EOTC entertains at, unveils, new center
Employment Opportunity & Training Center of Northeastern PA has hosted a series of holiday events.
Families enrolled in its programs, donors who support its board and staff, contributors and volunteers gathered for a Thanksgiving reception at its Seventh Avenue center. New and gently used books and monetary gifts were donated by attendees for distribution to local families through the EOTC Opportunity Fund.
Sharon McCrone, executive director, and Mary Belin Rhodes, chairwoman of EOTC's Building Our Future campaign, were among attendees. Ann and Dan Donovan and Rosemary Broderick were among the guests at the reception. Six-year-old Lucy Seibert helped to unveil new outdoor lighting, signs and other improvements at the center.
Along with the formal lighting of EOTC's exterior signs, the reception included building tours featuring ongoing improvements to the agency's new home.
VaxServe employees provided and served the traditional Thanksgiving meal. Carole Mason and her daughter, Nevaeh Harrington, were among those who enjoyed the party for families in EOTC's Play & Learn early childhood program.
Other volunteers hosted a Toyland gift distribution for children.
Stars in stripes
Lt. Col. John (Jay) Felins has retired from Headquarters Air Force Special Operations Command, Office of the Command Surgeon, as chief of the Medical Readiness Division, Hurlburt Field, Fla. He is the son of Bill and Dorothy Felins of Scranton. Lt. Col. Felins served in Operation Desert Storm; Operation Restore Hope in Mogadishu, Somalia; Operation Uphold Democracy in Haiti; Operation Enduring Freedom in Afghanistan and Arabian peninsula; and was assigned to the 23rd Air Operations Center at Hurlburt Field as the senior command medical operations and plans officer for coordinating humanitarian response efforts for Operations Unified Effort in Haiti. He served as a Medical Service Corps officer with most of his experience in Special Operations. He also served in clinic and hospital settings. Lt. Col Felins commanded the 16th Medical Support Squadron, and later became the chief of the Medical Readiness Division for AFSOC at Hurlburt Field prior to his retirement. He and his wife, Mary, live with their three children, Jennifer, Mark and Eric in Destin, Fla. ... National Guard 2nd Lt. Corey A. Carr graduated from Armor Basic Officers Leaders Course ABOLC 2nd Squadron, 16th Cavalry Regiment in July at Fort Benning, Ga. The 24-year-old South Abington Twp. resident is stationed with C Company 1-109 INF HVY based at Hometown Armory, Tamaqua. He is deploying with the PA National Guard 109th Division.
High notes
Friends and family of Frederika "Fritzy" Panek, as well as the staff at Heinz Rehab, celebrated Fritzy's 100th birthday during her stay at Allied Services Heinz transitional senior rehab care unit. Among those on hand were Anthony Bujno, Maura Cadwalader, Ann Densevich, Megan Miller, Julie Robinson, Alex Walsh and Leah Wilsey.