Someone will look stupid; you can almost bet on that.

A couple of weeks ago, on his weekly politics talk show, “The Volpe Report,” insurance executive Chuck Volpe predicted major cost overruns will precede Lackawanna County’s expensive move into the former Globe Store, where the county plans to consolidate administrative and other offices.

The project cost, based on actual bids and contracts already awarded, stands at $16,939,157. That figure came Wednesday from county chief of staff Andy Wallace. Volpe has serious doubts.

“I’ve heard from people inside the courthouse, including from now minority commissioner, Jerry Notarianni — although he was high vote-getter — that $17 million isn’t even close,” Volpe said during a recent “Volpe Report.” “This thing is going to get way beyond that. It already is. It’s probably going to end up being closer to $25 (million), it could get to $30 million. Massive debt. They never put it on the ballot.”

That’s a reference to Commissioners Laureen Cummings and Patrick O’Malley never letting voters decide whether spending $17 million to move into The Globe Store is a good idea while putting a question of spending $13 million on a countywide reassessment on the Nov. 7 election ballot.

Volpe repeated the numbers during an interview Wednesday, though he said “north of $20 million” in a more recent editorial.

Cummings made a big deal about Volpe’s $30 million figure at the commissioners meeting Wednesday when she and O’Malley, over Notarianni’s objection, awarded five project contracts. She questioned how Notarianni could let Volpe get away with saying that and challenged him to correct Volpe.

“Until this project is over, we really won’t know the costs we’ll actually pay,” Notarianni replied.

That’s true. Large construction projects often encounter unexpected costs. Just look at what happened when the state Department of Transportation started replacing the Harrison Avenue Bridge.

Cummings failed to point out that Volpe never specifically said the $30 million figure came from Notarianni, but Notarianni never disputed it when she brought it up.

Volpe won’t name his sources other than Notarianni, but he’s putting his name out there with the big cost overrun prediction so he’ll look stupid if he’s wrong.

Notarianni has opposed the project since taking office in January 2016, mainly because he thinks the county rushed into it. He had dozens of questions that he feels never were answered before Cummings and O’Malley voted in April 2016 to buy the Globe for $1.3 million from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

Though Notarianni hasn’t used the $30 million figure, he does think the project will run over budget. If it doesn’t, he’ll join Volpe in looking stupid and strangely cement their unexpected bond, developed when both sat on the county Home Rule Charter Study Commission in 2013 and 2014.

Notarianni surprised Democratic stalwarts when he joined Volpe in backing the commission report that called for ditching the three-member board of commissioners and establishing a seven-member county council to oversee a county executive who would run day-to-day operations. Their effort failed when voters said no. Critics called it “the Volpe commission” because Volpe spent so much time, energy and money on it.

County solicitor John Brazil showed a similar disdain during the commissioners meeting Wednesday. Viewed in political circles as O’Malley’s puppeteer and definitely someone who prefers staying in the background, Brazil ripped Volpe.

“That was just speculatory,” he said in response to Cummings, who wondered whether Volpe somehow illegally knew what the project bids were before they were opened.

“Obviously, the person who made those statements does not like this project, does not want the project. So anything to make the project look bad, that’s what was done. It was not based on anything factual, it was just that individual’s personal opinions and, as we see today, they weren’t true.”

If Volpe turns out to be right, O’Malley will take the political hit, not Cummings. She only has a major voice in county government because O’Malley chose to align with her rather than his running mate, Notarianni, after the 2015 commissioners election.

The new Lackawanna County Government Center at The Globe is scheduled to open by Dec. 1, 2018, five months before the 2019 primary election.

You can bet that O’Malley counts on the Globe project ending up a home run that helps propel him to a third term. A lot of Democrats — most of them Notarianni’s backers — have their sights set on making O’Malley pay in 2019 for his allegiance with a conservative Republican like Cummings.

Cost overruns would give them a big gun to fire as they try to knock off O’Malley.

BORYS KRAWCZENIUK, The Times-Tribune’s politics reporter, writes Random Notes.

FELL TWP.

No one injured

in camper fire

Firefighters reported no injuries after a fire in a camper endangered a mobile home nearby Thursday night in Simpson, the local fire chief said.

Crews responded to a mobile home on Jefferson Street shortly after 10 p.m. and found a camper engulfed in flames next to an empty propane tank and a trailer, Fire Chief Joe Unis Sr. of Grattan Singer Hose Company, said.

The fire was extinguished within an hour and damaged some of the trailer.

A fire marshal is investigating the cause of the fire.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

Steven Snyder

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

Fugitive since: Oct. 24.

Wanted for: Drug manufacture, sale, delivery or possession with intent to distribute. Sentenced to one year, four months to four years of incarceration. Paroled Nov. 15, 2014.

Description: White man, 37 years old, 5 feet 11 inches tall, 175 pounds, brown hair, brown eyes.

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

Wesley Freeman

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

Fugitive since: May 31.

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

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

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

Tuwan Ellison

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

Fugitive since: Sept. 28.

Wanted for: Possession of a controlled substance with intent to distribute. Sentenced to one to four years of incarceration followed by two years of Lackawanna County special probation. Paroled Feb. 22.

Description: Black man, 35 years old, 6 feet 5 inches tall, 240 pounds, black hair, brown eyes.

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

Joseph A. Esgro

Wanted by: Scranton police.

Wanted for: Theft related to the theft of a backpack from Osaka restaurant in downtown Scranton.

Description: White man, 37 years old.

Contact: Scranton police detectives, 570-348-4139.

Covington Twp.

The township’s headquarters at Moffat Estate will once again host a Christmas open house, scheduled for noon to 4 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, Dec. 2-3.

“This is a free community event for all ages and has been a family tradition for several years,” township Supervisor Marlene Beavers said. “Everyone may view the ‘Hall of Trees’ in the pavilion, then visit the mansion, which is beautifully decorated for the season. They may greet Mr. and Mrs. Santa, who will arrive by horse-drawn wagon provided by the Richard Scott family.”

Visitors can take wagon rides to see the decorated estate grounds.

Activities for children include writing letters to Santa and making Christmas crafts, including a pine cone bird feeder. Peanut butter will be involved with the bird-feeder project, Beavers noted.

Boy Scouts will also take pictures of children with Santa, and kids will get a candy cane and gift. The event also includes door prizes and refreshments from ShopRite of Daleville.

— KYLE WIND

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

@kwindTT on Twitter

Jermyn

The Facebook group Jermyn PA is Awesome raised money to buy the new 7-foot, hat-tipping snowman decoration that the group donated to the Jermyn Holiday Lights Committee.

The social media group, led by Councilman Dan Markey, Councilman Kevin Napoli and council President Frank Kulick, raised money to replace Christmas lights by selling “Jermyn is Awesome” coffee mugs, as well as “Straight Outta Jermyn” T-shirts and hoodies.

The group decided which decoration to buy with a Facebook poll. The snowman got 62 votes, followed by 13 for a star spray decoration, 11 for bells and six for a holiday candle.

The hat-tipping snowman cost $825, including the freight charge. The snowman is now on display on Washington Avenue near the Casey Highway exit.

— KYLE WIND

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

@kwindTT on Twitter

Lackawanna County

Thirteen members of the county’s Valley Equestrians 4-H Horse Club joined more than 700 youth from more than 55 counties in competing late last month at the 58th annual Pennsylvania State 4-H Horse Show.

Held at the Pennsylvania Farm Show Complex and Expo Center in Harrisburg on Oct. 27-29, the show saw a number of those Valley Equestrians club members place in a variety of categories.

Results for the Valley Equestrian 4-H Club at the state competition:

nMolly Landsiedel: third place in Western grooming and showmanship, 12-14; first place in open trail horses, 8-13.

nCarleigh Tylutke: ninth place in beginner English equitation.

nShayla VanVleck : first place in Western horsemanship, 12-14; eighth place in Western pleasure horses, 14-18.

nTaylor Tylutke: eighth place in raised box keyhole horses, 8-13.

nSkylar Tylutke: third place in hunt seat equitation on the flat, 8-11; seventh place in hunter under saddle ponies (13.2 hands and under).

nCamilla Fontini: fifth place in hunt seat equitation on the flat, 15-18.

nCorinne Jacoby: fourth place in low equitation over fences, 14-18; third place in classic hunter under saddle horses, 14-18; third place in hunter hack horses.

nRylie Heusner: sixth place in hunter under saddle ponies (over 13.2 hands).

nZoe Keller: eighth place in low working hunter ponies.

nAlyssa Angelicola: 10th place in hunter hack horses.

The state 4-H Horse Show is the final competition of the year for 4-H horse members enrolled in performance horse projects.

— JEFF HORVATH

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

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Waverly Twp.

Bah, humbug.

The Waverly Community House will present Charles Dickens’ classic “A Christmas Carol” this holiday season as a free gift to the community. The two-act play features actor Robert Hughes and is slated for Friday, Dec. 15, in the Comm auditorium. Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the play begins at 7.

Refreshments will be served. Though the event is free and open to the public, RSVP’s are appreciated. Call the Comm office at 570-586-8191, ext. 2.

— CLAYTON OVER

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

@ClaytonOver 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.

The phrase “40 Hommes et 8 Chevaux” would be familiar to any of the troops who fought in France during World War I.

The terse statement adorned the train cars used to transport troops across the country. It referred to the capacity for each car: 40 men and eight horses.

After the war ended and the American Legion launched, helped by West Side resident David J. Davis, a “secret society” sprung up within the organization. It took its name from the familiar French phrase, shortened to simply the “Forty and Eight.”

“The Forty and Eight is a secret organization within the American Legion composed of legionnaires who have served the legion well,” an Aug. 23, 1929, Scranton Times article explained. “It is the carefree playground for the lusty comrades of the legion. It is the field for further service for the legionnaire who has already given high service to his post.”

Pennsylvania born

The society also got its start in Pennsylvania.

As the Aug. 23, 1929, article reported, Philadelphia resident Joseph W. Breen, who fought in the Spanish-American and first World War, dreamed up the idea and “the Philadelphia unit, or Voiture, carried the idea to the state convention in Allentown in 1920.”

“The new members ... traveled to the national convention in Cleveland that year by box car and presented the playground organization to the legion nationally, and it had been recognized since that date,” according to the article. “Breen was elected the first ... or national commander.”

According to a history of the Forty and Eight submitted to The Scranton Times in 1966, Scranton resident Pat McGee worked closely with Breen to found the group.

A coin flip decided whether Philadelphia or Scranton would be designated the No. 1 branch.

