There it is — in a blink of an eye, it’s 2025 and already five days into the New Year.
A friend asked me how 2025 felt so far, and my answer was, it felt like 2024.
I know for many, bringing in the New Year is a fresh start, a way to begin all over, and a way to reboot. I totally get that, and if you had a crappy previous year, it’s a great way to get in your head it’s a new beginning.
I know one person that is starting anew, and that is Rob Bresnahan as he enters Congress for the first time as he was sworn in this past Friday.
After knowing Rob for some time now, I can say he’s young, intelligent, he’s ambitious and he’s driven, so with that said, we will look for good things to come from Congressman Bresnahan.
Joe Struckus, a Pittston Area faculty member started a new position as he rose from assistant athletic director to athletic director, replacing the longtime AD, Charlie Turco.
Turco served the district well for decades, starting off as one of the premiere athletes to come out of Pittston Area, returning as faculty and retiring as athletic director.
Good luck to Joe, and congratulations to Charlie on a well-deserved rest and retirement from Pittston Area.
You know the old saying, “Things happen for a reason?” I truly believe that more times than not.
The week before Christmas, I was working and feeling hungry, so I decided at the last minute to pop into Agolino’s Restaurant for a bite. I didn’t have a great deal of time and certainly didn’t have time to make myself a meal, so Agolino’s was the logical choice.
As I sat at the counter, Danny Brogna — one of the best — walked in, along with his wife, Maureen. As he walked towards his booth, he spotted me and walked past his booth as his wife sat and headed in my direction.
Every single time I ran into Danny, it would start with a smile and end with a smile with laughter mixed in.
Danny always had a way of making you feel loved but when I first met him, I wasn’t sure about his demeanor. I knew about Danny being a tough football player and to be honest we met on a tennis court with three of his buddies, Jimmy Tribbet, Tony Palermo and Buddy Maiorana, and those four were the most competitive people I ever knew.
When you played against any combination of those boys, it was war and when the match was over, it was all laughs.
I don’t know why I made my way to Agolino’s to eat that day, but a week later, I knew why.
Danny passed away on Dec. 26 at the age of 77, and upon finding out the news I was very saddened, as I know many in Greater Pittston have been.
It always seems over the holidays or right after, you hear of so many people passing away.
According to research, the number of deaths tends to spike around Christmas due to a combination of factors, including increased stress from holiday gatherings, heavier eating, cold weather, potential delays in seeking medical care, and a higher likelihood of heart attacks, particularly among individuals with pre-existing cardiovascular conditions; essentially, the holiday season can exacerbate existing health issues, leading to a higher mortality rate.
Then there are people that are sickly, and it seems they wait to pass away until the holidays are over. As a matter of fact, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, most deaths occur in the month of January than any other month.
January and February have always been the most depressing months for me, and spring could never come fast enough for me. Thankfully, the days are getting longer with daylight.
On a bright note, the upcoming battle between Penn State and Notre Dame will be quite the clash, not only on the field, but also in many households and pubs across Greater Pittston.
Probably ground zero in support for the Fighting Irish would be the West Side Social Club on McAlpine St., Avoca.
There are plenty of Nittany Lions supporters in our area as well including the DeLuca family of West Pittston.
Carl and Ree Ree DeLuca, the parents of Wyoming Area standout and leader of the 2019 state champion team football team, Dominic DeLuca, will be front and center leading the cheering section at the Orange Bowl rooting for their son and adopted sons of the Nittany Lion team.
Over time, Dominic has proven himself as a team leader and was rewarded as such when named one of the team’s captains.
The Lions’ coach James Franklin is a huge fan and supporter of Dominic as well as Carl and Ree Ree and the feeling is mutual.
I would predict if Dominic isn’t a part of an NFL team in his future, he could have a spot on Coach Franklin’s coach’s roster.
Dominic is a football player’s football player. He’s smart on and off the field and I witnessed his intelligence and leadership on the battlefield that sunny day on Dec. 7, 2019, when he led his Warrior team to a state title while being injured.
May the best team win. Go Irish. Go Lions.
Quote of the Week
“And now we welcome the New Year. Full of things that have never been.” — Rainer Maria Rilke
Thought of the Week
“Your present circumstances don’t determine where you can go, they merely determine where you start.” — Nido Qubein
Bumper Sticker
“May all your troubles last as long as your New Year’s resolutions.” — Joey Adams
