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RailRiders Notebook: Kyle Haynes close to coming through for Scranton/Wilkes-Barre

King’s Education Department to present Evidence-Based Conference in preparation for 2016-17 school year

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; When Luzerne fire Deputy Frank Barber was called to a blaze on Hughes Street in March, he knew the home on fire belonged to his longtime friends, Mark Iorio and Raeann Hansell.</p><p>Iorio, Hansell and their three children all managed to make it out of the home safely, but the structure suffered significant damage. The family could not return to the house.</p><p>&#8220;It wasn&#8217;t easy,&#8221; said Barber, at a fundraiser held for the family at the American Legion in Kingston on Friday. &#8220;These are good people, I was devastated.&#8221;</p><p>Barber said not only did the family face the challenge of rebuilding, they did not have fire insurance to help them do so.</p><p>Friday night&#8217;s event provided an opportunity for Barber to again spend time with the family, this time as they are hopefully headed back to their home in time for school to start.</p><p>Hansell said when the family realized the extent of the damage, they looked to the community for help.</p><p>She said the response of the friends and neighbors throughout the ordeal provided the faith and assistance that was needed to move forward.</p><p>Early on, people came to the house and helped start assessment and cleanup, bringing food and offering encouragement.</p><p>The next step in restoring the house, she said, will be installing installation.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re hoping to raise enough money tonight to do that,&#8221; she said.</p><p>The event brought out both young and old, with younger attendees taking time for a bit of both wrestling and laughter as their parents took time to visit with each other.</p><p>Many said they appreciated the variety of food offered at the event, which varied from baked ziti to chicken to hot dogs.</p><p>Adults were able to enjoy a beer and a reprieve from a warm night and the work week.</p><p>Frank Hill, who plays softball with Mark Iorio for many years, was joined by other softball players from around the area in support of the family.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a good reminder that we can be competitive on the field,&#8221; Hill said, &#8220;but off the field, we&#8217;re family.&#8221;</p><p>Eddie Leyshon Sr., who also plays softball with Iorio, said the players are a close-knit community and were supporting the family in their effort to fix their home.</p><p>The couple&#8217;s children &#8212; Mark Jr., 18, Mary, 14, and Rebeccah, 11 &#8212; were on hand to help as needed.</p><p>Mary Iorio said she hopes when school resumes, she will be settled again in her home on Hughes Street.</p><p>&#8220;Mark&#8217;s working very hard everyday to get the house ready for us to go back&#8221; said Hansell.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund2_faa-120166257463335.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Mary Iorio, 14, and Dallas Christian have fun with their phones at a Kingston fundraiser </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund2_faa-120166257463335.jpg</photo0><caption0>Mary Iorio, 14, and Dallas Christian have fun with their phones at a Kingston fundraiser </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund3_faa20166257465226.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Kim Warren, of Kingston, sits at a table in the American Legion in Kingston with $20 of raffle tickets </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund3_faa20166257465226.jpg</photo1><caption1>Kim Warren, of Kingston, sits at a table in the American Legion in Kingston with $20 of raffle tickets </caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund4_faa20166257466487.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Raeann Hansell, center, talks with Mark Iorio and Taylor Cook at the fundraiser held at the American Legion in Kingston </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund4_faa20166257466487.jpg</photo2><caption2>Raeann Hansell, center, talks with Mark Iorio and Taylor Cook at the fundraiser held at the American Legion in Kingston </caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund5_faa20166257467356.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">A fundraiser held at the American Legion in Kingston for a family whose home was damaged by fire was well attended. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/06/web1_fund5_faa20166257467356.jpg</photo3><caption3>A fundraiser held at the American Legion in Kingston for a family whose home was damaged by fire was well attended. </caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></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>

Event raises money for Luzerne family whose home was damaged by fire