SCRANTON

The state Department of Environmental Protection will not issue a notice of violation to the Scranton Department of Public Works after crews emptied the contents of a garbage truck onto the ground to make emergency repairs.

City officials explained that the trash was dropped near Grove Street and Seventh Avenue for a limited amount of time Tuesday so mechanics could fix the truck, DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said.

DEP officials asked the city to call first should similar situations arise so regulators can decide whether it’s necessary and recommend proper procedures or alternatives.

— JON O’CONNELL

SCRANTON — It’s been 78 years since Japan bombed Pearl Harbor, but Walter Pasiak still recalls the confusion and sense of helplessness he felt.

The 97-year-old South Scranton resident, the last known living local veteran of the attack, was a 19-year-old Army private when the first bombs exploded a fuel storage tank on Dec. 7, 1941.

“I just came out of the mess hall and the planes were flying over,” Pasiak said at his Breck Street home. “There was so much confusion. It was a Sunday and people were asleep. It was hard to get organized.”

He and fellow soldiers raced to retrieve machine guns, only to discover they were packed away and not ready for use.

“You had to get the supply sergeant to open the supply room. Once we got at the stuff, it was useless,” he said.

So they grabbed their rifles and began

firing into the sky, knowing their efforts were likely futile.

“What is a rifle going to do? We were helpless, but you had to take whatever was available, and that’s what we did,” he said.

It’s a story Pasiak has told and retold many times since 2017, when the 9/11 Memorial Committee of Lackawanna County learned of his existence while researching a plaque to honor veterans who served during the attack.

Since then, Pasiak has received letters from people all over the world seeking his insight.

It’s a chore, but he tries to reply to as many of them as he can. He wants to ensure the efforts and sacrifices he and so many of his brethren made that day are never forgotten.

In all, the attack on the Hawaiian Island of Oahu that plunged America into World War II claimed 3,581 American casualties, consisting of 2,403 killed and 1,178 wounded, according to the National WWII Museum.

Charlie Spano, chairman of the 9/11 Memorial Committee, shares Pasiak’s dedication to ensuring the stories of Lackawanna County veterans who lived through the attack aren’t forgotten.

The group spent several years researching and ultimately identified 109 vets who are memorialized on a plaque outside the Lackawanna County Courthouse. Spano also created a booklet that provides snippets of each vet’s service.

“I thought it was so important to have these people remembered,” Spano said. “When you read history books about battles, what do you read about? Four star generals and leaders. ... Who were these ordinary people that really took the brunt of the attack that day?”

David Eisele, director of veterans affairs for Lackawanna County, said memorializing their stories has become more important as the number of living World War II veterans dwindles. An estimated 294 vets who served during the conflict die each day, according to the National WWII Museum. As of September, 389,292 of the 16 million WWII veterans were still alive.

“We can’t let people forget the reason why we are what we are today is because of these guys,” Eisele said. “They lived the horror of a surprise military attack and stepped up to the plate and said, ‘We’re not going to surrender, we’re going to fight.’”

Pasiak served in the Army for 22 years. After Pearl Harbor, he served out the rest of WWII in the Pacific theater, earning a Bronze Star and a Purple Heart. He went on to serve in Korea and concluded his overseas service in a military advisory role in Vietnam.

He lives alone in the home he shared with his wife, Patricia, until her death at age 81 in 2007. The couple had two daughters who died at birth. He remains in close contact with numerous nephews and nieces. He feels blessed to be alive to continue to share his story.

“What made me survive? It was the heavenly Lord,” he said. “He is the one who pulled the through all this stuff. If it wasn’t for him, I wouldn’t be here.”

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

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

Business: Amendolaro

Location: 412 Spruce St., Scranton

Owner: Justin Amendolaro

Year established: June 1, 2012

Number of employees: Four

Tell us about your business: I try to carry unique items that are harder to find in this area. I try to carry brands that are harder to find that people want and are looking for.

We strive to carry the most trendy items in clothing and jewelry while offering the best customer service possible to attract customers to shop with us.

What are your secrets to success? Being in the jewelry business — this isn’t really a secret to success — but you have to be on top of trends and make sure you get what’s trending before the next guy does.

We offer free local delivery, free two-hour parking in the garage and free curbside service, because there are still people who want to shop local in the brick and mortar store.

I try to make it as convenient as possible for people to shop with us.

What is your biggest challenge? Our biggest challenge along with every small business out there is trying to compete with the internet. There is no bigger challenge.

For someone to be able to sit at their computer or sit on their phone and order the exact same thing rather than venturing out is very challenging.

We could build a website, but with the number of products we have, would be astronomically expensive.

We are in the process of building a Facebook store. We have a big social media following, and it’s a lot less expensive to do that.

I’m trying to build a brick-and-mortar store that’s just like shopping online without shopping online — if that makes sense.

December 7, 1944

Third anniversary marked

by enlistments

On the third anniversary of the attack on Pearl Harbor, a total of 30 men from Dunmore, Olyphant, Winton, Jefferson Twp., Dickson City and Throop boarded trolley cars at Laurel Line station in Scranton to start their journey in the United States armed forces.

