HARRISBURG — The reports and studies about the deadly epidemic with heroin and opioid drug abuse across Pennsylvania have been coming in for several years, but the issue is just now reaching critical mass in terms of getting attention from policymakers.

All of this happened last week:

■ Gov. Tom Wolf has held more roundtable discussions on the epidemic’s impact on local communities.

■ A special PA-HOPE House caucus met for the first time to chart a strategy.

■ The Senate Democratic caucus unveiled a package of bills.

■ A Republican senator from Northeast Pennsylvania introduced additional bills.

■ The Pennsylvania Medical Society launched an initiative to find alternatives to addictive painkillers.

■ The state corrections secretary outlined programs to help inmates with substance abuse problems.

Numbers drive the policymakers and activists: Nearly 2,500 Pennsylvanians died of heroin and opioid overdoses in 2014, making it the leading cause of accidental deaths in the state. About 80 percent of heroin addicts can trace their addiction back to use of prescription opioids, officials said.

A nagging question exists whether the burst of activity will lead to concerted action to tackle this problem as Harrisburg enters its busiest season next month.

“I think there has been way too much hot air and not enough action on this,” said Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston, co-chairman of the PA-HOPE caucus. The caucus members plan to wade through a slew of bills to determine which they can support and have a chance of moving. Mr. Wolf attended the inaugural caucus meeting.

Cathleen Palm, founder of The Center for Children’s Justice, wants officials to also address a heretofore neglected area: how the epidemic is affecting pregnant women and infants born with withdrawal symptoms.

“I do think it (attention) is bipartisan and there is a lot of energy,” she said. “We would like to see the same urgency with a focus on pregnant women and children.” Ms. Palm suggested a starting point could be providing $10 million to support home visits by professionals to those families.

Mr. Wolf hopes the roundtable discussions, often involving local lawmakers of both parties, lead to a package to fight drug abuse that can be passed with the fiscal 2016-17 budget.

“Our hope is this is part of the budget,” said Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan.

The governor has initially proposed $34 million to run some 50 centers to help individuals with substance abuse disorders.

Mr. Kaufer said a network of emergency detoxification centers in partnership with health care providers is urgently needed to help stabilize overdose patients.

The ongoing statewide initiatives include distributing naxolone, a drug that reverses the symptoms of an opioid overdose, to police departments and emergency responders, setting up boxes where people can drop off unwanted and old prescriptions and implementing a state prescription drug monitoring system.

One big challenge is finding where to direct scarce resources to address a multifaceted and complex problem.

The bills in the hopper address a range of topics from setting up emergency treatment facilities, better coordination of longer-term treatment and recovery services, education programs for everyone from students to physicians, uniform reporting standards for overdose deaths and expanding access to naxolone.

Democratic senators called last week for a 10 percent state assessment on the sales of opioid drugs by pharmaceutical companies as a way to fund a number of programs. This assessment would generate an estimated $60 million annually.

“You can’t do it (help people) on the cheap,” said Sen. Vincent Hughes, D-7, Philadelphia.

Pennsylvania will soon be able to combine both state and federal dollars to expand treatment programs, said Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald. He is working on obtaining state aid for a behavioral health initiative undertaken by the Commonwealth Medical College in Scranton.

Sen. Gene Yaw, R-23, Williamsport, introduced a bill last week to require better reporting of overdoses and overdose deaths. Mr. Yaw has chaired hearings by the Center for Rural Pennsylvania that have led to two reports on the epidemic.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

The engineers who will design a pair of dam rehabilitation projects in Wayne County should be in place by early fall, the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission said.

The downside is construction of the new dams at White Oak Pond in Clinton Twp. and nearby Miller Pond in Mount Pleasant Twp. still won’t be finished before 2021.

“The main thing we tell these communities is that it’s great news that you get funding and it’s great news that we get this going,” Fish and Boat spokesman Eric Levis said. “But it never goes as fast as you want it to. It takes four or five years from start to finish.”

The Fish and Boat Commission drained both ponds late last fall after determining the 19th-century dams holding them back were structurally deficient, posing a threat to people and structures downstream. A commitment by the state to rebuild the dams and refill the ponds helped to ease the anger of residents who were caught off-guard by the development.

The commission has identified funding for the projects, which are projected to cost $6.65 million each, Mr. Levis said.

On behalf of the commission, the state Department of General Services is preparing to advertise for consultants to design the dam projects, Mr. Levis said.

“They haven’t advertised yet, but we expect it to be this summer, which is just around the corner,” Mr. Levis said.

The projects will be advertised separately, but it is possible the same engineering firm could win the bid for both dams, he said. General Services will then select the company or companies that will design the projects by September.

After that, the current timeline anticipates the design phase will require two years, with permitting to take several more months. Construction would start early in 2020, with a projected completion date of September 2021.

In the meantime, the former ponds essentially have become muddy, smelly wastelands.

“It ain’t pretty,” said James Hill, whose home overlooks White Oak Pond.

It is frustrating for residents, he said, because they do not see anything happening.

“We’re not happy with it, definitely not,” Mr. Hill said. “We would like to see some work being done on it. Every once in a while, it would be nice if somebody would show up. ... There is a lot of unhappiness about the progress or the lack thereof.”

Mr. Levis said the Fish and Boat Commission understands residents would like the projects to proceed quicker, as would the agency, but they take time.

