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Your View: Wilkes-Barre Area requires complete audit

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Shooting reported at Red Roof Inn on Route 315

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Kirby Park was transformed into a fairgrounds on Saturday, all in honor of the founding of our fair city.</p><p>Wilkes-Barre celebrated 250 years of existence with a lavish Founders Day celebration, complete with food, music and amusement park rides.</p><p>The city was officially founded back in 1871 when it was officially incorporated as a city after years of being designated as a borough. However, its roots extend back to 1769, when the first settlers arrived in the area from Connecticut.</p><p>One thing the citizens of Wilkes-Barre know how to do is throw a party, and a party-like atmosphere was definitely in the air as the Ferris wheel turned, popcorn was consumed and music was played.</p><p>There were vendors lining the walkways for customers to enjoy, including more than just food. There were also face*painting tents, clothes for sale and others joined in on the fun. A tent from the Daughters of the American Revolution provided some historical background for anyone interested in learning more about the history of Wilkes-Barre.</p><p>&#8220;We were here then (in 1769), so we&#8217;re here now,&#8221; said Alice Keiner, a member of the Wyoming Valley Chapter of DAR.</p><p>Several people came from outside of the city to enjoy Founders Day. Timothy Kelly came all the way from Luzerne to enjoy the sights and sounds that Kirby Park had to offer.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m liking it so far, I&#8217;m having fun,&#8221; Kelley said.</p><p>Kelley was really looking forward to the evening&#8217;s final performance, a set from the Tom Petty Appreciation Band. The band cranked out some of the late rocker&#8217;s greatest hits, much to the delight of the crowd amassed at the park. There were also musical and dance performances from the David Blight School of Dance, and a DJ playing crowd-pleasing music throughout the day.</p><p>For many of the kids gathered, the hot spot on Saturday was among the sea of amusement park rides running all day, from a bounce castle to a full-on spinning ride.</p><p>&#8220;I was just riding my bike through, I didn&#8217;t even know this was happening, and I came in to try some of the rides,&#8221; said Ethan Zedjeloeic. &#8220;I&#8217;m looking forward to either the Ferris wheel or the spinning ride.&#8221;</p><p>The celebration also offered hot-air ballon rides, and a fireworks extravaganza once the lights went down.</p><p>After the events at Kirby Park, there was a rooftop gala over at the Citizens Bank Building.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Wes Spalding of Nanticoke holds a shirt up to see if it will fit his son Weston, 5, during the 250th Founders Day celebration of Wilkes-Barre at Kirby Park on Saturday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Wes Spalding of Nanticoke holds a shirt up to see if it will fit his son Weston, 5, during the 250th Founders Day celebration of Wilkes-Barre at Kirby Park on Saturday afternoon. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Roxanne Bozek, of Trading Faces Face Art, paints an American flag design on the face of 5-year-old Hunter Cortez of Bear Creek. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Roxanne Bozek, of Trading Faces Face Art, paints an American flag design on the face of 5-year-old Hunter Cortez of Bear Creek. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Elizabeth Huntsinger of Swoyersville pours some syrup on on her freshly made corn fritters from Hoors Hotdogs during the 250th Founders celebration of Wilkes-Barre at Kirby Park on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Elizabeth Huntsinger of Swoyersville pours some syrup on on her freshly made corn fritters from Hoors Hotdogs during the 250th Founders celebration of Wilkes-Barre at Kirby Park on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brandon Welles, 8 of Luzerne, plays a lucky duck game during Saturday&#8217;s celebrations at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre Saturday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-4.jpg</photo3><caption3>Brandon Welles, 8 of Luzerne, plays a lucky duck game during Saturday&#8217;s celebrations at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre Saturday afternoon. </caption3><photoCredit3>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sophie Marmo, 9 of Goshen, N.Y., rides the swings during the 250th Founders Day celebration in Wilkes-Barre Saturday afternoon. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-6.jpg</photo4><caption4>Sophie Marmo, 9 of Goshen, N.Y., rides the swings during the 250th Founders Day celebration in Wilkes-Barre Saturday afternoon. </caption4><photoCredit4>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Ivery Credle, 12, of Wilkes-Barre enjoys the rides Saturday at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-5.jpg</photo5><caption5>Ivery Credle, 12, of Wilkes-Barre enjoys the rides Saturday at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. </caption5><photoCredit5>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-4.cmyk_.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brandon Welles, 8 of Luzerne plays a lucky duck game during Saturday's celebrations at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre Saturday afternoon. 
Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader</div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo6>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/web1_ttl090819kirbypark-4.cmyk_.jpg</photo6><caption6>Brandon Welles, 8 of Luzerne plays a lucky duck game during Saturday's celebrations at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre Saturday afternoon. 
Amanda Hrycyna|For Times Leader</caption6><photoCredit6>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit6></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Kevin Carroll</p><p>kcarroll@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Kevin at 570-954-8360 or on Twitter @TLKevinCarroll</p></shirttailMeta></div>

Carnival fun fills early Founders Day celebration