Throop plans Memorial Day program
The Throop mayor and a Bronze Star awardee will be among the speakers at Throop’s Memorial Day Services later this month.
The Memorial Day event will be held from 5 to 7 p.m. May 28 at the Throop Civic Center, 500 Sanderson St. All branches will be honored with patriotic songs, a gun salute and taps, as well as the Pledge of Allegiance and the presentation of the colors.
Speakers include Mayor Joseph Tropiak and the Rev. Louis Kaminski, a member of the US Army’s 109th infantry who served a year in Iraq, achieved the rank of major and was awarded the Bronze Star. A list of Throop veterans who have passed will be read and the bell of honor will toll seven times to honor their service.
The event is free and open to the public. Light refreshments will be offered.
Student experiences internship
A Jermyn native earning a masters of social work got some real-world experience working through a unique program at The Wright Center.
An adviser pointed Juliana Joyce, 24, to The Wright Center’s internship program because of the student’s interest in working with mothers.
As an intern, she shadowed a case manager in the Healthy MOMS program — an initiative co-founded by The Wright Center in 2018 to help pregnant women overcome addictions and successfully raise their children.
“I didn’t realize this kind of program was available in our area,” said Joyce, a Valley View High School graduate. “I have already seen how it can change lives and impact women and their families. It’s really amazing.”
Joyce recently celebrated with a mother in the Healthy MOMS program who had been aided in the court system and received word that she was being granted shared custody of her son.
“We all broke into tears,” Joyce said. “It was a beautiful experience getting to see that and hear her say, ‘I have my baby back.’”
Healthy Kids Day brings speakers
The Greater Scranton YMCA’s annual Healthy Kids Day event on Saturday will feature two renowned youth speakers.
Taes Levitt will speak at 11:30 a.m. in Gym B and Kelly Perotti will speak at 12:15 p.m. in Gym B.
Leavitt is a two-time Juno award winner. She has spent the last 15 years creating empowering television and stage content for kids as one half of the musical duo, Splash’N Boots. Her research has revealed that the number one thing that holds people back is not knowing how to navigate big feelings — bullying, failure, guilt, sadness and heartbreak. Her knowledge of children’s entertainment, combined with developmental psychology and mindfulness practices, has led to the creation of her program, which is approved by pediatricians and psychologists.
Perotti is a two-time black belt, two-time Masters World Champion and an advocate for kindness and resilience. She is an elementary school motivational speaker focusing on the life-changing power of kindness.
“At a time where our mental and emotional health has never been more important, social emotional learning is a critical component for the development of our youth,” Kevin Whelley, director of the Wellbeing Initiative, Greater Scranton YMCA, wrote in a press release. “Social emotional learning teaches children how to identify their emotions and develop empathy and the skills and needed for improved self-control and stress management.”
Healthy Kids Day’s mission is to turn fun and play into lifelong memories. Activities include a Kids Fun Run that kicks off at 10:30 a.m., a vendor fair, petting zoo, rides, bounce houses, entertainment and more. The celebration will run from 10 a.m. through 2 p.m.
For more information about Healthy Kids Day, contact Brandon Whipple at 570-828-3116 or bwhipple@gsymca.org or visit the Y online at www.greaterscrantonymca.org/special-events.
Nominees sought for Route 6 awards
The PA Route 6 Alliance is requesting nominations for their annual “Do 6” Awards recognizing individuals, groups, projects and communities that exemplify and advance the Alliance’s mission of protecting, preserving and promoting the scenic, cultural, historic and recreational resources across the 11-county corridor of PA Route 6.
Nominations may be submitted until June 1 by any individual or group through the online or printable form at www.paroute6.com/do-6-awards-nomination. Award winners will be notified upon selection and awards will be presented at the PA Route 6 Annual Meeting and “Do 6” Awards on October 6th in Corry, PA.
Currently, nominations can be made in six categories:
LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT AWARD: Presented to a person or agency who exemplifies outstanding leadership and advances our mission through heritage development.
HERITAGE PARTNERSHIP AWARD: Presented to a group, person or organization that has demonstrated excellence in historic preservation, cultural preservation, interpretation, and/or education through cross-corridor thinking and interagency cooperation.
HERITAGE TOURISM AWARD: Presented to a business or project that furthers economic and tourism development while respecting the heritage and cultural resources of the PA Route 6 Corridor.
ARTISAN OF THE YEAR AWARD: Presented to an artist or artisan group that exemplifies the goals of the PA Route 6 Artisan Trail program showing regional thinking and cooperation while promoting the arts along the corridor.
HERITAGE LEADERSHIP AWARD: Presented to a person(s), business or organization for meaningful contributions and/or through partnerships, by enriching our communities through landscape initiatives or historic preservation.
HERITAGE COMMUNITY OF THE YEAR: Presented to the designated Heritage Community, who are embracing their Heritage Tourism Work Plans and implementing worthwhile projects and showing impacts and results.
Local award winners in 2022 included Lackawaxen River Trails for Heritage Tourism and Lisa Glover from Honesdale for Heritage Leadership.
For more information on the “Do 6” Awards Program and the 2023 PA Route 6 Educational Summit & Annual Meeting, visit contact the Alliance at info@paroute6.com or 814-435-7706.