A number of Tamaqua leaders are expressing support for a program that aims to get everyone on the same page toward preventing crime and lessening violence in the community.

Residents of the Tamaqua area are encouraged to get involved in the 2014 Green Dot Program along with members of the law enforcement community, military, colleges, hospitals, clergy, schools and victim agencies.

The program includes a free training program that would focus on establishing a bystander intervention program, funded by a grant from the U.S. Department of Justice.

The Green Dot Program will target all community members by engaging them through awareness, education and skills practice. Its goal is to enable and provide for proactive behaviors that establish intolerance of violence as the norm, according to the Sexual Assault Resource and Counseling Center of Schuylkill and Lebanon counties.

At a recent meeting in Tamaqua, Stephanie Barron, vice president of SARCC, shared details on plans to host the extensive training that will be held from March 17 to 20 at the Lehigh Carbon Community College's Tamaqua Morgan Center.

The program targets violence against youth, one reason community leaders, such as Micah Gursky, borough council president, have thrown their support behind the program.

"Tamaquans have a choice. We can be bystanders that don't know what to do or we can be bystanders that know what to do," Gursky said. "With Green Dot training, local people can have the skills to prevent and stop violence that is all around us."

Mayor Chris Morrison also saw the program as an opportunity to stand in front of the problems that it addresses.

"Big city issues have been infiltrating small towns like Tamaqua. It is up to us whether we can arm our community with the tools to deal with the issues. Tamaqua has always been a proactive community," Morrison said.

The Green Dot Program also aims to get more residents involved in making their community safer, which is why the Tamaqua Safety Initiative is behind it, according to coordinator Leona Rega.

She is encouraging residents to support the program by enrolling in the four-day training session in March and other offerings over a two-year period.

The Tamaqua Safety Initiative began in December 2011 with the goals of reducing neighborhood crime and disorder, enhancing safety in high-crime areas and toning down a general negative perception of Tamaqua.

According to the initiative, as of January 2013 there were eight registered sex offenders living in Tamaqua, a ratio of one for every 819 residents. For all of Schuylkill County, there is one sex offender for every 1,503 residents.

Also, from 2009 to 2011, incidents of rape increased 133 percent in Tamaqua while robberies increased 700 percent, according to the safety initiative.

To learn more about the Green Dot Program or to register for the training, contact Stephanie Barron at sbarron@sarccschuylkill.org.

The Tamaqua Safety Initiative also is looking for volunteers to get involved by calling 570-668-1192 or emailing leona@tacp.info to learn more about the programs.

As the Schuylkill County Communications Center gets ready to install a new computer-aided dispatch system, several other projects are wrapping up early in 2014.

Scott Krater, county communications coordinator, said he plans to talk with Logistics Systems, Mussoula, Mont., this week to coordinate the installation of the new computer system.

The county commissioners approved a contract Dec. 18 with Logistics Systems to replace the 10-year-old system for $404,540.

The new system will provide more information from calls made to the center, providing better locations for emergency dispatchers.

"There is some interfacing and other different things we can do with this system," Krater said Friday.

The payments for the new systems are being spread over four years.

The $16 million upgrades to narrowband emergency communications systems are nearing completion and will start testing in April.

Narrowbanding radio frequencies allow a system to accommodate more radios while improving transmission quality and creating additional options for emergency communications, including signal encryption for police and other emergency personnel.

The Federal Communications Commission mandated the updates be operational by Dec. 31, 2013, but the agency granted Schuylkill County a waiver extending the deadline to Oct. 31.

Motorola Solutions Inc. is making the upgrades for about $16 million. Work throughout the year included installing antennae and lines at 11 different sites in the county. The project is funded through a $21 million bond issued by the county commissioners in October 2012.

Krater said all fixed-network equipment has been installed at the bay stations, but coverage testing won't begin until April when the leaves are back on the trees. Foliage can cause interference, which doesn't make winter an optimal time for testing.

"We are looking to have it done by June," Krater said.

Municipal police departments and emergency medical services have to purchase new equipment to use the updated digital system. The portable equipment can cost about $4,900, Krater said.

"No one is being mandated to do that," Krater said. "It's mixed out there. Some are looking at it, others aren't looking at it at this time."

Fire department communications will remain the same. For departments that don't switch to digital, there are still communication options as officers with digital radios can use analog communications, as well.

"We are providing the backbone," Krater said.

"Basically, we are just positioning ourselves for the next generation of technology," Krater said of all the updates to the system.

The communications center in downtown Pottsville also had its roof replaced. Hahner Bros. Roofing and Metal, Pottsville, was awarded the contract in September. Other companies replaced rooftop units and additional work, bringing the total for the project to about $100,000.

"The building is 20 years old and is occupied 24/7/365," Krater said.

He said the facility is a priority for the county.

"The commissioners are supportive of it," Krater said.

The roof replacement was also funded with the 2012 bond.

MAHANOY CITY - Improvements at two Mahanoy Township recreation parks will have to wait following two state agencies' rejection of grant applications.

The Board of Supervisors learned at its Dec. 19 meeting that the $90,000 grant request was not approved by the Pennsylvania Commonwealth Financing Authority, according to Alfred Benesch & Co. project engineer Michael J. Peleschak.

"Unfortunately, the application for the $90,000 grant for additional playground facilities and ADA (Americans with Disabilities Act) access at the New Boston and Morea Community Park Playgrounds was not approved by CFA," Peleschak said in his written report to the supervisors. "We will continue to look for funding opportunities for this project."

The application was submitted through the CFA Greenways, Trails and Recreation Program.

In early fall, Benesch also submitted a grant application to the state Department of Conservation and Natural Resources for phase two of the Park Place-Parente Family Park playground project, which includes additional recreation equipment. In October, the park was dedicated following three years of planning, designing, construction and installation of equipment.

Peleschak, who did not attend the meeting, wrote in his report that the phase two application was not approved by DCNR.

"We will continue to look for funding for this important township project," Peleschak said.

In another matter, Peleschak said Hazleton City Authority will complete the final paving on its High Road water line installation project in Park Place this spring. Planning for the Park Place Road stormwater project is continuing through Benesch. Permit applications will be submitted to the state Department of Environmental Protection and the Schuylkill Conservation District. Peleschak said the developing of the easements and the final cost estimate for review by the township are underway. Once approved, a bidding schedule will be developed for completion of the work in the spring or summer.

The U.S. Department of Agriculture is reviewing the funding application for the construction of a new township garage and salt shed, which will be located just west of the municipal building. Peleschak said no timeframe has been set for an award decision.

Chairman James Stevens and Vice Chairwoman Sharon Chiao presented outgoing Supervisor Timothy Bradbury with a framed certificate thanking him for 24 years as a supervisor. The presentation brought applause from the public.

