State launches safety programs

HARRISBURG - The state Department of Transportation has launched two voluntary safety programs designed to provide first responders with victims' emergency contact or medical information during a crash or emergency.

Participants in the Yellow Dot program affix a yellow sticker to their car's rear window to alert first responders that emergency contact, medical contact and medical information is in the glove compartment. Those with driver's licenses or PennDOT-issued IDs can also participate in the Emergency Contact Information program, a secure database that lists two emergency contacts accessible only to law enforcement officials.

Information is available at www.yellowdot.pa.gov or www.dmv.state.pa.us.

Scranton's proposed 2013 budget does not contain the six parking meter enforcement/collection positions of former Scranton Parking Authority employees who for the past two months have been working out of City Hall.

The absence of those positions in the budget does not necessarily mean the jobs are being eliminated because the intent is to have these employees "absorbed" by the outside firm that now runs the city's parking garages, city officials said.

The city is negotiating to have its parking meter program run by Standard Parking, which recently merged with Central Parking System, the firm that was hired in September by a court-appointed receiver to operate the city's parking garages, Mayor Chris Doherty said.

Under the plan, the city would lease its city-owned, on-street meters to Standard to have one entity with acumen in operating parking facilities control both the garages and meters, to better coordinate pricing and maximize revenues of both, he said.

The idea is to have Standard essentially take the place of the Scranton Parking Authority, which used to operate the parking meter program until it was stripped earlier this year of most of its functions, funds and powers by a series of actions by city council.

The council forced an SPA default in June as a means to having SPA taken over by a receiver and reduce the amount the city would have to pay each year to cover SPA debt that the city has guaranteed, council members have said.

"The city is not going to be funding the parking authority any longer," council President Janet Evans said. "So, if Central Parking were to assume the management of the on-street parking program, the intention is to increase the revenue the city receives" from the meters.

With SPA rendered toothless, it furloughed employees in September, although the six parking meter employees remained in their jobs under a transfer to City Hall. The city, which owns the on-street parking meters, needed the workers to perform their meter-related functions and agreed to honor their contracts, and because those positions were already funded by parking meter revenue.

Now, however, under the new plan, these six workers would be shifted again, this time to Standard, city officials said. The budget states, "The City will be entering into a contract with Standard Parking to have them provide meter collections for the City of Scranton."

The budget does not go further into details, but city Business Administrator Ryan McGowan said, "The city is in negotiations with Standard Parking to take over the meter program. The employees would be absorbed (by Standard) by the first of the year."

However, until that occurs - and with their contracts again honored - the fate of those six meter employees remains unclear to them, said Craig Pawlik, secretary/treasurer of Teamsters Local 229 that represents these workers.

"We've been told nothing officially of that move. We have heard in the wind that those six would be absorbed by Central Parking," Mr. Pawlik said. "The SPA contract (with the employees), as far as we're concerned, is still in force. If the city dumps them off to Central Parking, our position would be same as when the city got them: 'You have to negotiate with us.'"

Efforts to reach representatives of Standard/Central Parking were unsuccessful.

Mr. Pawlik said he believes that Central Parking has hired union workers in some larger cities.

But the situation for the union is more complicated because it also is still fighting for the jobs of six other former SPA employees, parking garage maintenance workers, who also were furloughed by SPA but not picked up by Central.

The union has filed grievances against SPA over those six maintenance jobs alleging the furloughs violate the employees' contracts and seeking back wages/benefits and restoration of the jobs. Contract language states the pact is binding on "successors, administrators, executors, and assigns."

An arbitrator recently was appointed to hear that grievance but it could take nine months until a hearing is held, SPA solicitor Joseph O'Brien told the SPA board during its meeting Wednesday. However, even if the maintenance workers win reinstatement with back pay, the stripped-down SPA does have any work or money for them, Mr. O'Brien said.

Mr. Pawlik said he believes Central Parking has filled those six maintenance jobs with nonunion workers who earn around $10.50 an hour, possibly without benefits. The top rate for those SPA employees was $15.25 an hour, with benefits, he said.

"They're not going to get out of this with dropping those six (maintenance) people," Mr. Pawlik said. "If you take the six (meter employees), then you take the other six whose jobs you filled already. Our position is that the six people that Central Parking hired, they've got to go. Those jobs are rightfully ours."

Contact the writer: jlockwood@timesshamrock.com

Magazine plans open house

HONESDALE - Highlights for Children will hold its 21st annual Holiday Open House on Saturday, Dec. 1, from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the editorial offices, 803 Church St., Honesdale.

The free event will feature an art show, craft room, treats, storytelling, puppetry, sing-alongs and activities for families. Children can choose a surprise gift from under the Christmas tree.

For more information, contact Christine French Cully at 253-1080.

The names of a dozen Democrats have surfaced in recent months as potential candidates for governor in 2014. The list includes:

- U.S. Sen. Bob Casey. Fresh off a re-election campaign, Mr. Casey has not ruled out a run, but has repeatedly said he is happy as a senator. If he runs, almost everyone else won't, and he would spell trouble for any opponent.

- State Treasurer Rob McCord. Also newly re-elected, many Democrats think he is likeliest to run and favorite to win a primary election, if Mr. Casey doesn't run and there is a contested Democratic primary. Mr. McCord hasn't said publicly and sloughed off suggestions of a governor bid as he visited newspaper editorial boards during his recent re-election campaign, but he is telling political types he will run.

- Former U.S. Rep. Joe Sestak. Mr. Sestak of suburban Philadelphia always says he's interested in serving the public again, but lets everyone else do the talking about running for governor without saying anything himself. He lost a tight U.S. Senate race to Pat Toomey in 2010, but the time for another statewide race might be right.

- State Attorney General-elect Kathleen Granahan Kane. She always says she has no ambitions for higher office. Considering she was just elected, it's probably way too early to think about anything but the job ahead of her, though she was the top vote-getter statewide on Election Day. Her use of Mr. Corbett's handling of the Jerry Sandusky sex abuse case did highlight a potential major issue against the governor.

- Former Gov. Ed Rendell. He says the state constitution forbids him from running again, and he's not interested anyway. Others say the restriction only prevents serving more than two consecutive terms. No matter what, his job-creation record will contrast with Mr. Corbett's if the economic slump persists.

- Montgomery County Commissioner Josh Shapiro. A former state representative, he is in his first year as commissioner. He won't comment or rule it out, but he's unlikely to run. A run someday is not out of the question.

- Former state Department of Environmental Protection Secretary John Hanger. Mr. Hanger has all but said he's running. He is planning a reception during Pennsylvania Society festivities Friday in New York City.

- Businessman Tom Knox. A former Philadelphia deputy mayor when Mr. Rendell was mayor, Mr. Knox spent more than $10 million of his own money on an unsuccessful bid for mayor in 2007, ran briefly for governor in 2010, but dropped out early on. In an interview this week, Mr. Knox, who said back then he dropped out because his family was against his running, added another reason: polls he commissioned showed no Democrat could beat Mr. Corbett. He's thinking differently this time. He's definitely running, he said.

- Businessman Tom Wolf of York County. A former revenue secretary when Mr. Rendell was governor, he backed off a run in 2010, but might be ready this time.

- Former gubernatorial candidate Dan Onorato. He lost badly to Mr. Corbett in 2010. Now an executive at Highmark Inc., it is highly doubtful he would run against Mr. Corbett again.

- U.S. Rep. Allyson Schwartz. Often mentioned as a statewide candidate, the suburban Philadelphia congresswoman has never showed a serious interest.

- Allentown Mayor Ed Pawlowski. Says he's flattered to be mentioned as a potential candidate, but says he's concentrating on winning a third term as mayor next year. Of course, he also highlighted credentials and issues he will deal with as mayor - service on a national transportation panel, pension reform and financially distressed cities - that would interest a governor. Keep an eye on him if others don't step up.

