James R. Ferrier

ORWIGSBURG — A Berks County man is headed to Schuylkill County Court after waiving his right to a preliminary hearing Tuesday on charges he behaved indecently and lewdly in September 2014 at a North Manheim Township business.

Terry B. Stufflet, 58, of 238 N. Fifth St., Hamburg, must answer charges of indecent exposure and open lewdness, each of which Magisterial District Judge James R. Ferrier bound over for court after the defendant’s waiver.

State police at Schuylkill haven alleged Stufflet exposed himself and performed a lewd act about 2:30 p.m. Sept. 27, 2014, at Renninger’s Market, routes 61 and 443.

Police said Stufflet approached a woman, propositioned her and then performed the lewd act. The victim said Stufflet had made suggestive comments before, but never had done anything indecent or lewd, police said.

When questioned, Stufflet said he had been drinking and did not remember what he had done, according to police.

Stufflet is free on $5,000 unsecured bail pending further court proceedings.

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

Jaime S. Cox, 38, of 205 S. Liberty St., Orwigsburg; driving under the influence, reckless driving and disregarding traffic lane; right to preliminary hearing waived, reckless driving charge withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Jason T. Hepler, 40, of 210 S. St. Peter St. Apt. 2, Schuylkill Haven; fleeing or eluding police, stop sign violation and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, fleeing or eluding charge bound over for court, other charges withdrawn.

Kyle J. Killian, 20, of 107 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven; nine counts of conspiracy, two counts each of criminal trespass, burglary, theft and receiving stolen property and one of criminal mischief; right to preliminary hearing waived, two counts each of burglary and conspiracy withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Carissa L. Long, 31, of 109 W. Mifflin St., Orwigsburg; five counts of possessing altered or counterfeit access device, four of identity theft and one of theft; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Marion R. Ruggiero, 61, of 1532 Allegheny Ave. Apt. G3, Reading; DUI, disregarding traffic lane, depositing waste on highway and careless driving; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Richard S. Snyder, 42, of 242 E. Tammany St., Orwigsburg; DUI, reckless driving and failure to drive at a safe speed; right to preliminary hearing waived, charges bound over for court.

Andrew J. Spector, 21, of 623 N. Garfield Ave., Schuylkill Haven; five counts of conspiracy and one each of criminal trespass, burglary, theft, receiving stolen property and criminal mischief; right to preliminary hearing waived, one count each of burglary conspiracy withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

Brady C. Stefan, 20, of 306 St. John St., Schuylkill Haven; nine counts of conspiracy, four of receiving stolen property, three of theft, two each of criminal trespass and burglary and one each of criminal mischief and theft by deception; right to preliminary hearing waived, two counts each of burglary and conspiracy withdrawn, other charges bound over for court.

A local rabbi hopes to hold an observance of the Jewish feast of Purim in Pottsville if there is interest in the idea.

Rabbi Nachman Nachmenson of the Chabad-Lubavitch in the city wants to provide an opportunity to hear the traditional telling of the story from the Biblical book of Esther, known historically as The Megillah, from which Purim is based.

“There are those who may not be able to listen to the reading of the story from the book,” said Nachmenson, 41, who is a native of Israel and has lived in the United States since he was 15.

Nachmenson plans to hold the observance between 7 and 8 p.m. Wednesday, shortly after sunset when the Jewish day begins, at 382 S. Second St. Purim is observed from sunset March 4 to sunset March 5.

Nachmenson began to develop the Chabad-Lubavitch center last year. He hopes it will become a center to provide information and a place to gather for anyone interested in learning and understanding Jewish life and beliefs in promoting peace.

The Judiasm 101 website, www.jewfaq.org, explains the story of Purim. Its heroes are Esther, a beautiful young Jewish woman living in Persia, and her cousin, Mordecai, who raised her as if she were his daughter. Esther was taken to the house of Ahasuerus, King of Persia, to become part of his harem. King Ahasuerus loved Esther more than his other women and made Esther queen, but the king did not know that Esther was a Jew because Mordecai told her not to reveal her identity.

The website explains the villain of the story is Haman, an arrogant, egotistical advisor to the king. Haman hated Mordecai because Mordecai refused to bow down to Haman, so Haman plotted to destroy the Jewish people. The king gave the fate of the Jewish people to Haman, to do as he pleased to them. Haman planned to exterminate all of the Jews.

Mordecai persuaded Esther to speak to the king on behalf of the Jewish people. This was a dangerous thing for Esther to do, because anyone who came into the king’s presence without being summoned could be put to death, and she had not been summoned. Esther fasted for three days to prepare herself, then went to the king. He welcomed her. Later, she told him of Haman’s plot against her people. The Jewish people were saved, and Haman and his ten sons were hanged on the gallows that had been prepared for Mordecai.

Purim is a festive holiday that includes partying, food and treats. Two important customs that are part of Purim is giving gifts of food to friends and charitable gifts to the poor. The aspect of giving shows how friendship and concern for others is important, according to Nachmenson.

“What we can learn is to see religion in the way of love,” Nachmenson said. “It’s really good to try to get people together for this holy day.”

Nachmenson urged people who want to attend to contact him in advance, so he knows whether there is enough interest. To make reservations or for more information, call 570-573-3280 or 908-977-7138.

Before it closed in October 2013, The Pottsville Club building, a former ski lodge, was an event venue with spacious dining rooms and large windows offering views of Sharp Mountain.

Since the City of Pottsville acquired the building at 201 S. 26th St. in December, officials have been marketing it, hoping to sell the property. But City Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said Wednesday there have been rental requests.

In response, the Redevelopment Authority of the City of Pottsville — the arm of the city which formally has the ownership of the property — and the city council are considering them.

On Thursday, Craig S.L. Shields, a member of the redevelopment authority’s board of directors, said he submitted one and the date has been set. On the evening of March 22, the Pottsville Area boys’ basketball team will hold its annual banquet at The English Room, the dining room on the upper floor.

“We usually have it at the middle school cafeteria. There will be about 100 students, ranging in age from seventh graders to seniors. And we’re going to bring in a caterer, Wood Catering of Pottsville,” Shields, who is a member of the booster club for the basketball team, said.

The city council, at its executive session before its Feb. 9 public meeting, indicated it had no problem with allowing the banquet to be held there. But the city still has to sign paperwork with representatives of either the booster club or the team, Palamar said.

“We’ll touch base with Craig and put everything down in writing,” Palamar said.

Recently, Palamar received a call from a family interested in holding a wedding reception there later this year.

Since the city is trying to sell the property, the city may not consider events that are more than three months in the future.

“We figured as people come in and see the building and realize how nice it is, maybe we’ll generate interest in a sale,” Palamar said.

“I’d like to have it open as a community center so we can do stuff like this,” Shields said.

“We are maintaining the building and keeping it safe, sound and secure. And we will consider, if there’s a community entity that would like to use it. I think we’ll consider it on a case-by-case basis. Right now, we’re not going to allow people to go in and start firing up the kitchens or anything like that. We don’t want to get into having our kitchens inspected and things like that. But if somebody wants to bring a caterer in or use it for a meeting or host a minor event for the community, we’ll consider that,” Palamar said.

Interested parties can call Palamar for more information at 570-628-4417.

The members of the redevelopment authority are not paid, Palamar, who is the authority’s executive director, said.

“As city administrator, part of my salary comes from community development. So it’s just a duty in my job description,” Palamar said.

The redevelopment authority was established May 14, 1956. Other properties it owns include the Lipkin Technology Building, 1 S. Second St., and the Majestic Theater, 209 N. Centre St., Chester C. “Pete” Corse Jr., solicitor for the redevelopment authority, said Wednesday.

NEW PHILADELPHIA — Bernadette McCormick-Ibis died from a drug overdose in August 2013 in Shenandoah, but a criminal or negligent act caused that overdose and death, a coroner’s jury ruled Friday.

The jury of four women and two men deliberated about 40 minutes at the Simon Kramer Cancer Institute before making its ruling, which District Attorney Christine A. Holman said would lead to further investigation.

“We will certainly consider any tips or evidence that will be forthcoming,” Holman said concerning the probe into the death of McCormick-Ibis, 39, of Shenandoah.

McCormick-Ibis’ family wants the investigation to center around her husband, Levent Ibis, who found her body but whose whereabouts are unknown.

“He was a horrible person. He didn’t care,” testified Kathleen McCormick-Peric, Yonkers, New York, McCormick-Ibis’ sister. “He did some damage with her emotionally.”

McCormick-Ibis’ body was found Aug. 19, 2013, at the bottom of a flight of stairs in her 207 W. Atlantic St. residence.

“I observed Mrs. McCormick ... lying in a puddle of her own blood,” Shenandoah police Patrolman Tyler Dissinger, the day’s first witness, testified. “There were no signs of life.”

