Danielle's face was gone.

Authorities identified her body by the rose tattoo on her ankle and the personalized gold necklace with her name on it they found next to her body.

Danielle Gangemi's live-in boyfriend beat her, then shot her in the head with a 12-gauge shotgun before killing himself.

Danielle's mother, Andrea Vladika, of Archbald, was left looking back for red flags, signs of what had gone wrong.

"When you have a 19-year-old daughter who's full of life and her future is so bright, and then one morning you get a call that something's happened at her apartment and you go down to find that, it doesn't make sense," she said of the 1997 Archbald murder.

The details of domestic violence stories vary, but beneath the cuts, bruises and broken bones, victims of domestic abuse share the same story - a pattern of jealousy, control, fear, manipulation and confusion - a violent back and forth that is hard to escape, and sometimes deadly.

Grace butterfly taped the gash on her leg shut after her husband slashed her with a knife.

Jeane suffered broken toes and fingers when her ex-husband beat her with a crow bar.

But before they were abused women, Grace and Jeane's story started out much like Danielle's - they met a person they grew to love, someone they trusted and cared for. At the request of Grace and Jeane, The Sunday Times is withholding their identities.

Abuse in an intimate relationship always begins the same way, but it's not necessarily physical, said Peg Ruddy, director of the Women's Resource Center of Northeast Pennsylvania. Abuse can be subtle - emotional, psychological, manipulative.

It can be as simple as name-calling or controlling all the money, making it difficult for victims to recognize the actions as abusive.

Grace's boyfriend isolated her from friends, then family, leaving her feeling alone in her Scranton area home.

"I stopped talking to my family and I had to rely on him for everything," she said.

Part of the struggle for a victim is acknowledging abuse is happening, Ms. Ruddy said. The stigma of being a victim also makes it difficult for people to admit that to themselves and others.

"I think it's a really personal thing to talk about. That someone you thought loved you is trying to break your spirit ... that's hard. That's personal," Ms. Ruddy said. "I think the stigma has lessened, but I think the personal nature of that crime makes it difficult for people to come forward for help."

In Jeane's case, she thought it was almost cute how she'd get inquisitive calls from her husband.

"Just a year or two into our marriage, I noticed if I had to go to the store I'd get phone calls," she recalled. "I thought those things were normal. Nobody hands you that marriage manual to say this how it works, this is what you can expect.

"The first time it happened, he was angry about something. I got punched in the face. I was floored. I was like what the heck just happened here?"

Aftershock

Jeane's husband was remorseful after the punch, swore to her up and down he'd never do it again.

"And that's where that hope comes from," she said. "You don't see it for what it is. You think he's having a bad day, things are going to get better."

Abuse escalates quickly, and with a deteriorated support network and the affects of psychological and emotional abuse, it's hard for victims to escape the physical abuse in a relationship.

For Grace, it was when she became pregnant and got married to her boyfriend, suffering a severe beating on her honeymoon, her then husband instructing her to tell people she'd gotten hit playing volleyball.

He hit her with belts, sliced her with knives.

"I learned to butterfly my own legs and my hands several times when he did that to me," Grace said.

In one of his worst rages, he dragged her from her bed to the bathroom and dumped bleach, detergent and nail polish remover on her head.

But she could never bring herself to say it, even to police, some who were friends of her husband.

"I was very afraid to tell them what was occurring for fear of what he would do if he found out," Grace said. "You're afraid to say it. There's a shame in it. There's a shame that you're letting it be done to you."

Sometimes she'd leave, packing up everything in the house and her two kids.

Each time he'd break down and beg for her to come back. He'd cry and say he was so sorry and that if she did things differently he wouldn't have to hit her.

"And I went back every time," she said.

It isn't unusual for victims to return to their batterers multiple times, or even file multiple Protection From Abuse orders.

Physical, psychological and sexual abuse are often endured for a long period before victims seek help, said James Roberts, Ph.D., a sociology and criminal justice professor at the University of Scranton. He has researched PFA data and patterns since 2007.

"For persons who withdraw the PFA, the two big categories we identified were emotional connection to that person. Simply the belief the person had changed was another major reason," Dr. Roberts said. "We also found that there wasn't always evidence that belief was warranted."

Grace came back to her husband six times before she left for good. Danielle decided enough was enough after her live-in boyfriend threatened to kill her nephew when she went to meet a recruiter and join the military. She moved out of the apartment and stayed with a friend in the same building.

Nine days before her 20th birthday, Oct. 2, 1997, Danielle's boyfriend said he wanted to talk. She went outside their apartment building, telling her friend if she wasn't back in 10 minutes to call the police.

He dragged her inside and ripped the phone off the wall as she tried to call her friend for help. When police arrived less than nine minutes later, Danielle and her boyfriend were dead.

"He took her into the apartment and he shot her once in the leg and in the face with a 12-gauge shotgun and then he shot himself," Ms. Vladika said.

Turning point

When victims of abuse do leave, there are challenges they must face. Food, clothing, housing, transportation, childcare, all with one less income and one less person to help should the responsibility.

There are also legal challenges.

Victims often times must testify against their abusers in court, living in fear of retaliation if and when their abuser would walk free.

"We do not treat domestic violence perpetrators the same as we treat other criminals, we do not hold them to that high standard of accountability," Ms. Ruddy said.

Victims must attend hearings, which are sometimes continued, stretching out the time from arrest to conviction to sentencing to as long as a year, she said. In the aftermath of her abuse, Jeane struggled.

She resigned from her job after she was pressured about missing so much work for court appearances.

When Grace filed for custody of her and her husband's child, he broke into their home. Her oldest child called 911 while Grace ran through the house, drawing him away. Her husband was charged for breaking and entering, a charge later dropped because his name was still on the lease for the home.

But the incident prompted her to get another PFA, which he violated the next day. He served six months in county prison for the violation. They are now divorced.

Until the violence ends

Danielle had a closed-casket viewing.

Ms. Vladika didn't get to see her daughter one last time.

"The hardest part for me as a parent is that I didn't realize this was going on," she said.

Grace found solace in the place that gave her emotional support, a judgment free zone, reliability, compassion and understanding - the Women's Resource Center. With countless other victims like her, she vented in group sessions and worked with the Barbara J. Hart Justice Center. She learned coping exercises and ways to manage her ex-husband - with whom she still shares custody of their child. Grace's work with the Women's Resource Center has taught her to make her voice heard and stand up against violence, but it took time.

"It took a very long time to feel safe again and to feel different about the whole situation," she said. "Now the more I stand up for myself and the more I stand up for the situation ... the more that he sees that I'm not going to let him do what he wants and walk all over me."

Jeane said the Women's Resource Center pulled her out of the darkest period of her life.

"I was just in a puddle on the floor. In that puddle there was a hand reaching up and the Women's Resource Center was the hand that reached back down to me and pulled me up."

She moved into the transitional housing program and earned her bachelor's and later master's degree in social work at Marywood University. She interned at the center and less than a week after graduating, she was hired as part-time staff.

"Here inside these walls is where I learned I need to take care of myself," Jeane said. "And when I take care of myself I can be better for everybody else, especially my kids."

