Taxes will rise again for residents in Lackawanna and Wyoming counties who live within the Lackawanna Trail School District.

Lackawanna Trail School Board recently voted 7-2 to approve a $20.9 million budget for 2017-18 that calls for taxes in the Lackawanna County side of the district to rise 2.4 percent from 158.56 to 162.43 mills and 3.18 percent in Wyoming County from 88.78 to 91.61 mills. Board members Karl Beichler and Joe Strauch voted against it.

Increases in health care costs for employees as well as the district’s increasing contribution to the state retirement system contributed to the increases, district Business Manager Keith Glynn said at previous school board meetings. Last winter, the school board said it was opposed to raising taxes beyond a state Department of Education-imposed index, as it did last year when taxes rose 13.9 percent in Wyoming County and 8.6 percent in Lackawanna County.

Next year’s budget is $445,000 more than this year’s.

In other business

The board also approved Kevin Mulhern to serve as board secretary and Michael Mould as board treasurer for four-year terms at an annual $600 stipend each. Both said they will return the stipend to the district with a third of the proceeds to go to Friends of Music; a third to the Booster Club; and a third to the Arts Alive program, should Lackawanna Trail continue to be involved in it.

The board also hired Sarah Richard as a special education elementary life skills teacher for $55,200 annually; Jessica Bentley as special education math teacher for $55,200 annually; Judy McCullough as a school nurse for $16.62 an hour; Harry Powell as athletic director for $16,000 annually; Mason Stiver as percussion instructor for a stipend of $1,975; and Brink Powell as dramatics director at a stipend of $2,100. The board also accepted the resignations of junior high girls basketball coach Gary Wilmet and Interact adviser Tony Dalasio and granted unpaid leaves to Debra Joyce next October and Kenneth Yerkes through Aug. 31.

Elementary principal Brian Kearney told the board that the Elementary Center’s produce market will continue during the year with the next one set for July 11. He also said the school’s librarian is making a Lackawanna County Library system card available to give all students access to K-12 tutors.

Special education coordinator Amie Talarico said an extended school program will be offered July 10-Aug. 10 with new hire Brenda Richard involved with teaching.

There will be a disciplinary review meeting at 6 p.m. Wednesday to allow public input on school policies in the student handbooks which are expected to be approved at the board’s next scheduled meeting on July 10.

Contact the writer:

bbaker@wcexaminer.com;

570-836-2123

LEBANON, Pa. (AP) — A Pennsylvania judge has rejected an appeal by a former pastor convicted killing two wives.

The most recent appeal by 69-year-old Arthur Schirmer was rejected last week by a Monroe County judge. Schirmer sought to overturn his 2013 murder conviction in the 2008 death of his second wife, Betty. Prosecutors contend he bludgeoned her with a crow bar then staged a car accident to cover it up. The judge rejected Schirmer's claims that his attorney was ineffective and that prosecutors committed misconduct.

The former Methodist pastor is serving a life sentence in that case plus 20 to 40 years in prison in the 1999 death of his first wife, 50-year-old Jewel Schirmer.

Lebanon County prosecutors say that woman was bludgeoned, too, though Schirmer claimed she died from falling down their basement steps.

A 17-year-old girl admitted in court Monday she stabbed and killed a woman during a street fight in 2016.

In pleading guilty to third-degree murder, Cathleen Boyer will spend at least seven years in a state prison — the low-end of the range the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office said it will ask for when Boyer is sentenced. The high-end of their request will be 20 years.

The actual sentence, however, could be higher still. Judge Andy Jarbola, who accepted Boyer’s plea, noted to the teenage defendant that a judge is not bound by that request. The maximum penalty Boyer could face is 40 years incarceration and a $50,000 fine.

Scranton police arrested Boyer late last spring on charges she killed 18-year-old Kayla VanWert in a Hill Section alley brawl May 29, 2016. Boyer was 16 at the time.

“You understand by pleading guilty you are admitting to the things you’re charged with?” Jarbola asked her Monday.

“Yes, your honor,” Boyer said.

Investigators said that Boyer and VanWert were friends but had a fight over Jorge DeJesus, the father of VanWert’s young child, whom VanWert suspected was romantically involved with Boyer. A threat-filled argument on social media between Boyer and VanWert ended hours later with a killing on the 800 block of McKenna Court.

The plea averts a trial, which was scheduled to begin next week. Though she was 16, state law and the severity of the homicide count had her charged as an adult. Her defense had tried to have her case adjudicated in juvenile court, where the penalty would be less severe, but the judge ruled Feb. 21 that the evidence to try her there did not meet the burden required under state law.

