Driver not hurt

in 1-car crash

TAMAQUA - A borough woman escaped injury after her car went over an embankment after sliding on snow-covered and slippery roads, police said.

Borough police said accident occurred at 7 p.m. Dec. 24 at Elm and Market streets as Samantha Richardson, 22, was driving on Market street and tried to stop but could not. The vehicle slid sideways down a hill and over the embankment, police said.

No other information was provided.

4 suffer injuries

in 2-vehicle crash

CLAMTOWN - Four people suffered minor injuries when two vehicles collided on Clamtown Road near the PennDOT shed in Walker Township at 8:40 p.m. Dec. 24, police said.

State police at Frackville said Colin L. Johnson, 19, of Tamaqua, was driving a 2005 Toyota Corolla west on a snow-covered road when he tried to drive on a right curve at a high speed. Police said the man lost control of his car and slid into the oncoming lane, where it collided with a 2009 Jeep Grand Cherokee driven east by Jason T. Walker, 37, of New Ringgold.

Johnson and his passenger, James A. Bradford, 20, of Tamaqua, and Walker and his passenger, Joan M. Miller, 42, of Tamaqua, suffered minor injuries, police said.

Johnson will be cited for driving at an unsafe speed, police said, noting that Tamaqua EMS assisted at the scene.

MAR LIN - Taxes in Norwegian Township will not increase in 2013.

The township board of supervisors adopted the budget Friday. With the decision not to raise taxes, the millage rate will remain at 2.73 mills.

Supervisors said taxes have not increased in years.

The total budget is $996,698, with total revenues accounting for $660,712. There is a carryover of $161,307 from the general fund, $92,996 remaining from 2012 liquid fuels and other fund revenue.

For example, a further breakdown of revenue shows $478,406 received from taxes and $44,000 from licensees and permits.

Expenses are balanced with revenue. As an example of expenses, $298,175 is dedicated towards general government and $135,984 towards public safety.

Supervisor Bob Kirwan said "nothing's changed" in relation to other taxes.

The local earned income tax will remain at half of 1 percent. The local services tax is still $52, and the realty transfer tax will remain at half of 1 percent. Other taxes will also remain unchanged.

Cost for garbage will remain at $60 a year. Customers using the township sewer system will continue to pay $41 a month.

The reorganization meeting is scheduled for 6:30 p.m. Jan. 7. The regular meeting will start at 7 p.m.

ASHLAND - After an investigation into a rash of burglaries and thefts in November, Ashland police Chief Adam J. Bernodin Jr. charged Michael Fickinger with three of the incidents.

Fickinger, 18, no fixed address and an inmate at the Schuylkill County Prison, was video arraigned from the prison Friday before Magisterial District Justice Christina Hale, Frackville, according to Bernodin. Hale held separate arraignments for each set of charges. Fickinger is in the county lock-up not related to the Ashland crimes.

Between Nov. 14 and 16, there were eight burglaries and thefts from homes and garages, including the theft of a vehicle that led to damage to the Willow Park softball field.

Bernodin said Fickinger was arraigned on the following incidents:

- Charges of burglary, theft by unlawful taking and receiving stolen property on the theft of various items after breaking into a garage owned by James Dwyer, 25 S. 17th St., on the night of Nov. 14. Some items were recovered in a nearby alley shortly after the burglary.

- Charges of theft by unlawful taking, burglary, and receiving stolen property on the burglary on Nov. 16 of the 1006 Centre St. apartment of Kerri Miller and Christopher Reed. Items stolen were medication and cash.

- Charges of theft of a motor vehicle, receiving stolen property, criminal mischief, driver required to be licensed, and reckless driving on the theft on Nov. 16 of a 2006 Hyundai Sonata, owned by Brandy Kessler, 1226 Centre St. After stealing the car while it was parked on the 1100 block of Centre Street, police said Fickinger drove to Willow Park, drove through and smashed the front gates of the girls softball field, smashing a picnic bench, drove around the field causing damage and then tried to drive through a fence, with the car getting hung up on a fence post. The vehicle was abandoned with the engine running. Some of the property stolen from the Miller and Reed residence was found in the vehicle.

Straight bail of $10,000 was set for each arraignment by Hale.

Incidents during the three-day period still under investigation are:

- Nov. 14 - Rick White, 1730 Spruce St., reported to police that someone broke into his garage and stole the GPS unit from a Dodge Dakota after smashing the back sliding window.

- Nov. 16 - Helping Hands Thrift Store, 1005 Centre St. Bernodin said someone broke in overnight, going through a small side window, and stole more than $300 in cash.

- Nov. 16 - Police were called to the home of Joshua Hubler and Amanda McCauley, 1931 Walnut St. They told police they left the house and when they returned, they found the house ransacked and about $360 in cash was stolen.

- Nov. 16 - Margaret Miller, 26 S. 11th St., reported that someone broke into her vehicle and stole medication.

- Nov. 16 - Police received a call that someone had broken into the home of Edward and Beverly Kane, 1031 Walnut St. about 2 a.m. when the couple were in bed.

Bernodin reminded residents to keep their vehicles and homes locked. Anyone with information about any of the incidents should call Ashland police at 570-875-2600 or call the Schuylkill County Communications Center non-emergency line at 570-462-1991.

TAMAQUA - Tamaqua police arrested a part-time Girardville police officer and his girlfriend Saturday after a domestic incident.

Sgt. Richard Weaver charged Anthony C. Houser, 22, of 114 Patterson St., Tamaqua, with two misdemeanor counts of simple assault and a summary charge of harassment.

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

Houser's girlfriend, Alicia Whah, also of 114 Patterson St., Tamaqua, was charged with simple assault and harassment and released on $10,000 unsecured bail.

Weaver said the charges stem from a 3:49 a.m. incident at the house where officers were called for a domestic dispute that may involve a man with a gun.

At the scene, Weaver said officers were met in front of the home by Whah and Houser, who had blood all over his face.

Houser was told to place his hands on the railing of the home and frisked for weapons but no weapons were found, Weaver said.

Whah walked by Weaver yelling, "I want him out of here he choked me, I don't want him in the house," the sergeant said.

At the scene, Weaver said Houser told him that Whah had thrown an ash tray at him, struck him in the face and that the two were arguing, pushing and shoving.

Whah told officers Houser ripped the cord off of the telephone so she could not call the police, Weaver said.

The woman also said Houser was throwing things around and when she went to the upstairs of the home, the man followed her and that she felt something strike her in the back.

Weaver said Whah said she fell to the ground and that Houser dropped a silver and black gun in the hallway and also had a cigarette lighter in his hand.

Whah showed officers injuries she suffered during the dispute including redness and bruising to her left shoulder, left cheek and neck.

In Girardville, police Officer In Charge John Borchick said Houser has been taken off of the duty roster pending the outcome of the case.

In addition, Borchick said he will meet with the borough mayor and police commission who will decide Houser's fate with the department.

A Pottsville native recently published her memoirs that includes a chapter on her two years at the former St. Francis Orphan Asylum near Orwigsburg, a story that was not pleasant for her and her siblings.

Those negative experiences of Beverly Stauffer, now Julie D. Swope, 64, of York, led her to become a licensed psychologist and opened a practice in 1983, expanding it in 2004 as Yorktowne Psychological and Addiction Services.

Swope's book, "Of Roots and Wings," was published in November and available through Amazon.com. Despite her negative experiences at the orphanage and her adopted home, Swope tells a message of hope in her book, that "even when you are born into a family ensnarled in tangly, twisted roots, you can still find your wings. You can take flight and bring future generations with you."

Swope is a happy person, and exhibited that happiness in a telephone interview with her. The book's first chapter is called "The Orphanage," which tells of the rough existence at the institution operated by the Sisters of St. Francis, a religious order based in Philadelphia, and according to Swope, the children were subjected to verbal and physical abuse.

