Patty McLain landed her dream job. Then, she left it.

For more than a decade, the Spring Brook Township, Lackawanna County, resident worked as a teacher, a job she loved to go to every day, until she felt a different path call to her. She went on to pursue a career that fulfilled her generous spirit and let her pay it forward in ways she never could have imagined.

McLain works as a teen educator for the Women’s Resource Center, which serves abuse survivors and others in crisis throughout Lackawanna and Susquehanna counties. WRC also helps the community through outreach programs, which is where McLain comes in. The role makes for the perfect position for McLain, whose journey into education started with her own time as a student.

“I wanted to become a teacher because there were so many teachers who saw the best in me and guided me through,” McLain said during a recent afternoon at WRC. “I wanted to pay it forward and be that for someone else.”

As a high school English teacher, McLain imparted lessons to students in the Poconos before expanding her role to instructional coaching, administrator training, extracurricular advising and curriculum development. Her work led her to teach and spend time with students of all different skill levels regarding specifics of their academics. But she noticed the students also struggled socially and emotionally. And as time went, McLain started to feel her mission to give students the tools for success wasn’t aligning with the rigors of curriculum, including standardized testing. She started to feel the focus had shifted away from the students.

“My goal was to always let them know what they are capable of and remind them they matter,” McLain said. “It wasn’t easy, because I loved my students and the district, but, at some point, I made that decision (to leave).”

After she left teaching, McLain happened upon a Women’s Resource Center job posting for a teen educator. The posting specifically noted the person would work to empower students, and McLain knew it was for her.

In that position, McLain works with the center on community initiatives, including the Safe Dates program in schools. Safe Dates is an evidence-based program that targets attitudes and behaviors associated with dating abuse and violence. McLain has worked with students from grades seven through 12 throughout Riverside, Abington Heights and Scranton school districts as well as NEPA Youth Shelter Teen Drop-In Shelter. Over the course of 10 sessions, the students learn to define a healthy relationship and how to spot signs of abuse and other red flags. They receive lessons on consent, date rape and sexual assault. They also go over guidelines on how to help someone who is abused and how to help those who are abusive.

McLain works with students to lay the groundwork for healthy communication in relationships, romantic or otherwise.

“What a lot of relationships boil down to is communication, and we really go over how to effectively and clearly communicate in those interpersonal relationships,” she said. “We talk about mindfulness and taking a second to breathe and think before we react. Then, ask questions and figure out feelings before trying to find solutions.”

Giving young people the confidence and tools to succeed remains a staple in McLain’s life. Outside of WRC, she is a public speaker and published author who has written books on empowering teens. She also stays involved with global nonprofits to empower teens, including her role as school programming and student empowerment adviser for Everyone Matters. Locally, she has worked with NEPA Youth Shelter and NEPA Rainbow Alliance. She is an ordained holistic minister, and as a teen wellness and empowerment specialist at Pathways to Inner Healing in Moscow, McLain works with teenagers to explore wellness of mind, body and spirit through a variety of tools, including mindfulness, positive psychology and more.

“It’s really about empowering them and giving them the tools to success by teaching them to take care of themselves in all facets,” she said. “There are so many local organizations that want to support youth.”

McLain initially sought to become a teacher thanks to the educators she had growing up. She refers to herself as a public education success story and the “American Dream.” As a kid, she fell in love with learning and relished being at school. Her hard work in class opened up opportunities she never could have dreamed of, including being the first person in her family to go to college and pursuing degrees in post-graduate education.

McLain believes the caring and encouraging teachers who taught her that she mattered and that she could make a difference in the world paved her path to success.

“There are so many teachers I had that really made such a difference in my life,” she said. “I think that’s the best gift you can give someone. I love what I do. I want to pay that forward.”

Contact the writer: gmazur@timesshamrock­.com; 570-348-9127

Meet Patty McLain

At home: Lives in Spring Brook Twp. with her husband, Jason, and their son, Ian, 7. They like to spend time outside, play games, read Harry Potter books and laugh at everything.

At work: Teen educator for Women’s Resource Center; school programming and student empowerment adviser for the global Everyone Matters campaign and its “Film Your Issue” project; teen wellness and empowerment specialist at Pathways to Inner Healing, Moscow; Aroma Freedom technique practitioner; and network marketing professional with Young Living Essential Oils

Inspirations: Her students; anyone willing to be vulnerable and authentic; Tony Robbins; Dr. Wayne Dyer; her former teachers, Betty Zapp, Tomm Evans, Nora Riley and Dr. Agnes Cardoni; and her “tribe of incredible friends, colleagues and loved ones”

Aspirations: To use teaching, writing and speaking as a means to empower the next generation with tools to thrive so they can “be the change we all wish to see in the world.”

Diversions: Going on adventures, taking too many pictures and adding long captions to them on Instagram, synchronicity, traveling, reading and music

Aversions: Spicy food, condescension and people who choose hatred and meanness instead of love and kindness

Quote: “I believe the children are our future/Teach them well and let them lead the way/Show them all the beauty they possess inside/Give them a sense of pride to make it easier/Let the children’s laughter remind us how we used to be. ... Learning to love yourself is the greatest love of all.” — Whitney Houston, “The Greatest Love of All”

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy Township police have identified a man killed when his motorcycle collided with a vehicle in Mahanoy Township on Friday.

Mahanoy Township police Patrolman Matthew Williams said Jeremy Polizzi, 39, of 510 W. Spruce St., was pronounced dead at the scene of the crash on Brandonville Road, Route 339, by Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner David Truskowsky, Mahanoy City.

Police said the crash happened around 6:45 p.m. as Polizzi was driving north on Route 339, about two miles north of Mahanoy City, on his Harley-Davidson motorcycle when he lost control.

Williams said the motorcycle and Polizzi slid for about 100 yards before the man struck the front of a Volvo sedan being driven south by a Ringtown woman.

The officer said a witness reported Polizzi passed her vehicle in the oncoming lane and that as he passed, his motorcycle began to wobble indicating he was losing control.

The woman driving the car was not injured, Williams said.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III said a virtual autopsy was conducted on Polizzi on Saturday and revealed the man’s death was the result of “blunt force trauma to the head.”

Moylan said he ruled the manner of death accidental.

The coroner said there was no evidence at the scene of the crash that Polizzi was wearing a helmet and that if he was it could have made a difference in the outcome.

“I feel that if his head would have been protected this could have been a survivable injury,” Moylan said.

He also said that routine toxicology tests will be conducted as done in all cases involving fatal motor vehicle crashes.

Mahanoy City firefighters, Mahanoy City police and Mahanoy City EMS assisted at the scene.

Route 339 was closed for several hours while police investigated the crash.

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

POTTSVILLE — Whether they were Irish or wannabe-Irish eyes, they were all smiling

The 45th annual St. Patrick’s Day Parade moved along Pottsville streets Saturday on a sunny and windy day.

People young and old lined the streets for the popular parade, many wearing green of all shades and hues — be they hats, coats, shirts, gloves, scarves and various decorative accessories.

The parade, sponsored by the Ancient Order of Hibernians John F. Kennedy Division 2 of Pottsville, began at 11 a.m. on West Market Street at 12th Street, moved east on Market Street to North South Street, where it turned onto Mahantongo Street, went east to Centre Street, then moved north on Centre Street and west on Laurel Boulevard to the Humane Fire Company, where a grand Irish party was held to celebrate all things Irish with live entertainment by the band CeltHeart for the 19th time.

Three hours before the parade, Mass was celebrated at 8 a.m. in St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, after which a breakfast was enjoyed at Trippin’ Billie on Centre Street. The AOH breakfast included the honoring of this year’s parade grand marshal, Schuylkill County Court of Common Pleas Judge James P. Goodman.

The first band near the lead of the parade was the Hawk Mountain Highlanders, followed by the AOH-JFK group. The Pottsville Area High School marching band was another musical highlight of the parade. Members of Pack 615, chartered by St. Patrick church, marched, as did members of the AOH Patrick Dormer Division No. 32 of Saint Clair, AOH Division 3 of Cass Township and the students of the Sabo School of Irish Dance. Riding in one car were the Schuylkill County Fair royalty, while in another car were the royalty of the Pottsville Winter Carnival. The Mahanoy City chapter of the Travelers Protective Association were in the parade throwing candy to the children. In addition to all Pottsville fire companies, there was fire equipment from Mount Carbon, Cumbola, Seltzer and Llewellyn.

