DRUMS

Two wines produced as a collaboration by local wineries have won medals in national competitions, the businesses announced Thursday.

Collaboration Peach Methomel won a gold medal in the specialty semi-sweet mead category at the 2019 National Honey Board’s Mead Crafter’s Competition in St. Louis, as well as a bronze medal at the American Wine Society’s 2019 Commercial Wine Competition in St. Pete Beach, Florida.

Collaboration Raspberry Methomel received a double gold medal at the American Wine Society event.

The wines were produced as a collaboration between Honey Hole Winery, 2 Honey Hole Road, Drums, and Space Time Mead & Cider Works, 419 S. Blakely St., Dunmore.

“We developed the recipe, and sourced the same ingredients together producing wines ranking among the best of our peers,” said Dan Schreffler, Space Time president and winemaker.

— JAMES HALPIN

SCRANTON — Members of differing faiths came together tonight night to sing, pray and socialize at Temple Hesed for the annual Thanksgiving Interfaith Prayer Service.

“This Thanksgiving service marks the beginning of a special week,” Rabbi Daniel Swartz said to a crowd of about 50 people gathered in the temple.

Hosted by the Scranton Area Ministerium, Friends of the Poor and Family to Family, the prayer service and potluck dinner heralds two longtime Thanksgiving programs that feed thousands of people each year. Friends of the Poor will host its annual Thanksgiving dinner on Tuesday with doors opening at 5 p.m. and dinner at 6 p.m. at the Scranton Cultural Center. On Wednesday, Family to Family will hold its Thanksgiving basket giveaway from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. at the cultural center.

Next week’s events are about coming together as a community and sharing what they have with others, said Meghan Loftus, the president and CEO of Friends of the Poor.

“What we like to think is that gratitude and thankfulness is kind of at the center of all faith traditions, so it’s a great way to start our week-long program of those of us who have more and who have been blessed and giving that back to people who are maybe not in the same position that we are,” she said.

John and Stephanie Bondhus of Clarks Green have attended the prayer service for the past three years. It’s rare to have an event where so many different groups can come together to share a meal and have a meaningful service, Stephanie Bondhus said.

“It’s good to find common ground on our different faiths,” said John Bondhus, who is the pastor of Clarks Green United Methodist Church. “Even though they aren’t all alike, there are still a lot of things that are the same — the core tenets.”

The couple said they are thankful for each other and their families.

Accompanied by their daughter, Molly, Jess and Charles Simon attended the service for the first time on behalf of Queer NEPA. Jess Simon serves as the organization’s co-chair of outreach.

“I think that it’s important for us all to find common ground and to learn about each other’s traditions and faiths,” Jess Simon said. “I’m thankful for a community that’s welcoming and accepting that embraces the differences but also unites under the beliefs and feelings that we have that are the same.”

Charles Simon agreed, explaining they have adopted different religious traditions to expose their 13-year-old daughter to as she grows up.

Brittani Hamer of Scranton, who is converting to Judaism, attended the service with her 6-year-old daughter, Brooklyn.

Hamer said she regularly attends services on Fridays at the temple, so she and her daughter came out to celebrate Thanksgiving and the community. The mother and daughter are most thankful for each other.

“Without her, I don’t have a path or vision,” Hamer said. “She’s just made my life in the past six years so much better.”

When asked what she was most thankful for, Brookyln looked at her mom.

“Taking care of my mommy,” she said.

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

DICKSON CITY -- A Vandling man repeatedly punched his girlfriend on Thursday, fled and later told officers he couldn’t remember anything, police said.

Officers were dispatched to the parking lot of 900 Commerce Blvd. just before 4 p.m. for a report of a domestic incident. Kristina Collicott told police her boyfriend, Keith Morgan Jr., 34, had punched her in the head, face and stomach before running away, according to a criminal complaint. Collicott’s son was in the car when Morgan, 681 Main St., attacked her.

Two hours later, police found him on Commerce Boulevard. Morgan told police he didn’t know how he got there.

Morgan is charged with simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and related charges.

He remains at Lackawanna County Prison on $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 10:15 a.m.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

WILLIAMSPORT — Lackawanna Trail’s running game built a lead over Muncy in the PIAA Class 1A quarterfinals Friday night.

Its defense helped preserve it.

A goal-line stand in the fourth quarter stymied an Indians comeback bid and the Lions went on to a 26-13 victory at Williamsport High School’s STA Stadium.