"My father (Alvin Stauffer) was alcoholic and very abusive, and my mother (Blanche Stauffer) was mentally unfit to take care of us," Swope said. "There were eight of us at that time. The court system stepped in and there was a hearing in juvenile court by Judge Dalton, who signed an order (on Dec. 20, 1949) that sent all of us to the orphanage. That's where my story begins."

Swope was 23 months old when she entered the orphanage.

"We were all Protestants and the orphanage was Catholic. In an effort to keep all of us together, we were all sent there," Swope said. "However, there was a lot of abuse by the nuns, such as being called 'heathens' each and every day, and we were used as examples of discipline to the other children in the orphanage. The sisters really didn't believe that we should be there because we were Protestant."

She added, "My brothers and sisters remember the punishments and I also remember some of them. I remember the cold showers and kids being hit, even with the rosary beads, and the chores and being locked in closets. There is another person who has written about his experiences at the orphanage. Discipline was pretty harsh."

Swope was in the orphanage for about two years, when she and younger sister, Georgina, were adopted by Dr. Joseph A. and Kathleen DiMedio in Chelsea, Delaware County, and renamed Julia DiMedio. She said her adopted father was a native of Minersville and had come back to adopt children from his home county.

About six months later, the couple also adopted her sister, Nancy. The oldest sister, Connie, was adopted by an aunt. The four boys were not adopted and were eventually sent to the Quincy Home for Boys in Muncy. Swope said when the children were placed in the orphanage, her mother was pregnant, and when that baby was born, it was adopted immediately. She is not aware of what happened to that sibling.

"The story goes into some of my life after being adopted but it also gets to a place where all my brothers and sisters who did not grow up with each other got back together again," Swope said. "That's when I found out what happened to my brothers and sisters over the years, and heard a lot of stories about my mother and father and what their lives were like before going to the orphanage."

When she turned 16, she filled out her driver's permit with the name "Julie," which became her legal name. She attended Pennsylvania State University from 1965 to 1970, majoring in elementary education. She married her high school sweetheart in 1966 and was divorced in 1973. She taught at an elementary school while earning her master's degree in education from Shippensburg University, and afterward earned her school psychology certification at Millersville University. She married in 1977 and divorced 11 years later. She earned her clinical psychology credits at Johns Hopkins University and became a licensed psychologist in 1983, the year she founded Yorktowne Psychological Services, which became Yorktowne Psychological and Addiction Services.

Swope said it was her childhood experiences at the orphanage and in her adopted home that caused her to enter psychology to help others and learn more about herself.

"It is a helping profession and I've worked a lot in my practice with children and with adoption," Swope said. "I think I was also led into wanting to learn a lot more about myself. A lot of us who go into psychology have to go into our own analysis. A lot of the stuff that I took as normal while growing up was brought to my attention that it was not normal."

Swope believes her book has a positive focus.

"The book is one of hope and cope - hope for what you want but cope with what you have," she said. "You can go through all kinds of terrible experiences in life but you still make choices as you get older. It's more of a survival mentality in the book rather than that of a victim mentality. People need to know that they are not alone and there is help out there."

Swope has raised six children, five of whom were adopted. She lives with two dogs, Happy and Lucky, and with a cat, Lovey, which she said allows Swope and the dogs to reside with her. Her personal times includes playing the harp, gardening, worldwide travel, photography and spending time with family and friends.

Swope is still improving herself, which in life should be a never-ending process.

"My mother described me as a 'diamond in the rough,' " Swope writes on her website. "She wanted to send me to finishing school; that didn't happen. I remain unfinished."

Package taken

off of porch

TAMAQUA - Someone stole a package from a borough man's porch, police said.

Borough police said Thomas Carroll reported that a Christmas gift of an unknown value was stolen from porch at 320 Pine St. last week.

Man accuses teen

of taking car

TAMAQUA - A juvenile petition was filed against a 15-year-old after he allegedly took a car without permission, police said.

Borough police said Randy Schock reported that said teenager used the Audi A3, no year provided, without authorization Sunday.

Crash injures 4

on Interstate 81

GORDON - Four people were injured in a crash on Interstate 81 at Route 4007, which is Gordon Mountain Road, in Cass Township at 8:15 a.m. Wednesday, police said.

State police at Frackville said Saptarshi Debroy, 28, of Orlando, Fla., was driving a 2013 Jeep Grand Cherokee north in the passing lane of Interstate 81 approaching the overpass with Gordon Mountain Road when he lost control on the slush and went into the median. Police said the Jeep went airborne and landed on its roof in the eastbound lane of Gordon Mountain Road.

Debroy and his three passengers, Gourab Sabui, 26, and Ranit Ghosh, 27, both of Orlando, and Payel Chattersee, 26, of Raleigh, N.C., all suffered moderate injuries and were taken to Geisinger Medical Center, Danville, for treatment, police said.

Police said Debroy will be cited as a result of the crash. Ashland and Gordon firefighters, Ashland fire police and Ashland EMS assisted at the scene, police said.

Lebanon man

not hurt in crash

HIGHRIDGE - A Lebanon man escaped injury when the 2004 Mitsubishi Endeavor he was driving crashed in the northbound lanes of Interstate 81 in Foster Township at 5:25 a.m. Thursday, police said.

State police at Frackville said Ronny Acosta-Gomez, 23, was driving north in the right lane when he lost control on the snow and ice, spun through the passing lane and went over a small embankment in the median, hitting several trees before coming to a stop.

Acosta-Gomez, who was wearing his seat belt at the time, will be cited as a result of the crash, police said.

Checkpoints set

in Schuylkill

The North Central Regional Sobriety Checkpoint DUI Taskforce announced that Sobriety Checkpoints and Roving DUI Patrols will be conducted through Tuesday on routes 61, 183, 901, 209, 1006, 309, 443, 895, 125, 25, 924 and 54.

Travelers are reminded to call 911 if they suspect a drunk driver or to call, toll-free, 888-UNDER21, to report underage drinking.

Police probe

hit-and-run

McADOO - State Police at Schuylkill Haven are investigating a hit-and-run incident that occurred about 6:50 a.m. Thursday on Interstate 81 near mile marker 138.

Police said a tractor-trailer was traveling north on Interstate 81 and drifted into the left lane, hitting a 2005 Chevrolet Cavalier driven by Heather L. Loar, 32, of Tamaqua, who lost control of her vehicle and slid into a ditch in the highway median.

Police said the truck driver stopped to see if Loar was injured, then fled north on Interstate 81. Police said there was no description available for the truck driver.

Police said Loar was not injured, and the Cavalier sustained extensive damage and required towing from the scene.

Man, woman

face theft charges

ALTAMONT - West Mahanoy Township police this week charged a Shenandoah man and a woman with stealing more than $5,000 from a storage business based in this West Mahanoy Township village, police said Saturday.

Jeffrey Dargis and Jennifer Richardson were charged with theft and arraigned before Magisterial District Judge Christina Hale, Frackville, who set bail at $25,000 each. Both Dargis and Richardson were placed in Schuylkill County Prison, according to township police and a prison spokeswoman.

Between September and October, Dargis and Richardson broke into Budget Storage Sheds on Altamont Boulevard and stole items worth more than $5,000. They sold the items at local pawn shops and a gun dealership, police said.

Police: Woman

leaves scene

NUREMBERG - State police at Frackville said Saturday a Nuremberg woman drove into a parked vehicle Friday night, then walked away from the scene.