"I'd like to thank all of you," Bradbury said, adding that Stevens and Chiao were "the best supervisors I worked with."

The supervisors voted unanimously to reappoint Kathleen Wufsus, Park Place, to the Mahanoy Township Authority Board of Directors for another five-year term. There were no other nominations. Wufsus is currently the board chairwoman.

Before public comments, Mahanoy City Public Library board member Margaret "Peg" Grigalonis spoke about the benefits of using the local library.

Stevens asked drivers that when they follow a township truck during a winter weather event to give the trucks room to maneuver and not to tailgate.

"They may stop at any time and may have to back up, so when they're out there, please give them room," Stevens said.

During his police report, Officer-In-Charge Brandon Alexander announced that the township will receive a $3,000 grant to buy an automated external defibrillator through a Geisinger Medical Center foundation. The AED was arranged with the help of the family of Robert Sassani, 49, of Shamokin, who suffered a heart attack on Sept. 23 at the Schuylkill Energy Resources co-generation plant at Yatesville in Mahanoy Township. Alexander and members of the Shenandoah Community Ambulance assisted at the scene for Sassani to be flown to Geisinger Medical Center, where he recovered.

"I want to thank Christina Willis (Sassani's sister) and the Sassani family who got us $3,000 for an AED," Alexander said. "It's coming through Geisinger. We thank the family and Geisinger."

HARRISBURG - Grayson Cole enjoys the thrill of riding bucking broncos in a rodeo ring for a cheering crowd.

"It's fun, an adrenaline rush," Cole, 14, of Cressona, said Saturday at the 98th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

During the Pennsylvania High School Rodeo Association Championship, one of the day's main events, the Blue Mountain Area High School freshman proved he had resiliency.

At 12:19 p.m., more than 500 spectators gathered at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center's Large Arena. Cole got on top of a white and brown bareback bronco.

"The goal is to stay on for eight seconds," Cole said.

During the ride, the only thing he had to hold onto, aside from his courage, was a single-hand rig.

"There's a bind in the rigging that helps you stay in there longer. Horses are stronger than bulls. So it's tighter. It makes you stay in there tighter," he said.

At 12:20 p.m., the gate burst open.

The bronco charged out, jumping violently in an effort to throw the rider.

Cole stayed atop the horse for what appeared to be six seconds in the 10-second ordeal. After six seconds, he was thrown off.

"I think I leaned forward too much," he said.

But his hand got caught in the rigging and for four seconds, the horse dragged him.

He was thrown to the dirt near the retaining wall protecting spectators. The horse stepped on the boy's right leg, then trotted off. A team of rodeo hands gave chase while others rushed over to check on Cole.

His mother, Nina, watched with worry in her eyes. While she supports her son's fascination with the thrills of rodeo riding, the potential dangers of the sport always tease her senses. Sometimes, she fears the worst.

"I thought, 'Oh no, there it is,' " she said.

Cymbal crashes blared from the speakers, as a recording of "Help!" by The Beatles filled the stadium.

"Paramedics to the arena, please. Paramedics to the arena," said the announcer, Greg Simas, Danville.

For the next two minutes, Simas attempted to calm the crowd as responders examined Cole.

"Folks, let me explain something real quick. First and foremost, it is our God-given right to be able to choose to do rodeo for a living. Today, many youngsters in high school have pressures of video games and pressures of hanging out at the mall and all kinds of negativities. These youngsters that you see here today still wake up every morning and choose to carry on an American tradition and that is to be a cowboy or a cowgirl. They wake up before the sun to clean their horses and take care of their livestock. It's not about video-gaming or remote control. It's about living life to its fullest and taking care of what God has given us in this great country and this great land that we have to live off. That young man is down there. A lot of his friends are looking on. One thing I do see is he still is conscious. And they're saying he's talking. We're going to make sure he's all right. Especially at a high school rodeo, we do not nod a head, run a barrel, throw a rope or buck a bull without an ambulance on site. We can't forget our animal athletes, as well. We will not start a rodeo without a practitioner of veterinary medicine on site," Simas said.

Referring to Cole, Simas said, "He's talking and communicating for one reason. Many of you may attend a major league baseball game or an NFL football game or an NBA basketball game where they had taken prayer out of their arena. You see, folks, we bow our heads or take off our hats and say a word to the man upstairs to protect us during the course of the day. We may have some bumps and bruises, but he's looking down upon us now and looking down upon young Grayson Cole."

Then Cole stood up, and the crowd started to clap.

"He's getting up on his own. He's getting up on his own," Simas said, as the spectators amped up the applause.

At 12:35 p.m., Cole was sitting in the stables under the arena, his right leg elevated on a bale of hay. His mother put a bag of ice on the bruised muscles.

"It's fine," he said.

And he was determined to ride again Saturday.

"I'm getting on a bull later," Cole said.

He was among the Schuylkill County people at the farm show Saturday demonstrating their dedication to agriculture.

Others included Brendin Freeman, Auburn, who raises and markets rabbits for sale.

Freeman, a senior at Blue Mountain, said he knows Cole.

"He's a tough kid, but he's really nice," Freeman said.

Freeman also admitted at one time he thought about trying to be a rodeo cowboy.

"My dream was to be a bull rider, but that didn't work out so well," Freeman said.

"Cole does it for the same reason you almost went into it," Freeman's mother, Julie, said.

"It's just for the thrill of it. But my mom and dad told me 'no,' " Freeman said.

His parents, Rich and Julie, run Twin Oaks Bee Ranch in Auburn.

Brendin Freeman started raising rabbits eight years ago, in particular, a breed of domestic rabbit known as the "silver marten."

"Brendin got into rabbits because we didn't have land at the time for larger animals," his mother said.

On Friday, Freeman's rabbits earned a few honors. For instance, state officials called Magenta, a 6-month-old female with a sable coat, "Best Opposite Sex of Breed."

And Blowing Smoke, a 3-year-old male with a black coat, was named "Best of Breed."

"That meant he was the best rabbit of the silver martens that were here Friday. I believe there were 11 silver martens in that competition," Brendin Freeman said.

He said the best thing about the farm show is "exhibiting, showing and participating with 4-H."

Rhonda Carl, 18, of Hegins, is a legend in the history of the Schuylkill County Fair. She's the only young woman involved in the fair royalty program to win the titles of Little Miss, Princess and Queen. On top of that, Carl was named the 2013 Pennsylvania Fair Queen.

On Saturday, she was up early to pose for pictures with dignitaries and farmers, and she rode atop a float in the Parade of Agriculture in the Large Arena.

"My role is to represent the fairs and agriculture as a whole for the state. It's been very busy. Early morning. After the parade and opening ceremonies I'll be at the chocolate cake and apple pie contest at 3. I'll be a host and helping and doing whatever I need to do," Carl said.

Carl is a freshman at King's College in Wilkes-Barre, studying to become a physician's assistant.

Schuylkill County District Attorney Christine A. Holman said Friday that she has completed the selection of her assistant district attorneys.

"They all have a wide variety of criminal law, criminal defense and other legal experience," she said of the nine, who include only three holdovers from the staff of her predecessor, Karen Byrnes-Noon.

On Nov. 5, Holman, Republican, defeated Byrnes-Noon, a Democrat who had been appointed district attorney in January 2012 to replace county Judge James P. Goodman, by 73 votes in one of the tightest countywide races in many years. On Dec. 13, President Judge William E. Baldwin dismissed an election contest petition filed by several of Byrnes-Noon's supporters, thereby ensuring Holman would take office.

Holman was sworn in on Tuesday.

In addition to First Assistant District Attorney Maria T. Casey, whom she previously announced would take that post, Holman chose William L.J. Burke, John Fegley, James Flagella, Robert I. Lipkin and Gary D. Marchalk as ADAs.

She kept Keith D. Hoppes, Jennifer N. Lehman and Debra A. Smith from Byrnes-Noon's staff.

Lawyers appointed by Byrnes-Noon who are leaving the office include First Assistant District Attorney Thomas J. Campion Jr. and ADAs Rachel M. Cichowic, Michael A. O'Pake, Thomas J. "Tim" Pellish, Robert M. Reedy and Douglas J. Taglieri.

She said Fegley, Lehman and Lipkin would be full-time ADAs, while the others would be part-time.

"I was not surprised at all" that so many decided to leave, Holman said. "That's their prerogative."

Casey represented Holman in the election contest litigation. Holman said Casey's work in that case played a role in her selection.

"She is a very quick learner," Holman said of Casey. "I was very impressed with her."

Holman also said she has assigned most of the assistants to handle cases from a particular magisterial district judge's office. Those assignments include:

- Burke to M.D.J. David J. Rossi, Tremont

- Fegley to M.D.J. David A. Plachko, Port Carbon

- Flagella to M.D.J. James R. Ferrier, Orwigsburg

- Lehman to M.D.J. Stephen J. Bayer, Tamaqua (her current assignment)

- Lipkin to M.D.J. James K. Reiley, Pottsville

- Marchalk to M.D.J. Christina E. Hale, Frackville

- Smith to M.D.J. Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah

Hoppes handles juvenile cases, which Holman herself had done while an ADA from 2002-06.

Holman said she and Casey would work with any of the assistants who need help at particularly busy times at a magisterial district judge's office. She said Kilker's and Reiley's offices are generally the busiest.

"I feel very happy and confident with the team I've assembled," Holman said.

In January, we recognize Blood Donor, National Book and Hot Tea Month. I must admit, I drink tea like most people drink coffee. Martin Luther King Jr. Day will be Monday, Jan. 20, and A.A. Milne's 132nd birthday is Jan. 18. He created one of my favorite characters - Piglet from Winnie the Pooh.

This week, we started a new year, and an even number at that. For some unexplained reason, I prefer years with even numbers, so I'm feeling optimistic that 2014 will be nicer to us than was 2013. However, realistically, the economy is still lagging and will continue to be unpleasant to everyone. Agencies that provide services to the public will continue to see funding cuts.

With the national debt increasing, it's inevitable that there will be more slashing of funding in an effort to try to balance the budget. Not only will human services see more funding reductions, but they'll also have the double-whammy of seeing more consumers walking through their doors, many of whom will be first timers, embarrassed to be asking for help.

Agencies will try to find ways to reduce spending that has already been whittled to the bone, while trying to maintain much needed services. They'll rely more on the generosity of the public who has supported them in the past. There are several ways you can help these entities, and in doing so, help those who so desperately need the services.

The easiest and most obvious way to support our local social systems is to give a monetary donation. They can use the additional funding in the manner they deem most prudent.

You can donate items to an agency. For example, has your child outgrown last year's coat? You can donate it to an organization that provides clothing to those in need. SWiC would be a good example. You can contact Mary Jo at 570-622-3991 to see which items are currently in high demand. These usually include clothing, bedding and kitchenware. Remember, their consumers are typically arriving at their shelter with nothing more than the clothing on their backs. Shortly, they'll get their own housing, but will have to start from scratch, often with children in their care.

Another way you can help is to donate your time and talents. There are more than 100 volunteer opportunities listed on our website at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Are you handy with tools and easy remodeling projects? Can you type or make phone calls? Providing these kinds of assistance frees up employees to do other important tasks and allows them to accomplish things on the agency's wish list that limited budgets haven't permitted.

There's been an increased need for food donations this past year. Agencies are seeing record numbers needing assistance and sometimes, unfortunately, don't have the volume of food needed to help everyone. I've heard of food pantries running out of food totally. You can easily buy some extra cans of vegetables, soup, fruit, peanut butter and tuna (good sources of protein), oatmeal, vitamins and other nutritious food items and drop them off at your local food pantry. Or, you could give a monetary donation so they can purchase items not donated.

For information about volunteer opportunities, call Community Volunteers in Action at 570-628-1426, email jjohnston@co,.schuylkill.pa.us or go to www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communityvolunteersinaction.

Eagle Scout projects

Times: Flexible

Responsibility: Schuylkill Headwaters Association is looking for Eagle Scout candidates to coordinate a series of projects that are nested within their larger effort to convert the Silver Creek Abandoned Mine Drainage Passive Filtration System into a recreational and educational park for the New Philadelphia community. These projects could easily meet Eagle Scout requirements. Pick your favorite project.

Location: New Philadelphia.

Contact: SHA Outreach and Education Coordinator Sierra Gladfelter, 570 573-2093.

Over the years, many of you have told me how antique dealers and other resellers, helpful neighbors, and even your cousin, Joe - your family's self proclaimed antiques expert - have suggested some interesting testing methods to help identify your antiques.

I think it is funny that this testing information is provided to buyers only after you bought an object. Why don't the sellers try these tests themselves before they sell the object to you? If their test provides certain results, they could have done what was required in the first place - correctly identified that object before they sold it to you.

Shedding black light

I think people just like the idea of using a black light. It's one of the favorite tools of the art and antiques world. It seems to represent a cross between Maxwell Smart's shoe phone and the TV show, CSI. In the case of antiques, it isn't CSI, but rather ASI or Antique Scene Investigation. Ok, so you purchase a black light. You hold it up to that mysterious painting and now what? What should you see? A hidden message? A never before seen signature? The black light might reveal something previously unseen, but what does that really tell you about identification or value? Not much!

