Time is running out for 44 municipalities in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties to improve their stormwater runoff programs so they comply with federal orders.

The cities, boroughs and townships, including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, have 30 days from the receipt of orders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to show evidence of their compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System (NPDES), created under the Clean Water Act, or create a plan and schedule for compliance. The agency sent the orders in late May; receipt of the orders can vary.

“This isn’t a penalty action, it’s a request for compliance,” said Michelle Price-Fay, branch chief for NPDES enforcement for EPA’s Mid-Atlantic region.

The EPA’s regulations date back to 2000, when the agency began requiring local governments that transport stormwater through municipal separate storm sewer systems to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Stormwater from impervious surfaces — roofs, streets and parking lots, for example — can eat away at river or stream banks and load waterways with sediment, fertilizers, metals, volatile organic carbons or other pollutants, according to the EPA.

Each local government has a permit to discharge stormwater runoff to local rivers and streams. Under these permits, municipalities must follow six minimum control measures: pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations, construction site runoff, post-construction runoff, illicit discharge detection and elimination, public participation and involvement and public education and outreach.

Local governments received an order if they did not adopt or failed to document at least one of these control measures in their annual reports to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which issues and enforces the permits.

Public involvement and runoff reduction from construction sites were commonly violated measures, Ms. Price-Fay said.

Although there are no fines with the current orders, the Clean Water Act can carry still penalties, up to $37,000 per day.

The following communities received orders:

Lackawanna County

Blakely, Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Dunmore, Moosic, Ransom Twp., Scott Twp., Scranton, South Abington Twp., Taylor and Throop. Penn State University Worthington Scranton campus also made the list.

Luzerne County

Ashley, Avoca, Bear Creek Twp., Dallas, Dallas Twp., Dupont, Duryea, Edwardsville, Exeter, Foster Twp., Hazleton, Hughestown, Jenkins Twp., Kingston, Laflin, Larksville, Laurel Run, Lehman Twp., Nanticoke, Newport Twp., Pittston Twp., Plymouth, Plymouth Twp., Sugar Notch, Swoyersville, Warrior Run, Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Twp., West Pittston, West Wyoming and Wyoming.

Contact the writer: bgibbons@timesshamrock.com, @bgibbonsTT on Twitter

Time is running out for 44 municipalities in Lackawanna and Luzerne counties to improve their stormwater runoff programs so they comply with federal orders.

The cities, boroughs and townships, including Scranton and Wilkes-Barre, have 30 days from the receipt of orders from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency to show evidence of their compliance with the National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System, created under the Clean Water Act, or create a plan and schedule for compliance. The agency sent the orders in late May; receipt of the orders can vary.

“This isn’t a penalty action, it’s a request for compliance,” said Michelle Price-Fay, branch chief for NPDES enforcement for EPA’s Mid-Atlantic region.

The EPA’s regulations date back to 2000, when the agency began requiring local governments that transport stormwater through separate storm sewer systems to comply with the Clean Water Act.

Stormwater from impervious surfaces — roofs, streets and parking lots, for example — can eat away at river or stream banks and load waterways with sediment, fertilizers, metals, volatile organic carbons or other pollutants, according to the EPA.

Each local government has a permit to discharge stormwater runoff to local rivers and streams. Under these permits, municipalities must follow six minimum control measures: pollution prevention and good housekeeping for municipal operations, construction site runoff, post-construction runoff, illicit discharge detection and elimination, public participation and involvement and public education and outreach.

Local governments received an order if they failed to adopt or document at least one of these control measures in their annual reports to the state Department of Environmental Protection, which issues and enforces the permits.

Public involvement and runoff reduction from construction sites were commonly violated measures, Ms. Price-Fay said.

Although there are no fines with the current orders, the Clean Water Act can still carry penalties, up to $37,000 per day.

The following communities received orders:

Lackawanna County

Blakely, Clarks Green, Clarks Summit, Dickson City, Dunmore, Moosic, Ransom Twp., Scott Twp., Scranton, South Abington Twp., Taylor and Throop. Penn State University Worthington Scranton campus also made the list.

Luzerne County

Ashley, Avoca, Bear Creek Twp., Dallas, Dallas Twp., Dupont, Duryea, Edwardsville, Exeter, Foster Twp., Hazleton, Hughestown, Jenkins Twp., Kingston, Laflin, Larksville, Laurel Run, Lehman Twp., Nanticoke, Newport Twp., Pittston Twp., Plymouth, Plymouth Twp., Sugar Notch, Swoyersville, Warrior Run, Wilkes-Barre, Wilkes-Barre Twp., West Pittston, West Wyoming and Wyoming.

Contact the writer:

bgibbons@timesshamrock.com, @bgibbonsTT on Twitter

The Dunmore School District paid its bus contractor nearly $257,000 more than the state’s transportation formula between 2010 and 2012, a state auditor general’s office audit found.

Despite that, Dunmore Business Manager Antoinette Lopatka said the district is actually not getting a bad deal, and the state’s transportation funding formula gives small districts like Dunmore the short end of the stick.

The district paid Pete’s Garage 65 percent more than the state’s formula allowance for busing in 2010-11 and 82 percent more than the calculation for 2011-12, auditors found.

The pupil transportation subsidy covers about half of transportation costs for a district on average across the state, said Tim Eller, press secretary of the state Department of Education. That means the district was around 15 percent and 32 percent over the state average, respectively.

Bidding recommended

Auditors noted the district had not been putting the transportation contract out to bid and recommended school officials solicit bids when the five-year contract is up at the end of 2014-15 to see if competition cuts costs — even though soliciting bids is not required.

“Since PDE provides a state allowance, it would be prudent for the district to consider that the money that goes toward the transportation contract is local and state revenue that is not going towards educating the children of the district,” auditors wrote in their report.

Dunmore school officials have been able to negotiate small percentage price increases in their contracts with Pete’s Garage but nonetheless will solicit bids next time, Ms. Lopatka said.

The bigger problem for Dunmore is the state’s transportation funding formula gives geographically small but densely populated districts like Dunmore a structural financial disadvantage.

The formula distributes aid based on a complex formula involving daily mileage, age of vehicles and number of students per vehicle.

“Districts that cover less square miles usually don’t get paid by the formula,” Ms. Lopatka said.

The Dunmore School District is about 8 square miles, serves 1,535 students in a 14,052-resident borough and has seven bus runs, only one of which is more than 50 miles round trip.

Another one is shorter than 20 miles.

Lakeland underpaid

In a separate audit of the Lakeland School District, the auditor general’s office reported school officials incorrectly reported transportation data in 2008-09, which resulted in an underpayment of $86,183 to the district.

The district should review all previous reports to look for errors, as well as review all future reports before submission, the auditors recommended.

The audit also found errors in reporting the number of days foster children attended school in the district, which resulted in an underpayment of $14,833 in the 2009-10 school year and a $41,317 underpayment in the 2011-12 school year.

The Department of Education will correct all underpayments, and in a written response to the report, school officials said they will increase supervision of data entry in the system that tracks students.

Contact the writers:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter;

rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter

HARRISBURG — House lawmakers approved a Republican spending bill by a mainly party-line vote Wednesday that puts the majority caucus on record with its spending priorities.

The action just five days before the Monday deadline for approving the fiscal 2014-15 state budget leaves plenty of questions about how to deal with a fiscal deficit of at least $1.4 billion facing Pennsylvania.

The bill would:

■ Boost the state basic education subsidy for school districts by $70 million from current levels and scrap an education block grant idea proposed by the governor.

■ Keep higher education funding at current levels.

■ Adopt the governor’s plan to expand underground gas drilling in state forests and state parks and cut state funding for the Delaware River Basin Commission by half.

■ Keep existing funding for state diabetes and lupus programs, regional cancer institutes and county-run human services programs.

■ Increase funding for domestic violence programs.

The $29.1 billion spending bill is $300 million less than what Republican Gov. Tom Corbett proposed before state tax revenues took a sharp nose dive last spring.

The bill now goes to the Senate which will likely have its own spending priorities. Lawmakers of both parties said the chambers will likely be put on a six-hour call starting Friday while top-level budget negotiations continue and come back in session late Sunday.

House Republicans boast their budget is leaner than what the governor proposed and doesn’t hike taxes. Democrats said Republicans are trying to close a huge revenue gap with gimmicks, state fund transfers and revenue sources that won’t last.

The bill counts on $48 million by suspending a number of state tax credits for two years. These include tax credits for Keystone Opportunity Zones and Keystone Innovation Zones and for REAP tax credits for farmers and businesses that implement agricultural conservation practices.

