NEW MILFORD

State police are looking for three masked men who robbed a Susquehanna County convenience store at gunpoint early Thursday.

The three entered the Pump N Pantry, 493 Main St., New Milford, around 1:05 a.m. One held a firearm and demanded money, state police at Gibson said.

After one man emptied the pockets of a victim inside the store, he and the gunman removed money from the cash registers while the third man put Newport cigarettes into a backpack, police said. Two of the men kicked the victim as they left the store.

The men, all wearing dark-colored clothing, hoodies and ski masks, fled east on Route 492 toward Interstate 81, police said.

State police asked anyone with information to contact the Gibson barracks at 570-465-3154.

— DAVID SINGLETON

SCRANTON

City firefighters made short work of a porch fire Thursday in West Scranton.

Crews responded to 602 S. Main Ave. around 11 a.m. and quickly extinguished a fire on a second-floor porch at the back of the four-unit apartment building, Assistant Fire Chief Jack Davis said.

The fire was contained to the porch, he said. There were no injuries.

The cause of the fire is under investigation, Davis said.

— DAVID SINGLETON

HAZLE TWP. — A Wilkes-Barre man opened fire on another driver and shot him in the ankle during a road rage attack during rush hour Thursday evening, according to Pennsylvania State Police.

Kenneth Kuras, 56, of 39 McCarragher St., is being held without bail at the Luzerne County Correctional Facility after opening fire because he had been unable to pass a truck driver on Interstate 81, police said.

According to the complaint, the victim, James Jeremy Leiphart, 26, of Warrior Run, and his brother, Jason Jon Leiphart, had left work at Doll Construction sometime between 5 p.m. and 5:30 p.m. and were travelling north on I-81 to Exit 143.

James Leiphart was driving a black 2008 Peterbilt truck tractor in the left lane, while Jason Leiphart was separately driving his personal vehicle behind him in the right lane, police said.

In the area of Exit 138, James Leiphart noticed a maroon 2004 Jeep Grand Cherokee come up behind him, according to the complaint. The driver, identified as Kuras, began tailgating, swerving and flashing his headlights, police said.

James Leiphart told police that Kuras tried passing him in the left shoulder several times before James Leiphart pulled into the right lane to let Kuras pass, according to the complaint.

Police say that as Kuras passed Jason Leiphart’s vehicle, Kuras pointed a gun directly at him.

Then, as the Jeep passed the truck in the area of mile marker 140, James Leiphart saw a flash of light come from its passenger-side window and then felt pain in his right ankle, police said. Realizing he’d been shot, James Leiphart pulled over at Exit 143 and told his brother he’d been shot, according to police.

As medics removed James Leiphart’s right boot and sock, a 9mm bullet fell out from the sock, police said. He was taken to Lehigh Valley Hospital — Hazleton, where he was treated and released.

Police say Kuras also pulled over and called 911 to report the shooting. Troopers found him near mile marker 148 with a 9mm Ruger pistol sitting on his front passenger seat in plain view, according to the complaint.

During questioning, Kuras said he had been traveling 68 mph and admitted swerving and flashing his headlights when he came upon the truck, the complaint says.

He told troopers that he tried passing the truck several times but kept “getting boxed in” by the Leiphart brothers, whom he quickly realized were traveling together, according to the complaint.

Kuras also claimed James Leiphart had tried to run him off the road several times when he tried passing. He then admitted pulling the pistol and firing a shot into the lower portion of the driver’s door, according to troopers.

“I fired low,” the complaint quotes Kuras as saying. “I wasn’t trying to kill him or anything.”

Troopers charged Kuras with aggravated assault, making terroristic threats, reckless endangerment, disregarding traffic lanes, following too closely, reckless driving and careless driving.

Magisterial District Judge David A. Barilla arraigned Kuras shortly after midnight Friday and denied him bail, citing the danger to the community.

Kuras was being held at the county jail with a preliminary hearing set for Nov. 27.

DAMASCUS TWP.

State police on Thursday seized 15 pounds of marijuana in Wayne County and arrested a 55-year-old woman, troopers said Friday.

Dianna Mullins, of California, is in the Wayne County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail for felony charges of possession with intent to deliver.

The Blooming Grove barrack’s criminal investigation unit, troopers from the Honesdale barracks and the Troop R Vice unit searched 258 Bavarian Hill Road and found a pound of marijuana.

Then they learned about another property on Krols Lane in Cherry Ridge Twp., where they found another 14 pounds of marijuana in a barn.

Mullins has a preliminary hearing scheduled Wednesday.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON — Mayor Wayne Evans’ proposed a 2020 city budget that would scrap the $300 annual trash fee, but fold it into the property tax.

The $116 million budget, released today, contemplates a major change in the way the city charges for garbage collection, by creating an as-yet-undetermined flat-rate property tax millage for trash pickup, city Business Administrator David Bulzoni said in an interview.

This new garbage bill would be the same across the board in all property tax bills, and broken out separately from regular property taxes, he said.

That way, the garbage fee would remain the same for all payers, and not fluctuate based on assessed valuation of property, as does the regular property tax bills, he said.

“We’re looking at it as a fee in the property tax bill,” Bulzoni said. “It’s part of a very significant shift” in the way the city would charge and collect the garbage bill.

The regular property tax and its underlying millages would remain the same in 2020, he said. Other taxes that also would remain the same in 2020 include the 2.4% city wage tax (the school district also charges a 1% wage tax), the realty transfer tax and local services tax.