“Philadelphia won the toss and thus became the Premier Voiture and Lackawanna became No. 2,” according to the submitted history.

As a nod to the society’s namesake, titles within the group kept the railroad theme. Members were known as voyageurs militaire, or military travelers, and officers took their titles from French railroad officials. The chief executive officer was known as “chef de chemin de fer,” or president of the railroad; local heads were called “chef de gare,” or station master; assistants to the station master were known as “chef de train,” or train masters; and individual units were called “voitures locales” or neighborhood cars.

As familiar as World War I veterans were with the phrase painted on the French box cars, they were almost as familiar with the wrecks and derailments that slowed travel from one place to another. So the groups decided on a tongue-in-cheek name for the initiation of new members and it eventually became a catch-all for any event for which the Forty and Eight were known.

“The wrecking crew is an important part of every voiture locale,” the Aug. 23, 1929, article reported. “Nothing is as dear to the heart of a hardened voyageur as a good, smashing wreck.”

One of Forty and Eight’s main missions was to inject a little fun into the serious business of being an American Legion member.

“By bringing together in exhilarating good fellowship the men who are carrying on the work of the legion in the posts ... and by tempering the serious work of the legion with nights of rollicking fun, the Forty and Eight contributes much to its parent organization,” The Scranton Times article reported. “It helps to fuse the interests of the various posts into a harmonious whole. It helps to keep enthusiasm at a high point and to keep the legion workers keen and eager for their tasks.”

The group also made a name for itself with its charity work. The group became known as the “Shock Troops” of the Legion, according to the Times story, thanks to its hard work fundraising for children’s welfare causes, recruiting new Legion members and keeping rowdiness to a minimum at conventions and other large Legion events.

Despite its reputation as a secret society, The Scranton Times reported yearly for decades on leadership changes and events organized by local Forty and Eight members.

The local Forty and Eight branches organized track meets at the Scranton Armory and other fundraisers that generated thousands of dollars a year for charitable causes, according to the group’s submitted history. Members of the group also organized trips to visit “the sick and lonely” and, at least until the mid-1960s, took annual trips to visit orphans at Our Lady of Fatima Home in Elmhurst.

To read more about the Forty and Eight, visit www.fortyandeight.org.

ERIN L. NISSLEY is an assistant metro editor at The Times-Tribune. She’s lived in the area for nearly 12 years.

Contact the writer:

localhistory@timesshamrock.com

CARBONDALE

City police charged a man with drug possession and DUI after finding him slumped over the steering wheel of a truck early Saturday morning.

Police responded to a parking lot at 150 Brooklyn St. about 12:45 a.m. where they found Joshua Lasavage, 24, 51 Wayne St., unresponsive behind the wheel of a running truck with a pill bottle between his legs, according to court documents. Lasavage awoke, started eating chicken nuggets and asked officers if they could follow him home, police said.

Officers found heroin and prescription medication in the pill bottle, police said.

Bail and preliminary hearing information were not available Saturday.

— CLAYTON OVER

CARBONDALE AREA JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

First honors: Sydney Algayer, Ashlynn Allison, Samantha Artone, Nina Bowen, Colin Burke, Frank Burke, Christina Carachilo, Shawn Connolly, Nathan Chludzinski, Katelyn Dovin, Vincent Gigliotti, Austin Goble, Jaden Hudson, Madeline Kelly, Andrew Larson, Kamryn Liuzzo, Cody Malaker, Andrew Manarchuck, Kayla McDonough, Matthew McCaffery, Chance Olsewski, Tressa Potis, Madison Puza, Olivia Regal, Wilson Rodriguez, Dajah Romero, Abagayle Rumford, Bailey Rumford, Robert Salitsky, Kaitlyn Savage, Sarah Sawyer, Robert Scarpa, Cordell Siggins, Mark Tolerico, Isobel Turonis, Hailey VanLeuven, Anthony Voglino, Stephanie Wayman and Amelia Zazzera.

Second honors: Angel Browder, Anthony Bucklaw, Alexis Clift, Brianna Curtis, Breanna Dombroski, Arianna Donnelly, Faith Garretson, Reece Fuchs, Emily Gerek, Colin Heenan, Zachary Laub, Joseph Maddage, Taylor Marecki, Jaime Martinez Steve Martin, Megan McDonald, Emily Parry, Alyssa Postlethwaite, Tunaja Riley, Joseph Rinaldi, Salina Shock, Aubree Sopko, Haley Snyder, Hanna Sweet, Jordan Tolerico, Melissa Torch, Marc Waller and Summer Wormuth.

GRADE 11

First honors: Annaliese Allen, Hayly Beckwith, Lacey Bloom, Calista Calabro, Patrick Durkin, Andi Fedorchak, Keith Feduchak, Estelle Fuller, Alyssa George, Gretchen Gilia, David Gonzalez, Kristina Gorel, Rebecca Grecco, Devine Grimm, Madison Hayner, Joseph Herbert, Jeffrey Katchmore, Gabriel Lumbag, Noah Mauro, Rory Misko, Emily Moser, Paige Norella, Astrid Paz, Paxton Postlewaite, Jonathon Pugliese, Zachary Racht, Dylan Rowland, Kianna Savage, Darien Schiavone, Deven Schwartz, Kaitlyn Shockey, Nathan Uzialko, Nicholas Vadella, Emily Wall, Megan Wallis, Stone Wormuth and Michael Zazzera.

Second honors: Brittaney Cain, Jessica Borders, Jacob Borosky, Mya Casey, Collin Conway, Emily Daley, Jesse Dutter, Sabrina El Ghoulaymi, Carl Galavitz, Skielar Herchick, Mason Higdon, Brendan Kelly, Dylan Kilmer, Miranda McCormick, Thomas Rosar, Adam Rossetti, Nick Rotell-Tierney, Alayla Vazquez Ramos, Celeste Wengrin and Abagale Zuraski.

GRADE 10

First honors: Colin Bannon, Lisa Blanchard, Kaylee Beckage, McKinley Borders, Payton Carey, DeClan Caviston, Zoe Connolly, Madison Cost, Skylar Dearie, Taylor Emiliani, Ryan Flemming, Liam Fox-Newcomb, Samantha Guzzi, Cora Heenan, Emma Jones, Olivia Manarchuck, Madison Matthews, Michaela McLaughlin, Madison Mushensky, Era Nasufi, Noah Newcomb, Rana Novobilski, Jarred Rosar, Vanessa Sawyer and Brooke Staple.

Second honors: Michael Arendt, Karl Browder, Justin Calabro, Benjamin Cerra, Donald Cinquegrana, Christopher Dietrich, Ian Fedorchak, Kristyn Feldra, Chloe George, Alexandria Granville, Zhaquara Grant, Jadden Hayner, Kaitlyn Hendrick, Olivia Kuttrubis, Jesse Miller, Jordan Molinaro, Hailey Norton, Damien Shaw, Jeffrey Snyder, Ariana Serrano, Isabelle Tierney, Destanie Umstead, Eric Vaverchak, Abbie Washeleski and Damien White.

GRADE 9

First honors: Giana Arnese, Kacydi Brewen, Natalie Brown, Aniela Connolly, Maria Cerra, Robert Cron, Connor Eibach, Amelia Esgro, Juliana Galarza, Bayley Grizzanti, Kaelin Greene, Shakee Hoskins, Aiden Kelly, William Kovaleski, Olivia Liuzzo, Deana Mancuso, Taylor Mazza, Maleena McCormick, Erin McHale, Jade Medina, Anthony Mustica, Amelia Muta, Gianelly Prieto, Avianna Pugliese, Kaitlyn Richardson Dynasty Romero, Alyvia Schiavone, Halley Schwartz, Sarah Tolerico, Nathan Totsky, Julian Turonis and Tyler Wormuth.

Second honors: Hector Acosta, Nikkia Andidora, Seth Bazink, Kayla Cobb, Michael Cornall, Gianna Gillette, Matthew Ennes, Kaitlyn Kilmer, Angel Lavaire, Selena Lee, Brielle Marchione, Joe Mark, Morgana McGee, Jose Mendez, Raymond Ofner, Eric Praefke, Jack Waller, Logan Wheeler, Ariel Williamson and Crystal Yarbrough.

GRADE 8

First honors: Emma Baker, Sophia Calzola, Logan Colonna, Alyssa Cosklo, Francheliz De Jesus Correa, Mackenzie Edgar, Tatiana Elston-Blaus, Ashley Gorel, Celeb Higdon, Ellen Higdon, Emily Kelly, Glenda Marrero, Mia Marrero, Emaleigh Miller, Mackenzie Miluszusky, Rogemarie Navarrete, Sarah Parry, Kyle Perri, Mia Perri, Alexis Price, Jonathon Purvis, Madison Regal, Roberto Romero, Chloee Rumford, Makena Sanderson, Joshua Tierney, Robert Wall, Cayden Watts, Donovan Williams and Logan Wormuth.

Second honors: Logan Arthur, Killian Bannon, Michael Caporali, Thomas Cyganick, Rida El Ghoulaymi, Jaden Fedorchak, Makenna Fedorchak, Nya Freeman, Layla Gregory, Alexander Laub, Luke Kovaleski, Conner Lewis, Liam Misko, Guy Mushow, Elizabeth Pantoja, Keefer Wease and Bryan Zuraski.

GRADE 7

First honors: Mckenzie Alexander, Joshua Berg, Madalyn Borders, Audrey Cobb, Gavin Connor, Robert Constantine, Gianna Gallo, Danica Gilligan, Julia Gorel, Gabriella Gregory, Mia Karosus, Brycen Kelly, Madison Kelsh, Abbie Larson, Gia Mark, Daisy Martinez, Tyler Moskosky, Julia Murphy, Victoria Nieves, Diamond O’Dowd, Nicholas Ohmanacht, Katelyn Ostrander, Paige Paugh, Brian Repsher, Bryan Salitsky, Keirsten Sopinski, Matthew Tarchak, Matthew Totsky, Jacob Ulmer and Kyleigh Wallace.

Second honors: Chase Arthur, Nevaeh Cost, Shauna Durst, Gavin Ellett, Ashley Escott, Corinne Haley, Alyssa Hendrick, Amay Jefferson, Ayonnah Jefferson, Mikayla Jordan, Noah Kilmer, Josalyne Livingston, Olivia Lorenzetti, Zachari Miller, Emma Monahan, Quintin Naro, Alex Nesbitt, Hailey Peterka, Alena Phillips, Brenden Richardson, Elyssa Shaw, James Spall, Sophia Tomain, Justin Toy, Christian Vasquez and Avianna Voglino.

