JESSUP
Borough police are making use of a recently donated device to help with speed enforcement, Chief Joe Walsh said.
Called ENRADD, short for Electronic Non-Radar Device, police will use sensors on roads’ shoulders to measure a car’s speed. The sensors transmit infrared beams of light in a line across the road and sends the information to a police car.
The device and training was donated last week by Kiewit, Invenergy’s prime contractor.
— JOSEPH KOHUT
LACKAWANNA TRAIL ELEMENTARY CENTER
4th Quarter
GRADE 6
Ethan Ankoff, Emily Beemer, Maxwell Bluhm, Jacob Breckenridge, Bethany Brooks, Cierra Burdett, Frankie Cocchini, Anabelle Demora, Austin Fortney, Emma Fowler, Jeffrey Gallagher, Jacob Holmes, Ellsbeth Hunting, Ethan Lee, Luke Leventhall, Evan Litwin, Emma Long, Kiara Nichols, Jackson Nordmark, Azalea Paluzzi, Braeleigh Phillips, Riley Prutzman, Matthew Rakauskas, Alexandra Raser, Braden Savage, Jacqueline Schneider, Joseph Shaw, Jayde Waibel, Nathan Walker, Beau Ware, Madisyn Wilson and Kayla Wood.
GRADE 5
Danielle Ainey, Brayden Clarke, Benjamin Cole, Ciera Darmock, Arik Deutsch, Lauren Fahey, Gianna Familetti, Kalee Graham, Lukas Gumble, Jase Hughes, Lilly Jagoe, Stephen Jervis, Steven Johns, Emelia Jones, Leigha Joseph, Joseph Lehman, Anthony Litwin, Gavin LoVallo, Ella Naylor, Dante Paluzzi, Hunter Patterson, Owen Polkowski, Gretchen Rejrat, Pearl Rivera, Brady Ryan, Carolena Ryon, Alyson Schirg, Kolbee Soltis, Ty Stroble, Cloe VanFleet, Anthony Venticinque, Teagan Vokes, Deana Wilhelm, Nathan Wright and Zoey Wright.
Two top screen stars
on stage at Masonic Temple
J.J. O’Leary, president of Comerford Theaters, announced that actresses Irene Dunne and Hedy Lamarr would be leading a delegation of fellow stars for an appearance at the Masonic Temple in Scranton on Sept. 10. Dunne and Lamarr, along with the other actors, were to put on a show while in the city.
Admission to the show would be free for anyone who purchased a war bond of $500 or higher after Sept. 1.
The appearance was part of a nationwide tour put together by the War Activities Committee of the Motion Picture Industry War Bond and Stamp Campaign. The motion picture industry pledged to raise $1 billion in war bonds during September.
New workrooms planned
The Surgical Dressing Unit of the local chapter of the Red Cross announced that two new surgical dressing workrooms would open in Scranton on Sept. 1.
The rooms were located at the Craftsmen’s Club on Jackson Street and the Petersburg Presbyterian Church on Prescott Avenue.
The additional workrooms were needed to keep up with demand for surgical dressing for hospital units attached to the armed forces.
Now playing
Movies that were playing in Scranton: “Talk of the Town,” starring Cary Grant and Jean Arthur, at the Strand; “Beyond the Blue Horizon,” starring Dorothy Lamour, at the Comerford; “Lady in a Jam,” starring Irene Dunne, at the West Side; “My Favorite Spy,” starring Kay Kyser and Jane Wyman, at the Capitol; and “The Male Animal,” starring Henry Fonda and Olivia de Havilland, at the Roosevelt.
BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history.
Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com
or 570-348-9140.
MARRIAGE LICENSES
Quinn Maloney, Scranton, and Caroline Alice Labelle, Clarks Green.
Luis Ernesto Rodriguez Menjivar and Daisy Ayala, both of Scranton.
DIVORCE SOUGHT
Keith P. Cherry, Moosic, v. Christine E. Kiesinger, Moosic; married Dec. 8, 2005, in Alexandria, Va.; pro se.
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
Michael D. and Amy M. Bergeski, Archbald, to Sheila Mayne, Zion Grove; a property in Archbald for $163,800.
Karen Gatens and Allan Ferke, executors of the estate of Catherine E. Ferke, to Shaun E. and Kelly O’Brien; a property at 307 N. Main St., Moscow, for $105,000.
Roman Rikhterman and Tayana Rikhterman, also known as Tatyana Rikhterman, Brooklyn, N.Y., to Marcelo L. Motta, Scranton; a property at 622 Fig St., Scranton, for $50,000.
Bernice Turner, South Abington Twp., to Joseph M.J. Lubas, Archbald; a property at 1218 Layton Road, South Abington Twp., for $180,000.
Mary Jo Gunning and Richard Macgregor, Lake Ariel, and Mary Lisa Gunning and Michael Meholick, West Chester, to Thomas O’Connor, Scranton; a property on Little Moosic Lake, Jefferson Twp., for $225,000.
Sarah A. Landstorm, Salem, Ore., to Melanie Amador, Scranton; a property at 534 Putnam St., Scranton, for $34,000.
Freddie Mac, also known as Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation, by attorney-in-fact Udren Law Offices P.C., to Richard Filer Jr.; a property at 48 Deer Run, Spring Brook Twp., for $128,750.
Cloverleaf Developers LLC, Archbald, to Lisa and Michael J. O’Malley, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property in Archbald for $231,850.
J. Briggs McAndrews, Sackets Harbor, N.Y.; Helen McAndrews Salamone, Edgartown, Mass.; and Dennis C. McAndrews, Wayne, as beneficiaries and trustees of the McAndrews Trust, and Brian H. McAndrews as beneficiary, to Sam Land LLC, Waverly; a property on McAndrew Road, Moscow, for $285,500.
Megargee Co. to Microwave Rental LLC; a property in Ransom Twp. for $40,000.
FEDERAL TAX LIENS
Maryellen M. Shook, 107 E. Main St., Dalton; $17,676.89.
Mark D. and Maryellen M. Shook, 415 Ross Road, Dalton; $26,636.36.
LAWSUIT
Precious Carrier LLC, 6131 Baduka Drive, Raleigh, N.C., v. Richard Pellis, 335 Revere Lane, Taylor, seeking an amount less than the jurisdictional limits plus interest and costs for injuries and damages suffered Dec. 29, 2016, during an automobile accident on Interstate 81; Tullio DeLuca, attorney.
ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts
A judge ruled the father of convicted murderer Neil Pal is not liable for his son’s 2013 killing of Frank Bonacci and removed him as a defendant in a wrongful death lawsuit filed by the victim’s mother.
Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon’s order strikes Kushal Pal from the suit filed by Robin Bonacci of Dunmore that seeks compensation for the July 20, 2013, shooting death of her 24-year-old son.
“No Pennsylvania case has imposed liability upon a residential landowner for criminal conduct that causes harm well beyond the geographic boundaries of the leased premises,” Nealon wrote in his decision.
Robin Bonacci’s attorney, Todd O’Malley, argued Kushal Pal is liable in her son’s slaying because he knew his son engaged in criminal activity at the home Kushal Pal owned, 1419 Linden St., where Neil Pal lived, yet did nothing about it.
Kushal Pal’s attorney, Ben Nicolosi, said Bonacci’s lawsuit lacked legal basis to get damages from his client.
A jury convicted Neil Pal, 27, of first-degree murder in 2014, as an accomplice for Frank Bonacci’s death. Nealon sentenced him to life in prison.
Prosecutors at trial made the case Pal drove Bonacci from a party at Pal’s home to a secluded area near the Roaring Brook, where Jason Dominick fatally shot him.
A jury in a separate trial convicted Dominick, 27, of Scranton, of third-degree murder. Nealon sentenced him to 40 to 80 years in prison.
Robin Bonacci signaled her intent to sue about a year after the trials and filed a suit against the Pals and Dominick in March.
Initially, her suit sought to hold Kushal Pal responsible for Frank Bonacci’s death based on his family connection to Neil Pal. That claim was dropped last month, and instead her suit focused on a legal theory that seeks to hold a landlord responsible for a tenant’s actions.
Nicolosi held that the argument lacked legal basis since the killing occurred off Pal’s property. Nealon agreed.
“Since the fatal shooting occurred more than a mile away from the leased property, and plaintiff has not alleged that it resulted from a physical defect in the residential structure...(the plaintiff) fails to state a cognizable cause of action against the defendant-landowner,” Nealon wrote.
Neil Pal and Dominick are serving their sentences at different state prisons — Pal at a facility in Greene County and Dominick at a facility in Fayette County.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144; @jkohutTT on Twitter.
The Griffin Pond Animal Shelter board of directors suspended Humane Officer Sandy Scala with pay Friday — the second employee suspended this week.
Board member Douglas Boyle confirmed the suspension but declined to provide details until an investigation is completed.
Humane officers work with law enforcement to investigate animal cruelty cases. Scala is the only one in Lackawanna County, according to the shelter website.
Shelter officials are working on a course of action should her suspension go on, and Scala would be available if needed in the meantime, Boyle said.
“We’re discussing our options, and next week we’ll come up with a plan on what to do should her suspension continue,” he said.
Scala could not be reached for comment Friday evening.
The board suspended former Executive Director Ed Florentino on Tuesday and accepted his resignation two days later, about a week after the start of a community push demanding his ouster.
An online petition to remove him received more than 8,000 signatures after the Aug. 14 euthanization of a mastiff named Midge led to complaints alleging, among other things, that staff inappropriately euthanized dogs under his watch and that animals will have less room following a renovation.
Florentino cited public harassment and threats of physical harm to his family in his resignation letter. However, the nature of those threats was not clear Friday. Attempts to reach Florentino were unsuccessful.
Boyle confirmed the substance of Florentino’s resignation letter, which led with a mention of the “most recent social media blitz placed on humane euthanasia” at the shelter and said his family has been threatened.
“No employment is worth all that,” Florentino wrote. “People that matter know the management style I practiced and how hard I pursued finding homes for as many pets as we could under extreme circumstances day in and day out, especially during the capital project.”
Boyle acknowledged the letter seems to refer to some online comments, though he was not aware of which comments it mentions specifically.
“As I said, we’re reading all the social media posts as part of the investigation, and the director (Florentino) hasn’t brought any direct threats to our attention,” Boyle said.
South Abington Twp. Police Chief Robert Gerrity, whose department provides police service for the shelter, said that in the days leading up to Florentino’s resignation, the executive director asked the police to patrol the area around the shelter more frequently. Florentino worried his employees felt threatened, Gerrity said. While patrolling near the shelter, Gerrity said he came across Florentino, who mentioned his family had been threatened.
Florentino’s address is publicly listed as a Lake Ariel residence, an area that comes under the jurisdiction of the state police at Honesdale. Trooper Mark Keyes, a spokesman for Troop R, which covers the Wayne County barracks, could not find any reports of harassment made by Florentino.
“What it looks like, we don’t have any reports of any kind of harassment through him,” Keyes said. “I couldn’t say if there was any reports from anybody else from a different name.”
Griffin Pond serves as an animal shelter for Lackawanna and Wyoming counties. In 2015 tax returns, the most recent year available, the shelter received $1.4 million in total income. Construction of a $3.4 million renovation and expansion project, which has temporarily left less space to house animals, is nearing an end.
The board has not yet replaced Florentino, Boyle said. Candidates are being considered from both outside and within the organization.
Contact the writer:
jkohut@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9144;
@jkohutTT on Twitter.
cover@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9100 x5363;
@ClaytonOver on Twitter
USHydrations gets chamber honor
The Dupont beverage manufacturing company, formerly Nature’s Way Purewater Systems Inc., was this year’s recipient of the Chamber’s Outstanding Business of the Year Award.
The company occupies a more than 400,000-square-foot, state-of-the-art manufacturing facility on a 50-acre site. In addition to the manufacturing site, the company maintains quality control testing labs, storage facilities and natural spring water sites. In the past four years, the company has more than doubled its workforce in its 24/7 manufacturing facility. During the same period, the company has made substantial capital investments to improve its manufacturing capabilities and capacities. USHydrations was acquired by Sandy Insalaco Sr. in 2000.
The award was presented at the 97th annual dinner meeting Thursday at Fox Hill Country Club, Exeter.
