Free parking
in Carbondale
CARBONDALE — Parking at all meters in downtown Carbondale is free until Jan. 3.
“This is a way of saying merry Christmas,” said Carbondale city clerk Michele Bannon. “We try to do it every year, and people love every bit of it.”
Meter enforcement will begin again on Jan. 4.
— JEFF HORVATH
Local schools receive grants
SCOTT TWP. — Students from Lakeland Elementary Scott Campus and Susquehanna Community Junior-Senior High School will be giving back to their community this spring, thanks in part to Empowering Educators grants awarded Monday.
Empowering Educators grants are given to fund science, technology, engineering or mathematics-themed public service projects.
Lakeland Elementary students will use the $1,000 grant to complete a project benefiting the Montdale Food Pantry in Olyphant, while Susquehanna students will work with pre-K children and senior citizens.
— JEFF HORVATH
MID VALLEY
SECONDARY CENTER
Note: Due to a production error, the Mid Valley Secondary Center honor roll published on Dec. 13 was incomplete. Here is a complete version of the honor roll.
GRADE 12
High honor roll: Renzo Barrenechea, Marissa Bennici, Tyler Brady, Megan Campbell, Daniel Chylak, Courtney Comonie, Roman Crisafulli, Jennifer Diehl, Paul Doyle, Thomas Egnotovich, Samantha Evanina, Ian Fabricatore, Charlene Hartman, Ethan Hasenzahl, Ginger Hill, Sean Homenchak, Kaitlynn Hutchins, Noah Kline, Sydney Kobesky, Jordan Kucharski, Zachary Larioni, John Lasewicz, Gino Leccese, Nicolo Manzo, Alyssa North-Mozda, Stephanie Ornoski, Victor Ozuna, Mark Pawelski, Nicholas Pieshefski, Samantha Reid, Amanda Rimosites, Gabrielle Senkow, Ryan Skapyak, Natalia Sposto, Jasmine Springett, Lauren Walck, Bonnie Wolo and Skye Wood.
Honor roll: Zachery Anderline, Ryan Buchinski, Elijah Camacho, Desiree Davis, Jacob Donlin, Mariah Ford, Ashley Fritz, Lauren Gatto, Jazmine Gonsauls, Ryan Hopkins, Robert Kokinda, William MacCallum, Kyle Mallick, Martin Monahan, Emily Onyshczak, Karisa Perrins, Cody Petcavage, Tealla Renzini, Tori Romanosky, Anthony Romeo, Tionna Thompson, Anthony Torres and Aaron Yatsko.
GRADE 11
High honor roll: Noelle Arcaro, Sierra Batcha, Julia Betti, Matthew Brown, Brittney Cesari-Frable, Rebeca Chieffallo, Alissa Chorba, Evan Collins, Brittany Davis, Jon Dellia, Lucas Demian, Jesse Doyle, Zachary Fiume, Erica Haefele, Anielly Holt, Regan Hughes, Emily Hviid-Mahon, Corey Jackson, Alexis Killino, Samantha Kropa, Justin Kucharski, Madison Macknosky, Kirsten Mascaritola, Abigail Mills, Vanessa O’Boyle, Cali Pawelski, Elizabeth Piorkowski, Karamvir Singh, Jessica Slocum, Christina Szymczyk, Dylan Tackley, James Urso, Amanda Varaksa, Brandon Wallo and Lauren Williams.
Honor roll: Julianna Aulisio, Serena Bennett, Heidi Betz, Larissa Chmielewski, Kristen Chorba, Matthew Cook, Douglas Cooke, Mark Curley, Michael Francis, Marianna Gerrity, Anthony Giovagnoli, Robert Gouldsbury, Elizabeth Kacer, Adam Kasper, Jessica Kasper, Justin Kucharski, Miranda Maceyko, Gianna Mackreth, Jessica May, Austin Mizerak, Colin Munley, Angel Ortiz, Aaron Polon, Gabriella Rotell, Geoffrey Sekelsky, Nathaniel Taber, Alyssa Tanana and Noah Tanner.
GRADE 10
High honor roll: Alicia Angelo, Mario Bonacci, Hayley Bondy, Nicholas Borgacci, Mia Castellano, Richard Chowanec, Zachary Cianflone, Logan Lee DeSanto, John Glinsky, Kaitlin Griggs, Trevor Hinders, Sarah Johnson, Harshdeep Kahlon, Nicole Kalinoski, Shaun King, Jason Kline, Jessica Kranick, Curtis Maleninsky, Gianna Manzo, Lyndsey Medric, Mark Melesky, Rachael North-Mozda, Selena Olmedo, Lauren Owens, Priya Patel, Madelaine Pegula, Christian Reece, Demitri Reece, Collin Scherer, Devin Seifert, David Slachtish, Nicole Sokolowska, Matt Stankiewicz, Tara Tackley and Frank Tanana.
Honor roll: Joshua Alfaro, Dallys Balendy, Hope Barrett, Michaela Bennett, Jeffrey Buck, Taylor Burdick, John Caines, Cheyenne Cortazar, Devin DiPasquale, Matthew Donaghy, Anton Dragtenstein, Nicole Fernandes, Damien Gary, Samantha Jankowski, Matthew Matassa, Ralph Morris, Kali Mulea, Nikohl North-Mozda, Kaylah Richter, John Robbins, Alex Searfoss, Delia Vasquez, Alex VonWeinstein, Katherine Wilson and John Zator.
GRADE 9
High honor roll: Noah Allman, Marissa Angelo, Mariah Balendy, Morgan Bialy, Zachary Blau, Katelyn Bosket, Cassie Castellani, Gabriella Cerra, Joshua Darrin, Courtney Davies, Nicholas Ferretti, Justin Gohsler, Morgan Haefele, Danielle Ann Jason, Katarina Johnson, Albert Kausmeyer, Becca Laboranti, Karah Laboranti, Michael Ly, Sean MacCallum, Marshall Macknosky, Craig Mercanti, Jason Miller, Mackenzie Mitchko, Emily Morano, Erica Nemitz, Vanessa Pruzinsky, Eden Rozing, Haneet Saini, Alyssa Sekelsky, Samantha Shelesky, Caleb Taber, Kyle Tullio, Jacob Vituszynski, Joshua Vituszynski and Holly Zednik.