The trolley cars took the men to Wilkes-Barre, where they were taken to the Recruiting and Induction Station. From there, the men would be sent to service in one of the branches of the armed forces.

As the men were gathered at the station, USO Hostesses Marjorie Fleming and Ruth Rymer gave them packs of cigarettes, candy and gifts for their journey.

Dog quarantine enforced

Numerous doctors and veterinarians sounded the alarm about the possible spread of rabies through the canine community in the county. The medical professional feel that an “emergency exists” following an outbreak of the disease in the Abingtons.

To stop the spread, Scranton officials have ordered the city’s dog catchers to vigorously enforce a dog quarantine. If licensed dogs are found running around town, they will be picked up and held for five days. After the fifth day, if not claimed by their owners, the dog will be put to death. Unlicensed dogs were also picked up and only held for 48 hours. They would be put to death after 48 hours.

Hours after the city made this announcement, Poundmaster William Hughes found a mad dog on Eynon Street. It took the poundmaster and his assistant an hour to get the dog into the truck.

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.

Do you know anyone in these photos?

Do these faces look familiar to you? When these images originally ran in the paper on Dec. 7, 1944, the people were not identified. So if you see someone you recognize, let us know by sending an email to bfulton@timesshamrock.com.

Roseann Novembrino was a courageous woman who did not rubber stamp things, recalled former Scranton Mayor Jim Connors.

Novembrino, 83, the longtime city controller and West Scranton resident, died at Regional Hospital of Scranton on Thursday. She had resigned in November from the city post she held for more than 30 years after announcing earlier in the year she would not seek reelection, citing her age and health issues.

Connors, a longtime friend of Novembrino and her family, recalled memories Friday of their time in office.

“It was a long climb up those steps from the mayor’s office to the controller’s office and I was usually asking her for her approval on some project I was working on,” he said. “Many times she said in this very sweet voice with a smile, ‘Oh mayor, I don’t think we can do that.’ We sat there and we worked it out and nine times out of 10, we were able to get it done.”

In a statement, Scranton Mayor Wayne Evans

called Novembrino a truly remarkable person, known for her diplomacy and professionalism.

“The city will always be grateful to Roseann for her dedication and service,” he said. “Few people create a legacy of service that extends for decades as she did. If a life can be measured by those who care, love and respect you, then Roseann certainly embodied a life lived well.”

Novembrino was first elected to the city controller’s office in 1987, but had joined the office a year or so prior.

Her husband, Richard

, held the controller’s job but died in December 1985, less than halfway through his first term. Joseph Refice, the top deputy at the time, became the controller and named Roseann Novembrino as deputy controller in February 1986

.

Refice won the Democratic nomination for controller in May 1987 but resigned that July to take a job in Gov. Robert P. Casey’s administration. Novembrino then found herself in charge of the office and replaced Refice on the ballot. She defeated Republican Thomas Purcell in November 1987 and held the position until last month.

Connors also called Novembrino a strong advocate for preserving downtown Scranton buildings. When a building in the 500 block of Lackawanna Avenue was set to be demolished, she needed to see the damage for herself. Novembrino and Connors climbed into the bucket of a fire department’s bucket truck and checked things out from above.

“She was able to look at it and see the mortar was dust. Then, she was satisfied and when we came down, she signed off on the demolition. She wasn’t going to rubber stamp it, she wanted to see it herself.”

City Controller-elect John Murray

who will

take office in January, knew Novembrino from his time as the city Democratic Committee chairman.

“She always treated everyone with respect,” he said.

Before she was hospitalized, she asked to meet Murray at her office.

He said even at her age, she loved going into work every day but seemed at peace with the fact she was stepping down from the position.

“She was always a classy women,” he said. “Her record of public service, for as long as it went on, is something to be admired.”

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5114;

@kbolusTT on Twitter

Q: Here’s an item that I think would interest many of your readers.

I have a 2019 Buick Enclave. One of its many features is the automatic engine shutoff when I stop. It’s not something I love, but I eventually got used to it.

Yesterday I came across a discussion on Facebook, and there were literally hundreds of rants about why it was no good. “It doesn’t save gas,” “It will require replacement of starters and associated parts,” “It’s bad for the battery,” etc.

Many mentioned the lack of heat or air conditioning while stopped, although mine starts back up if needed. Others mentioned holding up traffic while you restart, which, of course, is not true.

So, is this a gimmick, or does it really save gas?

— TOM

A: Ah, I see the Russian trolls are using Facebook to try to divide the American people over important issues again.

It does save some gas, Tom. Studies show it improves fuel economy by a few percentage points. That makes sense, right?

Let’s say you’re stopped at a light or in traffic about 3%-5% of the time you’re driving — now you’re not using any gas during those stops. You’re also not putting any wear and tear on your engine, which is nice. More importantly, you’re not creating any air pollution. And if we’re collectively cutting vehicle pollution by 3-5%, that’s a pretty big win for everybody.

