Drexel med school superstar friends

Michael Le and Alexander Zygmunt first met as members of The Times-Tribune 2008 Scholastic Superstar Team members.

Michael and Alex went on to become friends at the University of Scranton, and now the two superstars are roommates as they begin their studies at Drexel University College of Medicine in Philadelphia.

A South Abington Twp. resident, Michael is a 2012 summa cum laude graduate of the university, where he earned his bachelor's degree in biology and philosophy while participating in the university's Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. He is a graduate of Abington Heights High School and the son of Tong Xuan and Hoa Kim Le.

Alex, of Covington Twp., a 2012 magna cum laude graduate of the university, earned his bachelor's degree in biochemistry, cell and molecular biology and philosophy while participating in the Special Jesuit Liberal Arts Honors Program. Alex also participated in the university's Honors Program, conducting research with Michael Sulzinski, Ph.D., professor of biology, his faculty mentor. He was the valedictorian of his graduating class at Holy Cross High School and St. Stanislaus Elementary School in Scranton. Alex is the son of Stan and Elizabeth Zygmunt.

The superstars received their white coats during a ceremony at Drexel.

Principals of labor

Several local high school administrators were on hand as Skills in Scranton hosted its second annual High School Principal's Forum.

The event allowed educators - including Jane Nagurney, Scranton Prep; Margaret Billings-Jones and Thomas Kameroski, Lakeland; Ida Castro, Commonwealth Medical College; Joseph Farrell, Carbondale Area; Christopher Thomas, Old Forge; Tim Hopkins, Dunmore; Chad Vinansky, Mid Valley; John Coyle, Robert Gentilezza and William King, Scranton; and Joe Moceyunas, Riverside High School - to meet with workforce development professionals and Skills in Scranton staff to discuss careers and educational requirements for students entering the workforce.

They also toured the Commonwealth Medical College with other participants, including William Cockerill, Scranton Central Labor Union; Virginia Turano, Workforce Investment Board; Richard Smith, PA Career Link; William J. Shoen, Skills in Scranton; Drew Simpson, Carpenter's Union; and Dave Jadick, Tobyhanna Army Depot.

High notes

Kimberly Duffy-Wylam will serve as corporate chairwoman for the East Central Pennsylvania Branch of JDRF's local inaugural Walk To Cure Diabetes, scheduled for the spring. Kim is president/managing partner of Vantagen, A ParenteBeard Co.

"It's great to be partnering with JDRF and working together toward such an important goal - promoting awareness of Type 1 diabetes and raising funds to advance research," said Kim. "By working together, we can make a difference for the millions of people who are affected by this disease."

Hungry visitors to La Festa Italiana held on to the last hours of the last weekend of summer Monday evening to close out Labor Day and the three-day celebration.

Organizers called the turnout at the annual event "phenomenal."

Sunday drew a record crowd, especially during the nighttime fireworks and a performance by the Poets, La Festa chairman Chris DiMattio said.

"Too many to estimate," he said. "We literally ran out of space."

Rain on Monday thin-ned the crowd, but traffic was steady around the food stands and vendor stalls.

The Scranton chapter of UNICO sold out of its popular porketta by 5:15 p.m. Monday, hours before the festival officially closed at 9 p.m.

"Unbelievable," the chapter's First Vice President Dave Bieri said.

The group sold 4,800 pounds of the Italian roast pork specialty and 21,600 rolls, he said, as latecomers groaned to see UNICO members breaking down the stand.

"Even with the rain, we always get regulars coming back because of the quality of the porketta," he said. "At one point today, I think everyone on the square had a porketta sandwich in their hand."

Remnants of the festival downtown will be gone as quickly as they came, organizers said.

Mr. DiMattio, the festival chairman, was helping to load boxes, bins and cutting boards into a trailer Monday even before the last act, a Dean Martin tribute, took the stage.

Some of the La Festa tents will be left on the square for next weekend's Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, he said, but 90 percent of the cleanup would be done Monday night.

"Tables and chairs will be gone by 2 a.m.," he said.

Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com

It's been about six months since Pennsylvania banned texting while driving, but local police are finding it is a difficult law to enforce.

In fact, the Scranton Police Department has cited fewer than 10 people for the offense since the ban went into effect, acting Police Chief Carl Graziano said.

One of those was a man who admitted to texting while driving when he swerved across two lanes of traffic and crashed into a parked car earlier this year. But many of the cases aren't that simple, he said.

"It's difficult to make that arrest due to the current law," Chief Graziano said. "It's difficult for an officer to discern whether they're texting or looking up numbers on their phone."

As the law stands now, texting is prohibited, but talking on the cellphone or search- ing for contacts in the phone are still legal, making it difficult for officers to prove the person in question was indeed texting, Chief Graziano said.

In 2009, more than 5,400 people died in crashes that were reported to involve a distracted driver and about 448,000 people were injured, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention distracted driving statistics. Of those, nearly 1,000 deaths and 24,000 injuries included cell phone use, according to the CDC's website. The CDC does not have numbers that specifically address texting.

Dickson City Police Chief William Bilinski said he has only pulled over one person for texting while driving.

"As for the exact texting law, the way it's written, it's hard to enforce and get a conviction out of it," he said.

Even though he can't pull someone over for talking on their cell phone, he can write citations for distracted driving and traffic violations, especially when people are swerving or driving dangerously while on a cell phone, Chief Bilinski said.

Police officers aren't the only ones wanting more guidance from the texting and driving law.

Eileen Miller has been relentlessly campaigning against distracted driving since her son Paul Miller Jr. was killed in a car crash in Monroe County in 2010 - showing state representatives and senators his photo in hopes they'll push for more stringent legislation against using cell phones while driving.