Recognizing patterns

In the years since Danielle's murder, Ms. Vladika teamed up with the Women's Resource Center to go into area high schools and colleges to speak with young people about the dangers of domestic violence, how to recognize the signs and how to seek help.

"This is my hope, to get awareness out there and to get information out there to the young people who are dating ... that there's help out there," Ms. Vladika said. "Even if one life could be saved. This is something I'd like to work towards."

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

The following were sentenced in Pike County by President Judge Joseph F. Kameen:

- Robert Morton, 44, Milford, 18 days to one year in county prison followed by 12 months' probation, $3,000 fine and 24-month license suspension for DUI on May 10, 2012, in Blooming Grove Twp. and endangering welfare of children Aug. 25 in Milford.

- Tasha McPeak, 24, Montague, N.J., 11½-23½ months' county prison, $900 fine and 18-month license suspension for delivery and possession of controlled substance on Feb. 6 in Dingman Twp.

- Mary White, 30, Port Jervis, N.Y., 14-28 months' state prison, $600 fine and six-month driver's license suspension for delivery of controlled substance June 1 and June 7 in Westfall Twp.

- James Simmons, 23, of Milford, 12 months' probation and $300 fine for retail theft Nov. 3 in Westfall Twp.

- Miguel Velez, 38, Springfield, Mass., 15 months to three years in state prison, $1,250 fine and $4,870.79 in restitution for receiving stolen property, access device fraud, false identification to law enforcement and theft from motor vehicle in September in Westfall Twp.

- Anthony Bochman, 26, Dingmans Ferry, 18 months' probation and $250 fine for retail theft June 28 in Westfall Twp.

- Anthony Crapella, 37. Scranton, 4-12 months in county prison and $300 fine for harassment between May and June 2012 in Greene Twp.

The following were sentenced in Wayne County Court by Presi­dent Judge Raymond L. Hamill:

- John Patrick MacCarty, 40, Lake Ariel, eight months to five years in county prison, $1,800 fine, $2,305.99 in restitution, drug and alcohol evaluation, complete alcohol highway safety program and 100 hours' community service for DUI on Sept. 4 in Salem Twp.

- Thomas J. Sigurdsson, 28, Forest City, six months' Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program, 40 hours' community service and 60-day license suspension related to DUI on Dec. 25 in Clinton Twp.

Tuesday: Northeast Network May general meeting, networking begins at 5:30 p.m. followed by a dinner buffet at Arcaro and Genell, Old Forge. Cost is $30 for members and $22 for nonmembers. For reservations and membership information, contact Joan Condel at 698-6445 or Terri Crambo at 342-1779.

Wednesday: Networking event by Pike County Chamber of Commerce and event sponsor the Hampton Inn, from 5 to 7 p.m. at the Hampton Inn. Admission at the door is $5 for members or $10 for nonmembers. For details, contact the chamber at info@pikechamber.com or 296-8700.

Thursday: Lackawanna College, Hazleton Center, first GED 2 College Information Session at 4:30 p.m. at the center, 145 E. Broad St., Hazleton. The workshop is aimed at individuals who have a GED and what to pursue a college degree or start a career path. All individuals who apply that day will have their application fee waived.

Friday: Leadership Lackawanna, "Murder in the Gallery," a Murder Mystery Dinner Party at 5:30 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center at Masonic Temple. Proceeds from the night will benefit Leadership Lackawanna. Cost is $40 per ticket. A cash bar will be available. For ticket purchases, contact the chamber at 342-7711 or www.scrantonchamber.com.

SUBMIT BUSINESS BRIEFCASE items to business@timesshamrock.com; Business Editor, The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503; or via fax to 348-9135.

New PPL charge

The state Public Utility Commission approved a new PPL Electric Utilities distribution system improvement charge last week. The fee, which could be up to 5 percent of the total bill, will provide the utility with revenue for repairs.

Retailer plans massive facility

American Eagle Outfitters Inc. will build a massive, 1 million-square-foot distribution center in Humboldt Industrial Park in Hazle Twp. and plans to hire 369 people over the next four years.

Owner blamed for building collapse

A committee appointed by Bangladesh's government concluded the defects and errors that led to the world's deadliest garment-industry accident extend from the swampy ground the doomed Rana Plaza was built on, to "extremely poor quality" construction materials, to the massive, vibrating equipment operating when the eight-story building collapsed, The Associated Press reported.

CEO pay rises

The head of a typical large public company made $9.7 million in 2012, a 6.5 percent increase from a year earlier that was aided by a rising stock market, an Associated Press analysis found.

NEPA a mixed bag

The eighth-annual indicators report from the Institute for Public Policy and Economic Development showed while the metro area had the state's highest unemployment for three years running, per-capita income between 2008 and 2011 expanded by 5 percent in Lackawanna County and 3 percent in Luzerne County, both ahead of Pennsylvania's 2 percent average.

Price of gas down

AAA projects more than 37,000 Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area residents will travel 50 miles or more from home this Memorial Day weekend, about the same as last year's holiday period. Gas prices in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre area average 9 cents less than one year ago.

Poverty rising in suburbs

A new study by the Brookings Institution shows dramatic growth in poverty beyond city limits. Suburban poor in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro grew from 2000 to 2011 by nearly one third, 31.7 percent, to 63,089.

Development group exec exits

Penn's Northeast President Penny Cannella plans to retire from the Pittston Twp.-based regional economic development marketing organization in late summer, after 16 years with the group.

The B-17 Flying Fortress known as "Little Willie" took to the skies in formation with other aircraft for a raid on Berlin, March 6, 1944. The planes were over the heart of the city when Little Willie was struck by flak. With the supercharger on one engine out of commission, and a runaway propeller on another, the craft fell out of formation. Two German fighters saw their opportunity. According to The Sunday Times archives, tail gunner Robert M. Hayden sent out a hot stream of bullets, and the Nazi pilots broke off their attack.

The plane was in trouble. The runaway engine was threatening to wrench off the wing. The other engine was useless. The tail was badly damaged, and the radio was out.

But Little Willie's pilot, Old Forge native Lt. Bernard M. Dopko, was able to keep his plane aloft. To avoid another attack, Lt. Dopko pointed the plane's nose at the ground and screamed down to 50 feet before he leveled off. He flew down a main street in Berlin, at one point maneuvering between two steeples. "At one place," Lt. William G. Kelly, the bombardier reported, "I had to yell, 'Watch out, Dopko! You're going to run into a curbstone!' " Every member of the crew joined in shooting up German defenses. To aid their efforts, Lt. Dopko rocked his plane from side to side to give the gunners a better view for strafing.

Lt. Dopko was able to remain airborne, but barely. He pointed his crippled plane back toward England. With only two out of the four engines working, it was impossible to gain altitude - but that kept the plane and its crew safe from attack. Across Germany and Holland, the plane never got higher than 100 feet. Over the English Channel, the aircraft was down to 10 feet. Suddenly, one of the dead engines came back to life, and Little Willie climbed to 5,000 feet. Lt. Dupko safely piloted his damaged craft to Knettishall.