ON Semiconductor
The Mountain Top facility’s 8-inch Fab is celebrating 20 years manufacturing 8-inch wafers. The facility opened in 1997, touted as the world’s first 8-inch power semiconductor facility. The new Fab combined a Class 1,000 ballroom environment with Class 1 and sub-Class 1 SMIF integration.
SUBMIT BUSINESS BUZZ items to business@timesshamrock.com or The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.
Abingtons
A local business is teaming up with the Abington Youth Soccer League.
Tom Hesser Chevrolet Inc. will support the league through a sponsorship that will include monetary and equipment donations.
“We are looking forward to a great season with Abington Youth Soccer League that will be filled with exciting games and an enhanced experience for the teams through the equipment and cash donations,” Lester Knight of Tom Hesser Chevrolet said.
— CLAYTON OVER
cover@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5363;
@ClaytonOver on Twitter
Lackawanna County
After expenses, a festival designed to give county inmates a second chance raised more than $8,300 last weekend.
The first-ever 2nd Chance Festival, sponsored by the county Re-entry Task Force’s housing subcommittee, brought about 250 area residents and families to Scranton’s Nay Aug Park on Aug. 20 for an afternoon of swimming, music, food and fun.
The aim of the event, which received support from more than 20 organizations, was to raise money to fund one-time housing stipends for inmates preparing to re-enter society after being incarcerated in Lackawanna County Prison. The prison and the county Adult Probation and Parole Department worked together to plan the event.
Stipends will be paid directly to landlords and will cover first month’s rent and a security deposit for an apartment, allowing qualifying inmates to leave prison on the right foot and making it less likely they’ll reoffend.
Officials hope to make the 2nd Chance Festival an annual event, but those who missed it Sunday can still support the cause by sending donations to the Lackawanna County Adult Probation Department, 130 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, PA 18503, care of the Re-entry Task Force 2nd Chance Festival.
—JEFF HORVATH
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9141;
@jhorvathTT on Twitter
Olyphant
State Rep. Kevin Haggerty, D-112, Dunmore, will host a town hall on a legislative proposal to eliminate property taxes in favor of higher personal income and sales taxes from 6-8 p.m. Sept. 7.
The lawmaker, who supports the plan, will hold the event at his Olyphant satellite office, 530 E. Park St.
“Residents have been carrying the burden for too long,” Haggerty said in a prepared statement. “After witnessing the ... interest regarding the issue of school property tax elimination, as proposed under House Bill 76, I felt it important to continue this discussion for residents who weren’t able to attend the meeting held at Lackawanna College a few weeks ago.”
For information about the event, contact Haggerty’s office at 570-342-2710.
— KYLE WIND
kwind@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5181;
@kwindTT on Twitter
AROUND THE TOWNS appears each Sunday, spotlighting the people and events in your neighborhoods. If you have an idea for an Around the Towns note, contact the writer for your town, or the Yes!Desk at 348-9121 or yesdesk@timesshamrock.com.
Wayne County President Judge Raymond L. Hamill recently sentenced:
■ Bobbie L. Spaulding, 51, Hawley, to 99 days to 24 months less 99 days in the Intermediate Punishment Program, $725 fine, drug and alcohol addiction treatment and the Alcohol Highway Safety Program for DUI on Jan. 3 in Hawley.
■ Amanda Wolk, 28, Honesdale, to 18 months to seven years in a state correctional institution for delivery of a controlled substance on Sept. 10 in Lebanon Twp.
■ Eric Frederick Skinner, 45, Waymart, to 152 days to 12 months in the Wayne County Correctional Facility for theft by unlawful taking between Dec. 27 and Feb. 10 in Buckingham Twp.
■ Raymond Stachnick, 29, Simpson, to 12 months of probation, $200 fine and a drug and alcohol evaluation for possession of drug paraphernalia on April 11 in Salem Twp.
■ Daniel Abbott, 53, Hawley, to 12 months of probation, $500 fine, drug and alcohol treatment and 50 hours of community service for possession of a controlled substance on Oct. 27 in Honesdale.
■ Tyler Michael Aris, 20, Honesdale, to four to 48 months in the Wayne County Correctional Facility, $300 fine and a drug and alcohol evaluation for possession of a controlled substance.
■ Stephen Gelatt, 19, Honesdale, to 12 months of probation, $100 fine, a drug and alcohol evaluation and 50 hours of community service for theft from a motor vehicle on Jan. 9 in Honesdale.
■ Charlcie Brink, 25, Lake Ariel, to six months on the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program and 40 hours of community service for possession of a controlled substance on May 13 in Paupack Twp.
■ Veronica Daub, 24, Beach Lake, to six months on the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program, 40 hours of community service and 60-day driver’s license suspension for DUI on April 10 in Berlin Twp.
■ Maria Desanti, 23, Hawley, six months on the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition Program and 40 hours of community service for possession of a controlled substance on April 28 in Texas Twp.
MOOSIC — Joe Carlin got his introduction to cornhole when he won RailRiders tickets in a competition with the team’s interns about a year-and-a-half ago, and he was hooked.
The 28-year-old Scranton resident then bought a small set to play the game — during which players take turns throwing 16-ounce beanbags at a raised platform with a hole 30 feet away — while tailgating at baseball games and concerts. He soon discovered the area has a growing scene centered on the activity.
With teammate Kenny Heater of Scranton, Carlin took second place in the competitive bracket of the second annual NEPA Cornhole Tournament on Saturday at PNC Field, placing behind Scott Laba and Shane Coyne from the Syracuse area, the defending champions.
“It’s fun; it’s a backyard sport,” Carlin said. “With NEPA Cornhole, they built a little community for it. It’s cool to meet other people that play, to be competitive with each other. It’s like a family. Everyone wants everyone else to improve and test each other’s skills, so when it comes time for a tournament, we’re ready.”
Carlin first took the leap from casual to competitive when Heater told him about a NEPA Cornhole tournament, and the pair’s standings have gradually improved through their first few competitions.
At PNC Field, the tournament included two brackets, with 24 teams playing in the competitive division and 16 in the social division, said T.J. Griffiths, co-founder and co-owner of NEPA Cornhole with Tony Lucarelli.
The 40-year-old Old Forge resident recalled having fun playing it at family events and tailgating at New York Giants and Penn State games, but having to travel out of the area to play in tournaments as he got more into the game.
“We said, ‘Let’s try to grow the sport locally,’ ” Griffiths said. “The support has been great. We’re doing well with tournaments.”
