POTTSVILLE — Sept. 17 will mark the 232nd anniversary of the drafting of the Constitution of the United States of America by the Constitutional Convention.

In recognition of that anniversary, the Schuylkill County commissioners declared the upcoming week of Sept. 17 through 23 “Constitution Week” in Schuylkill County at their regular meeting Wednesday.

The proclamation was presented by Becky Matz and Marcia Ryon, members of the Schuylkill chapter of the Daughters of the American Revolution.

“It’s important that we recognize and make people aware of how important our Constitution is,” said Matz, who said activities will be taking place publicly in the county, as well as across the country, during the commemorative week.

Commissioners also approved a contract with PFM Asset Management, Harrisburg, for a cost not to exceed $5,000 to provide escrow-related services related to the recently approved 2019 bond, and a fee for service contract with PFM to act as a financial advisers to the county in connection with the 2019 bond issue.

At their meeting last week, the commissioners approved the issuing of up to $13 million in bonds to improve the county’s finances and satisfy a mandate imposed by the state.

The purpose of the bond is to refinance some existing debt and help finance new voting machines, said Commissioner Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr.

Halcovage said the county recently improved its bond credit rating by two spots, rising to AA2, the third-best designation, which allows the county to borrow the money at a lower rate.

It also allows the county to avoid paying bond insurance, a savings of about $200,000, Halcovage said.

The improvement in the county’s rating was due to “strong county leadership, excellent financial management and the healthy state of the county’s finances,” according to the ratings report received by county officials, Halcovage said.

“It’s a huge deal ... we were able to help save the county over a million dollars because our bond rating went up,” Halcovage said.

Other matters considered and approved by the commissioners include:

• A fee for service contract, through the office of Senior Services, with Lifeline Systems Co., Framingham, Massachusetts, for personal emergency response services, with $25 a month for landlines, and $28 a month for cellular service, with a contract cap of $21,960 for each fiscal year for three fiscal years, from 2019 through 2022.

• A program funded agreement with Schuylkill Community Action, Pottsville for the Bridge House Program and related outreach/case management services, with a contract cap of $242,952, with $212,350 delegated to the Bridge House program and $33,602 for outreach services, for July 2019 through June 30, 2022.

The Bridge House Program is a transitional housing program located on the grounds of the Pottsville Housing Authority that provides comprehensive services to individuals and families facing long-term homelessness. The program is funded by the county through the Schuylkill County Block Grant Programs Office.

• Approved an agreement with Schuylkill Community Action to serve as the lead agency for the State Food Purchase program and the Emergency Food Assistance program.

• An agreement with Green’s Communications Inc., Pottsville, for maintenance of the net clock time synchronization system at the Schuylkill County Communications Center for $4,200, effective Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2020.

• A three-year agreement for $8,550, beginning Oct. 1, 2019 to Sept. 30, 2022, with Core Power, King of Prussia, for maintenance of the Eaton 48 KW UPS, technology at the county’s emergency communications center.

TREMONT — Assault charges against a Klingerstown man stemming from an Aug. 4 machete attack were withdrawn Thursday by the victim, his brother.

Noah N. Vitrano, 35, of 124 Main St., was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi on two felony counts of aggravated assault, one misdemeanor count each of simple assault and recklessly endangering another person and a summary offense of harassment.

The charges, according to Rossi, were withdrawn by Vitrano’s brother, Joshua Vitrano.

Noah Vitrano was arrested by state police Trooper Joshua Knepp of the Schuylkill Haven station for allegedly striking his brother several times with a machete, causing lacerations to his body.

The machete, Knepp said, was about 24 inches long. He added that Noah Vitrano’s actions placed his brother in danger of death or serious bodily injuries.

Prior to the assault, Knepp said Noah Vitrano was speaking with his girlfriend and accused her of having sex with his brother.

The woman told investigators that after hours of arguing, she heard Noah Vitrano talking to his brother on a cellphone and telling his brother that she admitted to sleeping with him, Knepp said.

Joshua Vitrano reported being asleep on a sofa around 5 a.m. and awoke to his brother yelling at him, saying his girlfriend admitted sleeping with him.

Joshua Vitrano then said his brother struck him with and object, after which he felt extreme pain and found himself bleeding, Knepp said.

Knepp said Joshua Vitrano reported suffering injuries to his left foot, back, elbow and left forearm, consistent with defensive wounds.

Noah Vitrano was being held at Schuylkill County Prison under $50,000 straight cash bail set at his arraignment the day of the attack.

The bail was vacated with the charges being withdrawn.

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

Work continued Thursday on the Route 901 Gordon Nagle Trail bridge, which crosses the West Branch Schuylkill River, near Trail Gardens in Cressona.

The bridge is being replaced, but the road is still accessible by a temporary bridge. The construction is expected to be finished middle to late October.

POTTSVILLE — A Northumberland County man is headed to state prison after admitting recently to a Schuylkill County judge that he committed three sets of crimes, including one in which he possessed almost $30,000 in stolen property in May 2017 in Ringtown.

Gregory J. Adams, 50, of Shamokin, must serve two to four years in a state correctional institution, President Judge William E. Baldwin decided.

Adams pleaded guilty to receiving stolen property in one case, theft in a second and retail theft in a third. Prosecutors withdrew five additional counts of theft, five counts of loitering and prowling at nighttime, three of access device fraud and one each of conspiracy and theft by deception.

In one case, Ringtown police charged Adams with possessing $29,935 worth of property belonging to Stauffer & Sons trucking on May 1, 2017.

In the second case, Ringtown police again charged Adams, this time for committing a theft on Nov. 11, 2017, in the borough.

Finally, in the third case, Saint Clair police charged Adams with stealing from a store on March 28, 2018, in the borough.

Baldwin also sentenced Adams to pay costs, $150 in payments to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, a $50 bench warrant fee and $29,935 restitution to Stauffer & Sons Trucking, the victim of his receiving stolen property crime, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Adams already was serving a state prison sentence as the result of a September 2016 incident in Shamokin in which he unlawfully entered a building. Baldwin made his new prison term concurrent with that one.

Baldwin also recently accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on the following people:

Robert Besparis, 56, of Shenandoah; altered or forged plates; 12 to 24 months in a state correctional institution and $50 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew charges of driving under the influence, driving under suspension, driving unregistered vehicle, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and unauthorized transfer.