In all fairness to black lights, they do help reveal glued repairs on porcelains, new pigments or paint cracks on works of art and other hard-to-see elements when employing only the naked eye. After you've used that revealing black light, most people still need an expert to review your piece.

Sometimes the original artist painted over another painting simply because he or she couldn't afford a new canvas. We've all reused things, and artists are no different. Also, over the years paintings get "helped" or "enhanced" by Aunt Sue, who added a wedding ring on the hand of a sitter in a family portrait or an extra leaf or two to a tree in an old landscape painting. Still, not much help with identification. Trained appraisers like me look at the back of the painting and the foundation of a work - in natural light.

At my appraisal events, I try to contain myself when someone offers me a black light to identify an American painting that was made in 1990. I think back to my experience in academic institutions and museums and I can recall very few situations when I or my colleagues relied solely on a black light for identification purposes. Black lights, fun as they are, will only provide part of the big picture. Need to know the real deal about art and antiques? Ask an expert to take a look.

(Dr. Lori Verderame hosts antiques appraisal events worldwide and is the star appraiser on Discovery channel's TV show, Auction Kings. To learn about your antiques, visit www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, @DrLori on Twitter, or call (888) 431-1010.)

The king of the planets will get your attention in the eastern sky this month and will continue to dominate our night sky well into spring. It reaches its closest approach to Earth this weekend, something astronomers call opposition.

Right now, the largest planet of our solar system is about 391 million away, the closest it'll be to our world this year, but it's still just about as close at 381 million miles from our backyards. Believe or not, that's close for Jupiter. It's by far the largest planet in our solar system with an equatorial diameter of 88,000 miles, dwarfing our 8,000 mile wide Earth. In fact, if Jupiter were a hollow sphere, you could fill it with about 1,200 Earths.

You can't help but notice that while Jupiter is the brightest shiner in night sky, it's shining against the backgrounds of the brightest stars and constellations we see all year long. The winter constellations are the best in my book centered around my favorite constellation, Orion the Hunter. I lovingly call this part of the sky "Orion and his gang." Specifically, Jupiter's residing in the constellation Gemini the Twins, parked just to the right of Gemini's brightest stars Castor and Pollux.

Jupiter is available in our heavens all night long while it take a very high arc across the sky through the night. Jupiter is in what astronomers call opposition with Earth. It certainly doesn't mean that Jupiter and Earth are on opposite ends of the solar system. To the contrary, they will actually be at their closest approach to each other. They're both on the same side of the sun in their respective orbits around our home star, with the Earth lying in the line between the sun and Jupiter.

Because of that, Jupiter and the sun are at opposite ends of the sky. That's where the term opposition comes from. Just like a full moon, which we will have later this month, Jupiter rises at sunset and sets at sunrise.

Jupiter is basically a huge ball of hydrogen and helium gas, much like our sun only a whole lot smaller. When you get Jupiter in the eyepiece of your telescope, you'll see at least some of its horizontal parallel cloud bands on the disk of the gargantuan planet. Even the smallest of scopes with decent focus can usually pick up two of the dark cloud bands running on either side of Jupiter's equator. But since Jupiter is so close this month, you'll probably see a lot more. You may even see some faint color to the bands.

I can't believe how well I'm seeing Jupiter with my big scope these nights. The clouds on Jupiter are mostly made up of ammonia and methane compounds. They swirl around Jupiter at speeds about 400 mph and contain eddies and storms within them. The biggest of Jupiter's storms is the famous Red Spot that's much bigger than even our Earth. Other smaller red spots have also been seen on the great planet.

Jupiter's atmosphere is so active because of Jupiter's immense mass and its resultant huge gravitational force. That gravity literally puts the squeeze on Jupiter and compresses the giant gas ball. That compression produces a lot of internal heat that drives the energetic Jovian atmosphere. There's also lots of lightning on Jupiter. Because of the huge magnetic field generated by it's its rapid rotation, aurora are common around Jupiter's pole. There's a lot going on around the big guy of our solar system.

When you're viewing Jupiter, or anything else in your telescope, just remember the general rule of thumb, higher is better. The higher in the heavens Jupiter is the better the chance you'll have to get a really clear look because your scope doesn't have to pierce though as much of earth's blurring atmosphere.

Another piece of advice I can give that really helps is to start with a lower magnification eyepiece and work your way up to a higher magnification. You will reach a point of limiting higher magnification where the image will really get too muddy. There's no sense in seeing a blurry Jupiter, so bump down to a lower magnification.

Remember also that not all nights are the same for telescope viewing. Even if the skies are clear, high winds in the upper and lower atmosphere can diminish what you see and how much magnification you can obtain clearly. If Jupiter doesn't come in too clear one night, try it again the next night, or whenever.

One other thing: It's always a good idea to look through your telescope at Jupiter or any other object for a continuous extended time. Try to keep your eye plugged to the eyepiece for at least ten minutes at a time. That will give you more time to get used to the different light level and will allow you to see more detail.

Another attraction around Jupiter are its four largest moons that look like little stars in a line on either side of the planet, depending on where they are in their individual orbits. Even the tiniest of scopes and binoculars can pick them up. I even know some people that can spot traces of them with the naked eye.

Jupiter is so close and bright right now that if you look very carefully at it, you might see a tiny little tail attached to it. I never really noticed this myself until I pointed out Jupiter to a good buddy of mine and he asked, "Hey, what's that little tail all about?" That little tail that you may see is actually Jupiter's moons and when Jupiter is close. I'll have much more on Jupiter's Galilean moons next month in Starwatch.

(Lynch is an amateur astronomer and author of the book, "Stars, a Month by Month Tour of the Constellations." Contact him at mikewlynch@comcast.net.)

n Barnesville: Fifty members attended the Rush, Ryan and Delano Senior Citizens Inc. Christmas party Dec. 10 at the Ryan Township Fire Company and enjoyed a meal provided by C.J. Catering, Mahanoy City. Tables were decorated with poinsettia plants donated by Hub and Shirley Becker. All in attendance received mittens and candy canes, courtesy of Doris Brobst. Several door prizes were donated, including a lap blanket from Nancy Godanis, a table runner from Eleanor Schmerfeld and a lamp from Ron and Lynne Creitz. A moment of silence was held in memory of Rhoda Purnell, followed by a gift exchange and bingo. The RR&D seniors group meets the second and fourth Tuesdays of the month at the fire company. Anyone 55 or older is welcome to join. Due to the holidays, the next meeting is scheduled for Jan. 14.

n Mahanoy City: The Blessed Teresa Golden Agers will sponsor a bus trip to Nashville, Tenn., from June 21 to 26. The cost is $844 double occupancy and includes lodging at the Opryland Hotel. Participants will visit the Grand Ol' Opry, the Country Music Hall of Fame and other sites. For more information, call Elizabeth at 570-773-1753.

