THE ABINGTON
Charged CIRCUS
JOURNAL
Mohegan Sun to host 5 performances of family entertainment beginning April 25 See Page 4.
TRACK Titans Kelsey O’Donnell, shown, is part of a Lady Comets team with 41 straight wins. See Page 13.
An edition of THE TIMES LEADER
www.theabingtonjournal.com
Wilkes-Barre, Pa.
Educator: Little ones amaze By KElly McDoNough Abington Journal Correspondent
By KEvIN KEarNEy Abington Journal Correspondent
Abington JournAl/ElizAbEth bAumEiStEr
Frank Black, of Eynon, slows down to the finish line at the end of the Open House April 13 at Cedar BMX in Newton Twp.
Riders on TRACK for new season
Cedar BMX, 1826 Red Barn Village Rd., Newton Twp., held its Open House April 13. Bikers of all ages participated in the free event, which included access to the track, refreshments, information about the Olympic sport of BMX and more. For additional photos, see theabingtonjournal.com and for more information about Cedar BMX, visit cedarbmx.com or call 570.855.8191.
See TEACHER, Page 12
INSIDE
The Abington Journal
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ArtsEtc. .................................. 9 Calendar ................................ 2 Classified .............................. 17 Crosswords ........................... 5 School.................................7,15,16 Sports .............................. 13
50¢
Newton lets Marley’s Mission out of the gate
tEAChEr of thE month
Nothing gives kindergarten teacher Chris Arcangelo more pleasure than being surrounded by young children who bring wonder and joy into her world. “I absolutely love children. They’re innocent, wonderful and kind. You never know what to expect. You just can’t imagine,” Archris cangelo said. arcangelo Hers is a story of a segue from executive secretary to stay- at -home mom then later to professional storyteller and teacher’s aid at Abington Heights Middle School. “Everyone used to say, ‘Why don’t you go to school and become a teacher?’ So one day, I said OK and quit my teacher’s aid job. I attended Marywood College where I received my B.S. in elementary education and a minor in early childhood.” Arcangelo explained. From there, things blossomed naturally. Monsignor John Louis asked Arcangelo if she’d like to be St. Gregory’s Early Childhood Center’s kindergarten teacher. That was 17 years ago. And she’s still embracing every moment. She claims children keep her young, alert and give her lots of energy. Arcangelo gives her job one hundred percent, if not more, and she feels strongly about helping children grow and develop at their own pace. A typical day means arriving
April 17 to 23, 2013
ABOVE: Dan Uhranowsky, of Clarks Summit, speeds around the track at Cedar BMX during its Open House April 13. AT RIGHT: Christian Black, of Eynon, rides the track at Cedar BMX in Newton Twp. during its Open House April 13.
NEWTON TWP. - Marley’s Mission received the go-ahead from Newton Township to break ground on a 32-acre property on Port Royal Road. The supervisors on April 8 approved the charity’s land development plan and request to combine two lots into one. Robert Naegele, a principal with Colwell-Naegele Associates Inc., an engineering consulting firm, represented Marley’s Mission at the meeting. He told supervisors the charity has a “very aggressive schedule and are excited to get started.” Nonprofit Marley’s Mission provides free equine assisted psychotherapy to children who have been victims of trauma. Its current location is on a 24acre tract in Lake Ariel, Wayne County. The next step is for the charity to start site work, which will begin in the a few weeks. The project will be completed as efficiently as possible because the charity hopes to be operating on the new property by July 5, the third anniversary of Marley’s Mission, said the nonprofit board president Gene Talarico in a phone interview. The charity, which operates mainly on fundraisers, private donations and grants, purchased the property on Port Royal Road at a reduced cost from Keith Eckel. “We came to a generous resolution to the sale because he was kind enough to take off a substantial percentage,” Talarico said. The total cost was about $240,000. The property will include two arenas, a 15-stall horse stable and a small building for an office/reception area. Marley’s new home will be more accessible for the children it aids, most of whom come from Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties. “The Newton property was selected for its beauty and ease of access,” Talarico said. “And the community has been very welcoming.” The purchase is also advantageous because the charity now owns property, which will make it easier for it to raise money and invest in itself, Talarico said. The charity rents the property in Lake Ariel. Established nearly three years ago, Marley’s Mission has helped more than 200 children from seven Northeast-
See NEWTON, Page 3
Her real name is By KElly McDoNough
W
orking with crayons at the kitchen table, 10-year-old Emily Urell drew a picture of a darkhaired woman and asked, “Excuse me, Mommy, how do you spell your name?” “M-O-M,” Regina Urell began. “No, your real name,” Emily insisted. Her mom dutifully spelled out R-E-G-I-N-A, and Emily carefully added the head of the household’s given name to her artwork. But M-O-M or M-OM-M-Y would have been equally appropriate. Regina Urell answers to both. The 28-year-old Clarks Summit woman officially
adopted Emily, 8-yearold Courtney, 6-year-old Alexa, 5-year-old Ashley and 3-year-old Abigail in December, so the five biological, special-needs siblings could stay together in a forever home. They were recently awarded 2013 Family of the Year by the WilkesBarre Racing Company. “Regina Urell has opened her heart and her home to five wonderful girls and adopted all five sisters together in 2012. She is a single mom with more faith, courage and love than anyone can imagine,” said Rich Pais, Executive Director of Wilkes- Barre Racing in
announcing the award. The Wilkes- Barre Racing Co.,affiliated with the foster care and adoption agency Concern, located in Eynon, asked Urell to promote foster care in a radio commercial. After speaking with Urell about how she adopted the five girls, Pais decided to nominate her for “Family of the Year.” A typical day — after school for the older girls and day care for the youngest ones — includes “home, homework, dinner, showers and bed,” Urell said. Special fun ranges from gymnastics and dance to
karate and soccer. Urell enjoys all these growing-up rituals because, she explained, it’s giving her a chance to enjoy childhood activities she never experienced as a youngster herself. With a leukemia diag-
ABOVE: Regina Urell with children Ashley, 5, Emily, 10, Abigail, 3, Alexa, 6, and Courtney, 8
nosis at age 4 and a relapse at age 7, she spent many of her early years undergoing cancer treatments. “I was in a wheelchair for a year. They said I’d never
See MOM, Page 3