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Smile Day: Spreading Positivity, Happiness and Joy in Luzerne County

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP — If there’s one thing Wilkes-Barre Township native Chris Bohinski knows for sure, it’s that a smile is contagious. Now, he wants to...

WILKES-BARRE TOWNSHIP -- If there’s one thing Wilkes-Barre Township native Chris Bohinski knows for sure, it’s that a smile is contagious. Now, he wants to see the goofy grins of people in Luzerne County at Smile Day in Wilkes-Barre Township!

For the past three years, Bohinski has been asking a simple question to some big names: What makes you smile?

In an interview with actor Morgan Freeman, Bohinski said, “I would love to know what makes you smile.”

Freeman replied, “working bees.”

“Oh, you’re recently a beekeeper on your Mississippi ranch?” Bohinski asked.

Freedman confirmed with a smile, “absolutely!”

It all began when Bohinski was working on the T.V. show “So You Think You Can Dance?” He recorded a video backstage asking singer Jason DeRulo what made him light up.

Since then, he’s interviewed celebrities like Kelly Ripa, Bette Midler, and Anderson Cooper and his series NYC Smile 4 Me was born.

Now, Bohinski wants to know the answer from people in Luzerne County at Smile Day in Wilkes-Barre Township.

He teamed up with the police and fire departments as well as the mayor’s office to get to the bottom of it.

“I wanted to mirror the sentiment that it's free to smile and it's free to share your smile with everyone,” Bohinski said. “So, from the beginning, I knew it was going to be a tough battle to fight but Smile Day is absolutely free to residents and non-residents of Wilkes-Barre Township.”

There will be food, fun games, and prizes like gift cards to local restaurants, a travel package, and even a trip to New York City at Smile Day. Best of all, it’s free of charge.

“Everybody is used to having to pay for everything and can't do this or can't do that. Now it's just come out and have a good time,” Lt. Stephen Kelly of the Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Department said.

For Chris, spreading this positive message comes from a deep place.

“He has a lot of his dad's spirit. His genuineness and his generosity. If his dad was here, he'd be here with him,” Chris’ mom Barbara Bohinski said.

For officers, it’s an important reminder to smile.

“Especially with everything going on nowadays I think it's going to be great. Families, everyone comes down to have a good time. It's always a good thing to have,” Wilkes-Barre Township Patrolman Bryan Mock said.

Bohinski will be hosting his Smile Day event this Saturday, October 21.

The free celebration will take place at the Wilkes-Barre Township Fire Hall at 150 Watson Street from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m.

For more info, you can contact Chris Bohinski at NYCSmile4Me@gmail.com.

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