SCRANTON - A motorist struck and destroyed a utility pole on Providence Road, then drove off on Sunday morning, city police said.

Acting Sgt. Joseph Dombroski said the impact split the pole in half, and police closed the road for about two hours while a PPL Electric Utilities crew replaced the pole.

Sgt. Dombroski said when police got to the scene, they found skid marks leading up to the pole.

Police believe the crash happened sometime after 9 a.m. and ask anyone with information to call them at 570-348-4134. Sgt. Dombroski said the vehicle probably has significant damage to its front end.

CLARKS SUMMIT - Haitian artists often do not have luxuries like clay pottery wheels and kilns at hand.

For many artists and sculptors in the impoverished country, oil drums are their canvases.

One example the organization OneBigBoost sold in a fundraiser at the Clarks Summit Fire Company's headquarters on Sunday depicted children of different ethnicities playing and harvesting fruit together.

"They have no choice but to use the materials that are available," said Marianne Milks, chief executive officer of OneBigBoost, of Haitian artists.

Borough resident Michael Cowley bought the former chunk of oil drum, which was meticulously reshaped and colorfully painted until it became a portrait called "All Children Shall Be One."

Mr. Cowley said he "loved everything about it" ranging from its aesthetics to its message, as the art depicts children apparently sharing a bounty from nature.

Ms. Milks said she picked up the items on sale Sunday in her travels, and proceeds from the fundraiser would go toward building a shelter for handicapped people in Butwal, Nepal.

As it is now, the shelter is little more than a tarp mounted on stakes planted in the ground, and she hoped to raise $5,000 to contribute to building a more permanent structure.

Ms. Milks said 26 people currently live in the shelter.

Katie Lane, secretary of OneBigBoost, said the shelter's inhabitants include a 14-year-old girl who has a talent for making stuffed animals and a foot deformity that led her parents to abandon her.

In addition to the art, items for sale from developing countries included candle holders also made from oil drums, spices, jewelry and clothing.

"I thought it sounds like a great idea to really try to share what Christmas is already about, and that's reaching out and giving to other people," said Mr. Cowley. "This way you get to give the gift to a loved one and perhaps a child ... elsewhere in the world."

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

Black bear caught in Scranton

SCRANTON - A black bear spotted roaming around Scranton over the last month was caught last week using a trap with doughnuts and anise oil, the state Game Commission reported Monday.

The adult male bear was released to State Game Lands in Wyoming County. Game officials said catching the bear proved tough because he did not follow a set routine or pattern until recently when he frequently visited the 800 block of Matthew Avenue. It was there Lackawanna County District Wildlife Conservation Officer Kevin Moran set the trap that caught the bear early in the morning on Nov. 27.

Related: Covington Twp. man bags 772-pound bear in Lackawanna County

Man charged in domestic dispute

ARCHBALD - Borough police charged an Archbald man Saturday after police said he slapped and choked his girlfriend.

Colin Rumford, 26, 19 Circle Drive, argued with Heidi Young in Mr. Rumford's car in the parking lot of the borough Quinn's Market on Saturday afternoon and the argument turned physical.

There was some faint red marks on the side of her neck from the attack, police said.

He told police he argued with his girlfriend but never hit her.

He was charged with simple assault and harassment. He was taken to Lacakwanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

Police: Man assaults girlfriend

SCRANTON - A New York City man held his girlfriend down while rubbing her face in the ground at her Sanderson Street apartment on Saturday, all while assuring her he would "kill her whole family and her seven-month-old daughter," Scranton police said.

Christopher Miller, 27, 421 East 102nd St., Apt. 2, and his girlfriend, Mylanie Strickland, had been drinking and argued until he threw her to the floor, police said. Ms. Strickland had several cuts and bruises on her face and body. Mr. Miller denied he assaulted her

Mr. Miller was charged with attempted simple assault, unlawful restraint, terroristic threats and harassment. He was sent to Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $10,000. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for Dec. 9.

Man demands beer then assaults woman

DICKSON CITY - Borough police said a Dickson City man broke into a woman's home, demanded she leave to get him more beer, then became abusive when she rebuffed his request Sunday night.

Paul Nocella, 45, 418 Pancoast St., had a blood alcohol content of 0.348, according to a preliminary breath test, and Julie Olenki had a bloody nose and bruises on her left arm when police arrived at her Main Street home around 8:30 p.m.

