n Ashland: The Ashland Area Historical Preservation Society will meet at 7 p.m. Wednesday at its headquarters, 316-318 Centre St. The guest speaker will be Patrick M. “Porcupine Pat” McKinney, environmental education coordinator with the Schuylkill Conservation District. McKinney will give a demonstration of antique toys. The public is welcome to attend. Light refreshments will be served.

n Friedensburg: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from noon to 5 p.m. Friday at Friedensburg Fire Company 1357 Long Run Road. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to make an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Minersville: The Minersville Skatepark Association is participating in The Bon-Ton Community Days booklet sales from 8 a.m. to 11 p.m. Friday and 8 a.m. to 10 p.m. Saturday at The Bon-Ton store in the Schuylkill Mall near Frackville. According to an association release, participants will get “tons of coupons and we get the $5.” People may also order online and “be sure to mention” the $5 goes to the association. For more information, call 570-294-6235.

n Minersville: An American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 1 to 6 p.m. March 14 at the Good Shepherd Building, 301 Heffner St. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to donate blood. For more information or to set an appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Pine Grove: A “Break the Ice” dance is set for 7 to 10 p.m. March 4 in the clubhouse at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, with music by The Legends. Tickets are $10 in advance and $12 at the door. The event is sponsored by Diakon Living & Learning. Tickets include refreshments, For tickets or more information, call 570-624-3018.

n Schuylkill Haven: Schuylkill County Trout Unlimited has free fly-tying classes scheduled for 1 to 4 p.m. at sites throughout Schuylkill County as follows: today, Schuylkill Haven Recreation Center, 340 Haven St.; Feb. 28 at Sweet Arrow Lake County Park, Pine Grove; March 6 at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St., Tamaqua; March 13 at Whippoorwill Dam, Morea Road near Frackville; March 20 at Rivers Fly Shop, 22 Hughes St., New Ringgold. Advance registration is required by calling Tony Mione at 717-979-0235, Chris Scherr at 570-516-5115, Greg Wood at 610-568-6770 or Bruce Schneck at 717-829-4301.

n Shenandoah: Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish will hold a summer music camp for children ages 7 to 13 at the Annunciation Rectory, West Cherry Street, June 14 to 25 — weekend excluded. The 10-day program, according to a bulletin announcement, will end with a mini-concert by the participants at 7 p.m. June 25 at Divine Mercy Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets. During the camp, children will be taught the vocal techniques of breathing, dynamics and pitch matching. The fee is $200 per child. For more information or registration, call Father Johnson, parochial vicar, at 570-599-5265 or the parish office at 570-462-1968.

n Shenandoah: The Divine Mercy Chaplet is held at 3 p.m. Fridays in Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Church, Cherry and Chestnut streets. Everyone is welcome to participate. The Father Walter J. Ciszek Prayer Group meets at 6:30 p.m. Mondays at Divine Mercy parish’s Father Ciszek Convent of the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters, 18 W. Oak St. The public is welcome.

n Tamaqua: An artist meet-and-greet with Kevin Smith II is scheduled for 6:30 to 8:30 p.m. March 3 at the Tamaqua Community Art Center, 125 Pine St. A current resident of Tamaqua, Smith’s collection will consist of seven acrylic paintings that correspond with his one-year, 4,000-mile walk across the United States with the group The United Souls of Awareness. For more information, call 570-668-1192.

SHENANDOAH — Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and the state police Fire Marshal Unit are asking for the public’s help in finding those responsible for setting a fire that damaged several downtown buildings.

The blaze was discovered about 4:15 a.m. Feb. 14 to the rear of a vacant business at 9-11 N. Main St. and spread and severely damaged an attached vacant business at 13-15 N. Main St. A bank located at 5-7 N. Main St. was also damaged as a result of the fire, police said.

Investigators determined the blaze originated to the rear of 9 N. Main St. and that it was intentionally set.

“The origin of the fire is the rear of 9 N. Main St. and the cause is incendiary in nature,” state police fire marshal Trooper Joseph Hall said.

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

Callers are asked to refer to incident 02-21-16 when calling with information about the arson in Shenandoah.

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

Callers can also relay their information directly to state police at Schuylkill Haven by calling 570-739-1330 and referring to incident L03-1401582.

All information will remain confidential.

Deeds

Barry Township — John A. and Elaine M. Cave to Andrew P. and Regina E. Neiswender; property; $1.

East Norwegian Township — Faye L. Baranowsky, administratrix of the Estate of John M. Nicolas, to Ricardo Marks; property on Route 209; $35,000.

Gary Bradley to Shannon Wallace; 723 Port Carbon-Saint Clair Highway; $1.

Frackville — National Home Investors LLC to Phillip J. and Kelani Kline; 2 S. Second St.; $11,201.50.

Girardville — James Tregea to A and W Home Rentals; 28 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $3,000.

Hegins Township — Randolph J. Kroh to Brad E. Carl; property on Route 25; $180,000.

Joe L. Ellinger, executor under the Last Will & Testament of Joseph W. Ellinger, to Joe L. and Brooke K. Ellinger; 1634 E. Main St., Hegins; $1.

Mahanoy City — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Sandra Aguilar; 331 E. Centre St.; $300.

Larry and Larissa Gorski Schulz to John Dito; 329 W. Pine St.; $15,000.

Jayne Mellen, executrix of the Estate of Ruth M. Dunsavage, to Edwin Zumstein; 923 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $7,250.

McAdoo — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Brian and Tina Hutchison; 12 E. Jackson St.; $13,000.

North Union Township — Kelly J. Feeko to Arthur Ray Hoats; 4.55-acre property on Legislative Route 53109; $1,200.

Palo Alto — Robert R. Crawford to RKG Enterprises Inc.; two properties; $80,000.

Pine Grove — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Trent Mars; 301 Second St.; $90,000.

Pine Grove Township — Joseph G. Groody, sheriff of Schuylkill County, to Fulton Bank NA; 11 Brown Lane; $1,193.53.

Port Carbon — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Osama Aly; 19 Coal St.; $4,719.84.

Gary Bradley to Shannon Wallace; property on Wilson Avenue; $1.

Pottsville — Scott D. and Ashley N. Forney to Scott D. Forney; 1340 W. Norwegian St.; $1.

Rush Township — George and Thelma M. Caravello to Robert L. Eickhoff II; property on Delford Street, Hometown; $124,900.

Saint Clair — Carol A. Sterling, administratrix of the Estate of Joseph Glovich, to Robert G. Jr. and Sandra L. Lavan; 232 S. Morris St.; $18,000.

South Manheim Township — Secretary of Housing and Urban Development to Stephen P. Felker; 1275 Doe Drive; $43,500.

Tower City — Gladys Deiter to Jennie Boyer; 105 S. Fourth St.; $7,500.

Union Township — Tax Claim Bureau of Schuylkill County to Jason B. Ennis; property on Jerry’s Road; $3,500.

West Mahanoy Township — Larry and Larissa Gorski Schulz to John Dito; 259 Ohio Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $30,000.

Lawrence J. and Larissa Gorski Schulz to John Dito; 261 Ohio Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $5,000.

New areas of the Anthracite coal region are represented every year in the annual Mr. Anthracite Natural Bodybuilding Competition and that will continue when the competition returns to Pottsville for the fourth time April 9 at Majestic Theatre.

Sponsored by the National Gym Association, the natural bodybuilding and men’s physique contest was a fixture in the coal region that was brought back after about a 30-year hiatus by Warren Egebo, Hegins. It is a pro-qualifier and open to anyone who lives, works or attends school in the five counties making up the Anthracite coal region: Lackawanna, Luzerne, Northumberland, Carbon and Schuylkill.

“It’s fun to do annually in Pottsville and use the whole image of the coal miner,” Egebo said.

Caleb Shilko, 24, of Palmerton, joined the competition this year and is the first participant from Carbon County, Egebo said Wednesday.

The Tamaqua High School graduate said he lifted weights for sports but has since focused on bodybuilding.

“I love it,” Shilko said.

Shilko said he has engaged in a friendly competition with his brother over the years and winning the title of Mr. Anthracite would give him “bragging rights.”

This will be Shilko’s first bodybuilding show, although he has done strength competitions. He said he started dieting about two months ago and is down to about 190 pounds.

“I’m a little nervous, but I’m starting to set in,” Shilko said. “Everything is starting to come in focus, especially the diet. When I set my mind to something, I am really focused.”

Egebo said he has had about 18 people express interest in this year’s event, many of them returning competitors. He said last year’s Mr. Anthracite, Jim Sulima, Pittston, will be featured as a guest poser.

A “classic physique” category will join the previous six of junior’s, novice, open, master’s, grandmaster’s and men’s physique, Egebo said.

“The person that wins the show is a professional bodybuilder and can get cash awards,” Egebo said.

All the contestants are also eligible to compete in Egebo’s Mr. Natural Philadelphia Show on May 7.

Prejudging for Mr. Anthracite will be at noon and the finals will be at 6 p.m., both at the Sovereign Majestic Theatre, 209 N. Centre St., Pottsville. Tickets are $10 for prejudging and $15 for the finals. Advanced tickets are also available by calling Egebo at 215-200-1680.

Participants must pass a polygraph test prior to the competition. For an entry form and more information, visit www.mrnaturalphilly.com or email klon@epix.net. Advanced tickets are available by calling 215-200-1680.

