Singer-songwriter Luke Spiller of The Struts said the band is having a great time on their first American tour.

“It’s been really good,” Spiller said, speaking from their tour stop in Las Vegas.

The English glam band will perform at 8 p.m. Nov. 29 for the Live from the Chandelier Lobby Concert series at the F.M. Kirby Center for the Performing Arts in Wilkes-Barre.

Destination West and Jung Bergo will open the show.

The Struts released their first studio album “Everybody Wants” in England in 2014, and began building a following at their live shows. In America, they released the EP “Have You Heard” in August. It includes the lead single “Could Have Been Me,” which peaked at number five on Billboard’s Alternative Songs chart in October.

“We have the full-length album coming out next year,” Spiller said. “Some of the songs (on the EP) are the main singles, so it’s a show-stopping kind of EP. It’s really cool.”

The Struts got to open for the Rolling Stones in Paris in 2014, and in August made their late night television debut on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.”

“It was all right,” Spiller said of opening for the Rolling Stones. “Seventy-five thousand people. The Stones, the Struts — piece of cake.”

Spiller’s bandmates include guitarist Adam Slack, bassist Jed Elliot and drummer Gethin Davies. The group, which formed in Derby, England, in 2012, got their name from an offhand comment one day, when someone saw Spiller strutting around as he was playing.

“We were in the rehearsal studio, and the manager at the time said, ‘You should call the bands the Struts, ’cause you strut around so much,’ ” Spiller said. “It fit.”

Spiller said around age 16, he began discovering loads of rock bands like Queen, AC/DC, the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith and “all the usual suspects.” He said he liked that those bands were great musicians but also put on great shows.

“I just fell in love with it, really,” he said. “I decided to try it myself.”

The Struts also like to create great shows, thinking about the visual aspect and giving the audience an experience, Spiller said.

The band began its American tour in September, and are living out of suitcases while they’re on the road, Spiller said. The band hasn’t decided yet if they’ll relocate to America for good.

“We’re playing it by ear, and taking it every day as it comes,” he said.

Federal prosecutors announced Thursday that they have charged a Scranton woman with being the getaway car driver in two bank robberies, including one in Hometown.

Stephanie Ann Ware, 26, faces a charge of aiding and abetting in connection with the Aug. 26, 2014, robbery of Mauch Chunk Trust Co., 226 Claremont Ave.

Ware is scheduled to have a preliminary hearing at 10 a.m. Dec. 2 before U.S. Magistrate Judge Joseph F. Saporito Jr., Wilkes-Barre.

Prosecutors allege Ware aided Lee Sokalsky by driving the getaway car in both the robbery of Mauch Chunk Trust Co. and also the robbery of NBT Bank, Dickson City, on July 25, 2014. Ware faces a separate charge of aiding and abetting in connection with the NBT Bank robbery.

Sokalsky and Ware allegedly took $25,000 in cash from Mauch Chunk Trust Co. in that robbery, according to prosecutors.

Prosecutors also said they have entered into a plea agreement with Ware; however, details of that agreement were not immediately available.

Ware faces a maximum possible prison term of 20 years for each robbery, plus a fine and a term of supervised release after completing any imprisonment.

Sokalsky also has been indicted in the case and is awaiting trial. His case has been assigned to U.S. District Judge Robert D. Mariani, Scranton.

The FBI, state police and police from Dickson City, Hazleton, Rush Township and Scranton investigated the case, which is being prosecuted by Assistant U.S. Attorney John C. Gurganus Jr.

In a unanimous vote Thursday night, the board of trustees for Gillingham Charter School decided to fight a complaint Pottsville Area School District filed in county court in an effort to examine the charter school’s special education records.

“It’s unanimous! We’re going to court next Tuesday,” Marsha Chwastiak, board president, said at Gillingham’s November meeting held at the school at 915 Howard Ave.

The hearing is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday at the Schuylkill County Courthouse, Courtroom No. 2, before Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, according to the civil case inquiry section of the Schuylkill County website.

Tensions between the Pottsville Area and Gillingham have been running high in recent months, since Gillingham’s five-year charter is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2015-16 school year and both parties have been engaged in the renewal process.

On Monday, Pottsville Area spent $226 to file the civil complaint, according to the county website. In it, the school district asked the court to issue an injunction forcing Gillingham to let Andrew M. Klein, Lancaster, inspect the records.

“This request from the Pottsville Area School District is unnecessary in light of the fact that we were recently audited by the special education department of the Pennsylvania Department of Education. It was determined in June 2015 that our special education program and records are in compliance,” Nicolle M. Hutchinson, CEO and director of education, said at the meeting Thursday night.

“We believe that giving the Pottsville Area School District access to our students’ educational records is a violation of our students’ rights and the Family Educational Rights and Privacy Act and its regulations. We suggested to the district on at least two occasions to jointly contact PDE and request guidance on the issue,” Hutchinson said.

Speaking for Gillingham’s Charter Compliance Committee at Thursday night’s meeting, Chwastiak asked the board of trustees to make a decision on the matter.

“The question before our board this evening will be whether the school should defend Pottsville’s request for injunctive relief. Obviously, the board has two choices. We can either concede and allow access to our students special education records, or we can authorize our attorneys to present a defense,” Chwastiak said.

“We believe the information contained in the files of our special education students is confidential. Numerous parents have expressed to our directors their unhappiness that a third party will be reviewing their child’s file. We are hard pressed to find a valid reason to disregard a parent’s feelings in this sensitive matter,” Chwastiak said.

“Further, not only do we want to protect our students privacy, we have received guidance from the Pennsylvania Department of Education that we have a legal obligation to do so. Therefore, in our judgment, it is most prudent to defend against the district’s suit,” Chwastiak said.

With a motion by board Trustee Mindy Heppe, which was seconded by board Vice President Sharon Klinger, the board of trustees decided to authorize Gillingham’s attorneys to present the school’s defense in regards to Pottsville Area’s motion for injunctive relief.

It was approved unanimously by all other members of the board of trustees: Chwastiak, Lisa Halteman, Daniel Kurtz, Annette Stoudt and Susan Tallman. Halteman and Kurtz attended the meeting by cellphone.

“The committee also agrees with our director’s position that there is absolutely no merit to the accusation that we are trying to prevent Pottsville Area from thoroughly evaluating our re-chartering application. The Pennsylvania Department of Education recently audited this school and reviewed the records of our special education students. The school was found to be in compliance with the law. A copy of this audit was supplied to Pottsville Area,” Chwastiak said.

The future of Gillingham Charter School isn’t dependent on the court’s decision in this case, Nicole Reigelman, press secretary for the Pennsylvania Department of Education, Harrisburg, said Tuesday.

“PDE’s position has been: if a school district does not revoke or non renew a charter, the charter remains in effect unless and until the time that such action is taken. It is up to the school district whether or not it renews Gillingham’s charter so the district would determine whether the lawsuit will have any effect on its decision,” Reigelman said.

And Pottsville Area school board can reject the proposal Gillingham submitted in August for another five-year charter.

“If the school district votes not to renew the charter, the charter school can file an appeal with the State Charter School Appeal Board. CAB’s decision could then be appealed to Commonwealth Court,” Reigelman said.

