Nov. 16, 1969

City takes back trash pickup

Starting Nov. 17, Scranton would be back in the garbage-collection business.

Mayor James Walsh had terminated a five-year contract with Controlled Sanitation Corp. after the company could not obtain a performance bond to cover the second year of the contract. With the contract terminated, Controlled Sanitation Corp. had to return all city-owned equipment the company used to collect garbage.

Public Works Director John Washo said collections would start Nov. 17. The city would have 80 men working on the city’s garbage collection, with 13 Packmasters and two other trucks.

Diwali celebration in city

The Suburban Presbyterian Church on Olyphant Avenue in Scranton was the setting for the newly formed India Club of Northeastern Pennsylvania Diwali Day dinner.

Eighty guests at the dinner enjoyed a buffet of homemade dishes such as a cauliflower curry, batata curry, puffed Indian bread, pulao, raita and rava kesari.

After dinner, a group performed traditional Indian dances, and a film on Mahatma Gandhi was shown.

At the movies

“Midnight Cowboy” at the West Side, “Horror Show” and “Easy Rider” at the Comerford, “Cinderella” and “Butch Cassidy and the Sundance Kid” at Cinema North, “In the Heat of the Night” at the Roosevelt, “The Sterile Cuckoo” at the Center and “Marlowe” at the Strand.

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.

SCRANTON — City 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 with the documents the fire chief turned in earlier this month, though a rough idea of what they contain 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 declined to comment.

The Times-Tribune filed a Right to Know Law request for the documents Friday.

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, which means that the vast majority of the Right to Know Law exemptions would not apply to it,” she said.

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 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 the 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

A Wilkes-Barre man opened fire on another driver and shot him in the ankle in a road-rage attack during rush hour Thursday evening, according to state police.

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

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 and 5:30 p.m. and were travelling north on I-81 to Exit 143 in Hazle Twp.

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 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 on the left shoulder several times before James Leiphart pulled into the right lane to let Kuras pass, according to the complaint.

Police said 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 from the Jeep’s passenger-side window, then felt pain in his right ankle, police said. James Leiphart pulled over at Exit 143 and told his brother he’d been shot, according to police.

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

Police said Kuras also pulled over and called 911 to report the shooting. Troopers found him near mile marker 148 with a 9 mm Ruger pistol 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 said.

He told troopers 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 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.

Contact the writer:

jhalpin@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2058

Q: My newly acquired 2018 Nissan Rogue was vandalized.

Late at night, after returning to my car in a parking lot, we discovered a massive gas spill and odor around the car. Then we noticed gas was coming out from under our car.

A tow was ordered, and the Fire Department was dispatched. There was gas everywhere. I was questioned: “Did you run over something?” I hadn’t.

After the gas had stopped seeping, the car was towed to a mechanic. The mechanic called the next morning and said, “Someone crawled underneath your car, used an 1/8-inch drill bit and made a hole in your tank!” Wow.

Now, six weeks later, my car has yet to be repaired. Though at a reputable repair shop, a gas tank for such a new car is just not available. It’s been back-ordered for six weeks. I wait patiently each week for an update from the mechanic (which they duly provide), and the last communication was that “the tank is now on its way from Tennessee.”

This has been a most agonizing and upsetting, not to mention inconvenient, ordeal. I had the car barely four months when this happened.

Have you heard of this? I’ve been told that because it’s such a new car, Nissan would not just have gas tanks sitting around for replacement.

Does that sound legit? Please provide any thoughts on this senseless crime.

— RITA

A: Well, it’s unfortunate that these knuckleheads didn’t decide to smoke a cigarette while they were drilling into your gas tank. Then you could’ve gotten a brand-new 2020 Rogue. There’s probably no waiting for those.

What these criminals did was obnoxious, and the result of a bad upbringing. But I’m not sure it’s completely senseless, Rita.

My guess is that somebody needed gas. They probably had a 5-gallon gas can or an empty 2-liter soda bottle. So, they drilled a hole in your tank, took whatever they could and then ran away, leaving the rest to spill out onto the ground.

It’s a rotten thing to do to another person, but that’s my guess as to what happened.

And the explanation for why there are no replacement tanks available does sound legit. There really is little to no reason for Nissan to stock gas tanks for brand-new cars. There’s simply no demand for them.

Because of where the gas tank is located — tucked safely away from the perimeter of the car — if you had an accident that crushed your gas tank, replacing the gas tank would be the least of your problems. The car would be totaled.

There was a time when gas tanks would get replaced because they would corrode after a few years. But now gas tanks are plastic. So they really never fail.

We’re glad yours is finally on its way from Tennessee. Maybe you should have ordered two, so you can scalp one to another vandal victim on eBay?

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 Cherry Ridge Twp., is in the Wayne County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail for felony charges of possession with intent to deliver and related charges.

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

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 lives on the property and troopers said she transported the marijuana there from California, troopers said.

Her preliminary hearing is scheduled for Wednesday.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

SCRANTON — Mayor Wayne Evans proposed a 2020 city budget that would drop the annual $300 trash fee to $250 and collect it through property tax bills.

The $116 million budget, released Friday, contemplates a major change in the way the city charges and collects the fee.

Evans described the new trash-fee billing and collection method as a “seismic shift.”

“This is big. It puts it (the trash fee) back into the tax where it belongs,” Evans said. “For the average homeowner, it’s a win. It will go from $300 to $250.”

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

That way, the garbage fee would remain the same for all payers, and not fluctuate based on assessed valuation of property, as do the regular property tax bills, city Business Administrator David Bulzoni said.

“We’re looking at it as a fee in the property tax bill,” Bulzoni said. “It’s part of a very significant shift.”

The regular property tax and its underlying millages would remain the same in 2020, he said.

Property tax millages in 2020 will remain 232.521 on land and 50.564 on improvements, both unchanged since 2016.

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.

A lower trash fee is achievable because billing it in the property tax bill means it would be spread out among a larger base of payers, Evans and Bulzoni said.

The garbage fee revenue expected in 2020 will remain budgeted at $5.6 million, the same as 2019. The city’s 22,362 parcels with buildings will get a $250 trash fee on a property tax bill. The new fee was derived from dividing the trash fee revenue by the number of parcels that will be billed.

Under this new trash-fee method, delinquent trash fee collections going forward also would become part of the collections of delinquent property taxes.

“The refuse billing situation doesn’t work. Our goal is to get away from that,” Evans said. “We just have not had much success, or real success, in collecting it,” and never knew the entire pool of who should have paid trash bills.

Property tax bills also have a higher rate of collection, 90%, as compared to the collection rate of prior garbage bills, about 65%, Evans said.

The new garbage fee 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.

Meanwhile, the budget proposal and its underlying ordinance will go before city council Monday during its meeting at 6 p.m. at City Hall.

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

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

The proposed 2020 budget also includes another major tax change: replacing 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. 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 city also first needs approval from Lackawanna County Court to swap the business privilege/mercantile taxes with a payroll tax. The switch to a payroll tax is sanctioned by the city’s Act 47 coordinator, the Pennsylvania Economy League, as a step toward the city gaining a successful exit from nearly 28 years of Act 47 oversight. A court rejection of a city petition for a payroll tax seems unlikely, and the city anticipates filing the court petition soon to schedule a hearing in early 2020.

