EXETER

A Comcast employee is accused of sexually assaulting a customer during a home visit.

Michael J. Riddle, 39, of West Pittston, was charged Friday with two counts of indecent assault and a count of simple assault.

According to the affidavit, Mr. Riddle went to the victim’s home in Exeter on Sept. 13 after she had contacted him on Facebook because he was listed as a salesman for Comcast.

The Times-Tribune does not publish the names of sexual assault victims.

Once there, he kissed and groped her, then held her down before she pushed him away and told him to leave. Police said a bruise on the victim’s arm was consistent with her account.

The victim also told police she had reported the incident to a Comcast tech, and the company sent an investigator to follow up on it.

Mr. Riddle is free on $10,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is slated for Nov. 2.

— Jacob Seibel

James Miller, deputy commandant at the Gino J. Merli Center, has been named commandant of the facility, the state Department of Military and Veterans Affairs said Friday.

Mr. Miller, of Archbald, replaces Vito Ruggiero as top administrator at the state-run, 196-bed long-term care center for veterans and their spouses.

Mr. Miller, who has more than 16 years of experience in the long-term care industry, was senior administrator of Sabre Healthcare’s Dunmore Healthcare and Whitestone Care Center prior to joining the Merli Center in February.

Mr. Ruggiero, who was appointed commandant in December, was rehired in September as Dunmore borough manager. His last day at the center was Friday, DMVA spokeswoman Joan Nissley said.

— DAVID SINGLETON

GEISINGER WYOMING VALLEY

BUSH: A son, Oct. 3, to Teddy and April Bush, Olyphant.

CONCEPCION: A daughter, Sept. 27, to Edwin and Anna Concepcion, Blakeslee.

FRABLE: A daughter, Sept. 30, to Edwin and Ashli Frable, Clarks Summit.

LEFTENANT: A daughter, Oct. 10, to Darrell and Alexandra Leftenant, Plains.

NORRIS: A daughter, Sept. 29, to James and Nichole Norris, Jenkins Twp.

PALMITER: A son, Oct. 3, to Ronald and Brieanna Palmiter, Avoca.

PINEDA: A daughter, Sept. 25, to Errol and Cassie Pineda, Swoyersville.

WILLIAMS: A daughter, Oct. 7, to Brian and Kathleen Williams, Long Pond.

ZIPPITTELLI: A son, Oct. 1, to Joe and Olivia Zippittelli, Throop.

MOSES TAYLOR

CRANE: A daughter, Oct. 13, to David Crane and Samantha Edwards, Avoca.

DESAI: A daughter, Oct. 16, to Sandeep and Mohinaben Patel Desai, Dunmore.

GRAY: A daughter, Oct. 13, to Brian and Emily Miller Gray, Old Forge.

GRUSHINSKI: A daughter, Oct. 13, to Stephen Grushinski and Grace Sakevich, Jessup.

HILFIGER: A son, Oct. 18, to Joel and Melissa Fette Hilfiger, Cresco.

JENNINGS: A daughter, Oct. 14, to Justin and Brenda Ruppert Jennings, Dimock.

LYNADY: Twin daughter and son, Oct. 17, to Chad and Sara Tolerico Lynady, Carbondale.

MELUCCI: A daughter, Oct. 17, to Rick and Kyla DeVergilius Melucci, Old Forge.

MUSIAL: A daughter, Oct. 18, to Robert and Alicia Hobbs Musial, Archbald.

SOTAK: A daughter, Oct. 15, to Patrick and Cassaundra Yazinski Sotak, Dunmore.

STILES: A daughter, Aug. 29, to David and Malena Guimento Stiles, Clarks Summit.

WOLFF: A son, Oct. 18, to Edward and Ashley Fortuner Wolff, South Abington Twp.

ZAJAC: A son, Oct. 14, to Michael Zajac and Kelsey Andrews, Eynon.

PLAINS TWP. — Tom Carasiti, the father of a 25-year-old man with autism, is concerned about a long waiting list for services for people with intellectual disabilities when they become adults.

Mr. Carasiti, a Pike County resident, was one of more than 200 people who attended the NEPA Disability Conference presented by The Arc of Luzerne County on Friday at the Woodlands Inn and Resort.

He said he came to the conference to network and see if he could pick up anything that could improve life for his son Glenn.

He also talked to state legislators about his concern about nearly 14,000 people with intellectual disabilities on a waiting list for services.

While adults with intellectual disabilities used to go to large institutions, Mr. Carasiti said his son has a job in a restaurant. Parents want to take care of their sons and daughters at home and they are on a waiting list hoping that more state funds will be available for services such as job coaches, he said.

“The cost to help disabled people be successful in their community is far less than putting them in an institution,” Mr. Carasiti said. “Some have been waiting for 10 to 15 years on this waiting list to try to get services.”

Pamela Zotynia, executive director of The Arc of Luzerne County, said while young people in school are entitled to services, the concern is when they graduate they are no longer entitled.

There was $6.5 million in state funding appropriated to take people off the waiting list, but it was reallocated to meet the changing needs of people who are currently served, said Ms. Zotynia, the mother of a 29-year-old son with intellectual and physical disabilities.

“We at The Arc and many people are very concerned about the waiting list,” Ms. Zotynia said. “We were, first of all, not happy with the amount of money allocated this year in the budget. We felt more was needed. When we found out there would be no waiting list initiative, we became extremely concerned for individuals and families who continue to wait, who are in emergencies and who contact my office almost every day.”

State Rep. Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston, said services for people with disabilities once they turn 21 is a major focus for him and an important issue he will be working on.

“It’s a huge area that’s lacking right now that needs to be addressed,” Mr. Kaufer said.

Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp., said a bill that passed this year allows the state Office of Vocational Rehabilitation to use additional federal dollars to help transition people with disabilities who want to work with job coaches and other services.

“What we find is that young people ready to graduate college are graduating to the couch and they don’t want to do that,” Ms. Baker said.

A savings program called “PA ABLE” is coming soon for people with disabilities to plan for a financially secure future, be more financially independent and save and pay for disability-related expenses, Ms. Baker said.

Ms. Baker was the prime sponsor of Pennsylvania’s Achieving a Better Life Experience Act, which created the savings program intended to alleviate some of the financial challenges faced by families raising and caring for those with disabilities.

“We were incentivizing poverty for lots of people with disabilities because they would lose their benefits if they saved money,” Ms. Baker said. “These accounts will allow them to put resources away up to a taxable required amount they could use for housing, if they need a new wheelchair or if they want to go to school.”

Some parents who attended the conference also shared success stories.

Drums resident George Shadie, whose 27-year-old son, Alex, has autism, said he was told his son would be institutionalized by age 5 and would never speak.

His son now works once a week at the Tipsy Turtle and he cleans his father’s office at New York Life Insurance Agency and the office for SAFE (Supporting Autism and Families Everywhere), he said.

Mr. Shadie also shared a story about when he recently overreacted to his son’s behavior and although his speech is limited, his son looked him in the eye and said, “Calm down.”

“We’ve come a long way,” Mr. Shadie said.

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

Eric Trump, the son of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, will serve as the main speaker Monday evening at the joint dinner hosted by Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wayne counties’ Republican parties.