"We were a mighty lucky group of people, the 10 of us, to escape and return with our lives," Lt. Dopko told The Scranton Times.

Three days later, on March 9, Lt. Dopko went out on another mission, once again to Berlin. This time, he would not be as lucky. In later years, he told the story to The Scranton Times this way: "Just prior to 'bombs away,' we were hit with a very few pieces of small shrapnel, which should not have amounted to nothing much." Small though it was, the shrapnel severed an oil line. A propeller feathering mechanism was malfunctioning. Fire broke out, and the crew had to bail out over the center of Berlin.

"We all drifted to the outskirts of the city," Lt. Dopko told The Times, "and due to heavy, low overcast, I came down unnoticed and managed to evade capture until late on March 14. I was making pretty good time toward France," Lt. Dopko said, "but the cold, etc. started to get the best of me. I felt then, and still do, that I probably could have made it on foot into France if not captured." He was sent to Stalag Luft 1, he said, on the Baltic coast. He spent his time in captivity there until the Russians freed him.

Lt. Dopko had entered the service on May 30, 1939. He was stationed at Pearl Harbor when the Japanese attacked and spent many months in the Pacific before being sent to England in January 1944. After the war, he remained in the Air Force as a flier. For the last six years of his career, he was stationed at March AFB in Riverside, Calif. He retired in 1959 with the rank of major. Maj. Dopko died in California in 1991 at age 71.

CHERYL A. KASHUBA is a freelance writer specializing in local history. Contact the writer: local history@timesshamrock.com

The table was set for reform-hungry Scranton voters to nominate successors to three-term Mayor Chris Doherty, but they showed little appetite for change at City Hall in Tuesday's primary election.

Just under 37 percent of city Democrats voted; about 19 percent of their Republican neighbors. The turnout was shockingly anemic, considering taxpayers' endless braying about being bled dry by a parasitic government.

Turnout was similarly listless countywide (35.3 percent), but at least voters supported a government study commission that could lead to real change and voted to keep county row offices, rejecting a naked power grab by the incumbent county commissioners. Jim Wansacz, Corey O'Brien and Pat "Cheese" O'Malley weren't up for re-nomination, but voters let them know they were lucky not to be on the ballot.

City voters sent a different message: Forget belt-tightening! Bring on the bankruptcy buffet!

People who don't exercise their right to vote don't do much heavy lifting. They slouch on the couch emptying family-size bags of Doritos and wonder why they are short of breath walking to the fridge. These same people wonder when the government is finally going to get its act together, lose some weight and stop gobbling up taxpayers' beer money.

In the Scranton mayoral race, voters had a choice between a three-egg sausage-and-cheese omelet with a side of bacon or a pomegranate-and-kale smoothie with a handful of multivitamins and a brisk jog. It was two Texas wieners with a side of gravy fries and a jumbo Coke versus a fish taco with quinoa and sparkling water; four-cheese lasagna with garlic bread and tiramisu or grilled salmon with a side salad and an hour of hot yoga.

In a region with an adult obesity rate of nearly 25 percent, it's no surprise city voters opted for empty calories over self-help. Bill Courtright, who won the Democratic nod for mayor, is a brick-and-mortar candidate, an analog relic wandering a digital world. He is a throwback to a time when red meat, cheap bourbon and Lucky Strikes were part of a healthy diet. He is stationary. Familiar. Comfort food for a chronically constipated electorate.

Liz Randol, who finished a distant second to Mr. Courtright, is a sleek, shiny food truck fresh from the interstate, proudly mobile and pushing nutritious alternatives to the same old fattening fare. She is a digital diva, an exotic dish trying to beat the blue-plate special.

In Scranton, cholesterol - both dietary and political - is a condiment. It's a meat-and-potatoes town. Ms. Randol is Tofurkey, Brussels sprouts and Pilates. She was not born here, earned a Ph.D., and never met a necklace she thought too bulky.

She also lost track of a loaded handgun that was found on a city sidewalk a block away from an elementary school. I can hear the partisan groans as I type, but those who dismiss the handgun debacle as a non-issue are delusional. It was a serious lapse of judgment and personal accountability.

It was also a gift-wrapped excuse for voters who bleat about officials who treat legal boundaries as optional, but voted to entrust the future of the city to a man who runs his current elected office in violation of state law and common sense.

In his three-plus years as tax collector, Mr. Courtright has continued to mix Single Tax Office collections, an illegal practice that six short years ago resulted in the build-up of $12.2 million in a mystery account, about $2 million of which disappeared without a reliable trace. He also broke the law by hiring a solicitor for the office. He says it was too difficult to separate the funds (follow the law), and that having a tax office solicitor is "the way it's always been done."

In his own words, Bill Courtright represents the past. This truth was punctuated by the sight of former Mayor Jim Connors kissing his cheek Tuesday night. Mr. Connors is one of the kindest, funniest, most good-hearted people I have ever known, but these qualities undermined him as the city's chief executive. He meant well, but a CEO who can't say no is bound to get rolled. Eleven years after leaving office, the ragged ghosts of Mr. Connors' mistakes still haunt the city.

Whether Mr. Courtright will repeat those mistakes remains to be seen. He still has to beat Gary Lewis, the Republican nominee, in November. Ms. Randol was counting on Republican write-in votes to keep her campaign alive, but as the official count broke for the day on Friday, it was clear the math is not on her side.

While she conceded that Mr. Lewis won the Republican nod, Ms. Randol said she would wait until the official count is complete to say it's over. I admire her tenacity, but it may be time for Ms. Randol's friends to pull her aside and say, "Maybe Scranton is just not that into you."

A lot can happen over the next six months, but in Scranton, the past seems forever prologue. Given the chance Tuesday to confront a bloated, arrogant, hypertensive government that has gorged itself on every fattening morsel it can shovel down its greedy gullet, Scrantonians voted to keep the gravy train rolling toward the morgue.

This is the way it's always been done.

CHRIS KELLY, The Times-Tribune columnist, never met a bag of Doritos he thought too bulky. Contact the writer: kellysworld@timesshamrock.com, @cjkink on Twitter

Police investigate scam reports

CARBONDALE - Police are investigating the second report in as many months in which a resident lost thousands of dollars in a telephone scam.

The most recent report came Saturday, when a Carbondale resident told police he received a call Friday from someone saying he was his grandson and needed money to get out of some trouble in Pittsburgh, according to Carbondale police. The man wired a total of $2,525 but later found out his grandson was OK and had not requested the money, police said.

Police in Carbondale took a similar report from a resident two months ago. In that case, the victim lost about $4,000.

Carbondale police are investigating both incidents and warned people to beware of similar scams.

State police probe Carbondale arson

CARBONDALE - State police at Dunmore are investigating a mid-May arson at an abandoned Carbondale home.

At about 7:17 p.m. on May 14, someone entered the home at 24 Garfield Ave. and set a small fire in a second-floor closet, police said.

A neighbor who heard the smoke alarms called 911. No one was injured in the fire, and the home sustained minimal damage, officials said.

It's the second arson investigation in Carbondale announced this month. City and state police said on May 15 they were investigating the possibility that arson may have been involved in a May 9 fire that heavily scorched a basement and killed two puppies at 59 Belmont St.

