Scranton Cultural Center generated $5.9 million in economic activity in Lackawanna County last year, an economic impact study found.

The Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development came up with the figure by studying the size of crowds and numbers of workers the center’s events draw.

The institute used a mathematical model to capture not only direct spending on events and wages, but also spillover effects of people spending money they earned or that people from outside the area spent at other businesses such as hotels, restaurants and gas stations.

“We saw value in the cultural center not only as a community and cultural asset, but also as an economic driver,” said Teri Ooms, executive director of the institute. “Until I started working with them to find out about what they do and how they do it, I didn’t realize how many events they had: their summer camp program, their after-school program. It’s pretty phenomenal.”

Scranton Cultural Center operates at the historic Masonic Temple in downtown Scranton — a venue that has an 1,800-plus-seat theater and hosts six to seven Broadway shows per year, said Deborah Moran Peterson, executive director of the cultural center.

Some recent hits the venue has hosted include “The Book of Mormon,” “Jersey Boys,” “Rent,” “Once” and “Annie.”

The Broadway shows tend to be big-ticket economic generators because they often run several consecutive days and draw large audiences from outside the area, Ooms said.

“With Broadway productions, you can have probably 100 people involved, including the actors and the stagehands and the production team,” Peterson said. “Musicals have very large casts.”

The cultural center hosts many other events and activities as well, including philharmonic shows, dance recitals, weddings, performing-arts productions, movie screenings and a holiday marketplace.

The nonprofit’s leaders sought the study while working on their strategic plan and shared the results with area lawmakers and county commissioners. They hope it will help with grants.

Lackawanna County’s funding for large arts and cultural institutions was in the spotlight in November, when commissioners approved a 2017 budget that moved $175,000 from a $240,000 block grant to the Lackawanna County Library System to a special fund for libraries.

The move defunded the system’s lecture series, while moving the money to a reserve that could pay for other library needs. The administration allowed the Scranton Cultural Center and Everhart Museum to keep their $240,000 allocations but instructed the institutions to come up with financial plans to reduce the subsidy in future years.

The economic impact study estimated Lackawanna County got a $787,422 return on the investment, with $388,876 in economic activity and $398,546 in services to county and community organizations.

Peterson also hopes $10 million in state funding to repair the temple’s roof will soon materialize, with plans to follow up the project with a fundraising campaign to renovate the building’s interior.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100, x5181;

@kwindTT on Twitter

Judge Michael Barrasse sentenced the following defendants recently in Lackawanna County Court:

■ Monique Brown, 30, 116D Snowball Lane, Tafton, to 80 days time served to 12 months in county prison for possession of a controlled substance.

■ Brandon Bell, 29, 22 E. Jackson St., Wilkes-Barre, to eight months to 16 months in county prison followed by three years probation for delivery of a controlled substance.

■ Jacob Huff, 24, 11 Coolidge Ave., Carbondale, to three to six months in county prison and a $1,000 fine for DUI — tier three first offense.

■ Richard Cardone, 56, 1274 Snyder Ave., Taylor, to five years of court supervision, including one year of house arrest and a $2,500 fine for DUI — tier three first offense.

■ James Cliff, 48, 200 Hand St., Jessup, to 5½ years court supervision, including one year house arrest, and a $1,800 fine for DUI — tier three third offense and DUI — tier one second offense.

■ Deanna Edwards, 22, 843 Moosic St., Apt. 2, to one year probation and pay $2,480.99 in restitution for receiving stolen property.

■ Kevin Mackalunas, 55, 7 Oakland Place, Scranton, to four years court supervision, including 90 days house arrest, and one year of probation for theft by unlawful taking and delivery of a controlled substance.

■ Dominick Martini, 55, 702 Delaware St., to five years court supervision, including one year of house arrest, and a $1,500 fine for DUI — tier three second offense.

■ Joseph Carlucci, 31, 1605 Green Ridge St., Dunmore, to 3½ to seven years in state prison for possession of a controlled substance, use or possession of drug paraphernalia and escape.

■ Michael Hopkins, 54, 4217 Birney Ave., Moosic, to three years court supervision for delivery of a controlled substance.

■ Michael Flowers, 29, 523 N. Hyde Park Ave., Scranton, to 1050 days time served in county prison and to pay $4,300 restitution for theft by unlawful taking.

■ Frank Minelli, 33, 2723 Price St., Scranton, to three years court supervision, including 90 days confinement, for delivery of a controlled substance.

■ Greg Labinski, 37, 1625 Aberdeen Road, Madison Twp., to three to six years in state prison for theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property.

■ Nicholas Matter, 23, 18 Parker Road, Covington Twp., to two years probation for possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

■ Dennis Mutsavage, 40, 533 North St., Throop, to six months court supervision, including one month of house arrest, and a $1,000 fine for DUI — tier three first offense.

■ Tyler Scott Williams, 20, 92 Center St., Covington Twp., to one year to 35 months in state prison followed by two years probation for criminal trespass and simple assault.

Judge Vito Geroulo sentenced:

■ Gene Gantz, 25, 306 Wheeler Ave., to one year of probation for drug paraphernalia possession and defiant trespass.

■ Alicia Faatz, 22, 596 N. Main St., Plains, to two years probation for reckless endangerment and dangerous burning.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced:

■ Edward Stranko, 26, Hillside Park, Lot 39, Moscow, to one year probation for theft by unlawful taking.

Matthew Drogan

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

Fugitive since: April 3.

Wanted for: Theft by deception (two counts), receiving stolen property, bad checks, possession of drug paraphernalia. Sentenced to two years, three months to 10 years of incarceration. Paroled March 13, 2016.

Description: White man, 30 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 175 pounds, red/auburn hair, blue eyes.

Contact: Agent Sean Graham, 570-614-7283 or 800-932-4857.

Wesley Freeman

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

Fugitive since: May 31.

Wanted for: Theft of movable property, criminal conspiracy with multiple criminal objectives, possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Sentenced to one year, four months to seven years of incarceration. Paroled Aug. 27.

Description: White man, 44 years old, 6 feet 1 inch tall, 180 pounds, brown hair, blue eyes.

Contact: Agent Gary Demuth, 570-614-7244 or 800-932-4857.

Brandell Simon

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

Fugitive since: July 29, 2015.

Wanted for: Possession with intent to distribute a controlled substance (cocaine). Sentenced to nine months to three years of incarceration. Paroled July 27, 2015.

Description: Black man, 29 years old, 5 feet 7 inches tall, 150 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

Contact: Agent Joe Harte, 570-614-7247 or 800-932-4857.