She told police Mr. Nocella threatened to kill her.

Mr. Nocella was charged with simple assault and burglary. He was released from Lackawanna County Prison after posting $5,000 bail, pending a preliminary hearing on Dec. 9.

A 39-year-old Scranton man walked to Wendy's on Wyoming Avenue in Scranton Monday afternoon expecting to meet a 14-year-old girl he met online, bring her back to his house and have sex with her.

Instead, Ray Leepier, 39, of 906 Madison Ave. was taken into custody by Scranton police.

Police established contact with Mr. Leepier on Nov. 29 through the online account of a fictional 14-year-old girl. Mr. Leepier asked the girl how old she was and asked her if she wanted to date.

The next day, Mr. Leepier asked the girl about his chances of having sex with her. When she agreed, they decided to meet at Wendy's at noon on Monday.

Police investigated Mr. Leepier after two Scranton High School students, 14 and 15 years old respectively, told police Mr. Leepier had made sexual advances toward them over Facebook.

The 14-year-old also reported sexual contact with Mr. Leepier at a football game at Scranton Memorial Stadium and told police Mr. Leepier was stalking her and "might do something bad to her."

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

Police awaited Mr. Leepier's arrival and arrested him on charges of statutory sexual assault, dissemination of obscene and sexual materials to minors, corruption of minors and two counts of unlawful contact with a minor.

Bail and preliminary hearing information was not available Monday night.

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

For 10 years, Kathleen McGuigan acted as a vocal member of the Scranton School Board minority.

With four new directors sworn in Monday night, Mrs. McGuigan will now get a chance to lead the board.

The reorganization meeting, which included the swearing in of the four new members - Robert Casey, Kyle Donahue, Mark McAndrew and Carol Oleski - could mean major changes for board policies, procedures and goals.

Incumbents Cy Douaihy and Bob Sheridan were also sworn in for four-year terms on Monday night, after winning seats in the general election. Mrs. Oleski, who lost in the election, was appointed to board last month to fill the vacancy caused by Nathan Barrett's resignation. She was officially sworn in Monday.

Mrs. McGuigan said she wants to restore the public's faith in the board and renew its focus on education. Mr. Douaihy was the lone vote against Mrs. McGuigan. Mr. Sheridan had served as acting president since Mr. Barrett's resignation in October.

Hoping to unite the board, Mrs. McGuigan said she does not want to see the board break into factions as previous boards have done.

"It's our duty to align our goals with what is best for the students," she told the dozens of people in the board room and in the hallway Monday.

In a 9-0 vote, Mr. McAndrew was appointed to the vice president position - an unusual appointment for a newcomer.

Like Mrs. McGuigan, he said he wants to focus on education, and to make sure resources are spent in the classroom.

Plaques were presented to outgoing board members Bill Fox, Armand Martinelli and Bob Lesh - who lost in last month's election after serving on the board for 16 years. Mr. Lesh also received a certificate from the Pennsylvania School Boards Association for his service.

"It's been quite the journey. It's been a great journey," Mr. Lesh said. "I wish nothing but the best for the district and the children."

New directors said their first goal will be eliminating the district's $8 million deficit in its proposed 2014 budget. A public hearing on the budget is set for Dec. 16 at 7 p.m. at the Administration Building, 425 N. Washington Ave.

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

Scott Twp. officials allowed suspended Police Chief James Romano to cash in 15 weeks of unused sick and vacation time for more than $16,000, despite the fact the buybacks are not authorized under the union contract.

The payments, $9,354.80 for 8.6 weeks of vacation and $6,963.20 for 6.4 weeks of unused sick time, were made in two installments on April 3 and April 10 - a few weeks after the chief was suspended with pay when officials learned he was under investigation for allegedly having sex with a witness in a case. The March 19 suspension was altered to without pay on April 25, the day after criminal charges were filed in connection with the investigation.

The union contract, which covers the police chief, allows officers to sell back unused sick/vacation time but only if they terminate their employment. Chief Romano was, and still is, employed at the time he cashed in the days, so he was not technically authorized to sell them back, township officials acknowledged.

Although the contract did not authorize the buyouts, the township was still required to make the payments based on a "past practices" clause within the union contract, officials said.

The clause, which is standard in many union contracts, means a municipality can be bound to honor benefits - even if they are prohibited in a current contract - if those benefits had been paid out to other officers in the past, said township solicitor Richard Fanucci.

