Tickets on sale for St. Pat's banquet

PITTSTON - The Greater Pittston Friendly Sons of St. Patrick announced the lineup for its 99th annual St. Patrick's Day Banquet.

State police Commissioner Frank Noonan will be the principal speaker, with James "Jay" Duffy as the grand marshal, William "Billy" Anzalone as the banquet's general chairman and Jarrett J. Ferentino as the toastmaster.

The banquet will be held at the Woodlands with cocktail hour starting at 5:30 p.m. and a prime rib dinner to follow.

Tickets are $65 for adults and $50 for guests under 21 years old. They can be purchased from any active member of the group or by stopping by the Knights of Columbus in Pittston tonight from 7 to 9.

Taylor honors local Scouts

TAYLOR - Borough council honored members of a local Cub Scout troop and made a few personnel changes at Wednesday night's meeting.

Council members issued a proclamation distinguishing March 13 as a day of honor for three members of Pack 44 from Taylor. Brandon Soto, Conor Aglialoro and David Williams III were recognized for earning the Arrow of Light Award from the Cub Scouts of America.

The borough also voted to appoint Jack Robochik as a part-time clerk at the Taylor Community Center at a rate of $10 an hour, as well as appoint Councilwoman Chrissy Nehme as assistant borough secretary while the current borough secretary is out on medical leave.

City police seek burglary suspects

SCRANTON - City police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying two burglary suspects.

Police on Wednesday released images of the suspects from surveillance video at the Wal-Mart in Taylor from late February.

In that video, one suspect was wearing a gray hoodie and the other was wearing a black hooded jacket, police said. The incidents in Scranton are not related to the suspects having been at the Wal-Mart in late February, police said.

No further information was released on the burglary.

Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call 558-8440 or 558-8328. The video can be viewed at www.thetimes-tribune.com.

Wastewater agency to adjust website

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. - With construction on a $26 million wastewater treatment plant upgrade set to begin this spring, officials plan to hire a web-hosting company to redesign their website to keep residents updated on their progress.

At an Abington Regional Wastewater Authority meeting Wednesday, officials voted to hire Cleverfish of Scranton, contingent on executive director Bob Davis' determination if the technology is user-friendly. The authority would pay the company $180 per year.

Construction on what is expected to be a 30-month project is scheduled to start in May.

Man gets DUI with kids in car

NANTICOKE - A Freeland man is accused of driving drunk with his two young children in the car.

Daniel Robert Scholl, 33, of 352 Washington Blvd., is charged with aggravated assault, unauthorized use of a vehicle, resisting arrest, simple assault, endangering the welfare of a child, driving under the influence, reckless endangerment and failing to use a booster seat.

Nanticoke police say Melissa Stanton reported Mr. Scholl, her former boyfriend, had taken their two children and her car while she was at school Monday evening. Ms. Stanton also said she found an empty 375ml bottle of whiskey, police said.

Officers later found Mr. Scholl back at Ms. Stanton's home. Mr. Scholl, whom police described as belligerent and threatening, "reeked of an odor of an alcoholic beverage" and was slurring his speech, according to charges.

The car had a fresh contact mark on its front bumper and was leaking anti-freeze, police said.

Mr. Scholl was jailed at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility with bail set at $20,000.

State disciplines med professionals

WILKES-BARRE - The Pennsylvania Department of State recently announced disciplinary action against three Luzerne County medical professionals.

The state Board of Medicine said Andrew P. Flavell of Pittston was placed on permanent voluntary surrender and had a reprimand put on his record because he was guilty of "immoral or unprofessional" conduct.

The board also suspended the license of Karen A. Andrews of White Haven for at least four years because she has been deemed unable to safely practice as a physician's assistant because of addiction to drugs or alcohol.

The state Board of Nursing also announced it had revoked the license of Renee Colon of Kingston after she pleaded guilty to felony forgery charges in August 2011.

A Scranton man will spend up to six years in prison for his role in a violent robbery of three teenagers in the Hill Section last year.

Taylor Vidal, 20, was sentenced Wednesday by Lackawanna County Judge Vito P. Geroulo to 29½ to 71½ months in state prison for the altercation on the 1100 block of Vine Street in the early morning hours of July 4.

Mr. Vidal's punishment also took into consideration a parole violation for a past crime, his arrest for possession of crack and heroin on Cedar Avenue on March 2011.

According to city police, Mr. Vidal was one of three men who swarmed around William Bott of Dickson City, Michael Freim of Scranton and Kevin McGuigan of Scranton, assaulted them and snatched their belongings including a cellphone and a wallet.

The victims were 19 years old.

Mr. Vidal assaulted both Mr. Bott and Mr. McGuigan and stole Mr. Bott's belongings, city police said at the time of his arrest.

He also kicked Mr. Bott while he was on the ground, according to court records.

It is unclear if police apprehended the other two men, who are identified as "two unknown co-conspirators" in Mr. Vidal's court records.

He pleaded guilty in December to conspiracy to commit simple assault and conspiracy to commit theft by unlawful taking.

Contact the writer: smcconnell@ timesshamrock.com @smcconnellTT on Twitter

A Lakeland High School band teacher may plead his case before a jury after a magistrate ruled Wednesday there was sufficient evidence to move it to trial court following graphic testimony from a former student he is accused of sexually assaulting.

The now 18-year-old woman spent more than an hour on the stand at Matthew Stevens' preliminary hearing recounting her story of their sexual relationship that, according to her, began while she was a 17-year-old senior at Lakeland participating in the school band.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

"It went further than just a student-teacher relationship," she said of Mr. Stevens, 31. Police charged him in February with three felony offenses, including institutional sexual assault, unlawful contact with a minor and corruption of minors. After he was charged, the school suspended him without pay.

"He was more of a boyfriend to me than just a teacher," she said, maintaining her composure while she told lurid details of their romance in a packed courtroom filled with both her family and Mr. Stevens' family.

