1961 – 55 Years Ago

Gayle Charney of Wyoming was honored as a Gibson Girl by her classmates at the Flight Attendant School of Eastern Airlines in Miami, Florida. The title was given to the girl who had an exceptional personality, ability to get along well with people, and would make the best possible stewardess. Upon graduation of the five-week course, Charney wrote and narrated an original skit of a flight attendant of the future and presented it for the management and instructors of the school.

The second issue of The Revealer, the Pittston High School student newspaper, was published. Members of the staff were Charlene Polit, Jeanne Whyte, Nina Argo, Joan Skechus, John O’Brien, Joseph Pavlico, Thomas Atkachunas, Florence DeMarco, Thomas McCrone, Angelo Marcino. Carol Savadge, Jennifer Cumbo, Sharon Bright, Ann Marie Sobol, Mary Beth Martin, Marie Lombardo, Theresa Delessandro, Marie Capwell, Marlene Hodakowski, Romaine Ferraro, Jean Iacona, Helen Ann Gitkos, Sharon Rusinko, Mary Scalzo, Rosann Bantell, Rosemary Chiarelli, Santina Argento, Eleanor Lebert, Betty Fabrizio, Sandra Usavage, Ann Potenza, Joan McFarland, Rosasria Anzalone, Carol Orth, Sheila Ackerman, Peggy Whyte, JoAnn Insalaco, Rose Bartoli, Margaret Hughes, Nancy Gilvickas, Maryann Bellanco, Joan Volpe, Ann Marie Scalzo, Florence Milazzo, Gale Cawley and Gloria Wright.

1971 – 45 Years Ago

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Dino A. Lorenzini, of Exeter, solved a major gyroscope problem in 1971. Lorenzini graduated from the Air Force Academy in 1962. He attended MIT and graduated with a master’s degree 1964. While engaged in research at the Frank J. Seiler Research Laboratory at the Air Force Academy, Captain Lorenzini developed a method to test gyroscopes used in inertial guidance systems in submarines, military aircraft, airliners, private aircraft, missiles and spaceships. The test made corrections to gyroscope rotations at certain intervals enabling navigators and flight planners to plot more accurate courses.

Top 10 songs in 1971

1. “Joy To the World,” by Three Dog Night

2. “Just My Imagination,” by the Temptations

3. “What’s Goin’ On,” by Marvin Gaye

4. “Another Day,” by Paul McCartney

5. “For All We Know,” by the Carpenters

6. “Wild World,” by Cat Stevens

7. “Free,” by Chicago

8. “Oye Como Va,” by Santana

9. “Stay Awhile,” by The Bells

10. “One Toke Over the Line,” by Brewer and Shipley

Members of the Wyoming Area track and field team competed in the Wyoming Valley League were Tom Marriott, Joe Dalessandro, John Kosick, Alan Heck, Edward Zera, Tom Pepe, Jim Manganiello, Peter Kendzor, Jim Condosta, Henry Zielinski, Wayne Bohn, Dan Fetch, Louis Palmeri, Carl Ninassi, Paul Pugliese, John Borzell, Mike Hronich, Dave Cipolla, John Casey, John Godomski, John Fisher, Len Keuchinskas, William Paluck, Jerome Drogalis, Kim Pace, Len Chesterfield, Mike Pelleschi, Mike Mizan, Jim Staley, Robert Burry, Bob DePietro, Jim Pagliarini, Andy Hergan, Vince Ciccone, Ed Masher, Ken Gardner, Dave Begliomini, Ed Dziedzic, Joe Rosencrans, Mike Owens, Russ Ramage, Bob Mazzitelli, Ray Calabrese, Fred Marianacci, Robert Roote, Robert Black, Mike Calabrese, Eric Paradis, Jim Serino, Dave Amico, Keith Kolojeski and Fred Melvin.

Pomeroy’s Department Store advertised cotton dresses for $6.99 and the store beauty shop offered a “fashion cut” for $2. A two-door 1971 Hornet sedan could be purchased for $2, 279. Topps Chewing Gum, Inc. had immediate job openings for “women and girls,” at their “new higher rate of $2.42 per hour with improved benefits.”

