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Kenny Quigley wins Wilkes-Barre Duathlon

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Our Opinion: Add playful elements to public spaces in NEPA

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The sun shone and temperatures rose as area fathers made their way to Kirby Park to celebrate the Father&#8217;s Day with their families.</p><p>Eric and Keri Kemmerer, of Mountain Top, especially appreciated the opportunity to spend time with their children, Autumn, 6, and Nevaeh, 3, because they said it was rare that they get a day off together.</p><p>The Kemmerers have just returned to the area from the Lehigh Valley and were impressed with the park.</p><p>Of the park equipment, Keri said, &#8220;This is definitely an upgrade.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s nice to celebrate the holiday outdoors and not in front of a computer screen,&#8221; said Eric Kemmerer. &#8220;We&#8217;re bringing the girls up like we were brought up.&#8221;</p><p>The family looked forward to topping off their Father&#8217;s Day with dinner on the deck of their home.</p><p>Patrick Myers, of Ashley, was celebrating his special day with his daughters, Bianca, 12, and Emma, 8.</p><p>Bianca shares his love for softball, and the two practice in the park.</p><p>Myers said not only did his daughters give him a beautiful card, but also a gift certificate for Dunkin Donuts.</p><p>&#8220;That was my favorite,&#8221; he said. &#8220;You can tell they know me really well.&#8221;</p><p>Across the park, Jody Sharpless was celebrating not only Father&#8217;s Day, but his son&#8217;s birthday with family. Braxton Rowley turned 5 on Sunday.</p><p>The group thoroughly enjoyed the weather and the park environment, busting a pinata, playing with water balloons and eating ice cream cake.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;He got a bike for his birthday,&#8221; said Sharpless. &#8220;And he was able to ride around the park. It was great.&#8221;</p><p>Sharpless said he was most impressed that the park was being used by area residents.</p><p>&#8220;A lot of times parks might be beautiful, but families don&#8217;t get out there and use them,&#8221; he said. &#8220;They don&#8217;t spend time together outside.&#8221;</p><p>As the day unfolded, the softball fields filled with players, residents strolled around the pond and bicyclists rode in groups through the park.</p><p>Many had come from celebratory breakfasts or were headed home to cook on the grill or so that Dad could open a special gift.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Chris and Diane Chollak, of Dallas, spent Father&#8217;s Day with their grandsons, Grant, 3, and James, 12, hiking at Frances Slocum State Park. Sunday&#8217;s warm weather sent many families to the area&#8217;s parks to celebrate Dad&#8217;s big day. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016fathersday2-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Chris and Diane Chollak, of Dallas, spent Father&#8217;s Day with their grandsons, Grant, 3, and James, 12, hiking at Frances Slocum State Park. Sunday&#8217;s warm weather sent many families to the area&#8217;s parks to celebrate Dad&#8217;s big day. </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016fathersday3-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Alexis Killian, 5, rides in a kayak with her father, Ward, during a family outing at Frances Slocum State Park. Alexis&#8217;s older sister, Abigail, 9, took her first solo trip alongside her mom, Leeann. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016fathersday3-1.jpg</photo1><caption1>Alexis Killian, 5, rides in a kayak with her father, Ward, during a family outing at Frances Slocum State Park. Alexis&#8217;s older sister, Abigail, 9, took her first solo trip alongside her mom, Leeann. </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016fathersday1-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sterling Kepp spent Father&#8217;s Day with his 3-year-old sons, Derek and Blake, at Frances Slocum State Park. Blake caught his first fish, a small bluegill. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_TTL062016fathersday1-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Sterling Kepp spent Father&#8217;s Day with his 3-year-old sons, Derek and Blake, at Frances Slocum State Park. Blake caught his first fish, a small bluegill. </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>ggibbons@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Geri Gibbons at 570-991-6117 or on Twitter @TLGGibbons</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Area families honor fathers under sunny skies