Progress is slow, she said, because some people think a complete cell phone ban would be to difficult to pass. Her talks with local representatives haven't been as effective as she anticipated.

"I'm very disappointed, but I'm not going to stop," Mrs. Miller said.

Until more effective cell phone legislation is passed, Mrs. Miller, along with local police departments and the state Department of Transportation, are working on starting preventative dialogue, especially with kids in schools.

The message is simple and can help save lives, Mrs. Miller said.

"Keep your eyes on the road, hands on the wheel and mind on task," she said.

Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com @ksullivanTT on Twitter

Ransom Twp. grove vandalized

RANSOM TWP. - Someone apparently intent on stopping the party at a private picnic grove sneaked onto the grounds, tore down decorations and burned them in a drum.

State police say someone went onto the grounds of Stann's Grove on Dark Region Road in Ransom Twp. between 3 p.m. Friday and 4:30 a.m. Saturday, removed party decorations and burned them in a barrel with wood belonging to the victim, Walter Andrew Stann. There was no estimate Monday for the cost of the damage.

Anyone with information about the incident is asked to call state police at Dunmore at 963-3156.

Moosic police are still searching for at least two people involved in an armed confrontation over all-terrain vehicles and dirt bikes on Sunday evening near the former Rocky Glen Park.

Police arrested two Scranton men, Victor Manuel Cardona-Crespo, 43, of 1714 Pittston Ave., and Kevin Ortiz Cardona, 21, of 32 Crown Circle Drive, after they and several others allegedly surrounded and fired shots at a second group who had accused them earlier in the day of stealing ATVs and dirt bikes from their friends.

The suspects also threatened the men with baseball bats and threw rocks at them before the victims fled and called 911, according to police. No one was injured, police said.

Police stopped a silver Ford pickup driven by some of the suspects on Sixth Street Sunday night and arrested Mr. Cardona-Crespo and Mr. Cardona. Two other men ran from the truck as officers approached. One of the men who fled was identified as Josthann Cardona, police said.

Several men in a black Ford Fusion also ran into the woods as police approached the car near Rocky Glen Park on Sunday night. The car was later found to have been stolen from Dickson City in July.

Borough police and officers from other area departments, as well as the Lackawanna County special operations unit, were involved in the manhunt Sunday night.

Mr. Cardona-Crespo and Mr. Cardona were charged with several counts of criminal conspiracy, reckless endangerment and assault. Both are in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $150,000 bail. Information on their preliminary hearings was not available Monday.

Contact the writer: llegere@timesshamrock.com

JEFFERSON TWP. - After more than two years of near-wrecks and recommendations from state officials for safer conditions, trees on property owned by a township supervisor still keep retirees Frank and Joan Donnini from feeling safe when they drive home.

Like other residents in that part of the township, they want something done to make the intersection of Archbald Mountain Road and Mountain Road safer. As drivers on Archbald Mountain Road stop at the intersection, tree limbs hide oncoming traffic from Mountain Road.

Vehicles traveling on Archbald Mountain Road turning right onto Mountain Road aren't required to stop. However, vehicles continuing on Archbald Mountain Road must stop to check for traffic on Mountain Road, but they can't see the other road from the stop sign and have to inch farther up.

Gregory Kapeluck, whose house on Archbald Mountain Road overlooks the intersection, said he and his wife have seen multiple "near misses" at the intersection.

"Something has to change at that intersection or somebody will get hurt," Mr. Kapeluck said.

A close call

One of those incidents involved Mrs. Donnini. Driving home one day about two years ago, she found herself nearly sandwiched between a dump truck and a gravel truck at the intersection.

"I thought I was going to lose my life," she said during a recent interview. "I think I was missed by an inch."

After Mrs. Donnini's experience at the intersection, she contacted the property owner of the land with the trees to ask for help about the limited view. Paul Thomas, the property owner and a township supervisor, didn't seem interested in helping, Mrs. Donnini said.

"He told me, 'I'm not going to cut down my trees for anybody,' " Mrs. Donnini said.

That's when she contacted Lester "Ike" Butler, chairman of the board of supervisors. He suggested contacting the state Department of Transportation's Dunmore office for help.

In August 2010, Keith D. Williams, PennDOT's district traffic engineer, and Robert M. Wasilchak, district traffic studies/safety engineer, sent a letter to the township recommending changes.

"It is the Department's position that the Township notifies the property owner about the traffic hazard and directs property owner to remove the section or vertically clear the portions of the tree branches that are limiting the corner sight distances," the letter said.

State law involved

The PennDOT letter also cited state law requiring property owners to remove any "tree, plant, shrub or other similar obstruction" considered a traffic hazard that limits the view of drivers. Failing to remove the traffic hazard within 10 days is a summary offense and subject to a fine of $10 a day.

More than two years after Jefferson Twp. officials received that letter, tree branches blocking the view of traffic from Mountain Road remain intact, and no fine has been issued.

Efforts to reach Mr. Thomas were unsuccessful.

Mr. Butler said Mr. Thomas filed an appeal a few months ago to the PennDOT recommendation, and the township is waiting for an answer on the appeal.

"Everyone has a right to appeal a decision," Mr. Butler said. "If something has to be done, the township will do it."

Contacted recently about the intersection, Mr. Wasilchak said the issue remains a safety concern and an "ongoing issue." He said since the obstruction occurs on a township road, PennDOT thinks the township should be responsible for enforcing the recommendation. He also mentioned Mr. Thomas' attempt to appeal the ruling.

"It's being reviewed now," Mr. Wasilchak said.

The board of supervisors meets tonight at 7:30.

