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Exeter staple, Grico’s Restaurant and Catering, being sold

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Two charged with possession of drug paraphernalia

<p>BUTLER TWP. &#8212; The Helping Hands Society received a helping hand on Saturday night at a fundraiser complete with a bit of glitz and glamour, good food and music that drew many to the dance floor and put smiles on the faces of attendees.</p><p>Joell Martinelli, fundraising director, lauded over 200 area residents for attending the Diamond Drop dinner dance in support of the organization, a nonprofit providing services for those with special needs in Luzerne, Carbon and Schuylkill counties.</p><p>The society offers programs for infants, toddlers and preschoolers, developmental programs, academic help, speech/language therapy and parent counseling for youngsters from birth to elementary age. Children in need of developmental therapies are never turned away because of finances.</p><p>Held on a sizable dance floor under sparkling lights at Sand Springs Country Club in the Drums section of the township, the event culminated at about 10 p.m. with the drop of hundreds of red balloons from the ceiling. Fifteen of the balloons contained notes indicating prizes that that people who popped the balloons won.</p><p>When Chris Ustynoski, of Sugarloaf, popped his balloon, he learned he was the grand prize winner of a ring valued at $975 from Fellin&#8217;s Jewelers.</p><p>Andrea Kosko, an owner of the jewelry store with a 94-year history in the Hazleton area, said the ring not only served as an incentive to attend the fundraiser, but also reflected the spirit of the Helping Hands Society.</p><p>&#8220;We chose a &#8216;side-by-side&#8217; diamond ring this year to symbolize parents, staff members and the community coming alongside children to help them reach their potential,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Last year, Fellin&#8217;s donated a necklace holding a diamond star, reflecting the ability for children to shine with the assistance of others.</p><p>&#8220;Diamonds, originally formed under great pressure, then need to be mined, cut and polished to become beautiful,&#8221; said Kosko. &#8220;So it is with the efforts that we need to invest in our children to help them be their best.&#8221;</p><p>Attendee Jack Matteo, of Drums, said the event provided a chance to have a good time with friends at a beautiful venue.</p><p>&#8220;The food was fantastic, the band was unbelievable, and it was all for a good cause,&#8221; Matteo said.</p><p>And, although the prospect of winning a diamond ring certainly was exciting, participants said the real winners were the youngsters served by the organization committed to making their lives better in the long term.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">&#8216;Into the Spin&#8217; trombonist Brett Rynhart plays among the crowd of people at the Sand Springs Country Club in Butler Township on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL020116BalloonDrop1.jpg</photo0><caption0>&#8216;Into the Spin&#8217; trombonist Brett Rynhart plays among the crowd of people at the Sand Springs Country Club in Butler Township on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL020116BalloonDrop3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Chris Ustynoski, of Sugarloaf, runs up to the front after he finds out he&#8217;s the winner of a diamond ring - the grand prize during a fundraiser at the Sand Springs Country Club in Butler Township on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL020116BalloonDrop3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Chris Ustynoski, of Sugarloaf, runs up to the front after he finds out he&#8217;s the winner of a diamond ring - the grand prize during a fundraiser at the Sand Springs Country Club in Butler Township on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL020116BalloonDrop2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Marina Norris, of Hazleton, gets ready to pop her balloon at a fundraiser event at the Sand Springs Country Club in Butler Township on Saturday. Norris is the owner of Famous Salon &amp; Spa, which helped sponsor the event. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/01/web1_TTL020116BalloonDrop2.jpg</photo2><caption2>Marina Norris, of Hazleton, gets ready to pop her balloon at a fundraiser event at the Sand Springs Country Club in Butler Township on Saturday. Norris is the owner of Famous Salon &amp; Spa, which helped sponsor the event. </caption2><photoCredit2>Sean McKeag | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Proceeds benefit Helping Hands Society</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>HOW TO HELP</strong></p><p>Learn more about the Helping Hands Society or make a contribution at <a href="http://www.helpinghandssociety.com" target="_blank">www.helpinghandssociety.com</a>.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

‘Diamond Drop’ proceeds will help children to shine