If Suzanne Nelson hadn’t spied that red shoe, her latest award-winning novel, “Serendipity’s Footsteps,” may not have hatched.

Since sharing her novel with Schuylkill County readers, Nelson ended up on her own serendipitous journey.

“ ‘Serendipity’s Footsteps’ began with my sister and a single, cherry-red slingback heel. I spotted the slingback sitting on a boulder in front of a cottage in Ridgefield, Connecticut,” said Nelson, whose mom and stepdad, Virginia and Larry Morton, reside in Tower City.

“I happened to be on the phone with my sister, Christy, at the time, and I mentioned it to her, wondering aloud why the shoe had been left there and by whom. Together, we recounted the many lost shoes we’d seen on roadsides or dangling from telephone wires. ‘You need to write a story about those shoes,’ she told me. Christy has always had a passion for shoes, and the two of us are best friends and very close. So I began writing the story for her,” Nelson said.

“Serendipity’s Footsteps” took nearly three years to write, revise and publish, and recently received the 2016 Sydney Taylor Honor Book for Teen Readers award.

Sister story

“Writing a first draft is always the most challenging part of the process for me, though, and once I dove in that initial draft was completed in about a year. Revising is daunting, but not nearly as terrifying as staring at that initial blank screen and blinking cursor before the first word of a story is written,” Nelson said. “My sister kept offering encouragement, as did my amazing editor and literary agent. If I didn’t have such wonderful people believing in the story from the beginning, I’m not sure I ever would’ve finished it.”

At its heart, “Serendipity’s Footsteps” is a story about sisters. Not sisters by birth, but sisters bound by serendipity and a pair of pale pink shoes, Nelson said.

“It’s a story about how love and faith can find us amidst the most tragic circumstances and bring us back to a place of hope and belonging. My three heroines — Dalya, Ray and Pinny — all have great obstacles to overcome, but they end up drawing strength from each other. And isn’t that what sisters and families do for one another, after all?” Nelson said.

A summary on Nelson’s website describes the book’s leading characters. Dalya is the 15-year-old daughter of a cobbler in 1930s Berlin, who is forced into a concentration camp. Ray is a modern day orphan, who sees an impulsive escape to New York as her only chance at happiness. Pinny is an unwavering optimist and Ray’s unintended travel companion on her passage to a new life. A single pair of shoes entwines their lives.

Nelson was born in New Jersey, grew up in Southern California and attended college in Texas. She spent eight years as a children’s book editor in New York City. Today, she lives in Ridgefield, Connecticut, with her husband and three children.

Pink shoes

The pink shoes Nelson used in one of the book’s photo shoots were shoes her mother wore on her wedding day. Suzanne was 12 at the time.

“When Suzanne did the cover photo shoot for ‘Serendipity’s Footsteps,’ she remembered those shoes and asked me if I still had them. I went searching for them, as I wasn’t sure. Sure enough, there they were. They had made it all the way from California to a closet in our farm house in Pennsylvania,” her mother said.

“I am glad that I saved the shoes, as they are even more meaningful to me now. As far as the shoes being magical and special, well, to me they are because they walked me down the aisle to a very happy marriage and successful blending of two families into one,” Morton said.

“We are most proud of her and her ability to keep her priorities straight as a wife and mother, and yet managing to pursue her dream,” Morton said of her daughter. “We are thrilled about the award as well. It is a lovely compliment to her writing and should be meaningful to her audience. Personally, I believe the book is a great high school level discussion novel because it deals with interesting moral choices that young adults often have to make,” Morton said.

Rural roots

Nelson has family roots in Schuylkill County that go back more than 150 years.

“On my mother’s side, I am a descendent of the Schwalm, Tallman, Swoyer and Kimmel families, all of whom resided in Schuykill County throughout the years. My father, Robert Reinoehl, also had distant Reinoehl relatives living in Schuykill county, although he was raised by his parents in Jersey City, New Jersey,” she said.

“One of my ancestors was a teacher in Pottsville, two were storeowners in Orwigsburg and one was even a bootlegger during Prohibition. Historically, though, many in my family were farmers. My maternal grandfather, George W. Tallman, was a potato farmer in Tower City for many, many years. The land he farmed has been in our family since 1860. When he passed away, my mom and stepdad, Virginia and Larry Morton, moved back to Pennsylvania from California to help manage Tallman Family Farms along with my uncles.”

Today, Nelson’s parents live at 16 Schwalm Road, Tower City, in the farmhouse her mom grew up in. Her maternal grandmother, Christine Elsie Swoyer, grew up in Orwigsburg.

“Grandma’s parents, Edward and Elsie, owned a general store on Market Street. Grandma passed away when I was eight, so unfortunately I never had the chance to know her better than I did when I was a child. Just recently, though, my mom drove me past the house on Market Street where grandma was raised. It was so wonderful to see it and imagine what life would have been like for her back when she was a girl.”

Nelson has great memories of traveling to Pennsylvania to visit her grandpa George Tallman and the farm.

“It was a different world than the one I lived in — one steeped in history and ripe for exploring. Grandpa’s farmhouse had this incredible smell — musty, ancient but oh-so-comforting. To this day, it’s one of my favorite smells in the world. Now my own children get to enjoy visiting their grandparents in the very same house I visited mine. Just yesterday we passed by a spot in the woods near our house and my eight-year-old remarked, ‘That smells like Grandma’s attic.’ He was right, and it made me smile,” she said.

Book club

Nelson does return to the county a few times throughout the year. Her visit to Orwigsburg last August for a book talk and reading for the Schuylkill Country Club’s Book Club proved serendipitous. It was there that she met Isabel Rhoades, 89, who knew Nelson’s grandmother, and whose family had actually operated a shoe factory, J.S. Zulick & Co. Nelson later met Steve Zimmerman, owner of the Kepner-Scott shoe factory and two of Steve’s daughters, Amelia and Audrey, who were planning to take over their father’s shoe business some day. Orwigsburg had once been home to 11 shoe factories, Nelson learned.

“It was a wonderful, unexpected moment and a connection with the history in my fictional novel that I’d never expected,” Nelson said.

Accolades

When her book received the honor book award this year, it was a humbling experience for Nelson.

The Sydney Taylor Book Award is presented annually to outstanding books for children and teens that authentically portray the Jewish experience. It has been presented by the Association of Jewish Libraries since 1968. Gold medals are presented in three categories: Younger Readers, Older Readers and Teen Readers. Honor Books are awarded silver medals and Notable Books are named in each category.

Diane Rauchwerger, chairperson of the award committee, shared Feb. 9 why Nelson’s book was chosen for the Honor Book recognition.

“One of our reviewers said about the book that it is, ‘Well paced, multi-strand story line.’ Another reviewer on our committee stated, ‘An excellent, well written story with lots of engaging characters, interesting look at how the rich in America took to ‘helping the refugees,’ ” Rauchwerger said.

Nelson’s grateful for the praise.

“I am so moved and humbled that ‘Serendipity’s Footsteps’ has been chosen as an honor book,” Nelson said. “One of my greatest doubts as I wrote the book was whether I could do justice to Dalya and portray her story with all the accuracy and respect it deserved. I have many friends who lost family members during the Holocaust, and I have the greatest admiration for how they continue to uphold their faith, traditions and heritage. I knew how important it would be to portray Dalya’s character, her history and her choices as authentically as possible. It was my hope that the choices Dalya made to preserve her Jewish identity in the face of enormous tragedy and discrimination would resonate with every reader in some way.”

“For ‘Serendipity’s Footsteps’ to be recognized for this — well, honestly, I feel deeply grateful. It keeps company with a host of truly fantastic Sydney Taylor award and honor books, and to have it included alongside such talent is an honor in and of itself. When I began my writing career, my biggest hope was just to see one of my stories achieve publication, so this is my dream come true and then some,” Nelson said.

Other books Nelson has penned include: “Hot Cocoa Hearts,” “Macarons at Midnight,” “You’re Bacon Me Crazy,” “Cake Pop Crush,” “Dead in the Water,” “The Ghoul Next Door,” “Heart and Salsa,” and “The Sound of Munich.”

Links to order her book are provided on her website at www.suzannenelson.com. Anyone who’s interested in scheduling an author visit with Nelson can contact her at suzanne@suzannenelson.com.

“Serendipity’s Footsteps,” a 368-page novel, became available November 2015 through Alfred A. Knopf Books for Young Readers, a division of Random House Children’s Books. It’s listed for $13.82 hardcover on Amazon and $10.99 on Kindle. It can be bought from local bookstores, www.penguinrandomhouse.com, www.indiebound.com, www.amazon.com and everywhere books are sold.

Girl, 13, charged

for false reports

WICONISCO — A 13-year-old Wiconisco girl is facing charges by state police at Lykens of two counts each of false reports of child abuse and false reports to law enforcement.

The charges against the teen, all misdemeanor offenses, were referred to the Dauphin County juvenile court system, police said.

Police said the girl reported to Children & Youth Services and also to law enforcement that she was physically assaulted on two occasions by her mother in the 400 block of South Street in Wiconisco Township.

Police also said the teen reported ongoing child abuse and also unsafe living conditions in her home.

The investigation determined that the girl exaggerated and fabricated the incidents and other incidents, police said.

The accusations by the girl resulted in numerous investigative resources being diverted from other incidents to investigated the alleged crimes.

Police said the Dauphin County District Attorney’s Office, Child Abuse Protection Unit, authorized criminally charging the teenager.

