ProJeCt Early Childhood Ed Program Gets Keystone STARS Designation

ProJeCt of Easton’s Early Childhood Education program has achieved the Keystone STARS designation, the organization has announced.

"Our Keystone STARS rating is important to us because it affirms our commitment toward providing quality early learning experiences to the children in our family literacy program," said Kris Hettrick, ProJeCt’s literacy program manager.

Keystone STARS is a state-funded voluntary program that promotes quality in child care, PA Pre-K Counts and Head Start Programs. Programs earn STAR ratings based on quality standards for teachers, classrooms, and program management.

ProJeCt’s Early Childhood Education program is designed for low-income families with children ages three months to five years. Activities promote early reading skills, such as the ability to identify the sounds of letters. Children enrolled in this program also have a parent who is enrolled in one of the organization's adult classes, promoting  family literacy and helping parents develop their skills as their child’s most important teacher.

ProJeCt is a community benefit human service agency founded by local clergy and community. Its services include emergency assistance, a food program, and case management support services that assist people in developing life skills and moving to self-sufficiency. Its educational programs include adult basic literacy, English as a second language, GED preparation, family literacy, and supplemental education programs for school age children.

ProJeCt of Easton Gets $10,000 Donation from MileStone Bank

Albert Jinks, left, a member of MileStone Bank's
board of directors, presents ProJeCt board
member  Danny Cohen, right, with MileStone Bank’s
$10,000 donation to help support ProJeCt’s
Early Childhood Education program.

A $10,000 donation from a Bucks County based bank will support ProJeCt of Easton's early childhood education program, the community benefit service agency announced yesterday.

"We so greatly appreciate MileStone Bank’s support of our Early Childhood Education program. This kind of community support is essential to our ability to offer the program to low-income families and continue to promote early literacy skills," said ProJeCt Executive Director Janice Komisor.

The donation was made through the Pre-Kindergarten Scholarship Organization Tax Credit Program and presented to ProJeCt of Easton by Albert Jinks, a member of the MileStone Bank board of directors.

ProJeCt’s Early Childhood Education program is designed for low-income families with children aged three months to five years. Activities promote early reading skills, such as the ability to identify the sounds of letters. Children enrolled in this program also have a parent who is enrolled in one of ProJeCt's adult classes, thereby supporting family literacy and helping parents develop their skills as their child’s most important teacher.

'Simply Savory' Raised More Than $35K for ProJeCt of Easton

ProJeCt board member Bill Bryson, ProJeCt of Easton Executive
Director Janice Komisor, board member Pat Amin, and board member
Danny Cohen pose for a photo at "Simply Savory", held earlier
this month. The event raised more than $35,000 to support ProJeCt of Easton
self-sufficiency and literacy programs.
Contributed photo by Jamie Cabreza.

More than $35,000 was raised for local programs and services at Simply Savory, ProJeCt of Easton's premier annual fund raising event held earlier this month on October 7 at the Hampton Inn.

"We couldn’t be more pleased with the outpouring of support from the local community
including our culinary participants, sponsors, donors, guests and volunteers," said  ProJeCt Executive Director Janice Komisor. "“The funds raised go toward our mission to help people help themselves with services that include emergency shelter, food pantry and literacy programs."

This year’s culinary participants included: Baker Street Bakeshop, Beyond Cakes, Blue Grillhouse, Constantino’s, Cozze Cakes, deLorenzo’s, Divine Dining, Elizabeth Mulrine Culinary Events, Franklin Hill Vineyards, Green Harvest Food Emporium, Leaf Restaurant & Cigar Bar, Marblehead Chowder House, Marianna’s Pizza Café, Maxim’s 22, Miguel’s, North Star Catering, Pearly Baker’s Alehouse, Sette Luna, Thyme Restaurant & Bar, Two Rivers Brewing Company, Valenca, Vintage, Vintner’s Circle, and Weyerbacher Brewery.

Easton photographer Jamie Cabreza served as the event photographer, and Palmer Township DJ John Harvey served as the emcee.

Numerous local sponsors included: the Hampton Inn; Elaine Emrick; Lexus Lehigh Valley; The Express-Times; Crayola; Seidel Cohen Hof & Reid, LLC; the Brown-Daub Foundation; Follett Corporation; Florio Perrucci Steinhardt & Fader, LLC; Abraham, Borda, Corvino, Butz, LaValva & Co. PC; Campbell, Rappold & Yurasits LLP; Cornerstone Advisors Asset Management, Inc.; David T. Lyon, MD; Easton Hospital, John & Janice Komisor; Kiwanis Club of Palmer Township; The Nenow Family; Knights of Columbus; AD Computer dba Jet Pay Payroll Services; Alfero Co., Inc.; Easton Endodontic Associates; Embassy Bank; and John T. Eisenhard, CLU, CFBS; National
Penn Bank.

ProJeCt local services include an emergency assistance and food program, case management support to assist people in developing life skills to help them move to self-sufficiency, and educational programs that include adult basic literacy, English as a second language, GED preparation, family literacy and supplemental education programs for school-age children. The agency provides assistance to more than 5,000 people a year, serving Easton and the surrounding communities in Northampton County.

'Little Free Library' Tucked Away in Easton's West Ward

By Christina Georgiou

In various places in Easton's West Ward there are many interesting and beautiful things that are easily overlooked by those too preoccupied to really pay attention. But for the observant, there are a number of details, either existing or specifically placed by residents to enhance the neighborhood.

One such attraction, a "branch" of The Little Free Library, is tucked away in a shed-like box painted with a spiral design on South Eighth Street, near the corner of Lehigh Street, on the side lawn of the law offices of Easton lawyer Ed Shaughnessy.

Dedicated, "In Honor of my High School English Teacher, Janet Heller", the latched but unlocked box offers books, free for the taking to any who pass by, and invites visitors to contribute more or return those they've borrowed, though there is no obligation to do so.

According to The Little Free Library world map, while there are several thousand branches worldwide, Shaughnessy's--#1202--is the only one in the Lehigh Valley. There are 27 others scattered across Pennsylvania.

"My little free library opened in July of 2012 and has enjoyed some good use," Shaughnessy said when asked about it. "My office windows look out over the area where it sits, and it is highly enjoyable to see people stop, look, open the doors and take a book.

"It's really neat to see people discover it," he said. "I can actually see people go 'wow!' and that's pretty neat."

The Little Free Library has a small but dedicated bunch of admirers, Shaughnessy said, and generally people have been respectful of it. However, a few weeks after it was erected, a small group of overly enthusiastic people tried to carry it off. Luckily, though it was a Saturday, Shaughnessy happened by the office just as the entire book collection and its box was being loaded into a vehicle to be hauled away.

"They were putting it into the back of their car," he said, adding the people were confused by the "free" part of the plaque that accompanies the box, failing to read the rest of it, which explains the "take a book, leave a book" nature of the community resource. "I'm really glad I was there."

The current selection when The Easton Eccentric happened by leaned toward classics, ancient history and some scholarly works, along with some hardcover fiction, though the choices are bound to change over time, depending on what is donated and what Shaughnessy himself puts in. He said the balance is about 50/50, of books from his own collection and donations.

"There are some books people drop by that are pretty good," Shaughnessy said. "I've taken a couple myself."

Shaughnessy said he was inspired to open the branch after reading about The Little Free Library project in a newspaper article.

"I just thought it was a really great idea," he said. Dedicating it to his English teacher who imparted a love of reading and an appreciation for good books was a natural complement to the project.

"Janet Heller was my English teacher when I was a senior at Easton high school back in 1979-1980. She was an amazing woman who lived on College Hill with her wild husband Warfie and their two children," Shaugnessy said. "She helped instill a love for literature in me and had a rich sense of humor that I deeply appreciated and still miss to this day. Her deep laugh was crazy and infectious."

While a few types of standard Little Free Library boxes are available through the organization's website, Shaughnessy opted to build his own.

"Building it was an adventure as I was not sure I really had the skills, but it seems to have weathered the past winter in fairly good shape," he said. "I probably need to redo the latch.  Soon enough."

The Little Free Library in Easton's West Ward is "open" 24/7 and is located on the east side of South Eighth Street, just off the corner of Lehigh Street.

For more information about the Little Free Library project or for information about how to start your own branch, visit www.littlefreelibrary.org