“In the end, it’s a good thing that has to be done, and they’ll like it because they are going to have lakes that are going to be there for a long time and in good shape,” he said.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

MONDAY UPDATE brings

Times-Tribune readers up to date on past or pending stories of interest. To offer a suggestion for a Monday Update, please email metrodesk@timesshamrock.com with

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SCRANTON — Veterans can get help with pensions, health care and death benefits, and other compensation this week at state Rep. Marty Flynn’s office in Jay’s Commons complex, 409 N. Main Ave.

American Legion representatives will be available to discuss benefits with veterans and their families from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Wednesday.

Veterans do not need to be American Legion members to get assistance but are advised to schedule an appointment by calling Mr. Flynn’s constituent service office at 570-342-4348. Veterans assistance is offered from his office on the fourth Wednesday of each month.

— STAFF REPORT

SCRANTON — The West Scranton Hyde Park Neighborhood Watch is collaborating with dietitian and nurse Laure Stasik from Alternative Eating to hold a Celiac Stride and Picnic in the Park at noon Sunday in Fellows Park to raise money for celiac disease research.

Donations to participate are $10 for adults and $5 for children under 12. The 1½-mile walk begins at the park, at Fellows Street and South Main Avenue, and is followed by a gluten-free picnic. Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars will provide live entertainment.

The event kicks off the Sunday Matinee Concert Series for West Scranton Parks. For information, contact Alternative Eating at 570-342-0901.

— JON O’CONNELL

SCRANTON — Several callers to the Lackawanna County 911 dispatch center reported a small, black pickup heading north in the southbound lanes of the McDade Expressway on Sunday afternoon.

Police searched the area but were unable to find the pickup about 3:45 p.m., a 911 dispatch supervisor said. The truck started on the expressway in the wrong direction at the Keyser Avenue exit, he said.

Wrong-way drivers in the region have caused six crashes in the past 14 months, leaving 12 people dead. The rash of wrecks has prompted the state Department of Transportation to launch a safety-improvement project to reduce wrong-way crashes on Interstates 81, 84 and 81 and the Casey Highway.

— JON O’CONNELL

Blue Ridge

Conner Sauer, a fourth- grade student, came to the rescue of another student during lunch.

Conner’s classmate was choking, and Conner immediately responded by doing the Heimlich maneuver, which he said he learned from the school nurse.

“She’s my friend, and friends help other friends,” Conner said.

Conner hopes his choice to act will inspire other students to choose to do the right thing.

— AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

Carbondale Area

Peter Saad was one of seven students to compete in the Kane Competition at the University of Scranton.

“There was a paper friction test where you intertwine two notebooks and test the friction between the pages in the notebooks. I thought that was cool because it was really hard to pull the notebooks apart,” he said.

The competition on April 15 was organized by the university’s physics department. The students competed against other schools to increase their awareness of practical applications that physics teaches.

Peter and his team took a written test, used a circuit board, participated in a balloon momentum activity and played a “Jeopardy!” game.

“It was fun to see these principles we worked on in class actually applied in such an enjoyable way,” said Peter.

Joseph Borosky, physics teacher at Carbondale Area, advised the team.

Members of the team included Cody Calabro, Matt Allison, Sarah Vadella, Molly Salitsky, Tyler Deue and Nick Pugliese.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

Delaware Valley

Senior Hannah Matthews is the epitome of a well-rounded student.

She is a member of lacrosse, peer buddies, student council, Future Business Leaders of America, engineering club and Mu Alpha Theta. Hannah also serves as class treasurer, president of the National Honor Society and is involved in peer tutoring. Her involvement goes beyond the classroom, volunteering with Special Olympics and Country Ark Farm, as well as being a member of her church choir.

She plans on furthering her education at College of the Holy Cross in Massachusetts, where she plans on majoring in biology.

“I am looking forward to an educative and illuminating secondary education that will begin my journey of mastering the knowledge and techniques necessary to be skilled in the medical sciences and to secure a position in the medical field. I hope to use these gained skills to better the lives of others, whether it be by physically improving the lives of those in need or simply by inspiring a sense of hope and enlightenment, ” Hannah said.

— LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Dunmore

Students enrolled in the French program at the high school participated in the National French Contest. Nine Dunmore students earned medals at the national level in the contest conducted by the American Association of Teachers of French.

Freshman Gia Occhipinti, 15, earned first place for her division in the region and placed fifth on the national level, earning a gold medal. She and the other winners were honored at an awards ceremony.

“Placing first in the region was incredibly rewarding because I take pride in studying and hard work. I am thrilled that I was able to accomplish this while representing Dunmore High School,” Gia said.

Foreign languages allow people to feel connected to the rest of the world while being in a classroom, Gia said.

“Learning a foreign language is a great way to challenge yourself, to test your memory and to make correlations between someone else’s culture and your own,” she said.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Forest City

Regional

Junior Mikaylah Rutledge is a member of Envirothon at school. “It is a club in our school in which kids who are interested in the environment and wildlife can sign up for. We talk about five aspects of the environment: wildlife, aquatics, forestry, current events or a current issue and soils. We prepare for it all year long for as much as we can because we don’t have an elective course at school. Each year, we compete against a few other schools in Susquehanna County on those five subjects. This year it was May 5 at Elk Mountain Ski Resort,” she said. Mikaylah added, “Because we don’t have the elective that other schools have, we are sometimes able to get wildlife conservation officer Ben Rebuck to come in the morning and he spends time trying to teach us the things we need to know.”