Anyone with information on either fire is asked to call the state police fire marshal unit at 963-3156.

CLIPBOARD

Archbald

Chicken barbecue: Black Diamond Hose Company chicken barbecue, Saturday, noon-5 p.m., 926 Rock St.; takeouts available, $9/members or at door; 876-2310.

Carbondale

Outreach services: Repre­sentative from state Sen. John Blake's office, outreach servi­ces June 4, 9 a.m.-noon; second floor, City Hall.

Factoryville

Sportsmen meet: Factoryville Sportsmen's Club meeting, Wednesday, 7:30 p.m., clubhouse; returns for Henry Rifle raffle due to Dave Woodyatt, treasurer.

Hawley

Nature workshop: Fern Ethno­botany, Thursday, noon- 4 p.m., meet at Northern Light Natural Foods; check several natural spots in the immediate area; $25 includes 47-page text; to attend: email, wathakes@ gmail.com.

Mayfield

Crime watch: Mayfield Crime Watch meeting, Wednesday, 7 p.m., Borough Building, 739 Penn Ave.; John Lewis, deputy director of emergency services for Lackawanna County, on communications and respon­ses to emergency situations.

Montrose

Garden planting: Penn State Master Gardeners 4-H Community Garden Work Day, Saturday, 88 Chenango St.

Moosic

Seniors meet: After 50 Club meets Thursday, 1 p.m., Greenwood Hose Company, Birney Avenue.

Old Forge

Reunion meeting: Old Forge High School class of 1973 meeting Tuesday, 7 p.m., to address invitations to 40th anniversary reunion in July.

Scranton

Annual luncheon: Jewish Home and Auxiliary annual volunteer recognition luncheon, Thursday, 1 p.m.; $10; Lynn Klemick, 344-6177, ext.109, or lklemick@jhep.org.

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

WYOMING - Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife, Rosalynn, will visit the Wyoming Monument on Tuesday. Mr. Carter will give a speech at 3 p.m., after which the couple will be presented with the key to the borough by Mayor Bob Boyer.

The event, sponsored by Larry and Diane Cook, the Wyoming Monument Association and Wyoming Borough, is open to the public.

Mr. Carter will be the third president to visit the monument. Rutherford B. Hayes visited in 1878 and Theodore Roosevelt in 1905.

The North Pocono Public Library's 113 Van Brunt St. building in Moscow will close its doors for good after one last story hour at 11 a.m. Tuesday.

The current library facility will cease operations from noon until the newly constructed building at nearby 1315 Church St. is ready to open, according to library director Susan Jeffery.

Ms. Jeffery had previously pegged June 4 as the date on which the new library would open, but she said the date is now likely to be between June 12 and June 18.

The delay is because of a miscommunication with Verizon that resulted in a later Internet and phone hookup date, she said.

Many people come to use the computers, the library's circulation system relies on the Web, and reference librarians would be unable to take calls to answer questions, Ms. Jeffery explained.

"Opening without the Internet would be a nightmare," she said.

Library officials have put the Van Brunt Street building on the market for $98,500 and plan for the revenue to defray the $3.2 million cost of building the 8,000-square-foot Church Street site.

Ms. Jeffery said the 1,300-square-foot Van Brunt Street facility, which was once a liquor store, should be an attractive commercial property.

She noted the building has a parking lot and is in Moscow's business district.

Librarians are planning to develop children and teen programs that the existing building did not have space to offer. The director said a teen advisory group's members will help develop their own programs.

On Saturday, the new library added "The Reading Tree," a $15,000 storyteller's chair donated by a local family.

The sculpture was created by Rachel Slick, Ms. Jeffery said. She described the tree as unique, "something visible and something new" that she was excited to include at the new library.

Contractors broke ground on the library project April 28, 2012, after library officials had discussed building a new facility for years.

Features of the new library will include a 90-seat community room, a large children's room, a "business entrepreneur center" for people who like to work at the library, an area dedicated to teens and a study room.

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

BARSIGIAN, JACOB, Old Forge, Wednesday, 9:15 a.m., Semian Funeral Home, 704 Union St., Taylor. Services, 10 a.m., St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church. Interment, parish cemetery. Calling hours Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m.; Parastas, Tuesday, 7:45 p.m. Memorials: St. Michael's Russian Orthodox Church cemetery fund, 512 Summer St., Old Forge, PA 18518. Condolences: Semiancares.com.

BURMAN, REED H., Ararat Twp., Wednesday, 10 a.m., Hennessey's Funeral Home, 747 Jackson Ave., Susquehanna, by the Rev. Lloyd Canfield. Interment, Ararat Cemetery. Calling hours, Tuesday, 6 to 9 p.m.; masonic service, 7:30. Contributions: Thompson Hose Company, Thompson, PA 18465.

DALESSANDRO, ARTHUR D., formerly of Yatesville, Tuesday, 9 a.m., Peter J. Adonizio Funeral Home, 251 William St., Pittston. Mass, 9:30 a.m., St. Joseph Marello Parish, 237 William St., Pittston. Interment, Denison Cemetery, Swoyersville. Calling hours today, 4 to 8 p.m. Contributions: St. Joseph Marello Parish. Condolences: peter jadoniziofuneralhome.com.

ECKER, YETTA, Scranton, formerly of Brooklyn, N.Y., Shiva, 92 Abington Gardens, Clarks Summit, today, 2 to 5 p.m. Contributions: Jewish Home of Eastern PA, 1101 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510; Jewish Heritage Connection, 529 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, PA 18509; or Temple Israel, 918 E. Gibson St., Scranton, PA 18510.

GILES, JACK, Clifton Twp., Wednesday, 5 to 7 p.m., Duffy & Snowdon Funeral Home, 401 Church St., Moscow. Interment, private. Contributions: American Cancer Society, 712 S. Keyser Ave., Taylor, PA 18517; or St. Mary's Villa Nursing Home, 516 St. Mary's Villa Road, Elmhurst Twp., PA 18444. Condolences: duffyandsnowdon.com.

GLOSSENGER, BERTHA L., Port Richey, Fla., Tuesday, 11 a.m., James Wilson Funeral Home, 143 Gravity Road, Lake Ariel, by Pastor Chris Freet, Beach Lake Free Methodist Church. Interment, private. Calling hours, Tuesday, 10 until service. Contributions: donor's favorite charity. Condolences: jameswil sonfuneralhome.com.

GRUEN, THOMAS MICHAEL STEVEN, Tunkhannock, Wednesday, 11 a.m., Tunkhannock Assembly of God Church, by Pastor Rick Wormer. Interment, Fairview Cemetery, Lake Winola. Calling hours, Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m. Contributions: Tunkhannock Ambulance Association or Tunkhannock Assembly of God. Condolences: sheldonkukuchkafu neralhome.com.

HNATEW, WILLIAM DAVID, Scranton, Mass, Tuesday, 9 a.m., St. Michael's Ukrainian Orthodox Church, 540 N. Main Ave., Scranton, by the Very Rev. Nestor Kowal. Interment, private. Contributions: Huntington's Society, 505 Eighth Ave., Suite 902, New York, NY 10018. Arrangements: Carl J. Savino Funeral Home, Scranton.

