2010 Best of the Abingtons: Local flavor - Part 1 | The Abington Journal, Clarks Summit, PA

Winner: Skylake Gallery, Route 407, Fleetville, 570.947.7000, www.skylakegallery.com. William and Lauri Chickillo, owners of Skylake Gallery, have been giving area painters and sculptors a place to display their work for the last decade. Since opening the doors in 2000, the two have seen an ever-widening and diversifying group come through their gallery. “We have a really nice space and really nice art,” Lauri said regarding the gallery’s appeal.

Runner Up: Linder Gallery, Miller Library at Keystone College, La Plume, 570.945.5141, www.keystone.edu.

ARTIST

Winner: Valerie Kiser, www.valeriekiser.com. A repeat winner, Kiser said she still gets as much enjoyment from creating art, now, as she did when she was a child, a fact she feels may be the reason for winning the award again. “I have fun making it, so maybe that’s reflected. I’m really grateful that people voted for me again,” said Kiser.

Runner Up: Bill Chickillo, Skylake Gallery, Route 407, Fleetville, 570.947.7000, www.skylakegallery.com

PHOTOGRAPHER

Winner: Stephanie Walkowski, Sharpshots Photography, RR 1 Box 434A, Dalton, 570.563.1679. Since 2006, Walkowski has been a fixture at most Abington Heights High School athletic events. She has been on hand to capture and share a number of special memories with the students, “Being with the kids, that has been the best part.”

THEATER GROUP

Winner: Electric Theatre Company, 326 Spruce St., Scranton, 570.558.1515, www.electrictheatre.org. Currently finishing up its 18th season, the Electric Theatre Company has seen its audience attendance steadily rise over the last few years. “I think we offer a consistent quality of show, and our programming is varied. We don’t always do the same types of plays, and I think people like that,” said artistic director David Zarko.

BAND

Winner: Mace in Dickson, www.maceindickson.com. For close to two decades, Mace in Dickson, made up of Dave Maciak, Brian Sarafinko, Dan Williams, Bill Baracaia, Carl Breese and Sarah J. Williams, has become a staple at area bars like McGrath’s, O’Neil’s and the Honky Tonk, with its brand of southern and classic rock. “The most important thing to us is the people that come to see us. We try to play for them what they want to hear,” said Maciak.

SOLO MUSICIAN

Growing up in East Benton, the 27- year- old singer/songwriter began performing her own material when she was 14. She recently released her second CD “Somewhere Past Distraction.” “This album would have never happened without my producer Carl and all the great musicians who played on it…it’s also thanks to all the fans that have supported me over the years,” said Holgate.

POLITICIAN

Winner: State Rep for the 114th Legislative District, Jim Wansacz, 319 Main St., Old Forge, 570.451.3110, http://www.pahouse.com/Wansacz/

For the last 10 years, Wansacz has worked to improve the communication between the government and the people by going out and listening to what the voters and those in the community had to say. The community acknowledged his hard work this year with this award. “I want to thank the readers of The Abington Journal for voting for me, I’m honored they think so highly of me,” said Wansacz.

Runner Up: U.S. Rep. Chris Carney, D-Dimock Township, 233 Northern Blvd., Clarks Summit, 570.585.9988, http://carney.house.gov/about.shtml.

HIGH SCHOOL TEAM

Winner: Abington Heights High School Comets Boys Basketball Team, Returning only two starters from last year’s squad, Coach Ken Bianchi wasn’t quite prepared for such a dominant year for the Comets. “We had to find guys to step up and play the other three spots, and everyone did a fantastic job in the process,” Bianchi said, reflecting on the team’s run to the Lackawanna League Division 1 and PIAA District 2 Class AAA championships. “We posted a 29-3 record, advanced to the state quarterfinals, and everyone involved did a great job putting it together.”

HIGH SCHOOL COACH

Winner: Joe Repshis, Abington Heights High School Comets Football. Coming off a 10-2 season, expectations were high for Repshis and his squad, and the team responded in convincing fashion. In his fifth season as head coach of the Comets, Repshis guided his team to an 11-2 overall record, including the PIAA District 2 Class AAA Championship. “I am extremely grateful for this award, it is truly a reflection of all of the hard work put into our program,” Repshis said of the honor. “I must single out our assistant coaches, who go above and beyond week in and week out for our team.”

Runner Up: Claude Welcome, Abington Heights High School Comets Powerlifting Team

HIGH SCHOOL MALE ATHLETE

Winner (Tie) : Evan Craig, Abington Heights High School Comets Football/Wrestling. After a junior wrestling season in which the Clarks Summit native made an undefeated run to a PIAA state wrestling title, many wondered what Craig could do for an encore. The answer was simple, as he repeated his accomplishments to become a two-time state champion and post a second straight undefeated season. “The memories I have made here will last a lifetime, because you don’t get those opportunities every day,” said Craig, who also starred as a two-way tackle on the Comets football team.

Winner (Tie) : Kody Pasqualichio, Abington Heights High School Comets Football/Volleyball. While the position of fullback may not be among the most glamorous on the football field, Pasqualichio operated from the spot with a remarkable degree of toughness. Pasqualichio has also taken his strength and hustle to the spring season, where he is in his fourth year of starting for the Comets volleyball team. “I am just blessed to be able to play and enjoy two different sports,” Pasqualichio said of the honor. “I get to be with two different groups of friends and teammates, and it is really enjoyable.”

HIGH SCHOOL FEMALE ATHLETE

Winner: Christine Colman, Abington Heights High School Comets Soccer. A junior defender for the Comets, Colman has emerged over the past three seasons as one of the area’s top defensive soccer stars. The Clarks Summit resident, who is also a member of SADD and the National Honor Society at Abington Heights, credited her teammates for the impressive results the team has accumulated this season. “We have a great group of girls on the team, who are all good friends, and we all enjoy working together,” Colman said of her time with the squad.

BEST COLLEGE CAMPUS

Winner: Keystone College, 1 College Green, La Plume, 945.8000, www.keystone.edu. Since ground was broken on the first building in 1870, the Keystone College campus has grown to encompass 270 acres of the most beautiful and scenic land in the region. Mixing modern structures with Victorian-era homes and peaceful, stream-crossed woodlands, the campus at Keystone is set to improve even further with planned renovations to Gardner Hall and the Hibbard Campus Center. “It is an honor to be recognized by readers of The Abington Journal for best college campus,” said Fran Calpin, Senior Director of College Relations at Keystone. “We consider our campus to be a beautiful and important resource for the residents of Northeastern Pennsylvania.”

Runner Up: Baptist Bible College and Seminary, 538 Venard Road, Clarks Summit, www.bbc.edu

BEST COLLEGE PROFESSOR

Winner: Dr. Michael Mould, Keystone College, 1 College Green, La Plume, 945.8000. A Massachusetts native, Dr. Mould has been involved in local education at the collegiate level for more than 40 years as a professor, coach and administrator. Twenty-eight of those years have been spent at Keystone College, where he now teaches courses in sports management. “It is a great pleasure to be part of a wonderful campus community, with students who are eager to learn and develop their lives and careers,” said Dr. Mould, who also currently sits on the Lackawanna Trail School Board.

Runner Up: Janet Wrightnour, Keystone College, 1 College Green, La Plume, 945.8000.

BEST TEACHER

Winner: Rebekah Flanagan, Mathematics, Abington Heights High School, 222 Noble Road, South Abington Township. Teaching various math courses, Flanagan has been a mainstay in the halls and classrooms at Abington Heights since 1999. A Moscow resident, Flanagan said she enjoys teaching her early-morning math classes, as well as running a math clinic each afternoon as well. “I very much enjoy teaching at Abington and interacting with the many great students we have on a daily basis,” Flanagan said of her experiences.

Runner Up: Dena Maciak, Art, Abington Heights Middle School, 155 Newton Ransom Blvd.

BEST LIBRARIAN

Winner: Leah Ducato Rudolph, Abington Community Library, 1200 West Grove Street, Clarks Summit, 587.3400. Having served as the director of the Abington Community Library since 2005, Rudolph said she enjoys coming in each day to “the job of a lifetime.” Crediting the patrons and staff of the library for making her job so rewarding and enjoyable, she praises the various groups and organizations affiliated with the library for their commitment to “lifelong learning.”

Runner Up: Shu Qiu, Dalton Community Library, 113 East Main Street, Dalton, 563.2014.

BEST CHILD-CENTERED ENTERTAINMENT/ACTIVITY

Winner: Gymboree, 1145 Northern Blvd., South Abington Township, 586.5880. Offering a full range of entertainment and educational programs for children 4 and under, the Gymboree staff members describe their operation as a world-class provider of parent-child interactive programming. “We specialize in classes and programs involving music and movement. This allows us to create a truly interactive experience for children and parents alike,” said Maurita Pascale, manager at Gymboree.

Runner Up: Waverly Community House, 1115 North Abington Road, Clarks Summit, 586.8191.

BEST FITNESS INSTRUCTOR

Winner: Sharee Marciano, Body Dynamic Pilates, 115 East Grove Street, Clarks Summit, 586.1188. After working at Body Dynamic for just over a year, Marciano has found a great deal of pride and satisfaction in putting her extensive dance background to work with clients and staff. “I work with clients of all ages in Pilates-based programs,” Marciano said of her work at Body Dynamic. “Our exercises are healthy and beneficial for all ages and use a wide range of muscle groups in the body.”

Runner Up: Kevin Rail, Yoga, Everything Natural, 426 South State Street, Clarks Summit, 586.9684.