Ray Melnikoff and Kody Cresswell each ran for two touchdowns as Lackawanna Trail (10-3) punched a return ticket to the state semifinals. It will face Bishop Guilfoyle (11-2) next week at a site and time to be announced. Bishop Guilfoyle defeated Juniata Valley, 36-17, on Friday. Clairton (11-2) will play Farrell (12-2) in the other semifinal.

“I’m so proud of this group of kids,” Lions coach Steve Jervis said. “I’m not sure who would have thought that back in August. But they’ve showed a lot of resiliency and our young kids stepping up. It’s a good mix of upperclassmen that were here last year meshing with some of our sophomores up from the freshman team. I’m very, very happy for them.”

Cresswell is one of those sophomores. He ran for 91 yards on 10 carries, and his second touchdown of the game — a 12-yard run on fourth-and-5 — gave Lackawanna Trail a 26-7 lead with 4:51 left in the third quarter.

It capped a 12-play, 60-yard drive off the second-half kickoff.

“It definitely helped us out,” Cresswell said of his performance. “We know we can count on Ray and our line always has perfect blocks. This game was really between the tackles.

“This feels amazing. I wasn’t able to be a part of it last year. But I’m glad I’m part of it this year.”

District 4 champion Muncy (9-5) responded with a 14-play scoring drive that covered 58 yards. Freshman quarterback Branson Eyer hit Gage Wertz with a 4-yard TD toss on third-and-goal on the first play of the fourth quarter to bring the Indians within 26-13.

An interception by Chase Crawley got the ball back for Muncy at its 35. Four plays later, Eyer found Wertz behind the defense for a 44-yard gain to the Trail 10 as Cresswell made a touchdown-saving tackle.

Eyer carried for eight yards on the first two downs and Ethan Gush was stopped inside the 1 on third down. Eyer tried to sneak it in on fourth-and-goal, but Richard Rodenbach went low and Melnikoff went high to keep him out of the end zone with 6:33 left.

“I can’t wait to watch it on film,” Rodenbach said. “Ray leaped over the line and up front we did a good job of not getting moved. It was a huge stop, a huge momemtum change.”

Melnikoff admitted he didn’t even know his play ended the threat.

“I honestly thought it was third down,” Melnikoff said. “The D-line did a great job driving their legs in a pinch. I saw an opening, leaped over the line, wrapped the quarterback up and he didn’t get in.”

Indians coach Sean Tetreault thought Gush had scored on third down.

“We trusted our O-line and thought we could get in (on fourth down),” Tetreault said. “Once they had a big stop like that, we lost all momentum.”

After the defensive stand, the Lions drove to Muncy 34 to chew five-plus minutes off the clock and all but seal the victory.

“Give credit to our defense,” Jervis said. “They were moving the ball on us and to have that stand really changed the momentum.”

Early on, Lackawanna Trail’s defense also recovered from giving up a score on the game’s third play.

Facing third-and-5 from his 42, Eyer kept the ball around the left side and raced 58 yards for the touchdown. Isaac Boring’s extra point put Lackawanna Trail in a 7-0 hole just 61 seconds into the contest.

However, for the rest of the first half, the Lions defense stiffened. Muncy ran 17 more plays in the first half and gained just 42 yards and two first downs.

“We’ve been down before this season. We know how to fight back,” Rodenbach said. “We just had to keep our heads up and keep going. It was huge when we were able to come right back and score.”

Indeed, the Lions responded on their first offensive possession, marching 63 yards in 11 plays in 6:25. The highlighting of the drive was Melnikoff’s 11-yard run off a fake punt on fourth-and-1 from the Trail 46.

“Coach said we might fake this week one based on how their punt defense was,” Melnikoff said. “It was a great call at a great time in the game. They blocked it perfectly, I found the hole and got the first down.”

Seven plays later, Melnikoff scored on a 6-yard run, then kicked the extra point to tie the game at 7 with 4:34 left in the first quarter.

Following a Muncy punt, Lackawanna Trail struck again.

Melnikoff rumbled 63 yards to the Indians 6 and scored from the 3 two plays later. His extra point made it 14-7 with 39.4 seconds left in the first.

Late in the second quarter, Nico Berrios recovered a Muncy fumble at the Indians 44. Seven plays later, Cresswell scored on a 10-yard run to give the Lions a 20-7 lead with 1:35 left before halftime.

Melnikoff finished with 166 yards on 19 carries, and Lackawanna Trail had 359 rushing yards on 52 carries.