BOCCAGNO, MAJ. JOSEPH, Muhlenberg Twp., calling hours, today, 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., John P. Feeney Funeral Home. Services, 1. Interment, Tuesday, 2 p.m., Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery Annville. Donations: VVA Chapter 131, P.O. Box 13735, Reading, PA 19612-3735. Arrangements: John P. Feeney Funeral Home, 625 N. Fourth St., Reading, PA 19601.

CAMPBELL, MARK ALLAN, Wyoming, Sunday, 6 p.m., Metcalfe-Shaver-Kopcza Funeral Home Inc., 504 Wyoming Ave., Wyoming, by the brothers of Masonic Lodge 395 and the Rev. W. Charles Naugle. Calling hours Sunday, 1 to 6. Donations: Ponseti International Foundation, c/o University of Iowa, www.uifoundation.org/ways/memorial.

CENCETTI, ARMAND JOHN JR., Old Forge, today, 10:30 a.m., Thomas P. Kearney Funeral Home Inc., 517 N. Main St., Old Forge. Mass, 11, St. Mary of the Assumption Church, Old Forge, by the Rev. Louis T. Kaminski, pastor. Interment, Holy Cross Cemetery, Old Forge.

CERRA, BERNARD F., Carbondale, today, Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home, 74 N. Main St., Carbondale. Mass, 9 a.m., St. Rose of Lima Church, Carbondale. Entombment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill. Donations: St. Ann's Monastery, Scranton.

CERRA, FRANCIS A., Scranton, private. Arrangements: Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1240 St. Ann's St., Scranton.

CUSICK, MARGARET MARY McDONOUGH, Nativity Section of Scranton, Mass, today, 10 a.m., Nativity of Our Lord Church, by the Rev. Michael Bryant, pastor. Arrangements: Eugene A. Cusick Funeral Home, 217 Jefferson Ave., Scranton. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow.

DANIELS, GLADYS D., Spring Brook Twp., private, Brian Arthur Strauch Funeral Homes & Cremation Services, 3 First St., Spring Brook Twp. Donations: North Pocono Public Library, 113 Van Brunt St., Moscow, PA 18444-9254; or to St. Mary's Villa Campus, Attn: Lisa Zamber, 516 St. Mary's Villa Road, Elmhurst Twp., PA 18444.

DUKERICH, SEAN RONALD, St. Petersburg, Fla., today, 11 a.m., Waymart Calvary Methodist Church. Contributions: Chris Little Fund to benefit the Open Door Cafe, c/o United Methodist Women, P.O. Box J, Waymart, PA 18472.

DUNLEAVY, EDWARD J., Scranton, today, noon, Church of St. Joseph, 312 Davis St., by the Rev. Francis Pauselli, pastor. Interment, St. Joseph Cemetery. Calling hours today, 11 a.m. to noon, church. Arrangements: Eagen-Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 2908 Birney Ave., Scranton.

ESGRO, MARY L., Greenfield Twp., today, 2 p.m., Kingdom Hall of Jehovah's Witnesses, 484 Hickory Ridge Road; Greenfield Twp. Donations: Kingdom Hall. Arrangements: Battenberg Funeral Home, Jermyn.

FERRI, MARGARET THOMAS, R.N., Old Forge, today, 8:45 a.m., Victor M. Ferri Funeral Home, 522 Fallon St., Old Forge. Mass, 9:30, St. Mary of the Assumption Church, West Grace and Lawrence streets, Old Forge, by the Rev. Joseph F. Cipriano, pastor emeritus, the Rev. Louis T. Kaminski, pastor, and the Rev. Paul McDonnell, O.S.J. Interment, Spring Brook Cemetery.

FIELDS, ANITA, Tripp Park, today, Solfanelli-Fiorillo Funeral Home Inc., 1030 N. Main Ave. Mass, 9:30 a.m., Immaculate Heart of Mary Chapel, 1605 Oram St. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Contributions: donor's favorite charity.

GIACOBBE, STEPHEN P., Vandling, today, 9:15 a.m., Carmine J. & Louis C. Parise Funeral Home & Cremation Services Inc., Farview and 41st streets, Carbondale. Mass, 10, St. Mary's Church, Waymart, by the Rev. Joseph Sitko, pastor. Interment, St. Catherine's Cemetery, Moscow.

GOLDEN, DONALD JOSEPH, Ed.D., Moscow, Sunday, 6 p.m., Brian Arthur Strauch Funeral Home, 3 First St., Spring Brook Twp., by the Rev. Errol Morgan, of Parker Hill Community Church. Interment, private. Calling hours, 3 to service. Donations: donor's choice.

HEVERLY, LILLIAN M., Lake Ariel, today, noon, Lake Wallenpaupack Estates Clubhouse, 104 Clubhouse Dr., Greentown, PA 18426. Calling hours today, 11 a.m. to noon, clubhouse. Cremation, Lake Region Crematory, Lake Ariel. Arrangements: James Wilson Funeral Home, Lake Ariel. Contributions: Centenary United Methodist Church, 632 Hamlin Highway, Hamlin, PA 18427.

JOHNSON, RICHARD C. "PAPPY," today, 3 p.m., Harding-Litwin Funeral Home, 123 W. Tioga St., Tunkhannock, by the Rev. Lori Robinson of the Factoryville United Methodist Church. Calling hours, today, 1 to 3. Interment, Sunnyside Cemetery, Tunkhannock. Contributions: Triton Hose Company, 116 West Tioga Street, Tunkhannock, PA 18657.

KASA, JOHN I., Dupont, today, 9:30 a.m., Lokuta-Zawacki Funeral Home, 200 Wyoming Ave., Dupont. Mass, 10, Sacred Heart Church, 215 Lackawanna Ave., Dupont. Interment, parish cemetery, Dupont.

KLIM, MATILDA "TILLIE," Madison Twp., today, 9:15 a.m., Brian Arthur Strauch Funeral Homes and Cremation Services, 3 First St., Spring Brook Twp. Mass, 10, St. Catherine of Siena Church, Church Street, Moscow, by the Rev. Robert Simon, pastor. Interment, St. Michael's Cemetery, Dunmore. Contributions: North Pocono Senior Community Center, Route 435, Covington Twp., PA 18424.

LaZAR, HELEN, formerly of Scranton, today, noon, Washburn Street Cemetery by the Rev. Glenn R. White Jr., pastor, Clarks Green Assembly of God Church. Contributions: Missions Department, c/o Clarks Green Assembly of God Church, 204 South Abington Road, Clarks Green, PA 18411. Arrangements: Davies and Jones Funeral Chapel, 135 S. Main Ave., Scranton.

LEGG, BETTY S., R.N., Friday, First United Methodist Church, Old Forge, by the Rev. Susan Hardman-Zimmerman, pastor. Pallbearers: Anthony Sanko, Robert Martz, Philip Fulmer and Joseph Thompson, sons-in-law; Gary Kriger, friend; and Michael Dreisdadt, brother-in-law. Interment, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst.

LEPRI, GLORIA ROSSI, Eynon, today, 8:30 a.m., Arthur A. Albini Funeral Home, 1003 Church St., Jessup. Mass, 9:30, St. Thomas Aquinas Church, Church Street, Archbald. Interment, St. John's Cemetery, Jessup. Donations: St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18509; or St. Joseph's Center, 2010 Adams Ave., Scranton, PA 18509.

MALETICH, ELIZABETH "BETTY" CERRA, Carbondale, today, Lawrence A. Gabriel Funeral Home, 2 Hospital St., Carbondale. Mass, 11 a.m., Our Lady of Mount Carmel Church, Carbondale. Interment, Our Mother of Sorrows Cemetery, Finch Hill.

