MARRIAGE LICENSE

■ Brian Scott Chapman and Carolyn Shertza, both of Moosic.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Brandon A. Meyers to National Residential Nominee Services Inc.; a property at 312 Clark St., Clarks Green, for $209,500.

■ National Residential Nominee Services Inc. to Ryan E. and Rachel N. Hardhbarger; a property at 312 Clark St., Clarks Green, for $209,500.

■ Diane Nish, Roaring Brook Twp., to Paul Rogan and Sandra Gonzales, West Pittston; a property at 116 Lansdowne Ave., Clarks Summit, for $179,900.

■ Kimberly and David Button, West Abington Twp., to Matthew Santiago and Anastasia Zabski, Bronx, N.Y.; a property at 51 Stanton Town Road, West Abington Twp., for $50,000.

■ MTGLQ Investors LP to Dylan Theobold; a property at 298 Lehigh Road, Clifton Twp., for $65,000.

■ Papp Real Estate Holding LLC, Clarks Summit, to Kevin Thomas and Billie Jolene Cusworth, Clarks Summit; a property at 201 Florence St., Clarks Summit, for $175,000.

■ Mary L. Green, Fell Twp., to Lucas Ryan Bordick and Rebecca King, Saylorsburg; a property in Fell Twp. for $365,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Brigitte Francelia Ortiz Melo, Taylor, v. Hector Ivan Feliciano Galarza, Scranton; married Dec. 6, 2016, in Scranton; Jeffrey C. Nallin, attorney.

■ Maria G. Demuth, Scranton, v. Daniel T. Demuth, Scranton; married Oct. 27, 1984; Marjorie DeSanto Barlow, attorney.

■ Megan Matis, Scranton, v. Matthew Matis, Scranton; married May 31, 2014, in Scranton; pro se.

■ Elizabeth Harris, Lackawanna County, v. Kenneth Harris, Scranton; married Aug. 21, 2009, in Scranton; pro se.

LAWSUIT

■ Kendall Murphy and Alnesha Griffin, 439 Stipp Court, Scranton, v. Daniel C. Kazmierski, 1205 Longview Tier, Clarks Summit, seeking an amount in excess of $50,000, plus interest and costs, which is in excess of the amount requiring compulsory arbitration, under the applicable statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and the rules of court, together with interest and cost of suit, on five counts; plaintiffs also request an award of punitive damages due to the outrageous conduct and reckless indifference of the defendant, for injuries suffered in an automobile accident on or about May 29, 2018, around 1:45 p.m., while traveling east on Moosic Street; O’Malley, Harris, Durkin & Perry PC, attorneys.

FEDERAL TAX LIENS

■ Nicholas E. Fick, 310 Spruce St., Suite 301, Scranton; $21,434.14.

■ William Guffey, 122 Shoemaker St., Dunmore; $11,288.63.

■ Kenneth W. Bond, 806 S. Webster Ave., Scranton; $6,353.37.

ARDS

The following were admitted to the Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program for driving under the influence:

■ Phillip Jay Hubbard Jr., 24, 1678 Castleton Ave., Staten Island, N.Y., stopped Dec. 10, 2017, by state police.

■ Ramiro Loja, 24, 332 Main St., Great Bend, stopped July 1 by Scranton police.

■ Peter G. Ciullo Jr., 62, 909 Price St., Scranton, stopped Nov. 17 by Old Forge police.

■ Edwin James Hansen, 47, 444 Laconia Ave., Staten Island, N.Y., stopped Sept. 23 by state police.

■ Michael Christopher Pfeifer, 42, 142 Electric St., Peckville, stopped Sept. 23 by state police.

■ James D. Walker, 32, 214 Beynon Drive, Clarks Green, stopped Sept. 9 by Clarks Summit police.

■ Amanda Cirba, 33, 182 Thomas St., Jessup, stopped Sept. 20 by Dunmore police.

The following defendants were admitted to the ARD program for other crimes:

■ Bonnie Sue Bolton, 50, 120 E. Noble St., Nanticoke, arrested Aug. 25 by Scranton police for intentionally possessing a controlled substance by a person not registered and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

■ Austin Albert Kellogg, 41, 512 Chestnut Ave., Suite A, Hawley, arrested Nov. 26 by Dunmore police for a DUI and an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle or property.

■ Keiara Hughes, 35, 216 S. Garfield Ave., Scranton, arrested Aug. 31 by Scranton police for use/possession of drug paraphernalia and possession of marijuana.

■ Ashley J. Banditelli, 34, 404 Monument Ave., Wyoming, arrested Nov. 8, 2017, by Throop police for criminal mischief — damaging property.

■ Oscar Manuel Soto Hernandez, 19, 1519 Pine St., Scranton, arrested May 15, 2018, by Scott Twp. police for a DUI, possession of marijuana and use/possession of drug paraphernalia.

ESTATES FILED

■ Carol P. Lesnefsky, also known as Carol Lesnefsky, 441 Bodnick St., Peckville, letters testamentary to Julieann Hockenberry, same address.

■ Joan Dorothy Jasulevicz, also known as Joan Jasulevicz, Joan D. Jasulevicz, 560 Main St., Eynon, letters testamentary to Ruth Minello, 2880 Butternut Lane, York.

■ Audrey Petrucci, 1311 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to Albert Petrucci, 1008 James Ave., Scranton.

■ Robert A. Nardelli, 1135 New St., Jessup, letters testamentary to Robert Nardelli, 254 Third St., Eynon.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Don’t be surprised if you walk into a Dollar Tree and see new products for $3, $4 or $5. Conversely, when you walk into a Family Dollar store, you might see a $1 section.

The Chesapeake-based retailer that owns both brands began experimenting with new pricing in a limited number of Dollar Tree locations in mid-May, dubbing sections in the stores “Dollar Tree Plus!”

During a call Thursday to discuss first-quarter earnings with analysts, President and CEO Gary Philbin wouldn’t say how many or which stores were part of the test, but said the company planned to initially expand the pricing strategy to more than 100 stores. That would be just 1.4% of its overall store count. There were 7,102 Dollar Tree stores as of May 4.

The trade war with China has had an impact on the company, which imports much of its product from the country. As the United States contemplates even more tariffs on consumer goods, Philbin said, the company is doing what it did before, trying to mitigate any impact by changing how they buy, where they buy and how they ship what they’ve bought.

With earlier tariffs, the company worked to preemptively shift what would have been $100 million spent in China for seasonal products to different countries, Philbin said.

“We are not sitting back on this one,” he said of the latest looming tariff threat, which he noted would have an impact if and when they’re implemented, “especially to consumers.”

The company announced its profit grew 67 percent in the first quarter ending May 4 to $267.9 million compared with a year ago, or adjusted earnings per share of $1.14. The jump was largely attributed to debt refinancing a year prior.

Executives cheered same-store sales growth at both brands, but especially Family Dollar, where sales at comparable stores rose 1.9% from a year ago, the largest growth since Dollar Tree has reported the number. Dollar Tree bought Family Dollar in 2015 for $8.5 billion. The company has been closing Family Dollar stores or converting them to Dollar Trees, but also experimenting with renovations that it plans to roll out to 1,000 locations this year that include a dollar section, a larger emphasis on party supplies, and more frozen foods and alcoholic beverages.

Higher-priced products would be clearly labeled in dedicated sections and would not include any cents.

PITTSTON TWP. — Ali, Buddy, Gloria, Hickory, Ivan and Niko pranced around the airport terminal Friday, ready to play, hug and cuddle to ease flying fears.

They represent Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International’s new, all-volunteer canine corps, TAILS, which stands for Therapy Animals Integrating Less Stress.

“We’re going to have some of our best friends here to help us get through that busy stressful time,” airport Director Carl Beardsley Jr. said during a news conference introducing the dogs.

Each month, as their schedules allow, the four-legged pals will visit the airport one or two at a time. Airport officials hope they ease the stress of air travelers, perhaps nervous about flying or feeling other stress, or simply missing their pets as they await flights.

Travelers might meet Ali, an Anatolian shepherd, Buddy, a cockapoo, Gloria, a Labrador retriever, Hickory, a golden retriever, Ivan, a Pembroke Welsh corgi, and Niko, a rough collie.

All trained to love, the therapy dogs already visit nursing homes, hospice centers, schools and other places that require the calm a dog can offer.

Kevin Phalen, of Friendsville, Ali’s owner, said her main job is as a guard dog on his farm with chickens, goats and, soon, cattle.

“We did a funeral, a couple, three months ago,” Phalen said. “Absolutely it will work. I think it’s just going to be a big plus to see something different. A lot of people are leaving their animals behind. They can’t take them with them. So, it’s going to help out a little bit. It just distracts them a little bit from leaving their dog behind. Kids, too. My dog loves kids.”

Eric McKitish, the airport’s director of marketing and communications, said he began working about 18 months ago to make the airport one of about 60 nationwide offering therapy dogs. Three organizations helped — the Alliance of Therapy Dogs, Pleasure of Your Company Therapy Dogs and Therapy Dogs International.

McKitish said 12 teams — an owner and a dog — will rotate their services voluntarily through the airport once or twice a month. The airport’s only expense is the cost of the owners’ red polo shirts with airport and TAILS logos and bandanas for the dogs.

Shari Cook, of Blakeslee, Gloria’s owner, tried to raise her as a guide dog. Gloria didn’t make it through the course, but she passed therapy dog training.

“Now, instead of helping one person, she helps a lot of people,” Cook said. “It’s a way of giving back to the community in a small way, and people enjoy her.”

As she sat across from baggage check booths with her suitcase, Dru Miller, of Bloomsburg, watched the hubbub of staff and television and newspaper reporters surrounding the dogs. She understood the concept.

“Some people get very stressful. And particularly if they had a bad flight coming in,” Miller said.

She owns a Chihuahua-dachshund mix named Taurus.

“This is the first time I’ve left him and I need a stress dog,” she smiled. “I can see where for some people, an animal does wonders.”

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — The case against another former guard charged in the Lackawanna County Prison inmate sexual abuse scandal ended with a probationary sentence.

Lackawanna County Judge Julia K. Munley sentenced George R. Efthimiou, 51, 1121 Loomis Ave., Taylor, to two years of probation Friday for his March 14 no-contest plea to a misdemeanor count of official oppression.

Efthimiou was among seven former guards charged in February 2018 with sexually abusing female prisoners after an investigation by a statewide grand jury.

Prosecutors accused him of coercing an inmate into having sex with him at her home on multiple occasions between 2006 and 2008 while the woman was on house arrest.

The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.

In exchange for the no-contest plea, the state attorney general’s office agreed to drop two felony counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse against Efthimiou and recommend a sentence of probation.

In handing down the sentence, Munley told Efthimiou that while the court will follow the recommendation of prosecutors, she was in no way condoning the defendant’s actions.

As a county prison guard, Efthimiou held a position of public trust, and he violated that trust, she said.

“I want you to know your conduct was disgraceful,” Munley said.

In addition to the 24 months of probation, Efthimiou must pay a $300 fine and perform 100 hours of community service, the judge said. She also ordered him to have no contact with the victim.

Efthimiou is the second guard arrested in the prison scandal to be sentenced to probation.

In February, Judge Trish Corbett sentenced Jeffrey T. Staff, 43, Clarks Summit, to nine months of probation after he also pleaded no contest to official oppression. Prosecutors accused him of having sex with an inmate while she was outside the jail on work-release.

Another guard, George T. McHale, 52, Scranton, was acquitted on institutional sexual assault and other charges in February after a trial.

At Efthimiou’s plea hearing in March, an attorney representing his victim raised objections to the plea deal. Munley accepted the plea but delayed sentencing to give the woman time to file a victim impact statement that the court could consider when deciding Efthimiou’s punishment.

The judge noted at the outset of Friday’s proceeding that the victim was notified but did not submit an impact statement. Deputy Attorney General Rebecca Elo said she also had not heard from the victim.

Asked by the judge if he had anything to say before sentencing, Efthimiou declined to speak.

His attorney, Robert J. Munley, told the court that Efthimiou is a married Air Force veteran who has lived an exemplary life. The former guard has no prior involvement with the criminal justice system, he said.

“The only appropriate sentence would be a sentence of probation,” said the attorney, who suggested a term of six months.

Four other guards await trial:

Mark A. Johnson, 55, Scranton, charged with two counts each of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and institutional sexual assault and one count each of indecent assault and harassment.

John Shnipes Jr., 44, Archbald, charged with six counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse, four counts of aggravated indecent assault and two counts each of institutional sexual assault and harassment.

Paul J. Voglino, 46, Carbondale, charged with two counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

James J. Walsh, 52, Roaring Brook Twp., four counts of involuntary deviate sexual intercourse.

Johnson’s trial, which was originally scheduled to open June 17, is now set for Sept. 23. There are no firm trial dates for the other guards.

