web1_TTL062016wvw.french.jpg

WVW winners of the National French exam announced

web1_TTL062016sem.research.jpg

Seminary students awarded for science research

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Their target was 16, so organizers at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre were more than pleased last week when the American Red Cross collected 29 pints at their Wednesday blood drive.</p><p>&#8220;It was 181 percent of our goal,&#8221; Steve Nachlis said, noting several donors mentioned the recent mass shooting in Orlando, Florida, had reminded them of the need for blood.</p><p>&#8220;It did make people more aware,&#8221; said Heidi D&#8217;Aleo, Luzerne County Account Manager for the Red Cross.</p><p>But, when the drive opened at 10:30 a.m., it was the regular donors who showed up. They&#8217;re the folks who typically give blood every eight weeks &#8212; as frequently as the Red Cross allows.</p><p>&#8220;I have a rare blood type,&#8221; said Richard Zachor, 64, of Kingston, &#8220;so I try to give every 56 days.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s my way of giving back,&#8221; said Marlene Romanko, 62, of Dupont, who regularly donates with her co-workers Lisa Vandermark, 47, of Shickshinny and Tony Orlando, 46, of Swoyersville.</p><p>Yes, they&#8217;ve often heard the joke that because the two women are with Tony Orlando, they must be his back-up singers, &#8220;Dawn.&#8221; But, any similarities to a &#8217;70s pop group aside, the trio works at Family Services Association.</p><p>They&#8217;re glad their employer gives them time away from the office to perform their good deed, which is as easy as lying down and squeezing a ball or piece of wood while counting to five, then relaxing while counting to three.</p><p>Blood donations are much appreciated all year long, D&#8217;Aleo said, but particularly during the warmer weather.</p><p>&#8220;Blood donations tend to drop in the summer because, number one, high schools and colleges are off, and their drives give us 25 to 30 percent of our supply. Number two, people are busy with summer vacations and they&#8217;re not thinking about donating.&#8221;</p><p>But some donors, being very familiar with the need for blood and blood products, are determined to do their part year round.</p><p>&#8220;My own family has needed blood transfusions,&#8221; said Lourdes Sicora, 22, of Plains Township, who donated at the JCC drive. &#8220;I want to help someone else, if I can.&#8221;</p><p>&#8220;My father had leukemia and needed platelets,&#8221; Theresa Thomas, of Exeter said, echoing Sicora&#8217;s goal.</p><p>The local chapter of the Red Cross usually collects about 400 units of blood during 20 organized drives per month, and most of the blood is used locally.</p><p>Upcoming drives include:</p><p>&#8226; 1 to 6 p.m. June 21 at Christian &amp; Missionary Alliance Church, 317 Luzerne Ave., West Pittston.</p><p>&#8226; 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. June 22 at Christie Bonnice State Farm, 1118 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre</p><p>&#8226; noon to 5 p.m. June 24, Thomas P. Saxton Medical Pavilion, 468 Northampton St., Edwardsville</p><p>&#8226; 1 to 6 p.m. June 27, Woodlands Inn and Resort, 1073 Highway 315, Wilkes-Barre</p><style>
.neFileBlock {
	margin-bottom: 20px;
}
.neFileBlock p {
	margin: 0px 0px 0px 0px;
}
.neFileBlock .neFile {
	border-bottom: 1px dotted #aaa;
	padding-bottom: 5px;
	padding-top: 10px;
}
.neFileBlock .neCaption {
	font-size: 85%;
}
</style>
<div class='neFileBlock'>
<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_jccblooddrive01.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Theresa Thomas of Exeter holds gauze to her arm after donating blood at the JCC in Wilkes-Barre. Thomas is a regular donor who knows the need for blood is constant. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_jccblooddrive01.jpg</photo0><caption0>Theresa Thomas of Exeter holds gauze to her arm after donating blood at the JCC in Wilkes-Barre. Thomas is a regular donor who knows the need for blood is constant. </caption0><photoCredit0>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_jccblooddrive02.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Lourdes Sicora of Plains Township donates blood at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, coincidentally one day after World Blood Donor Day. The local chapter of American Red Cross typically collects 400 units at 20 blood drives each month, a spokeswoman said. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_jccblooddrive02.jpg</photo1><caption1>Lourdes Sicora of Plains Township donates blood at the Jewish Community Center in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday, coincidentally one day after World Blood Donor Day. The local chapter of American Red Cross typically collects 400 units at 20 blood drives each month, a spokeswoman said. </caption1><photoCredit1>Pete G. Wilcox | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p><strong>By Mary Therese Biebel</strong></p><p>mbiebel@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mary Therese Biebel at 570-991-6109 or on Twitter @BiebelMT</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Blood donors do their part; more drives scheduled