`dawson's Creek' Has Enough Steam To Melt Most Viewers

3 Field Hockey Stars Named All-americans

By JENNIFER L. HENN; Times Leader Staff Writer
 Monday, January 19, 1998 &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;Page: 3A 





WILKES-BARRE- Some might say they had rocks in their heads. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 What they really had were rocks on their minds. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; Some 60 rock connoisseurs knew they were only a stone's throw away from
owning some precious slabs during Sunday's auction hosted by the Mineralogical
Society of Northeastern Pennsylvania. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 For as little as 25 cents and as much as $61, collectors vied for a variety
of fossils, minerals and rocks at the annual event held in the community room
of Ertley Motorworld. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Society members just couldn't get enough of the hard stuff. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "My collection (of minerals and fossils) numbers in the thousands," said
longtime club member Garry Herring of Springfield. "But I'd like to pick up a
few more pieces today. Then again, I'd always like to pick up a few more
pieces." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 From 1-4:30 p.m., the crowd eyeballed nature's treasures and shared their
observations, while sipping coffee and snacking on cake and doughnuts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Potential bidders chose from a variety of minerals and gemstones, rough and
highly polished, fossils, some quite detailed, jewelry and other arts and
crafts. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 And there was something for everyone's price range. A basketball-sized
piece of the mineral Stilibite from India went for $61 and a walnut-sized
piece of petrified wood sold for a low 25 cents. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The organization bought $300 worth of the rocks, minerals and fossils to be
auctioned. Other pieces were donated by club members. Most items sold. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Joe Savokinas, a longtime club member, came to donate some polished
minerals and possibly to bid on a few items. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "Not that I need them," Savokinas said. "Let me put it this way, I have so
many pieces I intend to open a museum, hopefully by the end of this year." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 The prospective museum will be located on Columbus Avenue, Pittston,
Savokinas said, and will showcase his vast personal collection of minerals. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Some of the auctioned items came from Australia, Brazil, India and Africa.
Others are local, mined here in Northeastern Pennsylvania from the Winfield
Quarry and Meckley Quarry in Sunbury. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 Mineral collecting is a hobby everyone should try, Savokinas said. "When
you crack open a rock and find minerals or crystals inside you have to realize
you are the first person in the world ever to see them. &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 "It's extraordinary, really." &nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; 
 First-year club president Robert Brown said he was thrilled with this
year's turnout. "I'm relieved to see it going well." &nbsp;

Rock Cache Turned Into Hard Cash 
Mineralogical Society 
Held An Auction Of Rocks, 
Gems And Fossils To Draw 
The Attention, And Money, 
Of Hardcore Collectors

Rock Cache Turned Into Hard Cash Mineralogical Society Held An Auction Of Rocks, Gems And Fossils To Draw The Attention, And Money, Of Hardcore Collectors