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<p>WILKES-BARRE &#8212; Holiday music could be heard throughout the Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center on Saturday, welcoming hundreds of shoppers seeking that perfect holiday gift</p><p>The school held its third annual Holiday Craft Fair, bringing together students, faculty and administrators of every trade to sell their skills alongside 90 area vendors.</p><p>Organized by school nurse Megan Bartuska-Laudato, the event helps raise money for a variety of student needs such as field trips, trade attire and supplies and scholarships, she said.</p><p>Last year the craft fair helped the school reach its goals of purchasing a transport van that could help students visit colleges, complete volunteer services in the community and more.</p><p>Now Bartuska-Laudato hope they can make it happen again.</p><p>&#8220;We&#8217;re trying to purchase a (second) van for students to go help out their community,&#8221; she said. &#8220;Everything we do is all school-related. It&#8217;s all for the kids.&#8221;</p><p>Making their way through rows of vendors placed inside the cafeteria and throughout the surrounding halls, shoppers were able to grab fan favorites like holiday decor, candles, jewelry and baked goods.</p><p>But there were also some more unique vendors, like a table full of slime and a self-made scrunchie business.</p><p>Scrunchie Girls, made up of the mother-daughter duo Collena and Maura Jenceleski, kept busy with scrunchie-loving customers the first half of the event. Opening the business over the summer, they decided to give the craft fair a try following a friend&#8217;s recommendation.</p><p>&#8220;It&#8217;s been very busy,&#8221; Collena said.</p><p>Nanticoke residents themselves, Collena said holding a craft show fundraiser is a great idea to help students and groups maintain funding.</p><p>Up the hall, several cosmetology students were keeping busy giving attendees some primping and pampering.</p><p>Cosmetology instructor Karen Montante explained that shoppers could get several hair and nail services at great prices during the event, like a shampoo, dry and style for $5 or $3 manicures.</p><p>&#8220;I did it two years ago and it was very successful. It gives the students an actual experience of what a real-life salon would be like,&#8221; she said of participating.</p><p>While families were snapping photos of their children with Santa and Mrs. Claus in the cafeteria, filling out raffles or shopping their favorite treats, Bartuska-Laudato was thankful for the event&#8217;s success.</p><p>&#8220;Honestly think it&#8217;s because we&#8217;re 100% dedicated to our students,&#8221; she said. &#8220;So I think people want to keep coming back because they knew we&#8217;re helping other students, so they want to come back to try to help as well.&#8221;</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Santa Claus made a stop to the arts and crafts fair from his busy schedule. Santa is shown with Kennedy Moore, 3. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-6.jpg</photo0><caption0>Santa Claus made a stop to the arts and crafts fair from his busy schedule. Santa is shown with Kennedy Moore, 3. </caption0><photoCredit0>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Sisters and Wilkes-Barre Career and Technical Center students Kieran, left, and Alanah Rinish were on hand to sell popcorn from their family business, Country Girl Kettle Corn. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-2.jpg</photo1><caption1>Sisters and Wilkes-Barre Career and Technical Center students Kieran, left, and Alanah Rinish were on hand to sell popcorn from their family business, Country Girl Kettle Corn. </caption1><photoCredit1>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Former Coughlin High School principal Frank Michaels hangs one of many holiday wreaths designed and produced by his wife Dee of Dee&#8217;s Wreaths and More. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-5.jpg</photo2><caption2>Former Coughlin High School principal Frank Michaels hangs one of many holiday wreaths designed and produced by his wife Dee of Dee&#8217;s Wreaths and More. </caption2><photoCredit2>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-1.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center students Jada Tokar, center, and Savannah Halchak walk through isles of vendors like Shawn Mankovich, left, of Shpoppy Shawn&#8217;s Shmoked Cheese, selling prepared food by culinary students at the arts and craft show at CTC on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-1.jpg</photo3><caption3>Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center students Jada Tokar, center, and Savannah Halchak walk through isles of vendors like Shawn Mankovich, left, of Shpoppy Shawn&#8217;s Shmoked Cheese, selling prepared food by culinary students at the arts and craft show at CTC on Saturday. </caption3><photoCredit3>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Brenda Blackwell of Ember Lights shuffles product around at her display during the arts and crafts fair. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-4.jpg</photo4><caption4>Brenda Blackwell of Ember Lights shuffles product around at her display during the arts and crafts fair. </caption4><photoCredit4>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Business was steady all day at Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center&#8217;s Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday with a little over 100 vendors participating at the fair. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_WB-CTS-Craft-Fair-3.jpg</photo5><caption5>Business was steady all day at Wilkes-Barre Area Career and Technical Center&#8217;s Arts and Crafts Fair on Saturday with a little over 100 vendors participating at the fair. </caption5><photoCredit5>Tony Callaio | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><subheadMeta>Craft fair benefits Wilkes-Barre CTC students</subheadMeta></div><div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Marcella Kester</p><p>For Times Leader</p></bylineMeta></div>