DUNMORE MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRADE 8

Distinguished honors: Liam Ahern, Katherine Alunni, Olivia Amico, Isabella Aydin, Abigail Barone, Matthew Behler, Hope Blasko, Mia Blume, McKenna Brazil, Katie Capooci, Joseph Cardillo, Madison Christiano, Catherine Conway, Andrew Durkin, Makhail Fabi, Marcel Fediw, Anna Gabello, Maris Hiller, Amelia Ingargiola, Kylee Jezworski, Cameron Jones, Eliana King, Mia Kochis, Leah Leppo, Gemma Longo, Abigail Luongo, Michael Lynch, Thomas Lynch, Michal Madrazo, Jaclyn Marichak, Allison McNeff, Colby Murray, Andrew Padula, Emma Pasko, Naomi Springer, Isabella Stanco, Giovanni Stivala, Joseph Tolan, Jessica Trauger, Jeffrey Walsh, Isabella Waters and Molly Zimmer.

Honors: Ethan Bagg, Vincent Bonavoglia, Bridgette Conway, Giancarlo Escobar, Gregory Harrington, Aden King, Aidan McCarthy, Neel Modi, Ciara Nolan, Chloe Ondek, Vincent Palermo, Diana Ramos and Rylee Walsh.

GRADE 7

Distinguished honors: Anna Acculto, Maria Aronica, Jacquelyn Bitter, Grace Czankner, Zachary Eynon, Kristine Fagoili, Ava Forgione, Jacob Grande, Abigail Kopacz, Cadence Lewis, Christopher Mills, Ayman Mounota, Adriana Pacewicz, Thomas Pavlowski, Morgan Quinn, Olivia Roche, Maura Sheets, Ashley Stefanac, Cataldo Talutto, Adeline Toole, Ciera Toomey, Caroline Valunas, Madolyn Valvano and Madison Waltz.

Honors: Colleen Blockberger, Savannah Bonavoglia, Faith Bravo, Anthony Cantafio, Cole Capooci, Samantha Cortazar, Nathan DeSando, Natalie Durkin, Nicola Hart, Gregory Hunt, Chesney Langan, Emily Monge-Smith, Angelo Naro, Kaylee Pinto, Riley Robinson and Lola Summa.

MID VALLEY

SECONDARY CENTER

GRADE 12

High honor roll: Alicia Angelo, Mario Bonacci, Hayley Bondy, Nicholas Borgacci, John Caines, Richard Chowanec, Cheyenne Cortazar, Logan Lee DeSanto, Damien Gary, John Glinsky, Kaitlin Griggs, Donald Hartman, Sarah Johnson, Harshdeep Kahlon, Karissa Kalinoski, Shaun King, Jason Kline, Jessica Kranick, Curtis Maleninsky, Gianna Manzo, Lindsey Marushock, Vanessa Mazur, Lyndsey Medric, Kali Mulea, Nikohl North-Mozda, Rachael North-Mozda, Selena Olmedo, Lauren Owens, Priya Patel, Madelaine Pegula, Haylie Ray, Christian Reece, Demitri Reece, Kaylah Richter, Collin Scherer, Devin Seifert, Denae Olivia Smith, Nicole Sokolowska, Hayley Solensky, Matthew Stankiewicz, Frank Tanana and Katherine Wilson.

Honor roll: Michaela Bennett, Jeffrey Buck, Michael Fedorka, Nicole Fernandes, Abigail Foley, Christian Heffron, Joshua Henneforth, Samantha Jankowski, Elizabeth Keddy, Austin Keegan, Mateo Lopez, Mark Melesky, Ralph Morris, Matthew Nemeth, Mia Pawelski, Hunter Penn, Derien Perez, Alyvia Praefke, John Robbins, Nathan Rowlands, Emily Sakevich, Jenny Sullivan and John Zator.

GRADE 11

High honor roll: Marissa Angelo, Mariah Balendy, Zachary Blau, Katelyn Bosket, Cassie Castellani, Gabriella Cerra, Courtney Davies, Mallory deQuevedo, Matthew Fedorka, Nicholas Ferretti, Justin Gohsler, Morgan Haefele, Katarina Johnson, Albert Kausmeyer, Alana Kautz, Francis Kocsis, Becca Laboranti, Karah Laboranti, Mark Longo, Michael Ly, Sean MacCallum, Marshall Macknosky, Jillian Mackreth, Christopher Marchel, Emily Morano, Erica Nemitz, Angel Novojoski, Vanessa Pruzinsky, Brandon Repchick, Alyssa Sekelsky, Samantha Shelesky, Emma Sherwood, Lindsey Space, Caleb Taber, Kyle Tullio, Jacob Vituszynski and Joshua Vituszynski.

Honor roll: Morgan Bialy, Mia Caramanno, Jasmine Carey, Joshua Darrin, Emily Finegan, Lily Gallo, Colin Hazelton, Charles Karam, Kourtney Kichar, Brendan Kucharski, Viktoria Meehan, Craig Mercanti, Mariah Minter, Mackenzie Mitchko, Yeimi Molina del Cid, Lawrence Risner, Felicia Saar, Haneet Saini, Adriaghna Schaefer, Katrina Schultz, Vincent Talluto, Joedlyn Torres and Grace Wallo.

GRADE 10

High honor roll: Scott Barrett, Samuel Borgacci, Sebastian Brudnicki, Christian Chakiris, Philip Davitt, Ariann Decker, Kacey Durkin, Patrick Ferke, Khaya Fuller, Abigail Galea, Kyle Gerek, Meghan Guarino, Jenna Haefele, Lacy Harrington, Ty Jackson, Christopher Kautz, Isabella Kramer, Michael Miller, Alyssa Moore, Brianna Onyshczak, Antonio Ortiz, Juliette Paynter, Keli Pegula, John Piorkowski, Angel Popko, Therese Reilly, Madison Riccardo, Tyler Santarelli, Sydney Scott, Anastasia Shishlo, Christopher Talluto, Raileigh Thompson, Natalie Vasileff, Michaela Wall and Austin Zbach.

Honor roll: Natalie Buchinski, Andre Clarke, Jasmyne Colbert, Carly Gambo, Lanie Gray, Christopher Henderson, Aleeza Leary, Giovanni Lopez, Ryan Mascaro, Louis Menendez, Ryan Patterson, Maive Pawelski, Kyleigh Petcavage, Ramon Ramos, Zachary Rebar, Joseph Slish, Carlie Smith, Nando Ubaldini, Angelo Vega, Isabella Vinskofski and Shawn Zbach.

GRADE 9

High honor roll: Matthew Algar, Michael Bennici, Madison Bialy, Bethany Brown, Laura Cervantes, Damien Chmielewski, Gabrielle Ciborosky, Hailey Davis, Maria Do Vale, Mikayla Dutkiewicz, Gianna Giumento, Veronica Gonzalez, Donald Healey, Emily Hedglin, Colby Hughes, Ariana Hutko, Abbey Jackson, Lindsey Jason, Daelyn Karboski, Lindsey Kausmeyer, Jennifer Kobylanski, Connor Kocsis, MacKenzie Kuehner, Lucy Lennon, Vanessa Mancuso, Kailee Mazur, Tyler O’Connor, Isabella Oakey, Jessica Pahoski, Ava Perrins, Keira Priest, Emma Ream, Christian Riccardo, Jordan Scalese, Sierra Sczesniak, Christian Snee, Gabrielle Snee, Olivia Stein, Jonathan Strelecki, Ciara Strupcewski, Samantha Wilson, Jeremiah Wolo, Maxwell Yarbrough, Emma Yusavage and Madison Zielinski.

Honor roll: Devon Barnauskas, Layla Barron, Skylar Ceccoli-Eiffert, Brianna Day, Kayleigh Depew, Gabrielle Dushney, Nicholas Freeswick, Audrianna Keller, Meadow Killino, Taylor Kostage, Mauri Kurcin, Dylan Major, Ariana Marhelski, Gianna Matassa, Ryan O’Boyle, Collin Pacyna, Kiersten Perry, Nicholas Politowski, Alec Pruzinsky, Roberto Rosado, Katarina Shishlo, Ava Smargiassi, Alyssa Troia, Aaliyah Turner and Zoe Zelinski.

GRADE 8

High honor roll: Destiny Brent, Kathryn Burian, Jaime Lee Cortazar, Zachary Davis, Hayden Davitt, Lilianna Davitt, Anthony DeVoe, Kellen Doughton, Madison Doyle, Jack Foley, Destiny Hallock, Austin Kish, Emma Kobylanski, Bryce Kramer, Logan Matone, Hannah Mills, Brittney Olt, Lexee Risner, Ryan Sabatella, Conner Sheruda, Liv Shumski, Madison Space, Xander Szewczyk, Emma Tonart, Morgan Tullio, Devin Walsh, Zachary Wilson and Aiden Wolak.

Honor roll: Ethan Art, Nathaniel Bates, Adam Brzozowski, Xavier Caldero, Kadyn Cianfichi, Stanley Ciborosky, Justin Clark, Lisbeth Fairfield, Kierstyn Ganz, Vincenzo Iacavazzi, Zachary Kalinoski, Joseph Kalinowski, Christopher Kane, Gianna Magliocchi, Dustin McAllister, Makenzi McDermott, Abigail Merrifield, Dylan Mitchell, Sophia Polons, Avery Rebar, Ian Richmond, Katie Lynn Scholtz, Jacob Scott, Madison Smith, Audrey Talluto and Nathan Zarnowski.

GRADE 7

High honor roll: Amber Acevedo, Ava Badyrka, Logan Baker, Abagail Bertig, Linus Bukowski, Charley Caines, Jaden Carroll, Daniel Davis, Bella DeNardo-Yost, Grace Goetz, Lukas Henderson, Ryan Krauser, Ariana Lane, Matthew Lorenzetti, David Magliocchi, Christopher Manger, Samantha Mattioli, Tyler McDermott, Shaylyn McDonnell, Cody Michaels, Mason O’Malley, Ryan Pasko, Jeffrey Patackas, George Pegula, Abhi Prajapati, Tyler Schroeder, Riley Sharples, Kiera Shibley, Xachary Szewczyk, Vincent Tanana, Lauren Wall and Kaleia Williams.