McGOWAN, THOMAS, Stanhope, N.J., formerly of Scranton, today, noon, Nicholas Chomko Funeral Home, 1132 Prospect Ave., Scranton. Interment with military honors by the Dickson City Veterans Honor Guard, Fairview Memorial Park, Elmhurst. Calling hours today, 10 a.m. to service. Memorials: VFW or American Legion post of choice.

NUDELMAN, SAM, Scranton, Friday, Carlucci-Golden-DeSantis Funeral Home Inc., Dunmore, by Rabbi Dovid Saks. Interment, Dalton Jewish Cemetery. Shiva, Webster Towers, 500 N. Webster Ave., Apt. 406, today, 7 to 9 p.m., and Sunday through Tuesday, 2 to 4 and 7 to 9 p.m. Contributions: Jewish Family Service, 615 Jefferson Ave., Scranton, PA 18510; Beth Shalom Congregation, 1025 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510; the Jewish Home of Eastern Pa., 1101 Vine St., Scranton, PA 18510; or donor's favorite charity.

OSTROWSKY, KEVIN, York, formerly of Tunkhannock, Mass, Tuesday, 10 a.m., Church of Nativity BVM, Tunkhannock. Go directly to the church. Interment, St. Bonaventure's Cemetery. Calling hours Monday, 6 to 8 p.m., Sheldon-Kukuchka Funeral Home Inc., 73 W. Tioga St. Tunkhannock.

PETRONE, ANTHONY JR., South Abington Twp., Mass, today, 1:30 p.m., Our Lady of the Snows Church, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, by the Rev. Jeffrey Tudgay. Calling hours today, 11 a.m. to 1, Jennings-Calvey Funeral and Cremation Service Inc., 111 Colburn Ave., Clarks Summit, and the gathering room of the church following Mass. Additional services, D'Andrea Bros. Funeral Home, 99 Oak St., Copiague, NY 11726, committal service and interment, St. Charles Cemetery, Farmingdale, N.Y. Contributions: Our Lady of the Snows Parish, 301 S. State St., Clarks Summit, PA 18411; or Make-A-Wish Foundation, 1327 Pittston Ave., Scranton, PA 18505.

RAZNY, FRANK R. SR., Newfoundland, Monday, 1 p.m., Arthur J. Frey Funeral Home, 201 LaAnna Road, South Sterling, by the Rev. Gregg Schafer. Interment, Pine Grove Cemetery, South Sterling. Calling hours Sunday, 2 to 4 p.m. Remembrances: Moravian Church, P.O. Box 221, Newfoundland, PA 18445.

RICKARD, ARLENE, R.N., Scranton, Monday, Mass, 10 a.m., St. Ann's Basilica, Scranton. Go directly to the Church. Entombment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton. Calling hours Sunday, 4 to 8 p.m., Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1240 St. Ann's St., Scranton. Contributions: American Heart Association, P.O. Box 3085, Scranton, PA 18505; or the Alzheimer's Association, 63 N. Franklin St., Wilkes-Barre, PA 18702.

SACCO, MARIA, Scranton, today, Solfanelli-Fiorillo Funeral Home Inc., 1030 N. Main Ave. Mass, 11 a.m., Holy Rosary Church, 316 William St. Interment, Cathedral Cemetery, Scranton.

SMITH, MARK D., North Scranton, cremation, Sunlight Crematory, Hanover Twp. Calling hours, today, 2 to 5 p.m., Edward J. Chomko Funeral Home, 254-268 Railroad Ave., West Scranton, services, 5, by Pastor Terry Drost, Peckville Assembly of God Church. Interment, Cascade Valley Cemetery, Windsor, N.Y.

SNYDER, LYDIA M. LIPPERINI, Cranford, N.J., Mass, Monday, 9:30 a.m., St. Michael's Church, Cranford. Interment, Fort Indiantown Gap National Cemetery, Annville.

VIDMOSKO, DAVID DOUGLAS, Scranton, today, 9:30 a.m., Thomas J. Hughes Funeral Home Inc., 1240 St. Ann's St., Scranton, by the Rev. Arthur Davis, pastor, Asbury United Methodist Church. Interment, St. Michael's Cemetery, Dunmore.

WENDOLOWSKI, ALFONS "AL" JOHN, Dickson City and Wrighter Lake, today, 9:30 a.m., Frank T. Mazur Funeral Home, 610 Dundaff St., Dickson City. Mass, 10, St. Mary's Visitation Church, Dundaff St., Dickson City.

WENTLAND, JACOB J. JR., Roaring Brook, private. Arrangements: Sznyter Funeral Home and Maple Hill Crematory. Donations: donor's favorite charity.

Michael Manzano stepped onto the stage Friday night and channeled his best impression of an old school, Cuban philosophy professor.

Surrounded by an intimate, captivated audience of about 150 people inside the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel, the Dunmore native took the room back to pre-revolution Cuba as he'd heard the story many times from a family friend. He told the story through the voice of Eduardo Capestany, a retired professor who taught at the University of Scranton.

Many decades ago, Mr. Capestany saved a young man in Cuba who injured his head after wrecking his bicycle, taking the man to the hospital. Little did the future philosophy professor know he'd helped a man named Fidel Castro.

"And to this day, my sister still tells me I'm responsible for the Cuban revolution," Mr. Manzano said, speaking in a thick Cuban accent.

One of 10 storytellers picked to speak at the third Scranton Story­Slam, Mr. Manzano's take won over judges and earned him first place in the storytelling competition. With a theme of "Game Changers: An evening of life-altering moments," the speakers had to tell a true story and do their best to keep it close to five minutes.

Other speakers shared intimate memories, with Pat McNichols' realization that he'd become his dad and Laurie McMillen sharing the wisdom of embracing her green Dodge minivan.

For Jim Warner, one of the event's judges and a fellow storyteller, a good story balances humor, sincerity and finding a way to reach the audience.

"It's about making a connection," he said. "The best storytellers can make it a conversation between them and the audience."

After a night hearing stories, Cynthia Ropoch said she planned to attend the event again.

"It's nice to hear people's stories," she said. "Most of them make you stop and think."

Contact the writer: rward@timesshamrock.com, @rwardTT on Twitter

DALTON - The low height at which most of the ornaments hang on Dalton's Christmas tree speaks to the most enthusiastic of the annual tradition's patrons - the children.

"The parents get a big kick when their kids hang their homemade ornaments at the bottom of the tree," said Gail Rees, president of the Dalton Business and Professional Association, the group responsible for the annual holiday ceremony. "It is pretty well decorated."

Nearly 100 people crowded the grass next to the Dalton Fire Company headquarters on Friday to hang ornaments, listen to Christmas music played by the Lackawanna Trail High School band and receive candy from Santa.

Dalton Mayor James Gray said the ceremony has been a tradition for decades, but time has neither diminished the ceremony nor taken it beyond its hometown roots.

"What I call it is something out of Norman Rockwell," Mr. Gray said. "It's a small town. When the place is lit up, it gives you a hometown feeling."

Dalton resident Kathy Dooley, 60, said she has been bringing her children, now in their 30s, since the ceremony's inception. The night has long since cemented itself as a family tradition with a lot of memories.

"It's a great community gathering," she said. "It's great for a small town to do this."

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

Lackawanna and Luzerne counties both have made a top 10 list - for counties with the most citations related to texting while driving.

Drivers in Luzerne County are tied for ninth and Lackawanna County came in 10th out of the state's 67 counties when it comes to being cited for texting and driving, according to an analysis by AAA Mid-Atlantic released Friday.

Police have issued 17 citations in Luzerne County and 15 in Lackawanna County for texting behind the wheel since the state's no-texting-while-driving law took effect six months ago, the data show.

The number is far below Philadelphia County, with 156, and the four suburban counties outside Philadelphia, but is the highest of all Northeast Pennsylvania counties.

The numbers are also broken down by metro area.

Not surprisingly, the state's largest metro areas had the highest number of citations. The Philadelphia metro area, including Bucks, Chester, Delaware, Montgomery and Philadelphia counties, was first in the state with 355 citations out of a population of 4,030,926.