n Pine Grove: A Fire and Ice Winter Fest is slated for 2 to 6 p.m. Jan. 27 at the clubhouse in Sweet Arrow Lake County Park. It will include firing up hot dogs and marshmallows over an open campfire, singing campfire songs and playing miniature ice golf. There will be a hot chocolate booth, a fire hot chili cookoff and a homemade ice cream demonstration and sampling. Advance registration is required to participate in the competition. To register, call Susan at 570-624-3018. Admission is free but there will be small fees for some activities. The program is open to the public and recommended for all ages.

n Tamaqua: The athletic department of the Tamaqua Area School District is looking to form a Tamaqua Area Athletic Alumni Association. An organizational meeting will be held at 5:30 p.m. Thursday in Room 108 of the Tamaqua Area Senior High School. All former athletes, coaches and friends of TAHS athletics are welcome to attend. The first 40 people in attendance will receive a free TAHS thumb drive. For more information, contact Mike Hromyak, TASD athletic director, via email at mhromyak@tamaqua.k12.pa.us.

n Tamaqua: The Patriarchs of Scott Encampment 132, Independed Order of Odd Fellows and Brothers and Sisters of Lady Harmony Rebekah Lodge 86, recently held services for installation of officers. Scott Encampment 132 is in its 153rd year of service to the Tamaqua area. It is composed of Patriarchs from Harmony Lodge 86, Tamaqua; East Brunswick Lodge 802, New Ringgold; Tunkhannock Lodge 699; Mineral Lodge 285, Saint Clair; and Rush Lodge 471, Lawton. New officers include Raymond R. "Bull" Boulanger Jr., Hometown, chief patriarch; David R. "Bobby" Gallahar, Tamaqua, senior warden; Robert J. Leibensperger, Hometown, junior warden; Melissa Mangini, Hazle Township, high priest; Justin C. Bailey, Tamaqua, scribe; and Tyler M. Arnold, Tamaqua, treasurer. Others installed included Grady Slade, guide; Charles Bailey, Roy Turner, Sherman Wooden and Darrell Turner, watches; Donald Taylor and Paul Miller, sentinels; and Neil Thomas and James Sellers, guardians of the tent. James W. Sellers, grand patriarch of the Grand Encampment of Pennsylvania, visited during the services. The Lady Harmony Rebekah Lodge was established just four years ago. Charlene Grieb, Leesport, district deputy president, installed the officers, including Tyler M. Arnold, noble grand; Alisha Valedon, Coaldale, vice grand; Kate L. Bailey, Tamaqua, secretary; and Patricia Eisenberg, Lewistown Valley, treasurer. Others installed included Nicole Inama, warden; Melissa Mangini, conductor; Laura Bailey, chaplain; Robert Leibensperber, Ray Boulanger, Patricia Valedon and Wanda Schmidt, supporters; Jenn Mathias and Charles Bailey, guardians; Samantha Drust, color bearer; and Justin Bailey, musician. For more information on the Odd Fellows, call Justin Bailey at 570-449-5617.

HARRISBURG - Morgan Hetherington was one of the Penn State students enlisted to greet state officials, including Gov. Tom Corbett, on Saturday at the official start of the 98th Pennsylvania Farm Show.

"He knows me. I'm 'Boots's daughter,' " Hetherington, 21, of Ringtown, a senior food science major at Penn State University said Saturday morning at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center, Harrisburg.

She's the daughter of Barron L. "Boots" Hetherington and Robin A. Hetherington, who run B&R Farms, a 400-acre site in Union Township. "Boots" was named the special advisor to the governor for agriculture in May 2011.

At 9:30 a.m. Saturday, she and a Penn State classmate, Olivia Francois, 21, of Pittsburgh, presented officials with a gift basket from the Penn State Ag Advocates at the PA Preferred Banquet Hall. It included blue and white mugs, jelly beans and locally-produced honey.

With that gift, Heatherington wanted them to remember the importance of education.

"I want them to remember that the College of Agricultural Sciences is still a very prominent part of Penn State. What we're doing is good work. What we're doing is worth it and what really needs funding is Penn State Extension," she said.

Penn State Extension is an educational network that gives the public in Pennsylvania's 67 counties access to Penn State University's resources and expertise. There's an office in Pottsville at 1202 Ag Center Drive.

Penn State Ag Advocates is a club made up of students studying agriculture.

The governor's speech was one of the highlights at opening ceremonies, held Saturday morning at the PA Farm Show Complex and Expo Center's Large Arena.

"Every year we have an opportunity to gather in the arena here in Harrisburg to celebrate an industry that's part of the foundation of the great Commonwealth of Pennsylvania. It accounts for $68 billion of our state's economic production and employes one in seven Pennsylvanians. Agriculture is Pennsylvania's number one industry," Corbett said.

But farming is more than just a statistic, he said.

"It's a way of life, a tradition passed down from parent to child, from grandparent to grandchild. We're often fond of saying, 'From farm to fork.' While the average citizen is certainly familiar with the fork-side of that equation, farming life, too often, remains a mystery to many. Where does all the food come from? I think if I asked my 2-year-old grandson, he'd say, 'It comes from the refrigerator' or 'it comes from the grocery store.' But we know different," Corbett said.

He said it's one of the reasons the farm show is important, it's an educational tool.

The governor also talked about his recent efforts to keep farmers and Pennsylvania growing.

He said the elimination of the Heritage Tax on farm real estate will help farmers transition their properties more easily to the next generation.

"By enacting comprehensive transportation funding reform, we're increasing our investments in the dirt-and-gravel roads of rural Pennsylvania that are so vital to our farming. By eliminating outdated regulations - some of them go into effect very soon on potatoes - we're securing a brighter future for our potato farmers," Corbett said.

Corbett was referring to an effort to remove red tape which prevented farmers from doing their jobs by updating transportation regulations on farm equipment, requirements for health certificates for animals exhibited at fairs and limits on potato packaging, according to a press release on the event posted Saturday night on the farm show's official website at farmshow.state.pa.us.

State Secretary of Agriculture George D. Greig, who visited the Schuylkill County Fair in Summit Station in July, also spoke at the event.

"This show is a source of pride for many Pennsylvanians. It's the tradition, the friendship and the love that keeps us coming back year after year. The farm show is Pennsylvania," Greig said.

"Before we gather in this building each January, there are 62,000 Pennsylvania farm families who are working every day to bring their best to you, from the crop farmer who works into the night to the dairy farmer who is up before the sun to care for and milk his cows. Farmers are producing the food that sustains our nation. But farmers don't just grow food. They grow Pennsylvania. They grow our communities by spending their income locally and creating good jobs. They preserve our rich ag heritage by keeping farmland in production and they secure our future by ensuring that we can continue to feed our state and our nation without being dependent on others. What drives our farmers is the same thing that drives our farm show volunteers: tradition, community and a love for what they do. And that's no coincidence because in many cases those volunteers are farmers who are here to share their pride with you. When you're walking these halls, take time to talk to the men, women and children behind these exhibits. Thank them for their work and ask them questions," Greig said.