These systems have been around for five to 10 years now, and we haven’t seen any increase in starter or battery replacements yet. It could happen, but we’ve seen nothing to suggest it yet. And because warm engines are so easy to start (they restart in a fraction of a second), there’s really very little additional demand on the starter and battery.

The only real downside we’ve found is that the restart (on some cars) can be a bit annoying. Some manufacturers haven’t executed these systems as smoothly as others. Buick and GM actually do it pretty well, but on some cars, you can feel a little shudder every time the car restarts.

The heating and cooling fan keeps running (along with important accessories like the seat heaters and the radio) when the engine shuts off. And if the temperature in the cabin gets out of its acceptable range (which it rarely does during a 60-second traffic light), the engine will turn itself back on and fire up the compressor.

As you’ve discovered, restarting is instantaneous, as soon as you take your foot off the brake, so there’s no making anybody wait behind you. In fact, a BMW we drove recently uses its automatic emergency braking sensor to tell when the car in front of you starts moving, and it restarts the car when it sees that, even before you take your foot off the brake. Pretty smart!

So, we’re with you, Tom. We don’t love these systems, but we got used to them. The environmental benefits alone make the case for everybody using them.

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

Business: Amendolaro

Location: 412 Spruce St., Scranton

Owner: Justin Amendolaro

Year established: June 1, 2012

Number of employees: Four

Tell us about your business: I try to carry unique items that are harder to find in this area. I try to carry brands that are harder to find that people want and are looking for.

We strive to carry the most trendy items in clothing and jewelry while offering the best customer service possible to attract customers to shop with us.

What are your secrets to success? Being in the jewelry business — this isn’t really a secret to success — but you have to be on top of trends and make sure you get what’s trending before the next guy does.

We offer free local delivery, free two-hour parking in the garage and free curbside service, because there are still people who want to shop local in the brick and mortar store.

I try to make it as convenient as possible for people to shop with us.

What is your biggest challenge? Our biggest challenge along with every small business out there is trying to compete with the internet. There is no bigger challenge.

For someone to be able to sit at their computer or sit on their phone and order the exact same thing rather than venturing out is very challenging.

We could build a website, but with the number of products we have, would be astronomically expensive.

We are in the process of building a Facebook store. We have a big social media following, and it’s a lot less expensive to do that.

I’m trying to build a brick-and-mortar store that’s just like shopping online without shopping online — if that makes sense.

WILKES-BARRE

The state Department of Education approved a new King’s College stand-alone degree program in special education for pre-kindergarten through 12th grade.

King’s says it is now one of the first four colleges in the state to earn the approval and can begin immediately offering the program to current first-year and sophomore education students. They can be among the first in the state to earn the degree following the January 2022 effective date.

State legislation from October 2018 changed the grade spans and age levels for certification of special education instructional certificates.

— MICHAEL P. BUFFER

More than 8,000 people across Northeast Pennsylvania who rely on the federal food stamp program are in danger of losing their benefits under a new rule that tightens work requirements for some adult recipients.

State officials and others warn it is just a taste of what is to come in the commonwealth as the Trump administration moves forward with a series of proposals to scale back the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP.

Potentially hundreds of thousands of Pennsylvania households could see their SNAP benefits reduced, increasing the pressure on already strained food pantries and other charitable programs.

“It’s going to put a huge burden on the social service network,” said Gary Drapek, president and CEO of United Way of Lackawanna and Wayne Counties. “It will be up to people like the agencies we fund to try to support the loss of those benefits, and there is only so much you can do.”

The new rule finalized Thursday by the U.S. Department of Agriculture will limit states from exempting work-eligible adults from

having to maintain steady employment in order to receive SNAP benefits.

Under current rules, able-bodied adults between 18 and 49 with no dependents may receive only three months of benefits in a three-year period unless they meet a 20-hours-per-week work requirement, but states can waive those standards in areas with high unemployment.

The new rule, which will take effect in April, permits a state to issue a waiver only after the jobless rate hits at least 6% and sets other restrictions.

The rule will jeopardize SNAP benefits for at least 78,000 Pennsylvanians, the state Department of Human Services said.

In the seven counties of Northeast Pennsylvania, more than 8,300 recipients could be affected, including 2,499 in Lackawanna and 3,639 in Luzerne, according to a preliminary state analysis.

State Human Services Secretary Teresa Miller pushed back this week against another rule change proposed by the Trump administration that she said could cost 775,000 households in Pennsylvania a portion of their SNAP benefits.

The rule would alter the method the state uses to determine the Standard Utility Allowance.

Recipients who qualify for the allowance can deduct a portion of their expenses for shelter and utilities from the income used to determine their monthly SNAP benefit because that money is not available to be used to purchase food.

The proposed rule would use a standard formula to determine each state’s allowance, ignoring costs of living and utility rates that vary from state to state, Miller said. That would affect Northeast states more than the rest of the country.