“It’s the second-best feeling in the world,” Melnikoff said about going back to the state semifinals. “It’s right behind getting (back) to Hershey. Next one up.”

Contact the writer:

swalsh@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 ext. 5109;

@swalshTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — A party for the city’s newest medical cannabis dispensary got high Thursday — like, really high.

To mark the Green Goods dispensary’s grand opening at 1146 S. Main Ave., a pilot flew a banner declaring “Marijuana is Medicine” back and forth from Scranton to its Bethlehem dispensary.

The Scranton dispensary opened about three weeks ago, but formally welcomed patients to meet grower/processors who sell their products there, including products grown and processed in Scranton and White Haven.

A focus on science sets apart Green Goods and its affiliate medical cannabis producer, Pennsylvania Medical Solutions, which has a grower/processor facility in Scranton near East Market Street, said Dr. Kyle Kingsley. He’s founder and chief executive of Green Goods parent company, Minnesota-based Vireo Health.

“We’re a physician-led slew of scientists,” he said. “We believe that people want precision. They want exacting products that are the same every time with defined outcomes.”

Green Goods’ grand opening comes on the heels of a milestone in the way the federal government sees the plant-based drug.

On Wednesday, the U.S. House Judiciary Committee passed the Marijuana Opportunity Reinvestment and Expungement Act. Most significantly, the bill proposes to decriminalize cannabis and remove its crippling Schedule I designation, which it currently shares with hard drugs like heroin and ecstasy.

State lawmakers made cannabis legal to treat some medical conditions and illnesses and created its medical marijuana program in 2016.

The federal bill would go far beyond Pennsylvania’s rules, including provisions for at-home growing, which could conceivably rattle medical companies that have spent millions on facilities, dispensaries and meeting strict state quality regulations.

But that’s not the case, said Vireo’s medical education director Dr. Paloma Lehfeldt. Vireo supports home-grow legislation, she said.

“There’s always going to be a need for that doctor/patient relationship,” she said. Patients who use cannabis to treat chronic disease symptoms know what strains work best for them and need the consistency that regulated, medical companies promise.

Scranton is Green Goods’ second location. The company has another in Bethlehem and a third planned for Stroudsburg to open in the next few months.

“We hope that the Green Goods dispensaries will be the best-in-class patient experience for medical cannabis dispensaries in Pennsylvania,” Kingsley said.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

SCRANTON — The Scranton Sewer Authority will ask the state auditor general to review the $195 million sewer system sale to Pennsylvania American Water — a major development that some officials have supported since 2017.

The authority board voted 3-0, with member Keleena McNichols absent, to request Auditor General Eugene DePasquale review the 2016 sale agreement and several million in proceeds held in escrow for sewer-line easement acquisition. Board member Michael Dempsey, the authority’s lone Dunmore representative, tried twice in 2017 to convince his colleagues to request the review.

Thursday’s vote followed a chorus of pleas from residents and officials of Scranton and Dunmore seeking the review. Dunmore Mayor Timothy Burke, Scranton city Councilman Bill Gaughan and others emphasized the importance of transparency amid lingering questions about millions of dollars in controversial legal fees surrounding the transaction. Millions more in easement-acquisition funds hang in the balance for both communities.

The auditor general’s office does not have the power to independently review a municipal authority, but can do so at the authority’s request.

Reached after the meeting, DePasquale said his office awaits the formal request and called the review “something that we’ll take very seriously.”

DePasquale said in early 2018 that the Scranton Sewer Authority would be the first municipal authority in the state that he’d audit if given that power.

Dempsey, a longtime advocate of the state reviewing the sale, argued such a review could clear up public confusion and misconceptions surrounding the transaction.

“I do think it’s important for transparency,” Dempsey said. “I do think there’s a lot of questions, a lot of misunderstandings that the public has.”

Authority Chairman Michael Parker and member Kevin Whelan, who voted down Dempsey’s May 2017 motion seeking a state audit of the sale, voted Thursday to request the review. Whelan offered no comment after the vote, but Parker said he “would like the public to have all the information” available.

Scranton ethics board Chairwoman Joan Hodowanitz also endorsed requesting the review prior to the vote, arguing it won’t cost anything and could unearth issues not revealed in the authority’s annual audits.

“All the annual audits that the city of Scranton had, none of them picked up the double pensions and a number of other issues like the bribery and fraud going on in this building,” she said. “You’ve got nothing to lose by bringing the auditor general in.”

