n Frackville: A halupki sale will be held at 10 a.m. Saturday at St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church Hall, West Oak Street. The cost is $2 per halupki. People are asked to call ahead at 570-874-3777 for orders of more than a dozen.

n Pine Grove: The Hose Hook and Ladder Company No. 1 will host an Easter Bunny Breakfast from 8 to 11 a.m. March 29 in the banquet hall. The cost is $8 for adults, $6 for children 3 to 10 and free for children under three. The cost includes a buffet breakfast and sitting with the Easter Bunny.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Historical Society will host “A Miner’s Tale” at 2 p.m. March 29 at the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St. Admission is $5. The tale regards the story of the anthracite coal miner from northeastern Pennsylvania through seven characters played by the author. For more information, call 570-622-7540.

n Pottsville: The Penn State Master Gardeners will hold a recruitment meeting from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Thursday in the lower level of the Schuylkill County Ag Center, 1202 Ag Center Drive. Organizers will explain the duties, expectations and responsibilities of master gardeners. New volunteers will attend instructional classes once a week from August through December. To make reservations, call 570-622-4225, ext. 10.

n Pottsville: City Mayor Jim Muldowney recently spoke to the Pottsville Kiwanis Club, telling members about his office’s responsibilities and addressing issues in the city including potholes, the city’s hopes for the former Pottsville Club property and snow removal. Attorney Bill Kirwan, CPA, also addressed the club about preparing tax returns. Kirwan focused on the effects of President Barack Obama’s Affordable Care Act on small businesses. According to the Kiwanis Bulletin, Bill Parulis of the Pottsville Rotary Club attended the Feb. 24 Kiwanis meeting to formally invite the Kiwanis to the Pottsville Rotary Club’s 100th anniversary dinner. The club agreed to donate $100 to Rotary to be used for children’s programs in honor of the anniversary. Steve Eckhart and Amy Eckhart spoke to the Kiwanians about the organization in which they are involved, Fostering Improved Dog Obedience and Survival.

n Saint Clair: The Saint Clair Lions Club will host a craft and vendor fair from noon to 5 p.m. Saturday at the club hall, McCord Avenue. Admission is free, food and refreshments will be available. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-429-0549.

n Saint Clair: St. Clare of Assisi Roman Catholic Church will sponsor a bleenie sale beginning at 11 a.m. Friday at Immaculate Conception Social Hall, Caroline Avenue. The cost is $10 per dozen, $5 for a half dozen and $1 each. For more information, call 570-429-0302.

n Schuylkill Haven: Schuylkill On the Move has announced two walks aimed at welcoming spring and combining local history, according to a release from Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District. Hike leader Mike Centelghe will take participants around Schuylkill Haven to enjoy the borough’s new Heritage Trail that features a variety of cultural and historical interpretive signage. The trek is set for 1 to 4 p.m. Saturday and participants will meet at Bubeck Park, Washington Street. The three-mile excursion is rated easy. Rail fan Jim Eisenhart Jr. will lead the “Schuylkill Valley Sojourn” from 1 to 4:30 p.m. March 29. Eisenhart will start the seven-mile “moderate” walk “on the Reading” and trek u p to Wetherill Junction and then up the interchange to Morris Junction on up to New Boston, McKinney said in the release. Participants will meet at the game lands parking lot to the right of the Schuylkill Mall exit sign on Route 61. Both hikes are free and open to the public. SOM excursions promote positive steps toward good health through walking. The effort is a project of Schuylkill County’s VISION in partnership with the Schuylkill County Visitors Bureau, Schuylkill County Conservancy and the Schuylkill Conservation District.

GIRARDVILLE — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and Girardville police are asking for the public’s help in identifying a man responsible for a robbery in the borough last month.

Police said the crime was reported to them about 6:45 p.m. Feb. 10 by a woman who said her son was robbed of $10 while at “Pony Patch,” an unmarked area that begins on Oak and William streets and continues along the creek.

Police said the victim reported that he was going down a path when a man came out of nowhere, demanded money, put his hand on his shoulder and placed a knife against his back.

Police said the victim reported that he gave the man $10 and the assailant then fled the area, running west on Ogden Street.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the identity of the man responsible for this crime or on any unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to incident 03-22-15 when calling with information about the robbery in Girardville.

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

Individuals with information on this case can also contact Girardville police directly through the Schuylkill County Communications Center by calling 570-462-1991.

All information received will remain confidential.

LYKENS — For 10 years, the Lykens Chamber of Commerce and the Lykens Community Development Corporation Inc. have been working diligently to refurbish the old Lykens Hotel and they aren’t giving up now.

The ultimate goal of all those involved in the project is to provide affordable housing for the people of Lykens.

Last Tuesday, Dauphin County Commissioners Jeff Haste and Mike Pries along with U.S. Congressman Lou Barletta gathered in Lykens to tour the old property and learn of its history.

“We need to make the various entities aware of the project and let them know that we need support for tax credits for the project,” Allen Trawitz, treasurer of the Lykens Chamber of Commerce, said. “In previous years, some of the money went to Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, we need that money to come here to Lykens.”

Kevin Jury, president of the chamber, welcomed the public and the politicians to the hotel and conducted a guided tour and told of the history of the building.

The Lykens Community Development Corporation has been applying for funding from the PA Housing Alliance, with this being the third time applying.

“We aren’t giving up and we’re hoping that the third time is the charm,” Jury said.

The organization is requesting $10.3 million from the alliance and $1.1 million from a Local Economic Revitalization Tax, according to Jury.

“We envision both the hotel and the Israel building, located across the street, to be renovated and revitalized the downtown,” Jury said. “It will bring growth, increase property values and quality life and hopefully bring new businesses to the downtown and just make Lykens and its neighboring communities a better place to live, work and conduct business.”

Jury says the plans would create 28 housing units between the Union House (also known as the hotel) and the Israel building.

The hotel had a new roof placed a few years ago and the building is structurally sound, according to Jury. There were engineer studies and core samplings completed on all levels. Jury said it would actually cost more money to tear the structures down than it would to renovate them.

The hotel was completed in 1925-26 and in it’s heyday, Jury said famous people such as Doris Day, Johnny Carson, The Three Stooges and others have performed there.

The building has been vacant since 1988-89 when the last people lived there.

“This is a major catalyst for the downtown,” said Barletta, who was the former mayor of Hazleton and knows first hand the work and dedication that goes into a building project like this, as he participated in such work in Hazleton. “We need to save this history and make this a great place for the downtown. You have my support and I will do all that I can to bring the funding to Lykens.”

Deeds

Branch Township — Jesse W. Weiss to Charles W. and Becky S. Weiss; 25 Church Road; $1.

Butler Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to The Bank of New York Mellon; 664 Fountain St., Fountain Springs; $1,277.34.

East Union Township — Martin D. Fanelli, Gary W. Fanelli and William J. Fanelli to Eagle Rock Resort Co.; Lot 207ER, Eagle Rock; $9,000.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Analyn Bagalayo Bayubay and Isidro Medrano Ang; Lot 312HF3, Eagle Rock; $29,189.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Frederick S. Santos and Rouel R. Sol; Lot 296HF3, Eagle Rock; $33,229.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Duurenbayar Tugjiijav; Lot 272HF4, Eagle Rock; $32,219.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Tserendulam Gunsmaa; Lot 273HF4, Eagle Rock; $30,300.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Hanna Baigal Altanbagana and Altanbagana Dorjpurev; Lot 162HF4, Eagle Rock; $33,229.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Jackline Sutherland and Airen Lumbete; Lot 234HF4, Eagle Rock; $32,219.

