Gov. Tom Wolf wants to consolidate the state’s two largest pension funds if he wins a second term, state Sen. John Blake told The Times-Tribune today.

Blake, D-22, Archblald, who met with the newspaper’s editorial board, said he supports merging the State Employees’ Retirement System (SERS) and the Public School Employees’ Retirement System (PSERS). Blake is running for a third term against Republican Old Forge School Director Frank Scavo in the Nov. 6 general election.

While acknowledging such a merger could take many forms, Blake argued a consolidated pension system would eliminate duplicate investment fees and benefit members of both pension funds.

“(IF) you take SERS and PSERS, which sometimes are paying fees to the same investment managers, and you take all of their assets under management and put them together, you’ve created a larger fund that has better investment leverage, better ability to reduce fees and redundancy in investment management, and then you have the opportunity to ... do better by the members of both plans,” Blake said. “So, I’m all for that.”

As of the end of last year, SERS had nearly 240,000 members and maintained total fund assets of $29.1 billion. PSERS serves more than 600,000 public school employees and maintains assets worth approximately $53.5 billion as of June 30, 2017.

The Wolf administration did not immediately respond to a request for comment about the potential merger.

Blake also addressed the issue of school property tax elimination, calling Senate Bill 76 — a legislative proposal to abolish school property taxes and fund education by hiking the personal income and state sales taxes — “terrible tax policy.”

Hiking the personal income tax by 61 percent, as SB 76 entails, would put “half” of the state’s small businesses that pay the personal income tax rate out of business, Blake argued. The proposal also would absolve large corporations, from pharmaceutical companies to casinos and banks, of $3 billion in property tax payments annually and shift that burden onto the backs of regular citizens, he said.

“We have to find another revenue stream or look to slight adjustments in the sales-tax base to raise additional revenue to focus it on public education (and) to take the weight off fixed income households that can’t afford the rising cost,” Blake said. “There’s a way to do that without giving the corporate community a $3 billion tax break.”

The 22nd District includes all of Lackawanna County, as well as Pittston Twp. and Avoca, Dupont and Duryea boroughs in Luzerne County, and Barrett, Coolbaugh and Price townships in Monroe County. State legislators earn $87,180.27 annually.

Check back for updates.

Contact the writer:
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9141;
@jhorvathTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — A Dunmore woman faces a potentially lengthy prison sentence after admitting in Lackawanna County Court she supplied the drugs that caused a Midvalley man’s fatal overdose in December.

Noelle Svetlana Orazi, 22, 1508 Madison Ave., pleaded guilty to a felony count of drug delivery resulting in death during a brief appearance today before Judge Andy Jarbola.

Archbald police arrested Orazi in March and charged her in the death of A.J. Veno, 22, who fatally overdosed Dec. 15 at his borough home.

Jarbola delayed sentencing for Orazi, who remains jailed on $200,000 bail, pending the completion of a presentencing investigation.

The crime carries a maximum penalty of 40 years of imprisonment and a $25,000 fine, although the average sentence handed down to defendants statewide since 2014 is 6 ½ to 15 years.

Officers who investigated Veno’s death discovered two cellophane bags containing white residue in the bedroom where he overdosed. An autopsy found his death resulted from the combined effects of heroin laced with synthetic fentanyl, cocaine and a prescription antidepressant.

In an interview with investigators in late December, Orazi said she discussed getting drugs for Veno for $100 and later gave him heroin and cocaine after meeting with her supplier at a Wilkes-Barre barbershop Dec. 14, according to her arrest affidavit.

Under questioning by Jarbola, Orazi said she understood the implications of pleading guilty, including the rights she was surrendering and the possible sentence.

Deputy District Attorney Drew Krowiak told the judge the commonwealth will not prosecute Orazi on several related charges in exchange for her plea. In addition, prosecutors will not pursue a separate drug possession case against her dating from early December, he said.

Krowiak also agreed with Orazi’s attorney, Marjorie Barlow, that the defendant will receive credit at her sentencing for the time she has already spent in jail.

Contact the writer: dsingleton@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9132: @dsingletonTT on Twitter

PLAINS TWP. — One firefighter was injured and at least one cat died during a raging fire at a double-block home early Friday, according to firefighters.

The fire at 303-304 Farrell St. was reported around 6:50 a.m. and crews arrived to find the upper portion of the right half fully involved in flames, Plains Twp. Fire Department Capt. Michael Van Luvender said.

The fire began on the first floor and went up through the walls into the attic of the home, where it then spread to both sides of the property and caused the roof to collapse, he said.

