VALLEY VIEW HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

High honors: Mariah Addis, Ava Angeloni, Dominic Angeloni, Allison Bennett, Dixon Black, Abigail Borgacci, Jeremy Boyle, Robert Brudnicki, Damien Bryla, Anthony Carmadella, Maura Carter, Joshua Castellani, Beatrice Chindemi, Jonathan Clark, Isabella Collura, Jordan Conserette, Annaliese Daiute, Erica Davis, Serena Davis, Kayla Davitt, Ruth Deliman, Katelyn Dougher, Robert Ferraro III, Mackenzie Gavin, Riley Gibbons, Ava Giombetti, Nathan Grover, Nina Grushinski, Alyssa Harrington, Dylan Howanitz, Madison Kuzdro, David Kuzmick, Sarah Linko, Aleksander Lukaitis, William Malaker, Emily Martin, Mackenzie McHale, Madison McVicar, Giavana Mercatili, Mia Mercatili, Celeste Meta, Kaylie Noto, Nadia Palevac, Ashley Reddock, Noah Reed, Vivian Russell, Simal Sami, Alex Savkov, Taylor Seprosky, Angela Shander, Jake Sheridan, Michael Sklareski, Deanna Soulsby, Molly Sweeney, Mia Tomassoni, Nicholas Tomassoni, Ryan Turlip, Nadia Vanyo, Lauren Walsh, Markayla Ward and Lakayla Williams.

Honors: Michael Altieri, Olivia Blockberger, Logan Burns, Sarah Capwell, Justina Catapane, Joshua Davitt, Mackenzie Drutherosky, Karolyn Fortuner, Enver Gashi, Andrew Hall, Maura Healey, Tessa Jones, Lainey Kamora, Connor Kelley, Faith Kendricks, Julia Koniszewski, Alexis Ladomirak, Brittany Maddage, Zachary Manchak, Mia Markiewicz, Maxwell McLaughlin, Madison Pachucy, Francesco Pazzaglia, Alexander Powell, Chaylor Rakoczy, Mia Rudalavage, Ryley Shemonski, Jadyn Swartout, Emily Tolerico, David Uhrin Jr., Noah Voglino, Gabriel Yurkanin, Emma Ziminskas and Kaylin Zuzzio.

GRADE 11

High honors: Aidan Alco, Gavin Benedict, Skylar Bianchi, Ella Borgacci, Hailey Brajuka, Christopher Brzegowski, Emma Burak, Rylee Cali, Hannah Carone, Tyler Cawley, Ryan Cesarini, Shaylyn Chilek, Ryan Coleman, Corey Coulthard, Colin Dougher, Zachary Edwards, Angelina Estadt, Dominique Ferraro, Madison Flannery, Brian Gallagher, Caydenz Graham, Benjamin Gregorowicz, Matthew Halloran, Max Hanyon, Corey Iyoob, Joseph Jarosh, Olivia Kaschak, Mikaylaa Katchmore, Brianna Kohut, Justin Kolsovsky, Alissa Koniszewski, Zack Kovalchik, Ian Kovatch, Mackenzie Longworth, Madison Luchetti, Mark Mariani, Eva Marino, Alyssa Marion, Micayla Matamoros, David Mayne, Emily Mondak, Matthew Morgan, Thomas Noto Jr., Alana Passeri, Taralyn Reilly, Lindsay Scopelliti, Haily Serpico, Lauren Sharpe, Amanda Sherwood, Morgan Siefring, Matthew Smith, Gianna Snell, Daniel Solomon, Sarah Solomon, Madeline Sopp, Adam Szewczyk, Gavin Tylenda, Alyssa Valenza, C.J. Walker, Jordan Wasilchak, Colin Wells, Sophia Williams, Nyomi Wilson, Emma Winter, Cheyenne Worden, Olivia May Yoder and Michael Zuzzio.

Honors: Evan Anderson, Jake Barrett, Diego Bonilla, Zachary Carone, Logan Carroll, Laci Connor, James Cook, Delaney Dennis, Julia Earl, Emma Giovagnoli, Adam Grundt, Kevin Iyoob, Gina Kenny, Jacey Kondash, Austin Langel, Briana Layman, Nathan Loiseau, Jason Lucke Jr., Thomas Matchko, Sadiyya Maultsby, Patrick Murphy, Tiffany Nestor, Dominic Pichany, Sophia Pisarski, Blake Praschak, Megan St. Ledger, Kyle Suchecki, William Sweeny III, Mollie Walsh and Mia Wickkizer.

GRADE 10

High honors: Samantha Adams, Katelyn Ainey, Jessalyn Aquilino, Desiree Ashton, Robert Basalyga Jr., Angelica Berardi, James Bistran, Carli Bossick, Haley Bronson, Eric Burnett, Cory Bushta, Brianna Conniff, Christopher Conserette Jr., Hannah Danielowski, Caden Danks, Marissa Dougher, Lauren Dupay, William Durkin, Connor Eberhart, Aaron Fontanella, Noah Fontanella, Shay Gillen, Ava Giovagnoli, Elayna Haring, Liam Harrison, Caleah Hawley, Anthony Heid, Kai Horeis, Carley Jankauskas, Ryley Jervis, Timothy Karlavige, Lori Kozlowski, Grace Lennox, Sean Mackinder, Leah Mackrell, Morgan Masters, Emily Mattise, Morgan Mayne, Gia Mazza, Emma Mazzoni, Anthony Memo, Paige Morgan, Katelyn Morisco, Caleb Moser, Lauren Murnock, Sydney Naylor, Alexandria O’Halloran, Hunter Pazzalia, Victoria Pitoniak, Jared Ramos, Dante Randle, Paige Redman, Victoria Reed, Samuel Rosetti, Vito Rotell, Zack Rudalavage, Olivia Russell, Mahanoor Sami, Anna Sebastianelli, Alivia Sherman, Leo Sirianni, Colin Skeen, Dylan Smith, Zakary Sova, Timothy St. Ledger, Natalia Sturdevant, Natalie Sweeney, Saige Sweeney, Kaylee Taylor, Adam Teeple, Lydian VanWert, Nymali Verkitus, Michael Ver-Non, Daniel Vislosky, Pavel Vorozilchak, Nathaniel Worrell, Abigail Yurkanin, Rina Zambetti, Elijah Zimmerman, Brianna Zipay and Anna Zuby.

Honors: Chase Benjamin, John Casarin II, Nicole Chiricos, Matthew Cole, Mayer Crean, Madelyn Davis, Tehya Dietrich, Kaitlynn Evans, Julia Falls, Anthony Fantazier, Andrew Heid, Hayden Holley, Owen Howells, Giavanna Hoyer, Brendan Jarosh, Kylie Jenkins, Evan Jenner, Joseph Kalafut Jr., Tim Lee, Mariah Lyon, Kaley Maday, Louis Marion, Amarion Miree, Kayla Morgan, Damien Mulderig, Hailey O’Leary, Alexandra Philbin, Tyler Pienkowski, Haylie Popovich, Jordan Rebar, Jakob Reed, Isabella Seymour, Aiden Skeen, Daicoda Strackbein, Tyler Swartz, Jessica Terry, Joseph Traucht, Brody Walsh, Kevin Williams and Angelina Zizza.