Eagle Rock Resort Co. to Tserendulam Gunsmaa; Lot 274HF4, Eagle Rock; $30,300.

Happy springtime! Winter, or least the astronomical winter of 2014-15, is history. The Vernal Equinox took place last Friday. From now until late June the sun will take longer and higher arcs from east to west across the sky as it crosses into the northern half of the sky for the first time since last September. Summer won't be long.

Even though it's spring, Orion and the rest of the winter constellations are still shining brightly in the southwestern sky. There's the big guy himself with three bright stars in a row that make up the hermit hunter's belt. Orion's brightest star is Rigel, marking Orion's left knee, and Betelgeuse at the other corner, marking Orion's armpit. Betelgeuse is an Arabic name that roughly translates in English to "armpit of the great one." Astronomically Betelgeuse is a very significant star. It's a super red giant star that at times bulges out to nearly a billion miles in diameter.

On the southern and western side of Orion's gang of winter shiners are his hunting dogs; the constellations Canis Major and Canis Minor. Canis Major kind of looks like a dog standing on his hind legs, with the very bright Sirius marking the big dog's snout. Sirius is the brightest star in the night sky. It's so bright because it's relatively close to Earth, at least as far as stars go. Sirius is a little more than eight and a half light years or about 50 trillion miles away, and believe or not that is chump change when it come to stellar distances.

Canis Minor, Orion's little dog, is a joke of a constellation. All there is to it is basically two stars next to each other, a bright one and a dim one. The bright one is Procyon, 11 1/2 light years away, and is the next brightest star you see to the upper left of Sirius. The dimmer star to the upper right of Procyon is Gomeisa, and that is Canis Minor. At my astronomy programs and parties, I refer to it as Orion's little wiener dog.

Orion and the winter dogs are not long for our evening sky, because one big kitty cat is chasing them. The best constellation of the spring skies, Leo the Lion, is on the prowl, climbing higher and higher in the southeast evening in pursuit of the mighty hunter and the pooches of winter. Leo is one of the few constellations that really resembles what it's supposed to be. The right side looks just like a backward question mark. It's not hard to imagine it as the profile of the chest and head of a mighty lion. To the lower left of the backward question mark are three stars that form a distinct triangle that allegedly outlines the tail and hind quarters of the celestial lion.

According to Greek mythology, Leo was the king of the king of all beasts. Not only is Leo a behemoth lion, but his hide is so tough that not even the sharpest sword at full thrust could pierce it. As tough of a hunter as Orion was, along with his tenacious dogs (at least Canis Major that is), they were no match for this big kitty. Rather than fight this fierce feline Orion and his posse escape certain death by heading out of the spring evening skies, running steadily from night to night toward the western horizon. By late May, the great winter hunter and his doggies are completely gone from the night sky.

This annual chase is reenacted every spring and we can thank the Earth's orbit around the sun for making this happen. As our home planet circles the sun, the nighttime side of the Earth faces different directions in space and different constellations.

While this happens, we on Earth watch pretty much all of the stars shift westward from night to night. That's why we have different sets of constellations from season to season.

Getting back to Leo's pursuit of the great winter constellations, the beast has a little help this spring from the very bright planet Jupiter, named after the Roman king of the gods. Jupiter is actually leading the westward chase ahead of Leo and without a doubt is adding to the intimidation felt by Orion.

Jupiter, currently about 430 million miles away, is the brightest star-like object in the eastern half of the evening sky. The largest planet in our solar system is a wonderful telescope target, even if you have a smaller scope. You should easily see the disk of the planet with your telescope, and maybe some of the darker cloud bands that stripe the largest planet in our solar system.

You'll also see up to four of its larger "Galilean" moons that circle the great planet in periods of 2 to 17 days. Some nights, you can't see all four because one or more of them may be behind Jupiter or lost in the glow in the foreground of the giant planet.

Make sure you take long continuous views of Jupiter and its moons, or any other celestial target for that matter. A good three to five minute view is best so your eye can adjust to the light level in your eyepiece. The longer you look, the more detail you should see.

Celestial huggings

Jupiter may be dominating the southeastern evening sky, but an even brighter planet, Venus, pops out of the evening twilight in the low western sky. This Sunday night, the new crescent moon will be parked just to the left of Venus and should be a tremendous must-see celestial event. Pray for clear skies.

(Lynch is an amateur astronomer and author of the book, "Stars, a Month by Month Tour of the Constellations." Contact him at mikewlynch@comcast.net.)

Lehighton man

faces DUI charges

SOUTH TAMAQUA — A Lehighton man is facing charges of DUI after a traffic stop by state police at Frackville about 8:50 p.m. Tuesday on Route 443 in West Penn Township.

Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Robert A. Mcintosh, 32, for various violations and found him to be under the influence.

Charges against Mcintosh will be filed with Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, police said.

Mahanoy police

file theft charges

MAHANOY CITY — Mahanoy City police filed theft related charges against an Ashland woman after an incident about 1 p.m. Feb. 4 at the Mahanoy City High Rise.

Police said Jessica M. Kufrovich, 32, of 819 Centre St., Apt. 304, was charged with identity theft, access device fraud, theft, receiving stolen property and tampering with or fabricating physical evidence.

The woman will now have to answer to the charges before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said Kufrovich stole her mother’s bank card and access without permission withdrawing a total of $226.

When asked about the card, police said, Kufrovich admitted that after using the card she threw it away in a trash can.

Kulpmont man

faces charges

SHENANDOAH — A Kulpmont man was charged by Shenandoah police after an incident on Dec. 18, 2014, in the 200 block of North Main Street.

Police said Eric S. Mendler, 32, of 740 Chestnut St., was charged with DUI-controlled substance, possession of a counterfeit controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia, not driving on roadways laned for traffic and muffler and noise control violations.

Police said they stopped a vehicle driven by Mendler for an equipment violation and found the man to be under the influence and also in possession of hypodermic needles and drug paraphernalia. A subsequent blood test at Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street determined the man had morphine free in his system. Police said morphine free is a controlled substance commonly found as the breakdown product of heroin and codeine.

Man with drugs

found loitering

SHENANDOAH — A Ringtown man was charged by Shenandoah police after an incident on Dec. 9, 2014, at Oravitz-Fell Funeral Home on North Jardin Street.

Police said Christopher Lee George, 40, of 30 Fourth Boulevard, was charged with loitering and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Police said officers on patrol saw George loitering outside of the business in front of a “no loitering” sign. When questioned, police said, officers found George to be in possession of three hypodermic needles, a plastic spoon with residue and other paraphernalia.

George will now have to answer to the charges against him before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Albright

Rachel Roseman, Ashland, a junior English-theater major at Albright College, Reading is spending spring studying abroad.

She spent eight days in Paris during spring break. The faculty-led trip is part of the course, “Contemporary French Literature and Culture in Global Context,” offered during spring semester on Albright’s campus.

Scranton

Maria Zangari, Ringtown, is among the 25 University of Scranton education majors who will serve as student teachers during the spring semester at 14 schools in 10 school districts.

A senior majoring in secondary education, English, she will serve as a student teacher at North Pocono High School in the North Pocono School District during the spring semester.

In recent Schuylkill County Court action, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Kristina M. Martin, 20, of Tamaqua; delivery of a controlled substance; four to 23 months in prison, $100 Substance Abuse Education Fund payment, $50 Criminal Justice Enhancement Account payment, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of conspiracy, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communication facility and possession of a controlled substance.

Kevin J. Mentusky, 36, of Frackville; two charges of retail theft; 18 months probation, $100 in CJEA payments, $50 bench warrant fee and $289.93 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of receiving stolen property.