Police said at 6:35 p.m., Jennifer Whitner, 29, was driving a 2002 Chevrolet Cavalier north on Mahanoy Street and was trying to pull into a parking spot when for unknown reasons, she drove into a parked and unoccupied 2000 Chevrolet Tahoe owned by Dan Demchock, Nuremberg, and pushed it 4 feet. Police said Whitner got out of her car and walked to her home a block away, leaving the car behind with the headlights illuminated.

Attempted

break-in probed

AUBURN - State police at Schuylkill Haven said Saturday someone tried to break into a property owned by Alan Musket, 51, of Auburn.

Police said the incident occurred between Dec. 16 and 23 at 1290 Running Deer Drive in South Manheim Township. Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-593-2000.

Good Samaritan

hurt in incident

TUSCARORA - A Tamaqua man suffered a minor injury Thursday night when he offered assistance to a couple stopped on Old 209 Road and was pushed to the ground, police said.

State police at Frackville said at 9:55 p.m., Robert Hoffman, 59, saw the vehicle stopped on Old 209 between Tuscarora and Newkirk. He approached the vehicle and saw the driver, a man, and the passenger, a woman, arguing.

When Hoffman tried to offer assistance, the driver shoved him onto the ground and the couple fled the area heading west on Old 209 Road, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-874-5300.

Man's credit card

illegally used

WILLIAMSTOWN - State police at Lykens are searching for the thief who used a Williamstown man's credit card to buy $1,300 worth of merchandise without permission, police said Saturday.

Police said someone used the card of Richard Snedden, 49, on Dec. 24.

Haven woman

hurt in crash

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN - A Schuylkill Haven woman suffered injuries Saturday when she lost control of her vehicle on Route 183 in North Manheim Township, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Darcie N. Roeder, 56, was driving a 2007 Dodge Caliber south at 2:49 p.m. when she lost control on Chestnut Street, 164 feet northeast of Fox Hollow Road, police said. Police said Roeder lost control in a left curve, crossed into the northbound lane and struck a culvert and a mailbox.

Roeder was taken by Orwigsburg Community EMS to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street for treatment of injuries, and her vehicle was towed, police said.

Police charged Roeder with speeding.

Rose and Abe Meyers, Palo Alto, celebrated their 67th wedding anniversary on Sunday.

They were married Dec. 30, 1945, at St. Barbara Roman Catholic Church, Minersville, by the Rev. Joseph Landolphi.

The Schuylkill County Historical Society was hoping to have a sign with its name on bolted to the facade of its Pottsville headquarters this month. But society President David Derbes said Thursday the project, budgeted at between $1,500 and $2,000, is still in the design phase.

"It's in the final design stage and being prepared for production," Felix Bartush, owner of Bartush Signs, Orwigsburg, said Thursday.

"We're hoping it will be up by March or April," Derbes said.

Earlier this year, the society's board of directors decided to erect a sign with its name in front of its headquarters at 305 N. Centre St. This would compliment the board's April decision to change its name.

Since it was incorporated in 1903, the organization had been known as "The Historical Society of Schuylkill County."

On April 11, the board amended its by-laws, changing the name to "The Schuylkill County Historical Society."

When the society moved to its current location at 305 N. Centre St. in 2001, it put a flat metal sign bearing its name, "Historical Society of Schuylkill County," to the left of the front door, Dr. Peter Yasenchak, society executive director, said previously.

The new sign will extend over the sidewalk, Derbes said.

In August, Bartush unveiled a concept draft of the new sign, showing a model which would measure 67 inches high, 42 inches wide and will be 2 inches thick.

Bartush was unavailable to offer further comment Thursday afternoon to clarify if the current draft had the same dimensions.

Derbes said the funds for the project came from donations.

Bingo not planned

Citizens Fire Company, Middleport, will not hold bingo Jan. 10. The information was incorrect in Monday's edition. Photo misused

A photo of a bridge in Tremont was incorrectly published in Monday's edition. The Republican-Herald regrets the mistake.

For more than a century, black discs, vinyl records in particular, have been a staple of the music industry.

While they haven't been mainstream since the early 1990s, collectors will still groove to them in 2013.

"If you have decent equipment and the record is in good shape, you'll have a better sound than a CD," Lawrence O. Koch, 73, owner of the Braun School of Music, Pottsville, said Thursday.

"Vinyl is coming back," Vince Albo, 73, of Seltzer, said Friday. He runs a record stand, "VJA Records" at Black Diamond Antiques at Schuylkill Mall, Frackville.

"I think CDs are on the way out," Randy T. Lengel, 53, of Schuylkill Haven, said Friday. He owns a vintage record store, What-A-Crock Records at 219 Route 61 South, Schuylkill Haven.

On Friday morning, Dan Long, 54, of Hatfield, Montgomery County, drove more than 60 miles to Schuylkill Haven to flip through the vintage albums for sale at What-A-Crock Records. And he bought a used copy of "Fire Down Under," a 1981 album by heavy metal band Riot for $5.

"The music today is way different from way back when. Whole different era. Whole different culture. It's an experience. Some people can't stand records, 'that crap, that cracking, all that noise you hear.' But it's the real thing. That's where it started, brother," Long said.

Records will live on thanks to numerous fans of the medium. They include:

- Famous musicians like Jimmy Page, the legendary Led Zepplin guitarist, who sells editions of some of his classic works on "heavyweight, 12-inch vinyl" via his website.

- Mainstream rockers like Lady Gaga, who sells copies of her 2011 album "Born This Way" on vinyl, according to Amazon.com.

- Independent artists like The Black Belles, who put their tunes out on 7-inch records via their website.

- Devout collectors, like Eddie Collins, 55, of Pottsville, who is vice president of the Keystone Record Collectors, Lancaster. "While they stopped pressing 78s in 1959, they never stopped pressing 33s and 45s and there's a reason for that. A lot of new groups out there are pressing in both formats. They're going back. They want that really hip sound. Plus there's a joy, a mystique, to dropping that needle on a record," Collins said Thursday.

- Teenagers like John Shoener, 17, of Pottsville. A Pottsville Area senior and trumpet player, he's a member of M&J Big Band, Pottsville, and he bought a turntable so he could track down gems from artists like Buddy Rich. "There's so much music out there that was released on record but never put out on CD, like different versions of songs that were never re-released, and some are very good," Shoener said Friday.

- Dealers like Lengel. "I'm not a collector. For me, it's a business," Lengel said.

- And events. Fans of vinyl will wax nostalgic at The Pennsylvania Music Expo, held every second Sunday at Continental Inn, Route 30, Lancaster. The next show is from 9 to 3 p.m. Jan. 13. "We usually have 50 to 70 vendors there and it's 75 percent vinyl," Collins said.

Better than CD?

While the digital age has given music buffs the ability to store hundreds of tracks on mp3 players and other portable media, nothing can beat the sound of a record, according to Collins and Koch.

Is the sound on vinyl records better than CDs?

HowStuffWorks.com, a website run by Discovery Communications, Atlanta, Ga., offered an explanation of how these systems work.

"The answer lies in the difference between analog and digital recordings. A vinyl record is an analog recording, and CDs and DVDs are digital recordings," according to the site.

"Original sound is analog by definition. A digital recording takes snapshots of the analog signal at a certain rate - for CDs, it is 44,100 times per second - and measures each snapshot with a certain accuracy - for, CDs it is 16-bit, which means the value must be one of 65,536 possible values," according to the site.

"This means that, by definition, a digital recording is not capturing the complete sound wave. It is approximating it with a series of steps. Some sounds that have very quick transitions, such as a drum beat or a trumpet's tone, will be distorted because they change too quickly for the sample rate," according to the site.

"When they digitize something, they're sampling. And sampling is just what is says. Sampling is sampling. It's samples of the music as it goes by. You're getting a dry sound. You're not getting all the music; you're getting a sample as it goes by; 0 and 1, 0 and 1," Koch said.

