Neighbors in need of a ride know they can usually count on sisters Annie Venosh and Joyce Novitsky; and a winter snowstorm is no match for Jim Tarby and his snowplow.

There’s Mary Gambini, who cooks delicious pasta dinners for her neighbors, offering a pleasant end to a hard day’s work, and Connie Lebida. Mrs. Lebida is the neighborhood seamstress, always ready to help with a sewing project.

Gail Stein said she looks forward to her morning ride to work at the Scranton Counseling Center, compliments of Miss Novitsky and Mrs. Venosh, all of whom work in the same building. Mrs. Venosh works in the counseling center’s finance department. Miss Novitsky is a Community Medical Center patient account representative.

Miss Novitsky adds touches of brightness to the neighborhood through her crafts. Using a talent she inherited from her mother, she sells her wares at craft shows and shares the fruits of her labor with her neighbors.

Florence Tarby lived on Maple Avenue since she was born. Mrs. Tarby now shares her home with son and daughter-in-law, Jim and Ruth Tarby; daughter, Corrie, 8, and son, Jeffrey, 11.

When Mrs. Venosh and Miss Novitsky asks if she needs anything at the store, they return with a few items. When she asks how much she owes them, "They’d say this is buy one, get one free and you got the free one," Mrs. Tarby said.

Mrs. Tarby also serves as the neighborhood "watcher," keeping an eye on homes, especially when someone is away or taking the mail in for them. Granddaughter Corrie is active in cheerleading for the Cougars’ C Team. Ruth Tarby always offers to provide a ride for other girls on the squad.

When Florence Tarby’s husband, Alex, died in July 2004, Mrs. Venosh and Miss Novitsky took care of the Tarby children while the family was at the hospital.

Mrs. Venosh’s husband, Andrew, died two years ago. She also found she could count on neighbors. During the annual fundraiser to benefit a playground in her husband’s memory, neighbors bought tickets or baked goods for the bake sale.

Mrs. Venosh and Miss Novitsky said they believe they’re only practicing what they’ve been taught, as part of their Ukrainian Greek Orthodox faith.

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