A busy community

I always post portraits and things like that but realized I rarely post what else is going on out there that we are involved with.

Well, on March 19-20 I hosted live bunny portraits. The session fees were donated back to the Griffin Pond Animal Shelter where I foster the bunny from. This year was ver exciting because I donated $315! It was wonderful and they were very happy. Next year I may extend the special a little bit and ask for 2 bunnies. It is alot of handling for one bunny and I feel bad sometimes that the bunny has just had enough handling. Here is the press release photo that was sent out to the area newspapers.

Then there is the Carbondale Area YMCA. The Y has been undergoing a $9 million transormation over the last several years. I've been fortunate to be part of this campaign by supporting their photographic needs including the progress of the construction on a regular basis. Well this past Sunday, March 28th they had their "soft" grand opening. Introducing teh public to the new facility. It is unbelievable. The pool is beautiful and includes a waterslide, there is a Spin Room with several rows of spin cycles, and the Cardio room includes the usual treadmills and olypticals but also virtual skateboard machines and other really cool things for working out and fun and there is a free weight area too. The room is huge and there is the addition of a nurse on duty and the trainers, all right there.

Sunday's activities included a drawing for the first sliders down the slide (see photo) and the last person out of the old pool. It was exciting to be part of history.

First row: Halley Schwartz, Julian Turonis, Thomas Uzialko ( first to go down the slide ). Second row: Beth Wiggins ( Aquatic Director ) Mia Karev, Jeremie Bucklaw, Gwen Delfino, Mike Delfino, John Calabro, and Susan Mancuso ( Capital Campaign Chair ). Third row: Dr. Joseph Calabro ( Board of Trustees ), and Steve Durkin ( Executive Director )

In the meantime, at the other end of the valley in Scranton, the B'nai B'rith is preparing for the annual Americanism Award dinner held in May. I stopped in for two photographs that evening. First is the dinner committee and the second was a check presentation to the JCC youth from the B'nai B'rith lodge.

And all over the country people are launching campaigns for various seats in government. Here John Moran, a cformer Mayor of the city of Carbondale is preparing for his campaign for State Representative. I wish luck to all those running for office. They have the community's best interest at heart and I believe any of them can and will make a difference.

The past weeks have also been very busy inside the studio as we saw a record number of moms and families for Mother's Day portraits as well as a host of new babies for our Baby Plans. Those postings will be for another day as there are so many to post to Facebook that it will be quite a project to catch up. One that I hope to finish in the next week since so many moms and dads are anxious to see their images on line!