The state attorney general’s office filed a lawsuit against a Pike County contractor accused of scamming a homeowner out of $21,000.

The suit, filed in Pike County Court against Erika Sherlock, Torrie Kolb and T.E.N. LLC, alleges the company failed to perform renovations or did so in a substandard manner.

In a press release, Joe Grace, spokesman for state Attorney General Josh Shapiro, said a consumer paid the company $11,000 to install a roof before work began then later paid an additional $10,000. The company removed the roof, then demanded an additional $8,000 to continue the work.

The lawsuit further alleges that the company committed several violations of the Consumer Protection Law and the Home Improvement Consumer Protection Act, including failing to respond to complaints and refund requests and performing deficient work.

Any other consumers who feel they were victimized by T.E.N. should file a complaint with the Bureau of Consumer Protection by calling 1-800-441-255 or online at www.attorneygeneral.gov.

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

Organizers of the inaugural Lackawanna County Heritage Fair are looking for vendors, sponsors, charities, churches and other organizations to help make the five-day festival a more robust affair.

Running from May 29 through June 2 at Montage Mountain Resorts in Scranton, the fair will feature a midway with rides and other attractions, entertainment, performance artists and access to the resort’s water park. To bolster the heritage element of the event, organizers seek local civic and nonprofit organizations, churches and others to enrich the fair with cultural elements, from ethnic foods to displays and performances highlighting a different groups’ economic and social contributions to life in Lackawanna County and across the region.

“I’m hoping that we can bring everyone together,” said fair operations manager Toni Graytock, who has been reaching out to the community to recruit participants. “I want to bring everyone together under one roof.”

While the fair will feature some agricultural elements as they relate to culture — organizers welcome participation by local 4-H clubs, the state Department of Agriculture and similar groups, for example — the event’s primary theme is “heritage of the area.”

“That’s the one component that everybody can relate to,” said Armand Olivetti, chairman of both the Lackawanna County Fair and Recreation Authority and fair board. “We all want to learn about ourselves.”

Officials described this year’s theme as a foundation to build upon with future fairs, which likely will incorporate more elements of the region’s industrial past, such as coal mining and railroads. In the meantime, groups or individuals interested in participating in the upcoming fair can find vendor forms and more information online at: lackawannacountyheritagefairs.com.

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

As the Scranton School District begins its financial recovery process amid a corruption investigation, five applicants want to be the next member of the school board.

Robert Casey resigned from the board last month, citing his job as a state auditor as his reason for leaving. The successful applicant will only hold the seat until December and must run for election in May’s primary to keep a spot on the board.

Applications were due at noon today. Applicants are:

n Pedro Luis Anes, of Beech Street, chairman of the Scranton Human Relations Commission with 30 years of management experience.

n Tom Borthwick, of North Sumner Avenue, a Riverside teacher and an adjunct professor, and a previous candidate with nearly four years as vice chairman of the Scranton Parking Authority.

n Sarah Cruz, of East Market Street, a sales associate at Boscov’s who holds a bachelor’s degree from Marywood University.

n Catherine Fox, of Philo Street, student life coordinator/veterans advisor at Lackawanna College and an adjunct professor.

n Lee Morgan, of Stafford Avenue, a truck driver and frequent critic of city government.

Four of the applicants — Anes, Borthwick, Cruz and Fox — applied for another vacant seat in November. The board chose Greg Popil for the seat, and Anes, Borthwick and Cruz were among six people who tied for second place.

In December, the board faced criticism when it appointed Gopal Patel without seeking applicants or allowing for public comment — a violation of the state’s Sunshine Act. Directors said they will follow their own policy when selecting Casey’s replacement.

The board will hold a special meeting at 6:30 p.m. Monday in the board room of the Administration Building to interview and appoint a new director. A work session will follow.

Board President Barbara Dixon said that in coming months, with the district’s chief recovery officer, Candice Finan Ed.D., making a plan to move the district toward solvency, directors will face tough decisions.

“We have great teachers and a community that depends on us, but most importantly, we have students who depend on us,” Dixon said. “Everyone is going to have to work together. We have to be a collaborative team.”

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE — A former Times Leader photographer accused of exposing himself while on a photo shoot at a Plymouth business was found not guilty Thursday.

A jury found Clark Van Orden, 68, not guilty of misdemeanor counts of indecent exposure and open lewdness after about 50 minutes of deliberations. Afterward, Luzerne County Judge Michael T. Vough found Van Orden not guilty on a summary count of disorderly conduct and released him, saying he had been exonerated.

“Clark’s a good and decent man and I am convinced beyond all doubt that Clark didn’t do these things,” defense attorney Joseph F. Sklarosky Sr. said after the verdict. “This lady misinterpreted, I think, him reaching for his groin. ... He was scratching himself and she just took it the wrong way.”

Prosecutors alleged Van Orden was on assignment at the Plymouth Flea Market on Dec. 10, 2016, when he exposed his penis to co-owner Nancy McEntee. Van Orden tesified in his own defense Wednesday that he had scratched an itch without thinking while in McEntee’s presence, but denied ever exposing himself.