Township secretary Tom Wicks and supervisor Vice Chairman Michael Giannetta said the township has routinely permitted officers to sell back sick and vacation time while still employed. The practice was allowed as a courtesy to officers who found themselves in need of extra cash, Mr. Wicks said.

"It's a standard practice. If they are looking for extra money in their paycheck and have an excess amount of vacation or sick time, they can take it," Mr. Wicks said. "Since he was still technically an employee, he was treated like any other employee."

Chief Romano was charged on April 24 with numerous counts, including intimidation of a witness, after police learned he allegedly had sex with a woman who is a potential witness in a case he was investigating. The chief, who denies the claims, pleaded no contest Nov. 12 to hindering prosecution as part of a plea deal that requires him to give up his police certification. The township has not taken action yet to terminate him.

The payout of the sick and vacation time was among two perks Chief Romano collected while on suspension. The township also continued to pay his health, dental and vision insurance after he was suspended at a cost of $1,372.50 per month. Supervisors voted Nov. 21 to terminate the benefits as of Dec. 31.

Regarding the past practices clause, it's not clear when, or why, the township began allowing employees to sell back days. Mr. Giannetta and Officer Casey Patuck, head of the township's police union, said they only know the practice has been going on for years and continues today.

Mr. Giannetta faulted past supervisors for allowing a practice that is outside of the contract.

"This is why you need to be careful with giving more than the contract says. It comes back to haunt municipalities," he said.

Mr. Giannetta said he does not believe officers should be permitted to sell back days under any conditions, but there's little the township can do. Once a benefit is provided in a contract, its very difficult to get it out, Mr. Giannetta said.

"Sicks days are for when you are sick. If you don't use them, they should not be paid in cash," he said. "Unfortunately once a municipality goes along with a particular practice, you don't get to go back. It becomes part of the contract and there's nothing much you can do about it."

Mr. Giannetta said he would like to see the past practices clause eliminated, but that could only be done if the union agrees to it as part of the bargaining process. The township won't get a chance to negotiate that point until 2017 as it just approved a new three-year contract, which takes effect in Jan. 2014.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com

SCOTT TWP. - The Lakeland School Board unanimously approved Monday night the purchase of software that will track the efficiency of bus routes throughout the district.

Transfinder, a software system designed to evaluate bus routes and suggest more efficient and money-saving routes, will cost the district $8,495.

"It tells us which routes are best," school board President Mary Retzbach said. She said the district will start using the Transfinder software by the beginning of the 2014-15 academic year.

The board also voted unanimously to revise two school policies - one on electronic devices, the second on acceptable use of the Internet - in order to accommodate the district's Bring Your Own Device initiative, which allows students to use mobile devices in the hallways and during class for educational purposes.

Under the revisions, students will be permitted to carry and use mobile devices such as smartphones, tablets and e-readers during school hours. The Internet policy will now allow students to use social networking and blogging websites for educational purposes.

The board also voted to revise a policy on uncompensated leave. Under the revision, Superintendent R. Scott Jeffery said district employees who take uncompensated leave will have to reimburse the district for any medical benefits they use during their leave of absence.

In other business, Thomas Chesko was appointed assistant boys track coach and Ashley Catanzaro was appointed junior high assistant varsity softball coach.

Lackawanna County Judge James Gibbons swore in newly elected and re-elected members of the school board, including Ms. Retzbach, returning for her second term as president, board secretary Jill Yoniski, also returning for her second term, and board Vice President Thomas Evans, returning for his third term. Newly-elected board member Larry Catanzaro sat for his first meeting on the board Monday night.

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

Marriage licenses

- Jaime Michael Simonson, Dunmore, and Samantha Smolskis, Madison Twp.

- Carl James Michael Merrigan and Amanda Stinnard, both of Carbondale.

- Gilbert Weinberger and Caryl Picker, both of Waverly.

Property transactions

- North Pocono Public Library, Moscow, to Dennis and Mary Kay O'Grady, Pocono Lake; a property at 115 Van Brunt St., Moscow, for $98,500.

- Earl J. and Robin D. McCrory, per attorney in fact, Susan R. Hynds, to Nicholas C. and Alexandra Semon; a property at 1516 Gibson St., Scranton, for $89,600.

