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1. Worthington Campaign Exceeds $50,000 Goal press release with photo and caption
2. Hamilton-Gibson to Present Free Staged Readings of Five Monologues This Saturday and Sunday, March 20 & 21 press release with photo and caption
3. Highland Chocolates to Hold Open House at 82 Main Street on Saturday, March 27 press release with photo and caption
4. Register Now for a Saturday NRA Basic Pistol Class press release

Diane Eaton
dianetn@ptd.net
570-724-3800

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PRESS RELEASE:
On Thursday, March 11, the Stephen Worthington Memorial Theatre Technology Fund campaign announced it had reached its $50,000 goal.

The amount raised during the seven-day public phase, held March 5 to 11, was not known until early Monday evening, March 15 when Hamilton-Gibson Productions Operations Coordinator Bev Dochstader completed the official tally. “I have been keeping a running total since the beginning of the campaign’s silent phase last fall,” Dochstader said. “Monday I figured out what had been raised in the public phase.”

By the last day on March 11, $10,956 was raised, exceeding the $10,000 goal, according to Dochstader. “More money came in by mail and online on Saturday, March 13 and Monday, March 15, increasing that total to $11,581 and taking the overall total to $56,386.

The funds came in during both phases in the form of checks, cash, grants and/or donations via Text To Give, PayPal and BookTix. “I still don’t have the amount donated via FaceBook but it will probably add a few hundred dollars,” said Dochstader. “We may still get more contributions through the mail or online.”

Carol Cacchione, HG’s Fundraising and Sponsorship Committee chair in 2020, and Larry Biddison are co-leaders of the campaign’s silent phase that began last October.

“Our primitive and outdated sound and lighting systems are woefully inadequate,” said Biddison. “During this pandemic pause in live productions, Zoom technology has become an important new avenue for sustaining HG. We are already using a new laptop purchased with money from the silent campaign,” he said. “Personally, as a hearing impaired oldster, I’m looking forward to having amplified sound, both for stage plays and radio plays through our new hearing assistance system.”

“Gabe Hakvaag, our current tech guru, and Herb Johnson, our board president, will play significant roles in ensuring the equipment is purchased and installed and main stage and back stage improvements are made,” said Cacchione. “Contributions to Steve’s fund mean we can expand and deliver on our mission statement to provide opportunities for people of all ages to enrich and empower their lives through community performing arts,” she said.

“I am overwhelmed by the generosity and commitment of this area in supporting the Stephen Worthington Memorial Theatre Technology Fund,” said Kacy Hagan. In 2021, she became the HG Fundraising Committee chair and leader of the campaign’s public phase. “Regardless of whether someone made a large or small donation, every dollar counts and shows how important Hamilton-Gibson is to this area and what a truly exceptional community we live in,” she said.

“Our plan is to continue Steve’s fund because technology is ever-changing,” said Hagan. “That’s why it is important that we have this fund set up to raise money to cover upgrades needed over time. All donations are greatly appreciated and will be used to provide a high quality audience experience for each production,” she said.

“I believe the creation of this fund honors Steve’s memory in the best way possible. It will make his efforts to upgrade our audiovisual equipment a reality and ensure we can continue to invest in these technologies in the future,” said Hagan.

“Steve and I worked closely on many HG projects from hanging backdrops in school auditoriums to designing lighting plots in the Warehouse Theatre to exploring a sound plot for scene changes,” said Thomas Putnam, artistic director and founder of Hamilton-Gibson Productions. “Steve had acted in a number of shows and assisted me as director in others. He would be happy that money is coming in to accomplish his dream of upgrading all of the tech equipment. Although he wouldn’t be comfortable with the focus on himself, he would feel the love that the campaign demonstrates and that we simply don’t express when a person is alive,” Putnam said.

For more information about contributing to the Stephen Worthington Memorial Theatre Technology Fund, contact Hamilton-Gibson at 570-724-2079 or hamiltongibson@gmail.com.

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PRESS RELEASE:
This Saturday, March 20 at 7:30 p.m. and this Sunday, March 21 at 2:30 p.m., Hamilton-Gibson Productions is presenting “The Power of One”, free staged readings of five intriguing monologues that explore moving on following a life changing experience.

This is the fifth in HG’s free series of eight 30-minute staged readings of short plays via Zoom on Saturdays and Sundays through April 10 and 11.

“The monologues are positive and funny,” said Director Thomas Putnam.

In “Safe”, a comedy-drama by Gina Gionfriddo, Pam Kathcart of Wellsboro plays a woman who shares her journey with cancer through support groups. “Pam has been in a number of HG productions and brings much personal history with her to this reading,” said Putnam.

Michelle Lockwood of Wellsboro plays a female Hollywood producer who struggles with the realities of surviving a car crash and is troubled by a phone call in “Euxious”, a comedy-drama written by Bridget Carpenter. Lockwood is the chair of the Mansfield University Art Department. “She is cast completely contrary to type in this reading,” Putnam said.

“The Shakespeare Section” is by Lynn Rosen. In this comic monologue, a student played by Rob Garrison of Mansfield spots the person he’s in love with and channels Shakespeare to win her over. Or at least he tries to. “The Shakespeare Section was inspired by my life,” said Rosen. “Who hasn’t pined away in a library, tussling internally about how to win over the amazing person you have a crush on? Who among us hasn’t tried and failed to seem cool? But this monologue is also inspired by my unguent need during the COVID-19 pandemic to play, to dream, to connect and to remember love, joy, and new beginnings,” Rosen said.