The defense maintained McEntee and her husband targeted Van Orden as part of an effort to “shakedown” the Times Leader for cash.

McEntee declined to comment after the verdict.

During closing arguments, Assistant District Attorney Angela Sperrazza maintained McEntee’s testimony had been credible, and that the defense theory of a shakedown doesn’t hold up.

She noted The Citizens’ Voice first reported a story about the flea market without incident. For the jury to buy into the shakedown theory, jurors would have to believe McEntee and her husband were “so cunning” they knew to immediately call 911 and that they specifically targeted Van Orden, who at the time was working as a freelancer for the Times Leader.

“They didn’t pick anybody from The Citizens’ Voice. They didn’t pick the (Times Leader’s) reporter. They picked Clark,” Sperrazza said. “None of these things add up or make sense.”

The prosecutor noted that the statute of limitations expired without the McEntees filing a lawsuit or reaching a settlement. She also downplayed the significance of McEntee not knowing if Van Orden is circumcised when she was quizzed by Sklarosky on Wednesday.

“Nancy McEntee was shocked. She was uncomfortable,” Sperrazza said. “So no, she may not have taken the time to examine every part of his anatomy. But she saw a penis.”

But during his closing, Sklarosky attacked McEntee’s credibility, arguing her version of events doesn’t stand up to scrutiny.

“This case is going to rise or fall on credibility,” Sklarosky said. “The commonwealth has woefully not met their burden of proof in this case.”

He noted Van Orden was wearing a name badge featuring his photo and his company name at the time of the incident, and that McEntee has provided varying accounts of whether another woman had been present at the table where Van Orden allegedly exposed himself.

Although McEntee claimed Van Orden had bumped into people in his haste to leave, she made no effort to identify those people to back up her account, Sklarosky noted.

Instead, McEntee “quickly hired a lawyer,” Sklarosky said. On the stand Wednesday, McEntee told the jury she retained counsel because she “needed a lawyer to defend me,” he reminded the jury.

“Why would she say something like that?” Sklarosky asked. “She didn’t need any defending. She didn’t do anything wrong. Or did she?”

Contact the writer:

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com

570-821-2058

The parents of a 20-month-old West Scranton girl who died in August after a portable air conditioner overheated the small room where she slept face felony charges over her death.

Scranton Police detectives charged Austin Heaton, 20, and Mary Cole, 18, both of 1306 Rundle St., Scranton, with felony counts of involuntary manslaughter and other charges for the death of their daughter, Nicole S. Heaton. The girl was found unresponsive in the Rundle Street home on Aug. 12, and rushed to Moses Taylor Hospital’s emergency room, where she died of hyperthermia and dehydration.

The toddler overheated in a small, “really hot” room because of an improperly operated portable air conditioner, which heated rather than cooled down the room, according to police. The air conditioning unit was not properly installed and acted as a “furnace,” detectives wrote in charging documents.

The parents also failed to properly supervise Nicole and her 8-month-old brother, who also slept in the hot room but survived, police said.

Heaton and Cole turned themselves in Thursday. They also each face misdemeanor counts of recklessly endangering another person and endangering the welfare of children.

Check back for updates.

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

A two-car crash today at 866 Business Route 6 in Archbald sent two people to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The crash, which occurred shortly after noon, briefly closed with the westbound lanes of the highway, Archbald Police Officer Mike Fenton said.

STROUDSBURG — David R. Green, the man who police say gunned down a sewage enforcement officer at the Paradise Township municipal building in November, will face trial in Monroe County Court, a district judge ruled today.

Police say Green, a 72-year-old township resident, was silently waiting in the parking lot of the municipal building at 5912 Paradise Valley Road on Nov. 27 until Michael Tripus, the township’s sewage enforcement and backup zoning officer, came to work.

Green then entered the municipal building and asked to speak to Tripus, a man he barely knew, police said. The two men spoke briefly before Green opened fire and killed Tripus, police said.

Thursday’s hearing before District Judge Phillip Riley included testimony from two state troopers in the case and a 18-minute-long video showing Green’s confession. The video was shown in court, with Green appearing detached.

At the start of the video, Green directed a statement to the victim’s wife saying, “I want to apologize for hurting your husband.”

“I drove over there, I talked to Mike then I don’t know what happened,” Green says in the video. “I shot him. Then it was over.”

Neither Green’s attorney nor the prosecutor commented after the hearing.

After the shooting, Green placed his gun down on Tripus’ desk and was arrested when police arrived. His co-workers frantically tried to save Tripus, but he was pronounced dead at the scene.

After he was arraigned on a count of homicide, Green told reporters, “I don’t know why I did it.”

According to the court documents, a neighbor told them Green, who lived in the 300 block of Sugarbush Road in Paradise Township, had ongoing issues with the township over mold, septic problems and permits, which police believe to be the motive behind the killing.

During a recorded police interview, Green told investigators he had previously dealt with Tripus when he lived in Pocono Twp., where Tripus also worked as a zoning and sewage enforcement officer.

