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Wednesday, May 22, 1996     Page:

Editor’s Note: “Mountain Laurels” is a regular series of letters from
readers conveying thanks to individuals or groups for their support, help or
kindnessSecond family
   
It is never an easy decision to have a relative placed in a nursing home.
Seven months ago, our family had to place our loved one, Mary Major, at
Dorrance Manor in Kingston.
    As we began going day in and day out to visit Mary, we began to consider
Dorrance a second home, and the staff at Dorrance became like a second family.
They always had a friendly word, and the care given by the staff was superior.
   
On April 21, 1996, Mary Major passed away at Dorrance Manor. Both her
families were with her. The people at Dorrance Manor cared and made a
difference to her and to them. We thank you.
   
Kristin Kurpis
   
Swoyersville
   
Loving caregivers
   
Thanks is a must for the superior care given at Valley Crest Nursing Care
Facility to my brother Gerald (Higgins) Carey , who died April 23.
   
So often on our visits, the caregivers would be giving extra attention and
affection to the residents of 2A. The pleasant atmosphere and humor displayed
by the 2A people was most impressive.
   
Our heartfelt thanks goes to those caregivers and those responsible for
hiring such capable, professional and kind employees.
   
Alice Larkin
   
Alice Scanlon
   
Wilkes-Barre
   
Crime fighters
   
The Crime Watch Committee of the Hanover section of Nanticoke would like to
thank those who have contributed to the success of the Crime Watch Program.
   
We thank The Times Leader for the many times it has published our notices
of meetings and other announcements. People tell us that “they saw it in the
newspaper.” Without these announcements and notices being published, we would
not be able to function as we do.
   
A thank you goes to those who have been guest speakers. Our local
magistrate, Donald Whittaker, gave a memorable, and well researched,
presentation on juvenile crime. Luzerne County Sheriff Carl Zawatski’s
presentation, “Crime Prevention,” was well researched and well received. We
were given many good tips on how to protect ourselves and our property from
crime and criminals.
   
We would like to thank those who have contributed to our scrap metal
program; the proceeds will go to many projects awaiting funding.
   
And finally we extend a huge thank you to those many individuals who have
responded to the call to the Crime Watch Program: block captains, watchers,
and supporters of the program in the Hanover section of Nanticoke and
elsewhere. They are the unsung heroes, unthanked and, in some cases, unknown
to the general public.
   
Joe Mushala
   
Al Cumberland
   
Nick Pucino
   
Coordinators
   
Crime Watch Committee
   
Hanover section of Nanticoke
   
Successful production
   
On behalf of the “Boys Next Door” committee, consisting of representatives
from mental health and mental retardation agencies in Luzerne, Wyoming,
Lackawanna, Susquehanna and Wayne counties, we wish to thank the community for
their tremendous outpouring of support for the production of “The Boys Next
Door” at the Kirby Theater on April 26.
   
More than 2,700 junior and senior high students, representing 28 schools,
enjoyed the play during two performances that day. The cooperation of the
schools was outstanding.
   
Also, more than 900 persons attended the evening performance.
   
It was indeed a success and helped us all to understand that persons who
are mentally challenged have the same needs that we do: to love and be loved,
to be accepted and respected.
   
We are grateful for everyone who contributed to the success including the
media, Pennsylvania Public Theater and the F.M. Kirby Center’s staff and
volunteers.
   
Rose Tucker
   
Thomas O’Neill
   
Co-chairpersons
   
Luzerne-Wyoming Counties
   
Mental Health/
   
Mental Retardation Program
   
Wilkes-Barre
   
A happy ending
   
On Sunday, April 21, my husband took our 5-year-old son and 2-year-old
daughter to Kirby Park to ride their bikes and play.
   
My son wanted to play on the bars, and my daughter wanted to play on the
sliding board. The bars, swings and sliding board are near to one another.
However, while my husband was occupied with my daughter at the sliding board,
my son, who had forgotten that his bike was with his father, left the bars and
went looking for it. When my husband and daughter got to the bars, our son was
gone.
   
With bicycle, helmet and a screaming 2-year-old in hand, my husband began
searching the park. After going back and forth from the old fire engine to the
swings and bars two or three times, my husband came upon a woman walking with
two boys, one of whom was our son.
   
When my son had gotten separated from my husband, he found the woman with
her little boy and knew enough to ask for help in finding his dad.
   
From what my husband tells me our son was very calm and kept his cool even
though he was lost. We are very proud of him for being able to handle himself
so maturely in this situation.
   
We thank Eileen Bayley and Casey Holliday, his teachers from the
Wilkes-Barre CYC pre-school prep class, who have taught the children about
what to do should they ever become separated from their parents. They are to
be commended for a job well done.
   
My husband never got the name of the woman who helped our son, but I hope
she reads this letter. It is our only way of being able to say, “Thank you.”
   
Frank and Roxanne Peterson
   
Larksville
   
Food drive a success
   
Once again the local members of the National Association of Letter
Carriers, AFL-CIO, have come through with flying colors.
   
On Saturday, May 11, over 3,750 pounds of food found its way to the Church
of Christ Uniting in Kingston.
   
This will go a long, long way in meeting our responsibility to those on the
West Side who are in need.
   
We also thank the volunteers from our association and the Wyoming Valley
Meals on Wheels, students from Wyoming Seminary and three young men from Sweet
Valley, all of whom spent their Saturday helping to unload and sort the food.
   
Clint Spiegel
   
President
   
Board of Directors
   
Al Beech/West Side Food Pantry