Also awaiting trial is a Sweet Valley woman who is accused of engaging in sexual activity with two male inmates while employed as a counselor at the jail.

Samantha M. Heinrich, 37, who worked at the prison until 2017, was charged in April with two counts of institutional sexual assault after an investigation by the same statewide grand jury that recommended the charges against the guards in 2018.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9132

“I was praying”

Paul Demciak and pathfinders with the 508th Parachute Infantry Regiment of the Army’s 82nd Airborne Division landed behind enemy lines as part of the Allied invasion of Normandy.

The Gouldsboro resident was among the first pathfinders, specially trained units of paratroopers charged with setting up the lights and navigational devices needed to guide the rest of the parachute soldiers to their drop zones. Demciak’s crew set off on its mission in a C-47 around 10:30 p.m. June 5, 1944. By midnight, they had arrived at their drop zone just west of Sainte-Mère-Église, France.

Demciak and the other members of his crew jumped out of the plane at an altitude of only about 300 feet, with German forces firing at them from the ground.

“I could see the tracers coming at me,” Demciak said. “I was praying they wouldn’t catch my chute.”

The scene on the ground was chaos, and the group had little chance of carrying out its objectives because of heavy German fire and the fact that they couldn’t find their Eureka navigation device.

“Everything was disoriented,” Demciak said.

Demciak and his compatriots were taken prisoner by German forces, beginning a brutal ordeal lasting the summer.

“The Germans really gave us a rough time,” said Demciak, who eventually escaped from a German hospital with the help of the French Resistance.

Demciak received three Purple Hearts, two Bronze Stars with “V” Device and the French Legion of Honor.

Paul Demciak
Originally from Wilkes-Barre;
lived in Gouldsboro
Army, 508th Parachute
Infantry Regiment
82nd Airborne Division
Died: Aug. 24, 2016
Story originally published:
Dec. 15, 2014 †
The Times-Tribune

“Remember and respect”

Chester Zavistoski was aboard one of the first landing craft mechanized boats to hit Omaha Beach on the morning of June 6, 1944, reaching the shore during low tide amid a barrage of German mortar, machine gun and artillery fire.

The 22-year-old Navy seaman from Throop took 36 demolition teams ashore to clear the heavily mined beach of the explosives with little time to lose. Rising tides threatened to obscure the mines, which could destroy landing craft and kill troops as they stormed onto the sand.

“I took the first demolition teams in,” Zavistoski told The Sunday Times in 1999. “It was their job to blow up the obstacles.”

Zavistoski took pride in his service and the medal he received from France marking the 50th anniversary of D-Day.

“They (the French) still remember and respect what we did,” said Zavistoski.

Chester Zavistoski
Throop
Navy, boatswain mate, 2nd class
Died: Dec. 15, 2007
Story originally published: June 6, 1999
The Sunday Times

“Saved my life”

Lt. Harry Welsh’s plane was 250 feet “at the most” (from the ground) when he jumped. As Welsh emerged from the C-47, another plane crashed immediately beneath him. The explosion threw Welsh up and to the side.

“That saved my life,” he recalled. His chute opened in time to check his descent just enough to make the thump when he landed painful but not fatal.

It was 1:20 a.m., June 6, 1944.

(Welsh and the rest of Easy Company were featured in historian Stephen Ambrose’s 1992 nonfiction book “Band of Brothers.” The book was the basis for the popular HBO series.)

Welsh served 11 months through France, Holland and Germany. He kept his reserve parachute from the D-Day jump. He married immediately upon his return to the states. His bride, Kitty Grogan, wore a dress made from the parachute material.

1st Lt. Harry Welsh

Wilkes-Barre

E Company, 506th Regiment

101st Airborne Division

Died: Jan. 21, 1995

Story originally published: June 6, 1993

The Citizens’ Voice

“Parachute to prison”

On June 6, 1944, Swoyersville native Tony Leptuck and fellow members of the 82nd Airborne Division were to fly over the now-famed Normandy beaches and parachute into a town called Sainte-Mère-Église. But their plane was shot down and the soldiers were separated. Some of them were captured and sent to a prisoner of war camp in Germany.

“It was terrible. That’s all I could say. I was there for 11 months. I didn’t take a bath. I didn’t take my pants off or shoes,” Leptuck said. “You figured they’re bombing and strafing, so if they were shooting, you needed to be ready to go. For 11 months, I was like a pig.”

Leptuck was released in May 1945 after the Allies declared victory in Europe.

Pvt. Anthony S. “Tony” Leptuck

Swoyersville

507th  Parachute Infantry Regiment

82nd Airborne Division

Died: Oct. 3, 2017

Story originally published: Oct. 5, 2017

The Citizens’ Voice

“The smell of death”

Frank Feduik could still see the lifeless young men — some missing arms or legs — floating in the chaotic and bloodied waters of the English Channel.

He could still hear the guns.

But mostly he remembered the smell, still as indescribable as it was fresh in his senses 65 years later.

“The smell, the smell of death — you can never forget that,” said Feduik at his Exeter home. “It’s something that never leaves you.”

He was a 19-year-old pharmacist’s mate aboard USS LST 338 when Allied forces stormed the beaches of Normandy on June 6, 1944, turning the tide of World War II and altering the course of history.

On D-Day, LST 338 ferried 300 infantrymen, tanks and other equipment across the English Channel to Omaha Beach. Feduik came ashore the following day to help evacuate the casualties.

In all, LST 388 would make 62 channel crossings, the most of any ship, he said.

Feduik said he considered himself fortunate. Although his ship had a “bunch of scrapes,” weathering 14 enemy engagements, Feduik escaped unscathed.

Seaman Frank Feduik

Born in Scranton, lived in Exeter

Pharmacist Mate 3rd Class

USS LST 338

Died: Jan. 1, 2018

Story originally published: June 6, 2009

The Citizens’ Voice

“Everything rattled”

Ed Umphred felt a massive rumbling June 5, 1944, while stationed in a highly secure military camp in Southampton, England.

He knew the planned operation was big but didn’t think it would be this big.

“The air was so heavy with planes that everything rattled on the ground. … It was the roar of all those planes,” Umphred recalled.

The fleet of U.S. planes had just taken off for the historic D-Day invasion in Normandy.

He wouldn’t be far behind. Umphred shipped off to Normandy on June 10, or “D-Day plus four.”

“When we landed on the beach, the fighting was a few miles inland,” Umphred said. “On the beach there was a lot of wreckage, yes. By the time I landed, the bodies were cleaned up.”

But it didn’t take long to see the human carnage.

“We had to make a trip to join our outfit on Utah Beach. Driving down the road, which was recently fought over, you could still see parachutes hanging in the trees. In some spots, you could still see paratroopers laying in the swamps,” Umphred said.

Pfc. Ed Umphred

Kingston

Army anti-aircraft gun controller

Story originally published: Nov. 8, 2015

The Citizens’ Voice

"Messages kept secret"

Robert Dolbear served as an Army cryptographer during World War II, sworn to secrecy about the highly classified communications he helped relay between President Franklin D. Roosevelt and his battlefield commanders.

On his 26th birthday in 1941, the Japanese attacked Pearl Harbor. A few months later, he was drafted into the Army. His first stop was Camp Beale, California, where he spent a month teaching new soldiers how to write. The Army then gave him two options for his future: attend Officer Candidate School or attempt to get into the nation’s cryptography program so he could decode, translate and send secret messages. He chose cryptography.

After passing an intense background investigation, Dolbear’s assignment was division headquarters in Asheville, North Carolina. He and fellow cryptographers were under constant FBI surveillance during and after work, he said, because of the sensitive communications he deciphered.

Dolbear says he never violated his oath to keep secret the communications, most of which dealt with the D-Day invasion June 6, 1944, in Normandy, France. He said the first message he decoded was from Gen. Dwight Eisenhower to Roosevelt. And it wouldn’t be the last time he relayed communications between the two men.

Staff Sgt. Robert Dolbear

Born in Plains Twp.; lives in Dallas

Army cryptographer

Story originally published: Dec. 6, 2015

The Citizens’ Voice

“Thank God”

Staff Sgt. Dominic A. Cusatis remembered a blood-drenched Omaha Beach, but was grateful the carnage wasn’t worse.

Cusatis believed if Adolph Hitler had been aware of the start of Operation Overlord, his elite divisions would have been able to thwart the invasion and push American, French, British and Canadian forces back into the English Channel.

“We’d have been dead ducks,” Cusatis said. “The Panzers were the elite of the German army and all they did was train, train, train.”

The Panzers were at the ready; however, they were at a spot where Hitler predicted the invasion would happen. When Allied troops landed at Normandy, a phone call to Hitler was rejected because he reportedly had taken a sleeping pill and had ordered aides not to awaken him.

Even without the Panzers, the Nazis created a bloodbath for the invaders during landings, Cusatis recalled.

As it was happening, Cusatis was aboard a ship with his hospital unit and wasn’t supposed to land for a few days.

“However, because so many of our men were killed or lying wounded on the beach, we were ordered to go in during the early afternoon to help clear the beaches and assist the combat medics,” he said.

Even though he described feeling sadness and horror at what he had witnessed, he returned to Omaha Beach for D-Day’s 50th anniversary.

“The first thing I did was get down on my knees and thank God for allowing me to live,” Cusatis said.

Staff Sgt. Dominic A. Cusatis

Originally from Hazleton

104th Medical Battalion, 29th Division

Died: May 12, 2004

Story originally published: Sept. 5, 2000

The Standard-Speaker

“Doing our job”

Drafted when he turned 18, Julius “Jay” Reznick received a deferment because his two older brothers were already serving and a younger brother had polio.

But he voluntarily joined the Army in hopes of taking the place of a brother who had been wounded in Tunisia.

Reznick was sent to Europe as a Sherman tank driver with the 735th Independent Tank Battalion. In England, his battalion joined hundreds of thousands of American GIs undergoing continuous field training in preparation for the invasion of France.

“We just wanted to get it over with,” he said of the impending invasion.

Reznick was 19 when he became one of the 155,000 who landed in Normandy and saw his first combat on that fateful day.

Despite vivid recollection of many of his combat experiences, Reznick’s memory of D-Day was vague. He recalled scaling down the rope nets along the side of the troop ship into the landing ship tank, traveling across the rough seas, wading through the water and being on the beach.

Reznick said he and fellow soldiers were “just doing our job.”

His next recollection was being in St. Lo a few days later when the Sherman tanks finally arrived. From that point on, Reznick spent nearly every moment of the war in the driver seat.

He was injured several times; the last came just 20 days before the German surrender.

Reznick was driving the lead tank when his crew was ambushed by a German Tiger tank. He and the assistant driver were wounded, but all remaining members of the tank crew were killed.

For his service, he received two Purple Heart Medals, World War II Medal, German Occupation Medal, European Campaign Medal with four battle stars and the Good Conduct Medal. He also received a Diploma Certificate from the government of France for his part in the Liberation of France.

Pfc. Julius Reznick

Originally from Stockton, Hazle Twp.

735th Independent Tank Battalion

Died: Nov. 6, 2014

Story originally published: Sept. 29, 2014

The Standard-Speaker

“Hit a mine”

The Rev. Richard Abernethy was part of the “zero wave” of military personnel who brought weapons to Omaha Beach in advance of the D-Day Allied invasion of Normandy.

A motor machinist’s mate second class, Abernethy, then 18, was aboard one of several medium-sized landing craft with flotation devices that were attempting to land on the beach.

“We were the lead craft heading toward Omaha Beach,” he said. “Our job was to launch tanks at 0600 hours (6 a.m.), then return to be part of the 17th wave.”

His crew was supposed to get within 2,000 yards of the beach, but the water was too choppy, so they had to advance within 1,000 feet.

“When we headed closer, our craft hit a mine that blew the tanks off the craft and blew away a third of our landing craft,” Abernethy said.

He was thrown off the craft and suddenly underwater. He was unable to kick his legs, but his life jacket pulled him to the surface.

The landing craft tipped over, and Abernethy cut the straps to help save two Navy gunners. Six were killed and Abernethy was among the six seriously wounded.

In a letter to his mother, he wrote, “The first days of the invasion are over for me.”

He was discharged after he was found to be 35% disabled from his injuries. He later received a Purple Heart.

Abernethy said he had disturbing dreams about what happened while he was part of the zero wave and everything else he experienced on D-Day.

“You’re happy to be alive, but I often think of my shipmates. War is hell no matter how you look at it, but the experiences are invaluable,” he said. “But I sure wouldn’t want to go through it again.”

Abernethy became an ordained minister and came to the Hazleton area, serving as the longtime pastor of the former St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in West Hazleton.

Richard Abernethy

Motor machinist’s mate 2nd class

Originally from Coplay, Lehigh County; settled in Hazleton.