Thomas Nestor, 37, of Shenandoah; two charges of theft; 12 months probation, $100 in CJEA payments and $1,072 restitution. Prosecutors withdrew two charges of receiving stolen property.

Michael Ruben, 49, of Saint Clair; driving under the influence and violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages; 90 days to five years in prison, $1,525 in fines, $300 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.

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

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH — An inmate at State Correctional Institution-Graterford had charges against him for assaulting a prison guard while jailed at SCI-Mahanoy on June 20, 2014, held for court during a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Marcellus A. Jones, 36, was arrested by state police Trooper Edward Lizewski and charged with one felony count of aggravated assault by prisoner, a misdemeanor count of simple assault and a summary charge of harassment.

Kilker determined the commonwealth proved a prima facie case and ordered all three charges held for Schuylkill County Court.

Lizewski said Jones, who is serving a life sentence, caused damage to his cell door, prompting an extraction team to be called to remove him. Jones would not comply with orders, refused to leave his cell and at one point spit on a corrections lieutenant, hitting him in the side of the face.

Other court cases included:

Andrew D. Harding, 27, of 15 Church St., Gilberton — withdrawn: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, selling a controlled substance with a known trademark, possessing instruments of crime and DUI. Waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Tyron, 44, of SCI-Mahanoy, Frackville — waived for court: arson, recklessly endangering another person, criminal mischief, institutional vandalism and dangerous burning.

Eric J. Eichenberg, 21, of 1195 Bunting St., Box 192, Llewellyn — waived for court: harassment, indecent exposure, open lewdness and disorderly conduct.

Joshua Koncsler, 18, of 319 W. Centre St., Shenandoah — withdrawn by the victim: aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, terroristic threats and harassment.

Corey E. Wall, 23, of 335 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — withdrawn: robbery. Waived for court: aggravated assault, terroristic threats, possession of a weapon, theft and receiving stolen property.

Olga Iris Gomez-Irizarry, 22, of 209 Gay St., Tamaqua — waived for court: aggravated assault, possessing instruments of crime, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person, harassment and disorderly conduct.

Charles J. Zebraitis, 46, of 112 N. Emerick St., Shenandoah — waived or court: theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Nelson E. Ross Jr., 23, of 12 S. Grant St., Shenandoah — withdrawn by the victim: aggravated assault, simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person.

Geralynn Matta, 48, of 25 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah — withdrawn by the victim: simple assault.

Elvis G. Peralta, 26, of 4 S. Jardin St., Apt. 6, Shenandoah — withdrawn: simple assault, harassment and terroristic threats.

Jennifer Longenberger, 44, of 209 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — withdrawn and moved to summary citations: possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Schuylkill Haven woman is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving her right to a preliminary hearing March 10 on charges she assaulted her son in February in their residence.

Megan A. Leymeister, 30, of 304 St. Charles St., faces charges of simple assault and harassment. Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over the charges for court after Leymeister waived her right to the hearing.

Schuylkill Haven borough police alleged Leymeister assaulted the boy between 7:30 and 8 a.m. Feb. 25.

Police said Leymeister shoved the boy’s face into the couch and then slapped it, causing redness and bruising. Leymeister assaulted the boy because he forgot his winter hat, according to police.

Officials at Schuylkill Haven Area Elementary School noticed the redness and reported it to law enforcement, police said.

Leymeister is free on $10,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on March 10, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Keryn J. Cashman, 24, of 18 N. Fourth St., Hamburg — driving under the influence, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Robert J. Krall, 37, of 14 Motter Drive, Pine Grove — DUI, disregarding traffic lane and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, careless driving charge withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Carmine J. Natale Jr., 33, of 86 Pottsville St., Cressona — retail theft and public drunkenness; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Also in Ferrier’s office, a Lake Wynonah man is headed to county court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on two sets of charges.

Richard V. Watson III, 29, of 33 Kiowa Cove, Auburn, faces charges of simple assault and harassment in one case and resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness in the other.

Ferrier bound over all charges for court after Watson waived his right to the hearing.

In the first case, Schuylkill Haven borough police alleged Watson hit his then-neighbor, David Weiser, in the head with a beer bottle at 10:15 p.m. Oct. 12, 2014, at Weiser’s 61 N. Berne St. residence.

In the second case, Haven police alleged Watson was drunk and disorderly, and resisted arrest, at 2:15 a.m. Nov. 22, 2014, at borough hall, 12 W. Main St.

Police said Watson had an odor of alcohol on him, was yelling in public and refused to obey them. Watson resisted being handcuffed, put up a struggle and eventually had to be Tased, according to police.

Watson remains free on $5,000 unsecured bail, $2,500 in each case, pending further court action.

Other defendants whose cases Ferrier considered on Tuesday, the charges against each one and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Candace L. Colna, 24, of 51 Grant St., Schuylkill Haven; loitering and prowling at nighttime and public drunkenness; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Melissa A. Correll, 28, of 502 Third St., Port Carbon; retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Justin Markish, 18, of 45 Center Ave., Schuylkill Haven; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana withdrawn, charge of possession of drug paraphernalia bound over for court.

Austin R. McGovern, 20, of 691 Berne Drive, Auburn; theft, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of possession of drug paraphernalia withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Jennifer L. McGovern, 43, of 619 Berne Drive, Auburn; possession of drug paraphernalia and no rear lights; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Jennifer Ost, 37, of 26 Fritz Reed Road, Schuylkill Haven; theft, receiving stolen property and retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Scott A. Parsons, 25, of 549 Coal Mountain Road, Orwigsburg; burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, intimidation of witness or victim and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of burglary, criminal trespass and intimidation of witness or victim withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

John N. Polachek, 37, of 660 Sunbury St., Minersville; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Michael D. Postic, 63, of 710 N. Warren St., Orwigsburg; driving under the influence, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge of careless driving withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Amanda L. Sisko, 21, of 1714 Running Deer Drive, Lake Wynonah, Auburn; DUI, failure to obey traffic control devices, driving over divider and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Richard L. Spittler, 49, of 551 Berne Drive, Schuylkill Haven; possession of a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and improper turning movements; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of possession of a controlled substance and improper turning movements withdrawn, charge of possession of drug paraphernalia bound over for court.

David Wilson Jr., 29, of 71 Pleasant Valley Road, Pine Grove; possession of drug paraphernalia, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

ORWIGSBURG — Residents and borough planning and zoning members had lots of questions about a proposed 400 rental unit development proposed in the borough Wednesday.

For more than 75 minutes, members of the planning and zoning board, residents and J. Jerome Skrincosky, president of Hawk Valley Associates PC, Mohnton, talked about the efforts to build on land in the borough. The proposed area is along East Market Street between Breezy Acres Road and Kimmels Road.

The plan approved in November 2009 is known as the “Pine Creek Retirement Community” and included 400 condominium units, which would entail nine three-story buildings for those 55 and older, underground parking and other amenities. Public water and sewer would also be available on the 29.725-acre site. The Rhodes Organization, Boyertown, owns the land and is seeking to develop it.

Skrincosky went before the planning and zoning board Wednesday because he is requesting changes to the Orwigsburg Borough zoning ordinance, which include changing the space for parking. He spoke about the plans for the site and did his best to answer questions. Questions centered on if the project was contingent on outside revenue sources, comments about children not being permitted as per a lease, changes to zoning regarding parking, the definition of life care community and who would enforce how many people actually live in the rental.

“If we give them an inch, they are going to take a mile. You can tell by that plan,” Mark Fuggiti, a borough resident, said.

