The community can bid on 32 pieces from regional artists in a variety of mediums at the annual Holiday Art Auction at AFA Gallery, 514 Lackawanna Ave., Scranton.

Set for Saturday, with cocktails at 6 p.m. and the auction at 7, it serves as the gallery’s largest fundraiser.

Tickets are $25 and include refreshments, light fare from local restaurants and acoustic music by Rich Jenkins.

Artists donate each piece up for grabs. Committee chair Nikki Moser said this year features two surprise pieces that will be wrapped in brown paper and not revealed until after someone wins each. There also will be pieces from young artists and lower price points so new bidders can be brave and take a shot at winning.

Moser insisted that one of the most fun parts of the night is the bidding.

“It’s always fun when people come with a full table,” she said. “To see that dynamic and people encouraging each other to bid, it’s a great time.”

Chances for this year’s featured raffle item, “Flower Child #8,” a hand-cut paper collage created by Paul Plumadore, are $2 each or three for $5 and are available at the gallery. Guests do not need to be at the event to win the raffle piece.

Moser said all of Plumadore’s pieces are more than meets the eye.

“He has such a delicate sort of touch in terms of putting images together,” Moser said. “They seem like one thing on the surface, and once you really investigate, you understand the intricacies of how they’re almost stitched together in this way.”

Guests also can bid on experiences, such as a print-making workshop with Mark Ciocca, a letterpress outing with the Workshop owner Chris Medley or special services from local nonprofits, the Erie Lackawanna Dining Car Preservation Society and American Wine Society. Moser said the experiences were popular among bidders last year, and the committee expanded on options this time around.

“It’s a way to bring people into the arts in a different way than choosing an object,” she said. “With these experiences, you can get out and see and do what lots of area arts have to offer.”

Each element of the holiday auction combines to offer something for all interests and tastes, which serves the true mission of the event: engagement between artists and guests.

“It’s great fun. This fundraiser keeps doors open for the year,” Moser said. “And we really do everything we can to ensure everyone — artists and guests — have a lovely evening.”

Contact the writer: gmazur@timesshamrock.com; 570-348-9127

POTTSVILLE — A Pottsville man will spend time on probation after a Schuylkill County judge determined on Wednesday that he violated a protection from abuse order in March.

Paul M. Kopinetz, 39, is guilty of indirect criminal contempt, which is contempt committed outside the courtroom, Senior Judge D. Michael Stine ruled.

Stine promptly placed Kopinetz on probation for 180 days, and also sentenced him to pay costs and a $300 fine. The judge made the sentence concurrent with one the defendant already is serving.

Pottsville police charged Kopinetz with violating the order on March 28 in the city. Stine noted that the court had entered the order against the defendant on March 27.

Also in the county court, John J. Liptok, 29, of Pottsville, will spend time on house arrest after admitting Monday that he drove while his license was suspended for an alcohol-related reason.

Liptok pleaded guilty before Judge Charles M. Miller to driving under suspension-DUI related. Miller accepted the plea and sentenced Liptok to spend 60 days on house arrest with electronic monitoring and pay costs and a $500 fine.

Saint Clair police had charged Liptok with driving with the suspended license on May 12 in the borough. Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon, had found Liptok guilty on Aug. 9, but the defendant appealed that ruling on Aug. 10.

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

William R. Long Jr., 57, of Saint Clair; possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia; time served to 23 months in prison with immediate parole, $200 in payments to the Substance Abuse Education Fund, $100 in payments to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account and $113 restitution to the state police crime laboratory in Bethlehem. Prosecutors withdrew charges of delivery of a controlled substance, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance and defiant trespass.

Christ Natale, 43, of Minersville; possession of drug paraphernalia; six months probation, $100 SAEF payment, $50 CJEA payment and drug and alcohol evaluation.

William C. Yawornicky, 36 of Terre Hill; burglary and theft; four to eight years in a state correctional institution, $50 CJEA payment, $3,260 restitution and submission of a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities. Prosecutors withdrew two counts of criminal trespass and one of receiving stolen property, plus one additional count of theft.

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

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

State police probe

theft of heaters

LYKENS — State police at Lykens are investigating a theft that occurred at a home on North Crossroads Road in Lykens Township between 8 p.m. Nov. 8 and 8 a.m. Friday.

Police said someone entered the home of a 53-year-old Lykens man and removed blower heater units from the basement.

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

2 face drug charges

after traffic stop

McADOO — Two men were charged by McAdoo police after officers stopped the vehicle they were in for an equipment violation in the borough about 9:45 p.m. Sept. 13.

As a result of the stop, police said, they charged the driver — Gino Fedullo, 20, of Hazle Township — with DUI, possession of drug paraphernalia and a summary offense.

His passenger — Nicholas Campbell, 29, also of Hazle Township — was charged with possession of marijuana and possession of drug paraphernalia, police said.

Violent incident

results in charges

PINE GROVE — Two people were arrested by Pine Grove police stemming from an incident about 3:55 p.m. Sept. 20 in the 400 block of American Legion Boulevard.

Police said Wade A. Yoder, 31, of 71 Rock Road, Pine Grove, was charged with strangulation, simple assault and harassment, while Skyler R. Blough, 20, of 4 Mason Drive, Pine Grove, was charged with simple assault and harassment.

Charges against both Yoder and Blough were filed with Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, police said.

Police said officers were called to the area for a report of an assault and spoke to Blough, who explained that she and Yoder became involved in an argument and that she left the vehicle they were in and began to walk away.

Blough said as she was doing so, Yoder punched her in the arm, grabbed her and threw her to the grass off the side of the road and then grabbed her by the throat while she was lying on the ground, police said.

When contacted later, police said, Yoder reported the same events took place but said Blough hit him several times before he threw her to the ground while trying to defend himself.

State police to hold

safety seat check

ASHLAND — State police at Frackville said they will be hosting a child passenger fitting station from 2 to 6 p.m. Monday at the Washington Fire Company Ambulance building, 1309 Centre St., Ashland.

Anyone wishing to get a child passenger safety seat installed or checked by a troopers is encouraged to stop by during the above listed times.

David J. Rossi

TREMONT — A Hegins Township man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Thursday for allegedly burglarizing a building in his hometown in July and stealing tools from it.