HODOROVICH, MARTHA NAUGIN, Jessup, Tuesday, Louis M. Margotta Funeral Home, 511 Church St., Jessup. Mass, 11:30 a.m., St. Michael's Church, Jessup. Interment, parish cemetery. Calling hours today, 5 to 8 p.m. Condolences: margotta funeralhomes.com.

KANE, JOSEPH R. SR., Jessup, Tuesday, Mass, 9:30 a.m., St. Michael's Church, Jessup. Calling hours Tuesday, 8:30 until Mass, church. Interment, St. Thomas Aquinas Cemetery, Archbald. Arrangements: Robert E. Decker Funeral Home, Peckville.

MANGINO, HELEN E., Scranton, Tuesday, Albert P. O'Donnell Funeral Home, 2025 Green Ridge St., Dunmore. Mass, 9:30 a.m., St. Rocco's Church, 122 Kurtz St., Dunmore. Interment, Dunmore Cemetery. Calling hours today, 4 to 7 p.m. Condolences: ODonnellfuneral.com.

MOSKOWITZ, FLORENCE "FREMIE," Old Forge, Shiva, 732 Oak St., Old Forge, through Wednesday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Contributions: Jewish Home of Eastern PA, 1101 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510; Jewish Discovery Center, P.O. Box 778, Waverly, PA 18471 or donor's favorite charity. Condolences: dunmorefuneralnome.com.

POLKOWSKI, THOMAS, Hillcrest, N.Y., Wednesday, Mass, 10 a.m., St. Francis Church, Port Dickinson. Interment, Chenango Valley Cemetery. Calling hours Tuesday, 4 to 7 p.m., William R. Chase & Son Funeral Home, 737 Chenango St., Port Dickinson, N.Y. Contributions: Lourdes Hospice, 4102 Old Vestal Road, Vestal, NY 13850.

RHODES, REGINA ELLEN, Dunmore, Mass, Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Church of St. Gregory, 330 N. Abington Road, Clarks Green, by the Rev. John M. Lapera, pastor. Go directly to church. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Calling hours, today, 5 to 8 p.m., Lawrence E. Young Funeral Home, 418 S. State St., Clarks Summit. Contributions: American Cancer Society, P.O. Box 22718, Oklahoma City, OK 73123. Condolences: law renceeyoungfuneralhome.com.

ROMANO, KATHLEEN, Ransom, Mass, Wednesday, 9:30 a.m., St. Lucy's Church, 949 Scranton St., Scranton. Calling hours, 9 until Mass. Arrangements: Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., Old Forge. Condolences: kearneyfuner alhome.com.

RUBEL, JEFFREY A., Clarks Summit, Interment, Temple Israel Cemetery, Dunmore. Shiva, 310 Tulip Circle, Clarks Summit, today, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Contributions: Jewish Discovery Center, P.O. Box 778, Waverly, PA 18471; or Howard Gardner School, 134 School St., Scranton, PA 18508.

RYAN, RITA FRITZEN, R.N., Scranton, Mass, Wednesday, 10 a.m., Church of St. Joseph, 312 Davis St., Scranton, by the Rev. Francis L. Pauselli, pastor. Go directly to church. Entombment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Calling hours, Tuesday, 5 to 8 p.m., Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., 517 N. Main St., Old Forge. Condolences: kearneyfuneralhome.com.

SCALZO, ROSELLA A., Carbondale, Tuesday, Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home, 74 N. Main St., Carbondale. Mass, 10:30 a.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, 15 Fallbrook St., Carbondale. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill. Calling hours, today, 4 to 7 p.m.

STECCO, LORRAINE H., Throop, Tuesday, 9:30 a.m., Blessed Sacrament Parish. Calling hours today, 4 to 7 p.m., John F. Glinsky Funeral Home, Sanderson Avenue, Throop. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow. Contributions: Blessed Sacrament Parish.

PARADISE TWP. - Two people were hospitalized after suffering injuries in a three-car crash in Monroe County on Saturday night.

Nicolette Grisi, 21, Tobyhanna, who was driving a 2004 Santa Fe, and Vanessa Jerman, 41, Pocono Summit, driving a 2003 Ford Explorer, were transported to Pocono Medical Center in East Stroudsburg for treatment, state police at Swiftwater said.

Police said Ms. Grisi, driving east on Route 940 at about 9:50 p.m., failed to notice traffic had stopped. She swerved and struck the driver's side of the Explorer, which was traveling west. Ms. Grisi then veered right, crashing into a car driven by Zenaida Spindler, 63, of Taylor.

Ms. Grisi is charged with careless driving. Updates on the patients' conditions were not available Sunday.

A 38-year-old Wayne County man was arrested late Saturday after the gun he was holding - and believed to be empty - discharged a bullet that struck his 15-year-old daughter in the face.

Matthew Holmes of Honesdale is being charged with recklessly endangering another person, according to the Wayne County district attorney's office.

His daughter is in stable condition at Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton, police said. The DA's office doesn't release the names of minors, District Attorney Janine Edwards said.

While sitting at the kitchen table at his friend's home on 11th Street in Honesdale on Saturday, Mr. Holmes withdrew his 9 mm semi-automatic handgun from its holster, a news release said.

He then removed the live round in the weapon's chamber and the magazine, believing the weapon was empty.

As Mr. Holmes moved to put the gun on the kitchen table, the weapon "went off," sending a bullet into his daughter's face, police said.

Another guest called 911, and emergency responders transported the girl via air to the trauma unit at GCMC.

Mr. Holmes is being held at the Wayne County Correctional Facility in lieu of $7,500 bail.

Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE TWP.

Choking back tears as he adjusted his younger sister's mortarboard, Jesse Outhouse scanned the dimly lit corridor packed with hundreds of soon-to-be graduates clad in black gowns.

"It's emotional because it's the end of a great chapter of my life, but I am glad I can share it with my good friends," said Mr. Outhouse, a secondary education major at the University of Scranton.

His younger sister, Emma, also was among the more than 900 receiving undergraduate degrees on Sunday at the university's commencement at the Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza.

Graduates included recipients of some of the nation's most prestigious scholarships, including the Truman Scholarship, Goldwater Scholarship and multiple Fulbright scholarships. They represented 13 states, including Florida, New York, Rhode Island and Virginia.

Majors with the most graduates were biology, nursing, accounting, exercise science, communication, psychology and occupational therapy.

Before the ceremony, Megan Etzel of Clark, N.J., and Carolyn Clyons of Trumbull, Conn., reflected on their past four years, trading stories about friends, parties and other social events as they waited in the corridor beneath the arena.

Though they will be back at the university next year - Ms. Etzel to pursue her master's degree in occupational therapy and Ms. Clyons for the physical therapy program - both agreed it won't be the same.

"We won't have our house mates, and most of the other people who made these last four years so memorable," Ms. Etzel said.

While adjusting his tassel with his left hand, Michael Gaeta, Cranford, N.J., fired text messages to family members above and friends waiting at opposite ends of the corridor.