Now, facing a potential maximum of 40 years in prison, she must hope for mercy.

“Hopefully the judge will have compassion and we’ll go from there,” her attorney, Christopher Osborne, said.

A sentencing date has not yet been scheduled. Boyer remains in Lackawanna County Prison without bail.

Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144; @jkohutTT on Twitter.

A 32-year-old Mehoopany woman whose vehicle struck a bicycle in April sending a man to the hospital turned herself into authorities Monday after being charged with numerous crimes.

Kecia S. Magdin, of Walnut Ridge Drive, was arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Carl Smith in Tunkhannock on a host of charges including aggravated assault by vehicle and accidents involving death or personal injury.

Police said Magdin hit Andrew Razawich, 27, of Billings Mill Road, Tunkhannock, with her vehicle around 7:30 p.m. on April 17 and fled the scene.

Razawich was taken to Community Medical Center where he was treated for a punctured lung and 13 broken bones. Razawich is now home but still undergoing rehabilitation for his injuries.

Acting Tunkhannock Borough Police Sgt. Robert Roberts said Magdin was driving a 2008 Pontiac when it collided with Razawich’s bicycle on Bridge Street near with Redfield Street.

Magdin also faces a second offense DUI as a result of a combination of alcohol/drug, disregarding traffic lane, passing left of a bicycle, failure to stop and render aid, failure to notify police of accident involving injury, and driving an unregistered vehicle.

On Monday morning, Smith released Magdin on $25,000 unsecured bail. Her preliminary hearing before Smith has been set for July 20.

Contact the writer: bbaker@wcexaminer.com; 570-836-2123

Brittany Jenkins immediately knew something was wrong when her 20-month-old boxer, Bella, lifted her left hind leg as she jumped up on the porch of her Ashley home.

She hoped the active pup just strained a muscle, but a trip to the veterinarian revealed something much worse — a tear to the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) in her left knee.

It’s a serious injury, but after just two weeks, Bella is almost back to her old bouncing self, thanks to the physical therapy she received after surgery at the Northeast Veterinary Rehabilitation Center in Plains Twp. The center offers a variety of rehabilitative services designed to help dogs and other pets recover from joint surgery more quickly or lessen the severity of pain from arthritis and other ailments.

In business five years, the center is affiliated with Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital, a speciality animal hospital that employs 14 veterinarians who specialize in a wide range of treatment areas, including cardiology, internal medicine, rehabilitation, surgery, emergency treatment and acupuncture.

The referral hospital is among roughly 300 in the nation that offer specialized medical care for animals suffering from complex medical problems or severe injuries, said Doug Ayers, V.M.D., who founded the practice with partner Kirk Hassinger, V.M.D.

Fees at the rehab center vary. For physical therapy, the initial visit is $120 for an orthopedic evaluation and $135 for a neurological evaluation. After that, fees vary dependent upon the services sought. That’s just a fraction of what owners spend on surgery. The ACL surgery Bella had, for instance, cost between $2,000 and $5,000.

The rehab center accounts for just 1 to 2 percent of the practice’s business, Ayers said. He never envisioned it to be a money maker. His goal is to ensure animals have a better chance at recovery, he said.

“We offer it because we care,” Ayers said.

Physical therapy is an important component to recovery from surgery, said Ayers and Helen Crabtree, D.V.M., who is specially trained in physical therapy for animals. Just like people, animals need to exercise the joint to achieve full recovery.

“Animals who go through rehab get better faster,” Ayers said. “They have a better recovery and end up being more functional when we’re done.”

On this day, Bella tackled the aqua therapy machine — a 400-gallon fish tank with a treadmill that is partially filled with water heated to 78 degrees. The water provides additional resistance that gives her a better workout.

“It’s basically an advanced hot tub for dogs,” Crabtree said. “One minute in here is equal to roughly 15 minutes on land.”

Jenkins said she never had a second thought about getting the surgery and rehab services for Bella.

“A lot of people said, “you did that?” Of course I did. She is like a kid to me. I’d do anything for her,” Jenkins said.

In another room, Dawn Peterson of Plains Twp. sat with Atticus, a 12-year-old pug, as he underwent acupuncture treatment to ease pain caused by a degenerative spinal cord disease that’s left him barely able to move his hind legs.

Kristin Edwards,V.M.D., who is specially trained in acupuncture, strategically placed needles throughout his body. The needles stimulate nerves, increase blood circulation and cause the release of endorphins — one of the body’s pain control hormones, Edwards said.

Peterson said the treatment has made a world of difference for Atticus.