Walter Little

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

Fugitive since: Dec. 14.

Wanted for: DUI (highest impairment), possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute (cocaine). Sentenced to two years, 10 months to nine years, six months of incarceration. Paroled Sept. 8, 2015; on re-parole.

Description: Black man, 35 years old, 6 feet tall, 200 pounds, black hair, green eyes.

Contact: Agent Jason Westgate, 570-614-7250 or 800-932-4857.

Brandi Martin

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

Fugitive since: Jan. 13.

Wanted for: Retail theft, identification theft, theft by deception. Sentenced to two years, six months to five years of incarceration. Paroled Sept. 26.

Description: White woman, 42 years old, 5 feet 3 inches tall, 160 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes.

Contact: Agent Jason Westgate, 570-614-7250 or 800-932-4857.

SCRANTON — The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services has awarded nearly $7 million in education funding to two doctor-training institutions in the city.

The Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine is to receive over $3.4 million over the next four years from the HHS Center of Excellence award program, which grants money to recruit, train and retain minority students and faculty, a news release from U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright said.

The Wright Center for Graduate Medical Education, which provides residency training for primary care physicians, received $3.3 million in federal funds for its residency programs.

— JON O’CONNELL

Two young people died in a one-car crash on Kunkle Road in Dallas Twp. on Saturday.

Ashley Hungarter, 18, of Harveys Lake, and Bryce Wilhelm, 20, of Hunlock Creek, died at the scene, Deputy Coroner Dan Hughes confirmed on Sunday.

They both succumbed to multiple traumatic injuries suffered during the crash, Hughes said.

The crash happened at about 5:20 p.m. when a yellow two-door Chevrolet Cavalier lost control and crashed into a pine tree in the yard of 630 Kunkle Road, according to township police Chief Robert Jolley.

The roadway was wet at the time of the crash after a soaking rain earlier, though the rain had stopped by then, Jolley said.

It appeared the car was coming from the direction of Harveys Lake, traveling toward state Route 309, when the driver lost control of the vehicle and it spun or skidded off the road into the tree, Jolley said.

— Sarah Scinto

SCRANTON — After an argument over a television, Tyesha Pharr-Bacon, 21, 1212 Mulberry St., intentionally drove her car onto a sidewalk striking two women and narrowly missed a man and a baby in a stroller, police said.

The argument took place after 3 p.m. Saturday in a parking lot on Mulberry Street’s 1400 block where Pharr-Bacon shouted at Shirley Merritt about a TV she had loaned her.

Then, after Merritt’s son, Shawn Merritt, punched Pharr-Bacon in the head, Pharr-Bacon drove her car into the small group of people, striking Shirley Merritt and another woman, police said. The victims were treated at the hospital, and expected to be OK.

Pharr-Bacon faces multiple counts of aggravated assault and related charges. She is locked up in Lackawanna County Prison on $20,000 bail.

— JON O’CONNELL

Dear J.T. & Dale: I just learned of a sexual harassment claim filed against me. I am extremely worried. I am 18 years old and know that this can affect my future. Our workplace is super touchy and over-friendly, and this woman is new. There were a few times when she asked for help and I said, “I will help you in exchange for a hug.” She would say “no,” and I would still help her. I never touched her. I believed we were simply joking around. My mistake. She never once said it made her feel uncomfortable or anything. Was I sexually abusive without knowing it?

— ARNIE

J.T.: The issue here is repeatedly asking for hugs — something that was intended to be friendly, but it’s the sort of thing that can be misinterpreted.

DALE: Agreed. And, depending on the delivery of the request, it could be interpreted as creepy. I get that. However, I’m sure HR hates to be pulled into a situation that could have been solved with a simple: “Hey, Arnie, come on. That’s weirding me out.”

J.T.: Yes, and I think most women would do that. But some women are afraid of the repercussions of being so direct. It’s clear she is one of them.

DALE: So, going forward, the attitude reflected in your question is the perfect one to take to HR. Let them know that you’re horrified at being misinterpreted. Ask the HR person for advice on how to approach your co-worker with an apology. Let him or her know that you want to be part of the solution. Then, let’s hope that everyone moves on and that it won’t be an issue.

Dear J.T. & Dale: I’m going on vacation in three weeks. It’s been planned for months. One girl in the office is supposed to cover for me, but she announced that she is having surgery and will be out the week I’m gone. I found out that it’s elective surgery. No one else can do my job, so I want to go to my manager and ask him to make her change the surgery. Should I?

— HEIDI

J.T.: Instead of starting with a request of your boss to have your co-worker change the surgery, say: “I just heard ___ is going to be out the same week as my vacation. Can you help me map out a plan of who should cover my work when I’m gone? Here is a list of all the things she was going to cover in my absence.” This will open up the discussion and show your boss what’s going on.

DALE: I like it. You two may come up with a plan to get the work covered. Or, if that’s not possible, you’ve shrewdly involved him. You didn’t just dump a problem on him; no, you asked for help in finding a solution, and you did so without making accusations about who’s to blame for failing to consider you and your plans.

JEANINE “J.T.” TANNER O’DONNELL is a professional development specialist and the founder of the consulting firm jtodonnell. DALE DAUTEN resolves employment and other business disputes as a mediator with AgreementHouse.com. Please visit them at

jtanddale.com, where you can send questions via email, or write to them in care of King Features Syndicate, 628 Virginia Drive, Orlando, FL 32803.

Attorneys for the Pennsylvania State Police say a dispatcher who alleges officials retaliated against her for reporting a trooper raped her cannot proceed with most of the claims in her lawsuit because the defendants have governmental immunity.

Nicole Palmer, of Dunmore, alleges state police officials tried to silence her because they feared the allegations would embarrass the department. When she refused to drop the allegations, they took various actions against her, including attempting to have her committed involuntarily to a mental institution, the suit says.

Because Palmer filed a lawsuit and has been identified by name in previous stories, The Times-Tribune is naming her.

Palmer was the dispatcher on duty when convicted cop killer Eric Matthew

Frein fatally shot Cpl. Bryon K. Dickson II, of Dunmore, and severely wounded Trooper Alex T. Douglass, of Olyphant, outside the Blooming Grove state police barracks on Sept. 12, 2014. Frein was convicted in April of first-degree murder and other charges and sentenced to death.

In a reply to the suit filed earlier this year, Senior Deputy Attorney General Keli M. Neary, attorney for the state police, acknowledged Palmer was investigated and taken for a mental health evaluation. Neary contends the actions were justified, however, and were not taken to retaliate against her.