"It's bittersweet," the exercise science major said. "I am excited to move forward, but these last four years went by so fast.

"It's surreal."

Commencement speaker, Sandra Postel, an author, scholar and consultant on global water protection, and director of the Global Water Policy Project, challenged graduates to find their "niche."

"Your niche is that sweet spot where what you love intersects with what you're good at," said Ms. Postel, who in 2010 was appointed Freshwater Fellow at the National Geographic Society.

She advised graduates to follow their passion rather than be enticed with materialism, arguing that neither BMWs nor 10,000-square-foot homes fill the void in someone's life.

Some graduates might have already pinpointed their niche, while others still might be searching, she said.

But, no matter what, "never doubt your story and your niche," Ms. Postel said.

"It's through individual stories - yours and mine - that we change the big story happening around us."

Ms. Postel received an honorary degree from the school.

Offering remarks, University of Scranton President Kevin P. Quinn, S.J., reminded graduates they have been challenged with St. Ignatius Loyola's charge - "to love and serve in all things."

"Remember that you are sons and daughters of The University of Scranton forever," Father Quinn said.

Area degree recipients include:

ASSOCIATE DEGREE

Lackawanna County

Stephanie Marie Griffin, Scranton; Christine Grunza, Dickson City; Sarah Vanessa Hubbard, Gouldsboro; and James Michael Woody, Carbondale.

BACHELOR'S DEGREE

Lackawanna County

Bassamh Amer Al-Bassam, Scranton; Janice Marie Annibale, Dunmore; Frank Anzelmi, Old Forge; Richard Louis Armezzani, Peckville; Gary Dominic Arvay, South Abington Twp.; Danielle Lauren Banks, Dunmore; Amy Elizabeth Bannon, Jermyn; Matthew Farrell Bannon, Clarks Summit; Brittany E. Barbone, Scranton; James P. Bassani, Dunmore; Danielle Marie Beddoe, Jermyn; Emily Marie Bielski, Scranton; Brianna Karen Bilbao, Old Forge; Marsinlen Hope Blackwell, Old Forge; Joshua Horacio Blanco, Scranton; Elizabeth Rose Boino, Scranton; Holli Kathleen Bott, Dickson City; Laura Marie Bracey, Moscow; Natasha Brea, Nicholson; Michael Edmund Brown, Scranton; Charles Joseph Browning II, Peckville; Jessica Butler, Vandling; Sean Patrick Butler, Dickson City; Molly Lynn Calderone, Dunmore; Rebecca Watkins Cangemi, Scranton; Jacqueline Marie Carini, Scranton; Rosie Casey, Archbald; Maribeth Frances Castaldi, Scranton; Christopher Allan Chapman, Throop; Walter Anthony Checefsky, Archbald; Stacy Ann Chludzinski, Taylor; Rachel C. Chow, Scranton; Bella Donna Cipriano, Scranton; Elisa Katherine Colchado, Scranton; Kelly Ann Cole, Moscow; Caitlin Marie Collins, Clarks Summit; Timothy Scott Corcoran, Scranton; Timothy John Cox, Scranton; Joshua Cramer, Dickson City; Matthew Robert Craven, Olyphant; Cory J. Crinella, Archbald; Michael James Davis, Moosic; John Patrick Dean, Scranton; Chivon K. Demchak, Carbondale; Emily Christen DePew, Madison Twp.; Kevin Patrick Dermody, Elmhurst; Marcus Jacob Dermont, Scranton; Samantha Quinn DeSantis, Scranton; Angela Elizabeth DiBileo, Scranton; Anthony Keegan James Dilmore, Scranton; Daniel Patrick Donahue, Scranton; Kathleen Michelle Druther, South Abington Twp.; Anthony Angelo Duchnowski, Dunmore; Maria L. Durdach, Dalton; Elizabeth Enlow, Dunmore; Brian Vincent Entler, Scranton; Brianna Marie Finnerty, Old Forge; Stephanie Anne Fisk, Dunmore; Stephen David Franchak, Jermyn; Andrea Genello, Scranton; Michael Joseph Genello, Scranton; Brett Joseph Gilmartin, Moscow; Carson Julianne Gilvey, Archbald; Michael James Goonan, Scranton; Matthew William Gorman, Scott Twp.; Lisa Marie Gruszecki, Old Forge; John Joseph Hambrose IV, South Abington Twp.; Anna Haroun Mahdavi, Scranton; Patrick John Hart, Dunmore; Greylan Elaine Heffernan, Taylor; Jonathan George Hiler, Waverly; Ashley Morgan Hofer, Scranton; Colin Walter Holmes, Scranton; Adrianna Hughes, Dunmore; Candace Brea Janes, Scranton; Joshua Robert Javitz, Dickson City; Nicole Anne Jensen, Clarks Summit; Kathleen Elizabeth Jordan, Clarks Summit; Joohye Jung, Scranton; Brian Carey Kanavy, Dunmore; Jacob Karboski, Scranton; Kurt Joseph Kincel, Jefferson Twp.; Stephen Francis Kranick, Dunmore; Ryan Matthew Kwolek, Blakely; Sarah Alicia Lamothe, South Abington Twp.; Timothy Michael Lavelle, Clarks Green; Holly Wanda Leard, Scranton; Gwen Hannah Levy, Dunmore; Maria Regina Licitra, Scranton; David Michael Linhares, Scranton; Jessica Rae Lloyd, Moosic; Kiley Karen Lotz, Scranton; Dawn Marie Lowmiller, Clarks Summit; Abigail Elizabeth Lukasik, Dickson City; Andrew Seth Lunney, Scranton; Colleen Beth Mackrell, Peckville; Alexa Ray Mahalidge, Clarks Summit; Niko Dominick Manetti, Old Forge; Leo Anthony Maxfield, Taylor; Jordan Lee Mazzoni, Archbald; Timothy James McCormick, Scranton; Matthew Scott McGrath, Old Forge; Michael Vincent McGuigan, Scranton; Kathryn Ann McGuire, Roaring Brook Twp.; Timothy Patrick McGurrin, Jr., Clarks Summit; Kellie Alisha McIntyre, Waverly; Jeremiah Christopher Mullen, Scott Twp.; Amanda Lynn Murphy, Scranton; Stephen John Nicolosi, Clarks Green; Michael Paul Nidoh, South Abington Twp.; Corinne Alice Nulton, Archbald; Edmond Donald O'Connell, Scranton; Cheryl Renee O'Donnell, Old Forge; Meghan Catherine O'Malley, Scranton; Morgan Clare O'Malley, Scranton; Lindsey Christine Olechna, Scranton; Neil Pal, Scranton; Tayler Kathlene Pallotta, Dunmore; Carolyn Ann Pandolfo, Dunmore; Sydney Alexandra Parker, Scranton; Kristen Marie Patchcoski, Scranton; Devin B. Patel, Waverly Twp.; Sandra Elisabeth Perry, Dunmore; Logyn Elizabeth Pezak, Jessup; Kelsey Jean Powell, Moosic; Edward Andrew Raposo, Blakely; Matthew William Reddock, Eynon; Robert Patrick Reed, Scranton; Adam Mark Reese, Peckville; Maura Anne Regan, Scranton; Camille Frances Reinecke, Dunmore; Aida Ribanovic, Scranton; Alyssa Catherine Rimosites, Throop; Ryan James Robeson, Scranton; Jessica Rogan, Scranton; Bryan Arnoldo Rosales, Scranton; Brooke Marie Ruane, Moosic; Robert John Ruane III, Scranton; Donna Rupp, Scranton; Adam Ryan, Jermyn; Matthew Thomas Sabia, Old Forge; Kholood Khalid Safar, Scranton; Michael John Saladino, Scranton; Henry Jordan Sallusti, Scranton; Kyla Sare, Scranton; Edmund Joseph Scacchitti, Scranton; Michael Scarantino, Old Forge; Daniel Vladimir Schlasta, Scott Twp.; Amanda Theresa Sensi, Moosic; Kushtrim Shabani, Lake Ariel; Avani K. Shah, Scranton; Khushbu Shaileshkumar Shah, Scranton; Megan Marie Shipsky, Jermyn; Joseph Lewis Shoemaker, Scranton; Kaitlyn Mae Simon, Scranton; Jennifer Lee Simpson, Olyphant; Brittni Lee Smith, Blakely; Eric Emery Smith, Clarks Summit; Monica Dee Smith, Scranton; Rebecca Ann Smith, Moscow; Andrew Stanley Sobolak, Scranton; Scott Christain Stange II, Scranton; Sarah Dorothy Stavisky, Jefferson Twp.; Eric P. Steinmetz, Roaring Brook Twp.; William A. Stella, Scranton; Mary Kathryn Steppacher, Scranton; Oliver John Strickland, Scranton; Michelle Swan, South Abington Twp.; J. Patrick Sweeney, Dunmore; Caroline Ann Swift, Clarks Summit; Marissa Ann Talerico, Carbondale; Shannon Clare Taylor, Scranton; Michelle Grace Thomas, Peckville; David Anthony Tomaine, Dickson City; Andrew Robert Torba, Moosic; Michael Ross Trischetta, Scranton; James Michael Vasky, South Abington Twp.; Marissa Caroline Clare Verchuk, Scranton; Michele Ann Wall, Throop; Brock Walsh, Scranton; Leonard Thomas Walsh, Scranton; Natalie Clare Walsh, Scranton; Alexandra Watson, Roaring Brook Twp.; Kristen Lynn Whritenour, Scranton; Harrison Walter Wolff, Clarks Summit; Ardy W. Wong, Scranton; Graham Milton Yeager, Waverly; and Anastasia Rose Zygmunt, Covington Twp.

