Around Town
Published: June 26, 2009
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Monogram Muse Featured in
National Trade Magazine
The spring 2009 issue of Gift Shop magazine includes a feature article on Clarks Summit entrepreneur Francene Pisano Dudziec, owner of Monogram Muse, 120 State St.
“Monograms Are Her Muse” is the title of the magazine article that highlights the creativity and energy behind the store’s inspiration, and it describes the merchandise, all of which may be personalized. A professional art director, Dudziec has an eye for all things beautiful and all things trendy.
“I just work with the colors and products that I know people love,” Dudziec said. “There is something so special, so unique about a monogrammed gift. It’s all about the recipient.”
The boutique owner’s flair for style shines through her words as well as her colorful displays and window dressings. Dudziec refers to the store as the area’s “alphabet gift boutique” where she is the self-proclaimed “gift engineer.”
Monogram Muse was voted Best New Business in a newspaper poll. She’s expanding her customer base beyond Northeastern Pennsylvania via the Internet. Her pending Web site will offer online shopping. Featured items will be gift ideas for weddings, anniversaries, birthdays, graduations and all other special occasions. Monogram Muse offers seasonal and basic product lines, including personalized towels, china, baby gifts, stationery, partyware, bedding, luggage, handbags and jewelry. Special orders are welcome.
Dudziec also serves as president of the Abington Business & Professional Association. In addition, she is a member of Monograms America, a board member of Scranton’s La Festa Italiana and chairs the Clarks Summit Festival of Ice.
Dudziec is the daughter of Jim and Frances Pisano, Exeter. She lives in Moosic with her husband, Mike, and two daughters, Ariana and Lucia.
Old Forge Retired Citizens
The Old Forge Retired Citizens Association will hold a meeting on Wednesday, July 1, at Arcaro & Genells, at 1 p.m. For more information, call 457-3530 or 457-3159.
Car Wash
Riverside Marching Units Booster Club will sponsor a car wash on Saturday, June 27, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at Gaughan’s Auto Store, Main Street, Taylor. The cost is $6 per car and the event is rain or shine.
Clam Chowder Sale
St. Stpehen’s Church, Old Forge, will sponsor a clam chowder sale on Friday, June 26, from 4-6 p.m. The price is $5 per quart. To order, call 457-9607.
Old Forge Borough Offices to Close
All Old Forge Borough offices will be closed on Friday, July 3, in observance of the Independence Day.
Garbage pickup will not change. Recycling schedule will not change. Yard waste will be picked up only on Thursday and will not be rescheduled for Friday.
Youth Program
Youth Program: Beginning Tuesday, June 30, and continuing for six weeks, a mimi-camp for children ages 6-12 will be held at the Moosic Youth Center, from 4-7 p.m. daily. There will be crafts and games and open court time. The program will be supervised by Keystone College student teacher, Dominique Weitz. Call 457-8450 for more information on this free program. All communities welcome.
Summer Program in Old Forge
MaryLynn Bartoletti, Old Forge Borough manager, announced that preparations for the Old Forge Summer Youth Program are underway. The program is sponsored by Old Forge Borough, the Old Forge School District and the local businesses that give financial support to the program. There is no charge to participating families because of this support.
The program, held at the Miles Street Community Park, begins on Wednesday, July 1, and ends on Friday, July 31. The park will be closed on July 3. The program runs from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. and is open to all Old Forge school children, from grades K through 12.
Activities planned are arts and crafts, softball, basketball, tennis, kickball, volleyball, board games, badminton and reading time. A director and counselors are available to supervise the children.
Registration forms may be picked up at the borough building, 310 S. Main St., from 9 a.m. to 3 p.m., or children may sign up on the first day of the program.
The director of the Summer Park Program 2009 is Christina Mordente. She has been a part of the program for the past six years.
Golf Registration Still Open
According to organizers, registration for the Moosic Youth Center’s (MYC) sixth annual golf tournament is down tremendously from past years. The tournament is the group’s biggest fund-raiser for the youth center. From September through May the Moosic Youth Center provides not only an after school program, a dance studio, and both biddy and youth basketball leagues. The youth center also serves as a community connection for adults and organizations to hold group meetings and various Lions Club events.
Rentals of the gym and stage are also available, including birthday parties. For the fourth year now, MYC is serving the summer lunches to children ages infant to 18 who stop by for a free lunch.
Call 457-0423 to register. Format for the tournament is captain and crew, with a shot gun start at 2 p.m. Buffet and raffles for prizes will take place following the round of golf.
Car Cruise
Allied Services Volunteers are sponsoring a pre-Independence Day car cruise on Sunday, June 28, on Allied’s campus on Moffat Drive. There will be giveaways, raffles and refreshments. Live music will be provided by Millennium.
Proceeds benefit Allied Services programs including free services for children with disabilities, sponsorship of Allied’s wheelchair sports teams, scholarship funds for the dePaul School for dyslexia and support for Vocational Services for people with physical or mental impairments.
For information, call Bill Tonti at 348-1300, ext. 3520.
St. Mary’s Picnic
St. Mary’s Church, Avoca, will hold its annual summer festival Thursday, July 16, through Saturday, July 18, with the festivities beginning at 6 p.m. nightly on the grounds of the former St. Mary’s School, the corner of Hawthorne and Spring Streets, Avoca.
The festival will open on Thursday evening featuring the music of “Groove Train.” “Flaxy Morgan” will entertain picnic attendees on Friday and “The Hometown Boyz” will perform on Saturday.
Food items will include potato pancakes, pizza fritta, homemade baked goods, chicken cheesesteak hoagies and pizza. There will also be games of chance for adults and a grand raffle featuring numerous prizes.
