Quantcast
Channel: News Stream
Viewing all 52491 articles
Browse latest View live

Lackawanna County Court Notes 9/10/2015

0
0

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Jason W. Turner and Holly M. Hallock, both of Taylor.

■ Leigh Ottone and Robert Anthony Passariello, both of Old Forge.

■ Anthony L. Nicoletto and Stephanie Falvo, both of Archbald.

■ David J. Theisen and Elizabeth Brackins, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Linda L. Mulrain to Rahat N. Jamal; a property at 945-947 Woodlawn St., Scranton, for $68,000.

■ S&B Investments LLC, Scranton, to Mindy Lahotsky, Scranton; a property at 340 N. Lincoln Ave., Scranton, for $89,900.

■ Robert Leonard and Phyllis Anne Lamanna, both of Spotsylvania, Virginia, to Leonard Hamilton III, Julienne Camille Allen and Leonard Allen Jr., all of Moscow; a property at 502 Sunrise Blvd., Moscow, for $287,000.

■ Linda J. Kaufman to Justin M. Bedford and Travis T. Henderson; a property at 215 Woodlawn Ave., Clarks Summit, for $152,500.

■ Michael and Suzanne Lambert, both of Scott Twp., to Robert and Pamela Filarsky, both of Scott Twp.; a property at 273 Chapman Lake Road, Scott Twp., for $34,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Shelley Ann Ciavarella, Dalton, v. Peter Anthony Ciavarella Jr., Dalton; married Jan. 3, 2009, in Scranton; Brian J. Cali, attorney.

■ Jackie Reyes, Thornhurst, v. David Reyes, Lawrence, N.Y.; married Dec. 8, 2012, in Clayton, N.C.; Jeremy R. Weinstock, attorney.

■ Gregory M. Lulloff, Scranton, v. Belgica B. Rodriguez, Scranton; married July 1, 2001; Anne Marie Howells, attorney.

DIVORCE DECREES

■ Catherine Sekelsky v. Joseph Sekelsky.

■ Nancy Novoa v. Frank Novoa.

■ Duane Griffiths v. Ann Marie Griffiths.

■ Jason Sorak v. Ashley Sorak.

■ Kelly MacCallum v. Robert W. MacCallum.

■ Leslie A. Olmo v. Louis Olmo.

■ Victor F. Pena Rodriguez v. Raisa Noboa.

ESTATES FILED

■ Aldona M. Bunnell, 623 Ferdinand St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Elaine T. and Arthur K. Wilcox, both of 318 Cedar Lane, Seabrook, Texas.

■ John Gray aka John B. Gray Jr., 260 Country Club Estates, Thornhurst, letters testamentary to Robin Scaturro aka Robin Gray Scaturro, same address.

■ Irene Olick Bungardy, 726 Theodore St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Thomas W. Olick, 4014 Crestview Ave., Easton; and Marguerite Dippel, 1205 Waddell St., Archbald.

LAWSUITS

■ Lynn and Bruce Wuagon, both of 7 Railroad Ave., Archbald, v. Donna Naughton, 315 N. Garfield Ave., Rear, Scranton, seeking in excess of $50,000 plus interest and costs on two counts, for injuries suffered May 22, 2015, in an automobile accident at the intersection of North Main Avenue and Linden Street in Scranton; Thomas W. Munley and Jason J. Mattioli, attorneys.

■ Katherine Church, 1731 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, v. Erick and Kerryn Broxmeier, both of 621 Milwaukee Ave., Old Forge, seeking in excess of $50,000 plus interest and costs, for injuries suffered Nov. 10, 2014, in an automobile accident on South Main Avenue, Scranton; Joseph E. Mariotti, attorney.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts


TEDxYouth event in Scranton provides platform for young voices

0
0

Speakers and performers as young as 7 took the stage at West Scranton High School on Friday for the city’s first TEDxYouth Talk, sharing experiences that prove kids and young adults can make the world a better place.

Following the same format as traditional TED Talks, influential speeches from experts in a variety of fields, Friday’s event featured content presented by and geared toward children and teens. Around 100 gathered in the school’s auditorium for the talk, the theme of which was “fear and fascination.”

Speaking to this theme, nine presenters told tales of turbulence and triumph, and of the power of imagination, creativity and effort.

Izzy Deflice, 12, spoke first. After experiencing homelessness as a toddler, Izzy created the Scranton-based nonprofit “Izzy’s Sweets Bake Sale,” donating all proceeds to organizations combating homelessness and hunger.

“Izzy’s Sweets isn’t just about cupcakes and cookies,” she said. “It’s about starting a fire, a revolution of change in this world. It’s about encouraging kids to go out and help their community members in need, and to see those community members for the individuals that they are.”

Kedar Narayan, 7, spoke about how his love of video games translated into a passion for coding. He invented Storibot, a 3-D board game that teaches children, including blind youngsters, how to code.

“Kids are really fascinated by problem solving. Trust me, that’s why we love to play,” said Kedar. “Most people think that kids are too young to solve problems. Not true!”

Young poets, singers, artists, dancers and advocates for causes like anti-bullying and children’s rights, as well as two adult presenters, spoke and performed.

High school guidance counselor Deb Bell, who attended the talk with her daughter Alexandra, praised the event.

“I think it’s great that the kids are able to have this platform,” Ms. Bell said. “To have talks where (they) can actually learn, grow and be inspired.”

Her daughter agreed.

“Just to see youth nowadays have confidence to put themselves out there, speak their mind and really go for what they believe in ... is really cool,” she said.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com, @jhorvathTT on Twitter

Lackawanna County names new juvenile detention center head

0
0

Lackawanna County Juvenile Detention Center’s new leader wants to steer youth offenders to brighter futures before they potentially grow up to be criminals.

County commissioners on Friday introduced Mary Keller as the new juvenile detention center director to replace Tim Betti, who was appointed warden of Lackawanna County Prison in June.

“My heart is in treatment,” the 43-year-old Dickson City resident said. “I’ve done treatment for the last six years. I’ve helped offenders get jobs and become good taxpaying citizens again. You have got to remember this is the beginning of a cycle here that’s happening here. I was dealing with adults that were already in the juvenile system. It’s been a lifelong thing. They just progressed to the adult system.”

Ms. Keller holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Penn State University and had been the juvenile detention center’s Prison Rape Elimination Act coordinator/supervisor since May.

