In 2017, the Wyoming County Chamber of Commerce started a new program geared toward providing opportunities for employees of members and other individuals to learn about how the county operates, enhance networking skills, form a team, and take on a needed project in the community. The inaugural class took to all those goals with earnest. But they ran into some obstacles when it came to their class project. “Two wet springs in a row put it on hold,” Tunkhannock Public Library director Kristin Smith-Gary said of the group’s plans to install a garden and play space behind the library. In the long run, that was good, she maintained. “It gave us time to think more about what we really wanted.” On Aug. 8, a handful of library representatives and members and Leadership Wyoming Class of 2017 gathered to look at the new landscaping, walkways and benches that resulted from the fundraising of two years ago and the evolving thought process in between. Plant material is a combination of perennials at ground level and raised beds that form a visual boundary around a play area for those involved in children’s programming, as well as some spaces for others to step outside the library and take in the beauty of the fields and forest at the back of the property. Smith-Gary noted that instructors realized that the kid’s activities were actually quite vigorous. The open grassy area, therefore, is more suitable to them. “While it may have taken a few years, we wanted the library to have a good product and make use of it,” said Chamber president Gina Suydam. “It fits our needs right now, but it’s flexible if we want to change things,” Smith-Gary related, adding that response from library patrons to that which was installed by Neil’s Grounds Maintenance has been positive. Leadership class alum John Fager recalled that, even when the project wasn’t moving along as envisioned, “the community was really behind us.” “Everybody wanted to help,” Suydam agreed. “That’s what makes Wyoming County so great.” The fourth Leadership Wyoming class will meet in a few weeks at the Wyoming County fairgrounds to embark on a journey of their own. To learn more about the program, interested readers can log on to www.wyccc.com. Eager to see library patrons of all ages enjoy the new gardens behind the facility in Tunkhannock are (above, front, from left) Kristin Smith-Gary, Shelley McAndrew, John Fager, Debbie Dowling, Alyssa Nicholas, (back) Gina Suydam, Josh Pratt, Frank Barrett, Matt Austin, Keith Yurgosky, and Noah Race. Photos and story by Rick Hiduk
Library Celebrates Gift from ‘Leadership’ Group
Graduates of the Leadership Wyoming Class of 2017 include: Rod Azar, Jacobi Wealth Management; Dale Baumes; John Fager, Southwestern Energy; Cheyanne Johnson, Century Paper Products; Kaitlyn Klinges, Keystone Community Resources; Shelley McAndrew, Endless Mountains Visitors Bureau; Katelyn McManamon, Penn East Federal Credit Union; Robert Morgan, Frontier Communications; Shealyn Shave, Northern Tier Industry & Education Consortium; Kristie Tunicliff, Procter & Gamble; Keith Yurgosky, University of Scranton Small Business Development Center.