With the homeowner safely outside, crews began trying to protect a nearby home that was under threat from the intense heat of the fire, he said. That structure sustained a broken window and some minor heat damage, he said.

Because of the intensity of the blaze, township firefighters joined by crews from Jenkins Twp. and Kingston fought it from the outside, Van Luvender said.

One firefighter suffered minor electrical burns to his hands when a power line came down on the hose he was holding, Van Luvender said. The firefighter was taken to Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center to be treated for non-life-threatening injuries.

One dog and one cat escaped the fire, but at least one other cat was killed.

Three people who lived on the left side of the building — including the owner — were displaced by the fire. The right side, where the fire originated, was unoccupied and undergoing renovations, Van Luvender said.

He said the fire did not appear suspicious, but that the cause was not yet known. A state police fire marshal was investigating.

COVINGTON TWP. — Part of Interstate 380 North is shut down as authorities respond to a multi-vehicle crash in the township today.

The seven-vehicle crash occurred in a construction zone in the northbound lanes, according to Trooper Bob Urban, a state police spokesman.

The crash was reported around mile marker 16 at about 1:30 p.m. There are four tractor trailers and three passenger vehicles involved. Injuries are reported but no fatalities, Urban said.

No further details were immediately available. Updated information will be released later today, Urban said.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON — A man who died after a crash in South Scranton is believed to have suffered a medical emergency before the accident, the Lackawanna County coroner’s office said today.

Charles Wright, 69, Scranton, died late Thursday in the emergency department at Geisinger Community Medical Center after he was involved in a single-car crash earlier in the evening, Deputy Coroner Louis Stefanelli said.

The crash, which happened in the 1500 block of Cedar Avenue, remains under investigation by city police, the coroner’s office said.

— DAVID SINGLETON

A Wayne County woman charged with bankruptcy fraud cannot be prosecuted because federal prosecutors took too long to bring her to trial, a judge ruled.

Senior U.S. District Judge James Munley said the U.S. attorney’s office violated the speedy trial rights of Linda Ferris by waiting a year to seek an indictment against her after a magistrate judge rejected her guilty plea. He dismissed the case and barred prosecutors from re-filing charges.

Ferris, of Newfoundland, agreed in February 2017 to plead guilty to making a false claim relating to a 2013 bankruptcy petition. She was scheduled to plead guilty in March 2017,but U.S. Magistrate Judge Karoline Mehalchick declined to accept the plea after Ferris expressed reservations.

According to a transcript of the hearing, Ferris was accused of failing to notify creditors she received a $194,000 settlement of a lawsuit.

At the plea hearing, Ferris acknowledged she did not report the settlement, but said she was acting on the advice of her bankruptcy attorney. Ferris said she still wanted to plead guilty, but Mehalchick rejected the plea, advising her that the crime required that she intentionally misled the bankruptcy court.

Under federal law, persons charged with a crime must be brought to trial within 70 days except under certain circumstances that allow time to be excluded from the calculation. Defendants often waive their speedy trial rights so there is more time to develop a defense.

Ferris did not do that. After her plea was rejected the case sat dormant for about a year before the U.S. attorney’s office secured an indictment charging her with concealing assets and an additional count of falsely reporting two properties she owned had secured liens against them. The charges carried a maximum penalty of five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

David Freed,U.S. Attorney for the Middle District of Pennsylvania, declined to comment on what went wrong with the case. In court documents, Assistant U.S. Attorney Evan Gotlob said the indictment was inadvertently filed under a new case number, instead of the original case number. He did not explain why there was a year-long delay in seeking an indictment, however.

Gotlob acknowledged Ferris’ speedy trial right was violated, but argued the government should be permitted to re-file the case because there was no allegation of prosecutorial misconduct.

Munley rejected the request. In his ruling the judge chided prosecutors, saying they provided no reason why the case languished for a year.

“With no legitimate reason for the delay, we find this to be negligence on the part of the government,” Munley said.

Dawn Mayko, spokeswoman for Freed, said the office is reviewing Munley’s decision to determine its options.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9137; @tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

A woman accused of crashing an ambulance she stole after a chase through two Olyphant and Dickson City Thursday night faces numerous felony counts filed by two police departments.

Stephanie Schwambach, 44, 125 Church St., Apt., A, Shillington, went to Geisinger Community Medical Center for treatment and a mental health evaluation after she crashed a Pennsylvania Ambulance vehicle into a tree behind some homes at Amhurst and Templeton Drives in Dickson City.