Sitting on Centre Street waiting for the parade to start were James Leary, 44, and his son, James Leary Jr., 15, both of Maizeville. This was their first time to watch the Pottsville parade.

“It was a beautiful Saturday and we were looking for something to do, and, being Irish, we try to go to all the parades that we can,” the senior Leary said. “We didn’t really plan it to come down today. It was a spur of the moment thing. We had some things to do this morning, and I told my son that I had a little something on my mind to do and brought him down.”

Leary, who is ethnic Irish whose great-great-grandparents came to America, was asked about what makes being Irish something of which to be proud.

“Proud to be Irish? There are so many reasons. There are so many reasons,” he said. “I’ve done a lot of research. My family came over from Ireland and worked in the coal mines. When you look at the history, there’s a lot of pride that comes with that and everything they went through. It’s so great to be a part of that. It’s just something to be proud of.”

Leary said he was steeped in the Irish heritage when he was growing up, including that green was the favorite color.

“I remember my father and grandfather always wore the green shirts. My father bought a green Monte Carlo when I was a kid,” he said. “The older I got, the more I realized what it meant to myself, but to my grandparents.”

Leary Jr. has reflected on his Irish heritage and how it is such an important part of his family.

“I think about my family coming over from Ireland, and also the history of having suffered in the coal mines,” he said. “They braved out and sacrificed. They were not sure what America is and was and will be for them, but then taking that risk coming over here. They were doing for their families and for themselves, and I think that means a lot.”

“When they came over here, they didn’t know what they were up against,” his father added. “When they got here, it was all new land and that would be scary.”

Leary moved to the area about eight years from Delaware County, and when he began doing family research, he found some interesting facts.

“When I started research using Ancestry.com, and I didn’t know this before I moved up here, that my grandparents came straight from Ireland to Gilberton and worked in the coal mines,” he said. “It was amazing to find that out. That triggered more and more research on my part. I wanted to know more and more. I have pages and pages of information and I’ve been sharing it with my son. It’s something we both enjoy. It’s pretty neat and fascinating.”

When asked what is planned for the actual feast day of St. Patrick today, “Eating ham and cabbage and Irish potatoes.”

David and Melissa Galvin, of Mount Carbon, sat in chairs on Centre Street enjoying the parade.

“I thought it was a good turnout with the fire trucks and the Pottsville Area band,” David Galvin said. “We come out for it every year.”

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

Even though the weather may not exactly be advertising spring, nothing can stop it astronomically. The vernal equinox is this Wednesday afternoon at 4:58 p.m. For the first time since last September, the sun is entering the northern half of the celestial sphere. From now until late June, the sun will climb even higher in the sky until the days reach their maximum length.

Already there have been many signs of spring in the Pottsville night sky for some time now. One of those is the Beehive star cluster. It’s far from a celestial billboard, but it’s a definite sign of warmer times to come.

The Beehive star assemblage is located in the very faint constellation Cancer the Crab. Finding Cancer is one of the ultimate stargazing challenges unless you’re really in the dark countryside. The Beehive cluster is actually brighter than most of the stars in the constellation it’s part of. Look in the southeastern sky about halfway between the brighter constellations Leo the Lion and Gemini the Twins.

The Beehive cluster is known astronomically as Messier object 44, or M-44 for short. What most folks see resembles a patchy faint cloud. When ancient Greek astronomers like Hipparchus observed it around 130 B.C., he registered it in his star catalogue as a “cloudy star.” The Romans saw it as a manger and called it Praesepe, which is Latin for manger.

In those days, the Beehive’s host constellation, Cancer, was known to some cultures as a pair of donkeys. The tale spun down that the ghostly cloud was a manger that the beasts were feeding at. The donkeys and the manger were also a way to forecast the weather. It was said that “A murky manger” was a sign of rain. As much as I like natural weather forecasting in my daytime job, I won’t be trading in computer models, satellite pictures or doppler radar for a pair of asses feeding at a manger anytime soon.

It wasn’t until the early 1600s when Galileo poked his telescope toward the Praesepe and saw it as a cluster of stars that it eventually got the name Beehive cluster. With your not so crude telescope, or even a decent pair of binoculars, you can easily see how it got that moniker.

Astronomically, the Beehive is considered an open star cluster, a group of about 1,000 stars that have emerged out of the same nebula as hydrogen gas sprinkled with heavier elements from a long since exploded star. The stars in this cluster are believed by astronomers to be about 500 million to 600 million years old, and while that may be considered a young age for a star, it is rather old for a cluster of young stars. Many of these same kinds of clusters are gravitationally broken up before the stars are that old, but the Beehive is hanging in there. That “teenage mob” of stars is more than 3,400 trillion miles away from our backyards, and nearly 134 trillion miles wide.

Happy Spring!

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

HEGINS — A barn at the Tri-Valley Environmental Site will receive a face-lift courtesy of a Tri-Valley High School junior working toward his Eagle Scout project.

Emanuel Risso, 16, of Pitman, outlined his plans Wednesday to the Tri-Valley school board and they were approved.

Risso proposed replacing the weathered siding on the barn’s east side with new wood siding. He estimated the project cost at $750, and said he would seek wood and paint donations from local saw mills and hardware stores. Risso will also be raising project funds with a whoopie pie sale.

He hopes to begin the project this summer and have it completed within a few weeks of the start date.

The board also heard a presentation from Shannon Brennan who is the Schuylkill Technology Center’s director of career and technical education. Brennan congratulated several Tri-Valley students who were selected as students of the month. She said enrollment at the Schuylkill Technology Center North Campus, Frackville, and South Campus, Mar Lin, is up by 6 percent, and that STC has pushed for increased community outreach with its diversified occupations program.

Two new programs STC would like to offer are Logistics and Fire 1/EMT.

A long-term project STC is involved in is developing its own food truck, according to Brennan. Once work on the truck is completed by several STC shops, culinary students may be able to offer food they’ve prepared at public events and food fairs.

The board approved the STC secondary budget for the 2019-20 fiscal year.

As presented by Superintendent Mark. D. Snyder, an updated memorandum of understanding for the Joint School Safety Taskforce was approved. Elementary Principal Robert L. Felty Jr. will continue as the designated voting representative. This update is from the MOU approved in 2017 and includes additional schools. The JSST was established for cooperative protocols for participating districts. It provides mutual assistance in the event of an emergency incident affecting a member school or district.

Felty announced kindergarten registration would be held April 3 and April 11. Parents should have received a notice in the mail. If parents did not, they should contact the district office.

Felty thanked the Woodmen of the World, Pitman, for their generous donation of school supplies.

Charles W. Hall, high school principal, congratulated several students for their academic honors and for athletic achievements in wrestling, cross country and archery. He recognized teacher David Evans and students involved with the “2019 What’s So Cool About Manufacturing?” contest. The Tri-Valley team won the award for Outstanding Educational Value for its video on Michael Foods.

Directors Diane C. Dietrich, Roger D. Heidlebaugh and Guy M. Julian were absent.

In other business, the board approved the following coaches and salaries for the 2019-20 school year: Jeffrey Sampson, head football, $4,600; Michael Ulicny, assistant football, $3,400; Vernon Strouphauer, assistant football, $3,400; Bryn Bowman, assistant football, $2,160, pending clearances; Deryn Wenrich, head boys’ soccer, $2,200; Christopher Jensen, assistant boys’ soccer, $1,400, pending clearances; Zachary Reichert, head girls’ soccer, $2,650; Megan Boyer, assistant girls’ soccer, $1,490; Clark Romberger, head junior high girls’ basketball, $2,780; Michael Romberger, assistant junior high girls’ basketball, $2,150, pending clearances; Karrie Bowman, head volleyball, $2,200; Jill Doyle, assistant volleyball, $1,940; Pamela Ulicny, head cross country, $2,200; Jeff Wascavage, assistant cross country, $1,490; and Amber Chick, cheerleading, $1,400.

Volunteer coaches approved were Marty Shade, Corey Shadle, Justin Strouphauer, football; Luke Rossi, football, pending clearances; and Tara Nahodil, volleyball.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

TOWER CITY — Dennis Smith, public health preparedness coordinator for the state Department of Health, asked the Williams Valley school board Thursday if the district would consider being a point of dispensing site.

A POD is a place that gives out medication like pills or vaccinations to protect the general public during an emergency. It must be able to serve between 20,000 to 40,000 people if medication is needed to be administered prophylactically, he said.