Keith Semerod, 58, of Pottsville, has been collecting records for more than 45 years and has a collection of more than 20,000.

"To me, the sound of vinyl is far richer than CDs. While CDs have a bright sterile sound, records are much warmer and deeper in sound," Semerod said Friday.

Records that aren't cared for can develop flaws. When a needle rides a dusty groove a pop and hiss follow. And scratches in the records can make it skip.

However, Albo said, "if you get a good record player with stereo and you put a decent vinyl record on there, it's clear as a bell."

"But some people do miss the popping, you know, when there's a little piece of dirt on it," Lengel said.

Nostalgia

Koch said back in the 1950s he used to save his lunch money to buy records at Malarkey's, a store on South Centre Street in Pottsville. One was a record by The Four Freshmen, "Four Freshmen and Five Trombones," released in 1956.

Koch and his wife, Marilou A., have owned the Braun School, 607 Mahantongo St., since 1969. Some of the music rooms include racks of vintage vinyl, including the 1964 gem "Meet The Beatles!"

"I think today I have about 4,000 records," Koch said.

On Dec. 5, the music industry lost one of its legends, jazz pianist and composer Dave Brubeck. He was 91.

In memory of Brubeck, Koch dug out some of the artist's albums. On Thursday, Koch spun "A Place In Time." As "Audrey," the first track on "Side 1" emitted from the speakers, Koch sat down at his piano and played along.

Lengel also has some Brubeck albums in his collection. One he looked at Thursday was "Time Out," an album by The Dave Brubeck Quartet, released in 1959.

"This gentleman here, he just died. With a CD you don't get a picture like the one on an album cover. You don't get all the information that's on the back. Today, you can buy this one for five dollars," Lengel said.

"The covers are part of the value. It's also a nostalgia thing," Koch said Thursday.

Records will always appeal to people who love nostalgia.

Louise H. Miller, manager of the Pine Grove Theatre, 213 S. Tulpehocken St., has a vintage turntable at the theatre's lower level concession area.

One of the records she plays on occasion is a mid-20th century 78 from Japan, "Teichiku Dance Music," "Malihini Merry" by Betty Inada with Buckie Shirakata & His Aloha Hawaiians.

Collins is a life-long record collector with more than 30,000 45s, 5,000 33-1/3 albums and 500 78s. He is a music journalist and he's known locally as the lead singer and bass player with the band The Rocket 88s from 1991 until that group disbanded in 2005.

His collection includes records from Schuylkill County musicians. One of the jewels is the 45 for "So Rare" by Jimmy Dorsey released on the "Fraternity" label in 1957.

"With an iPod you can jump to a song here and there, but when you put on some vinyl, you usually listen to the entire record and get to appreciate the music more," Shoener said.

Business

Albo said when he was a boy, he bought records from Malarkey's in Pottsville, too.

"In my collection, I have a couple thousand. And I said when I retire I'm going to go into the used records business and I did. I've been up at the Black Diamond at least 10 years," Albo said.

As Lengel put on an album pressed in the early 1970s, "K-Tel 20 Explosive Hits," he told the story of how he got into the business of selling albums.

"About six or seven years ago, I used to sell pottery. That's where the name 'What A Crock' comes from. All the places I dealt with went out of business and that forced me to find another medium," Lengel said.

Lengel said Albo got him into records five years ago. Lengel said since then he's acquired "more than 400,000 records."

"I have a sign out on Route 61 telling people we buy records and that's where 80 percent of them come from," Lengel said.

He opened his Schuylkill Haven location in 2008. His hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Wednesday through Sunday.

He has nine other record stands: two in Lewisburg, Union County; Annville, Lebanon County; Hershey, Dauphin County; Morgantown, Berks County; Millerstown, Perry County; Dillsburg and Dover in York County; and Columbia, Lancaster County.

"I don't have employees. I just jockey from place to place. Some are at antique co-ops and some are places where I rent space," Lengel said.

On Friday, Albo was at Lengel's Schuylkill Haven shop and he bought a few albums for his stock at the Schuylkill Mall. They included two copies of Bruce Springsteen's 1984 classic "Born In The U.S.A."

While older music seems to be selling better than newer tunes, it's doubtful vinyl will regain its mainstream status.

In July, old albums outsold new ones for the first time since Nielsen Soundscan started tracking U.S. album sales back in 1991. The first half of 2012 brought sales of 76.6 million catalog albums - albums released more than 18 months ago - as opposed to 73.9 million current albums.

Nielsen analyst David Bakula said the primary catalyst for the trend is cost: Catalog albums are usually priced between $5.99 and $10.99, while new albums are often $13 to $18, according to an online community for alternative music, stereogum.com.

According to an October poll of 31 music fans at quadraphonicquad.com, 22 said vinyl sales won't surpass CD sales but nine said eventually, vinyl sales would.

"It's mostly the younger folks. They collect mostly the hard rock, from The Grateful Dead to The Doors to Pink Floyd, and The Beatles are a good seller for me. And I do decent business up there at Black Diamond. And I buy and sell," Albo said.

"I noticed in the past couple years it seems like there's been a big resurgence with vinyl records. When I go up to Schuylkill Mall and go to Black Diamond, I'll see people roaming through the old vinyl section and a lot of them are younger kids, like my age or a little older. I think for some people, they're rediscovering what it's like to really listen to the music," Shoener said.

The party poppers have popped, the new year is here and many people believe the only sure thing they can count on in 2013 is the nation's troubled economy will remain troubled.

Some people have made New Year's resolutions related to managing their finances, such as Luke McClure and his girlfriend, Michelle Ward, both 18 of Saint Clair, who share an apartment and living expenses.

"I'm thinking about that especially. We both have bills already and I have car payments, gas, phone payments. Our resolution is to save more," McClure said.

"And spend a little smarter," Ward said.

McClure was also concerned with what decisions lawmakers in Washington, D.C., would make in the new year.

"They don't spend very wisely either," he said.

People looking for tips on how to manage their credit cards, mortgages and other debt can sign up for a three-month course being hosted by First United Methodist Church in Schuylkill Haven, "Dave Ramsey's Financial Peace University," according to Elaine Maneval, manager of Schuylkill Mall, Frackville.

The fee is $95 for nine classes, which will be held on select Wednesdays in January, February and March, with the first class slated for 6 p.m. Jan. 16. To sign up, call 570-640-9836, Maneval said.

Or they can also visit a financial counselor, like Ken Silagy, president and founder of Dollar Sense in Reading, Berks County.

"There are basically four ways to get out of debt," Silagy said Friday. "You can throw a lot of money at it. You can sit down with a certified financial counselor and maybe they can assist you. You can sit down with a company like ours, which offers a debt reduction/settlement service. Or you can file for bankruptcy."

Shoppers at Schuylkill Mall on Dec. 28 said money management is certainly something they'll be thinking about this year.

John Kemple, 62, of Pottsville, a retired home health care worker, said he lives on a fixed income in an apartment. He said he couldn't afford to keep up his van and in February, he started depending on the Schuylkill Transportation System for travel.

"You see things you want to buy but you have to decide what you really don't need. You have to prioritize," Kemple said.

Jessica Rusnak, 23, of Forestville, graduated in May with a Bachelor of Science degree in psychology from Shippensburg University. While hoping to pursue a master's degree, she's working at The Bon Ton at Schuylkill Mall.

"I'm going to have to spend less money. I don't want to spend it so frivolously. I just graduated college. I have $70,000 in loans. Kind of steep, but I have good parents who help. I'd love to get my master's degree, but I don't have the money right now," Rusnak said.

Melanie Dalton, 35, of Deep Creek, Barry Township, said she swore to stop smoking in 2012, and accomplished that feat by June. She wasn't planning to make any resolutions for 2013.