Police probe

Lykens mischief

ELIZABETHVILLE — State police at Lykens are investigating a criminal mischief incident that occurred between Feb. 1 and 5 on West Broad Street in this Dauphin County community.

Police said a 69-year-old man reported someone damaged this hood of his parked truck in several locations and fled the area.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 717-362-8700.

Police investigate

license plate theft

CRESSONA — A thief stole a license plate from a vehicle parked at the Giant Supermarket at Cressona Mall in North Manheim Township just after noon Thursday, state police at Schuylkill Haven said Thursday night.

The incident occurred between noon and 12:30 p.m. Thursday in the parking lot of 1544 state Route 61, Suite 610. The victim was Lance Klinger, 35, of Schuylkill Haven. The victim’s PA registration plate number is YZX7511, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call state police at 570-739-1330.

Lykens man faces

multiple charges

LYKENS — A man from Lykens, Dauphin County, was charged by state police at Lykens with several offenses recently.

Police said John Levi Reed IV, 43, of Lykens, was charged with reckless endangerment, corruption of minors, drug delivery and possession of marijuana. Charges were filed in magisterial District Judge Rebecca J. Margerum’s office, Elizabethville.

Police said they received information that Reed was allegedly providing juveniles with drugs at 406 Division St., Lykens. Three different female juveniles said that Reed gave them illegal drugs and alcohol within a six-month time frame, police said.

Anyone with information regarding additional people involved should call state police at 717-362-8700.

Police investigate

kidnapping

ASHLAND — Ashland police are investigating a reported abduction with a ransom request that was called into their department about 6:45 p.m. Thursday.

Police said a relative of Renee Scicchitano, 30, of Kulpmont, reported to their department that she received text messages from Scicchitano claiming that she was kidnapped and requested the relative get $3,000 and drop it off at a location in Ashland.

No other information was available so police said officers contacted the Schuylkill County Communications Center to assist in tracking the cellphone used to make the call to the relative of Scicchitano.

Officers were then able to get additional information after identifying the owner of that phone and then began a canvass of the area looking for Scicchitano.

Chief Mark O’Hearn said at 10:10 p.m. officers conducted an undercover operation at 14th and Centre streets and saw Scicchitano and an unidentified man.

Officers moved in and detained the man, whose identity is not being disclosed at this time, as well as Scicchitano, the chief said.

Both Scicchitano, the man and another person were interviewed and Scicchitano was subsequently taken to Schuylkill Medical CenterSouth Jackson Street to be evaluated and then committed her to Schuylkill County Prison on an outstanding bench warrant from Northumberland County adult probation, O’Hearn said.

O’Hearn said the investigation is ongoing and that no additional information was available.

Assisting in the incident were officers from Butler Township, Mount Carmel, Frackville and Mahanoy Township.

O’Hearn also gave credit to the Schuylkill County Communication Center for their assistance in tracking the cellphones used during the incident.

Man charged

in gun thefts

TREMONT — Tremont police filed charges against an Orwigsburg man stemming from an incident about 7:30 a.m. Dec. 10 at 198 Tremont St.

Police said Shawn F. Sukeena, 38, of 58 Sculps Hill Road, was charged with two felony counts each of theft and receiving stolen property. The charges were filed with Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi, Tremont.

The charges are the result of an incident reported to police of a theft of firearms at Kreiser’s Quick Mart. Police said Brian Thomas reported he and Tyler Swingle were in the business meeting other friends and getting coffee and other items when someone stole a Remington 7600 special edition 30-30 rifle and a Savage Model 99 .308 Rifle from his vehicle.

The weapons were placed in a database and on Jan. 27 police said officers were contacted by state police who said they were possession of the stolen weapons that they found with Sukeena during a traffic stop.

A subsequent investigation determined that Sukeena was at the Tremont business at the time the theft occurred and actually parked next to the Thomas vehicle, police said.

Are you looking for care for a loved one that will strengthen their independence? Do you want peace of mind knowing your loved one is safe while you are at work?

Avenues can provide the type of care you are looking for. They’re a human service organization committed to providing quality services that enhance the lives of individuals with developmental and/or acquired disabilities.

They’ve proudly served Schuylkill County and the surrounding areas since 1952, providing services to nearly 1,200 individuals aging from birth to the elderly. It is their purpose to promote the general welfare of people with these disabilities. They plan, promote and assist in the establishment, maintenance and operation of training centers or clinics for education, social and physical betterment of all the individuals they serve.

For more information about how their programs can help your loved one or how you can get involved with the organization, go to www.avenuesofpa.org or call 570-622-7920.

Sweet Arrow Lake will host a Cabin Fever Hike at 10 a.m. Saturday. Join “Porcupine Pat” on a crisp outdoors walk to shake off the winter blahs. Look for winter weeds and birds, and enjoy the seasonal scenery. Dress for winter weather. Meet at the Waterfall Road parking lot. Call 570-345-8952 for details.

A fly-tying class will be held at Sweet Arrow Lake at 1 p.m. Feb. 28. Learn to tie flies, pick up some tips and swap some fish stories. Suitable for teens and adults. Class is free, but registration is required by calling 717-979-0235.

St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church in Shenandoah is now accepting orders for Easter breads. Deadline for orders for nut, poppy, apricot or poppy/raisin roll, and plain or raisin paska is March 1. Pick up date is March 19. Place you order by calling 570-462-0809.

The Penn State Master Gardeners invite you to join them for a 2016 Spring Series program from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5. Learn all that is necessary to get started and to have a successful garden season this year. Gardening tools, vegetable planting, lawn care, pesticide use, unusual vegetables and pollinators will be discussed. Attendance fee applies. Call 570 622-4225 for details.

Mark your calendar. The Avenues Foundation will host its seventh annual Yuengling Beer Tasting Dinner at the Greystone Restaurant on March 31. Seatings at 5:30 and 7:45 p.m. Call Stephanie at 570-622-7920 for details or to reserve your seat.

Community Volunteers in Action is the volunteer center for Schuylkill County. Use the preceding contact information for those specific opportunities and search other listings on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Find us on Facebook. Call us at 570-628-1426 or email to jjohnston@co.schuylkill.pa.us.

American Red Cross Disaster Action Team volunteers

Time: Four-night training, 6 to 8 p.m. March 1, 3, 8 and 10. Registration is free and dinner is provided at each session.

Responsibility: Red Cross Disaster College will train people to become Disaster Action Team volunteers. During a disaster, they respond and assist those affected, interview and assist with disaster-caused immediate needs such as shelter and food, complete forms and provide referrals to other agencies, assist in the operation of shelters and provide mass feeding and distribution of relief supplies, and communicate with the team leader about readiness on a regular basis.

Location: Training will be held at the Pottsville Free Public Library; team members respond to Schuylkill County disasters but would have the opportunity to respond elsewhere if necessary.

Call: Heather Bowman, ARC, 610-375-4755 or email heather.bowman@redcross.org.

Food Pantry helpers

T imes: Varies by location.

Responsibility: Help staff with food sorting, storage and packing. May need to carry bags to consumer’s vehicle.

Skills: Ability to perform assigned tasks, including lifting and carrying bags..

Location: Eighteen pantries throughout Schuylkill County.

Call: Jason, Schuylkill Community Action, 570-628-1995.

Forty people received a second chance Thursday in Schuylkill County Court, as they entered a special program that will allow them to emerge from the judicial system without a criminal record.

The Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition program allows first-time offenders to have charges against them dismissed if they successfully complete it.

Successful completion, President Judge William E. Baldwin told the 40, includes complying with directives from the court and the county Adult Probation and Parole Office, payment of all costs of participation and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, and performance of community service.

Anyone who successfully completes the program not only has the charges against him or her dismissed, but also is eligible to have his or her record expunged.

If a defendant fails to complete the program successfully, his or her case will be placed back on the trial list.

The 40 people Baldwin admitted into the program, and the charges against them, included:

Codi L. Adams, 24, of Donaldson; driving under the influence.

Albert R. Amberlavage, 24, of Shenandoah; DUI.

Anthony W. Arndt, 52, of New Ringgold; DUI.

Ryan P. Baur, 22, of Lansford; DUI.

Loretta L. Bennett, 43, of Ashland; retail theft. Bennett also must pay a $50 bench warrant fee.

Todd Bugdanavage, 41, of Tamaqua; theft, receiving stolen property and access device fraud.

Ramiro Chagolla-Arreaga, 27, of Hazle Township; DUI.

Leanne Cryder, 38, of Beaver Meadows; DUI.

Joseph L. Darrup, 43, of Kulpmont; DUI.

Michael J. Donlin Jr., 41, of Pine Grove; DUI.

Brent J. Fanelli, 34, of Pottsville; DUI.

Bradley Q. Freil, 19, of Mahanoy City; seven counts of selling or furnishing liquor to minors and three of corruption of minors.

Sarina Gillott, 25, of Hazle Township; false reports to law enforcement. Gillott also must pay a $50 bench warrant fee.

Rhiannon Hennessey, 32, of Shenandoah; false reports to law enforcement.

Danielle L. Hesse, 33, of Saint Clair; possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tylor J. Huth, 25, of New Philadelphia; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jeremiah F. Kibler, 24, of Coaldale; DUI.

Jeffery V. Klemer, 20, of Frackville; possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sandra L. Klusman, 50, of Frackville; prohibited possession of offensive weapon.

