Milford

Community event: Belle Reve Senior Living “Brew and Learn” event, Feb. 6, 5 p.m., Log Tavern Brewery, 309 E. Harford St., Milford, complimentary tasting and education on the brewery’s beer options, while learning about Belle Reve’s life-enhancing amenities and superior care services for your aging loved one, free, seating is limited; 570-409-9191 by Feb. 4.

Peckville

Envelope drive: Wilson Fire Company 1 is conducting its annual envelope drive for funds in Blakely borough, envelopes were mailed to all residents and businesses in the borough, return envelopes were also provided, proceeds from the drive will be used toward the mortgages on the trucks and also for the general operation of the fire department.

Regional

Band competition: Keystone Chapter of UNICO National second annual High School Choral Competition with six choral groups competing, March 1, Lackawanna College, doors open at 1:30 p.m. and program begins, 2, admission: $10/adults, $5/students and free/5 and younger; monetary prizes will be awarded to the first place large group chorus and the first place small group chorus, people’s choice award winner decided by the audience, proceeds from this event will benefit local charities and scholarships, Keystone Chapter UNICO is a 501c3 non-profit organization; Toni DiVizio, 570-344-2388 or any member.

Scranton

Parkinson’s programs: Jewish Home of Eastern Pa. Parkin­son’s programs at the JCC, 601 Jefferson Ave.: Pedaling for Parkinson’s with new therecycle bikes for Parkinson’s, Tuesdays beginning Feb. 4, 12:30 p.m.; Dance for Parkinson’s, Thurs­days, 1:30 p.m.; and Tai chi for Parkinson’s, Tuesdays, 4:30-5:15 p.m.; Nicole Lipinski, 570-344-6177, ext. 1113.

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.

The local airport capped a record for passenger departures in 2019 with another monthly record in December.

The 23,446 December passenger departures from the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport marked the best December in the airport’s history, up 6.1% from 2018.

For the year, the airport reached 296,632 departures, a 12% increase from 2018. The airport set its new annual record by the end of November, and December added to it. The previous record was 268,197 passenger departures in 2017.

Airport officials attribute increases to American Airlines new service to Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport.

The airport benefited last year from a full year of new American Airlines flights to Philadelphia, Chicago and Charlotte, North Carolina. They all began in 2018.

The airport is planning an extension of the taxiway to its main runway’s southern end.

That will allow planes to take off more quickly and safely.

The design contract is for almost $1.45 million, with 90% coming from the Federal Aviation Administration, and 5% each from the state Department of Transportation and airport passenger facility charges on airline tickets. Construction may could begin in 2021.

Contact the writer:

bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147;

@BorysBlogTT

President Judge Michael Barrasse sentenced the following defendants recently in Lackawanna County Court:

Corey Nykaza, 34, 404 Main St., Apt. 2, Simpson, to 10 days of time served to six months in county prison and a $300 fine for DUI — tier one, first offense.

Robert F. Noone Jr., 47, 1101 Clover St., Scranton, to one year of court supervision, including three months of house arrest, for an accident involving damage to an attended vehicle/property.

Shania Canfield, 30, 305 Bel­mont St., Carbondale, to three to 18 months in county prison for flight to avoid apprehension.

Leo Schimes, 40, 214 E. Drink­er St., Apt. 1, Dunmore, to 351 days of time served to 23 months in county prison and four years of probation for disorderly conduct and terroristic threats.

Michael John McLane, 27, 1116 W. Market St., Scranton, to six months of probation and a $300 fine for DUI — tier one, first offense.

Tina Marie Widdick, 47, 5 E. Veterans Drive, Dickson City, to one year of probation for possession of drug paraphernalia.

Judge Vito Geroulo sentenced:

Johnny Fixmer, 21, 88 S. Main St., Pittston, to nine months of probation and a $300 fine for possession of drug paraphernalia and DUI — tier one, first offense.

James Vincent Ricci Jr., 33, 3008 Birney Ave., Apt. 1, Scran­ton, to six to 35 months in county prison for simple assault and resisting arrest.

Trey Anthony Balko Thomas, 26, 835 Birch St., Scranton, to 125 days of time served to 18 months in county prison and one year of probation for resisting arrest and possession of a controlled substance.

Tyson Angeles, 24, 430 15th Ave., Scranton, to two years of court supervision, including three months in county prison, for possession with intent to deliver.

Ivy Marie Murray, 28, 106 Reeves St., Dunmore, to six to 23 months in county prison for endangering the welfare of children.

Anthony T. Richardson, 51, 222 New High Park Ave., Scran­ton, to three days of time served to six months in county prison, one year of probation and a $1,000 fine for endangering the welfare of children and DUI — tier three, first offense.

Alkebulan K. Ladson, 28, 502 River St., first floor, Scranton, to 184 days of time served to one year in county prison for resisting arrest.

David Gower, 35, 1513 Olive St., Scranton, to six months of probation and a $300 fine for DUI — tier one, first offense.

David Richard Duane, 30, 420 Cedar Ave., Scranton, to 74 days of time served to one year in county prison and one year of probation for harassment and disorderly misconduct.

Kevin Mitchell, 41, 3801 Wylam Ave., Moosic, to one year of probation and $1,965.65 in restitution for simple assault.

Louis Salerno, 63, 105 S. Main St., 2nd floor, Scranton, to two years of court supervision, including three months of house arrest, and $480,000 in restitution for conspiracy — theft.

Judge Andy Jarbola sentenced:

Joseph Kunin, 25, 441 Main St., P.O. Box 1070, Gouldsboro, to six to 23 months of house arrest and nine years of probation for corruption of minors, indecent exposure and furnishing alcohol to a minor.