Green told police the previous interaction he had with Tripus in Pocono Twp. was the result of a septic issue with his neighbor, however he said he never actually met Tripus in person, records show.

In Pocono Twp., Tripus, 65, had one minor dealing with Green, officials there said. Green had a rubbish violation from 2016 while he lived in the township.

“Mike sent him a nice letter and within two months it was cleaned up,” Dee Ackerman, the assistant to the zoning officer there told The Morning Call last year.

Green’s home in Pocono Township burned down in December and he moved to Paradise in July.

Contact the writer: 610-820-6595; mgamiz@mcall.com; @mannypantalones on Twitter

SCRANTON — City police are looking for a woman accused of stealing medication from her employer.

Angelina Padden, 29, of Scranton, is charged with theft by unlawful taking, receiving stolen property and possession controlled substance.

While she was an employee at Scranton Health Care Center, police said she stole medications from the facility.

Anyone who knows Padden’s whereabouts should call 911.

— CLAYTON OVER

SCRANTON — Danee Mower died almost instantly after she landed in the Lackawanna River on Feb. 28, 2017, a forensic pathologist testified today in Ryan Taylor’s homicide trial in Lackawanna County Court.

Dr. Gary Ross said the water was just 38 degrees when emergency crews pulled her out of the river. Water that cold can cause the human body to experience “uncontrolled gasping” that fills the lungs with water, leading to near-instant death.

Ross’s testimony appears to be in line with testimony of an eyewitness, who on Wednesday said Mower did not scream or show any sign she was attempting to escape from the water.

Taylor, 26, is on trial for first- and third-degree murder for allegedly pushing Mower, 28, into the river following a confrontation on the riverbank near West Olive Street. Ross, who performed the autopsy, said Mower died from drowning and hypothermia.

Taylor denies he pushed Mower. His attorney, Matthew Comerford, said he expects Taylor will testify in his own defense.

In his cross examination of Ross, Comerford indicated Taylor may claim Mower fell into the water after suffering a seizure brought on by smoking “spice,” a powerful, synthetic marijuana. Medical records show Mower had a history of smoking the drug and twice suffered seizures because of it, he said.

Ross acknowledged he has no direct knowledge of how Mower ended up in the river. His information comes solely from the police investigation. He roundly rejected Comerford’s implication Mower suffered a seizure before the plunge, however.

Toxicology tests showed Mower had no drugs, illegal or legal, in her system at the time of her death, he said. He also noted the purported seizures Mower suffered were described as “pseudo seizures” by medical professionals.

“Pseudo means false,” Ross said.

Prosecutors — Sara Varela and Cathy Tully, both deputy district attorneys, and Bo Loughney, an assistant district attorney — expect to conclude their case Friday with the testimony of several city detectives who contend Taylor confessed. It was not clear whether the defense will present its case Friday or if the trial before Judge Andy Jarbola will stretch into Monday.

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

Property owners in the Old Forge School District may see $3.4 million of their tax dollars paid to a fired teacher and former principal.

During a vote on the school district’s preliminary budget Wednesday, President Frank Scavo claimed that fellow director Christopher Thomas, who was fired in 2017, is seeking the payout for a breach of his July 2017 settlement.

Thomas said he was unaware of any dollar amount associated with the grievance and did not know how Scavo arrived at the $3.4 million figure.

District business manager and Right to Know law officer Brian Rinaldi told The Times-Tribune to file a Right to Know law request for the grievance, adding that it likely would be denied.

In November, the Old Forge School Board voted to deny the initial grievance filed by Thomas. The district teachers union filed a second, similar grievance on Thomas’ behalf, claiming that a confidentiality agreement in Thomas’ $130,000 secret settlement agreement was violated, Scavo said. In the agreement, Thomas was allowed to resign despite being fired at a board meeting in March 2017.

The newspaper used the state’s Right to Know law to force the disclosure of the settlement in February 2018. The newspaper also reported on April 22, 2017, months before the settlement agreement, that Thomas was fired. Scavo, who motioned to fire Thomas during the 2017 board meeting, repeatedly verified that Thomas was fired. His termination is also in the district’s school board meeting minutes from March 2017.

The reason Thomas was terminated is not included in the settlement. In July, the newspaper reported that Thomas, also a former principal, was fired for using a district-issued iPad to download pornography and visit sex-solicitation websites. When asked to return the iPad, Thomas claimed it was missing.

Thomas is able to file the grievance through the union despite no longer being a teacher because members are protected under the association for a limited amount of time, said Jessica Sabol, Northeastern Region spokeswoman for the Pennsylvania State Education Association.

“Arbitrations do take time and Mr. Thomas is within the window of time to be able to file such grievance,” she said.

Matthew Cravitz, attorney for the education association, refused to address the cost associated with the grievance, which is now in arbitration.

Scavo said he is waiting for an answer from Rinaldi and solicitor Joseph Mariotti on whether the district would have to foot the entire bill for a settlement, or insurance would pick up the cost.

Scavo added that he is unsure when the board will vote on Thomas’ grievance filed by the teachers union.

