The Pine Grove Area school board chose Superintendent Heath W. Renninger to lead the district for five more years and approved grant-funded purchases to improve school safety and security.

The board held a special meeting Sunday, in anticipation of not being able to meet in the school building tonight with the schools being closed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

The board unanimously voted to award Renninger a five-year contract beginning July 1 and ending June 30, 2025. He will receive a base salary of $125,610 with the following increases starting July 1 each year: $3,500; $3,600; $3,750; $3,800; and $3,950.

In other action, the board accepted the 2020 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Competitive Grant Award of $375,248.

The board approved a contract with NRG Controls North to supply and install new IP (internet protocol) surveillance cameras. NRG North will provide all associated equipment and labor necessary for a new operational surveillance system for the high school interior and exterior at a cost of $375,248.

This project is Phase I of the district’s surveillance camera replacement initiative and will be fully funded by the district’s approval of the crime and delinquency grant. This is a COSTARS, Pennsylvania cooperative purchasing, program.

Renninger announced the plan to feed district students, which started on Tuesday, as reported in The Republican-Herald. Grab-and-go bag lunches will be distributed at North End Fire Company and Tremont Borough Building from 11:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Metz Food Service will be handling the lunch preparation. Renninger said if people know any civic organizations that would like to help, he would appreciate that information.

In other business, the board approved:

• Purchasing 44 Dell Latitude 7390 — Pro Support Plus Laptops for the high school faculty from Global Data Consultants LLC at a total cost of $24,945.80. This is a life cycle purchase and is budgeted under the technology budget.

• Accepting the 2020 Pennsylvania Commission on Crime and Delinquency’s School Safety and Security Meritorious Grant Award in the amount of $35,000.

• Purchasing the items and services specified within the $35,000 grant award.

• The Pine Grove Area High School 2020-21 Course of Studies Guide.

• To compromise the district’s portion of delinquent taxes with reference to tax parcel 12-06-0022. The parcel is located at 314 West Centre St., Donaldson, Frailey Township. The district’s portion of delinquent taxes is $1,005.97.

• The Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29 Administrative and Program Budget for 2020-21 school year. Superintendents are also discussing the validity and fairness of the Article of Agreement with the IU.

• The sale of a 1998 GMC Cargo Van to Lynn Brown, of Pine Grove, for $350. This vehicle did not receive any bids during the bidding process.

• Purchasing fitness equipment at a cost not to exceed $35,000. This will be a purchase from capital projects.

• To award the cafeteria vendor contract to the successful bidder, as supported by a cafeteria RFP scoring rubric.

Under personnel matters, the board accepted the resignation from paraprofessional Savannah Miller, effective March 27; the resignation from paraprofessional Angie Alburquerque, effective April 3; and a request for an uncompensated extended leave of absence from Mary Franko, middle school special education teacher. Franko’s leave would be from the last day of her FMLA leave until the end of the 2019-20 school year. She would be responsible for her benefits from the last day of her FMLA leave until the end of the school year, after which time she would retire under the professional staff agreement.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

POTTSVILLE — Schuylkill County Election Bureau Director Frannie Brennan on Wednesday urged voters to be ready to cast their ballots by mail instead of going to the polls for the April 28 primary election.

“We don’t know the way it’s going to be,” Brennan said. “We’re going to do the best we can for everyone.”

Brennan said she was trying to arrange training sessions for poll workers on the new voting machines that the county bought as the result of a directive from Gov. Tom Wolf.

Some states have delayed their primaries in light of the coronavirus pandemic that has resulted in massive shutdowns and restrictions on business and government operations across the country. No coronavirus cases have been reported in Schuylkill County as of Wednesday.

“I want the people to be safe,” Brennan said.

Any voter who calls the bureau’s office at 570-628-1467 and requests an application for an absentee ballot will be mailed one, Brennan said. Also, people can visit the Pennsylvania Department of State website at dos.pa.gov/VotingElections

Brennan said she has canceled a training session for poll workers that had been scheduled for later this month. She said she will try to arrange for an online session.

She also wanted to remind people in Mahanoy City that, while primary elections generally are for only registered Republicans and Democrats, all borough voters will be able to cast ballots on the home rule charter question.

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

Deeds

Porter Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Quicken Loans Inc.; 460 Dietrich Ave., Orwin; $1,252.17.

Pottsville — Edward Fogel to Garges Group LLC; property on West Market Street; $30,000.

U.S. Bank NA to Castle 2020 LLC; 331 S. Second St.; $4,100.

Garges Group LLC to Perennial Beauti LLC; property on West Market Street; $80,000.

Latif Sean Ougzin to Black Rock Brewing Co.; 325 S. Centre St.; $100,000.

Rush Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to U.S. Bank NA; 165 Ben Titus Road, Ginther; $1,429.99.

Schuylkill Haven — Robert B. McMinn to Justin Robert McMinn, Jason William McMinn, Brandon Eric McMinn and Brian Joseph McMinn; 220 Avenue A; $1.

Tamaqua — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Scarlet Capital Fund I LLC; 208 W. Spruce St.; $1,477.79.

Pet owners can breathe a sigh of relief.

COVID-19 is believed to have originated from exotic animal food markets in Wuhan, China, but household pets such as dogs and cats do not appear to be carriers.

A statement from the American Veterinary Medical Association can help put pet owners at ease: “If you are not ill with COVID-19, you can interact with your pet as you normally would, including walking, feeding and playing. You should continue to practice good hygiene during those interactions.”

General tips

Imported animal products do not pose any harm for pet owners. The department of agriculture and the CDC continues to monitor products.

If bringing an animal into the United States, it must be healthy upon arrival. Animals currently regulated by the CDC are cats, dogs, turtles/snakes/lizards, monkeys, civets, African rodents and bats. If bringing an animal into the U.S. from China, a valid rabies vaccination must be presented. Animals imported from China should be observed daily to rule out any illnesses.

There is no evidence to suggest animals can become infected by COVID-19 at this time. Although it originated from animals, the virus can not be spread human to animal and animal to animal.

If infected with COVID-19, although there are no reported cases of animals becoming infected, the CDC suggests distancing yourself from your furry friend. If possible, have another family member watch your pet if you are ill.

If infected with COVID-19 and you have a service animal or you must care for your pet, then wear a face mask; don’t share food, kiss, or hug them; and wash your hands before and after any contact with them.

Emergency services

Emergency animal services such as the Plains Animal Hospital in Plains Twp. and the Veterinary Referral & Emergency Center in Clarks Summit will remain open their regular business hours, but offer a curbside triage process to eliminate people mingling in the waiting room and lobby as well as the safety of the pet owners and staff.

Pet stores

Many local pet stores remain open and are serving pet owners through distance sales.

Pet Supplies Plus, which has locations in Wilkes-Barre Twp., Pittston and Dickson City, while PetSmart in Wilkes-Barre, Hazleton and Dickson City is keeping regular hours and doing extra cleaning.

Pet adoption

Blue Chip Farm Animal Refuge are reducing the hours they are open to the public. The will be open noon to 5 p.m. Saturday and Sunday, as well as asking volunteers to contact them 24 hours before coming to the site.

Contact the writer: eeckhart@citizensvoice.com

POTTSVILLE — A Cumberland County man returned to prison March 10 after a Schuylkill County judge sentenced him for possessing drugs in July 2019 in Mahanoy City.

Travis John, 27, must serve nine to 23 months in prison and pay costs, $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $302 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Harrisburg, President Judge William E. Baldwin decided.

Baldwin made the sentence concurrent with the sentence John already is serving.