In addition to Envirothon, she is treasurer of FBLA, a member of the prom committee and parlimentarian of the National Honor Society

Mikaylah works at the Red Schoolhouse restaurant in Pleasant Mount and Koberlein in Honesdale.

She hopes to major in biochemistry or pre-med and eventually become an OB-GYN or have some kind of family practice.

— LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Holy Cross High School

Freshman Geanna Cusmano participated in the Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9 Chorus Festival at Marywood University.

Students were selected based on merit, and throughout the event, students from different schools came together to rehearse and prepare music for a concert.

Geanna said the experience was “one like no other.” At Holy Cross, Geanna also participates in track and field.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Lackawanna Trail

This summer Emily Herron and Lilly Martin will study abroad as part of the Rotary International Exchange Program.

Although the country they will visit has not been decided, both students hope to be selected to live in France. Interacting with students from Belgium, Brazil and Taiwan influenced both Emily and Lilly to want to study abroad.

During the Youth Exchange study-abroad program, which is hosted by local Rotary Clubs, students can spend a few weeks to a full year internationally.

Emily and Lilly are both members of Lacakwanna Trail Interact Club, the student division of Rotary International. In return, they will host an exchange student in Northeast Pennsylvania.

Lilly always wanted to travel and looks forward to learning a new culture. Emily is also interested in immersing herself in a different culture to learn how other students live and socialize. Both students are excited to meet new people.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

Lakeland

Abigail Davis participated in Chorusfest at Marywood University.

“It was a lot of fun to sing in such a big concert hall with so many other kids,” said Abigail.

Abigail, a fourth-grader, was one of five students escorted to the festival by Alissa Swarts, music teacher.

“I’m proud of the hard work our students poured into their music,” said Mrs. Swarts. “It was a joy to see them perform in a larger ensemble.”

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

Mid Valley

Seventh-grader Emma Yusavage uses her leadership qualities in student council.

Emma joined the club to help make fun changes around the school.

Student council is an excellent way to learn leadership qualities, she said.

Her favorite part is organizing events for her fellow classmates, including planning and running the middle school lock-in. She called for donations, food and drinks and organizing games. Emma also volunteered at the Dickson City Christmas party and other middle school events this year.

Emma enjoys softball and basketball.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

Mountain View

Senior Johnathan Wiggins participates in the Youth Apprenticeship Program.

Johnathan has been volunteering at Gesinger Community Medical Center since he was 13 and decided to incorporate volunteering into his curriculum. As part of Youth Apprenticeship Program, every Tuesday, Johnathan spends time at GCMC, where he works as a junior volunteer.

While at the hospital, Johnathan rotates between helping with clinics, where he restocks individual rooms with necessities; labs, where he checks patients in and runs specimens to the main lab; and administration, where he helps any way he can.

“(Volunteering) offers me the opportunity to work with people I normally wouldn’t get to work with,” he said.

At school, Johnathan is a member of chorus and drama club.

After graduation, he plans to attend Edinboro University of Pennsylvania.

— AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

North Pocono

Senior Alea Troup has been a member of student council since middle school.

Alea, an executive officer for student council, has maintained high honors and is an active member of the National Honor Society.

The daughter of Maureen and Todd Troup, Alea is a member of SADD, TATU and Red Cross since ninth grade. She played varsity volleyball during high school.

Alea works at Tasty Swirl and dances at Arabesque Academy of Dancing. Alea has danced since she was 3.

After high school, she plans to attend Penn State University Park and major in education.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

Old Forge

Senior Steven Farber is the Leo Club’s Leo of the Year.

“I was very surprised I won it,” Steven said.

As part of the Leo Club, Steven participates in many community service activities and also has gone on trips with the group.

Steven is also a member of the science and math club, drama club and football team, and had a role in the school’s production of “Cinderella.” He plans to pursue a career as a nurse.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Riverside

West Elementary fourth- grader Alanna Galonis had a wonderful history lesson while on her class trip to Medieval Times in New Jersey and the Statue of Liberty. “I liked watching the battle for the princess just like it probably was during the real medieval times,” she said. The trip was made possible by the PTA’s fundraising efforts during the school year. Alanna added that, “Also, I learned that the Statue of Liberty was a gift to our country from the French people in 1886.”

— LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Scranton

Students at Isaac Tripp Elementary School participated in a reading service project for the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen this spring. The 36 students who participated raised $2,135.66 to help feed the hungry.

The top three fundraisers were Michael Anne Osborne, who raised more than $500, Ahnna Rogalewicz and Gianna Savani.

Catherine Diplacido, a student-teacher from the University of Scranton, helped organize the read-a-thon, as well as an awards ceremony for the participants. She collected donations from local businesses so that each participant received a thank-you gift.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Scranton Prep

Junior Maggie Wright sang “Music of the Night,” from the musical “Phantom of the Opera,” for Prep’s choir concert last week.

Maggie started singing three years ago and said she loves it. “I always say, if I had to save one thing in a fire, it would be my voice,” she said.

Maggie joined the choir during her freshman year, and is also a member of the Prep Players and the football cheerleading squad. The Covington Twp. resident is also an interviewer for the Prep newscast.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Summit Christian Academy

Stephen Lisowski, grade eight, has attended the school since preschool. He loves learning and has an excellent outlook, in and out of school.

Stephen also thinks it’s important to encourage and assist his classmates. “Well, I myself try to help them the best I can. If someone needs help I try to be enthusiastic when I help, tell jokes and make it fun. I have really great classmates so it’s always fun,” he said.