The trash fee that a resident would see broken out separately on a property tax bill has not been determined yet, but presumably would be lower than the current annual $300 fee, because a new trash fee would be spread out among a larger base of payers, Bulzoni said.

Under this new trash-fee method, delinquent trash fee collections would be added into the collections of delinquent property taxes, he said.

A millage rate for garbage collection would have to be authorized under separate legislation that the administration expects to present to City Council for enactment before the end of the year, he said.

Meanwhile, the budget proposal and its underlying ordinance will go before Scranton City Council on Monday during its meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall for a vote on introduction.

The introduction is the first of three votes council will take on the budget, and will be followed in coming weeks by a second vote on advancement and a third vote on adoption.

Council also will hold a caucus on the proposed budget on Dec. 4 at 5 p.m. at City Hall, Bulzoni said.

The proposed 2020 budget also includes another major tax change: eliminating business privilege/mercantile taxes with a new payroll tax. This move has been in the works for some time, as a piece of the city’s Act 47 recovery plan.

However, because of the timing of collections of these two categories of taxes, the 2020 budget only accounts for collecting one quarter of a new payroll tax. That’s because business privilege/mercantile taxes levied in 2019 won’t be collected until April 15, 2020. A payroll tax would be collected quarterly. Under law, when replacing business privilege/mercantile taxes with a payroll tax, they cannot overlap. So, the 2020 budget anticipates starting the payroll tax collections in the third quarter of 2020; and collections of this third quarter won’t roll in until the fourth quarter of 2020, Bulzoni said.

The changes in the trash fee and business privilege/mercantile taxes have made the 2020 budget the most complicated budget that Bulzoni has prepared since he became business administrator in 2014.

“There are a lot of moving parts” to the 2020 budget, he said.

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5185; @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Scranton’s nonuniform pension board on Friday approved former controller Roseann Novembrino’s request to make her pension effective a month earlier than she initially planned.

Novembrino, 82, resigned Tuesday, about a month before her term expired, for health reasons. The board approved her pension effective that date, instead of Dec. 31.

Pension board solicitor Larry Durkin said the request complies with pension regulations. He noted Novembrino, who worked for the city since 1987, was qualified to take her pension years ago, but opted to continue working. The board’s vote changes only the effective date of the pension. Payments will not start until December, he said.

The nonuniform pension plans gives employees an option to choose a survivor to receive benefits upon the employee’s death. If an employee dies before retirement, survivors are entitled only to the contributions the employee made into the plan.

The plan pays retirees $700 a month. That amount is reduced if the retiree, at the time of retirement, opts to name a surviving beneficiary.

Durkin said Novembrino selected that option, which reduces her pension to $465 per month. Upon her death, a daughter will continue to receive that amount for 10 years.

The board ordinarily would vote on the matter at its regular meeting, which is scheduled for next week. It held a special meeting Friday to approve the change.

Durkin said Novembrino, who sat on the nonuniform and composite pension boards, was not given any special treatment.

“I don’t think there is any doubt the board would do this for any member,” he said. “It had nothing to do with her position. It had to do with her physical status.”

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

Attorneys for two Lackawanna County Office of Youth and Family Services caseworkers charged in connection with a neglect case said they plan to vigorously challenge the charges.

Preliminary hearings scheduled Friday for the employees, Rebecca Kashuba and Louis Strazzeri,were postponed. No new date had been set as of Friday.

Speaking after the hearing, Kashuba’s attorney, Gerard Karam,and Strazzeri’s attorney, Paul Walker,said they believe they have a strong legal defense.

“Our intent is to fight this,” Walker said. “We don’t think he did anything wrong.”

Karam said he also believes he has a “viable legal defense.” He declined to be more specific.

“Rebecca performed her job in good faith,” he said. “All decisions were made in the best interest of the children.”

Kashuba, 28, of Moscow is charged with endangering the welfare of children and several other offenses for allegedly ignoring deplorable conditions at Marisa Stravinsky’s mobile home in Valley View Estates, then lying to a judge about her findings. Police say the home’s ceiling was partially collapsed and that it was filled with human and cat feces.

Strazzeri, Kashuba’s union representative, is charged with perjury and obstructing the administration of law for allegedly telling Kashuba to lie about what she saw at the home.

Stravinsky, 43, also is charged with child endangerment offenses. She waived all charges to Lackawanna County Court Friday.

Kashuba and Strazzeri are free on $25,00 unsecured bail and remain on paid administrative leave from the county pending further review, said Donald Frederickson,the county’s general counsel. Stravinsky remains housed at the Lackawanna County prison for lack of $25,000 cash bail.

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

SCRANTON — Scranton Fire Chief Patrick DeSarno determined he owes taxpayers $559.19 for gas used for personal travel over the last 5½ years, Mayor Wayne Evans said.

City officials, however, declined late this week to provide The Times-Tribune the documents the fire chief turned in earlier this month, though a rough sketch of what they look like emerged Friday.

Evans gave DeSarno’s review to the city controller’s office Nov. 6 and instructed it to verify the information and then provide the mayor with a final report.

“I wanted to get it in their hands,” Evans said. “Time is of the essence.”

Evans said he does not have a copy of the self-audit. Controller Mary Lynn Carey, who has only been on the job for a few days following the resignation of longtime office head Roseann Novembrino, opted to hold back the documents without the input of the office’s solicitor, John Brazil.

Brazil could not be reached for comment Friday.

After she spoke with him Friday, Carey said Brazil “didn’t feel it should be given out. Our review is not complete yet.”