She detailed the evolution of their relationship, saying they exchanged text messages tinged with sexual undertones, which led to kissing, and then to her performing oral sex on him behind the closed door of the school's band room closet.

In response to questioning by Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge, she said they had so many sexual encounters - including in his office, in a uniform closet, by a school stage and at his home - that she could not recall the exact number.

Their relationship ended after she graduated from Lakeland in 2012 and started taking classes at a college outside of Lackawanna County, according to testimony.

While she spoke, Mr. Stevens kept his gaze fixed on her. She rarely met his gaze.

Sitting at a table next to his attorney, Joseph D. Caraciolo of Harrisburg, Mr. Stevens scribbled notes during the first few minutes of her testimony, then stopped when she began talking at length about their sexual encounters. She was the only witness called.

Speaking to reporters outside the Lackawanna County Courthouse after Magisterial District Judge John Pesota held all three charges for county court, Mr. Caraciolo said he heard no other evidence at the hearing supporting "her story."

"Many times cases have been brought on false allegations," Mr. Caraciolo said, likening the prosecution's case to the Salem witch trials. He said he intends to vigorously defend his client and present the case to a jury.

"It's by no means all the evidence," Miss McCambridge said after the hearing ended.

Mr. Stevens' formal arraignment is set for April 26. He remains free on $75,000 bail.

Contact the writer: smcconnell@timesshamrock.com

A powerful Northeast Pennsylvania lawmaker pulled strings for the state's largest bank in exchange for gifts, including New York Yankees and Rod Stewart tickets, according to a grand jury presentment released Wednesday.

Former Senate Democratic Leader Robert Mellow received the gifts from PNC Bank. Concealing them contributed to a "larger pattern of bid-rigging, improper influence, and commercial bribery" as he steered state Turnpike Commission bond work to PNC Capital Markets, the grand jury found.

PNC Bank has not been accused of illegal activity. The presentment describes how the Pittsburgh-based bank - the largest by market share in Northeast Pennsylvania - approached Mr. Mellow in 2005, specifically for turnpike bond work, a lucrative business. Mr. Mellow was described as having a close personal and business relationship with an unnamed PNC executive. Tony Lepore, Mr. Mellow's former chief of staff, testified that "Bob Mellow was exceptionally tight with one of the PNC regional presidents."

However, the rest of the presentment describes the PNC executive as a "regional vice president" without explanation of the apparent discrepancy.

Current president of PNC Bank Northeast Region Peter Danchak did not return calls for comment. Fred Solomon, spokesman for PNC Financial Services Group, declined to identify the PNC executive who testified before the grand jury or comment on the grand jury presentment.

Entertaining is common not only in banking, but in other industries based on relationships and sales, said Wilson Smith, a bank equities analyst with Philadelphia-based Patriot Capital Partners.

"This is about keeping business or getting more business. A baseball game, dinner, concert is not a huge expense, like flying someone to China or the Super Bowl," Mr. Smith said. "This is about sales, and sales people in any industry are always entertaining."

But anytime a state employee or elected official is on the receiving end of a company's hospitality, it requires a different level of scrutiny, Mr. Smith said.

At Mr. Mellow's guidance, the presentment describes how the bankers met with turnpike officials and key state senators that had influence over the commission. From April of 2006 through 2010, Mr. Mellow was treated to 10 New York Yankees games, a Rod Stewart concert and occasional dinners by the bank. Most of those trips ran between $250 and $450 per game including tickets, food and limousines. Combined, they totaled $3,490. A review of Mr. Mellow's financial disclosures through those years show one entry for PNC Bank, which was under the $250 individual threshold requiring disclosure, the unidentified PNC executive told the grand jury.

During the same time - June 2006 to November of 2012 -the bank handled 14 bond issues and collected $2.5 million of fees from the Turnpike Commission.

Mr. Mellow also received tickets to see "Dancing with the Stars" at the former Wachovia Arena and a concert by Canadian pop star Bryan Adams. One expense stood out: the PNC-paid-for reception and dinner at Sparks Steak House in New York City to help drum up support for Mr. Mellow as he mulled a run for governor. The event cost the bank $7,082. Mr. Mellow did not report it on his financial interest statement.

There's a psychology to "wining and dining," said Bruce Weinstein, Ph.D., author and business ethics expert. In cases like the one between PNC and Mr. Mellow, the relationship and fallout can get "troubling."

He used the scenario of giving an acquaintance a Starbucks gift card on his birthday, and the sense of obligation it creates on the part of the receiver to reciprocate. It's no different than a bank giving to a politician.

"No matter how much I may say, 'Forget about it,' 'it's fine,' and 'no strings attached,' I have created an obligation," he said.

There are two sides: The receiver does not need to accept the gift, even if it is allowed by law.

"We want our elected officials to make decisions in the best interest of the electorate, not based on their feelings of a particular contractor, feelings clouded by money," Dr. Weinstein said. "Otherwise, vendors could just staple a $20 bill to every application." Mr. Mellow is accused of failing to report the gifts, but even if he did disclose them, that would not make the act any more ethical, said Dr. Weinstein. Legality is a minimum standard of behavior. Ethical behavior is a higher standard.

PNC Bank, Dr. Weinstein noted, helped finance a speech he delivered earlier this month. "That may be influencing me right now, I don't know," he quipped.

PNC Bank has endeavored to position itself as a pioneer of ethical banking behavior as larger peers were slammed for creating systemic financial instability, giving rise to the housing bubble, and relying on government bailouts. The bank has an ethics hot line to answer questions or hear complaints from employees.

A copy of the PNC Business Conduct and Ethics Policy found on PNC's website has two pages dedicated to gifts and entertainment, saying costs must be of "reasonable and customary value." A section briefly mentions gifts and entertainment for government officials.