Navy

Died: June 12, 2016

Story originally published: June 6, 2004

The Standard-Speaker

“That's how crazy I was”

On June 4, 1944, Jack Walsh’s Landing Ship Tank left the Port of Southampton fully loaded with tanks, trucks, jeeps, weapon carriers, tank destroyers, ammunition and hundreds of soldiers.

But 35 miles off the coast of France, the ships were ordered to turn around because of bad weather.

The massive convoy headed back out late the night of June 5. Tracer bullets lit up the sky “like a Christmas tree,” Walsh said.

German shells rained down from the cliffs.

“I wanted to get in on the front line. That’s how crazy I was,” he said.

One image remained fixed in his mind — the bodies of three dead GIs bobbing by the LST, their hair floating on the surface. When a wave would hit them, their heads would pop up from the water and Walsh could see their faces.

“What I got upset about was thinking about their families and their friends,” he said. “They were the ones who were going to suffer, not (the soldiers).”

Between June 6 and the end of July, LST 505, Walsh’s vessel, made seven additional trips to Omaha Beach.

Jack Walsh

South Abington Twp., currently living at Gino Merli Veterans’ Center, Scranton

Navy, corpsman 1st class, Landing Ship Tank (LST) 505

Story originally published: Nov. 8, 2015

The Times-Tribune

“Right on top”

As part of the D-Day invasion, Charles J. “Sandy” Santarsiero parachuted behind the Normandy beaches.

“We jumped out just around midnight and landed right on top of the German 1st Airborne. There were about 500 of us and 2,000 of them. You had to be a little bit crazy to do what we were doing,” he told The Scranton Times in 1984.

At the Battle of the Wooden Bridges at Brevands on June 7, 1944, Santarsiero was instrumental in protecting the Utah beachhead and was awarded the Distinguished Service Cross.

An Army citation dated July 1, 1944, praised the Scranton man’s bravery in battle.

“Second Lieutenant Santarsiero, observing a force of enemy troops moving across the rear of his position, led five men against this enemy force. His aggressiveness and daring action, during which he personally killed six of the enemy, repulsed the enemy force and was instrumental in their subsequent capture,” it read.

2nd Lt. Charles J. Santarsiero

Scranton

Company I

Army, 506th Parachute Infantry Regiment

101st Airborne Division

Died: May 10, 2004

Story originally published: June 6, 1984

The Scranton Times

“I won the race”

Army veteran William Kaub Sr. brought a particular set of skills to Omaha Beach.

The World War II veteran, who enlisted in his mid-20s, raised pigeons as a hobby in his youth. He applied some of what he knew when he was assigned to work with carrier pigeons on the front lines.

“I used to race them — I raced them 1,000 miles,” Kaub, who was a member of the 282nd Signal Pigeon Company, said. “I won the race. That’s how good I was at it.”

The infantryman ended up driving a jeep during the invasion of Normandy on D-Day, and also fought in the Battle of the Bulge, which is often referred to as Hitler’s last stand in the war.

He was awarded a Silver Star and five Bronze Stars for his service.

William Kaub Sr.

Scranton native, later lived in Throop

Army, 282nd Signal Pigeon Co.

Died: Oct. 5, 2018

Story originally published: Sept. 2, 2017

The Times-Tribune

“God’s pocket”

Navy Lt. James A. Doherty watched Allied forces storming the beaches of Normandy on D-Day from the helm of PT-503, which was positioned just a few hundred feet off the beach.

Doherty was the commander of one of a dozen PT boats that led the armada of ships across the channel: 50 minesweepers, 20 destroyers, five cruisers and four battleships.

“I felt as safe as being in God’s pocket,” he said. “There was so much power assembled, you wouldn’t be too scared. Don’t get me wrong — no one was nonchalant. It’s just that there was such a magnificent display of power that you knew it wasn’t going to fail at that stage.”

Shortly after D-Day, Doherty’s PT-503 got into a skirmish with German E-boats in the channel.

According to an account by Ensign B.T. Hemingway about the battle in an August 1944 issue of Time magazine, Doherty “took a terrific belt in his steel helmet, got up and took over again. He had a small souvenir piece of shrapnel in his head,” according to Hemingway.

Doherty survived the war and went on to serve four terms on Scranton City Council. He is the father of former Scranton Mayor Chris Doherty.

Lt. James A. Doherty

Scranton

Navy, captain, PT-503

Motor Torpedo Boat Squadron 34

Died: May 13, 1993

Story originally published: June 6, 1984

The Scranton Times

DICKSON CITY — When crews and heavy equipment disappeared from the most anticipated construction project in Dickson City early this year, it left many scratching their heads.

Beyond the fact that they had little explanation, borough officials were quick to point out two heaps of topsoil abandoned on either side of the Coordinated Health Scranton Hospital construction site as a potential hazard.

“The problem I had … with them is they did not get back to us when I tried to contact them,” borough planning commission Chairman Mike Fedorka said. “They left the site. No one was contacted. It wasn’t stabilized.”

A health system spokesman acknowledged communication between contractors, the health system and borough officials could have been better.

“When there are delays, certainly there can be frustration,” said Coordinated Health spokesman Ron Ticho. “It’s really important for us to have a good work relationship with the planning commission, and we need to do a better job.”

Crews were pulled to finish up a clinic in Hazleton, which just started seeing patients last week, he said.

Work on the Dickson City project is likely to pick up again toward the end of June.

“We’re really excited to resume,” Ticho said. “We look forward to working with (borough officials) as we finish this project.”

The work stoppage comes amid a few notable blows for the small health system’s public image and its bottom line.

In December, Coordinated and its founder and chief executive, Dr. Emil DiIorio, settled claims with the U.S. Department of Justice that the health system overbilled Medicare and other federal health care programs in a complex scheme between 2007 and 2014.

Coordinated paid the health and human services department $11.25 million. On his own, DiIorio paid $1.25 million.

Neither Coordinated nor the doctor admitted guilt, per the settlement.

U.S. attorneys in Pennsylvania’s eastern district alleged DiIorio used a billing code modifier to break out specific procedures, ones that should have been bundled under a global reimbursement for surgery, in order to bill the government separately.

The justice department claims health system executives twice were notified that they were improperly unbundling billing codes but didn’t change practices resulting in the federal government overpaying by millions of dollars.

Meanwhile, Coordinated has pledged to disrupt the current health care market with an alternative to larger health systems and likewise, it’s feeling their scorn.

Last year, Geisinger Health Plan booted Coordinated doctors from its network putting thousands of patients, and the revenue they bring, out of reach from their doctors.

To ease the transition, Coordinated offered to match in-network rates and absorbed the difference, but that arrangement expired at the beginning of the year.

For-profit health systems in general are struggling amid stiffer regulations and mounting pressure to keep costs low.

In light of that, in March, Coordinated officials told The Morning Call newspaper in Allentown that it was cutting spending by 15% and laying off employees across its system, in spite of an aggressive expansion plan.

“We have implemented significant cost saving measures as part of our ongoing effort to generate efficiencies while continuing to deliver the highest quality of care for our patients,” Ticho said. “This has led to stronger financial performance, especially over the past few months.”

But those circumstances triggered doubt and speculation among some in Dickson City, and it all gurgled up last week when stormwater pushed past temporary erosion barriers on the site that were never meant to handle so much rain.

At least one neighboring property was flooded, and on Wednesday, borough crews used a backhoe to clear mud and sediment from a clogged storm drain on the north end of the site.

The Lackawanna County Conservation District issued the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, or NPDES, permit for the project. The federal program in part regulates how builders control erosion, sediment and stormwater.

The conservation district contracts for the state Department of Environmental Protection in issuing and monitoring some permits in the county.

Conservation district officials inspected the site Thursday and found issues, manager Jerry Stiles said, though he couldn’t immediately say whether the agency would take action. The conservation district can tell the company to fix the problems, but has to turn any enforcement duties over to the state Department of Environmental Protection.

Coordinated has conditional plan approval with the borough, Fedorka said. For one, builders can’t pour concrete footers until the health system has its state health department license in hand.

Fedorka still hasn’t seen it yet.

He was an early apologist for the hospital, and said he still believes it means good things for Dickson City. He just wants some answers.

“They still have comments that they need to address,” he said. “They’re not going to move forward without anything coming to me.”

Contact the writer: joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131; @jon_oc on Twitter

CARBONDALE — Lee Cerra hoped the second annual Arts Thrive Festival in the Pioneer City would help renew the perspective of Carbondale.

Cerra, who helped plan the event Saturday in downtown Carbondale, said after last year’s inaugural festival people were excited to see a group celebrating arts in the city.

The festival, which took over Memorial Park off Main Street, was a daylong partnership among Women to Women: THRIVE (Teach, Help, Reach, Invest, Value and Encourage), of which Cerra is a member, the city and the Trinity Episcopal Church, which held a smaller arts festival on the church’s grounds. The festival received a $1,800 Lackawanna County arts and culture grant for the celebration.

Seated under the THRIVE tent with Cerra and Mary Lynn Brannon, who also helped bring the event together, Carbondale City Clerk Michele Bannon said the festival also encouraged those attending to patronize the city’s businesses.

“The city likes it,” she said. “It gets families into the downtown.”

Cerra, a Carbondale resident, said “artist” is such a broad term that the festival isn’t limited to just one type of creation.

Most of the vendors at the park offered interactive art, including jewelry and hula hoop making.

Outside the park, artists of many different media also offered lessons in their skills.

At the Carbondale Chamber of Commerce, Cathy Arvonio demonstrated oil painting brush and color techniques. Kylos Brannon held a smartphone filmmaking workshop at PersoNELLized Cakes across the street from Memorial Park.

Women to Women: THRIVE is a support group through the Greater Carbondale Chamber of Commerce for women of all walks of life from all over the region, said Brannon, a Carbondale resident. The group meets every Wednesday morning at a local coffee shop.

The festival grew from the group’s discussions about how to help the community.

“We just enjoy the arts,” Brannon said.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5114;

@kbolusTT on Twitter

JASON FARMER / STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER

Fairgoers take a ride on the Himalaya on Saturday at the Lackawanna County Heritage Fair at Montage Mountain in Scranton. After days of rain since the fair kicked off Wednesday, Saturday’s sunny weather brought out a good crowd. The inaugural event wraps up today; festivities run from noon to 8 p.m.

The Scranton police Street Crimes Unit arrested two city men Saturday who had about $6,000 worth of meth in their vehicle, officers said.

Officers Jason Hyler and Scott Benzeleski were on patrol around 1:30 a.m. when they pulled over a white Nissan Pathfinder, owned and driven by Brandon Adams, 32, at Cherry Street and Prospect Avenue. Joseph Duncan, 32, of 1610 Prospect Ave., was seated in the passenger side of the car.

Adams — who officers had reason to believe had been selling meth — failed to use a turn signal, police said.

In the car, officers found a bong, which Adams, 409 Sherwood Court, said he uses to smoke meth.

On Adams, officers discovered 1.8 grams of meth concealed in a cigarette pack, Suboxone, which he does not have a prescription for, and a blue glass meth pipe.

Inside Duncan’s bag, officers found a digital scale with white residue and a packet of meth

In Adams’ backpack, officers discovered 50 grams of meth inside a vacuum-sealed box.

As officers opened the box, Adams said they were going to be happy when they saw what was inside, according to the criminal complaint.

Hyler tested the meth, which came back positive.

Both Adams and Duncan were charged with possession of a controlled substance and related charges. Their bail was set at $100,000 straight, and both remain in Lackawanna County Prison.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5114;

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Pike County President Judge Gregory Chelak sentenced:

■ Andy Niklinski, 21, Tobyhanna, six months of probation and $300 fine for tampering with physical evidence on Nov. 3 in Blooming Grove Twp.

■ Jenna A. Kalin, 25, Montgomery, N.Y., 18 months of probation and $900 fine for two counts of simple assault and resisting arrest on Nov. 19 in Dingman Twp.

■ Kyle Conklin, 26, Port Jervis, N.Y., nine to 18 months in Pike County Jail and $900 fine for two counts of retail theft on Nov. 12 in Westfall Twp.

■ William Patrick Francois, 35, Milford, 12 months of probation and $300 fine for possession of a controlled substance on Sept. 18 in Dingman Twp.

■ Michael A. Mongrella, 40, Port Jervis, N.Y., six months of probation and $200 fine for retail theft on Nov. 17 in Westfall Twp.

■ Theodore Robert Steinhilber, 54, Honesdale, three to 23½ months in Pike County Jail and $800 fine for criminal trespass and DUI on Oct. 20, 2016 in Blooming Grove Twp.

■ Elsie G. Francois, 50, Milford, six months of probation and $200 fine for possession of a controlled substance on Sept. 18 in Dingman Twp.

■ Nicole Ann Pellegrini, 33, Newfoundland, six months of probation and $300 fine for DUI on July 28 in Palmyra Twp.

■ Jennifer M. Gildeleon, 43, Middletown, N.Y., one year of probation and $500 fine for theft by deception on Nov. 18 in Westfall Twp.