Honor roll: Adam Berardelli, Amber Cherkas, Kyle Choyka, Mallory deQuevedo, Kali DiBileo, Matthew Fedorka, Emily Finegan, Kimarah Garner, Julian Hanicak, Elizabeth Jones , Charles Karam, Francis Kocsis, Samantha Kostage, Brendan Kucharski, Cristina Lorenzetti, Christopher Marchel, Izayah Marsh, Michael Mattessich, Alec Mendez, Mariah Minter, D’Angelo Nikolopoulos, Angel Novojoski, Lawrence Risner, Shane Rosencrans, Felicia Saar, Katrina Schultz, Emma Sherwood, Vincent Shuta, Lindsey Space, Morgan Stepien, Vincent Talluto, Mafia Turner, Grace Wallo and Bobby Zelinski.
GRADE 8
High honor roll: Samuel Borgacci, Sebastian Brudnicki, Christian Chakiris, Philip Davitt, Ariann Decker, Caitlin Doughton, Kacey Durkin, Kyle Gerek, Lanie Gray, Meghan Guarino, Jenna Haefele, Mishyna Hargrove, Lacy Harrington, Christopher Henderson, Zachary Hinders, Ty Jackson, Angel Kropiewnicki, Joseph Lennon, Nicole Melesky, Shikyrah Middleton, Michael Miller, Antonio Ortiz, Keli Pegula, Bella Perez, John Piorkowski, Angel Popko, Aneudy Ramirez, Therese Reilly, Madison Riccardo, Tyler Santarelli, Sydney Scott, Anastasia Shishlo, Christopher Talluto, Raileigh Thompson, Madison Tratthen, Abigail Ulrich, Natalie Vasileff, Michaela Wall, Joseph Yarbrough and Austin Zbach.
Honor roll: Scott Barrett, Ethan Calianno, Nico Colachino, Jasmyne Colbert, Codi Day, Khaya Fuller, Carly Gambo, Katlyn Kobylanski, Isabella Kramer, Aleeza Leary, Blaine Lopez, Ryan Mascaro, Brianna Onyshczak, Kiara Parola, Molly Repecki, Dominick Sacchetti, Joseph Slish, Ashley Vasquez, Angelo Vega, Legend Wildman, Joshua Zarnowski and Shawn Zbach.
GRADE 7
High honor roll: Bria Beggin, Michael Bennici, Madison Bialy, Bethany Brown, Gianna Carrera, Laura Cervantes, Damien Chmielewski, Gabrielle Ciborosky, Tyler Covington, Hailey Davis, Brianna Day, Kayleigh Depew, Maria Do Vale, Ember Duke, Mikayla Dutkiewicz, Kayla Ellis, Ryan Evans, Nicholas Freeswick, Lydia Gilpin, Gianna Giumento, Emily Hedglin, Colby Hughes, Ariana Hutko, Abbey Jackson, Lindsey Jason, Daelyn Karboski, Lindsey Kausmeyer, Jennifer Kobylanski, Connor Kocsis, Taylor Kostage, Mauri Kurcin, Maria Laskowski, Lucy Lennon, Vanessa Mancuso, Kailee Mazur, Sarah Miller, Krista Morris, Tyler O’Connor, Isabella Oakey, Jessica Pahoski, Ava Perrins, Keira Priest, Christian Riccardo, Roberto Rosado, Skyler Scarcella, Sierra Sczesniak, Katarina Shishlo, Jason Skumanich, Ava Smargiassi, Christian Snee, Gabrielle Snee, Olivia Stein, Jonathan Strelecki, Ciara Strupcewski, Isabella Tarantino, John Tomcho, Alyssa Troia, Samantha Wilson, Jeremiah Wolo, David Wood, Shannon Wood, Jake Yanoski, Maxwell Yarbrough, Emma Yusavage, Zoe Zelinski and Madison Zielinski.
Honor roll: Keri Adolfson, John Balendy, Devon Barnauskas, Brynn Barrett, Christina Buchinski, Skylar Ceccoli-Eiffert, Connor Crawford, Nicholas D’Andrea, Veronica Gonzalez, Donald Healey, Meadow Killino, Richard Lardner, Jamy Laury, Ariana Marhelski, Gianna Matassa, Ryan O’Boyle, Andrew Ott, Collin Pacyna, Michael Perri, Nicholas Politowski, Emma Ream, Jordan Scalese, Aaliyah Turner, Jeffrey Walsh, Drew Wrobel, Edward Zator and Joshua Zellers.
RIVERSIDE JUNIOR-SENIOR HIGH SCHOOL
GRADE 12
High honors: Matthew Amaral, Julianna Angerson, William Davies, Lucy Garcia, Rachel Millan, Ryan Morgan, Aaron Oustrich, Robert Quinlan, Brittany Rose, Harley Rought and Morgann Williams.
Honors: Dakota Arens, Emily Banks, Rebecca Belotti, Brandon Caputo, Ravyn Caputo, Mia Connell, Anthony DelRosario, Cyrena Erfman, Vanessa Grzyboski, Devan Guzzy, McKenzie Haduck, Casey Holman, Kenneth Kielar, Savannah Lloyd, Ronald Mazewitz, Hannah Miller, Brendan Mitchell, James Muth, Sazia Nowshin, Kiana Ocasio, Zachary Orloski, Kacey Orlowski, Danielle Powell, Skye Rachko, Carleen Ramirez, Emily Reber, Shannon Rodriguez, Morgan Samsell, Jeffrey Segilia, Andrew Sheridan, Jaime Thomas, Jake Trischetta, Jonathan Tucker, Emily Wassel and Steven Williams.
GRADE 11
High honors: Emma Byrne, Katharine DeFrancesco, Katherine Howey, Alexis Kishel, Tyler Koytek, Jordyn Kudzinowski, Katarina Maikranz, Matthew Moran, William Nash, Bradley Olson, Kyra Pfeiffer, Kelsey Robinson, Dagmar Rodriguez, Shelby Slaboda, Nicholas Sottile and Mia Spinelli.
Honors: Emily Bamkin, ArieAnne Coleman, Paul Coleman, Joshua Davis, Michael DuVall, Kayla Filingo, Riley Gaughan, Robert Gilroy, Cody Glogowski, Kaitlyn Kimes, Shade Knights, Jessica Millan, Kristie Miller, Jesse Ogden, Jacob Palonis, Gwendolyn Powell, Colin Quinn, Robert Reviello, Abigail Rushefski, Jacinda Sartin, Matthew Torrisi and Vanessa Wolf.