Schuylkill County Coroner Dr. David J. Moylan III convened the jury after being unable to satisfy himself about how McCormick-Ibis died.

“There were some circumstances in this case that I did not feel comfortable with,” he told the jury at the start of the 5 1/2-hour hearing.

Dr. Edward J. Barbieri, a forensic toxicologist at NMS Laboratories, Willow Grove, and the final witness of the day, testified that McCormick-Ibis had a “huge” lethal dose — 97,000 nanograms per gram — of citalopram, an anti-depressant medication, in her system.

“Could that be a cause of death?” Holman asked Barbieri.

“This would be in the range, or above the range ... in death cases,” Barbieri answered.

Furthermore, Barbieri said, citalopram is soluble, and could have been taken by McCormick-Ibis without her knowing it.

Forensic pathologist Dr. Rameen Starling-Roney, Allentown, also testified that drugs, specifically mixed substance toxicity, killed the woman.

Starling-Roney said she had a blood-alcohol level of 0.06 percent, below the legal limit for driving in Pennsylvania but still an indication that alcohol was in her system. He said there also were antidepressant medications in her system.

“That mixture caused her death?” Holman asked him.

“Yes,” he answered.

Starling-Roney said McCormick-Ibis had bruises, abrasions and lacerations, but that none of those were fatal. He said she had no fractures, brain or neck injuries, or anything out of the ordinary in her heart, lungs or liver.

The bruises, however, reflect the belief of McCormick-Ibis’ family that she was a victim of abuse.

“He was very controlling. He did not like her coming to see her family,” a tearful McCormick-Peric said. “He would just beat her down emotionally.”

She said her sister was much healthier before meeting Ibis.

“I don’t think she ever had depression before she met him,” McCormick-Peric said.

Another sister, Mary McCormick Kolodziejski, Charlotte, North Carolina, testified that Ibis kept his wife under his thumb.

“She was very isolated,” Kolodziejski said. “She was a battered woman. We do believe she was under extreme stress.”

Kolodziejski said McCormick-Ibis was limping when she visited her and also told her Ibis once tried to strangle her.

Dissinger said Ibis would have had to step over his wife’s body, if it were there, in order to enter their residence. Ibis had told him he had worked the night shift and woke up to find his wife dead, Dissinger said.

Other witnesses included:

• Schuylkill County Detective Martin J. Heckman, who said Vivian Becker, the Ibis’ neighbor, told him McCormick-Ibis mostly kept to herself, did not appear to fear her husband, had no more than the normal disagreements with her and had a large dog that stuck close to her.

• Schuylkill County Deputy Coroner Andrew J. Szczyglak, who said he pronounced McCormick-Ibis dead shortly after his arrival about 11 a.m., that she had been dead at least five hours and he saw dog hair but no paw prints around her body.

• Moylan, who said he directed the investigation, reviewed McCormick-Ibis’ medical records and conducted a virtual autopsy, which revealed nothing suspicious but prompted him to ask Starling-Roney to do an actual autopsy and then led him to hold the inquest.

Companies were encouraged to reshore by bringing their manufacturing back into the United States for the various benefits it offers Friday at One Norwegian Plaza.

“What we’re trying to do is educate manufacturers ... There’s a lot of things happening offshore, especially in China. Wages are going up, the costs are expensive, so we’re encouraging them to look at the total cost. Many manufacturers are doing that and realizing that producing or making in the United States is just as competitive offshore,” Maureen Mulcahy, project coordinator of the Make It In America initiative, said Friday.

Occasionally referred to as insourcing by President Barack Obama, reshoring is returning production sourcing from offshore to where it was originally produced, Mulcahy said.

Mulcahy focused her presentation to 11 people in 250 One Norwegian Plaza about the total cost of ownership, which is “a calculator where they can compare the cost of sourcing or producing offshore versus sourcing or producing in Pennsylvania,” she said.

“That’s a key point. The other key point is we’re helping manufacturers that want to reshore a part or an item, we’re helping them by providing supplier scouting within the state of Pennsylvania,” she continued.

Offshoring, or taking manufacturing out of the country, “impacts a country’s industrial commons,” Mulcahy said.

“In the 1960s, we offshored the semiconductor industry and from the industry came the flat panel display industry and from that industry came the LED lighting industry. So all the innovation, who would have thought by offshoring semiconductors you would have LED lighting market production mostly in Asia ... That’s how offshoring can really affect the country,” she said.

Mulcahy said there have been reshores all over the United States — including Apple with computer parts — but she highlighted some Pennsylvania reshores, such as Independence LED lighting, the semiconductor industry that flourished into an LED company.

“They brought back to this area mostly because this is where their market was — Washington, D.C., and New York City, there were a lot of lighting needs in those areas. It made more sense to them to produce where it was being consumed,” Mulcahy said.

She also shared an “interesting story” about the reshoring of Reading Truck Parts.

“They would get containers of parts and they would have no idea what was in those containers until they opened them up, so you can imagine trying to complete a truck for a customer, assuming that the part is going to be in and this next shipment comes in and it’s not there,” Mulcahy said.

Reading Truck Parts found that they could make parts in the United States for about the same costs as in China without the difficulties.

The top three reshored industries are electrical equipment, transportation and apparel and textiles, Mulcahy said.

One of the most commonly cited reasons for reshoring is to reduce the total cost of ownership.

“Companies are starting to pay attention to total cost of ownership. They want to reduce that lead time to the market. They want to be more responsive to their customers,” Mulcahy said.

Another is the skilled work force available in the U.S.

“We are very lucky, very blessed that we have a skilled workforce and they want to come over and they want to have access to that,” Mulcahy said.

Reducing inventory is important to manufacturers in saving money.

“Reduce that inventory because they’re paying for inventory. That’s a cost that they paid for that they haven’t yet had a turn on,” Mulcahy said.

Reducing intellectual property that can be stolen is also commonly cited for companies to reshore.

“If you’re working on technology ... and you are offshoring, there’s a huge risk that your intellectual property will be taken,” Mulcahy said.

Reshoring began more than 50 years ago in the United States.

“Since about the 1960s, we started to offshore our production, but then in 2001, when China joined the World Trade Organization, we offshored in a 10-year period about 2.7 million jobs ... A lot of people just kind of followed the bigger guys over. What they realized was that it was a herd mentality but it was also they didn’t realize the total costs,” Mulcahy said.

The most reshoring is currently occurring in China.

“About 3.5 million people are aging out of the Chinese work force every year. China’s had that one child policy for so long that they really don’t have that population to replace those workers, so what they’re doing is they’re trying to entice workers to come in and work in the factories and to do that, China, the government, has put in mandatory wage increases of 13 percent through 2013,” Mulcahy said.

The 10 most commonly cited reasons for reshoring

• Reduce the total cost of ownership

• Reduce lead time to market

• Improve product quality

• Access to skilled workforce

• Wage inflation and currency change of host country

• Reduce freight costs

• Reduce inventory

• Improve brand image with “Made in USA”

• Reduce intellectual property and supply chain interruption risks

• Enhance innovation by clustering manufacturing near R&D facilities

Non-GMO products

Whole Foods Market approached the son-in-law of Tallman Family Farms CFO/treasurer Virginia Morton and asked him to grow non-GMO hogs and feed them non-GMO products. GMO stands for Genetically Modified Organism. The information was incorrect in The Business Review section of Friday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

It's the best of all worlds, looking out of our world this month. March stargazing is fantastic because you still have Orion and all of the great constellations of winter, but on most nights, the chill of winter has eased a bit. In fact, spring begins, at least astronomically, at 6:45 p.m. (CDT) March 20.

Venus and Mars are still putting on a show in the very early low western sky for about one to two hours after sunset. By far, Venus is the brighter of the two. In fact, they pop out before the end of evening twilight. These two planets were really in a tight celestial hug last month but are still fairly close together the first couple of weeks of this month. From night to night though, the gap between the two shiners will widen.

There's actually a third planet in that fray. It's Uranus, one of the most distant major planets in our solar system, nearly 1.9 billion miles away. There's no way you'll see it with the naked eye, but with a small to moderate telescope, it should appear as a tiny blue-greenish star. On Wednesday, Uranus will be the next brightest star-like object you'll see with your scope to the upper left of Venus, less than one degree away. On Thursday and Friday, it'll be the next brightest object just to the lower right of Venus.

Jupiter, the largest planet in our solar system, 88,000 miles in diameter and little more than 400 million miles away this month, starts out the evening in the eastern sky and is by far the brightest star-like object in that part of the heavens. It spends most of the rest of the night forging westward across the celestial dome.

