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Senunas’ bar celebrates 60th year at corner of Main and Jackson in Wilkes-Barre

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Peter Cottontail comes to Public Square

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; More than 600 area residents put on their bowling shoes and chose the perfect ball on Saturday to raise money for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Bridge during their annual Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake event at Chacko&#8217;s.</p><p>Jenna Sargent Thorn from Big Brothers Big Sisters said many bowlers come back year after year, welcoming the chance to assist the organization that brings smiles to so many area children, providing a mentor to help them through the challenges of life.</p><p>Thorn said young participants in the program, often called &#8220;littles,&#8221; always express gratitude for the opportunity to do such simple things as go to the movies, spend a day in the park or simply have a discussion with their big brothers or sisters.</p><p>Still, she said, there are 200 children on the waiting list hoping to get a big brother or big sister.</p><p>Eric Mahler, president of the Advisory Board of Big Brothers Big Sisters, was making his way through the bowling alley selling raffle tickets and sharing good humor with those attending.</p><p>Mahler said the program is aimed at helping children work toward their own goals and aspirations after a big brother or big sister identifies those goals, by spending time getting to know them.</p><p>Mahler, who has been on the board for 12 years and served as its president since 2016, said the needs of area youngsters continues to grow and that he was amazed at the response of the community in helping meet those needs.</p><p>Jim Roberts, advisory board vice-chair and Chief of Staff at Misericordia University, bowled with a group from the school who he said were inspired by a desire to help children and not special bowling skills.</p><p>When asked how he bowled, he laughed and said, &#8220;poorly,&#8221; but also said he thoroughly enjoyed spending time with his co-workers and other participants for such a good cause.</p><p>Dave Johndrow, also from Misericordia, said many members of the team make the event an annual tradition, reflecting the university&#8217;s commitment to the community.</p><p>King&#8217;s College sophomore and members of the hockey team, Tommy Green and Tanner Wilding, were selling raffle tickets and providing information about the program to attendees.</p><p>Both said the hockey team as a whole were hoping to be increasingly involved in Big Brothers Big Sisters, looking forward to next year when several were looking forward to volunteering as a &#8220;big.&#8221;</p><p>The event continued throughout the day and many took time to not only bowl, but to spend time over pizza and drinks, happy they were helping a good cause.</p><p>Big Brothers Big Sisters, a program of Catholic Social Services, hoped to raise about $117,000 at the event, the organization&#8217;s biggest fund raiser.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Rose Hancuff, 14, of Dallas gets ready to pick up her ball at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center in Wilkes-Barre during the Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl1_faa.jpg</photo0><caption0>Rose Hancuff, 14, of Dallas gets ready to pick up her ball at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center in Wilkes-Barre during the Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl2_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Laine Little of Forty Fort gets ready to make her approach on the alley at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center in Wilkes-Barre in the Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake on Saturday. Little was part of the Misericordia University team &#8216;Put a Pin in It.&#8217; </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl2_faa.jpg</photo1><caption1>Laine Little of Forty Fort gets ready to make her approach on the alley at Chacko&#8217;s Family Bowling Center in Wilkes-Barre in the Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake on Saturday. Little was part of the Misericordia University team &#8216;Put a Pin in It.&#8217; </caption1><photoCredit1>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl3_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Jennifer Pellot, 26, of Puerto Rico reacts to a strike during Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl3_faa.jpg</photo2><caption2>Jennifer Pellot, 26, of Puerto Rico reacts to a strike during Bowl for Kids&#8217; Sake. </caption2><photoCredit2>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl4_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Diego Balbuena, 7, of the Dominican Republic reacts to knocking down some pins. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl4_faa.jpg</photo3><caption3>Diego Balbuena, 7, of the Dominican Republic reacts to knocking down some pins. </caption3><photoCredit3>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl5_faa.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Carter Chacko, 8, retrieves his bowling ball that didn&#8217;t quite make it down the alley. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/web1_bowl5_faa.jpg</photo4><caption4>Carter Chacko, 8, retrieves his bowling ball that didn&#8217;t quite make it down the alley. </caption4><photoCredit4>Fred Adams | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Geri Gibbons</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

More than 600 turn out to ‘Bowl for Kids’ Sake’