£ pe Sunday, September 30, 2007 COMMUNITY THE POST PAGE7 MEADOWS RESIDENTS ENJOY ICE-CREAM TREAT Thanks to the generosity of the Meadows Nursing Center Auxiliary, residents at the Center in Dallas enjoyed ice cream sundaes and cones in the Meadows Pavilion while listening to the lively music of Accordion Pete. Shown here are, from left, first row, Ann Rizzo, Dorothy Groner and Romayne Stofila. Standing, Entertainer Pete Truszkowski, Nancy Space, activities director; LeeAnn Emerick, director of nursing; Auxiliary volunteers Leona Walter and Betty Miller; teen volunteers Shane Panagakos, Lauren Kelly and Allison Spencer. SUBMITTED PHOTO » Kanisha Cheshire, of Dallas, gets CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK/ FOR THE DALLAS POST help with her sand creation from her mother, Alicen, at a backyard birthday party which was _a fundraiser for. Community Cares for Kids, an association which sponsors Dr. Francis Collini’s annual trip to Ecuador to service “children with cosmetic challenges SHARING Continued from Page 1 came an annual ritual. Although the children do not get presents at the big party, a small party is held on each childs birthday that includes eating at a restaurant of the child’s choice and presents from mom and dad. The featured charity usually changes every year. The Serafins collected money for S.A.F.E. sev- eral years, a soccer field, a church and now for Community Cares for Kids. Funds raised vary year to. year, but are normally within $400 to $1,200. Terry has seen firsthand the work done by Community Cares for Kids. Last year, a girl named Jenniffer came to the region for extensive surgery at Wilkes- Barre General Hospital. She and her mother needed a place to stay before and after surgery so the Serafins took the two into their home for six weeks. Jenniffer was like a sister to Joelle and Jacob while she was in town. “There was no communi- cation barrier because they (the Serafin children) are around au- tistic children all the time who can’t talk,” said Terry. On Halloween, Jenniffer want- ed to go trick-ortreating even though she had surgery the day before. So, Terry dressed the house guest in a Sleeping Beauty costume Joelle had worn on a previous Halloween and Jacob drove her around the neighbor- hood on the back of a quad. During Collini’s trip to Ecua- “dor this year, he performed fol- low-up surgery on Jenniffer. Be- cause of the personal relation- ship she and her family had de- | veloped with Jenniffer and her mother, Terry went along to help. “It truly was a life-changing experience to see hundreds of people waiting for the Ameri- cans to help and how, in one week, over 50 operations were BESECKER HONORED FOR SERVICE TO DALLAS SUBMITTED PHOTO Representative Karen Boback (R - Harveys Lake) recently pre- sented a proclamation to Robert Besecker of Dallas. Besecker was honored for over 50 years of active service with the Dallas Fire & Ambulance Company. Shown here during the ceremony are, from left, Mary Van Atten, president, Dallas Fire & Ambu- lance Company; Boback, Dallas Mayor Tim Carroll and Besecker. SUBMITTED PHOTO Constantine Maroulis, an ‘American Idol’ runner-up from a previ- ous season, and Blanca Frederick, of Dallas, are shown here at the ‘American Idol’ Season Seven auditions last August in Philadel- phia. Frederick tried out for the popular television show, but did for us.” Joelle Serafin and her brother, Jacob, play together at their backyard fundraiser birthday party last Sunday. performed on children that des- perately needed them,” Terry said. “Babies that couldn’t suck were able to suck. Children with- out ears or unable to walk or use their hands due to burns straightened their feet and opened their hands. The faces of the kids and the tears of the par- ents make us know it is always “better to give than receive and it will come back to you. And it has with their emotions. gelatin mold. The Serafins believe their chil- dren are doing better with their autism partially because the birthday parties have given them replace. introduced to new children and have befriended some of them, teaching them how to better deal Terry says her daughter will remember the ponies at the par- ties for years to come and her son still talks about the party that he put one of his Matchbox carsin a Most importantly, though, the parents know their children are learning the value of giving - something even the greatest, best-wrapped present can never the opportunity to be around other children. They have been Rebecca Bria, a Dallas Post staff writer, can be reached at 970-7436. not make it past the preliminary audition. [DOL Continued from Page 1 _derick to take one person with her to auditions and she chose her mom, Nikki, who was hap- py to see that her daughter was not afraid to try out. “She was. very proud of me,” Frederick said of her mother. In 2006, Frederick won the Harvest Idol contest at the an- nual Dallas Harvest Festival and was awarded $250. She tried out for the contest again this year, but did not advance to the finals. She also participates in a talent expo each year at the Dorothy Dickson Darte Center. And, in the first grade, she was the “Littlest Christmas Tree” in a school musical. Frederick has never taken voice lessons and cannot read music. She would like to be pro- fessionally trained and learn to read music, but her availability is limited. Though it may not be as much fun as singing on stage, Frederick juggles her time be- tween school and working at Burger King in Shavertown. It was Frederick’s friends who taught her to play guitar and she is learning the piano by ear on her own. Her ultimate dream is to record on a label and tour. But she realizes only a few people make it big. So, her back-up plan is to go to college and major in elementary educa- tion after touring the country for ‘a year following high school. . Fredericks grandfather lives near a recording studio in Ar- kansas and is trying to buy time for Frederick to record a demo. If she makes a demo, she hopes to hand it to people and get her name out on her adventure across America. Musical inspirations of Fre- derick’s include Christina Aguilera, Patsy Kline and LeeAnn Rimes, although she listens to all types of music. Her hobbies include horseback rid- ing, dancing, watching sports, writing, drawing and anything that involves creativity. “It’s fun for me if I could take something and make it my own,” Frederick said. Although she did not make it past her preliminary audition, Frederick is not discouraged and will audition for "American Idol" again next year. “I never plan on giving up,” she said. “I definitely believe in pushing on.” Rebecca Bria, a Dallas Post staff writer, can be reached at 970-7436. MEANING Continued from Page 1 Generation to Generation is a non-profit organization designed to enrich lives through inter-gen- erational sharing. The organiza- tion is trying to create activities DANCEVOICE THEATRE ARTS Celebrating our 20th successful year! Director: Gina Major UO BN BN BN BN BN BN BN BN BN BN ON J MAJOR NEW SEASON! Voice — Theatre — Tap — Ballet — Pointe — 2 Youth Theatre Co. On Site Ages: 3 Years to Young Adults PERFORMING ARTS and opportunities for people of all ages to come together and benefit from one another. “We all need belonging; we all need connection,” DiVizia said. “They need to feel valued no mat- ter what age, cradle to grave.” During the summer, the orga- nization invited people to a jazz festival at Misericordia Universi- SINCE 1989 MAJOR PERFORMING ARTS 696-4755 Beginners to Advanced: Professional Productions National Awards/Titles Community Involved Field Trips Family Values Professional Staff Apprentice Program le Carverton Road * Trucksvil [ J ® J [J ® ® ® [J ® ® ® ® ® J [J LJ b » » od ty. They also had a bike ride for people 55 and over at White Haven Challenger in White Haven. Activities currently in the works include a bus trip to Har- risburg this fall and a bus trip to the Philadelphia Flower Show next spring. In November, the or- ganization is sending a children’s choir to the Meadows Center to sing to residents. Misericordia University has agreed to give Generation to Generation a phone number and an office in Mercy Hall, its main administration building. A volun- teer from the Retired Senior Vol- unteer Program will work in the office. The organization hopes to LOSE WEIGHT NOW \Y 0070) COUN 9) a] 8 1d D1 LAY R We Guarantee Your Results Ra i. + Prviiciars £ MORNCAL PES AX SEH a Daa BASES OX EIROLIMENT 183 4 PROCES, [ES PL SLOSS 8 ANTSIEA. WO UNS AOA 0 WR, 8 SORTS. Ag 259 70 WEIGHT LOSS OF K Centerss Program Fees SRE 5 $a 1 OSC DIO IRE. (I Cindy Lost 96 Pounds & 30 inches! She looks & Feels Great! Pp # & Got Stored Today Memorial Hwy. Dallas 675-4599 start a pilot program and find a Back Mountain school willing to allow retired professionals in to talk to students about leadership and their former careers. They al- so would like to start a mentoring program to help the young value the old. If the pilot program suc- ceeds, Generation to Generation would take the idea across Lu- zerne County. Generation to Generation is looking for new members. In ad- dition, it is seeking donations so people can attend trips and activ- ities at minimal or no cost. Rebecca Bria, a Dallas Post staff writer, can be reached at 970-7436. Introducin Breakfast, Lunc ° ) Agolino’s A Family Tradition For 52 Years Our All New & Dinner Menus * Special items changed daily Seats up to 22 people Fea ring alan American bomesle conking served in a family atmosphere and casual setting. * Intimate private dining room for any occasion. 22 Luzerne Avenue, West Pittston 655-3030 a — ES i SE
Significant historical Pennsylvania newspapers