Richard W. Klare Jr., 29, of 212 Snooks Alley, Valley View, faces charges of burglary conspiracy, criminal trespass, theft, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief and loitering and prowling at nighttime.

Magisterial District Judge David J. Rossi bound over all charges for court after Klare waived his right to the hearing. He allowed Klare to remain free on $5,000 unsecured bail pending further court action.

Hegins Township police charged that between 3 and 4:30 a.m. July 25, Klare broke into 327 Park Road, Valley View, and stole $3,400 worth of tools. Klare also cut the cords to many tools left behind, making them useless, according to police.

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

Bradley S. Donton, 34, of Pine Grove; strangulation, simple assault and harassment; charges of strangulation and simple assault dismissed. Donton pleaded guilty to harassment; Rossi sentenced him to pay costs and a $300 fine.

Brian H. Dunlap, 40, of 18 Wiggan St., New Philadelphia; conspiracy and receiving stolen property; charges held for court after preliminary hearing.

Scott A. Ellis, 49, of 40 Clay St. Apt. 1, New Philadelphia; theft and receiving stolen property; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Debra A. Graeff, 43, of 102 E. Center St., Donaldson; possession of drug paraphernalia; right to preliminary hearing waived, charge bound over for court.

Kasey K. Keeler, 30, of 15 Brommer Lane, Pine Grove; simple assault, resisting arrest, disorderly conduct and harassment; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges of simple assault and resisting arrest withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Lisa M. Kelly, 49, of 1020 Pottsville St., Pottsville; driving under the influence and DUI while suspended; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

POTTSVILLE — Trying to encourage participants to toe the line, Schuylkill County Drug Treatment Court officials on Thursday distributed the first small incentives to help people follow their programs.

Lynn Holden, the treatment court coordinator, said everyone who complies with the program can enter the drawings, which will be held at the court’s weekly sessions.

“As long as you do everything good for the week your name goes in (the fishbowl),” she said.

Drawings will be held for each phase of the program in which the 35 people in the program are participating, Holden said.

Teddy in Phase One, Michelle in Phase Two and Bruce in Phase Three won this week’s drawings. They received, respectively, a bottle of detergent, a jacket and a box of trash bags.

The incentives form a contrast with the sanctions the participants receive when they violate the rules of the program.

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

Participants in that 14-month program must undergo substance abuse treatment, make regular court appearances, submit to random drug testing and home visits, meet with probation officers and comply with directives from the court and those officers. Participants must complete all five phases in order to graduate from the program; graduation is the carrot, resulting in dismissal of the charges against them.

However, since the defendants enter guilty pleas to the charges against them, failure to complete the program is the stick, resulting in them being sentenced, possibly to time in a state correctional institution.

Judge James P. Goodman, who presides over the court, encouraged the participants to stay on track, and not just to get the possibility of a reward.

“You can do it if you want to, so just stick with it,” he said.

Program participants spent the rest of the session reading from their required weekly essays on what their favorite things are.

“I like movies, ’80s music, ‘The Golden Girls,’ my daughter and Swedish fish,” Randy said.

Randy was not the only one who mentioned their family.

“I like my son, spending time with my family, my freedom, drug court and my friends,” Angelina said.

The outdoors and exercising also were popular topics mentioned.

“I like to golf, the Steelers, going to the gym, music and hiking,” Brett said.

Kelcie also mentioned people close to her among her likes.

“I liked cleaning, candles, Christmas, my family and laughing,” she said.

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

POTTSVILLE — Additional details were released Wednesday about the new veterans clinic coming to Pottsville.

Schuylkill County commissioners and representatives with the Lebanon Veterans Administration Medical Center and STG International Inc. spoke with a small group of people at the Salvation Army on Sanderson Street in the city about the clinic, which is expected to open early next year.

“We just came through a walk through of the new facility. You’re going to be thrilled to be able to get your health care there,” Margaret Wilson, acting director of the Lebanon VA Medical Center, said.

The address of the Schuylkill County Community Clinic is 1410 Laurel Blvd. Suite 2, which is the former United Metal Receptacle building. Plans for the clinic were announced in September.

About 9,400 square feet are available for use for a full range of services including mental, behavioral and women’s health. Primary care, telehealth services, referral for speciality care, radiology, laboratory and pharmacy services will also be provided. Hours are 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. Monday through Friday.

“We are expecting to be able to see patients in February 2018,” Wilson said.

STG International Inc., headquartered in Alexandria, Virginia, was awarded the contract for the clinic by the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs’ Lebanon VA Medical Center previously. A lease was signed between STG and MBC Grings Hill, Schuylkill Haven. MBC Grings Hill is the real estate division of Miller Brothers Construction for the property.

Elle Ramirez, deputy director of clinical operations with STG, said they will strive to provide “the best five-star service.”

She said “access will not be an issue.” Those who visit the clinic will have a team assigned to them that consists of a provider, a registered nurse, a clerk and licensed practical nurse that will help them. A provider could be a medical doctor, a nurse practitioner or a physicians assistant. Fifteen primary care employees will work at the site along with five VA employees.

“We’re very proud to serve you. We are excited to be here,” Ramirez said.

A floor plan of the building shows a lobby/reception area, open offices where employees work, eight primary care exam rooms, four mental health consulting rooms, a telepsych and a teleretinal and teledermatology room, where patients can talk to medical professionals via a TV screen, and a laboratory.

Brenda Zechman, director of Veterans Affairs for Schuylkill County, said there are more than 16,000 veterans in the county and most go to the Lebanon VA Medical Center for medical services.

Commissioner George F. Halcovage Jr. appreciated the investment in the community.

“We want to welcome you to the Schuylkill County family,” he said to STG representatives.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

After the accusations of inappropriate behavior leveled against Minnesota Sen. Al Franken, several Pennsylvania lawmakers offered their reactions.

Jacklin Rhoads, U.S. Sen. Bob Casey’s press secretary, said, “Sen. Casey supports an ethics investigation into this matter.”

“These allegations are very troubling. No one has the right to touch someone else without their consent. It’s inexcusable behavior. Anyone involved in this type of conduct must be held accountable,” Casey said in an email.