Olyphant police charged her with aggravated assault, fleeing, reckless endangerment, reckless driving, running a red light and stop signs, causing an accident, criminal mischief and receiving stolen property. Those charges cover the tense pursuit detailed in a criminal complaint filed by borough Patrolmen Dennis Sekelsky Jr., James DeVoe and Kevin Murphy.

Scranton Patrolman Greg Garvey charged theft in a separate complaint because police accused Schwambach of stealing Penn-31 from where it had been parked at GCMC.

A representative who answered the phone at Pennsylvania Ambulance said the company had no comment.

According to Olyphant’s complaint, authorities tracked the stolen ambulance using the vehicle’s GPS system.

Police spotted the vehicle driving north on South Valley Avenue and they turned on their lights and sirens. Schwambach did not stop. She collided with the rear bumper of another car as police tried to box her in. She also struck an Olyphant police cruiser during the chase.

The chase continued along Lackawanna Avenue through Olyphant and into Dickson City, where she crashed and demolished the ambulance in the Westwood Manor development.

Schwambach was injured and went to the hospital for treatment. No other injuries were reported.

Schwambach is now in the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail — $50,000 for Olyphant’s complaint and $25,000 for Scranton’s.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled 11 a.m. Oct. 29.

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

SCRANTON — John Tanis, caught with a dog, avoided jail Friday.

The 70-year-old Moosic resident, most recently convicted of abusing five dogs but who has a criminal history dating back four decades, must spend another year on probation for possessing a dog, which is a parole violation, a judge ruled Friday.

Tanis could have potentially gone to jail Friday to serve the remainder of his sentence but Lackawanna County Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle opted for supervision, noting that Tanis has spent 13 months under supervision without any violation until recent months.

Tanis, barred from possessing dogs, was caught with one and had it seized Monday by humane officers.

Tanis did not dispute Friday that he had a dog. His attorney, First Assistant Public Defender Joseph Kalinowski, said that Tanis thought he was being aboveboard, even going as far as to posting the dog license on his porch.

Assistant District Attorney Mike McGrath said that Tanis’ long history with authorities raises doubts on the efficacy of his probation and that a stint in jail is appropriate.

“It’s clear that probation is not solving the problem,” McGrath said. “If that were the case, we wouldn’t be here.”

Tanis said that he got the dog, a Doberman mix named Dobey, as protection after he was assaulted at his home in April. Moyle said that getting the dog without any kind of approval amounted to putting the cart before the horse. Tanis acknowledged that he did not follow procedure as he should have.

“Yes, it’s a violation, judge, but not every violation needs to be punished with jail,” Kalinowski said.

Tanis was convicted in December 2014 of five counts of animal cruelty and several summary citations; he was sentenced to one to two years in prison followed by three years of special probation under state supervision. Tanis left prison in April 2016.

State agents made regular contact with him without any violation from then until August, when a dog was discovered on his property. Earlier this month, Tanis asserted the dog was no longer there. They found it again Monday.

Dobey was placed into the custody of Lackawanna County Humane Officer Lisa Devlin, who is trying to seek placement in an adoptive home, District Attorney Mark Powell said.

Tanis said he sought Dobey after police in April charged his then roommate Joseph Bolin, 49, with simple assault for throwing a full can of beer at his head from across the kitchen. The two had been arguing over Bolin slamming the front door of the house, according to a criminal complaint.

That case is still pending in county court.

During the morning’s sentencing hearing, Moyle mulled if she could place Tanis back in his home at 816 Main St., a property perhaps as notorious as its resident. She had concerns that the Tanis home might be unfit to live in.

In August 2015, borough council voted unanimously to condemn the property. During the hearing, the district attorney’s office told the judge Tanis is working with the borough to bring the house up to code.

“The house is perfectly habitable or parole wouldn’t let me live there since 2016” Tanis said. “I think my house is great.”

Tanis, who has a monthly income of $900, also avoided serving any part of his new supervision under house arrest. Kalinowski said that cost could run up to $15 a day.

Moyle kept in place a key condition of Tanis’ supervision. Under no circumstances can he have a dog.

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

SCRANTON — A city man faces charges after police said he burglarized a home this morning.

Officers arrested Todd Hughes, 18, 1618 Jackson St., Scranton, after responding to a home on the 2000 block of Price Street about 5:50 a.m. A woman in the house called police and told them she heard a noise in the basement, then saw a man wearing a back pack leave an exterior basement door, police said. Hughes took off on foot when police arrived. They apprehended him after a brief chase.

Hughes later told officers he went in the basement in hopes of stealing money or metal, police said.

Hughes is charged with burglary held in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Oct. 29.

