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Mahanoy City Ethnic Day more than just food

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MAHANOY CITY — The borough’s heritage was on full display Saturday for the 29th annual Mahanoy City Ethnic Day.

Originally an event focusing on ethnic food, it was expanded this year to include all aspects of local heritage.

“There is a lot of interest in history and a lot of people are looking here because they are researching their genealogy,” Peg Grigalonis, president of the Mahanoy Area Historical Society, said.

Grigalonis said the event was started in 1988 by local churches to showcase their ethnic food. It was expanded this year with exhibits and demonstrations at the Merchants Banking Trust Company-Teen Canteen and educational programs about folk music at the Mahanoy City Public Library. Food was for sale at Citizen’s Firehouse from various ethnic groups.

There was also a photography contest featuring images from Mahanoy City.

Katy Cunningham, Barnesville, won the student category with her photo of Assumption BVM Church.

“The architecture of the building is beautiful,” she said. “I wanted to get as much of the architecture in the photo as possible.”

Her cousin, Abby Fedor, also of Barnesville, had a drawing of the Kaier Brewery on display. The brewery was demolished in March due to fear of it collapsing.

“It was just an odd shape and looked cool,” Fedor said.

She had to base her drawing off old photographs from the historical society.

“It’s nice to have the photos to be able to remember how they were and the historical society makes sure people don’t forget what they looked like,” Fedor said.

Paul Corinchoch, Tamaqua, demonstrated the traditional Ukrainian art of decorating eggs known as pysanky.

“My grandmother introduced me to the art and it’s a dying art, but it is very rewarding to me,” he said.

Corinchoch said he teaches pysanky at the Tamaqua Community Art Center and St. Michael’s Ukrainian Catholic Church, Shenandoah.

“It’s relaxing,” he said. “I once had three generations in one class. It is very important people know it is an art and it has been going on for centuries. Everything on it has a meaning, the colors, lines and shapes.”

The event was also used to promote other annual heritage events like Ukrainian Day and Lithuanian Days.

Anne Kaczmarczyk Evans, Ashland, had traditional dance uniforms and other sewn Ukrainian items on display Saturday.

“I think many people forget about their heritage,” she said. “As people get interested in their genealogy and tracing their backgrounds, they want to learn more about their heritage. This event helps keep those people researching and learning more.”

The 83rd annual Ukrainian Day will be held July 30 at St. Nicholas Picnic Grove, Minersville. There were videos and pictures on display Saturday showcasing the thousands of people attending the event when it was held at Lakewood Park until 1983.

“We are trying to encourage people to look in their old boxes and find their own photos of Ukrainian Day to share,” Evans said.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6023


Paddlers begin journey down Schuylkill River for 19th annual sojourn

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SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The 19th annual Schuylkill River Sojourn launched Saturday with 120 kayakers hitting the water at Island Park.

There were plenty of first-timers joining the annual tour down the Schuylkill River this year and even more veterans, but only two who kayaked down the river for all 19 events. One of them is Jim Showalter, Kenhorst.

“If you don’t know how to paddle when you start, you will by the end,” Showalter said before putting his kayak in the water.

The weeklong, 112-mile guided kayak and canoe tour started in Schuylkill Haven and will end at Philadelphia’s Boathouse Row. Organized by the Schuylkill River Heritage Area to raise awareness about the river as a historic, natural and recreational resource, there are participants from 12 states. Seventy paddlers are making the full 112-mile journey and another 130 will join them for at least one day.

“You meet a lot of friends and it is a reunion of sorts,” Showalter said.”You don’t see a lot of these people since the last time. It’s a good group and it’s good for kids to see adults working as a group. They help carry canoes and getting over rocks. It’s like a family. I think that’s one of the reasons I keep coming back. It’s a good trip and everyone works together. It’s safe and well organized.”

Showalter said he remembers hot temperatures and the water being low during the first sojourn. On Saturday, the clouds and light rain cleared up by the afternoon and water was high enough for a stronger current.

“I always had a canoe and saw this in the paper and signed up and I’ve been back ever since,” Showalter said.

Growing up in Shillington, Showalter said he noticed the river being significantly cleaner than it was then and more people using it for recreation. Showalter said his daughter joined him on the sojourn when she was 11 and she continues to kayak at 26.

David Kohler, West Chester, has participated in all but the first trip down the Schuylkill River. He said he was a Navy SEAL and spent 30 years living next to the ocean before moving to Pennsylvania.

“Being landlocked, I looked for some sort of action on the water,” he said. “The most rewarding part about it is the camaraderie. It’s a great event and does great things for the awareness of the river and the trails. It spreads the interest in preserving nature.”

Meanwhile, Sue Reier, Pottsville, joined the other kayakers in the river for the first time Saturday.

“It’s on the bucket list,” Reier said.

She said she lived along the Schuylkill River her entire life and knows how far it has come in terms of preservation.

“This is like a gratitude trip for the river,” she said.

“I remember years ago the Schuylkill River was orange at spots, look at it now,” her husband, Rob, said.

There are also educational programs during lunch and evening stops along the river. The theme for the program this year is “I protect the Schuylkill River” and featured presentations on river conservation and stainability initiatives.

Before taking off down the river, the kayakers were welcomed by county Commissioner Gary J. Hess, commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. and Schuylkill Haven Mayor Mike Devlin.

“We are proud of this being the starting point of the sojourn,” Hess said. “This event continues to grow and we welcome you to our county and hopefully you will be back to visit.”

Halcovage also encouraged them to come back and visit.

“We really care about our environment here and we have made it a good place to visit and live,” he said.

Devlin said the event is more than just a recreational activity.

“It brings attention to the river as well as the borough itself,” he said.

Renovations continue at Ali training camp in West Brunswick Township

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DEER LAKE — Muhammad Ali’s training camp is being restored to its former glory.

On the first anniversary of Ali’s death, the training camp hosted an open house Saturday to show off renovations underway on several log cabins at the facility in West Brunswick Township.