The fundraising dinner is scheduled for 6 to 9 p.m. at St. Mary’s Center, 320 Mifflin Ave, Scranton. Tickets are $55 in advance and $75 at the door.

For more information, call the Lackawanna County Republican Party at 570-346-7729 or email LackawannaGOP@gmail.com.

— BORYS KRAWCZENIUK

HARFORD TWP. — Two motorists were dead, a third traveler was in critical condition and three more people were hospitalized following a Saturday wreck involving a Freightliner tractor trailer and a Nissan Altima on Interstate 81, state police at Gibson said.

The truck struck the car from behind at 3:07 a.m. in the northbound lane at mile marker 212.8, troopers said.

Two of five people in the Nissan were pronounced dead at the scene; a third person from the Altima was in critical condition; and the other two people along with the driver of the Freightliner were taken to a hospital.

Police declined to release the names of people involved in the crash pending notification of families of the deceased travelers.

—KYLE WIND

VA Mobile

Outreach planned

VA Mobile Outreach Truck unit visit, Monday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Dickson City American Legion Post 665 parking lot. In conjunction with the mobile outreach unit, Post 665 is hosting a membership drive; veterans and their families can use the VA outreach unit to assist in any matters pertaining to veterans; Post 665, 570-489-6986, leave a message.

Sen. Baker sets veterans outreach

State Sen. Lisa Baker veterans outreach with VFW service officer, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m.-2:30 p.m., 2512 Route 6, Hawley, lower level, rear, of the Lake Wallenpaupack Visitor’s Center, appointments requested, 570-226-5960.

Post 7069 plans spaghetti dinner

Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069 Auxiliary spaghetti and meatball dinner, Saturday, 4-7 p.m., 402 Winola Road, Clarks Summit, takeouts available, $9/adults and $4/children, benefits Bob Kromko (past commander) Scholarship Fund; tickets at post or 570-586-9821 or 570-586-0669.

Combined Halloween party at Post 7963

VFW Post 7963 Eynon, Eynon American Legion Post 624, Eynon Fire Department and Ambrose Revels American Legion Post 328, Archbald, children’s Halloween party, Saturday, noon to 2 p.m., at Post 7963, snacks, refreshments, children’s activities.

Hero Haul 5K

Run/Walk set

Hero Haul 5K Run/Walk, Oct. 30, 9 a.m., VFW Post 6520, 846 Cortez Road, Jefferson Twp., $20/preregistration or $25/race day, $10/12 and under, awards to female and male first-, second- and third-place winners in each age group, trophies for overall female and male winners; Post 6520 Ladies Auxiliary holding a basket raffle; breakfast sandwiches available for purchase, benefits Homes for Our Troops; preregistration: runsignup.com/hero

haul or from 7:30-8:30 a.m. race day; donations: Hero Haul, 2620 Aberdeen Road, Madison Twp., PA 18444; Christine, chrissie0427@gmail.com.

VFW Post 6082 holding pork dinner

Shopa-Davey VFW Post 6082 pork and sauerkraut dinner, Oct. 30, 11 a.m.-4 p.m. or sold out, post home, 123 Electric St., Peckville, $10, from members or at door, takeouts available.

Post 4909 to hold anniversary dinner

Dupont VFW Post 4909 Home Association’s 71st anniversary dinner-dance, Nov. 5, post home, 401-403 Main St.; buffet, 7:30-8:45 p.m., bar open 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m.; entertainment by Millennium, 9-1; $30; tickets and reservations, Bob Lopata at VFW or 654-9104 by Nov. 4.

Post 5207 sets turkey raffle

John J. Michaels VFW Post 5207 annual Turkey Raffle and More, Nov. 5, 4-7 p.m., routes 502 and 307, Covington Twp.; 570-842-7301.

Post 3474 sets pancake breakfast

VFW Post 3474 pancake breakfast, Nov. 5, 9 a.m.-noon, post home, 110 Chestnut St., Dunmore, $7/adults and $4/children.

Post 6082 sets sandwich sale

Shopa-Davey VFW Post 6082 Auxiliary porketta sandwich sale, Nov. 6, 1-4 p.m., post, 123 Electric St., Peckville, $3; Lisa, 570-955-6272.

Veterans Center dedication set

University of Scranton is dedicating its new Veterans Center, Nov. 11, 2 p.m., on site in Hyland Hall, Linden Street and Jefferson Avenue, Scranton, open house follows until 5:30 p.m.; 570-941-4334 or veteransclub@scranton.edu.

Veterans

workshop set

In conjunction with Veterans Day activities at the University of Scranton, the Veterans Club is hosting a professional workshop to provide mindfullness training tailored for veterans and military recruits to reduce stress, anxiety and fear, Nov. 11, 7 p.m., veterans lounge, Hyland Hall, Linden Street and Jefferson Ave, free, open to veterans, their families and veterans service organizations, reservations required; 570-941-4334.

Post 7069 sets meat raffle

Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069 Thanksgiving turkey and ham raffle, Nov. 12, 4 p.m., 402 Winola Road, Clarks Summit.

Vets appreciation dinner set

Hamlin Fire and Rescue Company’s veterans appreciation dinner, Nov. 12, 407 p.m., bingo hall, free/veterans and $7/guests; 570-815-8286.

Seeking veterans

If you were or a member of your family was from Lackawanna County, in the military and based at Pearl Harbor on Dec. 7, 1941, contact the 9/11 Memorial Committee at charliespano8@gmail.com or 570-342-5390; on Wednesday, Dec. 7, the 75th anniversary of the attack, the committee will place a plaque honoring all Lackawanna County veterans who were there on that “day of infamy.”

Veterans Day services

Michael Steiner American Legion Post 411 and Jessup VFW Post 5544 services, Nov. 11, 11 a.m., tank, Hill Street, light refreshments follow at Post 411, 508 Church St.

Meetings

SEABEES

Seabee Island 4 Pa., Wednesday, 7 p.m., American Legion, Dickson City.

POST 7069

Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., 402 Winola Road, Clarks Summit, to finalize Veterans Day activities.

POST 207

Kosciuszko American Legion Post 207, Nov. 3, 7 p.m., SS. Peter and Paul Church hall, 1309 W. Locust St., Scranton.

POST 5207

John J. Michaels VFW Post 5207, Nov. 6, 10 a.m., post home, routes 502 and 307, Covington Twp., agenda: veterans dinner scheduled for Thanksgiving day and Veterans Day programs.

POST 4909

VFW Post 4909, Nov. 7, 7:30 p.m., post home, home association meeting follows.

POST 306

Taylor American Legion Post 306, Nov. 12, noon, agenda: vote to approve recent bylaw changes.

EZRA GRIFFIN CAMP 8

Ezra S. Griffin, Camp 8 Sons of Union Veterans, Nov. 12, 10:30 a.m., Scranton City Hall, side ADA entrance, Mulberry Street; 570-606-1014.

VFW DISTRICT 10

VFW District 10, Nov. 13, 2 p.m., VFW Shopa-Davey Post 6082, 123 Electric St., Peckville.

Merli Center

Today: Coffee, 8:30 a.m.; morning visits, 8:45; Eucharistic ministers, 9:15; the Girls musical group, 2 p.m.

Monday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Bible study visits, 9:30; fit express, 10:15; country drive, 2 p.m.; karaoke, 7.

Tuesday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; monster bingo, 10:15; volunteer ministry, 1:15 p.m., choir practice, 1:45; Catholic service, 3; resident choice, 7.

Wednesday: National Day of the Deployed. Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Walmart shopping trip, 9; Damian the Magician, 2 p.m.

Thursday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; chapel, 10; Wendy’s dine-in, noon; country drive, 2 p.m.

Friday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Dracula Says, 10:15; Panera dine-in, noon; country drive, 2 p.m.

Saturday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; bulls eye toss, 10:15; Halloween movie with refreshments, 2 p.m.

VETERANS NEWS should be submitted no later than Monday before publication to veterans@timesshamrock.com; or YES!

desk, The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

Just two decades ago, legal advertising was taboo.

Now, it is the fastest-growing advertising industry in the country, said Abhijit Roy, Ph.D., a marketing professor at the University of Scranton.

“I’m sure (the Scranton-area) has followed the national trends,” he said.

He is quick to note that one cannot assume the explosion of legal advertising is driving the high rates of wrongful act suits in Northeast Pennsylvania. However, generally speaking, “data has shown the more you advertise, the better the business,” he said.

In some respects, advertising is easier here. Space on television, billboards and print publications is cheaper in Northeast Pennsylvania than in major metro areas like Philadelphia, where each ad reaches far more people, said Phil Condron, president of Scranton-based Condron & Cosgrove Advertising Communications.

Local ad space also is slightly cheaper here than in areas comparable in size, he said, because of the relatively large amount of media in the region.

In the local TV market, which includes Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, legal advertisers spent about $6 per 1,000 homes in 2015. That is slightly less than in Philadelphia, but substantially less than markets in Pittsburgh, Harrisburg and Erie, which spent about $8 per 1,000 homes or more, according to data from , a global market research firm, and the media measurement company Nielsen.

Contact the writer:

pcameron@timesshamrock.com,

@pcameronTT on Twitter

Legal advertising cheaper in region

Chuck Weber knows he is better situated than some of his fellow Social Security recipients to deal with the meager increase they will get in their benefits in 2017.

When he retired 21 years ago from the purchasing department at Chamberlain Manufacturing Corp. in Scranton, the 83-year-old West Scranton resident left with what he calls a “pretty good” pension to supplement the monthly check he receives from Social Security.

“If I didn’t have the pension, I don’t think I could make it,” Mr. Weber said. “I don’t know how some of these people do it when all they have is Social Security, and they are only getting $800 or $900 a month. I have no idea how they make it.”

For many of them, making it will become more difficult after the Social Security Administration announced Tuesday beneficiaries will get a cost-of-living bump of just 0.3 percent in their checks next year. That means the average retired worker who now receives $1,355 per month will see a $5 increase to $1,360. The average benefit for other recipients, such as disabled workers, spouses and children, is somewhat lower.

Tens of thousands of people across Northeast Pennsylvania are among the more than 60 million Americans who are affected.

As he waited for lunch one day last week at the West Side Active Older Adult Community Center in Scranton, Mr. Weber said his pension is enough to pay his rent at the Scranton Housing Authority’s nearby Jackson Heights complex and some of his insurance costs. His Social Security has to cover everything else.

Mr. Weber had hoped for a cost-of-living adjustment of at least 2.5 or 3 percent to help him keep up after recipients got no increase in 2016. It will be the fifth consecutive year he and other older Americans have had to settle for historically low increases.

“Prescriptions go up. Food goes up. Electric goes up. Everything goes up except the retirees’ Social Security. People who depend on it have to make a choice — Do I eat? Do I pay my rent? Do I buy my medications? — and that’s not fair,” he said.

Carole Lameo, 70, spent 25 years in the Lackawanna County sheriff’s office before retiring in 1989 as the county’s first and only female chief deputy and later moved to Raleigh, North Carolina, with her husband, Paul.

After he died in 2013, she returned to Scranton and bought a home in the same West Side neighborhood where she grew up. She gets a small county pension but relies mostly on her Social Security.

“It’s just enough to get me from month to month — barely,” she said. “Especially with owning a property, paying all the utilities, the taxes and then trying to keep up with an automobile and the gas for it, there is not much else left to be able to enjoy life.”

Like others, Mrs. Lameo is looking for ways to trim expenses. She participates in senior bus trips but can longer afford to travel as much as she and her husband did when he was alive and drawing his own pension and Social Security.

“When you go to the grocery store, you’re not going to buy everything that you really want,” she said. “You have to cut back.”

She said the few extra dollars she will receive each month from Social Security next year will not even be enough to cover the increase in her Medicare Part B premiums. She has already received notice that those premiums will jump “$20 and some change” every three months in 2017.

“Where do you get that?” she asked.

At the Area Agency on Aging of Luzerne and Wyoming Counties’ Charles T. Adams Center on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre, seniors had mixed reactions to the paltry increase.

“Could they spare it?” asked Patricia Gowan, an 80-year-old Wilkes-Barre resident. “It should be a little more. They could spare a little more. A lot of people have to live on what they get. People really need it.”

Another Wilkes-Barre resident, Elizabeth Stella, 85, said she thinks $5 a month is a “good raise.”

“If you ask for too much, it’s going to ruin the system,” she said. “I think $5 is fair.”

Joe Esposito, 74, who works as a nutrition manager at the center, said the small raise “stinks.” It is “not realistic,” he said, as the price of everything else, except gasoline, already went up.

Mr. Esposito said his Social Security check is a big part of his monthly income and his current part-time job as nutrition manager helps him to make ends meet.

“Otherwise between insurance and hospitalization, you’re done,” he said. “It’s not going to get any better. I feel sorry for a lot of (senior citizens) because it’s a toss-up between getting medicine and eating. ... Each year, you have to keep making adjustments because each year there is less and less.”

Donald Taylor, a cancer survivor who retired from the U.S. Naval Base in Philadelphia and now works as activities coordinator at the Adams Center, said the small raise isn’t fair for people who worked for years and paid a percentage of their earnings into Social Security.

“It’s not fair at all for us to get $5 more,” Mr. Taylor said. “What are we going to get? A loaf of bread and 75 cents of bologna and 75 cents of cheese? That’s it.”

Grace Zanghi, 77, who worked as a receptionist at Universal Printing Co. in Dunmore before retiring six years ago, said the small increase could hasten a decision she would rather not have to make.

Almost four years ago, health concerns prompted Mrs. Zanghi to move out of her two-story home in West Scranton and into a more manageable apartment at Jackson Heights.

Unable to find a buyer for the home, she rented it instead. That provided enough money to cover the mortgage and taxes on the property while she got by on her Social Security and a tiny monthly payment she receives from her late husband’s pension.

“It’s a fine balancing act,” she said.

However, she recently lost her tenant and is anxious to find someone else to rent the home or, ideally, to buy it. If that doesn’t happen, she will have to consider walking away and letting the bank take the home, especially knowing her Social Security is going to remain relatively flat.