The Scranton-Wilkes-Barre metro area, including Luzerne, Lackawanna and Wyoming counties, was tied for fourth with 34 citations out of a population of 563,223.

Four drivers were cited in Monroe County; two were cited in Wyoming County; and one driver was cited in each of Pike, Susquehanna and Wayne counties in the first six months, according to data from the Administrative Office of Pennsylvania Courts provided by AAA.

The new law, which took effect March 8, carries a minimum fine of $50.

AAA had been behind a national campaign to pass texting bans in all 50 states.

"We think education is really the key to keeping our roads safer," said Jenny M. Robinson, manager of public and government affairs for AAA Mid-Atlantic. "The goal is to change behavior and get people to stop texting behind the wheel, not just wait until they do it and then see them get a ticket."

KATIE SULLIVAN, staff writer, contributed to this story.

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

Here's a look at texting citations by county:

1. Philadelphia: 156

2. Montgomery: 75

3. Allegheny: 58

4. Delaware: 52

5. Bucks: 42

6. York: 35

7. Chester: 30

8. Lehigh: 19

9. Luzerne: 17

9. Dauphin: 17

9. Lancaster: 17

10. Lackawanna: 15

HARRISBURG - Pennsylvania's state-owned forests have received a seal of approval for the past 13 years for the way they are managed, but there is continuing debate over the declining size of the deer herd.

The Legislative Budget and Finance Committee has just done a cost-benefit study of whether the forests' certification as being sustainable from an environmental, economic and public-use standpoint by the Forest Stewardship Council has an impact on deer hunting. The council is made up of foresters, environmentalists and others and logging businesses.

Maintaining certification of the state forests, which involves annual reviews and periodic audits, has surfaced as an issue in the debate over leasing tracts of land for natural gas drilling, but that isn't examined in this report, said committee director Philip Durgin. The lawmakers requesting the report wanted to put the focus on the hunting issue, he said.

The issue has surfaced because one of the conditions to obtaining certification from the council is improving the biodiversity of the forests. Overbrowsing of brush by a large deer herd is viewed in this context as harming biodiversity.

To that end, the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources and the Pennsylvania Game Commission have run a deer management program since 2003 to reduce the impact of browsing on state forest land. The program provides for issuing hunting permits for use in specially designated areas.

Meanwhile, the size of the deer herd statewide has declined from 1.5 million in 2000 to 1.2 million in 2010 and the sale of hunting licenses is down over the same period, according to the game commission. Participation in the certification program increases public confidence that the forests are being managed properly, said DCNR officials.

"To speculate that FSC Certification has resulted in decreased hunting opportunities or losses in economic activity is unfounded," said DCNR Secretary Richard Allan. "Rather, DCNR would argue that hunting opportunities on State Forest lands have increased."

The finance committee study concludes that many factors are involved in the decline of the deer herd and it's overly simplistic to link that to the forest deer management program.

Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com

A routine traffic stop ended with a wanted woman being arrested when police surrounded her at Home Depot in Dickson City.

Borough Police Chief William Bilinski said one of his officers pulled over a vehicle for a traffic violation just after 12:30 p.m. Friday in front of the Royal Buffet, 821 Commerce Blvd., when the officer heard squealing tires and a vehicle crashing up the road.

The officer drove toward Pier 1 Imports, where he saw a man and woman fleeing the scene of a two-car crash toward Home Depot, 800 Commerce Blvd.

Police surrounded the store and cornered Samantha Martinez and Robert Wyche, both of Scranton, in the outdoor garden section, Chief Bilinski said. When the two ran back into the store, they were arrested.

Ms. Martinez was wanted on an active warrant out of Lackawanna County, Chief Bilinski said, but he didn't specify what she was wanted for.

She also was driving a vehicle involved in the two-car crash, which injured an older man, Chief Bilinski said. The victim was taken to Mid-Valley Hospital to be evaluated after complaining of rib pain.

The other driver's name and condition were unavailable Friday night.

Ms. Martinez and Mr. Wyche were each charged with accident to an attended vehicle causing injury and failure to render aid, Chief Bilinski said. Bail and preliminary hearing information were not available Friday.

Contact the writer: ksullivan@timesshamrock.com, @ksullivanTT on Twitter

CLARKS SUMMIT - Once Indra Lahiri started taking care of 50 animals, she knew she would need some help soon.

An animal lover, Ms. Lahiri began taking in the animals that could not be supported by shelters where she volunteered. Once it became too much to do by herself, she founded the Mehoopany-based Indraloka Animal Sanctuary, a nonprofit farm staffed by volunteers, in 2005.

She's received a lot of support over the years from the community, and on Saturday, she wanted to give back. At the Be Life Cafe, 639 Northern Blvd., she and the cafe owners held a benefit and celebration for the animal sanctuary.

"Tonight is one of our opportunities to say thank you," Ms. Lahiri said.

Dozens came for a chance to win either a gift basket or cash prize in a raffle drawing, eat four courses of raw and vegan cuisine and listen to live music.

"This is such a great place," Ms. Lahiri said. " We're excited to do this."

Jason Carlyle, co-owner of the Be Life Cafe, said that he is happy his business can support a good cause.

"We encourage people to do things that are good for the environment," Mr. Carlyle said. "We've made some great relationships with the sanctuary."

Ms. Lahiri said that the food was an important aspect of the night, as it was locally sourced and supported the environment, issues that she considers important.

Rebekah Carlyle, co-owner of the cafe and Mr. Carlyle's wife, said she is also happy to stand by the sanctuary.

"You can see peace in the animals' eyes," Mrs. Carlyle said. "They have a place in the world."

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

1. Why did some Sheetz stores, including ones in South Abington Twp. and Dunmore, run out of gas?

A. Demand soared when gas prices temporarily sank below $3 a gallon.

B. Refineries in New Jersey shut down because of Superstorm Sandy, limiting the supply to Pennsylvania.

C. Rumors of rationing increased demand for gasoline.

D. The company redirected gasoline supplies to areas hard hit by Sandy, including New Jersey and New York.

2. Taylor officials approved a committee to build ...

A. a memorial honoring Italian-American veterans.

B. the world's largest ice cream cone.

C. a splash park for children.

D. a shelter for abandoned and abused garden gnomes.

3. Why will South Abington Park be closed for most of the summer?

A. A major sewer line project will be under way.

B. The township lost federal and state funding to maintain the park.

C. Parents were upset about the competitiveness of summer sports played there.

D. A resident has rented the park for private use.

4. The Scranton School District issued letters of reprimand to five teachers and recommended firing of another after ...

A. uncovering misdeeds during a bake sale.

B. discovering a website that criticizes district administrators and principals.

C. schools failed to meet state standards for language arts and math skills.

D. an investigation into suspected cheating on standardized tests.

5. How did Scranton police ultimately capture a man they say fled from them?

A. Police dogs located him hiding in some bushes.

B. The man fell into a pool.

C. A GPS tracker on his electronic monitoring bracelet led police to him in a garage.

D. His girlfriend handcuffed him to the couch.

6. Which Scranton employees will get raises in 2013?

A. Administration solicitor Paul Kelly and council solicitor Boyd Hughes

B. Business administrator Ryan McGowan, finance manager Mary Lou Murray and human services director Gina McAndrew

C. All city council members

D. Both A and B

7. Dunmore police are using smartphones, iPads and computers to ...

A. monitor social networking sites for crime tips.

B. submit arrest paperwork and fill out accident reports.

C. monitor surveillance cameras placed near businesses throughout the borough.

D. fill time between calls.

8. To raise money for the American Red Cross, West Scranton High School students walked ...

A. from Pittston to Scranton.

B. to Nay Aug Park.

C. to Memorial Stadium.

D. from their school to Scranton High School.

9. On Friday, residents and officials gathered at Nay Aug Park to celebrate ...

A. the West Scranton High School students' fundraiser for the American Red Cross.

B. raises for city employees.

C. the holiday light show.

D. the reopened Nay Aug Zoo.

10. How did a detective find out about a vendor who failed to deliver a prepaid training seminar for juvenile probation officials?

A. Better Business Bureau forwarded a complaint.

B. Commissioners saw the item in budget documents.

C. The vendor turned himself in.

D. A tip to the hotline for fraud, waste and abuse of taxpayer dollars. Answers: 1. B; 2. C; 3. A; 4. D; 5. B; 6. D; 7. C; 8. A; 9. C; 10. D

WASHINGTON - You may have seen headlines recently about the Federal Housing Administration needing a taxpayer "bailout" by the Treasury and wondered: uh-oh. Is the FHA heading down the fiscal drain like Fannie Mae and Freddie Mac, which have required billions in federal assistance just to stay in business?

The good-news answer for FHA's traditional borrowers - who are primarily moderate-income, first-time purchasers, people with limited cash for down payments and less-than-perfect credit histories - is no. There is a strong possibility that FHA will not require any money transfer from the Treasury, which in any event would not occur until September. Meanwhile, FHA is making tweaks to its program rules that could affect some loan applicants in the months ahead, and which are designed to improve revenue flows to the agency and cut back on losses.

Among the most immediate changes, new borrowers early next year are likely to be charged slightly higher annual mortgage insurance premiums - 1.35 percent of the loan balance rather than 1.25 percent now. On loans above $625,500 in high-cost areas such as California and metropolitan Washington, D.C., the annual premium will go from 1.5 percent to 1.6 percent. This will not be a major problem for most people, but it could cause some buyers to check out FHA's competitors - private mortgage insurers whose monthly premiums on loans for applicants with high credit scores may be more attractive than FHA's.

To increase revenue streams long term, FHA is also abandoning its practice of allowing borrowers to cancel their annual mortgage insurance premium payments when their loan balance drops to 78 percent of the property value. In effect, this will mean that borrowers obtaining 30-year FHA loans could be paying premiums for decades.

Is this a big deal? Clem Ziroli Jr., president of First Mortgage Corp. in Ontario, Calif., thinks it could encourage some higher-credit quality borrowers to "refi out" of their FHA loans and seek better deals in the conventional marketplace. But Paul E. Skeens, president of Colonial Mortgage Group in Waldorf, Md., sees it differently: With fixed 30-year mortgage rates in the mid- to upper-3 percent range and virtually certain to increase, "Everybody is going to want to keep these loans forever," he predicts.

Other changes on the FHA horizon:

- More financial counseling for applicants who have low FICO credit scores, are purchasing their first homes and are seeking to make minimum 3.5 percent down payments.

- A new short-sale program that reaches out to existing FHA homeowners who are seriously delinquent and heading toward foreclosure.

- Structural alterations to FHA's reverse mortgage program, which allows senior homeowners to withdraw funds based on the equity in their properties.

Contact the writer: kenharney@earthlink.net

Two injured when vehicle overturns

LENOX TWP. - Two New Jersey men were injured after losing control of their car on Interstate 81 south on Saturday at 2:33 p.m.

Laurence Chi, 40, of Franklinville, and Isaiah Resto, 18, of Clayton, were taken to Geisinger Community Medical Center in Scranton for treatment of minor injuries. Mr. Chi lost control of his 1996 Ford Explorer and overturned on the grass median near mile marker 206 on I-81, state police at Gibson said. Officials at GCMC said Mr. Chi was treated and released. The hospital had no information on Mr. Resto.

Both were wearing their seat belts at the time. The investigation is ongoing, state police said.

In the opinion of Mr. E.S. Jones, the time had come when a hospital was necessary. On Feb. 4, 1908, he and several citizens of the Midvalley boroughs of Archbald, Winton, Olyphant, Blakely, Dickson City and Throop met to consider how they might go about building one.

Each of the boroughs' histories goes back to pioneer times, but by 1908, the Midvalley was a thriving industrial center. Between Scranton's northern city line and the line that divides Archbald from Jermyn, various coal companies employed more than 20,000 miners. Businessmen, laborers and professionals of every type had settled in these communities, and they and their families needed modern medical care.

The hospital movement was started by William H. Davis, the Rev. P.J. Murphy and Dr. Van Sickle. The group that met in February 1908 formed the Mid-Valley Hospital Association by appointing a committee of five from each borough and electing Mr. Jones as chairman. The committee would go about the task of planning a modern hospital and raising the funds to build it. The boroughs' citizens were invited to future planning meetings.

The site they chose, a lot in Blakely's 3rd Ward, sat in the geographical center of the Midvalley. The lot cost $2,000. The amount of money required to complete the building would be $48,538. The rules planned for governing this hospital would be the same as the rules governing other charity hospitals in the state, and the hospital association asked the state for $52,548. The state Legislature appropriated $30,000 to the hospital, but Gov. Edwin Stuart vetoed the bill. With no state funding, the hospital association had to raise all the funds required to build.

The response they got suggests that residents very much wanted a hospital. Most of the fraternal organizations in the Midvalley held various entertainment functions to raise money for the hospital, a cause in which they took a deep interest. On May 6, 1909, the hospital association sent a request to all pastors in the area for help from their congregations in raising the necessary funds. Through the year 1908, coal miners and other members of the public contributed approximately $12,000. Everyone who contributed became a member of the hospital association.

The contract for the building was awarded to Mathias Stipp of Scranton, who pledged to use only union labor in the construction of the facility. Scores of clergymen from up and down the valley, hundreds of professional and businessmen, several managers and superintendents of coal companies, thousands of miners and members of many fraternal societies were invited to the cornerstone laying ceremony on Memorial Day 1909.

The hospital opened Aug. 1, 1912, with 44 rooms and with Miss Anna McLaughlin as its superintendent. Rates that year were $16 to $25 per week for private rooms. Semi-private rooms cost $14 per week. Patients in the public ward paid $1 per day. On May 28, 1926, the Jones Memorial Wing opened at a cost of $15,000, donated by Edward S. Jones as a memorial to his mother. The new wing expanded the hospital's capacity. In 1958, when the Mid-Valley Hospital Association marked its 50th anniversary, the institution had 68 beds as well as 14 bassinets for babies. Private rooms cost $11.50 to $14 per day, and ward patients paid $8.50 per day.

Statistics provided at the time of the 50th anniversary show that, from its opening until Jan. 1, 1958, Mid-Valley Hospital had cared for 72,758 patients. Births recorded from the opening of the Jones wing to Aug. 1, 1958, totaled 10,147. In keeping with its status as a charity hospital, 34 percent of all patients treated at the hospital from its opening until 1958 received free care.

Today, Mid-Valley Hospital, operating in the Peckville section of Blakely, is an affiliate of Commonwealth Health and a critical-care hospital with 25 beds.

CHERYL A. KASHUBA is a freelance writer specializing in local history. Visit her at scrantonhistory.com. Contact the writer: local history@timesshamrock.com

Marley auction 'tremendous'

Marley's Mission board of directors announced that last weekend's Backyard Ale House Hope Chest Auction was a "tremendous success" for the organization.

"We are definitely hoping to build on the event for next year," said Gene Talerico, president. "Our auction co-chairs Kara Seitzinger and Donna Nasser and all of our volunteers did an outstanding job."

More than 100 people attended the event where six wooden hope chests, all hand-painted and finished by local artists, were auctioned. Five of the hope chests were provided with assistance from Woods & Co. of Clarks Summit. The sixth hope chest was handcrafted, painted and sponsored by Al and Linda Day of Equinunk.