The district is situated right in the middle of the other POD locations, between Millersburg in Dauphin County and Pottsville in Schuylkill County, Smith said. There would be no charge to the district and the Department of Health would provide the necessary training.

Board President Daniel Stroup said the board would review the material before making a decision. Director Jennifer Kramer was absent.

Williams Valley head boys’ basketball coach Dennis Kasper delivered a two-pronged assessment during his end-of-season report.

On the one hand, he described this season as one of the “most enjoyable” in his 24 years of coaching because of the quality of the players on the team and their work ethic. The team posted a 12-10 record. Its only senior player, Levi Engle, scored more than 1,000 points while battling health concerns and undergoing surgery during the season.

“You need to know how proud you should be of those kids,” Kasper told the board of the Vikings’ young team.

On the other hand, Kasper spelled out concerns he had about an opposing team damaging the Vikings’ locker room, and about the display of jealousy from players’ parents and their attempts to talk with him immediately after a game.

Kasper said he’s hired to “coach the kids, not the parents.” He said the time immediately following any game is time he needs to spend with the players. He would discuss any problems with parents and would be happy to meet with them at a later time, not in the center of the gymnasium on game day.

“We had a team come into our house and purposely destroy our (visiting) locker room. I saw the damage that was done,” Kasper said. The opposing varsity team destroyed the stalls, which needed to be replaced, and spat all over the locker room facility, according to Kasper.

Conversely, he said the Williams Valley players are taught to leave everything intact and to never leave anything on the floor when they’re in a visiting school’s locker room. Any Viking player that would have caused that type of damage would have been kicked off the team, Kasper said.

Assistant coach and board director John Mika shared Kasper’s concerns. Mika said it was a pleasure to work with the students and said he was excited for next year. He said the Williams Valley students are a “class act and are very nice kids.”

Both Superintendent Diane M. Niederriter and athletic director Randy Russelavage praised Kasper for being a role model for students. Niederriter also congratulated the district’s archery team for placing second in the state archery tournament and qualifying for nationals.

In other matters, the board is planning for improvements to the high school technology infrastructure and will receive an E-rate reimbursement for the upgrades. The board approved the following bids from Consolidated Electrical Distributors DBA Dauphin County Electric: switches, $16,498.49 (with an E-rate reimbursement of $13,198.79 and a cost to the district of $3,299.70); installation of switches, $1,500, with a cost to the district of $1,500; and cabling, $32,975.90 (with an E-rate reimbursement rate of $26,390.72, with a cost to the district of $6,595.18.)

In other business, the board approved:

• Purchasing a new commercial tractor with a minimum 60-inch deck at a price not to exceed $10,000. Funds for the equipment will be paid out of capital reserve.

• The fourth revision to the 2018-19 school calendar. None of the changes will affect graduation date, which remains May 30.

• Allie Smith and Thomas Hahne to participate in track and field as independent competitors for the 2018-19 school year.

• Revising the 240-day employee work schedule for the 2018-19 school year.

• Job descriptions for the assistant to the superintendent, business manager, technology director, technology support specialist, high school principal, assistant high school principal, elementary principal, assistant elementary principal and director of special education.

• The resignation of learning support teacher Debra Forney, effective the last scheduled work day for teachers for the 2018-19 school year. Forney is retiring.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

FOUNTAIN — Firefighters battled fire and windy conditions late Friday night into Saturday morning that involved two storage buildings in Hegins Township.

The high winds not only fanned the flames that destroyed both structures, but they also kept firefighters busy preventing embers from spreading fires to local homes and properties.

The dispatch from the Schuylkill County Communications Center was at 11:29 p.m. Saturday at 982 E. Mountain Road, according to Hegins Valley Fire-Rescue Fire Chief Chad Richards.

“When I got on scene, we had two outbuildings. One was like a small barn and the other one was a shed. They were fully involved when we got there,” Richards said. “The wind was very bad. It started in the bigger barn and it spread to the little one.”

Richards said the winds created problems in trying to keep the fire from spreading.

“We actually had some embers fall on a house that caught a porch on fire. We put it out right away so there was minimal damage,” he said. “We also had some bush areas and some trees that were on fire. Wind gusts of 30 miles an hour-plus didn’t help matters much. Embers were just blowing everywhere. We had small brush fires in people’s yards.”

Richards said both fire-damaged buildings had electrical service. The larger building was about 30 by 40 feet, and the smaller one was about 12 by 20 feet.

“My main concern was getting a water supply set up since there are no hydrants in the area,” Richards said. “The priority was setting up the pump site. My main thing was to make sure that the other structures that weren’t on fire, wetting them down so they wouldn’t catch. That was my main concern. And we had enough there (personnel and equipment) to get a pretty good hit on the buildings that were on fire.”

Richards said the buildings were used for storage and contained no animals. Everything was under control at 2:25 a.m. Sunday.

“The cause is still undetermined,” Richards said. “I have to wait for the insurance company to send their inspectors out. There were no injuries.”

In addition to Hegins Valley, other fire companies called to the scene were from Sacramento, Pitman, Pine Grove-North End, Donaldson and Jolliet. Tankers were called in from Klingerstown, Gratz, Berrysburg, Llewellyn, Newtown and Pillow.

Sacramento Community Fire Company Chief Ron Radel said his company was on water supply duty at the scene.

“Wind was an issue,” Radel said. “Embers were being blown by the wind. There were a number of little spot fires. You have all the dry leaves on the ground.”

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

Frackville

The Frackville Ministerium Food Bank will be open from 9 to 10 a.m. Thursday to serve eligible residents of the borough. New applicants will need proof of eligibility — a borough address, showing a zip code 17931. The food bank is at Zion Lutheran Church; people must use the downstairs entrance by the parking lot on South Beech Street.

Gilberton

Continental Hose Company No. 3, 229 Main St., will have a hoagie sale beginning at 9 a.m. Saturday. Both advance orders and walk-ins are welcome. The cost is $7 per hoagie and the variety includes Italian, regular, ham/cheese and turkey. All orders include a beverage and chips. For more information, email Frank Jackowiak fjackowiak@hotmail.com.

Minersville

Ss. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church is taking orders for paska bread for Easter. The cost is $11 for large and $6 for small with or without raisins. The deadline to order is March 24. To order or for more information, call 570-544-2690.

Orwigsburg

The Tri-County Chapter of the American Red Cross will honor people in Schuylkill County who performed an extraordinary, lifesaving act during its 2019 Schuylkill Heroes Breakfast to be held from 7:30 to 9 a.m. June 5 at the Schuylkill Country Club. Organizers are looking for nominees and for event sponsors on a variety of levels. Michelle Halabura is the regional philanthropy officer, American Red Cross, Eastern PA Region. She can be reached at 484-619-1382 or via email michelle.halabura@redcross.org.

Pine Grove

Ham or baked haddock suppers will be served beginning at 3:30 p.m. March 29 at the Pine Grove Masonic Lodge. The cost is $10 for ham, $12 for haddock, $4 for children 5-12 and free for children under 5. Meals also include a baked potato or mac/cheese, stewed tomatoes, green beans, applesauce, roll/butter, beverage and dessert. Take-outs will be available. For more information, call 570-345-8216.

Pottsville

Trinity Lutheran Church will have a mock lobster dinner beginning at 4 p.m. March 22. The cost is $10 for adults, $4.50 for children’s mac/cheese and free for children under 5. Meals also include stewed tomatoes, coleslaw, roll/butter, beverage and dessert. For more information, call 570-622-9910.

Ringtown

The St. Mary Roman Catholic Church Choir is taking orders for homemade shoo-fly pies and homemade “Just Crusts” for bakers who have difficulty rolling crusts. Pies are $8 each and an eight-inch crust is$2. Orders will be accepted until March 29; pickups will be from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 2 in the church rectory. To order or for more information, call the church rectory at 570-889-3850 or Marie at 570-889-3825.

Schuylkill Haven

The Men of Bethesda, in a “rural response to the addiction crisis,” will host an awareness and resource connection from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at Meadowbrook Center, 23 Meadowbrook Drive. People are welcome to stop in and “stay for 10 minutes or several hours,” according to an event flier. It will include a mock bedroom (parents only), Narcan training, the documentary “Chasing the Dragon,” a drug take-back and an 11 a.m. presentation by Janene M. Holter, supervisory narcotics agent.