Even with a small telescope, you can check out its four brighter moons and even some of its cloud bands. This time of year especially, I want to remind you to make sure your telescope and all of the eyepieces sit outside and cool off for at least half an hour before you use them. It can make all the difference in how clearly you see things. Also, the longer you look through the eyepiece, the more detail you'll see.

Unfortunately, this week the planets will be the only distant celestial targets you can check out because we'll have a more or less full moon most of this week whitewashing the night sky. Thursday's the date when the moon will actually be full.

Starting this weekend though, you can really dig into the grand winter constellations like Orion the Hunter and his gang. What I call "Orion and his gang" include the constellations Taurus the bull; Auriga the chariot driver turned goat farmer; the big and little dogs Canis Major and Minor; Gemini the Twins and of course, Orion the hunter, with his three perfectly aligned belt stars.

In the north sky, the Big Dipper is standing up on its handle. The fainter Little Dipper is off to the left hanging by its handle. The brightest star, Polaris, otherwise known as the North Star, shines at the end of the Little Dipper's handle. Polaris is the "Lynch Pin" of the sky. All of the stars appear to circle around the North Star every 24 hours since it shines directly above the Earth's North Pole.

Over in the northwest sky, look for the bright sideways "W" that is supposed to be the outline of Queen Cassiopeia tied up in her throne. According to legend, Hera, queen of the Greek gods, was angry with Cassiopeia for boasting she was even more beautiful than Hera. The queen of the gods of Mount Olympus tied her up in a throne and cast her up into the heavens, where to this day and night, she continues her endless circle around Polaris.

In the eastern sky right next to Jupiter, look for a distinctive backward question mark that outlines the chest and head of Leo the Lion, the first of the springtime constellations. Regulus is the moderately bright star at the bottom of the question mark that sits at Leo's heart. As March continues, Leo will get higher and higher in the sky in the early evening while the stars of Orion and his gang sink lower and lower in the west.

(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.)

BRANDONVILLE — A Gilberton man was jailed late Friday after a vehicle stop by East Union Township police netted drugs, a weapon and more.

Andrew D. Harding, 26, of 15 Church St., was charged with five felony counts of possession with intent to deliver a controlled substance, five misdemeanor counts each of possession of a controlled substance and possession of drug paraphernalia, two misdemeanor counts of misbranding of medications and one misdemeanor count each of possessing instruments of crime and DUI.

Harding was arraigned by on-call Magisterial District Judge Anthony J. Kilker, Shenandoah, and committed to Schuylkill County Prison unable to post $50,000 straight cash bail.

Harding was arrested by East Union Township police Chief Thomas Rentschler after a vehicle stop in the area of 489 Main Blvd. about 6:45 p.m.

Rentschler said he was on routine patrol driving north on Route 924 when a vehicle entered his lane of travel at a high rate of speed, forcing him to take evasive action to avoid being hit.

The chief said he turned around and followed the vehicle for about a half mile, seeing it cross over the double yellow line several times and also go off the road onto the fog line.

A vehicle stop was conducted near the former Innsbrook and the driver identified as Harding.

Rentschler said when he approached the vehicle Harding was agitated, leaning back in his seat and reaching between the seats. The chief said he was able to see a handgun behind the front seat and ordered Harding out of the vehicle for safety reasons until the weapon was secured.

When exiting the vehicle, Rentschler said, Harding almost fell to the ground and was off balance. The chief said when asked if he was under the influence of alcohol or drugs, Harding told him he smoked marijuana earlier in the day.

Harding was taken into custody and a search found he had a glass tube in his front pocket that contained 47 glassine bags that field tested positive for heroin and a clear plastic bag containing a substance that field tested positive for methamphetamine.

Rentschler said he found a plastic bag containing a substance that tested positive for heroin, a substance that tested positive for cocaine and nine pills identified as Alprazolam in the man’s other pocket.

The weapon found inside the vehicle was a Ruger 9mm handgun and a subsequent check determined there was no record of the weapon, Rentschler said.

Mahanoy City police Patrolmen Jonathan McHugh and Phillip Petrus arrived to assist and a search of the vehicle found various items of drug paraphernalia. Rentschler said that also found inside the vehicle were three white pills identified as Zolpidem.

Harding will now have to answer to the charges before Kilker at a preliminary hearing in his Shenandoah courtroom.

Today starts March, American Red Cross Month. It's also includes Spring Fever Week. Days to observe are Daylight Savings, St. Patrick's, Spring and Snowman Burning.

Do you enjoy sitting with a friend, talking about old times or watching a good movie together? What about taking a stroll through a flower garden or sharing a delicious piece of homemade pie?

Perhaps you've never thought of volunteering for hospice as being so easy and natural. Maybe you, like many others, think it takes "someone special" to work with hospice patients. Possibly you never considered that you are "someone special."

Your friends, neighbors and community members are hoping you will find time to help to make their final days a little easier - just by being there.

If this tugs at your heart strings, please call Arcadia Hospice. They'd love to chat with you to explain a little more about their wonderful volunteer program serving Schuylkill County and to find that special place that only you can fill. Call Eileen Alpaugh at 484-387-0619 or email her at eileenalpaugh@arcadiahealthservices.com.

It's time to shine the spotlight on some more of Schuylkill's wonderful volunteers. They're some of the most prolific do-gooders around. You'd be hard pressed to find anyone in your community who hasn't donated their time or talents to others.

Horses & Horizons Therapeutic Learning Center Inc. (HHTLC) is a therapeutic horseback riding program is where the "magic" of horses helps to improve the lives of children and adults with disabilities. Located outside New Ringgold, it's a unique combination of recreation, therapy and learning, using the horse to obtain results that cannot be obtained in a normal clinic setting.

Program director Elaine Smith has this to say about their volunteers:

"We love our volunteers because we would be unable to operate without them. We have no paid staff, so volunteers are the heart of our organization. They give up their time to assist our riders with lessons.

"In order for many of our participants to ride, they need a volunteer to lead their horse and someone to walk along on each side of the horse. This is a total of three volunteers per rider. Also, for the riders who are physically able, our volunteers must assist them with grooming and saddling their horse in preparation for riding.

"Many volunteers are not familiar with horses or disabilities when they first volunteer, however, once we train them, most do an amazing job. Time and again, we hear from parents and riders how wonderful and caring our volunteers are. Often, special bonds are formed between riders and their helpers.

"Some people only come for one eight-week session of lessons to fulfill their required school volunteer or community service hours, and we appreciate their efforts. However, we also have a core group who come back session after session, year after year. These are the ones we especially love for their loyalty and dedication. They are instrumental in helping our riders to achieve their goals. They have truly earned our love, respect and appreciation, and we are very grateful to have them in our program."

If you'd like to join the HHTLC family of volunteers, contact Elaine at 570-386-5679 or email to elshhtlc1@gmail.com. Check out their website at www.horsesandhorizons.org.

If you have some wonderful volunteers you'd like to acknowledge, praise and thank, contact this office.

Use the above contact info for those specific volunteer opportunities and find other opportunities at www.schuylkill.us/cvia. Community Volunteers in Action can be reached at 570-628-1426 or jjohnston@co,.schuylkill.pa.us. Check us out on Facebook at www.facebook.com/communityvolunteersinaction.

Relay for Life volunteers

Times: May 15 and 16 in Pottsville; June 19 and 20 in Tamaqua.

Responsibility: Help the Relay in a variety of ways.

Skills: Friendly, desire to help fight this deadly disease by raising funding and increasing awareness.

Location: Pottsville and Tamaqua

Contact: Ilyse Hampton, American Cancer Society, 570-874-1413.

DETURKSVILLE — Although constructing a Washington Township municipal building had been discussed for years, it was only upon the insistence of then-resident Wendell Gainer that a decision to take the first step was finally agreed to August 2010.

As of the Feb. 16 meeting, the project was in the “planning stage.” On the request of Gainer, now a township supervisor, the office building will be on the March 16 agenda for discussion.

Grass

With spring right around the corner, the board agreed it was time to advertise for mowing and maintenance of the recreational park and the grounds around the garage. The advertisement would state that interested bidders should contact Roadmaster Gary Neidlinger to set up an appointment for a “walk-around” the areas involved.

Gary Brown, a lawn care specialist and owner of Little Bugger, was one of last year’s bidders. He requested the board be consistent with job specifications.

“The person who won because he was the lowest bidder wasn’t expected to do all the work,” Brown said.

Although Brown did not elaborate, he had said last fall that the contract the supervisors had approved had not been fulfilled.

“He’s not billed for (all) the items which he won the bid on,” Brown said, adding that fertilizing had not been done.

“It was not billed and you didn’t veto the fertilizing,” Brown said.

Gainer requested that Secretary Dawn Koch compare what was spent on lawn care and maintenance in 2013 and 2014. Brown provided the service during 2013.