The Scranton School District also is mulling the move to a payroll tax. Voters in the Nov. 5 general election overwhelmingly approved the district making the switch, and it does not need county court approval.

The city budget changes regarding 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:

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570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter

1. What singer/songwriter performed last night at

Theater at North?

A. Carly Simon

B. Joan Baez

C. Judy Collins

D. Joni Mitchell

2. What once-popular

watering hole was destroyed by fire?

A. Paradise Inn

B. The Banshee

C. Pete Bordi’s

D. Pub Charles

3. What play debuted this weekend by the University of Scranton Players?

A. “Angels in America”

B. “Men on Boats”

C. “Death of a Salesman”

D. “Tartuffe”

4. True or false: Janet Brier won a Dunmore council seat from a wave of write-in votes, according to the official Lackawanna County count.

A. True

B. False; she was defeated narrowly.

5. Scranton plans to use $15,000 in unused federal funding to restore what at City Hall?

A. Clock tower

B. Mayor’s office

C. Tower keep

D. Stained-glass windows

6. What names appeared on write-in ballots during the recent general election in Lackawanna County?

A. Donald Trump

B. Clint Eastwood

C. Corrupty McBriberton

D. All of the above

7. Where in Lackawanna County did they celebrate “Taste of the Town” as a fundraiser for the chamber of commerce?

A. Scranton

B. Carbondale

C. Old Forge

D. Dickson City

8. The police department of which Midvalley town has joined a union and negotiated a contract?

A. Dickson City

B. Jermyn

C. Archbald

D. Jessup

9. A proposed what near Lake Scranton has some residents fighting it in court?

A. Drug addiction treatment center

B. Ambulance garage

C. Doctor’s office

D. Nursing home

10. Roseann Novembrino, Scranton’s longtime what, submitted her resignation last week?

A. Tax collector

B. Controller

C. Business administrator

D. Solicitor

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

SCRANTON — The Diocese of Scranton held a fundraiser gala Saturday to support STREAM education — science, technology, religion, engineering, arts and math — in the 20 Catholic schools in the region.

The event at the Diocesan Pastoral Center, 330 Wyoming Ave., kicked off efforts to support scholarships to schools in the diocese and for purchase of specific technological items used in STREAM education, said schools Superintendent Kristen Donohue.

“It’s a nice gathering for a great cause,” Donohue said.

The diocese in September announced a $1 million investment in STREAM. The idea is to go beyond traditional STEM programs, by including the arts and religion, to add creativity, communication and social responsibility rooted in Catholic identity. The diocese plans to incorporate STREAM into the curriculum of all 20 Catholic schools by May 2022.

STREAM allows teachers to plan engaging, cross-curricular lessons that address 21st century skills needed in a global society, according to the diocese.

The STREAM initiative and the gala to support it are efforts “on the part of the diocese and the schools to create the best kind of environment we can for students to move forward,” Bishop Joseph C. Bambera said.

The event, titled the “ASPIRE Gala,” had a goal of raising $75,000, Donohue said. It also included a silent auction and text-to-donate options.

WNEP-TV anchor Julie Sidoni served as master of ceremonies.

About 200 people attended. The crowd included members of the community and local businesses, alumni, parents, principals and faculty, said Jason Morrison, the diocesan secretary of catholic education/chief executive officer.

Each school had a table highlighting STREAM activities and goals for the year, as well as requests for contributions to fund particular objects.

The St. Nicholas/St. Mary elementary school in Wilkes-Barre sought donations for the school to buy a set of four virtual reality goggles that cost $2,000 for all four. The VR devices enhance learning experiences by allowing student viewers to visualize disparate locations as if they were there, including a rainforest, the North Pole or Central Park, or even inside the human heart, said school Vice Principal Lisa Casey.

“This is a whole new world for these kids. They can see New York City. They could walk on the moon. They could see the craters,” Casey said of the VR goggles. “I love these. I’m just hoping someone will help us out” with a donation.

Contact the writer:

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570-348-9100 x5185;

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DICKSON CITY — Overwhelming turnout at a free electronics recycling event Saturday at the Viewmont Mall for Lackawanna County residents drew such long lines and traffic jams that the event had to be shut down early, state Sen. John Blake said.

Blake and electronics manufacturer Hewlett-Packard and the Lackawanna County Environmental Office sponsored the e-waste recycling event that was supposed to run from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m.

But so many people swamped the event — earlybirds started lining up around 7:30 a.m., if not earlier — that police and mall security cut off entry not too long after it began, said Blake, who was there for a time helping unload recyclables.

Concerns arose about people walking across the parking lots with their electronic items or darting out of line as their frustrations arose over long waiting times, he said.

“It became a public safety concern,” Blake said.

Blake expressed regret to anyone who was turned away and said the situation points to the need for the state to upgrade state law regarding electronics recycling.

“This is not the way to manage this stuff,” Blake said of electronics, which may contain toxic materials. “All it does is tell us we have a problem with electronics recycling and need to upgrade the statute. There should be permanent facilities that are adequately staffed and funded” to accept electronics for recycling at all times.

One way to accomplish that may be to levy a fee at the point of sale on an electronic device to fund recycling on the back end, Blake said.

The free event took place at the Viewmont Mall, in the parking lot behind Dick’s Sporting Goods.

The following items were collected: desktop computers, laptop computers, e-readers, computer monitors, televisions, printers and scanners.

In a newsletter post Friday promoting the recycling event, Blake asked for patience from those who would attend.

“We are anticipating a very large turnout at this event. The recycler and our volunteers will do their best to move the line along as smoothly and quickly as possible,” Blake said in his newsletter.

Traffic clogged along all of the access roads to the mall. Vehicles on the Interstate 81 north exit ramp backed up onto the highway. Traffic jammed both directions of Business Route 6 and along Viewmont Drive from Main Avenue. One motorist’s trip from Olyphant to the mall took 90 minutes. Others spoke of waiting in line for three hours.

When entry to the event was cut off, some people pulled up in their vehicles anyway, parked in the lot and carried their items over to the piles of recyclables and left them there, to avoid having to haul them home.

As the events unfolded and lines and traffic jams ensued, many people posted comments on social media. Some said the logistics of the event were not well thought out and it instead should have been held at a stadium, where there would have been more room and less traffic overall.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5185;

@jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Youngster names train

Gracee Straut of Old Forge picked the winning name during the Steamtown National Historic Site’s Railfest 2019 “Name the Train” contest.

The site’s Baldwin Locomotive Works 0-6-0 steam switching locomotive will now be called “Rover” through the 2020 railroad operating season.

The machine carries passengers on the Scranton Limited short train rides that rove throughout the park on select days. Gracee, 3, won the contest for visitors ages 6 and under.

A panel of the three Steamtown NHS employees with the longest park tenure — Preservation Specialist John Melliand, Supervisory Park Ranger John Mucha and Trainmaster Willard Sturdevant — reviewed the entries and agreed “Rover” best fit BLW 26’s personality.

Gracee received a certificate, tickets for her family to ride behind “Rover” on the Scranton Limited and several of the site’s collectable trading cards showcasing some of the park’s locomotives and rolling stock, according to the park.

“Rover” carries Santa on the annual “Christmas in a Small Town” special train that will run from Carbondale to Steamtown National Historic Site on Saturday, Dec. 7.