Neary recently filed a motion to dismiss seven of the 10 counts in the lawsuit based on various legal grounds, including a state law that protects police from being sued if their actions were taken within the scope of their employment.

In a reply filed this week, Palmer’s attorneys, Kevin Dempsey and Michael Gallacher, argue there is an exception to the rule if the police conduct is so egregious that it falls outside their normal duties.

“The allegations in the complaint demonstrate that the conduct of the individual defendants is not the kind of conduct they were employed to perform,” the attorneys say. “They were not employed to harass and intimidate her into silence regarding the criminal allegations of rape and sexual harassment.”

The motion is the second state police filed. In March, an attorney for former state police commissioner Frank Noonan filed a motion seeking to dismiss him from the case. No ruling has been issued yet.

U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani will take the new motion under consideration and issue a ruling at a later date.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

Sometimes the first sign of debt trouble is that you ignore the signs: You don’t know what your credit card balances are, for example, or you just don’t open statements.

Your subconscious usually tells you when you’re in a danger zone, says Beverly Harzog, author of “The Debt Escape Plan.” It may whisper at first, with headaches or sleepless nights. Other times it hollers. You can’t stretch your paycheck to cover all your bills, or you avoid money discussions with your partner.

But facing your debt is the first step toward mastering it.

Signs of trouble

Indicators that your debt is a problem:

1Your credit card balances keep rising. It’s best to pay credit cards in full every month. Next best is paying enough to whittle down balances over time. If your balances are growing, your financial worries are, too.

2At least one credit card is maxed out. There’s one exception: Don’t count a balance-transfer card you’re using for debt consolidation — provided you have a plan to pay it off while the interest rate is in the low introductory period.

3You can’t pay more than the minimums on your credit cards.

4You can’t afford to save for an emergency fund. Emergencies happen, so you need at least a small reserve to cover them. If a car repair would mean you couldn’t cover your regular bills, something needs to change.

5You’re late on bills because you didn’t have enough money on the due date.

6You applied for credit and were rejected. That means creditors or card issuers see reason to believe you can’t or won’t repay money you borrow.

7You’re getting offers for credit cards for people with damaged credit — and you thought you had good or excellent credit. That’s a sign that something is tanking your credit, Harzog said.

If any of these apply, it’s time to take an honest inventory of your debt.

“I remember having a lot of headaches, even nausea, when I sat down and faced the music,” Harzog said. But she went on to wipe out more than $20,000 in debt in two years.

How to get out of debt

Simply checking for these warning signs means you’ve taken the first step. If one or more apply to you, keep moving along this path to turn your situation around.

Take inventory: First, make a list of every debt you have, along with the interest rate and minimum payment. Then, list your income and expenses for each month to assess your financial obligations.

Cut ruthlessly: Find where you can trim expenses. Any extra money you can put toward debt payments will get you debt-free that much faster.

Do the math: Going all in, can you successfully pay off this debt? If it’s more than 50 percent of your income, bankruptcy may be a more reasonable path to re-establish at least modest financial health. Schedule a free consultation with a bankruptcy attorney and a nonprofit credit counselor for assistance.

Pick a plan: If a do-it-yourself approach is within reach, choose a repayment method you’ll actually use. Two popular ones:

■ Debt avalanche: Focus all extra payments on the debt with the highest interest rate until it’s paid, then move on to the next highest. This can save you money by wiping out your costliest debt first.

■ Debt snowball: Start with your smallest balance and work up to the largest. The early victories can keep you motivated.

You can combine any payoff strategy with debt consolidation, which rolls several credit card balances into one debt at a lower interest rate. If you qualify for a balance transfer card or personal loan, it could help you pay off the debt sooner and for less money overall.

Remember to track your progress and celebrate milestones. Rewarding yourself can help you stay motivated to pay down the debt, but don’t go overboard. Think picnic in the park rather than five-star restaurant meal.

THIS ARTICLE was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet. Email staff writer Bev O’Shea: boshea@nerdwallet.com. Twitter: @BeverlyOShea.

CATHOLIC UNIVERSITY OF AMERICA

Mara M. Walsh, Dunmore.

LEHIGH UNIVERSITY

Alan Brucher, Browndale; Jennifer Burke, Clarks Summit; Robert Cassimore, Dingmans Ferry; Evan Eckersley, Clarks Summit; Braden Frigoletto, Honesdale; David Galaydick, Clarks Summit; Chase Gallik, Hawley; Daniel Lindsey, Dunmore; Nicholas Lomma, Scranton; Mathew Lucas, Taylor; John Luczkovich, Carbondale; Emily Okrepkie, Scott Twp.; Sophia Parola, Moscow; Suraj Pursnani, Pittston; and Corey Schmalzle, Lords Valley.

MARYWOOD

UNIVERSITY

REAP COLLEGE OF EDUCATION AND HUMAN DEVELOPMENT

Emily A. Banfield, Pocono Lake; Jason Bartolomei, Scranton; Alison Marie Berti, West Pittston; Christopher Best, Pittston; Anna C. Boginski, Scranton; Abigail Lauren Burge, Spring Brook Twp.; Yazmine J. Cooley, Scranton; Tanya Padgett Davis, Scranton; Corrin Devereaux, Scranton; Alexandra Anne Ditchkus, Scranton; Linsey Marie Dudock, Meshoppen; Leah Beth Evans, Peckville; Ciarra Falzone, Dickson City; Kurt Andrew Fisher, Scranton; Renee Gabriel, Scranton; McKenzie Catherine Gedman, Scranton; Megan Elizabeth Gilroy, Scranton; Dakota Marie Hardick, Lake Ariel; Victoria Lynn Hunsinger, Scranton; Tawny Husosky, Old Forge; Patricia Marie Ingulli, Hawley; Jeffrey Kelly, Throop; Kelsey Elizabeth Killeen, Scranton; Nina Kline, Dickson City; Emily Louise Kotcho, Jermyn; Allison Olivia Krupski, Scranton; Martha A. Laytos, Scranton; Julia Catherine Lettieri, Scranton; Sierra A. Lieback, West Pittston; Emily Elizabeth Loftus, Scranton; Finn E. Malakin, Hamlin; Kali Masewitz, Moosic; Kaitlyn McDonnell, Dunmore; Laura McNamara, Scranton; Megan Marie Mercanti, Dickson City; Leah Milewski, Jermyn; Morgan Miller, Pittston; Andrew Richard Murray, Scranton; Rebecca J. Noll, Spring Brook Twp.; Shelby Shea Ohotnicky, Scranton; Colleen Marie Pauley, Scranton; Katie Purcell, Scranton; Nicole Lynn Rabecs, Dunmore; Olivia Rainey, Clarks Summit; Rose Marie Reed, Scranton; Megan Rose Marie Refice, Taylor; Abby L. Reid, Moscow; Brenna Nicole Roche, Moscow; Ryan Matthew Samsell, Moscow; Jenna Lynn Santarsiero, Clarks Summit; Jessica M. Scavo, Old Forge; Bryon A. Scholl, Scranton; Claudia Shandra, Hughestown; Nicole Christine Sinclair, Scranton; Bonnie Leeann Smith, Dunmore; Myranda Ilene Strada, Lake Ariel; Valerie Tassey, Scranton; Erica Josephine Viola, Clarks Summit; John Visci, Honesdale; Mary Ware, Scranton; Stacey Claire Watkins, Clarks Summit; Rebecca Wolfram, Duryea; and Kendra Ann Wuestling, Olyphant.