He also helps at school, whether it be helping to clean lunch tables or put away papers. “I definitely think it’s important to help someone out. I learn by helping out that a lot of people need help, and that they can usually help you. It’s cool. If you help someone you gain their trust, a good relationship, and you trust them now too.” In addition, he loves music and drama. “I do sing a lot but I like singing fast, upbeat music. I’m learning to play guitar more now too. Oh, and Miss Gallo, our music teacher, taught me so much more about music with finding rhythm and beat, and how to read music even better. In drama I feel the teacher has a big influence on me. I can’t believe everything Mrs. Feldman did and pulled off this year. At the beginning of the year I was really nervous and insecure about doing drama, but in just a few days Mrs. Feldman helped me so much, and I want to thank her for that. I’m more outgoing in everything now. And it’s all been really fun.”

— LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com

Valley View

Brandon Peters and his classmate Joe Koniszewski placed first in the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit Virtual Bridge Building Contest.

“I’m excited to be back in the competition this year,” Brandon said. “I am looking forward to the final competition.”

The final competition will take place Thursday. If the team places in the top four of 40 teams, team members will be awarded scholarships.

Brandon is a member of National Honor Society, student council, SADD, Spanish and Friends of Rachel Club. He plays basketball and baseball.

After high school he plans to attend Lock Haven University to study in the physician assistant’s program and play baseball.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

Wayne Highlands

Six fifth-graders participated in Band Fest on April 29.

Participants included Brodie Cole, Nate Hugaboom, Caroline Klinkiewicz, Emma Matlaga, Kalin Pietraszewski and Davalyn Ursich.

“What I liked best about Band Fest was getting to know kids from my school better,” Davalyn said.

Students practiced all day and perform for family and friends in an evening concert.

Davalyn’s favorite song to perform was “You’re the Dragon.”

The event is sponsored by Pennsylvania Music Educators Association District 9.

— AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

Western Wayne

Fifth-grader Jack Klikus participated in the EverGreen Elementary’s Title I Reading Awards Night.

At the awards night, students were recognized for their hard work and dedication throughout the year, as they worked towards their reading goals.

“My favorite part of the night was receiving a book to read over the summer and getting my award,” Jack said.

Jack is also a member of the school’s kindness club.

Next year in middle school, Jack hopes to be a member of the band. He plans to tryout for the clarinet.

— AUTUMN GRANZA

agranza@timesshamrock.com

A former Scranton housing inspector has appealed a federal judge’s ruling that dismissed her political retaliation and gender discrimination lawsuit.

Patricia Jennings-Fowler contends U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion erred when he ruled she failed to present sufficient evidence to support her claims.

Ms. Jennings-Fowler had worked for the city in various capacities since 2009. She is no longer employed as a housing inspector. The city has declined to say whether she was fired or resigned.

The lawsuit, filed in 2014, stemmed from then-Mayor Chris Doherty’s decision to fire her in October 2013. She later won her job back through a union grievance.

The suit, filed by attorney Cynthia Pollick of Pittston, alleged Mr. Doherty retaliated against her because she had supported one of his political opponents. She also claimed she was subjected to a hostile work environment because she is female and that the city violated her due process rights by not providing her an adequate termination hearing.

The city maintained she was fired for cause. Officials cited a video that supported allegations she was not at a location where she claimed to have been, court records show.

In separate rulings issued in February 2015 and January, Judge Mannion dismissed the case, finding Ms. Jennings-Fowler had not presented enough evidence to support any of the claims.

In an appeal to the 3rd Circuit Court of Appeals filed last week, Ms. Pollick contends the judge overlooked significant evidence to support the gender discrimination, retaliation and due process claims. She cites a letter Ms. Jennings-Fowler wrote to city officials, detailing repeated harassment by a male co-worker. The man publicly berated her work but was not similarly critical of the work of fellow male inspectors, she said.

Regarding the retaliation count, Ms. Pollick said evidence showed she was the only employee whom city officials placed under surveillance and that male co-workers had committed disciplinary infractions but were not terminated. There was also evidence to support the due process violation as the city admitted it initially told Ms. Jennings-Fowler it did not have a video of her, the appeal says.

The city will have an opportunity to respond. The court will issue a ruling at a later date.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com, @tbeseckerTT on Twitter

The Diocese of Scranton on Sunday honored a longtime minister known for his booming laugh, wide grin and relentless passion for serving the poor and the marginalized.

Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly, who this month celebrates 50 years since his ordination as a priest, was recognized for his service during a Mass of Thanksgiving at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton and was the guest of honor at the Catholic Social Services Gala after Mass in the Diocesan Pastoral Center.

Monsignor Kelly, 75, retired as executive director of the diocese’s Catholic Social Services in January after working there for a decade. He continues as executive director of St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, a position he uses to “generously serve the people of God,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said of the monsignor. “Even if he is supposed to be retired.”

More than 400 people filled St. Peter’s Cathedral on Sunday night to celebrate Mass for Monsignor Kelly.

“Anyone who is familiar with Monsignor’s boundless energy and resolve knows that his determination is always focused on how he can best respond to the needs of the people entrusted to his care,” Bishop Bambera said during Mass. “I know no one who has a heart for the poor like Monsignor Kelly.”

During the gala, Monsignor Kelly recalled a letter he sent 45 years ago to the late Mother Teresa of Calcutta, inviting her to Scranton. To his surprise, she not only replied but agreed to a visit. The two spoke one-on-one when she arrived, and one thing she said to him sticks in his head to this day.