“We really thought he would not be able to walk by now,” Peterson said. “After he gets acupuncture, he walks better and his attitude is better.”

The treatments cost $85 for the first visit, then $65 after that.

Peterson said some people questions why she spends the money. She didn’t think twice about it.

“When you take on the responsibility of owning a pet, you take on the responsibility for their care,” she said. “If it makes him more comfortable, I will sacrifice splurging on myself.’

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — A portion of the Lake Scranton walking trail could reopen as early as next week.

The trail has remained closed since a Feb. 25 tornado ravaged the lake area, but officials at Pennsylvania American Water anticipate opening part of the trail the week of July 10. The exact day it will reopen is unknown at this time.

The trail will remain closed from the area where the path meets the access road leading to the water treatment plant, to the dam.

— JEFF HORVATH

PALMYRA TWP. — Business leaders in the Poconos region welcomed new owners to an old favorite ice cream shop near Lake Wallenpaupack on Monday.

The new owners of Dairy Twist Lake Wallenpaupack, James Gardas and John Emiliani, took over in May at 38 Wellwood Ave., near the corner of routes 6 and 590 in Palmyra Twp.

The Chamber of the Northern Poconos held a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday.

Dairy Twist offers 24 flavors of ice cream, milk shakes and a menu of prepared items like cheeseburgers and hot dogs, fried finger food and seafood.

— JON O’CONNELL

WILKES-BARRE — Every two and a half days, someone in Luzerne County dies of an opioid overdose.

Luzerne County Drug and Alcohol Administrator Steve Ross repeated that statistic to a crowd gathered to hear from Democratic U.S. Sen. Bob Casey on the Senate health care bill’s potential effect on the Medicaid programs that help fight the opioid epidemic.

“The demand for services has never been greater,” Ross said.

Ross and other local officials supported Casey as he spoke at the Luzerne County Courthouse on Monday.

Cuts to Medicaid included in the Senate health care bill could prove “devastating” to programs that help address the local and national opioid addiction crisis, Casey said.

“It’s a scourge that’s hit every part of our commonwealth and country,” Casey said of the opioid crisis.

Casey said expansions to Medicaid — some of the items on the chopping block if the Senate’s bill to repeal and replace the Affordable Care Act passes — have helped make progress in treating addiction and saving people from dying of overdoses.

“Why would we ever cut the program that has the greatest impact on it over time?” he said. “Why would we ever go in the wrong direction?”

Ross said Luzerne County has seen 65 confirmed overdose deaths since the start of 2017. That number might have been larger had Wilkes-Barre Fire Chief Jay Delaney’s firefighters and EMS crews not had naloxone at their disposal to save overdose victims.

Delaney said fire and EMS crews have administered naloxone 195 times this year in the city of Wilkes-Barre alone.

“Never in my career have I seen something so aggressive,” Delaney said of the opioid crisis.

If Medicaid funding takes a hit in the Senate bill, Delaney said it could have an adverse affect at the local level.

“I see the number of opioid deaths continuing to climb at an alarming rate,” he said.

People holding signs in support of Medicaid and the Affordable Care Act surrounded the speakers on the courthouse rotunda.

Martha Hart, 59, of Wilkes-Barre, said she attended the rally in support of the Medicaid disability coverage that helps her survive.

“I’m a diabetic, and I also have a pre-existing condition known as cancer.” she said. “If that gets cut, I’m done. I’ll have to buy groceries or buy my medication, and without my medication I will die.”

Contact the writer:

sscinto@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2048

@sscintoCV on Twitter

SCRANTON — Patients, hospital staff and visitors can buy fresh, local produce from Geisinger Community Medical Center this summer.

The weekly Get Fresh Micro Market kicked off Monday. It’s to continue every Monday for the rest of the season.

The hospital also will offer free recipe cards and healthy eating tips from the market.

In addition, a pop-up micro market will be held from 11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. on Thursdays, July 13, Aug. 10, and Sept. 14 at Geisinger’s Moosic office building, 5 Lakeview Commons.

The program mirrors the micro market pilot to promote healthy eating at Geisinger’s Danville hospital.

— JON O’CONNELL

COVINGTON TWP. — Greeted by balloons and a beautiful summer day, a dozen New York City youngsters arrived at Covington Park on Monday for a week of summertime fun.

In the area as part of the nonprofit Fresh Air Fund’s program that gives urban youth a chance to enjoy activities often unavailable in the big city, the kids filed off a charter bus into the embrace of Lackawanna and Luzerne County families who will host them for the next week. For 12-year-old Robbie McNally of Scranton, the program means a new playmate — 12-year-old Richard Ren of Queens.