INSALACO COLLEGE OF CREATIVE AND PERFORMING ARTS

Harlow Rima Alexander, Dupont; Tiffany Atkins, Tunkhannock; Nina Alexa Bej, Scranton; Katherine Bischak, Simpson; Jessica Lee Bonacci, Scranton; Corrynn N. Brown, Scranton; Matt Catanzaro, Peckville; Hoc Weng Chong, Scranton; Dedra B. Congdon, Hop Bottom; Carlane Noelle Costello, West Pittston; Alexander Eiden, Scranton; Shelby Elizabeth Galambos, Clifford Twp.; Breana Colette Gonzalez, Pittston; Tiffany Amber Gregori, Eynon; Rachel Hines, Tunkhannock; Amanda M. Hirschler, Factoryville; Mollie Nora Host, Montrose; Dana Jayne Jackson, Dunmore; Jordyn Lee Jacques, Archbald; Zachary Aidan Johnson-Medland, Mount Pocono; Alexander Jubinski, Dalton; Kira Ann Karboski, Olyphant; Krystal Lynn Kolasa, Shohola; Corinne O’Connor Lawrence, Dunmore; Emma L. Lengyel, Scranton; Santina Marie Lewis, Luzerne; Jesus Antonio Lopez, Bushkill; Tyron Mah, Jermyn; Joshua M. Mann, Scranton; Nicolo Gaetano Manzo, Olyphant; Casey Anne Markiewicz, Archbald; Raquel Medina, Scranton; Jonathan Taylor Mengoni, Peckville; Taylor Elizabeth Morgan, Jermyn; Darian Mosluk, Tunkhannock; Erin Murphy, Dickson City; Jerome M. Nidoh, South Abington Twp.; Jakob Allen Pepper, Honesdale; Kristen Gabriella Pietryka, Old Forge; Margaret Joan Scott, Scranton; Jordan Marie Slater, Covington Twp.; Daniel John Smith, Scranton; Emily Spory, Scranton; Tristan C. Tregaskis, Waymart; Kelsey Van Horn, West Pittston; Georisell Vazquez, Scranton; Noreen Marie Vogel, Milford; Sarah Wagner, South Abington Twp.; Brooke Shelby Williams, Jessup; and Dylan Wright, Carbondale.

COLLEGE OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES

Zabira Abubakr, Scranton; Salma Ahmed, Scranton; Noor Nasser Alruwaili, Scranton; Danielle Barnes, Susquehanna; Leea Bernadette Berrios, Carbondale; Michael Edward Boylan, Scranton; Tess Capobianco, Scranton; Shaina Catizone, Pocono Lake; Nicole A. Chekan, Scranton; Noel Chesar, Peckville; Mathew John Cielinski, Dingmans Ferry; Gina Leigh Daniels, Tunkhannock; Mallory C. DePew, Moscow; Giuliana Marie Desavino, Peckville; Rebecca Frances Fields, Equinunk; David T. Frable, Scranton; Kelly A. Franchetti, Olyphant; Brenden Franklin, Honesdale; Briana Franza, Scranton; Ashley Fumanti, Scranton; Ashley Donnell Galka, Roaring Brook Twp.; Gabrielle Celeste Giordano, Moscow; John Bernard Goldman, Throop; Katelin Elizabeth Graves, Factoryville; Marissa Rosalie Grecco, Clifford Twp.; Svitlana Heimbuch, Olyphant; Brittany Eyana Hypolite, Pittston; Alexandria Jacukowicz-Ratay, Olyphant; Elizabeth Rose Jones, Exeter; Eileen Kelly, Milanville; Sydney Marie Kobesky, Dickson City; Olivia Marie Kosin, Olyphant; Connor Patrick Kranick, Jessup; Adam T. Larsen, Cresco; Brianna M. Lawless, Dunmore; Mariah Brittney Maglio, Spring Brook Twp.; Jessica Martin, West Pittston; Sean Patrick McDonough, Waymart; Brittany T. McGahee, Taylor; Elaina Marcella Menichelli, Pittston Twp.; Michelle Elizabeth Mickavicz, Taylor; Madison Molfetto, Moscow; Tyler Ryan Mooney, Dupont; Donna Morgan, Hawley; Aubrey Noon, Roaring Brook Twp.; Kristina Tai O’Hara, Greenfield Twp.; Janelle Ann Olivetti, Scranton; Rachelle Paolucci, South Abington Twp.; Stephanie Natividad Ramos, Forest City; Samantha Theresa Reid, Olyphant; Brennah Riley, Clarks Green; Emily M. Ruane, Scranton; Karen Ashley Saxon, Nicholson; Taylor Jessica Schirra, Clarks Summit; Mary E. Schraeder, Scranton; Keely Anne Seybold, Lake Ariel; Morgan Frances Siniawa, Eynon; Mikaela Smith, Covington Twp.; Mia Rose Sposto, Olyphant; Matthew J. Staback, Peckville; Trevor Neil Talbot, Pittston; Jaclyn Teufert, Dunmore; Emily D. Timchak, West Pittston; Steven Nicholas Toporcer, Scranton; Constance Catherine Truppo, Lake Ariel; Desiree Paige Wentzell, Honesdale; and Kaitlyn Wolff, Archbald.