“In your service to the poor, do not give only your hands, but your heart,” she told him.

“That has very much been a mantra for myself,” he said.

The gala, a fundraiser for Catholic Social Services, raised more than $100,000, Bishop Bambera said. The money will seed the Monsignor Joseph P. Kelly Endowment for Catholic Social Services, which will further the organization’s underserved projects.

Once a priest, always a priest, and Monsignor Kelly will continue to celebrate Mass with rural parishes in Wayne County, he said. He’ll continue running St. Francis kitchen, a job that suits him best, he said.

“If you want to be busy, it’s a wonderful opportunity to be very hands-on,” he said. “That’s what I like most is ... to not have to worry so much about the administration, but to have the opportunity to do more service.”

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com, @jon_oc on Twitter

Archbald

Planning meeting: Borough Special Events Committee final Archbald/Eynon Memorial Day Parade organizational meeting, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m., Gina Tomas­soni School of Dance, 280 Main St., Eynon, for volunteering, participants; Councilwoman Maria Tomassoni, 570-877-7180.

Honesdale

Race night: Honesdale Rotary night at the races, Friday, 6 p.m., Beach Lake Fire Hall; $15, includes horse, snacks, beer; additional horses/$10, bets/

$2; cash only; instant bingo, 50/50 raffle, must be 21 (ID required); Andy, 570-470-9042, Maureen, 570-253-8744.

Old Forge

Bocce tournament: Old Forge Sons of Italy, Gloria Lodge, bocce tournament to benefit veterans organizations, St. Francis Commons, Saturday, 9 a.m., downtown bocce courts at Arcaro and Genell’s Restaurant, Main Street; 16 teams or four, $25/team member/alternate, spectators/$20; refreshments, food available; $100/sponsorship includes two tickets, refreshments and food; $50/booster, mail to Sons of Italy, 2 Lee St., Old Forge, PA 18518; Lou Febbo, 570-499-8063.

Regional

Nurses reunion: Scranton State General Hospital School of Nursing class of 1975 reunion, June 4, 6 p.m., Cafe Classico, 1416 Mulberry St., Scranton; Eileen Corbett Occhipinti, 570-357-4978, Kathy Kohan McMyne, 570-267-6139.

Sterling Twp.

Community events: Histor­ians of Sterling Twp. meeting, Satur­day, 7 p.m., Historians Hall and Museum, 709 Spring Hill Road, light refreshments follow; Mem­orial Day observance, May 30, 1 p.m., Ster­ling United Methodist Church parking lot, Route 196.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

WILKES-BARRE — A huge painting of Mr. Peanut once graced the former corporate headquarters and birthplace of the Planters Peanut Co. on South Main Street.

Most of the building was torn down nearly 10 years ago to make way for a strip mall, but it was never built.

Today, just a shell remains of the former Planters Peanut Co. at 632 S. Main St.

The painting of Mr. Peanut is no longer on the side of the building. Instead, it was left in a pile of rubble.

Now, the building is marred by graffiti and broken windows and covered in vines while a historical marker in front pays tribute to Italian immigrant Amedeo Obici, who founded Planters in 1906 with Mario Peruzzi.

The business grew from a small push cart on Public Square into one of the most recognized peanut brands in the world.

Mr. Obici and Mr. Peruzzi started the company by setting up two roasters in the Wilkes-Barre building for $25 a month.

Over the next 40 years, Planters expanded into a $60 million business with about 5,000 employees.

Recently, Mr. Peanut celebrated his 100th birthday. The Planters symbol originated in 1916 when Virginia schoolboy Antonio Gentile won an art contest for designing Mr. Peanut. A commercial artist added the top hot, monocle, cane and gloves and Mr. Peanut has been featured on Planters’ nut packages for the last century.

Over the last 10 years, Kingston developer Marvin Slomowitz of Mark Development Co. said some tenants expressed an interest in developing the former Planters’ site, including Rite Aid, but the drugstore backed out. CVS, another potential tenant, decided to build farther down on South Main Street, he said.

One problem with developing the South Main Street site is the neighborhood, he said. Another problem he noted was the bleak economic situation after the city sold the property in 2005 to his company under the name Cross Continental Realty.

“We started from scratch because of the economic situation,” he said. “There are not many tenants available.”

In the meantime, a sign remains on South Main Street from Mark Development Co. stating the property is up for lease and the developer will “build to suit.”

Looking for tenants

Mr. Slomowitz is still looking for tenants.

Wood Street was extended across the property to Pennsylvania Avenue to allow for better access.

Mr. Slomowitz said he hopes the recently completed street extension project will make the area more attractive and accessible to tenants.

He agreed to leave some of the exterior of the Planters building there.

The future of the Planters building will be determined by what a tenant wants to do, he said. He said he didn’t think it was important to leave the facade. If it was torn down, it would be “less of a problem” and it would not attract vagrants, he said. “What the facade is accomplishing, I have no idea,” said Mr. Slomowitz, who has developed shopping centers across the country, including the Mark Plaza in Edwardsville, the Pittston Plaza, and shopping centers on Route 309 in Wilkes-Barre Twp. and Third Avenue in Kingston.

Greco wanted museum

Wilkes-Barre businessman Thom Greco, a big fan of Mr. Peanut, wanted to buy Planters’ former headquarters, preserve the entire building and turn it into a museum.

Instead, the city sold the property to Mr. Slomowitz for $230,000.

The Planters’ building was previously sold to Wilkes-Barre for just $100 in 2003. Altria Corporate Services Inc. was the previous owner of the building. The final selling price was hundreds of thousands of dollars less than the building’s fair market value.

When Mr. Slomowitz purchased the property in 2005, the initial agreement required him to preserve the facade and start construction within three years of the closing date.

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

A 7-year-old Jessup girl was pronounced dead Sunday following a one-car crash Friday night on Interstate 81 in Hazle Twp. that also left two women severely injured, state police said.

Valley View second-grader Amailey Charlotte Gonzalez died of injuries suffered in the 8:40 p.m. Friday crash.

The girl's mother, Melanie Anne Burleson, 33, of Jessup, was headed north at what police describe at a high rate of speed when the vehicle left the road and slid onto the east berm and into a rock wall, spinning back into the interstate and ejecting both Ms. Burleson and passenger, Brittany Erin Gallagher, 25, of Scranton. Neither wore seatbelts, police said.

The girl — wearing a seatbelt, but not in a booster seat — was entrapped in the vehicle and rescue crews had to extricate her. The three occupants were flown by helicopter to the Lehigh Valley Hospital.

The crash resulted in the closing of Interstate 81 North. State police are continuing their investigation into the crash.

— DAVID FALCHEK

The prosecution presented enough evidence to show accused murderer Joseph Thornton’s case should move to Lackawanna County Court for a trial or other further court action, a magisterial district judge ruled today.

Magisterial District Judge John Pesota issued the ruling after testimony in Mr. Thornton’s two-day preliminary hearing wrapped up early this afternoon.

Mr. Thornton, 27, of Scranton, is charged with the Dec. 9, 2014 beating death of Stephanie Tyminski, 29, in the Valley View Terrace building where they lived in neighboring third-floor apartments. An autopsy showed she died of blunt force to the neck and head and possibly strangulation.

Detective Michael Schultz testified today that Mr. Thornton was obsessed with Ms. Tyminski and unhappy that she always rebuffed his advances. On Friday, witnesses said they heard Ms. Tyminski scream from the hall between the apartments, saw Mr. Thornton in the hall moments after the scream and saw two fake fingernails belonging to her next to his apartment door and blood on hall walls.

Mr. Thornton is charged with criminal homicide, aggravated and simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, tampering with physical evidence, aggravated harassment by a prisoner, making terroristic threat, intimidation of a witness sand resisting arrest.

After today’s hearing, deputy sheriffs returned Mr. Tyminski to the county prison where he is being held without bail. No trial date is set.

Check back for updates.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com

An Old Forge woman died early Monday from injuries she suffered in a rollover crash in Ransom Twp.

Ashley Musko, 25, died in the intensive care unit at Geisinger Community Medical Center at 4:35 a.m., said Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland.

Ms. Musko was traveling on Evergreen Drive in Ransom Twp. when her vehicle rolled over and she was ejected at about 5:45 p.m. Sunday. Mr. Rowland determined the cause of death was multiple traumatic injuries.

State police are investigating the crash.

Rose Pompey of Scranton said her granddaughter was a bright young woman who had overcome health problems in the past. Ms. Musko’s obituary noted her family thanks Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia for medical care during a transplant. Her death came as a shock to the family.

“She was a lovely girl,” Ms. Pompey said. “She was a little sweetheart. She was my youngest grandchild.”

Ms. Musko, who enjoyed artwork and painting, graduated from Marywood University last year with a bachelor’s degree in psychology.

Her family, including her parents, Andrew and Alice Musko Pompey, and four siblings, remembered her as someone with a big heart who loved everyone who touched her life.

Ms. Musko’s obituary, in which her family identifies her as Ashley Musko Pompey, appears on Page B8.

Contact the writers:

kwind@timesshamrock.com, dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — Shortly after Roger Wallace retired about a year and a half ago, his wife, Carol, told him he should find something to do to get out of the house and stay busy.

Her suggestion: to volunteer with Meals on Wheels of NEPA. So he picked up the phone the next day. Ever since, he has been loading up his Jeep Grand Cherokee on Tuesdays and Thursdays, delivering food to some residents at Bedford Tower apartments in Clarks Summit. It has been a great, rewarding move, Mr. Wallace said Monday night.

“I think she wanted to get rid of me,” Mr. Wallace said. “It was the best move she could have made. For me, it was a really great strategic plan.”

Mr. Wallace is one of about 150 volunteers who were honored at a dinner at the Ramada Inn on Monday night. Volunteers with the organization deliver at least 700 meals a day to homes and senior living facilities across Lackawanna County, Monday through Friday, Executive Director Kristen L. Kosin said. Since its inception in 1969, Meals on Wheels of NEPA has prepared and delivered more than 5 million meals in Lackawanna County.

The organization also recognized departing Assistant Director Shannon Cooper, who will move to North Carolina this summer, at Monday’s event. Hers will be large shoes to fill, Ms. Kosin said. Ms. Cooper started with the organization about five years ago as volunteer coordinator. Her duties involved recruiting and training volunteers like the ones honored Monday night. Her role eventually expanded to overseeing many of the day-to-day operations of the group.

Ms. Cooper, of Scott Twp., said she applied for the job partially because she thought it was a good fit — she had experience working with volunteers at her church — but also because of the importance of the organization’s mission: feeding the elderly and disabled. It’s that mission and all the people she worked with to help accomplish it that she’ll miss most after her departure.

“That’s an incredible motivation to want to do a great job,” Ms. Cooper said.

As for Mr. Wallace, he plans to volunteer as long as he is able. He likes visiting with the residents he delivers to — usually between 16 and 20 people, the oldest being 90 and the majority in their 80s — and hearing all of their stories. He learns from them, the South Abington Twp. resident said. But the most rewarding part of volunteering?

“To be quite honest, it’s knowing that we’re doing something that people of all generations have always done,” Mr. Wallace said. “That’s to serve others.”

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

For more information on how to volunteer, donate or receive services from Meals on Wheels of NEPA, visit www.mealsonwheelsnepa.com or call 570-346-2421.

Carbondale

Collection schedule City garbage collection suspended Monday due to Memorial Day; trash collection one day late for week; recycling collection Tuesday.

Choral concert: Classic Voices a cappella choir, spring concert, June 5, 7:30 p.m., Greater Carbondale Chamber of Com­merce building, 27 N. Main St.; free, donations accepted.

Dalton

Annual parade: Dalton Memorial Day Parade, Monday, 9 a.m., Streamside Park to fire hall; services 9:20, veterans invited to participate; John Holbert, 570-563-1268.

East Scranton

Club meets: 800 Club of Immaculate Conception Church meeting Thursday, 1:30 p.m., church hall.

Hill Neighborhood

Neighbors meet: Hill Neighbor­hood Association meeting Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., St Peter’s Lutheran Church, Taylor Avenue at Ash Street; discussion on Sprint cell antenna at Plaza at 550 Clay Ave.

Hollisterville

Memorial service: All Saints Slovak Cemetery Association Memorial Day service, Monday, prayers and rosary, 10:30 a.m., VFW Thomas Snook Post 6520 veterans service, 11.

Jessup

Worship concert: Rescue & Restore Church worship concert Saturday, 7:30 p.m., Station Park; light refreshments; the Rev. Jack Munley, 570-498-0351.

Lackawanna County

Bocce night: Ladies Auxiliary of UNICO National, Scranton Chap­ter, bocce night at the Victor Alfieri Club, June 3, 5 p.m.; beginners welcome, picnic dinner provided by Victor Alfieri Society, cash bar; $20/adults, $10/children; proceeds benefit the Autism Support Program, Center for Independent Living; 570-586-7255.

Charity event: Antique Automo­bile Club of America Scranton Region benefit for Operation Troop Appreciation, Saturday, , 6-8 p.m., AACA Scranton Region Club House, 1111 S. Washing­ton Ave., Scranton; $15/glass of wine and refreshments; silent auction, antique automobiles display; http://www.operation

troopappreciation.org/

Yoga on trail: Lackawanna Heritage Valley Nationa/State Heritage Area/Jaya Yoga Explor­er Yoga on the Trail Sunday, 9 a.m., Blakely Borough Recrea­tional Complex; part of series of events commemorating Lacka­wanna Heritage Valley’s 25th anniversary; registration information: www.lhva.org.

North Scranton

Block party: Mary Mother of God Parish, Holy Rosary Church 35th annual block party, June 16,17, 6-11 p.m., June 18, 5-11 p.m., West Market Street and Wayne Avenue; food, games, refreshments, entertainment.

Old Forge

Meeting correction: Old Forge class of 1964 meeting June 14, 12:30 p.m., Arcaro and Genell’s.

Scranton

Club benefit: Friends and family members of the late Kelcey Hallinan’s “Tony’s 5th Annual 30th Birthday Party” to benefit the Boys & Girls Clubs of Northeastern Pennsylvania, Saturday, 4-7 p.m., Morganz Pub, 315 Green Ridge St.; free, donations, gift cards, baskets will be accepted at and can be dropped at Morganz Pub.

South Scranton

Seniors meet: South Scranton After 50 Club meeting Thursday, 1:30 p.m., St. Paul of the Cross Parish Center, Prospect Avenue.

Chicken barbecue: St. Stani­slaus Cathedral chicken barbecue, Saturday, noon-soldout, Pittston Avenue at East Elm Street, curb service available; half chicken, baked potato, vegetable, roll, butter, dessert, beverage; $10.

Sterling

Rummage sale: Sterling United Methodist Church rummage sale Friday-Sunday, 9 a.m.-noon, 567 Sterling Road; $2 bag sale, Monday.

Throop

Community event: Throop Hose Company 2 Hot Summer Nights on the Boulevard, June 24, 7-10 p.m., $15/wrist band, live music by Kevin TimTom Vest; Facebook: Throop Hose Com­pany 2 or 570-489-6431.

Parish festival: 11th annual Blessed Sacrament Parish Family Festival Aug. 19-21, 215 Rebecca St.; pig-in-the-blanket dinner, breakfast, bingo, picnic/ethnic foods, bake sale, ice cream specialities, games, basket raffle.

Memorial services: Throop Her­bert Clark Post 180 American Legion and VFW Post 7251 Memorial Day services, Monday, meet 8 a.m., Throop Civic Center parking lot; services: 8:15 a.m., St. Mary’s Cemetery off Sanderson Avenue; 10 a.m., Veterans’ plaque, Throop Muni­cipal Building; 11 a.m., VFW Post 7251.

West Scranton

Spring fling: West Scranton High School class of 1969 Spring Fling meeting, Thursday, 5:30 p.m., St. George’s Restau­rant, 304 Church St.,Jessup; final plans, reports, cheer bottles accepted; June 3 events: supporting Scranton Police Pancreatic Cancer benefit, 10 a.m., meet at Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel; meet and greet, cash bar, 6 p.m., Villa Maria, Washburn Street; June 4: school tour, 10 a.m.; Spring Fling, 6 p.m., La Plaza Colarusso’s, Moosic; music by Luongo Brothers, hot/cold buffet, cash bar; $30.