Carey also said she did not feel comfortable showing the newspaper the documents without first hearing DeSarno’s explanations and verifying them.

“I don’t think it would be fair to Pat,” she said.

DeSarno could not be reached for comment.

A Right to Know Law request for the documents is pending.

Melissa Melewsky, the media law counsel of the Pennsylvania NewsMedia Association, said DeSarno’s accounting should be a public record.

“It’s a financial record,” Melewsky said. “Which means that the vast majority of the Right to Know Law exemptions would not apply to it.”

Evans instructed DeSarno in September to review his gas card use dating to 2014 and reimburse the city.

The action followed the newspaper’s reporting that uncovered how DeSarno used his fuel card at a turnpike station near Allentown on July 18, the same day he got into a fender bender in his city-owned vehicle on vacation at the New Jersey shore. After the newspaper began asking questions about the fender bender, DeSarno told Evans that he paid for his own gas while on vacation.

In a statement in September to Evans, the fire chief said he had an inferred agreement with former Mayor Bill Courtright’s administration that he had freedom to use both car and fuel card as he saw fit —“ as my own, in essence.” He acknowledged that was a “wrong-headed assumption” made without “malice or deceit.”

Evans has since put in place policies prohibiting personal use of taxpayer funded fuel credit cards or vehicles.

Though Evans did not retain a copy of DeSarno’s review, he scribbled the sum total on a piece of paper: $559.19.

DeSarno has not paid the city yet. Evans said he wants the controller’s office to first verify the amount the fire chief owes.

DeSarno reviewed fuel records compiled for him by the city to determine which out-of-town trips he bought gas on were personal and which were city business. Evans said that the fire chief included some documentation to prove certain trips were for business.

“Flyers and invitations for different things related to the fire department,” Evans said. “It was really just a listing of dates and the amounts.”

The newspaper Friday also reviewed fuel billing records dating back to the beginning of 2014. DeSarno used his gas card 49 times, at a cost of $1,275, outside of Lackawanna County, according to its review.

The controller’s task now is to look over and verify the fire chief’s accounting.

The documents will be folded into an upcoming larger audit of city employee gas card use.

JIM LOCKWOOD, STAFF WRITER, CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

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

The state Supreme Court denied a motion filed by the Diocese of Scranton that asked it to take jurisdiction over five lawsuits filed by men who claim they were sexually abused by a priest.

In separate, one-sentence orders issued today, the high court denied motions for extraordinary relief filed by the diocese and retired Bishop James Timlin. The orders do not detail the court’s reasoning or provide details regarding arguments the diocese or attorneys for the plaintiffs made.

The ruling means the cases will remain under the jurisdiction of Lackawanna County Court.

Attorney Kevin Quinn of Kingston filed the lawsuits in August and October, seeking damages for five men who claim the Rev. Michael Pulicare sexually abused them in the mid 1970’s, when they were children attending St. Joseph’s Church in the Minooka section of Scranton.

Each of the suits names as defendants the diocese, Timlin and the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, current bishop of the diocese. Pulicare died in 1999.

The diocese also has pending motions in county court that seek to stay the lawsuits until the state Supreme Court decides whether it will hear an appeal of a Superior Court ruling that extended the statute of limitations for clergy abuse victims to file lawsuits.

In that case, filed by Renee Rice against the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Superior Court said that when a case involves accusations the church concealed the abuse, a jury should decide if a victim’s delay in coming forward was reasonable.

The ruling impacts the Lackawanna County cases, all of which would be outside the statute of limitations if not for the Rice ruling.

In motions seeking to stay the cases, the diocese argues Lackawanna County court should wait until the Supreme Court rules because, if the court takes the case and overturns the Rice decision, the lawsuits could not continue.

A Lackawanna County judge will review the motions and issue a ruling at a later date.

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

MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Shannon Marie Maskal and Deborah Jean Galade, both of Scranton.

• Kevin Edward O’Dell and Kerri Lynne Frail, both of Dupont.

• Scott Christopher Cleveland, Clarks Summit, and Haley Lee Seboe, Tunkhannock.

• Jose Danilo Henriquez-Benavidez and Luz Maria Canales-Garcia, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Kenneth and Linda Powell, Archbald, to Angelo J. and Kelly C. Parente, Pittston; a property at 402 Snapdragon Drive, Moosic, for $48,500.

• Paul C. and Irene P. Woelkers, Moscow, to 1218 Monroe Avenue LLC, Kingston; a property at 1218 Monroe Ave., Dunmore, for $460,000.

• Nationstar Mortgage LLC, doing business as Mr. Cooper, attorney-in-fact for U.S. Bank NA, Coppell, Texas, to Clearvue Capital Corp.; two parcels in Jefferson Twp. for $70,875.

• Stanley and Lorraine Loff, and Eric Jason and Danielle Loff, to Dan T. Kausmeyer; a property at 301 Elm St., Jermyn, for $79,000.

• Robert J. Jr. and Cindy A. Davis to Cody Burk and Samantha Dickson, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 615 Oak St. and Center Street, Old Forge, for $156,000.

• Daniel and Dawn Acevedo to Isaac Millar and Eljah Millar, as tenants in common; a property at 1849 Clearview St., Scranton, for $68,000.

• David R. Johnson and Maryann Johnson, by her power of attorney, David R. Johnson, Moscow, to Abbie Maseychick and Kyle Best, Pennsylvania, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 503 Circle Drive, Roaring Brook Twp., for $190,000.