GRADE 9

High honors: Edmarie Acosta, Vincenzo Angeloni, Gino Barone, Maura Barrett, Liliana Boccadori, Natalie Borosky, Megan Brown, Caitlin Burman, Carson Bushta, Mia Callejas, Jacob Casarin, James Casarin Jr., Amanda Chorba, Maya Chorba, Abigail Cowley, Riley Cunningham, William Darienzo III, Nina Domiano, Abigail Drozdick, Alexa Evangelista, Delaney Flannery, Emily Gazoo, Lily Giovagnoli, Abbigail Goodwin, Collin Griffiths, Evan Hall, Jamie Heid Jr., Connor Hilling, Shania Hodges, Adam Howanitz, Camdyn Jervis, Emily Kaeb, Jacob Karsnak, Shelby Kaschak, Kiley Keesling, Megan Kennedy, Lucas Kotcho, James Liparulo, Lucy Loftus, Riley Mahnke, Kaylee Martin, Anthony Mauro Jr., Jack McLaughlin, Morgan McVicar, Genevieve Moyles, Molly Murphy, Lily Nemeth, Della Noon, Brody Owens, Isabella Parise, John Pavuk, Kayli Pawlikowski, Lawrence Pegula, Julia Piccolino, Ian Reese, Anah Roman, Neve Skapyak, Avery Smola, Bryce Sokoloski, Samara Strasburger, Connor Swartz, Kayla Sweeney, Ethan Symuleski, Nathan Tratthen, Nathan Traucht, Brooke Tylenda, Grace Walsh, Katie Winter, Tori Yackobowitz, Audry Yuhas and Katelynn Ziskowski.

Honors: Hailey Anuszewski, Anna Ceccarelli, Addison Chorba, Landon Clark, Haylee Cole, Patricia Condron, Alexander Drayer, Emmanuel Edwards, Gabriel Egan, Rafe Evans, Nicholas Hinkley, Brydon Kavanaugh, Evan Kniolek, Joshua Krause, Ayden Krupovich, Chloe Laboranti, Noah Nielsen, Peyton Pazzalia, Dylan Ritzco, Morriah Santarelli, Cameron Sarnoski, Ava Sherman, Sameth So Jr., Molly Sweeny, Anthony Tomassoni, Dylan Walsh, Noah Wells, Isabella Witkowski, Eli Yusavage, Colton Yushinsky, Aleena Zahradnik and Eros Zheng.

SCRANTON

PREPARATORY SCHOOL

GRADE 12

First honors: Isabel Bekele, Madison Bershefsky, Abigail Bowen, Kailey Bridgeman, John Clark, Catherine Collins, Kathryn Coolican, Abigail Davis, Olivia DiMattio, Caitlin Doughton, Kiera Flannery, Marguerite Flynn, Molly Graham, Reghan Hesser, Grace Lenahan, Robert Lynett, Lily Mackarey, Harrison Oven, Camille Pastore, Alison Prushinski, Sammea Ricciardi, Jacquelyn Shanley, Luke Sullivan, Nadja Tomaszewski, Kyla Weckel and Gabriella Zambetti.

Second honors: Andrew Babinski, Zachary Bednarz, Matthew Blackledge, Paige Boland, Lillian Boles, Madison Borgia, Valeria Carissa, William Cholish, Brendan Colleran, Jenna Colon, Kendra Corby, Ann Cosgrove, Katie Costa, Christopher Curry, Olivia D’Andrea, Kim Thi Dang, Gabrielle DeNaples, Marchella DeNaples, Ryan Dubiac, Matthew Dwyer, Taylor Evans, Robert Feeney, Meghan Fitzpatrick, Elizabeth Frederick, Paige Fuller, Evan Garver, Justin Goodrich, Colton Grohs, Shane Hartman, Connor James, Thomas Kennedy, Elisa Kopicki, Julia LaClair, Caroline Linn, Jean Lynett, Scott Lynett, Katherine Malone, Jonah Markowitz, Maren McGrath, Sean McLane, Kristann Mohar, Nicholas Muchisky, Zoe Mulligan, Anne Nasevich, Fiona Neville, Ryan Nguyen, John Petroziello, Geoffrey Pizzuto, Devan Price, Natalie Pritchyk, Matthew Rothwell, Carly Rudalavage, Bryce Rutledge, Shayla Salvatori, Brady Stallman, Andrea Sullin, Abigail Ulrich, Ryleigh Vennie, John Watkins, Grace Wiercinski, Sara Williams, Emily Winslow and Samantha Zolin.

GRADE 11

First honors: Victoria Berbano, Grace Boyle, Sarah Boyle, Mia Burke, Ava Buttner, Thomas Casey, Natalie Clum, Cecelia Collins, Morgan Costa, Mia Familetti, Willa Farrell, Lily Harden, Sierra Hartland, Matthew Howard, Michael Howard, Brenna Jordan, Abigale Kellogg, Samantha Killian, Kelly Anne Kjetsaa, Margaret Kosierowski, Kathleen Lynott, Anna Mariotti, Ryliann McAllister, Megan McDonald, Julia McGraw, Lisa Parmar, Claudia Pritchyk, Erica Prushinski, Meredith Purcell, Zackary Richardson, Camilla Rinaldi, Louis Sauter, Avery Tompkins, Ebubechi Uzoukwu, Rocco Valvano and Caroline Welby.

Second honors: Nicholas Cafarella, Gianna Carrera, Samuel Castellani, Conal Clarke, Joseph Fasula, Sophia Galenas, Joseph Gaughan, Vito Gianello, Lydia Gilpin, Taylor Haley, Mason Hemak, Spencer Keihl, Claire Kelly, Julia Kelly, Marisa Kelly, Patrick Kennedy, Carmen Marranca, Natalia Mazza, James McCabe, Rebecca Miller, Audrey Munley, Daniel Nguyen, Nicole Nicholas, Christopher Penetar, Gabriella Price, Marina Rinkunas, Rachael Rose, Jennifer Simrell, David Smith, Matthew Tatulli, Matthew Tressler, Emma Troy and Gianna Williams.

GRADE 10

First honors: Jackson Batzel, Ayden Berndt, Lilianna Davitt, William Granci, Ethan Gumula, Abigail Haggerty, Ethan Haggerty, Nicole Iriza, Amy Kaniper, Adam Kenny, Mitchell Kirby, Kathryn Kolucki, Anna Kosierowski, Gia Lettieri, Thomas Lynch, Ariel Mercurius, Michael Nicotera, Macey Pennay, Lilly Reilly, Lauren Repella, Patrick Robinson, Michael Sewack, Lily Seymour, Grace Stallman, Caroline Stampien, Ashlyn Urbanski and Stephanie Yatko.

