'frankenstein' Creation 
Not Totally Electrifying 
Review: 
Stage

Police Blotter 
The Following Incidents Were Reported By State And Local Police: 
Fire Ruled An Arson

Friday, December 25, 1992 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 1A/3A QUICK WORDS: DREAMS BOOK 





GIFTS -- Dianna Dulney of Exeter, left, and her older sister Susan,
received toys and snowsuits from the 'Book of Dreams.' Dianna, a
multi-handicapped child, also received a therapeutic standing device. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PHOTO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; TIMES LEADER/PETE WILCOX &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 STANDING UP FOR CHRISTMAS -- Paula Minckler-s 2-year-old son, Ricky,
received a therapeutic stander from 'Book of Dreams' donor Dr. George
Tsoutsoplides. Also shown is Minckler's 3-year-old daughter, Becky. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 PHOTO &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/RICHARD SABATURA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 COMPUTERIZED HOLIDAY -- Bill Karlotski, left, of Chermung Computer in
Kingston, works with Jim McAndrew of Luzerne County Community College and Rita
Boyle of Hazleton. Boyle's three daughters received a home computer from the
'Book of Dreams' to help them with their school work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 ********************* &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 By CLARA G. HERRERA &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Times Leader Staff Writer &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dean Balcomb was just passing through the Wyoming Valley on his way to
Norristown when he stopped at a gas station and picked up a paper. He read a
story about a girl who was blind and couldn't stand on her own. She needed
help. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Wyalusing man showed the story to his wife and then sent in a check to
the "Book of Dreams" for $500 in the name of "People who love children." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Eleven stories focusing on individuals and families who needed special help
for the holidays composed the "Book of Dreams." Readers donated money toward a
goal of $9,385.01. That goal was reached and exceeded. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Many hearts from around the area were touched by the stories about their
neighbors. Checks poured in -- some with notes attached in quick scrawls of
"sorry I can't afford more." A group of 7th graders from a Sunday school class
from the Gate of Heaven Church in Dallas took a collection of $50 and sent it
in. The 3rd grade class at Holy Name of Jesus School in Forty Fort gathered
$155 for Anthony Laury's activity center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 All ages and all types of people made a difference to some less fortunate
people this holiday season. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Of his part, Balcomb says, "I just wanted to help." Earlier in the year
Balcomb had solicited his friends for money to buy a wheelchair for a
14-year-old boy. Luckily, he had some of the money left over and decided to
help 2-year-old Dianna Rose Dulney of Exeter learn to stand up. His money will
help buy her special equipment to aid her progress. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "If it wasn't for them (contributors) it would never have been possible to
get this," said Diane Dulney, Dianna's mother. "There's no way I could afford
it. This is beautiful." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Contributions ranged from a bag full of several hundred pennies to a
personal check for $2,014 for a computer system. Chemung Computer, the local
Apple computer dealer at 401 Third Ave., in Kingston made getting a computer
even easier for three girls by reducing the price of a system. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We just like to help out," said Bill Karlotski, of Chemung Computer. "We
like to doing something for the community." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Many people must have felt the same way. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A total of $17,802.06 was raised this year. Many readers were still
contributing as late as Christmas Eve. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For some, many of the stories hit close to home. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dr. George Tsoutsoplides took care of Paula Minckler of Pittston when she
was pregnant with Ricky Minckler two years ago. Little Ricky needed a special
$510 device to help him learn to stand since he suffers from spina bifida. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dr. Tsoutsoplides made out a check for the whole amount. "I thought I could
help Ricky get a better start in life to walk," said Tsoutsoplides. "Being a
parent, I could really understand what the family's going through." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For some contributors, seeing the problems of some of the children featured
made them open their pocketbooks. They were thankful for their own health and
the good health of those around them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I thought to myself, you count your blessings when you have healthy
children," said Clementine Mentrikoski, a Warrior Run resident who is the
mother of three grown children. "I read the stories every night and decided to
help." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Book of Dreams" funds also went toward helping building a ramp for a
wheelchair-bound Wilkes-Barre woman who had little access to the outside world
from her home. It will allow a group of 60 children from throughout the area
with physical and mental disabilities to play baseball on a specially designed
baseball field in Connecticut. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And thanks to some help from Boscov's, two local families who lost their
