Because I have limited space, I’ll get right to the point. Mika said that kids hooked on prescription drugs “weren’t junkies…they came from nice families…they were good kids.” And Joe chimed in with “Yeah, they’re not junkies.” I was sort of stunned by that. First by the use of the word “junkies,” a mean-spirited, prejudicial, out-dated term if I ever hear one. And then there was the idea that kids who were dying because they were overdosing on prescription meds were somehow very different from those dying from addiction to, say, heroin or alchohol, struck a deep and angry nerve.

And because I don’t think they’d care about this mini-fact, I want to say to someone – “Really?” You really think that kids who have an addiction to one substance are superior to kids who are addicted to another substance? “Really??????” Do you think because kids who do prescription drugs from their parents medicine cabinet are “nicer” kids than the ones who bought something addictive from a dealer? (And really, you’ll have to explain to me the difference between the doctor who hands out oxycontin or oxycodone like they’re lifesavers is different from the guy on the I-95 corridor who’s selling stuff without an M.D. attached to his name).

We draw so many lines in the sand these days that make us “us” or “them.” That line is drawn by political party, religion, ethnicity, income, social standing. Do we think those “us” and “them” lines should be drawn between our childrens’ addictions? Why would we decide that one group comes from “good people” and the other apparently from undeserving dolts? Don’t you think maybe we should be dealing with all our children as if they are all good in the eyes of God and they all need help if they are addicted, no matter what the drug? And don’t you think that since we have stopped finding racial slurs acceptable maybe it’s time to drop the rotten terms to describe someone with addiction problems?

These are all our children, and it doesn’t matter a fig what the addiction is to. These precious lives need to be treated in the best possible way to deal with that particular addiction. But there’s no “nice” or “not nice.” There’s just heartbreak and endless turmoil and sadness. We need more rehabs and more clinics. We need to deal realistically with addictions. We need to love our children and help them no matter what the drug of choice. And we need to be mindful of how we speak. Our children are listening and words can be so cruel. Sigh. Well, I got that off my chest. Maybe I’ll send this out to Morning Joe after all. (or not.)

	Wyoming County Reads - Ragtime Admission: Free Sponsored by: The Wyoming County Commissioners Office, Tom Henry, Judy Mead and Ron Williams The Tunkhannock Public Library and the Wyoming County Cultural Center at the Dietrich Theater would like to invite you to read the classic novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. You are welcome to borrow a copy of the book at the Tunkhannock Public Library while they last. Join us for book discussions, special events and the acclaimed movie. Book discussions will be facilitated by Bill Chapla at the Tunkhannock Public Library. Admission to all discussions, events and the movie are free. Book Discussion Dates and Topics: -Finding Peace in Chaos: Can Culture and Value Survive in a Technological World Wednesday, February 20 at 7 p.m. at the Tunkhannock Public Library -Escaping Our Prisons: Why Ragtime is Significant Today Wednesday, February 27 at 7 p.m. at the Tunkhannock Public Library Special Events:"Relive Ragtime" on 4th Friday - February 22 from 6 p.m. to 9 p.m. at Kitson & Company Gallery Patrick Robinson will feature ragtime music on albums featuring 36 songs from Ragtime Razzmatazz albums, recorded and played by Mark P. Wetch. The gallery will feature ragtime sheet music for sale and other collectibles from the ragtime era. Kitson & Company is located across the street from the Dietrich at 34 E. Tioga Street. Please stop by and enjoy. Admission is free. "Ragtime" the Movie: Wednesday, March 6 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. at the Dietrich Theater See this acclaimed movie from 1981 starring Elizabeth McGovern and James Cagney on the big screen at the Dietrich. Admission: Free. For more information, call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500.' February - The Month for Dance Films & Dance Lessons At the Dietrich Theater and Father Nallin Hall in downtown Tunkhannock Sunday, February 24 from 1 p.m. to 4 p.m. Admission: $10 per movie and lesson Sponsored by: NEPA Tango in the Tent The Dietrich Theater and NEPA Tango in the Tent invite the public to experience dance through movies and lessons during the month of February including Shall We Dance on February 24. After the movie showing at the Dietrich, there will be a dance lesson at Father Nallin Hall taught by local dance instructors. No experience is required. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 for details or reservations. Open Mic Night At the Dietrich Theater in downtown Tunkhannock Friday, February 22 on 4th Friday in Tunkhannock; Open Mic at 7:15 p.m. Feature at 8:15 p.m. Feature: K.K. Gordon Admission: Free Come to watch or join in. Musicians, poets, story-tellers, comedians, playwrights and other performers are invited to share their talents. After the open mic, local artist K.K. Gordon will take the stage. Gordon has won poetry slams in NYC, Washington D.C. and Scranton, PA and was co-founder of No Poets Allowed. He has participated in WVIA’s Poetry Minutes and has been published in small poetry presses and journals including In Remembrance, Aesthetics, Grain and Ogre. Open mic sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m. Reserve your slot early. Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 for details. Under the Big Top - After School Theatre Arts Show! At the Dietrich Theater in downtown Tunkhannock Saturday, February 23 at 11 a.m. For all ages Starring: After School Theatre Arts students Tickets: $5 each Sponsored by: Wells Fargo, Fern & Bob Boyce, Overlook Estate Foundation and Pennsylvania Council on the Arts Join the After School Theatre Arts students for a live performance of the play "Under the Big Top". Written and produced by the students, this production will be full of movement and fun dialogue. As you may expect, it is guaranteed to be "the greatest show on earth!" Call the Dietrich at 570-996-1500 for details or ticket information. Dietrich Theater Auditions At the Dietrich Theater in downtown Tunkhannock Saturday March 2 & Sunday March 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m. by appointment only We will be presenting two shows in 2013: the classic comedy Auntie Mame on April 24 through 28 and the Civil War drama The Bridegroom of Blowing Rock on June 21 and 22. Both shows will be cast from these auditions. Needed are women and men ages 15 to 70 years old, and one boy who looks 10 years old. Auditions will be by appointment and actors will be asked to read from the script. Sides will be available on www.dietrichtheater.com in 2013. We are also looking for people interested in working behind the scenes; if you have technical or backstage experience or would like to learn, please give us a call. Everyone is encouraged to audition, regardless of experience. This is a non-equity community production. Please call 570-996-1511 for an audition appointment.
www.DietrichTheater.com Monday, February 18, 2013
At The Dietrich by Hildy Morgan So. I don’t have any idea why I want to write about this in my column and not just write to the folks at MSNBC, but maybe it’s because I don’t think writing to television programs gets you much (and I surely could be wrong) but I was so upset by what was said that I needed to write about it somewhere and since I always feel as if this column is about talking to folks I know, then this is the place. And the time. So I’ll start by saying that I start most of my days watching Morning Joe on MSNBC. I like it. I like the lively banter. I like Joe Scarborough although I disagree with him about 95% of the time. Mika has grown over the years and is no longer the simpering sidekick she was in the beginning. And although she and I agree on many things, it was her remarks that incensed me although I know she meant no harm. But not meaning harm and not doing harm are two entirely different things, aren’t they? Because I have limited space, I’ll get right to the point. Mika said that kids hooked on prescription drugs “weren’t junkies…they came from nice families…they were good kids.” And Joe chimed in with “Yeah, they’re not junkies.” I was sort of stunned by that. First by the use of the word “junkies,” a mean-spirited, prejudicial, out-dated term if I ever hear one. And then there was the idea that kids who were dying because they were overdosing on prescription meds were somehow very different from those dying from addiction to, say, heroin or alchohol, struck a deep and angry nerve. And because I don’t think they’d care about this mini-fact, I want to say to someone – “Really?” You really think that kids who have an addiction to one substance are superior to kids who are addicted to another substance? “Really??????” Do you think because kids who do prescription drugs from their parents medicine cabinet are “nicer” kids than the ones who bought something addictive from a dealer? (And really, you’ll have to explain to me the difference between the doctor who hands out oxycontin or oxycodone like they’re lifesavers is different from the guy on the I-95 corridor who’s selling stuff without an M.D. attached to his name). We draw so many lines in the sand these days that make us “us” or “them.” That line is drawn by political party, religion, ethnicity, income, social standing. Do we think those “us” and “them” lines should be drawn between our childrens’ addictions? Why would we decide that one group comes from “good people” and the other apparently from undeserving dolts? Don’t you think maybe we should be dealing with all our children as if they are all good in the eyes of God and they all need help if they are addicted, no matter what the drug? And don’t you think that since we have stopped finding racial slurs acceptable maybe it’s time to drop the rotten terms to describe someone with addiction problems? These are all our children, and it doesn’t matter a fig what the addiction is to. These precious lives need to be treated in the best possible way to deal with that particular addiction. But there’s no “nice” or “not nice.” There’s just heartbreak and endless turmoil and sadness. We need more rehabs and more clinics. We need to deal realistically with addictions. We need to love our children and help them no matter what the drug of choice. And we need to be mindful of how we speak. Our children are listening and words can be so cruel. Sigh. Well, I got that off my chest. Maybe I’ll send this out to Morning Joe after all. (or not.) See you at the Dietrich. P.S. – Did you give that $10.00 a month thing some thought over the past week? It would help us so much. Just askin’.	Now Showing www.dietrichtheater.com/movie or (570)836-1022 for times A GOOD DAY TO DIE HARD February 14, 2013 - February 21, 2013 SAFE HAVEN February 14, 2013 - February 21, 2013 WARM BODIES February 1, 2013 - February 21, 2013 IDENTITY THIEF February 8, 2013 - February 28, 2013 Coming Soon www.dietrichtheater.com/preview or (570)836-1022 for times Events www.dietrichtheater.com/event or (570)996-1500 to reserve Wyoming County Reads - Ragtime March 6, 2013 - March 6, 2013 February - Dance Films & Lessons February 10, 2013 - February 24, 2013 Open Mic Night - February 22 February 22, 2013 Under the Big Top February 23, 2013 Dietrich Theater Auditions March 2, 2013 - March 3, 2013 The Power of Story March 10, 2013 Open Mic Night - March 22 March 22, 2013 Reptiles and Amphibians of Northeastern PA March 23, 2013 Spring 2013 Film Festival April 5, 2013 Philadelphia Bus Trip to the Barnes April 11, 2013 Tom Knight Puppet Show April 17, 2013 Auntie Mame - Live Theatre! April 24, 2013 - April 28, 2013 Classes www.dietrichtheater.com/class or (570)996-1500 to enroll After School Theatre Arts February 23, 2013 All About Pottery & Sculpture, ages 5- 8 February 8, 2013 - March 1, 2013 All About Pottery & Sculpture, ages 9 -12 February 6, 2013 - February 27, 2013 Creative Characters From Paper to Puppets April 9, 2013 - May 7, 2013 Little People & Nature - Tuesdays March 5, 2013 - March 26, 2013 Little People & Nature - Wednesdays March 6, 2013 - March 27, 2013 Mixed Media, ages 5 - 8 - March 2013 March 8, 2013 - March 29, 2013 Mixed Media, ages 9-12 - March 2013 March 6, 2013 - March 27, 2013 Movement & Storytelling for Preschoolers February 6, 2013 - April 24, 2013 Preschool Mixed Media March 7, 2013 Preschool Pottery & Sculpture February 7, 2013 - February 28, 2013 Quilting for Kids January 9, 2013 - March 27, 2013 Writing Your Hat Off: Creative Writing for Kids March 5, 2013 - March 26, 2013 Quilting for Everyone