On Wednesday, Scavo voted against the district’s $13.6 million preliminary budget because it does not include money for a possible settlement.

Other directors argued that it is not common for the district to budget for settlements.

“Every lawsuit concerns us,” said director Alisha Hudak. “None of it is budgeted.”

Contact the writer: kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114; @kbolusTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Testimony in Ryan Taylor’s homicide trial Wednesday focused on a Scranton couple who witnessed victim Danee Mower plunge into the Lackawanna River.

Ruth Catalano said she and her late husband, Salvatore, initially thought the two people — one dressed in a red shirt, the other in black — they saw tussling on the riverbank near West Olive street on Feb. 28, 2017, were fooling around. They were stunned when they saw the person in red kneeling over the other person on the ground. He then reached down and flipped the person into water.

“He nonchalantly walked away, like nothing happened,” she testified under questioning by Lackawanna County Deputy District Attorney Cathy Tully. “We didn’t know what to do. It was shocking.”

Salvatore Catalano described a similar scene when he testified at Taylor’s preliminary hearing in July 2017. Catalano died in September 2017,but prosecutors were permitted to read his testimony into the trial record.

Neither of the Catalanos could identify Taylor, who is on trial for first- and third-degree murder, as Mower’s assailant. Their description of the man as wearing a red shirt proved crucial to identifying Taylor as the suspect. Taylor, dressed in a red hoodie, was the only person in the area at the time wearing red, they said.

Taylor, 26, denies he is the person that pushed Mower, his attorney, Matthew Comeford said in his opening statement Tuesday. He said Taylor contends he suffered a seizure while he was with Mower on the riverbank and awoke to find her gone. An autopsy determined she died from drowning and hypothermia.

On Wednesday, Comerford repeatedly noted police never took a written statement from Ruth or Salvatore Catalano. He also pointed out a discrepancy between the Catalanos’ version of events and statements Taylor allegedly made in a confession to police.

Police said Taylor, who denies he confessed, said he pushed Mower into the river from a railroad bridge, which is about 11 feet above the water. Both Catalanos said the confrontation took place on level area on the riverbank a few feet above the river. Comerford also noted Taylor was wearing a hat when police questioned him at the scene. Ruth Catalano said Mower’s assailant did not have a hat on.

In other testimony Wednesday, Scranton Police Lt. Marty Crofton said the river was running high and fast that day, but Mower landed in a shallow area near the riverbank that had no current. She was found face down in the water. He did not know the depth of the water, but it was about waist high to chest high on firefighters who retrieved Mower.

The trial concluded around 1:30 p.m. due to weather conditions. It’s scheduled to resume at 9:30 a.m. today before Judge Andy Jarbola. Witnesses scheduled to testify include the firefighter who retrieved Mower and Dr. Gary Ross, who conducted the autopsy.

Contact the writer:

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

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

As chief recovery officer for the Scranton School District, Candis Finan, Ed.D., sees her mission as one that will impact more than just 10,000 students.

“It’s about the community,” said Finan, retired superintendent of the Delaware Valley School District. “It would be horribly embarrassing if the district failed, then the whole city failed. Then who wants to live here? It’s a whole combination. It’s not right, and it doesn’t have to happen.”

The state appointed Finan earlier this month to lead recovery efforts and prepare a plan that will address how the struggling district can find financial solvency. Since 2013, the Scranton School District has accumulated a general fund deficit of $28.6 million and has borrowed money and used other one-time revenue to pay bills. Just in the last three years, the board voted to borrow about $30 million to pay for expenses like salaries, textbooks and copier paper.

“It will take time. There’s no magic wand,” Finan said. “I am convinced with a plan and with good people, honesty and transparency, we can get there.”

Cutting costs

Finan, who lives in Susquehanna County, spent 14 years as superintendent and 13 years as assistant superintendent of Delaware Valley in Pike County.

When she became the district’s leader, she took over a district deep in debt, with about 18 percent of the annual budget allocated for debt payments, she said. Yearly tax increases, with the percentage sometimes in the double digits, frustrated taxpayers.

Finan, who teaches college-level school finance classes, began making changes.

She instituted purchasing protocols, requiring all school supplies and materials be procured at the start of the school year unless an emergency occurred. Surplus money at the end of the year went to making extra debt payments or to a capital reserve fund to make improvements, which the district often paid for in cash.

Bidding out transportation services saved the district $250,000 a year. Finan monitored bidding other items, such as gas and oil prices, and requested bids when the district could see the most savings. The district also increased its collection rates for delinquent taxes.

By the time she retired in 2012, she had eliminated all of the district’s debt, which helped the district finance a new elementary school at low interest rates.

Since her retirement, Finan has served as an education consultant for Nebraska-based McPherson & Jacobson and worked as an adjunct professor at local colleges. She holds a bachelor’s degree in secondary education/English from Penn State, a master’s degree in reading education from the University of Scranton and a doctorate in educational administration from Fordham University.

Creating a plan

Of 500 districts statewide, Scranton joined five others in financial recovery. The state placed Chester Upland, Duquesne City, York and Harrisburg in recovery in 2012. The state placed Scranton and Penn Hills in recovery last month. Chester Upland and Duquesne City are now under state receivership. No district has left recovery.