Pottsville police are investigating a report of alleged brownie cakes laced with marijuana being sold at the Pottsville Area High School.

Police said officers were notified by the school district on Nov. 12 that a student was selling the cakes that allegedly had marijuana in them.

Police said the six brownies were confiscated and the student involved, and the student’s parents, were interviewed in connection with the incident.

The alleged tainted brownies were sent to a state police crime lab for testing to see if they contained marijuana and police said their investigation into the incident is continuing.

Pottsville police called the case “a minor incident.”

Pottsville Area Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel referred all questions to the district solicitor.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — The borough council decided to deny the request to build a dog park in the borough Wednesday.

The council voted 6-1 to not recommend a dog park in the borough now.

Council member Tom Gordon, who is also chairman of the property committee for the borough, brought the issue up that was not on the prepared agenda. The discussion about the dog park lasted 30 minutes.

“Do we want to have this dog park?” Gordon asked the council.

He said the people working for the dog park deserved an answer so the group could know where to devote their energies to for another location if needed.

“There’s a great deal of liability. There’s a great deal of issues that go along with this request,” Gordon said.

An exact location was not decided for the park. There was talk previously to use an area near the compost site in the borough, which lies in a flood plain. Gordon said the property committee did not discuss a specific site for a dog park.

“I would like to have a resolution. Either we are going to put this to bed or we are going to move forward with it,” Gordon said.

Parking, who would use the park, maintenance and the 501c3 status the dog park committee would apply for were also discussed.

Cost to submit the required documentation and advertising for the tax status could potentially be $750 to $1,000, borough solicitor Mark Semanchik said.

“It’s a lengthy process,” he said.

Council member Jerry Bowman spoke out in favor of the dog park.

“It’s going to bring people to town,” he said.

People like to let their dogs run, Bowman said.

“That’s the whole idea of a dog park. To let them run free,” he said.

Some countered by saying the people coming to town will leave after using the dog park.

Mayor Mike Devlin said the dog park also would be good for the community and the county.

“It seems like a tremendous asset,” he said.

Borough code enforcement officer Mike Paulin said the idea is not a good one.

“This is a nightmare. If we are going to host something in Schuylkill Haven, I don’t think it should be a dog park. We’ve got enough problems with animals in town without bringing in extra dogs,” Paulin said.

He asked who is going to control the area and clean up any waste left behind if owners do not clean up after their dogs.

“I don’t think Schuylkill Haven wants to host a dog park. There is a reason no one else is doing it,” he said.

Council member Kurt Montz said he did not believe enough people would use the dog park to justify having one.

Ruth Tucci, also a council member, said if people want their dogs to run free without a leash they should buy a house.

Carl Berger, who previously was the economic development director, said he did not see all the benefits for the dog park.

“It’s all liability,” he said about the park.

He said the dog park committee should have had their 501c3 status now.

Semanchick told the audience that the designation is “that a nonprofit corporation applies for that will assist and attract donations from companies and other nonprofits so that if you donate the money to this nonprofit corporation they can get the benefit of a tax deduction for it,” he said.

He said the organization has to have a specific purpose to go and request donations.

B.J. Folk, borough recreation director, said the organization wants to see where they are at with the issue before taking any more action.

In a letter to Folk, Lisa Lickman, a member of the dog park committee that is looking for an area, lays out four points. She talks about the history of the efforts of the dog park, starting as a group of people in 2011 who had the idea. She says that once a potential site is selected they are ready to design the park.

“We will provide all the labor and materials in the form of donations. We will work in conjunction with city officials to formulate a work plan and present it to the council when they are ready to consider the plan. The committee is willing to comply with any schedules that the council deems necessary,” the letter says.

In addition, the letter says the committee will provide maintenance as needed at the park.

“The dog owners will provide the same kind of care for this park as a parent would for a child’s playground,” the letter says.

The committee will also pay for insurance for the park. Lickman did not attend the meeting and declined to comment when told about the vote.

Marlin Berger Jr., council president, said he understood Paulin’s concerns.

“The council — we get ridiculed no matter what we do,” he said. “What do you think the public is going to say when we say we are putting a dog park in? What do you think we are going to get then?” he said, adding the council was ridiculed for the desk they bought that cost about $16,000.

Montz motioned not to recommend the dog park at this time. Tucci seconded it.

Before the vote, Devlin said it would be nice if all council members could read the letter by Lickman, which was not distributed in their council packets, but only provided at the meeting.

“There’s a motion on the floor now,” Berger said.

Montz said it sounded like the dog park committee showed interest but not enough.

After the meeting, Bowman said he does not think the issue will be addressed again.

“I think it would be a progressive thing to do,” Bowman said.

MINERSVILLE — Children and adults will have a chance to make new memories while riding the Santa Claus Train in Minersville.

The train rides are available for two days next month, Dec. 6 and Dec. 20, and at three times, 10:30 a.m., 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m. both days.

“Every little kid had a train set at one time,” Bob Kimmel, president of Railway Restoration Project 113, a Minersville based nonprofit, said.

This is the third year for the Santa Claus train rides departing Minersville sponsored by the Railway Restoration Project 113, the Reading, Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad and in conjunction with the Lehigh Gorge Scenic Railway.

Tickets are available by calling Railway Restoration Project 113 at 570-544-8300 or calling the borough hall at 570-544-2149. The train rides will be 70 to 80 minutes long from the train station in Minersville to near Schuylkill Haven and back. An exact destination was not provided.

Tickets go fast, Kimmel warned.

Every year, about 3,000 people go on the journey, Kimmel said, adding all tickets were sold two days before the train ride last year.

“The first year was a total sellout also,” he said.

He believes adults like riding the steam locomotive because it transports them back to their childhood.

Volunteers with Railway Restoration Project 113 were busy making the steam locomotive CNJ 113 ready for use Tuesday.

The CNJ has not been run since June but will work fine, he said.

“We are putting the finishing touches on it now,” Kimmel said. He was talking about carbon steel pieces volunteers were fitting into place around the boiler and other locations. The “jacket” on it was not on the steam locomotive since the 1980s, he said. Underneath the steel near the boiler is insulation.

“It keeps the heat in,” he said making it more efficient.

The train rides from Minersville are not the only holiday rides where children can see Santa Claus.

He is also will make an appearance in Schuylkill Haven, Tamaqua and Pottsville.

Kathy Killian, Schuylkill Haven borough secretary, said Thursday “probably at least 150” tickets have been sold for the Saturday, Dec. 12 trip from the Reading Blue Mountain & Northern Railroad station, at 12 W. Main St., the site of the old borough hall, to near the Kernsville Dam.

In Tamaqua, tickets can be purchased by calling the Tamaqua Chamber of Commerce at 570-668-1880 for the Saturday Dec. 19 train ride. A call to the chamber was not returned.

In Pottsville, train rides are available Dec. 5 and Dec. 13 from Union Station. As of Thursday, 1,378 tickets were sold for the train rides in Pottsville. Tickets are available at 1 S. Second St., Second Floor, or by calling 570-628-4647.

Cost for the tickets are $13 for adults ages 13 and older, $9 for children age 3 through 12 and children under 3 are free. For each adult ticket purchased, a child rides for free. All trains depart on their specified days at 10:30, 1 p.m. and 3:30 p.m.