“It is so disappointing,” U.S. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, said. “I’d like to see a full ethics investigation with all the details before we make that decision. ... But it may well be that he will have to resign.”

U.S. Rep. Lou Barletta, R-11, Hazleton, and U.S. Sen. Pat Toomey, R-Pa., did not respond to requests for comment.

BARNESVILLE — The Ryan Township supervisors and the public were provided information on a planned wastewater treatment plant in the Mahanoy Business Park at Monday’s meeting.

Schuylkill Economic Development Corp. President Frank J. Zukas explained the proposed plant at the business park on land identified as the Bendinsky or Yudacot Airport Parcel, which is approximately 509 acres located in Mahanoy and Ryan townships.

The sewage treatment plant will be on the proposed western access road for the parcel and occupy 4 acres.

“I’m here on behalf of SEDCO, who in concert with the Yudacot Corporation, which is Steve Cutler and owns a block of acreage straddling both Ryan and Mahanoy townships at the Mahanoy City exit of the interstate,” Zukas said. “We’ve been working about three years putting together a plan for the development at what used to be the old Yudacot Airport for an industrial site — a logistics/distribution type of usage. About four months ago, the property went under an agreement of sale with the company out of Kansas City called NorthPoint Development.”

According to the Bloomberg website, NorthPoint operates as a real estate development, management and leasing company. It develops, manages and leases industrial, multi-family, senior living and self-storage properties in the central U.S.

This year, NorthPoint purchased the Schuylkill Mall near Frackville in a bankruptcy auction for $2.1 million. The mall building will be demolished for the construction of two industrial buildings in the near future.

“NorthPoint is interested in developing the site with multiple buildings that are logistics oriented,” Zukas continued. “During the last two and a half years as we have been going through the engineering and permitting process on the site, we’ve obviously been dealing with the issue of public sewer. There is no sewage Act 537 plan in Mahanoy Township yet, and that site in Mahanoy Township is a bit too removed from any municipal system. We’ve done feasibility studies with Alfred Benesch &Company looking at the possibility of tying in with Mahanoy City (Sewer Authority) system and into your system (Northeast Schuylkill Joint Municipal Authority). The most feasible system is an on-site system.”

The narrative of the project states Benesch determined that the conceptual cost to construct a gravity sewer line to either of the existing treatment facilities in the area would be financially unfeasible for such small flows. It was determined that the cost would range from $2.6 million to $3.3 million. It was determined that a new wastewater treatment package plant at a budgetary cost of $1.4 million is the most technically and economically feasible option for the treatment of sanitary sewage for the proposed development.

“So our alternative was an on-site system,” Zukas said. “What we have before you today is what DEP (the stateDepartment of Environmental Protection) would call a ‘planning module.’ It’s notification that we’re intending to apply for a permit to build an on-lot sewage treatment plant that would discharge into the Codorus Creek. It would service the complex of buildings being proposed by the developer and this step in the process would require it going before the planning commissions in both township, which we did last week. Both planning commissions approved and the next step in the process is the public notification, which is tonight’s meeting.”

The notification will be presented at the Mahanoy Township supervisors’ meeting at 6:30 p.m. Thursday

“It will go before the township and then be resubmitted to DEP,” Zukas said. “It doesn’t mean we can build a sewage plant. It creates another step in the process for development to occur.”

The plan will return to the planning commissions and zoning boards of both townships and go to the county.

“We’re at kind of the midpoint in the permitting process. Water has been extended into that portion of the township with the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority extending a 12-inch water line, which is the tower you see up there with the advertising on it. That would be the public water service for the facility,” Zukas said. “The Schuylkill County Municipal Authority will ultimately take over ownership and operation of the plant.”

The Mahanoy Business Park consists of Fabcon Inc., Mainstay Hotel, and a vacant warehouse owned by Moran Real Estate. These entities utilize on-lot sewer systems and receive public water through the SCMA system. The Mountain Valley Golf Course is adjacent to the south of the parcel.

The treatment plant capacity will be 50,000 gallons per day that will accommodate the three proposed warehouses that will use a type similar to the Lowe’s Distribution Center at the Highridge Business Park. According to the project narrative, it is anticipated there will be no industrial waste discharged to the new wastewater treatment plant and the waste would be consistent with domestic sewage.

“It is designed for 50,000 gallons per day. We don’t believe the building complex will come anywhere near using that, but it would give the capacity for any residential development that would take place within the complex of the Mountain Valley Golf Course area to tie into public sewage at some time in the future,” Zukas said.

Zukas took questions from the public, one on the amount of wastewater that will be produced. He said gallons per day of wastewater from Lowe’s Distribution Center at Highridge, with 715 employees, is 5,000 gallons, leaving most of the plant capacity available for potential residential development.

“Tonight is the opportunity for the township to receive comment on it and to take action to accept it or just recognition that the submission has been made,” Zukas said.

Supervisor Franklin Fetter, board secretary/treasurer, said: “Our only concern from the supervisors’ standpoint is any encroachment on the Codorus watershed.”

“The sequence of what needs to be done before we get to anything that even comes close to a building permit is going to include an NPDES (National Pollutant Discharge Elimination System) permit, which is stormwater management, which currently is the most challenging of any permits one gets from the state,” Zukas replied. “The theory is that no stormwater should be leaving the site any longer, so they try to find devices that basically allow for infiltration of the stormwater onsite, so all of that still has to be done sometime in the future. This approval will take us one step in the right direction to proceed with that. There have been about nine months worth of studies to get to the point for DEP to look at this submission.”

The supervisors approved a resolution to have the plan’s process move forward.

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

Information incorrect

The cost of photos with Santa at Small Business Weekend on Nov. 26 in Frackville was incorrect in the Nov. 10 edition. Ernie’s Photography will set up from noon to 5 p.m. for photos with Santa at Annunciation BVM Hall, 37 S. Broad Mountain Ave. There is a fee for various photo packages starting at $15. Pets are welcome after 4 p.m. Photos can be taken without Santa from 5 to 6 p.m.

Elizabethville

The Elizabethville Area Historical Society will meet at 7 p.m. Monday at Trinity United Methodist Church. Barbara Minchhoff will present a program titled “The Yanks Are Coming” regarding World War I and Veterans’ Day and why the day is celebrated on Nov. 11. The public is invited to attend.