Walk/picnic: Inaugural Celiac Stride and Picnic in the Park sponsored by Alternative Eating Sunday, noon, Fellows Park, South Main Avenue; $10/adults, $5/children under 12, proceeds benefit Dr. Alessio Fasano’s Celiac research; walk followed by gluten free picnic, entertainment by Doug Smith’s Dixieland All-Stars; in partnership with West Scranton Hyde Park Neighborhood Watch to kick off Sunday Matinee Concert Series for West Scranton parks funded by a Lackawanna County Arts Project grant.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

SCRANTON — A part-time Carbondale police officer accused of shooting and killing a Fell Twp. man has a trial date set for next year.

The trial of Patrolman Francis Schulze is scheduled to start Jan. 17, Lackawan­na County Judge Terrence Nealon ordered Monday.

Patrolman Schulze says he shot the victim, Joe Molinaro, in self-defense outside the officer’s Carbondale home. Prosecutors disagree and charged him with criminal homicide and other crimes.

Mr. Schulze, who has been imprisoned since March 24, also is asking to be released on bail. The judge set a June 6 deadline for prosecutors to file a motion arguing against that.

— PETER CAMERON

State police filed DUI, reckless endangerment and other charges against a Scranton resident Monday stemming from a hit-and-run crash over the weekend.

Grace Martinez, 21, 420 Prospect Ave., Rear 2, is accused of slamming into another car about 2:15 p.m. Sunday as both vehicles traveled north on Interstate 380 in Roaring Brook Twp.

The driver of the other vehicle, Alexander Atanassov, told troopers a silver car “came flying up” behind him and tried to pass him near mile marker 24 but instead hit the passenger side of his vehicle, causing both vehicles to careen off the road, according to court documents. Mr. Atanassov said the other vehicle then got back on the road and drove off, but its rear bumper flew off during the collision. Troopers discovered the bumper, complete with license plate, at the scene.

Troopers traced the plate to a man living in Scranton. City police found the vehicle later that day.

The vehicle owner’s girlfriend, who identified herself as “Angy Monge,” told troopers she was driving the car at the time of the crash and the “brake might have locked up or something” and she lost control. She was later identified as Ms. Martinez.

Noting that the woman had fresh needle track marks, constricted pupils and glossy eyes, police arrested Ms. Martinez on suspicion of DUI and took her to Moses Taylor Hospital for a blood test.

Ms. Martinez is also charged with providing false identification and information to law enforcement and several traffic violations. She is held at Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for June 2.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

SCRANTON — A Pittston Area teacher arrested for smoking marijuana on parade day in Scranton waived her right to a preliminary hearing Monday in Lackawanna County Court.

Tia Maria Biscotti, a third-grade teacher, is scheduled for a formal arraignment and pretrial conference July 11 at 9 a.m. at the Lackawanna County Courthouse.

Ms. Biscotti was arrested March 12 and charged with possession of a small amount of marijuana and drug paraphernalia, both misdemeanors, after police said they spotted her smoking from a glass pipe during the Scranton St. Patrick’s Day Parade.

Ms. Biscotti, 31, is in her sixth year teaching in the district. Her salary in 2013-14 was $40,450.

— PETER CAMERON

JENKINS TWP. — The national commander of the Jenkins Twp.-based Veterans of the Vietnam War slammed President Barack Obama on Monday for ending an arms embargo with Vietnam.

Peter Forbes, a combat medic with Australia during the Vietnam War, said his group recently penned a letter to the White House asking Mr. Obama to demand that Vietnam do more to account for all U.S. troops still unaccounted for as a result of the Vietnam War. He said he received no response.

“All the president did today was give away arms for the almighty dollar,” Mr. Forbes said Monday at his organization’s national headquarters along the Pittston Bypass. “All we asked him to do was get an accounting of our prisoners of war and missing in action, but instead of doing that, as always, he gave it away and we got nothing back.”

A total of 1,026 Americans — including nine from Northeast Pennsylvania — who fought in the war remain unaccounted for more than four decades since the conflict ended, according to the government’s Defense POW/MIA Accounting Agency.

Frank Brown Jr. of Tunkhannock, Edward Dickson of Wyoming, Richard Evancho of Freeland and Lothar Terla of Scranton were all killed in action, but their remains were never recovered, according to the agency’s online database.

Those presumed to be dead include Frederick Krupa of Scranton, Samuel O’Donnell Jr. of Weatherly, Bernard Rupinski of Edwardsville, Robert Smith of Kingston Twp. and Wayne Wolfkeil of Wilkes-Barre.

Contact the writer:

bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com,

@cvbobkal on Twitter

HAZLETON — Television production crews from the long-standing “COPS” show will shadow Hazleton police as they patrol city streets over the next eight weeks.

Mayor Jeff Cusat, interim Police Chief Jerry Speziale and Zach Ragsdale — a producer from Langley Productions — announced Monday that filming begins today.

Mr. Cusat will sign a document that contains safeguards that will protect the city’s image and provide $1 million worth of insurance for “COPS” crews as they ride with police.

Additionally, the mayor can view footage filmed by the production team 20 days before it airs, which ensures the city and police won’t be portrayed in a negative light.