Laquan Alshareak Murphy, 39, 2014 Edna Ave., Scranton, to two years of court supervision, including four months of house arrest, six months of probation and $1,050 in fines for recklessly endangering another person, DUI — tier one, first offense, and DUI — tier two, second offense.

Nicholas J. Mutti, 16 Broz Ter, Feeding Hills, Massachusetts, to one year of probation for possession of a controlled substance.

Tahmir Carleton, 21, 1047 Bartlett St., Phillipsburg, to two years of probation for corruption of minors.

Judge Margaret Bisignani Moyle sentenced:

Luiz A. Gomez, 38, Rear 523 Hemlock St., Scranton, to 140 days of time served to 18 months in county prison for delivery of a controlled substance.

Richard Waligorski, 37, 11 Pine St., Mountain Top, to one year to 23 months and 29 days in county prison and two years of probation for conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver.

Mumin Bruton, 26, 1068 Pear St., Apt. 6G, Scranton, to six months of probation for simple assault.

Feliciano Cintron, 25, 7 Bald Mountain Road, Taylor, to 204 days of time served in county prison and a $100 fine for disorderly conduct and harassment.

Michael Paolucci III, 32, 312 Skyline Drive/north, South Abington Twp., to one year to 23 months and 29 days in county prison and two years of probation for dealing in proceeds of unlawful activities, delivery of a controlled substance, and criminal use of a communication facility.

Samantha Vanblarcom, 35, 1443 N. Sumner Ave., Scranton, to 25 days of time served to 23 months and 29 days in county prison for recklessly endangering another person.

Fernando Montalvo, 40, 2609 Aqueduct Ave. 5F, Bronx, New York, to 38 days of time served to 23½ months in county prison and one year of probation for criminal trespass and criminal mischief.

Mr. Peanut, the iconic mascot of the Planters Peanut Co. that was founded in Wilkes-Barre in 1906, has died.

Planters released a pre-Super Bowl ad Wednesday in which Mr. Peanut was killed following a crash of his NUTmobile.

“It is with heavy hearts that we confirm that Mr. Peanut has died at 104,” a message on Mr. Peanut’s Twitter page said.

The page is now named “The Estate of Mr. Peanut.” A meme tweeted by the page — which featured a teardrop falling from Mr. Peanut’s famous monocle — noted the lovable character’s lifespan, 1916 — 2020.

Planters says the full ad, which will include Mr. Peanut’s funeral, will air during the third quarter of the Super Bowl on Feb. 2.

Wilkes-Barre businessman Thom Greco, a avid collector of Planters and Mr. Peanut memorabilia, said he couldn’t believe the company would kill off the face of the franchise.

“I guess there is some whiz kid marketing person that says Generation X and Generation Y can’t relate to Mr. Peanut,” Greco said. “The purists will always remember Mr. Peanut.”

Italian immigrant Amedeo Obici, along with his friend and business partner, Mario Peruzzi, founded Planters Peanut Co. in Wilkes-Barre in 1906.

In those early days, Obici announced that his company was in need of a trademark to represent the growing brand. In 1916, he announced a contest seeking designs. A Virginia schoolboy won the contest with his drawing of nine-foot tall peanut with arms and legs. Later, an unnamed Wilkes-Barre artist added a top hat, monocle, spats and a cane, giving birth to Mr. Peanut.

Mr. Peanut became a local icon who would go on to become a national and international symbol of the peanut company, helping it become a global brand.

The business began at 632 S. Main St. in Wilkes-Barre.

Planters grew from selling peanuts from a small push cart on Public Square in Wilkes-Barre into one of the most recognized peanut brands in the world.

Though production moved to Suffolk, Virginia, years later, the Wilkes-Barre property remained the business’ world headquarters through 1961.

A mural of Mr. Peanut was featured on a part of the building that was torn down years ago, but the facade of the property remains standing.

“We’ll certainly continue to celebrate him. This is the home of Mr. Peanut and Planters Peanuts,” Greco said.

Wilkes-Barre City Councilman Tony Brooks, a local historian, doubts we’ve seen the end of Mr. Peanut.

“Planters would be nuts to permanently kill off Mr. Peanut. His birthplace of Wilkes-Barre will certainly mourn,” Brooks said. “Seems like a marketing stunt for their Super Bowl commercial. I bet Mr. Peanut will be back in a jiff.”

BRIAN FULTON, STAFF WRITER, CONTRIBUTED TO THIS REPORT.

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, 570-821-2055

@cvbobkal

MARRIAGE LICENSE

• Christina Mendicino, Mos­cow, and John Richard Lehr, Cresco.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Bruce A. Marianelli, Potts­ville, Wayne A. Marianelli, Clarks Summit, and Michael J. and Lynne Marianelli, Old Forge, to Joseph and Julie Talarico, Old Forge; a property in Old Forge for $152,000.

• Justin G. and Cassandra L. Tunis, Lackawanna County, to Richard K. and Mary Thomas, Lackawanna County; a property at 226 Woodlawn Ave., Clarks Summit, for $295,000.

• Adam J. and Kelly Vogt, Lackawanna County, to Joseph and Constance Virbitsky, and Jodie Virbitsky, Lackawanna County, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at Chapman Lake, Scott Twp., for $245,000.

• John J. and Eileen McAleese, Garden City, N.Y., Mark D. and Karen McAleese, Westford, Mass., David M. and Margaret McAleese, Lynbrook, N.Y., and Therese J. and Mic­hael Brunetti, Clarks Summit, to Justin Pettigrew, Jermyn; a property at 1 Rosewood Circle, Clarks Summit, for $287,500.

• Gaetano Realty LLC, Clarks Summit, to Jose A. Carrillo and Estela Menjivar, Moosic; a property at 229 Oak St., Old Forge, for $74,000.