Frackville

Elks Lodge 1533, South Third Street, will have a mackerel breakfast beginning at 8 a.m. Dec. 3. Tickets are $8 each with a full breakfast menu. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-874-2500. The lodge will have is annual memorial service at 2 p.m. Dec. 3 to honor departed members. All are welcome. Call the aforementioned number for information.

Llewellyn

Good Intent Hose Company, 12 Silverton Road, will feature entertainment by Sapphire from 9 p.m. to midnight Nov. 25 at the firehouse. Tickets are $5 each; the kitchen will be open. For more information, call 570-544-9974. The company will also feature Seamus Kennedy from 3 to 7 p.m. Nov. 26. Tickets are $10 each. Call the aforementioned number for information.

Orwigsburg

Faith Church, 1168 Centre Turnpike (Route 61), will have free Grief Share for people who have lost loved ones at 6:30 p.m. Monday. For more information, call 301-538-2253.

Pottsville

Songs of the Season at the Majestic Theater, 309 N. Centre St., will feature Gary MacCready & Friends featuring Shenandoah’s Leilani Chesonis at 7 p.m. Saturday; Brad Crum in “Remembering Elvis” at 7 p.m. Nov. 24 and Tom Davis as Garth Brooks on Dec. 22. The cost is $15 per show. For tickets, call 570-628-4647 or 570-628-2833. The theater will also feature the film “Centralia, Pennsylvania’s Lost Town” at 7 p.m. Nov. 25 and 2 p.m. Nov. 26. Tickets are $10 each.

Pottsville

During its annual Veterans Day meeting, the Pottsville Lions Club honored 14 veterans and a member currently in the military and had a moment of silence in tribute to members/veterans who died in the past year, including Ben Shollenberger, Joseph Jones, Dan Guers and George Roxandich. Debbie Altobelli, club president, said it is because of veterans that people are able to gather to mark Veterans Day in peace. The club officers and members also honored local Lions who passed away during the year. Altobelli shared a special flag lapel pin with each of the veterans who were able to attend the meeting.

Primrose

St. Nicholas School will have the sixth annual Murphy Jewelers Bingo from 1 to 4 p.m. Dec. 3 in St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. Tickets are $25 each and include 16 regular games and four specials, Doors will open at 11 a.m. Those with tickets bought in advance will be entered into a drawing to win a $100 Murphy Jewelers gift card. The event will also include Santa, Christmas shopping and homemade food. For more information, call 570-544-2800, 570-544-4581 or 570-527-0899.

Shenandoah

St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 114 S. Chestnut St., is having an Advent/Christmas tree lottery raffle with a scratch-off ticket countdown to Christmas, $150 in scratch-off tickets. Tickets for the countdown are $2 each or 3 for $5. For more information, call 570-462-0809. The church also has a raffle in which the first prize is $300 off the purchase of home heating oil from American Home Heating, which must be used by Dec. 31, and a second prize of $100 off the Service Electric bill for the Hazleton, Mahanoy City and Shenandoah areas, which must be used by Jan. 31. Tickets are $1 each or 6 for $5. Call the aforementioned number for tickets or more information.

Shenandoah

The revitalization group Downtown Shenandoah Inc. is selling tickets for two bikes and helmets with the winners to be announced at the Coal Cracker Christmas events Black Friday evening, Nov. 24. The bikes, according to DSI’s Mary Luscavage, were donated by attorney Jim Amato, Shenandoah, and the law firm of Fanelli, Evans & Patel, Pottsville. The bikes and helmets were given for a fundraiser for DSI. Tickets are available at the DSI office, 116 N. Main St.; Catizone’s Barber Shop, North Main Street, and Jean’s Newsstand, Centre and Market streets. For more information, call DSI at 570-462-2060.

Deeds

Ashland — George H. Blair to UNB Bank; 1121 Centre St.; $1.

Barry Township — Ivan F. Jr. and Robyn K. Sweinhart to Ivan F. Sweinhart Jr.; 247 Hill Road; $1.

William B. Koenig to Thomas H. Neiter and Beatrix W. Dobb; 848 Hill Road; $82,500.

Butler Township — Aileen McCabe, executrix of the Estate of Kenneth Wayne, to Karyn Stevenson; 428 W. Main St.; $1.

Coaldale — Greg Sofsky to Gregory Sofsky and Jarrod Cafaro; 205 E. Ridge St. and 99 Second St.; $1.

Cressona — Jeremy C. Noll and Lisa A. Noll to Lisa A. Noll; 60 Graeff St.; $1.

East Brunswick Township — Raymond C. Chadwick to Reita Naira; 3 Goosepond Road; $157,000.

Eldred Township — Eleanor Deitrich to Dennis Deitrich; 107 South Road, Pitman; $1.

Frackville — Ronald and Diana Hartz to Timothy R. Coleman; 400 W. Chestnut St.; $64,000.

Girardville — Sandra C. Fogel, administratrix of the Estate of Kathryn M. Kudrick, to Kathryn M. Shermer; 223 E. A St.; $24,900.

Hegins Township — Joseph S. Blyler Jr. and Joseph Donald Blyler to Joseph S. Blyler Jr., Joseph Donald Blyler and Andrew J. Blyler; property on Route 25; $1.

Dwayne C. and Machelle M. Tietsworth to Tiffany N. and Christopher Jensen; 305 Park Road, Valley View; $1.

Mahanoy City — Francis J. and Kathleen T. Bowman to Francis J. and Kathleen T. Bowman; 501 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $1.

Reading Anthracite Co. to William A. and Sophia M. Donella;1114 E. Mahanoy Ave.; $1,700.

Kathleen M. Bridgen, executrix of the Last Will & Testament of Sophia Donella, and Walter S. Donella to Walter S. Donella; $1.

Manufacturers and Traders Trust Co., executor under the Last Will & Testament of Earle J. Wilson, to Rita V. Valanty; 1010 E. Centre St.; $1.

McAdoo — George Kolar to George and Cindy Kolar; property on Kennedy Drive; $1.

Joseph and Cecille Lipsett to Shawn Tray and Amanda Nettles; property; $65,000.