Steven J. Brilla, 25, of Pottsville; accident involving damage to attended vehicle or property, failure to drive on roadway laned for traffic and failure to notify police of accident; 30 days to 12 months in prison and $50 in fines. Prosecutors withdrew charges of driving under suspension-DUI related, abandoning vehicle, careless driving, failure to stop and give information or render aid and seat belt violation.

Douglas L. Creamer, 26, of Frackville; criminal trespass and two counts of possession of a controlled substance; 12 to 24 months in a state correctional institution consecutive to current Luzerne County sentence, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 in CJEA payments and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two additional counts of possession of a controlled substance and one count each of burglary and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Benjamin Doskus, 31, of Reading; DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and no headlights; presentence investigation ordered, sentencing scheduled for 10 a.m. today.

Jeffrey Frable, 52, of Coaldale; simple assault; 12 months probation, $50 CJEA payment and $1,292.50 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew one count of aggravated assault and two counts of harassment.

Joseph B. Frantz, 32, of MaryD; theft, retail theft, criminal mischief and resisting arrest; time served to 23 months in prison, $200 in CJEA payments and $5,279.65 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew one count each of burglary, criminal trespass, theft, retail theft and conspiracy and two counts of receiving stolen property.

Travis L. Gibson, 31, of Dallastown; possession of contraband/controlled substance by an inmate; one to two years in a state correctional institution consecutive to current York County sentence, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Angel L. Gonzalez-Soler, 34, of Allentown; disorderly conduct; time served to 12 months in prison with immediate parole. Prosecutors withdrew one count each of endangering the welfare of children and resisting arrest.

Graham C. Hahn, 63, of Frackville; fleeing or eluding police; 18 to 36 months in a state correctional institution consecutive to current York County sentence, $50 CJEA payment and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance, resisting arrest and false identification to law enforcement authorities.

All defendants who were sentenced must pay costs as a part of their sentences.

Contact the writer: pbortner@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6014

RINGTOWN — The oldest church in Schuylkill County north of the Broad Mountain now has its own website for the public to learn more about The Old White Church.

The website address is theoldwhitechurch.com.

The original church was founded in 1810 as St. Paul Union Church. The original log building is in Union Township between Ringtown and Brandonville. It was shared by German Lutheran and Reformed congregations in those early years, thus the designation as a “union church.”

As the population increased in the region, the log church building became too small to serve the community and a second wood-frame church was constructed on the same site in 1842. The 1,200-square-foot two-story building and adjacent cemetery were added to the National Register of Historic Places in 1995.

While the church is closed most of the year, one exception is this Sunday. The annual Appreciation Day Open House will see the church at 189 Cemetery Hill Road open from 2 to 4 p.m. There will be an historical display, and tours of the church and cemetery will be available. The Ashland Community Choir will hold a concert at 2:30 p.m. Freewill offerings will be accepted to help fund a new roof, the last of the restoration work needed at this time.

The Old White Church Preservation Committee members were busy Thursday doing some cleaning in preparation for Sunday’s open house. Leading the group was Chairwoman Nancy Terry, who has been involved with the care and preservation of the historic church. The Ringtown resident is a member of St. John’s Lutheran Church in Ringtown, which owns the Old White Church in partnership with St. Paul’s United Church of Christ in Ringtown. Both churches have their roots with the church.

Terry said the idea of the website came from Jaime Anczarski, Ringtown, who also does work as Anczarski Enterprise, with Downtown Shenandoah Inc.

“We’re all from the old school so that’s not in our DNA,” Terry said with a laugh. “Jamie, who is just wonderful, is interested in history and he came to our meetings and eventually suggested it. He first checked if the website was available, which it was, and he got it under theoldwhitechurch.com. So we said go with it.”

The committee gave Anczarski some historical booklets and other information and he began the process to design and post the website, which also can be reached at theoldwhitechurch.org.

“And bless his heart, he did the work as a donation,” Terry said. “It took him about a month to put it together.”

Terry has many stories to tell of the history of the church that will make the open house on Sunday an enjoyable one for history lovers. She spoke of the need to raise the church due to problems with the wooden foundation, and another from the 1800s about people who objected to having a pump organ in the church for worship services and entered the church — in those days the church was open 24 hours a day — went upstairs and threw the organ from the choir loft to the main floor, hitting the potbelly stove and damaged it severely. The organ was restored by a local wood craftsman and is still in use today, which is important since the church has no electrical service. The Rev. Craig D. Zimmerman, a committee member and pastor at St. Paul’s, played the beautiful-sounding organ to demonstrate it is in great working order.

Terry went to the neighboring cemetery to show the many headstones that date back to the early 1800s. The oldest grave is that of Jacob Eisenhauer, who died May 9, 1815, at the age of 2 years, 11 months. The oldest person buried is Barnard Eisenhuth, who died June 22, 1866, at 112 years old.

There are also many veterans interred, with 17 having served in the War of 1812. There are others who served in the Civil War, including Pvt. Charles Faust in Company A 13 PA. CAV, who was killed in 1864.

In addition to Terry and Zimmerman, other committee members on hand to clean the church were Janice Hoffman, Eileen Teter, Judy and Darryl Hetherington, and Dale Hartz.

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

FRACKVILLE — A corrections officer at State Correctional Institution/Frackville was arrested early Tuesday and charged with assaulting a state police trooper in Girardville while allegedly under the influence of alcohol.

Trooper Joseph Julian charged John S. Frantz, 43, of 1379 Mountain Road, Pine Grove, following an incident around 6:30 a.m. when he was called to the area of 313 W. Mahanoy Ave. for a report of a pickup truck with its horn blowing for about 10 minutes.

Julian said he found the truck with the driver’s side door wide open and smashed glass picture frames around the outside of the vehicle.

At the driver’s side of the truck, Julian said, he found Frantz sitting in the front with his eyes open. Julian said he tried to get Frantz’s attention and identified himself as a state trooper but received no response. Julian said he shook the man’s left leg and asked him if he was OK, at which time Frantz swung a fist at his head and said, “I’ll knock you the (expletive) out.”

The trooper said he smelled alcohol and decided to wait for other troopers before taking further action.

When Cpl. Thomas Hornung and Trooper Joseph Aponick arrived, they tried to get Frantz’s attention and Hornung identified himself as a trooper. Frantz, however, would not identify himself or exit the truck, according to police.

Julian said police did not have a clear view of Frantz’s hands but noticed he was surrounded by shotgun shells.

When Hornung ordered Frantz out of the truck, Julian said, the defendant punched the corporal in the left arm, prompting him to use his Taser. That allowed Hornung and Aponick to remove Frantz and place him in custody.

Julian said Frantz was taken to a Pottsville hospital for a blood test, to which he consented, about 8:10 a.m.

Frantz is charged with felony aggravated assault; misdemeanor crimes of DUI, simple assault and resisting arrest; and summary offenses of harassment and disorderly conduct. He was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10% of $15,000 bail. Court records show Frantz hours later posted bail through a professional bail bondsman and was released.

Frantz will have to appear for a preliminary hearing at 9:50 a.m. Sept. 25 before Hale in her Frackville courtroom.

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

FRACKVILLE — A Pine Grove man charged with sexually assaulting an 11-year-old girl between December and April waived his right to a preliminary hearing Wednesday.

Joshua S. Gallimore, 31, of 171 Mexico Road, was scheduled to appear before Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale on charges of one count each of corruption of minors and indecent exposure and two counts of indecent assault,

Instead of having a hearing, Gallimore decided to waive that right and have the charges against him heard in Schuylkill County Court, where he can plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

State police Trooper Vincent Laselva of the Schuylkill Haven station, the arresting officer, said the crimes came to light on May 5 when the child was taking part in a writing group at a Pottsville hospital.

During the session, Laselva said, the girl wrote that Gallimore exposed himself on one occasion and on another occasion she awoke to find the man lying next to her touching her.

When interviewed at the Harrisburg Children’s Resource Center, Laselva said the girl said Gallimore was “like really drunk” when he exposed himself to her and sober at the time he touched her.

Laselva said the child went on to say the last time she saw Gallimore he allowed her to drink beer and wine coolers and that she ended up getting intoxicated.

The girl also reported smoking “dabs,” marijuana melted down into a liquid, through a vape pen, Laselva said.

Laselva said the girl also said “it wasn’t my first time getting high” and that “I really don’t know how to explain getting high.”

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

Gratz

The 146th annual Gratz Fair will go from Sunday to Sept. 21. It will feature food, entertainment, rides, crafts, animals, races, a huge midway with shows daily and a myriad of other attractions for young and old, according to a fair flier. All are welcome.

Heckscherville

Clover Fire Company, 8 Clover Road, will have its biweekly all-you-can-eat breakfast buffet from 7 a.m. to noon Sunday. The cost is $9 for adults and $4 for children under 10. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-294-0612 or go online to https://www.facebook.com/pages/Clover-Fire-Co-Heckscherville.

Mahanoy City

Registrations to attend Trinity Academy in the Father Walter J. Ciszek Education Center, Cherry and Chestnut streets, Shenandoah, are being accepted. Trinity provides “a safe, respectful, Christ-centered environment for students in preschool through eighth grade,” according to area Roman Catholic parishes’ announcements. Trinity Academy is the sole Catholic pre-K to eighth-grade school for all of northern Schuylkill County. It is located in the former Shenandoah Catholic High School building, which underwent a more than $1 million renovation in the 1990s. Tuition assistance is available and the school offers $1,500 in transfer grants. Students who transfer into grades one through seven are eligible to receive $1,000 their first year of enrollment and $500 their second year, according to the announcement. To request a tour of the school, a registration packet or for more information, call 570-462-3927.

Pottsville

Upcoming events at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., include: Sept. 14, Classics Live presents “The Genius of David Bowie-Ziggy Stardust,” 8 p.m., tickets $15; Sept 21 at 7:30 p.m. and Sept. 22 at 2 p.m., “The Henry Clay Hotel,” original script by Jack Mansell, tickets $10; Sept. 27 and 28 at 7 p.m. and Sept. 29 at 2 p.m., “Dancing at Lughnasa,” tickets $15. For more information, call 570-628-2833 or go online to www.majestictheater.net.

Schuylkill Haven

A 5K Fun Run is scheduled for 9 a.m. Sept. 21 at Island Park, 1 Broadway, with proceeds to benefit the effort to prevent suicide by veterans, which currently is 22 per day, according to an event flier. The run will be followed by a festival from noon to 4 p.m. at Bubeck Park. Registration is $20 and free for children 5 and younger. People may register in person at the Schuylkill Haven Recreation Center or online at weagapeyou.org. The festival will include a food truck by Bum’s Rush Restaurant & Pub, entertainment from 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., games of chance, 50/50, a bounce house and other activities. For more information, call Randolph Simmons, president, We Agape You Inc., at 484-388-1328.

Schuylkill Haven

The Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens Association will meet at 6:30 p.m. Sept. 23 in the senior center, 340 Haven St. After the business meeting, Pastor Jan Remer-Osborn of St. John’s United Church of Christ, Orwigsburg, will offer a program of music on her harp. Refreshments and fellowship will follow, according to a release from Ruth Tucci. For more information, call 570-385-5323.

Schuylkill Haven

Schuylkill Christian Church, 780 S. Route 61, will have Health Forum Cardio at 7 p.m. Sept. 24 with Dr. Ghulam Akbar, cardiologist at Lehigh Valley Physicians Group Cardiology-Schuylkill, who will speak about Afib and the Watchman procedure and new features of cardiac care at Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill and LVPG. All are welcome; no registration is necessary. For more information, call 570-617-1620.

William Penn

The William Penn Fire Company, Mount Olive Boulevard (Route 54 just west of Shenandoah), will sponsor the Raven Run 7K for people 14 and older at 10 a.m. Oct. 12. A Kids’ Fun Run will be held at 9:30 a.m. For more information, call 570-462-0338.

POTTSVILLE — County officials are considering a new resource that will help keep the county jail more safe and secure from contraband.

Schuylkill County Prison Warden Eugene Berdanier presented information about TextBehind Inc. at a meeting of the Schuylkill County Prison Board on Wednesday at the Schuylkill County Prison.

