The appointment of a Summit Hill native, Dr. Maria Zuber, to a key science position in President Joe Biden’s administration brought pride to the region early in 2021.

That story, along with appointments, honors and celebrations, were among the top headlines on the past 12 months.

Here’s a look at some of those special moments:

Jan. 18: President Joe Biden named Hill native Dr. Maria Zuber to the President’s Council of Advisors on Science and Technology.

Dr. Zuber is a 1976 graduate of Panther Valley High School and a professor of geophysics at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. She has worked for three prior administrations before she was chosen for this position.

Biden has declared that his team of top advisors on science domain is “crucial to America’s future.” The Council will be recommending implemental strategies on the topics of climate change, national security and economic prosperity.

Dr. Zuber is a daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Joseph Zuber of Summit Hill.

March 2: From the pages of a best-selling book to a soon-to-be-produced motion picture, Clarence Smoyer’s tale of heroism, guilt and redemption continues his extraordinary saga.

Variety Magazine is reporting Oscar-nominated screenwriters Paul Tamasy and Eric Johnson will adapt the book “Spearhead” by Adam Makos into a major motion picture.

Paul Merryman, who produced the movie “The Outpost” about the Afghanistan War, will collaborate with Tamasy and Johnson to create a visual version of the book that chronicles Smoyer’s experiences as a tank gunner during the war and his part in the liberation of Germany from Nazi loyalists after a surrender had been already declared.

Known as the Gentle Giant, Smoyer was born in Parryville and grew up on Bankway Street in Lehighton. He remained a hometown boy, where he enjoyed the company of his future wife, Melba, who died of Alzheimer’s disease after 71 years of marriage.

March 10: Marian Catholic High School announced Michael Brennan, a alumnus of the Hometown school, was selected to serve as the school’s next Head of School (principal).

Brennan is no stranger to Marian Catholic, returning there in 2010 as an assistant boys’ basketball coach.

Prior to taking over at Marian, Brennan was a special-education teacher in the Palmerton Area High School since 2013 and served as principal intern/practicum during the 2019-20 school year. Prior to that, Brennan was a learning support teacher at Panther Valley Elementary School in Nesquehoning.

May 3: Marian Catholic High School alumni honored their living legend, John P. “Jack” Malarkey, who served the school for more than four decades and remains a loyal supporter.

Former students and staff gathered to celebrate their longtime leader and officially add his name to the school’s gymnasium.

Malarkey’s career as an educator at Marian spanned four decades, including 20 years as principal. His career began before the school building was constructed.

Marian alumni and supporters donated more than $140,000 to a fundraising campaign in Malarkey’s name. The funds were used to completely renovate the gymnasium, with leftover funds going toward the creation of a tuition assistance fund named for Jack and Jane Malarkey.

June 14: Walnutport’s Diamond Fire Company celebrated its 125th anniversary with a huge parade and celebration.

Paul Warnken, who served as chairman of the 125th anniversary committee. More than 100 pieces of apparatus were in the parade from Northampton, Lehigh, Carbon, Schuylkill and Monroe counties.

Serving as the grand marshal was David Stankovic, a 44-year member of the fire department.

Stankovic was a former lieutenant and assistant fire chief. He also is a fire company trustee.

Aug. 5: Eloise Ahner, Carbon County’s administrator, received top honors during a state conference, having been named recipient of the County Commissioners’ Association of Pennsylvania Outstanding Chief Clerk/Administrator Award during an awards ceremony at Hershey Lodge.

Ahner was chosen for making a positive difference in the lives of county residents with her quiet professionalism, remarkable work ethic, excellent interpersonal and leadership skills, and the continuity she brings with her vast knowledge of issues affecting county residents.

Ahner, who has served as the administrator since 2012, marked her 40th year with the county this year. She grew up in Summit Hill and now lives in Towamensing Township with her husband, Jesse.

Aug. 30: Scouts and leaders of the new Boy Scouts Troop 8, Parryville, gathered for a day of fun at the Parryville Volunteer Fire Co., celebrating the new charter having officially been presented the troop.

Last year, Boy Scout Troop 82 disbanded after nearly 80 years of service at Trinity Lutheran Church, Lehighton, with he fire company taking the lead in becoming the new home for the new troop.

The troop currently has four Scouts: Ashton Emrey, Zachary Zehner, Joe Handlovic and Ryden Chapman.

During a ceremony in the fire hall, Teresa Chapman presented all four Scouts plus the leaders with a “Founder” patch as the first Scouts in Troop 8.

Aug. 31: St. Jerome’s Regional School, Hometown, one of the last standing Catholic elementary schools in the region, celebrated 100 years of providing a Catholic education to generations of area students.

Three years after moving from its longtime home on Broad Street in Tamaqua to Rush Township, the school has lots of space to accommodate its growing enrollment.

The school currently has over 300 students enrolled.

The school was founded in 1921, when it served just one parish. Now it has students from Carbon, Luzerne and Schuylkill counties.

Nov. 18: The Carbon County Prison Board selected a familiar face to serve as the jail’s new warden.

James Youngkin was named to the position, succeeding Timothy Fritz, who was fired earlier in the year following an incident at the prison. The state named Laura Banta as the acting warden for the facility in the interim.

Youngkin served as the prison’s warden from March 1, 2007, until retiring on March 16, 2010.

He began his career in the penal system in 1986, when he was hired at the old Carbon County Prison on Broadway in Jim Thorpe. He was promoted to sergeant in 1988 and in 1995 was named deputy warden.