Minersville — Bank of America NA to Pervez Mohammed Hai; 132 North St.; $1,000.

Port Carbon — Gary L. Bair Sr. to Gary L. Bair Sr. and Melissa Ebling; property on Jackson Street; $1.

Gary L. Bair Sr. to Gary L. Bair Sr. and Gary L. Bair II; property on Pine Alley; $1.

Pottsville — Thomas E. Powers III to Mennie H. Flannery and Brenna Good; 304 Highland Drive, Forest Hills; $132,500.

William L. Wetzel II to Pottsville Produce and Discount Groceries LLC; 2018-2020 W. Norwegian St.; $60,000.

Douglas R. and Tracy L. Altschuler to Alvin B. and Anne H. Marshall; 1601 Mahantongo St.; $195,000.

Rush Township — Kira M. Stahler to Claremont Ave Apartments LLC; 0.97-acre property at Route 309 and Arlington Street, Hometown; $138,000.

Florence C. Bubel to Anita Yuskauskas; 26 Wayne Ave., Hometown; $1.

Schuylkill Haven — Federal National Mortgage Association to Imobiliaria LLC; 307 Dock St.; $23,500.

Deborah J. Mattera to RB Acquisitions LLC; 19 Parkway; $96,500.

Schuylkill Township — Thomas J. Wetsula to Galloway Investment Properties LLC; 18 Catawissa St., Tuscarora; $21,500.

Colton J. Gibiser to Carl Merritt; 49 Valley St., Brockton; $90,000.

Shenandoah — Deborah A. Colosimo to Tara J. Barlow; 331 E. Centre St.; $1.

South Manheim Township — John and Joan Matukiewicz to John and Joan Matukiewicz; 1395 Lightfoot Drive, Lake Wynonah; $1.

Tamaqua — Fatima 786 LLC to Sadaat LLC; 34 E. Mauch Chunk St.; $1.

Doris E. Neifert to Anthony J. Prudenti; property at Catawissa Street and Cottage Avenue; $7,000.

Washington Township — Vicki L. Messner to Mark V. Messner; 15 Hidden Acres Lane; $1.

West Brunswick Township — Kevin C. and Dawn S. McElvaney to Felix E. Jr. and Sherry M. Bartush; 21.391-acre property on Reddale Road; $275,000.

Ernest G. Jr. and Ellen M. Fink to Ernest G. Jr. and Ellen M. Fink; 9.529-acre property in Route 61; $1.

Ernest G. Jr. and Ellen M. Fink to Ernest G. Jr. and Ellen M. Fink; 7.844-acre property in Route 61; $1.

West Mahanoy Township — Richard B. and Dawn M. Kreitzer to Jesse M. and Yaitza E. Kreitzer; 191 N. Spencer St.; $166,000.

John J. and Beth Ann Chatcavage to Mamie Simcox; 135 Pennsylvania Ave., Shenandoah Heights; $79,900.

West Penn Township — Daniel J. Weiksner and Mary Ann Flyzik to Steven M. and Jennifer N. Balliet; 1.49439-acre property on McIntosh Lane; $221,850.

Amy Paules and Timothy Schock to Amy Paules; .34-acre property; $1.

Shirley A. Barron and Lainey A. Schock to Lainey A. and Timothy Schock; 1332 Clamtown Road, Clamtown; $1.

ASHLAND — A borough man was jailed after being arrested Tuesday by Ashland police on arson and related charges.

Terrance F. Stephens, 49, of 930 Brock St., was arrested by Police Chief Mark O’Hearn and charged with two felony counts of arson and related offenses, one felony count of causing or risking a catastrophe and a summary offense of criminal mischief.

Stephens was arraigned by Magisterial District Judge Christina E. Hale, Frackville, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $10,000 straight cash bail.

O’Hearn charged Stephens in connection with an incident about 9:15 p.m. Halloween night, Oct. 31, in the 1000 block of Pine Street.

O’Hearn said Ashland firefighters, along with Patrolman Earl Johnson and Daniel Weikel, were called to the area for a report of a dumpster fire.

At the scene, O’Hearn said, firefighters found fire inside a dumpster that was against a garage with a motorcycle covered with a tarp parked close to it.

Firefighters were able to extinguish the fire, keeping it contained to the inside of the dumpster with no damage to the garage or motorcycle, the chief said.

A subsequent investigation led to interviews with neighbors who reported seeing Stephens in the area about 45 minutes prior to the fire being found, O’Hearn said.

Then, on Nov. 1, O’Hearn said he and Weikel interviewed Stephens at the police station where he agreed to talk after being read his Miranda Rights.

O’Hearn said that during the interview, Stephens admitted starting the fire in the dumpster at 10th and Pine streets by putting a cigarette into it because he was angry with his current living conditions.

Stephens will now have to appear for a preliminary hearing on the charges before Hale in her Frackville courtroom.

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

POTTSVILLE — The Pottsville Area school board is unlikely to appeal the decision by the state Charter School Appeal Board in the case versus Gillingham Charter School, Pottsville Area Superintendent Jeffrey Zwiebel said Wednesday.

When asked if the school board would appeal, he said, “At this point, after discussion with the board, I don’t believe so.”

He said the board “still has concerns about the charter school.” When asked to elaborate, he said, “we still have a lot of special education concerns.”

He said he didn’t regret appealing the decision.

The board is waiting for additional information from Ellen Schurdak, the attorney for the school district in the case. Zweibel said he read the 79-page decision forwarded by Schurdak. Board members also received a copy of the decision. He said he has yet to receive a personal notification about the decision by CAB.

He issued a statement Wednesday after talking to the board about it previously: “We are disappointed in CAB’s decision to grant GCS (Gillingham Charter School) a new charter. It is clear that Pennsylvania public schools are fighting an uphill battle on many fronts, including charter schools, to provide our students with the best education possible. Continuing to strip our public schools of the vital resources and funding needed to educate the commonwealth’s children is going to have a devastating economic impact on the state itself in the future,” the statement read.

The topic was not discussed at the school board meeting Wednesday.

The CAB issued its written decision in the case Oct. 25. The public hearing was Sept. 19, when the decision was first announced. The PASD had denied the renewal of the school’s charter, but the appeal board granted Gillingham’s appeal.