The artists who donated their talent and time, and their respective hope chest sponsors, included Trinka Ravaioli, sponsored by 2013 Blue Ribbon Gala chairwomen Gretchen Wintermantel and Kathleen Bolling Bell, and Zoe, Charlotte and Lilly Haggerty; Rachael Boles, sponsored by the Seitzinger family and the Talerico family; Karina Singer, sponsored by Woods & Co.; Kathy Barrett, sponsored by Kathy and JMJ Designs; and Bridget Feeney, sponsored by Backyard Ale House.

Ken Rivenburg of Rivenburgs Auction in Factoryville got the crowd rolling with a live auction of the six hope chests.

An array of hors d'ouevres donated by Mendicino's Restaurant in Moscow, Russell's Restaurant in Dunmore, and Constantino's Catering in Dunmore, were served.

The Blue Ribbon Gala, the organization's major fundraiser, is set for Feb. 16, at the Scranton Hilton and Conference Center, 100 Adams Ave., Scranton, from 6 to 11 p.m.

For details, visit www.marleysmission.com/blue-ribbon-gala-2013.

Super students

Kelly Judge, a middle school education major from Scranton, was among the University of Scranton students who have been recognized as AmeriCorps Scholars in Service to Pennsylvania for the 2012-13 academic year. The award honors students who have committed to complete 300 or 450 hours of individual service in the community during the academic year. ... Jonathan Connelly of Dingman's Ferry and Timothy Granata of Lake Ariel have been awarded the Wayne/Pike Penn State (alumni) Chapter scholarships; Andrew Salva of Mayfield, received the Penn State Worthington Scranton Alumni Society scholarship. ... Zack D. Beltran of Scranton was a homecoming host at Bucknell University. A senior majoring in sociology, Zack is the son of Sherri E. Beltran of Scranton and a 2009 graduate of Dunmore High School. He has served as president of the Institute for Leadership in Technology and Management; concert committee chairman and Building on Foundations coordinator; a Career Development Center peer; an intern with Major Campus Engagements; and activities and campus events traditions chairman.

High notes

Beth Colarossi has been installed as president for the Sant' Andrea Society's 70th annual charity ball. Kathy Mihok is vice president; Noelle Lynett, secretary; and Ann D'Arienzo, treasurer. The Friday, April 19, event at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple will have a 70s theme.

Allied Services Integrated Health System

Michael J. Raymond, Ph.D., director, clinical/forensic neuropsychology and clinical director, Brain Injury and Sports Concussion Program of Allied Services Integrated Health System, recently co-presented a workshop titled "The American Board of Professional Neuropsychology Preparation for Application, Work Sample Submission and Examination" at the National Academy of Neuropsychology annual meeting. Dr. Raymond is a board certified neuropsychologist.

Building Industry Association of NEPA

Ken Kale, owner of Full Phaze Construction, has been named chairman of the 2013 Home Expo.

FNB Wealth Management

Lisa O'Dell has been hired as senior vice president and director of retirement services. In this newly established role, Ms. O'Dell will manage the client service team that supports all retirement business for FNB Wealth Management across the company's presence in Pennsylvania, Ohio and West Virginia. She is a graduate of Indiana University in Indiana, graduating with a Bachelor of Science in general management.

Gentex Corp.

John Pullo, vice president and board President of Carbondale Technology Transfer Center, has been selected by state Department of Community and Economic Development Secretary C. Allen Walker to serve with 19 other business executives from Pennsylvania on the International Business Advisory Board.

Kid's Peace

John G. Lees, L.S.W., has joined the organization as the executive director of the KidsPeace Psychiatric Hospital on the Orchard Hills Campus in Orefield. He received his Bachelor of Arts in liberal studies from Westfield State College and his Master of Social Work from the University of Pennsylvania. He is married and has two young sons and lives in Hanover Twp.

King's College

David Kyle Johnson, Ph.D., associate professor of philosophy, was among five winners of the American Philosophical Association Op-Ed Contest for the best op-eds published by philosophers in 2011. According to the judges, Dr. Johnson's op-ed, "Watson in Philosophical Jeopardy," illustrated the value of philosophical thinking.

Noreen O'Connor, Ph.D., assistant professor of English, won the 2012 Edith Wharton Essay Contest. The essay was published in the spring 2012 issue of "The Edith Wharton Review." Ms. O'Connor also wrote a chapter titled "From Alienation to Community: Sylvia Townsend Warner's Utopian Modernism," for the book "Communal Modernisms: Teaching Literature and Culture in the Twenty-first-Century Classroom" that will be published this winter by Palgrave Press in London.

Mill Market

Susan Carroll joins the market as assistant manager. Located in the Hawley Silk Mill, Ms. Carroll owns the Garden at Safford Farm in Lake Ariel, where she propagates heirloom herbs, annual and perennial flowers, vegetables and cut flowers. Ms. Carroll earned her Bachelor of Arts in art history from Penn State University, studying abroad for a semester at the American College in Paris.

Mystic Power Yoga

The studio in West Hazleton held a graduation ceremony to honor the first official Mystic Power Yoga 200 Hour Certified Yoga Instructors. The graduates include Maureen Brown, Sharon Cox, Teresa Hutchison and Jennifer Sloot. The studio became a 200 Hour Yoga Alliance-approved yoga school earlier this year.

Northwestern Mutual

Kevin R. Palmiter, financial representative, is being honored with membership into the 2012 Forum group, which recognizes an outstanding year of helping people achieve financial security. The top 5 percent of the company's more than 6,000 financial representatives receive this honor. Mr. Palmiter is affiliated with the Guinan Network Office in Moosic.

Northeastern Pennsylvania Industrial Resource Center Inc.

Donald Olszewski, director of quality systems and industry certifications, hosted a presentation regarding the importance of manufacturing and innovation to students in Wilkes University's entrepreneurial banking class. Mr. Olszewski's presentation covered such topics as the impact of manufacturing on the state's economy, current best practices in manufacturing innovation and various best practices within the manufacturing industry.

Executive Director Eric Joseph Esoda was recently appointed to several key committees of the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce board of directors including the chamber's grand opening committee, the training and education programs committee, the awards committee, and was also appointed to the board engagement committee, and will serve on a committee that will further expand the chamber's successful Skills in Scranton initiative.

New staff members include Daniel Yelito, a government services specialist, who will provide guidance, planning and assistance to local governments. He will administer the local technical assistance program and the local asset inventory program with the five rural planning organization counties. Mr. Yelito lives in Schuylkill County and has a degree from Mansfield University in geography and regional planning.

Paul Macknosky, serving as a business finance specialist, will be assisting with marketing and loan processing of NEPA's 10 different business finance programs. Mr. Macknosky lives in Lackawanna County and his background is in finance, marketing and government. He received his bachelor's degree from Penn State.

Penn Foster

CEO Frank Britt participated in the Pennsylvania Governor's Advisory Commission on Higher Education. The commission put out findings that are based on a seven-month initiative involving the senior leadership of major state related educational institutions Mr. Britt was selected by Gov. Tom Corbett for the commission and represented the rapidly growing distance-based business, trade and technical schools sectors across the state.

Penn State Wilkes-Barre

The 2012-13 campus advisory board members include Thomas Kelly, Chancellor Charles H. Davis, Richard Struthers, Brent Berger, Rebecca S. Bartuska, Connie P. Rado, Mark Fanelli, Jane Adonizio, David M. Payne, Frank Nocito, Robert W. Reynolds, Mark J. Sobeck, Carmen Ambrosino, Christopher L. Borton, Katharine Lewis, Geraldine Nesbitt, Jill Schwartz, Anna Cervenak, Michael J. Hudacek Jr., James Reino, Jonathan U. Dougherty and Thomas Blaskiewicz.