But her daughter, Victoria Boughan, 14, said, "I want to save money."

"She might be able to, if she stays out of Bath & Body Works," Dalton said.

Boughan said she'd saved up for special events in 2012, like student field trips. And she'd like to do that again.

Cathy Berger, 44, of Schuylkill Haven, was shopping with her family, including her daughter, Maya, 10.

Berger didn't have a resolution either, but said finances will be on her mind in 2013.

"Just getting more organized and stuff, especially with the kids and college," Berger said.

"I want to be a better dancer. I've been dancing since I was 3," said Maya, who studies dance at Crystal's School of Dance in Orwigsburg. "I guess I'll practice more at home." And, Maya said, "I'd like to get my bank account higher."

"Save more money?" her mother asked.

Maya nodded yes.

"I make new year's resolutions but never keep them. Maybe my new year's resolution will be to finally keep a resolution," said John Hoffman, 54, of Mount Carmel.

However, Hoffman didn't have a resolution in mind when interviewed Friday.

"I have to think about it. I just got through Christmas and that was rough. I have bills and I pay them like everybody else," Hoffman said.

Silagy said one resolution people might consider is changing their view of credit cards.

"People don't think about the money they put on credit cards as debt. They think of it as part of their cash flow. And what happens is people, as a rule, will not consider any type of financial counseling until they bump the wall, like have a health issue or lose their job," Silagy said.

"So people have to change their way of thinking. Credit cards give you a false safe feeling. The industry has taught people that the way to get out of debt is to get further in debt. You'll see ads that are essentially saying 'Hey, take a vacation! Here's a credit card.' You have to change your mind set. The schools don't teach it, the art of handling money. It's a very strong area that people need help with," Silagy said.

n Locust Gap: Indoor yard sales are held from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Fridays and Saturdays at 110 Church St. to benefit the God's Chuckwagon soup kitchen. The mobile soup kitchen operates from 5 to 7 p.m. Tuesdays at Fourth and Oak streets, Mount Carmel, and 5 to 7 p.m. Mondays in front of the WIC offices, Independence Street, Shamokin.

n McKeansburg: Congregational Free Church of Christ, 81 McKeans Ridge Road, will stage its annual homemade sub sale Jan. 17. Advance orders are due by Jan. 13. Varieties include ham and cheese, turkey and cheese and Italian at $4.50 each. Orders can be picked up at the church or at 367 St. Wayne St., Orwigsburg, across from Boyer's Food Market. To order or for more information, call Mary at 570-366-2286 or Anna at 570-366-2049.

n Minersville: The 28th annual Minersville Area Food Drive is under way and will run through Feb. 28, Chairman Edward M. Butler said in a press release. The purpose, he said, is to "provide disadvantaged individuals of the Minersville area with food during the holidays season and into the new year." Donations of nonperishable items can be made by calling 570-544-2739. Monetary donations can be mailed to: Minersville Area Food Drive Committee, 529 Lytle St., Minersville, PA 17954. Food was packaged and distributed Dec. 14, Butler said. Last year, more than 21,000 cans, packaged food and other nonperishable items including turkeys and other meats were collected and distributed at Christmastime, he added. "All this was made possible because of the generosity and caring of individuals in the Minersville area," Butler said in the release. For more information about the drive, call Butler at the aforementioned phone number.

n Orwigsburg: The South Schuylkill Garden Club will host a garden tour in June 2013 featuring gardens in Orwigsburg and surrounding areas. Anyone with a garden and wanting it to be considered for a tour should call Trudy at 570-385-4141 or Carol at 570-345-2423 to set up a time.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill Chamber of Commerce is continuing to tout formation of the Schuylkill Leadership Class of 2013, with the first class to be held Jan. 22. Schuylkill Leadership is a program designed and sponsored by the chamber, in cooperation with the Schuylkill Leadership Association, "to ensure that new, able, resourceful and vigorous leadership will be continuously added to our community to understand the problems and opportunities we face in deciding the future of Schuylkill County," according to a chamber release. For more information on the Schuylkill Leadership Class of 2013, call Becky Wagner at 570-622-1942 or, toll-free, at 800-755-1942 or email rwagner@schuylkillchamber.com. The 2013 class dates are as follows: Jan. 22, Feb. 5, Feb. 19, March 5, March 19, April 2, April 16, April 30, May 14 and May 28.

n Shenandoah: The Columbia Hose Company, Centre Street and Stadium Road, will hold a spaghetti dinner from 11 a.m. to sellout Sunday at the firehouse. Dinners are $8 for adults and $6 for children. Meals include spaghetti and meatballs, bread, salad and dessert. Patrons may eat in the firehouse or take meals out. Free local delivery will be available. Everyone is welcome. The company will also feature acoustical music by Thunder Nugget at 8 p.m. Jan. 19. The cover will be $3, the bar and kitchen will open at 6 p.m. and happy hour will be from 6 to 8 p.m.

n Shenandoah: Officers of the Shenandoah Area Free Public Library board include Mary Ellen Matunis, president; Kawika Daguio, vice president; Mary Luscavage, treasurer, and Mary Ann Mickelonis, secretary. Other members include attorney Kathleen Palubinsky, Helen Biddle, Pam Conroy and William S. Krash, Ph.D.

Break-in probed

at oil company

PORT CARBON - State police at Schuylkill Haven are looking for the burglars who broke into vehicles and tried to break open an oil storage tank at Liberty Oil Co. over Christmas.

Police said between 2 a.m. Dec. 25 and 6:30 a.m. Dec. 26, someone cut a metal link chain to the main gate and tried to enter the main building at 2 Main St., by breaking a door handle, but were unable to get in. The person or persons rummaged through trucks owned by Everdale Trucking Inc. and took miscellaneous items, including five heavy-duty copper electrical cables, police said.

The burglars also cut a chain connected to a storage tank containing 20,000 gallons of oil and tried to open a valve. They cut an electrical feed used to fill trucks and flipped down overhead pipes used to fill tanks. In the process, they caused a minimal amount of oil to spill on the lot, police said.

The person or persons cut through a section of metal fence at the rear of the property and fled on foot along the railroad tracks toward the bridge at Palo Alto, police said.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-593-2000.

Woman injured

in crash on I-81

EAST FRANKLIN - A woman from Effort, Monroe County, suffered injuries in a one-vehicle accident on Interstate 81 on Dec. 26, police said.

State police at Jonestown said at 5:50 p.m., Giraud R. Latulippe, 65, was driving a 2011 Hyundai Sonata north when he slid out of control near mile marker 107.1, spinning the car and hitting a jersey barrier.

While Latulippe escaped injury, his passenger, Debra L. Latulippe, 54, suffered chest pain, but police did not know the severity. She was taken by Tremont EMS to Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street for treatment, police said.

Police charged the driver with speeding.

3 vehicles

damaged in crash

FRACKVILLE - Three vehicles sustained damage in an accident Dec. 24, police said.

Borough police said Deneen L. Reese, 382 W. Main St., Ringtown, was headed south at 10 a.m. on Mahanoy Street in a 2012 Honda Civic and stopped at a stop sign at East Oak Street. Since traffic was backed up at the intersection, she was unable to see and started to inch out, police said.

As she crossed, she drove into the path of a 1997 Chevy Blazer driven by Ronald Sborz, 117 E. Frack St., Frackville. Police said Sborz hit Reese's right rear-door quarter panel and Reese's vehicle spun, traveled backwards over the sidewalk and into a parked vehicle, a 2004 Ford F-150 owned by James R. Betchel, 45 Broad Mountain Ave.

Sborz complained of head pain but Reese was not injured, police said.

Reese's vehicle was towed from the scene, and Sborz's vehicle sustained moderate front-end damage but was driven from the scene, police said.

2 escape injury

in I-81 accident

SUEDBERG - Two people from Harrisonburg, Va., escaped injury when their vehicle slid off Interstate 81 in Pine Grove Township on Saturday afternoon and struck a guide rail, police said.

State police at Jonestown said Charles J. Sherback, 57, was driving a 2009 Nissan Versa south at 1:29 p.m. and traveled onto the ramp leading to Route 443, which is Suedberg Road. In the process, the vehicle slide off the right side of the road and struck a sign then a guide rail, police said.

Police said Sherback and a passenger, Karen Sherback, 54, were not injured. The driver was charged with speeding, police said.

Man charged

with DUI

PINE GROVE - State police at Jonestown charged a man from Nanticoke, Luzerne County, with driving under the influence following an incident Wednesday on Interstate 81.

Police said they spotted a vehicle in a ditch on a berm alongside the interstate near mile marker 100 at 6:56 p.m. The investigation revealed the vehicle had been traveling north when the driver, Edwin Markiewicz Jr., 56, lost control, drove across the grass median separating I-81 North from I-81 South and stopped in the ditch, police said.

When police interviewed Markiewicz, he showed signs of intoxication. As the investigation continued, police filed charges against him in the office of Magisterial District Judge Carol A. Pankake, Tremont, police said.

Man charged

for bad checks

PORT CARBON - A 36-year-old Pottsville man was charged by Port Carbon police with bad checks after an incident on Oct. 12.

Police said Robert J. Weiss allegedly issued a check in the amount of $240 to Liberty Oil Co., Port Carbon, that was returned due to "non-sufficient funds."

Police said Weiss will have to answer before Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko, Port Carbon.

Pottsville

man charged

PORT CARBON - Port Carbon police arrested a 52-year-old Pottsville man Thursday on a warrant issued by Magisterial District Judge David A. Plachko.

Police said John J. Kamant was jailed on an unrelated matter and now faces charges of criminal attempt to commit burglary, criminal attempt to commit theft and criminal trespass.

Police said the charges stem from an incident on Sept. 26, 2010, when Kamant lived at a home in the 200 block of Jackson Street in Port Carbon.

Police said neighbors reported someone tried to break into the home but was scared off by the family dog.

The intruder accidentally left a pair of sunglasses at the scene that were sent to the state police crime laboratory and determined, through DNA, to belong to Kamant, police said.

On the latest charges, Plachko set bail for Kamant at $25,000, police said.

2 not injured

in I-81 mishap

TREMONT - Two people escaped injury when their vehicle went off Interstate 81 in Tremont Township on Dec. 26, police said.

State police at Jonestown said Anastasia I. Reader, 25, of Greenbelt, Md., was driving a 2001 Nissan Pathfinder south when she slid out of control and the vehicle spun clockwise, left the road and tipped onto its side, police said.

Reader and her passenger, Ian H. Goldberg, 25, of Otisville, N.Y., were not hurt, police said, noting that Reader was charged with speeding as a result of the accident.

Police probe

smashed window

PORT CARBON - Port Carbon police are investigating a criminal mischief incident that was reported to police on Friday.

Police said Mary Riotto, Palo Alto, reported she was driving her 2001 Nissan Sentra Sedan north on Coal Street about 9 p.m. when someone threw an object that smashed her rear window on Cherry Street.

Anyone with information is asked to call police at 570-622-5411 and refer to incident 1200630.

The producers of "9-Ball" are having a special showing at 7 p.m., Jan. 19 at the Sovereign Majestic Theater and tickets are on sale now.

The drama is about the competitive world of women's professional billiards, it was filmed partially in Pottsville and premiered Nov. 20 in Baltimore, Md.

According to Amy S. Burkhart, executive director of Pottsville Area Development Corp., the film will be shown at the 209 N. Centre St. theater at 7 p.m., with doors opening at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $9 and seats can be pre-ordered by calling 570-628-4647.

Anthony Palma, the film's writer, director and executive producer, said Thursday that stars Jennifer Barretta, Mark Kochanowicz, Jennifer Butler and Rachel Tisera will be at the showing, arriving at the Sovereign Majestic at 6 p.m. to meet with friends and fans in Pottsville as well as autograph posters, DVDs, give interviews and have photographs taken.

"I think it's going to be a lot of fun and I know the stars are really looking forward to coming up there," Palma said. "Trust me when I tell you, we will be keeping Pottsville in mind when we are filming in the future."

Palma said that they decided to hold the showing in the city since it was "a terrific place to produce part of the movie and the people were outstanding."

The producers also plan to bring 9-Ball DVDs and Blu-rays to the showing and will have the special holiday price of $14.99 for the DVD and $24.99 for the Blu-ray, currently available at the film's website.

"It will be a perfect opportunity for anyone who comes to watch 9-Ball to take advantage of this special holiday sale," Palma said.

The sale officially ends Jan. 22 and for those who can't make it to the show, they can still get the discount as long as online orders are placed before 12 a.m. that day.

The normal price of the DVD and Blu-ray discs are $19.99 and $29.99 respectively.

Limited edition 9-Ball posters autographed by Barretta, which normally sell for $19.99 are on sale for $14.99 and will be available at the Sovereign Majestic.

At the showing, 9-Ball also will have their own videographer and photographer present to document the event, which will be shown at www.mainstreetproductions.com and www.facebook.com/9ballthemovie.

"We plan to make the special Pottsville showing of 9-Ball an event to remember," Palma said.

PINE GROVE - A 10-year-old Pine Grove boy died after being struck by a vehicle Monday on Route 443 in Pine Grove Township.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said Chase R. Pahula was walking west along Route 443 with his 17-year-old brother.

At 8:25 p.m., Donald R. Hunsicker, 52, of Lebanon, was driving a 2008 Chevrolet Trailblazer west on Route 443 and was unable to see the two boys walking along the road as he was making a right turn. Pahula was struck by the front passenger's side of the vehicle, police said.

Pahula was flown by MedEvac to Penn State Milton S. Hershey Medical Center, where he later succumbed to his injuries, police said.

Hunsicker was not charged in the incident, according to the police report Tuesday.

Assisting at the scene were Pine Grove EMS, Ravine Fire Company, Suedberg Fire Company and the Troop L crash analysis and reconstruction unit, police said.

State police at Schuylkill Haven said they are still investigating the incident.

Anthony J. Kilker

SHENANDOAH - A 23-year-old Mahanoy City man charged in connection with an assault in Shenandoah on Oct. 25 appeared for a preliminary hearing before Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker.

Kyle J. Schaeffer, 1124 E. Centre St., was arrested by Shenandoah police Patrolman Michael O'Neill and charged with one count of aggravated assault, four counts of simple assault and two counts each of harassment, disorderly conduct and recklessly endangering another person.

Prosecutors withdrew the aggravated assault charge and Schaeffer waived the remaining 10 offenses to Schuylkill County Court.

O'Neill charged Schaeffer after an incident in the 100 block of South Jardin Street where he allegedly assaulted Harry and Cassandra Foresman, causing injuries to both. Schaeffer also allegedly threatened Denise Weikel, who exited her home after hearing screaming, O'Neill said.

Other court cases included:

Timothy O. Loftus, 48, of 717 N. Centre St., Pottsville - waived for court: illegally operating a vehicle without an ignition interlock.

Kathleen Herb, 37, of 313 W. Cherry St., Shenandoah - waived for court: DUI and DUI-highest rate.

David J. Rich, 39, of 516 W. Market St., Mahanoy City - held for court: aggravated assault, simple assault, recklessly endangering another person and possessing instruments of crime.

Tori A. Chester, 27, of 94 Pattersonville Road, Ringtown - held for court: burglary, criminal trespass and theft.