Second honors: Sarah Aubrey, Luisa Barker, Maria Belardi, Andrew Cimini, Adrianna Colon, Molly Comcowich, Bridgette Conway, Alexys Corbett, Luca Dennis, Gianna Dickson, Nora Evans, Mary Farrell, Marcel Fediw, Andrew Ferguson, Lia Festa, Sofia Flores-Weidner, Monica Fornaszewski, James Gallagher, Gianna Genco, Matthew George, Maya Hemak, Jordan Johnson, Christian Kohut, Monica Lam, Michael Lynch, Jillian Lynn, Aiden Mackrell, Gracie Mariotti, Lidia Marranca, Riley Matasavage, Elizabeth Neville, Drew O’Malley, Annmarie Ong, Allison Orr, Graham Oven, Andrew Padula, Maya Persico, Ragan Poplawski, Tristen Roque, Riley Schreiber, Nicole Tonny, Madison Toolan, Olivia Turner Havira, William Vinsko III, Jack Walsh, Michael Watkins, Savanna Willauer, Elena Winslow and Amber Wright.

GRADE 9

First honors: Amir Akach, Madeline Bormes, Brianna Carrozza, Rita Collins, Ryleigh Collins, Eleanor Farrell, Ava Forgione, Grace Granet, Clare Hann, Tiffany He, Brianna Hubert, Chase Krawchuk, Gianna Natale, Ava Newman, Anthony Nicotera, Michael O’Malley, Grace Osborne, Gopal Patel, Gisselle Rojas, Madison Scoblick, Kiera Shibley, Gloria Tabone, Ava Touch, Jayde Waibel and Skye Williamson.

Second honors: Nicole Baker, Nicole Benjamin, Matthew Budiman, Gianna Cafarella, Nathan Carr, Grace Castellano, Mackenzie Cross, Justin Delgado, Jack Dickson, Elizabeth Donovan, Jaydene Edwards, Jacob Gentile, Sydney Hartland, Alex Iannone, Miranda Karoscik, Chesney Langan, Lena Ligorio, Armaan Mansuri, Cameron McDonough, Alexa Mulrooney, Caidyn O’Malley, Ryan Pasko, Keith Pritchyk, Julia Rossi, Benjamin Rothwell, Carly Schofield, Riley Sharples, Lauren Shay, Eleanor Simrell, Caroline Skoff, Finnbarr Whittaker and Victoria Zaledonis.

ST. CLARE/ST. PAUL

GRADE 8B

Principal’s honors: Quinn Lynett, Jayna McIntyre, George Stallman and Roman Valvano.

High honors: Leo Clarke, Kara Judge, Jake Marx, Cullen Moran, Patrick Rose and Abigail Thompson.

Honors: Norah Comerford and Caroline Kennedy.

GRADE 8G

Principal’s honors: Blake Decker, Rocco Rinaldi and Daniel Santaniello.

High honors: Rylin Berdnt, Kellen Casey, Allyson Gilmartin, Caroline Haggerty Salvatore Luongo and Brian Reilly.

Honors: Konnor Moran, Chase Scanlan, Brayden Sherry and Dorothy Walsh.

GRADE 7B

Principal’s honors: Noel Butler and Marco Rinaldi.

High honors: Caleigh Birtel, Isabella Dennebaum and Daniel Granet.

Honors: Andrew Cleveland, Jackson Keating and Caelyn Oxley.

GRADE 7G

Principal’s honors: Ella Burke and Catherine Colaiezzi.

High honors: Ryan Davis, Katie Heffron, Madeline Hunt and Lisa Myronyuk.

Honors: Patrick Dempsey and James Pappas.

GRADE 6B

Principal’s honors: Grace Newcomb and Taryn Walsh.

High honors: Maggie Carey, Patrick Doherty, Gavin Finnerty, Madeleine Mackarey, Jack Oven, Claire Pappas, Donato Rinaldi and James Stallman.

Honors: Andrew Dempsey, John Ephault, Molly Hunt and Makayla Tunney.

GRADE 6G

Principal’s honors: Benjamin Boyanoksi, Cecelia Hggerty, Patrick Hazzouri, Mackey Lynett and Colin McMullen.

High honors: Ella Boyanski, Austin Burke, James Clark, Hailey Cleveland, Antoinette Hemak, Rebecca Lenahan and Salvatore Talarico.

ST. MARY OF MOUNT CARMEL

GRADE 8

High honors: Brandon Art, Connor Art, Patrick Devaney, David Huester, Lillie Kochis, Gavin Kovaleski, Joseph Lalli, Zachary Minich, Christopher Petrucci, Jenna Robertson, Gary Snyder and Connor Straka.

Honors: Madison Altier, Madelyn Brostoski and Patrick Shaffer.

GRADE 7

High honors: Michelena DeNaples, Kamryn Kincel, Elizabeth Lalli and Gavin Monahan.

Honors: Anthony Colonna, Anthony Noll and Tyler Musso.

GRADE 6

High honors: Natalia Archangeli, Jimmy Bordo, Elizabeth Coval, Shelby Hartland, Alyssa Hartman, Megan Hartman, Paxton Hartman, Luka Otasevic, Claire Polishan, Marrilee Rist, Drew Wozniak and Veronica Zabiegala.

Honors: Benjamin Bellagamba, Marena Caravelli and Zander Schaeffer.

SUMMIT CHRISTIAN ACADEMY

GRADE 12

Jonathan DeWarren.

GRADE 11

James Schmidt Jr.

GRADE 10

Leah Himka and Joshua Masters.

GRADE 9

Ethel Schmidt.

GRADE 8

Philip Beckish, Joshua DeWarren and Logan Treat.

GRADE 7

Kylie Butash, Chase Feldman, Kendra Izon, Alethia Masters, Paige Rivers, Nathan Schmidt and Camilla Treat.

GRADE 6

Noah Dietrich, Audrey Izon, Ruby Redfield and Logan Schmidt.

GRADE 5

Jaylee Gonzalez, Hailey Miller and Avery Rivers.

GRADE 4

Gabriel Bruckner, Chase Butash, Shannon DeWarren, Amelia Dietrich, Zachary Feldman, Joshua Jimenez, Sarah Lynott, Violet Redfield, Caleb Ryan, Anna Schmidt and Adrian Treat.

Clarks Summit

The Gathering Place, 304 S. State St., will host a holiday singalong Friday at 7 p.m. Recording artist Ernie Pappa of Clarks Summit will lead the singing.

The event will feature coffee, tea and hot cider along with homemade Christmas cookies. Song sheets will be available so guests can take part in the festivities.

“We had a really good crowd last year,” board member and Secretary Anne Armezzani said. “A lot of people joined in and each table sang a different part of the ‘12 Days of Christmas’ song.”

The event allows people to escape the stress of the holidays and enjoy a night of camaraderie, Armezzani said.

“You can take time out to appreciate the spirit of the season,” she said.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

rtomkavage

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5365;

@rtomkavage on Twitter

Jessup

Santa Claus is coming to town — with the help of Jessup Hose Company 2.

To give the reindeer a break, the hose company will escort Santa and Mrs. Claus through town this week. Santa will arrive at Fire Station 25 on Hill Street at 5 p.m. Friday and will tour the uptown section of the borough, south of Lane and Erie streets.

Santa will continue his trip through town on Saturday beginning at 3 p.m., where he’ll tour the downtown and Winton sections of town.

Continuing a 55-year tradition, fire company volunteers will hand out gifts that were made possible by donations from residents and businesses in Jessup.