It’s too early to determine a timeline for the sewer sale review, DePasquale said.

In other business, sewer authority solicitor Jason Shrive announced the authority and the water company have negotiated terms of a substantial extension of a confidential deadline for the authority to secure between 600 and 700 missing sewer-line easements. Those terms could be put in writing as early as today, he said.

Failure by the authority to secure the easements by the undisclosed deadline could jeopardize about $16.5 million in sale proceeds held in escrow. That includes $5 million for indemnity and about $11.5 million remaining of $12 million set aside for easement acquisition.

The authority is working to settle a class-action case over the missing easements before the deadline expires and the easement escrow money reverts to the water company.

If the authority meets the deadline and settles all other matters, the remaining escrow funds would go to Scranton and Dunmore on an 80/20 share basis, with Scranton receiving the larger share.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Nov. 22, 1929

Dunmore eatery and hotel raided

Sands Restaurant and Hotel, 702 Quincy Ave., was raided by federal Prohibition agents the evening of Nov. 21.

Agents reported that when they entered the building they discovered the owner, Richard Sands, and his wife using equipment to pump beer from the basement to the barroom.

In addition to arresting the couple, the agents confiscated 17 half-barrels of beer, a gallon of wine, a gallon of gin and a small amount of whiskey.

This was the fourth raid conducted by Prohibition agents in Dunmore that week.

Lecture at GAR Hall

The Sons of Union Veterans of the Civil War conducted a lecture at the GAR Hall on Penn Avenue to mark the 66th anniversary of Lincoln’s Gettysburg Address.

Professor John Seeley, principal of Scranton-Lackawanna Business College (now Lackawanna College), spoke to the large crowd that included several Civil War veterans on American ideals and patriotism.

“Will the United States endure everlasting or even for 500 years or more, the average life of a nation?” Seeley asked during his talk. “The answer depends upon the stability of her citizens and the purity of her ethical code.”

Shopping at Ross’

Fur-collared coats, $25.98; women’s silhouette dresses, $9.98; winter coats for boys, $5.98; winter coats for girls, $7.98; women’s and misses’ pumps, $2.98 a pair; children’s shoes, $1.98 a pair; and women’s hats, $1.98.

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.

PITTSTON TWP. — Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport travelers can soon use a mobile app to track and book flights and check parking availability.

The FlyAVP app — named partly after the airport’s three-letter federal designation — automatically will pull information from the airport’s upgraded website, FlyAVP.com.

“If we change any information (on the website), any alert messages or anything like that, it will automatically transfer to the app,” said Brock Siegel, chief executive officer for Omnitized, the app’s Wilkes-Barre-based developer.

Siegel spoke at an airport board meeting Thursday.

The airport hired Omnitized for $30,954 to develop the app and the upgraded website, which went online Sept. 23, airport spokesman Eric McKitish said. Siegel hopes to have the app available by next week. Google Play and Apple’s App Store will have it available for download, McKitish said. Siegel said he’s also building a webpage for downloading.

An app allows continuous communication with users, Siegel said.

“We can send messages that show up on home screens of the smart device if there is an urgent weather alert for travelers, congestion on the highways ... parking lot capacities, (flight) delays, cancellations, etc,” Siegel said. “We can also ... promote the newest programs that we have to offer.”

The website’s key new feature shows the availability of parking in the garage and three lots, along with prices for both. With the airport’s increased use, the garage sometimes fills up. That feature will make the app especially handy.

“We are really excited about that,” airport Director Carl Beardsley Jr. said.

Siegel said he could not find airports in other small- to medium-sized markets that offer a mobile app.

“I think this is going to put us in a whole different league when it comes to standing out,” he said.

The website and app will also communicate directly with the airport’s loyalty customers. As of Oct. 31, 538 people signed up for the loyalty program, about three-quarters from Luzerne and Lackawanna counties, according to a chart presented at the meeting.

In other business, the board:

Extended Beardsley’s current three-year contract until Jan. 1, 2022, and declared Thursday as Carl Beardsley Day in Luzerne and Lackawanna counties. Both honor and reward Beardsley’s airport leadership and two years as president of the Aviation Council of Pennsylvania, which represents airports across the state. Beardsley, who started as director in January 2015 and whose salary is $125,640, is due at least 2% raises in 2020 and 2021, according to his contract. The airport broke a passenger departure record in 2017, came close in 2016 and 2018, and is on pace to set another record this year.