Virginia R. Leahy, 21, of Levittown; theft of services. Leahy also must pay a $315.85 bench warrant fee.

Robert Lindsey, 31, of McAdoo; two counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James W. Mabry, 66, of Pine Grove; DUI.

Cody Metz, 20, of Minersville; theft of lost property.

Adam E. Miller, 25, of Valley View; DUI.

Kristen A. Muncy, 27, of Pottsville; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jenna A. Ogden, 19, of Pottsville; criminal mischief. Ogden also must pay $1,164.64 restitution.

David M. Panak, 57, of Minersville; DUI.

Megan A. Parobek, 21, of Philadelphia; retail theft.

Courtney M. Perez, 24, of Mahanoy City; DUI.

Allyson F. Pormann, 30, of Auburn; DUI.

Linda Quinn, 66, of Hazleton; DUI.

Alisha L. Shire, 25, of Pottsville; possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

George Shofran, 50, of Hazle Township; DUI.

Carisa J. Stevenosky, 46, of Pottsville; DUI.

Jay D. Tobias Jr., 55, of Port Carbon; improper possession or use of documents.

Charles Urbanavage, 70, of Shenandoah; DUI.

Amanda L. Veach, 29, of McAdoo; possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

William J. Wasser, 59, of Mahanoy City; DUI.

Richard A. White, 52, of Shenandoah; two counts of forgery and one each of attempted forgery and theft by deception.

Kathy D. Wolf, 58, of New Philadelphia; two counts of recklessly endangering another person and one of simple assault.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Perhaps Hoodie-Hoo Day and thinking of chasing the cold weather away actually paid off before cheering started at noon Saturday.

About 25 people gathered outside the Schuylkill Haven High Rise to tell Old Man Winter to go away so spring can begin.

“Bring on the heat,” Zakai Staff, 9, said.

He wore a multi-colored hat and held a racket to slam winter back into the later part of the year.

Temperatures were in the upper 50s Saturday. Staff said he can’t wait for the warmer weather.

“Every time I try to go out, it’s freezing,” he said.

“We’ve got the weather,” Schuylkill Haven Mayor Mike Devlin said about the unseasonably warm temperatures that greeted county residents at the event. Children and adults were outside to celebrate.

“On this winter day, people should go outside at noon, wave their hands over their heads and chant “Hoodie-Hoo,” and I hope we will be more successful this year than last — so yell loud!” Devlin said.

It was the first time he has participated in the event.

Wearing colorful hats, the participants sang a song they hoped would shoo away winter: “Hoodie-Hoo. Hoodie-Hoo. It’s a special day. We go out and hoot and shout to chase winter away. Hoodie-Hoo. Hoodie-Hoo. Fun for girls and boys, young and old. And if you’re cold, you just makes lots of noise!”

Janis Wise, Schuylkill Haven, said last year it was very cold out with temperatures in the teens. She said the borough residents enjoy the day.

“We take matters into our hands,” she said.

She said the holiday has been celebrated in the borough for a number of years.

Borough resident Carol Wagner, 72, said she likes participating to banish winter.

“I want to get winter out, and Hoodie-Hoo Day is a lot of fun,” she said.

Borough resident Donna Thompson said she lived in Florida years ago and is still getting acclimated to the winter weather.

“We need to get spring fever before it is actually here,” she said.

Schuylkill County Commissioner Gary Hess and the former mayor of the borough said the event is a great one for the community “to get people out of the doldrums of winter.”

Tony Mach, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service at State College, said Saturday’s warmer weather was due to a warm front moving over the area. Some sections of the state noticed near-record temperatures. He said it tied a past record for 67 degrees in Williamsport. In Harrisburg, temperatures reached 63 degrees. The temperature in Schuylkill Haven was 56 degrees after the event.

Mach said it is still to early to estimate how much, if any, snow we could get this week. Temperatures will be in the mid-40s for most of the week.

A Tremont man and a Pottsville man charged with a robbery and assault in Branch Township on Sept. 25, 2015, are among those scheduled to plead not guilty Thursday during arraignment in Schuylkill County Court.

Joshua Jiminez, 22, of 1 W. Laurel St., Tremont, and Matthew Engroff, 28, of 1001 W, Market St., Apt. 2, Pottsville, were arrested by Branch Township police Patrolman William Kattner and charged with robbery, aggravated assault, simple assault and harassment.

Kattner said the two men offered to give a ride to Nathen Joppy, Minersville, and, after an argument, Engroff got into the back seat and began to assault Joppy. Jiminez drove onto a dirt road where Joppy jumped out, but Jiminez and Engroff caught him and began another assault.

After robbing Joppy, Jiminez and Engroff got into the vehicle and drove away and, while doing so, backed over Joppy’s legs, Kattner said.

The two assailants were stopped a short time later at a DUI checkpoint in Frackville and found with Joppy’s wallet, Kattner said.

Others scheduled to plead not guilty, and the charges against them, include:

Haley M. Estok, 22, of 21 Morgan Lane, Pine Grove — DUI, DUI-high rate, driving at an unsafe speed, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, careless driving and failure to wear seat belts.

Christopher M. Russell, 38, of 105 Centre Ave., Schuylkill Haven — DUI, DUI-highest rate, disorderly conduct and propulsion of missiles onto a roadway.

John P. Reese, 32, of 622 Fountain St., Ashland — DUI-highest rate and stop and yield sign violations.

Aaron J. Campbell, 35, of 103 E. Centre St., Upper Apartment, Shenandoah — DUI, use of multibeam lighting equipment, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, failure to use seat belts and careless driving.

Marissa L. Beane, 20, of 279 Trout Run Road, Zion Grove — DUI, DUI-minor, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, driving at an unsafe speed, careless driving, minors prohibited from operating a vehicle with alcohol in their system, underage drinking and restrictions on alcoholic beverages.

Karen A. Stump, 42, of 49 S. Balliet St., Frackville — DUI-highest rate and accidents involving damage to unattended vehicles.

Joseph R. McGinley, 42, of 6 Walnut St., Middleport — driving under the influence of drugs, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic, driving an unregistered vehicle and careless driving.

Maria C. Whah, 35, of 29 W. Spruce St., Box 196, Mahanoy City — DUI, DUI-high rate and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Gabrielle A. Accordino, 24, of 118 Red Church Road, Apt. 2, Auburn — driving under the influence of drugs.

Donna E. Shistel, 63, of 91 Orchard Road, Barnesville — DUI and driving on the wrong side of the road.

Raquel M. Heckman, 24, of 310 W. New York St., Shenandoah — driving under the influence of drugs and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Sean R. Keirsey, 31, of 4 Shaft St., Gilberton — driving under the influence of drugs, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Joshua R. Heckman, 31, of 103 Market St., Box 196, Auburn — DUI, DUI-high rate, accidents involving damage to unattended property, failure to give immediate notice of accident to police, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Christopher Blevins, 39, of 302 Orwigsburg St., Tamaqua — driving under the influence of drugs, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Cristal R. Russell, 38, of 23 Valley Road, Tamaqua — DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Tia Wick, 25, of 62B Hunter St., Tamaqua — endangering the welfare of a child and leaving an unattended child in a motor vehicle.

Cody C. Sticker, 23, of 31 Mifflin St., Pine Grove — driving under the influence of drugs, turning movements and required signals violation and general lighting requirements violation.

Michael S. Klinger Jr., 38, of 305 N. Keystone St., Muir — conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility, possession of a controlled substance, possession of altered or misbranded controlled substances, misbranding a controlled substance, possession of drug paraphernalia and possession with intent to deliver drug paraphernalia.

Erica L. Bertasavage, 21, of 27 E. Main St., Apt. 2, Tremont — conspiracy, delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, criminal use of a communications facility and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Robert A. Hamm, 34, of 241 Middle St., Minersville — aggravated assault on police, simple assault, disorderly conduct, DUI, stop and yield sign violations, failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic and careless driving.

Ashley E. Hewes, 37, of 110 American Legion Blvd., Pine Grove — terroristic threats and harassment.

Joshua A. Hewes, 35, of 110 American Legion Blvd., Pine Grove — aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, terroristic threats, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and harassment.

Bernadette Moulthrop, 45, of 212 Center St., Second Floor, Tamaqua — simple assault and harassment.

Jeffrey D. Boyer, 51, of 218 All Kings Drive, New Ringgold — simple assault, possession of drug paraphernalia, harassment, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Ruben Sanchez-Perez, 28, of 309 S. Ferguson St., Shenandoah — possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Nicholas J. Toth, 21, of 41 Municipal Road, New Ringgold — receiving stolen property.

Mark R. Fenkner, 57, of 19 Robinsons Road, Mahanoy City — habitual offenders, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance, unauthorized transfer or use of registration and failure to be licensed.

Kevin L. Moore Jr., 34, of 534 W. Centre St., Mahanoy City — aggravated assault, aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, fleeing or attempting to elude police, accidents involving death or injury while not properly licensed, accidents involving death or personal injury, recklessly endangering another person, possession of a controlled substance, possession of a small amount of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to give information and render aid, driving at an unsafe speed, failure to be licensed, driving on the wrong side of the road, duty of driver on approach of emergency vehicle and reckless driving.

Eric M. Christopher, 22, of 108 Hazle St., Barnesville — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Zandra M. Saunders, 25, of 332 W. Arlington St., Shenandoah — conspiracy.