Speaking of the Schuylkill County Fair, "Boots" Hetherington said the state gave the fair based in Summit Station a $500 cash award for winning second place in the "PA Preferred Products Fair Display" competition.

The first place winner, the Huntingdon County Fair, won $1,000, and the third place winner, Oley Valley Community Fair, won $250 in the competition, Hetherington said.

The farm show is the largest indoor agricultural exposition in the country, with nearly 6,000 animals, 10,000 competitive exhibits and 300 commercial exhibits. Saturday was opening day and the event will continue all week, wrapping up Jan. 11, according to the farm show website.

"The show's theme, 'Pennsylvania Farms: Growing for You,' highlights how farmers and agribusinesses grow the state's food and economy," according to the website.

Inside a little girl's playhouse emerged a lifelong love of nature's art.

As Faye Arleen Kopp recalls, it was the place where her own fascination with patterns of color took flight.

"When I was younger, my father built me a playhouse. I caught butterflies and pinned them to the walls," said Kopp, 89, of Klingerstown. "I also pinned some to the tops of the curtains."

Today, that appreciation for detailed beauty can be seen in Kopp's intricate, glass-beaded handiwork she donated to the Ned Smith Center for Nature & Art, Millersburg, Dauphin County.

Crafting ornaments

Many of the 100 Christmas ornaments Kopp created started as satin-covered, foam balls. She also made some ornaments using single-crocheted strands of yarn and glued the strands in layers around a foam base. She hand-stitched or glued fabric, glass beads, lace, ribbon or sequins onto each one, crafting a one-of-a-kind Christmas decoration.

Kopp said she never used a ruler to measure out a specific distance for her geometric designs, but instead relied on her "good vision" to estimate where each bead should be placed.

She said she got ideas from kits and crafting magazines and used inspiration from her years of raising caterpillars and collecting moths and butterflies to design a pattern for several of her felt creations.

Most of the decorations were made in the 1960s, Kopp said, and took one night to complete. She said she'd work on the ornaments in the evenings because that was the only time she "was free." Until last year, she had kept the ornaments safely wrapped up with tissue paper and organized into cardboard boxes she stored inside her home.

Donation

"I wanted to put them somewhere where I knew they'd stay," Kopp said, noting she decided to donate all 100 ornaments to the center last year. They are on display in the lobby of the center through the end of January.

"They are so special to our center," said Carmen Villarose, office coordinator, who arranged the ornament collection on a Christmas tree. When the Christmas season ends, the ornaments will go back into storage in the archival, climate-controlled room where the valuable Ned Smith original artwork is also kept.

"We're keeping them in a good spot for you," Villarose told Kopp, when she visited the facility Dec. 12 to see her collection on display.

Friendships

Kopp's good friends and neighbors, Patricia Dietz and Karen Gorrie, brought her to the center for a "Ladies Day" out and a tour of the center's galleries.

"I like to read, go for walks with my neighbors and celebrate birthdays with friends," said Kopp. She said she used to decorate the inside and outside of her home every year for Christmas, but no longer does.

"I gave that up," she said.

While at the center, Kopp visited with the center staff, including Villarose; John Laskowski, also known as "The Mothman," board member and education chair; and Beth Sanders, the center's education director

Kopp said she's known Laskowski since the 1970s. He was a good friend of Lawrence Joseph Kopp, her late brother, and for years, they were all members of the Lepidoptera Society. Her brother wrote articles on trapping and the outdoors for PA Game News and was also a friend of the center's namesake, the late Ned Smith.

Early years

Faye and Lawrence's parents were the late Joseph Grant Kopp, Gowen City, and Minnie Wehry Kopp, Rough and Ready. Faye still lives in Rough and Ready in the house where her grandfather, James Monroe Wehry, was born. She has a Klingerstown address.

Her aptitude for art was apparent early on.

"They wanted to send me in eighth grade to Bloomsburg University. I was always a good art student," she said, noting, however, that her family's wishes were for her to remain close to home at that time. Eventually, she did earn a master arts diploma through the International Correspondence School in Scranton.

Raising caterpillars

From the 1950s to the 1980s, Faye and her brother raised caterpillars on their 125-acre farm. While in the pupae stage, their Cecropia moths were sent to universities around the world for research purposes.

According to information presented alongside Kopp's ornament exhibit, the siblings "gained fame among scientific circles for their cultivation of Lepidoptera specimens for major research universities and their preservation of these near-perfect specimens from around the globe.

"The Kopp Collection is widely significant, as it features many rare species, including grandfathered specimens that are no longer available due to international collecting restrictions."

A decorative mount that Faye Kopp designed is pictured with the exhibit information.

The Faye Arleen and Lawrence Joseph Kopp Collection of Butterflies and Moths was generously donated to the Ned Smith Center in 2008. It features more than 30,000 worldwide, exotic species.

The handcrafted ornaments are Kopp's most recent contribution and one more way to share her artistic passion.

Inspiration

Visitors entering the northern Dauphin County center are often struck by the intricate details of Kopp's handiwork.

"They say, 'Who made these? Are they handmade? They're amazing.' They can see the time it took for each one," Villarose said. She said she sometimes opens up the ornament exhibit case, so admirers can get a closer look.

"They usually go away feeling happy and inspired," Sanders added.

More information on Faye Kopp can be found at the center's website at www.nedsmithcenter.org. There's also a link to "Taking Wing," part one and part two, a video documentary on the Kopps produced by Brother Johannes Zinzendorf, Pitman.

Misericordia

Megan Elizabeth Witman graduated Dec. 14 with a 3.93 GPA from Misericordia University, Dallas, Luzerne County, with a doctorate degree in physical therapy.

A 2006 graduate of Nativity BVM High School, she is employed at Schuylkill Medical Center-East Norwegian Street in the Jim Stine Acute Rehab Center.

Megan is a daughter of Craig and Bonnie Witman, a granddaughter of Barbara Stablum and the late Charles Stablum, and Teresa Witman and the late Birch Witman, all of Branchdale.

IUP

Casey Lynn Weisbek earned her master's degree in secondary level English education from Indiana University of Pennsylvania on Dec. 14.

She has a bachelor's degree in English writing from Lock Haven University and plans to pursue a doctorate degree in composition and TESOL at IUP in the fall.

She is a daughter of John and Gina Petrylak, Shenandoah, and Charley and Barb Weisbeck, Ashland.