Prior to that, she primarily worked with adult inmates. The new department head was a treatment counselor and classification coordinator at Pike County Correctional Facility dating back to March 2011; secretary to the director of psychology at State Correctional Institution at Waymart for about seven months in 2007; and a clerk at State Correctional Institution at Dallas from 2005-2007.

She won’t have long to make an impact with youth recidivism. Juveniles stay at the detention center for an average of about two weeks, Mr. Betti estimated.

Ms. Keller hoped to expand the facility’s program offerings from a current series that includes art therapy, anger management and Planned Parenthood meetings. One of her early targets is a program called Smart Recovery, which she described as a nonreligious version of Alcoholics Anonymous that young people can continue to work through after they leave the center.

“Programming doesn’t stop once anyone is released,” she said. “It takes a village sometimes to raise a kid.”

Mr. Betti described his successor “jumping off the page” when she first applied for a job at the facility.

“We were looking for a person with strong leadership skills, who had a level of compassion, the treatment quality and backbone that Mary alluded to earlier,” he said. “She just seems to have the right mix of assertiveness. ... I’m fully confident that she’s going to do a wonderful job there.”

Commissioner Patrick O’Malley envisioned her ideas reducing the prison population in the long run.

“The juvenile detention center can be a gateway to prison,” Mr. O’Malley said. “The fact is a lot of kids that go through the juvenile detention center eventually end up in our prison system. Maybe this is something we have the opportunity to curb.”

The promotion increases Ms. Keller’s salary from $41,000 to $45,000, Deputy Director of Human Resources Brian Loughney said.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter

Carbondale police seize pounds of pot, money, guns

0
0

CARBONDALE — Members of the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force seized pounds of marijuana, guns and thousands of dollars after searching a city home Thursday night.

Christopher Connor, 22, 40 Laurel St., is charged with felony drug possession and delivery, plus numerous related misdemeanors. Officers executed a search warrant at Mr. Connor’s home about 9 p.m., Police Chief Brian Bognatz said. Officers seized 2 pounds of marijuana, 1 pound of cannabis wax, more than $15,000 and several guns, the chief said.

Mr. Connor is in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is set for Sept. 22.

— CLAYTON OVER

Former AG Kane's husband to judge: Don't reward her for criminal conduct

0
0

Convicted former state Attorney General Kathleen G. Kane’s legal woes stem from her criminal conduct and should not be “rewarded” by ordering her estranged husband to pay her $1 million in partial marital assets, according to court papers filed Friday.

Christopher Kane also disputes other issues Ms. Kane raised in a divorce filing, including her claims that she’s entitled to a share of $6 million or more in assets she contends he acquired during their marriage.

Ms. Kane filed for divorce in December 2014. In an emergency petition filed last week, she is seeking partial distribution of their marital assets, saying she needs the money to pay “staggering” legal

bills relating to her pending sentencing and appeal of her Aug. 15

conviction on perjury and other charges in Montgomery County Court. Her sentencing date is Oct. 24.

In the filing, Mr. Kane’s attorney, Charles Meyer,

questions whether his client should have to fund Ms. Kane’s defense of crimes that occurred outside of the divorce action.

“To the extent (Ms. Kane) has legal fees relating to her criminal actions, such actions were voluntary in nature and (Mr. Kane) respectfully avers that it would be inappropriate for the court to reward (Ms. Kane) for her criminal actions by granting her request for an interim partial distribution of marital assets at this time,” Mr. Meyer says.

Mr. Meyer also refutes Ms. Kane’s claims that she is entitled to share in millions of dollars Mr. Kane reaped from his family’s trucking firm, Kane is Able, and other business entities, saying part of those assets were secured before they married in May 2000.

The reply was filed shortly before he and Ms. Kane appeared Friday at a hearing regarding the matter and several other issues before Senior

Judge John Braxton.

Over the objection of a Times-Tribune reporter, Judge Braxton closed the hearing to the public, saying it involves matters between private individuals that he did not believe should be open. However, Mr. Kane’s reply to the emergency petition and other documents in the case were publicly available after the hearing.

It was not clear if Mr. Kane or Ms. Kane requested the hearing be closed or if the judge opted to do so. Neither Mr. Meyer nor Ms. Kane’s attorney, Lynne Gold-Bikin,

publicly requested it be closed.

In his reply filed Friday, Mr. Meyer also addressed Ms. Kane’s claims she needs funds to ensure she has the best defense possible in hopes of avoiding incarceration, which would negatively impact their two sons, ages 14 and 15.

“The negative effects of (Ms. Kane’s) actions on the parties’ children have already been felt ... as (she) has been the subject of numerous negative newspaper and television reports,” he said.

Mr. Meyer noted Ms. Kane filed a motion in June seeking to seal the case, but she withdrew it on Aug. 11, two days after The Times-Tribune published an article regarding the divorce.

Since then, numerous articles have appeared in various news outlets regarding the divorce, Mr. Meyer said. Mr. Kane now is concerned that Ms. Kane is attempting to “use the press to publicize her claims ... which certainly would be detrimental to the parties’ children,” he said.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com,

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

Replacement plaque notes Scranton's Nay Aug Park Gorge as national treasure

0
0

The Nay Aug Gorge is one of fewer than 600 sites across the country designated as National Natural Landmarks, but crews never installed the plaque announcing the designation.

Now, 27 years after receiving the honor, city officials will erect a replacement plaque during a dedication ceremony Wednesday at 10 a.m. at a scenic overlook along the Davis Trail high above the rugged, rocky gorge and its waterfalls.

The drowning of 15-year-old Tim Phillips in Nay Aug Gorge in 1986 led to greater awareness of the site, resulting in its 1989 designation as a natural landmark.

When they got a call about Tim being taken to a hospital, his parents, Jerry and Nancy Phillips of the Minooka section, didn’t know the gorge existed.

“We got call on a Sunday night at 5 p.m. saying our son had an accident,” Jerry Phillips recalled in a phone interview this week. “I said, ‘Where’s Tim?’ They said in the emergency room. They said he was in Nay Aug Gorge. I said, ‘What’s that?’ I didn’t even know anything about it.”

They soon learned all about the gorge, including that about three dozen others had previously died there since a newspaper started keeping track around 1890. The brook scoured rock walls and created underwater caverns and sinkholes. Steep ledges had nicknames such as “killer rock” and “suicide rock,” and rain could turn the stream into a torrent with waterfall whirlpools that imperiled the best of swimmers.