TextBehind Inc. is a Baltimore-based company that operates an inmate mail management system, which eliminates contraband from incoming inmate mail, keeping correctional officers and mailroom personnel safe, Berdanier said.

Berdanier said he is in the process of reviewing the multiple services offered by TextBehind and contacting other correctional institutions that have a contract with the company to get more input about their services.

“Berks County has had it for about eight months now, and they told me they’re beyond pleased with their services,” he said.

Commissioner Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr., a member of the prison board, said the state of North Carolina has implemented it in all their state correction institutions, and several county prisons throughout Pennsylvania have also contracted with TextBehind.

“We’ve seen it being done in other places and it’s really done well,” Halcovage said. “It’s all about time management, safety and security. We need to keep up with the technology that’s available to us.”

“This is more of an informational presentation today,” Berdanier said, who said he may be presenting the board with a recommendation for approval of a contract with the company in the future if he thinks it might be a good fit for the prison’s needs.

Berdanier said processing incoming mail and screening it for security and safety issues is time consuming and potentially hazardous for correctional officers.

In other correctional facilities, drugs have been smuggled into the prison through incoming mail, and handling it has made correctional officers sick from exposure to the toxic materials, he added.

TextBehind would receive and process incoming mail to inmates, screen it and censor it, then send a digitized copy of the mail to the inmate. The fee is about 50 cents — the cost of a postage stamp — and is paid by the user or the person sending the mail to the inmate.

TextBehind users outside the prison will be able to send messages, pictures and digital cards to their incarcerated loved ones through the company’s website or smartphone app. There’s also a “doodle” function, designed with children in mind, that allows them to send digital drawings.

At this point, outgoing mail from inmates, as well as incoming correspondence between inmates, attorneys or their legal representatives, would not be part of the mail the prison would have processed by the company, Berdanier said.

“Family mail and mail being sent to the inmates from their families, would go to it,” he said.

HEGINS — A Tri-Valley school board member resigned from her posts as director and board secretary.

Kelly M. Carter is moving out of state and resigned, effective Wednesday.

The board voted to accept her resignation, and elected director Carl D. Shankweiler to the board secretary post for a four-year term, effective Sept. 12, 2019, to Wed., June 30, 2021.

Carter’s departure leaves a vacant seat in Region 3. She also headed the budget and finance committee.

Jerry R. Beaver, board president, said the district wanted to thank Carter for her service.

In other business, Beaver also thanked the district’s two new principals, Robert L. Felty Jr. at the high school and Derek M. Stehr at the elementary schools.

Beaver said the Facebook pages the schools launched have been well-received and he’s been hearing positive comments from the public. He was happy to see the administrators willing to try something new, he said.

“You guys are getting us off to a great start,” Beaver said.

In other action, the board:

• Appointed the following as instructional staff at a rate of $23.40 per hour for the Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 ACHIEVE afterschool program: Jessica Allvord, Lisa Bilansky, Alexis Ketner, Ryan Klinger, Ashley Miller, Elizabeth Otto, Kimberly Schmeltz and Jamie Schwalm. Beaver cast the lone dissenting vote, noting he was not in opposition to the staff hired, but to the program itself.

The program is grant funded by the state Department of Education, and there are no benefits included with the position.

• Retroactively approved the course addition to the 2019-20 high school electives titled, STEAM — Science, Technology, Engineering, Art and Mathematics. Amanda Killian-Shiffer serves as instructor.

• Retroactively approved Felty and Rick Otto as co-head athletic directors, effective July 1.

• Approved Robert McDonald to attend a “Be the Best You Can Be” baseball coach’s conference in Cherry Hill, New Jersey, from Jan. 16-17, 2020. Reimbursement is not being requested.

• Accepted the intent to retire from Michael Ulicny, high school teacher, effective at the end of the 2019-20 school year.

• Approved several substitutes and volunteers.

• Approved the Title III consortium memorandum of understanding between the IU 29 and the district for the 2019-20 school year. The district’s allocation is $428.

• Approved the IU’s Individuals with Disabilities Education Act sub-grant agreement for the 2019-20 school year. Tri-Valley’s allocation is $138,759.

• Approved the federal IDEA-Section 619 Pass Through Funds in the amount of $590.

• Retroactively approved adjusting the rate of Donna Coleman to $45 per day to provide student transportation for the 2019-20 school year, effective Aug. 26.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

LOYALTON — The Upper Dauphin Area school board Tuesday approved five district goals for the current school year.

They address communication, safety and the possible merger with the Millersburg Area School District.

Meanwhile, character education, personalized learning and safety are areas where UDA has already made strides, according to Superintendent Evan P. Williams.

“So far, these have served us well,” he said.

The board approved the following:

• Goal 1: Improve engagement with schools, families and communities through social media, events and activities.

• Goal 2: Use student assessment data to support instructional decision-making and to facilitate differentiated instruction at all grade levels to maximize student achievement and active engagement, including promotion of the Trojan Enhanced Learning Initiative to create personalized transformational learning experiences.

• Goal 3: Encourage empathy among all members of the school community through character education, in-service training and community outreach.

• Goal 4: Strengthen the district commitment to safety through revision and dissemination of the All-Hazards Plan, partnering with first responders including the county (Dauphin), continued development of the Joint School Safety Task Force, professional development and a comprehensive regimen of practice.

• Goal 5: Collaborate with the Pennsylvania Economy League and the Millersburg Area School District to create a smooth transition toward a possible merger.

Directors Mills Eure and Kathryn Talhelm were absent.

Board members also discussed the need for substitute teachers within the district. There’s a shortage across the state, according to Williams.

Currently, UDA substitutes are paid $100 per day.

Jared Shade, assistant to the superintendent, said he’s contacted the Capital Area Intermediate Unit and has begun examining what other districts have done to recruit more substitutes to their districts.

Some districts offer a bit more daily pay, as an incentive, if the person is someone who frequently substitutes with that district, according to Shade.

It was about two years ago that UDA increased its substitute pay rate from $85 to $100 daily as a way to stay competitive and with the thought of generating more interest.

Unfortunately, there’s still a substitute shortage.

Price Buffington, board president, suggested the district should pursue a financial analysis in regard to what the impact could be with any substitute pay rate increase.

There’s also an announcement and a call for substitutes on the district’s website.

In sports related action, the board approved the withdrawal from the Schuylkill League in wrestling and volleyball, effective with the start of the 2020-21 school year.

Board member Steve Welker said last wrestling season in the Schuylkill League there were very few UDA wrestlers who actually got to compete, at the varsity, junior varsity and junior high level.

The board approved the resignation of Ruth Boyer as head volleyball coach; appointment of Tarrah Miller as interim head volleyball coach; and appointment of Boyer as a volunteer assistant volleyball coach.

The next board meeting is 7 p.m. Oct. 8 in Loyalton.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

Susquehanna Brewing Co. brings the spirit of Munich to Northeast Pennsylvania this weekend with its third annual Oktoberfest.

The brewery, 635 S. Main St., Pittston, has added a second day to the festival this year, kicking things off today and continuing the action Saturday from noon to 9 p.m. both days. The festival started in the spirit of simply “let’s have a party,” company Vice President Fred Maier said, but it turned into a hit.

“We made it bigger last year with more food trucks and more music,” he added. “This year, we’re going to make it longer with new bands.”

Oktoberfest celebrations originated in Munich, Germany, the Bavarian town which continues to host the more than two-week festival each September. At Susquehanna, the two-day event offers not only beer but also games such as keg bowling and cornhole; competitions including growler hoisting, stein carrying and Alpine horn blowing; a projector showing college football; food; music and more.

“It’s just been a great time,” Maier said. “We were able to create several different atmospheres. When you walk in, you have the food trucks, and the Scranton Brewer’s Guild puts on beer games. ... And then you turn the corner and there’s the music and the tents and the beer garden set up.”

Embracing the German spirit, Susquehanna will serve its own Oktoberfest brew, which Maier described as “an extremely traditional brew” but also the most technical beer the company makes with a long lagering period.

“Every year it’s a smash hit,” he said.

Guests also can try Susquehanna’s Goldencold Lager and Pumpkin Ale as well as a new beer it will launch this weekend, Strawberries and Cream. Maier said the brewery used 8,000 pounds of strawberries “plus a touch of Irish cream” to make that brew.

“It’s a lighter but sweet rounded beer,” he said.

The brewery will have several food vendors there, including Notis the Gyro King, Yogi’s Potato Pancakes, the Lunchbox, B3Q Smokehouse, Auntie Anne’s, Electric City Roasting Company, Sugar Plum Chocolates, and Pittston Popcorn Co.

For musical entertainment, guests can check out some classic Oktoberfest sounds when the Schützengiggles Oompah Band plays from 1 to 3 p.m. and 5 to 7 p.m. Saturday. Also set to perform are bluegrass group Serene Green from 6 to 9 p.m. today and Adam McKinley and Tom Waskevich from 3 to 5 p.m. Saturday.

Admission costs $8 and includes a souvenir beer mug and the guest’s first beer. While on-site parking is limited, guests can park at Pittston Plaza shopping center on the Pittston Bypass, where shuttles will pick them up and take them to the brewery on Saturday.

“It’s kind of the end of the busy summer season and time to start the hunkering down for fall. ... Football starts, kids are back in school,” Maier said of the weekend. “It’s kind of like one last hurrah to a great year.”

And for the brewery, he said, Oktoberfest is a chance to meet its fans.

“You get to see kind of the fruits of your labor,” Maier added. “You get to see everybody enjoy your product in the best environment. ... It’s a big party basically (where) you get to meet a couple thousand of your friends.”

Contact the writer: cwest@timesshamrock.­com; 570-348-9100, ext. 5107

Now in its 15th year, the Hops, Vine and Dine event, sponsored by the Pottsville Rotary, will be hopping into the city from 5 to 8 p.m. Thursday at Barefield Recreational Complex, 823 Terry Reiley Way, Pottsville.

Admission is $25 at the door and includes “all you want to eat and all you want to drink,” said Mary Sitcoske, 35-year member of the Rotary and immediate past secretary of 28 years. Tickets can also be purchased from Rotary members by calling 570-628-9619 or 570-628-2969.

That eat and drink — served from 5:30 to 7:30 p.m. — includes food from 12 food vendors from various restaurants and adult beverages from vendors such as Yuengling and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars.

In addition to the food, beer and wine, there will be two types of auctions that are not included in the admission price, Sitcoske said.

“We have a Chinese auction, and there will be approximately 50-some articles on the Chinese auction, all very nice items. And then we have a silent auction that has items on that maybe about 10 of them that are well over a $100 value, such as a two-day trip to Skytop in the Poconos, with breakfast included — things like that.”

Winning tickets for the auction will be announced at 7 p.m.

Tickets are sold at an arm’s length, and although they’re not included in admission, Sitcoske said, there is plenty for enjoyment.

“And not everyone buys them, so I mean, for $25 you can come and have a wonderful evening.”

The event is rain or shine, and that hasn’t affected the crowd, Sitcoske said.

“All we need is the weather. Actually, we’ve been very fortunate. Almost all of these 15 year — 14 years actually — until last year. It rained last year, but it didn’t stop the crowd. They just stayed. Everybody went under the pavilion, and everybody stayed out in the rain if they wanted to. It was really nice, really nice. So we’re hoping that the sun shines this time.”

The event offers a warm and welcoming environment, Sitcoske said.

“People come and gather with families, and so forth. They sit out on the grass in the Adirondack chairs, and they get themselves something to eat. We have Chuck Cahoe. He is going to be playing the music.”

Funds for the event will benefit Crimson Tide Foundation and Servants to All.

Contact the writer: cwertz@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6004

David A. Plachko

PORT CARBON — A New Philadelphia man charged with assaulting and choking his girlfriend and his brother at his home July 25 had charges against him held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge David J. Plachko.

Theodore F. Lecher, 34, of 20 Silver Creek Road, was arrested by state police Trooper Andrew Letcavage and charged with one felony count of strangulation, two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and two summary counts of harassment.

Plachko determined the commonwealth presented enough evidence to warrant the charges and ordered all five offenses held for Schuylkill County Court where Lecher can now plead guilty or enter a not guilty plea and request a trial.

Letcavage said he was called to the home for a domestic assault and learned that Lecher and his girlfriend were arguing over sex. The man left the home, went to a bar and returned and punched the woman in the ribs.

Letcavage said the woman went outside to diffuse the situation but Lecher followed her, spit on her and grabbed her by the throat and choked her.

Lecher’s brother yelled at him to stop but Lecher charged at him, began punching him and kicked him in the head while he was on the ground, Letcavage said.

Other court cases included:

Kristina M. Little, 32, of 1904 E. Grand Ave., Tower City; waived for court; DUI-controlled substance, criminal mischief, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, failure to use safety belts, reckless driving, driving at an unsafe speed and obedience to traffic control signals.

Junior P. Calloo, 24, of 29 Sunbury St., Apt. B-Rear, Minersville; waived for court: receiving stolen property and theft of property, lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

Caitlin Vanhouse, no age available, of 102 Westwood St., Minersville; waived for court: criminal trespass, criminal mischief and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jesse P. Dembinsky, 33, of 447 S. Mill St., Saint Clair; dismissed: simple assault, harassment and public drunkenness.

Tanisha Jade Smith, 23, of 415 Boone St., Pottsville; held for court: criminal mischief and harassment.

Alyson Mae Galen, 24, of 710 Ravine St., Pottsville; withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and forgery. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

David J. Rich, 46, of 515 E. Market St., Pottsville; waived for court: receiving stolen property and theft of leased property.

Scott E. Ebright, 55, of 603 Elm St., Box 603, Watsontown; withdrawn: simple assault and harassment.

Barry G. Schwenk, 60, of 208 Valley St., Port Carbon; waived for court: theft and receiving stolen property.

Kaleb M. Herder, 18, of 1929 W. Market St., Pottsville; waived for court: possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, careless driving, driving over a divider and DUI-controlled substance.

Joseph R. Gibas, 50, of 124 Furnace Road, New Philadelphia; withdrawn: criminal trespass.

Bryan C. Schaeffer, 46, of 1014 Summer Valley Road, New Ringgold; withdrawn: strangulation, simple assault and harassment.

Deeds

Eldred Township — John T. and Pamela L. Melick to Craig and Linda Gerard; 287 Taylorsville Mountain Road, Pitman; $355,000.

Hegins Township — Beverly Ann Shade to Gregory D. Shade; 0.5-acre property; $1.

Pottsville — Joseph A. and Cheryl S. Demarkis to Thomas McFarland; 405 E. Market St.; $15,500.

Rush Township — Florence C. Bubel, by attorney in fact Anita Yuskauskas, to Florence C. Bubel and Anita Yuskauskas; 26 Wayne Ave., Hometown; $1.

Shenandoah — Vince Cicero to Porfirio Abreu; 228 E. Centre St.; $1.

South Manheim Township — Sherwood P. Felty Jr., Sheryl Faller and Sheila Hartzog. co-executors of the Last Will & Testament of Fern A. Felty, to Brenda Ebling; 1479 Summer Hill Road; $92,500.

Shannon M. Rightmyer to Michael A. Hoffmaster and Shannon M. Feeney-Hoffmaster; 674 Fort Cove, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Tamaqua — James S. and Diane Hower to Beth A. Kester; 343 Hazle St.; $74,900.

Washington Township — Larry D. and Maureen Bartholomew to David W. and Lynn M. Gilmore; 30 Tyler Drive; $235,000.

Wayne Township — David L. Bernhard to Andrew Steven Heifer; 2541 Lone Star Drive, Lake Wynonah; $7,000.

West Penn Township and Lynn Township, Lehigh County — Hoffner Properties LLC to Thunderhead Properties LLC; 2520 West Penn Pike; $225,000.

What do you get when you divide $3 million by 347? A Villanova University senior is about to find out.

Actually, this student can probably do the math in his head.

Jadyn Anczarski, a native of Ringtown who is majoring in physics, learned this month that he and assistant professor Joey Neilsen each will get a share of the $3 million Breakthrough Prize in fundamental physics as two of a 347-member team that captured the first image of a black hole.

Anczarski and Neilsen were part of a group that studied X-ray emissions from a “jet” of particles that emerges from the black hole and were not directly involved in getting the image of the black hole itself. But still, they are feeling pretty starstruck.

“It was an amazing achievement for the team,” Neilsen said.

The award for the black hole project, formally called the Event Horizon Telescope Collaboration, is one of seven Breakthrough Prizes to be given to scientists in various fields at a Nov. 3 ceremony.

Other winners include Virginia Man-Yee Lee, a neuroscientist who studies Alzheimer’s and other brain diseases at the University of Pennsylvania’s Perelman School of Medicine.

$8,645 each

Now in their eighth year, the prizes are funded by Google cofounder Sergey Brin; Facebook cofounder Mark Zuckerberg and his wife, physician-philanthropist Priscilla Chan; Tencent founder Ma Huateng; tech investor Yuri Milner and his wife, Julia; and 23andMe founder Anne Wojcicki.

Lee wins $3 million all by herself, whereas Anczarski and Neilsen, like all the other Event Horizon team members, each will receive 1/347th share of the physics prize -- about $8,645.

Not that they are complaining. Neither had any idea the team was up for the prize.

Anczarski said the bigger reward was getting to work on such a prominent project as an undergraduate.

“It shows how a whole-world collaboration can accomplish such a seemingly impossible task if we work together,” he said.

Anczarski described the Villanova physics department as “close-knit,” with the result that students have ample opportunities to conduct research with professors.

‘Like a drain’

He and Neilsen were part of a group that analyzed emissions of the black hole’s jet by using NASA’s Chandra satellite-based observatory. Anczarski did much of his analysis in the summer of 2018, before his junior year.

The results are helping scientists to determine what causes the black hole’s jet to form.

The black hole in question, located in the galaxy M87, is thought to have gotten its start with the collapse of a very large star, eons ago. It has a mass that is 6.5 billion times that of the sun, and as a result, it exerts an enormous gravitational pull on anything near it. So how does a jet of particles travel away from it?

The theory, Neilsen said, is that as plasma and gas are sucked into the black hole, magnetic fields become twisted in such a way that they somehow propel a jet of particles away from the black hole at tremendous speed.

“It’s sort of like a drain with a fountain in the middle,” the physicist said.

The project is continuing and Neilsen is optimistic that future results will be even more impressive.

“As scientists, we never consider our work to be done,” he said. “It’s going to keep getting better as we go.”

WILKES-BARRE — Accused killer Terrence W. Clarke pleaded guilty Friday to third-degree murder, admitting he was the man who opened fire on a crowd during a fight outside a Hazleton bar five years ago.

Clarke, 31, of Hazleton, had been set to stand trial starting Monday in the February 2014 shooting at Shakers Bar and Grill that left Garey S. Cox, 45, fatally shot in the head and chest. Under the plea deal reached Friday, Clarke will serve 19-43 years in prison.

During Friday’s hearing, Cox’s mother Gloria J. Booth provided a statement describing how she had been on her way to work on a beautiful day when she got the terrible news.

“My sunny day, my happy day, was the worst day of my life,” she said in the statement, which Assistant District Attorney Gregory S. Skibitsky Jr. read in court. “If I got to hug him one last time — I never got to, and it still hurts.”

Clarke did not offer an apology or statement during the hearing.

According to prosecutors, two state troopers driving on state Route 93 shortly after 2 a.m. the day of the shooting heard a loud pop and observed numerous people fighting outside Shakers Bar and Grill. Several additional gunshots followed and the troopers saw Clarke firing a pistol toward a crowd of people in a parking lot, prosecutors said.

Clarke fled the scene, but was captured near West Maple Street. Police recovered a .45-caliber pistol at the scene.

The second victim, who survived a gunshot wound to his buttocks, told investigators that he had gotten into an argument with Clarke inside the bar and that the dispute spilled outside when the bar was closing, according to prosecutors.

Clarke was previously convicted of illegally possessing a firearm during the deadly fight and has already been serving a four- to eight-year prison sentence on that charge.

On Friday, Clarke pleaded guilty to third-degree murder in exchange for prosecutors dropping aggravated assault charges against him. The parties reached an agreed-upon sentence of 15-35 years in prison for the murder, resulting in Clarke serving a total of 19-43 years in the case.

Assistant District Attorney Brian Coleman said the plea would give Cox’s family closure and allow them to move forward.

“Obviously, no one should have to bury their child,” Coleman said.

Citing Clarke’s “senseless actions,” Luzerne County Judge Fred A. Pierantoni III accepted the plea agreement and imposed the agreed-upon sentence, directing him to have no contact with the victim’s family.

Clarke was remanded to continue serving his sentence.

Lou Barletta is fighting back on behalf of the latest potential casualty in Trump’s trade war: Italian wine, cheese and pasta

In Congress, former Pennsylvania Congressman Lou Barletta was supportive of President Donald Trump’s blunt approach to trade.

Now, the Hazleton Republican is calling for more “scalpel-like” tactics as he advocates on behalf of a coalition of Italian companies that sell wine, cheese, pasta and other products in the U.S. Those companies could face steep tariffs as a result of the latest front in the Trump administration’s trade war.

Why are imported Italian foods in the trade cross-hairs? It’s a side effect of a long-standing fight between the U.S. and the European Union over subsides for airplane manufacturers. Both sides are threatening tariffs, and the World Trade Organization now must sort out the matter.

Barletta, the descendant of Italian immigrants, says Italy and the U.S. have a long friendship, and that the trade dispute could endanger that relationship.

"While I understand the president’s position on tariffs, Italy shouldn’t be punished for the actions of other European countries,” Barletta said in a statement announcing his role with the newly created American Italian Food Coalition, which represents more than 450 Italian companies and manufacturers.
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Barletta represented a Luzerne County-based district from 2011 until January. At Trump’s urging, he attempted to unseat U.S. Sen. Bob Casey in last year’s election instead of seeking another term in the U.S. House.

Since leaving office, Barletta also has said he plans to use his Leaders Only Unite political action committee to focus on immigration and border security, one of his marquee issues while in public office.

POTTSVILLE — Creation of the Tide Virtual Campus, Pottsville Area School District’s own cyber charter school, is one example of what the district is doing to get back on “sound financial footing.”

Superintendent Dr. Jeffrey Zwiebel, Ph.D, discussed the virtual campus on Friday in reaction to the district’s scolding by state Auditor General Eugene DePasquale, who said results of an audit showed the district needs to better manage its finances or risk being placed on “financial watch” status by the state.

In a press release issued Thursday, DePasquale said the audit is “especially alarming” because the district’s general fund balance decreased from $12.5 million in 2013 to a negative $1.2 million by the end of the audit period. Auditors found the school board did not plan for a multi-year budget or factor the costs associated with retirements, health care and charter schools.

“Poor fiscal management and rising charter school costs all contributed to the general fund slipping into the red,” DePasquale said. “If immediate changes are not made, Pottsville Area School District runs the risk of being placed on financial watch status by the state.”

Zwiebel agrees that retirement, health care and charter school costs indeed have set the district back financially.

He said the percentage of the district payroll spent on the Public School Employees Retirement System (PSERS) rose from 16.93 percent in 2013-14 to 32.57 percent in 2017-18.

On health care, the district has taken steps to reduce the number of employees and retirees covered under the plan by removing retirees 65 and older from coverage and through the reduction of full-time staff.

“We also recognize there are further changes that need to occur in order to reduce health care expenses,” the superintendent said Friday, but added, “Health care is a bargained benefit that must be negotiated with employee unions.”

But the biggest impact, Zwiebel said, has been the charter and cyber charter school costs.

Up to $2.3 million

Charter school tuition costs increased by 43% from $1,667,014 in the 2013-14 fiscal year to $2,386,395 in the 2017-18 fiscal year, Zwiebel said.

He noted DePasquale’s report determined that charter school tuition costs adversely affected the district’s financial position and also reduced the funds available to support academic programs.

As the district’s charter school tuition costs increased, so did the percentage of local revenue needed to meet the increasing cost, Zwiebel said.

That’s why the Tide Virtual Campus was created for 2019-20. It allows students who are enrolled in other cyber charters to instead enroll in the district sponsored school and have the opportunity to participate in extra-curricular programs as well as graduate with a Pottsville Area High School diploma.

As to its financial impact, the average cost for a student enrolled in the Tide campus is about $4,500 compared to other schools that can cost the district between $10,000 and $25,000, saving taxpayers money.

Five year ‘look back’

DePasquale said district officials agreed with the audit’s findings and its 17 recommendations and are working to correct the deficiencies.

Zwiebel said the district performs a five-year “look back” on revenues and expenditures to better predict future amounts.

“This has helped us bring in line the budget estimates for local revenues which had significant variances in prior budget periods,” he said.

Zwiebel also said the district has consistently passed balanced budgets for the last several fiscal years beginning with the 2017-18 and again through the 2019-20 budget.

“This has greatly improved our financial management in having to analyze each year what reductions may be required to have a balanced budget,” he said.

Other findings

The audit also found that:

• The school board approved budgets that counted on revenue that the district did not receive.

• A board-approved separation agreement cost district taxpayers more than $200,000. Zwiebel said Friday he couldn’t detail the agreement because it was a personnel matter.

• The district inaccurately reported the number of nonpublic and charter school students it transported, resulting in a net under-reimbursement by the state of $21,175.

• The district failed to retain the required supporting documentation for multiple components of its transportation reimbursement.

• The district failed to conduct all required monthly fire drills and did not maintain adequate supporting documentation.

‘Pleased’ with reaction

At the conclusion of the report DePasquale confirmed the district is taking proactive measures to correct the problems.

“We are pleased that the district is evaluating cost-savings measures and is more accurately budgeting,” he said. “We continue to stress the importance of a multi-year budget that will help the district identify the revenue needed to meet expenditures.”

DePasquale’s office said it will continue to emphasize the importance of requiring the annual independent audit to be completed and approved by the (school) board in a timely fashion and use the results to make informed financial decisions.

Addressing another pitfall released in the audit, Zwiebel said the district has reviewed its procedures for fire and school security drills and revised the process of conducting and reporting the drills for each school year. However, due to security concerns he would not address the specifics of the changes.

Overall, Zwiebel thanked DePasquale and his department for their help.

“We are taking the recommendations by the auditor general to do all we can do to place the district on sound financial footing and to offer the best educational opportunities for our students,” he said.

fandruscvage@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6013

FRACKVILLE — The centennial celebration of the founding of the American Legion in the country and Frackville Post 398 kicked off Friday with commencement ceremony at noon.

The Frackville post was founded in 1919, the same year as the national veterans organization, following the end of World War I.

Now, it will begin its second century in serving veterans and the community at large. It will mark the legacy of the past 100 years and look forward with a vision toward the future.

Friday began a four-day celebration with music, ethnic food and desserts, theme baskets, a daily 50/50, door prizes, poppy sales and a membership drive. Each day there will be live bands and DJs, and there will be an “Honor Roll Call” each day to honor fallen heroes, veterans and supporters of the military.

According to the national American Legion’s message to posts, “The heart of The American Legion beats loudest, as we all know, at the local post. Every major program of the organization, from Boys State to American Legion Riders, was born at a local post. Whether your post was chartered in 1919 or 2016, whether it’s an American Legion Baseball powerhouse or a beacon of hope for needy children at winter — or more — it has a story that needs to be told in your community during the centennial. The opportunity to share your post’s legacy and its vision is upon you, and all of us as an organization, as the centennial spotlight is cast on our time-honored place in American society.”

The national organization began on March 15-17, 1919, in Paris, France, in the aftermath of World War I. The American Legion was federally chartered on Sept. 16, 1919, and quickly became an influential force at the national, state and local levels, dedicated to service to veterans, strong national defense, youth and patriotism, a national press release states.

The program was originally planned to be held outside at the Veterans Memorial, but due to the windy conditions, it was moved inside. Post Commander Peter Kostingo noted attendance of the members of the Ladies Auxiliary, Sons of the American Legion and the American Legion Riders.

Kostingo welcomed Schuylkill County commissioners George F. Halcovage Jr. and Frank Staudenmeier to the stage for the presentation of a proclamation.

Before the presentation, Staudenmeier spoke of his family, noting that his father had eight brothers and two sisters. He said all nine brothers served in the military.

“My dad truly, truly loved the Ashland Legion, as my uncles did, because it was a place for veterans to go and reminisce and talk and play cards,” Staudenmeier said. “Not only that, but the Frackville Legion, the Ashland Legion, Legions all over the United States, play an integral role in the community. The Legion always gets involved in community events. We congratulate you on 100 years, and hopefully you will be around for 100 more years. We thank you for everything you do.”

“You are our heroes,” Halcovage said. “The families, the spouses who stayed behind are heroes also. One of the great things about Schuylkill County is we come from a place where we have great family values. We get to eat together, we get to worship together, we get to do things together, and part of the core of that are our veterans, our Legionnaires. For you to make the sacrifice to leave your families and to provide us the liberties that we have, we owe you such a debt of gratitude.”

As he finished his comments, and before reading the proclamation, Halcovage thanked World War II Army veteran Calvin Briggs, 94, of Ringtown, who attended the ceremony. Briggs served in the European Theater of Operations as a truck and half-track driver and is a Bronze Star recipient.

“Throughout the four days we will celebrate, I will be reading a roll call honoring 100 individuals who deserve recognition of their support of their time and dedication and love and devotion and those who made the ultimate sacrifice,” Kostingo said, which he followed with a prayer.

Following Friday’s noon ceremony, a free luncheon was served. DJ Tempest provided music from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m. and the band Magic Stew played from 6 to 10:30 p.m. Everything is open to the public and there is no cover charge. The schedule for today through Monday is:

•Today — DJ Dave and Karaoke from 2:30 to 6:30 p.m. The band Broken Spell will perform from 6:30 p.m. to 10:30 p.m.

• Sunday — DJ Duffy will play early from 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. and during band breaks.

There will be a Centennial Celebration Bike Ride from 9:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. There will be a free meal for bikers and riders after the bike run. From 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., the polka band The Swingmasters will perform from 6 to 10 p.m.

• Monday — The closing ceremony marking the 100th anniversary date when the American Legion was federally chartered will be held from noon to 1:30 p.m., followed by music from DJ Tempest from 1:30 to 5:30 p.m., followed in turn by DJ Duffy from 5:30 to 10:30 p.m.

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