HACC

Michell Lea Koch, Tremont, graduated Dec. 13 from Harrisburg Area Community College, Harrisburg campus, with an associate degree in nursing.

She also received the Nursing Faculty Award for Exemplary Nursing Practice.

She is a daughter of Gerald Solt and the late Jennifer Boyer Solt. She resides with her husband, Barry Koch Jr., and their two children, Mackensie and Mckoy Koch.

IUP

The following students from Schuylkill County have been recognized as Provost Scholars at Indiana University of Pennsylvania:

Emily M. Romberger, Auburn, a speech-language pathology and audiology major; Julia L. Reed, Hegins, an accounting major; Sarah L. Ney, Pine Grove, an English/literary, textual and cultural studies major; Ruth Ann Altman, Pitman, an anthropology/archaeology major; Brittany Lee Gilroy, Shenandoah, a criminology major.

At the start of the fall semester, any undergraduate student who is a current junior with a minimum of 45 semester hours earned at IUP with a cumulative grade point average of 3.5 or higher is eligible to be named a Provost Scholar. Provost Scholar recognition is given only once during a student's time of study at IUP.

Delaware

Shaun Schaeffer, Schuylkill Haven, is among more than 1,000 University of Delaware students who will travel to 24 countries as part of 50 programs spanning 39 academic subjects.

The students will pursue up to seven academic credits during five weeks of study.

Shaun will study abroad in Australia.

An Ashland man who admitted to indecently assaulting a girl in March 2010 in his home returned to prison after a judge sentenced him Monday in Schuylkill County Court.

Joseph F. Temple, 49, must serve six to 12 months in prison, Senior Judge D. Michael Stine ruled.

Stine imposed the sentence after revoking Temple's probation for the second time.

Temple originally pleaded guilty on Aug. 26, 2010, to indecent assault and corruption of minors, with prosecutors withdrawing a second count of indecent assault. At that time, Stine placed him on probation for 23 months and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $250 fine and $50 to the Criminal Justice Enhancement Account, undergo a sex offender evaluation, have no contact with the victim and submit a DNA sample to law enforcement authorities.

Ashland police had charged Temple with assaulting the girl on March 1, 2010, in his borough residence. Police said Temple touched the girl while she was asleep on a couch.

Also on Monday, Gregory A. Macalush, 22, of Jim Thorpe, was sentenced by President Judge William E. Baldwin to serve four to 23 months in prison. Baldwin imposed the sentence after revoking Macalush's probation.

Macalush pleaded guilty on May 22 to retail theft, with prosecutors withdrawing charges of theft by deception and receiving stolen property. Baldwin placed him on probation for 23 months and also sentenced him to pay costs, a $50 CJEA payment, a $50 bench warrant fee and $144 restitution.

Rush Township police charged Macalush with committing the theft on April 17, 2012, in the township.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers and state police at Schuylkill Haven are asking for the public's help in identifying a woman wanted in connection with a theft incident last month.

The crime occurred between 5:45 and 6:30 p.m. Dec. 12 at Weis Markets in the Pottsville Park Plaza, Norwegian Township.

The woman picked up a prescription that did not belong to her, police said.

Police said the prescription belonged to Michael Minrod, New Philadelphia, and that the woman signed for the prescription, which Minrod had not yet picked up.

During the investigation, police said they discovered the woman also removed an over-the-counter product from the shelf and fraudulently returned it to the store's customer service desk for store credit on a gift card.

Schuylkill County Crime Stoppers will pay up to $1,000 for information on the woman's identity or any other unsolved crime in Schuylkill County.

Callers are asked to refer to incident 01-05-14 when calling with information about the theft of prescription medication and fraudulent return of merchandise at Weis Markets.

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

Individuals with information can also call state police at Schuylkill Haven directly at 570-739-1100.

All information received will remain confidential.

Penn State

James Wagner, a junior kinesiology major at Penn State Berks campus, made the dean's list for the fall semester.

A 2011 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, he is a son of Amy and Tom Dobeck and John and Heather Wagner.

Thomas W. Piaskowski, an information and sciences technology major, was named to the dean's list for the fall semester at Penn State University.

He is a son of Tom and Susan Piaskowski, Deer Lake.

Tanner Noecker, a junior criminal justice major at Penn State University, received a 3.79 GPA for the fall semester and was named to the dean's list.

A 2011 graduate of Schuylkill Haven Area High School, he is the son of George and Tammy Noecker, Schuylkill Haven.

IUP

Jillian L. Wagner, a sophomore majoring in nutrition and dietetics, was named to the dean's list at Indiana University of Pennsylvania for the fall semester.

A 2012 graduate of Mahanoy Area High School, Jillian is a daughter of Sharon Wagner, Schuylkill Haven, and Jeff Wagner, Hometown.

Lock Haven

Nicholas Malloy, a senior majoring in criminal justice, was named to the dean's list at Lock Haven University with a 3.7 GPA for the fall semester.

He is a 2010 graduate of Nativity BVM High School and a son of David and Melissa Malloy, Frackville, and a grandson of Winifred Mohutsky, Shenandoah Heights, and Thomas Malloy, Frackville.

Lafayette

John Keller, Orwigsburg, a senior majoring in computer science at Lafayette College, Easton, made the dean's list for the fall semester with a 3.93 GPA.

Keller is a 2010 graduate of The Kings Academy, Mohrsville, Berks County. He is a son of Renee Keller-Brown and Dave Brown, Orwigsburg, and Jack and Dennette Keller, Schuylkill Haven. His maternal grandparents are Robert and Ruth Luckenbill, Lake Wynonah, and paternal grandparents are Gary and Evelyn Keller, Schuylkill Haven.

Pennsylvania drivers that receive a fine for "Obedience to Traffic Control Devices" will now have to pay a higher fine thanks to changes by the commonwealth.

Minersville police Chief Michael Combs said Thursday that Section 3111, "Obedience to Traffic Control Devices," which has been given to drivers as a break for speeding, will now come with a higher cost.

Two recent House bills, HB 1060 and HB 892, upped the fine to about $170 when it was previously $112 with fees.

That violation still does not carry the same weight as a speeding ticket, which includes points on the driver's license.

"We used to use that section to cut people a break, but as you can see, now it's going to jack up that fine," Combs said. "That's what the state did, realized a lot of officers were writing people for obedience instead of speeding and so they jacked up the fine now substantially. No one here suggested that because we like that section."

According to information from Frank L. Baranyai from the Pennsylvania DUI Association, HB 1060 set the fine at $150 with no costs and then HB 892 added the costs back in.

"What all this is going to boil down to is if you get disobedience to a traffic control device, it's going to cost you $170," Combs said.