January 9, 2013 - March 27, 2013 Decorative Painting January 16, 2013 - March 27, 2013 Design a Painted Silk Scarf March 18, 2013 Eating for Health February 21, 2013 - March 14, 2013 Fused Glass Artistry February 25, 2013 - March 4, 2013 Intro to Resin Molded Jewelry March 11, 2013 Introduction to Felting February 7, 2013 - February 21, 2013 Jewelry Making: Beaded Necklace & Bracelet March 5, 2013 Kundalini Yoga January 19, 2013 - May 18, 2013 Nia March 12, 2013 - April 2, 2013 Open Studio for Drawing, Painting & Sculpture January 8, 2013 - March 26, 2013 Recycled Glass Artwork January 7, 2013 - March 25, 2013 Simply Yoga January 2, 2013 - March 20, 2013 Writers' Group December 13, 2012 - March 28, 2013	Live at The Dietrich by Erica Rogler If last month’s Open Mic is any indication of what we can expect for this Friday’s Open Mic at the Dietrich, we will be in for a treat! Join us on Friday, February 22 at 7:15 p.m. for an evening of great entertainment. You are welcome to come watch or perform. We encourage musicians, poets, storytellers, comedians, playwrights and other local talents to take the stage. After open mic, featured artist K.K. Gordon will perform. His work has been published in poetry presses and journals including In Remembrance¸ Aesthetics, Grain and Ogre, and he has won poetry slams in Washington D.C. New York City and Scranton. Open mic sign-ups start at 6:30 p.m. and admission is free. Open Mic at the Dietrich is being held in conjunction with Tunkhannock’s 4th Friday events. Another 4th Friday activity will be held from 6:00 p.m. to 9:00 p.m. on Friday, February 22 at Kitson & Company Gallery in Tunkhannock. Join us there for "Relive Ragtime" where owner Patrick Robinson will play ragtime time music on albums featuring 36 songs from Ragtime Razzmatazz albums. The gallery will also showcase ragtime sheet music for sale and other collectibles from the ragtime era. This event is also part of our Wyoming County Reads project featuring the novel Ragtime by E.L. Doctorow. Kitson and Company is located across the street from the Dietrich at 34 E. Tioga Street. Please stop by and enjoy. We hope to see you there. Live entertainment will continue at the Dietrich on Saturday, February 23 at 11 a.m. with a production written and performed by middle school and high school students in After School Theatre Arts. This group of 32 aspiring actors led by Dietrich Theater Executive Director Jennifer Jenkins has been busy creating a script, learning lines and choreography, helping create the set, while learning about lighting, stage management and so much more. Their show "Under the Big Top" will be full of circus fun and is guaranteed to be "the greatest show on earth!" Tickets to the play are $5 each. After School Theatre Arts has been sponsored by Wells Fargo, Fern and Bob Boyce, the Overlook Estate Foundation and the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts. Join us in supporting our local, young talent! Speaking of theatre, on Saturday, March 2 and Sunday, March 3 from 1 p.m. to 5 p.m., the Dietrich will be holding auditions for two upcoming productions. In 2013, we will be presenting the classic comedy Auntie Mame on April 24 through 28 and the Civil War drama The Bridegroom of Blowing Rock on June 21 and 22. Both shows will be cast from these auditions. Needed are women and men ages 15 to 70 years old, and one boy who looks 10 years old. Auditions will be by appointment and actors will be asked to read from the script. Sides are available on www.dietrichtheater.com. We are also looking for people interested in working behind the scenes; if you have technical or backstage experience or would like to learn, please give us a call. Everyone is encouraged to audition, regardless of experience. These are non-equity community productions. Please call 570-996-1511 for an audition appointment. And don’t forget to join us this Sunday, February 24 at 1 p.m. for our final installment of Dance Films and Dance Lessons. The feature film will be "Shall We Dance" starring Richard Gere and Jennifer Lopez. After the movie, we will learn the fox-trot and waltz at Father Nallin Hall from Jill and Gehred Wetzel. No experience is required. Admission is $10. NEPA Tango in the Tent has sponsored this dance film and lesson series.
Movie Times: (570)836-1022 General Information: (570)996-1500