• Nationstar Mortgage LLC, attorney-in-fact for Nationstar HECM Acquisition Trust 2018-3, to Johny Burhan; a property at 323 New St., Scranton, for $28,500.

• Giuseppe Sparacio and Sera Amato, and Giuseppe Amato, to Vincenzo and Angela Bonello; a property in Scranton for $125,000.

• John Charles and Maida S. Alfano, Avenue, Md., and Martin A. and Bronwyn Alfano, Wilmington, Del., to James Petrucci; two parcels in Scranton for $125,000.

• John J. Jr. and Constance Sladicka, Lebanon, N.J., to David M. Boguski, Simpson; a property at 143 R. Cameron St., Fell Twp., for $37,800.

• Barbara Recicar, executrix of the estate of Delores Nagy, Scranton, Mithad Radoncic, Scranton; a property at 1423 Euclid Ave., Scranton, for $32,000.

• Dinamico Corp., Scranton, to Andrew C. Jr. and Tara M. Collins, Scranton; a property at 1120 Columbia St., Scranton, for $249,000.

• Joseph C. and Lauren S. Peet, Old Forge, to Ronald G. Catlin, Clarks Summit; a property at 1279 Bennett St., Old Forge, for $80,000.

• Patrick J. and Mary T. Dunleavy, Scranton, to Eric Pleska, White Plains, N.Y.; two parcels in Scranton for $257,500.

LAWSUIT

• Elaine M. Baez, 1044 Treeline Drive, Allentown, v. Matthew P. Trnka, 55 Beechbank Cres, London, Ontario, Canada, and Volvo Trucks Canada, 2100 Derry Road West, Mississauga, Ontario, seeking in excess of $50,000, plus interest, costs and such other relief deemed appropriate on four counts, for injuries suffered Oct. 27, 2018, in an automobile accident on Lower Macungie Road, Lower Macungie Twp.; John Mulcahey and Caroline Munley, attorneys.

ESTATES FILED

• Joan Lee Rudisill, 135 Carbondale Road, Waverly Twp., letters of administration to Craig Rudisill, 206 Pennsylvania Ave., Chalfont.

• Andrew Polovitch, also known as Andrew M. Polovitch, 329 Dunmore St., Throop, letters testamentary to Joyce Kissolovege, 146 Cambridge Road, Harmony, Maine.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Abington Heights

Band benefit: Abington Heights Marching Comets sponsoring a Royal Brunch to benefit the band and its December performance trip to Hershey Park, Nov. 30, 10 a.m., Posh, 404 N. Washington Ave., Scranton; meet and greet with your favorite prince and princesses, photo opportunities, face painting, basket raffles and chances to win the Frozen II Ultimate Arendelle Castle; $20/general admission and $12/6 and under; tickets can be purchased through the Eventbrite site, Abington Heights Band Booster Facebook page or any booster or band member.

Lackawanna County

Electronics recycling: Electronic manufacturer Hewlett-Packard sponsoring an electronics recycling collection for residents of Lackawanna County in cooperation with the county Environmental Office in celebration of America Recycles Day, Saturday, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., Viewmont Mall parking lot; televisions and computers will be accepted by Hewlett-Packard along with copiers and peripherals; 570-963-2017.

Pittston

Special Mass: Enthronement of the Sacred Heart Mass on the Feast of Christ the King will be celebrated Nov. 24 at 3 p.m. at the Oblates of St. Joseph Seminary Chapel; Sacred Heart Singers will provide music beginning with a prelude of contemporary Christian music at 2:30 p.m.; refreshments and fellowship follow the Mass; those desiring to receive an enthronement should contact Maria Pappa, Enthronement Guild coordinator, 570-241-8171, to arrange to receive an enthronement packet at Mass.

Wayne County

Alzheimer’s presentation: Wayne Memorial Hospital, the Wayne County Agency on Aging, Pa. Link and the Alzheimer’s Association free presentation, Dec. 10, 5:30-7 p.m., Park Street Complex, 648 W. Park St., Honesdale, light dinner included; Jean Tuttle, 570-253-8990 or tuttle@wmh.org.

Donations needed: Donations are needed for the Thanksgiving Together program, which was founded four decades ago to provide a community Thanksgiving dinner for those in need and those who want to spend the holiday with others; the program operates solely through donations from the community and some government food assistance; send contributions for Thanksgiving Together to Grace Episcopal Church, 827 Church St., Honesdale, PA 18431; for information or to volunteer, leave a message at the church office, 570-253-2760 or HonesdaleEpiscopalChurch@gmail.com.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

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

BLAKELY — Sidewalks along one of the busiest sections of Main Street are cracked, crumbling and even missing in spots.

But not for much longer.

The borough will replace about half a mile of sidewalks and curbs on Main Street from Keystone Avenue to Academy Street with the help of $350,000 in recently awarded state funds. Blakely is receiving the money from the Pennsylvania Department of Community and Economic Development’s Multimodal Transportation Fund.

The new sidewalks will be the second phase of Blakely’s ongoing Main Street sidewalk revitalization project, which aims to replace sidewalks along the entirety of Main Street, said borough Manager Thomas Wascura.

The whole project will likely take three years to complete, he said.

The borough wrapped up the first phase of the project, which cost nearly $500,000, earlier this year when crews installed new sidewalks, curbs and handicap ramps from Cemetery Street to Keystone Avenue.

The second phase of the project will cost an estimated $741,000, and work is expected to begin in April, Wascura said. He hopes to complete work by late fall of next year. The phase will replace about 4,600 feet of sidewalks and curbs in addition to installing 30 Americans with Disabilities Act-compliant ramps, Wascura said.

Borough officials initially wanted phase two to span from Keystone Avenue to Lillibridge Street, or nearly double the length of the phase’s current scope, but they decided to scale back, Wascura said.

“We just thought it was too big of a project,” he said. “A little bit at a time would work out better for us.”

Blakely matched the grant with $250,000 and will pay the rest of phase two’s costs, Wascura said. He expects the borough to put the project out for bid in the next month or two.

The sidewalk revitalization has been in the works for about five years, said Council President Joseph Ercolani.

Ercolani noted both the safety and aesthetic benefits of the new sidewalks. With Main Street always busy with people walking and running, the council president raised concerns about the liability of having run-down sidewalks.

“That was one of our main concerns ... the safety aspect,” Ercolani said.

He believes the new sidewalks will increase foot traffic while helping to attract new businesses to Main Street.

“It’s one of the main things we wanted to get done in town,” he said. “That’s always been a goal of ours.”

When the borough eventually finishes work on Main Street, the town will examine other areas that need renovations, including Keystone Avenue, Ercolani said.

Contact the writer:

flesnefsky@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5181;

@flesnefskyTT on Twitter

OK, so the Democrats won the Lackawanna County commissioners office, this time with a clearly more unified ticket, but it wasn’t their usual domination.

If you’re a Democrat looking forward to next year and the presidential race, you might worry.

Banished to minority status the last four years by the unusual majority of Democratic Commissioner Patrick O’Malley and Republican Commissioner Laureen Cummings, Democratic Commissioner Jerry Notarianni gained his revenge. Notarianni has finished first in every commissioner election he was part of, four in a row, and led the way in this one with 26,619 votes. That was more than a thousand votes ahead of his running mate, attorney Debi Domenick, who had 25,501.

By comparison, in 2007, Commissioner Mike Washo beat his running mate, attorney Corey O’Brien, by 12 votes when they both walloped the polarizing Commissioner Bob Cordaro and his friendlier “huggy bear” partner A.J. Munchak.

Still, the vote difference between the Democratic running mates this year is much narrower than in 2015. Back then, when they were still running mates, Notarianni beat O’Malley by almost 3,000 votes. Clearly, many Democrats had concerns about O’Malley.

They showed nowhere the same concerns about Domenick, but 1,000 votes between her and Notarianni still says something.

More interestingly and perhaps a clear warning sign for Democrats: Republican running mates Chris Chermak, 22,158 votes; and Scott Twp. Supervisor Mike Giannetta, 20,198; finished much closer to the Democrats as a duo than Republicans had in the last three elections.

Chermak, who won the minority commissioner slot, trailed Domenick by only 3,343 votes.

That’s not as good as O’Malley finishing 2,852 votes behind O’Brien in 2011, but O’Malley was a former Democrat who ran as a Republican. He finished more than 5,000 votes ahead of Bill Jones, the other Republican candidate. Chermak finished only 1,960 votes ahead of Giannetta.

In a county where Democrats outnumber Republicans by 2 to 1, Notarianni had only 1.3 times as many votes as Giannetta and 1.2 times as many as Chermak. Domenick’s ratio over Chermak was 1.15 to 1, and 1.26 to 1 over Giannetta.

That’s a lot of Democrats and independents voting for Republicans.

Here’s another thing. If you subtract the Scranton numbers, Chermak finished second in the rest of the county.

CITY: Notarianni, 9,541; Domenick, 8,925; Chermak, 5,554; Giannetta, 4,932.

COUNTY: Notarianni, 17,078; Chermak, 16,604; Domenick, 16,576; Giannetta, 15,266. The difference between Notarianni and Giannetta is only 1,812.

County Republican Chairman Lance Stange Jr. would have preferred to win the commissioners’ office majority, but if he had to lose he hardly could have asked for better.

“And I think we’ll continue to see that (trend toward Republicans),” Stange said. “And I think we’ll continue to gain voter registration numbers.”

Stange flatly said he thinks President Donald Trump can win the county next year. No Republican has done that since President Ronald Reagan’s re-election in 1984.

“The city is a challenge for us. It’s a tough nut for us to crack,” Stange said.

County Democratic Chairman Chris Patrick said he isn’t worried about the Democratic presidential nominee losing the county next year, but said his party has a lot of work to do.

The percentage of county residents registered as Democrats dropped below 60% for the first time in at least 20 years.

“We’ve got to start registering voters,” he said. “I was talking to (state Rep.) Marty Flynn about that last night.”

Patrick attributed the Republican performance to the presence of “two new people” (Giannetta and Chermak) who spent money on TV commercials and ran as a strong team. He took the blame for the performance outside the city.

“We usually perform very well in the county,” Patrick said.

The numbers were particularly close in Dickson City where Democrats outnumber Republicans 2.4 to 1. There, Chermak came close to finishing second: Domenick, 682, Notarianni, 679, Chermak, 638, Giannetta, 590.

The Republicans actually opened a Midvalley office.

The ratio between Domenick’s and Giannetta’s votes was only 1.16 to 1, or less than half the Democratic voter registration advantage.

Countywide, turnout was 36.73%, helped a bit by a 44% turnout in Dunmore where write-in candidate Janet Brier won and drew a lot of voters to the polls over the Keystone Sanitary Landfill expansion.

Patrick was disappointed in the turnout and said the Democrats have to do better next year turning out their voters.

Turnout was substantially better than the last two commissioner elections, 31.62% in 2015 and 33.93% in 2011.

Turnout next year surely will rise dramatically because voters will choose a president, a fact that always confounds Roderick because local politicians have greater influence on voters’ daily lives.

That only adds to the possibility of Trump winning the county next year.

Finally, here’s a regional breakdown of the numbers. We count Scott Twp. as part of the Midvalley though some might see it differently.

ABINGTONS: Chermak, 4,438; Giannetta, 3,868; Notarianni, 3,098; Domenick, 2,935; Turnout: 36.65%

CARBONDALE CITY: Notarianni, 805; Domenick, 801; Chermak, 611; Giannetta, 574. Turnout: 29.92%

DOWNVALLEY: Notarianni, 2,290; Domenick, 2,263; Chermak, 2,090; Giannetta, 1952. Turnout: 33.55%

DUNMORE: Notarianni, 2,796; Domenick, 2,564; Chermak, 1,341; Giannetta, 1,196. Turnout: 44.04%

MIDVALLEY: Notarianni, 5,242; Domenick, 5,200; Chermak, 4,260; Giannetta, 4,069. Turnout: 36.71%

NORTH POCONO: Chermak, 2,580; Giannetta, 2,390;Notarianni, 1,692: Domenick, 1,660. Turnout: 33.71%

SCRANTON: Notarianni, 9,541; Domenick, 8,925; Chermak, 5,554; Giannetta, 4,932. Turnout: 37.65%

UPVALLEY: Chermak, 1,284; Giannetta, 1,217; Notarianni, 1,155; Domenick, 1,153. Turnout: 38.34%

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

Scranton’s nonuniform pension board Friday approved former Controller Roseann Novembrino’s request to make her pension effective a month earlier than she initially planned.

Novembrino, 82, resigned Tuesday, about a month before her term expired, for health reasons. The board approved her pension effective that date, instead of Dec. 31.

Pension board solicitor Larry Durkin said the request complies with pension regulations. He noted Novembrino, who had worked for the city since 1987, was qualified to take her pension years ago but opted to continue working. The board’s vote changes only the effective date of the pension. Payments will not start until December, he said.

The nonuniform pension plan gives employees an option to choose a survivor to receive benefits upon the employee’s death. If an employee dies before retirement, survivors are entitled only to the contributions the employee made into the plan.

The plan pays retirees $700 a month. That amount is reduced if the retiree, at the time of retirement, opts to name a surviving beneficiary.

Durkin said Novembrino selected that option, which reduces her pension to $465 per month. Upon her death, a daughter will continue to receive that amount for 10 years.

The board ordinarily would vote on the matter at its regular meeting, which is scheduled for next week. It held a special meeting Friday to approve the change.

Durkin said Novembrino, who sat on the nonuniform and composite pension boards, was not given any special treatment.

“I don’t think there is any doubt the board would do this for any member,” he said. “It had nothing to do with her position. It had to do with her physical status.”

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

Behind the Business is a new weekly feature taking an inside look at local businesses. To suggest a company or entrepreneur, email business@timesshamrock.com.

Business:Moscow Family Eye Care

Location:1256 Church St., Moscow

Owner: Gary F. Salak, O.D.

Year established:2014

How many employees: 3

Tell us about your business:We offer a full range of optometric services, including comprehensive eye exams, contact lens fitting, retinal fundus photography and automated visual field testing. This allows us to co-manage eye problems such as cataracts, glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration and diabetic retinopathy. Patients interested in new eyeglasses can choose from over 1,000 frames. We carry several manufacturers representing the latest trends and styles available.

What are some secrets to your success? As a small office we have the luxury of time, meaning you won’t be hurried through your eye exam and you won’t be pressured into choosing your glasses until you are ready. This means that each patient gets a lot of one-on-one time with Dr. Salak and the staff, and they are available to answer any of your vision questions as well as provide recommendations as you select your frame and lenses. This personalized service has helped to grow our business through referrals and patient loyalty.

What is your biggest challenge? Insurances can be a challenge since vision and medical insurances are so different from one person to the next. Our staff is patient through this insurance process and works with each individual so that they can have a complete understanding of what their insurance covers, whether it’s an eye exam, contact lenses and/or glasses. Another challenge is that people often think that because we are a small business, they may not be able to afford our glasses, but once they come in, they find that we are very competitive with the pricing on the frames and lens products that we offer.

Back Mountain

Grand opening: The Autism Center at Misericordia University Grand Opening, Dec. 5, 5-7 p.m., 50 Lake St., Dallas. The center helps connect people with autism spectrum disorders and their families with services and supports in the area; register: autism@misericordia.edu or 570-674-6197.

Carbondale

Craft Fair: Ninth annual Carbondale PROSPER Holiday Vendor Craft Fair, Saturday, 10 a.m.-3 p.m., Carbondale Area Elementary School, 103 Brooklyn St.; vendors will include Young Living Essential Oils, Scentsy, Thirty-One Gifts and Tupperware; handmade items for sale will include jewelry and home décor; door prizes and food; admission $2/person. Free for children under 12.

Dunmore

Board meetings: Dunmore Board of Education regular monthly meeting, Wednesday, 6 p.m., high school cafeteria; work session, Monday, 6 p.m., boardroom.

