‘Tis the season for Love Lites

HONESDALE, PA — Tiny sparkling lights in honor of or in memory of loved ones now grace the trees outside Wayne Memorial Hospital, a hospital spokesperson wrote. 

Several dozen people attended the Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary’s annual Love Lites ceremony on December 5. The event included a blessing by Pastor Mary Bryant of Cold Spring Chapel in Pleasant Mount, PA; remarks from hospital CEO Jim Pettinato; and holiday music, performed by the Honesdale High School Chorus. 

Love Lites was launched in 1991 as a fundraiser and as a way to bring the community together during the holiday season, the spokeswoman said. 

A memory book listing all the names honored with lights can be found in the hospital lobby and on the hospital website at www.wmh.org/wmh-auxiliary.

The students shared their work with their classmates.

Building Chickenland

MONTICELLO, NY — Friendsland. Campingland. Chickenland. 

The names sound like realms of fantasy, but for Jen Ruston’s students at the George L. Cooke Elementary School, those places could be close enough to touch.

All it took was a little dreaming and some craft supplies.

The students read the book “Mattland” (by Hazel Hutchins; illustrated by Gail H.D. Petricic), a story about a young boy who creates imaginary lands in his neighborhood with the help of his friends. 

Afterward, Ruston put students into groups and they created their own “lands.”

Then, the students took turns presenting their lands to each other and answering questions from their peers. Some groups created landforms and bodies of water that they had learned about in the book—mountains, volcanos, oceans and ponds. Some added their own personal touches with airports, castles, bridges and more.

The project was a fun way to integrate English language arts, science, collaboration and public speaking skills, a Monticello spokesperson wrote. Even more importantly, the activity was an opportunity for students to flex their creativity and bring their imaginations to life.

The students shared their work with their classmates.

 A ‘gourd’ time was had by all

MONTICELLO, NY — The St. John Street Community Preschool Center held its first harvest festival in October.

The event was hosted by EPIC, Every Person Influences Children, and the turnout was remarkable, a district spokesperson said, with over 120 families and seven community agencies present.

Attendees included EPIC, Fidelis Care, MVP, Sullivan County Attain Lab, Nesin Cultural Arts, Cornell Cooperative Extension and the Sullivan County Department of Public Health.

The festival kicked off with activities for families as part of the event’s Trunk or Treat. Preschool teachers greeted students with candy and Halloween treats as they arrived with their families.

Inside the building, fall-themed activities awaited the families. At the food art table, students made pumpkins out of celery sticks and mandarin oranges. At the literacy table, students put together Halloween-themed words, such as “cat,” “bat” and “boo,” with cut-out letters, and then glued them onto cardstock.

And at the math table, students competed for a chance to win a large pumpkin and carving kit by counting how many pumpkins were in the room—all part of a “Halloween hunt.” Students also enjoyed a Halloween story time, which was provided by Cornell Cooperative Extension and featured guest eader Sue Ann Boyd.

Winners in the costume contest took home prizes.

The costume contest consisted of four categories: funniest costume, most original costume, cutest costume and most frightening costume. The four winners took home backpacks filled with books and treats; the packs were provided by EPIC.

The night concluded with a family take-home project, supplied by EPIC.

“The project is one of the best ways for expanding family participation,” said Jane Sorensen, EPIC family-engagement program manager.

Cancer support group planned

ONLINE — A cancer support group, held over Zoom, is planned for January 2023.

It’s run by Natascha Demner, a functional medicine health coach, breast cancer survivor and a yoga teacher. 

The group is for patients and survivors in the community. 

“My hope is to create a safe space where we can share and support each other, explore strategies to take an active part in our healing, lower the stress associated with such a diagnosis and strengthen our immune system,” Demner wrote recently.

To learn more about the group, email Demner at hello@natahealth.co.

Learn more about Demner and her work at www.rebootandnourish.com.