“Tim was a good swimmer. One kid held him but he couldn’t hold on,” Mr. Phillips said. “It’s cavernous underneath the rock. It had rained the day before and it was thunderous water. The waterfall created a whirlpool.”

Tim’s death initially sparked debate about whether and how to keep people out of the gorge.

A nun visiting the city knew the Phillipses frequented the gorge where their son died and asked to go along with them to see it.

“She said, ‘Oh, my God, I’ve never seen such a beautiful place in my life. This is God’s creation. This is better than a cathedral,’ ” Mr. Phillips recalled. “It opened my eyes. I thought a lot more people should enjoy it.”

A different school of thought emerged toward making the gorge safer and more accessible, with trails, fences, handrails and overlook spots, and educating visitors. To that end, city officials successfully pursued getting the gorge and waterfalls designated as a National Natural Landmark.

“It’s beautiful but dangerous. You’ve got to respect it,” Mr. Phillips said. “Even after fences were put up, I’d see kids there. I’d say, ‘Be very, very careful.’ They’d say, ‘Yeah,’ and I’d say, ‘No — my son drowned there.’ ”

A plaque commemorating the designation said, “This site possesses exceptional value as an illustration of the nation’s natural heritage and contributes to a better understanding of man’s environment.”

The plaque never went up — anywhere.

The Phillipses met Scranton City Councilman Bill Gaughan at church, and he learned about Tim’s death. During their conversations, Mr. Phillips mentioned that the plaque was never installed.

Mr. Gaughan and city employees looked for the plaque but could not find it. City officials don’t know what happened to it.

“Jerry Phillips and his family worked so hard to get that (federal designation). It (the plaque) deserves to be put up,” Mr. Gaughan said.

The Lackawanna Heritage Valley organization agreed to fund the replacement plaque, which cost about $800, said LHV Executive Director Natalie Gelb. LHV’s mission includes advocacy for historic and cultural resources, and Nay Aug Gorge is a big part of the area’s history, both geologically and culturally as an attraction, she said.

“I’m just grateful something is going in there,” Mr. Phillips said.

He said the dedication also will be bittersweet because Robert “Ozzie” Quinn, a former city employee instrumental in the federal landmark designation, died Aug. 30.

There are 598 designated within 48 states, American Samoa, Guam, Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands, according to the National Park Service. Louisiana and Delaware are the only states that do not contain one.

Pennsylvania boasts 27 national natural landmarks, with Nay Aug Gorge the only one in Lackawanna County. Others in NEPA include the Glens Natural Area in Ricketts Glen State Park in Luzerne and Sullivan counties; Lake Lacawac in Wayne County; Hickory Run Boulder Field in Carbon County; and Tannersville Cranberry Bog in Monroe County.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Older car might not be good fit for new driver

0
0

Q: In 1996, I bought a new Toyota Tercel as a wedding present for our daughter and new son-in-law. This car has been amazing. Over 223,000 miles with no mechanical problems or rust. Still drives like new. So, with our granddaughter now turning 16, as a “birthday gift” to the family, I put it into the shop to go over everything so that this 20-year-old car would continue to be reliable transportation for them, and be a good vehicle for a new driver to learn on (four-speed manual). Amazingly, everything was still original, but not surprisingly, it needed some work. It needed a new radiator, a catalytic converter, a timing belt and a bunch of rubber items, etc. I even put in a new radio, as cassettes are not so popular now. One thing it did NOT need was a clutch. The original clutch showed little wear. I find that pretty unbelievable. Of course, now that my granddaughter has been learning how to drive it, that may have changed. I had no problem putting in the $2,000 to keep this gem on the road. But ... not long after this work was completed, it started using oil — big time: More than a quart every 500 miles. Ugh ... I think the engine’s shot (I suspect my granddaughter continued driving it after the oil light came on). So, now we’re looking at a remanufactured engine or a rebuild. I’m guessing another $2,000. Ugh ... While this car was, in my opinion, worth $2,000 to keep on the road, I’m not sure about $4,000. However, since the first $2,000 is already sunk, I think I’m committed to it. What are your thoughts?

— GRANDPA GORDON

A: You sound like a wonderful grandpa, Gordon, but I think it’s time to abandon ship. It’s not that the car couldn’t continue to run well with a rebuilt engine; it’s that it’s not a very safe car, especially for a new, young driver.

It’s small, it’s lightweight and it won’t fare well if it’s hit by a Chevy Tahoe, or even a Chevy Malibu. It has basic driver and passenger air bags, but even anti-lock brakes were optional. And if you got the four-speed manual transmission, you probably got the El Cheapo edition without ABS.

Cars built more recently are so much safer. They have stronger structural protection for the passenger compartment, and they have side, knee and head air bags. They have electronic stability control to prevent skids and rollovers. Newer cars are making this Tercel look more and more like a safety antique every day.

And we know that, statistically, young drivers have more accidents than the rest of us. That’s a fact.

I know you’re invested in the Tercel, in more ways than one, Gordon. But if it were my daughter or granddaughter, I’d want her making her early-driver mistakes in something more substantial and better-equipped.

So you have a couple of options. One is to let her take her chances, and just add oil regularly. You can buy about 500-600 quarts of oil for that $2,000 you’d put into a used engine — and that’s if you buy them one at a time. If you go for the 55-gallon drum in your living room, you can get 2,000 quarts for $2,000! In any case, that’s a lot of miles — and, more importantly, you can invest in the Tercel 500 miles at a time — until you can get your granddaughter an upgrade.

Or, you could always fix and drive the Tercel yourself, Gordon, since you’re a much more experienced driver. Then you can give her your 2015 Lexus!

But I think the best thing to do is to keep the Tercel, as is, as a backup car, and look for something safer for your granddaughter to drive every day. For instance, for somewhere in the $4,000-$6,000 range, you could get her something like a 1998-2000 Volvo S70. That has front and side-impact air bags, ABS, traction control and a very good crash-test record.

It’ll cost you a fortune in repairs compared to what this Tercel cost over its first 20 years, but hopefully your granddaughter has already learned the lesson about what happens when you drive with the oil light on.

Best of luck, Gordon.

Trump Scranton HQ to open today

0
0

SCRANTON — Local supporters will open a campaign headquarters for Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump in Scranton today.

A grand opening of the office, 305 Fifth Ave., will take place at noon. Refreshments and Trump signs will be available.