Luzerne County

Maria Patricia Boris, Avoca; James John Bresnahan, Exeter; Robert Paul Bresnahan Jr., Hughestown; Jennifer Anne Briggs, Pittston; Michael Gerald Coco, Jr., Exeter; Gabriella Concetta Corridoni, Pittston; Geralyn Rita Cross, Plains; Christopher A. Culver, Jr., Swoyersville; Allison Maureen Daly, Laflin; Michael Anthony DiPietro, Wyoming; Kaitlyn Marie Falzone, West Wyoming; Emily Marie Gavigan, Laflin; Mark Edward Giovanelli, Plains; Victoria Lynn Girman, Dupont; Peter Joseph Kelley, Harding; Lee Arnoldo Molitoris, Plains; Anthony F. Pittelli, Pittston; Jonathan Bradley Schall, Wyoming; and Charles Francis Tully, Pittston.

MONROE COUNTY

Clayton Charles Colefield III, Cresco; Stephanie Gleason, Swiftwater; Colby Jon Larsen, Pocono Manor; Dominic Vito Marcogliese, Henryville; and Chanel Nadja Wright, Pocono Summit.

PIKE COUNTY

Peter Barrale, Shohola; David James Bright, Tafton; James William Dillon, Greentown; Samantha Rose Dzirko, Dingmans Ferry; Rachel Victoria Knuth, Greeley; Patricia Sigrid Malzahn, Shohola; Karalee C. Morgan, Milford; and Steven Christopher Savarese, Hawley.

SUSQUEHANNA COUNTY

Sydney Nichole Carmody, Thompson; Nicholas Brian Hollister, Montrose; Chelsea Margaret Lucchesi, Union Dale; Craig Allen Noldy, Jr., Forest City; and David John Rechlicz, Montrose.

WAYNE COUNTY

Devin Alexandra Avellino, Gouldsboro; Bernadetta Teresa Bernatowicz, Lake Ariel; Arielle Christine Burkavage, Honesdale; Moriah S. Diamond, Honesdale; Lucie Frey Henry, Beach Lake; Andrew S. Milewski, Lake Ariel; Grace Noel Nebzydoski, Honesdale; Hannah Marie Ruby, Lake Ariel; Mary Frances Scheller, Forest City; Joseph William Sonner, Honesdale; Joseph Paul Terry, Honesdale; and Scott M. Yablonski, Covington Township.

HARRISBURG - Gov. Tom Corbett's public pension proposal includes provisions designed to prevent what officials describe as "excessive" retirement packages by having future pension benefits for state employees and school district employees more closely reflect overall earnings.

Three provisions in House and Senate bills starting in 2015:

- Limit how much of a factor overtime pay in the final years of a career can influence the pension amount.

- Use an annual Social Security threshold to limit the pension income of the highest earning employees.

- Adjust the monthly pension amount when an employee upon retirement opts to withdraw his or her own pension contributions in a lump sum payment.

These proposed changes if enacted would affect future pension benefits that have yet to be accrued by current employees in the State Employees' Retirement System and Public School Employees' Retirement System. Pension benefits already accrued by current employees and pension benefits for retirees aren't affected under the legislation, which faces uncertain prospects in the Legislature despite being on Mr. Corbett's list of priorities. If all three are enacted, it would save state and school district taxpayers an estimated $5.7 billion during the next 30 years, according to the state budget office.

The above provisions aren't drawing as much attention as other parts of Mr. Corbett's proposal to put new employees in both systems under a 401(a) defined contribution plan, similar to 401(k) plans in the private sector, instead of the traditional defined benefit plan, and to calculate unaccrued pension benefits for current employees with a lower multiplier of 2 percent rather than 2.5 percent.

Estimated pension savings jump to $11 billion over 30 years when the defined contribution plan and lower multiplier proposals are added to the mix, according to the budget office.

There is debate over whether Pennsylvania can legally reduce even future pension benefits for current employees because of interpretations that the state constitution and case law define them as a contract between the state and its workers that can't be impaired. The legislation addresses that by providing for an automatic appeal of its constitutionality to the state Supreme Court upon enactment.

The purpose of the changes overall is to realize cost savings and make public pension benefits more fairer from the standpoint of taxpayers who foot part of the bill, said State Budget Secretary Charles Zogby. It would still leave public employees with a lucrative pension, he added.

The changes should not be viewed in isolation, but in the context of a public pension system that has not had any adjustments for inflation since 2001 yet seen major increases in the amount that employees contribute compared to government contributions, said Stephen Herzenberg, Ph.D., executive director of the Keystone Research Center, a Harrisburg think tank.