The public can greet Santa along the line, but cannot ride behind “Rover” that day. For details on the Santa train, visit www.lhva.org.

Super students

Members of the 2019-2020 Tomorrow’s Leaders Today include Emma Burak, Shaylyn Chilek, Alissa Koniszewski, Zack Kovalchik, Taralyn Reilly, Morgan Siefring and Sophia Williams, all Valley View High School; Molly Dougherty, Cabre Capalongo, Emily Laabs and Camdyn Lewis, all West Scranton High School; Morgan Faist and Maggie Reppa, both Lackawanna Trail Jr./Sr. High School; Joseph Fasula and Andrew Stark, both Scranton Preparatory School; Gianna Giumento and Emma Yusavage, both Mid Valley High School; Maura Sherry and Lindsay Rose Grzyboski, Riverside Jr./Sr. High School; Ashley Hamilton, Harry Johnson, Maddie Lucas, Mary O’Brien, Noelle Prisco, Kaitlyn Seechock, Sarah Siddiqui and Sydney Vachino, all Abington Heights High School; Ryan Huester and Norah Kelly, both Holy Cross High School; Henry Lin and Binnie Patel, both Old Forge High School; Paige Rebecca McConlogue, Sara McCormack, Sophie Petraitis and Jacob Noah Stankowski, all Scranton High School; Elizabeth Schieber and Luke White, both North Pocono High School; Isabella Zeller and Calvin Zhang, both Dunmore High School; Bayley Grizzanti, Carbondale Area High School; and Celeste Orchard, Western Wayne High School.

The seven-month youth program through Leadership Lackawanna recently met for its first session, which included an orientation, leadership basics and philanthropy. The program develops leadership, interpersonal and managerial skills of high school juniors while giving them an enhanced understanding of Northeast Pennsylvania as well as the opportunity to explore teamwork, according to the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. NBT Bank is the official TLT 2019-2020 corporate program sponsor.

High notes

The Rotary Club of Scranton is partnering with the local charity, Equines For Freedom, the club’s 2019 Holiday Auction.

“The Rotary motto is ‘Service above Self’ and our members live that motto each day by helping others, not only with large scale international projects such as eradicating polio, but also locally by helping others in need in our community,” said Mark Barbernitz, first vice pesident/holiday auction chairman for the club.

The auction, the largest fundraiser of the year for the club, will be held Dec. 5 at Fiorelli’s Catering in Peckville.

“Equines For Freedom is honored to have been chosen to work alongside the Scranton Rotary in hosting the Holiday Auction” said Heather Stage, head equine specialist, social media specialist and administrative assistant to the board of directors of Equines For Freedom. “Funding from events like these are vital to our organization’s success in continuing to provide free equine-assisted therapy for local veterans and first responders.”

Those interested in donating items for the silent and live auctions, sponsoring the event or purchasing ads in the event program booklet, should contact Mari Pizur at mpizur@thearcne

pa.org.

To purchase tickets, visit www.eventbrite.com. Tickets are $50 per person and include a buffet dinner and cash bar. Event sponsorships are also available. To discuss sponsorship and program book opportunities, contact Gerard Hetman at gerard.het

man@gmail.com.

More than 1,500 people packed the Lackawanna Station for the arrival of an 11-car train celebrating all things Pennsylvania 70 years ago.

The stop on Oct. 18, 1949, was part of the annual Pennsylvania Week festivities, designed to “make each citizen more acutely conscious of Pennsylvania’s almost unlimited resources and the immense variety of the production in or near all the communities of the state,” according to a pamphlet on the 1949 tour given to reporters by the state’s Department of Commerce.

The train pulled into Scranton about 40 minutes late, according to an account published in The Scranton Times the next morning. Bands from Central and Tech high schools entertained the crowd and “sent up a melodious welcome” as the train finally arrived.

“A group of 30 students from the State Oral School, led by Miss Margaret Nelson, supervising principal, and Miss Mary Evans, waved American flags in greeting,” the newspaper reported.

Among the VIPs on the train: then-Gov. James H. Duff, who gave a short speech “citing Scranton’s importance as the anthracite capital of the world and lauded its efforts to develop diversified industries,” according to an Oct. 18, 1949, Scranton Times article about the visit.

Joining the governor and other local and state politicians were two entertainers: radio personality, actor and director Ezra Stone and Hollywood gossip columnist Hedda Hopper. Both originally hailed from Pennsylvania and greeted the crowd gathered.

Scranton Times reporter Ned Gerrity also rode the train as it stopped throughout Pennsylvania, joining a group of reporters who filed regular dispatches on the week’s whistle stops.

Pennsylvania Week was launched in 1946 by Gov. Edward Martin’s administration as a way to celebrate and educate residents about the history, resources and potential of their home state.

The weeklong, large-scale celebration of all things Pennsylvania would continue until 1951, when then-Gov. John S. Fine felt the money earmarked for Pennsylvania Week would be better spent elsewhere. He did encourage communities to mount their own celebrations.

Erin L. Nissley is an assistant metro editor at The Times-Tribune. She’s lived in the area for more than a decade.

Contact the writer:

localhistory@timesshamrock.com

President Donald Trump is winning the race for campaign contributions from Northeast Pennsylvanians.

Trump raised $207,417 from 651 residents in the region, according to Federal Election Commission reports on campaign finances through Sept. 30.

Former Vice President Joe Biden, a Scranton native, raised $54,779 from 70 Northeast Pennsylvanians.

Chris Borick, professor of political science and director of the Muhlenberg College Institute of Public Opinion, said Trump’s “ability to raise some substantial contributions in the region is a measure of his continued strength in the Northeast,” noting Trump’s advantage in Northeast Pennsylvania helped him win Pennsylvania and the state’s 20 votes in the Electoral College in 2016.

Twenty 2020 Democratic candidates reported a total of $145,348 from Northeast Pennsylvania contributions, and Biden raised the most in the region.

U.S. Sen. Bernie Sanders of Vermont had more contributors in the region, raising $25,837 from 108 residents in the region. U.S. Sen. Elizabeth Warren of Massachusetts was next with $17,938 from 45 contributors, and Pete Buttigieg, the mayor of South Bend, Indiana, reported $17,340 in contributions from 40 donors.

These early campaign contributors indicate a candidate’s “core constituency, who are very ardent supporters of the candidates,” said R. Lucas Williams, an assistant professor of history and government at Misericordia University.

“Trump has a core base of supporters, and they are obviously willing to give their money early and often here. And that matters,” Williams said. “It certainly suggests he hasn’t lost any of those base key contributors.”

Trump had the highest contribution amount nationally at $160.6 million and statewide at $2.4 million. All the Democratic candidates raised a total of $453.5 million nationally and almost $4.5 million in Pennsylvania.

“The campaign contribution figures in Pennsylvania reflect the competitive nature of the presidential race here with fairly equal amounts of contributions going to the President and the field of Democrats,” Borick said.

Among the Democrats, Biden raised the most in Pennsylvania with almost $1.4 million. Sanders had the largest contribution total nationally at $73.8 million.

“Biden has had a lengthy, lengthy involvement with Pennsylvania, and that’s not just because of his 10-year residency in the state, but because of the countless times he traveled throughout the state during the 36 years he spent as a senator and the connections and contacts that he has. So that shouldn’t come as a big surprise,” said G. Terry Madonna, a professor of public affairs and a polling expert at Pennsylvania’s Franklin & Marshall College.

Biden grew up in Scranton and moved to Delaware as a boy with his family. He represented Delaware in the U.S. Senate from 1973 to 2008 and was elected vice president twice, in 2008 and 2012.

“Biden’s comparative strength in fundraising among Democrats in NEPA is not unexpected given his Scranton roots, and if he was to get the nomination, it would be interesting to see how he and Trump would go head-to-head in terms of raising cash in the region,” Borick said.

Biden hosted a private fundraiser attended by nearly 200 people Oct. 22 at the Fox Hill Country Club in Exeter. Money raised from that event will be included in the report for the next three-month period that ends Dec. 31. The deadline to file that report is Jan. 31.

The FEC groups contributions from areas that share the first three digits of five-digit ZIP codes. Trump raised $52,288 from the area with ZIP codes that start with 183. It was his largest total in Northeast Pennsylvania, and the area includes most of Monroe County and parts of Pike and Northampton counties.

Biden’s largest total from Northeast Pennsylvania came from the area with ZIP codes that start with 184, which includes parts of Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Wayne, Pike, Monroe and Wyoming counties. Biden raised $20,018 from that area, while Trump raised $48,650 from that area.

Biden raised more than Trump in one ZIP code area in the region — the Scranton area with ZIP codes that start with 185. Biden received $17,690 in contributions there, and Trump received $12,935 there.

Pennsylvania was a key battleground state in the 2016 election. More than 6 million Pennsylvanians voted, and Trump defeated Democrat Hillary Clinton in the state by 44,292 votes.

Trump had a large margin of victory in Luzerne County — the county with the most votes in Northeast Pennsylvania — with 78,688 votes to Clinton’s 52,451. Clinton narrowly won the vote in Lackawanna and Monroe counties.

Trump received more than 62% of the vote in Bradford, Carbon, Columbia, Pike, Schuylkill, Susquehanna, Sullivan, Wayne and Wyoming and counties.

The state is expected to be a key battleground state again in 2020.

“Pennsylvania is one of four or five states likely to determine the next president,” Madonna said. “Forty states don’t matter. Here’s what going to happen. Look at the number of visits the presidential candidates have already made to our state, despite the fact that our primary is April 28.”

Contact the writer:

mbuffer@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2073;

@cvmikebuffer on Twitter

Circa 1910: Built in 1867 by Jacob Robinson, the Lackawanna Valley House was one of Scranton’s leading hotels, located near railroad depots and at the entrance to the city’s commercial and theater district, at Lackawanna and Franklin avenues. Its corner cafe catered to hotel guests and passersby, offering both a quick lunch and a full bar. Visible next door is the elaborate entrance to Dreamland, an early motion picture theater.

2019: The Lackawanna Valley House catered to guests for almost 100 years before it was destroyed by fire in 1951. Dreamland was less long lived — the theater shuttered in 1913. Today, the corner is occupied by the Scranton Enterprise Center, a business incubator managed by the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce.

Photo from “Wish You Were Here: A Picture Postcard History of Lackawanna County”; research courtesy of Lackawanna Historical Society

Meetings

VFW DISTRICT 10

VFW District 10, today, 2 p.m., Post 7069, Clarks Summit.

NORTHEAST RETIRED AIR FORCE WING

NERAF, today, 2 p.m., VFW, 757 Wyoming Ave., Kingston.

POST 3451

Rabiega-Gorgol VFW Post 3451, today, 4:30 p.m., 606 Alder St., Scranton.

DAV CHAPTER 1

DAV Malia Chapter 1, Monday, 7 p.m.; American Legion Post 908, 625 Deacon St., Scranton; Joe Sylvester, 570-961-2696.

POST 327 AUXILIARY

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

POST 5544

Jessup VFW Post 5544, Tuesday, 7:30 p.m.; post home.

NEPA COAST GUARD

NEPA Coast Guard Veterans Association, Wednesday, 6:30 p.m., Perkins Restaurant, Route 315, Pittston Twp.; Neil Morrison, 570-288-6817.

POST 966

East Scranton American Legion Memorial Post 966, Wednesday, 7 p.m., auditorium of St. Peter’s Lutheran Church, Taylor Avenue and Ash Street.

POST 221

Jerome F. O’Malley American Legion Post 221, Wednesday, 7 p.m., post home, 13 Hospital St., Carbondale.

AMVETS POST 189

AMVETS Post 189, Thursday, Polish Club, Dupont; Joe Sylvester, 570-961-2696.

Merli Center

Today: Coffee, 8:30 a.m.; morning visits, 8:45; Eucharistic ministry visits, 9:15; bingo by Rolling Thunder, 2; unit visits, 4.

Monday: Morning visits, 8:45; Bible study, 9:30; Octaband with music, third floor, 10:15; birthday bash with the Fabulous Fortunes, 2 p.m.; senior fitness, 3; unit visits, 4; Bible club, 2 south lounge, 4.

Tuesday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; bingo social, third floor, 10:15; choir practice, 1:45 p.m.; Catholic service, 3; unit visits, 4; card game, 2 south, 7:30.

Wednesday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; arts and crafts, third floor, 10:15; Tully’s lunch trip, 12:15 p.m.; resident welfare fund, 1:15; bingo by Pennsylvania VFW, 2; unit visits, 4; movie night, 1 south, 7:30.

Thursday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; chapel service, 10; basketball, third floor, 10; trivia, 2 p.m.; senior fitness, 3; unit visits, 4.

Friday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; coffee and doughnuts, 10:15; bingo by Marine Corps League, 2 p.m.; senior fitness, 3; unit visits, 4.

Saturday: Morning visits, 8:45 a.m.; Santa Parade on large TV screen, 9:15; reminiscing, second floor, 10:15; holiday reminiscing with pumpkin bread and beverage, second floor, 2 p.m.; unit visits, 4.

University of Scranton

The university has appointed 22 new full-time faculty members for the 2019-2020 academic year.

Sinchul Back, Ph.D. cand., of South Korea, was named instructor in the criminal justice department. He previously was an instructor of criminology and criminal justice at Florida International University in Miami. He was a researcher at the Center for Cybercrime and Cybersecurity at Boston University; the Colombian National Police Academy of Information Technology in Bogota, Columbia; and the Cybercrime and Investigation Research Center at Far East University in South Korea. He is a Ph.D. candidate in international crime and justice at Florida International University.

Michael Bermudez, Ed.D., was named assistant professor in the occupational therapy department. He has worked as an occupational therapist in New York and New Jersey since 2000. Bermudez earned his doctorate in educational technology leadership from New Jersey City University, a master’s degree in educational technology from New Jersey City University, a bachelor’s degree in occupational therapy from the University of Texas Health Science Center in San Antonio and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Santo Tomas in the Philippines.

Deborah E. Budash, Ph.D., of Clarks Summit, was named assistant professor in the occupational therapy department. She chaired the Master of Medical Science Program and the Master of Health Science Program at St. Francis University in Loretto from 2014 to 2019, where she also served as program director of the MMS and MHS and as a tenured associate professor. She has authored several articles and reviews, as well as a book titled “Achieving Persistence in Online Programs: Reflections of Graduate Learners and Faculty.” Budash earned a doctorate in education from Northcentral University in Scottsdale, Arizona.