• John and Cynthia Waibel, Carbondale, to Alyssa Marina Torch, Carbondale; a property at 1 Morgan Place, Carbondale, for $202,500.

• Michael T. and Allison Rose McGoff, Scranton, to Marisol Altagracia Garcia, Scranton; a property at 447 Railroad Ave., Scranton, for $108,000.

• Joseph M. Pilosi and Joseph A. Pilosi to Patrick O’Donnell; a property at 203 Spring St., Moosic, for $176,950.

• Carl S. Lutkowski, Old Forge, to Joseph J. Brazil, Scranton; a property at 1211 Mine St., Old Forge, for $217,500.

• Linda E. Howard, trustee of the Linda Eilene Howard Revoc­able Living Trust, Henderson, Nev., to Michael and Cherilynn Ruddy, Clarks Green; a property at 6 Briarwood Way, South Abington Twp., for $154,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

• Tracy L. Stelma, South Abing­ton Twp., v. Michael Stel­ma, Avoca; married June 25, 2011, in Mexico; Carrie A. Buscarini, attorney.

• Aleiza Kearney, Scranton, v. Kristopher Kearney, Scranton; married Aug. 8, 2015, in Scran­ton; pro se.

DIVORCE DECREES

• Mark Whittemore v. Patti Ann Whittemore

• Matthew Batzel v. Stacey Batzel

• Linda Tomaino v. Anthony Tomaino

• Salvatore Licata v. Annita Licata

• Dean Leshock v. Andrea Leshock

• Diana Butera v. Joseph Butera

• Bridget Coffey v. Robert Flanagan

STATE TAX LIENS

• Sanchez Landscape Solu­tions LLC, 588 W. Locust St., Scranton; $1,062.23.

• American Painters LLC, P.O. Box 54B, Gouldsboro; $3,112.56.

• J. Cawley Moving LLC, 40 J. Campbell Collins Drive, Wilkes-Barre; $2,928.36.

• Summa & Iezzi Inc., 38 Line St., Keystone Industrial Park, Dunmore; $106,486.68.

• Macciocco Corp., trading as Villa Maria II, 1610 Washburn St., Scranton; $8,038.18.

• Ryan Parry Inc., 620 Powell Ave., Clarks Summit; $1,221.48.

• Kildares Scranton Inc., 119 Jefferson Ave., Scranton; $1,046.99.

• Keystone Veal LLC, 120 Monahan Drive, Dunmore; $3,747.75.

ESTATES FILED

• Joseph J. Calomino. 612 Butler St., Dunmore, letters testamentary to Michael Fastiggi, 310 Southview Drive, Mechanicsburg.

• Andrew Gowarty, also known as Andrew J. Gowarty Sr., 1226 Mowry St., Old Forge, letters testamentary to Annette Taglia­terra, 619 Edith St., Old Forge.

• Mary ann J. Kalaha, 1023 Lincoln St., Dickson City, letters of administration to Lisa Rag­nacci, 905 Applewood Acres, Clarks Summit.

• Mary Quinn, 1039 N. Main Ave., Scranton, letters of administration to Norman Benzeleski, same address.

• Paul Joseph Macknosky, 323 Boulevard Ave., Dickson City, letters testamentary to Paul Joseph Macknosky III, 321 Boulevard Ave., Dickson City.

• Carl A. Rosa, 400 Gleason Drive, Moosic, letters testamentary to JoEllen Kuna, 16819 SR 407, Nicholson, and Sharon R. Bartosiewicz, 4 Paglianite Lane, Pittston Twp.

• Joan Kelley, also known as Joan Negvesky Kelley, 460 Bod­nick St., Peckville, letters testamentary to Charlotte DeStefano, 1400 Fellows St., Scranton.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

SCRANTON

A Scranton man was sentenced Jan. 14 to 18 months in prison after police said he called in false threats to an Ohio school in April 2018.

Russell Delano Miley-Cruz will also serve three years of supervised release for sending threats about a shooting at Parma High School. The case was prosecuted by the U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Ohio.

Miley-Cruz was arrested after he sent Snapchat messages to a student warning of a shooting and said he was forwarding a threat he received. Police said he also called in a fake threat, but denied knowing anyone who lived in Parma and having any knowledge of a threat at the school.

— ROBERT TOMKAVAGE

Jan. 23, 1935

9 ordered to get rabies treatments

Eight children and one adult had to undergo the Pasteur treatment for rabies following an encounter with a possibly rabid dog.

The treatments were ordered out of precaution because the remains of the dog were mistakenly burned at the city’s incineration plant before it could be tested for rabies. The dog was shot by Scranton Police Capt. Walter Kime after it had bitten several children and a delivery man on Jan. 22.

Kiwanis celebrates 20 years of service

The Scranton Kiwanis celebrated the 20th birthday of the international organization with a luncheon at the Hotel Casey. The first Kiwanis Club was founded in Detroit on Jan. 21, 1915.

Speaking at the luncheon was Ralph Amerman, Kiwanis past international president.

Don and Gene McLaughlin, world champion juvenile rope artists, and Chief Jarnagin provided entertainment at the birthday luncheon. The McLaughlins and the chief were in Scranton as part of the Championship Rodeo at the Watres Armory.

Out & about

Elks’ Championship Rodeo at the Watres Armory, organist Lew White at the Strand Theater, Will Osbourne and His Orchestra plus the Happiness Follies of 1935 at the Capitol Theater, the film “Anne of Green Gables” at the Riviera, the film “West of the Pecos” at the Ritz and the film “The Painted Veil” at the West Side Theater.