In Pennsylvania, each $10 reduction in the allowance equates to a $2 to $3 reduction in SNAP benefits. If the allowance were reduced by $200, for example, most households would see a reduction in SNAP benefits of $40 to $60 per month.

Miller, who submitted public comment to the USDA opposing the rule, said the change would increase hunger and food insecurity across Pennsylvania and disproportionately harm working families, people with disabilities and seniors.

“This rule would force families who rely on SNAP to choose between putting food on their table or other necessities such as heating their home or paying for medical costs,” she said in a statement.

A preliminary DHS estimate indicates the rule would affect about 61,000 households across the region, including 16,991 in Lackawanna County and 26,139 in Luzerne County.

The USDA has not said when it expects to finalize the rule.

At the Commission on Economic Opportunity’s Harry & Jeanette Weinberg Northeast Regional Food Bank, director Rich Kutz said any reduction in SNAP benefits is likely to mean more people visiting area emergency food pantries and kitchens in search of assistance.

The food bank in Jenkins Twp., which serves Lackawanna, Luzerne, Susquehanna and Wyoming counties, works with 160 partner agencies, about half of them food banks or similar programs.

“It’s hard to tell at this point in time what the exact number of people or the increase is that we’ll see. ... It will in any case put an increased demand on the emergency food network throughout the region and the state,” he said.

Contact the writer:

dsingleton@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9132

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Tarang Ramesh Desai, San Jose, Calif., and Dhrutika Maheshbhai Patel, Scranton.

■ Francis Edward Schumacher and Judy Anne Teeple, both of Spring Brook Twp.

■ Juan Trinidad Lopez and Melania Escoto, both of Scranton.

■ Richard Merle Travis Jr. and Mary Jo Solack, both of Clarks Summit.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Joseph W. Wasnowic and Kimberly Wasnowic Callahan to Samuel N. and Lisa Starr; a property at 116 Franklin Ave., Scranton, for $52,000.

■ David W. Beynon Jr., Moscow, to Sean Hughes and Stephanie Sebastianelli, Scranton; a property at 704 Parkview Road, Moscow, for $400,000.

■ Richard T. Amen to Carolyn D. O’Connor; a property in Thornhurst Twp., for $125,000.

■ Raymond P. Casale, Scranton, to Abdul Wahid Azizi, Scranton; a property at 1214 Lloyd St., Scranton, for $65,000.

■ Gregory W. and Paulette Morano to William O’Valent, trustee of the Wagon Wheel Trust; a parcel in Scott Twp., for $242,000.

■ Scott T. McGrath, Dickson City, Ronald C. McGrath, Williamsville, N.Y., and Brian M. McGrath, Scranton, to William C. Cannon, Scranton; a property at 2517 Hollister Ave., Scranton, for $55,000.

■ Michael V. and Mary T. Lazar, Lackawanna County, to Joshua J. Ruddy, Lackawanna County; a property at 504 Hilltop Lane, South Abington Twp., for $196,000.

■ Wells Fargo Bank NA, Frederick, Md., to KPMH Inc., Scranton; a property at 317-319 N. Garfield Ave., Scranton, for $50,000.

■ Joseph Theisen, Scranton, to Tammy L. Kakareka and Todd Williams, Moscow; two parcels in Spring Brook Twp., for $85,000

■ Michael Condrat, executor of the estate of Helen Yurgalavich, Scranton, to JMS Elite LLC, Scranton; a property at 1134-1136 Court St., for $70,000.

ESTATES FILED

■ Jeanne L. Kanavy, 620 Foxtail Circle, Archbald, letters of administration to Ryan S. Cognetti, 1103 Summit Pointe, Scranton.

■ Ann D. Pazzalia, 4516 Hamlin Highway, Moscow, letters testamentary to Mary Ann Brooks, 4504 Hamlin Highway, Moscow.

■ Dolores V. Ross, also known as Delores V. Ross, 1217 Hampton St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Patricia Marie Rose, 3811 Wylam Ave., Moosic.

■ John J. Evangelista, 105 El Drive, Taylor, letters testamentary to John M. Evangelista, 4369 Elmhurst Blvd., Moscow, and Brian Evangelista, 15 Stump Drive, Pittston Twp.

■ Ann E. Casey, 1555 N. Washington Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Sharon Swift, 1646 Penn Ave., Scranton.

DIVORCE SOUGHT

■ Liana Craig, Roaring Brook Twp., v. Robert H. Craig, Roaring Brook Twp.; married Nov. 8, 1997, in Elmhurst Twp.; Kim A. Giombetti, attorney.

LAWSUIT

Breeana Harmer, 330 Warren St., Apt. 2, Scranton, v. Lindsey Tharalsden, 1524 Cedar Ave., Scranton; Sadina Meo, 105 Cleveland Drive, Jermyn; and Progressive Speciality Insurance Co., 6300 Wilson Mills Road, W33, Mayfield Village, Ohio, seeking in excess of $50,000 for injuries sustained in an automobile accident Aug. 8, 2018, on Interstate 81, Moosic.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Covington Twp.