Marleen Cloutier was named assistant professor and cataloging and metadata librarian in the Weinberg Memorial Library. She previously worked for Backstage Library Works on-site at the Peabody Essex Museum Phillips Library in Peabody, Massachusetts. She has a Master of Science in Library and Information Science from Drexel University with a concentration in digital libraries and a Bachelor of Architecture from the Wentworth Institute of Technology. She is currently pursuing a master’s degree in human resources management at the University of Scranton.

Ovidiu C. Cocieru, Ph.D., of South Abington Twp., was named assistant professor in the management, marketing and entrepreneurship department. He has taught at the University of Massachusetts Amherst and has held marketing and management positions in Romania. Cocieru has co-authored two journal articles and conducted/co-conducted several peer-reviewed presentations. He earned a doctorate in management from University of Massachusetts at Amherst, a master’s degree in sport management from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Alexandru Ioan Cuza University in Romania.

Nicole Ferentino, D.C., of Pittston, was named lecturer in the biology department. She is president and doctor of chiropractic at the Advanced Chiropractic Clinic in Pittston. Ferentino has taught as an adjunct professor at Scranton since 2017. She earned a doctorate from New York Chiropractic College in Seneca Falls, New York, and a bachelor’s degree from the University of Scranton.

Nathaniel A. Frissell, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the physics and electrical engineering department. He earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in electrical and computer engineering from Virginia Polytechnic Institute and State University in Blacksburg, where he also served as an adjunct instructor. He earned a bachelor’s degree in physics and music education from Montclair State University in New Jersey. Frissell has co-authored refereed journal publications and co-conducted many presentations. He leads an international citizen science space physics research collective, the Ham Radio Science Citizen Investigation.

Paul E. Granahan was named lecturer in the philosophy department. Since 1984, he has taught philosophy courses as an adjunct faculty member at the university and at Keystone College. He earned a master’s degree with distinction in philosophy from Boston College and bachelor’s degrees in philosophy and theology, summa cum laude, from the University of Scranton.

David Ingber, Ph.D., was named faculty specialist in the biology department. He previously was a post-doctoral researcher at the University of Delaware. Ingber has conducted presentations at a variety of venues and co-authored several journal publications. He earned a doctorate in entomology and wildlife ecology from the University of Delaware, a master’s degree in entomology from Iowa State University in Ames, and a bachelor’s degree in zoology from SUNY Oswego.

Gail N. (King) Kemp, Ph.D., of Scranton, was named assistant professor in the psychology department. She has worked as a visiting assistant professor and an adjunct faculty member in the psychology department at the university. Kemp has co-authored several journal publications and has conducted and co-conducted several presentations. She earned a doctorate and a master’s degree in clinical psychology from Boston University, a master’s degree in maternal and child health from the Boston University School of Public Health, and a bachelor’s degree in African-American studies from Harvard College.

Kaeun Kim, Ph.D., of Scranton, was named assistant professor in the management, marketing and entrepreneurship department. She has co-authored several journal publications and co-conducted presentations. She earned a doctorate in marketing from the University of Massachusetts, Amherst; and a master’s degree in cognitive science and management and a bachelor’s degree in economics from Yonsei University in South Korea.

Sonja K. Lund, Ph.D., of Norfolk, Virginia, was named assistant professor in the counseling and human services department. She earned a doctorate in counselor education, a master’s degree in education and a bachelor’s degree in psychology from Old Dominion University in Norfolk, where she held counseling and teaching positions in various departments. Lund conducted several presentations and workshops and took active roles on several committees and initiatives.

Tracy L. Murray, J.D., CRNA, of Mountain Top, was named faculty specialist in the nursing department. She has held several positions with health care organizations in Northeast Pennsylvania since 2000, including Moses Taylor Hospital in Scranton and Mercy Hospital in Wilkes-Barre. She earned a doctorate from Widener University Commonwealth Law School in Harrisburg, a master’s degree in nursing and nurse practitioner certification at the University of Pittsburgh and nurse anesthetist certification at the University Health Center of Pittsburgh School of Anesthesia for Nurses.

Gregory B. O’Connell, J.D., of Waverly, was named faculty specialist in the Management, Marketing and Entrepreneurship Department. He has served as an adjunct faculty member at the University since 1992, teaching undergraduate and online MBA courses. Since earning a juris doctorate at John Marshall Law School in Chicago in 1981, he has held several legal positions in the public and private sectors, including his own practice. O’Connell earned a bachelor’s degree in history from the University of Pennsylvania.

Ian O’Hara of Scranton was named assistant professor in the Weinberg Memorial Library, where he has been a serials/electronic resources clerk since 2013. He previously was a library assistant at Geisinger Commonwealth Medical College. Currently working on a master’s degree in software engineering from the University of Scranton, he earned a master’s degree in library science from Clarion University of Pennsylvania and a bachelor’s degree in elementary education from the University of Scranton.

Richard C. O’Hara was named faculty specialist in the accounting department. A chartered financial analyst, he brings more than 20 years of experience in data analysis for a variety of companies based in the Chicago area. He earned an MBA in finance from the Stern School of Business at New York University and a bachelor’s degree in accounting from Pennsylvania State University.

Paul H. Pearson Jr. of Honesdale was named faculty specialist in the physics and electrical engineering department. He has worked as an adjunct faculty member at the university and a physics and mathematics teacher at Scranton Preparatory School. He earned a master’s degree in secondary education and a bachelor’s degree in physics at the university.

Joseph K. Pellegrino, Ph.D., was named assistant professor in the exercise science department. He formerly held instructing positions at Rutgers University and the University of Montana. He has co-authored numerous scholarly articles in exercise science and nutrition publications. Pellegrino earned his doctorate in physiology and biochemistry of nutrition at Rutgers University; a master’s degree in exercise physiology and health and human performance from the University of Montana in Missoula; and a bachelor’s degree in biology and exercise science from Rutgers University.

Leila Soleimani, Ph.D. cand., was named assistant professor in the management, marketing and entrepreneurship department. She previously worked as a marketing specialist, a research and development supervisor, and a research and project manager at various companies in Tehran, Iran. A Ph.D. candidate in strategy and entrepreneurship at the Haskayne School of Business at the University of Calgary, she earned an MBA from Malek Ashtar University of Technology in Tehran and a bachelor’s degree in industrial engineering from the K. N. Toosi University of Technology in Tehran.

Manar Sanad Soliman, Ph.D., was named lecturer in the biology department. She previously worked as an assistant professor in the zoology department of Cairo University, as an adjunct professor in the natural sciences department of Middlesex Community College in New Jersey and was a visiting scholar at the Center for Vector Biology, Rutgers University in New Jersey. She also holds certification as a professional trainer from the University of Missouri and has led training sessions for the Faculty Leadership Development Center at Cairo University. Soliman earned a Ph.D. in mosquito biological control from Cairo University.

Andrew M. Stranieri, of Scranton, was named lecturer in the exercise science department. He was a graduate teaching assistant and a graduate research assistant at the University of Rhode Island, where he earned a master’s degree in kinesiology. He was a research assistant at the College of New Jersey in Ewing, where he earned a bachelor’s degree in health and exercise science.