Tamaqua

An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Wednesday at the Salvation Army Gymnasium, 105 W. Broad St. Anyone 17 or older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health is eligible to donate blood. Walk-ins are welcome. To schedule an appointment, call 800-733-2767 or go online to www.redcross.org.

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County District Attorney Michael O’Pake and the Schuylkill County detectives are asking the public to help them locate a man wanted for failing to appear in district court as required earlier this year.

Detectives said Paul Thomas Pepe, 28, failed to appear on Jan. 22 before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, on charges of felony burglary and felony criminal trespass. Detectives said Pepe is white, about 5 feet 6 inches tall and weights about 175 pounds.

He has a last known address of 66 Pottsville St. in Cressona.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Pepe or on any other fugitive in Schuylkill County is asked to call the district attorney’s office at 570-628-1350 or Schuylkill County Tip Line at 570-624-3988.

Information can also be given by email at dadd@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

In addition, detectives said that anyone who may see or come in contact with Pepe should call the Schuylkill County Communications Center at 911 or their local police department immediately.

All information received will remain confidential.

A list of Schuylkill County bench warrants is available on the Schuylkill County website at www.co.schuylkill.pa.us, detectives said.

Fugitive warrants served between March 1 and 12 totaled 40, bringing the total so far 2019 to 306.

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

Albright

Albright College, Reading, named the following local students to the fall dean’s list:

Victoria Baumert, Hamburg, a graduate of Hamburg Area High School majoring in public health and Spanish; Tiffany McDonald, Cressona, a graduate of Blue Mountain High School majoring in digital studio art; Skye Hallick, Cumbola, a graduate of Pottsville Area High School majoring in biology.

Assumption

Zigmond Kuczynski, of Tamaqua, Class of 2021, is one 493 students named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Assumption College, Worcester, Massachusetts.

Baldwin Wallace

Lauren Tidmore, Orwigsburg, a graduate of Blue Mountain High School majoring in acting, and Tanner McHugh, New Ringgold, a graduate of Tamaqua Area High School majoring in marketing, were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Baldwin Wallace University, Berea, Ohio.

Calif. Univ. of Pa.

The following local residents were named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at California University of Pennsylvania:

Connor Deitrich, Jordan Gessner and Ashley Hobbs, Elizabethville; Cassandra Casella, Sheppton; Jennifer Langilotti, Tamaqua; Kailyn Shoffler,Valley View.

Central Penn

Local students earning dean’s list honors at Central Penn College, Summerdale, include: Nora Burns, Tower City; Karlee Klinger, Hegins; Heather Leininger, Pine Grove; Chelsea Maurer, Hegins; Amy McKivison, Elizabethville; Peyton Poletti, Hegins; Jessie Porter and Parker Rose, Pottsville.

William & Mary

Ethan Dewald, Orwigsburg, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the College of William & Mary, Williamsburg, Virginia.

Delaware Valley

The following local students made the dean’s list of the fall semester at Delaware Valley University, Doyles-town:

Rachel Brahler, Pottsville; Jonah Eckert and Morgan Krick, Hamburg; Sarah Miller, New Ringgold; Emma Rago, Andreas; Kelli Readinger and Kamryn Schaeffer, Pine Grove; John Shuttlesworth, Williamstown; Faith Sleva, Pine Grove; Jonathon Yuskoski, Shenandoah.

Edinboro

Abigail E. Warner, Ringtown, was named to Edinboro University’s fall semester dean’s list.

Ithaca

Tessa Perchansky, McAdoo, a health sciences major, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Ithaca College, Ithaca, New York.

Muhlenberg

The following local students were named to to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Muhlenberg College, Allentown:

Hannah Betz, Tamaqua; Paige Jones, Cressona; Jacob Metcalfe, Hamburg; Alec Roseland, Tamaqua; Taj Singh, Orwigsburg.

Penn State

Niccolo Granito, a senior, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Penn State Schuylkill campus.

A business/international business major, he is a son of John and Nina Granito, Or-wigsburg, and a graduate of Blue Mountain High School.

Pittsburgh

Gianna Granito, a freshman at the University of Pittsburgh, Bradford, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester.

Gianna is majoring in criminal justice with a minor in forensics. She is a daughter of John and Nina Granito, Orwigsburg, and a 2018 graduate of Blue Mountain High School.

Villanova

Jadyn Anczarski, a junior physics major and James C. Curvey scholar, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at Villanova University.

He is a 2016 graduate of North Schuylkill High School and a son of Joyce and John Anczarski, Ringtown.

Univ. of Delaware

Kamryn Stablein, Orwigsburg, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Delaware, Newark.

Alabama

Logan Derbes, Pottsville, and Callie Dreher, Schuylkill Haven, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Alabama, Tuscaloosa.

U. Conn.

Joshua Huhn, Valley View, was named to the dean’s list for the fall semester at the University of Connecticut.

POTTSVILLE — Mike Brown didn’t need a reminder Sunday of how good the cookies being sold by the Girl Scouts are.

“I ate like a pack and a half of those all by myself,” he said of the Do-Si-Dos, a peanut butter and oatmeal cookie.

The Tower City man said he also ate half a box of Tagalongs, a mix of peanut butter and chocolate, and Thin Mints, a cookie that has a mint flavor with chocolate. If that wasn’t enough, he had a glass of milk with the cookies while watching TV recently.

Brown, 48, was with his wife, Kim, who bought a box of Do-Si-Dos, and the Thin Mints on Sunday at the Fairlane Village mall. Girl Scouts from four troops in Minersville — 30987, 30990, 31026 and 30406 — sold the cookies in the mall. There are 41 Girl Scouts in the troops combined, ranging from the youngest Scouts — Daisies — to the oldest — which are Seniors. There are also Brownie, Junior and Cadette Girl Scouts.

“I love cookies,” Mike Brown said.

Kim Brown said she bought the cookies for her children and husband, but she might sneak one or two of them.

“It’s nice to donate to them,” she said of the Girl Scouts selling the cookies.

Edward Hayes and Deb Misunas of Hazle Township, Luzerne County, stopped by and took some cookies home. Hayes bought Trefoils, a short bread cookie.

“They are all for me,” Hayes said.

Misunas, who was a Girl Scout when she was younger, remembered selling cookies as a child. She said the cookies were stacked high in a spare room because her mother was in charge of selling the cookies in her troop one year.

She knows it is a lot of work to sell the cookies to the public.

Mikayla Scott, 10, a Girl Scout with Junior Troop 31026, said her favorite part about being in Scouts is the cookies with the Girl Scout S’mores cookies as her favorite. Last year, Scott sold 1,000 boxes of cookies.

“We are only out in the public until April 14,” Missy Scott, her mother and leader of the troops, said.

On Sunday, the girls sold 271 boxes of cookies, Missy Scott said. The overall goal for the Minersville troops is 8,200 boxes of cookies.

“Each girl is trying to sell 200 boxes,” she said.

Scott said the sales contribute to the troops’ year-end trip.

The Girl Scouts started selling the boxes of cookies in public Friday but were permitted to take order forms to different places in January.

As far as the most popular cookies, “Thin Mints and Tagalongs are the most popular,” Missy Scott said.

All cookies are $4 a box except for the new ones, Toffee-Tastic, a gluten free buttery cookie, and Girl Scout S’mores, which are $5. The Savannah Smiles, a lemon-flavored cookie, will be discontinued, Missy Scott said.

This year, the girls voted and are going to the Bronx Zoo in New York, Missy Scott said. Previous trips included Cape May, New Jersey, to go dolphin watching; the Baltimore Aquarium, Baltimore, Maryland; and Washington, D.C.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A teacher in the Schuylkill Haven Area School District was injured when she was stuck by a student driver in a school parking lot Wednesday morning.

Schuylkill Haven police are investigating the incident that happened before school started but had no information available as of Friday afternoon.

Emergency personnel initially wanted to fly the teacher to a trauma center by helicopter but after she was evaluated it was decided she be taken to a local hospital by ambulance. Schuylkill EMS and Schuylkill Haven firefighters assisted at the scene.

On Thursday, police said they could not identify the driver due to the person being a juvenile.

Deeds

Barry Township — Patricia A. Neumeister to Cory M. Wagner; 28 Frank Lane; $205,000.

Blythe Township — Federal National Mortgage Association to Dean Carl Hine; 20 Main St., Kaska; $12,600.