“It’s just good to have a brother, instead of three sisters for week,” Robbie said as he and his mom, Michelle McNally, waited eagerly for Richard to disembark the bus.

The McNallys have a full schedule of summertime activities planned for Richard, from swimming and strawberry picking to movies and fireworks. Richard, who stayed with the family two years ago, said he’s up for anything and that being back in the area is “fun.”

While the McNally’s have hosted Fresh Air children in the past, other locals, like Ann Saxton of Kingston, are enjoying the experience for the first time.

She’ll play host to Iyana Hollowell, 10, of the Astoria neighborhood of Queens, and Vivian Jiang, 10, of Brooklyn, who are excited to go swimming and bike riding.

“You never know, you may be able to impact a little child’s life in a positive way,” said Saxton, whose own children are grown. “I think that (coming to Northeast Pennsylvania) would expand their horizons. ... I think it will be as rewarding for me as it is for the kids.”

Iyana and Vivian are in store for a very unique experience today, as Saxton plans on taking them to a greased watermelon contest at the Kingston Pool, where they’ll observe swimmers attempt to retrieve a greased melon from the pool’s deep end. The girls will also enjoy some swimming and fishing at Harveys Lake later in the week, among other activities.

After meeting his host family, Margaret and Mike Steele of Mountain Top, young New Yorker Anthony Battle, 10, hustled down to a swing set at Covington Park. As he swung back and forth, Anthony said he’s most exciting to go fishing — something he’s never done before.

“I think that it opens their eyes up to nature, to the natural world,” Margaret Steele said of the program she and her husband are participating in for the first time. “I think it gives them the chance to understand that families should support one another, and perhaps they’ll grow up and want to participate in the same kind of thing.”

The Fresh Air Fund has provided more than 1.8 million New York City children with rural excursions since 1877.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

PALMYRA TWP. — Business leaders in the Poconos region welcomed new owners to an old favorite ice cream shop near Lake Wallenpaupack on Monday.

The new owners of Dairy Twist Lake Wallenpaupack, James Gardas and John Emiliani, took over in May at 38 Wellwood Ave., near the corner of routes 6 and 590 in Palmyra Twp.

The Chamber of the Northern Poconos held a ribbon cutting ceremony Monday.

Dairy Twist offers 24 flavors of ice cream, milk shakes and a menu of prepared items like cheeseburgers and hot dogs, fried finger food and seafood.

— JON O’CONNELL

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Roberto Moises Irizarry Ruiz and Shabana Zaman, both of Scranton.

■ Dan Alexander Yotive and Jillian Marie Grant, both of Boston.

■ Stephen F. Seliga and Lacey Jayne Johnston, both of Scranton.

■ Derek Warren Gleason and Sarah Marie Guchanyk, both of South Abington Twp.

■ Jeffrey Michael Pusateri, Dunmore, and Lauren Ann Nesbitt, Easton.

■ Glenn Andrew Bailey and Lawrence Victor Cramer Jr., both of Scranton.

■ Kelly Fagan and Kenneth William Legg Jr., both of Moscow.

■ Michael Joseph Grady and Linda Ann Justice, both of Spring Brook Twp.

■ Alexandra Marie Coolican and Michael Anthony Davies, both of Greenfield Twp.

■ Javar Odell Josey and Wendy Joy Gosnell, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Robert P. and Helene M. Seprish, Dunmore, to Gregory and Nicole Wolfe, Scranton; a property at 1010 Meade St., Dunmore, for $147,500.

■ Wells Fargo Bank, Frederick, Md., to Peter Kazmierczak, Old Forge; a property at 630 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor, for $25,000.

■ Michael J. Igneri, Lacka­wanna County, to Jeffrey Hahn and Kristen Miller, Lackawan­na County; a property at 421 Garfield Ave., Jermyn, for $256,500.

■ Fred and Kathleen Rosetti, Archbald, to Carla Tomasetti, Jessup, and John Havirlak, Olyphant, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 501 Clarkson Ave., Jessup, for $42,000.

■ Gerald Michael Gasper and John J. Gasper, executors of the estate of John J. Gasper Sr., to David Cosklo, Carbondale; a property at 1215 W. State St., Archbald, for $46,500.

■ John Moran, South Abington Twp., to Christopher McCabe, Myrtle Beach, S.C.; a property at 1612 Hawthorne St., Scranton, for $112,000.

■ Carl A. and Megan Hunt, Covington Twp., to Chala Janpraphasakul, Scranton; two parcels in Scranton for $180,250.

■ John F. Laskowski and Roseanna M. Rabel, now by marriage Roseanna M. Laskowski, Throop, to Laura Little, Brackney Twp.; two parcels at 817 Dudley St., Throop, for $142,000.

■ Mark A. and Jeanne M. Giallorenzi, Clarks Summit, Christopher J. and Bridget K. Kotchick, Dalton, and Justin and Erica Burns, Covington Twp., to Adams CATV Inc., Carbondale; a property on North Main Street, Carbondale, for $89,500.

■ Glenn J. Jr. and Lucy R. Jayne, Clarks Summit, to Kelly McAndrew, Dalton; two parcels in Benton Twp. for $80,000.

■ Mark J. and Wendy M. Jones, South Abington Twp., to Joseph F. and Hongyan Xiong Castagnaro, Scranton; a property at 1101 Audubon Drive, South Abington Twp., for $210,000.

■ Marc V. and Kristin Hoinsky, Scott Twp., to Megan Leonard, Dunmore; a property at 510 Chapman Lake Road, Scott Twp., for $123,600.

■ James D. and Cynthia A. Yeakel, Factoryville, to Timothy R. and Ann T. Dougherty, Wading River, N.Y.; a property at 2020 W. La Plume Road, La Plume Twp., for $308,000.

■ Fidelity Deposit & Discount Bank, Dunmore, to David and Sharon Lee, Scranton; a property at 2207 Prospect Ave., Scranton, for $65,958.

■ Wells Fargo Bank to 111 Prospect LLC; a property at 111 Prospect Ave., Scranton, for $33,829.

■ Edward J. Zipay Jr. and James M. Zipay, both of Blakely, to BlakelyRidge LLC, Mayfield; a property on Business Route 6, Blakely, for $2,400,000.

■ Harry John Malsch, executor of the estate of Catherine Malsch, also known as Cather­ine L. Malsch, Vandling, to David M. and Janelle M. Zigon, Clifford; a property at 652 Main St., Vandling, for $59,400.

■ Dominick and Danielle Sacchetti, Olyphant, to Roy H. Green, Archbald; a property at 620 E. Grant St., Olyphant, for $111,700.

■ Diplomat Property Manager LLC to David J. Mitchell, Scranton; a property at 328 Propsect Ave., Scranton, for $25,000.

■ Jon P. and Crystal Satriano, Thornhurst Twp., to Heather L. Gaus and Tonya Lynn Ianni, Gouldsboro, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property in Thornhurst Twp. for $116,600.

■ Richard W. and Melinda M. Dominick, Everett, Wash., to Rosa Escalante, Lackawanna County; two parcels in Scranton for $35,000.

DIVORCE SOUGHT

■ Phillip M. Polcha, South Abington Twp., v. Nicole Polcha, Scranton; married July 12, 2012, in Dallas; John T. O’Malley, attorney.

BENCH WARRANTS

Judge Thomas Munley has issued the following bench warrants for failure to appear on fines and costs:

■ Kaitlen Elizabeth Link, Greenfield Twp.; $1,292.

■ Michael F. Lewis, 3635 Garden Brook Drive, Apt. 21600, Farmers Branch, Texas; $361.50.

■ Michael Joseph Kearns, 131 S. Hilltop Road, New Ringgold; $3,395.

■ Michael Montafia, 6 Laurel St., Carbondale; $1,984.50.

■ Laquan Sheron Moore, 912 Washington St., Reading; $4,590.52.

■ Timothy David Kelminski, 104 Rockledge Terrace, Taylor; $1,240.37.

■ Ellen T. Mickavicz, 145 Westgate Drive, Apt. J11, Carbondale; $600.

■ Nathaniel Mihalik, 212 Fourth St., Blakely; $429.

■ Leslie C. LaPorte, 5141 McCombs Road, Hephzibah, Ga.; $940.50.

■ Adam Layman, 130 Lincoln St., Olyphant; $1,306.50.

■ Pablo Jose Manon, 544 Taylor Ave., Bronx, N.Y.; $478.

■ Theresa Lee Mulea, 2211 Golden Ave., Scranton; $616.75.

■ Crystal Campagna, 628 Theodore St., Scranton; $1,824.50.

■ Bianca Aimee Maldonado, 331 Race St., Catasauqua; $741.

■ Harvey Johnson, 868 W. Bridge St., Morrisville; $1,186.68.

■ Richard Thomas Johns, 831 N. Rebecca Ave., Scranton; $4,926.

■ Myles Elliot Luckett, 111 Bergen Court, Scranton; $506.82.

■ Eric J. Lutz, 601 Mill St., Dunmore; $379.

■ Jason Ousey, 1308 Princess St., Williamstown; $4,395.40.

ARDS

The following were admitted to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for driving under the influence:

■ Anthony R. Petrillo, 21, Scranton, stopped Sept. 19 by South Abington Twp. police.

■ Tyler Morgan, 24, Scranton, stopped Sept. 3 by Dunmore police.

■ Joseph Brian McLean, 23, Chesapeake Beach, stopped Sept. 5 by Scott Twp. police.

■ Joseph Buselli, 59, Dunmore, stopped Nov. 22 by Scranton police.

■ Karis Reidenback, 25, Scranton, stopped Oct. 25 by Scranton police.

■ Patrick S. Urso, 31, Scott Twp., stopped Feb. 28, 2016, by Scott Twp. police.

■ Jamal Wilson, 23, Scranton, stopped April 22, 2016, by Taylor police.

■ Troy Costello, 24, Scranton, stopped March 7 by Dickson City police.

■ Carla Piazza, 41, Dunmore, stopped Jan. 5 by Dunmore police.

■ Mark Robert Nicoletti, 24, King of Prussia, stopped Jan. 24, 2015, by Dunmore police.

■ Jaime Rosario Rivera, 47, Scranton, stopped Nov. 3 by Scranton police.

■ John Joseph Ritzco, 33, Archbald, stopped Oct. 30 by Jessup police.

■ Anthony W. Borosky Jr., 52, Clarks Summit, stopped July 10 by South Abington Twp. police.

■ Casey Tighe, 24, Dunmore, stopped Nov. 19 by Dunmore police.

■ Matthew J. Brennan, 29, Carbondale, stopped Dec. 16 by Carbondale police.

■ Emily Ann Huffsmith, 22, Factoryville, stopped May 15, 2016, by South Abington Twp. police.

■ Patricia Cabral-Monteiro, 25, Scranton, stopped Nov. 18 by South Abington Twp. police.

■ Stephen R. Fox, 42, Nicholson, stopped Jan. 5 by Waverly Twp. police.

The following defendants were admitted to the ARD program for other crimes:

■ Mark M. Simeone, 24, Scranton, arrested Jan. 31 by Dunmore police for receiving stolen property, dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities with intent to promote, theft by deception-false impression, forgery; publishing, making, selling, giving or otherwise transferring to another, or offering or advertising, or aiding and abetting any other person to use an access device knowing that the access device is counterfeit.

■ Mark Seber, 23, Scranton, arrested Feb. 16 by Dunmore police for intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered and use and possession of drug paraphernalia.

■ Peter Graziano, 31, Moscow, arrested March 31, 2016, by Scranton police for theft by unlawful taking movable property, receiving stolen property and intentional possession of a controlled substance by a person not registered.

■ Deshawn Kamelletier Taylor, 20, Scranton, arrested Dec. 15 by Dickson City police for theft by deception-false impression and three counts of retail theft.

ONLINE: THETIMES-TRIBUNE.COM/COURTS

Dunmore

Class reunion: Dunmore High School class of 1962 55th reunion, Sept. 23, Arcaro and Genell’s; information, Cathy Ross Desmarais, 570-347-1246.

Equinunk

Book sale: Manchester Commu­nity Library book sale, July 15, 9 a.m.-noon, 3879 Hancock Highway, 570-224-8500.

Open house: Equinunk Historical Society’s Civil War era Joel Hill water-powered sawmill open house, Saturday-Sunday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., off Creek Road; 570-224-6722 or 570-224-8500.

Greene-Dreher

Open house: Greene-Dreher Historical Society open house and ice cream social, Saturday, 11 a.m.-2 p.m., Peggy Bancroft Hall, South Sterling, featured exhibit: “Whittlin’ and Woodcarving” with on-site demonstrations by Cherry Ridge Carvers, demonstration of 1910 hit-and-miss engine will produce freshly made ice cream, free; Jeanne, 570-676-3443 or www.greenehs.org or Facebook.

Mayfield

Firefighters meet: Whitmore/Mayfield hose companies meetings, July 11, 7:30 and 8 p.m., respectively, company buildings.

Bookmobile visit: Lackawanna County Bookmobile visit, July 17, 1:15-1:45 p.m., Municipal Building, 739 Penn Ave.

Broom sale: Mayfield Lions Club selling brooms, $14, available at the Municipal Building, 739 Penn Ave., and at Tuzze’s Pharmacy, 509 Poplar St., club also collects used eyeglasses at the same location.

Milford

Senior barbecue: Belle Reve Senior Living backyard barbecue, Friday, 1 p.m., barbecue lunch with cocktails, backyard games and patriotic music by the Gerrie Gessie Duo, free, seating limited: Kaitlyn Huttman, 570-409-9191.

Old Forge

Chicken barbecue: Prince of Peace Parish chicken barbecue and basket raffle, Aug. 13, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., parking lot of Arcaro and Genell Restaurant, Main Street, takeout with limited outside seating, $10; 570-457-5900 by Aug. 1, walk-ins limited.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@times

shamrock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o the YES!Desk at 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

The son of an elderly Scranton man who was struck and killed by a car in the parking lot of Gerrity’s Supermarket in the Keyser Oak Shopping Center filed a lawsuit against the driver and shopping center owner.

Brian Klatt of Scranton is seeking damages for the death of Emil Klatt, 79, who died on Feb. 6, 2016, four days after he was struck by a car driven by Sarah Polites, 88, of Scranton.

According to police, Polites did not realize her 2009 Subaru Impreza was in drive when she accelerated, causing her to lose control and strike Klatt and Shirley Wilpshire, 75, who was injured but survived.

Polites was charged with a summary citation of failing to yield to a pedestrian. She pleaded guilty on April 12, 2016, according to court records.

The lawsuit, filed by Scranton attorney Richard Fine, alleges Polites was negligent. It also alleges the shopping center owner, Kesyer Oak Investors LLC of Weston, Florida, is partly at fault because the design of the parking lot is faulty, which confuses drivers and places pedestrians at risk.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

Fifth sister now Misericordia grad

Margaret “Maggie” Guarnieri is one of five.

Five sisters to graduate from Misericordia University, that is.

Maggie’s sisters, Katie Guarnieri Pirolli, a 2007 graduate with a degree in elementary and secondary education; Beth Guarnieri, a 2009 graduate with a degree in communications; Marianne Guarnieri, a 2011 and 2015 graduate with a bachelor’s degree in professional studies and master’s in organizational management; and Bridget Guarnieri, a 2015 graduate and admissions counselor at Misericordia, who earned a degree in business administration, served as marshals at the university’s commencement ceremony on May 20.

Maggie received a degree in business administration with a management specialty. During her time at Misericordia, she was an intern in the study abroad office, completed a study abroad semester in Ireland and participated in a faculty led program in Italy.

Maggie will attend Mary Immaculate College in Limerick, Ireland, to pursue a master’s degree as part of the cohort of students participating the study abroad initiative with the western Ireland college.

The sisters are the daughters of Louis Guarnieri, D.C., and Marie McGarry Guarnieri of Pittston. Their maternal grandmother, Ann Mitchell McGarry, graduated from the university in 1954.

College students mentor children

This spring university students, Samantha Fortino, Emily Ferrara, Colleen Rohr, Emily Errickson, Alexander Pinarreta, Owen Drozd, Alexandra Turner, Patrick Chapman, Victoria Mulhern, Megan Fabian, Kaitlin Kenyon, Marcella Guilfoyle, Emily Lang, and Jordan McCauley, mentored Nativity Miguel School of Scranton students.

Those elementary students, Hailey Bittencourt, Wendy DeLaCruz, Ashley Vasquez Dominguez, Justice White, Lucia DeCarvalho, Sarika Mongar, Mandy Lahl, Aayusha Kefley, Destiny Tapia, Nirjhala Kadariya, Nikauri Fernandez, Nahisha and Nischit Pokhrel; Christopher Martinez, Partik Khadka, Jorge and Emmanuel Ramirez; Aaron Weikel, Dhiraj Baniya, Bryan Pulla, Justin Delgado and Xzerean Tassey, meet weekly with the university students.

The Mentoring Young Minds program was coordinated by the Campus Ministries’ Center for Service and Social Justice at Scranton and a reception was held on campus for the university and Nativity Miguel students.

Stars in stripes

Dane Francis Kozlosky was commissioned with the rank of ensign in the Navy after graduating from the United States Naval Academy in Annapolis, Maryland.

Dane is the son of Mark Kozlosky, formerly of Dickson City, and Lori Nardella, formerly of Scranton, who live in Mantua, New Jersey. He is the grandson of Louis M.and Judith Nardella and the late Francis “Fritz” and Irene Kozlosky.

Dane is assigned to the U.S.S. New York, docked in Jacksonville, Florida.

Transgender inmate enters plea

SCRANTON — A transgender inmate who was denied hormone medications at the Lackawanna County prison pleaded guilty Monday to using a stolen credit.

Steven Fritz,44, of Scranton, entered the plea to one count of access device fraud before Lackawanna County Judge Michael Barrasse. Scranton police said Fritz used a credit card stolen from a vehicle on Delaware Street in December 2016 to make purchases. Fritz remains incarcerated at the county prison awaiting sentencing.

In a phone interview, she said expects to be sentenced next week and is hopeful she will be released or transferred to a state prison, which had been providing her female hormones to aid her transition from a biological male to a female. County prison officials have refused to provide her hormone treatment.

—TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER

JESSUP — Borough council delayed voting on tax incentive extensions for a pair of undeveloped properties near the entrance of Valley View Business Park and the Jessup Small Business Center on Monday while members research the proposal further.

Scranton Lackawanna Industrial Building Co. — the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s development arm — and Mericle Commercial Real Estate are looking to extend Keystone Opportunity Expansion Zones through 2024 for their parcels totaling about 7 acres and 10 acres, respectively.

“We want to get as much information as we can before we make a decision on it,” said council President Randy Santarelli. “KOZ is very important to them to market the lots. We’re going to have the chamber come back next month and give us more information on it. ... We’re looking to give them the opportunity to compete with other developers and market the lots.”

Santarelli considers the business complex that was developed in phases beginning in the early 2000s to be a success story for the borough.

Andrew Skrip, the chamber’s vice president of industrial development, said the original tax abatements began to expire in 2010 and 2013.

Now, Valley View Business Park and the Jessup Small Business Center are home to nine buildings, 17 companies and 2,234 employees, with some larger operations including TMG Health and McLane Co,.

Owners of five properties whose tax incentives expired are now collectively paying $1.44 million in school, county and municipal property taxes, said Skrip, who doesn’t think the complex would have come together without the tax breaks.

“Developers look for incentives,” he said. “They’ll go where the best deal is. KOZ is an investment in the future. Once the tax period burns off, then they pay the taxes, the jobs are created and there’s a whole list of benefits for the community.”

Roughly two-thirds of the complex is still unoccupied, but Skrip said businesses continue to express interest in the available spaces, with some expected announcements coming in the near future.

Contact the writer:

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

@kwindTT on Twitter

Scranton City Hall will be closed today in observance of Independence Day.

Garbage and blue recycling in Scranton will fall a day behind.

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

U.S. post offices will be closed and regular mail will not be delivered.

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

Most banks will be closed, as will the New York Stock Exchange and Nasdaq.

All Pennsylvania Fine Wine and Good Spirits stores normally open on Tuesdays will be open from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.

Some commercial businesses and malls will be open and some have reduced hours. Patrons are urged to call ahead.

— STAFF REPORT

As Katy Williams started to sing the “Star

Spangled Banner” near the Lackawanna County Courthouse on Monday night, her audience joined in.

The national anthem was the first song the Northeastern Pennsylvania Philharmonic played at the sixth Scrantastic Spectacular. The orchestra followed with other patriotic songs by American composers, including John Philip Sousa and Aaron Copland. A crowd packed Courthouse Square to watch.

Scrantastic Spectacular, which also featured a fireworks display after the philharmonic finished, has grown over the years and drew thousands last year, said Maureen McGuigan, Lackawanna County deputy director of arts and culture said. Planning for this year’s event started in January. Organizers expected a similar number, spurred on by nice weather, for Monday.

“What I love about this event is that it draws people from all over and of all ages,” McGuigan said.

The patriotic music and fireworks were the culmination of events which kicked off around the courthouse in the afternoon.

Hours before the orchestra played a note and the first firework popped flamboyantly in the night sky, people congregated on the square for a bite to eat, a bit of fun or to secure a prime location for the performance and pyrotechnics.

Food vendors lined the streets around the square, filling the air with the smells of french fries, popcorn and other fare. Children, some wearing patriotic facepaint, laughed and played excitedly in inflatable bounce houses.

Others, like Mary Sedorovitz of Dickson City, found a spot near the orchestra shortly before the show.

Sedorovitz, like many in attendance, arrived wearing patriotic garb: a red, white and blue purse and socks and a red shirt emblazoned with Old Glory. She attends the event each year and enjoys the fireworks and music, she said.

“I think they do a great job,” she said.

Scrantastic Spectacular also provided a special opportunity for the person leading the music Monday.

Philharmonic assistant conductor Mélisse Brunet, who grew up in France, also conducted the show last year. Both performances offered a chance to fulfill one of her professional ambitions. The patriotic tunes played Monday night provided a challenge to conduct, like changes in tempo, but she loves the music, she said in an interview before the show.

“My dream was to conduct a Fourth of July concert,” the Paris native told the audience Monday. “So, for the second time, my dream is coming true.”

“Vive la France,” an audience member replied.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5363;

@ClaytonOver on Twitter