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Storm pushes into Midwest with heavy snow and winds, will hit NEPA Sunday

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State surveying veterans on transition to civilian employment

<p>KINGSTON &#8212; For 25 years, the Kingston Armory at Christmas time has been transformed into a grand display of crafts and artwork, featuring vendors from all over the Wyoming Valley looking to send customers home with the perfect stocking stuffer.</p><p>This year was no exception, as the American Red Cross held the first day of its annual two-day craft show Saturday afternoon.</p><p>Over 2,000 shoppers packed the armory just on Saturday alone, as the show seems poised to shatter last year&#8217;s total attendance of around 3,500 people.</p><p>&#8220;We have such talented people in our area that make unbelievable things,&#8221; said Bill Goldsworthy, the executive director of the American Red Cross of Eastern Pennsylvania. &#8220;I&#8217;m just always amazed.&#8221;</p><p>Over 130 vendors from places as close as Kingston and as far as Nescopeck set up shop. A wide and diverse variety of items were up for grabs, everything from smoked cheese to wind chimes.</p><p>The proceeds from the event, generated by a $5 admission charge at the door as well as a 50/50 raffle, all will go toward the Red Cross, a nonprofit organization that receives no government funding, according to Goldsworthy.</p><p>The show was a family affair, as plenty of young children could be seen strolling the floor with their parents. Santa and Mrs. Claus were on hand to take pictures with the kids and put smiles on faces.</p><p>Katie Makowski came to the event with her husband and two sons, looking to get some Christmas shopping done.</p><p>&#8220;I&#8217;ve been coming here for four years,&#8221; Makowski said. &#8220;I&#8217;m not looking for anything specifically, just Christmas presents.&#8221;</p><p>Marguerite Pugh has also been coming to the show for the last couple of years, but not as a shopper. She represents Kernel Moonies, a gourmet popcorn shop in Luzerne.</p><p>&#8220;We started Kernel Moonie&#8217;s about three years ago, we make about 50 flavors of sweet and savory candy-flavored popcorn,&#8221; Pugh said. Before branching out into flavored popcorn, Pugh made kettle corn for 14 years at Hillside Farms.</p><p>&#8220;Our kettle corn is phenomenal, people love our birthday cake popcorn.&#8221;</p><p>Pugh says that it took her a few tries to get a booth at the craft show, due to the show&#8217;s overwhelmingly popular demand. She was on a waiting list for awhile before finally landing a spot.</p><p>The event will continue on Sunday from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the armory, no matter what the weather may bring.</p><style>
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<div class="neCaption">Taylor Etzle, 6, of Nanticoke sits on Santa&#8217;s lap and tells him what she wants for Christmas while at the Kingston Armory on Saturday. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo0>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-1.jpg</photo0><caption0>Taylor Etzle, 6, of Nanticoke sits on Santa&#8217;s lap and tells him what she wants for Christmas while at the Kingston Armory on Saturday. </caption0><photoCredit0>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit0></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-3.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Molly Pokrinchak, 9, of Swoyersville looks at panda bear nesting dolls from the &#8216;Igor&#8217;s Russian Art Gallery&#8217; stand during the American Red Cross art show at the Kingston Armory on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo1>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-3.jpg</photo1><caption1>Molly Pokrinchak, 9, of Swoyersville looks at panda bear nesting dolls from the &#8216;Igor&#8217;s Russian Art Gallery&#8217; stand during the American Red Cross art show at the Kingston Armory on Saturday morning. </caption1><photoCredit1>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit1></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-4.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gayle Slezak of Carverton, shops with her 11-year-old Yorkie Oliver during the Red Cross craft show at the Kingston Armory on Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo2>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-4.jpg</photo2><caption2>Gayle Slezak of Carverton, shops with her 11-year-old Yorkie Oliver during the Red Cross craft show at the Kingston Armory on Saturday morning. </caption2><photoCredit2>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit2></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-5.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gloria Sypniewski of ClothesCrafts hangs her spool angels on a tree in front of her vendor stand Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo3>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-5.jpg</photo3><caption3>Gloria Sypniewski of ClothesCrafts hangs her spool angels on a tree in front of her vendor stand Saturday morning. </caption3><photoCredit3>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit3></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-6.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Gloria Sypniewski of ClothesCrafts hangs her spool angels on a tree in front of her vendor stand Saturday morning. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo4>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-6.jpg</photo4><caption4>Gloria Sypniewski of ClothesCrafts hangs her spool angels on a tree in front of her vendor stand Saturday morning. </caption4><photoCredit4>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit4></div><div class="neFile"><img class="neImage" src="https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-2.jpg">
<div class="neCaption">Abigail and Christine Michaels of Hanover Township look through unique wooden Christmas ornaments by Bad Buddy Carving. </div></div><div class="metaInfo"><photo5>https://www.timesleader.com/wp-content/uploads/2019/11/web1_ttl120119craftshow-2.jpg</photo5><caption5>Abigail and Christine Michaels of Hanover Township look through unique wooden Christmas ornaments by Bad Buddy Carving. </caption5><photoCredit5>Amanda Hrycyna | For Times Leader </photoCredit5></div></div>
<div class="metaInfo"><bylineMeta><p>By Kevin Carroll</p><p>kcarroll@www.timesleader.com</p></bylineMeta></div>

Thousands shop for gifts at Red Cross holiday fair