Tag Archives: Stephanie Longo

Longo Authors New Book on Italian-American History

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Stephanie Longo bookThe Saint Ubaldo Society, a regional non-profit organization dedicated to promoting and preserving the culture and traditions of La Festa dei Ceri in Jessup, will host author Stephanie Longo for an event celebrating the release of her forthcoming book, “The Italians of Lackawanna County,” on Saturday, March 10, beginning at 6 p.m. at the Saint Ubaldo Society Cultural Center, located at 310 Third Avenue in Jessup.

“The Italians of Lackawanna County” focuses on the county’s modern Italian-American history and includes photos and stories from the area’s main Italian ethnic enclaves, as well as anecdotes from families. Linda Anelli, the Saint Ubaldo Society’s corresponding secretary and public relations director, supplied most of the photos of La Corsa dei Ceri, as well as the book’s front cover photo.

Stephanie Longo is known locally as an expert on the Italian American history of northeastern Pennsylvania and has authored previous works on the subject, including “Italians of Northeastern Pennsylvania” and “Dunmore.”

Stephanie LongoThe founder of SIAMO, the Italian American Heritage Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania, she has made it her mission to continue to preserve the history that her ancestors brought to the United States from Guardia dei Lombardi, Italy.

Through her work, the City of Scranton, the Borough of Dunmore, and Guardia have been named sister cities. A dual citizen of the United States and Italy, she resides in Dunmore and is presently the director of marketing and communications at the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

 

Calendar of Events: December 2017

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Book signingBook Signing

Dunmore Historical Society will host a signing of “Images of America: Dunmore,” a book by Stephanie Longo, on Saturday, Dec. 16, from noon to 3 p.m. at the society, 126 Barton St., Dunmore.

Blessing of the Hands Ceremony

Marywood University’s nursing students will continue the tradition of participating in the annual Blessing of the Hands ceremony on Saturday, Jan. 20,  at 2:30 p.m., in the Marian Chapel, in the Swartz Center for Spiritual Life. This event is free and open to the public.

The Blessing of the Hands Ceremony at Marywood University is in its fourth year at the University. The ceremony is a recent tradition that honors sophomore nursing students who will begin to apply their classroom studies to direct applications in the field. Junior and senior nursing students will also participate in the ceremony.

O'Malley Christmas partyO’Malley Christmas Party

The 16th annual O’Malley free Christmas party will be held on Sunday, December 10, at the Keyser Valley Community Center from 1 to 3 p.m.  Children from preschool to fifth grade are welcome to meet Jolly Old St. Nick.  The party will consist of a picture with Santa Claus, Goodfella’s Pizza, orange drink, candy canes, McDonald’s cheeseburger and fries coupon from the Keyser Avenue location, a free Kids Meal from Texas Roadhouse, Utz potato chips, and a Krispy Kreme donut.

Reservations must be made by Thursday, Dec. 7, by calling 570-346-1828 to leave a message with number of children attending.

Holiday Trolley Excursions

Electric City Trolley Museum will hold a series of holiday season excursions, which will help to bring cheer to the less fortunate members of our community. The very popular “Santa on the Trolley” excursions are scheduled for December  9, 10, 16, 17 and 23.  Departure times are 10 am, 11 am, 12:30 pm, 2 pm, and 3:30 pm. Reservations are required. The 10-mile ride goes to the Trolley Works Building at the PNC Field and back to the Museum.

For more information and reservations, contact the Museum at 570-963-6590.

 

treeMarywood Tree Lighting

Marywood University will gather with the community to kick off the start of the holiday season with its annual Christmas Tree Lighting ceremony today  at 4 p.m., in the Rotunda, which is located in the Liberal Arts Center on the University’s campus. This event is free and open to the public.

This annual tradition, which draws tremendous community support, is accompanied by prayer, ornament presentations, holiday choral entertainment, and light refreshments. Members of the general public are invited to join the entire Marywood community in the Rotunda each year to share this special, joyous tradition of the holiday season.

For addition information on the history of the Tree Lighting ceremony at Marywood University, please visit www.marywood.edu/blogs/blogs.html?id=121c6eb5-dfc7-483c-a129-cb481f28843c.

Advent Concert

In a 69 year choral history of songs for the season, the Catholic Choral Society will present an Advent Concert on Sunday, Dec. 10 at 3 p.m. at Our Lady of Snows Church, 301 S. State Street,Clarks Summit. The group will sing sacred Advent and Christmas music as well other Christmas pieces and will be joined by the parish adult choir. Msgr. Joseph G. Quinn is pastor; music director is Dana Cerminaro The concert is open to the public free of charge.

Brenda Grunza is president of  the Catholic Choral Society while Dr. Thomas Rittenhouse is president emeritus. Jean Shields is accompanist and Ann Manganiello is music director of the group.

 

RotundaMarywood Concert Choir Performance at Rotunda

Marywood University’s Concert Choir will perform a concert in the acoustically stunning Rotunda, on Saturday, Dec. 9, at 7:30 p.m., and Sunday, Dec. 10,  at 3 p.m.

The concerts are free and open to the public. The choir, which holds a concert in the Rotunda once every few years, will perform in a 360-degree circle on the second floor of the Rotunda, with the audience seated below.

For its concert, the Choir will perform Josef Rheinberger’s Cantus Missae for double chorus a cappella, along with unaccompanied motets, a vocal musical composition, by Victoria, Gabrieli, Howells, Charles Wood, Daniel Elder, and Frank La Rocca.

 

Lantern ceremony to be held in memory of deceased classmates

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Lantern ceremony pic.jpg

Committee members planning a lantern ceremony in honor of deceased members of the Dunmore High School Class of 1966 include, from left: Ann Rizzo Mellert, Tom DePietro and Annie Longo.

By Stephanie Longo

It’s a way to send a bit of “Dunmore Pride” to heaven.

The year 2016 marks the 50th anniversary of the Dunmore High School Class of 1966’s graduation. While the reunion committee is getting ready for a celebratory bash this fall, one classmate has decided to make sure that the class’s fallen comrades aren’t forgotten.

Dunmore resident Annie Longo fondly remembers some of her classmates who are no longer here, such as Thomas Malloy, who was killed in Vietnam, and Robert Scholla, who died unexpectedly during the class’s sophomore year.

“The deceased members of our class deserve to be remembered in some way during our reunion year,” Longo said. “We’re blessed enough to be here to celebrate our 50th reunion. It was in my heart that I knew I wanted to do something special for the deceased members of our class.”

Thanks to a lantern donation by Tom DePietro of DePietro’s Pharmacy and special permissions granted by the Dunmore School District and Dunmore Borough, a lantern ceremony in honor of the nearly 40 deceased members of the Dunmore High School Class of 1966 will be held on Tuesday, Oct. 25 at 7 p.m. in the Dunmore High School parking lot. The public is invited to attend.

Despite facing resistance from the Class of 1966 reunion committee who, Longo says, changed their minds about having the ceremony as part of the reunion week festivities and are no longer involved with the event, plans are running smoothly.

“I was pretty shocked that the reunion committee decided not to support this project when they originally wanted to,” Longo said. “We’re at an age where there should be a lot of unity in our class. I’m really disappointed because I and the other volunteers just wanted to do something special in memory of our classmates.”

“We all have friends who aren’t here anymore and as the surviving class members, I think we have some responsibility to honor them in some way,” said Ann (Rizzo) Mellert, who is assisting Longo with gathering names and promoting the event. “They aren’t able to attend the 50th reunion and we want to keep their memories alive. It is hard to lose people, especially when they are your age.”

For Longo, this event might serve as an inspiration for other classes when planning their respective reunions.

“I can’t thank the Dunmore School District, Dunmore Borough Council and DePietro’s Pharmacy enough for their support,” Longo said. “I knew right from the start that this was the right thing to do. Hopefully other classes will do something special for their reunions, not necessarily lanterns, but maybe a balloon launch—just something special for the deceased members who can’t attend.”

Volunteers are still needed for the event. To volunteer, call Longo at (570) 880-7410.