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New aerial ladder truck for Wilkes-Barre Fire Department in the works

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‘The Nightmare Before Christmas’ coming to Duryea Oct. 18

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; The room was lined with representatives from colleges and universities far and wide, the center filled with people eager to talk about job opportunities in health care, engineering, hi-tech and the military. But one table seemed likely to be a big draw regardless of student career interests: The Lion Brewery, complete with bottle caps, bottle openers, and yes, bottles of beer.</p><p>&#8220;We do get a lot of requests for free samples,&#8221; Teresa Mandzak said between chats with students stopping by the brewery&#8217;s table during Thursday&#8217;s Career and Internship Fair at Wilkes University.</p><p>The company&#8217;s human resources director has yet to bring any suds to hand out, but she conceded &#8220;I may bring root beer next year, just to let people know we have it.&#8221; It&#8217;s true. when most folks think of beer from the Wilkes-Barre brewery they likely think of Lionshead IPA or Stegmaier Gold Medal, not the soft drink.</p><p>But the real draw at Mandzak&#8217;s table, as at most of the others, was the chance to land an internship or even a job. She said Lion Brewery has had great success finding interns by setting up at the event, and some of those have led to full-time employment.</p><p>For seniors Joseph Fiorello and Amrit Chandhok, there was no such luck at the brewery table. While the company did seek engineering interns last year, the need this October is for accountants. Besides, Chandhok said, they were nearing graduation and looking for a full-time job.</p><p>The officer behind the U.S. Customs and Border Protection table &#8212; he said he wasn&#8217;t sure he could give his name without checking with higher-ups &#8212; likewise couldn&#8217;t give specifics on jobs. But he was happy to explain to students who stopped by what his branch of the Department of Homeland Security does (mostly work at ports of entry), and what websites to check for employment opportunities.</p><p>Getting a job was only one possibility, Fiorello and Chandhok both said. Stopping at tables of interest and talking with representatives was its own reward. &#8220;I learn to communicate with potential employers,&#8221; Chandhok said.</p><p>Oh, and there are plenty of freebies, from pens to candy to insulating cup sleeves. And there&#8217;s the novelty handout on the Lion Brewery table: a double bottle opener that, when held between the thumb and index finger in the middle, becomes a fidget spinner.</p><p>Someone made a career out of designing things like that.</p><style>
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<div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101819JobFair1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Becki Brandenburg and Teresa Mandzak talk to Wilkes University students Cameron Aspey and Nick Martino about employment possibilities at the Lion Brewery during Wilkes University&#8217;s Career and Internship Fair on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101819JobFair1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Becki Brandenburg and Teresa Mandzak talk to Wilkes University students Cameron Aspey and Nick Martino about employment possibilities at the Lion Brewery during Wilkes University&#8217;s Career and Internship Fair on Thursday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101819JobFair2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Pennsylvania State Trooper Martin Bibla talks with Jack Bauer a Wilkes University student during the Career and Internship Fair on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101819JobFair2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Pennsylvania State Trooper Martin Bibla talks with Jack Bauer a Wilkes University student during the Career and Internship Fair on Thursday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101819JobFair3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes University students meet with businesses and other schools at the Career and Internship Fair on Thursday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL101819JobFair3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wilkes University students meet with businesses and other schools at the Career and Internship Fair on Thursday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Aimee Dilger | Times Leader </photoCredit2></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Wilkes hosts career and internship fair</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Mark Guydish</p><p>mguydish@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><shirttailMeta><p>Reach Mark Guydish at 570-991-6112 or on Twitter @TLMarkGuydish</p></shirttailMeta></div>

From beer to borders: Wilkes hosts career and internship fair