A key flash point in the debate is a GOP estimate of $380 million in revenue next year to support the budget from the sale of private retail liquor licenses as outlined in a House-passed bill to dismantle the state-owned liquor stores.

Mr. Corbett launched a push 18 months ago to create a private retail liquor system. The House passed its full-scale divestiture bill in early 2013, while the Republican-controlled Senate still lacks the 26 votes needed to pass that bill or an alternative liquor modernization plan, said GOP caucus spokesman Erik Arneson Wednesday.

Democratic lawmakers said the Liquor Control Board wouldn’t be able to sell enough licenses in the first year to generate $380 million.

“If by some miracle this were to become law, the governor’s own study had indicated it would take at least three years to transition,” said House Democratic Appropriations Chairman Joseph Markosek, D-25, Monroeville.

The liquor divestiture proposal is not in the spending bill. It would have to be included in a revenue bill as part of the budget package. Another flash point is how much of education spending is tied up in state contributions to the pensions of school district employees.

The budget includes a record $10.3 billion in education spending for kindergarten through grade 12, said House Appropriations Chairman Bill Adolph, R-165, Springfield. He said this week those education costs include salary, benefit and pension costs for school employees.

Much of the state pension obligation goes for a past debt incurred by the state and not for funding today’s classrooms, said Mr. Markosek.

Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre, urged colleagues to consider a state severance tax on natural gas production and delaying business tax cuts to obtain revenue.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Philip T. Sontag, Highland Park, N.J., and Alexandra E. Garcia, New Brunswick, N.J.

■ Chad Richard Milton Satterlee and Elizabeth Diana Gaus, both of Los Angeles.

■ Jason N. Alers and Keri A. Forsette, both of Scranton.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Evelyn J. and Robert V. Malinosky and Donna Dixon to John and Kim Maholick; a property at 620-622 Ash St., Dickson City, for $38,000.

■ Cesar and Cathleen Alyssa Lopez, Clarks Summit, to Kelly M. and Patrick R. Greenish Jr., Lackawanna County; a property at 104 Woodside Drive, Clarks Summit, for $255,000.

■ Deborah Namm, South Abington Twp., to Carol Jane Brogan, South Abington Twp.; a property at 52 Parkland Drive, South Abington Twp., for $180,000.

■ William J. Phillips to Edward and Dorothy James; a property at 160 Simpson St., Archbald, for $115,000.

■ Mary F. Reeves, Mayfield, to Kimberly Harding, Simpson; a property at 209 Depew Ave., Mayfield, for $70,490.

■ Kevin Roshak, Peckville, to Alfred S. Jr. and Kim Blasko, Scranton; two parcels at 123 W. Morton St., Old Forge, for $177,000.

■ Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, West Palm Beach, Fla., attorney-in-fact for Deutsche Bank National Trust Co., to Baseline Capital Investments LLC, Sherman Oaks, Calif.; a property at 2048 Margaret Ave., Scranton, for $29,650.

■ James D. Lubin, New Jersey, and Dawn Marie Lubin, now by marriage Dawn Marie Minster, Florida, to Dylan Cerra, Carbondale; a property at 100 Orchard St., Carbondale, for $113,000.

■ Eleanor Zebrowski, Marlton, N.J., to Ross J. and Geraldine R. Naro, Moscow; a property at 713 E. Swinick Drive, Dunmore, for $179,000.

■ Richard L. and Cheryl A. Lisko, Clarks Summit, to Kenneth and Linda Powell, Scott Twp.; a parcel in Scott Twp. for $176,000.

■ Joseph and Judy McCabe, Olyphant, to John and Linda Macarski, Olyphant; a property at 204 E. Jefferson St., Olyphant, for $100,000.

■ Scott A. and June A. Byers, Roaring Brook Twp., to Brian P. Walsh, Clarks Green; a property at 272 Windsor Way, Roaring Brook Twp., for $520,000.

■ Gary G. Tonkin, trustee for Tonkin Family Trust, Phoenix, to 46 River Realty LLC, Carbondale; four parcels in Carbondale for $106,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Christopher Frie, Taylor, v. Tara Amaral, Taylor; married Aug. 15, 2009, in Lackawanna County; John R. Williams Jr., attorney.

■ Angelica Aponte, Scranton, v. Marco Antonio Torres, Scranton; married Aug. 8, 1997, in Puebla, Mexico; Thomas J. Jones Jr., attorney.

LAWSUIT

■ Kara Ainey, 1143 Franklin Road, Kingsley, v. William Griggs, 96 W. Swallow St., Olyphant, seeking in excess of $35,000, which sum is in excess of the amount requiring compulsory arbitration pursuant to statutes of the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania and local rules of court, for injuries suffered Oct. 2, 2012, in a fall at a property owned by the defendant at 713 Jackson St., Dickson City; Patrick J. Doyle Jr., attorney.

ONLINE:

thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Visually impaired woman hit by car

SOUTH ABINGTON TWP. — A car struck a visually-impaired woman in her 50s as she crossed South Abington Road on Wednesday, township police said.

The woman, who was not identified, suffered a broken arm. Her injuries are not life-threatening, Officer Christopher Michaels said.

The driver, also not identified, was traveling south around 10 a.m. and struck the woman near the CVS on the 100 block of South Abington Road. He was not charged.

It did not appear he was speeding and he had a green light at the East Grove Street intersection, Officer Michaels said.

The woman has vision problems and had a cane. She was not in the crosswalk.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

CLARKS SUMMIT — Property owners in the Abington Heights School District will not see an increase in real estate taxes for the eighth straight year.

The Abington Heights School Board voted unanimously at Wednesday’s regular meeting to adopt a $45.77 million budget for 2014-15, which keeps the 117.35-millage rate steady but projects about a $2 million shortfall.

A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value.

For a home with the district’s average residential assessed value of $21,480, yearly property taxes would be about $2,521.

Raising taxes 2.1 percent, the maximum allowed by the state without referendum, would net the district about $475,000, district Business Manager James Mirabelli said. But citing the burden taxpayers face — the district’s millage rate is among the highest in the county — Superintendent Michael Mahon, Ph.D., said officials will instead focus on cutting expenses to reduce the projected deficit.

He said the district employs 10 percent fewer people than it did three years ago. Meanwhile, district officials are studying ways to save energy and cut insurance costs.

“Our hope is that we will get right to work and try to knock down that deficit, but there will come a time — absent tax increases — where we will enter into an operational deficit,” Dr. Mahon said. “It’s a lot harder to cut $1 million off the budget now than it was ... five years ago.”

The district has $12.75 million in its general fund balance, of which $8.87 million is assigned for pensions.

Also Wednesday, school board President Cathy Ann Hardaway said a negotiating session with the district’s education association is scheduled for Monday.

The parties have been in negotiations since before the teachers contract expired on Aug. 31, 2011, and the threat of a strike this fall looms.

Contact the writer:

miorfino@timesshamrock.com, @miorfinoTT on Twitter

Board agrees to hire an outside firm for maintenance, but motion to pare staff dies on table.

SCOTT TWP. — Lakeland School Board is mulling a proposal to hire an outside company to provide custodial and maintenance services at the schools.

But a motion to enter into an agreement with Facilities Management Systems Inc. from Aug. 4 through June 30, 2017, stalled Wednesday when some board members felt uncomfortable voting without all nine directors present.

Also at Wednesday’s meeting, the board passed a $19 million budget with a tax increase of 2.66 mills, bringing the rate to 97.66 mills. A mill is a $1 tax on every $1,000 of assessed property value. With an average residential assessment of $13,793, a taxpayer in the district will pay about $37 more per year.

After voting on the budget, school directors unanimously voted to enter into an agreement with the Facilities Management.

But members hesitated when it was time to vote on another motion to eliminate all maintenance employee positions.

No one seconded the motion, and school board member Stanley Stracham said he did not feel comfortable voting with only five members present.

President Mary Retzbach, Vice President Thomas Evans, Treasurer Casey Patuk and member Gregory Kopa were absent.

Mr. Stracham’s apprehension was shared by the board. They unanimously rescinded the first motion and will vote again at next month’s meeting.

Since the motions failed, the affected staff are still employed by the district, Superintendent R. Scott Jeffery said.

He said no current employee would lose their job with the outsourcing, but the failed motions affect the timeline in which the employees would switch over to the new company.

“The benefit is to provide better maintenance and custodial services,” said Mr. Jeffery.