“It’s hard. It’s really hard,” Mrs. Zanghi said. “We’ll go along and see how things progress, but I won’t let myself get in the hole completely. If I have to leave it go, I will.”

She said she doesn’t like complaining “because I know there are a lot of people who are worse off than me.” At the same time, she said, the fact she and other Social Security recipients are getting only a 0.3 percent increase should make no one proud.

“It’s a tight budget. That’s the gist of it,” Mrs. Zanghi said. “But we’ll survive. We’re a hardy bunch.”

Contact the writers: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com, dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com

Republican nominee Donald Trump’s daughter-in-law, Lara Trump, will visit Clarks Summit this evening, and other locations in Wayne and Wyoming Counties earlier in the day.

Mrs. Trump will attend the Wyoming County Republican Committee Fall Dinner at Tunkhannock’s Triton Hose Company beginning at 1 p.m.

She’ll then attend the Wayne County Republican Women’s Gala at the Central House Family Resort in Beach Lake at 3:30.

The Lackawanna County event, held at the Trump for President Northeast PA Campaign Office, 701 N. State St., Clarks Summit, begins at 6:30 p.m.

— JEFF HORVATH

As soon as she saw the poufy pink, white and purple cake costume, Antonella Telipski knew what her 5-year-old daughter, Julia, would be for Halloween this year.

The Moosic residents were the first to see the get-up — with layers of polka-dot and striped icing and two rows of white, orange and purple cupcakes adorned with spiders — as an employee took it out of storage at the Once Upon A Child consignment shop in Dickson City.

After they snatched it up, Julia predicted she would win an award at the second annual Electric City Trolley Museum Halloween Fest costume contest. Her words were prophetic, as judges picked the cupcake/cake outfit as prettiest costume Saturday after a group returned from one of three trolley rides to PNC Field.

Julia imagined her costume cake was chocolate underneath the white icing.

“This is the first time she got to wear it, but we have more Halloween events coming up in the next week or two,” Ms. Telipski said.

Among other entries, children came dressed as an eclectic group of characters, including Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump, Harry Potter, Darth Vader, princesses, race-car drivers, superheroes and cowboys.

They played games, including a race to deposit marshmallow “ghost poop” into bowls, pinning warts on a witch’s face and a spiderweb walk.

Kali Santiago, 3, took full advantage of all the art-and-craft options. She made a sock puppy, painted a pumpkin and created a monster out of construction paper with vampire teeth, whiskers and googly-eyes.

Kali didn’t have much time for an interview, as she got a balloon-sword with a skeleton hugging it and joined 2-year-old Scranton resident Matthew Mulshenock in dancing to acoustic guitar and banjo music by Jim Cullen and Jack Bordo.

Tom Bartley, who works part time at the trolley museum, coordinated the event and estimated festivities drew at least as many people as last year’s 150-person-plus crowd.

Festivities will continue Oct. 29-30 with five trolley rides each day at 9:30 and 11 a.m., and 12:30, 2 and 3:30 p.m. The trolleys will be decorated for Halloween. Adults ride for $6; children ride for $4.

“Children on the trolley will be offered either a trick or treat,” Mr. Bartley noted.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter

The Scranton School Board has a Dec. 1 deadline to make a decision on a $40 million bond acquired last year to avoid default.

Directors are expected to pass a resolution Monday to refund the 2015 bond, in an effort to save money. Through refinancing, the district could lock in a lower interest rate for the remaining nine years of the bond’s term, said Michael Judge, president of CaseCon Capital, the district’s financial consultant. The current interest rate is 4 percent.

The board does not yet know any fees that might be associated with the deal.

In December, when the state budget impasse halted all state funding, the district was unable to repay two loans due by the end of 2015. After going to court to secure the option to borrow $31.2 million, the district faced more challenges after ratings agency Standard & Poor’s withdrew the district’s credit rating because of the budget impasse.

Borrowing consolidated

Just days before default, the district secured the $40.5 million bond, which consolidated the court-approved borrowing with a bond the district approved in September. Along with paying off two tax anticipation notes that were due at the end of the year, the bond created a district health care trust — which the district borrowed from to balance the 2016 budget.

The district has 10 years to pay back the $40 million and must refund or remarket the bond by Dec. 1.

While the district still does not have an underlying credit rating, Mr. Judge said he anticipates the district soon will receive a rating based on the state’s intercept program.

The program, in which the district is enrolled, allows the state to withhold subsidy payments from a district that fails to make a debt payment.

The school board meets Monday at 6:30 p.m. in the boardroom of the Administration Building, 425 N. Washington Ave.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

SANCTUARY: House Bill 1885 would withhold state funding to municipalities that adopt sanctuary policies for illegal immigrants. The House approved the measure 136-55 and sent it to the Senate. A yes vote supported the bill.

Voting yes: Reps. Karen Boback, R-117, Harveys Lake; Rosemary Brown, R-189, Middle Smithfield Twp.; Neal Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City; Doyle Heffley, R-122, Lower Towamensing Twp.; Aaron Kaufer, R-120, Kingston; Jerry Knowles, R-124, Tamaqua; Sandra Major, R-111, Bridgewater Twp.; Gerald Mullery, D-119, Newport Twp.; David Parker, R-115, Stroud Twp.; Mike Peifer, R-139, Greene Twp.; Tina Pickett, R-110, Towanda; Jack Rader, R-176, Jackson Twp.; Mike Tobash, R-124, Pottsville; Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp.

Voting no: Reps. Mike Carroll, D-118, Avoca; Frank Farina, D-112, Jessup; Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton; Sid Michaels Kavulich, D-114, Taylor; Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre.

PETS: House Bill 1516 would make it illegal to leave a dog or cat unattended in a hot vehicle. The House approved the measure 192-0 and sent it to the Senate. A yes vote supported the bill.

Voting yes: Reps. Boback, Brown, Carroll, Farina, Flynn, Goodman, Heffley, Kaufer, Kavulich, Knowles, Major, Mullery, Parker, Pashinski, Peifer, Pickett, Rader, Tobash, Toohil.

GUNS: Senate Bill 1330 would expand the definition of legal standing to challenge municipal firearms ordinances. The Senate approved the measure 30-19 and sent it to the House. A yes vote supported the bill.

Voting yes: Sens. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua; Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp.; John Gordner, R-27, Berwick; Mario Scavello, R-40 Mount Pocono; Gene Yaw, R-23, Williamsport; John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Twp.

Voting no: Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald.

ENVIRONMENT: Senate Resolution 385 authorizes a legislative study to identify and analyze which state environmental laws and rules are more stringent than federal ones. The Senate adopted the resolution 27-21.

Voting yes: Sens. Argall, Baker, Gordner, Scavello; Yaw, Yudichak

Voting no: Sen. Blake.

— COMPILED BY TIMES-SHAMROCK HARRISBURG BUREAU

HARRISBURG — The effort to legalize slot casinos in Pennsylvania was a knock-down drag-out fight that occupied the first 18 months of Gov. Ed Rendell’s administration.

The battle culminated during the Fourth of July weekend in 2004, when the enabling legislation was passed during an all-night legislative session.

The creation of the pot of local share gambling money was the result of both a policy decision and a carrot to get the necessary votes to pass the casino legislation, a former lawmaker told the House Gaming Oversight Committee this week.

Mario Civera testified before the committee in his role as chairman of the Delaware County Council. He said restoring the local share assessment that casinos pay is very important to the county’s budget. Mr. Civera capped a 30-year legislative career as House Appropriations chairman in 2010.

Mr. Civera returned to Harrisburg because he knows that getting lawmakers to vote to restore the assessment won’t be easy.

The issue suddenly landed on the legislative agenda when the state Supreme Court ruled last month that the way casinos are taxed for local share assessments is unconstitutional. The court ruled in favor of Mount Airy Casino Resort’s complaint that casinos generating less revenue than others pay a heavier tax burden under the current assessment. The court gave lawmakers until Jan. 26 to find a solution that passes constitutional muster.

On that summer weekend in 2004, supporters of slots casinos were short of the votes needed to pass the bill, said Mr. Civera.

Opponents warned of the negative consequences from the arrival of big-time gambling with addiction problems, crime, traffic, human services needs and the spread of neighborhood blight. They pointed to the deterioration of Atlantic City since casinos arrived there in the 1970s.

“We had to convince the opponents the impact (of Pennsylvania casino) wouldn’t be as severe,” said Mr. Civera. “What better idea than to share the wealth.”

Thus, the idea of a local share assessment to help host and neighboring municipalities cope with the impact of a casino was born.

The concept of having a share of casino revenue go to local municipalities — instead of it all going to Harrisburg — was revived with the 2012 law creating the impact fee for natural gas drillers.

The Mount Airy ruling threatens to upend a revenue distribution system that’s been in place since the casinos opened their doors.

Lawmakers representing “have-not districts” that don’t receive a local share asked why they should vote for a replacement assessment that keeps the status quo.

Some of them have been waiting years for a chance to redo the local share assessment. The court ruling has given them an opportunity.

Contact the writer:

rswift@timesshamrock.com

Native Scrantonians broke bread Saturday with members of the Congolese refugee community, some of their newest neighbors, at a Scranton Cultural Center-hosted charity dinner.

Around 200 people, some speaking English and others speaking the Democratic Republic of Congo’s native French, chatted over traditional African dishes like Congolese beans, fufu and pondu — a stew of cassava leaves flavored with vegetables, peanut powder, red palm oil and dried, smoked fish.

These dishes and others made up the menu at the Global Tastes of Scranton dinner, the proceeds of which benefit Catholic Social Services’ refugee resettlement program.

“We’re grateful to Scranton’s Congolese community that have shared with us new and delicious food, a rich and beautiful culture, and, most importantly, they’ve shown us what courage and resilience is,” said Julie Schumacher Cohen, director of community and government relations at the University of Scranton — one of several organizations that worked to host the event.

Around 150 Congolese refugees make up one of Scranton’s newest ethnic groups, seeking asylum in the Electric City from war and conflict in their native land.

Some came to Northeast Pennsylvania directly from the DRC, while others came by way of refugee camps in countries like Uganda, Zambia and South Africa.

Several at Saturday’s dinner expressed their gratitude toward the city, where they now work, live and attend school.

“It shows us the hospitality that people here in Scranton have,” refugee and youth leader Fred Mukelo said. “We’ve been in different refugee camps in different countries. ... We have those from Rwanda, Libya, Zambia ... also Tanzania.”

Mr. Mukelo, who came to Scranton by way of Uganda, praised the opportunity the area offers.

“We really feel we’ve found a home, because most of the children are going to good schools,” he said. “I can say, being here gives us the opportunity to work as youths, something that is very difficult (in) the countries where we came from.”

Edge Bambi Kazadi, who has been in Scranton for 14 months and who helped prepare the traditional meal, was also grateful.

“I give big thanks to the mayor of Scranton for (welcoming) us here as refugees,” Ms. Bambi Kazadi said. “I like being together. Everyone was welcoming, so I feel at home.”

Before the dinner, Mayor Bill Courtright greeted the Congolese guests.

“Our families were all immigrants who came to this city, and, to me, that’s what makes Scranton great,” Mr. Courtright said. “I want you to feel welcome, and we do welcome you. We welcome everybody who wants to come into our community, because this is what makes us great.”

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com, @jhorvathTT on Twitter

Authorities recovered 506 packets of heroin, a box of AK-47 ammunition and a black ski mask among items found during a search of an accused drug dealer’s car in Dunmore, police said Saturday.

In a criminal complaint filed Friday night, Dunmore Detective Corey Condrad described events that led to borough police and officers from the Lackawanna County Drug Task Force arresting 26-year-old Pittston resident Leron A. Ellis.

The detective outlined a Friday meeting with a confidential informant who told him about a “multiple-brick heroin dealer” — a brick of heroin is 50 bags — who goes by the street alias “L” and drives a black Ford Edge SUV with New Jersey plates.

The informant agreed to allow police to intercept cellphone communications with “L,” ordered heroin from one of two phone numbers the informant provided to police and set up a meeting at the Scottish Inn to complete the sale.

Police set up surveillance and stopped a Ford Edge at 4:30 p.m. when the informant pointed out the SUV as it approached, the detective said.

“Officers approached the vehicle and ordered ‘L’ out of the vehicle,” Detective Condrad wrote. “‘L’ then exited the vehicle and ignored officers’ commands to get on the ground. (An officer) observed ‘L’ begin to reach toward the inside of the vehicle.”

At that point, police subdued Mr. Ellis with a Taser, took him into custody and recovered a cellphone from his hand. When police asked if he had anything illegal in his vehicle, Mr. Ellis responded he had heroin in a backpack in the back seat.

Police reported recovering 506 glassine bags of suspected heroin that were stamped “Rolex” and “justice” from the backpack, along with Winchester 7.62 ammunition, the ski mask and a digital scale. They also recovered $741 in cash from Mr. Ellis.

Dunmore Police Chief Sal Marchese also recovered several rifle rounds and a rifle flash break from the rear spare tire compartment, the document said.

Mr. Ellis, of 14B E. Oak St., faces several charges, including the felonies of criminal attempt to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and prohibited acts.

Mr. Ellis was confined to Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter

K9 named

MotorWorld Toyota announced that Wilkes-Barre Police Chief Marcella Lendacky chose the name, “Chase” for the new Wilkes-Barre Police K9. The name was chosen as part of a naming contest, and Seth Gulich, of Tunkhannock, was the winner. He was randomly selected from all contestants who submitted the name “Chase.” Mr. Gulich will receive $500 in Visa gift cards. The MotorWorld K9 Naming Contest launched in early August. In July, MotorWorld Toyota donated $15,000 to the Wilkes-Barre Police Department to secure a new police dog for the K9 unit.

Cancer center opens: The Commonwealth Health Cancer Center at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital held a grand opening and ribbon cutting. The Cancer Center offers the latest in radiation treatment with the TrueBeam Linear Accelerator, the first of its kind in Luzerne County.

Call for applications: The American Advertising Federation of NEPA is seeking nonprofit applications for its inaugural Cropped 2016 fundraising event, to be held at Wilkes-Barre’s THINK Center on Monday, Nov. 21. The event is a live advertising competition, much like the Food Network show “Chopped,” where four teams of local creatives will be assembled to compete against each other. Applications can be completed online by visiting http://aafnepa.org/cropped-benefit-competition/. Applicants can also download the form and submit by email to info@

aafnepa.org, or mail to AAF Northeast Pennsylvania PO Box 262 Scranton, PA 18501. The deadline for applications is Nov. 8.

Motorworld makes donation: MotorWorld Auto Group made a $400 donation to the Luzerne County Down Syndrome Network’s 12th annual Buddy Walk. The donation will be used to purchase an iPad mini that will be raffled off at the walk.

Grass pellet production: Larry Hartpence of Hartpence Farms in Moscow, announced he is bringing a grass pellet manufacturing facility to Lackawanna County. The pelleting operation was originally in Wells Bridge, New York, and operated as Enviro Energy by the Bob Miller Family. He plans to move the equipment this fall and reassemble it in the spring.

Business celebrates anniversary: Crystal Window & Door Systems PA celebrated its first full year in Northeast Pennsylvania with an anniversary open house. In the past year, the company has renovated a significant portion of the building, started producing windows and hired almost 50 employees.

Winners announced: The Greater Hazleton Chamber of Commerce announced the winners of its annual 2016 Business and Community Awards. Winners include: Small Business of the Year Award to Eckley Miners Village and Fyzical Therapy & Balance Center; the Large Business of the Year Award to Berger Family Dealerships; the Rocco Colangleo Sr. Volunteer of the Year Award to Joseph Clark; Pride of Place Award to Heritage Hill Senior Community; the Healthy Workplace of the Year to Gonnella Frozen Products; the Green Business of the Year award to American Eagle Outfitters; the Young Entrepreneurs of the Year Award to Matthew Nause, owner of Nause Landscaping. In addition to the business and community awards, the women’s networking committee will be awarding the recipients of their annual Women’s Empowerment Grants. Recipients of this year’s Women’s Empowerment Grants are: Jessica Ann Enriquez, currently pursuing a certification through Childbirth International; Deunizel S. Dela Rosa, currently pursuing an LPN degree from Penn State Hazleton; and Lesley Piacente currently pursuing a Bachelors of Applied Science from Northampton Community College.

Association addressed: PA State House Rep. Aaron Kaufer addressed members of the newly merged Building Industry Association and the Lackawanna Home Builders Association about pending legislation and concerns affecting the home building and remodeling industry. Mr. Kaufer answered questions from members of the Northeast Home Building Association, and offered his assistance on upcoming legislation.

Grant supports food program: Guthrie’s Community Benefit Grant Program awarded $4,600 to Sayre-based Church of the Redeemer in support of its distribution work with the Healthy Foods, Healthy Families program. The initiative is committed to reducing food insecurities for families. Funds will be used to purchase an additional refrigerator, freezer and other small equipment to store and distribute healthy foods to families identified by the program.

Acess Services expands: Access Services is increasing opportunities for individuals with developmental disabilities to live in supportive family settings through Lifesharing in Monroe County. The program supports individuals with developmental disabilities living with qualified, trained host families.

University receives grant: The National Science Foundation will give $4 million to East Stroudsburg University — the largest single grant ever awarded to the university — to help transfer students complete their education at ESU in the fields of science, technology and math.

Health system joins initiative: Geisinger Health System has been named as one of four new health care provider organizations to participate in the Precision Medicine Initiative Cohort Program to help build a nationwide million-person strong study. Geisinger will operate as an enrollment center to help create a diverse research cohort for the PMI Cohort Program, a research effort that aims to engage 1 million or more U.S. participants to improve our ability to prevent and treat disease based on individual differences in lifestyle, environment and genetics. Combined, the four new HPOs will receive initial funds of $5.5 million to begin recruitment and build infrastructure.

Loyalty program expands: The Bon-Ton Stores Inc. has expanded its customer loyalty program with its new LoveStyle Rewards. Shoppers can now earn rewards any way they pay when they shop at Bon-Ton Stores. With the new LoveStyle Rewards program, a customer who spends $200 with a third-party credit card, cash, check or gift card, will receive a $10 LoveStyle rewards card. Customers who spend $200 with a YOUR REWARDS credit card will receive a $20 rewards card.

Markets donate to food banks: Giant Food Stores’ and Martin’s Food Markets’ customers donated $588,075 during the annual Bag Hunger campaign, held during the month of September in all stores, to support local and regional food banks in four states.

New undergraduate degree: Wilkes University’s College of Science and Engineering announced a new undergraduate bachelor of science degree in geology. Wilkes’ geology major combines traditional elements required for graduate school admission and professional licensing with modern elements desired by industrial employment sectors.

SUBMIT BUSINESS BUZZ items to business@times-shamrock.com or The Times- Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

Classic Properties

Zach Manganella has joined the Kingston office. Mr. Manganella is a native of Northeast Pa., and earned a bachelor’s degree in business and his recent real estate education from Penn State University.

The Commonwealth Medical College

Ida Castro, J.D., vice president for government and community relations and chief diversity officer at the college, was named a Distinguished Daughters of Pennsylvania by Gov. Tom Wolf and first lady Frances Wolf.

Ms. Castro was honored for her body of work as an advocate for disadvantaged youth and for the rights of minorities and working men and women. At the college, she designed and now delivers the Regional Education Academy for Careers in Health — Higher Education Initiative program, meant to help students with little means, many of whom would be the first generation to attend college, to achieve their dreams of working in healthcare. Several graduates of the program are now medical students at the college. She serves on the Scranton Area Community Foundation and is the co-founder of Women in Philanthropy. She is an honorary board member of EOTC, and serves on the United Neighborhood Centers board in Scranton. In Wilkes-Barre, she serves on the board of Leadership Wilkes-Barre and Schools and Home in Education.

Geisinger

Community

Medical Center

Manish Doshi, M.D., and Amit Sharma, M.D., MPH, have recently joined medical center as infectious disease specialists. Dr. Doshi and Dr. Sharma join Pragya Dhaubhadel, M.D., in the infectious disease program, and will see patients at the hospital’s Multi Specialty Clinic. Both specialists treat a variety of infections, including those caused by bacteria, viruses, fungi and parasites.

Board certified in internal medicine and infectious disease, Dr. Doshi earned his medical degree from the School of Medicine at St. George’s University, Grenanda, West Indies, and Livingston and Newark, New Jersey. He completed an internal medicine residency through Drexel University College of Medicine at Hahnemann University Hospital, Philadelphia, and an infectious diseases fellowship at the Lewis Katz School of Medicine at Temple University, Philadelphia.

Board certified in internal medicine, Dr. Sharma earned his medical degree from Maharashtra Institute of Medical Education and Research, India. He then completed an internal medicine residency and an infectious disease fellowship at State University of New York (SUNY), Syracuse, New York.

Shazad Shaikh, M.D., joined the medical center as an orthopedic surgeon. Dr. Shaikh specializes in treating sports-related injuries and conditions, such as bone and soft tissue injuries, including rotator cuff tears, shoulder labral tears and other over-use sports injuries. In addition, he will perform shoulder and knee arthroscopies, knee and ligament reconstruction, meniscus repairs and meniscectomies. Dr. Shaikh earned his medical degree from Chicago Medical School. He completed his residency in orthopedic surgery at Stony Brook University Hospital, Brooklyn, New York, and most recently completed a one-year fellowship in orthopedic surgery at Houston Methodist Hospital, Texas.

King’s College

Robin Field, Ph.D., associate professor of English and director of Center for Excellence in Learning and Teaching, was named a Fellow of the 2016 National Endowment for the Humanities Summer Seminar, titled “Exploring American Democracy with Alexis de Tocqueville as Guide,” held at the University of Virginia. In addition, Dr. Field co-edited the June 2016 issue on “New Directions in South Asian Canadian Literature and Culture” in the academic journal “South Asian Review.” A faculty member at since 2006, Dr. Field earned a bachelor’s degree from Cornell University and a doctorate from the University of Virginia.

Misericordia

University

Michael R. Simons has been named study abroad coordinator at the university. In this position, he will oversee all facets of the study abroad program, including the development, facilitation and promotion of study abroad and experiential education opportunities for students. This includes developing and evaluating international study opportunities at partner institutions, and advising students on international programs that can advance their academic, career and personal goals. Mr. Simons has worked in the field of international education for the past 25 years. He is a member of the Pennsylvania Council for International Education, where he served on the executive board and as state conference cochairman.

Darlene Kuchinski-Donnelly, Ph.D. candidate, C.R.N.P., R.N.C., assistant professor of nursing at the university, has been selected by the National League of Nursing as a Jonas Scholar for the 2016-17 academic year, which provides financial support to select Ph.D. candidates as they work to complete their doctoral dissertations. Ms. Donnelly and six other recipients were acknowledged by National League of Nursing executive leaders and Jonas family members during a luncheon at the National League of Nursing 2016 Education Beyond Boundaries Summit held in Orlando, Florida. She is working toward her doctorate degree at Widener University, Chester.

The university and the Conference for Mercy Higher Education elected Jody G. Cordaro, of Moscow, and Harris Cutler, of Scranton, to three-year terms on the university’s board of trustees.

Mr. Cordaro is president of SCE Environmental Group Inc., which manages environmental remediation projects, large-scale demolition, asbestos abatement and oil and gas services. He has built 28 years of business leadership experience in the environmental, construction and real estate industries, both domestically and internationally. He is experienced in strategic and operational analysis, mergers and acquisitions and business and organizational development. In the community, Mr. Cordaro is the treasurer of Marley’s Mission.

Mr. Cutler is president of Race-West Co. and Philip G. Ball Co., headquartered in Clarks Summit. Race-West works with produce growers in order to deliver a wide array of fruits and vegetables to premium receivers throughout the United States. He has worked in the produce business since he was 15 years old. Mr. Cutler also is the president of Sparky’s Transportation Corp., a freight contracting company based in Clarks Summit. In the community, Mr. Cutler serves as vice president of the Jewish Community Center, Scranton; as a board member of the Foundation for the Jewish Elderly in Northeastern Pennsylvania, as a member of the executive board of the Jewish Home of Eastern Pennsylvania, Scranton; and on the board of directors of the Friends of the Poor, Scranton. He also serves on the advisory board of the Drexel University Center for Hospitality and Sport Management. In addition, he is one of the founding board members of Northeast Foster Care, Wilkes-Barre, and was a founding board member and former president of Elan Gardens. Mr. Cutler earned a bachelor’s degree in business management from Temple University, Philadelphia, with a focus in marketing and business law.

The board of trustees also recognized the service and leadership that long-time board members Scott Dagenais and William C. Williams. Mr. Dagenais and Mr. Williams retired from the board after serving from 2007-16.

The university has been selected to host Dale-Elizabeth Pehrsson, a 2016-17 American Council on Education fellow, for a yearlong fellowship. At the university, Dr. Pehrsson is being mentored by President Thomas J. Botzman, Ph.D., along with Charles Brody, Ph.D., vice president of Academic Affairs, and Susan Helwig, vice president of University Advancement. She will participate in meetings and events on campus to learn about leadership in higher education. Dr. Pehrsson is a professor and dean of the College of Education and Human Services at Central Michigan University, Mount Pleasant, Michigan. Dr. Pehrsson earned a baccalaureate degree in liberal science studies from the State University of New York, Albany, New York, and a master’s degree in counseling and a master’s degree in education, as well as a doctoral degree in counselor education and counseling, from Idaho State University, Pocatello, Idaho. She is a nationally certified counselor and approved clinical supervisor, and is also licensed in Idaho as a professional counselor-supervisor and clinical professional counselor/advanced. In addition, Dr. Pehrsson has experience in health care.

NEPA Alliance

Noble C. “Bud” Quandel has been appointed the new board chairman for fiscal year 2016-18. Mr. Quandel serves as chairman and chief executive officer of Quandel Enterprises Inc., located in Minersville. Under his management, the company has grown to operate within a geographical area that encompasses the Mid-Atlantic region, Illinois, Minnesota, Kentucky and Ohio. Mr. Quandel is currently constructing and/or managing in excess of 100 projects worth more than $1 billion. He earned a Bachelor of Science degree from Bloomsburg University, and also served as a staff sergeant in a military police company. Mr. Quandel is affiliated with the Northeast Pennsylvania Alliance, Mid Penn Bancorp, Schuylkill YMCA, General Contractors Association of Pennsylvania, Minersville Area Community Improvement Committee, Schuylkill Firefighters Association, Past Easter Seals of Central Pennsylvania Capital Campaign, Anti-Defamation League of B’nai B’rith, Keystone Contractors Association, Schuylkill Economic Development Corporation, Capital Region Economic Development Corporation, Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, Hawk Mountain Council/Boy Scouts of America and St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church.

Pricewaterhouse-Coopers LLP

Michael A. Zaydon, CPA, formerly of Dickson City, a senior associate in the Portfolio Valuation Specialist Group at the company in New York, New York, authored the Spring 2016 Pennsylvania CPA Journal cover story, “Know Your Millennials.” Mr. Zaydon, along with Anne Donovan, U.S. people innovation leader, co-presented “Millennials in the Workplace,” at the North Eastern States Tax Officials Association annual conference in Hershey. Mr. Zaydon is a 2012 magna cum laude graduate of the University of Scranton with B.S. degrees in accounting and philosophy.

Weinstein &

Zimmerman

Attorney John Campo participated as a volunteer attorney at the Pike County Bar Association’s Wills for Heroes program at the Pike County Emergency Training Center in Lord’s Valley. The program was created in response to Sept. 11, 2001. Mr. Campo donated his time to prepare estate documents for heroes, including veterans and first responders, such as police, fire, ambulance and EMT workers. Mr. Campo earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in philosophy from East Stroudsburg University. He received his juris doctorate from Florida Coastal School of Law in Jacksonville, Florida, with a concentration in International and Comparative Law. He holds certifications and memberships in NACDL, PACDL, Pennsylvania Bar Association, as well as the Pike County Bar. He is currently licensed to practice law in the state of Pennsylvania.

Western &

Southern Life Insurance Co.

Jared Matushoneck has been named a registered representative at the company. This allows him to fully help his clients with both their investment and life insurance needs. Mr. Matushoneck is responsible for driving profitable growth and new sales. He holds FINRA registrations 6 and 63 and is life, health and variable licensed in Pennsylvania.

Wilkes University

Brian Dalton, Ph.D., has been appointed vice president for enrollment services. He joined the university on Oct. 10. Dr. Dalton will oversee recruitment of undergraduate and graduate students, supervising the undergraduate admissions and graduate admissions staffs. He formerly served as vice president for enrollment and college relations at Allegheny College in Meadville. He earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in political science and a master of public administration from Gannon University. He earned a doctorate in education administration from the University of Texas at Austin.

Wilkes-Barre

General Hospital

Douglas S. Coslett, M.D., of Harveys Lake, has been named chief medical officer at the hospital. Dr. Coslett graduated summa cum laude from King’s College, and earned a medical degree from the Sidney Kimmel School of Medicine at Thomas Jefferson University, Philadelphia. He completed a residency at Lankenau Hospital, Wynnewood. Dr. Coslett served as a board member and president of the medical staff at the hospital, and was on its medical executive committee for seven years, serving as chairman of the credentials committee and as a physician mentor for high reliability and safety.

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

A good night’s sleep shouldn’t be expensive, says Justin Amendolaro.

The Dunmore native, a serial entrepreneur who owns the Amendolaro jewelry shop on Spruce Street in Scranton and two area window tinting companies, opened the Scranton Mattress Co. earlier this month near the corner of Spruce Street and North Washington Avenue.

“I’m calling it a mattress boutique,” he said.

He sells two U.S.-based manufacturers’ mattresses, Symbol Mattress and U.S. Pedic, which both boast that low overhead and light marketing budgets help keep prices much lower than mainstream brands.

Most mattresses in his store cost about one-third of comparable models by brands like Tempur-Pedic and Simmons Beautyrest, he says. A basic queen-sized mattress with pillow top, the Hampton by Symbol with box spring, costs $600. Mattresses from both brands come with a 10-year, non pro-rated warranty.

“We’re still family owned after over 55 years,” said Susan Moran, a senior account representative for Symbol Mattress, which has a factory in Reading. She’s worked directly with Mr. Amendolaro for the last two years.

“We’ve built a good relationship, and obviously now that he’s opening the shop, we can hopefully do some more business together,” she said.

Mr. Amendolaro started selling mattresses and other furniture more than eight years ago, but until now, only through catalogs.

If customers wanted to try out one, he took them to a dusty warehouse in Green Ridge, dropped a mattress and box spring on the ground, and threw on a bedsheet. If they liked it, he ordered them a new mattress from the catalog. The manufacturer built it and shipped from the factory a few days later.

A showroom in the heart of downtown is leaps and bounds better than that, he said. Behind large picture windows off the sidewalk, mattresses on bedframes (also for sale) line the walls.

Scranton Mattress Co. also fills a long-vacant storefront in the heart of Scranton, just catty-corner from Courthouse Square and a few doors up from his jewelry shop, that was once outfitted to be a frozen yogurt shop, but sat empty for years.

Mr. Amendolaro, 37, got a taste for small business ownership out of necessity. He had dabbled with selling auto parts online, and once helped a former Scranton furniture dealer set up his online store, but things got serious when he lost his day job at a critical time.

“Two months before my son was born, I got let go,” he said. “I needed money, and I needed it fast.”

In 2011, he bought a Boost Mobile cell phone franchise in Dunmore, and he did well there. Using extra space in the back, he sold jewelry and watches. He also sold furniture and mattresses out of catalogs as Elite Home Furnishings and Gifts, a company he still maintains.

“It was weird,” he said, but it also worked. And it slowly grew.

He spends his days bouncing between businesses. He talks fast, but calm, while he takes calls on assorted cell phones guiding customers and coordinating with employees.

He remembers getting one of his first major product lines, G-Shock watches, to sign him on as a dealer.

“If G-Shock ever saw the place I had, they would have never given me the brand,” he said. “I got lucky with a lot of things.”

In the ensuing years, he moved downtown and spun off the “gifts” part of his business as the Amendolaro jewelry and accessory shop.

A packed display case of the trendy, rugged designer watches greets every customer who walks in, and a wide-faced G-Shock watch adorns his own wrist.

He stands behind, and lays on top of, his brands — he also has a Symbol mattress at home.

“You spend half your life sleeping,” he said. “You might as well get something that’s good.”

Contact the writer: joconnell@timesshamrock.com, @jon_oc on Twitter

Scranton women

present Isaacs

Patti Greco is the 2016 M. Isaacs Award recipient. Patti received the highest honor given by the Country Club of Scranton Women’s Golf Association during its annual closing awards dinner. Created in 1989, it rewards women who have the qualities needed to be golfers. “It embodies individuality within a group, and it requires unsurpassed sportsmanship, loyalty and honesty on and off the golf course,” according to a release from the group.

Jane Riggi is the association chairwoman; Mary Sweeney, vice chairwoman; Erin Donahue, second vice chairwoman and secretary, and Susan Foley , treasurer.

The group enjoyed an evening of cocktails and dinner that started with hors d’oeuvres, including smoked tomato and gouda bisque with cheddar grilled cheese triangles and included honey-glazed grilled chicken breast over butternut squash risotto, and roasted acorn squash stuffed with roasted fall vegetables, capped off by pumpkin roll with Manning’s cinnamon ice cream.

At the dinner

Members and guests attending the golf association dinner included Pat Atkins, Lisa Best, Carol Chisdak, Yvonne Cronkey, Erin Donahue, Barbara Erhard, Lois Farrell, Sandy Feather, Susan Foley, Diana Giallorenzi, Marilyn Grad, Caroline Hartman, Eleanor Jones, Kathi Lee, Merry Lynch, Norina Lynott, Katie Marquardt, Sally Marquardt, Annie McDonough, Ellen Mesko, Diane Moody, Sherry Moore, Kathy Murphy, Cindy Neubert, Julie Nicholas, Sally O’Brien, Noel O’Brien, Maureen Perrotti, Barbara Perry, Carla Pompey, Letha Reinheimer, Jane Riggi, Amy Ross, June Sarnowski, Diane Scandale, Karen Sproul, Maura Swatkowski, Mary Sweeney, Debbie Their, Cheryl Tierney, Jane VanHorn, Kathy Walker, Sherry Wall, Kit Weinschenk, Cathy Wendolowski, Holly Withee and Christine Yi .

High notes

Denise Vitali Burne and Nada Jennings Gilmartin will be honored and special recognition will be given to the Friendship House when the Lackawanna County Commission for Women conducts its annual Legislative Breakfast on Tuesday at La Buona Vita in Dunmore. Committee members planning the event include Donna Barbetti, commission president; Marilyn Vitali Flynn, secretary; Joann Arduino, Sister Maryla Farfour, Rebecca Munley, and Kris Pocius.