BRIAN FULTON, library manager, oversees The Times-Tribune’s expansive digital and paper archives and is an authority on local history. Contact Brian at bfulton@timesshamrock.com or 570-348-9140.

SCRANTON — City police want the public’s help in identifying three men who detectives say robbed a North Scranton business.

Wearing ski masks and brandishing a firearm, the men took an undisclosed amount of money from V & V Beer Deli/Distributor, 1720 N. Main Ave., on Jan. 2.

City detectives on Wednesday released video surveillance that investigators say show the three men before they covered their faces prior to the robbery. The video can be viewed at thetimes-tribune.com.

Police asked anyone with information to call 911 or contact Detective Joseph Lafferty or Detective Sgt. James Pappas at 570-348-4139. Anonymous tips may be left online at https://new.tipsubmit.com/en.

A monetary reward will be offered to anybody who provides information leading to an arrest, police said.

— STAFF REPORT

SCRANTON — City police charged a female student with making bomb threats against West Scranton High School.

The 15-year-old girl, who was not identified because she is a juvenile, made a series of threats through the anonymous Safe2Say Something app from Tuesday into Wednesday, police Capt. Dennis Lukasewicz said.

She faces charges of terroristic threats, he said.

“She will go to a juvenile hearing and we’ll take it from there,” said Lukasewicz, who singled out School Resource Officer Jill Foley and Juvenile Officer Kevin Uher for their work on the investigation.

In October, city police arrested five students after a rash of bomb threats plagued both Scranton and West Scranton high schools.

—DAVID SINGLETON

Two former care workers at a group home in Scranton video filmed a developmentally disabled woman as they made her chase after and eat pieces of chicken they threw in the yard, in the basement and on the bathroom floor, city police charged.

Eileen Dougherty, 39, 121 S. Everett Ave., Scranton, and Lisa Ann Wall, 41, 622 Donnelly St., Duryea, turned themselves in Thursday to face 10 counts of abuse of a care-dependant person — one for each video that surfaced. Both worked for the Arc of Northeastern Pennsylvania as direct support professionals at a group home at 137 Chesterfield Lane. They have since resigned.

“Those who are entrused with the care of people with developmental disabilities should treat them with kindness, dignity and respect, not humiliation and derision,” Lackawanna County District Attorney Mark Powell said. “The acts alleged in this case are not only inappropriate, they are shocking and repulsive.”

The woman appears to be doing well since her victimization, ARC executive director Maryclaire Kretsch said. There is no evidence of physical or emotional trauma.

“We thank God for that,” Kretsch said. “We are outraged by the actions of these two former employees. This is not who the Arc is”

Check back for updates.

PITTSTON TWP. — A new $7.74 million center for cleaning and fueling rental cars at the local airport shouldn’t cost car renters any more money, officials said Thursday.

The present $3.25 that airport-based rental-car companies charge for each rental day should remain the same, said Chris Teich, project manager and president of project delivery for Conrac Solutions, the developer.

Teich said the charge should suffice in helping pay off the private loan that will finance the project with no taxpayer money required.

He outlined the project at a Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport board meeting.

Conrac hired L.R. Costanzo Co. Inc. of Scranton to build the center, known as a quick turnaround, on land across from the airport’s cell-phone parking lot on the Old Navy Way Road.

Construction will cost almost $6.18 million with the rest representing project management, permit fees and other costs.

The center land includes an abandoned building that housed Verizon offices while rental-car company Avis Budget has an existing maintenance center next to that. L.R. Costanzo will demolish both. The other rental-car companies — Enterprise/National/Alamo and Hertz/Dollar — wash and fuel their cars miles away.

The center will have room for 250 cars with an 11,000-gallon, above-ground fuel tank, fencing and guardrails, Teich said. The rental-car companies will store about 75 cars in a parking lot farther up Old Navy Way Road and across from the center. A “special-purpose entity” will lease the project lots from the airport, Teich said.

L.R. Costanzo will also enclose a walkway in the separate lot where customers return rental cars to protect them from bad weather.

The rental car companies will staff the center, Teich said.

“This is going to take a lot of traffic off the (roads) because two of the rental car companies have to go off site,” he said.

Demolition is scheduled to begin in October with construction completed by the end of October 2021.

In other business, the board:

■ Reorganized and appointed Lackawanna County Commissioner Debi Domenick as its chairwoman and Luzerne County Councilman Tim McGinley as its vice chairman. A six-member board made up of three people from each county oversees the airport.

■ Honored airport public safety director George Bieber, who will retire Jan. 31 to take a job as operations director for the new drug and alcohol rehabilition clinic near Lake Scranton in Scranton. Airport officials heaped praise on Bieber, 65.

Airport director Carl Beardsley Jr. said when he took his job, he noticed Bieber knew everyone in the terminal and always helped.

Board member C. David Pedri said Bieber exemplified the meaning of the term “customer service.”

“I saw him help a mother of four who was bringing her children in here one time, the kids were crying. George stopped everything he was doing (and said), ‘Let me help you out,’” Pedri said. “Everybody was treated with respect.”

Bieber accepted the award with humility.

“I loved it,” Bieber said of his job. “I had a great time.”

■ Honored Tia Toney, airport assistant financial director, for what Beardsley called 15 years of “outstanding service and dedication.”

■ Said it would consider Dupont resident Lou Posly’s request to remove a gate at one end of Lidy Road if Dupont Borough Council officially asks. Posly, who first asked several months ago, said opening the gate will improve emergency-vehicle access and allow Lidy Road residents easier access to Interstate 81. Airport officials said they met with Dupont officials, who so far haven’t asked to remove the gate.

Contact the writer: bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9147; @BorysBlogTT on Twitter.