Honor roll: Ireland Backus, Kaitlyn Bartlett, Kiralynn Blank, Nadia Bonczkiewicz, David Calafut, Nathan Capman, Dylan Coolbaugh, Katrina Davis, Christopher Dreyer, Jayden Evans, Sarah Ferkile, Hannah Fletcher, Tre Fox Frazier, Riley Hedglin, Kendal Johnson, Chloe Karam, Edward Kaufman, Madison Kizer, Tyler Mancuso, Michael McCauley, Megan McFadden, Maurice Menichetti, Brianna Murphy, Elizabeth Newton, Destiny Oquendo, Amanda Ortiz, Zachary Popko, Katrina Ricci, Maranda Runco, Karly Rusyn, Abigail Saverslak, Nicholas Sokalsky, Jayden Winters and David Paul Wood.

MOUNTAIN VIEW

JR.-SR. HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

Lucy Adams, Jamie Barhite, Sierra Barnes, Sarah Carpenetti, Anna Donnelly, Jacelyn Evans, Sophia Ficarro, Erika Freely, Brianna Gabriel, John George, Amber Gorton, Derik Gorton, Ian Graham, Delaney Heller, Makaylee Jones, Samantha Jones, Kelsey Murphy, Holly O’Brien, Nicholas Pellew, Natalie Ransom, Austin Rudock, Gerald Rusek III, Luke Schmidt, David Shea, Alexander Showalter, Alyssa Stankiewicz, Talia Stockdale, Kyle Streich, Franklin Valentine, Samantha Valentine, Denise Vonada, Niesha Wilcox, Nicholas Wilmarth and Brianna Young.

GRADE 11

Sarah Alessi, Mackenzie Bell, Miranda Button, Scarlett Catalfamo, Cameron DeManicor, Alexandria DeWolfe, Dylan Hancock, Madison Hegedty, Joseph Jackson, Alyssa Kelly, Ethan Mack, Lena Penny, Katelyn Satunas, Madison Schermerhorn, Matthew Schwarztrauber, Kurstian Stankiewicz, Tyler Striefsky, Lily Virbitsky and Alexus Wilbur.

GRADE 10

Hailey Andrews, Sage Buddock, Jarrett Corker, Matthew Dougherty, Kaylee Evans, Jacob Housel, Isabel Keating, Andrea Ofalt, Tosha Shay, Sofie Swetter, Mackenzie Wilbur and Emma Zipprich.

GRADE 9

Sydney Barhite, Sara Beemer, Emory Bewley, Emily Biesecker, Michael DeWolfe, Holly Galvin, Hannah Geron, Alycia Harvey, Ashlynd Harvey, Madison Hunter, Connor Mancuso, Destiny McCarey, Marisa Ostir, Zachary Polovitch, Chase Poplawski, Kimberly Schutz, Katelyn Supancik, Nathan Wells, Sebastian Winters and Meredith Zrowka.

GRADE 8

James Bernosky, Travis Bridgeman, Benjamin Burman, Casey Congdon, Lauren Dick, Avery Fortuner, Rachael Gerfin, Ryan Henke, Deanna Holbert, Delaney Hollenbeck, Mason LeMaster, Kathryn Long, Mackenzie Lowrie, Emma Master, Andrew McHenry, Stephanie Nichols, Michael Nowlin, Nathan Ofalt, Victoria Pellew, Rebecca Plomchok, Ragan Poplawski, Leah Rippy, Savannah Robinson, Collin Saam, Maressa Salansky, Nicholas Schmidt, Emily Streich, Maura Strickland, Sophia Striefsky, Rylee Taylor, Shannon Toolan, Wyatt Yachymiak and Megan Zipprich.

GRADE 7

Wesley Anderson, Carter Bain, Nicole Baker, Charlize Barhite, Gavin Bewley, Briana Boswell, Zayvion Bradford, Ariel Brodeur, Owen Cameron, Lauren Clancy, Emily Cosklo, Ryan Drake, Alex Empet, Leah Evans, Alyson Frederici, Amber George, Michaela Hammond, Caden Holtsmaster, Elijah Kamensky, Alexander Karp, Tyler Keating, Ethan Komora, Jack Kowalewski, Hunter Kozloski, Genevieve Larkin, Nicholas Lemoncelli, Cali Petts, Bailey Reuss, Emily Robinson, Raelyn Sanders, Peyton Smith, Nevaeh Sorensen, Tanner Stout, Joseph Swetter, Jonathon Symuleski, Adia Tompkins, Alexis Turner and Jordyn Walker.

SUMMIT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

GRADE 9

Justin Bodin, Matthew Buchanan and James Schmidt Jr.

GRADE 8

Joy Golden and Leah Himka.

GRADE 7

Ethel Schmidt and Cameron Taylor.

GRADE 6

Christopher Buchanan, Kaylee Parker and Dominick Snipes.

GRADE 5

Bethany Buchanan, Kylie Butash, Shane Heuer, Paige Rivers, Nathan Schmidt, Ava Whalen and Meredith Williams.

GRADE 4

Jonathan Feldman, Logan Schmidt and Joshua Shaw.

VALLEY VIEW

MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRADE 8

Samantha Adams, Katelyn Ainey, Jessalyn Aquilino, Desiree Ashton, Robert Basalyga Jr., Chase Benjamin, Angelica Berardi, Carli Bossick, LaNique Bradford, Haley Bronson, Eric Burnett, John Casarin II, Nicole Chiricos, Brianna Conniff, Christopher Conserette Jr., Mayer Crean, Hannah Danielowski, Caden Danks, Lauren Dupay, William Durkin, Connor Eberhart, Julia Falls, Aaron Fontanella, Noah Fontanella, Joshua Frontino, Shay Gillen, Ava Giovagnoli, Jealousy Gorko, Kendra Gyetvai, Elayna Haring, Liam Harrison, Caleah Hawley, Andrew Heid, Anthony Heid, Hayden Holley, Kai Horeis, Michael Howey, Tiahna Jackson, Carley Jankauskas, Kylie Jenkins, Ryley Jervis, Joseph Kalafut Jr., Timothy Karlavige, Abigail Kreig, Grace Lennox, Sean Mackinder, Leah Mackrell, Madison Markiewicz, Morgan Masters, Emily Mattise, Morgan Mayne, Gia Mazza, Emma Mazzoni, Anthony Memo, Kayle Morgan, Paige Morgan, Katelyn Morisco, Lauren Murnock, Sydney Naylor, Kaitlyn Newberry, Alexandra O’Halloran, Thomas Parise III, Hunter Pazzalia, Tyler Pienkowski, Victoria Pitoniak, Haylie Popovich, Jared Ramos, Dante Randle, Jordan Rebar, Paige Redman, Victoria Reed, Andrew Rodriguez, Madison Rodriguez, James Roman, Samuel Rosetti, Vito Rotell, Erielle Roxas, Zack Rudalavage, Olivia Russell, Mahanoor Sami, Anna Sebastianelli, Isabella Seymour, Colin Skeen, Dylan Smith, Zakary Sova, Timothy St. Ledger, Lexi Stafursky, Natalia Sturdevant, Carina Sutton, Natalie Sweeney, Saige Sweeney, Kaylee Taylor, Adam Teeple, Nathan Traucht, Olivia Turner, Lydian Vanwert, Daniel Vislosky, Pavel Vorozilchak, Tiffany Weber, Sophia Williams, Nathaniel Worrell, Abigail Yurkanin, Abbie Zaleski, Rina Zambetti, Brianna Zipay, Angelina Zizza and Anna Zuby.

GRADE 7

Rania Abdu, Vincenzo Angeloni, Gino Barone, Maura Barrett, Nicole Benjamin, Natalie Borosky, Megan Brown, Isabella Brunetti, Caitlin Burman, Carson Bushta, Mia Callejas, Ryien Carroll, Jacob Casarin, James Casarin Jr., Addison Chorba, Amanda Chorba, Maya Chorba, Landon Clark, Riley Cunningham, William Darienzo III, Abigail Drozdick, Alexa Evangelista, Delaney Flannery, Emily Gazoo, Vyolet Gorko, Collin Griffiths, Evan Hall, Jamie Heid Jr., Connor Hilling, Adam Howanitz, Camdyn Jervis, Emily Kaeb, Jacob Karsnak, Shelby Kaschak, Megan Kennedy, Lucas Kotcho, Ayden Krupovich, James Liparulo, Lucy Loftus, Kaylee Martin, Anthony Mauro Jr., Giuliana Mazza, Jack McLaughlin, Morgan McVicar, Genevieve, Moyles, Molly Murphy, Lily Nemeth, Jacob Nielsen, Della Noon, Victoria Ortalano, Brody Owens, Isabella Parise, John Pavuk, Kayli Pawlikowski, Peyton Pazzalia, Lawrence Pegula, Julia Piccolino, Ian Reese, Anah Roman, James Roman, Katie Romanski, Morriah Santarelli, Madison Scoblick, Ava Sherman, Neve Skapyak, Andrew Smith, Avery Smola, Bryce Sokoloski, Connor Swartz, Kayla Sweeney, Ethan Symuleski, Joseph Toczydlowski, Anthony Tomassoni, Nathan Tratthen, Nathan Traucht, Brooke Tylenda, Grace Walsh, Isabella Witkowski, Tori Yackobowitz, Audrey Yuhas, Eli Yusavage and Aleena Zahradnik.

GRADE 6

Riley Aquilino, Alicia Berardi, Ethan Borick, Aubrey Buttner, Ella Cabets, Taylor Cawley, Koby Cerra, Evan Chilek, Regina Cron, Andrew Daiute, Brooks Estadt II, Mikaela Fajardo, Natalie Fuller, Roger Getts III, Lea Giovagnoli, Steven Halloran, Journey Horeis, Chaz Kaszuba, Patrick Kolcharno, Brock Marion, Ella Mattise, Emma Miller, Sarah Naylor, Jack Perry, Connor Peters, Mason Peters, Jack Reilly, Quinn Rissinger, Connor Sewack, Skylene Skisland, Alivia Smith, Zachary Smith, Gabriella Staback, Allyson Stafursky, Christian Sweeney, Luciana Toczydlowski, Natalee Wright, Mary Zabielski and Michael Zipay.

BLAKELY — For Matt and Jeff Harhut, a fascination with Christmas decorations began with a string of incandescent C9 lights strung across the front railing of their childhood home.

Today, more than 1,300 plastic blow molds and scores of bulbs, trees and other Yuletide offerings fill the space between the brothers’ homes in the 1100 block of Marion Street. Depictions of jolly old St. Nick and his sleigh pulled by Rudolph and company hang from cable strung between the two houses.

“Every year, it gets bigger and bigger,” Jeff Harhut said.