The Trump campaign’s Northeast Pennsylvania Regional Office, 701 N. State St. in Clarks Summit, officially opened late last month. That opening featured remarks from Mr. Trump’s son Eric, and daughter-in-law Lara.


Defense Logistics Agency at Tobyhanna gets new leader

0
0

COOLBAUGH TWP. — The Defense Logistics Agency at Tobyhanna Army Depot has a new commander.

Lt. Col. John Turner relinquished command to Lt. Col. Jerome Barnard during a ceremony Friday at the Mack Fitness Center at the Tobyhanna Army Depot.

For 18 months, Lt. Col. Turner served as commander of the Defense Logistics Agency, which receives, stores and issues systems ranging from communications, command, control and computers and intelligence and electronic warfare to satellite communications systems.

Lt. Col. Turner, a native of Oklahoma, said he relinquished command early because his wife, Jaime, is going to have a baby next month. He spent 43 months in Iraq and said he wants to spend more time with his family.

“Throughout my career, I’ve worked hard to be the best at my job. That meant long hours and weekends. I made personal sacrifices that I shouldn’t have,” Lt. Col. Turner said. “In the end, it doesn’t matter what rank you rise to if you have nothing to come home to at night.”

Prior to being selected as a commander of the Defense Logistics Agency at Tobyhanna, Lt. Col. Turner was Army watch officer for the Army Operations Center, National Military Command Center at the Pentagon.

He said he hopes to start working again in January for the state government or in logistics. He talked about the importance of having a work-life balance.

“I wasn’t there the first time the baby kicked. I wasn’t there for Jaime when she got sick,” an emotional Lt. Col. Turner said. “I’m nervous, excited and scared to start the next chapter.”

Lt. Col. Barnard said in the short time he has been at Tobyhanna Army Depot, he has observed operations and finds it to be a “truly professional organization.”

More than 3,800 people work at Tobyhanna Army Depot, which is the largest industrial employer in the region.

Tobyhanna Army Depot is the largest, full-service communications and electronics maintenance facility within the Department of Defense.

Lt. Col. Barnard’s last assignment was at the National Training Center as a senior observer, coach and trainer for Brigade Support Battalion operations officers.

“For those in the DLA Distribution at Tobyhanna Army Depot, I’m really looking forward to working with you,” Lt. Col. Barnard told those who attended the ceremony. “I believe in teamwork.”

U.S. Army Brig. Gen. John S. Laskodi said the change of command ceremony on Friday marked a significant milestone in the careers of the two officers.

“It’s a great day in the history of the DLA Distribution at Tobyhanna, which is the Defense Department’s communication, electronics, distribution support hub,” Brig. Gen. Laskodi said.

Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

Scranton officials to discuss transferring city properties to land bank

0
0

The new Lackawanna County Land Bank may replace Scranton’s decades-old program designed to get vacant properties back on the tax rolls.

Land banks are empowered by state law to cut through red tape that often slows redevelopment efforts. Excessive bureaucratic hurdles are the most common complaint about the city’s “Pittsburgh Plan” mechanism.

Lackawanna County Economic Development Director George Kelly plans to soon meet with city officials including solicitor Jason Shrive and Treasurer Wayne Beck to discuss transferring the properties to the new county authority.

“It makes sense for us to start and to pursue it aggressively,” Mr. Kelly said at the land bank board of directors at Friday’s

meeting. “We have the resources, staffwise. We have the money. We have funding with $160,000

from the gambling grants ... We have the focus, and we have the enthusiasm because we’re new.

In interviews later in the day, Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright

and Assistant City Solicitor Joseph Price

both said the move hasn’t been decided yet but is worth exploring to replace a process that has been ineffective, often takes years to complete and can require a very determined buyer.

“We’re still reviewing it,” Mr. Courtright said. “It’s a possibility ... We want to not only get these properties back on the tax rolls, but also, when someone owns them, they’ll take care of them. It becomes an eyesore in people’s neighborhoods when it lies dormant.”

Mr. Price outlined highlights of the lengthy process for someone to buy properties listed in the Pittsburgh Plan.

It usually starts with a visit to the city law department, after which a prospective buyer needs to get an appraisal and return with a formal bid. The mayor, solicitor, planner and engineer then all need to sign off, and city council needs to pass an ordinance accepting the deal to keep the process moving.

At that point, the bidder must conduct a title search and petition Lackawanna County Court to finally buy the property in a process some people complain can take years.

“It’s like a Rubik’s Cube

,” Mr. Price said. “I’ve been trying to grapple with it for 18 months.”

The city is not adding any new properties to the Pittsburgh Plan list and has been getting better results from the Lackawanna County Tax Claim Bureau’s judicial sale process, he said.

Land bank Solicitor Joseph Colbassani said in more than three decades dealing with property transactions, he has never had a client buy a property through the Pittsburgh Plan.

“It’s the lowest form of title,” he said. “A (county) judicial sale actually cleans up the title. The Pittsburgh Plan, all it does is clear that particular city tax.”

Land banks are empowered by state law to acquire and manage land; sell, transfer, lease or mortgage properties; combine adjacent lots into more marketable parcels; eliminate tax liens with approval from taxing bodies; produce clean titles; and develop, rehabilitate or demolish buildings.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com

@kwindTT on Twitter

Police: People had drugs, money, child in car

0
0

SCRANTON — A man and a woman face charges after authorities say they had drugs, thousands of dollars and a young child in their SUV.

Lackawanna County detectives and Dunmore police arrested Sarah Disalvo, 39, 921 Quincy Ave., Scranton, and Valtez Lewis, 29, 4950 Franklin St., Philadelphia, about 4:45 p.m. Thursday at North Webster Avenue and East Gibson Street as the pair prepared to make a drug sale, according to court documents. Officers seized about $4,000, crack and prescription drugs, police said. A 7-year-old was in the back seat.

Ms. Disalvo and Mr. Lewis face drug and child endangerment charges. They are held in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail each. Preliminary hearings are scheduled for Thursday.

— CLAYTON OVER

Scranton police investigating burglary at theater construction site

0
0

SCRANTON — Police are seeking information about a “large quantity” of construction tools stolen during a Thursday night burglary at the site of the soon-to-be Iron Horse Movie Bistro, city police said.

The theft at the theater at Lackawanna and Penn avenues happened about 10:40 p.m. Police reported a white box truck with an unknown name printed on the door was seen leaving the area, headed toward Interstate 81 on the Central Scranton Expressway.

Joe Gibbons, spokesman for developer John Basalyga, did not expect the incident to delay the opening, expected before Christmas.

