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One injured in Wilkes-Barre shooting

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A year after the tornado, Kurlancheek opens new store in Forty Fort

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Linda Armstrong said she was shopping in Lowe&#8217;s one day when a woman stopped her and asked her if she was from Dress for Success.</p><p>Armstrong acknowledged she was the founder and executive director of the Luzerne County nonprofit that helps local women looking to enter the workforce.</p><p>The woman was a former client of Armstrong&#8217;s who came to her for help when she was homeless and jobless. Armstrong got the woman clothing to wear to a job interview and she coached her on how to respond to questions she may be asked at that interview.</p><p>The woman got the job, Armstrong learned.</p><p>&#8220;She told me she was shopping for a rug shampooer to clean the rugs in her new home she recently purchased,&#8221; Armstrong said. &#8220;Imagine that, homeless to homeowner in five years.&#8221;</p><p>Armstrong told that story as she welcomed board members and others into her shop at 38 W. Market St., showing off her newly renovated space done by a project committee of Leadership Wilkes-Barre. The committee &#8212; Dressed to the 9&#8217;s &#8212; organized and remodeled Armstrong&#8217;s Dress for Success, which provides women with attire and skills to help them secure employment.</p><p>Amanda Cromer, a committee member, said a few of the committee members were familiar with Armstrong and her Dress for Success mission.</p><p>&#8220;We became passionate about this project,&#8221; Cromer said. &#8220;We wanted to do what we could to help Linda serve her clients so they could go out into the world and get their foot in the door of opportunity.&#8221;</p><p>Dress for Success provides clothing, accessories, shoes and more free of charge. It also provides women with several other benefits through networking, support, and developmental tools that can be used in and out of the workplace.</p><p>Armstrong said Dress for Success Luzerne County works with 43 community agencies to assist local disadvantaged women looking to enter the workforce.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s a critical time for women,&#8221; Armstrong said. &#8220;We are called upon to be perfect homemakers and mothers and executives &#8212; all at the same time. That pressure comes from our internal dialogue as well as from society.&#8221;</p><p>Dress for Success is an international not-for-profit organization that was founded in 1997 and has expanded to nearly 150 cities in 30 countries.</p><p>The local chapter has assisted more than 1,500 women since its founding in 2010.</p><p>The Leadership Wilkes-Barre project was one of six done by the Class of 2019, said Lori Nocito, executive director.</p><p>&#8220;Every project, including this one, has addressed a community need and has made a significant difference in the lives of people in our community,&#8221; Nocito said.</p><p>The members of the Dressed to the 9&#8217;s committee are:</p><p>Kelly Bolesta</p><p>Tayler Collins</p><p>Amanda Cromer</p><p>Sarah Ellis</p><p>Kevin Jones</p><p>William Orasin</p><p>Steven Sklanka</p><p>Kyle Stair</p><p>Eric Tschantz</p><p>Hilary Mihoch, advisor</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Kelly Bolesta of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Dress for Success group shows off some of the changes the group made to the Market Street shop to Susan Smith and Nicole Hurchick during the ribbon cutting party Thursday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TTL061419Dress1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Kelly Bolesta of the Leadership Wilkes-Barre Dress for Success group shows off some of the changes the group made to the Market Street shop to Susan Smith and Nicole Hurchick during the ribbon cutting party Thursday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TTL061419Dress2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Members of Leadership Wilkes-Barre, Dress for Success and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce cut a ribbon outside the newly-refurbished Dress for Success shop on Market Street in Wilkes-Barre Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/06/web1_TTL061419Dress2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Members of Leadership Wilkes-Barre, Dress for Success and the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce cut a ribbon outside the newly-refurbished Dress for Success shop on Market Street in Wilkes-Barre Thursday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Bill O&#8217;Boyle</p><p>boboyle@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><factboxMeta><p><strong>About Dress for Success</strong></p><p><strong>Suiting</strong> &#8212; Volunteers work with clients to help them choose an interview outfit and provide guidance and support for the upcoming interview</p><p><strong>Job training &#8212; </strong>Women meet regularly to support and encourage each other through building confidence, networking and discussing workplace-related topics. The meetings help participants stay motivated and optimistic.</p><p><strong>Career center &#8212; </strong>Addresses and eliminates the frustrating obstacles that may arise during a search for employment.</p></factboxMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Bill O&#8217;Boyle at 570-991-6118 or on Twitter @TLBillOBoyle.</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Leadership W-B committee completes renovation of Dress for Success