■ Keith Edward Bauccio, 29, Brooklyn, N.Y., 18 months of probation and $750 fine for retail theft on May 3 in Westfall Twp. and theft from a motor vehicle on July 24 in Delaware Twp.

■ Christopher Franks-Ford, 23, Milford, 12 months less one day to two years less one day in Pike County Jail, followed by three years of probation and $2,800 fine for three counts of simple assault and one count each of terroristic threats, recklessly endangering another person and criminal mischief on Aug. 29, 2017 in Dingman Twp.

■ Ryan William Rose, 21, Jeannette, 12 months of probation and $800 fine for possession of drug paraphernalia and accident involving damage to attended vehicle on April 20, 2016 in Westfall Twp.

■ Tasha Louise Drob, 31, Hawley, 12 months of probation and $500 fine for theft by unlawful taking on Jan. 25 in Blooming Grove Twp.

■ Robert J. Ciufalo, 35, South Sterling, $300 fine for criminal mischief on May 22 in Greene Twp.

■ Christopher Michael Bird, 20, Bushkill, $25 fine for possession of drug paraphernalia on Jan. 20, 2018 in Lehman Twp.

1. Lackawanna County communities are trying to figure out how

to comply with federal

pollution-reduction requirements in

stormwater by what year?

A. 2020

B. 2023

C. 2030

D. 2033

2. Who raced through Jessup on Sunday as part of the final event of La Festa dei Ceri?

A. Children

B. Dogs

C. Priests

D. Women

3. The Recovery Bank

is a consortium of

agencies offering a chance for people

battling what?

A. Mental illness

B. Obesity

C. Addiction

D. Diabetes

4. The city of Scranton is gauging whether

anyone would be

interested in moving into what iconic city building?

A. City Hall

B. Weston Field House

C. DPW garage

D. Serrenti Army Reserve Center

5. A pharmacist in Scranton dropped what into a bag with drugs after a robber demanded oxycodone pills?

A. GPS tracker

B. Dye pack

C. Informational card on the dangers of opioids

D. Water pills

6. Lackawanna County commissioners voted

to use what funding

to lease work-release

housing?

A. County funds

B. Grant money

C. Commissary funds

D. Loan money

7. What caused the first day of the Lackawanna County Heritage Fair to close?

A. Lousy weather

B. Power outage

C. Low ticket sales

D. Congestion on

Interstate 81

8. The National Weather Service confirmed a

tornado tore through a part of the Abingtons on Tuesday, ripping off roofs, shattering windows and sending trees through buildings. How fast were the winds?

A. 60 mph

B. more than 90 mph

C. around 100 mph

D. more than 110 mph

9. What longtime

Lackawanna County hardware store is

closing July 1 after more than six decades in

business?

A. Scranton Grinder & Hardware

B. Matthew’s Hardware

C. Chinchilla Hardware & Variety

D. Doyle’s Hardware

10. Wells Fargo donated $100,000 to Neighborworks NEPA for a

revitalization project

in what section of

Scranton?

A. South Side

B. Green Ridge

C. West Side

D. Hill Section

Answers: 1. B; 2. A; 3. C; 4. A; 5. A; 6. A; 7. A; 8. B; 9. C; 10. C

Flag retirement

ceremony planned

Archbald Borough Veterans flag retirement ceremony, 11 a.m., Saturday at the Eynon Fire Department, Thomas Street, Eynon. Flags will be accepted at Hricak-McAndrew American Legion Post 869, Ambrose Revels American Legion Post 328, Eynon American Legion Post 624 and VFW Post 7963 before the event.

Sen. Baker sets

veterans outreach

State Sen. Lisa Baker veterans outreach with VFW service officer, June 14, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., 22 Dallas Shopping Center, Memorial Highway, Dallas; appointments requested, 570-675-3931.

Marine League

to retire flags

Northeastern Detachment Marine Corps League and Museum’s annual flag retirement ceremony, Saturday, 11 a.m., detachment, 1340 Alder St., Scranton; Boy Scout troops will participate,

Meetings

POST 4909

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

POST 25

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

POST 327 AUXILIARY

Olyphant Raymond Henry American Legion Post 327 Auxiliary, Monday, 7 p.m.

MARINE CORPS LEAGUE

Northeastern Detachment Marine Corps League and Museum, today, 2 p.m., detachment, 1340 Alder St.

109TH INFANTRY

The 109th Infantry Regiment Association, Wednesday, 6 p.m., Shopa-Davey VFW Post, Peckville.

AMERICAN LEGION DISTRICT 11

American Legion District 11, Wednesday, 7 p.m., Dickson City Post 665, Main Street, Dickson City.

POST 7069

Abington Memorial VFW Post 7069, Thursday, 7 p.m. No meeting in July.

POST 207

Kosciuszko American Legion Post 207, Thursday, 7 p.m., SS. Peter and Paul Church hall, 1309 W. Locust St., Scranton.

Merli Center

Today: Coffee, 8:30 a.m.; morning visits, 8:45; eucharistic ministry visits, 9:15; fresh air/gardening, courtyard, 2 p.m.; unit visits, 4.

Monday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Bible study, 9:30; VFW Lenox fishing and lunch, 9; bingo and ice cream, sponsored by VNA Hospice, 2; senior fitness, 3; unit visits, 4.

Tuesday: John F. Kennedy Elementary School, 8:25 a.m.; volunteer ministry, 1:15 p.m.; choir practice, 1:45; Catholic service, 3; unit visits, 4.

Wednesday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; new age nails, third floor, 10:15; resident council, ice cream sundaes, 2 p.m.; food committee, 2:30; unit visits, 4; Bible club, 2 south lounge, 4.

Thursday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; chapel service, 10; horseshoes, third floor, 10:15; Burger King dine-in by Post 922 Home Association, 12:15 p.m.; movie, “Patton,” and pizza, 2; senior fitness, 3; unit visits, 4.

Friday: Morning visits,, 8:45 a.m.; coffee and doughnuts by the VFW Department of Pennsylvania Auxiliary, 10:15; bingo by American Legion District 11, 2 p.m.; senior fitness, 3; unit visits, 4.

Saturday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; artist in residency with Earl, 9:30; bingo by Trinity Lutheran Men in Mission, 2 p.m.; unit visits, 4.

VETERANS NEWS should be submitted no later than Monday before publication to veterans@timesshamrock.com; or YES!desk, The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

Native honored

Scranton native Caitlin Gerrity received the 2019 Librarian of the Year award from the Utah Library Association.

“I am honored and humbled to have my work recognized,” said Gerrity, an assistant professor of library media and the director of the Library Media Program at Southern Utah University. “I am empowered in my work at SUU and in growing alongside the most collaborative, innovative, and change-making folks in the state.”

Gerrity was given the honor for her grant- writing skills, creativity in designing instructional modules for library aide basics and organization of summer boot camps for school librarians, among many other initiatives.

A 2005 West Scranton High School graduate, Gerrity, who lives in Cedar City, Utah, earned her bachelor’s degree in English and communications from Temple University and her master’s degree in library science and her K-12 teaching endorsement from Drexel University. She began working at SUU in 2015 as an instruction librarian and this fall will serve as an associate director for the Center for Teaching and Learning on SUU’s campus.

Scouts honor

Local Girl Scouts were among 81 Scouts recognized with Gold Awards during an event at the Hershey Lodge and Convention Center on May 11.

The Gold Award is the Girl Scouts’ highest honor. To earn the prestigious award, Scouts must demonstrate a higher commitment to improving their communities and advocating for lasting change.

Local Girl Scouts honored were:

Rachelle Youells, Forty Fort, Civic Engagement — A Cemetery Revival/Memorial Project; Madison Guzzo, Hawley, Animals — Bow Wow! Now that’s a Good Dog Park!; Kyra Krzywicki, Kingston, Civic Engagement — Kingston Police K-9 Memorial Dog Park; Brooke Taylor, Kingston, Disability — Swings for Chase, and HIE Awareness Project; Lindsey Coy, Montrose, Civic Engagement — Preserving Historical Documents; Mary Madeline Lewis, Pittston, Civic Engagement — Florence Foster Jenkins: Historical Marker; Bianca Mazzarella, Pittston, Arts, Culture & Heritage — Live On; Tamara Bartholomew, Scranton, Life Skills— Child Safety 101; Kaylee Magda, Scranton, Children’s Issues — Re-Thread Community Closet; Taylor Zackarias, Tunkhannock, Military/Veterans Affairs — Honoring Our Veterans; and Eva King, Wilkes-Barre, Environment and Sustainability — The Bee Project.

The Class of 2019 Gold Award Girl Scouts have exhibited outstanding leadership, exceptional organizational skills and a sincere commitment to investing in their communities, according to Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania.

High notes

Eileen Miller received the state Department of Transportation’s 2019 Survivor Advocate Award.

Miller has dedicated her life to educating others about road safety after her son, Paul Miller, was killed by a distracted driver.

The distracted driver was driving a tractor-trailer in the opposite lane, went across the median and crashed head-on into her son’s vehicle.

Since then, Eileen Miller has shared her son’s story across Northeast Pennsylvania with schools, colleges and organizations.

The dirt road cut a narrow path through heavy scrub oak in Roaring Brook Twp., 1,500 feet west of Mount Cobb Road.

In that desolate place, the bullet-riddled body of Brooklyn, New York-man Louis Markowitz may have gone unnoticed for months if not for three sharp-eyed mine workers returning from a work site on May 21, 1932.

State and county law enforcement officials gathered where the body was found shortly before 11 a.m. that day. He had been shot several times with two guns: a .38-caliber and a .32-caliber. One shot pierced his heart, another just below it.

He’d also had been beaten severely, possibly with a “blackjack,” the May 21, 1932, Scranton Times reported.

“Markowitz, believed to be well known to underworld characters in this region because of numerous business cards and other papers found in his wallet, had been taken for a ‘ride,’ possibly in his own car,” the newspaper reported.

‘Local underworld’

State police Cpl. Charles Santee of the Peckville substation said Markowitz was likely killed around 3 a.m.

He and other investigators also believed Markowitz was unaware of his impending fate when he got into the car.

“One investigator ventured the opinion that he had been slugged and then dragged from the car and shot,” the newspaper reported. “There were two theories, one that he had been followed here by former friends from Brooklyn, and the other that the job was done by members of the local underworld with whom Markowitz may have had dealings.”

Police also thought the killers were familiar with the region, based on the location where the body was dumped.

Tread marks found at the scene appeared to show the killers turned onto a side road before turning around and getting onto Mount Cobb Road.

“A stranger traveling along Mount Cobb road looking for a place to dispose of a body would probably overlook the entrance to the private road,” according to the article.

Three miners — Max Meaker of Elmhurt and Fred Compter and Adam Cramer, both of Lake Ariel — taking a load of ashes from a coal washing operation out to the main highway spotted the body, likely far sooner than the killers had hoped it would be discovered.

“The body was found three-tenths of a mile from the highway and about 30 feet from the dirt road. … Had the body lain 20 or 30 feet further in (it) would have been quite impossible to see it from the road.”

Strangely, the miners’ discovery wasn’t the first time a Brooklyn man ended up slain in Lackawanna County that year.

“Jacob Steinberg, alias Levine, of that city, was killed and Edward Weiss, local police character, wounded by gangsters in the Pine Brook section (of Scranton) on Feb. 10,” 1932, The Scranton Times reported. “No arrests were made in connection with the Pine Brook shooting and Weiss, who eventually became well enough to be discharged from the State hospital, would volunteer no information” about what happened.

The killings were never officially linked.

‘Small peanut’

A day after Markowitz was found in Roaring Brook Twp., his car was found in Scranton.

A watchman spotted the Plymouth sedan parked on North Washington Avenue, just a block from City Hall, on the morning of May 22, 1932, The Scranton Times reported.

“A .38-caliber cartridge, similar to that used in the killing of the Brooklyn man, was found on the floor of the machine,” the story said. “One of the rear tires … was flat, but with the exception of the bullet, no other clues were found.”

Santee and other investigators were kept busy investigating tips, including one that a woman was used as “bait to induce Markowitz to make the trip”to Roaring Brook, but came up empty. Police also received a tip that Markowitz hired himself out as protection for a Luzerne County beer runner but couldn’t deliver on his boasts, the May 23, 1932, Scranton Times story reported.

In addition, the dead man could not be linked to any police records; one New York City official called him a “small peanut”racketeer, the article said.

“Many persons were questioned in local underworld circles, but while several of them admitted having seen Markowitz after being shown his picture, none of them would admit an acquaintance with him,” according to the article.

Markowitz’s brothers, Jack and Dave, arrived in Scranton from Brooklyn and were questioned by police, according to the article. They said the married father of an 8-week-old had worked as a chauffeur and last visited their parents in Brooklyn the week before. They said he had the car during that visit and believed he drove to Scranton alone, the article reported.