MUNLEY COLLEGE OF LIBERAL ARTS AND SCIENCES

Jordan Adcroft, Scranton; Ahmed Mohammad Aloreif, Scranton; Khairallah Altaleb, Scranton; Sulaiman Alwashel, Scranton; Marilyn Ruth Anderson, South Abington Twp.; Sara Aronica, Hawley; Joshua Aulisio, Old Forge; Bridget Ann Barnic, Moosic; Monique Barrese, Union Dale; Mara Baxter, Moscow; Dominic Behler, Dunmore; Alicia Louise Belch, Thompson; Natalia Billings, Clarks Summit; Kylie Boruta, Gouldsboro; Bryan Boyle, Vandling; Laura Brady, Pittston; Catharine Brennan, Browndale; Logan Brighton, Milford; Colleen Diane Campbell, Scranton; Jillian Rose Castellani, Archbald; Jordan Raymond Cebular, Richmondale; Joseph G. Chowanec, Dickson City; Matthew Comins, Dunmore; Nadine A. Davitt, Dickson City; Cameron William Dean, Montrose; Kyle J. Devereaux, Olyphant; Alexandra DeVilliers, Dingmans Ferry; Brittany Dosch, Tafton; Sarah Duffy, Dunmore; Matthew Scott Earle, South Abington Twp.; Kelvin Fitzgerald, South Abington Twp.; Alanna S. Giles, Eynon; David P. Gitkos, Scott Twp.; Sara Goodson, Scranton; Joseph R. Gorgol, Scranton; John Francis Harrison, Archbald; Abigail Sydney Hein, Scranton; Natasha Hessling, Honesdale; Joni Lucienne Host, Montrose; Alexis Ivosevic, Hawley; Sally Catherine Jellock, Lake Ariel; Hunter Marie Jones, Tunkhannock; Casey Rae Kasisky, Falls; Melissa Keisling, Clarks Summit; Daniel Arthur Kimes, Moosic; Brian David Klassner, Peckville; Camille Kotcho, Jermyn; Julianna I. Kozuch, Jermyn; Colleen E. Kramer, Duryea; Paul Kraycer, Peckville; Caitlin Kurey, Scranton; Alex LaFave, Covington Twp.; Eleyna N. Lamparter, Gouldsboro; Nicholas Steven LaRosa, Clifton Twp.; Aubrey L. LeDonne, Dunmore; Courtney Ann Leese, Peckville; Jamie M. Linde, Olyphant; Jessie K. Linde, Olyphant; Ryan James Loftus, Scranton; Heather Lynn Lord, Tunkhannock; Brianna Elizabeth Maglio, Spring Brook Twp.; Nicholas J. Maruska, Dupont; Kaitlyn Elizabeth McDonough, Spring Brook Twp.; Nicole Meshko, Scranton; Brandon James Morley, Milford; Sean Munley, Archbald; Mikayla Nardone, Pittston; Roni Jean Nawrocki, Spring Brook Twp.; Catherine Nealon, Clarks Summit; Erik Nelson, Olyphant; Anna Cecelia Notchick, Dunmore; Lauren E. Notchick, Honesdale; Geoffrey William O’Connor, Scranton; Carly Odynsky, Milford; Caitlyn Sara O’Hara, Scranton; Patrick Edward O’Malley, Scranton; Maura O’Neill, Scott Twp.; Emily Paige Onyshczak, Olyphant; Kerri A. Orr, Moscow; Kaleigh Ann Orr, Moscow; Daniel Philip Pastore, Scranton; Krupa Patel, Scranton; Kuntal B. Patel, Scranton; Archi M. Patel, Dunmore; Dixaben H. Patel, Scranton; Megan Phillips, Dunmore; Nickolas Alexander Reviello, South Abington Twp.; Aaron J. Riley, Scranton; Gabriella M. Rossi, Archbald; Sarah Rotell, Archbald; Krista Scarpelli, Swiftwater; Julia Marie Sebastian, Waverly Twp.; Eileen Catherine Sempa, Old Forge; Robert John Seprish, Dunmore; John Leonard Shebby, Tunkhannock; Alison Showalter, Thompson; Jeff Siemion, Dunmore; Ryan Skapyak, Throop; Thomas Christopher Skrutski, Archbald; Michael David Smith, Dunmore; Eric Joseph Smith, Tunkhannock; Nicole Sobolewski, Scranton; Lacey J. Stanton, Scranton; Courtney A. Stevens, Newfoundland; Cory A. Stewart, Clarks Summit; Kayla Strausser, Gouldsboro; Dawn Talley, Lake Ariel; Nicole E. Tanana, Olyphant; Ashley Diane Tarabek, Clarks Summit; Patrick Teehan, Milford; Nathan Terelmes, Dunmore; Chelsea Thoman, Scranton; Kennedy Ann Thomas, Lakeville; Michael Thomas, Scott Twp.; Maria Elizabeth Torquato, Dunmore; Sydney Elizabeth Toy, Carbondale; Daniel James Travis, Archbald; Keith J. Valinski, Blakely; Jason Van Wert, Jefferson Twp; Kylie Morgan Verespy, Olyphant; Brandi Elizabeth Vispi, Peckville; Joseph Weber, Dunmore; Kayla Ann Weidner, Milford; Terry James Werner III, Honesdale; Kaitlyn Marie White, Swoyersville; Samantha Ann Wigley, Moosic; Christopher Williams, Clarks Summit; Luke M. Williams, Scott Twp.; Sarah Ann Witte, Lakeville; and Morgan A. Zucchino, Scranton.

SCHOOL OF ARCHITECTURE

Antonio Felice Cicco, Scranton; Brandon Peter Freely, Clifford Twp.; Timothy Hackenberg, Greenfield Twp.; Brooke Ann Jennings-Takach, Dunmore; Courtney Mackrell, Peckville; Ryan Michael Marvin, West Wyoming; Andrew D. Mitchell, Scranton; Emily Pieshefski, Olyphant; and Sara L. Podunajec, Waymart.

MORRISVILLE

STATE COLLEGE

Austin Graham, Montrose.

MOUNT ST. MARY’S UNIVERSITY

Kayla Agentowicz, Clarks Summit.

NORWICH UNIVERSITY

Irene Evelyn Magdon, Dupont.

SUNY BUFFALO

Andrei Svistunov, South Abington Twp.

WEST CHESTER

UNIVERSITY

Elizabeth Legg, Scranton.

MOOSIC — Donald and Maryann Sefcik aren’t Jewish, but they cherish the culture, traditions and the food just the same.

On Sunday they sat in the sun and ate falafel and stuffed cabbage rolls together for the kickoff of the 11th Jewish Food Festival, a three-day event outside PNC Field held by the Jewish Discovery Center in Waverly Twp.