In other business:

n Payments totalling $76,461.17 were approved for the ongoing high school renovations.

n Justin Brace was hired at $7.25 per hour for summer technology support on an as-needed basis; and Laura Mayer was hired as a biology teacher at Bachelor’s Step 1, at a salary of $48,088.

n Director John Yanochik’s wife, Paula Yanochik, was hired as a volunteer drill team adviser. She will receive no compensation for the position.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com, @kbolusTT on Twitter.

THROOP — Mid Valley School Board on Wednesday approved a 4.12 percent real estate tax increase for 2014-15 and borrowing up to $2 million to help the district’s cash flow until residents pay their taxes.

The tax hike raises the levy the maximum amount possible without a referendum, a threshold known as the index, and takes advantage of state-approved exceptions to raise property taxes a bit more.

In all, the tax increase will raise $484,931 and hike the district’s millage rate to 101.5859. Just increasing taxes to the index would have raised the millage rate to 100.0965 mills from the 2013-14 level of 97.56, according to the district’s business management team. A mill is a $1 tax for every $1,000 in assessed property value.

For a home assessed at the district average of $11,559, the tax bill will increase $46.53, compared to $29.30 without the exceptions.

Mid Valley School District is still recovering from being about $700,000 behind in state reimbursements for the $15.9 million expansion and renovation of the elementary school. Contracted Business Manager Albert Melone spoke of the challenges of keeping up with rising pension and health care costs for all state public schools.

“I think this is a new reality we’re dealing with, and it’s going to be here a while,” Mr. Melone said.

District resident Denise Brown suggested school directors look to the $612,000 budgeted for sports and extracurricular activities to cut costs.

“I’m hoping to be a senior citizen in this town someday, and I would like to keep my house, be able to afford my taxes,” she said.

School Director Rick Barone said it is important the district provide “as holistic an approach to education as possible” and give students opportunities to blossom, whether that means sports, band or drama.

Still, board Secretary Donna Dixon said if the school fiscal climate keeps trending the way it has been, the situation will eventually force cuts no one wants to see.

The $22.43 million budget school directors approved leaves the district without a fund balance, but school officials have $250,000 in reserve that could carry over next year, depending how upcoming litigation goes, Mr. Melone said.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter

DICKSON CITY — Traffic patterns will change on Interstate 81 North, beginning at 6 p.m.

Construction has been ongoing in the left lane, between exits 188 and 190. Workers will begin moving barriers to block off the center lane at 6 p.m. That transition should be completed by 6 a.m., leaving the far left and far right lanes open for traffic. Construction will then begin in the center lane.

It was unclear how long construction in the center lane would last, Department of Transportation spokesman Mike Taluto said.

— REBEKAH BROWN

CLARKS SUMMIT — Williams Companies Inc. moved about 38 engineering and customer service employees from a Clark Summit office to a new building in Tunkhannock.

The $8 million project at 310 Route 29 in Tunkhannock will ceremonially open with a ribbon cutting 9 a.m. Thursday, July 17.

The new 30,000-square-foot building allows Williams to the bring many of its operations under one roof, said Williams spokesperson Mike Atchie. About 88 people will work from the building, although other work in the field. The gas pipeline company has about 151 employees in Northeast Pennsylvania and New York.

— DAVID FALCHEK

PENNSYLVANIA

COLLEGE OF

TECHNOLOGY

Frank J. Fata, Clarks Summit, Bachelor of Science, computer aided product design; Scott R. Fenton, Dickson City, Bachelor of Science, building science and sustainable design: architectural technology concentration; Matthew W. Lamberti Jr., Pittston Twp., Bachelor of Science, civil engineering technology; Carl J. Reynolds, South Abington Twp., Associate of Applied Science, automotive technology, honors; Ross D. Schultheis, Clarks Summit, Associate of Applied Science, electronics and computer engineering technology: robotics and automation emphasis; Jennifer R. Seifert, Avoca, Associate of Applied Science, heating, ventilation and air conditioning technology; Jennifer R. Seifert, Avoca, Bachelor of Science, heating, ventilation and air conditioning design technology; Justin A. Wentovich, Peckville, Associate of Applied Science, building construction technology, honors; and Jacob D. Zalewski, Pittston, certificate, plumbing

DICKINSON COLLEGE

Michael John Capone, Dupont, Bachelor of Arts, economics

MILLERSVILLE

UNIVERSITY

Kasey C. Voges, Lake Ariel, Master of Science in emergency management; Jon Showers, Scranton, Master of Education in sport management with a concentration in athletic coaching.

WIDENER UNIVERSITY

Jordan Goldstein, Clarks Summit, Bachelor of Science in accounting; Breana Hull, Honesdale, a Bachelor of Science in biology; Ian Kelly, Clarks Summit, Bachelor of Science in mechanical engineering; Joseph Plaza, Lake Ariel, Bachelor of Science in civil engineering; Elya Spolar, Montrose, a Doctor of Physical Therapy; Michael Shostek, Clifford Twp., Bachelor of Science in accounting; and Nick Zazula, Milford, Bachelor of Arts in sociology

UNIVERSITY

OF SCRANTON

Kimberly Fells, Clarks Summit, Master’s human resources

BOSTON COLLEGE

COLLEGE OF ARTS & SCIENCES

Julia Fick, Clarks Summit, Bachelor of Science in biology

DREXEL UNIVERSITY SCHOOL OF LAW

Joseph May, Roaring Brook Twp., juris doctor

BUCKNELL UNIVERSITY

Brian Copeland, Dunmore, Bachelor of Arts in economics; Corey Furman, Pittston, Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering; Erich Gilbride, Scranton, Bachelor of Arts in English - film/media studies; Nicolle Herzog, Milford, Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts in French and political science; Bethany Reynolds, Honesdale, Magna Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts in psychology and education; Kimberly Rich, Clarks Summit, Cum Laude, Bachelor of Arts in mathematics and Spanish; Michael Romanowski, Pittston, Bachelor of Science in chemical engineering; and Thomas Romanowski, Pittston, Bachelor of Science in business administration in management.

WAGNER COLLEGE

Corey E. Gaylets, Scranton, Master of Science in microbiology.

ST. JOSEPH’S COLLEGE

Sheri Ostrander, Newfoundland, Bachelor of Science in general studies.

CLARION UNIVERSITY

Anthony Baker, Bushkill, Bachelor of Science in liberal studies: sport management concentration.

WIDENER UNIVERSITY

JURIS DOCTOR DEGREES

HARRISBURG CAMPUS

Joshua Borer, Moosic; Jessica Boyles, Scranton; Meredith Demark, Exeter; Robert Eskra, Dunmore; Shannon Gaughan, Scranton; Kerin Podunajec, Prompton; Andrew Race, Hughestown; Kyle Tomko, Moscow; and Cassandra Vasicak, Pittston.

DELAWARE CAMPUS

Ellen Lavelle, Clarks Green; Timothy Vancosky, Scranton.

UNIVERSITY OF MASSACHUSETTS LOWELL

Tara Amaral, Taylor, bachelor’s degree in information technology.

MORRISVILLE STATE COLLEGE

Amanda Hunt, Laceyville, Bachelor of Technology in equine science.

DREXEL UNIVERSITY

BENNETT S. LEBOW COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND THE SCHOOL OF ECONOMICS

Joseph P. Wahl III, Scott Twp., Bachelor of Science/Bachelor of Arts with a concentration in marketing.

CASTLETON COLLEGE

Richard Palazzi, Newfoundland, Master of Arts in education.

WESTERN NEW

ENGLAND UNIVERSITY

Jacob T. Eastman, Meshoppen, Bachelor of Science in electrical engineering.

ARCADIA UNIVERSITY

Alyssa Ann Loney, Taylor, Bachelor of Arts in history.

WALLENPAUPACK AREA MIDDLE SCHOOL

GRADE 8

High honor roll: Emily Bates, Devin Baughan, Zane Blau, Ali Brand, Clair Carfora, Laura Carr, Aidan Cunningham, Maria Drake, Kathryn French, Lauren Higgins, Giulianna Iona, Angelina Ioppolo, Thomas Johnson, Zachary Kiesendahl, Samantha Killiany, Kyle Landolfi, Kathleen Lane, Jennifer Langan, Carrie Loomis, Emily Mansfield, Melanie Muehlbauer, Richard Nadolski, Natalie Olsommer, Robert Opalecky, Eric Panzella, MacBrennan Peet, Breanne Petrowski, Cammie Ross, Carter Schmalzle, Brynn Wierbowski, Anne-Marie Wolff, Travis York

Honor roll: Alia Aliwi, Alissa Alexander, Olivia Bongiovi, Tabitha Boyd, Dylan Brinkworth, Michael Burk, Abraham Cahn, August Cahn, Brianna Casuso, Mason Clark, Jonathan Conklin, Alyssa Crossman, Amanda Cuff, Alexandra Davignon, Dylan Davignon, Randal Day, Daniel DeLeo, Dakota Dilmore, Brian Durden, Julia Egger, Jacqueline Fils-Aime, Matthew Forsythe, Olivia Gregory, Andrew Grice, Lauren Griffin, Alexis Gumble, Brennan Hannon, Cherokee Harrell, Jake Haytko, Ty Holbert, Alysa Janulis, Tyler Kirsten, Stephen Kober, Chase Koelln, Keegan Kresge, Abigail Ladner, Drew LaFave, Rose LoDolce, William Maack, Hannah Mackes, Jason Marcus, Sarah Marone, Jacob Maurer, Sophia Merola, Courtney Meyer, Melanie Mills, Timothy Mitchell, Courtney Mooney, Jacob Peet, Ksenia Pereyra, Joseph Pitino, Felicity Quick, Paige Ramkissoon, Emily Rice, Caleb Richman, Victoria Rojas, Kyle Rosler, John Rossitto, Elijah Rutt, Adam Sands, Shannon Sarro, Jenna Schoenagel, Evan Sennefelder, Patrick Simon, Lillian Slate, MicKayla Smith, Sean Sweeney, Peter Tarrant, Kaylyn Terry, Gabrielle Torres, Benjamin Ulmer, Thomas VanBuskirk, Hannah Vennie, Jessica Vitz, Emma Winagle, Jonathan Winkler, Zericho Wurtz and Salvatore Zarcone.

GRADE 7

High honor roll: Rylee Arenson, Natalie Bartkow, Wesley Conklin, Phoebe Cykosky, Alana Danelski, Jenna Elliott, Shelby Fylstra, Kylie Gallaher, Racquel Giro, Madison Guzzo, Adam Haupt, Joseph Ingulli, Maritza Jahn, Brianna Lynch, Michael Macdonough, Jack Monte, Jack Mowatt, Rachel Phillips, Justin Romeo, Nikkos Saviolis, Carleen Shook, Rietta Steffen, Jake Strong, Shawn Sura, Rachael Tirjan, Philip VanWettering, Taylor VanWettering, Derrick Vosburg and Alexa Wildenberg.

Honor roll: John Baryczak, Nicholas Benetos, Desirae Bennett, Kinzey Brice, Isabella Calabrese, Cailin Campbell, Jessica Cardone, Angela Cykosky, Ramdial Dalphus, Taylor Davies, Anthony Delvillar, Angela DeSanti, Erin Duncan, Jamie Falgie, Cole Fenstermacher, Paul Forte, Megan Guerrieri, Nicholas Hamer, Mary Harmuth, Jeremy Harr, Christopher Higgins, Thomas Hiller, Timothy Holzapfel, Angela Hussung, Marissa Ivanko, Liam Jacobs, Sean Jacobs, Charles Kellogg, Billy Krochta, Sydney Maney, Carl Martin, Nicholas Maurice, Kiarra McCloud, Thomas McCormick, Peter McDermott II, Annarose McLaughlin, Carissa Menderis, Jake Mitchell, Madison Nakielny, Bianca Ortalano, Devin Ortiz, Alexis Patire, Kendra Pender, Timothy Peney, Alex Pillar, Kayla Prestianni, Cory Prisco, Anthony Ragusa, Susan Rode, Laura Rosnyoi, Maryanne Sarazine, Madison Schmalzle, Ashley Schoepfer, Jack Schroder, Steven Shepps, Chance Smith, Hannah Smith, Alexei Sprague, John Squatrito, Dylan Taylor, Nicholas Touhey, Mackenzie Turner, Jillian Usbeck, Paige Vennie, Heidi Washburn, Ty Wesenyak, Fatima Whaley, Alexander Williams, Melanie Williams, Timothy Wilson, Tyler Wirth, Tierney Woitas and Kasper Zaba-Poplawski.

GRADE 6

High honor roll: Val Barsamyan, Austin Barto, Seth Brown, Cara Campbell, Claudia Cheslock, Sydney Colwell, Taylor Coutts, Caeli Creamer, Rebecca Cykosky, Elizabeth Desmet, Kacie Fagan, Krysta Fletcher, Matthew Horak, Anthony Ioppolo, Timothy Krawcyk, Thomas Lane, Alyssa Miller, Kayla Opalecky, Morganne Percevault, Kaiden Quigley, Jenna VanDuyne, Ryleigh Vennie, Sean Vennie, Mia Watson and Aubrey Wolff.

Honor roll: Walid Abdallah, Jenna Arasimowicz, Noah Baker, Haleigh Balla,Alyssa Beierle, Matthew Benedito, Payton Bernathy, Zyler Blau, Brianna Calvo, Amber Capurso, Megan Cuff, Michael Dalrymple, Alex Davies, Daniel Diehl, Norjehan Fahmy,Samantha Feely, Elaina Gattuso, Emily Ginder, Lauren Glauner, Lily Hannon, Shae Harrell, Gavin Hearn, Joseph Heffernan, Madison Henwood, David Kelly, Raven Klinger, Taleightha Lester, Annabelle Lewis, Andrea Loor, Joseph Loretta, James Lyle, David Manassy, Ryleigh Maney, Samantha Mapps, Makayla McCord, Gerard McGrath, Alyssa Melchionda, Katrina Mihalislis, Julia Moran, Julia Oakley, Emily Peet, Darren Pineiro, Devin Pineiro, Rachel Pineiro, Joshua Rivera, Chloe Rivest, Justin Rohls, Christian Ross, John Rossitto, Izaiah Santiago, Katie Savadel, Rachel Sersea, Lillie Simon-Smallman, Bennett Sisto, Dylan Snider, Zoe Spaide, Emily Tait, Kevin Talley, Jacob Tirjan, Gabrielle Troch, Miranda Tussel, Shane Weis, Brian Whitelock and Brian Wyckoff.

NORTHEAST

INTERMEDIATE SCHOOL

GRADE 8

Debbie Acosta, Krystal Arvonio, Juan Ayala Rodriguez, Johnathan Bailer, Gagan Bastola, Damani Blackwell, Juliarys Boone, Michaella, Brady, Topez Burgette, Dylan Campbell, Noemi Carreto, Jaena Cementina, Ciera Chandler, Carrington Jeane Colbert, Jessica Colbert, Luis Corpeno, Alyssa Costello, Abigail Coyle, Mykhanh Dang, Trupanshi Desai, Julianne Dunay, Cali Evans, David Evans, Christopher Farrell, Samantha Farry, Jared Floryshak, Isabella Flynn, Shelby Funches, Trinity Gammaitoni, Daniel Gavin, Jehovany Gbedan, Meera Ghataney, Christa Golden, Imani Gonzalez, Elysia Granville, Peter Green, Morsal GulMohammad, Aaron Haines, Maryam Hamidi, Mustafa Hamidi, Matthew Harmer, Nadia Haroun Mahdavi, Zaakirah Harrison, Noah Horn, Isabelle Jarrow, Telena Jones, Michael Judge, Abby Kearney, Edward Keen, Taylor Keiper, Lyndsi Keller, Kelly Kraycer, Alyssa Krisovitch, Kevin Kruk, Mia Laboranti, Jaliyah Lancaster, Pauline Layton, Jason Lee, Jelytzanette Lopez, Leslie Major, Joseph Malia, Alexis Marichak, Natalie Marichak, Alexander McCarthy, Serena Merritt, Lisa Mitchell, Vaishali Modi, Alan Moore, Ariella Mullen, Anthony Murria, Arzu Mustafayeva, Fajrun Najih, Tracy Nguyen, Bansari Patel, Dazi Patel, Harsh Patel, Jaymin Patel, Kesha Patel, Krina Patel, Kuntal Patel, Ritun Patel, Riya Patel, Vrutti Patel, Sarah Pethick, Charles Prothero, JulieAnn Ristics, King Shakim Rose, Benjamin Rudolph, Donald Ruiz, Krystal Schipp, Kathryn Shea, Awnshae Smith, Mia Svetovitch, Brenden Teaman, Marcus Tillia, Diminique Trombetta, Colin Tugend, Gladya Ulysse, Alivia Visoski, Corey Walsh, Deandre Williams and Branden Zacharias.