Park rentals

A discussion was held concerning park rentals and group use of the field and park facilities.

It was agreed again that park renters have priority use over groups who use it free except for voluntary donations.

The Pine Grove Teener League’s request to use the park from April to July was approved. The group agreed they would clean the stands in March and have the septic holding tank emptied once. A $500 donation had also been made last year upon completion of their season.

A representative of the Pine Grove Soccer Association was in attendance and said the group would like to again use the field for games and practices.

Mark Frankenfield said the Soccer Association has no problem making a donation to the park and had discussed the possibility of renting “porta-johns” for their season if approved. That group does not use the pavilion nor the concession stand. Frankenfield also agreed with Gary Brown who said that soccer players tend to cause bald spots on the field till the end of the season. He said he would ensure that coaches rotate practices, and any problems should be forwarded to him.

Dates that the facility is rented will be posted on the township’s website. League schedules can also be forwarded to Koch for information.

Kemmerling Road

Alfred Benesch & Co. engineer Ryan Fasnacht reviewed three possible options he could recommend to make Kemmerling Road safer. The board agreed the least expensive one would also have the shorter permitting processing time, and the current speed limit could remain the same.

By extending the pipes under the road, the road could be widened and the middle curves could be realigned. According to Fasnacht, he had checked with the state Department of Environmental Protection to see if it was a permitted project. The plan, however, is contingent upon the pipes already there being in good condition. The estimated cost of the project is $145,000. Fasnacht was instructed to submit a revised quote, removing the paving portion from the project.

Speed limit

Fasnacht said he had discussed a driveway application with a property owner and the roadmaster. An engineering study, he said, had been done by the property owner, which recommended a 35 mph speed limit on a section of Moyer’s Station Road which was needed for the site distance for a driveway. The study, he said, justifies the speed limit reduction from 55 to 35 mph.

Gainer said due to accidents on the road, he’d like to see the speed limit lowered and the board agreed. According to Gainer, Moyer’s Station Road’s unposted 55 mph speed limit will now be a posted 35 mph speed limit from Grist Mill Road to Route 895. The township will purchase and install the required signs and bill the property owner.

Agreement

Solicitor Rick Wiest recommended a slight change to the draft workers’ compensation agreement between the township and Pine Grove borough. The agreement is for the payment of a share of the cost of workers’ comp insurance for firemen and ambulance volunteers.

According to Wiest, the part covering the township’s donation to the fire companies should be changed to be made in two payments instead of one. The board agreed, and the agreement will be forwarded to the borough for the council’s approval.

Other business

• The board approved the “Employee Handbook” and authorized the secretary to post it on the township’s website.

• Koch said she contacted Pennsylvania Intergovernmental Risk Management Association concerning the township’s liability insurance and what would happen if the insurance was switched to another carrier. According to PIRMA, the township would need to repay all monies it had received for an uncompleted claim which the township has. Claims remain open for 12 months.

• When resident Sal Varacalli questioned if all three plows are out at the same time, he was told they generally are and a fourth plow is available if needed. The township has a small truck that could be used and does not require a driver with a CDL.

Hundreds of people demonstrated their support for the Four Diamonds Fund at the first Mini-THON on Saturday at Pottsville Area High School.

Held from 2:30 to 10 p.m., the event featured cancer survivors who spoke on how cancer affected them, dancing, face painting and a basketball shoot-out. Disc jockey Brandon Scheibly and the Pottsville Area High School Pep Band performed at the event.

Pottsville Area’s Mini-THON was sponsored by Pottsville Area High School service clubs and student council. The event was based on the successful THON, a 46-hour dance marathon and fundraiser, held annually at the Bryce Jordan Center at Penn State University, University Park.

Nathan Halenar, high school English teacher and Key Club advisor at the high school, said the event raised $3,908.85 and about 300 to 500 people attended.

“We’re looking to make it bigger and better for each subsequent year,” he said.

Lynn Brobst, a Pottsville Area High School graduate, told her story of surviving cancer after being diagnosed when she was 17 with acute myelomonocytic leukemia, a rare form of leukemia.

She was given a 5 to 10 percent chance of surviving. Brobst and her family received help from the Four Diamonds Fund, established to aid the fight against childhood cancer. Her brother, Robert, donated stem cells for her treatment.

“Cancer tried to shake me down, but the Four Diamonds Fund helped to build me back up. They were then, and forever, the reason why I am here right now. I don’t know if it was the treatment, the positive attitude, the doctors, religion, The Four Diamonds Fund or a combination of it all, but I went into remission in October 2001,” she said.

She has been in remission since then.

Brobst also spoke about her experience at THON at the Bryce Jordan Center recently. THON ended Feb. 22 and raised more than $13 million.

“There were over 15,000 people in attendance during that weekend and thousands of students and volunteers all for the same reason ... to find a cure for childhood cancer. The very same thing is happening right here in this room. The numbers are different but the intentions and the amount of compassion and love is the same. Cancer has taken away several things from me. It took away my hair multiple times, my adolescence, some of my friends and my ability to have babies. But one thing that cancer did not take, and can’t even come close to taking, is hope. The hope that one day a cure will be found ... The hope that children all over the world cling to every single day while they are being pumped full of toxins, the hope that lives and breathes in this room at this moment. The hope that we will end the suffering of so many and the hope that one day we will dance in celebration.”

Those at Mini-THON could support the Four Diamonds Fund in numerous ways at the event. Some bought food and drinks or decorate a T-shirt.

Helena Fredericks, 11, of Pottsville, decided to have her birthday party at the school so her friends could attend Mini-THON.

Fredericks said she wanted to take part in Mini-THON for her party because “I want to be a pediatric oncologist when I grow up. I want to donate money to the kids who have cancer.”

SAINT CLAIR — Two people were flown to trauma centers for treatment of their injuries from a two-vehicle crash that occurred Saturday at Route 61 and West Hancock Street.

Seven people — five of them exchange students — were injured in the 6:38 p.m. crash, according to Saint Clair police Patrolman Christopher Zubris.

Zubris said the accident with entrapment occurred as Stephen Kustan, Saint Clair, was driving his 2008 Pontiac sport utility vehicle south on Route 61 and attempted to turn left onto West Hancock Street, crossing into the path of a 2002 Dodge Neon that was traveling north on Route 61. Zubris said the driver of the Neon was a woman but did not have her name. The Neon struck the rear passenger side tire of the Pontiac, causing it to spin clockwise, Zubris said. The Neon ended up in the southbound lanes of Route 61 and the Pontiac stopped on the sidewalk of West Hancock Street.

“The Pontiac is at fault. The Dodge Neon had the right of way,” Zubris said, adding Kustan will be cited for improper turning.

The northbound side of Route 61 was blocked starting at Russell Street.

Zubris said the driver and the front passenger in the Dodge Neon had to be extracted from the vehicle by the Saint Clair Fire Department. Their injuries were described as moderate, he said, adding all occupants of both vehicles were conscious.

Zubris did not know if Kustan or the five passengers in the Neon were wearing seat belts. Pieces of the Neon and contents of the vehicle were scattered across Route 61. Zubris said the Dodge Neon was a total loss and the Pontiac might be totaled as well.

Saint Clair police, Mahanoy City Ambulance, Yorkville Fire Company, Schuylkill EMS, the former Pottsville/Schuylkill Haven Area EMS, Rescue Hook and Ladder No. 3, Saint Clair, and Alert Fire Company Saint Clair responded to the accident.

The snow and bitter cold of winter presented a series of challenges to farmers this year.

In fact, this February was the coldest on record, according to the National Weather Service, State College.

“February is turning out to be the coldest February ever,” Mike Dangelo, NWS meteorologist, said Saturday.

Despite December 2014 being warmer than normal and January only being slightly below normal, it has been an average of 4 degrees below normal each day for the last three months.

So far, there has been 27.4 inches of snow in this section of Pennsylvania, Dangelo said. That’s above the 25 inch average.

“There is good and bad to it,” Elizabeth Hinkel, district manager of the Schuylkill Conservation District, said Tuesday. “Snow replenishes moisture. The cold, sometimes it can help with insects and pests. The extended cold kind of knocks them back a bit.”

Hinkel said the snow can act as insulation for grains and certain crops and protect them from the wind.

“But, at some point, sometimes the extreme cold can really affect them,” she said.

Leaving animals out in the cold is also a concern and using propane to keep them warm can be expensive.

Meanwhile, farmers also have to worry about paying the bills.

“Every farm handles it a little differently,” Hinkel said.

Some farmers have a second job over the winter. Hinkel said her parents were vegetable farmers but were also truck drivers over the winter. Other farms in the county are diversified and sell livestock over the winter, she said.

Josh Stein, co-owner of Stein’s Farm Market, Orwigsburg, said Tuesday that he was hoping to start pruning the orchids on the farm last week. But the snow and cold have made things difficult. He also has a cold.

“It’s been difficult lately,” Stein said. “I’m not going to be pruning for a little bit. It’s hard to get around with how icy it has been and how hard the snow is and how cold it is. It’s colder and it seems like the snow is not melting as quickly. It is sticking around longer.”

Stein said the farm grows apples, peaches, pears and plums. He said the apples were stored and are being sold over the winter.

“We have to make enough over the summer to make it through the long winter,” he said.

Stein said they try to prune the trees when they start breaking bud.

“We still have time, we just might be a little behind schedule,” he said. “Hopefully, we make it up once it warms.”

Stein said this winter has been the toughest in recent years for pruning.

“It has been so cold the last couple days that some of the buds might have frozen, so that might affect our peach crop next year.”

At B&R Farms, Ringtown, there has been concern about its primary crop: strawberries.

“Last year, we had a lot of trouble with our strawberries,” Robin Hetherington, co-owner of the farm, said Tuesday. “Actually, the best thing is to have a coat of snow on top of them keeping them insulated and sheltered from the wind. Right now, I am deeply concerned and there is not a thing I can do about it.”

If it has to be cold, Hetherington said it’s better for the strawberries if temperatures just stay that way.

“What’s very damaging for us is if we get a sudden thaw,” she said. “Everything warms up and then freezes again. As long as the temperature is steady, no matter what it is, the plants are less stressed.”

Hetherington said they will not start using their greenhouse for crops until the middle of March as they do not use propane for heating. The strawberries were covered up two months ago and will stay that way for a few more weeks.

“Winter time is time to repair all the equipment, go to conferences and meetings and try to keep up with latest practices,” Hetherington said.

To keep an income over the winter, Hetherington said other crops were harvested last October and November.

“Those are sold over the winter time,” she said. “Then, it is a question of waiting for the right price points. Hopefully, those crops will all be sold come spring. Those are what pays the bills over the winter.”

Hetherington also said each farm has a different strategy for the winter.

“Farms in Pennsylvania are very diverse and we all have different strategies,” she said. “Over the years, you adapt to what the market is and what you need to do to get by.”

Michael Scheidel, co-owner of Little Peace Farm, Schuylkill Haven, said the snow and cold has made it difficult for the animals.

“It’s been tough,” Scheidel said Thursday. “The birds are being cooped up and the animals are just dying to get fresh green grass.”

Scheidel said he has had to use a tractor to transport feed up the hill to the animals.

However, the farm has still been able to grow various vegetables all winter.

“We do four season growing,” Scheidel said.

Scheidel built three greenhouses on the farm that use sunlight to keep warm. One is being used as a nursery that will be put into the ground when it gets warmer and is filled with table-top plants.

“We all love eating those greens all summer and it doesn’t have to halt in the wintertime,” he said.

That greenhouse is being heated with propane and was about 60 degrees despite freezing temperatures outside. The vegetables are also being sold, but do not provide much of an income.

“It will pay for itself over the next couple years but, right now, it’s just paying for the propane to keep it warm,” Scheidel said.

In one of the other greenhouses, Scheidel planted broccoli in the ground. Covered in only a plastic tarp, the broccoli was nearly ready for harvest Thursday.

“The ground will freeze in here, but I select plants that will tolerate cold weather,” Scheidel said.

“This was all an experiment to see if I could grow broccoli in the wintertime,” he said. “I’ve been told you couldn’t do it and here I am doing it in February.”

Little Peace Farm has a Community Supported Agriculture program. According to the Little Peace Farm website, members of CSA commit to a farmer by purchasing shares or subscriptions early in the season in exchange for a season of fresh, locally grown produce and farm products.

CSA memberships have helped provide an income for the farm, but Scheidel said the goal is to make a profit from winter production. Scheidel is converting one of the greenhouses into a heated one with radiant floor heat.

“That will really increase production by next winter, then I can hopefully say the goal is to increase our income,” he said.

Information incorrect

Louis D. Truskowsky Funeral Home & Crematory Inc., Mahanoy City, is not the only certified and licensed funeral home and crematory in Schuylkill County. The information was incorrect in a report in The Business Review section in Friday’s edition of The Republican-Herald.

The economy has encouraged two neighboring school districts in Schuylkill County to consider a merger, according to officials of those districts, Pottsville Area and Saint Clair Area.

“I think Saint Clair Area School District would survive on its own, but it would have to look at every ounce of spending that exists and maybe make some major changes. We’d have to cut to bare bones,” Jason Bendle, principal and acting superintendent at Saint Clair Area, said Monday.

On Feb. 20, the districts, via their websites, unveiled a 177-page feasibility study and asked the public for feedback. Authored by Civic Research Alliance, Mechanicsburg, at a cost of $39,500, the study offered two merging options.

• Option 1: Pottsville Area would take over the operations of Saint Clair Area’s only school building, the Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School, and Saint Clair Area School District would cease to exist.

• Option 2: Saint Clair Area would lease its school building to Pottsville Area and pay tuition to have Pottsville Area educate its 590 students.

Ed Fuller, director of the Center for Evaluation and Education Policy Analysis at Penn State University, University Park, said Wednesday he preferred Option 1: “Given the material I examined, the consolidation of the two districts seems like a reasonable move.”

“This is especially true since it does not appear that any of the two communities would be particularly advantaged or disadvantaged by the decision to consolidate. Further, it appears the consolidation could provide some slight educational benefits to students and help to slightly reduce the deficit. The troubling issue is that the consolidation does not appear to be a viable solution to the long-term financial problems of the area in the education arena. This is where the state will need to step in by raising revenue and ensuring that the state provides a greater percentage of the revenue received by districts. But, overall, this seems like a reasonable opportunity for a relatively easy consolidation in which there are far more winners than losers,” Fuller said.

So far, not many residents in the school districts are chiming in. The Pottsville Area website only received 12 comments via email. The Saint Clair Area website received none.

“This will be a multi-million-dollar decision. It’s a historic time for both school districts, and we’d like to get the thoughts of the taxpayers,” Jeffrey S. Zwiebel, Pottsville Area superintendent, said Thursday.

“There might be apathy. People might think we’re going to do what we’re going to do no matter what. But I think a majority of the people in our community, especially parents, think it’s the logical and right thing to do,” Michael Holobetz, president of Saint Clair Area school board, said Thursday.

The public will have an opportunity to tell officials what they think when the districts present the study publicly at 7:30 p.m. March 9 at Pottsville Area’s D.H.H. Lengel Middle School.

Last week, residents and officials said the troubled economy, rising costs of education and the struggle to find revenue to cover costs — including Saint Clair Area’s $13,390,000 debt — might make a merger inevitable. There are concerns about possible tax increases, and some say a merger will erase part of Saint Clair’s identity.

“Those of us who have lived through the loss of our high school now have an opportunity to look back to see what we did lose. The town that loses its school loses its identity. You don’t realize that immediately, but it eventually catches up to you,” William F. Bowler, Saint Clair, said Tuesday.

“The merger seems to me the only rational way to proceed,” Richard Tomko, mayor of the Borough of Saint Clair, who worked as an American government teacher at the former Saint Clair Area High School, said.

Pottsville city Administrator Thomas A. Palamar said he’ll put his faith in the school board of Pottsville Area on the issue: “I did read the proposal. And I really have to give the school districts and the folks that prepared it an ‘attaboy.’ They did a really great job of presenting the information that was very easy to understand. And affording the public an opportunity to participate. I have full faith that Dr. Zwiebel and the school board are taking this really seriously. And when they do their due diligence, they’re going to identify an option that is best for our students.”

The districts

Established in 1933, Pottsville Area School District has a campus on the west side of the city. Its high school was built in 1933, D.H.H. Lengle Middle School opened in 1970 and John S. Clarke Elementary Center in 1982. The district educates students in kindergarten to 12th grade. According to the website for Pennsylvania School Performance Profile, the district had 980 elementary students, 822 middle school students and 1,040 high school students last year.

Saint Clair Area School District originally included a Saint Clair High School, which was built in 1937.

In December 1988, Saint Clair Area school board reported a decline in student enrollment at its high school in 1986 and 1987. Instead of raising taxes to pay teacher salaries, the board decided to close its high school after the 1988-89 school year and transfer its 230 high school students to Pottsville Area on a tuition basis.

In 1990, the Saint Clair Area school board established Saint Clair Area Elementary/Middle School at the former high school building at 227 S. Mill St. It educates children in grades kindergarten through 8th, and had 590 students last year, according to Pennsylvania School Performance Profile.