Contact the writer: rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter

WAyNe COUNTY COURT NOTES

Wayne County Court notes are published Tuesdays in The Times-Tribune.

ESTATES FILED

- Aubrey Errol Ofman, also known as A. Errol Ofman and Errol Ofman, Damascus Twp., letters testamentary to Sally N. Rutherford, 921 Court St., Honesdale.

- Raymond A. Oney, Lake Twp., letters testamentary to Karen Oney, 919 Acker Road, Stroudsburg.

- Esther M. Smith, also known as Esther Smith and Esther Marie Smith, Honesdale, letters testamentary to Sandra Ames, P.O. Box 307, Honesdale.

- John C. Pinho, Sterling Twp., letters of administration to Earl J. Pinho, 15 Clifford Blvd., Haup­pauge, N.Y.

- Elizabeth D. Jackson, Paupack Twp., letters testamentary to Doris E. Singer, 71 Aspen Ridge Drive, Hawley.

- Phyllis C. Korb, Honesdale, letters testamentary to Richard J. Korb, 2868 Roosevelt High­way, Honesdale, and Constance M. Macleary, also known as and formerly known as Constance M. Mikulak, 417 Grove St., Honesdale.

- Frank J. Kidder III, also known as Frank J. Kidder, Pal­myra Twp., letters of administration DBNCTA to Sally N. Ruther­ford, 921 Court St., Honesdale.

- John J. Russo, Paupack Twp., letters testamentary to Joan L. Russo, 36 Whitney Lake Road, Hawley.

- Sterling I. Bedford Jr., also known as Sterling Bedford Jr., Starrucca, letters of administration DBNCTA to Sally N. Ruther­ford, 921 Court St., Honesdale.

- Berneda Irene Clift, also known as Berneda Clift and Berneda I. Clift, Waymart, letters testamentary to Wyland L. and Shirley Clift, 800 St. Tikhons Road, Waymart.

- Suzanne F. Holahan, Hones­dale, letters testamentary to Michael H. Marchetti, 2181 N.E. 67th St., Unit 623, Fort Lauder­dale, Fla.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

- Manufacturers & Traders Trust Co., trustee for Select Portfolio Servicing Inc., to Edward Herrmann Jr.; a property in Berlin Twp. for $44,900.

- Daniel Stanger, executor of the estate of Joseph Stanger, also known as Joseph P. Stanger, Eleanor Kinne, Joseph P. IV, Shawn and Daniel Robert Stanger, to Andrew D. and Melis­sa S. Clemmer; a property in Buckingham Twp. for $180,000.

- Charles H. and Wanda M. Jurgensen to Mark A. and Steph­anie A. Ordnung; a property in Cherry Ridge Twp. for $63,000.

- Michael E. Tresham to William L. Marvin; a property in Clinton Twp. for $55,000.

- GMAC Mortgage to Harold L. Rutledge; a property in Damascus Twp. for $102,000.

- William Sr. and Patricia Michitsch to Michael T. and Patricia A. McHugh and Steph­anie R. Brown; a property in Damascus Twp. for $75,000.

- Myron Uretsky to Roderick B. and Crystal Slattery Angle; a property in Damascus Twp. for $275,000.

- Timothy and Kimberly Foucher to Shawn M. and Kelley A. Cole; a property in Damascus Twp. for $180,000.

- Donald A. and Susan R. Loring to Daniel S. Brown and Rebecca M. Loring; a property in Dyberry Twp. for $112,500.

- Thomas P. SanMartino to DKC Properties; a property in Hawley for $118,000.

- Sovereign Bank to Konstan­tin Barskiy and Marina Vladi­mirov; a property in Hawley for $95,000.

- KML Law Group, attorney-in-fact for Fannie Mae, also known as Federal National Mortgage Association, to Michael and Katherine Krupa; a property in Honesdale for $36,000.

- J P Morgan Chase Bank National Association to Rainer Weiss; a property in Honesdale for $32,500.

- Richard B. Henry, attorney-in-fact for Jeffrey J. Wander and Lisa J. Pfund, to Brian J. Kellam and Pamela S. Wilson; a property in Honesdale for $100,000.

- Joyce A. Henderson to Steven and Susan Sopkie; a property in Lake Twp. for $227,000.

- Walter T. Williams, trustee for Williams Family Trust, to Virginia F. Olsen; a property in Lake Twp. for $98,000.

- Leslie Ames to Edward and Christina Kelerchain; a property in Lake Twp. for $196,000.

- Harry and Diane Papazian, Michael and Jeanette Marga­rella to Robert A. and Emma J. Gruber; a property in Lake Twp. for $159,500.

- Fairway Consumer Discount Co. to Thomas and Marcia Lopata; a property in Lake Twp. for $129,900.

- Daniel A. McGovern, attorney-in-fact for Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp., to Joseph Sidote; a property in Lake Twp. for $63,000.

- Douglas E. Jr. and Ellen Lambert to Edicler G. and Veronica M. Gomes; a property in Lake Twp. for $115,000.

Horror possesses No. 1 movie spot

LOS ANGELES - A late-summer horror tale has taken possession of the weekend box office.

"The Possession" debuted as the No. 1 movie with $21.3 million over the four-day Labor Day weekend. The fright flick stars Kyra Sedgwick and Jeffrey Dean Morgan as parents of a girl possessed by a demon.

Opening in second-place with $13 million was the bootlegging drama "Lawless," with Shia LaBeouf and Guy Pearce in a story of moonshiners pursued by a corrupt lawman during Prohibition.

Studio executives started the season with projections of record business, but revenues dropped 3 percent compared to summer 2011, while attendance was at its lowest in at least 20 years.

Unemployed in France: 3 million

PARIS - The number of French unemployed has broken through the 3-million barrier for the first time since 1999, the country's leaders say.

The latest total adds pressure on President Francois Hollande, whose administration is under attack for not doing enough to fix the economy. France's unemployment rate is currently 10 percent.

Breaking the 3 million mark carries more symbolic importance than economic but it was covered extensively in the French media over the weekend. The Ministry of Employment says the 3-million threshold was crossed in 1996 and again in 1999.

Macau casino revenue up 5.5%

HONG KONG - Gambling revenue growth in Macau, the world's most lucrative casino market, picked up moderately last month after hitting a three-year low, data released Monday showed, as high-rolling gamblers raised their bets at tables in the semiautonomous Chinese city.

Revenue rose 5.5 percent to $3.3 billion in August from the same month last year, according to data posted on the Macau gambling authority's website.

Macau's casino revenues have surged at double-digit rates in recent years thanks to big-spending Chinese gamblers. Revenue zoomed up 42 percent last year to $33.5 billion, more than five times the amount earned on the Las Vegas Strip. But growth has cooled this year as China's economy has slowed.

Teachers could strike in Chicago

CHICAGO - Most Chicago students return to school today, but they could find themselves out of the classroom again in less than a week.

The Chicago Teachers Union and Chicago Public Schools are in a standoff over contract talks, and union President Karen Lewis says more than 26,000 teachers and support staff in the nation's third-largest school district are prepared to strike Monday.

Canadian drug co. to buy Medicis

TORONTO - Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. has agreed to buy dermatology products maker Medicis Pharmaceutical Corp. for about $2.6 billion in cash in a deal to strengthen its position in skin treatments and care.

Montreal-based Valeant, Canada's largest publicly-traded pharmaceuticals company, said Monday that it has agreed to pay $44 per share for Medicis, a 39 percent premium over Friday's closing price of $31.87 for the Scottsdale, Ariz., target company.

The boards of both companies have approved the deal. It needs approval by Medicis shareholders and regulatory clearance. The companies hope to complete the deal in early 2013.

Valeant Chairman and CEO J. Michael Pearson said the deal would be "a significant next step" toward making his company the leader in dermatology by expanding its products to treat acne as well as

injectable aesthetic products often used to smooth out wrinkles and make people look younger.

Foreign markets buoyed by report

LONDON - Markets started yet another potentially crucial week on a solid note as investors betted on more central bank action and that China would enact more stimulus measures following a dispiriting manufacturing survey.

Monday's trading was dominated by a survey suggesting that China's manufacturing sector was contracting. Though that is a bad sign for the global economy, investors think it makes it more likely that the country's monetary authorities will ease monetary policy soon.

"August saw Chinese manufacturing activity hit a three-year low, prompting a return of the 'bad news is good news' trade as markets rose on expectation of some action from the Politburo in Beijing," said Chris Beauchamp, market analyst at IG Index.

Options available to Beijing include reducing interest rates, lowering the amount banks have to hold in reserve or increasing spending. China's economic growth has already fallen to a three-year low of 7.6 percent in the second quarter.

Hopes that more stimulus in China was on the cards helped European markets post solid gains. Britain's FTSE 100 advanced 0.6 percent to 5,745 while Germany's DAX added 0.3 percent to 6,993. The CAC-40 in France was 0.6 percent higher at 3,428.

Investors around the world will have a number of issues to contend with over the rest of the week, which culminates with Friday's U.S. nonfarm payrolls report for August.

But before then, all eyes will be on Thursday's European Central Bank monthly policy meeting. Its president, Mario Draghi, is expected to announce details of a new bond-buying program that's intended to keep a lid on the borrowing costs of countries like Spain and Italy.

Michael Hewson, markets analyst at CMC Markets, warned that markets "may once again be getting ahead of themselves" again as Draghi may wish to wait to hear the verdict of German constitutional court on the legality of the European Stability Mechanism, Europe's planned bailout fund. The ruling is expected on September 12.

Hopes that the ECB will play a more crucial role in the debt crisis have helped support the euro in recent weeks. After nearly dropping to near two-year lows below $1.20, the euro has pushed back above $1.25. It's trading 0.1 percent lower Monday at $1.2570.

The U.S. payroll figures, which often set the market tone for a week or two after their release, could be particularly important this month too. Last Friday, Federal Reserve Chairman Ben Bernanke suggested that more central bank action was possible to support the U.S. economy so a bad set of data could mean persuade investors to think the Fed will act sooner rather than later. Previous Fed stimulus packages have shored up markets as the fresh liquidity on offer made its way round financial markets.

Earlier in Asia Monday, stocks closed mostly higher. Japan's Nikkei 225 shed earlier gains to close 0.6 percent lower at 8,783.89. Hong Kong's Hang Seng added 0.4 percent to 19,559.21 and South Korea's Kospi climbed 0.4 percent to 1,912.71.

In mainland China, the Shanghai Composite Index rose 0.6 percent to 2,059.15 and the smaller Shenzhen Composite Index jumped 1.9 percent to 854.76.

Trading was also lackluster in the oil markets, where benchmark crude for October delivery was down 8 cents at $96.39 a barrel in electronic trading on the New York Mercantile Exchange.

Fire breaks out at vacant city home

SCRANTON - A small fire broke out at a home at 438 N. Irving Ave. in the city's Hill Section early Monday, according to fire officials.

City firefighters received a call at 1:52 a.m. about the fire at the three-story, single-family home. The fire was out by 2:10 a.m.

Firefighters say the fire began on the back porch of the home and spread into the building, causing moderate damage to a small area of the interior.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, fire officials said.

WILKES-BARRE - A day after a couple was killed in a hit-and-run in Pittston Twp., more details have come out about why a man arrested Sunday on unrelated drug charges has been called a "person of interest" in the crash.

Robin Walsh, 39, and Donnie Pizano, 39, were on a motorcycle when it was struck by a car on Route 315 in Pittston Twp. early Sunday morning.

Police arrested Walter Paul Raven, 59, of Jenkins Twp., on drug charges Sunday, and said he was a person of interest in the hit-and-run.

Mr. Raven was found power-washing his car, which was bloody and damaged from a crash, said Daniel Antonini, 46, of Wilkes-Barre, in the criminal complaint. Mr. Antonini helped Mr. Raven and was arrested on a charge of tampering with evidence.

Bail and preliminary information for both men was not available Monday.

Contact the writer: pcameron@citizensvoice.com

Seven months after announcing plans to establish a new Department of Economic Development within Lackawanna County government, Commissioners Jim Wansacz and Corey O'Brien are still trying to turn the concept into reality.

The majority commissioners say it is mostly a matter of finding the right people to shepherd the initiative at salaries the county can afford.

"It is difficult to be competitive," Mr. O'Brien said. "One of the issues we have run into is people who have significant expertise in this sector want three figures - and it's not like they want $100,000; they want $150,000 or more.

"It's tough when you're talking about the numbers we're talking about to attract the top professionals."

Mr. Wansacz and Mr. O'Brien held a news conference in late January to announce the creation of three three-member department - a director and two deputies - that would focus on private-sector job creation and retention in fulfillment of a key pledge the commissioners made during the 2011 election campaign.

The new positions were to be funded with about $335,000 in savings the commissioners carved out of the 2012 budget, mostly by eliminating other vacant positions. The commissioners said at the time they hoped to have the jobs filled and the department up and running within 60 days.

"Unfortunately, there were some other things that kind of took up a lot of our time," Mr. Wansacz said, citing specifically the intense negotiations that led to the baseball deal with SWB Yankees LLC in April.

Mr. Wansacz said the administration has talked to a number of professionals "about what it will take to set up the office," including some with a possible interest in joining the county. But he acknowledged it has been a tough sell.

"You have to remember what we are looking for," Mr. Wansacz said. "We can't afford what the private sector pays."

Mr. O'Brien said the county's recruitment efforts have not been helped by the less-than-flattering publicity that Northeast Pennsylvania has received over the last year or so, including the city of Scranton's well-documented financial problems.

"Those issues have caused some pause among some candidates," he said.

The commissioners said they are moving forward with a number of projects and programs that the new department will oversee even as they work on filling the positions. Those include the county's wireless infrastructure initiative and a retail incubator program in partnership with the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

Mr. Wansacz said he is optimistic the administration will at least have the director's post filled by the end of the year.

"We are looking for the candidate who sees this as a challenge and wants to come in and help grow this area," he said.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

BERTOCKI, AGNES C., Newton Twp., Wednesday, Divine Liturgy, 10 a.m., St. Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, 140 Church St., Old Forge, by the Rev. Gary Mensinger, pastor. Go directly to church. Interment, Dunmore Cemetery. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m., Victor M. Ferri Funeral Home, 522 Fallon St., Old Forge. Parastas, 6:30. Contributions: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, 301 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105 or Hospice of the Sacred Heart, 600 Baltimore Drive, Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702. Condolences: ferrifuner alhome.com.

BRINKMAN, MARY M., Hamlin, Wednesday, 10 a.m., James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel. Calling hours, today, 4 to 6 p.m. Interment, Glen Cove Cemetery, Narrowsburg, N.Y.

BURDICK, EVELYN, Elmhurst, Wednesday, 11 a.m., Brian Arthur Strauch Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, 3 First St., Spring Brook Twp. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions: Griffin Pond Animal Shelter, 967 Griffin Pond Road, Clarks Summit, PA 18411. Condolences: strauchfuneralhomes.com.

BUTTACCI, DOMINICK ANGELO, Dunmore, today, 10:30 a.m., Morell-Labelle Funeral Home, 301 Chestnut St., Dunmore. Mass, 11, St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Dunmore. Condolences: dunmorefunerals.com.

DIXON, JOHN, Olyphant, today, 8 p.m., Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor. Interment, private. Calling hours, 5 until service. Contributions: American Cancer Society, 712 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor, PA 18517. Condolences: semian cares.com.

EARL, BARTON, Clarks Summit, Sept. 21, 7 p.m., Waverly Lodge 301, North Abington Road, Clarks Green. Calling hours, 6 to 7. Contributions: Waverly Lodge 301, c/o Richard Polish, 134 Basalyga St., Jessup, PA 18434.

ENTROT, EILEEN P., Ararat Twp., Wednesday, 10 a.m., Jones & Brennan Funeral Home, 430 Main St., Forest City. Graveside services, 11, Ararat Cemetery. Calling hours, today, 5 to 7 p.m. Condolences: brennanfuneralhomes.com.

FLANAGAN, REGINA D. KELLEY, Laflin, Wednesday, 9 a.m., Corcoran Funeral Home Inc., 20 S. Main St., Plains. Mass, 9:30, St. Maria Goretti Church. Divine Mercy Chaplet and rosary, half hour before Mass. Interment, St. John's Cemetery, Pittston. Calling hours, today, 4 to 8 p.m. Contributions: St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509. Condolences: corcoran funeralhome.com.

GLOVER, SHARON M., Thompson, Friday, 10 a.m., Hennessey's Funeral Home, 747 Jackson Ave., Susquehanna. Calling hours, Thursday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m.

JASON, MARGARET EVANSKI, Moosic, formerly of Taylor, Wednesday, 10:30 a.m., Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor. Interment, Holy Family Cemetery, Throop. Calling hours, 9:30 to service. Condolences: semiancares.com.

LUCAS, ANTHONY J., Scranton, Mass, Monday, St. Michael's Church, Garden City, S.C. Military funeral, Fort Indiantown Gap National Military Cemetery, later date. Arrangments: Goldfinch Funeral Home, Beach Chapel, Murrells Inlet, S.C.

MADRID, JAKE, Union Dale, Wednesday, Joseph W. Scotchlas Funeral Home Inc., 621 Main St., Simpson. Mass, 9:30 a.m., St. Michael's Church, 46 Midland St., Simpson. Interment, Union Dale Cemetery. Calling hours, today, 6 to 9 p.m. Condolences: scotchlasfu neralhome.com.

MAHER, GERALDINE "GG" BOYLAN, Spotswood, N.J., formerly of Scranton and Lake Ariel, Mass, Saturday, Immaculate Conception Church, Spotswood. Graveside service, today, 11:30 a.m., Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton, by the Rev. Martin Boylan, St. Patrick's Church, Scranton. Arrangements: Donahue Funeral Home, Scranton. Contributions: Immaculate Conception Church, 18 South St., Spotswood, NJ 08884 or St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, Memorial & Honor Program, 501 St. Jude Place, Memphis, TN 38105, www.stjude.org.

McCAFFERY, CHARLES A., Danville, Mass, today, 11 a.m., St. Joseph Church, 18 E. Center St., Danville, by the Rev. Tri M. Luong. Interment, parish cemetery. Arrangements: Brady Funeral Home, Danville. Contributions: St. Joseph Church, 18 E. Center St., Danville, PA 17821; or to Columbia Montour Hospice, 410 Glen Ave., Suite 200, Bloomsburg, PA 17815. Condolences: bradyfuneralhome.com.

MEONI, MICHAEL, Moosic, today, 10 a.m., Miller Bean Funeral Home Inc., 436 Cedar Ave., Scranton. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Contributions: Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, 555 North Lane, Suite 5010, Conshohocken, PA 19428-2233, please include team name, "Meoni's Miles of Vitals" in memo of check, or go to www.lightthenight.org. Condolences: millerbeanfh.com.

NEHME, RITA HOGAN, Boydton, Va., and formerly of Newport News, Va., Mass, Wednesday, 11 a.m., Church of the Good Shepherd, South Hill, Va. Interment, Boydton Presbyterian Church Cemetery. Calling hours, today, 7 to 8:30 p.m., Crowder-Hite-Crews Funeral Home and Crematory. Contributions: Community Memorial Healthcenter Hospice, P.O. Box 90, South Hill, VA 23970. Condolences: crowderhite crews.com.

NOVAK, DIANE ELIZABETH, Scranton, private. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Condolences: semiancares.com.

OLSHESKI, AGNES ROMAINE, Duryea, Wednesday, 11 a.m., Bernard J. Piontek Funeral Home Inc., 204 Main St., Duryea. Mass, 11:30, Holy Rosary Church, Duryea, by the Rev. Andrew Sinnott. Interment, parish cemetery, Duryea. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions: Nativity of Our Lord Parish, 127 Stephenson St., Duryea, PA 18642.

PALMASANI, MICHAEL JOSEPH, Pittston, Wednesday, Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc., 318 E. Drinker St., Dunmore. Mass, noon, St. Maria Goretti Church, Laflin. Calling hours, today, 4 to 7 p.m. Go directly to church. Contributions: American Heart Association or the donor's choice of charity. Condolences: Dunmore FuneralHome.com.

PESKOSKY, ANTHONY JOSEPH, Muhlenberg Twp., Maine, Mass, Saturday, 10 a.m., Holy Guardian Angels Church, 3121 Kutztown Road, Reading. Entombment, Gethsemane Mausoleum. Calling hours, Friday, 7 to 9 p.m. and Saturday, 9 to 9:30, Walter R. Christ Funeral Home Inc., 3300 Kutztown Road, Laureldale. Contributions: Holy Guardian Angels Roman Catholic Church. Condolences: christfuneralhome.com.

PETRILLO, PETER, Scranton, private. Condolences: vanstonand james.com.

SIMPSON, ANN E., Lakewood, Mass, today, 10 a.m., St. Juliana's Church, Rock Lake. Interment, parish cemetery. Arrangements: Henderson-Biedekapp Funeral Chapel, Hancock, N.Y. Contributions: Northern Wayne Library, 11 Library Road, Lakewood, PA 18439.

SLUGG, WILLIAM T., Scranton, today, 10 a.m., Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1240 St. Ann's St., Scranton, by the Rev. Donald Roberts, pastor, First United Methodist Church, Taylor. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst. Contributions: VNA Hospice, 301 Delaware Ave., Olyphant, PA 18519.

SOLOMON, SOPHIE, Throop, Wednesday, 9 a.m., John F. Glinsky Funeral Home, 445 Sanderson St., Throop. Mass, 9:30, Holy Cross Parish, Olyphant. Interment, St. Michael's Cemetery, Justus. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m. Condolences: jfglinskyfuneralhome@gmail.com.

TIFFANY, KAREN LEE, Kingsley, today, 11 a.m., Kingsley United Methodist Church, by the Rev. Phil Richardson. Interment, Maplewood Cemetery, Kingsley. Arrangements: Daniel K. Regan Funeral Home. Contributions: Kingsley United Methodist Church, c/o Mary Jane Taylor, 8 Jeffers Road, Kingsley, PA 18826.

WHITE, DOROTHY J., Northbrook, Ill., Clarks Summit, Lake Winola, and Indialantic, Fla., Saturday, noon, Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, Clarks Summit. Calling hours, 11 a.m. to service. Contributions: Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation, New York Chapter, 432 Park Ave., South, 15th Floor, New York, NY 10016 or www.jdrf.org/nyc. Condolences: lawrenceeyoung funeralhome.com.

ZENTY, HELEN B., Dickson City, today, 9:30 a.m., Frank T. Mazur Funeral Home Inc., 601 Dundaff St., Dickson City. Mass, 10, St. Mary's Visitation Church, Dickson City. Interment, St. Mary's Cemetery. Calling hours, today, 8:30 to 9:30. Condolences: mazurfu neralhome.com.

HARRISBURG - Proposals to change the lucrative pension rules for 253 state lawmakers are gaining notice as Harrisburg prepares to grapple next year with the issue of escalating public pension costs.

Two bills specifically addressing lawmaker pensions were discussed recently at a joint hearing by the House State Government and Finance Committees on the overall pension issue.

The pension issue is gaining momentum because of a spike in payments by state and local taxpayers to meet pension obligations for hundreds of thousands of current and retired state government and school district employees.

Gov. Tom Corbett said recently the cost of meeting obligations is eating up more of state and school district budgets. Senate Republican leaders have announced plans to introduce legislation affecting pensions for new hires in state government and school districts. The House hearing examined a half-dozen pension reform bills already in the hopper.

The sponsors of the legislative pension bills said lawmakers must lead by example if they want to reform the two state pension systems for state employees and public school employees that are underfunded by $20 billion. They said the cost savings from overhauling legislative pensions would be small, but the political symbolism would outweigh that.

"The General Assembly cannot begin to solve this huge problem until it demonstrates a willingness to put its own house in order," said Rep. Tim Krieger, R-57, Greensburg, sponsor of the bill offering the most far-reaching changes.

Lawmakers now benefit from one of the best pension packages in one of the best pension systems in the nation.

They enjoy a defined-benefit pension plan based on salary, years in office and their own contributions, something disappearing in the private sector where defined-contribution or 401(k)-style plans based on a mix of contributions from employees and employers are common.

Mr. Krieger's bill would convert pensions for both current and future lawmakers to a defined contribution plan.

A bill sponsored by Rep. Eli Evankovich, R-54, Export, would institute a defined contribution plan for newly elected lawmakers and new staffers hired after Nov. 30.

"I believe that the legislative branch must step up and address taxpayer concerns, by serving as an example for the rest of the public sector," said Mr. Evankovich.

Mr. Krieger's proposal to place sitting lawmakers in a defined-contribution plan raises questions of whether that would be considered as impairing a contract. State officials and pension fund managers have said that Pennsylvania can't legally reduce pension benefits for current and retired employees because the state Constitution and case law define them as a contract between the state and its employed that can't be impaired.

But some suggest the contract definition may not apply to pension formulas and benefits not yet earned.

If enacted, Mr. Krieger's bill would likely face a court challenge on that score, said Richard Dreyfuss, a Hershey actuary who writes about pension issues for The Commonwealth Foundation, a Harrisburg think tank.

The state Constitution states that lawmakers shall receive salary, mileage "and no other compensation whatever."

Lawmakers will give priority this fall to bills to expand the list of crimes for which convictions trigger pension forfeitures, said Rep. Daryl Metcalfe, R-12, Cranberry Twp., who heads the state government committee.

A pension law enacted in November 2010 cut benefits for lawmakers who took office in 2011 and thereafter as well as future state and school district employees. These lawmakers have to rack up 10 years of state service, compared to the former threshold of five years, to be vested in a pension. They would have to contribute more of their income to cover investment losses than lawmakers in office prior to 2011.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

Missing teen last seen near Dalton

GOULDSBORO - State police are looking for a missing 16-year-old who may be in the Dalton area of Lackawanna County.

Ariel Burke of Second Street, Gouldsboro, was reported missing Sunday, according to state police.

She was last seen wearing brown sweatpants with the lettering "Love Pink," as well as a pink, hooded sweatshirt, and black and white Puma sneakers, troopers said. She has brown hair and brown eyes and weighs about 125 pounds.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at Honesdale at 253-7126.

CLIPBOARD

Abingtons

Ribbon photo: Abington Heights Civic League Inc. third annual Living Pink Ribbon of Hope in support of Breast Cancer Aware­ness Month photo shoot by Cheryl Kaiser of Kaiser Fine Photography, Sunday, 1-1:30 p.m., grounds of the Abington Area Community Park, next to Senior Center, Route 307, Clarks Summit; community members invited, wear pink shirt; parking at the Senior Center; 585-1355; photographs available to benefit the NEPA Susan G. Komen 2012 Race for the Cure.

Avoca

Schedule change: Borough garbage collection changed to Friday due to Labor Day holiday.

Blakely

Fall meeting: Blakely Bears fall meeting, today, 7 p.m., Shopa Davey VFW Post, Peckville; new fall business.

Glenburn Twp.

Entries wanted: Glenburn Twp. art show and sale, two-dimensional artwork, paintings in all media and photography entries needed, opening reception, Oct. 7, 3-5 p.m.; 954-1489.

Moscow

Beef dinner: Moscow Masonic Lodge 504 open house, Sept. 15, 2-6 p.m., with roast beef dinner 4-7 p.m., lodge hall, 211 Green St.; takeouts available; tickets: $9/adults, $5/children, at door or from members.

Regional

Alliance meeting: Lung Cancer Alliance, Pennsylvania Chapter, meeting, Thursday, 6 p.m. Qua­ker Steak and Lube; planning for celebrity bartending, Shine A Light on Lung Cancer, children's support group, and meeting Santa events, discussimg Team Lung Love events; karscott@lungcanceralliance.org or jarscott@lungcanceralliance.org.

Riverside School District

Back-to-school night: Riverside: Elementary back-to-school nights, West, Sept. 12, 7-8 p.m., East, Sept. 13, 7-8 p.m., teachers in classrooms to discuss curriculum, schedule and procedures.

Scranton

Pierogi sale: St. Nicholas Ortho­dox Church, pierogi sale, Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 505 Jef­ferson Ave.; $7 )dozen; 344-1522.

South Scranton

Date change: South Side Senior Center Labor Day party Friday, 10-11:30 a.m., entertainment by Frankie Gervasi, $1.25; lunch reservations: 346-2487.

Taylor

League reorganization: Taylor Little League reorganization meet­ing, Sunday, 6 p.m., field house.

Wayne County

Fashion show: Wayne Memorial Hospital Auxiliary luncheon & fashion show Sept. 16, 1-3 p.m., Forest Lake Club, Hawley, $18; new and gently-used clothing for all ages; 685-7482.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@times shamrock.com or mailed to Clip­board, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 348-9121.

On this date in NEPA

75 years ago, Dr. John Dyer, superintendent of Scranton schools, announced that students who would be attending the new South Scranton Junior High School would report to school Sept. 20 - later than other schools because it lacked an engineer. He said he hoped the position would be filled at a Sept. 13 school board meeting.

50 years ago, the Most Rev. Jerome Hannan, bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, dedicated and blessed the new chapel at St. Pius X Seminary in Dalton.

25 years ago, Albert and Carroll Mueller, owners of several area McDonald's restaurants, donated $35,000 to help children with adjustment issues at schools in South Scranton.

10 years ago, the Scranton School District announced it would seek bids for 12 capital improvement projects totaling $5.2 million, including new toilets, carpeting and wiring.

Hearing transcript cost riles opponents

Compressor proceedings went 5 hours

WILKES-BARRE - Opponents of a proposed natural gas compressor station in West Wyoming are upset the cost to see a transcript of the zoning hearing on the proposed station exceeds $800.

They say they would have to pay a county stenographer an hourly rate to transcribe more than five hours of testimony from the Aug. 7 zoning meeting. Members of the county zoning hearing board do not have a transcript and plan to render a decision on the zoning request from UGI Energy Services Inc. at tonight's meeting.

The transcript is "the work product" of the stenographer, and zoning board members didn't request a transcript because board members "took notes" and "were there," board Solicitor Stephen Menn said.

"The only purpose for a transcript is for an appeal," Mr. Menn said.

After a zoning decision, the parties have 30 days to appeal to county court. The zoning board recorded some testimony on Aug. 7 but didn't have enough audio tape to record all testimony, Mr. Menn said.

UGI Energy Services is seeking a special exception to build a compressor station and 100-foot communication tower on a 14-acre parcel in West Wyoming, off North Ridge Lane about half a mile from Fire Cut Road.

The station would connect a pipeline bringing gas from wells in Susquehanna County to the Transco interstate pipeline near the site and would allow UGI to bring local gas to customers in the Wilkes-Barre and Scranton area.

During last week's county council meeting, Kingston resident Brian Shiner complained about the cost of the zoning transcript. Councilman Stephen A. Urban said Mr. Shiner, as well as others, are upset with the cost and believe legislators should change state law so stenographers cannot treat transcripts as personal property.

After the council meeting, Nancy Dolan and Steve Simko, opponents of UGI's request, talked to officials about the zoning board. Council appoints zoning board members, and county personnel assists the board.

The stenographer at the Aug. 7 hearing was Angela Sallemi, Ms. Dolan said. The county paid Ms. Sallemi $67,309 in wages last year, records show.

Contact the writer: mbuffer@citizensvoice.com

Cultural Center tickets on sale

SCRANTON - Tickets for the 2012-13 season at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple are on sale starting today at 10 a.m.

In addition to a new cooking show called "The Menu" and returning favorites like the Up and Coming Comedy series, the Cultural Center's season will also feature a variety of special events, including the 13th annual Evening of Fine Food and Wine and "Dancing with the NEPA Stars."

Ticket prices vary by event and can be purchased at the Cultural Center's box office or by calling 344-1111. Tickets are also available at select Wal-Mart, Boscov's and Gallery of Sound locations.

WILKES-BARRE - Sipping a soda and chatting on his cellphone, Stephen Hollman didn't see the ambush coming - a gunshot blast to his head.

Fleeing the barroom chaos on his way home, Scott Luzetsky walked into the enraged gunman's line of fire on East Main Street, suffering a fatal shot in the heart.

Police and a witness to Sunday's shooting rampage say both shooting victims were bystanders who did nothing to provoke the attack.

William Allabaugh, described as an unemployed loner with a fascination for guns, simply flipped out and started firing his semi-automatic pistol after being asked to leave the bar because customers complained he was armed, they said.

"There was no provocation (by the victims) that we are aware of," said state police Lt. Richard Krawetz, crime unit commander for state police at Wyoming.

Mr. Allabaugh, who was discharged from the Air Force within the past year, appears to have an obsession with guns and ammunition. Nearly every post and photo on his Facebook profile page deals with firearms. Under favorite sports, he lists riflery and pistol shooting. His lone interest is "AK-47." Following the shooting, police served a search warrant at Mr. Allabaugh's home. A inventory receipt for the warrant filed Tuesday revealed police seized two laptop computers, a memory chip, an iPad, a metal box full of ammunition, a pistol box with a holster, and various records related to firearm purchases.

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, @cvbobkal on Twitter