Tired of ads? Subscribers enjoy a distraction-free reading experience.
Click here to subscribe today or Login.

NANTICOKE — While April snow showers dampened attendance at the first annual Luzerne County Community College Cares Community Fair, it did not interfere with the morale of the event and its organizers.

The event, organized by Leadership LCCC, was held Saturday in Patriot Square and featured a petting zoo, food vendors and information about admissions and financial aid at LCCC.

Members of the class include Paula Labenski, administrative assistant to the president and board of trustees; Janine Kelley, coordinator of the KEYS Program; Lisa Novitski, data processing technician for the school’s registrar; and Laura Kapalka, assistant director of financial aid. According Labenski, the class is an internal leadership program for staff at the college. Part of the class is to come up with a project, and this year’s class chose the fair to help with health in the community and to build a relationship with Nanticoke.

“We would like to bring the college into the community,” Kelley said.

Both student groups and businesses from Nanticoke set up in the square to offer health screenings, information about recycling, fire safety, public transit and dental health.

“We have a great working relationship with the city of Nanticoke,” Labenski said, and they hope to strengthen that relationship through these events.

The class began planning for the event in October and credits social media as a big help in organizing and advertising.

“We really used social media (when) looking for vendors,” Labenski said.

One vendor, Brandon Murtha, of Nanticoke, said the organizers reached out to him on Facebook asking if he would be interested. Murtha’s business, Murt’s Cupcakes, sells homemade cupcakes out of a renovated camper.

While the event slowed down with the arrival of the snow, according to Labenski, the beginning of the event had a good turn out.

“It was chilly, but people did come,” Labenski said.

LCCC student Allison Stevenson, of Nanticoke, said she saw the event advertised at school and thought it would be an interesting and fun event. She and her friend, Katina Oursler, of Nanticoke, came out despite the weather.

“(It’s) a really nice fair,” Oursler said. “It would be a lot better without the snow.”

Labenski said the group hopes that the event will continue next year and is grateful for the support from the community.

“We are grateful for the support we’ve from the college president, Tom Leary, and the city officials,” Labenski said.

The Luzerne County Community College student government stand was passing out hot chocolate at Saturday’s fair. From left, Jimmy Gallagher, James deLoach, Amanda Ruffin and Mary Sullivan.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_lccc_fair2_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgThe Luzerne County Community College student government stand was passing out hot chocolate at Saturday’s fair. From left, Jimmy Gallagher, James deLoach, Amanda Ruffin and Mary Sullivan.

The LCCC Fair on the Square in Nanticoke included pony rides for the young crowd that attended the fair Emma Lapointe 18 months enjoyed the ride while watching the snow flakes fall her mother Catie held on to her as she rode the pony —————-Fred Adams|for Times Leader4-9-16
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_lccc_fair3_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgThe LCCC Fair on the Square in Nanticoke included pony rides for the young crowd that attended the fair Emma Lapointe 18 months enjoyed the ride while watching the snow flakes fall her mother Catie held on to her as she rode the pony —————-Fred Adams|for Times Leader4-9-16

Three Luzerne County Community College students work a booth at Saturday’s fair. From left: Michelle Gitkos, Kenera Yakobitis and Tanya Corvo.
https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/04/web1_lccc_fair1_faa.jpg.optimal.jpgThree Luzerne County Community College students work a booth at Saturday’s fair. From left: Michelle Gitkos, Kenera Yakobitis and Tanya Corvo.

By Brigid Edmunds

[email protected]

Reach Brigid at 570-991-6119 or @TLNews