John, who sat through Tuesday’s hearing wearing a prison jumpsuit, belt and handcuffs, pleaded guilty to possession of a controlled substance, with prosecutors withdrew charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, and an additional count of possession of a controlled substance. Mahanoy City police charged John with possessing drugs on July 17, 2019.

In another March 10 case, Baldwin revoked the parole of Casey J. McKlveen, 26, of Latrobe, but immediately reparoled him.

McKlveen, who admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, using marijuana and not making payments on his court-ordered costs and fees, originally pleaded guilty on March 14, 2018, to failure to provide accurate registration information.

At that time, Baldwin him to serve six to 23 months in prison, pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

State police at Frackville charged McKlveen with committing his crime on July 28, 2015.

Also on March 10, Baldwin revoked the probation of Roeny R. Dorville, 31, of Girardville, recommitted him to prison and imposed five years additional probation on him. Dorville cannot apply for reparole until June 12.

Dorville, who admitted violating his probation and parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, moving without permission, using methamphetamine, heroin and fentanyl, not making payments on his court-ordered costs and fees and not completing his drug and alcohol evaluation, originally pleaded guilty on Dec. 7, 2018, to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance. Prosecutors withdrew three additional counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one count each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

At that time, Baldwin sentenced him to serve 161 days to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, pay costs and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Frackville borough police charged Dorville with possessing drugs on June 5, 2017, in the borough.

In another March 10 case, Baldwin revoked the probation of Anthony J. Kleeman Jr., 22, address not known, and sentenced him to serve four to 12 months in prison and undergo a drug and alcohol evaluation.

Kleeman, who admitted violating his probation by failing to report to his supervising officer, moving without permission and not making payments on his court-ordered costs and fees, originally pleaded guilty on May 14, 2019, to possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Baldwin placed him on probation for 12 months, and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $100 SAEF payment and a $50 CJEA payment.

Girardville police charged Kleeman with possessing paraphernalia on May 5, 2018, in the borough.

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

POTTSVILLE — As of the end of business Thursday, the Schuylkill County Courthouse closed to the general public, although employees will remain on the job in order to provide services.

President Judge William E. Baldwin issued two emergency orders closing the courts, including the seven magisterial district judges offices, except for “essential functions” that must be completed.

“This will be in effect until April 6 unless it’s extended by further order of the Supreme Court,” Baldwin said. “They’re leaving the door open to further extensions.”

As a result, the two-week April criminal court term, which was scheduled to start on April 6, along with jury selection for the term, which was scheduled to occur March 31 and April 2-3, are canceled.

Also, the county commissioners announced that people will not be admitted past the front entrance to the courthouse, where employees from the office with which they must do business will help them.

“In conjunction with the courts, starting (today), the courthouse is going to be closed to the general public. It’s just a matter of protection for everyone,” commissioners Chairman George F. Halcovage Jr. said.

The county is encouraging everyone to submit applications, filings and other documents by mail, according to County Administrator Gary R. Bender. He also said that any documents that cannot be mailed can be left in a drop box at the public entrance, where a representative from the appropriate office can get them.

Baldwin specified that the essential functions for magisterial district judges include the following, with all other pending cases being postponed:

· Preliminary arraignments for cases where a defendant can obtain bail

· Criminal case filings and processing

· Preliminary hearings for prisoners only

· Issuance of bench and search warrants

· Emergency protection from abuse orders

He also specified the county court’s essential functions that will continue to be open. They include the following:

· Emergency bail review and habeas corpus hearings

· Preliminary parole or probation revocation hearings

· Bench warrant hearings

· Juvenile delinquency detentions

· Juvenile emergency shelter and detention hearings

· Temporary and final protection from abuse hearings, including ones for indirect criminal contempt

· Emergency child custody, Juvenile Act or guardianship petitions

· Civil mental health reviews

· Emergency equity civil matters

· Posting of bail for prisoners

· Any pleading or motion concerning public health and involving immediate and irreparable harm

“The functions of government still have to go on,” he said. “If we were to just stop all of them for an indefinite period of time ... how would we ever catch up?”

Baldwin also provided that any matter that can be handled through “advanced communication technology ... may and should proceed.”

He also ordered that payments cannot be made in person but can be made by mail, electronically or by telephone. The only exceptions are bail payments, which must be done in person, since documents must be signed, a measure with which the commissioners agreed.

Halcovage and Baldwin each said that employees will remain on the job and offices will provide services.

“It’s business as usual here at the courthouse,” Halcovage said. “We’re public servants.”

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

POTTSVILLE — A Pine Grove man returned to prison March 13 after admitting to a Schuylkill County judge that he was driving with a combination of alcohol and drugs in his body in April 2019 in Cressona while possessing drugs.

Jeffery C. Mendoza, 31, must serve nine to 18 months in prison, pay costs, $1,200 in fines and $100 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, and perform 10 hours community service, Judge Charles M. Miller ruled.

“You’re not doing yourself any favors,” Miller told Mendoza, who sat through the hearing wearing handcuffs and a prison jumpsuit. “All you’re doing is ruining your health ... and hastening your own demise.”

Mendoza pleaded guilty to driving under the influence, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Mendoza was DUI, and had methamphetamine, marijuana, a pipe and baggies in his possession, on April 27, 2019.

Also on March 13, Robert M. Hoysock, 35, of Pottsville, pleaded guilty to possession of drug paraphernalia and driving under suspension, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of possession of a small amount of marijuana and disregarding traffic lane.

Miller sentenced Hoysock to spend 60 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring and 12 months on probation, and pay costs, a $1,000 fine and a $100 SAEF payment.

State police at Reading charged Hoysock with possessing a pipe and a scale on June 3, 2019, in West Brunswick Township.

“Get rid of all the booze in the house,” Miller told Hoysock, who has two children. “Kids are going to do what you do.”

In another March 13 case, Richard R. Jefferson, 52, of Schuylkill Haven, pleaded guilty to DUI and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of careless driving. Miller sentenced him to spend six months in the intermediate punishment program, pay costs, $1,025 in fines and a $300 SAEF payment, and perform 10 hours community service.

State police at Schuylkill Haven alleged Jefferson was DUI on May 5, 2019, in North Manheim Township. Jefferson had a blood alcohol level of 0.163%; the legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania is 0.08%.

Also on March 13, Kelly J. Lutz, 41, of Hamburg, pleaded guilty to retail theft, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of receiving stolen property.

Miller placed Lutz on probation for 24 months, and also sentenced her to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $275.47 restitution to the Walmart Supercenter in Hometown, and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. He made the sentence concurrent with the Berks County sentence Lutz already is serving.

Rush Township police had charged Lutz with committing the theft on March 23, 2019, at Walmart.

“All of us pay for that,” in the form of higher prices and security systems in stores, Miller told Lutz.

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

We live in a global village, and this pandemic is here to prove it.

COVID-19 — a novel strain of coronavirus — has now killed 7,873 people in 164 countries and continues to be a growing threat. In my day-to-day practice as a pediatrician, I witness 3 general reactions to the pandemic, both in my patients and my staff. The first is panic — “My child just coughed, is this coronavirus?” “Am I going to die?” “Is the world going to end?” The second is denial —“ The flu kills 30,000 people every year, “Accidents kill way more people,” “This is no big deal.” The third reaction is in the middle — worried but prepared — “I’m staying home as much as possible and washing my hands.”

