St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Hawley Summer Concert Series

Even a flood of 1955 did not music and architecture of St. Paul’s Lutheran Church in Hawley.

Located at 405 Church Street, St. Paul’s shares a long history in the town of Hawley. Church records date back to 1853 when services were held in German. In 1863 the church incorporated as the German Evangelical Church. In 1864 the cornerstone for the new church was laid by Pastor Henry Frankfurt. It was completed in 1872 at the cost of $5,000, with delays due to the Civil War.

The Parsonage was built in1892 but destroyed by fire in 1898 and rebuilt the same year. In 1914, services began in English and the church adopted the Lutheran Constitution and became St. Paul’s Lutheran Church. But on Christmas Eve in 1922, the church was destroyed by fire as the members prepared for Christmas festivities. Five years later, in 1927 the church was rebuilt.

In 1966 the Parish Hall served the Kindergarten for the Hawley School District. In subsequent years parking lots and handicap accessible renovations were made. Through fire, flood and war St. Paul’s Church continues to be an integral part of the town of Hawley.

Summer featured performers include:

David Kuhn performed on Broadway, worked with iconic Beatles producer George Martin and enjoyed a satisfying solo career. The Philadelphiaborn musician, songwriter and performer has been a part of 55 feature films and network television shows to date including Seinfeld, Friends, Beverly Hills 90210, ER… to name a few. His songs have been featured in the ABC Movie of the Week, The Warner Bros. Hit series 7th Heaven and his song “Time Soldier” was recorded by the Ladder on Atco/Atlantic Records.

Tomoko Kuhn, a native of Japan began studying piano at 4 years old. At the Juilliard School she studied collaborative piano and received her Master of Music degree. She has performed as a collaborator and chamber musician across the East Coast including appearances at the Weill Recital Hall of Carnegie Hall, Lincoln Center and the Riverside and Trinity Churches (New York City.) She joined soprano Kathleen Battle on her Far East Tour in Japan and Korea. She is currently a staff accompanist of The Juilliard School and Columbia University. She lives in Tafton with her husband David Kuhn. H

Upcoming Concerts include

June 10 - April Mae and the June Bugs, April Mae, Catfish Dave, Topher Horner and Tony Macara

June 17 - Classical Cello, Flute & Piano, Evelyn Joung, Koaki Shinkai & Tomoko Kuhn

June 24 - All That Jazz, Michelle Oram and Friends

July 1 - EKat and Friends**

July 8 - Jazz Trio, Ed Michaels, Bob Wilson, Steve Kurilla

July 15 - Classical Bass, Violin & Piano, David Kuhn, Lori Abbott & Tomoko Kuhn

July 22 - The Original Mixed Company - Acapella

July 29 - Barber Shop Quartet-Sound Renovation**

August 5 - Piano and Vocal-Tomoko & David Kuhn

August 12 - Faithful Messenger-Anne, Bob & Lorrie**

August 19 - Callicoon Station-Don, Elizabeth & Dave

August 26 - Mariachi Band**

** Outside Concert. Bring a lawn chair H

James O. Donnelly President & Chief Executive Officer, Wayne Bank

James (Jim) O. Donnelly was named President and Chief Executive Officer in 2022. He has over 30 years of banking experience, most recently with Bangor Savings Bank where he served as Executive Vice President and Chief Commercial Officer. Jim earned his B.A. from the University of Maine at Presque Isle and his M.B.A. from Post University.

What key traits led to your rise as Chief Executive Officer within large banking institutions?

Probably a mix of my interest in helping people and our communities. It has also helped that my curiosity has made me a lifelong learner so as banking has changed, I have been able to stay abreast of those changes.

How do you inspire others to become exemplary leaders?

I had the good fortune to be in leadership positions at a young age. There are a lot of challenges that make you a better leader, as well as a lot of trial and error. I am a voracious reader and I read how others lead, to learn from their experiences. Treating people well and caring about them is important to being a good leader. It doesn’t mean that you don’t have high expectations for them or that there is no accountability; quite the opposite. The kindest thing as a leader is to help people reach their full potential, even if that means helping them understand that they may be in the wrong job for their talents. I believe that if I can make sure our employees have a great place to work, they will in turn give our customers an exceptional banking experience.

How do the increased interest rates affect consumers and businesses?

The rising interest rates by the Federal Reserve have made everything from buying a home to growing a business more expensive. It is to control inflation which, by definition, means to slow the economy. My advice is to not let the news about higher rates deter you from following your dreams of owning your own home, starting your own business, or investing in your retirement; do so within your budget. We have had higher rates in our history and home ownership still went up, new businesses were started and people were rewarded for investing in their retirement accounts.

What does the expression ’to have one’s affairs in order’ mean?

It means that we have a plan for how to live our lives that gives loved ones some security if we pass. It is important to have a balanced approach to enjoying today and planning for tomorrow. I think using a planning tool to help us manage what we spend today, spend on insurance and invest for tomorrow, is critical to having the peace of mind that relieves some of the stress that different life events may bring. As bankers, it is our job and our passion to help people reach their dreams and gain that peace of mind.

Continued on page 26

What kind of young boy were you?

I was a typical kid who loved playing sports and hanging around with my friends. I was a pretty good student, but not always a willing one. I collected baseball cards. It was like currency if you got a good one. Trading cards was great training for negotiating multi-milliondollar deals. Always look for a fair exchange!

I’ve had a lot of mentors in my life. My parents and grandparents were very hard workers who built a strong work ethic in me. I have also had many good teachers who inspired me to do more and try more. Sometimes the gentle nudge or encouraging comment at the right time makes a big difference in your life. I am fortunate to have had more than my fair share of those.

On being a father

I have three sons. I hope I set a good example on how to be a good husband and father. I hope they watched their parents work hard and reach for the American Dream. I have my dream job at Wayne Bank, so they know that they can achieve whatever they want if they work hard and treat people well.

On life in Maine vs Pennsylvania

I find a lot of similarities between NEPA and Maine. There is a great respect and enjoyment for our environment and there is so much to do in the beautiful outdoors. The people are warm and welcoming. We really feel right at home here! H

The 20th annual Wayne County Arts Alliance Tour will be held July 7, 8 and 9 at over twenty locations around Wayne County. The free event will run from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. each day. Tour the headquarters at the new WCAA building at 959 Main Street, Honesdale. The tour provides an opportunity to meet Wayne County's established and emerging artists in their studios. Find original paintings, sculpture, glass, textiles, ceramics, collage, photography and more. The Tour Preview Exhibit at 959 Main Street will also be open for two weeks prior to the tour, beginning June 24, Thursdays-Sundays, from 11 a.m.- 4 p.m.

By beginning your tour at the headquarters you can sample an art from each of the artists and speak with docents to help plan your tour. Visit one or all locations. Artists include: Larry Wildenstein, Bill Westmoreland, Kevin Storms, James Spencer, Ellen Silberlicht, Trix Render, Matt Povse, Deborah Pollak, Paul Plumadore, Nancy Palubniak, Sue Mickley, Linda Krause, Heather Hogan-Spencer, David Harvey, Pauline Glykokokalos, Lisa Glover, Jeff George, Denis Folz, Phyllis Chekenian, Jill Carletti, Berton Bulles, Patricia Blauth and Susan Cottle Alberto.

The Artists Studio Tour is the premier event which was the catalyst for establishing the WCAA. The Tour gives the public a rare opportunity to visit with some of the professional and emerging artists who call this area home.