Dennis & Sharleen Martin

The 2010 Volunteer of the Year award was presented to Dennis and Sharleen Martin, a couple who personify the word "teamwork". Since becoming members of the LHS in 2007, Dennis and Sharleen have worked diligently to help document, preserve, and catalog the Society’s vast museum and research collections. In addition, they have prepared several exhibits including the Circa 1910 and Hotel Casey exhibits and have organized and transcribed a significant portion of a local Women’s Oral History Project. In April 2009 the Martins were named Happenings magazine Volunteers of the Year, having been nominated by the Historical Society.

Ellie Axford was chosen Volunteer of the Year for 2009. She first joined the LHS in 1998 and two years later was elected to its Board of Trustees. During her time on the board, Ellie spearheaded some of the Society’s most successful fundraising events including the What's It Worth antique appraisal show, the Taste of History, and the extremely popular Historic House Tour on the Hill which raised more than $14,000 in 2009. Ellie’s additional contributions to the local community include having served as a member of the Board of Directors of the Voluntary Action Center, where she initiated its annual Holiday Emporium fundraiser; having volunteered with the Retired and Senior Volunteer Program (RSVP), and having been a board member of St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen. She volunteered at Community Medical Center’s GI Lab on a regular basis and was a member of The University of Scranton's Department of Nursing curriculum committee.

The Society did not designate a Volunteer of the Year for 2008; instead, it conducted a special tribute to one of its most steadfast supporters, Alan Sweeney. Not only was Sweeney lauded by colleagues, local government officials, and representatives of other community organizations, he was honored in anticipation of receiving an award for outstanding volunteer leadership from the Pennsylvania Federation of Museums and Historical Organizations. Sweeney was nominated for the award by the Lackawanna Heritage Valley Authority which made a special presentation to him at the tribute dinner.

In addition to serving as president of the LHS for a decade, Alan contributed his time and talents to the Society and its mission as a member of the Board of Trustees, an avid researcher and writer, and a speaker. He wrote several articles for the Society’s newsletter, penned three books and a play on local history, and was known for his entertaining and educational lectures on the region’s colorful past. Alan was the LHS Volunteer of the Year for 2004.

On Dec. 5, 2008 this dear friend and peerless leader passed away, leaving an indelible mark on the LHS, its many partners, and the community.

I was born in a small town in west central Ohio. When I arrived at college, I realized that I had more classmates in my math class than in my high school graduating class; there were more new students that fall than people living in my hometown. After graduating, I moved to Wichita Falls, Texas to work at a newspaper. A little less than two years later, I moved to Scranton, Pennsylvania where I’ve worked in journalism, educational writing, and now marketing. I like travel and genealogy. I’m a planner and list-maker. I set high standards and expect the best from myself. And I’ve got a great wife, who deserves the best.

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The blog is a collection of travels, thoughts and observations, analysis of data, and explanations of information. It’s all done with one overarching thought: to communicate effectively, you’ve got to think about your audience—about who is listening—and convey your message on their terms.

Laura joined the assemblage of LHS volunteers in 2010. She was recruited to facilitate both the redesign of the organization’s website and the production of a documentary about the organization. She rewrote, revised, edited, and expanded the written aspects of the website and worked closely with its technical and artistic designer. At present, Laura is assisting with the production and editing of the LHS documentary slated for release this summer or fall.

Sole Proprietor of Laura Santoski Writing and Editing, Laura has worked as a freelance writer/editor and PR consultant since 1991. Prior to that, she served as corporate communications coordinator for Allied Services in Scranton and was a writer for the Lifestyles section of the Scranton Times.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in English from Marywood College. In 1985 she completed the International Graduate Summer School program at the University of Oxford, England.