— KYLE WIND

Wayne County bridge project to begin

0
0

SALEM TWP. — Work to replace the Ledgedale Road bridge crossing Ariel Creek is scheduled to begin Monday, according to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation.

Traffic will be detoured to Route 590 and Goose Pond Road for about 10 weeks until work is completed. Officials expect construction to wrap up in November. The bridge is more than 70 years old and averages traffic of more than 700 vehicles a day.

The bridge replacement is part of the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, a public-private partnership between PennDOT and Plenary Walsh Keystone Partners.

Jermyn council to meet semimonthly

0
0

JERMYN — Borough council voted unanimously this week to begin holding two council meetings per month, starting in October.

The first meeting will take place on the first Thursday of the month, the former date of council work sessions, and the second will be held on the second Thursday, Councilman Dan Markey said.

The change allows council to vote on the first Thursday, in addition to conducting regular work-session business.

Council meetings on the first Thursday of October, November and December will technically be considered special meetings. Council will formalize the change beginning next year.

Scott Twp. sewer authority gets credit rating

0
0

SCOTT TWP. — The township sewer authority received a credit rating from Standard & Poor’s this week, another step in refinancing its loans.

The financial services company assigned the authority an AA-credit rating, sewer authority board Chairman Mike Giannetta said. The board needed to get the rating to refinance a $15 million federal loan through a municipal bond issue. The rating is better than anticipated, and the authority can get interest rates on the bonds as early as next week, he said. After that, the authority can determine how much customers will save on monthly bills.

The monthly sewer rate in Scott Twp. is $82 per equivalent dwelling unit, among the highest in Lackawanna County.


Local History: Iconic motel/restaurant found its fortunes for decades in Dupont

0
0

Its iconic roofline and bright, cheery colors are an American culture touchstone, mentioned in movies and TV shows over the past 50 years.

Howard Johnson’s Motor Lodge and Restaurant moved to the region in the mid-1960s. Plans for a 100-unit motel and restaurant to be built in Pittston Twp. were announced in November of 1963, with an expected opening date of summer 1964.

“A real estate development group known as Associated Properties will build and operate the motor lodge on a site adjacent to the Wyoming Valley interchange of the Pennsylvania Turnpike and interchange of the new Interstate ... 81,” according to a Scranton Times story published Nov. 5, 1963. “The site is within 1½ miles of the new Pocono Downs Race Track and about the same distance from the Scranton-Wilkes-Barre Airport.”

Howard Johnson’s came to the region at the height of the motel and restaurant’s chain’s popularity. Howard Deering Johnson started the business in 1925. The restaurants, serving up diner food and more than two dozen flavors of ice cream, and the orange-roofed motels soon spread across the country.

One original left

These days, you can book a stay at a Wyndam Hotel Group-owned Howard Johnson hotel across the United States and as far away as China, though they look nothing like the ones dotting the country in the 1960s.

One of two remaining Howard Johnson’s restaurants — in Bangor, Maine — closed its doors just last week. The sole survivor is located in Lake George, New York. The restaurant there first opened in 1953. After a three-year closure, the restaurant reopened in 2015.

Construction on the Pittston Twp. Howard Johnson’s began in the spring of 1964. Photos published in The Scranton Times on July 3, 1965, showed Louis Del Vecchio, the business manager, standing amid the construction with Times Sports Editor Joe M. Butler. The motel, which boasted 80 rooms and a two swimming pools, and adjoining restaurant, which seated up to 125, was supposed to open the same day as the nearby Pocono Downs. Unanticipated construction snarls delayed the Howard Johnson’s grand opening for a few months, however.

No one was perhaps more anxious for the Howard Johnson’s to open than Mr. Del Vecchio. He was named as the business manager in January 1965 after making a name for himself at Hotel Jermyn, where he spent 12 years, and Hotel Casey, according to a Scranton Times article announcing his new role. That article, printed on Jan. 30, 1965, called Mr. Del Vecchio “Northeastern Pennsylvania’s best known hotel greeter.”

Great fanfare

Pittston Twp.’s Howard Johnson’s opened to great fanfare in early November 1965. A reception to celebrate the grand opening drew several VIPs, including Lackawanna County Commissioner Charles “Chic” Harte, Lackawanna Junior College President Hoyle G. Seeley, Howard Johnson’s officials and Madison Square Garden announcer Johnny Addie.

A second Howard Johnson’s motel in the region opened in 1999, after the franchise took over the former Best Western University Inn on Franklin Avenue and Mulberry Street in Scranton. By then, though, the chain’s star was on the wane.

As Scranton’s Howard Johnson’s opened, the Pittston Twp. franchise was giving up the fight. The motel there became a Days Inn and then a Wynfield Inn. The restaurant closed in November 2000, “leaving 16 people out of work,” according to a Scranton Times article. Two months later, the Luzerne County Planning Commission received a proposal to build an Arby’s on the site. Much of the hotel remains, fenced-in and dilapidated.

Scranton’s Howard Johnson’s also changed hands. The motel is now a Red Carpet Inn.

Erin L. Nissley is an assistant metro editor at The Times-Tribune. She has lived in the area for more than a decade.

Contact the writer:

localhistory@timesshamrock.com.

NEPA's Most Wanted 9/11/2016

0
0

Shane Vonsee

Wanted by: Scranton office, state Board of Probation and Parole

Fugitive since:

Aug. 11.

Wanted for: Driving while intoxicated (highest impairment), possession of a controlled substance with the intent to distribute (heroin), criminal use of a communications facility. Sentenced to two years, two days to five years, six months of incarceration. Paroled Nov. 19.

Description: White man, 25 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 170 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes.

Contact: Agent Frank Coslett, 570-614-7254.

Conan Sabot

Wanted by: Scranton office, state Board of Probation and Parole.

Fugitive since:

July 15.

Wanted for: Receiving stolen property, criminal trespass, criminal mischief/tampering with property. Sentenced to one year, 10 months, 13 days to five years of incarceration. Paroled Dec. 31.

Description: White man, 34 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 235 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes.

Contact: Agent Derek Berry, 570-614-7285.

Dawn Strobel

Wanted by: Scranton office, state Board of Probation and Parole.

Fugitive since:

April 18.

Wanted for: Possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Sentenced to six months, 22 days to four years of incarceration. Paroled Sept. 28.

Description: White woman, 44 years old, 5 feet 5 inches tall, 150 pounds, brown hair, hazel eyes.