ARCHBALD — Cole Hawk looked at the puzzle in front of him and tried to solve the code.

“I was bamboozled,” said the fifth-grade student from Scranton’s Willard Elementary School. “All I needed to do is add. It’s a breeze now.”

This school year, the Northeastern Educational Intermediate Unit solved a regional problem: Providing science, technology, engineering and math lessons to students from schools with limited resources.

Cole and his classmates spent today at the NEIU Regional STEM Center, learning about cryptography and strengthening math and critical thinking skills. Since the start of the school year, more than 800 area students have visited the center, formerly office space and a meeting room in the NEIU’s administration building on Line Street in Archbald. Funded through grants and summer camp fees, the center also gives students access to technology including robots, a 3-D printer and laser engraver.

“It’s been fantastic,” said Kevin Williams, director of technology and operations at the NEIU. “So far, it’s been unbelievably successful.”

Using grant money, the Scranton School District is sending all fifth-grade classes on field trips to the new center.

NEIU employees Alexandra Konsur-Grushinski and Stephanie Williams teach the STEM lessons, building skills that could eventually guide students to careers. The teachers explained cryptography — the art of writing or solving codes — and how data is encrypted online. The students also decrypted Caesar cipher, which Julius Caesar used on the battlefield to disguise his messages.

“We’re focusing on mental math,” Konsur-Grushinski said. “But we’re doing it in a way that’s fun.”

Andrew Cano examined the jumble of letters and numbers before him and began to encrypt the word “sideways.”

“A is 7, and you go from there,” the 10-year-old explained.

Jill Natale, a teacher at Willard, watched as her students solved the codes. The lessons on cryptography will continue once the students return to Willard.

“They’re trying multiple strategies to get to their answer,” Natale said. “They’re working collaboratively and coming to their answers together. ... it’s extraordinary.”

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

SCRANTON — Fans of “The Office” lined the hallways at Coopers Seafood House tonight to see one of the stars of “The Office.”

Brian Baumgartner, who played Kevin Malone in the NBC hit show, arrived shortly after 7:30 p.m. to cheers from the eager crowd. He spoke to and mingled with fans for a while before taking a table and ordering dinner.

He’ll stay at the popular Scranton eatery for about 90 minutes before moving on to Backyard Alehouse.  
It’s the latest of several visits Baumgartner, 47, who lives in California, has made to the city, including The Office Convention in October 2007 and The Office Wrap Party on May 4, 2013.

The show, which spanned nine seasons, was set in Scranton and aired from March 24, 2005 to May 16, 2013.

Check back for updates.

Contact the writer: rtomkavage@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9100 x5365; @rtomkavage on Twitter

SCRANTON — The city won’t lower the annual trash bill $50 this year after all, the mayor and council president said.

Trash fees also won’t be billed through property tax bills, and instead will come out as separate, stand-alone garbage bills as usual, they said.

Former Mayor Wayne Evans proposed cutting the trash fee to $250 and having it paid through the property tax bill. His 2020 budget adopted by council in December opened the door to the trash fee changes, but did not set them in stone. The trash fee revenue anticipated in the budget was pegged at the amount that a $300 trash fee would generate, or $5.6 million, the same as in 2019.

The budget was inherited Jan. 6 by Mayor Paige Gebhardt Cognetti and the new council led by council President Bill Gaughan. Evans did not present legislation to set and authorize the reduced trash fee, they said. That legislation still must be enacted. Cognetti and Gaughan said they are inclined to leave the fee at $300 and keep the trash bill separate from property tax bills.

Changing the trash-fee billing method would need more review and would take some time to implement, they said. There’s not enough time to get it done for this year, because trash bills get mailed in February, they said. Cognetti said she also would need more time to make sure that a reduced trash fee would not blow a hole in the budget.

“We’d like to (reduce the trash fee), but not this year,” Cognetti said Wednesday. “It’s likely that the $300 fee that council adopted (in passing the 2020 budget) will remain.”

The trash fee arose in discussion during city council’s meeting Tuesday. In a caucus, Gaughan noted legislation to set the annual trash fee for 2020 has not yet been enacted.

“I, like all of us, was under the impression that within the budget, that the figure for the amount of (trash fee) revenue we would receive is based on (a) $250,” garbage fee, but that’s not so, Gaughan said.

“At this point, I think personally it’s unrealistic to lower it, because to lower it, we would have to have the refuse bill placed in the real estate tax bill. That, at this point, is off the radar,” he added.

Councilman Kyle Donahue said the city must not rush through a trash fee change and must ensure it’s done correctly.

“If that’s going to be done, you need to start mining through that data now, going into next year, so it’s not a rush to do it,” Donahue said.

Today, Evans said his idea was to lower the trash fee to $250 but bring in the same amount of revenue by collecting the trash fees through property tax bills, which are sent to more entities in the city and has a higher collection rate. He left the trash fee flexible, so the new leaders could pick the path they wanted.

“When you put it (a trash fee) in a property tax bill, it’s $250. If it’s in a trash bill, it’s $300. It just depended on which way the city was going to go,” Evans said. “There was always going to have to be legislation (to set the annual trash fee). At the end of day, it was always going to be up to the new mayor and new council.”

While Evans also proposed a no-tax-hike budget, the city’s Act 47 recovery coordinator, Pennsylvania Economy League, in early December urged a 2.4% property tax hike for 2020.

At that time, Evans said the 2020 budget’s two “seismic shifts” — dropping the annual trash fee from $300 to $250 and collecting it with property tax bills, and replacing business privilege/mercantile taxes with payroll taxes — were enough to deal with, and he did not believe it was a good time to add a tax increase.

But the prior council disagreed and took PEL’s advice, and last month amended Evans’ 2020 budget to include a 2.4% increase on land millage.