Butler Township — Bernard J. Bann to Jacob and Corinne Houtz; property on Country Club Road, Fountain Springs; $20,000.

William and Shirley Shriner to Shirley Shriner; 690 High Road; $1.

Branch Banking & Trust Co. to Ronald Wallace; 461 W. Main St.; $4,500.

East Brunswick Township — Joseph and Susan M. Gwyther to Yvonne Coombe; 139 Peach Drive; $1.

East Union Township — Kris Morgan to Michael A. Bernotas; 31.93-acre property on Township Road 812; $1.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Geraldina Paloka; Lot 243ER, Eagle Rock; $92,500.39.

Frackville — Ronald Lewullis, executor of the Estate of Thomas J. Kulikowski, to Jacob Throne, trustee of the 081517 Portfolio Trust; 211 Bell Alley; $1.

081517 Portfolio Trust to Brent M. Howard; 211 Bell Alley; $75,000.

Girardville — Miguel Rivas to Anwar Hannibal; 308 E. Main St.; $3,000.

Hubley Township — Branch Banking & Trust Co. to John Trano; 2596 W. Main St., Spring Glen; $10,000.

Kline Township — Marian J. Cara, by attorney in fact John Bast, to Rosemarie Branz and Anthony Wickersham; 5 Third St., Kelayres; $75,000.

Mahanoy City — Tammy Martinez to Adnan Mirza; 405 W. Mahanoy Ave.; $6,000.

Laila A. Brooks to Anwar Hannibal; 117 W. Mahanoy Ave.; $3,000.

Mahanoy Township — K2K LLC to Ana Karen Maza and Luis Alberto Trinidad; 929 W. Centre St.; $2,300.

Yudacot Limited Partnership to Yudacot Limited Partnership; 4.139-acre property on Morea Road, Morea; $1.

Mountain Beauty Group LLC to Yudacot Limited Partnership; 2.121-acre property on Morea Road; $1.

North Manheim Township — William J. III and Keri J. Folk to Heather Richmond; 32 E. Abby Lane, Sunnyside; $138,000.

Cheryl A. Rubright and Karen Lurwick, co-executrices of the Estate of Patricia L. Bowen, to Ellen P. Lurwick and Bryan M. Skosnick; 127 W. Adamsdale Road; $262,000.

North Union Township — Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Carla Capulong and Nicolette Munoz; Lot 20AV2, Eagle Rock; $35,249.

Pottsville — Donna Evans to Melissa McAndrew; 320 W. Norwegian St.; $1.

George R. and Joan M. Repella to Thomas M. Kelly and Taylor P. Kelly; 214 N. George St.; $11,000.

Mark G. and Kim A. Repella to Thomas M. Kelly and Taylor P. Kelly; 216 N. George St.; $1,000.

Mark G. and Kim A. Repella to Thomas M. Kelly and Taylor P. Kelly; 218 N. George St.; $1,000.

Laverna Ethel Beard to Leigha Parsons; 829 Fairview St.; $6,000.

Robert V. Reinmiller to Gregory L. and Ellen M. Leffler; two properties on Market Street; $1.

Rush Township — Jeffrey M. Sernak to Sernak Holdings LLC; property at Field Road and Marian Avenue, Hometown; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Katherine L. Hydro to Chris Russell and Michelle Markham; 112 Parkway; $59,900.

Shenandoah — Michael and Carolyn Michaels to Zenetda Cruz; 433 S. Washington St.; $12,000.

Tamaqua — Brody Properties LP to Margaret Knadler, Jeffrey A. Knadler, Jeffrey R. Knadler and Marie Dorthea Knadler; 221 Washington St.; $1.

Brody Properties LP to Timothy M. Ziegler and Ronny Ziegler; 304 Cottage Ave.; $1.

Eleanor Ann Seladones to Eleanor Ann and William E. Seladones; 106 Pitt St.; $1.

Tower City — Stacey A. Sherack to Briana N. Gibson; 13 W. Grand Ave.; $43,500.

Tremont — Paul J. Withelder Sr. to Haim Yusupov; property on Main Street; $9,000.

Charles Godshall to Alan E. and Lori Ann Celmer; 1 Main St.; $56,000.

Charles Godshall to Alan E. and Lori Ann Celmer; 37 W. Main St.; $104,000.

Charles Godshall to Alan E. and Lori Ann Celmer; 2-14 Laurel St.; $145,000.

Kristy A. Freeman to Ronald L. Freeman; 231 E. Main St.; $70,000.

Tremont Township — Watermelon Realty LLC, 081517 Portfolio Trust and Natural Realty LLC to Michael G. and Melanie S. Weider; 136.402-acre property on Tremont Road; $140,000.

Union Township — Ronald E. and Carol Jean Parker to Douglas Litwhiler; property on Township Route T-437; $1.

Wayne Township — Charles H. Fix to Nicholas and Tina Ondeck; 1026 Summer Hill Road; $70,000.

West Brunswick Township — Robert L. and Wanda M. Fidler to Donald E. and Sandra Lee White; 458 Lakefront Drive; $179,415.

West Penn Township — Eugene Perla to Joseph J. Jr. and Angela J. Kovatch; 2/7th interest in property on Route 309; $1.

Walter D. Perla to Joseph J. Jr. and Angela J. Kovatch; 5/7th interest in property on Route 309; $57,000.

SHENANDOAH — A call for donations by the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society to replace the aged windows at its headquarters has been met with an overwhelming response.

The historical society is in the process of updating the building in recent years, with the replacement of the wooden sash windows to be the next step. On March 8, a letter to the editor from society President Andrea Pytak was published in The Republican-Herald about the project. The society also reached out through social media to get the word out.

The fundraising goal was to replace 26 of 31 windows since five windows have already been replaced. Windows are being memorialized with a plaque at $200 each.

“We put in a letter to the editor in the paper telling people that we wanted to replace our windows since our roof is done,” Pytak said on March 13. “It snowballed and we now have 23 donors, which is awesome. It really is.”

The snowball kept rolling, and two days later all 26 windows had been donated. The society has also had two additional donations offered. The replacement work was expected to begin this weekend.

“I’m overwhelmed. The outpouring of people’s generosity is unbelievable,” Pytak said.

The 114-year-old building, which for most of its existence was the Louis Aranoff Wholesale Grocery, is located at 201 S. Main St. The large brick building was purchased in January 2001 by Jean and Ted Twardzik, who are best known for Mrs. T’s Pierogies in Shenandoah. The couple transferred the ownership to the society as a donation on Aug. 2, 2005.

In recent years, the roof developed major leaks, with large volumes of water threatening the extensive historical archives. Coming to the rescue was Jean Twardzik with a donation of 525 shares of Philip Morris International Inc. stock. The value of the stock was about $40,000, which paid for the roof replacement done by Kass Contracting of Shenandoah.

Pytak said the old windows are not energy efficient in any way.

“With the roof done, it was time to take a look at the windows,” she said. “Replacing them with modern windows would save on our heating cost. Our fuel cost was $1,000 a month during December, January and February. We have the thermostat turned down to 55 degrees, but that building takes a lot to heat. Surely the new windows will help next year. They will also help to keep the coal dust out.”

Pytak said the windows will be installed at no charge by Reed Davis, a resident of the Turkey Run section of Shenandoah.

“He just does it for us. He put some windows in already for us and he wants to do it gratis,” she said. “He said that if people are kind enough to donate the windows, he’ll install them for us. I was overwhelmed by that also.”

Pytak said when the windows are installed, the next projects will be the replacement of display cases and the heating boiler.

A registered 501(c)(3) non-profit organization, the society has been an important part in being a repository of historical artifacts in the 153 years since the incorporation of Shenandoah as a borough in 1866. The memorabilia collected provide a glimpse into the Shenandoah area’s cultural and ethnic diversity, its major economic roles in business and industry that include anthracite coal mining and manufacturing, sports, entertainment, and much more.

For more information about the society or to make a donation, call Pytak at 570-985-3337, email Andy Ulicny at aulicny@live.com, or use the less frequently checked GSAHS email at shenhistoricalsociety@yahoo.com. A message can also be sent through the society’s Facebook page. Pytak can also be reached at the Downtown Shenandoah Inc office.

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

ASHLAND — The Ashland Borough Council adopted an ordinance at Wednesday’s meeting that sets procedures and fees for collection of delinquent accounts.