James C. Wronski Jr., 23, of 1113 E. Pine St., Mahanoy City - waived for court: criminal mischief.

Wayne K. Jocq Manigo, 22, of 2453 Blue Mountain Lake, East Stroudsburg - waived for court: obstructing the administration of law and disorderly conduct. Withdrawn: simple assault.

Eddie J. Hardison, 32, of 361 Preston Ave., Girardville - held for court: DUI, possession of marijuana, possession of drug paraphernalia and DUI-controlled substance.

Frank J. Dagostino III, 31, of 125 Ridge Road, Shoemakersville - waived for court: possession of a controlled substance, possession with intent to manufacture or deliver a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Ashley A. Capiga, 23, of 39 Schuylkill Ave., Shenandoah - waived for court: defiant trespass.

Travis C. Beam, 49, of 35 S. Bower St., Shenandoah - waived for court: disorderly conduct. Withdrawn: resisting arrest and terroristic threats.

Jeffrey K. Reimard II, 34, of 329 W. Mahanoy Ave., Mahanoy City - withdrawn: burglary. Waived for court: defiant trespass and criminal attempt to commit theft.

Bobby Joseph Carnell, 31, of 339 W. Spruce St., Mahanoy City - withdrawn: burglary. Waived for court: defiant trespass and criminal attempt to commit theft.

Joseph Gates, 45, of 302 W. New York St., Shenandoah - held for court: aggravated assault, resisting arrest, simple assault and harassment. Withdrawn: simple assault.

Brett A. Long, 35, of Schuylkill County Prison, Pottsville - waived for court: false reports.

Akil Asim Johnson, no age available, of State Correctional Institution-Mahanoy, Frackville - held for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of a small amount of marijuana.

Flora E. Ptaszkowski, 30, LKA 133 N. White St., Apt.2, Shenandoah - withdrawn: aggravated assault. Waived for court: simple assault, harassment, disorderly conduct, possession of drug paraphernalia and public drunkenness.

Bernard M. Skaudis, 55, of 103 Main Blvd., Ringtown - waived for court: DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Michael F. Grady, 29, of 371 W. Mahanoy Ave., Girardville - waived for court: corruption of minors.

Joseph W. Burke, 24, of 26 Patriotic Hill, Mahanoy City - withdrawn: fraudulent, altered, forged or counterfeit title, registration or insurance, driving an unregistered vehicle and driving a vehicle without a valid inspection.

Kimberly A. Wilkus, 44, of 161 Weston Place, Shenandoah - waived for court: DUI and DUI-highest rate.

Albin Kaminsky, 37, of 320 W. Chester St., Shenandoah - waived for court: selling or giving a controlled substance and resisting arrest. Withdrawn: disorderly conduct and manufacture of a controlled substance.

Charles A. Welna, 26, of 602 Gold Star Highway, Shenandoah - dismissed: criminal trespass.

Eric J. Burger, 26, of 43 N. Second St., Box 315, Sugarloaf - waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Jose A. Diaz-Vazquez, 38, of 629 W. Market St., Mahanoy City - waived for court: possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia.

Michael Teaschenko, 35, of 36 S. Jardin St., Shenandoah - withdrawn: DUI, DUI-highest rate and failure to stop at a red signal.

Ryan J. Menkins, 27, of SCI-Mahanoy, Frackville - held for court: aggravated assault, assault by prisoner, simple assault and harassment.

Jamar Abdul Macon, 36, of SCI-Mahanoy, Frackville - waived for court: simple assault and harassment.

Michael L. Reed, 33, of SCI-Mahanoy, Frackville - withdrawn: false reports. Waived for court: false reports.

n Pottsville: The Schuylkill County Mental Health/Mental Retardation office will work with several other county social service agencies on a statewide project to combat homelessness, according to Keith Semerod, deputy administrator. The project, Semerod said in a release, is called "Point-in-Time Count," to be launched Jan. 30. "We will be working with county police forces, the veterans' outreach office, providers of drug and alcohol services, children's services, local churches as well as aging services to be able to procure funding to direct toward services for homeless individuals and families," Semerod said.

n Shenandoah: Expressions is a thrift/gift shop run by Pottsville-based Avenues, formerly United Cerebral Palsy, at 112-114 N. Main St. According to its website - www.avenuesofpa.org/expressions.html - it carries multiple items including clothing, accessories, housewares, furniture, DVDs, CDs, movies, decorations, new gifts and other fare. It is open 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. Mondays through Fridays. It also has Saturday hours. For more information, contact Jill Morgan via email at jmorgan@avenuesofpa.org. Avenues supports people with special needs.

n Shenandoah: Food donations are still needed at the offices of parishes, which provide packages of groceries and diapers to local people in need. Donations of nonperishable food items can be deposited in any of the Catholic churches on weekends, in boxes provided in the foyers/vestibules. Examples of useful items include tuna, Spam, canned meats, powdered milk, peanut butter and jelly, cereal and similar fare. The offices of parishes are at 129 S. Jardin St. and 108 W. Cherry St. They serve Annunciation BVM, St. George, Our Lady of Mount Carmel, St. Mary Magdalen, St. Stanislaus, St. Stephen and St. Casimir Roman Catholic parishes.

n Shenandoah: St. Michael Ukrainian Catholic Parish has elaborate things planned for the Feb. 24 visit to Shenandoah by the replica of the Shroud of Turin, which is thought by many to be the burial cloth of Jesus Christ. At a recent meeting of the Greater Shenandoah Area Chamber of Commerce at Shenandoah Manor/Shenandoah Senior Living Community, East Washington Street, Monsignor Myron Grabowsky, St. Michael pastor, said there will be a parade including Shenandoah Mayor Andrew Szczyglak, the Knights of Columbus and the Shenandoah Fire and police departments escorting the Shroud to the church, where it will be available for viewing until March 9. He also said an observance is being planned for the National Day of Prayer on May 2 at Shenandoah Manor. St. Michael parish is the first Ukrainian Catholic parish in America. The original church still stands along West Centre Street. Seven Shenandoah Valley High School seniors attended the chamber meeting, including Sarah Daguio, Melissa Selbi, Jordyn Kowalick, Tom Twardzik Jr., Corey Bowman, Ahna Huss and Dakota Rakus. Stanley G. Rakowsky, Ph.D., Shenandoah Valley superintendent and chamber member, arranged for the students to attend and report to the chamber about their activities and future plans. Donald E. Segal told chamber directors the Greater Shenandoah Senior Citizens group is planning a bus trip to Atlantic City from Feb. 11-13. The cost is $159. Anyone interested in participating should contact the 225 N. Market St. senior center. The group's regular schedule, Segal said, will be out this month. Its regular meeting are held the first Wednesday of the month and bingo games at the center are held every Wednesday. The chamber now alternates the monthly meetings between Shenandoah Manor and Ridgeview Healthcare & Rehabilitation Center, Pennsylvania Avenue.

n Tamaqua: The Anthracite Model Railroad Club meets from 6 to 8 p.m. Thursdays across from the Elks lodge at Broad and Nescopec streets. New members are always welcome. For more information, call 570-467-2025.

Deeds

Butler Township - Scott M. McCormick to Leonard L. McCormick and Sue L. Troup; 3 McCormick Drive; $180,000.

Cressona - Mohammad Aslam to Saad Aslam, trustee of the Mohammad Aslam Qualified Personal Residence Trust; 50 Zerbe St.; $1.

Mahanoy City - Janet Sebastian, Chester Sebastian and Bernice Vlcek to All About Homes-LLC; property on Mahanoy Avenue; $4,000.

Mahanoy Township - Deanne R. Mendofik, individually and as administratrix of the Estate of Georgene Kulp, to Thomas J. Swantek; 15 Lower St., Morea; $19,000.