Let me further address each reaction. Panic is dangerous as it can lead to confusion and the spreading of misinformation. Symptoms of the infection include fever, difficulty breathing, dry cough, and fatigue. Eighty percent of people infected with COVID-19 will have mild symptoms and will recover with no issues. Therefore, most young, otherwise healthy people are best treated at home in quarantine. Individuals who go to the emergency room with minimal symptoms put more pressure on the health care system and take away resources from critically ill individuals.

The second type of reaction is denial. It is true that the flu kills around 30,000 people a year, maybe even up to 60,000 by some estimates. However, we understand influenza — the virus which causes the flu — very well. We have a vaccine for influenza, and we have built-up immunity against it because we have been exposed to it for so long. COVID-19, on the other hand, is a new strain, meaning we do not understand it and we have no immunity against it. Based on the statistics, COVID-19 is more contagious and is estimated to be about 10 times more lethal than influenza. Eighteen percent of individuals infected will get sick and need hospital support but will ultimately survive, while 2% will lose to the disease. This 20% of sick people can be astronomical and difficult for our health care system to handle, especially if they get sick all at once. Also, accidents definitely kill many people. This is why we take safety measures every time we drive to protect ourselves—we wear seat belts, we obey traffic laws, we put our kids in car seats. Besides, accidents aren’t contagious.

The third type of reaction is calm, informed and prepared, and it is the reaction I urge you all to maintain. This means doing the right thing to protect yourself and your community: washing your hands, limiting your social interactions as much as possible, and wearing a face mask if you are coughing. You don’t have to worry about getting hand sanitizer if you can’t find any, soap and water is just fine, and you don’t have to wear a face mask if you are not sick or around sick people.

Ultimately, there are some things we all should do. We should be prepared, we should wash our hands, we should limit our social interactions as much as possible, and we should wear a face mask if we are coughing. The CDC has advised practicing “social distancing,” which means not attending large gatherings like concerts or parties, and trying not to go out to restaurants or bars. This is important because people can transmit the virus to other individuals even if they do not feel sick themselves.

If you think you might have the virus, call your physician. Many patients with these symptoms will have viral infections typical of this time of year and a quick call to your physician can help make that determination. Ultimately, I urge you to stay calm and informed. With preparedness and prayers, we will get through it. This too shall pass.

Dr. Zarar Bajwa is a pediatrician with practices in Pottsville and Hometown.

PHILADELPHIA — The bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States announced that precautions are being taken to reduce the spread of coronavirus, which includes the suspension of all public liturgies.

The announcement, dated to Thursday, was directed to the clergy, religious and faithful by the Most Rev. Borys Gudziak, archbishop of Philadelphia for Ukrainians and metropolitan of Ukrainian Catholics in the United States; the Most Rev. Paul Chomnycky, OSBM, eparch of Stamford; the Most Rev. Benedict Aleksiychuk, eparch of St. Nicholas in Chicago; the Most Rev. Bohdan J. Danylo, eparch of St. Josaphat in Parma; and the Most Rev. Andriy Rabiy, auxiliary bishop of Philadelphia.

“Responding to the outbreak of the global pandemic virus COVID-19, which has been spreading with lightning speed across the globe, we, bishops of the Ukrainian Catholic Church in the United States, united in solidarity, wish to address you with assurances of our joint prayers and efforts. Bound together in our care for the spiritual and physical health of our faithful, we would like to inform you about certain norms and practices intended to confirm us in faith and truth, safeguarding all members of our communities, especially the most vulnerable, and preventing the spread of disease.”

The following instructions on public services were released:

“All weekday and Sunday services will be celebrated temporarily without the participation of the assembly of the faithful. Our clergy will continue to celebrate and pray for you and with you vicariously. We will celebrate the Divine Liturgies and other services in behalf of and for all of you, especially for the sick and the health care providers.

“Our churches will remain open for private prayer at designated times. We ask the pastors to guarantee the safety and frequent disinfection of our churches.”

"We renew and confirm the dispensation from the obligation to participate in Sunday services. At the same time, we ask you to pray as a Domestic Church (as a family or household unit) on Sundays and on Holy Days. We suggest making use of the ZhyveTV and internet resources of your eparchy or parish. Read prayerfully the Holy Scriptures, reflect upon the source and meaning of your life, on God’s love and salvific action on our behalf."

"We encourage you to make best use of the quarantine time, which coincides with Great Lent, for personal prayer, reading the Word of God, and building a more profound relationship with Our Lord, our neighbors and in our families."

The directions also included requesting the postponements of the Sacraments of Christian Initiation (Baptism and Chrismation) and Matrimony. The faithful can avail themselves of the Sacrament of Repentance (Confession) in church, with each parish deciding on how it can be done taking all necessary precautions for social distancing.

The Very Rev. Archpriest Michael Hutsko is the pastor of Ss. Peter and Paul Ukrainian Catholic Church in Mount Carmel and Assumption BVM Ukrainian Catholic Church in Centralia.

“We can get by as best we can,” Hutsko said Thursday. “I just feel we’re in an unprecedented time and we’re facing challenges that haven’t been faced by our nation and people in two generations at least. It’s important that we follow the instructions and guidelines of our civil authorities, our government, our president, the CDC, as well as our church authorities, our archbishops, our bishops, in trying to provide for the physical safety of our people, as well as provide for their spiritual needs in a new way. Our bishop has recommended that the pastors continue to celebrate the prayer life of the Church, however to do so in a private way, which we will be doing here and Centralia. We need to find new ways to communicate and relate to the faithful. Of course, social media is key to that, and we will be using Facebook and websites and any other public way that we can to communicate a spiritual message to the faithful to keep them involved and also to encourage, as our archbishop said, this opportunity to build a strong foundation of the family church, the family unit, where church is first celebrated. It’s an excellent opportunity for parents to spend quality time with their children and extended families to be together.”

Hutsko said he will have confessions during the regular times, but they will be in an open area rather than a closed confessional. The church will also be open for private prayer, but Hutsko is working on the details.

Gudziak recorded a short message on Facebook that can be found at www.facebook.com/borys.gudziak/videos/3073130362752124/

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

POTTSVILLE — Like almost every other group, the Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court will not meet until at least April due to the coronavirus pandemic, the judge who presides over its regular weekly sessions said Thursday.

“We’re not going to have drug court for the next couple weeks,” Judge James P. Goodman said. Those sessions include the ones slated for March 26 and April 2, he said.

Goodman reminded court participants that they must keep in touch with their probation officers by telephone. He also said they need to remember why they are in the program.

“The important thing is ... you want to stay clean,” Goodman said. “Be safe and be smart.”

Goodman said people will continue to advance in the program, but those advancements will not be recognized until the next court session.

He also suggested attending online meetings of their support groups, since a lot of their normal in-person sessions probably will be canceled.

Schuylkill County officials started the drug treatment court in January 2017 to try to combat the widespread local drug addiction problem, using a carrot-and-stick approach to help participants beat their addictions. Other counties in Pennsylvania have also instituted drug treatment courts.

Participants in the program must undergo substance abuse treatment, make regular court appearances, submit to random drug testing and home visits, meet with probation officers and comply with directives from the court and those officers. Participants must complete all five phases in order to graduate from the program; graduation is the carrot, resulting in dismissal of the charges against them and completion of an aftercare program can lead to expungement of that part of their record. The program lasts for a minimum of 14 months.

However, since the participants tender guilty pleas to the charges against them, failure to complete the drug treatment court program is the stick, resulting in their pleas being accepted and the defendants being sentenced, quite possibly to time in a state correctional institution.

Participants reading from their required weekly essays told Goodman about what they celebrate and why they consider themselves lucky. Most of them said they were fortunate not to be in the grip of drugs and that they have ways to stay free of them.