Their display, called the Peckville Christmas House, draws nightly crowds sometimes numbering in the hundreds, and guests from out of state, even international visitors, Matt Harhut said. The brothers fire up the lights every year on Thanksgiving at 5 p.m. sharp and light them nightly at that time through Julian-calendar Christmas in early January. Setting up the spectacular usually starts in late September, when the brothers begin putting up the plethora of plastic blow molds, and takes every bit of eight weeks, Matt Harhut said.

The origin of what would become the Peckville Christmas House can be traced back to about 1990, when Matt was about 8 years old and Jeff about 6. Their parents weren’t excessive Christmas decorators, the brothers said.

Some strands of lights lining the front door, railing and some windows, plus a Santa Claus decoration from Sugerman’s department store in Archbald’s Eynon section, were the extent of it in those days, their father, Tom Harhut, said. Matt, Jeff and their siblings would help put them up, he said. He also took the kids on trips locally to check out other residential decor, some larger and more elaborate.

“We thought, ‘Oh, we could do better than that,’ ” Jeff Harhut said. “We enjoyed looking at the lights so much, we thought we could put up a display and people could come look at ours.”

So in the years after first being tasked with decorating the front railing, the boys pressed their parents to go bigger. The Harhut household decorations expanded year by year, first to other windows in the house at 1130 Marion St. — anywhere their hands could reach, Matt Harhut said. Initially, their father barred them from going atop the house, but as the years passed, decorations spread to the roof. Money was sometimes an issue for a couple of kids trying to build the collection, so they did what they could to expand, Matt Harhut said.

“We would find lights in the garbage and try fixing them,” he said.

“Anything,” Jeff added.

Nowadays, Jeff lives in their childhood home at 1130 Marion St. and Matt lives next door. Tom helps them put up the display each year. The brothers, now in their 30s, visit local stores immediately after the holiday season when decorations are on sale to buy new additions and scan flea markets for other finds.

The myriad of blow molds and other decorations, which include seven Nativity scenes, platoons of toy soldiers and pop culture staples like Snoopy and Winnie the Pooh, come from near and far. One of the oldest dates to the 1940s; others come from as far away as California. The Santa Claus decoration from “up the Eynon” is still there. Hunting for unique, interesting additions is thrilling, a big part of the fun in organizing the display, Jeff Harhut said.

Though the show has been known locally for years, the Peckville Christmas House will soon take a national stage.

It will be featured on “The Great Christmas Light Fight,” an ABC reality show that features several families or groups with elaborate Christmas light displays. A judge chooses a winner each episode. The victor gets $50,000 and a trophy. The show’s new season airs Mondays at 8 p.m. starting Dec. 4, though the producers have not told the brothers which day their show will be on.

In the meantime, visitors can can check out the Peckville Christmas House on Facebook or in person nightly through the holiday season. It’s free to walk a path that winds through the display, though the brothers do take donations from visitors — the electric bill to run the display each season weighs in at about $2,000, Matt Harhut said. Some nights, they offer hot chocolate or candy canes to guests.

The brothers like seeing where visitors are from and the reaction that the years of collecting and weeks of hard work setting up elicits. A nun from Africa visiting Marywood University once stopped by. An Australian took in the glow already this year, Matt Harhut said.

“I could hear her excitement from across the display. I could hear her say, ‘Whoa, wow, incredible! I’ve never seen anything like this,’ ” he said. “That was really exciting.”

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5363;

@ClaytonOver on Twitter

Americans don’t skimp on holiday decorations

DUNMORE — Cars filled the parking lot at Jerry’s For All Seasons on Jessup Avenue on Saturday afternoon as people inside scoped out ornaments and Santa Claus figurines and waited in line to buy tree toppers, live poinsettias and artificial wreaths.

Americans are expected to spend $57.66 per person on holiday decorations, ranging from exterior and interior ornaments to trees and plants, this year, up from $54.74 spent per person last season, National Retail Federation spokeswoman Ana Smith said in an email.

Interest in decorations at his store generally starts to increase by the weekends after Halloween, as people try to beat colder weather in putting up exterior displays and people with larger homes and businesses work to get a head start, said Jerry Longo, owner of Jerry’s For All Seasons. Business increases each week as Christmas nears and peaks during the first weekends in December, when people look to adorn the insides of their homes, he said.

Nationally, the federation noted natural colors, gold and silver are trending this season, Smith said. Locally, an array of items in traditional Christmas colors, red and green, have been popular so far, Longo said.

— CLAYTON OVER

November 26, 1917

Scranton firefighters

to knit for the troops

Knitting class got underway at Scranton Fire Headquarters on Mulberry Street. Edith Signor, a volunteer with the Red Cross, arrived with needles and yarn and started teaching 20 firefighters how to knit. She focused her instruction on helmets and wristbands.

The local chapter of the Red Cross recently asked the firefighters to take up knitting to help the troops. The firefighters agreed, saying they would do anything for the troops.

Solution to mine caves sought

Members of the legislative and taxation bureau of the Scranton Board of Trade met to discuss solutions to the mine-cave problem in Scranton.

The members discussed the need to get the coal operators to conduct their business in a way that would protect the surface and what measures were needed to compel the companies to do that. The group believed that an authority should be created to enforce compliance.

Throop’s war dogs win awards

Three German shepherds owned by local millionaire dog fancier Benjamin Throop won top honors at a recent dog show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.

Herta von Ehrengrund, a police and war dog, won premier honors at the show. Toska of Elmview won best female, and Flora von Flixburg-Palisade won second place in the same category. All three dogs lived at Throop’s Elmview Kennels in Elmhurst.

Throop was currently serving in the Army as a corporal.

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.

1. Offering hot meals, games and tutoring, which of the following organizations opened a drop-in center for teens last month?

A. Lackawanna County Library.

B. NEPA Youth Shelter.

C. Lackawanna County Family and Youth Services.

D. Community Intervention Center.

2. When is the deadline for Pennsylvanians to buy insurance through the Affordable Care Act’s online marketplace?

A. Dec. 15.

B. Jan. 1.

C. April 1.

D. June 15.

3. True or false? With limited options left to raise revenue, the Scranton School Board passed a preliminary budget for next year with an $18.7 million hole.

A. True.

B. False. It’s a $187,000 hole.

4. Penn State running back Saquon Barkley is a finalist for ...

A. the Maxwell Award.

B. the Doak Walker Award.

C. the Heisman Trophy.

D. Both A and B.

5. Why will the Albright Memorial Library temporarily close beginning Monday?

A. Budget cuts have made it impossible to pay the bills.

B. Demand for services has dwindled.

C. The library is undergoing interior renovations.

D. They are moving to the Marketplace at Steamtown.

6. True or false? The extended closure of the popular David Wenzel Treehouse at Nay Aug Park is headed into 2018, officials said.

A. True.

B. False. It will be reopened on Christmas Day.

7. Who flipped the switch Wednesday to turn on the Times’ tower lights for the first time this holiday season?

A. Seven-year-old cancer survivor Matthew McDonnell.

B. Scranton native and NFL quarterback Matt McGloin.

C. Former Scranton Mayor David Wenzel.

D. Both A and B.

8. Which of the following groups delivered meals to homebound patients and their families on Thanksgiving?

A. Volunteers with St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen.

B. University of Scranton seniors.

C. Hospice of the Sacred Heart staffers.

D. Scranton city workers.

9. The mother of a Scranton teenager filed a federal lawsuit against a private juvenile detention facility for injuries suffered when ...

A. he tried to escape using a bathroom window.

B. a staff member threw him to the floor.

C. he slipped and fell in a hallway.

D. a vehicle transporting him to court hit a telephone pole.

10. As the Scranton School District tries to find ways to eliminate an $18.7 million hole in the 2018 budget, officials hope to save with proposed changes to ...

A. health care.

B. retirement contributions.

C. the length of the school year.

D. learning materials, including books and workbooks.

Post 4909 sets Christmas dance

Dupont VFW Post 4909 Home Association Christmas dinner-dance, Dec. 9, buffet, 7:30 to 8:45 p.m., dancing, 9 p.m. to 1 a.m., bar, 7:30 p.m. to 12:30 a.m., entertainment by Millennium, door prizes; $30, by Dec. 8; Bob Lopata, post home or 570-654-9104.

Abington Post

event scheduled

Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069, turkey, ham and holiday gifts spin, Dec. 9, 4 to 6 p.m., post, 402 Winola Road, Clarks Summit; public invited.

Center schedules

town meeting

The Department of Veterans Affairs Medical Center, Plains Twp., will host a community town hall at 5 p.m., Dec. 12 at the facility. Veterans, family and community members can attend to discuss issues with the facility’s leadership. Employees will attend to provide information on available services.

Veterans event set

Sen. Lisa Baker veterans outreach with a VFW service officer, Dec. 8, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 22 Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway, Dallas; appointments requested, 570-675-3931.

Meetings

POST 4909

Dupont VFW Post 4909, Dec. 4, 7:30 p.m., post home; home association meeting follows.

POST 25

Gen. Theodore J. Wint VFW Post 25, Dec. 3, 2291 Rockwell Ave., Scranton; canteen meeting, noon; post, 12:30.

POST 6528

Hyde Park Memorial VFW Post 6528, today, 11 a.m.; 570-961-2696.

Merli Center

Today: Coffee hour, 9 a.m.; Eucharistic ministry, 9:15; music video with yogurt parfaits, second floor, 2 p.m.; John Hollenbach performing holiday music in the lobby, 3-4 p.m.

Monday: Morning visits, 9 a.m.; Bible study, 9:30; tai chi with music, 10; Five Guys dine-in, 12:15 p.m.; bingo in memory of Jack Opshinskey by Joan and Thomas Parry; 2; senior fitness, 3.

Tuesday: Morning visits, 9 a.m.; bingo social, second floor, 10; volunteer ministry, 1:15 p.m.; choir practice, 1:45; Catholic service, 3; hangman, second floor, 7.

Wednesday: Morning visits, 9 a.m.; golf, second floor, 10; movie trip, 12:15 p.m.; bingo by the Military Order of the Purple Heart, 2; Vecta machine and aromatherapy, second floor, 7.

Thursday: Morning visits, 9 a.m.; chapel service, 10; holiday crafts, second floor, 10; peer meeting, 1:15 p.m.; bingo by the Stone family, 2.

Friday: Morning visits, 9 a.m.; coffee and doughnuts, 10:15; GMVC Christmas concert, 2 p.m.; senior fitness, 3; VFW Dupont Christmas party, 5:15.

Saturday: Morning visits, 9 a.m.; holiday memories, second floor, 10; bingo in memory of Paul and Mary Provini, sponsored by their family, 2 p.m.

