| What’s New? |
| Written by Alissa Antosh | ||||||
 As a nine-year-old growing up on South Welles Street in Kingston, I had a lot of fun. I’d spend my weekends playing Kick the Can in the alley, watching the boys play football in the empty lots, and swimming at the Kingston Pool. I loved my friends like they were my sisters, but I’d drop any plan I had to drive over the big bridge and spend the day with my grandmom, the late Helen Klucitas. When my dad would tell me we’d be going to town the next Saturday, I couldn’t think of anything else. I went about my day each day, anxiously counting them down. Wednesday, Thursday, Friday...yipee, it’s Saturday morning! My dad would fix my long, blond piggie tails and away we’d go. What was I going to get at Percy Brown’s this time? I hope The Boston Store still has my plastic pink high heels. I’m not holding my grandmother’s hand on Woolworth’s escalator- I’m bigger now. Maybe the man at Walter’s will have her “special” shoes ready before we get there. How come I don’t have a hat on like all the other ladies? Downtown Wilkes-Barre was awesome. Then it wasn’t. As a student at Wilkes University, I noticed a change in the air. When I got hired at Wilkes in 1998, only one of my regulars was still open, and it had a new name. Sadness settled in and only recently started to leave my spirit-when I realized the magic is coming back. I’m not the only one on The Independent staff who is overjoyed with the revitalization. We all share ties with the other side of the river. New co-publisher Petra Plucenik grew up in W-B until the flood and has many great memories of her time spent there. Read all about them in her story on the next page. Pittston resident and Co-publisher Danny Klein was raised in the Heights section and went to W-B schools his whole life, including King’s. And, Co-publisher Joshua Salvaterra spent the early part of his youth growing up in Hanover and attending church in Wilkes-Barre. Our whole publishing family, as well as a great number of our writers and artists, have many ties to the city. We’re actually doubly excited because while Wilkes-Barre is launching its new plan of attack to restore the glory days, we’re launching The Independent. The small business owners on the west side of the Susquehanna so eagerly embraced The Westsider magazine, that the mom-and-pop shops on the east side wanted in. Beginning with this issue, we’re proud to introduce Betty Roccograndi, a talented local writer whose Women in Business feature will celebrate independent businesses on both sides. Read all about the women who make Kingston a great place to live and shop. One of the many reasons why I’m honored and feel blessed to be named a co-publisher of The Independent is that it recognizes the talent and value of women. Petra and I bring diversity to an already diverse staff. We’re far from the “old boys’ network.” We’re 20-ish, 30-ish, 40-ish, single, engaged, married with children and grandchildren. We have different life experiences, different points of view, and different ethnic backgrounds. But one thing that bonds us together is our passion to see this area succeed. Join us as we join together the entire Wyoming Valley through the pages of your Independent magazine during this true Renaissance period. God Bless, Alissa Antosh Co-publisher Bookmark with:
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