Recovery plans for other districts include layoffs, outsourcing, consolidation and wage cuts.

Since Finan’s appointment by the state earlier this month, she has gathered data and read reports from PFM, the consulting firm that acts as the district’s financial monitor.

In its latest report, PFM suggested closing two elementary schools, moving fifth grade to intermediate buildings and outsourcing custodial jobs. Finan will take it all under advisement.

State school code calls for recovery officers to present a plan within 90 days of appointment. Finan said she will meet the May deadline. The broad plan will include measurable outcomes and goals for the district to eliminate the structural deficit.

Finan plans on examining everything from the cost of copiers to the cost of building operations. With the district having $199.5 million in debt as of 2017, taxpayers cannot afford additional bonds, she said.

Finan plans to be in the district at least several days a week and also plans to attend school board meetings. She will visit each school in the district before making any decisions on consolidations or renovations.

“It’s going to be scary probably for some people to read it. We’re going to have to look at the data and what we can afford and what is sustainable,” Finan said. “A number of those buildings are very old and they need a lot of work. Where is that money going to come from?”

If the board refuses to approve the plan or does not follow it, the state could take control of the district through receivership.

Finan, who grew up in Honesdale, said she does not have ties to anyone in the district.

“I don’t have any skin in this game,” she said. “What I do care about is public education. I care about children having a chance to be anything they want to be.”

Ideas welcome

School directors are eager to learn about Finan’s ideas.

“I’m thrilled she was chosen,” Director Mark McAndrew said. “I can’t wait to get the ball rolling.”

Director Paul Duffy hopes the report includes a request for more state funding. Compared to similar districts, Scranton receives less state funding per pupil. In recent years, directors have pushed for more adequate and equitable funding.

“I look forward to her ideas,” Duffy said. “I’m just hopeful the fair funding formula factors into the ideas she has for us.”

Throughout the process, Finan wants to keep the community informed. The district is in the process of naming members to an advisory committee. Through that committee or another way she could facilitate, Finan said she will take comments from the community.

“I’m looking forward to working with the people,” she said. “I’m a collaborator and a team member ... we will put together a plan that really works.”

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Jose Luis Lugo Guerrero and Dhaira Mairette Rojas, both of Scranton.

• Frank Michael Price and Elise Barbara Allison, both of Scranton.

• Joshua Thomas and Nicole Dannunzio, both of Taylor.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Keystone Community Resources Inc., Clarks Summit, to 1221 Pittston LLC; a property at 1221 Pittston Ave., Scranton, for $32,000.

• Ann Loughney, Scranton, to Melissa and Daniel Stephen Raychel, Dunmore; two parcels in Dunmore for $149,350.

• Paul A. and Donna Kalinoski; Patricia H. and Stephen Sikora; Pamela Kalinoski; Daniel Edward Kalinoski; and Wendy Conigliaro to John E. and Allison M. Dinning, Dickson City; a property at 403 Boulevard Ave., Dickson City, for $70,850.

• Outlook Design & Construction Inc., doing business as Outlook Construction, Hamlin, to Christopher Ryan and Sara Lynn Stafford, Browndale; a property at 129 Stonefield Drive, Jefferson Twp., for $376,000.

• Carol L. Chisdak, South Abington Twp., to Jessica A. Potter, Scranton; two parcels in South Abington Twp. for $90,000.

• William H. Rover, Moosic, to Anthony Dangio, Mountain Top; a property at 3514 Laurel Ave., Moosic, for $240,000.

• Fannie Mae, also known as Federal National Mortgage Association, Dallas, Texas, to Orlando and Ellie Colon-Gonzalez, Scranton; a property at 610 Grace St., Scranton, for $45,900.

• Clytie Ann Miller, Archbald, to Noah and Wyatt Doncses, Dunmore; a property at 221 Rear Bridge St., Jessup, for $65,000.

• Robert J. Jr. and Michael G. Smith, co-executors of the estate of Shirley A. Smith, Scranton, to Howard and Caroline Bregman; and Kyung and Youmi Hong; a property at 1424 Short Ave., Scranton, for $81,000.

• Marie A. and Ursula Marie Zullo, Scranton, to Lauren Brooke Lebleu and Billie R. Tadros, Scranton; a property at 715 N. Irving Ave., Scranton, for $105,500.

• EAS Realty Management LLC, Clarks Summit, to Thomas Joseph and Erin Burke, Moosic; a property at 406-408 S. Main St., Taylor, for $165,000.

• Anthony Nardella Jr., individually and as heir to Anthony M. Nardella, also known as Anthony Nardella, and Susan Nardella, Norristown; Louis Nardella, individually and as heir of Anthony M. Nardella, also known as Anthony Nardella, and Hendrika Nardella, Biloxi, Miss., to Ernest Gatto Jr., Covington Twp.; a property at 166 E. Pine St., Dunmore, for $65,000.

