HARRISBURG, Pa. (AP) — For the first time in six years, the top elected and appointed officials in Pennsylvania state government won't be getting automatic pay raises.

A 1995 law authorizes annual raises for hundreds of office-holders, including judges, legislators and executive branch officials, to offset increases in the cost of living. But the federal government's Consumer Price Index for the region that includes Pennsylvania declined this year, so there won't be any raises.

Dan Egan, spokesman for the governor's Office of Administration, says this is the first time since 2009 that the index did not go up.

Last year, top state officials qualified for a 1.6 percent increase, which translated into raises of more than $3,000 for some of the highest-ranking people.

SCRANTON — A Scranton woman ejected from a sun roof after a Monday night crash on Interstate 81 South in the city was in fair condition Tuesday at Geisinger Community Medical Center, hospital spokeswoman Noelle Snyder said.

Melanie Marie Lasky, 36, and William Joseph Speck, 33, also of Scranton, did not wear seat belts when the 2006 Mercedes-Benz C-Class Mr. Speck drove lost control near Exit 182B, Davis Street, and crashed into the interstate’s right shoulder at 10:45 p.m., state police at Dunmore said. The crash remains under investigation.

Mr. Speck was treated and released from GCMC, Ms. Snyder said.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

The state Superior Court upheld Neil Pal’s first-degree murder conviction and life sentence on Tuesday for the July 2013 shooting death of Frank Bonacci.

Last year, a jury found Mr. Pal, 25, aided convicted murderer Jason Dominick, who was accused of shooting Mr. Bonacci, 24, after an all night party at Mr. Pal’s Scranton home.

A three-judge panel in a 20-page decision rejected a series of appellate points raised by Mr. Pal’s attorney, William Costopoulos, which included assertions that Lackawanna County Judge Terrence Nealon, the trial judge, abused his discretion in not granting Mr. Pal’s request to move the trial outside of the county.

“We were confident that Judge Nealon authored a very strong opinion which was supported by the facts at trial and the law,” First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico said.

Attempts to reach Mr. Costopoulos were unsuccessful.

Mr. Pal sought to overturn his conviction and life sentence on charges of first-degree murder as an accomplice and conspirator. Police arrested Mr. Pal along with Mr. Dominick, 25, in August 2013, several days after authorities discovered Mr. Bonacci shot in the back of the head in his Jeep at the bottom of a ravine off Ridge Row in Scranton. In May 2014, a jury convicted Mr. Dominick of third-degree murder and conspiracy and Judge Nealon imposed a 40- to 80-year prison sentence. The Superior Court has not yet issued a decision on Mr. Dominick’s appeal.

Senior Judge William H. Platt wrote in a memorandum that Judge Nealon was within his discretion not to move the trial to another county. The Superior Court also concluded that Judge Nealon did not err when allowing general and individual questioning of potential jurors. The state also had sufficient evidence to support that Mr. Pal helped Mr. Dominick kill Mr. Bonacci with the intent of promoting or facilitating the

murder.

Finally, the panel concluded that allowing evidence showing Mr. Pal had a .38-caliber handgun and wadcutter bullets were admissible because it showed Mr. Pal had the opportunity to provide Mr. Dominick with the gun and bullets used in the

murder.

Mr. Pal remains in the State Correctional Institution at Greene while Mr. Dominick is in the State Correctional Institution at Fayette.

Contact the writer:

jkohut@timesshamrock.com;

@jkohutTT on Twitter

SCRANTON — City police are searching for a Carbondale man after a car theft reported earlier this week.

Paul Cosgrove, 33, 36 Dart Ave., Carbondale, is accused of stealing a car belonging to Scott Shea on Sunday. Mr. Shea contacted police and told them that he and Mr. Cosgrove went to Wilkes-Barre to pick up the car, a silver 2003 Hyundai Tiburon, and take it back to Mr. Shea’s home on Dorothy Street. Mr. Cosgrove drove the Hyundai back to Scranton and Mr. Shea followed in another vehicle.

But Mr. Shea told officers when they arrived at the 900 block of North Main Avenue, where they would turn to go onto Dorothy Street, Mr. Cosgrove turned onto the McDade Expressway, according to court documents. Mr. Shea reported that he called Mr. Cosgrove several times to return the vehicle and he refused.

The vehicle has a Pennsylvania license plate with registration number JYB5497 and a white sticker of Jesus Christ on the left side of the rear window.

— CLAYTON OVER

SCRANTON — A second location for the RD Blow Drybar will open in downtown Scranton next month.

The RD Blow Drybar will open at 324 Penn Ave. on Dec. 4 to coordinate with the city’s First Friday activity, according to a spokesman. The location has been vacant for several years, but had previously been the Penguin Lounge.

The building has been redeveloped by a partnership that includes developer Art Russo.

RD Blow Drybar, which provides hair blowouts, has another location in Clarks Summit.

— STAFF REPORT

A large swath of Lacka-wanna County employees will get 7.16 percent in raises over three years but also contribute $10 to $20 more toward monthly health insurance premiums.

Lackawanna County commissioners on Wednesday approved the compensation in a new contract with the union representing 245 varied workers, including 911 dispatchers, clerical workers and employees in parks and recreation, maintenance and information technology departments.

The collective bargaining agreement with Service Employees International Union, AFL-CIO, Local 668, runs from Jan. 1, 2013, through Dec. 31, 2016.

It provides raises of 2 percent for 2014 — retroactive to Jan. 1, 2014; 2.5 percent for 2015 — retroactive to Jan. 1, 2015; and another 2.5 percent for 2016.

Starting salaries for members range from $20,046 for secretaries and $21,772 for clerks at the low end to $42,828 for accountants and $44,965 for project leaders at the high end.

The deal also increases the health care premium contributions for members from $50 per month for individual coverage and $100 per month for dependent coverage to, starting in January, $60 per month for individual coverage and $120 per month for dependent coverage.

By 2017, those health insurance premium contributions will be standard across at least six of seven county unions.

Speaking at a meeting where commissioners also gave final approval for the 2016 budget introduced earlier this month, Commissioner Jim Wansacz described the deal is “something that will keep us on track for our fiduciary responsibility to 214,000 residents.”

“This was something that we negotiated for probably well over a year now,” Mr. Wansacz said. “It’s something I think is a fair contract for all of those involved, and it’s a good contract. There was give and take on both sides.”

Michelle Williard, the business agent representing the Lackawanna County SEIU, could not be reached Wednesday. The union already ratified the contract, county Chief Financial Officer Thomas Durkin said.

Earlier this month, commissioners approved $2-per-hour raise for employees at the Lackawanna County 911 emergency services center starting Jan. 1, and Mr. Loughney said those raises are in addition to the salary bumps in the collective bargaining agreement. Mr. Wansacz previously described dispatchers as underpaid and noted high turnover in the department.

The county still needs to negotiate an addendum to the agreement with SEIU that will impact 31 employees in the Area Agency on Aging, said Brian Loughney, deputy director of human services.

If that deal happens in the near future, the only open contract among the county’s seven unions will be with the new union representing public defenders that seeks its first contract.

Contact the writer:

kwind@timesshamrock.com,

@kwindTT on Twitter

A student called a fired teacher on trial for bruising another student’s chin “one of the best science teachers I ever had.”

That teen, Brett Tigue, and seven more students in class the day of the injury testified that the incident on April 8 was playful and both victim and teacher were smiling or laughing during it.

All eight were called to the stand Wednesday by lawyers defending William Henry Yelland, 32, of Dalton. The former eighth-grade teacher at Abington Heights Middle School is fighting misdemeanor charges of simple assault and endangering the welfare of children. He was suspended and later fired.

Following glowing testimony about his character by family members and students’ parents, the weeping teacher took the stand. Mr. Yelland said he merely put his hand on the shoulder of the boy, who pulled it down as the man tried to pull away.

The 14-year-old victim, Trey Koehler, testified Monday that the teacher put him in a choke hold.

State law indicates an offender must “knowingly” injure someone to be convicted of simple assault or child endangerment. Mr. Yelland’s defense attorneys have contended he had a rowdy but friendly relationship with some of his students and didn’t intend to hurt the victim.

All eight students who testified Wednesday backed the defense’s stance, though some admitted to not seeing the entire event.

Several students also stated the victim bragged about causing repercussions for Mr. Yelland. Trey denied those accusations Monday.

One student testified Wednesday that the victim was mocking the teacher the day after the incident by showing other teens in school his mug shot. Deputy District Attorney Mariclare Hayes refuted the time frame, eliciting from Mr. Yelland that he was not arrested and photographed until a month after the incident.

Prosecutors played a recording of a voice mail the defendant left for the victim. In it, he apologizes repeatedly and states he is “absolutely mortified.” County Detective Chris Kolcharno testified that message was a major piece of evidence in the case.

The defense has accused the investigation of bias toward their client, noting the victim’s mother, Margaret Koehler, is a board member of the Children's Advocacy Center and a long-time friend of District Attorney Andrew Jarbola.

Attorneys will make closing arguments today and the jury will begin to deliberate.

Contact the writer:

pcameron@timesshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter

To fight blight, Scranton plans to require banks that own foreclosed vacant homes to register them with the city and pay a $200 fee per property.

City council is scheduled to vote tonight on adopting a resolution authorizing a three-year contract to hire Community Champions of Melbourne, Florida, as the city’s property management company for a foreclosure registration program.

The firm would create and maintain a registry to ensure that vacant foreclosed homes mostly owned by large out-of-area banks don’t become eyesores and bring down their neighborhoods, council members said.

The city currently has about 350 such bank-owned foreclosures, Councilman Pat Rogan said.

“Oftentimes they’re a nusiance because the bank is not there to maintain the properties,” Mr. Rogan said. The new rules would require a contact to be designated, “so if a window gets broken, or if the grass is high or the snow needs to be shoveled, they have somebody that they could contact to get out and do those repairs.”

After learning of the firm from state Rep. Marty Flynn, D-113, Scranton, council in May heard representatives of Community Champions explain the program. This month, the Courtright administration submitted to council legislation to hire the firm. Council on Nov. 12 voted 4-0 — with Mr. Rogan, Wayne Evans, Bill Gaughan and Joe Wechsler all in favor, and Bob McGoff absent — to introduce the resolution authorizing the city to execute the contract with the firm.

After a home is foreclosed upon, it may take many months before a bank is ready to market the property and that’s when blight issues often arise, Mr. Evans said.

The firm’s fee would be $100 per registration. It’s anticipated that the firm and city would split a $200 registration fee that would be set by the ordinance.

With 350 properties subject to registration and the city receiving $100 per home, the program would generate $35,000 for the city, Mr. Rogan said. He and Mr. Evans also are exploring using registration revenue as grants for purchasers of foreclosed homes to “make the money come around full circle.”

“The banks are paying to register the properties. They give the contact information so we can keep control of the blight,” Mr. Rogan said. “And then in the end, (we) give that money back to people who want to invest in the city of Scranton.”

Mr. Evans called the registry program “another tool in the tool belt to go after blight, (and) taking it one step further” by creating grants.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Mr. Gaughan said he has heard numerous complaints about blight from foreclosed vacant homes. “The grass is too high, there’s snow on sidewalks that’s never shoveled, the bank owns the property, nobody cleans it up. I think this program is going to take care of that,” Mr. Gaughan said.

The city sought requests from firms for a registration program and Community Champions was the only one

to submit a proposal last month.

In an unrelated matter, council also at tonight’s meeting will vote on whether to adopt a resolution for the city to hire Highland Associates Ltd. of Clarks Summit to conduct a fire department facilities condition assessment.

Such a review is a step in the administration’s plan to borrow $1.5 million next year to repair and renovate the city’s numerous fire facilities.

The city would pay Highland Associates $19,800 to complete the assessment during the first quarter of 2016. This firm submitted the lowest of seven proposals that the city received last month. City Business Administrator David Bulzoni recommended that Highland be chosen based upon its fee, interdisciplinary experience both locally and elsewhere, and references.

Contact the writer:

jlockwood@timesshamrock.com, @jlockwoodTT on Twitter

Hearing tonight on city budget

SCRANTON — City council will hold a public hearing tonight at 5:30 at City Hall on Mayor Bill Courtright’s proposed $132.2 million budget for 2016 that would raise property taxes 5.7 percent.

Afterward, during council’s regular 6:30 p.m. meeting, the budget appropriation ordinance is scheduled for a vote on advancement on second reading.

A third vote on adoption likely would be held Dec. 3, as there won’t be any council meeting on Nov. 26 because of the Thanksgiving holiday.

The city published in Monday’s editions of The Times-Tribune a public notice of the hearing on the appropriation ordinance underlying the budget and a summary of 2016 revenue categories, such as real estate taxes, wage taxes and trash-collection fees, to name a few.

On Wednesday, the city also published in the same newspaper a separate public notice of today’s 5:30 p.m. hearing on the appropriation ordinance.

In an unrelated matter, council also will hold tonight at 5:15, a public hearing on an ordinance to establish permit parking on the northern side of the 800 block of East Gibson Street, from 811 to 819 East Gibson St. Residents there requested the permit parking.

Officials focus on safe driving efforts

SCRANTON — State police, the state Department of Transportation and others are launching campaigns to promote safe driving.

During “Operation Safe Holiday,” law enforcement agencies statewide will focus on nighttime seat-belt use and impaired driving. And a free Android and Apple app developed by the U.S. Department of Transportation and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration, called SaferRide, will help people arrange a taxi or contact a friend to get a safe ride home after drinking.

The operation begins with statewide Click It or Ticket seat-belt enforcement that runs from Monday to Nov. 30. Law enforcement agencies also will conduct sobriety checkpoints and roving patrols on Thanksgiving Eve and from Nov. 28 through the New Year’s holiday to crack down on drivers impaired by drugs or alcohol.

— STAFF REPORT

Abingtons

Santa breakfast: Knights of Columbus Abington Council 6611 all-you-can-eat breakfast with Santa, Dec. 6, 9 a.m.-1 p.m., St. Patrick’s Church hall, Nicholson, $8/adults, $4/under 12, $20/family of 4, at door.

East Scranton

Bus trip: East Scranton Seniors bus trip to Mohegan Sun, Dec. 1, leaves Monroe Avenue Price Chopper parking lot, Dunmore, 9:30 a.m., returns, 4 p.m.; $19, $25/rebate and $5/food voucher; Isabelle, 570-347-7394 or Tom, 570-430-1441.

Lackawanna County

Veterans workshop: R-VETS Program at Marywood University free finance workshop for veterans, military members, spouses/partners, Monday, 1 p.m., Marywood University; reservations: 570-961-4584, rvets@marywood.edu, include number attending.

Philanthropy Day: National Phil­anthropy Day luncheon, Friday, 11 a.m., Radisson at Lacka­wanna Station hotel; registration: afp2015.eventbrite.com.

Holy hour: 29th annual Day of Love Holy Hour, Sunday, 2 p.m., St. Mary of Mount Carmel Church, Dunmore, honors Christ the King, originated by late Grace Serio of Dunmore.

Foundation gala: Anthony J. Rin­aldi Jr. Foundation for Children with Cancer fifth annual Christ­mas Classic, Dec. 5, 7 p.m.-midnight, Scranton Cultural Center, cocktails, dinner, dancing, live and silent auctions, music by All About Me, black tie optional, $200; checks payable to Anthony J. Rinaldi Jr. Founda­tion for Children with Cancer, 538 Spruce St., Suite 600, Scranton, PA 18503; www.anthonyjrinaldijrfoundation.org.

Christmas dinner: St. Mary’s Byzantine Catholic Church Inter­national Dinner Club Christmas dinner, Dec. 10, 320 Mifflin Ave., Scranton; 5:30 and 6:30 p.m. seatings, $20, cash bar; 570-343-5151 by Dec. 8.

Ledgedale

Pierogi sale: Ledgedale Ladies Auxiliary pierogi sale, Dec. 19, 9-11 a.m., Goose Pond Road, $6/dozen, first-come, first-served.

Montrose

Coat drive: American Legion Gardner­ Warner Post 154 Coats for the Community drive drop-off Saturday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., legion, 14515 State Route 3001 (Elk Lake Road); Dec. 11-12, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., St. Paul’s Church, 276 Church St.; also ProCare Physical Therapy, Lake Montrose Mall, Montrose, during business hours; final coat giveaway, Dec. 16-17, 9 a.m.-3 p.m., St. Paul’s Church; monetary donations accepted; details: legion, 570-­278-­1649.

Old Forge

Bake sale: Prince of Peace Parish Society pre-Thanks­giv­ing bake sale, Saturday-Sun­day before and after Masses, St. Mary’s, enter from Law­rence Street; former school entrance to rear of parking lot; St. Lawrence, church

vestibule.

Olyphant

Bake sale: SS. Cyril and Metho­dius Ukrainian Catholic Church bake sale, Saturday, 4-6 p.m.; Sunday, 10 a.m.-1:30 p.m., parish hall, 207 River St., baked goods, raffle featuring homemade quilt; Dorothy, 570-489-2476; Cheryl, 570-489-4348; stcyrils.weconnect.com.

Regional

Group meets: Blankets for Vets meeting, Monday, noon, VFW Shopa-Davey Post, 123 Electric St., Peckville; 570-587-5087, blanketsforvets@gmail.com.

Scranton

Pierogi sale: St. Nicholas Orth­odox Church fresh homemade pierogi sale, Friday, 10 a.m.-4 p.m., 505 Jefferson Ave., $7/dozen; preorders, 570-344-1522.

Throop

Garbage collections: Nov. 26 garbage collection changed to Nov. 24 due to Thanksgiving holiday, second/fourth wards recycling collected Nov. 23.

West Scranton

Time change: West Scranton High School presents, “The Good Doctor, a Comedy with Music,” Thursday, Friday, Sat­urday, 7 p.m., and Saturday and Sunday, 2 p.m., $10/adults, $7/students, limited seating;

Wyoming County

Barbershop concert: Barber­shoppers musical concert to honor founding member Wes Spencer, Sunday, 3 p.m., St. Peter’s Episcopal Church, 3832 Route 6, Tunkhannock; donations accepted, cookies/cider follow; St. Peter’s, 570-836-2233, or Rev. Lou, 570-878-4670.

CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be emailed to yesdesk@times

shamrock.com or mailed to Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.

Tax evasion plea deal reached

SCRANTON — A Lewisburg man already facing charges for health insurance fraud and environmental crimes agreed Wednesday to plead guilty to income tax evasion.

Brian J. Bolus, 45, of Lewisburg, reached the plea deal with federal prosecutors relating to his 2012 income tax return. According to court papers, Mr. Bolus underreported his income, resulting in a tax loss of $139,203 to the government.

Mr. Bolus, the son of Scranton businessman Bob Bolus, is awaiting trial in Northampton County on charges his company, Minuteman Environmental Services, illegally dumped wastewater from Marcellus Shale drilling operations.

— TERRIE MORGAN-BESECKER

After Jordan Harris arrived in Paris in August, she fell in love.

The Clarks Summit native quickly made friends. She enjoyed her classes at Novancia Business School. She explored the city and immersed herself in the culture.

When Friday’s attacks happened, she had one thought: “I need to call my mom.”

The 22-year-old Keystone College senior was on a fall break trip to Pisa, Italy, when the coordinated attacks by the Islamic State killed 129 people and wounded more than 350 others. When she returned to Paris on Sunday, she found a different city than the one she had left.

“The aura was very dark, and it was also very quiet on the streets,” Ms. Harris said. “You could tell people were very timid and scared.”

Her apartment is a 15-minute walk from where police and soldiers conducted raids this week. Her school, where she is studying international marketing for her semester abroad, now has guards and requires students to show identification.

“It just makes me view the world differently,” she said. “But I feel safe because there is a lot of security over here.”

Her mother, Dana Harris, an assistant professor at Keystone and coordinator of the school’s business program, said she is in contact with her daughter about 10 times a day.

“My mom’s a nervous wreck,” Ms. Harris said.

But despite the ongoing concerns, on Wednesday, everything felt a little more normal in Paris, she said. And last week’s attacks will not change her future plans.

“I wouldn’t mind moving back to Europe,” she said.

Contact the writer:

shofius@timesshamrock.com, @hofiushallTT on Twitter

HARRISBURG — A Senate committee approved Wednesday a new bill aimed at rescuing troubled municipal pension plans from insolvency.

The measure clearing the Finance Committee by a mostly party line vote would set different options for municipal pension plans for paid police and firefighters based on their financial health.

It would transfer management of financially distressed pension plans in Scranton and Hazleton to the Pennsylvania Municipal Retirement System, an independent state agency. Scranton Mayor Bill Courtright has urged that course for Scranton’s pension plans.

Sen. John Blake, D-22, Archbald, ranking Democrat on the finance panel, voted against the bill.

Mr. Blake said he agrees with 80 percent of the bill’s provisions, including the PMRS transfer, but is concerned that future police and firefighters wouldn’t have adequate replacement income during their retirement under alternate pension plans offered by the bill. It would move future hires away from traditional defined-benefit pension plans.

Mr. Blake said an acceptable bill needs to recognize that many municipal uniformed employees don’t have Social Security benefits.

“We are not there yet,” added Mr. Blake.

The panel chairman, Sen. John Eichelberger, R-30, Hollidaysburg, said he’s trying to advance the municipal pension issue with changes to state public pension plans being part of a framework to end the state budget stalemate. The next stop for the bill is the Appropriations Committee.

The Pennsylvania Municipal League supports this bill, saying there’s been too much focus in those discussions on continuing defined benefit plans.

The committee-approved measure combines recommendations made by a gubernatorial task force headed by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale with earlier proposals offered by senators and House lawmakers to rein in $7 billion in municipal pension debt. Referring to the discussions, a spokesman for Gov. Tom Wolf pointed to the DePasquale task force recommending continuing the defined benefit plan.

The bill sets up a three-tiered system for municipal pension plans based on how well they are funded, with the worst providing a cash balance benefit to new employees.

In a traditional pension plan, workers typically negotiate deferred compensation in lieu of current salary or raises and the amount is paid directly by the employer into a pension fund. In a defined contribution plan, workers designate a portion of their current salaries to be paid into an investment account. The most common type of defined contribution plan is a 401(k).

A cash balance plan combines elements of the defined benefit and defined contribution plans.

Under the three tiers:

■ Plans funded at 50 percent and below — like Scranton’s and Hazleton’s — would provide a cash balance benefit to new employees.

■ Plans funded between 50.1 percent to 89.9 percent would provide either a cash balance benefit or defined contribution benefit to new employees.

■ Plans funded at 90 percent and higher would have the option of providing either a cash balance benefit or defined contribution benefit for new employees.

Also under the bill, pension plan benefits couldn’t be changed through collective bargaining, arbitration or municipal ordinance. They would be subject to a 10 percent cap on overtime calculations. Limits are placed on what’s known as benefit spiking by calculating the final average salary on the average monthly compensation for the 60 months preceding retirement.

Pennsylvania currently has 2,600 municipal pension plans, of which one-third are less than 80 percent funded. A pension plan is considered financially healthy if it’s 90 percent funded or higher.

Contact the writer:

rswift@timesshamrock.com

PHILADELPHIA — Comcast has dropped the YES Network from its cable lineup after an impasse in contract negotiations.

In a statement, the YES Network expressed surprise in the breakup, saying, “Comcast’s reputation for poor customer satisfaction is well known, but this surprise development represents a new low. YES and Comcast reached an agreement in principle on the key points of a new contract many months ago, and YES continued to operate in good faith under that arrangement through the entire Yankees (season)...”

YES has the exclusive local TV rights for the New York Yankees and the Brooklyn Nets. In its own statement, Comcast stated its customers would have paid hundreds of millions of dollars over the next several years for a channel they didn’t watch: “YES Network carried approximately 130 baseball games this past season and well over 90 percent of our 900,000 plus customers who receive YES Network didn’t watch the equivalent of even one quarter of those games during the season, even while the Yankees were in the hunt for a playoff berth. Viewership of the network in the baseball offseason is even lower.”

— STAFF REPORT

SCRANTON — A city man reported to police Tuesday that a thief broke into his apartment and stole several thousand dollars in cash sometime within the last two months, city police said.

Jason May, 34, had been staying at another location and realized recently his apartment on the 1600 block of Jackson Street had been burglarized when he noticed the money missing, Lt. Glenn Thomas said.

He was unable to pinpoint an exact time when it occurred but told officers it happened sometime in the last two months.

— JOSEPH KOHUT

Scranton honored for aiding children

Maryla Peters Scranton was honored for her “impressive development contributions in her role as a board member” at the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania inaugural cocktail party. Providing a nostalgic visit back to childhood for guests, committee members planned an evening featuring adult versions of childhood favorite foods and activities for the “Back to Childhood” themed event at the Radisson at Lackawanna Station hotel.

Judge Michael J. Barrasse presented Maryla with the Champion of Children Award, citing her long tenure on CAC/NEPA’s board as well as her role as the development committee chairwoman

A development executive, Maryla lead numerous successful campaigns raising millions of dollars for non-profit organizations. She established and administered the Mercy Foundation and the Monsignor Andrew J. McGowan Institute for Community Health, founded her own business, MPS Consulting in 2004 and has worked for both profit and non-profit companies. She has served on numerous boards, recently chaired the Penn State Worthington Scranton board and currently serves on the the Scranton Area Foundation board.

“Maryla Peters Scranton’s significant professional and personal contributions to support the mission of the Children’s Advocacy Center of Northeastern Pennsylvania are deeply appreciated and respected by the Board of Directors, the CAC Team and the child victims of abuse and neglect whom we serve,” said Executive Director Mary Ann LaPorta.

Football twirling

Nineteen Double “R” Twirlettes performed with six high school band fronts at games, pep rallies, and other events throughout the fall football season.

Angelica Plappert is Miss Buck at Dunmore High School. Klarissa Cwynar, Jesse Doyle and Amanda Varaksa are feature twirlers at Mid Valley Secondary Center. Christina Szymczyk is captain of the Mid Valley Twirling Team. Natalie Buchinski, Madison Doyle, Lindsey Kausmeyer, Gianna Manzo, Haylie Ray and Morgan Tullio make up Mid Valley’s twirling squad. Gabrielle Gentile is Majorette Captain at North Pocono High School. Amy Driscoll, Victoria Feola and Hanna Neiswander are members of the North Pocono twirling team. Virginia Miller is feature twirler at West Scranton High School. Lindsay Griffiths is a member of West’s twirling team. Kiera Lucash is a member of the Abington Heights drill team and Jasmine Carmella is a twirler at Scranton High School.

Kathleen Y. Mercatili is director of the Double “R” Twirlettes.

High notes

Scranton Shakespeare Festival company members are putting on a show at the Scranton Cultural Center at the Masonic Temple on the Friday after Thanksgiving. Stephen Murphy will be on the piano accompanying Michele Conaboy, Michael Bradshaw Flynn, Joseph McGurl, Lee Minora, Camille Reinecke and others in a Home for the Holidays cabaret, Friday, Nov. 27, in the Center’s Shopland Hall. They plan an evening of stories and song with a score ranging from Broadway to current hits. For details and advance tickets, call 570-344-1111.

MARRIAGE LICENSES

■ Corey Robert Boynton and Brooke Callejas, both of Dunmore.

■ Maureen Murphy and Nancy Vadimski, both of Jefferson Twp.

PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS

■ Novellou Brayer, executrix of the estate of Marion G. Smith, deceased; Novellou Brayer, testamentary trustee under the last will and testament of Mar­ion G. Smith, deceased, for the benefit of Terry B. Smith; Novel­lou Brayer, individually; Novellou Brayer, executrix of the estate of Blodwen J. Griffiths, deceased; Muriel Baird, Jill Melanie Baird-Gent, Kimlyn Denise Baird; Nancy Susan Griffiths Gardner, individually and as power of attorney for Nancy Reynolds Griffiths; Richard Griffiths and Gareth Griffiths, to John J. and Kathleen M. Joyce, Eynon; two parcels in Benton Twp. for $135,000.

■ Ocwen Loan Servicing LLC, attorney-in-fact for Deutsche Bank National Association, to Mark Holeva; a property at 1163 Breaker St., Dickson City, for $53,300.

■ Gerald S. Gaetano and Marion P. Abel, now by marriage Marion P. Gaetano, Scott Twp., to John D. and Judith R. Hughes, Dalton; a parcel in Scott Twp. for $242,000.

■ Rushmore Loan Manage­ment Services LLC, attorney-in-fact for Goldman Sachs Mort­gage Co., to Cicilioni Properties LLC; a property at 315 Third St., Blakely, for $38,500.

■ Volt Asset Holdings Trust XVI, through its attorney-in-fact, Caliber Home Loans Inc., Irving, Texas, to Amana Capital Man­agement LLC, Ashburn, Va.; a property at 1102 Green Ridge St., Scranton, for $25,000.

■ Edward J. May Jr., Scranton, to Jason Hyler, Scranton; a property at 1223 Rundle St., Scran­ton, for $150,000.

■ Kenneth and Linda Powell, Scott Twp., to Joseph T. Jr. and Kikuko C. Novak, Mayfield; a property at 271 Shadow Wood Circle, Archbald, for $252,000.

■ Joseph F. Merenda, North Abington Twp., to Catherine A. Bowles, North Abington Twp.; a property at 106 Bonnie Drive, North Abington Twp., for $110,000.

■ Adam, Edward and Brenda Grabousky, as joint tenants with rights of survivorship, to Chris­topher Chesniak; three parcels in Covington Twp. for $87,200.

■ Joseph Soltis, Scranton, George and Rosemary Soltis, Schnectady, N.Y., through their agent, Doreen M. Graziano, Esq., to Tina Cost, Dalton; a property at 465 N. Main St., Taylor, for $38,500.

■ Florence Harkenreader, trustee for the Florence Harken­reader Revocable Trust, Shaver­town, to Eugene Wendolowski, Blakely; a property at 214 Maple St., Dickson City, for $99,999.

■ Dorothy Kline and Teresa Maychrowitz to Troy Walsh and Briann Bailey; two parcels in Taylor for $85,000.

■ Marc Gonzalez-Cellier and Joanne E. Gonzalez to Michael J. and Loren M. Chwan; a property at 224 Maggies Road, South Abington Twp., for $257,000.

■ PHH Mortgage Corp., attorney-in-fact for Wilmington Trust Co., Mount Laurel, N.J., to Kristy Luongo and Robert Mitchell III; a property at 802 Woodlawn St., Scranton, for $53,000.

DIVORCES SOUGHT

■ Patrick Festa, Scranton, v. Donna Marie Festa, Scranton; married June 29, 1991, in Philadelphia; David J. Ratchford, attorney.

■ Nichole Danova, North Abing­ton Twp., v. Steven Howell, North Abington Twp.; married Aug. 23, 2006, in Milford, Mich.; Barbara J. O’Hara,

attorney.

LAWSUIT

■ Mary Ellen and James Scott, 58 Quinton Road, Scott Twp., v. Emily Maier, 906 Clay Ave., Apt. 1, Scranton, seeking in excess of $50,000, along with interest, costs and any other damages allowed by law on two counts, for injuries suffered May 8, 2014, when the plaintiff was struck by the defendant’s automobile at North Wash­ington Avenue and Mulber­ry Street, Scranton; Matthew D. Dempsey, attorney.

ESTATES FILED

■ Rene Jones, 650 Harrison Ave., Scranton, letters testamentary to Cynthia Wells, same address.

■ Amelia Chup, 470 Delaware St., Jermyn, letters testamentary to Gregory Chup, 98 Morning Dew Court, Old Bridge, N.J.

■ Patricia Baldassari, also known as Patricia A. Baldassari, 204 Lake Scranton Road, Scran­ton, letters testamentary to Bobbie Ann Tursi, 78 Farrier Lane, Newtown Square.

■ Robert K. Fellows, 107 Fair­vew Ave., Clarks Summit, letters testamentary to Robert K. Fellows II, same address.

BENCH WARRANTS

The following warrants have been issued by Judge Vito Geroulo for failure to appear on fines and costs:

■ James Ellinger, 27 Coon St., Wilkes-Barre; $1,200.50.

■ Christopher Joseph Brown, 8C Lukasik Drive, Dickson City; $522.

■ Stephanie Domozych, 1006 Crown Ave., Apt. C, Scranton; $355.

■ Beth Chernesky, 901 Quincy Ave., Scranton; $1,028.

■ Daniel DeFreese, 460 Ross Hill Road, Charlestown, R.I.; $2,733.

■ Regina Lynn Fenon, 406 Dean St., Apt. 3, Scranton; $875.50.

■ Jason Michael Caramanno, 582 Cannon St., Scranton; $4,859.50.

■ Willie C. Dickey, 233 Reese St., Scranton; $548.

■ Henry Charles Calhoun, 417 Richard St., Scranton; $3,175.37.

■ Bryan Kurt Angermeier, 351 White Oak Drive, Forest City; $1,648.50.

■ Jill Judge, 326 Spruce St., Room 609, Scranton; $4,273.59.

■ Eduardo Cruz, 716 Prescott Ave., Scranton; $1,877.

ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts

The Scranton Police Department is slated for an $831,518 upgrade to its electronic records system that Chief Carl Graziano said will help the law enforcement agency fight crime more efficiently.

The expenditure would come over the next five years and is part of Mayor Bill Courtright’s 2016 budget proposal that is under consideration by city council.

The last time the department upgraded its records management system was 2003, Chief Graziano said.

From his perspective, it was a good system for its time but hasn’t kept up with the pace of department’s needs as the agency modernizes its operation.

“The records management system is the heart and soul of a police department, outside of the officers who work there,” Chief Graziano said.

Officers input everything from accident reports to arrest information into the information hub, although the current version has limitations that prevent police from using it to store information from investigations and readily generate all types of data that could be helpful.

Improvements the chief outlined that the New World Systems public safety software could provide include:

n Merging with Lackawanna County’s system and allowing the department to better share information with other law enforcement agencies.

Lackawanna County last year upgraded its police communications network and is in talks with the Pennsylvania Emergency Management Agency and a handful of other counties about upgrading its computer-assisted dispatch system, county emergency services Director David Hahn said.

New features would include the ability to share information like dispatch records, warrants, maps and pictures with emergency responders like Scranton police while they are out in the field if their cars are equipped with mobile data terminals.

n Providing new tools for data analysis that can be used to generate crime statistics and target patrols to problem areas.

n Allowing police to maximize new hardware officers carry in the field like bar code readers, tablets, laptops and two incoming license plate readers.

Some features would go above and beyond the county’s currently proposed upgrades to fit the agency’s needs like the ability to remotely access building schematics and create databases for narcotics and criminal investigations.

Councilman Wayne Evans said he still is digesting the budget plan the administration sent to city lawmakers this week, and Councilman Bill Gaughan planned to send a letter to the administration asking for details about all of the electronic records system’s benefits.

Mr. Gaughan said it sounds like something that has value, but given the distressed city’s financial problems and the fact that the budget would raise property taxes 5.7 percent, he wanted to scrutinize spending $176,032 per year on the information technology upgrades.

“I think we should be watching every penny. Is this a necessity?” Mr. Gaughan asked. “Are we in dire need of the system?”

Business Administrator David Bulzoni said the administration considers investing in technology critical to providing services more efficiently, which is particularly important when it comes to public safety.

“We need to recognize capital expenditures will have to include technology improvements,” Mr. Bulzoni said. “Much of our technology is outdated.”

Chief Graziano said if council approves the proposal, it would take about a year to implement and remain viable for a long time.

“This system will meet our needs five years down the road, 10 years down the road,” the chief said.

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

Traffic disruptions slated for I-81N

MOOSIC — Traffic will be disrupted on Interstate 81 north and Route 315 this evening for road work.

PennDOT spokesman James May said a lane will be restricted on I-81 north between exit 175, Dupont/Pittston, and exit 180, Moosic, from 6:30 to 9 p.m.

Between 8 and 9 p.m., motorists will also encounter traffic stoppages for about 15 minutes on Route 315 where it runs beneath Interstate 81 near the Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Airport.

These closures are for installing a new guide rail, Mr. May said.

— STAFF REPORT

JESSUP — After a three-hour meeting about plans for a controversial power plant, the borough’s planning commission voted 4-3 to send a conditional use permit application on to borough council for review.

At Wednesday’s meeting, a planning board member also suggested that Jessup Borough Council hire an expert to review the 600-plus page conditional use permit submitted by Chicago-based Invenergy LLC. Prior to the vote, the planning commissioners heard from many Jessup residents at the standing-room- only meeting. About a dozen audience members aired concerns with the application, including noise levels and effects on air and water.

“I think that we are not at all capable of rendering a decision at our level tonight without further investigation and further evidence of many things that you’ve expressed and many things that we’ve expressed,” said commission member Dominic Perini, who suggested council hire an expert.

Invenergy is looking to build a natural-gas-fired power plant, Lackawanna Energy Center, in the borough, where around 200 million cubic feet of gas would be burned daily during peak production times. The conditional use permit is one step in getting local approval to build. The company still needs land development approval from the borough and several key permits from the Department of Environmental Protection.

Janine Pavalone, a member of plant opposition group Citizens for a Healthy Jessup, said she saw Wednesday’s vote as a victory for opponents of the plant.

“What they’re saying is, ‘council, have your own expert review this document and give recommendations and conditions on the permit and whether it should pass or not,” Ms. Pavalone said.

Planning commission member Mike Guida voted against the motion to send the permit application to council to review and opposed the recommendation that council hire an expert, saying the commission “has enough sense to decipher this.” He also expressed concern about the cost of hiring an expert.

Lackawanna Energy Center attorney Michael Blazer called the vote Wednesday night “completely meaningless” because the process for Invenergy to obtain the permit will move forward “regardless of what the planning commission does.”

Debate over the plant has raged in the borough for months, with some residents favoring the plant and the possibility for job creation and economic growth. Another faction opposes the plant, citing health and environmental concerns.

A borough council hearing on the proposal is scheduled for Monday at 6 p.m. at Jessup Hose Company No. 1, 632 Fourth Ave.

Contact the writer:

cover@timesshamrock.com,

@ClaytonOver on Twitter