SCRANTON - Art enthusiasts, wine connoisseurs and shoppers looking for unique gifts will have four floors of vendors to browse on Sunday.

For the second year, the Scranton Cultural Center will host a Buy Local Marketplace from 11 a.m. to 4 p.m. More than 100 vendors had confirmed by Friday, 60 more than last year.

Dawn McGurl, programming director at the Cultural Center, said the idea was born out of an interest to support local artisans and give vendors a place to show their wares.

"I think it's important to keep our money where we live," she said. "Some of the vendors have amazing, interesting gift ideas."

Local groups are hoping that collecting bottles of shampoo, bars of soap and pairs of socks will honor the legacy of Martin Luther King Jr.

The collection is coordinated by the Voluntary Action Center, and a dozen schools and community groups have already agreed to collect the travel-size items.

"It's a small project, but it's a necessary thing," said Jennifer Wynn, volunteer coordinator for the Voluntary Action Center.

Many people do not realize there is a homeless problem in Scranton, and this project will draw awareness to that, she said. The nonprofit groups that often help the homeless are already swamped, so the project will alleviate the burdens, she said.

The care bags will be donated to Catholic Social Services, Catherine McAuley Center, the shelter at Bethel A.M.E. Church, St. Joseph's Center and the Women's Resource Center.

The goal is for each group to collect 500 of the items requested, and the bags will be filled on Martin Luther King Jr. Day, which is Jan. 20.

"It's such a great day to do a service project," Ms. Wynn said. "It really is about celebrating Martin Luther King's legacy."

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Online shoppers can fill their stockings and help the Greater Scranton YMCA with a single click this holiday season, thanks to a new online tool.

The Greater Scranton YMCA is one of 16 nonprofits signed up for Ching, an Atlanta-based startup company that partners with nonprofit organizations to allow their supporters to donate a percentage of each online purchase through featured retailers to the organization of their choice.

Ching CEO John Suddes said purchases from any of the site's 26 retail partners such as Apple, Nordstrom and Amazon return an average of 2 to 2.5 percent of the cost to the customer's chosen nonprofit.

"The reality is we're always looking for new ways for people to give," Mr. Suddes said. "This is a great opportunity to engage current supporters and attract new supporters because it doesn't cost anything."

The YMCA was excited to sign up for the new program in time for the holidays, said Meghan Davis, mission advancement director for the Greater Scranton YMCA.

"We think it's a really great way to bring funds to the Y and it's really good timing," Ms. Davis said. "We're very hopeful that it's going to be a beneficial thing.

"I'm always trying to think of innovative ways to bring donors to the Y," Ms. Davis said. "(Ching) is an easy way for people to donate to our cause without realizing it."

To sign up to benefit the YMCA, visit greaterscrant onymca.org and click the Ching link to set up an account.

Ms. Davis said money raised through Ching donations will benefit the organization's scholarship and financial assistance programs.

"The need in our area is growing more and more every year," Ms. Davis said.

Contact the writer: sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

The signs are there for those who know how to read them, police say.

A man swipes through multiple gift cards and credit cards before finding one that works. A woman buys new gift cards with an old one. A credit card's number does not match up with the number printed on the receipt.

Credit and gift card fraud is on the rise, Dickson City Police Chief William Bilinski said.

Chief Bilinski made his first such arrest in the early 2000s, when this type of credit card fraud was rare. Technology has expanded criminal opportunities to create phony cards.

With the holiday shopping season beginning in earnest, law enforcement officials are warning the public to be wary of their finances and take measures to protect their identities.

"Fraud is the biggest trend right now," Chief Bilinski said.

The criminals seem to target expensive electronics at big-box stores. Once illegally purchased, the electronics are resold back to another store in another location for cash. Given the proximity to the interstate highway system, Dickson City police keep busy with fraud investigations.

For example, Dickson City police charged two people in June on a combined 199 charges related to credit card fraud for using phony credit cards to purchase an Apple iPad at Target.

Kalvin Lopez of Rockaway Park, N.Y., and C.T. Burgess-Frazier, 25, allegedly bought $3,000 in merchandise with fake cards. There were 15 Visa cards, two American Express cards and a Square card reader in Mr. Lopez's vehicle. Charges against Mr. Lopez at the county level were dropped on Nov. 19 in lieu of federal charges. Information on Mr. Burgess-Frazier was not available.

Chief Bilinski said police work hand in hand with the Secret Service on these cases.

"As technology increases, there's always an opportunity for the cards to be compromised," said Agent Lawrence Tucker of the Scranton Field Office. "Along with that, there have been more safeguards put in place."

Agent Tucker said shoppers and retail employees need to be vigilant this time of year. Criminals using fraudulent cards are bound to try to take advantage of the frantic holiday rush.

Chief Bilinski said that's why police train store loss-prevention officers.

"It's worked," Chief Bilinski said.

Agent Tucker said it is a wise move to continuously check your bank account statements for suspicious activity. Should any be found, report it immediately to local police or the Secret Service.

Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter

HARRISBURG - Legislation intended to make more human organs available for transplant recently won approval from a Senate committee, but faces continued debate down the road.

The measure sponsored by Sen. Stewart Greenleaf, R-12, Willow Grove, would update a state organ donor law that has been on the books for nearly 20 years.

Mr. Greenleaf and bill advocates argue the law needs updating because more than 8,000 people are on the waiting list for transplants in Pennsylvania and for many, time is running out. About 500 die each year before transplants are found, they say.

"Every day more people are added to the list of those in critical need of a lifesaving organ," said Mr. Greenleaf. "This legislation would help to educate the public of the importance of organ donation, and through the use of best clinical practices, would maximize the number or organs available for transplant."

The bill approved recently by the Judiciary Committee would mandate training about organ donation at medical and nursing schools and education about donor options at high schools and colleges. It also requires that organs be recovered in a hospital setting and brings Pennsylvania law in line with more recent laws adopted by many other states.

Some statewide law enforcement groups think the bill, despite an amendment being added, could impede official investigations into the cause of death. That issue involves the role of county coroners in deciding whether an organ can be removed from a body based upon whether specific evidence is needed in an investigation.

Another issue deals with the protocol to respect the rights of a victim's family when the issue of organ donation is being raised with them.

"We still have serious reservations about the bill," said Greg Rowe, legislative director for the Pennsylvania District Attorneys Association.

He said the amendment is a good first step.

The bill as currently written clarifies that a coroner retains authority to deny an organ donation. It establishes a process where a coroner or medical examiner can attend an organ recovery procedure and deny its removal if he or she thinks it may be involved in the cause of death.

It directs an organ procurement organization if asked to help a coroner obtain medical records and specimens from a body and reimburse the coroner for reasonable costs for attending an organ recovery procedure.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

Reacting to an employee complaint about alleged dangerous conditions, the U.S. attorney's office is asking a federal judge to issue a warrant letting a federal agency inspect an Olyphant manufacturing facility that stores a highly flammable liquid.

The court action, filed Wednesday, seeks to force Insituform Technologies LLC of 919 Stanton Road to allow inspectors from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration to inspect the facility for alleged safety violations related to the storage of 102T resin, a flammable substance the firm uses in the production of pipe liners.

The federal action comes about one month after officials at Insituform refused to allow OSHA inspectors into the facility based on its claim it is not subject to inspection under OSHA's regulations.

According to the complaint, OSHA sought to inspect the firm after receiving a safety complaint from an employee. The court record does not indicate the specific claims made by the worker, other than to say it relates to an OSHA regulation that requires employers to protect workers from any hazard that could result in death or serious physical harm.