"Special care must be taken," it states, and directs employees to a private document on the matter in PNC's internal website for employees only.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

Students to play Carnegie Hall

The Northeast Pennsylvania Music Teachers Association has selected the students who will represent it during a March 30 performance at Carnegie Hall in New York City.

The students were chosen after NEPMTA members from the Scranton area including Yvonne Alling, Heather Clendenning, Rose Marie Gallia, Roger Haydn, Donna Kane, Denise Knox, Lisa Maiolatesi, Michele Malinko, Michael Popick, Karl Sidnam, Janelle Sidnam and Catherine Shefski held their annual Carnegie Hall Competition at Marywood University.

Among those headed to the stage of the renowned concert hall are Gina Beviglia, Mia Beviglia, Emmy Bormes, Ellen Brown, Kelsey Brown, Madelyn Casey, Izabella Chmil, Josh Danna, Megan Dillon, Elizabeth Egan, Casey Friedman, Sydney Fox, Andrew Gallagher, Joel Gardoski, Ashley Greening, Isabel Hou, Alex Hoyle, Schyler Kelsch, Brigid Kennedy, Sean Kennedy, Santina Kobierecki, Catherine Anne Kupinski, Christopher Langan, Nina Lyubechansky, Aaron Mancus, Emily Mazur, Brayden McAllister, Alex McAndrew, Rachel Moffitt, Corinne Paull, Sophia Rinaldi, Marygrace Sabatini, Gianna Sabatini, Alexis Santaniello, Olivia Scarantino, Gabby Shefski, Eric Sklanka, Isabella Snyder, Chris Suh, Kevin Suh, Brooke Thomas, Gabriella Tolerico, Derek Tsang and Mary Cate Wright.

Rewarding service

The Salvation Army will honor Michael and Tina MacDowell and Conrad and Susan Schintz for their contributions within Northeast Pennsylvania communities during its annual awards dinner.

Dr. and Mrs. MacDowell will receive the Salvation Army Community Service Award, recognizing their contribution and dedication on behalf of humanity and the promotion of health and wellness for all.

Mr. and Mrs. Schintz are being presented the Salvation Army Others Award exemplifying an extraordinary spirit of service to others while benefitting the Salvation Army and/or the community.

Past recipients of the Salvation Army Community Service Award include Chuck and Mary Parente, 2012; Bob and Ginny Tambur, 2011, and Peter J. Danchak, 2010.

Allen and Mary Erwine, 2012; Gus and Val Genetti, 2011, and the Geisinger Health System, 2010, are past recipients of the Salvation Army Others Award.

The event is being coordinated by the Salvation Army's Awards Committee with the assistance of Pheiff & Some, Inc.

High notes

Long-time Wayne County Public Library supporter and patron, John Maruzewsky, has donated three LED computer monitors to the library's computer room. John uses the computers almost every day and noticed that the screens were becoming worn. "They were just awful," he said, "I couldn't see the information on the screen clearly anymore." After asking the library's tech personnel to look into the prices of monitors suitable for the library and upon hearing back, John promptly donated the money to purchase three.

It's cold -- in the 20s, and scattered snow showers may get picked up by the Northwest winds and cause quick white outs and a few slick spots this morning. The National Weather Service says the flurries will be changing to flurries then ending this afternoon. The rest of the day should be partly sunny, with a high near 35, and breezy, with a northwest wind at 15 to 21 mph.
Tonight, NWS says it will be partly cloudy, with a low around 21 and a Northwest wind from 9 to 16 mph.
The sun will rise today at 7:16 a.m. and set at 7:08 p.m.
Get updated weather information at: http://thetimes-tribune.com/weather
 For details on road travel conditions, check: http://thetimes-tribune.com/traffic.
The flight schedule portion of the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport website is down this morning. You may be able to get updated flight information later at http://thetimes-tribune.com/local-flights.

SCRANTON - City police are seeking the public's assistance in identifying two burglary suspects.

Police on Wednesday released images of the suspects from surveillance video cameras at the Wal-Mart in Taylor from late February, police said.

In that video, one suspect was wearing a gray hoodie and the other was wearing a black hooded jacket, police said. The incidents in Scranton are not related to the suspects having been at the Wal-Mart in late February, police said.

No further information was released on the burglary.

Anyone with information on the suspects is asked to call 558-8440 or 558-8328. The video can be viewed at www.thetimes-tribune.com.

Two elderly motorists were hurt Wednesday when their car crashed into an office building in downtown Scranton, authorities said.

The collision occurred at 12:32 p.m., when a Dodge Spirit sedan crashed into a glass-enclosed entryway of an office building at 220 Penn Ave.

The elderly car occupants, a woman and a man, were hurt and taken by ambulances to a hospital, though it did not appear that they suffered life-threatening injuries, said Scranton Assistant Fire Chief Jim Floryshak.

The car also struck a sign in front of the building, but narrowly missed a flagpole.

Tom Sohns, who was working in a nearby parking-lot attendant's booth, said, "I heard a swoosh and a bang, and it (the car) hitting the sign and right into the glass there."

Police did not immediately have information on the incident.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com

An Olyphant man was arrested and charged with the rape and sexual assault of a 15-year-old girl in a borough apartment while his girlfriend and infant child were upstairs.

The girl told police she went over to 28-year-old Michael Theriault's 11 Walsh Plaza home, to hang out with him and his girlfriend, Alexandra Griffiths, after the St. Patrick's Day Parade in Scranton on March 9, police said. The victim considered the couple friends, according to court records.

At the apartment she often frequented, the girl told police Mr. Theriault and Ms. Griffiths got into an argument, prompting her to go upstairs with their child, while Mr. Theriault and the victim watched a movie downstairs, police said.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

Mr. Theriault and the victim started "making out," during which she said he touched her under her clothes and kissed her, then tried to put his hands down her pants, despite her saying she did not want to have sex, according to the complaint.

Later in the evening he tried to remove her underwear, then stopped when the victim said she did not want him to. When she moved to the floor, he told her to roll over, then touched her vagina and began to perform oral sex on her, police said.

The victim told police she laid on her back, closed her eyes and did not move when Mr. Theriault raped her, police said.

During the investigation, police discovered thousands of text messages that indicated an "intimate relationship" between the victim and Mr. Theriault.

Mr. Theriault was charged with rape, statutory sexual assault, involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a person less than 16, aggravated indecent assault, indecent assault, unlawful contact with a minor, corruption of minors, sexual assault and furnishing alcohol to minors, according to the criminal complaint.

Arraignment and bail information were unavailable Thursday night.

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

Civic leaders from throughout the Northeast Pennsylvania gathered in Scranton Wednesday for a conclave of the region's leadership groups.

About 100 participants from Leadership Lackawanna, Leadership Pocono, Leadership Wilkes-Barre, Leadership Wayne and Leadership Hazleton converged at the Scranton Hilton & Conference Center for a Regional Leadership Day which included presentations on topics such as travel and tourism, economic development and education.

The leadership groups are local affiliates of the Texas-based Association of Leadership Programs.

In addition to serving on the ALP board of directors, Lori Nocito runs Leadership Wilkes-Barre. Looking out at the professionals sharing best practices and networking, she declared the event a success.

"This allowed us to broaden our topics and scope," she said.

Jennifer Kelleher of Clarks Summit, a marketing professional with the Pocono group, said the event offered a rare opportunity to meet people from around the region.

Ms. Kelleher enjoyed the presentation by state Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, where he shared his 10 Laws of Leadership, which he developed as a young man and still tries to live by.

The leadership programs develop young civic leaders by offering training, networking opportunities and awareness of community assets. The tuition-based programs generally run 10 months to one year.

Ken Adams, a customer service center manager and a Leadership Lackawanna enrollee, said he enjoyed the education presentation and was surprised to hear about the need for skilled trades people.

Nicole Barber, administrator of Leadership Lackawanna, said the event also saved money for the group, which would otherwise have had their own individual session.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

Every county in the region lost population from 2011 to 2012, according to new Census Bureau estimates.

Data released by the government Thursday indicates nominal population losses in Lackawanna, Luzerne and Wyoming counties.

Pike County was the region's largest population loser by proportion - 1.15 percent - and Monroe County experienced the largest population decline, 1,188. Wayne County, the third leg of the area's Pocono Mountains territory, lost 365 residents, or 0.7 percent.

Susquehanna County's population decreased by 385 residents, or 0.9 percent, according to the data.

Lackawanna and Luzerne counties, though, experienced small population gains from 2010 to 2012, census figures indicate. The other five counties in the region all had declines over the two-year period.

"The estimates, you have to take with a grain of salt," cautioned Teri Ooms, director of the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development, a regional think tank financed by higher education.

Her agency's statistical models indicate population in the urban counties continues to grow slowly from in-migration.

"We still show more people moving into Lackawanna and Luzerne than leaving," Ms. Ooms said.

Both counties had marginal population growth from 2010 to 2012, the data indicate, and residency in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro area remained virtually the same at 563,629.

The situation in the Poconos, though, reflects a continuing rough patch there.

December unemployment in Pike County was 11.1 percent and the jobless rate in the East Stroudsburg micropolitan area was 9.9 percent, state data show. The housing crash that led to an international financial crisis in 2008 continues to plague parts of the Poconos and the severe recession of 2007 to 2009 created still-existing obstructions to mobility.

"People are just hunkered down," said Gordon DeJong, Ph.D., a demographer at Penn State University. "The internal migration data for the entire country has shown a pattern of marked decrease in people moving around at all for the last five years."

Some Poconos residents also find themselves stuck in place, Dr. DeJong said.

"With their high unemployment, some people don't have the money to move to places that are recovering more quickly than Pike and Monroe," he said. "The potential payoffs of the labor markets in other places are too iffy."

Many Poconos residents commute to New York and New Jersey for work. They are not counted among the employed in the Poconos when working, but they are tabulated among the unemployed when they are not working, said Chuck Leonard, executive director of the Pocono Mountains Economic Development Corp. in Tobyhanna.

The unemployment data can be misleading, he said, but there is no question decades of population expansion in the Poconos has reversed.

"We did go through very explosive growth for years," he said. "We will come back, but we might never see the rate of growth that we have in the past."

Population growth in Monroe County in recent years mostly came from elderly people moving into senior housing developments, Mr. Leonard said.

The younger population has dropped, he said.

"We have had significant declines in some of our school populations," Mr. Leonard said.

Dr. DeJong sees the same aging pattern taking a toll on Poconos populations.

"There's a lot of older people there and the death rates are high," he said.

Monroe County, in particular, continues to suffer a hangover from the housing crisis and has hammered construction employment in the area, Mr. Leonard said.

Property prices have plummeted. At least 4,000 homes in the county are for sale, Mr. Leonard said.

"We have had a lot of foreclosures," he said. "Our real estate marketplace needs to work out a little bit."

Contact the writer: jhaggerty@timesshamrock.com

Scranton City Council on Thursday began the processes of formally opposing federal across-the-board sequestration cuts and authorizing an engineering study of Lake Scranton Road that could lead to a showdown with the mayor.

On sequestration, the council - all Democrats - voted 5-0 to introduce a resolution opposing the federal budget cuts. The resolution squarely blames congressional Republicans for "demanding" sequestration cuts that would hit the poor and elderly the hardest, and for wanting to give "additional tax breaks to Wall Street and the wealthiest 2 percent of Americans."

"They (congressional Republicans) are seeking benefit cuts that affect our most vulnerable citizens, the elderly and the poor," council President Janet Evans said. "They have threatened to shut down the federal government on March 27 and cause a government default after May 19. People want jobs, not cuts."

If approved, the resolution would be sent to GOP and Democratic legislators, including Democratic Sen. Bob Casey; Republican Sen. Pat Toomey; U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic; U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton; and U.S. Rep. Tom Marino, R-10, Lycoming Twp., asking them to oppose sequestration, Mrs. Evans said.