Pennsylvania American Water

Trina Wolford, a Wilkes-Barre-area employee, has been recognized with the company's "Extra Mile Award," which is a monthly recognition program that rewards outstanding employees who demonstrate a high level of customer service. Ms. Wolford was nominated by procurement analyst Peg Whitman for her efforts in training colleagues on new software processes and providing support across the region. Ms. Wolford, a resident of Rebersburg, is an operations process support supervisor for the company's eastern Pennsylvania operations team and has been with Pennsylvania American Water since 1988.

Pennsylvania Bar

Attorney Wallace Rejrat of Scranton took his oath and became a member of the Pennsylvania bar in a ceremony organized for graduates of Widener Law. Mr. Rejrat graduated in May from Widener's campus in Harrisburg.

Pocono Mountains Real Estate Inc.

Kim Wells, Realtor, joined members of her church group from Pocono Community Church in Tobyhanna to help the Corner Point Church in Long Island, N.Y., community after the devastation from Superstorm Sandy. A bus, two vans, and almost 80 members of the Pocono Community Church in partnership with Convoy of Hope spent a day helping the Corner Point Church and homes in the Bellmore section of Long Island strip their basements, remove debris and fill Dumpsters with storm debris.

Powell Law

Attorney James F. Mundy was recently honored by the Pennsylvania Association for Justice with its Distinguished Service Award for his leadership in helping to shape state auto insurance law and preserve the rights of injured motorists.

Prudential Financial Inc.

Clyde Rosencrance was named manager, financial services, of the company's Northeast and Central Pennsylvania Financial Group. Mr. Rosencrance is responsible for recruitment, selection, development, retention and supervision of financial services associates who participate in a career development program. Mr. Rosencrance is a resident of Dalton. He is a graduate of University of Scranton with a Bachelor of Science in marketing and a Master of Business Administration.

Realty Network Group

Ann Cappellini, owner and CEO of Ann E. Cappellini Real Estate in Eynon, is now the president and managing broker of Realty Network Group. As the incoming president, Ms. Cappellini brings with her three agents who will join the 20 agents of the company. Ms. Cappellini will also be installed as president of the Greater Scranton Board of Realtors for the 2013-14 term. Ms. Cappellini is a licensed Pennsylvania real estate broker and a certified residential appraiser and an accredited buyers' representative.

Viewmont Imaging

Mary Pat Connor has joined the mammography department.

Brenda Gannon-Swartz has successfully achieved her certification from the International Society for Clinical Densitometry, a professional certification in the field of bone densitometry. The CBDT credential signifies that Ms. Gannon-Swartz has met established industry standards and best practices in the United States.

Wayne Memorial Hospital

Salvador Guerrero, D.O., F.A.C.S., board-certified general surgeon/board-eligible vascular surgeon, has joined the medical staff. Dr. Guerrero received his medical degree from the New York College of Osteopathic Medicine in Old Westbury, N.Y., and performed his residency in general surgery at Wyckoff Heights Medical Center in Brooklyn, N.Y. He completed a vascular surgical fellowship at the Deborah Heart and Lung Center in Brown Mills, N.J. In addition to general and vascular surgical coverage, Dr. Guerrero will see patients in the Regional Wound Care Center and the Hyperbaric Center. He lives in Milford with his wife, Claudia, and their two children.

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

Lowe's Cos. surges after profit jump

A dramatic jump in profit helped push shares of Lowe's Cos. up 9.9 percent to a Friday close of $35.15 per share.

The bounce came as the home improvement retailer's plan of everyday low pricing bore fruit in the third quarter.

The company reported earnings jumped 76 percent to $396 million, beating Wall Street expectations. On Monday alone, shares soared 6 percent and came close to a five-year high mark.

Company executives downplayed the impact of Superstorm Sandy or an improved housing market on the results, crediting the low pricing strategy and a new mix of merchandise.

The company is in the midst of transforming its product assortment. Over the past year, the company has cut jobs, curbed store expansion and streamlined its supply chain.

Lowe's, based in Mooresville, N.C., operates stores in Wilkes-Barre Twp., Scranton and Hazleton and has a distribution center outside Pittston.

The company's shares are traded under the symbol LOW.

With fiscal 2011 sales of $50.2 billion, Lowe's serves some 15 million customers a week at more than 1,745 home improvement stores in the U.S., Canada and Mexico.

Fires set by arsonists in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metropolitan area over the past five years burned through more than $38.4 million worth of property.

The brunt of the damage happened in Lackawanna County, where the combined $26.7 million price tag on its 325 arsons in that period account for 69.5 percent of the metro area's total cost of arson damage, an analysis of state police crime statistics by The Sunday Times revealed.

- Over the past five years, the arson rate per 100,000 residents in Lackawanna County has consistently surpassed the rate in counties in metropolitan areas nationally - twice more than doubling that rate.

- Despite those figures, the crime is actually becoming less prevalent in both Lackawanna County and the metro area.

- Though the crime offers little by way of consistency or predictability, what may come closest to a constant in arson statistics is the number of cases closed by arrest, a rate that shows local investigators outperforming national averages.

And while the worst damage arson does to the lives it touches cannot be quantified, the homes, cars and other belongings it leaves charred in its wake can be translated into a number which, year after year, remains large despite a downward trend in the metro area since 2007.

"The thing with fire that is different from other crimes is that it's completely physically destructive," said attorney Maryann J. Grippo, a former Lackawanna County deputy district attorney who for several years specialized in arson prosecution.

"As horrifying as it is for your house to be burglarized, the walls are still up when it's over," she said. "If your house is set on fire, very often that's it."

Local prevalence

In the past five years, the metro area has averaged roughly 153 arsons each year - 36.5 percent of which were residential fires.

Lackawanna County averaged about 65 arsons per year in that time - about 80 percent of which were residential.

In Scranton, about 20 fires were intentionally set in each of the past five years - about 35 percent of which were residential fires.

But the more telling number is Lackawanna County's rate of arson per 100,000 residents compared with the rate among counties across the country.

For each of the past five years, the county has maintained a significantly higher rate of arsons than the national average, according to statistics compiled by the state police and FBI.

Though the trend did not begin in 2007, it reached its pinnacle that year, one of several reasons it stands out as the worst year for arson in Lackawanna County out of the past five.

The 89 arsons reported in the county that year made for a rate of 41.5 arsons per 100,000 residents - a number that more than doubled the rate among metropolitan counties nationally.

Part of the blame can be laid on the two men who could arguably be described as Lackawanna County's only serial arsonists in the past five years: Ben Christensen and Stephen Giacobbe.

Though investigators charged Mr. Giacobbe, who died last week, with only one arson from that year, a garage in Vandling, authorities blamed Mr. Christensen for four of the county's arsons in 2007 once his seven-fire run ended the following year.

Both Mr. Giacobbe and Mr. Christensen continued their work in 2008 - each man set three fires for which they were later arrested - though the county's overall incidence of arson dipped slightly.

Still, however, the 76 arsons that year set the county's arson rate per 100,000 residents more than 75 percent higher than the rate among metropolitan counties nationally.

Arson investigators got the fewest number of calls - 44 - in 2009 than they did in any of the past 10 years, which amounted to an arson rate per 100,000 residents only 18.5 percent greater than the rate in metropolitan counties across the country.

But by the next year the dip proved an aberration, as the county's rate climbed to 76 percent higher than the national rate among metropolitan counties in 2010 and again more than doubled that rate in 2011.

Rates falling

Though comparisons to national rates would seem to paint Lackawanna County as a place unusually afflicted by arson, the crime has actually become less prevalent in both the county and the metro area.

The number of arsons in the metro area increased in only two of the past five years - 2008 and 2010.

In 2008, the 174 arsons reported in the metro area topped the previous year's total by two.

In 2010, the 156 cases made for a 13 percent increase over the 138 cases in 2009.

Despite those two years, by the end of 2011 the crime's incidence had dropped 47 percent from its 10-year high of 238 reported arsons in 2005.

The crime has been slightly more persistent in Lackawanna County, where the number of arsons has increased in each of the past two years.