Insituform manufactures a specialized pipe lining used by various industries, including sewer and water suppliers. The firm's product is inserted into existing pipes, negating the need for companies to dig up and replace pipes that have become corroded. As part of the process, the new pipe is coated with the 102T resin, a flammable substance that is heated, causing the pipe to expand and mold to the existing pipe.

The dispute between the company and OSHA relates to whether Insituform's storage of the resin is subject to OSHA regulations relating to chemicals that could cause a catastrophe if there is explosion or accidental release.

Insituform's attorney, Lee Rosengard of Philadelphia, claims the company is not subject to inspection because the OSHA regulations relate only to chemicals that are held in a tank that must be heated or cooled to ensure the chemicals remain stable. The chemicals at Insituform are held in an "atmospheric tank" at room temperature, which exempts the tank from inspection, Mr. Rosengard says in court papers.

The U.S. attorney's office argues the tanks are subject to inspection, noting that Insituform cools the tanks in the summer and heats them in the winter. Mr. Rosengard acknowledged the firm does "slightly" cool and heat the tanks, but says it does so only as an "operational convenience" to improve viscosity, and not to ensure the chemical does not reach its boiling point.

"The atmospheric tank exception does not state that chilling is never allowed; it merely states that chilling must not be required to keep the liquid below its boiling point," Mr. Rosengard said.

The complaint filed by the U.S. attorney's office is one of two federal actions pending relating to the inspection. On Oct. 25, Insituform filed a complaint seeking an injunction that would preclude the government from seeking a warrant to enter the facility. The U.S. attorney's office filed a motion Wednesday that seeks to dismiss that complaint. No ruling has been issued on that matter, which is before U.S. District Judge Malachy Mannion.

The government's application for a warrant has been assigned to Senior U.S. District Judge A. Richard Caputo. No ruling had been made on that filing as of Friday.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com

MOOSIC - Moosic police are looking for two men caught on surveillance video breaking into a convenience store and taking cigarettes and lottery tickets.

At about 3:50 a.m. Friday, the men pulled up in a dark Ford pick-up truck with a contractor-type ladder rack. They broke though a glass door at the SV Mini-Mart at 4685 Birney Ave., police said.

They attempted to break open an ATM machine and then stole cigarettes and lottery tickets. Stills from surveillance camera footage can be viewed at thetimes-tribune.com.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Moosic Police at 570-342-9111.

The 50 or so residents displaced by a Friday morning fire at Summit Garden Apartments will likely be able to move back Monday.

A large contingent of workers from cleanup and restoration company Servpro were at the building early Saturday morning. Although fire damage was limited to a single unit, all 18 units in the building sustained some water and smoke damage, the workers said.

A fire that broke out in the bedroom of the first-floor apartment forced residents to flee the building Friday morning. Fire and Red Cross officials estimated between 50 and 70 residents lived in the building, though not everyone was home when the fire began.

Craig Felkowski, manager of Summit Garden Apartments, said some displaced tenants are staying with other Summit Garden tenants. Others were taken in by friends and family in the community. The local Red Cross helped the rest.

"We are glad no one was hurt," Mr. Felkowski said. Mr. Felkowski said he is optimistic that tenants will be able to move back into their apartments Monday.

"A lot depends on how much work they get done through the weekend," he said. "But they have a large crew and they are working right through the day."

Investigators said the fire was caused by 6-year-old child playing with a lighter in the bedroom of a first-floor apartment. Lackawanna District Attorney Andrew Jarbola said criminal charges are unlikely in a case where the child is so young.

"It's difficult and a stretch to pursue any criminal charges in a case like this and would require a set of extenuating circumstances beyond a child's natural curiosity," Mr. Jarbola said.

Contact the writer: dfalchek@timesshamrock.com

More than seven decades after Jesuits inherited the then four-building campus, the core values rooted in their culture continue to shape University of Scranton students.

Arriving at the university in 1942, the Society of Jesus introduced its mission at the institution: Challenge students to pursue excellence and to seek God in all things, whether it be education, service work or personal growth.

Known as Jesuits, the Society of Jesus is a Roman Catholic order of priests and brothers founded by St. Ignatius Loyola, a Spanish soldier turned religious leader who is revered for his spirituality. The University of Scranton is one of 28 Jesuit colleges or universities across the country.

"It's beyond just teaching the students material for a specific subject," said the Rev. Bernard R. McIlhenny, S.J., a former headmaster at Scranton Preparatory School and the university's dean of admissions from 1966 to 1997. "Our goal is to foster the growth of the whole person, because we want them to be able to stand up on their own feet and express themselves."

Since inheriting the university from the financially struggling Christian Brothers, the Jesuits have instilled their values in both faculty and students.

Professors serve as an extension of parents, leading by example while also pushing students to express themselves and think on their own, said the Rev. Ryan Maher, executive director of the university's Jesuit Center.

And a statue of St. Ignatius sits in the middle of campus, serving as a daily reminder of the goal set forth.

Under the Jesuit leadership, the campus expanded from four buildings in 1942 to about 80 buildings spread across approximately 60 acres now, Father McIlhenny said. Over the years, as the university extended its footprint and sent graduates into the workforce, a ripple effect has been felt across Northeast Pennsylvania.

Multimillion-dollar construction projects have fueled hundreds of jobs, while the university's more than 1,000 employees have helped groom students to become high-level professionals, said Frank Homer, Ph.D., a professor emeritus of history employed at the university for 45 years.

And over the last 15 years, students and faculty have increased their presence across the region, whether to help those in need or further beautify the area, he said.

"It's part of the Jesuit identity," he said.

While discussing the Jesuits' impact on Northeast Pennsylvania, Father Maher pointed to the "people the students become."

"Jesuits mark their success based on what type of person the students develop into," he said. "We look at the kind of spouses or parents they become, and how involved they are in the community.

"In our minds, that's the biggest impact."

"Contact the writer: miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

In 1933, as the country sunk deeper into the Great Depression, a man from Scranton came up with an idea that would help out-of-work locals and needy residents.

Thomas Murphy was an associate editor of The Scranton Times and the president of the Scranton Chamber of Commerce. He knew there were about 1.2 million people on relief rolls in Northeast Pennsylvania. Winter would put more pressure on these struggling families, as each would need at least 6 tons of coal to heat their homes.

The anthracite coal region was hit doubly hard. In addition to the tightening grip of the Great Depression, the demand for anthracite coal was waning. Many local mines were operating at partial capacity - if they were operating at all.

Between 1926 and 1933, mine operators cut coal production by one-third and laid off nearly 67,000 out of a total workforce of 169,000 anthracite miners, according to Explorepahistory.com.

Mr. Murphy's idea was simple. If the government could be convinced to buy large quantities of coal from Northeast Pennsylvania mines and distribute it to needy local families, jobs would be generated and people could heat their homes. The purchase would also generate job opportunities on the railroad by creating a need to transport the coal, Mr. Murphy thought.

In November 1933, Mr. Murphy met with President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and Federal Emergency Relief Administrator Harry L. Hopkins to talk about his idea. He was accompanied by Democratic Congressman Patrick J. Boyland and Thomas Kennedy, international secretary and treasurer of the United Mine Workers of America.

Mr. Murphy told President Roosevelt that somewhere between 50,000 and 70,000 men were employed in the anthracite coal region, helping local coal companies maintain about 60 percent capacity. But the same number of men needed work in the coal mines, Mr. Murphy said.

President Roosevelt "listened sympathetically," according to newspaper accounts.

On Dec. 1, 1933, it was announced that the federal government agreed to purchase 2 million tons of anthracite coal, all of which would be distributed to the needy.

Unfortunately, there is not a lot more information in the Times-Tribune archives about the Times-Murphy plan, including how much the government paid for the coal or whether any more coal was purchased.

ERIN L. NISSLEY is an assistant metro editor at The Sunday and has lived in the area for nearly seven years. Contact the writer: localhistory@timesshamrock.com.

The University of Scranton's growth in the city's Lower Hill section has utterly transformed that formerly residential neighborhood into an expansive college campus.

Over the past half-century, many city homes have been condemned and razed and replaced with several-stories-tall dormitories and massive glass-and-stone-walled classroom buildings and student centers.

"It's a neighborhood in transition. I think it is still transitioning," said Richard Leonori, a lifelong Scranton resident and prominent architect who is a trustee with the Lackawanna Historical Society and chairman of the Pennsylvania Historic Preservation Board.

Nate Warshawsky, a 31-year member of the Hill Neighborhood Association, said of the changes, "You walk up and down Mulberry Street and you see a big change. Homes and businesses are gone. On North Webster Avenue, it was all private homes, now it's all university."

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SEED PLANTED

The seed of the university's transformation of the lower Hill Section actually was planted downtown in 1888. That was when the Most Rev. William O'Hara, the first Bishop of the Diocese of Scranton, laid a cornerstone in the 300 block of Wyoming Avenue for the College of St. Thomas of Aquinas.

Renamed in 1938 as the University of Scranton, the college's first foray into the Hill Section dates to the December 1941 donation from the Scranton family to the university the family's estate that included a mansion built in 1872 and land generally bounded by Madison and Monroe avenues, Linden Street and Ridge Row.

However, the Great Depression followed by World War II took a toll on the university's fortunes. With enrollment down, the university deep in debt, the diocese in 1942 offered the university to a New York-based Jesuit order. It agreed to assume ownership and administration of the university and took up residence in the Scranton family mansion.

After World War II, enrollment by 1947 mushroomed and the college on Wyoming Avenue was bursting at the seams. The university acquired three surplus Navy barracks and installed them on the former Scranton family estate tract. The university now had a classroom presence in the Lower Hill Section.

From 1947-62, the university campus was split between Wyoming Avenue and the Hill Section, and students often went up and down Linden Street to get from one location to the other for classes.

A building boom from 1956-67 created the university's early nucleus in the Hill Section, including Loyola Hall, Alumni Memorial Library, a student center, St. Thomas Hall, the first quads of dormitories and the Long Center.

By 1962, the Wyoming Avenue site was vacated and returned to the diocese. New construction at the university paused from 1967-84. Enrollment had declined in the early 1970s and the college's administration changed to a board of trustees. After the university became coed in the 1970s and added new curriculums, enrollment rose in the late 1970s.

In 1976, a portion of Linden Street was converted into a campus commons corridor when the city closed a few blocks for the university.

BOOM RESUMES

By 1984, the building boom resumed and has continued apace during the past three decades. During an orientation presentation last year at the university that is posted on YouTube, university historian and professor emeritus Frank Homer said of the 30-year-long building boom, "We've never stopped, literally. There has hardly been a period of six months in which there has not seen new construction going in from 1984 to the present."

The look and architecture of the university also has changed over the years, from fairly modest buildings in the early days to the more-imposing, impressive designs of modern structures, Mr. Leonori said.

"Now, with stone and granite, the university is building a much more traditional college campus," Mr. Leonori said. "The development on Mulberry Street is pretty spectacular. It has been transforming that whole part of town and continues to transform it. They're not building cheap buildings."

There also have been some growing pains along the way.

Mr. Warshawsky recalled that some residents felt the university was gobbling up too much land and too many dwellings and businesses.

"People said the university is taking over the Hill section and buying too much property," said Mr. Warshawsky, who also is on the board of a local alumni chapter of the university. "The university built some beautiful buildings and added to the Hill Section that way. On the other hand, they took over a lot private homes."

Mr. Warshawsky also recalled that the neighborhood association heard complaints from residents having negative interactions with some students.

"I know people over years have complained about the students - maybe they're too loud, too noisy, maybe being destructive," said Mr. Warshawsky. He recalled one incident at his former home on Mahon Court about 18 years ago, where a male student cutting through the yard as a shortcut cursed at his daughter and kicked a trash can as Mr. Warshawsky chased him off his property.

Construction of dormitories seems to have eased such tensions, he said.

Some of the first demolitions that paved the way for a campus on the hill also involved removal of homes that already had deteriorated or had become overcrowded apartments, said Jack Carling, who was director of relocation for the city's Redevelopment Authority that redeveloped the lower Hill Section into the university campus.

As the university grew, blight also arose on its peripheries as some single-family homes that were turned into apartments fell into disrepair, Mr. Leonori said.

"As it transitioned, blight developed. As the school grew and residents receded, there were periods of time where a lot of older homes were carved into apartments," Mr. Leonori said. "Dorms have curtailed a lot of that. That has to do with town-and-gown issues and keeping students on campus and keeping old houses from being carved up."

The university also has purchased a number of dilapidated properties from private owners at premiums to make way for improvements, Mr. Leonori said.

"The growth of the university is a success story. For the city and the school, it has to be viewed as a success. I don't see how it can be viewed as anything else."

Contact the writer, jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

What started as a school that taught high school-aged boys arithmetic and writing has evolved into a school with high-demand majors in sciences.

With a liberal-arts education in the Jesuit tradition, the University of Scranton now offers 61 major programs, 43 minors, and 29 concentrations and tracks for undergraduate students and 25 master's programs. Adult and evening programs are also available.

The university's most in-demand majors are those in the sciences and health sciences fields, said Joseph Roback, associate vice president of admissions and undergraduate enrollment.

Students are looking at the biology, neuroscience and biochemistry fields, and pursuing a pre-medical school track, Mr. Roback said.

Occupational therapy, physical therapy and nursing are also "extremely popular," he said.

"Parents and families are not only looking at career majors that lead to jobs," Mr. Roback said. "Having a very strong liberal arts background is critical. Your ability to think, ability to write, reason … those factors are so critical."

Pre-med, pre-health

The school has also seen success with its pre-medical and pre-health professional programs.

During the past 14 years, of the 563 senior applicants to health professions schools, an average of 79 percent have gained acceptance to schools of medicine, dentistry, veterinary medicine, podiatry and optometry. That percentage is nearly twice the national average, according to the university.

Richard H. Passon, Ph.D., who served as the school's provost from 1984 to 2000, and as a faculty member from 1964 to 1973, helped develop what is now the Panuska College of Professional Studies.

He also saw graduate programs grow and the development of some of the university's most popular majors, including physical therapy and occupational therapy.

Students also began focusing on professional programs, and if they still majored in philosophy or theology, then often double-majored in another subject, Dr. Passon said.

As the university has expanded, the number of faculty members has grown to 290 full time, and the amount of research has increased.

Students can participate in faculty-student research programs and summer research fellowships.

Fulbright Awards

Since 1972, 144 graduates of the University of Scranton have been awarded a Fulbright or other international fellowship award to support a year of study outside the U.S.

The Chronicle of Higher Education has recognized the university as a "top producer" of Fulbright awards. The Fulbright program is the U.S. government's premier scholarship program for overseas graduate study, research and teaching.

Students awarded fellowships this year focused on research and teaching projects ranging from studying the effects of the recent recession on foreign direct investment in Hungary to teaching American culture and English as a foreign language to high school students in Malaysia. - STAFF REPORT

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT

The student volunteers at the University of Scranton's Leahy Family Center are in a race against time.

They have committed to completing 1,888 hours of service in honor of the University's 125th anniversary by the end of the fall semester. As of mid-November they had 1,622 hours, according to David Linhares, 23, a graduate student pursuing a master's degree in health administration.

Mr. Linhares, head of the Leahy Center's Student Advisory Board, coordinates the volunteer efforts of every University of Scranton student who helps at the Leahy Center. On clinic days, he is always on the move, translating for patients who speak only Spanish or Portuguese or keeping tabs on the volunteers, whether they are working with a patient or catching a couple of minutes to breath in one of the conference rooms filled with volunteers' backpacks and offerings of soda and snack foods to keep them going.

"They want to be here," Mr. Linhares said of the student volunteers. On clinic days, roughly 20 student volunteers spend the day admitting patients or translating for them, while volunteer nurses and physicians administer medical care the center's mostly uninsured patients might not receive otherwise.

"They're here because they need the care," Mr. Linhares said. "They see the efforts and appreciate it."

The Leahy Center is a centerpiece in a long-standing tradition of community service at the university. Patricia Vaccaro, director of the center for service and social justice on campus, coordinates student volunteer efforts with 140 area nonprofits every year.

"We try to answer to the needs of the community," Ms. Vaccaro said. "We work very closely with nonprofit directors."

While the university does not enforce a service requirement on all of its students, Ms. Vaccaro said her office is never without volunteers.

"It's part of the culture here," she said.

Of the 4,000 undergraduate students at the university, 2,700 will participate in a community service project during their time on campus, Ms. Vaccaro said. With the help of those students, the university logs approximately 165,000 hours of service each year.

"It's such a wonderful thing for the community," Ms. Vaccaro said. "And this opens students' eyes to what the needs are in the world and how they can use their gifts and talents."

Arielle Ferry, a graduate assistant in the office, said working in the community gives students a different experience than they would get in a classroom.

"It's easy to sit in a class and learn about poverty and hunger," she said. "It's different when you're sitting across from someone experiencing it. I won't forget those people."

Michelle Dougherty, a senior at the university, has been involved with the office and its service efforts since her first year. She said her volunteer work shaped her studies and goals as she approaches graduation.

"I didn't know exactly what I wanted to do when I first started," Ms. Dougherty said. "I wanted to change things and help people. I've learned how important individual interactions are."

Ms. Dougherty, a biology and philosophy double-major, hopes to pursue a career in public health in the Scranton area so she can remain engaged with the community's needs.

"I've made an effort in my time here to become a member of the community at large," Ms. Dougherty said. "I hope to maintain that connection."

For Ms. Vaccaro, students like Ms. Dougherty represent the university's tradition of education through community service.

"The expectation is you have to be of service," Ms. Vaccaro said. "You have a responsibility to do so as a person of this world."

Contact the writer: sscinto@timesshamrock.com, @sscintoTT on Twitter

As universities across the country struggle to keep higher education affordable, the University of Scranton is trying to reduce costs and increase financial aid.

For the 2013-14 school year, tuition costs $38,404, and when room, board and other fees are added, it brings the price tag to $51,940.

But university officials say few students pay the "sticker price," and of the freshman aid applicants this year, 95 percent were offered some kind of financial aid, whether it was merit-based or need-based aid.

With a 2013-14 budget of $208 million, 27 percent of the budget is devoted to financial aid. Ten years ago, financial aid was 22 percent of the budget. The increase is equivalent to $10 million a year, said Edward Steinmetz, senior vice president for finance and administration.

Just six years ago, tuition cost $27,304, and with room, board and other fees, the total cost to attend was about $38,000. Fueled by increases in salaries, utility costs and increases in financial aid, the university is searching for ways to reduce costs without impacting the overall student experience, Mr. Steinmetz said.

About 50 percent of the budget is salaries and benefits for university employees - the people who contribute to the university's commitment of small classes and personalized attention, Mr. Steinmetz said.

While the university has built a student center, residence halls and science center in the last decade and has broken ground on a new center for rehabilitation education, it has not made a major impact on tuition, Mr. Steinmetz said. Between 5 and 6 percent of the university's budget is devoted to debt service, or paying back money borrowed for projects. Much of the money spent on the projects was donated or part of government grants, he said.

Going forward, university officials know they need to be even more aware of how much tuition increases impact families. A 3 percent increase when total cost is more than $50,000 is a bigger impact than when total cost was $30,000, he said.

"The students and their families are making an investment when they come here," Mr. Steinmetz said. "Anything we can do to make the tuition increase as low as possible is a priority."

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

Nov. 24, 1892. Thanksgiving. St. Thomas College played its first recorded football game, defeating Carbondale High School.

Since then, athletics have been a big part of the 125-year history of the University of Scranton.

Teams were originally known as the Tomcats or "Tommies." In 1946 - four years after the name of the school switched from St. Thomas College to the University of Scranton - a contest was held to come up with a new nickname for the sports teams. "Royals" wound up the winner, a reference to the school's official colors of royal purple and white.

In 1970, the university founded its athletic Wall of Fame. Each year, student-athletes, coaches, administrators and those in the community who have made significant contributions to the athletic program are inducted. Currently, there are 225 members in the Wall of Fame.

Until 2006, Scranton teams competed in the Middle Atlantic Conference. Beginning in 2007, the Royals became a charter member of the Landmark Conference.

Today, there are 18 varsity teams at Scranton - nine men, nine women. Over the years, they have combined to win three national championships, made 92 NCAA tournament appearances and produced 56 All-Americans and 31 Academic All-Americans.

Fifteen club teams - such as men's and women's rugby, ice hockey and men's and women's crew - and numerous intramural programs are also available.

Ironically, football - the sport that started it all - is no longer played at the university.

After that first recorded game, play over the next decade or so was sporadic. According to university archives, injury concerns caused the sport to be discontinued in 1909. The ban was lifted in 1910, only to have football dropped in 1911. It was reinstated in 1916 for the 1917 season and continued until 1960.

GREATEST GAME

Perhaps the greatest season in Scranton football history came in 1939. Under the direction of coach Tom Davies, the Tommies went 7-0-2. They outscored the opposition 159-40, with five shutouts. One of the wins was a 33-0 blanking of CCNY on Oct. 14. It was broadcast on NBC, the third college football game to ever be televised.

From 1944 to 1960, Peter A. Carlesimo was the head football coach. He also did two stints as basketball coach (1944-46 and 1951-55), one as cross country coach (1961-68) and was the university's athletic director from 1953 until 1968.

He left the university in 1968 to become the athletic director at his alma mater, Fordham University, where he played football alongside Vince Lombardi. But during his 26 years at Scranton, Mr. Carlesimo had a formidable impact on both the school and its athletes. So much so that in 2011, the university named its annual athletics award dinner after Mr. Carlesimo, who died in 2003.

A 26-0 victory over Wilkes University closed out the 1960 campaign. As it turned out, that would be the final varsity football game played at Scranton. On Jan. 3, 1961, the program was discontinued. An editorial in the school newspaper, The Aquinas, cited "declining gate receipts, student apathy, disinterested town populous, and the rising cost of educational facilities" as the reasons for the administration's decision.

Football did continue as an intramural sport into the 1970s. Periodically, there is talk about reviving the program, but nothing has materialized. A popular T-shirt sold in the university bookstore reads "Scranton Football" on the front and "Undefeated Since 1960" on the back.

Without a football team, basketball has been king at Scranton.

Fans turned out in droves to watch such players as Ed Kazakavich, Bill Witaconis, Gene Mumford, Irv Johnson, Jack Maher, Paul Miernicki, Phil Johnson, Todd Bailey, Mickey Banas and Billy Bessoir. The team played its home games at the Watres Armory and Scranton CYC until 1969 when the John Long Center was built on campus. The gym quickly became a house of horrors for opposing teams.

During the 1950s, 1960s and early 1970s, the Royals regularly faced the Eastern powers of that era such as Temple, Villanova, Seton Hall, Niagara and La Salle. One of Scranton's more noteworthy wins in its history came Jan. 5. 1976. The Royals visited West Point, N.Y., and pulled off a 57-55 upset of Army, which was coached by Mike Krzyzewski, who is now at Duke University and is the winningest coach in NCAA Division I men's basketball history.

NCAA Division III was formed in 1973, and the Royals have been a perennial powerhouse. Their 24 NCAA tournament appearances rank second only to Wittenberg University's 26. They won the national championship in 1976 and again in 1983 and made trips to the Final Four in 1977 and 1988.

The man largely responsible for much of that success is Bob Bessoir. He played for the Royals from 1951-55, scored 1,078 career points and still holds the school's single-game record for rebounds with 43 against King's on March 5, 1955.

Bessoir took over as head coach of the Royals in 1972 and won 554 games before retiring in 2001. He was flamboyant and brash, never afraid to predict victory for his team. Like the time at the press conference for the 1976 NCAA Division III Final Four. Coaches from the other three schools - Plattsburgh, Augustana and Wittenberg - gave the standard "happy to be here" speech. Not Bessoir. He said he expected the Royals to be there and expected them to win, which they did.

Carl Danzig took over for Bessoir in 2001 and has continued the winning tradition. In his first 12 seasons, Scranton won 221 games and six conference titles, including four in the Landmark Conference.

With the advent of Title IX, women's basketball joined the fold in 1974. While the program enjoyed success in its first five seasons, the fortunes changed when Mike Strong was named head coach in 1979.

All Strong has done in his 33 seasons is become the winningest Division III women's basketball coach with 789 wins and counting. Later this season, he is expected to become the ninth women's basketball coach in NCAA history with 800 career wins.

Under Strong's direction, the Lady Royals' 26 NCAA tournament appearances are tied for the most in Division III with Southern Maine. They have made nine trips to the Final Four, winning the national championship in 1985, placing third four times and fourth four times.

Soccer is another sport that has thrived at Scranton. The men's program began in 1969 and has produced 28 winning seasons, 494 wins, 11 conference titles and 14 NCAA tournament appearances. From 1980-83, the Royals made four consecutive trips to the Final Four under the direction of coach Steve Klingman. They lost twice in the final -- 1-0 to Babson in overtime in 1980 and 2-1 to Glassboro State (now Rowan University) in four overtimes in 1981 -- and fell in the semifinals the other two years.

Women's soccer started in 1983. The late Joe Bochicchio, who coached from 1984 to 2006, built a tradition of excellence. The team has had 26 winning seasons in its 31 years of existence, captured 19 conference championships and made 15 trips to the NCAA tournament.

Other current teams at the university include baseball; men's and women's cross country; women's field hockey; men's golf; men's and women's lacrosse; softball; men's and women's swimming and diving; men's and women's tennis; women's volleyball; and wrestling. All have enjoyed their degrees of success over the years.

Some sports, such as rifle and track and field, have come and gone. Whether they are still played today, all have had an integral role in helping shape the University of Scranton during its 125-year history.

Contact the writer: swalsh@timesshamrock.com @swalshTT on Twitter

Lorraine Braz Yudiskas does not yet know her full potential.

Over more than eight decades, the North Scranton woman raised and supported two children after her husband died. She retired as a budget analyst and had dreams of earning a diploma. She received her bachelor's in 2010, at age 79.

It was not enough.

The 82-year-old is now on track to receive her master's degree in gerontology - the study of aging - from Marywood University this spring. She is the school's oldest student.

"I'll be 83 with the help of God when I graduate," she said. "I don't want to live an ordinary life. None of us ever know our full potential. I'm going to push the envelope as far as I can."

Humbling experience

After her husband, Victor, died 37 years ago, Ms. Yudiskas concentrated on providing for her children. More than a decade ago, with the dream of a degree, she started taking classes at Marywood. She retired as a budget analyst from the Department of Justice seven years ago and was able to devote more time to studying. When she received her bachelor's degree in English, she became the university's oldest graduate.

The next semester, she started her gerontology courses.

"How cool is it to study what you are?" she said before walking into her psychology of aging class last week. She sat in the front row, taking notes as a guest lecturer addressed cognitive impairments and mental illness.

Then it was time for presentations. Students could watch a movie and write a paper or complete 10 hours of community service. Ms. Yudiskas chose to volunteer at the North Scranton food pantry of the Bread Basket of NEPA, just a couple of blocks from her home.

Each Wednesday this fall, she greeted people as they walked in the door, and as they left offered them a loaf of bread.

"When they come through that door, I want them to know I respect them," she said. "It was a very humbling experience."

After her 12th hour, she stopped counting. She plans to keep volunteering, regardless of completing the class requirement.

"I honestly feel I can make a difference," she told her classmates, nearly all of them less than one-third her age.

Her professor, Sister Gail Cabral, I.H.M, Ph.D., said Ms. Yudiskas contributes in class and encourages others.

"She's terrific as a student," Sister Cabral said. "She gets along well with other students."

Erika Ornstein, 29, who is pursuing her master's degree in art therapy, said she enjoys having Ms. Yudiskas as a classmate.

"She really adds a lot," Ms. Ornstein said. "She brings a different perspective."

Making an impact

As part of the requirements to receive her master's degree, Ms. Yudiskas completed a gerontology internship this past summer.

For six weeks, she spent time at Holy Family Residence, interacting with residents. When she started the gerontology program three years ago, she was unsure she made the right choice. Not a fan of just studying theory, she needed to see those theories applied.

She needed to make an impact.

She instantly found what she was looking for during her internship, building relationships with the residents at the home.

"We have the same history, losses, tragedies," she said. "We share so much."

A blind man loved to feel the warmth of the sun. When a beam of sunlight came through his window on what had been a dreary day, she moved his hand so he could feel the warmth.

A woman barely opened her eyes and never uttered a word. Ms. Yudiskas made it her goal to connect with the woman. One day, she brought in lotion and rubbed the woman's hands. The woman looked up and said, "Thank you."

"I thought, 'This is what it's all about,' " Ms. Yudiskas said. "I felt like I found another purpose."

Love of learning

Along with taking classes two nights a week and volunteering at the food pantry, Ms. Yudiskas spends a day a week tutoring international students.

"How cool is it for an 82-year-old woman to tutor Chinese students and Saudi women?" she said.

After daily 3-mile walks - which happen rain or shine - most other time is dedicated to studying. She never reads without a dictionary at her side, and types her handwritten notes. She credits her dedication for her 3.9 GPA.

"I'm extremely aggressive when it comes to good grades," she said.

She has passed on that trait and her love of learning to her family, including her son Jay Yudiskas and his wife, Lori, of Falls, and her daughter Lisa Conley and her husband, David, of Lancaster, Ohio.

Ms. Yudiskas' daughter is enrolled in a physical therapy assistant program, and her daughter-in-law is studying to become a nurse.

"There is no such thing as 'cannot do' when you know her," Lori Yudiskas said. "It's 'reach for the stars.' She's an inspiration."

With two of five grandchildren now in college, conversations around the dinner table often revolve around education.

"She pushes the bar for all of us," Lori Yudiskas said. "She doesn't just expect great things from people. She demands them."

Now just a semester away from her masters's degree, Lorraine Yudiskas is making plans for after graduation.

She wants to return to Holy Family Residence to volunteer. Then she may take classes for counseling because with high rates of depression in the elderly, she wants to be able to help.

"I don't think there is an arbitrary date when you stop learning," she said. "I think being elderly, you can easily be dismissed. But I'm not dismissed easily."

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

She might have been 97, but Gertrude Price was still very active and independent, living alone at 23 E. Grand St. in Nanticoke.

She cleaned, cooked and shoveled snow all by herself, often rejecting help from family and friends.

"You couldn't stop her," Mrs. Price's granddaughter, Debbie Piper, 56, of Newport Twp., recalled Saturday.

Mrs. Price was the matriarch of five generations of a close-knit family, with eight great-great-grandchildren in the family tree. Family members gathered Thursday for Thanksgiving dinner at a relative's home in Dallas, then Mrs. Piper dropped Mrs. Price off at her home in the evening.

Soon, the holiday would turn horrific. An intruder beat Mrs. Price to death in what investigators are calling a random home invasion robbery.

Mrs. Price died from "blunt head trauma," Luzerne County Coroner Bill Lisman said Saturday following an autopsy by forensic pathologist Dr. Gary Ross. Her death, Mr. Lisman said, is a homicide.

Mrs. Piper said Mrs. Price's loved ones can't understand who could do such a thing to the widowed seamstress who had been retired for decades.

"There was a break-in and she was attacked," Mrs. Piper said. "We have no idea who it was. She had no enemies. None."

Police guarded Mrs. Price's home overnight to protect the crime scene. Investigators from state and Nanticoke police returned Saturday morning to continue to collect evidence.

Family members found Mrs. Price dead inside her home just before 10 a.m. Friday, about 12 hours after they last knew she was alive. Investigators believe the killing occurred around 11 p.m. Thanksgiving night - because lights were on in the house at a time she would be sleeping.

It appears the killer entered the house through a basement window that had been broken out, police said.

Unlike many other killings recently, police said this one is different: it appears to be a random attack. No arrests have been made in Mrs. Price's death and police have not identified any suspects.

Mrs. Piper said her grandmother was still very active. Mrs. Price's daughter, Carol Belmont of Jackson Twp., brought Mrs. Price to Wilkes-Barre every Friday to meet Mrs. Piper for lunch. On Sundays, Mrs. Piper would take Mrs. Price to church in Bloomsburg, then go grocery shopping and grab lunch.

Up until a few years ago, Mrs. Price took the bus by herself every day to Wilkes-Barre to go to the Boscov's department store, Mrs. Piper said. That's around the same time she stopped cutting the grass in her large yard with a bulky push mower. She had finally allowed a neighbor to cut her grass, she said.

"She was extremely independent," Mrs. Piper said.

Mrs. Price leaves behind a daughter, three grandchildren, nine great-grandchildren and eight great-great-grandchildren, Mrs. Piper said.

"We loved her and we'll miss her a lot," said Mrs. Piper, who is now a grandmother herself. "For 12 years, I had five generations. I was blessed."

Contact the writer: bkalinowski@citizensvoice.com, @cvbobkal on Twitter

Associated Ob/Gyn Specialists

Louis J. Freedman, M.D., has been notified by the American Institute of Ultrasound in Medicine that his practice has been awarded accreditation in ob/gyn ultrasound for another three years beginning in 2014.

Borton-Lawson Engineering Inc.

Thomas L. Kolesa, P.L.S., safety director, earned an instructor accreditation from SafeLandUSA, an oil and gas industry group that regulates safety instruction within the U.S.; Onshore E&P Industry; and an advanced safety certificate form the National Safety Council, a nationally recognized nonprofit that focuses on preventing injuries and death at work.

Elk Advisors Group LLC

Edgar T. Warriner of Montrose completed the Professional Business Coaches Alliance advanced business coach certification course in Syracuse, N.Y. He received his advanced professional business coach designation, the highest achievable award. Mr. Warriner is the founder and owner of Elk Advisors Group, which works with business owners in the greater Susquehanna and Wyoming County area and offers advanced business coaching, consulting and training.

East Stroudsburg University

Faculty members who were recognized at the institution's ninth annual University Authors Reception, an event designed to honor university authors whose books were published during the preceding year, include Jane E. Huffman, Ph.D., distinguished professor of biological sciences, "Wildlife Forensics: Methods and Applications" (Wiley Blackwell); Heon Kim, Ph.D., assistant professor of philosophy and religious studies, "Making Peace In and With the World: The Gülen Movement and Eco-Justice" (Cambridge Scholars Publishing); Fred Misurella, Ph.D., professor of English, "Only Sons" (Bordighera Press); and Maureen McLaughlin, Ed.D., professor of reading, "Guided Comprehension for English Learners" (International Reading Association).

First Hospital

Mohammed Rahman, M.D., joined the medical staff of First Hospital and Wilkes-Barre General Hospital. Dr. Rahman earned his medical degree from Dakha Medical College, Bangladesh. He completed his psychiatry residency at Kansas University Medical Center, Kansas City, Kan., where he was chief resident.

Fusion Hair Design

Elena Cerda has joined the hair design team. Ms. Cerda, an Archbald resident, studied cosmetology at Empire Beauty School and graduated in 2003. She has been trained by MAC cosmetics, Estee Lauder and Lancôme and also previously worked for Boscov's and Sephora.

Geisinger Women's Health -Wilkes-Barre

Nazanin Ehsani Silver, M.D., M.P.H., joined Geisinger Women's Health - Wilkes-Barre as a fellowship-trained urogynecologist specializing in female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery. Dr. Ehsani Silver earned her medical degree in 2001 and her master's degree in public health in 2002 from George Washington University, Washington, D.C. She pursued an obstetrics/gynecology residency with George Washington University, which she completed in 2006. Dr. Ehsani Silver then completed a female pelvic medicine and reconstructive surgery fellowship in 2011 at St. Luke's Hospital and Health Network, Allentown. She is board certified in obstetrics and gynecology.

Guaranteed Rate

Betty Ditzel has joined the company as vice president of mortgage lending. Ms. Ditzel works in the Kingston office and will focus on helping to serve those looking to buy, build or refinance a home throughout Northeast Pennsylvania. Ms. Ditzel specializes in new construction loans, refinances, loans for first-time homebuyers, financing for jumbo loans and government programs, including FHA, USDA, PHFA and VA. She is a Monroe County resident.

Kane Is Able Inc.

Greg Wells has been named senior director of operations with responsibility for Kimberly Clark distribution centers across the United States. Mr. Wells received a Bachelor of Science degree in marketing from Canisius College in Buffalo, N.Y. He lives in the Chicago area and he will be based in the Midwest.

King's College

Elizabeth Doherty is director of alumni relations and annual giving. She will be responsible for creating, managing and producing alumni- and annual giving-related communications. In addition, Ms. Doherty will work with the director of alumni relations and help with annual giving and institutional advancement functions. Ms. Doherty earned her bachelor's degree in history from the University of Florida.

William Irwin, Ph.D., chairman and professor of philosophy, published a paper titled "Death by Inauthenticity: Heidegger's Debt to Ivan Ilyich's Fall," in Tolstoy Studies Journal. He also published "Control Your Thoughts and Emotions," in the Journal of Modern Wisdom, as well as "A Reality Check to Form Your Philosophy" in the academic journal Think. Dr. Irwin is series editor of the Blackwell Philosophy and Pop Culture Series, former series editor of Open Court's Popular Culture and Philosophy series, and the author of numerous articles on popular cultural topics. He teaches courses on aesthetics, Eastern philosophy, existentialism and phenomenology, among others.

Leadership Lackawanna

Leadership Lackawanna's former board chairwoman, Lisa Hall-Zielinski, passed the gavel and leadership responsibilities to Kristen Noll, who will serve as acting chairwoman for the 2013-14 program year. In the position, Ms. Noll will represent and govern the organization and all three of its programs. Additionally, she will preside and facilitate all board of directors' and executive committee meetings.

The 2013 executive program graduates include Jonathan Couch, Sordoni Construction Services Inc.; Don Farley, The Times-Tribune; Carmen Ferranti, MetLife - PennWood Financial Group; Michael Hogan, Quandel Construction Group Inc.; Michael McGarrigle, TMG Health; Carl Pettinato, Penn Security Bank; and Melissa Saddlemire, Marywood University.

Marywood University

Ann Montoro Williams, M.A., will serve as the director of alumni engagement. Mrs. Montoro Williams' will work closely with alumni and lead all alumni-related engagement activities of the university. She holds two Marywood degrees, having earned her Bachelor of Arts in communication arts, radio, TV and public relations in 1984 and her Master of Arts in communication arts (media management) in 2007. Mrs. Montoro Williams has served as co-faculty adviser for the Marywood student newspaper, the Wood Word, since 2005 and is also a news announcer and board operator for Bold Gold Media Group. She is married to David Williams Jr., and they have a daughter, Melissa, who is a junior at Marywood.

Michael J. O'Connor & Associates

Gerald J. Mullery joined the legal team. Mr. Mullery handles cases involving workers' compensation, personal injury, auto crashes, premises liability and tractor-trailer crashes. He previously worked for Michael J. O'Connor & Associates from August 1998 until May 2002. He is a graduate of Duquesne University School of Law. Mr. Mullery is from Nanticoke, where he lives with his wife and four children.

Misericordia University

Katherine M. Pohlidal, M.Ed., M.B.A., L.P.C., C.A.D.C., C.C.D.P., has been named director of the Ruth Matthews Bourger Women with Children Program. A licensed counselor and certified addictions counselor, Ms. Pohlidal is a resident of Glen Lyon. She holds a M.Ed. in counselor education and a Bachelor of Arts in sociology with honors, along with a minor in psychology, from Penn State University. She earned an M.B.A. from Alvernia University, Reading. She is licensed by the state as a professional counselor and a certified addictions counselor. She also holds the Certified Co-Occurring Disorders Professional Credential (CCDP) from the state.

James Siberski, M.S., C.M.C., CRmT, assistant professor and coordinator of the Gerontology Education Center for Professional Development at Misericordia University; Lauren Zack '11, '13, O.T.D., O.T.R./L., an adjunct professor of occupational therapy at Misericordia, and Carol Siberski, M.S., CRmT, C-GCM, a geriatric care manager in private practice, had the article "Memory Maintenance" published in the November/December issue of Today's Geriatric Medicine. The story outlines how cognitive rehabilitation can help patients achieve or maintain their optimum level of well-being, while also helping to reduce the functional disability that results from the symptoms of cognitive impairment.

Faculty members and their students in the Department of Occupational Therapy at Misericordia have been accepted to present their collaborative research projects at the 16th International Congress of the World Federation of Occupational Therapy in Yokohama, Japan, in June. Lalit Shah, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., professor of occupational therapy, and his students, Matt Cash, Harveys Lake, Moira Hauer, Throop, Jessica Mudgett, Bound Brook, N.J., and Katie Moul, Blairstown, N.J., will make a poster-based presentation based upon their research, "Life Balance: A Comparative Study of Retired and Working Occupational Therapists."

Jennifer Dessoye, O.T.D., M.S., O.T.R./L., assistant professor of occupational therapy, and her students Chelsey Converse, Johnson City, N.Y.; Shannon McSweeny, Ridge, N.Y.; Lindsey McLaughlin, Nesquehoning; and Cathryn Steinhoff, Monroe, N.Y., will present a session on their research project, titled "The Effectiveness of Handwriting and Visual Motor iPad Apps in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorder."

Joseph Cipriani, Ed.D., O.T.R./L., professor of occupational therapy and his students Jenna Georgia, Washington, N.J.; Megan McChesney, Bloomingburg, N.Y.; Megan Stabler, Hatboro; and Jaclyn Tschantz, Tunkhannock, will offer their research-based poster, "Uncovering the Value and Meaning of a Horticulture Therapy Program for Clients at a Long-Term Adult Inpatient Psychiatric Facility."

Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital

Gena Comandy is the recipient of the Johnson College Outstanding Nursing Veterinary Award for 2013. She began her career as a veterinary technician when enrolled in the Johnson College veterinary technology program in 2006. She completed her internship at Central Veterinary Associates in Valley Stream, N.Y., and has been employed for the past five years as a triage nurse at Northeast Veterinary Referral Hospital.

Pennsylvania American Water

James Hoover and Mark Baloh have been promoted to superintendent positions, serving the company's nearly 135,000 customers in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties. Mr. Hoover, a resident of Old Forge, will be responsible for the system improvement and field service departments. He holds an associate degree from Johnson College and serves on the Old Forge School Board. Mr. Baloh will oversee all distribution and field operations in the district. A resident of Shavertown, he holds an associate degree in mechanical engineering from Penn State University.

Pennsylvania Environmental Council

Janet Sweeney was named vice president of Pennsylvania Environmental Council. Ms. Sweeney has been the director of the council's northeast office in Luzerne since 2005, where she has directed operations and activities related to the organization's conservation and environmental programs in 16 counties. Ms. Sweeney will also assume management responsibility for the Pennsylvania Organization for Watersheds and Rivers. She holds a Bachelor of Arts from the State University of New York at Geneseo and a Master of Science in planning and regional development from the University of Arizona. An avid outdoor recreation enthusiast, Ms. Sweeney lives with her family in Clarks Summit.

Scranton Area Foundation

Suzanne Fisher Staples has been named the recipient of the 2013 Margaretta Belin Chamberlin Award. The award is presented annually to a woman whose vision, dedication and courage have enhanced the quality of life and expanded opportunities for the people in her community. Ms. Fisher Staples worked as a news reporter and editor for United Press International and later served as a foreign news editor for The Washington Post. She is the author of several award-winning novels, including "Under the Persimmon Tree," set in Afghanistan. She also, in collaboration with the United States Agency for International Development, helped to design a literacy project for poor rural women in Pakistan. A resident of Nicholson, she grew up on Chapman Lake, graduated from Lakeland High School and received an Associate of Arts from Keystone College and a Bachelor of Arts from Cedar Crest College in Allentown. She coordinates the program for the Gathering at Keystone College, an annual conference for people of diverse backgrounds who share the idea that imagination can help solve the problems that threaten communities large and small.

Tobyhanna Army Depot

Deputy Commander Frank Zardecki was awarded the 58th annual Distinguished Civilian Service Award. Mr. Zardecki is guided by a mission that is integral to the accomplishments of the joint warfighter, depot employees and local communities.

Tyler Memorial Hospital

Diane Ljungquist, R.N., M.S., has been named chief executive officer of Tyler Memorial Hospital effective immediately. Ms. Ljungquist joined Tyler Memorial in 2012 as chief nursing officer and chief operating officer, and has served as interim CEO since the summer. Ms. Ljungquist received her bachelor's degree in nursing from Wilkes University and a master's degree in health care administration from King's College.

Patricia Casals, M.S.N., R.N., M.H.A., has been appointed chief nursing officer. Since August, she has served as interim CNO at Tyler, and previously was ACNO at Wilkes-Barre General Hospital since last November. Ms. Casals has master's degrees in nursing from Wilmington College and health care administration from King's College, and an associate degree in nursing from Gloucester County College.

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

The University of Scranton student body presents a large consumer base, and the university and local shops are trying to tap it.

College students spend an average of $1.4 million off campus each month, said Julie Schumacher Cohen, school director of community and government relations. While the university does not break that number down to university student spending specifically in downtown, business owners say there is little doubt more students are venturing downtown.

Walking tours, scavenger hunts and discounts are there to encourage it.

"Obviously, it's well within our demographic, so we see a bump when students are here," said David Romeo Jr., owner of Comics on the Green on North Washington Avenue.

Mr. Romeo's comic book shop participates in several events the university and other groups coordinate to expose students to the downtown, such as a scavenger hunt conducted in the summer.

Each summer and fall, the university also conducts tours of the downtown business community with resident assistants and faculty and staff members, with the belief that knowledge of the downtown will be passed along to other students.

In addition, there are also financial incentives. There are 40 businesses that participate in the "Show it, Save it" program, which includes a 10 percent discount when a college identification card is shown.

Julianna Brazill, an employee at Northern Light Espresso Bar on Spruce Street, said the coffee shop sees a lot of university traffic. Based on her observations, there are more than a dozen students in the shop every day and many stay for the majority of the day. When giving out loyalty cards, she asks if they have a school ID and many times she is presented with a Royal Card, the ID the university issues.

"During fall and winter, we're busy all day and all night," Ms. Brazill said. "A lot of that is student population."

Conor McGuigan, who works at the Bog on Adams Avenue, said the bar has seen more university traffic in the past few years than before. The general time-frame coincides with the university's downtown initiatives, he said.

Nadine Bryant, owner of Freedlove on Spruce Street, which sells women's clothing, said that her store also sees university traffic as a result of participating in events organized by the community relations office and Scranton Tomorrow.

"It brings in new students who may not have ventured downtown," she said.

Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT

The fear of rain dissipated shortly before Diocese of Scranton Bishop William G. O'Hara began his homily on Aug. 12, 1888.

Two trains had arrived in downtown Scranton from Carbondale, and another two from Wilkes-Barre. The cars were so full that people were left waiting on train platforms.

More than 10,000 people gathered along Wyoming Avenue to witness the start of what they hoped was a better future and more options for the young men of Northeast Pennsylvania: the blessing of the cornerstone for the new St. Thomas College.

"It is for you to put your shoulder to the wheel and to see this institution of learning rising up, and it is the great desire of our heart to see your children gather therein to learn first the faith and then to learn those other branches necessary for their welfare in the world," Bishop O'Hara said in his homily.

There were no students, no faculty members and no money. It took four years for the building to open.

Now known as the University of Scranton, it has been 125 years since Bishop O'Hara's blessing. The school that started with just a granite cornerstone now has 5,600 students, 290 faculty members and more than 46,500 alumni.

"The university has made great progress," university President the Rev. Kevin P. Quinn, S.J. "We're proud of what we have accomplished, and we look forward to the future."

The university's history is "an ongoing series of acts of faith," said professor emeritus and university historian Francis X.J. Homer, Ph.D.

Bishop O'Hara trying to open a school without funding or faculty was an act of faith. In 1942, in the midst of World War II and an enrollment decline, the Society of Jesus taking over the school was another act of faith, Dr. Homer said.

"In looking at what the university has become today, there is ample evidence these acts of faith have been rewarded," he said.

'Acts of faith'

The cornerstone blessed by Bishop O'Hara became part of Old Main, which was located in the 300-block of Wyoming Avenue.

When it opened in 1892, diocesan priests and seminarians taught at the school. Soon after opening, 32 boys enrolled - 15 who could be considered to be in their first year of high school, and another 17 in an eighth grade.

A night school opened and enrollment grew, from 7-year-old boys to 50-year-old men. The boys and men studied reading, writing, spelling, sentence structure and arithmetic.

After the Xaverian Brothers ran the school for a year, the diocese invited the Christian Brothers to run the school.

The first bachelor's degrees were awarded in 1901, but because the college did not have a charter, degrees were awarded from other Christian Brothers schools, such as LaSalle University in Philadelphia. In 1925, with a charter from the state, graduates finally received diplomas with the name St. Thomas College. In June 1925, 33 men were awarded bachelor's degrees.

The Christian Brothers renamed the school the University of Scranton in 1938 and started to admit women to the school's evening program.

During World War II, it was university policy not to make students withdraw because they fell on hard times. The school was $150,000 in debt and only had 72 students enrolled. The Christian Brothers opted out.

In 1942, the diocese invited the Society of Jesus to not just administer, but take ownership of the college - a move that Dr. Homer calls an "act of faith."

In an announcement to the diocese when the Jesuits agreed to come to Scranton, Bishop William J. Hafey predicted the school could look forward to years of "fruitful service."

"For the University of Scranton must in the future as in the past serve as a college for the sons of the working men of various racial descents, deserving and capable young men who otherwise would be denied the opportunity of advancing themselves and assuming the duties of responsible leadership in the religious and civic life of their communities," he wrote.

Shorty before the Jesuits took over the university, members of the Scranton family donated their estate to the school. That gift prompted the university to start building, and eventually move to, the lower Hill Section.

After the war, and with the GI Bill, enrollment exploded. The university acquired surplus pre-fabricated Navy barracks in 1947 and erected them near where the Harry and Jeanette Weinberg Memorial Library and St. Thomas Hall stand now.

With some classes still held at Old Main on Wyoming Avenue, young men would run up and down the five blocks of Linden Street to make it to class on time, Dr. Homer said.

In partnership with the city and the Scranton Redevelopment Authority, the school acquired land along Ridge Row, Linden Street and Mulberry Street in 1962 and the present-day campus began to be built. A decade later, the first women were admitted to full-time degree programs.

No longer used, Old Main was eventually torn down and is now the location of a diocesan garden. The building's cornerstone is now on display at the DeNaples Center, the university's student center.

The Navy barracks are gone and some original buildings at the present-day campus have been torn down or fully renovated.

Since 1984, the university has not stopped expanding, Dr. Homer said.

"Every time we break ground, it's an act of faith," he said.

Transformation seen

Dr. Homer started as a freshman at the university in 1960. After receiving his doctorate from the University of Virginia, he returned to Scranton in 1968 and became a history professor. He retired in 2009 after 41 years of teaching, but continues to teach one course per semester - and research the university's history.

He had classes in the old Navy barracks buildings and saw the university transform. His office is in a tucked-away corner of the library, where one of the barracks once stood. When he walks out of the library, he sees a transformed space.

"Almost every time I'm out there, I can't help but think how it's changed," Dr. Homer said.

Ellen Casey, Ph.D., was hired as an English literature professor in 1969 and was one of the first women hired as a full-time faculty member. She later became director of the honors program. Her husband, Stephen J. Casey, was also hired that year, as the first lay professor of theology.

Like Dr. Homer, Dr. Casey has seen the university transform.

When the Caseys started, they were two of about 100 faculty members. There are now 290 full-time faculty members and even more adjunct professors. The school was only open to men, and Linden Street was still open to traffic.

More than 80 percent of students commuted, and now most students live on campus.

"It has grown in size, certainly, but it has also grown in reputation," Dr. Casey said. "It has been true then and true now. Students like this place. When one runs into alums, they are glad to have gone here, both academically and socially."

History by the numbers

1888

Year founded

- €‚Faculty: 0

- Students: 0

- Graduates: 0

- Majors: 0

- Clubs: 0

1926-27

St. Thomas College first accredited by Middle States in 1927

- €‚Faculty: 28

- Students: 323

- Graduates (class of 1926): 36

- €‚Undergraduate majors: 6

- €‚Clubs: 6

1942-43

Jesuits arrive

- Faculty: 57

- Students: 481

- €‚Graduates (class of 1942): 121

- €‚Undergraduate majors: 4

- Clubs: 11

1972-73

Women first admitted to day school

- €‚Faculty: approximately 150

- Students: 1,400 male and female

- Graduates (class of 1972): 386

- €‚Undergraduate majors: 21

- €‚Clubs: 20

2012-13

- €‚Faculty: 492 (full-time and part-time)

- Students: 5,898

- Graduates (class of 2013): 1,735

- €‚Undergraduate majors: 61

- Clubs: more than 80

Contact the writer: shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter