Happy Travelers meet again
Hosts Nancy and Vic Castellani welcomed guests to a western-themed party at their lovely Milwaukee, Pa., home to reunite fellow travelers from a trip to the Canadian Rockies and Glacier National Park in Montana. Several guests arrived in western attire and cowboy hats, souvenirs from their visit to the 100th Calgary Stampede.
Delighted to reconnect with Cindy Zeiss, Nancy's sister, who traveled from Virginia, attendees shared photos and memories during a cocktail hour in the Castellanis' picturesque four season's room, which was decorated for the occasion.
Souvenirs and trip photos, compliments of Joe and Dolly Michalczyk, marked each place setting as guests were seated for a classic western barbecue. Treats from Nancy and Vic's garden, Vic's lemon garlic chicken and Nancy's special family recipes - carrot salad and baked bean casserole were among many choices on the menu.
Joe was treated to a cowboy birthday cake with the very appropriate inscription, "Happy Trails to You."
Videos of the adventurers walking on glaciers, cruising on glacial lakes, riding gondolas to the tops of the Rockies, and of Irene Cavanaugh's helicopter tour were enjoyed in Mark Michalczyk's after-dinner DVD presentation.
Photo contest prizes went to Doris Lindsley's beautiful, annotated and decorated photo album and her charming photo of an old couple spinning wool at the Stampede; Vic's photo of a bear on the Columbia Icefield; Lake Louise, snapped through a magnificent arched window by Ann Marie Mariani; Nancy Castellani's "flying" horse at the Stampede; the polished, curved, wooden staircase at the Fairmont Banff Springs hotel, captured by Cindy.
Michael Mariani also was on hand. Missed was Mary Ann Dorofee of New Jersey.
"Happy Trails to You, until we meet again," was reiterated as the party came to a close.
Reading Dickens
John Arena, Andrea Cortese, Shelby Cortese, Irene Donnelly, Jeff Ginsberg, Wesley Karoscik, Aiden Krieger, Kelly Krieger, Victoria Kusy, Nicole Lopez-Isa, Lorrie Loughney, John McInerney, Bill Mecca, Ashley A. Michaels, Olivia Smith, David Sptizer, Nina Tellechea, and Casey Thomas have signed on for a staged reading of Charles Dickens' "A Christmas Carol," as adapted by local author Paige Balitski. The Dec. 6 through 9 production at Providence Playhouse, 1256 Providence Road in Scranton, also features musical insertions and direction by Cathy Rist Strauch.
High notes
Mid Valley Rotary Club members, including Donald Booth, Gene Deangelis, Mary Lynn Fowler, William Kearney, Stanley Kennedy, Toni McAndrew, Vicki Randis and Susan Colborn, have completed fall projects including dictionary donations to Mid Valley Elementary School students and the annual food bank drive.