David R. Dross, 24, of 800 W. High St., Frackville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

James W. Perfidio Jr., 25, of 30 Millers Road, Zion Grove — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Marc Benjamin Jr., 27, of State Correctional Institution/Frackville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Timothy D. McKerns, 35, of 103 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City — delivery of a controlled substance.

Douglas L. Whitman, 38, of 230 W. Arlington St., Shenandoah — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Richard A. Kaleta, 48, of 1138 Pine St., Ashland — extension of a water line, theft of services, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jesse Pritsch, 33, of Box 115, Ashland — theft.

Tyrell J. Rucker, 25, of 12 S. Greenwood St., Apt. 1, Tamaqua — forgery.

Jason J. Dahm, 38, of Box 163, 732 Broad St., Tuscarora — retail theft, receiving stolen property, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John R. Muffley Jr., 35, of 215 Brown St., Tamaqua — aggravated assault on a person less than 6 years old, simple assault and harassment.

Christopher A. White, 24, of 800 W. High St., Frackville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Scott M. Kline, 28, of 5 S. Second St., Apt. 1B, Saint Clair — retail theft.

Gilbert R. Frost, 42, of 204 Valley St., New Philadelphia — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jonathan W. Montag, 30, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — burglary, criminal trespass, theft and receiving stolen property.

Keith D. Kintzel Jr., 29, of 519 Fairview St., Pottsville — theft and receiving stolen property.

Jessa-Lyn A. Hein, 22, of 519 Fairview St., Pottsville — theft, retail theft and receiving stolen property.

William V. Goralewski, 49, of Box 14, Port Carbon — burglary, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and criminal attempt to commit theft.

Donald B. Barndt, 58, of 822 Brock St., Ashland — application for firearms-false statements and unsworn falsification to authorities.

John J. Luback Sr., 49, of 301 Lewis St., Minersville — aggravated assault with a deadly weapon, possessing instruments of crime, discharge of a firearm into an occupied structure, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and disorderly conduct.

Joseph M. Vuksta, 26, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal trespass, conspiracy, theft and receiving stolen property.

Bradley J. Haslam Jr., 22, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — fleeing or attempting to elude police, registration violation of snowmobile or ATV, driving on streets and highways violation, liability insurance violation, trespass by motor vehicle, mufflers and noise control on snowmobiles or ATVs, driving in an unsafe manner and stop and yield sign violations.

Francis L. Kehler III, 42, of 1717 Centre St., Ashland — disorderly conduct, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Paul Holland, 45, of 110 N. Catherine St., Shenandoah — disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Rachael Pleva-Sanko, 37, of 203 N. Highland St., Shenandoah — delivery of a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ashley Bohner, 22, of 44 Main Blvd., Ringtown — retail theft.

William A. Pytak, 31, of 204 N. Nice St., Frackville — fleeing or attempting to elude police, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, reckless driving and limitation on driving on the left side of the road.

Brian S. Craig, 52, of 331 W. Mount Vernon St., Shenandoah — terroristic threats and harassment.

Jeremy G. Wengert, 34, of 161 Railroad St., Cressona — turning movements and required signals violation, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Kelly A. Williams, 27, of 1330 Spruce St., Ashland — possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Jacob M. Mendinsky, 24, of 54 N. Second St., Cressona — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Karla A. Felty, 44, of 99 Railroad St. Cressona — unsworn falsification to authorities.

Alec J. McGovern, 19, of 710 Berne Drive, Auburn — loitering and prowling at night.

Israel S. Whalen, 21, of 304 Village Road, Orwigsburg — possession of a small amount of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Cody S. Morris, 18, of 305 Mahantongo St., Pottsville — possession of a weapon on school property.

Bryon D. Scheuring, 24, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal attempt to commit illegal possession of firearms, application of firearms-false statements and unsworn falsification to authorities.

Shannon L. Arndt, 29, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of a controlled substance.

Christopher R. Wood, 34, of 245 Laurel St., Minersville — criminal trespass, aggravated assault on police, simple assault, resisting arrest, criminal mischief and disorderly conduct.

Robin M. Dease, 51, of 1330 Spruce St., Ashland — altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates and fraudulent use or removal of a registration plate.

Damian M. Hopkins, 30, of 117 N. John St., Girardville — possession of a controlled substance, failure to be licensed and driving without insurance.

Jessica M. Moore, 22, of 424 Pine Creek Drive, Barnesville — firearms not to be carried without a license, receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Angel A. Pohronezny, 29, of 429 Church St., Minersville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Brian R. Kehl, 32, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia and false identification to law enforcement.

Katlyn R. Miller, 25, of 718 Seneca St., Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia and careless driving.

Brandon J. Pugliese, 29, of 422 Dock St., Schuylkill Haven — theft of leased property and receiving stolen property.

Michael J. Price, 26, of 131 E. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City — terroristic threats, resisting arrest, simple assault, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Dean Mignucci, 43, of SCI/Mahanoy, Frackville — contraband-controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Robert M. Conrad Jr., 23, of 116 E. Oak St., Shenandoah — possession of drug paraphernalia.

Tammy A. Conti, 54, of 28 Walnut St., Ringtown — unsworn falsification to authorities.

Francis J. Layton, 25, of 28 Walnut St., Ringtown — unsworn falsification to authorities, false reports, driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, failure to give immediate notice of accident to police and failure to drive on roadways laned for traffic.

Andrew T. Putlock, 33, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession of a controlled substance, theft, receiving stolen property, defiant trespass and possession of drug paraphernalia.

John D. Butz, 35, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — burglary, theft and receiving stolen property.

John L. Black, 32, of 2103 W. Norwegian St., Pottsville — possession of a small amount of marijuana and public drunkenness.

Kyle F. Lombel, 23, of 406 Moonhill Drive, Schuylkill Haven — theft, receiving stolen property and theft of property lost, mislaid or delivered by mistake.

Heather L. Heckman, 24, of 613 Harrison St., Apt./Suite 2E, Pottsville — altered, forged or counterfeit documents and plates, driving an unregistered vehicle, driving without insurance and stop and yield sign violations.

Aaron M. Davis, 31, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ernest A. Rosemond, 38, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — defiant trespass.

Kerry S. Fulmer, 45, of 513 Lombard St., Tamaqua — loitering and prowling at night.

Dylan J. Ward, 25, of 1247 W. Market St., Pottsville — possession of drug paraphernalia.

David J. Hinchey, 23, of 430 Nichols St., Pottsville — disorderly conduct, criminal mischief and harassment.

Amy S. Kane, 41, of 622 N. Second St., Pottsville — bad checks.

Michael J. Spirko Jr., 43, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — driving while operating privileges are suspended or revoked, defiant trespass, possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Christopher J. Morgan, 31, of 541 N. Third St., Minersville — resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and public drunkenness.

Tom A. Starrett, 50, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — criminal trespass.

Kody A. Kirkland, 23, of 221 Fairview St., Pottsville — furnishing drug-free urine.

Andrew D. Rumberger, 25, of 929 Centre St., Ashland — fleeing or attempting to elude police, recklessly endangering another person, simple assault, reckless driving and careless driving.

Robert Sargent, 47, of 26 E. Oak St., Shenandoah — retaliation against a witness or victim, terroristic threats, resisting arrest and disorderly conduct.

Brad M. Melusky, 31, of 535 W. Penn St., Shenandoah — simple assault, harassment and recklessly endangering another person.

Brandy L. Nye, 36, of 230 Arnot St., Saint Clair — receiving stolen property and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Devin M. Giamarino, 29, of 109 Avenue C, Schuylkill Haven — theft.

Shy A. Richter, 26, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville — theft, receiving stolen property, conspiracy, endangering the welfare of a child, possession of drug paraphernalia and criminal mischief.

Richard L. Griffiths, 42, of 555 Sunbury St., Minersville — burglary, criminal trespass and public drunkenness.

Thomas P. Reynolds, 31, of 414 Carbon St., Minersville — theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Vanessa E. Beach, 29, of 414 Carbon St., Minersville — theft, receiving stolen property and conspiracy.

Scott M. Kline, 28, of 5 S. Second St., Apt. 1B, Saint Clair — aggravated assault, simple assault and recklessly endangering another person.

Richard A. Pizzo, 32, of 23 Circle Drive, Barnesville — retail theft.

Maryellen T. Talmadge, 39, of 2E. Colliery Ave., Tower City — false, fraudulent or incomplete insurance claim, theft by deception and criminal attempt to commit theft by deception.

HARRISBURG — The start of budget hearings today will signal a new and likely contentious phase of a political fight that started a year ago.

For the next three weeks, members of the House and Senate appropriations committees will grill members of the Wolf administration and other state agency heads about their spending priorities for the next year and handling of their offices.

The hearings give committee members an opportunity to ask about specific programs, and in some cases, pet projects back in their districts.

And, this year’s hearings will likely have a retroactive twist.

Republican lawmakers plan to ask questions about spending decisions made by Democratic Gov. Tom Wolf while Pennsylvania was without any budget from July through late December.

The purpose of the hearings is to get testimony on Wolf’s new proposal for a $33.3 billion budget for fiscal 2016-17. He called for $2.7 billion in tax hikes to head off a projected $2 billion revenue deficit, increases in education spending and money to combat a heroin epidemic and restore earlier cuts to human service programs. Leaders of the GOP-controlled Legislature strongly criticized the tax proposals.