— FRANK WILKES LESNEFSKY

flesnefsky

@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9100 x5181;

@flesnefskyTT on Twitter

Lackawanna County

County commissioners recently announced $7,389 in funding for three projects through the popular Community Re-Invest Program.

Established in 2013, the program awards “last mile” funding to help bring the various projects it supports to fruition. Beneficiaries of the most recent round of program funding include:

n St. Cats and Dogs Inc., a Scranton-based nonprofit working to assist and control feral cat and dog populations: $2,389 for air conditioning and a new heating system.

n Volunteer Hose Company of Throop: $2,500 for station renovations, including flooring and windows. The total project cost is $10,000.

n American Legion Post 306 of Taylor: $2,500 for meeting hall improvements. The total project cost is $10,399.

Since its inception, the program’s total public/private investment is almost $8.2 million.

— JEFF HORVATH

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

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Scranton

City council last week introduced several pieces of legislation to:

n Reappoint Michael Muller, Taylor Avenue, to the Historical Architecture Review Board, with his term expiring Oct. 11, 2021.

n Appoint Thomas Tansits, Terrace Drive, to the Scranton Parking Authority. Tansits would fill the unexpired term of Joe Wechsler, which expires June 1.

n Appoint Norma Jeffries, Colfax Avenue, to the Shade Tree Commission, with her term expiring Oct. 11, 2024.

n Reappoint William Lesniak, Pittston Avenue, to the Historical Architecture Review Board, with his new term expiring Oct. 11, 2022.

n Appoint John R. Finnerty, Wintermantle Avenue, to the city Planning Commission, with his term expiring Dec. 31, 2023.

Council also approved a pair of resolutions to apply for grant funding through the state Department of Community and Economic Development Small Water and Sewer Program.

The city will apply for $418,774 to install new inlets and larger pipes to convey runoff on Briggs Street to Keyser Creek, and $179,575 to replace the existing storm arch structure with a new concrete arch structure on Bloom Avenue.

— JEFF HORVATH

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

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

SCRANTON

A city man was struck by a train and killed in Scranton late Saturday.

Shane D. Loughney, 32, was hit by a Norfolk Southern freight train about 11:30 p.m. on rail lines in the rear of 235 Railroad Ave., Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland wrote in an email. Loughney was pronounced dead at the scene.

The northbound train was en route to East Binghamton, New York, when the incident occurred, according to Rachel McDonnell Bradshaw, manager of media relations for the Norfolk Southern Corp.

City police are investigating the death, and an autopsy will be scheduled, Rowland said.

— JEFF HORVATH

Dec. 16, 1969

Local radio icon dies at age 60

Bill Pierce, known as Mr. Radio, died the evening of Dec. 15 at Moses Taylor Hospital. He was 60.

Pierce started working in radio in 1927 at WGBI. In his early days he worked on a show with Ralph Ball that included ad-lib comedy and music. Later he did news reporting of local events, such as the flooding that hit Honesdale in May 1942, and traveled with the 109th Infantry on maneuvers in New York and North Carolina. He would also host programs such as “Breakfast at the Jermyn,” “Sidewalk Cross Talk” and “Marching to Victory.”

In 1950, Pierce went to WQAN, where he hosted radio programs and served as the station’s promotion manager and public relations director.

Besides his work in radio, Pierce made English language lesson records for International Correspondence School, had his photography exhibited at international shows and was a landscape painter.

He was survived by his wife, Elsie, and two daughters, Lucinda and Pamela.

Scranton official resigns position

Frank Conslato, urban affairs coordinator for Scranton, announced that he submitted his resignation letter to Mayor James Walsh. His last day would be Jan. 2, 1970.

Conslato had been in the position since September 1966. During his tenure, the office took on the Cedar Avenue mine fire, the dredging of sections of the Lackawanna River and Leggetts Creek, and demolition of 61 substandard buildings.

Sale at the Globe

A hot roller set for $19.95; portable sewing machine, $88; electric ice crusher, $19.99; AM/FM clock radio, $49.96; 12-inch color television, $359.95; electric toothbrush set, $14.99; nine-speed blender, $21.88; and three silk fashion scarves, $2.70.

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.

In the midst of the new Harrison Avenue Bridge construction, a city official visited PennDOT project Manager Pat McCabe and offered a document.

“He said, ‘Hey, I ran across these in the city archives. I know you have to take down the bridge; I figured they’ll be of some value to you,’” McCabe said. “He just thought he had a piece of paper.”

McCabe put the rolled-up paper on top of a file cabinet and forgot about it for about a month. But when he finally took a look, he noticed the words “File of Council #17-1921” in red ink.

“I’m thinking, ‘What the heck is this?’” McCabe said. “So I opened them up and, oh my God, they’re the original blueprints from the Harrison Avenue Bridge.”

Now almost a century old, McCabe marveled at their appearance. Their edges have crumbled a bit, but they remain mostly intact. They show what the bridge should look like when construction ends.

Blueprints like these rarely turn up, said Sarah Piccini, assistant director of the Lackawanna Historical Society.

“We wish we had more,” Piccini said.

In the days before computers, draftsmen hand-drew detailed construction blueprints, named after their color.

“I remember when I started in the business 30 years ago, there were still a lot of these guys out there, real, true draftsmen, who could do all these things. They really were artists,” McCabe said. “Now, it’s been replaced by computer-aided design, and you’ve lost that.”

The blueprints for the original Harrison Avenue bridge, connecting Scranton’s Hill Section and South Scranton,

was the handiwork of A.B. (Abraham Burton) Cohen.

A former Delaware, Lackawanna & Western Railroad engineer, Cohen designed other city bridges, but his most famous local effort remains the Tunkhannock viaduct. Better known as the Nicholson bridge, it stood as the world’s largest concrete structure when completed in 1915.

“I got looking at these things and I’m thinking these are Burton Cohen’s original blueprints from the bridge, and they were like a work of art,” McCabe said.

The city official, who McCabe declined to name, said he wanted the document back when he first showed up in McCabe’s office. But after the PennDOT project manager realized what he had, he knew he had to figure out how to preserve them.

“And I’m thinking this guy who gave them to me, I don’t think he knows what he has here,” McCabe said.

He hung on to them. Though he didn’t use them for the bridge project, copies PennDOT already had came in handy. They helped a demolition crew place explosives to destroy the old bridge once the new one was finished.

As the construction wrapped up, McCabe called Piccini at the Lackawanna Historical Society to gauge interest.

“You don’t want to lose them,” McCabe said. “You look at the detail and the hand-lettering and the dimensions and all these things, it’s just remarkable how good these guys were back in the day.”

McCabe said Piccini began explaining the process for turning over artifacts. The process requires a review to determine historical value, but she perked up and raced ahead when he told her what he had, he said.

One step remained. They weren’t his to give away. The city owned them.

He called Mayor Wayne Evans’ office. Evans quickly agreed to donate them to the historical society, but he wanted to see them himself first.

“It’s beautiful, it’s obviously fragile and it’s a little brittle,” Evans said. “It really is spectacular.”

He thinks the historical society should think about making copies the public can buy.

“And maybe every dollar could go toward the restoration of City Hall,” Evans said. “Why not?”