• James Check, executor of the estate of Louise A. Check, South Abington Twp., to Phillip Gene and Kelly Ann Oriol, South Abington Twp.; a property at 404 Willow Lane, South Abington Twp., for $222,000.

• Stephen J. Miller, Madison Twp., to Robert C. and Stephanie M. Welnoski, Spring Brook Twp.; a property at 221 Sunshine Lane, Madison Twp., for $210,000.

• MSA Inc., Dunmore, to Francis E. Brieden, Carbondale; a property at 11 Alexandria Drive, Blakely, for $275,000.

• Michelle and Mark LaFave, New Foundland, to William R. McMahon, Spring Brook Twp.; a property at 513 Von Bergen St., Old Forge, for $121,000.

• TNT Foundations LLC, Scranton, to Emily Fedor and Alec R. Berchman, Dunmore; two parcels in Archbald for $175,615.

• MarKoz Realty Inc., Throop, to Joseph A. Dougher, Harrisburg; a property at Underwood Road, Throop, for $170,000.

• Sandra Wetter; Susan and Peter Wilga to Robert Chan; a property at 416 Reeves St., Dunmore, for $53,000.

• Oasis Manor LLC to Harrison Wolff; a property at 523 N. Irving Ave., Scranton, for $94,000.

• One to Build LLC, South Abington Twp., to Aaron Hufford and Bria Tinsley Worobey, Clarks Summit; a property at Leach Hill Road, South Abington Twp., for $165,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

• James Richards Jr., Moosic, v. Kimberly Richards, Moosic; married May 13, 1995, in Dickson City; pro se.

• Godavariben Patel, Scranton, v. Maheshkumar A. Patel, Moultrie, Ga.; married Dec. 28, 2009, in Ahmedabad, Gujarat, India; Kim A. Giombetti, attorney.

• Madelyn L. Leeson, Scranton, v. Eugene J. Leeson, Scranton; married July 9, 2014, in Clark County, Nev.; Frank J. Ruggiero, attorney.

STATE TAX LIEN

• Sweet Home Primary Care of Scranton LLC, 329 Penn Ave., Scranton; $13,319.26.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Dunmore

Pizza fritta: SS. Anthony and Rocco Parish Ash Wednesday pizza fritta sale, March 6, parish hall at St. Rocco’s Church, 122 Kurtz St., $1.25/each or five/$5; pre-orders taken until March 4 by calling the parish office, 570-344-1209; pre-order pickup times, noon and 3:30 p.m., walk-ins welcome while pizza frittas last.

Jessup

Food sale: Jessup VFW Post 5544 takeout-only Lenten food and clam chowder sale, March 8, March 22 and April 5, noon-5 p.m. or sold out, 205 Dolph St., red clam chowder (Manhattan), $7.50/quart or $5/pint; white (New England), $9/quart or $6/pint; crab bisque, $11/quart or $6/pint; halushki, $5.75/quart or $4/pint; tuna hoagies, $5.75; pierogies with butter and onions, deep fried or deep fried with butter and onions, $10/dozen, $5.75/half dozen or $1/each; potato pancakes, $1 each; 570-489-7070 no later than Wednesdays.

Mayfield

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

North Pocono

Blood drive: Community blood drive in memory of Harold (Dip) Dippre, March 7, 1-6 p.m., Maple Lake United Methodist Church, Route 690, free St. Patrick’s Day T-shirt available until all are given out; 800-733-2767 or redcross.org.

Scranton

Marywood program: Marywood University’s Master of Fine Arts “Get Your Masters with the Masters” program information session on campus Friday, April 5, noon-1:30 p.m., Shields Room 127 in the Visual Arts Center; tour at noon, question-and-answer period to follow, light refreshments served; 570-348-6211, x2569 or sbrower@marywood.edu.

Bus trip: Friends of the Scranton Public Library sponsoring a bus trip to Yale University, May 4, $50/members, $55/guests; deadline to register is April 1, no refunds after April 15; Tina Thomas, 570-348-3000.

Taylor

Bus trip: Taylor Community Library bus trip to Costuming the Crown Exhibit and Winterhur Museum, Garden & Library Tours, May 18, $99, includes bus, exhibit and tour of Winterthur Garden & Museums; bus leaves Viewmont Mall promptly, 8 a.m., and departs for home, 4 p.m.; 45-minute garden tram tour (weather permitting) followed by an hour guided tour of the 175-room duPont estate, Winterthur, self-guided tour of the galleries featuring the Costuming the Crown Exhibit with 40 iconic costumes from the Netflix series “The Crown”; payment due at time of reservation, seats assigned first-come, first-served basis; 570-562-1234.

Wayne County

Free dental care: Horizon Dental Care’s free dentistry day, open to all adults 18 and older, offering free cleaning, extraction and fillings, Horizon Dental Care’s Hawley office, Route 6, Hawley, April 27, 8 a.m.-2:30 p.m.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

rock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Brent Michael Harvey and Ashley Lea Evans Panek, both of Scranton.