The decision by the CAB read as follows: “To non-renew Gillingham’s charter may result in the loss of a school that uses different and innovative teaching methods, provides parents and pupils with expanded choices in the type of educational opportunities that are available within the public school system, provides learning opportunities for pupils that they cannot obtain in the school district schools and provides a safe place for students who cannot make it in the larger, more traditional public school setting,” the written decision states.

The conclusion states, “After reviewing the record provided to CAB (Charter Appeal Board) and considering the unique educational program offered by Gillingham; the significant community support for the program as testified to by parents and students who are being positively impacted by having this educational choice available to them and are growing and learning; the charter school’s compliance with federal and state laws in provision of special education services to children with disabilities, including the IDEA (Individuals With Disabilities Education Act), Section 504 (Section 504 of The Rehabilitation Act of 1973), the PHRA (Pennsylvania Human Relations Act) and Chapter 711 of the State Board of Education regulations; compliance with the compulsory attendance laws; compliance with CSL (Charter School Law) with regard to the certification of its teachers; compliance with laws requiring employee child abuse clearances, FBI and criminal history background checks and I-9 forms and compliance with CSL in the provision of healthcare benefits to its employees; and giving due consideration to the findings of the school board, but disagreeing with it for the reasons set forth above, CAB finds that the record does not support the school board’s non-renewal of Gillingham’s charter.”

In other business, board members talked about their appreciation of three board members who will not be on the board in January: John Boran, Charles Wagner and Michael Cardamone. All were thanked for service to the district.

The school eliminated water polo as a fall sport for the 2018-19 school year. A board member said there were not enough members on the team. Board members William Davidson and Wagner voted “no.”

Two employees were terminated from the district — Amanda Riegel, a part-time paraprofessional due to abandonment of duties effective Nov 16, and Eric Snyder, a full-time custodian for the district due to neglect of duty and improper conduct effective Nov. 15.

The district’s Positive Behavioral Interventions and Support Program received a $5,000 from the state Department of Education for the 2017-18 school year for project.

The school district reorganization meeting where a new president and vice president will be elected will be held at 7 p.m. Dec. 4. It is the only meeting the board is having in December.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

U.S. Rep. Matt Cartwright, D-17, Moosic, voted with his party against the GOP-authored Tax Cut and Jobs Act on Thursday.

The bill, which lowers the corporate tax rate from 35 to 20 percent and reduces some deductions, passed 227-205, mainly along party lines, with 13 Republicans voting against it. The bill now goes to the U.S. Senate.

Discussing his opposition to the bill afterward, Cartwright expressed annoyance with the tax rate, which differs for corporations manufacturing overseas, and took a page out of then-candidate Donald Trump’s 2016 campaign book.

“Call me hypersensitive about loving manufacturing jobs because of free trade, but our area really got hurt by NAFTA and will be hurt by the passage of this bill,” Cartwright said.

One goal of the GOP was to encourage corporations to repatriate money earned overseas. To avoid the United States’ high corporate tax rate, many companies keep their foreign income foreign. The bill allows them to bring the money home and pay a lower rate, 5 to 12 percent, depending on the type of earnings, and then puts a 10 percent rate on future overseas earnings, to make the United States more in line with the rest of the world. Such an arrangement is known as a territorial system.

Cartwright faulted this because he believes it will continue to encourage the moving of jobs overseas.

He also disapproved of the lack of expert testimony during the preparing and debate of the bill.

“There were no hearings. There were no experts testifying about the effects of these bills,” he said.

During a speech Wednesday in the House, Cartwright told the story of workers at the former RCA Plant in Dunmore, Lackawanna County, later acquired by Thomson Consumer Electronics, who ultimately shut it down and moved the work overseas in 2001. The workers were told they would have to drop $13 an hour to $3.25 to beat the overseas competition. Describing the aftermath of offshoring, Cartwright mentioned divorce, suicide, exhausted savings and cashed in retirements, and said the bill “stinks.”

Cartwright pointed out that some in the opposing party think as he does, mentioning an interview with U.S. Sen. Ron Johnson, R-Wis., recently published by The Wall Street Journal.

“With a territorial system there will be real incentive to keep jobs overseas,” Johnson said that in the interview.

“He’s right,” Cartwright said. “This is not a temporary holiday to promote repatriation. There is nothing temporary about this.”

Cartwright was not loath to agree with a Republican idea, albeit not one that played a role in the bill. The congressman praised an idea espoused by Trump when he was running for president in 2016.

Trump said he would penalize companies that move jobs overseas with a 35 percent import tax rate. Cartwright said the exact number or nature of such a penalty is something that would have to be worked out; however, he likes the idea of punishing the offshoring.

“But that is nowhere to be found in this bill,” Cartwright said.

Contact the writer: bsmith@republicanherald.com; 570-628-6005

Douglas Lucas won the open supervisor seat in Hegins Township for a four-year term in a write-in campaign, getting 597 votes, according to unofficial results from the Schuylkill County Election Bureau.

The seat became vacant with the Aug. 8 death of former Supervisor Sandra McCullough.

Meanwhile, Rich Miller received 246 votes, and Brian Musolino and Yvonne Specht each got 2.

Lucas ran on a platform of having Hegins Township develop its own Act 537 plan, without joining Hubley Township.

“I am dead set against running a sewage system down to Hubley Township,” Lucas said in a phone interview Thursday.

“I would rather see Hegins go it alone. I’d rather be paying our own bills,” he said, noting the population differences in the townships. “They just don’t have the amount of people down there to offset it.”

Lucas said he went door-to-door for four or five weeks, campaigning and talking with people in the community. Addressing blighted properties was also a subject he discussed. He said he was surprised by the voter turnout in the township, which he thought was “really good.”

Miller, meanwhile, said he wasn’t surprised by the results, but was disappointed.

“My daughter, family and friends will be affected by the sewer system. I just wanted to stop the negativity. I wanted them to be open to whatever is the cheapest route for the end user and wasn’t arguing for one side over the other,” Miller said. “A lot of time, money and effort was put into this plan and now we’ve gone and spent a lot of money fighting it.”