A social scene has coalesced around the game at some local bars, including the Backyard Ale House in Scranton, and the new organization has a weekly league at Oak Street Express in Taylor.
NEPA Cornhole held a tournament that raised money for Allied Services and Ryan’s Run, which Griffiths said drew more than 70 teams, and has events at Susquehanna Brewing Co. in Pittston, including a tournament scheduled from 1-5 p.m. Sept. 24.
Another tournament is scheduled to start at 11:30 a.m. Sept. 16 at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel in Scranton, raising money for the Children’s Advocacy Center of NEPA.
Griffiths, who became a regional director of the American Cornhole League about two weeks ago, described cornhole as a growing sport whose national championships got favorable ratings on ESPN2.
He sees improvement in the local skill level, but also room for more growth.
“The competitiveness in this state is nowhere near the South yet,” he said.
Contact the writer:
kwind@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100, x5181; @kwindTT on Twitter
GREENFIELD TWP.
Four people involved in a crash on Interstate 81 on Saturday were taken to a hospital, state police at the Dunmore barracks said.
Timothy A. Johnston, 45, of Paoli, was driving a Subaru Outback in the southbound lane when he struck a Honda CR-V from behind at the backlog to a single-lane construction zone at 12:47 p.m., police said.
Troopers described “severe damage” to the Honda and listed three Scarborough, Ontario, residents in the car, whom they did not identify.
All people involved were injured but wearing seat belts.
Police did not immediately list any charges or citations associated with the incident.
— KYLE WIND
1. A new Domino’s Pizza franchise in Carbondale set a national record for ...
A. quickest pizza-making of any franchise in the state.
B. selling more bread twists than any other Domino’s in the U.S.
C. selling the most pizzas in a 24-hour period.
D. the biggest pasta-filled bread bowl.
2. The 2nd Chance Festival at Nay Aug Park on Sunday raised money for ...
A. abandoned and abused dogs.
B. disabled athletes.
C. inmates being released from prison.
D. children who need to be adopted.
3. After longtime Carbondale Councilman Francis Lagana died earlier this month, who was appointed Monday to fill the position?
A. Mayor Justin Taylor.
B. Former county Commissioner Corey O’Brien.
C. Police Chief Brian Bognatz.
D. The councilman’s wife, Mary Lagana.
4. Which of the following tested positive for rabies in Wyoming County?
A. A feral kitten.
B. A raccoon.
C. A deer.
D. A St. Bernard.
5. Jessup Borough Council is mulling offering a property tax credit to encourage people to ...
A. take their own trash to the landfill.
B. buy long-abandoned and foreclosed properties in the borough.
C. volunteer as borough firefighters.
D. donate money to nonprofits in the borough.
6. True or false? The Griffin Pond Animal Shelter’s board of directors placed the shelter’s executive director on paid suspension Tuesday night amid widespread accusations of misconduct.
A. True.
B. False.
7. Why are 70 firefighters suing a siren manufacturer?
A. They claim the sirens malfunctioned, leaving them open to wrecks while traveling to fire scenes.
B. They claim the sirens caused hearing loss.
C. They claim the sirens were so shrill, they developed a fear of loud noises.
D. They claim the sirens interfered with the trucks’ GPS, so they didn’t get to scenes quickly enough.
8. Police arrested two men Wednesday after a drug raid in Taylor found ...
A. 100 marijuana seedlings.
B. nearly 5 kilos of cocaine.
C. more than 100 vials of bear tranquilizer.
D. nearly 40 grams of crystal methamphetamine.
9. Which local school will work on a project called “The Pennsylvania Experience,” which will feature a Pennsylvania walk of fame and a marketplace with items made or grown in the state?
A. University of Scranton.
B. Keystone College.
C. Marywood University.
D. Johnson College.
10. True or false? To stop water from causing damage inside the building, the Scranton Cultural Center plans to award a contract to repair mortar joints in the historic building’s limestone walls.
A. True.
B. False.
Answers: 1. B; 2. C; 3. D; 4. A; 5. C; 6. A; 7. B; 8. D; 9. C; 10. A
W hat began as a flood control project in the Midvalley eventually became one of the crown jewels in the county park system.
It took decades to bring Aylesworth Park — which boasts walking trails, a sandy beach and lake stocked with fish, among other amenities — fully under the county’s umbrella.
The park, which straddles Jermyn and Archbald, was first developed in 1970 as a flood control project undertaken by the Army Corps of Engineers.
The $2 million project included a seven-plus-acre dam “surrounded by approximately 250 acres of land on the easterly side” of the two boroughs, according to an Oct. 8, 1970, Scranton Times article about the upcoming dedication.
At that time, the county was in talks with the Army Corps to lease the entire facility. The county planned to develop “a recreational center which will include picnicking, camping, hiking, various types of trails, all types of summer and winter water sports, rifle range and all kinds of other recreational facility,” the Scranton Times article reported.
With the county’s blessing, a group called the Aylesworth Lake Improvement Association formed to move forward with plans for recreational opportunities at the park.
As time went on and the Army Corps dragged its feet about leasing the property to the county, development of the new park ground to a halt. Problems with acid mine drainage in the man-made lake further complicated matters.
At a meeting held at Jermyn’s Artesian Hose Co. in August 1972, Army Corps spokesman Michael Kolisor said the flood control project was never intended as a recreational facility, according to a Scranton Times article.
Soon after that meeting, the county pulled out of the park project, saying it preferred to focus efforts on a park, then called Finch Hill, near Carbondale.
The Aylesworth Lake Improvement Association joined forces with Archbald, Jermyn and Mayfield to save the facility. The Army Corps turned the land over to the group after it formed a recreational authority and the Army signed off on a development plan. By March 1974, the association and the boroughs unveiled their plans to transform the park into a first-class recreational facility. Each municipality donated $1,000 to get the park started; the county gave the group a $4,000 grant.
The group started small. It put in 20 picnic tables — though one was stolen almost immediately — for the grand opening, according to a June 25, 1974, Scranton Times article.
The park was officially dedicated in October 1974, although by that time, the facility had been used for months by walkers, joggers and picnickers. The park remained open through the winter for a “variety of ... sports,” according to a Scranton Times article about the dedication.