The ordinance approval follows an action at the February meeting to retain the law firm of Portnoff Law Associates, Ltd., for the collection of delinquent sewer, water and trash accounts.

Ashland joins other municipalities and authorities in having the law firm collect delinquent accounts. Founded in 1989, Portnoff limits its practice to the collection of unpaid real estate taxes and municipal utility fees.

The ordinance sets the schedule of fees as part of the collection process that will be added to what is already owed to the borough.

With the ordinance adoption, Borough Manager Raymond Jones Jr. said Portnoff should begin its work in a few weeks.

The ordinance states that “to be fair to all property owners and other residents of the Borough of Ashland, it is necessary to recover promptly unpaid delinquent water, sewer and trash fee accounts (collectively, the unpaid claims’), if necessary, by legal proceedings.”

The Municipal Claims and Tax Liens Act authorizes the addition of attorney fees, charges, costs, expenses, commissions and fees to the total payable with respect to the unpaid claims, but only if the municipality involved has approved by ordinance a schedule of those fees, the ordinance states.

The ordinance does allow for “cases of serious hardship” that the borough will address on a case-by-case basis pursuant to uniform policies.

A partial list of the fee schedule to be added to delinquent accounts when Portnoff begins the collection process includes:

• Initial review and sending first legal demand letter — $175

• File lien and prepare satisfaction — $250

• Prepare a Writ of Scire Facias — $250

• Prepare pre-trial memorandum — $200

• Prepare Writ of Execution — $800

• Attendance at sale; review schedule of distribution and resolve distribution issues — $400

• Services not covered in legal fees list — Hourly rate between $75 and $275.

In addition to the listed fees set in the ordinance, the reasonable and necessary out-of-pocket charges, costs, expenses, commissions and fees incurred in collection, including, but not limited to, postage, title searches, VIN searches, prothonotary fees and charges, and sheriff fees and charges, will be added to the unpaid claims.

As part of the ordinance, the borough appoints attorney Michelle R. Portnoff as solicitor for the limited purpose of collecting the unpaid claims and authorizes her, and all attorneys employed by Portnoff, to sign documents, including municipal claims and liens, on behalf of the borough.

In other business, the borough council hired Tim McGinley (construction) and Brian Maurer (electrical) as building code inspectors. Both will conduct rental and pre-sale real estate inspections. The compensation they will receive for inspections has not been determined.

The borough received three bids for the installation of a security camera system at the Little League fields in Eureka Park, with the lowest bid of $3,000 from American Computer Associates, Frackville, which was less that half than the closest bid from another company. Jones said the bid was low because the company is donating the labor to install the system. The funding comes from a Commonwealth Financing Authority grant, most of which was used to refurbish the baseball fields.

The borough council approved two community event requests:

• The Ashland Little League will hold its opening day with a parade along Centre Street to the baseball fields on Apr. 6 beginning at 11:30 a.m.

• The American Legion Post 434 received permission for the annual Memorial Day parade on May 27 beginning at 10 a.m.

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

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County residents can cast their votes for elected offices in the Primary Election, which is May 21 in Pennsylvania.

The polls are open from 7 a.m. to 8 p.m. The commonwealth has a closed primary, meaning voters can only select members of their political party when entering the voting booth. Call the Schuylkill County Bureau of Elections at 570-628-1467 for questions about your polling place or visit www.co.schuylkill.pa.us.

The deadline to file a nomination petition for all elected offices for the primary was March 12.

Among those positions are row offices, which are for a four-year term.

At the county level, five people are seeking a seat as county commissioner to advance to the General Election in November. Current commissioner Gary Hess, a Democrat, is seeking another four years in office. If elected, this would be his third term as a commissioner. Joe Palubinsky, a Democrat, is also running.

On the Republican ticket, current commissioners George F. Halcovage Jr. and Frank J. Staudenmeier are seeking re-election. Melissa Strauch, a Republican, has also filed.

Three people are vying for county treasurer. On the Democratic ticket, Catherine Mahon has filed. Republicans Kira Adams and present treasurer Linda Marchalk are seeking the office.

Six candidates have made their way onto the ballot for county prothonotary. On the Democratic side, only one candidate, Pottsville City Councilman Mark Atkinson is running for the job. Five Republicans also have decided they want it, including: Dan Daub, the mayor of Tower City; Albert Gricoski, the current first deputy prothonotary; Larry Padora, the current president of New Ringgold Borough Council and chairman of the Schuylkill County Tax Collection Committee; Jerry Labooty, the owner and executive chef at the Greystone restaurant in Pottsville; and Bridget McGowan Miller of Orwigsburg.

Three people are seeking the Clerks of Courts office, with Ronald Pellish seeking the Democratic nomination and Maria Casey, the current office holder, and Melissa Santai Clarke, on the Republican ticket.

Republican Theresa Santai Gaffney wants to continue as register of wills. She is facing a challenge from fellow Republican Frank DiMarco. Joe Ferro, the Port Carbon police chief, is running on the Democratic ticket.

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan, a Republican, is seeking more time in office. Democrat Deb Detweiler is looking to unseat Moylan in the General Election.

Current Controller Christy Joy, a Republican, is seeking another four-year term and Recorder of Deeds Ann Dudish, a Republican, is seeking re-election. Both are running unopposed.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

FRACKVILLE — The final design of the proposed mini-park in downtown Frackville is nearing completion and will be shown later this month by the borough’s Economic Development Task Force.

Borough Councilwoman Helen Miernicki gave an update of the park project during Wednesday’s borough council meeting as the task force chairwoman. “Central Park” is a working title for the project.

The property is located at 51 S. Lehigh Ave., which was the location of the former Heaven Scent Florist at the northeast corner of Lehigh Avenue and Oak Street. The borough purchased the property in April 2017, with the building demolished in August of that same year. The blighted property was one of the many projects the borough has been involved in to remove dilapidated and/or dangerous properties.

Miernicki said the task force met on March 4 and hosted Tim Hale, owner of Season’s Art Landscaping Design, Orwigsburg, which has been doing the design work.

“The owner of Season’s Art presented the committee with three prospective plans, and we agreed on a plan that is a combination of two of them,” Miernicki said. “We are going to see the final 3D version on screen of the design on March 24, at 5 p.m. at the Frackville Elks. All are invited to attend. That date is different from our normal meeting date because Hill will be available.”

Miernicki said there are some questions about the following details:

• Information is being sought on whether the top layer of concrete be removed from the rear lot where a gas tank is located.

•Information is also being sought about how wide the sidewalk needs to be around the property. Miernicki said the task force wants to be sure the park components are within property codes. She said the sidewalks would be made of concrete or pavers with no trip zones.

•Grants and other funding are being investigated.

“We’re going to working on more funding and grants,” Miernicki said. “The focus is now on making our wish list for the vacant lot a reality by getting funds. We always welcome donations for the project, and we’re going to asking different individuals, non-profits and businesses in the area for letters of support that also helps in gaining grants.”

Borough solicitor Mark Semanchik had a suggestion about what could be done in making sure that the rights-of-way are correct.

“I have one suggestion because the corner is bounded by two state highway right-of-ways,” Semanchik said. “I don’t know if I can offer much assistance by way of where the cartway ends and the width of the right-of-way. It might be necessary to contact PennDOT in Schuylkill Haven. I hate to have some improvement efforts begin and then have somebody from PennDOT stop it because there was no permission granted to do something in their right-of-way.”

“I’ll look into that,” Miernicki said. “I know right now there is no plan for PennDOT to do anything, but in five to 10 years that plan could change. Your designer probably is aware of that process.”

The March 4 task force meeting had a representative from American Legion Post 398 in attendance. The park will be located across the street from the post.

“They’re looking forward on seeing the improvements that we have planned,” she said. “Some of the feedback we received is that they have a building and the parking lot, but they have no green space, so they are very accommodating to our plan. They think it’s a wonderful idea that veterans could go there and relax. We’re going to have a wall with a veterans memorial of some sort as further details come into play.”

Anyone who has grant ideas may call Miernicki at 570-449-9476.

The next regular meeting of the task force is Apr. 1 at 7 p.m. in the municipal building.

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

ORWIGSBURG — The 2019 Junior Idol of Schuylkill County competition is just weeks away, but there is still time to register to show your singing talent and have some fun.

Sponsored by the Schuylkill Theater Association, Junior Idol allows youngsters from ages 6 to 15 to perform before a live audience, maybe for the first time in their lives, and make people smile and get a few toes tapping to the music.

