Hundreds of low-income families throughout Luzerne County are eligible to sign up for a new program offered by Comcast that would mean monthly Internet bills of $9.95, a $31 savings off the regular service price.
Though Comcast serves a geographic majority of Luzerne County, it does not serve the greater Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton or Mountain Top areas. It does serve most of the West Side, the greater Pittston area, the greater Nanticoke area and much of the Back Mountain. To see if your home is in Comcast territory, call 1-855-846-8376. You can learn more about the program at www.InternetEssentials.com.
Called Internet Essentials, the program offers low-cost access to the Internet and even fully-installed netbook computers for families in Comcast Internet territory who have children eligible to receive free lunches through the National School Lunch Program. The program launched earlier this summer and was a condition of the Federal Communication Commission for Comcast to secure federal approval to purchase NBC Universal. As part of the merger, Comcast agreed to “increase broadband deployment in low income households.”
The Internet Essentials program meets that requirement.
Anthony Perrone, superintendent of the Greater Nanticoke Area School District, said the program comes at a good time, because of the difficult economy.
With many families dealing with unemployment and children affected by their parents’ loss of income, the Internet can become an unaffordable luxury. But the lack of Internet service at home could negatively impact a student.
“I know how important they (computers) are,” Perrone said. “There’s a reason we have them in every classroom.” He said letters will be sent home to all families with students in the district, along with school bus schedules, detailing the program and information on eligibility and how to sign up.
Perrone said 43 percent of the 2,250 students in his district are eligible for the free lunch program, and all districts include families living in poverty and suffering from economic hardships.
Comcast spokesman Bob Grove said the company has known there is “a digital divide in this country and we see this as a way we can help to bridge that divide.” He added that research has shown that there are three barriers to people getting on the Internet: cost of the computer, cost of the service and a lack of understanding of how the Internet is relevant and useful. He said this program “addresses all three.”
In addition to the affordable internet, the program offers the opportunity to buy a netbook computer for $149.99 plus tax and access to free digital literacy training in print, online or in person.

It looks like a toy store.
Except in here, the toys are free - for the needy, for the holidays.
Students of Greater Nanticoke Area schools who expected few or no toys this Christmas will be getting at least two thanks to the district's annual toy drive.
The district partnered with the Nanticoke community recently to buy about 2,000 new toys for hundreds of less fortunate GNA students. On Wednesday, the months of planning and hard work were on display at Kennedy Elementary School - its lunch room tables filled with toys. Selected families arrived to pick two toys per child, plus a few extra items.
There were basketballs and Barbie dolls, stuffed animals and stocking stuffers, board games and books. Each family was given a gift card to Gerrity's Supermarket as well.
"I'm proud of the kids for what they did and thankful for the people who donated," said school board member Cindy Donlin.
Minutes earlier, Donlin greeted a flood victim who arrived to choose a few toys.
"She hugged me and said, 'Thank you so much,'" Donlin said.
In all, about $13,000 was raised to buy the toys and supermarket gift cards to benefit 260 families and about 500 children.
Members of the school's administrative office - Leslie Caley Cimakasky, Bonnie Dembowski, Carol Kelly, Reine Paveletz - organized the drive with the help of students and Superintendant Anthony Perrone, starting in October.
"There was a lot of work put into this - I'm talking every day," said Caley Cimakasky.
Bronwyn Perrins, 17, a senior at the school who worked on the project, said "it feels good helping kids that might not get anything for Christmas."
"When you called the families, they appreciated it and it made you feel really good," said senior Cassie Yalch, 17.
In addition to students and staff, those who donated to the toy drive included: Dale Richards Garden Equipment, Malishchak Brothers, Broski Distributing, Barbara and Wayne Dombroski D.D.S., Attorney Vito DeLuca, Citizens Bank, Housing Authority of Nanticoke, Janisons, Attorney Joseph Iracki, Sen. John Yudichak, Joseph R. Aliciene and Co., Nanticoke Career Firefighters, Broadway Jewelers, Butchko's Garage, Sanitary Bakery, Felici Electric, 400 Club, J.P. Mascaro, Albert B. Melone Co., White Transit School Bus, Maps Restaurant, Stanley Schmidt Printing, and Gerrity's Supermarket.

This year’s toy and food collection drive by the Greater Nanticoke Area School District easily exceeded the previous year, resulting in donations being stockpiled and sorted in a bigger room.
Students, families, school officials and business donated more than $13,000 and nearly 2,000 toys that will be given to underprivileged families within the school district this holiday season.
The district sponsors the collection drive and leaves it up to the students to participate. Its success over the last 40 years has grown with donated items.
“All the support we received was amazing,” said senior Alexa Gorski, 17, of Nanticoke, president of the school’s National Honor Society. “There was such an outpouring from the community; it’s really touching to see how much people care around the holidays.”
Twelve tables and at least 10 washer-size boxes were filled with toys in the cafeteria of Kennedy Elementary. Toys were sorted by boys and girls and by age group from infant to 10 years old.
The cafeteria was used because of the large volume of donated toys. Last year, donations were stockpiled in the high school’s main hallway.
Kelsey Rynkiewicz, 18, of Nanticoke, was coordinator of the collection drive this year. She said she would have been overwhelmed by the donations if it weren’t for other students helping out.
“It was schoolwide drive from kindergarten through 12th grade,” she said.
Rynkiewicz said money was raised through the school’s dress down day, in addition to monetary donations from businesses and the Nanticoke Fire Department.
For $1 every Friday, students were permitted to wear jeans and t-shirts outside the district’s dress code.
“The money raised went to buy more toys,” Rynkiewicz said.
Bonnie Dembowski, school district human resources officer, said 266 families will receive toys and/or gift cards for food at Gerrity’s Market, surpassing 220 families that benefited last year.
Those families within the district affected by the September flood “will receive a little more extra,” Dembowski said.
“This is truly amazing,” said Superintendent Anthony Perrone. “The kids should be proud of what they’ve accomplished. Families are not going to go without a toy or go hungry this holiday season from their efforts.”