Minersville - Lance Haluska to Lance Haluska; 435 Pleasant St.; $1.

Rosley LLC to Chad C. and Jamie Hoke; 223 Pine St.; $35,000.

North Manheim Township - Paul J. Bedway to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; right of way across property on Route 61; $1.

North Union Township - First Niagara Bank to Joseph G. III and Maria Handle; 579 Chamonix Lane, Zion Grove; $22,000.

Norwegian Township - Deborah M. David, Maureen Marx, Ida Mackey and M. Carol Barnes to John T. Kiapes Jr.; 239 Minersville St., Seltzer; $45,000.

Pine Grove Township - Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp. to Jennifer E. Kroh; 300 Tremont Road, Ravine; $28,000.

Pottsville - Brok-Sel Markets Inc. to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; right of way across property at route 61 and 209; $1.

Homer Cosmos Zavalakes to Stephen and Ann Marie Buzalko; property on East Market Street; $25,000.

Rush Township - Maria L. and Steven J. Campomizzi to Maria L. Campomizzi; 83 Ryan Ave., Hometown; $1.

Milton C. Batley to John P. Batley and Michael S. Batley; property on Crescent Drive, Lake Hauto; $1.

Saint Clair - Helen Grossman to Helen Grossman, Kathleen Egan and Beth Ann Grossman; 12 S. Second St.; $1.

Thomas P. Goblick to Edward R. Goblick; 20 Ann St.; $1.

Schuylkill Haven - David B. Kodash to James L. McKeone; 201 W. Columbia St.; $50,000.

Lenore Tarlecky to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; right of way across 53 Centre Ave.; $1.

William M. and Mary N. Yazujian to the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation; easement on 219 Centre Ave.; $1.

Linda E. Peyakovich to TTTBR Limited Partnership; 11 W. William St.; $1.

Douglas L. and Brenda M. Croley to Federal Home Loan Mortgage Corp.; 103 Paxson Ave.; $1.

Schuylkill Township - Anna Nall to Robert J. Matlock Jr.; 327 Valley St., Brockton; $1.

Shenandoah - Ireneusz J. Kwiatkowski, administrator of the Estate of Teresa M. Kwiatkowska-Wesner, to Ireneusz J. Kwiatkowski; 220 W. Arlington St.; $1.

Nellie R. Clark to Gary N. Clark; 1013 W. Coal St.; $1.

South Manheim Township - Susan J. and Dennis G. Brotzman to Dennis G. and Susan J. Brotzman; 1471 Bearcat Cove, Lake Wynonah; $1.

David L. and Susan M. Miller to Edmund L. and Cynthia A. Read; 1726 Running Deer Drive, Lake Wynonah; $171,000.

Daniel E. Keefer to Daniel E. and Trina M. Keefer; 261 W. Deer View Drive; $1.

Tamaqua - Cassandra S. Howell to Patrick J. Jr. and Cathy L. Hodge; 334 Clark St.; $26,500.

Keith J. Strouse, master in partition, to Kevin J. Kennedy; 252-254 Cedar St.; $51,000.

Jennifer Strohl to Jennifer A. Strohl; 214 Patterson St.; $1.

Donna L. Balliet to Michael W. Weikel; 337 E. Elm St.; $118,000.

Northeast Pennsylvania Investment Group LLC to Steven Campomizzi; 417 Hazle St.; $64,000.

Tower City - Sean M. and Nena M. Campbell to Perry T. Shuey; 112-114 W. Thompson St.; $35,000.

Upper Mahantongo Township - Rickey C. and Amy M. Masser and Michael R. and Josephine Masser to Klingerstown Fire Company Number 1; 76 Main St., Klingerstown; $1.

West Brunswick Township - Walter Gregory, individually and as administrator of the Estate of Mark Gregory, to Joann Gregory; 411 Coal Mountain Road; $1.

Matthew Halabura to Jeffrey L. Kramer; 432 Pine Creek Drive; $128,000.

James R. and Tammy L. Stemmler to James R. Stemmler; 5 Whitetail Lane; $1.

Anthony W. and Rebecca A. Kellner to Kellie A. and William P. Kuttrubis; 338 Fork Mountain Road; $1.

Wayne A. and Kim Lien Thi Weaver to Wayne A. and Kim Lien Thi Weaver; 20 Duke St.; $1.

West Mahanoy Township - Betty J. Bradbury, individually and as executrix of the Estate of James E. Heffner, to Betty J. Bradbury and Donna L. Opolsky; 235 S. Green St., Altamont; $1.

West Penn Township - John and Juliann Longhi to Scott H. and Charlene S. Coombe; 3.228-acre property at Windy Lane and Troxell Valley Road, Andreas; $30,000.

George K. Nice to CDM Security LLC; three properties; $10,000.

White Oak Realty LP, Floyd R. Zimmerman, Kenneth W. Zimmerman and Ronald C. Zimmerman to Mauch Chunk Trust Co.; 0.2241-acre property on Route 443, South Tamaqua; $150,000.

MAR LIN - The addition to the Norwegian Township municipal building is complete.

"It's a step into the future," said Supervisor Bob Kirwan as he stood in the lobby of the building Monday.

The work began in August and was finished Dec. 15, costing about $196,000. The new addition features a 600-square-foot meeting room, with the old meeting room being converted into an office and a lobby area. A sliding glass window and a door separate the office from the general public.

The old office room where supervisors and the township secretary had their desks is now the office for the planning and zoning department.

The bid for the project was awarded in June for $222,955, but the scope of the project had since been reduced.

Township Secretary Marie Horner appreciated the extra space. The office now has lateral files for storage.

"This is good because you can access it from the side," she said while standing near the filing cabinet.

On a tour of the building, Kirwan showed where some files were kept because of a lack of space.

"This is where we kept our files," he said after opening a door of a room that houses two oil tanks and filing cabinets closed off from a main storage area.

New office furniture was purchased for the building, including four new desks and faux leather chairs.

Office hours will continue to be from 8 a.m. to noon Monday through Friday.

"Marie is going to be the official tour girl. She doesn't know that though," Kirwan said jokingly.

Kirwan said township residents who have stopped by have liked the new look.

Township resident Jim Santai, 66, was there to pay a bill Monday morning and liked what he saw.

"It's nice," he said.

FRACKVILLE - During its special meeting on Dec. 26, the Frackville Borough Council formally adopted its 2013 operating budget with a reduction in the proposed tax increase.

The borough council's tentative budget was adopted on Dec. 12 with a planned 2-mill real estate tax increase, but the tax levy was reduced to 1.5 mills in last week's budget vote.

Real estate taxes will increase to 17.08 mills, up from the 2012 rate of 15.58 mills. The assessed value of a mill is $46,000.

The budget also includes a $5 increase in the quarterly garbage collection fee, raising it from $65 to $70 per quarter, or $20 per year.

The vote was 5-1 to approve the $1.9 million budget. Council members Ronald Jordan, Peter Zuber, Charles Berger, John Morgan and Karen Domalakes voted in favor, with Bradley Gotshall voting against. Brian Dillman was absent.

After the tentative adoption in a 6-1 vote (Gotshall voted against) Dec. 12, the council met in additional budget workshops to review and tweak the budget to reduce the tax increase if possible.

In other business, borough office staff members covered by Blue Cross-Blue Shield medical insurance will pay 10 percent of the medical co-pays in 2013. At a previous meeting, the council approved medical co-pay mandate for employees, but a vote was taken at the Dec. 26 meeting on a motion by Berger to rescind the mandate. The vote was a 3-3 tie, with Berger, Domalakes and Zuber voting for the motion to rescind. Jordan, Gotshall and Morgan voted against. To break the tie, Mayor Kim Phillips was allowed to vote. Her vote was against the motion, which means the co-pays stay in place.