Louis Markowitz’s body was returned to Brooklyn, where he was buried, according to a May 24, 1932, Scranton Times story. His killers were never caught.

ERIN L. NISSLEY is an assistant metro editor at The Times-Tribune. She has lived in the area for more than a decade.

Contact the writer:

localhistory@timesshamrock.com

Scranton Preparatory School

GRADE 12

First honors: Victoria Atkinson, Mia Bellucci, Liza Beviglia, Mia Beviglia, Brendan Braatz, Lauren Cawley, Ryan Chan, Vincent Cimini, Caroline Conway, Sophia DiBileo, Katherine Dzwonczyk, Valentina Germain, Lauren Gershey, Mia Gianello, Margaret Gralinski, Laura Graytock, Julia Horchos, Rowan Ide, Taylor Jenkins, McKayla Kathio, Brenna Klaproth, Amanda Kornutiak, Christine Lenahan, Anna Ligorio, Tara Lynott, Margaret Lyons, Margret Martin, Kerry McGrath, Peyton McNulty, Maureen Nole, Zane Price, Alana Simrell, Kimberly Stossel, Claire Sunday, Emma Tully, Alexandra Valvano, Katherine Welby, Victoria Wrobleski, Elisa Yanni and Daniel Zych.

Second honors: Jillian Aebli, Grace Berlew, Maeve Burke, Olivia Burke, Lula Campbell, Stephanie Carolan, Margaret Chesnick, Theresa Daly, Adriana DeNaples, Angelina DiLeo, Sophia DiPaolo, Lucy Doherty, Collin Ennis, Angelina Falcone, Nicholas Genco, Nicholas Gershey, Adiya Golden, Lauren Golden, Mary Harrison, Aidan Holzman, Norman Kanavy, Kenneth Kincel, Nicholas Kohut, Caroline Krulewicz, Olivia Lange, Kaliyah Lynady, Saylor Martines, Paige McDonald, Cecelia McMullen, Matthew Morris, Miranda Nardone, Cuong Nguyen, Andrew Noto, Leo O’Boyle, Elisa Penetar, Colin Pierce, Stephen Postupak, Dominique Preate, Alexis Ralston, Kyle Reihner, Sophia Serafini, Rebecca Sharples, Marcella Snyder, Alexander Strubeck, Uchechi Uzoukwu, Megan Woronko, Mary Wright and Myah York.

GRADE 11

First honors: Isabel Bekele, Matthew Blackledge, Lillian Boles, Kailey Bridgeman, Niko Cappiello, Brendan Colleran, Catherine Collins, Jenna Colon, Kathryn Coolican, Kendra Corby, Olivia D’Andrea, Abigail Davis, Margaret Dickson, Caitlin Doughton, Ryan Dubiac, Lukas Fives, Marguerite Flynn, Reghan Hesser, Thomas Kennedy, Grace Lenahan, Robert Lynett, Nicholas Muchisky, Fiona Neville, Harrison Oven, Camille Pastore, Natalie Pritchyk, Sammea Ricciardi, M.J. Stivala, Andrea Sullin, Nadja Tomaszewski, Abigail Ulrich, Ryleigh Vennie, John Watkins, Kyla Weckel and Gabriella Zambetti.

Second honors: Abigail Bowen, Valeria Carissa, John Clark, Gabrielle DeNaples, Marchella DeNaples, Olivia DiMattio, Taylor Evans, Elizabeth Frederick, Joseph Hazzouri, Connor James, Elisa Kopicki, Maura Krzan, Scott Lynett, Lily Mackarey, Katherine Malone, Olivia Mariotti, Anne Nasevich, Obiamaka Obinna-Okafor, Geoffrey Pizzuto, Elizabeth Price, Alison Prushinski, Shayla Salvatori, Jacquelyn Shanley, Brady Stallman, Luke Sullivan, Matthew Tomaine, Madison Tratthen, Danielle Warhola, Grace Wiercinski, Emily Winslow and Samantha Zolin.

GRADE 10

First honors: Jack Allardyce, Victoria Berbano, Grace Boyle, Sarah Boyle, Mia Burke, Ava Buttner, Nicholas Cafarella, Thomas Casey, Morgan Costa, Thomas Dickinson, Danqi Ding, Mia Familetti, Willa Farrell, Joseph Fasula, Lydia Gilpin, Rose Granet, Carly Habeeb, Lily Harden, Sierra Hartland, Abigayle Hodorovich, Michael Howard, Marisa Kelly, Patrick Kennedy, Samantha Killian, Margaret Kosierowski, Jack Lynett, Jordan Mackey, Carmen Marranca, Ryliann McAllister, Megan McDonald, Lucy McGrath, Julia McGraw, Rebecca Miller, Kathryn Mozeleski, Audrey Munley, Daniel Nguyen, Nicole Nicholas, Emily Pettinato, Claudia Pritchyk, Erica Prushinski, Meredith Purcell, Joseph Ranieli, Camilla Rinaldi, Rachael Rose, Louis Sauter, Lauren Schofield, Jennifer Simrell, Natasha Tomaszewski, Avery Tompkins, Emma Troy, Ebubechi Uzoukwu, Rocco Valvano, Caroline Welby, Alexa Wheeler and Winston White.

Second honors: Julia Burgess, Conal Clarke, Natalie Clum, Sophia Galenas, Collin Gazella, Vito Gianello, Tyler Harden, Matthew Howard, Brenna Jordan, Spencer Keihl, Abigale Kellogg, Claire Kelly, Santina Kobierecki, Kathleen Lynott, Luke Mattia, Ryan McAndrew, James McCabe, Krista Morris, Taylor Newton, Lisa Parmar, Lily Pavuk, Zackary Richardson, Natalie Robinson, Jerry Speicher, Matthew Tatulli, Matthew Tressler, Asia Walker and Jake Yanoski.

GRADE 9

First honors: Sarah Aubrey, Maria Belardi, Ayden Berndt, Travis Bridgeman, Anastasia Clark, Molly Comcowich, Catherine Conway, Julia Curran, Lilianna Davitt, Mary Farrell, Marcel Fediw, Andrew Ferguson, Sofia Flores-Weidner, Monica Fornaszewski, Matthew George, Ethan Gumula, Abigail Haggerty, Maya Hemak, Maris Hiller, Amy Kaniper, Mitchell Kirby, Kathryn Kolucki, Anna Kosierowski, Tiffany Lee, Gia Lettieri, Michael Lynch, Thomas Lynch, Aiden Mackrell, Lidia Marranca, Riley Matasavage, Ariel Mercurius, Drew O’Malley, Annmarie Ong, Allison Orr, Graham Oven, Anthony Pastore, Macey Pennay, Maya Persico, Ragan Poplawski, Eremi Racine, Lilly Reilly, Lauren Repella, Patrick Robinson, Alison Samudio, Michael Sewack, Catherine Shipsky, Grace Stallman, Caroline Stampien, Wyatt Stelmak, Brett Strong, Olivia Turner Havira, Ashlyn Urbanski, Jack Walsh, Savanna Willauer and Stephanie Yatko.

Second honors: Jackson Batzel, Dillon Beermann, Kayley Capone, Andrew Cimini, Adrianna Colon, Nora Davis, Kellen Doughton, Andrew Durkin, Nora Evans, Lia Festa, Gianna Genco, Sarah Giacobbe, Abigail Gilmartin, William Granci, Samantha Harrison, Amelia Ingargiola, Jordan Johnson, Christian Kohut, Kaylee Kravitz, Monica Lam, Jillian Lynn, John Mackey, Alexandra Mariotti, Gracie Mariotti, Cole Mattia, David McIntyre, Avery McNulty, Steven Millan, Isabella Nardone, Elizabeth Neville, Michael Nicotera, Colleen O’Malley, Andrew Padula, Lydia Pickutoski, Lily Seymour, Sophia Striefsky, Joseph Tolan, Nicole Tonny, Madison Toolan, William Vinsko III and Amber Wright.

Valley View

High School

GRADE 12

High honors: Edward Alco, Nina Angeloni, Vanessa Antenori, Carly Bailleau, Nicholas Beggin, Noah Benjamin, Michael Bochnovich, Taylor Bonacci, Taylor Boyle, Leah Burke, Dominic Clapper, Benjamin Cole, Cobi Combs, Julianna Cotroneo, Robert Craig, Delayne DePietro, Noelle DiMattina, Emily Doherty, Victoria Duffy, Kathryn Eberhart, Max Gillow, Allison Giombetti, Matthew Gregorowicz, Abbey Halloran, Kara Hirjak, Christopher Huynh, Connor Judge, Julia Kanavy, Ryan Kennedy, Hailey Kobrynich, Christian Krause, Kathryn Kraycer, Paul Krzan, Marc Kudrich, Sarah Martin, Noah McKane, Gianna Memo, Charisse Mulherin, Kyle Novajosky, Isabella Picchini, Amanda Sakulich, Maria Santarelli, Benjamin Siesputowski, Maddison Walsh and Navaeh Warholic.

Honors: Anthony Aileo, Michael Backus, Jessica Baker, Nicholas Bianchi, Madalyn Bonk, Juan Cardenas, Clauda Casarin, Camille Castelline, Mia Ceccarelli, Rachel Chiricos, Brendan Condron, Olivia Damski, Emma Depierto, Mia Depietro, Brian Durkin, Joshua Frazier, Peter Gentile, Drew Higgins, Mason Kordish, Trinity Lewis, Anthony Mellado, Arianna Nardelli, Justin Owen, Jonathan Petraski, Keith Pfeiffenberger, Chad Propst, Breighan Ritko, Heather Schultz, Michael Sebastianelli, Ryan Shemchek, Noah Sherman, Adnaika Thelusma, Nicholas Vilogi-Slayron, Alexandra Vorozilchak, Meghan Winter, Lorna Yushinsky and Jordan Zahradnik.

GRADE 11

High honors: Ava Angeloni, Dominic Angeloni, Allison Bennett, Dixon Black, Olivia Blockberger, Abigail Borgacci, Robert Brudnicki, Damien Bryla, Maura Carter, Joshua Castellani, Justina Catapane, Beatrice Chindemi, Jonathan Clark, Jordan Conserette, Annaliese Daiute, Erica Davis, Serena Davis, Kayla Davitt, Ruth Deliman, Teresa Dumas, Robert Ferraro, Ava Giombetti, Margherita Giordano, Madison Green, Nina Grushinski, Andrew Hall, Gavin Hallock, Alyssa Harrington, Dylan Howanitz, Tessa Jones, Gabrielle Judge, Faith Kendricks, Julia Koniszewski, Elsa Kovatch, Madison Kuzdro, David Kuzmick, Sarah Linko, Aleksander Lukaitis, Emily Martin, Mackenzie Mchale, Madison McVicar, Giavana Mercatili, Celeste Meta, Karli Muto, Kaylie Noto, Madison Pachucy, Nicholas Pavuk, Carlo Possanza, Alexander Powell, Ashley Reddock, Noah Reed, Mia Rudalavage, Vivian Russell, Simal Sami, Alex Savkov, Taylor Seprosky, Angela Shander, Izabella Shemonski, Evan Shenise, Jake Sheridan, Michael Sklareski, Deanna Soulsby, Jadyn Swartout, Molly Sweeney, Emily Tolerico, Nicholas Tomassoni, Ryan Turlip, Francesca Villano, Lovely Faith Villanueva and Lauren Walsh.

Honors: Mariah Addis, Kayla Barrett, Jessica Bizik, Jeremy Boyle, Sarah Capwell, Anthony Carmadella, Ryan Carrotto, Joel Decarli, Katelyn Dougher, Destiny Farmer, Anthony Ferraro, Mackenzie Gavin, Riley Gibbons, Nathan Grover, Maura Healey, Jack Islas, Lainey Kamora, Connor Kelley, Jude Kovatch, Alexis Ladomirak, Zoe Loza, Brittany Maddage, Zachary Manchak, Mia Markiewicz, Maxwell McLaughlin, Mia Mercatili, Alyssa Moran, Ryley Shemonski, Mia Tomassoni, David Uhrin, Noah Voglino, Emily Walsh, Ally Welsch, Lakayla Williams, Gabriel Yurkanin and Kaylin Zuzzio.