“It’s fun, satisfying, rewarding and exciting,” Mike Madden, who bought the property last year, said via phone.

Madden, a real estate entrepreneur from Pleasanton, California, and son of legendary football coach and broadcaster John Madden, bought the property for $525,000 not long after Ali’s death on June 3, 2016.

Madden said he invested about $1 million into the property so far. That includes the purchase and the cost of the first phase of renovations by Dolittle Construction, Watsontown.

The 5-acre wooded tract has 18 log buildings that include a gym, dining hall, mosque, cabins and a horse barn. The restoration work on the gym, kitchen and Ali’s original sleeping quarters started in February, according to Sam Matta, camp manager. He said the plan is to wrap up the first phase of restoration by July. Mick Stefanek, Tamaqua, a former teacher at Palmerton Area School District and basketball coach at Marian High School, will serve as caretaker of the camp.

Madden bought the property after learning it was for sale through research in the wake of his boyhood hero’s death.

“With my love and appreciation for Muhammad Ali and real estate and hospital experience, I thought I could be a good fit to pursue this,” he said.

He said that he bought the property without any real plans other than restoring it to what it was like when Ali trained there in the 1970s.

“It needed a tune up and we are doing that,” he said. “I didn’t buy it with any grand vision of what it was going to be and I still don’t know what it is going to be in 10 years. The inspiration for buying it came within hours of his death.”

The goal now is to turn it into a place to collect and display pictures, videos and other memorabilia, and invite local students to visit and learn about Ali, Madden said. The gym will be turned into a “museum-like” space with Ali’s ring set up and they plan to still use the kitchen area. He said there are no plans for the sleeping quarters right now other than preservation.

“The initial inspiration was that there is a next generation of kids who need to know who Ali was and what he represented, and the camp is such a unique property in sports history and American history,” Madden said. “Places like this don’t exist anymore. It is truly unique and here we are at the anniversary of his death. I think it goes beyond sports history and into American history. It could be a site that has world significance. I just want to see the place be preserved and we have taken on the first phase of that.”

Madden thanked many people that made his restoration project possible, including Linda Pollack-Schiffer, Orwigsburg, whose father and uncle owned the property.

Originally, Ali was going to have the training facility in Atlantic City.

“It was Gene Kilroy’s idea to bring him here,” Matta said. “The reason this is here is because of Gene.”

Gene Kilroy, the heavyweight champion’s former business manager and Mahanoy City native, said Saturday that Ali had previously trained with Archie Moore in San Diego and then in Florida.

“I told him he should have his own training camp,” Kilroy said via phone Saturday.

Kilroy said that although this was before there was gambling in Atlantic City, there were still too many distractions with how close it was to Philadelphia and New York.

“It was too close to everybody, it was just a bad environment,” Kilroy said.

They then drove to see what Bernie Pollack, a boxing fan and owner of Pollack Furs, was offering them in Deer Lake, Kilroy said. Ali first brought a trailer home to train near Pollack’s mink farm and then bought land on Sculp’s Hill in 1971 and built the training facility in 1972.

It was a training facility for his fights from that point until his final fight in 1981, and included preparations for famous bouts against the likes of George Foreman, Joe Frazier and Ken Norton. The names of many of his opponents and idols remain painted on the large rocks spread throughout the facility.

“We had a lot of people help us in that area,” Kilroy said. “There were so many people who were good to us and Ali liked it. He was good for the area and the area was good for him. Everybody was friendly and nice and that’s how it got started. Everybody was so good to us up there and made it feel like home. He always had time for everyone that came up there.”

Kilroy said he hopes to see the camp become a historical site as well as a tribute to Ali and thanked everyone involved in making that happen.

“Mike is such an Ali fan and just a real believer in Ali,” Kilroy said. “He is a sincere guy and put his money where his mouth was and he is doing things first class and he is going to carry the torch. It’s going to be what it should be and that is a historical site in Pennsylvania. It is going to be something.”

Fair Districts PA to host event over ending gerrymandering

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The effort to end gerrymandering in Pennsylvania is gaining traction and its proponents are hoping to stir up interest in Schuylkill County.

Fair Districts PA is hosting a public presentation at 7 p.m. Tuesday at Penn State Berks to outline the problem and describe pending legislation that many hope would solve it. As the group does not yet have a chapter in Schuylkill County, organizers are extending an invitation to their neighbors to the north to attend, Fair Districts Berks member Sally Trump said last week.

Gerrymandering refers to the drawing up of legislative districts with highly irregular boundaries. The motive for doing so is often to give one party or another an advantage in a given district.

The organization is working with the League of Women voters to change the process by which district lines are drawn.

“When districts are drawn unfairly, voters are often left without a voice. Gerrymandering negatively affects local communities and small businesses. Its negative effects on our democracy are real. Gerrymandering has a long history in the United States and Pennsylvania. But today, technology make it possible to draw legislative lines with surgical precision. Politicians of both parties are drawing districts to get elected and stay in office unopposed; the result is gridlock in Harrisburg,” a Fair District’s Berks Media coordinator said in a prepared statement.

“Gerrymandering undermines our democratic system and erodes faith in government. It’s not a game of red against blue; it’s a game of the parties against the people. Fair districts matter to all Pennsylvania residents, regardless of party or political viewpoints.”

State legislative districts are redrawn after each 10-year census by a five-member commission consisting of the majority and minority leader of the state House and Senate, and a fifth chosen as chairman.

The state constitution, in Article II, Section 16, charges that House and Senate districts “shall be composed of compact and contiguous territory as nearly equal in population as practicable” and that “(un)less absolutely necessary no county, city, incorporated town, borough, township or ward shall be divided in forming either a senatorial or representative district.”

In spite of that, state districts often seem to violate the requirements and divide municipalities and stretch out over wide areas.

