Some happy news for the holidays

It has been another one of those years where the news often leaves us shaking our heads in sadness and disbelief. The state of humanity can be a terrible thing to behold.

Sadly, tales of tragedy and strife have always been an inextricable part of reporting the news. Thankfully, sad stories are not the only thing we do, especially at the local level.

Each day there are bright spots, people and events who make the community a better place and bring smiles and relief to others. As we prepare for Christmas, we wanted to look back on a few of the stories that made us smile in 2023.

The list is not definitive by any means — lots of good work was done by many this year — but we felt these were some of the folks and events that stood out.

Nathan Gray Memorial Playground

In July a longstanding dream became a reality with the dedication of the Nathan Gray Memorial Park in South Wilkes-Barre.

The playground sits not far from Nathan’s home, and it’s a place he helped plan and design and would have enjoyed.

“Nathan would visit that park quite often when he was feeling well enough to do that,” Mayor George Brown said.

By the time Nathan reached 8, he had attained a larger-than-life status for how he handled himself through the treatments and surgeries following his diagnosis at the age of 2 of a rare form of kidney cancer. His family opened his world to the public on the “Nathan the Superhero” Facebook page.

Nathan lost his six-year battle with cancer on Jan. 6, 2022.

In honor of Nathan, and to support and bring awareness to childhood kidney cancer, the new Nathan Gray Memorial Playground’s is awash with his favorite color — orange.

In addition to Nathan’s wishes for an orange puppy rocker and fitness equipment, several pieces of ADA equipment, including a zip-line, were installed in the playground.

“Nathan would love this,” said his mother Tricia Gray, holding back tears as she looked out at the crowd during the dedication. “The fact that there are still this many people here supporting him … I have no words.”

Mayor Brown and city officials deserve major kudos for making it happen. (Likewise the mayor’s devotion to children with special needs, who also have their own new playground, which opened in 2022.)

‘Kammander’ Cunningham and his mullet

No one ever thought that when Karson Cunningham decided to cut his younger brother’s hair, that it would lead to a third-place finish in the USA Mullet Championships in August.

Kelsey Cunningham said Carson, her middle child, wasn’t fond of Kamden’s long hair and he decided to give him a haircut. So while his mom was downstairs doing laundry, Karson took nose-hair scissors and started cutting Kamden’s hair.

“Karson told me he didn’t want Kamden to have long hair anymore,” Kelsey said. “We had to take Kamden to Steve Tippins at Barber Bros Barber Shop in Exeter to straighten it out. Kamden looked at some pictures at the barber shop and he chose a mullet cut.”

As Kelsey said, since that day, it’s been “an exciting ride” for the family.

The Swoyersville boy took the community by storm this year, especially once the five-year-old’s distinctive haircut landed him in the USA Mullet Championships.

Kamden even took the mound at a Scranton/Wilkes-Barre Railriders game to toss the ceremonial first pitch in August.

As for the Mullet Championships: Rory Ehrlich, 6 of Montgomery County, finished first and received $5,000; Ezekiel Arita, 3 of Hawaii, was second and got $1,000; “The Kammander” received $500 for his third-place finish. The competition saw more than 1,000 entrants ages 1 through 12.

But Kamden’s efforts helped raise thousands of dollars for Jared Allen’s Homes for Wounded Warriors non-profit in the process.

“Kamden has been given some amazing opportunities along the way,” Kelsey said. “He’s done so many interviews and the publicity has been all over the place.”

Way to go, buddy! We’re all proud of you.

Coffee Inclusive opens in Pittston

Frank Bartoli has been dreaming about creating a coffee shop to employ people with diverse abilities and Autism for many years.

Dreams became a reality when Coffee Inclusive, under the umbrella of NEPA Inclusive, opened its doors in March in Pittston.

Bartoli, president/CEO of NEPA Inclusive, created NEPA Inclusive to help create and support inclusive and sustainable lives for people with disabilities. He had been talking about creating a coffee shop for years waiting for the right time and place to create such a business, a first of its kind in Northeastern PA.

“It’s been five or six years since we thought about a coffee shop,” Bartoli said. “We’ve look at options over the last number of years and when this one final came along, we thought, it’s time.”

In November, Bartoli announced that a new bakery, Bake Inclusive, will open its doors in March of 2024. The new bakery could hire as many as 20 employees. He also stated many of the Coffee Inclusive workers will be cross-trained to work in the bakery as well.

This all smells like sweet success to us.

WWII veteran honored

There was a time when members of “The Greatest Generation” were the dominant force in American life and politics. Now, the men and women who helped save democracy during World War II are down to a precious few.