Lucas and Miller both thanked the citizens who voted for them.

Lucas had been appointed to fill the seat as an interim supervisor by a split vote in September. Supervisors Chairman Gary Harner and Bruce Klouser voted to appoint Lucas, while supervisors Mike Begis and Brad Carl voted to appoint Musolino to the five-member supervisors board.

Because of the split vote, the final decision rested with the vacancy board, which was comprised of the four current supervisors, Harner, Klouser, Begis and Carl, and vacancy board member Henry Ney. Ney gave Lucas the nod Sept. 13. Lucas, in accepting the appointment, knew he would have to run for the post in the election if he wished to remain on the board.

In addition to Lucas and Musolino, others who were seeking the appointment included Gary Hornberger, Herbert Borchert, Linda Morgan, William Wolfgang and LeRoy Shuey.

Carl was on the ballot and won the six-year supervisor term.

Lucas is a Tri-Valley High School graduate with an associate degree in toolmaking technology from Penn College, Williamsport. He’s a tooling designer at Keystone Forging, Northumberland. He spent 25 years in the manufacturing industry and had previously worked for Penn Fishing Tackle, Hegins. Since April 2016, Lucas has served on the township planning commission.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6007

FRIEDENSBURG — An Orwigsburg man was jailed Thursday after being caught with illegal narcotics valued at more than $14,000.

Paul B. Chicora, 35, was charged with possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-heroin, possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance-cocaine, possession of a controlled substance-heroin, possession of a controlled substance-cocaine, possession of a controlled substance-methamphetamine, possession of drug paraphernalia and persons not to possess, use, manufacture, control, sell or transfer firearms.

On Thursday, members of the Pennsylvania State Police initiated a traffic stop in Wayne Township and determined they had probable cause to search the vehicle.

The search was subsequently performed by members of the state police Vice/Narcotics Unit from Troop L headquarters, Reading, and the Schuylkill County District Attorney’s Drug Task Force.

Police said the search uncovered quantities of heroin in excess of 25 grams with an estimated street value in excess of $14,000.

Also found were quantities of crack cocaine with a street value in excess of $500, a small quantity of methamphetamine and a small quantity of marijuana, police said.

In addition, police said they found large quantities of unused drug packaging materials, $1,614 in cash and a loaded .44-magnum revolver.

Chicora was taken into custody and arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge David Rossi, Tremont, who set bail at $30,000 straight cash and remanded the man to Schuylkill County Prison.

Police said Chicora will now have to answer to the charges at a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier in his Orwigsburg courtroom.

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

FOUNTAIN SPRINGS — The Butler Township supervisors tentatively adopted the 2018 operating budget Thursday with no real estate tax increase.

The supervisors held a budget workshop at 8:30 a.m. Thursday, followed immediately by a special meeting for the tentative adoption. Chairman David Kessler and Supervisor Bob Burns were in attendance. Vice Chairman Paul Fetterolf was absent.

The workshop opened with township Secretary/Treasurer Kate Staudenmeier explaining parts of the revenue and expense plan.

“We have no tax increase. All of the insurances went up, though not drastically, by $3,000 to $4,000,” Staudenmeier said. “There is a decrease in the cost of fuel that we use because of lower gas and oil prices.”

Staudenmeier said the township will receive an estimated $9,000 increase in liquid fuels funding from the state.

“Because we didn’t do any road projects this year, there is about $93,000 there for next year, but it all depends on that bridge situation.”

“There are some road projects that need to be done,” Kessler said. “There will be some projects looming for 2018.”

“We will have a surplus at the end of the year,” Staudenmeier said.

The real estate tax rate is 10.65 mills. Each mill brings in about $54,000.

Kessler pointed out that there have been no tax increases in recent years. The 2013 fiscal year saw a 2.5-mill increase to 11.65, but the tax rate was dropped by 1 mill for 2014 to 10.65 mills and has remained the same since that year.

“That certainly is a plus for the taxpayers,” Kessler said.

The operating budget totals $2,013,645, an increase over the 2017 budget of $1,966,286 and an increase over the 2016 budget of $1,817,170.

The 2018 tentative budget includes the following funds and breakdown of the total real estate millage for the top three funds:

• General fund: $1,453,627 (8.87 mills).

• Fire fund: $82,022 (0.93 mills).

• Light fund: $92,308 (0.85 mills).

• Liquid fuels fund: $337,673.

• Day care fund: $48,015.

The formal budget will be adopted at the regular meeting at 7 p.m. Dec. 19 in the municipal building.

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

POTTSVILLE — A new club at D.H.H. Lengel Middle School is looking for donations of everyday items.

The donated items will be for the Tide-Tek Club’s tech shop/maker space in the middle school.

The Tide-Tek Club has more than 50 members in grades 5 through 8. The club, formed this school year, meets 3 to 4 p.m. every other Friday. Jonathan Hughes, middle school STEM teacher, is the club adviser.

The club focuses on STEM — science, technology, engineering and mathematics — projects. Several students will also be participating in the Pennsylvania Middle School Computer Fair, K’Nex Design Challenge and other STEM competitions, according to a press release from the school district.

The following items are needed: shoeboxes; clear plastic storage totes or drawer units; K’Nex or LEGO pieces or kits; small older TV (from early ’80s) to hook up as a monitor for an old computer so students can learn programing skills; craft/wood project/construction books; old video games, systems, controllers and accessories to help learn game design and programming; old computer software/applications/games to help learn game design and programming; old computers (anything from 1997 or earlier); and old electronic piano keyboard (any size with MIDI output) for music recording for video projects.

The club is also trying to raise money for a new 3D printer.

“We are about $600 away from our goal,” Hughes said.

To donate, visit www.DonorsChoose.org and search for Pottsville’s ZIP code or email jhughes@pottsville.k12.pa.us.

Contact the writer: ; 570-628-6028

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — Schuylkill United Way on Friday reached a record fundraising goal for its 2018 campaign, a triumph that will enable its 14 member agencies to continue to provide services to more than 80 percent of county citizens.

“The residents of the county ... reached deep into their pockets,” campaign Chairman Andrew D. Smarkanic said, after announcing that United Way had raised $1,103,000, during the Campaign Appreciation Breakfast at Penn State Schuylkill. “Thank you so very, very much. It’s wonderful.”