Old Forge

Cookie sale: Christmas Cookie sale, Dec. 14, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., Saint Nicholas of Myra Byzantine Catholic Church, 320 Vine St.; homemade cookie varieties will including anise, wedding, thumbprint, chocolate chip, peanut butter kisses, nut rugalach, linzer, welsh and more; cost/$9 per pound. Pre-orders accepted until Dec. 8; Betty, 570-457-9292 or Maria, 570-457-8275.

Scranton

Community meal: South Side Friendly Seniors Thanksgiving Lunch, Tuesday, 12:30 p.m., St. Paul of the Cross Parish Center, 1215 Prospect Ave.

Prayer service: Day of Love Holy Hour, Nov. 24, 4 p.m., Immaculate Conception Church, 801 Taylor Ave.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timessham

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

PENNSYLVANIA

The Northeastern Extension will be closed in both directions from midnight to 6 a.m. Sunday between the Lansdale Interchange, Exit 31, and the Quakertown Interchange, Exit 44, the Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission announced Friday.

The following directions will provide the best route so that you can reenter the turnpike:

• Northbound motorists will exit at the Lansdale Interchange, Exit 31, and be directed to take Route 63 east to Route 202 north to Route 309 north to Route 663 south and reenter I-476 at the Quakertown Interchange, Exit 44.

• Southbound motorists will exit at the Quakertown Interchange, Exit 44, and be directed to take Route 663 north to Route 309 south to Route 202 south to Route 63 west and reenter I-476 at the Lansdale Interchange, Exit 31.

— STAFF REPORT

The state Supreme Court denied a motion filed by the Diocese of Scranton that asked it to take jurisdiction over five lawsuits filed by men who claim they were sexually abused by a priest.

In separate, one-sentence orders issued Friday, the high court denied motions for extraordinary relief filed by the diocese and retired Bishop James Timlin. The orders do not detail the court’s reasoning or provide details regarding arguments the diocese or attorneys for the plaintiffs made.

The ruling means the cases will remain under the jurisdiction of Lackawanna County Court.

Attorney Kevin Quinn of Kingston filed the lawsuits in August and October, seeking damages for five men who claim the Rev. Michael Pulicare sexually abused them in the mid-1970s, when they were children attending St. Joseph’s Church in the Minooka section of Scranton.

Each suit names as defendants the diocese, Timlin and the Most Rev. Joseph C. Bambera, current bishop of the diocese. Pulicare died in 1999.

The diocese also has pending motions in county court that seek to stay the lawsuits until the state Supreme Court decides whether it will hear an appeal of a Superior Court ruling that extended the statute of limitations for clergy abuse victims to file lawsuits.

In that case, filed by Renee Rice against the Diocese of Altoona-Johnstown, the Superior Court said that when a case involves accusations the church concealed the abuse, a jury should decide if a victim’s delay in coming forward was reasonable.

The ruling impacts the Lackawanna County cases, all of which would be outside the statute of limitations if not for the Rice ruling.

In motions seeking to stay the cases, the diocese argues Lackawanna County Court should wait until the Supreme Court rules because, if the court takes the case and overturns the Rice decision, the lawsuits could not continue.

A Lackawanna County judge will review the motions and issue a ruling at a later date.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Courtney Irene Burke and Robert Michael Jones, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Paul Crossin, South Abington Twp., to Gerard Vincent Piazza, South Abington Twp.; a property at 810 Salisbury Road, South Abington Twp., for $125,000.

• Timothy J. Shields and Jacquelyn M. Evans-Shields, Tuscon, Ariz., to James III and Elizabeth Van Wert, Old Forge; a property at 128 Glenburn Road, Clarks Green, for $254,500.

• Chapman Lake Estates LLC, Pennsylvania, to BM and NM Living Trust; a parcel in Scott Twp., for $43,500.

• Eileen Kushner, Peckville, and Paul Wasilchak, Dickson City, co-executors of the estate of Mildred Harrigan to Paul Wasilchak, Dickson City; a property at 724 Beechwood Drive, Dickson City, for $100,000.

• Ronald S. and Judith A. Phelps, Dalton, to Justin K. Wahler and Crystal J. Hernandez, New Jersey; a property at 106 Sunrise Drive, Dalton, for $245,000.

• Anna A. Francisco, Lackawanna County, to Brian and Tammy Van Fleet, La Plume Twp.; a property at 2057 N. Turnpike Road, La Plume Twp., for $45,000.

ESTATE FILED

• Mary Kolucki, 1727 Layton Road, Scott Twp., letters testamentary to Barbara Ann Kolucki, 471 Stone Road, North Abington Twp.

DIVORCE SOUGHT

• Rosemary Rezak, Carbondale, v. William Rezak, Carbondale; married Oct. 4, 1995, in Dunmore; pro se.

ARDS

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

• Darshit Patel, 35, 10 Prescott Place, Scranton, stopped April 13 by state police.

• Scott Edward Kopas, 22, 240 Route 435, Clifton Twp., stopped Feb. 27 by state police.

• Edward Timothy Meade, 30, 22 W. Shore Drive, Jefferson Twp., stopped May 23 by state police.

• Tamara Lowman, 38, 913 E. Elm St., Scranton, stopped May 24 by Scranton police.

• Joseph T. Maryovich, 61, 120 Cedar St., Exeter, stopped May 4 by Old Forge police.

• Salvatore Jude Stivala, 44, 363 N. Evans Court, Scranton, stopped May 24 by state police.

• Brian Tucker, 53, 117 Basalyga St., Jessup, stopped May 19 by Blakely police.