“I’m celebrating one year clean and sober today,” Christina said. “I’m in good health. I have a good support system.”

For Robert, luck comes in the form of reconnecting with his family.

“I am lucky because I have two awesome kids I was finally able to talk to,” he said.

Those factors have come together for Ashley.

“I am lucky because I have my daughter, I am not in jail and I am clean and sober,” she said.

Faith also said being a part of a family is a blessing.

“I have a good relationship with my daughter,” she said. “I have a job, I’m sober (and) I have a great relationship with my family.”

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

Editor’s note: The following college notes were submitted to the newspaper prior to the measures being taken by colleges and universities due to the coronavirus pandemic.

Kutztown

Taylor Schatz, of Orwigsburg, was granted an opportunity to study under master artisans this summer at Kutztown University as part of its 2020 Summer Workshop Scholarships.

Geisinger CSOM

Rebecca Kane, of Frackville and Rebecca Petlansky, of Auburn, were certified in mental health first aid at Geisinger Commonwealth School of Medicine, Scranton.

Susquehanna

Leonard Bolinsky, of Ashland, a student at Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, completed an internship with Marriott Hotels in London, England.

Indiana State

Marlene Brahler, of Pottsville, was recognized as a member of Sigma Alpha Lambda National Leadership and Honors Organization at Indiana State University.

Lebanon Valley

Chloe Kline, of Port Carbon, participated in a production of “Almost Maine” at the Wig and Buckle Theater Company at Lebanon Valley College, Annville.

Kira Marlow, of Ashland, a graduate of North Schuyl-kill High School, and Brooke Schach, of Tremont, a graduate of Pine Grove Area High School, are pursuing bachelor degrees in exercise science and are studying abroad in Hamilton, New Zealand, this spring. The program is located at the University of Waikato and is open to students in any major or concentration.

ASHLAND — Flames caused heavy damage to one home and an adjoining home sustained smoke and water damage in a Wednesday night fire.

Firefighters from Ashland and Girardville were called to the 1000 block of Market Street just before 9 p.m. for a report of a house fire that went to two alarms before being brought under control.

Fire Chief Phillip Groody and Ashland police Patrolman Daniel Weikel arrived at the scene within minutes to find heavy smoke coming from 1016 Market St.

As firefighters were arriving, Groody called for a second alarm, bringing crews from Mount Carmel and Gordon to the scene as well as the rapid intervention team from Englewood Fire Company.

Groody said it took crews about 20 minutes to bring the fire under control.

“It was a quick hit, it all just came together,” he said of crews being able to stop the spread of the fire.

Firefighters managed to contain the fire to 1016 Market St. while a home at 1018 Market St. sustained smoke and water damage.

Both homes were vacant at the time of the fire and the 1016 home had electrical service while the home at 1018 did not.

Groody said state police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall of the Frackville station was at the scene Thursday morning working with fire officials to try and determine how the blaze started.

The cause has yet to be determined.

“At this point we’re saying it’s undetermined and under investigation,” the chief said.

No injuries were reported and Shenandoah ALS, Ashland EMS and Ashland fire police assisted.

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

SCHOOL MEALS

The following public school meal distributions include breakfast and lunch and are Monday-Friday unless otherwise specified.

Blue Mountain

Finalizing plan to offer to students who qualify for free and reduced lunch.

Mahanoy Area

Anyone 18 years and younger.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Transportation parking lot and East End Park.

Minersville Area

Open to all children present under 18. Walk up or drive up.

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. starting Monday, March 23: elementary school, 300 N. Fifth St. Lunch for current day and breakfast for following day. Friday distributions will include breakfast and lunch for weekend.

North Schuylkill

Free to anyone under age 18; no ID required.

11 a.m. to noon beginning today in communities that meet income guidelines: Washington Fire Company, 1307 Centre St., Ashland; Good Will Hose Company, 225 S. Balliet St., Frackville; Rangers Hose Company, 6 E. Ogden St., Girardville.

Panther Valley

11 a.m. and 1 p.m. at elementary school, Panther Valley stadium, Coaldale borough hall, Batter’s Box restaurant.

Pine Grove Area

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: North End Volunteer Fire Company parking lot, 118 N. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove, and Tremont Borough Building, 139 Clay St., Tremont.

Pottsville Area

Students 18 and younger.

11 a.m. to 1 p.m.: Behind D.H.H. Lengel Middle School at the team entrance to Martz Hall.

Saint Clair

Open to all district students.

11 a.m. to noon: Elementary/middle school.

11:30 a.m. to noon: Cherry Street parking lot in Arnot’s Addition.

11 to 11:30 a.m.: Outside Cumbola Goodwill Hose Company, Water Street, Cumbola.

11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m.: Outside Good Intent Fire Company, Macomb Street, New Philadelphia.

12:30 to 1 p.m.: Schuylkill Valley Falcons Teener League Field, Middleport.

Schuylkill Haven

Open to students who qualify for free and reduced school meals.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Wednesdays: high school entrance. Week’s worth of meals provided.

Shenandoah Valley

Open to all district students through March 27.

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: Elementary parent drop-off area.

Tamaqua

In a letter to families Wednesday, Superintendent Ray Kinder Jr. said the district had applied to serve student meals and hopes to begin on Monday, March 23. More information is forthcoming.

Tri-Valley

Open to all district students.

11 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Monday, March 23 and Thursday, March 26: Sacramento Community Fire Company, 2206 E. Main St., Sacramento. Meals, prepared by district food service provider Chartwells, include breakfasts and lunches for several days. Students must be present in vehicles for grab-and-go service. No further dates provided at this time.

Upper Dauphin Area

11:30 a.m. to 1:30 p.m. weekdays starting today,high school cafeteria entrance, Elizabethville, and middle school main entrance/bus circle, Loyalton. Child must be present to pick up meals via drive-through process. Remain in vehicle. Lunch and breakfast for following day in each bag. Friday bags will include meals for weekend. Either location can be used regardless of which building student attends. For access issues, email batemanm@udasd.org or call 717-362-6555.

Williams Valley

11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m.: high school; Wiconisco Fire Engine Company, Arch Street, Wiconisco Township; Williamstown Borough Hall, Station Street, Williamstown.

As efforts to contain the spread of the coronavirus continue, events are being canceled and businesses are closing. The Mahoney Brothers concert planned for March 29 at Mount Carmel Area High School auditorium is no exception.

“The safety of our fans that have attended and supported our show the last eight years is of the utmost importance to our group,” Joe Cesari, organizer of the concert and president of the Kulpmont Cruise Association, which sponsors the concert every year, said.

Despite the cancellation, the association will try to reschedule the show after quarantines and restrictions are lifted, Cesari said.

“We’re looking at the possibility of scheduling it later on,” he said. “I don’t know if that will happen, but we have to look at what their schedule looks like. We gotta get through this virus.”

Put on in part to benefit local youth teams, such as Mount Carmel cheerleaders and band members and Lourdes Regional basketball team, the concert would have marked the band’s ninth year performing in Mount Carmel, Cesari said.

“They do well every year. It’s such a popular group and a lot of the people that follow them they see them at Knoebels. Knoebels brings them in for about a week in July, and it’s the best week that Knoebels has as far as people in the park. They pack the park because the Mahoneys are there for three shows a day,” he said.

Cesari said, however, there are benefits to seeing the group in Mount Carmel.

“When they go to Knoebels, you have to stay for all three shows (to see all three sets),” he said. “But when they come to Mount Carmel, they do all three sets in one sitting.”

