TimesLeader.com

May 7
Singing W-B’s praises

Davy Jones of the Monkees helps celebrate the city

By Sheena Delazio sdelazio@timesleader.com
Staff Writer

WILKES-BARRE – Davy Jones is a believer in the city of Wilkes-Barre.

Mayor Thomas Leighton smiles as Davy Jones performs Tuesday.

Davy Jones entertains the crowd on Public Square during Tuesday’s “Affair on the Square: Be a Believer” event.

FRED ADAMS photos/THE TIMES LEADER

Davy Jones dances the monkey in the Public Square band shell on Tuesday.

Times Leader Photo Store

The performer, famed for being one of the Monkees, made a stop in the city on Tuesday to help Leadership Wilkes-Barre promote its vision of revitalizing the downtown and Wilkes-Barre area.

Jones showed his support of revitalization by singing the hit song, “I’m a Believer,” to coincide with Mayor Tom Leighton’s “I Believe…” slogan, and even switched up the lyrics to say “…and then I saw this place, now I’m a believer…”

“We couldn’t be happier with the success of the five project groups of this year’s class,” said Lori Nocito, executive director of Leadership Wilkes-Barre. “They have raised the bar for Leadership Wilkes-Barre and we’re thrilled to coincide the success of the projects with the mayor’s revitalization efforts and the ‘I Believe…’ theme.”

And Jones’ performance in the band shell on Public Square puts the icing on the cake, Nocito said.

“The door to opportunity is marked push … you just have to open it,” Jones told the crowd of several hundred. “You have to change the way you look at things, and things will change.”

Jones said it’s important for the community to step up and take charge so that revitalization continues and more shops and restaurants come to the downtown and Wilkes-Barre area.

“…We were at Mohegan Sun (at Pocono Downs) and I’ve been into racing for a lot of years, and you don’t have to go there to gamble, you can just enjoy the occasion,” Jones said. “That’s what it’s all about. Some people think you can only have a good time in Los Angeles, New York, Chicago … but those things are alive and well in rural Pennsylvania. It’s not all about Hollywood. It’s about sharing and giving in the community.”

Leighton said through revitalization, Wilkes-Barre now has street lights and a top-of-the-line movie theater. Garbage is cleaned up, reservations are needed to dine at local restaurants and it’s all thanks to programs like Leadership Wilkes-Barre, he said.

“Without them, none of this would happen. I’m proud to be the mayor of this city,” Leighton said, and then presented Jones with the key to the city.

At Tuesday’s event, the five groups showcased their projects for attendees at the Ramada Inn, answering questions and explaining their process. More than 20 local restaurants provided food for the event, sponsored by Mohegan Sun at Pocono Downs, and local band Sister Esther entertained the crowd.

By the end of June, the Leadership Wilkes-Barre groups will have their projects completed. They include: Luzerne County’s first dog park; a trip for World War II veterans to the World War II monument in Washington D.C.; an American Red Cross blood drive; a past, present and future mural of the Wyoming Valley painted on a downtown building; and the opening of the Osterhout’s Free Library Parsons branch.

Jones, a native of England, resides in Beavertown, Snyder County, and was brought to Wilkes-Barre by development and communications coordinator of Leadership Wilkes-Barre, Amy Hetro.

“It was really her idea,” Nocito said. “She’s been working on it for well over a year, and a lot of people dismissed the idea. She has proven that any dream can become a reality. She has set a fine example of leadership with vision.”

Some attendees at the event, such as Theresa Dennis of Hanover Township, were there strictly to see Jones sing. Maryann and Tom Cybula, of Long Island, N.Y., made the five-hour trek to see Jones, too. For the 27th time.

“This is a beautiful town, and I’ve been a Davy Jones fan for 13 years,” Maryann Cybula said. “We might retire here.”

Others, such as Aneda Kaplan of Kingston, showed up to see Jones and what the Leadership class is up to.

“Seeing Davy Jones brings back memories. And, it’s nice to see what new things are being brought to Wilkes-Barre,” Kaplan said. “We need projects like this. People need to get involved.”

Sheena Delazio, a Times Leader staff writer, may be reached at 829-7235.