Organizers and volunteers have honed their menu this year, and expanded the event over three days — Sunday, Monday and Tuesday — after rain dampened turnout for last year’s only festival day.

“We like cultures of all kinds, but my heart is with Israel,” said Maryann Sefcik, who has visited Israel once with her husband, and once before on her own.

Volunteers will serve food from 3 to 7 p.m. today and from 11 a.m. to 7 p.m. Tuesday, wrapping up just before the Scranton/

Wilkes-Barre RailRiders take on the Buffalo Bisons inside the stadium.

Under a tent, Tim Nawrocki of Clarks Summit ate a corned beef sandwich and potato knish in the company of Maura O’Neill, Chapman Lake, who had turkey shawarma.

Apart from something to do on a sunny summer day, the menu reminded Nawrocki of the food his grandmother cooked for him when he visited her as a boy.

“It’s a little nostalgic, I guess,” he said.

On Tuesday, the band Simply Tsfat, a klezmer from northern Israel, will play a free concert at 12:30 p.m.

Other attractions include vendors selling jewelry and gifts, a play area and crafts for children and a photo booth with a large backdrop of the Kotel, or Western Wall in Israel.

Donald Sefcik, a retired New York City police officer who lives in Dickson City with his wife, was raised on Staten Island.

“I grew up in a Jewish community,” he said between bites of falafel. “They were my teachers, they were my doctors, they were my friends.”

For he and his wife, the food was a throwback to his childhood and a way to reminisce on their trips to Israel.

From afar, Rabbi Benny Rapoport, a director with the discovery center, noticed the Sefciks’ matching T-shirts with a logo for Ein-Gev, a resort on the Sea of Galilee.

“There’s two bodies of water in Israel,” he said, approaching the table and seizing the moment to share a lesson. “There’s the Sea of Galilee and there’s the Dead Sea.”

The Dead Sea is a stagnant lake polluted by minerals; while the Galilee teems with life. Why is that? He asked.

He went on to explain that the Dead Sea, fed by the Jordan River, has no outfall, and nowhere for minerals washed down from the surrounding countryside to escape.

Galilee, on the other hand, which is further upriver, empties into the River Jordan.

“It’s a lesson that, when we take what we have and give to others, that’s a sign of life,” he said. “If we just take, and we have no outlet for giving, that’s the Dead Sea.”

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

If you go

What: The Jewish Food Festival continues this week

When: Today 3 to 7 p.m.; Tuesday 11 a.m. to 7 p.m.

Where: PNC Field, 235 Montage Mountain Rd.

Free admission. Learn more and find a menu at www.jewishfoodfest.com.

Even facts chiseled in stone aren’t always the truth, the whole truth and nothing but the truth.

Witness the monuments outside the Lackawanna County Courthouse.

Nearly three years after an in-depth review by the Lackawanna Historical Society found that the monuments populating Courthouse Square abound with inaccuracies, omissions and inconsistencies, county officials are hoping to finally set the record straight.

The county expects to issue a request for proposals later this month for a project to fix errors documented during the society’s 2014 survey after consulting with the organization for more than a year to refine the list of what needs to be done and then double- and triple-check the planned corrections.

“That is what took so long,” said Maureen McGuigan, deputy director of the Department of Arts and Culture, who is shepherding the project with county budget director Kevin Mitchell. “We went through it — and through it and through it — and we are going to go through it again. We were figuring out what it should say down to the nitty-gritty. There are dates that are wrong, ranks that are wrong, things like that.”

McGuigan and Mitchell received the go-ahead for the project last month after presenting the finalized plan to the county commissioners.

Mitchell, who said county officials do not know what the corrections will cost, anticipates the RFP will take the form of an itemized list, with the county seeking proposals for each individual item on the list.

“It’s basically an à la carte menu,” he said.

For example, there are 20 or so fixes proposed for the county Veterans Memorial,

which consists mostly of the granite walls inscribed with quotations that frame the walkways leading to the main entrance of the courthouse. Each of those will be a separate item in the RFP, McGuigan said.

By breaking down the costs at that level, county officials will be in a better position to make decisions if the work has to be done in phases, she said.

“We want to be good stewards with taxpayers’ money, and it’s the best way to do it so we can address the issues that are most critical,” she said. “There are some that are more pressing than others.”

One fix McGuigan mentioned specifically — and one seemingly high on everybody’s priority list — is correcting the spelling of Sgt. Eric W. Slebodnik’s

last name on the Veterans Memorial wall.

Slebodnik, a soldier from Greenfield Twp.

who was killed in Iraq in 2005,

is the only local resident quoted on the wall, where his last name is spelled “Slebodnick.”

Aside from the corrections, the county will ask for proposals for some other monument-related work, including cleaning the Christopher Columbus monument at the southwest

corner of the square and the stonework within Piazza dell’ Arte

along Spruce Street.

The county will also use the RFP to price out the cost of adding another stone to the Distinguished Citizens Memorial,

which sits between the Columbus monument and Piazza dell’ Arte and honors late Govs. William W. Scranton Jr.

and Robert P. Casey

and former U.S. Rep. Joseph M. McDade.

The commissioners are considering adding a fourth individual to the monument, although who would be honored has not been decided, Mitchell said.

Some of the other work recommended by the historical society, such as reinstalling a sidewalk behind the John Mitchell monument on Adams Avenue

and adding or improving lighting, are things the county anticipates can be handled internally, McGuigan said.

“The monument work is the biggest piece,” she said. “That’s why we are starting with this.”

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9132

WILKES-BARRE — A program to distribute bicycle helmets in Wilkes-Barre is a decade old, and it’s now expanding to Scranton.

The Hourigan, Kluger & Quinn Fund for Children’s Advocacy — or HKQ Kids — has distributed helmets for children 12 and younger since 2008.

The organization will once again distribute helmets to children from 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. Tuesday at Wilkes-Barre’s Kirby Park. This year, HKQ Kids will also distribute helmets in Scranton from 4 to 7 p.m. Friday at Courthouse Square.

The fund is administered by the Luzerne Foundation and began in 2005 after the firm received a settlement in the case of 4-year-old client Torajee Bobbett, who died after a misdiagnosis at the former Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. The helmet giveaway started a few years later.

“One of our staff members said ‘Why don’t we give away bike helmets?’ And that’s how it started,” said Sue Greenfield, the firm’s business manager. “So we looked for an opportunity where we knew there would be a crowd of children, which was the Fourth of July celebration at Kirby Park, and we decided that was what we would do.”

The initiative has distributed more than 9,000 helmets. Some children come back year after year, so volunteers see them grow up, Greenfield said.