VETERANS NEWS should be submitted no later than Monday before publication to veter

ans@timesshamrock.com; or YES!desk, The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

As a newly ordained deacon, John Musyt feels blessed by the opportunity to help others lead a Catholic life. The process of becoming a deacon, however, may have saved his.

The 64-year-old Olyphant man was one of 11 area men ordained Saturday as permanent deacons in the Diocese of Scranton, a role that allows them to perform ministerial functions, such as administering baptism, proclaiming the Gospel, distributing Holy Communion and presiding at wakes, funeral liturgies and burial rites.

Held at St. Peter’s Cathedral in Scranton, the ordination marked one of the final steps in a process the deacons began about 4½ years ago — a process that entailed theological study, prayer and, luckily for Musyt, a physical exam.

“As a result of that process, I was diagnosed with prostate cancer,” said Musyt, who in 2013 underwent surgery on All Saints’ Day

and is now cancer-free. “It’s something that’s telling me that God perhaps has a bigger plan for me, because without finding that out, I had no physical (symptoms). So, who knows where I’d be now four years later?”

On Saturday, Musyt stood in the company of hundreds of churchgoers and the clergy, his new colleagues, prepared to undertake a deacon’s duties.

“We’re going to deliver God’s message through the Gospel, and hopefully my homilies are such that I can give everyone, in their own way, a message that they can live as Christ showed us to live,” Musyt said. “He is the best example we have of how we should praise the Lord and also how we should treat our fellow man.”

In the Catholic Church, the deacon’s service has three aspects: word, as in the word of God, worship and charity

.

“You have been called by the Lord, gifted for ministry and chosen in the mystery of God’s plan because the Lord knows that you love him and seek ... to serve his people,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera

said during Saturday’s ordination Mass. “As deacons you are being called to the living and working expression of the charity of the Church. ... You are to serve the poor and the needy, imitating the Lord Jesus who washed the feet of his disciples at the last supper.”

For Andrew Fazio Sr

., 63, of Dunmore, being ordained a permanent deacon meant fulfilling a lifelong dream.

From an early age Fazio felt called to the priesthood, and while he ended up pursuing a career in auto mechanics, Fazio remained active in the church and ultimately answered the call to join the clergy.

“It makes me feel very humble to actually be able to do this, something that ... was my dream of my whole life,” Fazio said. “My focus now is just to try to bring people back to church, and if they have any questions, to try to help them understand, as best I can, what the Catholic Church teaches us.”

Unlike Fazio, who long imagined himself serving the Catholic Church, 64-year-old Herbert Cruikshank

of Mountain Top only converted to Catholicism about nine years ago.

“After that it felt like I should be doing something more for the church,” said Cruikshank, who was also ordained a permanent deacon Saturday. “Being a deacon you can go that extra step in helping people. ... We’re supposed to feed the hungry, clothe the naked, visit the prisoners (and) all of that. In doing that we’re helping the diocese, the parish and everyone we meet.”

Near close of Mass, each of the 11 men kneeled before the bishop and accepted from him the Book of Gospels and the following charge:

“Receive the Gospel of Christ, whose herald you have become,” Bambera said. “Believe what you read, teach what you believe and practice what you teach.”

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Diocese of Scranton ordains new deacons

Ordained as deacons Saturday were:

Carl S. Albright, 47, of Pleasant Mount; Paul J. Cooper, 57, of White Mills; Herbert Cruikshank, 64, of Mountain Top; Andrew Fazio Sr., 63, of Dunmore; Maxime E. Francois, 54, of Bushkill; Michael M. Golubiewski, 47, of Nanticoke; Leonard Jinselli Jr., 61, of East Stroudsburg; Ronald D. Maida, 64, of Hallstead; John Musyt, 64, of Olyphant; James M. Rebarchick, 65, of Hazleton, and Robert J. Warnock, 59, of Honesdale.

Scanning a display case filled with sweets, Larry Kimble paused on the chocolate turtles but chose the pumpkin nut truffles.

The Scranton native now lives about 25 miles north of Baltimore, but when he’s back in the Electric City, Kimble makes time to visit Bella Faccias Personalized Chocolates and Gifts and the store’s owner, JoAnn Marianelli Finnerty.

“I’d rather shop small businesses (because of) the relationships that you build,” Kimble said. “I’ve been all around the world, but Scranton is always going to be home. Why? Because you run into people like JoAnn and you connect right away.”

A day after hunting for big-box bargains, some holiday gift buyers sidestepped the retail giants Saturday — recognized nationwide as Small Business Saturday — and looked for gifts locally in the shops and boutiques of their friends and neighbors. For many patrons, including Jessup native Rebecca Rogers-Kreig, the annual shopping holiday is a refreshing alternative to the bustle of Black Friday.

“I never do Black Friday ever, but I always do Small Business Saturday because it’s just a great way to see what’s out there and get different types of gifts for people,” Rogers-Kreig said after perusing a selection of Scranton-themed scented candles at NOTE Fragrances. “It’s more personal. There’s more thought behind it. It’s like you took enough time to actually pick something out as opposed to just going and buying something because it’s on sale.”

While small-business owners often offer deals and discounts on Small Business Saturday, Rogers-Kreig and her mother, Maxine Rogers, said they come for more than just the savings.

“It’s about helping small business, because my family owned a store ... and without people promoting small businesses, it takes so much to get the courage to open a small business in this day and age,” Rogers said. “You want to say: ‘You know what? I believe in you and I want to help promote your business.’ I think that’s really important to keep them alive.”

Across the street at Amendolaro, shoppers explored a unique assortment of clothing, jewelry and popular branded products like “Love Your Melon” hats and “WeWood” watches.

Moscow resident Debbie Dides was ostensibly at the store to help her friend Lori Nozzi sell LuLaRoe clothing, but also planned to shop there in an effort to support the small business.

“These are our neighbors, these are the people in our community,” Dides said. “When you’re buying from a local owner you are paying for somebody’s piano lessons. You’re putting food on someone’s table rather than going to a big-box retailer where they don’t care.”

For his part, Amendolaro’s owner, Justin Amendolaro, said he’s thankful for the support.

“We greatly appreciate everyone that walks through that door, because without our customers we would be out of business,” he said. “We really do appreciate everything that everyone does do for us in the community ... by shopping local.”

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Long-term care is a big uncertainty facing retirees.

The cost of a private room in a nursing home in NEPA, as calculated by Genworth’s 2017 Cost of Care survey, can be as high as $111,325 annually.

Additionally, the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services estimates that 70 percent of people age 65 and over will need some form of long-term care in their lifetime, yet many retirees have simply not planned for it.

Longer life spans into the mid-80s are leaving more retirees subject to the unavoidable effects of aging — stroke, Parkinson’s, Alzheimer’s and osteoporosis. These conditions are some of the leading causes of long-term care.

If you have not taken the necessary steps to prepare, you might be placing yourself in a situation where spending large sums of your assets to pay for nursing home care, home health care or an assisted living facility is your only option.

You may think that Medicare will pay. However, it will only cover up to 100 days of short-term care, in a skilled setting.

Additionally, in order for Pennsylvania Medical Assistance, or Medicaid, to pay for your long-term care, you must have very low assets remaining and you will be subject to a lookback period to qualify.

A traditional strategy to address your risk is to purchase a long-term care insurance policy. However, it can be quite expensive and subject to premium increases. In addition, if you purchase a traditional insurance policy, and never use it — or you cancel the policy — you don’t get anything back in return, as these policies have no cash value.

However, there have been recent, positive changes in legislation and LTC insurance of which you may be unaware.

These changes, combined with some little-known government programs, may hold the keys to help you address the problem: “How will I pay for long-term care if I need it someday?”

In 1996, HIPAA laid the groundwork. It created a way for a life insurance policy’s death benefit to be paid to you income tax free — while you are still alive — to pay for your qualified long-term care expenses. This is called a chronic illness rider on a qualifying life insurance policy.

Pension Protection Act

In 2006, the Pension Protection Act created the framework for “Asset Based LTC Annuities” — fixed annuities issued after 2010, with a long-term care Continuation of Benefits rider.

For purely illustrative purposes, let’s assume you have a $100,000 qualifying long-term care annuity, and the rider on your annuity triples the value to $300,000 to pay for your qualifying long-term care expenses. If you need long-term care and qualify by the insurance company’s standards, the long-term care Continuation of Benefits rider will then pay you a tax-free, monthly LTC benefit from your $300,000 pool of benefits over a set period of time.

A long-term care Continuation of Benefits rider is also available on some qualifying life Insurance policies. COB will continue your LTC benefits for a set period of time (typically four to six years), and at least one company offers you lifetime LTC coverage. With COB coverage, your base policy is similar to your deductible, and the COB comes into play on extended claim. This results in a significantly lower premium than what is seen in the traditional “use-it, or lose-it” long-term care insurance marketplace, and is helping to make asset based long-term care a feasible option for more retirees.

The Pa. LTC partnership

In 2007, Act 40 established a “Long-Term Care Partnership,” which offers Pennsylvanians additional long-term care protection while helping to conserve taxpayer dollars.

A Pennsylvania long-term care Partnership Policy allows you to protect your assets, dollar-for-dollar, in the amount of long-term care policy benefits paid out to you, if you ever need to apply for Medicaid. For example, if your qualifying PA long-term care Partnership Policy paid for $150,000 of your long-term care, then you would be entitled to keep $150,000 in assets, and not be required to spend that amount down if you apply for Medicaid.

You must have an inflation rider on your LTC policy to qualify as a PA Partnership Policy if you are under age 76.

Veteran’s aid and attendance pension

If you are a veteran who served at least 90 days, with at least one day during wartime (does not have to be in a war zone) and you were honorably discharged; then you may be able to qualify for the VA’s “Aid and Attendance” pension to help pay for your LTC costs on a tax-free basis. Veterans and surviving spouses are eligible if they require the help of another person to assist with activities of daily living, as certified by a medical professional. (https://www.benefits.va.gov/pension/aid_attendance_housebound.asp).

MIKE DILLON is long-term care insurance specialist at 1st Financial Investments Inc. in Clarks Summit and has over a decade of experience in financial services and insurance. He can be reached at 570-585-6100 x 106 or by email at MDillon@1stFinancialInvestments.com.

SCRANTON

The Lackwanna County Coroner’s Office seeks relatives of two men who recently died.

Jack McCauley, 61, was found dead in his West Scranton apartment Tuesday and Rudolph F. Scubic, 75, died Saturday in a Scott Twp. home where he was living temporarily. He may be from the Carbondale or Forest City area. Both men died of natural causes.

Anyone with information on the men should call the coroner’s office at 570-963-6100 or email rowlandt@lackawannacounty.org.