• Qais Khalil Zalim and Renee Camille Frank, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Ross M. and Merran I. Janowski, Honesdale, to Darlene Cohen, Clarks Summit; a property at 302 Evans St., Clarks Green, for $130,000.

• Derek Charles and Ashley Fay Guiton, Factoryville, to Peter and Callie Helfrich, Paupack; a property at Marsh Brook, Benton Twp., for $205,000.

• William J. and Mary E. McGlone, trustees of the William J. and Mary E. McGlone family trust, Long Pond, to Joseph P. and Kathleen A. Williams, Scranton; a property at 1011 Maple St., Scranton, for $34,000.

• U.S. Bank NA as trustee for Structured Asset Securities Corp. mortgage pass-through certificates, series 2006-BC2, care of Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, West Palm Beach, Fla., to Jordan Thomas, Pittston; a property at 3910 Winfield Ave., Moosic, for $87,000.

• Lisa Larioni and Allan Merli, co-executors of the estate of Janet Ann Neyman, formerly known as Janet Ann Merli, to Chen Xu Dong and Ou Xiu Hua, Lackawanna County; a property at 151 Seventh St., Blakely, for $70,000.

• Sirva Relocation Credit LLC to Jeremy A. and Nicole A. Davies; a property at 1970 Motichka Road, Madison Twp., for $225,000.

DIVORCE SOUGHT

• Jennifer Taffera, Old Forge, v. Christopher A. Taffera, Old Forge; married Sept. 17, 2011, in Scranton; pro se.

LAWSUITS

• John Koshinski, 171 Hill St., Lykens, v. Shyquan L. Johnson, 9401 Wilson Blvd., Lot 106, Columbia, S.C.; Western Express, 7135 Centennial Place, Nashville, Tenn.; James C. Swepston and Welding Works, 437 Upper Demunds Road, Dallas; Kyle and Annmarie Bianco, 75 Colton Ave., Sayville, N.Y.; Morris Luther, P.O. Box 587, Morven, N.C.; Lisk Trucking, 6975 NC Highway N, Wadesboro, N.C.; Stanley J. Sabol, 94 S. Main St., Mahanoy City, and Pennsylvania Department of Transportation, Keystone Building, 400 North St., Harrisburg, seeking in excess of $50,000, plus interest, costs and other relief deemed appropriate on 16 counts, for injuries suffered March 3, 2017, in an automobile accident on Interstate 81 in Delano Twp., Schuylkill County; Katie Nealon, attorney.

• Kathleen Yanul, 923 Clearview St., Scranton, v. Derek Hewlett, 1378 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, and Dennis Hewlett, 65 N. Gravel Pond Road, Clarks Summit, seeking an amount not in excess of $50,000, together with such further relief as the court may deem appropriate, on two counts, for injuries suffered in an automobile accident Aug. 12, 2017, at about 11:55 p.m., while the plaintiff was driving on Ash Street, approaching its intersection with Wyoming Avenue, Scranton; James T. DiMarco, attorney.

• Diane Ozack, 619 Rocky Glen Road, Avoca, v. Joseph Skinner, 710 Atherton St., Clarks Summit, seeking an amount in excess of $50,000, together with such further relief as the court may deem appropriate, for injuries suffered in an automobile accident June 15, 2017, at about 11:40 a.m., while the plaintiff was driving on Oak Street, approaching its intersection with South Keyser Avenue, Taylor; Diane M. Sodano, attorney.

• Michelle and Robert Burton v. Joyce Frisbie, 373 Avoy Road, Lake Ariel, and State Farm Mutual Automobile Insurance Co., P.O. Box 106170, Atlanta, seeking an amount in excess of the jurisdictional limits regarding arbitration referral, plus interest and costs on two counts, and an amount in excess of the jurisdictional limits regarding arbitration referral, plus interest and costs and such other relief which may be deemed appropriate by the court, on one count, for injuries suffered in an automobile accident Jan. 15, 2018, while the plaintiffs were driving on the Central Scranton Expressway, Scranton; Edwin A. Abrahamsen, attorney.

ESTATES FILED

• Susan P. Thomas, also known as Susan Thomas, 48 Beech Road, Spring Brook Twp., letters testamentary to William E. Thomas Jr., same address.

• Joan Marie Ofalt, 507 Edella Road, South Abington Twp., letters testamentary to Susan M. Henry, 48 Green St., Hanover Twp.

• Teresa P. Carey, also known as Teresa Carey, 600 Shady Lane Road, South Abington Twp., letters testamentary to Thomas R. Carey, 5149 Fifth St., Boulder, Colo.

• Robert A. Bubser, 2311 Boulevard Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to Robert Bubser, 6 Millstream Drive, Mount Laurel, N.J.

• Betty Dixon, also known as Elizabeth Dixon, 324 Caroline Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Donna Dixon, 316 Caroline Ave., Scranton.

• Barbara Siarkievicz, 136 Front St., Jessup, letters testamentary to Michaeleen Hoolihan, 933 Katherine Drive, Jessup.

• Karen M. Hoffman, 601 Gibson St., Jermyn, letters testamentary to Michael W. Sowden, 502 Maple St., first floor, Mayfield.

