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Would you like to dance with ‘The Great Russian Nutcracker’ when it comes to the Kirby Center? Here’s your chance

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Costumed canines help raise funds

NANTICOKE &#8212; There was something for everyone at Luzerne County Community College&#8217;s 26th annual Craft Festival Saturday.Sponsored by the college&#8217;s alumni association, the event included roughly 150 artisans, crafters and various food trucks. A new addition to the food offerings this year were chicken pot pies and hot soup made by the school&#8217;s culinary arts students.Each year, the event raises an average of $13,500, said Bonnie Lauer, director of alumni. The funds go toward scholarships, improvements at the school and donations to various charities. Proceeds from last year&#8217;s Craft Fair were used to build a gazebo on campus.&#8220;We really are seeing more involvement from the college. Employees and students volunteer and some come as spenders. Even one of the food vendors is a criminal justice teacher,&#8221; Lauer said of Bob Boyer, who ran a pork barbecue food truck.Boyer is also the mayor of Wyoming Borough.&#8220;There are so many alumni here today,&#8221; noted college President Tom Leary, sporting a Luzerne County Community College sweatshirt. &#8220;They come back because they have such a connection to the college. We have a great alumni group and a great director.&#8220;I think it&#8217;s great that so many people in the community support us. It&#8217;s a great reflection of a community college.&#8221;&#8220;This is one of my favorite things I look forward to in the fall,&#8221; said Jaclyn Mendygral, 38, of Hanover Township, who brought along her two daughters Abby, 15, and Lindsey, 13. The first time she attended the event was when she was pregnant with Abby in 2000. &#8220;Now it&#8217;s a tradition that I bring them both with me.&#8221;Although she only had one little stuffed snowman in her bag, Jaclyn said she planned to do a lot more shopping.<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta>By Camille FiotiFor Times Leader</bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta>The Times Leader newsroom may be reached at 570-829-7242 or in Twitter @TLnews.</shirttailMeta></div>

LCCC Craft Festival continues to grow