Windows open on city Christmas
Sugarplums and bobby- soxers can be seen dancing around Christmas trees and in children's heads in windows as the annual Downtown Scranton Holiday Window Decorating Showcase continues until 2013 begins.
Chaired by Maureen Duffy, owner of Duffy Accessories, and Tony Patte, a Scranton Tomorrow/Main Street Scranton volunteer, this year's event features nearly 40 competing exhibits.
Winners by category include: whimsical, Penn Security Bank & Trust; nostalgic, Wendell & Co.; magical, Lavish Body + Home; enchanting, Carl von Luger Steak & Seafood; traditional, Bella Faccias Personalized Chocolates & Gift LLC; Scrantastic, The Times-Tribune; and festive, B's Floral Design.
Dominick Gianuzzi of Penn Security Bank & Trust; Bob Dickert of Carl von Luger; Michelle Ross of The Times-Tribune; Matt Drace of Lavish Body + Home, picked up awards for their windows during the Lackawanna County annual tree lighting ceremony.
"The decorating showcase has become an annual tradition for many," said Leslie Collins, Scranton Tomorrow, executive director, as she encouraged everyone to visit downtown Scranton during the holiday season for "wonderful shopping, dining and holiday activities."
Among the downtown businesses participating in the decorating are Alexander's Salon & Spa, Amendolaro, B's Floral Design, Bella Faccias Personalized Chocolates & Gifts LLC,âBuona Pizza, Café Trio, Cait Center, Cami Mari, Carl von Luger Steak & Seafood, Chocolate Creations, Christopher West Hair Design, City Café, Duffy Accessories, GreenBeing, Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank, Franklin Security, Freedlove, Lackawanna County Convention & Visitors Bureau, Lavish Body + Home, Nada & Co., New Laundry, Northern Light Espresso Bar, NOW Hair Studio, over the moon, Penn Security Bank & Trust, Pierre's, Pizza by Pappas, POSH at The Scranton Club, Raintree, Runway, Scranton Hobby Center, Sew Smart Fabrics Inc., The Colonnade, The Fanciful Fox, The Times Tower & Times-Tribune Santa's Workshop, The Vintage Theater, Tom Grudis Optical & The Bare Accessories, Well Heeled and Wendell & Co.
Stars in stripes
Navy Cmdr. Michelle D. Morse and Petty Officer 2nd Class Joseph B. Connors, along with nearly 12, 000 past and current crew members, family and friends attended the inactivation of aircraft carrier USS Enterprise. Cmdr. Morse's husband, John, is the son of Linda L. Phillips of Clarks Summit. Petty Officer 2nd Class Connors is the son of Deborah Thompson of Honesdale, and Joseph B. Connors Sr. of Hewitt, N.J. The Enterprise, the world's first nuclear-powered aircraft carrier, completed its 25th and final deployment before returning to its homeport of Naval Station Norfolk. The inactivation was conducted before Enterprise's terminal offload program and subsequent decommissioning. The last official public event for the ship also served as a celebration of her life and those of the more than 100,000 sailors who served aboard.
High notes
Bishop Emeritus James C. Timlin gave the invocation and Karen Kearney, vice president of inpatient rehabilitation, thanked volunteers and auxiliay members for their hard work throughout the year when Heinz Rehab Hospital, a division of Allied Services Integrated Health System, conducted its holiday luncheon in the Rose Brader Dining Room. Also on hand were Mary Yuknavich, director of volunteers and auxiliary, and Tom Pugh, retired administrator of Heinz Rehab Hospital.