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Life Deconstructed: 2019: The Year of the Fire Hydrant

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‘A Glimpse Beyond the Rainbow’

<p>WILKES-BARRE TWP. &#8212; Barnes &amp; Noble has a gala celebration planned for its reopening at the end of the month, including honoring employee Joe Stager for his heroic acts on the night of the June tornado.</p><p>Alex Ortolani, corporate spokesperson for Barnes &amp; Noble, said a preview of the renovated store in the Arena Hub Plaza is set for Tuesday, Jan. 29, at 6 p.m. &#8212; the evening before the store re-opens to the public.</p><p>Ortolani said Barnes &amp; Noble Regional Vice President Christina Reed will be on hand to speak with friends and family of the store, along with Store Manager Larry Fama, and Stager, who was honored by Barnes &amp; Noble last year for helping to protect colleagues during the tornado.</p><p>The store will be open for purchases during the evening, with a portion of the sales going to the Keystone State Literacy Association of Luzerne County.</p><p>The renovated 23,634 square-foot space will officially reopen Wednesday, Jan. 30, at 9 a.m.</p><p>The store was hit and badly damaged in June by an EF2 tornado that featured winds up to 130 mph.</p><p>In September, Barnes &amp; Noble opened a pop-up store nearby at 250 East End Center to continue to serve its loyal customers.</p><p>&#8220;We received a huge outpouring of support from the Wilkes-Barre community as we worked to repair our Arena Hub Plaza store after it sustained heavy damage from the June 13 tornado, and we are excited to reopen our doors with a brand new store that is better than ever,&#8221; said Frank Morabito, Vice President of Stores at Barnes &amp; Noble. &#8220;As before, we will offer customers a full assortment of books across all genres, a newly expanded educational toys and games section, community events, and our Barnes &amp; Noble Caf&#233; serving delicious food and drinks.&#8221;</p><p>The temporary location in the East End Center will close Jan. 29. </p><p><strong>&#8216;Whole other level&#8217;</strong></p><p>As the tornado hit, Stager, 47, told the Times Leader he experienced the most harrowing five minutes of his life.</p><p>He had just locked the front doors at 10 p.m. and it was already raining hard. Stager said the noise of rain pounding the store&#8217;s roof was nothing new, but this time was a little different.</p><p>&#8220;The sound kept getting louder and louder,&#8221; he recalled. &#8220;All of a sudden, it just went to a whole other level.&#8221;</p><p>The side window violently blew in. Stager said he yelled to the other four people in the store to stay away from the front windows and to seek cover. He said the back wall of the store just blew off.</p><p>He shepherded those nearest to him toward an information desk, likely helping save co-workers from serious injuries. He was in the store with employees Mary Zoltewicz, Patrick Abdalla, Rachel Trojan and Tara Steffon.</p><p>Stager said he later returned to the front of the store, and the employees safely made their way out of the building, all without a scratch. </p><p>In August, Stager was named the company&#8217;s Above &amp; Beyond national winner, which recognizes employees who go the extra mile. He received an all-expenses-paid trip to New York City, where he was recognize by senior leaders of Barnes &amp; Noble.</p><p>For more information on the reopening, customers should contact the store directly at 570-829-4210, or visit the Barnes &amp; Noble store locator online.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_photo.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Stager </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_photo.jpg</photo0><caption0>Stager </caption0><photoCredit0></photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719barnesandnoble.2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">The interior of the refurbished Barnes &amp; Noble store in Wilkes-Barre Township is shaping up, as seen here Wednesday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719barnesandnoble.2.jpg</photo1><caption1>The interior of the refurbished Barnes &amp; Noble store in Wilkes-Barre Township is shaping up, as seen here Wednesday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719barnesandnoble.1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Barnes &amp; Noble has a celebration planned for its Arena Hub store&#8217;s reopening in two weeks. The Wilkes-Barre Township store, seen here, was seriously damaged in last June&#8217;s tornado. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/01/web1_TTL011719barnesandnoble.1.jpg</photo2><caption2>Barnes &amp; Noble has a celebration planned for its Arena Hub store&#8217;s reopening in two weeks. The Wilkes-Barre Township store, seen here, was seriously damaged in last June&#8217;s tornado. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Renovated Barnes & Noble plans celebration Jan. 29