Contact: Agent Jessica George, 570-614-7255.

Bruce Thompson

Wanted by: Scranton office, state Board of Probation and Parole.

Fugitive since: July 28.

Wanted for: Possession of heroin with intent to deliver. Sentenced to one year, three months, 23 days to five years of incarceration. Paroled Nov. 2.

Description: Black man, 40 years old, 5 feet 10 inches tall, 235 pounds, bald, brown eyes.

Contact: Agent Gary Demuth, 570-614-7244.

Jason West

Wanted by: Scranton office, state Board of Probation and Parole.

Fugitive since: April 26.

Wanted for: Accidents involving death or injury.

Description: White man, 42 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 180 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes.

Contact: Agent Gary Demuth, 570-614-7244.

Getting a leg up on college admissions

0
0

High school students who need help navigating through the cumbersome college admissions process can find assistance at businesses in Northeast Pennsylvania.

A new business in Pittston, Better Your Odds College Admissions Counseling, and NEPA Career and College Counseling Associates in Clarks Summit provide help for college-bound students. Similar businesses that help college-bound students have been popping up throughout the country in recent years amid a demand for these services.

Marie Donnelly, a West Pittston resident who teaches English at Scranton Prep and taught at Seton Catholic, recently opened Better Your Odds College Admissions Counseling at 49 S. Main St., Pittston.

Mrs. Donnelly said she opened the business because she finds there is a demand for these services.

“I think parents are certainly focused on making sure their kids have choices when it comes to college acceptance,” she said. “Parents want me to find the best fit for their kids.”

Mrs. Donnelly, a King’s College graduate who holds degrees in English, school counseling and professional counseling, has experience working with her own children with the college admissions process. She and her husband, Edward, a financial advisor, have three children.

Their son, Christopher, 23, graduated from Colgate University in New York last year with a degree in chemistry and is a forensic chemist. Terrence, 22, recently graduated from Loyola University in Maryland with a degree in mechanical engineering and got a job one month later as a mechanical engineer.

She now is working with their 17-year-old daughter Vienna, a Scranton Prep senior, to plan for college.

Mrs. Donnelly works with high school students, beginning as early as freshman year, to review and plan their high school curriculum and course selections with college in mind. She also works with juniors and seniors to plan their schedules so they take the most challenging courses possible.

“We try to pick up on what the kid is really interested in because we also build a resumé,” Mrs. Donnelly said. “One of the first things I do with my clients is put a resumé together.”

Students applying to colleges can attach resumés and include a color picture of themselves, places they worked and volunteer and extracurricular activities, she said. She also prepares them for interviews and college visits and helps students search for scholarships.

The college admissions process can be confusing and frustrating for parents, she said. Sometimes, they are unaware of the steps they need to take, such as registering for colleges online.

Being an English teacher and educator for 16 years also helps, she said, because the common college application requires a 650-word essay which she brainstorms ideas with students.

If students are undecided about what they want to study in college, she encourages them to embrace that because they will figure it out in time. In fact, she said, some colleges don’t allow students to pick a major until sophomore year.

“You have to study what you love, something that you’re going to want to wake up every morning and actually do,” Mrs. Donnelly said. “Colleges often require so many core courses any way so you get a little taste of everything when you get to school and once you get a few of those under your belt, you’ll see in which direction you’ll be headed.”

Mrs. Donnelly did not discuss specific costs but she said she charges different prices for different packages.

“I’m really conscious of the fact that parents are saving for their kids’ college and they didn’t think they had to save for a college counselor,” she said. “I’ve never turned a kid away. I certainly believe that you have to give back to the community and give back to anyone who needs help.”

Since Mrs. Donnelly bought the business earlier this year, she said she has had a steady number of clients. Her business plan called for 10 clients her first year and she reached her goal, she said.

Jennifer Severini-Kresock, a private career and college counselor and owner of NEPA Career and College Counseling Associates, started her business five years ago to help students make the best possible college and career decisions.

She called herself a trendsetter in that she offers unique services such as extensive career exploration, including job shadowing.

Ms. Severini-Kresock, who was a high school guidance counselor for 20 years, said her clients are eighth- through 12th-graders, as well as transferring college students, adult students returning to school and students with special needs.

She guides students through the entire college process, including scholarship searches, financial aid, career search, athletic recruitment, auditioning at arts schools, creating a college portfolio, letters of recommendation, resumés and essay preparation.

She said she started her business because she saw a need since high school guidance counselors work with hundreds of students and they have additional duties.

She also declined to say the costs for her services. She said she offers different plans and the price would depend on the package.

Ms. Severini-Kresock visits colleges with students and offers online webinars and college planning courses. Additionally, she offers tutoring services in subjects with special emphasis on college test preparation, including the PSAT, SAT and ACT.

Some students may need help determining their paths after high school and the steps needed to get there, she said. Often high schools don’t provide enough attention to those areas, she added, and it can be cumbersome and can be overwhelming.

“I can make it stress-free,” she said.

Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115

For more information

■ Better Your Odds College Admissions Counseling, 49 S. Main St., Pittston, visit www.betteryourodds.org or call 570-1199.

■ NEPA Career and College Counseling Associates in Clarks Summit, go to nepacareerandcollegecounseling.com or call 570-702-5700.

Community Health to unload more hospitals

0
0

Community Health Systems shares climb

After announcing it may sell more hospitals, Community Health Systems Inc. saw its shares jump 2.5 percent last week to a Friday close of $11.06 per share.

The company had already said it planned to sell 12 hospitals. On Wednesday, Chief Financial Officer Larry Cash told analysts at a health care conference in Boston the hospital giant is getting interested buyers from other companies. He said there may be other sales before the end of the year.

The 12 previously announced sales will be part of five transactions, but the company has not disclosed what properties it would sell. Mr. Cash said the properties generate annual revenue of about $1.45 billion and the sale is expected to yield net proceeds of $850 million.

The changes follow a move in April in which CHS spun off 38 mostly small and rural hospitals into a new public company, Quorum Health Corp. That divestiture brought about $1.2 billion used to reduce debt. In May, CHS sold its share of a four-hospital joint venture for $445 million to Universal Health Services.

Community Health Systems operates several hospitals and outpatient facilities in Northeast Pennsylvania as Commonwealth Health.

