Novella is a 16 year old young lady who attends Lackawanna Trail High School. She has been working at Keystone Konfections twice a week since July 2017, as part of a Work Based Learning Experience. While Novella is at the bakery, she works as a bakery assistant, completing responsibilities such as stocking, light cleaning, and most important to her, baking! Novella truly has a passion for baking and loves to learn new recipes, specific baking techniques and now cake decorating. The bakery staff are very kind and have developed a wonderful relationship with Novella, especially Linda Brown, Bakery Manager. When Novella graduates from high school, she says she’ll most likely attend culinary school.
 
Congratulations to Novella for decorating her first cake, especially making those beautiful blue roses!
 
Submitted by Stephanie Chunca, Senior Coordinator of Community Employment Service'
For more information about our Work Based Learning, please contact our Admissions Coordinator at [email protected] ​

​Scranton, Pa, Keystone Community Resources, (KCR) recently went to the Disability Funding Rally at the Pennsylvania Capitol Building in Harrisburg to support funding for PA and rallied the “ Choice, I Love my Job, I Love my Program!” initiative.  KCR joined advocates in and around PA to advocate for fair funding for individuals with intellectual disabilities, (ID) and autism. KCR program participants with intellectual disabilities, family members, KCR employees and advocates got a chance to visit Senator Lisa Baker’s office to discuss issues that individuals and companies have that provide services. 

Kaitlyn Klinges, Program Manager/Program Specialist at Keystone Community Resources Bridge Street Adult Day Program was one of the 11 local business leaders, who graduated from the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce inaugural Leadership Wyoming program.

This new program joins more than 50 professional leadership programs throughout the state whose goals include building and improving leadership skills within local communities. The nine month program exposed Kaitlyn to key industries in our economy such as agriculture, healthcare, manufacturing, and natural gas. Kaitlyn received a behind the scenes look at area facilities including Tyler Hospital, United Methodist Homes – Tunkhannock, a natural gas drill site, compressor stations, the Wyoming County Courthouse and much more.
 
Over the course of the class, Kaitlyn and her team members were also tasked with completing a community service project at the Tunkhannock Public Library. The project, “Take the Library Outside,” will allow the library to utilize a portion of their back yard for special events and will allow people of all ages to enjoy.
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This was a great opportunity for Kaitlyn and KCR, please make sure you congratulate her. Programs like this helps us to build relationships with local businesses and supports our community outreach to create more possibilities for our individuals with intellectual disabilities and autism.

CLARKS SUMMIT — Darryl Davis has been promoted to director of information technology at Keystone Community Resources.

He has led the KCR Information Technology team as a manager for over a decade, continuing to meet the ever-changing technology needs. He was educated at Marywood College, majoring in radio and television communications, and holds certifications in HP, IBM, Apple/Macintosh and A+ COMPTIA.

He has been the driving force for the planning, implementing and infrastructure of the company’s IT department.

During his leadership, Keystone Community Resources has experienced a growth spanning 60 group homes and eight day programs dedicated to serving people with intellectual disabilities and autism in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

​Tunkhannock, Pa, Keystone Community Resources, (KCR) Bridge Street Adult Day Service Program were gifted tickets to a private screening of Pete’s Dragon at the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater. The tickets were kindly donated from the Lake Winola Rotary Club, 50 KCR consumers were in attendance at the screening.  Keystone Community Resources is an organization that is dedicated to providing people with developmental disabilities diverse opportunities to lead fulfilling lives. Lake Winola Rotary Club is a social hour service club and is currently looking for new members to join. Meetings are held on Thursday evenings 6:00 - 7:30 pm at Lakeside Grill in Tunkhannock

KCR Executive Leaders and members of the KCR Golf Committee presented a check for $3000 to the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater.  This donation will help allow the theater to continue to flourish and bring more movies, live entertainment, classes and events to the community. 
 “Our first annual golf tournament was so successful we have decided to announce the second annual 2017 KCR Golf Open, Friday, June 9, 2017 at Shadowbrook Inn and Resort with an early morning start.  This event once again will allow us the ability to get together with a great group of people for a golf competition while raising funds for another non-profit community partner to be determined.” Laura Brown-Yadlosky, President of Keystone Community Resources.

​Photo Caption:  Pictured Left: Nichole Werner, KCR Marketing Specialist; Kristie Baker, KCR Day and Vocational Program Manager, Bridge St. Lisa Cunningham, Senior Director of Programs & Services, Justin Yadlosly, Senior Director of Strategic Development , Margie Young, Dietrich Theater Program Coordinator and Erica Rogler, Dietrich Theater Executive Director.  

CLARKS SUMMIT —Despite falling temperatures, local farms and businesses still have home-grown products available for purchase through the Abington Winter Farm Market each Saturday at the Clarks Summit United Methodist Church.
On Saturday, Jan. 9, the opening day of the market, 12 vendors from across Northeastern Pennsylvania, including many from the Abingtons, showcased products fromlettuce to jerky to pies.
Eric Garver, of Conifer Corner in Factoryville, sold out of the business’s raspberry pepper jerky during the first few hours and was thrilled with the support from the community.
“There seems to be a lot of excitement in the community,” Garver said. “There is a market in Scranton, but it has a very different setting and atmosphere. This market will be truly unique to the area.”
Garver believes the partnership between the vendors, church and patrons as well as interactive events separates the market from others in the area.
“The meals served by the church will have different items from various vendors each week,” he said. “For example, Annie’s Country Kitchen, of Newton Township, donated salsa to use in the chili sold by the church during opening day. Generally, you don’t see farms working with churches to serve meals to the community.
“It’s not strictly a market where people will pick up their produce and leave. We plan on having different events each month including a Kids Day on Saturday, Feb. 6 that will feature live baby goats from Orson’s Best Garden Center and Farmstand in Union Dale and arts and crafts projects for children.” Click here to read the full story.