“They started out in toddler helmets and this will probably be the last year we actually can fit them,” she said.

Helmets have proven to be a popular giveaway because children need several sizes as they grow and because they should be replaced after a crash or if the foam is cracked after dropping it onto a hard surface.

“When you have a family who’s got two or three children and every year they’re outgrowing these helmets, this gets to be such an expense that we just thought that was a great way to make sure that children could be safe and to try to help out some families with the cost of it,” Greenfield said.

Contact the writer: bwellock@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2051;

@CVBillW on Twitter

To receive a free bicycle helmet

■ Children are required to be 12 or under and must be present and accompanied by an adult to receive a helmet.

■ Pre-registration is not required.

In Wilkes-Barre:

11 a.m. to 6 p.m., Tuesday in Kirby Park, during the city’s Independence Day celebrations.

In Scranton:

4 to 7 p.m., Friday on Courthouse Square, during First Friday in the city.

The Lackawanna County administration expects to save $5.25 million by refinancing another $58.49 million of the county’s debt.

The savings will come from a reduced interest rate — 3.21 percent, down from the previous 5.1 percent interest rate — over the remaining life of the bond, according to information Andy Wallace, chief of staff to the county commissioners, compiled.

The bond, which represents nearly one-quarter of the county’s $226.52 million total debt, is scheduled to be paid back between now and Sept. 1, 2035.

Commissioner Jerry Notarianni described the move as an important part of managing the county’s finances when residents can’t afford higher taxes, the administration wants to avoid cutting programs and the local economy hasn’t picked up yet.

“Any business, you want to spend as little as you can,” he said. “You have to increase

revenue or decrease spending in order to survive in the business world.”

Boenning & Scattergood and PNC Capital Markets underwrote the bonds, which were sold on the open market to more than a dozen buyers. Lackawanna County closed the deal on Tuesday.

The county paid $304,248 in fees to various consultants related to the transaction. The largest sums included $110,000 to bond counsel Stevens and Lee, $100,000 to advisor Financial Solutions, $30,000 to Standard & Poor’s Global Ratings and $20,000 each to co-underwriters Nepa & McGraw and Rogan Law.

The move follows refinancing another $72.28 million in debt last year, which consultants projected would save $16.14 million over two decades.

Commissioner Patrick O’Malley said the administration is looking to take advantage of the county’s upgraded bond rating and wants to refinance more debt next year.

Representatives already discussed the idea with financial advisors, who are reviewing options.

“Whatever is available, we’re going to do,” Wallace said.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100, x5181;

@kwindTT on Twitter

Chris Kemmerer knows there are many different ways to go camping, from carrying everything you need on your back to staying in a modern cabin at a state park.

As the Pennsylvania Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ manager of environmental education and outdoor programming for Pennsylvania state parks, he is familiar with locations across the commonwealth — including those in Northeast Pennsylvania, such as Lackawanna, Frances Slocum, Hickory Run, Promised Land and Ricketts Glen state parks.

“They all have multiple ways to ‘go camping’ at all of their parks. You don’t need a tent or an RV necessarily to go camping,” he said.

Long lists of camping equipment can seem intimidating, but not all that much special equipment is really necessary for some trips. State parks rent cabins and yurts with bunks and modern appliances like a fridge, stove and air conditioner. Campers just need to bring their own food, towels and things for sleeping, he said.

It can also be an inexpensive way to vacation.

Renting a cabin or cottage at a state park for a week costs an average of about $250, cheaper than many lodging options in cities or at other tourist destinations. Buying the gear for staying in a tent might require would-be campers to invest only a few hundred dollars up front for something they can use multiple times.

The state previously had a program that allowed people to use loaned gear from retailer Gander Mountain to get a taste of camping. That program ended and wasn’t renewed, but there are still other occasional programs that teach outdoor skills, which can be found on DCNR’s calendar of events online at events.dcnr.pa.gov.

State parks — which have park rangers, amenities and designated campsites — offer a good introduction to camping for novices.

Mark Scarpitti is the assistant manager at Hickory Run State park, and he suggests people look online to learn more about the parks. A reservation website has information about specific campsites, such as whether it has electricity and water and allows pets, for example.

“You can get a lot of that information so you have a sense of what to expect when you’re coming in and what questions you might have for whether it’s ranger staff or office staff when you arrive at the state park,” he said.

Kemmerer’s advice to new campers is to keep meals simple, relax and have fun.

For those interested in trying some outdoor recreation this summer but unsure where to begin, the Department of Conservation and Natural Resources’ website has information about camping, including a list of suggested supplies divided into categories online at www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/staythenight/camping/index.htm. The site notes that campers may want to bring more or less stuff than the dozens of item on the list.

Packing: A backpack makes going deep in the woods easier, but that’s not the only way to go camping. Even if you’re staying at a cabin, you can use a small pack to carry water and snacks for day hikes.

Lighting: A flashlight with spare batteries and bulbs or a lantern will prove useful when night falls.

Shelter/Bedding: Classic symbols of camping, including a tent, rain tarp, extra stakes, a plastic ground cloth, sleeping bag, sleeping pad and a pillow. For those staying near a car, an air mattress is also on the list.

Medical: This includes preventative care, such as sunscreen, insect repellent and poison ivy block, as well as remedies like aspirin, tweezers, band-aids, itch cream and mole skin. A first-aid kit might include all of the items needed, and campers can take out what they don’t want or add items, such as prescriptions.

Cleaning and personal items: Items like soap, shampoo and toothpaste should be biodegradable. Campers might also want a toothbrush, washcloth, comb or hair brush, razor, toilet paper and a bag to carry everything.

Equipment: Some equipment campers may consider includes an ax, bow saw, duct tape, a hammer for pounding in tent pegs, rope, clothes pins and a broom for cleaning off a table or tent site. DCNR reminds campers not to cut any living or standing trees. If you’re at a campsite with an electric hookup, an extension cord might also come in handy.

Clothing: Dress for the season, bring warm clothes in case the weather turns cold and pack rain gear. Some special items that might also be useful include hiking boots, a wide-brimmed hat to block the sun, a jacket and a swim suit.

Cooking: Some items the outdoor cook might want include a stove with fuel or charcoal, a grill grate, newspapers for lighting a campfire, firewood — which should be local so as to avoid spreading pests, a frying pan and pot with lids, cooking skewers for hot dogs and marshmallows, a can opener, tongs, pot holders and a tablecloth. A way to make coffee is also useful.

