web1_WB-City-logo.jpg

W. Market Street in Wilkes-Barre to close for utility work

web1_TTL061217LatinoLeague_7.jpg

Liga Latina de Wilkes-Barre softball kicks off inaugural season

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; The VFW post on Wyoming Avenue opened its doors to an event it might not usually hold &#8212; a carnival &#8212; to help out a young girl battling an illness.</p><p>Bella Brown is 9 years old and a student at Lehman-Jackson Elementary School, for whom the third grade just wrapped up. She&#8217;s battling Ehlers-Danlos syndrome, a disease with a range of symptoms, causing both digestive and joint issues for Bella.</p><p>Due to the illness, Bella has had to deal with numerous doctor visits and surgeries, including the installation of a feeding device called an Enteral Feeding Pump &#8212; and Bella&#8217;s family have had to deal with the costs.</p><p>That&#8217;s where the NEPA Carnival of Hope comes in. The carnival was organized by Joe Hussey and his wife, Danielle, who got involved after hearing about some of the Browns&#8217; costs.</p><p>&#8220;They&#8217;ve been traveling a lot,&#8221; Joe said, noting that the Browns have been driving back and forth from their Shavertown home to the Children&#8217;s Hospital of Philadelphia. &#8220;So we came up with the idea of a benefit.&#8221;</p><p>The Husseys had previously organized a Carnival of Hope to benefit Candy&#8217;s Place cancer wellness center but had to take a several-year hiatus. Now, with the benefit for Bella so successful, the Husseys say they hope to make the carnival an annual event, supporting a different group or individual each year.</p><p>&#8220;Thanks to social media, it&#8217;s been an overwhelming response,&#8221; Joe said. &#8220;Companies have been very gracious with donations.&#8221;</p><p>For $10 tickets (or $8 for children 12 or under), attendees got access to a variety of entertainment, ranging from a routine by the West Side Starz cheerleaders, a group of which Bella is a member, and SpellBind, a magic and comedy show by Bill Dickson and Joe Hussey.</p><p>In addition, Dave Jenkins, who performs under the name Dave Jaye, was at the carnival doing tarot card readings and palm readings. Jenkins said he enjoys being able to give back to the community.</p><p>&#8220;I think far too many people just say, &#8216;Gee, isn&#8217;t that horrible,&#8217; but don&#8217;t do anything,&#8221; he said. &#8220;I like to do something when I can.&#8221;</p><p>Sarah Brown, Bella&#8217;s mom, said that she&#8217;s overwhelmed by the support that she and her family have received.</p><p>&#8220;You constantly hear about the bad things in the headlines,&#8221; Sarah said. &#8220;After Bella got sick, people came out to show the goodness in their hearts.&#8221;</p><p>According to Sarah, besides covering travel costs, much of the funds raised by the carnival would be going to cover a specialized rolling backpack for Bella. Bella&#8217;s feeding tube is currently housed in a bag she carries on her back, but her mother said that a rolling bag would be ideal, as the backpack is taking a toll on Bella&#8217;s joints.</p><p>Later in the carnival, Bella and her family announced that she had been selected to have a wish fulfilled by the Make-A-Wish foundation.</p><p>&#8220;She wants to travel,&#8221; Sarah said. &#8220;She&#8217;s leaning towards Disney, but we&#8217;ll see where her heart ends up.&#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/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Cadence Rindock, 8, of Lehman Township, looks over raffle prizes. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-4.jpg</photo0><caption0>Cadence Rindock, 8, of Lehman Township, looks over raffle prizes. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Grace Aiello, 14, of Shavertown, gets a spaghetti bowl painted on her face by Melissa Notarnicola of The Smiling Pallette on Sunday during the benefit. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-5.jpg</photo1><caption1>Grace Aiello, 14, of Shavertown, gets a spaghetti bowl painted on her face by Melissa Notarnicola of The Smiling Pallette on Sunday during the benefit. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnivalofhope-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Rob Smith the Juggler, of Clarks Summit, entertains children during the NEPA Carnival of Hope benefit aiding 9-year-old Bella Brown on Sunday in Kingston. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnivalofhope-1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Rob Smith the Juggler, of Clarks Summit, entertains children during the NEPA Carnival of Hope benefit aiding 9-year-old Bella Brown on Sunday in Kingston. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bella Brown, center, applauds with excitement for Rob Smith&#8217;s juggling act. Sitting next to her are friends Kaitlyn Marx, 9, and Sophia Kapish, 4. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-2.jpg</photo3><caption3>Bella Brown, center, applauds with excitement for Rob Smith&#8217;s juggling act. Sitting next to her are friends Kaitlyn Marx, 9, and Sophia Kapish, 4. </caption3><photoCredit3>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Bella Brown perforns a juggling trick at her benefit Sunday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2017/06/web1_ttl061217carnival-3.jpg</photo4><caption4>Bella Brown perforns a juggling trick at her benefit Sunday afternoon. </caption4><photoCredit4>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Event aids 9-year-old battling disease</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Patrick Kernan</p><p>pkernan@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Patrick Kernan at 570-991-6119 or on Twitter @PatKernan.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

NEPA Carnival of Hope benefits Bella Brown, local child battling illness