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT on Twitter

SCRANTON

A city man died Sunday night, one day after he was struck by a vehicle in South Side, authorities said.

Lackawanna County Coroner Timothy Rowland said Peter J. Rafalko, 57, Scranton, died Sunday in the trauma unit at Geisinger Community Medical Center. He had been hit by a vehicle near Moosic Street and Crown Avenue about 7 p.m. Saturday.

Scranton Police Chief Carl Graziano said the driver of the vehicle that hit Rafalko in the 800 block of Moosic Street stopped to render aid.

Moosic Street remained closed for several hours Saturday.

Rowland said the incident is under investigation by his office and Scranton police.

— JEFF HORVATH

Each year, more than 10 million Americans have their personal information stolen through phone, online and other scams, according to the state attorney general’s office.

Thieves have become more sophisticated over the years, putting an increasing number of consumers of all ages, education and income levels at risk, officials say. Attorney General Josh Shapiro hopes to stem that tide through education programs offered through his Office of Public Engagement.

A six-member team of outreach specialists travels across the state, presenting seminars on a variety of topics to consumers, including senior citizens, students and parents.

The office has been in existence for many years, but Shapiro took prevention efforts to a new level, expanding the number and types of programs it offers, said Sarah Charles, the office’s director. Since Shapiro took office 2½ years ago, the team has given 3,344 presentations to 564,215 people in all 67 counties.

Protecting consumers against scams has taken on increased significance as the number and types of scams continue to grow, said Michelle Nutter, an outreach specialist who covers the northeast region, including Lackawanna and Luzerne counties.

“We talk about the ways bad guys try to get our information and the ways we can protect ourselves from them,” Nutter said. “Awareness is the key to preventing a lot of these things from happening.”

That’s become more important as scammers get more sophisticated. They now can employ technology that disguises the source of the call or online solicitation.

“A scammer can manipulate caller ID and can send links to web pages that look legitimate but are not,” Nutter said. “The best offense is always a good defense. The more we know how to identify warning signs and red flags ... you’re going to say, ‘you know what, that’s a scam.’”

One of the more common scams involves fraudsters who tell a consumer they’ve won a lottery, but must pay taxes up front before they can collect. They then have the victim purchase gift cards for the “tax” amount and read the numbers.

“People of all ages, education and income levels can be duped by one of these calls if you allow emotion to get ahead of natural skepticism,” Nutter said.

‘All the information possible’

The office also presents a variety of educational programs for students and parents, including drug prevention, bullying and online safety, Nutter said.

Nutter recently presented a digital citizenship program at Old Forge Elementary School.

In addition to cyber safety, the program stresses the importance of being a good citizen online. Those who misuse social media sites to disparage others or post inappropriate material need to realize their decisions can have consequences not just now, but in the future, Nutter said.

“They don’t understand what they do online can get them in trouble,” Nutter said. “I tell them about different laws ... not to scare them, but so that they have all the information possible to make the best decisions.”

Old Forge Elementary School Principal Shelly Egan said the attorney general’s program provided a wealth of information in an easily understandable, engaging format.

“We talk to students every day about digital citizenship and the importance of being safe online. It does not always sink in,” Eagan said. “The ability to bring someone in to the school who has such a knowledge base to speak to the students on their level helps.”

Nutter said the office also offers programs for parents, including a session that educates them about various phone apps students use. It is continuing to develop new programs for schools and plans to soon roll out a program on the dangers of vaping.

The team often presents programs at schools and senior citizens centers, but any organization can request a speaker. For information on the programs or to request a speaker visit the attorney general’s website at .

Contact the writer:

tbesecker@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9137;

@tmbeseckerTT on Twitter

ARCHBALD — Borough officials declared much of Sugerman’s shopping complex unsafe to occupy Saturday amid a power outage that closed several businesses there over the weekend.

The large parking lot at 600 Scranton/Carbondale Highway was almost empty Sunday afternoon as yellow “DANGER” notices hung in the windows of P&R Discount Grocery, Kost Tire & Auto Service and other businesses. The shopping complex is owned by 600 Scranton LLC, a New Jersey firm. Shulem Green is the firm’s managing partner.

The complex’s tenants have largely been without power since Friday, disrupting business on a pre-holiday weekend.

David Kurtz, in-house counsel for 600 Scranton LLC, said PPL shut off power after negotiations over the complex’s electric rate collapsed.

Frustrated with the electric rate, Kurtz said the firm filed an informal complaint with the Pennsylvania Public Utility Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Services. The firm and PPL were involved in a mediation before a PUC administrative law judge earlier this year, but those negotiations fell apart when PPL withdrew, he said.

Kurtz said PPL issued a shut-off notice late last month, but said the firm was unaware of the notice when officials learned Sugerman’s was without power after close of business Thursday. A formal complaint was filed with the PUC on Friday, he said.

Generators provided power to P&R and Kost for several hours Saturday until borough officials deemed the situation unsafe and issued notices that now hang in store windows.

“You can’t be running a building like that on temporary power and open it to the public,” Archbald Fire Chief Bob Harvey said, noting Tractor Supply in the complex remained open because it has its own power service.

Kurtz said 600 Scranton LLC plans to appeal the borough’s notices and will ask PPL to restore service as the formal complaint procedure plays out.

PPL does not release information about customers or their electric bills, spokeswoman Tracie Witter said. Efforts to reach PPL officials for comment on the mediation or negotiations with 600 Scranton LLC were unsuccessful.

A Sugerman’s tenant originally posted on Facebook that the power outage was due to a malfunctioning transformer, but later posted they had been misled. Witter confirmed Sunday there was no equipment failure at the complex.

It’s unclear how long P&R’s Sugerman’s location will remain closed, store Manager Ashley Ogozaly said.

Ogozaly encouraged all customers to visit P&R’s Edwardsville location, 29 Gateway Shopping Center, where patrons will receive an additional 15% off their grocery order today. Several customers made the trip to Edwardsville on Sunday, she said.

Borough officials planned to reconvene today to discuss the situation, Harvey said.

Green and a partner, Steve Deutsch, through 600 Scranton LLC, bought the shopping center for $8 million in 2017, records show.

The deal dissolved a Chapter 11 bankruptcy case for the former owner, Chaim Laufer and Sugarman’s Plaza LP, a Brooklyn, New York, company.

Contact the writer:

jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9141;

@jhorvathTT on Twitter

Stop, take a deep breath and wait for a warning from the Internal Revenue Service before you pull out that plastic to jump on yet another holiday deal on a TV, toys or a smartphone.

Will you really have all the money you need by January or February to cover all those holiday bills? Not necessarily, if you’re banking on a big income tax refund in early 2020.

The IRS put taxpayers on notice in late November that they shouldn’t “rely on receiving their refund by a certain date, especially when making major purchases or paying bills.”

It’s likely that the earliest you could be able to file your 2019 income tax return would be in late January. The kickoff date was Jan. 28, 2019, for the 2018 federal income tax returns.

Typically, it can take up to 21 days to receive a federal income tax refund.

But people who are already on tight budgets may need to wait longer if they’re claiming the earned income tax credit or the additional child tax credit.