The Pottsville Area school board Wednesday hired a new science teacher at the D.H.H. Lengle Middle School.

Superintendent Jeffrey S. Zwiebel recommended the board hire John Donton, Schuylkill Haven, at the board’s November meeting at the Howard S. Fernsler Academic Center.

“He’s currently a teacher at Williams Valley Jr./Sr. High School. He’s a special ed teacher with a science certification. He’ll be teaching eighth-grade science at the Lengle Middle School. We have to work out a release date,” Zwiebel said after the meeting.

“His effective start date will be determined upon his previous employer’s release date and the submission of all appropriate paperwork. Approval is also recommended to set his prorated salary of $49,352 for Master’s — Step 4 of the salary chart for the remainder of the 2015-2016 school year,” Zwiebel said while giving his recommendation during the meeting.

Zwiebel said the school board advertised the position for two weeks.

In other matters regarding personnel at Wednesday’s meeting, the school board took the following actions:

• Accepted the resignation of Susan Ruotolo as a long-term substitute, effective Nov. 25.

• Accepted the resignation of Sarah Fridirici, school psychologist. “Her release date will be determined at a later date,” Zwiebel said.

• Accepted the resignation of Matt Maccarone, junior high track coach, effective Nov. 16.

• Hired William Robbins as a substitute paraprofessional effective Nov. 19 contingent on receipt of satisfactory clearances.

The board also set a date and time for its reorganization meeting, 5:30 p.m. Dec. 2 at the academic center.

In other matters, supporters of Gillingham Charter School, Pottsville, encouraged the school board to renew Gillingham’s charter for another five years.

During the regular board meeting, Christine Parry-Schwent, Pottsville, spoke to the board. Her daughter, Magdelynn, 13, is an eighth-grade student at Gillingham. Also at the meeting, Cathy Steever, Pottsville, spoke up. Her son, Jeremiah, 14, is a ninth-grade student at Gillingham. And during the workshop prior to the regular meeting, a couple from Pottsville who have three children enrolled at Gillingham, said a few words.

“I understand as a school board you have your obligations to your board members and to the school. But you also have to realize you’re deciding the fate of my children and what I feel is the best education for them,” Raymond Housel said at the start of the board’s workshop.

With him was his wife, Dawn. Their children at Gillingham are: Tabitha, 17, a senior; Jason, 15, a sophomore; and Faith, 10, a fifth-grade student.

“We applaud you for taking an active role in your children’s educations,” John F. Boran, Pottsville Area board president, told the Housels.

Tensions between Pottsville Area and Gillingham have been running high in recent months, since Gillingham’s five-year charter is scheduled to expire at the end of the 2015-16 school year and both parties have been engaged in the renewal process.

A disagreement between the parties resulted in Pottsville Area taking some legal action.

On Monday, Pottsville Area asked Schuylkill County Court to force Gillingham to allow a district representative to examine the charter school’s special education records.

The document filed Nov. 16 in the county prothonotary’s office is a “complaint” listing “Pottsville Area School District” as the plaintiff and “Gillingham Charter School” as the defendant.

“All we want are records that we have a right to have. We have an obligation to determine how they’re doing,” district solicitor Richard Thornburg said.

A hearing on the complaint is scheduled for 1:30 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24 at the Schuylkill County Courthouse, Courtroom No. 2, before Judge Jacqueline L. Russell, according to the civil case inquiry section of the Schuylkill County website.

FRACKVILLE — The Frackville Area Municipal Authority accepted at Wednesday’s meeting the low bid to replace the sewage treatment plant’s aging bar screen.

Donald M. Cuff, project manager with Entech Engineering, told the board that eight bids were received and the lowest was $218,000 from Derstine Co. LLC, Souderton.

“We opened the bids on Nov. 16, and after tabulation of the bids and the check of the references, we have determined that Derstine Company is the lowest responsible bidder,” Cuff said.

“Is that the total cost?” board member Carl Pyzowski asked.

“That’s everything,” Cuff said. “That’s the bar screen, the washer compactor and the credit for the salvage of the existing unit.”

Board President William Rhoades asked Cuff how long the installation will take. Cuff said Derstine will have 120 days to complete the project, adding that the company will not be on site for 75 days since it is the lead time for the unit to arrive.

“We will be holding a pre-construction conference before Christmas,” Cuff said.

The bar screen, which operates continually, is a mechanical filter to remove large objects, like plastics and rags, before they can enter the treatment tanks. It is the first level of filtration and is of major importance to the proper operation of the treatment plant. The current bar screen is original equipment and is more than 20 years old.

During his report, plant operator Lon Antalosky said problems with the Detroit Diesel generator continue to be looked at to find solutions involving oil pressure after the equipment was inspected by Penn Power Systems. Antalosky spoke with Cuff about the matter, with Cuff continuing the information to the board.

“Lon reached out to me and I wasn’t familiar with the name (Detroit Diesel) and I spoke to the head of our electrical department and he said that Detroit Diesel is a unique setup and you don’t seem to find many of them around in this area,” Cuff said. “Even though the unit has been in place since the ’90s, it really doesn’t have that many hours on it, which is really the way the life of a generator is measured. Measured by hours, it’s still relatively a new unit.”

Antalosky was told by the Penn Power technician that the generator had the wrong type of oil, but board member David Gera disagreed with that evaluation, noting that there haven’t been problems until recently and that the oil in the generator is three years old. Gera believes the problem may be with a measuring device giving an incorrect reading.

“Maybe we should just start over and let them (Penn Power) change the oil and see if that fixes the problem,” Antalosky said. “The bottom line is that it (generator) has to run. It has to work. We can’t be without it.”

The generator problem will continue to be evaluated to find a solution.

Board member Paul Klevis gave the liaison/office report, stating that the delinquent account list as of Nov. 17 totals $153,966.68, with 219 accounts owing more than $300. He noted that State Correctional Institution/Frackville owes $47,921.47 for September and October.

Klevis said lien letters will be mailed Dec. 1 for liens to be filed in January.

FAMA office manager Rhonda Frantz said no replacement has been found to fill the vacancy left after board member James Flail was removed from the board by the Frackville Borough Council because of many unexcused absences at meetings. Flail was the Butler Township representative.

Frantz said Butler Township did not receive any letters of interest to be appointed to the board. Once the township receives letters from residents of the township’s Englewood section, which FAMA serves, the supervisors can select one and recommend that person to the Frackville council for either appointment or rejection. The vacancy will remain open for the time being.

Frantz informed the board that the renewal of Blue Cross for 2016 shows the monthly premium will be $3,588.40, a decrease from the 2015 rate of $3,724.66.

The board approved the advertising for bids on the following 2016 items: stone, equipment rental, street restoration and chemicals (ferric chloride, soda ash, lime, and polymer).

The board also approved the 2016 meeting dates to be advertised. The FAMA board will continue to meet at 7 p.m. on the third Wednesday of the month in its office at the borough municipal building.

TAMAQUA — A borough man is free on bail after being charged by Tamaqua police with abusing a child on Sept. 25.

John R. Muffley, 35, of 215 Brown St., was arrested by Cpl. Henry Woods and charged with felony aggravated assault, misdemeanor simple assault and misdemeanor harassment by physical contact.

Muffley was arraigned Wednesday by Magisterial District Judge Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua, and released after posting 10 percent of $10,000 bail.

Woods said the father of the victim, a 4-year-old boy, reported he picked up his son and found him with extreme bruising to his buttocks, lower back and left leg and subsequently took him to the emergency room at St. Luke’s Hospital-Miners Campus, Coaldale.

Woods said that on Sept. 28 he and a representative of Schuylkill County Children & Youth Services interviewed the child, who, when asked if anyone ever hit him, said without hesitation “John.”

Muffley was interviewed on Sept. 29 and said that on Sept. 24 the boy and other children were playing in the yard of his home, hitting each other with a broom stick, plastic rake and plastic shovel. Muffley said the children stopped hitting each other and that he believed the injuries to the boy came from that incident, Woods said.

The man denied hitting the boy after being shown photos of his injuries.

Woods said a neighbor in the area was interviewed on Oct. 8 and reported hearing yelling and screaming coming from an open window on the second floor of the Muffley home and the man yelling “knock it off” to someone inside.

The neighbor also reported hearing a child whimpering and then Muffley yelling “did that hurt,” Woods said.

Woods said the neighbor went on to say she heard Muffley say “does this hurt” followed by three thumping sounds and then a child screaming and sobbing.

Photographs of the boy’s injuries were then sent to Dr. Kathryn R. Crowell, a Child Protection Team physician at Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, who said the injuries were consistent with being struck by Muffley’s hand.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill United Way raised $1,027,000 in its 2016 general campaign, exceeding its goal and enabling its member agencies to help thousands of people around the county, campaign Chairman Kelly Austin said Friday.

“It is really a testament to all the hard work,” Austin said after announcing the result at Schuylkill United Way’s appreciation breakfast at Penn State Schuylkill. “This is an opportunity to celebrate opportunity.”

Executive Director Kelly K. Malone told the 115 people at the breakfast that all donors, regardless of how much they gave to the campaign, helped the organization succeed in surpassing its goal of $1,016,000.

“We want everyone in this room to know, and everyone in Schuylkill County to know, that every dollar makes a difference,” she said.

Founded in 1936 as the Community Chest, Schuylkill United Way raises money for 15 human services agencies that serve thousands of people across the county. Its 2016 general campaign started Sept. 11.

Those agencies appreciate the money they get, since it often makes a huge difference in the amounts and quality of the services they offer.

“Without their support, it really affects the type of programming and the level of programming we can give,” Jonas Tenney, development coordinator for Girl Scouts in the Heart of Pennsylvania, said after the breakfast.

The Pacesetters Club, which is comprised of people who contribute at least $500 to the campaign, led the way by raising $420,000, according to Joseph H. “Jay” Jones Jr., who co-chairs the group.

“That’s really outstanding,” Jones said.

He said there are now 534 Pacesetters, and the number grew by a record 129 people for this campaign.

Jones also saw his father, Joseph H. Jones Sr., receive the Billie Payne Lifetime Achievement Award for his many years of helping the agency in its work.

“This is a great honor and I appreciate it very much,” the elder Jones said. “Your work here has been most effective.”

The Tamaqua Area segment of the campaign contributed $149,000, well beyond its $116,000 goal.

“We thank God for everything everybody has done,” Tamaqua Area Chairperson Denise Ressler said.

Karen Kenderdine, who will be the chairperson of the 2017 general campaign with the assistance of Bill Moyer as the 2017 chairperson of the Tamaqua Area segment of the campaign, said she hopes to continue the organization’s work next year.

“Together, we can accomplish anything,” Kenderdine said.

Schuylkill United Way award recipients

Billie Payne Lifetime Achievement Award: Joseph H. Jones Sr.

Pacesetters Club Awards: Wegmans Retail Service Center, Bob Weaver Chrysler Buick GMC, Sapa Extrusions, Air Products & Chemicals Inc. and Shalmet

Houser Award: Wegmans Retail Service Center

Event Achievement Award: Air Products & Chemicals Inc.

Retiring Board of Directors recognition: Tom Cara and Susie Fegley

Special Achievement recognition: Child Development Inc., Hexcel and Blue Mountain School District

PINE GROVE — The Pine Grove Area school board held a one-hour executive session Thursday prior to the regular board meeting to discuss the teachers’ contract. All nine school directors were present.

Members of the Pine Grove Area Education Association have been working without a contract since their three-year pact expired Aug. 31, according to Director Ronald Boltz. There are 134 teachers in the district, and 133 of them are covered in the contract, he said.

Boltz has been serving as lead negotiator for the school board; others serving on the board’s negotiating committee are David Frew and Timothy Hoy. Jeff Sultanik, of Fox Rothschild, is the board’s labor attorney, Boltz said. Brad Fessler, a Pine Grove technology instructor, serves as the local representative for the teachers’ union.

Since Boltz was one of four school board directors who was not re-elected in the Nov. 3 General Election, he thought the board should consider a replacement on the negotiating committee, suggesting Frew for the lead negotiator position. The board took no action on the request and released no specifics about the ongoing contract talks.

Other directors who also lost their seats were Sara McKinsey-Barra, Patti Minehan and Susan Wolfe. The four outgoing directors, who will be replaced in January, were presented with a clock and were treated to a reception following Thursday’s board meeting.

School board President David Lukasewicz praised them for their service, noting they served during some difficult decisions, including personnel issues, budget issues and curriculum changes. “We’ve had a lot of tough votes. I do believe due to your diligence and dedication to this board, we’re a lot better off now than when you came on board,” Lukasewicz said.

“When I ran four years ago, I had no idea what I was getting into,” Boltz said. “There’s a lot to learn. I say this could be a full-time job, it’s that intense.”

Boltz said despite having diverse views, the directors always listened to each other. “I’m proud of what we’ve done and every board member around this table truly has the best interest (of the kids) in mind.”

Frew also said he “respected” all of the board members and thanked them for their service. Other directors present were Karen Hoy, Timothy Hoy and Richard Nickel.

In other matters, Frew made a motion to remove an administrative policy called the Extra-curricular Athletic Code of Conduct, which he called “punitive in nature.” The motion failed by a 7-2 vote, with Boltz also voting in favor of striking the code. Frew said he had a phone call from a parent concerned about the policy.

“We tell kids it’s voluntary to sign the form, but if you don’t sign it, you can’t play sports. There’s no due process in it for the kids and no recourse for them. It’s not fair,” Frew said. According to Frew, the issue arose when a student attended a party where a substance or drug was being used. The student left the party, and did not partake, however, an image of the student was posted on social media. She was kicked off her sports team and denied entry into the National Honor Society, he said.

He said the district already has policies in place that address drug use.

In other matters, Superintendent Kendy Klahr Hinkel read a letter the district received from Pine Grove Lodge 409. The lodge thanked the district for allowing its JROTC color guard to participate in a veterans’ program, and congratulated the corps of cadets, instructors and the board of education. A $50 donation from the lodge was also included.

Hinkel said the district held a Veterans Day program for students, which included a 21-gun salute.

“It was really moving and powerful and something I’d like to continue in the future,” she said.

High school Principal Michael Janicelli introduced October Students of the Month, Joey Wolff and Delaney Hunter, and their families, to be recognized by the board. Hunter also serves as a student representative on the school board.

Lukasewicz said he heard positive comments from parents about the “Terrific Tuesday” phone calls. Elementary Principal Sandra Burns said the school launched the effort six weeks ago to implement positive behavior support. All 55 teachers made one positive phone call home to a students’ parents on a Tuesday. So far, more than 300 positive calls have been made, according to Burns. Parents sometimes hear the negative things their children may be doing, but instead, the “Terrific Tuesday” calls are made to recognize something positive about their pupils.

Lukasewicz also announced there would be a safety drill at 9:30 a.m. Wednesday. According to the district’s website, no students will be in school that day. The drill consists of a staged bus accident and will occur at the ambulance building in Pine Grove. The purpose of the drill is to ensure the district has a thorough plan in case of a bus accident.

Mahanoy man

charged in assault

MAHANOY CITY — A Mahanoy City man was charged by borough police with indecent assault after an incident at his 615 W. Centre St. home about 4 a.m. Nov. 5.

Police said George Brill, 53, of 615 W. Centre St., will have to answer to the charge before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah.

Police said an 18-year-old woman was spending the night at the Brill home and was sleeping on a couch when Brill’s alarm clock went off, prompting the man to come downstairs saying to her, “can’t sleep.”

Police said the woman, who is five months pregnant, reported that Brill began touching her stomach but she pushed his hand away. The man also touched her inappropriately, after which she gathered her belongings and left the home.

When interviewed, police said Brill said he came downstairs, leaned over and kissed the woman on the cheek and that he placed his hand on her pelvis but it slipped downward. After saying this, police said Brill changed his story saying he placed his hand on the woman’s stomach, near her pelvic area, but that he did it by accident.

Brill said that he should not have touched the woman but said he thought she was an “attractive young woman” and wanted to show her that because she was pregnant that she was still attractive, police said.

Woman charged

with DUI in stop

MAHANOY CITY — Borough police charged a Frackville woman in connection with an incident in the 100 block of South Main Street on Sept. 21.

Police said Georgeann E. Lally, whose last known address was 16 S. Nice St., was charged with DUI, use of multi-beam road lighting equipment and restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

Police said officers stopped a vehicle driven by Lally for having multiple headlamp beams and found the woman to be under the influence.

After failing field sobriety tests, she was taken to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, where a blood test determined she had an alcohol level of 0.12 percent, which is above the legal limit of 0.08 percent.

ORWIGSBURG — “WWWD?” “What Would Wahhab Do?”

Dr. Kristina Thornburg, a general surgeon with Geisinger Health System, said it’s a saying she will keep in her head for the rest of her life, thanks to her role model, Dr. Abdul Wahhab.

Thornburg was among the nearly 200 people who attended the retirement celebration Friday for Wahhab at the Schuylkill Country Club.

Many issued similar accolades on the well-respected, philanthropic, beloved surgeon who’s retiring after 42 years of service in Schuylkill County. Wahhab, they said, was known for embracing the cutting edge of technology at the time, bringing laproscopic surgery to the county and shortening healing time for his patients. He’s also known as a talented artist, who’s donated many of his oil paintings to better the community.

“I can’t believe I spent 42 years in this county. It seems like just yesterday. Thank you to all,” Wahhab, 76, of Pottsville, said. “I don’t think I deserve what was said here today. I am humbled.”

Wahhab arrived at the 7 p.m. celebration early, personally greeting guests upon arrival. Joining him were his wife, Zarina; his three daughters, Dr. Samina Wahhab, Allentown, Rubina “Rubi” Wahhab Nicholas, Lancaster, and Uzma Wahhab, Washington, D.C.; his son-in-law, Wail Khalid; and his five grandchildren, Amir Wahhab Gold, 16, Sana Wahhab Gold, 14, Sophie Nicholas, 16, Yasmin Nicholas, 13, and Hugo Khalid, 6.

Zarina Wahhab said, “I’m proud and happy and want to welcome all of you,” as she turned the program over to Moshsen Shabahang, PhD, director of the Department of General Surgery for Geisinger Medical Center.

“It’s truly been an honor to be associated with you,” Shabahang told Wahhab. “It has been a great three years. We are honored to be present in this community through our surgeons and our staff.”

Dr. Marylou Rainone, a general surgeon with Geisinger Health System, said Wahhab has always been willing to give of his time.

“He’s always ready to help at anytime, in any way he can,” Rainone said. “He takes the time with patients to listen, console and give the best care he can at all times. He is analytical, but also artistic. The combination makes for such a well-rounded and complete physician.”

Sue Curry, director of inpatient nursing, Schuylkill Health, said she thinks of Wahhab as “an extension of my own family.”

Curry said Wahhab is a compassionate, caring friend and colleague, who has survived several hospital transitions with new CEOs. She polled the medical staff asking one word to describe Wahhab. They included words like responsible, driven, trusted, skilled, talented, artistic, caring, compassionate and dedicated. “Thank you for all that you are. We’ll miss you,” she said.

Attorney Alvin B. Marshall said Wahhab has been a great friend, great physician, great father and mentor. Marshall explained he was the one who had to “fire” Wahab when philosophical differences arose with another surgical practice in 1975. He said he told him, “The best thing that ever happened to you was when you got fired.”

His daughter, Rubi, told the crowd she already had a new job for her dad — that of driver for a group of comedians. It’s part of a new television pilot she’s launching.

“My dad’s spent so many countless hours in this community to make it a better place,” Rubi Wahhab Nicholas said. She said she used to joke with her father about her “scarred” childhood. She noted as a teenager, people would come up to her in public places, like a shopping mall, and raise their shirts to show her the scars from her dad’s work.

“On behalf of our family to folks at Geisinger and Schuylkill Health and the office staff, thank you for including our family as a part of yours,” Rubi Wahhab Nicholas said.

His colleagues shared their appreciation.

“Dr. Wahhab has an excellent relationship with both patients and colleagues. Each is treated with respect and caring,” Thornburg said. “I certainly appreciate him most as a mentor. Over the past year, I have benefited from his advice, experience and wisdom. I cannot describe how much a mentor with over 40 years experience could help someone, like me, who is just beginning.”

Thornburg also praised Wahhab’s detailed level of care.

“He is a surgeon and an artist. Each patient is treated with the same precision and dedication as one of his paintings,” she said.

“I’m here to give honor to the wonderful career he has had,” Rainone said. “He has been an important part of the Schuylkill County medical community. As a community, we come together to show our appreciation for all he has done.”

“Dr. Wahhab has been very supportive to me over the past year,” Thornburg said. “I am more than happy to be a part of his retirement celebration. I am sad to see him step away from practice. He deserves every honor possible.”

On behalf of the Schuylkill County commissioners, Commissioner George F. Halcovage presented a proclamation in Wahhab’s honor.

Kristy Yohey, operations director, and Dr. Maqsood Malick, both with Geisinger Health System, offered closing remarks.

Wahhab has been practicing general surgery, at IPA Medical Plaza, 278 Industrial Park Road, Saint Clair, since May 1975 to the present. Previously, he was employed with Associated Surgeons Ltd., Seventh and Market streets, Pottsville.

Of his hospital appointments, he had active staff privileges at Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville, serving as chairman for the Department of Surgery from January 1993 to October 1996; and staff privileges at Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic, Pottsville. The former Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center and the Pottsville Hospital and Warne Clinic are now under the parent organization, Schuylkill Health System, and are known as Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street and Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street, respectively.

Wahhab donated 107 of his oil paintings for “A Walk Through Wahhab’s Garden: An Art Auction by Abdul Wahhab, MD.” The event raised $60,000 to benefit renovations to the main lobby of what was then the Good Samaritan Regional Medical Center, Pottsville. In 2008, the hospital dedicated it’s newly renovated lobby, renaming it the “Abdul Wahhab, M.D. Lobby” in his honor.

Of his legacy, in addition to the lobby bearing his name, Wahhab hopes people will continue to enjoy his art work.

“Other than the lobby, there are multiple paintings of mine in homes around Schuylkill County and in both Schuylkill Health Systems,” he said.

Following his retirement, Wahhab plans to spend much of his spare time in his painting studio, he said.

By FRANK ANDRUSCAVAGE

MINERSVILLE — A borough woman is free on bail after being charged by Minersville police with assaulting her husband at their home on Monday.

Police said Jane M. Rodgers, 55, of 237 Laurel St., was arraigned Thursday by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, on charges of felony aggravated assault and misdemeanor offenses of simple assault-domestic violence and recklessly endangering another person.

She was subsequently released on her own recognizance pending a preliminary hearing that will be held at a later date.

Patrolman Thomas Hoban charged Rodgers with an incident that occurred about 12:10 a.m. when the woman called the Schuylkill County Communications Center and reported she had just assaulted her husband, John Rodgers, and that he was unresponsive.

Hoban said he and EMS arrived and found John Rodgers lying on the floor unresponsive and bleeding from his mouth.

The man was treated at the scene and then flown to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, in the Life Flight helicopter.

Jane Rodgers told police that she and her husband were arguing when she picked up a hard plastic case containing an electric razor and threw it at the man’s head in an attempt to get him to shut up, Hoban said.

The woman said she initially thought she hit her husband in the mouth, however, he fell, defecated in his pants and became unresponsive.

Hoban said that at the scene both John and Jane Rodgers appeared to have consumed a considerable amount of alcohol prior to the incident and that Jane Rodgers was frantic and said several times “I killed my husband.”

Hoban said Geisinger Medical Center was contacted following the incident and reported that John Rodgers was in stable condition.

With the clanging of bells and the spirit of the holidays in the air, the Salvation Army kicked off its Red Kettle Campaign on Friday with a goal to raise $95,000.

Mary Price, 57, of Pottsville, knows the importance of the Salvation Army. Her family was helped by the organization when she was a child.

“I donate every time I see them. I was a poor child. I was one of 13 children,” she said.

She donates money as a form of recompense because of the help her family received from them.

Capt. Kevin Polito of the Salvation Army said the organization is there to help people in need. The money donated during the campaign helps provide food, rent utility assistance, the soup kitchen and the children’s programs.

The campaign started Friday and ends Dec. 24. People have the opportunity to make a difference in the lives of others with their change.

“This is an absolutely crucial fundraising effort for us,” Polito said.

Despite this being his first year doing the campaign in Pottsville, Polito, who took over for Capt. Tammy Hench who had served in Pottsville for about 10 years, said he is optimistic they will meet the goal. Polito and his wife, Kelley, came from the Salvation Army in Berwick.

“We have complete trust in the good citizens of Schuylkill County to help us achieve our goal,” he said.

In June, Hench departed for a new position at the Salvation Army in Lancaster. She had been in charge of the organization in Pottsville after the death of her husband, the late Adam Hench.

Twelve locations are available throughout the county for people to donate. They can also donate online at www.SalvationArmyUSA.org through January. The online account will be established in the near future.

Volunteers are still needed to help at the kettle locations. Those interested can contact the Salvation Army at 570-622-5252 or stop by the office at 400 Sanderson St., Pottsville, for more information.

The red kettles and bell ringers should be at the following locations from 10:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.:

• Big Lots, Frackville

• BG’s Value Market at Kings Village Plaza, Minersville

• Boscov’s (both entrances) at the Fairlane Village mall

• Boyer’s Food Markets, Shenandoah, Orwigsburg, Frackville and Pottsville, starting Nov. 27

• Redner’s Warehouse Markets, Schuylkill Haven and Shenandoah, starting Nov. 27

• Wal-Mart (both entrances) at Coal Creek Commerce Center, Saint Clair

n Harrisburg: Pennsylvania Department of Transportation driver license and photos centers, including its full-service center, will be closed Thursday and Friday for the Thanksgiving holiday, according to a PennDOT press release. Customers may still obtain a variety of driver and vehicle products and services online through PennDOT’s Driver and Vehicle Services website — www.dmv.state.pa.us. Driver and vehicle online services are available 24/7 and include driver’s license and photo ID renewals, vehicle registration renewal, driver-history services, changes of address, driver license and vehicle registration restoration letters, and exam scheduling. There are no additional fees for using online services. A complete listing of PennDOT driver and photo license center closings in 2011 is available on the website under “News, Stats and Facts.” In the release, PennDOT also reminded motorists they can log on to 511pa.com or call 511 from any phone to check traffic conditions before heading out.

n Mahanoy City: The St. Vincent de Paul Food Pantry is always in need of food and is grateful for donations. Items needed include cereal, canned fruit, peanut butter, beef stew, soups, juices, tuna, Spam, instant potatoes, Hamburger Helper, pasta and sauce, pancake mix and syrup, coffee, tea or any nonperishable food item or canned good. Bathroom tissue is also needed. Donations may be left at Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church, at the office of state Rep. Neal P. Goodman or at M&T Bank, all in Mahanoy City.

n Minersville: “A Night of Music for Sarah,” to benefit the Sarah Ricigliano Fund, will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. Nov. 30 at Minersville Area High School. The cost is $10 in advance and $15 at the door. Reiley Lonergan will host the event. Sarah, a junior at Minersville Area High School, has been diagnosed with a brain tumor. For more information, call 570-449-1293.

n Minersville: Zion Evangelical Lutheran Church, Fourth and Lewis streets, will host “Sounds of the Season” at 5 p.m. Dec. 6 presented by the musicians and choirs of Trinity United Church of Christ, Pottsville; Faith United Church of Christ, Landingville; Evangelical United Methodist Church, Pottsville; Christ’s United Lutheran Church, Ashland; and Zion Evangelical Lutheran. The choral conductor will be Ronald Fox Jr. and accompanist will be Keith Morgan. Free-will offerings will be accepted. Refreshments will be available following the concert. All are welcome.

n Pottsville: The Pottsville Lions Club is co-sponsoring this year’s Thanksgiving Day meal from 11 a.m. to 2 p.m. at the All American Cafe, 106 N. Centre St., according to Jerry Enders, the Pottsville Lions Charities president. The event is in recognition and honor of all are veterans, according to a Lions press release. Enders and Gene Brienes, owner of the cafe, agreed that the cooperative effort “has been planned as a joint effort of the community service club and cafe to give thanks to our veterans for the work they do every day, in putting their lives on the line, to serve and protect America,” according to the release. The dinners are open anyone needing a Thanksgiving meal.

n Saint Clair: In observance of the Thanksgiving Holiday, the Schuylkill Transportation System will not operate any transportation service on Thursday. All transportation service will resume on Friday. For questions or more information, call STS at 800-832-3322 or 570-429-2701.

n Schuylkill Haven: The Schuylkill Haven Senior Citizens Association will have its annual “Pumpkin Night” when members meet at 7 p.m. Monday in the senior/neighborhood center, 340 Haven St. Members will bring pumpkin dishes to share during fellowship time following the meeting.

n Shenandoah: The Greater Shenandoah Area Senior Citizens will hold a Chinese auction Sunday at the center, 225 N. Market St. Doors will open at noon and the auction will begin at 1 p.m. A shop-and-drop will be held at the center from 4 to 8 p.m. today. All are welcome.

MAHANOY CITY — A man was jailed Thursday on charges filed by Mahanoy City police after a marijuana growing operation and weapons were found inside a home he was staying at.

Patrolman Charles Kovalewski said Erric Lee Bowman, 35, who has no known address, was charged with one felony each of delivery of a controlled substance and possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, 45 misdemeanor counts of possession of drug paraphernalia and one misdemeanor count each of possession of a controlled substance, prohibited offensive weapons, possessing instruments of crime and crimes committed with firearms.

Bowman was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison in lieu of $20,000 straight cash bail.

Kovalewski said the charges are the result of an investigation that began Nov. 12 when Paula Davidson, Bowman’s ex-girlfriend, reported she was living with the man at 432 W. Spruce St. but he had since moved out.

The woman said she went to the attic of the home to clean out Bowman’s possessions and found weapons and what she believed to be a very large bag of marijuana. The woman also said Bowman was the only person to use the attic and that he frequently went there to smoke.

Kovalewski said he went to the home with Davidson and was given permission to search the premises.

The officer said that in the attic he found two large bags of vegetable matter that looked and smelled like marijuana, along with two metal grinders, a glass bong as well as smaller amounts of green vegetable matter and numerous items of drug paraphernalia.

Kovalewski said that in the basement he found a metal scale and an improvised spear with a metal tip.

The following day, Kovalewski returned to the home at the request of Davidson who reported finding a gun and bullets and asked that it and any drug related items be removed from the house.

Kovalewski said that in the house he found a 12 gauge shotgun with a pistol grip in a filing cabinet, as well as several shotgun shells while additional shotgun shells were found in a metal ammunition can in a nearby cabinet.

The officer said that during a subsequent search he determined what was previously thought to be a work table was actually a chest freezer with a table on top. Inside the freezer was a gallon size Ziploc bag full of green vegetable matter.

The vegetable matter tested positive for marijuana and weighed about 370 grams or 13 ounces.

In addition to the drugs and drug paraphernalia, Kovalewski said officers found and confiscated items used to a hydroponic growing operation including pots, buckets, a white hydro farm light unit, fans, heaters, seeds, power cords and light fixtures.

Also confiscated were a machete, a sword and other chemicals used in growing operations including Florabloom, Big Bud and Miracle-Gro, the officer said.

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

CRESSONA — The Blue Mountain School District has hired a replacement for Superintendent Robert Urzillo, who will retire in January.

By unanimous vote Thursday, the board chose David H. Helsel, Ph.D., who is currently the director of secondary education and federal programs for the Cornwall-Lebanon School District. The board approved a 4 1/2-year term for Helsel starting in January 2016. His first day on the job will be Jan. 12.

School board President Heather Gosch said Helsel will make $146,500 a year.

“We are honored to have you,” board member John Lafko said.

Urzillo said he has met Helsel before he was one of the 32 applicants for the position.

“Dave and I go back a long way. When he was in 9th grade, I was his high school principal,” Urzillo said, speaking when he was the principal at Forbes Road Junior/Senior High School in Fulton County.

Helsel thanked the board for the vote of confidence.

“Thank you very much for the opportunity to serve the district and the students of the Blue Mountain School District. I look forward to working with you, the board of school directors, the staff, the students, the parents, the community members and our business leaders. I believe working together we will be able to face the many challenges that we will run into in the future. Collectively I think we will ensure that we provide a school system that empowers each and every student to achieve their full potential,” he said.

Before his position in at the Cornwall-Lebanon School District, Helsel was the principal at Cedar Crest High School, Lebanon, for 16 years. His other positions include serving for four years as an assistant principal at Lewistown Area High School, Mifflin County, and six years as a teacher at Central York School District, York County. He has a Bachelor of Science degree, with teaching certification, in physics and math, and a master’s degree in education from Shippensburg University, and a doctorate in education leadership from Nova Southeastern, where he completed most of his courses, in Williamsport, Lycoming County.

Helsel, 50, of Lebanon, said he applied for the position because he did research on the district and he liked what he found out.

“It’s a good school,” he said.

He has no plans to move from Lebanon into the district but said he will be an active member of the community.

Gosch, who was at her last meeting because she did not run for re-election, said she has confidence in Helsel.

“He’s dynamic. He has a lot of energy. He really knows the issues that are at the forefront,” Gosch said.

Gosch also thanked Urzillo for his service.

“Through his efforts and the work of the staff, we are positioned well for Dr. Helsel to begin his service,” Gosch said.

Urzillo will retire Jan. 31 when his contract expires. He has been the superintendent since November 2010. The board accepted his retirement in June.

Gosch was also commended for her dedication to the district. Urzillo read a recognition by the Pennsylvania School Board Association for Gosch’s eight years of service to the district. The PSBA recognizes school board members who have eight years of service and every four years after that.

“Heather, thank you,” Urzillo said upon giving her an award.

Sudhir Patel, district solicitor, also commended Gosch for her service.

“Your time, your sacrifice, your stewardship will be greatly missed,” he said.

She made a few comments and thanked everyone for their dedication to the district.

“Cheryl, you make the district run,” she said of Cheryl Lagola, secretary to Urzillo.

Gosch said her time spent on the school board was something she would not change.

“You learn so much about this part of how the public school system works, and I just would encourage other people if there is anybody out there thinking about running to go for it because it is really a unique system and the reason it works is because of the checks and balances that we are a part of,” Gosch said.

Urzillo thanked board member John Granito, who also did not seek re-election, for his service to the district.

The Roman Catholic Diocese of Allentown hopes to enhance spiritual life and evangelization throughout the parishes in the five-county diocese.

According to a diocesan media release, the diocese has initiated a pastoral planning process to make parishes more vibrant. Parishes are also called to form pastoral councils by Nov. 1, 2016.

“The goal of pastoral planning in the Diocese of Allentown is dramatic missionary growth in well-aligned, evangelizing parishes,” the Most Rev. John O. Barres, bishop of Allentown, said. “The necessary decisions require prayer, pastoral sensitivity, a deep concern for the poor and marginalized and well-integrated information and analysis. Our pastoral planning also requires every person in the diocese to pray, sacrifice and promote vocations to the priesthood since we hope to triple our present number of seminarians in the next three years to address our future needs.”

To guide the process, Barres has appointed Monsignor David James as the diocesan vicar for pastoral planning and created a 15-member Pastoral Planning Commission made up of clergy, diocesan officials and lay people from throughout the diocese.

“We are shifting from a reactive approach, which often deals with negative topics, to a proactive approach that looks at the present and, especially, the future of the parishes and the diocese as a whole,” James said.

The clergy members of the commission are the Rev. Philip Rodgers, pastor of St. Benedict Church, Mohnton; the Rev. Eugene Ritz, chaplain at Berks Catholic High School; and the Rev. Andrew Gehringer, pastor of Holy Infancy Church, Bethlehem.

The five lay members each represent a county in the diocese: Robert Ames, Coaldale (Carbon), Paula Davis, Allentown (Lehigh), Stephen Mickulik, Reading (Berks), Patrick Reilly, Ashland (Schuylkill) and Kerry Wrobel, Bethlehem (Northampton).

Diocesan staff on the commission are John Majewski, director of project services; Jeff Young, diocesan business manager; Kelly Bruce, director of insurance and real estate; Leslie Shirock, director of parish and school support services; Matt Kerr, secretary for external affairs; and Philip Fromuth, secretary for catholic education.

Consultant Charles Nifong will provide demographic and data integration analysis.

“The Pastoral Planning Commission is trying to get together a strategic plan that is more consistent in order to keep everybody on the same page,” said Reilly, who is the business manager and a parishioner of St. Charles Borromeo Church, Ashland.

Reilly said five lay members representing a county provides a voice for each area that has different cultural and demographic facets.

“There is a cultural side to this plan. We don’t want a plan that one size fits all,” Reilly said. “There are differentiations in towns and regions. Even in Schuylkill County itself you’ll have different cultural things. So we have to look at it from that side when there is a plan put together. When you get to the implementation side, it gets down to geography.”

Reilly added, “This will help lighten the load on priests.”

The commission will meet every four to six weeks, and meetings will be held at different locations.

The planning commission is charged with leading efforts to assist parishes in self-assessment, planning and implementation of actions to continuously enhance parish life and evangelization. The commission must also respond to challenges, such as the declining number of diocesan priests available for parish ministry, profound changes in the demographics of certain areas of the diocese and the inability of some parishes to meet their financial obligations.

The commission will play a key role in assisting the vicar for pastoral planning with strategic planning initiatives and their implementation. The commission will develop a diocesan strategic pastoral plan, provide oversight for the implementation of the plan, study and draft proposals for any possible parish restructuring and establish an ongoing pastoral planning process.

Another part of the pastoral planning process will be the self-evaluation of the parish and regional elementary schools. The information gathered from these evaluations will be reviewed in conjunction with the information gained from the ongoing parish self-evaluations, so that when parish pastoral plans are developed they will include the role that the parish or regional elementary school will play in the overall vibrancy of the parish.

Barres is calling on each of the 89 parishes to establish a functioning parish pastoral council. It made up of primarily lay members, but can include priests, deacons and religious assigned to the parish. The pastoral council is an effective way of bringing people in the parish together to fulfill the mission of the church in the world.

As explained in the media release, the parish pastoral council not only finds ways to improve the welcoming spirit of evangelization in the parish, but also discerns ways to assist the laity, the marriages and families in the parish to engage in effective, emotionally intelligent evangelization outside of the parish in daily life, in the workplace and in the public square.

Pastoral councils directly support their pastor in a purely consultative role. As representatives of the overall parish community, they will assist in developing a pastoral plan that will guide efforts to enhance the spirituality of parish life. Under the direction of the pastor, councils will pray, discern and assess the areas of parish life that may need attention, reflect on ways to address them, develop related action plans and ultimately offer proposals for the pastor’s consideration.

Barres also emphasized a unique dimension of parish pastoral councils that he expects in the diocese.

“Parish pastoral councils are encouraged to periodically engage in silent Eucharistic Adoration, in which we meet the Lord in his Sacramental Presence,” Barres said. “This can only aid in the discernment of the spiritual, pastoral and evangelization needs and direction of the parish.”

Workshops will be developed to assist pastors, chairpersons and council members in forming the new pastoral councils, or in some cases, reforming existing parish councils. A manual, entitled “One in Mission,” has been prepared to assist pastors and their pastoral councils so there is consistency across the diocese, while addressing the unique situations and needs of each parish community.

Currently about half of the parishes in the diocese have some form of a parish council. This initiative is part of the overall strategic goal for vibrant and healthy and evangelizing parishes.

Reilly said the pastoral councils are not the same as other councils that churches now have. St. Charles has a parish council and a finance council, both to deal with temporal affairs. The pastoral council has a decidedly different focus.

“The pastoral parish council deals with evangelization — the spiritual side,” Reilly said. “The three different councils is the ideal and that’s how the strategic plan is trying to put together and how they interact. The pastoral council would advise Father (John) Bambrick on what they feel the parish needs to perpetuate the faith. That’s a pretty important council.”

Monsignor William Glosser, the dean of the Schuylkill Deanery and pastor of St. Clare of Assisi Church in Saint Clair, said the responsibility for the formation of the parish pastoral councils will be at each church.

“That will be each individual pastor’s responsibility,” Glosser said. “Every parish has to have a pastoral council, but it’s a different model of a parish council. It’s not necessarily one where there are representative groups, but rather it’s a council to bring the parish together spiritually and based upon apostolic works of the church.”

Glosser said a main focus is to make parishes “a prayer.”

“One of the things we’re striving for is to make our parishes and schools a place where we create a more prayerful environment in our parish communities,” Glosser said. “Among our parishioners it’s not just necessarily those people who are coming to Mass and doing their own private devotions, but rather to make our churches more welcoming based upon the New Evangelization of Pope John Paul, Pope Benedict and Pope Francis where we need to take our active parishioners and get them more on fire with their faith, more enlivened with their faith, so that through their good works and good example they can go out and maybe help to begin to welcome back those who have fallen away from the church for whatever reason, to create that kind of ministry similar to the ministry of Jesus. The parish pastoral council is meant to foster the spirit of the New Evangelization so we make our folks feel welcome, that people have better understanding and appreciation of their faith and what their faith is all about.”

And as the parish family grows in its own faith, it will be prepared to take it beyond the church doors.

“It would also go out into the apostolic mission of the Church to help take care of the marginalized, the poor, the unemployed, the needy and those people who do not have a voice,” Glosser said, “and how can we as a Church begin to begin to help benefit them in their role in the community.”

MINERSVILLE — Borough residents will notice changes at the Minersville Compost Site on North Delaware Avenue.

Upon entrance to the area, residents will notice the bins on the east and west sides of the compost area will be gone. They will be replaced with two 30-cubic-yard bins.

“We just opened it up today,” Bob Mahalchick, borough manager, said Friday.

The larger bins are a convenience for residents and will save the borough money because they don’t need to be picked up as often. The old bins were 8-cubic yards each.

Residents will also be able to walk up a platform and deposit the recyclables, something not available before.

The hours will remain the same: 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. daily. A sign on the wooden platform specifies what recyclables are permitted. Cougle’s Recycling Inc., Hamburg, will recycle the material.