- Mark J. Lynn, South Abington Twp., to Christopher D. Evans and Marisa C. Bevilacqua-Evans, Scranton; a property at 116 Old Orchard Road, Clarks Green, for $240,000.

- Ronald J. and Darlene Pusateri, Dunmore, to Marlo Montana and Ashley McAlister, Dunmore; a property at 901 Meade St., Dunmore, for $107,500.

- Mary Catherine Kohut, Scranton, to Adriano D. Torres Jr., Scranton; a property at Rear 1028 Prospect Ave., Scranton, for $40,000.

- Janee H. and Alois Ploskonka, Jessup, to Anthony J. Urso and Tara Mullen; a property at 1205 Tonwin St., Jessup, for $265,000.

- David G. and Lori A. Yurkavage, Old Forge, to Ashley Brianne Jones, Old Forge; a property at 607 Dunn Ave., Old Forge, for $270,000.

- Marguerite Allen, Michigan, executrix of the estate of Gladys Malko, aka Gladys Lawrence, to James E. Davis, Scranton; a property at 1724 and 1726 Bulwer St., Scranton, for $42,000.

- James Mackin to Molly A. McAulifee; a property at 2506 Briggs St., Scranton, for $105,000.

- Sean P. McCormick and Heather P. Thorburn, now by marriage Heather P. McCormick, Dalton, to Amanda L. Fallon, Thompson; a property at 107 Lily Lake Road, Dalton, for $110,000.

- Margaret Reilly, Dunmore, to Lynn W. Bloom, Scranton; a property at 1322 Webster Ave., Dunmore, for $81,000.

- North East Realty Development Systems LTD, Tunkhannock, to Steven Matthew and Wendy Sheehan DeRiancho, Waverly; a property at 1207 N. Abington Road, Waverly Twp., for $143,700.

- Henrietta Lannak, now by marriage Henrietta Sonntag and George Sonntag, Scranton, to Salvador D. Polanco Caraballo, Scranton; a property at 1331 Cedar Ave., Scranton, for $79,500.

- Esther Kurlancheek, by agent Stuart Kurlancheek, to Gloria Jurkowitz, Scranton; a property at 550 Clay Ave., Scranton, for $100,000.

Divorce sought

- Jeffrey P. Green, Scranton, v. Lauren A. Green, Scranton; married Oct. 29, 1993, in Scranton; Raymond W. Ferrario, attorney.

Lawsuit

- Bernard Barrett, 9385 Spring Hill Lane, Salisbury, Mass., v. Joseph George Kotowski, 3592 Route 247, Clifford Twp.; seeking in excess of $50,000 for injuries suffered Dec. 13, 2011, in Scranton motor-vehicle crash; Todd A. Johns, attorney.

Bench warrants

Judge Robert A. Mazzoni, issued the following warrants on Nov. 22 for failure to appear, fines and costs.

- Kimberly Frazier, 715 River St., Apt. 2, Scranton; $914.71.

- Shana D. Everson, 230 Mountainview Ave., Syracuse, N.Y.; $610.52.

- Sean Gilgallon, 1203 Schlager St., Scranton; $1,597.78.

- Barry Edwards Jr., 201 Hill St., Apt. 1, Scranton; $405.50.

- Jol Fruhschein, 2104 Goldkey Estates, Milford; $1,425.

- Omar Guy, 146 S. Everett Ave., Scranton; $149.50.

- Sharon Klimatis, 1054 Springbrook Ave., Lot 23, Moosic; $2,600.50.

- Marion Evans, 57 Wall St., Garnersville, N.Y.; $785.50.

- Briana Forest, 1057 Slaterville Road, Ithaca, N.Y.; $775.50.

- Ali K. Glenton, 54 Payne Ave., Kingston; $311.50.

- David T. May, P.O. Box 124, Scranton; $1,293.50.

- John J. Paszek, 9431 Nigh Harbor Drive, Leland, N.C.; $2,453.

- Nicholas E. Fazio, 641 Palm St., Scranton; $438.27.

- Daniel Guzman, 1701 Cedar Ave., Scranton; $393.70.

- Kevin Gilmore, 915 Ridge Ave., Scranton; $1,488.

- Michael Foley, 1327 Diamond Ave., Scranton; $425.50.

- Leo Gingerlowski, 1306 Short Ave., Scranton; $2,096.

- David R. Giles, 719 Cliff Drive, Lake Ariel; $1,025.50.

Judge Vito S. Geroulo issued the following warrants Nov. 15.

- Christopher DeRossi, 970 Lake Ariel Highway, Salem Twp.; $1,518.50.

- Kalani Watts, 79 Rocky Ridge Road, East Stroudsburg; $1,147.

- David A. McLaurin, 91 Stuyvesant Ave., Mastic, N.Y.; $1,153.50.

- Maria Katherine Novack, 125 Crown Ave., Scranton; $1,131.28.

- Aristides Duartez, 427 Colfax Ave., Scranton; $725.50.

- Kristina M. Dreswick, 204 Edgemere Road, Syracuse, N.Y.; $495.

- Armanda L. Dixon, 1706 E. Gibson St., Apt. 2, Scranton; $625.

- Ashley Smith, 1130 Myers Ave., Rear, Blakely; $8,111.84.

- Michael Luther Tillmon, 2216 Norris St., Philadelphia; $140.50.

- Luis Echevarria, 4006 Irish Hill Drive., Apt. 2C, South Bend, Ind.; $2,311.51.

- Joseph Rau, 709 E. Bowman St., Wooster, Ohio; $1,096.50.

- Joseph Palma, 418 N. Main St., Old Forge; $13,688.70.

- Ilona Woodyard-Harris, 832 Green Ridge St., Scranton; $27,899.37.

- Terrance Harry Simmons, 608 Delaware St., Forest City; $820.50.

- Jamie Williams, 17 Valley View Estates, Jermyn; $1,857.50.

- Brandon Pasco, 38 Buena Vista Drive, Covington Twp.; $1,337.

- Jason Michael Wagner, 1024 Crown Ave., Scranton; $3,261.

State tax liens

- Calmal Vending Services LLC, 446 N. Main St., Archbald; $8,897.29

- Tim McAndrew, 153 S. Lincoln Ave., Scranton; $428.31.

- Noel Cortazar, 306 Powell Ave., Jessup; $1,103.62.

- Robert and Joann DeMarco, 401 Roanoke Lane, Scranton; $932.54.

- Exhale Hookah Lounge & Kabob Grill LLC, 1403 Townhouse Blvd., Scranton; $677.88.

- HT of Scranton Inc., 120 Green Ridge St., Scranton; $6,386.58.

- Harrison W. and Brigitte G. Putnam, P.O. Box 3781, Scranton; $1,482.72.

- Sidney J. and Michelle M. Richards, 9 Richlind Road, Covington Twp.; $1,499.50.

- Carl J. Colarusso Jr., 1446 Dorothy St., Scranton; $1,135.41.

- Gutter 2 Go Inc., 1 Union St., Old Forge; $1,725.87.

- Paul M. Brown, 1008 O'Neill Highway, Dunmore; $886.68.

- Burstnet Technologies Inc., 422 Prescott Ave., Scranton; $697.20.

- Reilly Landscaping & Excavating Inc., 1102 Union Ave., Dunmore; $16,972.14.

- Tuzun Corp., 923 Clay Ave., Floor 2, Scranton; $1,396.37.

- MAC Sign Systems Inc., 232 S. Sherman Ave., Scranton; $4,280.38.

- Fezuks Auto Inc., 416 N. Main Ave., Scranton; $463.01.

- Northern Car Rental, 407 N. Sixth Ave., Scranton; $443.66.

- Alexanders Northeastern Pennsylvania Inc., 431 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton; $659.26.

- Richard Mahan, 501 Linden St., Scranton; $8,233.79.

- Da Quick Lube LLC, 3189 Business Route 6, Blakely; $1,539.27.

- Revolutionary Nurses LLC, 1618 Main St., Olyphant; $41,022.33.

- Pediatric & Adult Therapy Services Inc., RR 7 Box 7568, Moscow; $3,151.54.

- Augustine J. Angelicola, 2443 Cherry Hill Road, Clarks Summit; $1,384.90.

- 1st Financial Investments Inc., 116 N. State St., Floor 1, Clarks Summit; $1,119.89.

- Finewood Furnishings Inc., 600 Business Route 6, Archbald; $1,177.26.

When it opens in the spring, a three story, $6.4 million housing facility on Penn Avenue in Scranton for homeless veterans may be the only one of its kind in the nation.

That's because it will integrate housing for needy veterans and a food pantry and clothing area for the community all in one building - and give the resident veterans an opportunity to begin rebounding by volunteering in the service programs, said Monsignor Joseph Kelly executive director of Diocese of Scranton's Catholic Social Services.

That organization is building the 30-unit supportive residential facility, named St. Francis Commons, to provide transitional-living rental units for up to two years for homeless male and female veterans recommended through the Department of Veterans Affairs.

The first floor of St. Francis Commons will include a "client choice food pantry," a free clothing area, office space and food storage for the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen that already exists next door. While each aspect of the new St. Francis Commons is not uncommon, combining them into one facility is believed to be a novel approach, Monsignor Kelly said.

"The homeless veterans living there will be able to volunteer (in the food pantry and clothing area). It will give them some job training and some purpose in their life in helping others, while getting their own lives together," he said. "Because of the first floor, it's totally unique. I'm not aware there's another one like this in the entire United States."

The facility will operate under federal Housing and Urban Development guidelines. The project, which has been in planning stages for three years, is expected to be completed in April 2014.

There should not be any problem filling the building, he said. The VA, which has documented a large number of needy veterans in the region who are underserved, has a waiting list and regularly checks with the diocese on the status of the project, Monsignor Kelly said.

The goal is to have a modern, nurturing residential facility help break the cycle of unemployment and provide supportive services, such as counseling, job rehabilitation, medical care and nutritional meals.

Eight of the apartments also will be completely handicapped accessible.

"We know we will be dealing with men and women with severe disabilities," Monsignor Kelly said.

St. Francis Commons won't physically connect to St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen next door in the 500 block of Penn Avenue, but the missions and services of each will dovetail, he said.

"We were very conscious there was a real need for the housing piece and because we're clothing and feeding people, we're very conscious of the need for food and clothing in the community," Monsignor Kelly said.

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

Carbondale

Cookie sale: Trinity Episcopal Churchwomen cookie sale and basket raffle, Saturday, 11 a.m.-3 p.m., and Sunday, 1-3 p.m., church, River Street, large assortment of cookies sold by the pound, benefits Bonnie Bay's medical expenses.

Dunmore

Christmas village: Grace Bible Church Living Christmas Village, Saturday and Sunday, 4-7 p.m., church (behind Sheetz next to Penn State), walk-through village includes journey through the streets of Bethlehem and Santa's workshop, puppets, live nativity, live music from several local high school choirs, hot cocoa and cookies, free; 570-342-5651 or www.gracebiblepa.com

Hawley

Soup sale: Hawley Public Library soup sale, Saturday, 11:30 a.m., including chicken noodle "stoup," Transylvania goulash, tomato basil, vegan/gluten-free sweet potato-leek-ginger, potato corn chowder, taco, chicken alphabet and broccoli cheddar first-come first-serve basis, $2/small cup and $4/large cup.

Hughestown

Group meets: Hughestown tree-lighting meeting, today, 7 p.m., borough building, to finalize event plans.

Jessup

Class reunion: Jessup High School class of 1954 meeting Dec. 5, 6 p.m., St. George's Restaurant, to plan a 60th anniversary reunion.

Milford

Tree lighting: Milford holiday tree lighting, Saturday, 4:30 p.m., community house lawn, Santa arrives by firetruck at 5:15, music, refreshments, Extended shopping hours, open house celebrations, and dining options throughout town; www.milfordpa.us.

Elvis party: Belle Reve Senior Living party with Elvis, Friday, 2 p.m., entertainment by Elvis impersonator, Jeff Krick, free but limited seating; Kaitlyn Huttman, 570-409-9191, today.

Olyphant

Shopping benefit: Holiday One Stop Shop Vendor event, Saturday and Sunday, 11 a.m.-6 p.m., 411 Studio Boutique and Salon, 411 Lackawanna Ave., Finishing the Fight donation box for deployed troops, Southwest Savory Grill food truck, gift wrapping available, raffle baskets from various vendors including Avon, Calz Auto Detailing, Colarusso's, Main Street Bagel, Pampered Chef, Scentsy and Tastefully Simple, benefits the Fetcho family; Facebook page: The 411 Studio.

Regional

Tree lighting: Marywood University Christmas tree lighting ceremony, Dec. 4, 4 p.m. Rotunda, Liberal Arts Center, prayer, ornament presentations, holiday choral entertainment, light refreshments.

Happy hour: Voluntary Action Center eighth annual Holiday Happy Hour, Dec. 6, 5:30-8:30 p.m., the Colonnade; Marko Marcinko Jazz Trio, open bar, light fare, $50 at door or mail to VAC, 538 Spruce St., Suite 420, Scranton, PA 18503, 570-347-5616.

Pet night: Leadership Lackawanna and Griffin Pond Animal Shelter's Foster-A-Pet Night pet product donation drive and fundraiser, Friday, 6-9 p.m., Nay Aug Park, Scranton, featuring discounted Brookvalley Farm horse drawn wagon rides through the holiday lights with every pet product or program donation, wish list: puppy pads, collars, leashes, dishes and bowls, also needed: cat litter (clay), canned cat food, Aspen small animal bedding, rabbit and guinea pig food, kitten food, dry cat food and paper towels; www.leadershiplackawanna.com or 570-342-7711.

5K run/walk: Marywood University's Campus Ministry annual Jingle Bell 5K run or walk, Saturday, registration, 9 a.m., Nazareth Student Center's Fireplace Lounge, race begins, 10 a.m., $20/adults and $8/children, wear Christmas sweater, a Santa hat, elf stockings or other holiday apparel, post-race party features disc jockey, hot chocolate, cookies and photos with Santa; communityservice @m.marywood.edu.

Flu clinic: VNA Hospice and Home Health of Lackawanna County community flu shot clinic, Friday, 10 a.m.-1 p.m., 301 Delaware Ave., Olyphant, 18 and older, no out-of-pocket expense for Medicare, Aetna, Geisinger Gold, Blue Cross First Priority Health, First Priority Life, or Blue Cross Traditional, 25/without insurance, pre-registration encouraged, 570-383-5180.

Riverside

Community celebration: Riverside Celebration of the Season, Sunday, 6 to 8 p.m., high school common area, activities, band and chorus performances, free.

Scranton

Pierogi sale: St. Nicholas Ortho­dox Church fresh pierogi sale, Friday, 9:30 a.m.-4:30 p.m., 505 Jefferson Ave.; $7/dozen; 570-344-1522.

South Scranton

Information session: Elm Street Revitalization Project information session about the façade grant program, Dec. 12, 6:30 p.m., UNC's administrative offices, 435 Alder St.; 570-346.6203, ext. 16, by Friday.

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

FELL TWP. - It will only take a few signatures to finalize a police contract between the city of Carbondale and Fell Twp.

The township supervisors approved the agreement last month, and city Mayor Justin Taylor said the final terms had been emailed Monday.

He anticipated signatures on the one-year, $75,000 contract within the next few days.

Fell Twp. had historically relied on state police for coverage, but at a meeting Monday, Supervisor Ron Cosklo said that residents had been requesting a more consistent police presence, noting a large senior population.

"State police are fabulous and effective," he said. "Carbondale is, too, and they're right next store."

One audience member, Ron Hannivig, questioned why the change was necessary, asking about the length of the contract and the cost.

"We don't need those people here," he said. "We can police our own."

Mr. Cosklo declined to comment on the terms of the contract because he had not seen the final written version. The township has not approved a final budget yet, but Mr. Cosklo said taxes would not be raised to pay for the service.

The township officials initially proposed a two-year agreement, but Mr. Taylor said the city wanted a one-year deal.

He said the revised final contract sent to the township also included language that allowed either party to terminate at any time with 30 days written notice. The contract is based on an average of 300 calls in the township per year, but if that number is much higher, the city can end the deal, Mr. Taylor said.

The contract will become effective, pending signatures, Jan. 1.

In Carbondale on Monday, the council approved an ordinance authorizing the city to borrow $850,000, which Mr. Taylor called a "debt scoop-out" loan. He said the city already has a letter of commitment from a bank but will first need approval from the Department of Community and Economic Development.

Also at the meeting, the council approved the purchase of a Ford F550 dump truck at a cost of about $62,000. The truck will be paid off over a seven-year term with no payments in the first year.

The council also approved a retirement payout to longtime Parks and Recreation employee, Roseann Huddy, totaling about $25,000, according to Mr. Taylor.

Contact the writer: rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter

A 7.8 mile stretch of Route 6 between Clarks Summit and the Wyoming County line is scheduled for a three-plus-year, $46 million overhaul starting this summer.

James May, a state Department of Transportation spokesman, said the work will be among the three largest ongoing transportation projects planned in PennDOT's six-county District 4 in 2014.

"It's just a really old road, and a lot of the bridges along there are old or structurally deficient," Mr. May said. "We're going to go in and just do it all at once."

Route 6, which is also Route 11 along that stretch, was constructed in the 1950s. Today, Mr. May estimated 7,000 vehicles travel in both directions every day along the deteriorating thoroughfare that PennDOT officials plan to restore.

In addition to repaving the stretch, the project description calls for rehabilitating or replacing several bridges. PennDOT officials plan to replace:

n The deck of the bridge spanning the South Branch of Tunkhannock Creek in La Plume Twp.

n The superstructure of the bridge over Glenburn Pond's outlet in Glenburn Twp.

n Beams and the deck of the bridge over Route 632 in Dalton.

n The bridge over Route 1017 in Clinton Twp.

n The bridge on Route 11 over Route 6 in Clinton Twp.

Planned work will also include replacing traffic signals at two intersections; installing two new traffic signals; improving or perhaps adding turning lanes; replacing a retaining wall in Dalton; reconstructing shoulders; replacing guardrails, signs and pavement markings; and improving drainage.

The project is scheduled to start in July and wrap up in October 2017.

Routes 6 and 11 along the stretch run in two lanes in each direction. Mr. May said planners expect minimal traffic disruption because crews can close one lane at a time but still allow traffic to continue to flow.

PennDOT has already begun two other major projects whose construction will continue through 2014.

One is a $66.4 million project to rebuild Interstate 84 between the Milford exit and the New York state line. The project started in October and is scheduled to conclude in April 2016.

PennDOT officials have said the work includes rehabilitating six bridges and five culverts, as well as building a new beam bridge.

The other is a $41.91 million project designed to overhaul access to the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport and surrounding communities like Avoca and Dupont.

PennDOT officials have said that project calls for building a mile-long access road will connect the airport to Grimes Industrial Park via Navy Way, rehabilitating four bridges on Interstate 81, replacing a pedestrian bridge over the interstate, repaving a 1.5-mile stretch of I-81, consolidating interstate exits, replacing interstate off-ramps and creating three roundabouts to guide traffic to the airport, Route 315 and Dupont.

Contact the writer: kwind@timesshamrock.com, @kwindTT on Twitter

SCRANTON - A North Scranton man accused of trying to kill his father by setting fire to their home will undergo a mental-health evaluation.

A preliminary hearing for Kevin Brown, 47, was postponed Monday in Central Court for 30 days pending the evaluation.

Police charged Mr. Brown with attempted homicide, arson and recklessly endangering another person after the Nov. 22 fire at 2147 Rockwell Ave. that left his father, James, critically injured.

Investigators say Mr. Brown and his father argued before the suspect set at least four fires in the home while his father was sleeping.

SCRANTON - The Scranton Public Library and Marywood University Library each received one of 19 grants awarded in Pennsylvania by the National Endowment for the Humanities.

Each library received a $6,000 grant. The Scranton Public Library will use the grant money to launch its preservation planning project, which will develop a strategy to preserve the library's local history and genealogy collections.

The Marywood University Library will launch a similar project that will rehouse the university's collection of artifacts, audio-visual records and archives.

SCRANTON - Diocese of Scranton Bishop Joseph C. Bambera is asking the faithful to complete an online survey in preparation for a global meeting of bishops next year.

The meeting will examine the "pastoral challenges of the family in the context of evangelization" and the survey contains 39 questions on nine topics, such as contraception and marriage.

The synod will be held in Rome from Oct. 5 through Oct. 19.

A link to the survey can be found at www.dioceseofscranton.org.

MAYFIELD - The Lackawanna County Domestic Relations Services office at 1300 Old Plank Road will be closed today while repairs are made to a water line, county court administrator Ron Mackay said.

The office will reopen on Wednesday at 9 a.m., he said.

SCRANTON - A Scranton woman was hit from behind while getting ready to enter a home on the 900 block of Beech Street, Scranton police said.

Acting Capt. Glenn Thomas said the 30-year-old did not see her attacker and was hit on the right side of her head. She had a bump on her head and some scrapes on her neck.

She was not robbed after she was hit, Capt. Thomas said.

Anyone with information should contact detectives at 570-348-4139.