David A. White, Ph.D., of Clarks Summit, was named faculty specialist in the philosophy department. He has been an adjunct professor at the University of Scranton and Marywood University since 1998 and worked as an editor in the field of online career education. He earned a doctorate in philosophy from Marquette University; an MBA in international business and accounting from the University of Scranton; a master’s degree in history from Trinity International University in Deerfield, Illinois; and a bachelor’s degree in history from Bryan College in Dayton, Tennessee.

SUBMIT PEOPLE ON THE MOVE items to business@timesshamrock.com or The Times-Tribune, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503.

Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine held an Affordable Care Act registration event Saturday but no one from the public attended, said second-year medical student Laina Gagliardi.

She was among several students who stood ready to assist people in filling out forms or navigating insurance coverage options and purchasing.

The open enrollment period for health care coverage for 2020 has been underway for a few weeks and has a Dec. 15 deadline for signup.

Anyone needing assistance in filling out forms or selecting an appropriate health care insurance plan, or who may have questions about Medicare income eligibility guidelines, may email the medical school students at pcpatgsom@gmail.com.

— JIM LOCKWOOD

Abington Heights

Senior Zachary Allen , an avid photographer and journalist, writes for Aerosport Magazine, an FAA publication. His work will be featured on the cover of the December issue.

“I’m really excited about my photo shoot and article being featured on the cover,” he said.

Zach, who has been the Abington Heights yearbook editor for the past two years, has published more than 20 articles for The Aviationist, Commoner Magazine and The Abington Journal.

He is a candidate for the ROTC scholarship and plans to attend Bridgewater State University for aviation science. His goal is to become a fighter pilot for the United States Air Force.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Carbondale Area

Max Rosler was elected president of her eighth grade class.

She hopes her fellow classmates will submit ideas to promote school spirit during the school year.

“I would like to implement these ideas and make sure to have fun throughout this year,” she said.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Career Technology Center

Tiffany Nestor , a junior from Valley View, excels in the cosmetology program, according to the CTC.

The student ambassador received a second place in the men’s haircutting competition and second place in the total look competition.

She will compete in Skills-USA for esthetics. Tiffany, who hopes to become a cosmetic manufacturer, is a member of the Valley View biology club and works at a local pizzeria.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

Delaware Valley

Shannon Deignan is a well-rounded student athlete.

“I have learned time management skills that I know will help me succeed in life,” she said.

The senior is a member of the varsity swimming and track and field teams. She is also a member of student council, the sports editor for the Del.Aware, volunteer for HOBY and the food pantry and the National Honor Society.

She plans to attend Hartwick College after graduation.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Elk Lake

Senior and 4H member Allana Warner placed first at the Penn State Judging Contest in State College for her dairy cows and market steers.

“I love working with cows and through the years I wanted to learn as much as I could to improve,” she said. “Through 4H, not only did I show cows, but I also started judging with the encouragement of my 4H family.”

She said it was a lot of work to prepare for the state competition and she was nervous to compete.

Allana has won 32 junior and grand champion titles and 29 reserve junior and reserve grand champion titles showing dairy cows.

She is also a member of the volleyball and softball teams; student council, prom steering, Spanish Club, yearbook, Susquehanna County Junior Holstein Club and the Elk Lake Community Church.

After graduation, she plans to attend the radiologic technology program at Johnson College to become a radiographer.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Forest City Regional

Senior Jacob Tighe helped an electrical contractor install 12 lampposts and lighting in Forest City for his senior project.

“I am proud that I was part of this town project of improving the lighting,” Jacob said.

Jacob is involved in basketball, soccer and baseball at school. He received the Co-Op Award at Career Technology Center and is presently doing an Everon Electrical co-op through CTC.

Jacob plans on working in the electrical union after graduation.

— LISA ZACCAGNINO

lzaccagnino

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9130

Lackawanna Trail

Sixth graders Holden Edwards, Jacob Trunzo and Gavin Waibel ran a “Socktober” sock drive for the NEPA Youth Shelter in Scranton.

“We wanted to make a difference for those in need,” the students said. “We spoke to our teacher, Mrs. Deeann Vida, and she thought it would be a great idea to collect socks for the NEPA Youth Shelter.”

The students chose to collect socks since they are the most needed but the least donated clothing item for students in need of warm clothing for the winter months.

The students collected more than 1,600 pairs of socks.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Mid Valley

Senior Natalie Buchinski is Miss Spartan.

“Being Miss Spartan is exhilarating,” she said.

Natalie participates in football and basketball cheerleading, a member of Pride Squad, Spanish Club and the Family Consumer Science Club.

Natalie plans to attend college and pursue a doctorate in physical therapy.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Mountain View

Juniors Reagan White and Hannah Geron will be co-chairs of the 2020 Pennsylvania Student Council State Conference.

They are excited to take on the challenge of hosting more than 1,000 delegates at the upcoming leadership conference.

Reagan participates in student government, soccer, yearbook and baseball. Hannah participates in student government, National Honor Society, volleyball, cheerleading, dance, PA Junior Academy of Science, Evironthon and the Science Olympiad.

Reagan plans to study occupational therapy in college. Hannah plans to attend college to become a doctor.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

rtomkavage

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

North Pocono

Junior Kyle Driscoll  heads the editing and production of school video segments in his journalism class and runs the lighting and sound boards for theater performances and school assemblies.

Kyle also designs programs for school functions, announces the daily school news over the loudspeaker and photographs many school assemblies and events.

“The process of making videos and coordinating the technology boards during live theater performances only works with a team effort behind it. By doing my part and assisting others, the end result can be something the whole group can be proud of,” he said.

Kyle writes for the school newspaper, The Trojan Voice, and is a member of the yearbook staff, National Honor Society and the school’s theater arts club. Outside of school, he enjoys photography, musical theater, writing and editing videos, drawing and collecting vinyl records.

He has volunteered with the ARC Angels on Stage, a local theater program for adults with special needs, with his school drama club. He hopes to attend college for communications and to pursue a career in radio or television production. 

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

Old Forge

Senior Lindsey Welsh is president of the National Honor Society.

“We do community service and activities within our school,” she said. “This is my second year in NHS, and I have always wanted to be a role model and continue my leadership within my school.”

Lindsey, who hopes to attend college to major in the sciences, is a member of the Leo Club, drama club, school newspaper and basketball and cross country teams.

The National Honor Society will induct new members in December.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

Riverside

Morgan Gnall’s photo timeline of her life helped her understand how people and things change.

“My favorite picture was me on the first day of preschool because my dog Bella was in it and she is no longer alive,” said Morgan.

Morgan, a Riverside Elementary East fourth grader, created the timeline during social studies class.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Scranton

The West Scranton High School chapter of the Students Against Destructive Decisions club recently selected its officers for the 2019-20 school year.

Officers are Abbie O’Brien, president; Abby Tulaney, vice president; Nevaeh Hammond, secretary; and Caitlin Pagnotti, treasurer.

— SARAH HOFIUS HALL

shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133;

@hofiushallTT on Twitter

Susquehanna Community

Senior Jonathan Jenkins achieved the rank of Eagle Scout in Boy Scouts.

For his project, he built a shed for the cross country and track teams at the high school.

“I’m glad I finally was able to attain this rank/achievement because I have been working toward it for so many years,” Jonathan said. “Also, I’m very thankful for the help of all of my family, friends and fellow Scouts because without them I would never had accomplished it.”

Jonathan, 17, also participates in track and field, cross country, the drama and Spanish clubs and the Rotary club.

He is a volunteer for Friends of Starrucca Creek. He was a silver medalist in the National Spanish Exam and earned the highest honors in school.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

rtomkavage

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

Valley View

Alyssa Harrington was October senior of the month for physical education.

“I was honored and humbled to receive this award,” said Alyssa.

Senior of the month is sponsored by the student council and the Blakely/Peckville Lions Club.

She is a member of the varsity soccer team, track and field and gymnastics. Alyssa was also active in the biology club, Students Against Destructive Decisions, art club and Leo club.

Alyssa plans to attend college to study biology/pre-med.

— KATHLEEN BOLUS

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

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Wallenpaupack Area

Laurel Whitlock is an enthusiastic and creative standout student in second grade at Wallenpaupack North Primary School, according to school officials.

She enjoys playing outside, crafts and having play dates with her friends. Her favorite subject is computers and she is an especially talented writer and artist. Outside of school, she studies dance, including ballet, tap and jazz. She also attends Sunday school.

When she grows up, Laurel, 7, would like to be a veterinarian because she likes animals and wants to help them stay healthy.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

rtomkavage

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

Wayne Highlands

Abbey Stiles , a fifth grader at Preston Area School, has been a member of 4-H for two years.

During the Wayne County Fair in August, Abbey won two second-place ribbons for showing her horse, Tango. She also won a white merit award for grooming showmanship with Tango. Abbey won a third-place ribbon for trail walking with her pony, Squirt. Her goal is to continue to work with Tango and Squirt and participate in the fair next August.

“I really enjoy the fair because I get to be with my friends and spend quality time with my animals,” Abbey said.

Abbey, 10, is a member of gardening club and beginning band.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

rtomkavage

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

Western Wayne

Blake Cottell , a first grade student at Evergreen Elementary School, received his green belt in martial arts.

“I was happy and nervous because I needed to have good form, break a board and follow directions,” Blake said.

Blake, 7, also enjoys playing baseball.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

rtomkavage

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

DICKSON CITY — Marjorie Marquitz can’t recall whether she’s ever done any serious Black Friday shopping. She just knows she’d rather buy Christmas gifts online.

Marquitz, 64, of West Scranton, was leaving Target late Thursday morning with her nephew, Bud Phillips. The two share their disdain for the holiday rush.

“In and out. Boom. That’s it,” said Phillips, 63, who also admitted that he doesn’t buy gifts. Period.

The pair may be outliers among millions of Americans expected to spend billions on gifts and other purchases this season, but big retail still has a plan to capture some of their cash.

Major retailers, especially those with prominent bricks-and-mortar presence like Walmart and Target, are spreading promotions across time and space, breaking down the traditional Black Friday blitz by offering deals long before, long after and across the digital market.

“We know that about the same number of people are planning on shopping this year as last year,” said Katherine Cullen, senior director for industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation.

New figures out from the NRF predict more than 165 million people will shop in the days surrounding Black Friday.

“Consumers plan to spend over $1,000, on average, for holiday gifts and other items. A lot of people don’t want to spend all that at once. They want to spread it out. They want to budget it,” she said. “It’s no longer about individual days, Black Friday versus Cyber Monday or online versus in-store.”

Part of the push might have to do with a shorter shopping season. Fewer days fall between Thanksgiving and Christmas this year.

Last week Best Buy started giving out “Daily Doorbusters” that continue until Wednesday.

Target tested some promotions with Black Friday preview deals that same week.

Starting Thursday, Walmart opened up discounts, available online only, for more than 1,000 items including: the 10.5-inch Apple iPad Pro Wi-Fi for $599, or $400 off; a Ninja Supra blender/food processor for $99, or $71 off; or a 60-inch RCA 4K ultra high definition television for $319, or $180 off.

Walmart is rolling out more online discounts this Friday for toys and electronics in a “Pre-Black Friday” online event.

People who already plan to shop online plan to spend more there than in physical stores, according to a survey by the web consulting company Leanplum.

The survey of 1,000 online U.S. shoppers found 95% of them will check off at least half of their lists online. Over 16% of that shopper segment born after 1981, millennials and members of Generation Z, will buy gifts exclusively online, the survey found.

“As shopping habits shift online and away from brick-and-mortar retail, brands must adjust to communicate with their customers via mobile,” Leanplum founder Momchil Kyurkchiev said in a statement.

Cullen at the NRF doesn’t quite buy all that and said Leanplum might be overstating its findings.

“From what we’re seeing, people don’t want just one option,” she said.

Shopping is still a social experience, she said. Black Friday bargain hunting remains a steadfast tradition for plenty of shoppers, but they’re also looking elsewhere.

She does, however, agree that retailers are developing complex strategies for people who more frequently shop using mobile devices.

“You’re dealing with consumers on a smaller screen, and you’re also engaging with consumers in micro-moments,” she said. “So maybe they’re waiting for the bus or standing in line at the bank … you have a smaller window of time to capture them.”

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

Nov. 17, 1974

New school lunch program in city

The Scranton School District tested a new school lunch program at North Scranton Junior High School in hopes of getting students excited about the midday meal.

The program was called the Rainbow System. Students would select a lunch item from each color. The system was used to feed the athletes at the Mexico City Olympics in 1968.

Each student who selected a food item from every color would be rewarded by an attendant with a special treat such as a cookie, slice of cake or pudding. An example lunch in the Rainbow System would be a meatball hoagie, french fries, a banana and chocolate milk.

The program was already running at Technical High School. ARA Food Services, the district’s food contractor, hoped to soon have the program running in all the district’s schools.

Instant weather

The local office of the National Weather Service announced a new way for people to get up-to-date weather information in their homes: the weather broadcast system.

The broadcast would be picked up on a special radio that would cost about $12. The broadcast would give weather conditions for the area 24 hours a day. Radio owners would only need to press a button to listen to the broadcast.

Local weather office officials believed the broadcast system would be installed in the region by 1978 unless state and federal legislators appealed to the National Weather Service to have the area placed on a priority list.

Organist performed across Europe

Dr. John N. Kennedy of Harvey’s Lake accomplished a musical feat earlier in the year. He gave 10 organ recitals at cathedrals and churches throughout Europe, including the Church of St. Martin in the Fields in London. When Kennedy was not playing the organ he was a physician.

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.

SCRANTON — Helen Gohsler spent the past 44 years fighting for the lives of the unborn, protesting presidential candidates and fending off abortion clinics as she waged war against the Roe v. Wade decision.

Now, the longtime leader of the Scranton Chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life is stepping down from her role as president, putting away her picket signs to spend more time with her husband, Richard.

“My husband thought it was time — he’s been after me, I think, for the last five years,” she said. “I kept saying, ‘this is the worst time for me to retire.’ ”

Although Gohsler doesn’t know what to expect in retirement, she decided it was time to leave her post.

“I’m well past retirement age,” she said.

The career anti-abortion advocate declined to share her age but joked that her husband turned 90, and “I’m not a heck of a lot behind him.”

‘Pro-life capital’

During her tenure with Pennsylvanians for Human Life, Gohsler helped orchestrate protests against at least three presidential candidates, including Al Gore, Jimmy Carter and Walter Mondale and his running mate Geraldine Ferraro.

She worked with Pennsylvanians for Human Life to prevent abortion clinics from moving into the county.

She helped arrange regular Planned Parenthood pickets.

And she helped expand the Scranton Chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life from 1,000 members and supporters in 1982 to a peak of about 20,000 in the 1990s, she said. Now, that number hovers between 17,000 to 18,000.

She attributed the organization’s growth to membership mailings, petitions at events and newspaper articles.

“People would just travel to us, and we would get them enlisted,” she said.

One of her fondest memories came when a huge crowd of activists took to Wyoming Avenue to protest Ferraro for her pro-abortion rights stance during a campaign rally, Gohsler said. Activists had a large blimp-shaped balloon flying a banner emblazoned with, “Geraldine, we hope you got the message,” Gohsler said.

The move garnered national media attention, she said.

“They designated us at that time as the pro-life capital of the world,” she said, a smile spreading across her face. “That has kind of stuck all these years.”

‘I hung in there’

Sitting at a cluttered desk lined with photos of herself meeting anti-abortion politicians, Gohsler reflected on her 37 years as president.

She shook hands with former President George W. Bush and former Vice President Dick Cheney. She smiled as she stood shoulder-to-shoulder with former U.S. Senator Rick Santorum. She posed for a group photo with late state Rep. Sid Michaels Kavulich in Harrisburg. At the center of her photo lineup, she has a family photo given to her by a Pennsylvanians for Human Life member with nine children.

Meeting then-president Bush and introducing herself as the local Pennsylvanians for Human Life leader was one of the greatest honors of her career, she said, fondly recalling how he held her hand between his during the exchange.

As Bush started to walk away, he turned around and told her, “Stay strong,” she said.

She took his advice, saying, “I hung in there.”

Before she took up the fight against abortion, Gohsler grew up on a 53-acre farm in Clarks Summit and Scott Twp. as one of six children.

She was raised Catholic and moved to the city in 1957 when she married her husband. As the couple raised three children, she led multiple parent-teacher associations, raised funds for about a dozen charities and was involved with her church.

She remembered hearing about the United States Supreme Court’s landmark Roe v. Wade decision, which essentially legalized abortion by overruling a state law that banned the act, on the radio after the decision came down in January 1973. At the time, she didn’t think much of it.

“I don’t know why it didn’t particularly strike me as something being wrong,” she said. “I don’t know why it didn’t. It was as if, well, it was just another Supreme Court decision.”

That view didn’t last long.

A nun at her church at the time, the now-shuttered St. Vincent de Paul, invited Gohsler to a Pennsylvanians for Human Life presentation in December 1973.

The presenter displayed a slide show of prenatal development followed by abortion photos.

As soon as she saw the photos, she was committed to the cause for life.

‘As long as it takes’

Gohsler began attending more meetings and became the organization’s public relations director in 1975. She was elected as vice president soon after, and in 1982, the president position fell into her lap when the organization’s third president, Denise Neary, resigned.

When Gohsler took on the role, she never thought she’d still be fighting against abortion as president 37 years later, but she and her fellow activists abide by the maxim “for as long as it takes, we will be in this,” she said.

Her ultimate goal is to not only have Roe v. Wade overturned but also to have legislation put in place to restrict abortion. Without Roe v. Wade in place, the legality of abortion would be up to each state, she said.

Gohsler’s passionate stance against abortion is fueled by what she calls the “greatest human rights issue of our time.”

“You’re looking at slavery, which was the previous issue of the time, and it took 100 years and a Supreme Court decision to free the slaves,” she said. “And here we are now into 45 years. We hope it’s not going to take 100 years.”

Despite the criticism and opposition she has received, Gohsler never felt like quitting.

Ardently fighting against a divisive issue like abortion means angry phone calls, even harassing calls to her house. When Pennsylvanians for Human Life had a billboard calling abortions evil last year, a woman called and told them they should be ashamed of themselves, Gohsler said.

“Oh, she was nasty,” she said.

When news stories involving violence against babies appear in the paper, the organization frequently receives clippings of the articles scrawled with, “This is why we should have abortion,” she said.

“You have to just let it slide,” Gohsler said.

The organization’s strength comes from focusing on one issue — abortion, she said.

“Because the cause is just, it is our cause to win, and we’re determined to win it,” she said.

‘No guarantees in life’

Gohsler’s proudest accomplishment is simply having a “pro-life center,” which allows people to easily find them.

There are only a handful of such centers in Pennsylvania, with most organizations operating out of members’ homes, she said.

Gohsler helped run Pennsylvanians for Human Life from her home until 1988, when her husband told her they didn’t have room to store all of the equipment.

She decided they needed an office and found a spot on Broadway Street in Scranton for $299 a month.

When she told her husband about the office, he said she should have guarantees that she’ll get enough money to pay for it.

“I said to him, ‘There are no guarantees in life,’ ” she laughed.

She reached out to members for donations, and they responded, she said.

The organization moved into the Guild Building on Wyoming Avenue about 3½ years ago, Gohsler said.

Visitors at the center on Wyoming Avenue are immediately greeted by a small library of anti-abortion literature with plastic models of the stages of prenatal development on display. Shelves of colorful informational pamphlets line one wall. The tight office space in the next room has shelves of related paraphernalia — a smiling baby, illustrations of mothers holding infants and a laminated sign saying, “Smile! Your mom chose life.”

‘She’s relentless’

When Gohsler walked into her office on Wednesday, board member Wendy McDonnell quipped, “I love her. I love this woman.”

McDonnell has worked with Gohsler for the past two years, and she lauded the president’s dedication.

“Helen is so special,” she said. “I admire her. She’s driven. … She’s relentless.”

Gohsler’s pastor at Mary, Mother of God Parish, the Rev. Cyril Edwards, said he’s known her for close to a decade.

She’s a devout Catholic who dedicated a tremendous part of her life to fighting against abortion, he said.

“She truly has been the face of that organization for a very long time,” Edwards said.

She faithfully attends 11 a.m. Mass on Sundays and is dedicated to her family, he said.

Gohsler was a precise leader who had a dramatic impact on the Scranton chapter, said founding member Anne Domin.

“She managed things by being in charge of everything,” Domin said. “So even if you were in charge of it, you weren’t.”

Gohsler expects Domin to be voted in as her successor. Domin, a retired nurse and educator, was one of the group’s original presenters, displaying the same abortion slide shows that initially inspired Gohsler to get involved.

Both Gohsler and Domin noted the importance of attracting young people to the organization. If elected as president by the Scranton chapter’s board, Domin hopes to do just that.

The group’s annual participation in the March for Life rally in Washington, D.C., shows young people that the abortion issue isn’t just something in Scranton, Domin said. Participating in the annual rally is one of the greatest things the organization has ever done, she said.

Domin also wants to reach out to the region’s Hispanic population to get them involved, and she wants to promote adoption over abortion.

“I’m a person that’s not going to try to fill (Gohsler’s) shoes,” she said. “You can’t fill anybody else’s shoes. You have to be yourself.”

Contact the writer: flesnefsky@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5181; @flesnefskyTT on Twitter