The new council earlier this month then followed suit and introduced an ordinance from the Cognetti administration to authorize the 2.4% property tax increase on land millage. Council advanced the tax ordinance on second reading this past Tuesday.

The 2.4% increase equates to 7 additional mills, which would boost tax revenue in the budget by $566,000.

Under the tax ordinance, the tax millage levy on land for 2020 would rise to a millage rate of 0.239521; and the tax millage levy on improvements (buildings) would remain unchanged at a millage rate of 0.050564.

The ordinance will come up for a third vote on adoption at council’s meeting this coming Tuesday at 6:30 p.m. at City Hall.

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

From purchasing scuba equipment to equipping divers with an underwater communication system, the annual state fire commissioner’s grant is vital source of funding that allows Scott Twp.-based Dive Rescue Specialists to continue saving lives.

“When you get into emergency equipment like that, it’s very expensive,” said President and Rescue Capt. Bill White, explaining the dive group doesn’t receive any local tax funding. “We have to have this equipment up to par all the time. Somebody could die if it malfunctioned.”

The Office of the State Fire Commissioner’s recently awarded more than $750,000 to 61 fire, EMS and rescue groups in Lackawanna County as part of the office’s Fire Company and Emergency Medical Service Grant Program.

The grant is open to both paid and volunteer fire companies, emergency medical services and volunteer rescue squads, according to the fire commissioner’s office. The funds must go toward a department’s facilities, equipment, debt reduction, training or education.

Dive Rescue Specialists received $14,248.03. With about 22 divers and 40 members, the volunteer dive company is Lackawanna County’s first response department for water incidents, White said. They take out loans to pay for their equipment and use the grant for debt reduction.

Major purchases have included a truck outfitted with equipment to refill scuba tanks, sonar, suits for different weather conditions and an underwater communication system for divers, White said.

“We’re a much more efficient, much more professional organization because of these grants,” White said.

Moosic’s Greenwood Hose Company 1 will use their $14,248.03 grant to pay off a 2020 Ford F-350 brush truck, said Fire Chief Chuck Molinaro.

Brush trucks are specialized trucks outfitted with equipment to fight fires in wooded areas, allowing firefighters to drive them off road and in tight spaces, the chief said. The truck cost upwards of $70,000, he said.

Greenwood’s new truck, which is heavier duty than their previous brush truck, will also allow them to tow ancillary trailers with emergency equipment, he said.

The volunteer company spends the majority of its time not fighting fires, but instead seeking out funding to pay their bills, Molinaro said.

“It’s a pretty tremendous task,” he said,

For the Eynon Sturges Volunteer Hose Company 3 received the most grant funding in Lackawanna County — $23,283.31. The money will help the company outfit its new KME pumper truck with emergency and scene lights, said company President Donnie Cirba. The volunteer company received the most funding because it’s a merged department containing both the former Eynon and Sturges hose companies, Cirba said.

“The money helps us significantly each year,” he said.

The annual funds allow Throop to outfit its firefighters with the latest and greatest technology, said Fire Chief Andy Hegedus.

The Throop Volunteer Hose Company 3 received $12,604.88 this year, and the Throop Hose Company 1 received $12,331.03.

Using the grant money, the hose company can purchase 15 portable radios that would allow the company to switch to digital communications in the future, Hegedus said.

“We rely on it,” he said. “We don’t skip a beat with it when the grant period opens.”

For a full listing of grant recipients, visit osfc.pa.gov.

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

MARRIAGE LICENSES

• Glenn Michael Anderson and Nora Isabel Anderson, both of Scranton.

• Richard Garcia and Migdalia Rodriguez, both of Gouldsboro.

• Mary Elizabeth Northrip, Blairstown, N.J., and Jamison Benzeleski, Dickson City.

• Patrick Richard Mitchell and Ashley Marie Boyanowski, both of Scranton.

• Gaetano Joseph Calabro IV and Kylie Nichole Borick, both of Archbald.

• Christina Oprishko and Aaron Christian Beyer, both of Archbald.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

• Michael T. and Heather A. Schroeder to Bhim P. Gajmer, Scranton; a property at 103 Mount Laurel Lane, Olyphant, for $275,000.

• Thomas I. Sweeney, Jermyn, James P. and Tracy A. Sweeney, South Abington Twp., tenants in common, to Michael J. Carrera, Olyphant; a property at 110 Hill St., Jessup, for $175,000.

• ServiceLink, attorney-in-fact for Fannie Mae, also known as Federal National Mortgage Association, Dallas, Texas, to Jeffrey and Diane Canevari, Dunmore; a property at 6 Baldassari Drive, Dunmore, for $164,500.

• Brenda Lopez to Laurencio V. and Nohemi Prieto; two parcels at 419 Genet St., Scranton, for $80,000.

• Victoria A. Gambo to Jia Long Chen and Feng Qing Liang; a property at 1508 N. Sumner Ave., Scranton, for $46,000.

• Craig A. Simko, Falls Twp., to Lauralee Cramer, Spring Brook Twp.; a property at 7 Lily Lane, Thornhurst Twp., for $93,000.

• Wing Ho Yeung, New York, to Jason and Catherine Heimrich, Pennsylvania; a property at 617 Green Ridge St., Scranton, for $25,000.

• Carol A. Walsh, executrix of the estate of Charles P. Marsala, to Tiffany L. Murphy, Pennsylvania; a property at 334 N. Garfield Ave., Scranton, for $98,244.

• 3015 N Main LLC, Hazleton, to MGS Properties LLC, Swoyersville; two parcels at 3015 N. Main Ave., Scranton, for $1,850,000.

• Pa. Property Advisors LLC, Dunmore, to Adam T. Bisignani, Scranton; a property at 910 Orchard St., Scranton, for $97,000.

• Victor Caputo, Scott Twp., to Clark Country LLC, Lackawanna County; a property at 429 Brook St., Blakely, for $35,000.

• Sandra Majorino, Scranton, to Michael and Mary Ann Rukse, Dickson City; a property at 542-544 Morgan St., Dickson City, for $26,000.

• Wyoming & Spruce Associates General Partnership to Mellon Building Apartments LLC; four parcels on Wyoming Avenue, Scranton, for $1,350,000.

• Erin Butler, now by marriage Erin Conner, and Christopher C. Conner, Harrisburg, to Michael and Patricia Catalano; a property at 220 Linden St., Unit 802, Scranton, for $71,000.

• Nicholas and Audra Gillette, Dunmore, to Grady and Michelle Jones, Dunmore; a property on Smith Street, Dunmore, for $30,000.

• Kwesi T. Dunston and Kathryn E. Obert, Silver Spring, Md., to Frederick III and Katherine Cashman, Endicott, N.Y.; a property at 108 Lake St., Dalton, for $195,000.

• Robert and Patricia M. Naro, Pennsylvania, to Kyle George Beatty, Pennsylvania; a property at 1122 Reynolds Ave., Taylor, for $58,000.

• Daniel S. Gardner, also known as Daniel S. Gardner III, Lackawanna County, to Prestige Properties Management LLC, South Ozone Park, N.Y.; four parcels in Scranton for $280,000.

• Diversified Trust Co. Inc., trustee of the Darryll M. Ceccoli Residuary Trust, sole member of Abington Enterprises LLC, formerly known as Abington Enterprises Inc., formerly known as DMC Service Corp., Atlanta, to David and Corey Harrington, Dalton; a property at 114 W. Main St., Dalton, for $50,000.

• Robert N. and Abbey Judge, Dunmore, to Rachel Kester and Ryan Joseph Kozich, Scranton, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 126 Potter St., Dunmore, for $139,900.

• Go America LLC, Carlsbad, Calif., to Joel Cardenas and Neri Teo, Springfield, Mass., as joint tenants with rights of survivorship; a property at 2204 S. Webster Ave., Scranton, for $30,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

• Robert Richard Lyons, Scranton, v. Patricia Lynch, Dunmore; married April 17, 1978, in Scranton; Donald W. Jensen, attorney.

• Rachel Decker Baldino, Wilkes-Barre, v. John Baldino, South Abington Twp.; married Oct. 17, 2015, in Dunmore; William E. Vinsko Jr., attorney.

LAWSUITS

• Nelta Svetlovics, 37 Cole Village, Clarks Summit, v. Clarks Summit Beverage Center Inc., also known as Summit Beverage, 100 Old Lackawanna Trail #1, Clarks Summit, seeking in excess of $50,000, for injuries suffered Oct. 13, 2018, in a fall on the defendant’s premises; Joseph S. Toczydlowski Jr., attorney.

• James Booth, Lackawanna County, v. Mary Griffin, 109 Everhart St., Dupont, and Depositors Insurance Co., 1100 Locust St., Des Moines, Iowa, seeking in excess of $50,000, together with compensatory damages, interest, costs of suit, attorneys’ fees and any such relief deemed equitable, just and proper on one count for negligence, and in excess of $50,000, together with compensatory damages, interest, costs of suit, attorneys’ fees and any such relief deemed equitable, just and proper on one count, for breach of contract, for injuries suffered Sept. 14, 2018, in an automobile accident on North Main Avenue, Scranton; Michael J. Pisanchyn Jr. and Thomas J. Carroll Jr., attorneys.

ESTATES FILED

• Matilda (Tillie) Nemerovich, 46 Emerald Drive, Throop, letters of administration to Robert Nemerovich, same address.

• John Brier, also known as John J. Brier, 50 Mary’s Lane, Spring Brook Twp., letters of administration to Mary Ann Brier, same address.

• Mildred Madsen, also known as Mildred E. Madsen, 1300 Morgan Highway, Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Patricia Gannon, 406 Haven Lane, Clarks Summit.

• Donna R. Weil, 603 Dean St., Scranton, letters of administration to Robert A. Winslow, 4988 Ridge Road, Lockport, N.Y.

• David Bentler, also known as David H. Bentler, 585 Old River Road, Thornhurst, letters of administration to Nadine Anne Bentler, same address.

• Ileana Fernanda Szymanski Rivera, also known as Ileana Fernanda Szymanski, 902 Columbia St., Scranton, letters testamentary to Tara Hamilton-Fay, 1702 Olive St., Scranton.

• Esther Rosengrant, also known as Esther F. Ciccone Rosengrant and Esther F. Rosengrant, 11 Terrace Drive, Scranton, letters testamentary to Louise Rosengrant Leonori, 11 Waldorf Lane, Scranton.

• Marilyn Watkins, also known as Marilyn L. Watkins, 309 Bear Brook Acres Drive, Madison Twp., letters of administration to Ray Watkins, also known as Ray Howard Watkins III, same address.

BENCH WARRANTS

Judge Thomas Munley has issued the following bench warrants for failure to appear on fines and costs:

• Richard Sciarrone, 4300 Lincoln Ave., Feasterville-Trevose; $958.50.

• Laurie Timlin, 715 E. Pine St., Olyphant; $2,812.50.

• Miguel Angel Valentin-Gonzalez, 1514 Cedar Ave., first floor, Scranton; $2,660.44.

• Sandra Lee Usher, Rear 718 Main St., Simpson; $647.25.

• Nicole Marie Stygar, 204 Lori Drive, Archbald; $643.

