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Donations made to St. Vincent dePaul Kitchen

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In focus: Josh Simon, of Luzerne, fighting back from severe vehicle crash injuries

<p class="x_MsoNormal">KINGSTON &#8212; A usually quiet corner of Kingston has been filled with activity for the last few months, as Peoples Security Bank prepares to open in the spring.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">The building, purchased by Peoples Security Bank and Trust for $495,000 in January 2015, will share space with the borough&#8217;s U.S. Post Office, previous owners of the building, which will lease 2,000 square feet of the building&#8217;s over 9,000 square feet of space.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">David Walton, corporate communications, United States Postal Service, said, &#8220;We no longer needed all the space in the building, so we relocated the 25 letter carriers to the main post office in Wilkes-Barre.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">According to Walton, the renovations to the postal space are finished and it is fully operational, with the bank&#8217;s space still a work in progress.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Walton said the reduction in space used by the post office reflects a growing trend of patrons conducting business in front of their computers rather than at a post office window.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;We are balancing our clicks and mortar now that many people do business online,&#8221; he said. &#8220;We understand the importance of having a postal presence so people can do business with us in many ways, whether at a post office or at usps.com.&#8221;</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Peoples Security spokesperson Steve Lawrenson anticipates construction to be completed by the end of February, opening the bank to the public during March or April.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Lawrenson believes both entities can successfully coexist.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;ve made a special effort to ensure patrons of the post office will have ample parking,&#8221; he said, &#8220;even purchasing an additional parcel for that purpose.&#8221;</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Lawrenson said the bank, based in Scranton and serving five counties, is looking forward to providing services for area residents.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;We&#8217;re looking forward to serving folks in Luzerne County,&#8221; he said.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">He emphasized the provision of 24/7 service to customers at ATMs with a progressive customer-focused corporate culture.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Diana Rodriguez, of Swoyersville, continues to buy stamps and mail letters at the post office site.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">&#8220;I don&#8217;t go to any other post office,&#8221; she said. &#8220;And I&#8217;ve continued to come here during the construction period.&#8221;</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">Joe Dillon, of Kingston, who frequently ships packages from the location, is excited to see how the building turns out.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">He had no problems with parking or accessing the building during the building&#8217;s transformation.</p><p class="x_MsoNormal">As a steady stream of customers made their way to the service window on a recent afternoon, some did acknowledge the noise level has been somewhat challenging at times during the construction period and said they look forward to the project being completed.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">The Kingston Post Office will lease space from Peoples National Bank on the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Pierce Street. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL011516Bank1.jpg</photo0><caption0>The Kingston Post Office will lease space from Peoples National Bank on the corner of Wyoming Avenue and Pierce Street. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Peoples Security Bank coming to Kingston, will share space with borough’s post office