web1_Pittston-City.jpg

Pittston council to apply for three gambling grants

web1_115065702-d73b2917493a470dba5b9a5c6c227023.jpg

U.S. factory output rose in January for 2nd straight month

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; As the darkened, shuttered Irem Temple building sat uninhabited a few blocks away, a lively gathering at the softly lit, high-ceilinged Westmoreland Club brought a local effort closer to preserving the historic structure Wednesday night.</p><p>Over 85 patrons registered for the Irem Temple Restoration Project information session that also offered cocktails and hors d&#8217;oeuvres for $60 a head. Silent and live auctions offered mingling attendees additional opportunities to donate.</p><p>The Restoration Project, comprised of a group of local businessmen and public figures, is focused on educating the community about the importance of restoring the unique piece of Moorish Revival architecture.</p><p>The group has organized a series of fundraisers to raise $100,000 to retain the services of a historical and architectural restoration firm, which can determine the feasibility of restoring utilities to the Irem Temple building.</p><p>&#8220;If things go to plan tonight, we&#8217;re confident we can run the technical analysis by end of March,&#8221; Christian Wielage said.</p><p>Wielage, CEO of business budgeting software company PlanGuru and owner of Harvey Guitars on Public Square, is joined in his efforts by Keystone Solar CEO Alex Flack, Gallery of Sound co-owner Joe Nardone Jr. and Wilkes-Barre Councilman Tony Brooks as well as a growing group of volunteers and patrons.</p><p>&#8220;Only $75,000 of that $100,000 will pay for that analysis,&#8221; Wielage said. &#8220;The remaining $25,000 will go toward repairs our group feels it needs to get done if we are to take possession of the building.&#8221;</p><p>If the Restoration Project succeeds in it&#8217;s initial goal, it plans to move forward with restoring the original flat floor plan of the Irem Shrine Auditorium, providing an open entertainment space that would complement other area venues.</p><p>Wielage said discussing possibilities for the space is key in capturing the interest of the public.</p><p>&#8220;With the rest of the building, the basement and the dome ballroom and the space below the dome ballroom, we&#8217;ve presented the idea of creating a museum to honor the history of the Wyoming Valley,&#8221; Wielage said. &#8220;It&#8217;s an idea that&#8217;s received a tremendous response from everyone we&#8217;ve spoken to.&#8221;</p><p>Project volunteer and Wyoming Seminary history teacher Clark Switzer said such a museum could act as a starting point for historic tourism that could spread to other venues like the Swetland Home in Forty Fort, generating revenue while celebrating the foundations of the community.</p><p>&#8220;We have a rich and vital history, but it&#8217;s underutilized,&#8221; Switzer said. &#8220;For me, beyond the dollar value, it&#8217;s about preserving cultural history.&#8221;</p><p>Chris and Laurie Gunshore, of Harding, were already passionate about preserving Wilkes-Barre history before the Irem Temple effort began. The mother-son pair protested the razing of the Hotel Sterling prior to its demolition.</p><p>&#8220;We weren&#8217;t too happy, and we didn&#8217;t want to the same kind of thing happen to another great building,&#8221; Chris Gunshore said.</p><p>Laurie Gunshore, whose father was a Shriner, said the Irem Temple building is part of a landscape of beautiful architecture that needs to be taken care of.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;d love to see it restored,&#8221; she said.</p><p>Flack, addressing the optimism in the room, said getting the community together is the most vital part of the Restoration Project&#8217;s effort.</p><p>&#8220;Without an energized community behind it, there would be no point in trying to save this building,&#8221; Flack said. &#8220;We know it&#8217;s not going to be an easy job. It&#8217;s an &#8216;it takes a village&#8217; mentality.&#8221;</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/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Irem Shriner Assistant Rabban Stephen Koonrad of Mountain Top, left, and Chief Rabban Richard Williams of Plymouth chat with Christian Wielage of the Irem Temple Restoration Project during a fundraiser at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday evening. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Irem Shriner Assistant Rabban Stephen Koonrad of Mountain Top, left, and Chief Rabban Richard Williams of Plymouth chat with Christian Wielage of the Irem Temple Restoration Project during a fundraiser at the Westmoreland Club in Wilkes-Barre on Wednesday evening. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Dozens of people listen to Irem Temple restoration plans during a fundraiser at the Westmoreland Club. Patrons enjoyed cocktails and hors d&#8217;oeuvres and had opportunities to bid on gift baskets and a week long vacation at a house in Nantucket, Mass. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Dozens of people listen to Irem Temple restoration plans during a fundraiser at the Westmoreland Club. Patrons enjoyed cocktails and hors d&#8217;oeuvres and had opportunities to bid on gift baskets and a week long vacation at a house in Nantucket, Mass. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The Irem Temple Restoration Project hopes to resurrect the Irem Temple building to the point where it can act as an entertainment venue and a museum honoring Wyoming Valley history. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_4.jpg</photo2><caption2>The Irem Temple Restoration Project hopes to resurrect the Irem Temple building to the point where it can act as an entertainment venue and a museum honoring Wyoming Valley history. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Christian Wielage, spokesperson for the Irem Temple Restoration Project, said an architectural analysis of the Irem Temple building is hopeful for the end of March. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/02/web1_TTL021617IremTemple_2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Christian Wielage, spokesperson for the Irem Temple Restoration Project, said an architectural analysis of the Irem Temple building is hopeful for the end of March. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Preservation group looks to honor local history</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Matt Mattei</p><p>mmattei@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Matt Mattei at 570-991-6651 or on Twitter @TimesLeaderMatt.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Westmoreland Club fundraiser brings Irem Temple fund closer to initial goal