1981 – 35 Years Ago

Jean Ann Linskey, Marilyn Montagna, Margaret Monk, Doris Corcoran, Nancy Burkel and Susan Benson, Georgeann Calabrese, Pamela Hanczyc, Peggy McHale, Susan Bobos, Elaine Brodsky, Florence Brodsky and Sue Burgio were honored by Penns Woods Girl Scout Council for their many years of dedicated service.

Seton Catholic High School took second place in two math levels in the Diocesan Council of Teachers Wide Math contest. Tenth grade winners were John Gavigan, Maureen Hanlon, Joann Boos and Mark Sutton. Grade 12 winners were Angelo Casagrande, Kevin Severnak, Tom Hanlon and Jim Kosik.

Joe Neare of Pittston was called the “ace” of the Carnival video game at Savo’s Pizza after racking up a high score of 52,180 points.

1991 – 25 Years Ago

In April 1991, Pittston Post 66, Veterans of the Vietnam War observed National Vietnam Veterans Day by hosting a parade through West Pittston and Pittston to honor the troops that served in Operation Desert Storm. Commander Joe Tavaglione opened the program along with veteran Mike Milne, National Director of Veterans of the Vietnam War. In 2012, a presidential proclamation was signed declaring that Vietnam Veterans Day would be observed on a specific date each year, March 29. It was on that day in 1973, that the final troops returned from Vietnam, marking the end of U.S. involvement in the war.

This Date in History:

1882 – The American outlaw Jesse James is shot in the back and killed by his cousin, Bob Ford.

1936 – Bruno Hauptmann, killer of the Lindbergh baby, is executed.

1966 – Three thousand South Vietnamese Army troops lead a protest against the Ky regime in Saigon.

1972 – Charlie Chaplin returns to the United States after a 20-year absence.

As published in a recent Peeking into the Past article, in 1952, members of the Dominick family, former Pittston residents, discovered another Pittston native, professional musician Joe Lenza, performing at the Hollywood Palladium in California. Recently, Joe Middleton of Pittston supplied the Sunday Dispatch with a photo of Lenza as he, along with Middleton, attended the 1995 inaugural concert series, Carnegie Hall Celebrates the Music of Sinatra, in New York City. Frank Sinatra Jr. headlined the concert performing his father’s hit songs and relating stories of his father’s life. The late Mike Rostock, who also attended the concert was the father of Paul Rostock, who for many years played bass in Sinatra Jr.’s orchestra. After decades of making music with many bands across the country, saxophonist, Lenza, is now retired and resides in Pittston. Pictured from left are Joe Middleton, Frank Sinatra Jr., Paul Rostock, Mike Rostock Sr., and Joe Lenza.

http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_JOE-LENZA-1995.jpg.optimal.jpg

As published in a recent Peeking into the Past article, in 1952, members of the Dominick family, former Pittston residents, discovered another Pittston native, professional musician Joe Lenza, performing at the Hollywood Palladium in California. Recently, Joe Middleton of Pittston supplied the Sunday Dispatch with a photo of Lenza as he, along with Middleton, attended the 1995 inaugural concert series, Carnegie Hall Celebrates the Music of Sinatra, in New York City. Frank Sinatra Jr. headlined the concert performing his father’s hit songs and relating stories of his father’s life. The late Mike Rostock, who also attended the concert was the father of Paul Rostock, who for many years played bass in Sinatra Jr.’s orchestra. After decades of making music with many bands across the country, saxophonist, Lenza, is now retired and resides in Pittston. Pictured from left are Joe Middleton, Frank Sinatra Jr., Paul Rostock, Mike Rostock Sr., and Joe Lenza. Sunday Dispatch File Photo

http://www.psdispatch.com/wp-content/uploads/2016/03/web1_Miss-Judy-2-3.jpg.optimal.jpgSunday Dispatch File Photo

Peeking into the Past

Judy Minsavage

Reach Judy Minsavage at 570-991-6403 or on Twitter @JudithMinsavage