Nature camp: Winter Nature Camp, Dec. 27 and 28, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., Lackawanna College Environmental Education Center, 93 MacKenzie Road; children ages 5 to 11 will explore winter through science experiments; cost/$80 for both days, $45 per day; preregistration required: Michelle Wheeler at 570-842-1506.

Forest City

Free meal: Free community meal, Dec. 21, noon-1 p.m., Christ Episcopal Church, Delaware and Dundaff streets; no community luncheons in January, February and March.

Scranton

Legal help: Family Law Help Desk, Friday, 1:30-3:30 p.m., Family Court Administration Office, 123 Wyoming Ave.; the free event will provide the opportunity for low-income individuals who have family law problems in the county to meet briefly with a lawyer; apply/info: 570-961-2714.

Church event: Cathedral Choral Festival of Lessons and Carols for Advent, Dec. 15, 6:30 p.m., St. Stanislaus Polish National Catholic Cathedral, 529 E. Locust St.; a reception with light refreshments will follow the concert.

Holiday event: South Side Friendly Seniors Christmas Party, Dec. 17, noon, St. Paul of the Cross Parish Center, Prospect Avenue.

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.

FAIRVIEW TWP.

An employee at a popular Mountain Top pizzeria pulled down a co-worker’s pants and rubbed up against her when she went to get pizza boxes from a back room last month, according to charges filed Friday.

Nicola Coppola, 56, of 88 S. Mountain Blvd., is accused of trying to sexually assault the woman during a shift Nov. 13 at King’s Ristorante e Pizzeria at 49 S. Mountain Blvd.

During questioning, Coppola initially maintained that nothing had happened between him and the woman. He later admitted to grabbing the woman and pulling down her pants.

Police charged Coppola with felony counts of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and attempted sexual assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and indecent exposure.

Fairview Twp. Police Chief Phil Holbrook said the restaurant has since fired Coppola. He remains free on $25,000 unsecured bail.

— JAMES HALPIN

PennDOT plans to widen almost 11 miles of Interstate 81 in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties in the next decade, a stretch significantly longer than previous plans.

State Department of Transportation officials announced this week that the effort will begin in Luzerne County, but Lackawanna County won’t trail by much.

“It isn’t a case of Lackawanna loses and Luzerne wins,” said state Rep. Mike Carroll, D-118, Avoca, whose district includes parts of both counties and who sits on the PennDOT Public-Private Partnership Board that approved the Luzerne project Wednesday.

The quest to widen the interstate between its Clarks Summit interchange in Lackawanna County and Nanticoke interchange in Luzerne County began early this century. In 2003, the late U.S. Sen. Arlen Specter hosted a news conference near the Dupont/Pittston interchange to announce he would fight for construction money.

The late Charles Mattei, PennDOT district engineer at the time, predicted the first contract would target the most heavily traveled stretch: 3 miles from exit 182 (Davis Street/Montage Mountain) to exit 185 (Central Scranton Expressway) where 70,000 or more vehicles travel daily.

For years, that was the only I-81 widening plan, but that was also before a lot of new development in Luzerne County.

Under the Luzerne County project, PennDOT will widen 4.5 miles between exit 164 (Route 29/South Cross Valley/Nanticoke) and exit 168 (Highland Park Boulevard), which feeds Mohegan Sun Arena, several shopping centers and downtown Wilkes-Barre. PennDOT says up to 50,000 vehicles a day use the stretch.

PennDOT expects the project to cost between $150 million and $250 million, said Michael Bonini, director of the PennDOT public-private partnership office in Harrisburg. Construction could begin in three to five years, Bonini said. He did not know how long it will take.

PennDOT will handle preliminary engineering and hire a private company for final design, construction and post-construction maintenance that will last for an undetermined number of years, Bonini said.

Widening of the I-81 stretch in Lackawanna County — 6.2 miles from exit 185 to the Luzerne-Lackawanna border — will happen a bit later.

With an estimated $330 million cost, the Scranton-Moosic schedule calls for completion of preliminary engineering by September 2022, completion of final design and right-of-way acquisition by September 2026 and construction between October 2026 and September 2030, according to the 12-year transportation improvement program document issued by the Lackawanna-Luzerne Metropolitan Planning Organization. The board of local transportation, elected, business and other local officials revises the program every other year.

Sue Hazelton, who heads design for PennDOT’s regional district office, pegged construction’s start for 2026.

This is the plan for the two stretches, even though only the Lackawanna stretch appears on the 12-year program at the moment.

Bonini explained how that happened.

The PennDOT Public-Private Partnership Office originally envisioned the Luzerne project as the replacement of 15 bridges — 10 on 25 miles of I-81 between Wilkes-Barre and Hazleton and five on Interstate 80, which intersects with I-81 near Hazleton. The Public-Private Partnership Board approved that last November. An earlier version of that project is on the 12-year program.

“The priorities haven’t necessarily changed. That Scranton-to-Moosic piece, the Lackawanna County piece, is still the priority,” Bonini said. “However, as we were initially looking at just replacing those bridges (in Luzerne), we saw an opportunity here to improve that particular project by doing the necessary interstate reconstruction activities for safety improvements. It’s not one coming in and supplanting the other.”

In this case, the I-81 widening will also eliminate a left-hand exit northbound near Blackman Street in Wilkes-Barre. PennDOT believes that exit poses a danger because drivers entering I-81 from the exit 164 interchange must quickly cross two lanes to reach it. The project creates a new right-hand exit to get to Blackman Street. The project still includes the reconstruction of eight bridges, Bonini said.

Increased truck traffic to expanding industrial parks near Nanticoke and traffic to the arena and its neighborhood are also driving the widening, Bonini confirmed.

“We saw an opportunity to address those deficiencies along this stretch of Interstate 81,” Bonini said.

Hazelton said the entire stretch of I-81 through the counties needs reconstruction, and both projects will push that substantially ahead. The new transportation program will reflect the new plan, she said. That plan is due for finalization next year.

“Whether we start in Luzerne or Lackawanna, any money we get, we’re grateful for,” Hazelton said.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

A federal judge ordered a Dickson City neurologist to pay $9.45 million to a former partner in two medical/pharmaceutical companies.

Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo said evidence shows Vithalbhai Dhaduk reneged on an agreement to pay Mukeshkumar Patel money he was owed for his share of Global Pharma Analytics and Somahlution.

According to a lawsuit Patel filed in 2017, he and Dhaduk each owned a 50% share of the companies. In July 2015, they reached an agreement that Dhaduk would pay Patel $9.45 million “as soon as he can” in exchange for Patel exiting the companies.

Patel, of Mumbai, India, alleged Dhaduk never made the payment, which breached a memorandum of understanding. In court papers, Patel said Dhaduk has an income of $2.5 million a year and assets of more than $30 million, so he clearly has the ability to pay.

Dhaduk argued the contract was meant only as a guide. He maintained he was required to pay Patel only if the companies showed a profit.

In siding with Patel, Caputo said the language of the memorandum of understanding is binding and clearly obligates Dhaduk to pay Patel.

“Dhaduk is trying to argue that the phrase ‘as soon as he can’ is indefinite, because it does not disclaim him of a personal responsibility to pay Patel for exiting Soma and GPA, regardless of these companies’ success,” Caputo said. “While the parties may have discussed the possibility of this arrangement, which Dhaduk has repeatedly advocated, it is not the position that is clearly memorialized in the MOU.”

Attempts to reach Dhaduk’s attorney, George Reihner of Scranton, were unsuccessful.

Contact the writer:

tbesecker

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

A medical marijuana user who was denied employment with a Moosic staffing agency filed a class-action lawsuit, alleging the firm is violating Pennsylvania’s Medical Marijuana Act.

The lawsuit, filed in Lackawanna County Court by Eaton A. Lang IV of White Haven, seeks damages from Adecco USA Inc., 4211 Birney Ave.

According to the suit, Lang applied for a position in November with Adecco, which provides staffing to various industries. He was advised he would be required to pass a drug test. Lang told officials at the drug testing company that he was a medical marijuana user.

The firm reported Lang tested positive for marijuana. He was then contacted by an official with Adecco, who said he was not eligible for employment because of the positive drug test.

The suit is at least the second lawsuit filed locally that challenges employers’ decisions to fire or refuse to hire people who are medically certified to use the marijuana to treat health conditions. Pamela Palmiter filed suit in March against Commonwealth Health System. Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon recently denied the hospital’s motion to dismiss the lawsuit.

The Lang and Palmiter suits hinge on a dispute over whether employers are obligated to abide by the state’s Medical Marijuana Act, which says an employer cannot “discharge, threaten, refuse to hire or otherwise discriminate or retaliate” against employees solely because they use the drug. Some employers contend they are not obligated to do so because marijuana is still classified as a controlled substance under federal law.

Lang’s lawsuit, filed by attorney Peter C. Wood Jr. of Wilkes-Barre, says Adecco cited federal law in denying him employment. The suit seeks damages on behalf of Lang and other medical marijuana users who have been denied employment.

Attempts to reach officials with Adecco for comment were unsuccessful.

Contact the writer:

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

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

Drug detectives arrested two people in Scranton on Thursday and seized 25 grams of raw heroin and $2,000 worth of stolen goods, authorities said.

Ryan Radford, 35, and his girlfriend, Laura Ainsworth, 36, both of 602 Prescott Ave., are charged with drug counts and receiving stolen property. Radford also is charged with possessing a firearm despite a 2009 conviction for a drug crime, according to the criminal complaint.

Investigators from the Dunmore police and Lackawanna County Drug Task Force have made controlled purchases of heroin from Redford since November, police said.

On Thursday, they made their move.

They first watched Ainsworth come out and get into a black Pontiac sedan. They followed and detained her near the 100 block of North Washington Avenue.

Then, at 4 p.m., they watched as Radford left his apartment and got into a black Nissan. They followed and pulled him over at Spruce Street and Adams Avenue.

Detectives searched Radford and found 5 grams of what they suspect was heroin in his pocket. They also found a plastic zipper pouch containing 14 bags of heroin, nine individual bags of heroin, another 13 bags holding about 10 grams of heroin, 80 bags of heroin packaged in “bundle” form and more of the drug wrapped in aluminum foil. Radford also had $800 and 8 grams of synthetic marijuana on him, as well.

Radford told police he had more drugs and a handgun back at his apartment. There, police found a .32-caliber handgun, which had been stolen in Shickshinny, two hits of LSD, more synthetic marijuana, a digital scale and packaging material.

They also found several items in a back bedroom worth about $2,000 that Ainsworth said had been stolen. These included multiple DeWalt saws, chargers and Skullcandy ear buds, among other electronics.

Investigators said they were not through with their investigation.

The narcotics will be sent to a state police crime laboratory for further analysis.

Radford is in the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $75,000 bail; Ainsworth on $5,000. Preliminary hearings for each are scheduled Dec. 19.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com, 570-348-9144;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — Carrying an envelope stuffed with coupons, Patrolman Patrick Van Wie patrolled the city Friday afternoon, surprising motorists with free food instead of a ticket.

Rather than ticket drivers for traffic violations, the patrolman gave them a warning and a free meal voucher as part of the city’s third annual Undercover Secret Santa program.

Van Wie is one of 13 officers who volunteered to participate in the program. All together, the department will hand out 230 coupons for either a free hamburger at Burger King, a free extra value meal at McDonald’s or a free large round cheese pizza from Fratelli’s Pizza & Pasta House.

“It’s usually not a good thing when someone gets pulled over, so to be able to end it on a good note is a good feeling,” Van Wie said.

The program began this week and will continue until officers run out of coupons, said Patrolman Christopher Hallock, who is the department’s accreditation manager.

Officers use their discretion to decide how to hand out the vouchers, said Police Chief Carl Graziano.

“This was just something to brighten someone’s day and have the police be engaged with the community, open those lines of communication,” Graziano said.

Van Wie started his patrol by pulling over a white SUV with expired registration on Lackawanna Avenue. Inside, he found Yasminda Cabell driving with her three daughters.

“I was like, ‘Why are we getting pulled over?’” said Mikayla Mendez of Moosic. “I didn’t do anything, and I know my mom didn’t do anything.”

Mikayla, 16, was surprised when Van Wie handed them a voucher for Fratelli’s.

“I thought we were going to get a ticket,” she said. “Then, the nice officer gave us a free pizza coupon.”

Following the traffic stop, Van Wie tracked down a homeless man he knew in South Side, stopping to chat and shake his hand as he gave him coupons for two meals at McDonald’s.

As he continued his patrol, Van Wie saw Mary Beth Baldinucci pull out without using her turn signal in South Side. He stopped Baldinucci and her husband, Frank, near Pittston Avenue and Saginaw Street.

Mary Beth Baldinucci wondered why an officer pulled her over. But when Van Wie handed her a voucher for a free Fratelli’s pizza, the confusion turned to relief. The couple plan to share the pizza with their five grandkids.

“My wife takes all the blame, though” for being pulled over, Frank Baldinucci added with a laugh.

As the afternoon turned to dusk, Hallock drove through the city, looking for people on foot who he could surprise with a pizza or burger voucher.

Flanked by her mother, niece and nephew, Carina Gonzalez was pushing her 7-month-old son in a stroller at Foster Street and Mount Vernon Avenue when Hallock flipped on his lights.

Hallock’s face lit up as he interacted with the Gonzalez family, especially when he made a fuss over Gonzalez’s infant son. The family beamed as they chatted with the officer.

Gonzalez said she didn’t know if the police were stopping her or if there was some way she could help them when she saw the lights.

“(Hallock) said they’re giving secret Santa gifts, and we got burgers and a pizza,” Gonzalez said, thanking the patrolman. “It just made my day — a good Friday.”

Natalie Gonzalez thought it was “amazing.” The 9-year-old said she might want to become a police officer when she grows up. If she does, she’d like to do the same for children someday.

Community policing is one of Hallock’s favorite parts of being a police officer, he said, explaining that a school resource officer influenced his decision to join law enforcement.

“Anytime I can get out here and interact and give back to the public in a nontraditional way of what people view police officers as, it’s really something I look forward to — especially during the holidays,” he said. “Start the holiday season off with some good news.”

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

SCRANTON

The state Department of Environmental Protection will not issue a notice of violation to the Scranton Department of Public Works after crews emptied the contents of a garbage truck onto the ground to make emergency repairs.

City officials explained that the trash was dropped near Grove Street and Seventh Avenue for a limited amount of time Tuesday so mechanics could fix the truck, DEP spokeswoman Colleen Connolly said.

DEP officials asked the city to call first should similar situations arise so regulators can decide whether it’s necessary and recommend proper procedures or alternatives.

— JON O’CONNELL

FAIRVIEW TWP. — A former employee at a popular Mountain Top pizzeria pulled down a co-worker’s pants and rubbed up against her when she went to get pizza boxes from a back room last month, according to charges filed Friday.

Nicola Coppola, 56, of 88 S. Mountain Blvd., is accused of trying to sexually assault the woman during a shift at King’s Ristorante Pizzeria at 49 S. Mountain Blvd. 

The woman, who reported she has worked at the restaurant for several years, told investigators she had been working the front counter during a shift on Nov. 13, and that around 7:30 p.m. she went to get more pizza boxes.

She noticed Coppola was in the room, and when he told her to “show me your cheeks” she thought he was joking and dismissed the remark, according to the complaint.

But when the woman reached up to get some boxes, Coppola reached his hands under her shirt and pulled down her pants and underwear, the charges allege.

Stunned, the woman asked Coppola what he was doing, police said. He then pressed himself against her and grabbed her hips, according to the complaint. 

Coppola told the woman to “hold on” as he exposed his penis and then rubbed against her several times, police allege. After a short while, Coppola backed off and pulled up his pants, the complaint says.

He then turned the woman around and kissed her on the lips, saying, “This can be our little secret,” according to the charges.

The woman went back to the area of the dishwasher and began to cry, police said. When she went outside to call a friend, Coppola followed her and asked what was wrong, the complaint says.

The woman told him she didn’t like what had happened and Coppola said he “couldn’t help it” because she is attractive, police said.

“Let’s just pretend it never happened,” the complaint quotes Coppola as saying.

During questioning, Coppola initially maintained that nothing had happened between him and the woman. He later admitted to grabbing the woman and pulling down her pants, although he maintained he “only rubbed up against her for a few seconds,” police said.

“I realized that that was wrong and immediately pulled back. And I said I was sorry,” Coppola said in a written statement, according to the complaint. “I never done anything like this before and do not know why it happened and I am extremely sorry for this. She is a very good person and very playful.”

Coppola’s position at the restaurant was not immediately clear. The complaint identifies him only as “the pizza man” and Fairview Twp. Police Chief Phil Holbrook said he did not know Coppola’s job title.

However, the restaurant has since fired Coppola, he said.

Police charged Coppola with felony counts of attempted involuntary deviate sexual intercourse and attempted sexual assault, as well as misdemeanor counts of indecent assault and indecent exposure.

Magisterial District Judge Ferris Peter Webby arraigned Coppola on the charges Friday morning and released him on $25,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing was set for Jan. 2.

About 300 students from schools throughout Northeast and Central Pennsylvania completed the annual Scholarship Entrance Examination on Saturday at Scranton Preparatory School.

Students unable to sit for the exam can contact the admissions office at 570-941-7737, x141 to schedule a makeup test.

Principal Kristin Cupillari announced 37 students won merit-based scholarships by attaining the highest scores on this year’s exam:

A.M.D.G SCHOLARS

Ian Charnetski, Old Forge Junior/Senior High School; Anthony Ghigiarelli, Howard Gardner MI Charter School; Samantha Greenfield, All Saints Academy; Ashley Greening, North Pocono Middle School; Nora Kolucki, Our Lady of Peace; Gavin Kovaleski, St. Mary of Mount Carmel; Luke Mozeleski, All Saints Academy; Joseph Ramey, Our Lady of Peace; Nicole Yencha, Holy Rosary, and Holly Zaluski, Our Lady of Peace.

AD ALTIORA SCHOLARS

Holly Burke, Carbondale Area Junior/Senior High School; Patrick Devaney, St. Mary of Mount Carmel; Grace Kowalski, Our Lady of Peace; Quinn Lynett, St. Clare/St. Paul; Tyler Mackrell, Our Lady of Peace; Mackenzie Muha, LaSalle Academy; Rocco Rinaldi, St. Clare/St. Paul; George Stallman, St. Clare/St. Paul; Maximus Tierney, Our Lady of Peace, and Gavin Walsh, Our Lady of Peace.

MAGIS SCHOLARS

Ethan Borick, Valley View Middle School; Aidan Busacco, North Pocono Middle School; Rachel Fay, Our Lady of Peace; Aidan Froehlich, Crestwood Middle School; Callie Gelderman, Wallenpaupack Area Middle School; Finn Kane, Our Lady of Peace; Stella Kwiecinski, Our Lady of Peace; Jeffrey Marsico, Riverside Junior/Senior High School; Juliana Monforte, Fell Charter School; James Munley, Our Lady of Peace; Riley Nealon, LaSalle Academy; Peter Pavuk, Our Lady of Peace; Alexandra Pettinato, Our Lady of Peace; Gwendolyn Powell, North Pocono Middle School; Sabrina Preate, North Pocono Middle School; Andrew Summa, Our Lady of Peace; and Dylan Tost, Howard Gardner MI Charter School.