— DAVID FALCHEK

People on the Move, Sept. 11, 2016

0
0

Ballet Theatre of Scranton

Joanne Arduino, artistic director of the dance company and owner of the Dance Studio, Scranton, was one of three adjudicators at the Greater New York chapter of the National Association of Dance and Affiliated Artists conference and dance competition in Iselin, New Jersey. The event is held annually for members in the New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and Connecticut regions. In addition, Mrs. Arduino was honored as one of the “Top 25 Women in Business” by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Chapter of the National Association of Women Business Owners. She has been directing, choreographing and producing dance and musical theater productions regionally for more than 40 years.

Benchmark,

McCabe Mortgage Group

Andrew McCabe is a loan officer with the company’s Northeastern Pennsylvania team. Mr. McCabe graduated from King’s College with his B.S. degree in finance. He has worked for the company for the last year, and has become licensed to originate residential mortgage loans throughout Pennsylvania. Mr. McCabe has been accepted to the Leadership Wilkes-Barre class of 2017.

Colbert & Grebas PC

Denise M. Sterenchock has joined as a case manager in the Kingston office. She earned her paralegal certificate from Penn State University, Hazleton Campus.

Dawn Edwards has joined as a case manager in the Moosic office.

Kenneth D. Motichka has been promoted to supervising case manager. Mr. Motichka attended Penn State, earning degrees in health policy and administration, gerontology and business. He will also be supervising all case managers in the Moosic and Kingston offices of the firm.

Delaware Highlands Conservancy

Diane Rosencrance is now executive director. Ms. Rosencrance has an extensive background in land protection initiatives, and has been an active partner with the conservancy in many of its regional activities. Retiring Executive Director Sue Currier leaves after 13 years. Under Ms. Currier’s leadership, the conservancy grew from a staff of one full-time employee to a team of six professional staff members, contractors and a large contingent of volunteers.

The Dime Bank

Melissa L. Wilkins has been promoted to assistant vice president, Hawley branch manager. Ms. Wilkins is a graduate of Wallenpaupack Area High School. She joined the bank as head teller of its Honesdale branch in October 2008. As a branch manager, she is responsible for supervising staff, originating loans, opening new deposit accounts and overseeing branch operations, including general banking functions and building management. She will soon graduate from Lackawanna College with an associate degree in accounting. Ms. Wilkins graduated with honors from the Pennsylvania Bankers Association School of Banking, and completed its School of Lending course. Additionally, Ms. Wilkins is enrolled in the PA Bankers Advanced School of Banking. She is a licensed mortgage loan originator with the Nationwide Mortgage Licensing System 1143213.

Lenahan & Dempsey

Five personal injury lawyers have been named Best Lawyers in America for excellence in the practice of law and protecting the injured. Named Best Lawyers for 2016-17 are John R. Lenahan, who has been honored each year by Best Lawyers since 1995; Joseph P. Lenahan, who has been honored each year since 2001, and has been named Best Lawyers Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year; Timothy G. Lenahan, who was the 2015-16 Best Lawyers Personal Injury Lawyer of the Year, and has been listed in the publication each year since 2008; and Brian J. Lenahan and Matthew D. Dempsey, who were both first listed in Best Lawyers in 2015-16.

Marywood

University

James Eckler, M.Arch, associate professor and director of the architecture program, was awarded the Council for Advancement and Support of Education Professor of the Year Award at the university. The award recognizes dedication to undergraduate teaching as demonstrated by the impact on and involvement with undergraduate students, scholarly approach to teaching and learning and contributions to undergraduate education. Mr. Eckler’s teaching and scholarship focuses on introductory design education, its content and structure, as well as the particular educational challenges faced by novice learners in the areas of architectural design. He is also the author of the textbook, “Language of Space and Form,” and co-author of “Introduction to Architecture,” each published by Wiley Publishing. Mr. Eckler earned his bachelor of design, master of architecture and master of science in architectural studies: pedagogy degrees from the University of Florida School of Architecture.

Lindsey Wotanis, Ph.D., associate professor in the communication arts department, was awarded the Distinguished Service Award at the university. Dr. Wotanis serves as the faculty adviser for The Wood Word, the university’s student-run newspaper. She has overseen the growth in The Wood Word staff from 10 students five years ago, to nearly 30 student staff members. Under her guidance, the paper transitioned from a broadsheet to a tabloid with spot color, to print and online, to an online only publication with daily reporting and updates. The paper has won awards, including a first place in colleges/universities with more than 250 enrollment and an “Outstanding Editorial” in 2014 from the American Scholastic Press Association Scholastic Newspaper awards. The paper won multiple Society for Collegiate Journalist awards, placing first, second and third in 2014 and 2015. Dr. Wotanis founded and advises the Marywood Society of College Journalists, established in 2011. Additionally, Dr. Wotanis works on recruitment and publicity efforts with the university. She helped start, and continues to oversee, the department’s student-run recruitment blog, “Frame Your Future,” and has marketed the program through various social media outlets. Dr. Wotanis serves on university and community committees, including the President’s Enrollment Task Force Committee, the Policy Committee, the Technology Committee, the Commencement and Convocation Speakers Committee and Middle States Standards Committee.

Sophie Till, clinical assistant professor of violin/viola and director of the String Project in the university music, theater and dance department, was awarded the university’s Distinction in Discipline award. Ms. Till’s work includes translating the Taubman/Golandsky piano technique to the violin, and she has lectured and held master classes on her findings in England, Scotland, Australia, throughout the U.S. and at the university. Ms. Till was an invited presenter at the Australia National String Teacher’s Conference in Sydney in 2015, and was the keynote speaker at the international conference and presented and conducted workshops as well. This year, Ms. Till will work with the Royal Scottish National Orchestra, Glasgow, Scotland, and the Royal Liverpool Philharmonic. As director of the String Project, she works with string players 4 through 18 years old, and she teaches applied lessons to university violin and viola students.

New faculty members for the 2016-17 academic year have been announced.

Amy Wescott is a clinical instructor in the nursing department. Ms. Wescott has been in the field of nursing for nearly 20 years, and is board certified as both a primary-care pediatric nurse practitioner and as an acute-care adult nurse practitioner. She earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from Marywood, her Master of Science in nursing degree from the University of Pennsylvania, and her post-master’s certificate from Drexel University. Her research interests include health care problems affecting the lower socio-economic population. Ms. Wescott will teach medical and surgical nursing along with a pediatrics clinical at the university.

Patricia Falkowski is a clinical instructor of nursing. Ms. Falkowski earned her Bachelor of Science in nursing degree from Wilkes University, and her master’s degree in nursing from Misericordia University. She is a clinical nurse specialist in maternal-child, and is certified in in-patient obstetrics and childbirth education. Her research interest is in maternal-child. Ms. Falkowski will teach various nursing courses, including nursing care of child-bearing as well as clinical pediatrics.

Alan M. Levine, Ph.D., is a professor in the nutrition and dietetics department. Previously, Dr. Levine served as the vice president of Academic Affairs from 2008-2016. He has published more than 20 articles on topics ranging from vitamin deficiency to nutrition and aging. Dr. Levine also has presented at more than 40 conferences and seminars on areas of his expertise. In addition, he received the Vicennial Order Cor Mariae Pro Fide Cultura when he reached 20 years of service at the university. Dr. Levine earned his master’s and doctoral degrees in food, nutrition and dietetics from New York University, and his Bachelor of Science degree from Hofstra University.

Nikki Moser is an assistant professor in the visual arts department. Ms. Moser earned her master of fine arts degree in studio art from the Maryland Institute College of Art. She was the 2016 recipient of the F. Lammont Belin Arts Foundation award for her work with the Keystone Iron Works Program and “Fire at the Furnace.” Ms. Moser is the co-founder of the Keystone Iron Works program for at-risk high school students and has received numerous grants and private donations to support this effort.

Alpha Woodward, Ph.D., is an assistant professor and interim director of the music therapy Program in the music, theater and dance department. Dr. Woodward was the course director and lecturer for the master’s program in Music Therapy in the Irish World Academy of Music and Dance at Limerick University, Ireland. She has 20 years of experience as a professor, supervisor, program director and music therapist, and her background includes music therapy work throughout the world. Dr. Woodward earned her master’s degree in music therapy from Open University, Vancouver, and her doctoral degree in leadership and change from Antioch University.

Wen Cheng, Ph.D., is an assistant professor in the mathematics and computer science program. Dr. Cheng earned her Bachelor of Science degree in software engineering from Beijing Institute of Technology, China, her Master of Science degree in computer science and engineering from Lehigh University, and her doctoral degree in computer science from North Dakota State University. Her current research interests are in the area of computational biology, bioinformatics specified in developing and applying machine learning, and data mining algorithms to address biological programs.

Emily Pellicano is an assistant professor in the school of architecture. She earned her bachelor of fine arts degree in interior design and earned her master of architecture degree from Syracuse University. Ms. Pellicano will teach graduate coursework along with interior architecture courses at the University.

Misericordia

University

Leamor Kahanov, Ed.D., dean of the College of Health Sciences and Education, will make two scholarly presentations at the All Together Better Health VIII: The Global Interprofessional Practice and Education Conference in Oxford, England. Dr. Kahanov is making the presentations entitled, “Leveraging a Campus Clinic to Expand Interprofessional Education and Research,’’ and “Interprofessional Education through Mobile Outreach Clinics.’’ Dr. Kahanov is a certified athletic trainer with a doctorate in education from the University of San Francisco. She earned a master’s degree in exercise and sports sciences from the University of Arizona, and a Bachelor of Science degree in exercise science and athletic training from Indiana University, Bloomington, Indiana.

Mohegan Sun Pocono

Tony Carlucci has been named president and general manager, replacing Mike Bean. In this role, he will be responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the property. Mr. Carlucci has more than 30 years of experience in the casino and hospitality business.

Penn State

Wilkes-Barre

Rick Dierenfeldt has joined the Administration of Justice program as an assistant professor. He earned his Ph.D. in criminal justice from the University of Arkansas at Little Rock in May 2016. A police officer for 10 years in the state of Missouri, his research interests include the relationships between community characteristics, race and crime, as well as policy evaluation in the fields of corrections and policing. His works have been published in “Deviant Behavior,” “American Journal of Criminal Justice,” “Criminal Justice Policy Review,” “International Journal of Offender Therapy and Comparative Criminology” and “Security Journal.”

Jonathan Pineno has joined the college as an instructor of arts and music, and will also manage the on campus Friedman Art Gallery. Mr. Pineno earned his Bachelor of Science degree in music education from Mansfield University, and earned a master’s degree in clarinet performance from Temple University.

Getinet Gawo has joined as an instructor of mathematics, and will also be a tutor for the Learning Center and Student Support Services. Mr. Gawo earned his Bachelor of Science degree in mathematics from Mekelle University and his Master of Science in mathematics from Addis Adaba University, both in Ethiopia, his native country.

Joseph Boylan, vice president of economic development for the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce, has joined the Campus Advisory Board. Mr. Boylan is a graduate of Penn State University, earning a Bachelor of Science in business with a concentration in marketing and management. Mr. Boylan also serves on the boards for the Greater Pittston Chamber of Commerce, PEDA Advocacy Committee, MetroAction Inc. and the Wyoming Valley Challenger League. He was named “Top 20 Under 40” by the Northeastern Pennsylvania Business Journal in 2015.

Robert Katulka begins his term on the Campus Advisory Board this fall. Mr. Katulka is a Penn State University graduate, earning his Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering, and his Master of Science in business administration from Wilkes University. Mr. Katulka is the director of production engineering for Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Megan Millo, business development manager at Ken Pollock Auto Group, has joined the Campus Advisory Board. A graduate of Penn State Wilkes-Barre, Ms. Millo earned her Bachelor of Science in business administration with a focus in marketing and management.

Amanda Yakus will begin her term on the Campus Advisory Board this fall. Ms. Yakus serves as the director of sales for the Fairfield Inn & Suites. She is a Penn State graduate with a Bachelor of Science in hotel, restaurant and institutional management, and is a member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Commerce Women’s Network Council.

Rosenn, Jenkins & Greenwald LLP

Richard A. Russo, a partner in the firm, has been selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2017. Mr. Russo was selected in the area of personal injury litigation-plaintiffs. He is the chairman of the firm’s personal injury practice. Mr. Russo also handles claims against insurance companies for acting in bad faith toward their insured. He is a member of the American and Pennsylvania Bar Associations, the American and Pennsylvania Associations for Justice and the Wilkes-Barre Law & Library Association. Mr. Russo is a magna cum laude graduate of Wilkes University and a cum laude graduate of Temple University Law School.

SUBMIT PEOPLE ON THE MOVE items to business@timesshamrock.com or The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

Viewing all 52491 articles
Browse latest View live




Latest Images