In “Zoom Audition” by Jami Brandli, a young woman played by Erin Thomas of Corning, N.Y., does her first Zoom audition for the role of Emily in “Our Town.” “With this monologue, I wanted to explore the tricky ‘new normal’ of virtual auditioning. It takes a lot of guts for this young woman to audition for a production that may not happen while she is still processing how different life has become due to the pandemic,” said Brandli. “We actually filmed Erin performing this monologue on Zoom,” Putnam said. “It turned out great.”

“Stepping Off A Cloud” is a comedy-drama about getting it together by Christina Cocek. Playing the woman is Amy DeCamp of Wellsboro. “This is a fitting conclusion to the set of monologues as the character actively begins taking forward steps,” said Putnam.

At the end of the 30-minute performance, audience members will be invited to stay on Zoom to talk about what they saw and heard with Director Thomas Putnam and the cast members.

Go to the Zoom website at https://zoom.us, click on “joint meeting” and for the Saturday, March 20 performance enter the access code 839 2536 6867 and the passcode 902173. For the Sunday, March 21 performance, enter the access code 873 9936 8164 and the passcode 420146.

Audience members will find the Zoom information on the HG website at https://hamiltongibson.org or Facebook page or can contact the HG office at 570-724-2079 or hamgib@gmail.com.

Donations are appreciated. Go to the HG website at www.hamiltongibson.org or send a contribution to Hamilton-Gibson, 29 Water Street, Wellsboro, PA 16901. Please include “Staged Readings” in the check memo line.

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PRESS RELEASE:
Highland Chocolates is holding an open house on Saturday, March 27 from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. at its downtown store at 82 Main Street in Wellsboro. Customers are invited to crack open a mystery discount egg for a five to 50 percent discount on the total purchase they make that day.

The Easter Bunny will be stopping by from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. and be available for photos with children and adults. Remember to bring a camera.

Special for Easter are three sizes of cream-filled, hand-rolled and hand coated and decorated Easter eggs in six flavors, including peanut butter, coconut, raspberry, buttercream, butter pecan and caramel pecan; solid chocolate rabbits in a variety of sizes; chocolate lollipops in a variety of shapes; Easter malt balls; gummi bunnies, sugared bunnies, juju bunnies and sour bunnies; gummi eggs and sugared eggs; bunny corn; gummi carrots; one ounce cream-filled foiled eggs with either peanut butter or caramel; Happy Easter greeting cards in chocolate; Easter gift boxed truffles; and Easter Bunny Peeps dipped in milk chocolate.

In addition to handcrafted chocolates, 82 Main Street also has trail mixes and nostalgic penny candies from licorice and jawbreakers to salt water taffy, candy necklaces and jelly beans.

Available are pre-filled Easter baskets in various sizes or customers can create their own unique Easter baskets.

To order by phone with front door pick up at 82 Main Street, call 570-724-6777.

This nonprofit organization employs local people with disabilities who manufacture this fine line of sweet snacks and gourmet chocolate gifts for all occasions. For more information, call toll-free at 1-800-371-1082 or visit www.highlandchocolates.org.

REGISTER NOW FOR A SATURDAY NRA BASIC PISTOL CLASS PRESS RELEASE:
Instructors Marilyn Jones and Pat Butts are presenting the National Rifle Association Basic Pistol Shooting Course in person on eight Saturdays in 2021. The Saturdays are: April 17, May 15, June 19, July 17, Aug. 21, Sept. 18, Oct. 16, and Nov. 6.

Those interested in taking this class are encouraged to select the date that works best for them and register now.

Each class is being offered from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the pistol range at the Lambs Creek Sportsman’s Club at 339 Sportsman’s Club Road, Mansfield, Pa. The course is open to novice and experienced pistol shooters and owners.

Participants will learn how to safely handle and shoot a pistol, as well as how to clean and store a firearm. Other topics to be discussed are: pistol mechanisms and operation, building pistol shooting skills, and pistol selection and use.

A shooter can bring his or her own pistol or revolver for the class and 150 to 200 rounds of ammunition or borrow a .22 long rifle (LR) pistol from the instructors and bring 150 to 200 rounds of .22 long rifle (LR) pistol ammunition for it. Participants are also asked to bring their own eye and ear protection.

Students who successfully pass the course will receive the NRA Basic Pistol Course Completion Certificate, materials about gun safety, the NRA Basic Pistol Student Handbook, the NRA Marksmanship book and other handouts to assist in keeping a record of their firearms and with information about how to buy the right firearm, keep up their shooting skills and apply for a Tioga County Concealed Carry Permit.

The fee for this eight-hour course is $50 per person to be paid in advance to cover the handbook, handouts and lunch with water, soda and coffee to drink. The class is limited to 12 men and women.

To register or for answers to questions about this class or to borrow a pistol for the day and/or eye and ear protection, contact Marilyn Jones at 570-549-2794 or by email at jones_mk@yahoo.com to get started on the road to being a safe gun owner. Each registrant is asked to provide his or her name, address, telephone number, email address, and date of birth to guarantee a seat.