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Wilkes University’s Kirby Center, now 25, nurtures entrepreneurs, serves industry

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High school football playoff field set

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Philadelphia Eagles fans flocked to Franklin&#8217;s on Public Square for the NEPA Bird Gang Bash at 9 a.m. to cheer on their beloved Eagles take on the Jacksonville Jaguars in London on Sunday.</p><p>The group of fans known as the NEPA Bird Gang have slowly grown their fan base since 2015.</p><p>&#8220;When we first started out it was only a few of us who attended Eagles home games,&#8221; said Joe Rodano, founder of NEPA Bird Gang. &#8220;Since then we&#8217;ve grown a lot.&#8221;</p><p>The group currently has anywhere between 100 to 150 members. But Rodano hopes to see that number increase.</p><p>&#8220;We like to flock together,&#8221; Rodano, 36, laughed. &#8220;We are loud and proud. We wear our green in support of our Eagles everywhere we go.&#8221;</p><p>Stan Daniels has been with group since their inception.</p><p>&#8220;We share a common bond of our Eagles,&#8221; said Daniels, 35, of Wilkes-Barre. &#8220;It&#8217;s like a brotherhood.&#8221;</p><p>Daniels noted that it&#8217;s hard to get everyone together on Sundays but was pleased with the turnout on Sunday morning to watch the game.</p><p>Aside from the fun many members of the group have getting together, Rodano is moving the fan group toward charitable endeavors.</p><p>&#8220;Our group intends on hosting a turkey drive that we will then donate to the St. Vincent de Paul Kitchen,&#8221; Rodano noted. &#8220;We will also host a toy drive during the holiday season.</p><p>&#8220;I really want to raise money for organization&#8217;s in our area from generous Eagles fans.&#8221;</p><p>Rodano says when they are not attending Eagles home games at Lincoln Financial Field or tailgating in Lot F, his group can be found watching games at Franklin&#8217;s or Rodano&#8217;s.</p><p>&#8220;I like to call Franklin&#8217;s and Rodano&#8217;s our home nest,&#8221; he said.</p><p>The NEPA Bird Gang has also been participants in the Wilkes-Barre St. Patrick&#8217;s Day and Christmas parades.</p><p>&#8220;I went to the St. Patrick&#8217;s Day parade last year,&#8221; said Chris Ryan, 32, of Ashley. &#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to standing on the float for the Christmas parade.&#8221;</p><p>Ryan continued: &#8220;I&#8217;ve had a great time being a part of this group.&#8221;</p><p>The NEPA Bird Gang has sat through the ups and downs of the organization for the past few seasons.</p><p>&#8220;We were really bad before we got Wentz,&#8221; said Keith Ewonishon, 37, of Dickson City. &#8220;But then we won the Super Bowl. Sometimes we win and sometimes we lose, but we always flock together.&#8221;</p><p>The flock on Sunday got to see the Eagles top Jacksonville, 24-18.</p><p>For people interested in learning more or joining, they can follow NEPA Bird Gang on Facebook and Instagram.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Joe Rodano sets up Philadelphia Eagles items for sale at Franklin's on the Square in Wilkes-Barre for an Eagles party as the Philadelphia played Jacksonville Jaguars at Wimbley Stadium, England, on Sunday morning. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Joe Rodano sets up Philadelphia Eagles items for sale at Franklin's on the Square in Wilkes-Barre for an Eagles party as the Philadelphia played Jacksonville Jaguars at Wimbley Stadium, England, on Sunday morning. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">From the left: Jeff Katra, Kingston; Jordan Semar, Wilkes-Barre; Kenny Antes, Wilkes-Barre; and Al McLaughlin, Wilkes-Barre, talk about the Eagles game while at Franklin's, Wilkes-Barre. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>From the left: Jeff Katra, Kingston; Jordan Semar, Wilkes-Barre; Kenny Antes, Wilkes-Barre; and Al McLaughlin, Wilkes-Barre, talk about the Eagles game while at Franklin's, Wilkes-Barre. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption1><photoCredit1></photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Chris Ryan, Ashley, Kevin Green, Sugar Notch, Paul Reap, Pittston, sit at the bar at Franklins watching one of several TVs with the Eagles game on. Ryan is a big Eagle fan that he has their logo tattooed on his arm. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Chris Ryan, Ashley, Kevin Green, Sugar Notch, Paul Reap, Pittston, sit at the bar at Franklins watching one of several TVs with the Eagles game on. Ryan is a big Eagle fan that he has their logo tattooed on his arm. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption2><photoCredit2></photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Eagles enthusiast Melissa Duda, Wilkes-Barre, is shown cheering on her team. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Eagles enthusiast Melissa Duda, Wilkes-Barre, is shown cheering on her team. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption3><photoCredit3></photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Franklins' bartender Karissa Kross, right, serves Brittany McKeown, Kingston, and Megan Lytle, Wilkes-Barre. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/10/web1_Eagles-Franklins-5.jpg</photo4><caption4>Franklins' bartender Karissa Kross, right, serves Brittany McKeown, Kingston, and Megan Lytle, Wilkes-Barre. Tony Callaio | For Times Leader</caption4><photoCredit4></photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Eagles fans flock to Franklin&#8217;s for London game</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Dan Stokes</p><p>dstokes@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Dan Stokes at 570-991-6389 or on Twitter @ByDanStokes</p></shirttailMeta></div>

London games brings Eagles fans out early