“He’s done a fabulous job,” said Patrick O’Malley, an airport board member and Lackawanna County commissioner.

Unveiled a plaque honoring Peter Payavis, the superintendent who died in August and worked for the airport for 41 years. Payavis’ wife, Joyce, and their daughter, Melissa, pulled away a “Terrible Towel,” waved by Pittsburgh Steelers fans like Payavis, to unveil the plaque.

Melissa Payavis teared up remembering her father, who loved talking about his job.

If they visited the Tipsy Turtle, a nearby restaurant, a lap around the airport inevitably followed, she said.

“It was always evident that he loved to come to the airport every day,” Payavis said.

Most of the airport’s operations staff, who Payavis supervised, showed up for the unveiling.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

Carbondale

Musical performance: Eighth annual Classic Voices a cappella choral ensemble Christmas concert, Dec. 14, 7:30 p.m., Chamber of Commerce Gallery, 27 N. Main St.

Duryea

Christmas meal: Nativity of Our Lady Parish Men’s Society fifth annual pre-Christmas breakfast, Dec. 8, 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m., Sacred Heart Hall, 529 Stephenson St.; the meal includes scrambled eggs, home fries, kielbasa, ham, pancakes, Danish, and coffee and juice; takeout or eat-in; tickets/$9 adults, $5 children 5-12 years old, free for children under 4; 570-881-6006.

Keyser Valley

Seniors meet: Keyser Valley Seniors Citizens meeting, Monday, 1 p.m., community center; games and refreshments follow.

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

WILKES-BARRE

The woman entwined in a mysterious arson case that uncovered the remains of her disabled son — and whose grandmother abruptly vanished more than a decade ago — was charged Friday with snooping around the parking lot behind Wilkes-Barre Police Department headquarters.

Officers spotted Linasheri D’Onofrio, 52, “looking around the personal vehicle” of an officer in the lot behind the headquarters at 15 N. Washington St. around 11:25 a.m. Monday, according to the complaint. She initially provided a fake name and date of birth, police said.

Police charged D’Onofrio with providing false identification to law enforcement and defiant trespassing. She was issued a summons to appear before Magisterial District Judge Thomas F. Malloy Sr. on Jan. 9.

No charges have been filed relating to a Feb. 24, 2018, fire that broke out near the trailer the pair shared. While investigating the fire, firefighters found a human skull and bones that investigators later determined belonged to D’Onofrio’s disabled 24-year-old son, Shain Cori-Jesi D’Onofrio.

— JAMES HALPIN

A Pike County man jailed earlier this month on minor charges now faces felony counts that he tortured five dogs because he left them locked for five days in his freezing and filthy basement with no food or water, state police at Blooming Grove said Friday.

James M. Mazzone, 56, 128 Whipporwill Drive, Lehman Twp., had no one to call to take care of his pit bulls when he was jailed Nov. 10 by Magisterial District Judge Shannon Muir on $25,000 bail, he explained to authorities.

On Nov. 14, Mazzone’s landlord called troopers to report that his tenant’s dogs had been without food and water since he was arrested Nov. 10 for false alarms to a public safety agency, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

The food and water bowls inside their metal cages were empty, save for urine and feces. There was evidence that one of the dogs had frantically tried to get at the dog food contained inside cardboard boxes near a cage.

Trooper Robert Wareham noted that the ambient temperature of Mazzone’s basement Nov. 14 was 25 degrees when he responded shortly before noon. Police removed the dogs.

Mazzone has historically kept several dogs. A fire broke out Oct. 1, 2017, at his old home on Bear Cub Court in Lehman Twp., where he had 16 dogs. Six dogs died in the fire. The Pike County Humane Society took custody of the other 10 dogs.

Mazzone is charged with aggravated cruelty to animals, a felony, and cruelty to animals, a misdemeanor. He is also charged with animal neglect.

Magisterial District Judge Paul Menditto Sr. set bail at $5,000 for the case, on top of Muir’s $25,000 bail.

Preliminary hearings are scheduled Dec. 3.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com,

570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE

State Sen. John Yudichak will appear on national television this morning to talk about his decision to leave the Democratic Party and register as an independent.

Yudichak, I-14, Plymouth Twp., is slated to appear at 10:25 a.m. on Fox News for a segment on the “Cavuto Live” show.

The senator, who said he’ll now caucus with Republicans in the state Senate, announced his Fox News appearance on social media Friday.