GRADE 7

Erika Aguilar, Morgan Ambrosecchia, Jovita Angelyn, Jason Arden, Kiera Baltrusaitis, Alexander Baress, Olivia Bennington, Selina Bolella, David Borgia, Isabella Burcheri, Jacob Campbell, Nathan Campbell, Jason Carpenter, Cameron Christy, Caitlyn Coar, William Cobley, Cailey Cummings, Kailey Davis, Storme Detrick, Ryan Dolan, Abigail Farrell, Leanna Fuller, Michelle Fuller, Abigail Gaffney, Diana Gaglione, Ciera Gagner, Archi Gandhi, Byannca Gilbride, Samuel Goncalves, Nicholas Gonzalez, Christian Grady, Alexandria Grippi, Joseph Guido, Jozsef Gyetvai, Samara Haigler, Ariana Harris, Tehya Harris, Rachel Hineline, Skye Holley, Asia Jalil, Emily Josselyn, Tika Maya Kadariya, Brandon Karp, Mykaela Kline, Nyah Kubilus, Anastasia Lepka, Elizabeth Link, Ciara Lovell, Cecilia Marion, Anita Marquez, Gabriel Martelli, Mia Matheson, Dania Mejia, Humphrey Mende, Joshua Mitchell, Marisol Monacelli, Connor Mullen, Shealyn Murphy, Jeffrey Norton, Jeremiah Oakes, Alex Opshinsky, Steven Paszek, Aarya Patel, Drashti Patel, Heet Patel, Maulin Patel, Neelkanthkumar Patel, Pujan Patel, Viraj Patel, Claudia Pitts, Venessa Polkowski, Amanda Priorielli, Hemil Ray, Josiah Rebernik, Nakia Romano, Molly Schaefer, Daniel Scott, Jwalant Shah, Brianna Shea, Kyle Sheerer, Marcella Snyder, Felicia Sompel-Welk, Olivia Spory, Alyvia Svetovich, Christopher Swavola, Kayla Walsh, Juanita Wolak, Jonathan Yudhistira, Thomas Zaltauskas and Jacob Zymblosky.

GRADE 6

Farid Abdul Quddus, Brian Aguilar, Paige Antoniotti, Brenda Aroche, Esmeralda Ayala, Andrew Babinski, Quinn Bailer, Evan Bannon, Shelby Baranow, Toba Baryalai, Olivia Bell, Camron Brown, Tiana Brown, Ashley Burdick, Ryan Calpin, Nino Carachilo, Valeria Carissa, Cody Carlson, Timothy Caulden, Joshua Christianson, Matthew Christianson, Ian Ciocca, Paige Clark, Samantha Codick, Samuel Cortese, Ann Cosgrove, Jacqueline Cunha, Julia Cunha, My Kim Dang, Leann Delgado, Lauren DelSantro, Melanie DeSouza, Ahneessa Dillon Cunningham, Kamilah Drummond, Rhianna Dunay, Carly Etchie, Brandon Evarts, Brooke Fetsock, Lauren Flynn Miller, Trent Gagner, Shane Gillette, Hannah Goldberg, Richard Gorniak, Noah Green, Trey Griggs, Zohal GulMohammad, Liam Hailstone, Seamus Hailstone, Mira Haines, Morteza Hamidi, Lauren Holzman, Camus Howie, Aailiyah Jalil, Tayoni Jaramillo, Emily Kaniper, Natella Kapitanova, Motayuisha Kollock, Rliyana Kubelis, Mackenzie Lavelle, Noah Leety, Satorie Little Williams, Julia Loury, Guyah Love, Daisy Luddy, Olivia Lynwood, Jordi Maldonado, Olivia Maroni, Cameron Martinez, Marco Martinez, Jacob McAndrew, Lydia Rae McConlogue, Heather Medina, Patrick Messenger, Devony Miller, Shervin Mokhtari, Giovanni Morales, Skler Moyle, Colette Mulderig, Madison Mullen, Courtney Jania Neal, Jonah Parker, Devang Patel, Dhruv Patel, Kush Patel, Maitree Patel, Om Patel, Pranshu Patel, Priyal Patel, Yashaswini Patel, Mia Pauley, Kristy Dawn Payne, Shyanna Perna, April Powell, Matthew Prothero, Gia Raymer, Christopher Reap, Keegan Reyrat, Esther Johana Rios, Lucas Rollison, Qua Asia Rose, Ariana Royce, Anntonette Saavedra, Jamie Santiago, Meredith Santiago, Grace Schariest, Samantha Scripp, Alyssa Shaw, Casey Shevlin, Faith Situmeang, Gavin Smith, Joseph Strelecki, Joyce Teaman, Holly Thomas, Jacob Thomas, Michael Vaquero, Angelo Vega, Trynity Ventura, Juan Villanueva, Sarah Walsh, Temia Wiggins, Abigail Williams, Matthew Williams, Ryan Wozniak, Jordan Yisrael and Victoria Ziegler.

WEST SCRANTON

HIGH SCHOOL

GRADE 12

Ramon Alverio, Cara Anzulewicz, Vincent Arcieri, Alivia Auriemma, Jane Baranowski, Brittany Battenberg, Nicole Bianco, Dante Bieri, Asialena Bonitz, Chole Bouselli, Shakeema Brooks, Layla Marie Bryndzia, Kelsey Camacho, Sallena Camp, Kathryn Cantafio, Jasmine Cobb, Lissette Cobo, Patrick Cooper, Faith Cope, Andria Crandall, Jacob J. Decker, Louis DiBileo, Alyssa DiMauro, Mackenzie Dommes, Alaina Marie Evans, Brian R. Fallon, Cullen Fanning, John Ferrara, Abigail Frazier, Chelsea Giuliani, Cameran Grant, Cassandra Gruzesky, Tony Gurnari, Justyne N. Hallock, Christina Herrera, Zachary Paul Hiller, Gordon Hodanich, Nina Hodanich, Justin Howells, Cory Jackson Bey, Anthony Jones, Richard Jones, Jane Joyce, Larissa Ann Kane, Matthew Kramer, Mary Katherine Langan, Collin Lipowitch, Alexander Paul Lozada, Mackenzie Madigan, Kenverly Maldonado, Jonathan Manuel, Mason Marsico, Matthew Stephen Maslousky, Kayla Masters, Michael Anthony Messina, Andrew Morgan, Mollie Ann Murphy, Connor K. Nee, Michaela M. Nicholson, Kimberly Lynn Ogden, Emily O’Malley, Angel Ortiz, Harris Outland, Kaela J. Palmiter, Mark Anthony Lewis Panek, Marissa Pazzaglia, Selena Phillips, Nancy Ramirez, Coletta Rempe, Rochelle Marie Rodriguez, Taylor Mae Royce, Ashley Ruddy, Danielle Rutkowski, Samantha Rutkowski, Fiorella Salas, Espifanio Nico Sanchez, Brianna Shishlo, Sara Jane Skoritowski, Sara Smith, Matthew Stanek, Brandon Stempowski, Eryn Lyn Sullivan, LaKiara Thomas, Kaitlyn Tokash, Jade Ulrich, Valerie Valencia, Chrisha Kimberly Wall, Emily Amanda Walsh, Teresa Whitehouse, Harold Wildrick, Jaeinaayai Lamonte Wright, Erin Yeager, Sarah Lynn Youshock and Kaylee Ann Zarick.

GRADE 11

Timothy August, Vincent Baglivo, Ali Basalyga, Katlyn Beidler, Laura Bergstrom, McKenzie Armande Bradley, Jason Camp, Antonio Cicco, Ryan Clarkson, Matthew Clutter, Cesar Colchado, Nathan Colliers, Breonna Brittany Conklin, Brianna Cramer, Kelsey Cwalinski, Camille Dantone, Leah Farino, Candace JaneFox, Rebecca Freeman, Jerome Gayle, Christopher Gentile, Emily Gerrity, Kaylie Gilmore, Felisia Gonie, Wynter Gowarty, Ashley Hill, Justin Honick, Dany Huanira, Andrew Hudak, Victoria Hunsinger, Tyler Jakes, Brandon Lee Kaminski, Kyle Kroptavich, Neasa Leibert, Michael Leitner, Leonard Licata, Lila MacDonald, Tristan McMyne, Miana Michaylo, Alyssa Marie O’Boyle, Jason Palauskas, Carlos Perez, Austin Peters, Rebecca Pierson, Rebecca Price, Sarah Purawic, Jasmine Quintana, Catherine Mae Riley, Rachel Roche, Neishmy Rodriguez, Annah Marie Scaccia, Brian Matthew Schappert, Sydney Schmidt, Natalie Sedorovitz, Caylin Michelle Shea, Emily Sherpinskas, Sarah Shygelski, Andrew Simpson, Nicole Christine Sinclair, Bailey M Smith, Austin Souryavong, Kristen Marie Southard, Shayne Syrylo, Taylor Szymanski, Emily Tuffy, Obdulia Gigy Vazquez, Alexis Walls, Jade Watson, Gabriele Wegielewski, Christian

Whitman, Meghan Michaeline Williams and Morgan Williams.