— CLAYTON OVER

MARRIAGE LICENSE

Jason William Depew and Mary Christine Kilker, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

John P. Mayer, Scranton, and Samantha Bucari, Kent, Wash., to Nuno Tavares Assuncao, Scranton; a property at 2129 Dorothy St., Scranton, for $66,300.

Edward James Jr. and Kimberly Weidow, Scranton, to Charles Richard and Mary Frances Ann Keller, Scranton; a property at 544 Leggett St., Scranton, for $138,000.

Patrick and Stacy L. Tierney and Stefanie L. Curyk, Lackawanna County, to Raymond Jr. and Valerie Martinez, Lackawanna County; three parcels in Fell Twp. for $179,000.

Jennifer Travagline, Scott Twp., and Tony Lynn and James M. Travagline, Northfield, N.J., to Copa Properties LLC, Fort Collins, Colo.; a property at 825 827 N. Bromley Ave., Scranton, for $107,200.

LA Investments LLC, Scranton, to Martier Realty LLC, Scranton; a property at 1028 Crown Ave., Scranton, for $25,000.

Rachael Pabis, executrix of the estate of Louisa Bronson, Blakely, to B&W H LLC, Dickson City; a property at 403 Third St., Blakely, for $50,000.

Christopher Beppler and Cherilee Murray, co-executors of the estate of Carole E. Beppler, Scranton, to Rodrigo Palomares, Scranton; two parcels in Scranton for $90,000.

Andrew A. Sr. and Ann Marie Fazio, Dunmore, to Yohannes Worku and Esther Good, Dunmore; a property at 1740-1742 Madison Ave., Dunmore, for $190,000.

Marissa Zang, executrix of the estate of Jean M. DeSantis, Scranton, to Sharon Ware, Scranton; a property at 306 N. Cabrini Ave., Scranton, for $37,000.

Yvonne Acosta, Fort Myers, Fla., to Stephen E. Page, Scranton; a property at 1303-1305 Schlager St., Scranton, for $127,660.

MarKoz Realty Inc., Throop, to Damski Builders and Design LLC, Archbald; a property in Throop for $110,000.

John Danella to Jordan and Adrienne Thomas; a property at 33 Steinbeck Drive, Moosic, for $415,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

John V. Ronchi, Olyphant, v. Amanda J. Ronchi, Lake Ariel; married Oct. 2, 2011, in Lackawanna County; George E. Gretz, attorney.

Tabatha Smith, Scranton, v. Nicole Smith, Kingsport, Tenn.; married May 8, 2015, in Scranton; pro se.

David J. Visoski, Scranton, v. Suzanne Gail Visoski, Scranton; married Oct. 28, 2006, in Scranton; David J. Ratchford, attorney.

BENCH WARRANTS

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

Antonio Lamont Wright, 636 Harrison Ave., Scranton; $1,056.

Leniea Burgina, 182 Charles St., Wilkes-Barre; $415.

Johnny Brown, 1408 Ash St., Scranton; $1,877.

James Robert Brown, 288 Hillside St., Edwardsville; $1,728.50.

Adonys Cabrera, 918 Myrtle St., Scranton; $395.

Martea Shanel Calderon, 64 W. Maple St., Wilkes-Barre; $891.50.

Roger Canfield, 1624 Lafayette St., Scranton; $909.

Vincent R. Chandler, 533 Harrison Ave., Apt. 1, Scranton; $1,563.50.

Catherine Cole, 801 Eighth St., Moosic Heights, Avoca; $759.

Connie Juanita Crosby, 45 S. Fulton St., Wilkes-Barre; $1,274.

Ashley Yodlosky, 513 N. Irving Ave., Scranton; $891.

ESTATES FILED

Catherine R. Caines, 534 First Ave., Jessup, letters testamentary to Timothy Borick, 102 Valley View Drive, Peckville, and Jean Marie Cuthbertson, 20709 Rainsboro Drive, Ashburn, Va.

Peter Godwin Loftus Jr., also known as Peter G. Loftus Jr., 104 Academy St., Waverly Twp., letters of administration to Mary Elizabeth Perron, 7 Maplewood Circle, Fulmouth, Maine.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

WILKES-BARRE

Rates will increase for Luzerne County Transportation Authority’s Shared Ride program as of Nov. 1.

The increase is needed to keep up with continuous service demands and increased operating costs such as fuel, payroll and insurance, according to an LCTA news release.

The new fare structure has been approved by the state Department of Transportation, according to LCTA. For information, visit www.lctabus.com/sharedrideprogram.html.

— ERIC MARK

Frank Scavo will vote to end school property taxes if elected to represent the 22nd State Senate District in Harrisburg.