On Twitter, he wrote, “I will be joining @TeamCavuto tomorrow at 10:25 on @FoxNews to discuss how we need to change the political conversation from one of divisiveness to one that empowers the voice of every citizen who wants government to work for people, all people.”

Yudichak, 49, was first elected in 1998 to the state House and served six terms prior to his election to the Senate in 2010.

— BOB KALINOWSKI

DICKSON CITY

A Vandling man repeatedly punched his girlfriend Thursday, fled and later told officers he couldn’t remember anything, police said.

Officers were dispatched to a parking lot at 900 Commerce Blvd. just before 4 p.m. for a report of a domestic incident. Kristina Collicott told police her boyfriend, Keith Morgan Jr., 34, had punched her in the head, face and stomach before running away, according to a criminal complaint. Collicott’s son was in the car when Morgan, 681 Main St., allegedly attacked her.

Two hours later, police found him on Commerce Boulevard. Morgan told police he didn’t know how he got there.

Morgan is charged with simple assault, endangering the welfare of children and related charges.

He is at Lackawanna County Prison on $25,000 bail. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 2 at 10:15 a.m.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

A lawyer for a Wyoming County man accused of killing a 24-year-old woman and dumping her body in the Susquehanna River wants the judge removed from the case.

Timothy Michaels, the attorney for Phillip Walters, requested the recusal of Wyoming County President Judge Russell Shurtleff. Walters is charged with killing his live-in girlfriend, Haley Lorenzen, in December. Her body was recovered in the river July 20 in Luzerne County, about 22 miles downstream.

In a Nov. 7 pretrial hearing, Michaels argued he had only recently accessed records he believed he should have been given a long time ago, and was denied access to a female witness who was granted immunity from prosecution in January.

One of the main points in Michaels’ call for Shurtleff’s recusal is a contention that in the Nov. 7 hearing, he was asked by the judge if he was seeking a continuance, and he replied that he was not but was prepared to go to trial Nov. 18 with the limited evidence provided.

Michaels said because Wyoming County District Attorney Jeff Mitchell was not asked at the same hearing if he would like a continuance, he believed there was implicit bias in favor of the commonwealth based on the judge’s order to postpone the trial two months.

In a response to Michaels’ motion for the judge’s recusal, Mitchell noted the court had ruled against the commonwealth over the course of the case, and believes its rulings were based upon a fair interpretation of the law. He also said he believes the court treated defense counsel in a fair and professional manner.

It is not clear when the court will respond to Michael’s motion for the judge’s recusal.

The trial is now moved to Jan. 27.

Walters was arrested Jan. 9. He remains jailed at the Wyoming County Correctional Facility.

Contact the writer:

bbaker@wcexaminer.com;

570-836-2123 x33

MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Joseph Prendergast and Melissa Ann Rose, both of Scranton.

ESTATES FILED

• Thomas John Devine, 2102 S. Webster Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to Michele Devine, same address.

• Ellen A. Cooke, 112 Morse Ave., Simpson, letters testamentary to John L. Kelly, 3118 Crenshaw Court, Trinity, Fla.

• James Robert Reed, Hack Road, Factoryville, letters of administration to Brenda Star Miller, P.O. Box 167, Factoryville.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Steven G. and Karen Mancuso, Dickson City, to Carol and Verita Grannum, Harlingen, Texas; a property at 1403 N. Sumner Ave., Scranton, for $46,500.

• Adeline Colosimo, through attorney-in-fact Frank T. Colosimo, to Thomas C. Jr. and Kimberly A. Griffiths; a property at 300 16th St., Scranton, for $72,500.

• Roger and Leona Leonard, Scranton, to Linda Ann and Rose Marie G. Pisano, Scranton; a property at 403 Williamsburg Lane, Scranton, for $215,000.

• Patrick J. and Jean-Maree Hellen, Moscow, to Ann A. Bannister and Christophe G. Liekens, Moscow; a property at 815 Parkview Road, Moscow, for $505,000.

• Nathan Tyler and Charlene Gayle Walters, Murfreesboro, Tenn., to Han T. Nguyen and Thoai T. Tran, Carbondale; a property at 42½ Pear St., Carbondale, for $172,100.

• Sergey and Tanya Sidelnikov to Chris R. Fedak, Luzerne County; a property at 116 Brookside Road, Dalton, for $200,335.