The reigning Junior Idol from 2018 is Aidan Grace of Orwigsburg, who at 11 years old became the youngest Junior Idol winner.

The event begins Tuesday, April 2, at the Fairlane Village mall near Pottsville. The preliminary round starts at 6 p.m. and will continue through the following three Tuesdays in April. Pre-registration is a must. Deadline to register is Wednesday.

A Blue Mountain Middle School sixth grade student, Grace, 12, of Orwigsburg, will not compete this year due to last year’s win, but he will be on hand to perform and wow the audience with his singing and style as he did last year for his first time being involved with Junior Idol.

Asked why he decided to compete last year, Grace said, “I play sports, too, and I really like to be competitive, and my mom (Rosie) told me it would be good to try.”

When Grace performed last year, he really enjoyed the experience.

“It was really fun because when I was singing songs, everyone was clapping along, and when I finished, everyone was complimenting me. It was such a really good feeling.”

In the final round in 2018, Grace performed Frank Sinatra’s “My Way,” Elvis Presley’s “Teddy Bear” and Bruno Mars’ “Grenade.”

When asked what he gained in being part of Junior Idol, Grace said, “It really helped my confidence just to get up there and sing to a bunch of people. It really gave me a lot of self-confidence.”

Grace was asked if he had any advice to anyone considering registering but may be hesitant to do so.

“I would probably tell them that it’s really fun to be up there and sing before a bunch of people,” he said. “You get to make a lot of friends. I made friends who I still talk with today on social media.”

The original Schuylkill County Junior Idol was created by and held at the former Schuylkill Mall beginning in 2009. The mall hosted its eighth and last contest in 2016 due to the sale of the mall in early 2017 and the announcement that it would be closed and demolished, the contest was not held that year.

The Junior Idol event at the Schuylkill Mall was created after the original Idol competition began in 2003 modeled after the popular television talent series “American Idol.” Junior Idol gave youth a chance to show their talent on stage.

The theater association reincarnated the competition last year with help of Fairlane Village.

On Tuesday, April 2, youngsters will sing a song of their choice from any genre of music. The song can not be any longer than three minutes. Music must be instrumental only. Contestants can not sing along to words in a song. Also, no a capella singing is permitted and no instrument accompanist by performer or with performer.

The top 10 performers from the preliminary round will be made public on the “Schuylkill Theater” Facebook page the day following the preliminary round. Those 10 performers will then move onto the next round to be held the following Tuesday, April 9.

From there, the top six will sing on April 16. The top three will sing in the final round on Apr. 23, when the 2019 Junior Idol winner will be announced. The winner will earn the honor of being the new Junior Idol. There will also be prizes presented.

For registration information, email junioridolsc@gmail.com

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

POTTSVILLE — A Schuylkill Haven man charged with causing a crash in West Brunswick Township last year that claimed the life of a Berks County man is among those scheduled to enter not guilty pleas during arraignments Thursday in Schuylkill County Court.

David C. Zalonka, 50, of 683 E. Second Mountain Road, was arrested by state police Trooper Jordan Seiler of the Schuylkill Haven station and charged with homicide by vehicle while under the influence, aggravated assault by vehicle while DUI, aggravated assault by vehicle, homicide by vehicle, involuntary manslaughter, recklessly endangering another person, driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving and obedience to traffic control signals.

In paperwork filed with the courts, Seiler said Zalonka was driving a 2002 Dodge Ram north on Route 61 when he ran a red light at the intersection of Municipal Road around 2:15 p.m. Jan. 5, 2018, and struck a vehicle driven by Rodney Brown, 59, of Blandon, broadside killing the man.

At the scene, Seiler said, Zalonka had red eyes and seemed overly tired, and when searched was found with a bag of marijuana, a cut straw and a small acrylic plate.

Seiler said Zalonka was taken to the Schuylkill Haven station where it was determined he was under the influence of marijuana and placed under arrest.

Others scheduled to appear for arraignment are:

Jerry L. Ream, 33, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Alexia E. Sukeena, 28, of 10 Deer Lane, Pottsville — endangering the welfare of a child.

Christy A. Harley, 30, of 1869 Fair Road, Summit Station — driving under the influence of drugs, careless driving and possession of a controlled substance.

Scott S. Roguskie, 47, of 110 Swatara Road, Shenandoah — driving under the influence of drugs.

Shannon L. Roskosky, 44, of 300 E. Bacon St., Pottsville — driving under combined influence and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Joseph W. Nortavage, 49, of 319 Columbia St., Tamaqua — DUI, DUI-highest rate and careless driving.

Jose L. Santiago, 47, of 32 W. Water St., Coaldale — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and turning movements and required signals.

Scott M. Koerbler, 60, of 41 Papoose Drive Auburn — DUI, DUI-highest rate, not driving on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Joseph A. Valenti, 53, of 1101 Village Row, Orwigsburg — DUI, DUI-high rate, careless driving and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Stanley J. Roskosky, 46, of 300 E. Bacon St., Pottsville — DUI, DUI-high rate and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Rachel N. Cintron, 35, of 35 Coal St., Port Carbon — driving under the influence of drugs and possession of a controlled substance.

Kyle J. Grube, 26, of 222 Pine Blvd., Orwigsburg — driving under the influence of drugs.

John M. Strausser, 28, of 107 Middle St., Minersville — driving under the influence of drugs, DUI, DUI-highest rate, disorderly conduct and possession of drug paraphernalia.

William Faust, 68, of 396 Front St., Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Joshua P. Bickelman, 23, of 8 Owl Road, Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs and possession of a controlled substance.

Rebecca A. Barton, 43, of 39 N. Third St., Cressona — driving under the influence of drugs, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

Jasmine A. Newby, 23, of 531 Bear Creek St., Auburn — driving under the influence of drugs.

Thomas P. Oakill, 30, of 77 Hilltop Terrace, Pottsville — driving under the influence of drugs and exceeding the speed limit.

Jessica R. Kerrick, 32, of 111 Hunter St., Tamaqua — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and periods for requiring lighted lamps.

Tracey L. Yenilaitus, 32, of 410 Fourth St., Pine Grove — DUI, DUI-highest rate, not driving on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Kimberly A. Buchinsky, 42, of 714 Sixth St., Port Carbon — possession of a small amount of marijuana, DUI, DUI-highest rate, driving under combined influence, careless driving and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Shawn E. Pritiskutch, 18, of 122 Maple Blvd., Orwigsburg — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of drug paraphernalia and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Wayne A. Kimmel, 27, of 514 W. Philadelphia St., Donaldson — driving under the influence of drugs, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

Tina M. Withelder, 51, of 325 Cherry St., Saint Clair — driving under the influence of drugs.

Peter F. Wasser, 24, of 162 Mahanoy Ave., Tamaqua — DUI and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Brian P. Phillips Jr., 30, of 530 Red Church Road, Auburn — strangulation, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.

Torrey S. Mueller, 42, of 324 W. Broad St., Tamaqua — endangering the welfare of a child, driving under the influence of drugs and child safety seat restraint violation.

Sarah E. Harring, 31, of 65 Clay St., Tremont — DUI, driving under the influence of drugs, careless driving and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Gregory R. Stanalonis, 27, of 435 W. Washington St., Frackville — DUI, driving under the influence of drugs, careless driving and not driving on roadways laned for traffic.

Kory M. Aungst, 37, of 4 Fidler Court, Pine Grove — criminal attempt to commit theft, receiving stolen property, loitering and prowling at night and simple assault.

Heather M. Wehr, 36, of 657 Pine Hill St., Minersville — theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.

Wade M. Winemiller, 57, of 419 Pleasant Hill Road, Wrightsville — aggravated assault, aggravated assault on police, disarming a law enforcement officer, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and control of property regulations.

Thomas E. Kelly Jr., 57, of 18731 Rosewood Drive, Stewartstown — aggravated assault on police, disarming a law enforcement officer, simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and control of property regulations.

John T. Cheeseman, 32, of 210 W. Biddle St., Ashland — persons not to possess or use firearms, firearms not to be carried without a license and hunting without securing a license.

George T. Chesko, 49, of 311 S. Nice St., Frackville — retail theft and theft by deception.

Crystal L. Matthew, 36, of 165 Willow St., Cressona — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, conspiracy, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Lorie L. Kauffman, 33, of 314 New Castle St., Apt. B, Minersville — possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nicholas Lagola, 52, of 321 Penn St., Minersville — driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, general lighting requirements, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nicole E. Chia, 30, of 106 N. George St., Pottsville — retail theft.

Jaime S. Cox, 42, of 205 S. Liberty St., Orwigsburg — simple assault and harassment.

David J. Donati, 44, of 703 Berne Drive, Auburn — loitering and prowling at night, defiant trespass and harassment.

Kodie A. Defour, 29, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Anthony Faiola, 43, of 21 E. Center Ave., Myerstown — corruption of minors-sexual acts, indecent assault of a person under the age of 13 and endangering the welfare of a child.

Karen M. Uhrie, 53, of 14 N. Broad Mountain Ave., Frackville — bad checks.

Michael J. McGinley Jr., 37, of 522 W. Morris St., Frackville — strangulation, simple assault, disorderly conduct and harassment.

Edward F. Barnes, 43, of 1227 Walnut St., Ashland — retail theft.

Sarah E. Conapitski, 21, of 121 Raven Run Road, Lost Creek — defiant trespass.

Joshua M. Phelan, 31, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.

Daniel T. Langtry, 30 of 233 W. Main St., Tremont — fleeing or attempting to elude police, unauthorized use or transfer of registration, driving at an unsafe speed, failure to use safety belts, driving on the wrong side of the road, improper placement of glass, limitations on overtaking on the left, no passing zones, not driving on roadways laned for traffic, stop and yield sign violations, turning movements and required signals, exceeding the speed limit, careless driving, reckless driving and general lighting requirements.

Nathaniel M. Winn, 23, of 1650 Melanie Manor, Ringtown — theft and receiving stolen property.

Michael A. Kurchock, 37, of 706 Post Row, Saint Clair — criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

Dale J. Dye, 19, of 116 Main Blvd., Ringtown — compliance with established sound levels, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael T. Dower, 23, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — unauthorized use of automobiles and driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked.

Brenda Bloss, 45, of 129 N. White St., Shenandoah — resisting arrest.

David D. McBride, 33, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — defiant trespass.

Benjamin F. Vadiz, 48, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — disorderly conduct, public drunkenness and flight to avoid apprehension, trial or punishment.

Robert N. Kull, 45, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joanne S. Noble, 41, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brent W. Herb, 31, of 518 Spencer St., Pottsville — strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

Heather M. Morgan, 35, of 29 Pottsville St., Port Carbon — possession of a controlled substance.

Emiltza T. Polanco-Dominguez, 44, of 611 Harrison St., Pottsville — retail theft.

Robert W. Michael, 28, of 542 E. Market St., Pottsville — theft.

Joseph R. Gibas, 49, of 124 Furnace Road, New Philadelphia — receiving stolen property.

Keith S. McFarland, 40, of 190 Gun Club Road, Palmerton — rape of a child, indecent assault of a person under the age of 13, indecent exposure and corruption of minors.

Crystal M. Davies, 47, of 257 Millers Road, Zion Grove — harassment.

Patricia Brode, 44, of 210 Hunter St., Tamaqua — endangering the welfare of a child.

Christopher J. Serina, 38, of 213 E. Broad St., Tamaqua — defiant trespass, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tammy L. Fisher, 44, of 344 Ridge Terrace, Coaldale — simple assault, harassment and endangering the welfare of a child.

Lester W. Dietrich, 47, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal trespass and prohibited offensive weapons.

Francheska Lamanna, 24, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — simple assault, harassment and institutional vandalism.

Irene E. Attiyeh, 30, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.

James I. Crafton, 59, of 2061 Yokewood Road, Pottsville — retail theft and public drunkenness.

Michele Fabok, 51, of 198 Faith Drive, New Ringgold — bad checks.

Patrick T. Gaffney Jr., 54, of 153 Lawley Road, Lykens — terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment.

Shelby A. McCollough, 28, of 421 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City — theft of leased property and receiving stolen property.

Stanley J. Petrovich, 78, of 1000 Fountain St., Ashland — theft by deception.

Clarence W. Donton, 40, of 132 Albert Blvd., Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Diane L. Morgan, 75, of 206 High St., Schuylkill Haven — theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

Leonardo Francisco, 26, of 312 North St., Minersville — burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property.

Desiray S. Gelinas, 28, of 1564 Stag Drive, Auburn — possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, maximum speed limits, failure to use safety belts and driving a vehicle without an official Certificate of Inspection.

John E. Bodnari, 35, of Box 115, Port Clinton — theft of services.

David C. Rickard, 19, of 474 W. Columbia St., Schuylkill Haven ­— corruption of minors.

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

Deer Lake

Bingo games are set for 6 p.m. Tuesday in the Deer Lake & West Brunswick Fire Company Hall. Doors will open at 5 p.m. The company sponsors bingo games on the first and third Tuesdays of the month. For more information, call 570-366-0900.

Nuremberg

The Nuremberg-Weston Volunteer Fire Company will hold a potato cake, homemade New England clam chowder and homemade macaroni/cheese sale from 2 to 6 p.m. Friday at the fire hall, 459 Hazle St., Weston. The company also is selling tickets for the annual duck race to be held at 3 p.m. May 27. Tickets are $5 each. Those interested should see any company member.

Pottsville

A free wellness exhibit focusing on health and fitness in honor of National Nutrition and Social Work Month will be held at 2 p.m. Thursday at Schuylkill Center Genesis Healthcare. People will be able to get information regarding nutrition, advance directives, home health services and hospice care. The center is at 1000 Schuylkill Manor Road. Light refreshments will be served. For more information, call 570-622-9666.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library recently acknowledged the following memorials: For Emily Keitsock from Dr. William R. Davidson; for Norma Lipton from Dr. William R. Davidson; for Kathleen Hampford, James J. Hampford III from Diane Mick; for Andrew Koperna from Kristine and Barry Siple; for Claude A. Lord from Kristine and Barry Siple; for Kathleen Bound from Kristine and Barry Siple; for Patricia Bemiller from Dr. and Mrs. Ross Rismiller; for Dolores Joulwan Mazzuca from Dr. William R. Davidson; for Ann Marie Donton from Mill Bachert; for John J. “Babe” Heller from Dr. William R. Davidson; for Larry Terway from M&T Bank Yorkville Branch. The library also acknowledged an honor donation for Gina Bensinger from Peggy Jaeger.

Pottsville

The Pottsville Free Public Library will host a free volunteer fair from 4 to 7 p.m. April 9 and 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. April 13 to “help people learn how to make the community stronger by working together,” according to an event release. Organizations that wish to take part should contact Becki at potref@pottsvillelibrary.org or by phone at 570-622-8880, ext. 11. The registration deadline for organizations is April 2. No registration is required for individuals to attend. Organizations thus far signed up for one or both days include American Red Cross/Tri-County Chapter, Ashland Public Library, Community Volunteers in Action, Friends of the Pottsville Library, Hospice for All Seasons, J.W. Cooper Community Center, Lifelong Learning Center, Pottsville Rotary, RSVP of Schuylkill County, Schuylkill County Historical Society, Schuylkill Women in Crisis and Servants to All.

Schuylkill Haven

A gift card bingo and raffles are set for 11:30 p.m. Sunday in the St. Ambrose Parish Center. Tickets are $20 in advance and $25 at the door. For tickets or more information, call 570-527-5787 or 570-385-2586. All are welcome.

Schuylkill Haven

A free fundraising workshop with master trainer Chad Barger is set for 10:30 a.m. to noon April 26 in the R. Michael Fryer Conference Center at Penn State Schuylkill campus. Barger, according to an event release, will focus on “actionable solutions to common fundraising problems.” Attendees will be given “free access to document samples and templates which will help to fast track the implementations of these solutions.” There will also be time for questions. Free registration is available online at https://www.eventbrite.com/e/fundraiserchad-free-fundraising-tune-up-schuylkill-county-tickets-55211017640. The event sponsors are Penn State Schuylkill and Schuylkill United Way. For more information, call Christine M. Johnson, Schuylkill United Way director of community relations, at 570-622-6421.

Shenandoah

The Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens group is sponsoring a bus trip for an American Bandstand Tribute on July 18 to Waterfront at Silver Birches in the Poconos. The cost is $77, which includes a family-style dinner and the bus. To make reservations or for more information, call Dolores at 570-462-3222 or Fran at 570-462-0147.