• Hannah Sue Roe, 20, 303 W. Grove St., Taylor, stopped Jan. 6 by Old Forge police.

• Frank R. Aurichio, 27, 50 Valentine St., Apt./Suite 20A, Monmouth Beach, N.J., stopped June 8 by South Abington Twp police.

• Kathryn M. Monahan, 43, 708 Clark St., Throop, stopped April 25 by Throop police.

• Zachary Moore, 22, 1215 S. Main Ave., Old Forge, stopped Jan. 6 by Old Forge police.

• Patrick James Tucker, 33, 26 Grandview St., Covington Twp., stopped April 28 by state police.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Death, where is thy sting?

That biblical query took on a different meaning last week when a last-of-its-breed (at least on this side of the Atlantic) Fiat 500 hatchback stopped by for a weeklong visit.

While the 500 will soldier on in more practical four-door forms, namely the 500L and new 500X, the diminutive two-door hatch that first arrived in the states roughly a decade ago is ending its run with the 2019 model year.

This includes not only the basic econocar Pop and Lounge trims, but also the roarin’-snortin’ Abarth sport hatch, its raucous turbocharged inline-four engine and exhaust system, and its scorpion-badged designation (hence the “sting” reference). It was in this form that we got a chance to bid addio to this most modern expression of the beloved Cinquecento.

Pricing for this last year of the 500 starts at a budget-minded $16,495 for a five-speed manual-equipped Pop, and climbs northward to better than 21 grand for an automatic-equipped Abarth. The Pop and Lounge are powered by a detuned version of the 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four engine making 135 horsepower and 150 foot-pounds of torque. The same engine is massaged to deliver a stouter 160 horses and 170 foot-pounds of torque in the Abarth.

Our fire-engine-red Abarth tester was fitted with the company’s optional six-speed automatic (the five-speed stick is standard), and a long list of options that pushed the $20,495 base asking price to $28,800. Standard kit includes four-wheel antilock performance brakes with painted calipers, a set of 16-inch blackout aluminum alloy wheels shod in skinny performance tires, parking assist sensors, rearview camera, 5-inch infotainment touch-screen interface, rear deck spoiler, loads of trim-specific exterior bling and lots more.

Factoring in $1,195 for some lurid red-on-beige leather seating upholstery, $1,395 for a set of 17-inch blackout alloy wheels, several other three-figure options and the $1,495 delivery tab makes this the priciest and most outspoken manifestation of outgoing 500-ness available off the showroom floor.

If there’s a word that sums up the Abarth, it’s “personality.” Indeed, nothing else on the road looks, drives or — emphasis here — sounds like it. The blaring exhaust note splits the difference between an actual sports car and my dad’s old Snapper riding mower. The stoked turbo-four, while not especially powerful, nevertheless gives the little 500 a lively step, the senses of speed and acceleration heightened by the two-door’s Lilliputian dimensions and roughly 2,500-pound curb weight. Run out the engine revs and the exhaust note becomes an unholy howl. Yes, it’s fun.

As expected, the Abarth handles nimbly with right-now responses to steering inputs and plenty of road-holding grip through tight corners. Braking is excellent with little fade. The sport-tuned suspension offers plenty of feedback on road conditions, though — a mixed blessing given our region’s reputation for potholes and pavement cracks. Let’s just say that ride quality verges on punishing when the road is less than reasonably smooth.

The 500’s now-familiar snubbed-off exterior profile is amped up in Abarth form with trim-specific badging and decals, a set of bright-red brake calipers and pronounced rear-deck spoiler. The intimate cabin offers decent-enough legroom for full-size adults, but headroom is tight to the point that precludes wearing a hat of any description. The 50/50 split-folding back seats are best left to groceries and medium-sized dogs. The paltry 9.5-cubic-foot cargo area swells to 30.1 cubic feet with the rear seatbacks folded.

Designed for primarily urban lifestyles, the diminutive 500 won’t satisfy everyone’s automotive needs. City dwellers will enjoy its easy-to-maneuver-and-park footprint, as well as its good fuel economy. Suburban denizens — as in, people with kids and cargo — will find better utility in the larger four-door models (and happily for enthusiasts, the new 500X reportedly offers a Sport trim level powered by a 177-horsepower turbocharged 1.3-liter inline four).

2019 Fiat 500 Abarth Hatchback

Vehicle type: Two-door four-passenger subcompact sport hatchback.

Base/as-tested prices: $20,495/$28,800

Engine and transmission: 1.4-liter turbocharged inline-four gas engine (160 horsepower, 170 foot-pounds torque), six-speed automatic with manumatic mode.

EPA estimates: 24 mpg city, 34 mpg highway, 27 mpg combined.

The good: Amusing performance and personality plus on a budget; cute-as-a-button 500 shape and bearing; raucous and reasonably powerful turbo-four engine makes for decent (but hardly blistering) acceleration; nimble handling and steering response; interior’s sense of style matches exterior’s; decently roomy front-seat accommodations; get one while they last!

The bad: Buckboard-stiff suspension, short wheelbase and skinny performance tires make for a punishing ride over Lackawanna County’s numerous potholed thoroughfares; bellowing exhaust sounds like a mix of outboard engine and lawn tractor; bad-joke back seats; paltry cargo area.

Bottom line: The tiny Fiat 500 isn’t designed for everyone, a fact that’s doubly true for its high-strung Abarth variant; still, as it faces the final curtain, the U.S. auto market will be poorer for its absence.