The Republican Old Forge school director looking to unseat incumbent Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, is a solid “yes” on Senate Bill 76, a legislative proposal to eliminate school property taxes and fund education by hiking the personal income and state sales taxes. Despite state Independent Fiscal Office data suggesting SB 76 would produce significant education shortfalls within a matter of years, Scavo told the editorial board of The Times-Tribune on Thursday that the proposal will adequately fund schools and bring jobs to the state.

If passed, the bill will make Pennsylvania more business friendly by abolishing the school property taxes businesses pay, Scavo said. More businesses will move to the state and bring jobs, which will increase sales and income tax revenues to sufficiently fund schools, he argued.

“We can’t fund education correctly with the current property tax (system),” Scavo said, arguing the efficiency of the new system alone would produce $350 million in annual savings for school districts statewide. “I’m looking at a better way, a different way, 22nd-century thinking, to spread this tax burden out amongst everyone.”

The state Legislature also should consider reforms to relieve school districts of the rising costs of employee pensions, Scavo said, noting pensions are driving up the cost of education and forcing districts to raise property taxes. Shifting the pension burden from school districts to the state would allow districts to better fund school security and devote more money to the classroom, he said.

As proposed, SB 76 would raise the sales tax from 6 percent to 7 percent while also expanding the levy to dozens of exempt goods. To alleviate the pension burden, Scavo suggested raising it further, to 8 percent, and devoting the extra revenue to pensions.

“You know that I’m not the guy who wants to raise your taxes, except for demonstrated needs,” Scavo said. “So when they’re telling me ... 8 percent, I don’t think there’s any resistance to a sales tax because it’s consumption-based.”

He also suggested raising taxes on alcohol sales as a possible revenue stream for pensions, and said educators will have to increase their individual pension contributions.

The 22nd District includes all of Lackawanna County, as well as Pittston Twp. and Avoca, Dupont and Duryea boroughs in Luzerne County, and Barrett, Coolbaugh and Price townships in Monroe County. State legislators earn $87,180.27 annually. Election Day is Nov. 6.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Johnson College received a $76,974 Appalachian Regional Commission grant to help update the technical training systems at the college.

The college will provide a $76,974 match to the grant.

The funds will be used to purchase 12 different training systems that guarantee the students practical experience with high-technology tools and resources that employers expect them to use proficiently, the school said. The systems also reflect the latest developments in materials, tools, machinery, equipment, methods and techniques, according to the college.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

Oct. 19, 1943

Blood credit denied

to State Hospital

Attorney M.J. Martin, chairman of the Lackawanna County Civilian Defense Council, informed Sister Mary Martina, superintendent of Mercy Hospital, that she was no longer to extend blood credit to Scranton State General Hospital.

Martin said for months that the state hospital has been withdrawing blood from the bank at Mercy Hospital but not paying for the blood. The state hospital would be allowed to withdraw blood once the bill was paid in full and a guarantee made that future bills would be paid promptly.

‘La Traviata’ scheduled at Masonic Temple

The American Civic Opera Company presented Verdi’s opera “La Traviata” to a sold-out crowd at the Masonic Temple in Scranton. Starring in the production were Era Tognoli as Violetta, Ralph Sassan as Alfredo and Reed Lawton, company director, as Germont. The opera was conducted by Tord Benner.

Earlier in the day, the opera company presented a shortened version of the opera for area schoolchildren.

Local arrangements for the show were organized by the Scranton Opera Guild.

Sale at Scranton Talk

Diamond rings were $52.50, men’s suits priced between $24.75 and $34.75, men’s topcoats between $19.75 and $29.75, boys’ suits were $11.95, barrister hat was $3.95, a 14-piece coffee service was $3.94, a box of Gillette razor blades was 29 cents, a 72-by-90-inch blanket was $4.88 and a glass butter dish was 8 cents.

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.

Fifty years from now, the Keystone College community will get a look at a slice of 2018.

In memory of the institution’s 150th anniversary this year, a time capsule will be placed in the cornerstone of the soon-to-be-built Keystone Commons. The capsule will be opened in 2068, the institution’s bicentennial.

Items being placed in the time capsule have been collected from the college over the past few months to provide a snapshot of what’s currently being offered at Keystone.

The capsule will hold memorabilia such as a T-shirt and a hat with the college’s 150th anniversary logo, an academic catalog for 2018-19, a list of presidents of Keystone College, Keystone Academy and Keystone Junior College, the college’s 2018-to-2025 strategic plan, the spring 2018 edition of the Keystonian and letters from various faculty members.

