Smoke, glasses rise at Rotary
Smoke rings will waft, and glasses will be lifted when North Scranton Rotary conducts its inaugural Wine Tasting/Cigar Sampling April 27 at Maiolatesi Wine Cellars Tasting Room in Scott Twp.
A committee including Carl and Connie Baraffauldi, Laurie Beaupre, Terry Beilman, Buddy Cosgrove, Mary Dockeray, Joe and Marcia Loughman, Al and Judy Scheatzle, Richie Sedelnick, Stephen X. Solfanelli and Patti Staples have planned an event that will feature wines and appetizers inside the cellars, and cigars in a tent outside.
Sal Maiolatesi and his staff will conduct the wine tasting, and ticket holders also will be able to sample two glasses from a selection of 17 different wines.
Steve will organize a wine-related silent auction.
Marcia, of Altadis USA, and local cigar store owners, like Mark, are assisting with the cigar sampling, which, along with offering ticket holders, three cigars (mild, medium and full body) courtesy of Altadis; will feature a silent auction and door prize events for humidors and special cigars.
Appetizers supplied by Kelly's Pub and Eatery, Schiff's and Sidel's Restaurant, will be served.
Super students
Luzerne County Community College Electronics Engineering Technology major graduates Tracey Sands, Ryan Wenrich and Stanley Bibalo, participated in the Tobyhanna Army Depot Student Career Experience Program and are now permanent employees of the Depot. Tracey of Pittston, and Ryan of Wyoming, work in the Communications Systems Directorate. Stanley of Mount Cobb, works in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems Directorate. ... Wilkes University education majors completing student teaching assignments this semester include: Amanda Fasciana of West Pittston, daughter of Francis and Joanne Fasciana; teaching kindergarten and special education at Dana Street Elementary School and NEIU; Rachel Bernosky of Mayfield, daughter of Debbie Bernosky; third grade at Lee Park Elementary; Brian E. Carey of Scranton, son of Bridget and Joseph Ferdinand and the late Brian E. Carey, ninth grade civics and economics at Pittston Area High School; Nicholas Gerard Barno of Peckville, son of Deborah Barno, seventh through 10th grade social studies at Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School.
High notes
The Emerald Isle Step Dancers will be marching in Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City. The local dance group was founded in 1980 by twin sisters Margaret and Maureen Monahan. Its approximately 80 students, ranging in age from 4 to 67, are now under the direction of Jennifer Woss. The Step Dancers, who participate in Irish festivals up and down the East Coast, have performed in the Bonnie Brae Celtic Festival in New Jersey, the Scottish and Irish Festival at the Fernwood Resorts, and the Jack Frost Irish Festival. They won the Tate award in Philadelphia's St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Photograher's Choice Award last Saturday in Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade, and have performed in Savannah's parade, The Gaspee Days Parade in Rhode Island and Walt Disney World's Magical Music Days. They are dedicating their first appearance in the New York City parade to the memory of Kevin Nelson, a director of the parade, who is the late grandfather of three dancers, Kit, Fiona and Lizzie Neville.