Five Farrell residents were feted Saturday during the City of Farrell's second recognition program at the Farrell Area School District's Anthony J. Paulekas Stadium.

Mayor William Morocco bestowed Citizen of the Year awards to Marjorie J. Richards and Dave DeMasy. There were also two Junior Citizens of the Year: Steven Fraley and Geremy Brown.

And Farrell Superintendent Richard Rubano presented the Farrell Area School District Alumni Association's "Blue and Gold" award to band director James Scanga Jr. The award, which has been handed out for the past 10 years, goes to a deserving Farrell High School alumni who contributes back to and benefits the district in a positive way.

Ms. Richards was honored for her lifetime achievements as a role model and professional. In 1944 she was the first kindergarten teacher in the Farrell School District. During her award acceptance, she spoke of her experiences teaching in the district for more than a year before she decided to leave her job.

She left, she said, because she knew too many people who, on more than one occasion, would poke their heads into her classroom to say hello, as if kindergarten wasn't so important.

Ms. Richards, who was born and raised in Farrell, spoke about her father, a former Farrell school board member, and earlier requests she made to the board in hopes of installing kindergarten in Farrell. When that position came up, she was the first to be contacted about it, she said.

The unnamed woman who nominated Ms. Richards for the award happened to be a bilingual student from that first kindergarten class.

"I had the honor of being one of a dozen she was charged with," the nominator said. "She had a way of bringing out the best in us and also had the challenge, the presence of teaching a bilingual child, me."

Ms. Richards would sit the girl between two boys who did not speak fluent English so that they might be at ease in the classroom. Those two students were the late Farrell Superintendent John Sava and Farrell School District's main benefactor, Ted Pedas, who initiated the awards for the city.

DeMasy spoke of his experiences living in Farrell and his relationship with the black community.

DeMasy, who has served on many committees directly impacting programs to better Farrell, was nominated by a unanimous person.

"Dave has courage, loyalty, faithfulness and perseverance, sometimes against great odds, but continued to work to one common goal...to make Farrell a better place for all to live," the nominator wrote.

DeMasy was honorably discharged from the military after serving more than two years in Germany. He also served on Farrell Council, as a police officer, a truant officer, was one of the original donors to the Prince of Peace center in Farrell and has committed his time to the city with various volunteer and fundraising-efforts. He has received many other awards, including a plaque from Farrell Boosters for 50 years of membership and volunteering and a certificate of appreciation from the 475th Quartermaster for services rendered during Operation Desert Storm.

The first Junior Citizen of the Year award went to Steven Fraley, a 2003 graduate of Farrell High School. The son of Tim and Brenda Fraley, Steven received the $32,000 Tower Scholarship and will attend Westminster College this fall to major in secondary English education and theater. He will continue his band career from Farrell as a member of Westminster's Titan Marching and Symphonic Band. While working four years as a waiter at the Sharon Hot Dog Shop, Steven tutored students in various academic subjects.

As a FHS student he performed the lead role in three of four musical plays that he auditioned for, was selected for PMEA District Band, played in Mercer County Band grades 9 through 12, made the National Honor Roll list, was an All-American Scholar and was listed in Who's Who Among American High School Students and Who's Who Among Foreign Language Students.

Geremy Brown, 13, received the Junior Citizen of the Year award for his brave conduct June 9 when he helped a 75-year-old neighbor while walking home from school.

Florence Antonino had fallen outside her home and was crying for help when Geremy found her. He ran to a neighbor's home, asked them to call 911 and returned to Mrs. Antonino's side until emergency workers arrived. He even helped emergency workers place the gurney into the ambulance.

The son of Elton and Andrea Brown is a student at Farrell Area Middle School.

This is the second year for the award recognition, as proposed and initiated by Ted Pedas and a part of Farrell's Homecoming celebration. Nomination forms are made available through Farrell High School's administration office and city hall. A panel of three council members, three school board members and three city residents select the honorees.

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