By the early 1980s, though, the park’s future was rocky. In 1980, Jermyn did not contribute the agreed-upon $1,250 “donation,” The Scranton Times reported. The group running the park struggled to pay the bills and, in 1981, decided to institute a parking fee to generate revenue.
More than 26,000 people used the park from June to September 1983, according to a Dec. 4, 1983, article, and the revenue from the $1-per-vehicle parking fee helped the group maintain the facility and pay the bills.
It wasn’t enough. Year after year, the municipalities in charge of the park struggled to pay for park maintenance and bills, which in 1990 topped $20,000 a year. The park closed for entire seasons, as the municipalities that funded it and the volunteer recreational authority that ran it struggled to pay bills and hire staff. Officials from Archbald and Jermyn repeatedly asked the county to take over Aylesworth.
In 2005, “the Army Corps of Engineers asked the Aylesworth Authority to lock the gates Aug. 1 after the authority lost its insurance on the park,” The Scranton Times reported. The authority, Jermyn and Archbald couldn’t afford to pay for the park, even after the park’s volunteer group found a cheaper insurance premium.
Two years later, the county took over the park. At a ceremony in June 2006, county commissioners announced the county signed a 25-year, $1 lease with the Army Corps of Engineers, according to a Times-Tribune story.
In addition to Aylesworth, the county also oversees McDade Park in Scranton, Merli-Sarnoski Park in Fell Twp. and Covington Park in Covington Twp.
Erin L. Nissley is an assistant metro editor at The Times-Tribune. She has lived in the area for 11 years.
Contact the writer:
localhistory@timesshamrock.com
Billy Angelo Stella was 4 months old when he first got his hands on a pair of drumsticks.
His dad, former longtime Wyoming Valley area drummer and drum teacher Angelo Stella, put the sticks in his baby boy’s hands. By the time he was 18 months, Billy already had begun learning basics from his father. At age 2, he played in a revue show and at age 10 shared a stage at the former Weldwood lounge in the Eynon section of Archbald with legendary drummer Buddy Rich.
The beat goes on today for Stella, 58, a third-generation musician who over two decades ago took over his late father’s drum instruction shop at the family home in Plains Twp.
His “Billy Angelo Stella’s The Drummer’s Workshop” occupies the same tiny 18-foot-by-18-foot storefront where his father taught, in the family home at 39 School St. in the Hudson section of town.
“I played drums before I walked,” Stella said. “This is my life. This is what I believe in.”
Family profession
Stella’s story as a drummer and instructor begins with his grandfather, “Professor” Billy Angelo Stella. After getting injured hopping a freight train as a teen, he began studying music and playing violin. That led to a 50-year career as a musician — in the 1920s he played with an orchestra called the Arcadians — and as a music teacher who taught thousands of students in the Pittston area.
His son, Angelo Stella, started out playing numerous instruments but focused on drums. By the time he was a teen, Angelo was playing in a family band called the Stella Brothers,organized by his father. Angelo went on to play in an Army band while stationed in Panama in the 1940s. After military service, Angelo became a mainstay on the local scene drumming in all genres in numerous bands.
Angelo also taught drumming for more than four decades and wrote several instructional books. In the 1960s Angelo began a “drum-a-rama” event that not only showcased his students but also brought in notable drummers, such as jazz legend Dave Brubeck’s drummer, Joe Morello.
Filling the void
Growing up in such a drum-centric environment, Billy followed in father Angelo’s footsteps, first as a drummer performing all styles and in dozens of bands, and later also in giving drum lessons.
At first, Billy Angelo had no plan to take up his dad’s drum studio but began filling the void after Angelo died in 1996. At that time, Billy Angelo was working a retail day job in a sneaker store.
“People were still coming in (after Angelo died), calling on the phone, asking me, ‘Can you teach my son? Can you teach my daughter?’ Even his old students, ‘Can you continue? I was like, I don’t know if I could,” Stella said.
He considered moving the shop from his residential neighborhood, perhaps to the nearby business corridor of Route 315, but decided to stay put. Having to buy or rent space elsewhere would have been unaffordable, and his father’s name, reputation and location were well-known.
“There were so many people who knew him, knew the place and knew of him, so we really had to stay here. We couldn’t go anywhere,” Stella said.
After two years of working both his retail day job and still performing as a drummer and giving lessons on the side, Stella found he had to make a choice between the two paths. He chose to follow his own drumbeat.
“I made a decision to get out of there (his former job) and do this,” Stella said.
A life of music
Over his career, he has played in 91 bands of all kinds, including jazz, rock, country, Latin and polka — and six of which were touring bands, including The Buddy Rich Band from 1969-72. As a drum instructor, Stella teaches students the way his father did, from the ground up, starting with music theory and reading drum notation, and later delving into various genres and styles.
“I have people come in and say, ‘What do mean I’ve got to read music?’ Stella said. “There is drum music.”
Stella charges $40 per hour per lesson, and typically gives a student one lesson every two weeks. He also sells drums and accessories, such as sticks and cymbals, and repairs and tunes drums.
He has taught people of all ages, from 8 to 80. He tries to instill in his students an awareness of music as part of a larger universal harmonic. One of his handouts asks, “Why Music?,” and answers that music is a science, mathematical, a language, history, “and most of all, music is art,” and it’s taught to “be human, recognize beauty, and be closer to an infinite beyond this world.”
“You learn everything there. It’s a complete and total education, in music and how to play,” said one of Stella’s former students, Joe Consagra, 31, of Pittston. “He teaches you how to put your soul into it, your emotion into it, rather than just keeping time.”
Consagra was in the ninth grade when he starting taking what would become 14 years of drum lessons from Stella. A generation earlier, Consagra’s father, Charles, had long been a student of Angelo Stella. When Joe Consagra wanted to also take drum lessons, there was no question about where to go, he said.
‘“There’s only one place you’re going. You’re going to Billy Stella,’” Consagra recalled his father as saying. “I’m a second-generation Stella student. My father took lessons from Angelo and I took lessons from Billy. He’s like my second father.”
Quite a following
Along with having name recognition locally, Stella has had folks from far afield find him via his website and promo videos he posts on YouTube of himself displaying various drumming techniques. Adult students from New York and New Jersey already schooled in basics found Stella via internet and come to his shop monthly for more-advanced lessons, he said.
Stella’s cramped shop is decked out in peace and love signs. He plans to continue there, but the shop one day may end with him as the last proprietor. None of his children are following in his footsteps, and he’s okay with that.
“I didn’t force them (into it). I don’t believe in that,” Stella said.
“You’ve got to play for the love of the music. You’ve got to play your instrument for the love of the instrument,” Stella said. “You do it for the love. That’s what this whole store is.”
Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter
PSU director awarded
Brad Kovaleski received Penn State Worthington Scranton’s Award for Excellence in administrative services.
The director of student affairs and engagement, Kovaleski was nominated for his role in organizing the campus’ recent Safe Zone training, according to the university.
The program raised visibility about the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, queer and questioning (LGBTQ) campus population to understand the issues LGBTQ students face and bring awareness to the various resources at Penn State.
Kovaleski worked collaboratively with Caressa Gearhart, advising center manager; Martin Lacayo, coordinator of multicultural programs and development; and Ray Petren, Ph.D., assistant professor of human development and family studies on the program.
Kovaleski began working at PSU in 2016 and lives in Scranton.
High notes
Edward Joseph Burke received a $1,000 Legacy Scholarship from the 109th Infantry Regiment Association.
Edward graduated from Wiesbaden High School in Germany in June. He will attend the University of Scranton as a business major.
Edward’s family, including his mother, Matrina Burke; father, Col. Edward Burke; brother, George Burke; and grandfather, Retired Col. Edward J. Burke, attended the association’s monthly meeting on Aug. 2 at the Shopa-Davey VFW Post 6082 in Peckville.
His grandfather, Edward J., is a Dunmore resident and association member, while his father, also Edward, is a distinguished military graduate of the University of Scranton, class of 1989, and is on active duty with the Army transitioning from Germany to back to the United States.
Super students
Jake Grady, a Scranton Preparatory School graduate, was accepted to the United States Naval Academy at Annapolis, Maryland, announced U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic.
The son of Eugene and Lori Grady, Jake had to be nominated by a member of Congress to attend the academy. Jake will receive a full scholarship and after graduation will complete the military service obligation requirement for the naval academy.
“Jake is a well-rounded, bright young man and a role model for his peers; I am so proud of his hard work, perseverance, and acceptance into the academy,” said Cartwright in a press release.
While at Prep, Jake was a member of the Business Leadership, Spanish, Suave and Archery clubs. He was a Mathlete and member of the baseball, wrestling, basketball and football teams, serving as captain of the baseball team. He is a member of the National Honor Society and is a Scranton Prep Ignatian Scholar.
Distasio
& Kowalski
Attorney Daniel J. Distasio has been selected to the 2017 list of “Nation’s Top Attorneys” by the National Association of Distinguished Counsel. Fewer than 1 percent of practicing attorneys in the United States are selected for this honor. The recipients have demonstrated the highest ideals of the legal profession.
Attorney Peter J. Biscontini has been selected by National Trial Lawyers for inclusion in its Top 40 Under 40 Civil Plaintiff Trial Lawyers in Pennsylvania. The honor is given to only a select group of lawyers for their superior skills and qualifications in the field. Membership is by invitation only and is limited to attorneys in each state or region age 40 or younger who have demonstrated excellence and achieved outstanding results in their careers in civil plaintiff or criminal defense law.
Fidelity Bank
Jill Marie Valentini, retail branch manager of the Green Ridge office, completed coursework at the 2017 Pennsylvania Bankers Association School of Banking, June 4-8 at the Penn State Conference Center in State College.
Valentini has been with the bank since 2008, where she’s served as teller services supervisor as well as assistant branch manager at both the Abington and Green Ridge offices, before she assumed her current position. In February, her peers at the bank selected her as the 2017 Fidelity Banker of the Year for exemplifying the bank’s core values: relationships, integrity, commitment, passion, innovation and success. Valentini is a 2015 graduate of Leadership Lackawanna and currently serves on its executive board. She is also an active member of the Green Ridge Business Association. A graduate of Valley View High School and Penn State University, she resides in Blakely.
Foley Law Firm
Attorney Michael J. Foley of the Scranton firm was a speaker participant at the American Association for Justice Birth Trauma Litigation Group roundtable. The panel discussed discovery of issues relevant to electronic health records under HIPAA/HITECH and medical audit trails for electronic medical records information in medical malpractice litigation at the American Association for Justice Annual Convention in Boston on July 26. Foley is a past president of the Pennsylvania Association for Justice (2008-2009) and a board member of the American Association for Justice (2009-2016). Foley has been an invited speaker at the American Board of Trial Advocates Master’s Program in Europe and the Western Trial Lawyers Association in Hawaii.
Geisinger
Community
Medical Center
Pulmonologist and critical care physician Pius Ochieng, M.D., F.C.C.P., has joined the medical center.
Ochieng treats patients in the hospital’s intensive care unit. He also treats patients with pulmonary issues, including various forms of lung disease, asthma, bronchitis, chronic cough, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis, emphysema, lung cancer, obstructive sleep apnea and tuberculosis.
Board certified in internal medicine, pulmonary medicine and critical care, Ochieng earned his medical degree from the University of Nairobi, Kenya. He completed a residency in internal medicine at Queens Hospital Center, Icahn School of Medicine at Mount Sinai in New York, and a fellowship in pulmonary and critical care medicine at Mount Sinai West and Mount Sinai St. Luke’s, New York.
He is a fellow of the College of Chest Physicians and a member of the American College of Physicians, the American Thoracic Society, the Society of Critical Care Medicine, the Kenya Association for Prevention of TB and Lung Disease and the Christian Medical and Dental Association of Kenya. He is also an associate professor of clinical medicine at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine.
Keystone College
Tracy L. Brundage, Ph.D., has been named provost and vice president of academic affairs.
Brundage comes to the college after serving as vice president of workforce development at Pennsylvania College of Technology in Williamsport. She has 25 years of experience in operational leadership, strategic planning and organizational development in higher education and the private sector.
She has been employed in the private sector as a small-business owner, a software education instructor and training specialist.
Brundage holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Gettysburg College, a master of education in training and development, and a doctorate in workforce education and development, both from Penn State University.
Munley Law
Marion Munley of the Scranton law firm was named chairwoman of the American Association for Justice Women Trial Lawyers Caucus at the AAJ annual convention in Boston recently.
The caucus provides an opportunity for women in the legal profession to support and learn from one another through networking events, continuing legal education courses, awards and leadership opportunities. Munley’s dedication to women’s leadership development in the law has been well-documented. She currently serves as co-chairwoman of the Pennsylvania Bar Association Commission on Women in the Profession Mentoring Committee. Last year, she received the Pennsylvania Bar Association’s Lynette Norton Award, recognizing an outstanding female litigator devoted to mentoring other women lawyers. As Munley takes on this new role, she will continue to work on behalf of women lawyers by promoting the advancement of female attorneys to leadership positions.
Niki Jones Agency
Chief Executive Officer Niki Jones of the local public relations, marketing and digital solutions firm has been accepted into the Goldman Sachs 10,000 Small Businesses program, an investment to help entrepreneurs create jobs and economic opportunity by providing access to education, capital and business support services. The program is designed for business owners who have a business positioned for growth.
The agency has served some of the most iconic brands and organizations in the Hudson Valley, Pike and Orange counties for more than 18 years.
O’Donnell Law Offices
Best Lawyers has chosen attorney Neil T. O’Donnell, owner and founder of the law office in Kingston, as Lawyer of the Year for Personal Injury Litigation—Plaintiffs. O’Donnell has been recognized by Best Lawyers for the last five years.
Recognition by Best Lawyers is based entirely on peer review. Its methodology is designed to capture, as accurately as possible, the consensus opinion of leading lawyers about the professional abilities of their colleagues within the same geographical and legal practice area.
A frequent contributor to legal education programs, O’Donnell has held leadership positions in both regional and state legal communities, including the Pennsylvania Association for Justice, the Pennsylvania Bar Association and the Pennsylvania Bar Institute. He has been recognized as a Top 100 Pennsylvania Super Lawyer from 2007-2017. He has also been selected by his peers for inclusion in the Best Lawyers in America 2012-2017, and from 2002-2017 has received the Martindale-Hubbell AV Preeminent Rating. He was inducted into the Melvin Belli Society, named after America’s most famous trial lawyer.
University of Scranton
The university has named Harry R. Dammer, Ph.D., associate dean for the College of Arts and Sciences.
Dammer is a professor in the university’s Department of Sociology, Criminal Justice and Criminology. He joined the faculty in 2002. He is the author or co-author of seven books, including “Religion in Corrections,” “The Offender in the Community” and “Comparative Criminal Justice Systems.” He has also published or co-published more than 40 articles, chapters, manuals and professional reports on a variety of criminal justice topics, including corrections, international justice and religion in prison. In 1993-94, and the spring of 2009, Dammer was awarded Fulbright Scholarships to lecture and conduct research in Germany.
Dammer has 16 years of experience as a department chairman, serving at both Scranton and Niagara University.
At Scranton, Dammer served as the faculty representative to the NCAA, as a faculty fellow in the Office of Educational Assessment, and as a member of the Steering Committee and chairman of the Mission Implementation Sub-Committee for the university’s last Middle States review.
In 2011, he received the University’s Faculty Award for Excellence in Advancing Interdisciplinary Study, and in 2016 he received the Faculty Award for Excellence in University Service and Leadership.
Dammer earned his bachelor’s and master’s degrees from the University of Dayton and his doctorate from Rutgers University.
Wells Fargo
Greg Collins, who served since 2009 as the community bank area president for Northeast Pennsylvania, has decided to retire near the end of September. Until that time, he will continue serving the company, working to ensure a smooth transition of leadership across the region.
A 25-year company veteran, Collins led more than 300 team members and oversaw the operations of 37 branch banking offices across nine counties. Previously, he served the bank in leadership roles in Northeast Pennsylvania and the Lehigh Valley.
Collins is serving as a member of the board of trustees for Misericordia University, and as a board member of the Greater Wilkes-Barre Chamber of Business and Industry, Leadership Wilkes-Barre, the Wilkes-Barre YMCA, Wilkes-Barre General Hospital and the United Way of Wyoming Valley.
A Northeast Pennsylvania native, he received his bachelor of science from Misericordia University. He is a 2010 graduate of Leadership Wilkes-Barre’s Executive Leadership Program.
The Allentown office, located in Hawley, of Wells Fargo Advisors, Wealth Brokerage Services, announced that David Green has joined the firm as a financial adviser, vice president/investments.
A graduate of Shippensburg University with a Bachelor of Arts in business administration, Green has seven years of experience in the financial services industry. He resides in Tyler Hill with his wife and their two children.
Luzerne County Bar Association
Judges and lawyers of the association honored attorney Girard J. Mecadon of Pittston and Lee Ann Palubinsky of Conyngham. The award was presented by Judge Joseph J. Van Jura, the association’s president, for their exceptional service to the local bar.
SUBMIT PEOPLE ON THE MOVE items to business@timesshamrock.com or The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.
DICKSON CITY — Sneakers were on parents’ minds Saturday at the Viewmont Mall.
“He wears a uniform, so sneakers are important,” said Sharon Burback.
Burback, who lives with her son, Jared, in Bucks County, picked up a pair of black Nikes at the mall, which hosted a back-to-school pep rally, before he returns to classes next week.
The rally featured DJ Johhny Johnson spinning new hits and classic rock in the Tree Court outside Forever 21 and Ulta stores. Representatives from Montage Mountain, the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, Commonwealth Charter Academy and Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania were also available for information about the organizations.
The rally was also for college students. Newly opened HomeGoods had a mock-dorm room set up outside J.C. Penny, where students were able to enter their names for a chance to win a dorm-room makeover from the store.
Jared, 9, whose grandmother lives in South Abington Twp., is looking forward to showing off his new sneakers in school next week. The family typically does their school shopping online, which Burback said makes the “end of the summer chaos” easier, but looks for shoes in stores.
“I like to get him sized,” she said.
The first day of school for many local districts is next week. Forest City Regional is last to get back — delayed by a construction project — on Tuesday, Sept. 19.
