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League of Women Voters chapter celebrates 75th anniversary

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Around Town: This Joint will be jumping. Don’t miss it

<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Class was in session for one Wilkes-Barre school Saturday, with hundreds of residents from across the region rallying together for a good cause.</p><p>Over 125 volunteers used their weekend to tackle over a dozen projects at Heights-Murray Elementary school in a collaboration with Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Caring.</p><p>The school discovered it would receive a $70,000 grant for school improvement projects from the bank back in July, according to school Principal Melissa Myers.</p><p>Since then, plans were developed to bring in playground equipment, install basketball hoops, add paintings, blacktop games and motivational mantras, revitalize existing structures and create a mindfulness room inside &#8212; all of which would be executed Saturday, she added.</p><p>&#8220;Our children had nothing but a blacktop to play on for recess,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Our vision here is to maintain a community center because of where we&#8217;re located.&#8221;</p><p>As groups of volunteers worked on various projects both inside and out, students and their families gathered for a Community Day event to not only showcase the finished works, but to have a little fun through games, activities and more while interacting with various city, fire and police officials.</p><p>Soon after the group filled the school cafeteria for an official ribbon-cutting ceremony and unveiling with guided tours led by members of the student council.</p><p>Wells Fargo senior community relations consultant Mike Pany has been leading the Signature Day of Caring across much of the state for nearly a decade.</p><p>Each year, Wells Fargo funds three total projects &#8212; one in the Lehigh Valley, one in Central Pennsylvania and one in Northeastern Pennsylvania, he said. Funds come from capital from the Wells Fargo Foundation, and recipients are chosen from applicants such as communities, schools and more.</p><p>One of several speakers throughout the event, Wilkes-Barre Area Superintendent Brian Costello gave thanks to Wells Fargo, various city groups and organizations and countless volunteers to make the project a reality.</p><p>&#8220;What we&#8217;ve accomplished through all of your individual efforts produced results that will benefit our school community &#8212; and specifically our students &#8212; for years to come,&#8221; Costelo said in his remarks.</p><p>As some finishing touches were being made to some new green and blue playground equipment on one side of the lot, Heights residents Jodiane Hylton and Aminata Thompson waited in line for the bounce house.</p><p>The mother-daughter duo have been residents of the community, with children previously and currently attending Heights-Murray Elementary. Both agreed the playground equipment would have a positive impact in the community, and is something that&#8217;s long been waited for.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;m just glad they got this support. They can finally get their library, they can get a lot of stuff done,&#8221; Hylton said. &#8220;This looks awesome, and we appreciate it&#8230;the kids are really going to get a lot out of it, they really are.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Members of Heights-Murray Elementary School Student Council join Wells Fargo senior community relations consultant Mike Pany, back left, school Principal Melissa Myers, and Assistant Principal Aidan McKenna in a ribbon cutting signifying recently-completed school renovations at Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Members of Heights-Murray Elementary School Student Council join Wells Fargo senior community relations consultant Mike Pany, back left, school Principal Melissa Myers, and Assistant Principal Aidan McKenna in a ribbon cutting signifying recently-completed school renovations at Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Heights-Murray Elementary School ESL teacher Ashlee Rubasky paints hopscotch numbers on the school&#8217;s playground during Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service and Community Fair in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Heights-Murray Elementary School ESL teacher Ashlee Rubasky paints hopscotch numbers on the school&#8217;s playground during Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service and Community Fair in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption1><photoCredit1>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Brian Costello, left, and Wilkes-Barre Community Policing Officer Kirk Merchel serve hamburgers and hot dogs during Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service and Community Fair at Heights-Murray Elementary School on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_3.jpg</photo2><caption2>Wilkes-Barre Area School District Superintendent Brian Costello, left, and Wilkes-Barre Community Policing Officer Kirk Merchel serve hamburgers and hot dogs during Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service and Community Fair at Heights-Murray Elementary School on Saturday. </caption2><photoCredit2>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">People enjoy food and each other&#8217;s company during Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service and Community Fair at Heights-Murray Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/10/web1_TTL102019HeightsMurray_4.jpg</photo3><caption3>People enjoy food and each other&#8217;s company during Wells Fargo&#8217;s Signature Day of Service and Community Fair at Heights-Murray Elementary School in Wilkes-Barre on Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Bill Tarutis | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>

Signature Day for Caring brings improvements to school