In November, Willis Ide, 99, of Sweet Valley, was honored with the annual Outstanding Veteran Award from the Wyoming Valley Veterans Day Parade Committee. The honor came complete with a ride in the annual parade and an appearance on the reviewing stand on Public Square.

In an interview with the Times Leader following the parade, Ide talked about his long-ago service in the legendary Battle of the Bulge, which helped turn the tide toward Allied victory.

A proud father and grandfather, Ide was honored that family members suggested his name for this year’s parade honor, and that the committee saw fit to bestow it.

Ide had 11 siblings. He was one of seven of the boys who served in the military — four in World War II, three in Korea.

“And they all came home,” Ide said. “But now I’m the only one left.”

He was able to pay tribute to their service during his remarks on the reviewing stand.

“I explained that I was accepting this in honor of my brothers who were in service with me,” Ide said.

We thank you for your service, sir. It was an honor and a pleasure meeting you.

Wyoming Valley Behavioral Hospital opens in ex-First Hospital building

In November we reported that the new Wyoming Valley Behavioral Hospital had opened in the former First Hospital building on Wyoming Avenue in Kingston.

When First Hospital, one of the largest providers of mental health services in the region, closed its doors the previous year, that left a tremendous void for inpatient and outpatient services, state Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-Kingston, said.

“Data continues to show the increasing demand for mental health services, especially in Kingston and the surrounding areas,” Kaufer added. “Now, individuals in need of mental health services will once again have local access.”

Jim Davis, Chief Executive Officer at the hospital, said, “we are very pleased to offer mental health services to people in this area. Our goal is to provide compassionate, caring services so people can deal with life’s challenges and begin to develop new strategies to navigate daily challenges.”

This was one of the most important pieces of good news we saw in all of 2023, because the impact on families of First Hospital’s closure cannot be understated.

Much praise goes to the region’s legislative delegation, and particularly Kaufer, for the work they did to ensure a replacement was found.

Historic homes celebrated

The Wilkes-Barré Preservation Society in November honored the owners of three historic houses for outstanding historic preservation work: The Andrew McClintock house, 44 S. River St. (built 1841); the Isaac Long house, 259 S. Franklin St. (1889), and the Gerald Fluegel house (1928).

The third-annual awards event was hosted by honorees Joel Zitofsky and his wife, Ronne Kurlancheek, at the Andrew McClintock house.

Vaughn Koter has lovingly restored and maintained the Fluegel House, while Bill Frey and his wife, Irina Melnik, are raising their family in the rambling Victorian Isaac Long house, where they hope to open Melnik’s dental practice in a dedicated space.

“We would just like to encourage other people who might be thinking about something like this — who are interested in renovating an old home but might be intimidated by the process — that it is possible,” Melnik said of the endeavor.

“The cost isn’t that different from buying a house out in Dallas or Mountain Top. You just need to understand it’s something where you have to put in some time. You don’t just close in 60 days and move in,” Frey added.

Kudos to all the owners, and to the Preservation Society for this important recognition that helps maintain interest in our rich architectural heritage.

Hanson’s train rides again

Many people from Northeastern Pennsylvania and beyond have fond memories of the former Hanson’s Amusement Park at Harveys Lake.

Among those cherished memories are rides on the miniature train that ran at the park, which closed in 1984.

For anyone who might long for the good old days and one more ride on that train, you’re in luck.

The well-traveled miniature railway that arrived at Hanson’s in 1946 is alive and well in a new home — at Retherford’s Farm Market on Route 487 in Benton Township, Columbia County.

Allen and Sarah Retherford purchased the train in 2022 from Bonham’s Nursing Home in Stillwater, where it had been for many years, and began offering rides to the public on their farm.

“We were really happy to re-home the train,” Sarah said. “It brings back a lot of memories to a lot of people and now it’s making new memories for kids and families.”

Retherford’s is located at 4095 Maple Grove Road (Route 487), Benton Township. For information, visit https://www.facebook.com/RetherfordsFarmMarket.

DeLuca earns No. O jersey

Wyoming Area graduate turned Penn State football team captain Dominic DeLuca impressed the coaching staff enough to be given the honor of wearing No. 0 for the Nittany Lions.

He’s only the second person to be given the jersey, meant to recognize “a tough, dependable, disciplined, physical leader who inspires teammates with his accountability and production.” Considering how he got there, he earned it.

DeLuca was a walk-on coming off an ACL injury and has parlayed that humble origin story to become a respected, valuable part of the team and earning a scholarship.

Wyoming Valley Run debuts

We offer congratulations to Allied Services and everyone else involved in a very successful, first-ever 10-mile Wyoming Valley Run held in September.

The innovative idea, which was years in the making, allowed participants to walk, bike or run from Pittston to Wilkes-Barre, mostly on Wyoming Avenue — a thruway much better known for carrying vehicles, not pedestrians.

The run drew nearly 1,000 people from 13 states, evoking kudos all around. It also drew a good number of spectators along the route. The success is impressive in itself, but consider this was initially planned for 2020, pushed aside like so many other plans by the COVID-19 pandemic.

Here’s hoping it becomes an annual event with ongoing popularity.

Remembering Underground Railroad conductor

A grave-marking ceremony Saturday at the Wilkes-Barre Cemetery in August honored Henry Brown, a prominent free Black man who risked his life helping former slaves make their way to freedom in the mid-1800s.

Brown hid the runaway slaves in the basement of his Northampton Street home until it was time for them to take their next step toward freedom. He died in 1884, but his grave had remained unmarked.

The marker project was a collaboration between the Daughters of the American Revolution, the Wilkes-Barré Preservation Society, the Sons of the Union Veterans, the Wilkes-Barre City Cemetery Committee, and Rediscovering Ancestry Through Culture and Education (also known as the RACE Team).

Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame debuts

The Luzerne County Arts and Entertainment Hall of Fame inducted its inaugural class of 2023 with a rockin’ ceremony at Mohegan Pennsylvania in October. Over 400 guests were treated with musical performances by select inductees in addition to their dinner.

“Our inaugural class celebrates some of the most talented and accomplished people that are from Luzerne County or have roots in Luzerne County, and to have so many of them here under one roof at one time on one night is unprecedented,” Committee Member Alan K. Stout said.

Also, during the ceremony, Times Leader reporter Bill O’Boyle and local music legend Joe Nardone Sr. were recognized with Founders Awards for their trailblazing efforts to bring the long-awaited dream of The Luzerne County Arts & Entertainment Hall of Fame to fruition.

The joys of old appliances

Some people may snicker, but we are big fans of the Kingston Holiday Water Heater and Golden Throne awards. Both are quirky, fun local traditions that look to bring smiles to people in their respective communities who are known for giving of themselves.

While the Golden Throne is relatively new, the Kingston Holiday Water Heater is a tradition of four decades’ standing.

This year’s honorees: Kingston Borough Administrator Paul Keating received the water heater, and “Clown Kid” Brian Orbin now has a sparkly toilet on his lawn for the holiday season.

Speaking of the ‘Clown Kid’

Brian Orbin turned his rainbow-wigged persona toward a worthy cause, leading a pack of cyclists around Harveys Lake to raise money for the Alzheimer’s Association.

“I really started raising money for Alzheimer’s when my grandfather passed away from the disease right before the COVID-19 pandemic started…now my grandmother is starting to feel the effects of it, as well,” Orbin said. “I wanted to use my persona to bring people together to help raise money and benefit the cause.”

The “Clown Kid” is a persona that Orbin has been working on for many years, dating back to his time in middle school.

Forgive the pun, but this really did prove you can clown around and still make a difference.

A happy ending for Nova

Praise to all those who helped give the sad saga of Nova the abandoned pit bull a happy ending, both for the pup and for justice.

As reported in February, nearly two years after the emaciated dog was found left for dead, she appeared recovered and thriving, and two suspects were charged in the case.

Fittingly, Nova was living free as the adopted pet of Luzerne County Detective (and former Pittston City Police Chief) Neil Murphy, and got to sit in on the media conference announcing that charges were being filed.

Good girl! And good work by the cops and investigators who used some sophisticated technology and techniques to pull the case together and find the suspects.

Children’s Service Center window painting

Here’s to Rosemary Luksha and all the volunteers who kept an uplifting tradition at Children’s Service Center alive for a quarter century: Painting colorful, kid-pleasing holiday scenes on the windows. Luksha started the tradition in memory of her brother Edward, who died in 1998.

It’s impressive that the event has been maintained continuously for so long.

“We will come to paint as long as our hands can hold brushes,” Luksha told reporter Bill O’Boyle in November, when the windows were painted for this year. It not only brightens the view, it warms the soul.

Luzerne County ‘merch’ is here

Visit Luzerne County created an offbeat collection of locally themed tourism merchandise that proved a big talker: T-shirts, mugs, tumblers, golf balls and shot glasses with images celebrating some of our distinctive landmarks or the county seal.

They’re available from the Visit Luzerne County office in the old train station at the corner of Market Street and Wilkes-Barre Boulevard in Wilkes-Barre (official address is 200 Old Train Station Road). Phone: 888-905-2872 or click on https://www.visitluzernecounty.com/.