A 2010 state law reduced pensions for employees hired since that year by more than 20 percent through such steps as going to the lower multiplier, increasing the retirement age to 65 and extending the vesting period from 5 to 10 years, he said.

These changes are worthwhile to help bring costs in line, but they alone won't solve the problem with huge public pension debt due to underfunding of the pension systems by state government and school districts, said Richard Dreyfuss, a Hershey actuary who writes about pension issues for the Commonwealth Foundation, a Harrisburg think tank.

One change would curb the impact of any 11th hour spike in overtime pay by calculating pensions based on an average of an employee's final five years of salary instead of the current final three-year average.

Overtime pay is more of a factor with public safety employees, but many of them don't participate in Social Security. Using a five-year average would spread out the impact of having an overtime spike during one of those years, officials said.

This should make a pension more a reflection of earnings over a career than of a few years when someone gets a lot of overtime pay, said Mr. Zogby.

"The overtime is really racked up in the last year or two," he said. "That last three years drives the entire pension."

The second change highlighted above would calculate future pension benefits based on income up to an annual wage base set by Social Security. The base is currently set at $113,700. This would most likely affect veteran top-paid administrators and faculty at the public universities.

Fewer than one percent of the hundreds of thousands of members in PSERS and SERS receive pensions above the $113,000 level, said Mr. Herzenberg.

"It's a symbolic act," he said.

The third change would alter the formula to adjust the monthly pension benefits paid out if a current employee takes a lump sum payment based on their own contributions. Current pension rules allow retirees to withdraw any or all of the portion withheld from their own paychecks over the year, along with 4 percent interest, in a lump sum. The proposed formula change would prevent someone from getting a financial advantage on their monthly pension amount by taking the lump sum option, according to the budget office.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

A national drug court association will honor Lackawanna County Court's efforts to stop drug and alcohol addiction in the community and rehabilitate offenders.

On Wednesday, officials with the National Association of Drug Court Professionals will present representatives of the Lackawanna County Treatment Court with a national award in recognition of their contribution to the community.

Of the 2,700 treatment courts in the U.S., fewer than 1 percent receive the honor, according to the organization.

The county's treatment court is overseen by Judge Michael J. Barrasse, who along with Judge Vito P. Geroulo handle the majority of criminal cases on the local court docket.

Realizing the root of many crimes is alcohol and drug addiction, the court uses a medical and psychological approach to try to rehabilitate offenders rather than solely relying on incarceration for punishment.

Comprising judges, prosecutors, defense attorneys and clinical professionals, NADCP advocates taking the same approach.

Since April, represetatives of the nonprofit organization have been on a whistle-stop tour, heading to courthouses throughout the U.S. to recognize other successful treatment court programs. Dubbed the "All Rise America" road trip, they have been traveling more than 3,500 miles while visiting 50 treatment courts, DUI courts and veterans treatment courts.

Scranton is the last stop on the tour before a final ceremony in New York City on Friday.

State Attorney General Kathleen Kane will speak at the Scranton rally at the county courthouse at 2:30 p.m.

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

Citing the growing number of "bad guys" carrying modern firearms, Clarks Summit Police Chief Joe Laguzzi has requested that borough council purchase at least three semi-automatic rifles for the Police Department.

The AR-15's will cost the cash-strapped borough $1,200 each.

"The assault rifles appear to be the weapon of choice for bad guys, so our officers would be at a disadvantage if they ever encountered such a situation," Chief Laguzzi said. "Our biggest hurdle is funding."

In a recent letter addressed to council, Chief Laguzzi also cited the December shootings at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., as an example of why Clarks Summit police officers should have the resources to handle any situation.

Borough council probably will discuss the proposal at its June 5 meeting, Borough Manager Virginia Kehoe said.

Acknowledging the borough's limited financial wiggle room, Mayor Harry Kelly said officials probably will need to apply for grants to cover the costs, rather than dip into the general fund.

"Normally, Clarks Summit is pretty quiet," said Mr. Kelly, referring to the borough's crime rate. "But if grants are available, I would support it."

The majority of police departments in Lackawanna County own semi-automatic rifles, including nearby Waverly Twp. and South Abington Twp., Chief Laguzzi said.

A semi-automatic rifle provides officers with a more accurate weapon, a longer range and greater magazine capacity, he said. The rifle's magazines have a capacity of 30 rounds, compared to the handgun's eight or 10.

"If we are first responders in an active shooter instance, we need to be able to take charge of the situation," Chief Laguzzi said.

Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

Ashley Gries left Jessup's La Festa Dei Ceri after just 20 minutes on Saturday because she was too cold. A day later, the 23-year-old Scranton resident was comfortably riding her bicycle with two friends at Nay Aug Park.

The area's unseasonably chilly weather is ending just in time for Memorial Day.

Numerous Lackawanna County residents who got out to enjoy Sunday's relatively warm temperatures said they were planning the usual family get-togethers and cookouts today.

"It's nice after the 40 (degree) weather we've been having," 27-year-old Scranton resident Brooke Georgetti said during a walk in the 63-degree temperatures at the Scranton park on Sunday.

Accuweather senior meteorologist Michael Pigott forecast a high of 72 degrees today.

"By the end of the week, we'll have temperatures near 90," Mr. Pigott said.

Several people said Sunday's weather was perfect for physical activity, whether biking, jogging, kayaking or golfing.

"It's a nice day to run," said Alex Rivera, 26, of Scranton, who just resumed exercising after a winter and spring layoff last week. "It's not too cold. It's not too hot."

In addition to the bikers and joggers at Nay Aug Park, numerous people were walking dogs or pushing toddlers in strollers, at Lackawanna State Park, kayaking and fishing were underway, as the unofficial start of summer kicked off.

Ethan Edwards and Jackson Giordano, both 8-year-old Forty Fort residents, were using leaves to attract fish at the small pond in front of Nay Aug's Everhart Museum.

In Taylor, Pine Hills Country Club had its biggest turnout of any Sunday on which there was no golf tournament so far this year. Pro shop attendant Joe Loyek estimated 150 to 200 people hit the course.

Sunday may have provided ideal weather for running, biking, boating and golf, but a quiet day at the newly reopened Montage Mountain water park indicated area residents found the temperatures a bit too low for swimming.

That didn't stop Old Forge residents Rachel and John Woodsfrom swinging by with their children to confirm the park has reopened. Mr. Woods was thinking of taking the children to the water park within the next couple of weeks and wanted to check it out.

Back at Nay Aug, Jackson was not deterred by the weather, saying he was excited a community pool was due to open today. And Ethan's mother Lisa was planning a trip to Hershey Park or Hickory Run State Park for today.

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Hospital to host spring health fair

BLAKELY - A Lackawanna County hospital will host a free spring health fair Wednesday.

Starting at 8 a.m., people can visit Mid-Valley Hospital, 1400 Main St., for screenings or health assessments.

The four-hour-long event includes glucose screening, blood pressure, pulse oximetry, body mass index, diabetes risk assessment and vision assessment.

Appointments aren't necessary, and ample free parking will be available.