Thus, the hearings will take place against an election year backdrop of barely restrained partisan warfare over tax-and-spend policies, the deficit, cost of public pension benefits, privatizing the state liquor stores and providing school property tax relief.

Failure to deliver a grand budget agreement covering these issues last December resulted in a partial $24 billion budget shaped by Wolf’s veto. That partial budget leaves school districts, publicly supported universities, the corrections department and other some agencies without enough money to last the entire fiscal 2015-16 year.

Northeast region Sens. David Argall, R-29; Lisa Baker, R-20, Lehman Township.; John Blake, D-22, Archbald; and Mario Scavello, R-40, Mount Pocono, sit on the Senate panel. Reps. Mike Peifer, R-139, Greene Township, and Karen Boback, R-117, Harveys Lake, are on the House panel.

Scavello said a very difficult time lies ahead. He urged the governor to cut a deal to finish the fiscal 2015-16 budget first.

“Give the schools whatever (money) we have and worry about the priorities in the next budget,” he said.

Blake told a legislative breakfast recently that it’s time to complete the 2015-16 budget and then launch negotiations toward a 2016-17 budget.

“The governor’s 2016-17 budget is focused on two things: education funding and addressing the commonwealth’s budget deficit,” he said. “These are certainly priorities for Pennsylvania, but we must also find a consensus and an end to the sharp political division within the Capitol.”

However, too much of a retroactive look could further complicate the goal of appropriating the $6 billion or $7 billion needed to finish the 2015-16 budget. GOP senators questioned at a recent hearing whether Wolf overstepped his authority by releasing money for public health and safety programs during the no-budget period without legislative authorization.

“The governor’s unilateral actions disregard any measure of accountability by the General Assembly,” Sen. John Eichelberger, R-30, Hollidaysburg, said.

House GOP lawmakers plan to ask what agency employees worked on during the period without a budget, Stephen Miskin, spokesman for House Majority Leader Dave Reed, R-62, Indiana, said.

The governor has made it very clear that federal law, state court decisions and the state Constitution enabled the administration during the stalemate to make payments and continue operations in areas that affect the public health, safety and protection of Pennsylvanians, Wolf spokesman Jeff Sheridan said.

He said a state court decision a few years ago requires state employees to report to work and be paid during a stalemate.

“These types of questions are not productive,” Sheridan said. “They (GOP) should pass a real budget that is balanced.”

PINE GROVE — Those wanting to know more about trees came to Sweet Arrow Lake County Park for a presentation Sunday.

About 25 people were there to take a walk in the woods for the Tree-mendous Winter Tree Identification Trek at the park. The event was sponsored by the Schuylkill County Conservancy in conjunction with the park.

“How do you identify trees without leaves?” Frank Snyder, service forester with the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources Bureau of Forestry, asked.

He said the answer is found in examining all the clues the tree leaves behind, which involve looking at the branches, any fruit that might have fallen from the tree, scars and other telltale signs.

A tree scar is what is left after a leaf falls from a tree. He passed around twig of a tree that had what resembled a small “monkey face” on it.

“You have to use your imagination a little bit,” Snyder said.

Snyder provided examples of different twigs and identification information on the short hike around the park.

In Pennsylvania, there are four native trees that have opposite branching, meaning side branches grow directly opposite one another. There are excepts such as if a branch is broken. Maple, ash, dogwood and chestnut are the four native trees in the state with those types of branches, he said.

“Just by looking at twigs, you can eliminate a tree,” he said.

Holding a twig from a red maple tree, he said they are the most abundant tree in the state. Snyder also explained the difference between a tree and a shrub. He said a tree usually has one stem — or trunk — while a shrub has numerous ones.

Examining needles from a white pine, Snyder said it is the only tree with a bundle of five needles. He estimated the small evergreen tree was between 6 and 10 years old.

After a brief talk on tree basics, Snyder took the group on a walk through the melting snow to look at trees. Several people had guidebooks handy for the identification process.

Mike and Gloria Gaidos, Myerstown, Lebanon County, were among those on the trek. Gaidos said identifying the trees will help him while he is outdoors since he is a hunter.

“We’re outdoors people,” he said.

Tammy Erdman, 46, of Hegins, said she thought the event sounded interesting.

“I always want to be informed about my environment,” she said.

Jeff Klinger, 46, of Hegins, said he loves everything about trees and wanted to learn more about the beauty of nature.

SOUTH TAMAQUA — Leiby’s Ice Cream House & Restaurant in West Penn Township is planning to reopen.

A Facebook post last week told customers about the upcoming reopening. The restaurant at 848 W. Penn Pike in West Penn Township closed its doors Dec. 2, 2007. The business was established in 1965.

“It’s the news everyone has been waiting to hear: We are very proud to announce the reopening of Leiby’s Ice Cream House & Restaurant later this year under family ownership. Following over a year of planning, a member of the Leiby family will renovate and then reopen, returning to the community a family restaurant while satisfying the region’s love for the famous local ice cream. You can look forward to the same home-style cooking and friendly, clean environment that you remember from years past,” the statement said.

The property is owned by K Mar Properties Inc. with an address of 2432 Emrick Blvd., Bethlehem, according to the online Schuylkill County Parcel Locator. An employee with the Schuylkill County Recorder of Deeds office said that information was still accurate as of Friday. She provided a phone number for Charles Campbell, an attorney in Bethlehem, who is listed as contact person on the documents, the employee said.

He did not return a call for comment Friday.

Bill Anders, West Penn Township zoning officer and Uniform Construction Code officer, said Friday he also noticed the Facebook post last week.

He said no permits or applications have been submitted for the property.

Anders said he spoke with someone — whom he declined to name — in the fall of last year but has not spoken with them since then.

An employee of the Leiby’s Premium Ice Cream that is not affiliated with the now-closed restaurant said he did not know anything about the possible reopening nor did any of the employees to his knowledge.

FRACKVILLE — The Frackville Area Municipal Authority is continuing its efforts in collecting on delinquent sewage accounts either through liens and/or water shutoffs.

“I’ll be sending out lien and water shutoff letters the first of March,” authority office manager Rhonda C. Frantz said. “As of April 1, we can start shutting water off again. We’d like to let them know they can anticipate getting letters.”

Frantz said when liens are filed, there is a fee that is added to the amount owed.

“When we file a lien, there is always a $50 lien fee,” she said. “That is noted in the lien letters that go out, but when they get their lien notifications, a lot of people are only paying the dollar amount of the lien and don’t seem to realize that there is a $50 lien fee. They are notified in the letter, but when they get their notice from the prothonotary’s office, it doesn’t say there is the fee, which is also due.”

According to the Liaison/Office report, the delinquent account list as of Feb. 17 was $208,308.87, representing 229 accounts owing more than $300. The new total shows a decrease in total delinquencies of $17,828.57 since Jan. 20, when 269 accounts owed more than $300. Residential customers owe $119,719.24 and the State Correctional Institution/Frackville owes $88,589.63 for September through December.

Frantz said about 400 customers have taken advantage of the 10 percent discount by paying their sewage service fee for the year by Feb. 29. The annual service fee is $450, billed at $112.50 per quarter.

“The average is about 450 customers who usually pay for the year,” Frantz said.

The street operations report showed five blockages between Jan. 25 and Feb. 12, which Frantz said is a reduced number for the winter.

“There haven’t been any as many blockages this winter as in previous winters,” Frantz said.

The following committee assignments were released:

• Street operations — David Gera, chairman; William Rhoades, co-chairman; and Carl Pyzowski.

• Finance — Harrison Harper, chairman; Paul Klevis, co-chairman; and Rhoades.

• Liaison/Office — Klevis, chairman; Pyzowski, co-chairman; and Gera.

• Personnel — Pyzowski, chairman; Harper, co-chairman; Klevis.

• Plant operations — Rhoades, chairman; Gera, co-chairman; and Harper.

MAHANOY CITY — The audience gave the cast of “Born For This” a standing ovation Sunday at the Blessed Theresa of Calcutta Roman Catholic Church.

More than 100 people came out to see the retelling of the passion of Christ by Lift Your Spirits Performing Arts, an Ashland-based theater group.

“Loved it. Loved it. Loved it,” Alice Moore, 73, of Mahanoy City, said to Jim Stepanchick, who portrayed Jesus Christ.

She said this is the first time she attended the performance and wants to see it again.

“Shame on you,” she said to people who did not see it.

The performance featured cast members in black attire except for Jesus. He wears a white shirt and a white robe after he is risen from the tomb after the crucifixion. Scenes depicted by the actors included Jesus entering Jerusalem; the Last Supper, when he is betrayed by Judas; and the crucifixion.

Despite weeks of practices, Stepanchick admitted he was a little nervous. He has been a regular in the production for years, but Sunday was his first time portraying Jesus.

“It’s an honor,” he said.

Afterward, Stepanchick said he thought everything went OK.

Cast members said that the message of Jesus dying on the cross in giving his life for ours should resonate with people.

Mary Wydra, 62, of Mount Carmel, who portrayed the mother of Jesus, said the other cast members dressed in black because there is good and bad inside all of us. She thought it was important to be a cast member so people can think about the historic importance of the event. She sang the show’s title track, “Born For This.”

“I walk by your side till we come to the end,” she sang.

Sunday’s performance was the beginning of the group’s 2016 tour. Other scheduled performances are: 7:30 p.m. Feb. 28, St. Columbia Catholic Church, Bloomsburg; 6 p.m. March 6, Sacred Heart of Jesus Catholic Church, Cornwall; 6 p.m. March 13, St. Paul’s Lutheran Church, Dallas; and 6 p.m. March 20, Landsdale, United Methodist Church, Landsdale.