He added that the New Jersey band — consisting of brothers Tim, Brian and Mike Mahoney and three other band members, including Tim’s son on drums — had been planning something new this year.

“When I talked to Tim (Mahoney), he said, ‘Joe, you wouldn’t believe what we had scheduled to do up at Mount Carmel. A lot of times, they’ve seen us do the Jukebox Hero, they’ve seen the Buddy Holly (set) and they’ve seen the Neil Diamond (set), but we were going to open up with a thing called The Beatles and Beyond,’ ” Cesari said.

The new set includes classics from The Beach Boys, Crosby, Stills and Nash, The Birds, The Eagles, Creedence Clearwater Revival and Buffalo Springfield and The Doobie Brothers.

In the event the concert is rescheduled, Cesari said, those who purchased tickets may use them for the new date.

For those who, for any reason, would like to return their tickets for a refund may do so by either returning their tickets to where they were bought or, if you were sent tickets by Cesari, they can be returned in a self-addressed stamped envelope and the money will be refunded.

“I am very sorry for this inconvenience, but we have no control over it. Our common-sense approach is to postpone for the safety of our fans,” he said.

For more information regarding refunds or anything else involving the show, call Cesari at 570-373-3561.

Contact the writer: cwertz@

republicanherald.com; 570-628-6004

FRACKVILLE — The coronavirus pandemic has hit many parts of society, especially those families who are making arrangements for the final rest of their deceased loved ones.

Restrictions on people gathering in large groups, church services being suspended and other coronavirus-related restrictions have affected the funeral industry in ways that were never really thought of before.

Thomas M. Sullivan Funeral Home Inc., Frackville and Girardville, has kept up to date in how to follow the rules and restrictions and receive frequent updates. Funeral directors Thomas and his son, Timothy, are adapting to the situation they say.

“This is all new to us as it is for everybody,” Timothy Sullivan said. “I’ve never seen anything like this before.”

On Wednesday, Pennsylvania Funeral Directors Association President David Peake Jr. released a statement to funeral directors with guidance about holding funeral services in light of restrictions due to COVID-19:

“During this time, all funeral homes will be operating on our normal 24-hour, seven days a week schedule to ensure that there is no interruption of service to families, regardless of the cause of death.”

Federal and state officials have indicated one way to limit the spread of COVID-19 is through limiting public gatherings (social distancing) to 10 people for the next eight weeks. Taking this precaution will limit the exposure of our community to the coronavirus.

“As a part of ongoing training and licensing requirements, the staff at every funeral home in Pennsylvania is trained to protect the safety of the people they serve. We always follow stringent health and safety precautions. To help us maintain as safe an environment as possible, we ask that anyone with symptoms of fever, cough or any of the other symptoms of COVID-19 refrain from attending any funeral or memorial services.”

Timothy Sullivan said guidelines and recommendations also come from the National Funeral Directors Association.

“We have received the guidelines from both organizations requiring us to basically follow the CDC and the health regulation of trying to keep a maximum of 10 people trying to keep things privately as you see in obituaries.”

The way death certificates are filed is also changing, he said.

“It came out this morning that all death certificates will be done electronically,” Timothy Sullivan said. “We have this EDRS (Electronic Death Registry System) system put in place for a couple of years, but it wasn’t completely active among all of the hospitals, coroner’s offices, funeral homes. Funeral homes have been using this for two to three years, but some of the other institutions have been using it and others haven’t been. So now its being mandated that everybody is using it from the standpoint of the paperwork. We’ve been doing that for years now. We can also do all funeral arrangement online to get the pertinent information, vital statistics that we need from a family about a person that’s deceased. That can all be done on our website, as can picking caskets and urns.”

Thomas Sullivan spoke of the more recent practice of viewings being held in churches instead of the funeral home.

“We’re running into a situation now is that there are so many people who have moved viewings to a church. They (the church) will have a funeral Mass, but they’re not going to allow more than 10 people of the immediate family. Viewings seem to be a really sore point because they can’t control anything when it’s opened to the public,” he said. “I know we’re going to run into problems because people are canceling funerals right and left.”

Timothy Sullivan said, “The families will still be allowed to have a Mass of Christian Burial in the Allentown diocese, but it will be private to the immediate family and no large crowds. To prepare for that, what we did during the last couple of days is making sure that we can meet all the needs of families — the online arrangements, the online selection of our caskets and urns, the only forms that we would have to submit, such as cremation authorizations, things like that.”

He added that funeral services also can be live streamed privately or publicly.

“That depends on the discretion of the family. Everything will go through the family about what they want and what their needs are,” he said. “I’m set up now that I can live stream most of the services, whether they’re at the funeral home or the place of worship.”

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

A new book traces the history of “The Office” just in time for the Scranton-set show’s 15th anniversary.

While coronavirus concerns have postponed the book launch with author Andy Greene set for Wednesday at the Marketplace at Steamtown, fans can still get their “Office” fix when the book comes out Tuesday — 15 years to the day that the comedy debuted on NBC.

“The Office: The Untold Story of the Greatest Sitcom of the 2000s: An Oral History” grew out of an article Greene, a senior writer at Rolling Stone, wrote for that publication in 2018.

As a music writer, Greene didn’t write much about television, but he ventured into those waters after watching one of his favorite “Office” episodes over Thanksgiving 2017. He realized about 10 years had passed since that episode, “The Dinner Party,” had aired, and he decided to publish a piece about its history. That led to interviews with several of the show’s major players.

“I tracked down all these people, and they had so many great stories that I published ... a huge article about it, and it got tons of attention,” Greene said. “And I realized I had the seeds of the book.”

Greene said he started working the phones like crazy, interviewing not only creator Greg Daniels and many of the stars but also crew members, such as the guy who handled the boom mic for the entire series. The vast majority of people Greene spoke to had never done a substantive interview about the show before, he said.

“I wanted to attack it on as many angles as I possibly could and tell as many stories as I possibly could at the same time,” Greene said.

That network of “Office” alumni kept growing and growing, and he spent about a year working nearly around the clock on the book while also doing his day job. Greene thinks readers will enjoy hearing the behind-the-scenes stories.

“Everybody knows the story of the show and the characters, but they don’t know how it happened, the key people who came and left, and the struggles to keep it on the air ... (and) keep it funny and keep it fresh,” Greene said.

Greene also interviewed officials from the Greater Scranton Chamber of Commerce about “The Office’s” dedication to establishing an authentic Scranton feel. The show, which filmed in California, went so far as to remove palm trees from the background of shots in post-production to make it look more like Pennsylvania, and viewers can spot Northeast Pennsylvania products on the set.

Greene hoped to give a voice to the “army of brilliant people (who) came together to make this show,” only a small percentage of which viewers actually saw on the screen. The show debuted at a time before streaming and when TV series on major networks needed to appeal to large audiences to stay on the air, Greene noted. And the behind-the-scenes tales show “how hard it is to be quirky and have a real distinctive voice” at such a time, he said.

“It’s a small miracle that they did (maintain the quality) for as long as they did,” Greene said.

He also addresses the quality issues the show did face in its later seasons, when Greene said “The Office” seemed like “a shell of itself.” He learned how the show didn’t really have a plan for when star Steve Carell left after the seventh season, but just as surprising to Greene was how much work went into each script.

“Every sentence of the script, it was just anguished over, and it just took weeks and weeks of polishing to get to the final product,” he said.

While the show’s genuine funniness helped make it a hit that continues to entertain years after it went off the air, Greene said, “The Office” succeeded, too, because so many people could relate to it. He expects the show to age well in part because it captures a truth: people always will have to work in offices.

“I think the show’s going to go down as one of the great shows of all time,” Greene said. “It will be mentioned in the same breath as ‘Seinfeld,’ ‘Cheers,’ ‘I Love Lucy,’ ‘Friends.’ It’s one of the cornerstones of history, but it’s (also) one of the great sitcoms of all time.”

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

Elizabethville

Information about the Elizabethville Area Historical Society, 100 E. Main St., is available at its website at www.elizabethvillehistory.org or on Facebook: Elizabethville Area Historical Society at www.facebook.com/ElizabethvilleAreaHistoricalSociety/.

Pottsville

Amanda Campbell, executive director of the Schuylkill Area Community Foundation, has reiterated that SACF has pushed back the scholarship application due date to Saturday, May 30. Students may go online to www.sacfoundation.com/scholarships.htm for criteria and applications.

Sheppton

With the East Union Township billing office closed to the public, residents can mail payments to EUTSA, P.O. Box 245, Sheppton, PA 18248. Anyone needing assistance with a bill can call 570-384-3125 from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Mondays, Wednesdays and Thursdays.

Sheppton

Children 18 and younger in East Union Township who attend school in the Hazleton Area School District and reside in the township are eligible for a free lunch. Lunch will be provided by the Hazleton Area School District for distribution. To receive a lunch, residents must register by calling the township office at 570-384-0739 or emailing eutownship@gmail.com. Provide the child’s name, age and a phone number to be reached by call or text. Lunches will be available for pickup at the parking lot of the township municipal building from 11:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. Mondays through Fridays.

The following events, activities, organizations and businesses have been affected by the coronavirus:

■ Sportman’s bingo, scheduled for March 22 at West End Fire and Rescue, 700 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, rescheduled to June 7. Tickets purchased will be honored.

■ Dramatic Stations of the Cross, scheduled for Palm Sunday, April 5, and Good Friday, April 10, at St. John the Baptist Church, Pottsville, canceled.

■ An Evening with Psychic Medium Kimberly, scheduled for March 28 at West End Fire and Rescue, 700 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City, canceled. Ticket money will be refunded.

■ Vietnam veterans breakfast, scheduled for March 30 at Lewie’s Restaurant, Frackville, canceled.

■ St. Michael’s Church Fish Dinner, scheduled for Friday, March 27, Saint Clair, and halupki sale, cancelled.

■ Girl Scout cookie sales, scheduled for Friday, March 20, at Turkey Hill, Minersville, and Saturday, March 21 and Sunday, March 22, at Walmart, Saint Clair, canceled.

■ North Ward Easter Egg Hunt, scheduled Saturday, March 28, at Willow Street Playground, Schuylkill Haven, canceled.

■ Schuylkill Keep It Pretty roast, scheduled March 25, canceled. Goal is to reschedule.

■ Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens, 220 N. Market St., monthly meeting, bingo, anniversary party. Plan to open May 6. Call Mary Ann at 570-462-0883.

■ Ham and dandelion meal, scheduled March 27, Lions building, Hegins, canceled.

■ St. John’s Church basket bonanza, scheduled for Saturday, April 4, Port Clinton, tentatively rescheduled for April 25. Call 610-207-3075.

■ Spaghetti dinner, scheduled for April 4, at Covenant United Methodist Church, Schuylkill Haven, canceled.

■ Great Shenandoah Area Historical Society’s basket auction, scheduled for April 18 and 19, postponed.

■ Altamont Fire Company all-you-can-eat-breakfast, scheduled March 22, canceled.

■ Greater Hazleton Concert Series “Doo Wop Project” concert scheduled March 24, canceled.

■ St. Nicholas Holy Name all-you-can-eat-breakfast, scheduled March 22, Primrose, canceled.

■ Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens Association meeting, scheduled for March 23, canceled.

■ Soup and pretzel sale, scheduled for March 28 at Tremont Area Free Public Library, postponed.

■ Rumpsch match, scheduled for March 29 at Auburn Game and Fish, canceled

■ Ringtown Rotary seafood supper, scheduled for April 3, canceled.

■ Lenten dinner, scheduled Friday, March 20, at St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, canceled.

■ Cornhole tournament, scheduled for April 25 at Williamstown American Legion, canceled.

■ Saint Clair Area School District PTO Chinese auction, scheduled for March 26 and 27, canceled.

■ Schuylkill Valley Food Pantry distribution postponed. For more information, call Schuylkill Community Action, 570-622-1995.

■ Scholar-athlete banquet, scheduled for March 29, postponed. Schools will be notified of new date.

■ The Mahoney Brothers concert, scheduled March 29 at Mount Carmel Area High School, postponed.

■ Steve Burton appearance, scheduled for March 21 at Walk In Art Center, Schuylkill Haven, rescheduled Saturday, Sept. 26.

■ St. Teresa of Calcutta, Mahanoy City, all non-sacramental activities postponed or canceled until further notice.

■ Ukrainian Catholic churches, no obligation to attend Sunday Divine Liturgy. All regularly scheduled liturgies will remain open for those who wish to attend.

■ Little League International, temporary suspension of all league activities until April 6. Start of regular season delayed.

■ Chicken potpie dinner, scheduled for March 21 at Friedens Lutheran Church, New Ringgold, postponed.

■ Choral Evensongs Vespers, scheduled for March 22 at First United Methodist Church, Pottsville, rescheduled for 6 p.m. Sunday, April 26.

■ Pottsville American Cancer Society Relay for Life kickoff, scheduled for March 28, canceled.

■ Haddock or pork chop dinner, scheduled for March 20 at Pine Grove Masonic Lodge, canceled.

■ Pottsville mayor’s state of the city speech, postponed on March 12, will be rescheduled.

■ St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Port Carbon, services for March 22, canceled.

■ Girardville’s St. Patrick’s Day Parade, scheduled for March 28, postponed.

■ Minersville Area High School Drama Club’s “Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat,” rescheduled for 7 p.m. Thursday, April 23, through Saturday, April 25, auditorium.

■ St. Patrick Soup Kitchen serving meals by takeout. However, if someone needs to stay and eat, they will not be turned away.

Government

■ Rep. Jerry Knowles, R-124, Rush Township, no walk-in service at Tamaqua district office. Staff available by phone and online. Paperwork can be dropped in mail slot in lobby. Call 570-668-1240 Monday through Friday. Knowles’ district office in Hamburg Borough Hall shared with state Sen. David G. Argall, closed to walk-in service.

■ State Sen. David G. Argall, R-29, Rush Township, district offices in Pottsville, Hamburg and Harrisburg, closed until further notice. Mahanoy City office remains open. Call 1-877-327-4255 or go to www.senatorargall.com.

■ Ashland Borough Hall, closed until further notice. Staff available by phone. Utility payments can be paid by mail or in mailbox in front of borough hall.

■ Frackville Area Municipal Authority office, closed until further notice. Staff available by phone, 570-874-3589 (office); 570-874-4421 (plant).

Payments can be mailed, deposited in drop box outside borough building or at the FAMA Office door mail slot, or with a credit or debit card at fama874.com (look for the Municipal Pay link). Call office to pay over phone.

■ Frackville Borough Tax Office closed until further notice. Janice Huth, tax collector, can be reached at 570-874-4670. Payments should be mailed or placed in mail slot at tax office. If return receipt is requested, a self-addressed postage paid envelope must be included.

■ Mahanoy City Borough office, closed until April 1. All essential workers in place to take calls. Community Day meeting this week and Home Rule meeting March 24, canceled.

■ Minersville Borough Office, 2 E. Sunbury St. closed until further notice. Call 570-544-2149 during normal business hours, Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., Friday, 8 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. Applications for compost cards, occupant permits, rental registration available at minersvilleonline.com. Options for paying utility bills available at https://wipp.edmundsassoc.com/Wipp/?wippid=MNRV, mailing check and money orders to office, 2 E. Sunbury St., Minersville, PA 17954, or at the drop box on Sunbury Street side of building.

■ Orwigsburg Borough Office, 209 N. Warren St., closed to non-essential persons until further notice. Staff available by phone Monday through Friday, 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., by calling 570-366-3103. Borough parks, fields, recreation centers closed to external functions; rentals will continue on case-by-case basis; limit 10 people.

■ Pottsville City Hall, closed to public. Employees available via phone or email 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. daily. Call 570-622-1234 or go to www.city.pottsville.pa.us. Payments may be mailed or placed in drop box outside city hall.

■ Schuylkill County Housing Authority main office and development offices, closed to public. Applicants for public housing and Section 8 will be processed by calling 570-385-3400, ext. 111. For other business, call the same numbers.

■ Schuylkill County Prison, no visitors except legal defense and official business.

■ Schuylkill Haven Borough Hall, 333 Center Ave., closed to public until further notice. Make utility payments via drive-through in back of borough hall, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m., in the night deposit box or by phone, online or mail. Phone payments can be made during business hours or after via toll free number, 1-833-201-5693. Merchant fee for all phone payments is $3. All other borough business requires appointment; call 570-385-2841 during normal business hours.

■ State driver’s license/photo centers, closed through at least March 29.

Businesses/organizations

■ Diakon classes, clubs, programs, canceled; senior centers closed. Diakon Community Services discourages walk-ins to main office. Call 570-624-3010. AARP tax preparation, canceled. APPRISE telephone counseling only, no face-to-face appointments. Call 570-624-3026.

■ Lykens Valley Children’s Museum, Elizabethville, all programs canceled.

■ Schuylkill County Historical Society, closed to the public until further notice. Artist Lori Quinn program on Pottsville buildings, scheduled for March 25, postponed. April 7 meeting, canceled.

■ Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, all public and private events, canceled or postponed until April 2. Bruce Schneck Memorial Fishing Event rescheduled to April 18. “What’s invading my backyard? Spotting the spotted lanternfly,” rescheduled to April 8. Call 570-527-2505.

■ Redner’s Markets hours, 6 a.m. to 9 p.m. Convenience stores open 24 hours.

■ Friendly’s, Route 61, Pottsville, closed through March 27.

■ Mountain Valley Pete Acquarola Senior Golf League Early Spring Fun Tour, cancelled. Call Bill Kaczmarczyk, 570-778-6206, John Bashago, 570-233-1713, or the pro shop, 570-467-2242, Ext. 1.

■ Fighter’s Heaven, Deer Lake, closed to off-season tours. Scheduled May 1 opening tentative.

■ Mid Penn Bank, drive-thru only during normal banking hours. ATMs, online service remain available 24 hours. Call 1-866-642-7736 or email questions by visiting midpennbank.com/contact-us.

■ Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce, all events and committee meetings from March 16 through April 1, canceled.

■ Explore Schuylkill (visitors bureau), closed. Spring Restaurant promotion, scheduled March 22-28, postponed.

■ Fairlane Village mall, events canceled through March 31 (including arrival of the Easter Bunny March 28).

■ Dine-out, scheduled for March 28 at Vernalis, Shenandoah, to benefit the Greater Shenandoah Area Historical Society, canceled. Will be rescheduled.

■ D.G. Yuengling and Son Brewery, Pottsville, gift shop, tasting room, tours closed until further notice.

■ Crystal’s School of Dance, Orwigsburg, closed through March 27.

■ Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce, next meeting April 15.

■ Hawk Mountain Sanctuary, visitor services and programs canceled, trails closed through March 30.

■ Pottsville Free Public Library closed through March 29 as encouraged by Office of Commonwealth Libraries for all public libraries in state.

■ Empire Beauty Schools closed student salons to the public March 13. Students will continue training.

■ Penn State Schuylkill and all PSU campuses in-person classes suspended.

■ Luzerne County Community College in-person classes suspended. See luzerne.edu for information.

■ Schuylkill YMCA closed through March 22. See website and social media for updates.

Report any cancellations and closures to editorial@republicanherald.com.

One Schuylkill County pediatrician said he’s receiving “multiple calls” to his office daily about the coronavirus, and his practice has taken steps to keep families safer during the COVID-19 pandemic.

The questions also motivated Dr. Zarar Bajwa to write a letter to the editor.

Children can die from the coronavirus, but about 90% of young patients who contract the virus will recover on their own, he said. Most will have cold symptoms, fever, difficulty breathing, dry cough and fatigue.

“It’s not as bad in kids as in adults, but no one should ignore it. It can kill,” said Bajwa, a pediatrician with Integrated Medical Group with practices in Pottsville and Hometown. He specializes in epidemiology and immunology.

Based on the Wuhan, China, study of 2,100 children, about 6% of those young patients with the coronavirus got really sick and required hospitalization and significant support, he said.

“It seems to affect the lungs more than the common cold or flu,” Bajwa said. The mortality rate for the coronavirus is 10 times that of the flu, he said. About 2% of patients die.

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic, the pediatrician’s office has changed its procedures. Well-check visits have been postponed and rescheduled. Bajwa still encourages babies to be brought in for their vaccinations. Those patients will be seen immediately when they come into the office.

“We have designated rooms for them. They go straight back and don’t have to touch anything. It’s sanitized. They (parents) don’t check in and they don’t check out. We do all the scheduling over the phone,” he said.

Children who may be exhibiting symptoms and who meet screening criteria can be sent for the coronavirus test. Right now, Bajwa’s office does not have any test kits, but rather the doctor orders the test and sends those patients to the nearest testing location, which is in Cressona. The physician criticized the lack of test kits and the practice of only testing people who have symptoms.

“Personally, I’m not in agreement with that. I look at the models from South Korea. They really blunted that curve. They tested thousands on a daily basis. We are slow there,” Bajwa said.

The “curve” refers to actions to keep daily numbers of the coronavirus cases down to a manageable level for medical professionals to address.

Once a child is diagnosed with the coronavirus, most will be sent home to recover, he said.

“It’s primarily supportive care. Some studies recently have shown that Ibuprofen or NSAIDs should not be used. Tylenol is safe. Stay home, unless very sick. Fortunately, (there are) no proven cases in our county yet. (There’s) some data coming up regarding use of vitamin C and I saw in New York they were giving trial of Choloroquine to sick patients, but the data for use of these is limited,” Bajwa said.

Perhaps some of the reasons children are able to rebound, or aren’t acquiring the virus as frequently as adults, is their immune systems haven’t been taxed as much by stress, poor nutrition and lack of exercise, he said.

Prayer may be one way for adults to reduce their stress.

“For adults, it may be time to create a little bit of a relationship with our creator,” he said.

Bajwa attended Sindh Medical College in Pakistan and completed his residency at Brookdale University Hospital and Medical Center in Brooklyn, New York.

Contact the writer: vterwilliger@republicanherald.com

Although local hospitals don’t release daily census counts, medical officials report their facilities do have beds available today as Schuylkill County prepares for the COVID-19 pandemic.

No cases of the coronavirus had been reported in Schuylkill County by the state Department of Health, as of press production deadline.

Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill E. Norwegian Street, Lehigh Valley Hospital-Schuylkill S. Jackson Street, both in Pottsville, Geisinger St. Luke’s Hospital in Orwigsburg and Geisinger Medical Center in Danville all report bed availability.

“Geisinger St. Luke’s has 40 beds. Ten are ICU beds. The facility does have emergency plans to accommodate additional critical care and acute care patients,” said Dr. Mark I. Lischner, DO, vice president of medical affairs, GSL Hospital. Lischner is also lead physician-intensivist with St. Luke’s University Health Network.

Lehigh Valley Health Network, meanwhile, has 1,700 licensed beds across the system, according to Brian Downs, LVHN public information officer. Those include the two hospitals in Pottsville.

“That’s all eight of our hospital facilities. That does not include Coordinated Health, which has 40 licensed beds in Allentown and Bethlehem. We have a plan but that also depends on what we might face. We don’t know that yet. We will flex that plan as necessary to take care of the community,” Downs said.

“We can do what needs to be done to care for people the best way possible. What that will or might look like, we just don’t know right now. Obviously, we have a brief history of what’s happened in China, Italy, etcetera, and we certainly do not want to repeat that here, so we continuously plan for what could be next. To say what that’s going to be when we really don’t know and try to show something is speculative at this point. Remember, we also don’t know that every single patient would need an ICU bed. That’s why we continue to monitor this closely and are taking the steps we’re taking now hopefully to not reach that point,” Downs said.

The other nearest Geisinger facilities to Schuylkill County include Geisinger Shamokin Area Community Hospital with 48 total beds; Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, with 511 total beds; and Geisinger Wyoming Valley Medical Center with total 252 beds, Marc Stempka, Geisinger media relations specialist, said.

“Geisinger policy dictates we don’t share census numbers,” he said.

Efforts were made to free up some bed space Thursday, and there were also added safety measures announced in regard to hospital visitors and travel alerts.

As a result of the COVID-19 pandemic, Surgeon General Jerome Adams, MD, and the American College of Surgeons have recommended that hospitals limit elective surgical procedures. These measures are intended to allow hospitals to be prepared for the anticipated surge in COVID-19 cases as well as to limit patient and caregiver exposure.

LVHN and St. Luke’s are announcing that some elective surgeries will be postponed. The new policy took effect Thursday and will last at least two weeks. This will not affect urgent/emergent surgery or any other elective surgery where delay could cause a negative impact on their patients’ health, the hospitals said.

“Patients whose procedures are postponed are being contacted individually,” Lischner said.

“Postponing elective surgeries helps prevent the spread of disease and will help conserve precious resources such as blood, ventilators and protective equipment,” Lischner said.

St. Luke’s and Geisinger St. Luke’s are monitoring the use of personal protective equipment and will ensure that as the COVID-19 pandemic plays out, that they have an adequate supply of personal protective equipment to keep their caregivers safe, Lischner said.

As of Thursday, Geisinger is putting elective, non-urgent procedures on hold through April 2 to help limit the spread of COVID-19 in the community, according to Stempka.

“Right now, Geisinger is focused on doing our part to limit the spread of novel coronavirus in our communities. We are doing this with measures like suspending elective procedures, visitation restrictions and implementing additional screening options. This also includes mitigation efforts, like encouraging social distancing, being mindful of staying home, avoiding crowds and adhering to government-mandated measures like closing schools and businesses, and limiting the number of people in one place.”

Geisinger has been monitoring and responding daily to the evolving coronavirus situation and has made the following changes to limit inpatient visitation to ensure the safety of all patients, visitors and employees:

Effective today, Geisinger is temporarily suspending routine, in-person visits to hospitalized patients. Geisinger encourages everyone to use alternative ways of interacting, including phone calls, Facetime, Skype and other means.

Visitors, however, will be allowed for:

• Patients who are medically unstable (one visitor)

• Patients who are at the end of life (two visitors)

• Patients undergoing surgery or procedures (one single-time visitor immediately after the procedure)

• Delivering mothers (up to two visitors: one adult family member and if necessary, one doula)

• Patients who are minors and those with limited decisional capacity (up to two parents or guardians)

• Patients who have altered mental status or developmental delays and caregiver provides safety (one visitor)

• Patients with disruptive behavior, where a family member is key to their care (one visitor)

LVHN also released a statement Thursday in regard to staff, in part: “If you have been in New York City or exposed to someone who has traveled there in the past 14 days, please be aware that you may be at heightened risk for contracting coronavirus (COVID-19). While this is not a formal declaration from any state or federal body, this alert does represent observations Lehigh Valley Health Network has made regarding the current cohort of positive COVID-19 cases in Eastern Pennsylvania. As such, the health network felt it prudent to share this alert. For the safety of our patients and all colleagues, LVHN colleagues are being informed that if they have been in New York City or exposed to someone who has traveled there in the past 14 days, that they should take their temperature daily before reporting to work.”

Hospital officials offered similar analysis in regard to testing and the evolving dynamics of the COVID-19 pandemic.

“As of this time, there is not a vaccine available for COVID-19. It is unlikely a vaccine will become available in a time frame that will assist with the current situation,” Lischner said. “Anti-viral treatments and other therapies described in China, Italy, South Korea and the United States are all potential options that we will evaluate on a case by case basis in consultation with our infectious disease specialists,” Lischner said.

While GSL does have COVID-19 testing kits, the test is sent to the state DOH or independent laboratories. Lischner said GSL is working to establish internal testing for COVID-19 and anticipates that will be available by early April.

“We continue to urge the community that if you’re experiencing symptoms you think may be related to COVID-19, before visiting a doctor’s office, clinic or emergency room, the best thing to do is call your doctor or our 24/7 hotline at 570-284-3657 for care guidance or to talk with a nurse,” Stempka said.

“The triage screening outside of emergency departments are designed to ensure the safety of all of our patients, visitors and employees by taking precautionary measures to prevent potential exposure to COVID-19 or other respiratory illnesses. If patients or visitors to our emergency departments are showing symptoms of respiratory illness, we will immediately take precautionary infection control measures such as proper gowning, masking and more while moving the patient to appropriate area for care, whether that be a specially equipped room in the hospital or the nearby treatment tent,” Stempka said.

Geisinger has developed its own COVID-19 test.

“The development of our COVID-19 test returns results more quickly for Geisinger patients in our communities. However, Geisinger will only test individuals who meet CDC screening criteria,” Stempka said.

LVHN, meanwhile, reports confirmed positive tests.

“We do not report negative tests and those receiving tests/care who are suspected cases or might have been exposed. Patients who have received a test will be informed about their results when we receive them,” Downs said.

People are doing what their leaders and other experts are urging and that’s positive, he said.

“As for personal protective equipment and other equipment, we constantly monitor this and have taken steps, assess and test centers, for example, as opposed to other ways to test, to preserve our supplies both inside and outside of the hospitals. So this isn’t just about the hospitals and a surge. We’ve got to properly manage and we are network wide,” Downs said. “We have surge tents and have used them before. We aren’t deploying them at this time but that is an option we can use.”

To provide greater access to coronavirus care in Luzerne and Schuylkill counties, LVHN COVID-19 Assess and Test locations in Hazleton and Cressona have added Saturday and Sunday hours, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m. Among the local centers are:

• LVHN COVID-19 Assess and Test-Cressona; 35 Sillyman Street, Cressona; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday

• LVHN COVID-19 Assess and Test-Hazleton; 140 N. Sherman Court, Hazleton; 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday