TS_CNG/SUBURBAN/PAGES [S01] | 08/28/19
10:48 | BAUMEISTER
Abington The
AUGUST 29, 2019
SuburbaN
INSIDE Field hockey league forms See page 11.
T H E VO I C E O F T H E A B I N G T O N S
AN EDITION OF THE TIMES-TRIBUNE • FREE • WWW.ABINGTONSUBURBAN.COM
CadEts and CEssnas
ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER Suburban Subplots
A little letter writing
Julie JeFFery MaNwarreN / For abiNGtoN SuburbaN
Civil Air Patrol cadets from the Abingtons, C/TSGT Adam Vale, C/AMN Sophia Kazmierczak and C/AMN Logan Treat recently returned with fellow cadets from annual training at Ft. Indiantown Gap.
JULIE JEFFERY ManWaRREn | SuburbaN liFe
Local students soar in Civil Air Patrol squadron
Young people from the and has the largest fleet of Abingtons with the Civil Air Cessna aircraft in the world Patrol recently returned from with almost 900 airplanes in cadet training at Fort Indianthe continental U.S. town Gap. The teens are part It’s 60,000 nationwide memof Civil Air Patrol’s Scranton bers are volunteers. They Composite Squadron are trained to based in Jessup. search and find The Civil Air Patrol the lost, provide Learn more (CAP) is a nationcomfort in to learn more wide organization of times of disasabout the Civil air citizens dedicated to ter, and work to Patrol, visit public service who keep communigocivilairpatrol. are equipped to carry ties safe. They com. out emergency service promote aviamissions when needed tion and related in the air and on the ground. fields through aerospace and The CAP is an auxiliary of the STEM education, and shape United States Air Force (USAF) future leaders through CAP’s
cadet program. Lt. Barbara Pope is an educator and public affairs officer for the Scranton Squadron and the external affairs officer for Pennsylvania. “The Civil Air Patrol does what the United States Airforce is too busy to do as they protect our country,” Pope said. “We support them by getting up in the air and putting eyes on disaster situations. When there were ice jams on the river, photos were done by Civil Air Patrol. We scan the area and photographers in Civil Air Patrol take the aerial shots that are sent back to FEMA.
We were the first ones up a year ago when the tornado hit Wilkes-Barre.” The CAP was the first to fly over the city of New York after the 9/11 attacks. They were able to get much needed aerial shots of the damage and be eyes in the sky for government agencies. “We are not active duty military,” Major Glenn Carman said. “But we do a lot of things for the Airforce that save them time and money. We conduct over 90% of inland search and rescue for the USAF.” Please see Cadets, Page 10
LInda sCOtt | iN tHe abiNGtoNS
Helping with books
Do you enjoy books? There are two local events where you can donate books and help the community. Hillside Park Farmers Market and the Abington Community Library are holding an event called “Donate A Book, Change a Life” Thursdays, Sept. 5 and 19, 2-6 p.m. at the park, 1188 Winola Road, South Abington Township. At the event on Sept. 5, children’s books in good condition will be accepted. These books will be donated to the Women’s Resource Center. At the event on Sept. 19, paperback books in good condition will be accepted. This includes books on a variety of topics such as biographies, history, investment, real estate, trade, business, education, dictionaries, National Geographic, Reader’s Digest and more. These books will be donated to the Lackawanna County Prison. “The Abington Community Library is thrilled for the opportunity to leverage our amazing community support to the Women’s Resource Center and Lackawanna County Prison for those who need the extra support in the most trying of times,” said Sandy Longo, director, Abington Community Library. At both events, people can sign
up for a library card with the Abington Community Library for National Library Card sign up month. Another annual event that involves books is Our Lady of Snows/Church of Saint Benedict’s church bazaar, which took place earlier this month. “A few Wednesdays before the bazaar opens, there are set times when people can drop off books,” said Liana Smith chairman of the book booth. “I and others sort through the books and take out any that can create an allergy such as those that are dusty and moldy. Those books are recycled at Diamond K Incorporated in Scranton. Everything is then sorted such as children’s books, games and puzzles, paperbacks, hard cover books and stationery, and priced. There is nothing priced over $2. Then everything is placed in the appropriate categories and put on shelves. We try to place the books so that people can find them quickly.” The book shelves were obtained from Lourdesmont School when they moved out of Clarks Summit. The shelves were taken apart, loaded into trucks and then reassembled at the bazaar. Volunteer Michael Sucheski also made shelves and installed ceiling fans
Getty FreedoM iMaGeS
who volunteer or friends of choir members. The bazaar helps the Bazaar books church, and I like working with all After the bazaar, 12 puzzles my friends.” that did not sell were donated to “I have volunteered at the bazaar Scranton Hematology and Oncolsince they had the first one, in fine ogy Associates of NEPA. Patients antiques, and now with the book receiving chemotherapy treatments booth,” said Smith’s sister, Nora worked on the puzzles. After the Stracham, another volunteer. “It is puzzles were completed, they were a lot of work but also a joy. People glued to make a picture. save books from year to year to When the bazaar was over, books give to us. We are so grateful for the that did not sell were donated to the volunteers and we share a camaraVoluntary Action Center, Women’s derie with each other.” Resource Center, Catherine McAu“I love books and am enthralled ley Center and the Nativity Miguel by them,” said Smith. “The bazaar School. is held for three nights and volun“My wife, Sharon Maybock and teers take two hour shifts at the myself have volunteered at the ba- book booth. The volunteers all have zaar for the last 15 years,” said book a great time together and do a lot of laughing. We try to make the book booth volunteer Gene Maybock. booth look like a mini library.” “It is mostly the choir members for the booth.
When I sat down to write this column, I decided, as writers often do, to do something else. Instead, I wrote a letter to Colton. Colton lives in upstate New York. He is my godson. Colton is 4 years old and turns 5 in November. But before reaching that milestone, he has to hurdle another. Colton is entering kindergarten. His mom – my cousin, Mary Wheeler – and I were faithful pen pals as kids. We exchanged letters almost every week, often including in the envelopes little gifts such as stickers or friendship bracelets. We still occasionally write to each other via snail mail, and I visit her family in person at least three or four times each year. Last Thursday, while I was on vacation, my mom (Dawn Baumeister) and I made one of those visits. When it came time for us to head home, Colton begged us to stay longer, then begged us to come back the next day. We couldn’t, but I promised to write to him. Dear Colton, Your Aunt Dawn and I had a great time with you and your family last week. It was fun walking around the pond at Sapsucker Woods and then eating a picnic lunch at Stewart Park. Remember those three turtles we saw sunning themselves on a log? And the great blue heron that caught a fish? And the seagulls that wanted our lunch? Thanks again for sharing your chocolate cookies with Aunt Dawn and I. They were yummy; I’m glad the birds didn’t get them. I’m also glad you got to play in the sprinklers and ride the carousel, too. What a day. I’m so excited that you’re starting kindergarten. You’re going to have so much fun. I bet you’ll even learn about dinosaurs, although you probably already know more about them than the other kids in your class. Don’t be afraid to ask your teachers lots of questions and answer lots of questions they ask the class. That’s how you’ll get even smarter. You’re going to make new friends, too. I know you’re wary of people you don’t know – even kids your own age – but once you get to know your classmates, I think you’ll like them. And I know they’ll like you. But sometimes you might also meet bullies, kids who Please see Letter, Page 12
What’s inside Calendar ........................ 2 Court Notes .................... 2 Green Scene ................... 3 Suburban Family ............. 3 Churches ........................ 6 Contest .......................... 7 Just for Fun .................... 8 Sports ...................... 9, 11
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