This is it — the last day in January! One more depressing month for me and I will have navigated through two of the toughest months on the calendar.

It won’t be long before pitchers and catchers will be reporting for duty in Major League Baseball. How’s that for optimism?

Award winners named

Last week the Sunday Dispatch announced its 2015 Greater Pittston Person of the Year and the Joseph Saporito Sr. Lifetime of Service award winners.

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Pittston City Main Street Manager Rose Randazzo will pick up the Person of the Year award for 2015. Rose has been part of a great team that includes former Pittston Mayor Michael Lombardo and current Mayor Jason Klush when it comes to downtown revitalization. Her dedication to making Main Street great has been fierce and she won’t rest until every corner, north and south, is brought back to its brilliance of decades ago.

I can’t think of anyone more deserving of Tom Tigue for the Joseph Saporito Sr. Lifetime of Service Award. Tom epitomizes the term “lifetime of service.” He defended our country as a Marine; he served the community as both a Pittston Area School Board member and a state representative. His call of duty to others has been genuine and true, and I can’t think of a more honest, straight-shooter than Tom.

Unfortunately, Tom is going through some rough times these days after losing his wife and having been diagnosed with cancer last year. Even through all the hardship, he has a great support staff with his four children and nine grandchildren.

I’m sure Tom knows that everyone who he’s touched over his lifetime have been thinking about and praying for him — and folks, that is a lot of people that have his back.

New superintendent

Well, a white plume of smoke billowed over the Pittston Area High School on Tuesday and a new superintendent was chosen. Acting superintendent Kevin Booth was voted in by the majority of 6-2 and will now lead the school district into a new era.

The role of school superintendent can be a thankless job, but Booth has the come up through the ranks as a fourth-grade teacher and district principal before being named interim superintendent last year. With the naming of Booth, the transition will be seamless.

Storm missed us

Now getting back to winter – nobody was more thrilled than myself when the massive storm evaded Greater Pittston. For me, if we can get through most of December and January without much snow, then I don’t want any snow at all, but at least Albert Conner of Duryea can enjoy one of the two snow throwers given away by WNEP-TV. Albert was one of over 300 correct entries guessing when the first inch of snow would arrive at the studio in Moosic. I wonder how many times Albert entered?

Congratulations again to Rose, Tom, and Kevin. Albert, if you don’t mind, I’m hoping you don’t get much use out of the snow thrower this year.

Quote of the week

“Stop the habit of wishful thinking and start the habit of thoughtful wishes.” – Mary Martin, American actress and mother of actor Larry Hagman.

Thought of the week

“Every stress leaves an indelible scar, and the organism pays for its survival after a stressful situation by becoming a little older.” – Dr. Hans Selye, Austrian-Canadian endocrinologist.

Bumper sticker

“Music is only love looking for words.” – Lawrence Durrell, British writer.

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My Corner, Your Corner

Tony Callaio

Tony Callaio’s column My Corner, Your Corner runs weekly in the Sunday Dispatch. He can be reached at tonyc150@verizon.net.