Connections Magazine features the best information on arts, entertainment, recreation and lifestyle in and around Northeast Pennsylvania. With over ten years of success, Connections Magazine continues to grow, becoming the best innovative magazine in the area. The perfect combination of advertisements, editorial, human-interest stories, community wide-events, business profiles and special features, Connections Magazine can be read and enjoyed by all.
“Our goal at Connections is to be the best local entertainment and lifestyle publication that people can depend on and turn to as a resource for the great things our area offers,” said President/Publisher/Editor-in-Chief, Deborah Bailey.
Originally founded in 1998 by Outlook Communications, Connections Magazine changed hands from founder, Chuck Skowronski, to Deborah Bailey in 2002. Having years of experience in the media industry and ownership of her own graphic design agency, expanding to a publication was a natural progression. Bailey comments, “Putting out a magazine each month is not as easy as some may think. The staff at Connections put their whole heart into each issue by dedicating hours of work behind the scenes.”
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Behind The Scenes
Deborah A. Bailey
Owner / Publisher / Editor in Chief
- 2009 – One of the Top 25 Business Women in Northeast PA!
- 2004 Northeastern Pennsylvania Woman Entrepreneur
- 2002 Communicator Award of Distinction
2 Awards
- America’s Registry of Outstanding Professionals
- President / Owner Bailey Design and Advertising
Common Sense
Creativity
Communication
We are a full service advertising firm that
uses common sense, creative ability and
communication skills to achieve growth
and success for our clients.
WHAT A DILEMMA
To laugh is to risk appearing a fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out for another is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk rejection.
To place your visions before the
crowd is to risk ridicule.
To love is to risk not being loved in return.
**To go forward in the face of
overwhelming odds is to risk failure.
But risks must be taken, because the
greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.
The person who risks nothing, does nothing,
has nothing, is nothing.
We may avoid suffering and sorrow, but we
cannot learn, feel, change, grow,
love or know GOD.
Chained by our own self-assurances, we
are a slave. We have forfeited our freedom.
Only the person who dares to take risk and
to trust in their GOD will ever be made FREE.
In 1997, Rev. Edwin E. Bailey, father of the Publisher, gave this poem to his daughter 8 days before he had a stroke and 3 weeks before he died. The poem was adapted from works by Leo Buscaglia. Edwin hand wrote this on a scrap of paper and gave it to his daughter, Deborah, saying the words, “Someday you’ll understand these words and use them. God bless sweetheart.” **These words were used in making the decision to purchase Connections Magazine in 2002.
Meica L. Drake
Production Manager
Meica is a Wayne County native. After graduating from Blue Mountain Academy in Hamburg, PA she went on to get two Bachelor Degrees at Columbia Union College in Takoma Park, MD.
Having studied Business Management and Marketing it seemed only natural for her to do her internship with a local magazine and advertising agency in her hometown. After graduating she decided to move home and work full time with the businesses. Today, 5 years later she is the Production Manager, overseeing the day to day operations of producing the magazine.
“I love the challenge and fast pace of putting together a monthly magazine and meeting each deadline. I’ve learned an immense amount since my time here and I can’t wait to see what lies ahead.”
Meica lives with her husband, Dan, Executive Chef for Caesars Pocono Resorts, their cat, Nikita and their newest addition, Kayne, a Vizsla puppy, in their beautiful home in Cherry Ridge. She loves reading, hiking with the puppy, and spending time with her family.
Anne K. Priebe
Administrative Assistant / Sales
Anne Priebe is not only the Administrative Assistant for Connections Magazine, but is also the newest Sales Representative to join the team. A small town girl, Anne was raised in Honesdale, PA and graduated from Honesdale High School in 2003. Anne continued her education at Northampton Community College, with a focus in Journalism.
Anne missed the close-knit, family environment and has since returned to the area. Now residing in Hawley, PA, Anne is following her dream and pursing her career with Connections Magazine. Anne can also be found serving tables at Gresham’s Chop House in the evenings, chatting away with guests.
Anne has always been comfortable in crowds and loves to meet new people. She treasures her relationships with her family and friends and values their company. In her free time, Anne enjoys creative writing – particularly short stories and poetry. Yet, Anne is most famous for her cooking. She makes an awesome guacamole dip and other homemade “concoctions”. The”concoctions” usually cannot be duplicated – sometimes even by her!
Anne hopes all of you continue to be loyal readers and take pleasure in the wonderful attributes that Connections Magazine has to offer.
An award winning artist in her own right, Lucille Norella, has been Connection Magazine’s Artscene Director since May 2003. Driven by her passion for art, Lucille finds pleasure meeting new local Artists and helping them to show their artwork through the Connection’s Artscene Gallery.
As the Artscene Coordinator, Lucille has met many Artists that continue to inspire her with their artwork. She explains, “My best resources are the Connections I make through the Artists; they all have unique stories to tell. Many have so much talent, but minimize how very gifted they are. It gives me a lot of gratification to help encourage and possibly recommend them as a Cover Artist.”
Born and raised in Carbondale, PA, Lucille graduated high school from St. Rose in Carbondale. She then continued with her education and received a degree from Wayne Commercial Business School in Honesdale.
In 1971, Lucille and her family packed their things and settled in Waymart, PA. With her husband of 40 years, Chip, the couple still enjoys the community and culture the area has to offer. Lucille loves to spend time with her family and often visits her daughter Lynne, son-in-law Paul, and her twin grandchildren Irina and Charlie in Chestnut Hill, Philadelphia.
For many years Lucille worked in the business world, including a position as Supervisor for a Medicare Supplement Insurance Company. Yet, her fascination and zeal has always been for the arts.
Lucille believes, “Nature is always creating for us flowers of infinite beauty.” Lucille spends her time working in her garden and finds her source of inspiration in the flower beds that grace her land. Her original fine artwork is created from the flowers hand-picked from her own cherished garden. Specially preserved to retain their rich color and striking detail, the flowers are arranged and framed to eternalize the beauty of living flowers.
Artwork by Lucille Norella is exhibited at various art galleries, juried art shows, corporate exhibits and private collections. Her work has been honored in numerous publications, including:
- 2007 Cover Artist, “The Wildflower Music Festival” Program
- April 2005, Cover Artist, “Connections Magazine”
- Summer 2004, Cover Artist, “Galleries, Gourmets and Theaters”
- April 2003, Cover Artist, “Connections Magazine”
To see learn more about Lucille and to see samples of her collection, please visit www.artbynorella.50megs.com