He was speaking about the newly proposed plan for a development called “Pine Creek Life Care Community.” The community would set aside a certain percentage of the available rental units for people 55 years old and older, some for disabled, handicapped or veterans of military service and additional space for adults at least 21 years old. No more than two people would be permitted to live in each rental unit, Skrincosky said. The parking plan was revised because it was not cost effective to have the parking underground, he said. The market has become saturated with retirement communities and the revised use will also create greater marketing opportunities for the project.

A zoning hearing board must hold a public hearing about changes to the zoning ordinance. The planning and zoning board must also review changes to the previously approved plan, the county planning commission would also need to review changes. The borough council would also need to approve changes to the borough zoning ordinance and to the previously submitted plan.

Borough planning and zoning members had numerous questions for Skrincosky before the public was given a chance to speak. No decision was made at the meeting.

“This seems like a very odd setup,” Kay Jones said.

She questioned if not permitting children in the community would be legal.

“I can’t imagine it’s legal to tell people they can’t have children,” Jones said.

Skrincosky replied that it would be in the lease. They would have to move after the lease expired.

“We will be willing to have our attorney provide a written response,” he said.

There was some discussion about what services would actually be available at the site. Skrincosky said no medical care would actually be provided on site but that a physician could stop by.

“Would it be fair to say this project is dependent on funding from an outside source?” Darin Brensinger, planning and zoning chairman, asked Skrincosky.

“No. It is not,” Skrincosky said.

Nick Bagdonis, board member, said it sounds like there is “a lot of wiggling and wagging and zig zagging” going on to try and make this new marketing plan work.

Skrincosky again said the proposed plan would provide for a mixture of residents. By going back to the original plan, it will take longer to develop the property. He did not say how much longer. With the proposed plan, he said it might take five to 10 years to finish the development.

“A stagnant development is not going to do any good,” Skrincosky said.

The proposed placement of parking spaces was also an issue discussed.

Steven Dellinger, the borough planning consultant, said under the existing ordinance, no structures can be within 100 feet of the property line. The plan calls for a pumping station, which is used to treat waste, and even parking lots within the 100 feet of adjoining property lines. A structure is defined as “any man-made object having an ascertainable stationary location on or in land or water, whether or not affixed to the land,” according to the borough zoning ordinance.

“Would a fence be considered a structure?” Skrincosky asked.

Dellinger said it could.

Four borough residents asked questions of Skrincosky. Fuggiti suggested Skrincosky have a more concrete plan to present to the borough and the public.

“It seems like a lot of bait and switch here,” Fuggiti said about how the vision for the plan could change.

Anthony Dooley said he is not afraid of development but there are a lot of unanswered questions about this proposal.

“The future has to be considered not just the sales pitch,” he said.

Debbie Hoy asked who would make sure not more than two people live in the rental units. Skrincosky said the borough would have tenant information on file. Planning and zoning member Chuck Ricketts asked Skrincosky if there is going to be a main office on site. Skrincosky said he did not know.

He said he would be back for the 7:30 p.m. April 15 planning and zoning meeting with some changes unless he informed the borough otherwise.

“There’s a lot of issues with this thing (the proposed changes in the plan),” Brensinger said.

Beams for the new Jim Thorpe Memorial Bridge on Route 903 will pass through Schuylkill County this week on their way to the construction site in Carbon County.

The state Department of Transportation announced Thursday that the delivery of beams will start Monday for the new bridge over the Lehigh River, Lehigh Canal, Reading Blue Mountain Northern Railroad and Norfolk Southern Railroad in Jim Thorpe.

A total of 59 beams will be delivered, each ranging between 15 feet and 133 feet long and 20,000 and 150,000 pounds. The first beams are scheduled to arrive at 11 a.m. Monday. Additional beams will be delivered weekdays through early May.

For the first several weeks, beams will arrive on the western side of the Lehigh River via Interstate 81, Route 54 and Route 209. Starting about April 13, beams will arrive on the eastern side of the Lehigh River via Interstate 80, Route 115 and Route 903.

Motorists may experience weekday traffic delays on the beam delivery routes and on local roads in the area of the bridge between 9 a.m. and 3 p.m. through May 8. No delays are anticipated on Interstate 80 or Interstate 81.

Construction on the Jim Thorpe Memorial Bridge started last February. It is being built on a new alignment about 940 feet upstream from the existing bridge. The project also includes a new signalized intersection at the relocated Route 903 and Route 209.

The existing structurally deficient, five-span steel girder bridge is being replaced with a four-span continuous steel plate girder bridge. Crews are also reconstructing and widening Route 209 between Liberty and Packer Hill roads, building retaining walls, removing the existing Route 903 Bridge and performing other construction.

This bridge project is scheduled to be complete in July 2017, but that can change.

Allan A. Myers LP, Worcester, is the general contractor for the $28,183,312 project.

Originally built in 1953, the Route 903 Jim Thorpe Memorial Bridge was last rehabilitated in 1976. It is 613 feet long and 27 feet wide. The new bridge will be 961 feet long and 57 feet 8 inches wide. This section of Route 903 has an average daily traffic volume of 9,681 vehicles.

Elsewhere in Schuylkill County, there will be daytime lane restrictions for tree removal along state highways.

There will be lane restrictions on Little Mountain Road between Hill Field and Pine Swamp roads in Union Township from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday. Catawissa Creek Road will have lane restrictions at Cherry Lane in North Union Township from 7 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday.

Motorists are advised to use extra care when traveling through the construction areas and be alert for slow moving traffic approaching the work zones.

The work is part of the $899 million Rapid Bridge Replacement Project to rebuild 558 structurally deficient bridges throughout Pennsylvania. For more information on the Rapid Bridge Replacement Project, go to the project’s website at www.PARapidBridges.com.

For information on other PennDOT initiatives, visit www.dot.state.pa.us.

Motorists can check conditions on more than 40,000 roadway miles by visiting www.511PA.com. 511PA, which is free and available 24 hours a day, provides traffic delay warnings, weather forecasts, traffic speed information and access to more than 700 traffic cameras.

511PA is also available through a smartphone application for iPhone and Android devices, by calling 511, or by following regional Twitter alerts accessible on the 511PA website.

After a late winter snowstorm, the Easter Bunny hopped around Schuylkill County in snowshoes to visit two shopping malls to the delight of hundreds of children.

The furry ambassador of fun arrived about 11 a.m. on the first full day of spring at the Fairlane Village mall. Before he took center stage, the magic of the Easter Bunny was preceded by a grand magic show full of Easter-themed prestidigitation, illusions and surprises at center court.

When it was time, the children gave the Easter Bunny a warm welcome as he took his seat to visit with them, chat briefly and pose for photos by Jalonski Photos. Accompanied by parents, grandparents and others, the children waited in line for the visit. For some children, it was the first time to meet the long-eared, whiskered celebrity.

The first 100 children who visited with the Easter Bunny received a voucher for a complimentary kid’s meal at Friendly’s Restaurant.

At the Schuylkill Mall, the Easter Bunny’s arrival happened after “Bubble Trouble,” a live, interactive one-man show presented by Jeff Boyer. The show was held in the open area behind the center court stage. Children sat on the floor as Boyer performed. His program began with a fun science lesson on how bubbles are formed through surface tension of the water and soap mixture.

Using a variety of tools and devices, Boyer made bubbles of many sizes, including bubbles within bubbles. The interactive show included children from the audience, who held unique forms of bubbles. He created a bubble volcano, had bubbles ride a roller coaster of string and put children inside huge bubbles. There were fog-filled bubbles, jiggling bubbles, super large bubbles and more.

Before and after the bubble show, children could get a balloon animal or hat from creator Bill Kaufman, enjoy getting their faces painted, enjoy an inflated bounce slide, or enjoy a slushie, soft pretzel or a Gertrude Hawk candy bar.

After the bubble show, the Easter Bunny took his place in the main chair before a huge Easter basket. The children waited in line to sit on his lap and get their photos taken by Mike Bailey Photography, which has a studio in the mall.

Affiliation noted

Dr. Jason Phillips, fellowship trained shoulder and hip surgeon, has become affiliated with Arthritis and Joint Replacement Center of Reading, Wyomissing, Berks County.

A Pottsville native, Phillips also practices at Phillips Brayford Orthopaedics in Schuylkill County. In his affiliation with Arthritis and Joint Replacement Center of Reading, he joins Dr. Kevin Terefenko in expanding the practice’s fellowship trained surgical team. Together, Phillips and Terefenko offer highly specialized care of the knee, hip and shoulder, advancing the level of sub-specialty orthopaedic care available in Berks County.

Both surgeons earned the highest level of orthopaedic surgical accreditation by pursuing fellowship training. Phillips received his fellowship training in orthopaedic sports medicine at the esteemed Steadman Hawkins Clinic of the Carolinas, Greenville, S.C. Terefenko attended the highly respected Anderson Orthopaedic Clinic in Alexandria, Va., training in adult reconstruction and joint arthroplasty.

3 accolades

Dr. Richard J. Spontak, alumni distinguished professor of chemical and biomolecular engineering and materials science and engineering at North Carolina State University, has been selected to receive three prominent accolades in recognition of his research in the field of soft functional materials.

The Society of Plastics Engineers, the premier professional organization devoted exclusively to polymers, has chosen him for its 2015 International Award, the society’s most prestigious worldwide honor. He has been inducted as a fellow of the Royal Society of Chemistry, which is located in the United Kingdom and boasts such historical members as Sir Isaac Newton, Charles Darwin and Albert Einstein.

He has also been elected a member of the Norwegian Academy of Technological Sciences, the equivalent of the American National Academy of Engineering, and will be inducted later this spring in an official ceremony in Oslo.

Richard received his bachelor’s degree in chemical engineering from Penn State in 1983 and his Ph.D. in chemical engineering from UC Berkeley in 1988. He later pursued post-doctoral studies at Cambridge University (UK) and the Institute for Energy Technology (Norway) before accepting a position in the corporate research division of Procter & Gamble in 1990.

In 1992, he joined the faculty at North Carolina State University, where he directs the Polymer Morphology Group. His research focuses on the design, development, characterization and processing of novel soft materials, many of which are capable of responding to environmental stimuli.

He has published more than 230 peer-reviewed journal articles, and his work has been featured on 20 journal covers. He currently sits on more than 20 international editorial boards and holds several editorial positions.

In recognition of his research, he has previously received numerous awards, including the 2012 Lars Onsager Professorship and Medal, the 2011 Institute of Materials, Minerals and Mining Colwyn Medal, the 2008 American Chemical Society Thermoplastic Elastomers Award and the 2007 German Society for Electron Microscopy Ernst Ruska Prize.

In addition to his research, Spontak has received acclaim as an outstanding educator with a Fulbright Senior Specialist Award last year and various university and society teaching awards, including the 2008 University of North Carolina System Board of Governors’ Award for Excellence in Teaching. He has also been honored by Penn State with the 2012 Alumni Fellow Award and the 2007 Outstanding Scholar Alumnus Award.

Richard is the 1975 Pottsville Republican Spelling Bee champion and the 1981 recipient of the Penn State Schuylkill Campus Director’s Saber Award.

He is a son of Helen Spontak, Saint Clair, and the late Peter Spontak. He resides in Raleigh, North Carolina, with his wife, Josie, and children, Danielle and Joshua.

80 years young

Anne Kushlick Womer Nelson, Pottsville, will turn 80 years old Monday.

Anne is the wife of Ken Nelson, Philadelphia. She worked for the former Miss Pennsylvania, Pottsville, as a turner, and later at the former Argo, Pottsville, as a turner as well as in the research and design department in Schuylkill Haven.

She has two daughters, Lucy Rumberger and Catherine “Kathy” Smith, both of Schuylkill Haven. She also has four grandchildren and four great- grandchildren.

Publication nod

Bill Knecht of South Schuylkill Printing and Publishing has won first place three times for his publishing of the Schuylkill County Fair Guide. His most recent win came in January with the 2014 Schuylkill County Fair “Treasure the Memories of Our Roots” Guide.

Bill’s Schuylkill County Fair Guide won in the Non-Premium Tabloid category of the Communication Competition at the 2015 Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. Knecht and the South Schuylkill Printing and Publishing have placed with their tabloid a total of four times in the past eight years, this year being the third first-place finish and one other second-place finish just last year.

South Schuylkill Printing and Publishing has been publishing the Schuylkill County Fair Guide for many years. Bill publishes about 12,000 a year and distributes the guides a week prior to the fair, and the remainder is distributed by fair members to locations around the county. The guides are also distributed the first few days of the fair to fairgoers.

The Knecht family has been involved in the paper as a family-owned printing and publishing business.

Scrapbook wins

Linda Wolfe, who has been a scrapbook for the Schuylkill County Fair the last eight years, has won accolades for her work.

Linda earned one second place and two first-place awards in the last eight years competing in the Communication Competition of the Pennsylvania State Association of County Fairs. Linda took home her first-place ribbon and plaque for the 2015 Schuylkill County Fair Scrapbook. The scrapbook was based upon the 2014 Schuylkill County Fair “Treasure the Memories of Our Roots” and evaluated in January at the Pennsylvania Association of County Fairs convention in Hershey.

Linda collects photos from the fair photographer, Ray Silcox, along with other fair members. She sorts the photos by areas of the fair like livestock, contests, exhibits and entertainment. Journaling the photos with a reparative tone is how she tells the story of the fair for that year.

Linda embellishes the scrapbooks with fair handouts, ticket stubs, newspaper articles and ribbons. Once all the pages of the book are laid out, she types up a table of contents and numbers the pages before assembling the scrapbook.

Abbie, Maddie and Roxie have been model employees at Geisinger Medical Center, Danville. Always on time, diligent in their work, never complaining.

These three ladies are actually TUG robots that carry out the mundane task of delivering medicine and equipment throughout the hospital.

The three autonomous cart robots are based at the pharmacy, and manager Claude Parnell said they have been a great help to the department.

"The TUGs will free up our workers to do other things while they travel throughout the hospital and deliver what specific floors will need, and do it efficiently and safely," Parnell said.

In addition to the three ladies, Chuck, a fourth TUG, works with central supply.

Pinpoint accuracy

The robots have been a familiar sight moving up and down the halls of the medical center since 2003. Made by Aethon Inc, Pittsburgh, the robots require an extensive programming process.

When a facility purchases a TUG, Aethon staff members program the units with a laser-plotted map of the hospital, showing every hallway and corner. From there, the system will be tested and some doors and elevators will be fitted with special receivers so the robots can open and "call" the elevators.

"The TUGs will ride in an elevator by themselves," Parnell said. "They will stop when someone walks in front of them or steer clear of an obstacle in their path."

That's accomplished through an intricate system of 27 infrared sensors on each TUG.

Secure delivery

Parnell said there are no worries about anyone taking medication from the TUGs, which are often unattended by any human staff.

"All drawers are locked during transit and everyone that interacts with the robots must either use a passcode or have their fingerprint scanned to open the drawers," she said.

With this system, the medications, some of which can cost thousands of dollars a dose, arrive at their destinations securely, but it also provides a level of accountability for each person who encounters the medicines.

"The more we use TUG, the more time our pharmacists have to select and process the many requests that we receive throughout the hospital," Parnell said.

Maddie makes a run

Parnell gave a demonstration of a typical delivery trip, sending Maddie for a typical delivery.

From inside the pharmacy station, located on the basement level of Bush Pavilion, Parnell starts the process.

"We go to the unit and select which drawer we want to put the medication or item in, press a few buttons and the drawer opens up," Parnell said.

A touchscreen gives Maddie her assignment, and the three-wheeled robot moves away from her charging station and heads on her merry way.

Outside the pharmacy door, Maddie takes a slow pace down the hall to the elevator, stopping in front of the door. A chime sounds and she sits patiently, awaiting her car. Once inside, the door closes and the elevator car goes up.

An electronic signal sends the elevator up to the fifth floor, and Parnell states that during the ride, the robot will turn itself around in the elevator.

On the fifth floor, Maddie exits the elevator, making her way down the corridor to the nurses station.

Another chime sounds and a polite voice informs the nurses that a delivery has arrived. The nurse punches in a code and a drawer opens, revealing its contents.

From there, one push of a button sends Maddie back to the pharmacy to await her next trip.

Avoiding tedium

The argument against TUGs is that a human can walk faster and certainly carry out the same duties. But statistics show how much time Abbie, Maddie and Roxie have been used at Geisinger - time human staff had to attend to other matters.

In 2014, the three TUGs made 11,287 trips, delivering 14,327 items. Their total time on the floor was 5,211 hours, 48 minutes - equivalent to 217 days, and they traveled a combined 2,896.4 miles.

"These girls have been a real godsend to us," Parnell said.

Pottsville Area

Arrianna Daniels, a junior at Pottsville Area High School, will represent the Central Pennsylvania Branch of the English Speaking Union of the United States at its National Shakespeare Competition.

She placed first at semi-finals at Carlisle High School on Feb. 16 by performing a monologue from “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” and reciting Sonnet 55. Arrianna then traveled to Lock Haven University to compete in the finals round on Feb. 27.

She will travel to New York City, April 26-28, with only 60 other students from across the nation to participate in workshops and compete at the ESUUS nationals.

Arrianna is a member of the PAHS band, drama club, yearbook staff and National Honor Society.

Alvernia

The following students have earned merit scholarships to attend Alvernia University this fall:

Jada Alexis, New Ringgold, Blue Mountain High School, has earned Alvernia’s Presidential Scholarship.

Those who have earned Alvernia’s Trustees’ Scholarship include: Lyle Luckenbill, Pottsville, Blue Mountain; Jayme Kerrigan, Pottsville, Minersville Area High School; Richard Stone, Cumbola, Nativity BVM High School; Cody Stanton, Pine Grove, Pine Grove Area High School; Kelsey Amos, Pottsville, Pottsville Area High School; Patrick Brennan, Pottsville, Pottsville Area; Brittany Joseph, Shenandoah, Shenandoah Valley High School; Kristina Nieddu, Shenandoah, Shenandoah Valley.

Those who earned Alvernia’s Veronica Founder’s Scholarship include: Olivia Grube, Pottsville, Blue Mountain; Madelyn Krause, Orwigsburg, Blue Mountain; Shauna Redanauer, Auburn, Blue Mountain; Janelle Witmer, Pottsville, Blue Mountain; Shelby Levan, Hamburg, Hamburg Area High School; Rebekah Woodford, Pottsville, Minersville Area; Tyler Rossi, Pottsville, Nativity; Cassie Kershner, Pine Grove, Pine Grove Area; Brandon Naus, Schuylkill Haven, Schuylkill Haven Area High School; Nichole Campbell, Elizabethville, Upper Dauphin Area High School.

GIRARDVILLE — As bagpipers and floats carrying local athletes paraded through the borough Saturday afternoon, Betty Ann Bernosky — who wore a costume which included a green fur hat and leg warmers — said she was proud of all of the volunteers who came together to continue one of the borough’s strongest traditions.

After Friday’s storm dropped more than 5 inches of snow on the community, the borough road crews and volunteers came out to make sure the streets were clear for the 12th annual Girardville St. Patrick’s Day Parade, which brought thousands to the borough Saturday.

“They did a wonderful job last night moving the snow. They were here until 11 o’clock and the whole town pitched in,” Bernosky, 200 W. Main St., said as more than 20 people were enjoying a party at her home. More than 100 were in the vicinity outside and her grandson, Jake, 8, was pointing to a vendor cart and begging her to buy him a can of silly string.

Sponsored by the Girardville Parade Committee, which includes members of the John “Jack” Kehoe Ancient Order of Hibernians Div. 1 and Ladies AOH Daughters of Erin, the parade featured five divisions. Units included dignitaries such as Lt. Gov. Michael Stack and U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17. This year’s parade was dedicated to coal region athletes and athletic programs. The grand marshals were Mickey Holland, former coach of Mahanoy Area boys’ basketball team, and sports writer Sam Matta.

“It’s a fantastic day for a parade even if it’s a bit cold,” Thomas Symons, Primrose, president of the Schuylkill County AOH and a member of the Girardville AOH, said.

Temperatures hovered around 35 degrees as hundreds of people greeted marchers, including the bagpipe musical group the Hawk Mountain Highlanders.

“I got here about 7:30 or 8 o’clock. I couldn’t believe it when I pulled into town. Curb to curb the snow was gone, and as I was talking to different people, I found out that last night different volunteers from all over northern Schuylkill County pitched in to help clean the streets for this parade to go on. I get goose bumps thinking about that. That’s the spirit of St. Patrick’s Day in Girardville, it’s about heritage and people pitching in to help,” Symons said.

“They were on overdrive trying clean the snow up,” Michael Cole, 15, of Girardville, said.

“I don’t think it’s as crowded as it has been on some years. I think the weather kept some people away,” Bernosky said.

“We won’t get the kind of turnout we had when President Clinton was here, but we’ll get a good turnout,” Symons said.

Former President Bill Clinton marched in the parade in 2008, drawing 30,000 people to the borough, parade organizers said that year.

“I think we’ve had colder years. This is the most snow we’ve had in a long time, but I don’t think the weather will keep too many people away. I know the Pittsburgh group made it,” Frank P. Smith Jr, Hamburg, a member of the Girardville AOH, said.

He was referring to the Allegheny County Men and Ladies Ancient Order of Hibernians, Pittsburgh, which marched with Division Five behind the Nittany Lion Highland Pipe and Drum Band.

Among those in the crowd Saturday were Joe Cairo, Collegeville, Montgomery County. A Fountain Springs native, Cairo colored his goatee green before he and a group of friends came out to see the sights Saturday.

Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale, Frackville, marched with the Ladies of the Ancient Order of Hibernians Daughters of Erin No. 18.

“Every year we come here. It’s wonderful. The people are so generous. And when you’re marching down the street, they’re all waving. It’s heartwarming,” said Ben Bargerhuff, a member of the Thomas Lally Division No. 25 of the AOH of Philadelphia, which marched in the parade’s fourth division.

Tina Wagner, Frackville, and her son, Teigan Brokenshire, 9, were among the spectators. Teigan was sporting a stick-on orange goatee. His mother was carrying a peanut butter cup flavored funnel cake.

“We come out every year,” Wagner said.

“It’s the people. It’s fun. It’s entertaining,” Jake Kapusnick, 16, of Gordon, said, rattling off a few reasons why he looks forward to the event every year.

“It’s a good tradition for the town. It brings everybody together,” Bernosky said.

Her friends, including Lorraine Rhody, Minersville, bring covered dishes to share.

“There’s burgers, hot dogs, pierogies, chicken. They have everything in there,” Rhody said.

“To prepare our party for the St. Patrick’s Day parade, it takes about a week. And you have to have the house clean because some sleep overnight,” Bernosky said.

Mahanoy Area

Mahanoy Area High School seniors Maddison Lawrence and Jason Richmond were named students of the month by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.

Maddison is a daughter of Matthew and Sharon Lawrence, Mahanoy City. A National Honor Society member, she is involved with student council, Bear Pride program, Areascope (yearbook), Interact, Nutrition Advisory Council, SADD, Teens Against Tobacco and Theatre Arts Club. She was also a homecoming candidate.

Maddison is a member of the track team and served as captain of the basketball and cross country teams, lettering three years in each sport.

She serves as a volunteer for Meals on Wheels, the Senator Rhoades Track meet, middle school track meet and biddy basketball.

Upon graduation, Maddison plans to attend Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, and major in allopathic pre-med.

Jason is a son of Ann Ma-rie Richmond and Jay Richmond, Mahanoy City. He is a member of National Honor Society, Bloomsburg Math Contest Team, Bear Pride program, student council and Interact.

He is captain of the baseball, basketball and football teams, a Meals on Wheels volunteer and has been an altar server for Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, Mahanoy City.

Upon graduation, Jason plans to attend Lebanon Valley College, Annville, and major in athletic training.

Minersville Area

Katilyn Krasinski and S pencer Tobin were named January students of the month at Minersville Area High School.

Katilyn is a daughter of Francis Krasinski, 301 Pottsville St., Minersville. Her school activities include a member of the TAT Club, chemistry club and volleyball and track and field teams.

She is the president of SADD and the yearbook club and is involved in the annual musical. In the community, she helped organized fundraiser events for Sock it to Sarcoma and worked at the Minersville Community Pool.

Katilyn plans to attend Lock Haven University and double major in recreation fitness and recreation therapy.

Spencer is a son of Jen Boyle, 31 Branch Road, Pottsville, and John Tobin, Wyomissing. His school activities include steering committee and the basketball and track teams. He is also president of the chemistry club.

Outside of school, Spencer helps with biddy basketball and works at BG’s Value Market.

He plans to attend Kutztown University.

Alison Cullen and Thomas Curlis were named February students of the month at Minersville Area.

Alison is a daughter of John and Jill Cullen, 105 Slane St., Minersville. Her school activities are National Honor Society, Teens Against Tobacco, SADD, student council and the annual musical. She is also a member of the soccer and track and field teams.

In the community, she volunteers at her church picnic, 24 Hours of Homeless, Toys for Tots and the blood drive.

She plans to attend Temple University, Philadelphia, for pre-physical therapy.

Thomas is a son of Stephen Curlis, 234 Laurel St., Minersville, and Donna Adamson Curlis, 305 New Castle St., Minersville. His school activities include the YES program, classics club and the annual musical. He is also a member of the football team.

Outside of school, he volunteers with New Minersville Fire Company.

He plans to continue his education to become an electrician.

Pine Grove Area

Katherine Minehan and Scott Werner were named March students of the month at Pine Grove Area High School.

Katherine is a daughter of Mike and Patti Minehan, Washington Township. She studies in the advanced placement and honor programs.

Katherine’s high school activities include the musical, yearbook club, art club and Quizbowl. She is also senior class secretary.

She plans to attend West Chester University and major in business/accounting with a minor in theater.

Scott is a son of Richard and Beth Werner, Pine Grove. He studies in the advanced placement program.

His high school activities include football, wrestling, track and field, Envirothon, FFA, FBLA, National Honor Society, senior class vice president, Cardinal Marching Band, band council and varsity club.

Scott plans to attend a four-year college to study history/political science and then enter law school.

If you are driving southbound on Route 61 in Pottsville and have to make a left turn, you’ll have to put your wits to work since there aren’t any left-turn lights to help you.

“That’s one of the bigger issues. If you’re driving north, there are signals for left turns at Mauch Chunk, at Norwegian and at Arch. But there aren’t any if you’re southbound. If you think about it, we have hospitals, a high school, a nursing home and other businesses on the east side of town. And if you’re driving south, there’s no signal to help you make that turn. It’s challenging. It’s very tough. It’s a problem. And it’s always been that way, probably since this road was built,” City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Tuesday.

The state Department of Transportation will consider that and other issues as it embarks on an estimated $1 million project to upgrade the traffic lights along Route 61 from South Centre Street — which is actually in North Manheim Township — to Mill Creek Avenue. More than 14,500 vehicles cross this stretch of Route 61 daily, PennDOT reported earlier this year.

The project will be financed with federal funds, and it’s the availability of those funds which made PennDOT green light the project, Thomas Walter, the signal permits manager for PennDOT District 5, Allentown, said Friday.

“The program is called Highway Safety Improvements Program. We applied for funds for this corridor in October 2014 and were granted them in January. This corridor has a high crash history,” Sean Brown, safety press officer for PennDOT District 5, Allentown, said Friday.

Brown provided some statistics for each of the five intersections being studied.

• Route 61 at Mill Creek: Between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2013, there were 52 crashes which resulted in two major injuries, six moderate injuries and 44 minor injuries.

• Route 61 at Arch Street: Between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2013, there were 66 crashes which resulted in one fatality, four major injuries, six moderate injuries and 38 minor injuries. The fatality occurred in 2004.

• Route 61 at Norwegian Street: Between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2013, there were 46 crashes which resulted in two major injuries, two moderate injuries and 23 major injures.

• Route 61 at Route 209: Between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2013, there were 56 crashes which resulted in one major injury, six moderate injuries and 35 minor injuries.

• Route 61 at South Centre Street: Between Jan. 1, 2004, and Dec. 31, 2013, there were 20 crashes which resulted in two fatalities and 13 minor injuries. The fatalities occurred in 2004 and 2007.

Earlier this month, Palamar said PennDOT had budgeted $300,000 for engineering and about $700,000 for improvements.

Walter thought that was a good estimate, but he wasn’t sure how long the project would take. PennDOT still has to hire a design team.

“It is currently in the preliminary scoping step. We’re putting together the scope of the project. The next steps are to provide scope to a consultant designer, prepare preliminary design phase, prepare final design phase, bidding/letting and then construction,” Walter said.

“It could be a lengthy process. And until we really sit down and get a designer on board and get out there, that’s when we’ll determine how long it will take,” Brown said.

Walter had no idea what changes will be proposed.

“Not until we do the study,” he said.

“All I know is what they propose will be better than what we have,” Palamar said.

Before starting the improvements, PennDOT will sit down with the city council and the police department to discuss its findings, Palamar said.

“We need to tell them what we believe the problems are,” Palamar said.

One concern he had Tuesday was the visibility of the “No Turn On Red” signs at night.

“Safe pedestrian crossings are also really important to us. They’re looking into that,” Palamar said.

Mayor James T. Muldowney said the study is occurring at a convenient time. Later this year, two buildings — the former Brewer’s Outlet and a Sands Ford dealership — will be razed to make way for a CVS Pharmacy.

While CVS is pleased to hear the study is being done, it didn’t encourage the state to update the signals, according to Michael J. DeAngelis, public relations director for CVS Pharmacy, Woonsocket, Rhode Island.

“The Route 61 corridor improvement project predates our decision to build a store at this location. PennDOT did ask us to adjust our site layout to allow for the proposed widening of the corridor, which we accommodated in our design. Otherwise, we have not been involved in the improvement project,” DeAngelis said Friday.

The traffic signal upgrade will also complement two other projects along the corridor:

• The replacement of the two Mady’s bridges. The $10,568,416 project awarded to Glenn O. Hawbaker Inc., State College, is slated for completion in August 2017, according to the PennDOT website.

• The Sunoco A-Plus Mini Market at 2 S. Claude A. Lord Blvd. was recently demolished and is being replaced with a new Sunoco A-Plus Mini Market with improvements, including additional gas pumps.

It’s been more than 20 years since PennDOT did any kind of study regarding the effectiveness of the traffic signals along Route 61 in Pottsville, according to Walter.

“There was a project back in the ’80s regarding signal-timing and coordination,” Walter said.

The signals in this corridor were installed between 1949 and 1976, Walter said.

“These signals are typical traffic signals with the intersections with Mauch Chunk and Norwegian streets having pedestrian signal indications. Mauch Chunk Street and Norwegian Street intersections operate pre-timed. Arch Street and Mill Creek intersections operate actuated. The Arch Street, Norwegian Street and Mauch Chunk Street intersections are time base coordinated to keep each intersection in step with each other, maintain some progression along Route 61,” Walter said.

A Shenandoah man was jailed Friday charged with raping a 12-year-old girl and allegedly getting her pregnant.

Hector Rico, 33, of 418 E. Lloyd St., was charged with rape of a child, aggravated indecent assault of a child, sexual assault, indecent assault, corruption of minors, endangering the welfare of a child, statutory sexual assault and another sexually related felony offense.

Rico was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison, unable to post $250,000 straight cash bail.

The charges are the result of ongoing incidents that were reported to the department about 7:15 p.m. Thursday by a woman who said her 12-year-old daughter was pregnant, Capt. Michael O’Neill, the arresting officer, said. The woman also said that her daughter said Rico had been having sex with her over the past several months.

Later on Thursday, O’Neill said, police were contacted by an attorney and social worker from Massachusetts who said she received a call from a person claiming to be “Carlos” from Shenandoah who explained that he wanted his 12-year-old girlfriend to get an abortion.

The social worker said the man claimed to live on the east side of Shenandoah. Police said the woman said she told “Carlos” she could not assist him and then contacted her local police department that forwarded her to Shenandoah police.

O’Neill said the following day, on Friday, he was driving to Shenandoah to interview the victim when he pulled over to assist East Union Township police Chief Thomas Rentschler with a felony vehicle stop on Route 924.

Several people were taken into custody in connection with a reported abduction in Hazleton and a man in the backseat of one of the vehicles appeared to be injured. That man, O’Neill said, was identified as Rico, who said he was picked up in Hazleton and assaulted.

Rico was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street for treatment and taken into custody when discharged, the captain said.

At the Shenandoah police station, O’Neill said, the child was interviewed by Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services and said Rico was having sexual intercourse with her for about six months. The child said Rico told her not to tell anyone because it was their secret and that when she would tell him to stop, most times he did not.

The child also said Rico made her touch his private areas and that the sexual assaults occurred about two times a week, O’Neill said.

O’Neill said Rico tried to assault the girl again on Thursday, at which time she told him she did not get her period, prompting him to leave and return with a pregnancy test.

The child reported that Rico looked at a telephone book and made several calls, identifying himself as “Carlos” from the east side of Shenandoah, that he was 33 years old and his girlfriend was 12 years old.

O’Neill said the victim said she heard Rico say he needed an abortion for his girlfriend, information that was consistent with that reported by the social worker from Massachusetts.

Shortly after the interview, O’Neill said, Rico was returned to the station by Patrolman David Stamets and interviewed about the incidents involving the child.

Rico said the child would get on top of him while he was sleeping and pull his pants down, leading to the sexual intercourse, O’Neill said. Later in the interview, the captain said Rico retracted his statements about having sexual intercourse with the child.

Rico then requested a second interview, during which he said he “wanted to pay for what he did” and said there were three incidents in which the sexual intercourse occurred.

The man also said he did not wear a condom and that the last incident was about two or three days prior to the assaults being reported, O’Neill said.

O’Neill said Rico also admitted getting the pregnancy test, explained to the girl how to take it and that he told her to say she got pregnant during a party.

Rico also told officers that he was scared, O’Neill said.

Rico will now have to answer to the charges at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

PINE GROVE — With sunshine, live music and free glasses of chardonnay, riesling and more than 20 other wines, a crowd at Stone Mountain Wine Cellars said hello to spring on Sunday.

“It’s a nice day, too. It’s gorgeous,” said Valerie Snyder, Lebanon, who sipped a Vignoles while listening to an acoustic guitarist strum classic tunes.

“And I love the music. They have some really nice events here,” said Patti Schock, Pottsville, who sampled Frog Jam, made of figs, raspberries, oranges and ginger.

They were among the more than 100 people who went to Stone Mountain’s store Sunday for the second day of the winery’s annual “Spring Fever Weekend” — and it was starting to look like spring, according to one of the owners of the business, Ralph Heffner: “It’s a bit chilly, but it’s nice since the sun’s out.”

Friday was the first day of spring, even though it didn’t feel like it because a late-season storm dropped more than 5 inches of snow on Schuylkill County. Much of the snow melted, however, with a high of 36 on Sunday, to www.weather.gov.

Ralph Heffner, his wife, Annie, and their sons, Kent and Karl, run Jersey Acres Fruit & Produce and Stone Mountain Wine Cellars at 1615 Panther Valley Road. The family has been in the orchard business since 1911. Since 1999, the farm has been growing wine grapes and selling them to other wineries. As the grape production increased, the farm decided to establish its own winery. The family completed the licensing process in late summer of 2004 and fermentation at Stone Mountain began in October 2004.

“We started selling wine in 2005. Now we have more than 30 wines,” Ralph Heffner said.

Since 2005, the family has made myriad efforts to its their wine products. That includes events such as the one held at its headquarters Sunday, which was free and open to the public.

“I try to come to all of them,” Schock said.

“We do three events to celebrate the change of the seasons, in spring, summer and fall,” Ralph Heffner said.

Special events Sunday included the release of Stone Mountain’s Norton 2012 Reserve, its flagship wine aged a full year in an oak barrel.

“Norton is the primary grape that we grow here. It allows us to make a robust red wine, somewhat in the same category as a merlot or a Zinfandel,” Heffner said.

Volunteers pouring wine for visitors included Rich Barbetta, Friedensburg, and Robert Thompson, Lehighton.

“Today the Orchard Blush is very, very popular,” Thompson said.

Winner of a 2015 Pennsylvania Farm Show Silver Award, the Stone Mountain Orchard Blush is a Niagara-Fredonia blend, according to one of the store’s fliers.

Michael and Deborah Sustello, Blandon, said Sunday was their first visit to the winery. Fans of wine-tasting events, they spotted a listing for Sunday’s event by reading a newspaper, they said.

“And it’s a free event,” Michael Sustello, another attendee, said.

“We usually come out here a couple of times in the summer,” said Snyder, who was there with friend David Ausband, Lebanon.

Thomas B. “Tommy Dee” Drogalis, Orwigsburg, played acoustic guitar and sang covers of songs including the classic “Wildfire” by Michael Martin Murphy.

“I do a variety from Harry Chapin, America, Crosby, Stills, Nash & Young, Johnny Cash and Gordon Lightfoot,” Drogalis said as he tuned his 12-string acoustic guitar. He also did a cover of “Amie” by Pure Prairie League.

Future events at Stone Mountain will include the annual “Wine-bration” to be held June 20 and the first day of summer, June 21.