Councilman Pat Rogan, who works as a caseworker for Mr. Barletta, said he opposes sequestration because its cuts weigh too heavily on the military. Mr. Rogan also said he disagrees with the "harsh language" of the resolution, and some of it was "over the top."

The city on March 4 received a letter from the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development stating that, due to sequestration, the city stands to lose 5 percent of its federal HUD funds this year, Linda Aebli, the city's Office of Community and Economic Development executive director, said in an interview before the council meeting. OECD has requested nearly $3 million from three pots of HUD money: Community Development Block Grants for paving, blight demolition and other services; Home Investment Partnership program for housing rehabilitation, and down payments and closing costs for first-time homebuyers; and Emergency Solutions Grants for homeless programs, Ms. Aebli said.

Council also voted 5-0 to introduce an ordinance authorizing an engineering study of Lake Scranton Road, that could lead to a dispute with Mayor Chris Doherty over the city's nonenforcement of a truck ban on that road. The ban was enacted in November but never enforced after DeNaples Auto Parts, which uses Lake Scranton Road as a link between Route 307 and the firm's access road at Elmhurst Boulevard, told the city in December that the truck ban would landlock the business and violate its rights. The mayor's solicitor agreed, and the administration has not enforced the ban.

The ordinance would authorize spending up to $10,000 to hire the city's alternative engineer, Civil Crossroads Consulting Engineers LLC of Monroe County, to do an engineering study as a precursor to enforcing a truck ban. Council believes the mayor may veto such an ordinance, and if so, council likely would vote to override a veto, Mrs. Evans has said. Efforts to reach Mr. Doherty after the meeting were unsuccessful.

Council also held a public caucus with Mike Washo, the court-appointed receiver of the Scranton Parking Authority's estate of five parking garages. Mr. Washo said the private firm that he hired last year to operate the garages, Central Parking, has found that expenses are higher than expected, and the city may end up having to cover an additional $300,000 in SPA debt above the $1.9 million that the city has budgeted this year.

In other matters, council voted 5-0, with Mrs. Evans and Councilmen Jack Loscombe, Frank Joyce, Bob McGoff and Pat Rogan in favor, on each of the following:

n To adopt a resolution approving the Scranton-Lackawanna Health and Welfare Authority's loan of $2.5 million for a project by the nonprofit Community Life Support Systems Inc. The firm, which provides ambulance transport services, is planning to build a headquarters in Scranton at 1 Oakwood Drive at North Keyser Avenue. While city approval is needed, there is no financial liability to the city in approving the resolution, and it would not pledge or obligate the credit or taxing power of the city, officials said.

n To adopt a resolution to authorize a contract with Abstract Enterprises Inc. of Scranton to do title searches on 20 to 60 hazardous properties to be demolished this year by OECD. Council also introduced a companion piece of legislation, a resolution authorizing a contract with Michael Baker Jr. Inc. of Moon Twp. for pre-demolition environmental inspections of the homes to be razed. Baker was the low bidder and would be paid $490 per unit.

n To advance on second reading two ordinances dealing with Regional Hospital of Scranton, including allowing a canopy and creating nine parking spaces in the 700 block of Jefferson Avenue.

n To introduce an ordinance updating the city's flood-plain management regulations, to bring them into compliance with standards recommended by the Federal Emergency Management Agency.

The council also heard concerns from resident Joan Intoccia about potholes and dangerous road conditions in the East Mountain section. Council agreed to pass the concerns along to the administration and DPW.

Council also heard a plea for help from resident Donna Petroziello, who said she became homeless on Wednesday and expressed frustration with various governmental and nonprofit agencies. Mrs. Evans said council has no control over those agencies but would make inquiries on behalf of Ms. Petroziello.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com

On this date in NEPA

75 years ago, John Marsh of Cumberland County filed a federal lawsuit in Scranton against Gov. George Earle, the South Middleton Twp. School District and the Cumberland County warden. Mr. Marsh was arrested and jailed March 9 for violating the compulsory school law which calls for children to be vaccinated for school. He fought it on the grounds that it infringed on his constitutional rights.

50 years ago, U.S. District Judge William J. Nealon was unanimously confirmed by the U.S. Senate. Judge Nealon was a recess appointment and had been on the job since Dec. 15.

25 years ago, A federal grand jury handed down indictments on Thomas O'Hara, Lt. William Thomas and Catherine Sheridan for their involvement in the Exam Scam scandal. Mr. O'Hara was charged with one count of conspiracy to commit mail fraud. Lt. Thomas and Ms. Sheridan were both charged with 20 counts of conspiracy and 21 counts of mail fraud.

10 years ago, Clarks Green Borough Council voted to add a student member to the council. The student would be from Abington Heights High School. Today is Friday, March 15, the 74th day of 2013. There are 291 days left in the year.

In 44 B.C., Roman dictator Julius Caesar was assassinated by a group of nobles.

In 1493, Christopher Columbus returned to Spain, concluding his first voyage to the Western Hemisphere.

In 1919, members of the American Expeditionary Force from World War I convened in Paris for a three-day meeting to found the American Legion.

In 1944, during World War II, Allied bombers again raided German-held Monte Cassino.

In 1956, the Lerner and Loewe musical play "My Fair Lady," based on Bernard Shaw's "Pygmalion," opened on Broadway.

In 1962, a chartered Flying Tiger Line airplane carrying 107 people, most of them U.S. Army personnel, disappeared while en route from Guam to the Philippines. "No Strings," Richard Rodgers' first musical following the death of longtime collaborator Oscar Hammerstein II, opened on Broadway.

In 1964, actress Elizabeth Taylor married actor Richard Burton in Montreal; it was her fifth marriage, his second.

In 1970, Expo '70, promoting "Progress and Harmony for Mankind," opened in Osaka, Japan.

