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Historic Look Back: Carey Avenue home demolished in 1960 once considered one of area’s oldest

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Land of these loyalty benefits, even if you’re disloyal

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Well more than 100 sellers carrying everything from holiday decor to pet supplies lured thousands of shoppers looking to check items off their gift lists to Saturday&#8217;s Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show.</p><p>The event took place inside the 109th Field Artillery Armory building.</p><p>Standing in front of a Red Cross stand next to the entrance, local chapter director Bill Goldsworthy said this year&#8217;s edition may be a record-breaker.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;ve had a phenomenal turnout of people coming to support us. It&#8217;s probably going to be our biggest turnout ever,&#8221; he said.</p><p>Goldsworthy predicted that over 900 people walked through the doors of the armory in the first two hours alone, browsing a variety of sellers that offered a range of goods: baby items, food, jewelry, decor and more.</p><p>He said the event is doubly rewarding this year because the group was able to create additional space &#8212; allowing for over 150 vendors to participate &#8212; while enticing shoppers to shop local and support the organization&#8217;s Disaster Relief Fund.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s Small Business Saturday so we&#8217;re supporting 150 basically small businesses here, and of course, we&#8217;re supporting the Red Cross,&#8221; Goldsworthy said of the craft show. &#8220;The good thing is that 92 cents of every dollar donated and made by the Red Cross goes back to client services.&#8221;</p><p>Nestled against a back wall of the armory, Mary and Lee Bowman of Valley View were busy handing out forks full of some surprising sweets to waiting customers.</p><p>The Bowmans were selling Mary&#8217;s alcoholic-infused cupcakes for the first time at the event. A home confectionarist for six years, Mary said she first started making the specialized cupcakes about a year ago by request. Now, she sells Jack Daniels French Toast cupcakes at shows.</p><p>Her first time at the Red Cross affair, Bowman said she was surprised by the foot traffic, which &#8212; with the help of free samples &#8212; translated into sales.</p><p>&#8220;It attracts attention anyway. Even if they don&#8217;t buy, they stop and look,&#8221; she said. &#8220;You give samples and it makes a difference.&#8221;</p><p><strong>Show returns Sunday</strong></p><p>Across the room, Harveys Lake resident Brittany Kubricki was busy learning how to best apply a leather bracelet from Cornucopia Jewelry owner Carlene Bleacher.</p><p>An annual attendee of the show, Kubricki likes seeing what new and different items the crafters have to offer each year.</p><p>&#8220;My mom likes to craft, and we like to come and look at stuff. (Bleacher) has some really fun things here,&#8221; she said of the jeweler.</p><p>Bleacher has been traveling to the show from Lancaster for about 10 years now, bringing with her a plethora of natural mineral, gemstone and leather handcrafted jewelry. She says the trip to the show is worth it due to the number of customers it attracts, many of whom have become longtime customers.</p><p>The craft show continues Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Colleen Rusinko, of Tunkhannock, samples some alcoholic-infused cupcakes from Lee Bowman during the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show. Held on Small Business Saturday, the event at the 109th Field Artillery Armory building benefited many local vendors as well as the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The show continues Sunday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3652.jpg</photo0><caption0>Colleen Rusinko, of Tunkhannock, samples some alcoholic-infused cupcakes from Lee Bowman during the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show. Held on Small Business Saturday, the event at the 109th Field Artillery Armory building benefited many local vendors as well as the Red Cross Disaster Relief Fund. The show continues Sunday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3649.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brittany Kubicki, back left, and Cathie Wonsavage talk with Cornucopia Jewelry owner Carlene Bleacher about some of her handcrafted bracelets during the Red Cross holiday craft show. Bleacher has been traveling from Lancaster to attend the event for about 10 years. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3649.jpg</photo1><caption1>Brittany Kubicki, back left, and Cathie Wonsavage talk with Cornucopia Jewelry owner Carlene Bleacher about some of her handcrafted bracelets during the Red Cross holiday craft show. Bleacher has been traveling from Lancaster to attend the event for about 10 years. </caption1><photoCredit1>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3630.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Thousands flocked to the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show on Saturday. The event continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the 109th Field Artillery Armory building in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3630.jpg</photo2><caption2>Thousands flocked to the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show on Saturday. The event continues 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Sunday at the 109th Field Artillery Armory building in Wilkes-Barre. </caption2><photoCredit2>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3645.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pittston-area resident Shannon Spak-Zongilla looks over some Christmas decor during the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2018/11/web1_IMG_3645.jpg</photo3><caption3>Pittston-area resident Shannon Spak-Zongilla looks over some Christmas decor during the Red Cross of Northeastern Pennsylvania Holiday Craft Show on Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Marcella Kester | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Red Cross holiday craft show draws thousands to armory