The Post NEWS Sunday, October 10, 2004 3 & WORLD (continued from page 1) The People to People program was started by President Dwight D. Eisenhower in 1956 to show that people can make a difference when governments cannot. Student trav- el began in 1963 and destinations have included Australia, New Zealand, China, Great Britain, France, Spain and parts of Africa. John traveled with a group of 38 students from Virginia, New York, Massachusetts, Connecticut and Pennsylvania. The majority of the group was from Bucks County. “I could have gone to Australia with the group from Northeastern PA but I wanted to travel with my friend from Bucks County and they were going to Brazil,” John said. That decision meant more travel for John and his parents, Steve and Diane Thompson. Students who commit to be ambassadors do not just get on a plane and have fun. They must also agree to meet to- gether several times in the months before the trip. They are required to do a variety of projects to learn about the country and the people they will be visiting. Student ambassadors attend offi- cial meetings, make educational site visits, and participate in a homestay with a family to help to cultivate a deeper understanding of the country. John’s trip included a meeting with the head of the Labor Party while in the capitol city of Brasilia. He also visited Ouroperto, which is famous for its many historic churches, and he participated in a homestay with a family in Rio de Janeiro. “They took me to the Copaca- bana and to see their Library of Congress,” he said. “They made me feel like I belonged there. The people of Brazil are just like the people here.” A member of the Dallas High School soccer, swim and track teams, John belongs to the Key Club, Steering Committee and the Future Business Leaders of Ameri- ca Club. Students in middle school and high school are recommended to the ambassador program by teachers, scout and community leaders, former student ambassa- dors and others. For more informa- tion about the People to People program, go to www.studentam- bassadors.org. John Thompson of Dallas is pictured near the waterfalls of Manaus, Brazil. 1 cio PR Re i Lge 1B te SOR Sg] FOR THE POST/CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Gazebo on loan shelters, protects young bus riders By M.B. GILLIGAN Post Correspondent DALLAS TWP. — One trou- blesome bus stop has become safer for a group of students in Dallas. Children from Little Mead- ows Day Care Center wait along Route 415 for a school bus ride to Dallas and Wycallis elementary schools. “They used to stand right along the side of the road with all of the traffic going by and parents coming and going up this side road,” said Bonnie Konigus, Little Meadows teacher in charge of school age children. “We always have two teach- ers with us but it was still a lit- tle scary. Once the kinder- garten students join the older children at the stop, there will be nearly 20 children there each morning.” One day last spring she men- tioned to George Pavlick, ware- house manager for Dallas Feed and Seed, how nice it would be if one of their display gazebos were on the other side of the fence where her students could use it. “I talked to the manager, Mary Rakowski, and we got the owners’ permission, so I moved ‘it over,” said Pavlick. “I'd see the children stand out there in the rain, some with umbrellas and some without, and it was dangerous. We were all for the idea because it was for the safety of the children.” The children love it, too. “It's cool,” said Justin Bro- jakowski, a third grade student at Dallas Elementary. His friend Zachary Conway, sec- ond grade, agreed. “We won't get rained on now.” Safety was on the mind of one other student. “I think it’s nice,” said Blake Pertl, a third grader at Wycallis Elementary. “Over there (on the far corner) we could have been run over by a car.” Indeed, there used to be a stop sign at the spot where the students once waited. “A truck ran off the road right there and took the stop sign out,” said Konigus. “Imagine if that hap- pened when the children were there.” Now the children can stand safely off the road and out of the rain. There is even talk of adding lights to decorate the gazebo for the holiday season. The store’s owners have also agreed to replace the gazebo if they happen to sell this display model. In fact, Pavlick is look- ing into the possibility of dis- playing a shed in that spot once the cold winter weather arrives. Alonna and her father Sean McCaffrey, Dallas, meet Maggie and Nellie, family pets of Charley Boyek, Dallas, at the blessing of the pets. "Katie," the pet pooch of Toni Yasenchak, Shavertown, winces as the blessing is sprinkled on by Msgr. Peter Crynes, St. Therese's Church. PETS (continued from page 1) old Brianne Tomko of Nanti- coke, brought her beagle for the second time. “We really like this church. There are a lot of min- istries you can join,” said Bri- anne who is an altar server at St. Therese’s. Many long-time parishioners also were in attendance. Suzanne Kravitsky and her son Michael brought their choco- late Lab and 12-year-old cat. Lori and Katie Colacito brought their puppy, and Peg- gy Fischer, who has attended every year but one, brought her two dogs. Three female bichons attend- ed with Donna and Ronald Kozak, for the fourth or fifth time. “I just wanted them to have their annual blessing,” said Donna Kozak. Maggie and Nellie, miniature terriers belonging to Charley and Sue Boyek, attend every year. “The little one weighs only 4 pounds but she needs this blessing because she’s a ter- ror. She scares the UPS delivery man,” said Charley Boyek. Another prominent group of dogs stayed on sidelines during the ceremony, although not very quietly. “Oh boy, there are more of you every year,” said Father Peter as he approached the five basset hounds belong- ing to Tammy and Ed Lemelin, of Shavertown. “They're all adopted from shelters or bad homes,” said Tammy. “Theyre our children with fur.” In addition to the many dogs being blessed, there were a few cats, a cockatiel, and one guinea pig. “Digger is his first pet, so we wanted to bring him for a blessing,” said 6-year-old Tom- my Brodhead’s dad. “This was a very nice thing.” FOR THE POST/M.B. GILLIGAN Children from Little Meadows Day Care Center can now safely wait for their school bus along busy Route 415, nes- tled inside a gazebo on loan from Dallas Feed and Seed. 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