Still, the 59 arsons reported in 2011 amounted to only about 66 percent of the 10-year high of 89 arsons in 2007.

Within the city of Scranton, the number of arsons fell in each of the past five years with the exception of 2010, when the 26 arsons doubled the previous year's tally.

Clearance rates

Where incidence rates and tallies tend to defy predictions or year-to-year patterns, what is somewhat more consistent in arson statistics is the number of cases closed by arrest - or, the clearance rate.

Over the past five years, investigators in the Scranton/Wilkes-Barre metro have made arrests in just over 25 percent of all cases.

The most successful year came in 2011 with a clearance rate of over 28 percent.

In their worst year of the past five, 2008, arson investigators in the metro area still made arrests in 20.1 percent of all cases.

And while those numbers might seem low, they are actually higher than the national averages.

The metro area's arson clearance rate has been consistently higher than the national rate, which bounced between 18 and 19.9 percent over the past five years, according to FBI statistics.

In Lackawanna County alone, clearance rates over the past five years have been lower than the metro area's on average - 21.4 percent versus 25.57 percent.

But still the county's investigators on average outperformed the national clearance rate of 18.96 percent in that time, though in 2008 and 2009 the county's rates fell below the national rate in those years by 3.6 and 0.52 percent respectively.

Why?

The reason so few arson investigations end in arrest is simple: "lack of evidence," said Scranton police Fire Marshal Marty Monahan.

"And it's nobody's fault. Maybe it's in a desolate area. Maybe it's at 3 o'clock in the morning and all the witnesses are awakened by sirens," he said.

There is an advantage to investigating arsons in more urban areas, where the proximity of neighbors can allow for the fire being noticed and reported more quickly.

When William Woods set the fire at 166-168 S. Hyde Park Ave. that would claim the lives of two of his ex-girlfriend's young sons in 2009, for example, the crowded West Scranton neighborhood helped investigators place Mr. Woods at the scene of the crime.

One neighbor woke to the sound of glass breaking and saw Mr. Woods outside the home. Another neighbor told investigators she had a conversation with Mr. Woods just moments before the fire. He had said he was on the way to the home of his ex-girlfriend, Tyaisha Leary, to apologize.

But in more rural areas, a fire could be "blowing out the windows" before anyone in the area notices it, which limits the possibility of valuable witness accounts, Detective Sgt. Monahan said.

Though that is not to say that arsons that occur in more densely populated areas are assured to result in an arrest.

A massive fire in the Weston Field section of Scranton, one of the city's most crowded neighborhoods, was ruled arson the day after it began in a vacant home in the 600 block of Langstaff Place in March and jumped to two adjacent homes as city firefighters battled the blaze.

Over nine months later, investigators have yet to file charges against the person responsible for the fire that displaced 19 people.

Price

There may be few constants when it comes to arson data, but one of them is certainly the cost the fires incur in property damage.

In the past five years alone, $38.4 million worth of property burned in intentionally set fires. The lion's share of that property - $26.7 million worth of it - burned in Lackawanna County.

And a good chunk of that figure can be attributed to Mr. Christensen, a repeat if not serial firesetter who not only racked up a large number of fires but who by and large made it a habit to set them in large businesses, among them Jonal's Lawn and Garden Center in Greenfield Twp., Maiolatesi Winery and the six other businesses at Mermelstein's Marketplace in Carbondale Twp., Fortuner's Moving and Storage in Mayfield, Highway Auto Parts in Archbald and Fiorelli's Plaza in Blakely.

The fact that all of the fires for which Mr. Christensen was later charged occurred over a 14-month span across 2007 and 2008 goes toward explaining the disproportionately large dollar amount in property damage in those years - $11.4 million and $11.6 million, respectively, in Lackawanna County.

The number dropped precipitously in 2009, when only $1.6 million in property damage was reported in Lackawanna County, and continued its fall to $743,151 in 2011.

Contact the writer: domalley@timesshamrock.com, @domalleytt on Twitter

Grade-school children should be taught that trades such as plumbers and electricians are respectable occupations that provide a good living, rather than the notion that a four-year college education is necessary.

That was the consensus opinion of those who participated in a legislative roundtable discussion held by the Manufacturers and Employers Association last month at Top of the 80s in Sugarloaf Twp.

State Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Tamaqua, said a series of hearings by the House Policy Committee all over the state are showing there is a lack of people trained in the trades because they've been conditioned to go to college.

"We told our kids you have to go to college if you want to be successful," Mr. Knowles said. "As a result, we don't have plumbers and electricians. There's nothing wrong with being an electrician. We've got kids graduating from college, who go away, find out they love this area, and have degrees where they can't get jobs here."

Mr. Knowles said kids becoming teachers is a good example.

"We pump out 15,000 school teachers every year," Mr. Knowles said. "There are jobs for about 25 percent of them, which means they (the other 75 percent) have to go into another area of working or leave the area."

State Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, Pottsville, said he learned of a specific case at the hearing the Policy Committee held in Jim Thorpe.

"The hearing in (the district of state Rep. Doyle Heffley, R-122, Lower Towamensing Twp.) was an eye-opener for me," Mr. Tobash said. "Unemployment in Carbon County is 9.9 percent. Kovatch fire equipment said their problem was they can't get a skilled, drug-free workforce. The vo-tech just spent $20 million improving their facility, and can't get students in their program. We have a quality employer who's looking for skilled workers, and an educational facility that can train those people, and we can't make those things meet up. We have a dynamic in this commonwealth, and in this country, where the stigma for being unemployed is better than the stigma of having a high-paying, blue-collar occupation."

Jack Hallick, human resources manager for Michael Foods, Klingerstown, Schuylkill County, a Minnesota-based food processing firm that distributes egg products, refrigerated grocery and potato products, said changing the stigma has to start with young kids.

"If we don't get to the kid at a young age, in grade school, we're still going to be talking about this 10, 20 years from now," Mr. Hallick said.

State Rep. Tarah Toohil, R-116, Butler Twp., said the education formula we have, starting in kindergarten, has to change.

"We look at manufacturing jobs like they're these dirty jobs. We don't want our kids to have these jobs," Ms. Toohil said. This is a stigma parents push on their children. You can make $100,000 a year for being a mechanic. We need to start making these resources available here to our children, and exposing them to these things so they can pick (the trades)."

State Rep. Eddie Day Pashinski, D-121, Wilkes-Barre, said needing trades-trained people doesn't mean abandoning four-year degrees altogether, but suggested vocational education programs be brought back into the high schools.

"The vo-tech systems were changed because it was felt that it would be more economical to have one vo-tech, because not that many kids were involved in that technical training in school, because the demand then was for a four-year degree because there were more jobs available," Mr. Pashinski said. "That demand has begun to switch. Therefore, we have to educate earlier so the kids know being a plumber is a very honorable profession, and you can become a very successful person."

Darlene Robbins, MAEA president, said the Your Employability Skills (YES) program, which MAEA administers, teachers high school seniors the soft skills - reporting for work on time and dressing properly - are taught, along with "career education with tours, and they have to pass a drug test."

Some 320 employers participate in the program in Northeastern Pennsylvania

"The whole foundation of the YES program is to make sure our kids in our local schools are aware of the opportunities that are available," said state Sen. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua. "Maybe their parents or guidance counselors don't get it, but we have to make sure the students do."

Ms .Toohil said students should also be made aware of career possibilities in the state's two biggest industries.

"The thing that was most eye-opening to me from Rep. Heffley's jobs hearing was that the number one and two industries in Pennsylvania are agriculture, and tourism, two things that are right beneath our feet, and we don't expose our children to them at all," Ms. Toohil said.

"They could have a lifetime career here. We're trying to support our farmers, Pennsylvania foods. These are things we could work so much harder on. If we work in a partnership - the Legislature, education and manufacturing - I think we will have great success."

Contact the writer: jdino@standardspeaker.com