Keystone College trustee Richard Krebs, co-chairman of the 150th anniversary committee, put the matter into perspective by asking what it would be like to open a time capsule rather than create one.

“I try to imagine 50 years ago, 1968,” he said. “What would the students of 1968 — a world in the midst of global upheaval, with no cellphones and no personal computers — think of our world here today in 2018? Would the students of 1968 be impressed or repulsed by our lives as they are today?

“When 2068 comes, it is very possible some of the people standing here today will be in that crowd when the capsule in unsealed,” Krebs said. “I wonder what their thoughts will be?”

Head women’s basketball coach Kristina Danella wrote a letter to be included in the time capsule.

“Although I just started in August of 2018, I already know what a special place Keystone is,” she wrote. “I have been all over the country coaching, and can honestly say that KC is my favorite for so many reasons. First of all, the campus is simply beautiful. If you haven’t ventured into the Trolley Trail behind the turf field, it is a must. I spend countless mornings walking there to clear my head before I start my day.”

Contact the writer:

cjmarshall@wcexaminer.com;

570-836-2123 x36

State House candidate Ernest Lemoncelli said he will recruit companies to move here from elsewhere to create jobs if he’s elected.

Lemoncelli told The Times-Tribune editorial board that representatives from Philadelphia, Lancaster County and elsewhere have traveled abroad to recruit companies.

“We didn’t even get a sniff of that. Why not?” he asked. “There’s over 6,000 foreign companies here with 330,000 employees. So I’m going to go talk to these people that are doing the liaisons with trade representatives overseas and see what we can do to bring some of that over here instead of somewhere else.”

Food manufacturers on the West Coast should be ripe for recruitment because of access to East Coast markets, he said.

“Technical support is something we can do here,” Lemoncelli said. “Now, it’s being done in Ireland. That’s the biggest spot for technical support.”

Lemoncelli, 63, a Republican from Archbald, faces Democrat Kyle Mullins for the 112th State House District seat. The 112th District includes all or parts of central city, the Hill Section and South Scranton in Scranton, and Archbald, Blakely, Dunmore, Jessup, Olyphant and Throop boroughs.

The salary is $87,180.27 this year.

Lemoncelli said he still favors increasing sales and income taxes and using the revenue to eliminate school property taxes, but said he opposes taxing food and clothing as the main property tax elimination proposal suggests.

“The more people I talk to, the more I think it’s a good idea because a lot of people on fixed incomes can’t afford what’s happening,” he said. “The average property tax since 1993 has gone up 146 percent and weekly average wage has gone up 80 percent. It’s not sustainable. ... Nobody should lose their home for a tax.”

Lemoncelli said he opposes imposing a natural gas extraction tax to replace the existing impact fee. He fears a tax would chase existing natural gas companies to other states.

“I think they’re already paying enough tax now,” he said.

He favors reducing the size of the state House to about 150 representatives, lengthening members’ individual terms from two to four years and limiting legislators to 12 years in office.

He favors shifting to a 401(k) pension plan for new employees, but not altering existing employees’ pension plans.

He also favors requiring metal detectors in schools with armed security officers to reduce the chances of school shootings.

“Just like they do in the capital, just like they do at the courthouse,” Lemoncelli said. “We know how to protect the politicians and I think the kids ought to have the same security.”

However, he opposes additional gun-control laws, including limiting purchases to one gun a month.

“No, can you buy one car a month?” he asked, pointing out some terrorists use cars as weapons. “It doesn’t matter how many guns I need. Why should I be restricted because you’re a crook?”

He favors background checks if there’s a sound database that tracks criminal convictions and mental health issues.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

Archbald

Turkey dinner: Hricak McAndrew American Legion Post 869 annual turkey dinner and basket raffle, Nov. 4, noon-4 p.m., post home, 161 S. Main St.; $10, takeouts available; post, 570-876-1616, or Jerry Heid, 570-489-5423.

Jessup

Rigatoni dinner: Queen of Angels Parish, Jessup, annual rigatoni and meatball dinner, Saturday, Oct. 27, 3:30-5:30 p.m., takeout only, and Sunday, Oct. 28, 11:30 a.m.-3 p.m., takeout or eat-in, noon-2 p.m.; $10/adults, $5/children under 12; Madonna Hall, 605 Church St., Jessup. Contact: 570-489-2252.

Keyser Valley

Halloween party: Keyser Valley Senior Citizens Halloween party, Monday, 12:30 p.m., community center, games and refreshments follow.

Citizens meet: Keyser Valley Citizen’s Association meeting, Monday, 7 p.m., Keyser Valley Community Center, 101 N. Keyser Ave.