GRADE 10

High honors: Aidan Alco, Jack Baronski, Gavin Benedict, Skylar Bianchi, Ella Borgacci, Hailey Brajuka, Emma Burak, Rylee Cali, Hannah Carone, Tyler Cawley, Ryan Cesarini, Shaylyn Chilek, Ryan Coleman, Laci Connor, James Cook, Corey Coulthard, Julia Earl, Zachary Edwards, Angelina Estadt, Dominique Ferraro, Madison Flannery, Emma Giovagnoli, Caydenz Graham, Adam Grundt, Matthew Halloran, Max Hanyon, Corey Iyoob, Kevin Iyoob, Joseph Jarosh, Olivia Kaschak, Mikaylaa Katchmore, Gina Kenny, Brianna Kohut, Justin Kolsovsky, Alissa Koniszewski, Zack Kovalchik, Ian Kovatch, Austin Langel, Mackenzie Longworth, Madison Luchetti, Mark Mariani, Eva Marino, Alyssa Marion, Micayla Matamoros, David Mayne, Emily Mondak, Matthew Morgan, Tiffany Nestor, Thomas Noto, Dominic Pichany, Sophia Pisarski, Taralyn Reilly, Lindsay Scopelliti, Lauren Sharpe, Amanda Sherwood, Morgan Siefring, Matthew Smith, Gianna Snell, Daniel Solomon, Sarah Solomon, Megan St. Ledger, Kyle Suchecki, Emily Turlip, Gavin Tylenda, Alyssa Valenza, Jordan Wasilchak, Colin Wells, Sophia Williams, Nyomi Wilson, Emma Winter, Cheyenne Worden, Olivia May Yoder and Michael Zuzzio.

Honors: Jake Barrett, Christopher Brzegowski, Zachary Carone, Eric Demosky, Delany Dennis, Margaret Domski, Spencer Duffield, Taylor Fetcho, Logan Gavin, Benjamin Gregorowicz, Lauren Konchar, Nathan Loiseau, Skylar Minichello, Patrick Murphy, Desiree Peters, Rylie Ravinskas, Alivia Romano, Madeline Sopp, Dylan Stafursky, William Sweeny, Adam Szewczyk, CJ Walker and Mollie Walsh.

GRADE 9

High honors: Samantha Adams, Katelyn Ainey, Jessalyn Aquilino, Desiree Ashton, Robert Basalyga, Angelica Berardi, James Bistran, Carli Bossick, Haley Bronson, Eric Burnett, Cory Bushta, Brianna Conniff, Christopher Conserette, Hannah Danielowski, Caden Danks, Marissa Dougher, Lauren Dupay, William Durkin, Connor Eberhart, Julia Falls, Aaron Fontanella, Noah Fontanella, Shay Gillen, Ava Giovagnoli, Elayna Haring, Liam Harrison, Caleah Hawley, Andrew Heid, Giavanna Hoyer, Damian Jenkins, Lori Kozlowski, Grace Lennox, Louis Marion, Morgan Masters, Emily Mattise, Morgan Mayne, Gia Mazza, Emma Mazzoni, Anthony Memo, Paige Morgan, Katelyn Morisco, Lauren Murnock, Sydney Naylor, Kaitlyn Newberry, Alexandria O’Halloran, Hunter Pazzalia, Jared Ramos, Paige Redman, Victoria Reed, Samuel Rosetti, Vito Rotell, Olivia Russell, Mahanoor Sami, Anna Sebastianelli, Alivia Sherman, Leo Sirianni, Colin Skeen, Dylan Smith, Zakary Sova, Timothy St. Ledger, Natalia Sturdevant, Natalie Sweeney, Kaylee Taylor, Adam Teeple, Lydian VanWert, Michael Ver-Non, Pavel Vorozilchak, Kevin Williams, Nathaniel Worrell, Abigail Yurkanin, Rina Zambetti, Elijah Zimmerman, Brianna Zipay and Anna Zuby.

Honors: Chase Benjamin, Mayer Crean, Madelyn Davis, Owen Howells, Michael Howey, Carley Jankauskas, Brendan Jarosh, Kylie Jenkins, Ryley Jervis, Joseph Kalafut, Timothy Karlavige, Tim Lee, Elizabeth Lown, Mariah Lyon, Sean Mackinder, Madison Markiewicz, John Moran, Tyler Pienkowski, Victoria Pitoniak, Dante Randle, Zack Rudalavage, Brady Snyder, Tyler Swartz, Saige Sweeney, Joseph Traucht, Daniel Vislosky, Tiffany Weber and Angelina Zizza.

All Saints Academy

GRADE 8

High honors: Trevor Balcerzak, Ryan Burda, Samera Burrier, Gianna Cafarella, Hannah Curry, Grace Gaughan, Daniel Haikes, Aidan Krieger, Lena Ligorio, Aiden McCoy, Alexis Phillips, Ronald Prislupski, Eleanor Simrell, Pia Stivala and Marleyna Weidow.

Honors: Liam Badick, Cole Bittenbender, Corey Cicci, Maggie Dolphin, Emma Egan, Hannah Johns, Daniel Flynn, Connor Rasimovich, Aidan Romanchick, Fredrick Strein, Shamus Sullivan and Kyle Zeigler.

GRADE 7

High honors: Kylee Bonczek, Lily Butler, Ryan Georgetti, Samantha Greenfield, Cecilia Matatics, Luke Mozeleski, Alison Ross and Alexander Strausser.

Honors: Luke Healey, Mia Lameo, Donovan Mozgo, Alexander Stabinski, Evan Stabinski and Paul Wildermann.

GRADE 6

High honors: Judy Egan, Melisa Fornaszewski, Richard Mason, Raymond Nowakowski, Riley Ritterbusch, Nicholas Rusinko, Sienna Saunders, Richard Shelp, Carson Shrive, Abigail Suhosky, Helayna Weidow, Emmy Woody and Eric Zeigler.

Honors: Sydney Clark, Aiden Hart, James Mancini, Jacqueline Minelli, Harmony Ritter, Marla Romiti and Nicholas Tunis.

Lackawanna Trail

Elementary Center

GRADE 6

Gianna Ashley, Jacob Ashley, Ethan Basile, Lincoln Brander, Tea Burns, Madeline Carpenter, Logan Dixon, Demitrius Douglas, Nora Evans, Olivia Fassett, Garet Fowler, Alec Genell, Noah Genell, Sophie Haus, Kian John, Brayden Jones, Brandon Kalinoski, Tucker Kinney, Molly Madison, Isabelle Maurer, Laney Mecca, Reagan Norman, Madison Palmer, Lillian Rogers, Mia Roman, Gregg Schur, Emma Shaw, Makinzie Toward, Carson Ware, Katherine Wood and Ryan Wright.

GRADE 5

Addison Brown, Lillian Brunner, Sean Dwyer, Holden Edwards, Luca Evans, Megan Fahey, Connor Gercken, Kaitlyn Gerrity, Tabitha Glynn, Ethan Gorton, Lilyanne Hunting, Tyler Jervis, Ashlyn Johnson, Robert Jones, Grady June, Keaton Lisk, Lila Matuszewski, Dominic Musgrove, Michael O’Neil, Colin Owens, Cooper Patterson, Aaron Remick, Avery Ronchi, Isaac Ryon, Benjamin Shaw, Isabelle Shylkofski, Gavin Waibel, Samuel Ware, Lucas Wescott and Nicholas Wright.

Wayne Highlands

Middle School

GRADE 8

High honor roll: Jessieca Moira Aquasin, Brodie Cole, Nolan Duffy, Tiffany He, Nathan Hugaboom, Rochelle Keast, Caroline Klinkiewicz, Aidan Latourette, Madison Meagher, Ella Miller, Sommare Myers, Kalin Pietraszewski, Andrew Rhyne, Davalyn Ursich, Chloe Wolfe and Amaya Yarrish.

Honor roll: Veronica Baker, Madison, Breidenstein, Anna Coar, Kaysey Coca, Rachael Collins, Tia Daniels, Zachary DeReamer, Kira Fox, Carley Fries, Lindsey Gannon, Jack Higgins, Brooke Hopkins, Trinity Kline, Karter Kromko, Jonah Legg, Braden McLaughlin, Jacob Millon, Jake Mundy, Gopi Patel, Chloe Rogers, Liam Shenise, Connor Sloss, Madison Swendsen, Hailey Weigelt and Emma Weist.

GRADE 7

High honor roll: Grace Albano, Gavin Bresset, Claire Campen, Makayla Cobourn, Courtney Crum, Rebecca Dadig, Jack Daniels, Rory Decker, Nicholas DeNoie, Calghen Downey, Bryce Dressler, Jack Eisele, Nicholas Eisele-Bockelkamp, Abigail Frey, Wyatt Fuller, Cosette Gombita, Jenna Gonzales, Nathaniel Greene, Miranda Grossman, Seth Gunuskey, Lucy Harrington, Wilson He, Logan Hedgelon, Zoie Hessling, Ashley Hnatko, Jillian Hoey, Carter Kennedy, Skylar Manahan, Elise Marsh, Peter Modrovsky, Brooklyn Moody, Nicholas Mozga, Avery Ohliger, Pooja Patel, Karli Rowles, Alemina Selimovic, Joseph Taraschuk and Grant Tonkin.

Honor roll: Alexis Batzel, Guarionex Curiel, Brenna Dahlgren, Cameron Duley, Alexia Fasceski, Donovan Freedman, Anabella Garcia, Katelyn Gunuskey, Katelyn Hadden, Cody Kretschmer, Joel Landry, Eleanor MacDowell, Maria Maglione, Dominic Miller, Jillian Penn, Miranda Roegner and Maxx Wolfenberg.

GRADE 6

High honor roll: Andrew Baker, Gracen Barrouk, Emily Bennett, Rachele Chee, Daniel D’Albora, Mason D’Albora, Shawn Giblin, Faith Gombita, Mattice Harcum, Eliott Hocker, Brett Hoey, Delimar Hugg, Ruth Ihlefeldt, Conlan Keast, Megan Kretschmer, Leonardo Martinez-Valerio, Elizabeth Meagher, Erin Meagher, John Meagher, Liam Miller, Lucas Murray, Olivia Pinto, Jillian Rodriguez, Wyatt Rutherford, Ava Schachter, Justin Schumacher, Madison VanBlarcom, Evelyn Wilishefski and Nathan Woelkers.

Honor roll: Mason Avery, Rosalyn Bayly, Aviana Branning, Julian Ciarrocchi, Brianna Cobourn, Aiden Collins, Alexis Eldred, Kara Fries, Robert Grataski, Eoman Judge, Samantha Linn, Lisa Marion, Mason Osher, Anthony Passaro, Shreya Patel, Paul Reiprich, Nesta Sevcik, Kierra Slish, Lucas Stephens, Lily Taraschuk, Bella Trumbull, Hunter Warring and Emilia Williams.

Mountain View

Elementary School

GRADE 6

Brooklyn Anderson, Lacey Ball, Kylie Barhite, Timothy Barlow, Paige Barnes, Michael Beach, Zayandre Bradford, Jason DeManicor, Christina Denney, Conrad Depew, Chelsea Empet, Rachael Evans, Alexis Frisbie, Jackson Gesford, Luke Harvatine, Tanner Holtsmaster, Joshua Kamensky, Ryleigh Kilmer, Kylee Kozloski, Dalton Kulick, Mishell Loja Pulla, Payton Lord, Alexander Madura, Leah McElroy, Coralynn McHenry, Molly McLaud, Shyanne Mesick, Aiden Norton, Jacob Ofalt, Sienna Padgett, Adam Polovitch, Jarret Pratt, Madelyn Resseguie, Raven Richardson, Kennedy Scott, Miriam Sedlak, Christian Sekelsky, Draven Simons, Paige Smith, CaraMia Talbert, Sierra Testa, Jordan Totten, Riley Turner, Jeremiah Tweed, Makenzie Tyborowski, Robert Wallace, Alexis Weida, Jeremy Wells, Anya Yasnovitch and Luke Zipprich.

GRADE 5

Hudson Bain, Aiden Beavers, Ryan Belotti, Michael Billets, Megan Bills, Haley Bills, Camron Birchard-Newhart, Connor Boylan, Ian Briechle, Shelby Castrogiovanni, Anotolia Creps, Jason DeBella, Ava Ferguson, Dylan Ferraro, Jacob Ficarro, Madalynn Fletcher, Corinne Flynn, Kallyn Gordon, Zoe Jane Handler, Emma Karp, Morgan Kelly, Izaiah Kelsey, Addison Kilmer, Sean Larkin, Gabrielle Lavelle, Cooper Lopatofsky, Richard Masters, Trinity McAlla, Mayson McAndrew, Dalton Pallman, Breanna Perini, Ava Piasecki, Collin Pliska, Amber Price, Sophia Rinaldi, Rory Shea, Tristan Stanton,Caroline Symuleski, Joel Tigue, Joshua Tigue, Levi Urda, Kaylee Walker and Seth Wallace.

GRADE 4

Dustin Albert, Mason Barlow, Nicholas Beach, Crystalyn Cook, Cullen Dukerich, Caleb Durso, Aiden Empet, Rhys Evans, Vincent Gordon, Jordan Jagger, Darius Kelly, Brian Kielar, Molly Lopatofsky, Rustie Markle, Sophia Martin, Adam McCarthy, Cheyenne McElroy, Jayson Merritt, John Nally, Alison Norsen, Karley Norton, Muriel Price, Aubrey Sanders, Ryder Sanders, Layla Schwarztrauber, Vivian Sedlak, Katrina Skiscim, Dazlyn Sobol, Tori Teel, Addison Tompkins, Devin Whitlatch and Dimitri Yasnovitch.

North Pocono

High School

GRADE 12

High honors: Zachary Andersen, Reese Anderson, Gianna Anelli, Kelsey Banfield, Caroline Bertha, Donald Blaine, Kaili Brooks, Amanda Brundage, Mark Caputo, Olivia Carling, Evelyn Ciero, Catherine Clancy, Heather Collins, Anthony DeGiosio, Ryan Deom, James Docalovich, Ryan Dommes, Dana Dougherty, Ashley Dunn, Elias Gray, Christine Hine, Ruthy Hunjo, Jody Johnson, Caroline Khoury, Kelsey Kline, Alana Kravitz, Matthew Kuchak, Shane Lamparter, Charles Latawiec, Emily Leggiero, Paxson Loescher, Stockton Loescher, Stephen McNulty, Molly Morgan, Tyler Motichka, Susan Nitch, Madison Opalka, Nikhil Patel, Isabelle Pehanick, Jessica Petrosky, Timothy Pickarski, Macenzie Powell, Mason Rainey, Peyton Roberts, Emily Rouse, Ashley Santaniello, Lexus Schack, Dylan Sciulara, Sabrina Slater, Sean Smeal, Sarah Sposito, Kellianne Stalker, Tivon Steffes, Albert Thomas, Lillian Thompson, Kolby Tonkin, Kira Treitz, Ethan Verne, Kyra Wojtkielewicz, Alana Wright, Sydney Youngblood, Courtney Zaic, Nicole Zasada, Martina Zeranski and Sammie Zou.

Honors: Giesela Boodaghian, Joseph Burke, Nicholas Descipio, Carissa Giordano, Amber Goffredo, Chloe Hafner, Sara Lane, Keanna Locatelli, Catherine Maholick, Marisa May, Mark McColgan, Madison McCollum, Brennan Moran, Nicholas Ostrowski, Maria Piccolino, Thomas Rable, Fred Richards, Vincent Ripley, Mikaela Santos, Kaleigh Seely, Cassie Talarico, Lauren Wilson and Madison Youshock.

GRADE 11

High honors: James Augustine, Connor Aversa, Anna Bajor, Alyssa Baljunas, Jenna Baljunas, Ethan Barnes, James Bianchi, Jason Brown, Madison Carpenter, Tobias Chalk, Jason Chen, Alexandria Clarke, Gregory Duggan, Katana Evans, Lia Fontanella, Lila Gaughan, Lauren Hedrick, Phoebe Hnatko, Anthony Hood, Nathan Kozik, Alexsys Kuchak, Marie LaRosa, Zackery Leach, Liam McGee, Dustin Moss, Vanessa Moylan, Thomas Murphy, Meghan Murray, Keegan Napolitano, Jonah Polishan, Sydney Polk, Nathan Posluszny, Kathryn Purcell, Connor Richards, Jonathan Rubino, Ryan Schield, Peyton Sievers, Dayle Smith, Trevor Stanton, Allyson Stefanski, Kelley Troutman, Isabella Valenza, Natasha Walton, Megan Winslow, Kaitlyn Yanik and Mary Kate Yatsonsky.

Honors: Addie Acker, Hope Case, Brooke Cayea, David Cikota, Kaitlin Cocker, Sabrina Dombek, Daniel Evans, Anthony Gataveskas, Peter Gutowski, Owen Houston, Zoe Krisanda, Samuel Kussi, Abigail LaBadie, Emily Mattern, Alexandra Matyjevich, Patrick McMullen, Jenna Montana, Jacob Nedo, Edward Olenchak, Julia Reese, C Louis Scartelli, Carlo Scotch, Michael Scutt, Gradon Silva, Donald Stout and Colin Zaffino.

GRADE 10

High honors: David Alunni, Mark Battle, Jenna Beach, Emma Bellucci, Megan Betti, Emily Blaine, Jenna Boruta, Angelo Botticelli, Sean Breslin, Noah Budnovitch, Jillian Carter, Brian Castrogiovanni, Mia Ciccone, Fabiola Colon-Alicea, Kenna Cruciani, Erik Deom, Todd Dotter, Kylie Dowd, Adeline Dubiel, Victoria Dunston, Gabrielle Edwards, Patrick Flyte, Owen Foytack, Emma Gilman, Jordan Goetze, Alicia Goldenziel, Nolee-Ana Grabowski, Thomas Hannon, Alysa Hrobuchak, Matthew Kowalski, Jack Krehely, Cassandra Kutra, Travis Lane, Gregory Latawiec, Madeline Leggiero, Robert Lenchitsky, Meghan Leuthe, Cameron Lewis, Victoria Lewis, Taggart Loescher, Damarco Maglio, Rayelle Margalis, Danielle McNutt, Marina Miesko, Emma Monson, Julia Moran, Marisol Olivares, Alyson Otremba, Kasey Portanova, Sam Rovnanik, Noah Salak, Katherine Scheller, Elizabeth Schieber, Lia Schwenk, Adam Seeley, Morgan Seidita, Casey Serine, Kyle Serine, Ryan Shoener, Morgan Steiner, Alexandra Taffera, Esther Tellez, Benjamin Thompson, Rachael Wall, Ashley Walsh, Hallie Washko, Emma Wiggins and Noah Wijaya.

Honors: Jonah Alefantis, Nicolo Bahamonde, Rachel Brez, Alixandra Camacho, Alexander Canjar, Maria Cicerini, James Conway, Emily Crawn, Mykenzie Day, Madison DeStefano, Ryan Dolphin, Matthew Domanish, Brett Domm, Kyle Driscoll, Molly Driscoll, Alexandra Dyson, Bridget Elia, Logan Gassert, Kennedy Gibson, Heather Gillette, Nico Gioupis, Joseph Giunta, Mackenzie Goetze, Katlyn Jones, Michael Klingerman, Corey Machmer, Jared Mastillo, Miranda McLafferty, Jake Millan, Ava Murazzi, Brynn Murphy, Elizabeth Nemitz, Kenneth Noll, Romina Ore, Nicholas Pagotto, Melina Petrini, Brandon Quinn, Hailee Rice, Alexander Swire, Ross Weidow, Luke White, David Wojnar, Rachel Zarubski and Emily Ziegler.

GRADE 9

High honors: Logan Alefantis, Hanna Allman, Mary Alunni, Angelo Ambrosecchia, Emma Barnes, Jacob Bianchi, Abigail Blaine, Jacob Brundage, Emma Budnovitch, Madison Carney, Jordan Carr, Jenny Chen, Alexander Cianfichi, Benjamin Cikota, Jacob Clancy, Lily Connor, Alexandria Cusumano, Morgan Davis, McKenna Dempsey, Erin Duggan, Myia Evans, Brielle Folk, Maura Gallagher, Jordan Gioupis, Ashleigh Gutowski, Grace Hauenstein, Colleen Hawley, Isabella Hill, Nicolette Hine, Kaylee Horne, Kayley Jones, Benjamin Kernoschak, Christopher Khoury, Emily Kogan, Aurora Lefever, Lawrence Lombardi, Olivia Matyjevich, Danielle May, Kaitlyn Morman, Amanda Moss, Matthew Motichka, James Neumann, William Pabst, Alex Pagotto, Maria Parola, Shivani Patel, William Pickarski, Samuel Pierre, Thomas Quinn, Erica Raziano, Ryan Reber, James Roberson, Cole Roberts, Liam Rooney, Ryan Ruddy, Zachary Rusnak, Parri Salak, Ava Santaniello, Anthony Santos, Julie Schriver, Madison Schriver, Ashton Sciulara, Nathan Seeley, Sebastian Segiel, Tori Skutnick, Michaela Slater, Savannah Slater, Yoric Steffes, Reagan Steiner, Alexa Stevens, Hailey Strzelec, Kaylee Suchocki, Elisabeth Taynton, Thomas Thurber, Alaina Tracy, Trevor Wallace, Victoria Werner, Alexa Williams, Kayla Wright and Danielle Zambetti.

Honors: Alexi Anderson, Freya Anderson, Dominic Boettinger, Alex Brinkman, Ana Caparo, Zayne Christian, Arielle Cordova, Samuel Davis, Aidan Derrick, Jericho Doll, Emily Dombek, Gavin Durkin, Nicholas Giordano, Lillian Gray, Austin Griffith, Madison Gutjahr, Erin Hawley, Casey Jones, Caleb Kenyon, Bria Klingerman, Kayla Kuplack, James Lamberti, Alec Martin, Arianna Mesko, Alex Milewski, Thomas Milewski, Logan Minella, Gavin Nathan, Emily Olenchak, Daniel Pierzchala, Nathaniel Powell, Emily Rist, Megan Rondomanski, Adam Schield, Jeremiah Schotter, Presley Shotto, Jeffrey Silfee, Jake Silva, Aubre Slangan, William Soma, Alenah Thomas, Ashley Walz, Emily Whited, Kylie Willsch, Aaron Witherite and Jonah Yurkanin.

June 2, 1934

Keystone goes co-ed

The board of trustees of Keystone Academy met at the Scranton Club to finalize the transition to Scranton-Keystone College.

The newly appointed president, Bryon Hollinshead, announced that the school would be coeducational and would be offering college courses for freshmen and sophomores. Only freshmen would be admitted in the fall for the college coursework.

Boys rescued from old mine

Walter Gilasevitch and John Stasko Jr. were home safe after spending more than 70 hours in the abandoned workings of the old Diamond mine of the Glen Alden Coal Co. on Ravine Street.

The boys entered the mine May 30. When they didn’t return home, their parents become concerned and reported them missing to police. The next day, a search party entered the mine and found the boys a distance inside, huddled near railroad tracks.

Out and about

At the movies: “Fog Over Frisco” at the Family Theatre, “Thirty-Day Princess” at the Riviera, “Tarzan and his Mate” at the Ritz, “The House of Rothschild” at the Strand and “It Happened One Night” at the Roosevelt.

At the clubs: Jack Owens and his Swing Kings at Heen’s New Cafe on Lackawanna Avenue, Doc Schimpff’s Orchestra at the Willow on Prospect Avenue, Roy Miller at the Frear’s Pavilion at Lake Winola, McKinney’s Cotton Pickers at Chapman Lake, and Lew Stanley and his orchestra at Melody Garden at Nay Aug Park.

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.

Claire Sunday’s hard work resulted in a presidential scholarship to attend the University of Scranton.

“I am also proud of the people I have surrounded myself with in high school because they have truly inspired me with the morals they live by,” she said.

The daughter of Katie and Michael Sunday, Claire’s most rewarding school and community activities were traveling to South Dakota to help the children at the St. Joseph’s Indian School and being an assistant rector for Kairos at Prep.

Claire took a rigorous course load while being a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish and classics clubs, the school choir and Model United Nations. She found time for academics, service and extracurricular activities.

An Ignation Day retreat leader and a freshman orientation director, Claire earned 11 medals in both the National Latin and Spanish exams. She is a vacation Bible school leader, a stage manager for plays, a camp counselor and an avid volunteer at church and school picnics. Claire also finds time to be captain of the cheerleading squad and hold a part-time job.

At the University of Scranton, Claire plans to study political science and philosophy on a pre-law track. In 15 years, she sees herself living in Washington, D.C., and working as a lawyer for international affairs.

She most admires her grandfather.

“He has never allowed his vibrant spirit to run dry,” Claire said. “He truly invests into life.”

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

Mayfield

The Whitmore Hose Company will hold a chicken barbecue Sunday, June 9.

From noon until sold out, the hose company will sell takeout and sit-down dinners at its building at 305 Depew Ave.

Meals are $10 and tickets are available from the Mayfield Municipal Building, 739 Penn Ave., by calling 570-876-4391 or from any company member.

For free home delivery of up to 3 miles, call the hose company at 570-876-3776 to make arrangements.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

flesnefsky

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5181;

@flesnefskyTT on Twitter

Scranton

Organizers of the second annual Andrew Mazza Diesel Jam Truck Show hope to haul in proceeds for good causes next week.

From 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. at Johnson College on Sunday, June 9, the rain-or-shine event will benefit the Andrew Mazza Foundation. Truck registration is at 8 a.m., and organizers will give out awards at 3 p.m.

Mazza, 23, died in a car crash in February 2016 when a vehicle he was riding in went over an embankment and overturned in a stream in Gibson Twp. Trapped in the car, Mazza held another passenger above water in a pocket of air.

Mazza loved diesel trucks, and “I know how thrilled he would be to have a truck show named after him in his honor,” foundation President Dawn Ziegler said.

Hosted in conjunction with the college’s diesel technology program, admission is free, and proceeds benefit both the diesel program and the foundation, she said. The Andrew Mazza Foundation uses the proceeds to fund community events and scholarships, she said.

“It’s huge,” Ziegler said, explaining they put all of the money “back into the community.”

To display a truck in the show, participants can register for $30 per truck. For an additional $100, participants can see how much horsepower and torque their trucks make with three runs on a dynamometer.

Awards will include best in show, pickup, people’s choice, antique, tow and big rig. No trailers are allowed for big rigs, but truck owners can trailer in their antique trucks if necessary, Ziegler said.

The truck show also features vendors, food trucks and live music. Last year, about 100 trucks turned out in rainy weather, so the foundation has high hopes for a large turnout, Ziegler said.

For information or to register, visit www.andrewmazzafoundation.com.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

flesnefsky

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5181;

@flesnefskyTT on Twitter

You still have an opportunity to paint ceramic butterflies that will be hung Friday on Lackawanna County Courthouse Square as part of a community art installation.

The “Butterfly Forest” will be unveiled on the Linden Street side of Courthouse Square as part of First Friday and the Scranton Health Fair. Those who’d like to paint a butterfly may do so in the lobby of the Lackawanna County Government Center, 123 Wyoming Ave., through Thursday. Art supplies and butterflies are available there.

The project is part of NEPA Transform, an initiative of the ARTS Engage! Task Force designed to encourage people to share personal stories of transformation.

People who paint butterflies at the county center should leave them there to dry. The county Arts and Culture Department will gather and hang the butterflies. Then, on Friday, the public is invited to select a butterfly from the display to keep. Those who take a butterfly should take a photo and post it, along with a story of transformation, on social media using the hashtags: #ArtsEngage, #NepaTransform and #ArtsTransform.

More than 3,500 butterflies have been painted so far, county arts and culture Director Maureen McGuigan said.

— JEFF HORVATH

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

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

AROUND THE TOWNS appears each Sunday, spotlighting the people and events in your neighborhoods. If you have an idea for an Around the Towns note, contact the writer for your town, or the Yes!Desk at 348-9121 or yesdesk@timesshamrock.com.

Increasing taxes.

Laying off employees.

Bidding maintenance services.

Financial plans released in the last month by struggling Pennsylvania school districts call for big changes that will affect students, employees, taxpayers and communities.

With the Scranton School District’s recovery plan due next week, officials said they hope the plan will lead the district to solvency.

“We’re anxiously waiting to see how the plan will unfold,” said board President Barbara Dixon, a member of the Financial Recovery Advisory Committee. “Many ideas have been brought forth.”

A financial improvement plan for the Erie School District in the northwest corner of the state and a recovery plan for the Penn Hills School District outside Pittsburgh show the depth and scope the reports include. The plans also show how Scranton is not alone in its financial problems.

“All children, no matter where they live, deserve a high-quality education,” said Candis Finan, Ed.D.

, Scranton’s chief recovery officer. “The district needs to be solvent and start to have money available for emergencies. We need to be able to pay our workforce. We need to pay all our bills on time. We need to make sure our programs are adequately funded for the future because we’re educating the future.”

Problems in Erie

After Scranton accumulated a $28.6 million deficit over the last five years and racked up a total debt of $200 million, the state put the district in financial recovery in January.

Of 500 districts statewide, six are in recovery. The state placed Chester Upland, Duquesne City, York and Harrisburg in recovery in 2012. The state also placed Penn Hills in recovery in January, the same day as Scranton. Chester Upland and Duquesne City are now under state receivership. No district has left recovery. Plans for those districts include layoffs, outsourcing, consolidation and wage cuts.

The Erie School District, which had been in financial watch status since 2016, had to create an improvement plan this year after receiving a $14 million grant from the state. The acceptance of the money forced the district to come under the supervision of Financial Administrator Charles B. Zogby, a former state budget secretary. In March, the state education secretary rejected the improvement plan, asking for more specificity. The revised plan includes the word “shall” instead of “should.”

Budget issues in Erie started more than a decade ago, as the district hired 190 employees in a time of static or declining enrollment, negotiated a five-year teachers contract in the recession with guaranteed 4% raises and remained reluctant to raise taxes. In recent years, the district went from four to two high schools, closed five elementary schools and reconfigured remaining schools. Consolidations and closures produced $4.6 million in savings.

Erie, with 11,020 students — about 1,000 more than Scranton — has a budget of $204 million. Scranton’s budget is $166 million this year.

About 30 percent of the assessed value of property in the city of Erie is exempt from real estate taxes, but the school district has $1.4 million in PILOT agreements from nonprofits — voluntary payments made in lieu of taxes. In 2018, the Scranton School District received a total of $65,613 in PILOT agreements; about 35 percent of the total assessed value in Scranton is tax-exempt.

Erie’s plan includes:

n Bidding for maintenance services. Salary and benefits for the 63 maintenance employees cost the district $4.4 million a year. Outsourcing could save Erie $700,000 a year.

n Increasing co-pays and deductibles for employee health insurance.

n Changing policies. A city of Erie ordinance requires engineers to be present in buildings with steam boilers. District policy requires that all buildings — even the 10 of 16 without steam boilers — have engineers on staff. Overtime in those 10 buildings totaled nearly $1 million over the last five years just for people in that position.

n No longer requiring contractors to participate in apprenticeship programs. District policy requires firms participate in a very specific type of apprenticeship program and graduate a certain number of individuals from that program as a condition of bidding. The policy has led to the district disqualifying many firms with lower bids.

n Requiring all students leaving the district to complete an exit interview, including asking the student the reasons for leaving if moving to a charter school. The district has 2,367 students in one of four brick-and-mortar charter schools or in cyber charter schools. Scranton has about 420 students in charter schools.

n Requiring each school director to attend at least 10 hours of training on finance and governance.

‘Crisis’ near Pittsburgh

The Penn Hills School District has been in a “financial crisis” for a decade, according to the district’s plan. At the end of the 2008-09 school year, the district had a $2 million surplus. Earlier this year, the district faced an $8.1 million shortfall for next year, including a negative fund balance.

In 2016, the state auditor general found egregious flaws in the business operations of the district, launching a grand jury investigation. As enrollment decreased, the district built a new high school and an elementary center, despite recommendations to renovate and consolidate buildings.

“Zero tax increases during five years of planning and construction, minimal cost savings from building consolidation, overspending, overruns, administrative turnover and poor decision-making resulted in $172 million in debt,” according to the plan. “The district finds itself in a cash-strapped catastrophe.”

A grand jury report, which fell short of recommending criminal charges, found the board approved lavish spending for school construction, including chandeliers, floor tiles imported from Italy and a costlier roof made to look like a bird from above, according to the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.

With 3,360 students, the district has a $90 million budget. By 2023, with increasing debt payments, the district faces a negative $60 million fund balance.

Penn Hills’ plan, by Daniel J. Matsook, a former superintendent in Beaver County, includes:

n Laying off as many as 55 employees, including up to 26 teachers.

n Providing training to board members.

n Renegotiating all contracts, including food service and transportation.

n Raising taxes 6.7 percent for next year.

Plan in Scranton

Since the state appointed Finan in February to lead the district’s recovery efforts, she has spoken to hundreds of employees, parents, students and community members. At monthly advisory committee meetings, she updates attendees and discusses major decisions.

Finan must submit the district’s recovery plan to the Pennsylvania Department of Education by June 12. The state will receive and review the plan before it is made available to the school board and public, she said.

The five-year plan will focus on how the district can become solvent, including paying bills on time, keeping doors open and building a fund balance without borrowing additional money.

Just in the last three years, the school board voted to borrow about $30 million to pay for everyday expenses and balance budgets. Directors balanced the 2019 budget by increasing property taxes 3.6 percent and plan to borrow about $3.7 million. In recent months, school directors have increased the push for additional state funding. Leaders claim they need an additional $18.9 million a year to bring Scranton in line with the average per-pupil state funding received by similar urban districts.

The plan will not include that additional funding, but can be amended if more money comes through, Finan said.

“I just don’t think there’s a lot of extra money out there,” Finan said. “We have to work with what we have, and put a plan in place with the money we have.”

Scranton’s plan will likely include:

n Tax increases. The plan will address how much the district lost in revenue by not raising taxes to the Act 1 maximum each year, and how much the district should raise taxes in the future. Act 1, the Taxpayer Relief Act, gives each district a tax rate it cannot exceed for that year.

n A look at the workforce. The teachers contract limits class sizes, which would prohibit mass layoffs.

“We can only work with what we have,” Finan said. “The plan has to be legally compliant.”

Finan also wants to find a way to give employees raises so the district can keep and attract a high-quality workforce. Teachers are in the second year of working under an expired contract.

Although other recovery plans in the state have called for outsourcing maintenance, Finan said that is something she probably would not support.

“I have this belief we have to work with the workforce we have. We need to help solve some of the financial issues by being more efficient,” Finan said. “I don’t always think outsourcing makes it more efficient.”

State-appointed financial consultants PFM found the district is understaffed in its maintenance department. Custodians in Scranton are responsible for about 50 percent more space per person than the statewide average.

Luann Henehan, president of the maintenance and clerical workers union, said that through discussions with Finan, employees feel confident that the plan will not include outsourcing.

n Possible school closures. Discussion included reconfiguring grade levels and closing as many as six buildings. A facilities report by PFM revealed $144 million in capital needs throughout the district, including $7.3 million in immediate needs. The district owns and operates 17 school facilities and leases space in two additional buildings for the Whittier Elementary School annex and the Electric City Academy. Finan said the report will look at the advantages of closing some buildings.

n Changes to transportation. The board will seek bids for its transportation contracts, including vans from Red Top Transportation and buses from DeNaples Transportation. Finan wants to reduce the amount of vehicles needed by 12, or six per vendor, through a variety of ways. She also plans to reduce the amount of bus runs from 53 to 48.

n Education opportunities for school directors and administration to lead to stronger governance.

District leaders said they are anxious to see the final plan.

“I think we just have to see how all this comes together and really look at everything with open minds and critical eyes,” Director Katie Gilmartin said. “We just have to see what comes at us and make the best decisions we possibly can, for everyone involved, with the students and academic opportunities at the forefront.”

Over the last few months, Finan visited many schools to observe.

“I see kids learning. I see teachers happily delivering their instruction. I don’t want to do anything that will hurt that, nor does anyone,” Finan said. “When people are anxious, they need to step back and say, ‘let’s take this step by step.’ It didn’t happen overnight. It won’t be corrected overnight.”

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

Upcoming meetings

n Work session, followed by a regular meeting on Monday at 6:30 p.m. at West Scranton Intermediate auditorium, 1401 Fellows St.

n Financial Recovery Advisory Committee meeting, Wednesday at 6 p.m., in the second floor classroom of the Administration Building, 425 N. Washington Ave.

SCRANTON — Neil Armstrong Elementary School preschoolers Eric Connolly and Lennon Chmil decided to spend their Saturday afternoon helping others.

With help from their moms, Jaclyn Lee and Autumn Chmil, the 5-year-olds mixed lemonade early Saturday and set up shop in Scranton to raise funds for Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation.

“I want to help kids that are sick,” said Eric.

Their “Jurassic” lemonade stand at Theodore Street and Return Avenue was decked with dinosaurs, while Eric and Lennon both sported the ancient reptiles on their shirts.

Both boys love dinosaurs and want to be archaeologists or paleontologists when they grow up, Lee said.

The families initially planned to raise $50 during the sale Saturday but doubled that goal through an online fundraiser and donations from school friends before they even set up shop, said Chmil.

“It teaches them to be humble,” she said.

The boys, who met in 3-year-old preschool, sold lemonade from 3 to 4 p.m. Saturday.

“They just wanted to help,” said Lee.

Elsewhere in Lackawanna County on Saturday, Mia and the Lemondrops held their sixth Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraiser at Friendly’s in Dunmore.

Alex’s Lemonade Stand Foundation was created in 2004 by Alex Scott, who, while battling childhood cancer, hosted lemonade stands in her front yard to raise funds to fight childhood cancer. By the time of her death in 2004, Alex had raised $1 million, according to the organization.

The organization celebrates Lemonade Days nationwide every June. The foundation estimates 10,000 volunteers host more than 2,000 lemonade stands around the nation, including in Northeast Pennsylvania. Countrytime Lemonade donates the sweet drink to the stands.

Upcoming local Alex’s Lemonade Stand fundraisers include:

Ava’s Lemonade Fund-raiser, which began Saturday, will continue today until 4 p.m. at the Salted Pixie, 1 Highlands Boulevard, Suite 101, Archbald.

Third grade students from North Pocono’s Jefferson Elementary are hosting a lemonade stand during the school’s field day on Tuesday and also on Wednesday and Thursday from 1:30 to 3 p.m. at Jefferson Elementary, 825 Lions Road, Jefferson Twp.

Caleb’s Lemonade Stand will be held Saturday from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. at 151 Hill St., Jessup.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5114;

@kbolusTT on Twitter