By law, refunds for returns claiming earned income or additional child tax credits cannot be issued until after mid-February. The delay applies to the entire refund, not just the money you’d receive via the credits.

Another important reminder: Your tax refund could be much smaller than you might expect.

It is possible that the federal government can cut into your federal income tax refund to offset past-due federal taxes, state income taxes, child support, spousal support or student loan debt.

The taxpayer would receive a notice if any offset takes place.

Here are some year-end tax tips to consider as we move closer to Dec. 31:

1. Donating to charities requires more tax planning

The tax rule changes that went into place in 2018 nearly doubled the standard deduction to $12,200 for single filers in 2019 and $24,400 for married couples filing a joint return. And the standard deduction goes up for those age 65 and older, as well as those who are blind.

For example, if you’re married and each spouse is 65 or older, the standard deduction goes up by an extra $2,600 for the senior couple filing jointly.

“Because tax reform nearly doubled the standard deduction, fewer people will benefit from itemizing,” said Nathan Rigney, lead tax research analyst for the H&R Block Tax Institute.

Yet if you’re near the standard limit, you might need to consider if you want to make some sizable charitable contributions by the end of December to claim on your 2019 tax return or if it would be better to wait until January to claim those deductions in 2020.

“Bunching your itemized deductions by accelerating or delaying payments could help you get over the standard deduction every other year,” Rigney said.

No one is saying you can’t write a check to a charity for $50 or $100 here and there. But the latest shift in the tax rules makes it essential to pay attention to the dollar amount of your other potential deductions, such as mortgage interest and state and local income taxes, as well as property taxes.

2. Don’t forget about

use-it-or-lose-its, like FSAs

If you set aside money out of your paycheck into a health flexible spending account in 2019, make sure that the tax-free money is spent on qualified medical expenses before any designated deadline, Rigney said.

Unspent money is just money left on the table.

You may need to spend that money before Dec. 31 — or by a set grace period, if your company’s plan provides one.

Money can be used on qualified medical expenses not covered by your health plan such as eyeglasses, co-pays and medical equipment.

“It’s helpful to act right away because more elective health care providers like the optometrist can have reduced availability in the last few days of the year,” said Melissa Joy, president of Pearl Planning, a wealth adviser in Dexter.

Someone who consistently has too much money left over in a flexible spending account should look into adjusting their FSA contribution, she said. Some may want to switch to a high-deductible health plan coupled with a health savings account for longer-term investment and savings.

The IRS notes that under a special rule, employers may, if they choose, offer participating employees more time through either the carryover option or the grace period option.

“Under the carryover option, an employee can carry over up to $500 of unused funds to the following plan year — for example, an employee with $500 of unspent funds at the end of 2019 would still have those funds available to use in 2020,” the IRS said.

“Under the grace period option, an employee has until 2½ months after the end of the plan year to incur eligible expenses — for example, March 15, 2020, for a plan year ending on Dec. 31, 2019. Employers can offer either option, but not both, or none at all.”

3. Seniors, double-check 401(k) withdrawals

Retirees who are age 70½ or older need to see if they’ve taken out enough money over the year to cover any required minimum distributions from their 401(k) plans or traditional IRAs.

If you don’t need the money — but must take it out by Dec. 31 to avoid costly penalties — you can consider having money from an IRA sent directly to a charity as a qualified charitable distribution, according to George W. Smith, a certified public accountant with his own firm in Southfield, Michigan.

The qualified charitable distribution would need to be completed by year end, Smith said. The money for a qualified charitable distribution would need to come from an IRA.

4. Understand tax

implications of bonuses

The IRS notes that year-end bonuses, holiday pay and temporary jobs can often have an unexpected impact on taxes and any potential refund when you file the 2019 tax return next year.

Your tax bill also could go up by other factors, such as capital gains distributions from mutual funds and stocks, or investments sold at a profit.

The UAW contracts reached with General Motors, Ford and Fiat Chrysler Automobiles have a nice payout. They include contract ratification bonuses of as much as $11,000.

While taxes are taken out of the ratification bonuses, it’s important to factor in other sources of income that could drive up your 2019 tax bill, too.

The IRS notes that taxpayers can still make a quarterly estimated tax payment directly to the IRS for the fourth quarter of 2019. Such a payment would be due by Jan. 15.

5. Update your

payroll withholding

Mark Steber, chief tax officer at Jackson Hewitt, said taxpayers want to consider if they are withholding enough in taxes for 2020, too. You can provide your employer with an updated W-4 form to make those adjustments.

Tax filers who don’t take action risk getting a smaller refund than expected or perhaps even owing more money than they would imagine, Steber said.

The Tax Withholding Estimator at irs.gov can help taxpayers see if they’re on the right track for having enough tax withheld. Form 1040-ES offers a worksheet for figuring out estimated payments.

SUSAN TOMPOR is the personal finance columnist for the Detroit Free Press. She can be reached

at stompor@freepress.com.

The Scranton School District has postponed most of the meetings scheduled for this afternoon and evening.

The board will still hold a budget hearing and meeting at 5:30 p.m. at Isaac Tripp Elementary School, 1000 N. Everett Ave.

Because of possible inclement weather tonight, the board has rescheduled the following meetings to Monday, Dec. 23:

- Financial Recovery Advisory Committee, 2 p.m., second floor classroom in Administration Building.

- Special meeting, including to approve the 2020 budget, 6 p.m. at Scranton High School.

A meeting to select a new school director has not been scheduled yet. Kevin Whelan, secretary of the Scranton Sewer Authority, was the lone applicant for the vacant two-year seat.

The 2020 budget, which as of last week had a shortfall of about $2 million, calls for a 3.4% tax hike.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

WILKES-BARRE — A nursing home aide was charged over the weekend with twisting the nipples of an elderly woman and then hitting her in the face.

Berianna Smith, 24, of 39 Beech St., is accused of assaulting the woman at Little Flower Manor, a nursing home at 200 S. Meade St.

According to the complaint, certified nursing aide Lawrence VanBuren-Morgan reported that he had been caring for a resident around 2:15 p.m. Saturday when he heard the a female resident “screaming at the top of her lungs as if she was being attacked or in a fight.”

VanBuren-Morgan ran to the sound and found the victim in her bathroom with Smith, who was “grabbing and twisting” at the woman’s breast, police said. The woman then yelled that Smith was twisting her nipples, according to the complaint.

Smith left the woman’s room, but a short time later VanBuren-Morgan saw her return and close the door, police said. A few seconds later, the woman again began screaming, according to police.

When VanBuren-Morgan ran back into the room, he found the woman with a bloody nose, saying Smith had hit her in the face, according to the complaint.

The victim was taken to an area hospital for treatment of bruising and swelling, police said.

Police charged Smith with injuring a care-dependent person, simple assault and harassment. Magisterial District Judge James M. Dixon arraigned Smith on the charges Sunday afternoon and released her on $10,000 unsecured bail.

A preliminary hearing was set for Dec. 31.

SCRANTON

City police seek two teenage boys believed responsible for “some havoc” Sunday on Montage Mountain.

The boys, whom police did not name but believe they know their identities, drove around the ski area in a utility vehicle while mountain security chased them at about 5:50 p.m., Capt. Dennis Lukasewicz said.