• Dale Lewis Sorak, 133 Carroll St., Pittston; $2,580.

• Leann Richards, 1421 Sanderson Ave., Scranton; $1,819.20.

• Elijah A. Price, 525 Main St., Richmondale; $865.25.

• Clifford Theodoro Schwanke, 11805 21st St., Vero Beach, Fla.; $2,157.

• Michael Montafia, 7 Laurel St., Carbondale; $1,401.

• Christopher Magalong, 39 Lakeshore Drive, Apt. 1, Montrose; $855.25.

• Sandra Jean Mackaliunas, 1210 Ash St., second floor, Scranton; $1,731.

• Daniel Crecca, 2310 E. Letterly St., Philadelphia; $531.

• Christa Lynn Clemo, P.O. Box 201, Waymart; $584.

• Sasha Chwasciewski, 502 Main St., Apt. 1, Peckville; $940.

• Lisa Atwell, 420 St. Frances Cabrini Ave., Scranton; $2,369.88.

• Cheyenne K. Archangle-Weist, 1709 Wyoming Ave., Scranton; $787.25.

• Isreal Millard Anthony Jr., 346 Chester St., Kingston; $952.50.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/court

Jan. 24, 1955

City police release crime statistics

The Scranton Police Department released statistics on crimes committed in the city in 1954.

For the year, there were one murder, six rapes or attempted rapes, 16 cases of aggravated assault, 456 burglaries, 484 cases of larceny of less than $50, 92 cases of larceny of more than $50, 12 robberies and 170 stolen vehicles.

The report also said all of the 170 vehicles stolen were returned to their owners, the amount stolen in all of the burglaries was $20,776.92, all the larceny cases equaled $20,849.02 and the robberies equaled $1,254.

With the violent crimes, the alleged murderer committed suicide, arrests were made in four of the rape cases, and 14 arrests were made in the aggravated assault cases.

County industry show opens

The Lackawanna Industry Show opened Jan. 23. The exhibits for the show were spread out throughout downtown Scranton businesses and stores and inside the Scranton Chamber of Commerce building on Mulberry Street.

The show was part of the Lackawanna Industry Week, which celebrated the county’s diversified industries.

4,000 people plan march vs. polio

Four thousand volunteers would be fanning out across Lackawanna County the evening of Jan. 25 to seek donations for the Mothers March on Polio.

Campaign chairwoman Mrs. A.J. Mayer said of the collection, “The people of Lackawanna County will have an opportunity to help the fight against polio.

“The health and welfare of our children are principally at stake, although polio strikes adults as well.”

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.

Anti-abortion advocates throughout Northeast Pennsylvania will join tens of thousands of people across the country today in Washington, D.C., at the 47th annual March for Life.

Regional chapters of the Pennsylvanians for Human Life are offering round-trip bus transportation to the march.

A bus will depart this morning from the Keyser Oak Shopping Center in Scranton filled with 55 passengers, said Anne Domin, president and one of the founders of the Scranton Chapter of Pennsylvanians for Human Life.

Another 55-passenger bus will leave from Swoyersville, according to Chris Calore, vice president of Pennsylvanians for Human Life Wyoming Valley Chapter.

President Donald Trump tweeted Wednesday that he will attend the march, making him the first president to personally attend in the event’s 47-year history.

“See you on Friday ... Big Crowd!” Trump tweeted, sharing a video from last year’s march.

Vice President Mike Pence attended last year’s March for Life, and Trump has previously addressed the rally by video.

Domin said she’s excited that Trump will attend the march

“He has talked from a big screen from the White House, but this time he’s actually going to appear, so this is going to be a very exciting trip,” she said. “This is the first time a president will appear, so we’re very excited, but our president is very pro-life, so I can’t really say that I’m surprised.”

Calore, coordinating the Wyoming Valley bus, has attended the March for Life about 40 times and coordinated about 15 trips.

“We’re anticipating a larger crowd than usual,” she said.

Calore said Trump has worked to regulate or restrict abortion access since he took office. He also has taken away money from Planned Parenthood and appointed conservative Supreme Court Justices Neil Gorsuch and Brett Kavanaugh.

This year’s rally comes weeks before the U.S. Supreme Court will hear its first major abortion case since they were appointed. The case is likely to reveal whether the court will weaken the 1973 Roe v. Wade decision that established a nationwide right to abortion.

Anti-abortion advocates also will march in the St. Patrick’s Parade on March 14 in Scranton and at a Pennsylvania March for Life on May 18 in Harrisburg. A rally will be held that day outside the state Capitol at 11 a.m., followed by the march at noon.

Contact the writer:

dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com;

570-821-2115;

@CVAllabaugh on Twitter

DALLAS

Thomas J. Botzman will step down as Misericordia University president in June to become president at the University of Mount Union in Alliance, Ohio.

“It has been my privilege to serve Misericordia University for the last seven years,” Botzman said in a statement released Thursday. “The university is well positioned to prosper and deliver excellent academic programming in a collaborative and caring environment in the spirit of our founders, the Sisters of Mercy. I cherish the relationships I have made here with students, faculty, staff, alumni, trustees and the community.”

Information regarding a search to replace Botzman will be released at a later time after review by board of trustees leadership.

Botzman, 60, said he’s returning to his “home state to be closer to” his family. He had previously served for 15 years as a member of the faculty at Mount Union, where he was associate academic dean in 2003-04 and director of international studies from 1993 to 1997. He will begin working as president of Mount Union on July 1.

— MICHAEL P. BUFFER

Clarification

Flynn’s first name,

title omitted

A story about gaming grants for local projects published on Page A1 and A4 of Thursday’s editions omitted the first name and title of state Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton.