Vol. 121 No. 27 THE BACK MOUNTAIN'S NEWSPAPER SINCE 1889 September 9 - 15, 2012 ®The Paras Post. WILKES-BARRE, PA. www.mydallaspost.com AN EDITION OF THE TIMES LEADER CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Sisters Jessica and Morgan Trindle and their friend Catherine Wynne, of Harveys Lake, take off on the Cliff Hanger at the Luzerne ether it’s the food, the rides, the entertainment or the ani- mals, there’s much to do at the Luzerne County Fair. The event, in its 50th year, concludes today on the fair grounds, Route 118, Lehman. Today’s entertainment includes Elvis Presley tribute artist Shawn Klush, who will be accompanied by the Sweet Inspirations who, at one time, performed with the King himself. Ad- mission is just $8 and includes parking, rides and entertainment. More Luzerne County Fair photos, page 3 Having the most fun ever serving food in the Lake-Lehman Band Booster Booth are friends Diane Lockard, left, and Dusty Titus. BILL TARUTIS PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Are you ready for some football? t's high school football time and that brings out all kinds of school spirit. Dallas and Lake-Lehman High School cheerleaders lead the way but folks from all walks of life get into the action, cheering on their favorite team. For photos of the Mountaineers and the Black Knights gridders on opening day, please turn to page 14. Dallas sophomore cheerleader | Stephanie Rinehimer, of Sha- vertown, shows her spirit. 680981512007 9%g This art therapy helps memory By CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK Dallas Post Correspondent Painting is not going to stop Alzheimer’s disease as it slowly steals memory and personality from its victims. Yet there is something about art that stirs the soul of Alzheimer’s patients and, in that process, their spir- its seem to be soothed. In a realm of primal sub-con- sciousness at an art therapy class at the Meadows Center in Dallas, Marie Borton, a former Dallas school teacher, twirls her paint brush and chuckles, “I'm not serious, I'm just puddling along.” Borton talks about her career at many school districts, the students she had and how lucky she was to have had all those ex- periences in her life. The paint flows easily from her life’s brush - and so do some lovely memo- ries. The paint box of life is not al- ways happy and the brush strokes don’t come easily for Margaret Lewandowski, who struggles with painful memo- ries and mixed emotions. “I can’t sign my name or even a let- ter; it’s very hard,” she explains. But even when hands and words fail, the group of artists supports each other, says Cyn- thia Sickler, activities assistant at the center, who began the program just over a year ago. “They are very kind to each oth- er and we have a lot of fun,” Sickler said. Nationally known as “Memo- ries in the Making” by the Alz- heimer’s Association, the class is funded locally by the Maslow Family Foundation of Luzerne County. It meets once a week for two hours. “This is probably the most in- tensive one-on-one time they get every week,” Sickler said. Persons interested in volun- teering or purchasing note cards and art produced by residents should call the Alzheimer's Asso- ciation in Wilkes-Barre at 822- 9915. Marie Borton, a former Dallas school teacher, picks up a paint brush during a class for Alzheimer and dementia resi- dents at the Meadows Nursing Center. “They open up; they take time to interact and they really do know what'’s going on.” Sickler, who would like to see a permanent Alzheimer’s unit at the center, says it was diffi- cult at first to get the artists to share and relax but the stress- free environment allows for easy communication, relaxa- tion and tremendous validation for the residents. Scientists say the arts stimu- late the parietal lobe of the brain, even in the very last stages of Alzheimer’s disease, to remember and respond. The seniors showed off their work on Aug. 26. The point of the exhibit is not so much about the results - although good art did result - but about the proc- ess which calls up emotions and memories first shared and then somehow calmed in the minds this numbing disease violates. The Meadows Center held an art exhibit produced by victims of Alzheimer's disease. Kathleen Detwiler wheels her mother, Marie Borton, around to see the exhibit. CHARLOTTE BARTIZEK PHOTOS/ FOR THE DALLAS POST Maryan Daily, Dallas, and Kathryn Sutton, Trucksville, enjoy the art exhibit at the Meadows Center produced by Alzheim- er's victims.
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