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Students in two Valley View kindergarten classes had a chance to meet with a special guest last month.
Sgt. Sean O'Shea, a member of the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, spent his morning sharing what it meant to be in the military and answering the eager students' questions about where soldiers slept and what the weather was like away from home.
"I feel like it's really hard for our students to understand the concept of the military because they're so young, but he did a great job explaining that," said Holly Mariucci, one of the kindergarten teachers, adding that Sgt. O'Shea was one of the soldiers who guarded Saddam Hussein.
"We told the children that he had to guard a very important prisoner," Mrs. Mariucci said. "We were all excited - the adults - because we knew how important his job was."
The students had just finished making Christmas cards to send overseas the day before, so Mrs. Mariucci said the visit had added meaning when Sgt. O'Shea explained how wonderful it was to receive that kind of mail.
"It validated what we're doing," she said. "Those are people's mommies and daddies and aunts and uncles. They miss home. Him coming in, it definitely helped."
rbrown@timesshamrock.com
Clarks Summit
A Clarks Summit woman was recognized for her extraordinary work in her field and in the community.
Trauma therapist Kimberly Portanova-Feibus has been chosen as a 2012 Scholar of Change - an annual contest sponsored by Walden University, which chooses winners based on their commitment to their field, but also their commitment to the community.
As a winner, Mrs. Portanova-Feibus chose to donate some of her winnings to the Marley's Mission Third Annual Blue Ribbon Gala, the organization's major fundraiser.
Having experienced the effects of equine-assisted therapy from her field work at Marley's Mission, Mrs. Portanova-Feibus said her decision to donate to Marley's Mission was a no-brainer.
"These children are going from the role of victim to the role of survivor," Mrs. Portanova-Feibus said. "That needs to continue."
miorfino@timesshamrock.com
Dunmore
A year after Brian Loughney raised $5,000 for a cystic fibrosis fundraiser in honor of a longtime friend, the cause has touched his family.
Preparing for Knockout Cystic Fibrosis on Saturday from 1 to 4 p.m. at Dunmore High School, Mr. Loughney's 4-month-old cousin, Luke Dempsey, was diagnosed with the genetic disease. The boy's father, Michael Dempsey, has joined Mr. Loughney in organizing the event, which will support research through the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation.
The event will include a knockout basketball tournament, basket raffles, a 50/50 raffle, and food and other refreshments. The $20 donation for registration for the knockout tournament will include a T-shirt.
The goal is to surpass money raised in 2011.
"Along with raising money for this cause, we want to make people more aware of what cystic fibrosis is," Mr. Dempsey said.
People unable to attend the event but who would like to contribute can send checks made payable to Team Breathe Easy, mailed to the attention of Mr. Loughney at 1808 Roosevelt Ave. in Dunmore, PA 18512.
rward@timesshamrock.com
Honesdale
The Honesdale Rotary's "Winter Woolies" coat drive saw 185 pieces of winter wear collected this year, which were given to several different charities.
Sylvia Kingston, president of the Honesdale Rotary, said in a news release that the group also donated winter wear to those affected by Superstorm Sandy in Staten Island, N.Y., and New Jersey.
"We sincerely thank the people who donated and the businesses that allowed us to put bins and boxes in their lobbies," she said. "'Tis the season of giving, and so many people gave."
Apple Day Spa, Grace Episcopal Church, the Himalaya Institute, the Honesdale National Bank's Main Street branch and R3 Hardware were among some of the local businesses that aided the collection, she said.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Scranton
Santa Claus will travel from the North Pole to the Tripp Park Community Center on Dec. 9 to greet dozens of kids.
Mike Kashuba, secretary for the Tripp Park Neighborhood Association, said the group will host its annual Children's Christmas Party at the center - providing food, music, a small gift for each child and, of course, Santa Claus.
"We've been running this on and off since 1999," Mr. Kashuba said. "This is the fourth straight year."
The party, from 1 to 4 p.m., is free, but a donation is appreciated. Each year, the party draws about 100 children.
jkohut@timesshamrock.com
Throop
As a runner on the cross country team, Mid Valley junior Nick Benzeleski has participated in charity races before.
He switched from runner to organizer this year when he set up a 5K race to honor his great-uncle, Gary Keisling, 61, of Scranton, who died in February after a yearlong battle with pancreatic cancer.
After the race, he presented a check for $1,610 to Paul Savage of the Northeastern PA Affiliate of the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network in support of the Cheers to Hope fundraiser, an event Nick said gave his hard work validation.
"It felt like I actually accomplished something and I was helping in the fight against pancreatic cancer," he said.
rbrown@timesshamrock.com