Ledgedale

Turkey party: Turkey party, Nov. 3, Ledgedale Volunteer Fire Company, first spin, 7 p.m., prizes, free refreshments.

Riverside School

District

Early dismissal: Riverside School District Act 80 Day early dismissal for elementary schools, Oct. 31; East, 11 a.m., and West, 11:30; parents urged to make necessary arrangements.

Scranton

Scholarship luncheon: Century Club 75th annual Nurses Scholarship Luncheon, Oct. 29, noon, $25; 570-342-0204 by Oct. 25.

Basketball registration: Holy Rosary basketball registration, Saturday, 9 a.m.-noon, and Sunday, noon-3 p.m., Holy Rosary Center, boys and girls grades K-8.

Haunted school: Kennedy Elementary haunted school, today and Saturday, 6-9 p.m., scary tour through the school, $2/students and $3/adults; proceeds support student fund.

CLIPBOARD ITEMSmay be sent to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

Local nurses awarded

Michael Bach, from Tunkhannock, received the Outstanding Penn State World Campus Alumnus Award.

Bach specializes in hospice care and is a registered nurse, according to the university. He earned his associate degree in nursing from Penn State Scranton and his Bachelor of Science in nursing from Penn State World Campus. Bach holds a Ph.D. from Binghamton University and is a Tunno Family Scholarship recipient at Penn State.

Bach worked in an intensive care unit after receiving his associate degree and did not have time for traditional classes to complete his bachelor’s degree. So he enrolled in Penn State’s online program.

During that time, he was hospitalized with a bone infection but his advisers helped him see he could still meet his class objectives.

He ended up only missing a week and a half of classes, never missed an assignment and graduated on time.

Bach said that through this experience he found a love for teaching and sharing his excitement for nursing, according to the university. He has educated other nurses in New York, Florida and Pennsylvania. He also completed a post-doctoral fellowship, which took him to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health in Pittsburgh.

“Through all of these opportunities, I have found that I am a lifelong learner and truly appreciate education and how it can change a life,” Bach said.

Bach received the award during the Penn State Outreach and Online Education Appreciation Dinner on Oct. 11 at the Nittany Lion Inn on the Penn State University Park campus.

High notes

Jennifer White, Carlos Figueroa and Daniel Mozeleski were recently honored by the Old Forge School District and board members for decisive action and outstanding lifesaving effort after a student employee suffered a brain aneurysm on the district’s campus this summer.

Also during the Oct. 4 ceremony, Old Forge police officers, including Jason Dubernas, Nicholas Lugin, Kimberly Davies and David Kimble, were honored for outstanding and dedicated service in ensuring safety of the students.

Robert Gillette Jr. was honored for his generous support in helping honor students and their parents during the 2017-18 school year.

Locals abroad

Rescue & Restore Church Rev. Jack Munley was joined by mission team members, including Anita McCoy, Brenda Carle, Lyle and Miriam Turner and Linda Munley, on a trip to Kenya, Africa.

There, the team from the Olyphant church spread the good news of the gospel and visited schools and orphanages to distribute stuffed animals, flip-flops, school supplies, candy, toys and food.

The team also organized a soccer and volleyball tournament in the poor and crime-ridden village of Njathini.

The Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce recently announced the finalists for the 2018 Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence, or SAGE Awards. The awards honor outstanding local businesses for talent, creativity and innovation.

Nearly 100 applications were received. More than 40 community leaders and professionals review applications and select finalists.

The winners will be announced Dec. 7 at the Chamber Gala at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center. All finalists can also win the People’s Choice Award, chosen by a communitywide online vote available at www.scrantonchamber.com from Oct. 29 through Nov. 2.

The finalists in each category are:

Best practices in community involvement: Commonwealth Health Emergency Medical Solutions; Dime Bank; and NET Credit Union.

Best practices in customer service: Hilton Scranton & Conference Center; Scranton/Wilkes-Barre RailRiders; and Woodloch Resort.

Best practices in marketing and communications: Lewith & Freeman Real Estate; Posture Interactive; and Woodloch Pines.

Business of the year: Little Acres Learning Academy; Lockheed Martin Missiles and Fire Control; and Woodloch Resort.

Excellence in leadership: Drucker & Scaccetti; Little Acres Learning Academy; and Pepperjam.

Fastest growing company: Fidelity Deposit and Discount Bank; Posture Interactive; and We Talk Shirty.

Hometown star: Borough of Dunmore: “Hometown Hero Banner Program”; Ronald McDonald House: “Show Your Stripes 5K”; and University of Scranton: “Downtown Scavenger Hunt.”