— CLAYTON OVER

Tomorrow marks the first day of rifle deer season and the start of the busiest time of year for deer butchers.

The family business Naugle’s Custom Butchering and Deer Processing in Lehman Twp. started processing deer at the beginning of the six-week archery season, which concluded Nov. 11, said owner Kevin Naugle.

Rifle deer season continues until Dec. 9 and Naugle said he will continue processing deer through January with muzzleloader season and the return of archery.

With few deer processors in the area, Naugle said he has been seeing more business and served more hunters during archery season.

“We’re seeing an increase every year with archery,” he said. “A lot of guys are enjoying that time of year because it’s six weeks long and they can pick and choose which days they go out.”

At Naugle’s, hunters can choose from 13 different cuts of meat, including kielbasa, steaks and hamburger.

Smoked products are Naugle’s specialty and kielbasa is the most popular, Naugle said.

Naugle’s offers venison cheese kielbasa and jalapeno and cheese kielbasa.

With rifle deer season being the busiest time of the year, Naugle said they have been prepared.

“You have to have everything in house,” he said. “You can’t be trying to order supplies. You have to have everything here so business runs smoothly.”

Naugle’s opened in 1986 and has been processing deer as well as beef and pigs for more than 30 years.

The business offers a variety of deer, beef and pork processing services, including skinning, cutting, vacuum packing, freezing, curing and smoking as well as holiday kielbasa.

All deer brought to Naugle’s are kept under refrigeration and then frozen after processing.

The demand for its services is high as hundreds of thousands of hunters statewide will head out for deer season.

According to the Pennsylvania Game Commission, rifle deer season draws the largest crowd and leads some schools to close their doors on opening day to allow students and teachers to hunt. About a quarter of the season’s buck harvest occurs on opening day.

Pennsylvania Game Commission Executive Director Bryan Burhans said the season, not just opening day, has the potential to be something special.

“Agency deer biologists believe there’s a change we’ll see the state’s buck harvest increase for the third consecutive year,” Burhans said in a press release. “For the past few months, hunters have been sending us trail-cam photos of amazing bucks, maybe even new state records. Our field officers also are seeing plenty of bucks from arm country to the big woods. Some are real wall-hangers out there.”

Dealing with many of the same hunters this time of year, Naugle said he has built up a “nice rapport” with everyone.

“A lot of people take their children out and instill that into them,” he said.

Naugle’s is open Monday through Saturday from 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Sunday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. More information on the business and its offerings can be found on its website: nauglesbutchering.com.

In Lackawanna County, this also marks the busiest time of year for the family business Smokin’ Joe’s Quality Meats & Deli on Mount Cobb Road in Jefferson Twp.

Owner Joe Dombrowski said it’s a busy time both for selling holiday kielbasa and processing deer.

Deer processing was very busy during archery season and the most popular choices for hunters were snack sticks and kielbasa, he said.

Dombrowski said there also are fewer butchers processing deer in Lackawanna County because “it’s a lot of work.”

Weather conditions also present challenges, he said. Unseasonably warm weather made it more challenging to pattern deer movement throughout archery season.

“It’s hard for people to have a place to do it when you don’t know what the weather is going to be,” he said. “It used to be cold and you really have to watch the weather whether you’re hunting or processing.”

During archery season, he said some hunters brought in deer as quickly as they could at 9:30 or 10 p.m. so it didn’t spoil.

Smokin’ Joe’s Quality Meats & Deli, which has been processing deer for more than 20 years, is open seven days a week from 6 a.m. until 8 p.m.

Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2115, @CVAllabaugh on Twitter

Even as a boy growing up in Perry County, Brian Ebersole thought about the long game. The new senior director leading Geisinger’s Springboard Healthy Scranton initiative raised prize pigs in Duncannon, a town of 1,500 people nestled in farm country on the banks of the Susquehanna River.

He showed the pigs at the county fair, and then sold them after collecting his ribbons.

He learned if he worked through the summers at the local feed mill in exchange for coupons he could keep the payout from selling his pigs for himself instead of settling a feed account.

In his new Springboard role, he still thinks about

how to lay the groundwork today for maximum benefit tomorrow.

The health system chose Scranton to roll out an ambitious program that leverages social service organizations and other community groups to strengthen the city’s collective physical, mental and financial health.

Ebersole, 40, who now lives in Taylor, worked for the last seven years for the Wright Center, a Scranton-based consortium for graduate medical education and primary care, as senior vice president of mission delivery and business development.

Before that, he worked as a regulatory affairs intern on biodiesel regulations in Washington, D.C., and in Harrisburg as a policy specialist.

Under Gov. Ed Rendell’s Office of Health Care Reform, he led a program called the Chronic Care Initiative to negotiate payment contracts for chronic care between payers and doctors’ offices around the state.

When he rolled out the program in the northeast, Wright Center President Dr. Linda Thomas-Hemak heard he was coming to town and resolved that she had to find him.

Enamored by his mission to improve care for people with chronic illnesses, she stalked him at an introduction forum he was holding at Marvelous Muggs in Scranton.

“I found him in his argyle sweater. I remember what he looked like because I was after him,” she said.

She told him he had courage for “beating the drum” that providers and insurers should be doing more together, that the old way was ineffective and broken.

When the government program winded down, Ebersole relocated to Lackawanna County to work for the Wright Center.

The medical school in the city was getting off the ground. Community Health Systems had recently acquired Moses Taylor Hospital and Regional Hospital of Scranton. Geisinger bought Community Medical Center, with numerous smaller health-minded groups and foundations on the wing.

“Scranton became, really, the hub of all this health care change, which is amazing, and it just happened to be at the time that I was coming in,” he said.

He helped build the Wright Center’s teaching health center program, which took primary care residency programs that had been mostly hospital-based and moved them out into the community. At the time, the idea wasn’t mainstream. Now it’s a national standard for residency programs across the country.

“Brian connects people,” Thomas-Hemak said. “He doesn’t really have an isolated vision. He’s always kind of the connector in a bigger vision of many entities. ... He’s not single-purpose, and he can follow like he can lead.”

As Springboard’s director, Ebersole will “connect the dots” of the region’s myriad organizations to take advantage of their strengths and prevent duplicated efforts, he said.

For now he’s based at Geisinger — Mount Pleasant in Scranton, but often works at Northern Light coffee shop downtown where he can watch the people walk back and forth on Spruce Street, the same people he wants to see thrive.

“I really like the incubation period, where you start to come up with the ideas and piece them together and see if you can make it work, and then taking it someplace else,” he said. “Springboard is an ideal scenario where an organization with the power and notoriety of a Geisinger comes to a community like Scranton.”

Geisinger announced the program last year, and has spent the time so far securing partnerships with local and national organizations.

Springboard is working to set up a headquarters downtown. Ebersole, once OK wearing a polo and khakis to work, now wears a suit and tie as he sells the program to major donors and seeks other funding.

Springboard this year helped to connect free flu vaccines with needy families picking up food at Friends of the Poor food pantries and again last week during the charity’s Family to Family turkey and food basket distribution, where it distributed Thanksgiving dinners for 15,000 people.

Friends of the Poor serves 50,000 people each year in the city and surrounding areas, said Meghan Loftus, the organization’s new president. With so many people — many with limited access to transportation — already seeking service, the organization is a worthy vehicle to deliver other things that help people achieve better all-around health.

“There’s so many programs that are low- to no-cost,” Loftus said. “Whether we provide them or another agency does, it doesn’t matter.”

Ebersole is working with the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank to set up what Geisinger calls a Fresh Food Farmacy, a program that already had success in Shamokin, to treat poor people with diabetes using wholesome foods and diet coaching.

Food is just the start. Ebersole wants to help link up complementary groups to tackle other issues including drug addiction, domestic violence and poverty, then step back once the programs are up and running.

“Brian’s thing is the energy and momentum of a community,” Thomas-Hemak said. “He’s a very influential person. He can move people. He can move a community.”

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

Park dedicated

Hallstead is now home to a memorial park dedicated in honor of Spc. William “Billy” Evans, a Pennsylvania National Guard solider killed in Iraq.

Friends, family and community members, including Evan’s mother, Judy Parker, and father, Bill Evans Sr., gathered at the park on New York Avenue in Susquehanna in September.

Situated on land where the Evans family once lived, the park, which features a three-quarter-mile track, has been in the works for the past seven years and relied on numerous volunteers, donations and fundraisers to turn the park into a reality, said Bill Sr.

Evans was just 22 when he was killed in action on Sept. 19, 2005, by a roadside bomb in Ramadi, Iraq.

After the dedication, attendees took a lap around the new track and were invited to a reception at American Legion Post 357.

Parker hopes that those enjoying the park will think about the park’s namesake “for generations to come,” according to a press release.

Maj. Gen. Tony Carrelli, Pennsylvania’s adjutant general, attended and spoke of Evans’ service and sacrifice.

“This is service above and beyond. We can’t measure the Evans family’s sacrifice and heartache,” he said.

State Sen. Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp.; state Rep. Jonathan Fritz, R-Honesdale; Tom Snyder, commander of American Legion Post 357; Retired Col. Martin Kane, Michael Armniak, Bluestone Gathering; Richard Elly, director of Veterans Affairs for Susquehanna County; and Susquehanna County Commissioner Alan Hall also attended the dedication.

Thanksgiving dinner held for veterans

Andy and Bridget Chompko and Sean Manley, representatives from the Fight4Vets organization, which helps local veterans in need, hosted a Thanksgiving dinner for veterans of the St. Francis Commons.

Chef Mark McAndrew of the Career Technology Center of Lackawanna County along with students, Dente Vives, West Scranton High School; and Braneitha English, Scranton High School, also volunteered to host the dinner.

Many local businesses, including Beards & Shears Barbershop & Shave Parlor, Constantino’s Catering, the Edward J. Chomko Funeral Home, Great Temptations Bakery, Marty & Marietta Duffy, McBesket Flowers, McCarthy Flowers and Schiff’s, sponsored the dinner.

Super teachers

Western Wayne High School chemistry teacher Maria Masankay is the recipient of the 2017 Ronald C. Blatchley Outstanding High School Chemistry Teacher Award.

Masankay was unanimously selected by the executive council of the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society for the award that recognizes a high school chemistry teacher who is passionate about chemistry as a science and works diligently to pass that passion on to their students. The award also honors a teacher who consistently supports and encourages student participation in annual ACS events and National Chemistry Week, according to a press release.

Masankay received a plaque, $100 check and the offer of reimbursement for up to $500 for registration and travel to a national conference related to chemistry education.