PINE GROVE — Some would find Xinhe Zhu’s balancing act remarkable, knowing how quickly she assimilated into the American culture from China and established herself as a proven student leader.

The Pine Grove Area High School senior’s drive hasn’t gone unnoticed. Xinhe, or Julia, as she’s known, has been recognized with a prestigious appointment into the U.S. Naval Academy. She also just became a U.S. citizen.

Julia arrived in the U.S. from Guangzhou, China, on July 4, 2012, when her mother married her stepfather. She entered high school that fall as a freshman.

“I was the only Asian kid. I was the only ESL (English as a Second Language) student. There were a lot of friendly people, but for the first half of the year, they weren’t able to understand me. I joined cross country and formed a strong bond. We sweat and bled together. Some of my closest friends are my cross country teammates,” she said.

Julia continued studying hard, and eventually gained more confidence, working as a cashier at Hershey Chocolate World, and at a Chinese buffet as a hostess. Last year, she got a lifeguard position at the Pine Grove Community Pool, while broadening her connections and making new friendships.

“A lot of people are losing faith in the American Dream,” she said. “It is the land of opportunity. You can move up the social ladder and achieve. As an immigrant, I truly believe in that,” Julia, 17, a daughter of Emily He and Laurence Addicott, Pine Grove, said.

“You work hard and you play hard, but you have to find a balance,” she said.

Her teachers and advisors at Pine Grove said Julia is a well-rounded student, who demonstrates her excellence in academics, physical fitness and leadership opportunities. The last time someone from Pine Grove had been accepted into a military academy was in the 1990s, according to retired Maj. Will Shiffer, senior Army instructor with Pine Grove’s JROTC program.

There are several categories in which a person can be nominated for consideration into the academy, including Congressional, Presidential, Secretary of the Navy, ROTC and JROTC and by children of deceased or disabled veterans.

Julia was nominated by Shiffer on behalf of the JROTC, and guidance counselor John Gradwell provided assistance.

“She is a highly disciplined student who always puts a maximum effort into everything she does and achieves outstanding results,” Shiffer wrote. “She is dependable and has demonstrated a great deal of initiative in contributing to her school and community. Xinhe is a conscientious student leader who sets a fine example for others to emulate. I am confident she will be highly successful as a Naval Academy cadet and continue to be a leader among peers,” Shiffer said.

He said Xinhe was number one in their battalion of 100 JROTC cadets and currently serves as cadet battalion commander.

Julia said she was surprised when she heard the news she would be attending the academy this summer, since she almost didn’t complete the lengthy application process.

“My dad, he believed in me and he set me up for the summer seminar. Major Shiffer gave me a lot of support. At first I thought there’s no way I’m getting in. Mr. Gradwell, he was talking to me for two hours. I got so pumped and said I have to finish the process.”

“My parents have so much faith in me and tell me every single day,” she said.

Julia considered several academic options. She visited Wilkes University and was offered a full scholarship. Penn State University also accepted her.

“I wanted to go to school and have a free ride,” she said.

She realized going to the Naval Academy would mean attending a well-known, prestigious institution, but would include sacrificing some aspects associated with normal college life. She knew there would be less free time and less time to socialize.

“I wanted that financial freedom. It’s a choice I had to make. You know you’re serving your country,” she said.

Julia’s in distinguished company. A candidate needs a nomination first in order to get an appointment in the academy. Typically, 4,000 candidates receive nominations each year, but only 1,500 appointments are given out, according to the academy’s informational website. Appointments are invitations to attend the Naval Academy.

After completing four years at the academy, graduates receive bachelor of science degrees and commissions as ensigns in the Navy or second lieutenants in the Marine Corps. In return for their education, Naval Academy graduates serve at least five years in the Navy or Marine Corps.

Initially, Julia admitted, she joined Pine Grove’s JROTC program because of the “field trips.” Recent JROTC excursions included visiting the Denver Air Field in Colorado, and Washington, D.C., she said.

Julia said she has a firm foundation in the science, technology, engineering and mathematical skills. She’s also trilingual, speaking English, Mandarin and Cantonese.

“My academics are a priority. I think Major Shiffer saw in me that I’m still trying and I’m still challenging myself. Studying is my job. I have friends that are smart, but some of them don’t try,” Julia said.

The academic rigors are something Julia was accustomed to in her native China.

“In China, you take tests to get selected into which (private) middle school and high school you would go to,” she said.

Her parents said at the end of her sixth-grade year in China, she ranked 32nd out of a student pool of 7,000. Children attend private boarding schools, where they reside five to six days per week. They wake up about 6 a.m., do exercises and chores at 7 or 7:30 a.m., attend breakfast, then begin classes at 8 a.m., Julia said. After several classes, they eat lunch and then nap. There’s afternoon classes, and time to go back to their dorms to freshen up and eat supper, before attending night-time mandatory study sessions from 7:30 to 9:30 or 10 p.m. There’s also homework on the weekends.

“I think family is more important than your school, or government. I know everyone in my family has a solid educational background. I know I have to do well in school. My family says you have to try hard,” Julia said.

She said her mother is a supportive person, and not one of those “Tiger Moms” who is too strict and demand perfection.

Her mother said, in her experience, school demands are too strict on the students in China, but there may be too much freedom here.

“In America, students have too much spare time to do what they want,” she said.

She’s proud of her daughter’s efforts.

“She (Julia) would often wake up at 3 or 4 in the morning to study. She knows what she needs to do,” she said.

Julia’s father also encouraged her to pursue what was of interest to her. Her father is a Marine Corps veteran and works in the Pennsylvania Army National Guard, 28th Financial Management, Lebanon. Her mother has an international business degree and worked as a human resource director and vice-general manager of a business in south China, before moving to the U.S.

Addicott said his daughter completed a huge amount of paperwork online, and the family drove Julia across the state to interview Naval Academy alumni as part of the process.

“She has strong skills that an institution like the Navy can appreciate and make good use of. She’s the whole picture,” he said.

Julia said her mother encouraged her to put what she enjoys doing as her hobby, and then find a degree that’s useful and practical.

Some of the activities Julia joined at Pine Grove include JROTC drill team, color guard, rifle team and staff team; National Honor Society; cross country, 9th to 12th grade; track and field, 9th to 12th grade; Advanced Placement Environmental Science and Recycling Club; AP English Literature Club; and Quiz Bowl. She had formerly served on the International Club. She tried cheerleading and Ski Club, but found they weren’t for her.

She’s a Red Cross certified lifeguard and works during the summer at the Pine Grove community swimming pool. She has attended the JROTC Junior Cadet Leadership Challenge Camp, a Winter Survival Camp, a Water Adventure Leadership Camp, the Lions Club Youth Leadership Seminar and the National Sojourners Spirit of America Youth Leadership Conference. Julia’s also participated in many community service events including a coat drive for children, a lake and park cleanup, and performed ceremonial events for Veterans Day and Memorial Day.

She’s planning on taking a trip back to China to catch up with family and friends before she starts her “Plebe Summer” at the academy at the end of June.

“I’m extremely flattered I got accepted,” she said.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Pitman man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after a preliminary hearing Thursday on charges he burglarized a building in Eldred Township in November 2015.

Cody S. Glosek, 20, of 1563 Creek Road, Pitman, faces one count each of burglary and criminal trespass, two each of theft and receiving stolen property and three of forgery. Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi ruled at the end of the hearing that prosecutors produced enough evidence to support the charges and ordered all of them held for court.

State police at Schuylkill Haven allege Glosek burglarized the building on Nov. 1, 2015.

Glosek is free on $5,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

Other people whose cases Rossi considered on Thursday, the charges against them and the judge’s dispositions of the matters included:

Angela M. Dolla, 45, of 31 N. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove — retail theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Jane Freeze, 46, of 1681 Westgate Drive Apt. 104, York — driving under the influence and stop sign violation; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Katrina L. Henderson, 40, of 970 Deturksville Road, Pine Grove — simple assault and harassment; charges withdrawn.

Scott G. Killian, 25, of 29 Cedar St., Cressona — two counts of criminal trespass and one each of burglary and theft; one count of criminal trespass and charges of burglary and theft withdrawn. Killian pleaded guilty to other count of criminal trespass. Rossi sentenced him to pay costs and a $200 fine.

John J. Mays, 113 N. White St., Shenandoah — public nuisance; charge withdrawn.

Jared A. Raczka, 24, of 334 N. Front St., Minersville — theft and resisting arrest; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Heather Rhoad, 30, of 144 N. West St., Williamstown — simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Troy A. Richardson, 24, of 332 W. Grand Ave., Tower City — four counts of recklessly endangering another person and one of simple assault; charges withdrawn.

Alex J. Shanko, 37, of 303 N. Nice St., Frackville — 10 counts each of theft, receiving stolen property and theft by failure to make required disposition; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

John M. Siegel, 42, of 3861 Sweet Arrow Lake Road, Pine Grove — DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia, possession of marijuana, driving without a license, driving unregistered vehicle and operating vehicle without valid inspection; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Ronald G. Sticker Jr., 35, of 181 S. Tulpehocken St., Pine Grove — burglary, terroristic threats, simple assault and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Shawn F. Sukeena, 38, of 58 Sculps Hill Road, Orwigsburg — possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, possession of a controlled substance, prohibited possession of firearm, carrying firearm without a license, possession of drug paraphernalia, driving unregistered vehicle, driving without a license, driving under suspension and operating vehicle without required financial responsibility; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

A Frackville man will serve time in a state correctional institution after being sentenced Friday in Schuylkill County Court on three separate charges.

Patrick J. Fogarty, 43, will spend two years in the state intermediate punishment program, which combines prison time with substance abuse treatment programs, under the terms of Judge James P. Goodman’s sentence.

“Your main issue is with alcohol?” Goodman asked Fogarty.

“Yes, sir,” Fogarty replied.

Fogarty originally pleaded guilty on Sept. 23, 2015, to driving under the influence in two cases and criminal mischief in the third. Prosecutors withdrew two charges each of driving under suspension-DUI related, disregarding traffic lane and driving without a license, and one each of accident involving damage to unattended vehicle or property, failure to drive at a safe speed, careless driving, violation of restrictions on alcoholic beverages and seat belt violation.

Shenandoah police alleged Fogarty was DUI on Dec. 15, 2012, in that borough, while Frackville borough police alleged he was DUI on July 21, 2014, and committed criminal mischief on Oct. 14, 2014, in that borough.

Goodman also sentenced Fogarty to pay costs, $4,000 in fines, $600 to the Substance Abuse Education Fund and $60 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street.

“Hopefully, you can complete this program successfully,” Goodman told Fogarty.

“I will,” the defendant answered.

Fogarty is an inmate at State Correctional Institution/Camp Hill in Cumberland County, and Goodman conducted the hearing by videoconference.

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

Andre Jackson, 31, of Pottsville — simple assault and disorderly conduct; six to 23 months in prison with immediate parole. Prosecutors withdrew a charge of harassment.

Stephen S. Kubeika, 28, of Saint Clair — escape, fraudulent or altered documents, DUI, failure to keep right, operating vehicle without valid inspection and illegal off-road lighting; six to 12 months in prison, $1,075 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $460 restitution to Schuylkill Medical Center-South Jackson Street and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew charges of fleeing or eluding police, driving under suspension, reckless driving, operating vehicle without required financial responsibility and driving without a license.

Kaitlin S. Leibensperger, 22, of Schuylkill Haven — possession of drug paraphernalia; 12 months probation and $100 SAEF payment.

Stephen T. Leibensperger II, 34, of Minersville — DUI and disregarding traffic lane; six months to five years in prison, $1,525 in fines, $100 SAEF payment, $476 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem and $50 bench warrant fee. Prosecutors withdrew charges of failure to drive at a safe speed and careless driving.

James A. Polusky, 25, of Shenandoah — possession of a controlled substance; 12 months probation consecutive to current sentence, $100 SAEF payment and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew charges of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Edward L. Rivera Jr., 30, of Tamaqua — conspiracy; 12 months probation consecutive to current sentence, $50 CJEA payment, $50 bench warrant fee and $604.35 restitution.

Brenda Sheppo, 32, of Pottsville — two counts of possession of a controlled substance and one of possession of drug paraphernalia; 24 months probation, $100 SAEF payment and $50 CJEA payment.

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

n Altamont: The Altamont Fire Company will hold Lenten seafood dinners from 4:30 to 6:30 p.m. on Fridays during Lent at the firehouse, 215 S. Green St. People may pay at the door. The menu includes haddock (baked or beer battered), shrimp, crab cakes, macaroni and cheese and stewed tomatoes and mixed vegetables. Patrons may eat at the firehouse or take meals out. To order or for more information, call 570-874-4384.

n Fountain Springs: The North Schuylkill School District will host “The Skook Recovers” at 6 p.m. Tuesday in the large group instruction room at the high school. Travis Snyder, a Tri-Valley graduate, athlete and recovering heroin addict will present a program aimed at a “more positive and unified consciousness in Schuylkill County,” according to a release. He will share what he has learned from his personal experience growing up, living in and overcoming the struggle of addiction in Schuylkill County. There is no charge to attend.

n Gilberton: St. John Ukrainian Catholic Church in the borough’s Maizeville section is taking orders for homemade Easter eggs with pickups set for 10 a.m. to noon March 13. The cost is $10 per dozen and the deadline to order is March 5. Flavors include peanut butter, coconut cream or butter cream. To order or for more information, call Martha at 570-874-2043 or Anna at 570-874-2207.

n Newtown: Newtown Volunteer Fire Company, 36 Wood St., will hold a dance from 9 p.m. to midnight March 5. Mr. Z and the Night Shifts will provide entertainment. There will be a $5 cover charge. For more information, call 570-695-3777.

n Pine Grove: An American Red Cross blood drive is set for 1 to 6 p.m. Feb. 29 at Providence Place Senior Living, 24 Hikes Hollow Road. People 17 and older (16 with parental consent), weighing at least 110 pounds and in general good health are urged to give blood. For more information or to make and appointment, call 800-733-2767.

n Pottsville: The Penn State Master Gardeners are inviting people to join them at 1202 Ag Center Drive, Pottsville, from 8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m. March 5 as they share information on garden tools, vegetable planting, lawn care, pesticide use, unusual veggies to try and pollinators. The cost for each attendee is $18 payable to PSCE Program Acct-Schuylkill County and mail to the aforementioned address. For more information, call 570-622-4225, ext.20.

n Pottsville: The National Active and Retired Federal Employees Chapter 413 will meet at 1 p.m. March 8 at Yorkville Hose Company, 20th and West Norwegian streets. Attorney Eric Mika, certified elder attorney, will be the presenter. Lunch will be served.

n Shenandoah: Divine Mercy Roman Catholic Parish is asking people to give something during a special collection for the Bernardine Franciscan Sisters during Lent. Items may be dropped off at the church or at the parish office, 108 W. Cherry St., during regular business hours. Most needed items include laundry detergent, bar soaps, hand towels, bath towels, tissues, mouthwash, denture cleaner, shampoo, writing paper/cards, pillows, washcloths, hand and body lotion, baby wipes, liquid soap refills, deodorant, Clorox and twin blankets for the retirement home of the Bernardine Sisters of the Third Order of St. Francis and for St. Joseph Villa. For more information, call the parish office at 570-462-1968.

n Tamaqua: American Hose Company No. 1 and East End Fire Company will sponsor the fourth annual chili and boilo cook-off Saturday at East End Fire Company, 553 E. Broad St. Registration will begin at 11 a.m. and tasting will be from 1 to 5 p.m. The registration fee is $20 and tasting fee is $10. Tasting and registration special packages are available. The event will benefit the Carbon/Tamaqua American Cancer Society. For advance registration or more information, call Brian Connely at 570-728-4743.

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The North Schuylkill school board held a short monthly meeting Wednesday and acted on basic agenda items.

The school board acted on the following personnel items:

• Approved Ellen Brylewski and Clarissa Geary as lifeguards/swim instructors at the high school swimming pool. Geary will volunteer her time at no pay.

• Approved childbearing/childrearing leave request from elementary special education teacher Kristen Weinrich, effective on or before April 27 until the start of the 2016-17 school year.

• Approved a stipend for Matt Wislosky of $25 per day for covering the life skills classroom in the absence of a full-time teacher from Dec. 21, 2015, to Jan. 16.

Under curriculum and instructional programs, the following were acted on:

• Approved the 2015-16 school calendar revisions caused by weather cancellations on Jan. 25 and 26 and Feb. 16. The makeup days will be March 29, March 24 and March 28, respectively.

• Approved the 2016-17 high school course selection guide handbooks for grades 7 and 8, and from grades 9 through 12.

• Approved a letter of agreement for the Provision of Student Assistance Program Service with the Schuylkill County Mental Health/Developmental Services/Drug and Alcohol Programs effective from Jan. 1 through Dec. 31, 2016.

• Approved the request from social worker Michael Evans to attend the Pennsylvania Student Assistance Program Conference at State College on Feb. 28 through March 1 with costs to the district not to exceed about $660 ($340 for registration, $120 for mileage and $200 for lodging).

• Approved a request from Spanish teacher Lindsay Furman to attend an Advanced Placement Workshop-Spanish Language and Culture at Camden, Delaware, on March 3 with costs to the district not to exceed $465 ($215 for registration, $92 for mileage, and $158 for tolls, meals and lodging).

• Approved a field trip request from the North Schuylkill Elementary PTO to Hershey Chocolate World for first-grade students, teachers and chaperones on April 6 to 8 with no costs to the district.

The following extracurricular programs activities were acted on:

• Approved a trip for North Schuylkill students to Ireland, Wales and England from June 13 to June 21, 2017, at no cost to the district.

• Approved a field trip request from Brandi Kline to Orlando, Florida, for the Treble Maker Chorus members and chaperones from June 1 to 8 at no cost to the district.

• Approved a field trip to the Capitol Rotunda in Harrisburg for the Treble Maker Chorus members and chaperones on March 14.

During the Committee of the Whole meeting that preceded the regular meeting, the following students of the month were recognized: Samuel Wall, first grade; Hope Borrell, fifth grade; Rodney Buskirk, eighth grade; Cheyenne Stoneroad, 10th grade; Anya Spotts and Daulton Smith, 12th grade.

Student council representative Kali Antalosky presented a report to the school board. The following Employees of the Quarter were recognized: Sean Smith, Cindy Zimmerman and Keri Barnes.