homes now have some new, warm clothes for the winter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Because of contributions, three promising school girls from Hazleton will
soon be able to use a new computer to do school work. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "For this family this is just a dream come true. The girls have told me all
they're going to do with this system. Their teachers are so excited," said
Hazleton Catholic Social Services Director Eileen McAndrew. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Other funds were used to purchase equipment to allow handicapped or
disabled children from local families to stand, sit and perform other basic
tasks. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Sabrina Houseknecht, for example, received a mechanized musical horse that
will aid in her therapy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We are grateful to The Times Leader for trying to make this little angel's
Christmas a little brighter for her and her grandmother," said Donna Pesansky,
itinerant resource teacher for the Child Development Council of Northeastern
Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I can't believe all the kids' dreams were realized," said Patti Petroski,
Wyoming Valley Children's Association director. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "This equipment replaces things everyone takes for granted -- standing,
sitting, lying down. It costs so much for these kids to do these things,"
Petroski said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For one woman, contributing to the "Book of Dreams" became a mini-crusade. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Do you believe in God? I do," said Helen Dane of Wilkes-Barre. While
sleeping one night, Dane, a perky 95-year-old, awoke with a start. The first
thing she thought of was Anthony Laury of Wilkes-Barre. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Laury was featured in the "Book of Dreams" because he needed some
therapeutic equipment to help him learn to sit up and change positions. "I got
a lump in my throat just thinking about it," she said. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Dane called 33 of her closest friends plus the Valley Crest Auxiliary,
Harrigan's Irish Pub and Bertels Can Co. to raise $600. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I did it all from my living room," Dane said. "It took a lot of talking.
Isn't it wonderful that people are generous? It makes me feel good. It makes
me feel like I did something for Christmas." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For the past two years Pat Judge of A &amp; A Autoparts stores has been doing
his part to play Santa for the needy in the area. This year Judge donated
$2,500 on behalf of A &amp; A to the "Book of Dreams". &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I try to help pay back the kindness that the people have shown to us and
our employees," Judge said. "It's a tough time and the economy is not that
great. The ones that can, should share." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Generosity from this year's contributors enabled more people to be helped
through the "Book of Dreams." Not only those featured in the 11 stories reaped
benefit. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Thanks to a sizable donation from the Bon-Ton department store, children
who live at the Boulevard Town Homes in Wilkes-Barre will get extra help at
their McGlynn Learning Center through additional math and reading software
programs that will be purchased. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 A board of about eight employees from the Wyoming Valley Mall store decided
to give $3,000 in company funds to the "Book of Dreams," said Barry Breneman,
the general manager. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The McGlynn Center received $2,000 and the rest will be used as seed money
for next year's "Book of Dreams." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It was a real blessing. You talk about the Christmas spirit, Bon-Ton
certainly outdid themselves, I didn't expect this amount," said Sister Miriam
Francis Stadulis, director of the center. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Because of extreme generosity from some big donors we were able to
distribute more money to some local agencies," said Chris Ritchie, Times
Leader features editor. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The Victims Resource Center, designated earlier as a recipient if excess
funds were received, was sent a check for $2,000. The money will help maintain
the center's current staff and counselors, especially during a time when
demands for services are increasing. A donation of $500 will be given to the
Osterhout Free Library for children's books and reference material. An
additional $500 will go to the St. Vincent dePaul Kitchen, a local soup
kitchen that provides meals for the needy. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "We have chosen these agencies because of their broad degree of public
access," Ritchie said. "Anybody, literally, can walk into the Osterhout and
use its resources." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Although the "Book of Dreams" is one project that only takes place a few
weeks out of the year, benefits from the project will last the whole year
long, and for hopefully years to come. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Many people feel like giving during this particular time of year and
that's wonderful," said Allison Walzer, Times Leader vice president and
editor. "What's special about this program is that most of these gifts won't
break by Jan. 1. They will be the kind of gifts that really make a difference
and keep the spirit going."

`book Of Dreams' Brightens Holidays Generosity Helps Those In Need See A Better Future ********************* Photo Times Leader/lewis Geyer