The boys drove through a fence bumped into an employee and ran over a guest’s skis while he was still in them.

The utility vehicle was a personal one; it was not the mountain’s property.

Police were unable to confirm their ages but have their names from others who know them, Lukasewicz said.

Police have not yet filed charges.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

Scranton Fire Chief Patrick DeSarno gave notice this morning he will resign from his position effective Jan. 3, Mayor Wayne Evans said.

“He’s moving on to something else,” Evans said.

DeSarno accepted a job offer in another field, the mayor said. The decision was not unexpected, Evans said.

“I appreciate his doing this and of course I wish him well in the future and thank him for his service,” Evans said.

DeSarno, 59, who has been with the fire department since May 26, 1989, was appointed as the city’s fire chief in 2014 by former Mayor Bill Courtright.

Courtright resigned in July to plead guilty to federal corruption charges.

Not long after, DeSarno came under public scrutiny for bringing a city-owned vehicle on vacation to the New Jersey shore and for using a city gas credit card to buy fuel on the trip.

The revelation led to new policies that govern how and when city vehicles and gas cards can be used.

In a statement in September to Evans, the fire chief said he had an inferred agreement with former 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.”

Check back for updates.

SCRANTON — The city mailed thousands of certified letters to recoup delinquent rental registration fees, but many of the residents who received them don’t own rental units or owe delinquent fees.

Mayor Wayne Evans confirmed Monday that the city’s Licensing, Inspection and Permits Department sent out about 4,000 certified letters targeting 2017 and 2018 rental registration delinquencies. Evans was unsure what percentage of those letters were sent in error, but said the city has received many calls from frustrated recipients who own single family homes.

“We do apologize (to) the people who got the letters,” Evans said. “If they have a single family home and they got a letter there should not be any concern that there’ll be an action taken.”

The letters inform the recipients that city records show their respective properties are rental units that were not registered with Scranton in 2017 and 2018. The letters also threaten “legal/enforcement action” and contain other language some describe as threatening.

“Legal action may include a citation being filed at the Magistrate’s office,” the letters read. “Each day the violation continues will be considered a separate offense.”

Evans blamed the erroneous letters on outdated and “bad information.” The situation underscores the need for a countywide property reassessment that would provide an accurate count of the number of rental units in Scranton and accurate ownership information, he said.

“Garbage in, garbage out,” Evans said. “We’re still using information that was received probably 15 years ago.”

The certified letters cost more than $6 each to send, Evans said, noting Scranton’s rental registration ordinance requires it be sent certified mail. The city is in the process of apologizing to residents who erroneously received the letters and contacted officials to complain, he said.

Attempts to reach acting LIP director Tom Oleski were unsuccessful.

Green Ridge resident Adam Guiffrida, a rental property owner who successfully challenged Scranton’s rental registration fees, said a handful of residents contacted him after receiving the certified letters, including some who already paid their 2017/2018 rental registration fees.

“So these people are frantic,” Guiffrida said. “They had to go down and confirm (they already paid) with the city.”

In March, the city settled a class-action lawsuit filed by Guiffrida and agreed to refund $75 — half the $150 registration fee — for each property for which an owner paid the fee in 2014 and 2015. The city also agreed to reduce the fee to $50 this year and $45 next year.

Check back for updates.

Contact the writer:
jhorvath@timesshamrock.com;
570-348-9141;
@jhorvathTT on Twitter

A popular Scranton restaurant opened its second location inside a city car dealership.

Zuppa Del Giorno, 517 Ash St., officially opened inside Toyota of Scranton, 3400 North Main Ave. A ribbon-cutting ceremony was held Monday. The restaurant, owned by Joe Musheno, will serve homemade soups, salads and made-to-order sandwiches, as well as fresh-brewed coffee and other ready-to-go foods at the dealership.

“I have a great deal of respect for Toyota of Scranton,” said Musheno in a press release. “It is a highly regarded company in the business community, as it is known for its fine products, excellent service and charitable support to our community. I am proud to be a partner with this fine organization.”

A Scranton native, Musheno purchased Zuppa Del Giorno four years ago, fulfilling his lifelong dream of owning a restaurant.

To celebrate the grand opening, Toyota of Scranton will match the proceeds of Monday’s sales and donate them to St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen.

“Supporting our community through local business partnerships and charitable donations is one of the core principles of our dealership, Toyota of Scranton CFO Pat Rogers said in a press release.

A politically active, part-time Lackawanna County employee who pleaded guilty to drunken driving four times was granted early release from probation.

Lackawanna County President Judge Michael Barrasse granted a motion Friday filed by Brian Doughton, which reduces by about six months his five-year probationary sentence imposed in 2015.

Doughton’s arrests occurred between April 2010 and October 2014.Contacted Monday, Doughton and his attorney, Joseph Kalinowski, said his continued supervision presented a stigma and hampered his ability to be considered for future employment.

“This opens up opportunities for me,” Doughton said.

Doughton has served as chairman of Olyphant’s Democratic party and worked on the political campaign of Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell and Lackawanna County Commissioner-elect Debi Domenick, with whom he is a personal friend.

Doughton said his political connections played no role in the case. He and Kalinowski noted it is not uncommon for defendants convicted of nonviolent crimes to ask a judge to reduce a probationary sentence.

“He served over 90 percent of his sentence. It’s not like we asked to have half of it cut off,” Kalinowski said.

Doughton is employed in Olyphant’s public works department and works part-time processing criminal defendants at the county’s booking center. He also sits on the County of Lackawanna Transit Authority’s board of directors.

Doughton said he is not seeking any other position with the county, but would consider doing so if something comes open.

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

Scranton police took two city men into custody early Saturday morning after discovering a range of illegal drugs in their car.

David R. Wehrmann, 41, is charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and other related drug offenses. Antonio Roman, 28, will be charged by summons with possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Officer Jason Hyler, of the city’s Street Crimes Unit, watched a house in North Scranton suspected in drug activity and noticed an SUV parked out front with the lights on and the engine running.

Two men got into the vehicle shortly after midnight and drove north on North Main Avenue. Hyler followed for a few blocks and pulled them over after they turned onto Green Ridge Street.

Roman, the driver, told Hyler they had just left Wehrmann’s home and were on their way to meet a friend. Wehrmann, the passenger, seemed nervous.

“What,” he replied when asked if he had anything illegal with him.

Asked to be honest, he admitted “some spice.” Spice is a common slang term for synthetic marijuana.

In Wehrmann’s pocket, police found $438, which he said was his rent money. In another pocket, Hyler found a black zipper pouch. Wehrmann swore but then said he did not know what was in it.

Police found 1½ grams of crystal methamphetamine, nine grams of spice, a half-gram of cocaine, 12 hits of LSD, 10 Percocet pills and five Klonopin.

Authorities also found a pipe used to smoke methamphetamine, two cell phones owned by Wehrmann and a digital scale with residue on it.

Wehrmann is in the Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $50,000 bail and has a preliminary hearing scheduled Dec. 26. Information on Roman was not available.

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

SCRANTON — While the Scranton School District presented a balanced 2020 budget tonight, area business leaders spoke out against a proposed tax change.

The $166 million budget, which directors plan to vote on next week, includes a property tax increase of 3.4%. Meanwhile, school directors remain undecided whether to convert from business privilege/mercantile taxes to a payroll tax. If approved, employers would pay a new tax based on the total amount of payroll instead of paying a tax based on gross receipts.

“I implore you to consider the businesses,” said Joe Fasula, co-owner of Gerrity’s Supermarkets, which has three locations in the city. “It’s just going to chase businesses and residents out of the city.”

Although city leaders have pitched the change as a progressive move that could spur economic development and, at first, be revenue-neutral for the city and school district, Fasula said during Monday’s budget hearing that his taxes would increase dramatically.

Gerrity’s now pays $25,000 a year in business privilege/mercantile taxes. The company would pay more than $80,000 a year in payroll taxes, Fasula said. Meanwhile, Gerrity’s competitors outside of the city pay nothing, he said.

Voters approved a referendum last month for the district to make the tax change, but the school board has the final decision. City officials requested the district join them in making the change and are still pursuing it. Moving to a payroll tax is only available to municipalities designated as distressed under state Act 47 and is highly recommended in the city’s exit plan. With the city set to shed its distressed status in summer 2020, this is the last year to make the change. The city can make the change to its portion of the taxes without the school district.

City leaders argued that a payroll tax is easier to collect and fairer because it would be spread among more businesses, including banks and manufacturers not required to pay business privilege/mercantile taxes.

Patrick A. Fricchione Jr., president and CEO of Simplex Homes, said because his home manufacturing business does not have to pay business privilege/mercantile taxes, he would go from paying “zero to a six-figure number” with the payroll tax.

“That would be devastating to our business,” he said.

Fricchione feared that with a payroll tax, businesses would not want to open in or relocate to Scranton.

School directors, who await information on when the proposed change would happen in 2020, said they appreciated hearing from business owners. The board must also determine whether a vote to move to a payroll tax would need to happen during next week’s scheduled meeting to pass the budget.

The 2020 proposed budget originally included a $2.7 million shortfall. Business Manager Patrick Laffey said under updated projections, he was able to reduce total salaries and benefits by $1.5 million. The district also adjusted building and department budgets to 2019 levels and budgeted $1.2 million in Ready to Learn grants from the state.

The $500,000 in state Empowerment funds, received by the district this month, will be used in the current year, Laffey said.

The 3.4% property tax increase means the owner of a property assessed at $10,000 would pay an additional $45 in taxes next year. Taxes would increase 4.5 mills, to a total of 137.6 mills. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 of assessed value.

The recovery plan approved by the board in August calls for the district to raise taxes to the state Act 1 index, usually about 3.4%, for the next five years. The plan also calls on the district to apply for exceptions from the state to raise taxes higher than the Act 1 index if necessary. School directors had the ability to raise taxes up to 4.63% for 2020.

Monday’s slate of meetings originally included a special meeting to appoint a new school director. Due to the threat of inclement weather, the board canceled all meetings except the budget meeting and hearing at Isaac Tripp Elementary School.

Kevin Whelan, secretary of the Scranton Sewer Authority and the lone applicant for the vacant two-year seat, asked the board to vote on his appointment during the budget meeting. Board President Katie Gilmartin explained directors could not hold any votes during the meeting and said the board is unsure when it will reschedule the vote to fill the vacancy.

The board will hold a special meeting, which will include a vote on the 2020 budget, on Dec. 23 at 6 p.m. at Scranton High School.

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9133; @hofiushallTT on Twitter

A county judged ruled Scranton routinely overcharged taxpayers by about $10 million each year and ordered the city to set aside tens of millions of dollars to remedy the violation.

The decision from Lackawanna County Judge James Gibbons orders the city to set aside about $50 million in tax revenue from 2015 through 2019 that exceeded a state cap on the collection of Act 511 taxes. Act 511 taxes include wage, business, privilege/mercantile, real estate transfer, local services and amusement taxes.

The city will also have to substantially reduce its annual Act 511 taxes, according to the order.

Gibbons’ decision today is the culmination of nearly three years of legal arguments between the city and seven plaintiffs who filed the lawsuit in county court in March 2017.

The lawsuit, brought by several city residents, argued the city cannot exceed 1.2% of its fair market value as determined by the Pennsylvania State Tax Equalization board. The city was valued at about $2.379 billion in 2018 — the board’s most recent figure — which translates to a tax cap of $28.55 million. However, the city’s 2018 budget projected $39.34 million in Act 511 tax revenue, which exceeds the cap by about $10.8 million.

From 2015 through 2017, the city accrued about $29.51 million in Act 511 taxes that exceeded the state cap.

Although 2019 figures were unavailable Monday, attorney John McGovern, who represented the plaintiffs, said the city exceeded the cap by between $11 million and $12 million this year.

Check back for updates.

SCOTT TWP. — After delays and a request for a deadline extension, excavators and a big bulldozer are finally laying the groundwork for Lackawanna County’s second medical cannabis grower.

On a rainy morning last week, crews with KW Enterprises of Milton moved earth on a 19-acre parcel off Life Science Drive in Scott Technology Park.

PharmaCann Penn Plant LLC, the Chicago-based medical cannabis company, won a permit to build a $15 million grower/processor facility there, though the project has suffered significant delays and blew past its January operational deadline without putting a shovel in the ground.

A state Health Department spokesman said PharmaCann’s submission for a deadline extension is still under review, but site prep appears to be all systems go.

A lengthy stormwater control permit process delayed the start of construction, PharmaCann spokesman Jeremy Unruh said in an email.

“We work hard to ensure the state is aware of our construction timeline, and that the state knows we are working with all deliberate speed to become operational as quickly as we can,” he said.

Now that work is underway, he expects to bring the 54,000-square-foot facility, which will grow cannabis plants and turn them into medicine, online in the second quarter of 2020. The parcel size means PharmaCann has room to grow, with two more build-out phases planned, Unruh said.

Scott Twp. officials gave final construction approval in October, said Michael Giannetta, chairman of the board of supervisors.

About that time, news was breaking that the publicly traded, financially struggling cannabis company MedMen Enterprises would not acquire PharmaCann as previously announced.

Company officials assured the township that the disintegrated deal had no bearing on their project, and that it would proceed as planned, Giannetta said.

PharmaCann fills a key spot in the Scott Technology Park’s Phase II section, on the south side of Route 632, where other major development is kicking up.

The park’s owner, SLIBCO — the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce’s economic development arm — recently sold land to cosmetics manufacturer Seokoh, an affiliate of Process Technologies, which was an early Phase II tenant.

PharmaCann and Seokoh together are expected to bring more than 300 new jobs to the park.

Growth there spurred SLIBCO to try upgrading Route 632, which connects the park to Interstate 81. The state Department of Community and Economic Development recently set aside $3 million for work, which could include a turning lane, straightening what Giannetta called a blind turn and widening shoulders.

Contact the writer:

joconnell@timesshamrock.com;

570-348-9131;

@jon_oc on Twitter

MONDAY UPDATE brings Times-Tribune readers up to date on past or pending stories of interest. To offer a suggestion for a Monday Update, please email metrodesk@timesshamrock.com with “Monday Update” in the subject line.