Dishes: Plates, mugs, cutlery, a kitchen knife, mixing bowl, spatula, scrub pad, dish pan for washing dishes, biodegradable dish soap and a container for holding water will help campers set a table and clean up after a meal.

Consumables: Items like paper towels and aluminum foil are helpful. Remember to bring trash bags to clean up.

Food and drink: Camp food ranges from rudimentary to gourmet. Much of it tastes better after a day outside in the company of friends. Kemmerer advises people to keep their recipes simple when cooking outdoors.

Miscellaneous: Bring some things for outdoor activities, such as a pocket knife, a map of the area, a park map, camping chairs, a camera or camcorder, books, cards and games, sports equipment, bug-repelling candles, binoculars or a field guide for identifying wildlife.

Contact the writer: bwellock@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2051;

@CVBillW on Twitter

If you go

■ To reserve a campsite, visit: www.dcnr.state.pa.us/stateparks/staythenight/camping/index.htm.

■ To see the calendar of events at state parks and forests, visit: events.dcnr.pa.gov.

DUNMORE — The borough plans to repave segments of as many as 15 streets this year for about $1.5 million, in the first planned large road repair project since Dunmore paved Elmhurst Boulevard in 2013.

The borough is accepting bids for the work until July 14 and council will decide how to proceed when members see prices, whether that means paving everything or prioritizing a portion of them, Borough Manager Vito Ruggiero said.

Jim Miller lives uphill from sections of Jessup Avenue that are on the borough’s list and said he has to dodge potholes every year.

“It gets rough,” he said. “I have a motorcycle, so that’s even worse.”

Ruggiero said the specific streets were chosen with feedback from the department of public works, residents, borough council and code enforcement officer Joseph Lorince.

Paving all 15 targeted areas would probably cost $1.5 million, Ruggiero estimated.

Public works foreman Michael Judge expected contractors to be able to finish their work before the winter and said borough crews will continue to be out patching roads through the summer.

Aside from the bottom of Jessup Avenue and a small chunk of North Apple Street, some of the other streets on the list include:

n Reeves Street from Interstate 81 to Monahan Avenue.

n Monahan Avenue from the O’Neill Highway to Reeves Street.

n Potter Street from South Blakely to Chestnut streets.

n Meade Street, portions between the medical offices and Chestnut Street.

n Elmhurst Boulevard, a portion not completed in the 2013 paving.

n A series of alleys and smaller residential streets.

Councilman Timothy Burke said council members have been talking about street maintenance for years.

“Every one of those streets (is) horrible,” Burke said. “We haven’t had a paving project where we paved this many streets like this in 10 to 12 years. ... That talk has been that we have to get to where we’re doing it every year. We don’t want all the streets going bad at once.”

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, x5181;

@kwindTT on Twitter

A Minnesota man who federal officials say sold fentanyl online and was indicted for a Scranton woman’s overdose death in 2016 is slated for trial in August but plea negotiations may negate the need for one, according to court documents.

Aaron R. Broussard, 26, of Hopkins, Minnesota, pleaded not guilty to a charge of delivering a controlled substance that resulted in death following his Dec. 6 indictment by a federal grand jury.

In a motion filed this month to postpone the trial date, the U.S. attorney’s office said plea negotiations are ongoing but the attorneys on the case need additional time to finish.

A pretrial conference is now scheduled for July 28 at 10:30 a.m. and jury selection is slated to begin Aug. 7 at 9 a.m., according to Broussard’s court docket.

Authorities allege Broussard used a website, Plant

FoodUSA.net, which is no longer active, to distribute drugs. In documents, police said Broussard was linked to at least 10 homicides nationwide, and police across the country investigated dozens of fentanyl-related overdoses stemming from PlantFood

USA.net. Fentanyl is an opioid more powerful than heroin that has seen a surge in abuse as the drug epidemic has grown.

On May 8, 2016, a 26-year-old woman in a Scranton apartment was found unresponsive. She later died of a fentanyl overdose.

Police said she used the drugs, ordered from Plant

FoodUSA.net, at the urging of her boyfriend, believing they were less dangerous than they actually were.

Broussard remains in Lackawanna County Prison. If convicted, he faces a maximum penalty of life in prison and a $1 million fine.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

MONDAY UPDATE brings

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

“Monday Update” in the

subject line.

SCRANTON — City Hall will be closed Tuesday in observance of Independence Day.

There also won’t be any garbage collection in Scranton on Tuesday, and garbage and blue recycling will fall a day behind.

Lackawanna County offices, including the courthouse, also will be closed.

All state Department of Transportation driver’s license and photo centers will be closed Tuesday in observance of the holiday, PennDOT said.

Customers may still obtain services, such as ID and registration renewals and changes of address, 24 hours a day, seven days a week online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website at www.dmv.pa.gov.

- JIM LOCKWOOD

DEAR BRUCE: What would the new tax reform mean for me? I am a single father and make $35,000 a year. Does this mean it would change how much money I get back when I file my taxes? And if so, would I get more back or less?

— BEN

DEAR BEN: The reality is, given your income, I don’t think there would be much change when it comes to how much refund you’ll claim on your taxes. You may receive a little bit more and conceivably a little bit less. I wouldn’t count on any major differences.

I would rather be looking for a way to earn more money. Your income of $35,000 a year makes me believe that you are just going from paycheck to paycheck. If that means considering a new career path, then that is the way to go. Good luck!

DEAR BRUCE: I plan to work past my 70th birthday. Will I need to draw money out of my IRA? My question is, am I required to do so, and if so, what is the lowest percent?

— J.T.

DEAR J.T.: The first part of your question is clear. You’re required to make a withdrawal after you turn 70½. No question about that. You can reinvest it if you chose, but you MUST make the withdrawal.

Unfortunately, I can’t give you an answer as to how much money you will have to withdraw. That has to be determined on an individual basis, and it depends on your theoretical “death date.”

In other words, the idea is for you to withdraw enough money out of your IRA so that when your money runs out, so do you. That’s the theory anyway.

SEND QUESTIONS to bruce@bruce

williams.com. Questions of general interest will be answered in future columns. Owing to the volume of mail, personal replies cannot be provided.

SCRANTON — Somebody broke into a pair of sheds on Oak Street Saturday morning and stole lawn equipment.

Police say items like weed whackers, leaf blowers, lawn mowers and hedge trimmers were taken from the Kentucky Fried Chicken shed and another shed on neighboring property on the 800 block at Keyser Avenue.

No arrests have been made.

Anyone with information about the thefts can call Scranton Police Department at 570-348-4134.

— JON O’CONNELL