In 1972, "The Godfather," Francis Ford Coppola's epic gangster movie based on the Mario Puzo novel and starring Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, premiered in New York.

In 1985, the first Internet domain name, symbolics.com, was registered by the Symbolics Computer Corp. of Massachusetts.

Ten years ago: Hu Jintao (hoo jin-tow) was chosen to replace Jiang Zemin (jahng zuh-MEEN') as the president of China. Protesters in Washington, D.C., and around the world demonstrated against an anticipated war with Iraq.

Five years ago: A construction crane toppled in New York City, killing seven people. China's legislature re-appointed Hu Jintao as president.

One year ago: Convicted former Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich (blah-GOY'-uh-vich) walked into a federal prison in Colorado, where the 55-year-old Democrat began serving a 14-year sentence for corruption. The American campaign in Afghanistan suffered a double blow as the Taliban broke off talks with the U.S., and President Hamid Karzai said NATO should pull out of rural areas and speed up the transfer of security responsibilities to Afghan forces nationwide.

Today's Birthdays: Musician DJ Fontana is 82. Former astronaut Alan L. Bean is 81. Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is 80. Actor Judd Hirsch is 78. Rock musician Phil Lesh is 73. Singer Mike Love (The Beach Boys) is 72. Rock singer-musician Sly Stone is 70. Rock singer-musician Howard Scott (War; Lowrider Band) is 67. Rock singer Ry Cooder is 66. Actor Craig Wasson is 59. Rock singer Dee Snider (Twisted Sister) is 58. Actress Park Overall is 56. Movie director Renny Harlin is 54. Model Fabio is 52. Singer Terence Trent D'Arby (AKA Sananda Maitreya) is 51. Rock singer Bret Michaels (Poison) is 50. Rhythm-and-blues singer Rockwell is 49. Rock singer Mark McGrath (Sugar Ray) is 45. Actress Kim Raver is 44. Rock musician Mark Hoppus is 41. Actress Eva Longoria is 38. Rapper-musician will.i.am (Black Eyed Peas) is 38. Rock DJ Joseph Hahn (Linkin Park) is 36. Rapper Young Buck is 32. Actor Sean Biggerstaff is 30. Rock musician Ethan Mentzer is 30. Actress Caitlin Wachs is 24.

Thought for Today: "We're all in this together - by ourselves." - Lily Tomlin, American comedian.

Lackawanna College is not breaking federal labor law, and instead is working to increase academic excellence and give professors a fair contract, administrators said Thursday.

One week after the faculty union accused administrators of illegally implementing a contract, college officials say union leaders are not willing to negotiate.

"I'm confident what we have done is legal," college President Mark Volk said. "We think what has been portrayed is not accurate."

Last month, the college began to implement its final offer, which included a 3 percent increase in salaries for members of Lackawanna College Education Association. The union and college have been negotiating since 2010, when the contract initially expired. A one-year contact extension expired in 2011.

The college declared an impasse earlier this year and is implementing the first two years of the contract. Under the National Labor Relations Act, if no agreement can be reached after "sufficient good faith efforts," the employer may declare an impasse and then implement the last offer presented to the union. If the union disagrees that a true impasse has been reached, the union can file an unfair labor practice charge for review by the National Labor Relations Board.

Two days after the college informed the union that the administration's final offer was going to be implemented, the union gave the college an offer.

"That offer was not acceptable," Mr. Volk said.

The union is preparing to take the issue to the NLRB, union leaders said Thursday. Union leaders said administrators are not willing to negotiate.

Key issues for the union include salaries, benefits and job security for the approximate 25 faculty positions they represent.

The college's last offer included 3 percent raises the first three years of the contract, plus 2 percent raises the last two years. During the last two years, the raises could go up to 3 percent, depending on the cost of health care.

Full health care for employees and their families, including domestic partners, was also guaranteed for the first two years. During the last three years, depending on costs, the college could require employees to pay a portion of their premiums. That possible amount was not defined.

Union leaders are concerned that no cap exists for health insurance they may be required to pay and fear any cost would outweigh raises.

Faculty members of the private two-year college are some of the lowest paid in the U.S., according to 2011-12 Chronicle of Higher Education data. The average salary of an assistant professor is $35,700, lowest in the U.S. The $45,100 average salary of a full professor is the fourth-lowest, and the $40,000 average salary of an associate professor is the second-lowest, according to the data.

While school officials acknowledge the data, it does not include the benefits given to employees. Paying for full health, vision and dental insurance for families is not typical for a college of Lackawanna's size, according to the college. Union leaders disagree. And while other college employees received raises during the time the union contract was expired, the faculty members received nothing, union leaders said. While a 3-percent raise was given when the contract was implemented, another 3 percent will be given in July, administrators said.

The contract also included a 10 percent reduction in courseload and an increase in pay if professors teach extra classes. But because of several changes in when and how they can teach the overload classes, professors fear they will make less.

The contract also calls for a new evaluation process, in which the faculty member is evaluated by both a peer and administrator. If a standard is not met, there would numerous opportunities for improvement before a removal process would begin, said Jill A. Murray, Ph.D., the college's executive vice president and chief academic officer.

In the previous evaluation process, in which only a peer evaluated the professor, there were no consequences and no process in which skills could be improved, Dr. Murray said. The evaluation process would not occur until the third year of the contract, so it has not been implemented.

Union leaders said the process is undefined and the contract does not include enough protection for union members.

While the college has the "utmost respect for faculty members," the administration wants to give professors opportunities for professional development and for strengthening their skills, Dr. Murray said.

"Our no. 1 focus is providing a high quality education for our students," Mr. Volk said.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

DUNMORE - It is an elementary truth, but one Assistant Chief Tom G. Taylor Jr. of Wilson Fire Company 1 in Peckville knows bears repeating from time to time: Smoke detectors save lives.