Contact the writer:
kbolus@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9100 x5114;
@kbolusTT on Twitter
School start dates
Abington Heights:
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Carbondale Area:
Tuesday, Aug. 29
Delaware Valley:
Monday, Aug. 28
Dunmore:
Wednesday, Aug. 30
Forest City Regional:
Tuesday, Sept. 19
Lackawanna Trail:
Thursday, Aug. 31
Lakeland:
Thursday, Sept. 14
Mid Valley:
Tuesday, Aug. 29
Montrose Area:
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Mountain View:
Tuesday, Sept. 5
North Pocono:
Monday, Aug. 28
Old Forge:
Thursday, Aug. 31
Riverside:
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Scranton:
Wednesday, Sept. 6
Valley View:
Monday, Aug. 28
Wallenpaupack Area:
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Wayne Highlands:
Monday, Aug. 28
Western Wayne:
Tuesday, Sept. 5
Two young victims who were hit by a car in Rice Twp. have been released from the hospital while the rest of the family battles serious injuries.
A Geisinger spokesman said Tyler and Caden Herbst were treated and released from the hospital after Friday’s crash. Their mother, Nina Herbst, 38, remains in critical condition at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Bryan Herbst, 35, remains in serious condition at Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center in Plains Twp.. Ella Herbst, 5, is in serious condition, 10-month-old Tessa Herbst remains in critical condition, and their 8-year-old cousin Gabrielle Carlin is in fair condition, all at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville.
Rice Twp. police identified the driver as Jigna J. Kyada, 51, of Mountain Top. She was not injured in the crash, police said.
“The accident is still under investigation and does not seem to be a deliberate act,” police said in a release Saturday. “Any and all charges are pending further investigation.”
Investigators said the family was walking down Aleksander Boulevard in the Polonia Estates housing development around 1 p.m. when Kyada’s car, traveling in the opposite lane, crossed lanes and collided with the family.
Police said they are waiting for toxicology and accident reconstruction results before deciding whether to file any charges.
Contact the writer:
sscinto@citizensvoice.com;
570-821-2048;
@sscintoCV on Twitter
SCRANTON
State police at Dunmore will conduct DUI sobriety checkpoints over Labor Day weekend.
The checkpoints, along with roving patrols, will take place from Friday, Sept. 1, to Monday, Sept. 4, on roadways in Lackawanna County, according to a press release from police.
Police will perform the sobriety checks to promote public safety and protect the public from intoxicated drivers, the release said.
— KATHLEEN BOLUS
Scholarship aid available
DAV Chapter 11, Dickson City, will offer a $500 scholarship to disabled veterans in need of higher education. Applicants must reside between Dickson City and the Simpson area. Write to DAV Scholarship committee, 901 Enterprise St., Dickson City, PA 18519.
Outreach event
set in Dunmore
Veterans support program, Monday, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., state Rep. Kevin Haggerty’s Dunmore office, Dunmore Community Center, 1414 Monroe Ave.; Jeff Saunders, American Legion Service Office rep; appointments: 570-342-2710.
Post to host
fall festival
Walter Paciga VFW Post 4712, Simpson, fall festival Sept. 15, 5-11 p.m., and Sept. 16, noon-11 p.m., food, games and refreshments.
Veterans benefit breakfast set
Keystone Chapter UNICO Dunmore flapjack fundraiser, Sept. 9, 8-10 a.m., Applebee’s, Viewmont Mall, to benefit St. Francis Commons for Homeless Vets, $7/adults and $4/children; Frank or Mary Ann Coviello, 570-344-3737.
Post 7069 sets barbecue
VFW Post 7069 and Auxiliary chicken barbecue, Sept. 16, 3-6 p.m. or sold-out, post grounds, 402 Winola Road, $10/adults and $4.50/children, tickets recommended, available at the post on Winola Road or call 570-586-9821 or 570-586-0669.
Dunmore post plans pasta dinner
VFW Post 3474, Dunmore, pasta dinner Sept. 24, noon to 5 p.m., $8/adults and $4/children.
Dupont post
anniversary dinner
Dupont VFW Post 4909 72nd anniversary dinner dance, Nov. 4, 7:30 p.m.-12:30 a.m., dancing 9 p.m.-1 a.m., $30 per person.
Marine league
slates barbecue
Northeastern Detachment Marine Corps League and Museum chicken barbecue, Sept. 9, noon-5p.m., detachment, 1340 Alder St., Scranton, $10.
Olyphant to host
dedication, parade
Olyphant will dedicate the borough’s hometown heroes banners on Sept. 11 at 6:30 p.m.; 570-383-9552.
Meetings
POST 4909
Dupont VFW Post 4909, Sept. 11, 7:30 p.m., post home, home association meeting follows.
POST 327
Olyphant Raymond Henry American Legion Post 327 Sept. 11, 7 p.m., post, nominations of officers.
POST 7069
Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069, Sept. 7, 7 p.m., post, Clarks Summit.
CAMP 8
Ezra S. Griffin, Camp 8 Sons of Union Veterans and Auxiliary, Sept. 9 10:30 a.m., Scranton City Hall side ADA entrance, Mulberry Street; 570-606-1014.
VFW DISTRICT 10
VFW District 10, Sept. 10, 2 p.m., Post 5544, 205 Dolph St., Jessup.
MARINE CORPS LEAGUE
Northeastern Detachment Marine Corps League and Museum, Sept. 3, 2 p.m., detachment.
Merli Center
Today: Keurig coffee, 8:30 a.m.; morning visits, 8:45; Eucharistic ministry, 9:15; fresh air and soft pretzels, courtyard, 2 p.m.
Monday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Bible study, 9:30; Bob Hughes reading “Frederick Douglass,” 10:15; McDonald’s dine-in, 12:15 p.m.; peer meeting, 1:15; pizza and movie, 2; senior fitness, 3.
Tuesday: Marine Forces Reserve birthday. Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; bingo social, 10:15; volunteer ministry, 1:15 p.m.; choir practice, 1:45; Catholic service, 3.
Wednesday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; bulls eye, 9:30; GVMC choir summer concert with refreshments, 2 p.m.
Thursday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; chapel service, 10; arts and crafts, 10:15; Ponderosa dine-in, 12:15 p.m.; Millennium performs, 2; senior fitness, 3.
Friday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; coffee and doughnuts, first, second and third floor, 10:15; senior fitness, 3 p.m.
Saturday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; musical instruments, 10:15; fresh air and music activity, courtyard, 2 p.m.
VETERANS NEWS should be submitted no later than Monday before publication to veterans@timesshamrock.com; or YES!desk, The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.