W-b Owes To Two Firefighters

Albert Stravinsky 
Feb. 5, 1994 
Albert J. Stravinsky, Of Walnut Street, Luzerne, Died Saturday At Riverstreet 
Manor, Wilkes-barre.

By GINA M. TAGNANI; Times Leader Intern
 Tuesday, February 08, 1994 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A QUICK WORDS: YOUNGSTERS TO SPEND BIT
OF SUMMER SOAKING UP CULTURE 





Did you ever throw shrimp on the "barbie" or greet your friends with a
cherry `G'day, mate'? &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 At the end of a three-week trip to the Australian outback, 10 area junior
high students will be slinging shrimp with the best of them. In July, the
students will visit the far-away continent as ambassadors for the People to
People organization. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; "I can't wait, It's going to be so great," said Alysa Martinelli, 12, of
Pittston Township. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Ambassadors study the culture and daily life of people in various
countries. Two years ago, the ambassadors toured Russia. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The program, based in Spokane, Wash., was founded in 1956 by President
Dwight D. Eisenhower. This is the third year of the junior high program. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Twenty students from Pennsylvania will take the trip, which will cost
approximately $4,300. Students are encouraged to solicit sponsors and hold
fund-raisers to defer the cost. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Martinelli and her mother, Mari, baked and sold 80 dozen Christmas cookies.
Michael Pocceschi plans to ask local businesses for their support. The two
students also are planning a joint candy sale and possible dance for their two
schools. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The student ambassadors are enthusiastic about their adventure. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I've always wanted to go to Australia. It should be very interesting,"
said Pocceschi, 13, of Exeter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Pocceschi is point guard for his basketball team, second baseman for his
baseball team and plays soccer. Martinelli, a seventh-grader at Pittston Area,
plays the piano, bells, viola and cello, sings in the chorus and enjoys
softball and jazz dancing. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm excited because I love to travel," said Julie Eckert, 12, of Dallas. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The students will leave in the beginning of July. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Karen Cole's mother Donna is as eager as her daughter. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I'm thrilled. This is the trip of a lifetime for Karen," said Cole, whose
daughter is 13 and a student at Lake-Lehman. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The two delegation leaders who will accompany the students to Australia are
Jane Medvecky of the Hazleton School District, and Tom Matthews of the
Delaware Valley School District. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Medvecky, a swimming teacher, was involved in the program two years ago and
went to the former Soviet Union as a chaperone. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "I was very impressed by the program. It's a real first-class act," said
Medvecky. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The organization works with the students at several orientation sessions to
ready them for the three-week trip. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The student ambassadors from Luzerne County, along with Martinelli,
Pocceschi, Eckert and Cole, are: Dave Williams, Dallas; Vince Perta, Plains
Township; Katie Elbert, Mountaintop; Dan Williams, Tunkhannock; Jan Michael
Dindoffer, Hazleton; and Katie Duncan, Dunmore. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 TIMES LEADER/FRED ADAMS &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Michael Pocceschi, 13, and Alysa Martinelli, 12, have been chosen as
student ambassadors to Australia

Youngsters To Spend Bit Of Summer Soaking Up Culture Down Under 
Ten Local Junior High 
Students Will Spend 3 Weeks 
In Australia As Ambassadors 
For `people To People'

Youngsters To Spend Bit Of Summer Soaking Up Culture Down Under Ten Local Junior High Students Will Spend 3 Weeks In Australia As Ambassadors For `people To People'