A Florida woman faces a possible prison term, if she can be found, after a Schuylkill County judge found her guilty March 25 of driving under the influence and three traffic offenses as the result of a one-vehicle accident in February 2014.

Amanda L. Sonnon, 28, of Freeport, Florida, was too intoxicated to drive safely, Judge John E. Domalakes ruled after presiding over her one-day nonjury trial.

Domalakes also found Sonnon guilty of disregarding traffic lanes, careless driving and having a suspended vehicle registration. He ordered preparation of a presentence investigation and said he would schedule Sonnon’s sentencing at a future date.

State police at Frackville alleged Sonnon, who did not appear for her trial, was DUI to the extent she was incapable of driving safely at 12:01 a.m. Feb. 21, 2014, on Green Mountain Road in East Union Township.

Sonnon’s pickup truck ran off the road and crashed, police said. She was unhurt, but her passenger, Matthew Frederick, hit the windshield and suffered an injury, police said.

“Her eyes were bloodshot. Her speech was slurred,” state police Trooper Michael S. Allar, the prosecuting officer, testified about the defendant. “She told me she swerved to miss a deer. She ran off the road and hit a tree.”

Allar said the defendant failed a field sobriety test and admitted drinking six bottles of beer and two shots at a bar in Nuremberg before driving.

Also on March 25, Domalakes sentenced Vincent Ryan, 32, of Pottsville, to serve 86 to 172 days in prison and undergo mental health and drug and alcohol evaluation.

Domalakes imposed that sentence after revoking Ryan’s probation, which the defendant admitted violating by failing to report to his supervising officer, moving without permission, failing drug tests and not undergoing a drug and alcohol evaluation.

“It’s obvious there’s some treatment you need,” Domalakes told Ryan. “Everyone is trying to help you.”

Ryan originally pleaded guilty on July 23, 2014, to indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to serve four to eight days in prison and an additional 172 days on probation, and pay costs and a $300 fine, amounts Ryan still must pay under the terms of the sentence imposed March 25.

Pottsville police originally alleged Ryan violated a temporary protection from abuse order on July 15, 2014, in the city. Judge James P. Goodman had entered the temporary order earlier that day.

In another case March 25, Domalakes revoked the parole of Steven T. Rhoades, 24, of Schuylkill Haven, and ordered him returned to prison for at least four months.

Rhoades, who could remain behind bars until Nov. 17, also must undergo a mental health/mental retardation evaluation under the terms of Domalakes’ order.

“It appears that you have a substance abuse problem” that must be treated, Domalakes told Rhoades.

Rhoades, who admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 24, 2010, to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to spend three years on probation and pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $541 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Schuylkill Haven borough police had charged Rhoades with possessing drugs or paraphernalia on April 19, 2010, in the borough.

March 25 marked the second time Domalakes had revoked Rhoades’ parole. He also had revoked his original probation.

“I don’t want to see you back here again,” Domalakes warned Rhoades.

Also in Schuylkill County Court, a Mechanicsville man will serve a brief prison sentence after being found guilty March 27 of harassing two of his neighbors.

Dennis J. Powanda Sr., 60, must spend two to 180 days in prison and pay costs, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell ruled after finding him guilty of two counts of harassment. She made the sentence effective at 9 a.m. April 27.

“Physical violence is not the solution” to neighborhood disputes, Russell told Powanda. “I am very concerned. I don’t like to see an elderly woman being punched.”

State police at Schuylkill Haven had charged Powanda with hitting two of his neighbors, Beth Ann Dando and Eva Wisnosky, on Oct. 27, 2014, in their Mechanicsville neighborhood.

“He backhanded me. My glasses went flying. He punched me in the head,” Dando testified about Powanda. “He definitely made contact four times.”

Dando said Powanda started the confrontation by parking his car on her brother’s property.

Wisnosky, who is Dando’s mother, also said Powanda was out of control during the incident.

“He came out of the house yelling and screaming,” she said.

Wisnosky also said Powanda reached into her car and hit her six times.

“I had a lot of pain when I woke up in the morning,” she said.

Powanda said Wisnosky bit him and was the aggressor.

“They called the cops and I got arrested,” he complained. “It’s getting outrageous. I’m retired. I’m disabled. They won’t leave us alone.”

Three of Powanda’s relatives — William D. Sr., his cousin, Stephanie A., his daughter, and Cindy, his wife — testified in support of his version of events.

“I heard a lot of yelling and screaming,” Stephanie Powanda, who stormed out of the courtroom after Russell announced her verdict, testified.

She also said Dando tried to hit her father and that neither woman appeared to be hurt.

Cindy Powanda said her husband never hit anyone.

On March 26, Domalakes sentenced Corey J. Mlynek, 22, of Mahanoy City, to serve one to two years in a state correctional institution.

Domalakes imposed the sentence after revoking Mlynek’s parole in one case and probation in a second.

“I was wrong, and I’ll do my time that I deserve,” a surprisingly jovial Mlynek said.

Mlynek originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 13, 2013, to terroristic threats and failure to disperse in one case and terroristic threats in a second. At that time, Domalakes sentenced him to serve three to 23 months in prison and 23 months on concurrent probation and pay costs and $100 to the CJEA, amounts he still must pay under the terms of the sentence.

Pine Grove police charged him with making threats and refusing to disperse on May 14, 2013, in the borough, while Pottsville police alleged he made threats on May 15, 2013, in the city.

In another March 26 case, Judge Cyrus Palmer Dolbin revoked the parole of Carmine J. Natale, 33, of Cressona, and returned him to prison for at least two months.

Natale admitted violating his parole by failing to report to his supervising officer, committing a new crime and using drugs.

“You can’t be violating,” Dolbin warned Natale. “It’s time for you to start living a real life.”

Natale originally pleaded guilty on June 18, 2014, to theft, with prosecutors withdrawing a charge of receiving stolen property. At that time, Dolbin sentenced Natale to serve 14 days to 12 months in prison and pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment and $35 restitution.

In other recent county court action, Russell accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Zalane Kunkel, 36, of Tamaqua; disorderly conduct; $300 fine. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of endangering the welfare of children and one each of careless driving and public drunkenness.

Karen E. Landau, 37, of Reading; DUI and accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property; 10 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 50 days strict supervision, four months probation, $800 in fines, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 20 hours community service, with sentence effective on April 10. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving.

Eric L. Leonowicz, 23, of Marion Heights; DUI and speeding; six months in the intermediate punishment program, $1,035 in fines, $100 payment to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and 20 hours community service, with sentence effective on April 8.

Thomas S. McGee Jr., 62, of Auburn; DUI; six months probation, $300 fine, $50 CJEA payment, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew charges of disregarding traffic lane and careless driving.

David J. Natale Jr., 27, of Schuylkill haven; possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment, drug and alcohol evaluation and 20 hours community service.

Duane R. Neidert, 54, of Nesquehoning; DUI; 30 days in prison, 90 days house arrest with electronic monitoring, 30 days alcohol monitoring, seven months strict supervision, four years probation, $1,500 fine, $300 SAEF payment, $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and 20 hours community service. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of speeding.

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

Also in the county court, prosecutors withdrew charges March 24 against six defendants.

Gurney A. Bixler Jr., 19, of Pottsville, had been charged with theft and receiving stolen property. Pottsville police had charged him with committing his crimes on April 22, 2014.

Kelly S. Bruce, 51, of Tremont, had been charged with theft by deception and receiving stolen property. State police at Schuylkill Haven had alleged she committed her crimes on Dec. 21, 2013.

Justin E. Englehart, 30, of Pine Grove, had been charged with criminal mischief. State police at Schuylkill Haven had alleged he committed his crime on Aug. 19, 2013.

Jenny I. Lesher, 35, of Schuylkill Haven, had been charge with public welfare fraud. Schuylkill County detectives had alleged she committed her crime on June 30, 2013.