Pottsville Area serves six municipalities — the City of Pottsville, the boroughs of Mechanicsville, Mount Carbon, Port Carbon and Palo Alto, and Norwegian Township — a combined population of 21,000 over 12 square miles.

Saint Clair Area serves six municipalities — the boroughs of Saint Clair, Middleport and New Philadelphia and the townships of Blythe, New Castle and East Norwegian — a combined population of 7,000 over 48 square miles.

“The districts are adjacent. Each district has similar levels of wealth in terms of family income and property values. Hence, the tax base is comparable; no advantage would be observed for either district in a merger,” according to the study.

“We’ve been in merger discussions for approximately a year now,” Bendle said.

Catalyst

“These discussions began with talks about curriculum,” Zwiebel said.

That was in October 2013, when Saint Clair Area Superintendent Kendy K. Hinkel resigned to become superintendent at Pine Grove Area, and the Saint Clair Area school board decided not to hire a full-time replacement, according to Zwiebel.

The talks started with James A. Gilmartin, an acting superintendent at Saint Clair Area. Gilmartin resigned in January 2014 for medical reasons. Since then, Bendle has been filling in.

Budget woes spurred the merger talks, Bendle said.

“We have increased costs and flat funding,” he said.

“What really got us into the situation were expenses that we can’t control,” Holobetz said.

“You have increased costs with charter schools. You have increased costs with special ed. And school districts across the state are flat-funded in both regular ed and special ed for the past six years. And these are all contributing factors to our annual budget, and that has become more difficult to balance in the past few years,” Bendle said.

“In all the districts, we’ve received reduced funding from the state over the last several years,” Zwiebel said.

The revenue data is available on the state Department of Education’s website.

In the 2002-03 school year, Saint Clair Area had $6,420,044 in total revenue, which included $2,919,765 in total local revenue, $3,342,747 in total state revenue and $157,530 in revenue from federal sources. Saint Clair Area’s expenditures were $6,476,982.

A decade later, in the 2012-13 school year, Saint Clair Area had $9,448,420 in total revenue, which included $4,722,252 in total local revenue, $4,428,837 in total state revenue and $297,330 in revenue from federal sources. Saint Clair Area’s expenditures were $10,690,503.

“The district experienced deficits in 2011-12 and 2012-13 after three years of surpluses and is expected to have deficits for 2013-14 as well as into the future,” according to the feasibility study. “The deficit is projected to grow from $167,732 in 2014-15 to $3.2 million in 2018-19.”

Because of the lack of funding, Saint Clair Area raised its real estate tax millage from 26.05 to 32.35 mills for the 2014-15 school year. And the school board furloughed 12 professional staff in order to balance its budget and implemented other cost-cutting measures.

“We started this year with approximately a $1 million dollar deficit, and we expected to finish with about $300,00 deficit for this year,” Holobetz said at the June 2014 meeting of the Saint Clair Area school board.

“Last year, we furloughed approximately 25 percent of our staff,” Bendle said.

In the 2002-03 school year, Pottsville Area had $24,544,540 in total revenue, which included $11,345,430 in total local revenue, $12,312,033 in state revenue and $887,076 from federal sources. That school year, Pottsville Area’s total expenditures were $25,693,758, according to the PDE website.

A decade later, in the 2012-13 school year, Pottsville Area had $35,035,905 in total revenue, which included $16,041,546 in total local revenue, $17,583,452 in state revenue, $1,162,133 from federal sources and $248,711 from other sources. That year, Pottsville Area had $36,719,070 in expenditures, according to the PDE website.

“Revenues in the Pottsville Area School District exceeded expenditures in the school years ending 2008-09, 2010-11 and 2011-12. In school years 2011-12 and 2012-13, the district experienced significant deficits. The district has also budgeted a deficit in 2014-15,” according to the feasibility study.

Expenditures will increase by more than 50 percent in the next five years because of projected increased costs of instruction and support services and personnel services and employee benefits, according to the study.

Since the state has no formula in place to calculate subsidy, there’s no way to tell if revenues will increase in a merged district, Zwiebel said.

According to the study, “No significant impact is anticipated for the overall revenue of a merged district. Expenditures will be the more difficult component to anticipate.”

Debt

If Pottsville Area merges with Saint Clair Area, it will have to shoulder Saint Clair Area’s debt.

“I think there’s a misconception out there that our debt is the reason we’re considering a merger. Our debt is a controlled expense. It’s just like your mortgage, where you plan on assuming that debt by getting your payments in a range that you can afford,” Holobetz said.

“The debt has not been a problem at this point and, honestly, the debt can be refinanced to a manageable rate,” Bendle said.

“Saint Clair Area’s outstanding debt includes $7,999,000 principal amount of its Series of 2011 General Obligation Bonds, $3,495,000 principal amount of its Series of 2012 General Obligation Bonds and $1,035,000 principal amount of its Series of 2014 General Obligation Notes,” according to the study.

As of this week, Saint Clair Area’s debt was up to $13,390,000, according to Jessica Hickernell, information specialist with the state Department of Education.

Projects which built up Saint Clair Area’s debt include the school’s $8.8 million expansion project in 2012. It included the addition of six classrooms, two special education rooms, a music room, a large instruction room, a second elevator and a series of improvements to the existing elementary/middle school. The parking lot was expanded and the playground was moved from outside on ground level to the roof.

Saint Clair Area was hoping to get more than $400,000 in state reimbursement from the state’s Planning and Construction Workbook program to help finance that project, Bendle said.

“We haven’t received any. So we’ve been responsible for our entire debt service,” Bendle said.

Pottsville Area is prepared to shoulder that debt, if a merger occurs, Zwiebel said Thursday.

“If the PlanCon money is released, it will help us to pay the debt and provide some relief,” Zwiebel said.

“A merger by itself does not reduce debt or change current employee salaries and benefits. Any changes in revenue and expenditures will be determined by the new board of the merged district,” according to the study.

Option 1

“The first, and best, option supported by this analysis is the merger of Pottsville Area and Saint Clair Area school districts. A merged district in 2013/2014 would have included twelve municipalities with 2,432 students attending four school buildings, which is an average sized district in Pennsylvania,” according to the study.

“I think it would be beneficial academically and beneficial to the taxpayers in the long run. There’s strength in unity,” Tomko said.

Val Davis, a councilwoman for the Borough of Saint Clair, said she’s not in favor of the merger but believes it’s inevitable.

“We want to know if our taxes are going to increase. That’s the big concern of all the people in town,” she said.

“If we go to Pottsville, we’re going to pay top dollar in taxes. Our taxes will go up a lot,” Fred Bodnar, Saint Clair, said Tuesday.

“I think they’ll be going up anyway. And if Saint Clair Area could maintain its district, it would have to raise the taxes anyway. Right now, we’re paying 32.35,” Davis said.

With a merger, the millage rate could be leveled, and a rate of 33.028 mills could be established for a combined district, according to the study.

School district mergers don’t occur overnight. Zwiebel estimated the process could take up to two years. By the time it’s approved by the state, Zwiebel said Saint Clair Area might raise its taxes again, and Saint Clair’s millage might be close, or equal, to that of Pottsville Area.

Option 2

“I can tell you that the Saint Clair Area school board has no interest in Option 2,” Bendle said.

With Option 2, Saint Clair Area’s elementary and middle school students would become Pottsville Area students. The Saint Clair Area school board would continue to exist, but only to manage the tax money used to educate those students. And the Saint Clair Area school building would, somehow, be managed by Pottsville Area.

“In reality, most consequences of adopting Option 2 fall upon the Saint Clair Area School District. The district would have no students and its primary purpose is collecting taxes to pay tuition for its students to attend other school districts,” according to the study.

“The school would need to be leased to Pottsville Area or made available in some formal arrangement,” according to the study.

“Saint Clair would remain the owner of the building and it would lease it to Pottsville Area,” Bendle said.

“I don’t see any benefit to Option 2 at all,” Tomko said.

Other views

This week, Davis encouraged members of the Saint Clair Community and Historical Society, 24 N. Nicholas St., to read the study.

“I don’t think bigger is necessarily better. Anytime something gets bigger, you wind up with items that aren’t necessarily needed. What’s that one line they had in there? Initially they’ll need more administrators?” Bowler said.

“A merger, at least in the short term, will place additional efforts upon administrators,” according to page 60 of the study.

“It is not the number of administrators that is the first priority; it is putting together the best administrative team for the merged district. There is no one correct approach,” according to page 6 of the study.

“They should put a petition out there and have the people sign it. It shouldn’t go to Pottsville Area. Why should we? We’re going to give up all this income we have coming in from all these malls?” Bodnar said.

After the public presentation March 9, the solicitors of the school districts may author a resolution for the school boards to vote on. If both boards approve it, the matter will be put into the hands of the state Department of Education and the state Board of Education, Zwiebel said.

Meanwhile, officials from both districts are trying to figure how to pay for the study. The state Department of Education has agreed to pay for half of it, according to Stephen C. Curran, business manager for the Pottsville Area.

“Both school boards will discuss and ultimately decide how the other half of the expense is allocated,” Curran said Feb. 19.

The districts were still working to find funding this week, Curran said.

DEER LAKE — The fifth annual Deer Lake Polar Plunge raised a record amount for the Make-A-Wish Foundation on Saturday.

“It is the best year ever,” Denna Krammes, event organizer, said.

The $13,000 raised exceeded the goal of $10,000.

She attributed the increase to word-of-mouth and a better attitude among all who attended.

This year was also the first time plungers were not permitted to jump into the lake due to freezing temperatures.

“Due to the weather, it was not in the best interest of those participating,” Deer Lake/West Brunswick Fire Company No. 1 fire Chief Michael Strouse said.

Strouse said about 20 inches of ice were on the lake and the water temperature was about 34 to 36 degrees.

The cold conditions prompted Strouse and Kyle Morgan, captain of the Schuylkill Haven Fire Department Rescue and Recovery Dive Team, to change plans Friday for the event. Those braving the water for a good cause instead jumped, dove or splashed their way into a 2,000-gallon pool that was about 12 feet long by 12 feet wide.

Krammes said some people were disappointed but there was nothing she could do about it.

“The fire chief is in charge of the lake,” she said.

Despite the change in plans, Krammes said about 200 people attended the event, which is hosted by Auburn VFW Warriors softball team. The team is part of the Mothers for Make-A-Wish softball league.

Katie Reed, Reading, had fun jumping in the water. She wore a yellow bikini, a fake mustache, sunglasses and a bandana to look like Hulk Hogan.

“It’s still a great time. It goes for a great cause,” she said.

Dominic Krammes, 15, son of Denna, wore black underwear. He decided to “be funny” in picking out his attire better suited for dressing down during warmer weather.

Despite earlier nerves concerning the plunge, he said he was a little disappointed it didn’t take place in the lake.

“I understand it’s too cold,” he said.

Greg Seasock, 44, Wyomising, Berks County, attended with a friend, Eileen Berger, and her daughter, Liz Berger, to support the cause for the first time.

The event included a chili cook-off and raffle. Ellen Micka, Pottsville, was the winner of the chili cook-off. She received a $50 prize.

After getting cold for a good cause, plungers could go inside the Deer Lake/West Brunswick fire company building to get warm and listen to the music. An after party was held at the Deer Lake Pub.

SCHUYLKILL HAVEN — A group of people interested in learning more about unidentified flying objects met Saturday.

They were there to learn more about the Mutual UFO Network. The organization began in 1969 and MUFON’s goals, according to its website, are to “investigate UFO sightings and collect the data in the MUFON database for use by researchers worldwide, promote research on UFOs to discover the true nature of the phenomenon, with an eye toward scientific breakthroughs, and improving life on our planet and educate the public on the UFO phenomenon and its potential impact on society.”

The company is based in Newport Beach, California, and has about 3,000 members. Using the MUFON database, one can research alleged UFO sightings. No alleged incidents are yet listed as occurring in Schuylkill County. In Pennsylvania, there are 50 listed cases. The closest such alleged sighting is in Allentown in Nov. 15, 2014, where someone claimed to have seen three black round objects flying next to each other, according to the database.

However, the approximate 40 people who attended a MUFON meeting in Schuylkill Haven at 950 E. Main St. learned that the organization gets about 30 reports every month in Pennsylvania, Bill Weber, chief investigator for the state, said.

Weber and Dan Medleycott, state section director for MUFON, talked for about 2 hours about the organization and answered questions from audience members after being invited by Bob Seltzer, president of the Seltzer Group, an insurance broker. Seltzer has been a member of MUFON for five years. A former classmate from college told him about the group.

Weber explained at the meeting how one can become a field investigator, which is someone authorized to take reports on UFO sightings. He also said there are a number of alleged sightings around the world. In January, he said, there were 721 global sightings. Of those, he said, 575 were for suspected extraterrestrial-related UFO sightings reported to MUFON. For example, in California in January there were 90 such reports, he said. Pennsylvania had 29 that were reported to the MUFON headquarters in California.

“Each case gets the same level of investigation,” Weber said.

Medleycott told attendees about attempts to get information on purported sightings.

Weber said there were no landings reported in January “or entities observed. We get those too.”

He urged those in the audience and the wider public to report anything suspicious to MUFON at www.mufon.com.

“Others talk. But we investigate them (the alleged incidents),” he said.

Joining MUFON is not for the faint of heart, Medleycott and Weber said.

“We start getting involved in this stuff and all the sudden I start to hear clicking on my cellphone,” Weber said.

He does not think we are alone in this universe.

“They’re here. They’ve been here. There is some agenda,” he said of what they call extraterrestrial biological entities.

When asked to clarify, Weber said, the beings are here somewhere on the planet. He realizes that people might be skeptical about what he believes or what MUFON does but said it is unrealistic to think we are alone in the universe. He is not aware of any reported sightings in Schuylkill County or UFOs or otherwise. He did say that a woman said she was abducted by something at Washington Crossing State Park in Bucks County about 10 years ago and he believes her.

Tom Mohan, 63, of Schuylkill Haven, came out to learn more about the unknown.

“I’m interested in what might be out there,” he said.

He does not believe that we are alone in the universe.

“We can’t be that naive,” he said.

2 escape injury

in Route 61 crash

HAMBURG — Two men escaped injury in a two-vehicle crash about 3:39 p.m. Friday in Windsor Township, Berks County.

State police at Hamburg said accident occurred on Route 61 north as Stefan T. Zito, 22, of Leesport, was driving a 1995 Toyota Corolla and was unable to stop his vehicle while traffic was slowing down in the right lane. Zito hit the left rear side of a 2006 Buick Lucerne driven by Ernest W. Haddad, 47, of Pottsville, with the right front of his vehicle, police said.

The Corolla was towed from the scene. Zito was cited for following too closely and not wearing a seat belt, police said, adding that Haddad was wearing a seat belt.

Mahanoy Area

Michael Terry and Abbey McGee were named students of the month for January by the faculty of the Mahanoy Area Middle School through a program sponsored by Mahanoy City Benevolent and Protective Order of Elks Lodge 695. Nominees are judged on the basis of multiple achievements, character, leadership, citizenship and scholastic aptitude.

Michael is a son of Michael and Betty Terry, Barnesville, and a member of Faith Assembly of God, Hazleton. He is involved in seventh- and eighth-grade football, junior high wrestling, track and field, seventh- and eighth-grade boys’ basketball, youth group and Theatre Arts.

Michael volunteers at the Coaldale Soup Kitchen, shovels snow for neighbors and participates in church activities. He plans to attend law school and join the Marine Corps.

Abbey is a daughter of Robert McGee and Michele Wagner, Mahanoy City, and a member of First United Methodist Church, Mahanoy City. A distinguished honor student, she is involved in seventh- and eighth-grade girls’ basketball, AAU basketball, Theatre Arts, student council, National Junior Honor Society and intramural basketball.

Abbey volunteers for Child Development and Mahanoy Area Biddy Basketball. She plans to attend college and play basketball.

Mahanoy Area

Mahanoy Area High School seniors Maddison Jeffries and Brian Miller were named students of the month for December as announced by Mahanoy City Elks Lodge 695.

Maddison is a daughter of John and Patricia Jeffries, Barnesville. Her school activities include National Honor Society, Bloomsburg Math Contest Team, Bear Pride Program, Areascope (yearbook), band, of which she is vice president, choir, Interact Club, SADD, Teens Against Tobacco, Theatre Arts Club, of which she is vice president and Talent Search. She is a Meals on Wheels volunteer during school and summer, is a member of the track and field team and also served as captain of the swim team, lettering for three years.

Maddison is a member of the Upper Schuylkill Marching Band, LVC Honors Band and serves as People to People Ambassador at Johns Hopkins University. Upon graduation, she plans to attend Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, Villanova University or Drexel University, Philadelphia, and major in biology or biochemistry.

Brian is a son of Brian and Jennifer Miller, Barnesville. He served as class treasurer during his junior and senior years. His high school activities include student council, Interact, Nutrition Advisory Council, Spanish Club, SADD and Teens Against Tobacco. He is a Meals on Wheels volunteer during school and summer.

Brian attended the Schuylkill County Youth Leadership Conference. He serves as captain of the basketball and baseball teams and is a volunteer for Biddy Basketball. He was also named Most Valuable Player at the Panther Valley Tipoff Tournament.

Upon graduation, Brian plans to attend Wilkes University, Wilkes-Barre, or the University of the Sciences, Philadelphia, to major in pharmacy or Albright College, Reading, to major in criminal justice.

Pine Grove Area

Brianna Felty and Marcus Brown were named February students of the month at Pine Grove Area High School.

Brianna is a daughter of Chris and LeeAnne Felty and Lisa and Greg Lehman, all of Pine Grove. She studies in the college preparatory and advanced placement programs.

Brianna’s high school activities include soccer, basketball, track and field, Varsity Club and SADD, of which she is treasurer. She plans to attend Penn State Schuylkill to play soccer and major in an undetermined field.

Marcus is a son of Kim Brown-Zerbe, Pine Grove. He studies in the advanced placement and honors programs.

Marcus’ high school activities include varsity soccer captain, All-State Soccer team, All-Area Soccer team, SADD president, National Honor Society vice president, Pine Grove Area Youth Soccer Association assistant coach, track and field and Varsity Club. His future plans are to attend Lebanon Valley College, Annville, to major in mechanical engineering or physics.

Pottsville Rotary

Pottsville Area High School seniors Meghan Cleary and Patrick Keating and Nativity BVM High School seniors Elizabeth Winter and Tyler Rossi were honored as Pottsville Rotary students of the month for January.

Meghan, Saint Clair, is a daughter of Todd Cleary and Rebecca Lewis-Cleary. She is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, the Leo, Spanish and ecology clubs, SADD and Alpha Iota Delta. She also participates in soccer and basketball.

Meghan plans to attend St. Joseph’s University, Philadelphia, and major in actuarial science.

Patrick, Pottsville, is a son of Kevin and Teresa Keating. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society and Quill & Scroll National Honor Society. He was honored by the Pennsylvania State Press Association for a news article that he wrote.

Patrick is a member of the Spanish and Leo clubs and student council. He plays varsity football, of which he is captain, and track and field. He has been an altar server at St. Patrick Catholic Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, for 10 years.

Patrick plans to attend a four-year college or university and continue playing football while majoring in finance.

Elizabeth is a daughter of Joseph and Catherine Winter, Pottsville, and attends St. John the Baptist Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville. At Nativity, she is co-editor of the school newspaper, an officer in the Interact Club, captain of the cheerleading squad, a student ambassador and a member of campus ministry.

This past summer, Elizabeth attended the “Multimedia Communications” camp at Penn State University, University Park campus, spending five days getting hands-on experience in different branches of communications. She will attend Penn State Harrisburg to study communications.

Tyler is a son of Kenneth and Sharon Rossi, Pottsville, and attends St. Patrick Roman Catholic Church, Pottsville, where he is an altar server. At Nativity, he participated in track and field, peer listening, football and drama club.

He was the varsity captain in football, and made the senior All-Star team and Second Team All American Conference as a tight end. He was nominated as Best Supporting Actor at the Majestic Awards and was a recipient of the Majestic’s Heart and Soul Award.

Tyler plans to attend college and major in social work.

Pottsville Area High School seniors Gabrielle Evans and Matthew Schappell and Nativity BVM High School seniors Becky Petlansky and Jeff Yordy were honored as Pottsville Rotary students of the month for December.

Gabrielle is a daughter of Robert and Stacey Evans, Pottsville. She is a member of the National Honor Society and Spanish National Honor Society. She has earned distinguished honors and was named a Lehigh Valley Soccer Scholar Athlete.

She is a member of the Leo Club, Spanish Club, SADD, student council, ecology club, soccer, travel soccer and track.

Gabby was selected to the All-State Soccer Team this year and holds the career soccer scoring record at PAHS. She plans to attend Kutztown University and major in bio pre-med, and then attend graduate school to become a physician assistant.

Matthew is a son of Robert and Catherine Schappell, Pottsville. He is a member of the National Honor Society, Spanish National Honor Society, Spanish Club, Leo Club and ecology club.

He plans to attend Elizabethtown College and major in mechanical engineering.

Becky is a daughter of Robert and Barbara Petlansky, Auburn. She attends St. Ambrose Roman Catholic Church, Schuylkill Haven.

Becky is a member of the National Honor Society, math club, science club and Interact. She is a member of the soccer and track and field teams, was captain of the girls’ soccer team this year and was named Soccer Scholar Athlete.

Becky was also a commended student in the National Merit Scholarship Program. She plans to major in biology at a college or university still to be determined.

Jeff is a son of Michael and Lynda Yordy, Cumbola. He is a member of St. Stephen Roman Catholic Church, Port Carbon, where he has been an altar server for nine years.

He is the student government central treasurer and a member of the math club, Interact, and football, basketball and baseball teams.

This year, Jeff led the Schuylkill County area in receiving yards and receiving touchdowns, and he was also the league’s leading scorer in basketball the past two years. He made the Schuylkill League All-Area First Team in basketball and baseball.

He plans to attend either Elizabethtown College or Lebanon Valley College, Annville, to play baseball and major in criminal justice.

Shen Rotary

Abigail Snitzer, a senior at Shenandoah Valley High School, was named January student of the month by the Shenandoah Rotary Club.

Abigail’s high school activities include student council, National Honor Society, varsity basketball and student ambassador. She helped transport classrooms and paint classrooms at Schuylkill Intermediate Unit 29. She also participated in Shenandoah Valley Walk Against Racism, Relay for Life, Christmas Lighting Fund fundraiser, Toys for Tots fundraiser, SPCA Wreath Sale fundraiser, Youth Summit service project group, ADL Youth Leadership Conference, Hoops for Heart, Leukemia and Lymphoma fundraiser, Carter family fundraisers and Vevasis family fundraiser.

A daughter of Christian and Cathy Snitzer, Shenandoah, Abigail plans to attend college and major in forensic pathology.

Brittany Joseph, a senior at Shenandoah Valley High School, was named December student of the month by the Shenandoah Rotary Club.

Brittany’s high school activities include Shenandoah Valley varsity cross country and Talent Search program. Her community service includes Shenandoah Old Fashioned Christmas play participant, Kielbasi Festival, St. Patrick Day Parade float volunteer, Rotary pet inoculation, Shenandoah Valley Walk Against Racism, Relay for Life, American Red Cross blood drives, Miller Keystone blood drives, Lyla’s Hope fundraiser, Christmas Lighting Fund fundraiser, Toys for Tots fundraiser, SPCA wreath sale fundraiser, Youth Summit service project group, ADL Youth Leadership Conference, Hoops for Heart, Leukemia and Lymphoma fundraiser, Carter family fundraisers and Vevasis family fundraiser.

A daughter of Amanda Goodrich, Shenandoah Heights, Brittany plans to attend Drexel University, Philadelphia, and major in mathematics education to eventually become a professor.

There are many DIY projects and repurposing options when it comes to antiques, but right off the bat, I want to warn you to know the value of your keepsakes, heirlooms and treasures before your start repurposing. Get a quick and easy online appraisal from me so you know if your piece is too valuable to repurpose.

Once you know the true value of your antique and you are comfortable with your plan to repurpose it, consider these tips to make something old feel and look new again.

Unite

Repurpose something that is a multiple for greater impact. If you have many dissimilar items, you can always make them seem like a group by uniting them with a uniform paint color. You can also unite related objects by putting them together in a re-purposing project. For instance, if you have a bunch of old doorknobs or door handles, repurpose this group of similar objects. For instance, take the group of mix-matched glass, porcelain or metal doorknobs and install them in your guest bathroom to create useful, vintage towel hooks. Arrange the group of doorknobs on a wall near the tub or shower as handy hooks.

Go for it

Don't be afraid to really change an antique. For instance, if you love your grandmother's high chair but you would really like to put it to good use in your home instead of just having it sit in a corner as a display piece, remove the arms and tray and re-purpose the high chair as a child's chair. It will look cute in a corner of a kitchen, a child's playroom, a grandparent's den or a dining room. Be sure you know what you are doing when repairing and refinishing wooden pieces and search online for helpful hints.

Re-think the scraps

Do you have a cedar chest filled with old textile pieces like parts of crocheted afghans? Needlepoint pictures that will never see the light of day? Quilted squares that were never made into a full quilt? If you know that you will never complete these projects, don't despair. Frame them up and enjoy a great graphic picture of your crochet, quilt square of needlepoint picture. Remember to use acid-free materials whenever you frame textiles or any antique piece. Install the framed textiles on an interior wall away from direct sunlight to prevent the item from fading and sun damage.

Repurposing is a fun way to integrate antique pieces into a contemporary home and to enjoy the process of sprucing up something old.

(Dr. Lori Verderame presents antique appraisal events nationwide and is the expert appraiser on Auction Kings on the Discovery channel. Go to www.DrLoriV.com, www.Facebook.com/DoctorLori, or call 888-431-1010.)