TS_CNG/SUBURBAN/PAGES [S01] | 03/13/19
10:16 | BAUMEISTER
Abington The
MARCH 14, 2019
INSIDE
SuburbaN
Irish tunes fill local church Page 3
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
PERFORmiNg iN THE PARAdE
ELIZABETH BAUMEISTER Suburban Subplots
Bob, bob, bobbin’ along
EMMA BlACK / STAFF PhOTOGRAPhER
Maria Adonizio performs with the Abington Heights Dance Team and Marching Comets in the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade Saturday, March 9. For more photos, see page 10.
CROP Hunger Walk slated for April 21 BY CLAYTON OVER STAFF WRITER
Label and Eckel Farms already signed on. About 130 walkers raised A quarter of the funds $7,300 at last year’s Abington raised stay in the area to Area CROP Hunger Walk. support local hunger and This year, they’re hoping poverty fighting programs. to go bigger: 200 walkers and This year’s walk will support $10,000. the work of local This year’s food programs. “We were event is slated for The remaining April 21 at 2 p.m. money is used talking among by Church at the Dalton Fire Company, 109 S. the different World Service, Turnpike Road. the organizer pastors in the of CROP Hunger the hunger Walks are held churches for a walk program, nationwide. alleviate way to engage to People raise hunger in poor money ahead of communities the whole participating in the community. It throughout the three-mile world. Money walk, which seemed like a raised helps symbolizes the families in the good fit.” distance people in United States and some parts of the around the world — Rev. michelle world must travel who are victims Whitlock for food and clean of disasters like Pastor, Waverly United water. Hurricane Sandy, Methodist Church A hunger the earthquake in walk previously Haiti and refugees held in the Abington area fleeing war or famine. was dormant for about 30 The group also supports years, said the Rev. Michelle projects such as agricultural Whitlock, pastor at Waverly training, health clinics, United Methodist Church. micro-businesses, schools The Abington Ecumenical and fresh water wells in the Ministerium revived the world’s poorest communities. event last year. Last year, hunger walks “We were talking among raised more than $8.3 the different pastors in the million, according to CROP churches for a way to engage Hunger Walk website. the whole community,” To learn more about Whitlock said. “It seemed CROP Hunger Walks or to like a good fit.” sign up for the Abington Last year’s sponsors Area CROP Hunger Walk, included Geisinger, visit crophungerwalk.org/ the Rotary Club of the clarkssummitpa. There is Abingtons, Young’s no fee to participate, but Funeral Home, Weis each walker is encouraged Market and Gerrity’s to raise $100 or more Supermarkets, said Sue through pledges from family Youtz of Countryside members, friends and others. Community Church in Contact the writer: Newton Township. This cover@timesshamrock.com; year, sponsors such as First 570-348-9100 x5363; Presbyterian Church of @ClaytonOver on Twitter Clarks Summit, Scranton
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Walkers prepare to step off at last year’s walk.
Abington Area Crop Hunger Walk When: Sunday, April 28, sign in time is 1:30 p.m. and walk time is 2 p.m. Where: Start and finish at Dalton Fire Company, 109 S. Turnpike Road, Dalton Walk distance: 3.5 Miles Cost: there is no fee to participate, but each walker is encouraged to raise $100 or more. For more info: visit crophungerwalk.org/clarkssummitpa or email Karen Rickaby at kdavis75@hotmail.com.
We’ve entered the time of year I like to call “Sprinter.” That’s part spring, part winter. Sprinter. It usually arrives in Northeast Pennsylvania around the same time as the Scranton St. Patrick’s Parade, and this year is no exception. I spent my Saturday morning and early afternoon riding (and for a short time walking) in the parade with Times-Shamrock Communications, and was happy to find early-on that there was no need for the winter jacket I brought with me. Despite the small piles of snow still adorning many of the sidewalks, the sun added just enough warmth to the Sprinter air to be comfortable in a sweatshirt. Some people in the crowd even appeared content in their green T-shirts. After the parade, I parted ways with the downtown city crowds and retreated back to the Abingtons for a brisk Sprinter walk at South Abington Park. Seeking some peace and quiet, I crossed the first bridge and took the dirt path that veers off to the left, away from the more populated paved trail. The ground was the epitome of Sprinter: a mix of mud and slush. But it wasn’t the ground I was interested in; it was the tree branches and, more importantly, what might be in them. You see, my favorite Sprinter activity is birdwatching. Actually, that’s one of my favorite yearround activities. But in the Sprintertime, it’s different. In Sprinter, it’s about looking for a sign of hope, a sign of spring. I’m referring, of course, to robins. In the words of songwriter Harry Woods: Rain may glisten but still I listen for hours and hours I’m just a kid again, doing what I did again, singing a song When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ When the red, red robin comes bob, bob, bobbin’ along Unlike the false hope perpetuated by that liar and trickster, the groundhog, the hope presented by the “red, red robin” hasn’t failed me yet. And so, every Sprinter, I fervently watch and wait for its first appearance. I’m sad to report I did not see any robins on my Saturday afternoon walk at South Abington Park. The only bird I spotted was a Please see Robin, Page 5
What’s inside Calendar ........................ 2 Suburban Family ............. 2 Obituary ......................... 4 Contest .......................... 6 Green Scene ................... 7 Just For Fun .................... 8
Fighting local hunger
Sports ...................... 9, 12
Waverly United Methodist Church is also the home of the Waverly Community Garden, the bounty of which are donated to organizations like the Keystone Rescue Mission Alliance, the Women’s Resource Center and food and senior centers. Organizers are looking for experienced gardeners to help train volunteers to care for the garden this year, the Rev. Michelle Whitlock said. Anyone who’d like to help out should call Whitlock at 717-578-0436 or email mwhitlock@susumc.org. — Clayton Over
Schools ........................ 11
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People take part in last year’s CROP Hunger Walk.
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