New and emerging business of the year: Electric City Escape; Meal Prep Grind; and Quest Studio.

Nonprofit organization of the year: Meals on Wheels Community Services of NEPA; Outreach Center for Community Resources; and Women’s Resource Center.

Pride and progress, exterior renovations: Horizon Dental Care; Lackawanna College; and Tobyhanna Army Depot.

Pride and progress, interior renovations: AllOne Health; Delta Medix; and Greater Scranton YMCA.

Pride and progress, new construction: Gertrude Hawk Chocolates; Pennsylvania American Water; and Thomas McLane Associates.

Small business of the year: Horizon Dental Care; Posture Interactive; and Tsunami Self Defense Systems.

Women of excellence: Nikki Moser, Marywood University; Maura Smith, Pepperjam; and Talia Walsh, Quest Studio.

Clarks Green

Family day: Free family day at Clarks Green Assembly of God, Saturday, Oct. 27, 5-8 p.m., trunks and treats, bounce houses, food trucks, petting zoo, balloons, pony rides, pumpkin painting, candies, treats, prizes, surprises; 204 S. Abington Road, Clarks Green. Contact: 570-586-8286 or cgassembly.com.

Dickson City

Welsh cookies: Bradley Memorial United Methodist Church, 106 Lincoln St., Dick­son City, homemade Welsh cookie sale, Nov. 10, $5/dozen; deadline for orders, Oct. 29. Contact: Joan, 570-383-4868, or Pat, 570-489-8735.

Dunmore

Turkey spin: Post 3474 turkey spin, Saturday, Oct. 27, 2-5 p.m., open to the public; turkey, ham, kielbasa; 110 Chestnut St.

Elmhurst Twp.

Card party: Women of Elmhurst Country Club card party/luncheon, noon, Friday at the club; this is the last luncheon of the season. Reservations: Pidge Rebar, 570-842-3443.

Jermyn

Trunk and treat: Free community health fair and trunk-and-treat event, Sunday, Oct. 28, 10 a.m.-2 p.m., Wright Center for Primary Care Mid Valley, 5 S. Washington Ave., Jermyn, trunk and treat at 11:30 a.m.-1 p.m. Contact: Betsy McGrath, 570-507-0088.

Mayfield

Christmas bazaar: St. John’s Mayfield Christmas bazaar, Nov. 9-11, church center on Hill Street, Mayfield. Contact: 570-876-0730, 570-254-6882 or 570-876-0391.

Moosic

Halloween party: After 50 Halloween party, Thursday, 1 p.m., Greenwood Hose Company, Birney Avenue.

Peckville

Pasta dinner: Nadine Cenci Marchegiani Foundation annual takeout or eat-in pasta dinner, Saturday, Nov. 3, 5-8 p.m., Café Soriano, 523 Main St., Peckville. Reservations for eat-in, call 570-383-5425 by Oct. 31; $12/dinners, $3.50/porketta sandwiches, basket raffles. Contact: 570-499-1794.

Roast beef dinner: Roast beef dinner at Peckville United Methodist Church, 732 Main St., Saturday, Nov. 3, takeout only, 3:30-5 p.m.; $12/donation in advance, $14/donation at the door. Contact: 570-489-6093 or 570-489-8042.

Book sale: Valley Community Library’s fall book sale Wednesday, Nov. 7, Thursday, Nov. 8, 10 a.m.-7 p.m., Gino Merli Room of the library; prices vary from 25 cents to $2; 739 River St., Peckville. Contact: 570-489-1765.

Scranton

Coat drive: Winter coats and winter outerwear collected and given out at Elm Park United Methodist Church, Nov. 1 and Nov. 2, 9 a.m.-5 p.m., Nov. 3, 9 a.m.-3 p.m.

Veterans outreach: A representative from the American Legion Service Office Outreach program will be in state Rep. Marty Flynn’s office, Jay’s Commons, 409 N. Main Ave., 10 a.m.-1 p.m. Wednesday, to provide information on services available to veterans and their families. Contact: 570-342-4348.

Susquehanna County

Halloween party: Annual Halloween party, American Legion Unit 154 Auxiliary, 14515 Route 3001, Montrose, Oct. 28, 1-3 p.m., fun, games, prizes, children to age 12.

Throop

Pork dinner: Roast pork dinner sponsored by Throop United Methodist Church, today, 4 to 7 p.m.; takeouts, 2-4, $10/adults, $5/children under 12.

CLIPBOARD ITEMSmay be sent to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.