Awards presented for love of history
Rehabilitation, adaptive reuse, historical accuracy and lifetime achievement were honored when the Wayne County Historical Society presented awards to area residents making a difference through historic preservation.
The highlight of the evening came when Richard "Dick" Kreitner received a lifetime achievement award. Dick prepared a self-guided walking tour highlighting Honesdale's historic sites and was responsible for saving the Old Stone Jail from demolition in the 1970s. He has been involved in numerous activities that are part of life in Wayne County.
After recounting stories about passing history on to children through the years, Dick said, "I don't deserve this ⦠I just had fun. ⦠Tell your children and grandchildren how fun history is."
Pennell Whitney and Edward Cremo received awards for their work with the McKanna Cooperage; Monique Greenwood for the building at 150 Noble Lane in Bethany; and Ledges Hotel LLC/Justin Genzlinger, Grant and Jeanne Genzlinger and John Shuman for the historic O'Connor Glass Factory.
Margaret "Mimi" Steffen was honored for historic advocacy for her book "The Rural Schools of Wayne County."
Special resolutions from the state House of Representatives signed by Reps. Michael Peifer and Sandra Major cited the recipients' outstanding accomplishments. They were presented due to the efforts of Juan Espino, head of the historic preservation committee, and historians Gloria McCullough and Ann O'Hara.
Lew and Linda Lee donated a plaque for the names of future recipients that will hang in the historical society offices.
Stars in stripes
Navy Seaman Patrick T. Adamiak, Airman Recruit Yvonne K. Decker and Seaman Apprentice Derrick T. Tuft have completed Navy basic training at Recruit Training Command, Great Lakes, Ill. Seaman Adamiak is a 2012 graduate of Wallenpaupack Area High School. Airman Recruit Decker, daughter of Leslie and Christopher M. Decker of Newfoundland, also is a 2012 Wallenpaupack Area graduate. Seaman Apprentice Tuft, son of Jennifer D. Brim of Factoryville, and Travis B. Tuft, of Riverton, Utah, is a 2011 graduate of Scranton High School.
High notes
Leadership Lackawanna's teen program, Tomorrow's Leaders Today, is under way. The seven-month program is designed to develop leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills in high school juniors while giving them an enhanced understanding of Northeast Pennsylvania and the opportunity to explore teamwork. Tomorrow's Leaders Today began in 1997 under Skills in Scranton, a division of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce, and merged with Leadership Lackawanna in 2011. Its 2012/2013 members include Brooke Chapple, Kanak Chattopadhyay and Kathleen Shedlock, Abington Heights; Cory Boyko, Anthony Calabro and Mekenzie Voglino, Carbondale Area; Abigail Aronica, Megan Connors and Amanda Sheehan, Dunmore; Tyler Bielinksi, Robert Klein, Emily Okrepkie and Thomas Skrutski Jr., Holy Cross; Sarah Botscheller and Morgan Telesk, Lackawanna Trail; Siena Cardamone and Cody Morcom, Lakeland; Haley Drutarovsky and Megan Monahan, Mid Valley; Samantha Adams, Devon Carroll, and Shannon Weis, North Pocono; Corey Allen and Jacob Torba, Riverside; Morgan McNear and Lesley Cordero, Scranton High; Mario Guillorn, Scranton Prep; Tyler Zimmerman, Summit Christian Academy; Danielle Guari and Tara Loftus, Valley View; Cara Anzulewicz and Kaela Palmiter, West Scranton; Jordyn Jacques and Carly Thorpe, Western Wayne.