A 25-year-old Donaldson woman was killed Sunday afternoon when her vehicle slid into a tree near Tremont, according to Dr. David J. Moylan III, county coroner.

Moylan on Sunday night identified the victim as Amanda E. Minnich, a mother of two children, ages 5 and 6.

"I just dispatched deputy coroner Joe Pothering to go there. Apparently two people were in the vehicle. One is dead. The other is trapped," Moylan said just after 3 p.m.

As temperatures hovered in the low 20s Sunday afternoon, a steady stream of freezing rain coated Schuylkill County's roads and sidewalks, making tires spin and inspiring home and business owners to reach for anti-skid material.

Today, the chills will continue as an arctic cold front is expected to sweep through the region with potentially dangerous wind chills arriving tonight through Wednesday morning, according to the website for the National Weather Service at weather.gov

"There could be a few rain showers out ahead of it. We could have snow showers Monday morning as cold air comes in behind the front, but probably no more than an inch. We could have a flash freeze. It could be kind of slick. Temperatures will be in the mid 30s and will drop through the day," Craig Evanego, a meteorologist with the National Weather Service, State College, said Sunday night.

The NWS issued a freezing rain advisory for the county from 3 p.m. to midnight Sunday. It was expected that less than a tenth of an inch would accumulate.

Untreated surfaces could be "icy and treacherous," Evanego said.

"There was a disturbance that came up from the south. That was what generated the rain. It was a weak area of low pressure. It's been cold. And we just had the cold air locked in here," Evanego said.

At 2:48 p.m. Sunday, a vehicle hit a tree just off South Tremont Street, Newtown, less than a mile from Tremont, according to a radio report from a dispatcher at Schuylkill County Communications, Pottsville.

"Utilize caution. 209 is a sheet of ice at this time," the dispatcher told responders.

Pothering arrived on the scene of the fatal accident on South Tremont Street in Tremont Township at 3:10 p.m., according to Moylan.

When he arrived, the responders were struggling to deal with the situation.

"The conditions are horrible," Moylan said.

Those responders included firefighters from Tremont and Ravine, Tremont EMS, West Schuylkill ALS and Life Flight 5, according to a communications center supervisor.

"The driver was killed. The passenger was taken to (Penn State Milton S.) Hershey Medical Center," the supervisor said.

Moylan said he was planning to do a virtual autopsy, a CAT scan, on the crash victim at the Simon Kramer Institute, New Philadelphia, today.

Other accidents that occurred late Sunday afternoon included a vehicle hitting a fire hydrant at 18th Street and 1st Avenue in Pottsville about 5 p.m., according to reports on the police scanner.

Responders included city police, city firefighters and a crew from the Schuylkill County Municipal Authority, according to a county communications center supervisor, Pottsville.

The supervisors said no one was injured in the incident and the vehicle was towed from the scene.

At 5:58 p.m. there was a report of a tractor-trailer rollover on Interstate 81 North in Frailey Township near mile marker 111, according to a dispatcher.

Responders included state police at Frackville, firefighters from Pine Grove Township, Donaldson, Ravine and Tremont, and Tremont Ambulance and West Schuylkill ALS, according to the supervisor.

The vehicle was a tractor-trailer flatbed hauling lumber. There were no injuries or entrapment, according to the supervisor.

by peter e. bortner

Although blood supplies in Schuylkill County and the rest of Northeastern Pennsylvania are adequate, donations decline during the winter and people need to keep giving during this season, spokespeople for the American Red Cross said Friday.

"The gift of life is the greatest gift you can give," Janet E. Curtis, executive director of the American Red Cross in Schuylkill County, said.

Colin Riccobon, communications program manager for American Red Cross Blood Services of the Northeastern Pennsylvania Region, Ashley, said the regional blood situation is volatile.

"The blood supply is stable throughout the region," he said. "One day would affect the blood supply."

Curtis said donations tend to drop off during the Christmas holiday season.

"People are preoccupied," she said. "We all tend to be driven by our schedules."

Curtis said both bad weather and Christmas preparations help to account for the reduction in donations.

Riccobon also said blood donations fall off during this time of year, which is bad because the need for it does not show a similar decline.

"Donations typically decline. The need remains constant," he said.

Riccobon said each donation is vital.

"One donation may save up to three lives," according to Riccobon. "Blood products are perishable."

He is particularly concerned with the short shelf life of donated blood products. Donated red blood cells last only 42 days, while platelets last only five, Riccobon said.

While there are no donation centers in Schuylkill County, there are ones in Scranton and Wilkes-Barre that serve Northeastern Pennsylvania, he said.

"There are blood drives every day," Riccobon said. "Donor centers are open. The main thing is finding the time."

COALDALE - Three panels on a wishing well in the Coaldale Women's Memorial Garden are embossed with images of borough mothers who lost their sons to war and borough women who have contributed to the community.

The designer of the memorial, William Gaddes, Nesquehoning, plans to add five additional murals to the well's black granite sides.

"We members of the Coaldale Veterans Memorial and the Coaldale United Veterans Organization are looking for suggestions from the Panther Valley area regarding candidate women or families for the remaining images," Gaddes said.

Although the memorial garden is near the borough's veterans' memorials and honors women who have served in wars or have been impacted by them, Gaddes said the memorial honors all females.

"This is a memorial to all women. I believe it may be unique in that respect," Gaddes said. "It is a memorial dedicated to all women - not only those who served but also to those who supported, cherished and prayed for the safe return of their loved ones from harm's way."

Work on the memorial began in 2009 after Gaddes completed a Walk of Honor for the 54 Coaldale men killed in action during World War II. At the time, the Gold Star Mother bronze plaque by Philadelphia sculptor Andrew Chernak and the Vietnam Women's Mural were dedicated.

The women's memorial has a concrete angel, which Gaddes hopes to eventually replace with one made of granite, and a "Gold Star Mother Walk of Honor" in the sidewalk leading to the well.

The three panels include images of Mary Nesterak, whose son was killed in action in Vietnam in 1968; the family of Sgt. Frank Urban, a World War II veteran; and Coaldale women nurse volunteers who attended to seriously ill and dying patients during the tragic Spanish flu epidemic of 1918-19.

The fourth panel is on order and will contain the images of Millie Flyzik and Faye Lewis. According to Gaddes, Flyzik was very active in community affairs and loved by many in the borough until her death in 2011.

"Miss Lewis is a renowned educator and is very active in her church and community. She is and has been a staunch supporter of the veterans' and the women's memorials," he said.

If he can raise enough money, Gaddes hopes to install a large bronze Gold Star Mother statue by Chernak.

Those wishing to support the completion of the women's memorial may remit checks to WWII Memorial Fund, c/o Coaldale Borough, Box 116, Coaldale, PA 18218.

The memorials are located behind Coaldale Borough Hall.