eden Prairie, Minnesota, and construction plans began to play out. Reilly Landscaping excavated the former wading pool area in May once the frozen winter ground finally thawed, and in June, Perry’s General Contracting was chosen to spearhead the splash pad construction.

At the end of  nearly a month of construction, the non-slip finish was applied to the concrete surface, and the Splash and Play Zone was finally ready to be revealed.

The officers of the Sherwood Youth Association hosted a dedication ceremony and ribbon cutting to open the pad for public use on Sunday, July 19. The national anthem was sung by Thomas Pyeron, and a blessing was given by Rev. John A. Doris. Additionally, Mayor Patrick “Nibs” Loughney and each of the families were presented with plaques—a token of gratitude for the part they played in bringing the concept of the splash pad to life.

After a balloon release, the cutting of the ceremonial ribbon and the unveiling of a monument honoring Jude, Ryan and Dorothy, children from each of the three families pressed the activation ballard together—turning on the splash pad for the first time.

Greg Zayac, father of Jude Zayac, admitted that the day was a bittersweet but enjoyed seeing all the families who came out for the opening playing on the splash pad and having a good time.

“It was a little emotional,” said Zayac. “It’s unfortunate that we all had to lose someone for this to be a reality, but it’s really been inspiring and helpful in our grieving process. I think it’s a great thing for the community, and the kids really love it.”

***

The Sherwood Youth Association is now preparing for their annual summer festival, which will take place on August 13, 14 and 15. The fun-filled event will be the perfect platform to showcase the park’s new attraction and allow locals to enjoy some hot summer nights.

Sherwood Park Prepares for Annual Summer Festival

Posted on by
Reply

By Steve Svetovich

Sherwood Youth Association will host their annual Dunmore Summer Festival this month. (Photo Credit: Sherwood Youth)

Sherwood Youth Association will host their annual Dunmore Summer Festival this month. (Photo Credit: Sherwood Youth)

The Sherwood Park Youth Association will hold its third annual Dunmore Summer Festival on August 13, 14 and 15 at Sherwood Park.

Robert Plappert, president of the Dunmore Sherwood Youth Association, is chairperson for the event. Trish Fedor is co-chairperson and is in charge of the vendors for this year’s festival

“It has been a big success the past two years,” said Fedor. “All of the money goes directly back to Sherwood Park. We now have a splash pad which is going to be a favorite at the park. The children and their parents love it. It is going to be a big attraction.

“We are hoping this year’s festival will be a big success once again. We are ready to go.”

Matt Fedor is Vice President of the Sherwood Park Youth Association. Jeanne Jarrow is secretary. Susan Brace is treasurer.

“There will be a lot of different vendors, games, good food and bands. We are fully expecting a huge turnout,” said Fedor. “This has become an annual event to bring people together in Dunmore and at the same time raise funds for Sherwood Park.”

The event will be held from 5-11 p.m. on Thursday and Friday, August 13 and 14, and from 4-11 p.m. on Saturday, August 15.

***

The musical entertainment will begin On August 13 with The Fabulous Fortunes, playing classic rock from the 50s through the 90s. The popular group has performed several decades in the Scranton Wilkes-Barre area, New York City and New York State and Pocono Mountains. The band has also performed at Scranton’s annual La Festa Italiana since its inception and regularly performs at local picnics and fairs and Nay Aug Park.

Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax will perform on August 14. Known for their multi-use of horns and percussions, Daddy-O and the Sax Maniax have been a popular group for decades performing in various clubs and local picnics in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas.

Dashboard Mary will perform on August 15. A classic rock band, this group features several Dunmore natives and residents who are looking forward to performing at Sherwood Park. The group has been performing for many years in clubs and venues in the Scranton and Wilkes-Barre and surrounding areas.

The list of food items include pizza, sausage and peppers, pierogies, halushki, porketta, pizza fritta, potato pancakes, cotton candy, popcorn, chicken barbecue, pasta fagiole, clams, hot dogs, corn, various ethnic foods, delicious baked goods, cake and brownies. There will be cold drinks, including beer, water and soda.

Fedor said there will be rides and games for children, horse and pony rides, and tons of entertainment.

UNICO, always an important part of the festivities, will be in attendance once again. There will be information on UNICO available to the public just as there has been in previous years.

“The people of Dunmore keep asking for it back. We will continue making it a big event,” said Fedor. “We want it to be successful for those who attend and for the park.”

Trish Fedor and everyone involved are working hard to make this a successful, annual event. It brings money to the park and unity to the borough.

“People look forward to seeing everyone here,” said Fedor. “Sometimes you run into somebody you have not seen in years. The people of Dunmore and surrounding areas really look forward to this. We try to make it special, a fun time for everybody.”