• Judith A. Rooney, per sheriff Mark P. McAndrew, to Extraordinary Properties LLC; a property at 1744 Capouse Ave., Scranton, for $46,501.

• Andrew Anderson and Lynn Ann Racht, South Amboy, N.J., to Karin Corby, Scott Twp.; a parcel in Scott Twp., for $54,000.

• Kevin and Deborah Wevodau, Moscow, to Jahan and Leanna Tabatabaie, Moosic; a property at 302 Autumn Drive, Moscow, for $327,000.

• Theresa Yarasavich, per sheriff Mark M. McAndrew, to Extraordinary Properties LLC, Taylor; a property at 611 Palm St., Scranton, for $26,701.

• Select SCR LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 1209-11 Jackson St., Scranton, for $92,000.

• Rock Property Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 1307 Preston Place, Scranton, for $60,000.

• Historic Prop Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 114-116 Morris Ave., Scranton, for $94,000.

• Historic Prop Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 436-438 Ripple St., Scranton, for $116,000.

• Historic Prop Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; two parcels in Scranton, for $116,000.

• Historic Prop Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 1925 Jackson St., Scranton, for $95,000.

• Historic Prop Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 223-225 N. Bromley Ave., Scranton, for $60,000.

• Historic Prop Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 1137-1139 Rock St., Scranton, for $100,000.

• Rock Property Holdings LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 218 N. Rebecca Ave., Scranton, for $95,000.

• 747 Roberts Limited, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 217-219-221 N. Garfield Ave., Scranton, for $93,000.

• Ferndrive LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 126-128 School St., Scranton, for $60,000.

• Ferndrive LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 145 S. Lincoln Ave., Scranton, for $75,000.

• Ferndrive LLC, New Jersey, to Scranton Properties LLC, Wyoming; a property at 614 Willow St., Scranton, for $59,000.

FEDERAL TAX LIENS

• Refik Babic, 3342 Birney Ave., Moosic; $44,042.88.

• ME Enterprise Services Inc., 325 Bridge St., Old Forge; $14,008.38.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

ROARING BROOK TWP.

A township man groped a teen girl while she slept and sent her a nude photo of himself, state troopers said.

Sean Patrick Quinn, 46, 104 Belle Drive, reached into the victim’s shirt and grabbed her breast while she was sleeping at his house July 23, troopers said. When the teen woke up, Quinn told her to check her phone because he sent her a picture, according to a criminal complaint.

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

The victim told troopers about the incident Wednesday, saying that Quinn also gave her alcohol on multiple occasions.

Quinn is charged with corruption of minors and related charges. He’s held at Lackawanna County Prison on $150,000 bail with a preliminary hearing scheduled for 9:45 a.m. Dec. 3.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

Buick’s Enclave full-size crossover utility vehicle, which entered its second generation two years ago, returns for 2020 with no major changes but a few style and technology updates.

The starting price remains at $40,000 for the base front-wheel-drive Preferred model, and prices top out at $55,800 for the all-wheel-drive Avenir model. Avenir is the recently introduced premium sub-brand for Buick.

Our test vehicle was the all-wheel-drive Essence model ($44,000). Essence is the next step up from the Preferred and is available with front-wheel drive, beginning at $42,000.

For 2020, there is a new Sport Touring package ($1,695) for the Essence model, bringing a monochromatic exterior featuring a unique sport grille with body-color surround and 20-inch bright machined-aluminum wheels with contrasting satin graphite pockets. This option was included on our tester.

Also added was the next-generation Buick infotainment system, including a new 8-inch-diagonal touch screen, standard on all trim levels, with available connected navigation.

Other new features include an optional new HD rear vision camera (included as standard equipment on our Essence model) and an HD surround vision system. A new four-way power lumbar seat adjuster with a driver and front passenger massage feature are standard on Premium and Avenir models.

With the recent makeover, there were no radical exterior changes from the first generation, so the new generation is easily recognizable as an Enclave. But it is roomier inside and can seat up to seven passengers comfortably, even adults. There is a more-muscular appearance, with fewer curves, and it is more aerodynamic, for improved fuel economy.

The roofline is lower, the windshield angle is more pronounced, and there is a longer wheelbase that allows for the increased interior space. LED lighting was added for 2018, including projector headlights and taillights.

The Avenir treatment, which is offered in other Buick vehicles as well, is meant to represent “the highest expression of Buick luxury,” the automaker says. It includes unique styling cues — such as the Enclave Avenir’s special three-dimensional mesh grille — along with more standard amenities, premium materials and an up-level suspension with continuously variable real-time automatic damping.

All Enclave models are powered by a normally aspirated 3.6-liter V-6 engine rated at 310 horsepower and 266 foot-pounds of torque. It is connected to a nine-speed automatic transmission. This engine propelled our Enclave quite well, including drives around town and for a weekend trip that included some well-maintained unpaved state and national park roads.

Our vehicle’s standard Quiet Tuning cabin noise-reduction system brought active noise cancellation, designed to block and absorb noise. That made our Enclave very quiet inside, even at highway speeds and on some unpaved roads.

We had seating for seven, with two bucket seats up front, two captain’s chairs with a center aisle in the middle row, and a three-person 60/40-split power folding bench seat in the rear.

With the redesign, the Enclave retained its generous third-row space, particularly the legroom, which makes that seat nearly as comfortable for adults as for children. This is one of the few big crossovers that can achieve that.

Sure, 14 winners walked out of the Chamber Gala with shiny new SAGE awards, but Bob Durkin sees excellence and progress in the sheer number of local businesses nominated.

“There are no winners and losers,” said the president of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce. “It’s a great opportunity for everybody to celebrate small-business successes.”

Chamber leaders announced recipients of the Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence, or SAGE awards, during the annual Chamber Gala Friday at the Hilton Scranton & Conference Center.

A panel of volunteer community leaders and professionals sifted through 100-plus applications and selected finalists.

Here are the winners:

Best Practices in Community Involvement: Northeastern Rehabilitation Associates.

Best Practices in Customer Service: Penn Foster.

Best Practices in Marketing and Communications: Posture Interactive.

Business of the Year: Woodloch Resort.

Fastest Growing Company: Bedrock Technology.

Hometown Star: Scranton Fringe Festival, “Big Gay StorySlam.”

New and Emerging Business of the Year: Creative and Performing Arts Academy of NEPA.

Nonprofit Organization of the Year: Discovery MI Preschool.

Pride and Progress: Exterior Renovations: Borough of Dunmore (Schautz Stadium).

Pride and Progress: Interior Renovations: Penn State Scranton.

Pride and Progress: New Construction: AAA North Penn and FNCB Bank (tie).

Small Business of the Year: Lavish Body & Home.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

SCRANTON

The Lackawanna County area business community picked United Sports Academy as its business of the year.

United Sports Academy received the People’s Choice award Friday during the Scranton Awards for Growth and Excellence, or SAGE Awards, during the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s annual Chamber Gala at the Hilton Scranton Hotel and Conference Center.

See what other businesses and organizations took home SAGE Awards on Page C1.

— STAFF REPORT

Nov. 23, 1969

Casey Inn revamp

The Hotel Casey was scheduled to reopen Nov. 24 with a new name and a proposed list of improvements costing $1 million.

The hotel’s new name would be the Casey Inn, under the ownership of Dr. Joseph A. Petriello of Dunmore, and Albert Frangell and Samuel Scrimalli, both of Scranton.

The new ownership team said they would be making improvements to the hotel over the next two years. Plans were to redecorate the bar, cocktail longue and dining rooms, refurbish 200 hotel rooms, convert the remaining hotel rooms into modern one-, two- or three-bedroom apartments, and redesign the hotel’s lobby to create rental space for offices or shops. The coffee shop would also be reopened.

The Hotel Casey closed in July 1969.

The cost of dinner

Over the previous 15 years, the cost of a typical Thanksgiving dinner increased by 25%. The cost of a dinner for six people in 1954 was $12.79; in 1969, the cost was $15.93. The only traditional food item that decreased in price over the years was the turkey. In 1954, a 12-pound turkey cost $6. In 1969, a 12-pounder cost $5.15.

Dining out

The Twin Grill on North Washington Avenue in Scranton featured Vermont turkey, dressing, candied yams, broccoli and three kinds of pie for $3.25 a person. The Deitrick on Vine Street in Scranton offered three dinners — turkey with all the trimmings, sirloin steak with sides or baked ham with sides — all priced at $2.50. The Blue Shutters in Elmhurst Twp. offered diners a choice of roasted turkey, roasted chicken or roasted duckling.

Other restaurants open on Thanksgiving were the Country Inn on the Morgan Highway, Aldino’s Manor in Taylor, Yank’s Diner on Linden Street and Jay’s Delicatessen on North Main Avenue.

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.