Bill Dougherty is chairman of the Susquehanna Valley Section of the American Chemical Society.

Marketplace moves to new location

The University of Scranton Small Business Development Center announces the ribbon cutting of the new location of small business On&On History Recycled. The marketplace of vintage, repurposed and handmade goods expanded and moved to a permanent location at 1138 Capouse Ave. in Scranton.

Used-car business adds U-Haul products

U-Haul Co. of Pa. announced that Paul Gronski Enterprises Inc. has signed on as a U-Haul neighborhood dealer to serve the Moosic community. The car lot, located at 3905 Birney Ave., will offer U-Haul trucks, trailers, towing equipment, moving supplies and in-store pickup for boxes.

Quality Perforating partners with electric business

The provider of perforated metal components and metal fabrications for the architectural, mining and industrial markets has expanded its business with a new partner. Scurlock Electric LLC will stock and sell QPI Cable Tray products to ship builders and construction companies erecting offshore rigs.

Chamber accepting nominations

Back Mountain Chamber is accepting nominations for the 2018 Back Mountain Chamber Awards for Excellence. Award categories are Business of the Year, Entrepreneur of the Year, Volunteer of the Year (Individual), Pride of Place, New & Emerging Business of the Year, Above & Beyond Customer Service, Young Professional under 40, Community Involvement (Business), Nonprofit of the Year, Other – List your own Category. Nomination forms should be returned via email to probbins@twinstacks.com by Nov. 30. Winners will be announced at the fourth annual awards banquet on Feb. 13; www.backmountainchamber.org.

Seasonal chocolate flavors announced

Sugar Plum Chocolates has announced its small-batch seasonal chocolates, Ho Ho Ho Holiday Bark and Holly Jolly Coffee Holiday Bark. The grand opening of the new storefront at 900 Rutter Ave., Forty Fort, took place Saturday.

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

Camelback Resort

The Pocono Mountains resort announced the promotion of Brian Czarnecki to the role of chief operating officer.

Czarnecki’s previous role was that of vice president of sales and marketing for the popular destination, which has become a leading ski and four-season destination in the Northeast.

Czarnecki will oversee Camelback Mountain, Camelbeach Waterpark, Camelback Lodge & Aquatopia Indoor Waterpark, and Camelback Adventures while also leading the marketing, advertising and brand direction for the new H2OBX Waterpark, Outer Banks, North Carolina, which opened this summer, and the Kartrite Hotel & Indoor Waterpark, Monticello, New York, which will debut December 2018.

A native of Scranton, Czarnecki’s career in the hospitality industry spans 25 years.

Classic Properties

Kellyann Kenny joined the Kingston office of the real estate firm. Kenny grew up in Hazleton and resides in Swoyersville. She earned a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Misericordia University and has worked in the mental health field for the last 10 years. She recently completed her real estate education from Pa. Real Estate Academy in Kingston and joined the company for the training environment offered throughout the company.

Fidelity Bank

Lawrence Crimi has joined the bank as vice president, trust and investment relationship manager. Crimi comes to the bank with a longstanding and successful career in banking, providing high-net-worth clients with wealth management solutions.

A resident of Jefferson Twp., Crimi has amassed almost 50 years of banking experience with proven leadership in all aspects of the banking industry. Throughout his career, he has served multiple financial entities as business relationship manager, managing director and wealth management, as well as working in private banking and other areas of business development. In his new role, Crimi will serve as a trusted financial adviser managing personal and business finances for bank clients and providing them with opportunities for wealth management, savings and investments.

Geisinger

Commonwealth School of Medicine

Steven J. Scheinman, M.D., president and dean of the medical school and chief academic officer at Geisinger, has been selected by the Pennsylvania Chapter of the American College of Physicians as a 2017 Laureate Award winner.

The award is reserved for senior physicians who are fellows or masters of long standing, with acknowledged excellence and peer approval in the field of internal medicine. In addition, the awardees should have served the chapter with distinction.

Scheinman will accept his award at PAACP’s annual Education Meeting and Awards Dinner on Dec. 9 in Harrisburg.

LSEO.com

Chris Nash has joined the company as president. Nash is an internet and SEO marketing expert, e-commerce veteran, and entrepreneur with more than 20 years of digital, web and sales experience. He co-founded the second largest retail and e-commerce dancewear company, AllAboutDance.com, in 1999, acquired a major competitor in 2008, and sold the business in 2010 to the world’s largest online discount dance wear retailer.

He is currently utilizing his proven experience in digital marketing, SEO and e-commerce across a variety of internet based companies. His experience has also drawn him toward professional photography where he has often focused on dance, movement and the performing arts. As a graduate of Hamilton College in Clinton, New York, Nash brings an international perspective to his work having literally worked and traveled around the world through the Thomas J. Watson Fellowship on a global technology research project.

He has co-founded or invested in a number of start-ups and other businesses including MaxxBench.com, an innovative fitness equipment company that is changing the way we work out, and AutomateAds.com, a software-driven company that automates, optimizes, and unifies cross-channel digital advertising.

Marywood

University

Michael Mirabito, Ph.D., professor and chairman in the communication arts department, recently attended a 19-day international seminar that took place in Israel. The international seminar, which is geared for educators, is designed for individuals who teach or are involved in works concerning the Holocaust.

Mirabito’s research interests, along with many of his creative works over the past 10 years, are in Holocaust studies and related fields, including trips to and subsequent photography shows about: Auschwitz-Birkenau (Poland); and Terezin (New Czech Republic); concentration camps in Kurdistan (Iraq); and genocide sites. In the past year, he has visited and photographed Manzanar, the Japanese-American internment camp in Lone Pine, California; a Trail of Tears site in Hopkinsville, Kentucky; and sites in Maryland associated with Harriet Tubman. He is planning on using photos from the last three sites, in addition to those from Israel, in a proposed photography show. Mirabito is also working with a graduate assistant to create an online magazine to support Holocaust and genocide studies. He earned his Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from New York University, his master’s degree from New York Institute of Technology, and his doctorate from Bowling Green State University.

McGrail Merkel Quinn & Associates PC

Staff associate Michael Lenchak has recently passed the CPA exam. Lenchak, a resident of Dupont, received a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Wilkes University and joined the firm in 2016. As a staff associate, he is primarily responsible for professional services in accounting and taxes to small-business clients as well as numerous audit clients.

The firm also added Gabriella Summa to the team. Summa, a resident of Old Forge, is a recent graduate of the University of Scranton and joins the team as a staff associate. She will primarily be responsible for professional services to employee benefit plans, nonprofit organizations as well as services to owner-operated businesses.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial

Resource Center

The board of directors added the following new members to the board during the organization’s annual meeting on Oct. 27:

Donald MacArthur, marketing specialist, HRC Manufacturing, Honesdale. HRC offers a variety of services to manufacturers including machine, packaging, light assembly and shipping. He works closely with regional manufacturers and provides abundant insight into regional workforce trends.

Liam Murtagh, director of global engineering, Weiler Abrasives Group, Cresco. Weiler Abrasives Group is an industry leader in surface conditioning solutions which include industrial abrasives, brushes and maintenance supplies. Murtagh will represent the needs of mid-sized manufacturers in exploring new technologies and innovations.

Laurie Schwager, senior relationship manager, Bank of America Merrill Lynch, Moosic. Bank of America Merrill Lynch delivers strategic financial advice and solutions to companies around the globe. Schwager will assist the organization in developing business financing programs that complement existing market offerings.

Jonathan Watt, plant manager, Hendrick Manufacturing, Carbondale. Hendrick Manufacturing produces perforated and custom-fabricated metal products, screen solutions and architectural metal, serving many different markets. Watt will assist in developing and refining the organization’s market expansion and product diversification services.

The following slate of officers was also approved for a one-year term: chairman, Bruce Daniels, Action-Lift, Inc.; vice chairman, William Minogue, SIMONA America; treasurer, Leah Kane, Elecast Inc.; and secretary, William Cockerill, community liaison, AFL-CIO.

R.N. Fitch and Sons

Mark D. Kraynack of Harveys Lake has been named senior operations manager of the company, a division of McGrath Enterprises Inc., Dallas. A lifetime resident of the Back Mountain, with more than 30 years of operations management experience, Kraynack brings an extensive background in HVAC, plumbing and heavy equipment operations management. Kraynack joined the company in December 2016 to fill the position of job costing and dispatch manager. In his new role, he will be responsible for day-to-day management of operations, project management of plumbing, HVAC and excavation projects in both the residential and commercial divisions, as well as company safety and fleet management.

Kraynack holds certificates in boiler maintenance, HVAC systems, water and geothermal systems, as well as residential and commercial electrical systems. He and his wife, Susan, have two children and two grandchildren.

University

of Scranton

The Kania School of Management named professors Irene Goll, Ph.D., and Satyajit Ghosh, Ph.D., Alperin Teaching Fellows for 2017-20.

The three-year Alperin Teaching Fellow Award was established in 1999 to recognize outstanding teaching in the Kania School of Management. Funding is provided by an endowment established in 1980 through a gift from Irwin E. Alperin, Joel M. Alperin and Myer Alperin and their families.

An associate professor of management, marketing and entrepreneurship, Goll joined the university in 1988. She was the first recipient of the William and Elizabeth Burkavage Fellowship in Business Ethics and Social Responsibility, which was awarded by the university in 2011. The endowed fellowship was established in 2009 and provides support to assist university faculty in new research on issues of sustainability, social responsibility and business ethics.

Goll received her bachelor’s degree from the Pennsylvania State University, her master’s degree from the University of Illinois and her doctorate degree from Temple University.

An associate professor of economics and finance, Ghosh joined the faculty at Scranton in 1986. During his more than 30 years of service, he served on numerous committees including the Committee on Program Evaluation, the Subcommittee on Assessment, the Middle States Accreditation Committee, the Institutional Learning Outcomes Working Group and the Middle States Monitoring Report Coordinating Committee, among others. Ghosh also served as a faculty assessor for KSOM Day and helped develop student learning goals for economics and finance majors. He also assisted to create a draft of the institutional learning outcomes, with the Institutional Outcomes Working Group, which became an integral part of the university’s assessment plan.

Ghosh is frequently quoted in news publications regarding a variety of regional economic subjects, appearing in as many as 24 separate news articles in one year. He participates annually in the Scranton Times-Tribune panel discussion for Outlook, which addresses a yearly economic forecast for the region.

Ghosh received his bachelor’s degree from Presidency College in India, his master’s degree from the University of Calcutta and the State University of New York at Buffalo and his doctorate degree at the State University of New York at Buffalo.

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