Starting a new tradition … When Erin Rebo Pikul organized the area’s first Renal Race last year, she never expected the outpouring of support the race would receive. Five hundred people turned out to the event, which raised $20,000 for the Kidney Cancer Association. Equally important to Pikul, the race raised awareness of a disease that we hear little...

Fighting ‘Irish’ Gene … He could have been known as “Gene the Machine” or “Junior Jabber,” but those nicknames didn’t stick for the local boxer who was just meant to be “Irish” Gene. Hailing from the High Works section of North Scranton, Irish trained with some of the best boxing coaches in the area, including the famous Paul “Hook”...

Capturing the Moment …   When we caught up with photographer Julie Jordan in the Raymond Hood Room of the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple, she couldn’t help but think about all the performances she prepared for in the dressing room that was once just down the hall. Back then, she was a young ballerina with butterflies in her...

Sweet Dreams … Jennifer Frey wants to make a difference in people lives. Whether she’s helping a young girl secure a beautiful dress and accessories for prom through the Junior League of Scranton’s program, Cinderella’s Closet, or helping people in The 570 diagnose their sleeping troubles at The Sleep Disorder Center, Frey wants to make an impact in...

Raising the Ice Bar … Initially, it was curiosity that snagged Chef Kevin McDonald’s attention and steered him toward a life of ice sculpting. While working in Denver, Colo., he encountered the executive chef he was serving under working on an Easter ice sculpture on a back dock. Luckily, he was punched in for his shift, lent a helping hand with the...

Gifts from the hill … Maggie Calpin Hemak is energetic and outgoing, creative and business savvy, and her store, Nibbles & Bits, is a true reflection of her spirit. On a busy Monday morning, we stopped by the gourmet gift basket (and more) shop in the Petersburg section of Scranton, for a cup of coffee, a chocolate-covered strawberry and some good...

Busting all the myths… Dr. Gary Kwiecinski tells the story of the Earl of Cranbook as an example of debunking myths about his beloved bats. It was once thought that if a bat should fall on a woman’s head of long hair, the bat would become so entangled that the hair would have to be cut. The Earl took it upon himself to test the myth by placing four...

Always in step … Think you have two left feet? According to Shauna Baldino, there is no such thing. The Carbondale native and professional dance instructor is opening the doors to her new dance studio, Ballroom ONE, on Friday, Feb. 1 with an open house celebration and several free class demonstrations. Located on the second floor of 209 N. Washington...

A healthy dose of pure energy … Rebekah Carlyle believes in the powerful energy of healthy organic food. Along with her husband Jason and daughter Bella, the Carbondale native spends her time and energy focusing on her business, Be Life Café and Marketplace in Clarks Summit. A graduate of Baltimore International Culinary School with experience as a...

On a Mission … Kelly O’Brien and Alex DuBois are a great team. As certified yoga instructors and owners of Mission Yoga, the pair offers what every yoga studio needs – balance. O’Brien brings a  methodical, Type-A approach to the studio, while DuBois brings a free spirited outlook to life in the studio.  As they rang in 2013, they celebrated the...