GRADE 10
High honors: Sabrina Alvarez, Sierra Anderson, Anthony DeFrancesco, Jacob Frie, Jamie Gerrity, Kevin Kearney, Brooke Mickavicz, Mackenzie Mickavicz, Laura Murphy, Eric O’Malley, Breana Olanovich, Kerilyn Pon, Hailey Samsell, Sierra Santarsiero, Natalie Schield, Christina Smith, David Soriano, Natalie Sottile and Noah Zippittelli.
Honors: Savannah Albakri, Drew Calianno, Sara Canavan, Julia Chickeletti, Lea DeStefano, Madeline Evans, Abby Fairclough, Danielle Golosky, Jazmine Hamilton, Noah Jennings, Kayla Johnson, Kelly Miller, Nicholas Palonis, Tyler Quick, Hunter Talipski, Sydney Wigley and Zhixin Zou.
GRADE 9
High honors: Lauren Amaral, Carolina Beverage, Kevin Connor, Gabriella Costantino, Olivia Fedor, Samuel Hartman, Marilyn Hoskins, Thomas Hufford, Elizabeth Keegan, Hunter Lloyd, Morgan McGuire, Daniel Nenish, Kaylie Oustrich, Matthew Pendrak, Kori Posdon, Samuel Rushefski, Katelyn Timms, Trinity Veaudry and Taylor White.
Honors: Conor Aglialoro, Julia Antoniacci, Gabriella Chiavacci, Emily Donahue, Jillian Felczuk, Joshua Fernbach, William Francis, Luke Frie, Frank Genell, Francisco Grande, Jordan Grzyboski, Daniel Kleeman, Estevan Laboy, Madison Loscombe, Olivia Maikranz, Johnson Okoroji, Marren Pollack, Nicholas Ponas, Kyle Puchalski, Dorseylane Rebillard, Neil Ronjon, Ceyonna Rybitski, Haley Tilberry, Dylan Ward, Victoria Wolf, Rachel Yackobowitz and Jared Yates.
GRADE 8
High honors: Michael Antoniacci, Gavin Beck, Danielle Byrne, Elizabeth Giannone, Adriana Grillo, Sammi Hong, Madeline Klingler, Kristen Lello, Brandon London, Tyler Muskey, Joshua Muth, Todd Reedy and Brandon Soto.
Honors: Katrina Azarsky, Alexandra Bouselli, Maria Castaldi, Bryce Collins, Jessica Fernbach, Robert Grzyboski, Madison Havirlak, Gavin Hill, Alexander Jaworski, Vincent Kearney, Collin Kneiss, Anthony Lima, Madison Mickavicz, Chase Orloski, Tyler Oustrich, Emily Padilla, Kaylee Ralston, Ryan Semyon, Kateria Singleton, Abigail Walsh and Ryan Weitz.
GRADE 7
High honors: Gillian Alvarez, Elizabeth Anzures, Zachery Day, Mya Falcone, Hunter Geise, John Gilchrist, Mallory Gray, Aubrianna Harte, Kelsey Howey, Lexa Hunt, Alese Karpinski, Megan Kielar, Mariah Kumor, Allison McBride, Isabella McKeefery, Ashlyn McNally, Nevica Molinaro, Todd Monahan, Nichole Monteiro, Alyssa Nape, Alexandra Nenish, Madison Oustrich, Michael Reap, Brandon Reed, Michael Rickert, Kayla Rose, Amelia Smicherko, Grace Spisso, Merison Stecik, Emily Taylor and Antonio Zyats.
Honors: Madison Aulisio, Kyleen Bird, Bridgette Brown, Emily Calder, Bailey Cooper, Jessica Frie, Joshua Godlewski, Lindsay Grzyboski, Tyler Hoskins, John Kravitz, Brandon McDermott, Kaile McDonough, Cesar Mercado, Carla Olazo, Om Patel, Anita Propes, Matthew Rhoades, Donovan Richardson, Maura Sherry, Maximus Stephens, Indya Szydlowski, Kaylee Urso, Yane Valentin, Ryan Visotski, Alannah Weitz, David Wilce and Nicole Zehner.
LACKAWANNA TRAIL ELEMENTARY SCHOOL
GRADE 6
Alexander J. Ball, Michael C. Bluhm, Corey K. Burns, Mauriana G. Castellano, Emily A. Chermak, Audrianna Choplosky, Kody R. Cresswell, Brycen J. Decker, Christopher D. Derylak, Alan J. Deutsch, Keith J. Dixon, George W. Duffy, Miles C. Edwards, Abigail R. Fahey, Sofia Flores-Weidner, Joselyn Gonzalez Medina, Annabelle R. Gumble, Cole G. Henry, Scott Jennings, Adam R. Jones, Dariane E. Jones, Owen X. Lisk, John J. Long Jr., Cadence M. Lusk, Maggie P. Martin, Michael Measley, Kamryn E. Mercer, Joshua J. Oliver, Emma E. Oswald, Josephine E. Paolucci, Cole D. Patterson, Jackson C. Pieretti, Lane P. Prutzman, Lillian Rejrat, Steven Richmond, Cora Rivera, Matthew J. Schirg, Robert J. Schirg, Cody A. Semenza, Connor Shirk, Jordan M. Spencer, Landon R. Sprowls, Cheyanne Stacknick, Caleb M. Stuenzi, Samantha A. Thomas, Landen Trunk, Nathan A. Wescott, Maria E. Wetzel, Natalie E. Whitney, Coleman Wohlken and Mason W. Zajac.
GRADE 5
Ethan Ankoff, Emily Beemer, Maxwell Bluhm, Jacob Breckinridge, Alex Bushta, Francis Cocchini, Annabelle Demora, Emma Fowler, Jeffrey Gallagher, Jacob Holmes, Ellsbeth Hunting, Emma Jacoby, Michael Kane, Ethan Lee, Luke Leventhall, Evan Litwin, Alisyn Mazzocchi, Kiara Nichols, Jackson Nordmark, Braeleigh Phillips, Riley Prutzman, Matthew Rakauskas, Braden Savage, Joseph Shaw, Jayde Waibel, Beau Ware, Madisyn Wilson and Kayla Wood.
2-mill tax hike
in Glenburn Twp.
GLENBURN TWP. — The budget approved by township supervisors at their Monday night meeting will include a property tax hike.
The property tax rate will jump 2 mills. The increase will be used exclusively for debt service on loans for paving projects, township Secretary Joanne Benson said Tuesday.
The increase will bump the total property tax rate to 6 mills. A township resident with the median residential assessment of $17,814 will pay $106.88 in property taxes annually after the increase. A mill is a $1 tax on each $1,000 of assessed value.
— CLAYTON OVER
A former Scranton man who fathered three children with a girl he repeatedly raped and sexually abused from childhood into adulthood will likely spend the rest of his life behind bars.
Jay F. Emerizy, 49, who is already serving a 15- to 50-year prison term in Michigan, was sentenced Tuesday in Lackawanna County Court to 44 to 128 years in state prison.
“Your be-havior here is beyond understanding,” Judge Michael J. Barrasse told the defendant before imposing the lengthy, consecutive prison sentences on each of 10 separate counts, including rape and involuntary deviate sexual intercourse with a child.
At least seven years of the abuse happened in Lackawanna and Wayne counties.
The Times-Tribune does not identify victims of sexual assault.
The victim, now a young woman, spoke softly as she addressed the court before sentencing, recounting the abuse and its impact on her life. She told Judge Barrasse that Mr. Emerizy threatened to kill both her and her children.
“I am no longer a victim,” she said. “I am a survivor.”
Mr. Emerizy, who was represented by the public defender’s office, also spoke briefly.
“I’m sorry for my actions,” he told the judge. “I realize now they were inappropriate.”
Investigators said Mr. Emerizy started abusing the victim around 1994, when he performed oral sex on her at age 4. The abuse escalated when she reached adolescence, with Mr. Emerizy raping her nearly every day at a house in Wayne County’s Sterling Twp.
During her teenage years, he assaulted her at various locations in Scranton, as well as his workplaces in Throop and Blakely and in a vehicle at Nay Aug Park.
Investigators said Mr. Emerizy used photographs and journals in notebooks and on his computer to chronicle his abuse of the victim through the years.
The victim, who had three children with Mr. Emerizy, including one who died, finally went to authorities in Michigan in 2013, telling them she feared Mr. Emerizy would begin raping their 4-year-old daughter.
Deputy District Attorney Jennifer McCambridge called the victim a “pretty remarkable woman” to endure what she went through and praised her bravery in coming forward.
“Now she gets to rewrite the script,” Ms. McCambridge said.
Mr. Emerizy was sentenced to prison in Michigan in 2014 after pleading guilty to multiple counts of criminal sexual conduct and an unrelated insurance fraud charge involving an arson at his home. Ms. McCambridge said Mr. Emerizy will serve his sentence here after completing his sentence in Michigan.
Mr. Emerizy, who was also sentenced to 38 years of probation, faces lifetime registration as a sexually violent predator if he is released by prison.
Contact the writer:
dsingleton@timesshamrock.com
CANAAN TWP. — State police fatally shot a 21-year-old man in Canaan Twp. on Monday night after a “frantic and chaotic 911 call” that described multiple weapons, several potential victims and threats of harm, Wayne County District Attorney Janine Edwards said.
County Coroner Edward Howell pronounced Derek DeGroat dead at 11:53 p.m.
State police responded to 9 Volunteer Way after a family member called at 10:36 p.m. and reported that Mr. DeGroat was suicidal and had a gun. The call disconnected.
A state police dispatcher reconnected with the original caller, who was not identified by authorities, and learned Mr. DeGroat was holding a gun and threatening to kill himself.
Mr. DeGroat’s girlfriend, who also was not identified, then spoke with the dispatcher and said Mr. DeGroat had three guns with him and would “kill police” if they responded, Ms. Edwards said.
State police arrived. What exactly happened next is not clear, but the incident ended in deadly force.
“Because this matter ended in the death of an individual, a thorough and competent investigation is required,” Ms. Edwards said in a statement. “There are many areas to review, including ballistics, forensics and eyewitness accounts of those on the scene and that review will take time and will not be rushed.”
An autopsy is scheduled for this afternoon, Mr. Howell said.
By Tuesday morning, a slow drizzle fell on Volunteer Way. Muddy water pooled in holes in the dirt road.
Michael DeGroat, Derek’s father, searched for his wife’s cell phone along the ground. It stored phone numbers of family members he needed to contact.
He ranged between anger, grief and deep shock. At times, he struggled with tears. While on his cellphone, he said this was the “worst day of my life.”
He was in Philadelphia on Monday night for work as a pest control specialist. He had received a phone call informing him what happened and drove north.
“No matter how fast I drove, it took 2½ hours to get here,” Mr. DeGroat said.
A line of state police vehicles, stretching from his door to the Owego Turnpike more than a half mile away, greeted him. He saw his son’s lifeless body in the front lawn. He questioned why such force was necessary.
“A father shouldn’t have to go through this,” he said.
State police Capt. Christopher Paris, commander of Troop R, which oversees stations in Lackawanna, Susquehanna, Pike and Wayne counties, said those involved in the shooting are on paid administrative leave, which is standard protocol following an officer-involved shooting. He deferred further questions to Ms. Edwards.
She said in a statement her office will release the investigation’s findings to the public once the review is complete.
Family and neighbors described the Derek DeGroat as a good person who often visited neighbors and worked various jobs, including delivering The Times-Tribune in South Canaan Twp., which he started doing in early summer.
“He did a good job with the route for quite a while,” said John Kapp, a route supervisor. “(He) seemed like an alright kid.”
Derek DeGroat served in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, where he held the rank of private first class, said Maj. Edward Shank, the state public affairs officer. He was not on active duty at the time of his death.
Renee Loveland, who lives at the far end of Volunteer Way, said Derek DeGroat always struck her as a “good kid” in the approximately eight years she’s lived there. A seemingly happy boy, he used to visit her home and talk with her husband about video games.
Dan Longcoy, a neighbor, also remarked that Derek DeGroat was a nice kid who used to visit and play with his children when they were younger. The news of the shooting had shocked him. The small rural road is fairly quiet, other than the cluck of free-range chickens and the bleating of a goat.
Gunshots are sometimes heard from a rifle range at a nearby prison. The State Correctional Institute at Waymart and the U.S. Penitentiary in Canaan are not far away.
Mr. Longcoy thought it was odd, though, when several bangs, like gunshots, in rapid succession woke him Monday night.
“This is a weird time to be target shooting,” Mr. Longcoy said he thought at the time.
Contact the writer: jkohut@timesshamrock.com, @jkohutTT on Twitter
Avoca
Pasta dinner: Queen of the Apostles Parish buffet-style pasta dinner, Jan. 9, 5-8 p.m., parish hall, 742 Spring St.; takeouts, 4 p.m., byo wine; sit-down tickets limited to 150, $10/adults, $6/ages 3 to 12, free/under 3; parish office, 570-457-3412; tables of 8-10 reservations: Paul Franceschelli at 570-430-9015.
Carbondale
Collection schedule: City garbage collection for Christmas and New Year’s days will be collected Saturday and Jan. 2, respectively.
Clarks Summit
Jazz service: First Presbyterian Church in Clarks Summit Christmas Eve jazz Communion featuring music of the 50th anniversary “A Charlie Brown Christmas,” Thursday, 11 p.m., 300 School St.
East Scranton
Bus trip: East Scranton Seniors bus trip to Sands Casino, Bethlehem, Jan. 27, $22, $20/rebate, $5/food voucher; Isabelle, 570-347-7394 or Tom, 570-430-1441.
Lackawanna County
Annual dinner: 21st annual Bob Bolus Sr. Christmas day dinner, noon-6 p.m., St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson St., West Scranton, buffet turkey dinner, 570-346-7659.
Sewing club: Penn State Extension/Glenburn 4-H Sewing Club taking registrations for 4-H textile science project participants; learn basic clothing construction skills; all levels/beginners to advanced, including tailoring/formal wear, ages 8-19; register Hilda Lewis, 570-563-1369.
International dinner: St. Mary’s International Dinner Club “Greece,” Jan. 14, 5:30 and 6:30 p.m., Mifflin Avenue, Scranton; seatings; sample tasting plate (stuffed grape leaves, spanakopita, hummus, olives, fresh pita bread; braised lamb shanks with orzo, oven roasted zucchini and eggplant with Kalamata olives; baklava; cash bar featuring cuzo and retsina; reservations: $20, 570-343-5151 by Jan. 11.
CLIPBOARD ITEMS may be sent to yesdesk@timesshamrock.com or Clipboard, c/o YES!Desk, 149 Penn Ave., Scranton, PA 18503. YES!Desk, 570-348-9121.
What’s more ridiculous than a nursing student suing Misericordia University because she failed?
Not a whole lot, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce’s Institute for Legal Reform.
The case of the Stroudsburg nursing student suing the Dallas-based university for failing to accommodate her anxiety or depression — purportedly leading her to twice fail a required course — has ranked No. 4 in the country in the institute’s ranking of the year’s most ridiculous lawsuits.
The cases ahead of it each garnered national attention — including the case of a New York woman suing her 8-year-old nephew for a “careless” hug that broke her wrist, and an armed bank robber in Washington who sued Snohomish County after being shot by a sheriff’s deputy as he fled the scene of the crime.
Topping the list is a lawsuit People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals filed on behalf of a crested black macaque alleging the monkey owns the copyright to selfies it took with a photographer’s camera.
“These stories will make you laugh, but sadly, frivolous lawsuits are all too common,” institute President Lisa A. Rickard said in a statement. “As a society we’re too quick to sue, and issues that could be settled outside of the courtroom result in expensive and unnecessary litigation and wasted time.”
Bryan Quigley, spokesman for the institute, said the cases are voted on by users of the website Facesoflawsuitabuse.org, a site the institute says it created to “highlight absurd and ridiculous lawsuits.”
“The purpose of compiling a list is to raise awareness of the broad problem of lawsuit abuse in this country,” Mr. Quigley said. “We are not making judgments in these individual cases. We’re simply raising awareness in a fun and interesting way.”
The local case began in May, when Jennifer Burbella alleged the university violated the Federal Rehabilitation Act by failing to accommodate her anxiety and depression.
According to her complaint, staff at the institution treated her differently from another disabled student who received special accommodations during an exam and didn’t do enough to help her succeed.
University officials have countered in court documents that Ms. Burbella is to blame for her failures. Rather than being treated at the campus Counseling and Psychological Service Center in March 2011 for issues including depression and anxiety, Ms. Burbella, who had low grades, was in fact required to go to counseling because of an alcohol-related incident — not because of a disability — they maintained.
The university maintains its staff went out of its way to help Ms. Burbella despite the fact that they were never informed she was suffering from any disability.
In her complaint, Ms. Burbella initially named the university as well as President Thomas J. Botzman, nursing department chairwoman Cynthia Mailloux and nursing professor Christina Tomkins as defendants. After the school moved for dismissal of much of the lawsuit, the individuals were dropped from the action.
The case against the university is moving forward in federal court.
570-821-2058, @cvjimhalpin
Chamber recognizes
Incubator tenants
New incubator tenants for both the Scranton Enterprise Center and the TekRidge Center were recognized when the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce and its affiliates, SLIBCO and the Scranton Plan, conducted a formal welcome ceremony.
Tenant representatives on hand to offered remarks included Michael Averto, Otreva; Drew Breuninger, Design-a-card.org; Dennis Cheng, twobytwoSolutions; Sean J. McCormack, EcoIndustrial/Northeast Penn Supplies; Richard Pell and Steven MacDonald, MacDonald and Pell LLC; Mani Velaga, Adil Analtyics Inc.; and Brian Wrightson, Conxx NE.
“We are pleased to recognize our incubator clients in an effort to bring attention to the significance of entrepreneurism in our community,” Aaron Whitney , manager of both centers, is quoted as saying in a release. “It is important to the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce to support new and emerging businesses that create jobs that support our local
economy.”
SLIBCO has 11 incubator clients in the two centers; 50 companies are hosted in its incubator buildings.
The new tenants include Adil Analytics Inc., a technology company that enables customers to develop, verify and sustain complex, reliable and secure systems and networks; Conxx NE, a telecommunications installations and network maintenance company; Design-a-card.org, a cost-free, creative platform that provides scholarship art contests for student-designed greeting cards; EcoIndustrial/Northeast Penn Supplies, a distributor of eco-friendly and standard industrial packaging supplies; Howell Design and Consulting Inc., a design and consulting firm focused on the design and development of innovative, patentable products that offers consulting services in those arenas; MacDonald and Pell LLC, an operations/IT consulting firm with experience in manufacturing, warehousing, distribution, transportation, plant location and construction; Otreva, a custom software product development company focusing on user experience, responsive web development and mobile application development, and twobytwo Solutions: a company providing digital forensics, incident response, electronic discovery and consulting expert services to the legal and business communities, according to the release.
Talking Columbus
Louis Palazzi Jr. presented an Italian bias presentation on Christopher Columbus at Keystone Chapter UNICO’s meeting. Northeastern PA Italian Counsel Francesco Stoppini also offered chapter members assistance obtaining information or connecting with family members in Italy.
Chris Falzett was installed as a new member by District Gov. Mark McDade. John Mecca is chapter president. Cathy Bianchi and Mary Ann Stoppini were among the members those attending the Italian heritage meeting.
High notes
Among those ringing the bell when American Legion Post 254 members manned the Salvation Army kettle at the Walmart in Honesdale for a full Saturday was Legionnaire James Byrnes, a veteran of World War II.
The Scranton Times was the first Pennsylvania newspaper to win the Pulitzer. A reporter who started as a copy boy at The Times would make The Tribune the second.
Harold J. Brislin’s four-year investigation of the 1954 bombings of two non-union-built homes in Scranton led to the convictions of six Teamsters and forced the union to expel several members accused of racketeering.
Mr. Brislin’s work earned him the Pulitzer for local reporting in 1959. He died in 1973. His wife, Gene Brislin-ZaBach, was an award-winning reporter and editor of the social column, “Noonbeams ‘n’ Nightcaps,” which she began at The Tribune and continued at The Times. She died in 1997.
Area universities offer journalism awards and scholarships in Mr. Brislin's name, many of which have been won by future Times-Tribune staffers.
HARRISBURG — State lawmakers went home for Christmas break on Wednesday, leaving major fiscal issues concerning a state revenue deficit, education funding and changes to public pension benefits unresolved after six months of debate.
Near the day’s end, the Republican-controlled Senate sent a $30.3 billion budget bill on a mostly 33-17 party line vote to Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf. This action is not viewed as the final act in a budget stalemate that has divided the state Capitol and left public schools and local nonprofits without state aid, however.
This budget bill stands alone with none of the necessary tax, fiscal code and school code bills that support it. The Senate used a parliamentary move to advance this measure similar to a budget bill passed by the GOP-controlled House two weeks ago.
Mr. Wolf blasted the Senate vote.
“It seems that the Republican Legislature is intent on continuing the Harrisburg status quo and getting out of town to go on vacation instead of continuing the hard work to move Pennsylvania forward,” he said.
Sens. David Argall, R-29, Tamaqua; Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Twp.; John Gordner, R-27, Berwick; Mario Scavello, R-44, Mount Pocono and Gene Yaw, R-23, Williamsport, voted for the bill.
Sens. John Blake, D-22, Archbald; and John Yudichak, D-14, Plymouth Twp., voted against it.
“What have we been fighting for the past six months if we are just going to go back to the GOP budget?” asked Mr. Blake.
He said Scranton School District will need a substantial boost in state aid now that it has been forced to borrow money due to the stalemate.
This budget bill provides a $100 million increase in the basic state subsidy for school districts, some $250 million less than the governor agreed to under a bipartisan budget framework negotiated during the last six weeks.
The Senate vote came several hours after House lawmakers left town without acting on a $30.8 billion budget bill reflecting the bipartisan framework that had been positioned for a vote.
Another political standoff developed during the day. House GOP leaders indicated they need to see an as yet unveiled tax bill before they allow a vote on that $30.8 billion budget bill. Senate GOP leaders indicated they want action on a bill to reduce pension benefits for future state government and school district employees before they show the tax bill.
Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman, R-34, Bellefonte, said passing the $30.3 billion bill is the only way to resume the delivery of state aid to schools and nonprofits at this stage.
Mr. Corman and Mr. Blake expect budget negotiations to continue.
“This (vote) is not the end of the discussion,” Mr. Corman said.
Contact the writer: rswift@timesshamrock.com
Irving Berlin probably didn’t have a forecast like today’s in mind when he penned his holiday classic “White Christmas.”
“Warm Christmas” would definitely be more accurate.
“The main thing we can expect is unseasonable warmth,” AccuWeather Senior Meteorologist John Gresiak said Wednesday. “We’re looking at a record breaking high temperature in Scranton.”
Some might say record shattering — a high temperature of 69 degrees is expected for Christmas Eve, Mr. Gresiak said. The record, 62 degrees, was set in 1933. Instead of snow, rain is expected intermittently throughout the day, with fog in the morning, Mr. Gresiak said.
More of the same can be expected for Christmas day, when “record challenging” highs are predicted. That record is also 62 degrees, set in 1964. A high of 61 degrees is in the forecast, Mr. Gresiak said. Rain is also expected that afternoon or evening.
Pennsylvania Turnpike Commission officials are also anticipating record numbers this holiday season because of the weather, coupled with lower gas prices, said Carl DeFebo, director of public relations and marketing with the turnpike.
More than 4.2 million vehicles are expected to travel on the turnpike between Christmas Eve and Jan. 1, according to turnpike officials, with 500,000 vehicles expected on the road today. The heaviest traffic is expected on Dec. 28, Dec. 29 and Dec. 30, when 550,000 vehicles per day are anticipated.
Weather like Bing Crosby crooned about dreaming of is coming — albeit a little late. Temperatures are expected to be closer to the freezing mark by early next week, which could turn any precipitation into snow, sleet or ice, Mr. Gresiak said.
“It looks like it will be colder by New Year’s,” Mr. Gresiak said.
Contact the writer: cover@timesshamrock.com, @ClaytonOver on Twitter
For those without anywhere to go this year, several places are offering a free meal as well as some holiday cheer and company on Christmas Day.
For the 21st year, local businessman Bob Bolus Sr. will hold his annual Christmas dinner, serving turkey and all the trimmings at St. Patrick’s Church on Scranton’s west side.
The “big, family affair,” as Mr. Bolus calls it, will also feature some entertainment: a violinist and singers will perform for diners.
Rides to the church and deliveries are available for those who need them. Meals are also available for takeout, but only for those who first eat in with others, Mr. Bolus said.
“That’s the purpose of this,” he said. “To share camaraderie.”
The dinner started when his trucking company found itself with a surplus of turkeys after a delivery, he has said. About 150 came that first year; Mr. Bolus and his volunteers will likely serve thousands this year.
“It’s open to anyone who doesn’t want to be home alone on Christmas,” Mr. Bolus said.
The meal runs from noon to 6 p.m.
Toys are available to children who come to the meal.
In downtown Scranton, the St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., will provide a free meal from 11 a.m. to noon, as it does 365 days of the year.
People can enjoy a full Christmas turkey dinner, said Monsignor Joseph Kelly, the kitchen’s executive director.
“Anyone is most welcome,” he added.
Diners will also receive a box of hygiene products.
And the University of Scranton will again host its Community Christmas Day Breakfast. In its sixth year, employees and volunteers from the school will serve a meal including eggs, pancakes and sausage. The breakfast is for the elderly and those who are alone or in need.
It runs from 8 to 11 a.m. at the DeNaples Center, 900 Mulberry St., Scranton, 3rd floor. No reservations are required.
Contact the writer:
pcameron@timesshamrock.com, @pcameronTT on Twitter
Christmas meals for those alone
or in need
■ BREAKFAST: The University of Scranton, DeNaples Center, 900 Mulberry St., 3rd floor, 8-11 a.m.
■ LUNCH: St. Francis of Assisi Kitchen, 500 Penn Ave., Scranton, 11 a.m. to noon
■ DINNER: Bob Bolus Sr.’s Christmas Day Dinner, St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson St., Scranton, noon to 6 p.m.. To order a delivery or a ride to the church, call 570-346-7659.
Lackawanna County will soon need a new person to track real-estate sales and transfers so the county Democratic Party is getting ready to pick one.
The party executive committee will interview candidates for recorder of deeds at a meeting Jan. 4 at 6 p.m. at the International Brotherhood of Electrical Workers Local 81 building, 431 Wyoming Ave., Scranton, county Democratic chairman Chris Patrick said.
Interested candidates should email a letter of interest and résumé to lacka
wannacoun
ydc@gmail.com, Mr. Patrick said. The deadlines for resumes is Jan. 2.
The meeting coincides with the day judges will swear in new county commissioners and other elected officials.
Recorder of Deeds Evie Rafalko McNulty is expected to resign that day after she is officially appointed county chief of staff, creating a vacancy.
The county Home Rule Charter says the party of the official who left a county row office gets to recommend replacements. Mrs. McNulty is a Democrat.
Under the charter, the party can recommend three candidates to the county court, whose judges will choose a replacement from one of the three. The judges will have a busy week because they will also choose a new district attorney to replace District Attorney Andy Jarbola, who will take the oath of office as a judge Jan. 4.
The county Republican Party recommended First Assistant District Attorney Gene Talerico and deputy district attorneys Gene Riccardo and Shane Scanlon.
So far, Mr. Patrick said, he’s heard from two potential replacements for Mrs. McNulty — Colleen Gerrity, the recorder of deeds office’s chief clerk, and Michael F. Durkin, who ran unsuccessfully for county register of wills in 2013.
Contact the writer:
bkrawczeniuk@timesshamrock.com
SCRANTON — Normally, the dateline for this report is CHRISTMAS TOWN, but this is no normal Christmas. This reporter arrived at the North Pole on Wednesday and found a scene of complete confusion. The power was out and panic quickly set in. Distraught elves and singing snowmen said Christmas might be canceled for the first time in forever!
“It’s a disaster!” cried Loretta Poinsettia — who like her sister Greta claims to be Santa’s chief spokeself. “How can Santa deliver presents all over the world without a Naughty or Nice List? What was Rudolph thinking?”
“Hush, Loretta!” Greta cried. “No one is supposed to know what Rudolph did! Santa is going to be very mad when he finds out you spilled the beans!”
“What beans?” a big, booming voice asked. It was Santa, and he was not in the mood for sisterly bickering.
“Now what’s all this fuss about?” Santa demanded.
“Loretta told Timmy Tinsel that Rudolph caused the power outage!” Greta said.
“No I didn’t!” Loretta protested. “All I said was the power outage erased the Naughty or Nice list on the Christmas computer, and there was no backup, so you wouldn’t know where to leave presents or lumps of coal.”
“Actually, you didn’t say all that!” this reporter said, scribbling in a notebook. “That’s big news!”
Santa sent Greta and Loretta to bed and grinned. It was time to come clean, and the jolly old elf knew it.
“Here’s the truth, Timmy — Rudolph is responsible for the power outage,” Santa said. “He wasn’t satisfied with traditional reindeer games. He loves XBox and PlayStation and he was playing both at the same time. Combined with the wattage of his nose, the games overloaded our power grid and shorted out the Christmas computer. It won’t reboot, so I don’t have my list of who was Naughty or Nice.
“Rudolph feels terrible about what happened and has promised to play outside more in the future.”
“That’s great,” this reporter said, “but what about tonight? Christmas is coming and the world’s children expect you to deliver!”
“Ho-Ho-Ho!” Santa roared. “And deliver I will, with your help, Timmy Tinsel!”
Santa then directed Chief Sleigh Mechanic Harry Hollyberry to whisk this reporter back to Scranton. He harnessed Dasher, Dancer, Prancer and Vixen, Comet, Cupid, Donner,and Blitzen. We didn’t need Rudolph due to the unseasonably mild weather. Besides, he was grounded.
A hard copy of Santa’s list is kept in the old pressroom of the Times Building in case of emergency. Every employee of The Times-Tribune was called in to type the names of boys and girls. The list was then transmitted through the Times Tower to Santa in midflight. Christmas was saved.
A relieved President Obama issued an emergency version of Special Executive Order 12/24, which puts the nation on red-and-green alert until Christmas morning. Starting at 5 p.m. today, you can track Santa’s progress at www.thetimes-tribune.com.
Air traffic controllers at Wilkes-Barre/Scranton International Airport said they hadn’t picked up any sign of Santa’s sleigh as of 6 this morning, but they reported a huge spike in Christmas spirit throughout the region.
“You can just feel it in the air, like a magic glow that makes you feel good from head to toe,” said a controller who declined to be identified for security reasons. “It makes you want to hug somebody.”
Santa usually comes through here around 11 p.m., but the controller said he received word that St. Nick might modify his route and come here first.
“With that in mind, we advise the children of Northeast Pennsylvania to get to bed early, and no peeking!” the controller warned with a merry grin. “Loretta and Greta Poinsettia don’t dare peek, and they know Santa personally.”
TIMMY TINSEL, the Times-Tribune North Pole Bureau Chief, is columnist Chris Kelly, but don’t tell him.
Great Bend
Spaghetti dinner: United Methodist Community Church Youth Group spaghetti dinner, Jan. 16, 4 p.m., Main Street; $8/adults, $5 under 12.; benefits Kingdom Bound trip.
Lackawanna County
Free breakfast: University of Scranton Community Christmas Day Breakfast, Friday, 8-10:30 a.m., DeNaples Center, reservations not required; 570-941-7401 or info@scranton.edu.
Annual dinner: 21st annual Bob Bolus Sr. Christmas day dinner, noon-6 p.m., St. Patrick’s Church, 1403 Jackson St., West Scranton, buffet turkey dinner, 570-346-7659.
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.
For the second time this week, a controversial power plant project proposed in Jessup took a major step forward, as the state Department of Environmental Protection approved Wednesday a key air quality permit for the plant.
The granting of the air quality permit reflects DEP’s belief that the proposed Lackawanna Energy Center will not cause air pollution in violation of National Ambient Air Quality standards.
This comes just two days after Jessup Borough council granted Invenergy LLC, the plant’s developer, a conditional use permit indicating that the project is in compliance with the borough’s zoning ordinance.
The 1,500 megawatt, natural gas-fired proposed plant has divided the community of Jessup, with some residents questioning the accuracy of air modeling data used to generate emissions figures.
Mike Bedrin, director of the DEP Northeast Regional Office in Wilkes-Barre, was quoted in a Wednesday press release as saying “the department conducted a thorough and complete review of the application and determined it met all air quality regulations.”
IES Engineers, contracted by Jessup to review Invenergy’s air quality and air monitoring data, also reported that National Ambient Air Quality standards will be maintained.
“This is another thing that we can check off,” said Invenergy attorney Mike Blazer. “We were expecting this and had been for some time.”
Jessup Borough solicitor Richard Fanucci also said the permit approval comes as no surprise.
“We anticipated that the permit would be coming based on the (IES) engineer’s assessment of the air modeling data,” Mr. Fanucci said.
While the air permit comes just days after Jessup granted Invenergy zoning approval, DEP spokesperson Colleen Connolly said the timing was just coincidental.
The next major DEP permit Invenergy needs is an industrial waste water permit. A public hearing concerning that permit will be held at the Valley View High School auditorium from 6 to 9 p.m. on Jan. 4.
During the first half of that meeting, DEP officials and Invenergy consultants will answer questions about the project and permitting process that relate specifically to the industrial waste water permit.
Individuals will then be given the opportunity to offer comments or voice concerns, which will be addressed by DEP in the form of a comment response document at a later date.
Invenergy is also waiting on a storage tank permit from DEP.
In addition to the remaining DEP permits, Jessup Borough must grant land development and building permits before construction can begin.
Contact the writer: j
horvath@timesshamrock.com, @jhorvathTT on Twitter
Scranton’s police and fire pension boards are violating their duty to act in retirees’ best interests by insisting the city pay them raises when the pension funds are financially unsound, the city says in response to a lawsuit filed by the boards.
Edwin “Ned” Abrahamsen, attorney for the city, also argues the lawsuit should be dismissed because there was an unreasonable delay in bringing the action.
The pension boards filed suit in September, seeking to overturn the city’s directive that forbid the plan’s administrator from granting retirees half of the 1.75 percent raise that was given to active police officers and firefighters this year.
The boards contend the city police and fire union contracts obligate the city to pay the raises. The city maintains the city code precludes any increases because the pensions funds are financially unsound.
In a reply to the suit filed Tuesday, Mr. Abrahamsen generally denies the boards’ claims. He also raises new issues as part of the city’s defense to the suit.
Among the new claims is that the suit is barred by the legal doctrine of “laches,” which precludes a party from recovering damages if it is shown there was an undue delay in bringing an action. The reply does not detail the city’s position. That information will be included in later filings in the litigation, which is still in its early stages.
Mr. Abrahamsen also contends the boards are violating their fiduciary duty to plan members by seeking the raises given the financial condition of the funds, which have been deemed to be severely financially distressed by the state’s Public Employee Retirement Commission.
The lawsuit challenges the city’s claims that the funds are unsound, saying there is no standard definition that defines that status. The suit also contests the city’s authority to order the plan administrators to withhold the raises, arguing the city pension ordinances vest control of the pension funds with the pension boards, not the city. The filing of the response clears the way for the litigation to move to the next stage, which will include the exchange of documents between the parties.
Contact the writer:
tbesecker@timessleader.com
SCRANTON — Children younger than 5 years old temporarily are not allowed in the children’s and women’s inpatient units at Geisinger Hospitals amid a rise in childhood respiratory virus cases.
Cases of Respiratory Syncytial Virus, an illness that affects the lungs and airways, increase in the winter months putting especially vulnerable patients like newborns at higher risk for infection, the hospital said in a news release.
Restrictions are in place at all local Geisinger hospitals. Typically, the ban is lifted in the spring.
— JON O’CONNELL
MARRIAGE LICENSE
■ Thomas I. Vanaskie and Roseanne M. Ruddy, both of Dunmore.
PROPERTY TRANSACTIONS
■ NBT Bank, Norwich, N.Y., to Route 348 Enterprises Inc., Covington Twp.; a property on Route 348, Jefferson Twp., for $325,000.
■ Susan Pohle, executrix of the estate of Norman Mapps, to Gerry Raye Gray; a parcel in Thornhurst Twp. for $110,000.
■ Salvatore DiFranco and Gordon E. Vadimsky, co-executors of the estate of Walter P. Negvesky Jr., Somerset County, N.J., to Brian A. and Teresa F. Newberry, Archbald; a property at 207 First St., Archbald, for $116,500.
■ USA HUD, Washington, D.C., to Thomas Ciccotti, Dunmore; a property at 150 Ross St., Dunmore, for $60,000.
■ Gloria Blewett, South Abington Twp., to Joseph Patrick Hartman, South Abington Twp.; a property at 418 Adams Ave., South Abington Twp., for $129,000.
■ Daniel and Karen Bingham, Fleetville, to Oz Realty LLC, Olyphant; a property at 1002 Jackson St., Scranton, for $100,000.
■ Stephen E. Midura, Scott Twp., to James H. Jr. and Denise DeVoe, Dickson City; a property at 633 Lincoln St., Dickson City, for $165,000.
■ Homestead Properties LLC, Scranton, to Ciara S. and Edward J. Berta, Old Forge; a property at 416 Mary St., Old Forge, for $160,000.
■ Walter G. Strowsky Jr. to Philip Michael Marrara Jr.; a property at 280 Mikridge Road, Jermyn, for $50,000.
DIVORCES SOUGHT
■ Julio Ruiz-Astacio, Scranton, v. Norma Roman, Scranton; married Sept. 9, 1999, in Lackawanna County; John J. Brazil Jr., attorney.
■ Donald James, Clarks Summit, v. Jennifer James, Port St. Lucie, Fla.; married Dec. 2, 1990, in Lackawanna County; Lori A. Barrett,
attorney.
■ Joe Hollister, Duryea, v. Rose Hollister, Carbondale; married May 22, 2005, in Green Ridge; pro se.
ONLINE: thetimes-tribune.com/courts