House Bill 722, which has 92 co-sponsors, including state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, Mahanoy City, and Senate Bill 22, which has 13 co-sponsors, would propose a constitutional amendment that would establish an 11-member commission. No elected officials, candidates, political party officials, aides or spouses would be eligible to serve. They would be chosen in a random process which would be hashed out in enabling legislation passed after the amendment.

Tuesday’s hourlong event will be at Penn State Berks, Perkins Auditorium, 2080 Tulpehocken Road, Reading, PA 19610.

For further details, visit www.fairdistrictspa.com.

Police search for East Brunswick Township burglar

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NEW RINGGOLD — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Frackville are asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for a burglary and theft that occurred last month.

Police said the crime occurred between 10:30 a.m. and 12:30 p.m. May 19 at a home at 341 Ridge Road in East Brunswick Township.

Police said someone broke into the home of Jennifer Grumpy and stole multiple items, including a big screen television set, an Xbox game system with various games and several laptop computers.

The thief or thieves then fled the area undetected.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on those responsible for this crime or on any other unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to case 06-04-17 when calling with information about the burglary and theft in East Brunswick Township.

Anyone with information is asked to call Crime Stoppers, toll-free, at 877-TIPS4SC (877-847-7472).

In addition, anyone with information can call state police at Frackville directly at 570-874-5300.

All information will remain confidential.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

Pottsville police begin wearing body cameras

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POTTSVILLE — Beginning at midnight Monday morning, officers of the Pottsville Bureau of Police department will begin using body cameras.

The implementation of the body cameras comes after more than a year of planning that included field testing to select the best-suited equipment, comparative pricing submissions to obtain not only the body worn cameras but also data storage for a department that handles more than 12,000 incidents a year, internal drafting of a policy and procedure, and preparation of a federal grant application for funding.

Pottsville Police Chief Richard F. Wojciechowsky said the total cost that will be spread over five years came in about $90,000 after several negotiations with Motorola Technologies.

That price, he said, includes all the cameras and accessories, secure Cloud storage, redaction and dissemination programs, new replacement cameras halfway through the contract, and a maintenance agreement.

Pottsville is the first police department in the state to utilize the Motorola equipment and is working in cooperation with local vendor Greens Communications.

The police department encountered a delay in actually purchasing the cameras because it was able to secure a grant through the U.S. Department of Justice to help fund the program.

Wojciechowsky said that grant, totaling about $45,000, will pay for more than half the expense but would not have covered any purchases made prior to the grant being awarded and additional federal requirements being met.

“It would have been very fiscally irresponsible of us to proceed without making a concerted effort to obtain this alternate funding once we were aware of the grant opportunity,” Wojciechowsky said.

“While it was a very competitive process, Captain John Morrow and I were confident we could prepare an application that would give us a solid chance at being selected.”

The pilot program that goes online beginning with officers from Watch 1 at midnight tonight into Monday morning is designed to allow the participating officers the opportunity to become familiar with not only the camera operations, capabilities and best practices in how they will be worn and operated, but also the practical implementation of the departmental policy and procedure that includes when and where they will be activated.

By using the cameras during the pilot program, the chief said, the patrol officers will provide feedback on field use practices that are most beneficial to the public and officers. He and his command staff will review audio/visual data collected to help evaluate the efficacy of the program and make alterations as needed.

“While the policy for the most part is definite, it is still a working document,” Wojciechowsky said. “If our pilot program team identifies an area that we need to readdress, we certainly will do so.”

The pilot program will continue for at least 45 days until Wojciechowsky said he and other members of his command staff feel officers are comfortable with the operation of the devices and also knowledgeable of the policies and procedures.

After that, the remaining officers in the department will complete the necessary training and go active with the devices.

Body cameras, he said, will benefit both the officers wearing them as well as the citizens they come in contact with.

“We’re going to have additional visual evidence to accompany police reports and witness accounts,” he said.

Two of the many areas that will immediately benefit from the use of body cameras are domestic incidents, and DUI and other traffic stops.

“For victims of domestic violence, we’re going to acquire additional on-scene evidence documented for future use and that helps us serve the victim’s interests even better,” Wojciechowsky said.

For DUI cases, the chief said, one of the pluses will be that field sobriety tests will be recorded so that evidence can be presented in addition to the testimony of the arresting officer, with or without BAC lab results being available.

The chief cautioned that although images from the cameras will help, they are only a supplement to the work officers already do.

“This data does not replace accurate and complete report writing in any way, it only enhances it,” Wojciechowsky said.

With the cameras, the chief said “in addition to providing quality testimony, we can also supply visual evidence documenting the charges that we have filed.”

“This is just another tool we will have to do our jobs even better,” Wojciechowsky added.

The model of camera chosen by the Pottsville Bureau of Police has a touch screen, similar to a cellphone, and a front-facing screen so those being recorded can see themselves. It will also provide an audio and visual indicator when activated, but has the ability to go covert when necessary.

During field testing, the front facing video feature was found to often deter a person who may be acting in a disorderly or otherwise disruptive way.

“During field testing this was proven to be a valuable deterrent is many situations,” Wojciechowsky said. “People are able to see in real time what they’re doing and how they’re acting and the behavior ceases before the situation escalates into more serious nature and/or a use of force incident.”

“This provides another dual benefit to the public and our officers in that it reduces the need for physical actions that put everyone involved at risk,” the chief said.

The new devices, in addition to operating as a camera, will also replace the current microphones and will function wirelessly, he said.

“It eliminates the cords officers currently must wear and also erases the possibility that the officers would have to carry yet another piece of equipment while on duty,” he said.

Wojciechowsky said officers of his department conduct themselves in a professional manner each and every day and that “video captured by our cameras will confirm and positively reinforce this behavior.”

“I’m constantly proud of every member of our department and am absolutely confident the use of the cameras on duty will benefit them and the citizens we serve,” Wojciechowsky added.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

Artists use material from mine runoff to create works

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Rust-orange acid mine runoff stains the regional landscape, but several local artists have found a use for the iron oxide polluting local waterways.

Artists such as Diane Grant Czajkowski, Ashley, Luzerne County, and Sue Hand, Dallas, Luzerne County, are using material from the mine runoff from Pennsylvania coal towns to create breathtaking landscapes and portraits on canvas.

Czajkowski, who has a studio in her home, showed how she could mix iron oxide chalk with pastel pencils and iron oxide pigment with linseed oil for art.

“I think there are so many things that can be done with it that are productive,” Czajkowski said.

Hand, who has owned an art business for 42 years, also has sold artwork incorporating iron oxide.

“The anthracite collectors are interested in things like that because it’s authentic and they realize that,” Hand said.

She showed paintings she completed, including one of a borehole in Solomon Creek in Hanover Township affected by acid mine drainage.

She received iron oxide for the art from Robert Hughes, executive director of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation in Ashley, who has been working on recovery efforts.

Hand said she was fascinated by the Solomon Creek borehole and how the water comes out.

“To me, it looked like a very aesthetic subject,” she said. “But to a lot of people, obviously that red gunk is not aesthetic. It’s very poisonous. But, there’s got to be good things we can do with it. If anybody ever figures out what to do with it, it’s going to be Robert Hughes.”

Hughes and Mike Hewitt of the Eastern Pennsylvania Coalition for Abandoned Mine Reclamation recently collected about 180 gallons of water from the Solomon Creek boreholes that will be tested to see if it could help create a more bendable concrete.

They shipped the water to the University of Michigan to be researched for use in a more durable concrete that might be found in Pennsylvania’s roads and bridges in the future.

Iron oxide from polluted streams also is used to make chalk and color T-shirts, Hughes said.

The iron oxide is collected in 5-gallon buckets and dried and sifted to remove small twigs and rocks. It is then placed in pans, heated in a small soil oven and packaged for sale.

On the coalition’s online store, epcamr.org/store, iron oxide tie-dyed T-shirts are sold for $10, iron oxide chalk is sold for $5 and pigment is sold for $5 an ounce. The iron oxide comes in three colors, “yellowboy” orange, anthracite red and silverbrook purple.

All profits from sales from the coalition’s stores are used to further the nonprofit organizations’s environmental mission, Hughes said.

Coalition officials and volunteers recently showed children how to tie-dye T-shirts with iron oxide on Earth Day during the Cherry Blossom Festival at Kirby Park in Wilkes-Barre. Young people who participated received free shirts.

Hughes said he hopes to work with more local artists who can use the iron oxide. Their artwork could be promoted and sold at the coalition store and they could give a percentage back as a donation, he said.

“We could distribute the word about their work and the good work we’re doing and that money could go back into supporting us doing educational programs for schools and doing work with kids,” Hughes said. “We are encouraging artists to come to us who want to use the pigment.”

Contact the writer: dallabaugh@citizensvoice.com; 570-821-2115

PennDOT plans roadwork in Schuylkill County

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Motorists driving through several municipalities in Schuylkill County will see roadwork this week.

On Monday, travelers may encounter state Department of Transportation maintenance crews milling, paving, pothole patching, crack sealing and repairing bridges on several roadways, including Interstate 81 and state roadways.

Sean Brown, safety press officer for PennDOT Engineering District 5, Allentown, announced the following roadwork:

• Southbound lane restriction, effective 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday on I-81 between exits 119 (Highridge Park Road) and 104 (Route 125) for crack sealing. Rain could cause delays.

• Also on I-81 southbound there will be lane restrictions between the Luzerne County line and Exit 119 for pothole patching effective 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Thursday. Rain could cause delays.

• From 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday, there will be paving on Dad Burnham Road in Washington Township, with flagging and lane restrictions, between routes 443 and 895. Rain could cause delays.

• There will be flagging and lane restrictions on Route 25 in Hubley and Hegins townships between Sacramento and Valley View for milling work from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday. Rain could cause delays.

• On Route 895 between Route 61 and New Ringold Borough, in Washington and West Brunswick townships, crack sealing that will cause flagging and lane restrictions 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

• On Route 924 in West Mahanoy Township between Shenandoah and Frackville, PennDOT crews will be conducting bridge repair from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday with flagging and lane restrictions.

• On Route 209 between Tamaqua borough and the Carbon County line, crack sealing will cause flagging and lane restrictions from 7 a.m. to 3 p.m. Monday through Friday.

Travelers can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com, which is free and available 24 hours a day. The website provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 770 traffic cameras.


Around the region, June 4, 2017

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Frackville

The Frackville Area Fireworks Committee’s annual fireworks display is set for July 3 at the Little League complex, West High Street. A variety of events will begin at 5 p.m. and the display will begin at dusk. For more information, call 570-573-3939.

Minersville

The Minersville Fish & Game group, Live Oaks Road, will have wing night from 6 to 9 p.m. June 15. Prices vary. Chicken fingers, fries and onion rings will also be available. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-294-9808.

Pine Grove

St. Mark’s (Brown’s) Church will have a 2017 Galilean Service at 6 p.m. June 17 at the Fehr Farm Pond, 204 Ferrebee Road. For more information or directions, call Howard at 570-640-7748. Grilled hot dogs and snacks will be available after the service. People should bring lawn chairs, according to a church release.

Pottsville

A used book sale at the Pottsville Public Library, 215 W. Market St., is set for noon to 2 p.m. Monday, sponsored by the Friends of the Library support group. An inventory of books on tape will be sold for $1 per bag. For more information, email lorenzs2@comcast.net.

Shenandoah

The region’s oldest and longest continuously running downtown open-air farm market is in full swing on Tuesday and Friday mornings throughout the growing season and into the fall. Regional growers and others feature produce, flowers, plants and at times even baked goods from about 8 a.m. to noon along the east side of the first block of South Main Street and even on the south side of the first block of East Centre Street near the more than century-old former Bolich & Burke Building. The market is sponsored by the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce. Mark Bernardyn is chairman of the chamber’s market committee. New growers are always welcome. For more information, email to Bernardyn at mbernardyn@mtb.com or to chamber Secretary Betty Ann Bugden at hairlady@ptd.net.

Tamaqua

Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. is looking for volunteers to help with its special program of therapeutic horseback riding for children and adults with special needs. HHTLC is a registered nonprofit organization that is staffed entirely by volunteers and located 10 miles south of Tamaqua near Route 309. It offers, according to a press release, therapeutic riding lessons on Monday and Wednesday evenings May through October. The center will hold a required volunteer training session for new lesson volunteers from 1 to 5 p.m. June 17. Anyone who wants to to volunteer to help with riding lessons is required to attend this hands-on training. Volunteers must be at least 14 years old, in good health, and able to walk for an hour at a time. While experience with horses and/or people with disabilities is helpful, it is not necessary. The center also welcomes the volunteer assistance of professionals in the allied health fields of physical, occupational and speech therapy and also needs people with horse experience to lead horses during riding lessons. Anyone interested in becoming a volunteer should call volunteer coordinator Jane Ostroski at 610-298-2546 or email her at jeohhtlc15@gmail.com. More information about the center is available at its website at www.horsesandhorizons.org or by calling Elaine or Harvey Smith at 570-386-5679.

Tamaqua

A Miller-Keystone Blood Center blood drive is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. June 18 at the Bungalow Swimming Pool, 200 Catawissa St. Miller-Keystone is the only blood provider to Gnaden Huetten Memorial Hospital, Palmerton Hospital, Schuylkill Health System, the Lehigh Valley Health Network including LVHN-Hazleton and the St. Luke’s University Health Network including St. Luke’s Miners Memorial Hospital, Coaldale. For more information or to schedule an appointment for the Bungalow drive call 570-225-1315.

Marian graduates met as strangers, left as family

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HOMETOWN — They walked in, in pairs, girls in gold caps and gowns and boys in blue.

Tassels dangled from the right side of each of their 96 caps at exactly 11 a.m. once the Marian band began playing “Pomp and Circumstance” as they walked in pace to the march, to their seats.

Each member of Marian High School’s Class of 2017 found themselves onstage in the auditorium to receive their diplomas, and about an hour-and-a-half later moving the tassels to the left signifying they were now graduates.

Cameras, cellphones and tablets illuminated the auditorium as they were raised by the hands of loved ones, trying to capture vital moments in time — four years of high school had come to an end to make way for the future.

It wasn’t long ago they all walked into the gym for the first time together for freshman year, salutatorian Anthony R. Collevechio said. None of them knew what to expect or how they would each change over the course of high school but they all seemed to find their way, he said, noting accomplishments and how classmates were supportive of each other.

He thanked faculty and staff present and also remembered those who guided them but had since left the school — Sister Bernard Agnes, retired principal; Justen D. Hackenberg, former dean of students; and Stan Dakosty, retired head football coach.

Everyone in Marian’s Class of 2017 faced challenges but they learned from them, according to valedictorian Edward J. Kolonsky III, with each one contributing in some way to the school’s successes whether in athletics, scholastically or through school programs they participated in.

They all met as strangers four years ago in the gym but today, he said, they were in the gym for the last time as family.

Despite what each class member does in the future, they can recall a Marian memory that either changed their outlook or provided them with comedy, Kolonsky said.

“Marian will always be with each of us, no matter what we do or where we go,” he said.

The past will give them strength, determination and knowledge to carry on throughout life and their own goals, Kolonsky said.

Principal Jean M. Susko handed out diplomas with Peter J. Sanfilippo, dean of students, and Teresa P. Sheer, director of studies and enrollment.

Susko read aloud every one of the students’ awards and scholarships. Graduates received $6.6 million in scholarships and grants and accepted $3.3 million.

Of the Class of 2017, 94 percent will go on to higher education programs with three joining the workforce and three others taking “gap years” to include mission trips and hiking expeditions, according to school officials.

Graduation exercises began and ended in reflection of one of the school’s founding purposes — Catholicism.

In his invocation, the Rev. Joseph T. Whalen said there is a feeling of achievement and excitement for the future as the class celebrates its skills and gifts, which they will use to bring blessings to the world.

Just before commencement ended, Susko reminded Marian’s newest group of alumni that God’s love will follow them into the future.

Contact the writer: achristman@standardspeaker.com; 570-501-3584

Capella old faithful of nighttime stars

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Four out of the five brightest stars currently seen from Pottsville are readily visible in the celestial dome.

Of course, the sun is our brightest and closest star. Once the sun has finally set these early June evenings, the next brightest “star” to pop out is Jupiter in the south-southwest sky. It doesn’t count, though, because it’s not a star but rather the largest planet in our solar system.

Jupiter is so big that if it were hollow, you could easily fill it up with a thousand Earths. Arcturus, the third brightest star seen from Earth, is presently the brightest actual star in the night sky, beaming away in the high southern heavens to the upper left of Jupiter. The next brightest shiner is Vega, showing off its brilliance in the high eastern sky.

Capella is the fifth brightest star we can see from our planet. Look for it as soon as you can in the low northwestern sky, poking out of the evening twilight. Don’t wait too long to look for Capella because it slips below the horizon shortly after 11 p.m. Even though it’s only fifth place in stellar brightness, Capella’s claim to fame is that it’s the brightest nighttime star that we see most often in our northern hemisphere.

Capella can make that claim because it’s the nearest, brightest star to Polaris, the North Star. Polaris marks the position of the north celestial pole. Every celestial object we see in the sky day or night, whether it’s the sun, the moon, planets or stars, all appear to rotate around the North Star Polaris once every 24 hours. Polaris is the “lynchpin” (sorry) of the sky because it shines directly above the Earth’s terrestrial North Pole.

If we lived at the North Pole, the North Star would be directly overhead and everything in the celestial dome would pivot around the overhead North Star every 24 hours. Around here we live about halfway between the North Pole and the Earth’s equator, so in our sky, Polaris is permanently fixed about halfway between the northern horizon and the overhead zenith.

Stars close to Polaris in the sky, like those that make up the Big and Little Dippers and the W-shaped constellation Cassiopeia, are so close to the north celestial pole that they’re always above the horizon moving in a tight circle around the North Star. They are called circumpolar stars, and we see them night after night.

Capella is not quite close enough to Polaris to be considered a circumpolar star, but it’s close! Because of its northwardly position, Capella can be seen in our evening skies from late August to mid-June. Throughout the year, it never goes an entire night without making at least a brief appearance!

According to Greek mythology, Capella is known as the “goat star.” That’s because it’s the brightest star in the constellation Auriga the Charioteer. The constellation Auriga basically resembles a lopsided pentagon that’s supposed to be a retired chariot driver turned goat farmer, with a mama goat on his shoulder and baby goats in the crook of his elbow. How you get all of that out of a lopsided pentagon is beyond me. There must have been quite a party when that constellation was conjured up! Capella is supposed to mark the position where the mama goat is sitting on the chariot driver’s shoulder, and that’s why it’s known as the goat star.

Unfortunately, all we can see of the constellation Auriga is Capella. By early August, though, the lopsided pentagon will be available for very early morning viewing in the pre-twilight northeast sky. Until then, all we have is Capella, or what I like to call the “Old Faithful” of night time stars!

Celestial Hugging this weekend

On Saturday night, the bright planet Jupiter will be in a super tight hug just to the lower right of the waxing gibbous (football shaped) moon. It should be quite a sight! On Sunday night, the moon will be a little fuller and Jupiter will be just to the left of our lunar neighbor.

(Lynch, an amateur astronomer and professional broadcast meteorologist, can be reached at mikewlynch@comcast.net)

Police log, June 4, 2017

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Tuscarora man

faces DUI charge

BARNESVILLE — State police in Frackville charged a Tuscarora man with DUI.

Justin Smith, 28, was encountered on a traffic stop at 8:10 p.m. May 26 on State Road in Ryan Township, according to police.

Police administered a breath test to Smith and he was determined to be above the legal limit, police said. DUI charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville.

Police: Woman

stole key fob

GIRARDVILLE — A homeless woman was jailed after being arrested by state police at Frackville after a theft about 12:30 p.m. Wednesday at 301 E. Main St.

Police said Carin E. Hubbard, 28, was found in possession of a stolen key fob owned by a 37-year-old Gordon man taken from Sosnoski Automotive.

When questioned, Hubbard provided a confession as to how she took the key fob and that she intended to steal the vehicle, police said.

Hubbard was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $15,000 straight cash bail, police said.

State police release

incident reports

FRACKVILLE — State police at Frackville reported a total of 752 incidents reported during the month of May.

There were 48 criminal offenses reported, 39 determined to be valid and 23 cleared with 21 criminal arrests made.

In the patrol division, troopers investigated 64 crashes including two fatal crashes, seven DUI crashes and seven hit-and-run crashes. The crashes resulted in the deaths of three people and injuries to 20 others.

Police made 11 DUI arrests and issued 505 traffic citations and 125 warning notices.

Around the region, June 5, 2017

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Deer Lake

The Deer Lake and West Brunswick Fire Company, 1 Ash Road, will have bingo games from 6 to 8:45 p.m. Tuesday in the firehall. Doors will open at 5 p.m. and all are welcome. For more information, call 570-366-0152.

Frackville

The farmers market, sponsored by the Frackville Business and Professional Association, is held from 2 to 5 p.m. Thursdays beginning June 8 at Frack Street and Lehigh Avenue. It will feature fresh produce offered by a local grower. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-874-0174.

Frackville

The Frackville Recreation Board will have a Christmas in July basket auction beginning at noon July 23 in the Frackville Municipal & Community Center, 42 S. Center St. More than 50 theme baskets worth $25 or more will be raffled to benefit the community pool project. A shop-and-drop will be from 3 to 7 p.m. July 22. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-874-1109.

Hegins

The Hegins Valley Fire-Rescue 2017 Carnival will be held June 14-17 at Hegins Park. June 14 will be parade night beginning at 7 p.m. Entertainment will be by disc jockey Dan Poletti. It will also be mug night. On June 15, the band Duece will perform and, on June 16, Sapphire will take the stage at 7 p.m. It will also be family night with one-price rides for children. Activities will begin at 3 p.m. June 17 including karaoke disc jockey. The carnival will conclude with fireworks.

Pottsville

Pat Moran of Schuylkill EMS and Penny Klinger, a physician liaison with Lehigh Valley Health Network, recently addressed members of the Pottsville Rotary Club. Klinger updated the Rotarians about some of the happenings at LVHN, including new signage, a new practice in the Saint Clair Industrial Park for Dr. Ivor Lewis and the merger of the two Pottsville hospital campuses. She talked about the importance of continuing education at LVHN, both for their physicians and staff as well as the community. She also told members about a recent announcement of a partnership between LVHN and Lehigh Carbon Community College that will help provide EMT training in Schuylkill County. Moran, education coordinator of Schuylkill EMS, spoke about various levels of training for EMS volunteers. He said emergency medical responders need 40 hours of training and, upon completion, they will have a basic understanding of emergency situations. The program for EMTs is more in-depth and requires 100 hours of training, he said. Trainees must be at least 16 years old to participate. The sessions will be 6:30 to 9:30 p.m. Tuesdays and Thursdays plus 9 a.m. to 4 p.m. one Saturday per month Sept. 5 through March 16.

Schuylkill Haven

The 12th anniversary Schuylkill Haven Night at the Phillies will be on July 29 featuring the Phillies and Atlanta Braves. Game time will be 7:05 p.m. The cost is $80 per person and includes bus ride, tailgate party with a disc jockey, commemorative T-shirt and 100-level ticket to the game. For reservations or more information, call 570-385-2841, 570-617-7252 or 570-385-3578. The deadline to be guaranteed a 100-level seat is June 30. If 500 tickets are sold, someone from the local group will throw out the first pitch.

Shamokin

The Retired Public Employees of Pennsylvania Subchapter 8601 meets at 1 p.m. the first Tuesday of the month at Brewser’s Sports Grill, 839 W. Water St. For more information, email ednapearl@gmail.com.

Schuylkill County version of Monopoly in works

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POTTSVILLE — The Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce will be celebrating its 100th anniversary next year by partnering with a printing company to create “Schuylkill-Opoly.”

The localized version of Monopoly will feature 40 businesses making up spaces on the game board. As of last week, there were about 12 spots still available for chamber members.

“We thought it would be high-quality fun because it highlights local businesses,” Bob Carl, Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce executive director, said Thursday. “The fact that we can have something commemorative in nature for our 100th anniversary was important to us.”

The chamber is partnering with One Point Inc., Scranton, to create the board game. The printing company has made different versions of the Monopoly game featuring Scranton, Hazleton, Lehigh Valley and Carbon County.

Businesses that purchase advertising for the game also have the option of selling Schuylkill-Opoly to the public. At least 1,000 games will be sold at outlets in the county.

Carl said company representatives approached chamber members with the opportunity. The game is expected to start production in the fall and be available for Christmas this year, Carl said. The chamber is still determining the number of games that will be available in the county based on feedback from participating businesses.

“At the end of the day, the goal would be to not make them so scarce that the people who want them can’t get them, but this is a once-in-a-lifetime event and once it comes it should be a keepsake where the value goes up,” Carl said.

The Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1918, only six years after the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. It was originally called the Pottsville Chamber and later known as the Greater Pottsville Chamber of Commerce.

The next year will be filled with events celebrating the chamber’s centennial, including a gala in September.

“It’s going to be an ongoing event beginning January 2018,” Carl said. “We are very proud of the ability to span this many decades and continue to grow and carry on the mission for our members of providing value-added services and creating a better business atmosphere in the county and a stronger quality of life and economic vitality.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6023

Vacant building in Pottsville damaged by fire

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POTTSVILLE — An early morning fire Sunday in a vacant building behind M&M Bar & Grill is still under investigation.

Firefighters were called to scene at 5:18 a.m., according to Pottsville Fire Chief Todd March.

“It is under investigation, but it doesn’t look like it was intentionally set,” March said.

He said the fire damaged the first floor of the vacant home along a former section of Harrison Street that was closed years ago. Although there is no address on the building, it has the same owner as M&M Bar & Grill, 501 N. Centre St. March said the vacant building was boarded up.

“It’s probably going to have to be torn down,” March said.

Contact the writer: mgilgerjr@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6023


Families have fun learning about environment at Bear Creek Festival

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SUMMIT STATION — Bear Creek was bustling with activity Sunday afternoon as families fished, created crafts and learned about the environment during the 16th annual Bear Creek Festival on Sunday at the Schuylkill County Fairgrounds.

The free event was hosted by the Schuylkill Conservation District and offers free and family-oriented activities related to all things environment, outdoors, natural and agricultural in Schuylkill County.

“It’s our one big event we do every year,” Jenna Fehr, Schuylkill Conservation District manager, said. “Our partners get to come out and we are able to tell everyone all about what we do. It brings all these environmental and nature groups to one spot and there is nothing like it.”

Activities included a fishing derby by Schuylkill Trout Unlimited, firing demonstrations by Blue Ridge Rifles, demonstration by Red Creek Wildlife Center, flowerpot painting, wagon rides and T-shirt tie-dye in orange abandoned mine drainage pigment.

Fehr said getting people involved in nature will get them to care more about the environment.

Bill Reichert, Schuylkill Headwaters Association president, said the annual festival started as a way to get all seven watershed groups in the county together and educate people about the environment.

“It’s turned into a great, fun day for everybody,” Reichert said.

The festival also included musicians Van Wagner and Jay Smar. Wagner had a program on coal heritage, while Smar entertained with a mix of music, dance and history.

The creek was full of fish for the children’s fishing derby. Schuylkill Trout Unlimited added 150 fish to the creek for the event, Bruce Herb, a member of the group, said.

“There will be kids fishing here all week,” Herb said.

Michael Davis, Shenandoah, attended the festival for the first time Sunday with his son, Jacob, and daughter, Zoey. It was also one of the first times his 6-year-old daughter used a fishing rod.

“The more chance they have to get out here, the better it is for everyone,” Davis said. “I love fishing, so if they can get out with me, it is a great day.”

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6023

Three homeless after fire in Cass Township

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MINERSVILLE — Three people are homeless after flames severely damaged a house in Cass Township early Sunday morning.

Cass Township Fire Chief Pete Ricigliano said crews were called to the home at 140 High Road about 4:15 a.m. and found heavy fire coming from windows on the upper floor of the structure.

Ricigliano said the occupants of the home were able to escape and that crews worked for more than 30 minutes to contain the fire.

One firefighter suffered a minor injury but did not require transport to a hospital, he said.

Patty Daley, disaster captain of the American Red Cross Tri-Couty Chapter, identified those living at the home as the owner, Vince DeMarco; 24; his girlfriend, Alyssa Emery, 18; and Emery’s grandmother, Sharon Piesarski, 61.

All three were assisted with food, housing and clothing, Daley said.

At the scene Sunday morning, Ricigliano said the cause of the fire is under investigation. The chief could not be reached for comment later Sunday to see if the cause and origin of the blaze were determined.

Firefighters from Cass Township, Minersville, Forestville, Heckshersville and Pottsville responded to the fire along with Minersville fire police who directed traffic off High Road as crews fought the fire.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

Births, June 5, 2017

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Geisinger Medical Center, Danville

To Kevin and Amber Kimmel Witmer, Donaldson, a daughter, May 25.

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street

To Curtis Fisher and Samantha Brown, Port Carbon, a son, May 21.

Community rallies around Tower-Porter Old Home Week after vandalism

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TOWER CITY — Vandalism threatening the 70th annual Tower-Porter Old Home Week celebration rallied volunteers to fix damage and form a Community Watch group.

“I did not realize the community would end up knitting together as strongly as they did,” Mike Brennan, president of the TPOHW Committee, said Wednesday.

Brennan walked through the Tower City American Legion Post 468 midway grounds showing progress volunteers made in restoring the site, which suffered an estimated $4,800 in damages in April. Their efforts ensured the community event will go on with rides, games, food and entertainment from June 26 to July 1 at the grounds in Porter Township at 1 Midway Road, Route 325, South 10th St., Tower City.

Response

State police are investigating the vandalism and Pennsylvania Crime Stoppers posted information about the case on www.crimewatchpa.com, asking anyone with details to come forward. According to the website, on April 26, “unknown suspect(s) cut locks, poured blue paint on the floor, and spray painted ‘MDK.’ ” Brennan said they also damaged steel doors, a stainless steel refrigerator and smashed glass display cases.

The property is owned by the Legion, but the committee owns the contents. The committee has content insurance but a high deductible, and the Legion has a high deductible on its buildings, according to Brennan.

Brennan posted photos of the destruction on the committee’s Facebook page. Initially, the future of this year’s carnival looked grim.

“With what we were dealing with, we were going to be bankrupt before we even started the carnival. We ended up putting the pictures up with the message that said, ‘Unfortunately, we may not have a carnival,’ ” he said.

Response was swift.

“We had donations from everywhere, Camp Hill, Lebanon and people that moved away to Florida. They said, ‘Tell us what we can do for you guys,’ because they grew up here. We had a lot of people who contacted us who said that they meet their family here every year and it’s the starting point for family reunions. They come to the midway a couple of nights and go to their family picnics later. They said, ‘Is there anything we can do as a family?’ With all these people coming together, some said, ‘We can’t afford to donate any money, but can we do some work?’ ”

“We had enough money to recoup everything and extra money for green paint. We said we’ll take the money raised and take all the stuff we were unable to do in previous years and address it. The community helped paint, repair, put hinges on, new wood where it was needed, clean the bingo stand. It was amazing,” he said.

Safety

A Community Watch organization was also launched. Members meet every two weeks at the Tower City American Legion.

“We walk around, take pictures, make sure everything’s OK, talk to neighbors, that sort of stuff,” he said. “There’s a few people that drive around. Some people work odd shifts, even drive around our midway to make sure everything’s alright. We have a nice connection and we’re getting strong.”

Brennan said visitors can be assured the grounds will be safe for the celebration with Lehigh Law Enforcement officers providing security and first-aid services.

Committee

In addition to Brennan, committee officers are Dave Kessler, vice president; Peter Hoffman, treasurer; and Katie Brennan, secretary. Members are: Bruce Messersmith, Brenda Koons, Darlee Bohr, Dale Oxenrider, Ted Unger, Kelley Masarik, Ryan Sims, Gladys Deiter, Tabatha McNeal and Doug Buffington, known as the “voice of the midway.” They have a Facebook page and website at www.tpoldhomeweek.org.

All profits go to Tower-Porter Old Home Week.

“We give funds back to the community for the pool, playground, library, churches and fire companies. We don’t take any of the money. It’s given back to the community,” said Brennan, who believes the Old Home Week tradition started as a way to bring the community together when it welcomed home soldiers. He said there are photos from the 1920s showing gatherings at the school square section of Tower City on Grand Avenue. In 1947, the celebration moved to Legion grounds.

Schedule

There will be 15 rides on the midway, and the cost of each wristband is $12 per session to ride. Sessions are 6 to 11 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Several community organizations will have stands along the midway. On Saturday, there will be a special ride matinee from 1 to 5 p.m. for $10 per person.

Various musical acts will perform: Monday, Sweet Addiction, variety band; Tuesday, Laredo & Brooke Unger, country; Wednesday, Shotgunn, classic rock and roll; Thursday, Rockville Revue, oldies rock and roll; Friday, Brad Crum and the BCT Legend Band, Elvis tribute from 7:30 to 10:30 p.m. All other acts perform 7 to 10 p.m. in the entertainment tent, which has seating for about 70. Visitors are welcome to bring lawn chairs.

Saturday’s schedule includes: Fallen Pride, classic rock, 1 to 4 p.m.; Car Cruise-In, 1 p.m.; and Deuce, ultimate party band, 6:30 to 10:30 p.m. The celebration concludes at 10:45 p.m. with a fireworks display by Skyshooters Pyrotechnics LLC.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Minersville woman killed in ATV crash

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HECKSHERSVILLE — A 31-year-old Minersville woman was killed in an ATV crash Saturday night in Foster Township.

Foster Township Police Chief James Nettles said the crash occurred about 9 p.m. on a dirt road about a mile east Valley Road.

Nettles identified the woman as Martina M. Barnhart, 407 St. Francis St., and said she was pronounced dead at the scene at 9:38 p.m. by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Albert Barnes.

Nettles said the crash occurred as Patricia Socko, 46, of 199 Brier City Road, Pottsville, was driving a 2016 Can-Am Maverick, a four-seat side-by-side vehicle, on the dirt road on Reading Anthracite Property when she was tried to make a left turn causing the machine to roll over onto its passenger’s side.

When the machine rolled over, Nettles said, Barnhart, who was a rear passenger, fell off and became pinned between the vehicle and the dirt road.

Several people who were in the area assisted in removing the woman from underneath the machine, but she had succumbed to her injuries, the chief said.

Two other passengers — Nicole Chiccine, Schuylkill Haven, and Garrett Eichenberg of the Pottsville area — were not hurt.

Nettles said the cause of death is pending the results of an autopsy that will be performed on Barnhart and that the investigation into the crash is continuing.

Contact the writer: fandruscavage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

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