Meet Your New Miss Buck: Mariana Leo

Miss Buck 1

Photo courtesy of Rich Banick Photography ©

By Steve Svetovich

Mariana Leo envisions herself as making a difference in the lives of children.

But in the meantime she looks forward to her senior year at Dunmore High School when she represents her school as Miss Buck.

Daughter of Mario and Lisa Leo, Dunmore, Mariana, 17, said she is honored to be selected as Miss Buck. 

“I was very excited, but a little nervous when I heard the news,” she said. “I can’t wait to represent my school. I really want to be involved in a lot of activities this year.”

Mariana said she would like to study Education and become a middle school teacher. She would like to study at West Chester University or Philadelphia University. 

“My goal is to become a middle school teacher and make an impact on as many children’s lives as possible. I want to be able to help a child day to day. I want to help teach a child they can do anything.”

Mariana is an honor student at Dunmore High School. She has a 91 academic average and is a member of the French Club. Her favorite academic subject is English. 

Mariana likes to ski and travel. She played three years for the Dunmore volleyball team and was a basketball cheerleader for two years.

Humble in nature, Mariana spends a good deal of her spare time doing volunteer work. She volunteers for the NEPA Youth Shelter Program, a homeless shelter for local teens.

Mariana also does volunteer work for Tomorrow Leaders of Today (TLT).

She keeps herself even busier by working at Montage Mountain and the Dunmore Community Center. She is spending her summer working for the borough of Dunmore as a camp counselor at Sherwood Park. 

Miss Buck 2

Photo courtesy of Rich Banick Photography ©

Very polite and soft spoken, Mariana said her parents are always in her corner.

“They taught me to always work hard and be on time. They tell me to stay committed to what I choose to do. They tell me I can achieve my dreams. They always support my dreams and career path.”

Mariana said she enjoys music and would like to see Ariana Grande in concert. She talked about her goals for the upcoming school year as Miss Buck.

“I want to be able to impact a lot of children. I want to be a good example and represent Dunmore High School and the community well.”

Mariana is exuberant when she speaks of her experience at Dunmore High School.

“It is a great experience. I am learning so much. I am really sad this is my last year. There have been a lot of memories and moments and I want to be part of more of them. Everyone is so friendly here. I love it.” 

Calendar of Events: August 2019

St. Rocco's procession

The Feast Day Mass and Procession for SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish Italian Festival will take place on Sunday, Aug. 11, at noon.

SS. Anthony & Rocco Italian Festival

SS. Anthony & Rocco Parish Italian Festival will be held Aug. 9, 10, and 11, at St. Rocco’s Church Grounds, 122 Kurtz St., Dunmore, featuring food, games and live entertainment. The Festival opens Friday and Saturday at 5 p.m. and on Sunday following the noon Mass and Procession.

Live entertainment includes:  Friday, DHS Marching Units & Cheerleaders and Picture Perfect; Saturday, Holy Cross High School Cheerleaders and Sweet Pepper and the Long Hots; Sunday, Feast Day Mass & Procession at Noon followed by The Luongo Brothers Band, Take Three, and fireworks following at 9 p.m.

Lebanese-American Food Festival

The 18th annual Lebanese-American Food Festival will be held at St. Joseph Melkite Greek-Catholic Church, 130 N. St. Frances Cabrini Ave., West Scranton, this weekend. Times are 5 to 9 p.m. on Friday, Aug. 9; 4 to 10 p.m. on Saturday, Aug. 10, and noon to 7 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 11. 

Featured will be Middle Eastern food and pastries, picnic food favorites, games, raffles, used book sale, baskets, clams, beer, and a deejay. For more information, contact melkite.scranton@gmail.com, visit our website or follow us on Facebook.

REMEMBRANCE WALKRemembrance Walk

The 4th annual Hospice of the Sacred Heart Remembrance Walk is Saturday, Sept. 28, at McDade Park in Scranton. Registration begins at 8:30 a.m. and the Walk begins at 10 a.m. The 2018 event attracted more than 900 walkers. Please consider joining us as a walker, a member of a walk team or sponsor of this high profile event, which advances our mission of providing comfort, care, hope and choice to patients and their families while guiding them through the end of life journey. Register now at by clicking here.

Indoor Yard Sale in Jermyn

Saint Michael’s Orthodox Church, Jermyn, is holding an Indoor Yard Sale, at St. Michael’s Hall,  403 Delaware St., Jermyn, on Friday, Aug. 9 and Saturday, Aug. 10, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. This will benefit Saint Michael’s  Scholarship Fund for Continuing Education for their own parishioners. Many new items and raffles will be available. For information, contact Pro-Deacon, Father Gabriel Petorak at 570-876-1241.

sherwood

Dunmore Summer Festival at Sherwood Park

The 7th annual Dunmore Summer Festival at Sherwood Park is set for Thursday August 15 through Saturday August 17. It will run from 5 to 11 p.m. each evening.

There will be plenty of homemade food as well as great entertainment.

Cheerleaders from Holy Cross High School will kick things off Thursday night.

On Friday, the Wanna Bees are set to perform. Cheerleaders and marching units from Dunmore High School will also be on hand, as well as the 2019-2020 Miss Buck.

And on Saturday, gymnasts from the United Sports Academy and the Ron Morgan Band will perform.

Island Dinner-Dance

Wear your Summer Caribbean outfits on Saturday, Aug. 24, at the Island Dream dinner dance event held at St. Eulalia’s Parish, 214 Blue Shutters Road, Roaring Brook Township, from 6 to 10 p.m. 

You must be 21 years of age or older since you will receive one margarita or one glass of wine with dinner. Cash bar is available but no BYOB. Tickets can be purchased by calling 570-842-4785. Deadline is Sunday, Aug 18. 

Tickets will also be on sale at the church breakfast on Sunday, Aug. 18.

Camp Healing Hearts

Hospice of the Sacred Heart will present Camp Healing Hearts, a five-day camp experience to provide grief education to children ages 8-14 who have experienced the death of a loved one. 

The camp will be held Aug. 12-16 from 8:30 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Hospice of the Sacred Heart Center for Education, 340 Montage Mountain Road, Moosic.

CAMP HEALING HEARTSChildren will work with trained bereavement counselors and members of our arts community to help them progress towards acceptance of the loss and use the arts as a means of self-expression. 

 This five-day camp begins and ends with the same activities every day to provide a sense of routine, consistency and ultimately closure for the entire process. Younger campers are “buddy-ed” up with older campers to facilitate teamwork and understanding. Each session utilizes a different theme explored through the arts. “In addition to delivering outstanding hospice care, this is one of the most impactful and sacred programs we offer,” said Diane Baldi, Chief Executive Officer, Hospice of the Sacred Heart.  

 Community volunteers lend their time and talents to campers with artistic projects culminating in a Memorial Service designed and presented by the campers at the camp’s completion. This performance and exhibit will be held at the Scranton Cultural Center Friday, August 16 at 3:30 pm. 

Jennifer Seechock serves as  Hospice of the Sacred Heart Director of Counseling Services.

Golf-Ball-on-TeeCamp Healing Hearts is presented by New York Life and receives generous grant support from Lackawanna County and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. In-kind sponsors include Mansour’s Market Café, Fidelity Bank and Simrell Media.

Golf Tournament

St. Mary’s Villa will sponsor its 13th annual golf tournament on Monday, Aug. 12, at Glen Oak Country Club. For information, call 570-842-5274.

Calendar of Events: May 2019

Carnival at Sherwood ParkSherwood Park Spring Carnival

The Sherwood Youth Association will host its annual spring carnival Tuesday, April 30, through Saturday, May 4, at Sherwood Park in Dunmore. There will rides, games, food and fun compliments of Midway by A.E.B Amusement.

On Tuesday and Thursday nights and Saturday from 2 p.m. to 6 p.m., there will be a $15 wristband special.

DCCHS Class Reunion

Dunmore Central Catholic High School (DCCHS) Class of 1969 is planning a 50th Class Reunion to be held on Saturday, Sept 28, 2019 at La Buona Vita, 200 Reilly Street, Dunmore. Planners are currently seeking contact information on four classmates: Mary Ann McNulty Clifford, Frank Moeller, Patricia Napolitano Steel and Bill Nolan. For any information/inquires, contact Bocker Hunt, 570-430-5268.

Geranium Sale

Order beautiful 14″ patio pots of red or pink geraniums from Cadden Florist for Memorial Day, to be picked up on May 22 or 23. Proceeds from the flower sale benefit the Hospice of the Sacred Heart Memorial Fund. Quantities are limited, so place your order today. Call 570-344-9027 and ask for Mary.

marywoodMarywood Book Sale

Marywood University continues to promote books and reading through its biannual book swap and sale. The University’s Spring Book Swap and Sale will take place in the Learning Commons Lobby from Monday, May 6, through Thursday, May 9. From Monday through Wednesday, the Book Swap and Sale will take place from 8 a.m. – midnight, and from 8 a.m. – 2 p.m., on Thursday, May 9. Proceeds from Tuesday’s sale will benefit the English Department Club. This event is free and open to the public.

A wide selection of titles and genres will be available. The book swap and sale is sponsored by the English Club and Library Services. Book donations are being received on the first floor of the Learning Commons. For additional information, please contact Annette Fisher, associate professor of library services, at (570) 348-6211, ext. 2365, or email fisher@maryu.marywood.edu.

Actors Circle Presents Pygmalion

Actors Circle continues with Pygmalion by George Bernard Shaw on May 2, 3, 4 and 5, with performances on Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m., and Sunday at 2 p.m. Tickets are $12 general admission; $10 seniors, and $8 students. The show is presented at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton. For reservations, call (570) 342-9707, or email to: tickets@actorscircle.com. All reservations are held 10 minutes until show time.

LRCA_LogoA orgRiverfest 2019

On Saturday, May 11, paddlers will take to the water and revelers will fill the banks of the Lackawanna River for RiverFest draws the community outdoors after the long winter to celebrate the Valley and the River that runs through it. Activities include a Canoe-A-Thon and Duck-A-Thon. Sponsorships are welcome, as well as volunteers for activities running from 8 a.m.l to 6 p.m.

RiverFest 2019 is a full day of river activities, music, food and drink, educational and environmental displays, vendors, and fun for all ages.  Join us in this annual celebration of the Lackawanna River and its watershed! Find more information at www.lrca.org

Catholic Choral Society Spring Concerts

The annual spring concerts of the Catholic Choral Society of Scranton will be presented on Friday, May 17, at 7:30 p.m. at Holy Rosary Church, 316 William St., Scranton, and on Sunday evening, May 19 at 7 p.m.. at St. Ignatius Church, 339 N. Maple St., Kingston.

At Holy Rosary Church, the Choral Society will host the Christ the King Youth Choir under the direction of Mary Edmunds and Stacey Whitaker.  At St. Ignatius Church in Kingston, the Choral Society will host the Wyoming Valley Barbershop Harmony Chorus directed by Phil Brown and Justin Davis.

The Catholic Choral Society, marking its 70th season, is composed of 50 members from Luzerne, Lackawanna, Wayne, Susquehanna and Wyoming  Counties.

Board members assisting co-presidents Brenda Grunza, Nicholson,  and Dr. Tom Rittenhouse, Clarks Summit, in arranging the concert include: Nancy Flannery, Kingston; Sheila O’Brien, Dunmore; Lois Ostrowski, Pittston and Kate Conaboy, Archbald.

Director of the Catholic Choral Society is Ann Manganello, Exeter and the  accompanist is Jean Shields, Scranton.

Tickets are available from society members or by calling 570-587-2753; tickets are also available at the door: adults $10, seniors and students $8, children under 12 free.

Actors Circle Presents “Tuesdays with Morrie”

Tuesdays with MorrieThe final show of Actors Circle’s 37th season will be Tuesdays with Morrie by Jeffrey Hatcher and Mitch Albom, based on the book by Mitch Albom.

Directed by Kaylah Hodgins, the show will be presented May 30 and 31 and June 1, 2, 6, 7, 8 and 9 at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road, Scranton. Performances are Thursday, Friday and Saturday at 8 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m.

Tickets are $12 general admission; $10, senior citizens, and $8 students. Special prices on May 30 at $8 general admission and seniors; $6 students. For reservations, call 570-342-9707, or email to: tickets@actorscircle.com. All reservations are held 10 minutes until show time.

The cast includes Scott Rave and Bob Taylor. Tuesdays With Morrie is the autobiographical story of Mitch Albom, an accomplished journalist driven solely by his career, and Morrie Schwartz, his former college professor. Sixteen years after graduation, Mitch happens to catch Morrie’s appearance on a television news program and learns that his old professor is battling Lou Gehrig’s Disease.

Mitch is reunited with Morrie, and what starts as a simple visit turns into a weekly pilgrimage and a last class in the meaning of life.

Penn State NightPenn State Night Dinner

The Greater Scranton Chapter of the Penn State Alumni Association has announced that the annual “Penn State Night” dinner will be held on Wednesday, May 22.

Featured speaker will be Jay Paterno, former Penn State quarterback and football coach. Alumnus of the Year is Donnie Collins, Times-Tribune sportswriter and Penn State beat reporter.

Dinner is at Fiorelli’s, Peckville. Doors open at 6 p.m. and program begins at 7:30.p.m. Tickets are $50 and available by calling  570-963-2537.