• Gloria Dyson Dey, 904 Grandview St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Gayle Dyson Moran, same address.

• Thomas M. Kobeski Sr., also known as Thomas M. Kobesky, Thomas M. Kobeski, 3313 Pittston Ave., Moosic, letters testamentary to Lori Ann Sutcliffe, same address.

BENCH WARRANTS

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

• Robert Backe, 1605 Price St., Scranton; $900.

• Mark A. Belles, 116 Broad St., Old Forge; $4,245.50.

• Taheed Ali Berry, 113 Oak St., Wilkes-Barre; $1,060.53.

• Gerald James Boyle, 125 N. Main Ave, Scranton; $2,293.

• Jackalynn Braxton, 809 N. Fifth St., Apt. 2, Reading; $1,788.53.

• Joseph Brizinski, 1114 Springbrook Ave., 1B, Moosic; $1,829.75.

• Roger Bernard Brown, 284 Hickory Ridge Road, Greenfield Twp.; $13,028.

• Anthony Yackobovitz, 640 River St., Moosic; $4,890.06.

• Joanne Marie Baier Bugiada, 307 12th Ave., Scranton; $1,676.50.

• Jessica D. Bynoe, 435½ Breck St., Scranton; $1,606.97.

• Steven C. Chapman, 216 E. Drinker St., Dunmore; $41,634.31.

• Gayle Davis, 1415 Washburn St., Scranton; $392.

• Anthony Jose Dejesus, 137 Thunderbird Drive, Scranton; $801.50.

• Carys Dejesus, 1064 Blair Ave., Scranton; $4,132.40.

• Erice Charleston Dobynes, 1396 Custer Way S.E., Atlanta; $1,178.16.

• Travis Firestone, 504 Main St., first floor, Dickson City; $9,771.87.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

President Judge Michael Bar­rasse sentenced the following defendants recently in Lacka­wanna County Court:

Clifford Enslin Jr., 43, 176 Faller Road, Lake Ariel, to one to two years in state prison, followed by two years of probation, and $1,654.96 in restitution for burglary.

Thomas Pisano, 29, 1048 Quincy Ave., Scranton, to 18 to 24 months in state prison, followed by four years of probation for theft by deception, receiving stolen property, conspiracy to commit theft by extortion and possession of drug paraphernalia.

William Greco, 35, 1026 Farber Court, to one to two years in state prison followed by two years of probation for possession with intent to deliver.

Raymond Saez, 49, 317 Wheeler Ave., Scranton, to one year of probation for possession of a controlled substance.

Judge Vito Geruolo sentenced:

Brian Lavolpe, 23, 59 Eighth Ave., Carbondale, to six months of probation and a $300 fine for DUI tier one, first offense.

Andrew Jelsik, 47, 220 Veterans Highway, Hauppauge, New York, to 1½ to three years in state prison for burglary.

Paul Deininger, 45, 1024 Ravine St., Scranton, to one to two years in state prison, followed by six months of probation, and $10,055.58 in restitution and a $300 fine for fleeing and eluding police and DUI — tier one, first offense.

Amber Spencer, 48, 1209 Providence Road, to two to seven years in state prison for possession with intent to deliver.

Miguel Nolasco, 38, 1227 Hancock St., Brooklyn, New York, to two to four years in state prison for possession with intent to deliver.

Ralph Powell, 39, 1378 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, to four to eight years in state prison for person not to possess firearm.

Shannon Trott, 37, rear 183 Gordon Ave., Carbondale, to 16 to 36 months in state prison and $78.50 in restitution for robbery.

Mark Fetter, 52, 65 S. Main St., Plains Twp., to three to 12 months in county prison for unauthorized use of a motor vehicle.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced:

Dwayne Handy, 31, 515 Dupont St., Moosic, to 30 to 78 months in state prison, followed by two years of probation, for flight to avoid apprehension, possession with intent to deliver, taunting or striking a police animal, resisting arrest and criminal use of a communication facility.

A two-car crash today at 866 Business Route 6 in Archbald sent two people to the hospital with unknown injuries.

The crash, which occurred shortly after noon, briefly closed with the westbound lanes of the highway, Archbald Police Officer Mike Fenton said.

An Oct. 11 crash in the same area claimed the life of Paul W. Herzog, 63, of Thompson,. He died after the car he was riding in collided with a Northeast Transit vehicle contracted by the County of Lackawanna Transit System.

SCRANTON

The sewer authority on Thursday approved paying $157,000 to settle a condemnation of a missing sewer-line easement involving Stone Facility LP, a commercial property at 1300 Meylert Ave.

This pact follows a $46,250 settlement in December of a condemnation of a missing easement involving Keystone Concrete Block and Supply Co., 600 Glenn St.

The condemnations arose from SSA’s sale of the sewer system to Pennsylvania American Water on Dec. 29, 2016. The SSA in mid-December 2016 filed condemnations of the missing sewer-line easements needed for a federally mandated sewer-upgrade called the Von Storch combined sewer overflow. The owners opposed the condemnations.

— JIM LOCKWOOD