Joseph Leskin Sr., 64, of Brockton, had been charged with three counts each of terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment, two of accident involving death or personal injury and one each of disorderly conduct, reckless driving and careless driving. Schuylkill Township police had alleged he committed his crimes on Feb. 19, 2014.

Jeff T. Seiders, 48, of Pottsville, had been charged with materially false written statement and unsworn falsification to authorities. Minersville police had charged him with committing his crimes on June 19, 2014.

In each case, President Judge William E. Baldwin signed an order allowing prosecutors to withdraw the charges and directing the defendant to pay the costs.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A routine matter brought up at the borough council meeting Wednesday had one member at odds with the council president.

The council approved the request from the Schuylkill Hose Fire Company in the borough for use of fire police for its 5K Hero Run on July 25. The council approved it without discussion.

“Here we go again. We are approving something. We don’t put it to committee,” council President Marlin Berger Jr. said after the vote.

Berger said requests should be brought before the relevant committee and then voted on.

“I personally think it is a waste of time sending a fire police request to committee when it’s an easy request and it’s sitting here in front of us. It’s a waste of time. It’s not like you’re ever going to deny it,” council member Kurt Montz said, adding it wasn’t a big deal.

“Why is it a waste of time?” Berger asked.

“If you have something important that needs to go to committee, fine,” Montz said.

“In most communities, they put it (the request) to committee before it comes back for a recommendation. Everything I ever read in the paper goes to committee and then comes back, and I just thought this is what we should be doing but we don’t do it,” Berger said.

The issue then once again came up with the discussion of a recycling day.

The borough is hosting an electronics recycling day for borough residents from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Saturday at the recycling center on St. Charles Street. A flier is available at the borough office and “has been posted for quite some time,” borough Manager Scott Graver said.

Among the items taken are laptops, telephones, microwaves, small appliances, metal items and stereos. A fee is charged for some items.

Montz said that according to Berger’s logic, the recycling event should come before committee.

The request for fire police for the fire company event and recycling event “are not something new and spectacular,” Montz said.

“This is once again the last minute that we get something,” Berger said.

In other news, council member Tom Gordon recommended a request by GOALS Adventure Racing Association, a nonprofit that does adventure races for charity, be sent to the property committee for review. The association would like to use the Tumbling Run Reservoir trails for the mountain bike section of the Krista Griesacker Memorial Adventure Race, according to an email to the borough. The 50-mile, multi-sport event benefits the Civil Air Patrol Search and Rescue Program. The race is planned to take place from about 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Aug. 1.

Gordon also said the property committee met 6 p.m. Wednesday to discuss a request by a borough resident who is interested in buying a borough-owned parking lot by his house near the Island. Gordon said the lot is not used by the borough but is used by property owners on Dock Street to park their vehicles. Gordon said the property committee decided it is not interested in selling the property and Gordon made a motion to reflect that decision. The council voted in favor of not selling.

Regarding an upcoming event, the council approved a barbecue bash May 30 for the Liberty Fire Company in the borough. The event includes a poker run, a fire truck parade and a disc jockey at the fire house. The poker run starts at noon from the fire company. Parking will be prohibited on St. Charles Street from Columbia Street to the sewer plant on St. Charles Street.

Man crosses into

oncoming traffic

SHENANDOAH — A man crashed into an oncoming vehicle in his lane of traffic at 7:30 p.m. Monday on Route 924, 2411 feet west of Main Boulevard, East Union Township.

State police at Frackville said Gloria J. Bloshichak, 42, of Frackville, was driving a 2013 Toyota Corolla and attempted to pass a vehicle stuck in the travel lane. In doing so, Bloshichak became stuck in the oncoming travel lane. Phillip J. Nitolo, 21, of Shenandoah, was driving a 1999 Dodge Durango in that lane and was unable to stop, striking the Corolla with his vehicle.

Both were using a seat belt and neither were injured. Neither driver was charged.

Woman jailed in

assault on mom

A Pottsville woman was jailed after being charged by city police with assaulting her mother on Thursday.

Police said Lindsey Draine, 27, was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge James K. Reiley, Pottsville, on charges of simple assault and harassment and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

Police said officers were called at 7:54 p.m. to a domestic disturbance at 420 Market Square Apartments in the 200 block of North 12th Street and learned that Draine struck her 53-year-old mother in the head with keys, causing a small puncture wound.

The older woman also suffered several minor abrasions on her neck and chest, police said. The investigation determined the two women had been arguing over matters pertaining to Draine’s 3-year-old son, who was there at the time of the assault, and that the argument eventually turned physical.

Police said Draine was taken into custody pursuant to a probable cause arrest for domestic violence and subsequently charged.

Pottsville police

investigate crash

Pottsville police investigated a crash that was reported about 1:05 p.m. Thursday in the area of Third and Sanderson streets.

Police said the investigation determined that Marie Fitzpatrick, 91, of Schuylkill Haven, was attempting to make a right turn onto Third Street from Sanderson Street in her 2010 Hyundai Accent when she mistakenly applied the gas instead of the brake and struck a PPL utility pole.

Minor damage was done to the plastic vertical conduit along the pole and disabling damage was done to Fitzpatrick’s vehicle, police said.

PPL arrived on location moments later and immediately repaired the broken conduit, police said, adding that the Fitzpatrick vehicle had to be towed from the scene.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine Holman and Schuylkill County detectives are asking for the public’s help in finding a man wanted for parole violations.

Detectives said they are looking for Dominick J. Leo, 52, who has a last known address of 325 W. Lloyd St., Shenandoah.

Leo has an active bench warrant for his arrest and has been declared an absconder for violating the conditions of his parole, detectives said.

Leo is described as being white, about 5 feet 5 inches tall and weighing about 180 pounds.

He was originally charged with theft and receiving stolen property, both misdemeanor offenses, detectives said.

Anyone with information on the whereabouts of Leo, or on any other fugitive in Schuylkill County, is asked to call the district attorney’s office at 570-628-1350 or the local police department for their respective municipality. If contact is made with Leo, call the Schuylkill County Communications Center.

All information received will remain confidential.

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

Several homes were damaged in a fire Saturday on the 700 block of West Market Street, Pottsville.

Firefighters were called at 1:13 p.m. when a neighbor saw smoke coming from the row of homes.

“Somebody from Arch Street called it in,” Pottsville fire Chief Todd March said. “They saw smoke coming from the roof of the building.”

The damage stretched from 708 to at least 720 W. Market St., and that section of the street was closed for several hours Saturday.

“There was smoke coming out everywhere,” March said. “It was hard to tell where the fire was coming from.”

March said the buildings at 708 through 714 sustained heavy fire damage. Another building sustained slight fire damage while four others had heavy smoke damage.

“Most of the damage is to the third floor and roof areas,” March said.

He did not know what caused the fire and it was still under investigation as of Saturday night.

“It looks like it started on the third floor in 714, then it spread to 712, 710 and 708,” March said. “Once it got into the community roof, it just spread.”

City Assistant Fire Chief Bill Dewald said it took about 45 minutes for firefighters to get the blaze under control.

“A lot of the fire was contained in the walls and ceiling, so it was labor intensive,” Dewald said.

Nobody appeared to be hurt Saturday afternoon, March said. He did not know which homes were occupied, but said most of them appeared to be vacant.

The fire displaced at least two families living on the block, while other residents were allowed to return home.

Maria Ream lives at 708 W. Market St. with her daughter. Neither were home at the time of the fire.

“I’m glad that my daughter wasn’t home and we are together,” Ream said.

Ream said they lived in the home for nearly five years and said the neighboring homes have had residents coming and going over the years. She said the home next door and a few others were vacant.

“I think I was the only one living in one of them,” she said.

Ream said that her home is insured and that they will be spending the night with family members.

The Tri-County American Red Cross assisted those living in the homes.

Patty Daley, captain for the volunteer services, said she went into the homes with the families to make sure it was safe before they returned. She said that some of the homes surprisingly only had minimal damage.

“I was not convinced that these people should be returned to their homes, but I went in there and I was shocked,” Daley said. “If I wasn’t there, I wouldn’t have believed it.”

Daley said Tyneka Goods and her son, Justin, were unable to return to their second-floor apartment at 716 W. Market St. Daley said they were going to stay with Tyneka’s mother.

Ebony Gaskin, her boyfriend and two children were able to go back to their apartment at 718 W. Market St., Daley said.

Beverly Butler, who lived on the bottom floor of 716 W. Market St., was also able to return.

“She was just so happy to be back in her home with her cats,” Daley said.

The smoke damage extended all the way up to 720 W. Market St., which is an apartment building owned by Edward D. Barket.

“If I have any damage, it is heavy smoke damage,” Barket said. “Hopefully, that’s all it is.”

Barket, a former county commissioner, said he had tenants in two apartments and they were both able to get out with their pets. They were on the first and fourth floors and returned to their homes Saturday night.

“I just stopped to see him about five minutes before this happened,” he said.

Barket said one tenant lived there for 30 years while the other was there for six. Barket said he also grew up in the neighborhood.

“A fire is just devastating,” he said. “It destroys everything, your memories, everything.”

Anyone who's even occasionally gazed into the early evening sky this past winter and early spring has seen that bright "star" in the west. At first, you might even mistake it for an incoming aircraft. In fact, it's so bright that at times it can even cast a faint shadow in the dark countryside. Actually, that bright star is no star at all but is the planet Venus, named after the Roman goddess of love. Venus is a next door neighbor to Earth and is also nearly the same size of our world, about 8,000 miles in diameter.

Venus is the second planet from the sun orbiting our home star within Earth's orbit. Currently, it's only about 108 million miles away and that's one of the reasons it's so bright right now. Venus's brilliance is also due to its very bright and reflective cloud cover. Its atmospheric shell acts like a giant celestial mirror, reflecting all kinds of sunlight our way. Planets produce no natural light of their own, and so the only way we see them is because of sunlight bouncing off of them. Venus is the best reflector in our solar system.

Despite its brilliance, Venus is a really dull sight through any telescope, no matter how big and fancy your scope is. All you really see is an oval-ish white disk and that's about it. There's no way to see any of the Venusian surface. One thing Venus does that's mildly entertaining is it goes through phases just like our moon. Right now, it resembles a gibbous moon, but sometimes it's crescent shaped, depending on where it is in orbit around the sun and where Earth is in its orbit.

This week and next, Venus puts on a pretty good show as it celestially "hugs" the Pleiades, the brightest star cluster in the sky. Officially, this hug is called a conjunction. The Pleiades are also known as the "Seven Little Sisters" because there are allegedly seven stars in the cluster you can see with the naked eye, but most people - including yours truly - can only see six of the little shiners. In fact, it looks just like a tiny Little Dipper and but the actual Little Dipper or Little Bear is much larger.

Venus is now forging eastward among the stars from night to night and is closing in on the Pleiades. Tonight, look for Venus just a little below the Pleiades, just over five degrees away or about half the width of your fist held at arm's length.

As this week continues, Venus draws closer and closer to the cluster. It makes its closest pass to the Seven Little Sisters this coming weekend, when Venus will only be a little more than two degrees to the left of the Pleiades. That's just a bit bigger than the width of two of your fingers held together at arm's length. Next week, Venus and the Seven Sisters will gradually pull away from each other. Through a small telescope or even a pair of binoculars I think you'll like what you'll see.

While Venus is just a blah bright light, the Pleiades are another story. Depending on how strong your optics are, you can see up to a hundred stars in a sphere more than 80 trillion miles wide. The Pleiades are much farther away than Venus, more than 400 light years away. One light year equals nearly six trillion miles.

Like most open stars clusters, the stars of the Pleiades are young, probably around 100 million years old, which is extremely young when you're talking about stars. In fact, most of the stars in the Pleiades were born just before the dinosaurs on Earth got wiped out by a comet. Stars like the Pleiades are born in large groups out of large loose clouds of hydrogen gas called nebulae. These young stellar families stay together for millions and millions of years until gravity from neighboring stars starts tearing the cosmic siblings apart.

By the way, I have one more nugget about the Pleiades star cluster. The Japanese refer to the Pleiades star cluster as "Subaru." Sound familiar? Back in the 1950 seven small Japanese auto makers merged to form a large company they call Subaru, after the seven stars that make up the Subaru star cluster. In fact, the early logo for the Subaru was an actual diagram of the cluster. They've updated their logo over the years, but the present logo is still basically a cluster. Look at any Subaru and you'll see what I mean.

(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.)

TOWER CITY — When a day of outdoor play turned potentially deadly, the quick action of one Williams Valley Girl Scout helped save the life of her good friend.

Those pals, Brownie Kailey Kolva and Ethan Fite, were honored March 23 during a special program at Williams Valley Elementary School.

Kailey received a national Girl Scouts award for her “heroic acts” and a citation from the state House of Representatives.

Neither Kailey nor Ethan remember much from that day last fall, they said.

Emergency

On October 1, 2014, the pair were playing outside in Kailey’s backyard in Tower City when Ethan suffered a severe medical emergency.

“I went to get my dad and I told him that Ethan was hurt and that he needed help,” Kailey, 7, a daughter of Dave Kolva and Ashley Donton, said.

Her dad responded immediately and provided assistance to Ethan.

“Not until I woke up in the hospital did I know what happened,” Ethan, 10, said.

His parents, Bob and Danielle Fite, Orwin, said Ethan spent time in the pediatric intensive care unit at Geisinger Health System, Danville, while in an induced coma but has since fully recovered. They became acquainted with Kailey and her family when the Fites moved into the area last June. Ethan, a center on the Little Vikes football team, said he and Kailey are good friends, and enjoy jumping on the trampoline, playing Xbox, Pokemon and chasing chickens. They’ve had a lot of fun playing together in Kailey’s backyard, he said.

“That’s how we got to know them,” Danielle Fite, who recalls the day of her son’s emergency, said. “I was at home getting his things ready to go for football. I knew he was over there to play and I started to walk down to their house. Then I heard yelling and I told my older son to go grab a phone and call 911.”

Dave Kolva said he was getting ready for work while Kailey and Ethan were playing outside.

“She came running in to get me, and I went out and got him,” he said.

Kolva, who was a combat lifesaver in the Army Reserves, began tending to Ethan right away and told his daughter to get his cellphone.

Being a Girl Scout probably aided his daughter, he said.

“I’m sure some of those skills helped,” Kolva said, “and I know the Scouts talk about the right things to do (in an emergency).”

‘Thankful’

“Thanks to Kailey’s quick response and clear thinking, Ethan has fully recovered,” Girl Scout Leader Tabatha McNeal said after calling Kailey and Ethan to the center of the stage and welcoming students and visitors to the program in the elementary gymnasium. Williams Valley Girl Scouts stood in front of the stage with the pair, while pupils in kindergarten through sixth grade attended the assembly.

Ethan said he was unaware his friend would be receiving an award that day but was thankful for her being there.

“I saw a couple kids get teary-eyed and I was about to, too,” he said following the award ceremony.

Lifesaving award

One of the honors Kailey received was the “lifesaving award.”

Part of the Girl Scouts program since the beginning of the movement in the U.S. in 1912, lifesaving awards are national awards given to a registered Girl Scout who has “saved or attempted to save human life under circumstances that indicate heroism or risk of her own life,” Elaina Elmore, membership associate for Girl Scouts in the Heart of PA, said.

“These awards are reserved for those Girl Scouts who have performed heroic acts beyond the degree of maturity and training to be expected at their age,” Elmore said. “Training in health and safety is inherent in the Girl Scouts program. A Girl Scout, because of the Promise, Law, Motto and Slogan to which she has subscribed, is expected to be resourceful, skilled, and competent — to have the presence of mind and to be of service to others.”

Elmore pinned the award onto the Brownie vest of Kailey, a member of Brownie Troop 31076, Tower City.

“Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania are very proud of Kailey for her quick thinking and heroism,” Elmore said, as she presented the award on behalf of the organization and CEO Jane Ranson.

Cindy Schade, Community 329 Leader for the Girl Scouts, also joined in the award presentation.

State citation

Rep. Mike Tobash, R-125, presented Kailey a citation from the state House of Representatives.

Tobash sponsored the citation, dated Feb. 25, 2015. It read, in part, “A true hero, her quick and unflinching response to that life-threatening situation reflects most highly on her and will long be remembered and applauded. ... The House of Representatives takes great pride in recognizing those young citizens who, through their brave and selfless deeds, bring great credit to themselves, their communities and this commonwealth.”

Kailey shook Tobash’s hand and accepted the blue-bound citation. She also received a flower bouquet from Wiconisco Scouts, and other congratulatory well-wishes from friends and family.

In addition to their parents, Kailey and Ethan were greeted by Ethan’s grandmother, Denise Radel, Wiconisco; and Kailey’s relatives, including maternal grandparents, Mike and Cathy Donton, Dauphin; great-grandmother, Dot Nagle, Hummelstown; great-aunt, Lynn Sweigart, Elizabethtown; uncle, Bryan Donton, Dauphin; grandmother, Lynn Kolvan, Tower City; great-grandmother, Bette Brown, Tower City; and aunt, Valerie Buffington, Elizabethville.

Elementary guidance counselor Elizabeth Burkhardt said her husband, and district superintendent, Donald Burkhardt, was also planning to take part in the awards assembly but was absent due to illness.

McNeal reminded the audience that Girl Scouts teaches girls to be courageous, builds self-esteem and leadership and teaches team-building skills.

PINE GROVE — Sweet Arrow Lake was still frozen Friday night but that did not prevent the die-hard fishermen from waking up early Saturday to see if the fish were biting.

Trout season kicked off at 8 a.m. Saturday in Schuylkill County.

“If it did not rain last night, the boats would not have been able to get from one side of the lake to the other,” Robert Evanchalk, Schuylkill Conservation District’s parks and recreation supervisor, said.

Schuylkill County joins parts of Carbon, Northumberland and Snyder counties in opening trout season two weeks earlier than the rest of the state. Opening day for the rest of the Pennsylvania is April 18.

“I was here last night, and it was foggy and icy,” George Fredericks, Port Carbon, said Saturday.

Fredericks said he was out at the lake since 7 a.m. and had three lines cast in the water. He was still waiting for his first catch of the day about 10 a.m.. but it did not bother him that the fish were not biting.

“I just wanted to get out of the house,” he said. “I’ve been cooped up.”

A group of six from the Wilkes-Barre area waited at Sweet Arrow Lake since 2 a.m. to make sure they had their usual spot along the water on opening day.

“Usually there are a lot bigger fish down this way,” Anthony Artmont said.

Matt Neary was the only member of the group with a catch by 10 a.m.

“The last few years it has been brutal with the cold weather,” Artmont said.

Last year, Sweet Arrow Lake was still frozen over for opening day. While there were still some frozen spots on the water Friday, Evanchalk said the Northern Swatara Cooperative Trout Nursery was able to cut through the ice to stock the lake with trout.

“It is cold yet,” Evanchalk said. “The wind makes it feel even colder. The wind factor makes a big difference. If nothing else, it cuts down on fishing time to about half because it gets cold and uncomfortable.”

Even though the weather could have been better, Evanchalk said Sweet Arrow Lake is the place to be for family fishing or using a boat.

“It can be hard to fish on the creek with the mud, and it is tough to take the young ones out there,” he said. “As far as a good fishing spot for the family, this spot is ideal.”

The Sweet Arrow Lake Conservation Association sponsored its traditional breakfast from 6 to 10 a.m. on opening day.

“It’s been a little slow, but everyone that has come in enjoyed a nice breakfast by the water and got ready to catch some fish,” Denise Donmoyer, association president, said. “The opening day of trout is a big deal for people in the area. It’s a good opportunity for people to come out and enjoy a day of fishing and have breakfast.”

There is also more to the county park than fishing. Donmoyer said visitors enjoy the different trails throughout the year. Evanchalk said that people came out to the park over the winter to look at the frozen waterfalls and even play on the new disc golf course.

“We have a tremendous amount of traffic here at the park,” Donmoyer said. “We see people all days of the week. It is just a place people really seem to love.”

For more information about Sweet Arrow Lake County Park and a schedule of upcoming events, visit www.sweetarrowlakepark.com.

LOYALTON - Although walls were historically built to keep invading enemies out, the sculptures Upper Dauphin Area Elementary students are creating celebrate cooperation and inviting others in.

Professional sculpture artist Melissa Sholley, Mechanicsburg, has been working with UDA fourth-graders creating a permanent sculpture garden for the school's courtyard as part of an "Artist in Residency" project.

"I'm so glad that we got enough money that she could come here and I can't wait to start in the courtyard," Isaac Hepler, 10, of Gratz, said.

Jump Street

Sara Jarrett, UDA Elementary art teacher, applied for, and received, a $2,000 grant for the district. The grant was provided through Jump Street, an arts organization located in Harrisburg, allowing UDA to host a professional artist for 20 days to work directly with fourth-grade students. Pupils are learning about planning, designing, building and completing a finished sculpture.

Jarrett said the theme of the sculpture garden is "Wonders of The World." Students have researched three specific wonders: The Great Wall of China, The Moai Statues on Easter Island and Chichen Itza in Mexico.

"This is an amazing opportunity for our students to work with a professional artist on a large scale project. It immerses them in an experience they may never have again," Jarrett said.

Presentations

Recently, fourth-graders from Laura Michael's homeroom presented designs on their research of The Great Wall of China.

Desteny Keiser, 9, of Elizabethville, explained her group's wall sculpture included inspiration from artist Andy Goldsworthy, and the stacking of natural materials.

"We had this list of items that we could choose from . . . I really enjoyed when we went up to speak," she said.

Sholley shared with students a number of items they may see stacked, including pancakes, sandwiches, wood, books and handmade paper.

Marcus Tapper, 9, of Pillow, was part of a group that designed "The Amazing Beacon." He said he had fun putting the clay on their design.

"I was happy and excited," Tapper said, of learning there would be a permanent sculpture of students' artwork in the courtyard.

Cooperation was a skill Hepler said he used during his team's creative process.

"One of the biggest challenges was keeping everyone together. I tried to stay out of it for a while, and just sat back and stayed quiet, but then we finally got it together - even though we had some different ideas," he said.

Cloe Dauberman, 9, of Lykens, said building with sugar cubes was her favorite activity. She said Sholley's been a great help and she's glad she's in her school.

"She's awesome! She's shown us how to draw a lot of things."

Opportunity

Sholley, who earned her degree in 3-D sculpture from Messiah College, said her professor, Sean Matthews, heard about the Jump Street grant and got her interested in pursuing her first residency. She was introduced to UDA students during an assembly in January, but began working directly with them in Jarrett's art room last month.

"I like to see them decide who's doing what, and to see how others work with them," Sholley said. "I want to help them understand the work and know how to defend it and explain it to other people," she said.

Sholley and Jarrett designed their lesson plans together. They encouraged pupils to use recycled materials to build their model sculptures, which relate to the three "Wonders."

"I really hope to instill in them to respect the process. I also want to be sure to integrate math and science into it," Jarrett said.

Timeline

It's hoped the permanent sculpture will be completed before the end of the school year. Jarrett provided a brief timeline of how the project was designed to progress:

- February - Artist visits the school to work with students to build miniature models of the sculptures.

- March - Artist demonstrates sculpture techniques using a variety of sculpture tools.

- April - Artist works with core group to build the main sculpture "The Great Wall of China." She also keeps entire school updated with progress through Skype and videos.

- May - Artist visits school and works with core group of students to finish and install sculptures into courtyard. Students will also participate in a schoolwide critique and discussion once installed.

- May 20 - Art Show and Courtyard Open House in the evening for all community members to view and meet the artist.

Support

Jarrett said the district appreciates all the support it received from many sources for the project. Students helped raise about $3,000 for the effort by selling their own artwork through a company called, Square One.

Pupil's artwork was displayed on mugs, coasters, magnets, shirts, keychains and other products that their family members could purchase. Square One then donated a portion of the proceeds to the art program at school.

Assistance also came from seven area businesses which donated supplies or monetary contributions. The elementary staff also donated, and held a "Jeans (dress down) Day" to raise money for the project.

Observation

Jamie Dunlap, director of Arts in Education division, Pennsylvania Council on the Arts; and Christine Glover, Education Program director of Jump Street, both of Harrisburg, observed the residency program in action at UDA at the end of February.

"We were there to observe the experiences of the artist, teacher and students. Further, I look for the level of student engagement and their level of understanding and mastery of the content," Glover said, noting she watches if students are able to correctly use vocabulary words, and if they can explain the process that they've used to create the piece.

"I also look for evidence of planning and preparation - a demonstration that the artist and teaching are collaborating. Ideally, they will both learn from each other in a lasting way that will impact their interactions with students for years to come. At the end of the residency, both will provide us with additional feedback about the overall process," Glover said.

At Jump Street, Glover said, they use the data to report not only to their fund supplier, the Pennsylvania Council on the Arts, but to other potential supplier/donors. Jump Street helps the host site identify and secure third-party funds to support artist residencies.

The data helps them show the benefit of, and need for, artist residencies. Similarly, they use the data to gain interest from other artists, teachers and administrators.

"They, too, need to see the possible benefits for students," she said.

New project

This residency is new because Jump Street is a relatively new Arts in Education Partner on behalf of the PCA (just about three years).

"Further, I just took over as the regional coordinator in September," Glover said. "This is the first artist residency that has been done at Upper Dauphin Elementary School. This is Mrs. Jarrett's first residency as a teacher. It is also Ms. Sholley's first residency as a teaching artist ... a lot of firsts going on here."

Through the AIE Partnership, the PCA provides guidance and support to 13 regional partner organizations. The PCA funding is used to support this infrastructure as well as provide matching funds to schools, community centers, senior centers, etc., to conduct artist residencies. According to Dunlap, this allows the PCA, a state agency, to conduct artist residencies in all 67 counties of Pennsylvania through its regional partners.

Progress

To follow students' progress with the Upper Dauphin project, visit the UDAES page direct link: http://sarajarrett.udasd.org, or the Art Club Blog at http://udaesartclub.blogspot.com or the UDAES Smart Art Projects direct link at: http://udaesartroom.weebly.com. Visitors can see videos of student presentations at school, as well as Sholley working in her art studio.

To learn more about Sholley's work, visit www.behance.net/melissasholley.

Deeds

Barry Township — Shannon A. Tietsworth to Mackenzie Spicher and Daniele Williard; 849 Deep Creek Road; $55,000.

Blythe Township — Charlene C. Thornton, individually and as attorney in fact for William H. Thornton, to Charlene C. Thornton; 218 Oak St., Kaska; $1.

Butler Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 693 High Road; $1,148.28.

Jean Stradtman to Stephanie Jankowski; 18 Bungalow St., Lavelle; $84,900.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to The Bank of New York Mellon; 143 Germanville Road; $1,422.57.

Cass Township — Cass Township Municipal Authority to Stephen P. and Karen Smulley; 0.376-acre property; $6,356.

Coaldale — Bank of America NA to Secretary of Housing and Urban Development; 115 W. Phillips St.; $1.

Cressona — Sevenia J. Reiger to Jane E. Reiger-Bordner; 67 Thomas St.; $1.

Delano Township — Marie M. Cunningham and Cathy J. Whitfield, co-executrices of the Last Will & Testament of Metro Datchko; to Charles J. Cunningham; 1 Pine St., Delano; $12,000.

East Brunswick Township — Raymond S. Jr. and Jennifer J. Sidella to Raymond S. Jr. and Jennifer J. Sidella; 1679 Chestnut St., McKeansburg; $1.

Elizabeth M. Bevington and Jeffrey T. Bevington, co-executors of the Estate of Charles E. Bevington, to Mark and Yvonne Herring; 59.77-acre property on Township Road T-848; $680,000.

Frackville — Beverly Gregoire and Dawn Gregoire Seasock to Dawn Gregoire Seasock; 102 S. Fourth St.; $1.

Helen Kaminsky and Thomas Solinsky, co-executors for the Estate of Dotty M. Solinsky, to Helen Kaminsky and Thomas Solinsky, co-executors for the Estate of Dotty M. Solinsky; 221 Washington St.; $1.

Helen Kaminsky and Thomas Solinsky, co-executors for the Estate of Dotty M. Solinsky, to Ralph and Sharon Dorton; 221 Washington St.; $109,000.

Hegins Township — Navy Federal Credit Union to Joshua Miller; 301 Gap St., Valley View; $29,750.

Hubley Township — Larry and Linda Y. Krause to Randy J. Jr. and Joellyse Hartz; 2618 W. Main St., Spring Glen; $220,000.

Mahanoy City — Edward J. and Bonnie Conrad to Barry J. Conrad; two properties; $1.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Federal National Mortgage Association; 129 W. Mahanoy Ave.; $1,188.27.

McAdoo — Richard T. and Catherine M. Carrell to Kristin M. Kondash; 14 N. Butler St.; $129,000.

Autumn K. Cleary to Steven A. Ochner; property on Sheridan Street; $11,000.

Middleport — Francis M. and Margaret Ann Vilcheck to Jeffrey A. Green; 45 Washington St.; $69,000.

Minersville — Tyson Eckert to John L. Eckert Jr.; 467 Carbon St.; $1.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Secretary of Veterans Affairs; 445 Carbon St.; $1,385.17.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to M&T Bank; 615 N. Second St.; $1,162.59.

North Manheim Township — Forino Co., by attorney in fact John G. Smith, to Anthony and Sandra Forino; six properties in Sunnyside; $1.

Joseph D. and Edith Ann Chipriano to Joseph D. Chipriano Jr. and Jeffrey J. Chipriano; 53 Red Horse Road, Seiders Hill; $1.

North Union Township — Eugene T. and Dawn M. Yeager to Eugene T. and Dawn M. Yeager; 683 Tahoe Lane, Zion Grove; $1.

Orwigsburg — Jane T. Tamulonis and Jean K. Troutman, executrices of the Last Will & Testament of Margaret P. Troutman, to Craig Boykins; 645 Kimmels Road; $214,000.

Pine Grove — Forino Co., by attorney in fact John G. Smith, to Ronald S. Landis; 8 Ridge Vista Drive; $35,000.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to LSF8 Master Participation Trust; 11 Fairview St.; $1,213.93.

Port Carbon — Audrey S. Burns and Andrea Strube to Sherry R. Simons; 543 Third St.; $55,000.

Esther Steranko to Nicholas Steranko; 405 Coal St.; $1.

Brandie Lee Hunter to Sabrina Stephany; 115 Market St.; $1.

Emily M. Keitsock to Toni A. Schlitzer, Pamela K. Cicero, Peter J. Keitsock, Amy J. Friday and James W. Keitsock; 411 Oak St.; $1.

Port Clinton — Dale L. Slater and Shawn L. Slater to John W. Blackwell; 17 South St.; $43,000.

Pottsville — Joann Dumchus to Patrick Zuccarini; 1224 W. Norwegian St.; $13,000.

The Bank of New York Mellon to Odell Roy LLC; 701 N. Second St.; $1,188.

Pennsylvania Department of Public Welfare, administrator d.b.n. of the Estate of Ann C. Botek, to Kendall and Stephanie Martin; 1221 Oak Road; $15,000.

Castlerock REO 2 LLC to Timothy Labruno; 226 Pierce St.; $3,900.

Reilly Township — Christopher L. Swolensky to Scott Lee Andrews; property on Main Street; $1.

Rush Township — Constance Watko, executrix of the Estate of Louis J. Cichon, to Dianne Hoffman, Louis Cichon, Corinne Sheridan and Constance Watko, individually and as trustee of the trust for the benefit of Matthew Cichon; 274 Lake Drive, Lake Hauto; $1.

Ryan Township — Constance Watko, executor of the Estate of Louis J. Cichon and successor trustee of the Louis J. Cichon Revocable Living Trust, to Matthew Cichon; 143 Chee St., Barnesville; $95,000.

Saint Clair — Vanessa Howard and Cynthia W. Hand to Cynthia W. Hand; 0.003-acre property on Price Street; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Olivetta and John H. Zulick to Kristy Lynn Andrew; 276 N. Berne St.; $54,000.

Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to JP Morgan Chase Bank NA; 208 St. John St.; $1,150.443.

Schuylkill Township — Michael F. Hodon to James Vilcheck; property on Seneca Street, Tuscarora; $500.

Shenandoah — Edward J. and Bonnie Conrad to Edward M. Conrad; 517 W. New York St.; $1.

Steven T. Rhoades returned to Schuylkill County Court twice recently, and each trip resulted in his going back to prison.

On March 25, Judge John E. Domalakes revoked the parole of Rhoades, 24, of Schuylkill Haven, and sent him back to prison with no chance of another parole for at least four months. Rhoades could remain in prison until Nov. 17.

“It appears that you have a substance abuse problem,” Domalakes told Rhoades. “I don’t want to see you again.”

Then on March 26, Judge James P. Goodman revoked Rhoades’ parole in a second case and sent him back to prison, ruling he could stay there until Dec. 18.

In the case before Domalakes, Rhoades originally pleaded guilty on Nov. 24, 2010, to possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia. At that time, Domalakes placed him on probation for three years, and also sentenced him to pay costs, $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $541 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged him with possessing drugs and paraphernalia on April 19, 2010, in the borough.

Domalakes then revoked Rhoades’ probation on March 15, 2012, sentencing him to six to 23 months in prison, and then revoked his parole for the first time on Nov. 1, 2013.

In the case before Goodman, Rhoades pleaded guilty on April 23, 2014, to retail theft. At that time, Goodman sentenced him to serve two to 12 months in prison and pay costs and a $50 CJEA payment.

Schuylkill Haven borough police charged Rhoades with committing the theft on July 25, 2013, in the borough.

Also in the county court, Judge Jacqueline L. Russell recently accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Shaun M. Felty, 27, of Minersville; disorderly conduct and public drunkenness; $200 in fines. Prosecutors withdrew a second count of disorderly conduct and a charge of illegal possession of weapon.

Torrie S. Fogg, 29, of New Providence, New Jersey; disorderly conduct; $100 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of open lewdness.

Gregory P. McGovern, 22, of Pottsville; disorderly conduct; $100 fine. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Kayla M. Mock, 32, of Pottsville; two counts of criminal use of a communication facility and one each of delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; 15 to 32 months in a state correctional facility, one year consecutive probation, $200 in payments to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 in CJEA payments, $289 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem, 100 hours community service and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and one additional count of possession of a controlled substance.

Jonathan A. Wampole, 44, of Pottsville; retail theft; charge withdrawn.

In other court action, President Judge William E. Baldwin accepted guilty pleas from, and, pursuant to agreements between prosecutors and defendants, imposed the indicated sentences on, these people:

Michelle M. Dunlap, 48, of Mahanoy City; acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, criminal use of a communication facility, identity theft and possession of a controlled substance; 23 months probation, $100 payment to the SAEF, $50 payment to the CJEA and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew four additional counts each of acquiring or obtaining possession of a controlled substance by misrepresentation, criminal use of a communication facility, identity theft and possession of a controlled substance.

Edward Farber Jr., 49, of Summit Hill; driving under the influence; 72 hours to six months in prison, $1,000 fine, $300 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of disregarding traffic lanes.

Michael J. Kabana, 25, of Coaldale; two charges of delivery of a controlled substance; 89 days to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, $200 in SAEF payment, $300 restitution to the Schuylkill County Drug Task Force, $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts each of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance and one each of criminal use of a communication facility, conspiracy and corruption of minors.

David Klepsch, 57, of Hazleton; DUI; three to six months in prison, $1,000 fine, $300 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of disregarding traffic lanes.

Victor Mumtaz, 20, of West Hazleton; DUI; 72 hours to six months in prison, $1,000 fine, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and $460 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.

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

Alvernia

Nearly 40 Alvernia undergraduates volunteered for the university’s South Reading Youth Initiative program, which aims to promote continued education, mentoring and support for healthy choices in children who live or go to school in the South Reading area.

Among the local volunteers are Makayla Boyle and Kaysi McLaughlin, both of Tamaqua; Kyrsten Runkle, Ashland, and Megan Wensel, Cressona.

The SRYI is one of several service-learning initiatives organized by the university’s Holleran Center for Community Engagement.

If you are planning a trip this spring, consider spending some of your well-deserved break time at one of the world's most interesting museums and special exhibitions.

St. Petersburg, Russia

The new Faberge Museum features a 1,500-piece collection of the famous ornamental eggs. The eggs were originally presented by the Czars as Easter gifts to his loved ones, and the Faberge Museum reunites these ultra-special art objects with the Imperial city. Dating from 1885 to 1917, many of these works of art have only just returned to St. Petersburg since the Russian Revolution. Approximately 200 of the famous Faberge eggs were acquired by Russian billionaire Viktor Vekselberg from the estate of Malcolm Forbes for $100 million and brought back to Russia for this specialty museum located in the Shuvalov Palace. This is a private museum and admission is by appointment. www.FabergeMuseum.ru.

Washington, D.C.

The National Gallery of Art is hosting a large exhibition dedicated to the great masters and their interest in drawing and printmaking. This show, dedicated to the history of metalpoint - the art of drawing with a metal stylus - features nearly 100 original drawings by Leonardo da Vinci, Raphael, Rogier van der Weyden, Raphael, Albrecht Dürer and Rembrandt van Rijn, among others. If you miss this show in Washington, you can visit these fine works of art while it travels to The British Museum in London from September through December 2015. www.nga.gov.

New York, N.Y.

The new Whitney Museum of American Art will open in May in the trendy and accessible meatpacking district at Washington Street and Gansevoort Street. The 200,000-square foot building was designed by award winning architect Renzo Piano and will provide the institution with greater exhibition and event space. The new building will take advantage of its close proximity to the High Line, a new outdoor park space in the area. www.whitney.org.

Other interesting museums that are slated to debut in the second half of 2015 include: Kunsthaus Dahlem in Berlin, Germany, dedicated to post war European art and culture (www.kunsthaus-dahlem.de); the long awaited National Museum of African American History and Culture on the National Mall in Washington, D.C., (www.nmaahc.si.edu), and the IKEA museum at the site of its first retail store in Almhult, Sweden (www.IKEA.com).

The Ringling Museum is a site with multiple museum displays on the vast estate in Sarasota, Fla. It unites fine art and circus history in one of the finest museums in America.

And, if you are going to a hotel or resort, you will find fine art in the lobby, rooms and conference areas. If you want to set sail over spring break, you may be surprised to learn that a number of cruise ships, including Celebrity, Regent, Oceania and Holland America, also feature art onboard, ranging from antique to contemporary. Enjoy your break.

(Dr. Lori Verderame hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide and is a star appraiser on Discovery channel. Visit www.DrLoriV.com/Events or www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori or call 1-888-431-1010.)

Bloomsburg

Joseph M. Zukowski Jr., a son of Joseph and Joan Zukowski, Shenandoah, and a double law and political science major, made the dean’s list for the fall semester at Bloomsburg University.

Lock Haven

The following area students were named to the dean’s list at Lock Haven University for the fall semester:

Danielle N. Polansky, Pottsville, a junior health sciences/pre-physician assistant major; Wesley J. Pryce, Pottsville, a junior criminal justice major; Emilee N. Mallams, Ashland, a senior health sciences/pre-physician assistant major; Rachael Metzinger, Ashland, a freshman communication major; Grace E. Wilson, Auburn, a sophomore health sciences/pre-physician assistant major; Zachary Chernewski, Frackville, a freshman exploratory studies major; Jacob J. Damiter, Frackville, a freshman accounting major; Mikaela J. Masser, Klingerstown, a freshman, preK-grade 4/special education major; Marissa M. Morgan, Minersville, a senior business administration/management major; Heather M. Purcell, Minersville, a senior health sciences/pre-physical therapy major; Adam J. Nothstein, Kaska, a junior biology/ecology-environmental major; Justin T. Gilfillan, Orwigsburg, a sophomore health sciences/pre-physical therapy major; Jordan I. Haq, Orwigsburg, a sophomore health sciences/pre-physician assistant major; Christopher R. Sherry, Orwigsburg, a sophomore health sciences/pre-physician assistant major; Cameron C. Conrad, Pine Grove, a sophomore criminal justice major; Derek W. Wiley, Ringtown, a senior health sciences/pre-physical therapy major; Lindsey M. McClelland, Saint Clair, a junior health sciences/pre-professional major; Cole A. Neidlinger, Tower City, a senior recreation management/outdoor management major; Devin J. Raho, Tower City, a senior health/ physical education major; Samantha L. Graeff, Tremont, a junior psychology major; Chloe J. Hartung, Andreas, a senior secondary education/earth and space science major; and Natalie R. Davison, Tamaqua, a senior disability and community service major.

SAINT CLAIR — Thousands of colorful hard-boiled Easter eggs were scooped up in a matter of minutes Saturday at the Saint Clair Fish and Game Association.

This year marks the 36th edition of one of the largest and oldest Easter egg hunts in Schuylkill County.

“Some of these people came here and picked up eggs, and now they are parents bringing their kids,” Rick Garland, a member of the club’s Easter Egg Hunt Committee, said Saturday.

What only took a few minutes for the children had a lot of preparation. More than 100 volunteers of all ages hard-boiled and dyed 3,600 eggs for the event. Garland said the support for the event has helped it grow to what it is now.

“As you can see, it takes a lot of people to get this done,” he said.

Each year, the egg work starts about 5:30 a.m. the day before with volunteers boiling the eggs. About noon, they are ready for the children to start dying them different colors.

Many of the eggs are marked with stickers for various prizes.

At least 88 different donors provided 318 prizes, including candy, stuffed animals and a few bicycles.

“These are the most prizes we have ever had,” Barb Conville, secretary for the Easter Egg Hunt Committee, said.

There were 158 stuffed animals and five bicycles. The committee bought two of the bicycles, while Wal-Mart donated two and state Rep. Neal P. Goodman, D-123, also donated one.

“I just think it’s a great day for the kids and a lot of the prizes are different from what they would get from their families for Easter,” Conville said.

Each child in the egg hunt also received a free slice of pizza and Guers drink.

Gavin, 6, and Londyn Muehleisem, 4, both of Pine Grove, each walked away with a few stuffed animals tucked under their arms. Their mother, Tammie, said it was their first time at the egg hunt.

“I think it’s great,” she said. “It’s well organized. It’s crowded, but everything went smoothly. The prizes are great, too.”

At 2 1/2-years-old, Aaron Gryzik returned for his second run at the annual egg hunt.

“It’s a wonderful event,” his mother, Kristen Gryzik, said.

Aaron was also accompanied by his father, Vinnie, and older sister, Kayla.

“It’s an old tradition with the real eggs,” Vinnie said.

“You don’t see them use real eggs anymore,” Kristen said.

Airman 1st Class Ashton L. Muncy, a daughter of Michael and Karen Muncy, Pottsville, will leave this month for deployment to Bakram, Afghanistan.

She was accepted into the Air Force in 2012 and was enrolled in the delayed entry program. She was sent to bas-ic training in February 2014 at Lack-land Air Force Base, San Antonio, Texas. She was then stat-ioned at Fort Lee, Virginia, to complete her AIT training in traffic management.

She is stationed at Minot Air Force Base, North Dakota, where she has been since July 2014.

Muncy is a 2012 graduate of Pottsville Area High School.

When John Sullivan was in elementary school in Saint Clair, he had the opportunity to dress up and play President Abraham Lincoln in a play.

“I remember they gave me a paper beard,” Sullivan, 67, of Pottsville, a performer known locally as “Splash the Clown,” said Friday.

Sullivan will once again have the opportunity to portray the 16th president of the United States in a local production observing the 150th anniversaries of the end of the Civil War and Lincoln’s assassination.

He’ll take the stage at Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville, part of a program developed by Pottsville Area Development Corp., which manages the theater, and Schuylkill County Historical Society. Doors will open for “Triumph and Tragedy” at 6 p.m. April 15. At 6:30 p.m., Dave Matsinko will entertain people walking in by playing instruments including guitar and banjo, and the program will start at 7. Admission for adults is $5, and children, $3. For tickets, call PADCO at 570-628-4647.

Tom Shay, Cressona, administrator of Schuylkill County Civil War Roundtable, is one of the event’s organizers and he will serve as the program’s moderator.

Schuylkill County Historical Society has made numerous efforts to recognize the county’s Civil War history over the years, Shay said Friday.

In April 2011, it marked the 150th anniversary of the First Defenders, five volunteer troops from Pennsylvania, arriving in Washington, D.C., with two events that featured music, poetry and performances by local reenactors.

Bobby Maso, Freeland, Luzerne County, will take on the role of Lincoln’s assassin, John Wilkes Booth.

“He’s got one of the bigger roles. He’s going to do a lot of interpretation of the story,” Shay said.

“Booth is a dark and mysterious man. Brooding and intense. Despite being a terrible man, I’ve always wanted to play him. As an actor, to say you’ve played the most infamous villain ever is quite an accomplishment. And that’s who Booth is. Even more intriguing, he was a real-life person. And an actor himself. Creatively, it’s a lot to play with,” Maso said Saturday.

Maso is known locally for performing at The Strawberry Playhouse, Tuscarora, and with The Eckley Players at Eckley Miners Village, Weatherly. He also had the lead role in a short film made in the region, “From The Hard Coal (2014).”

Civil War historian and reenactor J. Stuart “Stu” Richards, Orwigsburg, will portray Pottsville native Capt. Jacob Washington Hass, commander of Company G, 96th PA Volunteer Regiment.

Others in the case include Cliff Hutton, Minersville, who will portray John C. Weaver, a member of the First Defenders who went to Washington, D.C., when Lincoln called for volunteers to defend the city in April 1861. After Lincoln was shot April 14, 1865, at Ford’s Theater, Weaver was one of the six Union soldiers who carried the president from the theater across the street to a home where the president died.

Alexis Rose, a Pottsville Area junior, will portray Fanny Seward, the daughter of William Henry Seward, Lincoln’s secretary of state.

“I think Tom’s preparation for this is spectacular,” Thomas B. Drogalis, the society’s full-time executive director, said Friday.

With a smile, Shay said, “We’ll see if it yields results.”

Is 2015 the year you're resolved to get healthier? Healthy Schuylkill Communities is partnering with many community resources to help provide free health related events throughout the year, including expos, cooking demos, hikes, information tables and workshops in the Schuylkill Haven and Shenandoah areas. Get the tools you need at these public events. They'll have a presence in Schuylkill Haven at the fishing rodeo Saturday and Sunday, and at the Paterno Family Island 5K Run and Fun Walk April 18. Look for them on Facebook or watch for event flyers.

Have you attended the Block of Art? If not, you're missing out. The wonderful downtown Pottsville Arts Festival will celebrate its eighth year of bringing painters, musicians, poets, jewelry crafters and other artists together for three days of family fun events and exhibits including art galleries, music, literature and poetry, vendors, art auction, walking tour, art mall, brunch and more. The event will run from Friday to Sunday. You can get an event map and schedule at www.block-of-art.org or on their Facebook page.

The Ringtown Area Library annual used book sale is slated for Saturday and Sunday at the Schuylkill Mall. Browse the huge selection at great prices. Books, DVDs, VHS, audio books, board games, magazines will be available.

The American Cancer Society Relay for Life Team of Pottsville will sponsor a Chinese auction and tricky tray Saturday and Sunday at the Cressona Fire Company No. 1. Food will also be available.

Your simple and easy blood donation can save the lives of up to three people, including surgical and cancer patients and premature babies. Everyone age 18 and above who is in good general health weighing at least 110 pounds is encouraged to donate. Zion Lutheran Church in Frackville will hold a blood drive Monday. Christ United Church in Ashland and Trinity Lutheran Church in Pottsville will host Thursday.

The Community Mission is seeking donations to help them to help those less fortunate in Schuylkill County. Canned food items for their Share Food Program in Pottsville is their most dire need, but they're also asking for donations of fire extinguishers, clothing, tables and chairs and services by skilled plumbers and electricians to help with their expanding programing. Contact Pastor Bob at 570-573-8089 for details.

The next installment in our volunteer appreciation segments is by Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services. OSS provides vital services to one of our most vulnerable populations and partners with other agencies to assist them in their senior programming. If you'd like to give a shout out to your hard working volunteers, contact this office.

"The Schuylkill County Office of Senior Services salutes our volunteer transportation team. These dedicated volunteers donate their time and use their own vehicles to transport consumers to medical and other appointments, providing consistent access to medical care for individuals who have no other way of getting to appointments.

"The members of our volunteer transportation team, made up primarily of RSVP volunteers, don't just provide a ride. They also lend a listening ear, an arm to lean on and a compassionate heart during difficult and challenging times. An 87-year-old consumer recently reported, "My driver treated me with dignity and respect that I have not felt in years."

"So we thank, acknowledge and applaud our medical transportation team volunteers for their commitment, dedication, caring and compassionate service to the senior citizens of Schuylkill County."

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact information for those specific opportunities and find other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Call us at 570-628-1426 or e-mail jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communityvolunteersinaction.

STS bus buddies

Times: Choose own availability.

Responsibility: Escort new riders on their first ride to help them become familiar with the STS bus riding process.

Skills: Friendly and reliable. Staff will train and accompany volunteer until they're comfortable with the route and procedure.

Location: Throughout Schuylkill County.

Contact: Joan, STS, 570-581-8838.

n Fountain Springs: The North Schuylkill High School theater arts department will present “Crazy for You” at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday in the high school auditorium. Doors will open at 6:30 p.m. the nights of the performance. Tickets are available from any cast member or pit band musician. A limited number of tickets will be available at the door. Due to the ongoing construction project at the high school, general parking is limited to the upper parking lot. The limited lower lot parking spaces are reserved for those who are elderly or those who need handicapped parking. Those who park in the upper lot should use the doors near the main entrance to the school to access the staircase leading to the lower level of the building. For more information, call the high school at 570-874-0495 during regular school hours.

n Frackville: Pottsville Rotary Club President Eric Lieberman and member Pete Keitsock attended a recent meeting of the Frackville Rotary Club held at Cracker Barrel on the Schuylkill Mall campus to promote attendance at the Pottsville Rotary Club’s 100th anniversary celebration, which will be held April 17 at Mountain Valley Golf Course, Barnesville. All Rotarians in Rotary District 7360 are invited to attend the celebration. Frackville Rotarian Charles M. Miller said the latest Quest Diagnostics health scan was held March 28 at the Frackville Senior Citizens Center. Suzanne Domalakes, Frackville Rotary president, said she attended a president-elect training session held at the Toftrees Resort in State College. Frackville Rotarian Noreen O’Boyle said tickets are available for Frackville Rotary’s Citizen of the Year presentation set for April 18 at the Frackville Elks Lodge. Elaine M. Mykolayko, retired Frackville librarian, will be honored at the event.

n Millersburg: The Ned Smith Center for Nature and Art will partner with the Astronomical Society of Harrisburg, Millersburg borough, Millersburg School District and Millersburg Rotary Club to present “Cruisin’ the Cosmos,” a free astronomy program, from 7 to 10:30 p.m. Saturday (if weather unsuitable, April 12) at the center. The program will include The Sky Tonight indoors at 7 p.m. and public observing for all from 8 to 10:30 p.m. Participants are encouraged to arrive before sunset and are welcome to talk with astronomers as equipment is being set up. Bring an extra layer of clothing. Those who have telescopes are welcome to bring them. Star Party leaders and their telescopes will remain on site until 10:30 p.m. Admission to the program is free, but advance registration is suggested. Call the center at 717-692-3699 or register online at www.nedsmithcenter.org. Information about the program was provided by Alexis Dow Campbell, the center’s director of creative programming.

n Pottsville: A 50-year reunion is slated for the Pottsville High School, Class of 1965 on Sept. 12 at the Schuylkill Country Club, Orwigsburg. Anyone who attended Pottsville schools from either elementary or high school and would have graduated in 1965 is welcome to attend. For more information, call Peg Dry Strouse at 570-739-2342.

n Pottsville: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. Thursday at Trinity Lutheran Church, 300 W. Arch St. People 17 and older, weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health, are asked to donate blood.

n Schuylkill Haven: Covenant United Methodist Church, 215 E. Main St., will sponsor a spaghetti supper from 4 to 7 p.m. Saturday. The cost is $12 for adults and $6.50 for children and $3.50 for youngsters under 6. For more information, call 570-385-1401.

n Summit Hill: Members of the Summit Hill Historical Society discussed the Ludlow Park project, Hootenanny, bus trips and spring/summer programs during a recent meeting in the museum along West Ludlow Street. New members are always welcome to join the society.

With the sun just coming up and hundreds of people gathered around Michelangelo’s Pietà statue in St. Patrick Calvary Cemetery, the scene early Sunday morning reminded one parishioner of the first Easter.

“It just reminds me of the people coming to the tomb that Easter Sunday morning,” Kris Wolfe Miller, Schuylkill Haven, said. “It’s so beautiful up here.”

Miller, a member of St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven, was among the crowd attending the St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church’s annual sunrise Easter service at 6:30 a.m. in the cemetery.

“Every Easter we have a Mass out here,” the Rev. Brian Miller, St. Patrick church, Pottsville, said. “It grows every year. People love it.”

Miller said about 500 people from various parishes were on hand Sunday. He said that many people have loved ones buried in the cemetery.

“As Catholics, this is the revival of Our Lord,” Miller said. “This is hope for them that even though their loved ones are gone and buried, they continue to live on.”

“The sunrise is beautiful too,” he said. “It is just a beautiful area up here.”

St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church has had the sunrise service for at least 30 years. It was the second time Miller celebrated the service.

“It’s been cold up here both years,” he said.

During services in other years, it snowed or people had to use flashlights.

Mary Lou McGinley, Pottsville, was at the first service that only had a few people.

“Over the last 10 years, it has really grown,” Ginley said. “I think it is because it is an early Mass and they can get their service done early.”

Ginley is a member of St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. She said she likes to be with her loved ones on Easter.

“My father, my husband, my son and mother and father are all buried up here,” she said. “It feels like you are closer to them on that day.”

Wolfe Miller said it was her third time at the sunrise service. It was also her birthday Sunday.

“It is the first time ever my birthday fell on Easter so I said everyone had to come,” Wolfe Miller said.

She was there with the rest of her family.

“It’s nice to see the moon go down and the sun come up,” she said.

During the homily, the Rev. Miller talked about Jesus’ resurrection and how it relates to the loved ones buried in the cemetery.

“We respectfully bury the bodies of the dead. Why? Because we believe something else is going to happen,” he said. “That this isn’t the end of their story. There is an Easter Sunday after Good Friday ... For us Catholics, this is not a theory we come up with to help us cope with death. For us, this is grounded in reality that Jesus died and rose from the dead. This is hope and the belief that the story is not over yet.”