GRADE 10

Alexa Anzulewicz, Andrew Bednarek, Dana Marie Beynon, Haley Ann Bombar, Camiela S. Brent, Patrick Richard Capitano, Joseph Chesek, Felicia Marie Cicco, Leo Patrick Ciullo, Maria Coyne, Keira Lynn D’Agostino, Olwen DeSarno, Ashley Elizabeth Dunning, Samuel Nicholas Egan, Sophie Alexandra Evans, McKenzie Marie Felkowski, Cassandra Fratzola, Avery Frazier, Christina Freeman, Matthew Gaul, Kyle Louis Goerlitz, Yuliza Hernandez, Ivy Johnson, Christina Kelly, Alexandra Kerecman, Timothy Loney, Ryan Loscombe, David Christian Lutchko, Jake MacDonald, Julie Marie Maconeghy, Brian Anthony Martin, Ashley Masters, Diane Maria Matteo, Anna Mattern, Paul McNally, Sean McTiernan, Cassandra Ann Merrill, Amanda Miller, Virginia Miller, Sequoia Rose Monahan, Sierra Joan Mulgrew, Liam Nee, Geoffrey O’Connor, Justin David O’Connor, Caitlyn O’Hara, Patrick Edward O’Malley, Alisa Diane O’Neill, Krina Patel, Nicole Pazzaglia, Nicholas John Phillips, Samantha Rescigno, Michael Joseph Richards, Shawna Rillstone, Daniel John Sallurday, Heather Schmidt, Justin Anthony Smith, Julia Stefani, Marina Wall, Ella Walsh, Timothy Paul Walsh, Courtney Mary Wheeland, Joshua Williams, Samantha Williams, Shania Marie Wolk and Bryce Yanni.

GRADE 9

Hameenah Abduallah, Amelia Elizabeth Amori, Alex Aponte, Anthony Frank Baglivo, Jessica Balcacer, Monaya Dashann Bradley, Blake Weldon Carlton, Kyle Thomas Carozzi, Theresa Marie Chesek, Christian Cocozello, Hunter Coleman, Mercadeze Jewel Conklin, Jamie Cramer, Joseph Michael Cruciani, Kerla DeAssis, Matthew David Drumstra, Melinda Marie Eder, Mikayla Marie Evans, Shaun Patrick Fanning, Caitlin Fernandez, Carl Joseph Fisher, Rachel Christine Flaherty, William Peter Fox, Morgan Fyock, Lauren Ashley Gaughan, Bianca Marie Gifford, Lauren Marie Gilbert, Dominic Francis Giuliani, Diana Rodriquez Gonzalez, Kyle C. Graham, Matthew Robert Guse, Keerthik Jangala, Steven Michael Jarbola, Destiny Jefferson, Austyn Mickeal Jezorwski, Krystine Jimenez, Hassan Johnson, Rachel Elizabeth Johnson, Erin Kane, Emily Margaret Karavitch, Kaitlin Kennedy, Casey Krieger, Caroline Kudrich, Alexa Lewis, Austin Lipowitch, Griffin Loureiro, Jasmine Mailler, Adam James Mangan, Kaile Martinelli, Isaiah Daniel McCloe, Alexander Mitchell, Noah Molina, Hallie Elizabeth Murphy, Kiara Negron, Jenny Nguyen, Zachary John Niemiec, Bartley James Novak, Callie Rose O’Brien, Sean O’Hara, Kaila O’Neill, Nicholas Kevin Pfohl, Marissa Anne Popis, Tahjae Powell, Justice J. Ramirez, Maria Alejandra Ramos, Jayme Rillstone, Damien Romano, Skylar Bryce Rosengrant, Angel Marie Ross, Tiffany Anne Ross, Alexis Smith, Bernard Smith, Melanie Visonie Souriyavong, Tyler Aran Souriyavong, Samantha Lynn Sowka, Christian Salvatore Spathelf, Cole Wm Stetzar, Julia Stevens, Zachary Syrylo, Elias L. Thomas, RaeAnn Topa, Joel Villanueva, Olivia Marie Viscomi, Alexander R. Vives, Robert Ross Walls, Shauna Marie Walsh, Zachariah Waltos, Jacob Wegielewski, Jude Christopher Wheeler, Mark Joseph Williams, Katelyn Ann Winters, Francis Joseph Worsnick, Hannah Yarros, Michael Yeager, Christopher Daniel Young and Nori Dominique Zaccheo.

SCRANTON — Host families are needed for French high school students for the month of July.

The English-speaking kids, between the ages of 14 and 17, will be arriving through Horizons du Monde International, a nonprofit cultural exchange organization based in France. Students will arrive July 2 and leave July 30.

Host families are expected to provide safe room and board, inclusion in the family routine, as well as transportation to meeting places. For more information, contact Linda Clark at 570-407-0511.

— PETER CAMERON

SCRANTON — The Internal Revenue Service has approved the charity status of the West Scranton Hyde Park Neighborhood Watch.

The group received a letter from the IRS on Thursday, and the status is effective retroactive to Sept. 26, 2012. The designation means the group is now able to receive tax-exempt donations.

— PETER CAMERON

Six former Scranton Parking Authority employees can seek an arbitration hearing in their fight to regain their jobs, a state appellate court ruled Thursday.

The Commonwealth Court said Lackawanna County Judge Vito Geroulo erred when he ruled Teamsters Local 229 had to first obtain the judge’s permission before it could seek an arbitration hearing on behalf of garage maintenance workers who lost their jobs after a private firm, Central Parking, took over operation of the city’s five parking garages.

The ruling does not mean the workers, who were furloughed in September 2012, are guaranteed to get their jobs back, said Craig Pawlik, secretary/treasurer for the Teamsters. It simply gives them the chance to take their case before an arbitrator.

“This is huge for us,” Mr. Pawlik said. “We are thrilled to have the opportunity to get it in front of a third party.”

The dispute centers on the decision by Mike Washo, who in August 2012 was appointed receiver over the SPA’s assets, to hire a private firm, Central Parking to operate the garages. Central Parking opted not to hire the workers who were furloughed by the SPA.

The Teamsters union filed a grievance challenging the furloughs. Before it could be heard, Mr. Washo sought an injunction, arguing the union had to get Judge Geroulo’s permission because, should it prevail in the arbitration, it could bind the receiver to pay damages to the workers. The law that governs receiverships requires a party to seek court approval for any action that could lead to a judgement against the receiver. Judge Geroulo granted the motion on May 30, 2013.

In overturning the ruling, the Commonwealth Court said the union was not required to seek the judge’s permission because the grievance was filed against the SPA, not Mr. Washo. Although Mr. Washo is the receiver over the SPA’s assets, that does not make him a party to the collective bargaining agreement.

Mr. Washo said he had not spoken yet with his attorney, Jennifer Laporta Baker, and could not comment on whether or not he will seek to appeal the ruling.

Mr. Pawlik said the ruling impacts the SPA maintenance workers only. It does not impact six meter attendants who were also furloughed. They were later hired by Republic Parking, a private firm that took over collection of parking meters.

Joseph O’Brien, attorney for the SPA, said the ruling does not have any immediate impact on taxpayers since an arbitrator must rule on whether the employees were wrongfully furloughed and entitled to monetary damages.

Should the arbitrator rule in the employees’ favor, Mr. O’Brien said he believes the union would have to file a separate action against Mr. Washo to obtain any judgment because the SPA has no money. All of its assets were placed under Mr. Washo’s control after he was appointed receiver.

“If we lose the receiver and union can argue over whether the receiver is responsible for the result of the arbitration,” Mr. O’Brien said.

Contact the writer: tbesecker@timesshamrock.com

It’s a go for Pango in Scranton.

Scranton City Council voted 3-1 Thursday to adopt a resolution authorizing the city to extend its contract for four more years with Pango Mobile Parking of Baltimore, for a cellphone payment option for parking meters.

Council President Bob McGoff and Councilmen Joe Wechsler and Bill Gaughan voted to extend the Pango contract, while Councilman Jack Loscombe voted no. Councilman Pat Rogan was absent.

Mr. Loscombe said he had no qualms about Pango, but wanted council to table the resolution to give the city more time to review the Pango pact and compare it to a proposal from another firm, MobileNOW.

During a June 19 council caucus, a MobileNOW! representative said his firm charges a higher rate per transaction than Pango, but after all of Pango’s fees are taken into account, the city and/or consumers would save substantial sums of money with MobileNOW.

Mr. Loscombe read an impassioned letter explaining why he was questioning the Pango contract and city Business Administrator David Bulzoni’s recommendation that the city continue with Pango.

Mr. Loscombe also cited possible “security issues” regarding credit card access. He said there’s no urgency to adopting the resolution Thursday, as Pango would remain the provider under the terms of the existing contract with the city that is more generous to Pango than the new contract.

Mr. Loscombe made a motion to table the resolution but the motion died for lack of a second from Mr. McGoff, Mr. Gaughan or Mr. Wechsler.

An exasperated Mr. Loscombe asked how the other councilmen could not be concerned about security issues he raised. Mr. McGoff said, “I don’t believe there is one (a security issue).” Mr. Loscombe replied, “and I don’t believe there’s a Santa Claus.” Mr. McGoff said that remark was insulting to him, and Mr. Loscombe agreed and apologized.

Noting council received on May 30 Mr. Bulzoni’s recommendation to continue with Pango, Mr. Gaughan questioned Mr. Loscombe’s 11th-hour issues and said he “didn’t do his homework.”

Mr. Loscombe said he did do his homework and that’s why he raised questions.

Reached after the meeting by phone, Mr. Rogan said he also favored tabling the Pango resolution for more review to ensure the city is getting the best deal, and that he probably would have voted with Mr. Loscombe against adopting the resolution.

In another matter, council also voted 3-1, with Mr. Loscombe voting no, to advance on second reading an ordinance to adjust parking fees from $1 per space in private lots to a flat $50 fee annually, plus the 15 percent tax on private and nonprofit parking transactions.

The goal of the parking-tax amendment is to improve collection and make enforcement easier after the city’s parking tax, enacted in 2012, fell drastically short of initial expectations. The levy drew only $150,000 in its first year when city officials budgeted $500,000 in revenue, then $244,000 in 2013. Mr. Loscombe questioned a section of amendment that would exempt “educational parking” from the parking tax. Soon after the parking tax was enacted in 2012, the University of Scranton sued the city over the tax and that lawsuit remains pending in court.

In other matters, council voted 4-0, with Mr. McGoff, Mr. Wechsler, Mr. Loscombe and Mr. Gaughan all in favor on each of the following:

• To advance on second reading an ordinance to amend fines for false alarms for emergency responders. The revised ordinance would set no charge for first and second false alarms for police and fire calls. Third and fourth false fire alarms would each be $250, fifth false alarms would be $500 and all false alarms thereafter would be $1,000. Meanwhile, third and fourth Police Department false alarms would be $100 each, fifth false alarms would be $250 each and all ensuing false alarms would be $500.

• To adopt a resolution appointing Sean McAndrew as a member of the Scranton Municipal Recreation Authority to replace Colleen Gleason, who resigned June 10.

• To advance on second reading an ordinance authorizing the city to lease city property to West Scranton Little League through April 14. The West Side Falcons youth football team would enter into a third-party agreement with the Little League for use of the Lackawanna Little League field for July through November 2014.

• To introduce an ordinance authorizing three-year leases of city properties with various youth recreation leagues. These leases would end April 14, 2017.

• To introduce a resolution authorizing the city to apply for and execute a $10,000 grant from Lackawanna County for an improvement project at Fellows Park at South Main Avenue and Fellows Avenue in West Scranton. The funds would pay for purchase and installation of recreation equipment, safety surfaces and Americans with Disabilites Act accessibility. However, this introduction came with a caveat for more information. Mr. Gaughan noted the park had been upgraded a few years ago with federal funds and the new grant proposal does not specify what is needed or what would be done. The park’s former playground equipment had long been “a magnet for illegal activity” before it was finally removed, and residents are wary of having the park return to being a nuisance, he said.

• To adopt a pair of ordinances to cut city Community Development Block Grant allocations by some $1.6 million, to fix old accounting errors and balance the city’s books with the federal Housing and Urban Development agency.

• Mr. McGoff noted that next week’s council meeting was moved from Thursday to Wednesday.

The city’s financial consultant, Henry Amoroso, also will make a presentation to council Wednesday at 5 p.m. during a council caucus before the regular meeting that begins at 6:30 p.m. Mr. Amoroso is expected to discuss his final report on his suggestions and ideas for a recovery plan for the city.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Michael Francis DeSarno, Clarks Summit, and Emily Ada Johnson, Brookeville, Md.

■ Edward Gregory Piekara and Vanessa Maria Venios, both of Scranton.

■ Jan-Pierre Joubert Vanrooyen, Schorndorf, Germany, and Jessara Ruth Hargett, Spring Brook Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Kelly Durst, Carbondale, and Jennifer Kovaleski, Simpson, to Sean Burnham, Carbondale; a property at 75 Prospect Ave., Fell Twp., for $56,000.

■ Raymond E. and Linda Cebular, Richmondale, to Amanda C. Stewart, Forest City; a property at 241 Ash St., Vandling, for $65,720.

■ Anne G. Graney, South Abington Twp., to Ryan J. Fonash and Nicholas Punch, Philadelphia; a property at 22 Abington Gardens, South Abington Twp., for $88,000.

■ Prasanth Chandran and Sreeja Mohan, South Abington Twp., to Kevin R. McCormick, West Chester; a property at 1212 Audubon Drive, South Abington Twp., for $339,000.

■ Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corporation by its attorney in fact, Phelan Hallinan LLP, to Maintaining Assets Saving Homes LLC; a property at 1924 Clearview St., Scranton, for $33,000.

■ William Costanzo, Dunmore, to Linda L. Leff, Dickson City; a property at 235 Swartz St., Dunmore, for $145,000.

■ Joseph Dopyera, as administrator of the estate of Richard Joseph Dopyera, Brooklyn, N.Y., to Robert J. Jr. and Melissa Williams, Gouldsboro; a property at Packanack Drive, Clifton Twp., for $90,000.

■ Sheng and Wei Gu, Whitestone, N.Y., to Joseph L. and Deborah A. Piwowarski, Clarks Summit; a property at 48 Garfield Ave., Carbondale, for $31,000.

■ Sandra L. Nicholson, Archbald, to Barbara Kowalski, Archbald; a property at 756 Lori Drive, Archbald, for $79,900.

■ Andrea Pilch, executrix of the estate of Mark A. Broskey, Dickson City, to Joseph E. and Loreen A. Rosar, Dickson City; a property at 725 Rear Laurel St., Dickson City, for $31,000.

ESTATES FILED

■ Jeffrey M. Dunn Jr., 36 Country Club Estates, Thornhurst Twp., letters of administration to Anna M. Dunn, 1018 Suscon Road, Pittston.

■ Bernice Gaura, 518 E. Corey St., Moosic, letters testamentary to Robert Godlewski, 236 Main St., Moosic.

■ James Williams, 101 Taroli St., Old Forge, letters of administration to Zaira Williams, same address.

■ Milan S. Mazak, 916 Parkview Road, Moscow, letters testamentary to Mark C. Mazak, 412 Erie St., Scranton, and Cheryl S. Cawley, 916 Parkview Road, Moscow.

■ Michael J. Sabatella, 216 Smith St., Dunmore, letters of administration to Angela Obal, 429 Marjorie Drive, Dunmore.

■ Robert C. Snyder, 166 Terrace St., Carbondale, letters testamentary to Donna Lynady, 166 S. Church St., Carbondale, and Linda Piezga, 94 Pike St., Carbondale.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Janice Huylo, Lackawanna County, v. Robert Huylo, Lackawanna County; married April 27, 1978, in Lackawanna County; Dawn M. Riccardo, attorney.

■ Lisa Black-Lafferty, Jefferson Twp., v. David Lafferty, Swedesboro, N.J.; married Aug. 16, 1998, in Wayne County; Brenda M. Kobal, attorney.

STATE TAX LIENS

■ Richard Gregory, 466 Route 247, Greenfield Twp.; $9,117.25.

■ Carl J. and Lisa B. Tomaine, 13 Old Mill Road, Jermyn; $1,951.84.

■ Daniel S. Evarts, 1834 Price St., Scranton; $1,689.73.

■ Eugene W. and Jennifer L. Larnerd, 225 Yostville Road, Covington Twp.; $994.49.

■ Severino Y. and Alice Piczon, 330 Scott Road, South Abington Twp.; $580.45.

■ Paul Hrywnak, 14 O’Hara Road, Spring Brook Twp.; $2,935.57.

■ Thornton Graphix Inc., 209 Dunn Ave., Old Forge; $283.82.

■ Jonathan K. Frable, Rear 1368 N. Washington Ave., Scranton; $9,090.81.

■ Gregg Russo, Apt. Floor 1, 1309 Dorothy St., Scranton; $6,597.41.

■ Christopher Bereznak and Annette Skorupa, 520 S. Abington Road, Clarks Green; $3,306.05.

■ Ronald T. Hazelton, 717 S. Main Ave., Scranton; $5,060.61.

■ Nicholas J. Hopkins, 1638 Elizabeth St., Scranton; $9,807.61.

LAWSUIT

■ Delores Piersimoni, 110 Third Ave., Dickson City, v. Michael Stefonetti, 1208 Audubon Drive, South Abington Twp., seeking in excess of the Lackawanna County Arbitration Limits plus interest and costs on one count, for injuries suffered in an automobile crash on South Blakely Street, Dunmore, on July 1, 2012; Paul T. Oven, attorney.

ONLINE:

thetimes-tribune.com/courts

Detectives from the Lackawanna County district attorney’s office arrested three men in Scranton Wednesday after finding 75 grams of heroin and packaging materials in three size 10½ sneakers and a comic book container.

But Dakeem Booker, 28, told detectives they wouldn’t find any money at his 540 Palm St. home.

“I’ve been around for too long,” he said, according to a criminal complaint. “You’re not going to get my money.”

A state parole agent, Eileen Culkin, received an anonymous tip that Mr. Booker had a large amount of drugs at his Scranton home.

When she and other agents arrived around 11 a.m. Wednesday, they found Mr. Booker trying to climb out a bedroom window. Agents called in the detectives after they found a scale, three boxes of glassine bags around the home and a “brick” of heroin — 50 glassine packets — inside a sneaker in the living room.

Detectives found an Air Jordan sneaker on the kitchen floor with a plastic sandwich bag with three bricks of heroin. There were 148 packets in those bricks, stamped with either “magoo” or “new arrival.”

In a nearby bedroom, detectives found one black sneaker with 14 glassine bags of heroin. They found a plastic bag of mannite, a substance used to dilute heroin, inside a maroon sneaker. A digital scale was also on the bedroom floor. Detectives located a .22 caliber revolver with a scope on the floor of a closet. A Marvel Comics aluminum container contained a plastic bag of 75 grams of raw heroin.

A ledger of prices, sales and money owed was on the floor next to the box.

During the search, Mr. Booker first told police there were no firearms in the home and later said he thought the gun had been removed and one of his associates had picked up the heroin. Kyon Stevens and Mr. Booker’s cousin, Kasson Booker, were also arrested at the home.

Detectives charged Dakeem Booker with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a firearm, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. He is in Lackawanna County Prison in lieu of $100,000 bail.

Detectives charged Mr. Stevens, 32, Wilkes-Barre, and Kasson Booker, 23, Easton, with conspiracy — possession with intent to deliver, unlawful possession of a controlled substance and unlawful possession of drug paraphernalia. Both are in Lackawanna County Prison. Mr. Stevens’ bail was set at $75,000, while Mr. Booker’s was set at $50,000.

Contact the writer:

rbrown@timesshamrock.com, @rbrownTT on Twitter

A contest to rename a downtown Scranton theater with roots in vaudeville ended in a tie Thursday night.

“Anthracite Theater” and “The Leonard” garnered equal votes during the American Advertising Federation of Northeast Pennsylvania’s Mixer at the Moonshine. Organizers plan to break the tie on Facebook.

Charles Jefferson and his investment group, Jefferson-Werner LLC, bought the theater at 339 Adams Ave. in April. About $1 million in renovations are planned before the venue reopens. He and the AAFNEPA worked together to produce 10 potential names for the establishment; guests at Thursday’s mixer were asked to pick a favorite or make suggestions.

Thursday’s event afforded many a glimpse of the long-shuttered, 120-year-old theater. They mingled on original hardwood floors under a dark ceiling, enjoying food and refreshments donated by Montage Mountain, where Mr. Jefferson is a principal, and Susquehanna Brewery.

Property manager Jessica Kalinoski said the previous owner maintained the space well, so a lot of the planned renovations are cosmetic. Bathroom updates, some general plumbing and electrical as well as lighting and sound revamps are due for the venue, she said.

Construction will begin in the next 60 days, Ms. Kalinoski said, adding that renovations should be finished by December.

With space to fit around 1,100 people, Ms. Kalinoski said their plan is to host all types of entertainment. The company applied for a liquor license, she said, and is planning for retail space on the first floor.

Conor O’Brien, co-director of the Vintage Theater on Spruce Street in Scranton, called the venue a “phenomenal gem.”

“We’re so grateful for the people who brought it back,” he said of the former Moonshine Theater. “It’s only going to improve the performing arts community of Scranton.”

For more information on how to vote for the theater’s new name, visit www.facebook.com/aafnepa.

Contact the writer:

kbolus@timesshamrock.com,

@kbolusTT on Twitter

PITTSTON TWP. — The Bi-County Airport Board plans to choose a replacement for 25-year Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport Director Barry Centini by Nov. 1.

Ideally, that will give his successor a chance to start in December and pick Mr. Centini’s brain before he retires in January, Lackawanna County solicitor Donald Frederickson said at Thursday’s airport board meeting.

The board appointed ADK Executive Search to conduct a 90-day search for Mr. Centini’s successor for a fee not to exceed $33,000 plus $9,000 in estimated expenses. The firm specializes in airport executive searches.

Board member Robert Lawton, the Luzerne County manager, is looking for someone with the vision to expand the Pittston Twp. airport into other markets.

“Barry Centini has done a fantastic job with the facility, with attracting Allegiant and he has brought this airport to a whole new level,” said Mr. Lawton. “I … will be looking for another person who will take us competitively to the next level up and put us in a position to really challenge some of the other area airports.”

In other business:

• Citing the need for more time to gather information and review the decision, the board tabled choosing Borton-Lawson Engineering to conduct engineering and environmental work in advance of demolishing the old, 55-year-old airport terminal for up to $180,000.

The plan is to raze the facility replaced in 2006 by the Joseph M. McDade Terminal, pave the area and provide more space for commercial airline parking, Assistant Airport Director Michael Conner said.

Luzerne County Councilman Rick Williams asked the administration to try to include construction services in the contract, which will lock in a price and improve the airport’s negotiating position for the second phase of the project.

Airport officials hope to demolish the building before the end of the year, and Mr. Conner said tabling the decision could push the project into next year, although he acknowledged the delay would not affect about $1.1 million in Federal Aviation Administration grant funding.

• The airport board agreed to ask Lackawanna and Luzerne counties to initiate eminent domain proceedings to acquire an undeveloped 5.16 acres adjacent to the runway area from Paramount Land Group for an extension of the taxiway.

Planes use the taxiway to travel between the terminal and runway. The project will give airplanes a more efficient path during takeoffs and landings to improve runway traffic flow, Mr. Conner said.

Mr. Williams expressed concern the airport spent $1.15 million on L.R. Kimball’s design services before owning the land it needed for the project, and if the board cannot take control of the land, he worried the airport will have wasted the money.

Mr. Conner said airport officials have been negotiating to buy the land, but the pace has been slow. The airport has been on a tight time line to finish the project before grant money expires, he said.

• The airport board approved agreements with Minnesota-based Smarte Carte for massage chairs at the airport for a flat fee of $115 then $120 in the second and third years; Desman Associates to survey, test and evaluate the parking garage’s maintenance needs for $25,071; La Plume Twp.-based Prime Media to erect a billboard with two lighted, 14-foot by 48-foot sign faces that will display an airport sign and advertising; and True Aviation to continue to lease office space at the aviation center for $17.92 per square foot, a 5 percent increase.

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