That amount, more than United Way ever had raised in a single campaign, will allow the member agencies to continue to serve 118,000 people across the county, according to Executive Director Kelly K. Malone.

“The programs can grow,” a jubilant Malone said. “The community did it. The community rallied.”

One of the agencies helped is Schuylkill Women in Crisis, which aids abused women and their children.

“We use the United Way funding to support shelter services,” Executive Director Sarah K. “Sally” Casey said after the announcement. “It’s very critical because we frequently will have gaps, six or seven months, in federal support for shelter. United Way helps to make sure shelter is always accessible for victims.”

Malone said the campaign had been in danger of not reaching its fundraising goal of $1,100,081 until United Way raised $94,000 on Thursday.

The Tamaqua Area segment of the campaign, whose amounts are included in the overall effort, raised $119,000, short of its goal of $153,081, but still enough to help people in the eastern part of Schuylkill County.

“I still think that’s a success,” Chris Cohoon, who chaired the Tamaqua Area effort, said.

Leading the fundraising were the Pacesetters, the people who donate at least $500 to the campaign. Bob Weaver, who chairs the Pacesetters with Joseph H. “Jay” Jones Jr., said 597 Pacesetters, an increase of 113 from the 2017 campaign, donated $465,678.

“We honor all of you,” Weaver said. “It’s a remarkable effort.”

Malone also credited a big increase in donations from the Hydro Extrusions North America, Cressona, formerly Sapa, with providing a big boost to the campaign. Hydro Extrusions employees donated $122,176, an increase of $46,364 from the last campaign.

“They’re a big reason why (we) made the goal,” Malone said.

Lou Yeager, a packing manager at Hydro Extrusions, helped to lead the campaign inside his company.

“I love helping others. I’ve been a big advocate for not only United Way, but (also) Avenues,” one of its member agencies, he said.

Employees of the Wegmans Retail Service Center at Highridge Business Park, Mount Pleasant, aided the effort by raising $147,000, earning the company the Houser Award for its fundraising work.

Agency leaders are grateful for the money they will get. United Way will determine at a later date the exact amount each agency receives.

“For us, it’s a matter of putting that money to good use,” Doug Allen, executive director of Big Brothers/Big Sisters of Schuylkill County Inc., said.

Allen said he hopes to expand the Bigs in Blue program with the Pottsville Bureau of Police.

Maj. Sharon Whispell of the Salvation Army Tamaqua Corps said the United Way allocation keeps her agency going.

“It means that many more people will be served in our communities than we would be able to do without the United Way,” she said. “Without the United Way, we wouldn’t be able to do a quarter of what we do.”

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

Frackville

A community Thanksgiving Eve service is set for 7:30 p.m. Wednesday at Zion Lutheran Church, 48 S. Nice St., hosted by pastors of the Frackville community. All are welcome.

Mahanoy City

The local Elks Lodge, 135 E. Centre St., will have a meat bingo beginning at 7 p.m. Nov. 25. The cost is $1 per card. For more information, call 570-573-2649.

Mahanoy City

The Mahanoy Area Historical Society is presenting its 2018 Christmas tour, “A European Journey,” at 3:15 and 4 p.m. Dec. 9. The cost is $15. According to a release, participants will board a bus at the society headquarters at the James J. Rhoades Downtown Center, Centre and Main streets, and travel to the Grier City School, a restored elementary school now an art studio and Air B&B. From there, passengers will ride through Locust Valley to Hillside Manor, a Tudor-style home built by the owners with inspiration from English and Swiss architecture. To register or for more information, email peggrigalonis@me.com or call the society Wednesday-Friday at 570-773-1295.

Mahanoy City

The Active Christian Teens In Our Neighborhood Youth Group and the Mahanoy Area Ministerial Association will host Christmas Around the World II from 6:30 to 8 p.m. Nov. 25 at the St. Cecilia Chapel, Catawissa Street. “Go to a miniature Christkindl Market to find treats for Christmas. Find out about Holy Supper. How do you say ‘Merry Christmas’ in Italian? Find out in your trip through Christmas traditions around the world,” organizers said in a flier. The event will include food, crafts, a living Nativity and petting zoo. There will also be an appearance by The Troubles at 7 p.m. and a piñata bust at 7:30 p.m. All are welcome.

McAdoo

Ss. Peter & Paul PNC Church, 44 E. Adams St., will hold a one-day rummage sale from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. today. Various household items, clothing and collectibles will be available.

McAdoo

Via Nuova, 101 S. Kennedy Drive, will offer a free Thanksgiving dinner from noon to 2 p.m. Thursday, hosted by La Torre Via Nuova Pizzeria. All are welcome. For reservations or more information, 570-929-333 and ask for Bonnie.

Minersville

Mountaineer Hose Company, Third and South streets, will host a breakfast featuring an open menu beginning at 7:30 a.m. Sunday in the firehouse. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-9622.

Pine Grove

The Pine Grove Area Christmas Light Committee will hold its 18th annual Christmas lighting festivities at 4 p.m. Sunday rather than today, according to Richard Becker, committee chairman. The event will be held at Werner Ace Lumber’s lot at the town square, where Route 125 (Tulpehocken Street) meets Route 443. Free hot dogs and free soda will be available. The event will open with a prayer. About 100 chairs will be set up so elderly guests will have a place to sit to enjoy the events. Santa Claus will make his appearance and will hand out 150 gifts for children. The Pine Grove JROTC will present the colors and the Pine Grove Community Band, as well as other choral groups, are scheduled to perform. The streets of Pine Grove will be adorned with 60 large, lighted, multi-colored decorations with garland, according to a release.

Primrose

“The Kurious” winter show, featuring a 10-piece classic rock/dance band, is set for 8 p.m. to midnight Nov. 25 at St. Nicholas Hall, Route 901. Tickets are $12 each; people 21 and older are welcome. For more information, call 570-544-4581.

Shenandoah

There will be a healing service at 6 p.m. Tuesday in St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Church, 114 S. Chestnut St., immediately following the Divine Liturgy, according to Monsignor Myron Grabowski. All are welcome. For more information, call 570-462-0809.