On Thursday, Assistant Chief Taylor joined state police Trooper Connie Devens in reminding the public of the importance of fire safety after what has been an usually deadly winter.

So far in 2013, fires in the four-county area covered by Dunmore-based Troop R have claimed five lives - three in Lackawanna County and two in Pike County.

"In the majority of them, we found there were no working smoke detectors," Trooper Devens said. "Either the batteries had been removed or there were no smoke detectors at all."

Assistant Chief Taylor said homeowners and renters should have at least one smoke detector on every level of their residence and certainly outside every sleeping area. Just as important is keeping fresh batteries in the detectors so that they work when they are needed, he said.

People should keep debris and other combustible materials away from furnaces and wood-burning stoves, as well as electric or kerosene heaters, to lessen the chance of a fire, he said.

Maintenance is also essential, Assistant Chief Taylor said.

"No matter what type of furnace you have, it should have yearly maintenance. Woodburner chimneys should be cleaned at least twice a year," he said.

Trooper Devens said two of the fatal fires have been linked to improperly installed or improperly maintained woodburners.

"We are finding that people are turning to woodburners and installing them themselves," she said. "That is one of the reasons we may have been having some issues."

Contact the writer; dsingleton@timesshamrock.com

CLIPBOARD

Blakely

Company drive: Wilson Fire Company 1 drive envelopes may be mailed to Box 26, Peckville, or dropped off at company headquarters.

Dalton

Pancake supper: Dalton Fire Company pancake supper, March 23, 5-8 p.m., fire house, South Turnpike Road, takeouts available.

Dickson City

Crime watch: Dickson Crime Watch meeting, Tuesday, 7 p.m., ambulance building, Eagle Lane; topic: school safety.

Factoryville

Church program: Factoryville United Methodist Church trip around the world program, Satur­day, 6:30 p.m., church; members discuss missionary work in Costa Rica, Haiti and Ghana, West Africa; light refreshments; $5, $12.50/family with school age children; 942-2035.

Jessup

Easter raffle: Jessup VFW Post 5544 Easter raffle spin for ham, turkey, kielbasi and slab bacon, March 24, 2 p.m., post home, 205 Dolph St., food served.

Susquehanna County

Open house: Lochs Maple Farms open house, Saturday-Sunday, 10 a.m.-5 p.m., Coke­ly Road, one mile off Route 29, Springville; pancake break­fast, Saturday, 7 a.m.-1 p.m., Springville Methodist Church; tours by Shane Kliener, Key­stone College instructor, 11 a.m.-5 p.m.; fiber mill tours by Jamie Loch; soap making, hand spinning, blacksmithing, weaving, quilting, knitting and broom making, 965-2679 or www.lochsmaple.com.

West Scranton

Living stations: SS. Peter and Paul Church CCD students living stations, Sunday, 3 p.m., 1309 W. Locust St.

Maslenitza brunch: SS. Peter And Paul Russian Orthodox Church Maslenitza brunch, Sunday, noon-2 p.m., parish center, Washburn Street, Russian style blini (crepes/pancakes) with a variety of toppings, no meat served, only dairy, 343-8128.

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

Smoke, glasses rise at Rotary

Smoke rings will waft, and glasses will be lifted when North Scranton Rotary conducts its inaugural Wine Tasting/Cigar Samp­ling April 27 at Maiolatesi Wine Cellars Tasting Room in Scott Twp.

A committee including Carl and Connie Baraffauldi, Laurie Beaupre, Terry Beilman, Buddy Cosgrove, Mary Dockeray, Joe and Marcia Loughman, Al and Judy Scheatzle, Richie Sedelnick, Stephen X. Solfanelli and Patti Staples have planned an event that will feature wines and appetizers inside the cellars, and cigars in a tent outside.

Sal Maiolatesi and his staff will conduct the wine tasting, and ticket holders also will be able to sample two glasses from a selection of 17 different wines.

Steve will organize a wine-related silent auction.

Marcia, of Altadis USA, and local cigar store owners, like Mark, are assisting with the cigar sampling, which, along with offering ticket holders, three cigars (mild, medium and full body) courtesy of Altadis; will feature a silent auction and door prize events for humidors and special cigars.

Appetizers supplied by Kelly's Pub and Eatery, Schiff's and Sidel's Restaurant, will be served.

Super students

Luzerne County Community College Electronics Engineering Technology major graduates Tracey Sands, Ryan Wenrich and Stanley Bibalo, participated in the Tobyhanna Army Depot Student Career Experience Program and are now permanent employees of the Depot. Tracey of Pittston, and Ryan of Wyoming, work in the Communications Systems Directorate. Stanley of Mount Cobb, works in the Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance Systems Directorate. ... Wilkes University education majors completing student teaching assignments this semester include: Amanda Fasciana of West Pittston, daughter of Francis and Joanne Fasciana; teaching kindergarten and special education at Dana Street Elementary School and NEIU; Rachel Bernosky of Mayfield, daughter of Debbie Bernosky; third grade at Lee Park Elementary; Brian E. Carey of Scranton, son of Bridget and Joseph Ferdinand and the late Brian E. Carey, ninth grade civics and economics at Pittston Area High School; Nicholas Gerard Barno of Peckville, son of Deborah Barno, seventh through 10th grade social studies at Hanover Area Junior/Senior High School.

High notes

The Emerald Isle Step Dancers will be marching in Saturday's St. Patrick's Day Parade in New York City. The local dance group was founded in 1980 by twin sisters Margaret and Maureen Monahan. Its approximately 80 students, ranging in age from 4 to 67, are now under the direction of Jennifer Woss. The Step Dancers, who participate in Irish festivals up and down the East Coast, have performed in the Bonnie Brae Celtic Festival in New Jersey, the Scottish and Irish Festival at the Fernwood Resorts, and the Jack Frost Irish Festival. They won the Tate award in Philadelphia's St. Patrick's Day Parade and the Photograher's Choice Award last Saturday in Scranton St. Patrick's Day Parade, and have performed in Savannah's parade, The Gaspee Days Parade in Rhode Island and Walt Disney World's Magical Music Days. They are dedicating their first appearance in the New York City parade to the memory of Kevin Nelson, a director of the parade, who is the late grandfather of three dancers, Kit, Fiona and Lizzie Neville.

City man arrested for making threats

SCRANTON - A city man is accused of threatening to kill his neighbors and blow up their house for complaining to police and fire officials about large fires in his yard.

Paul Brown Jr., 30, of 623 Mineral Ave., was arrested Wednesday on charges of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person, disorderly conduct, harassment and dangerous burning after an investigation by city Fire Inspector Martin Monahan.

Patrick Naughton Jr., Rear 620 Mineral Ave., told police Mr. Brown showed up outside the family's home Tuesday around 2 a.m., warned him and his parents to stop calling the police, threatened to kill them and their dog and said he would blow up their house, according the arrest affidavit.

Cops' trial up to judge

A judge will now decide whether suspended Old Forge Police Chief Larry Semenza and police Capt. Jamie Krenitsky should be tried together on charges they sexually assaulted a teenage girl.

During a lengthy pre-trial hearing in Lackawanna County Court on Thursday, the officers' attorneys argued that their clients should be allowed to have separate jury trials rather than the prosecution's desire to bring both men before one jury.

The captain's attorney, Jason Mattioli, and the chief's attorney, Peter Paul Olszewski Jr., asked Judge Vito P. Geroulo to consider their contention that a joint trial could make it very difficult for them to get a fair trial.

Mr. Mattioli worried that two top-ranking police officers accused of sexually assaulting a 15-year-old girl on trial together would incite a "heightened emotional response," rather than an impartial verdict based on evidence and testimony.

"We're trying to stay away from the mob mentality," Mr. Mattioli said.

Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge, who is prosecuting the case, argued that the law allows the officers to be tried together because the allegations involved the "same act."

Both men are charged with sexually assaulting the same teenage girl around the same period of time in 2005, she said. The charges do state the girl, now 23, was alone with each officer on separate occasions, a fact the officers' attorneys pointed out while arguing why they should not be tried together.

Also Thursday, Judge Geroulo heard arguments from both sides whether the prosecution can call one expert witness to testify about the woman's "delayed disclosure" of the allegations.

She told investigators in May about her alleged sexual relationships with the 49-year-old chief and 34-year-old captain, seven years after she said it happened at the borough Fire Department.

Contact the writer: smcconnell@ timesshamrock.com, @smcconnellTT on Twitter

The suspect in the killing of federal correctional officer Eric Williams had much more freedom at the U.S. Penitentiary at Canaan than he did when he was imprisoned in Arizona.

That state treats members of violent prison gangs, like Jessie Con-ui and his New Mexican Mafia cohorts, as major security threats and keeps them locked away in isolation for 23 hours a day, prison officials there said.

At Canaan, it appeared Mr. Con-ui was in the general population, free to leave his cell for meals and other activities and free to ambush Officer Williams just before lockdown on Feb. 25.

"We had him listed as a member of the (new) Mexican Mafia. We housed him in a lockdown setting. At that time, he was doing his time, awaiting his case," Sgt. D. Gomez, intelligence supervisor for the Fourth Avenue Jail in Maricopa County, Ariz., said.

Mr. Con-ui, 36, spent five years in maximum-security custody at the Maricopa County facility before entering a plea agreement and being sentenced for killing a gang rival in Phoenix and aiding a prison drug ring, court and prison records show.

A Maricopa County judge sentenced Mr. Con-ui in June 2008 to life with the possibility of parole in 25 years, but ordered him to first report to federal prison to serve the remainder of an 11-year sentence for his role in a New Mexican Mafia drug-trafficking ring.

In federal prison, Mr. Con-ui's gang status was not enough to keep him in isolated, maximum-security custody as it was in Arizona, officials said.

"Just gang affiliation. No. We don't just isolate gang members," Federal Bureau of Prisons spokesman Chris Burke said. "We don't do that just based on gang affiliation. It's based on the specific security needs of the inmate."

Members of the New Mexican Mafia, which sprung up in the Arizona prison system in the 1980s, have a reputation for violence and for continuing to operate their crime syndicate from behind prison walls.

"It's one of the most dangerous prison gangs we have in Arizona," Sgt. Gomez said.

Mr. Con-ui was scheduled to complete his federal sentence in September and would have been immediately returned back to Arizona to begin serving his life term for the 2002 murder.

The day after Officer Williams' death, prison officials swiftly transferred Mr. Con-ui from Canaan to a high-security prison in Allenwood, Union County, Mr. Burke said. Mr. Con-ui has yet to be charged in Officer Williams' death, but could remain there indefinitely as the investigation continues.

Officer Williams died after an inmate ambush as he made his rounds for nightly lockdown. The inmate hurled the 34-year-old Nanticoke native down a set of steps and pounced, beating him and repeatedly stabbing him with a crude, knife-like weapon known as a shank. Officer Williams was alone on a cell block of more than 100 inmates, union officials said.

Chief U.S. District Judge Yvette Kane identified Mr. Con-ui as the suspect this week in an order appointing a pair of death-penalty certified attorneys to represent him, signaling the possibility prosecutors will file a capital murder charge against him.

Mr. Con-ui entered the federal prison system Sept. 2, 2008. He spent time at three high-security federal prisons - in California, Louisiana and Florida - before being transferred to Canaan on Oct. 3, 2011, Mr. Burke said.

Mr. Burke would not discuss the reasons for Mr. Con-ui's multiple transfers within the federal prison system or if so many prison swaps is normal.

"We don't discuss the reasons we transfer particular inmates," Mr. Burke said. "It varies. There's a lot of different reasons."

Mr. Burke also declined to discuss whether Mr. Con-ui had any disciplinary infractions.

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